Hidden Secrets And Science of Vinayaka Agaval : Poet Avvaiyar Reveals Depth of Yoga

Considered to be one of Poet Avvaiyar's greatest compositions, Vinayaka Agaval contains some of the deepest revelations of the yogic system.It poetically glorifies Lord Ganapati and the science He reveals to Poet Avvaiyar.

I have dissected some verses from this composition.

The entire hymn is mind-blowing by itself. It would be too lengthy should I include them all. Hence, I have condensed the best-picks of mine.

Nevertheless, I encourage you to go through the entire hymn and meditate upon it.

Kanchi Periyava has emphasised the importance of this hymn and has venerated it eminently.

Let's look at the verses : 

சொற்பதம் கடந்த துரியமெய்ஞ் ஞான
அற்புதம் நிறைந்த கற்பகக் களிறே

Sorphadam kadantha turiya mei jnana
Arphudam nindra karpaga kalire

Meaning : Beyond words,Lord Ganesha is present in the state of Turiya

Turiya is the state of absolute consciousness.It is the state which is beyond the other three states ( state of being awake,sleep and deep sleep ).This statement also comes in the Vedas under the Ganapati Upanishad of Atharva Veda in the verse 

' tvam avasthaattraayaatiitaaha'

 You are beyond the three states of body awareness

state of being awake : jaagrata

dream state : svapna

deep dream : nidraa

The core motive of the Vedic tradition is to drive one towards enlightenment - the state of realisation that one is the same as the universal consciousness.We refer to this state as 'merging with God' ( sayujyam )

Poet Avvaiyar quotes pure consciousness as Lord Ganesha.In other words,God is realised in the state of Turiya - which is what Yoga is defined by.Yoga simply means union.Union with absolute consciousness.

This is the very declaration of the Vedas , where lord Ganapati is regarded as the very manifestation of brahman ( absolute consciousness ).It comes in the Ganapati Upanishad of the Atharva Veda in the verses

' tvam pratyaksham brahmaasi' 

   You are the very manifestation of Brahman

' tvam saakshaad aatma si nityam'.

   You are verily the eternal Atma

ஒன்பது வாயில் ஒருமந் திரத்தால்
ஐம்புலக் கதவை அடைப்பதும் காட்டி

Onbadhu vaayil oru manthirathaal

Aimpula kadhavai adaipathum kaati

Meaning : The body has 9 openings.Lord,please teach me the mantra in which my 5 senses are controlled.

The 9 orifices in the body include 2 ears,2 eyes,2 nostrils, 1 mouth , 1 urethra and 1 anus.

In the yogic system, these are referred to as the Nava Dvaras ( 9 Gates ).Shri Krshna mentions about these gates in the Gita.

It comes in chapter 5,verse 13 

sarva-karmāṇi manasā sannyasyāste sukhaṁ vaśhī
nava-dvāre pure dehī naiva kurvan na kārayan

A being who are self controlled and unattached reside happily in the 'city of nine gates' - in reference to the body.They are beyond the identity of doership.

By shutting the gates,one can raise his spiritual consciousness.

In simpler words,the 9 openings are linked to our 5 senses.We taste with the mouth,smell with nose,look with the eyes etc

By controlling these senses and mastering them,a yogi establishes his path to enlightenment.Poet Avvaiyar beautifully links the 9 orifices with the 5 senses by requesting a mantra from the Lord.

ஆறா தாரத்(து) அங்குச நிலையும் ⁠

பேறா நிறுத்திப் பேச்சுரை யறுத்தே

Aaraathaarathu angusha nilaiyum

Perra niruthi pechurai aruthae

Meaning : Upon revealing the 6 chakras and their qualities,lead me to the 7th

The yogic system recognises 7 main energy centres ( a junction where the nadis meet - nadis are energy circuits in the body ).They are known as chakras.

Each of these 7 chakras have its own quality.Muladhara is located at the lowest point and Sahasra - at the highest.A person who has his energies centralised in the Muladhara will have his life revolve around food and sleep - a life of low frequency,like an animal.

One who has it centralised in sahasra is in complete bliss and a god-realised state.

A yogi has to transcend through these chakras to reach the top.In the yogic system,sadhana ( spiritual practice ) can help one move to the 6th chakra - the agna ( third eye ).However,to jump to the 7th which is sahasra,one needs to have complete surrender ( to guru ).Only ultimate surrender can help.

Poet Avvaiyar hints this in the verse by requesting the Lord to take her to the 7th chakra,after revealing the other 6.

This is the reason why Guru-Shisya lineage is so important in the Vedic tradition.We always knew that a Guru is a must for enlightenment.

இடைபிங் கலையின் எழுத்தறி வித்துக்
கடையிற் சுழுமுனைக் கபாலமும் காட்டி

Ida Pingalaiyin ezhthu arivithu

Kadaiyir suzhumunai kabalum kaati

Meaning : Upon explaining the science of Ida and Pingala,You reveal the sushumna which leads to sahasra ( enlightenment )

The iDa and Pingala are two Nadis ( energy circuits ) in the spine.They represent the dualities - ShivaShakti,YinYang,Masculine feminine or other parallels to it.

SusHumnA is attributeless.It is emptiness through which anything can be manifested.Once someone activates the Sushumna,He expresses Vishnu-tattva ( all pervasiveness ).He becomes everything and anything.A boy amongst boys,a woman amongst women, and God ( pure consciousness ) when alone.

மூன்றுமண் டலத்தின் முட்டிய தூணின்
நான்றெழு பாம்பின் நாவில் உணர்த்திக் ⁠

Moondru mandalathin mutiya thoonin

Naan ezhu paambin naavil unarthi

Meaning : You awaken the dormant kundalini in the Muladhara.

The Muladhara is the root chakra.As per Ganapati Upanishad of Atharva Veda,Lord Ganesha presides in this chakra.We find this in the verse 

'tvam muulaadhaara sthito asi nityam'

You eternally abide in the muladhara chakra

Being the root chakra,its activation sets initiation to ultimate awakening.This is also why Durva grass is specially offered to Lord Ganesha.The Durva blades are the very blueprint of Kundalini Shakti.This is revealed in the Yajur Veda.The verse,

' KaanDAat KaanDaat prarohanti parusHah paruShah pari'

Muladhara activation initiates Kundalini awakening.

அமுத நிலையும் ஆதித்தன் இயக்கமும் ⁠
குமுத சகாயன் குணத்தையும் கூறி

Amudha nilayum aadithyan iyakkammum

Kumudha sagaayan gunathiyum koori

Meaning : Teach me the Sun and Moon channels and the state of enlightenment

A direct revelation of Hatha Yoga.Ha means Sun and Tha means moon - the basis of Hatha Yoga is about utilizing the source of Life directly - the Sun and moon.

In the Vedic culture, Manu is the progenitor of human race.He is the son of Sun ( Surya ).One of his sons,Ikshvaku pioneered Suryavamsha.Ikshvaku's sister Ila married Budha who is the son of Moon ( Chandra ).This created Chandra vamsha.

Everyone is carrying the genetic makeup of Surya or Chandra.Hatha Yoga is about directly connecting to the source of life on this planet - the origin of the DNA chain.

Life started on this planet only due to the sun,which gives solar energy for plants to utilise in photosynthesis.All beings on this planet owe their nourishment from this solar energy.If we trace back to the primitive DNA through which all of us originated from,it goes back to the Sun.

அணுவிற்(கு) அணுவாய் அப்பாலுக்(கு) அப்பாலாய்க் ⁠
கணுமுற்றி நின்ற கரும்புள்ளே காட்டி

Anuvikkum anuvaai appaallukum appaalaai

Kanu mutri nindra karumbulle kaati

Meaning:  Revealing the atoms within atoms and distance beyond distance, within the sugarcane.

Sugarcane here refers to the spinal column. Importantly, Poet Avvaiyar talks about how time and space are relative - as propounded by Einstein.

In Vedas, we always referred to pure consciousness ( God ) as being beyond time and space.

tvam kaalatrayaatiitaha ( thou art beyond the three frames of time - past, present, future ) - So says the Vedas in the Ganapati Upanishad of Atharva Veda.

Time and space are units that act only on the physical plane. The body ages, not the Atma ( spirit )

In the spiritual realm,time and space do not exist. Therefore, one who has awakened his spiritual awareness through the spinal cord is beyond time and space - be it the space between atoms or the distance between galaxies.

An enlightened being with no doubt, Poet Avvaiyar creates a masterpiece that gives the essence of the entire Vedic and Yogic systems.

It is indeed a shame that we do not heroize such icons. Trending Tamizh Movies make a mockery out of her. We can only regain our pride when we start to revere the contributions of such icons.

ALSO READ : 

(1) The Significance of Ganapati Upanishad of Atharva Veda