Original Script

செல்வக் குருநாதா

செல்வக் குருநாதா செல்வக் குருநாதாஶ்ரீ
சிந்தைதடு மாறுதெடா திருவருளைத் தந்திடெடா

அல்லலெல்லாம் நீக்கி யாளாக்க வேண்டுமெடா
எல்லையில்லா வின்பத்திலே யெனையிருத்தி வைத்திடெடா

கல்லை நிகர்த்தமனங் கரையவரந் தந்திடெடா
தொல்லைவினை நீக்கிச் சுகமெனக்கே யீந்திடெடா

நீயேநா னென்னும் நிச்சயத்தைக் காட்டிடெடா
பேயேபோல் நானிருந்து பிரமைகொள்ள வைத்திடெடா

அங்குமிங்கு மோடி யலைந்து திரிகிறேன்டா
எங்குமுனைக் காண வெனக்குவரந் தந்திடெடா

வலைப்பட்ட மான்போல் மயக்கமிக வாகுதெடா
சிலைப்பட்ட பாண்டம்போற் சித்தஞ் சிதறுதெடா

எனக்குள்ளே நீயிருக்கும் எழிலைத்தான் காட்டிடெடா
உனக்குள்ளே நானிருக்கு முண்மையிலே மாட்டிடெடா

பேசாத மந்திரத்தின் பெருமைநீ தந்திடெடா
ஆசா பிசாசை யகற்றவழி காட்டிடெடா

என்னோ டுடன்பிறந்தா ரெல்லோரும் மாண்டார்கள்
உன்னுறவே யல்லாம லோருறவு மில்லையெடா

Transliteration

selva gurunaathaa selva gurunaathaa!
sinthai thadumaaruthedaa thiruvarulai thanthidedaa

allalellaam neekki aalaakka veyndumedaa
ellaiyillaa inbatthiley enaiyirutthi
vaitthidedaa

kallai nigarttha manang karaiya varan thanthidedaa
thollai vinai neekki sugamenakkey yeenthidedaa

neeyey naanennum nicchayatthai kaattidedaa
peyyeypohl naanirunthu piramai kolla vaitthidedaa

angumingum ohdi alainthu thirigireyndaa
engum unai kaana enakku varam thanthidedaa

valaippatta maan pohl mayakkamiga aaguthedaa
silaippatta paandam pohl sittham sitharuthedaa

enakkulley neeyirukkum el.ilaitthaan kaattidedaa
unakkulley naanirukkum unmaiyiley maattidedaa

peysaatha manthiratthin perumai nee thanthidedaa
aasaa pisaasai agattra val.i kaattidedaa

ennohdudan piranthaar ellohrum maandaarkal
unnuravey yallaamal ohruravum illaiyedaa

Translation

Precious Gurunathan

precious - Gurunatha - precious - respected Gurunatha!
mind - vascillating, my dear - divine grace (about) - give, my dear

sorrows all - remove - make a man of - is needed, my dear
boundless - in bliss - placed me
keep me, my dear

stone - like - mind - to melt - boon - grant, my dear
past - karma - remove - peace to me, indeed - bestow, my dear

you indeed - am I, thus - certainty - show, my dear
as one possessed - I remain - consciousness - hold - keep me, my dear

here and there - run - roam - wandering am I , my dear
everywhere - you - to see - to me - boon - give, my dear

caught in a net - deer - like - much delusion - has become, my dear
hit by stone - vessel - like - mind - is shattering, my dear

within me - your being - the charm of - show, my dear
within you - my being - in the truth of - anchor, my dear

unspoken - sacred word - glory - you - give, my dear
desire - demon - to remove - the way - show, my dear

together with me - those who were born - everyone - is dead
your relationship indeed - without - another relative - not there, my dear

* 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