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 (131) out of (1596) are given below.
66. God is He for him
அவனுக்கு அவனாம் அருட்பெருஞ்ஜோதி
131. Pavanaththi nandap parappinegangum
132. Avanuk kavanam Arutperunjothi
131. பவனத்தி னண்டப் பரப்பினெங்கும்
132. அவனுக் கவனாம் அருட்பெருஞ்ஜோதி.
Ex
God is everywhere and in every form. But His inner reality can not come to perception anywhere and in any form other than in this human life. In the universe there are numberless heavenly bodies; they are: stars, planets, satellites, comets, meteors and man made space stations. Only in earth like planets, all kinds of living beings can thrive. Our earth is one of the planets in the solar system. In this system the sun is in the centre, revolving itself and attracting all its planetary family encircling regularly. In this solar system our earth is in the third order, while Mercury and Venus are in first and second and Mars, Jupiter and Saturn are in the fourth, fifth and sixth in rank. There are some other planets belonging to this system but they are not considered so much important in our higher life of divine grace. Out of all these planets, this earth only is well organised for our human race to live and thrive.
Scientific discovery denotes that our earth has been created and brought into self rotation and revolution around the sun some billions of years ago. In the long run of time, this planet became cooled and suitable to be lived upon by inanimate and animate living beings. The life of living beings is mainly dependant on atmospheric air. This life giving air is thickly surrounding our earth. This atmosphere air-belt rarefies in the upper region. Above this, is a very important ionospheric belt as a safeguard against foreign objects rushing towards our earth. On the surface of the earth the atmospheric air contains good amount of oxygen, hydrogen and nitrogen, all these take part in giving us a good life to live and prosper.
The word Pavanam has got some important meaning like, air, wind, earth, world, dwelling place etc. All these meanings are applicable here to make our life profitable. This suitable atmospheric condition upon the surface of this planet is very helpful to all forces, matters, objects and living beings. Of these living beings, the humanity is on the top level. Because man only is empowered to know and conquer all nature and finally to become Divine man of eternal Blissful life.
Though Arutperunjothi god fills everywhere He does not come out anywhere but only on the surface of the earth. 'Pavanaththin Andap parappinengengum',(பவனத்தின் அண்டப் பரப்பின் எங்கெங்கும்) may be taken as everywhere on this planet. There are exceptions as there are many places on this earth not suitable for our habitation. We must know there are many solar systems in the universe and in each of these there is a planet of earth in which humanity can live and prosper. So the meaning of the first line may be taken to point out, on the surface of earth like planets, wherever in the boundless universe, are suitable for human habitation.
Therefore our god Arutperunjothi has planned to expose Himself on this earthly world. Before His exposition on this earth in the human life god has to prepare this ground for millions of years. On this planet the human race appeared only after the lower sensed beings developed here. In the last animal life say, the lemur, all the five senses became fully active. Then and there with the sixth sense of mind, the human race, as it was species of rational animal, came to live upon this earth. In the beginning, the mind-eye was a speciality to the man. By that eye sight some secret of the primary divine light was understood and revealed as 'Kandazhi' கந்தழி. Bu that knowledge Light did not enabled him to obtain the divine gracious life. In order to develop the gracious life the man was diverted to the sensuous life. Then the third eye became disused and lost in course of time.
Now the gracious life has been developed and so the Divine is coming out. The human race is filled upon this earth and god is ready to be realised by men of perfect grace. The inner truth of god is realisable only on the soul plane. The soul of man is embedded in the sensuous physical body. The soul knowledge is the outcome of male product while the bodily growth is the development of female product. Therefore god is said to be in male form. God Arutperunjothi is realised in the form of He. And the one who realised Him is also transcended to the soul plane or male position. Even if a woman transcends to that higher level she becomes he. So the title of this couplet is put as, "god is He for him". This divine knowledge is now blossoming in man and this is to be realised and lived up henceforth. In one sentence, god Arutperunjothi has become, He for him, who realises this truth by practical experience wherever he may live on the earths in the whole universe.
67. The truth of god as She in her
அவளுக்கு அவளான உண்மை.
133. Thivalurra andath thiralineng kengum
134. Avaluk Kavalam Arutperunjothi
133. திவளுற்ற அண்டத் திரளின் எங்கெங்கும்
134. அவளுக்கு அவளாம் அருட்பெருஞ்ஜோதி
Ex
Unseen divine light which is ever filling the empty space is the main cause of all substances. This is the space from which all world have come The beginning less and changeless light due to the power of the infinite grace assumes into all forms and dissolves into nothingness or unseen state of divine light.
The word 'thiva' or 'Diva' means space, light, day, visibility, the ether and so on. Here 'Tivalutra andathiral' (திவளுற்ற அண்டத் திரள்) can be explained as, the enormous light bodies i.e. suns or stars which have been formed out of invisible light particles filled in the space. It is said from the nebula stage the suns have been born.
The Sun is also termed as 'Oivakaran' or Tivakaran in Sanskritic and Tamil pronounciations. From this sun, all our planetary bodies have been created. Every body from an atom to a planet is but the light's transformation. 'Thival' gives the meaning slacken, relax or bend. This refers to all that have been slackened or relaxed from the sun, and existing in different forms. Out of all the created things, this human body is of great value, because it is filled by full developed elements and intellectual power to know all the mystic truth underlying all things and beings.
Our physical body and spiritual soul, though different in nature are closely held together for the highest attainment of divine blessed life. Just as the material planetary bodies have come out and circumambulating the sun, our physical body has been created and kept encircling the soul atom of divine light. Without, this living body, the soul knowledge and experience cannot be obtained.
The spiritual soul and the physical body are of masculine and feminine nature respectively. The divine realisation is due to come by the connection of this human body alone. In no other bodily life, the spiritual knowledge is lit up. Therefore it is certain along with the aid of this body one can attain the godhead. Hence this body should never be neglected and lost for the divine attainment. Without this human bodily life, it is impossible for the soul alone or the soul in any other bodily life to get the divine experience to that soul.
God Arutperunjothi Himself for His full exposition has taken this human bodily life. In this living bodily state, the divine grace or Arul is glowing as soul-light from the innermost, and the Perunjothi itself becomes the body constituted around the soul. We have already acknowledged this body is feminine which is the perunjothi of Divine self and we may now understand that this Jothi is indeed feminine. This god, Jothi is in bodily form of feminine property and so we may represent the god as She. When she, as the god is shining from inside, the outer body is her. Thus we see the truth of her to she.
In the Arut perunjothi higher stage, it is both in essence of male and female. If we want to get this higher divine experience, we must wholly live from that perunjothi alone, meanwhile the physical body also must be living by the inner gracious light. Therefore we must clearly understand, that we should never renounce the sensuous body, at the same time we should never cling to the sensuous enjoyments. Any attachment to the sensuous enjoyment is a great hindrance to the Divine life of Bliss. With this idea in heart our Vallalar has elsewhere strongly advised the public to eschew the feminine desire which is really the carnal desire of sensuous bodily enjoyment. In his own words: "மருவு பெண்ணாசையை மறக்க வேண்டும், he does not mean, forget or renounce the female: (If he had said so it would have been degrading for females). The body of both male and female are the same feminine and therefore both are to avoid the desire to carnal enjoyments. Both are advised to live from the soul abode and so they should necessarily cooperate in the pure divine love service for the good of humanity.
68. It is itself
அதனுக்கு அது.
135. Madhanutra anda varaippineng engum
136. Athanuk kathuvaam arutperunj jothi.
135. மதனுற்ற அண்ட வரைப்பினெங் கெங்கும்
136. அதனுக் கதுவாம் அருட்பெருஞ் ஜோதி.
Ex
In the previous lines Arutperunjothi was seen as, He and She in respective stage of in and out. In two stages it is masculine and feminine or positive and negative. Now, all the solid, liquid, gaseous and electromagnetic forms and stages too are no other than our Arutperunjothi itself. This truth is revealed in these lines here.
Generally all the worldly things and energies are in the above mentioned four stages - (Solid, liquid, gaseous and electromagnetic). All these are found and experienced on this planet, the earth. This earth is explained as 'Madhan utrra Andam'. Madhan means, hardness, beauty, strength, fertility and sensuous desire. All these are making our earth surface a place of higher experimental life to acquire divine experience.
Upon this earth we see so many beautiful natural sceneries, colourful landscapes, attractive living beings their movements, actions and plays; all these make impressions on the mind of man. The reasoning and inventive mind of man has created all over the world numberless artificial, artistic articles, architectural and sculptural works and scientific objects etc. Above all, the human mind has a special attraction towards opposite sex. This must be controlled and diversed to the merciful service to humanity. If this is not done in right manner, both the social life and the spiritual life will be spoiled. The attractive sex appeal is personified as cupid or Madhan or man-madhan. By the wisdom eye of grace the cupidity must be destroyed, then only, the divinity of humanity will come to play on this world for the good of all people.
With the eye of Arutperunjothi let us dive deep in this beautiful world. All the beauteous appearances resolve into atomic matters and energies. The divine creative power brings all the matters and energies to make multifarious scenes of the world. In the end, the Divine Destructive energy itself destroys every thing to deform the scenes. In humanity too, this creative and destructive works arise. A man of grace will not dive deep in the illusive world to find pleasure, but he will look deep, with the eye of grace at the divine workmanship in all; thus he will lead a gracious life here. This divine man sees that only the Arutperunjothi itself is making different appearances around him So it is present everywhere. In the innermost of us it is realised as Arutperunjothi, and because it is itself in the innermost of all and making its appearance; the outer appearance is only the projection of the inner. Hence we must see the divine grace everywhere and must perform merciful deeds which will be going on through His gracious action.
Upon no other planet, we can expect to have all the life giving objects and to perform human service to our fellow beings. By some hard chivalrous enterprises, men may reach other celestial planets where they can find some rare things and phenomena but there will be nothing to lead a gracious divine life of Bliss. Therefore we must find out all here for the essential divine life. By the grace of Arutperunjothi we have recognised the same has evolved into each and every object of this world.
69. Arutperunjothi is 'Pall' and above or beyond
எப்பாலும் அப்பாலும் ஆயது.
137. Eppaalumay veliellaam kadandhu meal
138. Appaalu maakiya arutperunjothi
137. எப்பாலு மாய்வெளி எல்லாம்கடந்து மேல்
138. அப்பாலு மாகிய அருட்பெருஞ்ஜோதி
Ex
It was cleared that Arutperunjothi alone seemed to evolve into He, She and It. Besides, the same Arutperunjothi is 'Pall' and beyond. The word 'Pall' in Tamil means: milk, spot or destiny, attribute, light, wisdom and so on. Our Arutperunjothi is all these and above or beyond. We know the vacant space is limitless. In this space the divine light is filled. This light filled space is extending more and more, and is going on beyond our mind's power of imagination. In this manner our Arutperunjothi's attributes, divinity of light, knowledge of wisdom, the power of universal governance, unbreakable law of destiny and His power of Omnigrace are all beyond the conception of mankind.
Arutperunjothi is beyond all space, power, knowledge, elements and entities and non entities. Such is the greatness of god Arutperunjothi who or which is never fully known to anybody in this world or elsewhere. Then how shall we realise this Arutperunjothi? If it shall not be realised at all by anybody, what is the use or what is the benefit either to man or to god Himself. The Truth is this: God is the most supreme and His power also is unlimited. He has created all the universe and has now come to the knowledge of man to his understanding. By the limited power of Divine grace the man has got all these knowledge of god. From this summit, man acknowledges, unlimited and unobtainable greatness of the Almighty. Above this climax, there was nothing to be reached by anyone. All the old religious masters, great yoga philosophers and divine personages were stopped at this point. This was held to be the final stage.
Now a new light of Omnigrace has dawned. The man on the summit is aware that the unlimited powerful Arutperunjothi only has become all and all in the whole universe Though god is unapproachable by anybody at any cost He Himself from that highest position spreads His Omnigrace which alone has become all and all of the universe. Therefore the man who is reflecting about god is nothing but that Divine grace itself. So the man is only the reflex and his real form is that grace of god itself. All this time the man was holding this reflex to be his real form, so he was out in delusion. Now the delusive mind of man has cleared and he realises himself in oneness of that gracious god This divine awareness is to be developed by living a full gracious life from that higher plane. To what degree the gracious experience increases, to that extent the sensuous carnal life will decrease and finally the divine life will be fully attained by the man of grace. In this stage, the real fact is the All powerful god who was till now from the innermost ruling all the universe, has just come out, or made Himself out through the form of gracious man. In this form He will be living with His full unlimited power as it is His Eternal Nature. This is the highest benefit in this life, which is the real command of god and the same is the real demand of man. From this divine stage the man of grace in oneness of god will be eternally experiencing the unlimited Blessed life.
70. It is everything and nothing
எல்லாமாகியும் அல்லதாம்.
139. Vallathay ellaam aaki ellaamum
140. Appaalum aakiya arutperunjothi.
139. வல்லதாய் எல்லாம் ஆகி எல்லாமும்
140. அப்பாலும் ஆகிய அருட்பெருஞ்ஜோதி
Ex
Our supreme god Arutperunjothi how grandly and graciously is executing the universal works! He is omnipotent or all powerful to do all works without a single mistake. His work is corresponding to the cause and effect of the past and future. By His Omnipotent power He can do everything, He can assume all forms He likes. But at the same time, He can keep quiet for some reason or other. To Him nothing is impossible. With all His Omnigracious power He is Eternally working for the highest permanent blissful life of every man. But He and His divine work are kept secret in the innermost, so that truth is not known to ordinary people.
Though god is said to be all powerful and is living through all forms, in which form are we able to see him? There is no form of any being, no man of any power and knowledge, or nothing can be pointed out as His real form. Therefore we can not see the all powerful god in any personal or impersonal or spiritual forms. Besides, if god of mercy is living through everybody, why do all calamities, wars and destructions take place everywhere? Can He not prevent all these untoward incidents? Or He might have removed such unwanted ideas from the mind of men and thereby prevented occurrence of such actions. Why does that Merciful god keep quiet when thousands and millions of people suffer and die in ignorance, poverty and diseases? All such questions are pricking in the minds of thoughtful people. When we look at all these happenings, we can not but think. God is not truly in any form in this world. It is true, what all we see, whom all we know, and all we hold in our mind, are not really divine. In no one can we perceive god. Thus one may consider god is nothing. But the truth is completely otherwise.
God is always merciful and He is doing the real good only to each and all persons. But He is working from the innermost of all who are pushing through the sensuous life of pleasure and pain. out of ignorance and desire for sensuality, man is doing many wrong deeds and thereby invites all troubles and difficulties. The Almighty is directing from the innermost for the man to attain the highest divine life of true Bliss; but the man passing through sensuous life wants much sensual pleasure and in practical experience he finds there is no true happiness in that fleeting pleasures and then tries to come to the right path of divine guiding light of grace. From that moment, god’s grace bestows all goodness in the life of man. Therefore all the difficulties and hazards coming across the man's life are only manipulations of god to make the man fit for the higher life. As the present humanity is too much lingering and contracting in material objects and sensual pleasures, we see nature's dangerous destructive works going on around us. When the compassionate divine love comes out from the heart of people and makes the life happy to everybody, the divine grace also will bring all goodness and blissful life to all. Therefore there is neither mistake in nature's work nor any defect in the law of god.
Hence the meaning of the two lines taken here is clear; the Divine Arutperunjothi is Omnipotent (this is pointed as Vallathai (வல்லதாய்) - and it is said It takes Omniforms (this is put – எல்லாம் ஆகி எல்லாமும் அல்லதாய்) and in the end it is noted that it is not anything or nothing at all. This idea is referred to by - எல்லாமும் அல்லதாய் Hence the heading "It is everything and nothing".
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