Meter

Meters are structures that are followed in poems and verses. Classy poems are always characterized by compelling meters used by the composer or poets. While meters (chandas) are very commonly used in Sanskrit shlokas, poems and compositions, Venkata kavi has been able to use the same concept in his Tamil compositions too, similar to Arunagirinathar's Tiruppuhazh.

 

Select examples of the same can be observed below:

Nalladalla enru (Shankarabharanam) - second line

nandavanam tanil – anda natamidum – nanda mukunda go-vindanidam shenru

Paras Saptaratna – Aalaavadennaalo – last line of anupallavi (a meter in eights)

tadikka taam ena – viditta taalamum – tudikkadaam ena – madittu gati pera

Madhyamakalam in pallavi - Eppadittaan en ullam (Neelambari) – uses a meter that adds up to 16 from the pattern of 4+5+4+3

ishaitaru kuzhalodum kundalam olira – ivai taru shuvaiyinil vandinamurala

Bhajanaamrta (Nattai Saptaratna) – pallavi madhyamakalam (another meter in eights)

vraja sundari jana – pada pankaja sama – anukampita hrdi – smara sambhava nija

Paal vadiyum mukham (Nattaikkuranji) – madhyamakalam in charanam

karutta kuzhalodu niratta mayil ira- hirutti amaitta tirattile

gaana mayilada mona kuyil paada neela nadiyodum vanattile

kural mudal ezhil ishai kuzhaiya varum ishaiyil kuzhalodu milir ila karattile

kadirum madiyum ena nayana vizhihal iru nalinamaana chalanattile…

 

Many of these examples remind us of Arunagirinathar's tongue-twisting meters used in Tiruppuhazh-s and Venkata kavi can be credited for using this concept in Carnatic Tamil compositions.