Thiruvasagam The Ecstasy of Spirit: Siddhar Maha Siva Swamy
Chants by Siddhar Maha Siva Swamy,
a Sage who has been in solitude meditating for over six
decades. He sings the Thiruvasagam as a benediction to
humanity as He prepares to leave his physical body soon.
Thiruvasagam means sacred song. It was sung by a 9th
century Siva Siddhar Mannickavasagar. This divine poetry
has been recited by nearly all Tamil Saiva seekers and
saints.
This is a song to Source that this Sage has sung nearly
every day for all these years. Listening to the chant is
a blessing that covers all facets of life. Towards the
end of the recital, Siddhar Maha Siva Swamy sets an
intent of peace, awakening and Divine love for humanity.
Hail, the five letters! Hail, foot of the Lord !
Hail, foot of Him Who not for an instant quits my
heart !
Hail, foot of the Guru-pearl that rules in GOgari !
Hail, foot of Him Who becomes, abides, draws near as
the Agamam !
Hail, foot of Him, the One, the Not-One, and the
King !
Victory to the foot of the King, who soothed my
soul's unrest and made me His !
Victory to the jeweled foot of Pinnagan, who severs
continuity of birth !
Victory to the flower-foot of Him Who is far from
those without !
Victory to the anklets of the King, rejoicing 'mid
those that fold adoring hands !
Victory to the anklets of the glorious One, who
uplifts those that bow the head !
Praise to the foot of Civan ! Praise to my Father's
foot !
Praise to the foot of the Teacher ! Praise to
Civan's roseate foot !
Praise to the foot of the Stainless, who in love
stood near !
Praise to the foot of the King, who cuts off
delusive birth !
Praise to the foot of glorious Perun-turrai's God !
Praise to the Mount, in grace affording pleasures
that cloy not !
INTRODUCTION
Because He, Civan, within my thought abides,
By His grace alone, bowing before His feet,
With joyous thought, Civan's 'Ways of Old' I'll
tell,
That thus my former 'deeds' may wholly pass.
I came, attained the grace the 'Brow-eyed' showed,
Adored the beauteous foot by thought unreached.
O Thou, Who fill'st the heaven, Who fill'st the
earth, art manifested light,
Transcending thought, Thou boundless One ! Thy glory
great
I, man of evil 'deeds' know not the way to praise !
HIS VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS
Grass was I, shrub was I, worm, tree,
Full many a kind of beast, bird, snake,
Stone, man, and demon. 'Midst Thy hosts I served.
The form of mighty Asuras, ascetics, gods I bore.
Within these immobile and mobile forms of life,
In every species born, weary I've grown, great Lord
!
HE FOUND THE MASTER
Truly, seeing Thy golden feet this day, I've gained
release.
O Truth! as the OngAram dwelling in my soul,
That I may 'scape. O spotless one ! O Master of the
bull !
Lord of the VEdas! Rising, sinking, spreading,
subtle One !
Thou art the heat ! and Thou the cold ! the Master
Thou, O spotless One !
Thou cam'st in grace, that all things false might
flee,
True Wisdom, gleaming bright in splendour true,
To me, void of all wisdom, blissful Lord !
O Wisdom fair, causing unwisdom' self to flee far
off !
CIVAN'S FIVE OPERATIONS
Thou know'st no increase, measure, end ! All worlds
Thou dost create, protect, destroy, enrich with
grace,
Release. Thou causest me to enter 'mid Thy servant
band.
More subtile Thou than fragrance. Thou'art afar, art
near.
Thou art the Mystic word, transcending word and
thought.
As when are mingled milk, sweet juice of cane and
butter,
Thou dost distil, like honey, in the thought of
glorious devotees,
And cuttest off the continuity of births - our
mighty One !
HUMAN EMBODIMENT AND ENLIGHTENMENT BY GRACE
Thou hast the colours five ! While heavenly ones
extolled
Thou didst lie hid, our mighty Lord ! In the strong
grasp of deeds,
I lay, hidden amid illusion's shrouding gloom.
Thou binding with rare cords of virtue and of sin,
Didst clothe with outer skin, enveloping with worms
and filth, -
Within my nine-gated dwelling foul bewildered,
By the five senses sore deceived,
To me, mean as I was, with no good thing, Thou didst
grant grace,
That I, with mind erewhile embruted, - pure one ! -
should
Become commingling love, in soul-subduing rapture
melt !
Thou cam'st in grace on this same earth, didst show
Thy mighty feet
To me who lay mere slave, - meaner than any dog,
Essential grace more precious than a mother's love !
EPITHETS OF PRAISE
Spotless splendour ! Brightness of full-blown flower
!
O Teacher ! Honied ambrosia ! Lord of Civa-town !
O venerated One, Guardian, Looser of PAcam's tie,
Working in grace of love, that in my mind delultion
may die out !
Great river of exceeding tenderness, with ceaseless
flow !
Ambrosia that satiates not ! Infinite, almighty Lord
!
Light unseen that lurks within the souls that sought
Thee not !
Thou Who abidest in my soul, till melting waters
flow !
Thou Who art without pleasure or pain, Who yet hast
both !
Loving to loving ones ! Effulgent One, Who all
things art,
And their negation too ! Great Master, whom no
darkness gathers round !
First One, Thou'rt End and Midst, and art devoid of
these !
Father, Lord, Who drew'st, and mad'st me Thine !
Eye of the minds that see by keenest glance of
wisdom true,
Hard to be eyed ! Subtle understanding, none can
scrutinize !
Holy ! Who comest not, nor goest, nor mingling
liv'st !
Guardian who guardest us ! Great Light whom none can
see !
Flood of delight ! Father ! Light of all passing
splendours
That appear ! Unutterably subtle Intellect !
Of all that in this world diverse pronounced as
truth
Is known, Thou art the knowledge sure ! Full
certitude !
Precious ambrosia, fountain welling up within ! My
Owner Thou !
PASSIONATE INVOCATION
I can't endure, our Guru, in this changing
straitened frame to 'bide.
Aran! All Thy saints made true invoke Thee,
Worshipping abide, and praising Thee, from falsehood
freed,
Hither return no more ! That deeds and birth cling
not,
To sever bonds of this deceitful sensuous frame the
might is Thine !
Lord who dost dance, trampling dense darkness down !
Dancer in Thillai ! Dweller in the Southern PAndi
land !
Thou Who dost cut off evil birth ! - Adoring ever,
Thee they name,
Whom words declare not; then 'BENEATH THY SACRED
FEET
THEY LEARN THE MEANING OF THEIR SONG. The blessed
ones
In Civan's town who dwell, - full many a one, -
beneath
The feet of Civan, lowly bending utter praise.
` Translated by G.U.Pope.
Compiled by Ariguhanatha
