Rao Saheb. K. Kothandapani Pillai continues.
None of the four great saints of Tamil Nadu dropped their bodies on the earth nor was buried or burnt. They bodily vanished into the ether or into the Lord Divine. Thirugnanasambandar vanished into the divine light which shone forth at the time of his marriage. Appar merged bodily with the Lord absolute at Pugalur. Sundarar merged with the Lord of Mt.Kailash and Manickavasagar vanished into the ether of Siva Veli at Thillai.
Srinivasan writes of Manickavasagar’s transformation in the eyes of Ramalinga Adigal.
The Swami says that Saint Manickavasagar had achieved the transformation in the human frame first into Anburuvam or body of love, then into Aruluruvam or body of grace and then finally into Inburuvam or body of ecstasy, that is, the body of the God Supreme.
Just as water transforms from liquid to gas to vapour, to ether, the mortal frame is transformed slowly first into a siddha degam or perfected body, which is the body of the siddhas. Solely relying on our efforts might not produce the expected results. This attempt to achieve a perfected body is only possible by the grace of god. Agathiyar tells me that my initial efforts towards reaching him failed due to my past karma standing in my way as obstacles, preventing me from achieving the fruits of my efforts and good actions. Once the veil or curtain is removed or drawn aside by the grace of Erai, our efforts become fruitful.
The veil can only be removed by spiritual communion and devotion to Erai. Hence when asked to come to the path of the siddhas, the very first thing we are told to do is to chant the names of the siddhas. Through recitation of their names a bridge is formed connecting the divine realm with us. A conduit or channel is opened up for the divine energy to flow within us, removing all the blockages in the chakras as it travels within. Their energy is made accessible to us flowing unobstructed.
With and when devotion leads to sheer love for the divine without expectations. the heart then begins to melt and love for all arises. Compassion seeps in. The body is slowly perfected without our effort but through the divine hand. Matter becomes less prominent while the energies increase. The suddha degam or perfected body slowly evolves into the body of grace and light or pranava deham and finally into a jnana deham or body of wisdom.
Just as an herb has to be purified before it can work effectively in healing an illness, the impure elements that constitute the impure body, by reason of the body made of the five elements, need to be converted into pure elements first.
Hence the reason for one to take a vegetarian based meals. A siddha in the making has to be purged off all the impurities including the meat that he/she had consumed for ages that has become her muscle, bone, marrow, blood and tissue.
Rao Saheb. K. Kothandapani Pillai writes that Ramalinga Adigal, “desired to be blessed with a body which should not be destroyed by the five great elements of Nature such as wind, earth, space, fire and water, the firmament headed by the sun, the god of death, the diseases, the murdering weapons, the planets, the evil deeds resorted to for killing, or by any other means and it was at once sanctioned to him.”
கனலாலே புனலாலே கதிராதி யாலே
கூற்றாலே பிணியாலே கொலைக்கருவி யாலே
கோளாலே பிறஇயற்றும் கொடுஞ்செயல்க ளாலே
வேற்றாலே எஞ்ஞான்றும் அழியாதே விளங்கும்
மெய்அளிக்க வேண்டுமென்றேன் விரைந்தளித்தான் எனக்கே
ஏற்றாலே இழிவெனநீர் நினையாதீர் உலகீர்
எந்தைஅருட் பெருஞ்ஜோதி இறைவனைச்சார் வீரே.
Listen at http://www.thiruarutpa.org/thirumurai/v/T360/tm/thanith_thirualangkal
The divine once infused in him alchemized his body.
A typical cloud-to-ground lightning bolt begins when a step-like series of negative charges, called a stepped leader, races downward from the bottom of a storm cloud toward the Earth along a channel at about 300,000 kph. Each of these segments is about 46 meters long. When the lowermost step comes within 46 meters of a positively charged object, it is met by a climbing surge of positive electricity, called a streamer, which can rise up through a building, a tree, or even a person. When the two connect, an electrical current flows as negative charges fly down the channel towards earth and a visible flash of lightning streaks upward at some 300,000,000 kph, transferring electricity as lightning in the process.
(Source : https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/natural-disasters/lightning/)
Just as it is found that when the lightning strikes the earth a streamer arises from the ground to meet it, with Erai’s enormous mercy and grace showering on us and the little compassion that has risen in our hearts, when these two meet there blossoms a shower of divine energy that readily begins the transformation in us.
As the Nayanmars served Siva through serving his servants, Srinivasan too mentions the same.
The secret satisfaction of serving God by serving the multitude of living organisms in which God is manifested and ardent prayers for the mercy of God lead the aspirant into universal spiritual communion.
Then there is always the thought of Erai day and night. The external mantra becomes internal. The external worship goes within. Then it takes place even when we are asleep. The divine that sustains us in this physical body begins to transform it working from within.
Srinivasan writes,
This practice of thinking of God always and incessantly and praying for His Grace assiduously and affectionately kindles soothing warmth in the body of the aspirant. Without knowing this secret, sages and seers of lore underwent severe penance and meditated for hundreds of years just to gain this warmth . Now when the universal spiritual communion and the sacred warmth grow more and more, the body and the soul of the aspirant are well prepared to receive the Grace of God. In the melting mood and in the emotional feeling of love for God, the grace of God Supreme descends in the form of light.
Rao Saheb. K. Kothandapani Pillai writes,
The Divine rays of Grace penetrate into the eyes, the mind and the intellect of the lovable individual and ignite not only with his melting compassionate feeling which has reached the saturation point but with the tremendous warmth developed out of his love for God.ஆடேடி பந்து
1. ஆடேடி பந்து ஆடேடி பந்து
ஆடேடி பந்து ஆடேடி பந்து.
2. வாழிஎன் தோழிஎன் வார்த்தைகேள் என்றும்
மரணமில் லாவரம் நான்பெற்றுக் கொண்டேன்
சூழியற் செஞ்சுடர் தோற்றுறு கீழ்பால்
தூய்த்திசை நோக்கினேன் சீர்த்திகழ் சித்தி
ஊழிதோ றூழிநின் றாடுவன் நீயும்
உன்னுதி யேல்இங்கே மன்னரு ளாணை
ஆழி கரத்தணிந் தாடேடி பந்து
அருட்பெருஞ் சோதிகண் டாடேடி பந்து. ஆடேடி
3. இசையாமல் போனவர் எல்லாரும் நாண
இறவாப் பெருவரம் யான்பெற்றுக் கொண்டேன்
வசையாதும் இல்லாத மேற்றிசை நோக்கி
வந்தேன்என் தோழிநீ வாழிகாண் வேறு
நசையாதே என்னுடை நண்பது வேண்டில்
நன்மார்க்க மாம்சுத்த சன்மார்க்கம் தன்னில்
அசையாமல் நின்றங்கே ஆடேடி பந்து
அருட்பெருஞ் சோதிகண் டாடேடி பந்து. ஆடேடி
4. இன்பாலே உலகத்தார் எல்லாரும் காண
இறவாப் பெருவரம் யான்பெற்றுக் கொண்டேன்
தென்பாலே நோக்கினேன் சித்தாடு கின்ற
திருநாள் இதுதொட்டுச் சேர்ந்தது தோழி
துன்பாலே அசைந்தது நீக்கிஎன் னோடே
சுத்தசன் மார்க்கத்தில் ஒத்தவ ளாகி
அன்பாலே அறிவாலே ஆடேடி பந்து
அருட்பெருஞ் சோதிகண் டாடேடி பந்து. ஆடேடி
5. சதுமறை335 ஆகம சாத்திரம் எல்லாம்
சந்தைப் படிப்புநம் சொந்தப் படிப்போ
விதுநெறி சுத்தசன் மார்க்கத்தில் சாகா
வித்தையைக் கற்றனன் உத்தரம் எனுமோர்
பொதுவளர் திசைநோக்கி வந்தனன் என்றும்
பொன்றாமை வேண்டிடில் என்தோழி நீதான்
அதுஇது என்னாமல் ஆடேடி பந்து
அருட்பெருஞ் சோதிகண் டாடேடி பந்து. ஆடேடி
6. தப்பாலே சகத்தவர் சாவே துணிந்தார்
தாமுளம் நாணநான் சாதலைத் தவிர்த்தே
எப்பாலும் எக்காலும் இருத்தலே பெற்றேன்
என்தோழி வாழிநீ என்னொடு கூடி
துப்பாலே விளங்கிய சுத்தசன் மார்க்கச்
சோதிஎன் றோதிய வீதியை விட்டே
அப்பாலே போகாமல் ஆடேடி பந்து
அருட்பெருஞ் சோதிகண் டாடேடி பந்து. ஆடேடி
7. வெங்கேத மரணத்தை விடுவித்து விட்டேன்
விச்சைஎ லாம்கற்றென் இச்சையின் வண்ணம்
எங்கேயும் ஆடுதற் கெய்தினேன் தோழி
என்மொழி சத்தியம் என்னோடும் கூடி
இங்கே களிப்பது நன்றிந்த உலகோ
ஏதக் குழியில் இழுக்கும் அதனால்
அங்கேபா ராதேநீ ஆடேடி பந்து
அருட்பெருஞ் சோதிகண் டாடேடி பந்து. ஆடேடி
8. சிவமே பொருள்என் றறிவால் அறிந்தேன்
செத்தாரை மீட்கின்ற திண்மையைப் பெற்றேன்
உவமேயம் இல்லாத ஒருநிலை தன்னில்
ஒன்றிரண் டென்னாத உண்மையில் நின்றேன்
தவமே புரிகின்றார் எல்லாரும் காணத்
தயவால் அழைக்கின்றேன் கயவாதே தோழி
அவமேபோ காதென்னோ டாடேடி பந்து
அருட்பெருஞ் சோதிகண் டாடேடி பந்து. ஆடேடி
9. துஞ்சாத நிலைஒன்று சுத்தசன் மார்க்கச்
சூழலில் உண்டது சொல்லள வன்றே
எஞ்சாத அருளாலே யான்பெற்றுக் கொண்டேன்
இறந்தாரை எல்லாம் எழுப்புதல் வல்லேன்
விஞ்சாத அறிவாலே தோழிநீ இங்கே
வேதுசெய் மரணத்துக் கெதுசெய்வோ மென்றே
அஞ்சாமல் என்னோடே ஆடேடி பந்து
அருட்பெருஞ் சோதிகண் டாடேடி பந்து. ஆடேடி
10. ஈரமும் அன்பும்கொண் டின்னருள் பெற்றேன்
என்மார்க்கம் இறவாத சன்மார்க்கம் தோழி
காரமும் மிகுபுளிச் சாரமும் துவர்ப்பும்
கைப்போடே உப்போடே கசப்போடே கூட்டி
ஊரமு துண்டுநீ ஒழியாதே அந்தோ
ஊழிதோ றூழியும் உலவாமை நல்கும்
ஆரமு துண்டென்னோ டாடேடி பந்து
அருட்பெருஞ் சோதிகண் டாடேடி பந்து. ஆடேடி
11. துதிசெயும் முத்தரும் சித்தரும் காணச்
சுத்தசன் மார்க்கத்தில் உத்தம ஞானப்
பதிசெயும் சித்திகள் பற்பல வாகப்
பாரிடை வானிடைப் பற்பல காலம்
விதிசெயப் பெற்றனன் இன்றுதொட் டென்றும்
மெய்யருட் சோதியால் விளைவிப்பன் நீஅவ்
அதிசயம் பார்க்கலாம் ஆடேடி பந்து
அருட்பெருஞ் சோதிகண் டாடேடி பந்து. ஆடேடி
ஆடேடி பந்து ஆடேடி பந்து
அருட்பெருஞ் சோதிகண் டாடேடி பந்து.
12. பூவாம லேநிதம் காய்த்த இடத்தும்
பூவார் மலர்கொண்டு பந்தாடா நின்றேன்
சாவா வரம்தந்து வாழ்வாயோ பந்தே
சாவாமல் என்னொடு வீழ்வாயோ பந்தே.
Listen at http://www.thiruarutpa.org/thirumurai/v/T346/tm/panthaatal
Srinivasan writes of Ramalinga Adigal melting in love and yearning for Erai.
One has to think and think incessantly, till he feels and feels, till he melts and melts, till love for God fills in him. As love fills and fills, the aspirant of the melting mood bursts into tears. As the tear glands pour out profusely the body becomes wet by the overflow. When this is uninterruptedly repeated and repeated, the heart throbs and the mouth sobs the praise of the God Supreme.
This is the type of emotional spiritualism which is needed for the prayer at the moment. When this is achieved the Grace of God is sure to descend. Not only does the Light of Grace dawn on the aspirant but sets aside the inevitable death. In other words conquest of death is realized (as the mortal body will be converted into immortal body).
The aspirant thinks of the greatness of God and the smallness of his being. He thinks of the transient nature of the world and worldly objects and of the truth of God and the Soul. He is aware of the bounteous Grace and its benevolent flow in the loving individual. The pangs of hunger, disease and poverty of the majority of mankind and fear of death harrow out his very life. He trembles at the forces of lust and the shackles which not only cover and conceal the greatness of the soul but impel him into the ocean of desires. The sufferings of the poor and the horror of the mighty touch his very nerves. Therefore, he thinks of God Supreme to redeem the miseries of life and in his prayers he finds solace and solution.
Hence universal compassion and spontaneous service to fellow-beings and intuitive love for God are the best methods to imbibe the mercy of God who is nothing but love.
Finally the changes take place.
The changes that take place in the human body externally and internally illustrate the gradual conversion.
Srinivasan translates those moments when Ramalinga Adigal goes through a total internal transformation that is translated externally as described by Adigal in his Agaval.
The Swami says that the skin-the dermis and the epidermis-has become extremely soft. All the nerves and the tendons have become gradually loosened. All the bones membranous and cartilaginous have become automatically pliable. All the muscles and the muscular tissues have become loosened. All the blood has become internally coagulated. The semen has become not only hardened but concentrated in a unit. The brain and all its parts the cerebrum, the cerebellum and the medualla oblongata have loosened as an opening blossom. Throughout the body an elixir oozes out and flows and fills up all the parts.
Externally the forehead perspires. The face becomes brilliant. There is delicacy, soft and mild, sweet and harmonious in the tender and cool breathing. The internal beauty is evident outside. The hair splits. The tear glands are so profusely pouring in the eyes that it flows through the feet. The mouth gasps with a trembling note. The ears and their delicate parts are filled with melody. The entire body has become cool. The chest and the heart are throbbing. The palms are folded. The legs are staggering. The four different aspects of the mind have respectively attained a melting mood, have the sparkling filled, have harmoniously heartened and have then and there, the repercussions put down. The heart swells with anxiety to see the whole world (of love). All the visible parts of the body are blooming with ecstasy.
The life-bound ego which spurts out through the senses has vanished. All the blemishes that surround the heart and the mind have extinguished. The tender and soft loving and affectionate, mercy and compassionate quietism stands out. All the world and the worldly affairs are hidden. The ardent desire for receiving the Supreme Grace is increasing and overflowing. Now the God Supreme in the form of Supreme love fills up the body fully enshrining divine life.
Apart from his own experience of the transformation the Swami has given a detailed account of the properties and capacities of the divine individuals who are blessed with this Suddha Deham or perfected body. They will not be affected either directly or indirectly, internally or externally by the five great elements. Hence the Swami says that earth or stone in any form afflicted against them will not strike on them. The coolness of water will not affect them nor can they be subjected to immerse in water. The heat of the fire both internally and externally will not affect them. Not even a scar will be formed on their body. Air in any form will not impinge on them. Space will not have any effect on them. They may move about in space without any base of support.
Similarly all their senses can perceive of the respective feelings without being barred by distance and obstruction. Hence their eyes can see anything of the universe though generally they are not bent upon seeing things of the world. They can hear any sound produced anywhere in the universe. They can smell anything from being in their own place and their body can feel anything of the universe at will. Their limbs can give anything to anybody irrespective of distance. They may walk anywhere with out any regard for space. They may speak to anybody at any place in the universe and beyond. Their knowledge is universal and omniscient. All the bonds of nature such as space, time and the like and even the natural order and regularity of the universe will not bind them. As already pointed out, food, sleep, and sex are no longer necessary for them. There would not be any perspiration, shadow, ageing or death for their body.
Their body cannot be disturbed by the great elements, devils, weapons of any kind, animals including human and superhuman beings in any place at any time. With regard to their power, it is said that they are capable of any creation or destruction at will. They can bring the dead of life; they can change or convert the old into young. In short, their knowledge, their action and their experience and every thing about them will be Godly, They are all-powerful, eternal and omni-potent.
Will we ever touch that point of excellence?