So far in the Vedhas, we have seen every aspect of women’s ups, downs, general environment and treatment. During the Vedic era, there were famous ladies who were written up in literatures and of course, there were ladies who were also cursed severely. O.K. … Next, what was devised by the ‘Vedham’, how did they lived during the age of ‘Manu Smiruthi’, which transformed the Vedic treatment into orders and moral standards? At least, what profile was drawn for them, to guide them the proper way to live? Fist of all, what is 'Manu Smiruthi'? The rules, i.e., obligations of every one in the society, to live by, that was devised by 'Manu' is called 'Manu Smiruthi'. Who was this 'Manu'? There was not one 'Manu' who was responsible for composing these rules. Not even two. There were approximately fifteen 'Manu' were involved in creating these rules. 'Manu' was a common name for those, who were sent by God upon creation, and appointed by Him to protect this world. That is, 'Manu' was sent by God, to plan and write the basic rules that the humanity must adopt and follow. Basically, the linguists are of the opinion that from the word 'Manu' came the word 'Manushan' (Human). O.K. ... Which 'Manu' we are going to see here? In the 'Shasthiram' (Shastram is the Sanskrit word for scriptures.) that he devised, what had he written about the role of the the woman in the society? I am going to paint a scene of the Vedic era and you let your imagination wander over it.
In the front yard of the house, there is a girl of eight years old. She is playing with a wooden figurine. While the child, whose baby language still intact, was playing with the wooden dolls... Suddenly, her father and mother were calling for her... "Baby ... please come on ... the time is passing by. We shall get prepared in a hurry ... look ... everyone has arrived. If only, you take bath right now, comb your hair apply the make up, and decorate you with all the jewelries and flowers, we can start the program without delay. come... come...". "Wait mom... I am playing... give me... please ... little bit more time for play...", the baby is asking for little bit more time. However... Manu Smiruthi's game starts only from here!
Eight year old girl is playing with her wooden doll. I mentioned earlier, that in her life, Manu Smiruthi has started to play... How can 'Manu' play in her lie?... Yes. That girl, eight year old playing with her wooden doll, with her life only the 'Manu' has played!... What is he talking about?... Is that question pops up in your mind?... Yes... Why did the mother called the child who was playing? For what occasion, they want to shower her and dressing her? ...Unlike your mother, who called you and told you "Go and take your shower, comb your hair, and go to school". Is it for that purpose, this eight year old was called?... Not at all!... Her parents, are taking that eight year old toddler, to the wedding stage. For what? In modern weddings they decorate little children, take them to the wedding stage and ask her to sit next to the bride so the stage becomes lively. Is it for that purpose she was called?... Absolutely NOT!... This eight year old was the Bride! What?... Eight year old was the bride?... Wedding for a child?... Yes! This is the game of 'Manu' in this little child's life. In front of the commandments of 'Manu', these little children were nothing but wooden dolls. The very first war, on women, by the Manu's army starts right here. Even though, the 'Vedham' has restricted the women in so many ways ... it has woven such rituals as 'Madhuvarkkam' and wedding, that can be performed only after her 'Ruthu' (literally season. Here puberty.). However... 'Manu' was not that liberal ... It puts a positive siege on women even before they reach eight year old. According to 'Manu', the common name for women was 'gruhini' (house holder). The house only was her world. She must dwell only within the house. As I told you before ... the little toddler was playing in the front yard ... only upto her wedding, she can play in the yard. Later on, as she gets married and became a 'Gruhini', the house was everything for her. The wedding is called in 'Manu' as 'Kannikaadhaanam' ('Kannikai' = Virgin; 'Dhaanam' = Donate). Donating the virgin to another was 'Kannikaadhaanam'.
What is 'Kannikaa' or 'Kannikai'?... According to 'Manu dharmam' (Righteous duties per Manu), every girl attaining the age of eight was a 'Kannikai'. Then ... such 'Kannakai' shall be wedded to someone. The parent shall handover her to someone else. That is, they must donate her to a suitable person. This was 'Kannikaadhaanam'. The very first Manu called it thus:
"Ashta varushaa baleth kanya ..."
Yet another point ... Only the age limit of eight was set for 'Kannikai'. Even if she passed this age by a little, she has passed the stage of 'Kannikai'. Hence ... If a union is made after this age, it was not considered as 'Kannikaadhaanam'. That is, it was not a wedding. So, before she reaches the age of eight handover her to someone else.
Modern wedding has a ritual called ‘Nitchayathaarththam’. Some call this as ‘Nitchayathaamboolam’. No matter how you call it, it does not matter. However… what is the meaning of it?... How was it conducted earlier?... Shouldn’t we find out about it?... In rural area flea markets (‘Santhai’), when the buyer and seller bargain for the price of either goat, cow or chicken they have a towel around their hand and by touching their fingers, they fix the price of the livestock. This process was called ‘Nitchayathaarththam’. Another point. During this ceremony only the bride used to participate and there was no place for groom during this ceremony. In addition, this was a social function … therefore, there was no place for neither religious rites nor mantra chanting. But… in modern days, in the name of ‘Nitchayathaarththam’ they have created a ceremony that is equal to the wedding ceremonies… If you ask the ‘Vaathyaars’ (Prohiths) their reply is “Everything is dictated by religious elders…”. If you ask me, we need to jail (I mean a Vedic Jail) all those ‘Vaathyaars’, who conducts the Vedic rituals during wedding. In that Vedic jail, they must be put through a bootcamp … to teach them the real rituals and customs as it was intended by ‘Vedham’. Teach what is written in ‘Vedham’ and ‘smiruthi’ and explaim its meaning. We must train them well and then only we must release them to conduct any Vedic rituals.
O.K…O.K… What did I say?... Before she reaches eight years of age, give her in-hand to another individual. Is that so… “Lord Manu, I was not able to do that. There was no toddler available who was suitable to wed our baby girl. She is over eight years of age. Now, she became of age and ‘Ruthu’…”. Thus, suppose a poor man is pleading to Lord Manu. Assume, that he is orally pleading (‘manu’) to Lord Manu. For him as well as all other similar fathers, Manu wrote as follows :
“Paanigrahaapa nikaa manthraahaa Kanyaa sve pradhikshathahaa… Nakanyaasii…”
This was not a reply. It is a punishment! He did not marry off his daughter before she reaches eight. He is going to conduct the wedding only after she became of age (‘Ruthu’). Do you know what should he go through?...
What happened to the pleadings to Manu, by the fathers who got her married, after eight years of age?... Today, what happens to the petitions submitted to the ministers and bureaucrats, the same thing happened to their pleadings. Hit the waste basket! If it stoped right at that point, it was not bad… Added to the pain … Manu demands those unfortunate souls “Why you have not conducted, your daughters marriage, before she reached eight years of age? You have trampled the sacred ‘kannikaadhaanam’ under your feet… Don’t you know that it is a great sin?... Don’t you know, what is the punishment for committing such a sin?...”. Perhaps today’s fathers may not know the punishment for such a crime. Fathers of Manu era very well knew the punishment. They were shaken up by the thought of that punishment. They regret to think, of going through with that punishment, even in their dreams. Most fathers of that era considered committing suicide rather than going through with that punishment. What was the nature of such hated punishment?
“Maasi Maasi rajasthasyahaa Pithaa pipathi gonitham…”
Actually, my pen was refusing, to write this rule of the ‘Manu Smiruthi’. As a matter of fact, to carry such vulgar punishment in itself, even the language is ashamed. I am even afraid, by giving the meaning of this ruling in Tamil, I may be dragging down the high esteem that Tamil language is regarded for. Any how, the meaning is … “Hey… you incompetent father… you must have wedded her to a person before she reaches eight years of age. You failed miserably. Now, she has reached puberty (‘Ruthu’). After her puberty, if you do not get her married within three years, she can conduct her own ‘Suyamvaram’ (selecting her own groom) and select her own groom. Yet, how can you justify keeping her in your own home, till she attains puberty?... Hence, here is your punishment! After she attains puberty, and till she gets married … as the father, during your daughter’s menstruation period, you must consume all the discharged blood, without wasting a drop. You must repent for undergoing such punishment. That is why this harsh punishment.”
For his own daughter, have you understood, what the father has to go through, if he does not get her married before she reaches the age of eight?... After I wrote, this vulgar punishment, even my pen was vomiting. Just like breaking the nib of the pen, by stabbing the tip, that wrote capital punishment… I an feeling like discarding this pen and throw it in the garbage can. Damn sinners?... Due to poverty, non matching of astrological signs or curse in the horoscope, physical and economic drawbacks of the girl, how many girls are hanging around their birth home? As a matter of fact, the opinions of the majority of social reformers are that a girl shall get married only after puberty. Going beyond that … The Manu harshly dictates, that the father must drink, the blood excreted during the daughter’s menstrual period. What a cruelty?...
Just like, among the burning fires, which is better… to escape from this punishment ‘Manu’ is offering an alternate punishment. Is that so?... What is that alternate?... “Haven’t I told you that you must consume during your daughter’s mensural period, the entire amount of blood discharged?... If you want to escape from that… then you must donate a cow to a Brahmin for each menstrual period. Donating the cow is your retribution. That is, after the daughter attains puberty, till she gets married, however many menstrual periods lapses, that many cows shall be donated. Now you understand … From where ‘Manu’ went and finally, where he ends up with? Are you wondering, that for the cost of donating that many cows, one can conduct the wedding itself? Cruel punishment!... However, to escape from it ‘income generating’ alternate. O.K… With or without donating the cows, wedding has taken place. Then?...
For the next one year … the bride and groom must perform ‘aubhaasanam’. What is ‘aubhaasanam’?... Fire ritual!... The couple must, grow fire in a pit daily, and perform ‘Homam’ (sacrificial chanting). During this one year period… even if her husband stays at their home… if she is performing riteful duties to her husband… if the couple lay down on one mattress, their bodies shall not touch each other. Only after a year passed, successfully completing the ‘aubhaasana’ requirements, the ‘Shanthi Kalyaanam’ (peaceful uniting) can take place. During this period… to prevent the body contact between the bride and groom as they sleep on one mattress, between them they cut and place ‘Tharbai’ (grass clipping). That grass clipping represents ‘Gantharvan’(singer in the court of Gods). He … is supposed to prevent the couple from uniting. What is funnier is that, even today, some people are carrying on with this custom, conforming to scriptures.
This tradition is very ancient. This is per ‘Gruha Sooththiram’. Even those who devised this rule were not able to follow according this ‘Sooththiram’. What happened?... That one year, shrank to mere six months… Even then, it was difficult to observe. They were not patient enough to go through for six months. What is this?... As it was taking too many days to unite the couple, day by day they were cutting down and brought it to three months. For successive generations, even the three months was too long. They gradually reduced it further to mere fifteen days. That, also worn out to, seven days. This was further shrank to three days … Nowadays, the wedding takes place in the morning and the ‘Shanthi Kalyaanam’ takes place at that night itself. (This separation is dictated for those who got married after the bride has attained the puberty). For our own convenience, just like ‘Kazhuthai theynthu katterumbhu aanaal pol’ (the donkey shrank to a giant ant), we shrank the term of one year to less than one day. O.K… Can you show me someone who got married, per the ‘Manu Smiruthi’, when they were mere children?... Can you show me a pair who got married, per the ‘Manu Smiruthi’, when the bride was less than eight years of age?... During my days, in front of my eyes, several couples were wedded conforming to ‘Manu Smiruthi’. I knew them. Do you know them?... I do not believe that you have any chance of knowing them. That being so, I need to show you an example of a famous couple, that everyone is familiar with. That too they must have married per ‘Madhu’ rules. That is, shouldn’t that couple have been married when they were just children?... O.K… Here is the example. Don’t you all, know Raman and Siithai?... It is them alone. I said, little while back… A baby girl was playing with wooden doll and her parents were calling her to prepare her for her own wedding. Just like that, the great king Janaka’s daughter Sithadevi was married at the young age as she was playing. At the time of marriage, Raman was only twelve years of age and Siithai was only six. What is he talking about … In the Ramayana written by Kambar, he describes it differently.
“As Raman saw Siithai … Siithai’s body became hot due to her shyness and nervousness. The mattress that she was laying on, was in flames due to excess heat from Siithai’s body. With intolerable body heat, the heat was radiating from her swelled up chest. The threads of the necklaces around her neck, made of black precious stones, burned out due to the excess heat of the body. The black stones were sprayed and they were rolling on the ground. Thus, Raman’s presence had emotionally affected Siithai… He was testing her sweet dreams.”… thus describes Kambar in his Ramayana. If we analize based on his description, it is reasonable to conclude that at the time of her wedding, she must have attained puberty, to go through such emotions and reactions. Probably, Kambar, based on the prevailing Tamil culture of that period, may not want to portray Siithai as a child at the time of her wedding. However, in the original Ramayana written by Vaalmiiki …
“Dheshanth dhaarakniyaam pathi
Chinthaiyaa maasa dharmaathmaa S
obhathyaaya sabhaanththa vahaa…”
Thus, he describes. That is, while Raman was a small kid, as he reached the age of twelve, emperor Dhasarathaa was contemplating over the wedding of Raman. When Raman was visiting the palace of king Janaka along with Sage Vishwaamithraa … King Janaka told that he is going to wed Siithaa to that person who breaks the special bow (Dhanush). Raman took that bow and through his power he was able to break the bow by bending. After he broke the bow … he claimed that “I did not break the bow, with no intention to wed Siithai. I just wanted to establish my strength.” Later on, upon the insistence of emperor Dhasaratha, the wedding took place. Let the wedding be carried on in any manner. However… at the time of wedding, as per Vaalmiiki Siithai was only six years of age and that Raman was only twelve years old. During the ‘Vanavaasam’ (exile into forest), Siithaa Devi told Aanjaneyar :
“Ashtaadhasa varushaani mama jenmani kalpadhe…”
That is “I, in my eighteenth year, had to exile to the forest (Vanavaasam)”. From this statement, the wedding of Siithaa Devi took place at the age of six …and we infer that it was in conformance with ‘Manu Smiruthi’. Now, I have given you an example. When we talk about the wedding, the following trade mark mantra comes to everyone’s mind :
“maagalyam thanthu naane navajiivana kethu naam…”
What is the meaning of this mantra?... “Look dear! I am tying this sacred thread around your neck. If only you have this sacred thread around your neck, this village and this world, would believe that you are my wife. Only for that reason, and for no other purpose, I am tying this thread…”. This is the meaning of this mantra. Earlier, several chapters back, I wrote that in the palm leaf, they used to write the name of the girl and that she is a slave of such and such man… and they tied that piece of leaf using a thread around the neck of the girl. Since, it was ‘Panai’ (Palm) ‘Thaal’ (leaf), it was called ‘Thaali’ (‘maangalyam’ or symbol of wedding). Such a symbol was ‘thaali’. Its purpose was to proclaim that you are my wife and that is the very reason I am tying this around your neck. This tradition evolved at a later date. This mantra also added later on in due course.
Those girls who were wedded according to ‘Manu’, and modern unwedded girls are the same. Hence, in general, what opportunities were extended by ‘Manu’, to the girls in the field of education?... We have seen that in the Vedic era, the ladies were performing daily recital of mantras and were conducting ladies conferences. However... Manu states loud stern clear as follows :
"nasthrii soothra vedhamathyathaam..."
"The ladies and the Sudhraa's are one and the same." The Brahmin lady is also a 'Sudhra' woman. Hence.. she is not entitled to learn Vedic literatures. She should not even touch the 'Vedhaas'. As a matter of fact, her eye sight should not even fall on the 'Vedhaas'. The Vedic chanting shall not even reach her ear drums. For that reason ... for the ladies and 'Sudhraas' they have written 'Puranas' (disambiguation. Short stories explaining the basics of a religion). Go and hear those stories and don't come close to 'Vedhaas'. Can you recall, what I have said, in the beginning chapters of this series? I have noted that during the Vedic period, when the Aryans entered India from Afganistan, the number of ladies who accompanied them was very little. As a matter of fact, we can even consider that no ladies have accompanied them. Based on that fact... 'Manu' considers that all the ladies married to Brahmins were local non-Brahmins and hence, they are classified as 'Sudhraas'. Even today, the Brahmin ladies who visits me to get meaning and explanations to Vedic phrases, I tell them that you are a 'Sudhraa' lady... your mother is also a 'Sudhraa' lady... and your daughter is also a 'Sudhraa' lady... When they hear these words, with mild anger and disenchantment, they ask me "How?". When I tell them, that is what is said in our 'Smiruthi', their response is 'Is that so?' and they keep quiet. Hence... according to 'Manu' all the ladies belong to the 'Sudhraa' caste irrespective of whether they are from Brahmin, Kshakthriyaa, Vaishyaa or Sudhraa castes. There is no distinction among ladies based on their birth caste. Hence... just like the 'Sudhraas' who are destined to work outdoors, all the ladies are 'Sudhraas' and they must work inside the house. That is : "sthriinaantha sudhra jaathinaam..." Meaning : "All ladies belong to 'Sudhraa' caste"
"nasthrii sudhra vedhamadhyathaam..." Meaning : Hence... Ladies and 'Sudhraas' shall not recite Vedhaas. They shall not even hear the Vedic chantings. If a 'Yaagam' takes place... in order for them not to hear the Vedic chanting, they must cover their ears with their sari top. There was no opportunity for the ladies to get education. They cannot even get out of their house. Then?
"sthriithaama upayanayanasthaane Vivaaham Manu rapraviith..."
That means, for ladies there were no mantra initiations including 'upanayanam'. People are bluffed by claiming, that 'upanayanam' (sacred thread eremony in which the 'Poonool' is worn for the first time) is a very important ritual for the Brahmin man, and that the 'Poonool' is the mark of a Brahmin man, based on the thread as the center piece. In fact, during the Vedic and subsequent periods, there was no 'poonool' ceremonies took place. In ancient times, there was a rule which required that, while conducting a 'yaagam' the conductor have to wear the top piece of their outfit, crossed around their upper body. The piece of cloth, when tied around, loosens often and became hazardous around fire. As the cloth was unsuitable during the 'yaagam', they symbolically, shrank to few filaments of cotton threads and was worn during the 'yaagam'. I have covered this earlier in another chapter. There is absolutely no other purpose for the 'poonool' other than the requirement that the conductor of a 'yaagam' shall wear as per Vedic requirement.
Then... How did this 'upanayanam' ritual came into existence? What is the meaning of 'upanayanam'? What is he upto?... As he is talking about the women, don't think why is he drifting away towards men. Both matters are interrelated! When there is an opportunity, we need to clarify certain matters. Since the Manu, restricts women’s entitlements including ‘upanayanam’… only if we know what is ‘upanayanam’, we can understand the reasoning behind Manu’s rulings. O.K… What is ‘upanayanam’? Nowadays, they made it a ‘upanayana subhamuhurtham (auspicious union)’. That is, people are treating it as a first wedding for the boy, and celebrating it in a grand manner. In reality, the ‘upanayanam’ is… sending a Brahmin boy to school for the first time. What…? In those days, they did not have schools like what we have now. Hence, they used to send the student to a person, who has mastered the Veda and all the Hindu scriptures (‘Aachariyaar), i.e., send the student to the teacher’s home to learn the Vedic education.
That Aachariyaar, will handhold the student and lead him to his ‘Gurukulam’ (A place where teacher and student live and learn together). This handholding of the student by the teacher is called ‘upanayanam’, i.e., the teacher holding the hand of the student and leading him. On that occasion, the child is given a good bath, outfit him with new dress (basically, a dhothi, which is a piece of flat cloth wrapped around his hip) and belt to keep it in place. In olden days, instead of belt, another piece of cloth is wrapped around the hip and tied to keep the dhothi in place. At that time, his father… “Little baby… From now on, you should not come here. Till complete your studies, you should not even think about your home or parents. Without turning back, you go with your teacher …” with these words he sends him off with his teacher.
That little boy, forgets his home and for his education, holds his teacher’s hand and follows him. This was the original ‘upanayanam’. However, what is happening nowadays? The boy, who is already in his school, they ask him to get permission from the school, bring him home and conduct the ‘upanayanam’. The ‘upanayanam’ means sending him to school with words ‘do not come back home’. But… today’s practice is opposite to the original intent. Reason…? They made this event also a religious ritual, recite few mantras, and carried on elaborately like a wedding festival, only to make money. Now, I am bringing the girls to the forum. What is the ulterior motive behind restricting the entitlement of girls to ‘upanayanam’ and other mantric (using mantra) rituals? Girls shall not be sent to school. After all, isn’t ‘upanayanam’, only sending the person to school? But… today, boys and girls of every cast are carrying on with their ‘upanayanam’ without much fanfare! Yes… They are attending schools and carrying on with their studies! Next chapter in the life of Manu girls … “No education for you… Even through mantra, you cannot earn the knowledge. You should marry at the age of eight, confine to four walls and raise family”… This is the pathway for a woman, devised by Manu. We have seen the ‘sathi’ ritual that was taking place during Vedic period. If ‘Vedham’ itself insisted on ‘sathi’, would the Manu, leave them alone? Without mincing the words, Manu is very clear about this issue.
“sithaa vaarohanam brammachcharyam…”
“If a women is widowed… place her also on the same funeral pyre and finish her off”… thus commands ‘Manu Smiruthi’. At the sametime, there were very young widows, wedded per ‘Manu Smiruthi’, who have escaped the ‘sathi’ritual. However... Even in their lives the Manu has woven horrible restrictions. Just to prevent the chances, of any other man falling into love with the young widow, immediately her head was shaved. As per 'Vedham' the one who lightens up, or beautifies the world is a female. Manu, on the other hand, got pleasure from shaving her beautiful hair and thus making her repulsive, life miserable, and keeping her in tears troughout her life. In addition... that widow shall not talk to any other man. She shall have no friendship with any other man and blindfolded her with copious restrictions. Beyond her control, rulings of her age, overran by the youthful exuberance, it is imperative and nature's law, that the young widows seek the company of an young man. Today, we call it remarriage! But... during the Manu era, where was the question of remarriage?... After a girl was widowed, for consoling herself and for her economical and social support, if she accepts the company of a male species, Manu claims that was nearly prostitution. There is a punishment for that too. Before I go into that topic, I would like to expand on the punishment of shaving the head of a widow.
"Widows head shall not be shaved"... was the opinion of the 'Vadakalai' Vaishnavas. "No! No! That cannot be. Shaving the had of a widow is a must"... insisted 'Thenkalai' Vaishnavas. At this point, you may wonder about the 'Vadakalai' and 'Thenkalai' divisions of the Vaishnava sect of Hinduism. What are these?... A simple issue mushroomed into a major debate! Does the wife of Vishnu, often called as 'Piraatti' or 'Thaayaar'', is blessed with Brammaththuvam' (Godly powers). In that debate... " 'Piraatti' is merely a companion to God Vishnu and she has no powers in granting 'moksham' (heaven) to anyone. She has no powers to help anyone to attain 'Moksham'. She can simply recommend to God Vishnu to grant 'Moksham' to anyone"... This is the argument of the 'Thenkalai' Vaishnavas. The traditional name for this is 'Purushakaarathvam' (manly deeds). As they claim that the God's wife herself have no powers, how are they going to recognize and grant respect to an ordinary women... that too an young widow? They demanded that the widow's head must be shaved. On the contrary... the 'Vadakalai' Vaishnavas believed that, 'Piraatti' has certain rights in granting 'Moksham' to anyone. Hence, they recognized the importance of women and declared that the head of a widow shall not be shaved.
Not just because on this one issue, but based on approximately twenty four issues, the Vaishnavas divided into two separate groups and called 'Vadakalai' and 'Thenkalai'. Later on, the twenty four escalated to forty different issues that is keeping them apart. Thus, one of the pivotal Vaishnava elder, himself is stating his observations. Let us put this issue aside... After becoming widows, those married per 'Manu Smiruthi', if they wanted to remarry?... This act was considered as "prostitution" by Manu. Character only is important for her. After wedded as wife of a man, should she live with another man?... Get hold of her... Roll her with the bed in which she was sleeping. Set fire to them. The bed in which, she was carrying on prostitution, that was damned by the society... she must be kept in that same bed and shall be burnt. Thus, Manu in his commandments, introduces incineration of live humans.
So far we have explored ... How did the 'Vedham' looked at the women?... How did the Manu looked at the women?... They have treated ordinary women this way. How did they treat the Goddesses?... This is an interesting question. Just a while back we were discussing about the responsibility of Goddess 'Piraatti' in granting 'Moksham' to her devotees. In Vishnu temples, you may have seen 'Perumal' (Vishnu). On the right and left sides of 'Perumal', you may have seen other deities such as Goddesses 'SriDevi', 'BooDevi', 'NiilaaDevi' etc. But... 'Piraatti',a.k.a.'Thaayaar' is a presiding deity of a separate temple. That is, she will have her own chamber and she will reside only in that place. You may have witnessed some of the temple celebrations. 'Perumal'... will come out of his abode, with various means of transportation around him. He comes out of his 'Garbhagraham' (sanctum) on a swan. Later on he climbs up on an eagle and roams around the city. He gets on a vehicle called 'Sooryaprabhai' and he strolls around the market street. Gets on the snake 'Aadhisesha' and gets out very majestically. Later on, monkey vehicle. He sits on the shoulders of 'Aanjaneya' and goes on a procession around the world. He also has an elephant to ride. As he is comfortably resting on 'Ambaari' (decorated palanquin), conducts his inspections around the town. How about the horseback? That too... and finally a 'Ther' (chariot). Using the people of the town as the power, as they are pulling, he travels in gallantly. As the male deity 'Perumal', thus goes around town
and around the world in various means of transportation o suit the occasion ... What about the Goddess 'Piraattiyaar'?... Yes. The male God, 'Perumal'... gets on various modes of transportation and roams around town. Gets on the 'Aadhisesha' and rides around very majestically. Later on, monkey vehicle. He also has an elephant to ride. As he is comfortably resting on 'Ambaari' (decorated palanquin), and enjoying the beats of the drums and music from pipes, conducts his inspections around the town. If that is so for a male God, what about female Goddess 'Piraatti'?... Let us side track a bit and look at the story behind the creation of Goddesses. According to 'Vedham', "God has no shape. If you desire, you can imagine that he has a shape. Just because you imagine a shape, and giving an imaginary figure GOd cannot be contained in that figure." However... to conform to the humanistic worship that was prevailing in various parts of the world ...the culture of worshiping the God in human form evolved. At first, only male God figures were created and worshiped. Later on ... the creators started to think "Shouldn't this male God have the company of a female Goddess?"... Then only, the female Goddesses were created! As this pattern was shaping up, small, small groups in their territories began to worship female deities called 'Amman'. We will look at this at a later date.
Based on male Gods and female Goddesses, the 'aagama' (those who sets rules of worship) people devised various worship rules. They claimed that God Vishnu's wife Lakshmi is in his chest. Later on... they devised festivals and celebrations to glorify the deity. Let me give an example. This festival is called 'Paarivettai' and it was also called as 'Mattaiadi'. Even today ... in Vaishnava temples located in Thirukkannapuram, SriRangam and Kiizhaiyur, this festival is celebrated in pomp and grand scale. What kind of festival it is? Every year, the day after 'Maattuppongal' (Thanksgiving to the bulls), this festival takes place... God 'Perumal' is starting his journey on the horse. The beating of drums and the gongs are filling the air. From the wind pipes ('Naadhaswaram') comes pleasing music. The horse is gently rocking along the street. On the horse, unlike usual seating with one leg on each side of the horseback, the God Vishnu is sitting with both legs on one side of the horse, just like one sits on a bycycle carrier. After travelling a small distance... the beating of the drums halted. The 'Naadhaswaram', was quietly put back inside its cloth cover by the musician. Why? That is the street in which the prostitutes live. As the God visits this area, others shouldn't have any knowledge of it. That is the reason for curtailing all forms of sound. As the procession reaches this place, the God was brought down from the horse. During the night, he takes rest in one of the halls.
These are some of the scenes that takes place in that festival. Why are these scenes? The God 'Perumal' was getting tired of looking and looking as well as having relationship with 'Piraatiyaa' all the time. Hence, what His thoughts were ... 'why not go out for a while, see what is around and return back'. However, 'Piraatti' is concerned 'over her consort, who has gone out and not returned yet. It is already dark! The whole town became quiet. Why he has not returned to the temple?'. After spending the entire night with prostitutes... next morning, leisurely 'Perumal' is starting his return journey. After these sceneries of the previous day, let me narrate the subsequent scenes. In the morning, he rides on the same horse... and returns to the temple. Riding on the gently rocking horse, in a rush, as He was about to enter the temple... in the door step of the temple, blocking the pathway was 'Piraatti', His consort. She asks... "Where did you go all night and returning only now?". 'Perumal' ignored her query, and again as he was trying to enter into the temple... again 'Piraatti' obstructs His pathway. Both the God and Goddess are directly opposite and stare at each other... Time passes by... At this time, to make peace, an ambassador was sent to mediate the issue. Unsatisfied with the explanation, 'Piraattiyaar' continues... "I observed during campher 'aaraadhanai' (welcoming ritual), still wet sandlewood paste stuck on his chest portion... the smell of that sandlewood paste appears to be foreign. Where did He go and now He is returning? I am doubtful of his behavior. I cannot let him inside the temple..." ... strange smell of sandlewood paste on 'Perumal', triggered serious doubt in the mind of 'Piraatti'. After considerable haggling, and upon the peace making efforts of 'Nammaazhwaar', 'Piraattiyaar' lets 'Perumal' inside the temple. This is the festival!
As this festival is taking place, everyone is joining their palms together, bow down their head and praying the God. What is there to pray for? However, here I have to remind you about one thing. Remember, I have talked about a sentance in 'Vedham'... The husband is telling his wife... "If you keep yourself, beautiful always, why am I going for someone else?". 'Perumal' was also just like that... during this festival, He is telling 'Piraattiyaar' the same statement. What is strange about this festival is that it exemplifies the fued within God's family and is witnessed by entire family of ordinary people. Another unique aspect of this festival is that the man can go anywhere, But... the woman has to suppress her feelings and confine to her house. Even among the Gods and Godesses, the very same story. You have read about the 'Paarivettai'. The moral of that festival is, that the male God can lave the temple and go anywhere he wants, including prostitutes house. However, the female Goddess shall tolerate her feelings and stay confined to her home. Yes... While 'Perumal', using any of the many transportation means, can roam around city to city, street to street ... what is the status of the 'Thaayaar', who is reigning over her own sovereign temple? No matter, however grand festival takes place... or functions take place she cannot step outside the temple compound. If 'Piraatti' thought for a second... 'My husband happily rambles around, all over town, why can I not do the same'..."Oh... Yes. You can also go around... You are free to go around your husband only. That itself is like going around the City." Thus, our male created 'Sasthiram'(scripture) orders to the Goddess. Hence... even today, Goddess 'Piraatti', who is presiding over a sovereign temple, a 'travel' means just going around the temple. Beyond that she cannot set foot is the general rule. Yet, as an exception to the rule, in some temples, based on their historical background, they extraordinarily take 'Piraatti' outside the temple compound.
So... as you see, among the deities themself, how much restrictions to the female deities. Why all these restrictions? Even with the deities, this is the case. The scriptures have drawn the line for Female Goddesses, beyond which they are not supposed to step outside. If that is so, what is the status of the females among the human righteousness? All these examples are only to vividly bring this point. Let us set this aside... We can also get a lession from God Himself that 'a male can take advantage of, and use the female, whenever and whatever means, for his pleasure and at his discretion'. I shall relate a scene that depicts this principle.
Probably, you may have visited the Sri Rangam temple. If you have, you know how are the abodes of each deities... How big they are... and how strong they are. If we go to that temple now, what are the Gods we probably worship? We will worship Ranganathar, the laying down deity. Then we will worship his consort, Ranganayaki. We may also worship Sri Ramanujar. Thus we will visit each abode and and worship its presiding deities. We must pray during the daytime or if in the evenings we must pray before midnight. But... one devotee has come to worship the God at night. It was after midnight and the priests have locked the door and took keys with them. It was a beautiful and peaceful night. At that time, from the chamber of God Ranganathar, a special bright lightening erupted. The devotee was under the impression that God himself is going to appear in front of him and hence, he was not even blinking his eyes. After few moments, from the God Ranganathar’s chamber, some object was shooting out with a noise ‘virrrrr…’. It flew through the sky and entered into the chamber of Goddess Ranganayaki. The devotee witnessed this entrance also. Few more minutes passed… Again, the bright light appeared, now at the Goddesses chamber, and the same object was shooting out, traced back the same trajectory as before, and entered into the chamber of Ranganathar. The object has reached its original position.
O.K… Do you want to know about that object? If you ask that devotee, wouldn’t he brief about that encounter? He was not just telling about that incidence. He put it in writing itself. He was none other than the son of right hand man of Sri Raamaanujar, Kooraththaazhwaan. His name was Paraashara Bhattar. In his book titled ‘Gunarathna Kosam’, he has given full account of this encounter. O.K… What was that flying object? “That was God Ranganathar’s part used for sexual pleasure (aanandha naadi). That was the male part, used during body contacts. Even during the thick of the night, Ranganathar had a desire to have intercourse with ‘Piraatti’. Hence, He sends out His sex organ to Ranganayaki’s chamber and suppresses His lust”… thus Paraashara Bhattar hs noted in his book ‘Gunarathna Kosam’.
Why such stories? Even though it looks like a story of Vittalaachchaariyaa ... Bhattar has taken liberty to stress the point that 'the women exists for men's pleasure. The man has the right to take advantage of her, at anytime, whatsoever manner' and used this example as if he has witnessed the secret urges of Rangan and his activities in the 'Antharangam' (secret place). You can read this story in Tamil language book called 'Mummaththasaaram', written by Perukkaaranai Chakkaravarthy Aachchaariyaar. Chakkaravarthy Aachchaariyaar further questions, how did Sri Paraashara Bhattar accomplished in his book 'Sri Gunarathna Kosam' that Sri Ranganathar using his 'Aanandha Naadi', he was happily having sexual relationship with his consort Ranganayaki?... After reading this in Tamil, many religious elders were upset. They were further concerned, that whatever was written by Bhattar is now translated into Tamil, that any person can read and understand. When the same was translated into English by Chakkaravarthy Ayyangaar, the general opinion was that if this scene was explicitly described, it may create controversy over the slavery of the female, pictured so offensively and hence, it was omitted. Thus, showing the women as a sex object was not reserved only for Vaishnavas ... the Saivaites are not so gentler either... In Vaishnava tradition it is 'Piraatti'... In Saivaite tradition it is 'Ambhaal'. Except the differing names, the devotonal shrewdness of both traditions was to keep their Goddesses as slaves to Gods. We will explore how the 'Saivam' has been sacredly playing with their women. Before that... have you witnessed either Kanchi Kaamaatchi or Madhurai Meenaatchi or any such Goddesses, leaving their temple compound? Today, Kaanchi Sankaraachaariyaars, who are debating to establish the 'Adhvaitham' (non-duality meaning we are part of God), travel to what places? They tour to such places as, Chennai, Mumbai, Kaashi, Delhi and even went upto the courts. However... you may want to enquire, whether the deity they worship, which is Kaamaatchi Amman, has she ever left the temple compound.
Thus, 'Aagama' (Those establishes worship rules) traditionalists, who established discrimination among the deities based on the gender... they have also created class differences among various deities. What are they?... Deities, including Vishnu and Sivan were devised by the 'Vedham'. All others are classified as village deities. They ... according to them, are inferior deities. (T.C.: This concept is contrary to the basics of Nirguna Brahman which postulates that God is omni present, omni potent and niguna meaning no shape or chracter. Its power and intensity is same anywhere and everywhere. Shiva statue has same power as the Kaali statue.) Because, those who worship these deities are people engaged in laborious work, 'Sudhraas'. If you ask me, those who call these deities as village deities shall be hard kicked. What is that, you, yourself classifying them as Village(Graama) Deity, Circle Deity and District(Jillaa) Deity?...
"samedha vishvaa vasasaa
Pathintha vibhu yayeha vibhuhii
Adhidhith janaanaam sabhooryahaa noodhanam aanavaasakii
Dhim vardhdhanihii
Anu vaavruthe eekaiyith poori..."
People living in various parts of the country, to suit their terrain and soil... and to suit their life style have established their deities. Mostly, they happened to be, female deities. Because... as the women stay all the time at home and carefuly guarding everything in the household, they believed that by establishing female Goddesses, even though the villagers go outside, the deities will stay put in the village, stay within their territory and guard the village. In their own area, they consecrate their own deities. Hence, the term 'Village Goddess' is wrong. At first, man was scared of light and hence, we saw earlier that he was worshipping light. Similarly, he was also terrified of dark and he started to worship darkness. He also believed that even in the darkness there is God. That was Kaali. He considered black stone as Kaali and began to worship. In fact, Kaali means black. Later on the black stone... evolved into a black figure. Became Kaaliammal and eventually Kaaliaaththaa.
Similarly, those who have engaged in agriculture, saw Kaali as green. As the culture developed... according to their life style and habits they have given customized shapes to their deities. Deities evolved organically, through local conceivements such as Kaali and Maari, are not bound by aagama rituals. (T.C.: That is the very reason, the priestly services in Kaali and Maari temples, are traditionally performed by Pandaarams and not by Brahmins) Hence, they do not come under the restrictions, such as, 'they cannot step outside their temple compound'. In addition, they are always installed at the village border... just to guard the village. As the time passed, the Brahmins encroached into the territory of the traditional priests, for economic reasons, and brought them also under aagama rituals. Slowly, the tradition of offering 'Naivedhyam' (food) to God also introduced. That is, as the Brahmins started to perform worship services to non-aagama deities, they made 'Naivedhyam' an obligatory item. Thier resoning... 'God also gets hungry. Only if he suppresses his hunger, he will bless us with food. Hence, we must daily, with good attitude, offer food for Him/Her'. Hre I have to point an important matter... The daily offering to God is different than offered during special festival days. During festival days, depending on the festivities, the offerings will be different.
Let me tell you about the food offering (Naivedhyam) to Vishnu temples. The daily worship that takes place in the morning is called 'Kaalasandhi' and for this pooja curd rice (yogurt rice) is offered. High noon, the pooja termed as 'Uchchikaalam' and the offerings are rice, gravy (Kuzhambhu), mixed cooked vegetable (Koottu), sauteed vegetable (Poriyal) and various other sides and it is called 'Alankaara Thalikai'. That is, what we eat during lunch, if God also eats we call it 'Alankaara Thalikai'. Didn’t I tell you earlier, that ‘Perumal’ roams around town in his vehicles and returns back to the temple? At that time, the entire town was presumed to be jealous of the handsomeness of ‘Perumal’ and caused ‘Thirushti’ (bad omen). To nullify that ‘thirushti’, they conduct a special protection called ‘Thiruvanthi Kaappu’. During this ritual, milk, fruit, ‘Vadai’ made of soaked and ground mung beans, ‘Dhosai’ (crepes) are offered to overcome the ‘Thirushti’. During the eleventh lunar day and new moon days the sole ‘Neivedhyam’ is ‘uppuma’. In addition, on Tamil month of ‘Aippasi’, on the star of ‘Moolam’ … they offer Snakegoad with milk… that is, snakegoad is soaked in milk and made into a sweet meal. On the Tamil month of ‘Vaikaasi’ on the star of ‘Visaakam’… they offer milk mango. This also prepared just like the above sweet dish. On Natchiyaar Thirumozhi saaththumarai auspicious day, they offer ‘Akkaaravadisil’ a.k.a ‘Sarkarai Pongal’. In addition,during festival days, famous dishes like tamarind rice ‘Puliyodharai’. Unlike in the ‘Perumal’ temple where they place more importance to food, in ‘Sivan’ temples they do not care much about food. Their main dish is ‘Sambha’ rice which, is prepared with powdered black pepper and cumin, mixed with clarified butter and rice. After hearing so much about food, is your mouthwatering? All these are ‘Nirmaalyam’. What?
Have you seen the food menu of ‘Bhagawaan’ (God)?... Isn’t he lucky to eat every day different types of food such as ‘Uppuma’, ’Dhosai’… One of the friendly reader of this series was asking me “Doesn’t he like ‘Idly’”? Why He wouldn't like it?... Kaanchipuram Varadharaaja Perumaal is offered daily His favorite dish 'idly'. It is not the same common 'idly' that we eat every day. It is 'Kudalai Idly'. What is that?... In every Perumaal temple, for plucking the 'Thulasi' they have a basket called 'Kudalai', which is in a long cylindrical in shape. Just like this basket, if you make a long vessel, fill it with the 'idly' mix and steam it, you get 'Kudalai Idly'. O.K... I have told you about different types of dishes that are offered to God. Based on the concept of human biological cycles, the general belief is that God also will go hungey, and hence we have been cooking and offering to 'Perumal', varities of dishes. All these dishes offered to the deities, according to 'aagamam' is 'Nirmaalyam'. What is that?... According to 'Paancharaathra Aagamam':
"Soroopaam pirathimaam vishnoho
Prasanna vadhane kshanaam
Kruththuvaa aathmana priithikariim
Sorna rajathaa thipi
Thaamarchchayedhu thaampranamedhu thaame visinthethu
Vishatii abhaastha dhoshasthu
Thaameva bramma roopinim..."
After Budhdha has in full force and in an expeditious manner, clobbered the Vedic rituals and the practices... "Listen! I am showing you a new pathway to worship. You adopt 'Vishnu' as your primary deity, and make a miniature idol that you like. It shall not be a stone idol. It shall be made of either gold or silver. you keep it in a separate place and offer pooja..." thus states the aagamam. Later on, they saw the monumental temples and grand idols of the Southern India, and said 'This looks better... We will perform worship rituals for these temples also...'. They came forward to perform the pooja for these temples. Then they also realized that God also will get hungey and they must also feed God. They introduced the feeding ritual... that evolved into an elaborate affair. That is fine! Yet, I have not told you what is 'Nirmaalyam'?...
For the God, they are making varieties of food items, including sweets, salty dishes and snacks and offering them to Him... Does He consumes them?... They keep it infront of Him and don't they take it back within few minutes?... Within that short period of time, would He has tasted and enjoyed them?... After we take it back, what do we do with those dishes? In the name of God, we eat them. Even in these days... in the 'Perumal' temples, during festivities, we get complaints that in tamarind rice they do not have enough hotness, and in 'Uppumaa' there is not enough salt. Not just complaints, there were major fights. Why all these fights?... Why should we eat the leftover that was consumed by God?... Isn't that contaminated with God's saliva?... I am not going to eat what is contaminated with God's saliva... Throw it in the garbage... Do not serve it to anyone. This is called 'Nirmaalyam'. That is 'Do not eat someone's leftover'. If you do you will acquire 'Nirmaalya Dhosham'.
Those who have made idols and worshipped, as per the aagamam, when they heard this 'Nirmaalya Dhosham', felt that it was contrary to the roots of their ideology. With all the sweat that went into making all these sweets and snacks in the kitchen of the temple school... should we throw all these dishes in the garbage?... If we keep on throwing in the garbage, how can we sustain our livelihood?... They thought deeply. Finally, they refused to throw them in the garbage. It is contaminated only by God himself. There is nothing wrong in eating it. Leave us alone and with those words they were raising their victory flag. This point was brought out by Vedhaantha Dhesikan in his book titled 'Paancharaathra Ratchai'. "How can we justify throwing so many varieties of snacks and sweets, in the name of 'Nirmaalyam', after we made them with great pain and offered it to God?... That won't work. Hence, he declared that in the 'Perumal' temples this concept of 'Nirmaalyam' is not acceptable. Further he asserted that by eating the leftover from 'Perumal' temples one does not acquire 'Nirmaalya Dhosham'. If you are very particular, let the 'Nirmaalya Dhosham' prevail only in the 'Shivan' temples. We do not want them around here..." thus Vedhaantha Deshika Swami concludes.
What is the inner meaning of this?... Only in 'Perumal' temples several varieties 'naivedhyam' is offered to God. In 'Sivan' temples they do not give much importance to varieties of tasty food. So in 'Sivan' temples, they have only 'sambhaa' rice and if they consider it as 'Echchil Dhosam' (Saliva crime), they can discard all the 'sambhaa' rice. However, the tasty snack and sweet dishes of the 'Perumal' temples... how can we afford to throw away in the name of 'Nirmaalya Dhosham'? Now, do you understand the logic?... O.K... Why I have brought up this topic? Haven't we exploring the injustice that has been committed against the female Goddesses? I have explained all these, just to stress the point, that this injustice prevails, even in feeding the Goddesses. That is, 'Neivedhyam' that has been offered to the 'Perumal', shall not be offered to 'Piraatti'. That is exclusively for the male God 'Perumal' only. It is intended only for Him to consume and enjoy.
For 'Piraatti', it is separate 'thalikai' (food). Even today, you visit the Thirukkannapuram 'Perumal' temple, and observe. The food prepared for the 'Perumal', will not be even taken in the direction of female Goddess, 'Piraatti'. This is the prevailing standard in all impotant Vishnu temples including the Thirukkannapuram temple. In only those economically deprived 'Perumal' temples, as there is no alternative, the same 'Neivedhyam' is offered to male as well as female deities. In summary... female Goddesses cannot step outside their temple compond... They do have independent authority to grant Moksham to her favorite devotees... She do not even have the privilege to eat the same food consumed by the male Gods. Have you seen enough of the sufferings and injustices committed towards the female deities?... Are these sufferings, endured by the female deities, reserved only for the Vaishnava tradition? How do they treat in the Saivaite sect? To answer to your question, we have to travel Chidhambaram. Probably, everyone knew of heard about the Nataraaja Perumaan, the presiding deity at Chidhambaram. Perhaps some of you may have even visited the temple and worshipped the deity. The specialty of this place itself is the dance footwork of Siva in the form of Nataraaja Perumaan. One day... beautiful day of the ancient age... a dance competition took place.Who were the participants? 'Paramasivan' and 'Thillai Kaali'. Who was this 'Thillai Kaali'? The one came to compete with God Siva, was a very famous and capable dancer. Naturally, the women are more graceful in their dance movements and very sensitive to musical notes than men. The grace and beauty that fills the stage during the performance of a female dancer far exceeds that during the dance performance of a male dancer. This is natures deed. In addition to it ... 'Thillai Kaali' was a trained dancer. Should I say any further?
With the sound of her jingle bells, even the air itself will start to dance. Anybody, who challenges her to a dance competition, they themselves gets shaken up after seeing her talent. Such a talented ‘Thillai Kaali’ was the one came forward to compete with ‘Sivaperumaan’ in a dance competition. The preparations were for the competition was proceeding. Two different stages were built opposite to each other. On those stages only, ‘Sivaperumaan’ and ‘Thillai Kaali’ are to perform. The spectators are assembled in front of the stage. The competition is about to start. Among the spectators, gossip sprang up and the waves were spreading, as to the probable winner of the competition. The competition has started. ‘Kaali’ started the dance with her own sophisticated exuberant moves. The sounds from the jingle bells worn in her feet, and the beat of the music, were confluenced to become one resonant rhythm. Kaali’s fingers were dancing themselves in the air and were painting to facilitate the audience. On the other stage, Sivan started his own exotic dance (Thaandavam). His followers classify his ‘thaandavam’ into five different classes. They are ‘Arputha thaandavam’, ‘Anavaatha thaandavam’, ‘Aanandha thaandavam’, ‘Piralaya thaandavam’, and ‘sankaara thaandavam’. On this stage Sivan was dancing in ‘Aanandha thaandavam’.
Kaali’s dance movements and intricacies of her ‘narthanam’ (dancing with acting) were having anesthetic effect on the audience and they immersed themselves in her dance. Sivan’s ‘thaandavam’ was no match for Kaali’s grace and her intricate movements and he was trailing behind. Sivan understood his impending defeat and the thought of him losing to a woman was unbearable. Sivan was losing to a woman? Her swift foot work during the dance was troubling him. The time for a decision was approaching… “Aahaa… what a wonder… Sivaperumaan was defeated by Thillai Kaali”… such exclamation was about to erupt in the crowd of audience… As Sivan decided, not to let her continue, with her enchanting performance… he raised his left leg little bit. Kaali believed, that this may be a variation in the dance steps, that Sivan is introducing and she was equally compensating her dance movements. Sivan raised His left leg even higher. Yes… He raised it much higher. Little by little, as He moved his left leg sidewards and raised it higher, His plan started to yield the desired results. As He had His right leg firmly on the floor, and kept on raising his left leg… the entire assembly was shocked for a moment. Why?... intentionally, the male sexual organ of Sivan, was exposed to view. Just for this show, Sivan was deliberately designed His movement, and kept on raising His left leg.
Thillai Kaali, who was in the verge of tasting the sweet success, she had to also witness this scene. Suddenly, her ‘narthanam’ came to an abrupt halt. She put her head down. How can a girl continue her task, especially when she sees a man exposing his sex organ in the middle of a competition? Did Kaali’s ‘narthanam’ stopped by design? It was forced to stop. However, Sivaperumaan… was continuing his ‘thaandavam’. Hence… Sivan was declared as the winner! With His right leg firmly rooted on the floor and raising His left left high, thereby exposing His male organ… He claimed His victory. May be, is this the ‘famous secret’ of Chidhambaram? After winning the dance competition only, He was given the name Nataraajan. The meaning of this word is, that He is, the King of Dancing. I did not create this story. It was written up in ‘Nataraaja Mahaathmiyam’. So what is the moral of this story? ‘A woman shall not be in competition with a man. If she happened to be in a competition, because of her arrogance or for an ego trip, she shall not claim victory. To defeat a woman, man can employ any trick’… this is the gist.
The one defeated was Kaali. I have already told you that Kaali… does not come under aagama code and she was mainly a security deity installed by village people. Here we need to look little deeper to understand the subtle message. “Siva is a high class God. But Kaali is a low class rural God”. For this reason she was kept out of sight. Where?... Even today, if you go to Chidhambaram Nataraja temple and ask them the whereabout of Thillai Kaali, they will sign you towards the North direction outside of the temple. Approximately, one kilometer distance away at the border of the city, Kaali is angrily resting in a small temple. Another point! ‘Woman shall not compete with man. If she does she will be driven away from town, just like what happened to Kaali’… thus Kaali is telling indirectly to us through this Nataraajar episode. To date, those priests conducting worship services, in Chidhambaram temple, does no even look in the direction of Kaali temple. Thus, among the deities, male-female discrimination was fostered in both traditions. In addition, the class discrimination, was also deep rooted within the Hinduism. Saivaite tradition, did not stop right there. It differenciates based on the language also. ‘Murugan’ is a beautiful Tamil language name. The meaning of the word ‘Murugan’ is beauty. The Brahmins took the original, pure Tamil God and made Him ‘Kandhan’. Also made Him ‘Subramanyan’. Not only that... The
Sanskrit scholars even made him a son of Paramasivan and Paarvathi. Then, Murugan was not a son of Paramasivan? The Tamil answer is NO. The Sanskrit answer is YES. If you ask how, we can easily answer that question based on the reasoning of the name itself. Murugan means beautiful person. Ancient Tamil literature dating back to ‘Sangam’(Tamil Academy) age, named ‘Paripaadal’, the name of the Tamil God was given only as ‘Murugan’. How about names such as ‘Saravanabhava’ and ‘Kandhan’?... I will tell the meaning. I told you that, the Tamil answer was that, Murugan was not a son of Paramasivan and Parvathi. If that is so, what is the answer from Sanskrit?... Then why are we calling him also Kandhan and Saravanabhava?... You may question… Unfortunately, I have to read to you only a story from North Indian language.
Paramasivan and Parvathi were in their own world, i.e., where the Gods reside, basking in enjoyment. While they both were talking to each other, Paramasivan’s lust over Parvathi became uncontrollable. Hence, He was closing in on Parvathi. Parvathi was preoccupied with something else in her mind... Politely, she told Sivan “No swami… Not right now. I am not ready for it…”. As He looks at Parvathi, within Him the lust hurricane was swirling around and fueling to His heat. He was ready to hump over Parvathi and subside His lust. However… Shakthi (a.k.a. Parvathi) was not in accord with it. Paramasivan started to chase Paravathi. To escape from the huntsman, she slips away and started to run. All powerful Paramasivan… Would he leave it alone?... He finally grabs Her and He bends Parvathi and brought Her within His bounds. Paramasivan said “Devi… I intend to have enjoyment with you… My thirst to have bodily relationship with you has no bound… Why are you evading me?... What has happened to you?... He rolled Her like a vine and uncontrollable lust Paramasivan is questioning Her. Her reply was still the same “No my Lord… Not at present…”. Even though He was God, He was not able to control His bodily urge. As He completely squeezed and embraced Her against His body, He began to disrobe Her. Goddess Parvathi was begging “Swami … Lord…Please!”. However, without paying any attention to Her plight, just for His enjoyment, He was getting ready for the war. Paramasivan, even though, had every part of Her body under His control… in spite of it, Shakthi was not yielding. It was unbearable to God Siva. His sexual urge was boiling inside. He leaped on Parvathi and spread over her. But… Parvathi… just in time, She squeezed her body out of Paramasivan’s grip… Alas! The sperm drops (semen) of Paramasivan, did not reach its intended target.
Since, Parvathi slipped away, just at the moment of ejaculation, the semen drops came down from the heaven and fell into the Ganges river. Of course, the drops were the treasure of Sivaperuman… They were travelling swiftly along the Ganges and the drops reached the stagnant bank with reed (‘Naanal’, bamboo weed) grove. With the velocity of water reduced to zero, the semen evolved into a baby. The ‘naanal’ called in Sanskrit as ‘Saram’. The grove was called in Sanskrit as ‘Vanam’. Hence, the baby was called ‘Saravanam’ (reed grove). Just because, He was conceived in the reed grove, the name ‘Saravanan’ was given. According to Sanskrit scholars, this was how baby Saravanan came into existence and this baby was the Murugan. This is how the name ‘Saravanan’ was given to Murugan. Then, What about ‘Kandhan’? Really it is not ‘Kandhan’! The real and correct Sanskrit name is ‘Skandhan’. O.K… What is ‘Skandhan’? You, just now, read the Sanskrit story of the origination of ‘Saravanan’. This ‘Skandhan’ is the root cause of that story. That is… when the semen of a male species, accidentally falls outside, without going into its intended place… it is called as ‘Skandhan’.
Now, I hope you understand?... First, ‘Skandhan’… and later on ‘Saravanan… According to Sanskrit literatures, this was how ‘Saravanan’ was ‘born’ to Sivan. But… the Tamil culture is worshipping Him as a hill based God and considers Him as a handsome person. To consider Murugan as ‘Skandhan’ and ‘Saravanan’ Tamil culture will not yield and accept the Sanskrit stories. In addition, the story was based on vulgar logic just to put shame on His worshippers. To add to the injury, to such ‘Skandhan’ and ‘Saravanan’, the Sanskrit christened another name ‘Subramaniyar’. Its meaning is ‘High Society Brahmin’. Now do you understand the purpose?... Just like Murugan was made a son of ‘Sivan’… the Brahmins also made ‘Ganapathy’ also a son of ‘Sivan’. Who is Ganapahy?...
We have seen various worship practices, that gradually evolved, around the world. Isn’t it?... To start with they started to worship stone. Later on, we have seen, that they kept the figures of animals and worshiped it. Do you recall this?... Along the same lines, those who were living in the forest, was very much afraid of the huge figure of the elephant. To escape from the elephants… they raised their hand, joining their palms worshiped them. Later on, they started to worship the figure of the elephant itself. As the idol worship evolved, i.e., started to worship the figure of people, over the man’s figure, those living in the forest, superimposed the figure of elephant and worshipped the composite figure. This became ‘Ganapathy’… Then what is the meaning of ‘Vinaayakar’? According to Sanskrit literatures, ‘Vinaayakar’ was not a son of ‘Paramasivan’. Sivan only is ‘Vinaayakar’. What kind of nonsense? You wonder, what is he talking about?... We have already looked into the language and cultural differences between the name Murugan and that of 'Skandhan' and 'Saravanan'. If that is the case, are you asking me, what about the Murugan's, 'supposed to be', elder brother Vinaayakar or Ganapathy? Elder brother, younger brother, younger sister, older sister, brother-in-law all these interwoven relationship among the deities evolved in the era of humanistic worship and fabricated by human beings. O.K... Let us come back to Ganapathy. There is a widespread notion prevails that Ganapathy is elder brother of Murugan and also He is Siva's elder son. We are also believing into it. However, the Sanskrit stories blasting these notions. What story?...
One day, Paramasivan's wife Parvathi, was taking a bath. To the extent, one may wonder whether all these mischief and naughtiness among the human beings, were taught by Gods themselves, there are plenty of examples in the puranic stories about God's wickedness and bad behavior. O.K... What Sivan is doing here? Parvathi Devi, as the water is poured on her, she is minding to her bathing. Sivan had a juvenile desire, and was yearning to findout how His dearest is taking a bath without Her knowledge. That is...there is a unique thrill in men (even though he is her husband) of witnessing the bathing of a women without her own knowldge. Sivan wanted to have the experience that thrill of witnessing His own wife's bathing without Her own knowledge. Hence, as Parvathi Devi was pourig water on Her, purportedly without Her own knowledge, hiding at various locations, Paramasivan was having a clear show. Wouldn't Paraashakthi a.k.a Parvathi, with the power and ability to oversee all the worlds at the same time, not aware of two eyes stealthily staring into her own bathing activities?
She realized! She was shocked to find through her own intuition, that someone was watching her with lust and surreptitiously, while she was taking bath alone. Eventhough she was a Goddess, yet after all, isn’t She a female?... Immediately, as she tremblingly wore Her bra and Her dress, ran outside searching for the person who committed the crime. “Hey! Who is there? Who is that person, dared to peep at me, while I was taking a bath?” … Parvathi Devi was commanding loudly. Abruptly, Sivan appeared, in front of Her and said “Devi… It was only me! I was a playing little mischievous game (Thiruvilaiyaadal)… Just for this why are you so excited and fuming? Calm down… Calm down…”. “Swami… Which is ‘thiruvilaiyaadal’? If you consider a man peeping a woman during her bath surreptitiously, and enjoying it, is your kind of ‘thiruvilaiyaadal’… then let me show you my kind of ‘thiruvilaiyaadal’” with these words She cursed Him, with Her own ‘Thiruvilaiyaadal’. “Without even considering me as your wife, for peeping at me during my bath, You must become a man with elephant head..”. At that very instant, Paramasivan became a man with elephant head. That is… this little story is telling that Vinayakar was none other than Paramasivan. Even today, on the riverbanks and on the lakeshores you may have seen several Vinayakar temples. If ask me why?... Paramasivan is reminding everyone “Hey… The one taking a bath, even if it is your own wife, do not peep at her. If you do, your fate will become, just like mine”. This is a story.
On a historical perspective, I have already told you… Among the worship practices that was prevailing in various parts of the world, second most important practice was totamism worship. That is worshiping animals. Along the same reasoning, one time, those who were living in the forest, was afraid of large animals such as elephants and started to worship them. From this practice, evolved, worshiping the figures with elephant head. Just like we worship elephant head on a human body… in Egypt they used to worship various animals. This in short is the history of evolution of God Ganapathy. As sson as the name Ganapathy is mentioned… ‘He is in Vedham itself. He is the origin of the world’ … thus, later on everyone was putting knots to weave a fabric. That is bunch of non-sense. In Vedham, the word Ganapathy was mentioned. If you want to know, who that person was?... Let us look at this mantra in Rig Vedham :
“Ganaananthavaa Ganapathihim shavaamahe
Kavikam kavinaam upamas sravasthamam
Dheshtaraajam brammanaam brammanaaspathi”
According to Vedham, in Vedic era, the people and saints (Rishis) used to travel in groups. During that time they used select a leader among themselves and follow his instructions. That is… Leader of the group. Ganapathy means the leader of ‘Ganam’ (small group). Those small, small group’s leader was called the Ganapathy. Thus, Vedham, talks about several Ganapathys. The actual meaning of this verse is "Hey... Leader... If we follow your lead, we will get everything that we need. Our wealth will multiply...". Thus, this mantra is nothing but appreciation and praises for their leader. This 'Leader of the Group' was later on mis-interpretted and the leader was made into a God. However, according to 'Vedham', Ganapathy was leader of a group and was not a God. We have seen, the decency of our God's treatment of women and because of such treatment, we have also seen, how another God was created. Why I have brought all this to your attention? Basically, I wanted you to realize, that our God, who is to be examplary and guide all of us to be in good character and lead us in the path of truth, how they are portrayed in our scriptures and religious literatures... If you have already realized... Then next...
In the past few chapters, we have seen, in detail, the atrocities our tradition has cursed upon our ladies as well as upon our Goddesses. After reading my previous articles in this series, some of the ladies came to me and poured their awe and asked me whether, was it like this... was it like that... They also asked me a sneaky question. "You have stated that our Goddesses also were mistreated and they also sufferred in the hands of Gods as well as men. But... we celebrate, exclusively for our Goddesses the Navaraathri (nine nights) celebrations... I myself, in my home, all nine nights set up an alter and display all Goddesses (Golu)... Isn't it a great honor for our Goddesses?..." asked an young lady. "O.K... come to my pathway..." I appreciated her and narrated about the 'Navaraathri Golu' (Nine nights of honor), now you can also hear that message.
General belief among the masses is that the 'Navaraathri Golu' is to worship our Goddesses 'Parvathi', 'Lakshmi' and 'Saraswathi' and to exclusively honor them. However, if we look at the 'Rishi Moolam' (Saint origin) through this celebrations 'Nadhi Moolam' (path origin), the matter is different and its purpose is also completely different. Before we get into the origin through the saints... we will look into the fictitious story about the 'Navaraathri'. There was a cruel person called 'Mahishaasuran' with the head of a buffalo. He was committing attrocities against all the dwellers of heaven. The reason : The one boon that he has obtained! That boon was 'If anyone is going to destroy me that shall be only through a women'. The reason behind such a boon was : What can a woman do? Even the women Goddesses were not allowed to step beyond their temples. How can they destroy me? Since, the heavenly dwellers have accepted these norms as the standard, he requested such a boon. The Gods themselves... may be because of the opinion they had of the ladies or for some other reasons ... they have granted such a boon.
Only a woman can destroy me! Which woman has such powers? ... With that arrogance, he started to commit atrocities against the dwellers of the heaven. This has fallen into the ears of the wife of Sivan, Parvathi. All other Godesses and angels were praying to Parvathi : "Only a woman can destroy him. How is it possible? Can I destroy him?...". Parashakthi was thinking for a while. 'Is it possible by myself?'... Just like ordinary folks, she also consulted with Her neighbors Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Saraswathi. They plainly told Her : "How are we going to have such strength to destroy him?... We are even deprived of means to grant heaven to dead ardent devotees? How are we going to destroy an evil man?...". Thus the Goddesses themselves deprecating about their own plight. O.K... Now, what shall we do? A streak of light appeared. If we have destroy an evil man, we need to have the strength of men. However, his boon grants him death only through a woman. If that is so, what ca we do? We must acquire the strength of all Gods in heaven and then go after destroying him. Thus, in the caucus of the Goddesses, a resolution was passed. At this place I would like to point out the discrepancy between the statements in the 'Vedham' and the contents in the 'Puranic' stories. What did the 'Vedham' said :
"Sthriinaam dviganam aahaaram Bhuththiis saabhichathur gunam..."
I believe that I have dealt with this while I was talking about women in the Vedic period. That is ... Ladies eat twice the food that is consumed by man. Hence, they are four times as strong and intelligent as man. This is according to ‘Vedham’. However, what was talked about in the meeting of the Goddesses in the ‘Puranic’ stories? “Only if we are able to get the strength of the men, we can boost our own strength. With that increased strength only, we can fight ‘Mahisaasuran’…” thus they have concluded. That is whatever strength that ‘Vedham’ has bestowed upon the ladies, the ‘Puranic’ stories undermines it and throws then into weaker sex category. O.K… Anyhow, we will come back to the matter at hand. Parashakthi has determined to acquire the entire physical strengths as well as the fighting skills of every male Gods and male dwellers of the heaven. First she approached the supreme Gods Brammaa, Vishnu, Siva and Indhiran and demanded that they surrender their entire power to Her to fight the evil man. As a woman, I cannot act with my own power. I need your cooperation in this fight and please provide it to me.
What else to do?... They are the one granted him the boon and now they are stuck with it. They extended their full power to Her. After sucking up all the powers of the Gods, She went after Mahisaasuran and destroyed him. At that moment, all the dwellers of the heaven should have celebrated and sing praises of Parvathi for Her heroism. They must have surrendered on her feet for protecting them from a major evil force… However, no such thing happened. That Parashakthi Goddess was not praised by anyone. None appreciated Her… Reason? The Gods have surrendered all their powers and strength to Her to fight… Hence, all the dwellers in the heaven, till that time were without any movement like dolls. Those dolls were the ones displayed on the ‘Navarathri Golu’.
Now... bring to your memory, all those dolls that we have seen in the previous chapter. That is what is celebrated as 'Golu'... 'Golu'.... The justice in a nutshell, behind the Golu and the Navaraathri celebrations is, 'nothing can be accomplished by women alone. She can live only with the help of a man'. O.K... Was the 'Golu' festival emerged, at a later time, after putting several spins to this 'Puranic' story?... On this 'Puranic' story alone they have established the doll pageant during the 'Golu' festival. That is all the Gods and angels, in heaven, became dolls. A tradition was established that instructed us to worship these dolls to bring to light the greatness of Parashakthi. Later on, in this 'Golu' tradition, a competition for the share of the fame emerged. For who?... The main issue was, among the 'Parvathi', 'Lakshmi' and 'Saraswathi', who shall be given more importance. That too was resolved by the human beings on the earth by allocating three days for 'Lakshmi', three days for 'Saraswathi' and three days for 'Parvathi'. The split among the partners were deemed to be fair.
Later on... They have also established the favorite dishes to offer to the deities. No wonder ... The food, after all, used to be the center piece of the worship. Would they leave it alone?... First day it shall be 'Ven Pongal'. Second day it shall be tamarind rice. Third day it shall be 'Sarkarai Pongal'; Fourth day mixed rice which is made with several vegetables and cooked with rice; Fifth day shall have yogurt rice; Sixth day shall be a little different coconut rice; Seventh day lime rice; Eighth day shall be rice pudding (Paayaasam) and finally on the ninth day again serve 'Sarkarai Pongal'... Thus in the name of nine nights, they have also established nine different 'naivedhyam' for each night. One more thing in this... Everyday they have added 'sundal kadalai' (Garbanzo beans). I have my own doubts... After eating dishes such as 'puliyodharai' (tamarind rice) and 'thayir saadham' (yogurt rice) can a person destroy evil giants?... Thus, the nine days of celebration, that occurs every year was called as 'Golu'.
The fictitious meaning for 'Golu' is what I have described to you earlier. However, the Golu's 'Nadhi Moolam' and 'Rishi Moolam' are entirely different. The 'Golu' that we celebrate has evolved only from our own life style. However, the 'Puranic' story writers have addes several twists to decorate this festival from reality and killed the true meaning of this festival. There is no relationship between the 'Golu' and Parashakthi. There is absolutely no relationship between Lakshmi and 'Golu'. So also there is no relationship between Saraswathi and 'Golu'. If that is so, how did all these florished into existence?... Fictitiously creating the evil giant (Arakkan)... fabricating the reasons for destroying him... in order make everyone believe, deceptively narrating a story... at last offering 'naivedhyam' for nine days is the only profit! If that is so, what is the meaning of 'Golu'?...
To find an answer to this question, we need to travel back to te days of the kings. In ancient days, before going to a war, Tamil kings used to reflect on various issues. Unike today, in those days, as soon as they decide they cannot take their tanks, war planes and other war equipment and mobilize for a war. Only based on the weather conditions, the war strategies will be planned. Because, they were paying more respect to the nature and were forced their living to suit the environmental conditions. Especially, rain was the major factor. No matter, however capable the king was, he was very reluctant to go after a war during rainy season. Because... One can bear the hot sun and carryon a war. However... during a pouring down rain, in those days, the war plan, strategy, offensive intellect such as these can flip upside down. For all these reasons... the kings used to keep safe their fighters, chariots, horses, elephants and their war armor. They were kept in rows and it was very impressive, majestic and beautiful. Since, these were their assets that can earn them a victory... the war general and the commanders... used to repair all the damaged equipment and renovate the equipment as necemsary and get ready for the war. They used to salute with valor, to their war equipment, so they can cooperate and bring them the victory. When the rainy season comes to an end... just like a leaping tiger from a bush, they charge against the enemy and claim victory. This is the 'Rishi Moolam', 'Nadhi Moolam' and true origin of 'Golu'. When the Brahmins looked at this display... they realized that this principle was very much appealing and considered to employ the same approach in the name of God to energize the community towards God. 'Navaraathri' was created. After the ninth day... the day of marching for the war, and to claim victory, was suitably named 'Vijaya Dhasami'.
In this... Where did 'Lakshmi' came from?... or where did 'Parvathi' came from... or where from 'Saraswathi' came?... While saying that they are praising the songs of the Goddesses... relaying the latent message that 'without the man a woman cannot survive and they cannot accomplish any task', This is what the basic philosophy of the 'Golu'. Even executing this 'Golu' philosophy, among ourselves, there are several disagreements. 'How can Siva's wife Parvathi, make God Vishnu a doll? Shall we celebrate this as a holy day?' ... thus among the Vaishnava sect prevails disagreements. Hence, even today, the practice of displaying a 'Golu' is not accepted by the Vaishnava community. 'Golu' consists of so many fictional stories and one important truth. Next?... We have seen the philosophy behind 'Golu'. Actually, by now you may have figured out, whether the 'Golu' is to praise and honor the Goddesses? or to downgrade the Goddesses by bringing about their weaknesses? In case... even if we assume that this ritual honors and praises the women... 'Golu' is not displayed in the temples. The tradition is that everyone has to keep it in their own house. May be this ritual has a latent message, that even if you honor and praise the women, you better confine it to your own house... do not let this happen outside. Who knows?... O.K... Haven't we looked at 'Golu', through the 'Rishi Moolam'? The kings used to worship the army and the weaponry on a specific day. From that celebration evolved the belief and a tradition called 'Aayudha Poojai' (weapon worship). Not only the king but also the citizens of that country began to follow the king. For the king waging a war is his occupation. Hence, he was displaying his war arsenal and worshiped it. Like wise... every citizen was exhibiting, those tools that he has been using in his trade, and worshiped it.
In those days, what occupation the Brahmins were pursuing? The answer to this question was dealt with in the eleventh chapter. They are namely 'yajanam' and 'yaajanam'. Brahmin's occupation was doing or make others do 'Manthiram' (chanting mantra), 'Homam'(performing fire ritual) and 'Yaagam' (conducting sacrifices). This is it. If that is so, what kind of tools they display and worship during their 'aayudha poojai'? They thought for a while. They transformed the 'aayudha poojai' into 'Saraswathi Poojai' (Saraswathi is the Goddess of knowledge). At this point there is an auxiliary question surfaces. The weapons were essential for the humans only. And still it is! Why the deities themselves require weapons? As the God has every powers that are imaginable, why does He need weapons? From those Gods standing alone like ‘Ayyanaar’ to those Gods surrounded by Goddesses such as ‘Naaraayanan’, all the deities are carrying weapons such as knife, machete, pitch fork (‘soolam’), ‘Vel’, bow and arrow… standing in their alters displaying their rowdyism. Do they need weapons? Why do they require it? If we explore, starting from ‘Vedham’, we can find clear answers. In ‘Vedham’ the Rishis have classified them into two different categories :
“Rudhrovaa eeshaha agnihi
Thasyaithe dhanuvas goraanya
Sivaanya yachchayathu
Sadha rudhriyanjothi yathevaasthu goraadhanu
Thaamthena samayathii yathvasor thaadhaam dhiyothii
Yaivaasya sivaakanu thaanthena prinaadhii…”
What is this Vedha mantra is relating to us? It is describing the character of God. During the Vedic era, while the Rishi’s preparing to conduct a ‘yaagam’… the roaring noise of the high wind tears down the ear drum. The noise of the wind used to rattle the heart. All the Rishis are terrified and almost dying of the thought of the wind. “Alas!... ‘Rudhran’ will arrive soon… He is the God of destruction… He will destroy everything at sight…”… the Rishis are howling. Immediately… they are thinking of ‘Rudhran’ and…
“Rudhraa un kobhaththukku oru namaskaaram
Rudhraa un Goraththukku oru namaskaaram
Rudhraa un gruraththukku oru namaskaaram"
We are scared of you and that is why we are praising you. Please do not come to this area. Runaway from here …” Thus just to drive Rudhran away from their area, they are praising him. That Vedic mantra describes only this. That is… Rudhran looks very scary and cruel. His sole assignment is to create trouble for the people. ‘Rudhraahaa Guruurahaa’ says ‘Vedham’. i.e., ‘Rudhran’ is ‘Ayogyan’ (cruel person). In addition, ‘sakasraani sakasrasya rudhraani boomyaadu’ which means in this world, there are one thousand thousand (1,000,000) rudhraas (cruel persons). Hence…? “Anthadha Eeva Rhdhran niravadhedhe…”. While all the preparations were taking place, to conduct a ‘yaagam’ called ‘sayanam’,’Rudhran’, with his hair pointed in all directions, arrives at that place with bow and arrow. This is where we have to pay attention. The only weapon mentioned in the ‘Vedham’ is bow and arrow. This weapon will be in the hands of ‘Rudhran’. Taking this weapon…he will try to muddle the ‘yaagam’. He will bring misery to many lives. In the place, during an auspicious (‘Sath’) occasion, he arrives with his bow and arrow and he is threatening everyone. Before ‘Rudhran’ starts his sadistic dance in this manner, using the mantra praise him and using the same mantra chase him away. The same is given in the ‘Vedham’ thus… “Anthadha Eeva Rhdhran niravadhedhe…”. ‘Rudhran’ described in so many names such as nontrustworthy, thief, evil person and father of hurricane, carries as his weapon only bow and arrow. At the sametime, ‘Rudhran’ also described as having a peaceful image. He is also supposed to be a made of love and kind hearted ?... ‘Rudhran’ has been portrayed as a cruel person, in ‘Vedham’, and I have mentioned that he also has been given another character that is peaceful, kind hearted… Who is he?... Vishnu! ‘Vedham’ called beauty as ‘Adhpudham’. This word later on, in our language Tamil, evolved into ‘Arpudham’. Part of the words of a slokam ‘sadhasathpathi adhpudham…’, portrays Vishnu as the leader of the society. As leader of the society, ‘Vedham’ says in another slokam, you are very beautiful and peaceful…
“Thomhi sathyo adhpudhahaa Dhaadhaa vaajasya…”
The meaning : ‘You are really a beautiful person’. According to ‘Vedham’, you said, that God has no shape or form… Then, how did these armour and beauty came into existence?... Thus, a suspicion may sprout within yourself. The same ‘Vedham’ tell you… ‘If you want, you can give a figure for God, as your imagination can take you’. O.K… As per the ‘Vedham’, Rudhran’s arsenals are bow and arrow. If a cruel person like ‘Rudhran’ himself, had only a bow and arrow as his weapon… Vishnu, personified as the kind hearted and peace loving, shouldn’t He have as His possessions, only silk garments and shining jewelries. But… Vishnu, had ‘panchaayutham’ (five weapons), that was more weapons than even the cruel person ‘Rudhran’ had in his possession. Five weapons?... Yes. No shortage of weapons for our Gods. Yes! Vishnu has in his hands five different weapons. They are, ‘Sangu’ (shell), ‘Chakkaram’ (wheel), ‘Gathai’ (maul), ‘Saarangam’ (Bow) and ‘Kadkam’ (knife). Let me explain them one by one.
‘Sangu’ (Shell)… In those days, primitive culture days, traditionally when they go for a war… “We are prepared for war… Let our army battalion march towards the enemy”, thus, it was blown for issuing the marching orders. In addition, It was also blown for warning the enemy “Hey… My battalion has started and we are marching towards your’s”. Similarly, when everything came to an end, they blew the shell and they announced the results. The shell that was used from the beginning to end of a war was the first weapon of the peace loving God Vishnu. Next weapon is ‘Chakkaram’ (wheel)… This wheel’s essence is the fire, that has been given most importance, in the ‘Vedham’. When the wheel is aimed, the fire spit out of it will catch on, burn and make the enemy into ash and put him to death. This is the beautiful Vishnu’s second weapon. There is also another special feature for this weapon. I will explain about that feature, after I have given description of the five weapons. The third weapon is ‘Gadhai’ (Gadha). This is also a weapon of the primitive culture days… that is more or less the weapons used by the primitive men of the stoneage. It is nothing but a huge wooden log. In one hit, the person will reach the heaven. That is the nature of this weapon. Even today we read in the head lines of the newspaper that ‘Murdered by hitting with a round wooden log’. Such round wooden log is this weapon. In the village area they are scared of hearing the name ‘sukkumaanthadi’, and that weapon is the ‘Gadhai’. The fourth weapon is ‘Saarangam’ (Bow). This was also the weapon, used by the forest dwellers, for hunting animals. The fifth weapon was the one normally appears in the newspaper headlines ‘By showing the knife to the woman who was traveling alone, the thief grabbed the gold chain’. That knife is the ‘Katkam’. Thus, the one bears all these five weapons, and portrayed as the peace loving Vishnu, who happened to be the cruel personality ‘Rudhran’.
Haven't I noted earlier that the 'Chakkaram' weapon has some special features? What is that special feature? 'Chakkaram' is the 'sankalpam' (alter ego) of Vishnu. It is called respectfully as 'Sudharsanar'. God Vishnu is keeping this weapon, to accomplish whatever He has in His mind. Whatever God Vishnu thinks, 'Sudharsanar' (Chakkara weapon) completes it. Thus... just for a weapon, our Vaishnava tradition has given such a status. 'Sudharsanar' also has additional fame and respect. What is that?...
"Yasmin vinyasya paaram vijayanii jagathaam jangamas thaavaranaam Lakshminaarayanaakyam mithunam Anubhavathii uthiuthaaraan vihaaraan Aarokyam bhoothimaayusiim Kruthamiha bhahiinaa..."
This is the very last sloka, in the book titled 'Sudharsana sathakam', and written by Kooranaaraayana Jiiyar. O.K... What does this sloka says? 'Narayanan has to attend to multiple tasks at the same time. Hence, He was not able to spend quality time with HIs wife Lakshmi. In spite of it... Vishnu, when He decides to spend leisurely time, alone with His wife Lakshmi, He vests all the responsibilities with His trusted weapon 'Sudharsar'. Yet another specialty of this weapon... in the hands of 'Sudharsanar', it has sixteen other weapons. What?... In the hands of a weapon, more weapons?... What?... In the hands of a weapon, sixteen weapons?... If that is so, you can estimate the importance of wheel weapon called 'Sudharsanar'. Rather than referring this weapon as that, this or it, it is always called with respect as this person or that person. Yes... It was also named as 'Chakkarathaazhwaar' (All the Vaishnava saints are called 'Aazhwaars'. This weapon was also treated as a Vaishnava saint). For the 'Sudharsanam', even in Sanskrit language they called it with respect as 'Sudharsanar'. The 'Sudharsanar', which is in the hands of Vishnu,has in its hands sixteen weapons. Vishnu Himself has only five weapons. But his own weapon has sixteen weapons. Before we explore about all sixteen weapons of 'Sudharsanar'... we will take look at few of the accomplishments of Vishnu with 'Sudharsanar' in His hand.
King Powndaraka Vaasudhevan was, once upon a time, ruling Kaasi. He was infatuated with his own name. The infatuation, gradually converted him, to arrogance. Slowly this arrogance got to his head, and it was leading him, in a destructive path. What was he thinking... One component of my name is Vaasudhevan. Hence, I am only the Vaasudhevan a.k.a. Vishnu. I am the God Himself. Hence, in front of me, that Vishnu shall not have in His hands all five weapons. He is not the God. I am the one came here to protect this world. Hence... "Hey! Vishnu, you must forego your weapons 'Sangu' and 'Chakkaram'. You must surrender them to me. Because, I am the true Vaasudhevan. I am the true Vishnu" ... Thus, his arrogance got to his head and he was giving ultimatum to God Vishnu. Vishnu sized up his arrogance... "Are you asking my 'Sangu' and 'Chakkaram'?... First I will give you my 'Chakkarayudham'. Keep it... Not in your hand... But take it on your neck"... Thus he launched His 'Chakkaram'. That 'Chakkaraayudham'... descended on the neck of the Powndaraka Vaasudhevan. He gave the 'Chakkaraayudham', to the one who claimed, that "I am the God, Give me all your weapons", and took his life. While this incidence related to Vishnu Himself... the next one related to God Krishna (An avathar of Vishnu).
Sisubaalan was king of Sethi Nadu. He has been a perennial enemy of Krishna. Always he has been cursing and criticizing Krishna. Krishna a.k.a. Vishnu, decided to tolerate upto one hundred curses. However, Sisubaalan's cursing incidenses exceeded this limit. In the last curse, Sisubaalan exceeded his limit and cursed Him "Podaa idaippayale" meaning "Hey, You, herdsboy" calling by the caste of Krishna. Krishna, who maintained His patience till that time, "Are you cursing me demeaning my caste?"... with these angry words he launched His 'Sudharsana Chakkaram'. The 'Chakkaram' decapitated the head of Sisubaalan and it fell to the ground. This very same Sisubaalan is one of the gatekeeper boy in Sri Vaikundam. It is said that Vishnu Himself has granted this status. How did that happen?... Vishnu asked Sisubaalan, "Hey! you want to be my friend and get access to 'Moksham' on a delayed basis or you want to be my enemy and get to 'Moksham' on a fasttrack basis?... Which suits you?...". He replied, "I would stay as your enemy and get to 'Moksham' in a hurry". Based on this... It appears, through Vishnu's words, that better than the friends of God, the enemies of God gets to go to heaven faster. This appears in the 'Bhaagavatham'.
In addition… ‘Even to the Gods, the caste feelings is there… and it is a must’ this discriminatory principle is emphasized in this story. This story also brings to light the power of the ‘Chakkaraayudham’. There is also another note about ‘Chakkaraayudham’. The ‘Vajraayutham’ of God Indhiran was made of Thathiika saint’s bone. The weapon, ‘Vajraayutham’ made of human bone, was energized by this very ‘Chakkaraayudham’. O.K… We have explored various stories that brings to light the power and capabilities of ‘Chakkaraayudham’. Earlier, I said sixteen weapons… Are you asking what are they? God Vishnu’s ‘Chakkaraayudham’ has on each side eight arms and each one of the arm has a weapon. About these weapons, Mr. Vedhaantha Dhesikan has composed the ‘Chodasa aayudha sthothram’. That is recitals about the sixteen weapons and its capabilities. What are the weapons described in this ‘aayudha sthothram’?... We will first examine the weapons in the right hand of the ‘Sudharsana Chakkaram’. 1.) ‘Chakkaram (wheel); 2.) ‘Mazhu’ (Mallet); 3.) ‘Kundham’ (Spear); 4.) ‘Dhandam’ (Stick); 5.) ‘Angusam’ (Driving tool); 6.) ‘sadhaamukaagni (A weapon that spits fire from one hundred mouths at a time); 7.) ‘Miskrisam’ (Knife); 8.) ‘Vel’ (Type of Spear). These are the weapons found on the right side of ‘Chakkaram’. On the left side… 1.) ‘Paancha Sanyam (Shell); 2.) ‘Saarangam’ (Bow); 3.) ‘Paasam’ (Rope); 4.) ‘Kalappai’ (Plough); 5.) ‘Vajraayudham’; 6.) ‘Gadhai (Maul); 7.) ‘Ulakkai’ (4” dia. Cylindrical rod); 8.) ‘Thirisoolam’ (Steel fork). On the right side eight plus eight on the left side. Isn’t the total sixteen? When they say ‘Pathinaarum Petru Peru Vazhvu’, may be they are talking about the sixteen weapons of the Vishnu, and probably, He is having a great life with His weapons. Portrayed as a peace loving God in 'Vedham', Vishnu, was wrapped around with war arsenals, like a weapon making blacksmith. Why?...
No comments:
Post a Comment