Miscellaneous - Religion   

Experience of the divine

CHENNAI : Tamil devotional literature has influenced and inspired the life, tradition and culture of millions in South India for the past few thousands of years.

The foundational scriptures of Saivism are the contributions of Saivaite seers and Yoga Siddhars who have tread the inner path of devotion. Through their severe penance and Jnana they realised the truth of existence, reality, the cause of creation and the power of the creator, the nature of human bondage, and the means of liberation. As realised souls they saw Lord Siva in all aspects of creation and remained untainted by worldly impurities. They exemplified absolute humility since they were completely free of the feeling of I and Mine.

There are two types of spiritual texts — the learned philosophical treatises (Sastras) that appeal to the intelligence with the nuances and subtleties of logic, etc. while explaining the experience of the divine and the fervent devotional hymns (Stotras) that explain through mystic teaching and spiritual vision the omniscience, omnipresence and omnipotence of the Supreme Being available to the spiritual aspirant in search of the ultimate truth.

Sri T. V. Venkataraman pointed out in a lecture on Tirumandiram that in reality there are no watertight distinctions between these since both categories convey the devout experience and are authentic expressions of devotion.

The Tirumandiram of Saint Tirumoolar is a valuable text that has fostered Tamil language and culture while establishing the essence of Saiva Siddhanta. This esoteric text is a storehouse of eternal values where the ultimate truths of the primordial being and of the soul are illumined by the light of reason and moral intuition.

Every Jivatma symbolises the bringing together of life and body. It is through this union that experience of God is possible.

The Jivatma gains the ability to experience only with the help of the body, and the latter becomes sentient because it is activated by the consciousness. Both have to work together for mutual benefit so that the Jivatma can attain God realisation.

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