Kandhar Anubhuti : Verse #33 - When will I over the immense pain of bondage? (chithaakula illodu)

சிந்தாகுல இல்லொடு செல்வம் எனும் 

விந்தாடவி என்று விடப் பெறுவேன் 

மந்தாகினி தந்த வரோதயனே 

கந்தா, முருகா, கருணாகரனே (33)

chintakula illodu selvam enum

vinthadavi endru vida peruven?

manthagini thantha varothayane

kandha muruga karunakarane (33)

சிந்தாகுல -  Sources of mental agony

இல்லொடு - family

செல்வம் - money

எனும் - such

விந்தாடவி - dark forest of Vindhyas

என்று விடப் பெறுவேன் - when will I be liberated?

மந்தாகினி தந்த- Given by Ganges 

வரோதயனே - Who appeared as the result of a boon to Devas 

கந்தா - Skanda! 

முருகா - Muruga!

கருணாகரனே - Personification of Grace!

Short Meaning

Dear Lord Skanda! Muruga! You are the gift from Mother Ganges and  personification of Grace - When will I be liberated from the pain of being lost in the dark forest of materialistic life (bondage to family and wealth)?

Gloss

We have to remember that this work, Kandhar Anubhuti is also aimed at devotees at their final stages of evolution and those who are ready to merge with the divine. 

When someone is learning to cycle, additional two smaller support wheels by the side helps one balance and avoids falling. But, once someone learns to cycle well, and wants to race, the two wheels will be a hindrance. In a similar fashion, a life involving family (இல்) helps an individual souls evolve from a self-centered life. A person realizes that he is more than just his selfish pursuits and extends his identity to his / her spouse, parents, kids and extended family etc. But, this same construct that lets him evolve is also a limitation in the *final* step of spiritual process. This verse needs to be interpreted at this level only. 

Also, while money (செல்வம்) gives a sense of free mind and helps run life smoothly, it can be an impediment when the focus is only on it and there is an avaricious goal to amass more. 

So, Sri Arunagiri calls these two things as causes of deep mental anguish (சிந்தாகுல).

A person caught deep in the bonds of family life and in desire of wealth cannot find liberation. The Vindhya mountain range in South India is known for its thick and dark forests - There have been numerous counts of people walking in getting lost and unable to find their way back. Arunagiri compares the impediments of wealth and family bondage to this forest of Vindhya mountains (விந்தாடவி) from which there is no way to find liberation 

Hence, he calls out to Lord Murugan for help - He addresses Lord Murugan as the Gift of Ganges (மந்தாகினி தந்த) - To remind us all of the appearance of Murugan, when Asura Surapadman's atrocities reached their zenith, Devas pleaded Lord Shiva to help - Lord Shiva then emitted six fire balls from his Third eye - These were carefully carried and were placed in River Ganges - These six then converted to six babies which were taken care by six Krithika Girls. Mother Parvati then hugged all six of them in her maternal joy and they all merged into one form with six faces and twelve hands. 

Sri Arunagiri hence brings out two aspects of this event - One who was the gift of Ganges since only Mother Ganga could handle the heat of six ferocious fire balls from Shiva's Third eye. And also, as one who appeared as a boon of Lord Shiva to Devas (வரோதயனே = வர (boon) + உதயனே (appeared) )

It is important to note that Lord Murugan was not 'created' but 'appeared' - It is also called out it Verse 12, as a person who was never born. Since all that is born, will die. Lord Murugan is eternal and beyond the bounds of time. He just appeared for us due to Grace of Lord Shiva. 

The first verse of Mandukya calls out "Om is everything - Om is past, present and future. It is also beyond these three" - How can something not be part of past / present or future? We should realize that time is nothing but a small dimension for God and He is neither bound by it nor controlled by it. Rules that apply to us do not apply to Him. 

Finally, Sri Arunagiri concludes the verse by calling out to Lord Subrahmanya in three ways:

1. Skanda - One who reduces the strength of enemies 
2. Muruga - Most Beautiful One
3. Karunakarane - Personification of Grace

The last name is of special importance. For the soul caught in the mire of Samsara, it is only Grace that can save it. Else, there is no hope at all - There is no effort that can be done for it to escape from its the dark ocean of samsara - Only Grace of Lord Murugan can save us. Hence Sri Arunagiri appeals to this aspect of Lord Subrahmanya to save us

PS: Murugan image from http://knowledgefruit.blogspot.com/2013/01/ganga-mother.html