Tirumantiram TANTRA ONE - 2 TRANSITORINESS OF BODY

Tirumantiram

English translation of the Tamil Spiritual Classic by Saint Tirumulat

 

TANTRA ONE

2  TRANSITORINESS OF BODY

 

 

143: Dust Into Dust-That is Body's Way

 

The Vessel's clay was one, but of two Karmas made,

Firm-set, until Fate its grim summons gave;

Then the rains poured and back to clay the vessel turned;

Thus countless hordes perish and pass to the grave.

 

 

144: Your Vigil and Wisdom Alone Accompany Departing Soul

 

This roof of delights, when by use, to pieces falls,

Wife nor children who all enjoyed follow the parting Soul

Only the holy vigils kept and wisdom gained

Remain to save--others dwindle and desert us all.

 

 

145: How Soon the Dead are Forgotten

 

The neighbours gathered wailing loud and long,

Denied him now a name, called him corpse,

And bore him to the burning ghat and the body burnt,

Then a ceremonial dip--and memory dies as the hours lapse.

 

 

146: When Body Roof Falls, It Falls Forever

 

Two pillars support this roof and one single beam,

Thirty and two the rafters extend side ways,

But as the roof above decays and breaks,

Back to its mansion the breath of life fails its way to trace.

 

 

147: Body Dead is but a Feed for Ravens

 

Gangrened the sore, the body that Karma shaped

Grew loose of joints, the roof's beam rotted and fell;

And with finger on nose, they bore the body dead,

A plenteous feast for the ravens to feed.

 

 

148: Death Comes Sudden

 

The rich repast was laid and he dined and joyed,

With damsels sweet in amorous dalliance toyed;

"A little little pain--on the left" he moaned

And laid himself to rest to be gathered to dust.

 

 

149: Pomp and Glory Lead But to the Grave

 

In pride of pomp a stately mansion he built,

In rage of wealth into the palanquin he stept,

In vain excess gave away largesse in crores,

But ne'er his soul sought the Lord's green retreat.

 

 

150: Alive They Embraced the Body, Dead They Consigned it to Flames

 

Lips met lips, bodies licked in close embrace,

And love in surfeit cloyed--then died memories long cherished,

Soon the body on bier was set while mourners mourned;

All passions spent, the body in the leaping flames perished.

 

 

151: Nothing Remains, When Life Departs

 

The pulse failed, the mind lost its axle-hold,

The senses five, that buttered sweets enjoyed, left their home;

The fair-eyed beloved and dear treasures remained to stay,

But the spark of life for ever quitted

The warm precincts of clay.

 

 

152: Kith and Kin Wept and Left

 

The roof to pieces went, the bonds of life broke loose,

The mansion's nine gates closed fast for ever and aye,

Time's painful march fast gaining apace,

One by one weeping they left him as the hours passed by.

 

 

153: Final Procession to Grave

 

Lord was he of our land, sole leader of our place,

Mounted now on palanquin for the ultimate journey's end;

Mourners walked behind, clashing drums beat afore;

Thus did the solemn show, in ample length, extend.

 

 

154: The Body Temple Crumbled; the Ninty-Six Tattvas Fled

 

The thirty and thirty and thirty-six they say,

They that behind temple walls safely dwelt,

They saw the temple walls crash and crumble,

And all alike, without a trace, thence did melt.

 

 

155: They Hurried the Body to Flames

 

Death strikes from life's enchanted cup

Honeyed delights of wife, cherished treasures of heart;

Kinsmen bore him on bier to the common burning ghat,

And the burden discharged hurried home,

Having done their part.

 

 

156: Coveting Riches of the Dead Some Remain Back

 

The body to its final fate consigned,

Friends and kinsmen all dispersed;

But some remained; long had they lusted for the dead man's wealth,

Intent on riches, men deem they could for ever hold,

Panting and pining for what they might carry by stealth.

 

 

157: They Too Finally Depart Cleansing Themselves by a Bath

 

Mourning friends, weeping spouse, dear children all,

They but followed him to the river's edge--not a step beyond;

Then sorrow dropped its mark, quick the pyre was lit,

Then the plunge in water, heart-whole they, graceless band.

 

 

158: When Body-Pot Breaks None Cares To Retain It

 

This universe entire of treasures vast compact,

The Great Potter from watery clay wrought to shape;

If the moulded pot breaks, men keep the pieces still,

But if the vital body cracks, who even a while cares it to keep?

 

 

159: Body is Burnt to Ashes; Beyond That We Know Not

 

Five the segments of the head, six the plaits of hair,

Thirty the joints, eighteen the sides,

Nine the roofs, fifteen the rows--

All to ashes burnt--no more we know besides.

 

 

160: Body is Karmic Fruit

 

Fruit of fig and seeds of green to pieces chopped,

In a pot they placed, mixed and ground to paste;

Seeds of green the fruit of fig consumed,

Loud they wailed, and bore the body in haste.

 

 

161: Body is Fragile Frame

 

No roofing above nor standing ground below,

Two legs to support and a central beam athwart,

Rudely thatched on top but unlined within,

An empty vessel, in Karmic garb enwrapt.

 

 

162: The Lute Lay in Dust; the Music Ceased

 

Deserted the banquet-hall, unlit, unadorned,

Gone the dancer's swaying shape and flashing feet;

Another song now they sang to a wailing tune,

And, seeking fire, flung the body to its consuming heat.

 

 

163: What Did the Body Leave Behind?

 

Three hundred days agone, the foetus emerged,

Naught remains of it now, dear friends, you know;

In twelve years' time it learned to smell the rich odours of life

At seventy it turned to dust--thus briefly ends the show.

 

 

164: Lamp Remained; Flame Died

 

The lamp remains but the flame is out,

Loud the fools lament but the truth ignore;

Night follows day--this they fail to grasp,

And thus immersed fall and moan,

Ever sobbing more and more.

 

 

165: Those Who Do Not Adore Lord, Lie Writhing in the Seventh Hell

 

While the body the Lord of blooming Konrai wrought

And Life worshipping not the Divine,

In the Seventh hell, neglected lie,

Writhing in pain and wordless agony keen,

The kith and kin, widely crying, did shout and howl and sigh.

 

 

166: Life's Procession Leads But to Grave

 

With horse and sword and canopy outspread,

Man fills his fugitive years with pride of life;

But even as the grand cavalcade sweeps past,

Circling from left to right, expires the breath of life.

 

 

167: Nothing Can Lure Back the Life that Left

 

What though the ravens on him feed and way-farers scorn?

What though you feed with parting drops of milk; or many scoff?

For, know that this bag of leather, inflated awhile,

The Great Show-man blows and batters with a smile.