Manikkavasagar praised Lord Shiva, visited various temples, worshipped Him, sang His glories, and was in a state of ecstatic bliss. Since it sings the glory (Keerthi) of Sivan, this is called Keerthith Thiru Agaval.
“Thillai moothoor aadiya thiruvadi”
To refer to the Lord, he mentions only His holy feet. In the town of Thillai, there is an ancient Shiva temple—Chidambaram—which represents the element of space (Aagaya Thalam). There, the Lord appears in a dancing posture as Nataraja, the King of Dance. Instead of describing the Lord entirely, Manikkavasagar mentions only the Lord’s holy feet. He states what is most important. What we need first are the “Holy Feet”! The greatness of the holy feet is the very essence of this decad!
What we must grasp first are the holy feet of the Lord! That is what we must realize. Through a proper, true Guru of wisdom (Gnana Sadguru), we must receive the teachings of wisdom and realize the holy feet! We must receive the initiation of wisdom (Gnana Deeksha) and the initiation of the holy feet, and perform the penance of wisdom! Only as experience grows will knowledge multiply; that itself is wisdom (Gnanam)!
”Aimmugangalaar paniththaruli”
The Puranas say that Shiva has five faces. They are Eesanam, Thathpurusham, Agoram, Vamadevam, and Sathyojatham. Later, to create Arumugan (the six-faced Lord Murugan) to destroy the demon Suran, Sivan took on a downward-facing face (Athomugam), making it six faces in total. The fire born from the forehead eyes of these six faces—six sparks—became the six-faced God! This is also from the Puranas!
When we perform penance, we can see the six faces! If we meditate on Sivan and do penance, Sivan’s grace will join with Shakti’s grace, and the six faces will appear before us! This is an experience of wisdom! Sivam, which is the right eye, and Shakti, which is the left eye, will join together, and our two eyes will appear before us!
One eye has 3 circles representing 3 faces: the white of the eye (sclera), the iris, and the pupil. These 3 circles are the 3 faces in 1 eye! If so, 2 eyes equal 6 faces. Those who perform penance can see this. When Thiruvarut Prakasa Vallalar performed penance at the age of 9, the first vision he saw was the six faces! Whoever in this world performs the penance of wisdom, what they will see first are their own two eyes!
”Uththaragosa mangaiyu lirunthu”
Manikkavasagar did not sing saying from the town of Uthara kosa mangai or from its temple! Pay close attention. Thiruvasagam is a treasure trove of wisdom; do not dismiss it as mere story or mythology. Experience it and see, true wisdom will be understood. “From within Utharakosa Mangai” – before reaching the center inside our head, the Mother – Shakti will come. ‘Utharam’ means that which is above, like that which supports the roof in a house. What supports Sivam above our head is Shakti! The part right in the middle of our head where the two eyes meet inside, above the ‘Kosam’. Before seeing Sivan, Shakti – Vaalai will come. The good maiden (Mangai Nallaal) will give nectar, and only after that can Sivan be attained.
”Paathach silamboli kaattiya panbum”
When we realize the true essence and perform the penance of wisdom (Gnana Thavam), as we turn inward, we will first hear the sound of Nadam (divine vibration/sound)! The ten types of Nadam (Dasavitha Nadam) will be heard! “The sound of the anklets on the foot” – anklets are worn on the feet, aren’t they. If we hold onto the feet – the holy feet – and perform penance, we will hear the sound of the anklets. Manikkavasagar has clearly stated this very thing! “The abode of the Good Mother is at the end of the Nadam”. Listen closely to where the Nadam goes and ends! When your attention is fixed on it, you can reach the place where that Nadam originates! That is exactly where our Mother Vaalaikumari is! Utharakosa Mangai! The same Mother who fed nectar to Thirugnanasambandar at the age of 3! The same Mother who fed nectar to Thiruvarutprakasa Vallalar at the age of 9! She will come to feed us nectar too! Only the crying child gets milk. We must cry! We must cry intensely. When we cry and wail, the Mother will come rushing to feed us nectar! One who obtains the nectar will attain an immortal state!
The temple of “Vaalai” is in Kanyakumari! Kanni”ya”kumari! The virgin (Kanni) – Vaalai resides in ‘Ya’ – the place where the sun(right eye), moon(left eye), and fire elements (kalai) converge! When we do penance and merge the light of the right eye and left eye with the fire inside, the one who is there is ‘Kumari’ Vaalai! She will give nectar! Kanni’ya’kumari is located in the town of Kanyakumari! She is right in the middle inside our head as Vaalai to give nectar! Gracing this humble servant saying, “stay in Kanni’ya’kumari,” She also mercifully bestowed the Golden Light Wisdom Hall (Thangajyothi Gnana Sabai)!
”Attamaa siththi aruliya athuvum”
By the merit of his penance, Manikkavasagar attained the eight great mystic powers (Ashtama Siddhi). Making a mute girl speak in Thillai was also the power of Manikkavasagar’s penance! Omnipotence and mystic powers will accumulate for those who perform the penance of wisdom! Thiruvarutprakasa Vallalar states in his Thiruvarutpa, “By the power of Your grace, even a small speck of dust can perform the (Creation Maintenance Destruction Concealment Grace) five great acts!” When even a tiny speck can perform the five acts by the grace of God, there is no surprise in Manikkavasagar attaining the eight great mystic powers! All those who perform the penance of wisdom, all those who surrender entirely at the lotus feet, will attain the eight great mystic powers, complete knowledge of all arts, and all powers, and will shine with perfect wisdom! God will bestow His grace!
”Emmirai santhira theepaththuch saaththiranaagi”
God – the Lord of the Supreme Light of Grace (Arutperunjothi Andavar) – the embodiment of grace – the great – the omnipresent light! Saints say He has the brilliance of a thousand crore suns! We cannot even bear the heat of a single sun! We cannot look at it! The eyes are dazzled! How can one look at the brilliance of a thousand crore suns? Is it possible? It is possible?! God is not a scorching fire like the light of the sun! He is a cool “fire” like the light of the moon (Chandra Deepam)! Thirumoolar’s Thirumandiram proclaims the true wisdom: “Placing the cool feet as the foremost guard for the head”! ‘Than’ means cooling! God has created us by placing His cool Lotus feet in the front as our eyes to guard our head! Another song of wisdom, “Thannaar kazhal kaatti”, also says that the Lord’s kazhal – holy feet – feet, are thannaar – cool. Those who experienced it have said so! Just so that we too must experience it!
”Uththaragosa mangaiyooraagavum”
hat Sivam, which is our life source, resides right in the middle inside our head! To reach it, we must enter through our two eyes; this is the spiritual practice of wisdom (Gnana Sadhana)! Upon entering, the sound of Nadam will be heard, and then the nectar of Mother Vaalai will be attained. The place where the light of the sun and the moon merge inside, the place where Vaalai resides, the place where Utharakosa Mangai is located—that ‘town’ itself is where Sivan resides! Only by the grace of the Mother can one see the Father!
”Thirumugath thazhaguru sirunagai”
On Lord Shiva’s divine face, on His beautiful red lips, a beautiful little smile – a laugh – a gentle smile! To see that beauty, one needs ten million eyes! Our eye is Sivam! In the middle of the eye, there is a small hole – an opening, covered by a thin membrane! Sivan’s lips are closed! If the closed lips part slightly, isn’t that a gentle smile! If our closed eye, which is Sivam, opens slightly just a little bit, light will emerge! Beauty! Bliss! Wonder! We must make Sivan smile! Our eye must open! If the eye opens! A vision of light! A wonderful vision! Isn’t this exactly what the ascetics strive for. Sivam itself is beauty! The gentle smile is even more beautiful! Great beauty! It adds beauty to beauty!
The Puranas say that Lord Shiva conquered the Muppuram (three demonic cities)? Do you know how? With a smile! They say Lord Shiva laughed! He didn’t even fully laugh! He just blossomed a gentle smile. And all three cities burned to ashes, they say!! Thirumoolar says those who speak literally of Puranic tales are fools! This is true wisdom (Gnanam)! What is referred to as Sivam is our eye! Smiling means the eye opening slightly! If the eye opens, light will emerge from within! What is meant by Muppuram are indeed our own three impurities (mum-malam)! In the light that emerges when the eye opens, all our three impurities will be burned away! This is the experience of penance! Whoever it may be, if they receive the initiation of the holy feet (Thiruvadi Deeksha) and perform penance, the eye will open, light will emerge, and the three impurities will be completely eradicated! Truth! Truth! Perform the penance of wisdom!
-Gnana Sarguru Siva Selvaraj Ayya