After the previous posting, I realized that the language might prove to be an obstacle. So decided to write it in simple english. I must however make the point that I felt the same way an year or two before (even now some words / phrases freezes my CPU!!). But once you get into the groove, the language is so rich, funny and meaningful.
The song by Thirumangai Azhwar that I referred is at the end of Periya Thirumozhi (a compendium of 1084 songs). The commentary is like a dialog between Azhwar and god. It goes like this
Azhwar - When all souls are destined to experience everlasting bliss (Nammazhwar says this is the law - that all souls should reach the highest abode one way or other - of course there are exceptions :-( ), how come the multitude of souls suffer in this world!
God: Instead of surrendering to me, they indulge in both good and bad karma. So they have to reap the consequences so why blame me
Azhwar - The mind which causes the soul (in a body) to perform a good or bad karma is under the control of god. So why cant he intervene and help the soul get away from Karmic bondage (In my mind, this is the critical question asked by Azhwar). After all, the owner has the duty to take care of his belongings and the souls belong to god.
God - While thats generally true, when it comes to sentient beings I cannot ignore their knowledge. I can intervene for beings without sentient thoughts but the sentient beings(souls) need to apply their knowledge and using my teachings (vedas, gita and others) as reference come out of their routine and surrender to me
Azhwar now realizes that this argument will keep going on...
Lets just extend this further and look at the entire range from no god to complete personal god. As you might have heard before, very intelligent, rational arguments can be made for a state of the universe without god. The next step is similar to Einstein's state. There is a god but he is not personal. He is nothing but the laws of universe/physics. So prayers dont make a difference. At the extreme end you have the personal god who can be appealed to intervene.
Azhwar includes all of the above in one word(!!) மாற்றம் உள - Yes.. there seem to be alternatives..
My interpretation from here on (to stress the fact that Azhwar was clear in his mind unlike me). Some of the alternatives may even appear appealing resulting in some of our confusions. Azhwar says he does not have time for all this and so surrenders to God.
The song by Thirumangai Azhwar that I referred is at the end of Periya Thirumozhi (a compendium of 1084 songs). The commentary is like a dialog between Azhwar and god. It goes like this
Azhwar - When all souls are destined to experience everlasting bliss (Nammazhwar says this is the law - that all souls should reach the highest abode one way or other - of course there are exceptions :-( ), how come the multitude of souls suffer in this world!
God: Instead of surrendering to me, they indulge in both good and bad karma. So they have to reap the consequences so why blame me
Azhwar - The mind which causes the soul (in a body) to perform a good or bad karma is under the control of god. So why cant he intervene and help the soul get away from Karmic bondage (In my mind, this is the critical question asked by Azhwar). After all, the owner has the duty to take care of his belongings and the souls belong to god.
God - While thats generally true, when it comes to sentient beings I cannot ignore their knowledge. I can intervene for beings without sentient thoughts but the sentient beings(souls) need to apply their knowledge and using my teachings (vedas, gita and others) as reference come out of their routine and surrender to me
Azhwar now realizes that this argument will keep going on...
Lets just extend this further and look at the entire range from no god to complete personal god. As you might have heard before, very intelligent, rational arguments can be made for a state of the universe without god. The next step is similar to Einstein's state. There is a god but he is not personal. He is nothing but the laws of universe/physics. So prayers dont make a difference. At the extreme end you have the personal god who can be appealed to intervene.
Azhwar includes all of the above in one word(!!) மாற்றம் உள - Yes.. there seem to be alternatives..
My interpretation from here on (to stress the fact that Azhwar was clear in his mind unlike me). Some of the alternatives may even appear appealing resulting in some of our confusions. Azhwar says he does not have time for all this and so surrenders to God.
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