The glorious beauty of the divine dance - mantrA 131.

srigurubhyO namahA |

The 131st mantrA of the thirumandiram is a well known one - it is one that often occurs in musical renditions of the thirumandiram, due to the imagery in the verse. The ruby like effulgence of siva tattvA and the emeraldine glow of the shakti tattvA are described here in stunning poetry.


மாணிக்கத் துள்ளே மரகதச் சோதியாய்

மாணிக்கத் துள்ளே மரகத மாடமாய்

ஆணிப்பொன் மன்றில் ஆடுந் திருக்கூத்தைப்
பேணித் தொழுதென்ன பேறுபெற் றாரே. I.1.19.131.

Inside the ruby like the emerald flaming
Inside the ruby like the emerald inset,
He dances the Holy Dance in the Sabha of purest gold
What oh the reward, to those who Him adored! I.1.19.131.

Com - Inside the ruby like the emerald flaming Like the emerald like green hue that shines within the brilliant ruby like red hue, Inside the ruby like the emerald inset, Like the emerald green hue which itself is the stage (sabhA) though it is within the ruby hue. He dances the Holy Dance in the Sabha of purest gold He (siva) dances His divine dance on such a stage/sabhA in the paramAkAshA (subtle ether) which is as pure as the purest gold. What oh the reward, to those who Him adored! Those siva yOgIs who have attained to the state (through worship and adoration and praise) of watching this spectacle, how can we even begin to describe the greatness of their reward for their practises? 

#  The term ‘Inside the ruby like the emerald flashing’ refers to an experience of the yOgi. After due practise, the yOgi is able to perceive a reddish hue on top of the crown of the head. And within this reddish colour, like a creeper that is twinning and coiling, there is a brilliant emerald like green hue. It is apt to know that the red colour refers to siva and the green colour indicates Shakti. It is also worth knowing that in the srividyA sampradAyA or tradition, white is the colour of siva and red is the colour of Shakti.

It is this greenish hue, i.e. this Shakti (and if you read this with the previous mantrA, this refers to the AtmA), that is the unique stage for the dance of the supreme siva. 

The thiruvAchagam in its kanda patthu (10^th song) refers to the same idea. ‘bhUdhangal aindhAgi pulanAgi porulAgi……..vilangudhilai kandEnE.’ Readers can compare the two verses to see that they speak of the same truth or principle.

Thus the siva yOgis, attain to the greatest state, one worth celebrating, as they raise to a place where they can enjoy witnessing the supreme dance of siva on the crown of their head. They are those in whom the opposing forces have reconciled to a beautiful unity. Those who can see the green light twinned with the red light – the equanimity of the siva and shakti tattvAs or sAmarasyA.

thirucchitrambalam |