God in Tamil Poems

The Bible tells us that when Jesus appeared in this world in flesh He quoted the following words.

Jesus said,"You Search the scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life: and these are they which testify of Me" (John 5:39)

If it is so, why many of us are blind to it and do not take any effort to find it. The truth is revealed in the Bible.

But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God should shine in them.(2 Corinthians 4:4)

This verse tells us that there is a god of this world who is against the Gospel of Jesus Christ ( the image of God) and His Glory should shine as light in the hearts of men for which he has put a veil. This suggests that those whose hearts are veiled to the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ shall perish.

Did you notice the word the god of this age? who is he? he is the same old serpent (satan) who looked at Jesus when He was on this earth and  showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, and said, "All these things I will give you if you will fall down and worship me." Can you understand now.

There is a verse in the Bible which tells us " Open My eyes that I may see wondrous things from your law."(Scriptures) (Psalm 119:18)

Similarly many of us could be like Paul. But Jesus who encountered Him in the broad Day Light also loves to encounter us through our own scriptures. May we ask God to open our spiritual eyes such that His light will shine upon in our hearts and the wondrous things that are hidden in the Tamil poems, and other scriptures about God are revealed to us as we study them. In view of the complexity of reproducing the tamil words in english, it is limited only to a few which could easily be understood by the readers.

Thiruvanthair 41  says the following;

Mukthi mudal kodikkey moka kodi padarnthu;

Atthee pazhuthathu enru unthipara;

appazham unnathey unthi para.

This means even the first man created by God was covered by sin and because of this act evil existed. Do not eat that fruit.

In Tamil we have the saiva siddhanta or siva gnana botham which was written by 14 Saints also called Meykanda shastra which conveys the message of the fall of man, his redemption by God through sacrifice, salavation and union. For example Siva Gnana Botham 1 says the following;

Avan, Aval, Athu ennum moovinaimaiyin;

thotriyathithiye odungi malathulatham;

Antham adhi enbanar pulavar. 

This means God created man, woman, and the world in three different ways.They all fell to sin in the very beginning. That was the end of Holiness (End of a sinless nature) and the emergence of sin. This is the message of the pulavar.

 Sivagnana Botham 8 says;

Aimbula vedarin ayarnthanai valarnthu ena;

tammudal guruvu mai tavathinil unarthavittu;

anniyam inmaiyin aran kazhal sellume.

This means The soul that grows together with the five senses such as Mey, kan, vai, mooku, sevi fell without knowing him and the creator. The creator who is from the beginning having seen it, appears in the world as a Guru and bears the sin on Him and when He offered Himself as the sacrifice on the cross, the soul is cleansed of its sin and the darkness that caused divison due to sin is removed and shall raech the feet of God.

Nammazhvar Thiruvirutham says;

Poi Ninra Gnamum polla ozhukkum azhukudambum;

Inninra neermai iniyam uraamai uyir alippan;

Enninra yoniumaip piranthai imaiyor thalaiva; which means

God was born in a woman, such that the defiled wisdom, corrupt moral practices and the sinful body shall not reign over us and that we may have a Good life.

Irava inbathu yemai irutha; vendi pirava mudalvan piranthan. This means To give me the eternal joy the God was born in flesh.

Thiruvasagam says;

" Arooparathoruvan avaniyil vandu;

Guruparan aagi aruliya perumaiyai;

sirumai enru igazhathe;

This means Understand properly the plan of God as to why he has to manifest Himself in the flesh. Behold do not mock at it.

Thirukural says " Porivayil aiyinthavithan poideer ozhukka; Neri ninrar needu vazhvar." meaning The instrument that was a trap (Cross) where God sacrificed his soul and its senses for atonement of sin is the way and the one who seeks that way shall attain Eternal Life.

In parabara kannimalai the poem goes like this " Banthamellam theera paranjothi Nee guruvai ; vanda vadivai maraven parabarame" meaning, I cannot forget the form in which The almighty and supreme God came into this world as the Guru to destroy and deliver the soul from bondage to the worldly pleasures that have bound it.

Agathiyar Gnanam 15 says " Alagai (satan, devil) yathu devanukku sariyay ninru ; Aangaram than eduthu aganthai yale; Nilai kulaindu badala kuzhikkul ninru; nittamum manidarai mosam pokki;" which means satan out of his pride for power wanted to set his throne before the throne of God and make himself equal to God. because of that he had fallen and was cast into the pit. Every day he deceives the people by his deceit and craftiness. Let us look at what the Bible has to say.

"You are of your father the devil,He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him.when he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources for he is a liar and the father of lie."(John 8:44)

Agathiar Gnanm 21 says " Vananguvai jegajothi oruvanagi manilathai; Oru nodiyil vagutthe mannil; Gunamana manitharaiyum padaitha pinbu kuvalayathil; Than uditthu guruvai vandu; Sanamana samsaram onrum illamal sanniyasi pol;Irundhu thavathai katti; Anbana sitthargalai irutthi pottu aganda thalam; sendra varai anduvaye; which means Worship the Father of lights and the creator who created

the universe in the twinkling of an eye. Although He created the human being out of the dust of the earth, He himself appeared in this earth in flesh and lived without a wife or children, chose the disciples and showed the way of life on this earth and then departed to the heavens whom you shall approach and hold on to.

Concept of Triune God

Agathiar Gnanam 29 says " Mucchudarum ondram, mummoorthy alla; Moovarume aluruvam ondre aagum; acchuda ivargalume Aann, Penn alla; Aranum alla, Lingam alla, Anadiyana; satchidanandanaiye vanakkam seidhu; Sathguruvai dhraisithu charanpatri; Yetcharikkai kondu nada appa; Yennila mukthi vazhi yeiduvaaye" which means The three forms of lights are one but not three gods. All the three of them have personality but yet are one. They are neither man, woman, king or lingam. Worship the god who is everlasting truth, wisdom, knowledge and joy and have the vision of the Sath guru (who manifested Himself in flesh to reveal God and his charecter) and follow his footsteps. Beware of it and lead your life. Then you shall attain the countless Eternall Life.

The sanskrit scriptures say " Vagyo vai Brahma (Word is God); Shabdo vai Brahma (Voice is God); Shabdakshara Para Brahma (Word and voice became absolute God).

The Bible conforms this truth. We saw in the Beginning God spoke in plurality " Let us make man in Our image" at creation of man and woman.

In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God (John 1:1)

He (Jesus) was in the beginning with God (John 1:2);

He was clothed with a robe dipped in Blood and His name was called "The word of God"(Revelation 19:13);

And the spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.( Genesis 1:2)

Then a voice came from heaven, " You are my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased." (Mark 1:9-11)

'And the word became flesh and dwelt among us." (John 1:14)

" For there are three who bear witnesses in heaven: The Father, The word, and The Holy Spirit: and Theses are one (1 John 5:7)

The Bible very clearly tells us as the Three personalities of God were involved in the creative act, they were also involved in the plan of salvation that is when Jesus appeared in this world in flesh and was coming out of the waters after baptism:The spirit of God was seen descending upon Him like a dove and the heavens opened and the Father declared You are my beloved Son in whom I am pleased.. This shows they were all together.

Siva Vakkiar's poem goes like this : "Natta kallai deivam endru nadi pushpam sathukirir; Sutthi vandu munumunu vendru sollum mandiram yethada; Natta kallum pesumo nathan ul irukkayil; Sutta satti satthuvan kari suvai ariyumo. This means oh mankind, you worship the planted stones and adore them with flowers as God. You go around them chanting mantras. Also think about this,  you cook food in a moulded clay pot. If you ask it to tell the taste of the cooked food will it know and will it be able to tell you the taste. In a similar way understand, Will the planted stone speak when the creator thy God is within your heart. Let us look at what the Bible tells us;

" God who made the world and everything in it, since He is lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands, Nor is He worshipped with mens hands as though He needed anything. since He gives to all life, breadth and all things.(Acts 17:24-25).

But Solomon built Him a house. However the most High does not dwell in temples made with human hands as the prophet says:(Acts 7:47-48)

Thus says the Lord" Heaven is My Throne, and earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest?(Isaiah 66:1)

Has My hand not made all these Things? (Acts 7:50)

God who accepted the stone, tent and temple worship now refuses that practice. Why? God wanted to make men understand as to How they should worship Him. God who created everything by His word did not create men and women by word but by His own hand. This means God built His own temple. This inspiration was given to men when the promised Holy Spirit permanently rested upon them as promised By Jesus to lead them in all truth. What does the word of God say?

" Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the spirit of God dwells in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16)

" I saw no temple in it (Heaven), for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. (Revelation 21:22)

We did see it is not possible to limit or contain God within an idol, or the sculptured stones or in any image in the first few pages.

Many ways or one way

Swethaswathara upanishad 3:8 says " Vedaaha metam purusham manantam; Aaditya vamam tamasah Parastath ; Tameva viditvati mutu meti; naanyah panthaa vidyate ayanaaya; this meaning I know the mighty purusha beyond darkness. Only in knowing Him does one can passover death (Second death, Eternal death). There is no other way other than this.

Lot of philosophical things about attaining Eternity are being talked about. One may have his own religion. But we have one God and a singular plan only. People might say all Roads lead to Rome. One need to think there is agreat potential disaster in this universal thinking. Unless God made the road, there is no Guarantee of its destination. Man does not have the eternal vision necessary to build a road to the Eternal kingdom of God. That is what the Bible tells us very clearly.

" Enter ye at the straight gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in by it; Because straight is the gate, and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are a few who find it." (Mathew 7:13-14)

Every effort has been made to bring out with the help of God the truth in the Indian scriptures which might have been kept hidden to you so that God's light is made to shine in your heart. The Bible tells us

"For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.(Luke 12:2)

Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known."(Mathew 10:26)

Forever, O LORD, Thy word is settled in heaven. (Psalm 119:89)

   

God’s Word comes to us in the book that we call the Bible and here, in the book, it tells us something about itself. It tells us three wonderful things about its own character.

First of all, “it’s forever.” It’s eternal, it’s not temporary. It doesn’t change with the events of history or the attitudes and thoughts of man. It’s forever – an eternal word.

Then again, “it’s God’s word.” It’s not man’s word. It didn’t start with man. It came from God. It’s the revelation of God Himself – His ways, His thoughts, His attitudes, His purposes, His laws. Men were the channels through which it came, but always God was the source.

The third thing it tells us is that “it’s settled in heaven.” Nothing that happens on earth can ever change the Word of God. It’s not subject to the decrees of kings or emperors, nor to the opinions of politicians or to the violence of armies. It’s out of reach of all those evil forces; it’s settled forever in heaven.

The Bible tells us the following

"Finally bretheren, whatever things are true,whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praise worthy, meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do and the God of peace will be with you.(Philippians 4:8-9)

God has given us a free will to choose either death or Life. As per the above saying, it is upto the readers to discern concerning the truth that have been laid forth before them and to see if they are true,noble, just,pure,lovable, good and there is virtue in it and it is praiseworthy. If it is done the God of peace can be found and He shall be with You. The Bible tells us "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, (1 Corinthians 14:33)

We have seen in this post that the ancient scriptures written in the form of Tamil poems are all fulfilled only in Jesus Christ as the God Incarnate. 

Let us look at the next step.