Kandhar Anubhuti : Verse #8 - You Removed my Delusion! (Amarum Pathi Kel)

அமரும் பதி, கேள், அகம் ஆம் எனும் இப்
பிமரம் கெட மெய்ப் பொருள் பேசியவா 
குமரன் கிரிராச குமாரி மகன்
சமரம் பொரு தானவ நாசகனே (8)

amarum padhi, kel, agam aam enum ip
pimaram keda meipporul pesiyava!
kumaran - giri raasa kumari magan
samaram poru daanava naasakane! (8) 


அமரும் பதி - Native Land (village / city / town)
கேள் - Family / Relatives
அகம் - Body
ஆம் - me
எனும் - such 
இப் பிமரம் - This delusion
கெட - To be destroyed
மெய்ப் பொருள் - The Truth
பேசியவா - Instructed
குமரன் - Lord Subrahmanya, the Eternal Youth
கிரிராச - Lord of Mountains' (Himalayas)
குமாரி - Daughter's
மகன் - Son
சமரம் பொரு - War Mongering
தானவ - A family of Asuras born between Kashyapa and Dhanavi
நாசகனே - Destroyer

Short Meaning
Oh Lord Kumara, Son of Parvati (Daughter of Lord of the Mountains, Parvatan) and destroyer of the war-mongering Danavas! With your Divine Instruction, you destroyed the delusion that my identity is derived from the place of my birth, my relations or my body! 


Gloss
This takes a lot of time (even births) to understand - But, even with sufficient effort, without Grace, the Ultimate Truth  cannot be understood. The Truth is revealed only by the Sadguru when He utters the Maha Vakya to the Student who is ready.  

The ultimate question in the world is 'Who am I?' I am reminded of the episode between Sri Adi Sankara, who was then a 6-7 year old kid, who walked from Kaladi in Kerala to the banks of the holy river Narmada in Madhya Pradesh to meet His Guru Sri Govinda Bhagawat Pada 

Sri Adi Sankara a young kid, but since He was no different from Lord Shiva, was full of Knowledge. Even then, He sought a Guru with so much love and stood outside they cave where His Guru Sri Govinda Bhagawatpada was in meditation. He then stood waiting outside the cave. The omniscient Guru, who was rejoicing at the very thought of Lord of Lords standing outside in the cave in His deep love for humanity, asked the question to the Lord - 'Who is that standing outside?'

The response was the famous Dasha Shloki, which was later condensed by Sri Sankara Himself as 'Nirvana Shatakam' - The first verse is as below:

mano buddhi ahankara chittani na'aham

na cha shrotra-jihve na cha ghraana netre

na cha vyoma bhumir na tejo na vaayuhu

chidananda rupah shivo’ham shivo’ham

I am not the mind, the intellect, the ego or the memory,

I am not the ears, the skin, the nose or the eyes,

I am not space, not earth, not fire, water or wind,

I am the form of consciousness and bliss,

I am the eternal Shiva…

In this seminal work, Acharya uses the 'neti neti' (not this, not this) technique in Vedas to dis-identify with things that we usually identify. In the end he says 'I am devoid of duality, my form is formlessness, I exist everywhere'. 

Similarly, Sri Arunagiri says that He used to have identity with the place of His birth (அமரும் பதி), his family and relatives (கேள் ), and His mistaken identity as His body (அகம்) as His own self (ஆம்).

This is indeed a delusion (பிமரம்). This is because, none of these attributes can define the Self. In Taittriya Upanishad, there is a famous dialog between Varuna and Bhrigu, His Son. This famous dialog called Pancha Kosha Vicharam, Bhrigu realizes that He is not His Body, Prana, Mind or Intellect. Finally, He realizes that He is Pure Brahman - Ananda.

When the student is ready and the Guru instructs the Maha Vaakya, 'Tat Twam Asi', the student instantly attains Self Realization. And all delusions are immediately destroyed. 

Similarly, when Lord Subrahmanya, instructed (பேசியவா) the truth (மெய்ப் பொருள்), the entire delusion was destroyed (இப் பிமரம் கெட), and Sri Arunagiri could feel One with the Lord. 

This is a direct response of the Lord to Arunagiri's prayer in last verse to destroy all His Karmas so that He can unite with Him. Till all the Karmas exist, the Maha Vakya Shravanam (listening to the sentence Tat Twam Asi - 'You Are That') will not liberate the seeker.

Sri Arunagiri was very lucky - His Sadguru was Lord Subrahmanya Himself in the Form of the Eternal Youth (குமரன்). In Sri Dakshinamoorthy Stotram, Sri Adi Sankara says that the Guru is a very young person, but the disciples are very old! 

Chitram Vata tharor moole vruddha,
Sishya, Guror Yuva,
Gurostu mounam vykhyanam,
Sishyaesthu china samsaya

The very old disciples,
And the very young teacher,
Who sit under a banyan tree,
With the teacher always observing silence,

The word Kumaran is favorite name with which Sri Arunagiri addresses the Lord. (More in Verse #15 - முருகன், தனிவேல் முனி, நம் குரு ... என்று அருள் கொண்டு அறியார் அறியும் தரமோ)

Lord Murugan is also the Son (மகன்) of the Goddess Parvati who is the daughter (குமாரி) of Parvatan , who is the Lord of Mountains (கிரிராச). 

(Sri Arunagiri is the expert in use of chained adjectives - Son of Daughter of the Lord of the Mountains - கிரிராச குமாரி மகன்! If you think this is complicated, you haven't read Thiruppugazh 'Arivilap pithar yet' with like a dozen levels of indirection! )

 Another adjective which Sri Arunagiri uses here is that the Lord destroyed the War Mongering Asura Tribe called Daanavas (தானவ). Daanavas were born to Daanavi and Sri Kashyapa. However, they loved war (சமரம் பொரு) and always used to trouble Devas. Lord Kumaran in His infinite Grace, destroyed this whole clan of Asuras to establish balance in this Universe. 

If we truly seek the refuge of the Lord as in previous verse, this verse is the Guarantee that we will overcome all delusions with the Word of the Lord, and achieve self-realization which is nothing but the undifferentiated Union with the Lord of Lords, Sri Subrahmanya. 

PS: 

1. Sri Murugan's Image from http://murugan.org/gallery/lithographs/images/Sri_Kumaran.jpg - An amazing collection of images. God bless them! 

2. I took the text for Nirvana Shatakam Verse #1 from here - http://blog.ishafoundation.org/lifestyle/music/mystic-chants-nirvana-shatakam/ - I know the text by heart - Lord should forgive me for my laziness :-) - This text requires a much deeper translation than above - May be after Kandhar Anubhuti ! Please listen to Sri Jaggi Vasudev's rendition of Nirvana Shatakam in the link. It is electric!

3. Though my favorite verse, I took the script and translation of the verse traditionally chanted with Sri Dakshinamurthy Stotram from http://www.hindupedia.com/en/Sri_Dakshinamurthy_Stotram

Kandhar Anubhuti : Verse #7 - Destroy all the obstacles! (Keduvai Manane)

கெடுவாய் மனனே, கதி கேள், கரவாது
இடுவாய், வடிவேல் இறைதாள் நினைவாய்
சுடுவாய் நெடு வேதனை தூள்படவே
விடுவாய் விடுவாய் வினை யாவையுமே (7)

keduvai manane gathi kel karavathu
iduvai vadivel irai-thaal ninaivai
suduvai nedu vedanai thool padave
viduvai viduvai vinai yavaiyume (7)



கெடுவாய் - Be destroyed,
மனனே - Oh Mind!
கதி கேள் - Listen to the Way
கரவாது - For those who seek (help)
இடுவாய் - Give them (help / alms)
வடிவேல் - Beautiful Spear (wielding)
இறைதாள் - God's Feet
நினைவாய் - Always think
சுடுவாய் - Burn
நெடு வேதனை - Long Term Pain
தூள்படவே - To be powdered 
விடுவாய் விடுவாய் - Give up (repeated to emphasize)
வினை யாவையுமே - All Karmas

Short Meaning
Oh mind, may you be destroyed! I'll tell you the way! Give to those who seek, and always meditate on the feet of the Lord, who wields the the beautiful spear. Let all your long lasting pains and troubles be burnt, and may you be blessed to give up all the Karmas

Gloss
No one wants pain. People pray that all their problems be solved. 

Ramana Maharshi says 'Mind is Maya' - The mind is the illusion which creates separation of the Soul from the Supreme Divinity. 

In this verse, Sri Arunagiri says (in a polite way :-) ) - 'Oh mind, Please be destroyed!' (கெடுவாய் மனனே)

And he also says that He'll describe the way for its destruction too! So, He asks His mind to listen to the way to salvation (கதி கேள்)

Step #1: Give to people who seek Help (கரவாது இடுவாய்)
When we help others, we'll realize that we are helping ourselves. This over a period of time, magically reduces the separation between us and the Lord

Step #2: Always meditate on the Beautiful Spear and The Feet of the Lord Subrahmanya who wields it (வடிவேல் இறைதாள் நினைவாய்)

All our sufferings, and repeated births and deaths (samsara) is direct result of our Karma - In தமிழ், we call it வினை. 

In this verse, Sri ArunaGiri (indirectly) implores the Lord to burn all  all the bonds of Karma and relieve us from the pain that has been hurting us for eons. (சுடுவாய் நெடு வேதனை தூள்படவே) and get rid of all the Karmas (விடுவாய் விடுவாய் வினை யாவையுமே)

This is a very powerful prayer for people who are in deep pain because of the effect of past karmas. This is a prayer to burn away the bad karmas / sins and remove all the pain.

Needless to say, this Verse will lead us to Lord's Grace and the seeker will be removed of all pains. 

Kandhar Anubhuti : Verse #6 - When will your Lotus of your Feet bloom in my Heart? (Thiniyana Manosilai)

திணியான மனோ சிலை மீது, உனதாள்
அணியார், அரவிந்தம் அரும்பு மதோ?
பணியா? .. என, வள்ளி பதம் பணியும்
தணியா அதிமோக தயா பரனே. (6)

thiniyana manosilai meethu unathaal
aniyar aravintham arumbumatho?
paniya? ana valli padam paniyum 
thaniya athi moga thayabarane (6) 

திணியான - Very hard
மனோசிலை - Mind, which is like a rock
மீது - on
உனதாள் - Your Feet
அணியார் - Resplendent (or Beautiful)
அரவிந்தம் - Lotus
அரும்புமதோ ? (will it) bloom?
பணியா? - In total servitude
என - likewise
வள்ளி - Valli, Resort of Murugan
பதம் பணியும் - Bowing to Her Feet
தணியா - Unquenchable
அதிமோக - Intense Love
தயா பரனே -  Lord of Grace


Short Meaning
Oh Lord of Grace, you are always in servitude to Goddess Valli, bowing to Her Feet and waiting to fulfill Her wishes  due to your unquenchable Love for Her. When will your Lotus Feet bloom in my Heart which is hard as rock?

Gloss
In this verse, Sri Arunagiri mentions the reason for which He started composing the Anubhuti - To melt the Heart of devotees which has become cold and hard as stone. 

For various reasons hearts of humans have become cold - We no longer feel for the pains of other living beings - not restricted to humans. Various parts of this wonderful earth cry out in pain but we close our ears and hearts and continue to do what we do. 

A lotus cannot bloom in rock. So, Sri Arunagiri appeals to Lord Murugan when His Feet, like Lotus will bloom in His Heart. 

The word Heart has a lot of significance in Hindu Philosophy. Heart is also the seat of the soul. Actually, Bhagawan Sri Ramana Maharshi extolls the Heart as the Supreme Soul, Sri Arunachala (Te Vadanti Hrudayam Nama - Arunachala Pancharatnam, Verse 2)


Sri Arunagiri wants to reclaim his heart which has morphed into stone into the original divine Soul. For, this he wants the very beautiful (அணி ஆர்) Lotus (அரவிந்தம்) to bloom (அரும்புமதோ) - He rhetorically asks 'Will it Bloom?'

This is purely an act of Grace - We discussed the ascent of Spirit and the Descent of Grace in the Gloss of the last verse. So, he calls the Lord as the personification of Grace (தயாபரன்) - It is a very beautiful name of the Lord. Even Goddess Sri Maha Lakshmi, affectionately called Mother (தாயார்) is actually, Pure Form of Grace (தயை). 

This verse should not be misinterpreted as Mother Valli lording over Sri Murugan. It is a mystical divine interplay of pure Love. 


In this verse, Sri Arunagiri asks on our behalf that the Lotus feet of the Lord should bloom in our hearts. 



However, the Lord is extremely devoted to his Consort, Sri Valli - He waits for Her command to execute Her wishes in complete servitude (பணியா? .. என, வள்ளி பதம் பணியும்). Mother Sri Valli is Iccha Shakti (Power of Will / Desire) while Sri Devasena is Kriya Shakti (Power of Action) - The Lord has unquenchable  love (தணியா அதிமோக) towards both His consorts - In this verse, Sri Arunagiri points out to the love of the Lord for Sri Valli. 

Kandhar Anubhuti : Verse #5 - Path to overcome the Veil of Maya (Maga Mayai Kalainthida)

மக மாயை களைந்திட வல்ல பிரான்
முகம் ஆறும் மொழிந் தொழிந்திலனே
அகம் மாடை, மடந்தையர் என்(று) அயரும்
சகமாயையுள் நின்று தயங்குவதே. (5)

Maga Mayai kalainthida valla Piran
Mugam Aarum Mozhinthu Ozhinthilane
Agam Madai Madanthaiyar endru ayarum
Jaga Mayaiyul Nindru Thayanguvathe (5)


மக மாயை - The Great Maya (Veil of Delusion)
களைந்திட - To remove
வல்ல  - Able (Having the Ability)
பிரான் - Lord 
முகம் ஆறும் - Faces Six
மொழிந்து - Say
ஒழிந்து இலனே - (Maya) Is not Vanquished
அகம் - House (properties)
மாடு - Wealth
மடந்தையர் - Women
என்(று) அயரும் - Tiring
சகமாயையுள் - In Maya
நின்று தயங்குவதே - (mind) Stays

Short Meaning
I seek refuge in chanting the name of the Six Faced Lord - Why hasn't the powerful veil of Maya been removed? My mind takes refuge in House, Wealth and Women which is indeed Maya. 

Gloss

Vedas declare - 'Ekam Eva Advitiyam' i.e., There is Only One, and it is Undivided. However, in our life we see so many things around us - Living and Inert. This is the Greatest Delusion of all, and is rightly called Maya (the delusion)

We have to understand that this delusion is one of the Acts of God(dess) too. We usually associate three acts to God:

1. Creation (Brahma)

2. Maintenance (Vishnu)

3. Destruction (Rudra)

This concept has become quite famous across the world, and is called the Holy Trinity. Even many science and management Texts have some reference to this. 

But, in broad, there are Five major acts - Lalitha Sahasranamam captures this beautifully:

Srushti kartri - Brahma rupa (She Creates - She is in the Form of Brahma )

Goptri - Govinda Rupini (She Protects / Sustains - She is in the Form of Govinda)

Samharini - Rudrarupa (She destroys (all Forms) - She is in the Form of Rudra)

Tirodanagari-Ishwari (She Obfuscates the Reality - She in in the Form of Ishwara)

Sadashiva - Anugrahata (She showers Grace - In the form of SadaShiva)

Pancha-Krutya-Parayana (She thus, does all 5 Acts)

The first three acts are well known - Let us look at acts 4 and 5

(4) Obfuscation (Tirodanagaram) - Everyone knows that they are going to die. What makes people run around and do things? Why aren't people so demotivated that all this will pass and they'll die? The secret lies in this aspect of God. This delusion makes us believe that there are things that are to be pursued (apart from God) and they bring joy to us. This is achieved by two ways - 

• Vikshepam : One appears as another. In Vedic texts, there is a common example of people getting scared of a rope as snake. Once they know that it is just a rope, it is impossible for us to be scared of it again
• Avaranam : The reality is hidden by a screen / veil

This is one of the greatest secrets - The God Himself creates this delusion so that the drama continues

(5) Grace (Anugraham) - A soul which continuously searches for happiness in the external world, due to the previous act after sometime figures out that whatever it does, acquires, the happiness is soon replaced by sorrow. Nothing in this external world has the capability to give eternal happiness. On repeated search and failure, the soul finally is depressed and wonders if all of this is real at all. At that moment, it cries out for help. A Guru appears by the Greatest Grace (Anugraham) and then the reality is revealed - The Grand Truth of Unity is known to the soul, and the Soul, not different from the Supreme, merges after losing its separate identity. 

The whole process can be split into two. The effort of the Soul to reach God, and the Descent of Grace. This is usually represented by the Six Faced Subrahmanya Chakra

The upward facing triangle, symbolizes the Ascent of Spirit. When the Spirit realizes that there is no more effort possible, and finaly surrenders, the Descent of Grace happens, and then in the complete equilibrium, we have the Subrahmanya Chakra (also called Star of David). 

மக மாயை களைந்திட வல்ல பிரான் - In this verse, Sri Arunagiri calls as the Lord who has the ability to bestow Grace and remove the Maya. 

முகம் ஆறும் மொழிந் தொழிந்திலனே - He then says that He has been repeating the name of the Six Faced Lord - Still, the veil of Maya has not been removed (which for the devotee symbolizes that the ascent of spirit is not complete)

அகம் மாடை, மடந்தையர் என்(று)  - The mind, instead of turning towards God (inward), is still being drawn out to external desires like property, wealth and women. As explained in the last verse, this is not specifically against women, but generally indicates the feeling of lust, which comes out this way from the perspective of Sri Arunagiri

அயரும் - Tiring. As mentioned before, all our external quests are tiring, and do not bring lasting happiness. 

சகமாயையுள் நின்று தயங்குவதே - Sri Arunagiri complains that why does my mind get stuck in this Worldly Maya (Jaga Mayai)?

Let us also invoke the name of the Lord Murugan, till the veil of Delusion is removed, and we unite with the Supreme Lord, of Six Faces. 

Kandhar Anubhuti : Verse #4 - When will I be let off the leash of bonds? (Valai patta)

வளைபட்ட கைம் மாதொடு, மக்கள் எனும்
தளைபட்டு அழியத் தகுமோ? தகுமோ?
கிளைபட்டு எழு சூர் உரமும், கிரியும்,
தொளைபட்டு உருவத் தொடு வேலவனே. (4)

valai patta kai madhodu makkal enum

thalai pattu azhiya thagumo? thagumo?

kilai pattu ezhu soor uramum giriyum

tholai pattu uruva thodu velavane (4)

வளை - Bangle (bracelet)

பட்ட - Adorning

கை - Hand

மாதொடு - Lady (and)

மக்கள் - kids and relations

எனும் - so called

தளைபட்டு - bound by leash

அழியத் - To be ruined

தகுமோ? தகுமோ? - Is it ok? Is it ok?

கிளைபட்டு - With all the relations

எழு - arose

சூர் - Surapadman

உரமும் - chest

கிரியும் - Hill

தொளைபட்டு உருவத் - Pierced

தொடு - Threw / Launched

வேலவனே - God with Spear

Short Meaning

Oh Lord of Spear, who pierced the strong chest and hill of the mighty Surapadman! Is it ok that I be leashed by bonds with women (adorned with bangles in their hands) and kids and relatives and be ruined? 

Gloss

I am not exactly known for my brevity, but, it is quite possible to be misled by the direct meaning of this verse. So, request you to please go over the extended gloss of this verse in patience. (since the theme will repeat few times more in the further verses)

Humans - men and women are totally self sufficient, because their souls is no different from the Super Soul, Shiva. This observation is true only if people look inward. 

Due to the force of Maya, men and women are both drawn outward to the world in mind, and hence there is a constant feeling of insufficiency. At the beginning was the Sound (Nada) and from the Divine Will arose the Mighty Universe, beginning with a point (Bindu). The point first separated into two (kala - the act of splitting). This Holy couple is usually referred to as Shiva / Parvati or the Yin and Yang or Purusha and Prakriti and so on - A male aspect and a female aspect. [Please remember the Thiruppugazh which praises Murugan as Nada Bindhu Kala'di Namo Namo - One Who is earlier to the Nada (Sound), Bindhu (Point), Kala (Separation)]

The act of separation creates a longing to reunite, and this longing is evident in all species. Just that, the feeling of completeness cannot be sought outside. The feeling can be overcome only by uniting Shakti and Shiva within each of our self. In Tantra, this is expressed as Kundalini in the Mooladhara Chakra (at the base of the Spine) awakened and uniting with Shiva in Sahasrara Chakra (Thousand Petalled Lotus) at the top of the head. But, this feeling, when externalized, makes people seek the opposite gender and is fundamental because the split is Primal. 

Sri Arunagiri, before he got realized was also severely bound by lust and sought company of women that he spent all his wealth in this pursuit (also evident in Kumarakottam Thiruppugazh - 'Arivilappithar'). This makes Sri Arunagiri sing against this in most his verses. This should NOT be interpreted as Sri Arunagiri is against women. He feels Lord Murugan's Grace which led him not to seek completeness outside, but inside. So, based on his experience in his body before realization, he sings out against cautioning people not be bound by lust. The warning is equal for both men and women.  However, while he expresses this, it comes out as warning against women (because of his perspective)

வளைபட்ட கைம் மாதொடு - Sri Arunagiri wants a life which is not binding. According to Hindu Philopsophy, all bonds are leashes - It doesn't matter if a leash is made of steel or of Gold. Both bind the person down. Similarly, Sri Arunagiri wants to transcend being bound by lust of women (who decorate their hands by wearing bangles) and kids (மக்கள்). This doesn't mean Sri Arunagiri is against concept of family. This concept is essential for people to mature and grow together. At the same time, pure love is non-binding. If it is not pure love, it causes envy, jealousy, doubt and a myriad negative feelings which are not liberating. So, the person has to be born again and again till he transcends it. For a person who has transcended this, does not require structures like family to evolve. So, Sri Arunagiri wants be unbound, and not be leashed into bonds. 

தளைபட்டு அழியத்  - Sri Arunagiri is quite strict when it comes to describing the act of being bound. He says, is it ok to be leashed and ruined? (or destroyed)

தகுமோ? தகுமோ? - He questions the Lord if it is ok? The question is rhetorical. He emphasizes is anguish by asking Lord Murugan if it is ok for him to be bound and ruined? 

கிளைபட்டு எழு சூர்  - When the evil overlord Sri Surapadman waged war with Lord Subrahmanya, he came to the war with all his relatives (கிளை) - The word கிளை means branches. In this context, the branches indicate 'family'. 

உரமும் - The chest is symbolic of strength. Lord Murugan pierced the Chest of Asura Surapadman.

கிரியும் - One of the brothers of Surapadman, Tarakan (or Tarakasuran) stood in the way of Lord Murugan and His army as a mountain. Lord Murugan pierced and destroyed this mountain too. (தொளைபட்டு உருவத்)

தொடு - The word means 'To launch' - When the evil Asuras came in various forms, Lord Murugan launched His Spear which is nothing but pure Knowledge (Gnana) and destroyed them. 

வேலவனே - Since Sri Arunagiri invokes the Lord with the imagery of Him destroying evil with his Spear (vel), he calls the Lord as Velavan (One Who Holds the Spear)

As mentioned earlier, the Spear is Great Goddess Parvati and Her power (Shakti) - So, there is nothing in the known / unknown Universe that can overcome it. People invoke Lord by shouting 'Vel Vel Muruga, Vetrivel Muruga'

With this verse, we should pray to Lord Murugan as Lord Velavan, Who will not let us be bound, and grant us the final liberation and Unite with Him.