Thiruvempavai -3

In the third stanza of this piece, the conversation shifts to the group of women who are waiting outside the hut for their friend to wake up. They express their frustration at her being late, stating that she had promised to wake them up earlier by saying the names of the Lord. The woman in bed responds by apologizing for her mistake and explaining that she is new to this devotion, while the other women respond sarcastically, suggesting that a truly devout person would rise up early and sing praises to the Lord's name.

The Verse

muththanna veNNakaiyAy munvan^ dhedhir ezun^dhen
  aththan Anan^dhan amudhan en RaLLURith
thithtikkap pEchuvAy van^dhun kadaithiRavAy
  paththudaiyIr Ichan pazavadiyIr pAN^gudaiyIr
puththadiyOm punmaithIrth thAtkoNdAR pollAdhO
  eththOn^in anbudaimai ellOm aRiyOmO
chiththam azakiyAr pAdArO n^amchivanai
  iththanaiyum vENdum emakkElOr empAvAy

Translates to

The Friends: Oh dear friend with a charming smile like pearls! You promised to wake  up early and speak sweet words of praise to the Lord with a heart full  of devotion. Won't you open the doors and join us? 

The girl on the bed: Oh my friends with ten great character traits, who are devoted to the  Lord's feet! As a new follower, would you please correct my mistakes and  guide me on the right path? 

The friends: Oh dear, don't we know your love for the Lord? Don't those with  beautiful hearts sing praises to Shiva? Come, let us acquire these good  qualities together.

10 Characteristic Traits of a true Siva Devotee

What are the 10 character traits that the women are talking about in this conversation? There are 10 externally visible and 10 internally practiced traits that defines a true shiva devotee.

10 external characteristics of a true devotee of Siva:

1. Wearing the sacred rudraksha beads and the holy ash on forehead

2. Showing respect to the elderly as a sign of reverence for wisdom and experience

3. Singing the praises of the Lord through devotional songs and hymns

4. Chanting the names of the Lord as a form of devotion and spiritual practice

5. Offering prayers to the Lord at every opportunity, after fulfilling one's duties and responsibilities

6. Performing good deeds and attributing them to the Lord's grace and guidance

7. Seeking out and listening to conversations and stories about the Lord as a means of deepening one's spiritual understanding

8. Visiting and serving at the Lord's temple as a form of devotion and service

9. Doing whatever possible to support and uplift other true devotees of the Lord.

10. When on a pilgrimage: To eat food only from those who truly love the lord and are devoted.

If you observe these traits, you can apply this to a muslim or a christian too; except for the variation in what one wears externally as a symbol of their devotion.

While some may view the aforementioned ten characteristics as extreme, it is important to consider the historical context in which these songs were composed. In this time period, devotion to the Lord was a central aspect of daily life, and these traits were considered essential for a true devotee. While it may be challenging to fully embody all of these characteristics, it is worth noting that they are not divisive or discriminatory in nature. Rather, they are meant to encourage a deeper connection to the Lord and to promote goodness and spiritual growth. As such, it can be argued that these traits are not necessarily extreme, but rather represent a dedication to one's spiritual path and a desire to cultivate virtues that uplift and benefit all beings.

10 internal characteristics of a true devotee of Siva:

1. Feeling a deep emotional response upon hearing the Lord's name, including a desire to cry

2. Feeling humbled and shaken by hearing praise of the Almighty

3. Experiencing trembling lips as a physical manifestation of devotion

4. Feeling goosebumps or shivers upon hearing the Lord's name

5. Sweating and shaking as a result of one's deep devotion

6. Being overcome with emotion and rendered speechless

7. Shedding tears continuously as a response to one's deep devotion

8. Crying out loud as a manifestation of one's love and devotion

9. Being completely absorbed in one's devotion and forgetting about the external world

10. Shaking and crying with emotion, as if overwhelmed with joy, similar to an infant's response to being reunited with a long-lost parent.

This list of internal characteristics may seem extreme to some, but it is worth noting that these same emotions and responses can also be experienced in the context of deeply loving another human being. The ability to feel a deep sense of longing and desire, to value others not for material possessions but for the love and connection shared, and to be overwhelmed with emotion at the thought of being reunited with a loved one are all characteristics that differentiate humans from animals.

A Man who missed his wife, a child who had to miss his mother, a father who had been missing his daughter for several years of bad fate etc. they can all resonate with the 10 characters listed above. These experiences are reflective of the deep love and connection that exists between human beings, and can also be cultivated in the context of one's devotion to the Lord.

These emotions and responses may be difficult to experience towards an unseen god when one is deeply tied to worldly pleasures and desires, but as one embraces a spiritual path and focuses on being present and loving towards others, it becomes possible to develop these same feelings and emotions towards the Lord. Thus, while the list of internal characteristics may appear extreme at first, they are actually a natural expression of the love and devotion that can be cultivated on the path of spiritual growth and connection to the Divine.

Thoughts

This stanza highlights the importance of devotion and the role it plays in the lives of these women. It also touches upon the idea of accountability and the expectations that come with being a member of a faith community. The woman in bed recognizes her mistake and seeks guidance from her friends, who, while perhaps a bit harsh in their response, ultimately offer her guidance and encouragement to stay on the right path.

Do you feel enlightened by this work? Does this make you think beyond religious barriers? Let me know in comments.

See you again with the even more beautiful 4th stanza.