8 - B U D D H I S M , JAIbIISM

A N D C A M P A M T A R

Not a l l t h e p o e t s of t h e B h a k t i movement e v i n c e keen

i n t e r e s t i n denounc ing J a i n i s m and Buddhism. Of t h e x ~ v ~ r s

o n l y T i r u m a l i c a i and To?;ara ; ippot i mount a s c a t h i n g a t t a c k

r e m i n i s c e n t of C a m p a n t a r ' s i n word and s p i r i t , i n n o t more

t h a n t h r e e o r f o u r poems e a c h . Mac ikkavzoaka r , t hough

r e p o r t e d t o have been i n v o l v e d i n wordy d u e l s w i t h B u d d h i s t

l e a d e r s , d o e s n o t c a r e t o r e f e r t o them i n "T i ruocQa l " ,

wh ich , a c c o r d i n g t o a l e g e n d , is supposed t o r e b u t t h e

B u d d h i s t a t t a c k s on Lord S i v a and S a i v i s m . Appar e x p r e s s e s

h i s p ro found a p o l o g i e s f o r hav ing been m i s l e d by t h e J a i n s .

But i n t h e r e s t of B h a k t i l i t e r a t u r e , t h e r e is n o t h i n g l i k e

C a m p a n t a r ' s s u s t a i n e d p i l l o r y i n g of t h e two g r o u p s . T h a t

t h i s c e n s u r e i s one of t h e most p ronounced f e a t u r e s of h i s

p o e t r y seems t o have a t t r a c t e d t h e a t t e n t i o n of SFkkiAKr,

who, w h i l e m e n t i o n i n g t h e b i r t h of t h e s a i n t , r e f e r s t o t h e

u r g e n t need t o wipe o u t t h e two r e l i g i o n s wh ich had

c r i p p l e d t h e f a i t h i n S a i v i s m :

The b l a m e l e s s , g e n t l e - h e a r t e d C i v a p x t a I r u t a y a r was p a i n e d t o n o t i c e t h a t t h e d e v o t e e s o f S i v a were n o t app roached by many f o r e n l i g h t e n m e n t b e c a u s e t h e a n c i e n t V e d i c f a i t h was y i e l d i n g

ground t o t h e rampant l i e s of wicked J a i n s and B u d d h i s t s .

Eve ry Patikam by Campantar , f a i r l y s t e r e o t y p i c a l ,

g e n e r a l l y c o n s i s t s of e l e v e n v e r s e s , t h e f i r s t s e v e n h a v i n g

been d e v o t e d t o a d e s c r i p t i o n of t h e sthala and t o t h e

e u l o g i z i n g of S i v a , t h e e i g h t h t o t h e s t o r y of Ravana ' s

a t t e m p t t o l i f t K a i l a s a and h i s d i s c o m f i t u r e , t h e n i n t h t o

t h e l egend of lingodbhavamurti, t h e f o o l i s h v e n t u r e of

Brahma and Vishnu t o s e e t h e head o r t h e f o o t of S i v a , t h e

t e n t h b e i n g a d i r e c t condemna t ion of B u d d h i s t and J a i n

h e r e s i e s and t h e e l e v e n t h a k ind of d e t a i l e d e n v o i

announc ing t h e boons t h a t may b e c o n f e r r e d on t h o s e who

w i l l r e c i t e t h e hymns. T h i s s t r u c t u r e of t h e Patikam,

s u b j e c t t o o n l y 9% t o 1 2 % v a r i a t i o n , h a s been found t o be

v e r y s t a b l e . 2 When compared t o t h e s t r u c t u r a l s t r a t e g i e s of

t h e o t h e r t h r e e ~ch~r;ryZ..~ t h i s scheme i t s e l f r e v e a l s

C a m p a n t a r ' s a l m o s t o b s e s s i v e i n t e r e s t i n t h e i n v e c t i v e

d i r e c t e d a g a i n s t t h e r i v a l r e l i g i o u s g r o u p s . Appa r ' s

d e c a d e s a r e made up of t e n o r e l e v e n s t a n z a s , f o r t y - t w o

hav ing l e s s t h a n n i n e e a c h : t h e s t o r y of t h e humbl ing of

t h e r e b e l l i o u s Ravana makes i t s a p p e a r a n c e i n t h e l a s t

v e r s e . L i k e Campantar , C u n t a r a r s i n g s t h e l a s t v e r s e of h i s

d e c a d e s b u t t h e r e semblance ends t h e r e . The leitmotif o f

t h e r e b e l redeemed g e t s r e p e a t e d i n C u n t a r a r ' s and

Ma? ikkavZcaka r ' s poems a l s o . The o t h e r f a v o u r i t e myth of

t h e s e f o u r X&anmZrs is t h e one t h a t u n d e r l i n e s t h e

s u p e r i o r i t y of S i v a a v e r t h e o t h e r two of t h e t r i n i t y who

c a n n o t have a g l i m p s e of h i s v i s v a r u p a . The b i t i n g r emarks

on t h e B u d d h i s t s and J a i n s d o n o t o c c u r s o f r e q u e n t l y and

r e g u l a r l y i n t h e poems of t h e o t h e r t h r e e .

And y e t C a m p a n t a r ' s v i t u p e r a t i o n d o e s n o t seem t o b e

m e c h a n i c a l l y r e p e a t e d i n p a t i k a m a f t e r p a t i k a m . Even when

one r e a d s many of t h e s e hymns a t a s t r e t c h , t h e i m p r e s s i o n

c r e a t e d is n o t one o f monotony. T h e r e a r e f a s c i n a t i n g

v a r i a t i o n s and t h e r e a d e r a t t i m e s e a g e r l y l o o k s f o r w a r d t o

t h e fo rm t h e a t t a c k is g o i n g t o a s sume . Be ing a consummate

a r t i s t , Campantar is a t h i s p e r s u a s i v e b e s t i n a l l t h e s e

p a s s a g e s . He is n o t i n t e r e s t e d i n any d r y - a s - d u s t

p h i l o s o p h i c a l a rgumen t s t o c o u n t e r t h e c l a i m s of h i s

o p p o n e n t s . He knows ha h a s t o a p p e a l t h r o u g h a r t r a t h e r

t h a n t h r o u g h m e t a p h y s i c s . L o g i c a l a r g u x ~ e n t a t i o n and

p h i l o s o p h i c a l e x p l a n a t i o n w i l l make no i m p r e s s i o n on t h e

common man. He v e r y o f t e n pooh-poohs what t h e y s t a n d f o r by

g r a p h i c a l l y d e s c r i b i n g t h e i r p h y s i c a l a p p e a r a n c e , t h e i r

u n c l e a n h a b i t s , t h e i r f o o d , t h e i r d r e s s o r t h e i r n u d i t y and

t h e i r l a n g u a g e . Not p s o k i n g h i s v e r s e s w i t h d o c t r i n a l

t h o u g h t s , he s e e s t o it t h a t t h e d e t a i l s he c h o o s e s w i t h

a p p a r e n t c a s u a l n e s s a r e t e l l i n g i n t h e i r e f f e c t . And t h e

p o w e r f u l a l l i a n c e of p o e t r y w i t h music of t h e r i c h e s t k i n d

l e n d s superhuman charm t o t h e v e r s e and it i s t o t a l l y

i m p o s s i b l e f o r anyone, young o r o l d , highbrow o r lowbrow,

t o r e s i s t i t s a p p e a l . Here i s supreme a r t d o i n g t h e work o f

a p r o p a g a n d i s t i n t h e s u b t l e s t manner p o s s i b l e . The

c o n s t a n t , m e t h o d i c a l r e p e t i t i o n of t h e a t t a c k w i t h cunn ing

v a r i a t i o n s d r i v e s home t h e p o i n t t h a t t h e p h i l o s o p h i c a l

d i s q u i s i t i o n s of t h e B u d d h i s t s and J a i n s do n o t d a s e r v e any

s e r i o u s c o n s i d e r a t i o n o r r e f u t a t i o n . Where i s t h e need f o r

i n t e l l e c t u a l d i s p u t e s o r m e t a p h y s i c a l h a i r - s p l i t t i n g s when

t h e b i z a r r e p r a c t i c e s of t h e enemies b e t r a y t h e i r

a b s u r d i t y ? T h i s s t r a t e g y a d o p t e d by Campantar must have

p a i d r i c h d i v i d e n d s i n t h e s u c c e s s f u l l a u n c h i n g of t h e

B h a k t i movement. A s S r i Aurobindo s a y s ,

A l l t h i s p o e t r y . . . t h e p h i l o s o p h i c and d e v o t i o n a l l y r i c s a r e n o t t h e c r e a t i o n o r meant f o r t h e a p p r e c i a t i o n of a c u l t i v a t e d c l a s s b u t w i t h few e x c e p t i o n s t h e e x p r e s s i o n of p o p u l a r c u l t u r e . . . t h e i n s p i r e d l y r i c s of t h e s o u t h e r n s a i n t s and Tl-viirs were knowri t o a l l c l a s s e s and t h e i r t h o u g h t o r t h e i r emo t ' on e n t e r e d d e e p l y i n t o t h e l i f e of t h e p e o p l e . 4

I t i s i n t e r e s t i n g t o n o t e t h a t C a m p a n t a r ' s v e r s e s a p p e a l

t o d i v e r s e e m o t i o n s . The e i g h t h s t a n z a c o n t a i n i n g t h e

t r i b u t e t o S i v a c r u s h i n g t h e t en -headed Ravana e f f o r t l e s s l y

s u g g e s t s v&a rasz; t h e n i n t h e x p r e s s i n g wonder a t t h e

i n a b i l i t y of Vishnu and Brahma t h e two migh ty d e i t i e s t o

r e c o n g n i s e t h e p h y s i c a l m a n i f e s t a t i o n o f t h e A b s o l u t e

b e f o r e them s u g g e s t s adbhu ta r a s a ; t h e t e n t h embodying a

s e n s e of shuck ove r t h e h o r r e n d o u s b e h a v i o u r of t h e

a d v o c a t e s of Buddhism and J a i n i s m o r r i d i c u l i n g t h e i r words

and d e e d s s u g g e s t s j ugupsa o r h r s y a r a s z t h e l a s t one

e n d i n g on a n o t e of hope and d e s i r i n g u n i v e r s a l j oy

s u g g e s t s s h z n t a r a s B ; t h e f i r s t s even s t a n z a s d e s c r i b i n g

t h e s i g h t s and sounds of n a t u r e o r c e l e b r a t i n g t h e

i n s e p a r a b l e un ion of S i v a and Uma s u g g e s t s s r n g a r a r a s ~ . ~

While a t t a c k i n g t h e two r e l i g i o u s g r o u p s , Campantar ,

a t t i m e s , d r aws o u r a t t e n t i o n t o t h e p o l a r d i f f e r e n c e s

between them and t r i e s t o p l a y one a g a i n s t t h e o t h e r . I f

t h e J a i n i s naked , t h e B u d d h i s t c o v e r s h i m s e l f w i t h t o o

many p i e c e s of c l o t h (183). The J a i n e a t s s t a n d i n g , t h e

B u d d h i s t e a t s s i t t i n g . The J a i n ' s mouth i s f i l l e d w i t h t h e k

b i t t e r K a t u k a y , t h e B u d d h i s t ' s mouth i s f u l l of p o r r i d g e . . A

The fo rmer i s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e Ashoka t r e e , t h e l a t t e r

w i t h t h e Bodh i . The fo rmer c l a i m s t h a t meat i s h a r m f u l , t h e

l a t t e r a s s e r t s t h a t i t i s wholesome. The f o r m e r h o l d s a

weapon i n hand, t h e l a t t e r a v e s s e l . The c o n t r a s t i m p l i e s

t h a t t h e y ho ld ex t r eme v i e w s and hence a r e s t u p i d . T h e i r

e a t i n g h a b i t s a r e d e s c r i b e d r e p e a t e d l y i n an amus ing

mariner. The n a k e d n e s s of one g r o u p is a s r e p u l s i v e a s t h e

d r e s s of t h e o t h e r . I f t h e y a r e n o t d r e s s e d , i t is n o t

because of any l o f t y i d e a l b u t b e c a u s e o f t h e i r s t i n g i n e s s :

"They deny t h e m s e l v e s even a f o u r - f i n g e r b road l o i n - c l o t h "

( 1 9 1 5 ) . The f o u l s m e l l t h a t emana te s f rom t h e i r u n c l e a n

b o d i e s i s r e v o l t i n g l y h i n t e d a t :

The J a i n s w i t h f o u l - s m e l l i n g mouths ( 3 1 0 5 ) .

Those who r enounced t h e w a t e r s of t h e r i v e r s ( 6 9 9 )

Men w i t h s t i n k i n g b o d i e s ( 7 4 ) .

A l l t h e i r w r i t i n g s and s p e e c h e s a r e m e a n i n g l e s s ; t h e y a r e

c h i l d i s h b l a b b e r i n g s , mere l i e s . Bo th t h e g r o u p s a r e a d e p t

a t g o s s i p i n g and s c a n d a l - m o n g e r i n g .

D o n ' t c o n s i d e r t h e i r s t u p i d s p e e c h a s e l o q u e n c e ( 3 9 2 1 ) .

The B u d d h i s t s and ev i l -minded J a i n s s p e a k ill of o u r Lord ( 1 5 0 ) .

The o n l y a d v i c e g i v e n t o t h e p e o p l e is t h a t t h e y s h o u l d

i g n o r e t h e words of t h e two g r o u p s s i n c e t h e i r u t t e r a n c e s

c a n n o t s t a n d any c l o s e s c r u t i n y ( 2 6 4 6 ) .

- I n t e r e s t i n g l y , t h e two ~l-vFrs who a r e e q u a l l y

vehement i n t h e c r i t i c i s m of t h e B u d d h i s t s and J a i n s u s e

t h e same l anguage and t h e same t e c h n i q u e t o condemn them.5

I f , o u t of h a t r e d , t h e v i l l a i n o u s J a i n s and t h e wayward B u d d h i s t s make i r r e s p o n s i b l e comments on you . . . (879) .

Will t h e l e a r n e d c a r e t o s e e o r h e a r t h e mean- minded B u d d h i s t s and J a i n s ? ( 8 7 8 )

The J a i n s d o n ' t know, t h e B u d d h i s t s f o r g o t (3489 ) .

Apar t f rom t h e s e m e r c i l e s s a t t a c k s , Campantar makes

i t c l e a r t h a t he r e j e c t s a lu ios t a l l t h e i d e a s of t h e two

g r o u p s . I f t h e y s t a n d f o r r e n u n c i a t i o n of w o r l d l y p l e a s u r e s

amount ing t o l i f e - n e g a t i o n , w o r l d - n e g a t i o n , he i s f o r l i f e .

The wor ld i s t o be e n j o y e d a s a boon f rom God. T h e i r v iew

t h a t l i f e is f u l l of m i s e r y was anathema t o h im. They

c o n s i d e r e d woman a s an e n c h a n t r e s s . T h i s was r e p u d i a t e d by

him i n no u n c e r t a i n t e r m s :

Our l i f e on e a r t h , e v e r y d a y , may be happy and g a y ,

No th ing , i f you t h i n k , w a n t i n g on t h e r o a d t o s a l v a t i o n ;

A f e a s t t o t h e e y e s , t h i s f e r t i l e Kalumalam Houses t h e g r e a t Lord w i t h t h e b e s r of women

( 3 0 5 2 ) .

There i s n o t h i n g wrong, n o t h i n g shamefu l a b o u t t h e

l i f e t h a t i s l i v e d on e a r t h . Though t h e B u d d h i s t s and J a i n s

were g r e a t p a t r o n s of a r t , t h e y f e l t t h a t undue i m p o r t a n c e

t o musio might l e a d t o d e g e n e r a t i o n s i n c e it would a r o u s e

b a s e s e x u a l p a s s i o n s . R e f u t i n g t h i s i d e a , Campantar

u n d e r l i n e s t h e v a l u e of m u s i c . He a v e r s t h a t t h e s e v e n

t u n e s o f music w i l l d r i v e away t h e s i x e m o t i o n s and t a k e u s

c l o s e r t o God ( 1 4 2 1 ) . The p a t h of song and t h e p a t h of

dance a r e recommended t o b e a s e f f e c t i v e a s t h e p a t h of

s e r v i c e o r t h e p a t h of yoga t o t h e Tamil s o c i e t y t h a t

h a i l e d S i v a a s a p o e t , a m u s i c i a n and a d a n c e r .

I f t h e B u d d h i s t s f e l t t h a t t h e r e i s no p o i n t i n

a t t e m p t i n g t o know a b o u t t h e C r e a t o r of t h e U n i v e r s e , s i n c e

it is foredoomed t o f a i l u r e , Campantar c o n t e n d s t h a t a l l

p e d a n t i c m e t a p h y s i c a l d i s c u s s i o n s w i l l t a k e u s nowhere

w h i l e t h e e x i s t e n c e of God d o e s n o t r e q u i r e any p r o o f :

Don ' t i n d u l g e i n v a i n t e s t s w i t h p r o o f s and words p e r s u a s i v e .

Our Lord is L i g h t s h i n i n g b r i g h t (3376)

Even t h e l anguage t h e two g r u u p s u s e come u n d e r heavy f i r e .

Campantar i s opposed t o t h e i n t e r l a r d i n g o f S a n s k r i t words .

He condemns them f o r u s i n g a h y b r i d s t y l e which he c a l l s

' ~ a L k a t a p a 6 k a m ' and a t t r i b u t e s it t o t h e i r i g n o r a n c e of

e i t h e r of t h e two g r e a t l a n g u a g e s , Tami l and S a n s k r i t

CantucBnan, I n t u c F g a ~ , DaruuacFfiag and t h e d a r k K a n t ~ c b ~ ~ , K a n a k a c S ~ a n and t h e i r i l k L o a f i n g l i k e xioxkeys, b l i n d and i g n o r a n t Of b o t h S a n s k r i t and T a m i l , c a n ' t p l a y w i t h me When Aran of KlavHi s t a n d s by me ( 3 2 1 4 ) .

C u n t a r a r t a k i n g t h e c l u e f rom Campantar , c a s t i g a t e s them

f o r u s i n g l i b e r a l l y words f rom P r a k r i t and S a n s k r i t :

Can t h e y - Namananant i , ~ a r u m a v r r a ~ , D a r u m a c ~ ~ a n ; With r o c k - l i k e f;aked b o d i e s S h a m l e s s l y u t t e r i n g t h e s o u n d s

d- c- namana, n a n a , nona S u l l y t h e name of c u r Lo rd?

S i n g i n g t o g e t h e r t h e names t h e y , g a v e t h e m s e l v e s and making

them a p p e a r f u n n y , r e f e r r i n g r e p e a t e d l y t o t h e i r s h a m e f u l

n u d i t y and c o r p o r e a l b u l k , and c o n v e y i n g t h e s e i d e a s i n a

s i m p l e l anguage would have c e r t a i n l y won t h e a t t e n t i o n of

t h e common man.

The B u d d h i s t s and J a i n s made i t a p p e a r t h r o u g h t h e i r

l e a r n e d a rgumen t s i n " f o r e i g n " l a n g u a g e s t h a t t h e i r

r e l i g i o n s were meant f o r t h e e l i t e . Campan ta r , e x p l o i t i n g

t h i s , d e m o n s t r a t e d t ha t . he was f o r d e m o c r a t i z a t i o n of

r e l i g i o n a s God is i n t e r e s t e d i n s a v i n g e v e r y human b e i n g .

His message emphas i z ing t h e e q u a l i t y of a l l i n t h e e y e s of

God was conveyed i n a l u c i d l a n g u a g e c h a r a c t e r i z e d by t h e

rhythm of common s p e e c h and t h e g e n e r o u s u s e of c o l l o q u i a l

words .

Though t h e r e a r e many c a u s t i c r e m a r k s on t h e

B u d d h i s t s and J a i n s i n h i s hymns, Campantar c o n c e d e s t h a t

t h e s e two r e l i g i o n s a l s o must have come i n t o b e i n g w i t h t h e

t a c i t a p p r o v a l of Lord S i v a , j u s t a s Appar s a y s t h a t even

i f some s imple-minded men a r e g o i n g t o found a new r e l i g i o n

a p a r t f rom t h e a l r e a d y e x i s t i n g s i x , t h a t w i l l b e

a c c e p t a b l e t o o u r L o r d . Can.. z n t a r w a n t s t o k ~ . w why S i v a

c r e a t e d t h e s e two r e l i g i o n s :

T e l l me, Devo tee s o f f e r i n g f l o w e r s ! - I s Z , who r e s i d e s w i t h so f t -bosomed E r v a t i

a t t h e u n p a r a l l e l e d I rumpri la i Why d i d he c r e a t e t h e two h o s t i l e r e l i g i o n s

J a i n i s m and Buddhism? (1860)

One is reminded of a s i m i l a r a t t a c k by a c a t h o l i c

p o e t on p r o t e s t a n t i s m . Hopkin$$ "The Wreck of t h e

D e u t s c h l a n d " u n d e r l i n e s t h e i n f i n i t e power and l o v e of God

and a b s o l u t e m a s t e r y o v e r t h e c r e a t e d wor ld and a l s o

c e l e b r a t e s t h e he ro i sm and i n d o m i t a b l e f a i t h of a

F r a n c i s c a n nun who f a c e s d e a t h b r a v e l y . Though t h e poem

ends w i t h a p r a y e r f o r t h e c o n v e r s i o n of England t o Roman

C a t h o l i c i s m , t h e p o e t d o e s n o t seem t o be i n t e r e s t e d i n

h i g h l i g h t i n g t h e d i f f e r e n c e s between t h e two s e c t s of

C h r i s t i a n i t y . But t h e r e a d e r i s r u d e l y shocked by a

s c a t h i n g a t t a c k on t h e P r o t e s t a n t r e v o l u t i o n a r y , M a r t i n

L u t h e r , i n a most u n e x p e c t e d manner i n t h e t w e n t i e t h s t a n z a

of t h e poem:

0 D e u t s c h l a n d , d o u b l e a d e s p e r a t e name! 0 world wide of i ts good!

But G e r t r u d e , l i l y and L u t h e r , a r e two of a town,

C h r i s t ' s l i l y and b e a s t of t h e w a s t e wood; From l i f e ' s dawn i t is drawn down,

Abel i s C a i n ' s b r o t h e r and b r e a s t t h e y have sucked t h e same.

C a l l i n g M a r t i n L u t h e r " b e a s t of t h e w a s t e wood", t h e p o e t

is s u r p r i s e d t o n o t e t h a t he and t h e g r e a t m e d i e v a l

c a t h o l i c s a i n t G e r t r u d e were b o r n i n t h e s a n e town of

Germany. He adds t h e o t h e r example of Abel and Cain t o show

t h a t good and e v i l may a r i s e f rom t h e s a n e p l a c e . The

s h i p ' s name Deu t sch l and i s d o u b l y d e s p e r a t e because

D e u t s c h l a n d , i . e . , Germany, was once t h e l a n d of P r o t e s t a n t

r e b e l l i o n and now i n t h e 1 9 t h c e n t u r y t h e German government

h a s a g a i n s t a r t e d p e r s e c u t i n g o t h e r r e l i g i o u s communi t i e s .

The b e s t c r i t i c s of t h e poem have j u s t i f i e d t h e a t t a c k on

M a r t i n L u t h e r on t h e ground t h a t it i s p o e t i c a l l y done

u s i n g a r e m a r k a b l e image and t h a t t h e p a s s a g e becomes an

i n t e g r a l p a r t of t h e poem.6

Campantar wan t s t o know t h e m y s t e r y b e h i n d t h e

o r e a t i c n of t h e two r e l i g i o n s and d o e s n o t o f f e r any

e x p l a n a t i o n . What p u z z l e s t h e r e a d e r is why he s h o u l d be s o

h a r s h on them when he b e l i e v e s i n t h e i r d i v i n e o r i g i n . He

might have f e l t t h a t e v i l f o r c e s a l s o have a p l a c e and a

r o l e t o p l a y i n t h e u n i v e r s e , t hough t h e r e is a need f o r

c o n s t a n t a t t e m p t s t o d e s t r o y them. At l e a s t one s t a t e m e n t

of h i s on t h e a t t i t u d e of t h e C r e a t o r t o w a r d s t h e s e

r e l i g i o u s g r o u p s i s i n t r i g u i n g . He o b s e r v e s t h a t Lord S i v a

keeps them i n a wor ld of i l l u s i o n e f f e c t i v e l y p r e v e n t i n g

them from a p p r o a c h i n g H i m s o t h a t He may h e l p H i s own

S a i v i t e d i s c i p l e s .

Having thrown J a i n s and B u d d h i s t s i n t o a s t u p o r l e s t t h e y s h o u l d r e a c h H i m

The g r e a t Lord b l e s s e s His d e v o t e e s from H i s t emp le i n M i l a l a i

Where t h e me lod ious l r l l a b i e s sung by i t s s w e e t - t h r o a t e d women

B r i n g i t s wonde r - s t ruck Devas down t o e a r t h w i t h v e h i c l e s ( 1 5 2 5 ) .

I t i s n o t known i f t h e S a i v a p h i l o s o p h y which i d e n t i f i e s

S i v a w i t h l o v e would app rove of t h e c o n t e n t i o n t h a t He

d e l i b e r a t e l y keeps o u t one g r o u p of human b e i n g s i n o r d e r

t o f a v o u r a n o t h e r . F e r h a p s t h e i d e a s h o u l d n o t be g i v e n

more i m p o r t a n c e t h a n a s one u t t e r e d s i m p l y t o charm t h e

S a i v i t e s of h i s t i m e i n t o b e l i e v i n g t h a t t h e y were chosen

b e i n g s d e s e r v i n g s p e c i a l boons f rom t h e Lord S i v a . We may

have t o raniember t h a t t h e hymns were more meant t o p r o v i d e

food f o r p r i v a t e p i e t y and p o p u l a r b e l i e f t h a n t o advance

sound t h e o l o g i c a l d o c t r i n e s i n v i t i n g s c h o l a r l y

commen ta r i e s .

As l i t e r a t u r e , Cau lpan t a r ' s hymns d e s e r v e t h e h i g h e s t

honour . I f t h e h a l l m a r k of g r e a t l i t e r a t u r e is a p r o p e r

b l e n d i n g of p o e t r y , mus i c and r e l i g i o n , he h a s a c h i e v e d it

beyond a shadow of d o u b t . Here t h e most e l e v a t e d p o e t r y is

f u s e d w i t h t h e most r e v e r e n t p r a y e r s and t h e r i c h e s t

mus i c . With i t s m a r v e l l o u s l y wrought p r o s o d y , i m p r e s s i v e

p i c t u r e s of s c e n e s f rom n a t u r e and e x q u i s i t e d e s c r i p t i o n s

of t h e a p p e a r a n c e of S i v a , C a m p a n t a r ' s TBvrrrsn h a s f i r e d

t h e i m a g i n a t i o n of g e n e r a t i o n s of p o e t s from S Q k k i l a r t o

Mahavidwan Meenakshisundarm P i l l a i . I ts long l i f e i n t h e

o r a l t r a d i t i o n t e s t i f i e s t o i t s m u s i c a l g r e a t n e s s . I t is

now c l a imed t h a t " i n t h e a b s e n c e of f o r m a l t r a d i t i o n of

commentary, t h e 6 t u v B r .s s p o n t a n e o u s , i m p r o v i s a t o r y

p e r f o r m a n c e s , i n v o l v i n g c r e a t i v e e l a b o r a t i o n s and

r e a r r a n g e m e n t of t h e v e r s e s , become an i m p o r t a n t

i n t e r p r e t i v e a c t i v i t y , c e l e b r a t e d a s s u c h by ~ a i v i t e s . " ~ As

r e l i g i o u s l i t e r a t u r e a l s o i ts s u c c e s s is phenomenal . A s " a

c e r e m o n i a l and q u a s i - h i e r a t i c s o n g ' ' , 8 i t h a s become a Tamil

Veda f o r t h e S a i v i t e s , inasmuch a s i t i s t h e o b j e c t of a

t r a d i t i o n and of an o r a l t r a n s m i s s i o n r a t h e r t h a n of a

w r i t t e n o n e .

Speak ing of r e l i g i o u s l i t e r a t u r e i r ~ t h r e e d i f f e r e n t

s e n s e s , T . S . E l i o t coridexins t h e wide p r a c t i c e of t r e a t i n g

w r i t i n g s l i k e t h e A u t h o r i z e d V e r s i o n of t h e B i b l e and t h e

works of Jeremy T a y l o r a s l i t e r a t u r e . H i s co r i t en t i on is

t h a t t h o s e who e n j o y them s o l e l y b e c a u s e of t h e i r l i t e r a r y

m e r i t a r e e s s e n t i a l l y p a r a s i t e s and p e s t s s i n c e t h e y i g n o r e

o r u n d e r e s t i m a t e t h e r e l i g i o u s e l e m e n t i n s u c h works f o r

which a l o n e t h e y came i n t o b e i n g . With r e g a r d t o t h e s econd

t y p e of r e l i g i o u s l i t e r a t u r e , i . e . , d e v o t i o n a l p o e t r y of

s u c h p o e t s a s Vaughan, S o u t h w e l l , Geo rge H e r b e r t and

Hopk ins , E l i o t ' s v i ew i s t h a t most p o e t r y l o v e r s c o n s i d e r

it minor p o e t r y s i n c e t h e y f e e l and , t o some e x t e n t ,

r i g h t l y s o , t h a t t h e s e w r i t e r s a r e l e a v i n g o u t t h e major

p a s s i o n s of human b e i n g s . E l i o t i s a l s o r e a d y t o concede

t h a t d e v o t i o n a l p o e t r y is v e r y o f t e n t h e p r o d u c t of a

s p e c i a l r e l i g i o u s awarenes s which may e x i s t w i t h o u t t h e

g e n e r a l a w a r e n e s s which we a s s o c i a t e w i t h ma jo r p o e t s . The

t h i r d k ind of r e l i g i o u s l i t e r a t u r e i s t h a t which i s

d e s i r o u s of p romot ing t h e c a u s e of r e l i g i o n , which i s meant

t o be o p e n l y p r o p a g a n d i s t i n n a t u r e l i k e t h e F a t h e r Brown

s t o r i e s of C h e s t e r t o n . E l i o t ' s f e a r i n t h e c a s e of s u c h

w r i t i n g s i s t h a t t h e r e i s t h e d a n g e r of t h e e f f e c t b e i n g

n e g a t i v e when t h e w r i t e r d o e s h i s j o b b a d l y . g

Now i t i s i n t e r e s t i n g t o s p e c u l a t e on what T . S . E l i o t

would have t h o u g h t of o u r B h a k t i L i t e r a t u r e , e s p e c i a l l y ,

Te"vZram, T i r u v a ' c a k a m and N F l Z y i r a D i v v i y a p r a b a n t a m , whioh

c l e a r l y c u t a c r o s s t h e b o u n d a r i e s he h a s drawn and which

a r e r e l i g i o u s l i t e r a t u r e i n a l l t h e t h r e e s e n s e s of t h e

t e r m . They r e p r e s e n t a u n i q u e ach i evemen t i n t h e genre of

B h a k t i l i t e r a t u r e overcoming a l l t h e o b s t a c l e s men t ioned by

T . S . E l i o t . I n t h e c a s e of Campantar , Appar , M a ? i k k a v ~ o a k a r

and NammZlvZr, it is a l m o s t i m p o s s i b l e t o s e p a r a t e t h e

l i t e r a r y f rom t h e r e l i g i o u s e l e m e n t of t h e i r p o e t r y . Though

t h e i r s i s d e v o t i o n a l p o e t r y , t h e y c a n n o t b e d i s m i s s e d a s

minor p o e t s a s t h e y d o n o t l e a v e o u t t h e ma jo r p a s s i o n s of

human b e i n g s . T h e i r r e l i g i o u s a w a r e n e s s d u e s n o t p r e v e n t

them from s e e i n g men ' s l i f e s t e a d i l y and a s a whole . Though

t h e i r hymns a r e o p e n l y p r o p a g a n d i s t i n n a t u r e , t h e y d o n o t

s a c r i f i c e a r t . Here is a p o e t r y wh ich is a t once i n t e n s e l y

r e l i g i o u s , h i g h l y a r t i s t i c and s u p e r b l y m u s i c a l . The

a e s t h e t i c p l e a s u r e t h a t it p r o v i d e s i s , t h e r e f o r e , j u s t l y

c l a imed t o be n o t s i m i l a r t o , b u t i d e n t i c a l w i t h t h e b l i s s

of communion w i t h ~ 0 d . l '

NOTES AND. REFERENCES

2 . F r a n c o i s G r o s , "Towards Reading t h e TZvEram" lTvFram ( P o n d i c h e r r y : F r e n c h I n s t i t u t e of I n d o l o g y , 1984), X V . A l l t h e q u o t a t i o n s a r e f rom t h i s t e x t .

3 . S r i Aurobido, The Foundations of Indian Culture ( P o n d i c h e r r y : Aurobindo Ashram, 1971), p . 321.

4 . T .P .Meenaksh i sunda ran , "The Tamil L i t e r a r y Theory of t h e B h a k t i P e r i o d " , Journal of the Hadurai University, December, 1970, p . 4 .

5 . See "NZnmu&.n T i r u v a n t P t i U , " T i r u c c a n t a V i r u t t a m " and " ~ i r u m ~ l a i " i n NZ1Hyii-a Divviya Prabantam.

6 . See W.H.Gardner, Gerard Hanley Hopkins: A Study of Poetic Idiosyncracy in Rela tion to Poetic Tradition, 2 V o l s . (London: Oxford U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1962) .

7 . F r a n c o i s Gros , "Tcwards Read ing t h e TFv&am", p . x i .

8 . I b i d . , p . ix.

9. See T.S.Eliot, "Religion and Literature", Selected Essays, (London: Faber and Faber, 1963).

10. T.P.Meenakshisundaran, "The Tamil Literary Theory of the Bhakti Period", p. 14.