#6B8E23
Six Saiva systems
R.Nagaswamy
2015-Aug-10
Sambandar sings all iconographic forms with their esoteric meanings. Śiva teaches the six fold systems of the Śaivas, like Śaivam, Pāsupatam, Vāmam, Mahāvratam, Bhairavam, and Kālāmukham, which are called Inner systems. These are six systems with minor differences in their approach to the worship of Śiva. Though they differ Śiva is the Supreme one for all the six branches. The poem says their path is laid clearly like crystals. Who is this Lord? He who can not be easily comprehended by the six tastes, by the seven notes of music, the eight Guṇas (qualities), and also the Four Vedas which every one seeks.
Here Sambandar says the god can not be comprehended by these. He points out Siva resides in all the above in which people try to see him. He suggests that the six Saiva systems are also there to pursue as any one among them is an easy path. It also suggests that Śiva teaches the Saiva system as Dakshināmūrti.
மெய்த்தாறு சுவையும் ஏழிசையும் எண்குணங்களும் விரும்பு நால்வே
தத்தாலும் அறிவொண்ணா நடை தெளியப் பளிங்கேபோல் அரிவை பாகம்
ஒத்தாறு சமயங்கட் கொருதலைவன் கருதுமூர் உலவு தெண்ணீர்
முத்தாறு எதிருதிர நித்திலம் வாரிக் கொழிக்கும் முதுகுன்றமே
meyttu āṟucuvaiyum(m), ēḻ icaiyum(m), eṇkuṇaṅkaḷum, virumpum nālvē-
tattālum aṟivu oṇṇā naṭai teḷiyap paḷiṅkē pōl arivai pākam
ottu, āṟucamayaṅkaṭku oru talaivaṉ karutum ūr ulavu teṇnīr
muttāṟu vetir utira nittilam vārik koḻikkum mutu kuṉṟa(m)mē.
1
Kirāṭārjunamūrti
The second form Sambandar describes is Kirāṭārjuna mūrti. Arjuna in the Mahābhārata undertook a severe penance to obtain a weapon to conquer the war with the Kauravas. The path of Victory is arduous and islike one undertaking a severe penance infested with wild animals. In actual life one has to withstand all onslaughts and fight. It requires the correct weapon. Śiva appears before Arjuna , with Devi, tests his patience in battles, before giving him th weapon called Pāsupata astra. In a poem Sambandar says Śiva appeared as a wild hunter, and tested Arjuna's patience in battles and made him suitable to receive the Pāsupatam.
வேரி மிகு குழலியொடு, வேடுவனாய் வெங்கானில் விஜயன் மேவு
போரின் மிகு பொறை அளந்து பாசுபதம் புரிந்த புராணர் கோயில்
காரின் மலி கடிபொழில்கள் கனிகள் பல மலர் உதிர்த்து, கயம் முயங்கி,
மூரி வளம் கிளர் தென்றல் திருமூன்றில் புகுந்து உலவு முதுகுன்ற(ம்)மே.
vēri miku kuḻaliyoṭu vēṭuvaṉāy, veṅkāṉil vicayaṉ mēvu
pōriṉ miku poṟai aḷantu, pācupatam purintu aḷitta purāṇar kōyil
kāriṉ mali kaṭipoḻilkaḷ kaṉikaḷ pala malar utirttu, kayam muyaṅki,
mūri vaḷam kiḷar teṉṟal tirumūṉṟil pukuntu ulavu mutukuṉṟa(m)mē.
2
Sambandar clearly says Śiva appears as a Hunter and tested Arjuna for his patience in the battle he wants to fight and then conferred the weapon, which is called Pācupatam Purital.
The word Pācupatam is derived from the Pacu which means "human life". Pācu is that which is derived from Pacu human life. Pācupatam is the aim of or end result of human life. Śiva gives Human life for bestowing final redemption provided one has the patience to with stand. The presence of Devi indicates the inherent grace available always with Śiva. That seems to be the message of the Pācupata episode.