KODDIKKAVI

OF

ST. UMAPATHI SIVACHARIYAR

    [This is another short, treatise forming one of the fourteen Siddhanta Sastras in Tamil. Our Saint was put out of caste by the Chidambaram Dikshitars of whom he was one, for partaking of the remnants of food eaten by his guru, Marai Jnana Sambanthar, whom he addresses in his Vina Venba. The time for performing the Brahma Utsavam of the Temple approached, and the Tillai priests tried to hoist the flag on the Dvajastambha; but it could not be tied. God appeared to the Dikshitars in their dream and they were told that the flag will go up only if they brought back our Saint. Our Saint lived in a hamlet of Chidambaram, which is on the other side of the Railway Station where his Samadhi can be seen even today, called Korravankudi. The priests repaired to him brought him back on their shoulders and prayed to him that he may be pleased to hoist the flag. These verses were then composed.]

    ஒளிக்குமிருளுக்கு மொன்றேயிடமொன்று மேலிடிலொன்

    றொளிக்குமெனினு மிருளடராது உயிர்க்குயிராய்த்

    தெளிக்குமறிவு திகழ்ந்துளதேனுந் திரிமலத்தே

    குளிக்குமுயிரருள் கூடும்படிக் கொடிகட்டினனே.

 

    Light dwells with darkness in same place

    One does conceal the other when strong,

    And yet darkness can't prevail

    The Light of light of souls though shines

    The soul is plunged in Trimala.

    So that the soul may Grace attain

    I hoist aloft the holy flag.                    (1)

 

NOTES.

    Man's light is veiled by Aanava and he can't see the Light of God shining in him on account of this veil. But he need not despair. By undergoing Diksha, and becoming stead-fast in the four paths, he can rub out the dirt. The hoisting of the flag, துவசம்கட்டுதல் means in common parlance, making up one's mind to do a thing and do it to the finish. The aspirant after spirituality should have this determination first. Otherwise all his efforts will be fruitless. The light of God and evil inhering in man together is compared to the heat and moisture present in green wood.

 

 

    பொருளாம்பொருளேது போதேதுகண்ணே

    திருளாம்வெளியே திரவேது – அருளாளா

    நீபுரவாவையமெலாம் நீயறியக்கட்டினேன்

    கோபுரவாசற் கொடி.

 

    Which is the Sat of Sat, which Bloom?

    Who is the seer? Which is light

    In darkness sure, which might, Oh Grace!

    In all the earth that owns your sway,

    That Thou mayst know, on Tower's front,

    I hoist aloft the holy flag.                    (2)

 

NOTES.

    This sums up the Padarthas. Sat is God, the bloom Sivasakti, the seer is soul, the light in darkness is the Sakala condition of the soul, after evolution of the world, where though plunged in darkness, the soul gains a little by its will, action and intelligence being roused (மாயாதனுவிளக்கு). The night is the kevala condition. God is ever present in all through. His grace is invoked so that the soul may proceed onward.

    வாக்காலுமிக்க மனத்தாலு மெக்காலும்

    தாக்காவுணர்வரிய தன்மையினை – நோக்கிப்

    பிரித்தறிவுதம்மிற் பிரியாமை தானே

    குறிக்குமருணல்கக் கொடி.

 

    With speech and mind at any time

    His nature rare is hard to find.

    When seen too close, He dost appear

    As Ananya. His grace to get

    I hoist aloft the holy flag.                    (3)

 

NOTES.

    This brings out God's advaita relation to man.

    அஞ்செழுத்து மெட்டெழுத்து மாநெழுத்து நாலெழுத்து

    பிஞ்செழுத்து மேலைப்பெருவெழுத்து – நெஞ்சழுத்தி

    பேசுமெழுத்துடனே பேசாவெழுத்தினையுங்

    கூசாமற் காட்டகொடி.

 

    The letters five and eight and six

    The letters four and 'va' and 'si'

    These in the heart well impressed.

    The soundless one and that with sound

    To manifest them without doubt

    I hoist aloft the holy flag.                    (4)

NOTES.

    The five syllables mantra is 'Sivayanama'; the eight syllabled is 'Om, aum Sivayanama'; the six syllabled is 'Om Namasivaya'; the four syllabled is 'Om Sivaya'. The spoken syllable is said to be 'va' and the unspoken syllable 'si'. All these mantras have reference to the passage of the Yogi from the grosser to the more subtle of the avastas, which can be only understood by actual experience.