SAIVA-SIDDHANTA

"
"
His
"
His
236 THE PERSONALITY OF GOD.
found by any material forms. Some would say God is
Arupi,
not realizing that matter is also formless as air, and nothing is
gained by calling Him Arupi. The fact to be clearly borne in
mind is that God cannot be objective to us, and possess mater
ial form.
/ But if it is pointed out that Saiva Siddhaflta religion
Yecognises forms of God and His appearances and acts, it is
answered that these forms of His are not material but are
purely spiritual forms formed of His great love and grace, and
to be perceived not by the human mind but with the divine
grace, l <suess\iwQ"
<&/j&sr ^iQsirirQ&j ^/snear(y&r St. Arulnarjdi says:
D
QupQ>(iyii>
Q&uiSltu
All these forms of His are assumed out of His supreme
grace for destroying our evil bodies. And how this is possible
is shown in the following :
11 As He does not possess the defect as an object of per
ception, and as He is possessed of absolute intelligence and
power, as He is not possessed of likes and dislikes, the Nirmala
God can assume any form out of His grace."
And these forms
are described in the following verse. form is Love ;
His
attributes and knowledge are Love ;
His five functions are
Love ;
His organs like arms, feet, &c., and His ornament like
the crescent moon, &c., are also Love. These things are
assumed by the Nirmala God, not for His own benefit but for
the benefit of mankind." With which compare the following
verse from the Taittirlya Upanishat :
head is surely Love ; joy His right wiog ; delight
His left,
Bjiss is His Self, Brahman whereon He rests."
The following beautiful hymn from St. Appar, and the text
from the Mancjukya Upanishat may also be read ,
&& &