2017 0416 16 Manikkavachakar: Thiruvachakam
தினைத்தனை உள்ளது ஓர் பூவினில் தேன் உண்ணாதே
நினைத்தொறும் காண்தொறும் பேசும்தொறும் எப்போதும்
அனைத்து எலும்பு உள் நெக ஆனந்தத் தேன் சொரியும்
குனிப்பு உடையானுக்கே சென்று ஊதாய் கோத்தும்பீ ! [தி 10.3]
*** *** ***
This was the first of the great bhakti movements that were to invigorate the Hindu tradition throughout India in the succeeding centuries. It was so successful in transforming the hearts and minds of the South Indian population, one commentator has gone so far as to say that these poet-saints ‘sang Buddhism and Jainism out of South India’.
The Saiva revival of this era owed much to four poet-saints who are often collectively referred
to as ‘the Four’ (Naalvar). Appar, the first to emerge, flourished in the seventh century. Thirujnanasambandhar, the next to appear, was a younger
contemporary of his. They were followed by Sundaramurthi in the 8th century and Manikkavachagar, whom most people believe lived in the 9th century.
The spontaneous songs of these early Saiva saints were eventually collected and recorded in a series of books called the Tirumurais. The first seven (there are twelve in all) are devoted exclusively to the songs of Tirujnanasambandhar, Appar, and Sundaramurti, which are known as the Tevarams, while the eighth contains Manikkavachagar’s Thiruvachakam and Thirukkovaiyar. These twelve Thirumurais, along with the later Meykanda Sastras, became the canonical works of the southern Saiva branch of Hinduism. This system of beliefs and practices is still the most prevalent form of religion in Tamil Nadu.
Manikkavachagar’s fame and reputation as being one of the foremost Tamil saints and poets rest
almost exclusively on the eminence of the Thiruvachakam.
The Thiruvachakam is a very personal document, for it reveals far more about its author and his varying states of mind than the Thevarams do. It is also more philosophical.
Thiruvachakam is, and has been for more than a thousand years, one of the most well known and best-loved works of Tamil devotional literature. It is so highly regarded that extracts from it are chanted every day in many South Indian homes and temples.
The meaning of its sweet verses is beyond intellectual knowledge. Thiruvachakam is a sea of divine honey expressing the God-experience that puts an end to the birth-misery of getting caught in the womb.
Sivaprakasa Swamigal summed up the feelings of those who had been stirred by this work when he wrote: If Thiruvachakam is recited but once, there are none whatsoever whose hearts will not melt and flow, whose eyes will not fill up with tears, who will not tremble and quiver, the hair of their body standing on end, and who will not become His devotees!
*** *** ***
Once Vaadavurar came to the Thiruperundurai temple, had darshan of the Lord in it, and while going round the temple, saw a Siddha Purusha [Lord Shiva in disguise]. He was thrilled at the sight, fell down at the feet of the Guru like an uprooted tree and prayed that he, a humble being, should be accepted as a disciple.
Having come down solely to bestow grace on him, Iswara, by his look, immediately gave him jnana upadesa [initiation into true knowledge]. That upadesa took deep roots in his heart, and gave him indescribable happiness. Vadavurar started singing many devotional songs in praise of the Guru, which were like gems. Iswara was pleased, and addressed him as ‘Manikkavachakar’ [meaning ‘one whose speech is gems’].
*** *** ***
Thiruvaachakam opens with SHIVA PURANAM -- an Invocation to Lord Shiva:
நமச்சிவாய வாஅழ்க நாதன் தாள் வாழ்க
இமைப்பொழுதும் என் நெஞ்சில் நீங்காதான் தாள் வாழ்க
கோகழி ஆண்ட குருமணிதன் தாள் வாழ்க
ஆகமம் ஆகிநின்று அண்ணிப்பான் தாள் வாழ்க
ஏகன் அநேகன் இறைவன் அடிவாழ்க 5
Hail, the five letters! Hail, foot of the Lord !
Hail, foot of Him Who not for an instant quits my heart !
Hail, foot of the Guru-pearl that rules in GOgari !
Hail, foot of Him Who becomes, abides, draws near as the Agamam !
Hail, foot of Him, the One, the Not-One, and the King ! (5)
வேகம் கெடுத்தாண்ட வேந்தன் அடிவெல்க
பிறப்பறுக்கும் பிஞ்ஞகன்தன் பெய்கழல்கள் வெல்க
புறந்தார்க்குச் சேயோன் தன் பூங்கழல்கள் வெல்க
கரங்குவிவார் உள்மகிழும் கோன்கழல்கள் வெல்க
சிரம்குவிவார் ஓங்குவிக்கும் சீரோன் கழல் வெல்க 10
Victory to the foot of the King, who soothed my soul's unrest and made me His !
Victory to the jewelled foot of Pinnagan, who severs continuity of birth !
Victory to the flower-foot of Him Who is far from those without !
Victory to the anklets of the King, rejoicing 'mid those that fold adoring hands !
Victory to the anklets of the glorious One, who uplifts those that bow the head ! (10)
For the full text of Shivapuranam with meaning and chanting: [Click Here]
http://www.tamilvu.org/library/l4180/html/l4180ind.htm
A peek into Thiruvachakam, a collection of spiritual
verses on devotion to Shiva from the saint Manikkavachakar in Tamil
language.
Do not sip honey from a small flower of the size of a millet seed.
Whenever we think of Him, behold or speak of Him,
Honey of bliss overflows
forever, dissolving us, melting our very bones.
To Him, the (Cosmic)
Dancer, go and breath His praise, you humming bee. [T10.3]
தினைத்தனை உள்ளது ஓர் பூவினில் தேன் உண்ணாதே
நினைத்தொறும் காண்தொறும் பேசும்தொறும் எப்போதும்
அனைத்து எலும்பு உள் நெக ஆனந்தத் தேன் சொரியும்
குனிப்பு உடையானுக்கே சென்று ஊதாய் கோத்தும்பீ ! [தி 10.3]
This
beautiful verse directs the humming bee wandering in small pleasures, jiva [individual
soul] to yearn for Shiva, the Supreme soul and abode of boundless joy.
It is from Thiruvachakam, a
collection of 656 deeply spiritual verses that poured out from the heart of
saint poet Manikkavachakar in Tamil language.
In the seventh to
ninth centuries AD there appeared in South India an upsurge of devotional
fervour that completely transformed the religious inclinations and practices of
the region. The movement’s leaders were the various saints who toured the
countryside singing songs in praise of their personal God. The language of
these songs was deliberately simple, for they were intended to be sung by
ordinary devotees, either alone or in groups.
This was the first of the great bhakti movements that were to invigorate the Hindu tradition throughout India in the succeeding centuries. It was so successful in transforming the hearts and minds of the South Indian population, one commentator has gone so far as to say that these poet-saints ‘sang Buddhism and Jainism out of South India’.
The spontaneous songs of these early Saiva saints were eventually collected and recorded in a series of books called the Tirumurais. The first seven (there are twelve in all) are devoted exclusively to the songs of Tirujnanasambandhar, Appar, and Sundaramurti, which are known as the Tevarams, while the eighth contains Manikkavachagar’s Thiruvachakam and Thirukkovaiyar. These twelve Thirumurais, along with the later Meykanda Sastras, became the canonical works of the southern Saiva branch of Hinduism. This system of beliefs and practices is still the most prevalent form of religion in Tamil Nadu.
The Thiruvachakam is a very personal document, for it reveals far more about its author and his varying states of mind than the Thevarams do. It is also more philosophical.
Thiruvachakam is, and has been for more than a thousand years, one of the most well known and best-loved works of Tamil devotional literature. It is so highly regarded that extracts from it are chanted every day in many South Indian homes and temples.
The meaning of its sweet verses is beyond intellectual knowledge. Thiruvachakam is a sea of divine honey expressing the God-experience that puts an end to the birth-misery of getting caught in the womb.
Sivaprakasa Swamigal summed up the feelings of those who had been stirred by this work when he wrote: If Thiruvachakam is recited but once, there are none whatsoever whose hearts will not melt and flow, whose eyes will not fill up with tears, who will not tremble and quiver, the hair of their body standing on end, and who will not become His devotees!
*** *** ***
Once Vaadavurar came to the Thiruperundurai temple, had darshan of the Lord in it, and while going round the temple, saw a Siddha Purusha [Lord Shiva in disguise]. He was thrilled at the sight, fell down at the feet of the Guru like an uprooted tree and prayed that he, a humble being, should be accepted as a disciple.
Having come down solely to bestow grace on him, Iswara, by his look, immediately gave him jnana upadesa [initiation into true knowledge]. That upadesa took deep roots in his heart, and gave him indescribable happiness. Vadavurar started singing many devotional songs in praise of the Guru, which were like gems. Iswara was pleased, and addressed him as ‘Manikkavachakar’ [meaning ‘one whose speech is gems’].
*** *** ***
Thiruvaachakam opens with SHIVA PURANAM -- an Invocation to Lord Shiva:
நமச்சிவாய வாஅழ்க நாதன் தாள் வாழ்க
இமைப்பொழுதும் என் நெஞ்சில் நீங்காதான் தாள் வாழ்க
கோகழி ஆண்ட குருமணிதன் தாள் வாழ்க
ஆகமம் ஆகிநின்று அண்ணிப்பான் தாள் வாழ்க
ஏகன் அநேகன் இறைவன் அடிவாழ்க 5
Hail, the five letters! Hail, foot of the Lord !
Hail, foot of Him Who not for an instant quits my heart !
Hail, foot of the Guru-pearl that rules in GOgari !
Hail, foot of Him Who becomes, abides, draws near as the Agamam !
Hail, foot of Him, the One, the Not-One, and the King ! (5)
வேகம் கெடுத்தாண்ட வேந்தன் அடிவெல்க
பிறப்பறுக்கும் பிஞ்ஞகன்தன் பெய்கழல்கள் வெல்க
புறந்தார்க்குச் சேயோன் தன் பூங்கழல்கள் வெல்க
கரங்குவிவார் உள்மகிழும் கோன்கழல்கள் வெல்க
சிரம்குவிவார் ஓங்குவிக்கும் சீரோன் கழல் வெல்க 10
Victory to the foot of the King, who soothed my soul's unrest and made me His !
Victory to the jewelled foot of Pinnagan, who severs continuity of birth !
Victory to the flower-foot of Him Who is far from those without !
Victory to the anklets of the King, rejoicing 'mid those that fold adoring hands !
Victory to the anklets of the glorious One, who uplifts those that bow the head ! (10)
For the full text of Shivapuranam with meaning and chanting: [Click Here]
http://www.tamilvu.org/library/l4180/html/l4180ind.htm
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