The Numbers Game

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12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"">Srimate SrivanSatakopa Sri Vedanta

Desika Yatindra Mahadesikaya nama:

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yes">                                   The Numbers Game

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          If you think of it, the entire world

appears to revolve around Numbers. There is no field of human activity which

numbers do not pervade nor are we able to think of anything without

automatically involving Numbers. The Great Cosmic Clock, ticking away the

seconds of our sojourn on this earth, is based on Numbers. And anything and

everything that we come across has a lot to do with figures, big and small.

Thus, right from birth to death, every moment of our time and experience is

dominated by these seemingly inoccuous integers, which, however, command great

value and worth. It would appear that even our Scripture revels in the The

Numbers Game, as would be evident to those who read on.

 

       The most interesting play with Numbers

is that indulged in by Sri Tirumangai Mannan, in his Tiruvezhukoottrirukkai.

This is an extraordinary type of Prabandam, involving the drawing of a Chariot-like

figure with a top half and a bottom one. Each half is in the form of a

seven-tiered Pyramid, with the top one an upright pyramid and the bottom one

inverted. At its broad end, the Pyramid consists of a base with 13 slots, which

gradually decrease, as we go up the tapering structure, with the top-most tier

consisting of three slots. This would be in the reverse order in the inverted

pyramid at the bottom. Each of these slots would be filled with numbers from

one to seven: for instance, the topmost tier of three slots would be filled

with numbers 1, 2 and 3—the next one with 1, 2, 3, 2, and 1, the third tier

from the top with 1,2,3,4,3,2,1, the fourth tier with 1,2,3,4,5,4,3,2,and 1 and

so on, with the base of the pyramid ending with the numbers 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,6,5,4,3,2

and 1. 

 

The

idea is that the Prabandam should begin with words incorporating the numbers

one, two and one again and go on to the last line of the upright pyramid, with

words containing the numbers from 1 to 7 and back to 1. The entire structure

would be in the reverse order in the upturned pyramid, with the first tier

consisting of words with numbers 1 to 7 and back to 1, gradually decreasing

till the last and smallest tier with numbers 1,2 and 1 is reached. The

resulting structure is somewhat akin to the “Pascal’s Triangle” that

mathematicians are fond of speaking of airily.

 

I

know this must be pretty confusing to read about—the structure is therefore

depicted as a picture below. Readers would observe that the two pyramids

together form a Chariot, from which this type of poetry derives its name, viz,

Ratha Bandham. We can imagine how difficult it would be to compose a verse of

this sort, with the numbers arranged in meticulous ascending and descending

order. We can find this beautiful Prabandam inscribed on the wall of Sri

SArngapani Sannidhi at Tirukkudandai, exactly in the undermentioned fashion and

in the form of a majestic Ratham, with the individual slots filled with words

containing the numbers.

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                        This aforesaid may

appear to be an inelegant depiction of a Chariot, given my notoriously poor

drawing skills, but this is just to give readers an idea of the nature of the

Prabandam and the difficulty in its composition. Here is how Sri Kalian has

achieved this feat of accomodating ascending and descending numbers, all the

while preserving the beauty of the poetry and without sacrificing the thread of

deep devotion running through all of his pasurams.

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"">“oru pErundi—iru

malar tavisil—oru murai ayanai eendranai

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12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"">oru murai—iru sudar meedinil

iyangA—mum madhiL ilankai---irukAl vaLaya—oru silai

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode""> ondriya--eereyettru azhal

vAi--moovadi--nAnilam vENdi--muppuri noolodu--iru pirappu

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"">oru MAN Agi

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"">  oru

murai-eer adi-moovulagu aLandanai-nAl

disai nadunga-anchirai paravai Eri-nAlvAi-

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"">mum madattu-iru

sevi-oru tani vEzhatthu arandayai” and so on.

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"">Readers would

observe how cleverly the Divine Poet has chosen the words representing numbers,

either in purport or in sound, and woven all these into an enthralling garland

of words, that is at once lilting in metre, profound in purport, brimming over

with Bhakti and matchlessly magnificent in composition. This

Tiruvezhukoottrirukkai belongs to a poetical form known as “Chitra Kavi”,

refreshingly different from run-of-the-mill verses and appealing to the

intellect as well as the heart. Not surprisingly, this Prabandam is recited

during the RathOtsavam at several divyadesams. And the beauty of this pAsuram

is to be heard to be believed, especially when intoned in unison in the atonce

melodious and stentorian  voices of the

venerable GhOshtti.

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"">Another Azhwar

with a fascination for numbers is Sri Tirumazhisai Piran, who too has pasurams

to his credit, which appear mathematical in character. In the following sample

from Tirucchanda Viruttam, the numbers 5 to 1 have been arranged in descending

order, yeilding an extremely profound purport—

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"">“poo nilAya

ayndumAi punal kaN nindra nAngumAi

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode""> tee

nilAya moondrumAi chiranda kAl irandumAi

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans

Unicode""> meenilAyadu ondrumAgi vEru vEru tanmayAi

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode""> neenilAya vaNNa! Ninnai yAr ninaikka

vallarE!”

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"">All the five

elements, says Azhwar, are under the Lord’s overlordship. These elements in

turn have their own characteristics—the Earth has five attributes (sound,

touch, form, essence and smell), while Water has the first four of the

aforesaid  qualities, Fire three, the

Wind two and Atmosphere one, namely Sound. In other words, Azhwar tells us that

it is the Lord, who is the Inner-Dweller of all elements, who forms the material

cause for this universe.

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"">The second pasuram

of this Prabandam too has an arithmetical leaning—

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"">“Arum Arum ArumAi

Or iyndum iyndum iyndumAi

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode""> Eru seer

iraNdu moondrum Ezhum arum ettumAi

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode""> Veru

vEru gnAnam Agi meyyinOdu poyyumAi

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode""> OorOdu

Osai Aya iyndum Aya Aya MayanE!”

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"">Azhwar speaks

about of a trio of six items.

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode""> First is the six Karmas ordained on

Brahmins—Yajanam (performing sacrifices), YAjanam (conducting YAgAs for

others), adhyayanam (imbibing the VEdAs), adhyApanam (imparting VEdic wisdom to

eligible others),dAnam (giving to others) and Pratigraham (accepting offerings

from others). 

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"">The second six

consists of the Seasons—Spring, Summer, Monsoon, Autumn, Winter etc. (Vasanta,

Greeshma, VarshA, Sarat, Hemanta and Sisira Ritus).

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode""> The

third six refers to six YAgAs, performed

on PourNami and amAvAsya days—AgnEyam, agnIshOmIyam, upAmsu, iyndram,

iyndrAgnam (numbering two). 

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"">

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"">The trio of Fives

indicated in the latter half of the first line of the pasuram refers to the

Five YagyAs (Deva, Pitru, Rishi, Manushya and Bhoota YagyAs), the Five AhutIs

(respectively to the PrANa, apAna, VyAna, udAna and SamAna), the Five agnIs

(Garhapatya agni, AhavanIya agni, DAkshinAgni, Sabhya agni and the Avasatya

agni).

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"">GnAnam or Wisdom

and VairAgyam or lack of attachment, are the duo (“Eru seer iraNdu”), while “Moondru”

consists of Prapatti, ParagnAnam and Parama Bhakti.

yes"> 

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"">“Ezhu” indicates

VivEkam, VimOkam, abhyAsam, KriyA, kalyANam, anavasAdam and anuddharsham, while

“Arum” refers to the six glorious guNas of the Lord, viz., GnAnam, Balam,

Ishvaryam, Veeryam, Shakti and Tejas, the “ettum”

yes">  consisting of the eight inimitable attributes of Emperuman,

referred to in the CchAndOgya—“apahata pApmatvam, Vijaratvam, Vimrityutvam,

VishOkatvam,Vijigatsatvam, apipAsatvam, SatyakAmatvam and Satyasankalpatvam.

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"">

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"">The third and

fourth pasurams of Tirucchandaviruttam too are a mass of numbers—

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"">

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"">“iyndum iyndum

iyndumAgi allavattrul uLayumAi

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode""> iyndu

moondrum ondrumAgi nindra Adi dEvanE!

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode""> Iyndum

iyndum iyndumAgi andaratthu aNaindu

nindru

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode""> Iyndum

iyndum Aya ninnai yAvar kANa vallarE!”

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"">

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"">“Moondru

muppadArinOdu Or iyndum iyndum iyndumAi

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode""> Moondru moortthiyAgi moondru moondru

moondrumAi

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode""> TOndru sOdi moondrumAi at tuLakkamil

viLakkamAi

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode""> Endru en

AviyuL pugundadu en kolO em IsanE?”

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"">

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"">The Vedas, which

are indeed the seed from which all the divya prabandas sprout, have their own

tale of numbers to tell. As if teaching us to count, the second prasna of the

Seventh Kanda enumerates the integers in various combinations—beginning with

“Ekasmai svAhA”, we have a counting in ones, from one to 19. Thereafter,

countings are taken in tens, mentioning 29, 39, 59, 69, 79, 89 and 99, ending

with a hundred and twice that number. The next panchAti narrates numbers in

countings of odd numbers—1, 3,5,7.9,11, 13, 15,17 and19, switching again to 29,

39, 49 and so on upto a hundred.  The

next PanchAti takes a count of even numbers—2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 and

20, going straight thereafter to 98 and 100. The 45th PanchAti

incorporates countings of four—4, 8, 12, 16, 20 then straightaway to 96 and

100. Countings of five figure in the next—5, 10, 15, 95 and 100 and in tens, in

the next one—10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100. Twenties are counted

in the next panchAti—20, 40, 60, 80 and 100, while the next counts in hundreds

upto a thousand.

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"">

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"">What do all these

numbers represent ultiamtely? They refer, as all other words do, to the

Paramapurusha. Be it any number, it is representative of the Lord, right from

one to the largest integer the intellect can count upto. For instance, the

Sahasranama stotra describes Him as “Eka:”—the incomparable One, who has

neither a superior nor an equal. It is significant that Azhwars too describe

Him as “oruvan”, “Eka moortthi” etc.

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"">When the Purusha

Sukta says, “Sahasra sIrshA Purusha:”, it refers to the Lord having not only a

thousand heads, but an infinite number—“anantam”. It is He who is referred to

by all the numbers in arithmetic.

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"">

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"">All numbers might

denote the Lord, but the very first integer 1 appears to have a much closer

association with Him than others. Just as every number is but a multiple of 1,

all beings in the world, sentient or life-less, are but aspects of the glorious

Lord, having Him for their vital in-dwelling spirit, without which they

wouldn’t exist at all. And if we put ourselves, as insiginificant JeevAtmAs, in

the position of Zero, we find that we acquire siginificance only by association

with Emperuman, just as the Zero attains greater respectability when preceded

by 1.

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"">Not merely

numbers, but advanced arithmetical concepts like the Set Theory also figure in

the Scripture. For instance, Sri Nammazhwar speaks of a Huge Set, the Universal

Set, which is a Set of all Sets, and also of itself—

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"">

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"">“Valatthanan

Tiripuram eritthavan idam pera, tundi

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode""> talatthu ezhu Disaimukhan padaittha

nallulagamum tAnum

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode""> pulappada, 

pinnum tan ulagatthuL agatthanan tAnE

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans

Unicode""> solappugil ivai yAvum pinnum vayittruLa, ivan

avan tuyakkE”

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"">

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"">Azhwar describes

the glorious Lord’s inimitable deeds in this beautiful pasuram.

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"">Emperuman

accomodates Rudra on the right side of His tirumEni and BrahmA on the Cosmic

Lotus blooming from His navel. This BrahmA creates the various worlds, in which

the Lord takes birth as Rama,Krishna, etc.

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"">Thus, He is to be

seen in the world created by BrahmA, who is himself the Lord’s creation. We

have seen that normally, in this world, the architect of a building is distinct

and different from the structure he creates. However, the Universal Creator,

from whose navel the entire Creation sprouts forth, is seen as one of His own

creations (during His avatArAs), in the worlds spawned by Him. As if this is

not enough, all these beings and objects comprising the Universe, are also

accomodated in His spacious stomach, during the Cosmic Deluge. To those who

wonder how such a phenomenon, is possible, Azhwar tells us that this is due to

His “MAyA”—“ivai avan tuyakkE”. This is how the Lord is a magnificent Universal

Set, a Set of all Sets and of its own glorious self too.

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"">

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"">The mathematical

concept of Infinity too appears to have had its origins in the Shruti, going by

the numerous references to the same in the copious Vedic lore. The Narayana

anuvAkam, for instance, talks about the Parabrahmam being infinite—“anantam,

avyayam, kavim, samudrEntam Visva Sambhuvam”. Infinitely huge, boundless and

endless worlds are also talked about in the Shruti, which the liberated soul

attains-“anantam, apAram, akshayyam lOkam jayati”. Though beyond our

contemtpation, the concept of a Paramapurusha whose dimensions, auspicious

attributes, reach, vision and influence are beyond measurement, is what represents

Infinity. This is what Sri Nammazhwar means, when he talks about

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"">“soozhndu agandru

Azhndu uyarnda mudivil perum pAzhEyO

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode""> soozhndu

adanil periya en para nan malar

sOdIyO

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"">soozhndu adanil

periya en sudar gnAna inbamEyO

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"">soozhndu adanil

periya en avA ara soozhndAyE”.

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"">

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"">The Lord

represents a funny number too, one to which no amount of subtraction, division,

addition or multiplication appears to make any difference. He is the Infinite

Integer, which remains unchanged despite any amount of addition, subtraction,

multiplication or division. We are told by a Vedic ShAnti PAta that the

Parabrahmam remains the same complete self, with absolutely no reduction in any

of  its attributes—“PoorNasya poorNam

AdAya PoorNam Eva avasishyatE”.

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode""> 

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"">There are people

who have a dread of Mathematics—a” numerophobia”, to coin a word. For them,

arithmetic and numbers in any form are anathema. However, it is only in Maths

that it is possible to score centums easily,more than in any other

subject.  The significance of all numbers can be

understood properly if we ascribe to them their true places, as but depictions

of the Lord and His glory. Centums in spiritual life, i.e., Liberation and

Emancipation and attendant Bliss, are what await the mathematician who

specialises in the upAsana of these divine numbers.

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"">

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"">Srimate Sri

LakshmINrsimha divya paduka sevaka SrivanSatakopa Sri Narayana Yatindra

Mahadesikaya nama:

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mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"">dasan, sadagopan

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