A childless tribal couple called Tiruvaalan and Pankaya Chelvi engaged in cutting canes found the child and took it home. The child would not eat or drink anything nor did it show any signs of expelling waste material from its body. When an old agriculturist couple offered milk in a bowl, the child drank it with relish. One day, the couple drank of the milk left over by the child. They regained youth and in due course had a son born to them whom they named as 'Kanikannan' who at a later stage became a close friend/aredent disciple of ThirumazhisaiAzhwAr.
Thirumazhisai decided to learn about all other religions. So, he studied Buddhist, Jain and other literature. He became a staunch devotee of Siva assuming the name of Siva Vakya. One day, he saw an old man planting a plant upside down and then trying to water it with a broken pot using a tattered rope to lift water from a waterless well. Sivavakyar asked him why he was attempting such a foolish act. The old man was none other than Pey Alwar who replied that what he was doing was only less foolish than Sivavakya's allegiance to Saivism , knowing full well that the Vedas and Smritis proclaim Sri Narayana as the Supreme deity.As a result of an argument with Pey Alwar, finally he got initiated into Vaishnavism by Pey Alwar assuming the name of Bhaktisarar. After visiting several temples, he reached Tiruvekka, the birthplace of Budat Alwar. Our Kanikkannan, too joined bhaktisArar and served him as an ardent disciple (sishyA) to AzhwAr. There was also an old lady (unmarried) who devotedly, whole heartedly served AzhwAr by cleaning, mopping, drawing "kOlams" etc.. AzwAr was greatly impressed by her indefatigable service and devotion towards azhwAr and appreciated her openly; The old lady was moved and regretted that she joined him at this age only and not when she was able so that she could have continued to serve for more years. Hearing that, azhwAr's kind heart melted and showered his graceful look (katAksham) on the lady, who was immediately transformed into an extremely beautiful young lady. (This AzhwAr's miracles are really great, dear vaishNavALs) Later, during a "nagarvalam", the pallava king saw her in azhwAr's place and married her.
After some years, when the king actually noticed that his queen is not ageing and has got the same youthful look while he was getting old, he found out that it was AzhwAr's divine katAksham that did the magic. He asked Kanikkannan who was summoned to the court to make a request to AzhwAr on behalf of the king, Kanikkannan refused saying he and the AzhwAr will not yield and sing for a mortal. That enraged the king and he ordered to banish Kanikkannan from his kingdom. Kanikkannan said "this is not the only sthalam for me; The entire world is His" and walked off.
He went to azhwAr and narrated the incident which forced him to leave that placeand begged for his pardon for leaving him; AzhwAr felt very sad that his dearest friend/devoted disciple is leaving him. He did not feel like staying there without kanikannan. Hence, AzhwAr, too decided to push off from Tiruvekka. AzhwAr went straight to the temple and prayed wholeheartedly with tears in his eyes and requested the Lord also to come along with them, as he can not think of living without the Lord.
Kanikkannan pOginRAn kAmaru poon kacchi /
maNivaNNA1 nee kidakka vEndA /
sennAppulavanum pOginrEn neeyum unRan /
painnAgappAi suruttikkoL /
" Kanikkannan is going out of kanchi Manivanna, I am also leaving with him. You don't have to lie down here any more; You also roll your "nAgam" (serpent bed) and follow me" and Sri Ranganatha followed the Azhwar with the Sesha Paanupu (Adhi sesha’s bed) rolled and tucked under his arms. When lord Rangantha left, all the devathai in other temples also started leaving the place.
The king next day got the news that the temple is desolated and the entire city looks dark and lifeless, he understood his folly and rushed immediately to chase the trio. He caught them on the way and prostrated on the ground, repenting for what he had done; requested them to forgive him for his mistake and to come back to kanchi. AzhwAr and Kanikkannan, understanding the sincerity of his regret and repentance requested the Lord again to return and stay at kanchi. Needless to say, the Lord obeyed.
Kanikkannan pOkkozhindAn kAmaru poon kacchi /
maNivaNNA1 nee kidakka vEndum /
sennAppulavanum pOkkozhindEn neeyum unRan /
painnAgappAi viritthukkoL /
" Kanikannan has changed his mind and rescinde his decision to leave Kanchi. Since, as the fluent poet that I am also returning with him, You may also return and lie down on your serpent bed as before"
Since the Lord did as he was told by the Alwar, he came to be called 'Yatotkari' and 'Sonna vannam Seitha Perumal'-meaning 'the Lord who acted as told'
Since the Lord did as he was told by the Alwar, he came to be called 'Yatotkari' and 'Sonna vannam Seitha Perumal'-meaning 'the Lord who acted as told'
One day, when on his way to Tirukkudantai, he stopped for a while for rest and he sat on a pial of a house in Perumpuliyur. A few brahmins were reciting Vedas. On seeing him, they stopped their recitation since Veda was not to be recited in the presence of a person belonging to the fourth caste. The Alwar understood and was about to leave when the Brahmins started their recitation. They did not remember at what point they had left the recitation. The Alwar broke open a paddy seed with his fingernail to indicate the exact context which had a reference to the paddy seed. The brahmins realized the greatness of the Alwar and begged to be excused.
On reaching Tirukkudantai ( Kumbakonam), he let the birchbark leaf containing his writings in the waters of river Kaveri. The leaf floated back to him holding his works viz.,'Tiruchanda Viruttam' ( a poem of beautiful verses) in which he sang the following beautiful verse:
NinRadhu Enthai Ooragathu Irundathu Enthai Paadagathu /
AnRu Vekkanaik Kidandhathu EnnilAtha MunnelAm /
AnRu NAn PiRandilEn PiRandhapin MaRandilEn /
NinRadhum Irundhadhum Kidandhathum En NenjuLe /
" Before I was born, He was standing in Ooragam, was sitting in Paadagam and was lying down in Tiruvekka.At that time I was not born with wisdom; When once I was born with this wisdom, I never forgot. Therefore, the Lord left all those places and has taken permanent abode in my heart". The idea is that the great Gnanis never considered themselves as born at all until they realized this ' Artha gnAnam'. And, once they realized this, they had no other avocation than being immersed in the thought of the Lord.This is how Mumukshup padi explains this sentiment.
No comments:
Post a Comment