இலண்டன் சைவ மாநாடு (சிறப்புமலர்)

7வது சைவ மாநாடு nothing but His own potential energy or sakthi. There is no grace without Siva and Siva too cannot be without His grace. To the enlightened souls who look everything through His grace, Siva will appear like the Sun and its effulgence. The Sun and its luminosity are inseparable. Likewise Siva and His grace are inseparable. But only those who bring Siva into their heart chambers can realize this inseparable nature of Siva and His grace. To quote Karaikkalammaiyar, அருளே உலக்கெலாம் ஆள்விப்பது ஈசன் அருளே பிறப்பறுப் பதனால் - அருளாலே மெய்ப்பொருளை நோக்கும் விதியுடையேன் எஞ்ஞான்றும் எப்பொருளும் ஆவது எனக்கு. It is Siva's grace which reigns supreme in the world It is Siva's grace which causes the cessation of births It is through Siva's grace I am most fortunate to 'see' the True Substance (Siva) It is Siva's grace which is everything and always dear to me. When the aspirant relaizes that Siva's grace is the operative force both implicitly and explicitly, certainly he will realize the truth that Siva is not merely an external object to be worshipped for material prosperity. Siva must be intuited as an abiding force to be reckoned with and sustained within the soul and meditated upon constantly. Siva too willingly enters into the minds of such ardent devotees. To quote Tirumoolar, நாடும் நகரமும் நற்றிருக் கோயிலும் தேடித் திரிந்து சிவபெருமான் என்று பாடுமின் பாடிப் பணியின் பணிந்தபின் கூடிய நெஞ்சத்துக் கோயிலாய்க் கொள்வனே. "Search for and wander through cities, towns and holy temples, Sing with ecstasy that everywhere there is Siva. Again sing and show humility. After submitting to Siva, He will accep the unified consciousness as His temple". Maanickavaachagar too holds a similar view. இன்பம் பெருக்கி இருளகற்றி எஞ்ஞான்றும் துன்பம் தொடர்வறுத்துச் சோதியாய் - அன்பமைத்துச் சீரார் பெருந்துறையான் என்னுடைய சிந்தையே ஊராகக் கொண்டான் உவந்து. "Multiplying joy, driving away darkness, always cutting off my affliction, as the great Effulgence residing at Thirupperunthurai, the Lord with affection இலண்டன் 2004 accepted my mind as His dwelling spot willingly." The above citations illustrate that those who aspire to entertain Siva internally, must keep their inner being pure and perfect. Then naturally Siva has no hesitation to enter into it. To achieve this objective Saivism has enunciated several paths. The three major human functions viz., knowing, willing and feeling are to be fulfilled in religious ways. The path of external service (cariyai or seelam) and the path of devotion (kriyai or nonbu) are meant for promoting external relationship with Siva. For, these activities are executed, though with religious zeal, still the senses and mind have their pernicious effects. Eventually the aspirant cannot complete his devotional moorings in a satisfactory way. There is every possibility of retrieving back to the routine life, if the senses and mind are not controlled or canalized . Hence obviously the devotee has to enter into the yogic path or serivu. Even here the first four steps viz., yamam, niyamam, aasanam, praanayaamam are extraneous in nature and essence. The first two are ethical disciplines expected of a devotee while the next two pertain to physical conditions or physi- ological processes. Pratyaahaaram or withdrawal of the senses from the objects, dhaaranam or focussing of consciousness towards Siva, dhyaanam or meditation and samaadhi or total communion with Siva are subjective in exercise as well as experience. The path of jnaanam or arivu or wisdom is the ultimate goal of Saivite living. This is the point of culmination of the spiritual journey of a Saivite. The man of wisdom gets enlightenment. He realizes the truth that Siva alone is the only saviour of mankind. He enjoys the everlasting grace of Siva. He adores Siva as the Prime Master or first Guru. He loves Siva for the sake of love. He loves not only Siva but also his fellow devotees as they represent the mobile shrines. He will always contemplate on the Holy Feet of Siva. To quote a verse from Sivagnana Siddhiyaar, இருவினைச் செயல்கள் ஒப்பின் ஈசன்தன் சக்திதோயக் குருஅருள் பெற்று ஞான யோகத்தைக் குறுகி முன்னைத் திரிமலம் அறுத்துப் பண்டைச் சிற்றறிவு ஒழிந்து ஞானம் பெருகிநா யகன்தன் பாதம் பெறுவது சுத்த மாமே. Balanced in good and evil, Descends Siva's grace Guru's benign look is bestowed, attained is jnana yoga samaadhi 144