''What these artists strive always to express is the soul and those pure and absolute states of the mind and heart in which the soul manifests its essential being void of all that is petty, transient, disturbed and restless. In their human figures it is almost always devotion that is manifested; for this in the Shaiva and Vaishnava religions is the pure state of the soul turned towards God.
The power of the artist is extraordinary. Not only the face, the eyes, the pose but the whole body and every curve and every detail aid in the effect and seem to be concentrated into the essence of absolute adoration, submission, ecstasy, love, tenderness which is the Indian idea of bhakti. These are not figures of devotees, but of the very personality of devotion.''
Sri Aurobindo - Review of ''South Indian Bronzes''by O.C.Gangoly
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Sundaramurti, 8th C Shaivite Saint
*
Manne maravaadhe ninaikkinren manathunnai
Every moment that I behold you within, is invaluable to me
Ponne manidhaane vayiramme poruthundhi
I hold your presence within, like a precious diamond I could never lose
Minnaar pennai thenpaal vennai nallur aruturaiyul
As I see you in the sacred yard on the southern banks of river Pennai
Anne unakkaalaai ini allen enalaame'
O Lord, How can I say I am not yours? I am blissfully enslaved to you!
*// a stanza from Pitha Pirai Soodi composed by Sundarar at the age of 16. It is said that Shiva came in disguise to Sundarar's wedding to remind him that he belongs to Shiva. With that reminder,Sundarar poured out his devotion through this song//
-thanks to @Krishna_premika for the following in Tamil:மன்னே மறவாதே நினைக்கின்றேன் மனத்துன்னைManne maravaadhe ninaikkinren manathunnaiபொன்னே மணிதானே வயிரம்மே பொருதுஉந்தி Ponne manidhaane vayiramme poruthundhi மின்னார் பெண்ணை தென்பால் வெண்ணெய் நல்லூர் அருட் துறையுள் Minnaar pennai thenpaal vennai nallur aruturaiyul அன்னே உனக்கு ஆளாய் இனி அல்லேன் எனல் ஆமே?Anne unakkaalaai ini allen enalaame?
