Kandhar Anubhuti : Verse #38 - You Graced me, a person unworthy of Grace! (aadhaliyai ondru ariyenai)

ஆதாளியை, ஒன்று அறியேனை அறத் 

தீது ஆளியை ஆண்டது செப்புமதோ 

கூதாள கிராத குலிக்கு இறைவா 

வேதாள கணம் புகழ் வேலவனே (38) 

adhaaliyai, ondru ariyenai - ara

thethaaliyai aandu seppumatho!

koodhala kiratha kulikku iraiva!

vedhala ganam pugazh velavane (38) 

ஆதாளியை - One of vain speech

ஒன்று அறியேனை - One who knows nothing

அறத் தீது ஆளியை - One with extremely bad character

ஆண்டது - To Grace

செப்புமதோ  - How can I even describe?

கூதாள - wearing koodhala flower 

கிராத குலிக்கு - (Valli) Born in the family of Hunters 

இறைவா - Lord

வேதாள கணம் - Spirits and Ghosts 

புகழ் - Praise

வேலவனே - Lord who wields the Spear

Short Meaning

I am person of vain speech, a person who doesn't know anything and I am a person of extremely bad character - How can I even describe your Grace,  in words on how you took over me! Dear Lord, you wear the Koodhala flower and you are the Lord who wields the spear praised by even Spirits and Ghosts

Gloss

Self Realized Jnanis, never say 'I totally deserved it and I earned it' :) 

When self-realization occurs, they realize how infinitisimally small their effort was, and how magnanimous the Grace was. It is impossible to 'earn' Grace. Grace of the Lord works in ways unknown to the mind - Those who receive it always receive it in tears and always in doubt of 'what did I do to deserve this?' or 'why am I even receiving this?' - They only have overwhelming gratitude to the Lord for Gracing them

In this verse, Sri Arunagiri says he is a person of many flaws, with three major ones being:

1. One of Vain Speech (ஆதாளியை ) - Speech is a very powerful medium and the mode of verbalized speech is called Vaikhari and is overruled by Lord Ganesha Himself. So, useless words, misleading words, dishonest words and words of vanity should not be used. 

2. One who knows Nothing  (ஒன்று அறியேனை)- In His extreme humility, Sri Arunagiri says he knows nothing - However, it is a prayer for us as we have not spent any time in acquiring Spritual knowledge

3. One with extremely bad character (அறத் தீது ஆளியை) - Arunagiri Nathar seems to retrospect on his earlier years, where he was bound by lust and was a person of bad character

Hence, when Lord Murugan Graced Sri Arunagiri Nathar, he is overwhelmed with gratitude and asks - As a person of so many flaws, how can I ever describe how I acquired this Grace (ஆண்டது செப்புமதோ )? 

Sri Arunagiri, then describes Lord as one who wears the Koodhala (கூதாள) Flowers (a type of flower in Tamil Nadu)

He then calls Lord Murugan as Lord (இறைவா) of Valli, who was born in the family of hunters (கிராத குலி) - It is interesting to see oscillating views of Sri Arunagiri between verses :) In some he calls Lord as One who is always at the feet of Valli waiting for Her orders, but here, he calls Murugan as the Lord of Valli - This is because of the transcendent love between Valli and Murugan

Finally, needless to say, everyone knows Lord Shiva is surrounded by Bhoota Ganas - Scary looking ghosts and spirits (வேதாள கணம்). Even they worship (புகழ்) Lord Murugan (வேலவனே) - Out of His infinite kindness, Lord Murugan listens to their prayers too. 

PS:

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