On the twelfth day of Enchanting Margazhi, I was deeply moved by the blockbuster #Avatar2 - The Way of Water. Although my toddler kept me from watching the entire movie, I managed to see more than an hour and was struck by the movie's profound philosophy about #water, which resonates with the Siddhanta philosophy that I am currently exploring. The way of water holds a special place in my heart, and this film has only deepened my appreciation for its teachings. This Thiruvempavai post is somehow influenced by the movie, no spoilers though.
The Verse
ஆர்த்த பிறவித்துயர் கெட நாம் ஆர்த்தாடும்
Arththa piRavith thuyarkedan^Am ArththAdum
தீர்த்தன் நல் தில்லைச் சிற்றம்பலத்தே தீயாடும்
thIrththan n^aRRillai chiRRambalaththE thIyAdum
கூத்தன் இவ் வானும் குவலயமும் எல்லோமும்
kUththan ivvAnum kuvalayamum ellOmum
காத்தும் படைத்தும் கரந்தும் விளையாடி
kAththum padaiththum karan^dhum viLaiyAdi
வார்த்தையும் பேசி வளைசிலம்ப வார் கலைகள்
vArththaiyum pEchi vaLaichilamba vArkalaikaL
ஆர்ப்ப அரவம் செய்ய அணிகுழல்மேல் வண்டார்ப்ப
Arpparavam cheyya aNikuzalmEl vaNdArppa
பூத்திகழும் பொய்கை குடைந்துடையான் பொற்பாதம்
pUththikazum poykai kudain^dhudaiyAn poRpAdham
ஏத்தி இருஞ்சுனை நீராடேலோர் எம்பாவாய்
Eththi irunychunain^I rAdElOr empAvAyTranslates to
The women continue to sing "As we bath in the huge and sacred hill tank to wash our physical impurities, let us also sing and dance about the feet of the one who dances with fire in the beautiful place called Thillai, the one who creates, protects and conceals, this world, the skies and everything in between like a child's play, one who speaks words of sanctity and the one whose dark black hair, so mellifluous and and adorned with flowers surrounded by bees for it's infinite nectar, so as to eliminate our eternal suffering of birth and death"
The Way of Water
In this verse and the following stanzas, water is revered in the same way as Lord Siva, highlighting its vital role in our lives. The philosophy of the Metkayina Clan in Avatar2, with its emphasis on water, strongly echoes the Tamil perspective on philosophical significance of water. The Thirukkural devotes an entire chapter to extolling the importance of water for life and beyond. Hinduism incorporates water into rituals from birth to death.
A grain of wheat may lack life in and of itself, but it holds the potential for life. Similarly, water may not possess life, but it has the power to bring life from inanimate objects to beings, from darkness to light. When a grain of wheat or seed comes into contact with water and other elements of nature, it is imbued with life, and the grains it produces nourish other living beings. In essence, water is a force of life and renewal.
But we know for sure, water is inanimate; so what injects life between water and a seed, is considered to be the lord's imperceptible act.
Amrita or Amirtham or Amilthu
In the Thirukkural, rain is referred to as Amilthu or Amrit, a term that suggests the essential nature of water for maintaining the vitality of our planet. While the movie may portray Amrita, obtained from a Tulkun whale's gland, as a magical elixir, the Thirukkural offers a more grounded and rational explanation for the critical role that water plays in preserving the health and longevity of the Earth. It is not just the physical bodies of living beings that can deteriorate over time, but the planet itself can also experience "aging" if we do not manage our water resources wisely. Interestingly, while the human body may grow weaker as it gets older, other elements of the natural world, such as trees, rocks, and minerals, actually become stronger and more resilient as they age. This is an interesting philosophical contemplation that invites us to consider the interdependence & interconnectedness of all things in the natural world.
One thing that made me laugh about the movie is the idea that how mankind has destroyed one beautiful planet with wars, weapons, and bombs, yet has learned nothing from this destructive process and is now shamefully attempting to use the same strategy to find a new home on another planet. And let's not forget all the pretentious intelligence devices they use, the advanced communication technology they develop, and the elaborate bases they build on the host planet - pffft! It's almost as if they think they can just erase their mistakes and start repeating the same mistakes, only more sophisticated, on another world without any consequences. How convenient is that.
Oh and, if one couldn't relate the hunting scenes in the movie to the horrific acts of whale hunting and exotic wildlife poaching happening in our world today, then it must be because they are deficient in Vitamin H - otherwise known as "humane."
Respect Water, Respect all Lives and Stay Blessed. See you next time!
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