Tirumular

[Ms Tercy Lonan]

Tirumular
Tirumandiram deals with the practical and theoretical aspects of Saivite religion and
philosophy. The treatment of Pathi (Lord Siva), Pasu (individual soul), and Pasam (attachment) in
the old method is found in this book.
By the practice of the eight limbs of Raja Yoga, the Yogi obtains the blessing of Uma and
attains Amarapadavi (Godhood) by the practice of Yama (self-restraint). He attains Siva Padam the
(Abode of Siva) by the practice of Niyama (religious canons). He hears Nadam (mystic sound) by
the practice of Asana (Yoga posture). He attains the stage, by the practice of Pranayama (restraint of
breath) in which all the gods eulogise him. He attains the form of Siva by the practice of Pratyahara
(abstraction of the senses) and the gods become confused as they cannot differentiate him from
Siva. He can go anywhere including the worlds of Brahma and Vishnu by the practice of Dharana
(concentration). He can walk into any place just as one can walk on earth. He attains the Abode of

Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra and Indra, by the practice of Dhyana (meditation). He frees himself from
all the Upadhis (limiting adjuncts) or fetters and unites with Lord Siva by the practice of Samadhi
(superconscious state).
God alone is the Guru or the spiritual teacher. He reveals Siva. Sat Guru is Ambalam or
Chidakasa (the divine plane of Consciousness). You will have to search for the Guru in your own
heart. Knowledge, devotion, purity, Siddhis (psychic powers) are obtained through the grace of the
Guru. The grace descends on the virtuous aspirant who has purity, dispassion, etc.
The thirsting aspirants should get help from the Param Guru. He imparts spiritual
instructions to the aspirants. Then Suddha Guru confers upon them divine grace. When the aspirant
obtains the divine grace, he gets several powers: purity, the power to know the Mantra, higher
psychic powers, etc. Then the Sad Guru reveals him in the Chidakasa (the seat of Consciousness in
the ether of the heart), breaks the three bonds, viz., Anava (egoism), Karma (action) and Maya
(illusion), and helps him to enter the illimitable domain of Moksha or supreme abode of eternal
bliss. Siva Guru presents himself later on and manifests Sat (Reality), Asat (unreality) and Sat-asat
(that which is indescribable as either). When the Jiva (individual soul) attains the final knowledge
he becomes Sivam Himself. The Guru who presents himself in the earlier stages, too, is Siva
Himself.
The devotee attains the grace of the Lord when he meditates on Him in the chambers of his
heart; in the space between the two eye-brows and in the head. The holy Feet of the Lord are highly
eulogised. The holy Feet of the Lord are Mantra, beauty and truth.
Jneya or that which is to be known is Siva Ananda which is a product of Siva and His grace,
Shakti. The Jnata (knower) is the individual soul or Jiva. He knows Siva by abiding in Siva Ananda
and obtains Jnanam or Knowledge.
Moksha is the attainment of Siva Ananda. He who attains Moksha will attain supreme
knowledge of Siva. He who gets established in Siva Ananda will attain knowledge and Moksha
(final emancipation).
The Jiva who knows Siva Ananda dwells for ever in it. He attains Siva and Shakti in Siva
Ananda. He is endowed with true knowledge which is really union of Siva and Shakti. Lord Siva
shows the path which leads to Moksha, to the aspirant who is endowed with dispassion,
non-attachment, and renunciation, and who praises Him always and performs regular worship.
The devotee of Lord Siva gets strength to resist the temptations of the world and Indra,
through his Tapas or austerity. He does not care at all for the celestial pleasures offered by Indra. He
is quite contented with the Supreme Bliss attained through union with Lord Siva.