The Philosophy Underlying the Soora Samhaaram
The essence of Saiva Siddhantha Philosophy is contained in the Soora Samhaaram performed by Lord Kanthan. Sooran and his brothers represent the three impurities that bind the souls to materialistic life:
Soorapanman — Egotism
Singgamuhaasuran — Deeds (Karma)
Thaaraahaasuran — Maayaa (The Bond)
* Among the three impurities, souls may be released from karma and maayaa, when they acquire a certain amount of spiritual wisdom; but even if one has become completely enlightened with spiritual wisdom, the egoistic feeling of “I” will pop out the moment the person relaxes his/her spiritual inclination, even a wee-bit. This is why many kinds of challenges are shown to occur before subduing Soorapanman. The ego can only be subdued by God’s grace; it never perishes.
* Souls have to acquire spiritual wisdom combined with intense devotion,to get released from the three impurities. Muruhan’s Vel represents spiritual wisdom. The destruction of Sooran and his brothers is indicative of the destruction of the impurities by means of spiritual wisdom. The fight between God and Sooran indicates the redeeming of souls from their impurities by God, due to His kind grace.
* Soorapanman becomes a peacock and rooster in order to indicate the two aspects ofegotism, namely, the feeling of “I” and “my”. Moreover, the peacock and rooster also indicate that ego can only be subdued but never destroyed.
* There is one more significant point to be noted. When the human beings and celestials are defeated in their fight against the ‘asuras’ (demons), they completely surrender to God and request Himto help them. Subsequently, God subdues the cruel ‘asuras’ and restores the heavenly world and comfortable life to the Devas. The ‘Sooran Poar’ reflects the great truth that ‘we too should completely surrender to God and ask His Grace to win over negative qualities and acquire divine ones, instead.