*Arutpulambal: Arul + Pulambal - Gracious Lamentation
We can refer the state of 'arutpulambal' as the songs sung in one's awaken self.
Background of almost all Tamil depicting Siththars is very simple and they were from the part of ignored inhabitants in society. Of course, everything has its exception!
Two Siththars here were exception. One is Pattinaththaar, who was born in business/trade family and lived a very luxurious life. Another one is Pathirakiriyar who was a king and accepted Pattinaththaar as his guru and lived yogic life, leaving behind the royal comfortness.
Arutpulambal also called ‘Meignana pulambal (Lamentation of True Wisdom)’, a book written by Pathirakiriyaar has its unique place among the Siththar’s books. He believed to be attained mukthi* in Thiruvidaimarudhoor of Tanjore district, Tamil nadu, India.
The poems in Arutpulambal is so simple and one can easily understand the meaning in the first reading itself is its unique great feature. However, one can understand and feel the greatest connotation of this poem during re-readings.
For example, we will see the following poem,
"ஆங்கார முள்ளடக்கி ஐம்புலனைச் சுட்டறுத்துத்
aangkaara mulladakki aimpulanaich suttaruththuth
தூங்காமற் றூங்கி சுகம் பெறுவ தெக்காலம்?
thoonkaamar roongi sukam peruva thekkaalam?”
In the first reading of the above poem, we can understand that, “when we will reach god by controlling arrogance and basic five sense?”.
However the deep reading indicates arrogance as oneself. And the deployment of five senses occurs as soon as the deployment of one’s arrogance.
And the words “Sleepless Sleep (Thoongaamal thoongi)” may be easy to read but it is very unique and is not easy to get the direct meaning. As far as I know, it must indicate the stage of one’s awaken self.
So, Pathirakiriyaar stated that, mukthi is possible when, one deploy his arrogance and be in self awaken state.
*Mukthi – salvation/final emancipation
Original – www.siththarkal.com
Translated by Lalithambika Rajasekaran
