Who am I?

"Who am I?", a question that has baffled and intrigued many philosophers and metaphysicists. The question that most don't find and answer. If they find an answer to this question, most would not be able to express that verbally. It is not the social identity a person is given. It is about the inner-self, the soul, your ethereal identity - rather shortly - "The Real You". A bit confusing??? Well lets a take a look at what Thirumoolar says and see our thoughts get provoked and intrigued. Here goes the song

"Ettaan Arindhilan Yaetraval Kandilal
Thattaan Arindhum Oruvarkkum Uraithilan
Pattaangu Sollum Paramanum Angulan
Kettaen Immaayaiyin Keezhmai Yevvaray"

- Thirumoolar

meaning, "The sower of the genetic seed (Father) does not know who I am. The acceptor of the genetic seed (Mother) does not know who I am. The creator (Lord Brahma), though he knows who I am, does not tell anyone about that. Even Lord Shiva - the God of Destruction, the foreteller of the end of life - is present there at that time. See! I have been spoilt and just imagine the meanness I have been put into by illusion/oblivion that caused this"

Ettaan - The person who gives; in this context, sower of genetic seed
Arindhilan - Arindhu (know) + Elan (negation a form of Ellai, masculine gender) = The referred person does not have the knowledge
Yaetraval - Yaetra (accept) + Aval (addressing the second person feminine gender) = The person who accepts
Kandilal - Kandu (See, be aware) + Elal (negation a form of Ellai, feminine gender) = The referred person is not aware
Thattaan - Blacksmith; the one who shapes object by striking; in this context, the creator - Lord Brahma
Arindhum - Having knowledge
Oruvarkkum - Even for a single person
Uraithilan - Uraithu (tell) + Elan - He will not tell
Pattaangu - End of world, life etc
Sollum - Telling
Paramanum - (Paraman - Lord Shiva) Even Lord Shiva
Angulan - Angu(there) + Ulan (exists)
Kettaen - Kettu - Become Spoilt
Immaayai - This(Im) illusion (Maayai)
Keezhmai - Lowest point, meanest
Yevvaray - imagine how

Intriguing!!! This is what great philosophers, saints and siddhars have professed all their life. Know thyself!!! A great and difficult thing to be achieved. Lets start on a journey to find who we are for ourselves!!

More to come, until then...

Rain - The elixir of life!

Rain is a natural phenomenon of water precipitating, but the interesting fact is that people associate it with good deeds, well being etc. More precisely, people tend to associate the amount of rainfall with the good deeds performed. If there are many good deeds performed then, there would be a good amount of rain and if bad deeds increase, rainfall decreases. Let us see what Tamil Literature has to offer. There is even a phrase in Tamil - "Maadham MUmmaari" meaning "three rains a month". Let's begin with Avaiyar with her song that goes,

"Nellukku Iraitha Neer Vaaikaal Vazhi Odi
Pullukkum Aangae Posiyumaam - Tholl Ulagil
Nallaar Oruvar Ularael Avar Poruttu
Ellaarkkum Peyyum Mazhai"

-Avaiyar

meaning, The water that flows in a stream to irrigate the paddy also irrigates the weeds around. Likewise, for that one good person on this old earth, it rains for the benefit of all. Now the interlingual rendition,

Nellukku - (possesive case of) Nell - Paddy
Iraitha - Poured, Irrigated
Neer - Water
Vaaikaal - Stream, a shallow passage for water to flow
Vazhi - Path
Odi - Run
Pullukkum - For the grass (Pull), in this context, weed
Aangae - There
Posiyumaam - Flow, Drip
Tholl Ulagil - Old (Tholl) Earth - (Ulagu)
Nallaar - Good persons
Oruvar - (denoting count of persons) One
Ularael - Ula - Exist ; in conjunction with Oruvar - if one such person exists
Avar Poruttu - Avar: Them, respected tone of a single person; Poruttu - For a particular purpose
Ellarkkum - For all (Ellar)
Peyyum Mazhai - pour down, used in conjunction with rain (Mazhai)


Hmm, interesting, now lets see what Vivega Chinthamani has for the rains. The first song goes like this

"Vedham Odhiya Vedhiyarkku Ore Mazhai
Needhi Mannar Neriyanukku Ore Mazhai
Maadhar Karppudaya Mangayarkku Ore Mazhai
Maadham Moondru Mazhaiyena Peyyumae"

- Vivekaga Chinthamani

The meaning, "A rain for the priests enchanting the Vedhas. A rain for the king who follows good virtues and upholds justice. A rain for the women who maintain their chastity. So in all three rains a month". As usual, the interlingual rendition

Vedham - Vedhas
Odhiya - Enchanted, Recited
Vedhiyar - Priests or persons following the Vedhas
Ore - One
Mazhai - Rain
Needhi - Justice
Mannar - (plural of Mannan) Kings
Neriyan - Follower of good virtues
Maadhar - (plural of Maadhu) Women, normally used in a collective sense
Karppu - Chastity
Mangayar - (plural of Mangai) Women
Maadham - Month
Moondru - Three
Peyyum - downpour, fall (esp rain)


This above song is a representation of the fact that if the good deeds grow and good virtues are upheld, the nature will bestow good rains that will help the planet flourish with all good things. Now, here the opposite where if good deeds dwindle, then nature punishes those act. The following song can be interpreted in two ways, one as nature grieving the situations that would have caused the persons involved to perform such acts; the other as a punishing measure for those who are expected to follow good virtues but they stray away blatantly.

"Arisi VittridUm Andhanarrkku Ore Mazhai
Varisai Thappiya Mannarkku Ore Mazhai
Purushanai Kondra Poovaiyarkku Ore Mazhai
Varudam Moondru Mazhaiyena Peyyumae"

- Vivekaga Chinthamani

the meaning, "A rain for the priests who sell rice. A rain for the kings stray away from their virtues. A rain for the women who kill their husbands (Rather in the non-literal sense, women who betray their husbands). So in all, three rains a year".

Arisi - Rice
Vittridum - Selling
Andhanarr - Priests
Varisai - Duties, Order, Queue
Thappiya - Escape, Default, Missing to perform duties
Purushan - Husband
Kondra - Kill, Destroy
Poovaiyar - (plural of Poovai) Women
Varudam - Year

Some people say, that the only one of the three rains mentioned in the first song actually happen (A rain for the women who maintain their chastity) and that too not every month. And all the three rains mentioned in the second song occur without fail. I am not sure as to the correctness of the comments. The points in the above two songs of Vivega Chinthamani and in Avaiyar's song bear some correlation - "For the purpose and the benefit of the good, nature will bestow goodness for all."

More to come, until then...

An unsolved conundrum about a bullion!!

The world would have been aware of the famous bullion mystery Yamashita's Gold and many Filipinos are digging even today to search it. But there is one in Tamil Nadu. In a place called Marungapallam, within the Peravurani jurisdiction of Thanjavur District (Thanjavur, also called Tanjore - The place of the great Brahadeeshwara temple). The inscriptions on the rock carvings in the temple of Lord Shiva at Marungapallam has one similar unsolved conundrum about a bullion. The puzzle is unsolved to this day. It has a story behind it, but first the inscription in the form of a song. It goes like this,

"Ezhuvaanukkum Thozuvaanukkum Edaiyilay
Kaakai Mookin Nizhalilay
Kalvar Pogum Vazhiyilay
Kandaalum Kammaalan Kannilay
Ezhubadhu Kodi Pasumpon"

- Inscription at Lord Shiva Temple

in Marungapallam

meaning -

"Between the one who rises and the one who worships,
In the shadow of a crow's beak,
In the path used by thieves,
Even if seen only recognisable by the goldsmith,
There is Seventy Crores pure gold"

The interlingual rendition is as follows,
Ezhuvaan - The person who rises, probably the Sun
Thozhuvaan - The person who worships, probably the human
Edaiyilay - in between
Kaakai - Crow
Mookin - possessive case of Mooku - beak, nose
Nizhalilay - possessive case of Nizhalal - shadow
Kalvar - Plural of Kalvan - Thief
Pogum - Going
Vazhi - Path or route
Kandalum - Seeing, in this case, even if seen
Kammaalan - Goldsmith
Kannil - in the Eyes (Kann)
Ezhubadhu - Seventy
Kodi - Crore
Pasumpon - Pasumai (fertile, pure, rich) + Pon (Gold)

Well, now the story behind it. There once lived a goldsmith who had somehow acquired a huge bullion of gold. He kept that information as a secret and he began the purifying process of the gold. So while purifying the gold, he collected the wastes which were like impure iron and threw it away as it had no use or value. This aroused suspicion among the spies of the then king of the region and the secret was delivered to the king and the king ordered his men to get that gold. The goldsmith on knowing that the secret is not a secret anymore, hastily went to hide the gold. And he hid that bullion in some place and to safeguard that place, he sacrificed his own daughter to the Gods (a cruel practice that was believed in those days), called Kaavu Koduthal in Tamil meaning sacrificing life for some purpose, and wrote the above song in an inscription and committed suicide. The waste product that the goldsmith dumped was collected by people and used as a cure to Anaemia. It was named as Nagur Raththa Sogai Marundhu (Nagur - a place in Tamil Nadu near Thanjavur; Raththa (Blood) Sogai (non-vitality) - Anaemia; Marundhu - Medicine). And it is said that people actual got cured of anaemia. Whatsoever be it, the place where he hid that gold is still a mystery to this day as Yamashita's Gold

More to come, until then...

The Glorious Garuda

Garuda - The Brahmini Kite - is one of the most revered birds in India. It is the mount/vechicle of Lord Vishnu. It is also called the Krishnar Parundu/Kazhugu meaning the Kite/Eagle of Lord Krishna. The Garuda is so sacred that is worshipped as a deity named Garudaazhwar in many Vishnu temples. It is even a strange phenomenon that it circles the temple in which auspicious events like the Kumbabishekam and other yearly festivals are being conducted. Garuda is believed to have strange powers that even its shadow would act as an antidote to the poison of a snake and alleviate the effects of the venom. I am not sure about the truth of the statement, but the belief exists. There is even a sacred text, in Sanskrit, called The Garuda Puranam in its name. Tamil to has its part about Garuda. And seeing a Garudan is a good Sagunam (omen), a Tamil song goes like this

Senthalai Garudan
Vandhidam Paainthaal
Gangayin Porulum
Thann Kayil Kidaikkum

- Anonymous

Let me do the interlingual rendition in a bit, first the meaning. It means that if the vivid headed garudan crosses to your left when you start any important event. It indicates a good sagunam that you will get the rare and sacred items of the river Ganga in your hands. The river Ganges is said to be originating from the head of Lord Shiva and so it is so sacred that it cleanses all the sins of the humans. So things got from the Ganga is considered rare and sacred. And obtaining things from the Ganges is not so easy in those days. So if a Garudan flies past to your left, then it indicates a good sagunam. Now the rendition

Senthalai - Red headed, vivid headed (in this context)
Vandhidam = Vandhu (Come) + Idam (Left) - Comes to your left
Paainthal - dive, pounce
Gangayin - Of Ganga (River Ganges)
Porul - Items, Substances
Thann - One's Own
Kayil - In hand(Kai)
Kidaikkum - Will be gotten

Aadi Garudanai Thedi Kaan Anandham Pongum
Kaalai Garudanai Paarthu Kaan Kaaval Kaakkum
Odum Garudanai Naadi Kaan Theevinai Pokkum
Maalai Garudanai Kootil Kaan Marupirappillaiyae

- Anonymous

meaning, search and find the Garudan in the month of Aadi and you will find joy filling your life. Wait in expectation of the arrival of the Garuda in the morning and see it, it will be a sentinel in your life. Seek the elusive Garudan and envision it, it will destroy all your sins. See the Garudan accompanied by Lord Vishnu in the evening, you will cross the ocean of birth, attain salvation and will never be reborn to meet with all the suffering of birth.

Aadi - Dance; Tamil Month of Aadi (Falls between July and August), auspicious month for the Gods.
(Temples would be crowed during this month and it is not easy to worship the deities in the temple. So you would have to search amongst the crowd to find the deities. Garuda being one of the deities, should be searched and worshipped)

Thedi - Search
Kaan - See
Anandham - Joy, Merry
Pongum - Overflow
Kaalai - Morning
Paarthu - verb. See; adjective. carefully; In this context Edhirpaarthu meaning in expectation
Kaaval - Watch, Sentinel
Kaakum - Protect
Odum - Running
Naadi - Seek
Theevinai - Sins, actions causing sins
Pokkum - Remove, eliminate
Maalai - Evening
Kootil - In the nest (Koodu); accompanied by someone or something
Marupirappillayae = Maru (Again) + Pirappu (Birth) + Illaiyae (No, Negation) - No rebirth

Not only the Garudan, but other birds and animals are venerated and associated with the gods in India. For example, the Snake (Lord Shiva), the mouse and the elephant (Lord Ganesha), the rooster (Lord Muruga), Lord Hanuman (the monkey God), the cow (The Kamadhenu), the bull (Rishaba Devar - mount of Lord Shiva), the buffalo (mount of Yama), the tiger and the lion and so on and so forth. Even the dog is worshipped as the mount of Lord Bairava and even a scorpion has its place. The list goes on. The idea of venerating animals is not to start off any superstition among the people, but it has spiritual, biological and jurisprudential reasons. The spiritual being to the envision the Supreme being as the manifestation of all life forms, the biological being to conserve the ecology and those beings should be in existence, the jurisprudential being, that every animal has its right to existence. I am not starting off any potential argument, but just elucidating the essence of such beliefs.

Apart from the Garuda, one more bird is known to indicate sagunam. It is the Sembothu or the Senbaga, I don't know the exact English name for the bird. But it would be in the size of a cuckoo and has a vibrant orangish brown colour in it body. The song that indicates is

Bothidam Paainthal Maelthadam Vaiyaadhae

- Anonymous

meaning, if the Sembothu flies past to your left, don't dare to step one more foot. Rather it indicates a bad or an unsuccessful sagunam. To be more precise of the meaning, the belief is that if the Sembothu passes to your left while you are about to venture out something, it will not materialise whatever the effort you put.

Bothidam - Bothu (Sembothu) + Idam (Left) - Sembothu going to your left
Paainthaal - dive, pounce
Maelthadam - Mael (Top, Above, More) + Thadam (Path, Tread, footprint) - Treading foot on the path
Vaiyaadhae - Vai means Keep, Vaiyaadhae - negation of Vai

People associate birds and animals to predict the happenings, these beliefs can neither totally be believed nor can be disregarded as superstition. But we have to accept that every life has to be respected and they all have the right to coexist and we cannot hunt them or their habitat leading to their extinction. Maybe, our forefathers thought that at least these spiritual association with the birds and animals could bring about some ecological balance.

Some fascinating pictures of the Garuda...

The majestic Garuda - Brahmini Kite

Sculpture of Garuda on a temple's gopuram

Front view of Garuda

Garuda in flight


Side view of the Garuda

More interesting things to come, until then...

King RajaRaja Cholan and his magnificent splendour

Some magnificent pictures of the great King and his work!!!

King RajaRaja Cholan

Spectacular view of King RajaRaja Cholan's magnificence

Another spectacular view of the temple

Entrance to the temple - The Gopuram

More to come, until then...

The Hidden Treasures in Tamil!!!

"To read between the lines" is a famous phrase used in English literature to infer something different from what is plainly indicated or to detect the real meaning as distinguished from the apparent meaning. Tamil has a wealth of such songs, information written by various poets saints etc., which I refer to as hidden treasures. These treasures have to be unearthed meticulously to get the great meaning inside them. Now lets jump into the treasure hunt. From this post onwards, I will try to post the text in Tamil too, to help the Tamil readers. The transliteration in English will continue as before. Well, now on to the first one,

"Kaanamal Konaamal Kandu Kodu
Aadu Kaana Pogudhu Paar Pogudhu Paar"

- Edaikaadar

On the first look, the meaning looks as if it means something with charity. We could derive plainly like this

Kaanamal - Without seeing
Konaamal - Without deviating, Without showing any grimace
Kandu - Seeing, Address
Kodu - Give
Aadu - Goat, Dance, Bathe
Kaana - On seeing
Pogudhu - Goes away
Paar - See

So clubbing it together, it might seem to be Without seeing the differences, Without deviating or showing grimace, address the needs of the poor and give them what you have and dance in merry then you will see your worries go away, go away

Nice try!!! However the actual meaning is not it. It is a song that relates to the way to worshipping the Sun at different times during the day. History tells that Sun has been worshipped as a God in many civilisations and being worshipped even to this day. Many slogams in Sanskrit especially the Aaditya Hridhayam is in praise of the Sun God. Well let's get back to the song, it means

"At dawn, the sun should be worshipped without seeing (Kaanamal), that is before He rises.
In the noon, without deviating (Konaamal), that is when He is right above your head.
And in the evening, seeing (Kandu), that is during sunset.
Then give (Kodu) your offerings.
Then Bathe (Aadu).
Then Realise and see the God in yourself (Kaana).
Then you can see your sins going way (Pogudhu Paar Pogudhu Paar)"

The next one might sound rather unacceptable in then normal case, but it is not actually, it conveys a greater meaning inside. Let's look at it now, it states three things that considered as purity or rather purest of the pure (Parisutham).

"Yechil Panniyadhu Parisutham
Erandhavanin Poravai Parisutham
Vaandhi Panniyadhu Parisutham"

- Anonymous

Paraphrasing the above song, would mean the following,

• Yechil (Saliva) Panniyadhu (being done) - The substance that has been mouthed by someone is purest of the pure
• Erandhanvan (Dead person) Porvai (Blanket) - The blanket covering a dead person is purest of the pure
• Vaandhi (Vomit) - The substance that has been vomitted is purest of the pure.

Totally unacceptable ain't it? However digging the treasure in the song, would reveal that it refers to three things that are considered sacred even though they have the above mentioned characteristics. The things are Milk, Silk and Honey.

Milk is normally milked from the cow after the calf has drunk some milk, not sure if this is the practice nowadays, but still in most places in India this is the practice. So the calf has mouthed the milk. But the milk that is obtained after the calf has mouthed it is considered sacred and even used in Poojas and when worshipping the Gods.

Silk is the blanket of the dead silk worm in its pupae stage. Silk is obtained by boiling the cocoon in hotwater and the silk threads being separated later by some process. So the blanket, of the silk worm that dies within the cocoon, is considered sacred and used to adorn the God statues and used by people in auspicious occasions.

Honey, is the what the bee regurgitates after processing the nectar from flowers with some enzyme in its mouth. Honey has medicinal value and used for sacred, auspicious event and as an offering to the Gods.

Very interesting and valuable treasure isn't it? There are many such treasure to be found in the upcoming blogs.

More to come, until then...

Interesting use of Pun in Tamil Literature

Pun, called Silaydai or Iratura Mozhidhal - in Tamil, is one of the interesting things that could be often found in Tamil Literature. One poet famous for composing songs and poems with pun is the famous Kaalamega Pulavar (refer to my previous blog on the Power of Aram). His style and elegance in the usage of pun is quite remarkable. He is even attributed with the name "Silaydai Pulavar". His songs contain the liberal use of pun. Let us see one example for it, the song goes like this

"Mukkaaluk Kesamun Munnaraiyil Veezhamun
Akkaalarai Kandu Anjamun Vikki
Irumamun Maakaanikku Yegamun Kachi
Orumaavin Keezharaiyin Rodhu"

At the first reading of this song, the meaning might reveal that he has used all the unit of measurements in Tamil - Mukkaal - three-quarters; Arai - Half; Kaalarai - one-eighth; Iruma - one-tenth; Maakaani - one-sixteenth; Oruma - one-twentieth; Keezharai - 1/640

But the actual meaning of the song is that, let me paraphrase it later -

"Before you need a third leg (your walking stick).
Before your hair grows white due to age.
Before you fear the Lord of death (The yama).
Before you hiccup and cough to your death at the end.
Before the great earth to give you a place.
Go and Worship the Lord Shiva in the name Kachiappar residing under a mango tree in the place called Keezharai"

Now, let me paraphrase the song. Mukkaal is a word formed by merging syllables of Moondru (Three) + Kaal (Leg). Yesa means begging, yearning, longing etc; so Mukkaalukku Yesamun - Before you yearn for three legs. Narai means whitening of hair due to old age. Mun - means front, before, Veezhamun mean before falling into, so Munnaraiyil Veezhamun - Before your hair falls into whitening phase due to old age. Kaalar - means The lord of death (Yama), kandu means found, see. Anja means fearing; so Ak-kaalarai kandu anjamun - Before you see/find Yama and fear. Vikki verb form of Vikkal - Hiccup, Iruma verb form of Irumal - Cough, so Vikki Irumamun - Before you hiccup and cough before death. Maakaani mean vast or big earth where kaani means earth, Yega means going onto, getting a place; So Maakaanikku Yegamun - Before you get a place for you on earth after death. Kachi Orumavin Keezharaiyin Rodhu - this requires quite an explanation Kachi means - Lord Shiva with the name Kachiappar, Oruma is a combination of Oru (One) + Ma (Mango Tree), Keezharai - a place in Tamil Nadu. Odhu means praise, enchant, worship. As a whole the combined meaning is as above.

It is quite amazing see such eloquence and adeptness of Kaalamega Pulavar. Many of his songs are like this, will post them in my later blogs. But he is not all, there are quite a few incidents that involve pun.

Once, when there was a gathering of all great poets during the Sangam age. On that occasion, the two famous poets, Avaiyar and Kambar met. During such events, normally there will be question/answer sessions, debates, and song compositions held. Being such an event, Kambar used that opportunity to denigrate Avaiyar, and asked a question

"Ore Kaaladi, Naalilai Pandhaladi"

Normally, Adi is used to address females in derogatory tone or among friends or elderly people calling women. So Kambar felt happy that he addressed the elderly poet Avaiyar, the then great female poet, as Adi though not directly. But what Kambar meant to ask as a question in the song was to identify a plant, called Aarai that has one foot but four leaves. The Vallarai (Indian Pennywort - Biological name Centella asiatica) a relative of the Aarai family that is now used as a natural memory power enhancer and rejuvenator.

Lets see the paraphrase below,

Ore Kaaladi -- Ore - One; Kaal - Foot; Adi - base, the lowest part, the surface beneath something. So it means - Thing having One Foot at the base.

Naalilai Pandhal Adi -- Naal - four; Ilai - Leaf, Pandhal - Tent having only the roof. So meaning, The four leaves forming a tent beneath.

So Avaiyar on hearing Kambar calling her derogatorily, fumed into fury and repeated with the similar pun answering his question

"Saetrilae Mulaithu Irukkum Aanaal
Kokku Nikka Udhavadhu Adhu
Yaman Yerum Vaaganamae Unnum
Nee Aaraiyada Sonnaai"

the first meaning, the plant that would grow in mud, but will not be helpful for the small storks to stand on it. Only the buffalos will eat that and you said the Aarai.

the second meaning, like the meanest of the species that grow in the mud, without helping anything to stand on it and only the slothful creature like the buffalo likes it. Having such qualities like the above, whom did you call derogatorily?

Also Ada, Dei means a derogatory tone or used among friends or by elders to address men

Aarai is also used as an interrogative pronoun - Who. And this formed an interesting incident, where Kambar got paid back through the same coin (The Pun) by Avaiyar.

Similarly there was another gathering of poets for a grand feast with the King, where one poet named Vemburaar (Person from the land of Neem) rushed in late to only find that he had no place in the feast. And the King remarked funnily at the poet with a pun.

"Vembukku Ingu Idam Illai"

first meaning, Vembu means Neem tree which is an indication of bitterness, has no place in this happy and august gathering.
And the other meaning, Vemburar does not have a seat in the feast as he arrived late.

Then the poet's eloquence and brilliance showed up, he went straight to the King's seat and just pushed the King a bit and sat in that place saying

"Vembu endrum Arasudanae Irukkum"

first meaning, Vemburar will always be beside the King.

And the other meaning Vembu - Neem, Arasu - Peepul tree. In Hindu tradition it is considered as auspicious and sacred to have the Peepul and Neem grow beside each other. Implicitly means that Vemburar being beside the King is sacred.

There are more such interesting events throughout Tamil Literature.

More to come. Until then...