Thiruvempavai - 10

As we enter the 10th day of Margazhi, it is time for us to contemplate the unimaginable greatness of the divine. It may seem paradoxical to think about the unimaginable, but it is possible for those who are ready and worthy of mercy. To begin this journey of contemplation, we must start by using our minds to the best of our ability and continue to do so each day. As we do so, we will be guided by a light that illuminates the path that unfolds ahead and helps us navigate through the darkness towards eternal enlightenment.

Let's see what the 10th stanza has in store for us today.

pAdhALam EzinuN^kIz choRkazivu pAdhamalar
  pOdhAr punaimudiyum ellAp poruLmudivE
pEdhai orupAl thirumEni onRallan 
  vEdhamudhal viNNOrum maNNun^ thudhiththAlum
Odha ulavA oruthOzan thoNdaruLan
  kOdhil kulaththaran than kOyiR piNAppiLLaikAL
Edhavan Ur EdhavanpEr Ar uRRar Ar ayalAr
  Edhavanaip pAdum parichElOr empAvAy

Translates to

The Floral Feet, located beneath the seven underworlds, is indescribable and beyond words. The Splendid Hair, with its floral fragrance, is the end of all things. Despite being praised by celestial powers and the earth, the Holy Form of this One Friend, who resides in the hearts of His servants, is beyond comprehension. Even the Vedas cannot fully describe Him. Oh girls who follow the flawless tradition of serving Hara, oh what is his place, what is his name? who are his family and who are strangers to him? and how are we going to sing about him?

What's the message?

In this verse, the first two lines beautifully draw the concept of how a divine experience is circular rather than linear by stating that "The Lord's feet go beyond the 7 underworlds, where 'words' have no meaning, and his crown grows above the celestial skies where 'meanings' and 'things' have no words." Now, leaving the imaginary 7 worlds and celestial skies aside, we come to a deeper conclusion: "words" and "meanings" become useless or unnecessary. This means that the divine experience forms a full circle, something that Brahma (the god of knowledge) and Vishnu (the god of wealth) tried in vain to measure. A circle has no beginning or end, but it has a midpoint that can be anywhere in the circle (not simplifying geometrically, of course). The circle represents the inclusion of everything, which is what we should seek in the divine experience.

The women address themselves, as girls who are devoted to temple duties and service to god by their families, ask sarcastic questions about the god they are discussing. They wonder aloud about his name, his family, and who are all strangers to him, given that he seems to be everything and everyone. They also ponder the best way to sing about him.

See you next time, with Stanza #11.