This morning [12-5-2020,], I was watching one of my favorite programs on the Podigai TV channel in Tamil, “Arule Anandame” (Blissful Grace), where Dr. Selva Ganapati narrates the lives of Saiva saints from the Periyapuranam written by Sekkizhar. Today, he was telling the story of Thirunavukkarasar, also known as Appar. Appar converted from Jainism back to Hinduism due to the efforts of his elder sister. He was persecuted by the Jain King, instigated by Jain monks. However, overcoming all the ordeals, he ultimately won back the Pallava King (Kadavar Kon) to Hinduism and continued his visits to various Siva temples in Tamil Nadu. Despite this, he was still not happy, feeling he carried the defilements of Jainism in his body. He requested Siva to give him the ‘stigmata’ of the Trishul (the weapon Siva carries with three sharp blades) on his body to purify him once more. Siva agreed, not only giving him the ‘stigmata’ of the Trishul but also his banner (flag) of the Bull on both his shoulders.
Sekkizhar records these events in the Periyapuranam in Thirunindra Sarugam, songs 151 and 152. One can find Appar’s petition in Devaram, Thirut Tuunganai Madam, song 1028.@
As I recalled this story, I thought about what kind of stigmata I could request from the Lord. Of course, Sevanand says that he carries the stigmata of the Lord in his body, though he never mentions what it is. Unlike Hindu deities, since the Lord does not have any special emblem or banner, I cannot claim them. Some saints had a bleeding hand (palm) as a special stigmata for their devotion. But I am not interested in any of them. Finally, I remembered the one famous word my mother often uses when she becomes tired: ‘mudiyala’ (unable). I too have uttered this word several times when I become extremely tired in the body. As the Lord also roamed the roads to meet the felt needs of the people by providing food and healing the sick, he too might have uttered this word, of course, in his mother tongue. So when I wrote this song [BT Song 1198], at the end, I requested to use the same tiredness in both body and mind as his stigmata for me to demonstrate his love.
@ The Siva who dwells in Thiruththungam put the mark of Thrishul and Bull on the skin of Appar. In Periyapuranam.
I will utter a request to your golden feet; if you have consent to save my atman, to remove the power of Yama put the impression of your Thrishul on my skin.—by Appar in Thevaram. Song 1028—A rough translation by me.
@
@ 151. பொன் ஆர்ந்த திருவடிக்கு என் விண்ணப்பம் என்று எடுத்து 1416-1
முன் ஆகி எப் பொருட்கும் முடிவாகி நின்றானைத் 1416-2
தன் ஆகத்து உமை பாகம் கொண்டானைச் சங்கரனை 1416-3
நல் நாமத் திருவிருத்தம் நலம் சிறக்கப் பாடுதலும் 1416-4
152. நீடு திருத் தூங்கானை மாடத்து நிலவு கின்ற 1417-1
ஆடக மேருச் சிலையான் அருளால் ஓர் சிவபூதம் 1417-2
மாடொருவர் அறியாமே வாகீசர் திருத் தோலில் 1417-3
சேடுயர் மூவிலைச் சூலம் சின விடையின் உடன் சாத்த 1417-4
— சேக்கிழார் அருளிய திருத்தொண்டர் புராணம் என்ற பெரிய புராணம்
பன்னிரண்டாம் திருமுறை, முதற் காண்டம், திருநின்ற சருக்கம்
Mathigiri, 12-5-2020, 11.30
Revised on 8-7-2024
Gurukulam
This morning [12-5-2020,], I was watching one of my favorite programs on the Podigai TV channel in Tamil, “Arule Anandame” (Blissful Grace), where Dr. Selva Ganapati narrates the lives of Saiva saints from the Periyapuranam written by Sekkizhar. Today, he was telling the story of Thirunavukkarasar, also known as Appar. Appar converted from Jainism back to Hinduism due to the efforts of his elder sister. He was persecuted by the Jain King, instigated by Jain monks. However, overcoming all the ordeals, he ultimately won back the Pallava King (Kadavar Kon) to Hinduism and continued his visits to various Siva temples in Tamil Nadu. Despite this, he was still not happy, feeling he carried the defilements of Jainism in his body. He requested Siva to give him the ‘stigmata’ of the Trishul (the weapon Siva carries with three sharp blades) on his body to purify him once more. Siva agreed, not only giving him the ‘stigmata’ of the Trishul but also his banner (flag) of the Bull on both his shoulders.
Sekkizhar records these events in the Periyapuranam in Thirunindra Sarugam, songs 151 and 152. One can find Appar’s petition in Devaram, Thirut Tuunganai Madam, song 1028.@
As I recalled this story, I thought about what kind of stigmata I could request from the Lord. Of course, Sevanand says that he carries the stigmata of the Lord in his body, though he never mentions what it is. Unlike Hindu deities, since the Lord does not have any special emblem or banner, I cannot claim them. Some saints had a bleeding hand (palm) as a special stigmata for their devotion. But I am not interested in any of them. Finally, I remembered the one famous word my mother often uses when she becomes tired: ‘mudiyala’ (unable). I too have uttered this word several times when I become extremely tired in the body. As the Lord also roamed the roads to meet the felt needs of the people by providing food and healing the sick, he too might have uttered this word, of course, in his mother tongue. So when I wrote this song [BT Song 1198], at the end, I requested to use the same tiredness in both body and mind as his stigmata for me to demonstrate his love.
@ The Siva who dwells in Thiruththungam put the mark of Thrishul and Bull on the skin of Appar. In Periyapuranam.
I will utter a request to your golden feet; if you have consent to save my atman, to remove the power of Yama put the impression of your Thrishul on my skin.—by Appar in Thevaram. Song 1028—A rough translation by me.
@
@ 151. பொன் ஆர்ந்த திருவடிக்கு என் விண்ணப்பம் என்று எடுத்து 1416-1
முன் ஆகி எப் பொருட்கும் முடிவாகி நின்றானைத் 1416-2
தன் ஆகத்து உமை பாகம் கொண்டானைச் சங்கரனை 1416-3
நல் நாமத் திருவிருத்தம் நலம் சிறக்கப் பாடுதலும் 1416-4
152. நீடு திருத் தூங்கானை மாடத்து நிலவு கின்ற 1417-1
ஆடக மேருச் சிலையான் அருளால் ஓர் சிவபூதம் 1417-2
மாடொருவர் அறியாமே வாகீசர் திருத் தோலில் 1417-3
சேடுயர் மூவிலைச் சூலம் சின விடையின் உடன் சாத்த 1417-4
— சேக்கிழார் அருளிய திருத்தொண்டர் புராணம் என்ற பெரிய புராணம்
பன்னிரண்டாம் திருமுறை, முதற் காண்டம், திருநின்ற சருக்கம்
Mathigiri, 12-5-2020, 11.30
Revised on 8-7-2024
Gurukulam
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