Kandhar Anubhuti : Verse #25 - Will I be deluded?

மெய்யே என வெவ்வினை வாழ்வை உகந்து
ஐயோ, அடியேன் அலையத் தகுமோ?
கையோ, அயிலோ, கழலோ முழுதும்
செய்யோய், மயில் ஏறிய சேவகனே (25) 


meiyye ena vevvvinai vaazhvai uganthu
aiyyo adiyen alaiya thagumo
kaiyo ayilo kazhalo muzhuthum
seiyyoy mayil eriya sevagane (25)

மெய்யே - True
என - such
வெவ்வினை - Harsh Karma  
வாழ்வை - Life
உகந்து - assuming
ஐயோ - Alas
அடியேன்  - Me
அலையத் தகுமோ? - Be deluded? 
கையோ - Hand
அயிலோ - Spear
கழலோ  - Feet
முழுதும் - Fully
செய்யோய் - Red Hued one
மயில் - Peacock
ஏறிய - Riding atop
சேவகனே - Brave One


Short Meaning
Will I be deluded assuming this wretched mortal life, which came into being as a result of Karma, to be real? Oh Lord Subrahmanya, who's hand, spear, feet are all red-hued and who is the Brave One who rides a peacock


Gloss
It is very easy to mistake our current existence as true and be deluded. It is important to realize in this human birth, that we are not the body, but the Self / Atma, the eternal, non-changing Truth which is identical with God, whom we here refer as Lord Subrahmanya

We discussed about Goddess' act of Obfuscation and Grace in Verse 23. While this world is designed to delude, it is by deep devotion, constant enquiry and Guru's Grace that we can determine that God alone is real and rest are not absolutely real. 

Sri Adi Sankara Bhagawatpada's teachings can be summarized as below:

1. Brahmaiva Sathyam  
2. Jagan Mithya
3. Jeevo Brahma'iva na-para:

Brahmaiva Sathyam - God alone is Truth

Jagan Mithya - The world that we experience is not absolutely real. 

Jeevo Brahma'va na para: - The individual self is not different from the Supreme Self (God)

I briefly discussed Mithya or the world being relatively real, but not absolutely real in a blog post sometime ago. 

In Siva Puranam, Lord Shiva is constantly being addressed as Truth (Sathyam / Mei)

In the verse above, Sri Manickavasagar sings that with Lord's Grace, all that is false were removed (poi aayina ellam pOi agala vanthu aruli), and One who shines as the light of True Knowledge (of the Self)

This body is the result of Karma - All Hindu scriptures unanimously assert this. Even good Karma is considered binding, and is likened to a golden leash. (A leash restricts your freedom, irrespective of the material it is made of)

Sri Arunagiri says that this body was obdained as a result of Karma which is binding and hence bad - Not just bad Karma, but also good. So, he beseeches Lord Murugan that is it ok that he be deluded that this false life is real(மெய்)? (அடியேன் அலையத் தகுமோ?) The delusion comes because of the body / existence (வாழ்வை) is assumed (உகந்து) to be real. This body is the result of Karma (வெவ்வினை)

A general pattern is that in the second half of the verse in Kandhar Anubhuti, attributes of Lord Murugan are described - In this verse, Sri Arunagiri describes Lord Murugan as one who has His entire body in Red Hue, including His spear - i.e., His hands (கையோ), His Spear (அயிலோ), His Feet (கழலோ) and His entire body (முழுதும்) are red hued (செய்யோய்)

He also describes Murugan as the Brave One (சேவகனே) who serves His devotees and One who rides a peacock (மயில் ஏறிய)

Interestingly, in Sri Rudram, Lord Shiva is also described as the Red One who is copper red in color (ato ya: tamra-aruna uta babru: sumangala:  ) - tamra meaning copper and aruna meaning red. Interesting Sri Arunachala, the holiest of Hills is itself called Aruna Achalam - Red Hill and the composer of the verse is himself Sri Arunagiri (Aruna - red and Giri - Hill)

With this verse, we can pray to Lord Murugan, the red-hued One to remove the delusion of this world, and seek His Grace to Unite with Him

Reference:

[1] Murugan pic from :

 https://www.flickr.com/photos/31544191@N05/16075020837/in/photostream/

Kandhar Anubhuti : Verse #24 - Blinded by lust, will I ever be able to receive your Grace? (koorvel vizhi)

கூர்வேல் விழி மங்கையர் கொங்கையிலே
சேர்வேன், அருள் சேரவும் எண்ணுமதோ
சூர் வேரொடு குன்று தொளைத்த நெடும்
போர் வேல, புரந்தர பூபதியே (24)


koor-vel vizhi mangaiyar kongaile
sErven arul seravum ennumadho?
soor vErodu kundru tholaitha nedum
pOr vela purandhara bhoopathiye (24)

கூர்வேல் - Sharp spear
விழி - eyes
மங்கையர்  - women
கொங்கையிலே - bosom
சேர்வேன் - unite 
அருள் சேரவும் - To receive Grace
எண்ணுமதோ - Is it possible to think?
சூர் - Asura Surapadman
வேரொடு- From the roots
குன்று - Peak
தொளைத்த - Penetrate
நெடும் போர்- long war
வேல - has spear
புரந்தர  - Indra
பூபதியே - Lord


Short Meaning
I am drowned in lust for women with sharp eyes - How can a person like me even think of receiving your Grace? Oh Lord Murugan, the Lord of the world of Indra, You destroyed the entire clan evil asura Surapadman and pierced the range of seven mountains surrounding his empire with your sharp spear, which is equipped to fight long wars! 

Gloss

Sri Arunagiri Nathar, in this verse asks Lord Murugan that He is overwhelmed by lust and is distraught that how can he meditate on the Lord when his mind is preoccupied? He beseeches Lord Murugan that He could completely destroy Surapadman and his clan with his Spear. He indirectly requests Lord to destroy his lust as well, which is also a formidable foe.

This theme of overcoming lust is a constant theme in Kandhar Anubhuti (covered in Verse 4, Verse 5 and Verse 9 (and more to follow Verses 34, 40, 43). This shouldn't be interpreted as Sri Arunagiri's rant against women. For the person in the final stages of spiritual pursuit, all basal tendencies are impediments. Lust, in its primal form is a big distraction in pursuit of Lord. This verse is equally applicable to both men and women in the pursuit of the divine.

In Arunachala Akshara Mana Maalai, Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi, in verses 11 and 12, Bhagavan expertly asks Sri Arunachala - 'O Arunachala, were you not there when the five senses, entered my heart?' - Then next verse (12) He says, 'How can anyone enter without you knowing, since you are the One behind everything' - Thus, Sri Bhagavan makes Sri Arunachala responsible for all his desires and hence asks Arunachala to remove them all. 

In this verse, Sri Arunagiri uses a different technique! He says 'Lord, you are the one with the peerless Spear, using which, you destroyed the entire clan of Surapadman and pierced the mountain range with seven mountains which were guarding his kingdom' - So, why don't you destroy my biggest obstacle which is lust? 

If we go into the life history of Sri Arunagiri, it will be clear that he was blinded by lust in the initial years of his life. Hence this theme constantly repeats throughout his works. He also talks about other human afflictions (for e.g. greed in Verse 16)

Spear, as discussed before is the symbolism for Jnana, the knowledge of Self, Atma Vidya. With this all ignorance and afflictions are removed and the spirit is liberated. 

So, in this verse, Sri Arunagiri describes Murugan as one who has a spear which is capable of long wars (நெடும்போர் வேல) and as the Lord of Devas, and hence the Lord of Deva's Kingdom (புரந்தர பூபதியே) - We can split it as புரந்தர பூ + பதியே -> World of Lord Indra (Deva Loka) + Lord

With this verse, we can also pray to the Lord to remove afflictions of our mind, whatever it be and reach the feed of Lord Subrahmanya

Kandhar Anubhuti : Verse #23 - Will I be ruined without thinking about your Feet? (adiyai kuriyathu)

அடியைக் குறியாது அறியா மையினால்
முடியக் கெடவோ? முறையோ? முறையோ?
வடி விக்ரம வேல் மகிபா, குறமின்
கொடியைப் புணரும் குண பூதரனே (23)

adiyai kuriyAthu ariyAmaiyinAl 
mudiya kedavo? muraiO muraiO?
vadi vikrama vel magipa kuramin
kodiyai punarum guna bootharane! (23)

அடியைக் - Holy Feet
குறியாது  - Without Meditating
அறியாமையினால் - Out of Ignorance
முடியக் கெடவோ? Will I be destroyed?
முறையோ? முறையோ? Is that ok?
வடி  - Sharp
விக்ரம  - Strong
வேல்  - Spear
மகிபா - Leader
குறமின் கொடியைப் - Tribal lady (Valli)
புணரும் - Loving
குணபூதரனே - Storehouse of virtues


Short Meaning
Will I be ruined by not meditating on the Holy Feet of the Lord? Dear Lord Murugan, is that ok? You are the storehouse of all virtues, and who wields a sharp and strong spear, and in deep love with Mother Valli, of the tribes

Gloss

In this verse, Sri Arunagiri Nathar again repeats that he wants to meditate on the Holy Feet  (அடி) of Lord Murugan 

The feet has great significance in Hindu literature. Lord Murugan, who is the Supreme Lord, is non-different from Mother Lalitha, the Supreme Goddess. It is important to know that Lord Shiva, Lord Murugan, Lord Ganesh, Mother Lalitha and Lord Maha Vishnu are reflection of the same Supreme principle reflected in different forms. We develop our liking towards them only because of our likes / dislikes. Otherwise, they are not different from each other. 

When we think of God, we think that the act of Creation, Sustenance and Destruction are the three main acts, done by Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Rudra respectively. This is commonly referred to as the 'Trinity'

But, the acts of God are five - The five acts are wonderfully described in Sri Lalitha Sahasranamam (Thousand names of Mother Supreme, Sri Lalitha)


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)


Since the first three are popular, let's look at the last two:

1. Obfuscation - Everyone knows they are going to die sometime - sooner or later. Then what is the motivation for people to pursue goals, try to excel or do anything meaningful. Why don't people just roll and die? The reason is obfuscation, While trying to pursue the reality and breaking free of the illusion of this Universe is the only meaningful goal, Goddess uses this power of obfuscation to create false goals to pursue, false enemies to vanquish etc. We get attracted to people, things, develop dislike to the same and perform some sort of action to be happy. This is the main work of Goddess. Else, the entire world would come to a standstill. 

Any rational person, with a minute amount of introspection will find that the goals we aspired for, esp the ones that we thought were life altering did come and go and we are still the same person after years. The mind just shifted to a different goal once we achieved the previous one. There is no such goal post which we are 'happy, ever after'. 

This is described in detail in 'A New Earth' by Sri Eckhart Tolle in section structure of the mind. A more intense analysis can also be found in Yoga Vashishta, but it is a book not recommended for beginners :) 

A soul tries to seek pleasure by pursuing different goals. In the end, it figures out that the goal it chased made it happy, but only temporarily. Hence it seeks its attention to the next goal and the process repeats. This continues over millions of birth (in search of something which will give eternal peace and happiness to the soul). 

This searching cannot be avoided - One really needs to feel the pain and heaviness of seeking pleasure in aspects of the world over many many births for them to completely give up on this seeking pleasure in objects.

2. Grace - When a tired soul, after millions of births, finally gives up the effort of seeking pleasure out and cries from the depth of its heart for help, then Grace descends.

Grace can never be earned or demanded or be got by any effort. Literally, it descends at the end of any effort. Another reason for this is, there is no effort big enough to earn Grace

This is beautifully described in Sri Subrahmanya Chakra (referred in the west as the Star of David)

The lower triangle represents the ascent of Spirit, which is the Sprit's effort in trying to reach its ultimate goal. Once the effort completely tapers off, the Grace descends and the realization is complete, when there is a perfect equilibrium of ascent of spirit and descent of Grace. There is this magnificent 6 petalled chakra, called the Subrahmanya Chakra. Incidenally, Lord Murugan's famous form is that of Lord Shanmukha, the six-faced one. Each of the petal carries the core-mantra of Lord Murugan 'sa-ra-va-na-bha-va'

In the imagery of Sri Nataraja, the Lord Shiva as Dancer, His raised left leg is is the representation of Grace. You can notice that He gently points us to look at His raised Left Feet  (Kunchita (raised) Vama (left) Paadam (feet) as it is popularly referred to) - When you see a Nataraja idol next time, please mentally bow to the raised left feet which liberates us from the painful cycle of birth / death

This Grace is personified as the feet of the Lord. So, in this verse, Sri Arunagiri worries not focussing on the feet of the Lord. 

In Tamil, there is a funny saying - "அடி உதவுர மாதிரி அண்ணன் - தம்பி கூட உதவ மாட்டாங்க" - Which roughly translates to "Even brothers don't help as much as a sound beating would" (Means violence works better)

But, this is a wrong translation -  அடி (adi) here means feet. It is actually a pious saying that the "Remembering the Feet of the Lord will help more than the siblings you are born with" which over time, the meaning of அடி got corrupted to beating someone up. 

Sri Arunagiri is very worried, that he'll be destroyed (முடியக் கெடவோ?) And implores the Lord that 'Is it right? (முறையோ?)' that he is allowed to be destroyed by not remembering the Feet of the Lord which is the only purpose of life.

The ONLY purpose of human birth is to realize the falseness of this living, and strive to be released from the repeated cycle. Interesting, in Greek, the word 'sin' roughly translates to 'missing the mark'. That is, to perceive this world we experience as real and to miss the Grace of Lord which is real. Lord's Holy Feet as the ultimate goal was also referred to in Verse 21. 

We can actually feel the pain of Sri Arunagiri's request, (which is of course, on behalf of us) that he should not miss the mark and strive and reach God's Grace.

And as mark of his exemplary devotion, he addresses Lord Murugan, thus:

1. வடி விக்ரம வேல் மகிபா - Lord Murugan, is described here as the Leader (மகிபா) wielding a sharp (வடி) and powerful (விக்ரம) spear (மகிபா)

In Lalitha Sahasranama, the ninth name is 'Krodhakara Angusha-ujwala' - i.e., One who wields a Sharp Weapon with Anger - Mother Lalitha, out of Her infinite Grace, cuts the bonding of a soul to a cycle of birth / death. But, this bond is immensely strong. So, it is imperative that Mother cuts it in one quick short. So, She wields the weapon in anger, and most importantly, it is a sharp weapon, and hence it shines (ujwala)

Angusha

In this verse, we can see that Lord Murugan wields a powerful and sharp spear to cut through the ignorance that causes our bonding


2. குறமின் கொடியைப் புணரும் குணபூதரனே - Lord Murugan, even as pointed out in the previous verse, has immense love to Mother Valli. In this verse, Sri Arunagiri address Lord Murugan as a storehouse of virtues (குணபூதரனே) who loves (புணரும்) Mother Valli, lady of slender form  (கொடி) and hails from the Tamil tribes (குறமின்) of Sri Lanka. The word 'kodi' can also mean creeper - Just like a creeper needs support of a tree, Mother Valli loves Lord Murugan so much, that She takes refuge in Her consort. 


Sri Arunagiri also refers to the Lord as the storehouse of eight major virtues, in Verse 15

Kandhar Anubhuti : Verse #22 - You are a worshipper of Valli! (kaalai kumaresan)

காளைக் குமரேசன் எனக் கருதித்
தாளைப் பணியத் தவம் எய்தியவா
பாளைக் குழல் வள்ளி பதம் பணியும்
வேளைச் சுர பூபதி, மேருவையே (22)


kAlai kumarEsan ena karuthi
thAlai paniya thavam eithiyava
pAlai kuzhal valli padam paniyum
vElai sura bhoopathi meruvaiye! (22)

காளைக் - Built like a young bull
குமரேசன் - Lord Murugan
எனக் கருதித் - considered so
தாளைப்  - Feet
பணியத்  - Bow
தவம்  - Penance
எய்தியவா - Achieve
பாளைக் குழல்  - Thick black hair
வள்ளி  - Mother Valli
பதம்  - Feet
பணியும் - Bow
வேளைச் சுரபூபதி - Crimson colored Lord of Devas
மேருவையே - Like Meru Hill


Short Meaning

How fortunate am I, to perform penance on the feet of young and vibrant form of Lord Murugan, built like a bull? 

The crimson colored Lord, famous like Mt Meru always bows to Mother Valli's feet

Gloss

Lord Murugan is addressed using three adjectives in the beginning

1. காளை - Bull

2. குமரன் - Son / Young One

3. ஈசன் - God

(குமரன் + ஈசன் = குமரேசன்)

Kumaran is one of the favorite names of the Lord. It indicates the eternal youth of Lord Murugan and also qualifies He is the son of Lord Shiva. The name Kumaran is also one of the favorite names of Sri Arunagiri. This name is also glorified in Verse 15.

The word ஈசன் (Isan) or Ishwara: or Maheshwara: is commonly used to refer Lord Shiva, as the Supreme God. However, in this case, it is used to refer Lord Murugan (who is non-different from Lord Shiva Himself)

In Thirumanthiram, verses 523 - 525 refer to the Atho Mukha Darshanam of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva is commonly referred to as One having five faces:

1. Sathyojatham

2. Vamadevam

3. Aghoram

4. Tatpurusham

5. Ishanam

In Highest meditation of Yogis and Gods, Lord Shiva appears as One with 6 faces, which is rarest of rare forms, even for celestials. This face is downward facing Atho Mukham

With this, the five faced Shiva appears as six faced, Shanmukha which is exalted form of Lord Murugan / Sri Subrahmanya. This is indicated by this verse

(Thirumanthiram verse 523 [1])

523: The Downward-Looking Face is of Sadasiva  

Inside Primal Fire that is Siva

Nandi rises in the centre, gleaming

He pervades worlds all,

His hue is of the twilight sun

Who the world in glory ambulates,

He is the Lord of the Downward-looking Face-- Athomukha.

The word காளை (Bull) is used to represent youthful exuberance of Lord Murugan

Sri Arunagiri says, he does penance (தவம்) to bow (பணியத்) to the feet (தாளைப்) of Lord Murugan. 

The word penance can be roughly translated as 'austerities' - The penance one does by giving up on luxuries of life with sheer focus on reaching the Lord. Ramana Maharshi beautifully describes what actual tapas is:

If one attentively observes that from where what says ‘I, I’ goes out, there the mind will be dissolved; that alone is tapas [2]

If we understand that the Lord Murugan and our Self (which says 'I, I') are non-different, we'll understand that reaching Murugan and reaching Self are the same. And that's the Tapas indicated by Sri Arunagiri, at a higher level

In a devotional interpretation, Sri Arunagiri wants to reach the Lotus feet of Lord. 

The next two lines of the verse bring out the extreme love Lord Murugan has towards his consort, Mother Valli

Mother Valli has thick, dark hair, compared to the bark of a betelnut tree, which is dark in nature. So, Mother Valli is referred to as பாளைக் குழல் வள்ளி

Lord Murugan has extreme love to Mother Valli - That, He always bows (பணியும்) to Her feet (பதம்) - This may sound outrageuous to some - But, Lord Murugan, in His extreme love to His consort, literally worships Mother Valli

Sri Arunagiri, then praises Lord Murugan as the Crimson hued Lord, who is Lord of Devas (சுர பூபதி) and immeasurable and great like Mt Meru (மேரு)

References

[1] https://www.himalayanacademy.com/view/tirumantiram

[2] http://happinessofbeing.blogspot.com/2015/08/that-alone-is-tapas-first-teachings.html

Images

http://murugan.org/research/balambal.htm

Kandhar Anubhuti : Verse #21 - When will you liberate me? (karudha marava)

கருதா மறவா நெறிகாண, எனக்கு
இருதாள் வனசம் தர என்று இசைவாய்
வரதா, முருகா, மயில் வாகனனே
விரதா, சுர சூர விபாடணனே (21) 

karudha marava neri-kAna enakku
iruthAl vanasam thara endru isaivai?
varadha muruga mayil-vahanane
viratha'asura sUra vipatanane

கருதா - Without remembering
மறவா - without forgetting
நெறி - righteous path
காண - to see
எனக்கு - for me
இருதாள்  - two feet
வனசம்  - Lotus
தர - to give
என்று - when
இசைவாய் - agree
வரதா - bestower of boons
முருகா - Lord Muruga
மயில் வாகனனே - rides on the Peacock
விரதாசுர - obnoxious asura
சூர  - Surapadman
விபாடணனே  - split in two

Short Meaning

Dear Lord Murugan, when will you lead me to the Path to the state of not-remembering and not-forgetting by showing both of your lotus Feet? You are the best in bestower of boons, and rider of the mighty peacock and the One who split the obnoxious asura, Surapadman into two!

Gloss

The request to Lord Murugan, in this verse, is very similar to that in Verse 18. 

In this verse, Sri Arunagiri asks Lord Murugan to show him the righteous path (நெறி) where there is no state of remembering (கருதா) or forgetfulness (மறவா)

It is an essential tenet of Vedanta that whatever comes will go. Because, they are under the influence of time. If someone thinks of the Lord, it means that there was a time when they didn't think of the Lord. In the state of constant state of Union with the God, the question of remembering and forgetting doesn't arise

Hence, Sri Arunagiri prays that He get the state of constant union with the Lord. 

This theme of continuous existence of state without arrival or departure is widely spread in Hinduism 

Pōkkum varavum'il Podu veliyinil arul Pōrattangāttu Arunāchalā (Arunachala Akshara Mana Maalai - v74 by Bhagawan Sri Ramana Maharshi)

In this magnificent work of Arunachala Akshara Mana Maalai, Bhagawan Sri Ramana Maharshi asks Lord Arunachala that 'Show me Grace in the Space where there is no arrival or departure')

Pokkum varavum punarvum illa punniyane (Sivapuranam by Manickavasagar)

In possibly one of the best composition on devotion, Thiruvasagam, Sri Manickavasagar describes Lord as One who is eternal without departure / arrival or change (change means arrival / departure in time - Arrival of the new form and departure of the older)

Sri Arunagiri wants to see (காண) the Path (நெறி) to the state of eternal union with God. And to see the path, Sri Arunagiri asks Lord Murugan to show his two lotus Feet (இருதாள் வனசம்) - Instead of requesting, the poet asks the Lord, 'when will You agree to show your feet?' - In a rhetorical way, he indirectly asks Lord to show them soon (தர என்று இசைவாய்?)

In Hindu scriptures, Lotus and Feet both hold a very special place. Lotus is used to describe beauty and delicateness. Maha Vishnu is called Aravinda-aksha (Lotus eyed). Feet of Gods are almost always referred to as Lotus feet. 

Feet is the depiction of Grace - When someone passes away, it is commonly referred to as 'He / She reached the Lotus feet of God' (no one says reached the face of God, ever) - Feet act as like vehicle of Grace, and Lord Nataraja actually points to His raised left feet to show that that's where Grace works! 

In the next two lines, Sri Arunagiri worships the Lord by calling him 'varadha' (வரதா) meaning the 'bestower of boons' 

There is a tamil song which says, I seek your blessings with two hands, but you bless me with boons with 12 hands! (Lord Murugan, in the form Sri Shanmukha has 6 faces and 12 hands)

In the song Sri Subrahmanyaya Namasthe, Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar calls Lord Murugan as the Expert in giving (boons) -  Bhoga Mosha Pradatre! Giver of boons of both enjoyment and liberation!

Then he endearingly seeks Lord in his favorite name, Muruga (முருகா), who rides a peacock (மயில் வாகனனே). Interestingly, the peacock is none other than Surpadman himself! When Lord Murugan split Surapadman, who stood as a tree into two, one part became the rooster which Lord carries in His flag and the other part became a peacock which became His vehicle! 

Surapadman was a terrible asura - Hence Sri Arunagiri calls him as an obnoxious one (விரதாசுர)!

Surapadman actually stood as a giant tree which shook the entire universe! Lord Subrahmanya threw his Spear and split the tree into two - This is being referred to by the phrase (சூர விபாடணனே) - One who split Asura into two!

This is a very specual Anubhuti verse which should be our constant prayer to Lord Subrahmanya.