Thiruvempavai 14 - Shakti

The Verse

காதார் குழையாடப் பைம்பூண் கலனாடக்
kAdhAr kuzaiyAdap paimpUN kalanAdak
கோதை குழலாட வண்டின் குழாம் ஆட
  kOdhai kuzalAda vaNdin kuzAmAdach
சீதப்புனலாடிச் சிற்றம்பலம் பாடி
chIdhap punalAdich chiRRam balampAdi
வேதப் பொருள்பாடி அப்பொருளா மாபாடி
  vEdhap poruLpAdi apporuLA mApAdich
சோதி திறம்பாடி சூழ்கொன்றைத் தார்பாடி
chOdhi thiRampAdich chUzkonRaith thArpAdi
ஆதி திறம்பாடி அந்தமா மாபாடி
  Adhi thiRampAdi an^dhamA mApAdip
பேதித்து நம்மை வளர்ந்தெடுத்த பெய்வளை தன்
pEdhiththu n^ammai vaLarththeduththa peyvaLaithan
பாதத் திறம்பாடி ஆடேலோர் எம்பாவாய்.
  pAdhath thiRampAdi AdElOr empAvAy

Translates to

Oh women (or humans), let us dance to the song that praises the feet of Mother Shakti, the one who raises us (souls) through distinguished life paths. Let us sing of her origin and her infinite nature, her radiant vibrancy and the Konrai flowers she wears. Let us honor her as the embodiment of the revered Vedas and the meaning of all things, the glory of Chitrambalam (follow my blog to learn more about this). As we bathe in the refreshing, cool waters of the pond, let us also sing and dance with her, as her dark black hair and the earrings she wears all sway in unison.

What to get:

Another stanza continues with the refreshing water of the pond, and now the women sing and dance about Shakti, the female form of God. The word "pEdhiththu" is central to this stanza and means to separate, signify, or make unique. In Tamil philosophy, God takes many forms, not as mythological figures, but as needed to help a soul. Essentially, at the beginning God is one, eternal, and undivided. However, souls, who are also eternal but contaminated by something that divides them and hinders them from attaining enlightenment, freedom, and wisdom, exist. This "something" is also eternal. In an act of unparalleled mercy towards the suffering of inactive and darkened souls, God takes on the form of Shakti, a commonly seen female power, to lift these souls up. In the form of Shakti, God creates everything needed for a soul to escape eternal darkness and bring life into existence. To create, means not just materials and inanimate things, but also the elements of life, and other lives too that shape our journey in life.

In life we see chances & opportunities. But if we observe what life provides us between birth and death, we will appreciate life as the only Opportunity.

Meet you next time with Stanza #15.