Can you brief the English equivalent of the word ‘mazhu’. This occurs in TM 89. Is it axe? What does it signify in the Hand of Lord SivA?
Regarding TM89 and Mazhu I would like to have this put before you with reference to the context of the TM poem. The formless Almighty takes the form only with the intention to come down to the level of thinking of sentient beings esp. mankind. This is because the mind of the man is capable of receiving things only in forms and these forms are analyzed within Budhdhi Thathuvam culminating in the experience of knowing a thing related to the forms. In keeping with this process, the Almighty which is formless originally takes forms whatever the mankind pleases only to facilitate intimacy between Him and the souls. One such form is that which is used to be alluded in Saivism namely, Lord Siva. Lord Siva is narrated as having so many extra-ordinary appendages like Maan, Mazhu and His vehicle known as bull. These are appended to Him only with certain implications, more so they are nothing but personification of great ideas and principles of Saivism. To detail on the above, let us take Maan first. This represents Asuththa maayai which develops into material body of souls and the worldly expanse. In Saiva Sidhdhaantha doctrine, this asuththa maayai is called as Moola Prakruthi Maayai consisting of 24 thaththuvas otherwise grouped as Aanma Thaththuvam. This is palpable to senses and is materially solid. There are seven more thaththuvam called Vidhya thaththuvam above the level of Aanma Thaththuvam each sublime to one another. This is called as Misra Maayai otherwise known as Suththaasuththa Maayai. This is admixture of both Suththa and Asuththa Maayai. There is another band in this series which is called as Suththa Maayai otherwise known as Vindhu Maayai, consisting of five Siva Thaththuvams, each sublime to one another. Lord Siva utilizes the existence of Maayai, which is formless and the seed of cosmos to create material world and bodies of souls only to kindle and improve the knowledge of souls. This Maayai, as has been given above processed and categorized into three categories which are Suththa, Asuththa and Suththaasuththa Maayai. Of these Suththa and Suththaasuththa Maayai have no forms whereas Asuththa Maayai has forms. These are codified as Vindhu, Mogini and Maan respectively. As Vindhu and Mogini Maayai have no forms these could not be represented in the appendage of Lord Siva, whereas suththa Maayai having form and codification as Maan(deer) has been represented in the appendage of Lord Siva as having been held in his hand. Just as above Petram i.e. the bull is representation of souls which take Lord on to them and do service loyally. Mazhu represents tripod held in the hands of Lord Siva which is representation of small deities known as Brahma, Thirumaal and Rudhran entrusted with the job of creation, protection and destruction respectively in service to the Lord Siva. In the poem, Thirumoolar conveys that in keeping with the idiosyncrasy of souls the Lord has taken forms of pleasure of mankind such as Petram , Maan and Mazhu and on meditating, making the same diffuse into that of formless which is the original of the Almighty. Doing so the Lord has entrusted him(Thirumoolar) unto the Lotus Feet of Him.