The Hindu : Pamban Swami's rare composition

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Dec 12, 2002

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous - Religion

Pamban Swami's rare composition

CHENNAI DEC. 12. Saints and some of the ardent devotees, who on witnessing the glorious forms of God in temples or who had experienced the presence of God within, had gone into raptures, as seen in their outpourings. On such occasions they had treated the Supreme Being as their father or mother, some have described Him as their spouse (bridal mysticism), some as their child and some in other ways. For some these types of mundane relationships had gone beyond, when in their prayers through their hymns, they have appealed to Him to grant the privilege of remaining all alone with Him in that transcendental stage, making them enjoy total Bliss. This is the acme of devotional attitude and such a close link was sought by one of the saints who was amidst us a few decades ago. His personal deity, being Lord Subramania, he sought from Him such an exclusive vision. He had composed 6666 verses in some of which he had interspersed "Mantras" meditating on which a devotee can visualise God, establishing a rapport between the two (God and His creations). But in one hymn, all the 44 sentences are deemed as "Mantras" to help to be in communion with God. This work, "Kumara Sthavam" by Sri Pamban Swamigal, is a rare composition and its recitation will provide knowledge and lead one to eternity.

In a lecture describing how this "Mantra-laden" hymn will enable a devotee to retain the Lord's form in the cave of his heart, Prof. V. Rathnasabapathy said (on the occasion of the Swami's anniversary) that this mystical figure of 44 was obviously in the saint's mind having been reminded of the work "Kandar Anuboothi" by his spiritual master, Arunagirinathar. The Mantras in Kumara Sthavam, a summary of the Kanda Puranam, are in Sanskrit and some in Tamil. Citing the chapters in the Thirukkural on family and ascetic lives, he said perfect worldly existence amidst kith and kin resulted in fame while in the latter sphere, there was total removal of desire. The saint had experienced in his life a state of remaining beyond the limitations of these two stages called "Adhyasramam". His peerless glory shines as he had a combination of right discernment and ascetic virtue. One Mantra contains a word that has a rare usage in spiritual literature. The Swamigal reveres Siva and Subramania as one and the same. "Even if you discard me, do not let down my followers", was his spiritual prayer.

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