Deivathin Kural Series - 111

Om Namah Sivaya.
Deivathin Kural # 111 of 04 of Dec 2006.
1. To-day's title is 'Aimpulangal; Aindu Upacharangal', or 'Five Senses and Five Services', occuring in pages 503 to 505, in Volume 1 of Deivathin Kural, Tamil version, published by Vanady Padippagam, Chennai.
2. The Human is equipped with five instruments, to enable experiencing whatever is in the Universe. They are the eyes, ears, nose, tongue and skin, the five instruments known as, 'pancha indriyas'. Eyes grasp the form including colour. The sound is cognised by the ears. Smell is experienced by the nose. Taste is known by the tongue. Touch is felt by the skin. These five instruments are only sensors. They do not create anything new. They sense form, sound, smell, taste and touch. Like a radio reciever, they are recievers of senses, from the outer world, and send reports of the same to the brain. Since they do not create any form or smell or sound or touch or taste; but only act as sensors and informers; they are known as, 'gnanendriyas' or 'instruments of awareness'.
3. The human being is equipped with certain other instruments for action too. They are known as, 'Karmendriyas', or 'tools for action'. They are hands, for grasping, catching and giving; legs for locomotion; etc. The tongue, other than being a gnanendriya, is also a karmendriya, as it enables speech.
4. The basis for the functioning of the five gnanendriyas, are the five basic elements by which the whole universe is made of. They are the Space, Air, Fire, Water and Earth. Sound is the only quality of Space. Space is filled with the 'Omkara Nadha' of 'Pranava Sound'. In a crowd, you may not hear individual words, but can hear the total, 'OOO', sound.
On the sea shore, you can hear the, 'OOO', sound of the waves. If you hold the conch against your ear, you can hear the, 'Omkara'. The sound, 'O' with a fullstop, becomes the 'Omkara'. This is spread throughout space. In Air, we have sound and touch. We know the presence of Air through the sense of touch. Fire, has sound, touch and form. Fire can be seen, in addition to being known by touch and sound. Water, has taste in addition to these three earlier mentioned indicators of form, sound and touch. Earth has taste, form, sound and touch; and the fifth essence of smell too. Thus, we experience the Universe, through these five sensors.
5. These five sensors, make it possible for us, to enjoy this world. Good tasty food, pleasant music, fragrances and aroma of flowers, soothing breeze, the sight of oceons and mountains and full moon, are all being experienced; through these five instruments provided for us by God! He has provided them all, the outer world and the inner experience! It is His grace that we enjoy them all. We who cannot create even a single grain of rice; are enabled to experience and enjoy them all. For this purpose, he has created the outer world; and also created the five sensors or instruments, to know, see, hear, smell, taste and touch. A Tamil poet wonders, 'eththanai kodi inbam vaiththai iraiva?', meaning to say, 'how many crores of pleasures have you kept, Oh God!' So it is our beholden duty and dharma, to think of Him in whatever we enjoy!
6. It is good to develop the attitude of gratitude, towards God, to offer Him, all this before we enjoy ourselves. Once we get in to this habit, we will refrain from experiencing anything unworthy of being offered to God.
7. What we experience of the world and universe, through the five sensory instruments, should first be offered to God, in the sense of gratefulness; out of which are born the five steps of any devotional rituals. Whether in the house or in the Temple, minimum five things are done. To apply sandal wood paste to the Idol. This is the Pruthvi or Earth principle. Flower is offered indicating the Space principle. Light and burning camphor are indicative of the Fire and Air principles. Neivedyam or offering of the eatables specially made are indicative of the Water principle. Thus in 'Pancha Upachara', five fold principles of the entire existance, are included. In doing so, God, Universe and the Devotee, experience the ONENESS.
Sambhomahadeva.