Leap and Fly! The setup


Upadesa Saram ("The essence of Instruction") in Sanskrit has become a very popular and widely read/chanted text. However, not many know that this is a verse-by-verse translation of the original Tamil work called "Upadesa Undiyar" (உபதேச உந்தியார்). Both the original and the translation are by Ramana Maharshi himself, so the messaging is identical for most part, but the Tamil version has a certain additional charm to it, an interesting play of words that adds both rhyme and reason!

Firstly, the name "Undiyar" is based upon the Thiruvasagam verses "ThiruUndiyar", which is written in praise of Lord Siva, in a playful tone, each verse ending with the phrase "Undi Para", which means, "leap and fly!". ThiruUndiyar is set in the context of girls playfully celebrating how Siva destroyed Daksha's sacrifice. 

In Upadesa Undiyar, the story is about how the Rishis of Dharuka forest, who had mastered all the Vedic rituals, thought that they were all powerful and that there was no other higher truth. Siva destroys their ego, simply by accepting all that was hurled at him by those  Rishis, and then teaches them the supreme truth. Upadesa Undiyar is these teachings in 30 exquisite verses, set in the same playful spirit of "leap and fly!". A unique way to condense the highest Vedantic wisdom! 

Muruganar in his work "Ramana Sannidhi Murai" written in the same style as "Thiruvasagam", had completed the portion till the Dharuka Rishis' ego was destroyed. He then decided that the actual instructions of Siva have to written by Ramana himself. He pleaded with Ramana for a long time to put down his instructions in verses.  Muruganar seems to place himself in the position of the Rishis and writes

காத்தருள் என்று கரைய கருணைக் கண்
சேர்த்தருள் செய்தனன் உந்தீபற 
சிவன் உபதேசம் இது உந்தீபற

Meaning: When begged to be saved, with his kind gaze, he blessed us with these words. Knowing these to be the instructions from Lord Siva himself, leap and fly!

More to follow...


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