27. Siddha-atheists?

                                         (courtesy Claude Renault-praying at Meenakshi temple)

Verse 27

அண்டர்கோன் இருப்பிடம் அறிந்து உணர்ந்த ஞானிகள்

பண்டறிந்த பான்மைதன்னை யார் அறிய வல்லரே?

விண்டவேத பொருளை அன்றி வேறுகூற வகையிலா

கண்டகோயில் தெய்வம் என்று கையெடுப்பது இல்லையே!

Translation:

The wise that knew and realized the locus of the Lord of the heavens,

Who is capable of knowing their method of cognition?

Cannot say as anything other than the essence of Veda/essence of cognition

The hands are not raised towards any/seen Deity or a temple.

Commentary:

In this verse, Civavākkiyar explains how great souls realized the locus of the Divine and their subsequent attitude.   

He says that the means of the wise is nothing other than viṇḍa véda poruḷ. This is an interesting expression.  If it is interpreted as “the idea explained by the Veda”, it means the Vedas are the means.  If it is interpreted as “that which explained the Veda”, then it means “the Divine is the means” as the Vedas are considered as revelations by the Divine.  If it is explained as “the theme of that which explains what should be known” (as Veda means that which should be known), then the means is consciousness which reveals the knowledge.  Whatever it is, the locus of the Divine is not a local temple or a local sacred form.  Hence, realized souls, the wise who know the Divine, will not point to a particular place or a form as the sole locus of the Divinity.

  This is a feature that distinguishing Siddhas from other saints especially Alwars and Nayanmars who have sung in praise of a local God, a local temple, a local sacred tree, a local sacred water etc. 

             The last line is interesting.  At the first glance it seems to imply that the Siddhas are atheists who are against worshiping a Divine form or a place of worship.   However, if the word ‘kanda’ is examined carefully, it also means ‘that which is seen’.  The Siddhas do not raise their hands in supplication towards any ‘seen deity or temple’ as they know that the Lord is within and not in any perceivable form or a place.