Thirupugazh lessons 1 - Eru Mayil Eri

I had the blessings to listen to Thirupugazh when my grandfather used to stay in our home. He would sing Nada vindu kaladhi (archanai) and Eru Mayil Eru (mangalam) every day. Both Thiirupugazh and the story of Arunagirinadhar are closely associated with Thiruvannamalai.

Thirupugazh would take several lifetimes to fully understand with its multiple levels of meanings. E.g. The song Eru Mayil Eri (associated with Thiruvannamalai) has a literal meaning clear in plain Tamil but also several popular interpretations and a link to the six abodes of Lord Muruga (ஆறுபடைவீடுகள்)

The song as is:

ஏறுமயி லேறிவிளை யாடுமுக மொன்றே

          ஈசருடன் ஞானமொழி பேசுமுக மொன்றே

 

     கூறுமடி யார்கள்வினை தீர்க்குமுக மொன்றே

          குன்றுருவ வேல்வாங்கி நின்றமுக மொன்றே

 

     மாறுபடு சூரரை வதைத்தமுக மொன்றே

          வள்ளியை மணம்புணர வந்தமுக மொன்றே

 

     ஆறுமுக மானபொருள் நீயருளல் வேண்டும்

          ஆதியரு ணாசல மமர்ந்த பெருமாளே.

 

I am wondering if Arunagirinadhar is hinting at life lessons - what one should focus on through the various stages of life - through his careful choice of words here. Let us break this song down line by line:

 

1 ஏறுமயி லேறிவிளை யாடுமுக மொன்றே

Here the importance of PLAYING / SPORT (விளையாடு) is emphasized, not just in childhood but through adulthood. Note that Lord Muruga took the peacock as his vahana (mount) only after defeating and liberating Soorapadman (whose one half transformed into a peacock). This may also hint at playfulness in balance and doing one’s duties first (earn to play).

 

2  ஈசருடன் ஞானமொழி பேசுமுக மொன்றே

 

Here the importance of acquiring WISDOM (ஞான) is emphasized. Note that instead of using the usual term that denotes preaching (உபதேசம்), Arunagirinadhar uses discussing (பேசு) hinting that learning is enhanced when discussing with others especially experts.

 

3 கூறுமடி யார்கள்வினை தீர்க்குமுக மொன்றே

Here PROBLEM-SOLVING (வினை தீர்) is hinted. The purpose of learning is to use it to help others/solve problems. By starting this line with ‘those who seek and speak’ (கூறுமடி யார்கள்), both knowing your audience (who has the problem?) and defining (what is the problem) are hinted. Do not solve a problem that does not exist!

 

4 குன்றுருவ வேல்வாங்கி நின்றமுக மொன்றே

Here finding one’s life MISSION / PURPOSE and PREPARING oneself to accomplish that are hinted. The purpose of Lord Karthikeya avatar was to end the terror of Soorapadman and to liberate the Devas. At the opportune time, Lord Karthikeya sets himself on this task. Knowing the enormity of the task ahead and sensing the (future) need to split the Krauncha hill (குன்றுருவ), he prays and receives the Sakthi Vel from Ma Parvati Devi.

 

5 மாறுபடு சூரரை வதைத்தமுக மொன்றே

Planning is one but EXECUTING is another! Here being steadfast on the task at hand, overcoming the different challenges (மாறுபடு சூர changing aspects of Soorar hints at the challenges) and accomplishing the mission are hinted.

 

6 வள்ளியை மணம்புணர வந்தமுக மொன்றே

Here the importance of love, marriage, the ensuing MARITAL LIFE and the upholding of all its dharma are hinted. Within the marital life and upholding its dharma, acquiring and enjoying 16 types of wealth (பதினாறும் பெற்று) are included. Note that Lord Murugan wooed his love, Valli, and begins the very first line of Thirupugazh with 'Muthai tharu' in reference to his beloved Deivanai! 

So far, these hints were for the material world! Now on to the spiritual journey.

 

7 ஆறுமுக மானபொருள் நீயருளல் வேண்டும்

Here Arunagirinadhar pleads with Lord Muruga to bestow on him the essence (பொருள்) of his taking six faces. The six faces (Arumugam or Shanmuga) are said to represent the SIX CHAKRAs, pointing to the spiritual journey, AWAKENING and channeling the kundalini.

Gurudevi Janaky Matha, an ardent devotee of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharishi, explains this beautifully (ஷடாதாரநிலையன்) in her prayer Sri Ramana Dhyanam:

….சூரசம்ஹாரம் செய்த சுப்ரமண்ய ரூபரென்றும்

ஷடாதார நிலையன் என்ற ஷண்முக தேவனென்றும்

The essence however is self-realization, dissolution of the ego and the realization of (there is only) non-dual consciousness. This is also the purport of activating the seventh chakra (Sahasra). 

This realization however is possible only through divine grace hence the pleading! Arunagirinadhar says in another Thirupugazh that the shadakshara (six syllables sa-ra-va-Na-bha-va) mantra is the key for this happiness in this mortal life (இக) and beyond (பர):

இசைபயில்ஷ டாக்ஷ ...... ரமதாலே

     இகபரசெள பாக்ய ...... மருள்வாயே 


8 ஆதியரு ணாசல மமர்ந்த பெருமாளே.

 

In that “natural” NON-DUAL state, the object of all spiritual practices and true liberation, there is only SAT-CHIT-ANANDAM (true conscious bliss) fully and inseparably merged with the primordial ARUNACHALA (ஆதியரு ணாசல). Everything is Arunachala! 

The choice of the word ‘sat’ (அமர்ந்த) suggesting inaction is apt as action as in ‘identifying oneself as the actor’ has ceased in this state.  Lord Muruga's advice to Arunagirinadhar was 'Do nothing, be silent' (சும்மாஇரு  சொல்லற)!


I would like to conclude with remembering the saiva belief:

திருவாரூரில் பிறக்க முக்தி

காசியில் இறக்க முக்தி

தில்லையைக் காண முக்தி

திருவண்ணாமலையை நினைக்க முக்தி 

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