Churning the ocean of milk - mantra 41

Sri gurubhyo namaha.

The forty first mantra of the Thirumandiram. The sage here hints at the yogic process through which the loss of sperm is prevented with the aim to gather the energies which then yield the Oli mandalam or the sphere of light, which eventually produces/ reveals the Nada. Reference is made here to the story of the churning of the ocean of milk by the devas and asuras to obtain Amrita or the nectar of immortality.

சினஞ்செய்த நஞ்சுண்ட தேவர் பிரானைப்

புனஞ்செய்த நெஞ்சிடை போற்றவல் லார்க்குக்

கனஞ்செய்த வாள்நுதல் பாகனும் அங்கே

இனஞ்செய்த மான்போல் இணங்கிநின் றானே.41.

In Depths Of Devotee's Heart

To them He comes, who, in heart's deep confines

Treasure His Name,

The Lord who consumed the deathly poison of hatred born,

Consorting with Her of the gleaming brow,

Conjoint, like the pairing deer in amity sweet. 41.

Com – The Lord who consumed the deathly poison of hatred born The Mahadeva (Siva) who came to the aid of the world by swallowing the deadly poison (Halahala) which arose as a result of the Devas and Asuras churning the ocean of milk, To them He comes, who, in heart's deep confines Treasure His Name, should be held close to the heart (of the devotee) which has been purified much like the farmer would clear the land (by tilling) prior to cultivation. Consorting with Her of the gleaming brow Then the Lord who has Uma, the one of the radiant forehead, for one half of his body, Conjoint, like the pairing deer in amity sweet remains united, in the heart of the devotee, much like the stag who unites with the doe (in rut).

* ‘The Lord who consumed the deadly poison ‘ – the word poison refers here to the loss of sperm (by ejaculation). Siva is the one who revealed the method to stop the above mentioned loss of sperm (by the practise of celibacy), this is referred to by the name ‘the Lord who consumed the deadly poison’. When the loss of sperm is prevented and it is concentrated (gathered) the Light mandalam (sphere) is revealed. The next stage is the revelation of Nada (sound), this is a result of the concentration of sperm.