Hindu Article-Arunagiri's hymnal work

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Arunagiri's hymnal work

 

 

CHENNAI OCT.28 . While several admirable features have

been incorporated in the edifice of Hindu religion,

one among them reflects the total freedom allowed to

every one of its followers to worship any of the

numerous gods and demi-gods. There was hence no

denigration of one deity against another as the

principle governing this aspect was "unity in

diversity". There were, however, very few occasions

when some difference surfaced and groups of men

claimed superiority of their deity over others.

Likewise at times some claimed that a particular

language, which they liked was far advanced than

others. But God never allowed this religious bigotry

or linguistic chauvinism to divide people and so

deputed His messengers to advise men to sink their

differences reminding them of the glorious traditions

of both Saivism and Vaishnavism.

 

One such gift of God was Saint Arunagirinathar, who in

his outpourings in Tamil, referred to all gods and who

interspersed in them words and ideas from Sanskrit

works. In a lecture, Sri K. P. Arivanandam said though

the saint's hymns on his personal deity, Subramania,

numbered nearly 16,000, yet what remained for public

use was only about 1,000 and even out of them only a

part is being handled by modern scholars. Each one of

them is soaked in devotion while some are set in

difficult metres and some are jaw breaking and tough

even to spell out fluently by all. Morals have been

packed in them to correct men who chose the wrong

path. He himself turned a new leaf after a wayward

life and once when he jumped from the tower of the

Thiruvannamalai temple, Lord Subramania saved him.

"Maintain reticence" was the Lord's advice. To keep

silent may appear simple but in practice it is only

when one is in meditation that the mind will lead him

astray. After 12 years of penance, the Lord appeared,

scribbled on his tongue with His trident and made him

sing profusely.

 

In one of the popular hymns, Arunagirinathar refers to

the charm of the Divine Mother (particularly about Her

pearl-like teeth), of the incarnations of Vishnu, how

as Rama He destroyed the demons and how as Krishna He

delivered His message to Arjuna. As Brahma was unable

to render the meaning of the Mantra, "Om", Subramania

told him and Lord Siva later its significance, having

learnt it when Siva was mentioning its greatness to

Parvathi earlier. In another verse the saint mentions

the 26 different names of the Divine Mother, some of

which are Umai, Vaarahi, Naarani and Komalai.

 

copy right: The Hindu daily

 

 

 

 

 

 

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