Thread by @ganeshbv1

Brguvalli of Taittriya Upanisad reflected in Appar's Tevaram.

The Tattriya Upanisad Vedic passage (annam anne pratisthitam.. ) is extolling Food, Land, Water, Body , Lives etc. Appar's Tevaram on Sivaperuman has one song in which these ideas are mentioned together.

பார் அவன் காண்; பார் அதனில் பயிர் ஆனான் காண்
பயிர் வளர்க்கும் துளி அவன் காண் ; துளியில் நின்ற ,
நீர் அவன் காண் ; நீர் சடைமேலுடைய நிகழ்வித்தான் காண்
நிலவேந்தர் பரிசாக நினை உற்று ஓங்கும்
பேர் அவன் காண்;

பிறை எயிற்று வெள்ளைப் பன்றிப்
பிரியாது பலநாளும் வழிபட்டு ஏத்தும்
சீர் அவன் காண் ; சீருடைய தேவர்க்கு எல்லாம்
சிவன் அவன் காண் சிவபுரத்து எம் செல்வன்தானே 6.87.6

Siva is the land (earth), he is the crops that grow in it (payir), he is the rain that grows the grains (tuli), he is the water that stays in the rains (nir avan kan), he caught the water in his matted locks of hair, he is the people in the mind of lords of the lands (per avankan

nila ventar might refer to cultivators or it might refer to the rulers of the land whose thoughts are concerned with protection of the people (ninaivil tonrum per avan kan).

Thus we find sequential reference to land, rains, water, payir , men and the kings. Equal to Prthivi, Akasa, Apah, Annam, Kings and Pranis. In this song obviously found in the Taittriya Upanisad all of them are equated to Siva in Tevaram and Brahmam in the Upanisad.

It is interesting that Appar brings in here Vellai Varaha that ploughs in to earth. Vellai Varah is the symbol of plough that is instrument of cultivation. Varah is one of the avatars of Visnu and might represent Balarama, Visnu ploughs into the earth to fathom the earth.

In the poem Appar says as White Varaha he remains inseparable with Siva (Piriyatu), this a interesting allegory of Siva appearing as Jyoti.

This is a complex Upanisadic idea. Brahma is the symbol of sound, Vedas appearing in sky, for sound moves through spaces Akasa, so Brahma is shown flying in Akasa. Visnu as Balarama ploughs the field as Varaha knows as the Prthvi earth.

In the midst of the two appears Jyotih and Agni. From Agni comes Apa, Water, Sucked in to Akasa as cloud, and comes down as water the combination of two (1) fertilize the land and (2) produce food the lives and bodies.

The combination of all these created Universe. Lingodbhava is the symbolic form of the supreme, the Brahman of Upansiad.

- Thanks R.Nagaswamy (TamilNadu- The Land of Vedas) ##Lingotbava #லிங்கோத்பவர் #அடிமுடிகாணாஅண்ணாமலை

Credits to Dr. R.Nagaswamy (from his book TamilNadu- The Land of Vedas)

#Lingodbhava (pics from google source) #அண்ணாமலை #லிங்கோத்பவர்