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Njanappana – The Fountain of Wisdom [Part 7] – The Prominence of Kali Yuga

kali yuga

This is the 7th part of Njanappana series. Please read Part 1 , Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5 and Part 6 if you have not yet…

1. Njanappana- Malayalam Lyrics
2. Njanappana- English Transliteration
3. Njanappana- Meaning in English
4. Njanappana- Comments in English

Part 7: കലികാലമഹിമ (The Prominence of Kali Yuga) – Part 1

യുഗം നാലിലും നല്ലൂ കലിയുഗം
സുഖമേതന്നെ മുക്തിവരുത്തുവാന്‍.

കൃഷ്ണ! കൃഷ്ണ! മുകുന്ദ! ജനാര്‍ദ്ദന!
കൃഷ്ണ! ഗോവിന്ദ! രാമ! എന്നിങ്ങനെ
തിരുനാമസംഗീര്‍ത്തനമെന്നിയേ
മറ്റില്ലേതുമേ യത്‌നമറിഞ്ഞാലും.

അതു ചിന്തിച്ചു മറ്റുള്ള ലോകങ്ങള്‍
പതിമൂന്നിലുമുള്ള ജനങ്ങളും
മറ്റു ദ്വീപുകളാറിലുമുള്ളോരും
മറ്റു ഖണ്ടങ്ങളെട്ടിലുമുള്ളോരും
മറ്റു മൂന്നുയുഗങ്ങളിലുള്ളോരും
മുക്തി തങ്ങള്‍ക്കു സാധ്യമല്ലായ്കയാല്‍
കലികാലത്തെ,ഭാരതഖണ്ടത്തെ,
കലിതാദരം കൈവണങ്ങീടുന്നു.

Njanappana – Part 7 English Transliteration

Yugam naalilum nallu kaliyugam
Sughame thanne mukti varuthuvaan

Krishna! Krishna! Mukunda! Janaardana!
Krishna! Govinda! Rama! enningane
Thirunaama sankeerthanamenniye
Mattaethumilla yathnamarijaalum

Athu chinthichu mattulla lokangal
Pathimoonnilumulla janangalum
Mattu dweepukalaarilumull orum
Mattu khandangalettilumul lorum
Mattu moonnu yugangalilullorum
Mukti thangalkku saadhyamallaykayaal
Kalikaalthe, bhaaratha khandathe
Kalithaadaram kaivananageedunnu

Njanappana – Part 7 Meaning in English

Of the four Yugas, the best is Kali Yuga,
To easily attain salvation.

Krishna, Krishna, Mukunda Janardhana,
Krishna, Govinda and Rama, etc.
Thus praising your holy names,
There is nothing as effortless as this [to attain moksha].

Thinking about this,
Those living in all the thirteen worlds,
And those living in all the six islands,
And those living in other eight countries,
And those who lived in other three yugas (periods),
Realizing that they would not get salvation easily,
To both Kali Yuga and the land of Bharata (Bhaarat),
To you, I pay my respect with folded hands.

Njanappana Part 7 Comments

Bhakta Kavi Poonthanam continues,

“Yugam naalilum nallu kaliyugam
Sughame thanne mukti varuthuvaan”

He talks about how blessed are we to be born in this Kali Yuga, because it is the best Yuga (era) to attain Moksha (salvation). Even though there are many negativities in Kali Yuga, one of the best things about this Yuga is that one can attain Moksha simply by chanting God’s names (naamajapam).

There are four Yugas according to Sanatana Dharma or Ancient Hinduism – Satya Yuga (aka Krutha Yuga), Treta Yuga, Dvapara Yuga and Kali Yuga.

Satya Yuga (Krutha Yuga): This Yuga is believed to be the Golden Age which lasted about 1,728,000 years where people attained self-realization by meditating upon Lord Vishnu. Majority of the population had 100% godliness and believed in harmony and goodness of each other and their life span was 100,000 years.

Treta Yuga: This is the Silver Age which lasted about 1,296,000 years where people attained self-realization by performing Yajnas (sacrifices). People’s godly qualities declined by one by fourth compared to Satya Yuga and their lifespan was reduced to 10,000 years.

Dvapara Yuga: This is the Bronze Age which lasted about 864,000 years where the process of self-realization was by worshipping deities in temples. People’s godly qualities declined again by 50% compared to Satya Yuga and their lifespan was reduced to 1000 years.

Kali Yuga: This is the Iron Age which we all live in right now and would last for 432,000 years where our godliness declined to 25% in the beginning of the Yuga and further declines as we journey through, compared to that of Satya Yuga. To attain self-realization, Naama Sankirtanam – chanting the holy names of God – was advised. The life span of the people were reduced to 100 years. It is believed that about 5000 years of Kali Yuga has already passed and by the end of this Yuga, the life span would be reduced to about 20 years.

In the following passage from Mahabharata, Shri Anjaneya beautifully describes Yugas to Prince Bhima:

“The Krita Yuga [Satya Yuga is also called Krita Yuga] was so named because there was but one religion, and all men were saintly: therefore they were not required to perform religious ceremonies… Men neither bought nor sold; there were no poor and no rich; there was no need to labour, because all that men required was obtained by the power of will…The Krita Yuga was without disease; there was no lessening with the years; there was no hatred, or vanity, or evil thought whatsoever; no sorrow, no fear. All mankind could attain to supreme blessedness. The universal soul was White… the identification of self with the universal soul was the whole religion of the Perfect Age. In the Treta Yuga sacrifices began, and the World Soul became Red; virtue lessened a quarter. Mankind sought truth and performed religious ceremonies; they obtained what they desired by giving and by doing. In the Dwapara Yuga the aspect of the World Soul was Yellow: religion lessened one-half. The Veda was divided into four parts, and although some had knowledge of the four Vedas, others knew but three or one. Mind lessened, Truth declined, and there came desire and diseases and calamities; because of these men had to undergo penances. It was a decadent Age by reason of the prevalence of sin.”

Even after knowing all negative qualities of Kali Yuga which is the current Yuga, the poet is fascinated by the fact that to attain salvation, all one has to do is to sing the praises of Lord which is a way of Bhakti Yoga / Devotion.

There are many stories of people attaining Moskha by devotion. The story of Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri, the poet Poonthanam himself and Ramana Maharshi are the most beautiful examples.

Poet then goes on to sing the praises of Lord Krishna:

“Krishna! Krishna! Mukunda! Janaardana!
Krishna! Govinda! Rama! enningane…”

It is important to know the meaning of each words to understand this prayer better:

Krishna: The one who attracts. Krishna is the Paramatman (Paramātmā) and we are all Jeevatma. Thus Krishna is the Paramatman who attracts all Jeevatma to him. The word “Krishna” literally means “the one who is dark” or the “attractive one”. The word “Krish” means “the attractive one” and “na” means “spiritual pleasure”. It is believed that Krishna was named thus, because he was born dark at night on Ashtami.

Mukunda: “Mukthim dadadeethi Mukunda”, meaning “the one who gives salvation / moksha”. “Mukthi” is Salvation, “Dada” is “to give”.

Janaardana: The one who people seeks for prosperity and well being.

Govinda: The one who protects the cows, the nature and our senses.

Rama: “Ramayathi ithi Rama” meaning “the one who gives joy” is Rama. It is believed that the name “Rama” was originated from the word “NaRAyana” and “NaMAshivaya” (Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva).

Poet says that simply by chanting the auspicious names of God, one can purify their mind and thoughts to regain their godliness which is lost in the passing of each Yugas. Kali Yuga is the best yuga for that purpose!

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