38. The Blissful Cosmic Dance

Teachings to treasure, teachings that transform. 

 

Thirumoolar Thavamozhi

Motivation

38. The Blissful Cosmic Dance

 

Our Saint Thirumoolar sings in these poems how the universe functions. Our wise elders identified that all three tasks, namely creation, sustenance, and destruction take place due to the cosmic dance of Siva (Nataraja). They also explained that understanding that cosmic dance is the true wisdom. Further, they illustrated that only with God’s blessings once can receive that wisdom.

 

Our scriptures have exemplified that “all that happens in this universe is God’s will, and it is full of bliss”. Our Saint Thirumoolar sings nicely in this poem on this.

ஆனந்தம் ஆடரங்கம் ஆனந்தம் பாடல்கள்

 ஆடரங்கம் – the cosmic stage; பாடல்கள் – the songs suitable for the cosmic dance.

He says, God’s cosmic dance is filled with bliss. His stage is filled with bliss. The songs are all full of bliss.

ஆனந்தம் பல்லியம் ஆனந்தம் வாச்சியம்

பல்லியம் – group of performing artists; வாச்சியம் – dancing poses

ஆனந்தம் ஆக அகில சராசரம்

ஆனந்தம் ஆனந்தக் கூத்துஉகந் தானுக்கே

அகில சராசரம் – all the beings in the universe that are liv. ing and not living; they are called “Chethana” and “achetana”. For the entire universe to be filled with bliss, our Saint ask all human beings to understand the cosmic dance and move about in tune with that dance. Then, the divine dance will deliver its purpose – constant bliss. கூத்துஉகந் தானுக்கே  - Nataraja who fully enjoys and performs the cosmic dance.

 

 

To summarize, Our Saint Thirumoolar clarifies that God’s cosmic dance is the primary reason for creation of the universe, its sustenance, and destruction. We should not confuse ourselves by analyzing the merits and demerits of the cosmic dance. All that happens in the universe is nothing but God’s cosmic dance. Our Saint emphasizes this in the last two lines of the poem.

 

ஆனந்தம் ஆடரங்கம் ஆனந்தம் பாடல்கள்

ஆனந்தம் பல்லியம் ஆனந்தம் வாச்சியம்

ஆனந்தம் ஆக அகில சராசரம்

ஆனந்தம் ஆனந்தக் கூத்துஉகந் தானுக்கே.  2

 

Our Saint Thirumoolar sing about the glory of the cosmic dance of Nataraja and how it encompasses the entire universe.

வேதங்கள் ஆட மிகும் ஆகமம் ஆடக்

வேதங்கள் ஆட – the universe operates as per the codes in the vedas. மிகும் ஆகமம் ஆட – as per the various procedures laid out in the scriptures.

 

கீதங்கள் ஆட கிளர் அண்டம் ஏழாடப்

கீதங்கள் ஆட – the melodious sound from the various folk songs and classic songs; கிளர் அண்டம் ஏழாட – the entire universe that is represented by the seven worlds.

பூதங்கள் ஆட புவனம் முழுதாட

பூதங்கள் ஆட – the movement of all the five elements, water, fire, air, earth and sky. புவனம் முழுதாட – the movement of all the worlds.

நாதம்கொண்டு ஆடினான் ஞானாந்தக் கூத்தே

நாதம்கொண்டு – melodious cosmic dance that is filled with bliss.

 

வேதங்கள் ஆட மிகும் ஆகமம் ஆடக்

கீதங்கள் ஆட கிளர் அண்டம் ஏழாட

பூதங்கள் ஆட புவனம் முழுதாட

நாதம்கொண்டு ஆடினான் ஞானாந்தக் கூத்தே.  6

 

The main conclusion of our wise elders was that it is futile and there is no benefit in trying to research about the universe, until one does not understand that the entire universe, including its creation and operation, is basically divine cosmic dance.  In sanksrit, the word “leela” (divine action) is used to describe those that are beyond human comprehension or research. In tamil our saint uses the word “கூத்து” (koothu). Our Saint goes on to say, that to impress this understanding on us, our wise elders described God’s work as “leela” in Sanskrit, in North India. However, South India, our wise elders also gave God the form as Nataraja, the cosmic dancer, whom we can worship with love.  What a great fortune for all of us in South India.

 

To help ordinary people better understand the philosophies and experience divine bliss, wise elders in each religion, prescribed forms of God and procedures for worship each form. However, some say rituals are not important, forms are not relevant. Our wise elders were concerned that if we remove the rituals and forms, common people will gradually forget to understand the philosophies properly. Realizing this, they carefully prescribed to us various rituals and form to worship in each ritual.

 

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

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