மௌனத்தின் மகத்துவம் (Power of silence)

சும்மா இருசொல் லறவென் றலுமே
அம்மா பொரு ளொன்று மறிந்திலனே. 

மௌனமாக இருப்பது நல்லது மட்டுமில்லை, அது புனிதமானதும் கூட என்பதை உணர்த்தும் மேலே உள்ள வரிகள் அருணகிரிநாதரின் கந்தர் அனுபூதியில் வருகிறது.  சும்மா இரு என்று முன்பு சொன்ன வார்த்தைகளின் அர்த்தம் புரியாமல் தவித்தேன் என்கிறார் அவர். அர்த்தம் புரிந்த பிறகு அதனுடைய மகத்துவம் அபாரமானது என்பதை சொல்லாமல் சொல்கிறார்

“All great things born on Silence”

காஞ்சி பெரியவா என்று அன்புடன் அழைக்கப்படும் ஸ்ரீ சந்த்ர சேகரேந்த்ர ஸரஸ்வதி ஸ்வாமிகள் பல பக்தர்களின் குறைகளை, தீர்க்க முடியாத பிரச்னைகளை, தன் மௌனத்தினால் விளக்கியுள்ளார் என்றால் மௌனத்தின் வீர்யம் புரிகிறது.

தக்ஷிணாமூர்த்தி ஸ்வரூபம் நாம் எல்லோருக்கும் தெரிந்த விஷயம் தான். அவரைப்பற்றி ஓரு அருமையான ஸ்லோகம்

चित्रं वट तरोर्मूले वृद्धशिष्याः गुरुर्युवा गुरोस्तु

मौनं व्याख्यानं शिष्यास्तु छिन्नसंशयाः

குருவாய் தக்ஷிணாமூர்த்தி ஆலமரத்தின் கீழே அமர்ந்திருக்க அவரைச் சுற்றி பல முனிவர்கள் அமர்ந்திருக்கிறார்கள்.  தன்னுடைய சின்முத்திரையின் மூலமாக முனிவர்களின் சந்தேகங்களை மௌனமாக, தன்னுடைய மௌனத்தின் மூலமாக தீர்த்து வைக்கிறார்.

Yes, in silence we speak the most eloquent words.

மௌனத்தின் மூலம் நாம் பல அரிய சக்திகளை அடைய முடியும் என்பது திண்ணம்.

சிவபெருமான் ஒரு பக்கம் அகோர வீரபத்திரராக, தக்ஷன் யாகத்தை த்வம்சம் பண்ணும் அதே வேளையில் தக்ஷிணாமூர்த்தியாக ஒரு ஆலமரத்தின் கீழே உட்கார்ந்து கொண்டு மௌனமாக அருள் பாளித்துக்கொண்டு இருக்கிறார்.  மௌனம்தான் முதல். மௌனம்தான் முடிவு.

யோகா மற்றும் மனப்பயிற்ச்சி இவையெல்லாம் அமைதியை ஆழ் மனதில் கொண்டு வருவதற்குத்தான்.

ஐயப்பன் சின்முத்திரை காட்டிக்கொண்டு இருக்கும் படத்தைத்தான் நாம் சபரிமலையில் பார்க்கிறோம்.  கானகத்தில் இருந்துகொண்டு எல்லோருக்கும் அருள் பாலிக்கும் தர்ம சாஸ்தா, மௌனமாக இருந்து கொண்டு நமக்கு வாழ்க்கையின் தத்துவத்தை எடுத்து சொல்கிறார்.

நம் வாழ்க்கையில் பல தடவை நாம் மனைவியிடம் சண்டை போட வேண்டிய நேரம் வரும்போது நாம் மௌனமாக இருப்பதின் மூலம் ஒரு பெரிய பிரளயத்தை தவிர்க்கலாம்.

ரமண மகரிஷியின் ஆருமையான விளக்கம் மௌனத்தைப் பற்றிய ஒரு பிரமிப்பை நமக்கு தருகிறது.  அவர் சொல்கிறார்= மௌனத்தில் உண்மை புதைந்து இருக்கிறது.  இதை நாம் உணர உணர ஒரு கட்டத்தில் மௌனம் தான் உண்மை என்று புரியும்.

உடம்பின் உள்ளே மௌனமாக இருப்பது என்பது நம் உடம்பு, எண்ணங்கள் மேலும் உணர்ச்சிகள்- இவைகளின் ஒன்றிணைப்பு. (Harmony).

கண்ணதாசன் கூட தன் பாடலில் “மௌனமே பார்வையால் ஒரு பாட்டு பாட வேண்டும்” என்று காதல் ரசம் ததும்பும் ஒரு வரியை சொல்கிறார்.

There is one form of art which is superior to all other forms—the art of remaining quiet and silent....All arts serve a limited purpose and provide only momentary joy. But the art of silence and the resultant peace ensures happiness....That all should cultivate. –Shankara of Kanchi, 1958.

ரமணர் மௌனம் அடைவதற்கு பல மார்கங்கள் இருக்கிறது என்கிறார். நல்ல சங்கீதம் கேட்பதன் மூலம் நாம் நம்மை மறந்து இருப்போம்.  (எனக்கு அப்படி ஒரு அனுபவம் பல தடவை ஏற்பட்டிருக்கிறது.  மதுரை மணி அய்யர் அவர்களின் கச்சேரி ரெகார்டிங் கேட்கும்போது, பாலச்சந்தரின் வீணை கேட்கும்போது, “என் தாய் வாழ் எனும் மந்திர நாதமே” என்று சஞ்சய் சுப்ரமணியம் பாடும் போது...)

உபவாசம் இருக்கும்போது நாம் மௌனத்தின் சிறப்பை உணரலாம்.  பட்டினி கிடக்கும்போது பல அவயவங்கள் வேலை செய்யாது. நம் உடம்பு ஒரு தொழிற்சாலை என்று வைத்துக்கொண்டால், அவையவங்கள் வேலை செய்யாது இருக்கும்பொது கிடைக்கும் அமைதி அலாதியானது தான்.

குண்டலினி சக்தி என்று நாம் சொல்வது மௌனத்தின் ஒலி (voice of silence), சக்தியின் வீச்சு, (fiery power) உலகத்தின் அன்னை (world’s mother)

இதற்கும் மேலாக மௌனத்தின் ஒரு ஆச்சர்யமுட்டும் உண்மை என்னவென்றால் நமக்கு மூன்றாவது கண் இருப்பது போல் மூன்றாவது காது இருக்கிறது. தொண்டைக்கு கீழே, இதை புரிந்துகொள்ள வேண்டும் என்றால் மௌனம் அவசியம்.

PeriavA’s speech on Appayya Dikshitar and his work आत्मार्पण स्तुति

கேட்டதில் பிடித்தது

பெரியவா திருவடிகளே சரணம். நாளை அனுஷம். பெரியவாளின் அனுக்ரஹ பாஷணத்திலிருந்து சில பகுதிகளை பகிர விரும்புகிறேன்..

Tomorrow (18^th June 2016)  being anusham, let me bring some synopsis of mahA periavA’s speech on Appayya Dikshitar’s  “AtmArpana Stuti”.

PeriavA’s speech of various subjects has been released and it is available in you tube also.  Though limited, one of his speeches  on Appayya Dikshitar’s (AD) (1520-1592)  AtmArpana Stuti. (AS),  merit mention here as it shows how our saints of yesteryears lived their life and how they spread bhakthi, which is unique for our State.

periavA’s speech is interluded with humor, a touch upon simple Sanskrit and of course a strong message of the core subject. ……

Before he goes into the main subject, he says “a person of unsound mind is free from sins and for him, mOksha  is certain.   People who come to me to cure the unsound minded person to a normal person are ignorant of the fact that once the unsound becomes a normal, he starts doing sinful acts thereby accumulating sins, resulting in a confirmed “berth”  in hell.   If  he continues to be unsound for 4 years, he continues to refrain from doing sinful activities for 4 years.  There are two sets of people who are free from sins- one Child, another is unsound minded persons”

He speaks high about AD as a great scholar in Sanskrit and  made literature in 104 grandhams.  A staunch Shivaite, as his Shaiva Sidhdhantam has been well appreciated by one and all.  His book on Ramanuja Sidhantam is still lauded by the Vaishnavaites and has been considered as one of the best books on Vaishnava Siddhantham.

He believed fully in Advaitham and followed this principle in his life. His foray into “AlankAra Sastram, Dharma Sastram and vyAkaranam is a proven fact of his abundant knowledge.  He was truly a ocean of knowledge.  He had also penned mAdhwa  books and also written many literature on prAkrutha bhAshA.,  ie  saurasEni.   Also an expert in AyurvEdham.

He was a God-send and staunch Shiv bhakthA, his poetry and literature are a divine treat to read.  One should know Sanskrit to appreciate his workings.

Adding further, periavA says. “Dikshitar had a doubt in his mind, “Iam doing some kind of bhakti.  Is this real bhakthi  ?  Will I continue to do this ?  People cannot concentrate even for one minute thinking of God, so many thoughts clash and collapse our thought process.  Will I be blessed with bhakthi always ?

One will not know what happens tomorrow.  Tomorrow if something happens to me, will I continue thinking of You ? (Lord Shiva)”

Thus, Dikshitar was so much confused. 

Then, came the ultimate. 

Dikshitar thought “As Iam of sound mind, I think of you and worship you.  If I become unsound mind, will I continue thinking of you or abusing you  ?”

So, he decided to become a person of unsound mind

As he, an expert in AyurvEdha,  knows how to prepare a substance made of seed that would make anyone loses his mental balance.   He told his disciples that he would consume the “substance” and asked them record the “events” after he loses his mental balance.  

During the state of mental confabulation, he composed 50 verses of composition which is called Unmatta panchasahth or AtmArpana Stuti”

PeriavA says that 50 verses were considered as one of the best creations of Dikshitar, therein Dikshitar emphasizes the fact You (Lord Shiva) are very kind to us as we worship with wild flowers like “arka” and “drOna”, You give us “mOksham”. In other words, by doing so, one could attain the supreme bliss of liberation.  In spite of knowing this, Iam wasting my time, being under the control of my senses, and falling lower and lower.

End of 50^th verse, he prays, “Oh bhagvan, though this Stuti has been composed by me without my mind being totally concentrated on You, protect me, considering the fact this miserable is surrendering to You at least by words.”

PeriavA also quotes a verse from Bhagavath Gita  (8.6)

यं यं वापि स्मरन्भावं त्यजत्यन्ते कलेवरम् ।
तं तमेवैति कौन्तेय सदा तद्भावभावितः


"Whatever state of being one remembers when he quits his present body, in his next life he will attain to that state without fail." Now, first we must understand that material nature is a display of one of the energies of the Supreme Lord.

To end this, I could not control my feelings after listening to His speech and the contents, whether to praise Dikshitar or thinking of my fortunes for having born in this country and listen to mahA periavA’s speech.

I have to thank my parents who have guided me in this path to taste the sweetness of bhakthi fruit.. ….

Sadh gurubyO namaha..

A Family man- Sri.N.Muthuswamy- (Muthu Mama)- RIP

Part I
Muthu mama passed away on 21^st May 2016. He had been ailing for 4-5 months and undergoing treatment in chennai.

For those who are new to our relationship, he was my Fathers-in-Law’s younger brother and his demise ended an excellent “relationship” era in my life cycle.

It is not my habit to write obituary nor am I competent to write.  Last I wrote for my Grand mother and Grand father, with whom I spent my younger days.

Iam an emotional b***d, may be.  I could not reconcile this bereavement because of my wife, sow. Meenakshi, without whom I could not have imagined my 23 years married life, was proposed by him in our family. 

From that day, till his last day, his humility and love to my family was astounding.  Rarely, you see-brother of a Father in Law -showing 100% affection and respect to the other family.  Particularly, his respect to my father was beyond words, which I have seen many times.

He had that smile while talking to someone.  That smile, instantly grabs the other person.  I fell in love for his smile.

He proposed Sow.Meenakshi to our family and after successfully completing the proposal informed her parents.  Interestingly, my wife’s family had never known this proposal until Muthu mama informed them.

It is something unusual, Younger brother of FIL, taking serious steps, to finalise a proposal. This showed his character and love for his brothers’ family.
My mother wondered even Sow. Meenakshi’s father Sri.Ramaswamy would have taken that many steps to get her daughter married.

When I got married, my Father in law was not in good health.  So, Muthu mama took the entire responsibility and looked into each and every aspect in the marriage and completed it successfully.

My father used to tell even now that he has not seen any other marriage, better than my marriage, in all aspects, be it food, arrangements, jAnavAsam, hospitality….superlative arrangements.  

The seed was sown by Mr. Muthu mamA for this, undoubtedly.

Iam also thankful to him from a point that Sow. Meenakshi has imbibed lot of his characters and followed and even now in her life. One example would merit mention here.

When I joined a Company in Mumbai after my marriage, my two brothers had  to stay with me as they were working in Mumbai companies.  She never said “no” for this.  She had to pack tiffin for all of us as we were  leaving early every day morning. Night, we returned late. She took care of   my brothers as her own brothers.  When my first son was born, she never stopped taking care of my brothers.

This attitude might be insignificant for some people.  For me, this was the great character of her which she certainly inherited from Muthu mama.  


Part II

After I got married, I came to know from so many incidents that he lived his life to his relatives more than his own family.

I heard from Ram, my Sister-in-law’s husband, how he went emotional during my FIL’s death.

I was with him, when thAttapA passed away and ammammA (sister) and Muthusway’s (brother’s) memorable moments !!!

Recently, Kumar, his relative, narrated this- “During my Father’s sadhabhishekam. invitation being given to Sri.Muthusamy, he immediately took some cash and given it to me". A true family man !!

He also added though he is so kind enough to give the cash, he takes the bus or train to come to my home. He does not want to spend unnecessarily.  
His impeccable professional life always merits mention. Working in customs, he did not deviate in his ethics.  Being a senior post and lot of pressure, he could have been a slave to money power, but he did not.  Such an attitude brought him more laurels. It is a lesson to present generation.

His golden heart got him golden Sons-in-law and I have not seen such an excellent SIL to take care of him in his good days and also during his last days. 

Though, daughters always attached to their fathers, I could witness  how Sow, Vidya and Sow. Kala  taking care of her parents in his last days.  Emotional bond and could not be expressed in words.

Rajesh, his son is another excellent person and the days I spent with him in Bangalore is still in my memory.  Nice to see him to do his last rites to his father.  Let God give him courage and confidence to come good very soon from bereavement.

Part III

I would be failing in my duty if I conclude this without mentioning Smt. Savithri, wife of Muthu mama. 

In Sivanandalahari, Adi shankarar, while defining bhakthi, makes a comparison for us to easily understand.  Even now, many of us do not know what is bhakthi 

Adi shankarA, explains in his 61^st verse of Sivananda lahari.

Interestingly, when Ramana maharishi was asked to select the best of Sivananda lahari, he chose this verse as first.

अंकोलं निज बीज सन्ततिरयस्कान्तोपलं सूचिका
साध्वी नैज विभुं लता क्षिति-रुहं सिन्धुस्सरिद् वल्लभम् ।
प्राप्नोतीह यथा तथा पशु-पतेः पादारविन्द-द्वयं
चेतो-वृत्तिरुपेत्य तिष्ठति सदा सा भक्तिरित्युच्यते

Adi Shankara-  “our bhakthi our prEmam towards paramEshwarAs  pAdaravindham (abode of Lord Siva) is like….

In this, the second line-

 साध्वी नैज विभुं - means

Like the chaste woman reaches for her lord,

लता क्षिति-रुहं  - means

Like the tender creeper reaches for near by trees

A true example of the above is Smt.Savithri.

I could find Muthu mama’s wife lived her life for him. She was like a shadow in his life. 

What she was showing to Muthu mama was real bhakthi.  So, she was no different from those who has unconditional bhakti in the abode of Lord Shiva.

Let Lord Siva give her enough courage to withstand this grief.

Thanks Muthu mama. Thanks for everything. You brought glory to your family.  Places like dArAsuram, kumbakonam and kumaran nagar always spread your fragrance of your presence.  Generations to come, you will be remembered in our family like mahAtama Gandhi to India,

He passed away on Vaikasi VisAgam (Murugan) and Anusha Nakshatram (mahA periavA's jayanthi day). Great soul departs on an auspicious day.

Ammamma, ailing sister, could not remember anything, when we informed Muthu mama’s demise.

But, she went to pooja room and said “nAganAtha swamy took him for ever”. 
That sums up everything.