Spiritual Crossroads – Episode 1
Scent of a woman
October 2, 2023. 10:52 PM
Subject
In the Tamizh Sangam literature Kurunthogai (குறுந்தொகை) a poem goes as follows:
கொங்குதேர் வாழ்க்கை அஞ்சிறைத் தும்பி
காமம் செப்பாது கண்டது மொழிமோ
பயிலியது கெழீஇய நட்பின் மயிலியற்
செறி எயிற்று அரிவைக் கூந்தலின்
நறியவும் உளவோ நீ அறியும் பூவே.
General Meaning
“Hey, you beetle with beautiful wings ever in search of pollen-filled flowers for nectar! State the facts impartially. Is there any flower out there that you know of, more fragrant than the natural scent of the hair of a woman graced with the pulchritude of a peacock?”
Context
The Pandya king wants to know whether noble women have natural fragrances in their hair. Rather than posing the question to his eminent assembly of Tamizh pandits, the king, much to their chagrin seeks to crowdsource the answer. He announces that the one who gives the correct answer will get a thousand gold coins.
A poor, unsuccessful, and debt-ridden poet named Dharumi is desperate to win the award. But alas! He neither has the talent to write poems nor the answer. Lord Shiva as a part of His divine game (Thiruvilayadal) writes the aforementioned poem and gives it to the king through a proxy (Dharumi).
The poem does not directly answer the king’s question but rather poses a counter-question alluding that the hair of women has a natural fragrance.
Impressed by the poem, the king promptly declares Dharumi as the winner. But an old poet and scholar by the name of Nakkeeran plays spoilsport by arguing that while the syntax of the poem is okay, the logic is flawed. Lord Shiva challenges Nakkeeran for a debate, but Nakkeeran holds his ground and argues that even the Gods cannot have a natural fragrance and any such scent comes only from the external application of perfumes and unguents. In anger, the Lord burns the revered poet to ashes with His third eye, only to rejuvenate him shortly afterward. Out of compassion, Dharumi is awarded the prize.
Paradox
One would wonder why the great Pandya king would be interested in such silly pursuits amidst all his pressing regal responsibilities! Who cares whether a woman has a natural fragrance or not in her generous locks? Why give such a huge sum as prize money for such a silly question? Why create all drama to the point of bringing down Lord Shiva Himself? Doesn't Lord Shiva have better things to do than make such a fuss over such a trivial matter and lose the debate to Nakkeeran? The whole premise sounds silly and hollow, doesn’t it?
Truth
There is a great truth in the whole episode. Firstly, the incident establishes the conviction of poet Nakkeeran in standing up for truth and morality, even against the very God he worships. A true scholar sticks to truth under all circumstances and Nakkeeran’s conduct is an exemplar of being upright even if it could cost his dear life. Secondly, regardless of whether it is humans or Gods, the physical body has to obey certain universal laws. The episode illustrates the grandness of the Advaita philosophy which states that the body is perishable and one has to learn to master the senses. Lord Shiva uses Nakkeeran as a tool to establish the truth that it does not matter whether a person is of high or low social standing; rich or poor; ordinary or divine; young or old; man or woman, etc. The physical body regardless of all these has to follow the laws of the universe. It is the Atma that is pristine and imperishable. The body is just a temporary shelter for the soul, created to perish. Thirdly, by losing the debate to His disciple, the Lord firmly establishes that truth is agnostic to hierarchy or pecking order. It creates an allowance for anyone to make a mistake, regardless of his standing. This is the greatness of our Sanathana Dharma which is hardly dogmatic.
This episode could be compared with the conversation between Shri Adi Shankara and Lord Shiva when the latter came in the form of a chandala.
Kabir’s doha comes to our mind:
गुरु गोविंद दोनों खड़े, काके लागूं पाँय |
बलिहारी गुरु आपने , गोविन्द दियो बताय ||
The glory of Guru is greater than that of Govinda, for it is through the guidance of the former that I can realize the grace of the latter!
Lord Shiva showcased the magnificence of Nakeeran by appointing Nakeeran as the embodiment of the Lord's splendor.
(c) Dr M Sathya Prasad