Those who have bhakti towards Lord Siva think of Him constantly, and when away from Him, they cry for reunion with Him. Great souls are immersed in thoughts of the Lord. The Lord too responds if we cry for Him.
Manickavachagar, who adored the Lord, and showed his adoration through his verses, referred to Siva as a ‘beggar’! This was not to insult the Lord, but to refer to the incident where the Lord, in Tirukachiyur, begged for food, because His devotee Sundarar was hungry. Manickavachagar’s intention was to show that the Lord will go to any length to ensure the well being of His devotees, elaborated K. Sambandan, in a discourse.
Manickavachagar cries out for the Lord through verses that are moving. He says he wears sacred ash on the forehead, and is Siva’s devotee. Yet the Lord fails to save him. Should he suffer more? Is it the Lord’s intention that he should be mocked at? He asks the Lord if He doubts his sincerity.
ADVERTISEMENT
Manickavachagar says a tree will not be cut down so long as it gives shade even if it is a poisonous one. He is like a poisonous tree, but begs to be saved by the Lord. “If you cry, you can reach Him,” assures Manickavachagar.
Sundarar breaks a promise and the Lord deprives him of sight. Sundarar compares himself to milk in which some dust has fallen. If we see a speck of dust in a jar of milk, do we pour away all the milk? We do not. We just remove the dust and use the milk.
“In the same way, I am like a glass of milk, in which some dust has fallen. I have sinned, but am I to be totally condemned for my sin? Remove my sin, and take me into your fold,” cries Sundarar.
ADVERTISEMENT
Arunagirinathar prays for proximity to the Lord. He prays that the Lord should embrace him. Manickavachagar compares the Lord’s mercy to a flood.
Appar compares His mercy to a brimming lake. God resides in the hearts of true devotees, and He only scoffs at the showy worship which the rich resort to. Manickavachagar says His devotees melt for Him like wax cast into fire. We should melt for Him. That is the only way to reach Him.