Civavakkiyar - Shiva's abode

 

 

What are temples, tell me!
And what are sacred tanks?
O you poor slaves who worship
in temples and tanks!
Temples are in the mind,
Tanks are in the mind.
There is no Becoming,
there is no Unbecoming,
None, none whatever!

 ૐ

In bricks and in granite,
in the red-rubbed lingam,
in copper and brass
is Siva's abode --
     that's what you tell us,
     and you're wrong.
Stay where you are
and study your own selves.
Then you will BECOME
the Temple of God,
     full of His dance and spell
   and song.

☆

Civivakkiyar - India (9th Century)
Shaivite

 English version by Kamil V. Zvelebil
Original Language Tamil