All your wealth cannot bribe death away - mantrA 176

srigurubhyO namahA |
Extending the remit of this short section detailing the transience of wealth, the sage gives the disciple the instruction to begin his spiritual quest 'right now'. There is no better time, and it is a matter of great urgency. One must wake up to truth!

உடம்போடு உயிரிடை விட்டோ டும் போது
அடும்பரிசு ஒன்றில்லை அண்ணலை எண்ணும்
விடும்பரி சாய்நின்ற மெய்ந்நமன் தூதர்
சுடும்பரி சத்தையுஞ் சூழகி லாரே. I.3.9.176

When the vital spark leaves this mortal mould,
Bribe be none to lure it back; think, think of the Lord;
Death's loyal servants on restless mission bent,
Do nothing consider that with hot breath you pulse. I.3.9.176

Com - When the vital spark leaves this mortal mould, when it is time for the life force to take leave of this mortal body Bribe be none to lure it back; there is nothing to be done that can avoid or overcome death. think, think of the Lord; (at the time of death) think, contemplate and recite the name of the Lord. Death's loyal servants on restless mission bent, For the true and loyal messengers of Death are fixed on only one prize – that of separating the soul and the body. Do nothing consider that with hot breath you pulse. Hence they are not intent on the prize of tormenting or causing anguish and pain.

*In the last mantra of this sub section, the sage gives us some last resort instructions! When it is time for one to die, there is nothing that can be done to prevent it. One’s wealth and power etc or learning, one’s family and children etc are not capable of stopping the messengers of death from carrying out their mission – which is separating the soul from the body. If one has been ignorant of the supreme reality all through life and has spent it in the pursuit of riches and sensory pleasures, then it is too late (at the time of death) for commencing yOgic sAdhanA to defeat death. Thus for the ‘average’ layperson with no spiritual path, his advice is to face death with the name of the Lord on his lips and His thoughts fixed in the mind. The last line of the verse suggests that it is only the contemplation of siva at the time of death that will help one overcome at least the pain and trauma of death. This is perhaps the next best thing to overcoming death. At least this will enable the jIvA to die with dignity and the focus of the mind on the supreme principle will orient the passing soul to a future life which might be more conducive to realising the supreme.

thirucchitrambalam |

Worldly desires are never ending - mantrA 175

srigurubhyO namahA |
The 175th mantrA reveals more on the topic in discussion while speaking of the many ways through which the life force can be destroyed the sage reminds us that there is but one path to reverse this tide.

வேட்கை மிகுத்தது மெய்கொள்வார் இங்கிலை
பூட்டுந் தறியொன்று போம்வழி ஒன்பது
நாட்டிய தாய்தமர் வந்து வணங்கிப்பின்
காட்டிக் கொடுத்தவர் கைவிட்ட வாறே. I.3.8.175

Our desires grow, but none the truth to find;
There's one stake to hold but nine exits to leave;
The old familiar faces come smiling to greet and bow;
Deceivers ever, they abandon us without a reprieve. I.3.8.175

Com - Our desires grow, Caught in the worldly life our desires and needs keep constantly increasing but none the truth to find; while (being so enamoured by the world) there are none here who can realise the supreme truth, the one eternal principle. There's one stake to hold in order to preserve this otherwise mortal body, there is but the one path of sushumnA but nine exits to leave;while there are nine paths through which this body can meet its ruin (i.e. death). The old familiar faces come smiling to greet and bow; One’s mother and relatives who have together created the framework of attachment and relationships will come and pay their respects (at death) Deceivers ever, they abandon us without a reprieve. After which they take one to the cremation ground and leave to get back to their own lives.

*The term ‘pUttum thari’ or central stake refers to the sushumnA nAdi. As mentioned before, the aim of the yOgi is to conduct the life force or prAnA through this central channel instead of it continuing its natural flow through the solar and lunar nAdis (idA and pingalA). When the prAnA is made to flow through the sushumnA it is possible to keep this physical body alive for an extraordinary length of time – this is what is indicated by the words there is only one stake to ‘hold’ the life force in the body, i.e. to preserve it here. The nine exits through which it leaves are the nine openings (described in a previous mantrA) or the nava dwArAs through which the life force leaves this body during death. Thus it transpires that there are plenty of methods or paths through which this life is destroyed but only one path through which it’s natural tendency to perish can be reversed. Through the last two lines of the verse the sage opines that one’s devotion to the supreme truth is definitely more capable of delivering one to the state of unbroken happiness than reliance one’s relatives and family. 

thirucchitrambalam |

Earthly treasures are fleeting - mantrA 174

srigurubhyO namahA |

The 174th mantrA alludes to  nAda yOgA.

வாழ்வும் மனைவியும் மக்கள் உடன்பிறந்
தாரும் அளவு ஏது எமக்கென்பர் ஒண்பொருள்
மேவும் அதனை விரிவுசெய் வார்கட்குக்
கூவும் துணையொன்று கூடலு மாமே. I.3.7.174

"Joys of life and wife, children and brothers--all ours," they claim
Little knowing how fragile and fleeting these delights be;
But the yearning souls that seek and build on treasure true,
Find support firm and ne'er failing company. I.3.7.174

Com - "Joys of life and wife, children and brothers--all ours," they claim Little knowing how fragile and fleeting these delights be; Those things that are in reality of absolutely no use to the self (but are of use to what we call life), like houses and riches, wife, children and siblings we keep on accumulating to dizzying heights and attaching ourselves to them as if they are ours. But the yearning souls that seek and build on treasure true, but there are those wiser souls, who forsaking these fragile pleasures seek the true wealth (i.e. light) by cultivating steady meditation on siva, and they ‘call out’ to Him.Find support firm and ne'er failing company. And through this process they are able to unite with the supreme lord who ‘calls back’ and attain salvation.

*The Tamil word ‘kUvum’ refers to calling and here indicates the fact that the supreme is attained through nAdA – nAdabraHmam. When the aspirant has forsaken the pursuit of the lesser (material) pleasures, the clamour of the steady sensory stimuli and its effect on the mind is steadily controlled and this inner ‘silence’ is the space in which the communion with the supreme transpires. The nAdA occurring in the anAhatA will gain in intensity and gradually manifest as a physical ‘sensation’ with steady practise. The sage advices that it is wiser to spend one’s short and dreamlike life in the pursuit of this higher end as it is something that will enable one to face death (at any rate) and might even be the agency through which one could transcend death.

thirucchitrambalam |

Wealth is a boat in dangerous waters - mantrA 173

srigurubhyO namahA |
In the 173rd mantrA the sage makes a veiled reference to vajroli sAdhanA or the practise of the conservation of the male sexual fluid to increase longevity and spiritual growth.

மகிழ்கின்ற செல்வமும் மாடும் உடனே
கவிழ்கின்ற நீர்மிசைச் செல்லும் கலம்போல்
அவிழ்கின்ற ஆக்கைக்கோர் வீடுபே றாகச்
சிமிழொன்று வைத்தமை தேர்ந்தறி யாரே. I.3.6.173

How fast we cling to stock of cattle and riches gay
Less stable even than the boat which midstream upturns!
They but see the dissolving body and know not
The Binding Knot to salvation eternal. I.3.6.173

Com - How fast we cling to stock of cattle and riches gay the two kinds of material wealth; that which has been inherited from ones ancestors and that which has been earned through one’s own efforts, which we take such enjoyment from Less stable even than the boat which midstream upturns! Are akin to the boat that topples midstream when up against the current (i.e.unstable and unreliable). They but see the dissolving body though we see very clearly that this body is perishable and life is short The Binding Knot to salvation eternal. We do not take the necessary steps to conserve the higher wealth we possess body and know not and thus do not know the method to attain immortality.

*This mantra though primarily aimed at pointing out the unreliability of material riches, contains another veiled reference to vajroli or the method to conserve the semen. This is a central theme in the siddha tradition and there are entire manuals devoted to the various components of the practise. Though it will be beyond the scope to explain the practise details here, it might be of interest to the serious reader to know something of what is being said here. The word ‘simizh pOl’ in the last line refers to saving, conservation etc. It is also suggestive of a jewel box/ treasure chest etc. The sage advices the sincere seeker to give up his pursuit of mere material riches, for they are unreliable and would lead us to difficulty. Instead we must learn to cultivate and conserve the real wealth – i.e. the life force which is equated physically to the sexual energy and semen. If this physical semen was conserved and the necessary yOgic practises followed, then it is possible that this bodily fluid can be transmuted into a quasi energetic field. In the brain, there is a region which is symbolised by a small jewel box. This box is normally said to be closed (i.e. these powers are latent) and through the conservation of the semen it is possible to unlock this box. When opened it is said to contain wonderous and brilliant gems, whose raiant effulgence will transform the semen into light. The sthUla vindhu/ shuklam is transformed into para vindhu /shuklam. This light semen is again assimilated into the physical body, which transforms the gross body into a super natural body – one that is capable of ‘jumping over’ even death!

thirucchitrambalam |