Kandhar Anubhuti : Verse #27 - Is it my fate to be attracted to this transient life? ( minne nigar )

 

மின்னே நிகர் வாழ்வை விரும்பிய யான்
என்னே விதியின் பயன் இங்கு இதுவோ?
பொன்னே, மணியே, பொருளே, அருளே,
மன்னே, மயில் ஏறிய வானவனே (27) 

minne nigar vaazhvai virumbiya yaan

enne vidhiyin payan ingu ithuvo?

ponne maniye porule arule

manne mayil eriya vanavane! (27)

மின்னே நிகர் - As transient as a lightning

வாழ்வை - This life

விரும்பிய - desired 

யான் - (by) me

என்னே - What do I say?

விதியின் - My Fate

பயன் - Result

இங்கு இதுவோ? Is this?

பொன்னே - (Precious as) Gold 

மணியே - (Lustrous as) Gems

பொருளே - The final meaning

அருளே - Grace

மன்னே - The stable / immovable one

மயில் ஏறிய - Riding a peacock

வானவனே - Lord

Short Meaning

Why do I desire this life which is as transient as a lightning that flashes by? Is that because of my fate? Oh Lord Subrahmanya, one who rides the peacock, who is as precious as Gold and lustrous as precious gems - Please tell me! You are the ultimate meaning of life and the Grace to reach it.

Gloss

There is a common theme behind the calls of realized souls - They are worried about people wasting their time, instead of pursuing the divine. 

In this, Sri Arunagiri Nathar calls life as transient as flash of a lightning. But he says, his heart desires to pursue goals relevant to this transient life. We take false goals we want to pursue, spend our precious time in pursuing them, and in the end, we die without achieving the purpose of life - which is to realize the Self, which is non-different from the Supreme Lord Subrahmanya!

In Lalitha Sahasranamam, the Five Great actions of Goddess Lalitha Maha Tripura Sundari is mentioned (discussed in more detail here)

1. She Creates as Brahma

2. She sustains as Vishnu

3. She destroys as Rudra

4. She obfuscates as Mahadeva

5. She offers Grace as Sadashiva

The fourth action is called 'thirodhanagaram', meaning 'obfuscation' or to confuse. Why does Mother do this? It is a given that we are all going to die and everyone knows that too. So, why don't people just get depressed and be inactive since they are all going to die one day, any way? The whole world will come to a grinding halt if everyone stops doing their work

To avoid this, Mother obfuscates - She makes us believe on things that don't exist in reality, creates false desires so that we run behind them. We all want bigger houses / cars / TVs / spouse / kids - What not? So, we spend out precious time and energy following these goals. By the time we realize, we are already at the end of our life. This continues next birth as well and it goes on and on.

In 'Moha Mudgaram' or more popularly known as 'Bhaja Govindam', Sri Adi Sankara Bhagawatpada says 

"We are born again and again, and we die again and again - We repeatedly take form in the womb of mothers. This repeated cycle is extremely painful, Oh Lord Murari! Please take mercy on me and release me from this cycle"

It is by design, that we are made to follow desires that are results of latent tendencies of the soul - The issue is that there are infinite desires and hence paths to take for the soul. This is the reason why Sri Arunagiri is perplexed that even after knowing this life is so transient, why are people behind goals which do not take us to divine. 

He says it should be because of our fate! (விதியின் பயன்)

He then implores Lord Murugan to help - In His intense love for Lord, He addresses Lord as Gold! It is common to call people / kids lovingly as thangame in Tamil or Bangaram in Telugu (both meaning Gold in respective languages) - Gold is precious and Sri Arunagiri is unable to think anything or anyone more precious than the Lord. 

He is not satisfied - He then address Lord as a precious and shining gem (மணியே) 

Next, Sri Arunagiri addresses Lord Murugan as the Ultimate meaning of Life - பொருளே!  (unlike the famous 42 by Douglas Adams) - Once the Self is realized, or in other words, soul unites with Lord Skanda, then one reaches the Deathless nature and nothing more needs to be known / done

Apparently, when a self realized soul leaves the body, the feeling is of extreme thankfulness:

Prapthavyam Prapthum - That which has to be achieved has been achieved 

Karthavyam Krutham - That which has to be done is done

Dhanyoham Dhanyoham tri-Dhanyoham - I am thankful, thankful, thrice thankful! 

Sri Arunagiri wants us to reach this state of knowing the ultimate meaning of life

Then Sri Arunagiri calls Lord as 'Grace' (அருளே) - We earlier spoke of the act of obfuscation by Goddess (who is same as Her son, Lord Subrahmanya) - This causes a soul to be born again and again millions of times. A soul searches for eternal happiness in every possible direction. When this is elusive, a tired soul cries out from its bottom of the heart - This is not superficial nor a temporary affliction. These souls carry a pain so deep in the heart that their heart constantly cries out for help. When the soul can no longer bear this pain, it cries out and Mother in Her infinite compassion, offers Grace (arul) - This Grace soothes the crying soul and makes it One with Mother. After this the soul knows no pain - no birth - no death

Bhagawan Sri Ramana Maharshi says, this soul who is united with the Lord is always immersed in Bliss (Arunachala Pancharatnam - Verse 5)

Finally, Sri Arunagiri address Lord as the 'Stable One' (மன்னே) - Lord alone is stable and we can rest only on him. Sri Nochur Venkatraman says that resting on anything other than God is like trying to sit on a cardboard chair - It will break and will take you down with it. God alone is the stable one who can offer support to those who seek. In Vedanta, this attribute of Lord is widely discussed in many Upanishads 

He thus invokes Lord Subrahmanya as the Lord who rides the peacock (மயில் ஏறிய வானவனே) - May Lord Subrahmanya, direct our attention to Him so that we don't waste time on meaningless pursuits. 

PS:- Image from https://shivaom.tumblr.com/post/154027751869/kartikeya-%E0%A5%90

Kandhar Anubhuti : Verse #26 - Why don't you think of me? ( aadharam ilen )

ஆதாரம் இலேன், அருளைப் பெறவே
நீதான் ஒரு சற்றும் நினைந்திலையே
வேதாகம ஞான விநோத, மன 
அதீதா சுரலோக சிகாமணியே (26)


aadharam ilen arulai perave
nee thaan oru satrum ninainthilaiye
veda-agama jnaana vinotha mano
atheetha sura loka sigamaniye (26)

ஆதாரம் - Support
இலேன் - I don't have
அருளைப்  - (your) Grace
பெறவே - to get
நீதான்  - You

ஒரு சற்றும்  - Even for a moment

நினைந்திலையே - Don't think 
வேதாகம ஞான - Knowledge of all scriptures

விநோத - Blissful 

மன அதீதா  - beyond mind

சுரலோக - World of Gods

சிகாமணியே - Jewel

Short Meaning

Oh Lord Subrahmanya! I don't have any support but you - But you don't think of me even for a moment and offer your Grace! You are the essence of all scriptures, beyond what mind can perceive and the crowning jewel in the world of Gods! 

Gloss

This verse is very beautiful and brings out the various dynamics between Lord and His devotees. 

In most religions, God is kept as Lord of the Heavens and always have to be bowed down to, revered and even feared! It is even blasphemous to consider any other relationship with God. 

Hinduism, on the other hand gives right to the devotee to have numerous relationships with God - One that suits our temperament. As long as we incorporate God / Goddess in our life, it is good!

God is treated reverentially, or as a friend (Krishna / Arjuna), lover (Radha / Krishna), kid (baby Krishna / Subrahmanya), warrior (Subrahmanya), destroyer (Sri Rudra) etc. 

In this verse, Sri Arunagirinathar complains about Lord Subrahmanya's lack of attention to him :) He says, "Oh Lord Subrahmanya! I don't have any support but you - But you don't think about me, even for a moment!" - What a beautiful interaction with God? The Lord of the Universe becomes so accessible that we are able to have a human like relationship with Him! 

 But, Sri Arunagiri is unable to persist with more complaining! He goes on to sing the Glory of Lord Subrahmanya! 

He calls Lord as the essence of knowledge of all scriptures - Vedas and Agamas (வேதாகம ஞான)

Lord is the source of True Bliss (விநோத)

One biggest disadvantage of humans is the problem of 'labeling' - We assign a label to some thing and we think we know it - For e.g., even if we take a leaf, we call it a 'leaf' - Now mind doesn't bother about it. In reality, do we actually know what is a leaf? How is it composed? How did it come to be? How it converts light to food (photosynthesis) without which no life would have been possible on earth? We know NOTHING except to call it a leaf.

When we don't know anything about something seemingly trivial as leaf, what to say of the Lord of the Universe? Can the mind even comprehend what God is? 

Mind can only work in the world of names and forms - Mind can never perceive that which created it and beyond the world of names and forms. 

In the awe, Sri Arunagiri calls Lord Subrahmanya as one who can never be perceived by the grasp of mind (மன அதீதா)

Then, due to extreme love for the Lord, He calls Murugan as the Crowning Jewel (சிகாமணி) of the world of Gods (சுரலோக)

May Lord Subrahmanya bless us all 

PS: - Beautiful pic of Lord from https://in.pinterest.com/pin/588704982527742478/?nic_v2=1a17chRxS

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