Talk:Endaro mahanubhavulu

From Sahityam

[edit] nilipi vs salipi

• I have specifically given the wording of charana 2 as 'salipi'. It is incorrect to say 'nilipi' which goes against the spirit of the kriti. Sri Thyagaraja is not talking about ordinary individuals whose mind is wandering - He is talking about 'mahAnubhAvas'. Their minds don't wander. It is blasphemy to say 'nilipi'. I only hope that the parrot-like repetition of this word 'nilipi' will stop. The musicians and their disciples are not doing any service to Saint Thyagaraja by making fun of his Kritis. I write this with great pain. -- V. Govindan

_______________

The word 'nilipi' should be read along with the all the previous words, "manasa vanacharavara sancharamu, which means 'wandering of the mind like that of a monkey king.' The mahanubhavas are the only ones capable of controlling their minds by stopping (nilipi) such wandering (sancharam), unlike ordinary mortals. Such control is also a prerequisite for the rest of the words that follow - 'murthi baguga podagane varu' (those who can perceive Him clearly). The meaning given in some texts to support 'salipi' is that 'after searching through the forest of mind.' However, the key words here are 'vanachara vara'. In telugu literature and many songs, 'vanachara' (one that moves in the forest) is often used for monkey. 'Vanachara vara' is the king of monkeys, whose wandering is more pronounced. By being able to control such severe mental wandering, the mahanubhavas are able to perceive Him clearly. If we interpret the word 'salipi' as 'having done', then the word 'chara' becomes superfluous in that context as it is not used. Also, when all the words are taken together, it could also wrongly mean that the mahanubhavas indulge (salipi) in such wandering! - Ambatipudi Sastry