Mahadev! - 2 - Qualities of God!

(I am now returning to blogging - My elder brother had suggested that Serial Blogs should have a theme! I have been introspecting on this. This is sequel to my earlier blog on MAHADEV posted in 2013!  I plan to continue my random musings as well as other thematic blogs as well)

In my 2013 blog  on Lord Shiva, I had observed that anyone who adopts the Qualities of Lord Shiva can become a Mahadev!

Following verse of Thirukural by Saint Thiruvalluvar flashed across my mind.

What are God's qualities? Shiva's qualities?

Quote:

வையத்துள் வாழ்வாங்கு வாழ்பவன் வானுறையும் தெய்வத்துள் வைக்கப்படும் - திருக்குறள் 

Unquote

English translation:

He who has lived on earth as he should live, will be placed among the Gods who dwell in heaven.

Similarly, Saint Thyagaraja has the following lines in one of his famous Kritis:

"Endharo Mahanubhavulu Anthariki vandanamulu!" 

Let us relate these to those whom we have known or who have lived during our times.

We all revere and worship Kanchi Paramacharya as a God who lived amongst us till 1999!  We have seen him a number of times. Internet and Social media is full of anecdotes from many devotees who have a number of miracles in their life events attributed to His grace and Actions!  Similar feelings are felt by devotees of Shirdi Sai Baba, Shri Ragavendra Swamigal, Aurobindo and Maa and many others. By this logic, we can even visualise that Lord Rama and Shri Krishna would have lived in their times. Episodes depicted in Epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata would have happened.

Remembering Kanchi Paramacharya, during our Tamabaram childhood days,  we learnt Thiruppavai and Thiruvembavai!.  We even got Gold and Silver coins from Kanchi Paramacharya for learning them by heart and reciting them without any mistakes in competitions held in Mathar Sangam premises.

Then I remembered Manickavasagar's Thiruvembhavai describing qualities of Shiva - MAHADEV!I have jotted down the description of Lord Siva in Thiruvembavai to get an idea of the  qualities one should possess or imbibe or cultivate in oneself so that every one can aspire to become a Mahadev!

I give some of the select extracts from Thiruvembavai that describe Lord Shiva's qualities (with not so perfect English translation)

Mahadev Shiva and his qualities - Sample

Thiruvembavai

English translation

1.              ஆதியும் அந்தமும் இல்லா அறும் பெறும் ஜோதி: 2.              பரம்ஜோதி, மலர் பாதம்,தேசன் சிவலோகன் 3.              அத்தன், ஆனந்தன் அமுதன் 4.              வேத விழுப்பொருள், 5.              கண்ணுக்கு இனியன் 6.              வேதப் பொருள், ஜோதி 7.              மாலறியா நான்முகனும் கானா மலை 8.              கேழில் பரம்ஜோதி  கேழில் பரங்கருணை 9.              ஊழி முதல்வன் 10.           ஏழை பங்காளன் 11.           பேதை ஒருபால் திருமேனி ஒன்றல்லன் 12.           வேதமுதல் விண்ணேரு மண்ணுந் துதித்தாலும் 13.           ஒரு தோழன்,தொண்டருளன்  14.           ஏதவன் ஊர் ஏதவன் பேர் யாருற்றார் யார் அயலார் 15.           வானும் குவலயமும் எல்லாமும் காத்தும் படைத்தும் கரந்தும் விளையாடி 16.           பெண்ணாகி ஆணாய் அலியாய்ப்  பிறங்கொளிசேர் விண்ணாகி மண்ணாகி இத்தனையும் வேறாகி

1.           Glorious light, which has no beginning and no end 2.           One who has Flower like feet, one who belongs to all worlds and one who lives in Sivalog 3.           Father and source of our happiness and he is nectar in person 4.           Essence of Vedas, 5.           Pleasant to the eyes 6.           The meaning of Vedas, the meaning of holy light 7.           A mountain that neither Vishnu nor Brahma could fathom 8.           Incomparable heavenly light and mercy of heaven 9.           He who stands beyond the deluge 10.         One who is partner of the Poor 11.          He has his Consort in one side and has many forms 12.         He who is beyond the whole hearted praise of those adept in Vedas or of those gods in heaven and ordinary mortals like us 13.         A friend who lives in the hearts of his servants and disciples 14.         He who does not belong to any town or place, has no names, no relations and no alienations 15.         He creates this and the world above, which he looks after and destroys all like playing a sport 16.         He takes forms of male, female, eunuch and others and none of these, he also becomes the sky, earth and none of these and different from these

While more introspection is required on these qualities I would attempt to continue this Sequel as and when I get more musings on MAHADEV qualities!

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