This short treatise consisting of 54 Stanzas is one of the Fourteen Siddhanta Sastras, and its author is said to be Tiruvadigai Manavasagam Kadandar, one of the 49 disciples of St. Meykandan. That he was a native of Tiruvadigai and a pupil of St. Meykandan is certain, but there are no other particulars available about his life-history. That he must have been an advanced sage is evident from the name he bears, which means "he who has passed beyond thought and speech."

The author tries to expound in these few pages, the truth of the Sacred Agamas, without going into argumentation, just so much as is sufficient for the aspirant after spiritual Truth, to bring the teaching into actual daily practice. They are in the form of questions addressed to the Teacher St. Meykandan and answers elicited from him. The later part of the treatise explains the truth of the Panchakshara and Sri Nataraja Symbols. We hope the book will be of use to many.

We place Him, in our heart, the Five-armed God in strong rut, of russet colour, tusked mouth, and pot-belley; so that we may be freed of our ignorance and be enabled without fault to spread the Light of Truth, to be gathered from the Sacred Agamas.

O Thou, my teacher, that, perceiving the truth, showdst the truth of Supreme Knowledge and Bliss after removing the falsehood, by proving it to be false!

O Thou, Truth, that will not give out false-hood, O Thou, that residest in Tiruvennainallur, Hear, O Thou, my humble petition, and deign to answer my queries!

3. O, my Teacher, explain to me the following! What are the 36 tatvas? What is Anava? What is that Karma which arose even then? What am I who seem to differ from these? Who art Thou? What is the Lord's Sacred Dance and what is the truth of the Panchakshara?

4. O my son, who is immersed in Bliss-ful Yoga, hear what I am now imparting to you in accordance with the teachings of the Supreme Agamas, graciously uttered of yore, by the Supreme Siva.

5. The earth's form is a four-sided figure. The water is of the form of a crescent. The fire is of the form of a triangle always. The air is a six sided-figure. The Akas is a circle. And the soul gets a body formed of these.

6. The colour of these is golden, white, red, black, smoky-coloured, respectively and their letters are

7. Their symbols are diamond-sword, the lotus-flower, svastika, the six spots, and Amrita-bindu respectively. So the old Agamas declare, O my Son.

8. The Gods for the elements Earth etc., are Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra, Mahesvara and Sadasiva; and their functions are respectively Creation, Sustentation, Regeneration, giving Rest, (Tirobhava) and showing Grace (Anugraha).

9. Brahma creates; The lotus-eyed Vishnu protects; Rudra destroys, and Isa gives them rest; and Sadasiva shows grace always.

10. The Earth is hard, water cool, and fire hot, air flows hither and thither, and Akas gives room to all.

11. We have now set forth the number and quality of the elements. If we are to tell you about the five deceitful Perceptions, they are the desire-producing Sound, Touch, Sight, Taste and Smell.

12. Hear the enumeration of the Jnanendriyas! Know them to be the ear, the skin, the eye, the tongue and the nose, which perceive the low sensations in this low world.

13 and 14. The ear perceives sound through Akas. The body perceives touch through the air. The eye perceives light through fire. The tongue perceives taste through water. And the nose perceives smell through the earth. So the Agamas declare. They who conquer these senses secure the Bliss-ful Nirvana.

15. The Karmendriyas giving rise to speech etc., are mouth, feet, hands, anus and the genital organs.

16. The mouth speaks through the aid of Akas; the feet move through the aid of air ; the hands work through the aid of fire; the anus excretes through the aid of water; the genital organs give pleasure through the aid of earth.

17. Hear now the enumeration of the Antahkaranas! They are Manas, Buddhi, Ahankara and Chitta. They respectively perceive, reason, linger and reflect.

18. The foregoing 24 tattvas are stated by the ancient Agamas to be the Atma-tattvas. Hear, now the Vidya-tattvas expounded by me.

19. Time, Niyati, Kala, Vidya, Raga, Purusha, Maya, this is their order. Hear now their nature with attention.

20. Time measures the past, gives enjoyment in the present, and contains new store for the future. Niyatt-tattva. fixes the order and sequence of Karma. Kala-tattva induces action. Vidya-tattva induces intelligence. The Purusha-tattva induces perception of the five senses. And Maya induces doubt and ignorance.

21. We have now stated the Vidya-tattvas. Hear now the Suddha-tattvas ! They are Suddha-Vidya, Isvara, Sadasiva, ' Sakti and Siva tatvas.

22. *Suddha-Vidya induces more intelligence than action. Isvara-tattva induces more action than intelligence. Sadasiva-tattva induces them both in equal proportion. Sakti-tattva induces action, and Siva-tattva induces Jnana alone.

23. † We have now fully stated the 36 Tattvas. Hear now about the two kinds of Mala, Anava and Karma. Stated, Anava induces ignorance; Karma Mala induces you to identify yourself thoroughly with the chain of pleasures and pains.

24. O Thou rare Teacher, Thou hast explained to me the nature of the 36 Tatvas, and Anava and Karma. Deign now to show me the nature of myself who seems to differ and not differ from these.