ARUTPERUNJOTHI AGAVAL
SWAMI SARAVANAANDA
Swami Saravanaananda of Dindigul has written many explanatory note to Vallalar’s Thiru Arutpa poems. Arutperunjothi Agaval is one among the Thiru Arutpa Poem which contains 1,596 lines. Swamiji also wrote explanatory note to Arutperunjothi Agaval, long back. But the whole translation is not available. From the manuscript copy, it has been typed and presented here.
Hence, the available portion which starts from the lines (95) out of (1596) are given below.
At intervals, the remaining portions will be posted here … .. ..
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48. The temple of Almighty is our might
அம்பலமே நம் பலம்.
95. Embalam enathozhu dheththinorkk Arulpuri
96. Ambalathu adalsei Arutperunjothi
95.எம்பலம் எனத்தொழு தேத்தினோர்க் கருள்புரி
96. அம்பலத் தாடல்செய் அருட்பெருஞ்ஜோதி
The Divine dance is eternally going on from the altar of the temple. Because our God Almighty is eternal and omnipresent, His divine dance or His gracious universal activities must be going on for ever from everywhere. But where shall we see Him directly? He is not perceivable either by physical eye or by any material, or immaterial objects. We see the active universe around us. There is no halt to the activities. Therefore the root cause or the divine source to this ever active universe must also be in perennial action. This inner source must be sought for realising Him there. We cannot come across that divine point anywhere out side but in our innermost alone.
The innermost of ourselves is our Soul itself. This soul is the divine point in which the whole truth of God is to be realised and lived in oneness of Him. This divine soul action indeed is the real temple, we may say a mini temple, to the Almighty. This soul or sol (சொல்) point has stretched out its five forces to form our body, life, intellect, spirit and His grace. Although He is ever extending all these five forces from each particle, only very small portions come to play in all lives other than this perfect human bodily life. So, we only have been endowed with the highest knowledge of realising Him.
Truth of Nataraja (நடராஜா) or the universal dance of God is viewed from soul-temple. We know God's truth is in two aspects: one the outer and the other inner: the inner is unseen but the outer is seen. The outer is the whole universal form and the inner is sole power of Omnigrace that is controlling and ruling all the outer universe and that inner is contained in atomic form of soul particle or Anma or Atma Anu (ஆன்ம அணு). Therefore this soul-atom is the temple of God from which the divine truth is to be realisable.
For the realisation of the Divine truth the soul-action is ever treated from both sides. Until the truth comes out fully and is realised in deathless blissful life, the divine gracious action will be going on and on. Even after the realisation, there will be the action eternally, but it will be the blissful experience of emanicipated soul-man. Thus the divine action will never stops for any moment. This action is metaphysically spoken as the dance of universe or Nataraja Natanam (நடராஜ நடனம்). This divine action brings successfully different kinds of material, physical, vital, intellectual and spiritual forms or forces around the soul-atom. The divine action in the temple is known as the five works of God.
They are:
1. The creation, say, body formation;
2. the action of rearing, sustaining and developing in sense experience;
3. the action of stopping the life movement and destroying the body;
4. the action of putting the soul in concealment for some time at somewhere; and
5.gracing the soul to come out in a new body for further development.
Thus these five actions are going on to an ever developing soul. And at the stage of fully developed soul, these actions become the practical experience of ever living blessed man. Hence this divine action of Dance of Nataraja (நடராஜா) is eternally going on in the soul-temple. God is Omnipresent and soul atoms are innumerable; so the Divine action of universal dance will be going on endlessly.
At the stage of grace developed state the soul-God-temple is blossoming at the medulla oblongata in the central head. In this stage the divine temple of gracious light appears as Pal (பல்). Only here, this temple of God comes out for realisation; but it is in obscurity before its appearance and after its disappearance in life. In that obscure state, the soul-sol is in "Om" (ஓம்) form; that is U (உ) is understood in (அ – உ – ம்) and so it is in the form of AM (அம்). Therefore, our gracious temple of Pal (பல்) is surrounded by AM (அம்)) on either side. Thus the universal divine temple is put up as AM + PAL + AM = AMPALAM or Ambalam. Thus the Divine Dance of Nataraja is coming to realisation in our ambalam only.
God Almighty has come to offer Himself to all who, by Omnigrace realise Him in this "ambalam" (அம்பலம்). Till now, some in the developing stage got before this temple and reverentially worshipped Him and obtained some grace of God, which though pleased them much, it did not make them live in the blissful life for ever. Because, they were endowed with such an amount of grace only, to enjoy for a time and then pass away. But our Vallalar completely surrendered to the Almighty and so his egoic spirit was wholly transformed into gracious form of God. Thus His award is full gracious life of God Himself. In this way his might has become the Omnigrace of Almighty by his living in blissful life in the ambalam he is helping everybody who comes to him for his guidance. Let us find him in our ambalam and get his full help for the attainment of three dega siddhi. (திரி தேக சித்தி)
49. The superknowledge of Chidambaram
பர ஞான சிதம்பரம்.
97. Thambara gnana Chidambaram enumor
98. Ambaraththongiya Arutperunjothi
97. தம்பர ஞான சிதம்பரம் எனும்ஓர்
98. அம்பரத்து ஓங்கிய அருட்பெருஞ்ஜோதி
Ex
Ambaram (அம்பரம்) is generally meant ether fillled space, Many people think air itself is ether; some do not take it as an element. Out of five basic elements noted by our people, the ether is the first, from which fire, water and earth have been evolved. The oriental spiritualists give first preference to this element . Of course where vacant space is not ether: it is but the rarest and permanently filled up in the whole of the space. Every element every object and every force have been evolved out from this one supreme stratum. But this ethereal space seems void. We know all the universe has come out from that space; so it is not true the space was empty or without something. Something cannot come out of nothing. Therefore, there must be something in the vacant space; it may be in the very subtlest nature which would have given birth to observable multifarious universe.
That ether is a permanent entity filled in the whole space which is the root cause of all matter, energies, beings, powers and experiences. Truly through every ethereal particle that supreme entity is working for the final effective realisation of immortalised blissful life to man. So, that ethereal spaceful entity is Divine and has come to our realisation of Godly attainment.
A particular ethereal particle of God Himself, has been lit up as our soul-atom and the very same has evolved as all our soul, life and bodily being. Now we can accept that ether particle itself is the wise temple of God or Chidambara Alaya (சிதம்பர ஆலய) (சிற்றம்பலம்) or Chitrambalam (சிற்றம்பலம்). From here we see the divine dance being performed everywhere and from here alone we have to realise and enjoy the divine life; but we are only in awareness of the Nataraja Natanam ( நடராஜ நடனம்) everywhere outside. Because the external space is filled with the basic divine light of gold, this vast temple is called golden temple "Ponnambalam", or Porchsabai or Perambalam(பொன்னம்பலம் / பொற்சபை அல்லது பேரம்பலம்): And the inner temple of atomic form is said to be Chitrambalam or Chitrsabai. (சிற்றம்பலம் அல்லது சிற்சபை)
Saiva devotee prays Natana sabesha (நடன சபேசா), putting himself in front of the Lord, i.e. from the root of the nose between the eye-brows. By this prayer he gets some grace of God to make his life successful. Traditionally Saivates pronounce or write the word Thiruchitrrambalam (திருச்சிற்றம்பலம்) in the beginning and ending when they worship or do any good and important things. This is meant for invoking the divine grace for obtaining good result in all persuits. So much good only was expected from the worship of Chidambara Alayam (சிதம்பர ஆலயம்). But much more we can have by the worship of Arutperunjothi in the temple of Uttara gnana Chidambaram (உத்தர ஞான சிதம்பரம்).
True wisdom temple or Saththiya Gnanasabai (சத்திய ஞான சபை) of Vadalur is called Uthara gnana Chidambaram (உத்தர ஞான சிதம்பரம்) because this has given the experience of supreme knowledge to live in God. Uttaram (உத்தரம்) is subsequent eminence of the past one. Paragnanam (பரஞானம்) is supreme knowledge, this may be taken along with' That' or' Tham'; and it will be that paragnanam (பரஞானம்) or Tharparagnanam. (தற்பரஞானம்) In the old Chidambaram a man gets only that paragnanam (பரஞானம்) i.e. he gets this knowledge of God, keeping himself away from that God. But in this Uthara gnana Chidambaram (உத்தர ஞான சிதம்பரம்) a person realises Tampara gnanam,(தம்பர ஞானம்) which is the knowledge of both God and man in one form. Tam (தம்) stands for plurality of their, while Tat points out singularity of It or That.
Our Vallalar recognises the Arutperunjothi in the ambalam with being himself in oneness of Him. Even from keeping aloof of God a man is able to get from Him in something good. Hence when he lives in oneness of Him, it is certain he can obtain the highest goodness or the Divine blissful life from Him. Therefore we must reach Vadalur (வடலூர்), the Uttara gnana Chidambaram (உத்தர ஞான சிதம்பரம்) which is indeed, the inner temple to be followed by all at any time. In this inner temple alone the Arutperunjothi is ever kept aglow without sinking and vanishing. At any moment we are cordially invited and offered His grace to make our life blessed. The external Vadalur (வடலூர்), wisdom temple is a symbol to denote the real one in us. He humbly requested all, "Do not miss to see Thaippusam" (தைப்பூசம்). In fact Thaippusam (தைப்பூசம்). (means the inner gracious light to be perceived when one is in good spirit of knowledge and life. By realisation of the Arutperunjothi whatever happens will be for the good of one.
50. Common temple where Holy souls meet
(சபை – பொது)
99. Echsabai Podhuvena iambinar arignargal
100. Achsabai idangkolum Arutperunjothi
99. எச்சபை பொதுவென இயம்பினர் அறிஞர்கள்
100. அச்சபை இடங்கொளும் அருட்பெருஞ்ஜோதி
Ex
We know there are many sacred places of worship. These holy places are of different types with different deities worshipped by different sects of devout peoples. These places are called, temples, churches, mosques etc., by Hindus, Christians, Muslims respectively. In these sacred places the people belonging to each one of them gather and perform worship and prayer in certain manner with some paraphernalia. The religious minded people only have faith and belief in their divine place of worship; but others do attend there without any high ideal in view.
In the mass gatherings, other than religious ones many people of different sects may assemble and even pray publicly. But it is not a place of worship. Men of real wisdom see the truth of one god who is presiding in different temples with different forms and names. So all the prayers and worship performed in any manner at any place by any sect or community refer to that one god who may bless one and all.
The idea of one god is supported by many but it is not practised in the general life. Cause of defect is the basic divine truth is not clearly understood by the public, who are unable to come out of their religious boundaries to mingle with all in true devotional spirit.
Now the time has come to see the divine truth as it is ignorance is being dispelled. To this, our Vallalar enlightens with his experience through this Holy song. Till now, there was no common temple in which the whole humanity could meet and worship the one god of omnigrace. Under the guiding light of Arutperunjothi from the innermost of all, the true temple of wisdom has been brought out at Vadalur (வடலூர்), in Tamil Nadu, India. This temple will certainly help the whole mankind to see the divine truth in the soul of everybody and loving service to humanity forms the essence of the true worship of god. Let us revise this idea from these being taken here.
The meaning of these two lines is: God Arutperunjothi is said to be housed in the temple which is common, and it is ascertained by the wise. Those wise divine people, who dived deep into the 'self', perceived the inner light of god which is one and the same in the soul of every man of all time and all clime. Therefore that soul-god is common to all. Because the inner truth was not made clear to lay people, different enunciations of the masters were mis-understood by their followers. So the culture of God and temple very much differed due to different interpretations. And it has become very difficult to change the mind of common people about their god idea. At this hour, that divine truth has been brought out by His omnigrace, direct from the inner temple or the soul of all; henceforth, the truth will be accepted and held by all. The soul-temple of Arutperunjothi is common to all. Here all souls meet. In the gracious space of soul-temple alone, one will experience the truth of all souls. So it is really a common temple to all souls. Besides the soul-atom is both the small self of omni gracious god and our individual Self. That is, this one atom itself is common to god and man. Therefore, this temple is truly a common or Podu (பொது). So from this inner temple of wisdom the whole humanity will be blessed. These ideas should be clearly shown and explained through the symbolic temple of Vadalur Sathiya Gnana sabai (வடலூர் சத்திய ஞான சபை). This temple should be made international and above national and these should conform to no religion but supreme divine love method of worship. Following this true knowledge of god temple every one is to worship Divine Arutperunjothi everywhere. Henceforth one must see this gracious light in everybody, in every temple and in every life and should offer his worship of enlightening all. This Vadalur gnana sabai (வடலூர் ஞான சபை). must be taken as a model of common temple to the whole humanity.
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