Post by anusham163 on Jul 27, 2014 11:59:24 GMT 5.5
A DAY WITH THE LIGHT.
Part 17.
“there is absolutely no fault”---was what Periava replied, with a smiling face. “If It is found that when I do something which doesn’t confirm to Sastras, it is a great help for me for somebody to point it out to me. But in this particular matter which you mentioned now,………” saying this He tapped His chest twice and waved His hand twice downward.
That was a very clear ‘Abhinayam’ ( அபிநயம்-----saying with hand signs as in Nruthyam), clearer than mere words, to make the Pundit understand that what He follows in this matter is right for Him!
How come our ‘Dharmasastra Avatar’ ( incarnation of Dharma Sastras) whose life principle is ‘What Sastras say is correct and there is nothing called ‘my wish’, says like this?
The devotee guessed it rightly and said, “Is it Bhagavan’s directive to Periava? “ (பெரியவாளுக்கு அப்படித்தான் ஆதேசமோ?)
Periava didn’t reply to this but kept quiet.
The devotee believed that Periava’s silence meant that He agreed with his question.
The devotee asked, “Shall I also follow the same principle and do the Neyvedhyam, steaming hot?”
“If you get a directive like that, you may do it”---was Periava’s reply, with a smile!
That sentence and the smile confirmed the devotee’s belief.
Generally, SriSaranar lived by following minutely the rules of Sastras; so He followed the same principle in performing Pujas also. Two examples are narrated below:--
Gurunathan was performing Puja to Lord Vigneshwarar on Vinayaka Chathurthi day.
One by one the offerings were submitted; came the next which was the offering of ‘Vastram’ (New clothes like dhoti and Angavastram).
During special Pujas (like this Vinayaka Chathurthi day), SriSaranar will perform the Puja only according to the pundit’s directives, who will be sitting by His side and reciting the ‘Manthras’.
On that day, the pundit uttered the Mantra, ‘Vastra yugmam samarpayaami’ (வஸ்த்ர யுக்மம் ஸமர்ப்பயாமி); Periava looked at the plate where the Vastram was kept. He kept on looking at the plate. He was keeping quiet, without either repeating the Manthra or taking and submitting the Vastram. Except for the chanting of Mantras and Slokas, Periava will be observing silence during Puja time.
[Periava, mostly, does not chant Mantras or slokas, aloud; the pundit who was asking Him about the ‘steaming hot Neyvedhyam’, had asked Him about this also, asserting that the custom he knows is to say it aloud. Sri Saranar replied, “ Gruhastas’ (those who follow the worldly life) should chant Veda Sookthas aloud. If possible, they may chant other slokas etc. also aloud. It is not mandatory for the ascetics to chant the Veda Mantras aloud.
Nobody could understand the silence of Periava who was not offering the Vastra to the deity.
The pundit became restless thinking whether he has made any mistake in the words; but assured himself that the Mantra he uttered was correct as per the book, he was holding.
Periava took the Vastram and showed it to him, and showed one finger at him. The Pundit understood! ‘Vastra Yugmam’ means a pair of clothes consisting of a dhoti and an Angavastram which is wrapped around the waist. But what was kept in the plate on that day was a single dhoti only! The Puja continued only after the second Vastram was brought.
TO BE CONTINUED…………