KINGDOM OF SITHTHARS

In olden days, Hindu religion was divided into six subdivisions which has its own uniqueness. Each unique part has its own principal deity. The group of people who worshipping each god has its own name viz, group of people who worshipping Lord Vinayaka are termed as Ganapatya; Lord Shiva are termed as Shaivism; Lord Vishna are termed as Vaishanavism; Goddess Sakthi are termed as Sakthism (Saaktha); Lord Muruga are termed as Kumara and Lord Surya (Sun) are termed as Saura. Each group functioned like individual religion.

It seems Adi Shankara was the one who grouped all the above said divisions into single religion, as  Hinduism. Among the above mentioned groups, today is the birthday of Lord Vinayaka, principal God of Ganapatya, which is the first among the mentioned groups.

We usually worship the sathurthi thithi in the Tamil month Aavani* as the birthday of Lord Vinayaka. Some says Lord Vinayaka (Elephant faced) symbolize the mystical form of “OM”.

We can also see that, every Siththar started their books with  Vinayakar Kaapu*. In this auspicious day, I would like to put forth similar information. 

Agathiyar on his book, “Agathiyar Theetchavithi”, starts with Vinayakar salutation as follows:

“பாதிமதி யணிந்த பரமன் எனக்கிசைந்த

paathimathi yanintha paraman enakkisaintha

பருதிமதி சுழிமூன்றும் நன்றாய்ச் சொல்வேன்

paruthimathi suzhimoonrum nanraaich solvaen

வேதனைவா ராமல் முதற்தீட்சை மார்க்கம்

vaethanaivaa raamal muthartheetchai maarkkam

விளம்புவேன் மஹா கணபதி காப்பாமே

vilambuvaen mahaa Ganapathi kaappaamae”

- அகத்தியர் (Agathiyar)

Bogar in his book “Bogar Gnana Soothiram” started with Vinayakar Kaapu as:

"பெருமையுள்ள சதநூலைப் படுவதற்கு

perumaiyulla sathamoolaip paduvatharku

கருவூலந் திருமேனி தும்பிக்கையான்

karuvoolan thirumaeni thumbikkaiyan

கணபதி செந்தாமரைத்தாள் காப்பதாமே

Ganpathi senthaamaraiththaal kaappathaamae”

- போகர் (Bogar)

Romarishi starts with Vinayakar salutation in his book “Romarishi Vaithiyam 500” as follows:

"மூலமு தலாதார முடிவினின்ற

moolamu thalaathaara mudivininra

மூர்த்தியெனும் கணேசரது பாதங்காப்பு

mooethiyenum Ganesarathu paathangaappu”

- உரோமரிஷி (Roma Rishi)

Nandheesar in his book “Nandheesar Nikandu 300” also started with Vinayakar Kaapu as,

"வெள்ளியங் கிரியான் தந்த

velliyang kiriyaan thantha

வேழமா முகனே யெந்தன்

vaezhama mukanae yenthan

உள்ளினுக் குள்ளாய் நாளும்

ullinuk kullaai naanum

உரிவினுக் குருவாய் நின்று

urivinuk kuruvaai ninru”

- நந்தீசர் (Nandheesar)

Pathirakiriyar also started the importance of Vinayakar kaapu as follows:

"ஐஞ்சு கரத்தானின் அடியிணையைப் போற்றிசெய்து

ainju karaththaanin adiyinaiyaip poatriseithu

நெஞ்சிற் பொருந்தி நிலைபெறுவ தெக்காலம்?

nenjir porunthi nilaiperuva thekkaalam?”

- பத்ரகிரியார் (Pathrakiriyar)

Above all of these, Siththar Sivavaakkiyar, who putforth his philosophical thoughts rationally and who highly opposes the structural worship of Gods also started with Vinayakar salutation in his book Sivavaakkiyam, which is a considerable note to be pointed out.

"கரியதோர் முகத்தையுற்ற கற்பகத்தைக் கைதொழக்

kariyathoar mukaththaiyutra karpagaththaik kaithozhak

கலைகள் நூற்கண் ஞானமும் கருத்தில் வந்துதிக்கவே

kalaikal noorkan gnanamum karuththil vanhthuthikkavae”

- சிவவாக்கியார் (Sivavaakkiyar)

Similar quotes and information can be found in all Siththar notes which focused on Vinayakar salutation. On remembering, Lord Vinayakar on this auspicious day may bless us with his graciousness.

*Aavani – the fifth tamil month (mid of August to mid of September)

*Kaappu – invocation to deities at the commencement of a song composition

Original – www.siththarkal.com

Translated by Lalithambika Rajasekaran

Sleeping is basically an essential thing for better human health. One third of a day, we people normally spent in sleeping. Even, nowadays science also imposes the necessity of deep sleep. Sleep gives rest and peace for body and mind.

Siththars gave plenteous information about sleep. Even though, it is an essential activity in human life,  sithars mainly denoted sleep as the focused mind and the relaxed body. It is the form of sleepless sleep. Pathirakiriyaar denoted this stage as follows:

ஆங்காரம் உள்ளடக்கி ஐம்புலனை சுட்டறுத்து

aangaaram ulladakki aimpulanai suttaruththu

தூங்காமல் தூங்கி சுகம் பெறுவது எக்காலம்? 

thoongaamal thoongi sukam peruvathu ekkaalam?

Sleepless sleep is the highest awaken state which is embedded with energy from cosmos. Moreover Siththars poem have a note that, breathe get wasted during our sleep. Agathiyar in one of his poem told that, one should not waste breathe during eating, intercourse and sleeping. The sleepless sleep told by Siththars is high blissful state and can be attained by any person with dedication and focus.

Siththars poem also has following quotes that, one should lessen their sleeping time even during the yoga practice. That too, sleep during day time is not entertained. How to sleep at night? Theriyar explained that trick in his book  “Maruthuva Kaaviyam” as follows:

பாரப்பா சிவயோகம் பண்ணும்பேர்க்கு

paarappaa sivayogam pannumpaerkku

பரிவாக நித்திரைதான் வேண்டாமப்பா

parivaaka niththirathaan vaendaamappaa

நேரப்பா ராக்கால நித்திரைதான்பண்ண

naerappaa raakkaala niththiraithaanpanna

நிலையாகச் சூட்சமொன்று நிகழ்த்துறேன்கேள்

nilayaagach sootchamonru nikazththuraenkael

வாரப்பா வரிசையாய்க் கால்தான்னீட்டி

vaarappa varisaiyaaik kaalthaanneeti

வகையாக நித்திரைதான் பண்ணவேண்டாம்

vakaiyaaka niththiraithaan pannavaendaam

ஓரப்பா ஒருபக்க மாகச்சாய்ந்து

oarappaa orupakka maakachaainthu

உத்தமனே மேற்கையை மேற்கொள்வாயே

uththamanae maerkaiyai maerkkolvaaye

கொள்ளப்பா ஒன்றின்மேல் சாய்ந்துகொண்டு

kollappaa onrinmael saainthukondu

குறிப்பா நித்திரை செய்துநீங்க

kurippaa nithhtirai seithuneenga

அள்ளப்பா அஷ்டாங்க யோகம்பாரு

allappaa ashtaanga yogampaaru

அப்பனே சிவயோகம் வாசியோகம்

appanae sivayogam vaasiyogam

நள்ளப்பா பிராணாய மவுனயோகம்

nallappaa piranaaya mounayogam

நலமான கவுனத்தின் யோகம்பாரு

nalamaana kavunaththin yogampaaru

வள்ளப்பா வாசியது கீழ்நோக்காது

vallapaa vaasiyathu keezhnoakkaathu

வகையாக மேனோக்கி யேறும்பாரே

vakaiyaaka maenoakki yaerumpaarae.

We should not sleep by keeping the body upward as we do normally. We should practice sleeping like by keeping the body sideways by keeping the hand underneath the head which makes the vaasi (breathe) to move upward and not downward. This sleeping practice helps to achieve the following easily; siva yoga, vaasi yoga, pranayama, mouna yoga, kevuna yoga. 

Readers may find a doubt that is this practice possible in this mechanical hasty world? Irrespective of discussing the possibility and impossibility of sleeping practice that is discussed above, this post generally aimed to put forth the information given by Siththars and ancestors to this generation.

Original – www.siththarkal.com

Translated by Lalithambika Rajasekaran

*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

Since the air is not visible to eyes, does it mean air not exist?? We feel it. We breath it. That is why we are alive.

Like oil hidden in sesame, taste hidden in sugar cane, smell hidden in the flower, god is hidden in soul as the spiritual strength. 

The sesame is visible and oil is invisible. The sesame is visible to eyes but the oil hidden in it is invisible. Like this in sugarcane, flower and human body also it is hidden inside as inner strength.

For the hidden thing only the external thing exists. While extacting oil from sesame, smelling the fragrance from the flower, tasting the sugarcane.. it could be felt only when the inner thing is recognised. We can agree with it also. After we realise it once, we agree with it for the next time when somebody else says.

But there is nobody to agree that the godly soul is present in the human body. We, who realised this fact, when could we recognise the god questions Pathirakiriyar.

"எள்ளும் கரும்பும் ஏழு மலரும் காயமும் போல்

ellum karumbun aezhu malarum kaayamum poal

உள்ளும் புறமும் நின்றது உற்றறிவதெக்காலம்

ullum puramum ninrathu utrarivathekkaalam".

And the same was said by Sivavaakkiyar too.

"எங்கும் உள்ள ஈசன் எம்மு டல்பு குந்தபின்

engum ulla Eesan emmu dalpu kunthapin

பங்கு கூறு பேசுவார் பாடு சென்றே அனுகிளார்

pangu kooru paesuvaar paadu senrae anukilaar".

Original - www.siththarkal.com

Translated by - சந்தியா

Pathirakiriyar was the king of one of the Northern states. When Pattinathar was traveling through Northern states, by mistake, he was caught as thief. King Pathirakiriyar, without investigating properly, had ordered to punish Pathinathar in impaling stake. Pathinathar sung a song and impaling stake started to burn. Pathirakiriyar had attained enlightenment at that moment. Pathirakiriyar, leaving all his wealths, started to follow Pathinathar and became his disciple.

One day he gave food to the dog which had came near to him. From that day, dog started to follow him and got liberated because of him. Later that dog was reborn as daughter of Kasi King. It is said to be that she had remembrance of her previous birth and get married to Pathirakiriyar.

Most of the Pathirakiriyar songs end with ‘ekkaalam?’, means ‘which time?’.  For example, in one of the above song, he had questioned that at which time he would leave all philosophies and would enjoy the solitude in meditation.

His sepulcher was said to be in Thiruchettaangudi.

Original - www.siththarkal.com
Translated by - தமிழ் தமிழானவள்.