SIVAPURAANAM - Part 4.1

Text: Lines 11 to 16

eesan adi pOtri enthai adi pOtri
dEsan adi pOtri sivan sEvadi pOtri
nEyatthE nindra nimalan adi pOtri
mAyappirappu aRukkum mannan adi pOtri
seeraar perunthurai nam dEvan adi pOtri
aaraadha inbam aruLum malai pOtri

ஈசன் அடி போற்றி எந்தை அடி போற்றி
தேசன் அடி போற்றி சிவன் சேவடி போற்றி
நேயத்தே நின்ற நிமலன் அடி போற்றி
மாயப் பிறப்பறுக்கும் மன்னன் அடி போற்றி
சீரார் பெருந்துறை நம் தேவன் அடி போற்றி
ஆராத இன்பம் அருளும் மலை போற்றி

In these 6 lines, sri Manickavasagar tells about the 8 characteristics or attributes of Lord Shiva.

1. Independent - swatantran - will do the things on His own.
2. Omnipotent - sarvasakthimayan - very powerful
3. Unblemished - nishkalangan - untouched by errors
4. Omnipresent - sarva vyapagan - Present everywhere.
5. Unbiased - nirbedhan - has no likes or dislikes or any differences
6. Merciful - kaarunyan - Showers grace on devotees
7. Omniscient - sarvagyan - Knows every thing
8. Blissful - sarvaanandamayan - Ever in the state of bliss

Let us see in detail.

1. eesan adi pOtri - ஈசன் அடி போற்றி - salutations to the feet of eesan. Eesan means the lord. This name describes the attribute Independent. Only others are dependent on Him. He is independent. Manickavasagar in his other work - Tiruammaanai has described shiva as "sErndhaRiyaak kaiyaan" or the one with unfolded hands. since He is independent, there is no need for him to stand with folded hands. There is a nama in Sri lalitha sahasranamam which is same as this - swatantra (723rd naamam).

2. enthai adi pOtri - எந்தை அடி போற்றி -
salutations to the feet of my father. By saying 'enthai', sri manickavasagar refers to the attribute - Omnipotent. For a child, his father is the strongest of everyone. A child's role model will normally be his father. They use to say, my father, my father... so does manickavasagar. He considers Lord Shiva as the most powerful one - his father. Ambal is addressed as "sarvasakthimayi" in Sri Lalitha sahasranamam (199th naamam).

3. dEsan adi pOtri - தேசன் அடி போற்றி -
salutations to the feet of dEsan, who is as pure as spatikam. He is unblemished. Untouched by the mAya, which creates likes,dislikes,right,wrong etc. Ambal is addressed as Nishkalanga (140th naamam).

4. sivan sEvadi pOtri - சிவன் சேவடி போற்றி -
salutations to the great feet of Siva. Shiva is present everywhere. In Tamil, poets use to say neekkamara niraindhavan iraivan. Neekamara means without exception, the lord is present in all places. Sri Narasimha, an incarnation of Vishnu, is present everywhere. So with a doubt, when Hiranyakasibu, broke the pillar, whether Vishnu was in that pillar, immediately he appeared from that pillar. Ambal is refered as sarvamayi (203rd naamam).

To be continued...