Deivathin Kural Series - 85

Om Namah Sivaya.
Deivathin Kural # 85 of 11 Oct 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. 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, titled, 'Sollukkum Porulukkum Moolam Iraivane', ie., 'God is the Origin of Words & Meanings', in pages 413 to 415, in Volume 1 of Deivathin Kural. Unless specifically mentioned, he or man includes, she or woman.
3. It is very wrong to think that, 'What we see and hear with our eyes and ears, are the only things that are true and everything else false. Whatever is said in the Vedas and Puranas, are figs of imagination!'. What we see now with our eyes, is through the lens in the eyes. There could be light waves not discernible to our eyes. Infra-reds and ultra-violets, cannot be seen. Human ear can hear only within approximately 10 and 110 decibles. Modern science proves this. How can it be said that anything unheard and unseen, cannot be true? The great Maha Rishis, who had devine powers, have seen with their 'Gnana Drishti', and have described scenes unseen by us. They have heard devine sounds and given us the Mantras.
4. Such greats, see the entire universe as a dance of divinity. That is the dance of Lord Nataraja. All sounds are born out of that movement of dancing Nataraja. He is dancing very fast. When he stops for a fraction of time, the two decorated hair 'Jadai Vizhudugal', are stretched on either side, due to the centrifugal forces. Like taking a snap-shot of rapid movements, the 'Shilpi' ie., the artist making the sculpture, has captured that moment for posterity. That is the Nataraja sculpture that is visible to our eyes.
5. The world as discernible to the human ear, has also come from Him. The 'Udukkai' is a double drum of the shape of hour-glass, with a string from the center holding a bead at the end, which strikes against the leather surface on either side, making a staccato sound, when it is held between the fingers in one hand and the wrist is twisted right and left speedily. The Udukkai in Nataraja's hands, is much bigger than what the gypsy 'guduguduppaikkaran' has, but smaller than, what the 'Mariyamman Koil' priest has.
6. Lord Nataraja's udukkai is called the 'Dakka' or 'Damarugam'. That Damarugam keeps the beat throughout the dance for Nataraja. When He stops, it gives a 'flourish'. As Visvakarma made the statue of Nataraja's dancing pose, Nandikeswarar heard and absorbed the sound of the flourish with which the Udukkai came to a stop. He named it, 'Maheswara Sutram'. There were fourteen sound groups in it. They start with, 'Aa, Ee, Un,' and end in 'hal'.
7. Keeping these sound groups as the basis for 'Vyakaranam', (ie., Sanskrit Grammer), Maharishi Panini wrote the 'Ashtadhyayi'. Vedas are four; its 'Vedanangas' (or parts?) are six; Meemamsa, Niyayam, Puranam, Dharma Sastram together are four; all these fourteen are the basic scriptures of Hindu Sanatana Dharma. These are the fourteen 'Vidya Sthanam' or 'Education Spots'. These exactly correspond with the fourteen sound collections from Siva's Damaruga. I said that they start with 'Aa'( pronounced as the first Tamil letter & not exactly as the english one), and end with, 'il'. As per grammer, 'al', indicates all the letters. Point to note here. This 'al' is in all languages. In Urudu, 'aleef' is the first letter. In Greek, 'alpha' is the first letter. In English, 'alphabet' is the word. Thus all Languages and all sounds have come from God, call Him what you may.
8. Yagna Narayana Theertha has written a very ingenious poem on this. Pani means hands. Nadam means sound. 'Pani ninadam' is the sound made by hands, which became, Maharishi Panini's sastra 'ashtadhyayi'. Patanjali wrote the Vyakarana Bhashyam, that is the Book on Grammer. He is 'Avatara' of Adi Sesham, the snake bed of Maha Vishnu. He is entwined around Siva's feet or "Padam'. Padanjali has given explanations to the sounds. So when Nataraja shakes his hands and legs, all the languages and grammer come into being, says the Poet.
9. The inner meaning of all this is that, for all Words and their Meaning, God Easwara is the Origin, End and Inbetween, ie., the Medium! Once we understand this, we will stand under, and not misuse it. What ever we write, speak, with whomsoever, all that be known as God's is the ultimate usefulness of being.
Sambhomahadeva.