2
Thirumoolar
Thirukkailayam…
The heavenly
congregation….
Sitting on a
high pedestal, Easan is presiding over the assembly.
The
Sanakadhi Munivars comprising Sanakar, Sananthirar, Sanathanar, and
Sanathkumarar are seated in front. In the next row, Patanjali, Vyaghrapathar
and Sundara Munivar are seated. Behind them are Nandi and Naradar.
Brahma from
the Satyalokham and Thirumal from Vaikuntam are also present.
Easan is
teaching the Vedas to the assembled. The congregation learn the Vedas with due
diligence with great reverence to the Guru.
When the teaching concludes, Easan looks at
the seated members of the assembly. They appear overwhelmed with pleasure and
enlightened by the teaching of the Easan.
Easan
Sanakadhi
Munivars! Each one of you will go to
one of the four cardinal directions and spread the knowledge of the four Vedas.
Accepting it
is a blessing and great honour bestowed on them, Sanakadhi Munivars leave
bowing to Easan. Turning to Vyaghrapathar and Patanjali munivars, He orders
them to go north of the Vindhya Mountains and teach Yoga practices there. Both
of them bow to Easan, acknowledge His orders and leave. Next he calls Sundara
munivar.
Giving a
baffled look, Sundara Munivar stands up.
Easan
(discerning his anxiety)
Sundara
Munivare! I grant you permission to ask
Me whatever question you have in your mind.
Sundara
Munivar (bowing)
Easane! Thou
art the Lord of this Universe! Thou art the authority of the Vedas! You
enunciated the Rig Veda to propitiate the Gods and the Devas, the Yajur Veda to
define the methodology for reciting and conducting the Yagnas, the Sama Veda to
sing the praise and make the Devatas happy and the Atharva Veda for destroying
evil forces and for making up any shortcomings in the observance of the other
Vedas. All these are only to merge with you ultimately. Only the highly learned
and the Brahmins will be able to understand Vedas. That means only learned can
attain the enlightenment. What about the common man? Pray tell me, a simple way
for the common unlettered people also to merge unto You.
Easan
(looking at him and smiling)
‘Ettu
Irandum kandal seevanil Sivaththai Kaanalaam’
எட்டு இரண்டும் கண்டால் சீவனில் சிவத்தைக் காணலாம்!
Any one who
can understand what is – ‘Eight and Two’ can realise- ‘Sivan in Seevan’.
Sundara
Munivar (with a forlorn and confused look)
I am not
able to understand the riddle. Can’t it be told in a comprehensible way?
Easan
Go forth
south of the Vindhya
Mountains
Sundara
Munivar bows to Easan and starts from there to carry out His orders.
Taking an
invisible form, Sundara Munivar visits Kedarnath, Pasupathinath, Varanasi,
Sivasailam, Kalahasti, Kanchipuram, Pandaripuram, Arunachalam, Gokarnam and
Chidambaram. He reaches the banks of the river Cavery at Thiruaduthurai. Wishing to bathe in that holy river he
transforms back to his physical form. After his bath, he visits the temple and
prays to Pasupathinathar there.
Resuming his
journey to Pothigai Hills to meet Agasthiyar, he sees a large number of cows
crowding around in a place on the banks of Cavery and wailing loudly and
shedding tears. He observes to his
consternation that the cows keep circling around sniffing a body lying there.
He bends down, touches the body and realises that it is the body of a dead man.
Sundara
Munivar (to himself)
This must be
the body of the cowherd. Unable to withstand the agony of their keeper lying
dead, these cows out of love, are circling around his body forgoing their grazing.
Wanting to
appease their hunger, he looks around and finds a concealed place. He lies down
there. Leaving his physical body, he transports his invisible form into the
dead cowherd’s body and makes it alive. Seeing their keeper getting up alive
the cows express their joy by licking his face.
Sundara
Munivar, taking the form of the cowherd leads the cows for grazing and takes
them to the river to bathe them. It is going to be sun set and time for the
cows to return home. The cows start walking towards Saththanur, the village
they belong to. Sundara Munivar also follows them. He gets worried not knowing
how to lead the cows to their respective owners’ houses. However, the cows on
their own find their way to reach their respective sheds. Heaving a sigh of relief,
he walks back towards the concealed place to re-enter into his original form.
At that
time….
A woman runs
towards him and grabs both his hands.
The woman
(dragging him)
My dear
husband! What is this? You are going
elsewhere as if you do not know the direction where our house is located. Come
on! Let us go!
Sundara
Munivar
Penne!
Perhaps you are the wife of this body. I am not who you think I am . Please
leave me. I have a long way to go in the Southerly direction.
Jerking his
hands free, he starts to walk fast. The cowherd’s wife blocks his way.
The
cowherd’s wife
What nonsense
you are talking? Am I wife only of your body and not of your seevan (soul)?
Sundara
Munivar is shocked on hearing the word seevan.
The
villagers surround them on seeing them engaged in this spat.
One of
the Villagers
What is this
Moola? You are talking as if you have not met your wife before. On top of it
you are saying that you plan to go to far off place leaving you wife
here. Have you gone mad?
Sundara
Munivar
This woman
is not my wife.
The villager
imitates what he said mockingly and every one laughs.
Another
Villager
What makes
you say that she is not your wife?
Sundara Munivar
Earlier, the body in which I am residing now
was of Moolan when it held his seevan. When the seevan left his body he became
a corpse. Just because my seevan has entered that body now, can I become her
husband?
Another
Villager
What is this
gibberish about seevan and corpse? You have gone crazy. Now go home with your
wife. Tomorrow we will appeal to the village elders to sort out your case.
Observing
the changes in Moolan’s behaviour his wife gets scared and starts crying.
Sundara
Munivar
I am not in
a position to go with this woman. I will stay in some free chalet till the
village panchayat gives its verdict tomorrow.
The
Villager
How do we
believe that you will not run away from the chalet at night?
Sundara
Munivar
I remain
true to my words.
The
Villager (threatening)
Let it
be. However, you stay in the free chalet
available here guarded by a few villagers. Try any trick to escape at your
peril!
Sundara
Munivar agrees and sleeps in the chalet duly guarded by a few villagers.
Next day…
The village
panchayat assembles.
Being a
freak case of a husband disowning his wife, a large number of people from near
by places also assemble out of curiosity.
Sundara
Munivar comes and bows to the village elders. Moolavan’s wife stands at a
distance.
The
villagers look at him and notice that the man who till yesterday was a carefree
dim-witted is radiating with knowledge and poise.
The
Village Elder
Moola! You
are the husband of this woman. Where is the doubt?
Sundara
Munivar
Village
Elders! I am not her husband.
The
Village Elder
If that is
so, who are you? There is a discernable change in your bearing. What has
happened? Tell us the truth without hiding any thing.
Sundara
Munivar
I am coming
from Kailayam. I am on my way to Pothigai
Mountains
There is a
pin drop silence in the assembly. Unable to comprehend what has been spoken
they all give a blank look.
The Village Elder
Penne! This
noble man who is in search of divine wisdom is no longer your husband. We liberate
both of you from any bond. Moolare! Your
eyes are radiating knowledge. You have manifested as Thirumoolar. We permit you to proceed on your search for
the divine wisdom. You may please go!
The village
elders bow to him.
Sundara
Munivar proceeds to the river bank where his physical body has been hidden
closely followed by the villagers. To his dismay, the body is missing!
At that
moment, there is a divine voice emanating from the sky.
The
Divine Voice
Thirumoolanathare!
The body has vanished due to Easan’s wish! Go to the temple of Pasupathi
On hearing
this from above, Thirumoolar and the villagers look up the sky and bow.
Accepting
the order as ordained by Easan, Thirumoolar walks towards the temple of Pasupathi
Thirumoolar
(thinking)
I transformed
from invisible form to physical form. I entered into a dead body to become
Thirumoolar. My physical body is gone forever. Has Easan given me the form of
Moolan only to realise the divine truth and spread it around the world?
He sings on
his way:
‘If the body
perishes, the life perishes,
Many won’t
realise this true wisdom;
Knowing the
knack to nourish this body
I cultivated
the body and nurtured my life.’
திடம்பட மெய்ஞானம் சேரவும் மாட்டார்
உடம்பை வளர்க்கும் உபாயம் அறிந்தே
உடம்பை வளர்த்தேன் உயிர் வளர்த்தேனே!
‘I
considered this body as filth earlier,
I now realise the divine truth;
Inside it dwells Easan in His temple,
I now worship that very body.’
உடம்பினுக்குள்ளே உறுபொருள் கண்டேன்
உடம்புளே உத்தமன் கோயில் கொண்டான் என்று
உடம்பினை யான் இருந்து ஓம்புகின்றேனே!
Entering the
temple followed by the villagers, he reaches the Easan’s Sannathi. During the
Deeparadhanai he shouts unconsciously.
Thirumoolar
(excitedly)
Aha! What a
divine blessing!
I have now
realised what is ‘Ettum Irandum’ (eight and two) in Tamil.
Pasupathi….
Pasu…. Pathi….
Easane! Is it for this revelation you sent me to see
Agasthiyar at Pothigai?
He goes
around the Sannathi singing
‘Iraivan
created me exceptionally
To propound Him in Tamil perfectly.’
‘Iraivan
created me exceptionally
To propound Him in Tamil perfectly.’
‘Iraivan
created me exceptionally
To propound Him in Tamil perfectly.’
Bowing to
Iraivan, he takes his seat under a Peepul tree and goes into deep meditation.
The villagers leave displaying their reverence.
*****
In the land
of China ….
A remote and
tiny village…
An old woman
in her nineties is walking labouriously.
The village
elders on her path bow to her and enquire about her welfare.
The children on seeing her surround her with
great commotion and taunt her no ends. The old woman is tired and greatly
perturbed. The village womenfolk come to her rescue by driving the children
out.
One Young
woman
Oh! Great
lady! Please pardon the urchins who have been mocking you and giving you
trouble. If you need anything, we will gladly provide you with it. Suffice to
send a word to us. You do not need to walk in discomfort.
The Old
woman
The midwife after examining me says that the
time is nearing to bring forth off-spring. She advised me to take a walk
everyday to ensure that the delivery is easy. That is the reason for my walk.
The village
women are astonished to see this pregnant old woman.
The Old
woman
I have been
carrying for the last seventy two years. Are you wondering how will I bring
forth the baby?
The Young
woman
It is a
great agony to be pregnant for even ten months. We count every day as to when
we will be
relieved of the burden. How come you are carrying it for the last seventy two
years?
The Old
woman
This
pregnancy of mine is very odd and contrary to nature. I will deliver the child
when I am due to depart from this very earth. Only after the child is born we
will know whether it is a human or a demon.
The Young
woman (respectfully)
Definitely
It will not be a demon! It will certainly be a great soul. That our village has been very prosperous all
these years confirms that the baby who will be born will be a great soul.
Another
Young woman
Some
pregnant women claim that the baby inside kicks at times. Have you ever felt
any such thing?
The Old
woman
Many times I
have experienced. Fearing it may get
crushed, it will kick me awake if I turn around in my sleep. I can discern when
it is yawning, sleeping and awakened. Since I some times when I gently caress
my stomach, it will bring its head around to get patted.
The village
women are wonderstruck hearing these tales.
*****
The next
day….
Just at the
time of dawn..
The old
woman goes into labour and delivers a male child.
The entire
village is assembled in front of her house.
The midwife
looks at the baby. The baby with greying hair looks aged. Scared out of her
wits, she hands over the aged baby to the old woman.
The aged
baby looks at her and laughs and so does his old mother.
The aged
baby
Mother! What
is meant by ‘Ettu Irandum’? (‘Eight and Two’)
The question
posed by that aged baby a few moments after its birth makes the old woman and
all those around amazed.
******
In the foothills of Kanchamalai…..
A thatched hut!
An elder is
seated on a cot. A sixteen year old youth stands in front of him.
The Youth
Appa! Why we
are staying in this wilderness unlike others who stay in the villages around?
The Elder
– The father of the youth
Dear son! We
practice medicine and are called Vaidyars. We are duty bound to diagnose the
ailment, prescribe the proper herbs and its correct dosage for saving the lives
of the patients under our care. We, perforce have to stay where all kinds of
herbs are found in abundance. The foothills of Kanchamalai are full of all
varieties of medicinal herbs. That is why we are staying here. That is also by
the way I named you as Kanchamalayan.
Kanchamalayan
How do you
co-relate a particular herb for treating a certain disease?
The Elder
– The father of the youth
It is to be
acquired by sheer experience. To ensure that you also start getting that
experience, I got you here.
Kanchamalayan
I understand
that experience is essential. But is not knowledge important?
The Elder
Of Course it
is! The ‘All Knowing’ will impart that knowledge to us.
Kanchamalayan
Who is that
‘All Knowing’? Where is he? Are you ‘All Knowing’ or experienced?
The Elder
You are
asking me too many questions in a single instant? Still let me answer you.
I am a
medical man by experience. I am not ‘All Knowing’. The ‘All Knowing’ is a
siththar. He is capable of enacting many superhuman tasks. He is Moolan. He is
the knower of the ‘Origin’. He recites mantras. He converts the mantras to
medicine to cure the people. He is the one who is Seevanil Sivaththai kandavan. He is Siththan. He is
omnipresent. He is omniscient. We will see him if we are destined for it. I
have not been ordained to meet him. At least, let you be blessed to meet him.
At that time
there …..
There is
commotion and four people are carrying a cot with a man lying on it. The
Vaidyar runs to them and they bring the cot down.
One of
the men (excited)
Ayya! He was
working in the field and suddenly fell down unconscious. Please examine him as
to what has happened.
Vaidyar
Don’t be
alarmed. I will see what can be done.
Was he bitten by any poisonous insect?
The man
No. It is
not possible. In our fields no such creatures are ever found.
The vaidyar
checks his pulse on his left arm and heaves a sigh of despair.
Vaidyar
His life is
finished.
Kanchamalayan
also checks the pulse and feels that it is dead. He sadly looks at the dead
man.
Wailing all
the way, the villagers carry the body back.
The Vaidyar is sad that the man is dead before
he could do anything.
Kanchamalayan
seeks permission of his father to go along with them to take part in the
funeral rites and on obtaining the same runs behind them. On seeing the dead
body, his parents and wife are wailing. The villagers assemble and follow the
funeral procession to the cremation ground.
In the
cremation ground…
All the
religious rites are performed and the funeral pyre is set alight. Kanchamalayan
sadly looks at the lighted pyre. Suddenly there is some movement there. While
all of them are looking at it in fear, the dead man jumps up from the burning
pyre. All run helter- skelter greatly alarmed in panic. By that time the dead
man clears the burning cinders and walks towards Kanchamalayan, who is
wonderstruck by this resurrection!
He checks
his pulse and finds nothing amiss. The dead man looking around and realising
that he is in the cremation ground, runs out in great haste towards the
village.
The dead man
looking around and realising that he is in the cremation ground, runs out in
great haste towards the village.
Kanchamalayan
returns to his hut and narrates the events to his father.
Vaidyar
(confused)
Are you
telling me the truth? I have checked his pulse and declared him dead when I felt
there was no pulse. How is it possible that he has risen alive?
Kanchamalayan
Appa! I have
also found that there was no pulse when I examined him here. At the same time
when I examined his pulse after he got up from the pyre, I found his pulse were
very much alive. Perhaps we can not conclude that a man is dead based on his
pulse examination only. We say when the life force leaves the body, it becomes
a corpse. Can we conclude that when the pulse stops the life force leaves the
body? If that conclusion is invalid, how we can declare some one as dead?
Vaidyar
Only you can
find the answers for these questions!
Kanchamalayan
Who can I
ask for the answers?
Vaidyar
You have to ask the Siththan.
Kanchamalayan
Where is he?
Vaidyar
He is in
Thiruaduthurai in ‘Yoga Nishtai’ deep meditation. He opens his eyes and comes
out of his meditation once a year and that too only on the Mahasivarathri day.
There are only ten days left for Mahasivarathri. Hurry up! Only
Thirumoolanathar can answer your questions.
Kanchamalayan
starts on his journey.
******
It is
freezing cold ….
Two men
wearing goatskin garments are walking with great effort.
One of
them
Father!
The
Father
What is it
Malanga?
Malangan
Yesterday
night while looking up at the sky lying on my bed a strange thought as to what
would happen to our earth if the sky breaks up and falls on it occurred to me.
The learned say that the sky is not some thing that can break and it is nothing
but void. If the sky I see is void where is the universe in it? How is the
earth attached to the universe? What is making the Universe to function?
Father
You must ask
this question only to your Guru.
Malangan
Father! When
are you going to ordain me as a Sishya?
Father
Only a Guru
can do that.
Malangan
(pleading)
Father! Taking
the role of a Guru, you have taken a number of disciples under you and given
them deeksha. Why don’t you take me also as your Sishya and give me
deeksha.
Father
(firmly)
I am not
your Guru.
Malangan
(taken aback)
How can you
be sure that you are not my Guru?
Father
A Guru can
recognise his Sishya and vice versa.
Malangan
Do you mean
that my would-be Guru will recognise me as his Sishya?
Father
Certainly! I
only sent him some time ago to South after giving him darsanam of Pasupathi.
Malangan
Do you mean
Sundara Munivar is my Guru?
Father
Yes!
Malangan (worried)
You said
that he has taken the invisible form. Will I be able to see him?
Father
He has gone
South to meet Agasthiyar on the orders of Easan. In order to see Sivan in the
Seevan he has to take the physical form. You proceed to Pothigai. You will come
to know his whereabouts there.
Taking his
father’s blessings Malangan starts on his long journey to South from the Himalayas .
*****
In the land
of China…
In that very
tiny village the old woman is bedridden.
With grey
hair, the aged boy stands next to his mother.
The Old
woman (calls out)
Chin Ushi
Han Tee!
Chin Ushi
Han Tee
Yes! Mother!
The Old
woman
I am going
to die soon. Please answer my question at least now. Why were you inside my
belly for seventy two years?
Chin Ushi
Han Tee
I wanted to
understand the secret of this Universe.
The Old
woman
Did you
learn that secret?
Chin Ushi
Han Tee
No. I
haven’t mother.
The Old woman
The day you were born you asked me ‘what is
meant by ‘Ettu Irandum?’ What do
you mean by that question?
Chin Ushi
Han Tee
If I can
understand what it is, I will know the secret of this Universe.
The Old
woman
What you are
talking is beyond my understanding. The
time has come for me to depart. Please bid me goodbye.
Chin Ushi
Han Tee (crying)
I came to
this world only to know about eternal life. I am unable to do anything to
prevent your departure.
The Old
woman sees her son shedding tears.
The Old
woman
Such a wise
man like you is not supposed to weep for separation. If men of your stature
live for eternity it will be a fortune for others. If people like me live for
ever, it will only burden the earth. The old has to give way to new and then
only the earth can evolve itself and will be refreshed. Please let me go!
Please let
me go!
Clutching
both his hands, the old woman, breathes her last.
With tears, Chin
Ushi Han Tee leaves the house and enters the forest.
As he enters
he is greeted by an old man.
Chin Ushi
Han Tee
Leotis! Are
you waiting for me?
The old
man
Yes! My
Guru! I don’t know for how many years I have been waiting for you.
Chin Ushi Han Tee
It is just
ten days after I was born. How are you sure only I am your Guru?
The old man
A Guru can
recognise his Sishya and vice versa.When will you be able to cast away this elderly
tiny frame?
Chin Ushi
Han Tee
It will
happen at Kanchamalai after getting the blessings from my guru! As per the wishes of my Guru. Before that
carry out the orders I will give you shortly. I am going to teach you the
‘Saiva Sidhdhantham.’ You spread it among the people here. They will name it
‘Theoism’ in this part of the world. After you finish this duty, you come to
South. You will find Pothigai mountain!
There you perform thavam which will unite your body and soul with the universe.
One of these days we will meet again. In
the mean time I will go and meet my great Guru Thirumoolanathar. I will learn
from him what the import of ‘Ettu Irandum’ is.
Now before I
start your Siksha, proceed with the formalities of ‘Guru Vandana.’
The old man
does the padapujai of the elderly boy and makes an appeal to accept him as his
Sishya. Leotis becomes the ordained
Sishya.
Chin Ushi
Han Tee
Because of
your lusty deeds you will be called ‘Bhogamuni’ in future. That name and your
fame will remain for ever.
********
Kalingam..
Indiran is
crowned as ‘Matathipathi.’
The king is
paying respects to the Matathipathi.
Matathipathi (blessing him)
The King of Kalingam!
I am extremely pleased to see you. Your service to the people of this country
knowing their needs, be they commoners or holders of high posts will be lauded
for ever.
The King
We expected
that your Holiness will remain here and guide us in our endeavour. But you are
determined to go South to meet Thirumoolanathar. Since it is not possible to
trek on foot, I have provided you with palanquin and sufficient manpower for
your safe travel. We plead that you return after meeting with that great soul
and take over the responsibilities of running the matam. I am asking this
favour not as the King but as a subject of this country. We eagerly await the
rare wisdom that you will bring back after your trip.
He bows to
the Matathipathi.
******
The land of Parasuraman
Two men
emerge from the edge of the forest. Both having head loads of wood.
The Young
man
Father! Some
one called me ‘kaattaan.’ What does it mean?
The Elder
one (angrily)
It means one
who resides in forest, uncouth, rude, and uncivilised. Some one has made fun of
you. Tell me who that person is. I will bash him up.
The Young
man
Father! No! It will be a sacrilege. It was a Munivar
who called me ‘kaattaan’.
The Elder
one
Rudra! Tell me in detail.
Rudran
I have been
to the Sivalayam for darsanam. When I was circumbulating the praharam, a
Munivar sitting under a tree called me as kaattaan.
The Elder
one
The munivars
do not resort to calling names unlike people like us. There has to be some
reason for calling you as such. You should have asked him to clarify there
itself.
Rudran
Yes! I did
ask him. What he told me confused me even more.
The Elder
one
What exactly
he said? Tell me that first.
Rudran
He said
‘Kaattaan will go South in search of a Kaattaan where that Kaattaan will be
seated with closed eyes.’
The Elder
one
The Munivar
has told you some thing in a coded way. Only we can not decipher it.
Rudran
Should I go
South to find out what it implies?
The Elder
one
How and
where all you will search for him in the South? It will be impossible to locate
him.
Rudran
He uttered the name of ‘Thiruaduthurai’.
The Elder
one
If that is
so, did he say when you have to go?
Rudran
He said that
I must leave immediately and be there before Mahasivarathri.
The Elder
one
There are
not even ten days left for Mahasivarathri. You better start immediately.
Rudran heads
for Thiruaduthurai.
*******
Thanjai….
A milling
crowd is heading to the weekly fair. But two young men are walking away in the
opposite direction.
The first youth
Hey! Soman!
My feet are paining by our long walk. How far we have to go still to reach
Thiruaduthurai? Why don’t you enquire from some passer by?
Soman
I have already
enquired. If we walk fast we can reach before night fall.
The Youth
It is all
because of that wretched palm leaf. Just because we happened to read it we are
put to such a hardship. What does it say?
Pasupathi
arindhaal paasam velippadum!
‘If you
understand Pasupathi, Pasam will be revealed.’ Pasupathy means Sivan. If we
understand Him, (devotion) Bhakti will be revealed. Where is the question of ‘Pasam’ (fondness)
being revealed? It is all very confusing.
Soman
Brahma! You
have asked the same question a thousand times so far. We will come to know
everything by tomorrow night. Tomorrow is Mahasivarathri. It is the day when
Thirumoolar opens his eyes and gives out his Thirumanthiram. Only he can
explain the meaning of this palm leaf saying. Let us walk fast and reach there.
You can then take rest as much as you want. If you increase your pace we will
reach there soon. Come on!
Soman restrains when Brahma tries to interrupt
him.
Concentrate
on Easan in your mind and He will show us the way.
Both of them
quicken their pace to reach Thiruaduthurai.
******
The day of
Mahasivarathri …
The
Deeparadhanai of Lord Pasupathy is taking place to the accompaniment of the
sounding temple bells and other musical instruments. The gathered public after
worshipping the Lord gather where Thirumoolar sits in deep meditation. There is
also a large number of learned people from all parts of the country. They have
all assembled there waiting for Thirumoolar to arise from his deep meditation
and to hear the one Manthiram he spells out on this day.
Thirumoolanathar
opens his eyes.
His eyes are
bright and radiant.
Chin Ushi
Han Tee gets up. All eyes are on this elderly looking boy. He bows to
Thirumoolar.
Thirumoolar
You have
come from a far off land to know what the import of ‘Ettu Irandum’ is. Is that
not so?
Chin Ushi
Han Tee (Bowing in reverence)
Yes! My Guru! I was seventy two years old when
I was born. The very first words that came out of my mouth were “What is meant
by ‘Ettu Irandum’?”
I have come
here to know what is implied by that. Please accept me as your seedan Sishya
and impart me knowledge on these issues.
Thirumoolar
looks at him.
Thirumoolar
I have taken
you as my disciple. (‘Kaalaththai angiyaaga aninthathaal’ ) From now on your
name will be ‘Kaalaangi’ as you are wearing the very Time as your clothing..
The whole world will honour you by calling you ‘Kaalaanginathar’. Including you
I am going to accept seven people as my disciples today. He sings
“Malangan,
Indiran, Soman, Brahman
Rudran,
Kaalangi and Kanchamalayan
These seven
will follow my path and
To them I
shall impart the Manthiram”
Hearing
this, the rest six of them jump from their seats and bow to their Guru. They
are surprised as to how the Guru could know of their names and their presence.
Thirumoolar
blesses them all and calls Kaalaangi.
Thirumoolar
Kaalaangi! I
will answer your query. I will also tell you how to get rid of your elderly
appearance and regain your youth. Please wait.
He looks at
Kanchamalayan next.
Kanchamalayan
I proclaim
my obedience to my great Guru! My name is Kanchamalayan. I am told that your
worshipful self has realised ‘Sivan in Seevan.’ I have come here to understand
its meaning. For generations we have been practicing medicine. We came across
something extraordinary. A man, who lost his pulse and died, regained his pulse
and got resurrected.
Please tell
us how and when we can declare some one as dead?
Thirumoolar
‘Ettu Irandum kandal seevanil Sivaththai
Kaanalaam’
The time has come to elucidate this statement.
Please wait for a little more time.
He looks at
the next one.
Indiran gets
up and bows to Guru.
Indiran
I have come
here to receive your teachings. Please accept this humble soul as your Sishya.
Thirumoolar
(blessing him)
A Guru can
recognise his Sishya and vice versa. Usually the Sishya will go in search of
his Guru. At times it may be necessary for the Guru to look for his
Sishya. I bow to Easan for not creating
such a necessity and you have reached me on your own.
Next is the
turn of Rudran.
He is looking intently at Thirumoolar without
batting his eyelids. Thirumoolar also looks at him.
Rudran
‘Kaattaan’,
I am and I have come here to see a ‘Kaattaan’.
Every one laughs on hearing his words.
Thirumoolar also laughs.
Thirumoolar
Rudra! …
Rudran looks at him surprised as to how he
knew his name.
Thirumoolar
continues as if he does not know anything.
Thirumoolar
The one who
does not make himself visible to the bodily sense of vision is ‘Kaattaadhavan’
or Kaattaan.
Therefore He
is Aroopan! (Formless)
As Aroopan
came to this place I became the first letter ‘A’ of ‘Ettu Irandum.’
When I took
the Uruvam (body) of Moolan, I became
the second letter ‘U’ of ‘Ettu Irandum.’
When I
unified that is ‘M’, I realised Sivan in Seevan and from that moment I am sitting here as kaattaan! For long years
at a stretch, I am meditating as a ‘Kaattaan’.
I accept you
as my disciple.
Rudran
prostrates in front of him in reverence.
Unable to
make any meaning out of what Thirumoolar said, the assembled learned men give a
blank look at Thirumoolar and his seven Sishyas.
Thirumoolar
(looking at Soman and Brahman)
Aren’t you
the people who were curious to learn about Pathi, Pasu and Pasam?
Both of them
come running and bow to him in reverence.
Thirumoolar
At times, a
Guru decides to accept or reject a person as Sishya after eliciting answers to
some questions he will pose. But as seedan You two have asked the question and
found the answers .Then only you are ready to accept me as your Guru! The
answer I am going to give you is the same for the query of Malangan as well as
all others.
As he calls
and looks at Malangan, he bows to him.
Thirumoolar
Now! Listen
to my Manthiram
‘Iraivan created me exceptionally
To propound Him in Tamil perfectly.’
"என்னை நன்றாக இறைவன் படைத்தனன்
தன்னை நன்றாக தமிழ் செய்யுமாறே"
Though we
can infer that he wanted me to write Tamil literature, he indicated the subject
matter by saying ‘Ettu Irandum kandal seevanil Sivaththai Kaanalaam.’ (எட்டு
இரண்டும் கண்டால் சீவனில் சிவத்தைக் காணலாம்)
Easan also
asked me to go South of Vindhya Mountains and on my way to meet Agasthiyar
there I would find the meaning of what He said.
Why Easan
referred to Agasthiyar? It is because Agasthiyar codified the grammar for Tamil
language. He implied that I should first master the grammar of the language
before I search for the meaning of what he said.
This Earth
is a part of this Universe.
The Universe
of which this Earth is a part is subject to rotation.
The centre
point of that rotation is Aroopam. That formless
Centre point is the state of Existence. That is Pathi.First letter of Aroopam
is “A” It is denoted by ‘A’ or formless state. That is Eight. In Tamil language
the numeral eight ‘Ettu’is symbolised
as ‘A’.
The Universe
is Sakthi! That is Pasu. Having a form and hence it is visible. It has Uruvam.
First letter of Uruvam is “U”. It is the
physical form. That is Two. In
Tamil language the numeral two ‘Irandu’
is symbolised as ‘U’. (vu)
To add two
letters in Tamil ‘imm’ M is added.
Now to join
two syllables there is a requirement of a dot or ‘M’.
That is
Pasam which joins Pathi with Pasu. When Pathi joins with Pasu, Pasam emerges.
People call this phenomenon as ‘Pasupathi Pasam’.
The meaning
of Ettu Irandum kandal’ is this.
The number Eight ‘A’ and the
number Two ‘U’ when united by ‘M’, you get ‘AUM.’. In other words, it is ‘Om ’ or ‘Omkhar’. Omkhar is the originator of this
Universe.
The Universe
is then subsumed in Omkhar.
It then
arose as an immense light to evolve as Sivan.
Thiruvannamalaiyil
Iraivan jodhiyai nindradhum adhanaleye!
That is the
implied meaning of the tricky conversion of numerals to alphabets in Tamil
language Ettu Irandum kandal.
Now I will
tell you what is implied by Seevanil Sivaththai Kaanalaam.
The Seevan
is carried by the human body.
So, if we
nurture the body we can stabilise the Seevan and realise that Seevan is Sivan.
If we raise the reverberation of Omkhar by reciting ‘aum’ and with‘Om’ inside we can realise the Jothi,
Sivan in our Seevan. It is Sivan who is I!
It is I who am Sivan.This is the true meaning of Pranava Manthiram!
He recites
the Manthiram.
If the body
is destroyed so will be the life,
(Others)Will
not grasp true wisdom as well,
Knowing how
to nurture my body,
But I
nourished my life as well.
உடம்பார் அழியில்
உயிரார் அழிவர்
திடம்பட
மெய்ஞானம் சேரவும் மாட்டார்
உடம்பை
வளர்க்கும் உபாயம் அறிந்தே
உடம்பை
வளர்த்தேன் உயிர் வளர்த்தேனே!
The body is
sullied, I perceived earlier,
But in which
I realised a truth ultimate,
That the
Supreme resides in that very body,
So worship I do now to that holy abode.
உடம்பினை முன்னம்
இழுக்கு என்றிருந்தேன்
உடம்பினுக்குள்ளே
உறுபொருள் கண்டேன்
உடம்புளே
உத்தமன் கோயில் கொண்டான் என்று
உடம்பினை
யான் இருந்து ஓம்புகின்றேனே!
Thirumoolar (continues)
The Vedas
teach the ways and means for realisation of Iraivan. Those are intelligible and
known only to learned people. Here is a
simple method for other commoners I am giving. Follow it to realise Iraivan.
Nurture your
body properly.
Stabilise
your Seevan and make it still.
Recite the
mantra ‘Om’ inside
You will
then realise that Sivan is none other than Seevan and you are none other than
Sivan.
When you
reflect on the Formless
Then you
give a Form to that abstract !
The Form
transforms to Formless and vice versa.
This alone
is Lingathathvam.
One – That
is what HE is!
Two - That
is His grace!
Three – His
divides Himself into.
Four – That
is what He propounded
Five - That is what He conquered.
Six - Where He spread out to
Seven –
Where He exposed
Eight –
Where all He resides.
I will
explain what I implied by these numbers.
The one and
only entity Sivan becomes two when He combines with Shakti. He becomes the
Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Rudran. He elucidates the four cardinal
principles of living namely, righteousness, materialism, happiness and
salvation. He conquers the five sensory organs namely, the eyes, ears, mouth,
nose and skin and keeps them under control.
His widespread knowledge covers the six sciences and he takes up the
Seventh abode. He resides in the following eight entities of Earth, Water,
Wind, Fire, Sky, the Sun, the Moon and the Soul. He lords over all the above
eight elements. He alone is Sivan!
As ordered
by Him, in Tamil (he recites)
What is to
be realised and the Wisdom to realise,
The secrets
of the Maya and the three Sakthis to unlock the same,
The Sivan
who resides in those Sakthis and His varied forms,
I will
proclaim all of the above in the days to come
He explains:
As Ordered
by Easan Himself,
From now on
wards I will propagate to the world for their understanding:
What is
discerned and discernible?
What is the
wisdom needed to know of them?
What is the
composition of Maya?
How Maya
includes the Ichcha, Gnana and Kriya Sakthis in itself?
How Sivan
forms part of these Sakthis?
How Sivan
manifests in his myriad forms?
These I will
enunciate through one Thirumanthiram per year in the coming years.
He closes
his eyes and goes into meditation.
The seven
Sishyas recite Panchaksharam ‘Om Namasivaya’ in a loud voice.
There is
shower of divine flowers everywhere!
******
The day of
Mahasivarathri…..
The
Deeparadhanai in the temple
of Lord Pasupathi
Thirumoolar
looks at Kaalaangi.
Thirumoolar
Listen to this! Oh boy sporting an elderly in
appearance and wanting to get your youthful exuberance!
“The Sakthi
of highlands is the Vedic lass.
Awakening the Murthy of the base land
And uniting
Him with this young woman
Will make
one a youth as ordained by Nandi.”
“மேலை நிலத்தினாள்
வேதகப்பெண்பிள்ளை
மூலநிலத்தில்
எழுகின்ற மூர்த்தியை
ஏல
எழுப்பி இவளுடன் சந்திக்கப்
பாலனும்
ஆவான் பார் நந்தி ஆணையே!”
I will now
explain the meaning of this.
The passion
which is residing in the head is the Devi who transforms. I call her Vedic
lass. If the Kriya Sakthi residing in the Mooladharam is awakened and made to
rise up to the head to unite with Her by means of Yogic practice, even an old
man will restore his youth.
Kaalaangi
What a
fantastic revelation! That is why, perhaps you advised me to practice the same
earlier.
Thirumoolar
smiles in approval. He then closes his eyes and goes back to his meditation.
******
The next
Mahasivaraathiri!
Pasupathy
aalayam...Thiruaduthurai!
Thirumoolar
comes out of his meditation.
As usual his
prime disciples and other learned people are assembled there awaiting guru tharisanam!
The
disciples perform padhapooja!
Kaalangi as
a young man smiles at his guru!
Guru
acknowledges with smile and pays his attention now to Kanchamalayan
Thirumoolar
(looking at Kanchamalayan)
You asked me
whether it is sufficient to feel the pulse to know whether a man is dead or
not. You asked me how and when we can
declare some one as dead. Now hear from me this Manthiram:
“When the
nine ‘Life Airs’ inside the body are balanced,
When the
tenth ‘Life Air Dhananjayan’ is also in equilibrium,
When all
these ten Life Airs work in harmony
Understand
that the life remains in the body.”
Now listen
to the meaning of this poem.
The Nine
Life airs are Pranan, Apanan, Vayanan, Samanan, Nagan, Koorman, Kirugiran,
Devadattan and Udanan. All these must neither be more nor less with respect to
each other but must work in conjunction with each other. When the tenth ‘Life Air’ which is called
Dhananjayan is present in all of them and if it works in harmony, the life will
not depart from the body.
Also
understand this,
There are
nine types of pulses in the body. They are Ida, Pingala, Siguvai,Purudan,
Gandhari, Aththi, Alambusai, Sangini and Guru. Even if all these nine pulses
are absent, a man can be declared as dead only when the tenth ‘Life Air
Dhananjayan’ leaves the body.
After this
explanation, Thirumoolar goes back to his meditation. The assembled people
leave after bowing to him.
******
The next
Mahasivarathri….
Opening his
eyes, Thirumoolar comes out of his meditation.
His Sishyas
and other learned people are standing in reverence awaiting his discourse.
Kaalaangi
Oh! Revered
Guru! You have disclosed a method to confirm a person as dead. Please tell us a
way as how we can prevent death itself.
Thirumoolar
(sings)
“Gazing at
the bridge of the nose with both eyes,
Keeping the ‘Life Airs’ inside subdued,
Casting away the worries from the mind and
Getting on with Yoganidra will free you from
fear of death”
Now I will
tell you the meaning of this Manthiram.
You must
keep both eyes focussed on the region just below where the eyebrows meet.
The
breathing is to be steady and subdued. Keep your mind blank and freed from
thoughts and worries. If any one, then,
undertakes Yoganidra, his body will give him immense benefit and he will be
freed from the fear of Yama, the god of Death.
Likewise, giving one Manthiram during each
Mahasivaraathiri, Thirumoolar gives three thousand Thirumanthirams.
During one such Mahasivarathri he concludes:
Thirumoolar
“The three thousand paadals in Tamil that
Moolan has penned,
The three hundred Manthirams that Moolan has
propounded,
The three (times) ten regulations that Moolan
has proposed,
The three above are but one and the same”
மூலன்
உரை செய்த மூவாயிரம் தமிழ்
மூலன் உரை செய்த முன்னூறு மந்திரம்
மூலன் உரை செய்த முப்பது உபதேசம்
மூலன் உரை செய்த மூன்றும் ஒன்றாமே
They are the
gist of Panchaksharam, Sivaya Nama!
That alone
is Sivam! That alone is ‘Om’
A shower of
flowers blessing Thirumoolar by the Devas follows.
There is
divine shower seen everywhere!
Tiruchchitrambalam
No comments:
Post a Comment