Shenkotai Sri Avudai Akkal, was a remarkable woman sage from Tamil Nadu,
India who lived in 18th century. Akkal was widowed as a child. One day the great master Tiruvisainallu
Sridhara Venkatasa Ayyawal visited the village of Shenkottai and gave her
spiritual initiation. Eventually, she
realized the Self, with the grace of her Master.
The songs that came out of her Advaitic experience describe her supreme
blissful state and her deep gratitude towards her Guru. These songs have been handed down orally by
several generations, mostly through women, who learn them by heart, hearing and
singing them along with those who already know them. In the twentieth century, the songs were
documented and have appeared in some Tamil publications.
I came to know about Shenkotai Sri Avudai Akkal while reading an article
related to Bhagavan Ramana Maharishi’s mother Sri Azhagammal. Sri Azhagammal would often sing compositions
with underlying Vedantic meaning during her daily chores. Many of those songs
were composed by Sri Avudai Akkal of Chengottai. I happened to listen few of Akkal songs sung
by Bombay Sisters. The songs are
mesmerizing and packed with powerful spiritual messages.
Subsequently, bought two books – “Shenkottai Sri Avudai Akkal Padal Thirattu”
in Tamil published by Sri Gnanananda Niketan, edited by Swami Nitayananda Giri
of Thapovanam Ashram in Tirukovilur and
“Transgressing Boundaries – The songs of shenkottai Avudai Akkal” by Kanachana
Natarajan. The later book is the English
translation of some of the songs of “Shenkottai Sri Avudai Akkal Padal Thirattu”
If you are interested to purchase the above books
1. For Shenkottai
Sri Avudai Akkal Padal Thirattu (A collection of Vedantic songs of Avudai
Akkal of Shenkottai) and the CD of Avudai Akkal songs sung by Bombay Sisters -
please visit
2. For
“Transgressing Boundaries – The songs of shenkottai Avudai Akkal” please visit
one of the following sites
To
purchase in India
Reading and listening to Akkal songs gives immense joy and peace. Akka’s poems use simple mundane metaphors to
articulate the Truth.
Shenkottai Sri Avudai Akkal Padal Thirattu has about 100+ songs. In this blog an attempt is made to translate
some of her songs to English from the Tamil book - “Shenkottai Sri Avudai Akkal
Padal Thirattu”. Please pardon this blogger,
if there are any errors or omissions in the translation.
Akkal describes
her non-dual (advaitic) experience in all her compositions, emphasizes the
importance of Guru and how Guru’s grace worked for her. The practice of dispassion could be based on
reactions to specific events in life. This dispassion can be shaken or forgotten
after sometime. But Akkal, through her
songs she clearly and beautifully elucidates the discrimination between the
real and unreal (viveka) and through that discrimination she takes us to practice
of dispassion (vairagya). The dispassion that arises out of discrimination remains firm.
She reminds us
“You are THAT”. By reading those poems, by Guru’s grace and dispassion born out
of discrimination between the real and unreal, let us perform self-inquiry,
recognize the Self and abide in and as the Self.
Thank you so much. Please translate more of Akkal songs. And i suppose that the book mentioned does not have the poems in tamil script itself so your blog is helpful that way. Thanks again
ReplyDeleteIs there an English translation of the songs of Avudai Akkaal? Please let me know. Thanks.
ReplyDelete...thathwamasi. By reading one of her writings, I searched for more thamil lyrics and found this blog. I would like to express many thanks to you. Almighty bless you. nantri
ReplyDelete