செம்மான் மகளைத் திருடும் திருடன்
பெம்மான் முருகன், பிறவான், இறவான்
சும்மா இரு, சொல் அற .. என்றலுமே
அம்மா பொருள் ஒன்றும் அறிந்திலனே (12)
Semman Magalai Thirudum Thirudan
Pemman Murugan Piravan Iravan
"Summa Iru - Sol-ara"
endralume
Amma! Porul ondrum arindhilane
(12)
செம்மான் - Red Deer
மகளைத் - Daughter
திருடும் திருடன் - The thief who stole
பெம்மான்- One of immense fame
முருகன்- Lord Murugan
பிறவான் -Is never born
இறவான் - Is without death
சும்மா இரு - Stay Silent
சொல் அற - Without Words
என்றலுமே - As I was instructed
அம்மா- Oh Mother! (expression of
surprise)
பொருள் ஒன்றும் - No Object
அறிந்திலனே - I perceived
Short Meaning
Lord Murugan, who abducted
(His consort Valli) the daughter of a red deer is One with No Beginning nor End. He instructed me the Supreme Advice to 'Stay Silent without objectifying anything
in words (or forms)' and lo behold, I lost sense of this objective Universe (and reality dawned on me)
Gloss
The story of how Lord Murugan abducted Goddess Valli and married her is
of popular lore.
Lord Vishnu once took form as a Shiva Yogi and was doing penance in
Vallimalai. The same time Goddess Lakshmi took form of a Red Deer and approached
Lord Vishnu. When Lord Vishnu opened His eyes, His grace entered the womb of
deer and Goddess Lakshmi gave birth to a girl who was red in complexion. This
girl, Goddess Valli was adopted by a King Nambirajan who was passing that way. It
is said that head of Devas, Indra took birth as a king to take care of Valli
When Goddess Valli’s parents wanted to get her married, Lord Murugan who
is as prankful as He is merciful, took form of an old man and asked for the
hand of Valli. Valli who did not see the prank and rejected the old man. So, Lord
Murugan requested help of His elder brother Lord Ganesha to intercede and
Ganesha came down as a massive elephant and scared Valli. The mammoth of the
elephant agreed to go away only after a scared Valli agreed to marry Murugan disguised as old man. Once Mother Valli agreed, Lord Murugan showed His most handsome Form and married Her.
Sri Arunagiri points out to this episode while referring to Murugan as one who stole His bride (or took one with deception).
Sri Arunagiri also says, that Lord Murugan was never born nor will He ever die. One of the absolute rules in Saiva Siddantha is that, 'That which is born will die'. Time is just an illusion and simple dimension in front of God. God is beyond the aspect of time.
Birth is an event in time. Since time itself comes to end, anything that is born should die. Lord Subrahmanya is absolute truth. Truth doesn't change with time, it is not born nor will it die. Lord Murugan is hence called as one without beginning or end.
How can anything mortal give us immortality? So Lord Subrahmanya who grants immortality to His devotees is immortal
Here Lord Murugan is worshipped as Guru. This is one of the most famous ways in which the Lord is propitiated. Lord Murugan is Guru of even Lord Shiva, who is considered Adi Guru, Sri Dakshinamurthy.
As the Supreme Guru, He instructed Arunagiri to be 'Silent' - (Summa iru / சும்மா இரு) without objectifying any experience in words (Sol ara / சொல் அற)
Sri Arunagiri points out to this episode while referring to Murugan as one who stole His bride (or took one with deception).
Sri Arunagiri also says, that Lord Murugan was never born nor will He ever die. One of the absolute rules in Saiva Siddantha is that, 'That which is born will die'. Time is just an illusion and simple dimension in front of God. God is beyond the aspect of time.
Birth is an event in time. Since time itself comes to end, anything that is born should die. Lord Subrahmanya is absolute truth. Truth doesn't change with time, it is not born nor will it die. Lord Murugan is hence called as one without beginning or end.
How can anything mortal give us immortality? So Lord Subrahmanya who grants immortality to His devotees is immortal
Here Lord Murugan is worshipped as Guru. This is one of the most famous ways in which the Lord is propitiated. Lord Murugan is Guru of even Lord Shiva, who is considered Adi Guru, Sri Dakshinamurthy.
As the Supreme Guru, He instructed Arunagiri to be 'Silent' - (Summa iru / சும்மா இரு) without objectifying any experience in words (Sol ara / சொல் அற)
The true state is said to be 'Ekam eva Advitiyam' - Only One exists and it is Undivided Truth. This Truth is beyond the state in which we observe this causal world, i.e. the world in which we perceive objects (and) names.
Names and Objects have a unique relationship. (Nama Roopa) - Name brings to mind the object and when you see an object you immediately brings its name to the mind. They are very deeply coupled.
This happens so much that we do not perceive the reality that happens between thoughts. When a thought is replaced by another thought, there is a moment of clarity in-between that is never noticed. A great saint said that this Pure Consciousness who comes between is Lord Krishna Himself and hence he is called (Idaiyan - One who comes in-between, a funny twist on the name which means a shepherd)
When this entire process of naming and perceiving objects is removed, what remains is pure consciousness. This is what Sri Arunagiri says that when Lord Murugan instructed to stay in a state of Silence without perceiving any objects by the mind, He entered the state of Pure Consciousness which is described as a state of Union with Lord Subrahmanya (The state of Union is called Anubhuti in Tamil)
The whole description of Anubhuti is only for the sake of description. There is no differentiation and Lord alone exists. There needs to be two to experience Union. This state of false differentiation is effect of Maya. When the veil of Maya is removed the soul understands that there was never a state of duality.
To go a little deeper, Bhagawan Sri Ramana Maharshi says that there are two states in which mind can ease to exist:
- Mano Layam - Temporary cessation of mind. This can be achieved using Pranayama and Yogic techniques
- Mano Nasham - Complete destroying of mind. This is possible only by Jnana, True Knowledge of Self. No other way.
Lord Subrahmanya, the Jnana Panditha is also the object of the Pursuit, the real Jnana which liberates.
Sri Arunagiri is in ecstasy as he sings this song. This is clear from his expression அம்மா! (Amma!) - Which literally means Mother, but actually is an expression of Sri Arunagiri's ecstasy. A soul which perceives this non-differentiation is immersed in Infinite Joy and is Grateful for the Grace. There is no expression in any language that comes close to sharing this experience. Vedas indirectly describe this as a state which has forms but no forms, words but not words, cannot be perceived by any senses etc. How to describe something that which is beyond the realms of words? Sri Arunagiri simply calls out 'Oh Mother' ! (What wonder is this!) - He says I am unable to find any meaning to this experience. (பொருள் ஒன்றும் அறிந்திலனே) Because words, meanings exist only in this world!
This verse is the crowning jewel of Kandhar Anubhuti if one may call it. This is actually difficult because each verse is a Gem of infinite value. The most learned Saints glorify this verse of Anubhuti because:
- It portrays Lord Subrahmanya as the Ultimate Guru, who gives final instruction
- It portrays Sri Arunagiri as a perfect disciple who got the import of the final interaction
- It indicates that Sri Arunagiri attained the final state
- Describes Sri Arunagiri's predicament to describe the final object less state
May we all get Lord Subrahmanya as our Guru and reach this state of immortality!
Shri Gurubhyo Nama:
woah.Thanks for this.
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