Nava-Rathina-mAlai 3

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THE PHYSICAL BODY: The features of the body is described as follows

 

a. That one which obstructs the realisaton of the true nature of the soul;

b. That which generates vibharEtha gnAnam; c.Bundle of 24 thathvam-s; d.

Temporay ; e. The one which induces into materialistic pursuits and pushes

into samsAram eternally.

 

a. Since, the sensory organs are restricted by the body –which is of 24

thathvam-w, the body does not allow realizing the true nature of the soul

(aLavudai aim-pulangaL aRiyA vagai—ThiruvAi Mozhi 3-10-11.

 

b. The body makes one think that it is Atman. It also makes one assume what

is not ones as ones.Similarly, results in the thoughts of Supremacy where it is

not attributable and purshArtham where it is not ought to be.Therefore, the body

results in vibharEtha gnAnam or misunderstanding of true knowledge.

 

c. Bundle of 24 thathvam-s: The physical body is a mass of twenty four

thathvam-s. SwAmi Nam AzhwAr has explained this in the ThriuvAiMozhi

 

‘pong aim-pulanum, poRi aindhum, karumEandhriyam aim-bhUdham, ingiv

vuyirEa prakruthi, mAnAhnkAra manangaLEa’ ThiruvAi-Mozhi 10-7-10;

 

These are

Five senses: smell, vision, touch,sound and taste.

Five sensory organs: nostrils,eyes, skin, ears and tongue.

Five action organs-karama-indhriyamà mouth,hands,feet, kudham and kuRi.

Pancha-bhUdham-s:akAsam-vAyu-agni-appu-prithvi i.e

The sky, wind, fire,water and the earth.

 

The aforesaid fives add up to twenty.

 

21st : prakruthi 22nd is mahAn 23rd is ahankAram and 24th is mind.

 

Therefore, the body is a mass of these 24 elements.

 

d. The one which induces into materialistic pursuits and pushes into

samsAram eternally.

 

dAsan

vanamamalai padmanabhan