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.

Kandhar Anubhuti : Verse #20 - You made me ready to receive the rarest of Truths! (arithagiya mei-porulukku)

அரிதாகிய மெய்ப் பொருளுக்கு அடியேன்
உரிதா உபதேசம் உணர்த்தியவா
விரிதாரண, விக்ரம வேள், இமையோர்
புரிதாரக, நாக புரந்தரனே (20)

arithagiya mei-porulukku adiyen

uridha upadesam unarthiyava

viritharana vikrama vel imayor

puri-thaaraka naga purantharane (20)

அரிதாகிய - Extremely rare
மெய்ப் பொருளுக்கு - Truth
அடியேன் - Me
உரிதா - Made me ready
உபதேசம் - Teaching
உணர்த்தியவா - made me realize
விரிதாரண - Strong (broad)
விக்ரம - Of great strength and valour
வேள் - Loved by all
இமையோர் - Devas
புரிதாரக  - Meaning of Om (pranava)
நாக புரந்தரனே - Supporter of the Deva Loka 



Short Meaning

Dear Lord Murugan, you made me ready to receive the final teaching, which is extremely rare! You are strong, valorous and loved by all. You are also the meaning of the Holy Pranava, 'Om', which is loved by the immortal Devas and supporter of their world

Gloss

In this verse, Sri Arunagiri Nathar thanks Lord Murugan for getting him ready for receiving the message that would reveal the ultimate reality

Vedanta declares that knowledge of the self is the only way to be liberated from the repeated cycles of birth and death. This knowledge is crisply conveyed using one of the Maha-Vaakyaa's

A Maha-Vaakya is a statement that expresses unity / non-difference of the perceived individual self (soul) and the Supreme God (para-Brahman). There are four maha-vaakyas in four vedas:

1. Aham Brahmasmi - I am Brahman (Yajur Veda)

2. Tat-twam asi - That You are (Sama Veda)

3. Prajnanam Brahma - Knowledge (of self) is Brahman (Rig Veda)

4. Ayam Atma Brahma - Self is Brahman (Atharva Veda)

When the disciple is ready, Guru utters one if these maha-vaakyas to the disciple and in that moment, the disciple is enlightened and released from the bondage of birth / death. 

These statements are quite brief and explanatory. Why is that we are unable to know that we are non-different from God? The answer is that we are not 'ready' - We are conditioned by millions of births (as humans or animals or plants etc) and we carry on strong desires or dislikes (called 'vasanas')

The first step is to make the disciple ready to get 'chitta shuddhi' - Purity of mind

In this verse, Sri Arunagiri says Lord Murugan first got him (அடியேன்) to ready to receive (உரிதா) the knowledge (உபதேசம்) which is rarest of rare (அரிதாகிய)

The word 'adiyen' used in this verse using which Sri Arunagiri refers to himself means that he is servant of the Lord, who is ready to serve at his feet - This word is used by humble souls, who treat themselves as those who serve others. This brings out humility of Sri Arunagiri

In this verse, the poet calls the knowledge that would liberate him as the Truth (மெய்ப்பொருள்) - God is often referred to as Truth in Hindu Philosophy (Sathyam / Shivam / Sundaram - Truth / Auspiciousness / Beaty are frequently referred to as attributes of Lord)

In Thiruvasagam, Sri Manickavasagar addresses Lord as 

'One who causes all falseness to fall away and shine as True Knowledge'

With this, we can know that the Lord Subrahmanya, the True Lord is no different from the Knowledge that liberates

Once addressing Lord thus, Sri Arunagiri, out of His pure Guru Bhakthi, refers to Lord Murugan as

(1) விரிதாரண - Broad (shouldered) One who is Strong

(2) விக்ரம - Of great strength and valour

(3) வேள் - Loved by all

(4) இமையோர் புரிதாரக - The word 'taraka' means a boat, or that which help one cross. In most of Hindu philosophy, the endless cycle of birth / death is often referred to as a ocean with no end

Lord's name or the sacred sound 'Om' is the boat that help people cross this scary ocean

Sri Muthuswamy Dikshitar in his famous Ghana Raga Krithi, Sri Maha Ganapathi Ravathumam, addresses Ganesha as Bhava Jaladhi Naava - The boat (naava) which helps souls cross the ocean of birth /death (bhava jaladhi)

Rama nama is also referred to as 'Taraka Mantra' - That which helps the devotees 'cross'

Lord Subrahmanya is the meaning of this sacred Pranava (Om) and Devas worship Him as the meaning of Om

(5) நாக புரந்தரனே - Lord Subrahmanya is also referred to as 'Deva SenaPathi' - Meaning the Lord (Chieftain) of the Army of Devas. 

Scholars do a word play and say, that after the war in which Surapadman was vanquished, Indra offered His daughter Devasena to Lord Subrahmanya for marriage. After the marriage, 'Deva Senapathi' became 'Devasena Pathi' (husband of Devasena) :)

Lord Subrahmanya, thus is the protector of all Devas and their world (Lord Murugan is addressed thus, even in verse 18 (Amaravathi kavala))

With this verse, it is our duty to pray to Lord Subrahmanya to give us means to make us ready for receiving the sacred teaching. When we are ready, Lord Himself will appear as Guru and give us the final knowledge that will make us unite with Him and liberate from bondage.

PS:

Image from http://www.astroulagam.com.my/lifestyle/article/84901/5-most-famous-tales-of-lord-murugan

Kandhar Anubhuti : Verse #19 - Problems of Poverty

வடிவும் தனமும் மனமும் குணமும்
குடியும் குலமும் குடிபோ கியவா
அடி அந்தம் இலா அயில் வேல் அரசே
மிடி என்று ஒரு பாவி வெளிப்படினே (19) 


vadivum dhanamum manamum gunamum
kudiyum kulamum kudipogiyava
adi antham ila ayil vel arase
midi endru oru paavi velippadine (19)

வடிவும் - Physical Beauty
தனமும்  - Prosperity
மனமும் - Good thoughts
குணமும் - Good character
குடியும் - Good lineage
குலமும் - Good race
குடிபோகியவா - Are all lost
அடி - Beginning
அந்தம்  - End
இலா  - Without 
அயில் வேல் - Sharp Spear
அரசே - Lord
மிடி - Poverty
என்று  - so
ஒரு - one
பாவி  - evil / sin
வெளிப்படினே - arrives

Short Meaning
Oh Lord Murugan, One without a beginning or an end, and One who wields a sharp spear! All qualities like physical beauty, prosperity, good thoughts, character, lineage and race are lost if the evil of poverty strikes



Gloss

In this verse, Sri Arunagiri Nathar talks about poverty. This verse needs to be reflected upon based on the personal life history of the poet. 

Sri Arunagiri came from a rich family, but squandered away his wealth in evil / a-dharmic ways. When he became poor, he lost it all, and fell even deeper in bad habits.

In this verse, he says, due to poverty, one loses physical beauty, prosperity, good thoughts, character, lineage and race

In this worse, he wonders how one evil like poverty can destroy so many good attributes and addresses his wonder to Lord Murugan. 

In this verse, he again refers to Murugan as 

1. அடி அந்தம் இலா - One without beginning or end

This term also has a reference in the previous verse, where, Lord Shiva appeared as a pillar without beginning or end. 

Beginning or end are concepts only at the level of mind. Human mind is within the realm of time, and hence wonders 'Who came first?' - Mind cannot understand that time is cyclical - It is as futile as asking where does the circle begin and end?

Lord is the basis from which the entire concept of time develops - Lord is beyond the notion of time, and hence doesn't have concepts like beginning / end

2. அயில் வேல் அரசே - Lord who wields a sharp spear

Murugan's spear is pure Jnana (knowledge). It cuts through darkness of ignorance and provides enlightenment to devotees. 

For the spear to cut through thick ignorance, it needs to be sharp. So, Sri Arunagiri calls the Lord as the One who holds a sharp spear. 

Kandhar Anubhuti : Verse #18 - You are one without Birth or Death

உதியா, மரியா, உணரா, மறவா,
விதி மால் அறியா விமலன் புதல்வா,
அதிகா, அநகா, அபயா, அமரா
பதி காவல, சூர பயங் கரனே (18)

udhiyA mariyA unarA maravA

vidhi maal ariyA vimalan pudhalvA

adhigA anaghA abhayA amarA

pathi kAvala soora bhayangaranE (18)

Why Fear when I am here?

உதியா - Not born
மரியா - Without death
உணரா - Without remembering
மறவா - Without forgetting
விதி  - Lord Brahma
மால்  - Lord Vishnu
அறியா - Beyond comprehension
விமலன்  - Lord Shiva
புதல்வா Son
அதிகா - More than anyone
அநகா - Without sin
அபயா - Without fear
அமராபதி காவல - Protector of Amaravathi
சூர  - Asura Sudapadman
பயங்கரனே  - Terrifies


Short Meaning 
Oh Lord Muruga! You are without birth or death, remembrance or forgetfulness. You are the son of Lord Shiva who is beyond comprehension of Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu. You exceed everyone in capabilities, sinless and without fear. You are the protector of the city of Amaravthi, and one who struck fear in the heart of the most dangerous Asura, Surapadman


Gloss
This is a very beautiful verse - This verse is structured purely as one which extols the greatness of Lord Murugan. There is no seeking at all. 

The first line is in Sri Arunagiri's favorite form of words with opposing meanings, to describe Lord Murugan.

He starts by saying Lord is without birth (உதியா) and without death (மரியா). This is reinforcement of the same declaration in Verse 12. 

In his very famous work of Moha Mudgaram, popularly referred to as Bhaja Govindam, Sri Sankara says that this birth of repeated birth and death is *very* painful [2]

Punarapi jananam punarapi maranam,
Punarapi janani jatare sayanam,
Iha samsaare khalu dusthare,
Krupayaa pare pahi murare.

Repeated births, repeated deaths, and repeatedly taking birth in the womb of the mother. This repeating cycle is very pain - So, please take mercy on me and release me from this cycle, Oh Murari! 


We need to know that only the Lord who has no birth or death has the capability to release us from the tiring cycle (samsara) of birth and death

How is that God is not subject to birth or death? The first verse of Mandukya Upanishad is as follows: [1]

हरिः ओम् । ओमित्येतदक्षरमिदं सर्वं तस्योपव्याख्यानं भूतं भवद्भविष्यदिति सर्वमोङ्कार एव | यच्चान्यत्त्रिकालातीतं तदप्योङ्कार एव ॥ १ ॥

hariḥ om | omityetadakṣaramidaṃ sarvaṃ tasyopavyākhyānaṃ bhūtaṃ bhavadbhaviṣyaditi sarvamoṅkāra eva | yaccānyattrikālātītaṃ tadapyoṅkāra eva || 1 ||

1. Hariḥ Aum. Aum, the word, is all this. A clear explanation of it (is the following). All that is past, present and future is verily Aum. That which is beyond the triple conception of time, is also truly Aum.

The verse says that the primal mantra Om represents past, present and the future. And it also represents that which is beyond these three. How can anything beyond past / present and future?

The answer is, time is nothing but a tiny dimension in front of the Lord. He controls time, and is never controlled by it. In Vishnu Sahasranama, Lord Vishnu is referred to as 'Bhoota Bhavya Bhavat Prabhu:' - Lord of Past, Present and Future,

Since Lord Murugan is beyond time, the concepts of birth and death do not apply for Him. Hence He alone can release us from the endless cycle of birth and death.

As a direct effect of being beyond time, the Lord Murugan is beyond the qualities of remembering and forgetfulness. He just knows everything all the time. It is completely beyond our mind that how such things can exist. 

Remembering and forgetfulness exist only within the realm of time. They have no meaning for the Lord who knows everything. 

We need to know that Lord is beyond constructs that can be understood by the mind. This is exactly the reason Sri Arunagiri (and many other mystics) describe Lord in striking ways

Story of Arunachala [3]

The line 2 of this verse says Lord Murugan is the son of Lord Shiva, who was beyond comprehension of both Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu (விதி மால் அறியா விமலன் புதல்வா)

Lord Brahma is indicated by word Vidhi (விதி) which literally means fate - Since, according to our philosophy. Lord Brahma assigns Karma to be experienced during a specific birth.

To understand this name better, we need to know the story of the Holiest Hill of Sri Arunachala.

Once there was a strong argument between Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma on who is the most superior in the creation - In their arguments, they forgot that Lord Shiva who was the creator of both of them is one with no equal.

As they were involved in intense argument, there arose a red pillar of fire - The entire universe seemed to glow red because of that pillar - A voice was heard that the one who finds the bottom of the pillar or the top is the superior one. Immediately, Lord Vishnu took the form of a boar (Varaha avatara) and started going deep. Lord Brahma sat on his Swan and started flying up. 

Lord Maha Vishnu, in the form of the boar (varaha) tried very hard, but still couldn't find the base. So His ego was vanquished. On the other hand, Lord Brahma as much as he could try, couldn't see the top. That time, he saw a flower, called Thazampoo (Pandanus / Screwpine in English) falling down. Brahma asked flower where it was coming from, and the flower answered it came from the top of the pillar. Lord Brahma asked the flower to lie that he picked it up himself from the top

When Brahma came down, he saw a tired and sad Vishnu who said that he doesn't consider himself as supreme since he couldn't find the base of the pillar. While Brahma said that he found the top and hence he was superior. That time, the pillar shook and from that Lord Shiva emerged. He punished Brahma for lying and cut off one of his five heads. So, Brahma has only four heads. He also said that Brahma will no longer be worshipped (How many temples of Brahma do you know? :) ) and the Thazhampoo flower will not be used for worship of Shiva. 

Both Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu, with their egos vanquished submitted to Lord Shiva that He was the greatest One. 

Sri Arunagiri points to this story when he says Lord Murugan is son of the Lord Shiva who is without impurities. Malam means impurity in Tamil, and the prefix 'vi' indicates without - Vi-malan means one without impurities. As another example, Lord Ganesha is called Vi-Nayaka because He is one without (vi) any superior (nayaka)

In Thirumanthiram,  Saint Tirumular says, Lord Shiva is beyond the Trinity - 'Moovar Arinthilar, Yaavar Matrarivar?' - You are beyond the comprehension of Trinity! Who else can even attempt to know you?

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Lord Murugan is also described as One who is 'more' than anyone else (அதிகா) - This a form of Bhakti where Sri Arunagiri, out of sheer love for the Lord says He is more than anything else.

Lord Murugan is also without sins (அநகா) - He is also without fear (அபயா) - There are lots of pictures of Murugan in Tamil Nadu which have the quote 'Why fear when I am here?' - Lord Murugan is not only fearless, but also removes fear of all his devotees. He holds the Abhaya Mudra (holds His hand in a posture that removes fear from the heart of His devotees)

Lord Murugan showing Abhaya Hastham

Lord Subrahmanya is also the Protector of the city of Amaravathi (அமராபதி காவல) , the city of Devas. It is referred to as Amarapathi in this verse

சூர பயங்கரனே - One who struck fear in the heart of Surapadman. The evil Asura Surapadman was one who never had fear. He struck terror in all beings in the world, including high Gods. 

Lord Murugan, induced fear in Surapadman's heart during His fight. Hence Lord is referred to as One who struck terror in Sura's heart. 

References
[1] https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/mandukya-upanishad-karika-bhashya/d/doc143592.html


[2] http://www.astrojyoti.com/bhajagovindamstotra.htm

[3] http://arunachalagrace.blogspot.com/2008/04/lord-shiva-at-arunachala.html