1. Salutations to Lord Vinakaya

Teachings to treasure, teachings that transform. 

Thirumoolar Thavamozhi

Motivation

 

1. Lord Vinayaka

Our editor mentioned that it will be good if we can have an introduction. When Saint Thirumoolar in his own words sings to the Lord Vinayaka what more will an introduction from us add? Indeed, quite difficult task. Overcoming many obstacles and solving hurdles are those we get with the blessings of Lord Vinayaka with a beautiful elephant face.

 

 

This poem is the opening dedication the lord Vinayaka of the book, called "thirumoolar thirumanthiram" or "thirumanthira malai".  

 

ஐந்து கரத்தனை யானை முகத்தனை
இந்தின் இளம்பிறை போலும் எயிற்றனை
நந்தி மகன்தனை ஞானக் கொழுந்தினைப்
புந்தியில் வைத்தடி போற்றுகின் றேனே.

The meaning of this poem is below.

Lord Vinayaka, with five hands (including the tusk), face of an elephant, a broken white ivory that looks curved like a waxing third day moon, is called "son of nandi'' (lord Siva is referred to as nandi, by Saint Thirumoolar). the Saint also calls Lord Vinayaka,  with devotion as "budding with knowledge". Lord Vinayaka is also called the one with "one teeth".

 

Indu means the moon. He mentions that the broken ivory is beautiful and glowing like a waxing moon on the third day. "Yeyiru" means ivory.

 

"Nandi" is the name only attributable to lord Siva. Saint Thirumoolar uses the word "nandi" to sing the glory of lord Siva.

He calls the son of lord Siva that he is effulgent with knowledge. the word "kozhundu" can refer both to the fire ball that is born from the big fire or to a tender leaf.

Punthi means buddhi or intelligence. Saint says that he wishes to put the feet of lord Vinayaka on his head (meaning his seat of intelligence).

As we sculpt the lord in an idol out of stone or bronze, the Saint prays that he wishes to install the form of Lord Vinayaka with elephant face, five hands, single ivory, in his body (inner self).

The Saint who does mental worship instead of idol worship explains how the mental form of the lord is also a form with  all limbs and beauty. 

The five arms of lord Vinayaka signify the five works of the divine in the spiritual texts.

The  hand with the rope is responsible for first task of creation. The  hand that blesses tells us "do not be afraid" and removes our fears, is the second task of "abhaya". The  hand that holds the goad is responsible for destruction, the third task. The  hand with the modak, is the hand that signifies (karappu) or "illusion", the fourth task. Karappu also means to hide. The lord gives us worldly experiences which hides  from our eyes the truth that we should see. This is called "tirodana" in sanskrit. The  hand  of lord Vinayaka that showers boons is the fifth task of the lord. Thus all five tasks of the lord are presented in combination in this lord Vinayaka with five hands.

 

The five tasks that are  attributed to lord Siva are also traditionally attributed to lord Vinayaka. That is, we pray to Lord Vinayaka as if he is also Lord Siva.

As how other poets in their compositions start with the praise for Lord Vinayaka, our Saint Thirumoolar's thirumanthiram also starts with  a priase for lord Vinayaka. 

There is a debate whether this first poem was indeed sung by the Saint or by others in the later time. This is not important for us.

For those who wish to study this sacred text, this poem is indeed an excellent one. Let us not miss this first poem. Let us sung and pray to Lord Vinayaka with this holy poem and start to contemplate on the Thavamozhi of Saint Thirumoolar.

Next on Worshipping the Lord.

To read other translated pages in these posts, see: Thirumoolar