What a beautiful, blessed, month this has been in my entire life? Am I really translating one of the greatest works of saint Manickavachakar?
Man, miracles are true, but it just takes time and happens so gentle and slow, not like an explosion of a bomb but more like a tree full of apples coming out of a seed that was inside an apple. An almost imperceptible transformation, yet huge.
Day 7, and we are ready to dive into the seventh stanza.
annE ivaiyuny chilavO pala amarar
unnaR kariyAn oruvan irunychIrAn
chinnaN^gaL kEtpach chivan enRE vAythiRappAy
thennAen nAmunnam thIchEr mezugoppAy
ennAnai en araiyan innamudhen RellOmuny
chonnON^kEl vevvERAy innan^ thuyiludhiyO
vannenychap pEdhaiyarpOl vALA kidaththiyAl
ennE thuyilin parichElOr empAvAy
Translates to:
"Oh girl, is this just a game? Many celestial beings cannot even comprehend Him, the One with boundless wealth. Upon the moment of hearing His symbols, you would open your mouth to say "Siva" and before you could finish saying "Oh Lord of the South," you would be like wax melting in the fire. But, now we are all calling out to Him, saying "My King, Sweet Nectar" and many other things, but you are still sleeping. You are lying like a heartless woman. How powerful is this sleep!"
The nefarious power of sleep
It is a well-known fact that the average human being spends approximately one-third of their lifetime sleeping. Busy individuals who are not particularly successful may need to sleep less, while highly successful and powerful people may sleep as little as 3-4 hours per day. This correlation suggests that the less we sleep, the more we are able to think and progress in life. While it is widely accepted that sleep is necessary for good health, according to South Indian philosophy, sleeping can be seen as a preview of the eternal darkness that the soul must endure before and after birth. Let's see what Thirukkural has to say about Sleeping,
Urangu Vadhupolunj Chaakkaatu Urangi Vizhippadhu Polum Pirappu
Death is like sleep, And birth an awakening from it.
Thirukkural 339 - Chapter: Impermanence/InstabilityThe dreams that we go through, the experiences that we indulge in during sleep are as real as to those we do while being awake. Except, our soul is detached from the body and it's tools like sensory organs and limbs etc.
In essence, Sleep can be seen as a temporary form of death, a time when we are cut off from the world, with nothing to do, nothing to worry about, and nothing to learn. While this may seem comforting, it is important to remember that the consequences of this state of unconsciousness are far from convenient. Only when we are awake, alert, and fully engaged in the world can we truly learn, fulfill our duties, and seek enlightenment & freedom. In essence, sleep is a temporary respite from the demands of the world, but it is in our waking hours that we have the opportunity to truly grow and evolve.
Sleep must be treated with care, as it has the potential to drain away our valuable time like water slipping through our fingers.
Stay awake, stay blessed. See you in next episode, with Thiruvempavai - stanza #8!
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