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Bhagavadgita Pages, Chapters 1 to 18

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Tirumantiram Epilogue TMTM01  TMTM02 TMTM03 TMTM04

V.Krishnaraj

Tirumantiram-TMTM04

VERSES 884 TO 1418

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Chapter 1 Ajapa: Verses 884-913

Comment:    

Mantra is the sound-body of a god; Yantra depicts the sound-body in a diagram. Mantra = (Man = to think or meditate + Tra = to protect.)  Yantra = instrument, engine, apparatus, amulet with mystical diagram endowed with protective occult powers. Ajapa (A + Japa = No + Chant) is the primal Mantra. This chantless Mantra pervades the breath going in and out, the subtle sound ‘sah’ going in and the subtle sound ‘ham’ going out.  (Sa = Siva, Vishnu, Lakshmi, or Gauri [Parvati or Sakti]; Ham = I am; so = Parvati.} As one chants this subtle-sound Mantra ‘soham’, a derivative of ‘sah-ham,’ ‘Hamsa’ comes into being by inversion. Soham, Hamsa and AUM (Pranava) are equipotent.

Ajapa Mantra, Soham, is AUM which becomes A and U, which are Si and Va, which in turn stand for Siva and Sakti. Si and Va augment into five letter Mantra, Na-Ma-Si-Va-Ya, which undergo further augmentation into 51 letters of Sanskrit alphabet.

Tirumular says that AUM, though a three-letter word, is a one-letter Mantra. Soham is the unintonated sound of normal breathing, meaning ‘I am He.’ Hamsa, meaning ‘Swan’ as in RamaKrishna Parma-Hamsa, stands for an ascetic --Hamsan. All of us including all air-breathing living beings recite this Mantra ‘Soham’ unknowingly for a lifetime. This chantless Mantra (Ajapa Japa) is called Ajapa Gayatri. As you are breathing this chantless Soham in and out, you are identifying your individual self with the Great Self of the Supreme Being. Every breath (and the Mantra) that you take pervades the whole universe of your body. This life giving force or Mantra has the Great Self as the basis. Every time you chant a Mantra, it leads the individual soul to the Great Soul-- the Source, the Essence. All Mantras inclusive of Sakti, Vishnu and Siva Mantras and many but not all rituals are Tantric in origin; that is the reason why Tantra is called Mantra Sastra.  Devi or Sakti says that any Sastra that is in opposition to Sruti, Smrti, and Oneness (Siva and Sakti in Saiva tradition, Vishnu and MahaLakshmi in Vaishnava tradition) such as Bhairava, Gautama, Kapala, Sakala and the like are created by her Maya power for bewilderment of those devoid of Her Grace.

Tirumular says in Tantra Four, Verse 885, that A became the world, A and U became Sakti and Siva and AUM became the Light (Jnana = Wisdom). M became the Maya. End of comment

Ajapa

    884: Ajapa

போற்றுகின்றேன் புகழ்ந்தும் புகல் ஞானத்தைத்
தேற்றுகின்றேன் சிந்தை நாயகன் சேவடி
சாற்றுகின்றேன் அறையோ சிவ யோகத்தை
ஏற்றுகின்றேன் நம் பிரான்ஓர் எழுத்தே.

I worship thee; I praise thee; His wisdom is my refuge. He is always in my thought; I seek relief at the Holy Feet of the Lord.  I explain Siva yoga. I recite the One Letter (AUM) which is Lord Himself.

    885: By one Letter (A),  he became the world;  by two Letters (A,U), he became two--Siva and Sakti; by three Letters (A,U,M), He became the effulgent Jyoti (Jyoti = light = Jnana = wisdom). By Letter M, Maya made its appearance. Comment: go to files:

1) OM NAMASIVAYA

2) POTPOURRI ONE (AUM)

    886: Chitrambalam is where Devas live; Chidambaram is where Devas live; Tiru Ambalam is where Devas live; The Great Hall of the South (in the Temple at Chidambaram) is where Devas live.

    Comment: The Sabah or the Great hall in the Temple at Chidambaram is where Lord Nataraja dances Tandava, which is witnessed by Devas, Sadakas, Siddhars, Rishis, and devotees. It is the Hall of Consciousness (Chit Sabah). Tirumular calls AUM as one-letter Mantra, representing Tandava, the Divine Dance of Siva. Tandava is derived from Tandu, a dancer and servant of Siva. Any act performed by Siva is a dance. He is Mahanata. Maha + Nata = Great + Dancer. Nataraja = Dance/Dancer + King = King of Dance or Dancers. The dances are named according to his acts (creation, maintenance, destruction, veiling and Grace), places (Chidambaram), and competition (Urdhva), 25 Lilas (acts of play). The most celebrated dance is the ‘Tandava’ in Chidambaram. Chidambaram = Chit + Ambaram = Mind or Will + Sky or Space.) If you are a Seer or Rishi full of Brahma and Siva Jnana and Devotee of Siva Nataraja, you can witness the Ananda Tandavam in your inner vision of divine eyes (Divya Caksus), so say the learned ones. End of comment.

Chidambaram = Cit + Ambaram = Consciousness + Ether, sky, or atmosphere = Ether Consciousness = Cosmic Consciousness: this is the Sanskrit version.

Chidambaram = Cit + Ambalam = Consciousness + Hall = Hall of Consciousness: this is the Tamil version.

     Chidambaram is a temple town of great antiquity going back to early Christian era. Sankara visited the town and temple and Periyapuranam was composed in the thousand-pillared hall. Four Saiva Saints (Appar, Sundarar, Sambandar and Manikkavacakar)  worshipped at the temple. Today Sambandar stands (as a stucco statue) at the South Gate, Appar at the West Gate, Sundarar at the North Gate and Mannikkavacakar at the East Gate. The gates are the entry points in the towers or gopurams. Together with domed Chit Sabha, the five structures represent the five faces of Siva.  

    887:  In the Golden Hall it is a wonder dance; the dance is Bliss itself; it is sacred dance of Anavarta (eternal) Tandavam;  that dance is Pralaya (the Great deluge) dance. It is samhara (dissolution) dance.

Comment: Siva dances Arpuda, Ananada, Anavarta, Pralaya and Samhara Dances in the Golden Hall. End of comment.

888: Tandavam is that one-letter  word (AUM); Tandavam is Anugraha act (of the Lord); Tandava Dance stands alone as the Highest of Dance in the Golden Hall. Anugraha = grace.

889: He is the Supreme Light; he stands as all Tattvas; he stands as Akāram and Ukāram; he is the Supreme Light of Tattva Dance; he is himself the earthly support of all. Akāram and Ukāram: Letter A and letter U.

890: He is the highest Paramaparan in every corner of the worlds. In the realm of Fire he is Na-Ma-Si-Va-Ya; in the realm of sun, he is Va-Si-Ya. In the sphere of Yoga, he is Va-Si.

Comment: Spheres of Muladhara, Fire, Sun and Moon are the progressively higher centers of Kundalini yoga. Siva is the resident deity in all the centers. In the plane of Muladhara (Kundalini, fist plane), he stands as Na-Ma-Si-Va-Ya--Na for earth and Brahma, Ma for water and Vishnu, Si for fire and Rudra, Va for Vayu and Rudra, Ya for Akasa and Sadasiva. NaMaSiVaYa has contextual meanings:  

@ = Thiruvarutpayan sings praise of Lord Nataraja and ascribes the alphabets to body parts of Nataraja: NA for foot, Ma for abdomen, Si for shoulders, Va for face,  Ya for crown of the head.

^@@ = Thiru-gnana-sambandar's list of fives.

Panchaaksharam, the five-syllable mantra, represents Siva in Lingam and Nataraja.

Tirumular says that anagram Mantra, Na-Ma-Va-Si-Ya stands in the sphere of Fire; Va-Si-Ya stands in that of Sun; and Va-Si stands in the sphere of  Moon, which is the source of nectar of eternity, which the Yogi imbibes. . Chanting Namasivaya drives away the fiery snake of Pasa--bondage. Sivaya Nama is the Sukshma (subtle) Mantra, chanting which eight thousand times reveals the subtle path of Sushumna, destroys karma, and gives the bliss of Siva.  For a detailed presentation of AUM (OM) go to POTPOURRI.  End of comment.

891: Siva and Sakti are A and U (of AUM). They are supreme and beyond thought. They contain in them the sacred Dance of Siva, transcending human understanding. They are Siva Gati and pure joy. Siva Gati: Refuge at the feet of Siva.

892: Pure Bliss is three (syllables, Si,Va, Ya). The two (Si, Ya) are unitary one in Jnana. The Pure Bliss, Si,Va, Ya, not many know. Those who who know this Bliss will discover (vision) the Ananda Tandava (Dance of Bliss).

893:  Masters of many arts and letters recite two letters (A and U). Omkara subsides in five letters (Si, Va, Ya, Na, Ma.) The Samkhara Dance (of dissolution) subside in them. This (SIVaYa) residing in (the Muladhara genital) Triangle ascends to other Adharas or Chakras.

894: They (Si and Va) are Sadasiva; they are imperishable Agamas. They offer Siva Gati (refuge of Siva) in a manner that the tree is the refuge of bees. They are the sacred Dance; they are the sacred text of Agamas. They are the pristine purity of sacred Dance Hall.

895: They (the letters) are Pati, Pasu, Pasam and Agamas of stainless purity. They are the Tirotayakam Bliss. (Bliss of obscuration, one of the attributes of Siva). The pure letters are Anavam, Mayai, and Kamiyam (Ego, Maya, and Desire). The pure letters are the site of Sacred Dance.  Tirotayakam  (Tamil) = Tirodhana (Sanskrit) = obscuration.

He is the basis for Pati-Pasu-Pasa; the miseries from Pasa; the purity after removal of Pasa; obscuring ignorance,; removal of ignorance and of the darkness of Anava Mala; the rescue of the Anma from Anava, Kanma and Maya Malas; and the Citakasa (Cit + Akasa = Consciousness + Ether = Cosmic Consciousness.) Chitakasa = Chidakasa.

896: He stands as the head of his own Self; he stands himself as his own mountain; he stands as his own Self; he stands as the Lord of himself.

Siva is One without a second. He knows neither birth or death. He is self-born or self-generated. There is no one above Him. He is the Head of of His own Self. He stands as the indestructible Great Mountain. He is inimitable to Himself.

897: Standing as Talaivan (The Head, Lord, God) is the Supreme Lord of Dance. Standing as Talaivan is Sar-Pāttiram (ºüÀ¡ò¾¢Ãõ = Worthy recipient for gifts, virtuous person). Standing as Talaivan is the Lord blossoming of Jnana flower. Standing as Talaivan is the Lord whose feet is beyond compare.

He is the Supreme Essence and the head of all beings. He is the PerumAn (Great God) who does the Cosmic Dance. he grants refuge to all beings. He is the source of Sivajnanam (Siva's divine knowledge and grace). He is the Jnana-flower (»¡ÉÁÄ÷ = knowledge-flower)

898: The sacred feet of incomparable Lord are the eight letters. The feet of incomparable Lord are (letters) two and five. The feet of incomparable Lord are letters fifty-one. The feet of  incomparable Lord are seven thousand.

The eight letters are, A¹,  U²,  M³,  Na⁴-Ma⁵-Si⁶-Va⁷-Ya^{8. When you join His two feet to them, they become 2 times 5 (10).  Fifty-one letters refer to the 51 Tamil alphabets before. The two feet expand to 7000 Mantras. Om as Pranava refers to the two feet; Sound of Namasivaya is His Feet; Tamil form is His Feet;  Veda Mantras exposition is His Feet. Thus NAdam (¿¡¾õ), Uruvam (¯ÕÅõ) and Villakkam (Å¢Çì¸õ) are his Feet. Tamil Sound of Namasivaya, Tamil Form and Mantra Exposition are His Feet.}

899: The seven thousand (Mantras) become twenty (plus) thirty (fifty), later swells into seventy million. The seven thousand Mantras beyond thought and calculation subside in the life of seven and two (Mantras). Comment: According to Dr. B. Natarajan, seventy million is a less likely than seven terminal word endings of Mantras: Namah, Svata, Svaha, Vamshat, Vashat, Hum, and Phat.

Example:

 Namah = Salutation.: OM Sri Maha Ganapataye Namah.

Svata = Svadhaa (svadha) See below.

Svaahaa (svaha): a ritual and magical exclamation when offerings are made in the fire and a terminal word in mantras. Svaha = hail, welcome, praise to you. Svaha and Svadha are associated with Agni, Agni's consort, Sri, Krishna, Sarasvati, daughter of Daksa, Goddess of Nidra (sleep)...

It is a call of the priest invoking and inviting gods and also a personification of goddess, Uma, to whom women pray to obtain offspring.  Uma, You are SvAhA.

When Brahma was seated on the generative lotus flower perched on the stalk sprouting out of Vishnu's navel, he was terrified by the emergence of demons Madhu and Kaitabha from out of the ear canal of Vishnu in Yoganidra and invokes the goddess of Yoganidra (cosmic sleep personified as goddess Durga residing in the eyes of Vishnu) so that an awake Vishnu would slay the Asuras. Brahma utters his hymn as follows:

You are Svaha; You are Svadha; You are Vashatkara; Your soul is Speech (Svara)... You are Savitri of Gayatri Mantra; You are the Supreme Mother.

Brahma by eulogizing as above is entreating Her to leave Vishnu's eyes so that he opens His eyes, sees the demons and destroy them.

Vamshat = Vamsat

to like, love, wish, desire, to gain, acquire, procure (for one's self or others),  to conquer, win, become master of, possess, prepare, make ready for, aim at, attack,  to hurt, injure, to sound,  to serve, honour, worship.
help--Monier Williams

Vashat = Vasat = Vausat. derived from Vas meaning shine. A magical exclamation, sacred to gods, unites all living creatures, supports the sacrifice, summons gods to the sacrifice... Vasat, equated to sun and death, is capable of counteracting opposing forces in Sakta cult incantations. Vasatkara (Vasatkaara) is ritual exclamation of vasat and also its personification as a divinity.  Pallid Examples: 1) You are Vasat, the Sunshine of my life. 2) You are Vasat, the Death Valley of the parching sun.

Hum = Bija mantra of Sakti (Tara, Kali....)

Phat = onomatopoetic sound.  A close example I can think of to explain Phat is Wham, Bam, Boom.

900: There are seven thousand Mantras; Ajapa Mantra is beyond compare. This Mantra is of Siva's holy frame and form. All Mantras take this color and nature (Åñ½õ).

. Of all the 7000 Mantras, the inimitable one is Ajapa Mantra. MANTRA.  All Mantras are of the form of Siva. Ajapa Mantra is un-intonated Mantra of breath associated with Pranava.

901: He is the Lord  (¾¨ÄÅý) of His own Self. (He is self-generated Supreme Being.) He performs His own special dance. He stands as A and U (Akaram and Ukaram). He dances in His Tattvas.  He performs His special dance in this world.

902: The Dance in two letters is pleasing and joyous. The Dance in two letters is Naman's Dance of dissolution. The Dance in two letters is scorn-free Mantra (Mantra leading to Bliss.) The dancing Siva Lingam transforms Copper-Jiva  into golden Siva. Naman = Death, Time personified.

There are two dances: Arbhuda Tandavam and Ananda Tandavam.  Arbhuda Tandavam entails the casting the embodied souls into the sea of Samsara and their destruction.  Ananda Tandavam entails granting of Grace to the souls. Samhara Tandavam

Siva Nataraja performs a wide repertoire of dances of which seven are the most important: Ananda Tandavam1, Sandhya Tandavam2, Gauri Tandavam3, Tripura Tandavam4, Kali Tandavam5 (Urdhva Tandavam), Muni Tandavam6, and Samhara Tandavam7. All dances are performed by the Lord to please Uma-Parvati, consort of Siva Nataraja. Every now and then, Siva takes Parvati on an aerial ride on his mount Nandi through length and breadth of India, shows her the golden peak of Kedara, Kasi (Benares or Varnasi), Kanchipuram, Arunagiri, Svetaranya, Vedaranya and comes back to Chidambaram, his home base.

903: Chanting Sivaya Nama turns copper into gold; Chit Para turns copper into gold. Chanting "Srim" and "Krim" turns copper into gold. It is the sacred Hall where copper turned into gold.   Comment: Chit Para = Intelligence Supreme. It is existent in Sivaya Nama Mantra. Srim and Krim are the Bija (Seed) Mantras of Siva and Sakti; they are derivatives of Sanskrit letters. Seed Mantra naturally connotes that other Mantras grow from the seed Mantras.

904: Draw Tiruvambala Chakra; draw Tiruvambala Chakra with six lines twice, (six vertical and six horizontal); make twenty-five squares; Meditate on them. The Mantra for meditation is SiVaYaNaMa. = º¢ Å¡  ¿ Á

This is the Tiru-Ambala-Chakra --Type 01

905: Chant as follows: Sivaya Nama, Sivaya Nama; If you chant thus, there will be no more birth. With his Grace, you can witness his eternal Dance.  Copper (that is Jiva) turns into gold (that is Siva).

This is the two-cell Mantra

906: Do not chant this Mantra loud; Say it sotto voce (or in silence).  Golden Mantra in its radiant glow turns your body into gold and in due course of time you will see the Golden Feet of the Lord.

907: You will witness the Golden Feet; you will bring forth distinguished children. The Golden Feet will turn copper into gold (jiva into Siva). As you witness the Golden Feet, your body will turn into a holy one. You shall witness the Dance of the Golden Feet as your thoughts dwell on the Mantra.

908: It is easy to transmigrate into any body. Goodly Madavār will grace you by her presence. As you chant the Mantra, the fiery snake of Pāsa will take leave of you. Chant the Mantra; it is the secret of Sacred Dance. 

Madavār = woman; in this context it is Sakti.

909: As you chant the Sukshma (subtle) Mantra eight thousand times, the Sukshma Path shall come into view. The subtle Karma will come to ruin; you shall enjoy the Sukshma Siva Ananda. Ananda =bliss.

910: Anandam, Anandam: thus you chant. Anandam, Anandam: A,E,U,I, O (A,E,I,O,U, the life-vowels) are the source of Anandam; Anandam, Anandam, they become the five-letter Mantra. Anandam, Anandam, it resides in Hum, Hrim, Hum, Sum, and Aum (the five seed letters).

The five letter mantra is either the   A,E,U,I,O or SiVaYa NaMa or the Tantric Hum, Hrim, Hum, Sum, and Aum

911: The two-letter (A, U) Mantra is the body (of the Lord); Chant it Sotto Voce.  You undergo  transformation, as the two-letter Mantra pervades your body. The two-letter body of the Lord becomes five letters: U, A, I, E, O (that are Jiva or individual soul). The two-letter body of the Lord become five letters, I, O, U, A, E that are Siva Dance.

912: The Dance is Si Va Ya Na Ma. The dance Letters that is I, U, A, E, O (®  °  ¬ ²  µõ), become SiVaYa  NaMa; the Dance, that is I, U, A, E, O  (®  °  ¬ ²  µõ) become Si Va Ya NaMa; the Dance letters I, U, A, E, O  (þ  °  ¬ ²  µõ) become NaMaSiVaYa, the Supreme goal.

913: He dances as one; he dances as two (with Sakti); He dances in three, (Sun, Moon and Fire). He danced in seven worlds; He danced on one foot; he danced in nine (Saktis). He danced on a stage that is Space; He danced the Ruby Dance.

Another explanation: He dances as one (Ether); as two (Ether and Air); as three (Sun, Moon and Fire); as nine (Siva¹, Sakti², Sadasiva³, Mahesvara⁴, Rudra⁵, Brahma⁶, Vishnu⁷, Nada⁸, And Bindu^9.

2. Thiru Ambala Chakra (Chakra = Yantra)

914: The squares are formed as follows: draw twelve perpendicular lines and twelve horizontal lines across the former; thus there are one hundred and twenty one enclosed squares (Manai). The Lord dances in this Chakra of squares (Checkerboard).

The math is as follows = (2x6x10) + 1  = 121.

915: He lives in his own Letter (Si); the four Letters are the Great Letters of his name.  The four sides of his Chakra are present in his five letters. In the one Letter he lives is Hara's Mantra.

916: Chant "Hara, Hara." There is nothing out of reach. Those, who do not know this, do not chant "Hara, Hara." When you chant "Hara, Hara," you will become Amarar. when you chant "Hara, Hara", there is no more rebirth to you.  Amarar = Immortal, Deva, god.

917: The letter Si in the Chakra is in eight directions; from that one letter in eight places came the five gods, nine Saktis, Bindu and Nada. The pure word of Mantra thus flourishes.

918: With the lady seated on blossoming lotus, the Lord has conjoined; the reason and cause, no one knows. They who recite the aspirated letter O with unaspirated letter M will protect their life for ever.

919: Abiding like a temple is Panchakshara; abiding like a temple is the Manifest (Namasivaya); abiding like a temple is the subtle (Sivayanama); thus, he abides in them like a temple. (The five letters Na-Ma-Si-Va-Ya and Si-Va-Ya-Na-Ma are manifest and subtle.)

920: This Chakra is formed with six by six lines; inside the Chakra, there are five by five lines; thus it is partitioned into twenty-five cells; within one of those cells (in the center) is the letter Ma.

921. Place the letter Ma in the center and the letter Va above it; circumscribe these two letters by the enveloping letter O.  Split them up and down by the letter U. Place the letter Ya at the top, and the letters Si on either side so they look like eyes. The letters Na and Va will take the place of two feet.

922.  Pranava is in the center and Si on top; on either side, place Va and Ya; inside place Na Ma Si Va Ya ; on the outer round perimeter, place Si Va Ya Na Ma.

923. In the first line above the Chakra, place Si Va Ya Na Ma; In the square and on the second line place Ma Si Va Ya Na; in the third line, place Na Ma Si Va Ya; below it write Mantra Ya Na Ma Si Va; thus, the square in the Chakra has Si in the beginning and Si in the end.

Tiru-Ambala-Chakra Type 9 -- in a 25-cell Chakra

924. Inscribe two letters in each of the twenty-five cells, letter A in the first cell, letter Ksha in the last cell. These 50 letters and OM amount to fifty-one in all; thus, the fifty-one letters (of Sanskrit) are seated in their cells.

Tirumular composed Tirumantiram in Tamil. Here he talks about the Sanskrit letters put in 25 cells.

                                             ओमं

925. In the outer circle abides Hara Hara; in the inner round, abides Hari Hari; in the innermost round, place Ajapa Mantra, OM; inscribe the Trident sign at the periphery of the circles.

926. Write Bija Mantra Hrim above each Trident icon; above the Trident icon surrounding OM sign, write five letters in the space between the Trident icons; the resulting Chakra is the Lord's abode.

927. The letters, A, I, U, E, O underlying (forming the substratum of) the Five Letters, Si, Va, Ya, Na, Ma are inscribed between the two circles, at the center of which our name (Mular) is inscribed.

928. This is the famous Mula Mantra. Inscribed are the Letters in the space between the two circles; thus, the Chakra acquires its natural state of goodness and fine appearance.

929*. As you chant this Mantra, the Lord (Nathan) will clearly show you ways, means, and acts. Water and wind, earth and sky abide there. Meditate on the Mantra before chanting it.

(Comment: Wind, Water, Fire, Earth, and Sky as the five elements, Na Ma Si Va Ya as the five-letter Mantra, and Yam, Vam, Ram, Lam, Ham as the Tantric Bija (seed) Mantras have three- way concordance.

In the plane of Muladhara (Kundalini, fist plane), Siva stands as Na-Ma-Si-Va-Ya--Na for earth and Brahma, Ma for water and Vishnu, Si for fire and Rudra, Va for Vayu and Rudra, Ya for Akasa and Sadasiva. NaMaSiVaYa has contextual meanings.

930.  Take the forty-eighth letter (Sa); conjoin it with the sixth letter (U); top it off with Bindu letter to form syllable Sum. Taking the forty-eighth letter (Sa), conjoin it with the fourteenth letter (Au) and Nada letter (: /Ah) to form the syllable SAUH. Chant Si Va Ya Na Ma as a sequel. When you chant Sum Sauh Si Va Ya Na Ma thus, the triple maladies (Mumalam) will flee screaming and screeching.

931. AnNal (Siva) resides in Her Vahara (Va of Si Va Ya Na Ma) or Sau; the Supreme Sakti resides in the Si of Si Va Ya Na Ma or Hum. Thus the pair remain in amity. The Punniyavans (those earned good merit) comprehend the essence of Siva-Sakti.

932. By placing the letter "A" in the bottom, "Ara" (Hara) in the middle, and "E" at the top, the shape of Lingam appears. When you feel the Prana ascends from "M" of the pit of the throat (Visuddha Chakra) to the pit on the top of the head (Brahma Randhra, Sahasrara Chakra), you will comprehend and hear the Thom, Thom of Ananta Nadanam (Dance of delight) and visualize the splendorous form of the Supreme Substance (Siva).

Thom, Thom: onomatopoetic sound made by the dancing feet of the Lord. Thom, Thom rhymes with Om.  A, Hara, and E are intellect; prowess, abundance and copiousness; and delight.

933. In the Linga form, there is an "A" and a  "Sa".  Linga form encompasses "A" and "Sa" of Siva and Sakti and all else. Many do not realize the Truth that God in the form of Siva-Sakti has integrated well with the Jivas. The knowers of Truth understand Sadasiva Himself is the Sakti of the Seed Mantra Sa.

934. The five-letter Mantra  (Na-ma-si-va-ya--¿Áº¢Å¡Â-- is the seat of Nandi. PanchsAkaram (Pancham + Akaram = five + chakras) is the sacred Mantra of  five letters and Chakras. Siva's abode is in the five letters.

935. Though one speaks of the many ways of seeing (and merging) with the Kutthan (dancer), it is enough to chant the first letter (Si) of the Dancer's name. They will stand with the like-minded devotees. This is the only way of seeing (and realizing) the Dancer.

º¢Å = Siva;  º¢ is the first letter of Siva (Lord Nataraja).

936. Kindle and wake up the Fire (Kundalini) abiding  in that direction (In Muladhara Chakra). Chant the letter Na (¿) abiding in Muladhara Chakra.  Meditating on the Na brings Maraiyavan (Supreme Vedist-- Siva) to the Chakra.

937. If you eye Kundalini, She reveals herself, grants Grace and raises you upwards. If you chant her Ma (Á) in Sahasrara Chakra, She will appear as a splendorous gem.

Kundalini Power

938. In the North, a splendorous gem (Kailas, the snow-bound Abode of Siva) stood; in the South Indra, a splendorous gem stood. The letter C (º¢) that stood like a splendorous gem is what he showed for all to see.

Kailas in the Himalayas, the abode of Siva in the North shines like a gem in the sunlight of Siva's grace. In the south, Indra shines like a gem because he has control over his Indriyas (senses); his splendor comes from Siva. Siva reveals his splendor in the Jiva as Paramatman.

939.  He, the Uncreated (Svayambhu--self-created without parents) stands as the cool rays of Light; the Uncreated stands as the Vedas. If you chant the attributes of the Uncreated, He will appear as the unborn Maraiyavan (Á¨ÈÂÅý--Vedic Scholar or revealer of Vedas). Marai (Á¨È) means to conceal; secret; Vedas as secret.)

940. As Maraivan, he gave us birth, honoring us, so that we would ourselves become adept in Vedas (Maraivan). As Maraivan stands within the five letters (Na-Ma-Si-Va-Ya), He Himself is the five letters.

Á¨ÈÅý = Maraivan = He who expounds or well-versed in Vedas.

941.  His feet stand as Na; His navel holds the Ma;  His two shoulders are Si; His mouth is letter Va; the letter Ya shows as the radiant head. Thus Siva is of the form of five letters.

This is the anthropomorphized form of 5-letter Siva Mantra NA MA SI VA YA, as depicted by Mular in Verse 941 in Tirumantiram.  Top-down Mantra (one of the many anagrams of Namasivaya) as depicted here is YA VA SI MA NA--

ÂÅ¡º¢Á¿,  which is the upside-down mirror image of ¿ Á º¢ Å¡ Â.

The devotees meditate on the five letters (NaMaSiVaYa) as Supreme Siva, who remains in their heart.

942. The two plus three letters (two plus three =  five letters =NaMaSiVaYa) shines great and remains as radiant Nandi form. If you see Him inside you as OM, He spreads out as a vast ocean.

Nandi = theriomorphic form of Siva.  Nandi = the happy one; the sacred bull; name of Siva's bull and His vehicle. Granite Nandi is seated in front of the shrine facing Lingam in Shiva's shrine.

943. The Mantras are expansive. The Mantras offer Varam (boon) to all lives.  The Mantra guarantees conquest. The enveloping hostilities flee by the strength of the Mantras. Awaken the Mantra starting with Om.

Om Namasivaya is an expansive Mantra. Conquest over the enveloping hostilities means that by chanting the Mantra,  Karma and birth-death-rebirth cycles are overcome by the strength of the Mantra. How do you awaken the Mantra? Awaken the Mantra with Om and follow up with Namasivaya.  It is a boon-giving Mantra.

944. Awaken Om (Pranavam); awaken the Supreme Nandi by uttering Na; awaken the Light in the middle of the forehead, as perceived by the knowers who enjoy seeing the dance (in their mind's eye).

The Divine Dance in Ajna Chakra: Awakening Om and Na in praise of the Supreme Nandi enables kindling the Light of Ajna Chakra Kundalini Fire. The Point on the forehead between the eyebrows is the site of the Light of Ajna Chakra (Bhru-Madya), which is also the Light of Siva. This dancing Light is the dance of Lord Nataraja enjoyed in ecstasy by the Kundalini Yogis who ascended from Muladhara Chakra to Ajna Chakra.

AUM: Tirumular says that the one letter, A, represents the universe. The two letters A and U are Siva and Sakti, the latter being the all-powerful manifest energy of Siva. The three letters, A, U, and M are Siva, Sakti and Light, the last being Jnana or knowledge.  The letter M is also Maya. Tirumular calls AUM as one-letter Mantra, representing Tandava, the Divine Dance of Siva. Tandava is derived from Tandu, a dancer and servant of Siva. Any act performed by Siva is a dance. The dances are named according to his acts (creation, maintenance, destruction, veiling and Grace), places (Chidambaram, etc.), and competition (Urdhva), 25 Lilas (acts of play). The most celebrated dance is the ‘Tandava’ in Chidambaram.

945. The five letters abide in the Chakra remaining beautifully in their appropriate positions. ParAparan stands in a beautiful state in the 51 letters.

946. Ya is the middle letter of the supreme 5-letter Mantra, Si Va, Ya Na Ma,.. Meditate on the Supreme Ya Na Va Si Ma, the supreme Ma Va Ya Na Si, Supreme Si Ya Na Ma Va and the Supreme Va Si Ma Ya Na: thus stand the Anagrams (of Na Ma Si Va, Ya).

In the plane of Muladhara (Kundalini, first plane), he stands as Na Ma Si Va, Ya: Na for earth and Brahma, Ma for water and Vishnu, Si for fire and Rudra, Va for Vayu and Rudra, Ya for Akasa and Sadasiva. NaMaSiVaYa has contextual meanings:  

947. The letters stand for five Bhutas (Elements); The letters stand for five colors; If the letters stand in proper order, He will stand in those letters.

NA MA SI VA YA represent five great elements: earth, water, fire, air and ether, which have their own colors as seen in the above chart. The prevailing opinion is that these elements are represented on the Yantra by colors and shape.

948. The Chakra stood and spread all over the universe. The Lord stands at the entrance of the Hall, the arena of His beautiful land of Maya. As the milk flows from the cow to the calf, grace flows from Nandi, who stands high atop the (Kailas) mountain.

Here Chakra means a circle, which could be part of Mandala and Yantra, or a group of men, women or both. Since the previous verses made reference to Yantras, there is no need to think that the Chakra refers to a circle of Tantric practitioners of Panchamakara. The Chakra here refers to the universe as his stage for His Cosmic Dance.  As said earlier, Nandi, the sacred Bull is the theriomorphic form of Siva and confers Grace on Siva devotees. Verse 947 says that Siva abides in the Great Five Elements also.

949. There is a plenitude of goodness in the Chakra. Within this Chakra, there are five entities. Within this Chakra there are the five letters of the Divine Dancer. In this Chakra, Divine Dance goes on.

This universe is His stage and He performs the Dance of creation, sustenance, destruction, veiling and grace.  This Chakra contains the Suksma Panchaksharam OM and the Sthula Panchaksharam NA MA SI VA YA.  As a Divine Dancer He is Nataraja or Natana Sabapathy. Nata + Raja = Dance King = King of Dance. Natana + Sabha + Pathy = Dance + Stage + Master = Master of the Dance stage.

950.  Space does not have lines. Chakras have lines. Between the eyebrows of the head, place A.  On the vortex of the head, place U, around which place the letter MA. The sinuous line makes the Bindu, the "leg" SI; the straight line "horn" is the Nada letter, VA.  This is the Siva Mantra.

951.  Start with A and U, Si in the middle.  Start with Va with the breath flowing. Start with Si and meditate on Siva.  The Omkara Prime One revels.

Comment:  Pranava OM is the prologue followed by Anagram Siva Mantra as depicted below.

Start with A and U, Si in the middle = OM    Na Ma Si Va Ya.  (µõ  ¿Áº¢Å¡Â) Front load of obscuration and impurities. This is the Mantra for ordinary mortals, who are not enlightened with spiritual wisdom. It will become apparent to you that the head of Mantra is Na Ma indicating obscuration and impurity and the soul Ya is in the tail of the Mantra. All souls strive to sit between Si and Va , a state of liberation.

Start with Va with the breath flowing = OM  Va Si Ya Na  Ma.  (µõ  Å¡º¢Â¿Á) Front load of Grace and Siva, as seen in pure souls.  Mantra is for pure souls, who left behind their obscuration and impurities.

Start with Si and meditate on Siva = OM  Si Va Ya Na Ma.  (µõ º¢Å¡Â¿Á) Front load of Siva and Grace, as seen in one who is like Siva--Great Souls. Mantra for Great Souls.

Panchaaksharam, the five-syllable mantra, represents Siva in Lingam and Nataraja.

In the following passages let me explain the Siva Mantra in varying combination of letters.

Tirumular says that anagram Mantra, Na-Ma-Va-Si-Ya stands in the sphere of Fire; Va-Si-Ya stands in that of Sun; and Va-Si stands in the sphere of  Moon. The basic Mantra is Na Ma Si Va Ya. See variant example below. When the soul Ya is flanked by Na and Ma on the front and Si and Vā on the back, Na and Ma representing Tirodhana and Mala lead the soul into bondage and  rebirth and Si and Vā representing Siva and Arul confer salvation and Grace to the soul.  

Na Ma Ya Si </