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Sithaandham Q&A: Part 2 - Author's Preface
Gurupaadham
PREFACE OFTHE FIRST PUBLICATION
BY THE AUTHOR
‘MAHAVIDVAN’ DR SI.
ARUNNAIVADIVEHL MUDALIAR
THIRUCHITRAMBALAM
THE GREATNESS OF SITHAANDHAM
Scriptures of Ultimate Truth, such as the 'Sivanyaana Sithiyaar', conclude that Sivan will cast a Divine Glance on the soul and transform it into a 'Jeevan Muthar' (liberated soul) in just one birth, through the Wisdom of the Sithaandha philosophy. Such a great Sithaandha school of philosophy is propagated throughout the world through the publication of scriptures and through spiritual initiation (Ubadhehsam) by the Thiru Kayilaaya Paramparai (Divine Lineage) of the Dharumai Adhinam.
SITHAANDHIC SCRIPTURES
Most of the Sithaandha scriptures in Tamil are in poetic form. The extensive commentary on the Sivanyaana Bohdham (Sivanyaana Maapaadiyam) is in prose form. There are other books, such as the Sithaandha Pragaasigai and the Tamil commentary on the Atta Pragaranna, which are in prose form. Even so, as people of present times find all these books extremely difficult to study, because of the difficulty of both the subject and the language, the 25th Pontifical Head of the Dharumai Adhinam, Srilasri Kayilai Subramania Dhehsiga Nyaanasambandha Paramaachaariya Swaamigall, desired that these Sithaandhic scriptures be simplified and made available to the people in the simplest of Tamil. Thus, in keeping with the desire of the Pontifical Head, I have written and completed this book in simple prose form and in snippets, which were published in the ‘Nyaanasambandham’ magazine over many years.
In this book, I have simplified the Sithaandhic philosophy, to the best of my ability. Even so, it is impossible to fully simplify extremely subtle ideas. Thus, it is imperative that readers also develop themselves to the level of reading and understanding extremely subtle ideas.
As mentioned above, in keeping with the Divine Intention of the Pontifical Head, this book was published in snippets in the ‘Nyaanasambandham’ magazine. Following in the footsteps of the 25th Pontifical Head, the 26th Pontifical Head of the Dharumai Adhinam, Srilasri Shanmuga Dhehsiga Nyaanasambandha Paramaachaariya Swaamigall, desired that these snippets be published in a book form and released on the Gurupoosai of the founder of the Dharumai Adhinam, Sri Gurunyaanasambandha Swaamigall. In keeping with the Divine Intention of the Pontifical, the book ‘Sithaandha Thelliviyal’ (A Clarification on the Sithaandhic Philosophy - English Translation by Thiagarajan), which introduces and teaches the Sithaandhic philosophy basically and generally, was published recently. This book can be studied first in order to acquire a general understanding of the Sithaandhic philosophy.
THE STRIKING FEATURE OF
SITHAANDHA VINAA VIDAI
This book, ‘Sithaandha Vinaa Vidai’, is in the form of extensive answers given by a Sivaguru to the questions posed, out of ignorance and doubt, by a worthy disciple. This is an extensive book which, subtly, explains the various topics, both brief and extensive ones, of the Sithaandhic philosophy. Thus this book will be of great benefit to those who wish to acquire a deep understanding of the subtleties of the Sithaandha philosophy. It is my humble opinion that, in present times, where it is rare to find individuals who desire to make a structured study of rare ancient books, and their commentaries, this book will be of great benefit to those who wish to study the Saiva Sithaandha philosophy in a much easier way, and up to a certain extent.
THE STRUCTURE OF THIS BOOK
This book consists of four major sections, namely:
1. General section.
2. Means of acquiring correct knowledge (Bramaannam/Allavai)
3. A general explanation of the Sithaandha philosophy.
4. An extensive explanation of the Sithaandha philosophy.
But, before these, the book starts with an invocatory verse in praise of Vinaayaga Perumaan, a prayer to Sivaperumaan and a praise to Meikannda Thehvar.
A BIRD’S EYE VIEW
OF THE VARIOUS SECTIONS
1. The General Section
In the general section, the different religions/schools of philosophy; the classification of all religions/schools of philosophy into four divisions, namely, outer-outer religions, outer religions, inner-outer religions and inner religions; the founders of the various religions and their respective scriptures, are discussed.
Secondly, the names of the Fourteen Sithaandhic Scriptures, details of their authors and details of the Fourteen Philosophical Scriptures are given. Finally, the four divisions, namely, Bramaanna Iyal, Ilakkanna Iyal, Saadhana Iyal and Payan Iyal, in which the Sithaandhic philosophy is taught,are mentioned briefly.
2. Means of Acquiring Correct Knowledge
In this section, the nature of the necessary means for acquiring correct knowledge, namely, physical perception through the senses, inferential reasoning and scriptural testimony, the nature of the unnecessary means of acquiring correct knowledge, such as Aruthaapathi, the nature of the entity under investigation and many others, are extensively discussed.
3. A General explanation of the Sithaandha Philosophy
All books first teach the subject at hand generally and grossly and thereafter teach the subject extensively and subtly. This is called ‘Thoguthu Chuttal’ and ‘Vaguthu Kaattal’ respectively in Tamil grammar. If the subject is not taught in this manner, but taught extensively and subtly first, students will not be able to understand the subject clearly. Therefore, in this section, the Sithaandha philosophy is first taught generally and grossly, up to a certain extent. The various topics taught in this section are:
>the concept of God in Saiva Sithaandham,
>the primary scriptures which were recited by the Lord,
>existent entities spoken of in Saiva Sithaandham;
>the general and special nature of God (Padhi), soul (Pasu) and bondage (Paasam);
>the four paths of penance; namely, Sariyai, Kiriyai, Yohgam and Nyaanam, and their spiritual benefits.
To be continued…
Yours in Saivaism
Thiagarajan
Gurupaadham
PREFACE OFTHE FIRST PUBLICATION
BY THE AUTHOR
‘MAHAVIDVAN’ DR SI.
ARUNNAIVADIVEHL MUDALIAR
THIRUCHITRAMBALAM
THE GREATNESS OF SITHAANDHAM
Scriptures of Ultimate Truth, such as the 'Sivanyaana Sithiyaar', conclude that Sivan will cast a Divine Glance on the soul and transform it into a 'Jeevan Muthar' (liberated soul) in just one birth, through the Wisdom of the Sithaandha philosophy. Such a great Sithaandha school of philosophy is propagated throughout the world through the publication of scriptures and through spiritual initiation (Ubadhehsam) by the Thiru Kayilaaya Paramparai (Divine Lineage) of the Dharumai Adhinam.
SITHAANDHIC SCRIPTURES
Most of the Sithaandha scriptures in Tamil are in poetic form. The extensive commentary on the Sivanyaana Bohdham (Sivanyaana Maapaadiyam) is in prose form. There are other books, such as the Sithaandha Pragaasigai and the Tamil commentary on the Atta Pragaranna, which are in prose form. Even so, as people of present times find all these books extremely difficult to study, because of the difficulty of both the subject and the language, the 25th Pontifical Head of the Dharumai Adhinam, Srilasri Kayilai Subramania Dhehsiga Nyaanasambandha Paramaachaariya Swaamigall, desired that these Sithaandhic scriptures be simplified and made available to the people in the simplest of Tamil. Thus, in keeping with the desire of the Pontifical Head, I have written and completed this book in simple prose form and in snippets, which were published in the ‘Nyaanasambandham’ magazine over many years.
In this book, I have simplified the Sithaandhic philosophy, to the best of my ability. Even so, it is impossible to fully simplify extremely subtle ideas. Thus, it is imperative that readers also develop themselves to the level of reading and understanding extremely subtle ideas.
As mentioned above, in keeping with the Divine Intention of the Pontifical Head, this book was published in snippets in the ‘Nyaanasambandham’ magazine. Following in the footsteps of the 25th Pontifical Head, the 26th Pontifical Head of the Dharumai Adhinam, Srilasri Shanmuga Dhehsiga Nyaanasambandha Paramaachaariya Swaamigall, desired that these snippets be published in a book form and released on the Gurupoosai of the founder of the Dharumai Adhinam, Sri Gurunyaanasambandha Swaamigall. In keeping with the Divine Intention of the Pontifical, the book ‘Sithaandha Thelliviyal’ (A Clarification on the Sithaandhic Philosophy - English Translation by Thiagarajan), which introduces and teaches the Sithaandhic philosophy basically and generally, was published recently. This book can be studied first in order to acquire a general understanding of the Sithaandhic philosophy.
THE STRIKING FEATURE OF
SITHAANDHA VINAA VIDAI
This book, ‘Sithaandha Vinaa Vidai’, is in the form of extensive answers given by a Sivaguru to the questions posed, out of ignorance and doubt, by a worthy disciple. This is an extensive book which, subtly, explains the various topics, both brief and extensive ones, of the Sithaandhic philosophy. Thus this book will be of great benefit to those who wish to acquire a deep understanding of the subtleties of the Sithaandha philosophy. It is my humble opinion that, in present times, where it is rare to find individuals who desire to make a structured study of rare ancient books, and their commentaries, this book will be of great benefit to those who wish to study the Saiva Sithaandha philosophy in a much easier way, and up to a certain extent.
THE STRUCTURE OF THIS BOOK
This book consists of four major sections, namely:
1. General section.
2. Means of acquiring correct knowledge (Bramaannam/Allavai)
3. A general explanation of the Sithaandha philosophy.
4. An extensive explanation of the Sithaandha philosophy.
But, before these, the book starts with an invocatory verse in praise of Vinaayaga Perumaan, a prayer to Sivaperumaan and a praise to Meikannda Thehvar.
A BIRD’S EYE VIEW
OF THE VARIOUS SECTIONS
1. The General Section
In the general section, the different religions/schools of philosophy; the classification of all religions/schools of philosophy into four divisions, namely, outer-outer religions, outer religions, inner-outer religions and inner religions; the founders of the various religions and their respective scriptures, are discussed.
Secondly, the names of the Fourteen Sithaandhic Scriptures, details of their authors and details of the Fourteen Philosophical Scriptures are given. Finally, the four divisions, namely, Bramaanna Iyal, Ilakkanna Iyal, Saadhana Iyal and Payan Iyal, in which the Sithaandhic philosophy is taught,are mentioned briefly.
2. Means of Acquiring Correct Knowledge
In this section, the nature of the necessary means for acquiring correct knowledge, namely, physical perception through the senses, inferential reasoning and scriptural testimony, the nature of the unnecessary means of acquiring correct knowledge, such as Aruthaapathi, the nature of the entity under investigation and many others, are extensively discussed.
3. A General explanation of the Sithaandha Philosophy
All books first teach the subject at hand generally and grossly and thereafter teach the subject extensively and subtly. This is called ‘Thoguthu Chuttal’ and ‘Vaguthu Kaattal’ respectively in Tamil grammar. If the subject is not taught in this manner, but taught extensively and subtly first, students will not be able to understand the subject clearly. Therefore, in this section, the Sithaandha philosophy is first taught generally and grossly, up to a certain extent. The various topics taught in this section are:
>the concept of God in Saiva Sithaandham,
>the primary scriptures which were recited by the Lord,
>existent entities spoken of in Saiva Sithaandham;
>the general and special nature of God (Padhi), soul (Pasu) and bondage (Paasam);
>the four paths of penance; namely, Sariyai, Kiriyai, Yohgam and Nyaanam, and their spiritual benefits.
To be continued…
Yours in Saivaism
Thiagarajan