O Nectar, block the path of the deceitful five senses
That stand apart and bewilder me,
And rise within me as the Supreme Light—
Come and bestow Your grace so I may see You,
O Clarity of Certainty, Great Lord Shiva,
Dweller of the holy Perunturai,
O Bliss that transcends all final states,
You are my very own Beloved.
(Temple Hymn – 1)
“Perfection Without Deficiency, Nectar Without Flaw”
“O Fullness that asks nothing of anyone!
Faultless Nectar! Flame of boundless radiance!
O King, You who are the Vedas and the Supreme Truth revealed in them,
You rose and came to dwell in my heart!
Like an unceasing flood, You surge in my thoughts,
O Shiva dwelling in the sacred Perunturai,
O my Lord, You have taken this body of mine as Your holy temple—
What more can I ask of You now?”
(Temple Hymn – 5)
Love God in Your Youth
Manikkavasagar tells the devotees of Shiva with motherly compassion:
Love the Lord now, while you’re still alive and your soul hasn’t yet parted from the body. The Supreme One—who created the world, who is unattainable even to Vishnu who churned the ocean, to Brahma, and to other celestial beings; who drank the deadly poison as nectar; who is the formless One appearing as the Pandya King—is now pouring out His grace, His divine treasury, generously to His true devotees. Now is the rare moment! Love Him, unite body with divine purpose, and fulfill your birth.
For those spiritual aspirants who perform wisdom-based practices at His sacred feet, the all-pervading Shiva opens the cave of Pranava and grants them the wealth they need for both worldly life and spiritual realization. Hurry, come and strive.”
“Love now and be saved, while time remains;
The One who created the world,
Unattainable even to Brahma and the heavenly beings,
The One who drank the poison—our Lord of Pandya—
Is now giving out His primal treasury to His devotees—
Come quickly!”
(Tiruppandip Pathigam – 5)
The True Purpose of Human Birth: Love for God
Living a life with love for the Lord is the very reason we are born as humans. That is why Manikkavasagar says, “Love and be saved.”
He adds “while time remains” because only if one starts in youth will there be enough time. Many think, “Why worry about God in youth? Let’s earn wealth now; we’ll turn to God after retirement.” But in old age, the senses fade—eyes dim, ears fail—and many suffer various illnesses, unable even to think of God. We’ve all seen this.
Therefore, one must begin in youth, while time and energy are available, and accumulate both material and spiritual wealth. Manikkavasagar, with the compassion of a mother, urges us to receive the bliss of supreme knowledge from Lord Shiva, who drank poison for our sake and gave us nectar in return.
He says: “He’s offering the primal treasury—come quickly!”
That ‘primal treasury’ is the divine storehouse of grace, containing inexhaustible bliss and liberation, like the wish-fulfilling tree.
Thiruvasagam’s ultimate message is this: do not waste the time you’ve been given. Practice spiritual disciplines sincerely and attain the bliss of divine knowledge in this very life.
Can God Be Limited to Mere Words?
“Is the Lord someone who can be confined within words?”
Our revered Sadhguru Sri Sri Paramahansa Sundarananda Maharishi describes Thiruvasagam as a Vedic scripture in Tamil composed of divine sound syllables that awaken human consciousness. The great Tamil scholar Maha Mahopadhyaya Panditamani Kathiresan Chettiar hails these hymns as verses of divine beauty crafted in heavenly language.
The ancient Tamil Siddhars, in their wisdom, proclaimed that the Supreme Being—Paramashiva, the embodiment of boundless compassion—cannot be fully known through the five senses, the mind, or language. This divine, formless reality known as Ishwara can only be realized when Thiruvasagam is recited with a heart that melts in devotion, with a deep inner awareness that penetrates body and soul. In such a state, one merges with the Divine, becoming indistinguishable from Him.
The Lord cannot be seen through fleshly eyes that lack divine awareness. To truly perceive Him, one must engage in spiritual tapas (penance) to awaken the third eye, allowing the sight of the soul to unite with Shiva’s eye—the eye of divine knowledge. This is the profound wisdom at the heart of Thiruvasagam.
When this third eye opens, the truth beyond words is revealed. The Lord exists beyond the meanings of words, beyond the reach of the five senses, and beyond emotional experience. As Manikkavasagar says:
“He who transcends the limits of words,
He who is not seen by the five senses beginning with the eye,
He who cannot be grasped even by inner feelings…”
(Thiruvasagam 3:111–113)
Only when the impurities of the body, speech, and mind are completely burned away at the feet of the Lord can we gain that divine third eye—the eye of wisdom. Then alone can we perceive, realize, and unite with the Lord.
If, instead, we remain entangled in worldly illusions like a dog bound by attachment, wasting away our life, we will never attain the supreme God-consciousness.
Thiruvasagam was born from Manikkavasagar’s deep yearning to experience that infinite bliss of divine realization and to gain the eye of divine grace through spiritual austerity. It poured forth from the raincloud of his wisdom to nourish all beings, including us, who live in ignorance.
It was by his grace that Thiruvasagam came into existence—to enable even ordinary people like us to receive the divine eye. As he prays:
“To perceive You is a perception beyond perception.
How can I speak of You? Teach me how!”
(Thiruvasagam 22:3)
Not a Text to Study—A Path to Become Light
Is mere mastery of language, devotion, or Tamil knowledge enough to taste the divine honey of Thiruvasagam?
Even after reading countless commentaries, interpretations, and explanations by great scholars, has our ignorance really left us?
Do these songs cause our hearts and bodies to melt? Have we ever paused to ask ourselves why? Have we reflected on this at all?
We have not.
Thiruvasagam is not just a text to learn. It is a heavenly utterance—a divine sound scripture that urges us to see the Lord as light within ourselves and transform into that light.
Though written in Tamil, Thiruvasagam cannot touch our soul merely through language, religion, or philosophy. It can only be experienced through pure sound vibrations, divine tones, and sacred words that form its very foundation.
When these divine sounds are chanted repeatedly, the waves of pure vibration they generate purify not just the body, but also the soul.
The Divine Nectar That Melts the Inner Moon
Because these divine, loving words overflow throughout Thiruvasagam, it stands as the Tamil Veda, a mystical scripture in the language of the soul.
Only when we read it with awareness do our body, soul, and the lunar vessel (chandrakalasham) within us melt.
When the lunar vessel melts, the nectar within it begins to flow.
One who drinks that nectar daily will be freed from hunger, thirst, and sleep—and will attain the state of divine knowledge (Brama Gnana).
If Life Is Destined, Then Why Do We Need God?
If being born a king or a wealthy person, or as someone poor, unhealthy, or destitute is not in anyone’s hands and is instead determined by one’s past karma, then what role does human effort play? Why should we strive, why should we worship God?
Saiva Siddhanta teaches that such births are a result of one’s past actions. But does that mean our entire life is prewritten and fixed? If so, why try at all? Why believe in effort or devotion?
The answer to this profound question lies in Thiruvasagam. Let us explore.
Being born into unfortunate circumstances is indeed the result of previous karma. However, according to our sacred scriptures, after birth, every soul has full freedom to act. A person blessed with a great opportunity can choose to work hard, earn national honors, and reach heights of glory. Alternatively, they may misuse their position, succumb to greed, and fall into disgrace lower than even an animal.
Likewise, a person born with a physical disability may strive and win a gold medal in the Paralympics, or simply live in sorrow, lamenting their fate. Both are personal choices.
Like Thiru Neelakandar or Thirukurippu Thondar, we can use our birth to selflessly serve the Lord with unwavering love and become saints (Nayanmars). Or, we can remain engrossed in worldly illusions and sensual pleasures, increasing karmic bondage and suffering. The choice is ours.
God’s Motherly Compassion
Manikkavasagar explains that God is not a distant being who gives us bodies, senses, minds, and memory, only to watch us from afar. That is not the case.
Just as parents allow their children to play freely while watching them with care from a distance, God, in His boundless compassion, watches over us far more tenderly than even a mother.
He is not only with us, He lives within us—as light inside our very life-breath—constantly aware of us, even when we are unaware of Him.
In the “Kuyil Pathu,” Manikkavasagar speaks to a forest cuckoo:
“O little cuckoo in the honey-fruit grove!
Listen to this! Our Lord left the heavens and came to this earth out of compassion, to claim human beings as His own.
For the sake of their wisdom and learning, He merged into their fleshly bodies and lived hidden within.
When I began seeking Him, He overflowed with love, rejected my physical body, entered my heart, and merged with my consciousness.
O cuckoo, go and call the Lord of Uma Devi, He of the sweet and tender gaze!”
— (Thiruvasagam 18:4)
Here, Manikkavasagar proclaims that God renounced the heavens and came to earth just to guide ordinary humans.
He doesn’t state that only those who are rich, scholarly, or powerful can attain God. Instead, he emphasizes that true humanity is not based on status, and God does not discriminate.
God Is Always Merged with Our Soul
Just as the setting sun causes external darkness, hiding all visible forms yet revealing the presence of “darkness” itself, similarly, inner ignorance (spiritual darkness) blinds us to God’s presence.
Out of compassion, God grants us a body equipped with eyes, senses, and intellect so that through actions and experiences—good and bad—we may come to know ourselves, and ultimately, know Him.
Even while remaining hidden within us, God grants grace without our knowledge.
Once our ignorance fades, we can express the same divine love by performing acts of compassion without expecting recognition—helping those who suffer in silence.
Such service draws us into God’s embrace, making us worthy of His grace.
This is one of the key teachings echoed repeatedly in Thiruvasagam.
He Entered Even Before We Were Born
When did God unite with our soul? Manikkavasagar gives a beautiful explanation in the “Kanda Pathu” hymn sung in Thillai (Chidambaram).
Even before we were born—when we were still formless, drowned in ignorance—God, out of compassion, entered us.
He settled in our consciousness, later entered our body, and governed us with grace.
Even then, He concealed Himself within us, staying hidden even in our actions and thoughts, without interfering with our choices.
Manikkavasagar, after a long spiritual journey, realized this truth through divine grace.
He beheld the God dwelling in his soul, and attained a luminous body of light.
He then said:
“Even before I had form,
You entered and settled in my heart,
Fixed my thoughts, entered my flesh,
And ruled me with compassion.
I, the lowly dog-devotee,
Have now seen the delightful Shiva abode
That shines in Thiruththurutthi—
Discovered in Thillai, through intense longing.”
(Thiruvasagam 31:3)
If All Our Actions Are Determined by Karma, Why Do Others Matter?
In the illusion-bound life of the world, the results—good or bad—of one’s actions (karma) belong solely to the doer.
People carefully accumulate wealth for their children or spouse but pay no attention to whether their actions are righteous or unrighteous.
When wealth is amassed through unrighteous means, the negative karmic consequences fall solely on the one who committed them.
Even one’s spouse—who shares in joy and sorrow—children, relatives, and friends cannot share in the fruits of one’s karma.
Just as no one else can digest the food a person eats, no one else can experience the effects of another’s karma.
No living being can transfer their karmic outcome to another.
Therefore, Manikkavasagar refers to the soul as “Aatham Iliyaan“—the one without support.
In deep emotion, he praises the Lord who drank the poison that rose from the churning of the cosmic ocean:
“O Supreme Lord who consumed the swelling poison of the ocean!
I, abandoned by all, drowned in the inescapable hell of birth and death.
There was none to support me. You alone, in compassion, said ‘Alas!’
And revealed to me Your holy lotus feet—that was Your divine grace.”
(Thiruvasagam 38:3)
Here, Manikkavasagar equates the pain of repeated birth and death to hell.
Just as the Lord saved the gods by drinking the deadly poison, He saved the devotee from the hell of samsara (repeated birth) by revealing His feet—His grace alone being the cause.
God—Subtler Than the Subtlest
The all-powerful Lord is greater than the greatest in this vast universe, and also subtler than the subtlest.
Manikkavasagar, blessed with divine vision, articulates his mystical realization with the precision of modern scientific expression.
With divine grace, he perceives the Lord who simultaneously encompasses the ever-expanding universe—filled with countless galaxies and massive spherical celestial bodies.
Through his vision, he explains what he witnessed—both the infinite vastness and minute subtlety of the cosmos.
Before the Universe Took Form: Maya and the Subtle Origin
The enormous celestial spheres and physical matter we now observe in the universe were once formless, existing in an invisible, extremely dense and hot state—beyond the scope of physical laws.
This subtle, pre-atomic, pre-physical field is described in Saiva Siddhanta as “Maya”—the primal, unmanifest source.
Even today, there are always invisible elements and black holes within this Maya—areas that lie beyond scientific detection.
The part of the universe that functions under physical laws, where planets move in their orbits without colliding, is appropriately referred to by Manikkavasagar as the “Andappaguthi” (cosmic region) rather than just Andam (universe), reflecting his subtle spiritual understanding.
He marvels at God’s omniscience, comparing even the largest planets to tiny atoms when set beside the greatness of the Divine.
The Vision of the Subtlest God
After beholding the infinitely vast Lord, Manikkavasagar turns to see the One who is subtler than all—the nano of all nanos.
With the essence of the Vedas,
Vishnu’s vastness and brilliance,
The cycles of cosmic creation, preservation, and dissolution,
The subtle and gross elements,
The whirlwind that scatters space—
He, the Lord, commands all.
(Thiruvasagam, Andappaguthi 7:12)
Modern scientists like Hubble, Stephen Hawking, Roger Penrose, George Ellis, and David Ciram, between 1968 and 1995, confirmed scientifically that all celestial bodies return to their primal, subtle state at the end of their life cycle.
The concept of the “God Particle” (Higgs boson) is also now known to science.
The formation of galaxies and stars, their physical laws, the emergence of life on planets, their eventual decline and dissolution—the entire cosmic cycle—was beautifully revealed through divine vision by Manikkavasagar.
Multiple Brahmas, Multiple Vishnus, But One Shiva
Creation by Brahma, preservation by Vishnu—in a universe with countless worlds, there are many Brahmas and many Vishnus, but only one Ishvara (Shiva).
As Appar (another great Saiva saint) beautifully declared in the Thevaram:
“A hundred crore Brahmas have fallen,
Sixty crore Narayanas too,
Countless Indras, like grains of sand in the Ganges—
But the one without end,
The One Supreme—is Shiva alone.”
(Thevaram, Thirumurai 5:100-3)
May All Living Beings Live in Bliss!
Thiruchitrambalam!
