THE DISCIPLINE OF 'SINMAYAM°
Siddhars refer the doctrine of 'rasavatham' (alchemy) as 'vagara' art & the doctrine of deathlessness (immortality) as art of 'thagara'. The alchemy means a form of chemistry aiming change basic Metals into higher metals that is gold and to discover the elixir of perpetual youth. Whereas the field of 'thagara' is deathlessness. the mortal physical body is prevented from dying and merge into power of divine light-that is getting glorious radiant body. This is termed "sinmayam". Siddhar Thayumanavar describes this as :
'siragiri vilanga varu thatchanaamoorthyeh sinmayanantha guruveh'
To be able to become 'sinmayam' is field of 'thagara'. Here 'si' means godly form. Knowing, understanding this form and merging into that is 'sinmayanantham'. 'Si' is. everlasting infinite pleasure that one could attain. In 'panchatcharam', 'thoola' (physical) panchatcharam is 'namasivaya'. 'Soothchuma panchatcharam' is 'sivayanama'. Of these 'namasivaya' mandra is preached by a religious guru whereas 'sivayanama' is preached by a gnana guru. 'Namasivaya' is preferred for an ordinary man of life and 'sivayanama' is sought by a real staunch searcher of god. Here, a simple Explaination in indirect form is given for the understanding of the secrecy of 'thoola and sookumum' As for those who have been writting constantly to me requesting and seeking to get the knowledge of understanding 'sinmayam'. I take this opportunity to explain in depth about it. Those who have the grace of god will be able to realize this.
The saint Thirumoolar explains in his 'Thirumanthiram'
Eliyavathu seivarengal eesanai.
Oliyai yunni yurugu rnanatharaith
Theliyavothi 'sivayanama' vennum
Ku likaiyitthu ponnaakkvaan koottaiyeh !
Thirumanthiram -2709
Preachers of various religion have been putting forth a lot of ideas and discussions regarding the existence of god and arguing fruitlessly the way to reach him, thus wasting away their precious lifetime. But god is light form and divine light. Understanding this realization of god, one uses this art of 'sivayanama' to achieve glorious radiant body. This explains briefly the meaning of above song. As explained earlier by siddhars, narnasivaya is thoola panchathcharm.
Here :-'na' represents 'piruthivi' (earth) and its ratio is 1 1/2 'ma' represents 'appu' (water) and its ratio is 1 1/4 'Si ' represents "theyu" (fire) and its ratio is 1 'va' represents "vayu" (air) and its ratio is % ya' represents "agayam" (space) and its ratio is 1/2 The total of 5 parts represents our physical body (thoola udampu). Reversing this ratio of thoola to sookuama the word "sivayanama" is as follows : 'Si' represents fire, the ratio is changed to 1 1/2 'va' represents air, the ratio is changed to 1 1/4 'ya' represents space the ratio is changed to 1 'na' represents earth, the ratio is changed 3/4 'ma' represents water, the ratio is changed to 1/2 thus changing to the above ratio, the physical body will transmit to a radiant body and sound. This is the first and foremost step in the process. The next process is 'sivayavasi. This situation or reality is told by Siddhar Sivavakkiar :
Sivayavasi ennavum sevikka itchagamellam
Sivayavasi ennavum sevikka yavum sithiaam
Sivayavasi ennavum sevikka vanamalalalaam
Sivayavasi ennethe iruthalaithee aagumeh !
The anma is changed to sound and light form. The anma thus remains Immersed in the space. There is no other need for it to descend to lower level. This remains the secret of the art of 'thagara'. Neglecting this, just by murmuring or chanting 'sivayanama', toolam doesn't become sookumum. Thus sookumum doesn't let them to die, This process is only to be preached and guided by a guru. This is not attained through yoga, initiation of kundalini shakti, breathing excercise, mandras, or by chanting. The process is being one with the supreme who is ever existing, non-ceasing, non-destroyable, or unchanging.
This is known as secret of Brahma, pravana or siva as stated by all religions. This is Compromised by people of all nations, races or religion. One will be unable to see the place called Thiruvarangam by merely uttering the words Thiruvarangam, unless he actually arrives at that place and sees for himself. The anma which resides inside the body, by not giving the body the intelligence but by merging with the physical body, in this process developing the anma. The anma can be intuitively realized, it is beyond the realm of physical science. It is extremely subtle, consciousness and intelligence. Through the knowledge of the imperishable anma, one can conquer over death and merge oneself in the immortal.
Techniques For perpetual Life and the Knowledge for Salvation of the Soul (Anma)
We exist as physical body, jeevan, four inner seats of intelligence (manam, puthi, agankaram and sitham) and anma (soul). It is anma that enlivens, galvanizes, moves, and directs the four inner seats. We need to know from which part of the body, the anma moves and directs the body. If the anma doesn't perform its duties and actions, then one is referred as a dead person. Knowing anma is called Knowing oneself (Self knowledge).
Our body experiences the worldly pleasures and pains by means of this anma. For this occurrence, we need the physical body. In the absence of anma, the body doesn't function, similarly without anma, the body will not experience the worldly pleasures and pain. The physical body is mortal where as the anma is infinite, eternal and immortal. As the physical body experiences the worldly pleasures and pains, it evolves through the process of ageing, sickness and death. then the anma takes on a new breath from a new body and lives on. Being caught in the cycle of birth and death, a process which is continuous depending on Karma. Desiring for liberation from the cycle of birth and death, identifying oneself with the anma and the practices for that is salvation of the anma.
For this attainment, the physical body has to co-operate, If we are ill, then we tend to spend time looking for medicine for curing sickness, thus caught again in pleasures when we are healthy, pains, sorrows, and grievances when we are unhealthy. The body lives on cravings, desires, egoism, pride, greed, lust, likes and dislikes.
Is there any method or process, by which one can free his 'body from perishing? Tamil Siddars discovered, found and had the knowledge, realized it and attained that stage. The truth is here and is not kept concealed if you are prepared for seeking this spiritual advancement.
The anma doesn't need a strong body to realize this attainment. It needs the strength of the anma for this. So, to protect our bodies from perishing, We have to know our anma and anma's building of a permanent eternal and immortal body which is called deathlessness. We don't need asanas practices (Postures) or breathing excercises to attain this stage. Anma is intelligent unlike the physical body which is not.