The Hindu : Miscellaneous / Religion : Poetry of devotion

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 12, 2005

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous - Religion

Poetry of devotion

CHENNAI, APRIL 12. A rich storehouse of faith, values of life, culture, tradition, mysticism and spiritual quest, Tamil devotional poetry has been kept alive by the line of saints who have sung in praise of the divine. Devotion for the divine has been the prime motivation and influence in the way of life of the many saints who have left distinctive footprints that posterity cherishes as sustenance for the here and now and for the future generations. Such saints have been able to commune with the Almighty, and have become instruments for spreading devotion, faith and love through their works. Each saint masters the works of his predecessors and contributes his own perception about spiritual aspirations and mystical experiences.

Amongst these there are many who have been drawn towards Lord Muruga, a favourite deity in the Hindu pantheon. One such saint is Saint Arunagirinathar who lived in the 15 century, and has sung the famous hymn Thiruppughazh, a string of verses in praise of Lord Muruga. During his lifetime he had visited the many hallowed shrines of Lord Muruga in Tamil Nadu and was inspired to sing beautiful verses, through the sheer grace and inspiration of the Lord. This saint poet shares the galaxy along with Lord Shiva and Sage Agasthya, for having had the privilege of being initiated into the Pranava Mantra by Lord Muruga himself, said Sri Mathivannan in his lecture on Thiruppughazh. It is claimed that Lord Shiva himself had listened with rapt attention when his son "taught" Him the Pranava Mantra, illustrating to the world that the child is the father of man.

This inspirational devotional poetry bears the creative grace of Lord Muruga whose traits and qualities constitute its subject matter. Its greatness is enhanced by the choice of diction, sound and sense combine, the rhythm, metre, simile, metaphor and other poetic devices. If the effortless rhythmic flow of the verses is a treat to the ear, the content, which is a repertoire of culture, faith, and of the values that matter in life, is a soothing panacea for the life's challenges. In addition, it is believed that these verses have an inherent spiritual force that can be evoked through devout utterance, for specific results. Each verse is a gem in its own merit, which when chanted with the knowledge of the meanings and inner essence, and with faith and sincerity, the spiritual efficacy becomes manifest. Such is the vibrant power of these verses.

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