The Vision of the Sacred Dance-III

THE VISION OF THE SACRED DANCE - III

(Tiru-k-kuuttu-t- taricanam)

From Tirumular’s Tirumantiram

Translated from the original in Tamil by
K. C. KAMALAIAH
(Continued from the last number)

Gods of the Universe and those beyond,
Gods on earth encircled by waves clear,
Seeing the dance of the Sacred Feet in the Hall of Gold,
They worship and attain salvation.                                                                     (56)

As to those whose mouths water at the sight of tamarind,
To all those who witness the enervating dance,
Tears of delight swell, the heart is in a trance.
In the aureole of light, nectar of delight springs in mind.                                      (57)

The wandering hand stretched across is Siva Ananda.
The sacred dance danced in the acclaimed stage
Is food for those who eat it and are mad of it.
The gain to those who have the vision is that of the listeners too.                         (58)

With the fire and the drum, Rudraksha garland and noose
With Ankusam and trident and stull and wisdom,
Subsisting in the blue throat striking terror,
With the Girl in teens on one side, the Lord executes a mighty dance.                 (59)

With the eleven kinds of dances seeking refuge
In the ankleted foot, the hand having the drum
And the lengthening rhythm, danced Nandi with love,
The Supremest Being inside and outside.                                                           (60)

The Nine dancing as also the Sixteen,
The denominations Six of good dancing,
The pleasant Seven dancing as also Seven and Fifty-six,
He danced lovingly, the Dance of Delight eternal.                                               (61)

Sevens of the Seven He is, as also the basic seven letters,
One of the Seven He percolates and unites,
Of the seven paths, Our Supreme Luminous Lord is the Path of Truth.
He is One with the Dance of Seven musical notes.                                             (62)

The three expanding into five and three hundred and sixty,
The three expanding into six and the twelve basics,
Culminating in the soul of the three,
The Lord danced the attractive dance.                                                               (63)

The Sacred Feet of the Lord rest on the heads of gods
The Flowery Feet of the Lord, the brightest ruby,
Shine resplendent in the hearts of the faithful.
The transcendent Lord is the celestial tree and unfailing treasure.                        (64)

With the Omniscient dancing, the worlds tremble and shake.
The Lord dances knowing the limits of our hearts.
With the Omniscient dancing, the many elements are on the move,
Deriving pleasure from the dance of the Holy Flame.                                          (65)                             
The Lord danced as anybody else, say those with little knowledge.
The first act of dance none could comprehend.
After every one came to know the original dance danced,
The Dance of Origin is but the Love of Grace.                                                   (66)

While the nine and nine of the two words
Are held together lovingly at the end by ‘act’,
With the activating energy appearing and dancing,
My Loving Father takes to dancing.                                                                  (67)

The scriptural essence dancing and Sadasivam too dancing,
The mind dancing and dancing too the energy of Siva,
The still and the unstill dancing along with sacred lore,
The Heavenly Father danced the Dance of Bliss.                                               (68)

For the two to witness at the lovely stage,
He with a Form, Formless and the Form-cum-formless,
Within the divine Love of Grace, the Siddha, the Blissful,
As the very Grace personified commenced dancing.                                          (69)

While Siva dances, Sakti dances too. While in the universe,
Evil is shaken to its roots, the unshakable ether shakes.
While the ever-fresh philosophy of the Essence of Rhythm dances,
Within the periphery of Vedanta-Siddhanta Siva dances.                                   (70)

The finale to rhythm and the peak of four pronged knowledge,
The ultimate goal of the Vedas and the Impeccable Siva Ananda,
In the good and eternal Siva Ananda without roots,
Are rhythm personified. That is the Dance of Siva.                                             (71)

Releasing the toll of the five beginning with Sivam,
Life and bondage detaching themselves from that of penance,
The Supreme Lord dancing of His own will,
That’s the Siva Ananda Dance of Wisdom – the Penance.                                 (72)

The Perennial Lord engulfs, Since the dim past He perennially stands,
While gods perish. The Lord perennially stands
While being searched by the name of ‘Vikirtan.’ While the three lights waver,
He stands for ever. How he has made a thrall of me!                                         (73)     

The Lord transcending primordial sound,
Stands entwined appearing not different,
From the Faithful in the know of separation and elimination,
Who derived immense pleasure of Siva consciousness.                                      (74)

’Tis Bliss, ’Tis Bliss, say the ignorant.
To none is intelligible the lofty dance of delight.
To whomsoever is intelligible the lofty dance of delight,
’Tis Bliss, the very end of self-effacement.                                                         (75)

The well-formed hand is thrown across.
The tender hand invites and offers refuge to ascetics.
The lovely hand keeps eternal vigil.
The fire is purificatory. That’s the Lord, the Sacred Still.                                    (76)

Holding a drum in a hand and throwing one across
Having water and also a hand with fire,
And the Lotus Foot trampling evil,
That is SI VA Y A NA MA in shape, chantest thou so.                                     (77)

Haran’s drum is creation, Fear Not hand is protection.
If it needs any telling, in the fire is destruction.
In Haran’s embrace settles illusion.
Haran’s Foot is Grace in perpetuation.                                                              (78)

A Blaze of Light, the Guiding Light, the Inner Light­
She of handsome eyes had a vision of Him such as these.
With the sight of three Supreme Gods merging in him,
She broke into singing songs of His glory.                                                          (79)

What say we about Nandi, the Presiding Deity of Wisdom, My Father!
Pierced into the Mantras, crossing further,
Beyond the hanging sky still farther,
The Supreme Eternal Handsome Dancer!                                                          (80)

None comprehends the Leonine Form on the Sacred Stage

Of the lofty Teacher Nandi.
The red and white noticed in fire
Is the Form in which one can take refuge.                                                          (81)

The Invincible Sakti is the Willpower of the Invincible Lord,
Goading Him and the Souls into action,
Instilling in the latter a sense of discrimination.
That is the agent provocateur, guide and instrument of love

Leading the Souls unto the Poet of Haran.                                                         (82)

Notes

(61)      The Nine: Sivam, Sakti, Vindu, Sadasivam, Isvaran, Rudra, Vishnu and Brahma.

The Sixteen: The eight directions and the eight forms of Siva.

The Six: The six denominations of Saivam, Vaishnavam, Saktam, Ganapatyam, Kaumaram and Sauram.

The Seven: Seven worlds. The Fifty-six: 56 kingdoms of ancient India.

(62)      The Seven melodies (Pans) are: Kural, Tuttam, Kaikkilai, Vilari, Taram, Ulai and Ill.

(64)      The Heavenly Tree called ‘Kalpakam’ bestows what is asked for and the Heavenly Treasure called ‘Chintamani’ endows one with what is even thought of.
(67)      The two words are Tat and Tvamlovingly held together by ‘Aci’ as Tatvamaci.
The Nine and Nine refer to the Supreme and the Soul.

(73)      Vikirtan: He who is not made, existing neither with a beginning nor with an end.
The three lights are the Sun, the Moon and the Fire.