பக்கம்:திருவாசகம்-ஆங்கில மொழிபெயர்ப்பு-1.pdf/210

5. Thiruchchathakam songs are said to indicate the ten different stages of spiritual experiences with which God in His grace enslaved the saint and made him. His own in response to his tenacity of devotion. This poem, the Sacred Cento with ten sub-decads, deals with the spiritual development of the saint starting from the purification of the soul for the attainment of supreme bliss, ecstatic bliss and transcendent bliss. In the course of purification of the soul the saint expresses desolation, despondency, despair mingled with self-accusation, self-disparagement and self-denunciation. He is pained that his mind, forgetting the extra-ordinary grace of God Who of His own accord appeared before him and enslaved him, was mad with the youthful passion after the charm of WΟΠΠΕΠ. He feels miserable that his potent and residual Karma drags him into the ocean of birth. He is bewildered with his reacherous mind and betraying senses. His despondency knows no bounds when he witnesses His real devotees moving and reaching His feet leaving him Mehind. He is frustrated with his body--the nest of worms and lesires-to fall into fire or roll down the rocks. As and when is head and heart gradually become pure by prayer, penance nd pious meditation, the grace of God is bestowed on him. In the sub-decad-The purification of experience(51-60) he saint sings that he has prepared himself well so that he is in state of absolute purity fit for reaching His feet. He pines for ivine compassion by chanting His name of the sacred five otters(61-70). He recollects how His real devotees are steeped Bliss (71-80). He explains his experience of ecstatic bliss in sting Him as Honey, Ambrosia and Juice of gar-cane(81–90). He is made to enjoy fully His bliss (95) and * enjoys surpassing Bliss (91-100). 189