SIVAPURAANAM – PART 5.6

LINES 41 TO 44

aakkam aLavu iRuthi illaai, anaitthu ulagum

aakkuvaai kaappai azhippai aruLtharuvaai,

pOkkuvaai ennaip puguvippaai nin thozhumbin

naatRatthin nEriyaai sEyaai naNiyaanE

ஆக்கம் அளவு இறுதி இல்லாய், அனைத்து உலகும்

ஆக்குவாய், காப்பாய், அழிப்பாய், அருள் தருவாய்,

போக்குவாய் என்னை, புகுவிப்பாய் நின் தொழும்பின்,

நாற்றத்தின் நேரியாய், சேயாய் நணியானே,

In these lines, Sri Manickavasagar explains about the limitless nature of the Lord. He has no birth (aakkam), no boundaries (aLavu), no end or death (iRuthi). We have seen in most of the stotraas as Adhi Madhya Anta Rahita - that is no start (Adhi), no bounds or middle (Madhya) or end (Anta). Rahita - without.

Then, the 5 activities of the supreme lord are being told. Creation (aakkuvaai - srishti), Protection (kaappai - sthithi), Destruction (azhippaai – samhaaram or layam), Hiding and blessing (anugraham - aruL tharuvaai). Hiding is hiding the truth from the jeevan. The truth is jeevan and param are same. But for us it is not known. We live in an illusionary world where we consider we are a different entity from param. That illusion or maaya is the 4^th activity of the lord, also called as thirOdhaanam. Although this was not told explicitly by Manickavasagar (may be, he told the meaning in a subtle way by hiding from the explicit text), we can take the 4^th one here as both thirodhaanam and anugraham.

Then, Manickavasagar asks the Lord to remove the illusion of “I” and “You”. That is mentioned by “pOkkuvaai ennai”. Then he asks the lord to immerse him in doing activities related to God. That is to get involved in sat sangam – “puguvippaai nin thozhumbin”. Shri Adi shankara also says,

“satsangatvE nissangatvam, nissangatvE nirmOhatvam

nirmOhatvE nischalatatvam, nischalatatvE jeevan mukthi”

That is if one get involved in sat sangam – God related activities, all his worldly pleasures vanish. He will then become one with God.

Then the saint says that God is very subtle (sookshmam) like the scent of a flower embedded in it. We all can see the flower. But cannot see it’s fragrance. But can only smell it. Likewise we can only realize God, but cannot see Him – “NaatRatthin nEriyaai”.

Then, Manickavasagar says the lord is at a great distance to those who don’t believe in Him – sEyaai and He is very close to those who believe in Him – naNiyaanE.

To be continued..