Lord Shanmukha and His Worship

Lord Shanmukha and His Worship
By
Sri Swami Sivananda
A DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY P!LICATION
First Edition: 1950
Second Edition: 1974
Third Edition: 1996
(3,000 Copies)
World Wide We (WWW) Edition : !000
WWW site: http:""###$dlsh%$or&"
This WWW reprint is for free distribution
' The (i)ine *i+e Tr,st Societ-
.S/0 112705!211527
Published By
T3E (.4.0E *.FE S5C.ET6
7$5$ Shi)8n8nd8n8&8r9!49 19!
(istt$ Tehri2:8rh#8l, ;tt8r 7r8desh,
3i<8l8-8s, .ndi8$
OM
Dedicated to
LORD SHANMUKHA
The onsort of !a""i# Dei$ayanai#
The Destroyer of a"" Asuric %orces#
and the Besto&er of Di$ine
Stren'th#
Wisdo(# )eace# B"iss and
*((ota"ity
And to
A"" His De$otees and
See+ers in the )ath of Truth,
OM
Con"#n"s
7,lishers= 0ote
The 0eed For S>8nd82S8>ti .n Spirit,8l S8dh8n8
*ord S>8nd8
3-<n to *ord Sh8n<,>h8
S8int ?r,n8&iri=s @8nd8r ?n,h,ti
.ntrod,ctor-
o 1$ .n)oc8tor-
o !$ The Worship o+ *ord S>8nd8
o 3$ The 7re)io,s /irth o+ the ?s,r8s
o 4$ Sri @8rtti>e-8 8nd T8r8>8s,r8 ?ccordin& to S>8nd8 A8h8 7,r8n82
A8hes)8r @h8nd8
S>8nd8 4iB8-8<
1. 7reli<in8r-
2. (8>sh8 68Bn8
3. The C,rse o+ 08ndi
4. The T-r8nn- o+ the ?s,r8s
5. 08ti)it- 8nd /o-hood
6. The Sh8do#s o+ W8r
7. The Co,t o+ the ?s,r8s
8. The (o#n2+8ll o+ S,r8p8d<8
9. The Weddin&s
.$ (ei)8-8n8i
..$ 48lli
...$ The A8rri8&e
The Esoteric Si&ni+ic8nce o+ The Stor-
/h8>t82S8ints o+ *ord S>8nd8
1. 08r8d8
2. @in& A,ch,>,nd8
3. Si)8 @8)i
4. 08>>ir8r
5. @8chi-8pp8 Si)8ch8ri8r
6. 78>8lli @oott8r
7. A,r,&8<<8i-8r
8. ?r,n8&irin8th8r
9. @,<8r8&,r,p8r8 S#8<i&8l
10. ?l8&,<,tt, 7,l8D8r
Aost .<port8nt Te<ples o+ *ord S>8nd8
1. Thir,pp8r8n>,ndr8<
2. Thir,chend,r
3. 78l8ni 3ills
4. S#88<8<
9. Tir,chend,r
10. 78l8ni
11. Thir,th8ni
12. S#88<8<
S>8nd8 Sh8shthi Aess8&es
o 1945
o 1946
o 1947
o *ord S>8nd82The Concentr8ted (i)ine Ener&-
?ppendiD2.
o S>8ndop8nish8d
o @8rtti>e-8 Stotr8
o S,r8h<8n-8 A8ntr8
o (h-8n8 Slo>8
o Sh8n<,>h8 :8-8tri
o S,r8h<8n-8 ?shtott8r8s8t8n8<8)8li
o (e)8sen8 08<8)8li
o 48lli 08<8)8li
o 08<es o+ *ord Sh8n<,>h8
?ppendiD2..
o @irt8ns o+ *ord Sh8n<,>h8
?ppendiD2...
o @88)8di2The S-<ol o+ T8p8s-8 ?nd Co,r8&e
?ppendiD2.4
o /ilio&r8ph-
Pu$%ish#rs& No"#
The ?d)ent o+ *ord S>8nd8 or @8rtti>e-8, the p,rpose o+ 3is inc8rn8tion 8s 8n ?)8t8r8 8nd
its si&ni+ic8nce sho,ld e o+ &re8t i<port8nce 8nd o+ i<<ense )8l,e to see>ers 8+ter Tr,th$
*ord S>8nd8, 8lso >no#n 8s Sh8n<,>h8, is 8dored 8nd #orshipped #ith intense +8ith 8nd
de)otion thro,&ho,t So,th .ndi8 8nd Sri *8n>8$ ?nd n8t,r8ll- it #ill e o+ &re8t interest to
8ll 3is de)otees, in p8rtic,l8r, to >no# <ore 8o,t 3i<, the si&ni+ic8nce o+ 3is irth 8nd
3is li+e 8nd c8reer 8s 8 )ictorio,s :ener8l$
Sri S#8, &r8phic8ll- descries the 8o)e2<entioned
s,Bects in his ,s,8l st-le,9inspirin& 8nd direct, instr,cti)e 8nd ill,<in8tin&, so,l2
ele)8tin& 8nd 8t once i<pressi)e$ .t is needless to introd,ce hi< to the re8ders, #ho is so
)er- #ell2>no#n 8s 8 )ers8tile &eni,s in 8ll the spirit,8l s,Bects 8nd 8s 8n 8,thor o+ <8n-
8n i<<ort8l 8nd <on,<ent8l #or> th8t re8thes the spirit o+ 8ncient #isdo< 8nd o+ direct
8nd int,iti)e re8lis8tion o+ the S,pre<e$
The oo> h8s een di)ided into t#o p8rts978rt 5ne de8lin& #ith the <8in the<e, 8nd 78rt
T#o consistin& o+ ?ppendices$
78rt 5ne h8s siD sections$ Section 5ne de8ls #ith the introd,ctor- portion,9it 8c%,8ints
the re8der #ith the p,rpose 8nd si&ni+ic8nce o+ the inc8rn8tion o+ *ord Sh8n<,>h8 8nd 3is
Worship, 8s 8lso o+ the pre)io,s irth o+ the ?s,r8s$ The s,Bect de8lt #ith in Section T#o
is the S>8nd8 7,r8n8$ .t descries, tho,&h in rie+, the (i)ine 8d)ent 8nd the &lorio,s deeds
o+ *ord S>8nd89the conditions th8t preceded 8nd necessit8ted the /irth o+ the *ord, 3is
8,spicio,s ?)8t8r8, 3is /8l8 *il8s, 3is co<<8ndin& o+ the (e)8 8r<- 8&8inst the ?s,r8s
8nd 3is &lorio,s )ictor- o)er the<, endin& #ith 3is <8rri8&e #ith (ei)8-8n8i 8nd 48lli$
Section Three eDcl,si)el- de8ls #ith the esoteric si&ni+ic8nce o+ the stor-, in its di++erent
8spects$ Section Fo,r &i)es 8n 8cco,nt o+ so<e o+ the pro<inent /h8>t82S8ints o+ S>8nd8E
8nd Section Fi)e o+ 8 +e# o+ 3is <ost i<port8nt te<ples 8t di++erent pl8ces in So,th .ndi8
8nd Sri *8n>8$ Three <ess8&es +ro< Sri S#88nd8 Sh8shthi in the -e8rs 1945, 46 8nd 47, 8nd one <ess8&e +ro< Sri S#88ndop8nish8d, the @8rtti>e-8 Stotr8, S,r8h<8n-8
A8ntr8, (h-8n8 Slo>8 8nd Sh8n<,>h8 :8-8tri (8ll in S8ns>rit 5ri&in8l 8nd <e8nin& in
En&lish)E the ?shtott8r82s8t82n8<8)8lis o+ *ord S,r8h<8n-8, (e)8sen8 ((ei)8-8n8i) 8nd
48lli (8ll in S8ns>rit)E the di++erent 08<es o+ *ord S>8nd8 8nd their Si&ni+ic8nces$
.nspirin& 8nd so,l2ele)8tin& son&s, @irt8ns 8nd (h)8nis o+ *ord Sh8n<,>h8 h8)e een
&ro,ped ,nder ?ppendiD T#o$ ?ppendiD Three descries in det8il e)er-thin& 8o,t
KaavadiE 8nd ?ppendiD Fo,r is /ilio&r8ph-$
.n the introd,ctor- p8&es h8)e een incl,ded t#o 8rticles on *ord S>8nd8,9one +ro< Sri
S#8h8n8nd8Bi, #hich 8dd to the e8,t- 8nd ,tilit- o+ the oo>$
/h8>tir8tn8 Sri S#8h8n8nd8Bi, A$S$ :$S$, #ho helped the 8,thor in )8rio,s
#8-s in #ritin& the +irst edition o+ the oo> - 8c%,8intin& hi< #ith )8l,8le n8rr8ti)es
8nd interestin& 8necdotes, deser)es speci8l <ention 8nd 8ppreci8tion$
We consider the oo> 8s 8 <8sterpiece prod,ction 8nd th8t it r8n>s #ith the other
pro<inent #or>s o+ Sri S#8<i Si)8n8nd8Bi, on reli&ion, )iF$, G*ord Si)8 8nd 3is Worship,H
G*ord @rishn8, 3is *il8s 8nd Te8chin&s,H 8nd GThe *i+e 8nd Te8chin&s o+ *ord Ies,s,H
#hich h8)e een #ell recei)ed 8nd 8ppreci8ted - the re8din& p,lic$
Since the second Edition o+ the oo> #ent o,t o+ print <8n- -e8rs 8c>, there h8s een 8
persistent de<8nd +or it, #hich h8s necessit8ted the reprintin& o+ the s8<e$ While reprintin&
the oo>, #e h8)e t8>en the opport,nit- to re)ise it thoro,&hl-$ We hope th8t this #or> too
#ill +ind 8 pl8ce in e)er- p,lic lir8r- 8nd indi)id,8l ho,sehold$
T3E (.4.0E *.FE S5C.ET6
Th# N##d For Skanda'Sak"i In Spiri"ua% Sadhana
(Sri Swami Chidananda)
Th# !ir"h o( Skanda
We h8)e the nine2d8- #orship o+ the (i)ine Aother, d,rin& the 08)8r8tr8$ E)en so the
S>8nd82Sh8shthi is the tr8dition8l siD2d8- #orship o+ *ord S>8nd8 or @8rtti>e-8, the
spirit,8l o++sprin& o+ *ord Si)8$ We <8- e)en s8- th8t 3e is *ord Si)8 3i<sel+, the 7o#er
o+ *ord Si)8 personi+ied$
This &re8t ?)8t8rs o+ @8rtti>e-8 is o+ deep si&ni+ic8nce 8nd o+ )er- speci8l i<port8nce to
,s, #ho h8)e dedic8ted o,rsel)es to the spirit,8l ide8l, #ho h8)e, - the :r8ce o+ :od,
e&,n to +eel th8t the re8l p,rpose o+ li+e is not to e 8tt8ined - enBo-<ent o+ the
perish8le oBects o+ this ph-sic8l #orld, ,t - stri)in& to 8chie)e the re8lis8tion o+ the
spirit,8l ide8l, - the 8tt8in<ent o+ the Etern8l, the .<perish8leE +or, the <8ni+est8tion o+
the *ord 8s S>8nd8 h8s een in the n8t,re o+ 8 pr8ctic8l de<onstr8tion o+ the l8#s th8t
oper8te ,pon the in#8rd p8th o+ 8scent ,nto di)init-$ S8ints 8nd s8&es 8re, 8s it #ere, 8
li)in& co<<ent8r- ,pon the &re8t script,resE e)en so the &re8t ?)8t8r8s, the (i)ine
person8lities o+ o,r 7,r8n8s, their li+e 8nd *il8s +or< 8 de<onstr8tion o+ the l8#s th8t
oper8te ,pon the spirit,8l re8l<, o+ tr,ths pert8inin& to the inner li+e o+ 6o&8, inner
S8dh8n8 8nd S8>sh8t>8r8$ (i++erent 8spects o+ this inner li+e o+ 6o&8 8nd S8dh8n8 8re
ro,&ht o,t 8nd de<onstr8ted - di++erent <8ni+est8tions o+ the S,pre<e (eit- 8nd their
)8rio,s *il8s$ .+ their ri&ht si&ni+ic8nce is ,nderstood, it #ill e o+ i<<ense pr8ctic8l help
8nd &,id8nce to the Ii)8 #hich is tr-in& to 8tt8in the S,pre<e 8nd to re8lise the
78r8<8t<8n$
.n the S>8nd8 ?)8t8r8 is ro,&ht o,t the +8ct o+ the etern8l str,&&le et#een ?)id-8 8nd
In8n8, et#een the lo#er ?s,ric 8nd the hi&her di)ine +orces, th8t oper8te oth ,pon the
cos<ic sc8le 8s #ell 8s #ithin the indi)id,8l 7r8>ritiE 8nd the resol,tion o+ this etern8l
str,&&le 8nd its cons,<<8tion in s,pre<e tri,<ph to the di)ine +orces is ro,&ht o,t in the
S>8nd8 *il8s$
We 8re told th8t Tejas ,rst +orth +ro< the Ajna Chakra o+ *ord Si)8, #hich 8ss,<ed the
+or< o+ *ord S>8nd8$ Th,s 3e is the In8n8 I-oti$ ? )er- si&ni+ic8nt +8ct is there th8t
,lti<8tel- 3e #8s t8>en o,t o+ siD lot,ses - :oddess 78r)8ti +ro< the Saravanappoigai,
the l8>e #here reeds #ere &ro#in&$ We >no# th8t the s,pre<e spirit,8l eDperience or the
?p8ro>sh8 ?n,h,ti is 8tt8ined, in 6o&ic p8rl8nce, thro,&h Sh8t2Ch8>r82/hed8 or -
piercin& the siD pleD,s$ .t is the e<er&in& o,t o+ the siD lo#er lot,ses th8t +inds the Ii)8
,lti<8tel- in 8 st8te o+ per+ect (7,rn8) 6o&8 or Wisdo< in the S8h8sr8r8 Ch8>r8$ Th,s, in
S>8nd8 #e h8)e the ,lti<8te prod,ct o+ 8n e<er&ence o,t o+ the siD lot,ses or Sh8t2
Ch8>r8s 8nd this #e >no# to e S,pre<e Wisdo<$ There+ore, *ord S>8nd8 is 8 <8ss o+
,lti<8te tr8nscendent8l S,pre<e @no#led&e th8t h8s to destro- nescience, ?Bn8n8 or
d8r>ness, represented ,pon the pl8ne o+ <8ni+est cos<os in the +or< o+ the ?s,ric hosts$
Th# Pr#r#)uisi"# "o "h# D#s*#n" o( +ra*#
The )er- +irst +8ctor o+ si&ni+ic8nce #hich see>ers h8)e to re8lise is th8t the :r8ce o+ the
*ord, #hich #8s instr,<ent8l in le8din& one p8rt- to )ictor-, c8<e o,t to s,pport the
(e)8s 8nd it #8s the +itness o+ the p8rt- th8t dict8ted the descent o+ the :r8ce$ 3erein the
+irst tr,th is re)e8led th8t i+ the 8spir8nt in his str,&&le sho,ld eco<e +it to 8ppro8ch the
&i)er o+ :r8ce +or the esto#8l o+ :r8ce, he <,st +irst <8>e hi<sel+ o+ (8i)i27r8>riti 8nd
possess (8i)i2S8<p8t$ The 8ccessiilit- to this +o,nt8in2he8d o+ :r8ce +ro< #hich #e <8-
dr8# s,pport is condition8l ,pon the n8t,re o+ the one #ho 8ppro8ches it$ /ec8,se the-
#ere (e)8s, the- co,ld 8ppro8ch the :r8cio,s *ord in order to 8s> +or 3is :r8ce$ We h8)e
to eco<e Adhikaris, i+ #e <8- 8ppro8ch the one #ho is to esto# &r8ce ,pon ,s 8nd #ho
is to pro)ide ,s #ith the necess8r- le8dership 8nd the stren&th to o)erco<e the e)il +orces
#ith #hich #e 8re tr-in& to 8ttle$ This is &i)en o,t - 8ll ?ch8r-8s, 8ll &re8t seers 8nd
A8h8p,r,sh8s in the +or< o+ the S8dh8n82Ch8t,sht8-8, the 68<820i-8<8 or the
S8d8ch8r8, the 8c%,isition o+ (8i)i2S8<p8t$ This is 8n indispens8le prere%,isite +or e)er-
see>er #ho #ishes to &et the etter o+ the lo#er sel+ 8nd set +oot on the p8th o+ 6o&8$
+uru is Skanda'Sak"i
;pon this h,<8n pl8ne, the :,r, or the spirit,8l preceptor or &,ide, #ho is to help ,s 8nd
to le8d ,s to )ictor- in o,r 8ttle #ith ?)id-8 or o,r lo#er n8t,re, is the co,nterp8rt o+
*ord S>8nd8$ 3e is the personi+ic8tion o+ S>8nd82S8>ti$ S>8nd8 is the personi+ic8tion o+ the
tot8l S8dh8n82S8>ti or 6o&82S8>ti in this #orld$ .t is thro,&h 6o&82S8>ti th8t one c8n 8tt8in
per+ect )ictor- o)er 8ll the +orces o+ d8r>ness th8t co<prise ?Bn8n8 or i&nor8nce 8nd 8tt8in
the +,llness o+ #isdo<$ The l8# #hich h8s een de<onstr8ted - the S>8nd8 ?)8t8r8 is, in
8ct,8l li+e, ro,&ht o,t - the represent8tion o+ S>8nd8 in the +or< o+ the :,r,, - the
represent8tion o+ the (e)8s or the celesti8l p8rt- in the +or< o+ the 8spir8nt #ho h8s
p,ri+ied hi<sel+ 8nd 8tt8ined the S8dh8n82Ch8t,sht8-8 8nd th,s h8s eco<e 8n ?dhi>8ri in
order to 8ppro8ch the :,r, 8nd tr- to &et his :r8ce$
We h8)e to consider the neDt st8&e in the ,n+old<ent o+ S>8nd8 *il8$ The (e)8s did not 8t
the )er- o,tset 8ppro8ch the *ord 8nd s8-, G*ord, there is 8 8ttle to e +o,&ht et#een
o,rsel)es 8nd the ?s,r8s$ .n this 8ttle #e desire to h8)e )ictor-$ There+ore, -o, sho,ld
help ,s$H First 8nd +ore<ost, the- h8d reco&nised th8t there #8s 8 cert8in +orce to e
opposed, 8nd the- h8d reco&nised th8t th8t +orce #8s so<ethin& ,ndi)ine 8nd 8&8inst their
re8l n8t,re, #hich sho,ld e o)erco<e$ .n th,s doin&, the- &8)e o,t t#o l8#s$ 5ne is th8t
#e h8)e +irst to reco&nise the presence o+ the lo#er sel+ 8nd th8t #e 8re distinct +ro< itE 8nd
th8t the lo#er sel+ is 8n ost8cle #ithin ,s, 8n ,ndesir8le ele<ent #ithin o,r n8t,re$ ?nd
#e <,st 8li&n o,rsel)es not #ith th8t +orce ,t #ith the di)ine +orces$ The second is the
tr,th th8t <ere reco&nition o+ this or 8ccept8nce o+ the +8ct th8t the lo#er sel+ is ,ndesir8le
8nd <,st e o)erco<e is not eno,&hE #e <,st p,t this reco&nition into d-n8<ic 8ction$ We
<,st <8n+,ll- set 8o,t tr-in& to do this process o+ re8>in& do#n 8ll these ele<ents o+ the
e)il, lo#er n8t,re #ith 8ll o,r he8rt 8nd 8ll o,r <i&ht$ :od helps those #ho help
the<sel)es, is 8 #ell2>no#n old 8d8&e$ This is )er- tr,e ,pon the spirit,8l p8th$ ;nless #e
de<onstr8te o,r sincerit- 8nd co<pletel- rid o,rsel)es o+ the i<p,rit-, ,nspirit,8l 8nd
,ndi)ine, - <e8ns o+ pr8ctic8l e++ort 8nd 8ct,8l stri)in&, #e h8)e not -et 8tt8ined the
+itness to 8s> +or &r8ce$ We <,st eDertE then #e eco<e deser)in&$ Then #e c8n desire to
ot8in the help o+ the hi&her po#ers$ This is 8 l8# #hich the <8Borit- o+ see>ers 8re prone
to disre&8rd ec8,se reco&nition 8nd 8ccept8nce o+ this l8# is )er- ,nco<+ort8le 8nd
incon)enient$ For, it i<plies th8t #e h8)e to stri)e 8nd to <8>e e++ort, 8nd the lo#er n8t,re
#ill not e8sil- s8nction this, in8s<,ch 8s in the e&innin& o+ the spirit,8l pr8ctice, to 8 &re8t
eDtent, the person8lit- o+ the see>er is ,nder the h8it,8l do<in8nce o+ the lo#er n8t,re, its
old tendencies, old h8its, inclin8tions, etc$ There <8- e 8 desire or e)en sincerit-E ,t it is
8ll theoretic8l 8nd the T8<o&,n8 #hich is the pro<inent +e8t,re o+ the lo#er n8t,re #ill not
e8sil- 8llo# the 8spir8nt to p,t +orth ri&ht eDertion$ To rin& o,t this l8# in 8 tellin&
<8nner, #e 8re told th8t the (e)8s 8&8in 8nd 8&8in &8)e 8ttle to the ?s,r8s, not once ,t
ti<e 8nd 8&8inE 8nd it #8s 8+ter repe8tedl- ein& #orsted in 8ttle th8t the- +o,nd th8t, in
spite o+ their e8rnest 8nd sincere pr8ctic8l e++orts to o)erco<e the e)il +orces, the- #ere -et
not cro#ned #ith )ictor-$ Then it is th8t the celesti8l hosts t,rned to the S,pre<e *ord 8nd
pr8-ed +or 3is :r8ce$ ?nd, it is onl- #hen these conditions 8re +,l+illed th8t the *ord #ill
he8r this pr8-er 8nd esto# 3is :r8ce$
Th# Ini"ia"ion
The S8dh8n82S8>ti or the 8#8>enin& i<p,lse to the Ii)8 sl,<erin& in the po#er+,l sleep
o+ nescience or i&nor8nce or ?Bn8n8 is i<p8rted - <e8ns o+ the iksha (initi8tion) &i)en
- the :,r,$ /- (i>sh8 #e do not necess8ril- <e8n the i<p8rtin& o+ 8 p8rtic,l8r A8ntr8
secretl- into the e8r o+ the disciple or 8n- 8ct,8l S8>ti2S8nch8r8 @ri-8 or 8n- o,t#8rd 8ct 8t
8ll$ .t <8- <erel- e the S8t2S8n>8lp8 o+ the :,r,$ .t <8- e - 8 p8ssin& &l8nce, 8 si<ple
&8Fe, 8 to,ch or 8 sin&le #ord, or 8 tho,&ht$ The <-sterio,s #8- in #hich this S8dh8n82
S8>ti is <8de to enter into, ind#ell 8nd #or> in the n8t,re o+ the disciple, in the in#8rdness
o+ the person8lit- o+ the see>er, onl- the :,r, >no#s 8nd onl- the re8lised ones percei)e$
Th# ,#anin- o( Pra.#r
The entire process o+ the spirit,8l 8scent is +ro< st8rt to +inish one o+ e8rnest pr8ctice$
There is no other ro8d eDcept Abhyasa! 5ne <8- h8)e the est +eelin&, the est he8rt, the
<ost s,li<e /h8)8, ,t ,nless 8nd ,ntil e)er- p8rt o+ this is p,t into 8ct,8l pr8ctice, there
is no hope$ ?h-8s8 is the >e-note o+ the li+e o+ S8dh8n8$ Witho,t it, S8dh8n8 #ill not &o
to#8rds its +r,ition o+ Anubhu"i or eDperience$ Th,s #e h8)e the celesti8ls st8ndin& 8t the
door o+ A8h8de)8$ The- h-<n 3i<, &lori+- 3i< 8nd pr8- ,nto 3i<E 8nd this is o,r neDt
c,e$ .t is the l8# o+ pr8-er th8t is no# &i)en to ,s 8s o,r sole &,ide ,pon the p8th$ 7r8-er
<e8ns, +irst 8nd +ore<ost, 8 per+ect elie+ in 8 hi&her po#er$ .t <e8ns the desire 8nd
#illin&ness to s,<it o,r ?hi<8n8 or e&o 8t the +eet o+ 8 hi&her po#er$ Th,s, the
8c%,isition o+ Shr8ddh8 (interest) is no# pointed o,t to ,s$ The s,<ission o+ o,r person8l
e&o or ?hi<8n8 is neDt pointed o,t to ,s$ 3erein its n8t,r8l coroll8r-, the c,lti)8tion o+
the s,pre<e )irt,e o+ 8sol,te h,<ilit-, 8lso is indic8ted$ The +o,rth thin& th8t pr8-er
i<plies, 8s it h8s een &i)en to ,s speci+ic8ll- in the ,n+old<ent o+ the S>8nd8 *il8, is th8t
the ,lti<8te p,rpose o+ this pr8-er #8s to e &i)en 8 le8der, #ho< the (e)8s #ere to
+ollo#$ The see>er h8s to <8r> this$ The pr8-er #8s not +or po#er or 8ilit- to onesel+$ .+
#e c8re+,ll- re+lect o)er this, #e #ill +ind ho# this e8,ti+,ll- rin&s +orth the ,nderl-in&
l8# o+ spirit,8l ,n+old<ent #ith its ,lti<8te connot8tion o+ the tot8l er8dic8tion o+ the e&o$
The entire 8n8to<- o+ the spirit,8l li+e c8n e s,<<ed ,p in this one phr8se: the
8nnihil8tion o+ the indi)id,8l e&o so th8t the ,ni)ers8l e&o2conscio,sness <8- e
eDperienced$ The (e)8s pr8-ed not th8t the- <8- &et po#er to #in the ?s,r8s$ There is the
8ttit,de o+ #illin& sel+2e++8ce<ent, sel+28ne&8tion, 8 st8ndin& 8side so th8t the +,llest
<8ni+est8tion o+ the di)ine po#er <8- st8nd in +ront 8nd t8>e o)er the st8nd +ro< the<$
The- s8id: GWe 8re nothin&, &i)e ,s 8 le8der #ho< #e sh8ll #illin&l- +ollo# 8nd oe- 8nd
,nder #hose le8d this )ictor- <8- e ro,&ht 8o,t$H This indic8tes the reco&nition o+ the
non2doership o+ the indi)id,8l sel+ 8nd the S,pre<e doership the one doer, the S,pre<e
:od$ .t indic8tes th8t the S8dh8>8 or the see>er is ,t 8 <ere instr,<entE 8nd it is the *ord
3i<sel+, the ind#eller in the indi)id,8l, #ho t8>es o)er the S8dh8n8 8nd 8ct,8ll- does it$
When the see>er e&ins to +eel th8t e)en this S8dh8n8 is not done - hi<, ,t is the (i)ine
S8>ti th8t #or>s #ithin hi< 8nd en8les the S8dh8n8 to e #or>ed o,t 8nd #hich 8chie)es
the ,lti<8te +,l+il<ent o+ the (i)ine Will, then he st8rts on the re8l ,p#8rd <8rch 8nd r8pid
8scent to#8rds tri,<ph8nt di)init-$
Th,s the second 8spect o+ pr8-er ,n+olds itsel+ e+ore ,s$ We co<pletel- 8llo# the (i)ine
to t8>e ch8r&e o+ o,r person8lit-$ The see>er recedes into the 8c>&ro,nd 8nd there is 8
tot8l resi&n8tion to the #ill o+ the (i)ine$ G. 8< nothin&E Th- #ill e done$H This is the
+or<,l8 th8t >eeps t,ne to e)er- e8t o+ his he8rt, e)er- p,ls8tion in his od-$ The see>er
eco<es 8 tr8ns+or<ed ein&$
Th# Fina% Vi*"or.
S>8nd8 Sh8shthi is the Bo-o,s occ8sion +or ,s to #orship the *ord in 3is tri,<ph8nt, 8ll2
con%,erin& 8spect, #hen 3e 8nnihil8tes the l8st re<n8nts o+ the ?Bn8n8 o+ the Ii)8 8nd
si&n8ls the +in8l, concl,si)e )ictor- o+ the (i)ine o)er the ,ndi)ine, o+ *i&ht o)er d8r>ness,
o+ the ,lti<8te Ce8lit- - eDperiencin& #hich #e tr8nscend 8ll th8t is e)8nescent,
ephe<er8l, tr8nsitor- 8nd ,nre8l$ We +ind th8t 3e re)e8ls to ,s, in 3is *il8, the tr,th
e<odied in the ;p8nish8dic ,tter8nce: #i"e $nananna %uk"ih9Witho,t In8n8, #itho,t
the Tr8nscendent8l @no#led&e, there is no +reedo<, no ,lti<8te s8l)8tion$ This &re8t
decl8r8tion tells ,s e-ond 8ll do,t ho# it is the ,lti<8te, co<plete er8dic8tion o+ the l8st
tr8ces o+ ?Bn8n8 or A8-8 th8t 8lone c8n esto# ,pon the Ii)8 the hi&hest @8i)8l-8 Ao>sh8$
This is ro,&ht o,t to ,s in 8 thrillin& <8nner in the +in8l episode o+ the (i)ine S>8nd8 *il8
#herein the *ord en&8&es in 8ttle 8nd )8n%,ishes the three &re8t ?s,r8s9T8r8>8,
Si<h8<,>h8 8nd S,r8p8d<8, representin& @8r<8, @8<8 8nd ?)id-8, respecti)el-$
?+ter the +8ll o+ his rothers T8r8>8 8nd Si<h8<,>h8, S,r8p8d<8 hi<sel+ co<es to the
8ttle+ield$ 3e tries 8ll his de)ices 8nd +inds th8t none o+ these co,ld st8nd the onsl8,&ht o+
the di)ine &el (Spe8r) o+ *ord S>8nd8$ Then he t8>es di++erent +or<s 8nd +i&hts #ith the
*ord, so<eti<es )isile 8nd so<eti<es in)isile$ /,t the *ord destro-s 8ll his ill,sor-
tric>s 8nd <8>es hi< st8nd ere+t o+ his ch8riot, etc$ S,r8p8d<8 &i)es ,p the str,&&le 8nd
in the l8st 8ss8,lt r,shes ,pon the *ord in his tr,e +or<9si<ple e&o$ 5nce 8&8in, he is <et
- the di)ine Spe8r o+ S>8nd8 8nd there is the 8nnihil8tion o+ S,r8p8d<8, 8nd the *ord
8lone shines there in 8ll 3is tri,<ph8nt &lor-$
The &el itsel+ re)e8ls -et 8nother &re8t l8# ,pon the hi&her r,n&s o+ 6o&8$ The &el or
Spe8r is 8 #e8pon th8t t8pers into 8n 8sol,te sh8rp point 8nd )8nishes into nothin&ness
8o)e it$ .t represents the 8sol,te one2pointed concentr8tion, the ,nit8r- /r8h<8>8r8
4ritti$ When the /r8h<8>8r8 4ritti is held to the eDcl,sion o+ 8ll other 4rittis, the Ii)8
,lti<8tel- le8ps the 8rrier et#een S8)i>8lp8 8nd 0ir)i>8lp8 8nd is <er&ed in the hi&her
st8te o+ T,ri-8, #here the ?t<8n 8lone shines resplendent, 8nd there is no tr8ce o+ ?Bn8n8
or A8-8 le+t o)er$
We h8)e seen ho# the 8ccept8nce o+ :r8ce in the +or< o+ the p,ri+ied <ind or the S>8nd82
S8>ti <e8ns the necess8r- s,rrender o+ o,r lo#er ?hi<8n8 8t its +eet$ The 8ttle is o)erE
8nd )ictor- is to the (i)ine$ ?+ter th8t, the c,l<in8tin& e)ent is the s8cred 8lli8nce o+ the
*ord #ith 48lli$ This, too, &i)es the cl,e to the tr,e i<port o+ the script,res #hen there+er
to the ,lti<8te n8t,re o+ ?sol,te 5neness, ?sol,te ;nion o+ the Ii)8t<8n #ith the
78r8<8t<8n$ The see>er h8s co<pleted the process o+ 6o&8, 8nd S8tchid8n8nd8 8lone
eDists$ .t is 8ll *i&ht, Conscio,sness, /liss$
We sh8ll e &re8tl- ene+ited i+ #e re+lect ,pon these tr,ths de<onstr8ted in the S>8nd8
?)8t8r8$ A8- the :r8ce o+ the *ord S>8nd8 e e)er ,pon -o, 8llJ
Lord Skanda
(Sri Swami Krishnananda)
S>8nd8, the second son o+ Si)8, 8nd the -o,n&er rother o+ :8nesh8, is 8lso >no#n 8s
@,<8r8, @8rtti>e-8, Sh8n<,>h8, S,r8h<8n-8, 8nd <8n- other n8<es$ 3is 8nner is the
coc> 8nd )ehicle the pe8coc> #hich st8nds cl,tchin& 8 serpent in its t8lons$ 3is S8>tis or
insep8r8le po#ers 8re 48lli 8nd (e)8sen8 ((ei)8-8n8i) #ho< he 8ss,<ed in the co,rse o+
the &re8t histor- descriin& his <,lti+or<ed li+e o+ 8 series o+ eDploits oth in the celesti8l
8nd te<por8l re8l<s$ The de)otees o+ S>8nd8 +or< 8 l8r&e p8rt o+ the pop,l8tion especi8ll-
o+ So,thern .ndi8, 8nd constit,te one o+ the i<port8nt sections o+ the reli&ion o+ the
co,ntr-$ The 8d)ent o+ S>8nd8 #8s the 8c>&ro,nd o+ the occ8sion #hen Si)8 ,rnt
A8n<8th8 #ith 3is third e-e, 8 pen8lt- he in+licted on @8<8 or the &od o+ lo)e +or
dist,rin& hi< in his <edit8tion$ The stor- &oes th8t the sp8r>s #hich +l8shed +orth +ro<
the third e-e o+ Si)8 r,shed thro,&h sp8ce, #hich 48-, 8nd ?&ni c8rried 8nd dropped into
the ri)er :8n&8$ :8n&8, ein& ,n8le to cont8in the di)ine ener&-, sho)ed it on to her
8n>s, ,pon 8 shr, o+ reeds >no#n 8s Sara! There is th,s 8 co<in8tion o+ the ether, 8ir,
+ire, #8ter 8nd e8rth principles in the depositin& o+ the Tejas or ener&- o+ Si)8 in the #orld$
The c,<,l8ti)e +orce #hich co<ined the +or<s o+ the +i)e ele<ents i<pre&n8ted #ith the
di)ine po#er o+ Si)8 ((i)-82TeB8s) <8ni+ested itsel+ 8s 8 siD+old di)init- #ith siD +8ces
(Sh8n<,>h8), incl,din& oth the ,n<8ni+est 8nd <8ni+est ele<ents in 8 sin&le ein&$ This
is the child o+ Si)8, o+ <-sterio,s irth, <-sterio,s rin&in& ,p, ,nder <-sterio,s
circ,<st8nces, +or 8 <-sterio,s p,rpose #hich the &ods 8lone >ne#$ The third e-e
represents the principle o+ intelli&ence 8nd S>8nd8, th,s, 8s 8 re)el8tion thro,&h the third
e-e o+ Si)8, is s8id to st8nd +or 8n inc8rn8tion o+ (i)ine @no#led&e$
The princip8l #e8pon o+ S>8nd8 is 8 spe8r (&el), pointed 8t its end 8nd t8ll in st8t,re$
(e)otees ,nderst8nd - it the need +or one2pointedness o+ <ind in sl8-in& the de<on o+
i&nor8nce, #hich is eDpected to e sh8rp 8nd s,re in its 8i<$ The &ods, ,nder the 8d)ice o+
/r8h<8, conni)ed the irth o+ S>8nd8 thro,&h the instr,<ent8lit- o+ Si)8 8nd his consort
78r)8ti$ The ?s,r8s,9S,r8p8d<8, Si<h8<,>h8 8nd T8r8>8,9#ho #ro,&ht h8)oc
e)er-#here in cre8tion, co,ld e destro-ed onl- - the son o+ Si)8 <8ni+ested 8s 8 speci8l
di)ine 7o#er$ S>8nd8 ec8<e the :ener8l o+ the celesti8l +orces (Sen8ni) 8nd 3e is
#orshipped 8s the <8rti8l &od o+ 3ind,is<$ The d8- on #hich 3e sle# the ?s,r8 is
celer8ted on the siDth d8- o+ the ri&ht h8l+ o+ the <onth o+ @8rtti>8 (5ctoer20o)e<er)
8ccordin& to one tr8dition, 8nd the <onth o+ A8r&8sirsh8 (0o)e<er2(ece<er) 8ccordin&
to 8nother$
The S>8nd8 7,r8n8 is de)oted to the &lori+ic8tion o+ S>8nd8 8nd 3is sport+,l ro,tin& o,t o+
the ?s,r8s$ The &re8t 8ttle et#een the celesti8l +orces led - S>8nd8 8nd the ?s,r8s is 8n
epic - itsel+$ @8lid8s8=s Kumarasambhava is 8 +8<o,s S8ns>rit poe< on the irth o+ the
#8r2&od$ The T8<il poe<, KThir,pp,&8Fh=, - the s8int ?r,n8&irin8th8r, is held in 8s <,ch
estee< - the de)otees o+ S>8nd8 8s the 4ed8s in S8ns>rit or the K(i)-827r88ndh8<= in
T8<il 48ishn8)is< 8nd the KTe)8r8<= in T8<il S8i)is<$ 3is K@8nd8r8n,h,ti= 8nd
K@8nd8r8l8n>8r8<= 8re other reno#ned son&s on the lo)e 8nd eDperience o+ :od 8s S>8nd8$
.t <8- e s8+el- s8id th8t the c,lts o+ 4ishn,, Si)8, S8>ti, :8nesh8, S,r-8 8nd S>8nd8 +or<
the siD &re8t sections in the oo> o+ the reli&ion o+ the 3ind,s$ So<e #o,ld li>e to 8dd the
78s,p8t8 c,lt, #hich is 8 <inor &ro,p o+ the #orshippers o+ Si)8 in 8 p8rtic,l8r +or<$ The
A8h8h8r8t8 reco,nts the princip8l deeds o+ S>8nd8$ The @,<8r8 T8ntr8 +or<s 8n
i<port8nt liter8t,re on the #orship o+ S>8nd8$ The S>8nd8 7,r8n8 is 8 s8cred oo> de)oted
to S>8nd8, 8nd in its T8<il recension records the <i&ht- deeds o+ the &od$
H.mn "o Lord Shanmukha
(Sri Swami Shanmukhananda)
38il Sh8n<,>h8J 8ll h8il ,nto Thee, the ill,strio,s son o+ *ord Si)8J
SiD 8re the sp8r>s o+ li&ht +ro< Si)8=s Tri>,ti +l8shed,
SiD 8re Th- +8ces to re<ind the #orld o+ Th- 5<nipresence,
SiD 8re Th- 8ttri,tes 8nd +,nctions 8s Bhagavan o+ 8ll,
SiD 8re the letters o+ Th- A8ntr8 'Saravanabhava( +or 8ll,
SiD 8re the (e)is th8t n,rsed Thee +ro< the @8rtti> St8r,
SiD 8re the d8-s in the 4r8t8 o+ S>8nd8 Sh8shthi to &lori+- Th- ?)8t8r8J
38il Sh8n<,>h8J 38il ,nto TheeJ Tho, 8rt the *ord o+ the S8>tis:
The 7o#er o+ Will is 6o,r )**ha Sak"i,+48lli (e)i - n8<eE
The 7o#er o+ ?ction is 6o,r Kriya Sak"i,9(ei)8-8n8i o+ +8<eE
?nd $nana Sak"i,96o,r &el, th8t esto#s @no#led&e S,pre<e$
To protect the &ood 8nd p,nish the #ic>ed on this pl8ne
Tho, h8st descended +ro< 8o)e, 8s Si)8=s &lorio,s Son$
Tho, 8rt the ind#eller o+ the he8rts o+ 8ll cre8tion
?nd :,h8 is Th- n8<e, #ho d#ells in the c8)e o+ e)er- he8rt$
A8n- 8re the pl8ces #herein Th- Te<ples 8re ensconced,
?nd there Th- (i)ine For<s 8s S>8nd8 8nd S,r8h<8n-8 8re #orshipped$
To p,nish the ?s,r8s +or their #ic>ed deeds 6o, c8<e
?nd to s8)e the (e)8s +ro< their prolon&ed s,++erin&s ,ntoldE
To re<o)e the #8ils, s,++erin&s 8nd tri,l8tions o+ the #orld,
Cr8)in& Th- <erc- 8nd protection <en see> Th- *ot,s Feet$
.t is told th8t the (i)ine Sp8r>s o+ Si)8, Aother :8n&8 c8rried
To le8)e the< in the 7ool o+ Saravana 8t the ehest o+ the *ord$
;n8le to e8r the scorchin&, +ier- l8Fe o+ the Sp8r>s,
:8n&8 h,rried ,p to the pool Saravana 8nd le+t the< there$
Tho,&h desiro,s o+ h8)in& Thee, the &lor- 8nd &r8ce o+ *ord Si)8,
6et, ,n8le to e8r 6o, in the &lo#in& Sp8r>s, she h,rried to le8)e 6o, there$
Wh8t thenJ 3er #ishes #ere +,l+illed - the &r8ce o+ *ord Si)8,
?nd S>8nd8, 3is son, #8s orn to esto# on one 8nd 8ll pe8ce 8nd liss$
7r8ise e ,nto Thee, *ord S>8nd8J Tho, 8rt >no#n 8s Kaliyuga &arada,
To s8+e&,8rd ri&hteo,sness 8nd destro- ?dh8r<8 in this l8nd o+ Seers$
A8n- Th- +or<sE 8nd <8n- 8re Th- #8-s to esto# &ood ,pon <8n$
7erh8ps in this .ron ?&e to +,l+il Th- <ission o+ protectin& the :ood
Tho, h8st co<e do#n to the K?ode o+ /liss= in the lo+t- 3i<8l8-8sE
Son o+ Siva, to esto# Ananda on 8ll, in n8<e Sivananda,
Where on the slopes o+ the hills the hol- :8n&8 rolls on,
There Th- 8ode #ith 8ll Th- &r8ces +illed, the Ku"ir Ananda!
?nd to +i&ht .&nor8nce 8nd Worldliness o+ n8t,re ?s,ric
Tho, h8st enc8<ped #ith 6o,r 8r<- o+ (e)8s in the #ilderness$
?nd the 8r<- 8t Th- co<<8nd +i&hts d8il- #ith these ?s,r8s dre8d$
A8n- 8 <issile is sent - Thee 8cross the )8st co,ntr-
To te8r 8s,nder the ?s,ric n8t,re, +orces ,ndi)ine 8nd A8-8=s )eil$
Aess8&es, letters 8nd oo>s +l- 8cross, li>e 8rro#s s#i+t,
To 8nnihil8te i&nor8nce 8nd co<+ort the s,++erin& Ii)8sJJ
Th- #ords o+ inspir8tion 8nd lessin&s re8ch the <8n-E
The- ele)8te the depressed, 8nd in+,se Fe8l into 8ll see>ers o+ Tr,th$
/esto#in& the hi&hest pe8ce 8nd liss to 8ll e8rnest 8spir8nts,
Tho, desp8tcheth the <i&ht- K&el( in the +or< o+ th- :r8ces$
:lor- to TheeJ S>8nd8, in +or< Si)8n8nd8, Th- #8-s 8re <-sterio,sE
/,t F8ith 8nd *o)e e)er re)e8l to <8n the hidden &lories o+ :odJJ
Sain" Aruna-iri&s /andar Anu$hu"i
S8int ?r,n8&iri is o+ 8n eDtr8ordin8r- t-pe$ To hi< *ord S>8nd8 3i<sel+ 8ppe8red 8s :,r,
8nd &8)e ,padesa, 8 I8p82A8l8, etc$ 8nd the S8int h8d, - the ,n,s,8l &r8ce o+ the *ord,
Ce8lis8tion or :od2eDperience, 8s 8 res,lt o+ #hich he &8)e o,t <8n- #or>s o+ eD%,isite
T8<il )erses$
S8int ?r,n8&irin8th8r h8s s,n& 16,000 poe<s c8lled Tiruppuga-h, K:lor- o+ the *ord=,
tho,&h onl- 8o,t 1,300 o+ the< 8re 8)8il8le no#$ This is his <8in, reno#ned #or>$ 3is
other #or>s 8re Tiruvaguppu, Kandar Ana"a"i, Kandar Alankaaram, %ayil &iru""am, &el
&iru""am, Seval &iru""am, Tiru .-hu Ku""rrirukkai, 8nd Kandar Anubhu"i$
Kandaranubhu"i is 8 s<8ll #or> o+ 51 )erses$ Tho,&h, +ro< the point o+ )ie# o+ the
n,<er 8nd siFe o+ the )erses, @8nd8r8n,h,ti is 8 s<8ll tre8tise, -et it is the <ost deep
8nd direct$ .t is 8 po#er+,l #or> 8nd &i)es the direct (i)ine EDperience o+ the S8int, 8s 8lso
inti<8te cl,es +or S8dh8>8s to 8tt8in th8t eDperience$ .t is 8 #or> on Anubhu"i or :od2
8tt8in<ent 8nd is the cro#nin& &lor- o+ 8ll the #or>s o+ the S8int$ .t is re&8rded 8s 8
A8ntr82S8str8, #itho,t 8n e%,8l to it, 8nd is held in hi&h estee< - 8ll$
The ter< Kandaranubhu"i is deri)ed +ro< Kandar 8nd Anubhu"i! K@8nd8r= in T8<il is
KS>8nd8= in S8ns>rit$ K?n,h,ti= <e8ns Keco<in& one #ith=, or KEDperience$= 3ence
@8nd8r8n,h,ti <e8ns to eco<e one #ith S>8nd8 8nd denotes :od2EDperience$ This is 8
#or> s,n& - S8int ?r,n8&irin8th8r 8s 8 res,lt o+ his :od2EDperience or K@8nd8r
?n,h,ti=, #hich 8lso directs others to th8t EDperience$ .t is the eDperience o+ the S8int
&i)en eDpression to in s,ch po#er+,l #ords th8t, #hen it is repe8ted - others, it is c8p8le
o+ rin&in& the s8<e eDperience in the<, in d,e co,rse$ S,ch is the &lor- o+ the #or>$
Kandaranubhu"i is considered - <8n- to e 8 collection o+ )erses independentl- s,n& -
the S8int 8t di++erent ti<es in 8ccord8nce #ith the pre)8ilin& >ind o+ reli&io,s 8nd spirit,8l
eD8lt8tion o+ his <ind$ 3ence #e <8- not see <,ch contin,itin the ide8s con)e-ed - the
)erses, i$e$, the ide8s eDpressed in the )erses 8ppe8r to e independent 8nd not closel-
connected$ /,t 8 deeper 8nd inti<8te st,d- o+ the #or> #o,ld re)e8l 8n esoteric <e8nin& in
the #or>98n inner lin> o+ ide8s +ro< )erse to )erse9#hich l8-s o,t 8 <ethod o+ S8dh8n8
to 8 serio,s see>er 8+ter Tr,th, t8>in& hi< +ro< the e8rliest st8&es o+ S8dh8n8, thro,&h
di++erent le)els o+ eDperience, hintin& 8t the di++ic,lties th8t he h8s to +8ce 8nd the <ethods
o+ o)erco<in& the<, 8nd +in8ll- &r8ntin& hi< Anubhu"i or :od2EDperience$ .t is 8
<8r)ello,s piece o+ #or>, 8 <8sterpiece o+ S8int ?r,n8&iri$
This is considered 8s 8 A8ntr82S8str8,98 tre8tise consistin& o+ %an"ras or <-stic
+or<,l8e,98nd 8 d8il- recit8tion o+ Kandaranubhu"i is indeed c8p8le o+ esto#in&
#h8te)er one #ishes, in the <8nner one #ishes$ .t is 8 A8ntr82S8str8 ec8,se it cont8ins
se)er8l A8ntr8s in itE K&elum %ayilum Thunai(, in )erse 1E 'Kumaraya /amah(, in )erse
36E 'Aham Brahma Asmi(, in )erse 37$ The &el is 8 <-stic, (i)ine We8pon 8nd is re+erred
to - the S8int 8s %an"ra0&el in one o+ his Tiruppuga-h son&s$ 5,t o+ the 51 )erses, in !5
)erses there is in)oc8tion to the &el directl-, 8nd in 1 to the 7e8coc>$ ?nd in 8ddition, e8ch
)erse is replete #ith the di++erent 08<es o+ the *ord, s,ch 8s @8nd8, A,r,&8, :,h8,
Sh8n<,>h8, 4el8-,dh8, @,<8r8, the pe8coc>2rider, the consort o+ 48lli, etc$, +ro< the
e&innin& to the end$ For 8ll these re8sons, the #or> Kandaranubhu"i is considered 8s 8
A8ntr82S8str8$
We <8- re&8rd G@8nd8r8n,h,tiH 8s the cro#nin& &lor- o+ S8int ?r,n8&iri=s #or>s,
tho,&h e8ch other #or> o+ his h8s 8 p,rpose, speci8lit- 8nd ch8r< o+ its o#n$ ?ll the #or>s
o+ ?r,n8&iri p,t to&ether <8- e re&8rded 8s the K?r,n8&iri 4ed8=, o+ #hich
Kandaranubhu"i #o,ld +or< the K?n,h,ti2;p8nish8d=$ .t is the c,l<in8tin& 8nd the
#isdo<2portion o+ his #or>s$ The 51 )erses o+ Kandaranubhu"i 8re )eril- 51 A8ntr8s, li>e
the ;p8nish8dic A8ntr8s,9so concise, so pith-, 8nd so re)it-2+illed, #ith <8n- secret
cl,es to hi&her <edit8tion 8nd 8tt8in<ent$ We c8n s8- #itho,t the le8st hesit8tion th8t the
tre8tise +,l+ils the p,rpose o+ 8n ;p8nish8d, re<8r>8l-$ Tr,l- it is 8 A8ntr82S8str8J
We c8n p8- no etter tri,te to S8int ?r,n8&iri 8nd his ,ni%,e #or> G@8nd8r8n,h,tiH then
#h8t S8int Th8-,<8n8)8 S#8<i&8l h8s s8id: GWhen sh8ll e th8t lessed d8-, #hen . sh8ll
&et the &r8ce o+ <- (spirit,8l) +8ther (s8int ?r,n8&iri) #ho, ot8inin& Anubhu"i (or (irect
Spirit,8l EDperience) o+ *ord S>8nd8, h8s s,n& (the #or>) Kandaranubhu"i12
.t is, there+ore, e-ond do,t 8nd disp,te th8t ?r,n8&iri 8tt8ined :od2EDperience +irst 8nd
then &8)e the #or> Kandaranubhu"i to the #orld$ S,ch :od2eDperienced s8ints 8re the
Si)8Bn8n8 6o&is or Ii)8n<,>t8s, 8nd the- 8re ch8r8cterised - eDtre<e co<p8ssion to
people$ The- 8re in const8nt ,nion #ith :od 8nd their 8ctions 8re )eril- :od=s 8ctions$ :od
spe8>s 8nd does s,perh,<8n thin&s thro,&h the< +or the ene+it o+ the #orld$
Kandaranubhu"i <8-, there+ore, e s8id to e 8 di)ine &i+t to the see>er2#orld$
A8- #e sin& @8nd8r8n,h,ti d8il-J A8- #e recite it d8il-J A8- #e t8>e to 8 deeper st,d-
o+ it 8nd conte<pl8te on the tr,ths con)e-ed thereinJ A8- #e 8ll 8tt8in th8t lessed (i)ine2
EDperience #hich S8int ?r,n8&irin8th8r h8dJ A8- the S8int less ,s 8llJ A8- the lessin&s
o+ S8t&,r, S#88nd8 e ,pon ,s 8llJ
S-T*ON ON-
In"rodu*"or.
01 Invo*a"or.
7rostr8tions 8nd s8l,t8tions to *ord S,r8h<8n-8, the S,pre<e /ein&,9#ho is the r,ler o+
this ;ni)erse, #ho is the .nd#eller o+ o,r he8rts, #ho is the second son o+ *ord Si)8, #ho
is the elo)ed o+ 48lli 8nd (ei)8-8ni, #ho esto#s oons %,ic>l- on 3is de)otees 8nd #ho
is 8n e<odi<ent o+ 7o#er, Wisdo<, *o)e 8nd /liss$
*ord S,r8h<8n-8 is 8n ?)8t8r8 o+ *ord Si)8$ ?ll inc8rn8tions 8re <8ni+est8tions o+ the
5ne S,pre<e *ord$ *ord S,r8h<8n-8 8nd *ord @rishn8 8re one$ *ord @rishn8 s8-s in the
:it8, GSenaninam Aharn Skandah,H9G5+ the :ener8ls, . 8< S>8nd8$H The *ord <8ni+ests
3i<sel+ +ro< ti<e to ti<e in )8rio,s n8<es 8nd +or<s +or est8lishin& (h8r<8 8nd
p,nishin& the #ic>ed$
*ord S,r8h<8n-8 is 8 r8- orn o+ the Ch8it8n-8 o+ *ord Si)8$ 3e is the ener&- o+ *ord
Si)8$ 48lli 8nd (ei)8-8ni 8re 3is t#o (i)ine consorts$ The- represent the )**ha Shak"i 8nd
the Kriya Shak"i o+ the *ord$ 3e is 8 Pra"yaksha eva"a in this @8li 6,&8, li>e 38n,<8n$
3e esto#s on 3is de)otees <8teri8l 8nd spirit,8l prosperit- 8nd s,ccess in 8ll their
,ndert8>in&s, e)en 8t the sli&htest de)otion sho#n to 3i<$ 3e is #orshipped <,ch in
So,th .ndi8$ :,h8, A,r,&8, @,<8res8, @8rtti>e-8, Sh8n<,>h8 (he #ho h8s siD +8ces),
S,r8h<8n-8, S>8nd8, 4el8-,dh8 (he #ho #e8rs the Spe8r), S8r8)8n8h8)8 8re
s-non-<o,s ter<s$
.n the pict,re, *ord2S,r8h<8n-8 holds the &el or Spe8r in 3is h8nd, B,st 8s *ord Si)8
holds the Trident or Tris,l8$ The 4el is 8n e<le< o+ 7o#er, 8nd indic8tes th8t 3e is the
r,ler o+ this ;ni)erse$ (e)otees o+ *ord S,r8h<8n-8 do oeis8nce to the 4el$ 3is )ehicle
or 48h8n8 is the pe8coc>: this is - #8- o+ represent8tion th8t he h8s entirel- con%,ered
pride, e&ois<, )8nit-$ There is 8 cor8 ,nder 3is Feet: this is to indic8te th8t 3e is
8sol,tel- +e8rless, i<<ort8l 8nd #ise$ 48lli is on 3is one side, (ei)8-8n8i is on the other$
So<eti<es 3e st8nds 8lone #ith the 4el$ 3e is then c8lled - the n8<e o+ (8nd8p8ni$ This
represents 3is 0ir&,n8 8spect #hich is +ree +ro< A8-8$
The siD he8ds represent the siD r8-s or the siD 8ttri,tes )iF$ $nana (#isdo<), &airagya
(disp8ssion), Bala (stren&th), Kir"i (+8<e), Sree (#e8lth) 8nd Aishvarya (di)ine po#ers)$
The- indic8te th8t 3e is the so,rce +or the +o,r 4ed8s, 4ed8n&8s 8nd the siD schools o+
philosoph-E th8t 3e h8s controlled the +i)e In8n8 .ndri-8s 8nd the <ind$ The- denote th8t
3e is the 4ir8t 7,r,sh8 #ith co,ntless he8ds$ The- si&ni+- th8t 3is he8d is t,rned
e)er-#here (4is)8to<,>h8): 3e is 8ll2per)8din&$ The- indic8te th8t 3e is o<nipotent 8nd
th8t 3e c8n <,ltipl- 8nd 8ss,<e +or<s 8t 3is #ill$
There 8re i& te<ples dedic8ted to *ord S,r8h<8n-8 in Tir,chend,r (in Tinne)ell-
(istrict), in ;dipi, 78l8ni 3ills, Tir,tt8ni, @8thir&8<8< (Sri *8n>8) 8nd in
Tir,pp8r8n>,nr8<$ .+ one &oes to @8thir&8<8< #ith +8ith, de)otion 8nd piet- 8nd st8-s in
the te<ple +or t#o or three d8-s, *ord S,r8h<8n-8 &i)es 3is &ibhu"i to the de)otee in the
sh8pe o+ instr,ctions$ The de)otee &ets <-stic8l eDperiences$ ? i& +esti)8l is held in this
te<ple e)er- -e8r on S>8nd8 Sh8shthi$ Ao,nt8ins o+ c8<phor 8re ,rnt on this occ8sion$
Tho,s8nds o+ people &8ther there +or the occ8sion$
(,rin& S>8nd8 Sh8shthi, the d8- on #hich *ord S,r8h<8n-8 >illed the de<on
S,r8p8d<8, &r8nd +esti)8ls 8re held #ith &re8t po<p 8nd &r8nde,r 8t )8rio,s pl8ces in
So,th .ndi8$ (e)otees do #orship, /h8B8n 8nd @irt8n on this d8- on 8n 8l<ost eDtr8)8&8nt
sc8le$ Tho,s8nds 8re +ed s,<pt,o,sl-$ A8n- inc,r8le dise8ses 8re c,red, i+ one )isits
78l8ni 8nd #orships the *ord there$ .n So,th .ndi8 *ord S,r8h<8n-8=s *il8s 8re
dr8<8tised 8nd per+or<ed in open 8ir the8tres$
The +8<o,s poet 08>eer8r h8s s,n& 'Thirumuruga""rupadai( in pr8ise o+ S>8nd8$ 3e #ho
st,dies this +8<o,s oo> d8il- #ith de)otion, &ets s,ccess in li+e, pe8ce 8nd prosperit-$
Thiruppuga-h is 8 +8<o,s oo> in T8<il #hich cont8ins the inspirin& son&s o+
?r,n8&irin8th8r in pr8ise o+ *ord S,r8h<8n-8$ ?r,n8&irin8th8r h8d direct (8rsh8n o+ the
*ord$ @8)8dichind, son&s 8lso 8re in pr8ise o+ *ord S,r8h<8n-8$
5 *ord S,r8h<8n-8J 5 ?ll2<erci+,l *ordJ We h8)e neither +8ith nor de)otion$ We do not
>no# ho# to #orship Thee in the proper <8nner, or to <edit8te ,pon Thee$ We 8re Th-
children #ho h8)e lost the #8-, +or&otten the &o8l 8nd Th- 08<e$ .s it not Th- d,t-, 5
Co<p8ssion8te F8ther, to t8>e 8c> these lost children ,nder Th- shelter, to c8ress 8nd
protect the<, 8nd to sho#er Th- &r8ce 8nd enedictions on the<L
5 Aother 48lliJ Will -o, not intercede +or ,s #ith Th- *ordL Aother=s *o)e +or 3er
children is <i&htier th8n 8n- other e<otion in this #orld$ Tho,&h #e h8)e eco<e
#orthless 8nd ,nd,ti+,l children, 5 elo)ed Aother, p8rdon ,s$ A8>e ,s d,ti+,l 8nd
+8ith+,l$ We 8re Thine +ro< this )er- second$ ?l#8-s Thine$ ?ll is Thine$ .t is the Aother=s
d,t- to correct, ed,c8te, recti+- 8nd <o,ld 3er rec>less children #hen the- str8- 8#8-
+ro< the ri&ht p8th$ Ce<o)e the &,l+ th8t sep8r8tes, or the )eil th8t hides, ,s +ro< Thee$
/less ,s$ Enli&hten ,s$ T8>e ,s 8c> to Th- *ot,s Feet$ We h8)e nothin& <ore to S8-$ This
is o,r +er)ent pr8-er to Thee 8nd Th- *ord, o,r elo)ed 8nd etern8l p8rents$
21 Th# Worship o( Lord Skanda
The #orship o+ *ord Sh8n<,>h8 is )erco<<on in So,th .ndi8$ ?l<ost e)er- to#n in the
So,th h8s its te<ple dedic8ted to *ord Sh8n<,>h8$ The T8<ils h8)e n8<ed Sh8n<,>h8 8s
A,r,&8n$ I,st 8s the :od o+ Winds is 48-,, the :od o+ W8ters 48r,n8, the T8<il ter< +or
the *ord o+ 08t,re is A,r,&8n$
The ter< A,r,&8n, in T8<il, denotes the (eit- possessed o+ ,ndec8-in& e8,t-,
e)erl8stin& -o,th 8nd :odliness$ ?n- (eit- #ho is endo#ed #ith the 8o)e 8ttri,tes is
tr,l- A,r,&8n$ 3ence the #orship o+ S>8nd8 or A,r,&8n does not pert8in to 8n- sect or
creed$ 7erh8ps it is the o,tco<e o+ 8n inherent desire o+ <8n to eDpress his &r8tit,de +or 8n
,n>no#n 8nd hidden 7o#er, #hich esto#s ,pon hi< e)er- &ood 8nd re<o)es 8ll his
s,++erin&s$ Worship o+ *ord A,r,&8n is t8nt8<o,nt to the #orship o+ 08t,re$ ?s 08t,re
8o,nds #ith so,l2stirrin& 8nd inspirin& l8ndsc8pes 8nd is the so,rce 8nd s,pport o+ 8ll
li)in& ein&s on e8rth, the 8ncients h8)e tho,&ht it ri&ht to &lori+- 08t,re$
To le8d 8 n8t,r8l li+e is to li)e #ith 08t,re$ This is the li+e in conson8nce #ith the (i)ine
Will$ Control o+ the senses, 8n&er 8nd l,st is the #8- to 8chie)e the hi&her li+e$ ?nd the
<ost i<port8nt +or< o+ #orship th8t 8 h,<8n ein& c8n o++er ,nto the *ord is - not
h,rtin& others either - tho,&ht or #ord or deed$ 5nl- then li+e in n8t,re eco<es s<ooth
8nd h8pp-$ .t is this >ind o+ #orship 8nd li+e th8t the S>8nd8 7,r8n8 te8ches ,s thro,&h the
#orship o+ the S8&,n8 +or< o+ *ord S>8nd8$ .ndeed it is the co,nsel o+ Christ: GTre8t th-
nei&ho,r 8s th- o#n Sel+H 8nd G(o ,nto others 8s tho, #ishest to e done -$H ?nd the
Essence o+ 8ll reli&ions is onl- to 8st8in +ro< in+lictin& inB,r- on 8n-one,9Ahimsa
Paramodharmah$
3ence, #hene)er #e #orship *ord A,r,&8n, #e sho,ld h8)e the Bhava K. pr8- ,nto 3i<,
#ho is the ?ll27er)8din& /e8,ti+,l 5ne, the .nd#eller o+ 8ll, in the For< o+ *ord
S,r8h<8n-8 or A,r,&8n$= This S8&,n8 +or< o+ the *ord is onl- to &i)e 8 hold 8nd &r8sp
+or the <ind to ,nderst8nd the .<<ort8l, the 5<nipotent 8nd the 5<niscient 8ttri,tes o+
the ?l<i&ht-, #ho is 8t once .n+inite 8nd the .nd#eller o+ e)er- he8rt$
?s in the #orship o+ other (eities, in the Saguna #orship o+ *ord S>8nd8 8lso, there 8re
so<e &ra"as, or oser)8nces$ There #8s once 8 >in&, A,ch,>,nd8 - n8<e$ 3e #8s 8
st8,nch S8i)ite$ 3e 8ppro8ched S8&e 48sishth8 to 8d)ise hi< on the i<port8nce 8nd
<ethods o+ oser)in& so<e 4r8t8 - #hich he co,ld &8in person8l s,ccess, pe8ce 8nd
prosperit-$ 48sishth8 indic8ted the 4r8t8s o+ *ord S>8nd8 8nd det8iled their si&ni+ic8nces$
5ne o+ the< is the 4r8t8 oser)ed on e)er- Frid8-$ /- oser)in& this 4r8t8 o+ Frid8- +or 3
-e8rs, /h8&ir8th8 o)erc8<e his ene<- :or8$ 5n Frid8-, 8+ter 8 cle8n 8th, one sho,ld do
7,B8 8nd ?rch8n8 +or the *ord #ith eDtre<e de)otion$ 3e #ho does this is o,nd to
8chie)e s,ccess in 8ll his ,ndert8>in&s$
?nother 4r8t8 is the @8rtti>8i 4r8t8$ 5n e)er- @8rtti>8i (3rd constell8tion o+ the !7 st8rs)
d8-, this 4r8t8 is to e oser)ed #ith +8ith 8nd de)otion, 8nd #ith eDtern8l p,ri+ic8tion - 8
8th, e+ore the 7,B8, etc$ This 4r8t8 #8s oser)ed - 08r8d8 Cishi 8s per the 8d)ice o+
*ord :8nes8$ ?+ter 8 period o+ 1! -e8rs, 08r8d8 &8ined his 8<ition, )iF$, the s,pre<e
position 8<on& the &re8t S8pt8 Cishis$
The <ost i<port8nt o+ 8ll the 4r8t8s o+ *ord Sh8n<,>h8 is the S>8nd8 Sh8shthi 4r8t8$ .t is
to e co<<enced on the 7r8th8<8 Tithi (the d8- i<<edi8tel- +ollo#in& (ip8)8li) o+ the
S,>l8 78>sh8 (ri&ht +ortni&ht) in the <onth o+ Aippasi (5ctoer20o)e<er)$ ? co<plete
+8st sho,ld e oser)ed 8nd the de)otee sho,ld en&8&e hi<sel+ solel- in the 7,B8 o+ the
*ord, in re8din& 8nd le8rnin& o+ the &lories o+ *ord S>8nd8, /h8B8n, <edit8tion, etc$ .+
+8stin& +or siD d8-s contin,o,sl- is li>el- to pro)e too <,ch o+ 8 str8in, he <8- h8)e one
<e8l per d8- 8nd +8st co<pletel- on the l8st d8-, i$e$ the Sh8shthi (8-$ This is the d8- to
co<<e<or8te the )ictor- o+ *ord Sh8n<,>h8 o)er the ?s,r8 >in&, S,r8p8d<8n$ 7ersons
#ho oser)e this 4r8t8 8chie)e s,ccess in 8ll their ,ndert8>in&s 8nd in the end 8tt8in
*ier8tion$
38)in& th,s he8rd 8ll 8o,t the 4r8t8s 8nd their i<port8nce, >in& A,ch,>,nd8 too> le8)e
o+ S8&e 48sishth8$ With +8ith 8nd sincerit- he oser)ed the< 8nd h8d (8rsh8n o+ *ord
S,r8h<8n-8 #ho lessed 3is de)otee #ith pe8ce, plent-, prosperit- 8nd Kaivalya
%oksha!
A8- *ord S,r8h<8n-8 &r8nt -o, stren&th to oser)e s,ch 4r8t8s 8nd <8- -o, 8ll e the
+ort,n8te recipients o+ 3is /lessin&sJ
31 Th# Pr#vious !ir"h o( "h# Asuras
The s8&es #ho he8rd the *il8s o+ *ord S>8nd8 8s>ed S,t8 Cishi ho# S,r8p8d<8 h8ppened
to e the &ahana or )ehicle o+ the *ord 8nd >illed in the 8ttle+ield - the *ord$ .n repl- to
this, the Cishi &8)e 8 rie+ 8cco,nt o+ the li)es o+ the ?s,r8s prior to their irths 8s
S,r8p8d<8, Si<h8<,>h8, T8r8>8s,r8 8nd ?B8<,>hi$
5nce the (e)8s 8sse<led 8t @8il8s8 to #itness the T8nd8)8 d8nce o+ *ord Si)8$ ?+ter
le8)in& their 48h8n8s 8t the +oot o+ the hill, /r8h<8, 4ishn, 8nd *ord @8rti> #ent ,p to
h8)e the T8nd8)8 (8rsh8n$ The S#8n, the :8r,d8, the 7e8coc> 8nd the Coc> #ere st8ndin&
8t the +oot o+ the hill$
While 8ll the (e)8s #ere 8sent, +o,r o+ the /h,t8&8n8s o+ *ord Si)8, (S,r8, 78d<8,
Si<h8<,>h8 8nd T8r8>8) cre8ted 8 +i&ht 8<on&st the 7e8coc> 8nd the Coc> on the one
side, 8nd the S#8n 8nd the :8r,d8 on the other side$ The- the<sel)es Boined the +or<er
8nd in+licted se)ere inB,ries on the S#8n 8nd the :8r,d8$
4ishn, 8nd /r8h<8 co<pl8ined to *ord S>8nd8$ *ord S>8nd8 c,rsed the /h,t8&8n8s to e
orn in the d-n8st- o+ the ?s,r8s 8nd tort,re the (e)8s 8nd to e the<sel)es +in8ll-
destro-ed - 3is &el 8s p,nish<ent +or their 8ctions$ Th,s S,r8p8d<8 8nd others too> their
irths in the ?s,r8 d-n8st- 8nd c8<e to e >no#n 8s S,r8p8d<8, Si<h8<,>h8 8nd T8r8>8$
?nd these :8n8s petitioned to the *ord to &r8nt the< their re%,est o+ eco<in& 48h8n8s,9
the Coc> 8nd the 7e8coc> +or 3i<, the *ion +or the (e)i 8nd the Eleph8nt +or S8sht8$
These oons #ere &r8nted$ .n this #8-, S,r8p8d<8 ec8<e the 48h8n8 8nd Fl8&2coc> o+
*ord S>8nd8$ Si<h8<,>h8, 8+ter his de8th, ec8<e the 48h8n8 o+ @8li (e)i$ T8r8>8s,r8,
8s 8n eleph8nt, ser)ed 38ri238r827,tr8 8s his 48h8n8$
M M M
?nother stor- is told in the 7,r8n8 8o,t the pre)io,s li+e o+ the ?s,r8s$ /e+ore he #8s
incl,ded in the /h,t8&8n8s o+ *ord Si)8, the ?s,r8, S,r8p8d<8 h8d een the B,st >in&
7r8h8>8r8, r,lin& o)er 8 i& >in&do< in the isl8nd o+ S8>8s$ 5n he8rin& +ro< S8&e
?&8sti-8r 8o,t the si&ni+ic8nce o+ ein& 8 48h8n8 to *ord @8rtti>e-8 in the +or< o+ 8
Coc> 8nd 8 7e8coc>, he did ri&oro,s T8p8s 8nd #8s &r8nted the pri)ile&e o+ ein& 8<on&st
the /h,t8&8n8s o+ *ord Si)8$
F,rther, re&8rdin& T8r8>8s,r8 8nd Si<h8<,>h8, it is rel8ted th8t the- +er)entl- desired to
eco<e the 48h8n8s o+ Sri (e)i 8nd A8h8 Sh8sht8, 8s *ion 8nd Eleph8nt$ 5n le8rnin&
+ro< S8&e Trin8ind, ho# to 8chie)e this, the- did T8p8s 8nd #ere <8de to ser)e *ord
Si)8 8s /h,t8&8n8s 8lon& #ith S,r8 8nd 78d<8$
5nce ?s,rendr8 so,&ht *ord Si)8=s protection 8&8inst 3is /h,t8&8n8s ,nder S,r8, 78d<8,
Si<h8<,>h8 8nd T8r8>8s,r8, #ho in 8 8ttle #ith the ?s,r8s cr,shed the< 8nd in+licted 8
se)ere de+e8t on the ?s,r8 d-n8st-$ /- the c,rse o+ *ord Si)8, the- #ere orn 8s ?s,r8s
>no#n - the n8<e o+ S,r8p8d<8, Si<h8<,>h8 8nd T8r8>8s,r8, 8nd, 8t their re%,est, the-
#ere <8de - *ord @8rtti>e-8 the 48h8n8s o+ their respecti)e (e)8s, 8t the end o+ their
+i&ht #ith the *ord$
?B8<,>hi, the sister o+ the ?s,r8 >in& S,r8p8d<8 #8s, in her pre)io,s irth, Chitr8re>h8$
3er h,s8nd #8s 7,nd8ri>8s8r<8$ Chitr8re>h8 #8s possessed o+ 8n eDtre<el- l,st+,l
n8t,re 8nd she led 8 li+e o+ sheer de8,cher-, in spite o+ the presence o+ her h,s8nd$ Still
the /r8h<in, 7,nd8ri>8s8r<8, lo)ed her <,ch$ .t so h8ppened th8t once s8&e (,r)8s8
ch8nced to co<e to the ho,se o+ this /r8h<in$
5,t o+ eDtre<e l,st she h,&&ed the s8&e$ Cendered +,rio,s - her #8ntonness, the s8&e
t,rned his #r8th in +,ll on her$ ;n8le to #ithst8nd the +,r- o+ the s8&e, Chitr8re>h8 #ent
to the street 8nd hid hersel+ 8<idst 8 herd o+ sheep$ She #8s, ho#e)er, +o,nd o,t - the
s8&eE 8nd one o+ his disciples tied her to the r8nches o+ 8 8n-8n tree$ The s8&e c,rsed her
to e orn in the ?s,r8 d-n8st- #ith the +8ce o+ 8 &o8t$ ?nd thro,&h her l,st+,l cr8)in&s,
the s8&e told her, she #o,ld h8)e t#o sons$ These sons #ere 4il)8l8n 8nd 48t8p8i$
?nd A8-8, h8)in& the s8<e @8s-8p8 Cishi 8s her h,s8nd in her pre)io,s irth, h8d <8n-
sons #ho #ere >illed 8nd destro-ed - the (e)8s$ To 8)en&e the de+e8t o+ her sons, A8-8
8)o#ed to destro- the (e)8s - her sons orn o+ the s8<e s8&e in 8nother irth$ 3er #ishes
#ere &r8ti+ied$
41 Sri /ar""ik#.a and Tarakasura A**ordin- "o Skanda ,aha Purana5
,ah#svar /handa
?+ter /8li, @8l @h8nB8, A8h8ro,dr8, @8l8>e-8, 0i)8t8 @8)8ch8, etc$, #ere orn 8s ene<ies
to .ndr8$ T8r8>8s,r8, son o+ 08<,chi, did se)ere T8p8s-8 or pen8nce$ /r8h<8 #8s ple8sed$
T8r8>8s,r8 #8nted to e Ajar, Amar 8nd Ajeya (i<perish8le, i<<ort8l 8nd in)incile)$
/r8h<8 &8)e hi< the oon o+ Ajaya"vam (li)in& in)incile or ,ncon%,er8le)$ 3e 8tt8c>ed
8nd con%,ered the (e)8s (the &ods) 8&8in 8nd 8&8in$
The &ods 8ppro8ched 4ishn,$ 4ishn, 8s>ed the< to +ind o,t so<e <e8ns to &et Si)8
<8rried, #ho #8s then in S8<8dhiE S8ti h8d ,rnt her od- in (8>sh8=s 68Bn8 8nd #8s
orn - then 8s d8,&hter to 3i<8)8n, the Ao,nt8in2@in&, 78r)8ti - n8<e$
The &ods 8ppro8ched 3i<8)8n 8nd pers,8ded hi< to &et his d8,&hter 78r)8ti <8rried to
Si)8 8nd th,s ser)e the p,rpose o+ the (e)8s, #ho #ere oppressed - T8r8>8s,r8$ Since
none ,t one orn o+ Si)8 8lone co,ld >ill T8r8>8s,r8, 3i<8)8n too> his ei&ht2-e8r old
d8,&hter 78r)8ti to Si)8$ 3e pr8-ed to Si)8 +or per<ission to co<e to 3i< d8il- +or
KWorship=$ Si)8 &r8nted this oon ,t desired 3i<8)8n not to rin& 78r)8ti #ith hi< 8n-
<ore$ 78r)8ti protested 8nd re<inded 3i< o+ 3is di)ine n8t,re 8nd entre8ted 3i< to let her
contin,e her #orship to 3i<$ 7le8sed #ith her 8r&,<ents 8nd re8sonin&, Si)8 8llo#ed her
to do so$
?+ter so<eti<e, 78r)8ti slo#l- &ot +iDed ,p in her T8p8s-8 on Si)8$ .n the <e8n#hile,
KC,pid= (@8<8de)8) 8s desired - the &ods, 8ppro8ched Si)8 to distr8ct 3i< +ro< 3is
S8<8dhi$ @8<8de)8 #8s ,rnt to 8shes in the 8tte<ptE Si)8 opened 3is third e-e 8nd
@8<8de)8 #8s ,rnt - the C8-s e<er&in& +ro< it$ ?t th8t ti<e 78r)8ti #8s there to
#orship 3i< 8s ,s,8lE 8nd the (e)8s 8lso 8ppro8ched Si)8$
The &ods recei)ed their desired oon$ @8<8de)8=s #i+e, C8ti, 8lso per+or<ed se)ere
T8p8s-8 to &et 8c> @8<8de)8, 8nd Si)8 #8s ple8sed to restore @8<8de)8 to his ori&in8l
position ,t 8s Ananga (,ne<odied or #itho,t 8 od-)$ C8ti #8s t8>en 8#8- -
Sh8<8r8, 8 de<on, 8nd she #8s there #ith Sh8<8r8, 8s A8-8)8ti$ ?ccordin& to S>8nd8
7,r8n8, 78r)8ti did T8p8s-8, +or C8ti=s s8>e, 8nd &ot the desired oon +ro< Si)8$ Si)8 #8s
8&8in in deep S8<8dhi, #hile - his side, 78r)8ti, too, #8s per+or<in& her se)ere T8p8s$
?&8in the &ods petitioned Si)8$ ?nd Si)8, s8tis+ied #ith 78r)8ti=s intense de)otion to 3i<,
in the &,ise o+ 8 &a"u (8 -o,n& /r8h<8ch8ri) &8)e her the desired oon 8nd, 8s desired -
the (e)8s, on :8ndh8<8d8n, 8 <o,nt8in in @8il8s8, Si)8=s r8-s c8<e +orth 8s 7r8l8-8&ni
(the 8ll2de)o,rin& +ire)$ The #hole o+ the ;ni)erse #8s on the point o+ ein& ,rnt 8nd the
(e)8s, incl,din& /r8h<8, #ere pert,red$ ?s desired - the (e)8s, ?&ni, the Fire2&od, in
dis&,ise stole into the presence o+ Si)8 ,nseen - 08ndi 8t the <8in door 8nd dist,red 3is
pri)8c-$ ?&ni 8s 78ni278tr8 or @8r8p8tri e&&ed +or 8l<s$
C,dr8 #8s enr8&ed 8nd r,shed +orth to destro- hi< #ith 3is trident ,t #8s held 8c> -
78r)8ti$ While 78r)8ti c8<e o,t #ith /hi>sh8, ?&ni 8ppe8red in his o#n +or<$ :iriB8 &ot
enr8&ed 8nd c,rsed hi< 8nd <8de hi< S8r)8h8>shi (8ll2de)o,rin&) 8nd decl8red th8t 8ll o+
the< #o,ld re8p the conse%,ences o+ this e)il plot$
?&ni n8rr8ted 8ll this to the (e)8s$ To their &re8t 8stonish<ent, 8ll the (e)8s incl,din&
.ndr8 #ere cont8cted, thro,&h ?&ni, 8nd 8ll ec8<e Sagarbhas (pre&n8nt) #ith
eDcr,ci8tin& p8in$ The- 8ppro8ched 4ishn, +or relie+$ 4ishn, co,ld onl- direct the< to
Si)8$ The (e)8s, incl,din& /r8h<8 8nd 4ishn,, 8ppro8ched Si)8 8nd pr8-ed to 3i<$ Si)8
8d)ised the< to )o<it the #e"as (the r8-s) the- #ere s,++erin& +ro<$ The- 8ll )o<ited, 8nd
the r8-s too> the +or< o+ 8 <o,nt8in o+ shinin& &old$ The- #ere +ollo#ed - ?&ni$
Si)8 desired ?&ni to thro# the Kr8-s= into the '3onis( (the #o<) o+ 8ll l8dies d,rin& their
<onthl- co,rse$ ?&ni, the Fire2&od, #8s ,rnin& #ith +,ll r8-s, 8t the :8n&8 8n>, e8rl-
<ornin& in /r8h<8<,h,rt8, #hen 8ll the Ciship8tnis #ere there +or their <ornin& 8th
(7r8t8h Sn8n8<) in the <onth o+ @8rtti>8$ The- #ere shi)erin& #ith cold 8nd, in order to
#8r< the<sel)es, 8ppro8ched ?&ni, the Fire, in spite o+ ?r,ndh8ti=s #8rnin& to the<$ ?s
soon 8s the Ciship8tnis incl,din& @ritti>8 re8ched the proDi<it- o+ the +ire, the- #ere 8ll
Kcont8cted=$
The s8id #e"as (r8-s) o+ Si)8 entered e)er- pore o+ their odies$ ?&ni #8s rele8sed$ These
Ciship8tnis in t,rn #ere c,rsed - their h,s8nds, the Cishis$ The @ritti>8s #ere ch8n&ed
into irds (@hech8r8s)E 8nd the Ciship8tnis, ein& 8sh8<ed o+ the<sel)es 8nd )er- sorr- +or
their cond,ct (&yabhi*hara), )o<ited the #e"as (r8-s) on the 3i<8l8-8s$ ?ll these r8-s in
t,rn #ere thro#n into the :8n&8 - the K@ich8>8s=, 8nd there on the :8n&8 8n>, o,t o+
these r8-s 8ppe8red the KsiD2<o,thed= or siD2he8ded Sh8n<,>h8 8s (i) @8rtti>e-8, (ii)
:8n&e-8, (iii) Sh8>8, (i)) 4ish8>h8, ()) ?ti8l8 8nd ()i) A8h88l8$
The &ods #ere o)erBo-ed to he8r o+ Sh8n<,>h8=s irth thro,&h :8n&8$ 78r)8ti #8s t8>en
,n8#8res$ She ec8<e Prasru"a0s"ani, 8 <other #ith <il> po,rin& +ro< her re8sts$
.<<edi8tel- 08r8d8 c8<e 8nd in+or<ed the< o+ Sh8n<,>h8 h8)in& een orn on the
:8n&8 8n>$ 78r)8ti #ith Si)8 h8stened to the :8n&8 8n> +ollo#ed 8nd s,rro,nded - 8ll
the (e)8s, 68>sh8s, :8ndh8r)8s, Siddh8s, etc$ The- 8ll pr8-ed to @8rtti>e-8, the child, the
@,<8r8 shinin& &lorio,sl- sheddin& di)ine r8-s o+ liss$ 78r)8ti too> K@,<8r8=, the child,
in her l8p 8nd +ed hi< 8t her +lo#in& re8sts$ @8rtti>e-8 in Si)8=s l8p e&8n to pl8- #ith the
sn8>es ro,nd his nec> 8nd speci8ll- oppressed 48s,>i #ith his <8n- pl8-+,l tin- h8ndsJ
There8+ter, 8s desired - Si)8, the &ods, led - /r8h<8, inst8lled @8rtti>e-8 8s KSen8p8ti=
8nd &8)e hi< the po#er to le8d the ,ncon%,er8le KSen8= (8r<-)E 8lso &8)e Sen8, the <ost
e8,ti+,l d8,&hter o+ Arit-,, the (e8th2&od, 8s his consort$ With Sen8 8s his consort,
@8rtti>e-8 >illed in 8ttle T8r8>8s,r8, 8s desired - the &ods$
S-T*ON TWO
Skanda Vi6a.am
01 Pr#%iminar.
The 7,r8n8s 8re ei&hteen in n,<er$ The- 8re the /r8h<8 7,r8n8, 78d<8 7,r8n8, 4ishn,
7,r8n8, Si)8 7,r8n8, /h8&8)8t8 7,r8n8, /h8)ish-8 7,r8n8, ?&ni 7,r8n8, /r8h<8 48i)8rt8
7,r8n8, *in&8 7,r8n8, 48r8h8 7,r8n8, S>8nd8 7,r8n8, 48<8n8 7,r8n8, A8ts-8 7,r8n8,
@,r<8 7,r8n8, :8r,d8 7,r8n8 8nd /r8h<8nd8 7,r8n8$ 5+ these, the S>8nd8 7,r8n8 is the
i&&est$ The te8chin&s o+ the 4ed8s 8nd the ;p8nish8ds 8re e-ond the &r8sp o+ the 8)er8&e
intellect$ Sri 4-8s8 /h8&8)8n #ho codi+ied the 4ed8s h8s there+ore &i)en the tr,ths o+ the
4ed8s in 8 ho<el- st-le in the 7,r8n8s +or the e8s- ,nderst8ndin& o+ the co<<on <8n$ The
7,r8n8s 8re li>e the <8&ni+-in& &l8sses #hich re)e8l the s,tle tr,ths in 8 &r8sp8le
<8nner, 8nd the- 8ppe8l e8sil- to the senti<ents o+ <8n$
The S>8nd8 7,r8n8 de8ls #ith the ?)8t8r8 8nd *il8s o+ *ord S>8nd8, the spirit,8l son o+
*ord Si)8$ T#o S>8nd8 7,r8n8s 8re 8)8il8le9one di)ided into @h8nd8s, 8nd the other
di)ided into S8<hit8s$ The +or<er &i)es onl- 8 rie+ 8cco,nt o+ *ord S>8nd8=s ?)8t8r8 8nd
the destr,ction o+ T8r8>8s,r8 8t 3is h8nds$ The l8tter, ho#e)er, cont8ins 8 det8iled 8cco,nt
o+ the di)ine 8d)ent 8nd the &lorio,s deeds o+ *ord S>8nd89the need +or the *ord=s
8d)ent, 3is 8,spicio,s ?)8t8r8, 3is /8l8 *il8s, the co<<8ndin& o+ the (e)8 8r<- 8&8inst
the ?s,r8s 8nd their destr,ction, 3is <8rri8&e #ith 48lli 8nd (ei)8-8n8i, etc$ There is 8
#or> c8lled Kanda Puranam in T8<il, co<posed - S8int @8chi-8pp8 Si)8ch8ri8r, in
)erses, 8sed on the S8<hit82di)ided S>8nd8 7,r8n8 8nd ,nder the orders o+ *ord
Sh8n<,>h8 Who 8lso &8)e the +irst line +or the #or>$
The 8d)ent o+ the *ord #8s +or the p,rpose o+ p,nishin& the #ic>ed 8nd protectin& the
&ood$ The &re8t ?s,r8 S,r8p8d<8 #8s t-r8nnisin& the (e)8s$ 3e #8s de+e8ted in 8ttle -
the *ord 8nd the (e)8s #ere rele8sed +ro< his control$ This h8ppened on the e)e o+ the
siDth d8- 8+ter (ip8)8li, #hich is the d8- o+ S>8nd8 Sh8shthi$ This d8- is celer8ted in 8
&r8nd <8nner in 8ll te<ples o+ *ord S>8nd8$ To de)otees 8nd spirit,8l see>ers, the period
o+ siD d8-s o+ S>8nd8 Sh8shthi is 8n occ8sion +or oser)8nce o+ strict 4r8t8s, per+or<8nce
o+ &r8nd #orships 8nd co<<,nion #ith the *ord in the Sel+ #ithin$ :lor- to *ord S>8nd8,
the esto#er o+ (i)ine Wisdo<$
21 Daksha Ya6na
/r8h<8 h8d 8 son - n8<e (8>sh8$ 5n he8rin& +ro< his +8ther 8o,t the i<<ense ene+its
o+ doin& T8p8s, (8>sh8 #ent to the <o,nt8ins 8nd did ri&oro,s T8p8s on *ord Si)8$ A,ch
ple8sed #ith his pen8nce, *ord Si)8 &r8nted hi< <8n- oons$ /- these, (8>sh8 ec8<e
the >in& o+ the (e)8s 8nd the three #orlds$ ?lso, he #8s the <ost +ort,n8te recipient o+
8nother oon, )iF$, th8t Sri 78r)8ti hersel+ #8s to e his d8,&hter$
.n one o+ the disc,ssions et#een *ord Si)8 8nd 78r)8ti, the l8tter 8sserted hersel+ )er-
<,ch 8nd &8)e hersel+ 8irs o+ too <,ch sel+2i<port8nce$ ?s 8 correcti)e to this
,<ptio,sness, she #8s ord8ined to t8>e 8 h,<8n irth 8nd ret,rn l8ter on to Ao,nt
@8il8s8$ 78r)8ti (e)i c8<e do#n to e8rth 8nd #8s l-in& 8s 8 child in 8 t8n>$ While
#8nderin& in the +orest, >in& (8>sh8 s8# this child in the lot,s pond, too> her ho<e 8nd
ro,&ht her ,p 8s his o#n d8,&hter$ She #8s >no#n 8s (8>sh8-8ni 8nd, 8s the -e8rs &re#,
she c,lti)8ted eDtre<e de)otion +or *ord Si)8E 8nd eDpressed her resol)e to <8rr- onl-
*ord Si)8$ (8>sh8 #8s hi&hl- ple8sed$
*ord Si)8 in the &,ise o+ 8 h,nter <et (8>sh8-8ni 8lone, 8nd 8ss,red her th8t 3e #o,ld
<8rr- her )er- soon$ 5n he8rin& the ne#s, the &irl=s p8rents <8de 8rr8n&e<ents to
celer8te the <8rri8&e in 8 &r8nd 8nd e+ittin& <8nner$ /,t *ord Si)8, inste8d o+
,nder&oin& the prescried cere<onies o+ <8rri8&e, entered the #eddin& h8ll 8r,ptl- 8nd
c8rried 8#8- (8>sh8-8ni in the presence o+ (8>sh8 8nd other (e)8s #ho h8d 8sse<led
there to &r8ce the occ8sion$ This 8ction o+ *ord Si)8 in+,ri8ted (8>sh8, 8nd, +or&ettin& 8ll
th8t 3e h8d done +or hi< 8nd the &re8tness o+ the *ord, (8>sh8 e&8n 8,sin& Si)8 8nd
elittlin& 3is *il8s$
(8>sh8 h8d !7 d8,&hters #ho< he h8d &i)en in <8rri8&e to Ch8ndr8 (<oon2&od)$
Ch8ndr8, inste8d o+ lo)in& 8ll the !7 #i)es e%,8ll-, de)eloped 8n intense p8rti8lit- to#8rds
Cohini$ Cesent+,l o+ this 8ction o+ Ch8ndr8, the other #i)es #ent 8nd co<pl8ined to their
+8ther, (8>sh8, 8o,t the p8rti8lit- o+ Ch8ndr8$ (8>sh8, on he8rin& this report +ro< his de8r
d8,&hters, c,rsed Ch8ndr8 to e depri)ed o+ his Kalas (ri&htness)$ A,ch &rie)ed 8nd
depressed 8t he8rt, Ch8ndr8 8t l8st <8de his #8- to *ord Si)8 8nd pr8-ed to e s8)ed +ro<
the c,rse o+ (8>sh8$ ?nd the *ord, o,t o+ co<p8ssion, retrie)ed hi< p8rti8ll- +ro< the
c,rse 8nd s8)ed hi< - #e8rin& hi< on 3is o#n +orehe8d$ 3ence #e +ind ch8n&es in the
ph8ses o+ the Aoon9&r8d,8l decre8se o+ ri&htness d,rin& Krishna Paksha or the d8r>
+ortni&ht, 8nd &r8d,8l incre8se d,rin& the Sukla Paksha or the ri&ht +ortni&ht$ This 8ction
o+ *ord Si)8 +,rther in+,ri8ted (8>sh8$
*ord /r8h<8 h8d 8rr8n&ed +or the per+or<8nce o+ 8 68Bn8 8nd, 8s ,s,8l, to o++er the
s8cr8<ents o+ the 68Bn8 to *ord Si)8, the *ord o+ 8ll 68Bn8s$ .n)it8tions #ere sent to 8ll
(e)8s 8s #ell 8s to (8>sh8$ The #hole host o+ (e)8s h8d 8sse<led in the 68Bn8 h8ll$
*ord Si)8 h8d sent 08ndi to 8ttend the +,nction 8nd represent 3i< d,rin& the 68Bn8$
(8>sh8, #ho 8lso 8ttended the 68Bn8, #8s +illed #ith s,ch en)- 8nd pride th8t he not onl-
conde<ned /r8h<8 +or &i)in& the s8cr8<ent to Si)8 ,t 8lso #ent to the eDtent o+
l8sphe<in& *ord Si)8 8nd tre8tin& 3is represent8ti)e, 08ndi, in the <ost conte<pt,o,s
<8nner$
0one o+ the (e)8s #itnessin& this eh8)io,r o+ (8>sh8 h8d the co,r8&e to protest$ /,t
08ndi #8s to,ched to the %,ic>$ Enr8&ed <,ch 8t the #ords o+ (8>sh8, 08ndi c,rsed hi<
to s,++er in )8rio,s #8-s 8nd die 8 )iolent de8th, 8nd to h8)e 8 &o8t=s he8d in his neDt irth$
3e 8lso er8ted the (e)8s +or their indi++erence, i+ not co#8rdliness, in not 8d<onishin&
(8>sh8 +or his l8sphe<- 8nd c,rsed the< to ,nder&o tort,re 8nd persec,tion 8t the h8nds
o+ the ?s,r8s S,r8p8d<8, Si<h8<,>h8 8nd T8r8>8$ With this 08ndi le+t the h8ll in 8 r8&e$
?+ter the dep8rt,re o+ 08ndi, the &re8t s8&e 8nd seer, (8dheechi A8h8rshi, 8ppro8ched
(8>sh8 8nd 8d)ised hi< not to 8ct in th8t <8nner to#8rds *ord Si)8$ 3e ro,&ht ho<e to
(8>sh8 the )8rio,s 8cts o+ co<p8ssion o+ *ord Si)8 8nd 3is *il8s$ The s8&e entre8ted hi<
to e <ore de)otion8l to 3i< 8nd le8)e o++ s,ch h8,&htiness o+ spirit$ /,t 8ll in )8in$ ?t
l8st (8>sh8 decided to per+or< 8 68Bn8 in #hich he #o,ld neither in)ite *ord Si)8 nor
o++er the s8cr8<ent to 3i<$
?t @8n>h8l (in 38rd#8r), on the 8n>s o+ the :8n&8, 8rr8n&e<ents #ere <8de +or the
&r8nd 68Bn8 o+ (8>sh8$ ?ll the (e)8s #ere in)ited$ *8r&e sc8le 8rr8n&e<ents h8d een
<8de +or recei)in& the )isitors to the 68Bn8sh8l8$ *ord Si)8 8lone #8s le+t ,nin)ited$
(8>sh8-8ni, #ho #8s 8t the ti<e #ith *ord Si)8 8t @8il8s8, he8rd the ne#s o+ the :r8nd
68Bn8 o+ her +8ther$ ?&8inst the #ishes o+ her *ord, (8>sh8-8ni, te<pted - her >een 8nd
n8t,r8l desire to 8ttend the &re8t +,nction, h,rried ,p to @8n>h8l, #here the 68Bn8 #8s in
pro&ress$
There #8s none to #elco<e her 8t her +8ther=s residence$ ?nd #orse still, she #8s openl-
ins,lted - her +8ther 8nd his p8rt-$ 0e#s o+ this ill2tre8t<ent <eted o,t to (8>sh8-8ni
re8ched *ord Si)8$ 3e s,<<oned &od 4eer8h8dr8 8nd ordered hi< to <8>e 8 cle8n s#eep
o+ the 68Bn8 8nd the p8rticip8nts thereo+$ 4eer8h8dr8 r,shed to the spot in &re8t +,r- 8nd
d8shed to pieces 8ll the &r8nd 8rr8n&e<ents <8de +or the 68Bn8E 8nd 8l<ost 8ll the
p8rticip8nts +ell 8 pre- to his ,no,nded ire$ Those #ho e&&ed p8rdon o+ hi< #ere let o++$
While this #or> o+ destr,ction #8s &oin& on, *ord Si)8 8ppe8red e+ore the (e)8s$ ?t the
re%,est o+ (8>sh8-8ni, Si)8 ro,&ht 8c> 8ll the de8d to li+e$ ?+ter so<eti<e, on the 8d)ice
o+ *ord /r8h<8, his +8ther, (8>sh8 #ent to 48r8n8si to do T8p8s +or the &r8ce o+ *ord
Si)8$ *ord Si)8 8ppe8red e+ore (8>sh8 8nd <8de hi< one o+ the le8ders o+ 3is /h,t8
:8n8s$
31 Th# Curs# o( Nandi
?>hir8sen8, the >in& o+ the ?s,r8s, h8d 8 d8,&hter S,r8s8i - n8<e$ To 8)en&e the de+e8t
o+ the ?s,r8s 8t the h8nds o+ the (e)8s, S,>r8ch8r-8, the ?s,r8 :,r,, t8,&ht S,r8s8i 8ll the
?rts o+ A8-8$ S,r8s8i ec8<e 8n 8dept in those ?rts, 8nd #8s hersel+ 8ptl- c8lled A8-8$ To
rin& 8c> the lost &lor- o+ the ?s,r8s, A8-8 deter<ined to e&et children thro,&h 8 &re8t
s8&e, so th8t the descend8nts co,ld e <ore po#er+,l th8n the (e)8s$ With this in )ie#, she
8ppro8ched the pl8ce #here @8s-8p8 Cishi #8s doin& ri&oro,s T8p8s$
/- her <8&ic spells she cre8ted 8 e8,ti+,l &8rden in the +orestE 8nd there she #8s, d8ncin&
8nd enBo-in& hersel+ 8s p8rt o+ the e8,t- o+ 08t,re$ (ist,red - this inter+erence,
@8s-8p8 #o>e ,p +ro< his <edit8tion 8nd s8# 8 e8,ti+,l l8d- e+ore hi<$ /- the secret
po#ers o+ A8-8, the Cishi +ell )icti< to her ch8r<s 8nd e8sil- -ielded to her propos8ls$
/oth the Cishi 8nd A8-8 spent h8pp- d8-s to&ether, ro8<in& 8o,t &8il- in the +orest$
A8-8 ore three sons 8nd 8 d8,&hter to the Cishi$ The +irst son #8s S,r8p8d<8, the second
Si<h8<,>h8 8nd the third T8r8>8s,r8$ The d8,&hter=s n8<e #8s ?B8<,>hi$ 5+ the sons,
Si<h8<,>h8 h8d 8 lion=s +8ce 8nd T8r8>8s,r8 8n eleph8nt=sE 8nd ?B8<,>hi h8d the +8ce o+
8 &o8t$ ?lon& #ith the< there 8rose 8 h,&e 8r<- o+ ?s,r8s to help these le8ders in their
onco<in& +i&ht #ith the (e)8s$
S,r8p8d<8 8nd his rothers, #hile the- #ere -et -o,n&, re%,ested their +8ther 8nd <other
to prep8re the< +or 8 li+e o+ &lor- 8nd )ictor-$ @8s-8p8 Cishi told the< to le8d 8 )irt,o,s
li+e 8nd do ri&oro,s T8p8s #ith intense de)otion to the *ord$ 3e cited the stor- o+
A8r>8nde-8 to sho# ho# the po#er o+ his de)otion to *ord Si)8 h8d protected hi< e)en
+ro< the &rip o+ *ord 68<8$
/,t A8-8, <ind+,l o+ her <ission, #8s not s8tis+ied #ith this 8d)ice to her sons$ She
entre8ted her sons to do ri&oro,s T8p8s on *ord Si)8 8nd to ot8in oons - #hich the-
co,ld h8)e s,Fer8int- o)er the (e)8s 8nd li)e h8ppil- 8nd &lorio,sl-$
?+ter so<e ti<e, @8s-8p8 re8lised his +oll- in h8)in& 8llo#ed hi<sel+ to eco<e 8 )icti<
to the #iles o+ A8-8 8nd le+t the< 8ll 8nd #ent his o#n #8-$ ?s 8d)ised - their <other,
S,r8p8d<8 8nd his rothers proceeded north to per+or< intense T8p8s$ ?+ter <8>in& e)er-
8rr8n&e<ent c8re+,ll- +or the per+or<8nce o+ their pen8nce, the- co<<enced their T8p8s$
6e8rs p8ssed$ The- ot8ined no res,lts$ 3ence S,r8p8d<8 8nd his rothers do,led their
8,sterities, c,t o++ e)er- li< o+ their od- 8nd thre# the< one 8+ter 8nother 8s 8n o++erin&
into the s8cri+ici8l +ire e+ore the<$ E)en then *ord Si)8 did not 8ppe8r$ Fin8ll- S,r8p8d<8
o++ered hi<sel+ in the +ire 8nd died$ The other rothers #ere 8lso prep8rin& the<sel)es +or 8
si<il8r s8cri+ice #hen *ord Si)8 8ppe8red e+ore the<, ro,&ht S,r8p8d<8 8c> to li+e 8nd
&r8nted 8 n,<er o+ oons pr8-ed +or - the<$
38)in& th,s 8chie)ed their 8i<s, the- c8<e 8c> tri,<ph8ntl- to their <other #ho &l8dl-
#elco<ed the< ho<e$ A8-8 sent the< to S,>r8ch8r-8, the ?s,r8 :,r,, +or +,rther 8d)ice
8nd &,id8nce$ S,>r8ch8r-8 &8)e the< det8iled instr,ction +or le8din& 8n eDtre<el-
sens,o,s li+e o+ po<p 8nd &lor-$ 3e 8ddressed the< th,s: GWhen people s8- Ke)er-thin& is
done - the one S,pre<e /ein& 8nd 3e d#ells e)er-#here,= the- 8re tellin& 8 st,pendo,s
lie$ The *ord h8s cre8ted 8ll other cre8t,res 8nd pl8nts si<pl- +or <8n=s enBo-<ent$ Ai&ht
is Ci&ht$ 0o one #ill deri)e 8n- ple8s,re - 8ctin& ,pto the hi&h2so,ndin& precepts li>e
K(o 8l#8-s &ood, 8)oid e)il thin&s$=
GThe so2c8lled *ord=s *il8s 8re B,st li>e the pl8ces 8nd persons #e eDperience d,rin& 8
dre8<$ E)er-one is the s8<e in the cre8tion o+ the *ord$ To +8)o,r so<e 8s s8ints 8nd s8&es
8nd conde<n others 8s i&nor8<,ses 8nd sinners is nothin& ,t inB,stice 8nd p8rti8lit-$ ?s
the *ord h8s &r8nted -o, 8ll the oons -o, desired, it is ,p to -o, to ,tilise the< in the
proper #8-$ 6o, h8)e &ot i<<ense po#er no#$ 6o, c8n do 8nd ,ndo thin&s$ 3ence st8rt 8t
once on the <ission o+ -o,r li+e +or #hich -o,r <other A8-8 h8s een -e8rnin& so <,ch$
Fi&ht 8&8inst the (e)8s$ 5)erthro# the< +ro< their po#er$ Strip the< o+ their riches 8nd
&lor-$ *ord it o)er the<$ A8>e the< -o,r sl8)es$
G*i)e 8 li+e o+ e8se 8nd ple8s,re, ,sin& e)er- oBect -o, co,ld concei)e o+ +or -o,r sens,8l
enBo-<ent$ E8t, drin> 8nd e <err-$ *i)e &lorio,sl-$ EDtend -o,r s#8- o)er 8ll the #orlds
cre8ted - *ord Si)8$ 6o, sho,ld rei&n not onl- o)er the<, ,t 8lso est8lish -o,r d-n8st-
to r,le o)er e)er-one +or &ener8tions to co<e$ Th,s -o, #ill restore the &lor- no# lost to
the ?s,r8 d-n8st-$H .n these thrillin& 8nd per)erse #ords S,>r8ch8r-8 instr,cted
S,r8p8d<8, Si<h8<,>h8 8nd T8r8>8s,r8$
?+ter h8)in& recei)ed the enedictions 8nd +in8l eDhort8tions o+ their :,r, A8h8r8B,
S,r8p8d<8 8nd his rothers e&8n their c8reer o+ con%,est o)er the (e)8s$ S,r8p8d<8
est8lished his c8pit8l 8t A8hendr8p,ri, in the So,th$ Si<h8<,>h8 h8d his c8pit8l in
?s,r8<, in the 0orth$ T8r8>8s,r8 ,ilt his c8pit8l ne8r E<8>ood8<$ These cities #ere d,l-
pl8nned 8nd per+ected - the di)ine 8rchitect, 4is)8>8r<8$ The three rothers h8d their
o#n independent >in&do<s est8lished 8ro,nd their c8pit8ls 8nd #ere rei&nin& o)er the<,
to the terror 8nd dis<8- o+ the (e)8s$
0ot s8tis+ied #ith the )8st >in&do<s 8llotted to the<, the rothers then proceeded to the
h8it8tion o+ the (e)8s to depri)e the< o+ their so)erei&nt- 8nd +reedo<$ S,r8p8d<8
in)8ded .ndr8lo>8, too> .ndr8 prisoner 8nd <8de hi< #or> 8s 8 +isher<8n in the c8pit8lJ
/r8h<8 #8s 8s>ed to o++ici8te 8s the Purohi"$ 48-,, the &od o+ #ind, #8s 8ppointed 8s the
s#eeper o+ the streets o+ his c8pit8lE to 48r,n8, the &od o+ r8in, #8s 8ssi&ned the t8s> o+
sprin>lin& &entle drops o+ #8ter o)er the streets to l8- the d,stE the S,n #8s &i)en to his
son, /8n,>op8n, 8s 8 to- to pl8- #ithE *ord 4ishn, 8lone #8s le+t ,ndist,red$ .n this #8-
S,r8p8d<8, 8lon& #ith his rothers, s,Bected the (e)8s to e)er- >ind o+ i&nole
persec,tion 8nd ins,lt$ These pri)8tions 8nd dishono,r the- h8d to ,nder&o 8s 8 p,nish<ent
+or co#8rdl- indi++erence the- sho#ed #hen (8>sh8 l8sphe<ed *ord Si)8$ The c,rse o+
08ndi h8d co<e ho<e$
41 Th# T.rann. o( "h# Asuras
.n his r8n> 8<ition, S,r8p8d<8 sent his son, /8n,>op8n, to c8pt,re .ndr8lo>8 8nd to <8>e
prisoners o+ (e)endr8 8nd his consort$ The 8r<- o+ the ?s,r8s too> 8nd pl,ndered
.ndr8lo>8$ ;n8le to e8r the tort,res, (e)endr8 8nd his consort +le# 8#8- +ro< (e)8lo>8
in the &,ise o+ p8rrots 8nd d#elt in Shi-8li, in So,th .ndi8$ /,t .ndr8=s son, I8-8nt8n, #8s
ro,&ht to A8hendr8p,ri 8nd i<prisoned there$ The dis&,ised .ndr8 8nd his consort #ere
o++erin& pr8-ers to *ord Si)8 to s8)e the< +ro< the onsl8,&ht o+ the ?s,r8s 8nd restore
the< 8c> to their >in&do<$ ?+ter 8 #hile, le8)in& his consort ,nder the protection o+ A8h8
Sh8sht8, .ndr8 proceeded 8lon& #ith other (e)8s to Ao,nt @8il8s8, to re%,est the *ord to
protect the< +ro< the r,thless t-r8nn- o+ the ?s,r8s$ (,rin& his 8sence, ?B8<,>hi, sister
o+ S,r8p8d<8, - the eDercise o+ her l8c> 8rt tried to 8d,ct .ndr8ni +orcil- 8nd t8>e her
to S,r8p8d<8$ /,t she hersel+ &ot #o,nded in the 8tte<ptE 8nd the ne#s o+ the in&lorio,s
tre8t<ent <eted o,t to ?B8<,>hi - A8h8 Sh8sht8 in+,ri8ted +,rther the po#er2<8d
S,r8p8d<8, #ho in his #o,nded pride, ,sed his #hip on the (e)8s <ore <ercilessl- th8n
e+ore$
.n the <e8n#hile, S8&e ?&8st-8, 8t the co<<8nd o+ *ord Si)8, #8s proceedin& So,th, #ith
8 @8<8nd8l, o+ #8ter +ro< the Akasa 4anga$ 5n the #8-, @ro#nch8n, 8n ?s,r8 #ho h8d
8ss,<ed the sh8pe o+ 8 <o,nt8in, tried to entice the Cishi +ro< his p8th$ ?#8re o+ the tric>
the ?s,r8 #8s pl8-in&, the Cishi c,rsed hi< to re<8in in the sh8pe o+ the <o,nt8in till he
c8<e to perish 8t the h8nds o+ *ord @8rtti>e-8$ Then ?&8st-8 contin,ed his Bo,rne- 8nd,
crossin& the 4indh-8s in d,e ti<e, entered So,th .ndi8$ 5ne d8-, here, #hen his 8ttention
#8s en&8&ed else#here, his @8<8nd8l, o+ #8ter #8s spilt on the &ro,nd - the
<ischie)o,s pr8n>s o+ 8 cro#$ ?nno-ed 8t this, the Cishi t8pped the cro# on the he8d$ To
his s,rprise, he s8# e+ore hi< *ord :8nesh8$ /- his &r8ce, the #8ter th8t #8s spilt
ec8<e the so,rce o+ the ri)er C8,)eri, #hich +lo#ed, 8<on& other pl8ces, 8lon&side the
&8rden in #hich .ndr8 8nd his consort #ere doin& T8p8s +or *ord Si)8=s &r8ce$
S,se%,ent to this, ?&8st-8 >illed the t#o sons o+ ?B8<,>hi$ .t c8<e 8o,t th,s$ These t#o
sons, /il)8l8n 8nd 48t8pi - n8<e, ,sed to in)ite the p8ssers2- in the +orest +or 8 +e8st in
their ho,se$ 5n e8ch o+ s,ch occ8sions, 48t8pi #o,ld e c,t to pieces, coo>ed 8nd ser)ed
8s <e8t +or the &,ests$ When the &,ests h8d +inished their dinner, /il)8l8n #o,ld c8ll +or
his rother, 48t8pi, 8nd the l8tter #o,ld co<e o,t 8li)e 8nd #hole, piercin& the 8do<en o+
the &,est #ho h8d e8ten hi<$ The ?s,r8 rothers #o,ld then +e8st on the ,ns,spectin&,
<,rdered &,ests$ /,t, ?&8st-8, #ho sensed this cr,el tric> in ti<e, &entl- r,ed his
8do<en, <,r<,rin& '&a"api $irnobhava( (let 48t8pi eco<e di&ested), 8nd the ?s,r8 th,s
perished, ,n8le to do 8n-thin&$ ?&8st-8 then t,rned his #r8th on the other 8nd >illed hi<
8lso$
The (e)8s i<prisoned - S,r8p8d<8 8nd his rothers #ere in the <e8n#hile ,nder&oin&
8&onies o+ tort,re$ ?s d8-s p8ssed, the persec,tion #8s eco<in& <ore 8nd <ore 8trocio,s$
;n8le to e8r their s,++erin&s 8n- lon&er, the (e)8s, led - /r8h<8, 4ishn, 8nd .ndr8,
st8rted on 8 Bo,rne- to Ao,nt @8il8s8 to <8>e 8 s,pplic8tion to *ord Si)8 +or i<<edi8te
relie+ 8nd protection$
71 Na"ivi". and !o.hood
While the (e)8s, #ith *ord 4ishn,, /r8h<8 8nd .ndr8 8t their he8d, #ere proceedin&
to#8rds Ao,nt @8il8s8 8s n8rr8ted in the precedin& ch8pter, the &re8t s8&es, S8n8>8,
S8n8t>,<8r8, S8n8t8n8 8nd S8n8nd8n8 h8d 8rri)ed 8t @8il8s8 to recei)e instr,ctions +ro<
*ord Si)8, re&8rdin& the +o,r+old p8th to Sel+2re8lis8tion i$e$, 68<8, 0i-8<8, 6o&8 8nd
S8<8dhi$ The *ord eDpl8ined to the< the )8rio,s det8ils o+ these +o,r st8&es, 8nd - #8-
o+ de<onstr8tin& the l8st st8&e, )iF$, S8<8dhi, 3e 3i<sel+ re<8ined in it, co<pletel-
8sored in S,pre<e Silence (A8h8 Ao,n8)$ Th,s 3e sho#ed the Cishis th8t the l8st st8&e
is not to e eDpl8ined ,t to e re8lised 8ct,8ll- in th8t st8te o+ S,pre<e Silence$
?t this critic8l B,nct,re, the (e)8s 8lon& #ith .ndr8, /r8h<8 8nd 4ishn, entered the hills
8nd #ere stopped +ro< proceedin& +,rther - 08ndi (e)8, #ho eDpl8ined to the< ho# it
#8s not 8 s,it8le ti<e to see the *ord$ 5)erco<e - dis8ppoint<ent 8t this, the (e)8s
retre8ted, not >no#in& #h8t to do$ The- held 8n e<er&ent co,ncil o+ #8r, deter<ined to
+ind o,t so<e #8- o,t o+ this i<p8sse$ The- #ere %,ite con)inced th8t #itho,t *ord Si)8=s
&r8ce 8nd help the- co,ld not dre8< o+ o)erthro#in& the t-r8nn- o+ the ?s,r8sE ,t the-
#ere ,n8le to de)ise 8n- <e8ns - #hich this &r8ce 8nd help co,ld e ot8inedE nor, 8t the
s8<e ti<e, h8d the- the co,r8&e to 8ppro8ch 8nd dist,r the *ord in 3is <edit8tion$ 3ence
the- +o,nd the<sel)es 8t their #it=s end$
/r8h<8 s,&&ested th8t A8n<8th8, the &od o+ lo)e, sho,ld ess8- to #8>e ,p the *ord +ro<
his 6o&ic tr8nce$ Tho,&h 8t +irst he re+,sed, C,pid #8s +orced to -ield to the re%,est o+ 8ll
the (e)8s 8nd <8de his #8- to the presence o+ *ord Si)8$ With his 8rro#s o+ +lo#ers he
8#o>e *ord Si)8 +ro< 3is %aha %ouna$ ?t this dist,r8nce, there ro>e o,t +ro< the
Tri>,ti o+ the *ord terri+ic e8<s o+ ,nend,r8le li&ht 8nd he8t #hich ,rnt A8n<8th8 to
8shes$ This <8de the (e)8s <ore p8nic>-$ The- r,shed in to the presence o+ the *ord, +ell
8t 3is +eet 8nd eseeched 3i< to s8)e the< +ro< 3is C8-s 8nd +ro< the ?s,r8s$ The *ord
s-<p8thised #ith their pli&ht 8nd 8ss,red the< o+ protection$ ?nd 8t the re%,est o+ C8ti, the
#i+e o+ A8n<8th8, the l8tter #8s ro,&ht 8c> to li+e 8nd <8de )isile to C8ti, tho,&h
in)isile to 8ll others$ 38)in& th,s een 8ss,red o+ help, the (e)8s le+t @8il8s8, 8nDio,sl-
8#8itin& the d8- o+ their rele8se +ro< the t-r8nn- o+ the ?s,r8s$
78r)8ti (e)i, #ho h8d een orn 8s d8,&hter to the 3i<8)8n, #8s doin& se)ere T8p8s on
*ord Si)8 +or 8tt8inin& 3i< 8s her h,s8nd$ The *ord, <,ch ple8sed #ith her pen8nce,
8ppe8red e+ore her in the &,ise o+ 8 h,nter$ ?+ter testin& the p,rit-, sincerit- o+ 78r)8ti 8nd
her intense de)otion to 3i<, 3e re)e8led 3i<sel+ to her 8nd pro<ised her th8t 3e #o,ld
<8rr- her )er- soon$ 78r)8t8 C8B8n (3i<8l8-8s), +8ther o+ 78r)8ti, 8ccordin&l- <8de
prep8r8tion +or the <8rri8&eE 8nd it #8s d,l- per+or<ed on 8 l8)ish 8nd &r8nd sc8le$ *ord
Si)8 retired #ith 78r)8ti to Ao,nt @8il8s8$
Shortl- 8+ter this, the (e)8s 8ppe8red e+ore 3i< 8nd re<inded 3i< o+ 3is pro<ise to
redee< the< +ro< their present sl8)er- to the ?s,r8s$ .n order to help the< 8s desired, 3e
8ss,<ed 3is ori&in8l +or< #ith siD +8ces$ Fro< e8ch o+ these +8ces 8 (i)ine sp8r> shot
+orth$ The resplendence o+ these (i)ine sp8r>s onl- tended to incre8se the s,++erin&s 8nd
con+,sion o+ the (e)8s$ /,t the *ord ordered 48-, (#ind2&od) 8nd ?&ni (+ire2&od) to c8rr-
these siD sp8r>s 8nd le8)e the< in the s8cred :8n&8, #ho #8s to t8>e the< to 8 t8n> >no#n
- the n8<e o+ S8r8)8n8ppoih8i$ 48-, 8nd ?&ni oe-ed 8t once$ /- the &r8ce o+ the *ord,
the sp8r>s #ere c8rried - hol- :8n&8 to S8r8)8n8ppoih8i$ 5n 8rri)in& 8t the t8n>, the
sp8r>s 8ss,<ed the +or< o+ siD children o+ ,np8r8lleled e8,t-$ E8ch 8- #8s l-in& on 8
lot,s 8nd #8s ein& l,lled to sleep - the (e)is o+ the @8rtti>8i (the 3rd constell8tion o+ the
!7 St8rs)$ To #itness this ?)8t8r8 o+ the S8)io,r, 8ll the (e)8s h8stened to the t8n> 8lon&
#ith *ord Si)8 8nd 78r)8ti$ 78r)8ti, o,t o+ the eDtre<e +ondness o+ 8 <other, too> ,p the
8es to&ether 8nd c8lled the< Skanda! .nste8d o+ there<8inin& 8s siD sep8r8te indi)id,8l
8es, there 8rose the +or< o+ one (eit- #ith siD +8ces 8nd t#el)e h8nds$ 3ence he #8s
>no#n 8s *ord Shanmukha, the *ord #ith siD +8ces$ ?s he #8s n,rsed - the siD (e)is o+
the @8rtti>8i St8r, he #8s >no#n 8lso 8s Kar""ik Swami, or Kar""ikeyan! Th,s, to the &re8t
Bo- o+ the persec,ted (e)8s, the *ord 3i<sel+ 8ppe8red in the +or< o+ Sh8n<,>h8 to
protect the &ood 8nd to p,nish the #ic>ed$ ?s the +or< o+ *ord Sh8n<,>h8 ori&in8ted in 8
t8n> o+ shr,s, he #8s >no#n 8s Saravanabhava! ?lon& #ith 3i< there 8ppe8red nine
other di)ine heroes, the eldest o+ the< ein& 4eer88h, - n8<e$ These nine rother
heroes #ere to 8ssist *ord S>8nd8 in 3is #8r #ith the ?s,r8s$
E)en 8s 8 o- *ord Sh8n<,>h8 sho#ed his eDtr8ordin8r- pro#ess 8nd )8lo,r$ 3is *il8s
d,rin& o-hood s,pplied con+ir<8tion to the (e)8s th8t 3e #8s the +ittest s8)io,r 8nd the
est :ener8l to co<<8nd the 8r<- 8&8inst the <i&ht- ?s,r8, S,r8p8d<8$ 5nce, #hile 3e
#8s pl8-in& ,p 8nd do#n the hills, so<e (e)8s, ein& i&nor8nt o+ the re8l &re8tness o+ the
*ord, dr8&&ed hi< pl8-+,ll- to +i&ht, tre8tin& 3i< 8s 8n ordin8r- child$ ;lti<8tel- .ndr8
8rr8-ed his 8r<- 8&8inst this o- +or 8 +i&ht, ,t #8s de+e8ted in the end 8nd 8l<ost >illed$
?t the inter)ention o+ 08r8d8, the (e)8s re8lised their +oll- in +i&htin& 8&8inst their o#n
s8)io,r 8nd e&&ed 3is p8rdon$ 5,t o+ co<p8ssion the *ord ro,&ht 8c> the de8d (e)8s
to li+e$
5n one occ8sion, 3e he8rd the ne#s o+ the terror 8nd destr,ction c8,sed - 8 &o8t2he8ded
?s,r8$ The *ord i<<edi8tel- so,&ht hi< o,t 8nd, in 8 h8nd2to2h8nd +i&ht, too> hold o+ the
?s,r82&o8t - his horns$ /,t o,t o+ <erc-, inste8d o+ >illin& hi<, 3e <8de hi< his 48h8n8
or )ehicle$
5nce, the (e)8s 8lon& #ith /r8h<8 8nd 4ishn, c8<e to Ao,nt @8il8s8 to h8)e (8rsh8n o+
*ord Si)8$ While ret,rnin& 8+ter their #orship, the- h8d (8rsh8n o+ *ord Sh8n<,>h8, 8nd
8ll others o++ered their h,<le oeis8nce to 3i<, too$ /,t /r8h<8, osessed - 8 sense o+
his r8n> 8nd i<port8nce, declined to do so 8nd i&nored *ord Sh8n<,>h8$ 0oticin& 8nd
resentin& this 8ttit,de o+ /r8h<8, *ord @8rtti> c8lled hi< to 3is h8ll 8nd 8s>ed hi< to t8>e
8 se8t 8lon& #ith other (e)8s$ When the- #ere 8ll se8ted, S,r8h<8n-8 p,t 8 series o+
%,eries to /r8h<8$ /r8h<8 8ns#ered the<$ Fin8ll- *ord @8rtti> 8s>ed /r8h<8 #hether he
co,ld eDpl8in the re8l si&ni+ic8nce o+ the 7r8n8)8 (5<)$ /r8h<8 #8s ,n8le to do this
s8tis+8ctoril-$ Th,s pro)in& the i&nor8nce o+ /r8h<8, 8nd #ith the intention o+ p,nishin&
hi< +or his pride *ord Sh8n<,>h8 ordered hi< to e i<prisoned$ The #or> o+ cre8tion
+ro< th8t ti<e on#8rds #8s t8>en o)er - 3i<sel+$ The ne#s o+ /r8h<8=s i<prison<ent
re8ched *ord Si)8, #hen the (e)8s interceded on /r8h<8=s eh8l+ 8nd re%,ested 3i< to
rele8se /r8h<8$ *ord Si)8 proceeded #ith the other (e)8s to the 8ode o+ *ord S>8nd8
8nd 8s>ed 3i< to rele8se /r8h<8$ /,t *ord S>8nd8 8t +irst re+,sed to do so on the &ro,nd
th8t 8 (e)8 #ho did not >no# the si&ni+ic8nce o+ the 7r8n8)8 #8s not +it to +,nction 8s the
Cre8tor o+ the ,ni)erse$ 3o#e)er, in oedience to the #ords o+ his +8ther, Sh8n<,>h8
rele8sed /r8h<8 +ro< prison$ Then S8n>8r8 pl8-+,ll- ch8llen&ed *ord S>8nd8 to eDpl8in
the <e8nin& o+ the 7r8n8)8 hi<sel+$ Sh8n<,>h8 8ccepted the &8&e th,s thro#n to hi< 8nd,
tre8tin& his +8ther 8s 8 disciple eDp8ti8ted on the s,Bect$ Si)8 #8s deli&hted #ith the
thoro,&hness o+ the eDposition 8nd 3i<sel+ +or the +irst ti<e re8lised the i<<ensit- o+ the
si&ni+ic8nce 8s eDpo,nded - his philosopher son$
?+ter so<e d8-s, *ord Si)8 tho,&ht it ti<e to prep8re S,r8h<8n-8 +or the +i&ht 8&8inst the
?s,r8s$ 3e s,<<oned hi< 8ccordin&l- 8nd lessed hi< #ith the peerless &el (Spe8r) 8nd
<8n- other +or<id8le #e8pons$ 4eer88h, 8nd his ei&ht rothers <8de 8ll the necess8r-
8rr8n&e<ents +or the eDpedition ,nder the &,id8nce o+ *ord Sh8n<,>h8$ When e)er-thin&
#8s <8de re8d-, the *ord &8)e hi< 3is enediction 8nd 8ss,r8nce o+ )ictor-E 8nd lo,dl-
cheered - the (e)8s, #ho #ere #itnessin& the scene, *ord S,r8h<8n-8, 8cco<p8nied -
his nine rothers 8nd hosts o+ other #8rriors, proceeded to so,th +or the con%,est o+ the
?s,r8s$
5n the #8-, 3e <et the <o,nt8in28s,r8, @ro#nch8, #ho #8s entr8ppin& 8nd >illin&
innocent p8ssers2-$ With one thro# o+ his &el, *ord S,r8h<8n-8, ended the cr,el
p8sti<e o+ the #ic>ed #retch$ The destr,ction o+ @ro#nch8, one o+ the lie,ten8nts o+
T8r8>8s,r8, in+,ri8ted the l8tter, 8nd he c8<e r8&in& to *ord Sh8n<,>h8$ 3e h8d the
S,d8rs8n8 Ch8>r8 o+ *ord 4ishn, d8n&lin& 8ro,nd his nec> 8s 8 to>en o+ his h8)in&
de+e8ted *ord 4ishn,J .n the &ri< +i&ht th8t ens,ed, T8r8>8s,r8 e<plo-ed 8ll the >no#n
t8ctics o+ #8r+8re 8nd ,sed inn,<er8le <issiles 8&8inst the 8r<- o+ the (e)8s 8ttlin&
,nder the &ener8lship o+ *ord S,r8h<8n-8$ /,t to his ,tter dis8ppoint<ent 8nd dis<8-,
no <issile h8d 8n- e++ect on 3i<, 8nd, #h8t #8s dis8stro,s to hi<, none ret,rned to the
sender, 8s it #8s the #ont hereto+ore$ 38)in& +8iled #ith e)er- other #e8pon, T8r8>8 too>
,p the Pasupa"as"ra, #hich he h8d #rested +ro< *ord Si)8 8nd sent it in d,e +or< 8&8inst
*ord @8rtti>$ The l8tter, <edit8tin& #ith concentr8tion ,pon the &lories o+ his F8ther,
c8l<l- recei)ed the ?str8 8nd >ept it 8side$ This ,neDpected +in8le +illed the ?s,r8 #ith
dre8d 8nd 8 sense o+ helplessness$ ?t l8st the *ord desp8tched his &el, 8nd T8r8>8s,r8, the
-o,n&er rother o+ S,r8p8d<8, #8s >illed$ *ord Sh8n<,>h8 then proceeded to so,th$
0e#s o+ the de8th o+ T8r8>8s,r8 #8s c8rried to A8hendr8p,r8<, the c8pit8l o+ S,r8p8d<8,
8nd to ?s,r8<, the c8pit8l o+ Si<h8<,>h8, - ?s,rendr8, son o+ the de8d de<on$ ?+ter
tr8)ersin& <8n- l8nds, the *ord re8ched the se8shore in the so,th 8nd h8lted 8t the pl8ce
c8lled Tir,chend,r$ Fresh ne#s re8ched 3i< there thro,&h the (e)8&,r, o+ the &re8t
8trocities 8nd cr,elties perpetr8ted - the ?s,r8s 8+resh 8&8inst the (e)8s$
81 Th# Shadows o( War
While *ord S>8nd8, the :ener8l o+ the (e)8s, #8s c8<pin& 8t Tir,chend,r 8lon& #ith 3is
8r<-, 3e sent +ro< 3is c8<p 8 <essen&er to A8hendr8p,ri, the c8pit8l o+ S,r8p8d<8$ The
*ord ordered the <essen&er to in+or< S,r8p8d<8 th8t the (e)8s #ere re8d- +or 8 +i&ht
#ith hi< 8nd th8t the #8r co,ld e 8)erted onl- i+ the ?s,r8 rele8sed I8-8nt8, son o+
(e)endr8, +ro< prison 8nd 8st8ined +ro< &i)in& 8n- <ore tro,le to the (e)8s$ ?s en)o-
to S,r8p8d<8, 4eer88h, (e)8r #8s chosenE 8nd he oe-ed the #ords o+ the *ord 8nd
prep8red hi<sel+ +or his so,th#8rd Bo,rne- 8cross the oce8n to A8hendr8p,ri$
With the lessin&s o+ the *ord, 4eer88h, (e)8r st8rted on his Bo,rne-$ 5n the #8- he
c8<e 8cross 8n ?s,r8, 4eer8sin&8n - n8<e, #ho #8s the r,ler o+ *8n>8$ The ?s,r8 tried
to pre)ent the <essen&er +ro< crossin& o)er his l8nd$ (r8&&ed to +i&ht the de<on,
4eer88h, sho#ed his pro#ess - <8>in& short #or> o+ the ?s,r8$ This #8s repe8ted in
the c8se o+ 8nother ?s,r8, ?ti)eer8n$ The <essen&er then contin,ed his Bo,rne- to
S,r8p8d<8=s c8pit8l$ To his &re8t s,rprise 4eer88h, s8# th8t inn,<er8le ?s,r8s #ith
c,rio,s sh8pes #ere &,8rdin& the n,<ero,s &8tes o+ the +ort ro,nd the cit- o+
4eer8<8hendr8p,ri 8nd th8t it #8s no e8s- t8s> to e++ect 8n entr8nce into it$ (ecidin&,
ho#e)er, to c,t 8#8- +or hi<sel+ into the cit-, he 8ppro8ched one o+ the &8tes o+ the
+ortress$
?n eleph8nt2+8ced ?s,r8, :8B8<,>h8s,r8 - n8<e, ch8llen&ed hi< 8nd en&8&ed hi< in
co<8t, 8nd it #8s onl- 8+ter 8 h8rd +i&ht th8t 4eer88h, #8s 8le to o)erco<e his
opponent$ (esiro,s o+ ot8inin& 8n inti<8te >no#led&e o+ the cit- 8nd the li+e o+ the people
there, 4eer88h, entered the cit- inco&nito$ ?ss,<in& the +or< o+ 8 )er- s<8ll cre8t,re -
the Siddhi o+ Anima, 4eer88h, entered the cit- o+ S,r8p8d<8 ,n>no#n to 8nd ,nseen -
the ?s,r8s$
? si&ht o+ the cit- o+ the ?s,r8s cre8ted +eelin&s o+ s-<p8th- 8nd Be8lo,s- in the <ind o+
the <essen&er9s-<p8th- th8t 8 cit- o+ s,ch inco<p8r8le &r8ce 8nd e8,t- sho,ld co<e
to e inh8ited onl- - people o+ lo# ?s,ric n8t,re 8nd th8t it #8s to perish so soon +or the
sins o+ its inh8it8ntsE 8nd Be8lo,s- 8t the po#er o+ the T8p8s o+ the ?s,r8s, - #hich the-
h8d een 8le to cre8te s,ch 8 s,per2cit- #ith 8ll its <8n- en)i8le per+ections$
The <essen&er, in the co,rse o+ his per8<,l8tions in the cit-, si&hted the prison in #hich
.ndr8=s son I8-8nt8 #8s e<o8nin& his +8te 8s 8 prisoner$ 3e cheered hi< ,p 8nd 8ss,red
hi< o+ 8 %,ic> rele8se - *ord @8rtti>$ Thence 4eer88h, proceeded in his s,tle sh8pe to
the (,r8r h8ll o+ S,r8p8d<8$ 3e #8s &re8tl- d8FFled 8t the &r8nde,r 8nd the po8$ /- the :r8ce o+ *ord S,r8h<8n-8, the
<essen&er 4eer88h, #8s pro)ided #ith 8 (i)ine Si<h8s8n8 (throne) on 8 le)el #ith the
one on #hich S,r8p8d<8 #8s hi<sel+ sittin&$ (isconcerted 8nd 8nno-ed 8t the
,nprecedented dist,r8nce cre8ted - the <essen&er 8nd enr8&ed 8t his de+i8nt de<e8no,r,
S,r8p8d<8, controllin& hi<sel+ #ith 8 <i&ht- e++ort, en%,ired o+ 4eer88h, o+ his identit-
8nd the p,rpose o+ his )isit$
;nd8,nted in spirit 8nd ,ns#er)in& in his +8ith in *ord Sh8n<,>h8, 4eer88h, eDpl8ined
his <ission, 8+ter introd,cin& hi<sel+ 8s the h,<le <essen&er o+ the &lorio,s son o+ *ord
Si)8$ 3e in+or<ed S,r8p8d<8 th8t he h8d een ordered to )isit his c8pit8l 8nd 8scert8in his
<ind 8s to #hether he #8s 8&ree8le to rele8sin& I8-8nt8 8nd 8st8inin& +ro< tro,lin& the
(e)8s +,rther or #hether he #8s prep8red +or 8 +i&ht #ith *ord S,r8h<8n-8, #ho h8d
co<e do#n +ro< @8il8s8 +or the p,rpose o+ s8)in& the ri&hteo,s 8nd p,nishin& the #ic>ed$
.ns,lted 8nd in+,ri8ted, S,r8p8d<8 l,ntl- re+,sed to 8ccept 8n- o+ the ter<s o++ered - the
*ord to hi<, on the &ro,nd th8t it #o,ld e elo# his di&nit- 8nd presti&e e)en to listen to
s,ch <ess8&es$ 3e ridic,led the ide8 o+ his ein& dict8ted to - 8 <ere child, o+ #ho< he
#o,ld <8>e <ince<e8t 8t the +irst enco,nter$ These h8,&ht- 8nd 8rro&8nt #ords o+
S,r8p8d<8 so eDcited 8nd pro)o>ed 4eer88h,, #ho, in 8n o,t,rst o+ 8n&er, c,rsed
S,r8p8d<8 8nd his ?s,r8 d-n8st- to 8n e8rl- r,in 8t the h8nds o+ the *ord$ This #8s
s,++icient to enr8&e S,r8p8d<8 8nd his +ollo#ers 8nd ind,ce the< to )ent their spleen on
the <essen&er$ /,t 4eer88h, o,t#itted the< 8ll 8nd ret,rned s8+e to Tir,chend,r to report
to the *ord 8ll th8t h8d h8ppened in 4eer8<8hendr8p,ri$
.n the <e8nti<e, i<perio,s S,r8p8d<8 c8lled 8 co,ncil o+ #8r 8nd, #ith the help o+ his
<inisters, e&8n to concert <e8s,res +or o++ensi)e 8nd de+ensi)e oper8tions 8&8inst the
ene<-$ ? +e# o+ his 8d)isers tried to pers,8de 8&8inst S,r8p8d<8 to rele8se the (e)8s 8nd
(e)endr8=s son 8nd <8>e pe8ce+,l co<pro<ise #ith the *ord$ Si<h8<,>h8 ple8ded th8t
8s *ord S,r8h<8n-8 #8s, 8s the <essen&er h8d pointed o,t, none other th8n *ord Si)8
3i<sel+ in the +or< o+ 8 -o,n& o-, GTo oe- 3i< #o,ld e #orth- o+ ,s 8nd co,ld rin&
nothin& ,t &ood to 8ll o+ ,s, 8nd to disre&8rd 3i< is to co,rt cert8in destr,ction$H /,t the
doo<ed ?s,r8 >in&, in his 8rro&8nce 8nd pride, #o,ld not listen to s,ch #ise co,nsels$
?ccordin&l-, on the orders o+ the >in&, <i&ht- prep8r8tions +or the ens,in& +i&ht #ere t8>en
in h8nd 8nd co<pleted #ith &re8t eDpedition$ Si<h8<,>h8 #ent 8c> to his c8pit8l,
pro<isin& his rother to co<e to his help #hen the ti<e c8<e 8nd rin& his 8r<-
i<<edi8tel- on the decl8r8tion o+ #8r$
91 Th# :ou" o( "h# Asuras
5n he8rin& +ro< 4eer88h, th8t the ?s,r8s #ere re8d- +or the +i&ht, *ord @8rtti> shi+ted
3is 8r<- c8,d8<, )er- ne8r the cit- o+ the ?s,r8s,
A8hendr8p,ri$ 0e#s o+ this soon re8ched S,r8p8d<8, 8nd he 8t once desp8tched 8
8tt8lion to dri)e 8#8- the ene<- +ro< the o,ts>irts o+ the cit-$
/8n,>op8n, the eldest son o+ S,r8p8d<8, #ho h8d een &i)en co<<8nd o+ the 8tt8lion +or
the +i&ht on the +irst d8- s8llied +orth 8nd +o,nd the #hole host o+ the 8r<- o+ the (e)8s
8rr8-ed 8&8inst hi<$ The &ri< +i&ht et#een the t#o <i&ht- 8r<ies then e&8n$ The (e)8s
s,++ered )er- he8)- c8s,8lties 8t the h8nds o+ /8n,>op8n 8nd his 8tt8lion$ *e8ders li>e
4eer88h, 8nd his rothers #ere l8id lo# 8nd in 8 de8d +8int - the secret ?str8s o+
/8n,>op8n$
5n receipt o+ ne#s o+ ho# d8- #8s &oin& 8&8inst the (e)8s, the *ord sent his %ohanas"ra
to co)er the #hole 8r<- o+ the ?s,r8s, 8nd 8ll the #8rriors #ho h8d een >illed or thro#n
into 8 s#oon - /8n,>op8n #ere restored$ The ?str8 sent - the *ord #in&ed its #8- in
the <e8n#hile to#8rds /8n,>op8n$ Ce8lisin& the &r8)it- o+ the sit,8tion, the -o,n& chie+
#ith the help o+ A8-8, his &r8nd<other, dis8ppe8red +ro< the +ield ,nnoticed 8nd <8de his
#8- to the p8l8ce, #here he 8c%,8inted his +8ther, S,r8p8d<8, #ith the l8test ph8se o+ the
+i&ht$ The redo,t8le chie+ o+ the ?s,r8s hi<sel+ too> o)er the co<<8nd on the second
d8-$
Enr8&ed 8t the disco<+it,re o+ /8n,>op8n 8nd deter<ined to cr,sh the 8r<- o+ the (e)8s
once +or 8ll, S,r8p8d<8 hi<sel+ &8)e 8ttle to the (e)8s 8nd e&8n to #or> h8)oc on the<$
;&r8n, one o+ the le8ders o+ the /h,t8&8n8s (on the side o+ (e)8s) 8+ter 8n 8rd,o,s +i&ht
>illed ?tis,r8n, the son o+ Si<h8<,>h8$ Co,sed to 8 hi&h pitch o+ +,r- 8t this set28c>,
?s,rendr8, son o+ T8r8>8, thre# hi<sel+ into the thic> o+ the +i&ht 8nd sent celer8ted
le8ders li>e @8n8>8n, ;n<8th8n, A8nth8n 8nd <8n- other +l-in& +ro< the +ield$
4eer88h, (e)8r h,rried to th8t #in& o+ the 8r<- 8nd soon +o,nd hi<sel+ in 8 h8nd to
h8nd s#ord +i&ht #ith the dre8ded ?s,r8 prince, ?s,rendr8$ Their &ri< +i&ht see<ed
endless, )ictor- le8nin& no# to one side 8nd then to the other, 8ltern8tel-$ /,t 4eer88h,
(e)8r - the eDercise o+ his ,t<ost po#ers 8t l8st s,cceeded in >illin& ?s,rendr8$ This
ro,&ht S,r8p8d<8 hi<sel+ into the 8cti)e +i&ht 8nd, - the eDertion o+ his s,pre<e )8lo,r,
he soon <8de short #or> o+ the ei&ht rothers o+ 4eer88h, (e)8r, #ho i<<edi8tel-
en&8&ed hi< in de8dl- co<8t$ ?+ter 8 prolon&ed 8nd s8n&,in8r- en&8&e<ent, S,r8p8d<8
re8lised the <ettle o+ the opponent he h8d to de8l #ith 8nd directed his speci8l anda
8&8inst hi<$ The anda str,c> 4eer88h, on the chest 8nd l8id hi< o,t leedin& 8nd
,nconscio,s$ The +8ll o+ 4eer88h, enco,r8&ed S,r8p8d<8 8nd he ch8sed the re<n8nts o+
the de<or8lised (e)8 8r<- o,t o+ the +ield$
*ord Sh8n<,>h8 no# e<er&ed to the +ront 8nd +8ced the tri,<ph8nt ?s,r8 >in&$ 3e e&8n
#ith 8 series o+ <issiles #hich pro<ptl- sh8ttered, one - one, 8ll the #e8pons 8nd insi&ni8
o+ S,r8p8d<8 8nd his +ollo#ers$ Then 3e desp8tched 3is Chakrayudha #hich 8nnihil8ted
h,ndreds o+ tho,s8nds o+ the ?s,r8 8r<-$ Findin& the ordin8r- 8rro#s to e o+ no 8)8il
8&8inst his +or<id8le +oe, S,r8p8d<8 too> ,p the Pasupa"as"ra #hich he h8d recei)ed 8s 8
oon +ro< *ord Si)8, 8nd directed it 8t *ord Sh8n<,>h8, con+identl- eDpectin& his ene<-
to +8ll i<<edi8tel-, 8s the #onder+,l 8nd <i&ht- ?str8 h8d ne)er een >no#n to +8il
e+ore$ To his constern8tion 8nd terror, ho#e)er, *ord Sh8n<,>h8 c8l<l- too> hold o+ the
?str8 8nd >ept it 8side$ 0o# re8lisin& in 8 <e8s,re the )8lo,r 8nd &re8tness o+ Sh8n<,>h8,
#ho co,ld h8ndle s,ch 8n ?str8 in s,ch 8 <8nner, S,r8p8d<8, t8>in& reco,rse to his
po#ers o+ A8-8 s,ddenl- dis8ppe8red +ro< the 8ttle+ield ,nseen 8nd retired to his p8l8ce$
The neDt d8-, ein& the third d8- o+ the 8ttle, /8n,>op8n e%,ipped hi<sel+ +or the +i&ht
#ith speci8l c8re 8nd <8de his 8ppe8r8nce in the +ield$ ?t the )er- o,tset 4eer88h, 8nd
/8n,>op8n con+ronted e8ch other$ ?nd oth re8lised th8t the contest #8s to e 8 +i&ht to the
+inish$ To +ree hi<sel+ co<pletel- +ro< this &ri< enco,nter, /8n,>op8n, in the +l8sh o+ 8
<o<ent 8nd #ith the s#i+tness o+ 8 h,rric8ne, sent o,t his %ohanas"ra 8&8inst the (e)8sE
8nd the #hole host o+ the le8ders #ere rendered ,nconscio,s 8nd dropped into the se8J .t
#8s 8 critic8l <o<ent$ /,t Sh8n<,>h8 #8s <ore th8n e%,8l to the e<er&enc-$ 3e directed
his &el to rin& 8c> s8+e 8nd so,nd 8ll the disco<+ited le8dersE 8nd to the dis<8- o+ the
?s,r8s, 8ll those #ho #ere tho,&ht to h8)e een sent to their cert8in doo< #ere 8&8in seen
soon 8+ter#8rds st8tioned 8nd 8rr8-ed 8&8inst the ?s,r8s 8s i+ nothin& h8d h8ppenedJ
*ord Sh8n<,>h8 no# iss,ed orders to the 8r<- o+ the (e)8s to t8>e 4eer8<8hendr8p,ri
- stor<$ S,r8p8d<8 reor&8nised his +orces 8nd sto,tl- resisted the onr,sh o+ his ene<ies
into his c8pit8l$ 3ir8n-8n, his second son, h8stened to the help o+ his +8ther, 8c>ed - 8
<i&ht- host ,nder his co<<8nd$ To o++set this, 4eer88h, no# ro,&ht his +orces to this
spot o+ the +ield$ The d8-=s ,siness then e&8n in &ri< e8rnest$ ?t +irst the (e)8s s,++ered
he8)- c8s,8lties$ /,t there #8s no resistin& the terri+ic s8llies o+ the <i&ht- 4eer88h,,
#ho slo#l- ,t ste8dil- p,shed 3ir8n-8n 8nd his +orces 8c>$ 3ir8n-8n no# percei)ed th8t
the d8-s o+ the &lor- o+ the ?s,r8 d-n8st- h8d een n,<ered$ (esiro,s o+ preser)in&
hi<sel+ to do the +,ner8l rites o+ his +8<il- <e<ers 8nd, i+ possile, to tr- 8nd reh8ilit8te
the lost +ort,nes o+ his people, 3ir8n-8n dis8ppe8red +ro< the +ield 8nd li)ed in
conce8l<ent, +8r 8#8- +ro< A8hendr8p,ri$
?+ter the +li&ht o+ 3ir8n-8n, ?&ni<,>h8, 8nother son o+ S,r8p8d<8, 8ppe8red on the scene
o+ 8ttle$ Tho,&h the +ire2+8ced -o,n& chie+ #8s s,ccess+,l +or 8 ti<e 8nd in+licted se)ere
c8s,8lties on the +orces o+ the (e)8s, he h8d to s,cc,< ,lti<8tel- to the s,perior str8te&-
o+ 4eer88h, (e)8r$ Findin& hi<sel+ no <8tch +or the l8tter, ?&ni<,>h8 pr8-ed to his
.sht8 (e)i, /h8dr8 @8li +or 8ssist8nce$ ?t his pr8-er Sri (e)i c8<e 8nd in 8 +,r- r,shed
+orth 8nd #or>ed h8)oc on the 8r<- o+ the (e)8s$ /,t on 8ppro8chin& 4eer88h, (e)8r,
she s<iled &r8cio,sl- on hi<, #ished hi< s,ccess 8nd dis8ppe8redJ This soered
?&ni<,>h8 8nd, <8rsh8llin& 8ll his stren&th, he res,<ed his +i&ht 8nd str,&&led
desper8tel- 8&8inst 4eer88h, (e)8r, ,t soon lost his li+e$ 5n the de8th o+ ?&ni<,>h8,
the other sons o+ S,r8p8d<8 too> co<<8nd o+ the sit,8tion ,t +ell )er- e8rl- 8n e8s- pre-
to the irresistile 4eer88h,$
/8n,>op8n no# <8de his third 8ppe8r8nce on the 8ttle +ront$ ?+ter 8 lon& 8nd to,&h +i&ht,
he #8s o)erco<e - s,perior +orcesE ,t thro,&h the in+l,ence o+ A8-8, he dis8ppe8red
8&8in +ro< the scene 8nd #8s +i&htin& #ith &re8t destr,cti)e e++ect, hi<sel+ ,nseen - his
opponents$ 5ser)in& this, 4eer88h, (e)8r #ith the 8id o+ 8 $nana As"ra p,t 8n end to his
A8-8ic conce8l<ent 8nd +orced hi< to co<e o,t o+ his hidin&$ ? terrile h8nd to h8nd +i&ht
then ens,ed et#een the t#o co<<8nders$ ?n&r- 8nd 8nno-ed 8t the tro,le th8t he #8s
ein& p,t to, 4eer88h, eDerted hi<sel+ 8s ne)er e+ore 8nd soon h8d the s8tis+8ction o+
seein& /8n,>op8n +8lter in his tr8c>s$ 3e then &8thered hi<sel+ in 8 s,pre<e e++ort 8nd
8d<inistered the *oup de gra*e - c,ttin& o++ the he8d o+ the ?s,r8 chie+t8in$
0e#s o+ this c8t8strophe #8s soon ro,&ht to S,r8p8d<8, #hose &rie+ >ne# no o,nds$ 3e
p8id 8 )isit to the 8ttle+ield, 8nd, retrie)in& the de8d hero=s re<8ins, s#ore on the< th8t he
#o,ld 8)en&e his loss #itho,t del8-$ 3e then s,<<oned his rother, Si<h8<,>h8 to
A8hendr8p,ri 8nd 8c%,8inted hi< #ith 8ll th8t h8d h8ppened$ 3e eDhorted hi< to do his
,t<ost 8nd t,rn the tide o+ +ort,ne$ Si<h8<,>h8 8ccordin&l- 8ppe8red on the +ield 8nd
#ent thro,&h the 8r<- o+ the (e)8s li>e 8 torn8do$ .ndeed, he loo>ed in)incile, 8nd, one
8+ter 8nother, 8ll the (e)8 le8ders s,cc,<ed to the relentless +,r- o+ Si<h8<,>h8$
4eer88h, (e)8r ste<<ed this tide o+ re)erses 8nd soon 8cco,nted +or 8ll the sons o+
Si<h8<,>h8, sin&le h8nded$ Enr8&ed 8t this, Si<h8<,>h8 +8ced 4eer88h, (e)8r$ /- one
?str8 he o,nd h8nd 8nd +oot the le8ders o+ the (e)8s incl,din& 4eer88h, 8nd re<o)ed
the< 8ll in th8t condition to 8 hill +8r 8#8- +ro< the +ield$ The <i&ht- Si<h8<,>h8n #8s
8,d8cio,s eno,&h e)en to enter the 8se c8ill <8n- o+ the /h,t8&8n8s there$
0e#s o+ this dis8ster #8s soon ro,&ht to *ord Sh8n<,>h8$ Ce8lisin& the indo<it8le
spirit 8nd eDtr8ordin8r- )8lo,r o+ Si<h8<,>h8, *ord Sh8n<,>h8 hi<sel+ no# 8ppe8red on
the scene$ /- 8 n,<er o+ ?str8s 3e ro,&ht 8c> the /h,t8&8n8s +ro< their in&lorio,s
pl8ce o+ retre8tE so,nd in li< 8nd <ind$ 3e then too> on Si<h8<,>h8 hi<sel+ in co<8t
8nd, tho,&h &re8tl- 8d<irin& his co,r8&e 8nd pro#ess, -et <ind+,l o+ the +,t,re, <8de 8n
end o+ the ?s,r8 chie+ - one po#er+,l ?str8$
;1 Th# Down'(a%% o( Surapadma
0o# le+t 8lone, depri)ed o+ the s,pport o+ his rothers 8nd <8n- o+ his +ollo#ers 8nd
enr8&ed 8t the o)er#hel<in& 8nd incre8sin& stren&th o+ the (e)8s, S,r8p8d<8 8rri)ed 8t
the 8ttle +ront #ith the reser)e +orces o+ his 8r<- +ro< the other #orlds$ *ord Sh8n<,>h8
pre)ented +,rther rein+orce<ents +ro< re8chin& S,r8p8d<8=s c8<p 8nd so,&ht hi< o,t$
The c,l<in8tin& point o+ the lon& st8ndin& ri)8lr- h8d een re8ched$ The +in8l scene e&8n$
S,r8p8d<8 +o,&ht #ith <8n- o+ the (e)8s 8nd /h,t8&8n8s incl,din& 4eer88h, (e)8r 8nd
in+licted on the< se)ere inB,ries 8nd ,tter de+e8t$ ?t l8st the &ener8l o+ the ?s,r8s +o,nd
hi<sel+ +8ce to +8ce #ith the &ener8l o+ the (e)8s$ The +i&ht th8t ens,ed #8s one o+ the
<ost <e<or8le in the 8nn8ls o+ the ,ni)erse$ Findin& the de+e8t #8s ine)it8le 8nd
i<<inent in 8 str8i&ht+or#8rd +i&ht, S,r8p8d<8 e<plo-ed 8ll the speci8l 8nd ,nhol- tric>s
le8rned +ro< his <other A8-8$ 3e ro,&ht 8c> to li+e - 8 A8ntr8 8ll the de8d ?s,r8
#8rriors 8nd 8lso ot8ined 8 ch8riot #ith <8&ic po#ers$ /- 8nother A8ntr8 &i)en to hi< -
S,>r8ch8r-8, he too> s,ccessi)el- the +or< o+ 8 n,<er o+ 8ni<8ls 8nd irds 8nd +o,&ht
#ith Sh8n<,>h8$ /,t 8ll in )8inJ Sh8n<,>h8, the *ord, 3i<sel+ #8s e-ond 8ll del,sionE
e)en A8-8 hersel+ #o,ld h8)e een po#erless 8&8inst 3i<, <,ch <ore so her son$ With 8
t#8n& o+ his o# 8nd the rele8se o+ Pasupa"as"ra +ro< it, he s#ept 8c> into eternit- 8ll the
re)i)ed ?s,r8s$ ?nother ?str8 o+ the *ord ro,&ht the <8&ic ch8riot to 3is side +or 3is
o#n ,seJ Th,s S,r8p8d<8 #8s depri)ed o+ his A8-82ch8riot 8nd h8d the <orti+ic8tion o+
seein& it ,sed - the ene<-J 3is 48h8n8 8lso #8s >illed - 8nother ?str8 o+ the *ord$
;pon this, S,r8p8d<8 too> the sh8pe o+ 8 h,&e ird Ch8>s8)8h8<$ /,t the *ord, ,sin&
(e)endr8 in the sh8pe o+ 8 pe8coc> 8s his o#n 48h8n8, +o,&ht #ith the h,&e ird 8nd c,t it
into t#o pieces$ S,r8p8d<8, ho#e)er, %,itted the od- o+ the ird in ti<e 8nd s8)ed
hi<sel+ +or 8 #hile$
?t this ho,r o+ #o,nded pride 8nd ,tter loneliness +or S,r8p8d<8, the *ord +elt in 3is he8rt
so<e co<p8ssion +or the <i&ht- de<on no# l8id lo#, oth on 8cco,nt o+ the &ood #hich
S,r8p8d<8 h8d done in his pre)io,s irths 8nd o+ his heroic st8nd 8&8inst 3i<, 8nd
re)e8led 3i<sel+ in 8ll 3is (i)ine &lor- e+ore S,r8$ ?t the si&ht o+ 3is (i)ine
4ish)8r,p8, the A8-8ic del,sion o+ the ?s,r8 rolled 8#8-, 8nd #ith the ivya*hakshu
(di)ine e-e) &r8nted to hi< - the *ord o+ 3is o#n &r8ce, S,r8p8d<8 s8# e+ore hi< the
*ord in the 4ir8t S)8r,p8 8nd o#ed do#n e+ore 3i<, cr8)in& <erc- 8t 3is h8nds +or 8ll
the e)ils th8t he h8d #or>ed$
The *ord 8ss,<ed his ori&in8l +or< 8s S,r8h<8n-8$ 5n this, o)erpo#ered 8&8in -
del,sion, S,r8p8d<8 res,<ed the +i&htJ 3e too> the sh8pe o+ 8 h,&e tree$ /- 3is &el the
*ord cle+t the tree into t#o )ertic8l pieces$ ;n8le to esc8pe his doo<, S,r8p8d<8 too> his
n8t,r8l +or< 8nd r,shed in &re8t r8&e to#8rds the *ord, #ith the desper8te ide8 o+ e8rin&
3i< do#n to the &ro,nd - sheer ph-sic8l #ei&ht 8nd cr,shin& 3i<J Tired o+ 3is
stren,o,s l8o,rs 8nd 8nDio,s to end the <iseries o+ the ?s,r8, the *ord #ith one thro# o+
3is &el c,t hi< in t#o$ .n co<<e<or8tion o+ the &re8t +i&ht, the *ord ord8ined th8t the
pe8coc> 8nd the coc>, #hose +or<s S,r8p8d<8 h8d 8ss,<ed +or 8 #hile, sho,ld eco<e,
respecti)el-, 3is 48h8n8 ()ehicle) 8nd the e<le< on his st8nd8rd$
Th,s ended the li+e o+ the <i&ht- S,r8p8d<8 8nd #ith hi< the tro,les o+ the (e)8s +or
e)erE 8nd this h8ppened on the Sh8shthi d8- o+ the ri&ht +ortni&ht in 5ctoer20o)e<er,
the siDth d8- 8+ter (ip8)8li$
<1 Th# W#ddin-s
I1 D#iva.anai
*ord Sh8n<,>h8 8+ter 3is )ictor- o)er the ?s,r8s rele8sed 8ll the (e)8s, #ho h8d een
&ro8nin& 8s prisoners ,nder the t-r8nn- o+ the ?s,r8s$ To the &re8t Bo- o+ the (e)8s,
S,r8h<8n-8 ret,rned to Tir,chend,r #ith 3is )ictorio,s 8r<- 8nd st8-ed there +or 8
#hile$ The (e)8s, 8lon& #ith .ndr8 no# rele8sed 8nd 8t e8se, #orshipped the *ord there +or
8ll 3is <erc- 8nd &oodness to the<$ Then the- 8rr8n&ed 8 &r8nd 7,B8 +or the *ord 8nd
&lori+ied 3i< in 8 e+ittin& <8nner$
.n the e8rl- d8-s o+ 3is residence in @8il8s8 #ith 3is F8ther, the *ord h8d <et the
d8,&hters o+ *ord 4ishn,, ?<r,t8)8lli 8nd S,nd8r8)8lli - n8<e$ ?t +irst si&ht o+ the
&lorio,s son o+ *ord Si)8, o+ #hose Bala 5ilas the- h8d 8lre8d- he8rd, the- oth +ell in
lo)e #ith 3i<$ 5n ein& 8c%,8inted #ith this, the *ord &r8cio,sl- ord8ined th8t the-
sho,ld e orn 8&8in9one 8s the d8,&hter o+ .ndr8 8nd the other o+ 08<ir8B8n, 8 >in& o+
the hill tries in So,th .ndi8$
?ccordin&l-, ?<r,t8)8lli h8d een orn 8s the d8,&hter o+ (e)endr8 8nd h8d &ro#n ,p to
e o+ <8rri8&e8le 8&e$ ?)8ilin& hi<sel+ o+ the &olden opport,nit- 8t Tir,chend,r, .ndr8
h,<l- re<inded the *ord o+ 3is pro<ise 8nd re%,ested 3i< to 8ccept the h8nd o+
?<rit8)8lli, his d8,&hter no# >no#n 8s (ei)8-8n8i, in <8rri8&e$ 5ther (e)8s #ho #ere
8sse<led there 8lso s,pported his petition to the *ord$ *ord Sh8n<,>h8 consented 8nd
c8<ped #ith 3is p8rt- 8t Tir,p8r8n>,ndr8<, 8 pl8ce north o+ Tir,chend,r, ne8r A8d,r8i$
?rr8n&e<ents #ere i<<edi8tel- in +,ll s#in& +or 8 +ittin& celer8tion o+ the <8rri8&e$
.n)it8tions #ere sent o,t to 8ll (e)8s to 8ttend the +,nction$ *8)ish prep8r8tions #ere <8de
+or their reception 8nd co<+ort$ E)er-one in)ited h8d 8rri)ed 8nd the cere<on- #8s d,e to
co<<ence$ *ord Sh8n<,>h8 +elt sore 8t the 8sence o+ 3is de8r F8ther 8nd Aother, #hen
8t the <ere tho,&ht o+ the<, *ord Sh8n<,>h8 s8# e+ore 3i< 3is +8ther *ord Si)8 #ith
his consort, 8nd *ord :8nes8$ E)er-od-=s Bo- 8t this re,nion >ne# no o,ndsE 8nd #ith
he8)enl- po8nd8 #ith (ei)8-8n8i too> pl8ce$
?+ter the <8rri8&e, 8ll the (e)8s, #ith the per<ission o+ *ord S>8nd8 8nd *ord Si)8,
retired to their respecti)e #orlds 8nd Bo-o,sl- res,<ed their 8cti)ities$
II1 Va%%i
;pendr8, one o+ the ?)8t8r8s o+ *ord 4ishn,, once #ent to 48i>,nth8 to h8)e (8rsh8n o+
the ?di<,rti, *ord 4ishn,, 8nd A8h8 *8>sh<i$ When the three #ere in the h8ll, 8 &re8t
s8&e, @8n)8 Cishi, c8<e in$ To the &re8t dis8ppoint<ent 8nd ch8&rin o+ the s8&e, he #8s
neither #elco<ed nor p8id the ,s,8l respects - 8n- one o+ the three #ho #ere there$ .n 8
r8&e he c,rsed the< 8s +ollo#s:
*ord 4ishn, #8s to e orn 8s 8 d,< s8&e de)oted to *ord Si)8 +or <8n- irthsE *8>sh<i
(e)i #8s to e orn 8s 8 deer ro8<in& in deserted +orestsE 8nd ;pendr8 #8s to e orn 8s 8
h,nter o+ #ild &8<e$ To <iti&8te the se)erit- o+ the c,rse, 4ishn, did ri&oro,s T8p8s on
*ord Si)8$ Si)8 8ppe8red e+ore hi< 8nd, >no#in& the p,rpose +or #hich his de)otee #8s
per+or<in& the T8p8s, c8lled @8n)8 Cishi 8nd 8s>ed hi< to red,ce the period o+ his c,rse
+ro< K<8n- irths= to one irth$ This #8s d,l- doneE 8ll the three #ere to e restored to
their ori&in8l st8tes on the <8rri8&e et#een S>8nd8 8nd 48lli in the +,llness o+ ti<e$
*ord 4ishn, there8+ter c8<e to the #orld 8s Si)8<,ni, 8 d,< s8int, 8nd #8s li)in& in 8
+orest$ .n the s8<e +orest, ;pendr8 #8ndered 8o,t 8s 8 h,nter$ ?nd *8>sh<i in her li+e 8s
deer #8s ro8<in& 8o,t in the s8<e +orest$ ?s preord8ined, the s8&e Si)8<,ni s8# the
e8,ti+,l deer 8nd, str8n&el- eno,&h, +elt p8ssion8te 8nd 8&it8ted$ The deer ret,rned the
lo)e #hich the s8&e h8d e)inced to her 8t si&ht$ The se%,el #8s th8t the deer #8s deli)ered
o+ 8 h,<8n child, 8 &irl$ Seein& the child so di++erent +ro< hersel+, the deer 88ndoned the
child to its +8te 8nd %,itted the +orest$ ;pendr8, no# in the +or< o+ 8 h,nter, h8ppened to
8rri)e 8t the spot #here the child #8s cr-in& in 8 cl,ster o+ &alli kodi (8 sort o+ creeper)$ 3e
too> ,p the child 8nd, c8llin& her 48lli 8s she #8s +o,nd in 8 &alli kodi, ro,&ht her ,p in 8
<8nner e+ittin& his st8tion in li+e$
III1 Th# ,arria-#
(e)8rshi 08r8d8 no# re<inded S>8nd8 8o,t 3is <eetin& #ith S,nd8r8)8lli in @8il8s8 8nd
in+or<ed 3i< th8t she h8d een orn 8s 48lli, d8,&hter to 08<ir8B8n, the >in& o+ 8 hill
trie in So,th .ndi8$ Fro< the Cishi, S>8nd8 8lso c8<e to >no# th8t 48lli #8s doin& T8p8s
#ith the sole oBect o+ <8rr-in& 3i<$ (esiro,s o+ esto#in& 3is &r8ce on her #itho,t
del8-, S>8nd8 le+t +or the hills, 48lli=s ho<e$ (is&,ised 8s 8 h,nter, he s8# the <8id #ho
#8s dri)in& o++ the irds th8t #ere destro-in& the corn in the +ields$ 3e presented hi<sel+
e+ore her in the +ield 8nd en%,ired o+ her #hether 8n- deer h8d co<e th8t #8-$ The <8id
replied in the ne&8ti)e 8nd too> hi< to t8s> +or )iol8tin& the proprieties - t8l>in& to 8
str8n&er <8id in the <8nner in #hich he h8d done, #hen she #8s ,nch8peroned$ /,t the
h,nter replied to her onl- - 8 conte<pt,o,s 8nd de+i8nt l8,&hJ Enr8&ed 8t this r,de
eh8)io,r o+ the h,nter, 48lli cried o,t to her rothers +or help$ The ,n88shed h,nter,
ho#e)er, proceeded to 8s> her to <8rr- hi< on the spot 8nd 8dded th8t the <8in p,rpose o+
his co<in& to her #8s onl- to do so$ .n response to the cr- o+ 48lli, her se)en rothers
c8<e r,nnin& to the spot #ith their retin,e #here the h,nter 8nd 48lli #ere$ To the
<-sti+ic8tion 8nd 8<8Fe<ent o+ 48lli 8nd to the dis8ppoint<ent o+ the rothers, the
<ischie)o,s h,nter tr8ns+or<ed hi<sel+ into 8 i& tree$ Thin>in& th8t it #8s onl- 8 childish
pr8n> o+ 48lli, the- 8ll #ent 8c>, 8s the- #ere ,n8le to +ind 8n- person in the )icinit-
eDcept 8n innocent treeJ ?s soon 8s their 8c>s #ere t,rned, the tree re8ss,<ed the sh8pe o+
the h,nter, ,t he #8s ,ncere<onio,sl- dri)en o,t 8t the point o+ 8 stic> - 48lli$ ?+ter 8
#hile 48lli s8# 8 tired 8nd totterin& old <8n co<in& to#8rds her$ T8>in& pit- on hi< 8nd
on his helplessness, she o++ered hi< so<e +r,its 8nd #8ter$ The old <8n, #hile p8rt8>in& o+
the o++erin&s, <8de 8 propos8l o+ <8rri8&e to herJ This onl- pro)o>ed 8n 8<,sed 8nd
conte<pt,o,s s<ile +ro< 48lliJ /,t she in+or<ed the old <8n politel- th8t she h8d t8>en 8
)o# to <8rr- none ,t *ord Sh8n<,>h8$ ?t this B,nct,re, to the terror o+ 48lli #ho h8d 8
dre8d o+ eleph8nts, 8n eleph8nt c8<e r,shin& to#8rds #here the- #ere st8ndin& in the +ield$
Fri&htened o,t o+ her #its, she r8n to#8rds the old <8n 8nd +ell into his 8r<s +or protection
8nd s8+et-$ The old <8n, ho#e)er, #hen he h8d &ot 48lli=s 8ss,r8nce th8t she #o,ld <8rr-
hi<, <-sterio,sl- sent the eleph8nt 8#8-$ 0o# th8t 8ll d8n&er #8s o)er, 48lli tre8ted the
#hole <8tter li&htl- 8nd re+,sed to >eep ,p her pro<ise: she 8r&,ed th8t to +ri&hten 8 &irl
8nd &et 8 pro<ise o,t o+ her in th8t condition #8s ,n+8ir 8nd th8t <or8ll- she #8s not
o,nd - s,ch 8 pro<ise 8t 8ll$ 0o sooner #ere these #ords o,t o+ her <o,th th8n the
dre8ded eleph8nt c8<e ch8r&in& 8&8in$ 3er terror #8s so 8c,te th8t she #illin&l- 8nd
sole<nl- pro<ised to <8rr- the old <8n, i+ onl- he #o,ld send the 8#+,l eleph8nt 8#8-
o,t o+ her si&ht$ ?t the s8<e <o<ent, to her &re8t 8stonish<ent 8nd Bo-, she s8# e+ore her
*ord S>8nd8 #ith the &el in 3is h8nd, eD8ctl- #here the old <8n h8d stood co,rtin& her in
s,ch 8 str8n&e +8shion$ 48lli 8polo&ised to 3i< +or her sill- cond,ct 8nd e&&ed +or 3is
&r8ce$ 4er- <,ch ple8sed #ith the intensit- o+ her de)otion, the *ord 8ccepted her 8s 3is
consort$
0e#s o+ her <eetin& #ith 8 h,nter 8nd 8n old <8n spre8d +8r 8nd #ide in the nei&ho,rin&
)ill8&es$ T8>in& the h,nter to e 8 )8&8ond, her +8ther 8nd rothers c8<e ,p to 48lli=s
8ode, in order, the- s8id, to >noc> so<e sense into th8t i<p,dent sco,ndrel$ *ord S>8nd8,
#ho h8d 8&8in t8>en the +or< o+ 8 h,nter, - 8 +lo,rish o+ his &el, ,rnt the< 8ll to 8shes$
/,t 8t the re%,est o+ 48lli, the- #ere 8&8in ro,&ht 8c> to li+e$ Ce8lisin& the +8ct th8t he
#8s none ,t *ord S,r8h<8n-8 (the &,8rdi8n 8n&el o+ their +8<il-), the- 8ll prostr8ted
the<sel)es e+ore 3i< 8nd e&&ed +or 3is <erc-$
To the &re8t Bo- o+ 08<ir8B8n 8nd the (e)8s 8nd in the presence o+ (e)8rshi 08r8d8, the
#eddin& o+ 48lli #8s celer8ted$ With 48lli 8nd (ei)8-8n8i 8s 3is consorts, the *ord
retired to the S>8nd8 3ills ne8r @8il8s8, #here 3e h8s 3is 8ode$
GTh,s, to protect the &ood 8nd to p,nish the #ic>ed, the S,pre<e *ord c8<e do#n t8>in&
the +or< 8nd n8<e o+ S>8nd8$ With the pe8coc> 8s 3is 48h8n8, the coc> +or the e<le< on
3is 8nner 8nd #ith &el in 3is h8nd, *ord S>8nd8 too> 3is 8ode in the S>8nd8 3ills,
#here 3e li)ed #ith 3is consorts 48lli 8nd (ei)8-8n8i$H
:lor- to *ord S,r8h<8n-8J :lor- to 3is consorts 48lli 8nd (ei)8-8n8iJ :lor- to the
(i)ine We8pon 4el8-,dh8J :lor- to the pe8coc>, the 48h8n8 o+ S>8nd8J :lor- to the coc>
on his 8nnerJ :lor- to *ord Si)8 - #hose &r8ce e)er-thin& is doneJ :lor- to 8ll #ho re8d
8nd he8r this stor- o+ *ord S,r8h<8n-8 8nd 3is 5ilas1 A8- the lessin&s o+ *ord
Sh8n<,>h8 e ,pon -o, 8llJ
S-T*ON THR--
Th# Eso"#ri* Si-ni(i*an*# o( Th# S"or.
.
The 7,r8n8s 8nd the .tih8s8s #ere #ritten - &re8t s8&es to rin& ho<e 8nd to pop,l8rise
the hidden tr,ths o+ the 4ed8s 8nd the ;p8nish8ds$ The- ill,str8te thro,&h stories 8nd
n8rr8ti)es the deep si&ni+ic8nces o+ the te8chin&s o+ the 4ed8s$ The S>8nd8 7,r8n8 de8ls
#ith th8t 8spect o+ the *ord 8s the S,pre<e :ener8l o+ the (e)8s, #ith siD +8ces 8nd t#el)e
h8nds 8nd h8)in& 8 Spe8r +or 3is #e8pon$ 3is consorts 8re 48lli 8nd (ei)8-8n8i$ 3is
&ahana is the pe8coc>$ *ord @rishn8 s8-s in the :it8, G5+ the :ener8ls, . 8< S>8nd8$H The
decl8r8tion o+ the *ord, 8&8in, GWhene)er there is decline o+ ri&hteo,sness 8nd &ro#th o+
,nri&hteo,sness, . co<e to the #orld to protect the &ood 8nd to p,nish the #ic>edH is
8pplic8le in this inst8nce 8lso$ .t #8s to p,t 8n end to the 8trocities o+ the ?s,r8 >in&
S,r8p8d<8, th8t the *ord too> 3is ?)8t8r8 in the +or< o+ @8rtti> or S,r8h<8n-8$ The
person8lities in the 7,r8n8s to&ether #ith the n8rr8ti)es 8re nothin& ,t the hi&hest
eDpression o+ h,<8n 8spir8tions to ,nderst8nd the (i)ine 7l8-$
The 3ero o+ the S>8nd8 7,r8n8 is *ord S>8nd8 3i<sel+, >no#n other#ise 8s *ord
S,r8h<8n-8$ 3e is depicted #ith siD +8ces 8nd t#el)e h8nds$ 3is Svarupa is I-otir<8-8$
5n the e8rth pl8ne, e)er- h,<8n ein& is 8n o,tco<e o+ the +i)e ele<ents 8nd the spirit
#ithin hi<$ When the *ord too> the h,<8n +or<, 3e #8s 8ccordin&l- depicted in the s8<e
<8nner$ 3ence the spirit, si&ni+ied - the sp8r>s +ro< Si)8, too> the 8ppe8r8nce o+ 8 h,<8n
person8lit-, #hose od- co<prised the +i)e ele<ents 8nd #ho is the *ord o+ the<$ /,t to
distin&,ish 3i< +ro< ordin8r- h,<8n ein&s, the 8,thor tho,&ht it etter to esto# siD
+8ces 8nd t#el)e h8nds +or the (i)ine2<8n$ These siD +8ces represent the +ollo#in&:
(i) Fi)e, one ele<ent e8ch: Ether, 8ir, +ire, #8ter 8nd e8rth$ The siDth +8ce represents the
Spirit th8t esto#s *.FE to the ein&s +or<ed - the +i)e ele<ents$
(ii) The S8ns>rit #ord Bhagavan <e8ns one #ho is possessed o+ the siD &odl- 8ttri,tes$
?nd e8ch +8ce o+ *ord S>8nd8 personi+ies one o+ s,ch +,nctions or 8ttri,tes o+ the
?l<i&ht-$
(iii) .n the T8<il script,res 8 cle8r 8cco,nt o+ the +,nctions o+ the siD +8ces o+ the *ord is
&i)en$ 5ne +8ce is shinin& to re<o)e i&nor8nce 8nd esto# @no#led&eE 8nother +,l+ils the
desires o+ de)otees 8nd 8ttends to their needsE 8 third +8ce esto#s stren&th 8nd inspir8tion
+or the per+or<8nce o+ rit,8ls 8nd s8cri+icesE 8 +o,rth rin&s o,t the inner secrets 8nd helps
the see>ers o+ >no#led&e - re)e8lin& those secrets to the<E 8 +i+th +8ce h8s the p,rpose o+
protectin& the )irt,o,s 8nd p,nishin& the #ic>edE 8nd the siDth +8ce st8nds +or th8t +,nction
o+ the *ord th8t i&nites *o)e 8nd esto#s h8ppiness 8<on&st the $ivas!
?nd, in conc,rrence #ith the siD +8ces, the t#el)e h8nds #or> in h8r<on-$
The &el, pe8coc> 8nd coc> 8re the e<le<s #hich 8ssist the *ord in the +,l+il<ent o+ 3is
+,nctions$ The &el is the In8n8 S8>ti o+ the *ord$ .t destro-s i&nor8nce 8nd restores the $iva
to its ori&in8l 8ode o+ pristine &lor-$ The pe8coc> 8nd coc> te8r 8s,nder the )eil o+ A8-8
o)er the de)otees 8nd help the< on#8rds on the p8th o+ :od2re8lis8tion$
?s it is )er- di++ic,lt +or the h,<8n <ind to &r8sp the 8str8ct tr,ths in the 4ed8s, the
S>8nd8 7,r8n8, 8s is the c8se #ith 8ll other 7,r8n8s, #8s co,ched in the +or< o+ 8 stor-
ill,str8tin& in 8 si<ple #8- the s,pre<e tr,ths +or the ene+it o+ the 8)er8&e intelli&ence$
The Ii)8 #ho is none ,t the 78r8<8t<8n does not re8lise its &lorio,s st8te, d,e to the +orce
o+ ?)id-8 or i&nor8nce$ 3ence, it ,nder&oes s,++erin&s 8nd h8rdships, #hich <erel- dr8&
the so,l do#n +ro< its s,pre<e st8te o+ Sa"0Chi"0Ananda! .n the s8<e #8-, the (e)8s
s,++ered <,ch ec8,se o+ their i&nor8nce 8nd indi++erence$ F,rther, S,r8p8d<8, in spite o+
his &lorio,s T8p8s, co,ld not re<8in )er- lon& in his enBo-<ent o+ the li+e o+ ple8s,re +or
#hich he h8d done s,ch se)ere pen8nce$
The co<p8ssion8te *ord, desiro,s o+ +reein& the Ii)8 +ro< this ond8&e, sho#ers 3is &r8ce
on it 8nd restores it to its s,pre<e 8ode$ ?nd it is onl- - the &r8ce o+ the *ord th8t this
co,ld e)er e done$ S,r8p8d<8, tho,&h - the &r8ce o+ *ord Si)8 enBo-ed 8ll the #e8lth
8nd prosperit- o+ the #orld, -et, d,e to the +orce o+ his ?)id-8, h8d to t8>e 8 #ron& t,rn
8nd lose e)er-thin& in the end$ ?nd it is onl- thro,&h the :r8ce o+ *ord Si)8 in the +or< o+
*ord Sh8n<,>h8 th8t his i&nor8nce #8s dispelled 8nd he 8tt8ined the s,pre<e &o8l o+
h,<8n eDistence, i$e$, Sel+2re8lis8tion$
.n its tr8)el 8c> to#8rds the *ord, +ro< #ho< it h8s eco<e sep8r8ted te<por8ril-, the
Ii)8 ,nder&oes <8n- 8 h8rdship$ The lo#er <ind, in the +or< o+ S,>r8ch8r-8, dr8&s the
Ii)8 do#n +ro< its &o8l 8nd intensi+ies its ond8&e still +,rther$ The te8chin&s o+
S,>r8ch8r-8 to S,r8p8d<8 8re nothin& <ore th8n the )8rio,s 8r&,<ents 8d)8nced - the
lo#er <ind to B,sti+- its o#n <e8n desires, th,s pre)entin& the on#8rd pro&ress o+ the Ii)8
to#8rds :od2conscio,sness$ Tho,&h S,r8p8d<8 h8d per+or<ed se)ere T8p8s 8nd 8c%,ired
se)er8l oons thro,&h the &r8ce o+ *ord Si)8, he co,ld not li)e lon&er, si<pl- ec8,se o+
his +ollo#in& the te8chin&s o+ the ?s,r8 :,r,, the lo#er <ind$
Th,s, the S>8nd8 7,r8n8 ill,str8tes the pl8- o+ A8-8 ,pon the Ii)8s, the s,++erin&
,nder&one in conse%,ence 8nd the +in8l rele8se +ro< the cl,tches o+ A8-8 thro,&h the
&r8ce o+ *ord Sh8n<,>h8 in the sh8pe o+ 4el8-,dh89the In8n8 S8>ti o+ the *ord$
The consorts o+ *ord Sh8n<,>h8 8re 48lli 8nd (ei)8-8n8i$ 48lli st8nds +or the )**ha Sak"i
9the 7o#er o+ Will$ ?nd the other, (ei)8-8n8i, st8nds +or Kriya Sak"i9the 7o#er o+
?ction$ Th,s sho,ld 8 Ii)8 8spirin& to :odliness, h8)in& ro,&ht the #ill2po#er ,nder
control, stri)e ce8selessl- till it re8ches the &o8l$
3ence the three S8>tis, in the +or< o+ &el9In8n8 S8>ti, 48lli9.cch8 S8>ti, 8nd
(ei)8-8n8i9@ri-8 S8>ti, +or< p8rt 8nd p8rcel o+ *ord Sh8n<,>h8, #ho is 8lso n8<ed 8s
S8>tidh8r8$
:lor- to the *ord o+ the S8>tisJ :lor- to the *ord #ho dispels i&nor8nce 8<on&st the
de)otees - 3is 4el8-,dh8$
Va%%i&s W#ddin-
The tr,e i<port o+ this #eddin& see<s to e this$ 48lli represents the $iva th8t h8s een
sep8r8ted +ro< its ori&in8l 8ode, etern8l liss, 78r8<8t<8n, #ho is *ord S,r8h<8n-8$
The sep8r8ted $iva ro8<s in the #ilderness o+ the +orest o+ this #orld, d,e to the +orce o+
?)id-8$ To resc,e this i&nor8nt Ii)8 #8nderin& in the #ilderness, the :,r, 8ppe8rs in the
+or< o+ Cishi 08r8d8 - #hose help the #eddin& t8>es pl8ce et#een 48lli 8nd *ord
@8rtti>, i$e$, the hol- co<<,nion o+ the $iva #ith the S,pre<e /r8h<8n$
?s the Ii)8 possessed ,n+linchin& 8nd ,ns#er)in& +8ith in the *ord, 48lli #8s deter<ined
to <8rr- onl- *ord Sh8n<,>h8 8nd #8s 8le to re8lise her 8<ition in spite o+ the <8n-
ostr,ctions$
3ence, h8)in& the t#o horns o+ 48ir8&-8 8nd 4i)e>8, the $iva, 48lli, &ot hersel+ +in8ll-
resc,ed +ro< the cl,tches o+ A8-89represented - her p8rents 8nd other ost8cles98nd
+in8ll- est8lished hersel+ in ,nion #ith *ord S,r8h<8n-8, the S,pre<e ?ode o+ /liss$
..
7eople h8)e )8rio,s )ie#s on the S)8r,p8 o+ *ord Sh8n<,>h8 #ho is 8lso >no#n 8s *ord
S,r8h<8n-8$ So<e consider 3i< 8s the Co<<8nder2in2chie+ o+ the (e)8 +orces, so<e
consider 3i< 8s 8 helper o+ the (e)8s, 8nd there+ore not e)en e%,8l to the (e)8s
the<sel)es, tho,&h the- thin> th8t 3e is 8 hi&her ein& th8n <en$
The <e8nin& o+ the )er- n8<e S,r8h<8n-8 &i)es ,s 8 cl,e to 3is Ce8l .dentit-E
S,r8h<8n-8 <e8ns one #ho >no#s /r8h<8n #ellE 8nd /r8h<8n 8lone c8n >no#
/r8h<8n$ There+ore *ord S,r8h<8n-8 is /r8h<8n 3i<sel+$
The stor- o+ *ord S,r8h<8n-8=s irth is )er- interestin&$ *ord Si)8 h8d siD he8ds9+o,r
+8cin& the +o,r directions, one +8cin& ,p#8rds 8nd the other do#n#8rds$ Fro< the Third
E-e on e8ch +8ce e<8n8ted Tejas$ This *i&ht +illed 8ll the directions$ The #hole o+ ether
#8s per<e8ted - this TeB8s$ *ord Si)8 then #ithdre# this TeB8s into 3is o#n h8nds 8nd
&8)e it to 48-, (Wind2&od)$ 48-, ore it +or so<eti<eE ,t, ,n8le to end,re it lon&er,
&8)e it to ?&ni (Fire2&od)$ Fire, in t,rn p8ssed it on to :8n&8 (#8ter)$ Th8t TeB8s 8ss,<ed
the sh8pe o+ siD children 8nd +lo8ted on S8r8)8n82l8>e$ When 78r)8ti too> ,p these
children, the- to&ether +or<ed into one child #ith siD he8ds$ This #8s Sh8n<,>h8$ ?nd, 3e
c8rried on 3is *il8s on this e8rth$
Th8t is the stor- o+ /r8h<8n 8lsoE 8nd the 8o)e is the stor- o+ Cre8tion$ /r8h<8n +illed
e)er-thin&: /r8h<8n #8s o+ the +or< o+ S,pre<e *i&ht$ .t +illed ether$ Thence, it p8ssed on
to ?ir, Fire, W8ter 8nd E8rth$ The s-<olo&- o+ S,r8h<8n-8=s irth, there+ore, pro)es
th8t 3e is no other th8n the S,pre<e /r8h<8n 3i<sel+$
The *ord h8s siD he8ds 8nd, there+ore, 3e is c8lled Sh8n<,>h8$ %ukham or the he8d
cont8ins 8ll the +i)e In8n8 .ndri-8s$ These +i)e In8n8 .ndri-8s plus the siDth .ndri-8,
/,ddhi, 8re the siD &8tes thro,&h #hich the ?nt8r8t<8n recei)es i<pressions o+ oBects$ .t
is thro,&h these siD GholesH th8t the *i&ht o+ the ?t<8n p8sses o,t$ The )er- +8ct o+ the
+lo#in& o,t o+ conscio,sness thro,&h these siD holes, pro)es to #ise <en th8t the ?t<8n
#ithin is the +or< o+ Conscio,sness$ This .nner Conscio,sness h8s, 8s it #ere, the siD
he8ds$ So, too, h8s *ord S,r8h<8n-8$ 3e is the S,pre<e /r8h<8n #ith siD he8ds9the siD
In8n8 .ndri-8s$
?nd, the 6o&is eDpl8in th8t the siD he8ds o+ *ord S,r8h<8n-8 represent the siD centres
(Chakras) #ithin$ E8ch he8d is o+ the +or< o+ e8ch (e)8t8 o+ the siD Ch8>r8s$ This #8-,
too, #e co<e to the concl,sion th8t *ord S,r8h<8n-8 is 78r8 /r8h<8n 8nd not 8 <ere
di)ine ein&$
Aedit8tion on *ord S,r8h<8n-8, there+ore, is, 8ccordin& to the /h8>t8s, the s,rest #8- to
ot8in int,iti)e >no#led&e o+ /r8h<8n$ *ord S,r8h<8n-8 is @no#led&e ?sol,te .tsel+E
there+ore, <edit8tion on 3i< is prod,cti)e o+ this @no#led&e$
?p8rt +ro< this, e)en i+ 8 e&inner in concentr8tion is t8,&ht the S)8r,p8 o+ *ord
S,r8h<8n-8, 8nd is 8s>ed to <edit8te on the siD2he8ded +or< o+ 3is, ridin& on the
pe8coc>, holdin& the Spe8r, #ith 48lli 8nd (ei)8-8n8i eside 3i<, the 8spir8nt #o,ld sit
8sored in 3i< +or three ho,rs #itho,t 8n- di++ic,lt-$ To p8ss the <ind +ro< one he8d to
the other, +ro< one e-e to the other o+ 3is ei&hteen e-es, +ro< one h8nd to the other o+ 3is
t#el)e 8r<s, etc$, etc$, #o,ld e so 8sorin& th8t the <ind #o,ld ne)er #8nder$
?s the 8spir8nt 8d)8nces in the pr8ctice, he c8n &r8d,8ll- dispense #ith 8ll this
p8r8phern8li8 8nd concentr8te ,pon the &el (Spe8r), 8lone$ This Spe8r is the re8l S)8r,p8 o+
*ord S,r8h<8n-8$ .t represents Conscio,sness$ When 8ll the rest h8s )8nished, this 8lone
re<8ins ehind$
The ch8r8cteristics o+ /,ddhi 8re: depth o+ tho,&ht, hei&hts o+ int,iti)e perception, re8dth
o+ )ision, 8nd sh8rpness o+ intellect$ ?ll these 8re represented - the &el (Spe8r)$ .t is hi&h
(t8ll)$ .t is deep (i$e$, it h8s 8 lon& ste< #hich re8ches do#n to the +eet)$ .ts le8+ is ro8d$
?nd, it h8s 8 sh8rp top$ There+ore it s-<olises Conscio,sness$ The 8d)8nced S8dh8>8
<edit8tes on this$ 5ne #ho <edit8tes on this 8s Conscio,sness s,rel- 8tt8ins the S,pre<e
/r8h<8n #hich is S8tchid8n8nd8$
A8- the lessin&s o+ *ord S,r8h<8n-8 e ,pon -o, 8llJ
...
.n co<<on #ith 8ll 3ind, <-tholo&ic8l 8cco,nts 8nd stories, the descriptions o+ the
le&ends 8o,t S,r8h<8n-8 8lso e<od- )8rio,s esoteric tr,ths$ *ord S,r8h<8n-8 h8s
siD +8ces$ 3e holds 8 Spe8r or &el, 8nd 3e rides on 8 pe8coc>$ ? coc> is 3is 8nner$ 3e h8s
t#o #i)es, 48lli 8nd (ei)8-8n8i$ 3e is the son o+ 78r8<8 Si)8$ 3e c8<e o,t o+ Si)8=s third
e-e, in the +or< o+ Fire or *i&ht9I-otis$ 3is 8chie)e<ents consisted o+ the destr,ction o+
the &re8t ?s,r8 S,r8p8d<8, #ho, #ith his 8ssist8nts, #8s ensl8)in& .ndr8 8nd other (e)8s$
3e <8rried (ei)8-8n8i, the d8,&hter o+ .ndr8$ 5n the 8d)ice o+ 08r8d8 he <8rried 8lso
48lli, the +oster2d8,&hter o+ the h,nter >in& 08<i, 8+ter testin& her de)otion prett-
se)erel-$ E)en 8s 8 o-, *ord S,r8h<8n-8 i<prisoned /r8h<8 +or his i&nor8nce o+ the
<e8nin& o+ the 7r8n8)8 A8ntr8 8nd rele8sed hi< onl- 8t the re%,est o+ *ord Si)8$
.ncident8ll- 3e 8lso eDpo,nded to *ord Si)8 the s8<e A8ntr8$ ?ll these 8cco,nts 8re the
interestin& det8ils &re8tl- 8ppreci8ted 8nd cherished - deepl- de)oted S,r8h<8n-8=s
/h8>t8s$ The #orship o+ S,r8h<8n-8 is <ore or less con+ined to So,th .ndi8 tho,&h 3e is
not ,n>no#n to the 3ind,s o+ the rest o+ .ndi8 8s @8rtti>e-8$ 3e is 8lso #orshipped - 8
l8r&e section o+ people in Sri *8n>8$ The T8<ili8ns h8)e 8 li)in& +8ith in S,r8h<8n-8 8nd
8re 8s +ond o+ 3is *il8s 8s the 0orth .ndi8ns 8nd the So,th .ndi8n 48ishn8)ites 8re o+
@rishn8=s sports$
Fro< the esoteric point o+ )ie#, S,r8h<8n-8 is the *ord #ho inc8rn8ted 3i<sel+ to
ill,<ine the intelli&ence o+ h,<8n ein&s 8nd lier8te the< +ro< i&nor8nce o+ )8rio,s
>inds, #hich hides the tr,th +ro< the<$ Since h,<8n ein&s 8re in di++erent st8&es 8nd
le)els o+ de)elop<ent, *ord S,r8h<8n-8 h8s to <eet the< on their o#n le)el +or +,l+illin&
3is <ission o+ enli&hten<ent$ This 3e does in 8 ,ni%,e #8-$
3is siD he8ds 8re s-<olic8l o+ the siD 7r8nic or 4it8l centres9the siD Ch8>r8s9o+
ner)o,s 8cti)itin the h,<8n od-, loc8ted in the spin8l cord 8nd 8t the B,nction o+ the
e-ero#s$ .t is thro,&h concentr8tion on these centres th8t the 6o&i 8c%,ires c8p8cit- to
s,ordin8te his lo#er n8t,re, to s,li<8te it, 8nd to ,tiliFe 8ll his ener&- +or est8lishin& his
identi+ic8tion #ith the one *ord o+ the ,ni)erse, #ho is EDistence2@no#led&e2/liss
?sol,te$ There+ore, to s8- th8t *ord S,r8h<8n-8=s siD he8ds represent these siD )it8l
centres is onl- to s8- th8t #hene)er 8n 8spir8nt 8tte<pts to rise 8o)e his h,<8n li<it8tions
8nd eDperience oneness #ith the Etern8l, *ord S,r8h<8n-8 &i)es hi< 8ll the stren&th he
re%,ires +or con%,erin& the e)il inside hi< 8nd +or the 8c%,isition o+ the +in8l Tr,th$
The Spe8r or &el is the #e8pon #hich pierces thro,&h the de<on o+ i&nor8nce$ This is the
E>8&r8 Chitt8 or one2pointed <ind so <,ch insisted ,pon in C8B8 6o&8 #itho,t #hich
pro&ress is i<possile +or 8 6o&i$ .t is the preli<in8r- +or concentr8tion, <edit8tion 8nd
8sorption ((h8r8n8, (h-8n8 8nd S8<8dhi) 8ll o+ #hich to&ether constit,te the 6o&ic
S8<-8<8$ .n the le&end, it is S,r8p8d<8, the ?s,r8 #ho is sl8in - the &el! Th8t ?s,r8 is
none other th8n .&nor8nce$
Th8t S,r8h<8n-8 c8<e o,t o+ Si)8=s third e-e is s-<olic o+ 3is ein& the inc8rn8tion o+
7,re .ntelli&ence, +or Si)8=s third e-e is >no#n to e the e-e o+ Wisdo< or In8n8$
The pe8coc> (on #hich S,r8h<8n-8 rides) is the <ost e8,ti+,l o+ 8ll the irds$ .t is the
one ird #hich c8n re)e8l its inner Bo- - d8ncin& 8nd displ8-in& its &or&eo,s pl,<8&e$
When it does so, it e)idences its per+ect 8l8nce9+or it is 8 )er- he8)- ird 8nd it h8s to
>eep its 8l8nce on its t#o )er- slender +eet$ ?ll these points rel8tin& to the pe8coc> 8re
,tilised +or ill,str8tin& the ide8s concernin& the inner si&ni+ic8nce o+ the S,r8h<8n-8
<-tholo&-$ We c8n interpret the pe8coc> 8s s-<olisin& <ent8l e%,ipoise9the
predo<in8nce o+ S8tt)8 o)er C8B8s 8nd T8<8s$ Th8t tr8n%,illit- or <ent8l 8l8nce, #hen
once 8tt8ined, prod,ces content<ent 8nd h8ppiness$ S,ch 8 <ent8l condition re)e8ls itsel+
in 8 s,perior sort o+ sel+2s8tis+8ction98 st8te si<il8r to th8t o+ the pe8coc> #hich spre8ds
o,t its e8,ti+,l pl,<8&e$ .t is this predo<in8tin& S8tt)8 th8t is the prere%,isite +or the
8c%,isition o+ Tr,e @no#led&e9the >no#led&e s-<olised - *ord S,r8h<8n-8
3i<sel+$
S,r8h<8n-8=s coc>28nner s-<olises the 8ppro8ch or the d8#n o+ @no#led&e9it is the
coc> th8t procl8i<s the co<in& o+ the s,n in the e8stern horiFon$ The s,n is the he8)enl-
od- th8t dispels d8r>ness$ *i>e#ise the coc> on S,r8h<8n-8=s 8nner 8nno,nces the
8ppro8ch o+ @no#led&e #hich #ill destro- 8ll i&nor8nce$
The t#o #i)es, (ei)8-8n8i 8nd 48lli, s-<olise the t#o t-pes o+ de)otees 8<on& those
#ho stri)e +or Ao>sh8 or *ier8tion thro,&h ,nion or oneness #ith the S,pre<e$ 5ne t-pe
consists o+ those #ho ri&idl- 8nd sincerel- oser)e the inB,nctions 8nd +ollo# the te8chin&s
o+ the 4edic script,res 8nd 8re th,s the +ollo#ers o+ 48idi>8 @8r<8s$ Th8t t-pe is
represented - (ei)8-8n8i, #ho< S,r8h<8n-8 <8rried in the re&,l8r orthodoD #8-$ The
other t-pe consists o+ the 8rdent /h8>t8s #ho 8tt8ch <ore i<port8nce to ri&ht <ent8l
+eelin& 8nd e<otion th8n to r,les 8nd re&,l8tions$ This t-pe is s-<olised - 48lli, #ho
&ro#s 8s the +oster2d8,&hter o+ the h,nter >in&, 08<i$ S,r8h<8n-8 <8rries her in the
co<ined :8ndh8r)8 8nd 78is8ch8 <odes o+ <8rri8&e$ 3e <8ni+ests lo)e in #ooin& her
8nd ,ses +orce in +i&htin& 8&8inst her rel8tions #ho tr- to ostr,ct 3i<$
S,r8h<8n-8 le&ends 8lso re)e8l th8t 3e is the :od o+ the hill 8nd other tries #hose
<odes o+ #orship 8re pri<iti)e, cr,de 8nd 8r8ro,s$ Th8t sho#s th8t S,r8h<8n-8
inc8rn8ted 3i<sel+ onl- +or the p,rpose o+ con+errin& >no#led&e ,pon 8ll, #h8te)er e
their le)el o+ ,nderst8ndin& or 8tt8in<ent$ ?ll the det8ils rel8tin& to S,r8h<8n-8 le&ends
c8n e interpreted correctl- i+ #e e8r in <ind the ,nderl-in& tr,th th8t S,r8h<8n-8 is
S,pre<e Conscio,sness in 8n e<odied +or<$ This is 8<pl- orne o,t - the stor- 8o,t
S,r8h<8n-8 h8)in& een the :,r, o+ e)en 3is o#n F8ther$ The stor- &oes th8t 3e
%,estioned /r8h<8 8o,t the <e8nin& o+ 5< 8nd th8t, #hen /r8h<8 re)e8led his
i&nor8nce o+ it, S,r8h<8n-8 p,t hi< into prison$ When the <8tter re8ched Si)8, 3e #8s
n8t,r8ll- 8<,sed 8nd pl8-+,ll- ch8llen&ed S,r8h<8n-8 to interpret the A8ntr8 3i<sel+$
/,t child S,r8h<8n-8 #o,ld not do so ,nless Si)8 ec8<e 3is disciple$ Si)8 #8s +ond
eno,&h o+ 3is child to 8ss,<e the 8ttit,de o+ 8 disciple 8nd &ot the eDpl8n8tion +ro< 3is
o-ish lips$ Th8t incident8ll- #on +or S,r8h<8n-8 the n8<e o+ S#8<in8th8$ 3ere, too,
#e see th8t S,r8h<8n-8 s-<olises 7,re Conscio,sness #hich incl,des in it the <e8nin&
o+ e)en 5<, the hi&hest o+ 8ll A8ntr8s$
.4
This hol- +or< consists o+ siD +8ces 8nd t#el)e h8nds$ The h8nds e8r di++erent >inds o+
#e8pons$ 5n the re8st the <ost i<port8nt #e8pon, the &el is ein& >ept$ 3e rides on the
pe8coc> 8nd holds the 8nner o+ coc>$ 5n either side 8re 3is (e)is, 48lli 8nd (ei)8-8n8i$
The pe8coc> st8nds ,pon 8 l8c> serpent$ The entire pict,re is the +or< o+ S,r8h<8n-8$
*et ,s see the inner <e8nin& o+ the +or<$ The siD +8ces indic8te th8t 3is presence shines on
the +o,r sides 8nd 8lso 8o)e 8nd elo#$ 3e see<s 8lso to eDpress th8t 3e it is th8t is
spo>en 8o,t in 8ll the siD <8in reli&ions$ .t is 8lso hinted th8t 3e is the per+ect ein& #ho
is ein& so,&ht 8+ter - the siD <e8ns o+ >no#led&e$ The siD +8ces <8- 8lso e t8>en to
indic8te the siD Ch8>r8s or the centres o+ ener&- in the h,<8n od- #hich 8re >no#n to
6o&is$
The t#el)e 8r<s sho# th8t 3e 8lone cre8tes, preser)es, destro-s, hides 8nd lesses,9in
+8ct does e)er-thin& in the #orld$
48lli, (ei)8-8n8i 8nd the &el <e8n, respecti)el-, .cch8 S8>ti, @ri-8 S8>ti 8nd In8n8 S8>ti,
i$e$, the +orce o+ (esire, the +orce o+ ?ction, 8nd the +orce o+ @no#led&e$ .t is indic8ted th8t
8ll these three 8ide in S,r8h<8n-8, #ho is 78r8 /r8h<8n 3i<sel+$ The +8ct th8t (esire
8nd ?ction +orces 8re >ept on either side o+ 3i< 8nd th8t In8n8 S8>ti or the +orce o+
@no#led&e 8lone is >ept in 3is re8st points o,t th8t @no#led&e is the <ost i<port8nt o+
the< 8ll 8nd th8t it ne)er &ets sep8r8ted +ro< 3i<$
There is 8nother +or< o+ S,r8h<8n-8 #hich is >no#n 8s (8nd8 78ni$ When 3e is
presented in th8t +or<, 3e st8nds 8lone, #ith the &el ,t #itho,t 48lli or (ei)8-8n8i$ Th8t
8lso sho#s th8t 3e c8n e #itho,t the +orces o+ (esire 8nd ?ction, ,t c8nnot e #itho,t
the +orce o+ @no#led&e$
S,r8h<8n-8 <8rried 48lli 8ccordin& to the :8ndh8r)8 <ode$ 3e did not ot8in the
per<ission o+ her p8rents +or doin& so$ Th8t 8lso sho#s th8t 48lli is 3is (esire +orce$
5n the other h8nd 3is <8rri8&e #ith (ei)8-8n8i #8s 8+ter 3is )ictor- o)er the ?s,r8s$ 5,t
o+ &r8tit,de, .ndr8 &8)e S,r8h<8n-8 his o#n d8,&hter (ei)8-8n8i in <8rri8&e$ This #8s
done 8ccordin& to 4edic rites$ These e)ents point to the +8ct th8t (ei)8-8n8i sho#s 3is
?ction +orce$
The &el or Spe8r #8s &i)en to S,r8h<8n-8 - 78r)8ti, the e<odi<ent o+ Si)8 S8>ti$ .t,
there+ore, indic8tes th8t the Spe8r is the s-<ol o+ Tr,e @no#led&e 8s co<in& o,t o+
78r)8ti, the 78r8 S8>ti$ The sh8pe o+ &el 8lso sho#s th8t @no#led&e in the +or< o+ I-otis
#ill st8rt +ro< the A,l8dh8r8 Ch8>r8, represented - the otto< o+ the &el, p8ss thro,&h
the inter<edi8te 08dis (#hich 8re represented - the od- o+ the &el) 8nd pierce thro,&h
the tho,s8nd2pet8lled /r8h<8r8ndhr8, #hich is represented - the sh8rp, le8+2sh8ped end o+
the &el, 8nd in the end #ill shine resplendent in the top e-ond 8ll these Ch8>r8s or 08dis$
Sh8n<,>h8=s 48h8n8, the pe8coc>, sho#s the sh8pe o+ the 7r8n8)8 or J$ .t is o+ the sh8pe
o+ the /ind,$ When the pe8coc> spre8ds o,t its t8il, it h8s the ro,nd sh8pe o+ the 7r8n8)8$
Within it is the 78r8 /r8h<8 I-oti, #hich is the +or< o+ A,r,&8n or S,r8h<8n-8$ The
s,ordin8ted serpent >ept in chec> - the pe8coc>=s +eet sho#s th8t A8-8 or i<p,rit- is
co<pletel- o)erpo#ered - the po#er o+ 7r8n8)8$
The coc> in the 8nner si&ni+ies the So,nd2+or< or the 08d8 o+ 7r8n8)8$ .t is the n8t,re o+
the coc> to cro# 8t the <o<ent #hen the s,n <8>es hi<sel+ B,st )isile in the horiFon$
*et ,s no# eD8<ine the <e8nin& o+ the le&end 8o,t S,r8p8d<8 #ho #8s >illed -
S,r8h<8n-8$ The ?s,r8s T8r8>8, Si<h8<,>h8 8nd S,r8p8d<8 #ere the sons o+ A8-8$
The- persec,ted the (e)8s 8nd i<prisoned (e)8>,<8r8$ A,r,&8n heeded the pr8-ers o+
the (e)8s, >illed the three ?s,r8s #ith 3is Spe8r 8nd lier8ted (e)8>,<8r8 +ro< prison$
*8ter, 8ccordin& to the re%,est o+ the )ictorio,s (e)8s, A,r,&8n <8rried (ei)8-8n8i, the
d8,&hter o+ .ndr8$ The inner si&ni+ic8nce o+ their 8cco,nts is 8s +ollo#s$ The three sons o+
A8-8 8re S8tt)8, C8B8s 8nd T8<8s,9the three :,n8s$ The ori&in8l c8,se o+ the three
:,n8s is 8lso sho#n to e the i<p,rit- >no#n 8s A8-8$ The Ii)8 is e)er ,nder the
in+l,ence o+ these three :,n8s 8nd is s,B,&8ted - the<$ :od S,r8h<8n-8 listens to the
pr8-ers o+ the Ii)8 8nd lier8tes hi< +ro< the cl,tches o+ the three +oes, the three :,n8s$
0ot onl- does he lier8te the Ii)8, ,t 8lso (- <8rr-in&) ,nites the Ii)8 #ith 3i<sel+$
Th# W#ddin- o( Va%%i
.n the d8r> +orest o+ the <o,nt8in, 48lli +ro#ns in the <idst o+ the cr,el h,nters, her
rel8tions, 8nd spends her ti<e in thro#in& stones to dri)e 8#8- irds #hich pec> the &r8ins
in the +ields$ /,t her <ind #8s 8l#8-s in lo)e #ith *ord A,r,&8n$ .n ri&ht ti<e, A,r,&8n
co<es in di++erent &,ise, tests her, +ri&htens her #ith the eleph8nt thro,&h the help o+
4in8-8>8 8nd in the end re)e8ls 3is re8l +or<, 8nd t8>es her 8#8- to <8rr-$ ?t th8t ti<e he
enco,nters the opposition o+ 48lli=s +oster p8rents, 8nd >ills the<$ /,t in response to
48lli=s re%,est 3e rin&s the< 8c> to li+e 8nd celer8tes the <8rri8&e #ith her$
*et ,s eD8<ine the esoteric <e8nin& hidden in this stor-$ The d8r> +orest is T8<8sE the
cr,el h,nters 8re C8B8s$ 48lli is the Ii)8 #ho is in the &r8sp o+ these t#o$ 3er &,8rdin& the
&r8ins in the +ield is her e8rnest S8dh8n8 to re8lise the 78r8<8t<8n$ The irds th8t co<e to
pec> the &r8ins 8re the ost8cles to her ri&id S8dh8n8$ To s8)e hersel+, she >eeps in her
h8nd the c8t8p,lt, #hich is 4i)e>8 8nd ,ses the peles #hich represent 48ir8&-8$ Th,s
she dri)es 8#8- the ost8cles$ To test the stren&th o+ her S8dh8n8, A,r,&8n 8ppe8rs e+ore
her in dis&,ises 8nd in the end sho#s her the <e8nin& o+ 7r8n8)8 in the +or< o+ the
eleph8nt$ Then the +orces o+ C8B8s #hich en)elop her (#hich 8re s-<olised - the h,nters
#ho s,rro,nded 48lli) 8re )8n%,ished 8nd tr8ns+or<ed into S,ddh8 S8tt)8$ ?+ter th8t the
Ii)8 is rele8sed 8nd &i)en the s,pre<e st8t,s o+ identi+ic8tion #ith 78r8 /r8h<8n$
S-T*ON %OUR
!hak"a'Sain"s o( Lord Skanda
01 Narada
While 08r8d8 #8s to,rin& the three #orlds, he <et the S8pt8 Cishis: ?tri, /hri&,, @,ts8,
48sishth8, :8,t8<8, @8s-8p8 8nd ?n&ir8s8$ En)io,s o+ their eD8lted st8te, 08r8d8 #ished
to eco<e the <ost +8<o,s o+ the Cishis$ 3e #ent to Sri :8nesh8 8nd 8s>ed hi< ho# he
co,ld eco<e &re8ter th8n the Se)en Cishis$ Sri :8nesh8 instr,cted 08r8d8 ho# to oser)e
the Kir""ikai &ra"a 8nd initi8ted hi< into the #orship o+ *ord S>8nd8$ 38)in& per+or<ed
this 4r8t8 +or t#el)e -e8rs, 08r8d8 8chie)ed his 8i< - the &r8ce o+ *ord S,r8h<8n-8$
21 /in- ,u*hukunda
A,ch,>,nd8 #8s 8 >in& r,lin& o)er So,th .ndi8 h8)in& his c8pit8l 8t @8r,r$ (esiro,s o+
doin& T8p8s on *ord S,r8h<8n-8, the >in& 8ppro8ched s8&e 48sishth8 8nd re%,ested hi<
+or initi8tion into the correct oser)8nces o+ the 4r8t8s$ The s8&e eDpl8ined to the >in& the
i<port8nce o+ oser)in& the Sukravara (Frid8-), Kir""ikai 8nd the Skanda Shash"hi 4r8t8s
o+ *ord S,r8h<8n-8$ 38)in& le8rnt in det8il the 4r8t8s, their i<port8nce 8nd the <ethods
o+ oser)in& the<, >in& A,ch,>,nd8 st8rted oser)in& the< #ith +8ith 8nd de)otion$ ?+ter
so<eti<e, #hile the >in& #8s &re8tl- 8sored in his de)otion to *ord S>8nd8, the *ord
8ppe8red e+ore hi< 8nd &r8nted hi< <8n- oons$ The *ord h8d <8de his +ollo#ers,
4ir88h, 8nd other #8rriors o+ his o#n +orces, ser)e the >in&$ ?t the ehest o+ the *ord,
4ir88h, (e)8r 8nd others, t8>in& h,<8n irths, oe-ed the co<<8nds o+ the @in& 8nd
helped hi<$ The >in& enBo-ed <,ch pe8ce, plent- 8nd prosperit- - 3is &r8ce$
@in& A,ch,>,nd8=s <i&ht #8s s,ch th8t e)en (e)endr8 h8d to 8ppro8ch hi< to &et his
help +or de+e8tin& the ?s,r8s$ The >in& co<plied #ith the re%,est o+ .ndr8 8nd de+e8ted the
?s,r8 @in& 48l8n$ When he ret,rned +ro< (e)8lo>8 he #8s &i)en - 4ishn, the A,rti or
idol o+ So<8s>8nd8$ ?rri)in& 8t his >in&do<, the >in& per+or<ed the 7r8tishth8 Cere<on-
+or the So<8s>8nd8 A,rti 8t Tir,)8r,r, in So,th .ndi8$ ?+ter so<eti<e he h8d 8 son,
?&ni)8r<8n - n8<e$ Entr,stin& the >in&do< to his son, the >in& retired pe8ce+,ll- to
Ao,nt @8il8s8 +or spendin& the rest o+ his li+e in T8p8s$
31 Siva /avi
? poet in So,th .ndi8 - n8<e 7o-8<oli 7,l8)8r in his e8rl- d8-s h8d intense de)otion +or
*ord Si)8$ (,e to the intensit- o+ his lo)e to *ord Si)8, he re+,sed to o# to, or sin& the
&lor- o+, 8n- other deit- incl,din& *ord Sh8n<,>h8$ The *ord &8)e hi< the )ision /e8ti+ic
8nd sho#ed hi< the ;nit- o+ the +or<s o+ Si)8 8nd Sh8n<,>h8$ There8+ter, he de)eloped
&re8ter lo)e 8nd sincerit- o+ de)otion to *ord Sh8n<,>h8$ The poet #8s >no#n 8s Si)8
@8)i$
41 Nakkirar
Aore th8n !000 -e8rs 8&o, there li)ed in the 8ncient T8<il l8nd 8 )er- &re8t s8&e 8nd
schol8r, 08>>ir8r - n8<e$ E)en &ods dre8ded his er,dition 8nd le8rnin&E 8nd his de)otion
+or *ord S,r8h<8n-8 >ne# no o,nds$
08>>ir8r #8s 8 /r8h<in poet2l8,re8te o+ 78ndi8 >in& o+ A8d,r8i, in So,th .ndi8$ 5,t o+
8rro&8nce 8nd h8,&htiness, this poet pre)ented 8 poor /r8h<in poet +ro< recei)in& &i+ts
+ro< the >in&$ 3e e)en #ent to the eDtent o+ criticisin& 8d)ersel- the )erses co<posed -
*ord Si)8 on eh8l+ o+ the poor /r8h<in$ ?s 8 res,lt o+ this, the *ord c,rsed the poet2
l8,re8te to s,++er +ro< lepros-$ Ce8lisin& the &re8tness o+ the *ord, the poet cr8)ed 3is
p8rdon$ T8>in& <erc- on hi<, the *ord 8s>ed hi< to <8>e 8 pil&ri<8&e to @8il8s8 #hen
his lepros- #o,ld e c,red$ 08>>ir8r st8rted on his pil&ri<8&e$ 5n the #8-, 8t 8 pl8ce
c8lled @8l8h8sti, in So,th .ndi8, 08>>ir8r h8lted on the 8n>s o+ 8 l8>e 8nd s8t do#n +or
(h-8n8 ,nder 8 h,&e 8n-8n tree$ (,rin& his <edit8tion he #8s dist,red - 8 c,rio,s
incident$ ? le8+ +ell do#n, ,t +ell h8l+ in #8ter 8nd h8l+ on l8nd$ The #8ter2h8l+ ec8<e 8
+ish 8nd the l8nd2h8l+ 8 ird$ The +ish tried to dr8& the ird, ,t the ird 8tte<pted to p,ll ,p
the +ish 8nd +l- 8#8-$ ? dr- le8+ initi8ted 8 #8r et#een t#o cre8t,res #hich e)ol)ed o,t o+
itsel+$ 08>>ir8r=s <edit8tion #8s dist,red - this str8n&e e)ent$
?l8sJ There #8s h8ro,dn& here 8 i& de)il, 8 Brahmarakshasa, #ho h8d <8de it 8 )o# to
&8ther 1000 Si)8 /h8>t8s, #hose <edit8tion #o,ld e dist,red in this #8-, 8nd 8+ter the
n,<er 1000 #o,ld e co<pleted to de)o,r the< 8lto&ether$ Th8t terrile <onster c8<e
no# 8nd thre# hi< into 8 c8)e #here he h8d 8lre8d- collected 999$ A8>in& th,s 1000, he
#ent to the #ondro,s l8>e to 8theE +or e)en de)ils h8)e cert8in &ood h8its$
The 999 de)otees o+ Si)8, #hose <edit8tion h8)in& een th,s dist,red, #ere c8pt,red -
the de)il 8nd p,t in th8t c8)e, h8d een there +or ,ntold -e8rs +ed s,<pt,o,sl- - the de)il
hostE +or, to preser)e the< sto,t till the ho,r #o,ld co<e, it #8s the de)il=s loo>o,t$ The-
no# cried 8nd c,rsed the ne#co<er, 08>>ir8r, th8t he c8<e to rin& the< 8ll to <iser8le
de8th in 8 +e# <in,tes to co<e$ The- held :od to l8<e 8nd :od=s de8r 08>>ir8r to
l8<eJ The s8&e 08>>ir8r >ne# the #hole sit,8tion no#E the de)il #8s 8#8- +ro< the c8)e
still$ Sho,ld his @8il8s8 68tr8 th,s end to e 8n 8+ter2de8th 68tr8, 8nd the #ill o+ his :od o+
A8d,r8i &et +r,str8ted - 8 de)ilL Sho,ld 8ll the de)otion o+ the 999 pio,s <en, +or 8 p8ltr-
c8,se o+ 8 <o<ent=s dist,r8nce - the <8chin8tions o+ 8 de)il, end to e ,selessL .t #8s,
o+ co,rse, 8ll 8 tri8l, 8nd 8 se)ere tri8lE 8nd *ord :od <,st cert8inl- s8)e the< 8ll$ The
<o<ent o+ their #holes8le destr,ction #8s ho#e)er 8ppro8chin&$
08>>ir8r &8)e his <iser8le co<r8des con+idence, 8nd e&8n his inspired son&s in pr8ise o+
his de8rest :od, *ord Sh8n<,>h8$ This +8<o,s liter8r- piece o+ eD%,isite T8<il poetr- is
e)en tod8- re8d #ith 8)idit- - de)otees 8nd is c8lled Tirumuruga"ruppadai$ The son&s
pre&n8nt #ith >een de)otion 8nd p8ssion8te 8dor8tion o+ the &re8t %,8lities o+ the siD2+8ced
:od <o)ed 8ll 3e8)en 8nd <o)ed deepl- the di)ine he8rt o+ :od 3i<sel+$
?nd ehold: ? #onder 8nd 8 terrorJ E)en 8s the de)il set his +oot in the c8)e, its d8r> sides
shoo> #ith the 8n&r- p,lse o+ *ord S,r8h<8n-8E 8nd #ithin it there r,shed the terrile
+i&,re o+ the siD2+8ced :od, #ith 3is t#el)e h8nds o+ <i&ht- +ists holdin& 3is di)ine
#e8ponsE 8nd 3e d8nced #ith the (e)il te8rin& hi< to pieces$ 3e rele8sed the 1000
de)otees, the 999 lessin& 8nd pr8isin& the &lor- o+ 08>>ir8r, 8nd 8ll sin&in& the in+inite
&lor- o+ the siD2+8ced :od$
The poe< s,n& - 08>>ir8r &lori+-in& the *il8s o+ *ord S>8nd8, >no#n 8s
Tirumuruga"ruppadai, is 8n elo%,ent eDhort8tion to s,++erin& h,<8nit- to de)ote
the<sel)es to the #orship o+ the *ord #ho d#ells in the he8rts o+ 8ll$
71 /a*hi.appa Siva*hariar
@8chi-8pp8 Si)8ch8ri8r #8s 8 )er- +ort,n8te /h8>t8 o+ Sri S,r8h<8n-8$ 3e li)ed 8t
@8nBee)8r8< 1100 -e8rs 8&o$ 3e <8stered 8ll le8rnin& e+ore his 10th -e8r, 8nd the
Si)8&8<8s #ere his speci8l st,d-$
*ord Sh8n<,>h8 one d8- 8ppe8red to hi< in dre8< 8nd ordered, GA- o-, tho, sh8lt sin&
8 T8<il #or> 8nd c8ll it Kandapurana, tr8nsl8tin& <8tter +ro< the S8ns>rit #or>, S8n>8r8
S8<hit8, 8nd h8)in& +or -o,r +irst line, 'Tigada*hakkara0*hemmukha0maindullan(!2 3e
8#o>e 8nd tho,&ht o)er this #onder, 8nd tho,&ht o)er 8nd o)er 8&8in, the >ind co<<ission
8ccorded to hi< - his *ord$ 3e too> ,p the t8s> 8nd +inished it s,it8l-$ When +or
reco&nition it #8s re8d e+ore 8n 8sse<l8&e o+ 78ndits, so<e %,estioned his interpret8tion
o+ the +irst line, :od2&i)en$ Then *ord :od 3i<sel+ inspired one 8nd st8ted th8t the
&r8<<8r +or it co,ld e +o,nd in &irasolliyam, 8 )er- 8ncient T8<il #or>$ ?ll #ondered 8t
this di)ine +8)o,r 8nd decl8red the #or> 8,thorit8ti)e$
81 Paka%%i /oo""ar
3ere is 8 ,ni%,e inst8nce o+ 8 48ishn8)8 - irth eco<in& 8 de)otee o+ *ord
S,r8h<8n-8$ 3e li)ed in Ch8t,r)ed8 A8n&8l8< so<e cent,r- 8&o$ 3e s,++ered +ro< the
<ost eDcr,ci8tin& p8ins o+ sto<8ch 8che, 8nd spent 8n-thin& 8nd pr8-ed to 8n- &od ,t
+o,nd no relie+$ ?+ter 8ll, he pr8-ed to the *ord o+ Tir,chend,r 8nd &ot <ir8c,lo,s c,re$
3e soon #ent to Tir,chend,r to p8- ho<8&e to Sri S,r8h<8n-8 +or the &re8t relie+ 3e h8d
&i)en hi<$ 3e st8-ed there +or so<eti<e$ 3e sho#ed his &r8te+,l pr8-er in the +or< o+ one
o+ the <ost ini<it8le pieces o+ liter8r- de)otion, c8lled 7ill8i T8<il$ The schol8rs
8sse<led in the te<ple +or he8rin& it 8nd eDcl8i<ed it to e the +inest in eDistence$ E)en
no# the- recite it in the hol- ser)ice 8t Tir,chend,r e)er- d8-$ /,t, tho,&h his prod,ction
#8s 8ppl8,ded ,n8ni<o,sl-, the- did not 8ccord to hi< d,e hono,rs +ro< the te<ple, *ord
:od #8s +8r <ore i<port8nt +or 78>8lli @oott8r th8n 8ll these penn-282#ise consider8tion
o+ h,<8n hono,rsE 8nd so, he #ent ho<e #itho,t 8n- sort o+ pert,r8nce c8,sed to his
<ind$ *ord S,r8h<8n-8 is ho#e)er no p8rtis8n o+ this sort o+ le8rned <en #ho hono,red
not 78>8lli @oott8r +or his ein& orn 8 48ishn8)8E 8nd 3e #8nted to te8ch these people 8
lesson se)erel-$ So it #8s th8t ni&htJ *ord :od too> 8 costl- Be#el #hich the priests h8d
pl8ced o)er 3is oso< 8nd tr8ns+erred it to the oso< o+ 3is 48ishn8)8 /h8>t8E +or, #8s it
not +ro< th8t p8rt o+ the /h8>t8=s od- th8t those ecst8tic son&s o+ (i)ine pr8ise ,led
+orth, #hich the- enBo- e)en tod8-L The 8,thorities, #ho disco)ered the loss in the te<ple
the neDt <ornin&, se8rched ro,nd +or the thie+E ,t #hen the- c8<e 8nd eheld 78>8lli
@oott8r Be#elled #ith the :r8ce o+ :od, the- #ere t8>en 88c>E 8nd soon the- >ne# +ro<
the pre)io,s d8-=s eDperiences th8t the- h8d sinned 8&8inst :od 3i<sel+ in not 8ccordin&
to this s8&e d,e hono,rs in the te<ple$ The- e&&ed hi< p8rdon, 8nd pl8cin& hi< in 8
st8tel- p8l8n%,in ore hi< in &r8nd procession ro,nd the )ill8&e, procl8i<in& the &lor- o+
Sri Sh8n<,>h8 8nd the &re8tness o+ the S8&e=s de)otion$
91 ,uru-ammai.ar
A,r,&8<<8i-8r, 8 l8d- de)otee o+ *ord S,r8h<8n-8, #8s orn in So,th .ndi8$ She #8s
<8rried to 8 -o,n& 8nd rich <8n o+ her o#n c8ste$ E)en +ro< her e8rl- d8-s she sho#ed 8n
intense lo)e to *ord A,r,&8$ ?nd it #8s +or this re8son th8t she #8s c8lled
A,r,&8<<8i-8r$ 0o <endic8nt or e&&8r #ho p8ssed her door #o,ld +8il to recei)e the
<,ni+icent help rendered - the l8d- /h8>t8$
The #8-s o+ A,r,&8<<8i-8r did not s,it her h,s8nd, #ho #8s r8ther 8 <8n o+ the
reli&ion o+ the +lesh$ 3is re,>es 8nd p,nish<ents to pre)ent his #i+e +ro< doin& 8cts o+
piet- h8d no e++ect$ 5n the contr8r-, the- incre8sed 8nd de)eloped +,rther the +8ith o+
A,r,&8<<8i-8r in *ord Sh8n<,>h8$ Worse still, the h,s8nd e&8n to s,spect the ch8stit-
o+ his #i+e 8s she #8s so <,ch &i)en to ch8rit8le 8cts 8nd <iDin& +reel- #ith the
#8nderin& S8dh,s$
5ne d8- it so h8ppened th8t, ein& enr8&ed <,ch 8t the eh8)io,r o+ his i<pertinent #i+e
8nd insti&8ted - his o#n #orldl-2<inded rothers, the h,s8nd too> 8 >ni+e 8nd c,t o++
the h8nds o+ A,r,&8<<8i-8r$ /,t the de8r *ord, +or #hose s8>e she h8d +ore&one e)en the
lo)e o+ her h,s8nd, co,ld not roo> the si&ht$ The *ord 8ppe8red on the scene, restored
the h8nds th8t h8d een c,t o++ 8nd re)e8led ,nto the #orld 8nd her h,s8nd the intensit- o+
her de)otion to 3i<$ 3e sho#ered 3is &r8ces on her 8nd lessed the co,ple #ith 8 lon& 8nd
h8pp- li+e o+ pe8ce 8nd plent-$
;1 Aruna-irina"har
This +8<o,s de)otee li)ed in Tir,)8nn8<8l8i 8o,t 500 -e8rs 8&o 8nd elon&ed to
(e)8d8si c8ste$ There is indeed so<ethin& ,ni%,e in this c8se$ For, Sri Sh8n<,>h8=s
lessin&s h8d to losso< here not <erel- in 8 8rren soil ,t one in #hich #e +ind #orst
conditions, ini<ic8l to 8n- di)ine prospect$ .n s,ch c8ses, none ,t l8F- schol8rs c8n +ind
8n- di++ic,lt- o+ co<pro<ise 8nd #o,ld s8- th8t /h8&8)8n=s &r8ce esto#ed on s,ch
people 8s ?r,n8&iri #o,ld <e8n 8 license 8s it #ere (i+ not 8 #8nton s8nction) +or people
eh8)in& in #orst <8nners 8nd &ettin& the &r8ce o+ :od co<pletel-$ This io&r8ph-
ill,str8tes th8t ho#soe)er 8 <8n=s li+e e dissip8ted in e8rl- -e8rs, i+ there is 8 s<8ll
n,cle,s o+ di)ine lo)e ser)in& 8s s,str8t,<, there c8n occ,r 8 s,dden o,t,rst o+ di)ine
p8ssion 8nd s8cri+ice, #hich s8&es co,ld en)- 8nd -et not &et - -e8rs o+ T8p8sJ
So, the e8rl- li+e o+ ?r,n8&iri8r #8s one o+ rec>less de8,cher- 8nd )ile corr,ption so th8t
e)en his +lesh soon ec8<e corroded 8nd dise8sed #ith )enere8l 8++ections$ /- the #ish o+
her <other #ho died in his e8rl- li+e, his sister #o,ld not s8- 8n-thin& 8&8inst the #ishes o+
her rother 8nd #o,ld &i)e e)er-thin& 8nd 8n-thin& +or hi< 8nd his #8-s$ 38)in& spent 8ll
th8t she possessed, she (8s her c8ste per<itted it) #o,ld sell her +lesh to those #ho so,&ht
#ith her the ple8s,res o+ seD +or the s8>e o+ e8rnin& the #here#ith8l +or her rother$ E)en
this reso,rce #8s eDh8,stedE +or she ec8<e ,ninterestin& to her p8r8<o,rs$ She #8s
,tterl- helpless$
/,t ?r,n8&iri8r too> no lesson either +ro< his o#n ph-sic8l decline 8nd dise8se or +ro< the
pri)8tions o+ his sister, #ho< he 8l#8-s #orried$ *o, one d8-, he eseeched her once 8&8in
8nd s8id, G6o, <,st send <e tod8- #ith so <,ch$ Else . sh8ll sin> 8t -o,r )er- &8tes$H 0o
pers,8sions co,ld pre)8ilE he <,st h8)e his #8-$ 7oor #o<8n, #h8t co,ld she doJ She
&re# desper8te, 8nd -et #o,ld not disple8se hi<$ She r,shed into s8-in&, G/rother, 8ll this
does not con)ince -o,E -o,r lo)e +or #o<8n=s ple8s,res is so >een 8nd intense th8t -o,
thin> -o, <,st h8)e the< still$ *oo> hereJ o,r c8ste is intended +or 8++ordin& ple8s,res o+
this sort to <en o+ pri)ile&ed cl8sses, #ho c8nnot ot8in the< other#ise le&iti<8tel-$
Tho,&h #e 8re orn o+ the s8<e <other, o,r +8thers 8re di++erent$ So, 8s . 8< ,n8le to
&i)e -o, 8n-thin& 8t 8ll no#, . #ho #8s helpin& -o, 8ll these -e8rs #itho,t seein& the
<e8ns #e h8)e &ot, #ith <e, -o, c8n +ind the ple8s,res -o, see>J /rother, . +ind no other
sol,tion +or the di++ic,lt-JH She #o,ld 8ddE ,t her &rie+ cho>ed her )oice$ ?ll this terrile
speech po,red thro,&h ?r,n8&iri=s e8rs li>e <olten le8d 8nd shoo> the )er- +o,nd8tions o+
his ein&E 8nd in 8 <o<ent he c8<e to the sense o+ his li+e=s ili8d o+ <ist8>es$ So <o)ed
8nd +,nd8<ent8ll- sh8>en he ec8<e th8t he s,ddenl- r,shed 8#8- +ro< her side, cli<ed
the top o+ the te<ple to#er, 8nd dropped hi<sel+ do#n to d8sh his <ort8l li+e to end, 8s 8
s8cri+ice +or 8ll his <isdeedsJ
?tte<pt is h8l+2deed$ 3ere it is <ore th8n 8tte<pt$ ?r,n8&iri )eril- +ell +ro< the to#er top,
8nd tops-2t,r)- his od- #8s h,rlin& do#n$ /eholdJ *ord S,r8h<8n-8, Who< he lo)ed
<ore th8n he lo)ed other &ods 8nd <ore th8n others lo)ed 3i<, 8nd Who< he pre+erred
e+ore 8ll &ods 8s 8 -o,n& G6o&i,H ore hi< in 3is h8nds +ro< elo#J The *ord spo>e,
G?r,n8&iri, ho# c8n=st tho, do li>e this, #hich is not <eet +or theeJ The &ood o+ th- p8st
@8r<8 h8s s8)ed thee no#$ T8>e this @8,<8r8 Sh8d8>sh8r8 (8 A8ntr8 dedic8ted to Sri
S,r8h<8n-8)$ :o 8nd sin& the &lor- o+ *ord :od, 8nd spre8d A- +8<e thro,&ho,t the
#orld, +8r 8nd #ide$H ;ntil th8t +i&,re #hich s8)ed hi< 8nd deli)ered the <ess8&e <elted
8#8- e+ore his )er- e-es, he too> hi< to e 8 <ere h,<8n G6o&iH$
The &re8t so,l,9&re8t no# ec8,se o+ the pri)ile&e descried 8o)e,9soon e&8n to do
the s8cred co<<ission o+ the *ord$ 3e )isited <8n- pl8ces 8nd s8n& <8n- son&s$ /,t it is
#orth noticin& th8t #hile 8ll other s8ints de)oted son&s to <8n- &ods, ?r,n8&iri8r >ne#
none ,t *ord Sri Sh8n<,>h8, 8nd 8ll his #e8lth o+ inspir8tion #8s ,tilised +or 3is
&lori+ic8tion 8lone$
The +8<o,s )erses o+ ?r,n8&iri 8re the Tiruppuga-h son&s$ 3e h8s &i)en 16,000
Tir,pp,&8Fh son&s, tho,&h 8o,t 1,300 onl- 8re no# 8)8il8le$ 3is other #or>s 8re
Kandar Anubhu"i, Kandar Alankaram, etc$, #hich 8re 8ll s,n& #ith &re8t de)otion 8nd
+er)o,r thro,&ho,t So,th .ndi8 e)en tod8-$
<1 /umara-urupara Swami-a%
3e li)ed 8o,t 350 -e8rs 8&o in Sri)8i>,nth8< (Tir,nel)el- (istrict), 8nd #8s d,< e)en
8s 8 child$ ?nDio,s to +ind their son co<e to speech so<eho#, his p8rents #ent to the
+8<o,s @shetr8 o+ *ord S,r8h<8n-8, c8lled Tir,chend,r in the s8<e district, 8nd li)ed
there +or se)er8l <onths pr8-in& 8nd petitionin&, 8nd hoped th8t their son - di)ine &r8ce
#o,ld eco<e 8ll ri&ht$ Aonths p8ssed, ,t in )8inE pr8-ers 8nd petitions #ent +orth, ,t 8ll
in )8in$ /ro>en2he8rted, the <iser8le p8rents one ni&ht deter<ined to end their li+e -
dro#nin& the<sel)es in the s8cred t8n> ne8r-$ /,t *ord :od, (#ho >ne# this, +or nothin&
co,ld e hid +ro< 3is )ie#) th8t )er- ni&ht #o>e ,p the d,< o- 8nd #rote in his ton&,e
3is o#n Shadakshara, 8nd &i)in& hi< 3is +,ll (8rsh8n s8id, GChild, co<e 8#8- to o,r
Shrine e)en +or 4is#8r,p8 (8rsh8n8, %,ite e8rl- in the <ornin&$H With the 8ppro8ch o+ the
d8#n, the p8rents 8ppro8ched the child, ,t to their #onder 8nd s,rprise +o,nd hi<
&r8phic8ll- descriin& to the< his str8n&e eDperiences o+ the ni&ht 8nd +o,nd in hi< 8
po#er o+ speech #hich 8n- #ell2tr8ined schol8r co,ld en)-$ The o- soon ec8<e 8
+8<o,s s8int 8nd de)otee 8nd &8)e <8n- inspired son&s in pr8ise o+ .s)8r8 8nd p8rtic,l8rl-
o+ *ord S,r8h<8n-8$
3e s8n& the +8<o,s Kandar Kalivenba in pr8ise o+ *ord S>8nd8$ ?t A8d,r8i, he s8n&
)erses in pr8ise o+ :oddess Aeen8>shi #ho 8ppe8red in person 8nd &8rl8nded the s8int
#ith 8 pe8rl nec>l8ce$ 3e #8s initi8ted into the s8intl- order o+ (h8r<8p,r8< ?dhin8<$
?+ter )isitin& <8n- hol- pl8ces in So,th .ndi8 8nd &i)in& 8 n,<er o+ T8<il #or>s in
)erses, he )isited 48r8n8si$ 3e rode on 8 lion to inter)ie# the /8dsh8 o+ /en8res, #ho #8s
deepl- i<pressed - the &re8tness o+ the S#8<i&8l 8nd helped the s8int to erect
@ed8resh#8r Te<ple 8nd @ed8r&h8t on the 8n>s o+ the :8n&8 8t 48r8n8si$
0=1 A%a-umu""u Pu%a>ar
This <ost lessed /h8>t8 li)ed 8o,t !00 -e8rs 8&o$ 3e #8s 8n 8cco,nt8nt in 8
S,r8h<8n-8 te<ple 8t 08&8i$ 3e #8s in the h8it o+ t8>in& no +ood 8t 8ll in the ni&htti<e
eDcept so<e 7r8s8d +ro< the te<ple$ (,e to the d8-=s ,n,s,8l l8o,r 8nd toil, one ni&ht he
slept )er- so,ndl- 8<id the &ahanas o+ the te<ple$ ?+ter the ?rdh8B8<8 d,ties o+ the
te<ple #ere o)er, the priests 8nd other 8,thorities c8lled +or ?l8&,<,tt,E ,t ?l8&,<,tt,
did not co<e +orth, his sleep ein& so deep 8nd ,n<o)8le$ T8>in& hi< to e 8sent, the-
le+t the te<ple loc>in& the doors s8+el-$
?t de8d o+ ni&ht, #hen 8ll #8s still 8nd silent he #o>e ,p 8nd s8# none to his ,tter dis<8-$
3is h,n&er pinched hi< ,n,s,8ll- se)erel-$ 3e 8ppe8led to :od S,r8h<8n-8 +or his
helplessness 8nd *ord :od 8ppe8red in the +or< o+ 8 pio,s priest o+ the te<ple, 8nd p8ttin&
hi< on his 8c>, s8id, GWh8t is the <8tter, ?l8&,<,tt,LH 3e &ot ,p 8nd 8s>ed +or +oodE +or
his h,n&er >ne# no li<it$ .<<edi8tel- 3e8)en2ordered, he8)enl- <8de (8nd -et
?l8&,<,tt, >no#in& n8,&ht o+ 8ll th8t), the <ost d8int- +ood 8nd re+reshin& drin> #ere
&i)en to the +ort,n8te /h8>t8$ /lessed ?l8&,<,tt, 8te o+ it 8nd dr8n> o+ itE 8nd ec8,se it
#8s +ro< 3e8)en, it co,ld not onl- 8ll8- the p8n&s o+ his +lesh ,t ,rn 8#8- 8ll
7,r)8>8r<8s, 8s +ire ,rns 8#8- 8 s<8ll piece o+ cotton$ F,ll o+ di)ine l,stre, he stood p,re
8nd per+ect, ple8sin& to the Aost 3i&h$
Then the priest2:od or :od2priest told hi<, G?l8&,<,tt,, sin& so<e son&s in pr8ise o+ o,r
*ord$H ?nd th,s 8ns#ered the #o,ld2e s8&e, GSire, #h8t doest tho, <e8nL When there is
no s<ell o+ ed,c8tion in <e, #h8t c8n . sin&, 8nd ho#LH /ehold the ch8n&e no# 8ll on 8
s,ddenJ 3e Who ere no# #8s 8 si<ple priest e+ore ?l8&,<,tt,, Who< he too> to e no
<ore th8n 8 h,<8n priest 8ppe8red no# in 3is n8ti)e di)ine <8Best-, #ith siD +8ces, t#el)e
h8nds 8nd 8ll di)ine h8lo 8nd p8r8phern8li8, 8nd sp8>e, G. 8< the holder o+ the di)ine
Trident (Tris,l8)E . 8< Sh8n<,>h8 #ho< -o, #orship$ Sin& the<E 8nd sin& tho, sh8lt$H .t
#8s no dre8< +or 8ll th8tE +or ?l8&,<,tt, #8s +,ll- 8#8>e$ ?ll his od- #8s ristlin& #ith
the in2+lood o+ di)ine inspir8tion, his <ind &ettin& +,ll- dr,n> in the depths o+ di)ine
#isdo< 8nd le8rnin&$ ?l8&,<,tt, st8nds +,ll o+ eDpression 8nd po#er, po,rin& +orth the
<ost #onder+,l son&s in pr8ise o+ Sh8n<,>h8$ When the priests 8nd the 8,thorities o+ the
te<ple 8nd inn,<er8le /h8>t8s #ere there the neDt <ornin& openin& the doors, the- #ere
eside the<sel)es to ehold the <ir8cles o+ ?l8&,<,tt, +loodin& the te<ple 8t<osphere
#ith the inspir8tion o+ his ecst8tic son&s$
Fro< this ti<e ?l8&,<,tt, #8s >no#n 8s 8 )er- &re8t s8int$ 3is l8st d8-s #ere 8s
<ir8c,lo,s 8s this e)ent$ For, ret,rnin& +ro< his lon& 8nd )8ried pil&ri<8&e, he st8-ed ne8r
Shi-8li, 8nd #hile <edit8tin& on Sri Sh8n<,>h8 &8)e ,p his <ort8l od-$ 3is 8d<irers
#ere #onderin& 8t this here! Si<,lt8neo,sl-, 8t his o#n pl8ce, 8t the te<ple o+ *ord
S,r8h<8n-8 in #hich he #8s +or lon& -e8rs ser)in&, priests 8nd others #ere seein& the
)ision o+ ?l8&,<,tt, r,shin& post h8ste into the shrine$ The- did not d8re to inter+ere #ith
this <on8rch, ,t in 8#e >ept 8loo+, si<pl- eDpectin& ?l8&,<,tt, to ret,rn +ro< insideE
,t ?l8&,<,tt, did not ret,rn$ For, he r,shed in not to ret,rn, ,t to <in&le in the *ord
#ho< he lo)ed so <,ch$ .t #8s there+ore the hol- &host o+ ?l8&,<,tt, th8t the priests s8#J
3e le+t the +lesh there, 8nd <in&led in the *ord here!
A8- the lessin&s o+ the S8ints o+ *ord Sh8n<,>h8 e ,pon -o, 8llJ
S-T*ON %*!-
,os" Impor"an" T#mp%#s o( Lord Skanda
S"ha%a ,ahima
I
*ord Sh8n<,>h8, the *i&ht o+ li&hts 8nd the inner<ost Sel+ o+ 8ll, is #orshipped in the
+or< o+ :od h8)in& siD +8ces 8nd t#el)e h8nds$ Worship o+ *ord S>8nd8 is <ost pre)8lent
in So,th .ndi8$ Te<ples o+ *ord S,r8h<8n-8 c8n e seen thro,&ho,t So,th .ndi8$ 7l8ces
o+ n8t,r8l e8,t- th8t soothe the so,l enshrine the ?l<i&htin the +or< o+ *ord
S,r8h<8n-8$ 5+ the pl8ces #here the te<ples o+ *ord S>8nd8 8re to e seen, 8 +e# 8re
)er- +8<o,s$ E8ch o+ these te<ples h8s 8 le&end 8nd histor- o+ its o#n$
The <ost +8<o,s o+ these te<ples h8)e een descried )er- el8or8tel- in T8<il
Script,res$ The- 8re Thir,pp8r8n>,ndr8<, Thir,chend,r, 78l8ni, S#8,ndr8<, 8 r8il#8- st8tion in So,th .ndi8, is sit,8ted on the #8- +ro< A8d,r8i
to Tri)8ndr,<$ .t is 8o,t 4 <iles +ro< the to#n o+ A8d,r8i$
The te<ple is ,ilt on 8 hilloc>$ The 7,r8n8s rel8te the +ollo#in& stor- 8o,t the pl8ce$
?+ter the +8ll o+ S,r8p8d<8 8nd his ?s,r8 +ollo#ers, *ord S>8nd8, #ith the (e)8s, <o)ed
+ro< Tir,chend,r to Thir,pp8r8n>,ndr8<$ 3ere, 8t the re%,est o+ .ndr8, *ord S>8nd8=s
<8rri8&e #ith (ei)8-8n8i (d8,&hter o+ .ndr8) too> pl8ce$ .t is here th8t the siD sons o+
78r8s8r8 A,ni &ot rede<ption +ro< the c,rse o+ re<8inin& 8s +ishes$ /- the &r8ce o+ *ord
S>8nd8 the sons o+ the s8&e 8ss,<ed their ori&in8l h,<8n +or<$
21 Thiru*h#ndur
Thir,chend,r is sit,8ted on the so,thern se8shore, 8o,t 35 <iles +ro< Tir,nel)ell-$
?ccordin& to the 7,r8n8s, *ord S>8nd8 #ith his 8r<- o+ (e)8s h8d his /8se C8<p pitched
8t Thir,chend,r$ Fro< here he sent his <essen&er 4eer88h, (e)8r to S,r8p8d<8 8t his
c8pit8l, 4eer8 A8hendr8p,ri$ ?+ter )8n%,ishin& S,r8p8d<8, the *ord ret,rned to
Thir,chend,r 8nd settled do#n there$ The +esti)8l o+ S>8nd8 Sh8shthi is celer8ted in this
te<ple #ith &re8t Ncl8t$ A8n- de)otees o+ *ord S>8nd8 st8- in the te<ple d,rin& the siD
d8-s, oser)in& the siD d8-s S>8nd8 Sh8shthi 4r8t8 #ith &re8t +8ith 8nd 8,sterit-$
31 Pa%ani Hi%%s
0eDt co<es 78l8ni, 8nother +8<o,s pl8ce o+ pil&ri<8&e, #here the te<ple o+ *ord S>8nd8
is ,ilt on the top o+ 8 hill$ The st8tion itsel+, 78l8ni - n8<e, is 8o,t !0 <iles +ro<
(indi&,l B,nction, #hich is on the So,thern C8il#8-, et#een Thir,chir8p8ll- 8nd
A8d,r8i$ ? )ie# +ro< the top o+ the 3ill #ill 8t once ele)8te the <inds o+ pil&ri<s #ho
8ppro8ch the *ord #ith +8ith 8nd lo)e$ .n the 7,r8n8s the stor- o+ this pl8ce is n8rr8ted 8s
+ollo#s:
When *ord S>8nd8 8nd *ord :8nesh8 #ere 8t @8il8s8 #ith their F8ther 8nd Aother,
08r8d8 ro,&ht 8 +r,it 8nd o++ered it to *ord Si)8$ 0o#, *ord Si)8 <8de 8n o++er to 3is
sons to &i)e the +r,it to the one #ho #o,ld &o ro,nd the #hole #orld 8nd ret,rn +irst$ ?t
this, *ord S>8nd8, ridin& on his 7e8coc>248h8n8, +le# ro,nd the #orld 8nd c8<e 8c> to
@8il8s8 8nDio,s to #in the priFe o++ered - his F8ther$ /,t to his &re8t dis8ppoint<ent,
#hen he 8ppro8ched his F8ther 8+ter his ro,nd2the2&loe +li&ht, he s8# the <,ch co)eted
+r,it in the h8nds o+ *ord :8nesh8, #ho #8s c8l<l- e8tin& it, #ith 8 <ischie)o,s eDtr8
relish$
To 8dd inB,r- to ins,lt, *ord :8nesh8 l8,&hed 8t the &r8nd +li&ht o+ his rother$ S>8nd8
en%,ired o+ his F8ther 8nd Aother ho# :8nesh8, #ho #8s ,n8le to <o)e 8o,t d,e to his
pot2ell-, co,ld &o ro,nd the #orld 8s he h8d done 8nd #in the r8ce +ro< hi<$ The p8rents
replied th8t :8nesh8, t8>in& his p8rents (*ord Si)8 8nd 78r)8ti) 8s the #orld, h8d co<e
8ro,nd the< 8nd #on the priFe$ :8nesh8 eDpl8ined ho# the #hole #orld #8s nothin& ,t
their de8r F8ther 8nd Aother in #ho< e)er-thin& eDisted$ Thro#n into 8 r8&e - 8ll this,
*ord S>8nd8 thre# 8#8- 8ll his decor8tions 8nd, cl8d onl- in 8 Kaupeena 8nd #ith 8 stic>
in his h8nd, le+t @8il8s8 in 8 h,++$
.t is told in the 7,r8n8 th8t, 8+ter tr8)ellin& +or 8 lon& ti<e, he settled do#n on the top o+ 8
hill no# >no#n 8s 78l8ni$ To p8ci+- their son, *ord Si)8 8nd 78r)8ti, #ith the other (e)8s,
c8<e o)er to 78l8ni 3ills 8nd &lori+ied hi<$ 78r)8ti (e)i in+or<ed S>8nd8 th8t, he ein&
hi<sel+ the s#eetest o+ the s#eet +r,its to the<, there #8s no re8son +or hi< to &et 8nno-ed
o)er 8n ordin8r- +r,it$ 78ci+ied - the s#eet 8nd #innin& #ords o+ his Aother, *ord
S>8nd8 ret,rned 8lon& #ith the< to @8il8s8$
The te<ple h8s 8lso &ot 8nother si&ni+ic8nce9o+ h8)in& een the 8ode o+ the :re8t
Siddh8s o+ So,th .ndi8$ .t #8s one 8<on&st the<, /oh8r - n8<e, 8 de)otee o+ S>8nd8, th8t
h8d <8de the i<8&e o+ S>8nd8 no# #orshipped there, o,t o+ /ava Pashanas$
41 Swami ,a%ai
S#8on8<, in So,th .ndi8$ .t is
8o,t !00 <iles so,th o+ A8dr8s, on the A8dr8s2Thir,chir8p8ll- <8in line$ The Sth8l8
A8hi<8 o+ this te<ple is 8s +ollo#s:
When /r8h<8 #8s i<prisoned - S>8nd8, *ord Si)8 8ppro8ched 3is son 8nd 8s>ed hi< to
rele8se /r8h<8$ ?+ter /r8h<8 #8s rele8sed, Si)8, 3i<sel+ desiro,s o+ he8rin& 8o,t the
si&ni+ic8nce o+ 7r8n8)8, c8<e to this pl8ce S>8nd8 8s 8 :,r, i<p8rted ,nto his F8ther,
#ho, 8s 8 disciple, he8rd the secret disco,rse, the 7r8n8)8 C8h8s-8$ 3ence the *ord o+ this
pl8ce is >no#n - the n8<e o+ S#8<in8th8n or Si)8&,r,n8th8n, the :,r, o+ *ord Si)8$
71 /undru"horada%
Ao,nt8ins 8nd 48lle-s e)en tod8- present 8 ch8r<in& 8nd ple8s8nt scener- - #hich the
h,<8n <ind &ets deli&hted 8nd inspired$ ?s the l8ndsc8pe 8o,nds #ith n8t,r8l e8,ties
,ns,llied - h,<8n h8it8tion, these <o,nt8ins 8nd d8les 8re resorted to +or &8inin& pe8ce
8nd c8l<ness o+ <ind 8nd 8lso +or he8lth$ S,ch ein& the c8se, it is no #onder th8t the
cre8tor o+ these n8t,r8l s,rro,ndin&s is enshrined in te<ples in s,ch pl8ces$ E)er-thin& th8t
is o+ etern8l e8,t- is 8 thin& o+ e)erl8stin& Bo-$ Th,s the 8ncients h8)e enshrined the *ord
in te<ples on the top o+ s,ch hillsE Thir,th8ni&8i is one o+ the <ost +8<o,s$ .t is in So,th
.ndi8, 8o,t 40 <iles E8st o+ A8dr8s, on the A8dr8s2Ceni&,nt8 line$ .t is told in the
7,r8n8s th8t *ord S>8nd8, 8+ter the #8r #ith the ?s,r8s, settled do#n in Thir,th8ni&8i 3ill
#ith his consorts 48lli 8nd (ei)8-8n8i$ The te<ple is sit,8ted ,pon 8 hill #ith 8 e8,ti+,l
l8ndsc8pe 8ro,nd it$
81 Pa%amu"hirso%ai
Aother 08t,re eDpresses hersel+ in 8ll her e8,t- in pl8ces 8o,ndin& in hills 8nd d8les
dec>ed #ith )8rio,s #ild +lo#ers$ ?s #orship o+ S>8nd8 #8s to co<<e<or8te the #orship
o+ 08t,re 8nd its Cre8tor, the ?l<i&ht-, one c8n +ind te<ples o+ S>8nd8 in e)er- d8le,
)8lle- 8nd pl8in #hich 8o,nd in &8rdens 8nd roo>s$ ?<on&st s,ch pl8ces, .l8nchi, 8
pl8ce in So,th .ndi8 ne8r the C,rt8ll8< #8ter +8lls 8nd three <iles +ro< Shencott8h, 8nd
?l8&8r @oil, 8 pl8ce so<e 10 <iles E8st o+ A8d,r8i, 8re +8<o,s +or S>8nd8 #orship$
91 A*ha%#swar
.n the 7,nB8, ne8r /8t8l8, there is 8 te<ple c8lled ?ch8les#8r$ The stor- o+ this pl8ce is
th8t, #hen *ord S>8nd8 #8s co<in& 8ro,nd the #orld on 3is pe8coc> +or &ettin& the +r,it,
he 8li&hted 8t this pl8ce to rest +or 8 #hile, #hen on he8rin& th8t :8nesh8 h8d 8lre8d- #on
the priFe, re<8ined there #itho,t proceedin& +,rther$
;1 /a"hirkamam
.n the so,th o+ Sri *8n>8, there is 8 pl8ce c8lled @8thir>8<8< #hich enshrines 8 te<ple o+
S,r8h<8n-8$ ?ccordin& to the S>8nd8 7,r8n8, this is the pl8ce co<<e<or8tin& the
.makudam or the /8se C88nd8, #hich he h8d pitched ,pon the o,ts>irts o+
the c8pit8l o+ S,r8p8d<8, 4eer8<8hendr8p,ri$ ?nd it is s8id th8t it is the pl8ce #here the
+or< o+ *ord S,r8h<8n-8 8tt8ined 5neness #ith *ord Si)8 in the +or< o+ 8 I-otis or
*i&ht$
5ther i<port8nt pl8ces o+ #orship 8re Thir,ppor,r, 8 co8st8l to#n 30 <iles o++ A8dr8sE
48-8l,r, ne8r Thir,chir8p8ll-E Thir,)8nn8<8l8i, 8nd ;dipi in the #est Co8st o+ So,th
.ndi8, ne8r A8n&8lore$
A8- the lessin&s o+ *ord S,r8h<8n-8 e ,pon -o, 8llJ
II
01 Tiru*h#ndur
This in the Tir,nel)ell- (istrict
.s 8 +8<o,s te<ple
5+ *ord S,r8h<8n-8,
The 7er+ect A8ster o+ 8ll$
5 *ord @8rtti>e-8J
Consort o+ 48lli, (ei)8-8n8iJ
7rostr8tions ,nto Thee,
*et th- K4el= protect <e$
6o, >illed the ?s,r8s:
S,r8p8d<8 8nd T8r8>8s,r8
.n +8ir 8nd open co<8t
.n d8-s o+ -ore$
This is not <,chE
Sho# th- stren&th no#
.n >illin& the ?s,r8s
0o# r,lin& <- inner #orldJ
*,st, 8n&er 8nd &reed,
The cr,el sons o+ E&o,
?re tor<entin& th- de)otee
6m Saravanabhavaya /amah1
21 Pa%ani
5 *ord o+ 78l8ni 3illJ
5 (8nd8-,dh8 78niJ
5 @8rtti>e-8, 5 A,r,&8J
S8l,t8tions ,nto Thee$
Tho, 8rt the -o,n&er rother o+ :8nesh8$
The siD @ritti>8 (e)is n,rsed -o,
Th,s 8re -o, n8<ed @8rtti>e-8$
Tho, 8rt 0ir&,n8 /r8h<8n$
Tho, 8rt Si)8=s sp8r>s o+ *i&ht (i)ine,
Tho, 8rt the &re8t :ener8l
5+ Celesti8l +orces,
Tho, 8rt the (estro-er
5+ T8r8>8s,r8 8nd Si<h8<,>h8$
S,r8p8d<8 ec8<e Th- )ehicle 8nd +l8&$
Co<e, 5 co<e, *ord S,r8h<8n-8
6o, lessed ?r,n8&iri$
0o# /less <e, 5 S>8nd8,
. 8< Thine, 8ll is Thine <- *ordJ
31 Thiru"hani
.t is ne8r Tir,p8ti
Th8t this S>8nd8 te<ple st8nds$
5 :ener8l o+ (e)8s= +orcesJ
5 (estro-er o+ e)ilJ
5 @8rtti>e-8, Si)8=s Son,
The siD sp8r>s +ro< S8n>8r8=s +ireJ
5 :od o+ W8rJ
S8l,t8tions ,nto Thee$
When Th- Aother 78r)8ti
E<r8ced the siD 8ies,
6o, 8ss,<ed one od-
?nd siD he8ds$
Tho, 8rt the po#er o+ Wisdo<,
Aerc-, Tr,th 8nd :ood$
?ll po#ers o+ <8n>ind
?re n8,&ht #itho,t th- Aerc-$
Saravanabhava Pahi %am
Kar""ikeya #aksha %am
41 Swami ,a%ai
4er- ne8r to @,<8>on8<
There is 8 +8<o,s te<ple
5+ *ord S,r8h<8n-8,
S#88r8
5r the s8cred 7r8n8)8
.nto Si)8=s #illin& e8rs$
5 holder o+ the K4el= o+ 7o#er
5 4el8-,dh8J 4el<,r,&8J
Th- K4el= 8nd 38ri=s disc,s 8re oneE
Th- K4el= is the &r8nter o+ oons$
S8l,t8tions ,nto Thee
?nd Th- <i&ht- K4el=
6m Saravanabhavaya /amah!
71 /a"hirkamam
@8thir>8<8 is in Sri *8n>8$
.t is 8 S,r8h<8n-8 @shetr8,
Where the A8nic>8 :8n&8 +lo#s$
The 7riest is 8 Sin&8lese$
0o 5ne h8s seen #h8t is insideE
There 8re se)en screens$
The deit- is 8 po#er+,l oneJ
3e &i)es ?desh8 to 8ll sincere de)otees,
.+ there<8in there +or three d8-s$
A8,nds o+ c8<phor 8re ,rnt
(,rin& S>8nd8 Sh8shthi$
S8)e <e, protect <e$
38ro 38r8, 38ro 38r8E
38ro 38r8, 38ro 38r8$
S-T*ON S*.
Skanda Shash"hi ,#ssa-#s
0<47
Children o7 )mmor"ali"y1
3ind, +esti)8ls 8nd celer8tions h8)e <ore in the< th8n <eets the e-e$ .n +8ct, 3ind,is<,
the cr8dle o+ 8ll the reli&ions o+ the #orld, presents ,s #ith 8 (i)ine @8leidoscope:
Spirit,8l Tr,ths, ide8s 8nd ide8ls 8re eDpressed in 8n i<pressi)e, e8sil- 8ssi<il8le 8nd
stri>in& <8nner, c8p8le o+ ein& loo>ed 8t +ro< di++erent 8n&les 8ccordin& to the
di++erences in te<per8<ent 8nd t8ste et#een <8n 8nd <8n, 8++ordin& #ith8l e%,8l
opport,nities o+ dr8#in& inspir8tion +ro< it to one 8nd 8ll$
.n the e-es o+ the *ord, e)en the oldest 8<on&st ,s is ,t 8 child$ Wh8t is 8 h,ndred -e8rs
or e)en <ore +or one #ho is Eternit- itsel+, +or #ho< tho,s8nds o+ h,<8n -e8rs #o,ld p8ss
in 8 <ere #in>in& o+ the e-eL 6et, loo> 8t 3is co<p8ssion +or ,sJ 3e directs the (r8<8 o+
*i+e here in s,ch 8 #8- th8t e)er-thin& th8t h8ppens 8ll 8o,t ,s h8s, esides the
<o<ent8r- entert8in<ent th8t it o++ers ,s, e8rs in its oso< &re8t lessons #hich #o,ld e
in)8l,8le 8ids in o,r <8rch to .<<ort8lit-$ . h8)e in <ind the 7,r8n8s speci8ll-, #hen .
s8- this$ ?ll the stories rel8ted therein 8re tr,e$ The- 8re inspirin&, ele)8tin& 8nd
interestin&E the- cont8in oBect lessons +or ,s to le8rn 8nd pro+it -$ Ce8d the< 8&8in 8nd
8&8in #ith Fe8l, +8ith 8nd 8n open <indE -o, #ill soon cross this S8<s8r8$
The S>8nd8 7,r8n8 descries the &lorio,s deeds o+ *ord S,r8h<8n-8$ The *ord is 8n
?)8t8r8 o+ *ord Si)8 necessit8ted - the <iser8le pli&ht in #hich the (e)8s +o,nd
the<sel)es in their enco,nter #ith the ?s,r8s$ *ord A,r,&8n 8ss,<ed the role o+ the
Co<<8ndin& :ener8l o+ the (e)8 ?r<- 8nd e8sil- con%,ered the (e<ons #ith the help o+
3is &el!
The 7,r8nic de<ons 8re <ere noodies in stren&th 8nd )8lo,r #hen co<p8red to the 8nti2
?dh-8t<ic ones #hich 8n 8spir8nt h8s to enco,nter e)er- d8- 8nd e)er- second o+ his
spirit,8l li+e$ Who ,t he #ho h8s resorted to the *ord +or s,cco,r 8nd #ho h8s s,rrendered
hi<sel+ 8t 3is *ot,s2Feet c8n con%,er p8ssion, 8n&er, &reed 8nd their di8olic co<r8desL
*ord S>8nd8=s &r8ce is e8sil- ot8ined$ S8int ?r,n8&iri s8-s in his so,l2stirrin&
Tiruppuga-h son&s th8t e)en i+ the #ord A;C;:? is ,ttered ,t once #ith /h8)8, the
*ord=s :r8ce descends on the de)otee$ 5nce the 8spir8nt ot8ins the *ord=s :r8ce, the
(e<ons t8>e to their heelsE 8nd he is 8t once 8d<itted into the re8l<s o+ .<<ort8lit- 8nd
Etern8l /liss$
7r8- to 3i< +er)entl- #ith +8ith 8nd de)otion$ 6o, #ill )er- soon cross this )8st oce8n o+
S8<s8r8$ S,r8h<8n-8 is the 7r8t-8>sh8 (e)8t8 ()isile :od) o+ this @8li 6,&8$ Worship
o+ 3i< esto#s inst8nt +r,its on the de)otee$ .t is 8 )er- r8re pri)ile&e to t8>e p8rt in the
*8>sh8rch8n8 celer8tions$ The *ord=s 08<es 8re )er-, )erpo#er+,l$ Their ,tter8nce or
listenin& to the< #ill destro- sins co<<itted in 8ll one=s co,ntless irths$
A8- the :r8ce o+ *ord S>8nd8 e ,pon -o, 8llJ
0<48
Beloved )mmor"al Selves1
S>8nd8 Sh8sthi is the siD2d8-2#orship o+ *ord S>8nd8 or @8rtti>e-8$ 3e is the spirit,8l son
o+ *ord Si)8$ *ord S>8nd8 is #orshipped #ith intense de)otion - 8 )er- l8r&e section o+
people thro,&ho,t So,thern .ndi8 8nd Sri *8n>8 8s #ell$
The ori&in o+ *ord S>8nd8, the p,rpose o+ 3is ?)8t8r8 8nd its si&ni+ic8nce 8re o+ <,ch
i<port8nce to 8ll see>ers 8+ter Tr,th$ (,rin& the 8ttle et#een the ?s,r8s 8nd the (e)8s,
the l8tter #ere de+e8ted se)er8l ti<es - the +or<er$ The (e)8s #ere ,n8le to resist the
onsl8,&ht o+ the ?s,ric +orces$ Then, in desp8ir, the- 8ppro8ched *ord Si)8 8nd entre8ted
3i< to &i)e the< 8n 8le *e8der ,nder #hose heroic le8d the- <i&ht ot8in )ictor- o)er
the ?s,r8s$ The- s,rrendered the<sel)es co<pletel- 8nd pr8-ed to *ord Si)8 sincerel-$
The &r8cio,s *ord &r8nted their re%,est - cre8tin& the Ai&ht- (i)ine W8rrior, *ord
S>8nd8, o,t o+ 3is (i)ine 7o#er or ?chint-8 S8>ti$ This &re8t son o+ *ord Si)8 8t once
8ss,<ed le8dership o+ the celesti8l +orces, ori&in8ted the<, inspired the< 8nd 8tt8c>ed the
?s,ric +orces$ The ?s,r8s #ere ro,ted 8nd 8 &lorio,s )ictor- #8s &8ined - the (e)8s$
Th,s it #8s thro,&h the 8le &,id8nce 8nd le8dership o+ *ord S>8nd8 th8t the (i)ine +orces
ot8ined )ictor- o)er the de<oni8c8l$
The inner li+e o+ the spirit,8l 8spir8nt is precisel- s,ch 8 const8nt str,&&le et#een the
di)ine 8nd the de<oni8c8l 8spects in hi<$ The see>er=s S8dh8n8 is this deter<ined 8ttle
8&8inst the ?s,ric +orces th8t tr- to dr8& hi< do#n into deeper d8r>ness 8nd t8>e hi< 8#8-
+ro< his ide8l$ ?t ti<es he eco<es so tot8ll- helpless ,nder the )iolent 8tt8c>s o+ his
lo#er n8t,re th8t it see<s 8s i+ 8ll hope o+ pro&ress is doo<ed to +8il,re$ 3e +eels th8t he
h8s +8llen, ne)er to rise 8&8in$ /,t, let 8ll S8dh8>8s t8>e he8rt th8t the co<p8ssion 8nd
&r8ce o+ the (i)ine *ord is ne)er2+8ilin&$ .t #ill ne)er let -o, do#n$ '/il desperandum(
sho,ld e -o,r &,idin& <otto, +or, the etern8l l8# is Gd8r>ness c8nnot st8nd e+ore li&ht$H
A8>e 8 #hole2he8rted s,rrender 8t the +eet o+ the (i)ine e)en 8s the (e)8s s,rrendered to
*ord Si)8$ ?nd li>e the< pr8- e8rnestl- #ith Bhava 8nd sincerit-$ The di)ine help #ill
s,rel- co<e, 8nd in -o,r he8rt there #ill sprin& ,p the ro,tin& torrent o+ (i)ine S8>ti$ The
*ord=s &r8ce #ill eco<e <8ni+est to -o, in the +or< o+ inner So,l2+orce$ This po#er is the
S>8nd8 <8ni+est in inner ein& to 8id in -o,r 8ttle 8&8inst the lo#er ?s,ric sel+ #ith its
de)ilish <inions li>e p8ssion, 8n&er, &reed, Be8lo,s-, +8lsehood, deceit, cr,elt- 8nd
tho,s8nd other 8spects o+ e)il$ 0o <ore 8re -o, helplessJ The descent o+ the (i)ine :r8ce
#ith this ?t<8 /8l8, #ith this S>8nd8 S8>ti, #ill )8n%,ish 8ll the ,ndi)ine +orces th8t
8tt8c> -o, on the spirit,8l p8th 8nd e<er&e tri,<ph8nt 8nd )ictorio,s$ 6o, 8chie)e -o,r
li+e=s &o8l$
There+ore *ord @8rtti>e-8 is the )er- e<odi<ent o+ the (i)ine :r8ce$ 3e is the
personi+ic8tion o+ the aya Sak"i, or Kripa Sak"i o+ the *ord$ The &r8ce o+ the
co<p8ssion8te *ord, #hen pr8-er+,ll- 8nd sincerel- in)o>ed, <8ni+ests 8s s,ch irresistile
(i)ine 7o#er th8t 8ll ?s,ric +orces +l- 8#8- in hol- terror 8t its <ere 8ppro8ch$ The *ord=s
:r8ce is the ,lti<8te resort 8nd ,n+8ilin& s,pport in the inner #8r+8re o+ e)er-one=s
spirit,8l li+e, o+ 8ll str,&&les$ The si&ni+ic8nce 8nd the spirit,8l <ess8&e e<odied in
S>8nd8 ?)8t8r8 is the <ess8&e o+ S,pre<e i<port8nce o+ sel+2s,rrender, the S,pre<e
e++ic8c- o+ sincere pr8-er 8nd the ,n+8ilin& co<p8ssion o+ the *ord$ .+ -o, tr,l- s,rrender
-o,rsel+ to the *ord #ith /h8)8, 3e #ill 8t once sho#er 3is :r8ce ,pon -o,$ 0o re8l
pr8-er +ro< the otto< o+ -o,r he8rt #ill re<8in ,n8ns#ered$ .+ -o, ot8in the *ord=s
&r8ce, -o, #ill cert8inl- s,cceed 8nd o)erco<e 8ll ost8cles 8nd 8nnihil8te the +orce o+
d8r>ness, th8t st8nd 8&8inst -o,$ There is no +orce th8t c8n st8nd 8&8inst the S,pre<e
7o#er o+ (i)ine :r8ce$
T8>e shelter 8t the *ord=s +eet 7r8- to 3i< e8rnestl- 8nd in)o>e 3is 8id 8nd ot8in 3is
&r8ce 8nd co<p8ssion$ E<er&e tri,<ph8nt 8nd )ictorio,s$ ?tt8in the lo+t- 8nd &lorio,s
spirit,8l st8te o+ +reedo<, per+ection 8nd liss$ ;pon this Bo-o,s occ8sion o+ S>8nd8
Sh8shthi, #hen -o, 8re 8ll celer8tin& the )ictor- o+ the *ord o)er the de<on, T8r8>8s,r8,
the po#er+,l le8der o+ the ?s,r8s, re<e<er these &re8t tr,ths 8nd e co,r8&eo,s$
S,rrender -o,rsel+ 8+resh 8t 3is +eet$
A8- the &lorio,s *ord, S>8nd8, inspire -o, 8ll 8nd in+,se in -o, #ith inner spirit,8l
stren&thJ A8- 3e le8d -o, 8ll to )ictorio,s tri,<ph 8&8inst the de<ons o+ nescience 8nd
#orldlinessJJ
A8- 3e less -o, 8llJJJ
0<49
Priya A"man,
.t &i)es <e i<<ense deli&ht to send this Aess8&e on s,ch 8n 8,spicio,s occ8sion, the
7r8tishth8 Cere<on- o+ Sri /8l8s,r8h<8n-8 8nd S8>ti 4el$
GE)en i+, A,r,&8, Th- 08<e once told,
6o,r &r8ce descends #ith *o)e <8ni+old
*et <e Th- 08<e A,r,&8, 78r8<8 @,<8r8, once repe8t,
?nd Th- &r8ce to protect sh8ll descend on <e$H
So pr8-ed the S8int ?r,n8&iri in his +8<o,s so,l2ele)8tin& Tiruppuga-h son&s$ A8r> the
/h8)8 #hich inspired hi< to ,tter these )erses$ *ord #8nts onl- -o,r he8rt$ :i)e ,nto 3i<
-o,r he8rt$ (e)elop i<<ense lo)e to 3i<$ Thirst +or 3is (8rsh8n$ 6o, #ill 8tt8in 3i<$
*ord S,r8h<8n-8 is 8n ?)8t8r8 o+ *ord Si)8$ ?ll inc8rn8tions 8re <8ni+est8tions o+ the
*ord$ The *ord <8ni+ests 3i<sel+ +ro< ti<e to ti<e in )8rio,s n8<es 8nd +or<s +or
est8lishin& (h8r<8 8nd p,nishin& the #ic>ed$ *ord A,r,&8 is the Pra"yaksha eva"a in
this @8li 6,&8$ 3is #i)es, 48lli 8nd (ei)8-8n8i, represent the )**ha Sak"i 8nd Kriya Sak"i
o+ the *ord$ 3is &elayudha ((i)ine We8pon9the Spe8r) represents $nana Sak"i! 3is siD
he8ds represent the siD 8ttri,tes o+ In8n8, 48ir8&-8, /8l8, @irti, Sri 8nd ?is#8r-8$ The-
denote th8t 3e is the 4ir8t 7,r,sh8, the 8ll2per)8din&$
5+ the ei&hteen 7,r8n8s, the S>8nd8 7,r8n8 8lone de8ls #ith the ?)8t8r8 8nd *il8s o+ *ord
S,r8h<8n-8$ 3e is <,ch #orshipped in So,th .ndi8$ The +8<o,s Te<ples o+ *ord
S,r8h<8n-8 in So,th .ndi8, 8re Tir,chend,r, 78l8ni, Thir,pp8r8n>,ndr8<, S#8<i<8l8i,
Thir,th8ni&8i, Thir,pp,r,r, ;dipi, ?l8&8r @oilE 8nd 8l<ost 8ll hilloc>s in So,th .ndi8
especi8ll- in T8<il 08d,, shine #ith 8 te<ple o+ *ord S,r8h<8n-8 on their tops$
08>>ir8r, 8 +8<o,s T8<il poet o+ the T8<il S8n&8< ?&e, #8s 8 &re8t )ot8r- o+ *ord
A,r,&8$ 3e co<posed the poe< c8lled Tirumuruga"rupadai 8nd #hoe)er repe8ts the
#hole o+ this )erse #ith /h8)8 8nd +8ith #ill 8tt8in pe8ce 8nd prosperit-, 8nd s,ccess in 8ll
his ,ndert8>in&s$
@,<8r8&,r,p8r8 S#8<i&8l o+ Sri)8i>,nth8<, #8s 8nother de)otee 8nd /h8>t8 o+ *ord
S,r8h<8n-8$ 3e h8d een 8 d,< child till he #8s +i)e -e8rs oldE 8nd, - the &r8ce o+ the
*ord, #8s &i+ted #ith 8ll t8lents 8nd ec8<e l8ter on 8 +8<o,s s8int$ 3is son&s,
Tiru*hendur Kali &enba 8nd others 8re repe8ted - de)otees o+ *ord Sh8n<,>h8 #ith
/h8)8 8nd +8ith, e)en tod8-$
S8int ?r,n8&irin8th8r is the 8,thor o+ the +8<o,s Thiruppuga-h son&s, Skandar Anubhu"i,
etc$ 3is son&s 8re in pr8ise o+ *ord Sh8n<,>h8, 8nd 8re hi&hl- inspirin&$ 3e h8d direct
(8rsh8n o+ *ord S,r8h<8n-8$ Ce&,l8r 8nd s-ste<8tic 78r8-8n8 o+ these son&s is
s,++icient +or the str,&&lin& so,ls to &et sol8ce, pe8ce 8nd prosperit-$
Follo# the +ootsteps o+ these s8ints$ *e8d 8 li+e o+ si<plicit-$ 38)e p,rit-$ (e)elop
<8&n8ni<it-$ C,lti)8te noilit-$ 7r8ctise serenit-$ (r8# inspir8tion +ro< these /h8>t8s$
Entert8in s,li<e tho,&hts, c,lti)8te )irt,es 8nd e >ind to 8ll$ /eco<e h,<le$ T8>e
re+,&e in :od$ Sin& :od=s 08<es$ See 3is ind#ellin& presence in 8ll$ Ser)e e)er-one #ith
intense *o)e$ Ser)ice is #orship$ Ser)e$ *o)e$ :i)e$ T8ste the 0ect8r o+ .<<ort8lit- 8nd
enBo- the hi&hest 7e8ce 8nd /liss$
7r8ctice o+ the 7resence o+ :od 8l#8-s is the e8siest, ne8rest 8nd s,rest #8- +or 8tt8inin&
:od2re8lis8tion$ E)er-d8- is 8 +resh opport,nit- &i)en to -o, - :od to &o ne8rer to 3i<$
Shed the precio,s te8rs o+ (i)ine 7re<8 #hen -o, 8re 8lone 8nd don=t <8>e 8 <ere sho#$
A8- the lessin&s o+ ?r,n8&irin8th8r 8nd other /h8>t8s o+ Sh8n<,>h8 e ,pon -o, 8llJ
A8- the (i)ine 38nd &,ide -o, in 8ll -o,r 8cti)itiesJ A8- the &el &,ide -o, to the re8l<
o+ 7e8ce, 7lent-, 7rosperit- 8nd Enli&hten<entJ
Lord Skanda5Th# Con*#n"ra"#d Divin# En#r-.
Sri Swami Krishnanandaji8s Skanda0Sash"hi %essage on "he 9"h o7 /ovember, :9;<!
.n the histor- o+ l8n&,8&e 8nd liter8t,re, the <ost o,tst8ndin& #or>s 8re the Epics o+ the
)8rio,s n8tions$ The s,per liter8r- prod,ctions o+ :reece 8re the #ritin&s o+ 3o<er,9the
)lliad 8nd the 6dyssey$ .n .t8l-, si<il8r Epics #ere prod,ced - (8nte 8nd 4ir&l,9(8nte=s
G(i)ine Co<ed-H 8nd 4ir&il=s G?eneidH$ .n En&lish liter8t,re, the est Epic eD8<ples 8re
Ailton=s poe<s 8nd Sh8>espe8re=s pl8-s$ .n .ndi8, #e h8)e the )"ihasas 8nd 8lso the
Puranas$ 3ere, in this t-pe o+ poetr- 8nd eDpression, the so,l rises to the <8Di<,< o+ its
)irilit- 8nd portr8-s in the <ost <8Bestic <8nner the pict,re o+ cre8tion$ The intention o+
these poets, #hether o+ the West or o+ the E8st, is to descrie in so,l+,l l8n&,8&e 8nd in
pict,res%,e st-le, the processes o+ cre8tion, the co<ed- 8nd the tr8&ed- o+ e)ol,tion 8nd
in)ol,tion, the stor- o+ the li+e o+ <8n #hich is p8inted so<eti<es #ith the opti<istic
colo,rs o+ co<ed- 8nd so<eti<es #ith the pessi<istic ones o+ tr8&ed-$ *i+e is oth, 8nd it
c8n e pict,red +ro< t#o di++erent 8n&les o+ )ision$ The centr8l <oti+ o+ 8ll the Epics o+ the
#orld hin&es ,pon 8 con+lict #hich &ets resol)ed in the end$ So<eho#, the +e8t,re o+ 8
cl8sh et#een +orces see<s to h8)e c8,&ht the )ision o+ the poets 8nd the 8depts 8s the
pi)ot8l point o+ their oser)8tions$ When 8 c8re+,l 8ttention is p8id to the processes o+
n8t,re 8nd the histor- o+ h,<8n li+e, one oser)es th8t n8t,re o,t#8rdl- 8nd <8n in#8rdl-
h8)e to con+ront sit,8tions #hich c8n e est descried 8s 8 series o+ con+licts$ E)er- d8- is
8 con+lict e+ore ,s, 8n opposition, 8 con+ront8tion 8nd 8 %,estion #hich de<8nds 8n
8ns#er$ 5,r str,&&les thro,&ho,t the d8-s 8nd the ni&hts o+ o,r li+e 8re o,r 8tte<pts to
8ns#er the %,estion o+ li+e #hich is the &re8t eni&<8 or <-ster-$ *i+e poses 8 prole<
#hich <8n h8s not s,cceeded in sol)in& #ith 8ll his intellect,8l endo#<ents$ The deeper
)ision o+ li+e, #hich -o, <8- c8ll philosophic8l or <-stic8l, spirit,8l or reli&io,s, h8s
re)e8led the 8sic or the +o,nd8tion8l +e8t,res o+ cre8tion 8s 8 <o)e<ent to#8rds 8nd 8
<o)e<ent 8#8- +ro< 8 Centre$ This see<s to e the secret ehind 8nd 8n 8ns#er to 8ll the
%,estions o+ li+e$ There is 8 Centre so<e#here to#8rds #hich e)er-thin& see<s to e
&r8)it8tin& 8nd #hich 8t the s8<e ti<e see<s to e repellin& e)er-thin&$ This si<,lt8neo,s
+eelin& o+ the p,ll 8nd the rep,lsion is the con+lict$ This is 8t the 8sis o+ 8ll prole<s$
The Epic l8n&,8&e descries this d,8l #8r+8re o+ the p,ll 8nd the rep,lsion 8s the 8ttle
et#een the di)ine 8nd the ,ndi)ine po#ers$ The di)ine +orces 8re those +8ctors, i<p,lses
8nd 8spir8tions #hich ,r&e e)er-thin& to#8rds the Centre, 8nd the ,ndi)ine ones 8re the
opposite ones #hich co<pel e)er-thin& to e dri)en 8#8- +ro< the Centre$ There is this
do,le ,r&e in <8n, in e)er-thin& 8nd in 8ll 08t,re, n8- in the #hole o+ cre8tion$
E)er-thin& see<s to e <o)in& in t#o directions 8t the s8<e ti<e, 8n i<possiilit- to
,nderst8nd 8nd eDpl8in$ 3o# c8n one thin& <o)e in t#o directions 8t the s8<e ti<eJ This
eD8ctl- is the <-ster- o+ li+e$ We 8re Ki<p,lsi)e= to#8rds t#o di++erent directions$
K.<p,lsi)e= is the onl-2#ord, ec8,se it is 8n irresistile ,r&e or desire th8t #e +eel #ithin
o,rsel)es, to do t#o thin&s 8t the s8<e ti<e$ 0othin& c8n e #orse th8n this sit,8tion,
ec8,se it is 8n i<p,lsion to#8rds 8n i<possiilit-$ 0o one c8n do t#o contr8r- thin&s 8t
the s8<e ti<e 8nd one c8nnot h8)e 8 con+lictin& desire oper8tin& 8t the s8<e ti<e in one=s
o#n <ind$ /,t this is #h8t is h8ppenin&$ .+ this did not h8ppen, #e #o,ld not h8)e een
#h8t #e 8re tod8-$ A8n eDists ec8,se o+ the eDistence o+ this con+lict in his o#n <ind
p,llin& hi< in t#o di++erent #8-s9one ,r&e <o)in& in one direction 8nd 8nother in
8nother direction$ So <8n is di)ine 8nd 8lso ,ndi)ine 8t the s8<e ti<e$ We h8)e 8 di)ine
8spir8tion ec>onin& ,s to#8rds the Centre, tho,&h it is in)isile to o,r e-es$ There is 8lso
in ,s 8n e%,8ll- po#er+,l ,r&e, perh8ps, #hich dri)es ,s o,t#8rd to#8rds the oBects o+
senses, in the direction o+ the 8cti)ities o+ li+e, +orcin& ,s to ent8n&le o,rsel)es in the soci8l
nor<s 8nd the c8lls o+ li+e$ Which is ,ni<port8nt9the c8lls o+ li+e, or the 8spir8tions #hich
#e re&8rd 8s reli&io,s 8nd ,pli+tin&L ?ct,8ll-, it is the eDpression o+ 8 sin&le i<p,lse in
t#o di++erent directions$ This is 8 cos<ic8l i<p,lse 8nd 8lso 8 ps-cholo&ic8l one$ The
#hole 08t,re +eels this i<p,lse, the #hole ,ni)erse is +illed #ith it 8nd e8ch one o+ ,s is
8lso +,ll #ith it$
The Epics 8nd the 7,r8n8s, the &re8t heroic poe<s, the C8<8-8n8 8nd the A8h8h8r8t8 8nd
the 7,r8n8s, or +or th8t <8tter, Ailton=s K78r8dise *ost= 8nd K78r8dise Ce&8ined=, #h8te)er
e the n8<e th8t -o, &i)e to these Epic 8ppro8ches, 8ll these 8re enr8pt,rin&, poetic
eDcl8<8tions o+ <o<ents o+ r8pt,re, #hen there #8s 8 +l8sh o+ insi&ht +ro< the otto< o+
the so,l o+ the poet concerned$ These 8re the poe<s #hich #e c8ll the Epics, 8nd this is
#h- #e 8re <o)ed #hen #e re8d the<$ 5,r h8irs st8nd on end, o,r e<otions e&in to e in
8 st8te o+ t,r<oil 8nd #e e&in to tre<le 8nd sh8>e, 8nd #e 8re +orced to 8ss,<e the role
o+ the person8lities portr8-ed in the Epics$ We e&in to <o)e #ith those speci<ens o+
indi)id,8lit- #hich the Epic poe<s descrie$ Th8t is the po#er o+ the poet$ The &re8ter is
the +orce o+ poetr-, the <ore 8lso #e +eel i<pelled to <o)e #ith the indi)id,8lities
descried therein, 8nd #e eco<e those indi)id,8ls +or the ti<e ein&$ We l8,&h 8nd #eep,
#e +eel h8pp- 8nd #e 8re s,n> in &rie+, 8s #e <o)e #ith the heroes 8nd the heroines o+
these <8Bestic Epics$
We h8)e in .ndi8 t#o &re8t Epics, the #amayana 8nd the %ahabhara"a, 8nd 8lso ei&hteen
7,r8n8s, e8ch one to,chin& ,pon one 8spect o+ this ,ni)ers8l 8cti)it- &oin& on in the +or<
o+ e)ol,tion 8nd in)ol,tion, the #8r+8re et#een the di)ine 8nd the ,ndi)ine +orces$ There
is 8 perpet,8l con+lict et#een &od 8nd de)il, 8s the theolo&i8ns so<eti<es tell ,s$ The
r,lin& di)init- o+ the ,ni)erse 8nd the +orces o+ d8r>ness +i&ht #ith e8ch other$ ? nole 8nd
s,li<e inst8nce o+ this Epic e)ent th8t is s,pposed to h8)e t8>en pl8ce 8eons 8c> in the
histor- o+ the cos<os, is the Skanda Shash"hi Festi)8l, #hich is oser)ed +or siD d8-s 8nd
#hich concl,des 8nd cons,<<8tes on the siDth d8-, dedic8ted to *ord S>8nd8$ The &re8t
hero o+ this cos<ic dr8<8 #hich is descried in the Skanda Purana, 8nd in cert8in other
script,res li>e the A8h8h8r8t8, is S>8nd8, the &re8t W8r2:od o+ .ndi8$ 5+tenti<es,
#esterners co<p8re 3i< #ith A8rs, the :ener8lissi<o o+ the celesti8ls, the 8n&els in
he8)en$ .n the /h8&8)8d&it8, *ord @rishn8, the spo>es<8n o+ the &re8t poe<, identi+ies
3i<sel+ #ith S>8nd8 8<on& the &ener8ls9GSenaninam0aham Skandah$H
The reli&io,s histor- o+ this e)ent co<<ences #ith 8 <8&ni+icent portr8-8l o+ the &re8t
:od Si)8 8sored in <edit8tion 8nd deepl- i<<ersed in S8<8dhi, oli)io,s o+ #h8t #e
<8- c8ll d8r>ness, e)il or the centri+,&8l +orces$ :od=s 8sorption in 3i<sel+ in the K. 8<
th8t . 8<= is the tot8l cos<ic opposition to the <,lti+8rio,s d8r> 8cti)ities o+ the ,r&es in
the direction o+ the senses #hose le8der is the e&o 8nd #hose colle8&,es 8re desire 8nd
8n&er$ The &re8test +or<s #hich this i<p,lse o+ eDtern8lit- c8n t8>e in ,s 8re these three$
The e&o is the centr8lit- o+ the ,r&e, the centr8l d-n8<o, 8s it #ere, #hich p,<ps the
ener&- necess8r- +or the <o)e<ent o+ this i<p,lse o,t#8rdl-$ ?nd, desire 8nd 8n&er 8re
li>e the t#o 8r<s o+ this 8d8<8ntine centr8lit- o+ indi)id,8ls$ So, in 8 #8-, #e <8- s8- th8t
there 8re onl- t#o +orces, 8nd #e <8- not e #ron& #hen so<eti<es #e s8- th8t there 8re
three +orces$ We h8)e the S,pre<e Cre8tor 8nd the S8t8n in the K78r8dise *ost= o+ Ailton$
We h8)e the description o+ the .n+erno, the 7,r&etorio 8nd the 78r8dise in the co<ed- o+
(8nte$ We h8)e C8)8n8 8nd @,<h8>8rn8 in the C8<8-8n8, (,r-odh8n8 8nd (,hs8s8n8
in the A8h8h8r8t8$ Aostl- the- 8re +or<s o+ 8 d,8l +orce, li>e S,<h8 8nd 0is,<h8 in
the (e)i2A8h8t<-8, 8nd S,nd8 8nd ;p8s,nd8 in the A8h8h8r8t8$ The- 8re in)incile +or
8ll pr8ctic8l p,rposes$
There c8nnot e so +orce+,l 8n ener&- 8s desire, 8n-#here$ (esire is the &re8test po#er in
the #orld$ 5+ 8ll the po#ers, the desire is the stron&est, ec8,se nothin& c8n <o)e #itho,t
desire$ 3ence desire sho,ld e re&8rded 8s the i<p,lse +or 8n- >ind o+ <o)e<ent, in 8n-
direction$ The n8t,re o+ desire is so co<pleD th8t in 8 poe< c8lled the Kama 4i"a, in the
A8h8h8r8t8, #e 8re told th8t desire l8,&hs 8t people #ho 8re tr-in& to con%,er it$ /ec8,se,
the 8tte<pt to con%,er desire itsel+ is 8 desire$ This is the re8son #h- it l8,&hs$ Sri @rishn8
sin&s this @8<8 :it8 to ill,str8te the di++ic,lt- o+ con%,erin& desire o+ 8n- >ind, ,nless
proper <e8ns 8re e<plo-ed$
:ods #ere st8rtled, 8nd the- #ere in 8 st8te o+ constern8tion #hen the de<oni8c8l +orces
8tt8c>ed the<$ The &ods too h8d their o#n stren&th, no do,t$ 4irt,e is s,pposed to h8)e
po#er to o)erco<e )ice$ /,t o+ten #e +eel th8t the )irt,es o+ the #orld 8re inc8p8le o+
con+rontin& the )ices o+ the n8t,re$ .t is not eno,&h i+ #e 8re )irt,o,s$ The )ices 8re too
stron& +or ,s$ We h8)e seen #ith o,r o#n e-es h,<8n histor-, these d8-s$ 4irt,e does not
see< to s,cceed$ The &ods #ere )irt,o,s 8nd the de<ons #ere )icio,s$ /,t, the &ods co,ld
not +8ce the<, B,st 8s the )irt,o,s ones in this #orld 8re ,n8le to de+e8t the )icio,s$ The
)irt,o,s people 8re s,++erin& 8nd the e)il ones 8re thri)in&$
Wh8t is this <-ster-L The <-ster- is not >no#n to <8n-$ The tr,th is th8t #hile )irt,e is
&ener8ll- ,nderstood 8s the opposite o+ )ice, #e +or&et the +8ct th8t it is 8lso the co,nter2
correl8ti)e o+ )ice$ So, it h8s not &ot the stren&th to con+ront the )ice$ 4ice or e)il c8n e
o)erco<e - 8 po#er #hich is tr8nscendent 8nd not <erel- ethic8l 8nd <or8l$ The e)ils o+
the #orld 8re not 8+r8id o+ <ere <or8lit- 8nd ethics$ Aere &oodness #ill not do$ There
sho,ld e (i)init- in o,r person8lit-, 8nd (i)init- is +8r s,perior to <ere &oodness in the
+or< o+ 8n ethic8l eh8)io,r 8nd 8 <or8l cond,ct$ (i)init- is 8n inte&r8tin& +orce, #hile
)irt,e is onl- 8 co,nter2correl8ti)e o+ )ice$ There c8nnot e )irt,e ,nless there is )ice$
/ec8,se, i+ there is no e)il 8t 8ll, there c8nnot e 8n- s,ch thin& c8lled &oodness$ /,t
(i)init- is 8 di++erent thin& 8lto&ether ec8,se it tr8nscends oth the &ood 8nd the e)il$
So, #hen the +orces o+ d8r>ness e&8n to 8ss8,lt the 8n&els, the 7,r8n8 tells ,s th8t the
+orces #ere three+old$ The- 8re n8<ed, in the S>8nd8 7,r8n8, 8s S,r8p8d<8, Si<h8<,>h8
8nd T8r8>8E 8nd in the A8h8h8r8t8 8s (,r-odh8n8, @8rn8 8nd (,hs8s8n8$ 0o one,
ho#e)er )irt,o,s 8nd &ood he <8- e, co,ld st8nd these +orces$ These de<oni8c8l +orces
#ere too <,ch +or 8ll the 8n&els p,t to&ether$ The :ods #ere tre<lin& in +e8r, B,st 8s
)irt,o,s <en in this #orld tre<le in the presence o+ the e)il d8coits 8nd the ,nscr,p,lo,s
th,&s, #ho 8tt8c> people in#8rdl- 8s #ell 8s o,t#8rdl-$ 4irt,e see<s to h8)e no pl8ce in
this #orld$ ?n&els #ere dri)en o,t, the &ods r8n 8#8- +ro< the he8)en 8nd e)il rei&ned
s,pre<e$ Wh8t is the sol,tionL 0ot <ere &oodness, not <ere )irt,e, not 8 little ch8rit-, not
8 little s#eet speech,9none o+ these c8n st8nd their onsl8,&ht$ These thin&s #ill not c,t ice
in this e)il #orld$ ?n&els 8re &ood eno,&h 8nd the- 8re +8r s,perior to h,<8ns in )irt,e, in
&oodness, in >no#led&e 8nd in e)er-thin& concei)8le$ /,t the- co,ld not st8nd this
)icio,s +orce$ The- h8d to in)o>e :od 3i<sel+ ?nd . <8- tell -o, th8t the sol,tion +or 8ll
the e)ils o+ the #orld tod8- is :od onl- 8nd not 8n-thin& th8t <8n c8n do$ 0ot ., not -o,,
not 8n-one c8n sol)e the <-ster- o+ the e)ils o+ the #orld$ ;nless :od is in)o>ed, there is
no hope$ *ord Si)8, the &re8t A8ster o+ 6o&8 #ho #8s i<<ersed in S8<8dhi, the 8-s<8l
,ni)ers8lit- o+ eDperience, #8s the onl- s,cco,r 8nd the so,rce o+ hope to the :ods 8nd
8n&els, in the #8r depicted in the S>8nd8 7,r8n8$ When this triple +orce, S,r8p8d<8,
Si<h8<,>h8 8nd T8r8>8s,r8, 8tt8c>ed the celesti8ls +ro< 8ll sides, the- did not >no#
#ho< to 8ppe8l +or help$ The- r8n to /r8h<8, the Cre8tor$ 3e s8id: GThere is onl- one
sol,tion #hich is di++ic,lt to concei)e, ,t there is no other 8ltern8ti)e$ The +orce, the
ener&-, the <ilit8nt eDpression o+ *ord Si)8 is the onl- 8ns#er to this prole< o+ -o,rs$H
When :od eco<es <ilit8nt, nood- c8n st8nd e+ore 3i<$ When the lion st8nds ,p, -o,
>no# th8t there c8n e none #ho c8n +8ce it$ :od 8l#8-s >eeps %,iet$ 3e is 8l#8-s in 8
st8te o+ S8<8dhi, 8s it #ere$ 3e &i)es 8 lon& rope to e)er-one 8nd ne)er inter+eres #ith
8n-od-=s 8++8irs$ 6o, <8- do 8n-thin& th8t -o, li>e, -o, c8n h8n& -o,rsel+ i+ -o, li>e 8nd
:od is not othered 8o,t it$ /,t, #hen thin&s eco<e too 8d 8nd intoler8le, #hen the
#hole #orld e&ins to cr-, these &re8t inc8rn8tions t8>e pl8ce$ .+ -o, or . cr- indi)id,8ll-
in 8 corner, th8t <8- not e s,++icient to rin& do#n the inc8rn8tions$ :od toler8tes #hen
one <8n cries or t#o people cr-, ec8,se <8n- others 8re h8pp-$ /,t #hen e)er-one st8rts
cr-in&, 3e c8nnot e8r it 8n-<ore$ This #8s the condition e+ore the irth o+ S>8nd8$ The
#hole #orld #8s in 8 st8te o+ tr8)8il, t,r<oil 8nd 8&it8tion$ The irth o+ the W8r2:od,
Kumarasambhava 8s @8lid8s8 p,ts it, is the stor- ehind this reli&io,s +esti)8l c8lled
S>8nd8 Sh8shthi$
Witho,t &oin& into the det8ils o+ the #hole stor- here, . #o,ld li>e to pin2point onl- the
si&ni+ic8nce o+ the occ8sion, )iF$, the i<possiilit- to con+ront e)il #itho,t the help o+ :od,
the po#er o+ (i)init-$ 0o one c8n +8ce the #orld eDcept #ith the help o+ :od$ ?r<8<ents,
<ilit8r- 8nd police 8re nothin& e+ore the e)il o+ the #orld$ 0o one c8n o)erco<e it, 8nd it
sh8ll contin,e$ So, the S>8nd8 7,r8n8 s8-s th8t the W8r2:od #8s orn +ro< the ,ni)ers8l
conte<pl8tion o+ the &re8t Cre8tor 3i<sel+$ The Samadhi0Bhu"a Sak"i or the ener&- orn
o,t o+ the &re8t S8<8dhi o+ *ord Si)8, #ho< #e c8ll Skanda, is the 8ns#er +or 8ll the e)ils
o+ the #orld$ The +orce o+ cos<ic desire ec8<e 8 c,<,l8ti)e +oc,ssin& #e8pon, 8s it #ere,
8nd #ith 8 siD+old +8ce the di)ine ener&- e&8n to con+ront the <,lti+8ceted d8r> +orces$
We h8)e 8 siD+old ps-che #ithin ,s$ The centr8l, pi)ot8l +e8t,re o+ it is the e&o 8s . c8lled
it, or -o, c8n s8- the <ind, #hich eDpresses itsel+ 8s the +i)e senses$ The +i)e senses
ener&ised - the <ind dri)e ,s o,t#8rd in the direction o+ the oBects o+ the #orld$ 6o,
#o,ld h8)e he8rd it s8id th8t the occ8sion +or the irth o+ S>8nd8 or the W8r2:od #8s the
sti<,l8tion - the &od o+ *o)e, #ho d8rted his #e8pons to#8rds the &re8t Si)8, #ho #8s
then in 8 st8te o+ deep 8sorption, in S8<8dhi$ These <-steries 8re di++ic,lt to ,nderst8nd$
5rdin8r- <inds 8re not <8de in s,ch 8 #8- 8s to proe into these intric8cies o+ (i)ine
8ction$ The ener&ies th8t 8re re%,ired to +8ce the e)il o+ cre8tion 8re potenti8ll- present
inside ,s 8nd the- h8)e to e #or>ed ,p - 8 p8rtic,l8r <e8ns$ (esire is neither &ood nor
8d$ /,t, it c8n eco<e 8d or &ood 8ccordin& to the circ,<st8nces 8nd the #8- in #hich it
oper8tes, ,nder &i)en conditions, in the histor- o+ cre8tion$ The irth o+ S>8nd8 h8d to e
occ8sioned - the 8cti)it- o+ desire personi+ied 8s Kama or C,pid, +or the s8>e o+
o)erco<in& the e)ils, one o+ #hich is desire itsel+, #hose co<r8des 8re 8n&er 8nd other
<8ni+est8tions o+ e&ois<$ The /h8&8)8d&it8 s8-s: Gharmaviruddho Bhu"eshu Kamosmi$H
3ere :od re+ers to 3i<sel+ 8s desire, ere+t o+ or +ree +ro< 8n- contr8)ention o+ (h8r<8$
3ere is 8 cl,e to the <-ster- o+ ho# it ec8<e necess8r- +or the :ods to e<plo- C,pid 8s
8n instr,<ent to ro,se the di)ine desire in Si)8 +or con+rontin& the e)il desire o+ the
de<ons$ (esire is li>e 8 di8<ond #hich c,ts itsel+$
Celi&io,s 8d)ent,re eco<es <ore 8nd <ore co<plic8ted 8s #e proceed 8lon& #ith it
+,rther 8nd +,rther$ .n the e8rlier st8&es reli&ion see<s to e )er- si<ple, ec8,se it 8ppe8rs
to e <erel- 8 %,estion o+ &oin& to the ch,rch or sittin& e+ore 8 deit- in 8 te<ple or
+ollo#in& 8 s-ste< o+ ro,tine, 8 rit,8l, etc$ /,t, #hen #e enter into the he8rt o+ reli&ion, it
ce8ses to e 8n- >ind o+ ro,tine o+ this >ind$ .t eco<es 8n in#8rd 8d)ent,re o+ the spirit$ .t
is not 8 doin& o+ so<ethin&, ,t 8 co<plete resh,++lin& o+ one=s person8lit- 8nd 8
tr8ns+or<8tion o+ onesel+ thro,&h 8 tr8ns)8l,8tion o+ )8l,es, - 8 process in #hich #e <8-
h8)e to s,<it to conscription the )er- s8<e +orces in the #orld #hich 8ppe8r 8s o,r
opponents 8t present$ The #orld is 8n ene<- 8nd 8lso 8 +riend$ The /h8&8)8d&it8, 8&8in,
&i)es 8n 8ns#er to this interestin& %,estion, Kho# the s8<e thin& c8n e 8 +riend 8nd 8lso 8n
ene<-$= .n the siDth ch8pter, #e 8re told th8t the Sel+ is the +riend 8nd the Sel+ is 8lso the
ene<-$ (esire is 8 +riend 8nd 8lso 8n ene<-$ The #orld is 8 +riend 8nd 8lso 8n ene<-$ /-
<e8ns o+ the instr,<ent8lit- o+ Kamadeva, the (i)ine Force o+ Si)8 #8s ro,sed ,p into
8ction, #hich is other#ise 5<nipresent$ .n the 4ed8nt8 philosoph-, 8 distinction is dr8#n
et#een t#o t-pes o+ conscio,sness, >no#n 8s Sahaja0$nana 8nd &ri""i0$nana, #hich c8n
e tr8nsl8ted 8s 8 ,ni)ers8ll- present i<person8l, +e8t,reless conscio,sness 8nd 8 directl-
oper8ti)e conscio,sness 8ctin& in so<e &i)en #8-, respecti)el-$ 5r, to &i)e 8 &rosser
eD8<ple, the i<person8l +ire #hich is present in 8ll the +i)e ele<ents 8ro,nd ,s, is to e
distin&,ished +ro< the concrete +ire #ith #hich #e coo> o,r <e8l 8nd li&ht o,r l8<p$
Ener&- in 8ction is the +ire th8t is ,rnin& thro,&h the coo>in& sto)e, 8nd the ener&- th8t is
<erel- eDistin& in 8n i<person8l <8nner is li>e the +ire present in 8ll the +i)e ele<ents$ So,
the +orce o+ Si)8 #8s i<person8l in the S8<8dhi st8te 8nd it h8d no concern #ith &ood or
8d, or 8n-thin& th8t is t8>in& pl8ce 8n-#hereE ,t #hen it h8d to e e<plo-ed 8s 8 #e8pon
to co,nter8ct the e)ils o+ cre8tion, it h8d to <8ni+est itsel+ 8nd c8nnot <erel- re<8in 8s 8n
i<person8l +e8t,reless S8<8dhi conscio,sness$ So, the ener&- ,rst +orth +ro< Si)8=s third
e-e #hich is the po#er o+ @no#led&e or Chi"0Sak"i! .t is not 8 <8nip,l8ted ener&- cre8ted
thro,&h <8chines or thro,&h the ener&ies o+ 8n- >ind o+ ph-sic8l od- or s,st8nce$ 5nl-
the ener&- o+ Wisdo< c8n co,nter8ct the e)il o+ cre8tion 8nd not 8n- other po#er, not
8n-thin& th8t #e do in the +or< o+ ch8rit-, &oodness or o,r so2c8lled reli&iosit-$
So #e h8)e in this &re8t Epic o+ S>8nd8=s inc8rn8tion, the K@,<8r8 S8<h8)8=, the <i&ht-
portr8-8l o+ the 8d)ent,re o+ the Spirit thro,&h the processes o+ S8dh8n8, spirit,8l pr8ctice,
#herein, #e co<<,ne o,rsel)es #ith the hi&hest po#er th8t is concei)8le, the ener&- o+
:od 3i<sel+$ We h8)e to dr8# th8t ener&- +or#8rd 8nd h8rness it to +8ce this #orld$ Then
the po#er o+ eDtern8lit- &ets tr8ns+or<ed into the pe8ce o+ ,ni)ers8lit-$ Wh8t h8ppened to
the C8>sh8s8s9S,r8p8d<8, Si<h8<,>h8 8nd T8r8>8L
Those +orces #hich #ere eDtern8lised 8nd #hich #ere the desires i<pellin& the<sel)es
o,t#8rdl- in the direction o+ sense2oBects, #ere tr8ns+or<ed into the ,ni)ers8l pe8ce o+
cre8tion$ 7e8ce rei&ned s,pre<e$ There is nothin& c8lled destr,ction 8n-#here$ These
de<ons #ere not destro-ed in the ordin8r- sense o+ the ter<$ 6o, >no# the l8# o+
conser)8tion o+ ener&-$ Ener&- is ne)er incre8sin& or decre8sin& in cre8tion, .t is onl-
concentr8ted in di++erent +or<s 8nd 8t di++erent pl8ces$ The concentr8ted +or< o+ it is #h8t
#e c8ll e)il$ So the )er- s8<e ener&- #hich #8s in the +or< o+ these de<oni8c8l ele<ents
#8s tr8ns+or<ed - the (i)ine ener&-, #hich <e8ns to s8-, 8ll th8t #8s i<p,lsi)e in the
direction o+ eDtern8lit-, sp8ce, ti<e, c8,s8lit- 8nd oBecti)it- 8nd desire o+ e)er- >ind, &ot
#ithdr8#n into the pe8ce o+ the ?sol,te 8nd the :o8l o+ li+e #8s re8ched$ This is, in <-
h,<le opinion, the &re8t spirit,8l si&ni+ic8nce ehind the reli&io,s +esti)8l c8lled the
S>8nd8 Sh8shthi, #hich +8lls on the siDth d8- o+ the ri&ht +ortni&ht in the <onth o+
Kar"ika (6*"ober0/ovember)! There 8re other <e8nin&s #hich 8re <8ni+old 8nd interestin&$
5,t o+ 8ll this )8riet-, . h8)e pl8ced e+ore -o, one +e8t,re +or -o,r conte<pl8tion$
PA:T II
App#ndi>5I
$$ s>nd:Op:en:P:dQ $$
skandopani?ad
-:M:8s:R/:):t:8R -:8et: s):8et:er4t:8e/:d8t:et:3 $
s:Re):n<:8M:R p:rR :ST t:ts):<:8M:R e):B:U</:t:O $$
J s:h n:8):):t:V $ s:h n::W /:Vn:4t:V $ s:h ):i-:XR >r):8):hW $
t:OB:es): n:8):(:it:<:st:V $ <:8 e):eYP:8):hW $
J S:8ent:3 J S:8ent:3 JJ S:8ent:3 JJJ
-8trUs8Xh8)8tUX -Uti s)Utiri>tUhidUt8tiZ [
s8X)in<Utr8X p8r8X r8h<8 t8ts)8<Utr8X )iB\<h8te [[
5A s8h8 nU)8)8t, [ s8h8 n8, h,n8>t, [ s8h8 )]r-8X >8r8)U)8h8i [
teB8s)i nU)8dh]t8<8st, [ ti$ A8- #e oth +ind o,t the tr,e <e8nin& o+ the script,res$ A8- o,r st,dies e
+r,it+,l$ A8- there e no disp,teJ
5<J 7e8ceJ 7e8ceJJ 7e8ceJJJ
?c-:Vt::O[es<: <:h8dO): t:): >8,0-:l:OS:t:3 $
e):#8n:::n: 5):8es<: eS:)::O[es<: e><:t:3 p:r<:` $$ 1$$
8c-,to$8sUr,a-8le_8t8Z [
)iBbUn8&h8n8 e)Usi<8t8Z p8r8< [[ 1 [[
G5 A8h8de)8 (:re8t *ord)J . 8< ?ch-,t8 (indestr,ctile) on 8cco,nt o+ 8n iot8 o+ Th-
:r8ce (h8)in& een sho#ered on <e)$ . 8< +,ll o+ @no#led&eE . 8< Si)8 (?,spicio,s)J
Wh8t <ore is to e 8chie)ed or desiredLH (1)
n: en:B:R en:B:):c8et: ?nt:3>r0:B:U</:0:8t:` $
?nt:3>r0:n:8S:On: s:Re):n<:8M:esT:t::W her3 $$ !$$
n8 niB8X niB8)8dhUti 8nt8Z>8r8a8B\<h8aUt [
8nt8Z>8r8a8nU_en8 s8X)in<Utr8sthit8, h8riZ [[ ! [[
s:Re):n<:8M:esT:t:d:8h<:B::O[es<: e><:t:3 p:r<:` $
)-:et:ere4t:R B:CR s:):XR s):pn:):cc: e):n:S-:et: $$ 3$$
s8X)in<Utr8sthit8_cUh8<8Bo$8si<8t8Z p8r8< [
)-8tiri>tiX B8e8X s8r)8X s)8pn8)8cc8 )in8_-8ti [[ 3 [[
ec:BB:C8n:8R t:V -::O dfg8 s::O[c-:Vt::W #8n:e):&:Sh3 $
s: 5): eh <:h8dO):3 s: 5): eh <:h8her3 $$ 4$$
ciBB8eUnUX t, -o dr8^hU so$8c-,t8, BbUn8)i&r8h8Z [
s8 e)8 hi <8hUde)8Z s8 e)8 hi <8hUh8riZ [[ 4 [[
s: 5): B-::Oet:P:8R B-::Oet:3 s: 5): p:r<:Oi:r3 $
s: 5): eh p:rR :ST t:dQ:ST8hR n: s:RS:-:3 $$ 5$$
s8 e)8 B-otiÛX B-otiZ s8 e)8 p8r8<e_)8r8Z [
s8 e)8 hi p8r8X r8h<8 t8dr8h<Uh8X n8 s8X_8-8Z [[ 5 [[
GTr,th does not shine 8s Tr,th, o#in& to the pl8- o+ the inner instr,<ents, )iF$, <ind,
Chitt8, /,ddhi 8nd ?h8<>8r8$ (0o#) #ith the destr,ction o+ the An"ahkarana or inner
instr,<ents, 38ri (:od) d#ells (in <e) 8s 7,re Conscio,sness$ ?s . 8< 8lso 7,re
conscio,sness, . 8< #itho,t irth$ Wh8t is noler th8n this st8teLH ?ll inert thin&s (other
th8n the ?t<8n) perish li>e 8 dre8<$ 3e #ho sees 8ll the inert thin&s 8s +or<s o+ ?ch-,t8
(*ord 08r8-8n8) is 8n e<odi<ent o+ @no#led&e$ 3e, indeed, is A8h8de)8J 3e indeed, is
A8h8h8ri, tooJ 3e is the Cesplendence o+ the resplendentJ 3e is 78r8<es)8r8 (the S,pre<e
*ord)$ 3e 8lone is 78r8r8h<8n 8nd . 8< Th8t /r8h<8n, no do,tJH (!25)
B:i):3 eS:):3 eS:)::O B:i):3 s: B:i):3 >h):l:3 eS:):3 $
t:VP:O0: :j:O ):Sieh3 s-:8k:VP:8/:8):On: t:0Cll:3 $$ 6$$
B])8Z _i)8Z _i)o B])8Z s8 B])8Z >e)8l8Z _i)8Z [
t,êa8 8ddho )r]hiZ s-Utt,ÛhU)en8 t8ae,l8Z [[ 6 [[
5):R :jst:T:8 B:i):3 ><:Xn:8S::O s:d8eS:):3 $
p:8S::jst:T:8 B:i):3 p:8S:<:V4t:3 s:d8eS:):3 $$ 7$$
e)8X 8ddh8st8thU B])8Z >8r<8nU_o s8dU_i)8Z [
pU_88ddh8st8thU B])8Z pU_8<,>t8Z s8dU_i)8Z [[ 7 [[
GIi)8 is Si)8E Si)8 is Ii)8$ Ii)8 is )eril- Si)8 8loneJ So lon& 8s the h,s> enc8ses it, the &r8in
is >no#n 8s p8dd-E #ith the dis8ppe8r8nce o+ the h,s> it is c8lled rice$ Si<il8rl-, #hen in
ond8&e, it is Ii)8E 8nd #hen @8r<8 is destro-ed, it is S8d8si)8$H (627)
eS:):8-: e):P0:V2p:8-: eS:):2p:8-: e):P0:):O $
eS:):s-: md-:R e):P0:V3 e):P0::Od: md-:R eS:):3 $$ 1$$
_i)U-8 )iâ,rnpU-8 _i)8rnpU-8 )iâ8)e [
_i)8s-8 h\d8-8X )iâ,Z )iâo_c8 h\d8-8X _i)8Z [[ 1 [[
-:T:8 eS:):<:-:R e):P0:VrO):R e):P0:V<:-:3 eS:):3 $
-:T:8nt:rR n: p:S-:8e<: t:T:8 <:O s):est:r8-:VeP: $$ 9$$
-8thU _i)8<8-8X )iâ,re)8X )iâ,<8-8Z _i)8Z [
-8thUnt8r8X n8 p8_-UhS:):-::Ost:T:8 $
dOh:O dO):8l:-:3 ):O4t:3 s: B:i):3 >h):l:3 eS:):3 $$ 10$$
-8thUnt8r8X n8 hedUZ s-,Z _i)8>e_8)8-ost8thU [
deho de)Ul8-8Z pro>t8Z s8 B])8Z >e)8l8Z _i)8Z [[ 10 [[
t-:B:Od#8n:en:<:8Xl-:R s::O[hR/:8):On: p:oB:-:Ot:` $
?/:OddS:Xn:R #8n:R (-:8n:R en:e):XP:-:R <:n:3 $
sn:8n:R <:n::O<:l:t-:8&:3 S::Wc:e<:endf-:en:&:Sh3 $$ 11$$
t-8Bed8BbUn8nir<Ul-8X so$8h8XhU)en8 pnB8-et [
8hed8d8r_8n8X BbUn8X dh-Un8X nir)i^8-8X <8n8Z [
snUn8X <8no<8l8t-U&8Z _8,c8<indri-8ni&r8h8Z [[ 11 [[
:ST8<:Ut:R ep::OdQ /::WD:<:8c:rOpOhrD:0:O $
):s:OdO>8ent:>:O /:ot):8 c:W>8nt:O YWt:):eB:Xt:O $
Et-:O):<:8c:rOji<:8n:` s: 5):R <:Ve4t:<:8pn:V-:8t:` $$ 1!$$
r8h<U<\t8X pied h8,>^8<Uc8reddeh8r8>^8ae [
)8sede>Unti>o hnt)U c8i>Unte d)8it8)8rBite [
it-e)8<Uc8reddh]<Un s8 e)8X <,>ti<Upn,-Ut [[ 1! [[
q:ip:r<:h8<n:O s):est: ec:r8-:VP-::Or<: Eet: $
e):erWc:n:8r8-:0:S:sr8t<:>R n:Ues:Rh dO):OS: t:): )s:8dt:3 $
?ec:nt-:<:)-:4t:<:n:nt:<:)-:-:R ):Od8t<:>R :ST en:B:R e):B:8n:t:O $$ 13$$
_r]p8r8<8hU<ne s)8sti cirU-,^-onn8<8 iti [
)iribc8nUrU-8a8_8t>8rUt<8>8X n\siXh8 de)e_8 t8)8 pr8sUd8t8Z [
8cint-8<8)-8>t8<8n8nt8<8)-8-8X )edUt<8>8X r8h<8 niB8X )iBUn8te [[ 13 [[
GS8l,t8tions to Si)8 o+ the +or< o+ 4ishn,E 8nd to 4ishn, #ho is o+ the +or< o+ Si)8J
Si)8=s he8rt is 4ishn,E 8nd 4ishn,=s he8rt (re8l n8t,re) is Si)8$ ?s 4ishn, is Si)8<8-8,
Si)8 is 4ishn,<8-8$ ?s . do not percei)e 8n- di++erence (et#een the t#o), so prosperit-
8nd lon& li+e 8re <ine$ The od- is the *ord=s te<pleE 8nd Ii)8 is Si)8 8lone$ 5ne sho,ld
#orship it #ith the ide8 o+ S53?A (. 8< 3e or 8 +eelin& o+ identit-), 88ndonin& the
+lo#ers o+ i&nor8nce #hich h8)e o,tli)ed their ,tilit-$ $nana or >no#led&e is perception o+
non2di++erence$ hyana or <edit8tion is to eDtric8te the <ind +ro< sense2oBects$ Snana or
8th is the cle8nsin& o+ the i<p,rities o+ the <ind$ Controllin& the senses is p,rit- or
Sau*ha$ The nect8r o+ /r8h<8n is to e dr,n>E 8nd +or the preser)8tion o+ the od-, 8l<s
8re to e 8ccepted$ 5ne sho,ld li)e 8lone #itho,t 8 second, 8nd d#ell ,pon th8t Secondless
?t<8n$ Th8t #ise <8n #ho does 8ll this 8tt8ins s8l)8tion$ S8l,t8tions to th8t 78r8<8dh8<8J
A8- prosperit- 8nd lon& li+e e <ineJ 5<$ 5< 08r8si<h8J 5 *ord o+ (e)8sJ Thro,&h Th-
:r8ce, one re8lises the tr,e n8t,re o+ /r8h<8n, tho,&h e-ond tho,&ht, ,n<8ni+est, endless
8nd i<<,t8le, )i8, the +or<s o+ :ods: /r8h<8, 08r8-8n8 8nd S8n>8r8$H
t:eYP0::O3 p:r<:R p:dR s:d8 p:S-:ent: s:or-:3 $
ed):i): c:D:Vr8t:t:<:` $$ 14$$
t8d)iâoZ p8r8<8X p8d8X s8dU p8_-8nti snr8-8Z [
di)])8 c8>^,rUt8t8< [[ 14 [[
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3$ >8ek:X>h-:3 (>Urtti>e-8Z) 9 3e #ho #8s n,rsed - the siD Kri""ika evis
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5$ s>nd3 (s>8nd8Z) 9 3e #ho le8ped o,t or e<8n8ted +ro< the Third2e-e o+ Si)8
6$ >l<:8r3 (>,<Ur8Z) 9 The destro-er o+ e)ils, oth inside 8nd o,tside
7$ s:On:8n:i3 (senUn]Z) 9 The Co<<8nder2in2Chie+ o+ the Celesti8l 8r<ies
1$ s):8<:i S:srs:</:):3 (s)U<] _8t>8r8s8<h8)8Z) 9 /orn o+ *ord S8n>8r8
9$ &:8R&:O-:3 (&UX&e-8Z) 9 The Son o+ :8n&8
10$ t:8<:Sc:oC3 (tU<r8cne8Z) 9 3e #ho h8s the Coc>28nner
11$ :STc:8ri (r8h<8cUr]) 9 3e #ho is e)er in /r8h<ic Conscio,snessE ? celi8te
1!$ eS:e@:():B:3 (_i>hidh)8B8Z) 9 Whose +l8& is Fire
13$ t:8r>8er3 (tUr8>UriZ) 9 The )8n%,isher o+ the po#er+,l de<on T8r8>8
14$ ,<:8p:VM:3 (,<Up,tr8Z) 9 The Son o+ ;<8 (e)i or 78r)8ti
15$ u:WRc:8er3 (>r8,XcUriZ) 9 The destro-er o+ (the <o,nt8in2sh8ped ?s,r8) @r8,nch8
16$ P:C8n:n:3 (^8eUn8n8Z) 9 The *ord #ith siD +8ces
17$ S:d:STs:<:Vdf3 (_8d8r8h<8s8<,dr8Z) 9 3e #ho is 8n oce8n o+ @no#led&e
(represented - the 4ed8s)
11$ es:j3 (siddh8Z) 9 The 7er+ected one
19$ s:8rs):t:3 (sUr8s)8t8Z) 9 3e #hose (eit- is S8r8s)8ti (e)i
!0$ &:Vh3 (&,h8Z) 9 3e #ho d#ells in the he8rt c8)e o+ 8ll ein&sE the Sel+ o+ 8llE the
.nd#eller o+ 8ll
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S8n8t>,<8r8, one o+ the +o,r <ind2orn sons o+ /r8h<8
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desired oBects
*ord S>8nd8 s8id:
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/- the recit8tion o+ these 08<es o+ Aine, #hich 8re e%,i)8lent to A8h82A8ntr8s (:re8t
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63z J >l:82p:8-:W n:<:3 63$ 5A >8lUrnpU-8i n8<8Z
64z J >vek:>8s:Vt:>8e<:n-:W n:<:3 64$ 5A >\tti>Us,t8>U<in-8i n8<8Z
65z J &:t:d:OP:8-:W n:<:3 65$ 5A &8t8doÛ-8i n8<8Z
66z J &:it:&:V0:8-:W n:<:3 66$ 5A &]t8&,aU-8i n8<8Z
67z J &:b8(:rs:Vt:e)-:8-:W n:<:3 67$ 5A &8t&Udh8r8s,t8pri-U-8i n8<8Z
61z J /:df2p:8-:W n:<:3 61$ 5A h8dr8rnpU-8i n8<8Z
69z J /:&:):t-:W n:<:3 69$ 5A h8&8)8t-8i n8<8Z
70z J /:8&-:d8-:W n:<:3 70$ 5A hU&-8dU-8i n8<8Z
71z J /:):h8er0-:W n:<:3 71$ 5A h8)8hUria-8i n8<8Z
7!z J /:):hin:8-:W n:<:3 7!$ 5A h8)8h]nU-8i n8<8Z
73z J /:)-:dOh8-:W n:<:3 73$ 5A h8)-8dehU-8i n8<8Z
74z J /:):8t<:B:<:n::Ohr8-:W n:<:3 74$ 5A h8)Ut<8B8<8noh8rU-8i n8<8Z
75z J s::W<-:8-:W n:<:3 75$ 5A s8,<-U-8i n8<8Z
76z J s:):OXi:r8-:W n:<:3 76$ 5A s8r)e_)8rU-8i n8<8Z
77z J s:t-:8-:W n:<:3 77$ 5A s8t-U-8i n8<8Z
71z J s:8()-:W n:<:3 71$ 5A sUdh)-8i n8<8Z
79z J es:js:<:ec:Xt:8-:W n:<:3 79$ 5A siddh8s8<8rcitU-8i n8<8Z
10z J h8en:hin:8-:W n:<:3 10$ 5A hUnih]nU-8i n8<8Z
11z J hers:Vt:8-:W n:<:3 11$ 5A h8ris,tU-8i n8<8Z
1!z J hrs:on:V<:n:3e)-:8-:W n:<:3 1!$ 5A h8r8snn,<8n8Zpri-U-8i n8<8Z
13z J >l-:80-:W n:<:3 13$ 5A >8l-Ua-8i n8<8Z
14z J ><:l:8-:W n:<:3 14$ 5A >8<8lU-8i n8<8Z
15z J >l-:8-:W n:<:3 15$ 5A >8l-U-8i n8<8Z
16z J >l<:8rs:V<:n::Ohr8-:W n:<:3 16$ 5A >,<Ur8s,<8noh8rU-8i n8<8Z
17z J B:en:hin:8-:W n:<:3 17$ 5A B8nih]nU-8i n8<8Z
11z J B:n<:hnM-:W n:<:3 11$ 5A B8n<8h8ntr-8i n8<8Z
19z J B:n:8dXn:s:Vt:8-:W n:<:3 19$ 5A B8nUrd8n8s,tU-8i n8<8Z
90z J B:-:8-:W n:<:3 90$ 5A B8-U-8i n8<8Z
91z J r<:8-:W n:<:3 91$ 5A r8<U-8i n8<8Z
9!z J r8<:8-:W n:<:3 9!$ 5A rU<U-8i n8<8Z
93z J r<-:2p:8-:W n:<:3 93$ 5A r8<-8rnpU-8i n8<8Z
94z J r8#`-:W n:<:3 94$ 5A rUBb-8i n8<8Z
95z J r8B:r):8dvt:8-:W n:<:3 95$ 5A rUB8r8)Ud\tU-8i n8<8Z
96z J n:iet:#8-:W n:<:3 96$ 5A n]tiBbU-8i n8<8Z
97z J en:<:Xl:8-:W n:<:3 97$ 5A nir<8lU-8i n8<8Z
91z J en:t-:8-:W n:<:3 91$ 5A nit-U-8i n8<8Z
99z J n:il:>06s:Vt:e)-:8-:W n:<:3 99$ 5A n]l8>8ahh8s,t8pri-U-8i n8<8Z
100z J eS:):2p:8-:W n:<:3 100$ 5A _i)8rnpU-8i n8<8Z
101z J S:t:8>8r8-:W n:<:3 101$ 5A _8tU>UrU-8i n8<8Z
10!z J eS:e@:):8hn:):ll:/:8-:W n:<:3 10!$ 5A _i>hi)Uh8n8)8ll8hU-8i n8<8Z
103z J )-:8(:8t<:B:8-:W n:<:3 103$ 5A )-UdhUt<8BU-8i n8<8Z
104z J )-:8e(:hnM-:W n:<:3 104$ 5A )-Udhih8ntr-8i n8<8Z
105z J e):e):(:8&:<:s:Rst:Vt:8-:W n:<:3 105$ 5A )i)idhU&8<8s8Xst,tU-8i n8<8Z
106z J hP:Xd8M-:W n:<:3 106$ 5A h8r^8dUtr-8i n8<8Z
107z J her/:):8-:W n:<:3 107$ 5A h8rih8)U-8i n8<8Z
101z J hrs:on:Ve)-:8-:W n:<:3 101$ 5A h8r8snn,pri-U-8i n8<8Z
Eet: q:i ):ll:i ?g:Ok:rS:t:n:8<:8):el:3 s:Rp:o0:X<:` $
iti _r] )8ll] 8^hott8r8_8t8nU<U)8liZ s8Xpnra8< [
Nam#s o( Lord Shanmukha
I
*ord S>8nd8 or S,r8h<8n-8 is >no#n - )8rio,s n8<es$ E8ch n8<e h8s &ot its o#n
si&ni+ic8nce 8nd points o,t 8 p8rtic,l8r +or< or 8spect o+ the *ord$ 5+ the<, 8 +e# 8re
en,<er8ted here #ith their re8l i<port$
5ord Shanmukha= *ord #ith siD2+8ces$ The stor- tells ,s ho# +ro< the Tri>,ti o+ *ord Si)8
the (i)ine Sp8r>s +l8shed o,t 8nd ho# ?&ni 8nd 48-, c8rried the< 8nd dropped the< into
the :8n&8$ :8n&8 too> the C8-s to S8r8)8n8ppoi&8i$ Th,s #e see the co<in8tion o+ 8ll
the +i)e ele<ents in the ?)8t8r8 o+ *ord Sh8n<,>h8$ The *i&ht, #hich st8nds +or the
(i)ine Spirit 8nd so,rce o+ *i+e to 8ll ein&s enters ?>8s8 (sp8ce) +ro< its 8ode in the
*ord (*ord Si)8=s Tri>,ti)$ 5n re8chin& ?>8s8, it #8s recei)ed - ?&ni (represented in the
7,r8n8s 8s &od o+ Fire) 8nd 48-, (the Wind2&od), #ho c8rr- the Sp8r>s to Aother :8n&8$
:8n&8 here represents the ele<ent o+ #8ter$ T8>in& these Sp8r>s she le8)es the< in the
S8r8)8n8ppoi&8i, #hich st8nds +or the e8rth (Pri"hvi) ele<ent$
Th,s the ?)8t8r8 o+ *ord Sh8n<,>h8 is indic8ti)e o+ the co<in8tion o+ the Fi)e Ele<ents
#ith the Spirit, 8s is the c8se #ith e)er- li)in& ein& on e8rth$ /,t to distin&,ish 8nd &lori+-
the person8lit- 8nd the 8chie)e<ents o+ the *ord, #ho h8d co<e to s8)e the s,++erin& li)es
8nd to p,nish the #ic>ed, e)er-one o+ the ele<ents h8s een represented - one +8ce$ ?nd
the siDth +8ce represents the *i+e2principle or the Spirit$ Th,s h8)e the o<niscience, the
o<nipotence 8nd the o<nipresence o+ the ?l<i&hteen &lorio,sl- personi+ied +or the
e8s- &r8sp o+ the 8)er8&e <ind$
5ord Subrahmanya= The Svarupa o+ *ord Sh8n<,>h8 is I-otir<8-8$ .t is the (i)ine Sp8r>
+ro< the Tri>,ti o+ *ord Si)8 th8t cre8ted the siD2+8ced *ord Sh8n<,>h8$ .t denotes the
*i&ht o+ li&hts th8t ill,<ines the he8rts o+ 8ll$ F,rther, it 8lso <e8ns the *i&ht th8t destro-s
the d8r>ness o+ i&nor8nce o+ the Ii)8s$ The *ord #ho h8d t8>en the ?)8t8r8 to destro- the
)eil o+ A8-8 ehind #hich S,r8p8d<8 #8s s,++erin& 8nd to en8le hi< to h8)e 8 cos<ic
)ision o+ the *ord, h8s een ri&htl- c8lled S,r8h<8n-8$
5ord Skanda= 5ne, #hose presence is s#eet2s<ellin& or +r8&r8nt$ This ter< KS>8nd8= #8s
,sed - 78r)8ti (e)i #hen she too> the ne#orn 8e +ro< the siD lot,s +lo#ers in
S8r8)8n8ppoi&8i$ .n the <8teri8l #orld, e)en the est scent loses its +r8&r8nce 8+ter 8 ti<eE
e)en the <ost +r8&r8nt +lo#er does not l8st lon&$ /,t in the c8se o+ 3is (i)ine For<, the
#ord S>8nd8 is, indeed, )er- 8ptl- ,sed$ For, onl- e)erl8stin& e8,t- 8nd ,ndec8-in&
+r8&r8nce c8n e h8d in th8t ?ode o+ Etern8l /liss 8nd S,pre<e 38ppiness$ To distin&,ish
the <ort8l +ro< the i<<ort8l 8nd to &lori+- the (i)ine +or<, s,ch 8 ter< 8s S>8nd8 h8s
een #ell e<plo-ed$
KS>8nd8= 8lso <e8ns Kthe Boined 5ne=$ When 78r)8ti (e)i too> the siD 8ies +ro< the siD
lot,ses, the- Boined the<sel)es 8nd 8ss,<ed 8 sin&le od- #ith siD +8ces 8nd t#el)e h8nds$
3ence 3e is c8lled 8s S>8nd8$ 3e 8lso c8,ses the Boinin& or ,nion (6o&8) o+ the Ii)8 #ith
3i<sel+$
KS>8nd8= 8lso <e8ns K5ne #ho #8s eBected= or K5ne #ho le8ped o,t= 8nd re+ers to the #8-
o+ 3is e<8n8tion +ro< the third2e-e o+ *ord Si)8$
5ord Saravanabhava= The A8ntr8 o+ *ord Sh8n<,>h8, the siD2+8ced *ord, is the siD2
s-ll8led #ord GS8r8)8n8h8)8$H S8r8)8n8 8ct,8ll- <e8ns 8 shr, th8t &ro#s in plent- in
<8rsh- pl8ces (/aanal)! ?s the *ord h8d 3is ?)8t8r8 in 8 lot,s2pond s,rro,nded on 8ll
sides - this shr,, 3e #8s >no#n - the n8<e o+ S8r8)8n8h8)8, 8nd the #ord
KS8r8)8n8h8)8= h8s eco<e the )er- A8ntr8 o+ the (eit-$ /- the repetition o+ this A8ntr8
<8n c8n 8chie)e the hi&hest &o8l o+ li+e: 7e8ce 8nd 38ppiness$ The siD2lettered #ord h8s its
o#n si&ni+ic8nce$ I,st 8s the siD +8ces represent the +i)e ele<ents o+ <8tter 8nd the Spirit,
e8ch o+ the +irst +i)e s-ll8les st8nds +or one ele<ent, 8nd the siDth +or the Spirit$ Cepetition
o+ this A8ntr8 8lone, #ith concentr8tion o+ <ind 8nd Bhava, c8n esto# on the 8spir8nt
<ent8l pe8ce 8nd h8ppiness, 8nd s,ccess in 8ll his ,ndert8>in&s$ The so,nd2e++ect o+ this
#ord h8s 8 soothin& in+l,ence o)er the tro,led #8ters o+ the <ind2l8>e$ The &lor- 8nd
i<port8nce o+ s,ch 8 A8ntr8 e)ol)ed - the s8&es o+ -ore c8nnot e o)eresti<8ted$
5ord Kar""ik= The siD 8es th8t #ere l-in& on the lot,ses in the S8r8)8n8ppoi&8i #ere
n,rsed - the (e)is o+ the constell8tion, @ritti>8i (the 3rd St8r)$ 3ence the *ord c8<e to e
>no#n - the n8<e o+ @8rtti>e-8 or @8rtti> S#8<i$
4angeya= The son o+ Aother :8n&8$ ?s the (i)ine Sp8r>s #ere c8rried o)er to
S8r8)8n8ppoi&8i - Aother :8n&8, the +or< o+ the *ord th8t c8<e o,t #8s c8lled :8n&e-8$
Kumara evan= ?s the *ord is endo#ed #ith ,ndec8-in& e8,t- 8nd e)erl8stin& -o,th, 3e
is n8<ed the @,<8r (son) o+ *ord Si)8E @,<8r8n, @,<8r8s#8<- or @,<8r8 (e)8n 8re
)8ri8tions$
&elayudha= Whose (i)ine We8pon is the &el or Spe8r$ When *ord S,r8h<8n-8 #8s
8o,t to e<8r> on 3is 8d)ent,res in the So,th +or the con%,est o+ the ?s,r8s, *ord Si)8
o,t o+ 3is s,pre<e 6o&ic po#ers <o,lded 8 spe8r2li>e #e8pon (>no#n 8s &el) +or *ord
S>8nd8 to #ield$ .t is - this &el th8t S,r8p8d<8 8nd his ?s,r8 d-n8st- #ere destro-ed$
This &el represents the In8n8 S8>ti i$e$, S,pre<e @no#led&e th8t te8rs 8s,nder the )eil o+
i&nor8nce$ The e<odi<ent o+ this S,pre<e @no#led&e is in the +or< o+ *ord
S,r8h<8n-8, #ho is @no#led&e ?sol,te$ Th,s *ord S,r8h<8n-8 is ter<ed 8s
4el8-,dh8, one #ho is h8)in& the #e8pon, &el, #ith hi< 8l#8-sE it 8lso <e8ns one #ho
destro-s i&nor8nce (?Bn8n8) 8nd esto#s S,pre<e @no#led&e (In8n8) on 3is de)otees$
Sak"idhara %ur"y= We +ind #ith *ord @8rtti>, person8lities ill,str8tin& the )8rio,s S8>tis$
The &el represents In8n8 S8>ti$ 48lli 8nd (ei)8-8n8i, 3is consorts, represent .cch8 S8>ti
8nd @ri-8 S8>ti, respecti)el-$ 3ence *ord Sh8n<,>h8 is >no#n - the n8<e o+ the *ord o+
S8>tis or the *ord #ho &r8nts S8>tis to 8ll$ 3ence the n8<e S8>tidh8r8 A,rt-$
%urugan= A,r,&8n is 8 T8<il n8<e &i)en to *ord Sh8n<,>h8$ The ter< A,r,&8n
represents 8 /ein& #ith e)erl8stin& e8,t-, etern8l -o,th 8nd :odliness$ The +or< o+ *ord
Sh8n<,>h8 h8s, there+ore, een 8ptl- denoted - the 8ncients 8s A,r,&8n$
4uhan= 5ne #ho d#ells in the *ave o+ the he8rt$ ?s the *ord #ho is 8dored in )8rio,s
+or<s 8nd n8<es, 8s 8o)e, is the .nd#eller o+ the he8rts o+ 8ll 8nd the .nner2controller o+
8ll, 3e h8s een n8<ed 8s :,h8n$ 3e d#ells in the c8)e o+ the he8rt o+ 8ll 8nd especi8ll-
those o+ 3is de)otees to #ho< 3e is <ore e8sil- 8ccessile th8n to others #hose <inds 8re
not t,rned to#8rds 3i<$ :,h8 <e8ns 8 c8)e$ The he8rt is co<p8red to 8 c8)e$ The *i&ht o+
li&hts th8t ill,<ines the c8)e o+ 8ll he8rts is *ord Sh8n<,>h8 or :,h8$
Swamina"han= Sh8n<,>h8 p,t *ord /r8h<8 in prison on the &ro,nd th8t /r8h<8, tho,&h
the cre8tor, #8s hi<sel+ i&nor8nt o+ the +,ll si&ni+ic8nce o+ the 7r8n8)8$ To rele8se hi<,
*ord Si)8 #ent o)er to *ord Sh8n<,>h8$ ?+ter co<pl-in& #ith the orders o+ 3is +8ther,
Sh8n<,>h8 re)e8led to *ord Si)8 the secret o+ the 7r8n8)8$ Si)8 he8rd this secret disco,rse
on 7r8n8)8 in the 8ttit,de o+ 8 disciple recei)in& ;p8des8 +ro< his :,r,$ 3ence the *ord
#8s n8<ed 8s S#8<in8th8n or :,r,s#88nd8, the ill,<in8tor o+ o,r .ntellectsJ :lor- to *ord S#8<in8th8n, the
.nner2controller o+ 8llJ A8- 3is lessin&s e ,pon 8llJ
II
,uru-an 5ne #ho is possessed o+ etern8l -o,th
/umara 6o,th
+uha .nd#eller o+ the he8rt
+uruparan 3e #ho initi8ted his +8ther
Skanda The .nte&r8ted For<
Saravana$hava 5ne #ho #8s orn 8<on& 8 ,sh or reeds
Arumu-an SiD2+8ced
Su$rahman.a The S,pre<e E++,l&ence
V#%a.udha The #ielder o+ the Spe8r
Shanmukha SiD2+8ced
Dandapani 3older o+ the Sceptre
S#vv#% The p8r8&on 8<on& (e)8s
,a.i% Vahanan The 7e8coc>2Cider
/ar""ik#.a 3e #ho #8s ro,&ht ,p - @ritti>8 )est8l 4ir&ins
/adam$an The #e8rer o+ the @8d8<8 +lo#er &8rl8nd
/urin*hi /iFhavan The *ord o+ the 3ills$
Lord Su$rahman.a&s Si> H#ads
The siD he8ds o+ *ord S,r8h<8n-8
Cepresent the siD Ch8>r8s$
The- 8lso represent
The +i)e senses 8nd the <ind$
The- represent the siD 8ttri,tes o+ /h8&8#8n9
In8n8, 48ir8&-8 8nd ?ish#8r-8,
(h8r<8, @irti 8nd Sri$
App#ndi>5II
/ir"ans o( Lord Shanmukha
1$ S8r8)8n8h8)8 S8r8)8n8h8)8 S8r8)8n8h8)8 78hi A88<E
S,r8h<8n-8 S,r8h<8n-8 S,r8h<8n-8 C8>sh8 A88<$
!$ 4el2A,r,&8 4el2A,r,&8 4el2A,r,&8 78hi A88<E
4el8-,dh8 4el8-,dh8 4el8-,dh8 C8>sh8 A88<$
3$ :,h8 A,r,&8 Sh8n<,>h8, ;dipi S,r8h<8n-8
Tir,chend,r 4el8, @8thir>88<8n8th8
(ei)8-8nee2S8<et8, 78l8ni<8l8i ?8nd8)8
5< S8r8)8n8h8)8 :,h8 A,r,&es8$
(Thars= %ahaman"ra)
4$ :,h8 A,r,&8, :,h8 A,r,&8, A,r,&8 A,r,&8, :,h8 :,h8E
48lli (ei)8-8ni, 48lli (ei)8-8ni, (ei)8-8ni (ei)8-8ni, 48lli 48lli$
5$ 4el A,r,&8 4el A,r,&8, A,r,&8 A,r,&8 4el 4el,
@8nd8 4el, @8nd8 4el, @8nd8 @8nd8, 4el 4el$
6$ (Thars= 4opala $aya $aya, 4ovinda $aya $aya)
Sh8n<,>h8 I8-8 I8-8, S,r8h<8n-8 I8-8 I8-8,
48lli (ei)8-8nee27ri-8 S,r8h<8n-8 I8-8 I8-8$
7$ (Thars= Sankara Siva)
Sh8n<,>h8 /8l8 Sh8n<,>h8 /8l8 Sh8n<,>h8 /8l8 Sh8n<,>h8E
S,r8h<8n-8 Si)8, S,r8h<8n-8 Si)8 S,r8h<8n-8 Si)8 S,r8h<8n-8E
/h8>t8)8ts8l8 /h8>t8)8ts8l8 /h8>t8)8ts8l8 /h8>t8)8ts8l8E
78tit8p8)8n8 78tit8p8)8n8 78tit8p8)8n8 78tit8p8)8n8$
1$ (Thars= #ama >are Shiya #ama #ama)
4el A,r,&8 I8-8 4el A,r,&8,
4el A,r,&8 I8-8 4el A,r,&8,
4el A,r,&8 I8-8 4el8-,dh8,
4el A,r,&8 I8-8 4el8-,dh8$
:,h8 A,r,&8 I8-8 S,r8h<8n-8
:,h8 A,r,&8 I8-8 S,r8h<8n-8
:,h8 A,r,&8 I8-8 S8r8)8n8h8)8
:,h8 A,r,&8 I8-8 S8r8)8n8h8)8$
9$ (Tamil Tune)
?n8nd8< ?n8nd8< ?n8nd8< ?n8nd8<
?n8nd8< ?n8nd8< ?n8nd8< ?n8nd8<
?n8nd8< A,r,&8n8i ?n,d8n /h8Bith8l
?n8nd8< ?n8nd8< ?n8nd8< ?n8nd8<$
10$ (Thars= $aya #adhe, $aya #adhe)
I8-8 48lli, I8-8 48lli 48lli, I8-8 48lli I8-8 Sri 48lli
I8-8 (ei)8-8n8i I8-8 (ei)8-8n8i I8-8 (ei)8-8n8i I8-8 Sri (ei)8-8n8i$
I8-8 A,r,&8, I8-8 A,r,&8 A,r,&8, I8-8 A,r,&8 I8-8 4el8-,dh8$
I8-8 A,r,&8, I8-8 A,r,&8 A,r,&8, I8-8 A,r,&8 I8-8 Sh8n<,>h8$
11$ (Thars= Bol Shankar)
/ol Sh8n<,>h8, /ol Sh8n<,>h8, Sh8n<,>h8 Sh8n<,>h8 /ol$
Si)8 Si)8 Si)8 Si)8 S,r8h<8n-8 S8r8)8n8h8)8 /ol$
/ol Sh8n<,>h8, /ol Sh8n<,>h8, Sh8n<,>h8 Sh8n<,>h8 /ol$
Si)8 Si)8 Si)8 Si)8 S,r8h<8n-8 /h8>t8)8ts8l8 /ol$
1!$ 5< :,h8 5< :,h8 5< :,h8 5<E
5< :,h8 5< :,h8 5< :,h8 5<$
13$ Sh8n<,>h8 A,r,&8 S,r8h<8n-8, S8tchid8n8nd8 S,r8h<8n-8$
Sh8n<,>h8 S>8nd8 S,r8h<8n-8, S8tchid8n8nd8 S,r8h<8n-8$
14$ S>8nd8< 48nde 08<ost,te,
I8-8 Sh8n<,>h8 08th8 08<ost,teE
A,r,&8 :,h8ne 08<ost,te,
I8-8 48lli248ll8h8 08<ost,teE
@8rtti>e-8 08<ost,te,
I8-8 @8thir>8<8 48s8 08<ost,teE
(8nd8-,dh8p8ni 08<ost,te,
I8-8 Thir,p8r8n>,ndr8 08<ost,teE
(ei-8-8n8i2S8<et8 08<ost,te,
I8-8 ?n88th82C8>sh8>8 08<ost,teE
(een88ndh, 08<ost,te,
I8-8 (een8208th8 08<ost,teE
(e)8 (e)8 08<ost,te,
I8-8 (e)8208th8 08<ost,teE
/h8>t8)8ts8l8 08<ost,te,
I8-8 78tit8p8)8n8 08<ost,te$
Son- o( ,uru-a
(Kavadi*hindu= &allimalai!!)
48lli2(ei)8-8n8i2S8<et8 9 S,r8h<8n-8
7ri-8 Sh8n<,&8n8th8 9 @8rtti>e-8
S8r8)8n8h8)8 :,h8 A,r,&8 S>8nd8 4el8-,dh8 48di 4el8 9 78l8ni ?nd8)8$
3e #ho d#ells 8s (8nd8p8ni 9 in the 78l8ni 3ills
(3e #ho destro-ed the ?s,r82S,r8p8d<8)
To hi< . &i)e <- s8l,t8tions 8nd prostr8tions$
Co<e, Co<e, 5 *ordE &i)e <e (8rsh8n, &,ide <e, s8)e <e, enli&hten <e$
78hi A8< 9 A,r,&8 9 C8>sh8 A8<
(48lli$$$)
Son- o( Tirupu-aF
C8< C8< C8< C8< C8< C8< C8< C8< C8< C8< C8<
9C8< C8< C8< C8< C8<
9C8< C8< C8< C8<
@ich, @ich, ?<8l8< 9 @i-8 @i-8 ?<8l8<
9 A8ch, (A8ch,) ?<8l8<
9 A8-8 (A8-8) ?<8l8<$
Wh- do -o, clin& to the <iser8le li+e,
?tt8in the #e8lth o+ 48ir8&-8
9 Cest pe8ce+,ll- 9
.n -o,r o#n ?t<8n$
This #orld is ill,sor-, li+e is li>e 8 ,le
9 C,lti)8te 48ir8&-8
9 Cest in -o,r o#n Sel+,
The <ind is the c8,se +or -o,r ond8&e 8nd lier8tion
9 *e8rn to discri<in8te$
Ce8lise -o,r Sel+$
0e&8te the od- 8nd <ind, Aedit8te on Aham Brahma Asmi
9 Feel . 8< /r8h<8n
Tho, 8rt S8>shi$
(C8< C8< C8<$$$$)
Son- o( Hara Haro Hara
38r8 38ro 38r8, 38r8 38ro 38r8, 38r8 38ro 38r8
38r8 38ro 38r8, 38r8 38ro 38r8, 38r8 38ro 38r8
An"arai
@8thir>8<8 A,r,&8n,>>, 38r8 38ro 38r8
78l8ni<8l8i 4el8n,>>, 38r8 38ro 38r8
Tir,tt8ni 48s8n,>>, 38r8 38ro 38r8
Tir,pp,r8< @,ndr8n,>>, 38r8 38ro 38r8
48lli A8n8l8n,>>, 38r8 38ro 38r8
(ei)8-8n8i S8<eth8n,>>, 38r8 38ro 38r8
Tir,chend,r 48di)el8n,>>, 38r8 38ro 38r8
S#8<i<8l8i 08th8n,>>, 38r8 38ro 38r8$
Son- o( Su$rahman.a
(>idus"ani Bhairavi= #ama Bhaja 4haria)
A- prostr8tions ,nto Thee S,r8h<8n-8,
(A- prostr8tions ,nto Thee$$$$)
5 Son o+ *ord Si)8, /elo)ed o+ (ei)8-8n8i
(estro-er o+ S,r8, *ord o+ 78l8ni 3ills
5 *i&ht o+ li&hts, 5 /liss
5 <- *i+e, 5 <- Ce+,&e
5 .nd#eller o+ o,r he8rts 9 S,r8h<8n-8
5 S#eet 3one-, 5 0ect8r
5 <- Io-, 5 <- Sol8ce,
The Sel+ o+ 8ll ein&s S,r8h<8n-8
. t8>e shelter in Thee, protect <e, s8)e <e,
The so,l o+ this ,ni)erse, S,r8h<8n-8,
A- prostr8tions ,nto Thee 9 S,r8h<8n-8$
Lord ,uru-a
(/inda S"u"i1)
1$ 3e-J A,r,&8, Tho, 8rt &ro#n to e the <ost cr,el 8nd hot2he8ded <onsterL
Tho, didst not s,c> the <il> o+ one sin&le <other
/,t &re# ,p on the <il> o+ siD <othersJJ
?nd th,s de)eloped 8rro&8nt e8rs, de8+ to pr8-ers
5+ /h8>t8s li>e <e poor in stren&th, #e8lth 8nd Bo-,
With petitions <8ni+old 8nd di)erse, e)er 8nd 8nonJ
?l#8-s . ret,rn despondent, <orti+ic8tion #rit l8r&e,
?ll d,e to th- de8d he8rt 8nd p,++ed2,p2pride$
!$ 3o# c8n . eDpect noilit- 8nd so+tness in TheeL
Tho, 8rt orn in 8 +8<il- o+ direst destit,tionJ
Th- F8ther li)es in ,rnin& &h8tsJJ
Th- Aother is the #orst B,&&ler in he8)ens 8nd e8rthJJ
Th- ;ncle is the #orst thie+ 8nd 8 )8&8ondJJ
Th- /rother is 8 s#ell2he8ded 8nd pot2ellied &l,ttonJJ
3o# c8n . eDpect <erc-, >indness 8nd protection +ro< TheeL
3$ 7eople lindl- elie)e in Thee, the crest 8nd Be#el o+ 8ll the #orlds,
/oth here 8nd here8+terE ho# c8n . elie)e the<L
When <- eDperience elies the tr,th o+ their pr8ises$
Tho, 8rt procl8i<ed 8s the destro-er o+ ?s,r8s o+ 6ore,
/,t . +ind Thee #ithholdin& protection +or <e in sorro#s
5r silent, no enco,r8&e<ent, no hopes o+ +,t,re helpJJ
Te8ch <e the l8n&,8&e ,sed in -o,r pr8ise
?nd +ind o,t the <e8nin& o+ the hol- #ord,
Which Tho, Th-sel+ i<p8rted to Th- +8ther Si)8$$$$
.+ -o, c8re$$$ 5< S8r8)8n8h8)8-8 08<8h:
Su$rahman.a Dhwani
5< S8r8)8n8h8)8ne 38roh8r8
5< Si)8s,r8h<8n-8 38roh8r8
5< S>8nd8< 48nde 38roh8r8
5< Sh8n<,>h8n8th8 38roh8r8$ 38roh8r8$$$$
5< 4el<,r,&8 38roh8r8
5< 4el8-,dh8 38roh8r8
5< 48lli)8ll8h8 38roh8r8
5< A,r,&8&,h8ne 38roh8r8$ 38roh8r8$$$$
5< @8rtti>e-8 38roh8r8
5< @8thir>88<8)8s8 38roh8r8
5< @,<8res8 38roh8r8
5< ;dippin8th8 38roh8r8$ 38roh8r8$$$$
5< (8nd8-,th8p8ni 38roh8r8
5< Thir,pp8r8n>,ndr8 38roh8r8
5< Thir,)8nn88<8l8i 38roh8r8
5< 78l8ni ?nd8)8 38roh8r8
5< ?8din8th8 38roh8r8
5< ?8di<ool8 38roh8r8
5< ?8dide)8 38roh8r8
5< ?8r,<,>h8 38roh8r8
5< (ei)8-8n8is8<et8 38roh8r8
5< ?dh8<8 ;dh8r8 38roh8r8$ 38roh8r8$$$$
5< (een88ndh, 38roh8r8
5< (een8n8th8 38roh8r8
5< /h8>t8)8ts8l8 38roh8r8
5< 78tit8p8)8n8 38roh8r8
5< 7re<8pr8>8s8>8 38roh8r8$ 38roh8r8$$$$
Co<e Co<e, 5J *ord 38roh8r8
:i)e <e (8rsh8n 38roh8r8
:,ide <e, &,ide <e 38roh8r8
S8)e <e, s8)e <e 38roh8r8
Enli&hten <e 38roh8r8
38)e <erc- 38roh8r8
:i)e <e li&ht 38roh8r8
A8>e <e p,re 38roh8r8
7r8chod8-8t 38roh8r8
78hi <88< Tr8hi <88< 38roh8r8
Tr8hi A88< C8>sh8 A88< 38roh8r8$ 38roh8r8$$$$
App#ndi>5III
/aavadi5Th# S.m$o% o( Tapas.a And Coura-#
*ord Sh8n<,>h8 is the Pra"yaksha eva"a o+ this @8li 6,&8$ 3e is re8dil- ple8sed #ith
3is de)otees to #ho< 3e &r8nts oth /h,>ti 8nd A,>ti (enBo-<ents here 8nd Ao>sh8
here8+ter)$ Aillions 8re still li)in& #ho c8n n8rr8te inst8nces in their o#n li)es to sho# the
<ir8cles ro,&ht 8o,t - propiti8tion o+ *ord Sh8n<,>h8$
7erh8ps the <ost potent propiti8tor- rite th8t 8 de)otee o+ Sh8n<,>h8 ,ndert8>es to
per+or< is #h8t is >no#n 8s the Kaavadi$ The ene+its th8t the de)otee &8ins +ro< o++erin&
8 @88)8di to the *ord 8re 8 <illion+old &re8ter th8n the little it o+ p8in th8t the de)otee
in+licts ,pon hi<sel+$
:ener8ll- people t8>e 8 )o# to o++er 8 @88)8di to the *ord +or the p,rpose o+ tidin& o)er or
8)ertin& 8 &re8t c8l8<it-$ For inst8nce, i+ the de)otee=s onl- son is l8id ,p #ith 8 +8t8l
dise8se, he #o,ld pr8- to Sh8n<,>h8 to &r8nt the o- 8 le8se o+ li+e in ret,rn +or #hich the
de)otee #o,ld t8>e 8 )o# to dedic8te 8 @88)8di to 3i<$
Tho,&h this <i&ht, on the +8ce o+ it, 8ppe8r <8teri8listic, 8 <o<ent=s re+lection #ill re)e8l
th8t it cont8ins in it the seed +or the S,pre<e :od2*o)e$ The #orldl- oBect is 8chie)edE
8nd the de)otee o++ers the @88)8di$ ?+ter the cere<on-, he &ets so <,ch intoDic8ted #ith
the lo)e o+ :od th8t his spirit,8l, inner ch8<er is opened no#$ This, too, ,lti<8tel- le8ds
to 78r8 /h8>ti$
Kaavadi= Fro< the si<ple sh8pe o+ 8 #ei&hin& 8l8nce, or the street h8#>er=s storeho,se9
8 he8)- #ooden stic> to rest on the sho,lder, to the t#o ends o+ #hich 8re tied t#o 8s>ets
enclosed in cloth9the @88)8di )8ries in its sh8pe 8nd t-pe to the costl- p8l8n%,in
s,perstr,ct,re, pro+,sel- +lo#er2edec>ed 8nd inter#o)en #ith pe8coc> +e8thers (8 +e8ther
th8t is o+ )er- &re8t si&ni+ic8nce in Sh8n<,>h8 #orship)$ .n 8ll c8ses the @88)8di h8s 8
&ood <8n- r8ss ells 8dornin& it 8nd 8nno,ncin& it 8s the @88)8di2e8rer <o)es 8lon&$
?s, )er- o+ten, the @88)8di2e8rer oser)es Ao,n8 or the )o# o+ silence, the ell 8lone is
elo%,ent o+ the @88)8di2procession$
0o#, the t#o pots h8n&in& 8t either end o+ the @88)8di <i&ht cont8in rice, <il> or other
8rticles #hich the de)otee h8s )o#ed to o++er to *ord Sh8n<,>h8$ The <ore de)o,t 8<on&
the @88)8di2e8rers 8nd especi8ll- those #ho o++er the @88)8di to the *ord 8s 8 <e8s,re o+
propiti8tin& the *ord +or spirit,8l de)elop<ent, 8s 8 p8rt o+ their S8dh8n8, collect these
8rticles - e&&in&$ 5n +oot the- tr8)el +ro< )ill8&e to )ill8&e, 8nd e& +ro< ho,se to
ho,se$ The people o++er the 8rticles direct into the pots o+ the @88)8di$ The @88)8di2e8rer
contin,es this #8- till the pots 8re +,ll or ,ntil the 8)o#ed %,8ntit- is re8ched 8nd then
o++ers the @88)8di to the *ord$ So<eti<es the de)otee t8>es the )o# th8t he #o,ld #8l>
8re+ooted +ro< his ho<e to one o+ the shrines o+ *ord Sh8n<,>h8, e8rin& the @88)8di
8nd collectin& the <8teri8ls +or the o++erin&$ 3e h8s so<eti<es to #8l> ne8rl- one h,ndred
<ilesJ Those #ho o++er <il>, rice or 8n- 8rticle into this @88)8di 8lso recei)e the *ord=s
lessin&s$
Kaavadi0bearer= The @88)8di2e8rer h8s to oser)e )8rio,s /iyamas (r,les) et#een the
ti<e he t8>es ,p the @88)8di 8nd the d8- o+ o++erin&$ 3e h8s to per+or< el8or8te
cere<onies 8t the ti<e o+ 8ss,<in& the @88)8di 8nd 8t the ti<e o+ o++erin& it to the *ord$
3e 8lso p,ts on the dress o+ 8 Pandaaram9or S8i)ite <endic8nt$ .t consists o+ 8 s8++ron2
colo,red cloth, 8 sc8rlet conic8l c8p 8nd 8 c8ne sil)er c8pped on oth ends$ *ord Si)8
3i<sel+ is 8 S,pre<e 78nd88r8<$ 3e 3i<sel+ lo)es to #8nder in this dress$ There+ore the
dress is hol- +or the S8i)ite$ The 78nd88r8< h8s to li)e on /hi>sh8 (8l<s) onl-$ The
@88)8di2e8rer=s 8re chest is co)ered o)er #ith se)er8l C,dr8>sh82<8l8s$
The @88)8di2e8rer oser)es celi8c-$ 3e t8>es S8tt)ic +oodE 8nd 8st8ins +ro< 8ll sorts o+
intoDic8tin& drin>s 8nd dr,&s$ 3e contin,o,sl- d#ells in the tho,&ht o+ the *ord$
A8n- o+ the @88)8di2e8rers, especi8ll- those #ho do it 8s S8dh8n8, i<pose )8rio,s sorts
o+ sel+2tort,re ,pon the<sel)es$ The- p8ss 8 sh8rp, little K4el= (Sh8n<,>h8=s Spe8r)
thro,&h their ton&,e #hich is <8de to protr,de o,t o+ the <o,th$ 5r, the- p8ss 8 K4el=
thro,&h the chee>s$ This sort o+ piercin& is done on other p8rts o+ the od- 8lso$ This is
indeed 8 &re8t 4r8t8, e%,8l in <erit to Ch8ndr8-8n8 8nd @richhr8 4r8t8s$
The @88)8di2e8rer does not sh8)e hi<sel+E he &ro#s e8rd$ 3e e8ts onl- once 8 d8-$
The K4el= pierced thro,&h his ton&,e or chee>s re<inds hi< const8ntl- o+ *ord
Sh8n<,>h8E it pre)ents hi< +ro< spe8>in&$ .t &i)es hi< &re8t po#er o+ end,r8nce$
.n 8ll c8ses, the @88)8di procession ter<in8tes in 8n el8or8te, colo,r+,l 8nd inspirin&
cere<on-$ The priests ch8nt )8rio,s h-<ns in pr8ise o+ *ord Sh8n<,>h8$ .ncense is ,rnt$
(r,<s 8re e8ten$ A,sic8l instr,<ents 8re pl8-ed$ The de)otee hi<sel+ is in 8 hi&h st8te o+
reli&io,s +er)o,r$ 3e d8nces in ecst8s-$ 3is )er- 8ppe8r8nce is 8#e2inspirin&E there is
ivya Tejas on his +8ce$ (e)otees o+ten eDperience Bhava Samadhi? or the- &et
Shanmukha0Avesha #hen the (eit- enters their od- 8nd possesses hi< +or so<e ti<e$
Agni Kaavadi= This is the <ost di++ic,lt @88)8di2o++erin&$ With the @88)8di h8n&in& on his
sho,lders the de)otee #8l>s thro,&h 8 pit o+ co8ls o+ +ire$ 3-<ns 8re s,n& in pr8ise o+ the
*ord 8ll 8ro,nd the pit$ (r,<s 8re e8ten$ .ncense is ,rnt$ The entire 8t<osphere is 8#e2
inspirin&$ The re8l de)otee &ets into 8 st8te o+ ecst8s- 8nd e8sil- #8l>s o)er the +ire$
The 4lory o7 Kaavadi= ?s 8 S8dh8n8, @88)8di is 8 e8,ti+,l s-nthesis o+ /h8>ti238th82C8B8
6o&8s$ The de)otee, especi8ll- i+ he is not 8lre8d- 8 /hi>sh, or <on>, is <8de to e& +ro<
door to door o+ten in >no#n 8nd 8lso in ,n>no#n )ill8&es$ Sincere /h8>t8s re8dil- o++er the
/hi>sh8E there 8re those #ho #o,ld dri)e hi< 8#8- 8lso$ The de)otee th,s &ets the ch8nces
o+ cr,shin& 8nd po#derin& his e&o 8nd de)elopin& <ent8l po#er o+ end,r8nce$ For 3is
s8>e he is prep8red to ,nder&o 8n- pri)8tion 8nd h,<ili8tion$ The #8nderin& 78ri)r8B8>8
li+e &i)es hi< 8n in>lin& o+ the <8&nit,de o+ h,<8n s,++erin& 8nd steels his he8rt to resist
the 8ll,re<ents o+ the +lesh$ 7,re S8tt)ic diet 8dds to the S8tt)ic content o+ his <ind$
Celi8c- stren&thens his #ill 8nd cl8ri+ies his ,nderst8ndin&$ The not2)er-2&ood
8ppe8r8nce in #hich he ro8<s 8o,t con)inces hi< th8t 8ppe8r8nces 8re decepti)e 8nd
>indles 4i)e>8 in hi<$ The 8spir8nt le8rns the &lor- o+ A8,n8 8lso$ ?o)e 8ll, const8nt
re<e<r8nce o+ the *ord intensi+ies his de)otion to 3i< e)er- <in,te$
Those #ho o++er the @88)8di to the *ord +or spirit,8l pro&ress soon 8tt8in 3i<$ Those #ho
do so +or the p,rpose o+ 8chie)in& so<e e8rthl- thin&s soon 8c%,ire Sh8n<,>h82/h8>ti
#hich in ti<e +lo#ers into A8h8 /h8)8 le8din& to S8-,B-8 #ith *ord Sh8n<,>h8$
*ord Sh8n<,>h8, the Co<<8nder2in2Chie+ o+ the (e)8s, the ?l<i&ht- Son o+ *ord Si)8,
is e8sil- propiti8ted thro,&h this @88)8di2o++erin& #hich c8lls +or end,r8nce, co,r8&e 8nd
one2pointed de)otion to 3i<$ 3e #ho &oes thro,&h the 8,sterit- o+ @88)8di2o++erin& is
s,rel- 8 (heer8 or hero$ S,ch (heer8s 8re the elo)ed o+ *ord Sh8n<,>h8 Who sho#ers
3is choicest lessin&s on the<, esto#s on the< the inner e-e o+ int,ition 8nd dr8#s the<
,nto 3i<sel+$
:lor- to @88)8di #hich is the s-<ol o+ Sh8n<,>h8 /h8>tiJ :lor- to the @88)8di2e8rersJ
:lor- to *ord Sh8n<,>h8J
App#ndi>5IV
!i$%io-raph.
Skanda Purana= 5+ the 11 7,r8n8s, the S>8nd8 7,r8n8 de8ls #ith the ?)8t8r8 8nd *il8s o+
*ord S>8nd8 (the second son o+ *ord Si)8) 8nd 3is )ictor- o)er the ?s,r8 >in&,
S,r8p8d<8$ .t 8lso n8rr8tes the stor- o+ 3is <8rri8&e #ith 48lli 8nd (ei)8-8n8i$ .t eDtols
the &lor- o+ *ord S>8nd8 8nd 3is &re8tness 8nd rin&s o,t the )8rio,s 8ttri,tes 8nd
+,nctions o+ the *ord$ E)er- episode n8rr8ted in the 7,r8n8 h8s &ot 8n esoteric si&ni+ic8nce$
(e)otees 8nd /h8>t8s o+ *ord S,r8h<8n-8 h8)e this teDt +or their const8nt S)8dh-8-8$
Script,res rel8tin& to *ord S>8nd8 c8n e h8d in 8,nd8nce in T8<il liter8t,re$ .n +8ct,
*ord S,r8h<8n-8 is #orshipped not onl- 8s the *ord o+ 08t,re ,t 8lso 8s the *ord #ho
&8)e the T8<il l8n&,8&e to ?&8st-8 Cishi$ ?<on&st the oldest eDt8nt T8<il #or>s in
Thirumuruga"ruppadai (&,id8nce +or 8n 8spir8nt to the #orship 8nd 8tt8in<ent o+ *ord
S>8nd8)$ The 8,thor o+ this oo> is 08>eer8r, 8 +8<o,s poet o+ the olden d8-s$ 5ne #ho
st,dies this oo> d8il- 8nd does 7,B8 o+ the *ord, &ets p,r&ed o+ 8ll sins 8nd 8tt8ins
e)er-thin&, oth in this #orld 8nd in the neDt$
S8int ?r,n8&irin8th8r h8s &i)en ,s siDteen tho,s8nd son&s in pr8ise o+ *ord Sh8n<,>h8,
tho,&h onl- 8o,t 1,300 8re no# 8)8il8le$ These son&s 8re >no#n 8s Thiruppuga-h
(7r8ise o+ the *ord)$ E)er- son& is ele)8tin& 8nd so,l2stirrin&$ The s8<e s8int h8s &i)en to
the #orld other oo>s n8<el-, Kandar Anubhu"i (EDperience o+ :od, 8nd ho# to 8tt8in it)
8nd Kandar Alankaram! The +or<er h8s so <,ch e++ic8c- th8t its const8nt repetition #ith
+8ith 8nd lo)e esto#s e)er- lessin& th8t one c8n 8s> +or$
.n 8 l8ter period, 8nother S8int, @,<8r8&,r,p8r8 S#8<i&8l, co<posed 8 lon& poe< in
pr8ise o+ *ord Sh8n<,>h8$ This is >no#n 8s Kandar Kali &enba$ There 8re 8lso other
poe<s >no#n 8s 7ill8- T8<il$
4erses o+ this t-pe de8l #ith the 8spect o+ S>8nd8 +ro< 3is in+8nc- ,pto 3is <8rri8&e #ith
48lli 8nd (ei)8-8n8i$ Kandar Kava*ham, Kandar Shas"hi Kava*ham, &el Pa"hikam 8nd
Kilikanni son&s (- A8ri8pp8 S#8<i&8l) o+ <odern d8-s eDtol the ?)8t8r8 8nd *il8s o+
*ord S>8nd8$ The- 8re 8ll )8l,8le oo>s +or Sh8n<,>h8 /h8>t8s +or their const8nt st,d-
8nd inspir8tion$
A8- -o, 8ll ot8in 3is :r8ce thro,&h const8nt st,d- o+ the oo>s on *ord S,r8h<8n-8J
A8- 3is lessin&s e ,pon -o, 8llJ

Lord Shanmukha and His Worship

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