Praise of God-Kural 8

Kural pronounced in English

Thiruvalluvar

“Aravaazhi anthanan thaalsaernthaar kallaal
Piravaazhi neenthal arithu”

Precise meaning in English:

Version1: Unless His feet ‘the Sea of Good, the Fair and Bountiful,’ men gain,
‘Tis hard the further bank of being’s changeful sea to attain.

Version2: None can swim the sea of vice, but those who are united to the feet of that gracious Being who is a sea of virtue

Explanation:

“The one who adheres to the feet of the great souls who happen to be the sea of virtue can only cross the sea of vice (birth).” This has been the perception many have obtained from this verse.
The word “Aram” has been understood by most people as virtuosity. The great saint Ouvaiyar has also asked people to ‘wish to be virtue (Aram)’.

“Aram seyya virumbu”

Consider an example of a rich man who abides by the rule and is noble to all people and donates his wealth. He might become a penniless person over the period of time. Hence the correct explanation would be that the word ‘Aram’ here means ‘Thavam’ (is an act, which makes one, endure tremendous difficulties to promote one’s spiritual growth).

Here, Thiruvalluvar and Ouvaiyar both mean Thavam and not virtue. This spiritual endurance can only help one cross the sea of birth. The explanation of the sea of birth can be hastened by the song by Manickavasagar,

“Grass was I, shrub was I, worm, tree,
Full many a kind of beast, bird, snake,
Stone, man, and demon. ‘Midst Thy hosts I served.
The form of mighty Asuras, ascetics, Gods I bore.
Within these immobile and mobile forms of life,
In every species born, weary I’ve grown, great Lord”
(Describes the evolution of the soul across many births and the weariness in the search for the One’s grace)

The first four chapters of Thirukkural are together called “Payiram”. The four of them are

1. The Praise of God
2. The Excellence of Rain
3. The Greatness of Ascetics
4. Assertion of the Strength of ‘Aram’ – Virtue

Again here the fourth chapter is about the assertion of the strength of “Thavam”. This meaning to the word ‘Aram’ would cause many people to go bewildered.

Praise of God – Kural 7

Great tamil saint

Kural pronounced in English

“Thanakkuvamai illathaan thaalsaernthaal kallaal
Manakkavalai maatral arithu”

Precise meaning in english

Version 1:Unless His foot, ‘to Whom none can compare,’ men gain,
‘Tis hard for mind to find relief from anxious pain.

Version 2:Anxiety of mind cannot be removed, except from those who are united to the feet of
Him who is incomparable

Explanation:

There is no way to get rid of the mental sorrow other than rendering service at the feet of the One (saint), who is incomparable and unbeatable. This is the opinion of Thiruvalluvar in this matter. The five senses cause the misery in human life by creating exhaustion and sorrow which increases day by day. In order to get rid of this suffering one has to serve and follow the path of those who have attained the Super Natural state. There is no escape out of this.

The presence of the great Mahan who has controlled the irresolute mind can be felt even when he is in proximity to us. This is because their mind is resolute and works without any disturbance. When one stays close to them and learns the practice of meditation then the mind can forget its sorrow, troubles, even oneself and find peace.

Ramana Maharishi goes into Mauna Viradham (silent fast – abstain from speaking) one day in a week after answering the questions of people for the other six days. During this day of fast people stay close to him and reach close to his state and forget their selves and find peace. The people who knew this would expect the day of his fast, enjoy the state of mind and praise Ramana Maharishi as alleviator of sorrow.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

The preaching of Lord Jesus also seems very pertinent to this.

Praise of God-Kural 6

Kural pronounced in English

“Porivaayil aiynthuvithaan poitheer ozhukka
Nerinindraar needu vaazhvaar”

Precise meaning in English:

Version 1: Long live they blest, who ‘ve stood in path from falsehood freed;
His, ‘Who quenched lusts that from the sense-gates five proceed’.

Version 2: Those shall long prosper who abide in the faultless way of Him who has destroyed
the five desires of the senses.

Explanation:

Those who follow the principles of the truly virtuous pure being (who has controlled his five senses of skin, mouth, eye, nose and ear) shall obtain the state of long life. The long life mentioned here should not be understood as the long life of more than a century. The men and women involved in domestic life however good or bad virtue they possess have to terminate in death and experience the painful birth. That is the end where the body and the soul separate to result in death. The Super Natural state is one in which the soul is consolidated, composed and gets united with the body. The people at this state are equal to the primary god. This state is called Samadhi (Samam – equal; Adhi – primal deity). They no longer have the state of death nor do they have the pain of birth. When such a great Mahan (saint) attains Samadhi the place around his Samadhi (temple) has the power forever. These are the pure ones whose principles we ought to follow.

Praise of God-Kural 5

Kural pronounced in English

“Irulsaer iruvinaiyum saera iraivan
Porulsaer pugazhpurinthaar maatu”

Precise meaning in English:

Version 1: The men, who on the ‘King’s’ true praised delight to dwell,
Affects not them the fruit of deeds done ill or well.

Version 2: The two-fold deeds that spring from darkness shall not adhere to those who delight
in the true praise of God.

Explanation:

“Iruvinai” meaning two- fold deeds includes both good and bad deeds. Right, both these deeds in the end form the cause of birth. People who do good deeds get the birth of a good person and the vice versa happens leading to a painful birth. Thus the birth a person gets depends on the deeds a person does. The continuation of the deeds (Karma) of one’s parents is called “Sanjitha karma”. “Praraptha karma” is present life karma, the quality of such thought and action from

whatever one has done during the lifetime. The qualities of the two aspects of karmas, sanjitha and praraptha will induce the person to do new karmas. One has to enjoy or suffer from them. This action done out of combined sanjitha and praraptha karma is called “Aagamiya karma”. Even when born in a good birth the karmas do produce their

effects.

Like what Thiruvalluvar has said

“Vendunkaal vendum piravaamai”

‘If one should wish for something, wish for not being born again.’

The knowledge of the soul without the body is not possible by ordinary people. If one wants to know the soul then saints who know the soul can only show it. Hence, one has to reach the feet of the saints to gain the knowledge of the soul and get rid of the darkness of rebirth.

Praise of God-Kural 4

Kural pronounced in English:

“Venduthal vendaamai ilaanadi sernthorkku
Yaandum idumbai ila”

Precise meaning in English:

Version 1: His foot, ‘Whom want affects not, irks not grief,’ who gain
Shall not, through every time, of any woes complain.

Version 2: To those who meditate the feet of Him who is void of desire or aversion, evil shall
never come.

Explanation:

People who live principally for the sake of this body will face happiness, sadness and all other emotions. Tied to its emotions this life forgets itself, its activity and by the actions of wish and hatred does a lot of things which would bring shame and sadness. It also creates trouble to others along with itself.
The one who knows, understands, senses the price of life, involves in internal vision (third eye) and tolerates the life itself will only have the attitude to view happiness and sadness in the same way. The people who practice this internal vision will attain complete knowledge and perceive the almighty. Yes, these are the only people who never
have sadness or evil in life according to Thiruvalluvar.
That’s right, reaching a Guru (teacher) who can show the path towards attaining this internal vision is the only way to be relieved of evil forever.

Praise of God-Kural 3

Kural pronounced in English:

“Malarmisai eginaan maanadi sernthaar
Nilamisai needu vaazhvaar”

Precise meaning in English:

Version 1: His feet, ‘Who o’er the full-blown flower hath past,’ who gain
In bliss long time shall dwell above this earthly plain.

Version 2: They who are united to the glorious feet of Him who occupies swiftly the flower of
the mind, shall flourish in the highest of worlds (heaven).

Explanation:

The collection of the fine particles of Sky forms Air, from Air comes Fire or heat, from
heat comes Water, and from water comes Earth. It has been told that this is how the
Primary five elements of world came to existence. These five elements give the
sensations of life in the form of taste, vision, touch, sound and smell. These elements
blossom to give the flavor to the soul of a human being.
The verse here means that, the people who operate on the flower and reach the highest of
worlds can only live there forever. What is the flower is the question that has to be
answered. Eyes are compared to flowers (“Flower Eyes”) by many painters and writers in
their works. The word eye is also replaced with flower in many instances (in Tamil
language). Yes, the eyes were only referred to as the flower here. The two eyes are used
to see the things in this world, but the “third eye” helps to see the inner side of a human
being (soul). Yes, the third eye is the place where it began and it is the place where one
can finally become consolidated.

Like what Thaayumanava Swamigal has said,
“athuvaanaal athuvaavar athuve sollum”

‘If one becomes “that”, then the “that” of the one will itself manifest’
When this eye is in full operation and becomes constant then one can reach the highest of
worlds and live there forever. The condition of a person who does not operate on this
flower is known if we ruminate for a while.

Praise of God-Kural 2

“Katrathanaal aaya payanenkol vaalarivan
Natraal thozhaar enin”

No fruit have men of all their studied lore,
Save they the ‘Purely Wise One’s’ feet adore.

Explanation:

What is the purpose of education? The purpose is to bow in front of great knowledgeable
individuals. This has been the normal explanation given to this verse by all people.
The most important part we have to notice is the word “Vaalarivan” in this verse. In
villages there is a saying
“oru paagathirukku oru peiyundu oru muzhathirkku oru paambundu”
‘One portion has a devil and at one arms length there is a snake’
Here the snake is the Kundalini snake which curves and spans from the “Muladhara”
(origination of kundalini located in between the gonads and the anus) to the Head. “Vaal”
(meaning – tail) here refers to the tail of the kundalini snake or serpent. Yes, the
knowledge of the tail (origination of the kundalini) is the first step in the knowledge of
the almighty. The knowledge that the tremendous source of energy lies inside everyone is
the first step.
There are many names kept in Tamil language which also correlates to the same tail, like
Vaalambikai, Karukkuvaaliyyan, Vaalasubramaniam, etc. Knowing this tail and its
endless capacity is the primary purpose of education (spiritual). The education in this
world has been solely used for getting advanced degrees which help to multiply wealth.
People who knew the real meaning of this verse would search for saints (who know,
understand, and feel the power of the tail) and enjoy eternal bliss.

The Praise of God – Kural 1

 

“Agara muthala ezhuthellam aathi

Bhagavan muthatre ulagu”

“Agara muthala ezhuthellam aathi

Bhagavan muthatre ulagu”

A, as its first of letters, every speech maintains;

The “Primal Deity” is first through all the world’s domains.

Explanation:

As all letters have the letter A for their first, so the world has the eternal God for its

first.

All languages in this world start with the letter “A”. Similarly, all matter in this world

start with the spiritual state of the initial source.

“Bhagavan” by itself means a person who is partitioned (Partitioned into “Shiva” and

“Shakti”). Every human being, in the centre of the brain, has the seeds laid by his or her

parents (united in the form of Shiva and Shakti, Suryakala and Chandrakala, Sperm and

Ovum). This union corresponds anatomically to the location of the Pituitary gland. The

pituitary gland controls the body mentally and physically. This gland has been named

aptly by scientists as the “Master gland”.

Yes. The knowledge of this initial source of the Bhagavan (partitioned union) is the

primary state. This truth has been reflected by the words of the old saint Ouvaiyar.

“Annaiyum pithavum munneri theivam”

‘Mother and father form the primary god’.

The fifth commandment, verse 12 also says

“Honour thy father and thy mother:”

The same principle has been conveyed by “Agathiyar” as

“Munthi nee koodi serntha moolamadhai ariyaavittal moolampaare”

‘If you do not know the Moolam (Pituitary) in which you met and united in the beginning

it is waste’

I think the intention of “Thiruvalluvar” must have been along these lines.