The concept of the absolute in Kantar
Anuputi
(C.R. Krishnamurti,
Professor Emeritus, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada and P. Rathanaswami,
Scientist 11, Immgenics Pharmaceuticals, Vancouver, Canada.)
The theological concept of absolute
reality enunciated by the fifteenth century poet-saint, Arunakiri Nathar (`R]kirinatrf) is summarized in this paper.
He has recorded his experience into the nature of reality in Kantar Anuputi (knftrf `{p>ti), one of the three books he
has written on Kantan (knft[f). The work contains 51
poems, all of which bear his own inimitable style of Tamil poetry with a nice
blend of rhymes and rhythms.
The absolute realty is
referred to as Kantan and is defined
as formless, nameless and far above the comprehension of the common senses. The
only way of experiencing the bliss of the reality is through wisdom (pti wa[mf).
The object of every soul is
to reach conformity with this absolute reality. The major stumbling blocks (tAdkq) to experiencing the reality (anuputi, `{p>ti) are the three desires (YMvaAckq), the three inherent defects (Mmfmlgfkqf), knowledge of only the world (pac wa[mf mdfDmf)) without the concomitant
knowledge of the Supreme and the influence of one's undesirable activities (tIviA[). As the result one is plunged into eternal cycles
of births and deaths.
The author outlines
different means of achieving unison with the absolute reality. These include
the knowledge of reality (pti
wa[mf), the
grace of the Supreme (tiRvRqf), the teachings of a guru (KR), meditation on the Supreme (tiya[mf), silence (emq[mf), good deeds (n[fe[bi), and prayer (Tti). The author has thus incorporated all the tenets
of Saivism in his work and has, in addition, made them understandable by the elite
and common folks alike. His focus on the formless Supreme and the elucidation
of the means to achieve the divine experience render his concepts universal and
contemporary.
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