Tayumanavar

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Tayumanavar (1705-1742), pronounced Tāyum-ānavar, is one of the spiritual giants of Tamilandu, India.

[edit] Spiritually Elevating songs

Tayumanavar was a respected scholar in both Sanskrit and Tamil and was a minister to the King in Trichinopoly in South India. His name hails from the name of the deity of the Rockfort Temple in Trichinopoly. When he became god-minded he quit his job and began roaming, preaching Shaiva-siddhanta philosophy and Shiva worship. His songs are full of the divine bliss which he enjoyed and transmitted in abundance. The songs on the theme of the Atman craving for the union with the Supreme, are famous for their authenticity, simplicity and easily remembered language. He is also known for his unceasing emphasis on the unity of all paths to God and of all religions, and, in particular, on the unity of Vedanta and Shaiva siddhanta.

[edit] See everything through Love

Here is one example of Tayumanavar's presentation of the highest thoughts of philosophy in simple Tamil:

aRuLāl evaiyum pār enRēn -- attai aRiyāde chuTTi en aRivāle pārttēn; iRuLāna poruL kaNDadallāl ennaiyum kaNDilan ennaDi tozhi.

meaning, See everything through Love, says my teacher. But in my ignorance I probed through my intelligence. What I saw was only darkness and in that darkness I did not see even myself!

[edit] Infinite Bliss, for meditation

Ever-permanent, without any blemish, without any ignorance, without support, ever-full, undecayingly pure, far as well as near, like the Light beyond the three luminaries (Sun, Moon and Fire), the One Charm that includes all, overflowing with Bliss, undiscernible to mind or speech, standing as the Colossus of Consciousness -- on that vastness of the beginning of Infinite Bliss, let us meditate.