THE ESOTERIC
KANDAR ANUBHUTI
THE SECRET TEACHING ON
GOD-EXPERIENCE
(A Treatise on Adwaitic Realization)
OF
SAINT ARUNAGIRINATHAR
| THE ESOTERIC KANDAR ANUBHUTI THE SECRET TEACHING ON GOD-EXPERIENCE (A Treatise on Adwaitic Realization) OF SAINT ARUNAGIRINATHAR | |
 | by N.V. Karthikeyan |  |
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| prostitutes for the sufferings undergone by others at their hands. He did suffer himself, horribly. Arunagiri, as we know, is famous for telling the truth as it is. No other saint would have confessed as truthfully as he has done, if he were to be in his position. It is for this reason that saint Thayumanavar said, 'Aiyaa Arunagiri appaa unnaippola meiyaaga ore sol vilambinar yaar.' These verses also act like warning sign boards: "Beware! O unwary Fools!" Arunagiri, unlike all other saints, does not merely wish that others also enjoy the Bliss of God that he enjoys, but also does not want the unwary ones to suffer as he had suffered at the hands of those bewitching women --- யாம் பெற்ற இன்பம் வையகம் பெற; தான் பட்ட துன்பம் ஒருவரும் படாதிருக்க. Is he not "Karunaikku Arunagiri", --- Arunagiri for compassion? Further, a scrutiny of such songs as T-392: 'Manaiyaval Nagaikka'; T-509: 'Kumara Gurupara'; T-513: 'Makara Merikadal'; T-916: 'Tiruvuroopa Neraaga'; etc., will leave no room to doubt that Arunagiri not merely led a family life but that his indulgence in debauchery was real and not a mere 'attribution', because the special favours conferred by the Lord, as acknowledged by the saint in these poems, are of a purely personal nature and were granted to Arunagiri and not to somebody else, and as these divine favours saved him from indulgence in prostitution, ridicule of his wife, etc., these facts cannot but be as much real and pertaining to Arunagiri as the favours obtained by him. It cannot be that the blessings mentioned were received by him and the evils which those blessings cured or removed are of someone else, i.e., these songs cannot be 'attributions'. It is believed that prostitution was very rampant during Arunagiri's time. Though from a cultured family, he too fell a victim to it, lost his wealth and health, and was ridiculed by all. Dejected, when he jumped from the temple tower, the Lord saved him and ordained him to sing His glories. So it was part of his mission to help people not to fall into the net of the prostitutes and also help retrieve those who have fallen; and show that there is salvation even for the worst of sinners. Hence, while showing his gratitude to the Lord for having saved him, Arunagiri devoted hundreds of Tiruppugazh in which he not only thanks Him but also exposes the courtesans and their treacherous behaviour by graphically describing his horrible experiences with them. To do so must have been the Will of God and with a purpose. Otherwise, who would imagine that in a holy scripture called 'Tiruppugazh' (Glory of God or the Divine) so much of voluptuous matter can be sung by a saint? What is the purpose? It is not single; it is manifold. As saint Thayumanavar very aptly said, no one has spoken the 'truth' (not only matters spiritual but also mundane and sensuous) like Arunagiri. Hence, first and foremost, the songs in which he describes about his experiences with the prostitutes are autobiographical or personal in nature, i.e., they are his own and not 'attributions', which at the same time also give an inkling of the condition prevailing then. Secondly, they give a clear warning to those young men who are likely to fall a victim, as if to say: "My friends, Beware! Don't be foolish and fall into their net. Don't do the mistake which I made and suffered untold misery." Thirdly, many songs are meant to help retrieve those who have already fallen into | ||
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