You are here: SriPedia - SriRangaSri - Archives - Mar 2004

SriRangaSri List Archive: Message 00038 Mar 2004

 
Mar 2004 Indexes ( Date | Thread | Author )
[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next]


              
Srimate SrivanSatakopa Sri Vedanta Desika Yatindra Mahadesikaya nama:

 

                                   The Numbers Game

 

          If you think of it, the entire world appears to revolve around 
Numbers. There is no field of human activity which numbers do not pervade nor 
are we able to think of anything without automatically involving Numbers. The 
Great Cosmic Clock, ticking away the seconds of our sojourn on this earth, is 
based on Numbers. And anything and everything that we come across has a lot to 
do with figures, big and small. Thus, right from birth to death, every moment 
of our time and experience is dominated by these seemingly inoccuous integers, 
which, however, command great value and worth. It would appear that even our 
Scripture revels in the The Numbers Game, as would be evident to those who read 
on.

 

       The most interesting play with Numbers is that indulged in by Sri 
Tirumangai Mannan, in his Tiruvezhukoottrirukkai. This is an extraordinary type 
of Prabandam, involving the drawing of a Chariot-like figure with a top half 
and a bottom one. Each half is in the form of a seven-tiered Pyramid, with the 
top one an upright pyramid and the bottom one inverted. At its broad end, the 
Pyramid consists of a base with 13 slots, which gradually decrease, as we go up 
the tapering structure, with the top-most tier consisting of three slots. This 
would be in the reverse order in the inverted pyramid at the bottom. Each of 
these slots would be filled with numbers from one to seven: for instance, the 
topmost tier of three slots would be filled with numbers 1, 2 and 3-the next 
one with 1, 2, 3, 2, and 1, the third tier from the top with 1,2,3,4,3,2,1, the 
fourth tier with 1,2,3,4,5,4,3,2,and 1 and so on, with the base of the pyramid 
ending with the numbers 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,6,5,4,3,2 and 1.  

 

The idea is that the Prabandam should begin with words incorporating the 
numbers one, two and one again and go on to the last line of the upright 
pyramid, with words containing the numbers from 1 to 7 and back to 1. The 
entire structure would be in the reverse order in the upturned pyramid, with 
the first tier consisting of words with numbers 1 to 7 and back to 1, gradually 
decreasing till the last and smallest tier with numbers 1,2 and 1 is reached. 
The resulting structure is somewhat akin to the "Pascal's Triangle" that 
mathematicians are fond of speaking of airily.

 

I know this must be pretty confusing to read about-the structure is therefore 
depicted as a picture below. Readers would observe that the two pyramids 
together form a Chariot, from which this type of poetry derives its name, viz, 
Ratha Bandham. We can imagine how difficult it would be to compose a verse of 
this sort, with the numbers arranged in meticulous ascending and descending 
order. We can find this beautiful Prabandam inscribed on the wall of Sri 
SArngapani Sannidhi at Tirukkudandai, exactly in the undermentioned fashion and 
in the form of a majestic Ratham, with the individual slots filled with words 
containing the numbers.                                                         
    

                                                              

                                                           
                                                 1   2   1

 

                                            1    2   3   2  1

 

                                     1  2    3   4   3   2   1

 

                                   1   2  3   4    5  4    3   2    1

 

                             1   2    3     4   5    6    5   4    3   2   1

 

                          1   2    3    4    5    6    7   6   5   4   3   2   1

 

                         1   2    3    4    5    6    7   6   5   4   3   2    1

                   

                                ____________________________________________

                                   1   2    3    4    5    6    7   6   5   4   
3   2   1

 

                                   1   2   3  4  5     6    7    6   5   4   3  
 2     1

 

                                          1   2   3   4   5   6   5   4   3   2 
  1

 

                                               1   2   3   4   5   4   3   2    
1

 

                                                    1   2   3   4   3   2  1

 

                                                         1   2   3   2   1

 

                                                              1   2   1 

     
      
 

 

 

 

 



                        This aforesaid may appear to be an inelegant depiction 
of a Chariot, given my notoriously poor drawing skills, but this is just to 
give readers an idea of the nature of the Prabandam and the difficulty in its 
composition. Here is how Sri Kalian has achieved this feat of accomodating 
ascending and descending numbers, all the while preserving the beauty of the 
poetry and without sacrificing the thread of deep devotion running through all 
of his pasurams.

 

 

"oru pErundi-iru malar tavisil-oru murai ayanai eendranai

       1                    2                           1

oru murai-iru sudar meedinil iyangA-mum madhiL ilankai---irukAl vaLaya-oru 
silai    1            2                                              3          
                 2                    1     

 ondriya--eereyettru azhal vAi--moovadi--nAnilam vENdi--muppuri noolodu--iru 
pirappu

      1              2                                3               4         
                  3                  2

oru MAN Agi

 1               

  oru murai-eer adi-moovulagu aLandanai-nAl disai nadunga-anchirai paravai 
Eri-nAlvAi-

         1                2                3                           4        
                        5                   4           

 

mum madattu-iru sevi-oru tani vEzhatthu arandayai" and so on.

        3                   2            1

 

 

Readers would observe how cleverly the Divine Poet has chosen the words 
representing numbers, either in purport or in sound, and woven all these into 
an enthralling garland of words, that is at once lilting in metre, profound in 
purport, brimming over with Bhakti and matchlessly magnificent in composition. 
This Tiruvezhukoottrirukkai belongs to a poetical form known as "Chitra Kavi", 
refreshingly different from run-of-the-mill verses and appealing to the 
intellect as well as the heart. Not surprisingly, this Prabandam is recited 
during the RathOtsavam at several divyadesams. And the beauty of this pAsuram 
is to be heard to be believed, especially when intoned in unison in the atonce 
melodious and stentorian  voices of the venerable GhOshtti.

 

Another Azhwar with a fascination for numbers is Sri Tirumazhisai Piran, who 
too has pasurams to his credit, which appear mathematical in character. In the 
following sample from Tirucchanda Viruttam, the numbers 5 to 1 have been 
arranged in descending order, yeilding an extremely profound purport-

 

"poo nilAya ayndumAi punal kaN nindra nAngumAi

 tee nilAya moondrumAi chiranda kAl irandumAi

 meenilAyadu ondrumAgi vEru vEru tanmayAi

 neenilAya vaNNa! Ninnai yAr ninaikka vallarE!"

 

All the five elements, says Azhwar, are under the Lord's overlordship. These 
elements in turn have their own characteristics-the Earth has five attributes 
(sound, touch, form, essence and smell), while Water has the first four of the 
aforesaid  qualities, Fire three, the Wind two and Atmosphere one, namely 
Sound. In other words, Azhwar tells us that it is the Lord, who is the 
Inner-Dweller of all elements, who forms the material cause for this universe.

 

The second pasuram of this Prabandam too has an arithmetical leaning-

"Arum Arum ArumAi Or iyndum iyndum iyndumAi

 Eru seer iraNdu moondrum Ezhum arum ettumAi

 Veru vEru gnAnam Agi meyyinOdu poyyumAi

 OorOdu Osai Aya iyndum Aya Aya MayanE!"

 

Azhwar speaks about of a trio of six items.

 First is the six Karmas ordained on Brahmins-Yajanam (performing sacrifices), 
YAjanam (conducting YAgAs for others), adhyayanam (imbibing the VEdAs), 
adhyApanam (imparting VEdic wisdom to eligible others),dAnam (giving to others) 
and Pratigraham (accepting offerings from others).  

The second six consists of the Seasons-Spring, Summer, Monsoon, Autumn, Winter 
etc. (Vasanta, Greeshma, VarshA, Sarat, Hemanta and Sisira Ritus).

 The third six refers to six YAgAs, performed on PourNami and amAvAsya 
days-AgnEyam, agnIshOmIyam, upAmsu, iyndram, iyndrAgnam (numbering two).  

 

The trio of Fives indicated in the latter half of the first line of the pasuram 
refers to the Five YagyAs (Deva, Pitru, Rishi, Manushya and Bhoota YagyAs), the 
Five AhutIs (respectively to the PrANa, apAna, VyAna, udAna and SamAna), the 
Five agnIs (Garhapatya agni, AhavanIya agni, DAkshinAgni, Sabhya agni and the 
Avasatya agni).

GnAnam or Wisdom and VairAgyam or lack of attachment, are the duo ("Eru seer 
iraNdu"), while "Moondru" consists of Prapatti, ParagnAnam and Parama Bhakti.  

"Ezhu" indicates VivEkam, VimOkam, abhyAsam, KriyA, kalyANam, anavasAdam and 
anuddharsham, while "Arum" refers to the six glorious guNas of the Lord, viz., 
GnAnam, Balam, Ishvaryam, Veeryam, Shakti and Tejas, the "ettum"  consisting of 
the eight inimitable attributes of Emperuman, referred to in the 
CchAndOgya-"apahata pApmatvam, Vijaratvam, Vimrityutvam, 
VishOkatvam,Vijigatsatvam, apipAsatvam, SatyakAmatvam and Satyasankalpatvam.

 

The third and fourth pasurams of Tirucchandaviruttam too are a mass of numbers-

 

"iyndum iyndum iyndumAgi allavattrul uLayumAi

 iyndu moondrum ondrumAgi nindra Adi dEvanE!

 Iyndum iyndum iyndumAgi andaratthu aNaindu nindru

 Iyndum iyndum Aya ninnai yAvar kANa vallarE!"

 

"Moondru muppadArinOdu Or iyndum iyndum iyndumAi

 Moondru moortthiyAgi moondru moondru moondrumAi

 TOndru sOdi moondrumAi at tuLakkamil viLakkamAi

 Endru en AviyuL pugundadu en kolO em IsanE?"

 

The Vedas, which are indeed the seed from which all the divya prabandas sprout, 
have their own tale of numbers to tell. As if teaching us to count, the second 
prasna of the Seventh Kanda enumerates the integers in various 
combinations-beginning with "Ekasmai svAhA", we have a counting in ones, from 
one to 19. Thereafter, countings are taken in tens, mentioning 29, 39, 59, 69, 
79, 89 and 99, ending with a hundred and twice that number. The next panchAti 
narrates numbers in countings of odd numbers-1, 3,5,7.9,11, 13, 15,17 and19, 
switching again to 29, 39, 49 and so on upto a hundred.  The next PanchAti 
takes a count of even numbers-2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20, going 
straight thereafter to 98 and 100. The 45th PanchAti incorporates countings of 
four-4, 8, 12, 16, 20 then straightaway to 96 and 100. Countings of five figure 
in the next-5, 10, 15, 95 and 100 and in tens, in the next one-10, 20, 30, 40, 
50, 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100. Twenties are counted in the next panchAti-20, 40, 
60, 80 and 100, while the next counts in hundreds upto a thousand.

 

What do all these numbers represent ultiamtely? They refer, as all other words 
do, to the Paramapurusha. Be it any number, it is representative of the Lord, 
right from one to the largest integer the intellect can count upto. For 
instance, the Sahasranama stotra describes Him as "Eka:"-the incomparable One, 
who has neither a superior nor an equal. It is significant that Azhwars too 
describe Him as "oruvan", "Eka moortthi" etc.

When the Purusha Sukta says, "Sahasra sIrshA Purusha:", it refers to the Lord 
having not only a thousand heads, but an infinite number-"anantam". It is He 
who is referred to by all the numbers in arithmetic. 

 

All numbers might denote the Lord, but the very first integer 1 appears to have 
a much closer association with Him than others. Just as every number is but a 
multiple of 1, all beings in the world, sentient or life-less, are but aspects 
of the glorious Lord, having Him for their vital in-dwelling spirit, without 
which they wouldn't exist at all. And if we put ourselves, as insiginificant 
JeevAtmAs, in the position of Zero, we find that we acquire siginificance only 
by association with Emperuman, just as the Zero attains greater respectability 
when preceded by 1. 



Not merely numbers, but advanced arithmetical concepts like the Set Theory also 
figure in the Scripture. For instance, Sri Nammazhwar speaks of a Huge Set, the 
Universal Set, which is a Set of all Sets, and also of itself-

 

"Valatthanan Tiripuram eritthavan idam pera, tundi

 talatthu ezhu Disaimukhan padaittha nallulagamum tAnum

 pulappada,  pinnum tan ulagatthuL agatthanan tAnE 

 solappugil ivai yAvum pinnum vayittruLa, ivan avan tuyakkE"

 

Azhwar describes the glorious Lord's inimitable deeds in this beautiful pasuram.

Emperuman accomodates Rudra on the right side of His tirumEni and BrahmA on the 
Cosmic Lotus blooming from His navel. This BrahmA creates the various worlds, 
in which the Lord takes birth as Rama,Krishna, etc. 

Thus, He is to be seen in the world created by BrahmA, who is himself the 
Lord's creation. We have seen that normally, in this world, the architect of a 
building is distinct and different from the structure he creates. However, the 
Universal Creator, from whose navel the entire Creation sprouts forth, is seen 
as one of His own creations (during His avatArAs), in the worlds spawned by 
Him. As if this is not enough, all these beings and objects comprising the 
Universe, are also accomodated in His spacious stomach, during the Cosmic 
Deluge. To those who wonder how such a phenomenon, is possible, Azhwar tells us 
that this is due to His "MAyA"-"ivai avan tuyakkE". This is how the Lord is a 
magnificent Universal Set, a Set of all Sets and of its own glorious self too.

 

The mathematical concept of Infinity too appears to have had its origins in the 
Shruti, going by the numerous references to the same in the copious Vedic lore. 
The Narayana anuvAkam, for instance, talks about the Parabrahmam being 
infinite-"anantam, avyayam, kavim, samudrEntam Visva Sambhuvam". Infinitely 
huge, boundless and endless worlds are also talked about in the Shruti, which 
the liberated soul attains-"anantam, apAram, akshayyam lOkam jayati". Though 
beyond our contemtpation, the concept of a Paramapurusha whose dimensions, 
auspicious attributes, reach, vision and influence are beyond measurement, is 
what represents Infinity. This is what Sri Nammazhwar means, when he talks 
about 

"soozhndu agandru Azhndu uyarnda mudivil perum pAzhEyO

 soozhndu adanil periya en para nan malar sOdIyO

soozhndu adanil periya en sudar gnAna inbamEyO

soozhndu adanil periya en avA ara soozhndAyE".

 

The Lord represents a funny number too, one to which no amount of subtraction, 
division, addition or multiplication appears to make any difference. He is the 
Infinite Integer, which remains unchanged despite any amount of addition, 
subtraction, multiplication or division. We are told by a Vedic ShAnti PAta 
that the Parabrahmam remains the same complete self, with absolutely no 
reduction in any of  its attributes-"PoorNasya poorNam AdAya PoorNam Eva 
avasishyatE". 

 

There are people who have a dread of Mathematics-a" numerophobia", to coin a 
word. For them, arithmetic and numbers in any form are anathema. However, it is 
only in Maths that it is possible to score centums easily,more than in any 
other subject.  The significance of all numbers can be understood properly if 
we ascribe to them their true places, as but depictions of the Lord and His 
glory. Centums in spiritual life, i.e., Liberation and Emancipation and 
attendant Bliss, are what await the mathematician who specialises in the 
upAsana of these divine numbers.

 

Srimate Sri LakshmINrsimha divya paduka sevaka SrivanSatakopa Sri Narayana 
Yatindra Mahadesikaya nama:

dasan, sadagopan



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]




 
Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
     http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SriRangaSri/

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
     SriRangaSri-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
     http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
 


[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next] [Date Index ] [Thread Index ] [Author Index ]
Home Page
http://www.ibiblio.org/sripedia
srirangasri-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
To subscribe to the list