National Integration Through Thirukkural And Sanskrit
Mantras
Mantra means an often repeated phrase. Mantra is a fact, principle, instruction or an idea expressed in brevity. By nature, these densely structured knowledge texts are to be memorized and transferred to the next generation. The term Mantra is mostly used in the context of chanting of religious and spiritual teachings.
Major examples of such Mantras are
- Vedas (Hindu)
- Bible (Christian)
- Quran (Islamic)
Religious and spiritual mantras are used for praying and meditation to obtain inner peace and attain self-realisation. During chanting of Mantras one tries to focus their thoughts on a single object. Chanting mantras with devotion over a period of time generates enormous mental strength, which enables one to handle day-to-day challenges. It is widely acknowledged that vibrations of those mantras influences the events around one in a positive way.
There is a huge difference between Mantras and normal words said in day-to-day life. Mantras have been recited and codified by God and evolved souls over a period of time. It is believed that the preachers practiced them and that is the reason, these Mantras have in-built power. Normal words by ordinary mortals lacks the inspirational value.
Tamil Poet Tholkappiar says that “Each word of an evolved soul is a Mantra”.
The main nature of a mantra is that, chanting it with reverence and even without knowing its meaning, can bring about the desired results. It is analogous to a person, taking a medicine without having to know the ingredients of it. Still it cures him. Of course, knowing the inner meanings of Mantras can help one to attain spirituality faster, but that alone is not a pre-requisite for chanting mantras. Faith matters most than knowledge.
Religious and Spiritual teachings are generally difficult for a common man to understand and comprehend by a plain reading. But Thirukkural, which is considered an Universal Veda, is an xception. The inner import of each couplet can be easily understood even by laymen.
Our country India is a home to so many such Religious and Spiritual Scriptures. Modern day intellectuals who are influenced by Western theologies tend to undermine the effectiveness of our ancient scriptures. But Thiruvalluvar says, the pride of a society is based on the availability of such spiritual scriptures.
Thiruvalluvar in his couplet 28 says that the existence of texts which preach values suggests the rich heritage of our ancestors.
நிறைமொழி மாந்தர் பெருமை நிலத்து
மறைமொழி காட்டி விடும்
Nirai-mozhi Maandhar Perumai Nilaththu
Marai-mozhi Kaatti Vidum
பரிமேலழகர் உரை:
நிறைமொழி மாந்தர் பெருமை – நிறைந்த மொழியினை உடைய துறந்தாரது பெருமையை; நிலத்து மறைமொழி காட்டிவிடும் – நிலவுலகத்தின்கண் அவர் ஆணையாகச் சொல்லிய மந்திரங்களே கண்கூடாகக் காட்டும். (‘நிறைமொழி’ என்பது, அருளிக் கூறினும், வெகுண்டு கூறினும், அவ்வப் பயன்களைப் பயந்தே விடும் மொழி. காட்டுதல்! பயனான் உணர்த்துதல்.).
தொல்காப்பியம் (இளம்பூரணர் உரை):
நிறைமொழி மாந்த ராணையிற் கிளந்த மறைமொழி தானே மந்திரமென்ப (தொல்காப்பியம் பொருளதிகாரம் செய்யுளியல்: 480: பொருள் (இளம்பூரணர் உரையிலிருந்து): நிறைந்த மொழியையுடைய மாந்தர் தமதாணையாற் சொல்லப்பட்ட மறைந்தசொல் மந்திரமாவ தென்றவாறு.) என்பது தொல்காப்பிய இலக்கணத்தின் நூற்பா.
The scriptures and the mystic sayings of the land will reveal the command and greateness of the ascetics through their infallible words to the world.
Sanskrit Translation by Shri S.N. Srirama Desikan
யதோ²க்த த⁴ர்மனிஷ்டா²னாம் யதீனாம் மஹிமாதி³கம் |
மந்த்ராதி³ ஸஹிதைர்வேத³ வாக்யைரேவ நிரூப்யதே ||
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