திருநாவுக்கரசர் அருளிய தேவாரம்
தலம் திருப்பெருவேளூர்
திருநேரிசை
4-ம் திருமுறை
திருச்சிற்றம்பலம்
விரிவிலா அறிவினார்கள் வேறொரு சமயஞ் செய்து
எரிவினாற் சொன்னாரேனும் எம்பிராற்கு ஏற்றதாகும்
பரிவினால் பெரியோர் ஏத்தும் பெருவேளூர் பற்றினானை
மருவி நான் வாழ்த்தி உய்யும் வகையது நினைக்கின்றேனே.
திருச்சிற்றம்பலம்
thirunAvukkaracar aruLiya thEvAram
thalam thirupperuvELUr
thirunEricai
4th thirumuRai
thirucciRRambalam
virivilA aRivinArkaL vERoru camayam ceythu
erivinAR connArEnum empirARku ERRathAgum
parivinAl periyOr Eththum peruvELUr paRRinAnai
maruvi n^An vAzththi uyyum vakaiyathu n^inaikkinREnE.
thirucciRRambalam
Meaning:
Even if the people of non-vast knowledge make another religion
and tell in antagonism, for our Lord, it becomes acceptable.
The Lord Who held peruvELUr, hailed by the great people in care,
I am thinking of the upliftment path embracing and hailing Him.
Notes:
1. A key indicator of maturity of shaivite philosophy (may be
applicable for the whole vaidhika dharma in general) is in this
song. Our saint does not say, "Those who do not worship
Lord shiva will be just put in the hell", rather he declares
even if those who have some wisdom but still not enough to
comprehend the great Divinity tell antagonistic views due
to their short-sight, still it will be acceptable to our Lord,
if it is in positive direction.
This may not be a surprise for those who are aware of the
Agamic/ philosophic texts (for example siddhanta prakashika)
where even for those religions that are completely antagonistic
to shaivism, instead of listing out the sufferings at hells,
indicates the levels of elevation they could achieve and
at the same time bringing out where they fall short.
Because when there is only one God all the worship
goes to It. There cannot be one God per religion. What
varies is the level of maturity of the religions. This is what
shaivite philosophy calls gradual progression. Thing to
be realized here is, God in the process of moving the soul
from total darkness of filth to the Bliss It offers, takes the
soul through the levels of wisdom as the maturity of it
progresses.
appar concludes he worships the Lord shiva at peruvELUr,
Whom the wise great people worship in reverence and devotion,
as the way to get uplifted.