யோகானுபவநிலைகள்(yogānubava nilaigaḻ - stages of yogic experience)
Saintதிரு அருட்பிரகாச இராமலிங்க வள்ளலார்(tiru aruṭpirakāsa iramaliṅga vaḻḻalār)had all through his lifemastered
the art ofசாகாக்கல்வி/अमृत विद्या(sāgākkalvi / amṛta vidyā – science of
immortality) andattained மரணமிலாப் பெருவாழ்வு / अमृतमहाजीवित(maraṇamilāp peruvāzhvu /amṛtamahājīvita - immortalized supreme living). This fact is
testified by him in the following verses from the canto titled “அம்பலவாணர்
வருகை(ambalavānar varugai – coming of the revealing
lord)”
Tamil Reference : திருவருட்பா : அம்பலவாணர் வருகை (tiruvaruṭpā : ambalavānar varugai) (6.113.61)
According to சுத்த சன்மார்கம் / शुद्धसन्मार्ग(sudda saṉmārgam
/ śuddhasanmārga – prestine right path), as part of such a spiritual journey, the தேகம் / देह(dēgam
/ deha - body), மனம் / मनस्(manam
/ manas - mind) & உயிர் / जीवन(uyir / jīvana - life) will go through different stages of निर्मोचक परिणाम(nirmocaka
pariṇāma - liberating transformation). For example, the
देह शुद्धसन्मार्गसाधकस्य(deha
śuddhasanmārgasādhakasya – body of the pristine-right-path seeker), will involve different states
of dematerialization through the process of காய சுத்தி/कायशुद्धि (kāyasuddi
/ kāyaśuddhi – body cleansing) and there by attained,
what is called as the முத்தேக சுத்தி / त्रिदेह शुद्धि(muddēga suddi / trideha śuddhi- triple body cleansing). In the திருவருண்
மெய்ம்மொழி(tiruvaruṇ meym'moḻi – true words of
divine grace), it is clearly
stated thus by திரு அருட்பிரகாச இராமலிங்க வள்ளலார்(tiru aruṭpirakāsa iramaliṅga vaḻḻalār):
Original
Transliteration
Translation
சுத்தசன்மார்க்க அரும்புருஷார்த்தங்களின் பெரும் பயன்களாகிய எக்காலத்தும் நாசமடையாத சுத்த அல்லது சுவர்ணதேகம், பிரணவ தேகம், ஞானதேகம் என்னும் சாகாக்கலானுபவ சொரூப சித்தித் தேகங்களும் தன் சுதந்தரத்தால் தத்துவங்கள் எல்லாவற்றையும் நடத்துகின்ற தனிப்பெரு வல்லபமும், கடவுள் ஒருவரே என்றறிகின்ற உண்மை ஞானமும், கருமசித்தி, யோகசித்தி, ஞானசித்தி முதலிய எல்லாச் சித்திகளும் பெறுகின்ற அருட்பேறும் பெற்று வாழ்கின்ற பேரின்பசித்திப் பெருவாழ்வை அடைவதற்கான சுத்தசன்மார்க்கத் தனிப்பெரு நெறியைப் பற்றுவதற்குரிய உண்மை ஒழுக்கங்களில் நாமெல்லவரும் தனித்தனி ஒழுக வேண்டுவது அவசியமாகலில், அவ்வொழுக்கங்கள் இவை என உணரவேண்டுவது.
According to the saint, the achievement of such a निर्मोचक/ विमोक्षणदेहपरिणाम अवस्था(nirmocaka/ vimokṣaṇadehapariṇāmaavasthā
– liberating-body-transformation state) is what is referred
as முக்தி/मुक्ति (mukti
- liberation) and such a परिणाम(pariṇāma -
transformation) serves as the ideal முன்னுறு
சாதனம்(munnuṛu sādanam – primary
instruments) for the attainment of various occult
spiritual சித்திகள்(siddigaḻ - potencies), as testified by the
saint in the following verses in அருட்பெருஞ்சோதி அகவல்(aruṭperuñjōti agaval)
The Boundless Benevolent Jothi has enlightend that the aim of gaining beatification is to keep at hand the bulging siddhis.
The Boundless Benevolent Jothi has illuminated that the charecteristic feature of salvation is that it is (only) a means (to an end).
The Boundless Benevolent Jothi has declared that the experience gained after entering the final stage is called siddhi
-translation by Dayavu Swami Saravanananda
Tamil Reference :திருவருட்பா: அருட்பெருஞ்சோதி அகவல் (tiruvaruṭpā: aruṭperuñjoti agaval) (6.2.124)
According to the saint, as part of the spiritual progress of
the योग साधक (yoga
sādhaka – yogic practitioner) mastering the சாகாக்கலையும் கல்வியும் (sāgākkalaiyum kalviyum – art & science of
immortality), one obtains the முத்திறல் தேக பரிணாம நிலைகள்(muttiṟal tēga
pariṇāma nilaigaḷ - triple states of bodily
transformation) as listed below:
சுத்த தேகம்/शुद्ध देह (sudda
dēgam / śuddha deha- purified
body)also called
as சுவர்ணதேகம்/स्वर्णदेह(suvarṇadēgam/ svarṇadeha -golden body)
and sometimes as ஒளி
உடல் /ज्योतिष्यदेह(oḻi uḍal / jyotiṣya deha - luminous body). In
this state, the soul attains முக்தி(mukti - liberation) from
the ill effects of நரை(narai - grey hair), திரை(thirai - wrinkle), பிணி(piṇi - disease), மூப்பு(mūppu - oldage), மல ஜலம்(mala jalam - excretion), நித்திரை(niththirai - sleep),ஆகாரம்(āgāram - food).
பிரணவ
தேகம் / प्रणवदेह(piraṇava dēgam / praṇava deha –sonic body / logos)also known as ஒலிதேகம்/ नाद
देह(oli dēgam / nāda deha - -phonic body). In
this state, the soul attains முக்தி(mukti- liberation) from
its தேக தோற்றம்(dēga toṛṛam - body's visibility),as
the body dematerializes and becomes invisible.
ஞான
தேகம்/ज्ञान देह(jñāna
dēgam
/ jñāna deha –wisdom body)also
known as அருள்தேகம்
/ कृपादेह(aruḻ
dēgam / kṛpādeha - graceful body). In
this state, the soul attains முக்தி(mukti
- liberation) from its தேக தோற்றம்(dēga tōṛṛam- body's visibility) as
well as தேகதோற்றமின்மை(dēga tōṛṛaminmai
- body's invisbility) as the soul attains the potency
to dematerialize and materialize back at will.
And corresponding to obtaning the முத்திறல்
தேக பரிணாம நிலைகள்(muttiṛal dēga
pariṇāma nilaigaḻ - triple
states of bodily transformation) listed above, the योग साधक (yoga
sādhaka – yogic practitioner) also attains முத்திறல் மெய்ஞான
சித்திகள்(muttiṛal meijñāna
siddigaḻ – trifold spiritual accomplishments), as summarized below:
கரும
சித்தி / कर्मसिद्धि(Karumasiddi / karmasiddhi – potency of action) also
called as உருவசித்தி
/ रूपसिद्धि(uruvasiddi
/ rūpasiddhi - form accomplishment). Here
the soul attains what is called as the பொற்சபைஅனுபவம் (poṛsabai
anubavam - experience of golden hall/field) wherein
the adept has typically achieved अष्टमहासिद्धि(aṣṭamahāsiddhi - eight supreme
accumplishments) viz. अणिमा(aṇimā), महिम(mahima),गरिम(garima),लघिम(laghima), प्राप्ति(prāpti), प्राकाम्य (prākāmya), ईषत्व(īṣatva)
& वश्त्व(vaśtva).
யோகசித்தி/योगसिद्धि(yogasiddi / yogasiddhi – yogic potency) also
called as அருவசித்தி/अरूपसिद्धि (aruvasiddhi / arūpasiddhi - formless accomplishment).
Here, the soul attains, what is called as, the சிற்சபைஅனுபவம்(siṛsabai
anubavam - experience of quantum hall/field).
ஞானசித்தி/ज्ञानसिद्धि(jñānasiddi / jñānasiddhi – wisdom potency)also
called as உருவருவசித்தி/ रूपारूपसिद्धि(uruvaruvasiddi /rūpārūpasiddhi – form-formless accomplishment).
Here, the soul attains, what is called as, the ஞான
சபை அனுபவம்(jñāna sabai
anubavam - experience of gnostic hall/field)
Of course, one has to cross through many spiritual stages in
order to successfully experience the above. The spiritual progress of a seeker
is essentially These stages and milestones are in fact overloaded with
multiple meanings and interpretations. For example, according to certain occult
schools, the following table represent the journey of the soul across 18
spiritual realms of consciousness - starting from the gross physical stage to
higher realms of supra-mental consciousness
जीव जाग्रत् अवस्था(jīva jāgrat avsthā -
mundane waking state)
सकल
अवस्था (sakala
avasthā – common
state)
सूक्ष्म देहम्
(sūkṣma deham –subtle body)
மருளுருவம்
(maruḻuruvam – ignorant form)
உயிர் அனுபவம்
(uyir anubavam – life
expereience)
5
जीव स्वप्न अवस्था (jīva svapna avsthā –
mundane dreaming state)
6
जीव सुसुप्ति अवस्था(jīva
susupti avsthā – mundane sleep state)
7
निर्मल जाग्रत् अवस्था(nirmala jāgrat avsthā–
pure waking state)
शुद्ध अवस्था
(śuddha avasthā – pure state)
कारण देहम्
(kāraṇa deham –causal
body)
அன்புருவம்(anburuvam – love form)
8
निर्मल स्वप्न अवस्था (nirmala
svapna avsthā – pure dreaming state)
9
निर्मल सुसुप्ति अवस्था (nirmala susupti avsthā– pure sleeping state)
10
पर जाग्रत् अवस्था(para jāgrat avsthā –
transcendent waking state)
शुद्ध देहम्
(śuddha deham –purified
body)
कर्म सिद्धि
(karma siddhi –potency of
action)
11
पर स्वप्न अवस्था(para
svapna avsthā– transcendent dreaming state)
12
पर सुसुप्ति अवस्था(para
susupti avsthā - – transcendent sleeping state)
13
गुरु जाग्रत् अवस्था(guru jāgrat avsthā -
guru waking state)
प्रणव
देहम्
(praṇava deham – sonic body)
योग सिद्धि
(yoga siddhi – yogic potency)
அருளுருவம்
(aruḻuruvam – grace form)
அருள் அனுபவம்(aruḻ anubavam – grace
expereince)
14
गुरु स्वप्न अवस्था(guru svapna avsthā -
guru dreaming state)
15
गुरु सुसुप्ति अवस्था(guru susupti avsthā -
guru sleeping state)
16
शुद्ध शिव जाग्रत् अवस्था(śuddha śiva jāgrat avsthā
- pure divine waking state)
ज्ञान देहम्
(jñāna deham – gnostic body)
ज्ञान सिद्धि (jñāna siddhi – wisdom potency)
இன்புருவம்
(inburuvam – bliss form)
சிவ அனுபவம்
(siva anubavam – god expereince)
17
शुद्ध शिव स्वप्न अवस्था (śuddha śiva
svapna avsthā - pure divine sleaping state)
18
शुद्ध शिव सुसुप्ति अवस्था (śuddha śiva
susupti avsthā - pure divine waking state)
Similarly,
the பதிணெட்டுபடிகள்(padineṭṭupadigaḻ
– eighteen steps) represent
the अष्टदशमहा सिद्धि(aṣṭadaśa mahā
siddhi – eighteen occult faculties / powers) that one acquires on attaining the respective spiritual milestone.
Again, according to the लय योग(laya yoga) school, the பதிணெட்டுபடிகள்(padineṭṭupadigaḻ
– eighteen steps) correspond
to the अष्टदश चक्र मण्डक(aṣṭadaśa cakra maṇḍaka – eighteen centres) within the सूक्षम शरीर(sūkṣama śarīra - subtle body) through which the कुण्डलिनी शक्ति(kuṇḍalinī śakti – coiled energy)which includesषटाधार चक्र(ṣaṭādhāra cakra – six support centers) plus द्वादशान्त चक्र(dvādaśānta cakra – twelve centers):
मूलाधार चक्र(mūlādhāra cakra –
primary base center)
स्वधिष्ठान चक्र (svadhiṣṭhāna cakra – initial self station
center)
Thus, in yogic terms, it represents the journey of the कुण्डलिनी शक्ति(kuṇdalinī śakti – bio magnetic
coiled energy) along the आधार चक्र(ādhāra cakra – base centers) and attaining महा निर्वाण(mahā nirvāṇa - supreme
liberation). In the following verses from அருட்பெருஞ்சோதி
அகவல்(aruṭperuñjoti agaval), the saint திரு அருட்பிரகாச இராமலிங்க வள்ளலார்(tiru aruṭpirakāsa iramaliṅga vaḻḻalār) very beautifully explains
thus:
The Boundless Benevelonce Jothi has tamed effectively the extended activity (of the mind) in the realm of utter purity.
The Boundless Benevelonce Jothi has hidden its soverignity with the grand black curtain of the great indispensable maya.
The Boundless Benevelonce Jothi has hidden the dear soul with the renowned grand blue curtain.
The Boundless Benevelonce Jothi has teriffically hidden the cosmic space with a green veil.
The Boundless Benevelonce Jothi has like a mother, hidden the space of mystic powers with a real curtain.
The Boundless Benevelonce Jothi has hidden the space of the objects of human pursuit with a golden curtain.
The Boundless Benevelonce Jothi has closely hidden with a white veil the space which is the abode of Absolute Truth.
The Boundless Benevelonce Jothi has hidden all cognized experiences to the grief (of the seeker) with a screen of mixed hue.
The Boundless Benevelonce Jothi has hidden in a compact manner the ranges of sensory experiences with various curtians.
The Boundless Benevelonce Jothi has hidden effectively the various ranges of the essential nature of materials each with a separate curtain.
The Boundless Benevelonce Jothi has revealed prowess of grace by severing the link of the apparent grand maya.
The Boundless Benevelonce Jothi has properly disclosed (its) grace by severing the link of the pure grand maya.
The Boundless Benevelonce Jothi has dispelled without the least trace tendencies like egoism (arrogance) and bestowed grace.
The Boundless Benevelonce Jothi has liberated the beings from the veils of desire (born out of senses) and enlightened them in an orderly manner.
The Boundless Benevelonce Jothi has exterminated the curtains that veil the innate nature and enlightened the beings into grace.
The Boundless Benevelonce Jothi has brought back those that disappeared through the veil and enlightened them into the universal law.
The Boundless Benevelonce Jothi has enlightened every kind of being in such a way that all enjoy felicity.
The Boundless Benevelonce Jothi has destroyed the curtains that veil the devine beings and enlightened them.
The Boundless Benevelonce Jothi has enlightened the female potentates by destroying the curtains of ignorance that veil them.
-translation by Dayavu Swami Saravanananda
Tamil Reference :திருவருட்பா: அருட்பெருஞ்சோதி அகவல் (tiruvaruṭpā: aruṭperuñjoti agaval) (6.2.408-425)
According
to the saint, in contrast to இன்மையின்ப
லாபம்(inmaiyinba lābam - benefit of short term joy)
& மறுமையின்ப
லாபம்(maṛumaiyinba lābam - benefit of long term joy), the
ultimate benefit of such accomplishments is the attainment of eternal பேரின்ப லாபம்(pēriṉba lābam - benefit of supreme bliss) which
is described by the saint in the ஆன்ம இன்ப வாழ்வு(āṉma iṉba vāḻvu -
blissfull life of the soul) section of his ஜீவகாருண்ய
ஒழுக்கம்(jīva kāruṇya oḻukkam -
discipline of compassion towards life) as
Original
Transliteration
Translation
எல்லாத் தேகங்களையும், எல்லாக் கரணங்களையும், எல்லாப் புவனங்களையும், எல்லாப் போகங்களையும், தமது பூரண இயற்கை விளக்கமாகிய அருட்சத்தியின் சந்நிதி விசேடத்தால் தோன்றி விளங்க விளக்கஞ் செய்விக்கின்ற பூரண இயற்கை உண்மை வடிவினராகிய கடவுளின் பூரண இயற்கை இன்பத்தைப் பெற்று, எக்காலத்தும் எவ்விடத்தும் எவ்விதத்தும் எவ்வளவும் தடைபடாமல் அனுபவிக்கப்படுகின்ற ஒப்பற்ற அந்தப் பெரிய இன்பத்தைப் பேரின்பமென்றறிய வேண்டும்
If one having obtained the completely full natural Bliss of God who is the personification of the full natural Truth - who by the power of the presence of his omnigracious Energy, which is but his own full natural self-existent manifestation makes all the bodies, all the inner instruments all the worlds and all the pleasures appear and exist and illumine them, enjoys that unique Supreme Bliss, at all times and at all places without even a little hindrance - that unique great Bliss is called the supreme Bliss..
In
simple terms, பேரின்ப
லாப்ம்(pērinba lābam - benefit of supreme bliss)is
the holistic non-dualistic immersive becoming of the being. In the words of the
saint "பேரின்ப லாபமாவது:- யாவுந் தாமாய் விளங்குவதே (pērinba
lābamāvadhu: yāvun thāmāi viḻaṅguvadē- benefit of supreme bliss means everything as oneself”). The typical
characteristics of an accomplished yogi who experiences such பேரின்ப லாப்ம்(pērinba lābam -
benefit of supreme bliss), after attaining the முத்தேகசித்திகள்(muddēga siddigaḻ -
triple bodily accomplishments) is very elaborately
explained by the saint. According to him, the body of such a yogi is not
affected by extreme physical, chemical or biological changes triggered in the
environment even at the fundamental levels of पञ्चमहाभूतानि(pañcamahābhūtāni
- five core elements). They are also immune to
various other mundane disturbances. I would like to reproduce here the detailed
account provided by our noble saint, explaining the glory of such yogic adepts.
To quote him:
Original
Transliteration
Translation
பேரின்ப லாபத்தை யடைந்தவர் பெருமை எது என்றறிய வேண்டில்:- தோல், நரம்பு, என்பு, தசை, இரத்தம், சுக்கிலம் முதலிய அசுத்தபூத காரியங்களும் அவற்றின் காரணங்களாகிய அசுத்த பிரகிருதி அணுக்களுமாகிய தேகத்தை மாற்றி, மாற்று இவ்வளவு என்றறியப்படாத உயர்ந்த பொன்னாகிய சுத்த பூதகாரிய சுத்த தேகத்தையும், பொன்வடிவாகத் தோன்றுதல் மாத்திரமேயன்றி ஆகாயம்போல் பரிசிக்கப்படாத சுத்தபூதகாரண பிரணவ தேகத்தையும்தோன்றப்படுதலுமின்றி ஆகாயம்போல் விளங்குகின்ற ஞானதேகத்தையும் பெற்றவர்களா யிருப்பார்கள். உள்ளே மண்ணினது திண்மையால் தறிக்கப்படார்கள்; புறத்தே மண் கல் முதலியவற்றால் எறியினும் அவை அவர் வடிவில் தாக்குவனவல்ல. உள்ளே நீரினது தன்மையால் குளிரப்படார்கள்; புறத்தே நீரிலழுத்தினும் அவர் வடிவம் அழுந்தாது. உள்ளே நெருப்பினது வெம்மையால் சுடப்படார்கள்; புறத்தே நெருப்பிற் சுடினும் அவர் தேகத்தில் சூடும் வடுவும் தோன்றுவனவல்ல. உள்ளே காற்றினது ஊக்கத்தால் அசைக்கப்படார்கள்; புறத்தே காற்று அவர் வடிவைப் பரிசித் தசைக்கமாட்டாது. உள்ளே ஆகாயத்தினது கலப்பினால் அந்தரிக்கப்படார்கள்; புறத்தே ஆகாயம் அவர் தேகத்தை அந்தரிக்கமாட்டாது. ஆதாரத்திலன்றி நிராதாரத்திலும் அவர் தேகம் உலாவும். அவரது கண்கள் முதலிய ஞானேந்திரியங்களும் வாக்கு முதலிய கர்மேந்திரியங்களும் பார்த்தல் முதலிய விஷயங்களையும் பேசுதல் முதலிய விஷயங்களையும் பற்றுவனவல்ல; தயையினால் விஷயங்களைப் பற்றவேண்டில், சுவர் மலை முதலிய தடைகளும் அவர் கண்களை மறைப்பன வல்ல. அண்ட பிண்டங்களில் அகம் புறம் முதலிய எவ்விடத்துமுள்ள விடயங்களை அவர் கண்கள் இருந்த விடத்திருந்தே கண்டறியும். அண்ட பிண்டங்களி லெவ்விடத்திருந்து பேசினும் அவர் செவிகள் இருந்த விடத்திருந்தே கேட்டறியும். எவ்விடத் திருக்கின்ற ரசங்களையும் அவர் நா இருந்த விடத்திருந்தே சுவைத்தறியும். எவ்விடத்திருக்கின்ற பரிசங்களையும் அவர் மெய் இருந்த விடத்திருந்தே பரிசித்தறியும். எவ்விடத் திருக்கின்ற சுகந்தகங்களையும் அவர் நாசி இருந்த இடத் திருந்தே முகர்ந்தறியும். எவ்விடத்திலிருக்கின்றவர்களுக்கும் அவரது கைகள் இருந்த விடத்திருந்தே கொடுத்தல் கூடும். எவ்விடத்திலும் அவரது கால்கள் இருந்த விடத்திருந்தே நடத்தல் கூடும். அவரது வாக்கு எவ்விடத்திலிருக்கின்ற எவ்வௌர்களோடும் இருந்த விடத்திருந்தே பேசுதல் கூடும். மற்ற இந்திரியங்கள் இருந்த விடத்திருந்தே எவ்விடத்தும் ஆனந்தித்தல் கூடும். மன முதலான கரணங்கள் எப்படிப்பட்ட விஷயங்களையும் பற்றுவனவல்ல; தயவினால் பற்றத் தொடங்கில் எல்லா உயிர்களினது எல்லாச் சங்கற்ப விகற்பங்களையும் ஒரு நிமிடத்தில் ஒருங்கே நினைத்து விசாரித்து நிச்சயித்துக் கொள்ளும். அவரறிவு ஒன்றையும் சுட்டியறியாது; தயவினால் சுட்டியறியத் தொடங்கில் எல்லா அண்டங்களையும் எல்லா உயிர்களையும் எல்லாப் பண்புகளையும் எல்லா அனுபவங்களையும் எல்லா பயன்களையும் ஒருங்கே ஒரு நிமிடத்தில் சுட்டி யறியும். அவர்கள் நிர்க்குணத்தராவார்களல்லது, தாமச இராசத சாத்துவிக முதலிய முக்குணங்களாலும் உள்ளே விகாரப்படார்கள்; புறத்தே அவரது குணங்கள் கரணங்களைப் பற்றுவனவல்ல. உள்ளே பிரகிருதியினால் மூடப்படார்கள்; புறத்தே அவரது பிரகிருதி குணங்களைப் பற்றுவனவல்ல. உள்ளே காலதத்துவத்தால் வேற்றுமைப்படார்கள்; புறத்தே காலத்தால் அவரது திருமேனி தடைபடாது. உள்ளே நியதி அளவால் அளக்கப்படார்கள்; புறத்தே நியதியால் அவரது திருமேனி வரைபடாது. அன்றிக் காலம் வித்தை ராகம் புருடன் முதலிய மற்றைத் தத்துவங்களும் தத்துவ காரியங்களும் அவர்களுக்கு இல்லை. மாயையால் பேதப்படார்கள்; சுத்தமகாமாயையைக் கடந்து அதன்மேல் அறிவுருவாக விளங்குவார்கள். ஆகாரம், நித்திரை, மைதுனம், பயம் என்பவைகளால் தடைபடார்கள். அவர்கள் தேகத்திற்குச் சாயை, வியர்வை, அழுக்கு, நரை, திரை, மூப்பு, இறப்பு முதலிய குற்றங்கள் உண்டானவல்ல. பனி, மழை, இடி, வெயில் முதலியவற்றாலும், இராக்கதர், அசுரர், பூதம், பிசாசு முதலியவற்றாலும், தேவர், முனிவர், மனிதர், நரகர், மிருகம், பறவை, ஊர்வன, தாவரம் என்பவைகளாலும் எவ்விடத்தும் எக்காலத்தும் அவர் தேகம் வாதிக்கப்படாது; வாள் கத்தி முதலிய கருவிகளாலும் கண்டிக்கப்படாது. எல்லா அண்டங்களும் அணுக்கள் போலச் சிறிதாகத் தோற்றலும், எல்லா அணுக்களும் அண்டங்கள் போலப் பெரிதாகத் தோற்றலும் அவர் தேகத்திற்கு உரித்து. இறந்தோரை எழுப்புதல் வார்த்திபரை வாலிபராக்கல் முதலிய கருமசித்திகளும்யோகசித்திகளும் ஞானசித்திகளும் அவர் சந்நிதியில் இடைவிடாது விளங்கும். சிருஷ்டித்தல், காத்தல், அழித்தல், மறைத்தல், அனுக்கிரகித்தல் என்கின்ற கிருத்தியங்களும் அவர் நினைத்த மாத்திரத்தில் நடக்கும். பஞ்சகர்த்தாக்களும் அவர் கடைக்கண் பார்வையால் தங்கள் தங்கள் தொழில் நடத்துவார்கள். அவர்கள் அறிவு கடவுளறிவாக இருக்கும். அவர்கள் செய்கை கடவுள் செய்கையாக இருக்கும். அவர்கள் அனுபவம் கடவுள் அனுபவமாக இருக்கும். சர்வசக்தியு முடையவர்களாய், எக்காலத்தும் அழிவில்லாதவர்களாய், ஆணவம், மாயை கன்மம் என்னும் மும்மலங்களும் அம்மலவாதனைகளும் இல்லாதவர்களாய், பேரருள்வண்ண முடையவர்களாய் விளங்குவார்கள். ஜடமாகிய ஒரு துரும்பும் அவரது திருநோக்கத்தால் உயிர் பெற்றுப் பஞ்சகிருத்தியங்களும் செய்யும். அவரது பெருமை வேதாந்த, சித்தாந்த, கலாந்த, போதாந்த, நாதாந்த, யோகாந்தம் என்கின்ற ஆறந்தங்களிலும் விளங்கும்; அவற்றைக் கடந்தும் விளங்குமென்று அறியவேண்டும். இவை பேரின்பலாபத்தை யடைந்தவர் பெருமை யென்று அறிய வேண்டும்.
To know what is the greatness of those who have attained the benefit or gain of the supreme Bliss: Their body made up of the skin, the nerve, the bone, the muscles, the blood, the semen which are the products of the impure atoms of the elements which serve as causes, would have got changed into pure golden body made up of high quality gold of immeasurable carat - as the impure atoms would have changed into pure atoms; they would also have obtained the Pranava body (or the body made up of sound) which will appear as not only made up of gold but also which will not be felt by touch as the ether itself, as it is made up of the atoms of the pure elements, and also the body of knowledge which will not at all be visible as the sky. They will not be affected within by the density of the earth, even when stones and mud are thrown on them - externally they will not attack their form. They will not get chilled inside by the coolness of water. Externally even if their body is immersed in water it will not get sunk. Their figure will not be scorched by fire internally. Even when their figure is burnt by fire externally heat will not be felt or seen in their body. They will not be moved by the thrust of wind inside; their figure will not be touched or moved by the wind outside. Their body will not float when the space mingles inside. In the outside the space cannot make it float. Their bodies can walk on any base or without any base at all. Their sense organs like eyes etc., will not perceive anything, their working organs like tongue etc., will not perceive (hold on) the things seen and the things talked about, if out of mercy they want to perceive things, obstacles like wall, mountain etc., will not obstruct their vision. Their eyes can see from where they are, the things wherever they be whether inside or outside the macrocosm and microcosm. Their ears can hear from where they are the words spoken anywhere in the macrocosm and the microcosm. Their tongues will taste from where they are all sorts of tastes; their body rather skin will feel the touch of anything wherever it is, from where they are. Their nose will smell from where they are all the scents wherever they be. Their hands will give from where they are to people wherever they be. Their legs will walk from where they are to any place. Their other sense organs win enjoy from where they are in all places. Their inner instruments like mind will not hold on to any type of thing; but if it begins to hold on to anything out of mercy, it will think about and decide in a minute, all the positive and negative thoughts together of all the beings. Their intellect will not know anything in particular; if out of mercy it bings to know the particulars, it will know in a minute, all macrocosms, all lives, all characters, all experiences and all benefits together, they will be without any quality, they will not have my change within by the three qualities namely the lethargic or tamasic, the active or rajasic and the pure and peaceful or sathvic; externally their qualities will not hold on to their inner instruments. Internally they will not be enclosed by nature, externally their nature will not hold on to their qualities. They will not get changed internally by the principle of time; externally their benign body will not be obstructed by the principle of time; they cannot be measured internally by any regular measure; externally their benign body will not be contained by any outline. They will not have or rather they are beyond the tattwas or principles like Time, Divine action (Viddhai), Divine will (Raga) Divine consciousness (Purusha) etc; they will not have the activities of the tattwas. They will not be affected by Maya or illusion; they will transcend the pure great illusion (Maha Maya) and will shine as the embodiment of knowledge (Arivura). They will not be obstructed by food, sleep, sexual desire and fear. Their body will not have shadow, sweat, dirt, greying of hair, shrinking of skin, that is wrinkles; they will not become old, they will not have death; their body will not be affected by all such defects. Their bodies will not be affected or hurt by snow, frost, rain, thunder, sun's heat etc., giants (rakshasa), demons (asuras), Globlins (bhutas), devils (pisasu) etc., celestial beings (devas), ascetics (munis) human beings of hell (Narakas), animal, bird, reptile, plant etc., at any place and of any time; it will not be hurt by the weapons like sword, knife etc. It is natural for their body for the macrocosms to appear as small as atoms and for the atoms to appear as big as macrocosms. In their presence the karma Siddhis like reviving the dead, transforming the old into youth etc., Yoga Siddhis and Gnana Siddhis will manifest continuously. The activities like creation, protection, destruction, veiling and showing Grace will take place the moment they think of them. By their mere side glance the gods of the five-fold activities will do their own work. Their knowledge will be that of God. Their actions will be that of God. Their experience win be that of God. They will be omnipotent call powerful at all times and without decay always. They will not have the three impurities namely egoism, illusion and the effect of the past deeds or their adverse effects; they will be the embodiment of Omnigrace. Even an inert puny particle will perform all the five-fold activities, by their glance. Their greatness will shine in the six schools of philosopies and also beyond them transcending them. It should be understood that these are the greatness of those who had attained the benefit of the Supreme Bliss.If one wants to know how to attain the life with the benefits of the three types of Blisses: It should be understood that they can be attained by a portion of Grace which is God's natural manifestation and by the completely full Omnigrace.
The noble saint திருவருட்பிரகாச
இராமலிங்க வள்ளலார்(tiruvaruṭpirakāca
irāmaliṅga
vaḻḻalār), as part of his योग यात्र(yoga
yātra -yogic pilgrimage), has ascended through various
rungs in the பரமபத சோபானம்(paramapata sōpāṉam - ladder to divine foot), as testified in the
following verses by the saint himself in உற்ற துரைத்தல் (uṛṛa
turaittal).
Further, as a consequence of his முத்தேக முத்தி நிலைகள் / त्रिदेहमुक्ति अवस्थाः (muddēga
mutti nilaigaḻ / tridehamukti avasthāḥ - triple
body liberation states), the noble saint has personally attained
different spiritual சித்திகள்(siddigaḻ
- potencies) including
சாகாக்கல்வி/अमृतविद्या (sāgākkalvi/amṛtavidyā -
science of deathlessness)
Before proceeding further, please be noted that one may not be able to fully decipher its spiritual essence without formal spiritual initiation from a genuine yogic guru. My two cents here is only to provide a basic theoretical knowledge of the same based on my limited understanding. To this end, lets start with first things first viz. the meaning of சாகாக்கல்வி (sāgākkalvi – science of immortality).
Well, what exactly is சாகாக்கல்வி (sāgākkalvi – science of immortality)and how exactly it is related toप्राणायाम (prāṇāyāma – breath control)? This is a very important question for us to understand before proceeding further. The noble saint திரு அருட்பிரகாச இராமலிங்க வள்ளலார்(tiru aruṭpirakāsa iramaliṅga vaḻḻalār) in the mystiic song அம்பலவாணர் வருகை(ambalavaanar varugai),from his magnum opus திருவருட்பா (tiruvaruṭpā), helps us by providing a hint
Of course, one of the greatest and distinguishing
contributions of our beloved saint திருவருட்பிரகாச
இராமலிங்க வள்ளலார்(tiruvaruṭpirakāca
irāmaliṅga
vaḻḻalār) is his unparalleled
contribution to the சாகாக்கல்வி/अमृतविद्या(sāgākkalvi / amṛtavidyā – science of
immortality). I shall now briefly touch upon this topic. To this
end, the first thing we need to understand is what exactly is சாகாக்கல்வி /अमृतविद्या(sāgākkalvi/ amṛtavidyā
– science of immortality). The formal studies on mastering the சாகாக்கலை / अमृत सिद्धि(sāgākkalai / amṛtasiddhi - art
of deathlessness) is called சாகாக்கல்வி
/अमृत विद्या(sāgākkalvi / amṛta vidyā – science
of immortality). The noble saint திருவருட்பிரகாசஇராமலிங்க வள்ளலார்(tiruvaruṭpirakāca
irāmaliṅga vaḻḻalār)in his mystic poem titled அம்பலவாணர் வருகை (ambalavānar varugai – coming of lord of
revealation), explains the concept thus:
Tamil Reference :திருவருட்பா : அம்பலவாணர் வருகை (tiruvaruṭpā : ambalavānar varugai) (6.113.77)
Thus,
according to him, “ஏகாத கல்விதான் சாகாத கல்வி(ēgāda kalvidān sāgāda kalvi – imperishable wisdom is the immortal wisdom)”. Etymologically,
the term ஏகாத(ēgāda) is the antonym form of the word ‘ஏகுதல்(ēgudal - to go)’ which
is a synonym for ‘போகுதல் / செல்லுதல்(pōgudal / selludal – to go)’ etc.,
In this context ஏகுதல்(ēgudal) also means ‘அழித்தல்(aḻittal –
to exhaust/perish)’ and hence ஏகாதகல்வி(ēgāda kalvi – imperishable science) deals
with the mastering the art of preventing such exhaustion or perishability. In
other words, it refers to உடம்பை அழிய விடாத கல்வி(uḍambai
aḻiya viḍāda kalvi – science of preserving the body).
Well, the above interpretation seems to be very
straightforward. In fact, the term ஏகாத கல்வி(ēgāda kalvi – imperishable science) may seem superfluous in the above phrase as the
remaining terms சாகாத கல்வி(sāgāda kalvi – science of immortality)aloneby
itself is sufficient. Does this mean the
Saint is simply trying to play with words for mere ornamental poetics? No,
absolutely not. The saint, is trying to convey a hidden meaning here. To
unravel the mystery, the keyword Is the term ஏகாத(ēgāda)being used as a synonym of போகாத காற்று / சுவாசம்(pōgāda kāṛṛu /
suvāsam–
non-going / not exhausting air/ breath). This fact is testified by திருமூலர் (tirumūlar)in the following verses.
The breath within rises And wanders as it lists; Control that and purify within; Then shall your limbs glow red Your hair turn dark And God within shall leave you never..
-translation by Dr. B. Natarajan
Tamil Reference : திருமந்திரம் (tirumantiram) (3.5.12)
The true education is the education of deathless body. The true knowledge is the self-knowledge of the one Sivam (The Supreme Knowledge of Satchitananda). The true, supreme and integral power of Sternth (Poorana Vallabha) is the mastery over the five impurities. The true action or function is the act that self creates or brings forth all substances of whatever kind by realizing substances such as the substance of non-inflamable or non-burning gas etc. The true Bliss is the wonderful attainment of all the said four truths together integrally by the whole and full Goodness of the all-achieving Conscious-Power (Citta) so as to bring the whole world into an all-embracing supreme love; O Guru! Thou has said this is the tradition of Suddha Sanmaarga which you have found upon the eternal truth of Bliss. O Supreme! Even before I could give my triple body (for transformation into perfection), Thou showered on me Thy Grace and upraise or perfected me by it. O Lord Nataraja, the One Divine, who plays in CitSabha.
-translation by T.R. Tulasiram
Tamil Reference : திருவருட்பா : நடராஜபதி மாலை (tiruvaruṭpā : naṭarājapadi mālai) - (6.97.28)
Please be noted here that the terms சாகாத்தலை(sāgāttalai), வேகாக்கால்(vēgākkāl), போகாத புனல்(pōgāda punal), ஒலியாத கனல்(oliyāda kanal)&இடியாத புவி(iḍiyāda buvi)etc.,, closely correspond to the earlier discussed concepts of पञ्चामृत
/ பஞ்சாமிருதம் (pañcāmṛta / pañcāpirudam – fivefold nectars). And again, in the following verses from the poemஇறை எளிமையை வியத்தல் (iṛai eḻimaiyai viyattal), the noble saint-poet
once again refers to the same concepts as part of his mystical experiences.
Tamil Reference : திருவருட்பா : இறை எளிமையை வியத்தல் (tiruvaruṭpā : iṛai eḻimaiyai viyattal) - (6.34.2)
In other words, it is indirectly
indicated that சாகாக்கலை(sāgākkalai– art of immortality) can
be achieved by mastering प्राणायाम(prrāṇāyāma
– breath control), as
prescribed in வாசி யோகம்(vāsi yōgam). The noble saint திருமூலர் (tirumūlar) very categorically states that
effective practice of प्राणायाम (prāṇāyāma
– breath control) can help conquering death. To quote him,
Original
Transliteration
Translation
ஏற்றி இறக்கி இருகாலும் பூரிக்கும் காற்றை அளக்கும் அறிவை யாரும் அறியார் காற்றை அளக்கும் அறிவை அறிந்தபின் கூற்றை உதைக்கலாகுமே
Inhalation, Exhalation, and Retention both ways The Science of Breath thus consisting They know not; They who know the Science of Breath Are destined to spurn the God of Death.
-translation by Dr. B. Natarajan
Tamil Reference : திருமந்திரம் (tirumantiram) (3.5.8)
Here
is one more reference. According to ஔவ்வையார் (auvvaiyār),one of the earliest female Siddhar poets, who in her ஔவைக்குறள்(auvvaikkuṛaḻ)
also sings thus on the related art of Å¡Ô¾¡Ã¨½ (vaayudhaaraNai
- wind concentration):
Original
Transliteration
Translation
வாயு வழக்கம் அறிந்து செறித்தடங்கில் ஆயுட் பெருக்கமுண்டாம்.
Tamil Reference : சித்தர்பாடல் : ஔவைக்குறள் (siddarpāḍal : auvvaikkuṛaḻ) (5.9)
This
is a very important question for us to understand before proceeding further.
The noble saint திருவருட்பிரகாச இராமலிங்க வள்ளலார்(tiru aruṭpirakāsa iramaliṅga vaḻḻalār)
in the mystic song அம்பலவானர் வருகை(ambalavānar
varugai), helps us by providing a hint. The unparalleled role
of प्राणायाम(prāṇāyāma – breath control) in
mastering of சாகாக்கல்வி
/अमृत विद्या(sāgākkalvi
/ amṛta vidyā – science of immortality) has
been testified by a very huge corpus of scriptural evidences. In தமிழ்சித்தர் இலக்கியம்(tamiḻ
siddar ilakkiyam - Tamil Siddha literature), such a
science is technically called as வாசி யோகம்(vāsi yōgam) and
sometimes referred as சிவராஜயோகம்(sivarāja
yōgam). In other words, it is
indirectly indicated that சாகாக்கலை / अमृतसिद्धि(sāgākkalai /
amṛtasiddhi - art of deathlessness) can
be achieved by mastering प्राणायाम(prāṇāyāma
– breath control), as prescribed in வாசி யோகம்(vāsi yōgam).
Before
proceeding further, I would like to remind you that in the context of சாகாக்கல்வி /अमृत
विद्या(sāgākkalvi / amṛta vidyā – science of immortality) when
we talk about வாசி
யோகம்(vāsi yōgam)& प्राणायाम(prāṇāyāma
– breath control), it also includes the entire
nine yards of अष्टाङ्ग योग साधन(aṣṭāṅga
yoga sādhana – eight organs of yogic practice), although
I may not be explicitly talking about them here now.
சிவராஜயோகம் / शिवराजयोग (sivarājayōgam / śivarājayoga - auspiscious royal yoga)
अन्न शक्ति
(anna śakti – food energy)is the main source of nourishment for the sustenance and growth of the अन्नमयकोश(annamayakośa – food sheath) and
hence having healthy diet and food control, helps better manage the स्थूल्
भूत शरीरं (sthūl bhūta śarīraṁ - gross physical body)
and elongate its life. Similarly, प्राण शक्ति(prāṇa śakti – vital energy)
is the main source of nourishment for the प्राणमयकोश(prāṇamayakośa – vital sheath).
Hence, effective प्राणायाम (prāṇāyāma – breath control) is
indispensible not only for healthy living but also for attaining immortality.
As we have already touched upon the topic of प्राणायाम (prāṇāyāma – breath control)while
discussing on the art and science of कुण्डलिनी योग(kuṇḍalinī yoga – coiled energy
yoga), I do not think we need to discuss it again. But I request you to please
recollect your understanding on the same. Here I will be focusing only on the
specific aspects related to சாகாக்கல்வி(sāgākkalvi – science of immortality).
வாசி யோகம்(vāsi yōgam)
In தமிழ் சித்தர் இலக்கியம் (tamiḻ cittar ilakkiyam – Tamil siddha
lietrature), such a science is
technically called asவாசி யோகம்(vāsi yōgam)
and sometimes referred as சிவராஜ யோகம் /शिवराजयोग(sivarāja yōgam / śivarājayoga – auspiscious royal
yoga). Before proceeding further, I would like to remind you that in the context of சாகாக்கல்வி(sāgākkalvi – science of immortality)when we talk about வாசி யோகம் (vāsi yōgam)relating
to प्राणायाम (prāṇāyāma
– breath control), it also includes the entire nine yards of अष्टाङ्ग
योग साधन (aṣṭāṅga
yoga sādhana – eight organs of yogic practice), although I may not be explicitly talking about them here now.
The
unparalleled role of प्राणायाम (prāṇāyāma – breath control) in
mastering of சாகாக்கல்வி(sāgākkalvi
– science of immortality)has been testified by a very huge corpus of
scriptural evidences about which we shall briefly take a look. For instance,
the noble saint திருமூலர் (tirumūlar)deal
at length with the subject, not only in his magnum opus masterpiece திருமந்திரம்(tirumantiram), but also in
many of his other collections of ஞானயோக சித்தர் பாடல்கள்(jñāṉayōga siddar pāṭalkaḷ).
In fact, he is just only one among a huge list from the தமிழ் சித்தர் பரம்பரை(tamiḻ
siddar paramparai – Tamil siddha tradition) also
referred as the மகேஸ்வர சித்தர்கள் பரம்பரை(magēsvara sittargaḷ paramparai) including
the traditional list of பதினெண் சித்தர்கள்(patiṉeṇ
cittarkaḷ - eighteen siddhas)viz.
அகத்தியர் (agattiyar), போகர் (bōgar), சிவவாக்கியார் (sivavākkiyār), கோரக்கர் (gōrakkar), பாம்பாட்டி சித்தர் (paambaatti siththar), கம்பிலி சித்தர் (kambali siththar), அகப்பேய் சித்தர் (agappēy siddar)
etc. Similarly, महा योगि श्री गोरख्नाथ्(mahā yogi śrī gorakhnāth) and the सिद्ध
सिद्धन्त योगि(siddha
siddhanta yogi)lineage of saints belonging to गोरख्पूर(gorakhpūra)
in Northern India,
popularly known as the खान्फट साधु (khānphaṭa
sādhu) also have discussed a lot about this subject. Besides, many बाल उपनिषदः (bāla upaniṣadaḥ - minor
upanishads)popularly classified as योग
उपनिषद्(yoga
upaniṣad)provide a very comprehensive coverage on the subject of attaining अमर मुक्ति /अमरत्व(amara mukti / amaratva – deathless
liberation / immortality) through अष्टाङ्ग
योग साधन(aṣṭāṅga
yoga sādhana - yogic techniques).
We shall now try to understand the basic
philosophy underlying these अष्टाङ्ग योग साधन(aṣṭāṅga
yoga sādhana - yogic techniques) as discussed in some of the
scriptures referred above. In order to do that, we must first be aware that the
சாகாக்கல்வி (sāgākkalvi – science
of immortality) has not been openly
discussed in these scriptures for obvious reasons. The science has always been
encapsulated witin cryptic सन्ध्या भाषा (sandhyā
bhāṣā – twilight language). For example, cryptic terms like சாகாத்தலை(sāgāttalai
- immortal head), வேகாக்கால்(vēgākkāl – unboiled leg), போகாப்புனல்(pōgāppuṉal – unreleased waters), எட்டிறெண்டு(eṭṭireṇḍu
- eight and two)etc., Here are some random
selections. For instance, திருவருட்பிரகாச இராமலிங்க வள்ளலார்(truvaruṭpirakāca irāmaliṅga vaḻḻalār)in his famous “அருள்விளக்க மாலை(aruḻviḻakka mālai)”
prays thus:
Tamil Reference : திருவருட்பா : அருள்விளக்க மாலை (tiruvaruṭpā : aruḻviḻakka mālai) (6.37.54)
Again, the noble saint திருவருட்பிரகாச இராமலிங்க வள்ளலார்(tiruvaruṭpirakāca irāmaliṅga vaḻḻalār), in “முறையீடு (muṛaiyīḍu)”, further
prays thus: Here the
term போகாத தண்ணீர் (pōgāda taṇṇīr – non flowing water)is corresponds to போகாப்புனல்(pōgāppuṉal – unreleased waters)
Tamil Reference : திருவருட்பா : முறையீடு (tiruvaruṭpā : muṛaiyīḍu) (6.9.8)
And again, in the song titled சின்னம் பிடி(sinnam piḍi)also, the holy saint to refers to
some of these cryptic terms, as indicated in the following verses.
Original
Transliteration
Translation
வேகாதகால் உணர்ந்து சின்னம் பிடி வேகாத நடுத் தெரிந்து சின்னம் பிடி சாகாததலை அறிந்து சின்னம் பிடி சாகாத கல்விகற்றுச் சின்னம் பிடி.
Tamil Reference : திருவருட்பா : சின்னம் பிடி (tiruvaruṭpā : sinnam piḍi) (6.131.7)
Sometimes, these mystic saints, as part of their poetic
license, alternatively interchange some
of these adjectives like "வேகாத (vēgāda)", "சாகாத (vēgāda)", "போகாத (pōgāda)"etc.For example, the holy saint அகத்தியர்(agattiyar)in his அகத்தியர் ஞானம்30(agattiyar jñānam
30) - a famous cryptic work on
occult yogic techniques, sings thus:
Tamil Reference : அகத்தியர் : அகத்தியர் ஞானம் 30 (agattiyar : agattiyar jñānam 30)
Again according to சுப்பிரமணியர் ஞானம் 33 (subbiramaṇiyar
jñānam 33),Lord ÓÕ¸ý(murugan) reveals toholy saint அகத்தியர்(agattiyar), sings thus:
Original
Transliteration
Translation
காணப்பா பராபரத்தின் அடியைக்கேளு கண்டுப்பார் கண்மூக்கு தன்னில் தோணப்பா ஒரு காலை உயர்த்தூக்கித் தொந்தோமென்று ஆடி நிற்க்கும் துரியம் தன்னில் ஆணப்பா அண்ணாக்கு மரத்துகப் பால் ஆதி வஸ்துவின் சிரசு நிற்க்கும் அறிந்து பாரு வீணப்ப திரிந்து மிக அலைத்திடாமல் வேகாத தலை இதுவாம் விரும்பிப் பாரே.
பாரப்பா சாகாத காலைப் பாரு பாலகனே வேகாத தலையை காணு ஆரப்பா சொல்வார்கள் அடிமுடியை அகத்தியனே உந்தனக்கு அருளே செய்வேன் வீரப்பா தானட்க்கி காலைக் கண்டு வெட்ட வெளியான பராபரத்தினூடே சாரப்ப அணுவாசர்குள்ளே சென்று சாதகமாய் அனுதினமும் நிருத்திக் காணே
Tamil Reference : அகத்தியர் : சுப்பிரமணியர் ஞானம் 33 (agattiyar : subbiramaṇiyar jñānam 33) (4,5)
ஞானசர
யோகம்(jñāṉacara
yōgam)
The concept of வாசி யோகம்(vāsi yōgam)is closely associated with the ஞானசர யோகம் (jñāṉacara yōgam)which is referred as स्वर
योग(svara
yoga) in Sanskrit yogic literature. It is an ancient science and art of
managing the दैहिक लयम्(daihika layam - body rhythms) throughप्राणायाम (prāṇāyāma – breath control). The term स्वर (svara)etymologically
means the 'sound of one's own breath'whileयोग(yoga)
means 'union'.
Therefore,
स्वर योग(svara
yoga)
enables attainement of अमृत समाधि(amṛta
samādhi – immortal atonement) by controllig one's प्राण
(prāṇa
- breath).
Through such practices, one can realize the प्राण (prāṇa - breath) as being the medium of
the cosmic life force.
Swami Muktibodhananda, from the
Bihar School of Yoga, in his famous book “Swara Yoga: The Tantric Science of Brain Breathing”, very crisply summarizes the
significance of स्वर योग(svara
yoga)
“According to the swara shastras, by
analysis of the breath deeper understanding of the cosmos is unfolded and the
wisdom revealed within the Vedas can be realized. Through knowledge of the
swara, a sadhaka can become a perfected yogi. The physical act of breathing is
said to have a very subtle influence on the level of consciousness and
therefore the effects of swara yoga are also very subtle. It aims at directly
awakening the highest human potential. In other systems a similar understanding
of the swara of the breath is also expressed. For example, in Taoism it states
that, "If one meditates upon the breath, the cosmic deities or forces can
be seen operating in the physical body. By sustaining oneself purely on the
breath, rather than on coarse food, one's entire being will be purified and
strengthened. Then the consciousness is able to ascend to the heavens where
eternal life is experienced by the body and soul."
Let us now try to understand some of the fundamental
principles underlying this science. We have already learnt that प्राण शक्ति(prāṇa śakti – vital energy) is the basis of life;
in fact, that is why a living being is called a प्राणि(prāṇi). We also
know that this प्राण शक्ति(prāṇa
śakti – vital energy) is what constitutes the प्राणमय कोश(prāṇamaya kośa – vital sheath) wherein the bio-magnetic
energy field operates. It
is this field that binds the physiological and psychological and higher realms
of mankind. In other words, it is this field which binds the body, mind and the
soul. In terms of biophysics प्राण शक्ति(prāṇa
śakti – vital energy) forms rythemic vibrational patterns across the bioelectro-magnetic
field (biomagneticsm in short). Just as the electromagnetic
fields
dominate the physical realm (body realm), the biomagnetic field dominates
the vital realm (life realm). In fact, the biomagnetism is its subtler
counterpart and as testified by modern scientific research including the Kirian
photography, different forms of rhythemic halo effects or patternsof auras have
observed corresponding to our breathing patterns. For example, very recently scientists
discovered photons of light in the brain (and the central nervous system),
technically called as Biophotons. These are ultraweak
photon emissions of biological systems.
Interestingly, these weak
electromagnetics waves falls within the range of the optical range of the
spectrum. Such light emissions are also referred as जीव तेजस्(jīva tejas - bioluminescence). In fact, according to Dr. Mercola,
a subject matter expert from Tohoku Institute of Technology
“Gone are the days when words like “life energy” and “aura” were relegated to a few books in a tiny section of some New Age store. Today, scientists across the world are investigating the energies that propel, and likely even rule, life itself and hence have profound impact on your health. Eastern medical traditions have operated on this premise for thousands of years, but Western medicine in its myopic focus on dissected parts has been slow to adapt these ancient truths.”
The following schematic diagram published by Tohoku Institute of Technology further explains that
“The human body, especially the face, emits visible light in small quantities that vary during the day. B is one of the test subjects. The other images show the weak emissions of visible light during totally dark conditions. The chart corresponds to the images and shows how the emissions varied during the day"
Hence, It is
the spiritual aspect of the जीव तेजस्(jīva tejas - bioluminescence)in theप्राणमय कोश(prāṇamaya kośa – vital sheath) which further
propogates to the higher realms, in the case of spiritually evolved souls and
eventually transforms into ஒளி
உடல் /ज्योतिष्यदेह(oḻi uḍal / jyotiṣya deha - luminous body) with a golden aura, also
referred as स्वर्णदेह/பொண் உடல்(svarṇadeha/ poṇuḍal– golden body). This fact, is
testified in the following couplet from உள்ளுடம்பின் நிலைமை(uḻḻuḍanin
nilaimai- innerbody state) from ஔவைக்குறள்(auvvaikkuṛaḻ)
Original
Transliteration
Translation
வெள்ளி பொன் மேனியது ஒக்கும் வினயுடைய உள்ளுடம்பின் ஆய ஒளி.
Tamil Reference : சித்தர்பாடல் : ஔவைக்குறள் (siddarpāḍal : auvvaikkuṛaḻ) (3.2)
Again, ஸ்ரீ அருணாசலகுரு(sri
aruṇācalaguru)in
his famous masterpiece நிஜானந்த
போதம்(nijāṉanda bōdam)quotes
the following சித்தர் பாடல் (siddar
pāḍal – siddha song) to explain as to how
various saints, சித்தர்கள்
(siddargaḻ
- siddhas), ஞானிகள்
(jñānigaḻ - enlightened), ரிஷிகள் (riśigaḻ - seer-sages)etc.
by mastering the techniques of வாசி யோகம்(vāsi
yōgam)atone and become one with
the சிவஜோதி / शिवज्योति(sivajōti / śivajyoti – benign effulgence)
Original
Transliteration
Translation
தானென்ற சித்தர் முதல் ரிடிகள் தன்மயமே தானாக தவமே செய்து ஊனென்ற உடல் வெருத்துப் பசி அடக்கி ஊதித்தகலை வாசியென்ற தாரகத்தால் வானென்ற ஆகாச வெளியில் சென்று மகத்தான ஜோதியுடன் ஜோதி ஆனார் ஏன் என்று வந்ததுவும் ஜோதி ஜோதி எங்கும் சிவமயமான ஜோதி தானே..
ஜோதி என்ற ஜோதியிலே ஜோதி ஆனார் சூழ்ந்ததடா அண்டமதில் நன்றாய்ப் பாரு ஓதியதோர் மந்திர கலை ஜோதி யெல்லாம் ஒளிவிளக்கை நின்றதடா அங்கே பாரு நீதியுடன் பார்கையிலே அண்டந்தன்னில் நியந்து நின்ற நட்சத்திர ஜோதியெல்லாம் ஆதிய்ன்ற நாதாக்கள் காந்தி காந்தி அன்டமதில் சூழ்ந்ததடா அங்கே பாரே.
In the prose section of the same text, ஸ்ரீ அருணாசலகுரு(sri
aruṇācalaguru)further
explains as to how the “ஞானிகள்
தேக சித்தி ஆவதற்க்குத் தச தீட்சை விவரம்(jñānigaḻ dhēga
siddi āvadhaṛkkut
dasa dīṭccai vivaram – saints
achieve bodily accomplishments by ten fold orientations) “
as quoted below:
For the sake of ready reckoner
convience, I have tabulated these ten major milestones in terms of
transformations in the தேகமுத்திகள் / देहमुक्तयः(dēgamuttigaḷ / dehamuktayaḥ – bodily liberations)attainedby
the enlightened saint and at each of these states, corresponding experiences of occult யோக சித்திகள்/ योगसिद्धिसिद्धयः (yōga siddiga
ḷ yogasiddhisiddhayaḥ- yogic
potencies) accomplished by him
முதல் தீட்சை / प्रथम दीक्षा(mudal dīṭcai / prathama dīkṣā – first initiation)
ரோம துவாரங்கள் வழியாக கெட்ட நீர்கள் வியர்வையாக
கசியும்(rōma tuvāraṅkaḷ vaḻiyāka keṭṭa nīrkaḷ
viyarvaiyāka kaciyum – impure fluids excreted through skin holes)
All forms of अशुद्ध द्रव(aśuddha
drava - impure fluids) in
the देह(deha - body) will
get excreted as sweat. through the द्वार(dvāra
- pores) found in between
the tiny रोम(roma - hairs)of the रोमभू (romabhū - skin).
2
இரண்டாம்தீட்சை/ द्वितीय दीक्षा (iraṇḍām
dīṭcai / dvitīya dīkṣā – second initiation)
முத்தோஷமாகிய வாத பித்த சிலேத்தும தோஷம் நீங்கும்(muttōṣamākiya vāta pitta cilēttuma
tōṣam nīṅgum – release
from triple defects of gastric, acidity and phelgum)
मुक्ति (mukti - release)from all forms of diseases in the देह(deha - body)caused
by the त्रिदोष (tridoṣa – triple defects) viz.
·वात दोष
(vāta doṣa –
gastric disorders):Disorders in the देह(deha - body)based onवायु तत्त्व (vāyu tattva – gas element)
·पित्त दोष (pitta doṣa – acidity disorders): Disorders
in the देह(deha - body)based on अग्नि तत्त्व (agni
tattva – fire element)
·कफ दोष (kapha doṣa – phelgum disorder): Disorders
in the देह(deha - body)based on जलतत्त्व (jala
tattva – water element)
3
மூன்றாம்தீட்சை / तृतीयदीक्षा(mūṉṟām dīṭcai / tṛtīyadīkṣā – third iniriation)
பழைய கெட்ட உதிரங்கள்
கசியும் (paḻaiya keṭṭa utiraṅkaḷ kaciyum – old and impure fluids
will leak)
मुक्ति (mukti - release)from every form of मल(mala
- impurity) mixed in the रुधिर(rudhira
- blood) running across the length and breath
of the स्थूल भूत देह (sthūla bhūta deha – gross physical body)
சர்ப்பம் தோலுரிப்பது போலச் சரீரத்தில்
தோலுரியும்(carppam
tōlurippatu pōlac
carīrattil tōluriyum – bodys skin will peel like snake peeling its skin)
मुक्ति /प्रत्याहरण (mukti / pratyāharaṇa – release / withdrawal) from the confinements of the स्थूल
भूत देह (sthūla
bhūta deha – gross physical body) into the सूक्षम देह (sūkṣama deha – subtle body)
The process of मुक्ति (mukti – release) to the analogy ofचर्म
निह्रादिन् (carma
nihrādin – pealing the skin) in
the case of a सर्प(sarpa - snake).
சட்டை கழன்ற தேகம் சிவந்த நிறமாகப் பஞ்சமூர்த்திகள்
கோரியத்தை தருவார்கள்(caṭṭai
kaḻaṉṟa tēkam civanta niṟamākap pañcamūrttikaḷ kōriyattai taruvārkaḷ - dress removed body of pentad divinity will glow red)
As the outer dress wrapped as the
सूक्षम देह (sūkṣama
deha – subtle body)gets संनिवृत्त(saṁnivṛtta -
withdarwn) into the कारण
देह(kāraṇa
deha – causal body), the glow
of redden layer provided the पञ्चब्रह्म मूर्ति (pañcamūrti – five divine icons) viz.पञ्च
आधार चक्र (pañca
ādhāra cakra – fivefold base centres) gets activated.
சட்டை கழின்று சுழுமுனை வாசல் திறந்து தூரதிருஷ்டி
தெரியும்(caṭṭai kaḻiṉṟu cuḻumuṉai
vācal tiṟantu tūratiruṣṭi teriyum – spiritual television after disrobing and the
bent-endged channel opens)
In this state of निर्वाण(nirvāṇa - deliverance), the closed gateways of दिव्य चक्षु (divya cakṣu –
divine eye) operated from the
अज्ञा चक्र (ajñā cakra – command center) along the सुषुम्णा नाडी
(suṣumṇā nāḍī) gets enebled with the potency of धूर
दृष्टि (dhūra
dṛṣṭi – distant vision)
சட்டை வெளுப்பை கழன்று, தேகம் தீபம் போலப் பிரகாசிக்கும்(caṭṭai
veḷuppai kaḻaṉṟu, tēkam tīpam pōlap
pirakācikkum – body will glow like lamp after wrapper removal)
शुद्ध स्वर्ण
देह (śuddha svarṇa deha – pure
golden body) is obtained after
the मुक्ति /प्रत्याहरण (mukti / pratyāharaṇa – release / withdrawal) from the confinements of the कारण
देह(kāraṇa
deha – causal body).
8
எட்டாம் தீட்சை / अष्टमदीक्षा(eṭṭām dīṭcai / aṣṭamadīkṣā – eight induction)
சடத்தை உயர்த்தூக்கும், இலாகிரியமாகும், கூடுவிட்டு கூடு பாயும்
(caṭattai uyarttūkkum, ilākiriyamākum, kūṭuviṭṭu kūṭu
pāyum – ability to any object swap bodies)
Obtain the सिद्धि (siddhi - potency)to remote lift any object, just by the power of
thought. Also obtain the सिद्धि (siddhi - potency) to swap bodies.
9
ஒன்பதாம் தீட்சை / नवमदीक्षा(oṉbadām dīṭcai / navamadīkṣā – ninth induction)
தேகம் சூரியபிரகாசமாய் அஷ்டமா சித்தியும்
கைவல்யமாய் தேவர் ஏவல் புரிவர்(tēkam cūriyapirakācamāy aṣṭamā
cittiyum kaivalyamāy tēvar ēval
purivar – body will glow like the radiance of the sun)
The संपूर्ण देह (saṁpūrṇa deha - entire body)
glows like the सूर्य प्रकाश (sūrya prakāśa – sun’s lustre) blessed
with the accomplishment of अष्टमा सिद्धि (aṣṭamā siddhi – eight fold potencies)
10
பத்தாம் தீட்சை / दशमदीक्षा(pattām dīṭcai / daśamadīkṣā – tenth induction)
தேகம் தீபம் போல பிரகாசித்ஹு தேகத்தை வெட்ட
சுத்தியோடும், சொரூப சித்தியாம், அண்டத்தில் மௌனம் நரை, திரை, மூப்பு, பிணி மரணம் ஏர்படா(tēkam tīpam pōla pirakācit'hu
tēkattai veṭṭa
cuttiyōṭum, corūpa
cittiyām, aṇṭattil
mauṉam narai, tirai, mūppu, piṇi maraṇam ērpaṭā – body will glow like a lamp and will be free from oldage, disease,
death)
Obtain the highest state of शिव
रूपम् (śiva
rūpam – divine form)as his स्वरूप
सिद्धि (svarūpa
siddhi – self-form accomplishment), characterized by
अविनाश्य
तेजो देह (avināśaya tejo śuddha
deha - indestructible lumnicent purified body) which cannot be affected by रोग(roga – disease), जीर्यत्(jīryat
- oldage) or मरण (maraṇa - death).
Thus,
it is clear that the विनाश्य स्थूल भूत अशुद्ध देह (vināśaya
sthūla bhūta aśuddha deha – destructible gross physical impure body)
in अपक्व अवस्था (apakva
avasthā – raw/uncooked state)can
eventually, with the blessings of divine grace, be transformed into पक्व अवस्था (pakva
avasthā – refined / cooked state) of अविनाश्य तेजो देह
(avināśaya tejo śuddha deha - indestructible lumnicent purified body) through various self-disciplined yogic techniques
when religiously practised with concentration and committed contemplation on
the sacred goal. For example, the life ofதிருவருட்பிரகாச இராமலிங்க வள்ளலார்(tiruvaruṭpirakāca
irāmaliṅga vaḻḻalār) is a perfect case study of such an
accomplishment, about which we shall discuss in later soon. Again, in the
following verses, திருமூலர் (tirumūlar)
explains as to how the All-Mercifull Lord Himself, out of His Infinite
Compassion, spiritually purifies the deserving साधक जीवात्मन् (sādhaka jīvātman – accomplishing soul),who is
sincierly मुमुक्षु (mumukṣu
– striving for deliverance) from all his पाश बन्ध (pāśa
bandha – chained bondages) by filtering out and extracting
the शुद्धात्मन् (śuddhātman
– purified soul) and integrating with Himself.
Indulging in talk indiscriminate Aimless I wandered; --Me, He made pure, All my impurities cleansed Me and He, to balance brought --A barter, all to perfection indeed!
He is the Lord of all life existent, His true nature they know not, He extricated me from I that separates, Lo! Then I beheld the Lord that is seed of all.
Intent on redemption of my body, wealth and life He sought me and planted His Feet on my head And with the Grace of Sakti divine He exorcised My love for the body fleshly; And He and I as one He made Intermingling in union inseparate.
He marked me out his vassal tobe My life, possessions and body He took as His own; But as he it was that all my sustenance gave How dare I say, He took anything from me? .-translation by Dr. B. Natarajan
Tamil Reference : திருமந்திரம் (tirumantiram) (1781-1784)
Further, as explained in the last verse above, the
All-Compasionate-Divinty took away the अधिभौतिक (adhibhautika –physical oriented) as well as the अध्यात्मिक (adhyātmika – person oriented) aspects of the जीवत्व (jīvatva - individuality) by replacing it with highest state of शिवत्व
(śivatva - godliness). This concept is very beautifully testified in the
golden verses of கோயில் திருபதிகம்(kōyil tirupatikam)from திருவாசகம்(tiruvācagam)by the noble saint -
‘வான் ககலந்த’ மாணிக்கவாசகர்(‘vān kalanda’ māṇikkavāsagar – manikkavasagar ‘who merged in
space’)
Original
Transliteration
Translation
தந்தது உன் தன்னை; கொண்டது என் தன்னை; சங்கரா ஆர் கொலோ சதுரர்? அந்தம் ஒன்றில்லா ஆனந்தம் பெற்றேன் யாது நீ பெற்றதொன்று என்பால்? சிந்தையே கோயில் கொண்ட எம் பெருமான் திருப்பெருந்துறையுறை சிவனே! எந்தையே ஈசா உடலிடம் கொண்டாய்! யான் இதற்கு இலன் ஓர் கைம்மாறே.
It is Yourself You gave to me and received from me, mine O Sankara ! Who is the cleverer one? From You I received unending Ananda. What did You receive from me at all? My God, who made my chinta Your temple ! O Siva abiding at sacred Perunturai ! O my Father ! O Lord-God ! You abide in my body. How can I requite You for this?
-translation by T.N. Ramachandran
Tamil Reference : திருவாசகம் : கோயில் திருப்பதிகம் (tiruvācagam: civapurāṇam) (22.10)
In othe words, this is a kind of self realization
of one’s own inherent spiritual glory - உள்வொளி இறைமை(uḻoḻi iṛaimai – inner luminent divinity) through
the process of mastering the சாகாகல்வி(sāgākalvi – education on immortality) which in the words is nothing but the manifestation of the perfection
already in him . To quote the famous words of Swami Vivekananda:
“Education is
the manifestation of the perfection
already in man.
Religion is the manifestation
of the Divinity
already in man.
Therefore the only
duty of the teacher
in both cases
is to remove
all obstructions from
the way. Hands off!
as I always
say, and everything
will be right.
That is, our
duty is to
clear the way. The
Lord does the
rest.”
Again, to quote the golden verse
from the poem of சிவவாக்கியார்(sivavākkiyār), an eminent தமிழ் சித்தர் (tamiḻ siddar)
Original
Transliteration
Translation
கடலிலே திரியும் ஆமை கரயிலேறி முட்டையிட்டுக் கடலிலே திரிந்தபோது ரூபமான் வாறுபோல் மடல்ள்லே இருக்கும் எங்கள் மணியரங்க சோதியை உடலுலே நினைந்து நல்ல உண்மையானது உண்மையே.
Like the turttle from the ocean climbing over the shore and laying eggs, And while it roams in the ocean, the egg takes form, Our Lord Arangan, the effulgence who remains within the lotus, Contemplating Him within the body, it became the good truth, this is true.
-translation by T.N. Ganapathy and Geetha Ananad
Tamil Reference : சித்தர்பாடல் : சிவவாக்கியார் (siddarpāḍal : civavākkiyār)
It is only for conveying this truth about तेजोदेह/ஒளியுடள்(tejodeha
/ oḻiyuḍaḻ -luminscent body), any standard प्रतिमा (pratimā
- image) of any
deity or saint, is typically depicted with a பொன்னொளிவட்டம் / स्वर्णतेजस्चक्र(poṉṉoḷivaṭṭam /
svarṇatejascakra – circle of golden aura)around their தலை/ शिरस्(talai / śiras–
head)
representing the சாகாத்தலை / अमृत शिरस्(sāgāttalai
/ amṛta śiras –
deathless head)being the locus of the spiritually chargedसहस्रारपद्मचक्र(sahasrārapadma
cakra – thousand petalled lotus centre) with
the fully awakened मकाकुण्डलिनी शक्ति(makākuṇḍalinī
śakti – supreme coiled energy). Here are a few random samples of such
This
concept of a glowing luminent body is discussed at length as part of its the esoteric
section in the मधुविद्या (madhuvidyā
– honey science) in
the sacred बृहदारण्यकोपनिषद्
(bṛhadāraṇyakopaniṣad)belonging to the शुक्लयजुर्वेदसंहिता(śuklayajurvedasaṃhitā – white yajur veda corpus)
The earth is (like) honey to all beings, and all beings are (like) honey to this earth. (The same with) shining immortal being who is in this earth, and the shining, immortal coporeal being in the body. (The four) are but this Self. This (Self-Knowledge) is the means of immortality; this (underlying unity) is Brahman; this (knowledge of Brahman) is the means to becoming) all.
திருவருட்பிரகாச இராமலிங்க வள்ளலார்(tiruvaruṭpirakāca irāmaliṅga vaḻḻalār)in his famous அருட்பெருஞ்ஜோதி அகவல் (aruṭperuñjōti agaval)how the உள்மெய்யருள்ஒளி (uḷmeyyaruḷ oḷi) – inner spiritual grace light) blossomed in his as the light of love through divine grace.
Arising from my heart to blossom all souls, O my unique love, Thou hath flourished in my heart. O the freshest ambrosial fare that hath graciously pointed out that the golden feet! O my love that hath arisen in my heart. O my unique love! by giving Thyself to me, Thou hast transmuted me (by alchemy) through the Vompassionate Light. O my love! Thou hast budded in me, blossomed in me and become fully blown to me. O my love! Thou hast shown in me, mellowed in me and fully ripened in me. O my unique love! Thou hast bestowed all they perfected excellence and brimmed up in me. O my unique love! Thous has blended in my heart so that the golden frame might fit me properly. O my love! Thou hast become Thy-own possesion becoming full and overflowing- passing beyond my possession. O my unique love! Thous hast brimmed in me and brimmed in Thyself as the cool ambrosial fare.
Again,
this fact, is testified by ஔவ்வையார்(auvvaiyār)in the following couplet from தூய ஒளி காண்டல்(tūya
oḻi kāṇḍal) as
part of the section திருவருட்பால்(tiruvaruṭpāl)occuring in the famous ஔவைக்குறள் (auvvaikkuṛaḻ)
Original
Transliteration
Translation
தோண்றிய தெல்லாம் தொடக்குறத் துத்தூய் வெளியாய்த் தோன்றியக் கால் தூய ஒளி.
Tamil Reference : சித்தர்பாடல் : ஔவைக்குறள் (siddarpāḍal : auvvaikkuṛaḻ) (2.9.1)
Once
again, மாணிக்கவாசகர்(māṇikkavācakar),the mystic saint-poet in the
following verses of அதிசயப்பத்து(adisaya
pattu – decad of the wonder) from his magnum opus masterpiece திருவாசகம்(tiruvācagam) testifies
thus:
Original
Transliteration
Translation
நீக்கி முன்னெனைத் தன்னொடு நிலாவகை குரம்பையிற் புகப்பெய்து நோக்கி நுண்ணிய நொடியன சொற்செய்து நுகமின்றி விளாக்கைத்துத் தூக்கி முன்செய்த பொய்யறத் துகளறுத் தெழுதரு சுடர்ச்சோதி ஆக்கி ஆண்டுதன் அடியரிற் கூட்டிய அதிசயங் கண்டாமே
Erewhile, that I no more might'bide with Him, He sent, and plac'd me in this cell. He look'd on me, spake gentlest words of mystery; brake off the yoke; His hand Upraised, made former falesness cease, removed all fault, filled me with gleaming light: 'TWAS THUS HE MADE ME HIS, AND JOIN'D ME TO HIS SAINTS: SUCH WONDER HAVE WE SEEN!
-translation by G.U. Pope
Tamil Reference : திருவாசகம் (tiruvācagam) (26.8)
Similarly, to quote உரோமரிஷி(uromaṛṣi) who further
testifies that such a स्वर्णदेह/பொன்னுடள்(svarṇadeha/ ponnuḍaḻ –
golden body) is the distinguishing charecteristics of the evolved souls
who have attained स्व्रूप मुक्ति (svrūpa
mukti – self liberation)
Tamil Reference : சித்தர்பாடல் : உரோமரிஷி (siddarpāḍal : urōmariṣi)
One of the best mystical expositions of the मधुविद्या (madhuvidyā – honey science)discussed in the बृहदारण्यकोपनिषद् (bṛhadāraṇyakopaniṣad)
cited
above,is provided
by திருவருட்பிரகாச
இராமலிங்க வள்ளலார்(tiruvaruṭpirakāca
irāmaliṅga
vaḻḻalār)in the following verses from his
poem titled “மெய்யருள் வியப்பு(meyyaruḷ viyappu)”
Original
Transliteration
Translation
எனக்கும் உனக்கும் இசைந்த பொருத்தம் என்ன பொருத்த மோ இந்தப் பொருத்தம் உலகில் பிறருக் கெய்தும் பொருத்த மோ. ... அருளார் சோதி என்னுள் விளங்க அளித்த காலத் தே அடியேன் குறைகள் யாவும் தவிர்ந்த திந்த ஞாலத் தே பொருளாய் எனையும் நினைக்க வந்த புதுமை என்னை யோ பொன்னென் றைய மதிப்ப துதவாத் துரும்பு தன்னை யோ. எனக்கும் உனக்கும்.
பாலும் தேனும் கலந்த தென்ன என்னுள் இனிக்க வே பரம ஞான அமுதம் அளிக்கின் றாய்த னிக்க வே ஏலும் உயிர்கள் எல்லாம் நினக்குப் பொதுவ தென்ப ரே இன்று நோக்கி ஓர வாரன் என்பர் அன்ப ரே. எனக்கும் உனக்கும்.
என்னை மறைத்த மறைப்பை நீக்கி என்னைக் காட்டி யே இறைவ நினையும் காட்டி வளர்த்தாய் அமுதம் ஊட்டி யே முன்னை மறைக்கும் எட்டா நினது பெருமை தன்னை யே முன்னி மகிழ்ந்து பாடப் புரிந்தாய் அடிமை என்னை யே. எனக்கும் உனக்கும்
எண்ணுந் தோறும் எண்ணுந் தோறும் என்னுள் இனிக்கு தே இறைவ நின்னைப் பாட நாவில் அமுதம் சனிக்கு தே கண்ணும் கருத்தும் நின்பால் அன்றிப் பிறர்பால் செல்லு மோ கண்டேன் உன்னை இனிமேல் என்னை மாயை வெல்லு மோ. எனக்கும் உனக்கும்.
உன்னைக்கண்டு கொண்டேன் கண்ட வுடன்இங் கென்னை யே உலக மெல்லாம் கண்டு கொண்ட உவப்பி தென்னை யே என்னைக் கண்டு கொண்ட காலத் திறைவ நின்னை யே யாரும் கண்டு கொண்டார் இல்லை யாங்க தென்னை யே. எனக்கும் உனக்கும்
உள்ளும் புறத்தும் கருணை அமுதம் ஊட்டும் அன்னை யே ஓதா துணர உணரும் உணர்வை உதவும் அன்னை யே தெள்ளும் கருணைச் செங்கோல் செலுத்தச் செய்த அப்ப னே செல்வப் பிள்ளை யாக்கி என்னுள் சேர்ந்த அப்ப னே. எனக்கும் உனக்கும்
என்னைக் காட்டிஎன்னுள் இலங்கும் நின்னைக் காட்டியே இறங்கா நிலையில் ஏற்றி ஞான அமுதம் ஊட்டி யே பொன்னைக் காட்டிப் பொன்னே நினது புகழைப் பாடி யே புந்தி களிக்க வைத்தாய் அழியா தென்னை நாடி யே. எனக்கும் உனக்கும்.
சிற்றம் பலத்தின் நடனம் காட்டிச் சிவத்தைக் காட்டி யே சிறப்பாய் எல்லாம் வல்ல சித்தித் திறத்தைக் காட்டி யே குற்றம் பலவும் தீர்த்தென் தனக்கோர் முடியும் சூட்டி யே கோவே நீயும் என்னுள் கலந்து கொண்டாய் நாட்டி யே. எனக்கும் உனக்கும்.
Similarly, திருமூலர் (tirumūlar), discusses
at length, the occult yogic science underlying such जीव तेजस्(jīva tejas - bioluminescence).For instance, while discussing about the sacred महाकृत्य अनुग्रहस्य(mahā
kṛtya anugrahasya - supreme function of grace) explains thus:
Original
Transliteration
Translation
உச்சியில் ஓங்கி ஒளிதிகழ் நாதத்தை நச்சியே இன்பம் கொல்வார்க்கு நமன் இல்லை விச்சகம் விரிச்சுடர் மூன்றும் உலகத்துத் தச்கும் அவனே சமைக்க வல்லானே.
உண்ணின்ற ஜோதி உற நின்ற ஒரு உடல் விண்ணின் றமரர் விரும்பும் விழுப்பொருள் மண்ணினிற வானோர் புகழ்திரு மேனியன் கண்ணின்ற மாமணி மபோதகமே
Lord is the Substance and Architect Who seeks the luminous Nada atop And of its sweetness savor Know of death--no more; The Lord is the seed of all Of Sun, Moon and Fire Of the Universe Vast That Architect that builds all as well
He is the Object of All Knowledge He is the light within He is the body without The precious object, beloved of immortals above, The Holy Form, adored of saintly beings below, He is the pupil of your eyes; He the Object of all Knowledge.
-translation by Dr. B.. Natarajan
Tamil Reference :திருமந்திரம் (tirumantiram) (2.13.2, 8)
Here, the saint explains as to how one attains immortality by
mastering the yogic art of seeking and realizing the “விச்சகம் விரிச்சுடர் மூன்றும்(viccagam
viṛiccudaṛ mūnṛum)”referring to सूर्य (sūrya
– sun
/ solar), चन्द्र (chandra – moon / lunar) & अग्नि (agni – fire / thermal) which according to कुण्डलिनी योग शास्त्र (kuṇḍalinī
yoga śāstra), corresponds to இடகலை/इडकला(iṭakalai / iḍakalā), சுழுமுனை/सुषुम्णा(suḻumuṉai / suṣumṇā) & பிங்கலை / पिङ्गला(piṅgalai / piṅgalā) respectiely, while ஒளிதிகழ் நாதம்(oḷitikaḻ
nātam – luminous music / vibations) on the உச்சி(ucci
- top), which according to कुण्डलिनी योग शास्त्र (kuṇḍalinī
yoga śāstra), corresponds to the सहस्रार पद्म (sahasrāra
padma – thousand petalled lotus).The highest (head) state of such an enlightened soul
who has realized the தாமரைச் சென்னி(tāmaraic ceṉṉi – lotus top) is what is referred as the சாகாத்தலை / अमृत शिरस्(sāgāttalai
/ amṛta śiras –
deathless head). Again, in the next chapter
while discussing about the गर्भक्रिया(garbha
kriyā – conception act), the saint further explains thus:
Original
Transliteration
Translation
உடல் வைத்த வாறும் உயிர் வைத்த வாறும் மடைவைத்த ஒன்பது வாய்த்தலும் வைத்துன் திடம் வைத்த தாமரைச் சென்னியுள் அங்குக் கடைவைத்த ஈசனைக் கை கலந்தேனே.
Lord Placed Divine Jnana in Cranium He fashioned this body, Into that body He breathed life; And set gates nine; And then into the lotus-like cranium He lit the Fire (of Divine Jnana), The Lord made these, And Him I salute in endearment intense.
-translation by Dr. B.. Natarajan.
Tamil Reference :திருமந்திரம் (tirumantiram) (2.14.20)
Further, in the section on அதோமுக தரிசனம்/अधोमुख दर्शन(adōmuga
darisanam/adhomukha darśana – downward-face
revelation),the revered saint திருமூலர் (tirumūlar),further explains as to how
the spiritual wisdom symbolized as the செந்தீ (sentī –
glowing fire) from the தாமரைச் சென்னி(tāmaraic
ceṉṉi – lotus top) or
the ஆயிரம்- இதழ் தாமரையில் சாகாத்தலை / अमृतशिरस् शस्रपद्मे(āyiram-
itaḻ tāmaraiyil cākāttalai / amṛtaśiras śasrapadme – deathless head in thosuand
petalled lotus) that blossoms into a அதோமுக மாமலர்/ अधोमुख महापुष्प(atōmuka
māmalar / adhomukha mahāpuṣpa– downfacing
grand-flower)
pervading the spiritual energy across all the realms of the world
Original
Transliteration
Translation
நந்தி எழுந்து நடுவுற ஓங்கிய செந்தீ கலந்து உள் சிவெனெனவே நிற்கும் உந்தி கலந்து அங்கு உலகை வலம் வரும் அந்தி இறைவன் அதோ முகம் ஆமே
அதோமுகம் கீழ் அண்டம் கீழ் அம்டம் ஆன பிராணன் அதோமுகம் தன்னொடும் எங்கும் முலௌம் சதமுகத்து ஓமலர்க் கண்ணிப் பிரானும் அதோமுகன் ஊழித் தலைவனும் ஆமே.
அதோமுகம் மாமலர் ஆயுது கேண்மின் அதோமுகத் தால் ஒரு நூற்றாய் விரிந்திட்டு அதோமுகம் ஆகிய அட்நம் இல் சத்தி அதோமுக மாகி அமர்து இருந்தாரே
atōmukam māmalar āyutu kēṇmiṉ atōmukat tāl oru nūṟṟāy virintiṭṭu atōmukam ākiya aṭnam il catti atōmuka māki amartu iruntārē.
The Downward-Looking Face is of Sadasiva Inside Primal Fire that is Siva Nandi rises in the centre, gleaming He pervads worlds all, His hue is of the twilight sun Who the world in glory ambulates, He is the Lord of the Downward-looking Face-- Athomukha.
The Face Creates All The Ancient One of Athomukha Created Universe vast here below; In Athomukha He animates all life; He is Lord of Athomukha Sakti of lotus eye; He is Lord of Aeons' End.
It Blossomed Into a Hundred Worlds and Impregnated Them With Energy Hearken to this, How Athomukha blossomed into a Gigantic Flower Then, it transformed itself into a hundred worlds; And into Limitless Energy Animating them; And then as Athomukha, The Lord remained as their Support as well.
-translation by Dr. B.. Natarajan
Tamil Reference :திருமந்திரம் (tirumantiram) (2.20.4-6)
In
my humble opinion, while there are essential similarities between the first set
of verses fromதிருமந்திரம்(tirumantiram) quoted
on महाकृत्य अनुग्रहस्य(mahā
kṛtya anugrahasya - supreme function of grace)and
the second set of verses on அதோமுக தரிசனம்/अधोमुख दर्शन(adōmuga
darisanam/adhomukha darśana – downward-face revelation), there
is a subtle difference that the former focuses on the spread of spiritual जीव तेजस्(jīva tejas - bioluminescence) while the
latter on जगत् तेजस् (jagat
tejas – world luminence);but of course, both are two sides of the same coin.
Before
proceeding further, I would like to clarify here that what is refered here as ஒளி(oḻi -
light)is not merely the ஸ்தூல பூத ஒளி(stūla būta oḻi – gross physical light)but to the highest realm of spiritual light.- மெய்ஞான ஒளி(meijñāna oḻi –
light of spiritual wisdom). This
fact is testified byதிருவருட்பிரகாச இராமலிங்க வள்ளலார் (tiruvaruṭpirakāca irāmaliṅga vaḻḻalār) in the following verses in அனுபவ மாலை(anubava
mālai)
Tamil Reference :திருவருட்பா : அனுபவ மாலை (tiruvaruṭpā : anubava mālai) - (6.147.15)
Let us understand that the जीवात्मन् (jīvātman
–individual soul) who has attained such a state of आत्म प्रकाश (ātma
prakāśa – soul lustre) has attained the highest state of निर्विकल्प समाधि (nirvikalpa
samādhi – undifferentiated atonement) with the परमात्मन् (paramātman)by merging in the शिवप्रकाश (śivaprakāśa
– divine lustre), technically referred as the शिवोहं
अनुभूति (śivohaṁ anubhūti – I am shiva(god) experience). In other words, जीव /ஜீவன்(jīva / jīvan - soul) merges with शिव /சிவன்(śiva
/ sivan - god) like how कर्पूरस्/கற்பூரம் (karpūras / karpūram – camphor) merges (vaporizes) into burning fire, completely, without
leaving any शेष (śeṣa - residue). This fact, is testified in the
following by the eminent உரோமரிஷி(uromaṛṣi) in his famous work “பிரமஞான திருஷ்டி (biramajñāna
diruṣṭi – vision of divine wisdom)”
Original
Transliteration
Translation
பாரப்பா ஒளியான அறிவின் கண்ணும் பதியான வெளியது தான் அண்ட உச்சி நேரப்பா அண்டமென்ற உச்சி மீதில் நிஜமான அறிவின் கண் மேலே பாய்ந்தால் பேரப்பா பெற்றதொரு சீவாத்மாவும் பேசாத மௌனமென்ற பரமாத்வாவும் சேரப்பா ஒன்றிரெண்டும் ஒன்றாய் சேர்ந்தால் சிவசிவா வெளி ஒளியாய்ச் சேரும் பாரே..
Tamil Reference : சித்தர்பாடல் : உரோமரிஷி (siddarpāḍal : uromaṛṣi) (7)
Again,
in the following verses of திருமந்திரம்(tirumantiram), while describing the glory of a போதாத்மன்(bōdātmaṉ–enlightened soul), the noble saint திருமூலர் (tirumūlar)very categorically testifies
about such a state of निर्विकल्प समाधि (nirvikalpa
samādhi – undifferentiated atonement)
Original
Transliteration
Translation
சீவன் எனச் சிவன் என்ன வேறில்லை சீவனார் சிவனாரை அறிகிலர் சீவனார் சிவனாரை அறிந்தபின் சீவனார் சிவனாய் இட்டிருப்பரே
Jiva and Siva Separate are not; Jiva knows not Siva; When Jiva knows Siva; Jiva becomes Siva
.-translation by Dr. B. Natarajan
Tamil Reference : திருமந்திரம் (tirumantiram) (7.31.1)
And
in the following verses from decad titled சம்பிரதாயம்(sampiradāyam
- tradition), the noble yogi gives his personal
testimony of final communion with Divinity thus:
Original
Transliteration
Translation
அவனும் அவனும் அவனை யறியார் அவனை யறியில் அறிவானும் இல்லை அவனும் அவனும் அவனை அறியில் அவனும் அவனும் அவனிவனாமே.
He and he knows Him not; If he knows Him, then Knower is he not; If he knows Him Then he the Knower and He the Known Become but one.
As life and body alike feel He in me stood in identity full; Bounteous as He is unto the rains from heavens, I with the heavenly Lord, one became. .-translation by Dr. B. Natarajan
Tamil Reference : திருமந்திரம் (tirumantiram) (7.8.12,13)
திருவருட்பிரகாச
இராமலிங்க வள்ளலார் (tiruvaruṭpirakāca irāmaliṅga vaḻḻalār) very
beautifully expresses in his poem titled “தனி திருஅலங்கல்(tani
tiru alaṅgaḻ)”, such concept of சீவ & சிவ யோக ஐக்கியம்(sīva
& siva yōka aikkiyam – yogic communion
of soul & god)using devotional bridal
mysticism of நாயகன்-நாயகி பாவனை(nāyagan-nāyagi
bāvanai – attitude of bridegroom & bride)
Original
Transliteration
Translation
ஓங்கார அணைமீது நான்இருந்த தருணம் உவந்தெனது மணவாளர் சிவந்தவடி வகன்றே ஈங்காரப் பளிக்குவடி வெடுத்தெதிரே நின்றார் இருந்தருள்க என எழுந்தேன் எழுந்திருப்ப தென்நீ ஆங்காரம் ஒழிஎன்றார் ஒழிந்திருந்தேன் அப்போ தவர் நானோ நான்அவரோ அறிந்திலன்முன் குறிப்பை ஊங்கார இரண்டுருவும் ஒன்றானோம் அங்கே உறைந்தஅனு பவம்தோழி நிறைந்தபெரு வெளியே
Tamil Reference : திருவருட்பா : தனித் திருஅலங்கல் (tiruvaruṭpā : tanit tiru alaṅgaḻ) (6.110.145)
Such
a atoned मुक्तात्मन्(muktātman – liberated soul) not only gets शिवरूप(śivarūpa –
divineform)but also particpaates in theशिव कृत्या (śiva
kṛtyā – divine acts),as
testified by ஔவ்வையார்(auvvaiyār) in the following couplets from of ஔவைக்குறள்(auvvaikkuṛaḻ)
For
example, the mystic poet saint திருவருட்பிரகாச இராமலிங்க
வள்ளலார் (tiruvaruṭpirakāca
irāmaliṅga vaḻḻalār) in the below quoted verses from சின்னம்
பிடி (sinnam piḍi) testifies about he being blessed
with a சுத்த சுவர்ணதேகம் / शुद्धस्वर्णदेह(sudda suvarṇadēgam / śuddhasvarṇadeha–
purified golden body)glowing with
colours of luminosity:
Original
Transliteration
Translation
தானேநான் ஆனேன்என்று சின்னம் பிடி சத்தியம்சத் தியம்என்று சின்னம் பிடி ஊனே புகுந்ததென்று சின்னம் பிடி ஒளிவண்ணம் ஆனதென்று சின்னம் பிடி.
Tamil Reference : : திருவருட்பா : சின்னம் பிடி (tiruvaruṭpā : sinnam piḍi) (6.131.6)
With
this understanding, let’s now get back with our discussion on modern scientific
discoveries on Rhythemic Halo Effects Or PatternsOf Aura. It has been experimentally observed
that these patterns dynamically keep changing based on our physical health conditions
as well as based on psychological moods. Again, even more interestingly,
according to recent discoveries there could be strong link between biophoton
rhythemic patterns and higher realms of consciousness as well. In fact,
this exactly echoes the 2000 plus years of ancient traditional yogic
medical sciences and philosophies of Indian and other oriental cultures viz.
Tibetan, Chinese etc.For
example, Dr. Dietrich Klinghardt, MD PhD,
founder of Kinghrtd academy and the Academy of Neural Therapy and Medical
Director at the Institute of an Neural
Biology is eminent subject matter expert researching on Five levels of healing viz.
physical body, energy body, mind
body, intuition body & spiritual body
Not
surprisingly, this exactly corresponds with the ancient Hindu model of पञ्चमहाकोशाः(pañcamahākośāḥ – five major sheaths) viz. अन्नमयकोश
(annamayakośa – food-predoninat-sheath),
प्राणमयकोश(prāṇamayakośa – vital-predominant-sheath), मनोमयकोश(manomayakośa – mental-predominantsheath), विज्ञान्मयकोश(vijñānmayakośa – gnosis-predominant-sheath)&आनन्धमयकोश(ānandhamayakośa – bliss-predoninant-sheath)respectively, originally referred in the sacred तैत्तरीयोपनिषद् (taittarīyopaniṣad).The followiing table summarizes Kinghardt’s Five Bodily Realmsand their healing
processes
As already explained, the operating locus of Indian
science of स्वर योग(svara
yoga – sound yoga)is centred around the 2nd realm in the above chart viz,
the energy level of the body or the प्राणमय कोश (prāṇamaya kośa – vital sheath). Please
recollect that just as the स्थूल भूत देह (sthūla bhūta deha – gross
physical body)is
electromagnetically managed by the மத்திய நரம்பு மண்டலம்(maddya narampu maṇṭalam - central nervous system) comprising
of millions of neurons (nerve cells), the सूक्षमप्राणदेह(sūkṣamaprāṇadeha – subtle
vital body) is managed by the மத்திய நாடி மண்டலம்(mattiya nāṭi
maṇṭalam – central subtle-nerve system). Also remember that the operational locus of
the कुण्डलिनी शक्ति(kuṇḍalinī
śakti – biomagnetic energy) tapping which in the right way
will liberate the soul, is also managed from this realm. Again, this fact is
testified by ஔவ்வையார்(auvvaiyār) in the following
couplet from ஔவைக்குறள்(auvvaikkuṛaḻ)
We already learnt that the Áò¾¢Â ¿¡Ê Áñ¼Äõ (madhdhiya
naadi maNdalam) contains more than 72,000 ¿¡Ê¸û (naadigaL - channels)out of which 24 are important and out of these 3 are the most important
ones viz. இடகலை/इडकला(iṭakalai
/ iḍakalā), சுழுமுனை/सुषुम्णा(suḻumuṉai
/ suṣumṇā) & பிங்கலை / पिङ्गला(piṅgalai / piṅgalā) that
runs along the मेरुदण्ड(merudaṇḍa - spinalcord). Again, amongst
these 3, the சுழுமுனை/सुषुम्णा(suḻumuṉai
/ suṣumṇā)is themost
importantநாடி / नाडी(naadi
/ nāḍī – subtle -nerve-channel)containing
theषट्
अधार चक्राः(ṣaṭ ādhāra cakrāḥ – six base
vortices / wheels)through
whichकुण्डलिनी शक्ति(kuṇḍalinī śakti – biomagnetic energy) flows.The
following verses from the शिव स्वरोदय(śiva svarodaya)summarizes
these data points thus,
There are पञ्चमुख्यप्राणाः(pañcamukhyaprāṇāḥ – five-vital-breaths)
and among them, 3 are most important viz. अपान(apāna - inbreath),
प्रण(praṇa – out breath) & उदान(udāna – up breath) responsible
for the tri-fold acts of breathing viz. पूरक(pūraka - inhalation), रेचक(recaka - exhalation)
& कुम्भक(kumbhaka - retention)
respectively. And between these three, the योग (yoga - union) between
the अपान(apāna
- inbreath) & प्रण(praṇa – out breath)
is responsible for उदान(udāna – up breath)
responsible for कुम्भक(kumbhaka - retention).
This, is also the essence of हठयोग विद्या (haṭhayoga
vidyā – science of violent union). In fact, according to subject matter experts,
etymologically the term “हठ (haṭha
- violent)” is derived from the roots “ह (ha)” & “ठ
(ṭha)”esoterically corresponding to सूर्यकला / इडकला
नाडि (sūryakalā / iḍakalā nāḍi – solar/left channel)
& चन्द्रकला / पिङ्गला नाडी (candrakalā / piṅgalā nāḍī – lunar / rear channel)
through which the अपान(apāna - inbreath) & प्रण(praṇa – out
breath) criss cross as पूरक(pūraka - inhalation) & रेचक(recaka - exhalation) patterns
and when the rate of which is modulated to golden ratio of ±ðʦÃñÎ(ettireNdu – eight & two)i.e., 8:2, through प्राणायाम
साधन (prāṇāyāma sādhana – breath modulation techniques)
with increased कुम्भक(kumbhaka - retention), technically called as केवल कुम्भक (kevala
kumbhaka – absolute retention) at the मूलाधार चक्र (mūlādhāracakra
– root base center) of the अग्नि / सुषुम्णानाडि(agni / suṣumṇā nāḍi – fire / curve-edged channel).
Every individual based on his karmic quotient is destined with a fixed life
span and in biological terms this corresponds to a fixed quantum of मुख्य प्राण शक्ति(mukhya prāṇa śakti – chief vital energy).technically called as ओजस्(ojas). For example, we already observed that on an
average a person breaths 15 times a minute that is, 21,600 times in a day and
hence around 78,84,000 times a year. If the expected life span of a individual
is destined to be 60 years then he would in total breath around 473,040,000 times. According to an estimate a dog
typically breaths 72,000 times in a day and has a life span of 14 years. A
horse on the other hand breaths around 50,400 times and lives approximately 35
years; an elephant lives around 100 years with a typical breath frequency of
28,800 times a day while tortoise lives close to 500 years by breathing around
4320 times a day. To quote Paramahamsa Yogananda,
“The restless monkey breathes at the rate of 32 times a minute, in contrast
to man's average of 18 times. The elephant, tortoise, snake and other animals
noted for their longevity have a respiratory rate which is less than man's. The
tortoise, for instance, who may attain the age of 300 years, breathes only 4
times per minute”.
In simple terms, there is a direct negative correlation
between life span and breathing frequency. If the breathing frequency is
reduced, life span increases. The maximum lifespan of a human being breathing
around 15 times a minute would be approximately between 100 and 120 years. If
instead, he reduces his breathing frequency by 50% i.e. 7-8 times a minute he
can double his lifespan (200-240 years). If one manages to breathe only once
every minute, then one can live more than 1500 years. This objective is also
called as காய கல்பம் / काय कल्प(kāya
kalpam / kāya kalpa – body rejuvenation) according to आयुर्वेद शास्त्र(āyurveda śāstra)
Typically, it is estimated that an average person’s पूरक(pūraka - inhalation)
through the இடகலை நாசி(iḍakalai nāsi –left nostril) is approximately 12 अङ्गुल(aṅgula – finger’s length), while his कुंभक (kuṁbhaka - retention)is 8 and his रेचक (recaka
- exhalation) is 16 अङ्गुल(aṅgula – finger’s length) through the பிங்கலை/ வலகலை நாசி ¿¡º¢(piṅgalai / valakalai nāsi–left nerve channel / nostril). Please remember that these triple
phases of breathing viz. रक(pūraka - inhalation), कुंभक (kuṁbhaka - retention) &रेचक (recaka
- exhalation) constitutes a
single breathing cycle. According to occult yogic literature, these three are
together symbolized asஓம் / ॐ (ōm / oṃ)- the sacred प्रणव मन्त्र (praṇava mantra) mapping as அ /अ(a), உ /उ (u)&ம் /म्(m)respectively.
Now, according to occult science ofவாசியோகவித்தை / स्वरयोगतन्त्र(vāsiyōgaviddai
/ svarayogatantra – occult breathing tehnique), this
breathing frequency ratio has to be regulated and conserved through mastering
the art of प्राणायम(prāṇāyama
– breath control) and thereby attain the golden ratio
of 8:2. i.e., a breathing should consist of 8 अङ्गुल(aṅgula – finger’s length)
duration
of पूरक(pūraka -
inhalation) and 2 अङ्गुल(aṅgula – finger’s length) duration of रेचक (recaka - exhalation). This would increase theआयुश् काल(āyuś kāla - lifespan) of the individual and even has
the potential of eventually leading him to a state of अमर मुक्ति /अमरत्व(amara mukti / amaratva –
deathless liberation / immortality). To quote திருமூலர் (tirumūlar),
Original
Transliteration
Translation
எங்கே இருக்கினும் பூரி இடத்திலே அங்கே அதுசெய்ய ஆக்கைக் கழிவில்லை அங்கே பிடித்தது விட்டள வுஞ்செல்லச் சங்கே குறிக்கத் தலைவனு மாமே.
Wherever you be, there control breath The body then will perosh not As you inhale, control and exhale in measure prescribed. Well you may become a triumphant Lord With the couch of victory, Your achievement heralding.
Inhalation, exhalation, and retention both ways The science of breath thus consisting they know not I They who know the science of breath Are destined to spin the god of death In purakam inhale breath deep To pervade up, down and middle In Kumnhakam retain it around the navel centre; In rechakam it is absorbed within in due measures They who practice the science of breath thus reach the grace of Lord who consumed poison deadly
Inhaling six and ten matras by left nostril Retaining four and sixty in the homa pit of the navel Exhaling two and thirty two by the right nostril, They who control breath thus, Have verily seen the light of truth.
-translation by Dr. B. Natarajan
Tamil Reference : : திருமந்திரம் (tirumantiram): (3.5.7-10)
Interestingly, thisgolden ratio of 8:2 in breathing is what is
cryptically coded in the सन्ध्या भाष(sandhyā bhāṣa -twilight
language) of the
occult சித்தர் இலக்கியம்(siddar
ilakkiyam – siddha literature) as “எட்டிரெண்டு(eṭṭireṇṭu – eight and two)”. This fact is testified by இராமதேவர்(irāmadēvar) in the following verses from his
famous work titled வாத சூத்திரம்(vāta cūttiram)
Such 8:2 breathing increases the body heat and
thereby the ब्रह्मरन्ध्र द्वार(brahmarandhra dvāra –
door to divine crevice)gets opened and the कुण्डलिनी शक्ति(kuṇḍalinī śakti –biomagnetic energy)raises up asउदान(udāna – up breath). This whole process is explained
by श्री स्वात्माराम (śrī
svātmārāma) in his famous work हठयोगप्रदीपिका (haṭhayogapradīpikā)
Even Brahma and other Gods devoted themselves to the practice of prāṇāyāma because of the fear of death. So, one should practice control of breath.
So long as the breath is retained in the body, so long as the mind is strong and steady, so long as the vision is directed to the center of the eyebrows, why should there be a fear of death?
When the nādi chakra has been purified by a properly regulated course of prāṇāyāma, the breath forces open the mouth of the suṣumanā and easily enters it. .
We also learnt that typically an average man breaths 21,600
times a day. Please remember that process of
breathing 21,600 times
through the day, specifically पूरक(pūraka - inhalation), रेचक(recaka - exhalation) creates subtle wave patterns of नाद स्पन्दन(nāda spandana - sonic vibrations) that are technically called as the “अजप मन्त्र(ajapa mantra – nonverbal mantra)”
This process of daily breathing patterns is
summarized in திருமெய்ஞான சரநூல்(tirumeijñāṉa saranūl) a famous
poem written by பீர்முகமது(bīrmugamadu) - the eminent தமிழ் சித்தர்(tamiḻ siddar - Tamil Siddha):
Original
Transliteration
Translation
சாகாது தவராம லோடி நாடிச் சரமொன்று தப்பி விடிற் சற்றே போச்சு வாகாக வோரெழுத்தா லிழுத்து மூச்சை வாசித்து வெறிவீச வழக்குமாகும் ஓகோகோ ஒரு மூச்சுக் கிருக்காலோது வுத்தமனே ஒரு மூன்று நாலிற்றேறு பாகமதா யொருபது நூறாயிரந்தான் பழக்கமதாய்க்கொண்டு வச மணையேனாளில்
நாளுக்கு நாள் பழக்கமதிகமாக நடந்தேரு நாதத்தை நன்றாய்ச்சூட்டி வேழத்தை தும்பியிலே கட்டொண்ணாது விதமென்ன கலையதையே விரும்பிக்கொள்ளு நாளுக்கு நாளாவி வளர்ந்தே யேறு நலமான சுத்த்தனைச் செய்து கொள்ளு நீடூழிக்காலமெல்லாமுண்டே நாலு முலக்கவர்க்கு வின்னூலை ஓதினேனே
Again, to quote the explanation provided by eminent yogi and subject matter expert Swami Muktibodhananda,
“In
swara yoga the function of the breath is very scientific. When the awareness is
absorbed in the breath, in its movement, in its sound, it becomes the vehicle
for traversing the superficial layers of the mind and attaining higher
experiences beyond the influence of the external senses. Yoga and tantra
explain that the breath vibrates with the force of prana. Vibrations cannot
exist without creating a sound frequency. Therefore, the breath also has a
specific sound which is heard at a particular level of consciousness”.
A very detailed account of the
health benefits in terms of prevention of diseases as well as enabling the
probability of life extention to the
practising yogi is provided in the following verses from the दर्शनोपनिषद् (darśanopaniṣad)
O thou of austere vow ' I shall presently describe the uses of Pranayama • Drawing in the Prana air outside and filling up with (that in) the belly, in the morning and evening twilights, in the hour before the dawn (Brahma)f at noon or at all times, and holding it at the tip of the nose, in the middle navel and at the big toes of the feet, the man will live for a hundred years, nd of all diseases By one holding it at the tip ,of the nose, O thou of austere vow! will (the Prana "air) be brought under complete control , by holding it in the middle of the navel there will be avoidance of all diseases ; by confining it to the big toes of the feet, O Brahman ' there will be lightness of the body. He who always drinks air by inhaling it through the tongue, that, Yogin will attain immunity from disease, nd of fatigue, and thirst; he who should confine the air at the root of the tongue, after inhaling it by means of the tongue, will coolly drink the nectar of immortality and enjoy all happiness; he who, after inhaling the air through the I^a, confines it at the middle of the eyebrows, will drink pure nectar and will surely be released from all diseases ; O thou, the knower of the truth of the Veda! he who confines (the air inhaled), through the Ida as well as the Pingala, in the navel, that man is released from all diseases. If, during the three Samdhya-s (twilights) for one full month, one should, after inhaling the air by means of the tongue, and drinking that nectar little by little, confine it in the navel, (for him) all ailments arising from a preponderance of Vata (wind) and Pitta (bile) will undoubtedly perish. Should he confine the air in the pair of eyes, after inhaling it through the nostrils, all eye-diseases vanish ; so also, by confinement (of air) in the two ears (all ear-diseases) ; similarly after inhaling the air, should he hold it in the head, all diseases of the head vanish The truth has been told,O Samkrti! .
By
mastering these techniques, saints like திருமூலர் (tirumūlar), À¡À¡ƒ¢(bābāji)are known tohave
attained காயசித்தி /कायसिद्धि(kāyasiddi
/ kāyasiddhi – body accomplishment)and
therebylived for
thousands of years. திருமூலர்(tirumūlar), for example, very clearly endorses
the attainment of birthlessness and deathlessness by various saints.,
Original
Transliteration
Translation
பெற்றார் உலகிற் பிரியாப் பெருநெறி பெற்றார் உலகிற் பிறவாப் பெரும்பயன் பெற்றார் அம்மன்றில் பிரியாப் பெரும்பேறு பெற்றார் உலகுடன் பேசாப் பெருமையே
In this world they received Deathless Way great In this world they attained Birthless End great. The Gift unique of non separateness from the Sabha pure The ineffable rapture , of non-communication with the world.
-translation by Dr. B. Natarajan
Tamil Reference : திருமந்திரம் (tirumantiram) (1.1.20)
Elsewhere, the noble saint திருமூலர் (tirumūlar) further reiterates the message
very clearly in the following verses as well.
Original
Transliteration
Translation
மரணஞ் சரைவிடல் வண்பர காயம் இரணஞ் சேர்பூமி இறந்தோர்க் களித்தல் அரணன் திருவுற வாதன்மூ வேழாங் கரனுறு கேள்வி கணக்கறிந் தோனே
He vanquishes death and age, He enters into other bodies at will, He confers paradise to the dead He assumes form divine of Gods He becomes learned in the twenty-one branches of Sivagamic lore He who has mastered the Science of Prana.
They who control breath Will pervade all unseen; They who pierce the Mystic Lotus Sending breath up through spinal column And taste of its fragrant nectar Will never know death..
-translation by Dr. B. Natarajan
Tamil Reference : திருமந்திரம் (tirumantiram) (3.11.67, 72)
Again, else where, in his relatively lesser known mystic
poetry collection called ஞானக்குறி
30(jñānakkuṛi 30), the reverred saint திருமூலர்(tirumūlar) further elaborates the
complete technique of வாசி யோகம்(vāsi yōgam)
Original
Transliteration
Translation
நயன மிரண்டும் நாசி நுனி வைத்தங் குயடுள்ள வாயுவை உள்ளே அடக்கித் துயரற நாட்டியே தூங்க வல்லார்க்கு நயனிது காயக் கம்பனிலை நாட்டே.
நாட்டமிரண்டும் நடு மூக்கில் வைத்திடில் வாட்டமுமுல்லை மனைக்கும் அழிவில்லை ஓட்டமும் இல்லை யுணர்வில்லை தானில்லை தேட்டமும் இல்லை சிவனவன் தாமே
தாமே யிருகண் நுனினாசி வைத்துத் தாமே யறிவைப் புருவ மையந்தாபித்துத் தாமே இருக்க உலகமெல்லான் தன்னுள் தாமே சிவமலாற் றனிச்சிவம் இல்லையே
இல்லை பிறப்பற் றிருக்கண்ணை நாஸ்மேல் மல்லொக்கக் குத்தி மனப்புருவத்திடை சொல்லொக்க நாடிச் சுடரொளிச்சோதியாய் நல்லவர் நின்று நடுக்கமுற்றாரே.
சாகாக்கலை
/ अमृतसिद्धि(sāgākkalai / amṛtasiddhi –
art of immortality)
Let us now try to deep dive a little more in understanding
the process of attaining deathlessness. To this end, let us take the
deathlessness attained by திரு அருட்பிரகாச இராமலிங்க வள்ளலார்(tiru aruṭpirakāsa iramaliṅga vaḻḻalār), who is one of the latest and
greatest exponents in this domain of சாகாக்கலை / अमृतसिद्धि(sāgākkalai / amṛtasiddhi - art of
deathlessness) by spiritual dematerialization of his பூத உடல்(būta
uḍal –
physical body) into ´ஒளி உடல்(oḻi uḍal – luminous body)’, as testified by the
saint, in his own words in many places. Here are a few such testimonies.
For example, in திருவருட்பேறு (tiruvaruṭpēṛu) the
saint sings thus:
Tamil Reference :திருவருட்பா : அனுபவ சித்தி (tiruvaruṭpā : anubhavasiddi) (1.6.90)
And
in the following verses from பொன்வடிவப்பேறு (ponvaḍivappēṛu – glory of golden body), the noble saint exclaims that his தூலபூத்ததேகம்
/स्थूलभूतदेह(tūlabūttatēgam / sthūlabhūtadeha –
gross physical body) referred
here as the “ஊனஉடம்பு / न्यूनदेह(ūṉa uṭambu / nyūnadeha– defective body)”got transformed into a பொன்னிறஒளிஉடம்பு / सुवर्णवर्णतेजोदेह(poṉṉiṟa
oḷi uṭambu / suvarṇavarṇatejodeha – golden colored luminous-body)which, technically corresponds to the ஞான தேகம்/ज्ञान देह(jñāna
dēgam
/ jñāna deha –wisdom body)which as we already observed, forms subtlest spiritually de-materialized
state of देहशुद्धिt (dehaśuddhi – body cleansing)through the process of முத்திறல்
தேக பரிணாம நிலைகள்(muttiṟal tēka pariṇāma nilaikaḷ - triple states of bodily transformation)
Tamil Reference :திருவருட்பா : பொன்வடிவப்பேறு (tiruvaruṭpā : ponvaḍivappēṛu) (6.96.8)
In
other words, the noble saint-poet is testifying his முத்திறல் தேக பரிணாம நிலைகள்(muttiṟal
tēka pariṇāma nilaikaḷ - triple states of bodily transformation)which as already statedleads to corresponding attainment of முத்திறல் மெய்ஞான சித்திகள்(muttiṛal meijñāna
siddigaḻ – trifold spiritual accomplishments), as summarized in the table below:
#
தேகம்/देह (dēgam / deha- body)
சித்தி
/सिद्धि(siddi / siddhi – potency)
1
சுத்த தேகம்/शुद्ध देह (sudda dēgam / śuddha deha- purified
body)
கரும சித்தி / कर्मसिद्धि(Karumasiddi
/ karmasiddhi – potency of action)
Thus, the noble saint-yogi attained what the वेद ऋषि मुनि(veda
ṛṣi muni - vedic seer sage) in the sacred बृहदारण्यकोपनिषद् (bṛhadāraṇyakopaniṣad) prayed as "मृत्योर् म अमृतङ्ग मय(mṛtyor
ma amṛtaṅga maya - Lead me from death to Immortality)".
Original
Transliteration
Translation
असतोमा सत्गमय तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय मृत्योर्मा अमृतङ्ग मय। ॐ शान्ति शान्ति शान्तिः॥
Lead me from the unreal to the Real; Lead me from darkness to Light;Lead me from death to Immortality. In the name of the Eternal, Peace! Peace! Peace!
I have tried to repesent the pilgrim’s
spiritual progress of ascent from the mundane state of व्य्वहारिकावस्थाबद्धात्मनस्य (vyvahārikāvasthābaddhātmanasya – emperical state of bound
soul) through the आरोहणावस्थाः मुमुक्षुत्वात्मन्स्य(ārohaṇāvasthāḥ mumukṣutvātmansya - ascending states of liberatiopn-seeking souls)to the final accomplished
state of अमृतसिद्धिमुक्तात्मनस्य (amṛtasiddhimuktātmanasya - immortal-accompliśment-state o
liberated soul):
Yes, the noble
saintதிருவருட்பிரகாச இராமலிங்க வள்ளலார்(tiruvaruṭpirakāca
irāmaliṅga vaḻḻalār)attained one of the highesr states of spiritual
attainment viz.மரணமில்லாப்பெருவாழ்வு
(maraṇamillāpperuvāvzu –
immortal Sacred Living).The
autobiographical renderings of his personal mystical experiences very beautifully
recorded in his magnum opus poetical masterpiece திருவருட்பா(tiruvaruṭpā), as
well as in his உரைநடைஉபதேசங்கள்(urainaḍai
upadEsaṅgaḻ– prose / oral preaching) explaining
in detail, his journey to immortality. This would serve as an authentic case-study
for us to understand the art and science of this process. In fact, he who
formally established the “சமரசசுத்தசன்மார்கசங்கம்(samarasa
sutta sanmārga saṅgam)”even claims
that “என்மார்கம்இறப்பொழிக்கும்சன்மார்கம்(en mārgam irappozhikkum sanmārgam - my path is the true
path of death removal)”in the
following verses from his song titled “மரணமில்லாப்பெருவாழ்வு(maraṇamillāpperuvāvzu –
immortal Sacred Living)” while in some publications
this decad is alternatively titled as “ஞானசரியை(jñānasariyai – gnostic service)”
I am telling you what I have experienced out of a sense of oneness with you; I am a kinsmen to you indeed, do not take me for an enemy. Oh men of the world! You see the learned and the unlearned perish! Is death, which comes confusing all your faculties of understanding, acceptable to you? My mind will not agree to this even the least; I do not know whether your mind is a stony mind or a callous mind. Today this can be thwarted; come and join me; my Creed is the death-dispelling True Creed indeed!
-translation by Vanmikinathan
Tamil Reference :திருவருட்பா : ஞானசரியை (tiruvaruṭpā : jñānasariyai) (6.107.26)
The saint himself provides various அகச்சான்றுகள்(agasānṛgaḻ
- internal evidences)that testify his attainment
of अमृततेजोरूपम्(amṛtatejorūpam - immortalized luminous form), in the following verses from the
decad titled “சுத்த சிவநிலை(suddasivanilai – prestine auspiscious form)“
Tamil Reference : திருவருட்பா : சுத்த சிவநிலை (tiruvaruṭpā : suddasivanilai) (6.106.17,24,27)
The following table summarizes the gradual progress
in the dematrialization of the saint’s soul as it obtains different bodies viz சுத்த
தேகம்/शुद्ध देह (sudda dēgam / śuddha deha- purified
body), பிரணவ தேகம் / प्रणवदेह(piraṇava dēgam / praṇava deha –sonic body / logos)& ஞான தேகம்/ज्ञान देह(jñāna dēgam
/ jñāna
deha –wisdom
body)respectively.
#
Category
சுத்த தேகம்/शुद्ध देह (sudda dēgam
/ śuddha deha- purified body)
कार्यरूप (kāryarūpa – causal structure)based on அன்புருவம்(anburuvam- manifestaion
of Love)
कार्यकारणरूप(kārya kāraṇarūpa – causo effectual form) based on அருளுருவம்(aṛḻuruvam – grace form)
कारणरूप(kāraṇarūpa – causal
form)
2
நிலை/अवस्था(nilai
/ avasthā- state)
தூய விழிப்பு நிலை /शुद्ध जाग्रत्
अवस्था(tūya viippu nilai /śuddha jāgrat avasthā - pure wakeful state)
தூய கனவு நிலை /शुद्ध स्वप्न अवस्था(tūya kanavu nilai /śuddha
svapna avasthā - pure dream state)
தூய உறக்க நிலை /शुद्ध सुषुप्ति अवस्था(tūya uṛakka nilai /śuddha
jāgrat avasthā - pure wakeful
consciousness)
3
சித்தி/
सिद्धि(sidhdhi / siddhi
- accomplishment)
கருமசித்தி/ कर्मसिद्धि(karumasiddi / karmasiddhi – potencies of action)
யோகசித்தி /योगसिद्धि (yOgasiddi
/yogasiddhi–
potencies of union)
ஞானசித்தி /ज्ञानसिद्धि(jñānasiddi
/ jñānasiddhi - widom based potencies)
4
Typical duration of साधन (sādhana - practice)
in human years
12
5- 8
Before proceeding further, I would like to reproduce
here, as புறச்சாண்று(puṟaccāṇṟu - external evidence), a very authentic account of the noble saint's
miraculous deathless disappearance from a very reliable source viz.Arcot
Manual published
in the South Arcot District Gazette, originally
in 1878 by the Honorable J.H. Garstin I.C.S, who was the then District
Collector of South Arcot District. According
to him:
“A village of 1, 189 inhabitants lying 23 miles
south west of Cuddalore on the Vridhachalam Road. The place is connected with
one Ramalinga Paradesi(Swami Ramalingam), a somewhat curious example of a later
day Saint who has been almost deified by his followers.
Born in 1823 in the Chidambaram Taluk of Vellala
parents in humble circumstances, he developed, while still little more than a
boy, an undeniable talent for versification, and his poems brought him into
notice. They dealt with religious matters; some of them like those of the
famous saivite saints of old, were composed in eulogy of the merits of the
deities of certain shrines such as the temples at Tiruttani in North Arcot and
Tiruvottiyur near Madras; others took for their subject the beauties of the
higher life. It was these that led to his becoming gradually regarded as a
spiritual guide and teacher. After visiting many of the well-known sacred
places of the south, he finally settled at Karunguli, the next village to
Parvatipuram. At its height his influence must have been very real, his
admirers and disciples, who included even level-headed Government officials,
are said to have changed their residence and gone to live where they could be
constantly near him.
About 1872, the curious octagon-shaped Sabha
with the domed roof which is to be seen at Vadalur, a hamlet of parvatipuram,
was erected by him from subscriptions. It is said that the spot was chosen because
from it are visible the four great towers of Nataraja's shrine at Chidambaram.
It is not an ordinary temple, the detail of the worship in it being unusual.
Ramalinga Paradesi(Swami Ramalingam) seems to have persuaded his disciples that
they would rise again from the dead and he consequently urged that burial was
preferable to cremation. Even Brahmins are said to have been buried in this
belief and people who died in other villages were in several cases brought to
Vadalur and interred there. In 1874, he locked himself in a room (still in
existence) in Mettukkuppam (hamlet of Karunguli), which he used for Samadhi or
mystic meditation, and instructed his disciples not to open it for sometime. He
has never been seen since, and the room is still locked. It is held by those
who still believe in him that he was miraculously made one with his god and
that, in the fullness of time he will reappear to the faithful.
Whatever may be thought of his claims to be a
religious leader, it is generally admitted by those who are judges of such
matters that his poems, many of which have been published, stand on a high
plane, and his story is worth noting as an indication of the directions which
religious fervour may still take."
We can infer in all other cases the soul detaches the physical body and
leaves it behind for regular material recycling by mother nature. But what
would happen to his physical body in this case? Well, this is a very good question. In order
to unravel this mystery, let us probe a little deeper into the art and science
of deathlessness by understanding the philosophy of some of the greatest
practitioners of deathlessness. Thus, in case of अमृतमुक्ति(amṛtamukti – immortal salvation), the body is not left behind, it plays a more
holistic role in the whole process of spiritual transformation of the soul. The gross matter (physical body) is also elevated (transformed) to pure field (energy), by passing through various stages of purification process
called காயசுத்தி/ कायशुद्धि(kāyasuddi / kāyaśuddhi – body
cleansing).
This is the state of மரணமில்லாப்பெருவாழ்வு / अमृतमहाजीवन(maraṇamillāpperuvāḻvu
/ amṛtamahājīvana – immortal supreme life)as preached and experienced by his holiness saint திரு
அருட்பிரகாச இராமலிங்க வள்ளலலார் (tru arutpirakāsa irāmaliṅga
vaḻḻalār). At this stage, matter loses its rigidity. Albert
Einstein, one of the greatest physicists ever born denotes this state by his
famous equation
Here, mass (m) is
elevated into pure energy (E) at the limiting velocity of light (c2). Beyond this state, matter is dematerialized to the
state of शुद्धशक्तिअवस्था ज्वालायाम् ब्रह्मज्ञानस्य(śuddhaśaktiavasthā jvālāyām brahmajñānasya - pure energy
state in the flame of spiritual wisdom)just as தீயிலிட்ட கற்பூரம் (tīyiliṭṭa kaṛpūram –
burning camphor)
vaporizes itself into pure energy; thereby transcending the spatial,
temporal and causal limitations.
In श्री वैष्णव संप्रदाय(śrī vaiṣṇava saṁpradāya – Sri Vaishnava tradition), this realm of शुद्ध शक्ति(śuddha sśakti - pure energy) is technically called as शुद्ध सत्त्व(śuddha sattva - pure luminosity)
and the theological aspect of it is very
beautifully explained by his Holiness Sril Parbhupada in his famous commentary on
श्रीमद्भागवतपुराण (śrīmadbhāgavatapurāṇa). To quote him,
“The devotee is fixed at once in the mode of
goodness, and he makes further progress to rise to the position of Vāsudeva, or
the state of unmixed sattva, or
śuddha-sattva…One has to transcend
the mode of goodness also and be situated in unalloyed goodness, unaffected by any of the qualities of
material nature. This stage of transcendental qualification is called
śuddha-sattva, or vasudeva, and in this stage the science of God can be
realized”
According
to திரு
அருட்பிரகாச இராமலிங்க வள்ளலலார் (tru arutpirakāsa
irāmaliṅga vaḻḻalār), one of the latest and greatest
exponents in the art and science of deathlessness, the human-body goes through a
series of transformatory stages before attaining complete deathlessness. In fact, the entire process of such
transformation to his own body, is very beautifully detailed out by the Saint
in his magnum opus mystical masterpiece திருவருட்பா (tiruvaruṭpā)which very beautifully captures and
testifies his various milestones and transformations in such a life journey.
Again, in the same அருட்பெருஞ்சோதி அகவல் (aruṭperuñjoti
agaval) quoted
above, the saint
The skin has become supple; the nflux of the nerves (i.e. nerve current) all overt the body is vibrating wth pause n between; the bones have become pliable and plastc n ts nature; the soft muscles have become truly loosened; the blood has been condensed within; the semen has become concentrated into one drop and confined in the chest; the petals of the brain have blossomed or expanded;amrita s welling up into spring all over the body and fllling it up; luminous forehead prespres; luminous face brightens up; breath full of peace becomes cool and refreshing; inner smle beams up; hairs stand on their ends; tears (of joy) flow down towards the feet; mouth vibrates into the passionate calling (of the Dvne); ear tube rings with a sense of musically humming sound; body has become cool; soft chest moves; hands join (in prayer); legs revolve or spin around; mind melts sweetly; the intelligence becomes full of light; the wll becomes full of joy and harmony; and the individual has enlarged itself everywhere universally; the heart has blossomed into universality of feeling so as to be felt by the world outwardly; the form of knowledge body has become blissful; even the spiritual egoism of the senses has gone away; the tattvas have dissolved away and are replaced wholly by satva, the truth-principle or truth-substance which alone prevails uniquely; attachment of the objects to the senses and to the things of the world has dissolved away and only the aspiration and will towards the illimitable Grace grows and intensifies.
-Translation by.T.R Tulasiram
Tamil Reference : திருவருட்பா: அருட்பெருஞ்சோதி அகவல் (tiruvaruṭpā: aruṭperuñjoti agaval) (6.2.725-738)
Thus, from the above personal experience of திரு அருட்பிரகாச இராமலிங்க வள்ளலார்(tiru
aruṭpirakāsa iramaliṅga vaḻḻalār), the अमृत्यत्व(amṛtyatva –
immortality) of life is very much
testified. Let me not at this stage venture into the physics or metaphysics of
the अमृत्वम्(amṛtvam - deathlessness). This is very much beyond my current scope. मृत्यु(mṛtyu - death) itself is a very complicated subject to understand. This being the
case, deathlessness is not my cup of tea, at least for the time being. But as
of now, it is very clear that Immortality (conquest of death) is very much a
reality although very difficult to attain. Hence for now, I shall not get into
details but restrict myself to sharing whatever little theoretical
understanding I have gathered so far on the subject. Obviously, I need to admit
that even this theoretical knowledge is very superficial but I hope to come
back with much better understanding eventually as I am religiously researching
on the subject.
We
have already seen how the आत्मन्(ātman - soul)takes up different a देह(deha - body) at different चेतना अवस्था (cetanā avasthā – states of consciousness)viz.स्थूलदेह(sthūladeha -gross
body),सूक्ष्मदेह(sūkṣmadeha - subtle body) &कारणदेह(kāraṇa deha - causal
body)during the जाग्रत् अवस्था(jāgrat avasthā - wakeful
state), स्वप्न अवस्था(svapna avasthā – dreaming
state) & सुषुप्ति अवस्था(suṣupti avasthā – sleeping state) of ordinary mundane consciousness. Now, when the आत्मन्(ātman - soul)proceeds further, to higher realms of
consciousness viz तुरीय अवस्था(turīya avasthā – fourth / trance state), तुरियातिथअवस्था (turiyātitha avasthā – beyond fourth / transcendent state), it has to assume new body forms at subsequent states as explained
by the saint.
As already analysed in the நிஜானந்த போதம்(nijāṉanda bōdam) as part of our
discussions on தசதீட்ச்சை(dasadīṭcai - ten inductions), by the time one attains to this stage, his or her देह(deha - body) is
completely cleansed already and is in fact transformed into its purest
state अविनाश्यतेजोदेह (avināśyatejośuddhadeha - indestructible
lumnicent purified body). The body undergoes
the spiritual transmutation at even its atomic level, where all impure elements
of physical matter are cleansed and restructured into அன்புருவம்(anburuvam-
manifestaion of Love). Moreover, at this
state, matter loses its physical rigidity and becomes more plastic. The ancient
Tamil mystic poet நக்கீரர்(nakkīrar)in his திருமுருகாற்றுப்படை (tirumurugāṛṛuppaḍai) gives a very good analogy which will help us understand this concept
better. Just as the rays of the Sun, purifies (desalinates) the salty sea
water and transforms the water molecules into purer vapour, the impurities
of the soul are cleansed and the body is transformed into the purer one. This
is very much proved in the life of திருவருட்பிரகாச இராமலிங்க வள்ளலார் (tiruvaruṭpirakāca irāmaliṅga vaḻḻalār); In fact, in
his unparalleled work பெறாப்பேரு(peṟāppēru), the saint sings thus,
Original
Transliteration
Translation
ஆராலும் அறிந்துகொளற் கரியபெரும் பொருளே அம்மே என் அப்பா என் ஐயா என் அரசே காராலும் கனலாலும் காற்றாலும் ககனக் கலையாலும் கதிராலும் கடலாலும் கடல்சூழ் பாராலும் படையாலும் பிறவாலும் தடுக்கப் படுதலிலாத் தனிவடிவம் எனக்களித்த பதியே சீராலும் குணத்தாலும் சிறந்தவர்சேர் ஞான சித்திபுரத் தமுதே என் நித்திரைதீர்ந் ததுவே!
O supreme Truth that none can comprehend! O Mother! O father o my Lord! O my king! Thou has given me a unique physical body, which cannot be hindered or obstructed by the clouds of rain, water, nor by fire, wind, radiation of the sky, sunlight, waters of the sea, nor by weapons, nor by any other means. O Amritha of Gnyana Sidhipura, the Amritha of the Home of Knowledge- Powers and Perfection which the wise reach by the excellence of their qualities of nature and by the beauty of harmony. Even the sleep of my physical body is gone or cancelled for good
-Translation by G.Vanmikinathan
Tamil Reference : திருவருட்பா : பெறாப்பேரு (tiruvaruṭpā : peṟāppēru) (6.51.2)
Mr.
T.R. Thulasiram, author of Arutperum Jothi and Deathless Body,
gives an authentic account of transformations that took place in திரு அருட்பிரகாச இராமலிங்க வள்ளலார்(tiru aruṭpirakāsa iramaliṅga vaḻḻalār)’s
life. To quote him, (with minor cosmetic editions by me),
“According to the Swami, a
deathless body is constituted by the divinized five elements namely, deathless
ethereal substance, non-ignitable air or gas, non flowing liquid (condensation
of blood in Swami’s body), soundless fire and non-obstructing matter (cākātalai ¸vēgā kāl¸pōkāta puṇal, oliyāta kaṇal ¸iṭiyāta puvi - sāgāttalai, vēgā kāl, pōgādha puṇal,
oliyādha kanal, idiyādha bhuvi) with a self creative power of constituting or
creating all substances of whatever kind including bodily substances. (வேகாத
காலதை கண்டுகொண்டு எப்பொருளும் விளைவிக்கும் தொழிலே - vēkāta kālatai kaṇṭukoṇṭu epporuḷum viḷaivikkum toḻilē)…Now coming back to the
transformatory changes in his body, his body had become pliant and
non-obstructing, so that the five elements, cosmic rays and even weapons could
pass through it freely without resistance and so without harm (தடுக்கப்படுதலில்லாத
தனி வடிவம் - taṭukkappaṭutalillāta taṉi vaṭivam) It is well known that his body being
surcharged with light did not cast its shadow on the growing and that his
figure and face except for the loin cloth he wore, could not come in
photographic pictures".
There are
various other places in the scripture where the great siddha yogi has left us
testimonies of his personal experience of மரணமில்லாப்பெருவாழ்வு / अमृतमहाजीवन(maraṇamillāpperuvāḻvu / amṛtamahājīvana – immortal supreme life). With the noble intent of "யான்பெற்றஇன்பம், பெருகஇவ்வையகம்(yān peṛṛa inbam
peruga ivvaiyagam - let the world
experience bliss that I experienced)", the saint also out of his infinite compassion
towards all mankind, recommends that such a अमृतानन्द अवस्था(amṛtānanda
avasthā- state of deathless bliss) can be potentially achieved by
every soul, He says his whole his life is a message and testimony of such an
accomplishment as recorded in the poem by name மரணமில்லாப்பெருவாழ்வு / अमृतमहाजीवन(maraṇamillāpperuvāḻvu / amṛtamahājīvana – immortal supreme life).
Original
Transliteration
Translation
நான் உரைக்கும் வார்த்தை எலாம் நாயகன் சொல் வார்த்தை அன்றி நான் உரைக்கும் வார்த்தை அன்று நாட்டீர் நான் – ஏன் உரைப்பேன் நான் ஆர் என க்கென ஓர் ஞான உணர் வேதுசிவம் ஊன் நாடி நில்லா உழி.
கூகா எனஅடுத்தோர் கூடி அழாத வண்ணம் சாகா வரம் எனக்கே தந்திட்டான் – ஏகா அன் ஏகா என மறைகள் ஏத்துஞ் சிற் றம்பலத்தான் மாகா தலனா மகிழ்ந்து.
சாகாத கல்வித் தரம்அறிதல் வேண்டுமென்றும் வேகாத கால் உணர்தல் வேண்டுமுடன் - சாகாத் தலை அறிதல் வேண்டும் தனிஅருளால் உண்மை நிலைஅடைதல் வேண்டும் நிலத்து.
O Men! Know firmly that whatever words I speak are verily the words of the Supreme universal Lord; they are not at all mine;
Why should I speak at all? If the Supreme Divine (Sivam) had not entered into me and possesed my body of flesh and bones, what would be my status or standing? How could I have consciousness of knowledge and speak?
The Supreme and Universal Lord of Citrambalam (i.e. Chit Ambalam or Chit Sabha) whom the Vedas hail as Eka- Aneka the one many has given me in all joy of Love, the gift of a deathless body so that there may not be any occasion for the near and dear ones to gather and weep and cry (as in the case of death)
One should know the nature of science of deathlessness of body; besides one should know the ever-non burning gas or air and the deathless ether of space (here on earth, and in one’s physical body for transformation) and reach the eternal state of Truth by the Unique grace.
Moreover,
out of his compassion and care for us, the saint bursts into an emotional
pleading singing thus. This is definitely a soul-melting song of him requesting
us to arise awake and stop not till the goal is reached.
O People of the world come, come. You can live the great life of deathless body. I speak the truth. I do not exaggerate nor lie . This is the time to enter into Por-Sabha and Cit- Sabha ( the apprehending and comprehending sessions of the world of Truth-Knowledge). Call the Lord by beautiful and loving words of worship and praise Him as the Amrita of Bliss and Grace, the Treassure of Goodness, , the Lord of Knowledge-Play and the rightful Master of my (and your) being. Remember Him, Remember Him, Feel Him, Feel Him in the heart of love. Melt and melt in Love for Him. Fill and fill the heart with love for Him, and drench and drench the body with flowing tears of joy and love.
-Translation by.T.R Tulasiram
Tamil Reference : திருவருட்பா : ஞானசரியை (tiruvaruṭpā : jñānasariyai) (6.107.1)
Demystifying some misconceptions
#1 मूढग्राह पूर्वपक्षिनस्य(mūḍhagrāha pūrvapakṣinasya – mis-conception of plaintiff):
Again, on the one extreme, even some of us who claim to be orthodox Hindus fail to acknowledge the possibility of attaining अमृत मुक्ति(amṛta mukti – deathless liberation) even as a theoretical / philosophical possibility of attaining although we endorse alternate types of समाधि(samādhi -atonement) including both सविकल्पसमाधि (savikalpasamādhi – atonement with imagination) & निर्विकल्पसमाधि (nirvikalpasamādhi – atonement without imagination) attained via different modes of मोक्ष(mokṣa - liberation) including क्रम मुक्ति (krama mukti – gradual liberation), सद्यो मुक्ति (sadyo mukti – immediate liberation), जीवन् मुक्ति (jīvan mukti – embodied salvation) & विदेह मुक्ति(videha mukti - disembodied salvation). It is wrongly assumed that it is humanly impossible to conquer death.
प्रतिबोधन सिद्धान्तिनस्य(pratibodhana siddhāntinasya – clarification of accomplished):
However, in reality, there are many scriptural testimonies vetting the science and art of conquering death including the historic case studies of many eminent noble saints பக்தர்கள்(baktargaḷ),ஞானிகள் (jñāṉigaḷ), சித்தர்கள் (siddargaḷ) & யோகிகள்(yōgigaḷ) cutting across religious boundaries and paths viz.. கர்மயோகமார்கம்(karmayōgamārgam – unitive path of servitude), பக்தியோகமார்கம்(baktiyōgamārgam – unitive path of devotion), தியானயோகமார்கம்(diyāṉayōgamārgam – unitive path of meditation) & ஞானயோகமார்கம்(jñāṉayōgamārgam – unitive path of gnosis).
Again, in the case of our beloved saint, who is one of the latest and greatest saints to have achieved such a state, there is ampleஅகச்சான்றுகள்(agaccānṛugaḻ – internal testimonies) generously spread across all the ஆறுதிருமுறைகள்(āṛu tirumuraigaḻ – six sacred books) of his magnum opus poetic masterpiece திருவருட்பா (tiruvaruṭpā), as well as testified by many புறச்சான்றுகள் (puṛaccānṛugaḻ - external testimonies).
#2 मूढग्राह पूर्वपक्षिनस्य(mūḍhagrāha pūrvapakṣinasya – mis-conception of plaintiff):
Whereas, on the other extreme, some of us, who claim to be சுத்தசன்மார்கிகள்/शुद्ध सन्मार्गिणः(sudda sanmārgigaḻ / śuddha sanmārgiṇaḥ – pristine right path followers) consider all forms of मोक्ष(mokṣa - liberation) & समाधि(samādhi -atonement)listed above, as inferior states compared to the one attained by திருஅருட்பிரகாசஇராமலிங்கவள்ளலலார்(vaḍalūr tiru arutpirakāsa irāmaliṅga vaḻḻalār)viz. अमृत मुक्ति(amṛta mukti – deathless liberation). Moreover, they dogmatically believe that no one else other than the saint has and will ever attain மரணமிலாப் பெருவாழ்வு / अमृतमहाजीवित(maraṇamilāp peruvāzhvu /amṛtamahājīvita - immortalized supreme living).
प्रतिबोधन सिद्धान्तिनस्य(pratibodhana siddhāntinasya – clarification of accomplished):
This is again a very short-sighted prejudice not backed by real historic or scientific facts. As stated above, there are several such case studies of noble saints including பக்தர்கள்(baktargaḷ),ஞானிகள் (jñāṉigaḷ), சித்தர்கள் (siddargaḷ) & யோகிகள்(yōgigaḷ) from different parts of the world who have conquered death and attained similar states of மரணமிலாப் பெருவாழ்வு / अमृतमहाजीवित(maraṇamilāp peruvāzhvu /amṛtamahājīvita - immortalized supreme living).
The religious heritages across the globe can proudly claim to have reached great heights and mastery in the சாகாக்கல்வி(sāgākkalvi– science of immortality). சாகாக்கலை /अमृतसिद्धि(sāgākkalai/ amṛtasiddhi – art of immortality / accomplishing deathlessness) has been one of the most important spiritual goals for the anscient seekers from time immemorial. For example, the verses मृत्योर् म अमृतङ्ग मय (mṛtyor ma amṛtaṅga maya - Lead me from death to Immortality)from theबृहदारण्यकोपनिषद् (bṛhadāraṇyakopaniṣad),very crisply highlights the inherent thirst of the वेदऋषि(vedaṛṣi – Vedic seer sage)for the अमरत्व(amaratva – immortality/ deathlessness). According to the वेद शास्त्र (vedaśāstra),सोमभक्ष(somabhakṣa – ambrosial drink)is a sacred portion, specially prepared from extracts of magical herbs (believed to belong to the ephedra class of shrubs), the consumption of which leads to अमरत्व(amaratva – immortality/ deathlessness).The following वेदमन्त्र (vedamantra – vedic-hymn)from the sacred ऋग्वेदसंहिता(ṛgvedasaṃhitā – rig veda corpus) for example, testifies that drinking the sacred सोमभक्ष(somabhakṣa – ambrosial drink) leads to immortality. Of course, here, the term सोमभक्ष(somabhakṣa – ambrosial drink)deeper yogic occult significance.
May we drink the Soma and become Immortal. May we come to the Light and find the Gods. What can the enemies, the non-doers give to us? O Immortal, one causing harm, what can he do to (even if we are) mortals?
-Translation by R.L. Kashyap.
Sanskrit Reference: ऋग्वेद (ṛgveda) (8:48:3)
In fact, theसोम मण्डल (soma maṇḍala), the 9thbookofऋग्वेद संहिता(ṛgveda saṁhitā),for example, has around 114 hymns explicitly highlighting the importance and power of सोम (soma – ritualized juice).Interestingly, the ancient Zorastrian (Persian) traditions calls it ‘haoama’. Their scriptures, namely the Zend Avesta, also has a dedicated yāśtito it. A similar philosophy is also reterated in the BabylonianGiligamesh epic poem wherein the Sumerian king is instructed by a divine spirit by name Uthnapishtim to bring home a magical plant that brings immortality.
I would like to list here a few important case-studies of noble saints who hae attained மரணமிலாப் பெருவாழ்வு / अमृतमहाजीवित(maraṇamilāp peruvāzhvu /amṛtamahājīvita - immortalized supreme living). Of course this is not an exhaustive list.
नचिकेता (naciketā)
भक्त मार्कण्डेय (bhakta mārkaṇḍeya)
सत्य्वान् & सवित्री (satyvān & savitrī)
भुशुण्ड (bhuśuṇḍa)
भक्त प्रहलाद (bhakta prahalāda)
மாணிக்கவாசகர் (māṇikkavācagar)
சுந்தரமூர்த்தி நாயனார் (sundaramūrtti nāyanār)
திரு ஞானசம்பந்தர் (tiru jñānasambandar)
திரு பத்திரகிரியார் (tiru baddiragirīyār)
கோதை ஸ்ரீ ஆண்டாள் நாச்சியார் (kōdai sri āṇḍāḻ nācciyār)
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