Perceptions of reality and the Thevaram

Pitha Pirai Soodi Song | Thevaram Song in Tamil | பித்தாபிறை  Sundamoorthy Nayanar whose songs feature in the Thevaram is praised by all for his beautiful devotion and his divine compositions. One day he wonders if there isn't a trace of ego hiding somewhere within him, but how will he find out? His mind might be too cleverly hiding it. Therefore one day he gathers all his disciples and says he will eat the dhatura plant and induce madness into his being, and they must each record all he says and does. As a mad person surely he will not be able to fake his devotion. If in his madness he isn't lost in devotion, his disciples will surely record it too, and he eats the plant. Then he proceeds to sing in divine verse for several hours seemingly unaffected, if anything even more fervently devotional. It elevated him into posterity as one of the Nayanars.  For a strong devotee whether it is sat, asat, sattva, rajas, tamas - all pathways lead to the divine. Yet, this isn't an invitation for all to eat Dhatura. Whether it is ideas, or food only ingest what you can digest, feel free to spit out the rest. Remember the story of the blind men who touch the elephant. Act according to your level of awareness and perception.