Author: S. Sabaratna Mudaliar
by V. Sivarajasingham
Tamil more than any other Language abounds in religious literature, particularly devotional poetry. Devotional poetry again has been abundantly enriched chiefly by the four poet-saints popularly known as Sambanthar, Appar, Sundarar and Manickavasakar. The first of these four is held most dearly to the hearts of the Saiva Tamils. This youthful sage’s spiritual attainment, poetic effusion and profundity of thought that burgeoned at the very early and tender age of three, are so incomparably high and non-parcil that he is considered as some divine incarnation.

The book under review entitled ‘Life of Thirugnana Sambanthar’ was written by S. Sabaratna Mudaliar of Kokuvil, Jaffna and first published in 1920.

Sabaratna Mudaliar was a doyen in the Colonial Government Service holding several prestigious posts such as Deputy Fiscal and in recognition of his inestimable service the Government honoured him with the title of Gate Mudaliar. During his time a whirlwind of religious scepticism having generated in South India by the writings of a freethinker named Charles Bradlaugh, was sweeping across the Jaffna Peninsula creating turmoil in the minds of the educated youth and even in some of the intelligentsia. It was in order to arrest the spreading of this pernicious wave Mudaliar engaged himself in writing several tracts and discourses on religious topics. One such piece of writing is life of Thirugnana Sambanthar that describes the eventful history of the youthful sage, whose life was dedicated to creating religious awareness in the minds of the people who were ignorant of — most of them indifferent to — the practice of religion. It was a timely production brought out at a very needy hour.

The preface adorning the initial pages of the book comprises five sections viz. Sambanthar’s time, his spiritual eminence, his miracles, his method of work and his Thevarams. Regarding Sambanthar’s time the author has made a genuine and scholarly attempt to establish the chronological age of the poet-saint, logically refuting the claim of Dr. Caldwell who opines that Sambanthar lived somewhere in the 13th century AD. The Mudaliar, marshalling numerous historical evidences, has come to the conclusion that the saint must have lived during the commencement of the Third Tamil Sangam.

In the section entitled ‘Spiritual Eminence’ the author highlights the fact that Sambanthar’s spiritual attainment was not achieved in his present birth but was the accumulation of his spiritual advancements acquired in previous births. He must have gone through the three stages of sariya, kriya and yoga in earlier births, and the gnana marga was followed in his birth as Sambanthar. He must have been a samu sittar in his previous birth; Samu sittars are said to have been born with the main object of benefiting the world with their virtuous and selfless deeds. The author admits the possibility of Sambanthar being a divine incarnation. But he is not supportive of the view that Sambanthar was an incarnation of Lord Subramaniya who being none other than Lord Siva, cannot be held to have taken birth.

In dealing with Sambanthar‘s Miracles, the author is of the firm view that miracles are no impossibilities. It is the cinpricists who hold that the Law of nature is absolute and independent and they would not admit anything that could control it. But the theistic view is that the Law of nature is but the principle laid down by God for working this material world and that this is no bar to the Supernatural Law, which shows itself in the material plane, to regulate and sometimes even to supercede the natural Law; those who are spiritually advanced are capable of making use of the Supernatural Law. A man who is devoted to God in the light he sees Him and enjoys His special grace through that devotion can have mastery over the material plane to the extent of his vision of truth and to the extent of Grace of God that alights on him as a result of that vision and he can perform miracles within the range of that vision. Thus Sambanthar, the author argues, was able to see the truth beyond the mayavic planes, and perform miracles which he did not exercise just to display his spiritual power but for the benefit of mankind and for the promotion of religion.

Under the subsection ‘His method of work’ the author has summarily portrayed the immense service rendered by Sambanthar during thirteen years of his life. The saint was not merely a devotional poet. He was pre-eminently a socio-religious reformer. He was the first saint to travel all over Tamil Nad worshipping the temples and singing hymns. It was because of his peripatetic dissemination of religious information the society saw the burgeoning of Saiva religious culture. Apart from the general intent of popularizing the religion and disseminating the thoughts and philosophical concepts of Saivaism the poet-saint had a specific purpose in extemporizing a particular decade. Besides, he never failed to ascertain the will of God and invoke His blessings before beginning to compose the decad. It is remarkable that the Author has taken care without fail to mention Pillaiar’s seeking to ascertain God’s will in every incident of the composition of the decad.

Sambanthar was so equally devoted to social service as he had been to religion. His social service is clearly seen in his Thirumarugal and Thiruppachilachirama miracles and in feeding those who were affected by famine.

In bringing out the significance and the place Thevarams — devotional hymns — occupy in the gamut of Tamil Literature, the author pin-points the fact that Sambanthar fully realized the importance and suitability of the Tamil Language as a medium to convey spiritual truths. He further points out the saint’s hymns are a treasure trove of the sublime truths of the Saiva Siddhantha philosophy. He concludes his Preface saying that his object in writing an English version of the life of saint Sambanthar was to help the student who undertakes a minute study of the saint’s hymns.

It is to be remembered that students living during the days of Mudaliar, were expected to answer the Tamil Question Paper in English for the London Degree examination. The major part of the hook, as revealed in the Title is devoted to the life-story of Saint Thirugnana Sambanthar. Gathering the details from Periapuranam and guided by the prose version given by Srila Sri Arumuga Navalar. Mudaliar has brought out an excellent readable English version. The material he drew from Sekkilar’s Periyapuranam and Navalar’s prose version, he has-transformed with magnificence and sublimity, including every detail of the saint’s life coupling them with the temples he visited, the miracles he performed and the hymns he extemporized.

Dr. M. N. Ramachandran popularly known as Sekkilar Adippoddy, the Vice-Chancellor of the Tamil University of Tanjore mentions the importance of Mudaliar’s work in the preface to his Translation of Periyapuranam.

There has been constant thirst in the west for the study of Indology including various religions and allied literature. As far as Saivaism is concerned missionaries and scholars coming from the west to Tamil land have translated a few works into English and local scholars too have contributed considerably by way of Translation. Sabaratna Mudaliar is an illustrious example of eminent scholars whose indefatigable erudition has been properly exercised for the benefit of Tamil Community. May Almighty’s Grace inspire more Scholars to devote their energy and knowledge to produce works that would properly interpret the true ideals of Saiva religion and culture.