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 |

The dance of Light particles - mantra 74

Sri gurubhyo namaha.

The second mantra in the section dealing with the history of Thirumular is also the seventy fourth mantra in the entire text when taken from the start. In this mantra the sage describes the subtle and esoteric practise where the dance of the light particles is seen and realised. This mantra could do with a lot more explanation - however, I am limited by the fact that many metaphors and words used to describe this process is beyond the scope of normal language and is to be understood by experience.

செப்புஞ் சிவாகமம் என்னும்அப் பேர்பெற்றும்

அப்படி நல்கும் அருள்நந்தி தாள்பெற்று

த்தப்பிலா மன்றில் தனிக்கூத்துக் கண்டபின்

ஒப்பிலா எழுகோடி யுகமிருந் தேனே. 2.5.74.

Witnessed Divine Dance

Flashed in my mind the mystic name of Sivagama;

Straight I rose to Arul Nandi's Holy Feet;

These eyes witnessed, enthralled,

The surpassing Dance in Holy Sabh;

Thus I lived and joyed for seven crore Yuga. 2.5.74.

Com – Flashed in my mind the mystic name of Sivagama I attained the competency to befittingly narrate the SivAgama, Straight I rose to Arul Nandi's Holy Feet I attained to the holy feet of my Guru, who bestowed on me the competency to befittingly narrate the SivAgama. These eyes witnessed, enthralled,The surpassing Dance in Holy Sabh After I witnessed the beautiful movement of the incomparable light particles in the pure and complete Akaashaa (ether) on the top of my head, Thus I lived and joyed for seven crore Yuga I remained with all the seven chakras radiantly manifest.

* The dance in the holy ground refers to the motion of the many light particles that are dancing in the Chidaakasha or the ether that is present on the top of the head. The seven chakras and the solar and lunar currents function in the body. The Solar digits (Surya kalai) which are twelve in number function by channelling energy from inside the body to the outside world. The Lunar digits (Chandra/ Soma kalai) which are sixteen in number function by channelling the energy from outside to the inside. Those who think and assume that they are just the body are not aware of these subtle energy centres. But those who are practise Siva yoga are aware of the movement of rays of light (energy) both around and inside the body, through which the inside and the outside merge into each other everyday at all times. It is the fact of awakening the seven chakras and aligning them through the rays of light mentioned above and thereby attaining the state of equilibrium of the inside and outside, that is meant by the words lived in light for seven crore yuga. [Particle physics, astronomy, astrology, yoga – all in the most beautiful poetry – is discussed in the above mantra]. Thus the author confesses that he remained merged in the light of the awakened chakras as a result of his witnessing (and realising) the movement of the light particles as mentioned above.