Post by Sumi on Oct 12, 2013 20:07:26 GMT 5.5
Excerpts from Deivathin Kural - Volume 1
English Translation: advaitham.com
Japamala and palm-leaf are indicators of awareness and knowledge. You will see these two things in the hands of, the two embodiments of supreme Gnana, Saraswathi and Dakshinamurthy. Palm-leaf is indicative of 'Vidya'. Vidya is not to be mis-construed as simply Education. If we relate to the education our children receive at the schools, we have to draw a line between, 'Vidya' and Education.
Education should enable one to get rid of all pride to be replaced by adoring love of God. All education of all sorts of Arts, Sciences and Crafts; were aimed at this supreme noble Lakshya. Pride is 'Ahankaram', which can arise out of, wealth, position, power and possessions. But the worst of pride is the feeling that, 'I am well read!'. That is why, our grand old ancestors, coined the phrase, "Vidya Vinaya Sampanne". Higher the knowledge, greater the humbleness and humility.
For any disease to be cured, with the medicines, 'Pathyam', that is restriction on diet is very important, without which the medicine becomes poison. For the medicine of 'Vidya', to be effective, the pathyam required is unpretentious modesty and humility, with which, it becomes the "'Amirtam' that gives Gnana. That is why, Dakshinamurthy and Sarawathi, are the Vidya deities. You know that Saraswathi is addressed as, 'sakala kala vani and sarva vidya swarupini'. Vedas say that Dakshinamurthy, is the Lord of all Vidya. He is in a state of total inertia, when all speech, action and awareness, are at a stand still. It is that Dakshinamurthy, who is considered as the 'Medha', who grants boons for 'brilliance of the brains(buddhip prakasam), 'mastery of speech'(vakku vanmai), power of knowledge(vidvath shakthi).
Both Dakshinamurthy and Saraswathi, in addition to Rudraksha Mala and Palm-leaf, have the crescent moon in their hair. It is called, 'chandra kalai'. Kalai or the crescent is indicative of growth. For knowledge, there is no end. It is always growing. The more you know, the more you become aware of your limitations. Avvay Patti in one of her immortal songs says, "Karrathu kai man alavu. Kalladadu ulagalvu. Urra kalai madanthai odugiral". It means that, 'Saraswathi Devi says that, what she has learnt is a handful of sand and what she is yet to learn is as big as the world!' That should give us an idea as to how humble we should be. Even to-day, the really learned experts in any discipline would say, 'what I know is only the tip of the iceberg. There is much more to know.'
Like Dakshinamurthy, Saraswathi also has the third eye, in the center of the eye-brows, in the forehead. This is indicative of the fact that, unless desire is burnt off, there is no place for Gnana. Both these Gods are depicted as having piled their hair as a crown of the shape of pyramid. This is also a sign of Gnani. Both are white as white only can be. This is the colour which is not of any colour, but has all the colours contained in it. Whiteness when it is more clearer, it becomes crystal clear! Both Saraswathi and Dakshinamurthy, have the Spatika Malai(Garland of Crystal beads). Cleanliness, purity, peace and clarity, automatically accrue to us, when we think of them!