Yoga of Siddha Tirumular: Essays on the Tirumandiram
Tirumular's Tirumandiram is a treasure trove since this text deals extensively with philosophy, religion, morality, Tantra and Yoga. The essays in this book written by the two authors give a comprehensive and vivid picture of various themes such as Saiva philosophy, Saiva religion, Yoga, mysticism, twilight language, human body, Guru and social concern. . The authors attempt seriously to justify the name of this work and to show that it is not translated from Sanskrit but is an original Tamil work of Tirumular. Besides, the name of the author has also been authentically established. The arguments offered to this effect are really clinching. The chapters on philosophy, Yoga and Saivism meticulously substantiate the subject matter of each topic with subtitles. This shows the thorough reading, wide knowledge and clear understanding of the verses of the holy text. Especially the chapter on twilight language is really innovative and shows the intricacies of linguistic analysis. To comprehend the inner as well as other meanings of the verses, the hermeneutical technique becomes inevitable. The authors have followed this method to elucidate the deeper insights of this text. Social relevance The social concern of Tirumular is the most relevant message required today. Religion not as a stagnant pool, but as a living stream must serve as the uniting force of the people. Tirumular's social orientation is reflected when he states that there is "only one lineage and only one God." The term `Nava yoga' has been translated as a "new type of yoga" whereas B. Natarajan (whose translation the authors frequently quote and depend on) refers to it as `nine-yoga'. The author calls it a new type of yoga since it deals with Chakras, Pranayama, Pariyanga yoga and twilight language. But he has failed to state why Natarajan calls it as nine kinds of yoga. The equation of lotus with space (vettaveli) is not well annotated. The book, on the whole, is rich in content and in presentation. The Hindu Online edition of India's National Newspaper Tuesday, Feb 13, 2007 --The Hindu --R Gopalkrishan in the Hindu Feb 7, 2007The Yoga Siddha Research ProjectÃƒÂ¢ TMs latest publication, now at the printer, is ÃƒÂ¢ The Yoga of Tirumular: Essays on the Tirumandiram.ÃƒÂ¢ Ã‚Â Written by Dr. T.N. Ganapathy and Dr. KRA Arumugam, who have been leading the projectÃƒÂ¢ TMs work since 2000, this book fulfills a longtime need for a comprehensive introduction and commentary in the English language for one of YogaÃƒÂ¢ TMs greatest source works: the Tirumandiram or ÃƒÂ¢ Holy Garland of Mantras.ÃƒÂ¢ TMIn 1992, BabajiÃƒÂ¢ TMs Kriya Yoga and Publications published the first international edition of the Tirumandiram. This work was described by Dr. Georg Feuerstein in his book review, published by the Yoga Journal at that time: ÃƒÂ¢ as important as the Yoga-Sutras of Patanjali, the Bhagavad Gita and the Yoga-Vashistha combined.ÃƒÂ¢ Ã‚Â Translated by Dr. B. Natarajan, in 1980, whom the author of this review met in Chennai at that time, it has remained the only existant English language translation of this great work. But without a commentary, it has been difficult for most English readers, unfamiliar with much of its underlying philosophical concepts, to fathom deeply. --Dr George Feuerstein, Traditional Yoga StudiesThe Yoga Siddha Research ProjectÃ¢ TMs latest publication, now at the printer, is Ã¢ The Yoga of Tirumular: Essays on the Tirumandiram.Ã¢ Â Written by Dr. T.N. Ganapa --Dr George Feuerstein, Traditional Yoga StudiesThe Yoga Siddha Research ProjectÃ¢ TMs latest publication, now at the printer, is Ã¢ The Yoga of Tirumular: Essays on the Tirumandiram.Ã¢ Â Written by Dr. T.N. Ganapathy and Dr. KRA Arumugam, who have been leading the projectÃ¢ TMs work since 2000, this book fulfills a longtime need for a comprehensive introduction and commentary in the English language for one of YogaÃ¢ TMs greatest source works: the Tirumandiram or Ã¢ Holy Garland of Mantras.Ã¢ TMIn 1992, BabajiÃ¢ TMs Kriya Yoga and Publications published the first international edition of the Tirumandiram. This work was described by Dr. Georg Feuerstein in his book review, published by the Yoga Journal at that time: Ã¢ as important as the Yoga-Sutras of Patanjali, the Bhagavad Gita and the Yoga-Vashistha combined.Ã¢ Â Translated by Dr. B. Natarajan, in 1980, whom the author of this review met in Chennai at that time, it has remained the only existant English language translation of this great work. But without a commentary, it has been difficult for most English readers, unfamiliar with much of its underlying philosophical concepts, to fathom deeply.The present work benefits from the great familiarity which the authors have developed over many years of full time study of much of the massive body of the Siddhas works. Tirumandiram is considered to be the greatest and earliest seminal work of the Siddhas, and an encyclopedia of philosophical and spiritual wisdom rendered in verse form. --Dr George Feuerstein, Traditional Yoga Studies