Deivathin Kural Series - 58

Om Namah Sivaya.
Deivathin Kural # 58 of 04 Sept 2006.

1.These e-mails are translations of talks given by the erstwhile Pontiff of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, over more than sixty years, published by Vanady Padippagam, T.Nagar, Chennai, India, in ten volumes, in the Tamil language. The english version is likely to be available very soon. These e-mails are simply an effort on the part of the sender, to share some of his bliss, as it is said, 'Yam perra peru peruga ivvaiyagam'. When he adds any personal observations he uses the phrase, 'KTSV adds'.
2. To-days chapter is from his lecture, titled, 'Paropagaram', ie., 'Helping Others', in pages 311 to 314, in Volume 1 of Deivathin Kural. Unless specifically mentioned, he or man includes, she or woman.
3. Vaidika Madam enjoins on all castes, Six Duties namely:-
a) Paying the dues to Forefathers.
b) Doing daily Pooja to Gods.
c) Looking after the creature comforts of Athithi or Guests.
d) Looking after relatives, especially if they are not well to do.
This also includes, Bootha Yagnam, meaning looking after animals, birds and even plants.
e) Taking care of oneself. (If you cant take care of yourself, how are you going to take care of others?)
f) The sixth one is Brhma Yagnam. For Brahmins, it means Veda Adhyayanam and Adhyapanam. For other castes, their profession itself is one of service, such as soldiering, trading, carpentry, shoe-making, washing, cleaning and so on. Thus for all of them, 'Work is Worship'. To make this very clear, for Brahmins, Worship is their Work; and for others, their Work itself is a Worship.
4. Thiruvalluvar too has stressed on the same duties, when he said, 'Then pulaththar deivam virundu okkal than enru angu aimbulaththu aaru ombal thalai.' This is one of the Kurals which clearly accepts and approves the Directions by the Vedas. Contrary to this, there are people who claim that, Thiruvalluvar does not belong to Vaideeka Madam at all. They say that he either believed in Buddhism or Jainism, or that he was beyond the confines of any religion. Out of Veda Dharmas, he openly disapproves of, sacrificing live animals in Yagas. They quote this Kural, in support of their argument. 'Avi sorindu aayiram vettalin onran uyir seguththu unnamai nanru'. This means that, compared to thousands of oblations in the fire of Yagna, it is better not to eat by killing an animal. But my interpretation on reading this is that Thiruvalluvar very much believed in Vaideeka Dharma and all its procedures and rituals. When somebody wants to praise subject 'A', says that it is better than a thousand 'B's; it does not mean that subject 'B', is bad. If he wants to praise river Kaveri, he may say that it is better than a thousand Gangas. He will not say that Kavery is better than a thousand 'gutters'. Similarly, when he says that, 'Ahimsa, is better than, thousands of Yagnas,' it means that, he very much holds Yagnas very highly.
5. Further point to note is that, this Kural is not part of the 'illara ial', that talks about house holder's duties, but is part of the 'thuravara ial', that talks of the Sannyasi's duties, or those who have abnegated the materialistic involvement. The ascetic is not supposed to conduct any Yagnas. For him the Vaideeka Madam has ordained 100 % Ahimsa. Valluvar is emphasising the same thing. Valluvar who has given a literature of immence usefulness for the whole world, was not a non-believer who disapproved Vedas. What Valluvar calls the 'virundu', referred in Tamil Literature often as 'Virundu Ombal', is the same as what is called, 'Manusha Yagnam', and can be expanded to, 'Anna Daanam'.
6. In each house, when they cook food everyday, each house-holder, should put one handful of rice, in a seperate utencil, as an offering to God. With the rice they should put one paisa.This should be collected and given to the near-by Temple periodically. The rice should be used for cooking prasadam as 'Neivedyam', for offering to the Deity and then for feeding the poor. The money so collected can be useful for over-heads such as purchasing the necessary fire-wood, vegetables and labour. To do this is a very noble social service. Hungry stomachs will be filled. People will be encouraged to visit the temple for the sake of food, if only for satisfying the stomach or for organising the same, which could eventually flower into deep rooted devotion, because instead of being some 'Anna danam', it is consecrated prasadam. It will cleanse the heart, mind and soul of the people giving and recieving, the prasadam.
7. Annadanam, is only a part of what is 'para-upa-karyam', or 'paropagaram', ie., Action-helping-others. What is now-a-days, done with much publicity and fanfare; used to be done on the quiet, naturally spontaneously. This used to be known as, 'poortha dharmam'. Digging ponds for the village people or animals; digging wells; constructing steps from the banks to the waterline in rivers; constructing stone benches where the way-farers could temporarily park their loads and unwind; planting of trees on either sides of the roads, to provide shade for people walking on the road; toconstruct Temples with gardens around it; are all part of 'poortha dharmam'. There is much merit in such activities, in which, rich and poor can participate, forgetting their differences, for the sake of a common purpose; without complexes of superiority and inferiority.
8. As we have detergent powder for washing clothes; we have education to cleanse the brains; we have dhyanam or meditation for cleansing the mind; slokam or chanting for the cleansing of speech; similarly we should do, social service with hard physical work, to cleanse the body, mind, heart and soul. When you sweat and dig the earth, without caring for who is big or small, you will not only be digging a well or pond, but a grave for your Ego and Pride. More than the spring of water to be reached, it is the spring of 'love for others', that is important. Publicity and demonstration be spurned. Quietly, if you go and remove pieces of glass from a foot track, that is more important. The aim is not name and fame, but self cleansing.
That is, 'Paropagaram', and the highest selfishness !
9. We believe in a God, immanent in every human beings and living beings and non-living inanimate objects too. He has given us this body, hands and legs. We express our gratitude, to him by serving others, with those very hands and legs.
Sambhomahadeva.