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Source: The Hindu (http://www.the-hindu.com)

 

Two main religious streams in the South

 

CHENNAI, MARCH 15. Several religions have flourished in India

over the years each acknowledging the presence of a superior

force guiding the destiny of the people. The operation of the

theory of action and reaction and that re-births are based on the

good and sins of a person on his past had also been accepted by

everyone. Each religion also prescribes methods to realise God

and also the deity to which they may remain loyal and show firm

faith in Him or Her.

 

Down South, in Tamil Nadu, the two main streams carrying devotees

to their respective goals are Saivism and Vaishnavism, the former

fostered by the saints called Nayanmars and the latter sustained

by mystics known as Azhwars. The procedures prescribed by them to

get salvation differed in some respects. But surprisingly both of

them agree on the role of the Divine Mother in leading aspirants

to their respective Lords, performing the duties of a

recommending authority pleading with the former to ignore their

failings and enrol them as permanent servants in the respective

kingdoms. Andal, the only woman apostle among the 12 Azhwars, has

explained in one of her verses in Thiruppavai the ecstasy derived

by Yasoda of child Krishna's charm when she tied Him to a stone

to stop His mischiefs thus explaining how easy it is to approach

God. While the individual soul is eager to get rid of worldly

ties, God is equally keen to provide all opportunities to make

the soul fully ``mature'' to be ready to come to Him.

Unfortunately men get bogged down in worldly activities and are

unable to distinguish the real from the unreal.

 

According to Saivism, God, soul and bondage are the three

entities of which the former (two) are eternal. God created the

world and sent the souls there with limited knowledge and

restricted freedom. The highest among His creations is the human

being endowed with a sense of discretion. Explaining the

significance of and fruits of Mantras when chanted with faith and

firmness, Prof. V. Rathinasabapathi, in a lecture, referred to

the work, ``Kumarasthavam'' by Sri Pamban Swamigal in which are

packed a number of secret messages concerning the Lord's grace.

The ``Pranava'' consists of three letters each one giving details

of the qualities of the Lord and the Divine Mother. The second

letter concerns itself with the Mother's act as reconciling the

good and bad and acting as a bridge between the two and taking

the devotee to the Lord's feet. Her recommendation is necessary

to assuage the feelings of the Lord and compel Him to take him

into His fold. The sentiments echoed by the two systems of

philosophy are identical.

 

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