Deivathin Kural Series - 140

Om Namah Sivaya.
Deivathin Kural # 140 of 23 Jan 2007.
1. These e-mails, are chapter wise translations of the lectures given by, Sri Chandra Sekharendra Swamigal, of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam. Every day, after the daily Puja, He used to talk, on various aspects concerning Hinduism. These are published, in Tamil, by Vanady Padippagam, T.Nagar, Chennai, as Deivathin Kural, in seven volumes of a thousand pages each.
2. To-day's talk is titled, 'Muruganin Poorva Avataram', ie., 'The Previous Avatara of Muruga', in pages 633 to 643, of Deivathin Kural, Volume 1.
3. You may know something about Sambanda Murthy Swamigal. At least some of you might have heard about Kumarila Bhattar. To-day I am going to talk about another Subrahmanya Avatara. Till very recently, I myself was not knowing about this story. To put it in the right perspective, this is not Subrahmanya Avatara, but about, what He was prior to becoming Subrahmanya. How was this came to be known to me itself, is a story.
4. Vyasa wrote the 'Brhma Sutra', in which He has discussed 'Parmatma Tattva', meaning, the Supreme Principle. In it, in Chapter 3, part 3, Sutra 32, He says, "Those who have a mission to fulfil continue in the corporeal state as long as the mission demands it". While writing His comments, our Acharyal says(amongst other things), 'Sanat Kumara who is a mind-born son of Brhma, having given boons to Rudra, for that reason was born as Skanda'.
5. I was wondering, 'Sanat Kumara, giving boon to Rudra and later born as Skanda?! Where is this given?' I asked many learneds. Then Sri Vatsa Somadeva Sarma, was given this task, to find out. He had given all the 18 Puranas, in a short form in Tamil. One day, He came to give me Biksha. During that, He gave me this information, as the biggest present, that the story is availabale in detail, in Tripura Rahasyam, Mahatmya Kandam, 37th Chapter, this story is given in detail! Let me tell you the story.
6. Sanat Kumara is the mind born son of Brhma. He is a born Gnani, like Sukachariyar. He does not identify himself as the physical being, that he is ever aware that inside and outside, are the same. One night he had a dream. In the dream there was a war between Devas and Asuras. In it Sanat Kumara fought as Commander of the Divine forces and destroys all the devilish forces. He told his father about the dream and asked him as to what is the meaning.
7. Brhma told him, "My dear Son! In your previous life, you had done Veda Adhyayana. There is a mention of Deva-Asura battle in it. That seems to have made a deep impression in your mind. Devas are those that are venerated and propitiated through Yagnas and they shower boons and blessings on humans. Asuras want to interfere in this relationship between Devas and Humans. Because of your deep involvement in Vaidik philosothy and arrangement. you wanted to fight the Asuras and destroy them all Yourself. It is that thought which is the reason for your dream."
8. He continued, "Whatever thought comes to your mind, that will become a reality. So one day, you will become the Commander of the Divine Forces and will destroy the Asuras. But in this life, you are likely to think of Asuras and Devas as Brhmam only. So you have to take another life for your dream to materialise."
9. Once a person's mind, speech, heart and body, are completely established in truth, they cannot bluff even unintentionally. To put differently, whatever they say, knowingly or unknowingly, even if it is contrary to the truth, it has to become the reality! Sanat Kumara was such a person. Whatever he thinks, even in dream, becomes the truth. Having heard Brhma, Sanat Kumara, to whom the world and life in it, is only a dream, went back to his ways of quietitude.
10. Now it was the problem of Parameswara, to make this dream come true! Though Sanat Kumara was not making any efforts for his Darshan, He arrived at Sanat Kumara's Ashram, along with Parvathi. For Sanat Kumara, it made no difference, as he looked at anything and everything as Brhmam only. He did not even get up to recieve the divine couple. Parvathi-Parameswaral waited for quite some time. They were thrilled by looking at this boy, so deeply absorbed in himself. Still with an assumed annoyance, Siva asked him, "When we who are the Parents of the whole Universe, have come to visit you, is it not your pride that you are a Gnani, that you could ignore us? What will you do if I give you a curse?"
11. Sanat Kumara could not care less. He replied non-challantly, "Even if you were the super-angry-Rudra, and curse, it will not affect the Atma. Go ahead and curse." Eeswara was thrilled by the reply of the self realised Atma Gnani. He said, " I appreciate your equipoise! Ask whatever you want. I will grant you boons." Sanat Kumara laughed. He said, " My dear sir! Your boon will make no difference to someone, for whom there are no more wants or demands!" He went one step higher. He said, " Parameswara! From your talk, you seem to give a lot of importance to boons and curses. Why don't you ask for a boon and I shall grant you." Eeswara was quite happy. When our own children, try to boss over us, which parent will not be thrilled? The Lord of all the worlds, thought that He had now an opportunity to make Sanat Kumara's dream come true. He asked in all humility, "The great Gnani that you are, you have given Brhma the pleasure of being your father. Will you consent to be my son, at least in another life?" "OK. I will become your son," agreed Sanat Kumara.
12. Till attaining to Gnana, we will cry that we want this cycle of birth-death-birth, should come to an end. Once we are firmed in gnana, then birth and death are as irrelevant as the appearance and disappearance of a water bubble on the surface of water only. Sanat Kumara had said that he would be born as Siva's Son. He had not said that, he will be born to Siva and Parvathi! Sanat Kumara thought about this and found that there was some logic, in the situation. He openly told Siva, "As per Sastra, one should not give a boon unasked for. You only asked for the boon and Your wife, did not do so. So whatever way, you can give birth to me as your son, do so."
13. Parvathi was disappointed. Of course, all life forms are her children only. However, she also wanted that such a Brhma Gnani should be born as her son too. So she argued. "Sastras do not differentiate between husband and wife. Whatever a husband asks for, especially to have an off-spring, wife is automatically included. Because He has asked, you have to become my son too," She claimed. Sanat Kumara thought about this deeply. He said, "There is justice in your claim too. However, somehow, I prefer not to go through the process of being confined to life in the womb. With a big heart, You should permit me to be born, to your husband, without the normal procedure!" She thought about it reluctantly. Finally she came to a compromise.
14. When Basmasura did Tapasya, he got a boon from Parameswara, that by placing his hands on anybody's head, he will burn them off. He wanted to test his power on Parameswara, who promptly disappeared. Parvathi, though knowing everything, temporarily forgot Her and Parameswara's imperishability. She was shocked by Parameswara's diappearance. She virtually melted out of extreme agony of seperation. That became a lake known as 'Saravana Poigai'. She remembered it now. So the compromise was that Parameswara, will produce the sparks, that will be recieved in Her body of Saravana Poigai!
15. Accordingly, the six sparks from Parameswara's third eye, were carried by Vayu and Agni, the Air and Fire Gods, to the Ganges River. who fetched them to Saravana Poigai, where he became Subrahmanya, the Deva Senapathi. However many names He has, 'Sa Ra Va Na Ba Va', became the most important 'shadakshari' Mantra. That is Ambal's greatness!
16. Santokya Upanishad, clearly says, that Sanat Kumara is Skanda. It also clarifies that He is the Gnana Pandita. The great Narada had to come to Sanat Kumara, for Gnana Upadesa. Narada was an expert in, the Vedas, Itihasa, Purana, all Sastras, Deva Vidya, Brhma Vidya. Bootha Vidya and Nakshtra Vidya. He was the foremost authority in Bakthi Marga. But when it came to Gnana, He had to come to Sanat Kumara. Narada pleaded, "There is nothing that I do not know about. But through all that, I have not come to know about the Self. I am in agony because of that. You are my only recourse! Please teach me!" Sanat Kumara, explained, "You do not have to go anywhere, to find your Atma. Up and down, right and left, inside and outside, everything, everywhere, all the time, it is one and the same Atma! If you meditate on it, to the exclusion of all other thoughts, You will know yourself to be the Atma. That is 'Swa rajyam' or self rule. That is 'Swaroopa' or self form. You have to start with cleanliness in food, followed by cleanliness of the Heart and Mind. Then when the mind stands still, all binding ties break off." The Upanishad says, "Thus, Baghwan Sanat Kumara, showed Narada the way beyond all darkness; and He is known as Skanda; and He is known as Skanda". The Upanishad completes its statement with a double entente!
17. The brilliance beyond all darkness, is Gnanagni Murugan, the fire of knowledge! That is what is affirmed by Santokya Upanishad. Avastha means state. Santokya Avastha is Zend avesta. Parsi religion is completely, Fire worship. It was started by a saint from Sourashtra. This word Sourashtra, became Zorathustra. Souram or Sauram is related to the Sun. "The Sun, Fire and Gayatri, are the special forms of Sambu or Sambasiva, or Siva with Ambal", says Acharyal in 'Prasna Uttara Ratna Malika', or 'Prasnottara Ratnamalika'. In Thruvannamalai, Siva is Agni Swaroopa. Murugan is the Fire of Siva.
18. Vedas themselves are using fire worship quite extensively. Veda start with the word, 'Agni'. 'Oupasanai', is Agni pooja only. It is a common activity for all castes. For this Subrahmanyar is the main Deity. Panchayathana Pooja was revived by Acharyal, in which, Ganapathy, Eeswara, Ambal, Soorya and Mahavishnu, are the five Deities revered. It is quite sensible to include, Subrahmanya in this daily pooja, because, 'Oupasanai', is not much practised now-a-days.
19. It is good to see, that now-a-days, worship of Muruga is on the upswing. Pazhani, Thiruthani, Thiruchendur, Swami Malai, etc., are all popular destinations. Thirppugazh singing is quite prevalent everywhere. 'Murugan is only a Tamil God, not found in Vedas', is a canard. Acharyal has sung a sloka titled 'Subrahmanya Bujangam'. In it in the stanza starting with 'Myooradi roodam', he uses the phrase, 'Mahi deva devam'. 'Mahideva', are Brahmins. Murugan is equally a God for all castes. Acharyal further says, "Muruga! Para Sakthi Putra! By standing on the sea shore, you are indicating to the devotees that you will take them across the ocean of samsara. That all the problems of the devotees will subside as the waves subside in the ocean. I can't think of a God other than 'Muruga' he says, (Na Jane, Na Jane)."
20. Thiruchendur Murugan is indicating that, as the waves raise and subside in the ocean, "all Jeevas and Jagat, raise from Me and subside in Me". Siva humbly requested the Sanat Kumara, who had given Gnana Upadesa to Naradar, to become His son. Then with equal humility, took the Pranava Upadesa, form Him after He became His son! Muruganukku arohara!
Sambhomahadeva.