தத்துவ நோக்கில் கந்தபுராணம் காட்டும் சோமாஸ்கந்த வடிவம் / A Philosophical View on the Form of Somaskandha Portrayed in Kandhapuranam

Abstract

“Periyapuranam”, “Kandhapuranam” and “Tiruvilayadal Puranam” are the best works of Tamil Puranic literature. Among them, the “Kandhapuranam” describes in detail the birth of Lord Muruga to the death of Soorabanman and Muruga's divine marriages. Although the main plot is the death of Soorabanman, it can be seen that “Kandhapuranam” also praises more about the eternal god, Lord Shiva. The eight special natures and five activities of Lord Shiva are pointed out and the events caused by the Lord's energy are also clearly depicted. The grace of God is very necessary for the souls who are bound by the triads of Aanava, Kanma and Maaya (arrogance, pride and vanity) to realize God, to know their condition and to dare to attain salvation. The Lord thus bears the form to grace the souls. Each of those forms has a meaning behind it. There is a chance for souls to mature when they realize them. In this way, this article examines the history of the appearance of the Somaskanda Murtham, which appears in the “Kandhapuranam”, and the philosophical thought conveyed through that form.

Keywords

• philosophical view
• somaskandha
• portrayal
• kandhapuranam.