Religion and Spirituality

What is the difference between Religion and Spirituality? Are these one and the same? confusing isn't it?

Lets see how can we try to differentiate/compare-and-contrast them.

Hinduism, that which is loosely mentioned as religion is all encompassing way by itself. Let us take it as example for our purpose. Hinduism has both religious as well as spiritual aspects.

When it comes to religion it talks about the Gods, the bhakthi (devotion), rituals, prayers and methodologies related to it. Religion, hence would even touch upon the day-to-day life aspects. Whereas when it is about spirituality its plane is entirely different, often high from the standards of normal understanding. It may or may not talk about God. It talks more about inquiry forms like Who, What, How, why etc. Who am I? What is death? What is eternity? How can one liberate oneself from vicious cycle of birth, rebirth, deeds( both good and bad) and their fruit? etc.

In Hinduism there had been 6 religions, Gaanapathyam, Shaivam, Vaishnavam, Shaaktham, Koumaaram and Souryam, having vinayaka, shiva, vishnu, shakthi(parvati), muruga(subramanyan), and Sun respectively as main deity. Now it has blurred to 4, with followers of Gaanapathyam and souryam have merged themselves into other religions. Further the Shaaktham and Koumaaram are also getting blurred to join into Shaivam, mostly. However, all these religions have bhakthi towards the God as their pillar.

Whereas a person of any of this religion might follow either Advaitha or Visishtaadvaitha or Dvaitha path of spirituality. Advaitha is a-dvaitha, non-dual(non-plural) principle. It says the reality is, there is one and only 'thing', everything else is mere reflection of that 'One', and realisation of this will help in attaining the mukthi/moksha. Vishistaadvaidham = Vishista-advaitham, a special non-duality (or non-plurality), propounds that ultimately it is one but the rest everything is different form/manifestation of that one (i.e. came from that One). These 'everything else' have to "rejoin" to the original one, much like formation of solar system. Dvaitham says the ultimate truth/God is one, everything else which are different from that one. But, it is reaching to that One for these everything else will give the salvation.

Coming back to religion and spirituality. Often we equate advaitham with shaivam and vishsitaavaidham with vaishnavam. In my humble opinion it is not correct. This idea came into existence because the propounders of Advaitham and Vishistaadvaitham Shri AdiShankaraacharya and Shri Raamanuja were shaivaite and vaishnavaite in religion respectively. But, there may be many shaivaites who would follow vishistaadvatham or dvaitham as spiritual path and viceversa.

That is why we often see heads of mutt that follows advaitha principle (eg. Kanchi and Sringeri, these are spirituality-mutts) invoke Sri Naarayana naamam. They sport vibhoothi, do pooja for shiva predominantly which is a religious part/portion of that mutt, but when it comes to spiritual aspect all religions are same. Same can be said about a vishsitaadvaitha mutt or dvaithaa mutt. The reason for a spirituality-mutt that is said to be following advaitham, has religious practices is because, it is often very difficult to remain only in spiritual aspect as the duty of the mutt is also raise the religious persons to spiritual level and for that the mutt has to follow the religious lines too.

Paadha yaathirai - Episode 8

braving the teasing stretch
having vel yaathirai in mind
forgetting the swollen legs' hitch
reached aayakkudi by his will and bind

remaining is only 8 kilometer
combining effort and devotion
increasing the speed is no matter
finishing the yaathirai in passion

aavinankudi, in where the soul resides
blessed the lord with his mercy
having lead them to adivaaram - besides
said father "here graces adivaara pillayar, lets see"

kannappan felt ease in climbing up the steps
divya darshanam of God stuck in his lips.
-----------------------------------------------------
The same dhandaapaaNi, the same westward facing kumaran, the same murugan whom keralites throng to see with much reverence and austerity, the same subramanian whose boundless beauty was brought into a form using nine-stones by bogar, the same pazhaniappan whom kannappan had seen umpteen number of times before, gave a whole lot of meaning, shown infinite grace, blessed this little chap with the same smile but kannappan saw entirely new meaning in it.

Kannappan was smiling at himself, understood life during his yaathirai. When the bus carried him back to madurai breezed past all those tiny hamlets in no time he was overwhelmed more by philosophical thought. Before he could narrate any incident attached to any spot his bus was busy transporting him miles away from that spot.

Indeed this little chap learnt a lot about the 'quality of mercy'. Shakespear was proved wrong, according to this boy, yes the quality of mercy is more understood by strain.

vetRivEl Muruganukku ArOhara.
Subrahmanyoham Subrahmanyoham Subrahmanyoham

Paadha yaathirai - Episode 7

Of all padhayaathirai troups to pazhani the highlight is the troup with VEL.

Vel? Yes, its the holy spade of Lord Murugan, popularly known as "vaira vel" because of its artistically bejeweled outfit. In pazhani hill, on the thai poosam day there will be special pooja performed to this Vel which is brought on foot by a pious devotee from Chettinad area (karaikkudi, devakottai, pudhuvayal, chettinad, kunnakkudi). That is the tradition, its being going on for time-immemorial. Infact people say that this vel procession would have started the paadhayaathirai culture.

This Vel is pazhani malai murugan for all the people enroute. No other outside items will get the equal treatment in the pazhani hill sanctum sanctorium except this vel.

In chettinad area the vel will be taken into procession by one devotee who this time is elected for carrying it. That devotee must have followed strict austerity measures. The vel will be taken in procession back and forth in the towns of chettinad area by that devotee and at every place groups of people join the vel party and walk along with it.

Walking with vel will be a thrilling one. Surely only those who have had enough practice of paadhayaathra can dream to walk with Vel.

In all its procession, the vel would have covered about 100 miles (because of back-and-forth movement within the chettinad area) in just, hold your breath, 2 days time. Yeah, almost an inhuman task. But this happens even now.

The vel has designated stops only. The devotee who carries the vel cannot transfer it to someone, cannot sit or take rest at will. That devotee would be walking even during noon.

Thoroughout the route people revere that devotee as God himself. They pour litres of water, smear sandal paste on the foot of the devotee. The entire sight, would be electrific and spectacular. People who walk with vel do not just walk with their belongings. Many would be carrying pazha kaavadi, paNNeer kaavadi, sEval kaavadi, theerththakkaavadi, pushpakkaavadi. Some would have piereced their body with alahu (small spears), some would be pulling small cart of lord murugan with their back. All will be equal to task with the devotee who is carrying the vel. One should be blessed enough to listen to the kaavadichchindhu songs on murugan sung by those devotees who accompany vel.

One more important point is, the devotee who carries the vel has to walk not only from the chettinad to pazhani but also during the return, as that person would be carrying vel back to chettinad area.

During vel procession time, the entire state high way stretch, from dindugul to pazhani (the stretch is the route for dindugul to coimbatore) will be closed for vehicular traffic. Such will be the crowd.

Laxmi mills, TVS, Annamalai chettiyar group, SPIC, BHEL etc all industrial houses from coimbatore, madurai, tiruchi area. they will have stalls, distributing things, from water to food, setting the rest areas for the devotees during the poosam time.

All the route one would hear only about murugan. Even a dappanguththu song for a remote village's cone speaker will be invariable on murugan like the one in mohana raagam "Vel muruganukku motta onnu pOda pOrEn dOi".

Aengengu kaaNinum muruganadaa; edhai edhaikkEtkinum andha azhaganadaa


...to be concluded

Paadha yaathirai - Episode 6

Blows the cold January pre-dawn southern breeze
walketh hundreds of saamis in groups of varying gait
swift passing milk-van tells him its not ease
declares the boy 'be whatever, i swear to reach kandhan's height'

from just passed chattrapatti, comes 'kaa vaa vaa kandha vaa' song
harmoizing with susheela's sweet 'sollacholla inikkudhada muruhaa'
kaNakkambatti cone couterpoints ramani ammaL's 'velava vadivelavaa', at long
spirits up the boy, withers sleepy mood, involutarily sings 'maayOn maruhaa'

says the boy "there's kaNakkambatti then two aayakudis; its easy i can make it "
smiles the father and uncles so does The divine Boy atop the hill
exclaims to his kins "no trees, no hinderences there's pazhani hill, see it"
"here comes, oh! lord, your devotees group, stand there still"

chattarapatti to kanakambatti its flat ground no hurdled view of hill
teasing pazhani rock in front goes back as it stands not still
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In the entire paadhayaathirai the stretch from Chaththarapatti to Pazhani adivaaram is the most testing, will-shaking one. It would make even those with years of walking experience to wear-out and the innumerous public transportation vehicles plying between oddanchaththiram to pazhani would tempt one to abandon the tiresome walking and board one of those buses. The plight of first-timer would be double triple folded, the temptation would be more.
---------------------------------------------------------------

Worse will be the Chaththarapatti KaNakkambatti 8 kms route
Each step forward towards the hill you see
Not the road but the longing thats more bad and stout
coz one mile farther goes the hill against your plea

"I can't make it", cries the little boy loud
"oh! God why you deceive me so bad"
sitting on the 4 km stone staring at passing crowd
Hands out the younger uncle a bottle of water he had

Composing himself after a while
Asks the boy an interest question - "where
is Nagarajan mama who sings hail -
of this God, shouldn't he be here?"

Father said "Comes your mama walking with the vel party
in 2 days from chettinad singing kaavadichchindhu hearty"

to be continued...

Paadha yaathirai - Episode 5

Nine in the morning after 5 hours walk
welcomed the culvert of sriraamapuram village
Allowed a house owner after simple talk
to take good bath true to the heritage

decided to walk defying the sun heat
reached moolachaththiram at noon for lunch
boils started in kannappan's tender feet
walked the boy bitting the pain to have munch

this is the junction madurai, tiruchi yathris culminate
in a few kilometers from the spot - real
will be the sight of first railway gate
starts now the period of trial

patience, perseverence, mental-strength, piety and devotion
tested will be these for one by the Lord who grants salvation

-------------------------------------------------------
"vaNakkam ayya oddanchaththram evvaLavu dhooram"
answered the villager to this query, shifting his sickle
"Saami rendE railway gate-u; nada konjamE nEram"
energised the boy's mind whose state is fickle

two gates crossed one more gate left
realised the boy buses crossing him at speed
foot boils pain started cried boy whose joy bereft
"Muruga sakthi kOdu" pleads little chap; will aandi heed?

"adiyaarukku adiyOn avan but he will test"
told the father on seeing his son's plight
boosted boy took the challenge ran leaving rest
"ArOharaa" the simple mantra made his body slight.

oddanchaththram oh this town runs more length
to cross one should have His grace and strength

-------------------------------------------------------

Kannappan and elders had their dinner at seven in the outer of
Oddanchaththiram. They got blessing of kulandhaivelan in his
sannadhi at 8. Forgetting all his difficulties Kannappan saw
the God who was smiling at this ignorant boy.

They halted at viruppaachchi as usual at night 1.
The very thought that only 25 kms more made the boy very happy.

But he didn't know what is in store. He underestimated the
murugan's viLayaattu.

But now this chap is sleeping lets leave him for the moment.


...to be continued

Paadha yaathirai - Episode 4

Day 2:
-----------
Woke up the father at three AM
Finished his routine and then started
Kanappan too got ready and said 'here i am'
Laughed his maama whole hearted

Swollen eyes, trembling gait, knees full of pain
Looked at mama with fury and thought the boy
Mocking at me uncle its so mean
Father in urgent played the decoy

VeRRi vEl muruganukku Arohara
Raised his impeccable voice, the father
Veera vEl muruganukku Arohara
Supported other voices even greater

Another uncle took a handful of thiruneer
Fortified Kannappan's will with its smear
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

The party parted national highway
in 10 miles from Kodai road
before seeing the first sun ray
reached comforably the sembatti road

The moving party halted in a farm land
running was a borewell motor; towards the swath -
"this way in", showed the gentle owner's hand
"saami go and have sumption bath"

Thought the boy Kannappan about madras
how the scene would be there for the water
'water in chennai' you kidding nothing it has
fighting is on for which people get shatter

then came the soothing song from TMS
"azhagenRa sollukku muruga" oh! that's yes

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Three hours to ten, lets aim the next stop"
Energized the father and march past
Walked kannappan & co with a speed on top
Reached everyone the next village very fast

From pongal onwards in this entire stretch
Every eatery will be clean and only veggie
When elders ate food without any hitch
Initial hesitant boy finished 3 dosas and a bajji

Spreading a sheet under a big banyan
rested the party in the bright day light
slept kannappan as if awaken for eon
at evening orange sun saw them walking tight

crossed the tiny town sembatti late in the evening
spent the night at kanniwadi touring talkie no whining
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thus was the experience of kannappan on the second day of his yaathrai. Before sleeping he could feel the burning sense on the skin of his thighs.

One old lady, next to him told "saami endha orru? marudhayaa? naanga paramakudiyila irundhu vaarOm. mundhaa naa(L) kiLambitOm marudhaikku nEththu saayandharam vandhOm. Aama AEn munangureenga thoda eriyudhaa? Avana ninachchikOnga, thEnga ennaya thadavunga, ellaam nalladhE nadakkum. Neenga nadakkumbOdhu eriyudhunnu kaala agatti agatti nadakkaadheeha, enna erinjaalum kaala sEththu vachchi nadanga. Sinna puLLaingaLukku murugan nalladhu thE(n) paNNuvaan".

What she left unsaid was 'even for elders if he gives trial he would have given them enough strength to tackle it'. Kannappan understood that. In a day he has seen many people than he ever had.

After applying oil, slowly he closed his eyes when his father's wrist watch showed 1:25 and still a group crossed him the last faint words he heard was "gnaana dhandaayudha paaNikki arOhara".


...to be continued

Paadha yaathirai - Episode 3

After a while they started from there and a few minutes later kannappan asked:
"Appa innam evvaLavu dhooram pOganum? ippavE maNi 11:30 aachchi enakku thookkamaa varudhu, kaal valikkudhu".

Father didnt answer him. Kannappan, ran towards his youngest uncle who was walking a few meters ahead.

"Maama eppa thangalaam".
"Kanappa, idho paaru Broad guage line konjama mEdula Era aarambichiduchchi illayaa"
"aamaa maama"
"Innam konja nEraththula valadhu pakkam SPIC varum"
"Sari"
"Anga irundhu sariya oru maNi nEraththukkuLLa naama kOdai road pOidalaam. anga thaan raathiri thookkam. Aamaa unakku indha BG line Aen mEdaa Erudhunnu theriyumaa?"
"Theriyala"
"idho oru flyover. innam konja nEraththula BG line meter guage line-a cross paNNum. Madurai-la 5th platform-kku apparam thaanE meter guage platform"
"Aamaam"
"Kodai road-la adhu appadiyE reverse aayidum gavanichchi irukkiyaa?"
"Aaamam"
"adhu indha fly over naala thaan"
"oh. edhukku?"
"BG adhukkapparam north-aa tiruchi direction-la pOgum. MG appadiyE west-la oddanchchathiram pOgum, crossing vakkaradhukku badhila ippidi flyover vachchirukkaanga"

Kannappan was seeing nellai express, kanyakumari express and pearl city express crossing him effortlessly in no time before he reached kodai raod.

"Kodai road vandhiruchchi. Enga thanga pOraOm mamaa?"
"Railway station-la thaan"
"Ennadhu?"
"Dei railway station mattum illa indha thai maasam pooram road side-la irukkara endha building-um, adhu veed-O, railway station-O, factory-O illa police station-O ella edaththulayum namakku thanga anumadhi undu".

The party reached kodai road and as his uncle told they found a place in kodai road railway station, in the first platform that was kept clean, swept clean just for the sake of padayatris.

Kannappan saw station master saying "saami toilet ellam mooditOm. unga yaarukkaavadhu payan paduththanummunna ennOda roomukku vandhu kELunga naan vandhu thirandhu vidurEn".

Kannappan was wondering how people of all facet of life were helping them in whatever way they could. The tea shop owner didnt frown upon us when we told we were not going to buy anything from him and he even tried to comfort us. Station master, who normally would not allow anyone inside a platform without a valid ticket is making sure that our night stay is as comforatable as possible. Kannappan was lost in thought.

Uncle shaked kannappan "Sari seekkarama thoongu, ippa maNi 1:30 aagudhu 3 maNikku naama kiLambanum". Kannappan had a shock...'What? only 1.5 hours sleep?' Then he found out the reason, before the sun rises and it becomes hot on the road (i.e. 10 AM) they would like to cover another 10 miles atleast. He realised that he is not in a jolly trip, he is taking pilgrimage. He then wondered how could Adi Shankarar travelled all over India by foot three times before he turned 32 years.

"Human will and 'His' wish" that was the answer flashed in his dream that he dreamt in that 1.5 hours sleep.

...to be continued

Paadha yaathirai - Episode 2

"What is a big deal in walking?" Kannappan a teenager of Madurai asked his father.

"Why can't you join us this time? You know your uncles and I are going to wear maalai in two days from now and have planned to start our yaathirai on thiruvaLLuvar day".

Kannappan readily agreed, as for years he has seen them taking the yaathirai and he has only seen them off. On thiruvaLLuvar day when the sun,having already turned orange from white, lighted from the direction to which they have to head from Madurai, the pilgrimage party started off from the home along with Kannappan. It headed towards the National Highway in the direction of Dindugul. Hundreds of such paadhayaathirai parties joined them at highway. Slowly what earlier was a walking of a few 10 people turned out to be a maanaadu when the city limit had ended.

An elderly samy asked kannappan
"Saami mOdha dhadavayaa?".
"Aamaanga".
"Adhaan side-la tharayila nadakkaama thaarla nadakkareenga. Tharayila nadanga".
"chinna kallaa kuththudhE" kannappan explained his problem.
"pazhagidum, thaarla nadandhaa sugama irukkaram maadhiri irukkum aanaa kaal vendhudum".
"Saringa".

Kannappan and party reached a spot that is 16 kms (10 miles) from home. It was infront of Pepsi softdrink factory.

"Appa edhaavadhu kudikkanum; Pepsi kidaikkumaa".

Father showed him eLani(tender coconut) heap near the main gate of pepsi.

"Idha kudi thembaaiduva".

Kannappan thought 'Pepsi-kku munnaadi eLaniyaa?'. But throughout the yaatra he saw people drink only water and eLani. He came to know that softdrinks will not help quenching thirst in such a journey. He even wondered how unnatural his lifestyle was.

Kannappan counted one "TN59-A 3247" bus, route no. 71 from Madurai periyaar bus stand to vaadipatti crossing him 4 times each in either directions before he could reach aandipatti bunglow where his team stopped to have dinner at 9pm. When they reached vaadipatti it was 10pm where they sat on a bench of a tea shop.

Teashop owner: "Saami saapteengaLaa? enna saapReenga"
Kannappan's father: "saaptaachchunga, onnum vEndaam"
Teashop owner: "oh! sari. appa konja eLaappaarittu news paaththuttu pOnga. dei TV-ya Podu"

...to be continued.

Paadha yaathirai - Episode 1

Thai/Makara month (Jan-Feb) is not only famous for pongal festival but also for another important event, especially for people of southern Tamizh Naadu(TN). This thai month also marks the start of important pilgrimage of people of South-Central region of TN - the people of Madurai, Chettinad, Pudukkottai, and some parts of Tiruchi area. It flags off the pazhani paadhayaatra. Thousands of People from this region walk all the way from their place to the abode of dhandaayudhapaaNi to have a glimpse of him. The distance from these places to pazhani is around 75 miles to 100 miles. The padhayaatra period usually starts immediately after pongal and its culminates during the poosam star day of Thai month. Pazhaniyaandi on the rock rocks during thai poosam so it is natural that people wouldn't mind to visit Him on foot.

As in any piligrimage of India people of all ages, both sex, all castes and all classes take this yatra. The usual stricture is, just like widely known sabarimalai visit here too the devotes should follow austerity principles like wearing mala in the name of murugan for about a month, should wear only tradition dress (in saffron/green color), should visit places only by walk in barefoot. Yes, the main rule in paadayaatra is barefoot walking to pazhani.

Pazhani is nearly 75 miles from madurai. A simple 2.5 hours bus travel distance. Any vehicular traveller would know only madurai->kodairoad->sembatti->moolachatram->oddanchatram->pazhani (or) Similarly from the trichy area the distance is about 90 miles and the route is trichy/chettinad/pudukkottai->manaparai->dindugul->moolachatram->oddanchatram->pazhani (90 miles) as the route. But the padhayaatra reveals more than this simple mapping. Usually it takes 3 to 4 days yaatrai.

The experience one gets during this 3 to 4 days yaatrai will have a lingering memory on one. Variety of people, their good nature would always make even urban/semi-urban bred persons to forget the sheer physical toil and yearn for the yaatrai once again. That is the effect of culture on people. Such is the grace of westwards facing balasubramanian who stands atop the hillock simply wearing a loin cloth.

...to be continued

Thiruvaasagam in Oratario

A story based on my first listening to Thiruvaasagam in Oratario by iLayaraaja. This story narration dovetails back and forth in terms of emotion and time.



A Slap on my face

Saturday, 9th July 2005 7:30 pm

I dared to do the thing that until then was getting postponed for reasons that were silly. Why, How and What I dared? My friends - four of them, whose place I had visited to spend my weekend, went out for weekend shopping leaving me in their home, at my insistence.

So left all alone in the house, I was searching in their TV racks for a CD/DVD to play and listen to some music or movie until they come back. Yeah! i forgot to tell they have a very good sound system at house their house.

What was I so afraid of, reluctant, which finally was overpowered by me when I had finally got an environment (lonliness) to overpower it? Oh! yeah I didn't say you, Dr. SankarKumar of TiS foundation had sent me the CD of Thiruvasagam in Oratario by iLayaraaja with a note promising to send me the making of TiS DVD after a few days. I was bit let down for not getting the DVD in the same parcel. 'Let down' due to various reasons, one for the very reason that the DVD is not there, second, I had given my office address for shipping and was feeling awkward to ask the receptionist everytime to check whether I had received any parcel, and third Dr.SK has to spend one more time to send a parcel to me. But I didnt know that there surely was something hidden in his mind when he sent only the CD - "boy! are you going to be dejected for not getting the DVD? Are you going to scold me for what you might think as irresponsible activity of mine? Fine, you are entitled to do that, but first let me see whether you will be back to think about this after listening to the CD. I know that your friends have to bring you back and say "welcome to the world (a la morphius)" after you had listened to the CD.

Ok, let me get back to the track. I had gotten the CD on 6th July itself and was not finding time to get such an environment(loneliness coupled with good mood and "sound" system) to listen to it. 9th July 7:30 pm turned out to be that moment.

I loaded the CD, waited for some prep-talk or presentation. Bang! don't expect anything such; thats what the first musical note that started at zero-th second made me to realise. It is not something you were looking for; it is serious, it is spiritual, it is an experience, yet it is IR (ILayaraaja) music so concentrate. That was the message.

Why the hell did this man choose this song to present as the first one. He didn't realise what this would do to me; Instead of spending one hour for the entire CD I nearly spent the same time for this one song alone. It simply did not allow me to go to the next, oh forget it, it didn't even make me to think even at remotest possible location of my brain that I need to proceed to the second song.

"Poovaar senni mannan empuyanga perumaan siriyOmai" simply removed me off my body. Oh! I was seeing the Maanickkavaasagar walking all alone in a winter from the amarnath cave towards the kailash; I was seeing kaaraikkaal ammayaar toiling herself (nay her body) from kedarnath but moving towards the same kailash.

Oh! this man in his thirties unmindful of the body that was full of fatigue due to covering a great nation thrice on foot, but still was in bliss because of the satisfcation due to the accomplishment of what he wanted to acheive, that is tell us about the imortality, is also moving from kasi to kedarnath to badrinath to the same kailash. I see Jesus carrying the cross bearing all pain that men have created to him not merely due to the whiplashes they gave but more by their deeds, also walking towards that mount of Land of David to get crucified. Oh! what a splendid, spectacular view that was. All people are saying the same "pOvOm kaalam vandhadhu kaaN poi vittudayaan kazhalpugavE".

After a while I didnt know what happened to them. Did they reach kailash? Dont know I couldn't see anything as my eyes were fully of water due to mixed unexplicable emotions.

OK, somehow I came out of it, rather when I once forgot to rewind the CD forced me to do that with a short pause. That pause too was for a short while, it just re-liberated me again within no time.

"PollaavinayEn nin perunjeer pugazhumaaru onRaRiyEn....I'm just a man imperfect, lowly how can I reach for something holy". Goosepimps, Wet-cheeks are not sole weapons of kids, it is also those grown-ups yet kids too. Thanks to the loneliness, thanks to the kerchief, I could maintain my ego amongst my friends pretending as if nothing has happened (thank god they came back after 3 hours), they might have thought that I fell asleep; you see the previous day night we watched movie till 3AM. So none would have thought otherwise.

"maasaaRRa soodhi! malarndha malarchchudarE!
DEsanE! ThEnaar amudhE! sivapuranE!
paasamaam paRRu aRuththu paarikkum aariyanE!"

don't you think my body woudn't have shaked unable to bear the 'inexplicable things' happening in it?

wow! fortunate are those who haven't had to undergo this experience...nay unfortunate are those.


Thank God, then came maanikkavaasagar in the form of a 60+ year old voice as well as early twenties female voice. He laughed at me who is trembling here, unable to cope up with the divine experience, then he took me to a brief worldly ride, but not to the concrete jungle, not amongst where other ignorants like me are to be seen. He took me to that most beautiful garden of this "sivapuran" that has a medow, that kailash, the pure manasarovar with its holy swans. He showed this 'king butterfly' then after that instead of explaining about that started making it as a messenger wanted that 'king butterfly (ko thumbi)' to go and blow trumpet of their virtue to that holy foot that rules, that holy foot upon which the son climbs (without fear or reverence), to that holy foot to which this king of flower, purandharan, queen of words, gods all show their reverence.


If anything I had to face, experience, encounter, I have to; I will, even if my will is otherwise. This thought ran in my mind and I simply noded in agreement, for if I had done otherwise it would be perfectly a lie as I was having an experience at that moment. That small worldly bliss manickavaasagar took me got stopped, once again he left me to tremble further. "UmbartkarasE, ozhivaRa niRaindha yOgamE! vamben pazhuththEn kudimuzhudhaandu....semporuL thunivE, seerudaikazhalE,selvamE, sivaperumaanE". Man would any other person beg, plead to this extent only to get a gracious look from this unprune, bigamous, undertaker?" I was getting enraged, turned out to be the "angry young man of 21st century (OK not that young as one would claim at this age)". Enraged because, should anyone make his devotee to turn himself to 'lesser life than a dog'? Hadn't Sivan finally graced manickkavaasagar, I would some how have gone to his place and slapped on his face. Thank God (pun intended) maanickkavaasagar finally got what he wanted".

So..
"Namachivaaya vaazhga! naadhan thaazh vaazhga! Hail Hail! I sing hail! Hail Hail! Joyous hail! Endless hail!"

Then came a superb earthly tour to all sivakshetram. Tour courtesy again maanickavaasagar who was in the form of music, its visuals, lyrics, its soul, the voices. Wow! what a superb "mix of that golden paste" that blissful moment had created in me. Wow! what a comfort one would feel by being a mere spectator to that spectacular.

From there he told that he will take me to kailash starting from village, rustic environment wherein he exhibited that he was not afraid of the snakes dwelling in their sand-mound. Oh! he doesn't need to be afraid of anything, you see already he is liberated, already he has become a sivapuran, already he has smeared himself in every cell of kailash. So he need not have to be afraid of birth, rebirth, sin, virtue, good, bad and ugly. When I heard him saying the "amma naama anjum aarE" suddenly i heard another voice from a new person whom till now i have not noticed, was saying "aranga maa nagaruLaanE". I, did not turn towards him, but simply said to him "listen carefully our manivaasagar is saying 'amma naama anjum aarE'". But this guy was unmindful of what I was saying, he still went on saying "aranga maa nagaruLaanE". When finally I irritatingly turned towards him he was none other than me. I was confused turned towards manickkavaasagar. That time maanickavaasagar saw me, smiled at me. That smile had a lot of meaning. One meaning that I could make out was, he said without explicitly saying that rustic proverb "ariyum sivanum onnu adha aRiyaadhavan vaayila maNNu". I realised that is what he wanted to convey to me and he was perfectly alright with my alter-ego's counterpoint. I closed my eyes trying to imbibe the meaning of it then opened them and then looked towards the direction of maanickavaasagar to thank him. But, here he goes, towards his abode, the kailash, here he goes to get into his ultimate form the 'maasaRRa sOdhi'. I could see him, unbelievable.


So many forms I must wear! So many lives I must bear!

I am just a man imperfect lowly...how can I reach something holy

But thanks to manickavaasagar, thanks to His wish to give me the spectacular musical vision. Until then...

"I was in its control
I was in its control"

But He "granted a glimps of grace! oh! oh! oh!"

I'm just a man! Imperfect lowly! - yet begining to be free!


"Eesanadi poRRi endhayadi poRRi desanadi poRRi sivan sEvadi poRRi maaya piRapparukkum mannanadi poRRi".

"Avan aruLale avan thaaL vaNangi", avan aruLale avanisai kettu inbutREn paraaparamE.

Here I go

Yes atlast, I too am stepping in the blog world on the 23rd day of Aadi month of Paarthiba year in kali age. Indeed an inauspicious thing to happen to this world on an auspicious aadi-pooram day.

The blog world has less garbage at its disposal so I am at its serivce to alleviate this problem.

For long, without my knowledge, at my subconcious level, I was in a need of an alternate medium to drain my thoughts. All along I was refraining from using this popular version of littering and relied only on sound pollution. Oral diorreah of the same is not of full help especially when you dont find someone who could listen, or atleast some one who at the minimum has an unblocking pathway tunnel in the name of a pair of pinnas.

So invariably I ended up talking to the monitor in front of me or to my hand or to the wall of my room. Promptly so, I was dubbed as 'asattu ambi'. Being ambi does not help much, I accept this now, albeit late. So a remo-ish version of thought-drainage is up now, though some times this would manifest itself to anniyan level.

Hence watch out for this spot, you would get enough food for your "I want to get more confused with vague stupid thoughts and ideas" appetite, served with utmost care of convolution that you could possibly not have imagined.