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Bhagavadgita Pages, Chapters 1 to 18

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Author: Manavaachakam Kadantaan (13th century)

Language: Tamil

Subject: Basis of Saiva Siddhanta

Related articles and links: Primer in Saiva Siddhanta    TATTVAS-36

Translation: V.Krishnaraj

Åñ¨Á¾Õõ ¬¸Ááø ¨Åò¾ ¦À¡Õû ÅØÅ¡

¯ñ¨Á Å¢Çì¸õ ¯¨Ã¦ºöÂò -- ¾¢ñÁ¾õ§º÷

«ó¾¢¿¢Èò ¾ó¾¢Ó¸ò ¦¾¡ó¾¢Å¢üÚ ³í¸Ã¨Éô

Àó¾õ «Èô Òó¾¢Ôû ¨ÅôÀ¡õ --01

Åñ¨Á = Truth. ¾¢ñÁ¾õ = strong musth or must. «ó¾¢ = twilight. ¾ó¾¢ = male elephant. ¦¾¡ó¾¢ = large belly. ³í¸Ãý = five hands = proboscis plus four legs. Àó¾õ = bondage. Òó¾¢ = Buddhi or knowledge

Agamas explicate the Truth. Without deviating from its principles, elucidation of Truth will be presented here. Let us embrace Vinayaka who is of the color of twilight, who is of the face of the elephant in strong musth, who sports a large belly, and who owns five hands. Let us abide in His knowledge to remove the bondage.

Any endeavor begins with homage and invocation of the Lord of beginnings, Vinayaka (Å¢¿¡Â¸ý), who removes all obstacles and facilitates success.

Eulogy of Guru Meykanda and supplication to him

¦À¡ö¸¡ðÊô ¦À¡ö «¸üÈ¢ô §À¡¾¡Éó¾ô ¦À¡ÕÇ¡õ

¦Áö¸¡ðÎõ ¦Áö¸ñ¼¡ö! Å¢ñ½ôÀõ -- ¦À¡ö¸¡ð¼¡

¦Áö¡! ¾¢Õ¦Åñ¨½ Å¢ò¾¸¡! Íò¾Å¢É¡

³Â¡ ¿£ ¾¡ý §¸ðÎ «Õû. (02)

¦À¡ö = untruth, falsity, lie.  §À¡¾¡Éó¾õ =  wisdom + beatitude (bliss). ¦À¡Õû = essence. ¦Áö = Truth. Å¢ñ½ôÀõ = supplication, petition, recitation. Å¢ò¾¸ý. = wise person, (Bhairava, Siva).

He showed me the falsity and removed it. He is the embodiment and essence of wisdom and Bliss. He is the revealer of Truth; He is Meykandan himself. This is my supplication. O wise man of Tiruvennai, the suppressor of falsity and revealer of Truth.  Please listen to me in grace and shower me with Grace.

Kadantan is offering his thanks to his Guru Meykandan for revealing the falsity of doctrines, removing them, and offering him Bliss-wisdom. Commentators point to Falsity (¦À¡ö) as Paasam (À¡ºõ = bondage). It is important first to show what darkness, falsity and ignorance are and then reveal light, Truth and knowledge.

¬È¡Ú ¾òÐÅõ ²Ð? ¬½Åõ ²Ð? «ý§È ¾¡ý

Á¡È¡ Å¢¨É ²Ð? ÁüÚ þÅüÈ¢ý -- §ÅÚ ¬¸¡

¿¡ý ²Ð? ¿£ ²Ð? ¿¼õ «ï¦ºØòÐò

¾¡ý ²Ð? §¾º¢¸§É! º¡üÚ (3)

¬È¡Ú = 6x6 = 36. ¾òÐÅõ = Tattvas = Truth, reality, substance, categories, building blocks. ¬½Åõ = Anava Malam = the impurity of Egotism. Å¢¨É = Karma. «ï¦ºØòÐ = five syllables, Five syllable mantra, Na-Ma-Si-Va-Ya. §¾º¢¸ý = spiritual teacher.

What are the 36 Tattvas? What is Egotism?  What is changeless Karma since then?  From any of these, am I any different? Who are you?  What are the Lord's dance and the five syllables? O my spiritual teacher, elucidate (and declare) these for me.

These are the five questions he poses to his Guru.  Tattvas 36 in number are the building blocks of the universe of beings and matter. Sankhya Tattvas have only 25 Tattvas.

Question 1:  The Tattvas. There is a table that shows the Tattvas.

Question 2: Anava Malam is a recalcitrant impurity of the soul. It is Egotism. It is the physical feeling of I-ness, and mineness. It is body consciousness and not soul consciousness. Anava Malam is like a cataract in the eye and prevents the soul from seeing the light of spiritual wisdom. Anava Malam makes the man believe that he is the body and not the soul. This body consciousness prevents the soul from obtaining Sattinipatam (ºò¾¢¿¢À¡¾õ), descent of Sakti into the soul. As long as the soul is impure and laden with Anava and other malas, it cannot merge with Siva-Sakti.

In order to function in Sakala state, naturally man is endowed with Tattvas (building blocks, body). Don't be disheartened; even gods, celestials, and worms are in Sakala state, according to Mular.  Soul has the susceptibility to accumulate surface impurities, when it comes into contact with Malas (literally feces, here it means impurities). Anava Mala is compared to verdigris on the surface of copper vessel. Anava is recalcitrant surface impurity burrowing deeper into the soul of a vessel.  Anava is the first Mala of the soul and the last Mala to leave the soul, when Siva confers Grace. Some students of Saiva Siddhanta wonder why the soul, which is or should be a pure entity, is affected by corrosive verdigris. Another common analogy given is that the soul is like a crystal which takes on the color of the object next to it. The soul has to graduate from its Sakala state to Suddha (pure) state. Now it is important to scrub and remove the verdigris before it attains liberation; it is removed completely only by the grace of God. The newly embodied soul, which is a magnet for this and that, cannot remain in isolation, and must take qualities from God before it can obtain Bliss. Let me give you an example to illustrate the stickiness of the soul to anything that passes by. Calcium is good for the bone, but lead is not. When a child eats lead paint chip, the child gets lead poisoning and lead deposits in the bone, which over time releases  lead into the bloodstream causing anemia and brain damage. The lead in the bone and blood is like impurities (Malas) sticking on the soul. How do you get rid of the lead from the bone? It is done by use of therapeutic modality of  competitive binding and substitution.  EDTA likes to combine with calcium and lead; but it likes lead more than it likes calcium. If you give Calcium EDTA to a child, the lead in the bone leaches out into the blood, kicks out the calcium from calcium EDTA and takes its place. Then the lead EDTA circulating in the blood is excreted in urine; the child gets the calcium, gets rid of the lead EDTA in the urine and gets better. In the same manner, Sivaness (calcium EDTA) likes to replace Malas (lead) by competitive binding and substitution, thereby making the soul pure (suddha). 

Siddhantist says that soul and Mala coexist; Mala in its turn associates with Maya and Karma, the latter two are compared to inner and outer sheaths (husk) enveloping the grain of rice. Intermittently, the soul is subject to Maya and Karma during life,  while Anava Mala binds the soul constantly; Grace of Siva removes the fetter of Anava Mala and facilitates merger of the soul with Him.  Though the soul is subject to Maya intermittently, the soul has Maya as its baggage (or monkey on the back, a burden) throughout its sojourn in the body, heaven, hell, birth and rebirth until the soul is released. Let me give you a simple example with explanation. Maya gives man its products to build a body, organs and functions around the soul in the phenomenal world. Soul exists in Sukshma (subtle) state without the body in heaven, hell and other Mandalas. In this Sukshma state, the soul moves around free of body but not free of Maya, which the soul needs at short notice for building its body for life on this planet. Maya is like tent and stuff nomadic people carry on their back; whenever there is an urge to stay in one place for a short time, the poles, frames, ropes and pegs are laid out and the canvas is spread over the frames and poles. Release of the soul means that the soul is divested of its body, Maya, and Malas (impurities like Anava Mala).

As said earlier, dissolution of the world does not mean that the soul is free to merge with Siva. You may call this as a sleep state for the soul; when creation takes place again, the soul with its burdensome erstwhile sleepy companions Karma, Anava Mala and Maya come together to give the soul a body. Remember that the soul carries a chronology of its karma.

Maya and its products are Asat and Acit and Siva is Sat and Cit. Sat = Being; eternal; changeless. Asat = not Being; susceptible to change. Acit = insentient. Maya is unconscious and insentient, while Siva is Supreme Consciousness and existent. Siva is Sat and Cit because he is eternal and does not acquire knowledge by observation or from somebody else. The material world appears, stays for a while and disappears, all beyond its control, and that is Asat and Acit; matter is impermanent, analyzable, knowable by its gunas or qualities and changeable; that is Asat and Acit. The world is visible in its gross form (Sthula); it is invisible in its subtle form (when it involutes, Sukshma); therefore, it is Asat. Sat = Being; eternal; changeless. Asat = not Being; susceptible to change. Acit = insentient.

God is eternal, unknowable, immutable, unanalyzable, and superconscious and therefore, Sat and Cit.  Sat is Being and Asat is non-being.  Sat is real, while Asat is mirage. Sat exists on its own, while Asat exists because of Sat (Sat dependence). The world, Anavamala, karma, and Maya are changeable and so, Asat.

Maya is not part of Cit or Superconsciousness of Siva; Maya is apart from him and is subject to his Will. Siva Sakti activates Maya but has no control over its compass. Once Maya evolves into building blocks of the universe and beings, Siva does not alter its expansion, contraction, limitation, extent, variability, complexity, or direction --those of matter. The matter has its own guna (quality); its evolution, variability and variety are intrinsic to it; its compass is under the direction of Karma, which is also external to Siva. Siva is Sat and Cit and therefore, Maya, which is Asat and Acit (Changeable and unconscious matter) cannot be traced back to him. They all stop with Mayeya and Sakti which straddles the chasm between matter and Siva. Living entities which evolve from Maya are subject to Karma and Anava Malas (impurities); that being the case, Siva cannot contain in his constitution (mass of Bliss) Maya, which can be traced back to him. That is the argument of the Siddhantist.

All Saiva Siddhanta Tattvas of Pure and Impure category are derived from MāyA⁶, which is under the aegis of Sakti^{2 (}Sakti Tattva). Siva¹, Sakti²,  Sadasiva³,  Isvara⁴,  Sadvidya⁵ are the Suddha Tattvas (Pure Tattvas); MāyA⁶,  Kāla⁷, Niyati⁸, Kalā⁹, Vidya¹⁰, Rāga¹¹, Purusa¹²  are the Suddha-Asuddha Tattvas (Pure-Impure);  Prakrti Tattva¹³,  Buddhi¹⁴, Ahamkara¹⁵, Manas¹⁶, hearing¹⁷ tactile sense¹⁸, vision and color¹⁹, tasting²⁰, smell²¹, speech²², grasp²³, ambulation²⁴, evacuation²⁵, procreation²⁶, sound²⁷, palpation²⁸, form²⁹, taste³⁰, odor³¹,  ether³², air³³, fire³⁴, water³⁵ Earth³⁶ are the Asuddha Tattvas (Impure).

TATTVAS-36:  These are the Saiva Tattvas, 36 in number as compared to 25 Samkhya Tattvas.

Siva¹, Sakti²,  Sadasiva³,  Isvara⁴,  Sadvidya⁵, MāyA⁶,  Kāla⁷, Niyati⁸, Kalā⁹, Vidya¹⁰, Rāga¹¹, Purusa¹² Prakrti Tattva¹³,  Buddhi¹⁴, Ahamkara¹⁵, Manas¹⁶, hearing¹⁷ tactile sense¹⁸, vision and color¹⁹, tasting²⁰, smell²¹, speech²², grasp²³, ambulation²⁴, evacuation²⁵, procreation²⁶, sound²⁷, palpation²⁸, form²⁹, taste³⁰, odor³¹,  ether³², air³³, fire³⁴, water³⁵ Earth³⁶.

Samkhya Tattvas do not have Siva¹, Sakti²,  Sadasiva³,  Isvara⁴,  Sadvidya⁵, MāyA⁶,  Kāla⁷, Niyati⁸, Kalā⁹, Vidya¹⁰, Rāga¹¹

 Tattvas and their different numerical placements in Samkhya and Saiva Tattvas.

There are 36 Saiva Tattvas (building blocks or principles). Buddhi is the 14th Tattva. The first five are Suddha or Pure Tattvas (1-5). The second 7 Tattvas are Suddha-Asuddha  or Pure-Impure Tattvas (6-12). The Third category of Tattvas are Asuddha or Impure Tattvas (13-36).  

¯ûÇÀÊ þò¨¾ ¯¨Ãì¸ì §¸û ¯ý ¾ÉìÌ

ÅûÇø «ÕÇ¡ø «ýÚ Å¡öÁÄ÷óÐ -- ¦¾ûǢº£÷

¬¸Áí¸û ¦º¡ýÉ «¨¼Å¢§Ä ¬Éó¾

§Â¡¸õ ¿¢¸ú Ò¾øÅ¡! ¯üÚ (4)

¯ûÇÀÊ = As it is.  ÅûÇø «ÕÇ¡ø = Liberal donor, Benefactor grace = Siva's Grace. ¦¾ûǢº£÷ = clear Grace, beauty, fame. ¬Éó¾ §Â¡¸õ ¿¢¸ú Ò¾øÅ¡: O son, abiding in Yoga of Bliss.

O son abiding in Yoga of Bliss.  The Great Benefactor (Siva) uttered from his floral lips with grace the Agamas brimming with abundant grace. Told (Expounded by me) as it is, listen to this. --4

Meykandar calls Kadantar as his son abiding in Yoga of Bliss. In Saiva tradition, an aspirant engages in Chariyai, Kriyai, yogam and Jnanam (º¡¢¨Â, ¸¢¡¢¨Â, §Â¡¸õ, »¡Éõ) as paths to Siva.

Agama = Acquisition of knowledge, science. Saiva Agamas glorify Siva and form the basis of Saiva Siddhanta philosophy. Vaishnava Agamas glorify Vishnu and Sakta Agamas, the mother goddess. There are many things common with Vedas but Agamas derive authority from their respective Gods, Siva, Vishnu, and Mother Goddess.

Agamas are egalitarian, intellectual, yogic, exoteric and esoteric Manual of Philosophy, Means and Realization, covering all possible devotional, inclinational and intellectual bent.  Transmission of Tantras (Agamas and Nigamas) from Guru to Sisya was witnessed, approved and blessed by Vasudeva (Krishna). It is called Agama because it emanated from the mouth of Sambhu (Siva) and went to Girija; it is called Nigama, because it emanated from the mouth of Girija (Parvati, daughter of Mountain, Himavat) and went to Girisa (the Lord of the mountain, Siva). Âgata = come from (mouth of Siva). Gâta = going into (ears of Girija, Uma or Parvati). Abhi-mata = longed for, approved (by Vasudeva or Vishnu). Âgata + Gâta + Abhi-mata = Âgama.  Agama is acronym for Agata Gata Abhimata. Nigama = Ni + ga + ma = Nirgata + gata + sammata = go out (of the mouth of Girija, Uma or Parvati) + going into (Siva) + being of the same opinion, agreed to, approved by Vasudeva)    

பொன்பார் புனல்வெண்மை பொங்கும் அனல்சிவப்பு
வன்கால் கருமை வளர் வான்தூமம் -- என்பார்
எழுத்து லவரய அப்பாராதிக்கு என்றும்
அழுத்தமதாய் நிற்கும் அது.--6

பொன்பார் =  Earth is golden. புனல்வெண்மை = Water is white.  பொங்கும் அனல்சிவப்பு = boiling (blazing) Fire is red. வன்கால் கருமை = strong wind is black. வளர் வான்தூமம் = Expanding space is smoke-colored. என்பார் = thus they say.  எழுத்து லவரயஅ பாராதிக்கு என்றும் அழுத்தமதாய் நிற்கும் அது. =  The letters (syllables) La, Va, Ra, Ya, Ha = Lam, Vam, Ram, Yam, Ham in Sanskrit are associated with Earth and other elements: these root-letters (Bija letters in Sanskrit) are firmly established in them. --6

Bija Mantras are based on Syllables (Tamil and Sanskrit). This is the Natural Sound that an object makes whether the human ear hears or not. Take the fire; it makes the sound Ra. This sound is heard by the Absolute Ear of the Absolute Lord. He passes the sound to the Yogi who has with his relative ear.  More on this below the diagram.

குறி குலிசம் கோகனதம் கொள்சுவத்தி குன்றா
அறுபுள்ளி ஆர் அமுத விந்து -- பிறிவு இன்றி
மண் புனல் தீககால் வானம் மன்னும் அடைவே என்று
ஒண் புதல்வா! ஆகமம் ஓதும்.--7

குறி =  symbol.  குலிசம் = Indra's Thunderbolt.  சுவத்தி =   Swastika. அறுபுள்ள = six dots.  அமுத விந்து = Amirta Bindu. மண் புனல் தீககால் வானம் = Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Ether. ஒண் புதல்வா! = Wonderful son. ஆகமம் ஓதும். = Agamas declare.

The symbol of Earth is Thunderbolt, of Water is lotus, of Fire is Swastika, of air is six dots, and of space is Amrta-Bindu. O wonderful son! The Agamas declare this.

Earth = Thunderbolt.  Water = Lotus.  Fire = Swastika.  Wind = 6 dots.  Ether (AkAsa) = Amrta Bindu.

பார் ஆதி ஐந்தும் பன்னும் அதி தெய்வங்கள்
ஆர் ஆர் அயன் ஆதி ஐவராம் -- ஓர் ஓர்
தொழில் அவர்க்குச் சொல்லுங்கால் தோற்றம் முதல் ஐந்தும்
பழுதறவே பண்ணுவர்¸û பார்--8

The words in this verse are very simple and common and strung together beautifully.