Tamil version of Yoga and Shiva worship differs slightly from the Vedic Worship.

The Vaasi Yoga of Tamil is the root for Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra in the sense  that while Vaasi Yoga addresses the issue of Breath Control directly,Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra goes from the tools to achieve Breath Control.

The Siddhas are like Rishis,Realized Souls,who have revealed texts on Science and Philosophy.

Agastya,Valmiki are Siddhas,according to Tamil literature.

Though there are innumerable Siddhas,Eighteen are considered to be the foremost.

For more read my article on Siddhas.

Shiva is considered to be the First Siddha.

One of the great Siddhas,Thirumoolar had written a treatise called ‘Thiru Mandiram” The Auspicious Mantra,where he details the Attributes of Reality in both ways,one Beyond Attributes and the other with the Attributes  ,Nirguna and Saguna Upasna of the Vedas.

I shall write a short note on Thiru Mandhiram  and Thirumoolar in a separate article.

Now following the Tamil Grammar ,Thirumoolar begins with the Prayer,he addresses it to Lord Ganesha and follows it up with prayers to  others ,the Greatness of the  Vedas…….

Then he starts the work,each poem is called Mantra or Mandhiram in Tamil.

To get you know the depth, I am posing on a poem,which forms a part of the Prayer,called Paayiram

Here Thirumoolar describes Shiva from numbers One to Eight.

Each of the statements is pregnant with Tantra and Philosphical meaning.

Shiva as,

ONE,

The One Reality,Brahman.

TWO,

Sakthi and Shiva;Kinetic and Potential Energy.

THREE,

Satva,Rajas and Thamo Guna,(Calm Learned;Dynamic; Docile ,Ignorant and Lazy.

FOUR,

Rig,Yajur,Sama and Atharva Vedas.

FIVE

Five senses of Perception( Karmendriya),Eyes,Nose,Ears,Mouth and Body; the acts of these senses( Gnanendriya) Five,Seeing,Smelling,Hearing,Tasting and the Tactile sensation;Five Elements,Earth,Water,Fire,Air and Ether(Akasa); One Element Each in Karmendriya and Gnaendriya: One Underlying abstract principle behind each of the Five Elements.

Shiva ,the One who conquered the Five senses

SIX

As the Six Tastes, sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent and astringent.

SEVEN

Beyond the Seven Celestial worlds and the Seven Nether worlds,

EIGHT

Aware of His Eight Characteristics,Gunas and is in the world .

The Eight are,

1.Dhaya. Compassion.

2.Shama,Forbearance.

3.Anasuya,

Non Jealous.

4.Soucha, Clean in Thought,Words and Deeds.

5.Anaayaasa,Efforless,Easy Attitude.

6.Mangala,Auspiciousness,

7.Akaarppanya, The quality to help without being being stingy;the joyful and fighting attitude( Lord Krishna uses this term in the second chapter of the Bhagavad Gita,advising him not to be a ‘Krupana)

8.Aspruha. Detachment.

The Tamil text of Thiru Mandhiram

Prayers. 1

ஒன்றவன்தானே இரண்டவன் இன்னருள்
நின்றனன் மூன்றினுள் நான்குணர்ந் தான்ஐந்து
வென்றனன்ஆறு விரிந்தனன் ஏழும்பர்ச்
சென்றனன் தானிருந் தானுணர்ந் தெட்டே