9.GRAMMAR OF DEVOTION.

WITH  THE  GREAT

Kailasanatha Temple at Kancheepuram.

By Keshav Mukund Kandhadai (flickr: Kailasanathar Temple) 
CC BY 2.0 creative commons via wikimedia commons.

9. GRAMMAR OF DEVOTION

Our age is marked by lack of certainty in anything. Whether it is a simple thing like food, health or social arrangements or so called scientific 'facts', everything is subject to multiple, and often contradictory, theories, and doubt and dissension. Open a popular newspaper or mag-you will get a bewildering variety of ideas on food and health. Our politicians and economic pundits  will offer anything as a cure-all for our ills. 

Can we make sense of all this? 
From: marketingmath.aarmusa. Copyright status not stated.

And science? It is supposed to be objective, but it is anything but that. Evolution, Big Bang, Genetic manipulation- everything is questioned by the scientists themselves.

From: clearscience.tumblr. Copyright status not stated.

 What prevails as the orthodoxy or established view is what is enforced by a group with access to power. They do not allow dissenting voices. Harvard, Yale, our own JNU- and other such 'reputed' academies actually function like mafia groups. One can learn theories- not truth- in them.

From: www.azquotes,com Copyright status not stated.

The religious field is also subject to such a fate. And it has been so for long. Manikkavachaka Swami details how it was in his day (around 8th century). In his Potri Tiruahaval, he says:

புல்வரம்பு ஆய பலதுறை பிழைத்தும்
தெய்வம் என்பதோர் சித்தம் உண்டாகி
முனிவு இலாதது ஓர் பொருள் அது கருதலும்
ஆறு கோடி மாயா சக்திகள்
வேறு வேறு தம் மாயைகள் தொடங்கின
ஆத்தம் ஆனார் அயலவர் கூடி
நாத்திகம் பேசி நாத்தழும்பு ஏறினர்
சுற்றம் என்னும் தொல்பசுக் குழாங்கள்
பற்றி அழைத்துப் பதறினர் பெருகவும்
விரதமே பரம் ஆக வேதியரும் 50

சரதம் ஆகவே சாத்திரம் காட்டினர்
சமய வாதிகள் தம்தம் தங்களே
அமைவது ஆக அரற்றி மலைந்தனர்
மிண்டிய மாயா வாதம் என்னும்
சண்ட மாருதம் சுழிந்து அடித்துத் தாஅர்த்து
உலோகாய தமெனும் ஒள் திறப்பாம்பின்
கலா பேதத்த கடுவிடம் எய்தி
அதில் பெருமாயை எனைப்பல சூழவும்

               

The crux of these lines is that when, in the process of evolution through 8.4 million life forms, one attains the human birth and somehow begins to think of God,he is immediately seized by the forces of maya in different forms. Relatives and others vehemently talk of atheism. Old karmic bonds in the shape of family would not let him pursue spirituality. Vedic advocates would establish through scriptures that the vedic rites are the ultimate. Advocates of different sects would claim that their own way was the only true path. The advocates of maya vada would seek to force their way like a cyclone. Advocates of charavaka and other such philosophies would poison our mind with the idea that only this world was real! Man is completely bewildered.

 Statues of Manikkavachaka stolen from a temple in India and returned voluntarily by an unnamed  collector.
Picture: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Our master Arunagiri was enlightened by Subrahmanya himelf. He has no doubts. He states that God can be realised only if one transcends all philosophies.

பாணிக்குட் படாது சாதகர் காணச்சற் றொணாது வாதிகள்
     பாஷிக்கத் தகாது பாதக ...... பஞ்சபூத

பாசத்திற்படாது வேறொரு பாயத்திற் புகாது பாவனை
     பாவிக்கப் பெறாது வாதனை ...... நெஞ்சமான

ஏணிக்கெட் டொணாது மீதுயர் சேணுக்குச் சமான நூல்வழி
     யேறிபபற் றொணாது நாடினர் ...... தங்களாலும்

ஏதுச்செப் பொணாத தோர்பொருள் சேரத்துக் கமாம கோததி
     யேறச்செச் சைநாறு தாளைவ ...... ணங்குவேனோ

வாசிக்கப் படாத வாசகம் ஈசர்க்குச் சுவாமி யாய்முதல்
     வாசிப்பித் ததேசி காசுரர் ...... தம்பிரானே.


The truth of God-
Cannot be held by the hands. (paanikku utpadaadhu)
Cannot be seen by the sadhakas.
Cannot be explained by the arguments of the sectarian advocates.
Cannot be controlled by desires induced by the five elements 
Cannot be reached by any type of trick or technique- tantra.
Cannot be conceived by the mental formations.
Cannot be reached with the ladder of the mind.
Cannot be reached through all the sastras which are so extensive like the sky.
Cannot be approached by the intelligence of the people for all that they try!

This was what even Brahma could not explain through words. This is what you taught Easwara as His guru!

It is that matchless thing! It can be attained only by those who worship your feet.They cross the trouble of samsara.Will you bless me that I can worship your feet?



These ideas are repeated in Seerpaada Vaguppu

உருவெனவு மருவெனவு முளதெனவு மிலதெனவு
முழலுவன பரசமய ...... கலையார வாரமற

உரையவிழ வுணர்வவிழ வுளமவிழ வுயிரவிழ
வுளபடியை யுணருமவ ...... ரநுபூதி யானதுவும்

Various sects are vainly arguing among themselves as to whether there is a God or not; whether He is with form or without. When all such empty noises cease, one falls silent; all feelings and ideas cease. The activities of the pranas cease. Then 'What Is' is realised as personal experience!

In one hymn, Arunagiri lists the names of the sects which   argue endlessly about their superiority:

கலைகொடு பவுத்தர் காம கருமிகள் துருக்கர் மாய 
கபிலர் பகரக்கணாதர்         வுலகாயர்
கலகமிடு தர்க்கர்  வாம பயிரவர் விருத்தரோடு
கலகலென மிக்க நூல்க      ளதனா லே 
சிலுகி எதிர் குத்தி வாது செயவுமொரு வர்க்கு நீதி
தெரிவ ரிய  சித்தியான          வுபதேசம்
தெரி தர விளக்கி  ஜ்னான தரிசன மளித்து வீரு
திருவடி  யெனக்கு நேர்வ       தொருனாளே.

We may note here that he is mentioning Buddhists, purvamimamsakas, Muslims, lokayatas, followers of Ganaatar, Sankhyas, Mayavadins, Vamacharis, Bhairavas,  those engaged in tarka.

He requests the Lord to give him  the correct instruction and vision (insight -darsana). He requests the favour of  His two Feet.

Such wisdom has to be granted by Bhagavan himself!

அகில பூதவு டம்புமு டம்பினில்
     மருவு மாருயி ருங்கர ணங்களு
          மவிழ யானுமி ழந்தஇ டந்தனி ...... லுணர்வாலே

அகில வாதிக ளுஞ்சம யங்களும்
     அடைய ஆமென அன்றென நின்றதை
          யறிவி லேனறி யும்படி யின்றருள் ...... புரிவாயே

(Pugaril Sevala) புகரில் சேவல

The body which is composed of the five elements, the precious life which pervades it, mind and the other karanas (antahkaranas)- all these will be lost to consciousness. Even the sense of 'I-' (ego) will be lost. Then, all the arguments of the various sectarian advocates will be swept aside (discarded). Then You will grant me ,the ignorant one, the knowledge of that Reality which is beyond both confirmation and negation. Lord, please bless me so!

For this, we require true devotion which pervades the whole being.

புனித பூசுர ருஞ்சுர ரும்பணி
     புயச பூதர என்றிரு கண்புனல்
          பொழிய மீமிசை யன்புது ளும்பிய ...... மனனாகி


The mind should melt in love, with tears flowing down the eyes, for the mighty  One who is worshipped by the Devas and the pious Brahmins.

Then one will realise that it is Bhakti alone which is the highest attainment possible for man- purushartha. Bhakti itself becomes Mukti!

ஆனபய பத்திவழி பாடுபெறு முத்தியது
வாகநிகழ் பத்தசன வாரக் காரனும்

ஆணவஅ ழுக்கடையும் ஆவியை விளக்கியநு
பூதியடை வித்ததொரு பார்வைக் காரனும்

(Tiru Velaikkaran Vaguppu) திரு வேளைக்காரன் வகுப்பு

The Lord has revealed that  dedicated devotional service/worship is itself Liberation to be obtained.

The Lord grants this experience by his mere sight, and that  comes after he has removed the ego! 

Thus for Arunagiri, Bhakti is the highest purushartha. This he says in other ways also. In Alankaram, he says:

புத்தியை வாங்கிநின் பாதாம் புயத்திற் புகட்டியன்பாய்
   முத்தியை வாங்க அறிகின்றி லேன்

காட்டிற் குறத்தி பிரான்பதத் தேகருத் தைப்புகட்டின்
   வீட்டிற் புகுதன் மிகவெளிதே விழிநாசிவைத்து
      மூட்டிக் கபாலமூ லாதார நேரண்ட மூச்சையுள்ளே
         ஓட்டிப் பிடித்தெங்கு மோடாமற் சாதிக்கும் யோகிகளே.   ...     85 

In the first, he deplores his ignorance of the fact that he could place all his learning and other faculties at the Feet of the Lord and could attain Liberation.

In  the second, he addresses the Hatha yogis and tells them that  instead of controlling their breath and engaging  in all related exercises,and fixing their gaze on the tips of their nose etc, they could easily  attain liberation if they thought deeply  of the feet of the Lord of Valli.

 This is the conclusion reached by orthodox Hinduism. In the orthodox tradition, Bhakti cult replaced the system of Vedic rites. The numberless rites, extolled in flowery language (yamimam pushpitam vacham- in the words of Gita) were reduced to a mere 40 samskaras, and then to 16 and now even those have become optional and eclectic in choice, and mere formality in performance. But the Bhagavata dharma has replaced it. The orthodox system celebrates Sages and Bhaktas who established this devotional tradition.So runs a traditional verse:

Prahlada Narada Parashara Pundalika
Vyasambarisha Shuka Saunaka Bhishma dalpyan
Rukmangadarjuna Vasishta Vibhishanadin
Punyaniman parama Bhagavatan smarami.

Prahlada tops the list! He was an asura child but he heads the list of bhagavatas! In fact. the Lord incarnated twice to bless his family. Once He came as Narasimha to save him. Then He came as Vamana to bless his grandson, Bali.

Will our master Arunagiri miss the chance to sing about him?

எழுதரு வேதத்து மன்றி முழுதினு மாய்நிற்கு மெந்தை
     யெனவொரு ஞானக் குருந்த ...... ருளமேவும்

இருவுரு வாகித் துலங்கி யொருகன தூணிற் பிறந்து
     இரணியன் மார்பைப் பிளந்த ...... தனியாண்மை

பொழுதிசை யாவிக்ர மன்

(Pazhudara vodik kadandu)

Prahlada overcoming the elephants,Picture from New York Public Library. Of course, Prahlada was much younger than shown here!





(Where is your Hari, asked Hiranyakasipu. "He is everywhere and in everything" replied Prahlada. Our master is hymning about it.)

This young child, full of Wisdom (jnana kurundu) said and felt that God, the Father was not only in the Vedas which are not written down, but He pervades and is present in the whole universe. The Lord resides in his heart. He has assumed and shines as the Vishvarupa (iru vuru aagit tulangu) He appeared in that pillar (which has hence become important and matchless (oru gana toonil pirandu). He tore open the heart of Hiranya. He is always full of matchless strength and valour. (Tani aanmai pozhudisaiya vikraman).

Prahlada was a devotee. Our master calls him jnana kurundu. ஞானக் குருந்து Well, can there be a Jnana higher than Bhakti? Or can jnana come without bhakti? If there is bhakti, can jnana be far behind? Sri Tyagaraja says: Anuragamuleni sujnanamuraadhu. Good jnana cannot arise without devotion!

மதசிகரி கதறிமுது முதலைகவர் தரநெடிய
மடுநடுவில் வெருவியொரு விசையாதி மூலமென

வருகருணை வரதனிகல் இரணியனை நுதியுகிரின்
வகிருமட லரிவடிவு .....

Narasimha killing Hiranyakasipu.
From Someswara Temple, Palaiyarai.
Picture taken from www,flickriver.com. (in creative commons)G


. குறளாகி மாபலியை

வலியசிறை யிடவெளியின் முகடுகிழி படமுடிய
வளருமுகில் நிருதனிரு ...... பதுவாகு பூதரமும்

மகுடமொரு பதுமுறிய அடுபகழி விடுகுரிசில்


Arunagirinatha will not let go of  a chance to sing about Vishnu's incarnations. In the above passage from Seer Paada Vaguppu,   சீர் பாத வகுப்பு he sings:

The elephant, huge like a mountain, was seized in the middle of the deep big pond by the  long-living crocodile. Fearing that its end was near, it called on the Lord once as "Aadhi moolam" (oru visai aadhi moolam yena). The Lord with great compassion came to his rescue.

He tore open Hiranya who opposed him, with his finger nails and killed him.

He took the form of a dwarf, and sent Mahabali to his prison

Ravana the asura was huge and dark like the clouds. Had twenty strong arms and shoulders like mountains. The Lord came as Ramachandra and with his arrows destroyed those arms and the ten heads with crowns on them.

Thus in this short space, Arunagirinatha recounts four incidents involving Vishnu's  intervention on behalf of devotees. There are many other places where he sings about these.

Arunagirinatha advocated pure devotion. In our orthodox tradition, Prahlada has laid down the grammar of devotion.


Sravanam kirtanam Vishno: 
smaranam pada sevanam
Archanam vandanam daasyam 
sakyam atma nivedanam

Iti pumsaarpita vishnau 
bhaktischen navalakshanaa
Kriyate bhagavat yaddhaa 
tanmanye adeetam uttamam.

Srimad Bhagavatam 7,5.23-24

Hiranyakasipu asks Prahlada what he has learnt from the teacher appointed by him. In reply, this is what Prahlada says:

Sravanam, kirtanam. smaranam. paada sevanam,archanam,vandanam,daasyam, sakyam, atma nivedanam- these are the nine types of devotion to Vishnu. All the karmas performed should be  dedicated to Bhagavan. This is the best lesson I have learned.(I am not translating these terms as they are familiar to the orthodox.)

The beauty of this definition is that it is universal. Though Prahlada mentions Vishnu, it is not that all should become his devotees. Whatever be the Deity one worships, these nine steps can be applied. In fact, they are being observed in various degrees by sadhakas of all sects. Examples could be given for all types from all traditions. Often, one involves another. When we listen to an upanyasam seriously by a competent person, sravanam, kirtanam and smaranam are involved. Sundaramuti Nayanar is an example of sakhyam ("tambiraan tozhar), though he worshipped Shiva!

We can easily see that Tiruppugazh and the other works of Arunagirinatha embody these elements. As we study them, we become aware of many aspects of our Itihasa-Purana heritage. Tiruppugazh alone is non-sectarian in spirit among the devotional literature in Tamil!

NOTE:

Tamil texts of Arunagirinatha's works are taken from Kaumaram.org. Gratefully acknowledged.

Text of Potri Tiru Ahaval taken from shaivam.org. Thanks.