Post by radha on Feb 6, 2016 10:58:19 GMT 5.5
OM SRI GURUPYO NAMAHA RESPECTFUL PRANAMS TO SRI KANCHI MAHA PERIVA
FRIDAY REVIEW » FAITH
February 4, 2016
Updated: February 4, 2016
Indescribable experience
Many poets have tried to describe their experience of God. But in all cases words have failed them, said K. Sambandan in a discourse. Manickavachagar, a minister under a Pandya King, was one day transformed by the grace of God into a staunch devotee of Lord Siva. He wrote the most moving verses, expressing his bhakti towards the Lord. Manickavachagar’s Tiruvachagam is divided into sets of 10 verses, expressing Manickavachagar’s experience of God.
One can teach another how to read or to write, or even to recite a religious verse. But how can one teach someone what one has experienced? And that is the problem even with the best of bhaktas. Arunagirinatha, in one of the verses in Kandar Alankaram, says that words are not sufficient to describe the greatness of Lord Shanmukha. In one of the verses in Tiruvachagam, Manickavachagar says that the Lord saved him from seeking the favours of women, saved him from being totally absorbed in worldly enjoyments and gave him His grace. “But how can I describe this miraculous thing that has happened?” asks Manickavachagar.
Poet Kamban writes of Sita and Lakshmana following Rama, as they walk along the banks of the Godavari river. The poet admires Rama’s good looks and wonders if He is the colour of the kohl applied on eyes? Or is He the colour of a charming emerald? Or is He blue like the Ocean? Or is He like the clouds? His beauty is everlasting, says the poet, but finds no more words to exactly describe the Lord’s beauty. The poet then exclaims, “Ayyo!” as an expression of his inability to find a suitable word for Rama’s good looks.
The experience of God is always like that. All one can do is say it is indescribable.
Keywords: religious discourse, K. Sambandan
MORE IN: Faith | Friday Review
SRI KANVHI MAHA PERIVA THIRUVADIGAL CHARANAM
FRIDAY REVIEW » FAITH
February 4, 2016
Updated: February 4, 2016
Indescribable experience
Many poets have tried to describe their experience of God. But in all cases words have failed them, said K. Sambandan in a discourse. Manickavachagar, a minister under a Pandya King, was one day transformed by the grace of God into a staunch devotee of Lord Siva. He wrote the most moving verses, expressing his bhakti towards the Lord. Manickavachagar’s Tiruvachagam is divided into sets of 10 verses, expressing Manickavachagar’s experience of God.
One can teach another how to read or to write, or even to recite a religious verse. But how can one teach someone what one has experienced? And that is the problem even with the best of bhaktas. Arunagirinatha, in one of the verses in Kandar Alankaram, says that words are not sufficient to describe the greatness of Lord Shanmukha. In one of the verses in Tiruvachagam, Manickavachagar says that the Lord saved him from seeking the favours of women, saved him from being totally absorbed in worldly enjoyments and gave him His grace. “But how can I describe this miraculous thing that has happened?” asks Manickavachagar.
Poet Kamban writes of Sita and Lakshmana following Rama, as they walk along the banks of the Godavari river. The poet admires Rama’s good looks and wonders if He is the colour of the kohl applied on eyes? Or is He the colour of a charming emerald? Or is He blue like the Ocean? Or is He like the clouds? His beauty is everlasting, says the poet, but finds no more words to exactly describe the Lord’s beauty. The poet then exclaims, “Ayyo!” as an expression of his inability to find a suitable word for Rama’s good looks.
The experience of God is always like that. All one can do is say it is indescribable.
Keywords: religious discourse, K. Sambandan
MORE IN: Faith | Friday Review
SRI KANVHI MAHA PERIVA THIRUVADIGAL CHARANAM