Original Script

எங்கள் குருநாதன்

பல்லவி

எங்கள் குருநாதன் எழில்நல்லை வாசன்
இங்கும் அங்கும் எங்கும் பிரகாசன்

அநுபல்லவி

மங்கள கரமான வாக்யப்ர சாதன்
மாறாத மௌன தியானப்ர வேசன்

சரணங்கள்

அன்பர்ச காயன் ஆனந்த சாகரன்
அல்லும் பகலும்நல்லை வீதியிற் சேகரன்
என்பிழை யாவும் பொறுத்தெனை யாண்டவன்
இரவும் பகலுமென்றன் மனத்தினில் தாண்டவன்

வஞ்சம் பொறாமைகோபம் வைத்திடும் மாந்தர்க்கும்
அஞ்சாதே யென்றருளை யீந்திடுஞ் சுதந்திரன்
கஞ்ச மலர்ப்பதத்தைக் கனவிலும் மறவோர்க்குப்
பஞ்சாமிர் தம்போனெஞ்சிற் பண்புட னினிப்பவன்

Transliteration

Engal Gurunaathan

pallavi

engal gurunaathan el.il nallai vaasan
ingum angum engum piragaasan

anupallavi

mangalagaramaana vaakya prasaathan
maaraatha mauna thiyaana praveysan

saranangal

anbar sagaayan aanantha saagaran
allum pagalum nallai veethiyil seygaran
en pil.ai yaavum porutth enai aandavan
iravum pagalum enthan manatthinil thaandavan

vanjam poraamai kohpam vaitthidum maantharkkum
anjaathey yendrarulai eenthidum suthanthiran
kanja malar pathatthai kanavilum maravohrkku
panjaamirtham pohl nenjil panbudan inippavan

Translation

Our Gurunathan

auspicious - words - He who offers
unchanged - silent - meditation - He who enters

verses

loved ones - He who helps - bliss - He who is ocean of
night and - day - Nallur temple - in the precincts - He who gathers
my - misdeeds - all - patient with - myself - He who rules
night and - day too - mine - in the mind - He who dances

deceit - envy - anger - holding - even to people
fear not - such a grace - giving - He who is free
lotus - flower - Feet - even in dream - to those that do not forget
nectar of five (1) - like, in the heart - by nature - He who is sweet

Footnote:
(1): Panjaamirtham : sweet mixture of 'five ingredients' traditionally used in the abhishekam of Saiva Deities: milk, ghee, honey, jaggery, bananas (other fruits are optional)

* Model for Study: A major impediment to the spread of Natchintanai has been the diversity of melodies used for any given song. Hindu music is very creative and professionally trained Carnatic singers have a great deal of freedom for improvisation, much like modern western jazz musicians. But this leaves the average lay person with a big problem as well as teachers of groups or children when they come to learn the song. "How should we sing it? What is the tune?" To facilitate the dissemination of Yogaswami's songs the Swamis at Kauai Aadheenam have selected standardized tunes. Wherever possible we have tried to source these melodies from the Sri Lankan Jaffna community itself. Sometimes a complicated carnatic melody by a professional Jaffna Tamil singer has been simplified. (Gamakams are reduced for children) In cases where melodies are not known or are "boring" from a modern youth angle, we have adopted a more rhythmic, upbeat melody. We have to give credit to the Tiruvadi Niliyam (Jaffna Sai Baba devotees) who have sponsored some recordings by the All Ceylon Radio Singers for leading the way in this regard. These are good examples of Yogaswami's songs sung in a pleasing style. It is well known that Yogaswami himself did on occasion tell his devotees to sing such-and-such a Natchintanai song according to the melody of a song sung by one of the current popular devotional singers of his day. The melodies for many Natchintanai have yet to be selected for groups and children. If you would care to suggest some tunes we would very much appreciate your suggestions. Please email studyhall@hindu.org