The Tirumantiram is divided into nine chapters, 9 tantras (tantirams):
- 1. Philosophical views and divine experience, impermanency of the physical body, love, education etc.
- 2. Shiva's glory, His divine acts, classification of souls etc.
- 3. Yoga practices according to the eight-angled way of Patanjali. Also refers to Vasi Yoga
- 4. Mantra, tantra, etc.
- 5. Various branches of Saiva religion; the four elements of Shaiva Siddhanta.
- 6. Shiva as guru bestowing grace and the devotee's responsibility.
- 7. Shiva linga, Shiva worship, self-control.
- 8. The stages of soul experience.
- 9. Panchadsara manthiram, Shiva's dance, the state of samadhi.
The poems have a unique metrical structure, each line consisting of 11 or 12 syllables depending on the initial syllable. Tirumular discusses the four steps of spiritual progress; Charya, Kriya, Yoga and Gnana, the Shaiva Siddhanta concept of Pati, Pasu and Pasa where Pati stands for Shiva, Pasu stands for the humankind and Pasa stands for Maya (the desire), sadhana, Vedanta, the Upanishadic Tat tvam asi and other Vedantic concepts, the transcendental reality as emptiness (Sunya) devoid of any attribute and Tantrasastra (Shakti worship), chakras, magic spells and their accessories.[citation needed]
The section on Yoga, called "Shiva yoga", offers details not found in the Sanskrit text of Patanjali. The Tirumantiram describes means of attaining an immortal body (kaya siddhi), advocating a theory of preserving the body so that the soul would continue its existence (Udambai valarthen uyir valarthenae).[citation needed]
Tirumular is not only one of the 63 Nayanmars (Nayanars) but also a significant one among the 18 Siddhars. Tirumular has been referred to as "Nampiran" (meaning: nam-Our, piran-God, thus thirumular has been called as a leader or god to all the remaining Nayanars) by Sundarar in his thiru thondar thogai (the earliest song which mentions the names of 63 Nayanars). Tirumular as a moral philosopher teaches the ethics of non-violence (ahimsa), abstinence from slaughtering, meat and alcohol. He condemns coveting another man's wife. He declares that "love is God", proclaims the unity of mankind and God and stresses the acquisition of knowledge.[citation needed]
The final section of the Tirumantiram, named Sunya Sambhashana ("Colloquy on the Void"), is full of metaphorical sayings communicating mystical and speculative thoughts, for example;
பார்ப்பான் அகத்திலே பாற்பசு ஐந்துண்டு
மேய்பாருமின்றி வெறித்து திரிவன
மேய்ப்பாரும் உண்டாய் வெறியும் அடங்கினால்
பார்ப்பான் பசுஅய்ந்தும் பாலாய்ச் சொரியுமே Tirumantiram 2883. |
"There are 5 wandering cows, without a cowherd and impossible to milk them"
But if a cowherd, controls all five (cows), then it's possible to milk the 5 cows. |
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