Writing on the waters - mantra 60

Sri gurubhyo namaha.

In this the sixtyth mantra of the Thirumandiram the sage opines that mere bookish learning of the Agamas will yield nothing - much like how the mere thinking about food does nothing to take away the hunger of one who is hungry. Instead one must attempt to internalise the truths echoed in the agamas and try to understand them personally through experience.

அண்ணல் அருளால் அருளுந்திவ் யாகமம்

விண்ணில் அமரர் தமக்கும் விளங்கரி

தெண்ணில் எழுபது கோடிநூ றாயிரம்

எண்ணிலும் நீர்மேல் எழுத்தது ஆகுமே. 4. 60.

Agamas Deep In Content

The Agamas, the Lord by Grace revealed,

Deep and baffling even to the Gods in Heaven;

Seventy billion-millions though they be;

Like writing on the waters, eluding grasp. 4. 60.

Com – The Agamas, the Lord by Grace revealed The Agamas, highly divine in nature, that have been revealed because of the compassion of the Lord Deep and baffling even to the Gods in Heaven prove to be beyond the grasp of even the immortals and the Devas residing in the heavens. Seventy billion-millions though they be When counted, they total to seventy crore and one hundred thousand. Like writing on the waters, eluding grasp It is but a waste of effort, much like writing on water, to just learn the Agamas, without having the experiential understanding of the truths that are spoken of in them.

* The total number seventy crore and one hundred thousand also refers to the number of granthas (verses) in the Agamas. As there are various opinions on the exact number of Agamas, there are also equally diverse opinions on the total number of granthas. The above mantra makes it very clear that just ‘book’ learning of the Agamas, without personal experience, is a futile exercise.