Deivathin Kural Series - 172

Om Namah Sivaya.

Deivathin Kural # 172 of 22 Mar 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. To-day's talk is titled, 'Kamakshiyin Sarithai' that is, 'Kamakshi's Origins', in pages 790 to 804, of Deivathin Kural, Volume 1. 2. (KTSV Adds:- Have the readers noticed that, Periyaval has been going on about, Mother and related Titles, such as Lakshmi, Saraswathi and so on since Deivathin Kural # 156. He goes on, for another 13 to 14 lectures on related topics only. On occassions He may be seemingly repeating some of the anecdotes. I suppose the purpose is to drill it into our heads. Anyhow You may not notice this, unless You have been reading them all thoroughly. Deivathin Kural # 186 will be on Hanumar. That will bring us to the end of Deivathin Kural Volume 1. After that, I may have to take a break, when I will be visiting Kedar Nath and Badri Nath. During that period I would like to hear from You, If you are interested in continuing to recieve Deivathin Kural. To-day's lecture alone covers 15 pages, running into about 40 paras and I may be taking two days to send you in two e-mails.)

2. In Kanchipuram, the Grace and Compassion of Mother has taken tangible form as Ambal, sporting Sugar-Cane Bow (Ikshu chapam) and Flower-arrows (Pushpa Banam). There is one more Devata bearing these as weapons! Manmathan or Kaman, the God of Love, Cupid also has the same weapons. So these two items are 'common' between Kaman and Kamakshi. Manmathan has sugar-cane bow. The string for that bow is made of a number of beetles holding each others legs with their hands and the two beetles at either end holding on to the bow with their hands or legs! With this bow of sugar-cane, string of beetles and five flower arrows
this Manmatha's reign over all life-forms is unchallenged. All the sweet edibles in life is made of sugar / candy / jaggery and that sweetness is Kaman's weapon. How can it be avoided? Flowers are famous for fragrance, softness and beauty of form. They are his arrows! The 'twang' of the bow comes from the very pleasant sound made by the beetles. Thus Kama feeds all the five senses and the minds of all, with euphoria, elation and well being. No one wants to say 'no' to his invitations, but only want more and more of the same. He is so empowered by Ambal's wish to continue Her Leela of Pro-creation! So instead of 'Irumbu vil' he has 'Karumbu vil'! (Irumbu in Tamil means Iron and Karumbu means sugar-cane.)

3. But Ambal does not want everyone to become enslaved by sensual pleasures all of the time either. Even those who are involved in the worldly life, may not be so involved in their pursuits of making money and enjoying sensual pleasures; that Dharma or morality gets ignored. To be involved in their worldly pursuits; with discipline, is only the first stage. This should progress to the ultimate stage, when senses and mind come to an absolute stand still. Then the Individual steps off the cycle of birth - death, as though stepping off a train! At that stage, Manmatha or Kama, has no role to play. The Director of this Leela or Drama, Ambal, has meant Dharma(discipline and morality), as a check on Artha(acquisition of material and wealth) and Kama(gratification of desires), to enable all the life forms to attain Moksha eventually!

4. There was an occassion when she had to take away the sugar-cane bow and flower arrows, for Herself from, Manmatha who was meant for the Kama of all. That also She did, out of extreme love and compassion only. She wanted that the Parabrhma Swaroopam, should shower its 'Anugraha' on all lifes and endow them with Dharma and Gnana. With that aim in view, she had to take the sugar-cane bow and flower arrows and become Kamakshi!

5. That was when Parameswara sat down as Dakshina Murthy, as Gnanamaya Swaroopa. He sat stilling all activities including that of the mind. He is in the form of Adwaita of all in one. Then what happens to all the Jeeva Rasies? Who will care for them? The Still -Awareness-Being should flow as the ocean of compassion and bless all life-forms, She decided out of Her Grace. She was quite capable of doing so Herself. But people had to be demonstrated as to how a gem-of-a-woman, should behave. She is not different from Him. She is the same Siva. Ultimate Gnana should also be all absorbing kindness and love. The time was appropriate for Her to pick up the sugar-cane bow and flower-arrows and become Kameswari.

6. That was the time when Tharakasura and Surapadma, were creating total anarchy in all the worlds. They had done much tapasya and obtained such boons of unlimited power, that they were assured that only Parameswara's own Son only could sort them out. That Parameswara was merged in Atma Anubhuthi as Dakshina Murthy. How to get Him involved in procreative activity? The Devas hounded by the Asuras, could only think of one opportunity. At that time, Himawan's daughter Parvathy was serving as a maid looking after Dakshina Murthy's physical well being, as He was seated in Dhyana. If Manmathan responsible for Kama, could divert the attention of Parameswara towards Parvathy, then the birth of a Son of Siva - Parvathy could be ensured. So they sent Manmatha to show his prowess on Parameswara.

7. The power to bring the whole world under his control, had been given to Manmatha by the same power of Parameswara. His aim could have been achieved had he approached Parameswara with humbleness. But Manmatha was bloated by pride and complacency. He thought that He could make Parameswara enamoured of Parvathy, by His antics! He directed the flower arrows on Parameswara.

8. Parameswara felt some movement. He slightly opened the third eye. Manmatha was burnt and reduced to ashes in a fraction of a second. He had the pride that He was too beautiful and too good to resist. Bodily beauty cannot stand before the fire of Knowledge. From being 'sarva anga sundaran' that is. 'all body beautiful, he became, 'ananga' that is, a 'no body' or a nobody!

9. Manmatha's wife Rathi cried. Parvathi gave her 'Anugraha' that, 'Ananga' will continue to function as a Devata with duties as usual and be visible to Rahti's eyes only. She told Manmatha, "I am the one who had given you the Sugarcane bow and Flower arrows. I am giving them back to you. Your job it is to involve all the life forms in the act of procreation. Otherwise all of them would have remained celibate. Only when they take life again and again, they could progressively get across the ocean of repeated birth and death. Otherwise there would have been a stagnation and chaos. So you had been given certain powers. You have endevoured to show your craft on your employer himself, in vain. He, Parmeswara can be responsive only to Love. I will give you a demonstration of how this can be done." So saying, She took up the Sugarcane bow and Flower arrows, Herself and went and stood in front of Kameswara!

10. She looked at Him with love overflowing, that she got the name of 'Kama + akshi = loving eyes', Kamakshi. There are certain other interpretations too. Let it be. I have given you the direct meaning. This name, 'kamakkanni' has been there in Tamil, from time immemorial. A Sanga period, lady poet was known as, 'Kamak kanniyar nappalaiyar'. Such a name could not have been there, in such olden times, unless 'Kamakshi' was a well known deity. Anyhow, let us go back to the story.

11. Earlier Manmathan had gone to Parameswara, with the intention of making Him the target of his arrows and got burnt to ashes. Ambal on the other hand, offered the sugarcane bow and flower arrows in Parameswara's feet and prostrated in supplication. Parameswara became Her Kameswara. This is the power of Love and Humility. He was overcome with love for her, by one look of Her eyes. The bow and arrows were indicative of Her hold over the entire universe of all life forms! When She offered them, in all humbleness and supplication, how can there be any antipathy in Parameswara?

12. Then followed, Parvathy Kalyanam - Kumara Sambhavam - Muruga's birth - destruction of Tharaka and Surapadma, eventually. Anybody when defeated, feels ashamed. There is one occassion when this does not happen. When you lose to your own son, you will feel proud instead of shame. There is a Sanskrit proverb on this:- "puthrath ichcheth parajayam", meaning, 'we wish to be defeated by our son'. True to the proverb, Parameswara was thrilled by the fact that, the Asuras who could not be vanquished by Him, could be annihilated by His Son. He, who was Dakshina Murthy, as primordial Gnana Murthy, took 'Upadesa' on 'Pranava Mantra', from His Son; there by proclaiming Subrahmanya's Mahima to the entire universe. The reason for the Son to be brilliantly superior to Him in Gnana and Might, is the Ambal's contribution undoubtedly! After Kama's demise, Her becoming Kameswari, and making Him love Her, is the reason for the Son being more than an addition of the two inputs!

13. In evidence of the story from the Purana, in Kanchipuram, inbetween Ekambara Nathar's temple and Kamakshi Amman Aalayam, the is Kumarakkottam. In the 'Somaskanda' statues taken around the temple premises and or the Town on ceremonial occassions, as there is Murugan sitting in the lap of the Mother; exactly similarly, between Kamakshi's and Parameswara's temples is the Sanctum Sanctorum of Subrahmanya, in Kanchipuram.

14. Why did Kamakshi change the Parama Gnana Dakshinamurthy, into Kalyana Sundara? Not only for the destruction of Tharakasura and Surapadma, but to enable the Jeeva Rasis or Life Forms, to get out of the cycle of repeated birth and death, they have to take birth as human beings and mature in to Gnana. Dakshina Murthy steeped in Atma Dhyana, couldn't care less for the Jeeva Rasis, as after all they are only part of the non-existant Maya. This Ocean of Gnana, had to become an Ocean of compassion. For that purpose, She became Kameswari and made Him Kameswara. She is Herself capable of doing so. Though I am saying that She made Him do so, His is to be and Hers is to do. Still She made it seem so, as Her Leela or play. She is the Role Model for all women, to do and give the credit to the Man!

15. Mookar sings, "Amma, how surprising that You who could make a Karuna Murthy out of Dakshina Murthy by making Him fall in love with You, lift the Jeevas from the mire of Moha to Moksha!" (As an aside, probably that is why, we say, 'fall in love' and not 'lift in love'. We fall in love, because we think that, we are supposed to do so and She lifts us from Moha.) As She created 'Kama', in Parameswara, She curtails the 'Kama aberrations' in us. Manmatha uses Sugarcane bow and Flower arrows, to make us go astray in running after sensual pleasures. She holds the same weapons in Her hands, to enable us to bring in discipline in self gratification. She holds the 'Karumbu Vil' indicative of the mind, under control. The five arrows are indicative of the beauty of sound, touch, shape, taste and smell. As we enjoy them we have to be aware that, all the sensual pleasures of life are Her beauty and grace only. She is the Kamakshi of sweetness, softness and fragrance.

16. If the same glance of Her eyes by which She could make Him enamoured of Her, falls on us, all our crass desires will be erased. Whatever we see then will be Her beauty. Everything will become one; Adwaitam! Nothing higher or lower. "Forest and home, enemy and friend, young and old, good and bad, gold and sand; all will become one. All Her Grace accrues, to those who have had the slightest sliver of the glance of Her eyes!", says Mookar.

(To be continued)

Sambhomahadeva.