What difference can I make?

There is a small song in Tamil that is seriously quite very funny ..... it has been adapted in movies recently and hence has become quite popular.

I'm not sure if its real meaning is popular though.

Nandavanthil Oru Aandhi Avan

Naalaaru maathamai Kuyanvanai Vendi

Kondu Vandha Oru Thondi

Adhai Koothadi Koothandi Pottudaithaandi

The outer (literal) meaning is regaled with humour - it means a poor man in a garden begged for a pot for ten months from a potter. After he managed to get the pot, he did not care about it, he did not use it's worth,  he played and danced so much with it that he utlimately broke it !

However there is an indepth meaning hidden behind the humourous disposition. It is about "Wasting life" or not putting life to its real use.

Lets decipher the song again with a slightly serious slant -

Nandavanam (or the garden) here means the Earth and Aandi refers to a person. As a person is born with nothing he is referred to being a "poor man". He comes into existence after a period of ten months (refer to Naalaru maathamain means 4+6 months). The point here is that human life is not easy to obtain  - the poet says it comes only after begging the potter (the Creator). The pot (life) can be used usefully or can be wasted away/ broken.

It is said that human existence is one of the best forms of existence, when compared to other existence forms (plants, trees, insects, animals - recall all the kingdoms / phylums that we studied in biology) - science and philiosophy both agree on one point here  - that - humans are the most advanced forms of existence.

Having obtained such an existence, what difference can we make?

There is this story about Alexander the Great,  Alexander seeked to reach and win the "ends of  the world and the Great outer sea", At one stage his kingdom spread from the Adriatic sea to the Indus river. He invaded as far as parts of India and it is said that he was one of the greater amasser of wealth. However illness struck him quite early in age and he could not execute further planned invasions. It is told that he realised the futility of all his conquests and his fame, when death seemed inevitable. He told his General that he wanted his coffin to be made in such a way that his hands would extend outside the coffin, and he should be carried with his palms outstretched. This, was to show the world, that he, Alexander, who had conquered many lands, but when his life ended, took away nothing with him. We come with nothing into this world, and so will we leave.

So if it is not fame or fortune that will matter, & life's impermanence is reaslised,  what are we worth at the end of it all?

I would like to finish with the following sentence that we can ponder upon:

"Kaadharantha Uusium Vaardhu Kaan" -  by another great Tamil saint Thaimaanavar,

"Even a needle whose eye is broken will not accompany you".

 

 Great are the people who emphasise great meaning in a humourous context.

I finish this blog, with unanswered questions asked -  lets reflect until we meet again.

Ciao