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

 

Holding on to His feet will fetch peace

 

CHENNAI, JUNE 11. The attitude of human beings towards religion

and about God's role in shaping their future has been classified

broadly under four categories. Some categorically say that they

know nothing about God and hence bide their time mechanically.

Some are aware of the existence of a divine force and its

influence on them but are not interested in acquiring scriptural

knowledge or in knowing the manner in which they are being

guided. Like animals, they go about doing their duties believing

that to enjoy worldly pleasures is their goal. The third category

have a fairly deep knowledge of the qualities of God and how

their activities are being monitored by this unseen source. They

realise the ephemerality of life and that they should remain

detached from the attractions. Still, they may not be completely

cut off from desires and may crave to possess some creature

comforts. Their behaviour can be compared to that of a group of

fisherwomen who on return from their routine of harvesting a rich

crop of fish were caught in rain and entering a house to take

shelter saw mountains of roses. Instead of enjoying the fragrance

of the flowers, they preferred the smell of the fish as they were

accustomed only to this odour. The last category of men are fully

``evolved'' and are conscious how God has given them an

opportunity to escape the worldly ties and that they should be

constantly praying to obtain release by taking refuge in Him. To

all the four types, a saint has shown the path of seeking divine

grace by offering their submission at His feet. This guidance has

come from Thirugnanasambandar, one of the leader of Saivism.

Sekkizhar who left for posterity the ``Peria Puranam'' containing

the lives of all the Nayanmars (Saiva apostles) refers to

Sambandar's study of the Vedas and Agamas.

 

Thirugnanasambandar was a repository of divine knowledge and

culture. He displayed a remarkable understanding of human nature.

He divided spiritual knowledge to be possessed by devotees into

four compartments. They should realise the glory of Siva and

realise that holding on to His feet alone will fetch them peace

and ensure freedom from re-births. Some are aware that the

precious gift given by God, viz. this human existence is full of

grief and within the short span of existence, they should resort

to steps to obtain salvation. The third specialise in the

``arts'' and spend this time in acquiring knowledge about Siva

and His benevolence and that He resides within everyone of His

creations. Others, according to Sri D. Gnanasundaram in his

lecture about the apostle said, experience ``reality'' and with

their enlightenment want the core of ultimate truth should be

arrived at by going right behind appearances with vigorous use of

reason.

 

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