Veena Vak

Adaddella oLite aayitu
To understand this song from Purandara dasaru you have to read the story of how a rich diamond merchant, Srinivasa Nayaka became Purandara Dasa.
Srinivasa Nayaka was the son of a diamond merchant. He grew up in luxury but was a miser. His wife saraswathi bai was a very pious lady. After his parents death Srinivasa Nayaka inherited his father’s business and grew it more. He was so rich that he was called nava koti narayana ( narayana who had 9 crores)

Looking at srinivasa’s growing miserliness, god decided to teach him a lesson. He went in the guise of a poor Brahmin to Srinivasa Nayaka’s store to beg for money for his son’s thread ceremony. Srinivasa refused to entertain him for many days. Then finally getting fed up with the beggar Srinivasa gives him a useless coin and asks him to leave him alone.

The Brahmin takes the coin to Srinivasa Nayak’s wife and tells her his woes. Being a very compassionate woman but a dutiful wife, saraswathi is unhappy with her husband’s miserliness but also doesn’t want to give the Brahmin anything without asking her husband. The Brahmin suggests that she give something that her parents had given her, for she had every right on that. So, saraswathi gives her nose stud to the Brahmin.

The Brahmin takes it to Srinivasa Nayaka’s store again to pawn it for money. Srinivasa recognises the diamond stud and is furious with his wife. He locks the diamond stud in a safe in his store and goes home to check with his wife if it indeed was her’s. When Srinivasa sees that saraswathi is not wearing her diamond nose stud, he is almost certain that it is the stud in his store. He asks where the stud is, saraswathi hides what actually happened and tells that she had removed it for washing. Srinivasa asks her to wear it immediately. Saraswathi goes inside as if to get the diamond stud. She is unhappy that she lied and while praying to Lord Krishna tries to consume poison.

When she just about to drink the poison she hears a metallic noise and sees the diamond stud where the poison was. She is elated to have witnessed such a miracle and tells Srinivasa the truth and the greatness of the Lord. Srinivasa is surprised and rushes to his store to check in the locked safe. He is even more surprised to see that the diamond nose stud had vanished from a locked safe. At that moment he becomes a transformed man.

He gives away all his riches and becomes a Dasa. A Dasa is someone who spends most of his time engrossed in God. They beg for food for themselves and their family.

In this song Purandara Dasa praises his wife for showing him the right path. It was her piety and devotion to Krishna that made her witness a miracle. It was her devotion that made Srinivasa Nayaka realise that devotion was the path to salvation.

Pallavi
aadaddella oLithE aayithu namma

Whatever happened is good
Adaddella= adaddu (= whatever happened) + ella ( =all)
OLite = good
Ayitu = happened

Namma = our

Sreedharana sEvege saadhana sampaththaayithu

It became a means for serving the Lord shreedhara

Shreedharana = for Lord shreedhara

Sevege = to serve

Sadhana = means
Sampathayitu = sampattu( = wealth)+ ayitu ( =became)

( here Sadhana sanpathaayitu would also mean it became the capital amount. In a way it means the beginning. Like you would start a business with a capital amount. In the same way what ever happened in Srinivasa Nayak’s life became that capital amount for Purandara dasaru to serve the Lord. That amount ( the incidents that happened, which made him a realised man) acted as a means through which he could serve the Lord. This is my interpretation, correct me if I am wrong)

Anupallavi
danDige beththa hiDiyuvudakke

To hold the tambura and the stick

Dandige= a musical instrument with 1 to 4 strings to keep the shruti and the rhythm correct while singing.

Betta = any long stick, like a walking stick

Hidiyuvudakke = hidiyuvudu( =to hold) + adakke ( for that )

manDe maachi naachuthalidde

I was Bending my head in embarrassment

Mande = head

Maachi = bend, looking down

Naachutalidde = naachutali ( = being ashamed )+ idde ( = I was)

henDathhi santhathi saaviravaagali

Let the number of that wife increase in thousands

Hendathi = wife

Santati = number ( it also means off Spring, progeny. Then it would mean let the off Spring of such wife increase. I feel since this song is in praise of his wife he would mean the women like his wife. Again correct me if I am wrong )

Saaviravaagali = saviravu (= thousands) + aagali ( =let it be )

danDige beththa hiDisidaLayya

She made me hold the tambura and the stick

HiDisidaLayya= hidisidaLu (= made me hold ( feminine) )+ ayya ( man )

( he is so full of gratitude towards his wife that she made him realise his goal in life, that of becoming a Dasa)
(aadadella)

Charanam
gopaLa butti hiDiyuvudakke

To hold the begging bowl

GopaLa = alms

Butti = basket

Gopala butti = a begging bowl, a cloth strung over the shoulder in such a way that it would be like a bag to hold grains given by people.

Hidiyuvudakke = hidiyuvudu(= to hold) + adakke (= for that )

bhoopathiyanthe garvisuthidde

I was being proud like as though I were a King

Bhoopatiyante = bhoo(=earth, land) + pati(=Lord)+ ante (=like that)

Bhoopati= Lord of the land , King

Garvisuthidde. = garvisutta ( = being proud) + idde (=I was)

Aa patni kula saaviravaagali

Let The community of wives increase in thousands

Aa = that

Patni = wife

Kula = community

gopaLa butti hidisidaLayya

She made me hold the begging bowl, oh man

(aadadella)
thuLasee maleya haakuvudakke

To wear the tulasi garland

Tulasi = a sacred bush, also a herb with a lot of medicinal value, the holy basil, ocimum sanctum

Maleya = that garland

Haakuvudakke = haakuvudu ( = to put on)+ adakke ( = for that)

arasanante tirugutalidde

I was wandering like a king

Arasanante= arasanu(=like King ) + ante (=like that )

Tirugutalidde = tirugutali(=wandaering) + idde ( = I was)

sarasijaaksha Sree purandara viThalanu

The lotus eyed Lord Purandara vithala

Sarasijaaksha = saras ( = lake, pond) + jaa ( = born of ) + aksha(= eyes)

Sarasija = one born of the pond = lotus

thuLasee maleya haakidanayya

He put the tulasi garland on me

Haakidanayya = hakidanu (= he put ) + ayya

Once initiation is done a Dasa has to go around begging for alms for sustenance. So the Dasa usually is pictured with a musical instrument to aide in singing, a walking stick( implies that he is walking great distances) a jolige or Gopala butti a long cloth tied at the ends and strung on the shoulder to make a bag to collect grains and other food items. At the end of the day the Dasa goes home with these items and cooks his meal, if living with family this is also used to feed his family. He also wears a garland made of tulasi. This garland purandaradasaru says was given to him by the Lord himself. Implying either that he was initiated by a saint or that his devotion to vithala made him wear the garland in other words compelled him to become his servant forever, His Dasa forever.

(aadadella)

ತಂಬೂರಿ ಮೀಟಿದವ ಭವಾಬ್ಧಿ ದಾಟಿದವ
ತಾಳವ ತಟ್ಟಿದವ ಸುರರೊಳು ಸೇರಿದವ

ಗೆಜ್ಜೆಯ ಕಟ್ಟಿದವ ಖಳರೆದೆಯ ಮೆಟ್ಟಿದವ
ಗಾನವ ಪಾಡಿದವ ಹರಿ-ಮೂರುತಿ ನೋಡಿದವ

ವಿಠ್ಠಲನ ನೋಡಿದವ
(ಪುರಂದರ) ವಿಠ್ಠಲನ ನೋಡಿದವ ವೈಕುಂಠಕೆ ಓಡಿದವ

Before writing the translation of this song I feel an introduction to the ‘dasa’ is needed.

The dasas are people who have decided to spend there lives in the service of God, by singing his praises. They usually carry a tamboori to maintain the shruti as well as the rhythm in the song. They wear anklets too which means they also danced to these songs that they wrote and composed music for.

Purandara dasa is one such dasa. He is a great poet and devotee of vittala. His poems are in Kannada. The dasa litreture in Kannada is very important not only for the language used but for the reason it started. The dasa’s though mainly follower’s of Shri Madhwaachaarya, wrote poems on subjects including devotion, various avatara’s of Vishnu, philosophy as well as society and it’s conduct. The purpose of these songs were to teach the illiterate people about devotion and philosophy. They are also set to music and so people learnt it as songs. Purandara dasa is called the father of Carnatic music. He formulaised the initial lessons of Carnatic music and brought structure to the way it is taught. Most kannadigas would have heard ‘dasara padas’ ( pada meaning poem) at temples, movies and social gatherings. Each dasa has his own favourite diety. Kanakadasa’s is kagnele’s( a place in Karnataka) aadikeshava, vaadiraajaru’s is hayavadana ( the horse head avatara of Vishnu) and Purandara dasa’s is Purandara ( a place in Karnataka ) vittala.

In this song Purandara dasaru is singing about dasas. The dasa not only enlightens people he also attains salvation through his songs.

Pallavi: tamboori meetidava bhavaabdhi daatidava|

The one who plucked the tamboori( a musical instrument) the one who crossed this world
( the one here is the dasa. He has crossed this ocean called earthly life )

Tamboori = a stringed musical instrument
Meetidava = meetidavanu = meetu ( to pluck the string of a musical instrument) + avanu ( that person )
Bhavaabdhi = bhava ( life on Earth) + abdhi ( ocean)

Anupallavi: taaLava taTTidava suraroLu seridava ||

The one who maintained the rhythm joined the demigods ( became one of the demigods)

TaaLava = Taalavannu = Thaala( rhythm) + annu ( a gramatical suffix)

TaTTidava= tattidavanu = taTTida + avanu

Tattu= to tap ( in Carnatic music rhythm is maintained by the singer by tapping the palm of the right hand on a surface. The fingers are used to keep count and so does the downward or upward facing palm)

SuraroLu : surara ( demigods, devas who live in heaven or swarga) + oLu ( in, with)

Seridava = serida ( to join, joined ) + avanu

CharaNa 1: Gejjeya kattidava khaLaredeya mettidava |
The one who tied the anklets conquered the hearts of evil people
( the dasa with his dance and song can conquer or influence even evil people)

Gejjeya = Gejjeyannu = gejje ( anklets) + annu ( grammatical suffix)
Kattidava = kattidavanu = kattida ( tied) + avanu

KhaLaredeya: khaLara ( evil people’s) + edeya ( heart)

Mettidava = Mettidavanu = Mettida ( stepped on, conquered)+ avanu

Gaanava paadidava hari- mooruti nodidava ||

The one who sang has seen God
( through his songs the dasa actually sees God)

Gaanava = gaanavannu = gaana( song ) + annu

Paadidava = paadidavanu = paadida ( sang ) + avanu
Hari = name of Vishnu
Mooruthi = usually means idol, here it means the actual form of God

Nodidava = nodidavanu = nodu ( to see ) + avanu

Charana 2: vithalana nodidava |
The one who has seen vithala

Vithala : name of Krishna

(Purandara) vithalana nodidava vaikuntakke Odidava ||

The one who has seen God runs to vaikunta

( the dasa who has seen the form of God is transported to vaikunta, the place where Vishnu resides. In other words, the dasa attains moksha)

Purandara vithala = purandara ( a place in karnataka) + vithalana ( vithalanannu = vithala + annu )

Vaikuntakke = to vaikunta ( place of Vishnu)

Odidava = Odidavanu = Odida ( to Run) + avanu

I would like to add that these dasara padas have a lot of meaning. I have tried to translate it. However, I am limited by my knowledge and experience and cannot do justice to these great songs. I am sure it is not perfect. It is more a rough understanding. Please do write to me if you have anything to say about this particular translation. Thank you

Pallavi: Kashta pattaroo illa KaLavaLeesidarilla |

It doesn’t matter if we do hard work or if we worry|

Kashta = trouble or hardwork. Padu= experience or do = pattaroo = even if you do
( in Kannada there are compound words like in any other language. Though the individual words’ meaning is simple the compound word gives an entirely different meaning. Like the word ‘Kashtapattaroo’. Here it means how much ever hard you try )

KaLavaLa= worry, kaLvaLisu = to worry

brashtaamana ninna haNebarahadashtallade ||

Oh! Spoilt brain it will be as much as it is your destiny||

Brashta= spoilt mana = manassu = mind

Ninna= your
HaNebarahadashtallade = HaNe ( forehead) + barahada ( writing of ) + ashtu ( that much) + allade ( if not ) =( what else?) If not for as much as your destiny.

CharaNa 1: sirivantanaa sneha maadidaroo illa|

Not if you do a rich man’s friendship|
( not if you have riches)
Siri = wealth ( also Lakshmi) sirivanta = one who has wealth, rich man

Pari pari vidyegaLa kaliterilla||

Not if you learn various subjects||
( Not if you gain great knowledge)

Pari = types ( many different types )

Vidya= knowledge (Vidya can’t be directly translated to English. We can call it knowledge. But in regional languages it could also mean topic or subject like in dhanurvidya…. Art (knowledge) of wielding the bow or sakala vidyaa parangata… One who is well versed in all topics. Here it means various topics)
VidyegaLu = many different topics

Nari buddhiyandadi nadedu kondaroo illa|

Not if your intellect behaves like that of a fox|
(Not if you cunning like a fox )

Nari = fox
Buddhiyandadi = buddhi ( intellect)+ andadi ( like hat of)

Nadedu = walk like ( nade = walk) , behave like

Ariyade halavu bage hambalisiderilla||

Even if you yearn in many ways not knowing what to do ||

Ariyade: ari( to know ) , ariyade = to not know
Halavu = many

Bage = ways

Hambalisiderillaa = hambalisu ( yearn )+ iddaroo ( to be ) illa ( no)

CharaNa2: kattaaLu kadujaaNanaadaroo illa|

Not if you are a strong nor very clever |
( it doesn’t matter if your strong in body or clever in intellect)

KattaaLu= kattu ( sculpted ) + aaLu ( man, person) = someone with a strong sculpted body
KadujaNanaadaroo = kadu ( accute ) + jaaNa ( clever person) + adaroo ( even if that is so)

Illa = no

Bettaavanu kittu tandittarillaa ||

Not if you lift a hill and bring it||
( not if you move mountains. … Or even if you put as much effort to move even mountains )

Bettavanu = betta ( hill or mountain ) + annu ( this is what is called a pratyaya, or suffix in English here it means ‘a’) = bettavannu

Kittu = to pluck

Tandittarillaa = tandu ( to bring) + ittaru( to keep it down, or to keep in front of ) + illa ( no)

SrishtiyoLu kaaginele aadikeshavaraaya |

Aadikeshava of kaaginele in this creation|

( that aadikeshava who is in kaaginele )

SrishtiyoLu= srishti( creation) oLu ( = oLage= inside in)

Kaaginele: a place in Karnataka

Aadikeshava raya = aadikeshava ( name of Vishnu , please refer to bananje’s book on Vishnu sahasranama for the meaning of keshava) + raaya ( King, Lord, owner)

Kottavariguntoo kodadavarigillaa||

For those who he gives have it, for those he doesn’t don’t have it. ||

( He decides to whom it is to be given to whom it shouldn’t be. What is given can be anything … Happiness, knowledge, prosperity, wealth, sadness, despair and even moksha)

Kottavariguntu = kottu ( = kodu = to give) + avarige ( for them, for those) + untu ( is there , have)
Kodadavarigillaa = kodada ( not given) avarige ( for them, for those) + illa ( no)

Pallavi: KaLLu sakkare kolliro |

Buy the sugar candy
( koLLu = buy, koLLiro = you all buy , sakkare = sugar , kaLLu = stone or hard; here it means hard. )

KaLLu sakkare koLLiro neevellaroo ||
( neevellaroo = all of you)

KaLLu sakkare kolliro ….

KaLLu sakkare savi ballavare ballaru

The sweetness of the sugar candy is known to the one who know
( savi= sweetness, ballavare = people who know or have the knowledge , ballaru = they know)

Anu pallavi: Pulla lochana shree Krishna namavemba
KaLLu sakkare kolliro||

(You all )Buy the sugar candy that is
The lotus eyed shree Krishna’s name

(Pulla= flower. Here it must mean lotus, lochana = eyes, naama + emba = namavemba = that name)

Charana 1: ettu HerugaLinda hottu
maaruvudalla

It is not something that is sold like such things that oxen ( or other such animals) are made to carry

( ettu= ox, horigalu= oxen, hottu = carry, maaruvudalla = maaruvudu(to sell)+ alla (not, no))

Hoth hottigONiyoL tumbuvudalla

It is not something tat you fill a sack with frequently
( hoth = hottu = carry, hottigOniyoL = hotti ( to carry) + gONi( sack) + oL ( inside, in))

etta hodaroo baadige sunkavidakkilla

There is no rent or tax on it wherever you take it

( etta = where, where ever. Hodaroo = go( even if you go) . Baadige = rent, sunkavidakkilla = sunka ( tax)+ idakke ( for this) + illa (no, none) )

Uttama sarakidu ati laabha taruvantha

( uttama = the best. Sarakidu = saraku( commodity) + Idu ( this) . Ati = the most. Laabha = profit. Taruvantha = taruvudu ( will bring) + anta ( like that) )

It is the best commodity the will bring the most profit

KaLLu sakkare kolliro

Buy that sugar candy

Charana 2: sante santege hogi shrama padisuvudalla

It won’t make you work hard by making you go from one ( market) fair to another

( sante = village or market fair. Santege = to the market fair. Hogi = to go. Shrama = work, hard work. PaDisuvudalla = paDisuvudu ( will make you ) + alla ( won’t ) )

SanteyoLage ittu maaruvudalla

It is not something that is sold in a market fair

( santeyOLage = sante + OLaGe( inside, in) . Ittu = keep. Maaruvudalla ( see first charana))

Santata bhaktara naalige savigOmba

Something that is always sweetens the tongue of the devotees

( Santata = always. Bhaktara = devotees. Naalige = tongue . SavigOmba = that sweetens )

Kaanta purandaravitthala naamavemba

Beloved purandavitthala ‘s name

( kaanta = beloved . Naamavemba ( see anupallavi))

KaLLu sakkare kolliro

Buy that sugar candy

I have just wrote the meanings of the words as is. But this song is not just that. There is a lot of philosophy in the song which I can’t explain ( as I haven’t understood). If someone here can explain it, I would greatly appreciate that. I am also posting the link to the video of this song in the movie kanteredu nodu.

Pallavi: Yaadava nee baa yadukula nandana |

Come yadava ( Krishna ) son of the yadu clan |

Madhava madhusoodana nee baaro||

Maadhava, Madhusoodhana you come||

Madhava, Madhusoodhana (names of Krishna, good explanation of the names in bananje govindacharya’s book on Vishnu sahasranama)
( nee= you)
( baaro = ( masculine )come )

Sodaramaavana madureli maduhida |

One who killed his uncle in madure (??)|

(sodara mava = mother’s brother. Kamsa)

( maduhu = to kill, maduhida = he killed )

( here I am not sure if mathura, where kamsa was King, is written as madhura or there is some other meaning. If anyone here knows this please post it here. Thank you)

Yashode kanda nee baaro||

Yashoda’s son ( kanda = affectionate term, baby) come||

Khagavahanane bage bage roopane|

One who has a bird as a vehicle and who has many forms |

( khaga, sanskrit word means bird, maybe also means Garuda, eagle. Vaahana = vehicle)
( bage = many. Roopa = form ( here it means form) )

Nagemogadharane nee baaro||

One who has a smiling face you come||

( nage = smile, laugh. Moga = mukha = face. Dhara = possesses)

Jagodolu ninnaya mahimeya pogaluve|

I will sing praises about your greatness |

Jaga = world . Jagadolu = jagada olage= in the world
Mahime = greatness
Pogaluve = hogaluve = I will praise

Purandaravithala nee baaro ||

Purandaravithala you come. ||

Pallavi: naa ninna dhyanadoliralu mikka|

When I am meditating on you ( always thinking of you) the other|

Heena manaverenu maaDaballaro ranga ||
What can the lowly humans do to me ranga||

Matsarisuverella Koodi maaDuvudeno|
What can all the envious people do together|

Achyuta ninadondu daye nanagiralu||
When achyuta your benevolence is in me||

Vaatsalya biDadiro ninna nambidenaiah|
Don’t stop your affection for me I am depending on you|

Kichchige iruve muttuvudeno ranga||
Will ants surround fire? Ranga||

( because the devotee has god’s love evil people cannot surround/harm him just like how ants can’t surround fire)

KannaDyoLagina ganTu kaLLa|
If a thief makes plans to steal the treasure in a mirror |

Kannavikkalu avana vashavaaguvudeno||
will he ever get it?||

( I am thinking this means that if God is there to protect you no evil person or evil can get to you. It is as futile as a thief trying to steal the treasure in a mirror)

Ninna nambaloo muddu Purandara vithalaa|
My belief in you beautiful ( more like cute) purandara vithalaa |

Chinnakke putavittante ahudo ranga||
is like burnishing gold ranga||

(‘ chinnakke putavittante’ is a saying in Kannada.
gold itself is considered pure and flawless … If it is burnished? Then it becomes even better and shines even brighter. That’s what the devotees belief in the Lord makes him, even better)

Nanenu Madideno Venkataramana Ninenna Salahabeku Krsna
Manabhimanavu Ninagide Enagilla
Dinaraksakasvami Tirupati Venkataramana
Kariraja Karesidane Draupadi Devi Baredole Kalisidale
Harushadindali Rshi Patniya Shapava Pariharideyallo He Swami
oppidi Avalakkiya Tandavanige Oppikotteyo Bhagyava
Sarpa Shayana Shri Purandara Vithalane Aprameya Salaho Venkataraya

pallavi: What did I do oh Venkata Ramana|
You have to protect me Shri Krishna||

Anupallavi: Respect and self- respect is all yours and not for me |
Protector of the one who has nothing swamy tirupathi Venkata Ramana||

Charana: Did the elephant King ( kari = elephant raja=King …reference to gajendra moksha) force you to come?Did draupadi |

send you a letter asking you to come?||

Don’t the whole world know about the rishi’s wife who became a woman after a stone oh! Krishna

To the person who gave you a fistful of avalakki( poha) did you|
not give fortune( riches)||

One who has the snake as bed ( sarpa =snake, shayana = bed, also one who sleeps ) Purandara vittala|
, aprameya ( name of Krishna) you protect me tirupathi Venkata Ramana ||

Purandara dasa is a great poet and devotee of vittala. His poems are in Kannada. The dasa litreture in Kannada is very important not only for the language used but for the reason it started. The dasa’s though mainly follower’s of Shri Madhwaachaarya, wrote poems on subjects including devotion, various avatara’s of Vishnu, philosophy as well as society and it’s conduct. The purpose of these songs were to teach the illiterate people about devotion and philosophy. They are also set to music and so people learnt it as songs. Purandara dasa is called the father of Carnatic music. He formulaised the initial lessons of Carnatic music and brought structure to the way it is taught. Most kannadigas would have heard ‘dasara pada’s’ ( pada meaning poem) at temples, movies and social gatherings. Like all kannadiga’s I too have learnt many dasara pada’s and appreciated their meaning. I have tried here to translate one of them to English. I liked the simplicity and the affection and devotion to ‘vittala’. Each dasa has his own favourite diety. Kanakadasa’s is kagnele’s( a place in Karnataka) aadikeshava, vaadiraajaru’s is hayavadana ( the horse head avatara of Vishnu) and Purandara dasa’s is Purandara ( a place in Karnataka ) vittala.

Naneke badavanu naneke paradeshi

Shrinidhe hari enage niniruva tanaka
Puttisida tai tande ishta mitranu nine
Asta bandhuvu sarva balaga nine
pettigeyolagina ashtabharana nine
Shrestha muruti Krishna niniruva tanaka naneke
Oda huttidava nine odalighakuva nine
Udalu hodiyalu vastra koduvavanu nine
madadi makkalanella kadehayisuva nine
Bidade salahuva odeya niniruva tanaka naneke
Vidye heluva nine buddhi kalisuva nine
Uddhara kartru mama svami nine
Muddu Siri Purandara Vittalaninnadi Mele
Biddu kondiruva enagyatara bhayavonaneke

Why should I think I am poor
Why should I think I am a destitute
Oh shrinidhe Hari as long as you are with me

You are the father and mother who gave birth to me
You are my best friend
You are also my family and extended family
You are also the precious jewels in my box
Oh great Lord Krishna as long as you are there
Why should I think I am poor
Why should I think I am a destitute
Oh shrinidhe Hari as long as you are with me

You are my sibiling
You are also who takes care of me
You are the one who gives clothes to wear and bedding to sleep
You are the one who makes sure my wife and children reach there goal
When I know you oh lord is continuously taking care of me
Why should I think I am poor
Why should I think I am a destitute
Oh shrinidhe Hari as long as you are with me

Your are the one who is educating me you are the one who chides me
You are ‘ uddhara karta mama’ oh lord
The most beautiful Purandara vittala I have fallen at your feet so what fears can bother me
Why should I think I am poor
Why should I think I am a destitute
Oh shrinidhe Hari as long as you are with me

Brings tears to my eyes whenever I sing the song. If you see Him in everything and are sure He is always there to take care of you why fear?

ಅಮೇರಿಕಾ ದೇಶದಲ್ಲಿ ಹೆಜ್ಜೆ ಇಟ್ಟಾಗಲೇ ನನಗೆ ಅನಿಸಿದ್ದು …. ಅಬ್ಬಾ ಇದು ಎಷ್ಟು ದೊಡ್ಡ ದೇಶ ಎಂದು. ಅಮೇರಿಕಾದಲ್ಲಿ ಎಲ್ಲವೂ ದೊಡ್ಡದು, ರಸ್ತೆಗಳು, ಅದರಮೇಲೆ ಚಲಿಸುವ ವಾಹನಗಳು, ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಕಮ್ಮಿ ಜನರು ( ಇದೂ ಒಂದು ಆಸಕ್ತಿಯುತವಾದ ವಿಷಯವೇ. ಎತ್ತರವಾಗಿ ಬ್ಲಾನ್ಡ್ ಬಣ್ಣದ ಕೂದಲಿದ್ದರೆ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಜರ್ಮನ್ ಜೀನ್ ಇರಬಹುದು, ಇಟಾಲಿಯನ್ ಆಗಿದ್ರೆ ಕಪ್ಪು ಕೂದಲು ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಒತ್ತಿ ಒತ್ತಿ ಮಾತಾಡುತ್ತಾರೆ, ನಮ್ಮಂತೆ ಕುಳ್ಳಗಿದ್ದರೆ ಖಂಡಿತವಾಗಲೂ ಮೆಕ್ಸಿಕನ್ನರು …. ನಮ್ಮ ಭಾರತದಂತೆ ಅನೇಕತೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಏಕತೆ )
ದೊಡ್ಡ ಗಾತ್ರ, ರೆಸ್ಟೋರೆಂಟ್ ಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಕೊಡುವ ಊಟ ಕೂಡ ಜಾಸ್ತಿ.
ಇನ್ನೊಂದು ವಿಷಯ ತಕ್ಷಣ ಅರಿವಾಗುವುದೇನೆಂದರೆ ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಜನ ತುಂಬಾ ಕಡಿಮೆ. ರಸ್ತೆಯ ಇಕ್ಕೆಲ ಖಾಲಿ ಖಾಲಿ. ರಸ್ತೆಯ ಮೇಲೆ ವಾಹನಗಳೂ ಕಡಿಮೆ ( ಮುಖ್ಯ ರಸ್ತೆಗಳು ಊರಿನೊಳಗಡೆ ಇರುವಂಥವು, ಜಾಸ್ತಿ ಜನ ಇರುವ ಊರುಗಳು …. ನ್ಯೂ ಯಾರ್ಕ್ ನಗರ, ಸ್ಯಾನ್ ಫ್ರಾನ್ಸಿಸ್ಕೋ ನಗರಗಳು ಇಂಥ ಕಡೆ ನಮ್ಮ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನಂತೆ ಟ್ರಾಫಿಕ್ ಹೆಚ್ಚು) ಮತ್ತೆ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ವಾಹನಗಳು ಶಿಸ್ತುಬದ್ಧವಾಗಿ ಅವಿರುವ ಲೇನ್ನಲ್ಲೆ ಚಲಿಸುತ್ತವೆ. ಲೇನ್ ಬದಲಾಯಿಸಲು ಸೂಚನೆ ಕೊಡಲೇ ಬೇಕು. ಕೊಟ್ಟರೂ ಕೊಡದಿದ್ದರೂ ಹಿಂದೆ ಇರುವವರು ಮುಂದೆ ನೋಡುತ್ತಲ್ಲೆ ಇರಬೇಕು …. ಲೇನ್ ಬದಲಾಗುವ ಸಮಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಅಪಘಾತವಾದರೆ … ಸೂಚನೆ ಕೊಟ್ಟಿದ್ದು ಕೊಡದಿದ್ದರ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಯೋಚಿಸಿ ಫಲವೇನು. ಅದಕ್ಕೆ ವಾಹನ ಚಲಿಸಲು ಲೈಸನ್ಸ್ ಪಡೆಯುವಾಗಲೇ ಡಿಫೆನ್ಸಿವ್ ಡ್ರೈವಿಂಗ್ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಪಾಠವಾಗಿರುತ್ತದೆ. ಒಮ್ಮೆ ಈಥರ ಅಪಘಾತವಾದರೆ ಎಷ್ಟೇ ಚಿಕ್ಕದಾಗಿರಲಿ, ವಾಹನದ ವಿಮೆಯ ಬೆಲೆ ಏರುತ್ತದೆ. ಪೊಲೀಸ್ಗೆ ಹೇಳಲೇ ಬೇಕಾಗುತ್ತದೆ …. ಇನ್ನು ವಾಹನದ ರಿಪೇರಿ ಖರ್ಚು. ಈ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ವಿಷಯಗಳಿಂದಾಗಿ ಇಲ್ಲಿ ವಾಹನ ಚಲಿಸುವಲ್ಲಿ 99% ಜನ ನಿಯಮಗಳನ್ನು ಪಾಲಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನಲ್ಲೂ ಇದೆಯಲ್ಲಾ ನಿಯಮಗಳು ಎಂದು ನೀವು ಹೇಳಬಹುದು. ಇಲ್ಲಿ ನಿಯಮ ಪಾಲಿಸದಿದ್ದರೆ ಪೋಲೀಸಿನವನಿಗೆ ಲಂಚ ಕೊಡಲಾಗುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಪೋಲೀಸಿನವನು ರಸ್ತೆ ಬದಿಯ ಮರಗಿಡಗಳ ಮರೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾಯುತ್ತಾ ಕುಳಿತಿರುತ್ತಾನೆ, ತನ್ನ ಸ್ಪೀಡ್ ರೇಡಾರ್ ಒಡನೆ. ನೀವು ಸೂಚಿಸಿರುವ ಸ್ಪೀಡ್ ಕಿಂತ ಜಾಸ್ತಿ ವೇಗವಾಗಿ ಚಲಿಸಿದಲ್ಲಿ, ಆತ ನಿಮ್ಮ ಹಿಂಬಾಲಿಸುತ್ತಾನೆ. ಹಾಗೆ ಹಿಂಬಾಲಿಸಿದಾಗ ಏನು ಮಾಡಬೇಕೆನ್ನುವುದನ್ನು ಕೂಡ ಲೈಸನ್ಸ್ ಗಳಿಸುವ ಮುನ್ನದ ಪಾಠದಲ್ಲಿ ಹೇಳಿರುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಅದರಂತೆ ಪೊಲೀಸನು ತನ್ನ ಕಾರ್ ನಲ್ಲಿ ನಮ್ಮನ್ನು ಹಿಂಬಾಲಿಸಿದಾಗ, ನಮ್ಮ ಕಾರನ್ನು ರಸ್ತೆ ಬದಿಗೆ ( ಶೋಲ್ಡರ್) ನಿಲ್ಲಿಸಲೇ ಬೇಕು. ಆತನೂ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ದೂರದಲ್ಲಿ ನಿಲ್ಲುತ್ತಾನೆ. ಅವನಾಗಿ ನಮ್ಮ ಕಿಡಕಿಯ ಬಳಿಗೆ ಬರುವ ತನಕ ನಾವೂ ಗಾಡಿಯಿಂದ ಈಚೆ ಇಳಿಯಬಾರದು. ಆತ ಕೇಳಿದಾಗ ನಮ್ಮ ಲೈಸನ್ಸ್, ಇನ್ಶೂರೆನ್ಸ್ ಮತ್ತು ಕಾರ್ ರಿಜಿಸ್ಟ್ರೇಷನ್ ತೋರಬೇಕು. ಆಗ ಆತ ಎಲ್ಲವನ್ನೂ ಪರಿಶೀಲಿಸಿ ಒಮ್ಮೊಮ್ಮೆ ಹೊಸ ವಾಹನ ಚಾಲಕರಾಗಿದ್ದರೆ ಎಚ್ಚರಿಸಿ ಹೋರಡಲು ಹೇಳುತ್ತಾರೆ ಇಲ್ಲದಿದ್ದರೆ ಒಂದು ಟಿಕೆಟ್ ಬರೆದು ಕೊಡುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಅದನ್ನು ನಾವು ಕೋರ್ಟಿಗೆ ಹೋಗಿ ವಾದಿಸಬಹುದು ನಮಗೆ ನಾವು ತಪ್ಪು ಮಾಡಿಲ್ಲ ಎಂದು ನಂಬಿಕೆ ಇದ್ದರೆ. ಇಲ್ಲದಿದ್ದರೆ ಫೈನ್ ದುಡ್ಡನ್ನು ಕಟ್ಟಬೇಕು. ವಾದಮಾಡಲು ವಕೀಲರು ಬೇಕಿಲ್ಲ. ಕೋರ್ಟ್ ಕೂಡ ಹತ್ತಿರದ ಠಾಣೆಯ ಬಳಿಯೇ ಇರುತ್ತೆ. ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಸೇರಿ ಒಂದ್ ಎರಡು ತಿಂಗಳುಗಳಾಗಬಹುದು. ಎಲ್ಲದಕ್ಕೂ ಒಂದು ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆ, ಎಲ್ಲವೂ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥಿತವಾಗಿದೆ. ಇದ್ದಕ್ಕಿದ್ದಂತೆ ಏನೂ ಏರುಪೇರಾಗದು.
ಆದರೆ ಇದೆ ಪೊಲೀಸರು ಆಫ್ರಿಕನ್ ಅಮೆರಿಕನ್ನರನ್ನು ಶಂಕಿಸುವುದು ಇದೆ. ಇತ್ತೀಚಿಗೆ ನಡೆದ ಹಲವಾರು ಘಟನೆಗಳನ್ನು ನೀವು ಯೌಟ್ಯೂಬ್ ನಲ್ಲಿ ನೋಡಿರಬಹುದು ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಓದಿರಬಹುದು. ನಾನು ಕೇಳಿ ತಿಳಿದಿರುವಂತೆ ಅಮೆರಿಕಾದ ಅತಿ ಪೂರ್ವದ ರಾಜ್ಯಗಳು ಮತ್ತು ಅತಿ ಪಶ್ಚಿಮದ ರಾಜ್ಯಗಳು ಸ್ವಲ್ಪಮಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಶಿಕಾಗೋ ಸುತ್ತ ಮುತ್ತ ಪ್ರದೇಶಗಳು ಇಲ್ಲಿ ರೇಸಿಯಲ್ discrimination ಅಷ್ಟಾಗಿ ಇಲ್ಲ. ನಾನು ನ್ಯೂಜೆರ್ಸಿ ಅಲ್ಲಿದ್ದ 17 ವರುಷ ಒಮ್ಮೆಯೂ ಈ ರೀತಿಯ ವರ್ತನೆ ಅನುಭವಿಸಿಲ್ಲ. ಆದರೆ ಅಮೆರಿಕಾದ ಮಧ್ಯ ಭಾಗದಲ್ಲಿ ಇದು ತುಂಬಾ ಇದೆ ಎಂದು ಹೇಳುತ್ತಾರೆ. ತಮ್ಮ ನಾಡಿನಿಂದ, ಬೇಸತ್ತು, ವಲಸೆ ಬಂದ ಜನತೆ ಕಟ್ಟಿದ ದೇಶವಿದು. ಬಹಳಷ್ಟು ಮಂದಿ ಕಷ್ಟಪಟ್ಟು ದುಡಿಯುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಆದ್ದರಿಂದ ದುಡಿಯುವವರನ್ನು ಗೌರವಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಆದರೆ ಈಗಿರುವ ಜನತೆ …. ಕಷ್ಟ ಪಡುವುದನ್ನು ಮರೆತಂತಿದೆ. ಆದರೂ ಪರಿಸ್ಥಿತಿ ಮೇರೇ ಮೀರಿಲ್ಲ ಇನ್ನೂ….
ಇನ್ನೊಂದು ಖೇದದ ವಿಷಯ ಯೂರೋಪಿಯನ್ನರು ಬರುವ ಮುನ್ನ ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಇದ್ದ ಜನಾಂಗದ್ದು. ನೇಟಿವ್ ಅಮೆರಿಕನ್ ಅಂತ ಕರಿಯಲ್ಪಡುವವರು. ಅವರ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿ ಕೇವಲ ಬೆರಳೆಣಿಕೆಯಷ್ಟು ರೆಸೆರವಶನ್ ಜಾಗದಲ್ಲಿ ಉಳಿದಿದೆ. ಸಮಯ ಸಿಕ್ಕಾಗ ಈ ಎರಡೂ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿಗಳು ಒಂದು ನಾಡಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಕಲೆತಾಗ ಆದ ಘಟನೆಗಳ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಓದಿ. ಬಹಳ ಖೇದವಾಗುತ್ತೆ. ಪದೇ ಪದೇ ಪರದೇಶಿಗಳು ಆಳಿದ ನಮ್ಮ ಭಾರತದ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿಗೆ ಈ ಗತಿ ಬರಲಿಲ್ಲವಲ್ಲ ಎಂದು ಸಮಾಧಾನವಾಗುತ್ತೆ. ಮತ್ತೆ ಹಾಗೇಕಾಯಿತು ಎಂಬ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆಯೂ ಏಳುತ್ತೆ. ಉತ್ತರ ಇನ್ನೂ ಹುಡುಕುತ್ತಿದ್ದೇನೆ. ನಮ್ಮ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿ ಅಮೆರಿಕನ್ನರಿಗಿಂತ ಹಳೆಯದಾಗಿರುವುದು ಕಾರಣವೇ?
ಇಂದಿಗೆ ಇಷ್ಟು ಸಾಕು … 😊

“Ammaa..” my daughter was calling me. From the sound of it I knew something was wrong. The word Amma ( meaning mom) can be said in different ways. A mother knows, just like I knew when my daughter was an infant and she would cry…. I would know whether it was for hunger, for feeling tired or just bored…. It took me sometime but I learnt it. Similarly now I knew.
I looked at the clock it was 7.05. My mind was calculating furiously…. If it was a small problem maybe I can fix it… if it is a bigger problem I have to do the it- is- not- the- end- of- the- world routine. Then I realized that the bus text hadn’t come yet…. So how much time do I have? Is there a mistake… last evening’s bus text was also late… maybe I should call Nagraj(The school bus in-charge) My chain of thought was interrupted as I felt my daughter’s arms hug me!! OMG it is a big problem …. Maybe I should just go with the it-is-not-the-end-of-world routine. I hugged her back waiting for her to say something.
Gone are the days when I would go ahead and tell her that I know what was going on in her mind. I have learnt that if I do that then the hands would go right back where they came from and my daughter would suddenly become this stranger. She would go away without saying a word and that hurts a lot more than when she answers back…. I think all moms understand this. I didn’t want her to go away to school with that look on her face. God knows that it is only fleeting… she will forget about the whole thing once she reaches school. But, something told me that this was serious.
Then she slowly told me ….” My hair…” . I was relieved it was not a forgotten homework, it was not about losing an important notebook … just before the exams and thank god it was not that she had an exam today and she hadn’t studied for it. I had to hold back a smile that was about break on my face. With all seriousness I asked “what about it?” Then I noticed her hair. It looked all clumped up… like how my hair used to be after my mom had put all that oil in it. Definitely it was not a big deal. I told her, “maybe we can comb it and put a hairpin… it will look neat”. She shook her head “why has my hair become like this? It used to be so soft?” My 15year old know- it-all, thinks that hair can actually change from one type to the other overnight? It is unbelievable.
Then I realized, however intelligent she maybe when it comes to various other things, she was still a 15 year old. For her, hair mattered a lot more than it did to me. “Okay, as soon as you come home today we will wash it again and make it better” I said hoping against hope that it would solve the problem and she would start stepping out of the house. She started wearing her shoes but didn’t look convinced. At that time her father came up and said “why is your hair like that, what if you get pulled up for hair not being combed properly?” My daughter gave me a pained look. My husband understands my daughter very well in certain matters… mostly academics and building her confidence, etc. But, hair was completely my domain. Really, what do fathers know about such things? I just gave him a don’t-say-a-word-more look and stepped out with her to the car. All through the ride to the bus stop I kept telling her stories about how people deal with embarrassment. At the bus stop she didn’t get down like she always does once she sees her friends. She asked to stay in the car till the bus came. I told her more stories to make her feel better.
Finally, I asked her what it would say about her if she stayed back home just because she had a bad hair day? That seemed to have had an effect as the next thing she said was” it became like this because of that shampoo you asked me to use” That made me feel better because my feisty daughter was back…. She hadn’t done anything for her hair to be like that, it was all Amma’s fault. I smiled inside. At the same time she saw the yellow bus in the rear view mirror and quickly got out of the car, pulling her bag up her shoulder…. Yelling I love you … she was gone. I was glad that my daughter did realize that there were more serious things to worry about than her hair…. Like missing the bus… OMG! that would be the worst.