Next let us take a quick look as to how திரு அருட்பிரகாச இராமலிங்க வள்ளலார் (tiru aruṭpirakāca irāmaliṅka vaḷḷalār) views the role of इतिहास च पुराण शास्त्राणि (itihāsa ca purāṇa śāstrāṇi - historic and mythological literatures) in enabling a seeker's spiritual progress. In simple terms, the saint want's us not to get locked into merely the exoteric aspects of the legends narrated in these scriptures but rather to deep dive into their occult esoteric philosophy underlying those events and stories. For example, in his famous பேருபதேசம் (pērupadēsam – grand sermon), the noble saint very categorically emphasizes this point:
Again, in the same sermon, the saint further explains that he himself was during his initial phases caught up in the phenomenal aspects of such religion but had eventually graduated beyond its superficial layers and was able to deep dive into its spiritual essence. To quote:
In addition to his prose sermon quoted above, it seems that the saint had also reiterated more or less the same point in his poems as well. For example, the following verses from his poem titled "திருக்கதவந் திறத்தல் (tirukkatavan tiṟattal – sacred gate opening)" is widely quoted as testimony in line with his above views.
And again, in அருள்விளக்க மாலை (aruḷviḷakka mālai – garland of grace explanation) the noble saint poet very categorically declares thus:
Further, for the benefit of everyone, the saint himself also explains the esoteric truths underlying many mythological deities and events captured in the Hindu पुराण शास्त्र (purāṇa śāstra - puranic literature). For example, in one of his உபதேசங்கள் (updēsaṅgaḻ - discourses), the noble saint explains the esoteric significance ofசுப்பிரமணியம் (cuppiramaṇiyam) & சூரசம்ஹாரம் (cūracamhāram):
Similarly, திரு அருட்பிரகாச இராமலிங்க வள்ளலார் (tiru aruṭpirakāca irāmaliṅka vaḷḷalār) further explains the esoteric philosophy symbolized by the personality of the demon பதுமாசுரன் / पद्मासुर (padmāsuran / padmāsura) in his உபதேசக் குறிப்புகள் (upatēcak kuṟippukaḷ - advisory notes)
Again, elsewhere, in his randomly selected உபதேசக் குறிப்புகளஂ (upatēcak kuṟippukaḷ - advisory hints), the noble saint further reiterates thus:
Reference Blog | THEME: Spiritual significance of நடராஜர் தத்துவம் (nataraajar thaththuvam) Please CLICK the following URL
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There are many similar esoteric explanations, provided by the saint in his உபதேசக் குறிப்புகளஂ (upatēcak kuṟippukaḷ - advisory notes) on various other mythological deities, characters and events including the episode of காலசம்ஹாரம் (kālasaṃhāram - killing of death) event dramatized at the sacred temple of திருகடவூர் வீரடஂடானம் (tirukaṭavūr vīraṭaṇṭāṉam), as well as, the episode of பிரமனஂ சிரசை கொயஂதல் (biraman sirasai koyidal - chopping of Brahmas's head) by event dramatized at the sacred temple at திருகண்டியூர் (tirukaṇṭiyūr) etc. These are classic examples wherein the saint provides important inner yogic interpretations to these externalized events. The saint also gives similar explanations to various other mythological concepts including the esoteric meaning of தேவன் (dēvan - god), அசுரன் (asuran - demon), சுவர்கம் (suvargam - heaven) & நரகம் (narakam - hell) in yogic (anthropic) terms.
Demystifying some of our misconceptions:
मूढग्राह पूर्वपक्षिनस्य (mūḍhagrāha pūrvapakṣinasya – mis-conception of plaintiff):
One the one extreme, just because the saint highlighted the importance of one realizing the God within oneself, many are under the prejudiced assumption that the noble saint was completely against any forms of external worship or that God does not exists externally. Besides, many are also under the wrong impression that the noble saint was completely rejected all the mythological events and concepts discussed widely across the huge corpus of इतिहास च पुराण शास्त्राणि (itihāsa ca purāṇa śāstrāṇi - historic and mythological literatures) as unnecessary imaginary stories without any philosophical or spiritual essence.
However, facts reveals that these assumptions are highly exaggerated and are unfair and incorrect accusations against the saint. It does not provide a holistic understanding of the saint's philosophies, as it completely neglects the devotional aspects of his life.
Note: I have shared my two cents on the noble saint’s contribution to devotion in the below blog. To get a quick perspective of the sane, please
Reference | வள்ளலாரின் கிரியாபக்திமார்கம்(vaḷḷalāriṉ kiriyābaktimārkam - ritualistic-devotion path of Vallalar) |
Now regarding the specific point relating to इतिहास च पुराण शास्त्राणि (itihāsa ca purāṇa śāstrāṇi - historic and mythological literatures), the saint's high respects for the same is testified in his own works, as he directly refers and employs various mythological stories in order to convey some esoteric philosophy that were originally referred in various इतिहास च पुराण शास्त्राणि (itihāsa ca purāṇa śāstrāṇi - historic and mythological literatures) including सिव पुराण (siva purāṇa) , लिङ्ग पुराण (liṅga purāṇa), स्कन्द पुराण (skanda purāṇa), திருவிளையாடல் புராணம் (tiruviḷaiyāṭal purāṇam), கந்தபுராணம் (kandapurāṇam) etc.
For example, he refers to the following mythological events relating to சிவபெருமானின் திருவிளையாடல்கள் (sivaperumāṉiṉ tiruviḷaiyāṭalkaḷ) in many of his poems
# | புராண நிகழ்வு (purāṇa nikaḻvu – mythological event) | திரு அருட்பா (tiru aruṭpā) reference |
1 | சிவபெருமான் பிட்டுக்கு மண் சுமந்தது (sivaperumān piṭṭukku maṇ cumantatu – Lord Shiva carrying mud as labourer) | 1582. 1974, 2176, 2251, 2981 |
2 | சிவபெருமான் பிரமனின் தலையை துண்டித்தது (sivaperumān biramaṉin talaiyai tuṇṭittatu – Lord Shiva chopping the head of brahma) | 767, 1574, 1622 |
3 | சிவபெருமான் காமனை எரித்தது (sivaperumān kāmaṉai erittatu – Lord Shiva burning cupid) | 767, 1576 |
4 | சிவபெருமான் தக்ஷனின் தலையை அறுத்தது (sivaperumān dakṣaṉin talaiyai'aṟuttadu – Lord Shiva chopping head of dakshan) | 1682 |
5 | சிவபெருமான் கஜமுகாசூரனை வதம் செய்தது (sivaperumān gajamukāsūraṉai vatam seidadu – Lord Shiva killing the elelphant-faced demon) | 631, 766 |
6 | சிவபெருமான் எமனை தண்டித்தது (sivaperumān emaṉai taṇṭittatu – Lord Shiva punishing death-lord) | 771 |
7 | சிவபெருமான் ஜலந்தரனை தண்டித்தது (sivaperumān jalantaraṉai taṇṭittatu – Lord Shiva punishing jalandhara) | 1627 |
8 | சிவபெருமான் பார்கடலை கடையும் போது நஞ்சுண்டது (sivaperumān pārkaṭalai kaṭaiyum pōtu nañcuṇṭatu – Lord Shiva consuming poison while churning the ocean) | 3-2-372 |
9 | சிவபெருமான் திரிபுரத்தை எரித்தது (sivaperumān tiripurattai erittatu – Lord Shiva burning triple-cities) | 3-2-772 |
10 | சிவபெருமான் இராவணின் ஆனவத்தை அழித்தது (sivaperumān irāvaṇiṉ āṉavattai aḻittatu - Lord Shiva destroying the ego of ravana) | 3-2-373, 2387 |
11 | சிவபெருமான் அந்தகாசுரனை சங்கரித்தது (sivaperumān antakācuraṉai caṅkarittatu - Lord Shiva kinging angasura) | 3-2-225 |
12 | சிவபெருமான் பெருமாலுக்கு சுதர்ஷனசக்கிரம் வழங்கியது (sivaperumān perumālukku cutarṣaṉacakkiram vaḻaṅkiyatu - Lord Shiva gifting sudarshana chakra to Vishnu) | 771, 1627 |
Similarly, the saint in his poems refers to the following mythological events relating to முருகபெருமானின் திருவிளையாடல்கள் (murugaperumāṉiṉ tiruviḷaiyāṭalgaḷ - sacred games of Lord Muruga)
# | புராண நிகழ்வு (purāṇa nikaḻvu – mythological event) | திரு அருட்பா (tiru aruṭpā) reference |
1 | சிவ பெருமானின் நெற்றிக்கண்ணிலிருந்து சரவணபொய்கையில் முருகப்பெருமான் அவதரித்தது (civa perumāṉiṉ neṟṟikkaṇṇiliruntu caravaṇapoykaiyil murukapperumāṉ avatarittatu -Lord Muruga emerging from the third-eye of Lord Shiva) | 2509 |
2 | முருகப்பெருமான் இந்திரனின் தவரை தண்டித்தது (murukapperumāṉ intiraṉiṉ tavarai taṇṭittatu – Lord Muruga correcting the mistake of Indra) | 399 |
3 | முருகப்பெருமான் பிரமனை சிறையிட்டது (murukapperumāṉ piramaṉai ciṟaiyiṭṭatu – imprisoning Lord Brahma) | 416 |
4 | முருகப்பெருமான் தந்தைக்கு பிரணவ தத்துவம் உபதேசித்தது (murukapperumāṉ tantaikku piraṇava tattuvam upatēcittatu – Lord Muruga explaining philosophy of pranaavamantra to Lord Shiva) | 98 |
5 | முருகப்பெருமானின் சூர சம்ஹாரம் (murukapperumāṉiṉ cūra camhāram – Lord Muruga killing demon) | 513 |
6 | வள்ளி தெய்வானையுடன் முருகப்பெருமானின் திருமனம் (vaḷḷi teyvāṉaiyuṭaṉ murukapperumāṉiṉ tirumaṉam – sacred wedlock of Lord Muruga with Valli and Deivanai) | 2516 |
Thus, on the one hand, the saint rejects the value of mythologies mentioned in the इतिहास च पुराण शास्त्राणि (itihāsa ca purāṇa śāstrāṇi - historic and mythological literatures). However, on the other hand the saint himself employs such mythologies in his poems. Now, it may appear as though the saint is either in-consistent in his views or the saint is taking double standards. If the saint had sincerely felt that such mythologies are only distracting the seekers from the underlying philosophy, then why should he use them in his works? Isn't this self-contradictory? Or are we the culprit in missing misunderstanding his views on the same?
My Two cents of clarification
Well, in my humble opinion, obviously it is we who have to be blamed for our lack of holistic understanding of the philosophy of the saint par excellence. In a humble attempt to reconcile between the seemingly contradictory views of the saint, I am sharing my two cents here. But before proceeding further, as a prerequisite, I would like to briefly touch upon the fundamental philosophy underlying the reality (non-reality) of इतिहास च पुराण शास्त्राणि (itihāsa ca purāṇa śāstrāṇi - historic and mythological literatures).
Etymologically, the term पुराण (purāṇa) means ‘old’ or ‘ancient’. Thus, पुराण (purāṇas) are ancient legendary narrations recollecting the story of the Gods passed on from one generation to another from early antiquity. Human word of mouth communication was the original means of transmitting these stories, which was later formerly translated to written media and compiled as beautiful poetic literature by the great sage महऋषि वेदव्यास (mahaṛṣi vedavyāsa).
Please remember that, although, from an empirical perspective, the term पुराण (purāṇa) literally refers to an historical account, yet from a philosophical sense, it deals with story of the Almighty God, who is eternal, transcending the limits of time, space & causality. Thus, these stories are new (live & happening) in higher realms of भावन (bhāvanas - mystical experiences). In fact, that is precisely why these scriptures are generally considered as पुरपि नवः पुराण (purapi navaḥ purāṇa – ancient yet eternally new).
A इतिहास (itihāsa - epic) is a special type of scripture which provides an historical account of the major incidents and also provides a record of the major philosophical and moral teachings that underlies those happenings. Literally, the Sanskrit term इतिहास (itihāsa) means इति ह आस् (iti ha ās – as it happened) while etymologically it is derived as इतिहास (itihāsa) = इति (iti) + आसः (āsaḥ). A popular definition of the term इतिहास (itihāsa - epic) is given below.
In other words, इतिहास (itihāsa) means “thus-verily-happened” or more clearly defining “as it truly happened”. Again, according to अमरकोश (amarakośa) one of the most authentic thesaurus of Sanskrit, इतिहास (itihāsa) is a narrative of the पूर्व वृत्त (pūrva vṛtta -past events). These epics are like the live biographical accounts of specific events in the life of a historically important person. It is like writing a biography of Mahatma Gandhi by some of his contemporary historians, i.e., biography written during the hero’s life time itself.
Similarly, in the case of தொழுவூர் வேலாயுத முதலியார் (toḻuvūr vēlāyuta mutaliyār) who captured various important spiritual milestones and miracles in the life of the saint திரு அருட்பிரகாச இராமலிங்க வள்ளலார் (tiru aruṭpirakāca irāmaliṅka vaḷḷalār), who was his contemporary (they lived during the same time period).
Coming back to the case of the महा इतिहास काव्य शास्त्र (mahā itihāsa kāvya śāstra – grand historic epic literature), the biographical recordings were recorded not just ordinary mortal scholars or historians but by saints who were themselves highly evolved spiritual visionaries – technically referred as a महाऋषिमुनिकवि (mahāṛṣimunikavi – supreme seer-sage-poet)
Similarly, the महाभारत (mahābhārata) is a महा इतिहास काव्य शास्त्र (mahā itihāsa kāvya śāstra – grand historic epic literature) which was yogically recorded by sage व्यास महऋषि (vyāsa mahaṛṣi) who lived during the contemporary period of the events in the महाभारत (mahābhārata). महऋषि (mahaṛṣi – supreme seer/sage) visualized these events as they were happening and recorded the same with the help of his देव लिपिकार् (devalipikār - divine scribe) who was none other than the Lord भगवान् श्री गणेश (bhagavān shrī gaṇesha) Himself. Of course, in occult yogic terms, Lord भगवान् श्री गणेश (bhagavān shrī gaṇesha) symbolizes the aroused कुण्डलिनी शक्ति (kuṇḍalinī śakti - coiled bio-magnetic energy).
In other words, the events are happening in a continuum traversing through all the realms of consciousness – physical / terrestrial, vital, psychic as well as gnostic, and even spiritual which form a concentric hierarchy of consciousness viz. புரப்புரம் /बाह्यबाह्य (purappuram/bāhyabāhya – external outer), புரம் / बाह्य (puram/bāhya – outer), அகப்புரம் /अन्तर्बाह्य (agappuram / antarbāhya - internal outer), அகம்/ अन्तर (agam – inner) & அகமகம் / अन्तरन्तर (agamagam / antarantara – internal inter) respectively. Thus, technically speaking, these texts are specifically called इतिहास (itihāsa - chronicle) because they provide historic account of some specific events in the past.
Please understand that these boundaries are more epistemological layers rather than ontological tight walls and represent the different hierarchies of the same spiritual continuum of the absolute omnipresent non-dual singularity. And such a concentric heirarchy is applicable at all the three levels of the पञ्चविध कोशाः अविद्यामाया चैतनस्य (pañcavidha kośāḥ avidyā māyā caitanasya - fivefold sheaths of nescient mystery-consciousness), the पञ्चविध कार्यवस्थाः बद्धात्म चैतन्यस्य (pañcavidha kāryavasthāḥ baddhātma caitanyasya – five-fold effectual states of corporeal soul-consciousness) and the पञ्चविध स्थूलभूत तत्त्वानि अप्रवृत्ति चैतन्यस्य (pañcavidha sthūlabhūta tattvāni apravṛtti caitanyasya – fivefold gross material principles of inertial-consciousness)
स्थण्डिल स्थानस्य (sthaṇḍila sthānasya – boundary of locus) (A) | कोश अविद्यामाया चैतनस्य (kośa avidyāmāyā caitanasya - sheath of nescient mystery-consciousness) (X) | कार्यवस्था बद्धात्म चैतन्यस्य (kāryavasthā baddhātma caitanyasya – effectual state of corporeal soul-consciousness) (Y) | स्थूलभूत तत्त्व अप्रवृत्ति चैतन्यस्य (sthūlabhūta tattva apravṛtti caitanyasya – gross material principle of inertial-consciousness) (Z) | |
1 | புரப்புரம் /बाह्यबाह्य (purappuram / bāhyabāhya – external outer) | अन्नमयकोश (annamayakośa – food-predominant sheath) | जाग्रत् अवस्था (jāgrat avasthā – waking state)
| पृथिवि तत्त्व (pṛthivi tattva – earth principle) |
2 | புரம் / बाह्य (puram/bāhya – outer) | प्राणमयकोश् (prāṇamayakośa – vital-predominant sheath) | स्वप्न अवस्था (svapna avasthā – dreaming state)
| अपस् तत्त्व (apas tattva – water principle) |
3 | அகப்புரம் /अन्तर्बाह्य (agappuram / antarbāhya - internal outer) | मनोमयकोश (manomayakośa – mind-predominant sheath) | सुषुप्ति अवस्था (suṣupti avasthā – sleeping state)
| अग्नि तत्त्व (agni tattva – fire principle) |
4 | அகம்/ अन्तर (agam – inner) | विज्ञानमयकोश (vijñānamayakośa – wosdom-predominant sheath) | तुरीय अवस्था (turīya avasthā – trance state) | वायु तत्त्व (vāyu tattva – air principle) |
5 | அகமகம் / अन्तरन्तर (agamagam / antarantara – internal inter) | आनन्दमयकोश (ānandamayakośa – bliss-predominant sheath) | तुरीयातीत अवस्था (turīyātīta avasthā – transcendent state)
| आकाश तत्त्व (ākāśa tattva – vacuum principle) |
Geometrically speaking these three dimensions viz. कोश अविद्यामाया चैतनस्य (kośa avidyāmāyā caitanasya - sheath of nescient mystery-consciousness) (X), कार्यवस्था बद्धात्म चैतन्यस्य (kāryavasthā baddhātma caitanyasya – effectual state of corporeal soul-consciousness) (Y) & स्थूलभूत तत्त्व अप्रवृत्ति चैतन्यस्य (sthūlabhūta tattva apravṛtti caitanyasya – gross material principle of inertial-consciousness) (Z) in the above table, are mutually perpendicular to each other as shown below
And corresponding to each axis viz. X, Y & Z, there is a five-fold nested concentric hierarchical boundary as listed in A and the mutual interdependencies between them can be graphically visualized as follows:
The important point to understand that the Multidimensional Consciousness Hierarchy discussed above is not a static structure but is a dynamic field of continuous state transitions from across realms. The corporeal soul keeps as part of its phenomenal existence, keeps shifting gears and jumping from one locus to another across each of the three dimensional five-fold hierarchies. The trajectory of these continuous oscillations between these realms is what is represented as the cosmic dance across the fields.
The noble saint திருமூலர் (tirumūlar) refers to such கூத்து (kūttu- dance) as the மோகாந்த கூத்து (mōkānta kūttu)
At the outermost layer they are manifested as terrestrial historic personalities operating from the जाग्रत् अवस्था (jāgrat avasthā – waking state) in the अन्नमयकोश (annamayakośa – food-predominant sheath) , while at the inner most layer they are operating from the तुरीयातीत अवस्था (turīyātīta avasthā – transcendent state) in the परमानन्दमय कोश (paramānandamaya kośa – supreme bliss realm). It is the same reality that that runs through and links the स्थूल रूप (sthūla rūpa – gross form) and the सूक्षम रूप (sūkṣama rūpa – subtle form). The difference between them is in (epistemological) degrees and not in (ontological) kind, as reflected in the ancient Hermetic wisdom "As above, so below". To quote Swami Vivekananda:
“The difference between the subtlest mind and the grossest matter is only one of degree. Therefore, the whole universe may be called either mind or matter, it does not matter which. You may call the mind refined matter, or the body concretized mind; it makes little difference by which name you call which. All the troubles arising from the conflict between materialism and spirituality are due to wrong thinking. Actually, there is no difference between the two”.
In other words, "அண்டமே பிண்டம், பிண்டமே அண்டம் (aṇdamē piṇdam, piṇdamē - microcosm is macrcosm, macrocosm is microcosm). In modern scientific terms, the former is the fractal reflection of the latter and vice versa. In fact, the same, logic holds good for all phenomenal entities including the sacred dances like the सहश्रारपद्म ताण्डव (sahaśrārapadma tāṇḍava – thousand-petaled-lotus dance), मूलाधारचक्र ताण्डव (mūlādhāracakra tāṇḍava – rootbase center dance) etc., just to name a few.
In modern scientific terms, the former is the fractal reflection of the latter and vice versa. In fact, the same, logic holds good for all phenomenal entities including the Divine and spiritual personalities – like the Hindu Gods viz. : முருகன் (murugan), பிள்ளையார் (piḷḷaiyār), கண்ணன் (kaṇṇaṉ), அம்மன் (amman) etc., as well as saints like அகத்தியர் (agattiyar), மாணிக்கவாசகர் (māṇikkavācakar), திருஞானசம்பந்தர் (tiruñāṉacampantar), திருமூலர் (tirumūlar) etc., just to name a few.
One can always view from the outermost material plane and narrate a historical account of their birth, growth, religious mission, and final emancipation etc. or one can view them from the innermost spiritual realm and narrate these personalities as निगूढार्थ शक्ति तत्त्वानि योगानुभवे (nigūḍhārtha śakti tattvāni yogānubhave –occult energy principles in yogic experience). The differences between புரப்புரம் /बाह्यबाह्य (purappuram/bāhyabāhya – external outer), புரம் / बाह्य (puram/bāhya – outer), அகப்புரம் /अन्तर्बाह्य (agappuram / antarbāhya - internal outer), அகம்/ अन्तर (agam – inner) & அகமகம் / अन्तरन्तर (agamagam / antarantara – internal inter), are only from relativistic frames of references and not in absolute terms. This fact holds good irrespective of whether you view from புரப்புரமாகிய பிரமாண்டம் (purappuramāgiya biramāṇḍam - outermost external macrocosm) or its vice-versa i.e., from அகமகமாகிய பிண்டம் (agamagamāgiya piṇḍam – innermost internal microcosm). In other words, it is only a matter of relative differences between:
- प्रवृत्तिमार्ग केन्द्रपागशक्तेः (pravṛttimārga kendrapāgaśakteḥ - evolutionary path of centrifugal force): This condition involves a अन्तः बाह्य स्फुरण तत्त्वानाम् अधिकतम सूक्ष्मात् अधिकतम स्थूलम् (antaḥ bāhya sphuraṇa tattvānām adhikatama sthūlam – inside-out expansion of evolutes from the the most subtle to the most gross). This corresponds to उन्मेष लौकिक द्वित्व चक्ष्वोः यावत् निमेष दिव्य चक्षोः (unmeṣa laukika dvitva cakṣvoḥ yāvat nimeṣa divya cakṣoḥ - opening of dual mundane eyes while closing the wisdom eye)
- निवृत्तिमार्ग केन्द्राभिगशक्तेः (nivṛttimārga kendrābhigaśakteḥ - involutionary path of centripetal force): This condition involves a बाह्य-अन्तः सङ्क्षेपण अधिकतम स्थूलात् अधिकतम सूक्षमम् (bāhya-antaḥ saṅkṣepaṇa adhikatama sthūlāt adhikatama sūkṣamam – outside-in contraction from the most gross to the most subtle). This corresponds to निमेष लौकिक द्वित्व चक्ष्वोः यावत् उन्मेष दिव्य चक्षोः (nimeṣa laukika dvitva cakṣvoḥ yāvat unmeṣa divya cakṣoḥ - closing of dual mundane eyes while opening the wisdom eye)
Synchronizing the सम्मेलन (sammelana - equillibrium) between these to two forces viz. प्रवृत्तिमार्ग केन्द्रपागशक्तेः (pravṛttimārga kendrapāgaśakteḥ - evolutionary path of centrifugal force) and the निवृत्तिमार्ग केन्द्राभिगशक्तेः (nivṛttimārga kendrābhigaśakteḥ - involutionary path of centripetal force) is what is theologized as the आनन्द ताण्डव (ānanda tāṇḍava – bliss dance). I.K. Taimini, the eminent Theosophist and scholar, in his famous book Man, God and the Universe, gives explains this concept very clearly. To quote him:
“As the unfoldment of consciousness proceeds, the coarser forms of individuality with their undesirable concommitants are shed one after another, and the subtler form emerge with the expansion of consciousness and the enlargement of the circle which limits our life and love. This process can continue ad infinitum as the following diagram illustrates to some extent.
We see in this diagram a number of concentric circles one within the other, and a radial line connecting the centre with the outermost ciricle. Now, if the thickness of parts of the radial line between the successive circles beginning with the outermost, represents the coarseness of the individuality., we see how this thickness can go on decreasing as the radial line approaches the centre. We know what is the limit which a line which progressively becomes thinner and thinner approaches – an ideal line which has no thickness at all but only direction. An actual line can, according to mathematics, only approach this limit more and more without ever matching it…It will be seen that it is not the radial lines which can impose a limitation on the centre because they leave the centre free to expand ad infinitum. It is rhe circumference which imposes limitation on the centre. This circumference can be considered to be larger and larger as the radial line representing the individuality of the Monad approaches the ideal limit of zero thickness. When the circumference expands to infinity the line becomes an ideal line in the realm of the Unmanifest."
The cosmological philosophy underlying the theological accounts of उन्मेष च निमेष नेत्रस्य (unmeṣa ca nimeṣa netrasya – opeing and closing of eye) is very categorically testified in the following verse from the स्पन्दकारिका (spandakārikā) which is basically a commentary written by आचार्य श्री भट्ट कल्लट (ācārya śrī bhaṭṭa kallaṭa) on the शिवसूत्र (śivasūtra), which was originally revealed to परमाचार्य श्री वसुगुप्त (paramācārya śrī vasugupta)
You may be wondering as to why I am saying “उन्मेष लौकिक द्वित्व चक्ष्वोः यावत् निमेष दिव्य चक्षोः (unmeṣa laukika dvitva cakṣvoḥ yāvat nimeṣa divya cakṣoḥ - opening of dual mundane eyes while closing the wisdom eye)” in other words, why there is an inverse proportionality between the उन्मेष लौकिक द्वित्व चक्ष्वोः (unmeṣa laukika dvitva cakṣvoḥ - opening of dual mundane eyes) and the निमेष दिव्य चक्षोः (nimeṣa divya cakṣoḥ - closing the wisdom eye)?
Well yes, for all practical purposes this is the case. आचार्य श्री क्षेमराज (ācārya śrī kṣemarāja) in his स्पन्दनिर्णय (spandanirṇaya) which is famous commentary on the स्पन्दकारिका (spandakārikā) also establishes this point by citing sacred testimonies.
Please remember the involution and evolution are our relative phenomenal frames, but are not applicable to the absolute omnipresent noumenal reality, which transcends all such boundaries. For example, திரு அருட்பிரகாச இராமலிங்க வள்ளலார் (tiru aruṭpirakāca irāmaliṅka vaḷḷalār) in his famous உபதேசக் குறிப்புகள் (upatēcak kuṟippukaḷ - sermon notes) on "அண்ட பிண்ட பூர்ண பாவன அனுஷ்டான விதி (aṇṭa piṇṭa pūrṇa pāvaṉa aṉuṣṭāṉa viti - rules on rituals of microcosm - macrocosm synergies)", explains the close anthropocentric correspondence between these multi-layered continuum of चिताकाश स्पन्दन (citākāśa spandana - pulsations of wisdom-space) theologized as the சிதம்பர ஆனந்த தாண்டவம் (citampara āṉanda tāṇṭavam - blissful dance in vacuum consciousness) by the நடராஜர் (naṭarājar - lord of dance).
Now, let's take the case study of நடராஜர் தத்துவம் (naṭarājar tattuvam - philosophy of lord of dance) associated with ஆனந்த தாண்டவ தரிசனம் (āṉanta tāṇṭava taricaṉam – frantic bliss dance) & சிதம்பர இரகசியம் (cidambara iragasiyam – gnostic-wisdom secret), in the life of the noble saint. Now, it’s a well-known historic fact testified by அகச்சான்றுகள் (akaccāṉṟukaḷ - internal evidences) from the saint's own works that he had both
- புர நடராஜ தரிசனம் (pura naṭarāja taricaṉam - external royal dance vision): அண்ட சிதம்பர கூத்து (aṇṭa citampara kūttu - macrocosmic dance of vacuum consciousness) consecrated as the अर्चावतारमूर्ति (arcāvatāramūrti – worship-incarnation iconography)
- அக நடராஜ தரிசனம் (aka naṭarāja taricaṉam - internal royal dance vision) : பிண்டசிதம்பர கூத்து (piṇṭacitampara kūttu - microcosmic dance of vacuum consciousness) consecrated as the अन्तर्यामि अवतार (antaryāmi avatāra - indwelling incarnation)
Reference Blog | THEME: Spiritual significance of நடராஜர் தத்துவம் (nataraajar thaththuvam) Please CLICK the following URL URL: Spiritual significance of நடராஜர் தத்துவம் (nataraajar thaththuvam) AGENDA: 1. पवित्र भूलोगविज्ञान चिदंबरस्य (pavitra bhūlogavijñāna cidaṃbarasya - sacred geography of Chidambaram) 2. ज्योतिष अर्थवत्त्व आर्द्रा दर्शनस्य (jyotiṣa arthavattva ārdrā darśanasya - astronomical significance of Arudra vision) 3. वार्षिक उत्सव (vārṣika utsava- annual festival) celebrated as ब्रह्मोत्सव / महोत्सव (brahmotsava / mahotsava – grand festival) 4. अर्थवत्त्व ब्रह्म निर्माणज़िल्पस्य (arthavattva brahma nirmāṇailpasya - significance of sacred architecture) 5. ब्रह्मपिण्डसंसुतिविज्ञान गुर्वर्थत्व (brahmapiṇḍasaṃsutivijñāna gurvarthatva - Macro and Micro Cosmological significance) 6. ब्राह्मप्रतिकाविद्यानटराजस्य (brāhmapratikāvidyānaṭarājasya – sacred iconography of dance-king) 7. निहित-जाल ताण्डव (nihitajālatāṇḍava – nested network dance) 8. कल्प विज्ञान चिदंबरस्य (kalpa vijñāna cidaṃbarasya – ritual science of gnostic space) |
Obviously, both these experiences were integral to his spiritual life and he cherished every part of it. For example, the saint very categorically recollects his blissful memories of his very first புர நடராஜ தரிசனம் (pura naṭarāja taricaṉam - external royal dance vision)
And similarly, in நடராஜபதி மாலை (naṭarājapati mālai), the noble saint re-iterates the essential laws of correspondence between these epistemological realms (sheaths) of conscious experience as follows.
Thus, in other words, the आनन्द महा ताण्डव (ānanda mahā tāṇḍava – supreme dance of bliss) actually represents the eternal governance of the पञ्च महाकृत्यानि (pañca mahākṛtyāni – five cosmic acts) viz. ஆக்கல் / सृष्टि (ākkal/ sṛṣṭi – creation / manifestation), காத்தல் / स्थिति (kāttal / sthiti - sustenance), அழித்தல் / संहार (azhittal / saṁhāra –dissolution), மறைத்தல் / तिरोभाव (maṛaittal / tirobhāva - veiling) & அருளல் / अनुग्रह (aruḻal / anugraha - grace) cutting across the infinitely long series of manifested multiverses and their epistemological layers. This fact is testified by the saint himself in the above verse.
Of course, from an anthropic perspective, this स्पन्द (spanda - cosmic dance /eternal becoming) both at a அண்ட பிரமாணம் (aṇḍa piramāṇam - macrocosmic scale), as well as at the பிண்ட பிரமாணம் (piṇḍa piramāṇam - microcosmic scale) are basically nothing but immersive experiences visualized as a sacred ஆனந்த தாண்டவம் (āṉanta tāṇṭavam – dance of bliss) happening within one’s own consciousness. Such a dance is called ஞானக்கூத்து (jñānak kūttu – wisdom dance). Hidden behind the ஆனந்தகூத்தின் ஒளி தாண்டவம் (āṉantakūttiṉ oḷi tāṇṭavam – visual dance of bliss-dance) manifested as உருவ தத்துவம் / शकल तत्त्व (uruva tattuvam / śakala tattva – phenomenal principle) there underlies the subtler ஒலி நடனம் (oli naṭaṉam – sonic dance) manifesting the அருவ தத்துவம் / निश्कल तत्त्व् (aruva thaththuvam / niśkala tattva – noumenal principal) and this the चितंबर रहस्य (citaṁbara rahasya – secret of gnostic vacuum).
Now with this understanding, let us re-look at the above quoted controversial statement and try to comprehend the holistic intention of the saint when he originally said:
I think the saint is cautioning us, that as by design, all our பஞ்ச ஞானேந்திரியங்கள் (pañca jñānendriyangaḷ - five-fold cognitive senses) governed by the மனம் (manam - mind) are confined to புரலக்ஷணத்தின் மேல் மட்டும் லக்ஷியம் (puralakṣaṇattiṉ mēl maṭṭum lakṣiyam – focus only on external nature) while completely neglecting அகலக்ஷணத்தின் மேல் லக்ஷியம் (akalakṣaṇattiṉ mēl lakṣiyam – focus on external nature) which generally needs awakening of higher realms of spiritual consciousness beyond मनोमयकोश (manomayakośa – mind predominant sheath sheath) viz. विज्ञानमयकोश (vijñānamayakośa – wosdom-predominant sheath) & आनन्दमयकोश (ānandamayakośa – bliss-predominant sheath). Please remember that access to these last two realms are by default, hidden (encapsulated / locked) from the mental vision of ordinary mortals like us and is only accessible through the பரமன ஞான தரிசனம் / परमज्ञानदर्शन (paramana jñāna darisanam / paramajñānadarśana - supramental gnostic vision)
As already discussed, the mythological episodes and events narrated in the इतिहास & पुराण शास्त्र (itihāsa & purāṇa śāstra - historic and mythological literature) are all nothing but such spiritual revelations to saints and yogis operating from such higher realms of supramental consciousness. Eventually the ஒளி நடனம் (oḷi naṭaṉam – visual dance) experienced by the ऋषिमुनि (ṛṣimuni - seer sage) in the आनन्दमयकोश (ānandamayakośa – bliss-predominant sheath) gets further encoded as अर्कसाति (arkasāti - poetic inspirations) of மந்திர கலை / ஒலி நடனம் (mantira kalai / oli naṭaṉam – mantric art / sonic dance), as well, in the विज्ञानमयकोश (vijñānamayakośa – wosdom-predominant sheath). The Holy saint has beautifully symbolized these two forms of dances as மயில் (mayil - peacock) & குயில் (kuyil - cuckoo) respectively, as testified in the following verses,
And subsequently it is such நிகழ்வுகள் (nikaḻvukaḷ - events) relating to these நிறைமொழிமாதரின் ஒலியொளி அனுபவங்கள் (niṟaimoḻimātariṉ oliyoḷi aṉupavaṅkaḷ - audio-visual experiences of accomplished-speech men) which are further encrypted & encapsulated as सन्ध्या भाष (sandhyā bhāṣa - twilight language) and propagated to the lower realms viz. मनोमयकोश (manomayakośa – mind predominant sheath sheath) and below, as कल्पित कथाः पुराण शास्त्रस्य (kalpita kathāḥ itihāsa ca purāṇa śāstrasya - imaginary stories of mythological literature). Of course, from the perspective of ordinary mortals like us, who are not yet entitled to the higher realms of spiritual consciousness and hence remain as பூட்டபட்ட உண்மைகள் (pūṭṭapaṭṭa uṇmaikaḷ - locked / encoded truths) (unlike the case of the evolved saints), these narrations are only second-hand information which can only be experienced objectively and not subjectively - technically called as सविकल्प अनुभव (savikalpa anubhava - indirect / mediated experience). We will not be able to get a holistic विलीन निर्विकल्प अनुभव (vilīna nirvikalpa anubhava - immersive direct / immediate experience). In fact, this is what is referred by வள்ளலார் (vaḷḷalār) as 'கலையுரைத்த கற்பனை (kalaiyuraitta kaṟpaṉai - art narrated imagination)' in the above quoted verses from the decad titled ' திருக்கதவந் திறத்தல் (tirukkatavan tiṟattal – sacred gate opening)' and again as he "பூட்டிய அந்தப் பூட்டை ஒருவரும் திறக்கவில்லை (pūṭṭai oruvarum tiṟakkavillai - no one has opened the closed lock)" in the earlier quoted பேருபதேசம் (pērupadēsam – grand sermon)
In the following verses, the saint cautions to be aware and beware that there are many pseudo spiritualists and fake religious gurus capitalize our ignorance, take us for a ride by misleading us with delusive fabrications & misinterpretations in the guise of sacred scriptural revelations - वेद (veda), आगम (āgama), इतिहास (itihāsa) & पुराण (purāṇa) etc. Such fake versions are tagged by the saint here by the term தோன்றிய சாத்திரங்கள் (tōṉṟiya cāttiraṅkaḷ - fabricated scriptures) creating a छलक इन्द्रजाल (chalaka indrajāla - delusive sense/epistemological traps) which deviate us away from the original scriptural roots, referred by the saint as ஊன்றிய சாத்திரங்கள் (ūṉṟiya cāttiraṅkaḷ - rooted scriptures). The saint advises us to develop discriminating wisdom to differentiate the fake from the real. At the same time, he also warns us that even the original scriptures, however sacred and comprehensive they may be, they are yet only partial descriptions of the transcendent absolute divinity, which is essentially indeterminate and hence all scriptures for that matter are also kind of चलक इन्द्रजाल (calaka indrajāla - delusive sense/epistemological traps).
Thus, he recommends us that rather than taking the narrations in the इतिहास & पुराण शास्त्र (itihāsa & purāṇa śāstra - historic and mythological literature) too literally, the sincere followers of சுத்த சன்மார்கம் (sudda sanmārgam - pure path of truth) should go beyond the superficial (exoteric) meanings and decrypt (decapsulate) and unlock the underlying esoteric (occult) spiritual essence with the help of ஞான திரவுகோல் (jñāna tiravukkōl - key of wisdom), as testified by him in the following verses.
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