aruNai endreNNa yaan arutkaNNi patten un
aruLvalai thappumo Arunachala
Meaning
Arunachala! The moment I thought of you as Arunachala in my heart I was trapped in the net of your grace by the power of that thought without being able to go anywhere. Will your grace-net which is spread to trap our devotees ever let me slip through Arunachala (who is expert in trapping devotees)?
Explanation
Arunachala, you came of your own volition into my heart and made me think of you (shone in my heart - spuranam), spread the net of your grace cunningly and trapped me in such a way I couldn’t move even a little. Can I go against your wishes Arunachala says Bhagavan by ‘aruL valai thappumo?’ Meaning will your grace net miss me?
Great saint-poets have described god as ‘the one who is trapped by the net of Bhakthi of his devotees’ (‘Bhakti valayil paduvon kaaNga). Keeping this in mind, Bhagavan says that even before the devotees trap Arunachala in their net of devotion, Arunachala beats them to it by trapping them in his net of grace. This is proof of Arunachala’s limitless and boundless grace and its strength. Without his grace, it is impossible to think of him. Saint Manickavasagar says the same in Siva puranam: ‘avan aruLale avan thaaL vanangi’ meaning ‘by His grace worship His feet’.
aruLvalai thappumo Arunachala
Meaning
Arunachala! The moment I thought of you as Arunachala in my heart I was trapped in the net of your grace by the power of that thought without being able to go anywhere. Will your grace-net which is spread to trap our devotees ever let me slip through Arunachala (who is expert in trapping devotees)?
Explanation
Arunachala, you came of your own volition into my heart and made me think of you (shone in my heart - spuranam), spread the net of your grace cunningly and trapped me in such a way I couldn’t move even a little. Can I go against your wishes Arunachala says Bhagavan by ‘aruL valai thappumo?’ Meaning will your grace net miss me?
Great saint-poets have described god as ‘the one who is trapped by the net of Bhakthi of his devotees’ (‘Bhakti valayil paduvon kaaNga). Keeping this in mind, Bhagavan says that even before the devotees trap Arunachala in their net of devotion, Arunachala beats them to it by trapping them in his net of grace. This is proof of Arunachala’s limitless and boundless grace and its strength. Without his grace, it is impossible to think of him. Saint Manickavasagar says the same in Siva puranam: ‘avan aruLale avan thaaL vanangi’ meaning ‘by His grace worship His feet’.