Ongkaara Manthiram as portrayed in Tamil Saivaism - Part 2

[virarajendra]

Author: Virarajendra

A brief study of the “Om” - the “Ongkaara Manthiram” as portrayed in “Tamil Saivaism” of Tamil Nadu - Part 2

(4) The elements within the Ongkaaram form of God Siva

From within the Ongkaaram came forth the Iym Poothangal - the five elements - namely the space, air, earth, fire and water.
From within Ongkaaram came forth the Saraasaram - the universe.
From the Ongakaaram beyond comprehension, cameforth the three life forms.
Ongkaaram - the soul of the universe (that gives life,energy, and motion to all beings),
is the divine “(God) Siva” form.

The above are gleaned from a verse in Thirumanthiram.

“….Ongkaaraththu ulle uthiththa iym poothangal
Ongkaaraththu ulle uthiththa saraasaram…..”
Ongkaara atheethaththu uyir moontrum uttrana
Ongkaara Seeva Para Siva rupame……”

Thirumanthiram – by Thirumoolar, verse 2677

(5) Ongkaaram form of God Siva worshiped with recitation of the holy syllable “Om”

God Siva in the “Ongkaaram” form was worshiped with the repetitive utterance of the holy syllable “Om” sung in piety, referred to as the ‘Ongkaara Manthiram’ or “Muthal Eluththu” in Tamil Saivaism. “Om” in Tamil is represented by the Tamil - alphabet “Oo with the Tamil alphabet “m” encompassed within. However in Tamil Nadu the holy syllable “Om” was also common to Vaishnavaism and Vedism, as the “God Supreme” of all these religions were ‘none but one’.

This holy syllable was pronounced as “Aum” in Nepal, North, and Central India, and was known as the “Pranava Manthiram” represented by the Prakrit alphabets “A”, “U”, “M” combined. The holy syllable “Aum” has been common to Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism, in North, Central, and South India. The “Om” of Tamil Nadu and “Aum” of Nepal, North, and Central India is one and the same holy syllable, sung in the worship of the “God Supreme”

The “Om” Muthal Eluththu was derived from the words “Av”, “Uv” and “iM” which jointly forms the syllable “Aum” or “Om” in Tamil. "Om" was also known as the Muthal eluththu

“….Av Uv Im enal athuve Om enum oli …..”

meaning: “……(letters) Av Uv Im (combined) it is the sound “Om”…..”

Kooththa Nool – Poet Saaththanar, chapter Suvai Nool

(6) The inner meaning of the holy syllable “Om”

However the earliest reference to this holy syllable “Om” - the Ongkaara Manthiram is found in the Tamil Literature of the third Thamil Sangam period (first/second century A.D) namely the “Kooththa Nool” - a Tamil Dance Treatise composed by Poet Saaththanaar.

“Av” is the inner conscience
“Uv” is the outer conscience
“Im” is the reverberation music on the concurence of these two consciences from which emanates the rythemic beats (of Siva Dance)

The above are gleaned from a verse in Thirumanthiram.

“….Av enal ahame Uv enal ulame
Im enal isaiye - iyalvathu thaalam…..”

Kooththa Nool – Poet Saaththanar, chapter Suvai Nool

The Tamil “Thirumanthiram” states,

letter “A” represents the Soul, (seen as the inner conscience)
letter “U” represnts the “God Supreme” (seen as the outer conscience) and the letter “M” represents the “Sivam” (seen as concurence of these consciences)

The above are gleaned from a verse in Thirumanthiram.

“….Aharam uyire Uharam Parame
Maharam Sivamaai varu mupp pathaththu…..”

Thirumanthiram – by Thirumoolar, verse 2503

The holy syllable “Om” was considered as the prime word of the ancient knowledge of the universe.

“…..Athiyaayi nintra arivu muthal eluththu ……”

Auvaik Kural – by Auvaiyaar, chapter on Veettu Neri Paal, kural 1

The Tamil Thirumanthiram further states,

Within Ongkaaram was the one language the “Om”
Within Ongkaaram was the (God Forms) Uruvam and Aruvam
Within Ongkaaram was the many differences
Within Ongkaaram was the Liberation (from worldly life) &
Supernatural power (in worldy life)

The above are gleaned from the following verse:

“…..Om enum - Ongkaaraththu ulle - oru moli
Om enum - Ongkaaraththu ulle - uru aru
Om enum - Ongkaaraththu ulle - pala petham
Om enum - Ongkaaram on muththi siththiye…..”

Thirumanthiram – by Thirumoolar, verse 2676

(7) The Dancing form of God Siva

Among the ancient Tamil Saivites of Tamil Nadu, the God Siva was given a further form as the 'Supreme Dancer' of the universe, and named as the "Aadavallaan" (Nadarajah - the king of Dancers).

The human representation of God Siva in the form of Aadavallaan (Nadarajah), has its own philosophic expression of the attributes of the God almighty.

The postural form of his dance is also described in 'Kooththanool' as,

“……Oruthal uuntri oruthal yettrii
oru kai mariththu marukai amaiththu
irukaiyil aakkamum iruthiyum yetru
aru-vuru aakkum ammai koothu aattap
peruveli nadikkum perumaan arulath……”

meaning: ".......with one foot stamped, one foot lifted, one hand bent downwards the other hand kept straight upwards, in two hands upholding the (funcions of) "creation" (Udukkai drum) and the "end" (fire) (of the wordly living beings), (while) Goddess (Sakthi) changing from aruvam into uruvam (form) performing Kooththu (dance), (thus) God Siva acting (from) the wide space blesses......"

Kooththa Nool – Poet Saaththanar, chapter Suvai Nool

This is the earliest reference to the "Aadavallaan" (Nadarajah) - dancing form of God Siva in Tamil Literature, being the period of third Thamil Sangam.

The Website URL of the (mythical) dance of Goddess Sakthi in the presence of God Siva as portrayed in a Tamil Film.


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