Body, Soul, and Bondage

1. What is Saivam?

Saint Thirumoolar says in 'Thirumandhiram':

Saivam is becoming aware of Sivam.

Saivam is knowing oneself and becoming wary of the bondage. 

Saivam is separating from bondage.

Saivam is becoming one with Sivam.

2. What is Sivam?

'Thirumandhiram' goes on to say:

Only fools will say love and Sivam are two separate things.

They do not know love is Sivam.

When they become aware of the Love that is Sivam,

They themselves will become the embodiment of love.

Knowledge and Sivam are no two different things.

People do not perceive this great truth.

When they become aware that knowledge is Sivam,

They stand as Sivam – True Knowledge.

Anbu – Love – Infinite Love.

Arivu – Knowledge – Wisdom.

Anbe Sivam – Arrive Sivam.

Sivam is Absolute Compassion and Wisdom.

3. What does the word Sivam mean?

Sivam means auspiciousness. Auspiciousness is embodiment of love and knowledge. Where there is true knowledge there is overwhelming grace (Compassion).

Anbu = Arivu = Arul

Love = Knowledge = Grace

Where there is compassion, there is Bliss.

This is the unique stand taken by Saiva Siddhantham where God is personified as the epitome of knowledge and compassion, who is Bliss itself.

There is much insistence on this throughout because eventually the soul has to become one with Sivam. That means it becomes the embodiment of love and wisdom and experiences everlasting, never ending Bliss in Sivam.

4. What are the eternal entities proposed by Saiva Siddhantham and what is their relationship to one another?

Pathi, Pasu, Pasam – God, Soul, Bondage are the three eternal entities professed. Being eternal means that which has no beginning or end.

1. That which is enlightened is Pathi – God.

2. That which could be enlightened are Pasu – Souls.

3. That which can never be enlightened is Pasam ¬– Bondage.

The grouping is done based on whether there is potential for knowledge or not and its extent. Only when there is intelligence, there can be room for growth and fulfillment. Hence Pasam means the material world which is insentient and has no capacity for intelligence. 

5. Can you explain the three entities?

Pathi is Satchidanandam. (Sat – Eternal, Chid – Knowledge, Ananda – Bliss).

Pasu is Sat and Chit.

Pasam is Sat.

(to be continued…)