TMS Murugan Songs 1

Meaning and Significance

‘Murugu’ means ‘beauty’; hence ‘Murugan’ means ‘Beautiful one’. Where there is beauty, love shines; where there is love, truth sparkles. When we seek the Truth, we get liberated.

It is said that Lord Muruga taught the Indian language Tamil to Saint Agasthiar. Lord Muruga Himself sat as the leader for the academy of poets (Tamil Sangam) in Madurai (Tamil Nadu) and the language flourished as a result. Accordingly, He is called the God of Tamil.

It is written in Kanda Puranam that Saint Vasistha has said that if one worships Lord Muruga on Friday and fasts on that day, all his wishes will get fulfilled. Lord Muruga was brought up by Karthigai maids. By worshipping Him on the Karthigai star day and observing a fast, one’s problems will be removed and one will be liberated. This was a wish granted by Lord Shiva Himself to the Karthigai maids.


History of Lord Muruga’s birth

God, Who does not have a beginning or an end, takes an incarnation (avatar) to destroy the evildoers and to save His devotees. The following is about the avatar of Lord Muruga.

Goddess Parvati did penance and married Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati’s marriage is said to be knowledge and grace joined together to give Bliss, i.e., Lord Muruga. All the deities went to Lord Shiva and pleaded Him to do something as they could not tolerate the demon Soorapadman’s cruelty. Lord Shiva took a form along with six faces (i.e., Sathyojatham, Vamadevam, Thathpurusham, Eesanam, Aghoram and Atho).

From the third eye of each face, a fire spark came out. Lord Shiva asked Vayudevan (God of wind) and Agnidevan (God of fire) to take the six fire sparks to the Ganges River. Later Ganga (the Name of the Ganges River deity) took them to Sarvana pond. The six fire sparks became six beautiful babies on six red lotus flowers. When Goddess Parvati hugged them together, they joined to become one form with six faces, twelve hands and was named Skandan (another name for Lord Muruga). Six ladies called Karthigai maids took care of Him. Hence, He was also called Karthigeyan. His other names include Kumaran, Mayilvaganan, Kaangeyan, Velayuthan, Gugan, Swaminathan, Subramanian, Saravanabavan, Vishagan, Devasenapathy, Vallimanallan, Soorasankaran, etc.

He performed several divine acts (leelas) when He was young. When Soorapadman’s cruelty went to an extreme, Lord Shiva thought it was time for his destruction. He gave the eleven Rudras eleven weapons, and Parvathi gave the Vel weapon to Lord Muruga for the war. The Vel, or sacred spear, is the most powerful weapon in Lord Muruga's armory.

Lord Muruga stayed in Thiruchendur with His army. He fought for ten days and destroyed Soorapadman and his brothers. Soorapadman had such a big ego that he did not want to surrender to the Lord. He took the form of a big mango tree. Lord Muruga’s spear split the tree and one part became a peacock and the other became a cock. Lord Muruga took the peacock as His vehicle and the cock as His flag. Soorpadman was so cruel and had such a big ego, yet he still reached such a good state -- to always be beside the Lord. Imagine what kind of state Lord Muruga's devotees would get!

About Lord Muruga (in brief)
Name : Murugan
Birth Place : Saravana pond
Date of birth Vaishaka month, Vishaga star
Father : Lord Shiva
Mother : Goddess Parvati
Brothers : Lord Ganapati and Lord Ayyappan
Wives : Valli, Devayani
Weapon : Shakti vel (spear)
Vehicle : Peacock
Flag : Cock
Aim of Incarnation : Destroying evil and saving Devotees
Place he resides : Devotees heart
source: http://www.sanatan.org/en/festivals/hindu/ksv2.htm

TMS Murugan Songs 2

Sages, who have attained enlightenment through penance and contemplation, have set certain eternal principles to be followed. These principles which define an ideal way of life has come to be known as Sanathana Dharma. Time and again, there appeared saints to remind us of the need to adhere to these principles, the need to maintain our rich cultural heritage and the need to uphold our high spiritual values. The saints interpreted the Vedas in a lucid style and awakened the consciousness of the people. By explaining the worldly objects as material and spiritual, myths and reality, they stressed the ideals of truth and directed humanity to the correct destination. They have explained the relevance of these principles even in the changing world conditions. They continue to show us the path of perfection that leads to ultimate state of God realization and salvation.

Among many saints who guided humanity to the path of perfection, Arunagirinathar occupies a unique position. His songs not only kindled the flame of devotion in the minds of people but also the light of knowledge in their intellect. He showed the way to the life of virtue and righteousness. He showed the way to the Lotus Feet of Muruga.

Arunagirinathar was born* in 15th century at Thiruvannamalai. As his father expired soon after his birth, his mother, Muthamma and sister, Adhi, brought him up. They aspired to bring him up in the rich cultural and religious tradition. Arunagiri showed a receptive mind and even studied the scriptures but his interests turned towards sensual pleasure. The mother and sister were there to love him but the father was not there to discipline him. Overtaken by disease and dejection, Arunagiri decided to end his life and leaped from the tower of Thiruvannamalai temple. But rather than falling to the ground, he found himself in the hands of a saviour. “You are not born to die. You are born to save lives. You are not born to fall but make others rise. You are born to fulfill a divine mission. You are the chosen one to sing the glory of Lord Muruga..” The saviour, who was none other than Lord Muruga Himself, said. Arunagiri, who has been rescued from the darkness of death, now found himself before a power who radiated brilliant rays of brightness. He now got the vision of Lord Muruga.
source: http://www.geocities.com/vsk_tiruppugazh/Muruga3.html

TMS Murugan Songs 3

Arunagiri could not believe his eyes and ears. Lord Muruga was standing before him majestically, holding the sparkling Vel (lance), His Mayil (peacock) nearby and exuding an aura of charm and splendour. It was as if all the power, beauty and knowledge of the universe had personified and descended on earth. Overwhelmed with emotion and wondering how he became worthy of such an enormous grace, Arunagiri folded his hands and bowed in reverence. Words failed him. The Lord, full of mercy, blessed him, conferred him the saintly advice and set out the sacred tasks before him. Arunagiri was delighted at being initiated to saint-hood direct by Lord. Having got the blessings of Muruga, he composed and rendered extempore, his first song “Muthai Tharu...”

Arunagiri then proceeded to Vayalur and prayed before Lord Muruga. It is believed that the Lord again appeared before him in the form of a person and ordained him: “Sing about Me, about My Vel (lance), about peacock (Mayil) about Seval (rooster) about Vayalur and about my various other abodes”. “It is indeed a rare honour to be able to sing Thy glory”, Arunagiri said and prostrated before Vayalur Muruga in total submission and dedication. After worshiping the shrine of Poyya Ganapathy nearby, he set out his historic journey. The journey, that took him to many holy places, gave him an illuminating experience.

Aiming at emancipation and salvation, many saints followed a strenuous path. They pursued their path vigorously and reached their goal. But in case of Arunagirinathar even without undergoing any struggle, he reached an ideal goal. While other saints, who led a life of virtue and devotion, realized God at the end, Arunagiri, who went after carnal pleasure, realized God at the very beginning. Strange indeed are the ways of God. It was a person as Arunagiri, the Lord had chosen to be his ideal disciple. As if to prove the choice correct, Arunagiri, came out of his world of illusion, lived up to the high demands of his new role and admirably fulfilled the divine task expected of him.

Tiruvannamalai has transformed Arunagiri into an enlightened sage and Vayalur has made him an erudite scholar. Arunagiriathar composed number of songs, in his inimitable style on Muruga. It is true that Arunagiri had the grace of Muruga. He had the knowledge and devotional bend of mind. What equally moved him was his 'temple experience'. He visited the six abodes of Muruga; Tiruchendur, Tirupparamkundram, Tiru Avinangudi, Swami Malai, Tiruthani and Pazhamudhir Solai, the places where Muruga performed various acts of bravery, marriage, renunciation, enlightenment and redemption. Like all saints, he never remained at one place and was always on the move. The temples enlightened him and inspired him to compose. He visited over 260 temples of Shiva and Vishnu and other deities in Tamil Nadu. Every temple had a unique history of its own. Impressed by the sanctity, the power and importance of the temple, Arunagiri composed songs on the Lord, bringing forth all the the unique characteristics. While referring to the history of a temple, we often find special mention being made about Arunagiri's visit there, as if his mere visit has brought sanctity and sacredness to the temple. After the visit that took him to many shrines in Tamil Nadu, neighbouring States, distant Banaras and Kadir Kamam, Arunagiri returned to Tiruvannamalai to lead a quiet life of devotion. The King Prabhuda Devaraja honoured him and granted him the privileged status of a 'Poet of the Royal Court'.

According to estimates, Arunagirinathar has composed over 16,000 songs but only 1365 songs have been traced. He did not differentiate between Shivite and Vaishnavite thoughts though the difference, in some form or degree, did exist in his time . Most of his songs ended with the term: “Perumale”, the term normally used by Vaishnavites to address Lord Maha Vishnu. He referred Muruga as “Malon Marugane” (Son-in-law of Maha Vishnu - Thirumal), as, according to legend, Muruga's consorts, Valli and Deivayanai were daughters of Thirumal in their previous births. Arunagiri conveyed messages of truth and Dharma by citing instances from Ramayana and Mahabharatha. Kandhar Anuboothi (The Divine Experience),is considered as the quintessence of Vedhas and Upanishad. He says one need not fear death if he has knowledge of what happens to soul after death. Death is not an end in itself. It is transition from a temporal world to an immortal world, from material to spiritual and from Maya (illusion) to real. These viewpoints reflect the ideals expressed in the dialogue between God of Death (Yamaraja) and Naciketas, the nine year old inquisitive boy as revealed in Kathopanishad. Arunagirinathar also composed Kandhar Alamgaram (The ornament of verses adoring Muruga), Kandhar Andhathi, Vel, Mayil and Seval Virutham, Thiru Ezhu Kootrirukkai and Thiruvakuppu. In most of his songs, Arunagiri stressed the value of Sakthi worship. There are many references in his songs which indicate that Sakthi had incarnated in different forms for the protection and upliftment of humanity.
source: http://www.geocities.com/vsk_tiruppugazh/Muruga3.html