Vairagyam is the key

 In one way it will be interesting to read Tiruvaimozhi starting from the second ten starting with 'Veedumin muRRavum'. That way, the first and foremost message of Nammalwar will be 'Give up in toto'. Renunciation seems to be the prime message of spirituality. But some persons seem to think that one cannot give up on one's own and even renunciation is excused by God if only you remain faithful to the creed you have subscribed to. Loyalty towards one creed takes precedence over anything. But many sages and holy people, especially of Hinduism, have been never tired of stressing dispassion as the prime-most step towards God. Of course there may be a practical difficulty, that you can talk all sense regarding dispassion, its indispensable nature and all that. But in reality to achieve dispassion in life may be a far cry for many and even in really sincere aspirants. Many sincere people pursuing the spiritual path have faced this embarrassingly rough and disappointing fact. And ultimately we have no choice but to earnestly pray for divine grace. Then what will the grace do to us? This is explained precisely by Nammalwar in this verse:

Doing away with the two types of karma

Cutting the ties of mysterious attachment

Tuning the soul in such a way

that the mind resolves firmly

and go towards Him

so He prepares a being for liberation

He who is the inner soul of all these beings

and who is wisdom engulfing light

and who pervades all extension

Down, above, endless everywhere

and who has form

and remains formless,

He All embracing Mal.

‘சார்ந்த இருவல் வினைகளும்

சரித்து மாயப் பற்றறுத்து

தீர்ந்து தன்பால் மனம் வைக்கத்

திருத்தி, வீடு திருத்துவான்

ஆர்ந்த ஞானச் சுடராகி

அகலம் கீழ்மேல் அளவிறந்து

நேர்ந்த உருவாய் அருவாகும்

இவற்றின் உயிராம் நெடுமாலே.’

'Where there is no dispassion

there where to find Deivam' so sings Sri Tayumanavar.