݈eè «èœmèœ Ýî óˆ ì ðf èœ

Transcription

1 KNOWING OUR ROOTS Spiritual Search Questions with Evidence based Answers ݈eè «èœmèœ Ýî óˆ ì ðf èœ ¼õ ðe Dr. R. Lambotharan MD, CCFP Director Shakthi - Centre for Holistic Health for Wholistic Health ã è ½ â ˆî ªñ Nò ½ I «ê F è «õ ì ²ì M âƒèœ «ê F ñ è cƒè ½Ái ñù ðÿp õ I ê èœ I W Þ ø«ò õ ê I è«-ê ð î «îõ ó

2 KNOWING OUR ROOTS Series Number: 1. Who is our God? God does not have any name really. He does not have any shape or form either. This formless, nameless God is called as Parasivam in Chaiva Religion. The sacred texts of Vaethas and Upanishaths call this as Parabrahmam. The sacred Brahmasutra says this as THAT. This formless and nameless Parasivam manifest in several forms for us out of His grace. When this nameless Parasivam takes the forms we call Him as SIVAN in chaivam. Quotations: 1. That is formless and difficult to perceive but came with form by Itself (by grace) - Thiru Unthiyaar by St. Uyyavantha Thaevar of Thiruviyaloor, Song For Him Who has no one name, no one form We sing thousand names with praise and play - Thiruvaasakam by St.Ma'nikkavaasakar 1. Üè ñ Œ ò ¼ ÜP¾ÜK ÜŠªð ¼œ êè ñ Œ õ â Á à bðø î ù èˆ î î â Á à bðø - ªñŒè ì ê ˆFó ðfù A ºîô õî ù F¼¾ Fò -ð ì 2. å¼ ï ñ æ à¼õ å ÁI ô î  ÝJó F¼ï ñ ð ï ªîœ«í ªè ì «ñ - ñ E è õ êèk F¼õ êè

3 KNOWING OUR ROOTS Series Number: 2. Why our God has a wife? Answer: God is one. His grace we name it as his consort or Shakthi. Shakthi means power. Like the sun and the rays God's power is inseparable from him. We see this as His consort or wife in Chaivam. This is also for us to understand the origin, existence of the working module of the polarity of the forces in the creations in the same way as they are in the Being. All the living beings have polarized as feminine and masculine forces. Even the particles of matter are no exception as from the atoms to the universe we see the polarity of the forces as negative and positive charges. Even the non particle energy forces such as electricity, electronics and magnetic fields are no exception. This is the complete understanding of the God and His wonderful creations AS IT IS in Chaivam. Constant interactions and movements of these forces are perceived as Dance of Siva. Quotations: 1. The God (Sivan) who is inseparable form the Grace which gives the Sivahood or Godness to us the souls -Thru Arud Payan by St. Umapathi Sivaachchariyaar -2nd song 2. The grace is the Shakthi - Siva Gnana Siththiyaar by St. Arul Nanthi Sivaachchariyar î Q ô ñ ñ ÂJ èœ ê óˆî¼ ê F H ùiô âƒèœ Hó - F¼õ¼ ðò - øœ-2 2. ܼ ê Fò. - Cõë ù CˆFò - ňFó 5, ð ì -9.

4 KNOWING OUR ROOTS Series Number: 3. Why our God Murugan has two wives? God is one. His grace we name it as his consort or Shakthi. Shakthi means power. God's power is inseparable from him like the sun and the rays. We see this power or Grace as His consort or wife or even wives. This is also for us to understand the different forces in the Being and in us and their working relationship. God's power of motivation or Ichchaa Sakthi is Valli. God's power of action or Kriyaa Sakthi is Thevanai. God's power of wisdom or supreme knowledge is Gnana Sakthi is the Spear Vael the weapon he has in his hand. We as souls are also embodiment of all these powers but masked or restrained by the darkness of ignorance the Prime fetter A'navam. When we establish our connection with God then the darkness of ignorance the fetter of Anava Malam goes away. Thne three powers will manifest to the fullest in us by His grace. Quotations: Valli represents Ichchaa Sakthi or power of motivation Thevaanai represents Kriyaa Sakthi or power of action Vael or Spear represents Gna:naa Sakthi or power of wisdom õœo -Þ ê ê F «îõ ù - AKò ê F «õ - ë ù ê F. - Kantha Puraanam by St. Kachchiyappar - è CòŠð ²õ Ièœ Ü¼Oò è î¹ó í

5 KNOWING OUR ROOTS Series: 4. Forms of the formless God Following are the forms of the formless God in our Chava tradition. a) Siva Lingam is the form between form and formless. There are four formless forms of the God as Chivam, Sakthi, Naatham and Bindu. Then there are four defined forms of formless as Maheswaran, Ayan or Brahmaa, Maal or Vishnu and Rudran. So the one and the same formless God manifests in all these nine primary forms. b) Then there are twenty five Maheswara Moorthams or forms of Maheswaran aspect of the God including Nadarajar or dancing Siva, Thadshana moorthi or preaching Siva, Somaskanthar, Chandra sekarar etc. C) In addition forms of Amman, Vinayakar, Murugan and Vairavar are also the additional four forms of the one and the same God in chaiva tradition. D) At last there are eight symbolic forms (Adda Moorththam) of the one and the same God. They are earth, fire, water, air and space the five basic elements of Mother Nature, sun, moon and the soul(s). These are not God themselves. But the formless God has revealed Himself and His Grace to us through these eight forms. Quotations: 1. Sivalingam is for the form of unseen formless and the form. - Periya Puraanam by St. Saekki'lar, song See! He is the Naara'na:n; He is the Brahma with four faces; He is the Embodiment of four vaethaas ( the sacred texts of the Hindus), He is like the navigating ship in the vast ocean of wisdom; He is the one Who is complete without any defect; He is the Embodiment of righteousness, He is the eternal; He is none other than The Lord Chiva Who has received the River Gankai on His matted hair locks.

6 -Thevaaram songs by St. Thiru Navukkarasar He, the Being First, and He, the Emerald hued Vishnu, And He of the glowing original Lotus seated Brahma Though the three form an integral whole The world considers them separate and quarrel - Thirumanthiram by St. Thirumoolar, song The Supreme is one, absolute without lapse, In descent thereof, Maal and Aya:n becoming; Thus He, the One into many ranked; By conscious choice a Self -deduction made - Thirumanthiram by St. Thirumoolar, song The same one acts as nine different forms - Sivagnana siththiyaar by St. Arul Nanthi Sivaachchariyar Siva the First, then the Three, and the following, With whom flourshied Bindu and Nada Nine are they all, yet one and the same All these but names of Sankara First - Thirumanthiram by St. Thirumoolar, song There are 25 Maheswara forms. -Saiva Questions and answers by SrilaSri Arumuga Naavalar, Book - 2, Question The Lord comes in eight forms as earth, water, fire, air, space, moon, sun and the soul(s) - Thevaaram songs by St. Thirugnana Sambanthar He is the earth; the fire; the water He is the soul(s); the wind The moon; the sun And the space thus eight different forms - Thevaaram songs by St. Thiru Naavukkarasar

7 1. è í î ܼ¾ ༾ è óíñ Œ cí è ÜE î Gè Pò CõLƒè 2. ï óí è ï ºè è ï «õ î è ë ùšªð¼ƒ èìÿ«è ï õ Œ Ü ù Ìóí è ¹ Eò è ¹ó í î è - «ê Aö ²õ IèO ªðKò ¹ó í, ð ì F¼ï ¾ èóê «îõ ó -6 F¼º ø 8 ðfè 3 ð ì 3. ÝFŠ Hó  ÜEñE õ íâ ÝF èñôˆ îô I ê ò  «ê F A Í Á ªî ì CJ å ªøù «ðfˆ ôè Híƒ A ø è«- F¼ÍôK F¼ñ Fó 104 ð ì 4. ðóˆf«ô å ø Œàœ ŒŠ¹øñ A õóˆf✠ñ òõ ù ŒÜò ù Aˆ îóˆf✠î ðô î ñò ù Aˆ èóˆf✠G Á èn¾ ªêŒî «ù -F¼ÍôK F¼ñ Fó 111 ð ì 5. Cõ êˆf ï î M êî Cõ Fè ßê àõ ܼ À¼ˆF ó î ñ Üò å P å ø Š ðõ î¼ Ü¼õ ï Þƒ à¼õï àðò å ø ïõ î¼ «ðî ãè ï î«ù ï Šð â ð. - Cõë ùcˆfò, ÜFèóí 2, ð ì Cõ ºî Íõ«ó ìõ Cø î Ü õºî ÝPó ªì ªø ªì ø Ü õºî M ¾ ï îº æƒè ê õºîÿ êƒèó î ªðò î «ù

8 -F¼ÍôK F¼ñ Fó 106 ð ì 6. ñ«è²ó õ õ âˆî ù? ê Fó«êèó, àñ ñ«èê, Þìð Ïì, êð ðf (ïìó ü ), è ò í² îó, Hþ ìù, è ñ K, è ô K, FK¹ó K, êô îó K, ñ îƒè K, ióðˆfó, ýkò ˆî, Ü ˆîï g²ó, Aó î, èƒè, ê «ìê Aó, côè ì, ê èóšhóî, èêºè Aóè, «ê ñ vè î, ãèð î, ²è êù, îví Í ˆF, Lƒ«è Ÿðõ â  ޼ðˆ î ñ.. - ÝÁºè ï õôk êõ Mù M ì- 2 ¹ˆîè, 23 Mù M ì.. 7. ñ «í c Üù è «ô Ýè ò ñfþóm â E õ¼ Þòñ ù -F¼ë ùê ð î «îõ ó - 2 F¼º ø, 184 ðfè, 3 ð ì. 8. Þ¼Gôù Œˆ bò A c¼ ñ A Þòñ ùù Œ âp» è ŸÁ ñ A ܼG ôò Fƒè Œ ë J ø A Ýè êñ Œ Ü ì Í ˆF ò A - F¼ï ¾ èóê «îõ ó -6 F¼º ø 94 ðfè 1 ð ì 9. có Œ Gôù Œˆ bò Œ è ô Œ ªï õ ù Œ Yó ²ì èœ Þó ì Œ Cõù Œ Üò Ýù Œ è ó ÝN ªõ ꃫè F ªè «ò ð õ ó Œ å¼ï œ ñ μ M μ ñaö«õ - ï ñ õ -9 F¼ª ñ N 10. Ìîƒèœ «î Á G ø Œ âq Ü ô «ð Aô õómô âù G ùš¹ô«õ Wîƒèœ ð î Ý î Ü ô «è ìp«ò à ù è ìpõ ó - ñ E èõ êèk F¼õ êè

9 KNOWING OUR ROOTS Series Number: 5. Why do we worship many Gods? There is no worship of many Gods or polytheism in chaivam. Chaivam says there is only one God Who comes in different forms for us by His grace. There are formless forms of God as Sivam, Sakthi, Naatham and Bindu which are unable to comprehend with our human mind, intellect and conscious. So there is Siva Lingam which is both a form and formless form of the God. This is the first symbolic form of God we can see and we can try to understand it. Then there is God as Maheswara with twenty five different forms such as Nadarajah - the dancing Siva, Thdcha'naa Moorthi or preaching Siva etc. The God is Vishnu the Lord of sustenance, Brahma the Lord of creation and Rudra the Lord of dissolution. Thus the nine primary forms of one and the same God revealed in Chaivam. Then there are eight symbolic forms of God in nature. They are the mother earth, the fire, the water, the wind and the space. These are the five basic elements of this universe. They are the basic elements of our body too. Then there is the sun and the moon we see every day are also the nature's symbolic forms of God. The last but not the least is the soul where the God is expressed as the master of each soul. Whatever the service we do for our fellow human beings and other living beings is the service to the God; the worship to the God. These eight forms of God in nature are not God themselves but we worship them for the unseen God revealed in these symbolic forms. This is like the respect we pay for the flag of the nation which is not the country but a symbol of it. In addition forms of Amman, Vinayakar, Murugan and Vairavar are also the additional four forms of the one and the same God in chaiva tradition for centuries. These forms are not merely the imaginative creations of human mind. They are the real revelations and visualizations for the great Rishis and Devotees in their spiritual journey. Even now many people experiencing and visualizing these forms when they are going through the prescribed spiritual practices. This happens to even for people unknown of these

10 forms or knowledge before. There are number of personal testimonies for this including mine. Then there are other forms in Hinduism along but not within the Saiva tradition. Aiyappan, Ram, Krishna, Hanuman etc are some examples. There are large group of Hindu followers of these forms of God. Then there are forms and expressions of other religions too. Such as formless God as Allah in Islam, God with faint visualization as Yehovah in Christianity, God as a great splendor in Zoroastrianism, God as nothingness in Buddhism etc. Whatever the form of God we worship among these, we are worshipping the one and the same God. This is the stand of Chaivaism. Quotations: 1. Sivalingam is for the form of unseen formless and the form. - Periya Puraanam by St. Saekki'lar, song See! He is the Naara'na:n; He is the Brahma with four faces; He is the embodiment of four vaethaas ( the sacred texts of the Hindus), He is like the navigating ship in the vast ocean of wisdom; He is the one Who is complete without any defect; He is the embodiment of righteousness, He is the eternal; He is none other than The Lord Chive Who has received the River Gankai on His matted hair locks. -Thevaaram songs by St. Thiru Navukkarasar The same one acts as nine different forms - Sivagnana siththiyaar by St. Arul Nanthi Sivaachchariyar There are 25 Maheswara forms. -Saiva Questions and answers by Arumuga Naavalar, Book - 2, Question- 23

11 5. The Lord comes in eight forms as earth, water, fire, air, space, moon, sun and the soul(s) - Thevaaram songs by St. Thirugnana Sambanthar He is the earth; the fire; the water He is the soul(s); the wind The moon; the sun And the space thus eight diffrent forms - Thevaaram songs of Thiru Naavukkarasar è í î ܼ¾ ༾ è óíñ Œ cí è ÜE î Gè Pò CõLƒè 2. ï óí è ï ºè è ï «õ î è ë ùšªð¼ƒ èìÿ«è ï õ Œ Ü ù Ìóí è ¹ Eò è ¹ó í î è - «ê Aö ²õ IèO ªðKò ¹ó í, ð ì F¼ï ¾ èóê «îõ ó -6 F¼º ø 8 ðfè 3 ð ì 3. Cõ êˆf ï î M êî Cõ Fè ßê àõ ܼ À¼ˆF ó î ñ Üò å P å ø Š ðõ î¼ Ü¼õ ï Þƒ à¼õï àðò å ø ïõ î¼ «ðî ãè ï î«ù ï Šð â ð. - Cõë ùcˆfò, ÜFèóí 2, ð ì ñ«è²ó õ õ âˆî ù? ê Fó«êèó, àñ ñ«èê, Þìð Ïì, êð ðf (ïìó ü ), è ò í² îó, Hþ ìù, è ñ K, è ô K, FK¹ó K, êô îó K, ñ îƒè K, ióðˆfó, ýkò ˆî, Ü ˆîï g²ó, Aó î, èƒè, ê «ìê Aó, côè ì, ê èóšhóî, èêºè Aóè, «ê ñ vè î, ãèð î, ²è êù, îví Í ˆF, Lƒ«è Ÿðõ â  ޼ðˆ î ñ.- ÝÁºè ï õôk

12 êõ Mù M ì- 2 ¹ˆîè, 23 Mù M ì.. 5. ñ «í c Üù è «ô Ýè ò ñfþóm â E õ¼ Þòñ ù -F¼ë ùê ð î «îõ ó - 2 F¼º ø, 184 ðfè, 3 ð ì. 6. Þ¼Gôù Œˆ bò A c¼ ñ A Þòñ ùù Œ âp» è ŸÁ ñ A ܼG ôò Fƒè Œ ë J ø A Ýè êñ Œ Ü ì Í ˆF ò A - F¼ï ¾ èóê «îõ ó -6 F¼º ø 94 ðfè 1 ð ì

13 KNOWING OUR ROOTS Series : 6. Why do we worship idols? We are not idol worshipers. We worship different forms of the one and the same God in deities. These are symbolic forms of the formless God but not God themselves. This is like the flag which is the symbolic of the country and we do pay our due respect to the flag as we give it to the country. Flag is the reminder for us about the country too. We need these forms for our focus and attention to the formless, nameless God Who is difficult to be understood or perceived by us. Quotations: 1. That is formless and difficult to perceive but came with form by Itself (by grace) - Thiru Unthiyaar by St. Uyyavantha Thaevar of Thiruviyaloor, Song Oh! God! Please come and stay in this stone statue. May you reside in this statue as your from (for me). - Atharva Vaetha 1 st canto 2 nd katpa 3 rd thvani 1. Üè ñ Œ ò ¼ ÜP¾ÜK ÜŠªð ¼œ êè ñ Œ õ â Á à bðø î ù èˆ î î â Á à bðø - ªñŒè ì ê ˆFó ðfù A ºîô õî ù F¼¾ Fò -ð ì 2. ãu Ü ñ ù ÝFwì Ü ñ ðõ «î îë; ²õ I õ ¼! Þ î èÿc ôj G ½. Þ î èÿc ô«ò àñ êgó Ý õî è. -Üî õ «õî 1 è ì 2 èÿðè 3 õq

14 KNOWING OUR ROOTS Series: 7. Are we the followers of God Siva Who is one of the Hindu Trinity? Answer: Hindu trinity represents the God of creation Brahma, God of sustenance or Vishnu, and the God of dissolution Rudran. Siva is in complete control of this trinity. Siva takes the forms as trinity Gods as part of his nine primary forms and does the actions of creation, sustenance and dissolution by His Grace for the benefit of us. These forms are called Sambhu Padcha forms as they represent the supreme one and the same God Siva. The name Rudran is confusing for the people as it indicates different personalities at different places. 1. Rudra is one of the names for the Supreme Siva as per Sri Rudram of Yajur Vaetham. 2. Rudran is one of the nine primary forms of the one and the same God Siva. 3. At the same time there are so many Rudras who are among the succession of disciples. So many Rudras were instructed of Agamas - the texts of sacred truths by Sivan. These Rudras are called A nu Padcham as they are the elevated souls in that position. 4. Even one of the disciples of St. Thirumoolar is Rudran as per Thirumanthiram song. 5. Then there are numerous positions as Rudras bestowed to the elevated souls. They are A nu Padcha Rudras who are different from the Supreme Rudra or God Siva. They enjoy the privilege of having the highest form, the form of Siva. Privilege of having the form of Siva is called Saayujiya. This is the enjoyment given for the souls in the higher state for their good deeds and spiritual austerities. 6. So there are numerous Brahmas, Vishnus and Rudras and other high positions or states enjoyed by the souls in the higher states. All belong to A nu Padcha forms as thay are different from the one and the same God Siva. But they act as per the direction of the supreme one and the same God Siva and may even do the actions of creation, sustenance, dissolution as A nu Padcha Brahmas, Vishnus and Rudras along with other actions for the enjoyment of them and for the

15 benefit of us. So the name Rudra is not indicating Supreme Siva all the times as many people interpret superficially. Sambhu Padcha Rudra is one of the nine primary forms of the one and the same God. Chaivam says this one and the same God none other than Sivan Himself Who is in control of the Hindu trinity. This Rudra form of Siva in the Hindu trinity is the cause of the all causes as He is the Lord of Dissolution and all must emerge from Him again including the other Lords of Hindu Trinity as He is the only one everlasting without an end or beginning. We Chaivaities are the followers of this concept. Quotations: 1. See! He is the Naara'na:n; He is the Brahma with four faces; He is the embodiment of four vaethaas ( the sacred texts of the Hindus), He is like the navigating ship in the vast ocean of wisdom; He is the one Who is complete without any defect; He is the embodiment of righteousness, He is the eternal; He is none other than The Lord Chive Who has received the River Gankai on His matted hair locks. -Thevaaram songs by St. Thiru Navukkarasar He, the Being First, and He, the Emerald hued, And He of the glowing, original Lotus seat- Though the three form an integral whole The world considers them separate and quarrel - Thirumanthiram by St. Thirumoolar, song The Supreme is one, absolute without lapse, In descent thereof, Maal and Aya:n becoming; Thus He, the One into many ranked; By conscious choice a Self -deduction made - Thirumanthiram by St. Thirumoolar, song 111

16 4.millions and millions of Brahmas - Thiruvaasagam by St. Ma'nikkavaasakar 5. Even the Maal and four headed Brahman didn't see thy greatness - Thiruvaasagam by St. Ma'nikkavaasakar 6. Hundreds of millions of Brahmas the lords of creation have come and gone Sixty millions of Naaraya'nars the lords of sustenance have come and gone The count of Indras the lords of heaven come and gone are equal to the count of sand particles in the bank of river Gangai. The Lord Siva is the only one without any end. -Thevaaram songs by St. Thiru Navukkarasar Eighteen Rudras received each of the eighteen Aagamas- the Sacred texts of Chaivaism from Parama Sivan. - Kiraa'na Aagamam, Vidyaapaadam, Tantraavathaara Padalam, 10th Chapter - Ajitha Aagamam, Tantravathaara Padalam, Does the God does all the five actions of creation, maintenance, destruction, veiling and grace by Himself? In suththa maya world He Himself does all five actions. In Asuththa maya world He does these things through Anantheswarar. In Prakrithi Maya world in which we live, He does all His actions through Anatheswarar as follows. Creation by Sri Kanda Rudrar, sustenance by Vishnu and destruction by Kaala Rudrar - Chaiva Questions and Answers by Arumuga Naavalar, Book- 2, Question- 18. ( details of suththa maya, asuththa maya and prakriti maya see Chaiva Siddhantha Texts or talk to a qualified Guru) 1. ï óí è ï ºè è ï «õ î è ë ùšªð¼ƒ èìÿ«è ï õ Œ Ü ù

17 Ìóí è ¹ Eò è ¹ó í î è - F¼ï ¾ èóê «îõ ó -6 F¼º ø 8 ðfè 3 ð ì 2. ÝFŠ Hó  ÜEñE õ íâ ÝF èñôˆ îô I ê ò  «ê F A Í Á ªî ì CJ å ªøù «ðfˆ ôè Híƒ A ø è«- F¼ÍôK F¼ñ Fó 104 ð ì 3. ðóˆf«ô å ø Œàœ ŒŠ¹øñ A õóˆf✠ñ òõ ù ŒÜò ù Aˆ îóˆf✠î ðô î ñò ù Aˆ èóˆf✠G Á èn¾ ªêŒî «ù -F¼ÍôK F¼ñ Fó 111 ð ì 4. «è «è Hó ñ èœ - F¼õ êè 5. ñ ôpò ï ºè è í ñ ôj ù - F¼õ êè 6. ËÁ «è Hóñ èœ ªï Fù ÝÁ «è ï ó òí ܃é«ù ãá èƒ è ñí â E Þ Fó ßÁ Þô îõ ßê å¼õ«ù - F¼ï ¾ èóê «îõ ó -5 F¼º ø 100 ðfè 3 ð ì 7. ðóñcõqì Þ¼ ðfªù ༈fó èœ ðfªù Ýèñƒè ÜP î èœ. -Aó í èñˆf, MˆFò ð î, î Fó õî ó ðìô, ðˆî ܈Fò ò. - ÜTî Ýèñ, î Fó õî ó ðìô, ð ì Cõªð¼ñ ä ªî N½ î «ñ ªêŒõ ó? ²ˆîñ òj A¼ˆFò ä î «ñ ªêŒõ. ܲˆî ñ òj A¼ˆFò ä Üù «î²õóó ÜF ˆ G Á ªêŒõ ; HóA¼FJ W àœ A¼ˆFò ä šõù «î²õó õ Jô è

18 ÿè 켈fó ó ÜF ˆ G Á ð ìˆî½, M μ õ ÜF ˆ G Á è ˆî½, è ô¼ˆfó ó ÜF ˆ G Á ÜNˆî½ ªêŒõ. - ÝÁºè ï õôk êšmù M ì 2 ¹ˆîè, 18 Mù M ì