Thursday, April 14, 2016

Kandhar Anubhuti : Verse #11 - You made me immortal!



கூகா என என் கிளை கூடி அழப்
போகா வகை, மெய்ப்பொருள் பேசியவா
நாகாசல வேலவ நாலு கவித்
தியாகா சுரலோக சிகாமணியே (11) 

Kooga ena en kilai koodi azha
Poga vagai meipporul pesiyava
nagachala velava naalu kavi 
thyaga sura-loga sigamaniye (11)


கூகா - Onomatopoeia for the wailing sound raised when someone known is dead
என - similar
என் - my
கிளை - relatives
கூடி அழ - cry together
போகா வகை - Did not happen
மெய்ப்பொருள் - Substance of eternal truth
பேசியவா - You spoke (taught)
நாகாசல - Of the Serpent Hill
வேலவ - One who holds the Spear
நாலு கவித் தியாகா - One who gives knowledge of all four types of poetry
சுரலோக சிகாமணியே - Gem found in the world of Devas (Elevated beings)

Short Meaning
Oh Lord who holds the Spear, Most Precious Gem of Higher worlds, You taught me the eternal Truth thus preventing my death and hence prevent wailing of my relatives over my dead body

Gloss
In this gloss of this verse, let us try to know more about the differences between Vedanta and Siddhanta. 

One of the core differences between the Vedantic path and Sidhanta is the emphasis on bodies. While the vedic saints talk of body as just a by-product of Karma and just as an instrument for realization, Sidhanta extolls our body. 


Thirumoolar (author of Thirumantiram) says that He first thought the body was a useless thing. But He then saw that it was the temple to the Lord (Shiva) inside. Realizing this, he started taking care of his body.
Sharira: (or) Shariram (in Tamil) means body. We have three kinds of bodies: 

1. Sthoola Shariram - Physical Body This consists of Annamaya (Food) kosham and Pranamaya (Breath) kosham. Annamaya Kosham literally means that which is made up of food. This is the gross body we can touch. Pranamaya Kosham is made up of Prana. Prana is usually misconstrued as air. Air is likened to horse and Prana the rider. We can liken Pranamaya Kosha to be a subtler body pervading the gross body (like oxygen being present all over the body, carried by blood). This body can be subject to physical force. This is the body that experiences various effects in this world of Maya. 

2. Sukshma Shariram - Subtle Body This consists of Manonmaya (mind) and Vignaanamaya (knowledge) koshas. This body is subjected to mental stimuli. Thoughts, contemplation etc. This is the body that comes independent in the dreams. This is also the body, with limited identification  that exists for sometime after death. 

3. Kaarana Shariram - Causal Body. This is the individual soul. This is the eternal witness. This causal body is same across the births. It is the registry of every thought / every action done. This is the one which makes sure that the individual soul experiences all the results of its Karmas. This is storehouse of infinite good karmas and bad karmas. Only knowledge of Self can destroy this storehouse. Else, even a million births will have no effect on this causal body. 

There are three more that we dont have currently. Mahavatar Babaji is one of the rarest who has evolved to the final stages - (Deham and Shariram mean the same)

4. Suddha / Oli Deham - Once we reach nirvikalpa samadhi and go backwards to surrender even our physical body, then we develop a 'Suddha' deham - Pure or Light Body. In this case, the body has become pure and will not even cast a shadow. 

5. Pranava Deham - Once we complete evolving into Oli deham and continue our Sadhana :-), we can realize Pranava Deham - (Pranava is OM). The person will start becoming younger and will finally appear as a person with an age of 16 - 25. The whole body will start emanating glow. 

6. Gnaana Deham - Pure Knowledge - When we finally evolve into Pranava deham and we proceed further with Sadhana, then the Gnaana deham will develop. This is he final 'Shiva' state. The last three metamorphosis are EXTREMELY difficult or downright impossible. 

Sri Arutperunjothi Vallalar (Ramalinga Swami) reached this state #6 recently (as early as 1878) - He used to cover himself completely with a white cloth since His body never used to cast a shadow (completely transformed into light). One day He merged into light (entered final stage #6)







In this verse Sri Arunagiri focusses on achieving immortality in body as well. Lord Murugan, who as Sri Subrahmanya Swami teaches Vedanta, is also Guru of Siddhanta and offers Siddars their prayers as well.

In this verse, Sri Arunagiri says with blessings of Lord Murugan, he achieved immortality - So, his relatives will never need to wail around his dead body, ever. He also says, that this immortality was achieved by receiving the Highest Truth from Lord Subrahmanya. 

In this verse he calls out to the Lord again as one with Spear. 

Spear is symbolism of Jnana (Ultimate Knowledge). So, in this form, the Lord grants eternal truth and hence immortality to Sri Arunagiri

He also prays to the Lord in the form of idol in temple of Nagachalam (Thiruchengodu Hill)


[Nagachala Velava - Lord who wields spear as worshipped in Thirchengodu Hills]

Sri Arunagiri also says the Lord apart from blessings of the spiritual wealth, also blesses with material benefits like ability to compose four different types of advanced poetry: (classification in Tamil language)

1. Aasu Kavi - To compose a poem instantaneously on any subject given
2. Madhura Kavi - To compose a poem in a way that is pleasing to hear
3. Chitthira Kavi - To compose a poem that aids visualization
4. Vitthara Kavi - To compose with great detail

In the end, Sri Arunagiri also addresses the lord as சுரலோக சிகாமணியே - Sura Loka Sigamaniye! Suras are Devas, beings of light. Their enemies being A-Suras (opposite of Suras). The world of Devas is Devaloka, also referred to as SuraLoka (Deva = Sura)

In Tamil, it is usual to call someone dear as mani (precious gem). In this verse, due to His extreme love for Lord, Sri Arunagiri address Him the most precious gem of entire higher worlds.

It is interesting that in previous verse Sri Arunagiri asks for protection from death and seeks immortality. But in this verse, he thanks Lord for making Him immortal. 

We can see such progression in state throughout this magnum opus. 

By worshipping Lord Murugan, we can get immortality in all dimensions.



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