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Subrahmanya |
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The very word Subramanya reveals the revaluation of the Vedic Brahmanism. Subramanya shares equal importance with Lord Ganapathi in Indian Spirituality.
KUMARA SAMBHAVA - THE BIRTH OF SUBRAMANYA
UMA, the daughter of Himavan, did THAPASYA to commune with SHIVA who was lost in the sublimity of the SACHITHANANDA. KAMADEVA, the God of Erotic Passion, disturbed SHIVA’S tranquility. SHIVA’S heart was drawn to UMA. Though SHIVA gave the purest of his love to UMA, He burnt the God’s passion with the rays emitted from his THIRD EYE OF WISDOM. The same Rays entered the water of the Lake of SARAVANA and six children emerged from the lake. The Group of Stars known as KARTHIKA sucked these children. When they were shown to UMA, she held them in a single sweet embrace, which coalesced them into one. This child was known as KUMARA, the one who caused the tragic end of MARA.
PERSONALITY OF SUBRAMANYA
Subramanya is clean shaven headed Brahmachari as well as the loving husband of Valli and Devasena. Valli is dark complexioned and is an outcaste. Devasena belongs to the superior Vedic Status. He is recognized both as Guru and Great General of the army of Devas. His sacred Ashes indicate NIRVISEHATHA Transcendence of Quality. His Vaharia Peacock is a symbol of SAVISESHA VAICHITRYA = Qualitative Variations.
PALANI - THE MOST AANCIENT TEMPLE OF SUBRAMANYA
The most ancient and well-known Temple dedicated to Lord Subramanya is near the Palani Hills, west of Madurai in Tamil Nadu State in South India.
When Lord Subramanya retired to the lonely Hills, His head clean-shaven and body smeared with ashes, His parents Shiva and Parvathi consoled Him saying “PALAM NEE”which means in Tamil language - “You are the Fruit” conveying to Him that Subramanya is the fruit of their (Shiva & Parvathi) spiritual Union. Thus the name PALANI came into existence.
SHAVEN HEADED
Until recently in India, one could judge a man’s caste and Ashram by the STYLE of HAIR and the MODE OF DRESS. Those wanting to transcend such social limitation used to shave their head and wear only a strip of cloth to cover their Nakedness. Sanyasins burn their Sacred Thread in addition to shaving the head and wearing only a strip of cloth on them.
SACRED ASHES
The three lines on a person’s forehead indicate that he does not yearn to possess anything in the Heavens (uppermost line): he does not desire to possess anything on the Earth (middle line); he has no wish to possess anything in the underworld.(the bottom - most line. This is a declaration that the person is not attached to anything in the three states of WAKEFULNESS, DREAMING and DEEP SLEER He expresses no action in his ACTIONS, WORDS or THOUGHTS.
He is no more prompted by the impulses of SATHVA, RAJAS or TAMAS.
THE SPEAR
Subramanya’s AYUDHA or Weapon is ONE POINTED Spear. This is to show that as Yogi, His mind is NOT BIFURCATED. He is EKARASA meaning ‘OF ONE FLAVOUR’. His penetrating mind can pierce through all impediments. Those aspiring to attain the path of REALISATION should likewise have ONE-POINTED ATTENTION.
Subramanya’s Spear is also indicative of His being ever prepared for WAR. He is EVER ALERT and is capable of adjusting Himself as warranted to any situation.
THE KAMANDALU
The water pot that He carries in His hand is indicative of His Homelessness.
THE PEACOCK
The tail of the Peacock has all the colours of the Spectrum. There are designs of a THOUSAND EYES.
Are these colors REAL? The answer is a firm “NO”. The question that crops up then is - “Are they NON-EXISTANT?” The answer again is - “NO”.
The eyes of the Peacock tail suggest both SATH (existing) and ASATH (Non-existing). This indicates “MAYA”(illusion).
Subramanya has total control over MAYA. He rides on MAYA and makes it His Vahana.
TWO WIVES?
“Brahmachan with two Wives?”
When the Boys are initiated into the path of Brahman or the Absolute, they are called Brahmacharis. . Those who deviate from the path of Righteousness are called VYABHICHARIS. “Vyabhi” means Deviation or Perversion.
In SPIRITUAL LIFE, there are only two alternatives Brahmacharya and Vyabhichara.
All those who follow the path of Shaastras accepting a GURU with his heart set on the realization of the Absolute are Brahmacharis whether Celibate or Married. The great RISHIS like VASHISHTA and YAJNAVALKYA are examples.
One of Subramanya’s wives, VALLI, is a dark-skinned outcaste from South India. The other wife Devasena is the fair daughter of Vedic excellence belonging to the Devayana tradition.
Therefore the two marriages of Lord Subramanya means the acceptance of two ancient traditions of India giving spiritual values involved in both of them.
THE CROWING COCK.
The banner of Lord Subramanya carries the Ensign — ‘The Crowing Cock’.
For persons whose eyes are still heavy with the sleep of ignorance, the Crowing Cock proclaims the DAWN of WISDOM. The Crowing Cock represents a Clarion-Call to awake and witness the GLORY of the SUN of WISDOM shining in the firmament of CHITH meaning AWARENESS.
A WARIOR GURU
Subramanya was acclaimed to be the GURU of all Gurus by the great AGASTHYA MAHARSHI. Subramanya was also honoured by INDRA, the Lord of Heaven as the great General and Protector of the Ascending path of the Devas (Devayana).
Lord Subramanya stands for JNANAKARMA SAMANVAYA, which in short is the Dialectical way of treating WISDOM and treating ACTION as counterparts of WISDOM.
Subramanya gives us the LIGHT of ETERNITY as the SUPREME GURU.
Subramanya gives us the strength and courage to turn every moment of the FLEETING PRESENT into a TIMELESSNESS OF JOY and PEACE.