21. Knowledge of the Divine

Teachings to treasure, teachings that transform. 

Thirumoolar Thavamozhi

Motivation

21. Knowledge of the Divine

Of all knowledge, the knowledge of the divine is the most important.  That is also the blissful knowledge. Our saint Thirumoolar lovingly encourages us to gain that blissful knowledge while the body is fit and strong.

நிற்கின்ற போதே நிலையுடை யான்கழல்

கற்கின்ற செய்மின்

நிற்கின்ற போதே – while there is life in the body; நிலையுடையான் – the eternal divine; நிலையுடையான் கழல் - the feet of that eternal divine; கற்கின்ற செய்மின்- learn and practice the techniques to gain the blissful knowledge. கற்கின்ற -the techniques to learn.

 

When the life force is still within our bodies, our Saint lovingly encourages us to learn the knowledge that show us the way to experience the divine lotus feet.

கழிந்தறும் பாவங்கள்

பாவங்கள் கழிந்தறும் – all our sins will be washed away without anything left.

சொற்குன்றல் இன்றித் தொழுமின் தொழுதபின்

சொற்குன்றல் இன்றி – worshipping without any flaw in the words; தொழுமின் – praise and worship.

Our Saint emphasizes that we should pray and worship the divine extensively without setting any limits. He conveys that it will be sufficient however much we praise and worship the divine.

தொழுதபின்

மற்றொன்று இலாத மணிவிளக் காமே

மற்றொன்று இலாத – unmatched; he says that it is not possible to mention another light that can match with the divine light. மணிவிளக்காமே – that self effulgent light within us. ஆமே – he means will be visible; that is the knowledge that was covered will not shine effulgently.

The blissful knowledge is the vision of divine effulgence in the inner eyes.Once we get divine grace, our inner eyes will shine brilliant as a light that is matchless.

 

நிற்கின்ற போதே நிலையுடை யான்கழல்

கற்கின்ற செய்மின் கழிந்தறும் பாவங்கள்

சொற்குன்றல் இன்றித் தொழுமின் தொழுதபின்

மற்றொன்று இலாத மணிவிளக் காமே.  3

 

Within the hearts of saints, the divine is present vividly. Once the grace of the divine is received, that wisdom will shine as a brilliant light. That wisdom  is also an evolution due to his grace.

 

கடலுடை யான்மலை யான்

கடல் – the sacred places beyond the ocean; மலை- the tirupathi hills; உடையான் – Our saint refers to the divine who resides in these sacred places and gives His divine blessings from these places.

The divine is present in various forms and idols in various sacred places. He also resides in sacred places surrounded by the seas and mountains.

கடலுடை யான்மலை யான்ஐந்து பூதத்து

உடலுடை யான்

The divine has the five elements of earth, fire, water, air, and sky as his body. The divine who is the embodiments of the five elements has been giving his vision for several yugas (ages) in the form of Siva having the bull as his vehicle.

 

கடலுடை யான்மலை யான்ஐந்து பூதத்து

உடலுடை யான்பல ஊழிதொ றூழி

அடல்விடை யேறும் அமரர்கள் நாதன்

பலஊழிதொறூழி – for several ages, அடல்விடை யேறும் – strong bull as his vehicle; யேறும் – sitting on the bull; அமரர்கள் நாதன் – lord siva who is also the mahadeva.

That lord siva, who for several yugas has been giving his vision sitting on top of the strong bull. that  lord of lords,
இடமுடை யார்நெஞ்சத் தில்லிருந் தானே

That lord who is residing in the seas, the mountains, and on the bull, he also resides in the small place inside the heart of a person. Our Saint Thirumoolar also explains who is that person.  

இடமுடையார் – the person who gives space for the divine in his heart.

 

Our Saint lovingly rejoices while saying that the divine resides without any doubt in the heart of a person who has space for Him!

 

Our Saint summarises that the lord who has many comfortable and vast places for Him, such as the seas, the mountains and the five elements, and his favorite vehicle, the strong bull, actually searches for the space in the heart of each human being. If there is space in anyone’s heart, He occupies that. Our duty is to not put any obstacle for the lord to enter our hearts, as that is the nature of lord’s divine grace.

 

கடலுடை யான்மலை யான்ஐந்து பூதத்து

உடலுடை யான்பல ஊழிதொ றூழி

அடல்விடை யேறும் அமரர்கள் நாதன்

இடமுடை யார்நெஞ்சத் தில்லிருந் தானே.  10

 

The great Vaishnava saints of lord Vishnu, also point to this when they sang as

வெள்ளத்தின் உள்ளானும்  

வேங்கடத்து மேயானும்

உள்ளத்தின் உள்ளான்   

 

உள்ளுவார்  உள்ளத்து

உளன் கண்டாய்.

 

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

Please write your comments.