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 |

Wealth is a flood that ebbs and flows - mantrA 172

srigurubhyO namahA |
   In the 172nd mantrA the sage goads us to cast aside our material desires and focus instead on gathering a higher and more subtle kind of spiritual wealth.

தேற்றத் தெளிமின் தெளிந்தீர் கலங்கன்மின்
ஆற்றுப் பெருக்கிற் கலக்கி மலக்காதே
மாற்றிக் களைவீர் மறுத்துங்கள் செல்வத்தைக்
கூற்றன் வருங்கால் குதிக்கலு மாமே. I.3.5.172

Weigh well the pros and cons, and having weighed, waver not,
Lose not your bearings, caught in wealth's eddy;
Fling aside the transient trappings of earthly treasures
And thus when the Pale Sargeant comes, for the great leap be ready. I.3.5.172

Com - Weigh well the pros and cons, Realise thoroughly the transitoriness of wealth after having examined the evidence for your self and become clear. and having weighed, waver not, and  having attained the clarity of mind to recognise the truth about material wealth fear no more and stay true to your awareness. Lose not your bearings, caught in wealth's eddy; Instead of being distracted by the dizzying rush of ever increasing waves of wealth, coming at you like flash floods after torrential rain Fling aside the transient trappings of earthly treasures cast aside your attachment for material riches, which are but transient, and focus your efforts instead towards the gathering and multiplying of higher spiritual wealth. And thus when the Pale Sargeant comes, for the great leap be ready. For if you do so, it might help to serve your cause someday when Death (who separates the body from the life force) arrives – it might serve as the tool to even transcend death!

*The term ‘Atru vellam’ is used in a measured way. Flash floods are not permanent. The water running in a great rush will soon dry up and the land is dry once again. Great wealth is also something similar. It is not perennial but is subject to ebb and decrease.  Through the agency of time or the state, the vast riches will someday reduce to ruin. The iconography of Lakshmi the goddess of wealth shown standing on a lotus situated in the wavy/choppy waters of the ocean is worth noting here. The term ‘mAttri kalaidhal’ refers to reversing the pattern – i.e. instead of pining for the lesser and transient material wealth one must seek instead the greater and ever lasting spiritual wealth. In the last line of the verse the siddar uses the term ‘kudhikkalumAmE’, which can be translated as ‘jumping over’ or ‘leaping beyond’. He indicates that it is even possible (for some select great souls, nevertheless) to jump over or transcend death/mortality when this greater spiritual wealth has been accumulated to a significant degree. The words ‘kUtran kudhitthalum kaikUdum’ of the sage thiruvalluvar conveys the similar meaning – it is even possible to transcend death.

thirucchitrambalam | 

The bee stores honey only to be appropriated by others; so is your hoarded wealth - mantrA 171

srigurubhyO namahA |
Hope all of you had a wonderful Deepavali ! It is perhaps a bit odd to be celebrating the goddess of wealth with plenty of feasting, sweets, lights and firecrackers on the one hand and trying to fix your mind on the fleeting nature of wealth on the other. Here we are with the 171st mantrA where the sage delivers the message with yet another original metaphor.

ஈட்டிய தேன்பூ மணங்கண் டிரதமும்
கூட்டிக் கொணர்ந்தொரு கொம்பிடை வைத்திடும்
ஓட்டித் துரந்திட்டு அதுவலி யார்கொளக்
காட்டிக் கொடுத்தது கைவிட்ட வாறே. I.3.4.171

The industrious bee from flower to flower hops,
Seeking, scenting, gathering its store of honey sweet;
But soon the subtle thief digs and steals the hoarded wealth;
Likewise, our earthly treasures the same story repeat. I.3.4.171

Com - The industrious bee from flower to flower hops,Seeking, scenting, gathering its store of honey sweet; After careful research and plenty of trips foraging the meadows and forests in search of choice blossoms rich in nectar, the hard working bee gathers the essences of the diverse flowers into a great horde of sweet honey in a hive somewhere. But soon the subtle thief digs and steals the hoarded wealth; Eventually however, someone who is more powerful (than the bee) will come and after chasing away the bee take away the entire horde for his own use. Likewise, our earthly treasures the same story repeat. In a similar way, our horde of material riches gathered through life will only serve to draw the attention of someone (to steal it).

*Through the example given above the sage highlights an important thought and makes us aware of the same phenomenon occurring in nature. Like how the bee after much painstaking effort gathers honey, only to be taken by force by someone more powerful in the end; our attempts at gathering material riches through life’s toil is futile. Not only that, it is also quite a dangerous thing to be doing! The trapper who harvests the wild honey will use smoke or other deterrents (thus causing grief to the bee) and through force take away the honey. The attention of the trapper was only drawn to the hive as it is effectively a large horde of honey in one place. Similarly, all the material wealth and riches accumulated by wasting one’s life in its pursuit will one day be taken away by someone more powerful. The attention of the thief (or the tax man!) will be drawn towards one due to the accumulated riches and one might even be physically harmed or killed as a result. If we read this mantra along with the previous couple, we can understand that not only is material wealth useless it is also the agent of harm and misery.

thirucchitrambalam|