Thevaram – Ramanisblog

Reality Light Siva Thirunavukkarasar Thevaram Explains

Reality, Brahman,is beyond Attributes.It is beyond description.It transcends Space and Time; beyond Mind; beyond senses; Words fail.It can, at best , be described, but never defined.

IT is an experience and can never be brought under Logic and Reason as these fail in their attempt to decipher IT .How to describe the Indescribable? Avaktavya?

Unless you know what It Is,at least an idea about It,how can you attempt to Realise It? Upanishads attempt by describing It by a method of Negation of known Attributes. ‘Not this,Not This’.That is ,’ It is Neither tall,nor short,nor in between; Neither big, nor small, nor in between; Neither Make,nor Female, nor the Third Gender: Neither the Known,nor the Knower…..’ This is called the ‘ Neti Nyaya’.. Not this, Not This…Process in Tharka,Logic.

However, those who Realised Brahman,have suggested some Attributes for the One that is beyond Attributes.It is an attempt to catch in words the Experience that can not be caught in words.Just as however hard we try to explain what hunger/pain is,when we know we can not really convey what we feel.

One set of Attributes is,

Sat,Being.
Chit, Consciousness.
Anand,Bliss.

For those who find this too as difficult, It, Brahman, is suggested to be expressed in the form of Light,which in real terms,does not have a beginning and end,nor middle Even this is merely an attempt at describing Brahman. Yet, this simple mode has helped people to meditate and help in Self Realisation.

Then comes the Advice from Vedas. If you find contemplating on Brahman as an abstract principle, have one with Names and Forms. This can be what you like. And meditate upon it. Then you shall evolve spiritually towards Realisation of Brahman per se. This is called Saguna Upasana or Saguna Aradhana. Contemplating on The Brahman as Beyond Attributes is called Nirguna Upasna or Nirguna Aradhana.

In Saguna Upasana, one finds Gods with Names and Forms.Even here these Gods are expressed in the form of Light, Jyothi.

Such a thought is exquisitely conveyed in a Tamil poem by Saint Thirunavukkarasar, also called Appar. Appar in Tamil means father .Appa is a familiar term . Appar is a term of respect. Siva called out to Thirunavukkarasar as ‘Appa’.

The following poem is by Thirunavukkarasar.He is one of the Four foremost Saints who worshipped Siva. The others are,

Sundarar
Thirugnanasambandar
Manikkavasagar.

These four have sung hymns in praise of Siva and the collection is called Thevaram and it forms the core of Saiva worship, along with Thiruvasakam by Manikkavasagar.

Thirunavukkarasar was a Saivite and switched over to Jainism. Distressed at this, his sister, a great devotee of Siva ,prayed Siva that her brother should be back to Shaivism.Siva did so.( I shall write about it later)

After Thirunavukkarasar returned to Shaivism,Jain monks egged the King to torture Thirunavukkarasar. Thirunavukkarasar was tortured, thrown out fro a hill,given poison ,thrown into 🔥.

When he was tortured thus, Thirunavukkarasar sang Ten Hymns,Namasivaya Pathikam,Tem Hymns of Namasivaya.I provide the Tamil text below. This song is to be sung while lighting the Lamp at home.

இல்லக விளக்கது விருள்கெ டுப்பது
சொல்லக விளக்கது சோதி யுள்ளது
பல்லக விளக்கது பலருங் காண்பது
நல்லக விளக்கது நமச்சி வாயவே. Raaga. Gandhara Panchama.

Thevaram of Navukkarasar. Illaka vilakkathu.

பொருள்…

இல்லக = இல்லத்தினுள்

விளக்கது = உள்ள விளக்கானது

விருள்கெ டுப்பது = இருளை கெடுப்பது. அதாவது ஒளி தருவது

சொல்லக = சொல்லினுள் உள்ள

விளக்கது = விளக்கானது

சோதி யுள்ளது = ஜோதி வடிவில் உள்ளது

பல்லக = பலருடைய மனதில் உள்ள

விளக்கது = விளக்கு அது

பலருங் காண்பது = எல்லோரும் காண்பது

நல்லக = நல்லவர்களின் மனதில் உள்ள

விளக்கது = விளக்கு அது

நமச்சி வாயவே = “நமச்சிவாய” என்ற மந்திரம். Thevaram

Meaning.

Lamp that is at home dispels/destroys darkness;( here it can also mean that this light dispels darkness of the Mind).
Meaning of words explains/ (Vilakku in Tamil means Lamp as well as Explain) Destroys darkness in the form of Confusion.
It is the Form of Light.
It is the Glow of Light,Jyothi.
It is in evey one’s Mind.
Seen by everyone.
It is in the minds of the Righteous.

That Light is Namasivaya.

4 Feb 2022

How Much Do You Trust God

Faith Sustains, Cures, while Reason seeks out explanations.

For those in critical situations, solution to the problem is importnt than the explanations or the rationale.

Help reaches out to those who have Faith, I have seen.

It may not be some thing unnatural or something akin toa miracle.

It could be by an unexpected turn of events , help from an unexpected source or from a Stranger.

Then how come that even for those who have Faith, help does not arrive many a time?

The answer is your return is directly proportional to your investment , in this case , the intensity of Faith.

Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita that total, unconditional surrender would beckon Him.

In the Karna Mantra He states,

Sarva Dharman Parthyajyasya Maamekam Charanam Vraja,’

The correct meaning is,

for those who abandon all actions and seek Refuge in Me alone.

He did not come to the aid of Draupadi,also called Krishnai,who was being stripped in an open Hall, though she was crying out to Krishna , at the same time holding on to her clothes.

He came to her when she freed her hands , threw her hands up!

When Tirunavukkarasar( Tamil Saint), called Appar, was thrown out into the sea with a stone tied around him, he sang,

சொற்றுணை வேதியன் சோதி வானவன் 
பொற்றுணைத் திருந்தடி பொருந்தக் கைதொழக் 
கற்றுணைப் பூட்டியோர் கடலிற் பாய்ச்சினும் 
நற்றுணை யாவது நமச்சி வாயவே. 				4.11.1  Thevaram. by Appar.


Even if you are thrown into the Ocean with a stone around you,

Nama Sivaya, the word of One, Who is,

The Protector of the Word, Vedas,

The Eternal Flame of the Heavens,

For those who worship His feet'

He, The Refuge ,Constant Companion.

This is Thirunavukkarasar's approach.

What does Abhirami Bhattar have to say on this?

'

அன்றே தடுத்து என்னை ஆண்டுகொண்டாய், கொண்டது அல்ல என்கை
நன்றே உனக்கு? இனி நான் என் செயினும் நடுக்கடலுள்
சென்றே விழினும், கரையேற்றுகை நின் திருவுளமோ.-
ஒன்றே, பல உருவே, அருவே, என் உமையவளே. Abhirami 30

அபிராமி அன்னையே! என் உமையவளே! நான் பாவங்களைச் செய்வதற்கு முன்பே என்னை தடுத்தாட் கொண்டவளே! நான் பாவங்களையே செய்தாலும், நடுக்கடலில் சென்று வீழ்ந்தாலும், அதனின்று காப்பது நின் கடைமையாகும். என்னை ஈடேற்ற முடியாது என்று சொன்னால் நன்றாகாது. இனி உன் திருவுளம்தான் என்னைக் கரை ஏற்ற வேண்டும் (பந்தபாசக் கடலில் இருந்து முக்திக் கரை ஏற்றுதல்). ஒன்றாகவும், பலவாகவும், விளங்குகின்ற என் உமையவளே!

Mother Abhirami,The One who appears as Many,

You have prevented me from committing Sins and taken over long back,

If I commit sins even now, and I fall in the deep ocean.

It is your Job to take care,

நன்றே வருகினும், தீதே விளைகினும், நான் அறிவது
ஒன்றேயும் இல்லை, உனக்கே பரம்: எனக்கு உள்ளம் எல்லாம்
அன்றே உனது என்று அளித்து விட்டேன்:- அழியாத குணக்
குன்றே, அருட்கடலே, இமவான் பெற்ற கோமளமே. Abhrami Andhadi 90

ஏ, அபிராமி! அழியாத குணக்குன்றே! அருட்கடலே! மலையரசன் பெற்றெடுத்த அழகிய கோமள வல்லியே! எனக்கு உரிமை என்று எப்பொருளும் இல்லை. அனைத்தையும் அன்றே உன்னுடையதாக்கி விட்டேன். இனி எனக்கு நல்லதே வந்தாலும், தீமையே விளைந்தாலும், அவற்றை உணராது விருப்பு, வெறுப்பற்றவனாவேன். இனி என்னை உனக்கே பரம் என்று ஆக்கினேன்.

Let auspiciousness strike me or that which is painful,

I have no idea nor I know of it,

It’s all yours,

For I have you given you all that is supposed to be Mine, including my Mind,

Abhirami, Daughter of The Himalayas,The Ocean of Graciousness,’

6 Aug 2015

Lunatic Go Pacify My Paramour Order Issued to Lord Shiva

I have written quite a few posts describing the approach Of Hinduism towards God.

God as The Reality, on the one hand is treated as A principle without Attributes, on the other it reveals God is closer to Man if one approaches Him with Devotion,Love.

Lord Krishna declares in the Bhagavad Gita that He would appear to the Devotee in the Form He wishes and prays and Grant him His wishes in the Form of the God He worships.

And in the Path of Devotion in Hinduism, God , can and was approached in the Form of a Relative,

Mother,Father,Son,Child,Friend……..in as many as forms as there are relationships.

God has also been approached as a Lover!

And He responded!

There is yet another instance that many, who do not know Tamil, may be unaware of.

That Sundarar, a Devotee of Lord Shiva, asked the Lord to go and mediate on behalf him to his paramour!

And The Lord obliged!

Shiva had earlier stopped Sunadarar’s marriage claiming that Sundara was Shiva’s Slave, as per the document executed by Sundarar’s ancestor and Shiva had documents to support it!

And in a Court, Panchayat, Shiva proved it.

During the course of the altercation on this issue, Sundara called Shiva as a Lunatic.Pitha(Tamil)

Later when Shiva asked Sundarar to compose Hymns on Him(after Sundarar realized the Man who visited him was none other than Shiva), Sundarar was at a loss and asked the Lord ‘

‘How can I sing on You, The Lord,whom I called as a Lunatic’

Shiva replied,

Start with the term thou have addressed Me, Pitha, Lunatic’, the first song of his Thevaram, the songs in praise of Shiva.

Sundarar composed.

‘

பித்தா பிறை சூடி பெருமானே அருளாளா
எத்தான் மறவாதே நினைக்கின்றேன் மனத்துன்னை

வைத்தாய்பெண் ணைத்தென்பால் வெண்ணைய்நல்லூர் அருள்துறையுள் அத்தா உனக்காளாய் இனி அல்லேன் எனலாமே!

Piththaa pirai soodee perumaanee arulaalaa
Eththal maravaadhee ninaikkindreen manathunnai
Vaiththaai pennai thenpaal vennai nalloor aruththurayul
Aththa vunakku aalaai inee alleen enal aamee

Translation:
Oh mad! Oh Peruman with a crescent, Oh Graceful one, I am thinking about you without forgetting. Oh God of Thiru vennai nalloor in the southern bank of the river Pennai, how can I say I am not your slave?

Sundharar did not want to put his leg in the holy town of thiruvadhikai where Thirunaavukkarasar was born. So he stayed in the outskirts – sidhdhavada madam. In the night when he was sleeping, the God appeared as an old man and put His legs many times on Sundharar ‘s head. Sundharar shouted at Him. He disappeared from there. Realizing that the old man was God Himself, Sundharar sang this song…

Not only this, Sundarar asked Lord Shiva to mediate between him and his Paramour!

Shiva did!

Sundarar , Shiva altercation.

‘

while Sundarar was being married, the service was interrupted by an old ascetic who asked for Sundarar as his servant, making a name sake claim that Sundarar’s “grandfather pledged him” according to an ancient palm leaf manuscript in his possession. Sundarar and those assembled at the wedding were outraged and called the old man a madman (piththaan: Tamil). But a court of Vedic scholars concluded that the palm leaf was legally valid. Crestfallen, Sundarar resigned himself to servitude in the old man’s household and, following him to Thiruvennainallur village, was led to the Thiruvarutturai Shiva temple.

The old man was said to be Shiva (Lord Thiagaraja) himself, who told him: ” That the document shown was only a name sake reason and he wanted sundarar to be reminded of his actual form as alalasundarar a servitor in lord’s kailasam, who had to be born in earth both due to moments of worldly thoughts that overcame him as well as due to the fact that the southern tamil region that had done great thavam during kali age need be blessed with an account on lives of great nayanmars called tiru thondar thokai.You will henceforth be known as Vanthondan, the argumentative devotee. Did you not call me a mad man just a short while ago? Begin your hymn addressing me ‘O mad man!’”.Lord sivan had also advised vanthondar to” while on earth sing of us in words of Tamil”…

‘

Sundarar prayed to the Lord for His help in pacifying Paravayar. The Lord disguised Himself as Sundarar’s messenger, a Brahmin priest, and went to Paravayar’s house. The Brahmin pleaded Sundarar’s cause, but Paravai refused and sent them back. Yet she was grief-stricken at the separation from Sundarar.

When the Lord informed Sundarar of all that had happened, Sundarar was inconsolable and blamed that Shiva’s going there in the form of a messenger and not in His true form was the cause for the failure of the mission. The Lord once set out to go to the second time.

In the mean time, the devout Paravayar had understood that the Brahmin was no other than the Lord Himself and was suffering from terrible anguish for not recognizing Shiva. The Lord again went to her house: and this time He appeared before her in His real form. Paravayar at once prostrated before Siva and agree to obey his commands.

The Lord then informed Sundarar that He had pacified Paravayar and that Sundarar could now return to her. In the mean time, Paravayar had decorated her house beautifully and was eagerly waiting for her Lord. Sundarar, with his devotees, entered the house. Paravayar fell at Sundarar’s feet. Thus, they were re-united after a long separation.

Because of his adamant attitude to even the Lord, Shiva Called Sundarar as Vanthondar, One who is argumentative , prone to violence!

A word about the evidence of this incident

Sundarar is unique among the Nayanars in that both of his parents are also recognised as Nayanars. He was born into an adi saiva, temple priest Brahmin group.His original name was Nambi aroorar. The ruler of the local kingdom (Thirumunaipadi-Nadu), Narasingamunaiarayar a chieftain, adopted him and brought up as his own son, attracted by the beauty of the child he saw playing in the street. Sundarar was a contemporary of great Pallava emperor Rajasimha who was also a nayanmar saint and also author of many devotional hymn works in tamil.A temple inscription in tiruvarur says that sundarar’s father sadayan also a nayanmar saint belonged to the gotram or lineage of sage bharadwaja and his mother isaignani also a nayanmar saint belonged to the gotram or lineage of sage gautama. From epigraphs it is also inferred that a Sanskrit hagiography on sundarar namely sva swami mitra prabhandam translated as travelogues of he who became friend of lord is now not available.’

When we want to record the happenings today, we have them written in Newspapers, Text Books.

Now we have the electronic media and we have even digitalised our news , which would be History tomorrow.

If they question that the news was fabricated , then what?

If when the future looks at History and if these records we have created had been destroyed, is it that nothing has happened?

In the past the Kings were clever.

They created documents in the form of epigraph , built temples specifying the reasons for the temple and the Devotees like Sundarars’ Names are mentioned .

What more do we want?

That Shiva would come and testify?

He did ans He will.

I shall narrate that later.

Tiruvennainallur Temple, where Shiva revealed Himself to Sundarar -Basic information.

Moolavar	:	Krupapureeswarar – also Arutkonda Nathar, Aatkonda Nathar, Venupureeswarar
Urchavar	:	–
Amman / Thayar	:	Mangalambikai, Verkanni Amman
Thala Virutcham	:	Bamboo
Theertham	:	Pennai River, Neeli, Sivaganga, Kama, Arul Thurai, Dandu, (Sivnarkeni), Pandava, Vaikunda and Veda theerthams.
Agamam / Pooja	:	–
Old year	:	1000-2000 years old
Historical Name	:	Tiruvarul Thurai
City	:	Tiruvennai Nallur
District	:	Viluppuram
State	:	Tamil Nadu