50. divya chandana digdhaa~Ngii

[Guest guest]

This name occurs with a variation in the sahasranaama as chandana

drava digdhaa~Ngii and also in some way in

divyagandhaaDhyaa. This name means HER body is smeared with a

supreme quality sandalwood paste.

 

Sandalwood paste is known for its pleasing cooling effect and

divine fragrance. How did it get that power? Most pleasing and

cooling thing which stops the agitation of mind is the bliss of

brahman. SHE being that, bestows a speck of HER quality to

sandalwood by HER grace and by smearing on HER. It is said ambaaL

is divinely fragrant. HER fragrance is not derived from external

perfumes. Instead, things like flowers are fragrant because of

HER fragrance. SHE bestows that quality to the sandalwood as

well.

 

In thiruviLaiyaaDal puuraaNam (liilaa-s of Lord shiva) one of the

episode deals with this subject matter.* Poet of the court,

nakkira argues that even in the case of ambaaL the fragrance of

hair is due to repeated application of perfumed oils and

flowers. Shiva who comes as poet in that episode who comes

with a poem which states that the fragrance of hair is

inborn. They both argue and finally the shiva reveals himself and

blesses the devotee and appreciates his integrity (for sticking

to what he thought as truth, even when his Lord is in

opposition). kaanchi periyaava in one of his talks remark that

bhaskara-raaya is an incarnation of nakkira and still his

original sentiments remained in him. While commenting on one of

the verses of saundaryalaharii where Acharya says that ambaaL's

hair is naturally fragrant (here Acharya identifies himself with

shiva), bhaskararaaya comments that it is arthaavaada and not to

be taken seriously. Based on this periyaava said that he still

has the sentiments of nakkira.

 

May we anoint our minds with sweet, cooling fragrant thoughts of

ambaaL which will cools its meaningless agitations and bring

peace.

 

AUM divyachandanadigdhaa~Ngyai namaH

 

 

Ravi

 

*I am stating it briefly, if you have seen the immortal tamil

classic (Movie) "thiruviLaiyaadaL" probably you will appreciate

this episode more. Especially this episode in the movie is very

popular and the dialogues still ring in one's ears. { "neRRikaN

tirappinum kuRRam kuRRamE" (even if you open your middle eye to

burn me, your song is flawed, a mistake is indeed a mistake).}