THIRUKKOTTHUMBI - SONG 20

பூமேல் அயனொடு மாலும் புகலரிது என்று
ஏமாறி நிற்க, அடியேன் இறுமாக்க,
நாய்மேல், தவிசிட்டு நன்றாய் பொருட்படுத்த
தீமேனியானுக்கே சென்றூதாய் கோத்தும்பீ

Here again sri Manickavasagar shows his grateful feelings towards the lord, who was not seen (புகலரிது என்று ஏமாறி நிற்க) by Brahmma, who sits on the lotus ( பூமேல் அயன்) and Vishnu (மாலும்), but was seen by him (lord showed His form to him). (Manickavasagar -அடியேன்).

Here the next word இறுமாக்க should not be mistaken as pride. It should be taken as happiness. Manickavasagar doesn't have the pride that even Brahmma and vishnu were unable to see Him but he has seen. His pride is not of that mean type. It is a happiness coupled with thankfulness. நன்றி உணர்வுடன் கூடிய பெருமை, ஆனந்தம்.

In the next line, Manickavasagar says about himself as a dog (நாய்மேல்). He says, the lord showed His penace form (தவக்கோலம்). On seeing the lord, Manickavasagar was mended to a form without any dirt. He asks the bee to go and buzz in front of the sweet one who changed himself to a pure and blessed soul. (தீமேனியான் - இனிய மேனியான்) as in தீம்பழம்,தீஞ்சுவை.

With this we complete the compilation Thirukkotthumbi of Thiruvaasagam.

As said by Sri Manickavasagar, those who sing the glory of the lord who puts an end to the birth-death cycle and who is beyond description, with an understanding of it's meaning, will always be with Shiva. They will be praised and worshipped by everyone. They will remain as a prized possession of Lord Shiva. They will always be happy.

THIRUKKOTTHUMBI - SONG 19

கள்வன் கடியன் கலதி இவன் என்னாதே
வள்ளல் வரவர வந்தொழிந்தான் என்று மனத்தே
உள்ளத்து உறுதுயர் ஒன்றொழியா வண்ணம் எல்லாம் 
தெள்ளும் கழலுக்கே சென்றூதாய் கோத்தும்பீ

In this song, Manickavasagar describes the boundless grace of the lord.

He says that the lord didn't stop from showering His grace on him who is stone hearted (கடியன்), liar (கள்வன்), a man with bad conduct(கலதி). The lord didn't consider the bad qualities in him as a reason for not showering His grace. He kept on showering His blessings (வள்ளல் வரவர வந்தொழிந்தான்).

Manickavasagar, such a great soul, says about himself like these viz - man with bad conduct, liar and stone hearted. If this is the case, what are we?! I could not imagine about me!

Not only He stopped with that. But also He completely erased all the sorrows in his heart, without leaving a trace of it.
(உள்ளத்து உறுதுயர் ஒன்றொழியா வண்ணம் எல்லாம் தெள்ளும் கழல்)

So, Manickavasagar asks the bee to go and buzz in front of the lord's feet which completely eradicated all the sorrows of the heart.

THIRUKKOTTHUMBI - SONG 18

தோலும் துகிலும் குழையும் சுருள்தோடும்
பால்வெள்ளை நீறும் பசுஞ்சாந்தும் பைங்கிளியும்
சூலமும் தொக்க வளையும் உடைத் தொன்மைக்
கோலமே நோக்கிக் குளிர்ந்தூதாய் கோத்தும்பீ

In this song, Manickavasagar describes the lord as Ardhanaareeswarar. The meaning is straight forward.

All the blessed souls had the vision of Him as Ardhanaareeswarar.

Thirugnanasambandhar sang தோடுடைய செவியன் விடையேறி ஓர் தூவெண் மதிசூடி.

Appar has sung about the lord as தாயுமாய் எனக்கே தலை கண்ணுமாய் பேயேனையும் ஆண்ட பெருந்தகை.

Sundarar has sung, ஏலவார் குழலாள் உமை நங்கை என்றும் ஏத்தி வழிபடப்பெற்ற காலகாலன்.

Manickavasagar in the previous songs too has said about the ardhanaareeswarar form of he lord. In song 14, மருவார் மலர்க்குழல் மாதினொடும் வந்தருளி and in song 15, தானும் தன் தையலும்...

First, he describes Shiva's side, the right side.

1. Tiger Skin worn as a dress (தோலும் துகிலும்).
2. Sacred white ash applied on the body (பால் வெள்ளை நீறும்).
3. The maze (trishoolam) (சூலமும்).

Next he describes the left side, shakti's side.

1. The ear ring (குழையும் சுருள் தோடும்)
2. The bindi worn on the forehead and the parrot in the hand (பசும் சாந்தும் பைங்கிளியும்)
3. The bangles on the hand (தொக்க வளையும்).

Thus, the saint-poet shares what he saw with in him to us.

He asks the bee to go and buzz in front of the lord who will look like the one described above.

THIRUKKOTTHUMBI - SONG 17

பொய்யாய செல்வத்தே புக்கழிந்து நாள்தோறும்
மெய்யாய்க் கருதிக் கிடந்தேனை ஆட்கொண்ட
அய்யா என் ஆருயிரே அம்பலவா என்று அவன் தன்
செய்யார் மலரடிக்கே சென்றூதாய் கோத்தும்பீ

In this song, Manickavasagar says his stage before and after being blessed by the lord at Tirupperunthurai.

Before seeing the lord, he considered the wealth that will disappear one day as permanent. He had a wrong mindset and was confused by thinking of temporary as permanent.

பொய்யாய செல்வத்தே புக்கழிந்து நாள்தோறும்
மெய்யாய்க் கருதிக்கிடந்தேன்....

But the lord of ambalam - shiva (அம்பலவா), who is Manickavasagar's precious possession (என் ஆருயிர்) , came and took him to His folds (எனை ஆட்கொண்ட ஐயா). Thereafter everything changed. He realised what was real and what was not.

Manickavasagar asks the bee to go and buzz in front of the lord whose feet is a flower (செய்யார் மலரடி) having honey that is sweet forever and every bee which went there and tasted the honey will never come back from that place.

THIRUKKOTTHUMBI - SONG 16

உள்ளப்படாத திரு உருவை உள்ளுதலும்
கள்ளப்படாத களிவந்த வான்கருணை 
வெள்ளப்பிரான் எம்பிரான் என்னை வேறே ஆட்
கொள்ளப் பிரானுக்கே சென்றூதாய் கோத்தும்பீ 

In the song 16, Manickavasagar describes the lord as the most compassionate. He is like a cloud in the sky that showers huge rain on this earth. This is evident from his usage - வான் கருணை வெள்ளப் பிரான். This is identical to song 4, where the saint describes the lord as compassionate as the clouds showering rain.

The lord cannot be understood by any one. None can describe Him, His true form. Even the vedas which are considered to be the highest treasure house of knowledge, is unable to completely describe His attributes. They describe to a certain extent and then leave a clause that this is not the final one and there are things beyond this when it comes to the Lord's description.

So Manickavasagar says, if one tries to understand about the lord who is beyond understanding by the mind (கரணங்கள் எல்லாம் கடந்து நின்ற கறைமிடற்றன் - song 9). If one succeeds in understanding Him, crossing the barriers of their mind,intellect, then they will experience the unpolluted bliss (கள்ளப்படாத களி).

The saint says, the lord has gracefully given His Darshan to him when there were others. He asks the bee to go and buzz in front of that compassionate lord.

THIRUKKOTTHUMBI - SONG 15

நானும் என்சிந்தையும் நாயகனுக்கு எவ்விடதோம்!
தானும் தன் தையலும் தாழ்சடையோன் ஆண்டிலனேல்?
வானும் திசைகளும் மாக்கடலும் ஆய பிரான்
தேனுந்து சேவடிக்கே சென்றூதாய் கோத்தும்பீ

In song 2, Manickavasagar says, he is nothing, if the lord had not have given Darshan as a guru. Here, in this song, Manickavasagar again repeats it. If the lord and His better half had not have brought him to His folds, he and his mind would have been nothing. They will not even be near to Him.

Here, Manickavasagar adds - the lord's consort too. This again explains about the external and internal scene that we saw in the pervious song. Externally there was Shiva, the one with lowered hair locks (தாழ்சடையோன்). But once the lord gave Darshan by touching Manickavasagar's head with His feet, the saint-poet experienced the Darshan of the lord with His consort - the ardhanaareeswarar form (தானும் தன் தையலும்).

The saint again says that, this lord who gave His Darshan easily is the greatest and the mightiest. He is the manifestation of the sky, directions, ocean (வானும் திசைகளும் மாகடலும் ஆய பிரான்).

He says to the bee "His foot that gave me endless bliss is like a lotus. It has infinite honey in it. You can go and drink the honey in quantities that you want."

THIRUKKOTTHUMBI - SONG 14

கருவாய் உலகினுக்கு அப்புறமாய் இப்புறத்தே
மருவார் மலர்க்குழல் மாதினொடும் வந்தருளி
அருவாய் மறை பயில் அந்தணனாய் ஆண்டுகொண்ட
திருவான தேவற்கே சென்றூதாய் கோத்தும்பீ

In this song, Manickavasagar describes the lord as the origin. That is, the world originated from him. Yet, he stands away from the world. (கருவாய் உலகினுக்கு அப்புறமாய்)

One can take this in this way also - the world denotes maya or illusion. The God created the maya. But he is apart from maya. He Is untouched by maya.

He gave Darshan to Manickavasagar at Tirupperunthurai as Guru. Not only to Manickavasagar, but also to other disciples. This is the external scene, witnessed by everyone who were present along with Manickavasagar. மறைபயில் அந்தணனாய் ஆண்டு கொண்ட...

But within Manickavasagar, the lord gave Darshan as ammaiappar or ardhanaareeswarar. This was seen one and only by Manickavasagar. மருவார் மலர்க்குழல் மாதினொடும் வந்தருளி அருவாய்... this Word அருவாய் says this was not seen by others.

Oh bee! please go and buzz in front of the lord who is the wealth of the devotees (திருவான தேவற்கே), who brought me (manickavasagar) to his folds by giving Darshan as a guru, teaching vedas to the disciples.

THIRUKKOTTHUMBI - SONG 13

நான் தனக்கு அன்பின்மை நானும் தானும் அறிவோம்
தான் என்னை ஆட்கொண்டது எல்லாரும் தாம் அறிவார்
ஆன கருணையும் அங்குற்றே தானவனே
கோன் என்னைக் கூடக் குளிர்ந்து ஊதாய் கோத்தும்பீ

In this song, Manickavasagar says that the love he has for the lord and the love that the lord has for him is known to them alone. Not to all. But, the event of Lord Shiva, bringing Manickavasagar to His folds is known to the world.

Manickavasagar says to the bee, that he is always thinking of that grace and He as his lord. He asks the bee to go to the lord and buzz, saying that he (Manickavasagar) is always thinking of Him and His grace and asks the lord to come and take him to His abode.

THIRUKKOTTHUMBI - SONG 12

நாயேனைத் தன்னடிகள் பாடுவித்த நாயகனைப்
பேயேனது உள்ளப் பிழை பொறுக்கும் பெருமையனை
சீயேதும் இல்லாது என் செய்பணிகள் கொண்டருளும்
தாயான ஈசற்கே சென்றூதாய் கோத்தும்பீ

In this song, Manickavasagar shows his complete surrender to the Lord. He says himself as a very ordinary soul - like a dog. This is evident from his usage "நாயேனை". Manickavasagar says, it is Him, the lord of thirupperunthurai who showed His feet and made him to sing on Him. The lord also bears the mistakes done by him with full patience like a mother.

If a child does something wrong, the mother will never abandon it. Likewise the lord has not abandoned him by saying "சீ". Instead, He moulded Manickavasagar in such a good way and got the things done by him in the way He wanted. Oh bee ! please go and buzz in front of that lord.

Manickavasagar affirms that he is just an instrument. It was the lord who made him to sing songs on Him. So Manickavasagar's saying is Lord Shiva's saying.

THIRUKKOTTHUMBI - SONG 11

வன்னெஞ்சக் கள்வன் மனவலியன் என்னாதே
கல்நெஞ்சு உருக்கிக் கருணையினால் ஆண்டுகொண்ட
அன்னம் திளைக்கும் அணி தில்லை அம்பலவன்
பொன் அம்கழலுக்கே சென்றூதாய் கோத்தும்பீ

In this song, Manickavasagar refers to himself as stone hearted, without, even a trace of grace. The lord, made his stone heart to melt by showing His grace and brought him into His folds.

Vaadhavooraar was on his way to buy horses. The lord made him to have His Darshan at Tirupperunthurai. Thereafter vadhavooraar was transformed to Manickavasagar. The strong heart of a chief minister became the tender heart of a realised devotee.

Manickavasagar asks the bee to go and buzz in front of the lord who did all these transformations. He describes the feet of the lord as the most beautiful golden feet. He further describes that the lord dances at thillai ambalam, where beautiful swans play around.

THIRUKKOTTHUMBI - SONG 10

நோயுற்று மூத்து நான் நுந்து கன்றாய் இங்கிருந்து
நாயுற்ற செல்வம் நயந்தறியா வண்ணம் எல்லாம்
தாயுற்று வந்து என்னை ஆண்டுக்கொண்ட தன் கருணைத்
தேயுற்ற செல்வற்கே சென்றூதாய் கோத்தும்பீ

In this song, Manickavasagar asks the bee to go and buzz in front of the lord whose grace knew no bounds. The lord is ocean of compassion as we saw in the previous song. He has abundant grace, which he showers on His devotees.

Manickavasagar refers to him as a dog which does not know the worth of the wealth it has. The lord gave the Darshan of his feet, which the saint considers as the wealth. But immediately, in few minutes the lord disappeared. Everything was gone. This is one of the lord's play that was not known to Manickavasagar at that time. If the lord had taken Manickavasagar with him at that very moment, we would not have got the gem - Thiruvaasagam.

With all humility, sri Manickavasagar refers himself as a dog. நாயுற்ற செல்வம் நயந்தறியா வண்ணம் - he sings.

Also, he laments about his misfortune of staying in this world even after seeing the lord. If one is born, then he has to undergo all the stages of life. The worst part is falling sick, becoming old and undergoing the senility. The saint describes his stage as the unlucky calf that got separated from its mother. A calf or cow doesn't voluntarily get separated from each other. Neither the calf disowns its mother nor do the cow disowns the calf for some reason like it is disabled or so. Only external factors like we humans will separate them. On getting separated, they miss each other and will feel a lot. But it is not understood by any one. Likewise, Manickavasagar describes his separation from the lord. He says himself as நுந்து கன்று.

To sum up this song, Manickavasagar says he was like an unlucky calf that got separated from the cow (mother). He stayed in the world like a dog ignorant of the wealth it pocessed. But the lord with the compassion of a mother, came and brought him to His folds. Oh bee! Please go and buzz in front of the lord who has grace in abundance.

THIRUKKOTTHUMBI - SONG 9

கரணங்கள் எல்லாம் கடந்து நின்ற கறைமிடற்றன்
சரணங்களே சென்று சார்தலுமே தான் எனக்கு
மரணம் பிறப்பு என்ற இவை இரண்டின் மயக்கறுத்த
கருணைக்கடலுக்கே சென்றூதாய் கோத்தும்பீ

In this song, Manickavasagar describes the lord as the ocean of compassion - கருணைக்கடல்.

The saint refers to the Lord as the one who is beyond the 36 thathvams. கரணங்கள் எல்லாம் கடந்து நின்ற கறைமிடற்றன். Shiva is referred here as the one with tanned neck ( கறைமிடற்றன்). Shiva consumed the poison that came out during the churning of the milky ocean and Goddess Parvati stopped it from moving beyond his neck. So his neck became blue and he is called as Neelakantan. Thus, He saved the universe.

36 thathvams or attributes are again divided into 3 groups - 24 atma thathvams (from 5 bhoothas starting from sky, 5 tanmatras, 5 sense organs, 5 motor organs and ahankaram, buddhi, manas and atman), 7 maya thathvams and 5 shiva thathvams. The saint describes brahmmam as the one beyond these thathvams.

He then says, reaching the feet of brahmmam who is apart from these thathvams alone will release the jeevatma from the cyclic births and deaths and illusions (maayaa) of this world. The ocean of compassion has gracefully given me the way by showing His feet. Oh bee! Please go and buzz in front of that lord who is the embodiment of grace.

THIRUKKOTTHUMBI - SONG 8

ஒன்றாய் முளைத்து எழுந்து எத்தனையோ கவடு விட்டு
நன்றாக வைத்து என்னை நாய் சிவிகை ஏற்றுவித்த
என்தாதை தாதைக்கும்  எம் அன்னைக்கும் தம்பெருமான்
குன்றாத செல்வற்கே சென்றூதாய் கோத்தும்பீ

In this song , Manickavasagar describes the lord as "never decreasing wealth" (குன்றாத செல்வர்).

Andal in thiruppavai describes the lord in the same way (நீங்காத செல்வம்). Sri lalitha sahasranamam describes ambal as saashvatha ishwarya.

Here the saint sings as follows:

The lord is one (ஒன்றாய் முளைத்து). He gave rise to several branches and brought the man kind to good path (எழுந்து எத்தனையோ கவடு விட்டு). Branches here he means the saintly people like sambandhar, Kannappar, avvaiyaar and other people who showed us the bhakti marga.

A seed has the tree with in it, which in turn bears the leaves, vegetables, fruits and again the seeds. So brahmmam is like the seed. It is there forever.

The saint says நன்றாக வைத்து என்னை நாய் சிவிகை ஏற்றுவித்த.
The lord mended vaadhavooraar by showing His feet and giving him knowledge. On having the vision of His holy feet, all mean and ill qualities within him vanished and he forgot his family, friends and work. He became Manickavasagar. Here சிவிகை (sivigai) means palanquin - that is good position which is possible by gaining knowledge.

The Darshan of Lord became possible only due to the good deeds. Manickavasagar's father, mother and ancestors worshipped lord shiva. So Manickavasagar got the bhagyam of seeing the lord. Shiva is the lord for his father, mother, grandfather, he says. (என் தந்தைக்கும் தாதைக்கும் எம் அன்னைக்கும் தம் பெருமான்).

Our descendants will follow us. So if we are devoted to Lord, our children will be so. This is true upto 99.99 %. The rest exception are due to karma palan. So let us be truly dedicated to God and let our children follow us in the good path. As you sow, so you reap.

So Manickavasagar asks the bee to go and buzz in front of the lord who is the increasing wealth of the devotees.

THIRUKKOTTHUMBI - SONG 7

சட்டோ நினைக்க மனத்து அமுதாம் சங்கரனைக்
கெட்டேன், மறப்பேனோ கேடுபடாத் திருவடியை
ஒட்டாத பாவித் தொழும்பரை  நாம் உருவறியோம்
சிட்டாய சிட்டற்கே சென்றூதாய் கோத்தும்பீ

So far in the previous songs, Manickavasagar describes the lord as follows.

1. The one with the lotus feet that was not seen or known by the devas, Brahmma, Vishnu, saraswathi and indra.
2. The one who is an embodiment of ever flowing honey.
3. The one who blesses the devotee with endless bliss.
4. The one who showers blessings on the devotees as a nimbus cloud pouring rain on the earth and who wears the holy white ash on his body.
5. The one who gives salvation to the devotee.
6. The one who clarifies the confusion arising in the mind of the devotee regarding the world and its entities.

Now in this song 7, Manickavasagar describes the lord as the pure knowledge behind the knowledgeable thing (சிட்டாய சிட்டற்கு :- சிட் = சித்)

The lord gave knowledge to Manickavasagar at Tirupperunthurai. But after that, the lord didn't take Manickavasagar immediately to His abode. Instead asked him to go to the pandya king and tell about the arrival of the horses on aavani moolam day. So Manickavasagar laments here for not becoming one with the lord at that very moment of getting deekshai.

He says, he thought of shankaran - who is so sweet to think about (மனத்து அமுதாம்). But he lost the touch with the lord (சங்கரனைக் கெட்டேன்) because of his karma. He became a sinner for not becoming one with Shiva's untanned feet (கேடுபடாத் திருவடியை ஒட்டாத பாவி) or His disciples (தொழும்பரை நாம் உரு அறியோம்). The saint asks the bee to go and buzz in front of the omniscient - chith swaroopam.

THIRUKKOTTHUMBI - SONG 6

வைத்த நிதி பெண்டிர் மக்கள் குலம் கல்வி என்னும்
பித்த உலகில் பிறப்போடு இறப்பு என்னும்
சித்த விகாரக் கலக்கம் தெளிவித்த
வித்தகத் தேவற்கே சென்றூதாய் கோத்தும்பீ

Sri Manickavasagar asks the bee to buzz in front of the one and only lord who will give a clarity of which is real and which is not.

We are born (பிறப்பு)
We learn and gain knowledge (கல்வி)
We go to job, earn and deposit the money earned (வைத்த நிதி).
We get married and become one's spouse (பெண்டிர்) and give birth to children (மக்கள்).
We give raise to a clan (குலம்).
We die. (இறப்பு).

All these are considered as Important in this world. But these are erased by time.

Sri Adi Shankara Bagavath Paadhaal in his moha mudgara slokam, popularly called as Bhaja Govindam explains:

Maa kuru dhana jana yavvana garvam
Harathi nimeshaath kaala sarvam
Maayaa mayamitham akhilam hitvaa
Brahmma padham tvam pravisha viditvaa

That is, do not go behind wealth, power, prosperity, people, youth. It will be destroyed by Time in no time! The world itself is maayaa. Brahmmam is the only real.

So Manickavasagar, Shankaracharya - great souls go hand in hand in stressing the importance of the lord.

Manickavasagar asks the bee to go and buzz in front of the lord who will erase the confusion of our mind (சித்த விகாரக் கலக்கம் தெளிவித்த வித்தக தேவர்).

As Shankara says maayaa mayam akhilam, Manickavasagar says பித்த உலகம் (pittha Ulagam).

This world consists of cyclic births and deaths. And many are afraid of death because they don't know the destination after the process - death. If we keep on worshipping the lord, then we will be sure for ever to reach him and the fear of destination will evade from our mind. So go and sing for the lord - Manickavasagar asks the bee.

Tiruvalluvar says in thirukkural the following kurals :

1. அறவாழி அந்தணன் தாள் சேர்ந்தார்க்கல்லால்
பிறவாழி நீந்தல் அரிது.

Those who reach the feet of the lord who lives by righteousness (dharma), will alone be able to cross the ocean of births and deaths. Others cannot cross it.

2. பிறவிப் பெருங்கடல் நீந்துவர், நீந்தார்
இறைவனடி சேரா தார்.

Those who reach the feet of the lord will be able to swim across the ocean of births and deaths.

THIRUKKOTTHUMBI - SONG 5

அத்தேவர் தேவர் அவர்தேவர் என்று இங்கன் 
பொய்த்தேவு பேசிப் புலம்புகின்ற பூதலத்தே 
பத்தேதும் இல்லாது என் பற்றற நான் பற்றிநின்ற 
மெய்த்தேவர் தேவற்கே சென்றூதாய் கோத்தும்பீ 

In this song, sri Manickavasagar asks the bee (indirectly every one of us) to go to the Absolute one - the omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent Brahmmam - SHIVAM and buzz.

There are many false manifestations in this world proclaiming as the absolute in this world. Do not get entangled with those mean people - the saint-poet advises. Those false manifestations will never be able to grant the state of bliss where there are no likes-dislikes. Only the true absolute who is free from bondage can give it. Although vedas offer worship to devas, indran, even they cannot grant moksham. So Manickavasagar says that they are false - பொய்த்தேவன். Only the lord Shiva is the truth - மெய்த்தேவன்.

One need to offer worship to devas as said by vedas and apart from that, as they become mature after performing the prescribed karmas they need to progress. That is, worship the absolute.

As valluvar says in thirukkural -
வேண்டுதல் வேண்டாமை இலானடி சேர்ந்தார்க்கு
யாண்டும் இடும்பை இல (kural 4).

Also in another kural, sri valluvar says, go and catch the feet of the lord who is free from attachments to leave our bodily attachments.

பற்றுக பற்றற்றான் பற்றினை அப்பற்றைப்
பற்றுக பற்று விடற்கு. (kural 350)

As sri periyava says, getting into advaitha state in the initial days is not at all possible. It is the highest state. We need to do karmas as said in the vedas following dwaitham. It is like cleansing our inner self. Then slowly with the passage of time vishistaadvaitham comes. Here we will start to feel the lord is our inner soul (anthar atma). Then only, if we are lucky enough we get the advaitha state where there will be no bondage, attachment, likes-dislikes and only bliss will be there and nothing else. So we should never escape from doing our duty (karma) stating that we have attained advaitham.

THIRUKKOTTHUMBI - SONG 4

கண்ணப்பன் ஒப்பதோர் அன்பின்மை கண்டபின்
என்னப்பன் என்னொப்பில் என்னையும் ஆட்கொண்டருளி
வண்ணப்பணித்து என்னை வாவென்ற வான்கருணைச்
சுண்ணப் பொன் நீற்றற்கே சென்றூதாய் கோத்தும்பீ

In this song, Manickavasagar says about the unconditional love that Kannappa naayanaar had on lord shiva. We all know the greatness of Kannappar. He was a hunter by name Thinnan. He use to worship the lord in the forest. He will offer the meat to the Lord as naivedyam. To test his bhakti, one day blood started to pour from an eye of the lord. Immediately Thinnan plucked his one eye and applied on the linga. The blood stopped. He was relieved. Again it started to bleed from the other eye. So Thinnan kept his leg on the bleeding spot and tried to pluck his other eye. Then came a voice "kannappa nirka" and the lord was in front of Thinnan. He was called as Kannappar there after. That kshetram is Kalahasti.

Manickavasagar praises this unconditional love and affection kannappa nayanar had on lord shiva and says none can match kannappa's love.

But in the next line, Manickavasagar says, that the lord has the equal love towards him, for having considered himself (Manickavasagar also) as a devotee and showed His true form to him. Here the saint says, என்னையும் ஆட்கொண்டருளி. This shows his humble nature.

Sri Adi Shankara Bagavath Paadhaal in soundarya lahari asks with humbleness to devi to place her feet on his head also. In the 84th sloka:

ச்ருதீநாம் மூர்த்தானோ தததி தவ யௌ சேகரதயா
மம அபி ஏதௌ மாத: சிரஸி தயயா தேஹி சரணௌ
யயோ: பாத்யம் பாத: பசுபதி ஜடாஜூட தடினீ
யயோர் லாக்ஷா லக்ஷ்மீ: அருண ஹரி சூடாமணி ருசி:

In the second line, sri sankara has stated மம அபி ஏதௌ மாத: சிரஸி தயயா தேஹி சரணௌ. That is, please place thy feet (தயயா தேஹி சரணௌ) which are the upanishads (ச்ருதீநாம் மூர்த்தானோ) - the conclusion of vedas on my head also (மம அபி சிரஸி). He didn't say "on my head". But on "my head also (அபி)".

The lord later asked Manickavasagar to come to thillai. We all know that the lord wrote the lines as Manickavasagar dictated them there at the golden hall. Manickavasagar says, that grace that lord showered on him is like a cloud pouring rain on the earth. It is வான் கருணை. Manickavasagar says this as வண்ணப் பணித்து என்னை வா என்ற வான் கருணை.

So the saint-poet asks the bee to go and buzz in front of the one who wears the holy white ash on his body.  

THIRUKKOTTHUMBI - SONG 3

தினைத்தனை உள்ளதோர் பூவினில் தேன் உண்ணாதே
நினைத்தொறும் காண்தொறும் பேசுந்தொறும் எப்போதும்
அனைத்து எலும்பும் உள் நெக ஆனந்தத்தேன் சொரியும்
குனிப்புடையானுக்கே சென்றூதாய் கோத்தும்பீ

In this song, Manickavasagar asks the honey bee NOT to drink the honey from the flower which is very very small. Instead go and reach the lord who is the largest flower and a reservoir of ever flowing honey. Go there and sing his glory. Then it will be an ever lasting sweet experience.

If one sings the glory of the lord, then the sweet experience will melt even our hard bones. That sweetness will flow throughout our body and sweeten our soul. The moment one think or see or speak about this experience, then immediately they are lost in the ocean of nectar.

காதலாகிக் கசிந்து கண்ணீர் மல்கி as stated by thirugnanasambandhar in his final pathigam at nallur perumanam kshetram explains the state of a devotee on experiencing the lord.

Similarly Manickavasagar says in his another song - தாயினும் சாலப்பரிந்து... பாவியேனுடைய ஊனினை உருக்கி உள்ளொளி பெருக்கி...ஆனந்தமய தேனினைச் சொரிந்து... the lord's grace will melt the body of his devotee and increase the lustre of his soul and thereafter it will rain nectars. Nothing more to explain. We need to stay immersed in that experience. None will be able to move away from that.

THIRUKKOTTHUMBI - SONG 2

நானார்? என்னுள்ளமார்? ஞானங்களார்? என்னையாரறிவார்?

வானோர்பிரான் என்னை ஆண்டிலனேல் மதிமயங்கி 

ஊனார் உடைதலையில் உண்பலிதேர் அம்பலவன் 

தேனார் கமலமே சென்றூதாய் கோத்தும்பீ  

We all have heard that that, the lord himself came down to aavudayaar koil with his ganas in the form of guru. He showed His lotus feet to vaadhavooraar and in a moment vaadhavooraar became Manickavasagar. The lord sat under kurunthai tree and made Manickavasagar to realise the truth.

So in the second song, the saint-poet says, if the lord had not brought him to His folds, no body would have known who he was. He would not have got the true answers to these questions:

1. Who am I?
2. What am I?

Before the lord came down, the person was vaadhavooraar and was a chief minister of the pandya Kingdom. After the lord came down, the person was Manickavasagar and then what was left with in was true knowledge and that's it. Dwaitham went off and adwaitham alone was there. So new answers came to the same old questions.

The feet of the lord is a perennial source of honey. The gracious lord who happily gets food on the Brahmma kapaalam or skull, granted me the nectar (knowledge). Please go there and buzz.

THIRUKKOTTHUMBI - SONG 1

பூவேறு கோனும் புரந்தரனும் பொற்பமைந்த 
நாவேறு செல்வியும் நாரணனும் நான்மறையும் 
மாவேறு சோதியும் வானவரும் தாமறியாச் 
சேவேறு சேவடிக்கே சென்றூதாய் கோத்தும்பீ 

A honey bee will buzz on locating a flower. The saint asks it to buzz only on seeing the lotus feet of the lord which provides endless flow of honey and not on seeing the ordinary flower which has limited honey with it.

Oh bee! Buzz on seeing the lotus feet of Lord Shiva. His feet could not be seen even by

1. Brahmma who resides on the lotus.
2. Purandaran - Indran (lord of devas or demi-gods) of the present (vaivasvatha manvantram). The saint has mentioned the exact name purandaran here.
3. Saraswathi who is the Goddess of knowledge.
4. Naaranan - Vishnu who protects the world
5. The four vedas
6. All the devas

So is the supreme feet of Lord, not known to the great devathas. But simply seen by His devotees. Please notify me on seeing the same. Thus says saint Manickavasagar, to the thumbi.

THIRUKKOTTHUMBI - INTRODUCTION

Thirukotthumbi is a set of some 20 songs written by Sri Manickavasagar on Lord Shiva. 

Thiru ko thumbi - thumbi is a variety of honey bee. Ko means leader. So Manickavasagar sings the glory of the lord to the Queen bee. But does the bee understand the importance of Lord? No. By way of saying to the bee, the saint indirectly makes us - the humans to understand the importance of Lord.

The lord is away from his devotee. Grieved by the separation, the devotee sends the insect as a messenger to convey the messages to the Lord. By way of the messages, the poet sings His glory. There is no need for the lord to understand the messages. It is we who have to understand the lord.

We will see the gist of each song in parts in coming days.

The posts in this section is the collection of the posts written in my Facebook page.