The Hindu : Miscellaneous / Religion : Mystic par excellence

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Friday, Jun 25, 2004

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous - Religion

Mystic par excellence

CHENNAI, JUNE 25. The hagiography of the apostles of God has an enduring value. They are deputed by the Lord in His infinite kindness to lead mankind out of the tunnel of ignorance. They establish a virtuous way of life transcending the numerous contradictions, trials and tribulations of life.

These divine men exuded the love of God in a manner that can be easily replicated by all aspirants.

One such leading luminary was Manickavachagar, one of the illustrious Saivite Nayanmars of Tamil Nadu.

In his lecture on the saint's puja day (June 23), Sri C.V. Sadanandan said that Manickavachagar was a mystic par excellence, thoroughly aware of the divinity behind all objects of the world. To him, the universe is a divine manifestation, not a vale of agony or suffering.

A scholar, he was a Minister of the Pandya king, yet he was tuned towards God, even while carrying out worldly duties.

On one occasion, when the king deputed Manickavachagar to purchase horses, he spent the money on devotional work; an enraged king demanded how the money was spent. Lord Siva dispatched wolves which turned into horses. His dine outpourings are codified as `Thiruvachagam.'

The spiritual lore is broadly classified into three categories — first is the Bhagavad Gita where God directly discourses to man, next are the works of saints such as Thiruvalluvar. Thiruvachagam belongs to a third category which is from man to God. It is said that Lord Nataraja was so pleased with the saint's hymns that He made him recite the same again. The highest and purest human expression of divine grace. Thiruvachagam transcends many other works.

When votaries requested him to explain the text, he pointed to the Lord as its meaning and merged with Him. In his last hymn ``Achcho Pathigam'' the saint mentions that the pathway to God is the pathway of love, reiterating the bhakti cult of worship.

Treatises on the work have hailed the classic as a purifying agent, verily like honey which cleanses the body, ridding the soul of the impurities and helping to overcome the allurements of the fleeting world.

It guides the soul to transcend the layers of ignorance. The work contains hymns full of devotion and philosophic content evocative of the Upanishads.

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