Again,
according to शैवमत संप्रदाय (śaivamata
saṃpradāya – shaiva theological tradition), there are famous legends
around அட்ட வீரட்டானம் (aṭṭa vīraṭṭānam –
eight-fold manifestation of valor) viz. संहार (brahma saṁhāra), काल संहार
(kāla saṁhāra), गजासुर संहार (gajāsura saṁhāra), जलन्धरासुर संहार (jalandharāsura saṁhāra) & अन्धकासुर संहार (andhakāsura saṁhāra) also highlights similar accounts of forceful correction of
the defaulting souls by Lord परमशिव (paramaśiva) and each of them has a deeper esoteric significance as
summarized in the following table.
# | வீரட்டானம் (vīraṭṭānam - manifestation of valour) | Esoteric Meaning | சிவதாண்டவம் (sivatāṇḍavam– Dance of Siva) | சிவாலயம் (sivālayam – Shiva Temple) |
1 | ब्रह्म संहार (brahma saṁhāra) | बिन्धु जय (bindhu jaya) by arousing the मूलाग्नि (mūlāgni – root fire) | கபால தாண்டவம் (kabāla tāṇḍavam) | கண்டியூர் (kaṇḍiyūr) |
2 | काल संहार (kāla saṁhāra) | அங்கி யோகம் (aṅgi yogam) | கால சம்மார தாண்டவம் (kālasammāra tāṇḍavam) | திருக்கடவூர் (tirukkaḍavūr) |
3 | त्रिपुर संहार (tripura saṁhāra) | மலபரிபாகம் (malaparibāgam – ripening of fetter) | திரிபுர சம்மார தாண்டவம் (tiripura sammāra tāṇḍavam) | திருவதிகை (tiruvadigai) |
4 | गजासुर संहार (gajāsura saṁhāra) | முத்தீ சிறப்பு (muttī ciṛappu – glory of triple fires) | கஜ சம்மார தாண்டவம் (gajasammāra tāṇḍavam) | திருவழுவூர் (tiruvazhuvūr) |
5 | जलन्धरासुर संहार (jalandharāsura saṁhāra) | वायु योग साधन (vāyu yoga sādhana) | ஜலந்தர சம்மார தாண்டவம் (jalandara sammāra tāṇḍavam) | திருவிற்குடி (tiruviṛkuḍi) |
6 | दक्ष संहार (dakṣa saṁhāra) | शिवराज योग (śivarāja yoga) | தக்கன் சம்மார தாண்டவம் (dakkan sammāra tāṇḍavam) | திருப்பறியலூர் (tiruppaṛiyalūr) |
7 | अन्धकासुर संहार (andhakāsura saṁhāra) | अज्ञान बाधन (ajñāna bādhana – ignorance removal) | அந்தகாசுரவத தாண்டவம் (andakāsuravada tāṇḍavam) | திருக்கோவலூர் (tirukkOvalūr) |
8 | काम संहार (kāma saṁhāra) | ब्रह्म संहार (brahma saṁhāra) | கொறுக்கை சாந்த தாண்டவம் (koṛukkai sānta tāṇḍavam) | बिन्धु जय (bindhu jaya – semen victory) by arousing the मूलाग्नि (mūlāgni – root fire) |
We may not be
going through each of them in great detail. However we will deep dive into some
of these stories in order to understand its esoteric secrets.
दक्ष संहार (dakṣa saṁhāra – killing of
Daksha)
According to
the legend of दक्ष संहार (dakṣa saṁhāra), दक्ष (dakṣa) who
is the son of Lord ब्रह्म देव (brahma
deva) had once insulted his
daughter Goddess सती /दाक्षायणी (dākṣāyaṇī / satī) and her
husband शिव (śiva) by not
formally inviting them to the महा यज्ञ (mahā yajña – great sacrifice) that he was performing,
although he had invited everyone else including ब्रह्म
(brahma), विष्णु (viṣṇu).
इन्द्र (indra) etc.
Upset
by her father’s attitude, सती (satī) questioned him about his disrespect towards Her beloved husband
- शिव (śiva), who was none other than Absolute Divinity. Unfortunately instead of repenting
his mistake, दक्ष (dakṣa) had even more openly ridiculed his
son-in-law as an uncouth, ill-deserving and uncivilised personality. Naturally,
सती (satī) could not take the insults about Her
husband and thus self-immolated herself into Yogic Fire and ended Herself to unite with Her Lord again as Goddess श्री पार्वती देवी (śrī pārvatī devī). In occult terms this corresponds to
arousal of the कुण्डलिनी शक्ति (kuṇḍalinī śakti – biomagnetic
energy) across various आधार चक्राः (ādhāra
cakrāḥ - base centres). The following verses in the सती खाण्ड (satī
khāṇḍa) of the रुद्र संहिता (rudra
saṃhitā) from the शिवमहापुराण (śivamahāpurāṇa) provides a very detailed account of
the same
Original | Transliteration | Translation |
॥ब्रह्मोवाच॥ मौनी भूता सती देवी समृत्वा स्वपतिमादरात्। क्षितवुदीच्यां सहसा निषसाद् प्रशांतदीः॥ जलमाचम्य विधिवत् संवृता वाससा शुचिः। दृङ्निमील्य पतिं स्मृत्वा योगमार्गं समाविशत्॥ कृत्वासमानावनिलौ प्राणापनौ सितानना। उत्थाप्योदानमथ च यत्थात्सा नाभिचक्रत्ः॥ हृदि स्थाप्योरसि धिया स्थितं कंठाद् भ्रुवोस्सती। अनिंदितान्यन्मध्यं शंकरप्राणवल्लभा॥ एवं स्वदेहं सहसा दक्षकोपाज्जिहासती। दग्धे गात्रे वायुशुचिधारणं योगमार्गतः॥
| ॥brahmovāca॥ maunī bhūtā satī devī samṛtvā svapatimādarāt। kṣitavudīcyāṃ sahasā niṣasād praśāṃtadīḥ॥ jalamācamya vidhivat saṃvṛtā vāsasā śuciḥ। dṛṅnimīlya patiṃ smṛtvā yogamārgaṃ samāviśat॥ kṛtvāsamānāvanilau prāṇāpanau sitānanā। utthāpyodānamatha ca yatthātsā nābhicakratḥ॥ hṛdi sthāpyorasi dhiyā sthitaṃ kaṃṭhād bhruvossatī। aniṃditānyanmadhyaṃ śaṃkaraprāṇavallabhā॥ evaṃ svadehaṃ sahasā dakṣakopājjihāsatī। dagdhe gātre vāyuśucidhāraṇaṃ yogamārgataḥ॥
| Brahma said, Observing silence and remembering her lord with great respect, Sati the goddess calmed down and sat on the ground in the northern wing. Having sipped water duly, covering up her body entirely with her cloth she closed her eyes and remembered her lord. She then entered yogic trance. Keeping her face steady she balanced the winds Prana and Apana. She then lifted up the wind Udana from the umblical region, stabilized it in the cardiac region took it through the throat and finally fixed it in the middle of the eyebrows. She desired to cast-off her body due to her anger with Daksha. She desired to burn off the body and retain the pure wind by yogic means. In this posture she remembered the feet of her lord and nothing else. Her body divested of its sins fell in the yogic fire and was reduced to ashes, O excellent sage, in accordance with her own wish -Translation by Motilal Banarsidass Publishers
|
Sanskrit Reference: शिवमहापुराण (śivamahāpurāṇa) (30.2-8) |
When
शिव (śiva) heard about this tragedy, He threw
few strands of his hair against a mountain which split the mountain into two
halves and from each of which emerged two fierce deities - श्री वीरभद्र (śrī vīrabhadra) & श्री भद्रकाली (śrī
bhadrakālī). And
as instructed by His Master शिव (śiva), श्री वीरभद्र (śrī
vīrabhadra)
destroyed the ongoing ego-centric दक्ष यज्ञ (dakṣa yajña) and finally beheaded him
Later the
all-merciful सर्व दयालु महा शिव (śiva –
all merciful supreme shiva), took pity on दक्ष (dakṣa)
and revived him back to life by joining the अजस्य
शीर्ष (ajasya śīrṣa - head of a goat) with his
body after which दक्ष (dakṣa) was a spiritually
transformed soul.
Original | Transliteration | Translation |
इदम् अद्य मया लब्धम् इमं प्राप्स्ये मनोरथम्। इदम् अस्तीदम् अपि मे भविष्यति पुनर् धनम्॥ असौ मया हतः शत्रुर् हनिष्ये चापरानपि। ईश्वरोऽहं अहं भोगी सिद्धोऽहं बलवान् सुखी॥ आḍह्योऽभिजनवान् अस्मि कोऽन्योऽस्ति सदृइषो मया। यक्ष्ये दास्यामि मोदिष्य इत्य् अज्ञान-विमोहिताः॥ अनेक-चित्त-विभ्रान्ता मोह-जाल-समावृताः। प्रसक्ताः काम-भोगेषु पतन्ति नरकेऽशुचौ॥ आत्म-सम्भाविताः स्तब्धा धन-मान-मदान्विताः। यजन्ते न्āम-यज्ञैस् ते दम्भेनाविधि-पूर्वकम्॥ अहङ्कारं बलं दर्पं कामं क्रोधं च सन्ष्रिताः। माम् आत्म-पर-देहेषु प्रद्विषन्तोऽभ्यसूयकाः॥ तान् अहं द्विषतḥ क्रूरान् सन्सारेषु नराधमन्। क्षिपाम्यजस्रम् अशुभान् आसुर्īष्व् एव योनिषु॥ आसुरीं योनिमापन्ना मूḍहा जन्मनि जन्मनि। माम् अप्राप्यैव कौन्तेय ततो यान्त्य् अधमां गतिम्॥ - श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता (16.13-20) | idam adya mayā labdham imaṃ prāpsye manoratham। idam astīdam api me bhaviṣhyati punar dhanam॥ asau mayā hataḥ śhatrur haniṣhye chāparān api। īśhvaro ’ham ahaṃ bhogī siddho ’haṃ balavān sukhī॥ āḍhyo ’bhijanavān asmi ko ’nyo ’sti sadṛiśho mayā। yakṣhye dāsyāmi modiṣhya ity ajñāna-vimohitāḥ॥ aneka-citta-vibhrāntā moha-jāla-samāvṛtāḥ। prasaktāḥ kāma-bhogeṣu patanti narake'śucau॥ ātma-sambhāvitāḥ stabdhā dhana-māna-madānvitāḥ। yajante nāma-yajñais te dambhenāvidhi-pūrvakam॥ ahaṅkāraṃ balaṃ darpaṃ kāmaṃ krodhaṃ ca sanṣritāḥ। mām ātma-para-deheṣu pradviṣanto'bhyasūyakāḥ॥ tān ahaṃ dviṣataḥ krūrān sansāreṣu narādhaman। kṣipāmyajasram aśubhān āsurīṣv eva yoniṣu॥ āsurīṃ yonimāpannā mūḍhā janmani janmani। mām aprāpyaiva kaunteya tato yānty adhamāṃ gatim॥ | The demoniac persons think, “I have gained so much wealth today, and I shall now fulfill this desire of mine. This is mine, and tomorrow I shall have even more. That enemy has been destroyed by me, and I shall destroy the others too! I am like God himself, I am the enjoyer, I am powerful, and I am happy. I am wealthy and I have highly placed relatives. Who else is equal to me? I shall perform sacrifices (to the celestial gods); I shall give alms; I shall rejoice.” In this way, they are deluded by ignorance. Possessed and led astray by such imaginings, enveloped in a mesh of delusion, and addicted to the gratification of sensuous pleasures, they descend to the murkiest hell. Such self-conceited and stubborn people, full of pride and arrogant in their wealth, perform ostentatious sacrifices in name only, with no regard to the rules of the scriptures. Blinded by egotism, strength, arrogance, desire, and anger, the demonic abuse my presence within their own body and in the bodies of others.. These cruel and hateful persons, the vile and vicious of humankind, I constantly hurl into the wombs of those with similar demoniac natures in the cycle of rebirth in the material world. These ignorant souls take birth again and again in demoniac wombs. Failing to reach me, O Arjun, they gradually sink to the most abominable type of existence.
Translation by Swami Mukundananda |
Sanskrit Reference : श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता (śrīmadbhagavadgītā) (16.13-20) |
This main
crux of this incident, of course with some minor varioations, is referred in
various orthdox Hindu scriptures including महाभारत (mahābhārata), श्रीमद्भागवतपुराण (śrīmadbhāgavatapurāṇa), विष्णुपुराण (viṣṇupurāṇa), वायुपुराण (vāyupurāṇa), स्कन्दपुराण (skandapurāṇa) and also in
various Tamil scriptures including தேவாரம் (dEvāram), திருமந்திரம் (tirumantiram) etc. For
example, திருமந்திரம் (tirumantiram) recalls the event thus.
Original | Transliteration | Translation |
கொலையிற் பிழைத்த பிரசா பதியைத் தலையைத் தடிந்திட்டுத் தானங்கி யிட்டு நிலையுல குக்கிவன் வேண்டுமென் றெண்ணித் தலையை யரிந்திட்டுச் சந்திசெய் தானே
| kolayiṛ pihaitta pirsāpadiyait talaiyait taḍintiṭṭut tān aṅgiyiṭṭu nilaiyulagukkivan vEṇḍumenṛṇṇit talayai yarinṭṭiṭuc sandiseitānE
| Daksha, the son of Brahma fatally erred; Deadly was his sin To defy the Lord's primacy; And the Lord smote his head And consigned it to flames And then bethought; "Such like are needed for this world An object lesson to serve" And so, fixing a sheep's head to the trunk Thus let him be.. -translation by B.Natarajan
|
Tamil Reference: திருமந்திரம் (tirumantiram) (2.2 (340)) |
One might
wonder, as to why दक्ष (dakṣa) was given a such a
terrible punishment. For afterall, he was without doubt a महा तपस्विन् (mahā tapasvin – great ascetic) who was
performing the महा यज्ञ (mahā yajña – great sacrifice). In fact, that is why
even महा विष्णु (mahā viṣṇu) initially renderd His support to दक्ष (dakṣa) when श्री वीरभद्र (śrī vīrabhadra) tried to destroy the दक्ष
यज्ञ (dakṣa yajña – Daksha’s sacrifice). However, please be informed that this does not mean that महा विष्णु (mahā
viṣṇu) endorsed all the acts
of दक्ष (dakṣa). The former
very categorically called ‘a spade a spade’ by warning
दक्ष (dakṣa) that he had done a grave
mistake (sin) by not inviting Lord परमशिव (paramaśiva) who is the परब्रह्म (parabrahma – absolute divinity) to the यज्ञ (yajña – sacrifice).
Yet, at the
same time, as सर्व दयालु महा विष्णु (sarva dayālu mahā viṣṇu
– all mercful supreme Vishnu) was playing the role of the सार्वत्रिक रक्षक (sārvatrika rakṣaka - Universal Protector), wanted to give
(even) the
devil its (rightful) due and therefore as committed by Him,
tried to protect the दक्ष यज्ञ (dakṣa
yajña – Daksha’s sacrifice) against the attack of श्री वीरभद्र (śrī vīrabhadra) - who is none
other than an शिवस्य अंश (śivasya
aṃśa – aspect of Shiva).
Just because महा विष्णु (mahā viṣṇu) had confronted श्री वीरभद्र (śrī vīrabhadra), please do not fall easy prey to
sectarian misinterpretations that महा विष्णु (mahā
viṣṇu) was antagonistic to परमशिव (paramaśiva). Both are afterall relative aspects of
the same Absolute Divinity.This fact is very categorically testified by none
other than Lord परमशिव (paramaśiva)
in the शिवमहापुराण
(śivamahāpurāṇa)
Original | Transliteration | Translation |
सर्वभूतात्मनामेकभावनां यो न पश्यति। त्रिसुराणां भिदाम् दक्ष स शान्तिमथिगच्छति॥ यः करोति त्र्देवेषु भेदवृद्धिः नरघमः। नरके स वसेत्रूनं यवदाचन्द्रतारकम्॥
| sarvabhūtātmanāmekabhāvanāṃ yo na paśyati। trisurāṇāṃ bhidām dakṣa sa śāntimathigacchati॥ yaḥ karoti trdeveṣu bhedavṛddhiḥ naraghamaḥ। narake sa vasetrūnaṃ yavadācandratārakam॥
| He attains peace, who does not seeany difference among the three deities who constitute the soul of all living-beings and who have the same innate properties, O Daksha. The base man who differntiates the deities of the Trinity certainly stays in hell as long as the moon and the stars shine., -Translation by Motilal Banarsidass Publishers
|
Sanskrit Reference: शिवमहापुराण (śivamahāpurāṇa) (43.16-17) |
Please
remember here that from a spiritual perspective, performing any यज्ञ (yajña – sacrifice)
without contemplating on देवत्व (devatva -
divinity) reduces to mere mechanical
gymnastics of the egoistic mind without arousing the higher realms of अन्तर्यामि परब्रह्म (antaryāmi parabrahma –
indwelling supreme divinity). This is exactly what both सती (satī) & विष्णु (viṣṇu) in their respective roles had pointed
out to दक्ष (dakṣa). In fact, this is the main moral of
the episode which शिव (śiva) also reiterates thus after reviving दक्ष (dakṣa) back to life:
Original | Transliteration | Translation |
ज्ञानगम्योऽहमात्मन्यो वेदान्तश्रुतिपारगैः। विना ज्ञानेमां प्राप्तुं यतन्ते जात्यबुद्धयः॥ न वेदैश्च न यज्ञैश्च न दानैस्तपसा क्रिचित् । न शकुवन्ति मां प्राप्तु मूठाः कर्मवज्ञा नगः॥ केवलं कर्मणा त्वं स्म संसारं तर्तुमिच्छसि। अत एवाभवं रुष्टो यज्ञविध्वंसकारकः॥ इतः प्रभ्ति भो दक्ष! मत्वा मा परमेश्वरम्। बुध्यो ज्ञानपरो भूत्वा कुरुकर्म समाहितः॥
| jñānagamyo'hamātmanyo vedāntaśrutipāragaiḥ। vinā jñānemāṃ prāptuṃ yatante jātyabuddhayaḥ॥ na vedaiśca na yajñaiśca na dānaistapasā kricit । na śakuvanti māṃ prāptu mūṭhāḥ karmavajñā nagaḥ॥ kevalaṃ karmaṇā tvaṃ sma saṃsāraṃ tartumicchasi। ata evābhavaṃ ruṣṭo yajñavidhvaṃsakārakaḥ॥ itaḥ prabhti bho dakṣa! matvā mā parameśvaram। budhyo jñānaparo bhūtvā kurukarma samāhitaḥ॥
| I am the knower of the self. I can be known through knowledge by those who have mastered Vedanta and the Vedas. Deluded men engrossed in rituals alone cannot attain me through the Vedas, sacrifices, gifts or austerities, You wished to cross the ocean of worldly existence by observance of rituals alone. That is why I became angry and caused the destruction of the sacrifice. Hereafter O Daksha, thinking upon me as the great Lord and giving more importance to knowledge you carry on rituals with care and attention. -Translation by Motilal Banarsidass Publishers
|
Sanskrit Reference: शिवमहापुराण (śivamahāpurāṇa) (43.16-17) |
The same
esoteric moral is also reiterated by திருமூலர் (tirumūlar) in his
magnum opus திருமந்திரம் (tirumantiram) wherein he advises
thus:
Original | Transliteration | Translation |
செவிமந் திரஞஂசொல்லுஞஂ செயஂதவத் தேவர் அவிமந் திரத்தினஂ அடுக்களை கோலிச் செவிமந் திரஞஂசெயஂது தாமுற நோகுஙஂ குவிமந் திரஙஂகொலஂ கொடியது வாமே
| ceviman tiranjollunj seitavat tevar aviman tirattin aḍukkaḻai kOlic seviman tiranjeitu tāmua nOkun kuviman tiraṅkol koḍiyadu vāmE
| Who should Upadesa mantra chant, Instead in self-seeking power evoke Sacrificial mantras in Japas numberless That verily will spell Their own deadly end.
-translation by B.Natarajan
|
Tamil Reference: திருமந்திரம் (tirumantiram) (2.21 (359)) |
The important
moral to understand here is that although दक्ष (dakṣa) was performing the महा
यज्ञ साधन (mahā yajña sādhana – great sacrificial rite), yet was
driven by his साहङ्कारता (sāhaṅkāratā
– self-conceit) that he is performing the entire rite with his own दक्षता / योग्यता (dakṣatā /
yogyatā – ability/competence), विद्या (vidyā - knowledge) and शक्ति (śakti - power) without realizing the fact that அவனின்றி ஒரு அணுவும் அசையாது (avaninṛi or aṇuvum asaiyādu – even an atom
cannot move without Him). In epistemological terms दक्ष (dakṣa) due to the dominance of आणव
मल (āṇava mala – finitude fetter) failed to realize that
परमशिव (paramaśiva – supreme divinity) is the अन्तिम आधार (antima ādhāra – ultimate foundation) and the
subject as well as the object of knowledge. Beheading दक्ष (dakṣa) i.e.
severing of his head, corresponds to crushing of such a egoistic delusion.
In fact, the famous saint கண்ணுடய வள்ளல் (kaṇṇuḍaya
vaḻlal) in the following verse from
his famous masterpiece ஒழிவில் ஒடுக்கம் (ozhivil oḍukkam – subsiding through elimination) very categorically reiterates thus:
Original | Transliteration | Translation |
தம்மால் அறிந்ததெலஂலாம் தாமல்ல வெனஂறுறைத்தாற் சும்மா விருப்பதுவாய்த் தோன்றாதோ - விம்மி யரிந்தலை வாய் அடங்கு மவ்வளவே யல்லாற் றெரிந்திடுமோ நீயே தெளி. மறவாத தம்மை யார்யார் மருளோ வருவோ விடயம் போலாகி - லறிவை யறிவதரி வாகையினா லாராருங் தாத்தா மரிவையறி எப்போ லாரி . ஊன்றி நிலாமசையி நாட்டை மொழிந்த சிவன் டொன்ராட் துனியுனக்குத் தோன்றுமோ - தோன்றின் வீரனுடியட் தீண்டுவது போல் வாய்முகத்தை னென்று சிரிப்பதுபோற் பார்த்துத் தெளி. பற்றியது தானாம் பதிகநீ பற்றுவிடப் பற்றை யெதிரிட்டுப் பார்தாலென் - சற்றும் பிறியாச் சிவனைப் பிறித்தறியத் தேடு மறியாமை காணா ணவம்.
| tammāl aṛindhadhellām thāmalla venṛuṛaiththāṛ cummā viruppadhuvāith thonṛyādho vimmi yarindhalai vāi adaṇgu mavvaḻave yallā ṛerindhidumO nīyE theḻi. maṛavāda tammai yaṛiyār maruḻo vaṛivo viḍayam polāgi - lṛivai yaṛivataṛi vāgayinā lāṛāṛun tattha maṛivaiyai yāpo laṛi. ūnṛi nilamasaiyi nāta moindha civan tonṛāt tuṇiayunakkut toṇṛumo - tonṛin viranutiyat tīṇḍuvatu pol vāymugattai nenṛu ciripadhupoṛ pārttuth theḻi. paṛyadu tānām paḍiganī pauvidap paai yetiriṭṭu pārttālen - caum piiyāc civanaip piittaiyat tEḍu maiyāmai kāṇā ṇavam.
| Since it is said [in the Vedas and Agamas] that all that one knows is not oneself, is it not evident that simply remaining still is to dwell as That (i.e. the Self, Brahman or Sivam)? Although its mouth may open and close, does a severed head know anything? Ascertain the truth for yourself. If the Self, which neither knows nor forgets, is regarded as an object by those who would know it, is this delusion, or is it knowledge? To know consciousness is simply to remain as consciousness. Therefore know that, in one sense, consciousness is like the thirty-six tattvas, each of which, respectively, is not aware of its own knowledge (i.e. does not possess self-consciousness). Will Sivam, your unseen support, which is beyond even the nada tattva, ever be known objectively by you? It would be as if you could lift the earth itself using a lever. If it did appear to you, it would be like a finger touching its own tip, or a mouth eating its own face and laughing about it. Consider and know. You are like a clear crystal that takes on the colour of its background. Why then, in order to be free of attachment, do you attempt to know objectively the [true] attachment, [which is Sivam]? Know that the ignorance which attempts to know Sivam as an object separate from itself is known as anavam.
-translation by Robert Butler
|
Tamil Reference: ஒழிவில் ஒடுக்கம் (ozhivil oḍukkam) (37 - 40) |
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