KINGDOM OF SITHTHARS

Mukthi - salvation/final emancipation

Our Siththars believe that based on the good and bad, one does in his life time, he takes re-birth and faces all the corresponding results either good or bad. It is also considered that this cycle continues until one faces the results for all the sins he performed. To get relieved from all these sins and lead an entirely happy life is known as attaining mukthi.

Attaining mukthi refers to a very high state of achievement. One can attain this state only after a very hard practise and attempts. If we attain success in all the eight stages of yoga, only then we can attain mukthi. We have already seen about it in the previous posts.

Paambaatti Siththar in one of his song has told about a way to attain mukthi. Here is the following song,

திரளான போரில்ஊசி தேடல் போல்முத்தி

thiralaana poariloosi thaeddal poalmuththi

சிக்காது தேசாசார தேசிகர் தம்மால்

sikkaathu thaesaasaara thesigar thammaal

அருளான மூலகுரு அவர் செயலால்

arulaana moolaguru avar seyalaal

ஆனந்தம் கண்டோம் என்று ஆடாய் பாம்பே!

aanantham kanoam enru aadaai paambae!

- பாம்பாட்டிச் சித்தர் (Paambaatti Siththar)

In a war field, where people are fighting with their troops, if we drop a needle and try to search it we may not find it. Like wise it is not easy to attain mukthi. Though we make many hard attempts and practises we cannot attain mukthi very immediately.

Also we need to possess the blessings of all the Siththars and the blessings of guru only we can attain mukthi. Also with their great blessings of them, celebrate the joy says Paambaatti Siththar. The information that one can attain mukthi with the blessings of a guru is a very new one to all of us.

Note:- The greatness of the Paambaatti Siththar's songs are that they are very simpler and easy that anyone can understand. But the sorrowful fact is that we have got only 129 songs of Paambaatti Siththar.

Original - www.siththarkal.com

Translated by - சந்தியா

It is beleived that "Sivaloka position", "Vaikunta position" , " Attaining Mukthi" all these words are used to address the dead people only. It is not the truth. The highest stage of the yoga is samadhi and the state next to that is 'attaining mukthi'.

The Siththars say that the yoga is the only way to attain mukthi, and that yogic method is categorized into eight parts. They are Kadivu (Iyama), Noanbu (Niyama), Irukkai (Aasana), Valinilai (Pranayama) , Orukkam (Pratyakara), Nirai (Dharana), Uzhkam (Dhyana), Ondrukai (Samadhi).

Konganavar in his vaadha kaaviyam says about the mukthi in the following way:

காணப்பா குருசொன்ன சாத்திரத்தின் படியே

kaanappaa gurusonna saaththiraththin padiyae

கைமுறையாய் நடக்கிறதே விபரமென்பார்

kaimuraiyaai nadakkirathae vibaramenbaar

பூணப்பா யெந்தெந்தக் காரியங்கள் வந்தும்

poonappaa yenthenthak kaariyangal vanthum

புகழாகத் தயக்கம் வந்தும் பிரமமென்றும் 

pugazhaagath thayakkam vanthum piramamenrum

தோணப்பா நிரந்தரமும் வேதாந்தம் பார்த்துச்

thonappa nirantharamum vedhantham paarththuch

சொன்னமுறையாய் நிற்பதுவே விரதமாச்சு 

sonnamuraiyaai nirpathuvae virathamaachu

ஆணப்பா நியமமென்ற பத்துஞ் சொன்னே

aanappaa niyamamenra paththunj sonnae

னறிந்திந்த விருபதையும் மறுட்டித்தேறே

narinthintha virupathaiyum maruttiththaerae

- கொங்கணவர் (Konganavar)

Following the instructions as told by guru and doing yoga itself is like austerity as fasting. Those who follow this way, they will be capable of facing all the struggle, misery, obstacle and consider themselves as Brahma, the creator and do meditation this is also called as fasting only.  These ten are only called as niyama and rest of them are iyama. If both these iyama and niyama, all these twenty are followed only we can progress in the yoga, saying this he continues

எறியிந்த விருபதையும் மநுட்டியாட்டால்

eriyintha virupathaiyum manuttiyaattaal

என்னசொல்வேன் சீவனில்லாச் சித்திரம் போலாம்

ennasolvaen seevanillaach siththiram poalaam

தேறியிந்த வடிப்படையை வைக்குமுன்னே

thaeriyintha vadippadaiyai vaikkumunnae

சிற்றெடுத்த சுழிகைக்கு மொக்குமொக்கும்

sitreduththa suzhikaikku mokkumokkum

ஆறியிந்தக் காயசித்தி பண்ணுமுன்னே

aariyinthak kaayasiththi pannumunnae

யாயிரமாங் கலியுகத்தைக் கண்டதொக்கும்

yaayiramaang kaliyaugaththaik kandathokkum

மாறியிந்தச் சடத்தோடே முத்தி காணான்

maariyinthach sadaththoadae muththi kaanaan

மாண்டபின்பு முத்தியென்ற வாறுபோமே

maandapinbu muththiyenra vaarupoamae

- கொங்கணவர் (Konganavar)

The one who does not follow these twenty is considered as a picture without life. Along with this if we attempt to attain kaaya siddhi, it is equivalent to overcoming 1000 kali yugas*. He also questions that if we are not able to attain mukthi while we are alive then how can we attain it after the death.

In the next post we shall catch up with another information.

*Kali yuga - the last of the four great ages of the World, according to Hindu myths

Original - www.siththarkal.com

Translated by - சந்தியா

"மனமென்னும் மாடு அடங்கில் தாண்டவக்கோனே - முத்தி

manamennum maadu adangil thaandavakkoanae - muththi

வாய்த்ததென்று எண்ணேடா தாண்டவக்கோனே

vaaiththathenru ennaedaa thaandavakkoanae"

"சினமென்னும் பாம்பு இறந்தால் தாண்டவக்கோனே - யாவும்

sinamennum paambu iranthaal thaandavakkoanae - yaavum

சித்தியென்றே நினையேடா தாண்டவக்கோனே

siththiyenrae nhinaiyaedaa thaandavakkoanae"

"ஆசையெனும் பசுமாளின் தாண்டவக்கோனே - இந்த

aasaiyenum pasumaalin thaandavakkoanae - intha

அண்டமெல்லாம் கண்டறிவாய் தாண்டவக்கோனே

andamellaam kandarivaay thaandavakkoanae"

- இடைக்காட்டு சித்தர் (Idaikkaattu Siththar)

By uniting all the five senses (touch, taste, sight, hearing and smell) a clarity is attained in mind, as a result of which a undisturbed silence is created. In this state only one can realise that the god is present in him and his soul . This is the stage of supreme bliss that could not be expressed in words.

This state is only called as the peak state. To atain this stage, it is possible only under the guidance of a guru. That is only the best practice also. 

This completes the information about yoga. In the next post we shall see about other information.

Original - www.siththarkal.com

Translated by - சந்தியா

The one who practices yoga without self interest, and lacks in concentration may face certain obstacles says Patanjali saint and he explains those obstacles in the following manner.

Thoughts that deviate your ideas may arise, he says it as " Sitha vikashoba".

The obstacles that are caused due to ill health are said as " Sthiyaanaa".

The obstacle that causes the fear about their success in yoga is said as "Samsayaa".

The deviation that occurs due to carelessness is said as "Pramaathaa".

Losing the expertise on mind's concentration that we have attained on repeated practise is said as "Anaavasthithathva".

Hence while one is practising yoga he must be both mentally and physically ready to face these obstacles. If it is practiced under the survilleance of a guru then all these obstacles can be over thrown.

The one who has the mental ability as well as the physical ability of attaining the goal by over throwing these obstacles could succeed in yoga.

In the next post we shall see about the yoga's peak state.

Original - www.siththarkal.com

Translated by - சந்தியா

Be slow in consuming food. Though it is a delicious food do not eat stomach full. In sanskrit it is told as "midhaakaara". It means eating neither heavily nor lightly but eating moderately.

"Eat after hunger" is the word of ancestors. If we eat beyond the level of hunger it causes illness. For the people who practice yoga limiting the quantity of food is an important aspect. 

Those who eat more and those who suffer in hunger, both could not succeed in the yoga practise. 

Also for those who do not sleep completely and those who snore and sleep, both could not succeed in the practise of yoga.

Kannadhasan has wrote in his book, Arthamulla indhu madham, that because of this sleep only he has lost so many things.

The body should not strain much. You should not sit lazily also. You should not eat heavily and become addicted to taste. Also you should not starve without eating.

In eating, working, sleeping it is important that there should be a limit i.e., it should not exceed the range or go below it. People of this kind only can attain success in Yoga.

Original - www.siththarkal.com

Translated by - சந்தியா

Yoga has eight stages. This is also called as "eight steps" by Patanjali saint, god father of yoga. All these eight states are supportive to human's soul throughout his life.

All these eight stages are inter-related with each other. At the end of one stage the other stage begins. Hence we must practice stage by stage. Without succeding in one stage we cannot proceed to the further stages. Therefore by continuous practice and by keeping your mind away from all the desires only you can attain this.

The yoga's eight stages are told by Thirumoolar in his Thirumanthiram.

"அந்நெறி இந்நெறி என்னாதட் டாங்கத்

anneri inneri ennaathat taangath

தன்னெறி சென்று சமாதியி லேநின்மின்

thanneri senru samaadhiyi laeninmin

நன்னெறி செல்வார்க்கு ஞானத்தி லேகலாம்

nanneri selvaarkku gnaanaththi laekalaam

புன்னெறி யாகத்திற் போக்கில்லை யாகுமே

punneri yaagaththir poakkillai yaagumae"

- திருமூலர் (Thirumoolar)

"இயம நியமமே எண்ணிலா ஆதனம்

iyama niyamamae ennilaa aathanam

நயமுறு பிராணாயா மம்பிரத்தி யாகாரஞ்

nayamuru piraanaayaa mampiraththi yaagaaranj

சயமிகு தாரணை தியானஞ் சமாதி

sayamiku thaaranai thiyaananj samadhi

அயமுறும் அட்டாங்க மாவது மாமே

ayamurum attaanga maavathu maamae"

- திருமூலர் (Thirumoolar)

The eight stages of yoga are Iyama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyakara, Dharana, Dhyana, Samadhi.

Iyama is relavant to the attaining good dicipline for life. Niyama is relevant to attaining the purity of soul through discipline. Asana is related to exercises. Pranayama is related to practicing the technique of controlling breath. Pratyakara is related to controlling the senses. Dharana is related to controlling the mind. Dhyana is the state of  identifying the supreme being. Samadhi is related to the attaining the state equal to the supreme being.

In eating, working, sleeping it is important that there should be a limit i.e., it should not exceed the range or go below it. People of this kind only can attain success in Yoga.

Original - www.siththarkal.com

Translated by - சந்தியா

In the situation where the human is struck in the ocean of desires or wants and where people consider it as the life. To bring back the people from this state, the Yoga has been most aidful.

"Yoga" is a sanskrit originated word, which means uniting one's thoughts and ideas and acting according to them. This can also be told in divine language as the lively human soul attaining/reaching the state of  Paramathma - the ultimate soul.

What happens actually in Yoga?

Pure thoughts, actions, attaining the higher state of god, by bringing all the powers in our body together and concentrating the mind on one point, and uniting all this to a godly state happens by practising yoga.

One who follows the path of yoga is called as Yogi. Yogi is one who is away from the sorrow happiness, relations, affection, complaining.

For every action there is an opposite action. This suits  for human life also. When he is not able to face the consequences of his action, he gets distracted from the path and falls into the pit of sorrow and suffers a lot.

Yoga is a practice to relieve him from that state and helping him to attain the state of losing the desires. One who gets relieved from that state by following this yoga is called as yogi.

All the human with six senses can practice yoga and attain the state of the supreme god. This do not have any restrictions on the criteria of religion, caste and creed. To become successful in this practice of yoga there are certain rules. Those who follow those rules strictly could become successful in the yoga practice in short span of time. 

In our next post we shall see what those rules are.

Original - www.siththarkal.com

Translated by - சந்தியா