5 minutes
The four ways
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Siddhanta describes four ways of drawing near to Siva, from outward service to inner wisdom. They are not rivals but steps on one ladder.
Four relationships with God
Each way is also a relationship: how the devotee stands before Siva.
- 1
Chariyai: the servant
in the temple: sweeping, lighting lamps, making garlands, singing. The devotee serves as a servant serves a master.
- 2
Kiriyai: the son
with the rites of the Agamas, at home or in the temple, as a son serves his father.
- 3
Yogam: the friend
: the mind turned towards Siva in meditation, as close as a friend.
- 4
Jnanam: wisdom
of Siva, given through the guru. This is the way that leads to freedom.
Tradition sees these four in the lives of the four great hymn-singers: Appar as the servant, Sambandar as the son, Sundarar as the friend, and Manikkavasagar as the one of wisdom.
Where are you on the ladder?
Most of us begin with service and worship: lighting a lamp at home, visiting the temple, singing a Tevaram hymn. Siddhanta honours all of it. Each rung, climbed sincerely, ripens the soul for the next. And the last rung, wisdom, is not reached by effort alone; it comes through grace and the guru, whom we meet next.
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