Arulattam/Trance and Saiva Siddhantam

 Arulattam/Trance and Saiva Siddhantam

Meaning of Trance

Trance is actually when a bhakta reaches the height of Bhakti (paravasam), after went through vratham, pujas, meditations, etc., the mind is fully engrossed with the deity one prays,  the atma will be connected with the Paramporul within one’s body. The maya veil is removed for a moment, thus the sparks of the ‘projected’/believed deity/paramporul will manifest in the physical body of the person. (The deity projected is based to past karmic account actually). That is the reason one in trance will cry, yell, dance, etc because the joy of the temporary union with the deity. The ‘projected’/believed appearance is based on what deity one prays. If one projected Kaliaman, the Kaliamman will manifest, if Muneeswarar then Muneeswarar will be manifested. Most bhaktas don’t go for Murugan, Sivan or Ganapathy because it is considered difficult or seen as a higher deity. But if one really projected, these deities also will manifest (karmic account plays it's role). There is no external entity entering the body during trance, if so then it is something else, that is called possessed not trance..(there are people used external entity, not dharmic...)

During temple festivals/ Tiruvilla, the kavadi bearer usually go to a clean spot, near water source/ attangkarai. This is, so that it is easy to concentrate the mind, to go into trance. Normally, there is local guardian/ entity/ Kaval Deivam to protect the spot. So, during the process, the local guardian/ entity is respected and given what is due to them, so that the bhaktas were protected from any other negative forces. The 'idumban pusai' plays its role here. No external negative entity able to possesses the bhaktas during the festival. If so, the 'possessed' person will not able to enter the temples. etc.

Thus arulattam is pure dharmic ritual.

I came across one so called 'Saivite' (Tamil Samayam propagator) expert said, trance is not in/part of Saiva Siddhantam. He used to say, "among 63 Nayanmars no one danced in trance/approved trance dance", "Those dance in trance are not align with ...". In fact many of them have similar thought, mocking, questioning etc.

But in Thiruvasagam, HYMN 4. pOTRith thiruagaval

Verse 61 - 62

thozudhu uLam urugi azudhu uDalgambiththu

ADiyum alaRiyum pADiyum paraviyum

தொழுது உளம் உருகி அழுது உடல்கம்பித்து

ஆடியும் அலறியும் பாடியும் பரவியும்

With melting soul I worshiped, wept, and bent myself,

Danced, cried aloud, and sang, and prayed

In the above 2 verses, I personally understand that one can dance, sing, cry, yell during the fully engrossed with bhakti...it is trance appearance...dance in trance during festival is approved in Thirumurai, Thiruvasagam and Sivaperuman.

There are other verses to confirm further...

In fact Manikavasagar himself said,' some people might say trance is wrong', I don't care about what people think,... bhakti is more important for me"

Hymn 4, Verse 65-70

கசிவது பெருகிக் கடல் என மறுகி
அகம் குழைந்து அனுகுலமாய் மெய் விதிர்த்துச்
சகம் பேய் என்று தம்மைச் சிரிப்ப
நாண் அது ஒழிந்து நாடவர் பழித்துரை
பூண் அது ஆகக் கோணுதல் இன்றிச் 

kachivadhu perugik kaDal ena maRugi

agam kuzain^dhu anugulamAy mey vidhirththuch

chagam pEy enRu thammaich chirippa

n^AN adhu ozin^dhu n^ADavar paziththurai

pUN adhu Agak kONudhal inRich

All tears, I like the refluent sea was tossed;

Soul was subdued, and body quivered with delight.

While the world called me demon, mocking me,

False shame I threw aside; the folk's abusive word

I took as ornament; nor did I swerve. (70)

Real Saivites Agree.

Real Hindu Saivites agree with this trance. They never questioned. No temple acharyas or celebrating festival temples rejected arulatham. Only some newly claimed saivites/Tamil Samayam claims as such.

Questions.

Is the person is correct and Manikavasagar is at wrong? Or Manikavasagar sang without his own experience? Can anyone verify this or the so called expert can enlighten this...

Or I am at wrong? Can he able to say his view to high profile figure danced in trance?

In my opinion, His/ the so called Saivite expert's statement is wrong and against Hinduism...

Trance is part of Hinduism. Nothing to shame about that. If one don't understand the trance, it is his own karma of unnyana./ignorance. Without His/Brahman/Sivan concern/arul, no one can reach any level. " Avanthal Vanangi..."

Thiruvasagam is by Perunthagai Manikavasagar and Certified by Paramporul Sivaperuman Himself.

Sivasiddhi

Sivasiddhi Spiritual Foundation

6 February 2022

Ps. Full article will be released soon.

Thanks to Aiya Subramaniam, Vice president, Malaysia Hindhudharma Mamandram.

May Contact me...01123508108

Reference.

1. Thiruvasagam

2. Bhagavad Gita