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Aakalaya, Aakalaya Govinda
The Song:
The Story:
The wonderful story behind this beautiful song set in the enigmatic
tune of Bhairavi Raag was revealed to a fortunate few who were present
at Premika Bhavanam on 2nd Jan 99, late in the evening. This song
is sung very frequently during the divya nama kirtanam and little did the
devotees realise that the song was pregnant with deeper Bhavartam (inner,
hidden meaning). one of the devotee recollects that Sri Swamigal explained
the gist of the song in Brindavan last year while the devotees were returning
from the yamuana river after the morning bath with Sri Swamigal. But since
Sri Swamigal walks fast, the devotees could not fully comprehend Sri swamigal's
explanation. They had to wait until 2nd of Jan this year to get to know
the deeper meaning of this sweet song. ..
Aakalaya.. This itself is a wonderful sanskrit word which approximately
means 'Oh Lord! Do you recognise me?' 'Have you forgotten me?' (This is
one of the many sanskrit words which transcend translation!!).
Govinda... The Lord, Sri Krishna...
Maam Paalaya ... 'protect me, protect my folks who sing thy name.."
Padma ramana... Did my divine mother, the Thayaar who resides in your
heart at Tirupathi, not tell of me?
Bhaktha Vatsala... Oh Lord! you had said 'Aham Bhaktha Paradeena',
when I have come with such faith you should keep up your word, shouldn't
you?
Bahujana sevitha... Many people throng to your temple. In this mad
rush, have you forgotten me?
Pannaga Sayana... You are lying down on the Pannaga hill - Seshagiri.
Makara Kundaladhara... The one with earrings like a fish. The Vedas
are protected as long as you reside in Tirupathi. 'Are the earrings
beautiful because they are on you or are you looking even more beautiful
due to the earrings?'
Manmatha janaka - The one who is ' father of Manmatha (God of Love
who is surpassingly handsome) himself'
Manimaya Bhushana - 'you are adorned with Salagrama neclace and other
priceless jewels.' (Sri swamigal narrated a wonderful episode on the Lord's
grace towards a devotee by the name Sri Padmanabhan at Tirupathi, who had
made a golden necklace with Sri Swami Desikan's 'Daya shatakam' inscribed
on the ornament.)
Saptha Giri vaasa - 'You stand on the Seven hills in tirupathi.' and
you are beyond the seven chakras of Raja Yoga as Chinmaya roopam.
Shyamala Varna... Why are you black my Lord? Was it because in tirupathi
before Hathiram baba was able to construct a temple for you, you were in
the open and since you were on a hill did you borrow the dark colour from
the passing clouds?
Satya Swaroopa - You are the very from of Truth. One can't reach bhagavan
without the Truth. Sri sukadeva in Bhagavatham, while revealing the Krishnavataram,
had identified Sri Krishna with the absolute truth. Even if true
devotees 'lie', Bhagavan himself makes it true. Sri Bhattadri while
writing Narayaneeyam at Guruvayoor had written that little Sri Krishna
had broken a hanging pot with a heavy pestle! When he became apprehensive
of his own writing, Sri Krishna himself demonstrated that he broke the
pot indeed with a heavy pestle, hence making the statement of his devotee
true.
Venkata ramana - You sit on the Venkatachalam and is ever established
with your self.
Viswapala - 'the five basic elements like fire, water, Earth etc are
opposed to each other, yet Bhagavan, you keep them in harmony. You create,
and also ensure that the processes sunsequent to creation happen as per
design.
Vinatha Sutha Vahana.. The one with Garud as his vehicle. Garud is
the Veda with Karma Kaandam and Upasana Kaandam as its wings and carries
the Amrutha Kalasam (who is our bhagavan) who can give Moksham - the liberation
from mundane existence.
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