Tirumantiram - TANTRA ONE - 11 RELATING TO SACRIFICIAL FIRE

Tirumantiram

English translation of the Tamil Spiritual Classic by Saint Tirumular

TANTRA ONE

11 RELATING TO SACRIFICIAL FIRE

214: Prosperity Springs From Sacrifice

Riches from obloquy free, the spreading sky and earth,

The directions all, and the godly hosts who there hold sway,

All flourish in Victory's wake when Brahmins true,

With Vedas commencing, pursue the sacrificial way.

215: They Give Before They Eat

The Vedic Brahmins who holy sacrifices perform,

On Salvation intent, give before they eat;

Even as in knowledge true, supreme they stand,

So in conduct they lead--to the One Goal headed straight.

216: Sacrifices Lead to Heaven

They who invoke our Lord--the Fire within the Fire,

The Brahmins true are they and our goodly support;

Who, night and day, raise the Sacrificial flame

Guiding us along the pure Path to our heavenly port.

217: Karma's Depart When Mantras are Chanted

Morn and eve, when in devotion rapt they chant,

The two damsels (Gayatri and Savitri) with them in smiling grace stand;

Then do the two birds of one seed sprung

Karmas, good and bad, fluttering, in haste depart.

218: Sacrificial Fires Consume Sins

They who know in the sacrificial ghee's steady flame,

All dark things are for ever consumed;

They also know when from Karma's hold we're freed,

That day is our day of abiding wealth,

The holy Fire's truest meed.

219: It Scorches Karmic Evils

All sins fly like wick fast consumed in flame,

All diseases fade that Karma brings in its wake;

They fade and fall in the rising sacrificial fire.

And all evils are scorched that our Karmas make.

220: Sacrifices Give Wealth Imperishable

Firmly holding that vast riches are a grievous curse,

They hungered for the Lord who to us richest treasure gave;

Hoping and dreaming they waited for the immortal prize,

All sacrifices performed, the undying wealth to achieve.

221: Lord is the Sacrificial Flame of the Heart

The Pure Flame is He, the immortal Lord is He,

The Radiant Flame who in my heart's core resides;

The Lord whose eyes are the Three Fires,

Who the Seven Worlds transcends,

The Lord of Homa's Cool Flame, and my heart's King besides.

222: He is the Fire Within All Fires

Inside the Fire of the Homa is my Lord,

Inside too is He seated in the flame of the funeral pyre;

The Fire of Homa which scorches Karma's surging sea,

The Fire, that the mighty Churner in the sea begot, still abides.

223: Sacrificial Flame is Undying

In true penance striving, to Vedic rites conforming

They, who everywhere raise the sacrificial flame,

Tireless, unsparing in kindling the Holy Fire--

Theirs the true flame eternal, theirs the undying name.