VERSE 2 of Thirumanthiram (Tantra or Part 1) from our lineage, Thirumoolar’s. Let’s look at Verse 2 of the Tirumantiram (“Sacred Mantra” or “Holy Incantation”), which is the work he left for us.

Verse 2 is from Tantra 1, which covers philosophical views and divine experience, impermanency of the physical body, love, and education.

2: Defies Death
The Holy One who all life sustains,
Lord of Her, beloved of all the world,
He who spurned Yama, the Southern Qrarter’s King
Of Him I sing, His glory and praise.

Commentaries state the “Her” of line 2 is Shakti.

Yama is the ‘god of death’ and he treats Siva and his devotees with extreme deference since his minions (yama dutas) came to capture Siva’s devotee, Markendeya.

Kali is the quintessential embodiment of shakti, female power. We could incorporate a lot of aspects around this verse as a class theme.

“Shakti is the embodiment of the female principle within each of us, the receptive, compassionate energy force residing at the base of the spine. It is said that if we chant with fervor and devotion, Shiva himself (who resides in the uppermost or sahasrara chakra) comes down and escorts Shakti all the way up to be united with him in blissful consciousness and oneness. That is also symbolic of our yearning to merge the masculine and feminine aspects of ourselves and achieve wholeness and inner integration.” (Jo Ann Levitt)

Chant: “Om Shiva, Om Shakti”

oṃ: The eternal source-sound-vibration of creation.

shiva: the Destroyer and Transformer

shakti: Literally meaning energy or power, Shakti is the feminine aspect of the divine.

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