Nandavanathil Oraandi (A Pauper in a Joyful Garden)

நந்தவனத்தில் ஓர் ஆண்டீ
அவன் நாலாறு மாதமாய் குயவனை வேண்டி
கொண்டு வந்தான் ஒரு தோண்டி
அதை கூத்தாடி கூத்தாடி போட்டுடைத்தான்டீ

Nandavanathil oraandi
Avan naal aaru maathamai kuyavanai vendi
Kondu vandhaan oru thondi
Adhai koothaadi-koothaadi pottudaithandi


ENGLISH TRANSLATION:

"A pauper in a joyful garden,
For four and six months, he beseeched the potter
And he brought back a pot of clay
He then danced around with it, partying carelessly until he dropped and broke it"

This little ditty sounds like a bit of an amusing childish folk song, but it quite accurately describes and sums up the entire human condition of a lifetime for almost anyone!

It was composed by a 'Siddhar' (an ascetic who has achieved enlightenment) and has a very profound meaning that anyone can understand in simple language. This comes from the region of Southern India. It is very catchy, popular and has been around for many years. It has been played to formal music, the lyrics parodied in movie songs to fit many different situations - many quite riotously funny.

Just consider what the various elements of this quatrain like composition and the deeper meaning starts to reveal itself. It just might bring to our attention the privilege of having a human birth and not to waste it entirely.

'Nandavanam' - A garden of joy which is really Heaven/Spiritual Realm where there is no sorrow, only joy

'Pauper' - One who has or own nothing, 'no thing'  that is material. This represents each one of us as a pure soul with nothing material attached to us, according to the local philosophy.

'For four and six months' - the ten month duration of human gestation

'Kuyavan' - Potter - the one who gives pots material shape from clay - Our Creator

'Vendi' - beseech, pray for

'Thondi' - a pot of clay (our material human body)

'Koothaadi' - dance around for pleasure

'Pottudaithandi' - saying 'he dropped and broke it'


Prince Rama Varma's rendition in proper musical tradition with a foreword and explanation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWW9f3qACs8


An absolute riot parody of this in an old Tamil movie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugD79tyLLSg

Credits to Prince Rama Varma and YouTube for the video courtesy. I do not own any of the intellectual property of the composition or its renditions portrayed here.

Copyright (c) Kannan Narayanamurthy 2017
All rights reserved.