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Communion with God

CHENNAI : The lives of saints and mystics who lived in communion with God exemplify that only they were conscious of the raison d'être of human existence because even though the vast majority of people seem to lead productive lives they are blind to their spiritual nature. Hence it is common in the spiritual tradition to find the names of mystics like Bhutatazhwar and Peyazhwar pointing to the exalted state in which they communed with God, without any consciousness about the world. It may not be possible for laypeople to reach such spiritual heights but effort must be made to aspire for liberation by overcoming worldly attractions.

In his discourse, Nagai Sri Mukundan said if a seeker held onto God with devotion sensory attractions of the world would drop off on their own accord. The Azhwars have shown the easy way to devotion through chanting the Divine names. Bhutatazhwar says in his hymn Irandam Tirivandadi, "Knowing through revelations, if we chant Narayana and His many other names in His many shrines, will not our worship secure for us a place by His side in the comity of gods in heaven?"

This also gives insight into the fact that spiritual knowledge is possible only through divine grace, which can be elicited by chanting God's names. Besides, the Divine name wipes out man's Karma accrued in myriad births thus making him eligible for liberation from bondage. Like a spark of fire reducing a mountain of cotton to ashes in no time, the potency of the Divine name is such that it can counteract all the Karma and sins of man. Andal in the Tiruppavai says, "If we come pure and strew fresh flowers with songs on our lips and feeling in our hearts, and offer praise with joined hands to our Lord Damodara... then He will forgive our past misdeeds and even what remains will disappear like cotton unto fire. So come, let us praise Him!"

Another important insight a devotee can get from the hymns of the Azhwars is their intense spiritual experiences, which explain many nuances of spiritual life firsthand. Hanuman rightly surmised that he was in the presence of God when he met Rama for the first time for his whole being melted in ecstasy. Pey Azhwar while describing the vision he had of the Lord identifies Him as the one indwelling in his heart also.

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