, 1872-11-24
HEATHEM POETRY.

papers on Tamil Popular Poetry" contributed
to two recent numbers Of the Iadidn Anhg7ta,y
(Bombay), by A[r. Cardwell, Of Madras, wherein
the writer undertakes to discuss the characteris-
rration- that "Tamil popular poetry contains
gems Of art Of which any European Language
might be proud" Here is = specimen Of . pop
u1ar Tamil:poet:
THE SHEPHERD OF THE WORLDS.
"a detached piece from the poems Of 6i7ayakdyar.,
How many various flowers
Did in by9one hours
Gull for the god, and in his homer srew!
In vain how many prayer
breathed into the mir,
And made, with many forms, obeisance due.
Beating my treast aloud
How oft I called for the crowd
To drag the village car: How oft strayed
$50 1n:manoods prime to lave
SunHard the flowing wave,
And circlng slva's fsnes my homage paid. ''
But they-the truly wise
Who know and realize
Where dwells the SHEPHERD OF TEE WORLDS, will
To any visible shrine,
As if it were divine,
Deign to raise hands Of worship or OF prayer.
Such is the tone Of the most popular Of Tamil
poets against what is called gross idolatry, not
dissimilar to some praises OF devotion nearer
home; such is 3 philosophy among the peas
antry OF India, and altogether underived from
what is called Western civilization. " " "
From about thirty stanzas by the Basne~ poet,
given in Tamil and English, by Mr. Cardweu,
We select the following three, having d like
theme with the preceding: ~~-
Fools with continual searching,
u The gods, the gods" Sc cry;
Even the way ye know not
To seek for them whereby.
Tell me, is it religion
To say The gods are three NJ
To attain to God, tcithin you
Your search fos him must be.
The tethered ass becomes 1t
4 swan il Gods ndored2
Te sinful fools, can silva
Become the one true Lord2
Awholly spiritnsl object
In the Henceforth he standA;
The Original, the Endless,
Whom no mind understands!
Not vishau, Brahrna, sivs
In the Beyond is he;
Me- 11se saafso nss & ts his1s aGl ss sads, s
Not great is he, not1ittle,
Not female and not male;
But stands far, fur, and far beyond
ALI beings' utmost pale.
And also the two following, on religious symbol
ism-s subject the solution OF which seems to be
quite as earnestly and intelligently aimed at
and as hopelessly missed by the Indian az By
the European intellect. To deyotees thus:
How mnny your devices!
Although 80 mortify
Your bodies, go through mantrss,
To temple-cloultries hie, :.
Yon will not know The Splendor
Who hath IN space his seat;
They with minds cleared can only
Reach the true 6fvas feet.
NY thoughts are flowers and sshes
In my breasts fans enshrlped;
Ny breath, too, ts therein 1t
linJd unconfned; :
NY senses, too, like incense
Rise, and like bright lamps shine,
There, too, my soul leaps ever
dancing-Bod divinei
Mr.. Cardweu says the drift Of this last stanzs,
which, in hiB opinion. is one OF the finest ever
written by Siravakkiyar, is as follows: HYou
popular Hindua have your temples; you have
your flowers and sacred ashes; you have your
phallus or emblem OF divine creative power; you
have your incense and lamps and you have your
divine dancer, silva. !, too, have my flowers
and ashes; but they are Of the mind. I, too,
have my lnga; but it is my breath Or spirit. I,
too, haTe my incense and 1amps but they are
in divine sport within me-; but that is my soul.
In word, mine is the true spiritual worship"
From the !" lamentations" OF the same poet,
we select the English version OF the SECOND
half:
Will the bleet time Of bliss attained arrive,
When annihilate these senses Ave.
Euppress my Pride and my tired being steep
In that existence which is sleepless sleepy
When, ali: when,
Ceaving through III this births Illusions win
Bhal to my last spiritual state attain7
When, ali! when,
Burning the Shastras deemiug the Veda5 four
Mere lies, shall the Mystery explore,
And perfect bliss for evermore2
When, ah when,
Laying aside, bound fast, the shsstrsa' lore
Wholly distrusdng, too, the Vedas four,
Shall the Mystery know aud grieve no more7
Wheu ah when,
Though the Vedas four may hoaree1y shout
The secret Of the Heavens shall find out?
When, ah when,
Shall this poor soul within this body set,
Diaquieted like hsh,w thin net,
Find the True Priest, and offer, as ss meet,
Perpetual homage to His sacred 1eet2
When, af ! when,
VIII al my carnal lusts have utter end:
And I, with eyelids dropt, to Heaven ascend,
And with Gods being my own being hland2