102. காமியத்து அழுந்தி

ராகம்: பீம்பளாஸ்	தாளம்: ஆதி
காமியத் தழுந்தி	யிளையாதே
காலர்கைப் படிந்து	மடியாதே
ஓமெழுத்தி லன்பு	மிகவூறி
ஓவியத்தி லந்த	மருள்வாயே
தூமமெய்க் கணிந்த	சுகலீலா
சூரனைக் கடிந்த	கதிர்வேலா
ஏமவெற் புயர்ந்த	மயில்வீரா
ஏரகத் தமர்ந்த	பெருமாளே.

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kAmiyath thazhundhi iLaiyAdhE
kAlar kai padindhu madiyAdhE
Om ezhuththil anbu migavURi
Oviyaththil antham aruLvAyE
dhUmameykku aNindha sukaleela
sUranaik kadindha kadhirvElA
EmaveR puyarndha mayil veerA
Eragath thamArndha perumALE.

Learn The Song

Paraphrase

காமியத்து அழுந்தி இளையாதே (kAmiyaththu azhundhi iLaiyAdhE) : I do not want to be driven by worldly desires and weaken my spiritual life; காமியம்(kamiyam ) : object of desire; இச்சிக்கும் பொருள், பயன் கருதிச் செய்யும் வினை;

காலர் கைப் படிந்து மடியாதே (kAlar kai padindhu madiyAdhE) : I do not want to suffer the clutches of the Death-God (which is inevitable if I do not extricate myself from the pleasure-seeking, sensual life);

ஓமெழுத்தில் அன்பு மிக ஊறி (Om ezhuththil anbu migavURi) : Instead, I want to soak in my love for the PraNava ManthrA (OM)

ஓவியத்தில் அந்தம் அருள்வாயே (Oviyaththil antham aruLvAyE) : and remain motionless like a picture, which only You can kindly grant me.
Being self-absorbed in a motionless posture refers to the turiya state when all thoughts subside in the ocean of silence and the devotee remains absorbed in Self to let his limited consciousness merge with the Universal Consciousness.

தூம மெய்க்கு அணிந்த சுகலீலா (dhUmameykku aNindha sukaleela) : You wear fragrant scents on Your body and indulge in pleasant pranks!

சூரனைக் கடிந்த கதிர்வேலா (sUranaik kadindha kadhirvElA: ) : You also possess the bright Spear that destroyed SUran.

ஏம வெற்பு உயர்ந்த மயில் வீரா (EmaveR puyarndha mayil veerA) : You mount Your Peacock which glows like a golden mountain. ஏமம் = ஹேமம், தங்கம்;

ஏரகத்து அமர்ந்த பெருமாளே.(Eragath thamArndha perumALE.) : You chose ThiruvEragam (SwAmimalai) as Your favourite abode, Oh Great One!

Understanding 'OM"

The Mandukya Upanishad describes the sacred syllable 'OM' as the symbol of four levels of consciousness, such as wakefulness, dreaming, sleeping, and the fourth state of illumination that transcends all these three stages.

According to this Upanishad, there are 3 matras or syllables in the word "Aum". Here, "A" represents the first state of wakefulness, wherein our five senses, along with our mind, remain completely active and sharply aware. The "U" symbolizes the dream state, which gives rise to deep inward experiences, thereby tapping the power of the largely dormant subconscious mind. The "M" represents the last state, the state of deep sleep, where desire no more exists and it is pure consciousness all around.

The Upanishad states that there is a fourth state which transcends all of the above-mentioned states. In this state, the consciousness is neither turned inward nor outward. It is neither knowing nor unknowing; neither visible nor invisible; and neither tangible nor intangible. It is nirguna or devoid of characteristics; is indefinable, indescribable and unintelligible. It is the pure essence of the consciousness of the Self or the Atman and represents the state where all relative existence comes to a standstill. This fourth and ultimate state is utterly serene, peaceful and blissful and grants the seeker complete enlightenment.

This Upanishad also considers "Om" as the eternal syllable which encompasses within itself, the past, the present and the future, yet is detached from and beyond them.