In the diverse landscape of Indian philosophy, there is a wide range of views on the concept of God. Some schools of thought posit God as an all-powerful, all-seeing ultimate spirit, while others reject the existence of such a being altogether. However, the Tamil philosophy of Saiva Siddhanta offers a more nuanced and rational perspective on the nature of God. In the hymn Thiruvempavai, for example, there are references to God's greatness and powers, but these are imbued with deeper philosophical meaning. According to Saiva Siddhanta, while God is ultimately supreme, he is also helpless in his ability to rescue a soul from ignorance on his own. It is the readiness of the soul to attain enlightenment through fulfilling duties to family, society, and being kind to other living beings that allows for spiritual progress. This approach differs from other spiritual paths that often advocate for strict abstinence from certain aspects of life. As we are almost at the end of the year on Day 11 of Margazhi, it is worth considering these different philosophical viewpoints on the divine and how they shape our understanding of the world around us, through the eyes and heart of Saint Manickavachakar.
The Verse:
moyyAr thadampoykai pukku mugErennak
kaiyAR kudin^dhu kudain^dhun kazalpAdi
aiyA vaziyadiyOm vAzn^dhON^kAN ArazalpOR
cheyyAveN NIRAdi chelvA chiRumaruN^gul
maiyAr thadaN^kaN madan^thai maNavALA
aiyAn^I AtkoN daruLum viLaiyAttin
uyvArkaL uyyum vakaiellAm uyn^dhozin^dhOm
eyyAmaR kAppAy emaiElOr empAvAyமொய்யார் தடம் பொய்கை புக்கு முகேர் என்னக்
கையால் குடைந்து குடைந்து உன் கழல்பாடி
ஐயா வழியடியோம் வாழ்ந்தோம் காண்
ஆரழல் போல் செய்யா! வெண்ணீறு ஆடி! செல்வா!
சிறு மருங்குல் மையார் தடங்கண் மடந்தை மணவாளா!
ஐயா! நீ ஆட்கொண்டருளும் விளையாட்டில்
உய்வார்கள் உய்யும் வகையெல்லாம் உய்ந்தொழிந்தோம்
எய்யாமல் காப்பாய் எமையேலோர் எம்பாவாய்.
Translates to:
The pond echoes with the sound of flies Splashing and bathing in its clear waters, Hitting the surface with our delicate hands As we sing your praises, oh mighty one. You are the red one, burning like a fierce fire, The holy ash-covered one, rich and adorned. You are the lord of the lady, with beautifully crafted eyes and slender waist. Oh great one, through your gift of enslavement, We have found salvation, just as others do through prayer. Grant us the strength to stay true to our convictions, and save us from being married to a person who doesn't believes in you!
The Message
In this stanza, the poet Saint Manickavachakar speaks from the perspective of women who are seeking a life partner. These women express their devotion to Lord Siva and ask for his help in finding a partner who is also a true devotee. This is significant because it reflects a shift in the Tamil culture and other civilizations towards a more sacred form of monogamy, in which the quality of the relationship and the spiritual connection between partners is considered more important than the number of partners.
This shift towards monogamy may have been influenced by various cultural, religious, and societal factors. In this context, a supportive and devoted spouse can be seen as an important factor in a person's spiritual journey.
The idea that a supportive spouse is necessary for spiritual growth is not limited to Tamil culture or Hinduism. In many spiritual traditions, the relationship between a husband and wife is viewed as a sacred bond that can facilitate mutual growth and support. In this way, the stanza reflects a broader cultural and spiritual emphasis on the importance of finding a partner who is supportive and aligned with one's spiritual goals.
It doesn't matter whether you are an eligible bachelor or bachelorette; singing Thiruvempavai with unwavering faith and devotion in the early hours of Margazhi mornings is sure to bring you the right life partner.
Stay blessed! See you with next verse.
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