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God’s emissaries

CHENNAI: The lives of the 63 Saiva Nayanmars chronicled by Sekkhizhar in the Periya Puranam demonstrate that they trod the path to Godhead with singular zeal. They hailed from various walks of life and belonged to different centuries but devotion was the common thread running through their lives. Tirujnanasambandhar, Thirunavukkarasar, Sundaramurthy Swamigal and Manikkavasagar are considered as the pillars of the Saiva faith and collectively known as the Nalvar; and the lives of the first three are documented in the Periya Puranam. It is apparent from their lives that they were not born in this world like others to work out their Karma but with the specific mission of accomplishing the Lord’s will. The Vedic tradition had become weak and the Nayanmars rejuvenated it by emphasising on devotion to God, which can be followed by one and all.

In his discourse, Sri R.Selvaganapathy said these saints did not tarry long in this world and left as soon as they received Lord Siva’s call which proved that they returned to Him after carrying out His will. To be born again and again in this world of bondage is the lot of the majority because in God’s dispensation every individual has to work out his Karma as the fruit of his good and bad deeds will not cancel one another and release him from bondage. These saints however, if at all they sought, wanted only the blessedness that results from eternal union with the Lord which puts an end to rebirths.

Each of these saints had a unique mission: one exalted the glory of God, another highlighted the greatness of His devotees, and yet another emphasised the role of the Guru in spiritual life. Tayumanavar stresses that it is essential to seek the guidance and grace of a Guru to realise God. No effort should be spared to find the Guru who will be instrumental in releasing the spiritual seeker from the throes of worldly sorrows. This begs the question: how does one find one’s Guru? Pilgrimage to sacred places is a sure way to come into contact with the God-realised because many of the sanctified shrines are associated with saints and mystics whose vibrations still continue to help those who seek their guidance in these places.

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