What if I told you that God is, in fact, a slave to human souls? Whether you choose to believe it or not, the reality is that God works tirelessly, 24/7, every single day, to better the lives of each and every soul that walks this earth. In the western world, atheists often dismissively refer to God as a "sky daddy" or "sky genie," both of which connote servility and a lack of agency. But the idea of God as a slave to human souls is different. It is a reciprocal relationship, a circle of devotion.
God, being omnipotent and all-encompassing, has no need for material possessions or desires. Therefore, his slavery brings only joy. Devotees aspire to become slaves of the Lord themselves, seeking to rise above their human limitations. However, the idea of God as a slave to humans is more complex. Humans, driven by their wants and needs, are naturally greedy. This greed often leads to exploitation, abuse, and imbalance.
But for those who are devoted to God, he becomes a special kind of slave. To truly master God, one must master their own senses, conscience, and body. In doing so, they can access the vast interconnectedness of all things, from the energy within their own bodies to the furthest reaches of the observable universe. A Tiny fragment of this superpower is called Yoga. God, already a slave to all souls through his constant provision of the energy that sustains and protects them, becomes an even more special and revered servant to those who seek to devote themselves to him, act on his behalf on this planet, by practicing kindness and compassion.
Such slavery, is what taught Tamils to never invade, or exploit a single country in it's long history, despite it's powerful kings.
And such slavery is being discussed in today's stanza #17 of Manickavasakar's Thiruvempavai. Let's dive into it.
The Verse
செங்கண் அவன்பால் திசைமுகன்பால் தேவர்கள்பால்
cheN^ka NavanpAl thichaimukanpAl dhEvarkaLpAl
எங்கும் இலாதோர் இன்பம் நம்பாலதாக்
eN^gum ilAdhadhOr inbamn^am pAladhAk
கொங்கு உண் கருங்குழலி நந்தம்மை கோதாட்டி
koN^guN karuN^kuzali n^an^thammaik kOdhAtti
இங்கு நம் இல்லங்கள் தோறும் எழுந்தருளிச்
iN^gun^am illaN^gaL thORum ezun^dharuLich
செங்கமலப் பொற்பாதம் தந்தருளும் சேவகனை
cheN^kamalap poRpAdhan^ than^dharuLuny chEvakanai
அங்கண் அரசை அடியோங்கட்கு ஆரமுதை
aN^kaN arachai adiyON^kat kAramudhai
நங்கள் பெருமானைப் பாடி நலம் திகழ்ப்
n^aN^kaL perumAnaip pAdi n^alan^thikazap
பங்கயப் பூம்புனல் பாய்ந்தாடேலோர் எம்பாவாய்
paN^kayappUm punalpAyn^dhu AdElOr empAvAy
Translates to
Oh women! He who descends down for us like a slave to a master, to uplift our shortcomings with his golden feet and show us with a joy that can't be found in Lord Vishnu, or Lord Brahma or Celestial beings, or anywhere but only hidden within us; He is now here, bestowing his eminent presence in our houses, so let's sing the praise of his mercy, the elixir for a true devotee, the king of our hearts, and dance in this sacred waters!
The Message
In the religious history of Tamil, the divide and disunity between Vaishnavites and Saivites would stand out as a black mark. So in this stanza, one line that itched in my mind for more than a decade is:
/செங்கண் அவன்பால் திசைமுகன்பால் தேவர்கள்பால்
cheN^ka NavanpAl thichaimukanpAl dhEvarkaLpAl
எங்கும் இலாதோர் இன்பம் நம்பாலதாக்/
bestow us with a joy that can't be found in Lord Vishnu, or Lord Brahma or Celestial beingsDid Saint Manickavasakar endorse the division of deities and elevate Lord Siva above Lord Vishnu or Brahma, causing offense to devotees of these deities? On the surface, it might seem that way. However, after years of contemplation and study, I have come to understand the nuanced and intricate concept of the place of multiple gods in Tamil and Hindu religious practice. Tamil philosophy states that God is one, many, him, her, it, and everything. This is the truth. We must stop viewing God as a person with human-like qualities. Lord Vishnu and Lord Siva are not separate entities, and neither can be considered the "true" God, as the ultimate divine essence is beyond naming. These terms, "Siva" and "Vishnu," should be seen as occupations or roles, rather than actual names. While this may be confusing, please bear with me for a few more moments.
God when he creates or initiates creation is Brahma.
God when he protects, or helping a soul to thrive or survive, is Vishnu.
God when he annihilates or destroys, when needed collapses what's created, is Siva or Rudra.
At a certain point in spiritual maturity, a name doesn't matter anymore to a devotee or the God as well. So in simple terms, the Lord who is believed to provide a soul with material wealth and comfort is symbolized as Vishnu and the Lord who provides a soul with worldly knowledge, experiences etc. is Brahma.
In this stanza, if you read between the lines, it becomes clear that Saint Manickavasakar is stating that happiness or joy exists within the soul and cannot be obtained through material wealth (symbolized by Vishnu) or worldly knowledge (symbolized by Brahma).
That's all for this stanza, let's discuss stanza #18 soon! Until then,
Stay blessed, Stay warm!
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