Nothing else matters

Saints have sung of their love for God in verses that are

moving, and which fully capture their spiritual experience, said K.Sambandan, in a discourse.

Arunagirinathar said that the joy one experienced when the atma approached Him, was indeed a great one. Manickavachagar said that he wanted to embrace Lord Siva’s feet tightly. Karaikkal Ammaiyar said that people who sought Lord Siva would not find Him, for she had hidden Him in her heart and covered Him with a cloth! Manickavachagar said that Jivanmuktas never noticed what was around them, because their thoughts were always directed towards God. They lived in the midst of all worldly distractions, but were not distracted by any of them. Manickavachagar said that wealth and gems must not be given importance.

He prayed that he would not fall prey to temptations.

He said that people thought he was mad, because of his
devotion to Lord Siva. But he didn’t care, because those who mocked him did not know how close he was to the path that led to Lord Siva. If Lord Siva had not stepped in to save him, he would have surely gone to hell, said  manickavachagar. What an amazing thing is this — His closeness to me, exclaimed Manickavachagar. He was so joyful that people thought he was mad.

Karaikkal Ammaiyar asked for a skeletal body, sans beauty, and the Lord granted her wish. She said that everyone mocked her appearance, but she did not care. It was enough that Lord Siva recognised her, and knew of her bhakti. Manickavachagar thought of the wasted years. He lamented that he had not sought the company of gnanis. He had not done any good deeds.

And yet, Lord Siva, the One with hair that was redder than fire and who adorned Himself with snakes, had saved him.