“Munnīṟum ādiyum illān muṉivarkuḻām
Pannūṟu kōḍi imaiyōrkaḷ tāmniṟpat
Taṉṉīṟu eṉakkaruḷit taṉkaruṇai veḷḷattu
Mannūṟa maṉṉumaṇi uttarakōsa maṅgai
Miṉṉēṟu māḍa viyaṉmā ḷigāpāḍip
Poṉṉēṟu pūṇmulaiyīr poṉṉūsal āḍāmō”
The Almighty has neither beginning nor end! He has neither mother nor father! He is beyond time! Hundreds of crores of sages, rishis, siddhas, enlightened beings, and imaitādhar (unblinking celestial beings/devas) stand before Him! We blink our eyes multiple times in a single second. Devas stay awake, eyes wide open, constantly in meditation, which is why they do not close their eyelids or sleep. If we wish to rise from the human state to a divine celestial state, we too must remain awake without blinking of eyes!
While everyone was present looking on, He bestowed upon me His matchless lotus feet! He immersed me in the flood of His mercy and granted supreme bliss! He seated me inside the magnificent mansion of Utharakosamangai, radiant with inner light, where the motherly power (Valai Thai) bestows nectar within the golden hall (Aani Ponnambalam).
“O ones with golden, glowing breasts” — since the eyes resemble breasts, the eye itself is referred to here as the breast! All of us are souls, and all souls are inherently feminine. Therefore, considering all people of the world as women, Manikkavasagar calls out: “O women with golden breasts, come let us swing on the golden swing!” This is the spiritual interpretation (Mējñāna viḷakkam). Do not blink! Stay fully awake and aware!
“Ārā amudhiṉ aruṭṭā ḷiṇaipāḍip
Pōrārvēṟ kaṇmaḍavīr poṉṉūsal āḍāmō”
The insatiable nectar, which is not easily obtained by anyone and drank by none except through the tapas of self-realization (Gnana Tapas), is the sweet honey granted by Mother Valai. Our two eyes (Thiruvadi) are the tools that allow us to receive this sweetness! Inside them shine the golden feet of the Divine—the golden effulgence (Thanga Jothi)!
Those eyes resemble the spears borne by warriors in battle, akin to the spear (Vel) held by Lord Murugan! When the three streams—Sun, Moon, and Fire (Surya, Chandra, Agni kalai)—merge into one, just as the three prongs of a trident unite to form the single point of a spear (Velayudham), it transforms! Make it happen and swing on the golden swing!
Just as a swing moves forward and backward, your awareness and inner light of the eye must move back and forth—this is how one must practice. At a certain point, it will merge into the inner element of Fire (Agni kalai) and come to a standstill. You can descend and rest right there! Look at how Manikkavasagar sings using rich metaphors to guide us toward spiritual practice (Jnana Tapas)! By any means, one must practice Jnana Tapas! Everyone must attain wisdom!
“Āṇā aliyō arivaiyō eṉriruvar
Kāṇāk kaḍavuḷ karuṇaiyiṉāl dēvarkuḻām
Nāṇāmē uyyaāṭ koṇḍaruḷi nañju taṉai
Ūṇāka uṇḍaruḷum uttara kōsamaṅgaik
Kōṇār piṟaicceṉṉik kūttaṉ guṇambaravip
Pūṇār vaṉamulaiyīr poṉṉūsal āḍāmō”
Whether the Supreme Divine is male, female, or hermaphrodite—a God whom neither Vishnu nor Brahma could find despite searching—He consumed the Alahala poison as His food out of sheer mercy to save the universe and protect all the devas!
Similarly, for those who practice spiritual meditation (Jnana Tapas), He bestows grace, takes them under His fold, consumes the deadly poison of their three inner impurities (Mummlam), and saves their souls! Such a benevolent Lord resides at the meeting point inside our eyes as the Lord of Utharakosamangai! Let us sing the praises of the divine dancer (Koothabiran) who wears the crescent moon on His head, and let us swing on the golden swing!
Gnana sarguru SivaSelvaraj Ayya