HINDUISM

An Englishman on Thiruvasagam

K S Sivakumaran

Thiruvasagam is one of the sacred hymns of the Saivaites - the worshippers of Lord Shiva and followers of Saiva Siththaantham.

Some 112 years ago an Englishman by name G U Pope (1820 - 1908) translated the 51 poems written in Thamil in the 7th century A D into English. He was a Christian Missionary doing service in Southern India after mastering the Thamil language. Maanicka Vaasagar was the saint who sang these hymns in honour of the Saiva deity.

Pope found that “Saivaism is the real religion of the South of India, and of North Ceylon; and the Saiva Siththantham philosophy has, and deserves to have, far more influence than any other.”

This is one of his prophetic statements we should follow. Pope said: “You must learn not only to think in Thamil, but also to feel in Thamil, if you are to be intelligible and useful among the Thamil people”

Here is another advice: “I may add that my experience as a translator has taught me that to get even a glimpse of thought of a real poet, the student must often go down into the depths, must use every means to put himself in sympathy with his author, must learn to think and feel with him, and so -it may be - at least come to understand him”

G U Pope rightly commented that - “The success of Manikka Vaasagar in reviving Saivaism, which seems to have been then almost extinct, was immediate, and we may say permanent; for, although there was a period of declension, when the Jain and Buddhist systems again became very prevalent, there arose another set of devotees who must be looked upon as his disciples, though, curiously enough, scarcely any reference to him is found in their writings. From his time dates the foundation of the vast multitude of Saiva shrines that constitute a peculiar feature of the Thamil country”

What was Pope's observation on Maanika Vaasagar's purpose in singing the soul poems?

“The doctrines that he (Maanikka Vaasagar) taught will abundantly appear from an attentive consideration of his disputes with the Buddhist gurus. He taught the people that there was one supreme personal God, - no mere metaphysical abstraction, but the Lord of gods and men. He also taught that it was the gracious will of Sivan to assume humanity, to come to earth as a Guru, and to make disciples of those who sought Him with adequate preparation. He announced that this way of salvation was open to all classes of the community.

A statue depicting Shiva meditating, Shiva temple, Bengaluru

He also taught very emphatically the immortality of the released Soul -its conscious immortality -as he said that the virtual death of the Soul which Buddhism teaches is not its release.”

Like everybody else who likes Thiruvaasagam me-too I fascinated by the sheer poetry in it besides the implied philosophical overtones. But G U Pope's expression in lucid terms is worth recording.

Says he: “ Any one who compares the fervid piety of our sage's very beautiful, and generally very simple lyrics will feel with what force they must have struck the chord that vibrated then as it vibrates still in millions of hearts...Scarcely ever has the longing of the human soul for purity and peace and divine fellowship found worthier expression”

Pope concludes his introduction wit these words:

“South India needed a

Pope concludes his introduction wit these words:

“South India needed a personal god, as an assurance of immortality, and a call to [prayer. These it found in Maanikka Vasagar's composition.”

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The Annual Chariot Festival of Tellipalai Durga Devi Temple

Chelvatam by Maniccavasagar

The Annual Festival of Tellipalai Durga Devi Temple commenced with the Flag hoisting ceremony last week and the Chariot festival will take place on the ninth day of the festival followed by water cutting in the nearly tank.

Durga Devi Temple at Tellipalai, Jaffna is a miraculous temple and devotees from all parts of Jaffna will participate at the chariot festival (“Ther” Festival) in large numbers since the situation in Jaffna is extremely conducive to the people to travel and move about without any disturbances.

Durga means valour and symbolically Durga depicts elimination of ignorance and deliverance from illusion. Further, among the several festivals which are observed at this Temple the Navarathri (Nine days) festival is most auspicious. Durga Devi is invoked during the first three nights, Lakshmi is on the second three days and Saraswathy during the last three nights.

Thousands of devotees congregate during Festival Days and the Temple has become very prominent in recent years. In fact, this temple is an ancient and historical one and it is said that about four hundred years ago, a devotee by the name “Kathir Kamar” had gone on pilgrimage to India and worshiped at several Hindu Holy Sthalams namely Benares, Madurai, Rameswaram etc. On his return, arriving at Kankesanturai he had walked a few miles when he felt tired and rested by the wayside, Durga desired that to be her location. So he installed the “Sakthi Yantra” which he had carefully brought from Benares under an “Illupai” tree, thus commenced his worship which became an outstanding Durga Devi Temple.

The first “Kumbabhisekam” was performed in 1929. Poojas were performed by Priests from Kanchipuram and this temple was under the management of one Kathirasapillai. In 1953, the Temple Trustee Board was formed.

When, “Sivathamil” Selvi Thangammah Appakutty became the Trustee of this Temple, the poojas were performed daily and meticulously. She was a dedicated, devoted and highly disciplined Hindu spiritual personality with fearless and courageous mind. She was responsible for the construction of “Sithra Ther” and “Raja Gopuram” in 1978 and the Kumbhabisekam (consecration ceremony) was performed in 1981.

As President and Trustee of Tellipalai Sri Durga Devi Temple, she had rendered tremendous religious service.

In recognition and appreciation of her religious activities locally and abroad she was conferred with the Title of “Chen Chot Chemmani” by the Madurai Atheenam and “Shivathamil Selvi” at Karainagar Elaththu Sithamparam Temple. In fact, the “Varanapuram” explains Sakthi in the form of Durga as symbolising the bands of passion, love, hatred, greed, vanity, illusion, contempt, joy and jealousy.

In the tradition of the Hindu literature the chariot is the Replica of the human body.

The Deity in the Sanchim or on the chariot reminds us of the truth that the God is seated in the heart of each individual. This is the symbolic meaning of the chariot.

Undoubtedly, to a world lost in error and weighed down by forces of darkness, ignorance and arrogance, conflicts and contradictions, trials and tribulations, let us all worship “Tellipalai” Durga Devi Amman and utter her pure name and contemplate and surrender ourselves at Her lotus feet for the progress and success of our lives and also for the everlasting peace, eternal prosperity and racial harmony in Sri Lanka.