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This is not exactly an exegesis of Kandharalangaram. A friend, who is more a path-breaker for me, suggested some time ago that I should read this great text. Now I start with Thirumuruga Kirubhanandha Variar's commentary, and here are my reflections on this great poetic and devotional work of Arunagirinathar. May the Lord bless us with Peace and Happiness!

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

The Child at His Mother's Breast


5

திருந்தப் புவனங்க ளீன்றபொற் பாவை திருமுலைப்பால்
அருந்திச் சரவணப் பூந்தொட்டி லேறி யறுவர்கொங்கை
விரும்பிக் கடலழக் குன்றழச் சூரழ விம்மியழுங்
குருந்தைக் குறிஞ்சிக் கிழவனென் றோதுங் குவலயமே.


This is a plain description of Lord Muruga as an infant, feeding at his mothers' breast. "You drank at the nipples of the the golden woman who gave birth to all the worlds, and climbed the floral cradle on the pools of Saravana, and turned to the breasts of the six maiden".


Variar Swamigal gives this explanation to the two relevant phrases:

"Thirundha Bhuvanangal Eendra Por paavai" - 'In the dark womb of egoity, like a senseless and blind infant": In a womb like dark ignorance which is true suffering, and with a desire to taste more of the suffering due to ignorance, souls exist. Out of compassion, and to give salvation from this pain, Sivasakthi gives the souls the enjoyment of senses and world; and after enabling them to partake of the fruits of action, when the time is ripe, she dissolves them in Siva and bestows the blissful life in Advaita. It is to remind this that the words, "Thirundha Bhuvanangal"- Perfected worlds- are employed by Arunagirinathar.

"Thirumulaipal" - milk from divine nipples. When Lord Muruga rested with his six bodies in the lake of Saravana, Mother Uma with Lord Siva, "took the six bodies in her six arms, and embracing them, called him Kanda, and making them one, took the child to her face, and breathing on the crown of its head, fed her from her breast, and felt such joy", and our Lord drank the milk of Divine Knowledge.


1 comment:

  1. A friend, GS, made this comment:

    It is the basic Saiva Siddhantha metaphysics that the souls are
    primordially merged in the state of kevala, anava mala, it being like
    sankhya world view of the eternal and unattached purusa confounding
    its true nature with the reflections in the buddhi.

    In order to be
    free from the objectivity created by virtue of this metaphysical
    ignorance, the role of the unmainfest matter is necessary, as
    otherwise no sense of awareness of the bondage will be possible. It is
    like our being able to meditate and understand only in the full blaze
    of the waking state, as no initiative is there in the deep sleep
    state, nor that state being inimical to the natural state of freedom
    of the purusa. Ultimately, it is only for the reflected consciousness
    that freedom or bondage is relevant, it being only empirical.

    Saiva
    Siddhanta teaches this exalted truth in a simple and devotional
    language that the Lord makes available the, " DANU, BOGA, BUVANA
    KARANA," that is the wherewithall for the souls to come out of the
    ignorance.

    In fact our embodiment is only for the purpose of knowing
    our transcendental nature and be free from the bondage.

    I would like to thank him.

    ReplyDelete

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