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?

------

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

Kandhar Anubhuti : Verse #17 - Anything that I know, is Your Grace

யாம் ஓதிய கல்வியும், எம் அறிவும்
தாமே பெற, வேலவர் தந்ததனால்
பூ மேல் மயல் போய் அறம் மெய்ப் புணர்வீர்
நாமேல் நடவீர், நடவீர் இனியே (17)

yaam odhiya kalviyum em arivum
thaame pera velavar thandhadhanal
Bhoo mel mayal pOi aram mei punarveer
naa mel nadaveer iniye! (17)

யாம் - I
ஓதிய  - learnt
கல்வியும்,  - knowledge
எம் அறிவும் - wisdom
தாமே பெற,  - to be obtained
வேலவர் - The spear wielding Lord
தந்ததனால் - Since he gave
பூ மேல்  - On this earth
மயல் போய்  - Delusion removed
அறம் மெய்ப்  - Righteousness and Truth
புணர்வீர் - Seek (verbatim - Unite)
நாமேல் - Over my tongue 
நடவீர், நடவீர் - Walk, Walk 
இனியே - Now on 

Short Meaning

All the knowledge and wisdom that I possess where given to me, by the Lord of Spear, in his own volition. Due to that knowledge, let my delusion be removed, and let me walk on the earth seeking righteousness and truth and singing the praise of the Lord 

Gloss

In this verse, Sri Arunagiri Nathar makes one thing amply clear - Lord Subrahmanya is alone the source of all knowledge and wisdom. We seem to have any knowledge or wisdom only because the Lord deems it to be so. And, this is by His own will and not by any effort of ours or by anyone else's influence. 

In Lalitha Sahasranamam, Mother Goddess Lalitha Maha Tripura Sundari is called as Svatantra - Which means, she is completely independent, unbiased and beyond influence. She is not bound by the divine and eternal cosmic pair of action and result. Whatever She does or gives is by her own choice.

In this verse, Sri Arunagiri, clearly points out to this attribute of the Lord - He says any knowledge that he learnt, implying learnt from a Guru (யாம் ஓதிய கல்வியும்), and, any wisdom (எம் அறிவும்) he may have acquired because of that, or his intuition or inference is only because Lord Murugan deemed it to be so (தாமே பெற, வேலவர் தந்ததனால்)

Textual knowledge is actually considered dangerous by many spiritual teachers - For, it leads a person to develop a strong identity of a 'learned person' - Ego is a very difficult foe. There are people who give up all their material possessions - This is not the end, but just a step towards lesser identification towards things. In scriptures it is said important to to identify with stuff less and less so that we can focus on what we are. (Transition from identifying with what we have to what we 'are') - For e.g., people may claim they have cars, homes, spouse, kids - These are all the stuff they have. So, they develop a strong identity using these 'possessions' - Funnily, these are possessions only in the minds of people who think so. These things (or people) have nothing written on them that they belong to this person. This is very well analyzed in the section - 'Illusion of Ownership' in the book 'A New Earth' by Eckhart Tolle

Interestingly, in Bible, (Mathew 5:3) it is said "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven" - It means that if people do not carry notions of ownership of things / people, they are 'poor' in Spirit. They may have a lot of stuff, but they don't associate it with their 'self'. Because of which, they enter the Kingdom of Heaven, which we can interpret as God's Place (No permanent heaven or hell or Hindu Scriptures - But Moksham is close to eternal, since it has no time dimension)

In this verse, Sri Arunagiri lays no claim to His genius - He says if such things come out of my mouth, it is only because of Lord Murugan,. 

Interestingly, Jagat Guru, Sri Adi Sankara Himself says something identical in Subrahmanya Bhujangam:

“I know not the science of musical sounds, I know not the meanings of complex texts either, I know not the nature of shlokas made of four types of padaas, nor do I know the intricacies of the gadhyam style! But in my heart, shines an effulgent light with six luminous faces, and because of that, from my mouth, amazing phrases with musical tone and meanings pour out in extempore.” – Sri Adi Shankara (Subrahmanya Bhujangam, Stanza 2)

Sri Arunagiri says, since he got the knowledge or any devotee who get the knowledge to spend rest of their lives on this earth (பூ மேல்) devoid of delusion (மயல் போய்)

The greatest delusion, called 'moola-avidya' or the primary delusion is to take our limited body as our true self. Every other evil follows this primary delusion. 

So, Sri Arunagiri says, since the devotees are blessed by the Knowledge from the Lord, he asks the devotees to go around the world for rest of their lives devoid of delusion and leading a life integrated (புணர்வீர்) with righteousness (அறம்) and truth (மெய்). 

Sri Arunagiri also says that let him always sing the Glory of the Lord - In Tamil, the word நடை means walk. It also means the movement, which is also used to describe movement / flow of words - For e.g., prose is called உரைநடை meaning, flow of words 

Sri Arunagiri says, let him always sing the praise of Lord from then on (நாமேல் நடவீர், நடவீர் இனியே). (PS:- For the keen, they'll notice that the Verse 15 starts with the request to Lord on when he can reach a state where he can always chant the names of Lord and sing His praises) 

Kandhar Anubhuti : Verse #16 - Release me from Greed and Protect Me!

பேராசை எனும் பிணியில் பிணிபட்டு
ஓரா வினையேன் உழலத் தகுமோ?
வீரா, முது சூர் பட வேல் எறியும்
சூரா, சுர லோக துரந்தரனே. (16)

Peraasai enum piniyil pini pattu
Ora vinayen uzhala thagumo?
Veera Mudhu soor pada vel eriyum
soora sura loga thurandharane (16)

பேராசை எனும் - Desire and Greed
பிணியில் - Disease
பிணிபட்டு - Disease Ridden
ஓரா வினையேன் - A person without discriminative mind
உழலத் தகுமோ - Rot / Suffer
வீரா - The Brave One
முது சூர் - Ancient Villain 
 பட - Destroyed
வேல் எறியும் - Throw Spear
சூரா - Valiant One
சுர லோக - Land of Devas
துரந்தரனே - Protector

Short Meaning
Will I be caught in the great disease of desires and greed since I am a person without a discriminating mind? Oh Brave One! You destroyed the Ancient Villain (evil that has been there from time immemorial) by throwing your spear (indicative of Knowledge / Jnana) and protected the Devas. (You please protect me too)

Gloss
In Annapoorna Ashtakam, Sri Shankara sings to Mother Annapoorna - 

Annapoorne Sadapoorne
    Shankara Prana Vallabhe
Jnana Vairagya Sidhyartam
    Bhiksham Dehi! cha Parvati!

Oh Mother who feeds us! (Any one who feeds us is an embodiment of Mother Annapoorna only. Only she feeds us - Not just food!). 

You are always complete (Sadaa-Poorne). You are perfect and complete because you lack nothing! 

You are the life support (Prana Vallabha) and love of Lord Shankara

Oh Parvati, I beg you! (Bhiksham Dehi!) - Please grant me Knowledge (Jnana) and Dispassion (Vairagya)

Mother Annapoorna is mostly interpreted as the aspect of Mother Goddess who gives food to the entire Universe (Humans, as a side effect of evolution, unfortunately think they are the center of the Universe. The Mother Annapoorna is Mother of all, and feeds every being in this wide Universe, visible and invisible). 

A Brahmachari kid (student) is expected to beg and eat after his Upanayana (Sacred thread) ceremony, till he gets married . Similarly, Sannyasis can eat only by begging for alms too. The Maha Sanyasi, Sri Shankara similarly wants Bhiksha (alms) from Mother Annapoorna. But here, he does not seek food - He seeks Jnana (Knowledge) and Vairagya (Dispassion) - He asks Mother because, He knows only Mother Goddess can bless Him with these.

What is Jnana? It is the ultimate knowledge that we are non different from supreme. To realize this, we need to know we are complete and don't need any 'thing' else to be happy. But, human mind works in mysterious ways. As Eckhart Tolle says, a mind wants to want more than it wants to have.

A mind desperately wants to have something. Once it gets it, it simply moves on to next target while briefly being at peace with the object that it desperately wanted. But, it is just a matter of time when targets are retrained and mind is in deep pain again - In Arunachala Akshara Mana Malai, Bhagawan Sri Ramanar says - Please make my mind stop roaming by showing your supreme beauty (after which, the mind won't roam, because there is no superior target)

A person who realizes that searching of happiness in objects, people and external sources is futile, would then say, I don't want those external objects / people. Doesn't mean one needs to be physically away, but mentally detached. This state, where one is detached from objects / people in the material world is called vairagya. This has a negative connotation, esp in Tamil. It is equated to one wanting something, but staying away, which is completely wrong. 

Vairagya is a supreme state where desires may arise, but with the help of sharp Jnana, it is cut and the person stays in a detached state - It is an active and a very positive place to be. 

Desires are always rooted in perceived lack in self, as projected by the mind. Greed is an extreme version - In my opinion, these emotions are very useful. Greed is an excellent indicator where we perceive lack. (For e.g., if one thinks they lack money, they feel greed towards someone who has more of it. If one things they are not strong, they'll feel greed towards someone strong - Greed will never happen in cases if one doesn't feel lack. So, Greed is a useful emotion, only to be understood and then destroyed)

In this verse, Sri Arunagiri feels the pain of desire and greed (for his devotees). He asks rhetorically, that is it ok for me to suffer in the pain? 

He calls greed (பேராசை) as a disease (பிணி). And asks, will you let me suffer? (உழலத் தகுமோ?) to Lord Murugan.

He brilliantly says, he suffers because of lack of discrimination (ஓரா வினையேன்). He clearly brings out due to the lack of Jnana, he suffers from desire and greed.

He calls out Lord Murugan as Veera (வீரா), the Brave One. 

முது சூர் - Simply means Ancient Asura. It is easy to interpret it thus and move forward. However, the implications of this word is deep. 

In Saiva Siddantha, it is said the Lord (Pathi), Soul (Pasu) and Bonding (Paasam) are eternal. Even in Bhagawat Geetha, Bhagawan Sri Krishna says to Arjuna, "Both you and I have been around for ever. I remember everything, but you don't"

Surapadman, the foe who couldn't be vanquished by anyone is symbolism for Ajnana - The Primal Ignorance. That which makes the self think it is different from the Brahman (God) - This Ajnana is as old as time. 

So, Sri Arunagiri calls him as Ancient Asura / Villain. 

[Interestingly, in many Tamil Poems, Lord Shiva is addressed as the Old Guy (since there is nothing older than Him :) ]

வேல் எறியும் - Lord Murugan vanquished the evil Asura Surapadman by throwing His Spear (Jnana Vel) - Lord Murugan's spear is called Jnana Vel - The spear of Knowledge. 

Darkness of 1000 years is removed by a lamp in a moment. Darkness has no power against light. So, Ignorance has no power against knolwedge

When Murugan throws his Spear of Knowledge towards the Ancient Asura symbolizing Primal Ignorance, He is completely destroyed. 

This is the reason why Murugan is glorified as Guru! (In the last verse of Kandhar Anubhuti, Sri Arunagiri lovingly calls Murugan to come as His Guru - Guruvai Varuvai!)

Murugan comes as Guru and removes the Primal Ignorance by saying Tat Twam Asi - You are That (You are non-different from Brahman) - Now the Ignorance is lost and Union with Lord Subrahmanya (Kandhar Anubhuti) is obtained

The fight between darkness and evil is a difficult one - So, Sri Arunagiri calls Lord Murugan as Soora (சூரா ) meaning, the valiant one. (Not to be confused with Sura / Asura meaning Devas / Asuras)

சுர லோக துரந்தரனே - By defeating the Surapadman, the Devas / Gods were saved - Hence Lord Murugan is glorified as One who protected the world of Devas.