These are joyful songs sung and danced to, celebrating Lord Shiva’s divine sports (Thiruvilaiyadal) and glories! Here too, states of spiritual wisdom (Jnana) are expressed in an esoteric manner!
“Valaithathhu villu vilaindhathhu poosal
Ulaindhana muppuram undheepara
Orungudan vendhavaa rundheepara”
Only if a bow is bent can an arrow be shot! How do they shoot an arrow placed upon a bow? They pull back the bowstring—the cord tied to the bow! Only then, when released, does the arrow shoot forward with speed! Like wise is the string of our two eyes. When they unite internally at the center within the fire aspect (Agni Kalai), light surges powerfully from the center like an arrow! He states that when Lord Shiva bends the bow in this manner, a battle ensues! It arises as light intensifies through the radiance of the lotus eyes! By the swift, piercing light, the three cities (Tripura) standing before us—the veil of the three impurities (Mummalangal)—are burned away! This is wisdom (Gnana)! What is the cause of this? Un-dhee-para: Your inner fire (un-thee) must catch flame, burn, soar, and incinerate the veil of the three impurities! Everything must be burned to ashes; only when the three impurities are eradicated will the disease of rebirth be removed!
“Eerambu kandilam aegambar thangaiyil
Orambae muppuram undheepara
Ondrum perumigai undheepara”
Shiva, who burned the three cities(mup-puram), does not hold two arrows in His hand! Existing as the singular (Egambam), radiant like a long pillar of light, Shivam holds only one arrow in His hand! Our two eyes themselves are the bow! The inner fire aspect (Agni Kalai) is the point where the bowstring is pulled back and gathered! That single arrow—just one arrow—burned the three cities(thripura-muppuram)! “Shiva smiled!” means the opening of the pupil, light was born, and impurities were burned away—which is the direct experience of wisdom (Jnana/Gnana Anubhava)!
“Paarppadhi yaippagai saatriya thakkanai”
Paarppadhi: What is used for seeing (paarppadhu)? It is the eye! The Lord (Pathi) of that eye—the one residing within the eye—is Shivam! It is the light itself! Shivam destroyed Daksha, who held hostility toward that Shivam! Daksha, who vilified Shivam, was destroyed by Shivam itself! The food we consume turns into essence (sath), becomes a sacrificial offering (avippaagam), and merges with our spirit (aavi) and with Shivam! Otherwise, we are just a corpse (savam)!