Deivathin Kural Series - 100

Om Namah Sivaya.
Deivathin Kural # 100 of 17 Nov 2006.
(Correction. 'Swami', was the first part of a series of lectures under Group Heading, 'Bakthi Marg', Second line of Para Two, of Deivathin Kural No 99 of 16 Nov, may be amended accordingly.)
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. On line version of this book in Tamil is available at 'www.kamakoti.org'. 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 lecture is titled, 'Swami Enral Enna?', ie., 'What is the Meaning of Swami?', in pages 471 to 473, in Volum e 1 of Deivathin Kural. Unless specifically mentioned, he or man includes, she or woman.
3. What is the meaning of the word, 'Swami'? It is from the root word, 'swam'. It means ownership or asset. Swam, in Telugu has become 'sommu' and 'soththu', in Tamil. 'Swandam', has become 'sondam', in Tamil, meaning both ownership and relationship. The landed properties of any Temple, in Kerala, is called, 'so and so Dewaswom'. So the owner of the property of 'swam or swom', is 'Swami'. The direct Tamil word for the Owner or Swami, is 'Udaiyar'. In olden times, in the Stone Carvings, in Temples, the Presiding Deity of that Temple is referred to as, 'Thiruvenkatamudaiyar, Thirunageswaramudaiyar, Kapaleeswaramudaiyar.'
4. Guru and God, are considered as synonyms. That is why Sri Vaishnavas call their Guru as 'Udaiyavar'. I said that 'Swami', is the owner. But owner of what property? The entire Universe is the property, of which the owner is God. Whatever is there, is His. Thayumaanavar sang, 'ellam un udaimaiye', meaning, 'every thing is your property'. We, who claim ownership, for this and that property, and have disputes galore, are ourselves, His Property! Without Him, no Land, no World, no People, nothing can exist!
5. We claim ownership of some Lands or Buildings or Vehicles. Scientists keep on creating ever new materials, machines, appliances and equipments. But all the raw-materials, for all of them, are all God's making only! We take His materials, and change only the, 'Naama and Roopa' ie., Name and Shape. None of us can create an Element or Atom! The Scientists and Manufacturers and Producers, who make planes, missiles, rockets and bombs, are all incapable of making a small Leaf even!
6. All the things in the Universe are all His. He is the 'Udaiyavar'. He is the Swami. We are also His only. What we consider as ours, we have the freedom to use or distribute. Similarly, if we recognise the fact that we are His, and leave ourselves in His hands to dispose of, the way He wants, it can only result in complete Bliss. No more weight. No more responsibility.
7. Now we are using the words, 'I, Me, Myself and Mine', so extensively, that, we are constantly at cross purposes, with everybody else! Once we come to understand that, it is all His, will we have any more reason for Desire and Hate? We will also come to realise that we have no right to any claim. No more tension! All Peace will result. Just that one word, 'SWAMI' and understanding the word's import, can relieve us of all unwanted, undesirable tendencies and inclinations, because, 'It Is All His, Including Ourselves'. To know this thus, is the Aim of Bakthi or Devotion. This is the principle of 'Saranagathi', or Surrendering to God, one's all, including Oneself, since it is all already His.
Sambhomahadeva.