THIRUPPUGAZH

(The Musical Prayer to Muruga)

By

V.S. KRISHNAN 

There are various paths that lead to the realization of God.  Bhagawan Sri Krishna told Udhava that in Kaliyuga, Bhakthi through Nama Sangeerthanam would be the easiest way to reach the Lotus Feet of God.  Lord Krishna had said:  “I do not live in Vaikunda or in the heart of a Yogi but I live where my devotees sing my praise”.  (“Na Aham Vasaami Vaikunda, No Yogi Hrdaya Ravaow…”)

Great saints like Jnaneshwar and Thukkaram in the west, Tulasi Das and Meera in the North, Jayadevar and Chaitanya in the east have built glorious tradition of devotion through music.  In  South India, the Nama Sangeerthanam tradition has been built by eminent personalities like Saint Thyagaraja, Purandara Dasa, Poonthanam, Theertha Narayana Swamigal, Bhodendra Swamigal, Annamacharya, Jnanananda Swamigal, Swami Haridas Giri, to mention a few.  The life of each of them is a saga of devotion and dedication and a source of inspiration for spiritual aspirants.  The twelve saints known as Alwars offered to mankind the immortal Dhivya Prabandam,  a commentary of 4000 verses which are known as Tamil Marai (Vedas) and 63 saints known as Nayanmargal offered in beautiful Tamil verses the adorations of Lord Shiva. 

 Tamil Nadu which witnessed so much devotional activity in the early period saw a new phase of Muruga worship with the appearance of Arunagirinathar.  Not that Muruga worship was a new phenomenon.  Muruga worship was as ancient as Tamil language.  It was prevalent even during the Tholkapiyam period which dates back to several centuries.  But the advent of Arunagirinathar gave a new direction and brought Muruga at the centre stage of worship.  Arunagirinathar having highlighted the glory, Muruga became the Lord the most loved, most adored and most worshipped.  Tamil people even claimed certain ‘inheritance’ and affinity towards Muruga describing Him as Thamizh Kadavul. 

Born at Tiruvannamalai, Arunagiri was about to end his life for having pursued a path of sin.  Lord Muruga rescued him, as He does any one who atones for his sins and transformed Arunagiri into a brilliant scholar.   Blessed with an enlightened vision and talent, Arunagiri waxed eloquence on Muruga, His lance (Vel), peacock (Mayil) and rooster (Seval).  While saints like Nakkeerar and Sivachariyar got the grace of the Lord after they went through a period of sacrifice, penance and prayers, Arunagirinathar was privileged to receive the blessings even in his initial stage. 

Having received the blessings of Muruga, Arunagirinathar composed over 16000 songs, though only 1300 songs have so far been located.  Drawing inspiration from Vedic scriptures and Tamil literary works, Arunagirinathar presented in the form of Thiruppugazh an effective means of Muruga worship.   As Thiruppugazh has been composed with the divine command of Muruga, the verses have acquired an inherent power and devotees believe that by rendering the songs, they get all their aspirations fulfilled. 

Among all languages, the language that most pleases the Lord is the language of music.  Music transcends barriers and reaches all.  It is the universal language, the language that originates from soul and captures the heart.  Almost all prayers to God have been set in music.  The Lord hears them, enjoys them and responds to them.  Quite appropriately,  the verses of Thiruppugazh have been composed as musical prayers.   The most remarkable feature of Thiruppugazh is the application of Chandham method.   Chandam means metre. While classical songs are set to different Thala (beats or thythm) after composition, Thiruppugazh songs are conformed to thala at the time of composition itself, giving them a perfect setting for music. 

Apart from Thiruppugazh, the saint of Tiruvannamalai shares his divine experience with devotees through the hymns of Kandhar Anuboothi.  Kandhar Anuboothi is described as the quintessence of all knowledge.  Here, Arunagirinathar spells out the gist of advice (Upadesa) he received direct from Lord Muruga:   “Summa Iru, Sol Ara” (Be quiet, without words).  This is the concept of silence which Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi was to elaborate later from the same venue, Tiruvannamalai.  Arunagirinathar also describes the glory of Muruga in his hymn Kandhar Alamgaram.  Here, the poet describes the splendid appearance of the Lord, the diamond studded Vel and the exquisitely beautiful peacock. 

Thiruppugazh is unique for its devotional value.  Matchless in its appeal to the intellect and heart, Thiruppugazh stresses the importance of knowledge and devotion.  Thiruppugazh penetrates into the self, awakens the inner consciousness and enlightens the soul.  It synthesizes the different concepts enunciated by saints and aims at reaching the Lotus Feet of Muruga.  The songs not only delight the heart, they enlighten the intellect, heal the disease, console the mind, ensure happiness and take the devotees to the right destination in life. 

Sri Sachidhananda Swamigal adopted Thiruppugazh as the ‘Philosophy of Life’ and dedicated his entire life for highlighting its glory.  Seshadri Swamigal described Thiruppugazh as the Maha Mantra.  Thayumana Swamigal said:  “Among the galaxy of devotional poets, Arunagiri shines like a brilliant star”.   The 19^th century poet, Sri Arunachala Reddiar said in “Kavadichindhu”  “The songs of Thiruppugazh expressed by devotees would reverberate all over the world and reach God”.   There were many saints like Pamban Swamigal, Krupananda Variyar etc.  who took the glory of Thiruppazh to Himalayan height.  Guruji Sri A.S. Raghavan has been leading the Thiruppugazh movement across the country and abroad for over 3 decades now. He has set every Thiruppgazh song to a particular Raga and popularized its rendering.  When the beautiful verses of Arunagirinathar acquired the sound of music, it became a wonderful form of prayer. 

It is said that the best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen, touched or explained but felt in heart.  One must acquaint himself or herself with Thiruppugazh to know its immense value.  Let me conclude this write up quoting the lines from Palani Thiruppugazh: “Aruthi Vazhvodu….”. 

"Let me not remain under the belief that this transient world of illusion, my wife and relatives, my dear and near ones, the mansion I own, the prosperous town I live, the glitter and affluence I see around will be enduring for ever.  Let not my mind hover around these unreal objects.  Grant me such an avocation that I always sing your glory and that which gives me ever lasting happiness”.   

Email the author:  vsk_tiruppugazh@yahoo.com

Author's Website: http://www.thiruppugazh.org