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1 Docx Patanjali Yogasutra and Vinayaka
1 Docx Patanjali Yogasutra and Vinayaka
1 Docx Patanjali Yogasutra and Vinayaka
Period of Avvaiyar
Vinayakar Akaval
The other two works Atticcudi and Konraivendan are dedicated to Lord
Siva. Why has she dedicated this yoga work to Vinayaka? To understand this
we have to dwell a little on symbolism in Hinduism. Vedas and Puranas
employ symbolism. The weapons in the hands in Gods, the colour of the Gods,
etc. have spiritual significance. The Garuda personifies the Vedas, Vrsabha
symbolizes mantra with effort, mayura symbolizes prapanca, and elephant
symbolizes yoga5. Hence the Lord Gajanana is considered lord of yoga. Since a
jiva/ sadhaka require yoga for his liberation, Avvaiyar composed Akaval in
praise of Lord Vinayaka. As already noted Vinayakar Akaval is a small work
with only 72 lines. Outwardly it is very simple. But to understand the inner
meaning is difficult. The knowledge of Astanga Yoga of Patanjali, HathaYyoga,
MantraYoga, Vasi Yoga (the science of breath) and Saiva Yoga are needed for a
clear interpretation of Vinayakar Akaval.
Because of the difficulties in understanding the text there are very few
commentaries, that too written in twentieth century. In 1954 Rasapati 6 wrote
a commentary, and in 1982 Mi.Pa Somasundaram 7, a noted Tamil scholar
devoted 150 pages in his Cittar Ilakkiyam volume II. Both these texts follow
Saiva tradition.
Because of the difficulties in understanding the text there are very few
commentaries, that too written in twentieth century. In 1954 Rasapati 6 wrote
a commentary, and in 1982 Mi.Pa Somasundaram 7, a noted Tamil scholar
devoted 150 pages in his Cittar Ilakkiyam volume II. Both these texts follow
Saiva tradition.
Isvarapranidhanadva I-23
Tajjapastadarthabhavanam I-28
indicate how the concept of God helps in control of senses and control
of mind. In Vinayakar Akaval Avvaiyar invokes Lord Gajanana in the first
15 and continue the Yoga practices under his constant guidance only. As
a mother nourishes her child by providing food to her child in three
different ways based on its capacity, Vinayaka based on மன பரிபாகம்
God as guru
A man is always indebted to four persons in his life, ie. mata, pita,
guru, and deivam. Among the four, guru is most important. For, among
the four purusarthas moksa is most difficult to attain and only with the
Upadesa and guidance of a guru it is attained. All native religions of India
have given highest place to a guru. Indeed all Gods in Hinduism vie with
one another to bless his devotees in the form of a guru. We know Sri
Daksinamurthi as mouna guru .Sriman Narayana in the beginning of each
kalpa , taking the form of a hamsa gives Vedas to Brahma. Similarly in
the beginning of each manvantara he imparts Vedas to a new set of
Saptarisis. In each Dvapara yuga as Vyasa he divides Vedas in to
different branches. As Hayagriva he is also Lord of learning. As Sri Krisna
theJagat guru he gave Bhagavatgita. The sutra
Isvarapranidhanadva I-23
Tajjapastadarthabhavanam I-28
The Muladhara Ganapati stays with sadhaka from the beginning and leads
him step by step in spiritual ladder. In Tamil there is a saying அண்டத்தில்
Manas
control indriyas and manas. Apart from yama and niyama practices other
Tajjapastadartabhavana I-28
Visoka va jyotismati-I-36
Vitaragavisayam va chittam-I-37
Svapnanidrajnanalambanam va-I-38
Yathabhimatadhyanadva-I-39
Pranava
represented by the letter Om. Avvaiyar in her Akaval uses the word
‘திரண்ட முப்புரிநூல் திகழ் ஒளி மார்பும்8 (line-12) (Tiranda muppuri nul tikaz
oli marpum)
Concept of liberation
Isvarapranidhanad va-I-23
Tajjapastadarthabhavanam-I-28
1. He gets a new celestial body and visits all worlds and enjoys
all heavenly pleasures without any restriction.
In the last two lines of Akaval. From line 16 to line 54 various Yoga
practices to ward off afflictions are described. From line55 to line 70 the
anubhuti derived from these practices are described. The lines 71 and 72
describe the final state of attainment of the sadhaka. Avvaiyar clearly states
the position attained by the enlightened soul and the state of the
enjoyment of the soul. ‘ தத்துவ நிலையைத் தந்து எனையாண்ட
Patanjali has not said anything about these Jivan mukta’s’ life in
this world after attaining realization. But Avvaiyar says that Gajanana
will keep him in the company of other realized souls and the Yogi
will be contemplating on the meaning of Pancaksara till he casts off
his mortal body.
Conclusion
Ujjati anena iti yogah. Though Avvaiyar has taken the sadhaka
step by step in yoga ladder taking Vinayaka as the Upasana
devata, we can use the same system with appropriate modifications
in the upasana of other devatas i.e. Visnu, Siva Subramanya, and
Devi too, and reach the same goal.
References
1. According to Tamil tradition there were 3 Cangam periods.
Historians refer to the last one and consider earlier two as
legendary. The Cangam literature thought to have been produced in
the Cangam academics of each period. The third Cangam period is
between 3 B.CE and 4CE.
4. Dr.Ganapathi
should here lot of sad visaya. Elephant has long trunk. A sadhaka
8. The holy thread (yagyopavetam) which adorns the body of deities has
spiritual meaning. In the case of Visnu, Siva, Subramanya and even Devi
they appear as three separate strands. The three strands represent
mantra, vidhi and artavada.
Srim and Hrim with prefix and suffix letters, we can control (vasya)
the nadis so that Prana air will move upward through the central
nadi Susumna.