இலண்டன் சைவ மாநாடு (சிறப்புமலர்)

7வது சைவ மாநாடு இலண்டன் 2004 Why Internal Relationship with Siva? Prof. R. Gopalakrishnan Chennai, India Saivism is a religion of divine splendour and universal grandeur since it accomplishes philosophical wisdom and spiritual experience. It was St. Thirumoolar who defined the term 'Saivam' for the first time - சைவம் சிவனோடு சம்பந்தம் ஆதல் Saivism means to establish a RELATION with Lord Siva. Here the word 'Sambandham' or relationship is significant in the sense that it not only does refer to the mere contact with Siva in the temples, but also does indi- cate a happy union with Him in one's inner being. The word 'relation' may be understood as external relation and internal relation. Externally Saivites prefer to be in the proximity of Siva's idols, images etc. and gets immense joy. This can be explained through the hymn of St. Sundarar. பொன்னார் மேனியளே புலித்தோலை அரைக்கசைத்து மின்னார் செஞ்சடைமேல் மிளிர்கொன்றை அணிந்தவனே மன்னே மாமணியே மழபாடியுள் மாணிக்கமே அன்னே உன்னையல்லால் இனியாரை நினைக்கேனே. Oh Lord dwelling at Thirumazhapadi, the King, the great gem! Glittering like gold in your body, wearing the tiger's skin, In the lightning like matted hair wear you the fragrant konrai flower Dear Lord whom shall I remember than you! This kind of having a glimpse of the Lord in the temple and praising His glory, offering fresh flowers, adoring with Sacred syllables and worshipping Him as prescribed in the scriptures constitute the 'external' type of relation. This kind of relation may not last long since when the devotee could not get his prayer answered and expectations failed, may be due to his karmas, he will easily blame the efficacy of Siva's grace and may even quit Saiva faith. Another lacuna in the outward adoration is that the devotee cannot his entire concentration on the holy event of worship, since his mind will be frequently fluctuating. If somebody does harm to the worship, instantly the devotee is outraged and it leads to religious pugnacity, ends in eternal enmity and thereby endangering peaceful coexistence. Again, the devotee as well as the priest will show adequate interest in the regularity or orderliness of worship than melting in love and shedding tears our of reverence to Siva. Above all the external relationship with Siva is mainly meant for obtaining phenomenal benefits, peripheral prosperity and worldly comforts. 6 The internal relationship is what the saints and sages have not only established but also revealed in mellifluous songs so that the devotees too can gain similar experience. According to St. Manickavachagar, 142 தந்தது உன்தன்னை கொண்டது என்தன்னை சங்கரா ஆர்கொலோ சதுரர்? அந்தம் ஒன்றில்லா ஆனந்தம் பெற்றேன் யாதுநீ பெற்றது ஒன்று என்பால் சிந்தையே கோயில், கொண்டஎம் பெருமான் திருப்பெருந் துறையுறை சிவனே எந்தையே ஈசா உடல்இடங் கொண்டாய் யான்இதற்கு இலன் ஓர்கைம் மாறே. Gave Yourself and taken me oh! Sankara, who is victorious? Gained I an endless joy, what have you gained because of me? Oh! Sivaperumane! dwell you in my conscience as your temple. The Lord of Thirupperunturai My Father, Eesan, you took my body as your residence What can I do in return for you? We come across in the Periyapuraanam that several saints preferred only inner relationship with Siva for which goal they strove hard through their professional offerings and skillful worship. Ultimately deep rooted devotion that paved the way for subjective experience and personal enjoyment of Siva. Two saints even constructed temples for Siva in their heart chambers where he entered willingly by avoiding the consecration ceremony in the actual temple built by a king on the same day. Bringing the all-pervading Supreme Being in the small spot of the inner being of an individual is not a casual task. Why could not the majority of Saiva devotees not resort to develop subjective experience and aim at salvation? The Siddhanta scholars answer realistically that owing to the follwing three obstacles people engage seriously in enjoying the material world and are subjected to periodical births and deaths:: i) The proclamation of ego-centric predicament ii) The serious attachment shown towards the deluding products of matter and iii Deep involvement in selfish and personal activities thereby accumulating the fruits of action.