Compiled by london swaminathan
Date: 5 March,2016
Post No. 2601
Time uploaded in London :– 13-35
( Thanks for the Pictures )
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Some of Bharati’s friends were discussing about some mistakes in Bharatis poems and they argued that he did not follow the rules of prosody. Somehow Bharati came to know about this gossip. Immediately he called them and asked which came first Tamil or Grammar. They were unanimous in saying that Tamil came first and then the grammar came.
Bharati said, “Good. That is right. Please allow the Tamil language to go in its own way. Le the grammar follow the langage”. All of them kept quiet and left the place. Grammar is to show the structure of a language and guide it. But it should never devour the language is the view of Bharati according to Akkur Ananthachary who narrate this anecdote in Tamil ( from the 1936 publication of A.A. ‘Bharati’s Life history’).
Following is the view of R Srinivasan, given in his book, Facets of Indian culture):–
Grammar can never produce good literature; rather, it may hamper it. Language is more fundamental, it is a living aspect of human intercourse; grammar is only a code, a record of certain standard forms adopted by great literary geniuses. A poet does not care a straw for our grammar, grammar may stifle a poet, and he rebels and breaks thorough the prison house of grammar into spacious realms of poetic fantasies, untrammelled by any conventional fetters.
Adi Shankara on Sanskrit Grammar
Great philosopher Adi Shankara also mocks at Sanskrit grammarians who involves them in heated discussions wasting their time. In his Bhaja Govindam, he says in the very first verse:-
Adore the Lord, Adore the Lord, Adore the Lord,
O fool! When the appointed time for departure comes, the repetition of grammatical rules will not, indeed, save you.
Bhaja Govindam Bhaja Govindam
Bhaja Govindam Muudhamate
Sampraapte sannihite kale
Na hi na hi raksati dukrn karane
–subham–
Tamil and Vedas 
R Nanjappa
/ March 5, 2016* I submit that the matter has to be handled with care. There is no doubt that grammar follows language: இலக்கியம் கண்டதற்கு இலக்கணம்.The function of grammar is really to fix the meaning, so that a word or concept is rightly understood even by succeeding generations. KI.Va.Ja used to point out that we were able to fix the meaning of Sangam literature precisely because of the fixed usage. In the explanations and comments given by Dr. U.Ve. S Iyer, we can see the extent to which he has gone to justify his rendering by citing chapter and verse from previous authorities. Words like களவு, கற்பு etc have precise meaning in Tholkappiam eg. [கற்பெனப் படுவது கரணமொடு புணர்தல்] But these are already discarded by modern writers who give their own fancy meanings!*
*Even so, we can make a distinction between exceptions and violations. Creative spirits may have to exceed the confines of grammar,but can it become a routine? A Kamban or Milton- will he take liberties with grammar all too often? And what will it become in the hands of lesser mortals ? Already we see many modern “poets” resorting to free verse and no style, because they are ill at ease with grammar ! If one cannot write poetry, one can write modern poetry or haiku or anything!*
*Freedom in the case of true geniuses should not turn into license in the hands of the incompetent imitators!*
*Mahakavi Bharati will be an exception for at least a thousand years !*
On 5 March 2016 at 19:05, Tamil and Vedas wrote:
> Tamil and Vedas posted: ” Compiled by london swaminathan Date: 5 > March,2016 Post No. 2601 Time uploaded in London :– 13-35 ( Thanks > for the Pictures ) DON’T REBLOG IT AT LEAST FOR A WEEK! DON’T USE THE > PICTURES; THEY ARE COPYRIGHTED BY SO” >