The Divine Light-Bodied
Maha Sadhguru Sri Sri Paramahamsa Sundarananda Maharishi’s
Discourse on Supreme Knowledge
Kailasa Chapter, Himalayas
At the Chathuragiri hills, the sun had begun to bloom in the east. The lower sky started to light up faintly. Groups of cuckoos began singing beautifully, invoking the Divine with their melodious voices. Birds spread their wings and started circling the sky. Peacocks spread their long, elegant feathers, inviting the peahens to dance. The sound of the flowing waterfalls gradually started to rise. The black myna began to sing the first song of the forest. The cloudless sky started to glow golden and clear. The forest was dense, filled with tall trees growing close together. These trees stood so close that they blocked the sunlight, though they occasionally allowed slivers of it to pass through.
A young man, enjoying the beauty of dawn, fetched water in a vessel from the stream and began pouring it over my head. Then, he poured the water over the sacred form of the Sandalwood Mahalingam. Finding the water insufficient, he continued pouring more on both me and the Lingam, all while chanting some sacred mantra. After the water offering, he wiped my body thoroughly with a piece of cloth, and then did the same for the Lingam using a different cloth. He rubbed sandalwood paste, took the fragrant paste with his fingers, and applied it in three horizontal lines on my forehead and on the sacred form. He placed a dot of kumkum in the center and adorned both our crowns with wild forest flowers, admiring the beauty.
He then lit a ghee lamp nearby and began singing Kanmani Pathigam to me and Shivapuranam and Thiruppalliyezhuchi to the sandalwood Lingam.
Afterward, he offered some fruits to both as offerings and began his penance for attaining Supreme Knowledge. As he stood reverently touching our holy feet, we blessed him fully and began to implant, day by day, the subtle truths of Brahma Jnana (Supreme Knowledge) into his soul. These are the daily happenings in the realm of wisdom. At first, we taught him the true essence of the Thiruvasagam. Then, we instructed him in the Thirumandiram and the path of Sri Vidya, and enabled him to attain realization in those paths.
Responding to his unwavering request, we chose to share the wondrous insights of the Thiruvasagam with the world—for the benefit of all living beings and to satisfy the hunger for knowledge of elevated souls. Just beginning to read and absorb the wisdom of the Thiruvasagam is enough for one to attain Brahma Jnana. Such profound spiritual secrets have been generously given by him.
I deeply cherish the Thiruvasagam; it is my heart’s dearest scripture and my dream book. The service he has done in sharing its wisdom cannot be described in words. For this, he offered up his own life as a pledge. The suffering, wounds, and pains he endured were the trials we gave him. He passed them all without even a trace of self-pity. Soon, he will return to us. All the Gurus of our lineage have already bestowed upon him the full and complete blessings of consecration.
He is the foremost among my disciples—Rudra Shivatha, the spiritual commentator of this sacred work.
I myself am false, my heart is false, my love too is false.
Yet, O Lord, this wretched soul—if it weeps in true longing—can it not reach You?
O Sweetness! O Nectar! O Essence more delicious than sugarcane juice!
O Graceful One! Please shower Your grace upon me,
so this humble servant may come and unite with You.”
(Thiruchathagam – 90th Verse)
If people burdened with karmic deeds weep and seek the Divine, they can attain Him, says Manikkavacakar.
But man has yet to learn how to cleanse himself of his karmas. Nor does he seek out or find a worthy Guru to teach him. In such a state, how long will man continue dying, caught in the illusionary webs of Maya?
Did you read the verse above? Did you truly absorb its meaning? Every verse of the Thiruvasagam veils and yet reveals the Supreme Knowledge (Brama Jnana). But we lack the eyes to see it. Why? Because our eyes are immersed in the three impurities (ego, karma, illusion). That’s why we cannot perceive.
Our ancestors said: “What use is the sunrise if one has already gone blind?”
The Sun represents the light of life. If one cannot see life or its light, then we are all blind. What is the use of an education that does not help you see your own soul? Tell me—what is the gain?
That is why Manikkavacakar said:
“I myself am false, my heart is false, my love too is false.
Yet if I, bearing karma, melt in love and cry out for You,
Can I not attain You?”
Only when one melts in true love and performs tapas (spiritual penance) for Brahma Jnana, will even the physical body begin to dissolve—this is when transformation begins. Manikkavacakar is not referring to emotional weeping with sighs and sorrow. He speaks of the tears that flow through tapas.
Without a Guru, such knowledge cannot be realized—this is the tragedy of our times. For the Guru tradition has been destroyed. That is why we see so much violence, cruelty, desire, delusion, wounds, pain, suffering, and moral decay in the world.
The Thiruvasagam, as interpreted by our disciple, is adorned with the beauty of flow, words, similes, and the radiance of the Thirumandiram. His wisdom naturally draws us toward the bliss of knowledge.
We taught him only the core essence of Thiruvasagam. Without even fully knowing it, he beautifully matched each verse of Thiruvasagam with an appropriate Thirumandiram verse, making it seem like a garland of flowers placed on the crown of Thiruvasagam.
He realized that Thiruvasagam and Thirumandiram are like our two eyes. Though Thirumandiram predates Thiruvasagam, the latter is in no way inferior—and he has proven this through this divine commentary.
The first to truly perceive the supreme wisdom hidden within Thiruvasagam was our Jnana Satguru, the great avatar Babaji.
This disciple of ours had been pleading with us for the past sixteen years to write this commentary. It should have been published sixteen years ago. But we had denied him permission.
One evening, as we were in conversation with Babaji, the topic came up. Eleven enlightened souls were gathered there. The conversation moved from Brahma Jnana to Thiruvasagam. As per Shiva’s divine will, that sacred gathering was held under Babaji’s guidance. Manikkavacakar himself was present.
Finally, Babaji resolved to reveal the inner essence of Thiruvasagam to the world, with scriptural proof.
There arose a discussion—who would write the commentary for Thiruvasagam? Various questions were asked. At that time, Babaji became aware of my deep love for Thiruvasagam, which I held as my very life.
He asked me,
“Sundarananda, will you do it? Since you have attained the body of light, I know you won’t refuse.”
Immediately, I said,
“Your wish is my blessing, Gurudev. But I have a small request.”
Babaji said,
“Oh? Very well, speak, Sundarananda. What message lies within you?”
I replied,
“Master, due to my light-body, it’s difficult to physically write. Still, I will complete this work. If you permit, I will have my student carry it out.”
He then asked,
“What? Has he attained Brahma Jnana? Is he engaged in penance? Does he follow the eternal disciplines without fail? Is he worthy of your grace and trust?”
Then I said,
“Satguru, even Sage Agastya knows him well. Mother Avvai too knows him well. Both have blessed him and imparted their wisdom and grace to him. In the places where he lived with us, this body of his was like air to our breath—he served the Guru as life itself. He can be wholly entrusted with this divine task. He will be a fitting one.”
Babaji responded,
“Is that so? Are you speaking of the one to whom we once granted the Guru’s seat, Sundarananda?”
I said,
“Yes, Gurudev, it is him—Parameswaran, also known as Rudra Shivatha, the foremost disciple from the ancient Tamil Siddha lineage.”
At that moment, a silence spread across the place. The tender leaves and flowering plants swayed gently with the breeze. As the soft mountain wind blew, we all began to sense a sweet fragrance like a blend of javvadu and thazhampoo (screw pine flowers). A golden butterfly fluttered from somewhere and landed on Babaji. Bees and honeybees began to hum, as if some Vedic scholars were chanting the seed mantras of Mother Bhuvaneshwari.
From a distance, the trumpeting of elephants was heard. A sage whispered to Babaji,
“Shivu is coming, Gurudev. We may ask him.”
‘Shivu’ refers to a beloved male elephant that lived among the tribal people. They always called him Shivu or Shiv.
Shivu walked slowly into the gathering of sages, raised its trunk, and offered salutations to Babaji and the others. The group explained the matter regarding the Thiruvasagam and asked Shivu whom the task could be entrusted to. After flapping its large ears a few times, Shivu circled the sages, then stood still in a spot. Everyone gazed at Shivu in silence. Then, Shivu gently took Avvai’s hands, placed them on my lap, and pushed me forward from behind.
At that moment, Babaji glanced at Sage Agastya, who responded with a smile of approval. This indicated his permission. Delighted, Babaji turned to Avvai and said,
“Mother, you may share your thoughts.”
Avvai said,
“He is a disciple free of ego. A humble one who does not think of himself as a Guru. He is generous—wishing to give all that he has learned to every living soul. He lives speaking with his soul daily. He was the first to write a commentary on my hymns and filled me with joy. He will perfectly bring out the essence of Thiruvasagam in a way that aligns with the spiritual maturity of souls in this world. You may entrust him with this divine task.”
When the enlightened beings approved this, we entrusted this task to him in the year 2019. Before this book could be completed, four other volumes were already published. This is the fifth book, blooming and spreading fragrance in your hands now.
It was only after we gave him this divine responsibility in 2019 that the deadly coronavirus began to ravage the lives of people across the world. He began to question whether he was fit for such a task. He said,
“How can I do this? I have not yet attained the wisdom needed for it.”
He added,
“Manikkavacakar is a great enlightened being. I am an ordinary man. I have not even freed myself from worldly attachments. How can I write a commentary for the hymns of a realized soul?” He refused.
At that point, I revealed my thoughts and said,
“My son, don’t you know that this has been the dream of my life?”
He said,
“Please understand, Gurudev. How can I offer commentary on Thiruvasagam? Wouldn’t that be arrogance? How can one like me, living in the flesh, interpret the spiritual truths sung by one who stood rooted in the heavens?”
I was amazed at his answer. I responded:
“Why drag Thirumoolar into this matter?”
He replied,
“Gurudev, when did I do that?”
I asked,
“Do you know whose words those are—about truths rooted in the heavens and the flesh-bound state?”
He stood silently. I explained:
“They are the words of Thirumoolar, our ancestral Guru. ‘Let the joy I received be experienced by the world. I shall reveal the hidden meanings of the heavens, through the felt truths of the flesh. The one who lets go of self will naturally rise,’ he once sang. Is that not what you remembered here?”
He said,
“I don’t know, Gurudev. Sometimes, such verses come into memory spontaneously, in connection with life’s happenings. It’s unintentional. They just come. I can’t stop them.”
I told him,
“That, my son, is Jnana (true wisdom). No one can attain Jnana through mere effort, hardship, or even austerity. Wisdom is a flower that blooms on its own. If the events that cause its blooming happen within you, then the flowering will naturally occur. All you need is to remain in constant awareness.”
He asked,
“If I stay in awareness, Gurudev, can I truly write a commentary for Thiruvasagam?”
I replied,
“Yes.”
Then he said,
“In that case, I will fulfill your dream, Gurudev. Please plant the needed knowledge in my soul. If you, Manikkavacakar, Mahasatguru, Maha Avatar Babaji, and the other enlightened ones sow that strength—that Jnana—within me, I can complete this task beautifully. Without your blessings and wisdom, I cannot carry it out alone, Gurudev.”
I once gave him a short lesson on awareness. This took place in the Pothigai Hills.
“My son, you must first be fully aware of your body. This is the first step in awareness. Gradually, you must start becoming aware of every movement, every action of your body — and you can become aware. Once you learn to live like this, in awareness, a miracle will begin to blossom within you. Many things you used to do automatically will disappear. Your body will start to rest. It will begin to cooperate. A deep silence will settle in your body. A subtle music will start to flow within you, keeping you in a natural rhythm.”
“After that, become aware of your thoughts. Bring the same awareness you used for the body and direct it toward your thoughts. Your thoughts are far more subtle and intangible than your body — they are mixed with invisible sensations. Because of that, they can be dangerous. But if you become aware of your thoughts, you will be amazed at what begins to unfold inside you. If you start writing down the thoughts that pass through your mind at any moment, the result will never fail to astonish you. You will begin to wonder: Are these really the things going on inside me? That realization alone will take you to the edge of astonishment.”
“In your Brahma Shanti Tapas (spiritual practice for inner peace), this awareness must be practiced fully. I’ve already taught you this method of meditation, but let me say a few things again. For just ten minutes, simply observe the thoughts running through your mind. If needed, close and lock the door so no one disturbs you. Then, with complete honesty, begin writing down the thoughts flowing within you. Keep a fire ready nearby to burn the paper after you’re done. That way, no one but you will ever know what you wrote.”
“You must write everything, with absolute honesty — no lies, no distortions. Write your thoughts just as they are, raw and naked. That’s all.”
“After ten minutes, read what you’ve written. Then you’ll realize there’s a mad mind flowing like an underground current within you — and that you’ve been ignoring it all this time. You’ll realize it’s affecting the most important parts of your life. In fact, it affects everything. Yet this has been the very structure of your entire life. Examine it deeply, my son.”
“So, these wild mental patterns must be changed immediately. And do you know the wonder of awareness? If you are truly aware, you don’t need to do anything else. Your very awareness of something starts to change it. Slowly, your thoughts will begin to fall into a particular pattern. Then there will be no confusion in them. They will become as clear and peaceful as the world itself. Once again, a deep silence will settle within.”
“When both your body and mind are steeped in silence like this, you’ll see how they begin to move in harmony. A bridge will form between them. Then there will be no chance for your body and mind to move in different directions. For the first time, they will be in perfect sync. This harmony between them will support you as you move on to the third stage.”
“The third step is to become aware of your emotions, your mental disturbances, and your moods. These emotions are a hidden yet difficult layer within you — invisible to the outer eye. But if you can stay aware of your thoughts, this is just one step beyond. When your emotions and moods begin to rise, simply be a little more intensely aware of them. That’s enough.”
“Once you become practiced in remaining aware in these three stages — the body, the thoughts, and the emotions — then all three will merge into a single unified process. When they begin to work together in harmony, when they speak in one voice, you will begin to perceive the music of this union, the sound it creates. It will be like a musical orchestra forming within you. Then, the fourth stage will begin.
This fourth stage is not something you can bring about by effort. It happens on its own, just like a bud naturally blossoms into a flower. It is the gift of wholeness, the reward awareness gives when the first three stages are mastered.”
“This fourth stage of awareness is what turns you into a realized being.”
“You will then be aware of your own awareness. This is the fourth step. It is the stage that makes one a Buddha, a realized soul. Only when someone reaches this awakening can they perform a Divine Union (Thiru Kalyanam) while still alive. When that moment of Divine Union happens, God will manifest His divine energies, reveal Himself, and bless you with His blissful cosmic dance.
“The body only knows pleasure.
The mind only knows joy.
The heart only knows delight.
But the soul knows Sat-Chit-Ananda — Truth, Consciousness, Bliss. That is Supreme Bliss.”
“So, my son, immerse yourself in that Supreme Bliss forever. Let this sacred scripture, Thiruvasagam, be the nectar you keep tasting and let it transform you into Thiruvasagam itself. This transformation is the real Taraka Mantra (Liberating Mantra) that will dissolve you into your own Self. Awareness is the path of wisdom that will lead you there.”
“When I had finished, he held me tight and wept, saying, ‘Guru, it felt like a downpour of divine knowledge had just ended.’ For his sake, we sowed even more Brahma Jnana (Supreme Knowledge) into his soul. Every word of the Thiruvasagam he has written was absorbed, tasted, and digested like Hanuman himself savoring the scriptures. You will sense this when you read it.”
“This young seeker is a child of knowledge sent by the Supreme to bring back people from the illusory world toward the path of Brahma Jnana.”
How many people have understood the depth of meaning in Manikkavasagar’s verses? Most have seen it only through the lenses of devotion, literature, Vedanta, or Saiva Siddhanta, but never as the pure essence of Jnana. Even those few who understood have not come forward to express it.
Thiruvasagam is a hidden treasure of Brahma Jnana kept veiled through time. With divine permission, and with the consent of enlightened beings, this true commentary of Jnana has now been allowed to blossom.
To gain something, one must sacrifice something else — this is the law of nature.
To receive this divine knowledge, he gave up his entire life — his happiness, family bonds, desires, peace, and even his lifespan. The sufferings he endured while writing this commentary — the unrest in his family, problems, near-death situations, broken relationships — all of it was like walking through fire.
Still, he said:
“Guru, if people are to receive this knowledge, then let me sit in that fire and write. Just give me your permission.”
The fire he walked through was kindled by the Brahma Jnanis themselves. Even though we knew what would happen, we remained silent as per Babaji’s instructions — not to interfere.
The physical and mental suffering he underwent is unimaginable. That’s why today, in your sacred hands, this blooming flower of Thiruvasagam rests.
Our beloved disciple Rudra Shivatha has fulfilled our lifelong dream. What greater offering could a disciple give a Guru? This is the most worthy Guru Dakshina. Through his own trials and surrender, this disciple who once saw us as his entire destiny will now be sought by the awakened souls of the world.
Now, to you who read this, we offer our full blessings:
May you no longer be aimless. Learn the path of Brahma Jnana. Discover your own soul. And realize the God within. May all souls attain Supreme Knowledge.
When the manuscript was ready, Mahavatar Babaji asked him:
“Now that we’ve allowed you to write this Jnana commentary on Thiruvasagam, can you give it a subtitle?”
Without hesitation, he replied:
“Mahaguru, my soul tells me: ‘Thiruvasagam – The Tamil Veda Where the Soul Blossoms.’”
Babaji was astonished.
He turned to me and said,
“Sundarananda, what kind of being is this? I never imagined he would speak such a nectar-like title instantly. What a beautiful name — ‘Thiruvasagam – The Tamil Veda Where the Soul Blossoms.’
“Those who read this Jnana commentary shall attain complete Brahma Jnana. That is the truth. This work will become one of the greatest gifts of wisdom to the world. He is truly the right soul for Brahma Jnana. My son, Rudra Shivatha, we bless you with bliss.”
“As long as Thiruvasagam exists, your commentary will remain with it. Those who read Manikkavasagar will come to know you and your Jnana words. Your name is today inscribed into the world of Jnana. After this, you must write the commentary for Tirumandiram. Then come to us. We will merge you with our divine world. Let the eternal nectar of Brahma Jnana reach all yearning souls across the world through you. Complete blessings.”
From this day forward, the parents who gave birth to him shall earn immense merit. Those who read this book shall attain divine consciousness, the eternal state, and Brahma Jnana.
Every divine thing has a price. Do you know what price he paid?
His happiness, family ties, desires, peace, and life.
Even before completing this commentary, he endured terrible sorrow, mental unrest, and external chaos.
Still, he remained firm:
“Let me write sitting in fire, Guru. Just give me permission.”
We, the Gurus, were moved. We witnessed his journey — not as one who suffered, but as one who sacrificed.
That is why today, this sacred lotus of Thiruvasagam blooms in your hands.
Our disciple Rudra Shivatha has fulfilled our life’s dream. What more could a Guru ask for as an offering?
This is the highest Guru Seva.
And now, let all awakened souls join with him.
May you never again wander aimlessly.
Learn the supreme path.
Realize the divine within you.
Attain Brahma Jnana.
Thiruchitrambalam!
With complete blessings,
Paramahamsa Sundarananda
