In the previous two blogs we saw Adi Sankaracharya bringing out the locational significance about the place Thiruchendur, a panchayat town located at the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal, in the Thoothukudi (Tuticorin) district of Tamil Nadu and then moving over to the description of the principal deity Lord Subramanya, focusing on harnessing the organs with the power of God.
In the blogs to follow, Sri Sankara starts his Prayers of the deity. First he focuses on the Lord, then submits his personal difficulties and issues and finally seeks His grace and compassion.
Let us go through the first set of his prayers that focuses on the Lord.
Verse 17
स्फुरद्रत्नकेयूरहाराभिरामः
चलत्कुण्डलश्रीलसद्गण्डभागः ।
कटौ पीतवास करे चारुशक्ति
पुरस्तान्ममास्तां पुरारेस्तनूज ॥१७॥
Sphurad-Ratna-Keyuura-Haara-Abhiraamah
Calat-Kunnddala-Shrii-Lasad-Ganndda-Bhaagah |
Kattau Piita-Vaasa Kare Caaru-Shakti
Purastaan-Mamaas-Taam Puraares-Tanuuja ||
ஒளி மிகு ரத்தினக் காப்பணிந்து எழில் மிகு முத்து மாலையுடன்
Verses 8-16 provides the description of the Lord Subramanya’s beautiful form “Paadaadikesam” (from his feet to his crown). Very often, as a novice I wonder as to why in most of the Slokas (Verses) about the Hindu Gods, a section is devoted to describe the form of the God in His/Her full splendor. Perhaps it signifies that the five action and five sense organs of human beings are directly related to the five elements of Nature and it is the bounden duty of the human being to identify & tune his senses and actions with Nature. But one common thread that I see in these Slokas is the unequivocal “affectionate mental disposition and purity of thoughts, a “sine qua non” for Devotion. Here is Sankara’ description of Karthikeya.
Verse 8
लसत्स्वर्णगेहे नृणां कामदोहे
सुमस्तोमसंछत्रमाणिक्यमञ्चे ।
समुद्यत्सहस्रार्कतुल्यप्रकाशं
सदा भावये कार्तिकेयं सुरेशम् ॥८॥
Lasat-Svarnna-Gehe Nrnnaam Kaama-Dohe
Suma-Stoma-Samchatra-Maannikya-Man.ce |
Sam-Udyat-Sahasra-Arka-Tulya-Prakaasham
Sadaa Bhaavaye Kaartikeyam Sure[a-Ii]sham ||8||
பொலிக்கும் தங்க உறைவினிலே நிறையும் அன்பர்க்கருள்புரியோனே
Aadi Sankaracharya the proponent of the Advaitha (Advaitha – not two in the literal meaning) philosophy, encouraged people to follow the route of Devotion (Bhakti) to the Lord for salvation by writing several Slokas about Hindu Gods.
In his work “ Sivananda Lahari”, Adi Sankara defines Devotion (Bhakti) in several Verses quoting examples of both Advaitha and Dwaitha philosophy (bhava). Pl ref Verse 61 in my earlier blog wherein Sri Sankara brings out the relationship between the Ankola tree & its seeds, the Magnet & iron particles as the “Dwaitha Bhava” approach and the example of river & sea as the “Advaitha Bhava” approach to Devotion (Bhakti). He also reiterated that ““Affectionate mental disposition and the purity of the devotion is the key” to salvation by quoting example of the actions of a hunter as an ardent devotee in Verse 63 of Sivananda Lahari
Sri Subramanya Bhujangam is a classic example of that affectionate mental disposition and purity wherein Sri Sankara was drawn to the abode of Lord Subramanya in the coastal village of Tiruchendur in Tamil Nadu & comes out with brilliant smooth flowing verses like the serpentine moves.
Let us examine the Verses
Verse 2
न जानामि शब्दं न जानामि चार्थं
न जानामि पद्यं न जानामि गद्यम् ।
चिदेका षडास्या हृदि द्योतते मे
मुखान्निःसरन्ते गिरश्चापि चित्रम् ॥२॥
Na Jaanaami Shabdam Na Jaanaami Ca-Artham
Na Jaanaami Padyam Na Jaanaami Gadyam |
Cid-Ekaa Ssaddaasyaa Hrdi Dyota-Te Me
Mukhaan-Nihsarante Girash-Ca-Api Citram ||
சொல் அறியேன் உட்பொருள் அறியேன்
கவி அறியேன் உரைநடையறியேன் – என்
உள்ளமுறை இதயத்தில் ஆறுமுகம் கண்டேனாதலால்
சொற்பல உதிர்த்திட்டேன் வாய்வழியாய் !
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Verse 3
मयूराधिरूढं महावाक्यगूढं
मनोहारिदेहं महच्चित्तगेहम् ।
महीदेवदेवं महावेदभावं
महादेवबालं भजे लोकपालम् ॥३॥
Mayuura-Adhiruuddham Mahaa-Vaakya-Guuddham
Manohaari-Deham Mahac-Citta-Geham |
Mahii-Deva-Devam Mahaa-Veda-Bhaavam
Mahaa-Deva-Baalam Bhaje Loka-Paalam ||
மயில் வாகனமேறி உயர்வாக்கின் உட்பொருளாகி
அழகுடல் கொண்டு அடியோரின் உளம் உறைந்து
அமரர்தம் தலையாகி ஆதிநூட்களின் உணர்வாகி
உமையோனின் மகனாகி உலகோரைக் காப்போனே
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Verse 4
यदा संनिधानं गता मानवा मे
भवाम्भोधिपारं गतास्ते तदैव ।
इति व्यञ्जयन्सिन्धुतीरे य आस्ते
तमीडे पवित्रं पराशक्तिपुत्रम् ॥४॥
Yadaa Samnidhaanam Gataa Maanavaa Me
Bhava-Ambhodhi-Paaram Gataas-Te Tadai[a-E]va |
Iti Vyan.jayan-Sindhu-Tiire Ya Aaste
Tam-Iidde Pavitram Paraashakti-Putram ||
உன்னடி பணிந்தோர் கடந்தனர் பிறவிப் பெருங்கடல் எனும் உண்மையை
Prabhu's Ponder 