Post by subi24 on May 31, 2012 5:26:18 GMT 5.5
Dear fellow-members,
Greetings! Let me share one more of my most memorable experiences with Mahaperiva. The incident that I am going to narrate happened in the year 1989 while I was in Madras (now Chennai). The occasion was the 60th wedding anniversary of my parents. My brother and his wife had come from Pune to join us in the diamond anniversary celebrations. Soon after completion of some religious rituals at home, I announced my decision to take the entire family to Kanchipuram and seek the blessings of Periva. My dear wife hastily stuffed in a carry bag a few things like coconut, small bags of rice and dhaal and some fruits.
On entering the Kanchi Matam, an elderly gentleman in panchakatcham welcomed us, and asked if we were all coming from Madras. When my father replied yes, he said to my father, "Periva desires that you should perform Paada Puja today." None of us expected this - we had neither carried sufficient money nor the materials for such a Puja. My father told the gentleman, "I would love to perform the Paada Puja but I have not come prepared with all the items needed for doing so." The gentleman responded quickly, "Not at all a problem, Sir. It is Periva's desire. We'll make all the arrangements for you. Please come with me. After your return to Madras, you can send us the money at your convenience." Though we were taken by surprise, we were delighted at this great life-time opportunity. For my father, it was the first time (and the last) in his life to perform a Paada Puja at the Kanchi Matam!
After the Paada Puja, we were led to an enclosure that provided proximity to Periva. I was told that Periva had been observing "Mounavritam" over the previous couple of days. So, I was not sure if Periva would speak to us. We were simply thrilled to see the 95-year old "Walking God" sitting majestically on an elevated seat and glancing at us somewhat enquiringly. A priest from the Kanchi Matam who stood by the side of Periva served as the communicator between Periva and the devotees. Holding his hand-cuffed mouth close to Periva's ear, the priest told Periva my father's name and the occasion for his visit. Lo and behold! Periva started speaking slowly!! His 'Mounavritam" was over. In very low voice (that was amplified by the Matam priest), Periva asked my father about his Purvotram and at what age he was married etc. Then, Periva turned towards a gentleman sitting nearby and asked him, "Do you know English?" Startled by a sudden question from Periva, that person nervously replied , "Yedo konjam theriyum (I know a bit)." Periva asked him further, "Do you know the meaning of Octogenarian?" The gentleman said, "Theriyathu (No)." Periva then gently turned his head towards my father and looked at him gracefully, hinting that he will live to be an octogenarian. And sure enough, Periva's blessing came true!
We had placed before Periva a plate containing some Paruppu (Toor Dhaal), a coconut and a few other items. Periva touched the Dhaal first and asked "what is this?" My wife said, "Paruppu." The next thing he touched was the coconut. Again he asked, "what is this?" One of us replied, "Thengai." Periva then smilingly said "Ohoho, Paruppu Thengaya?" I learnt later that Periva's mention of "Paruppu Thengai" was to indicate a likely wedding in my family. Yes indeed - it turned out to be true. My daughter's wedding got finalized the very next year just as she graduated from college!
Before we left Madras, my brother had just learnt from a friend over phone that his company had suddenly laid off many long-time employees. So, my brother was concerned about his job but did not know how to tell Periva about it. It was my mother who conveyed his concern to Periva by saying "En pullai etho sankatathil irukkaan. Periva asirvadam pannungo. (My son is worried, Please bless him)." Periva did not say anything but showed his "abhaya hastam." (Later, my brother lost his job but very soon he got another one in the same city - I think it was just Periva's grace!)
After blessing us, Periva's attention turned towards other people sitting near us. There was an eye doctor who had come with his wife and newly married daughter and son-in-law. Periva asked the eye doctor, "mappillai enna panrar? (what is your son-in-law doing?)" The doctor said, "avarum kan vaidyar (he is also an eye doctor)." On hearing this, Periva humorously said,"Oho, irandu kan doctor pol irukku (Seems like 'two eye' doctors)." All of us enjoyed Periva's pun.
We returned home with a deep sense of satisfaction and a feeling of happiness in everybody, particularly my parents. Periva's grace has no boundaries!
Greetings! Let me share one more of my most memorable experiences with Mahaperiva. The incident that I am going to narrate happened in the year 1989 while I was in Madras (now Chennai). The occasion was the 60th wedding anniversary of my parents. My brother and his wife had come from Pune to join us in the diamond anniversary celebrations. Soon after completion of some religious rituals at home, I announced my decision to take the entire family to Kanchipuram and seek the blessings of Periva. My dear wife hastily stuffed in a carry bag a few things like coconut, small bags of rice and dhaal and some fruits.
On entering the Kanchi Matam, an elderly gentleman in panchakatcham welcomed us, and asked if we were all coming from Madras. When my father replied yes, he said to my father, "Periva desires that you should perform Paada Puja today." None of us expected this - we had neither carried sufficient money nor the materials for such a Puja. My father told the gentleman, "I would love to perform the Paada Puja but I have not come prepared with all the items needed for doing so." The gentleman responded quickly, "Not at all a problem, Sir. It is Periva's desire. We'll make all the arrangements for you. Please come with me. After your return to Madras, you can send us the money at your convenience." Though we were taken by surprise, we were delighted at this great life-time opportunity. For my father, it was the first time (and the last) in his life to perform a Paada Puja at the Kanchi Matam!
After the Paada Puja, we were led to an enclosure that provided proximity to Periva. I was told that Periva had been observing "Mounavritam" over the previous couple of days. So, I was not sure if Periva would speak to us. We were simply thrilled to see the 95-year old "Walking God" sitting majestically on an elevated seat and glancing at us somewhat enquiringly. A priest from the Kanchi Matam who stood by the side of Periva served as the communicator between Periva and the devotees. Holding his hand-cuffed mouth close to Periva's ear, the priest told Periva my father's name and the occasion for his visit. Lo and behold! Periva started speaking slowly!! His 'Mounavritam" was over. In very low voice (that was amplified by the Matam priest), Periva asked my father about his Purvotram and at what age he was married etc. Then, Periva turned towards a gentleman sitting nearby and asked him, "Do you know English?" Startled by a sudden question from Periva, that person nervously replied , "Yedo konjam theriyum (I know a bit)." Periva asked him further, "Do you know the meaning of Octogenarian?" The gentleman said, "Theriyathu (No)." Periva then gently turned his head towards my father and looked at him gracefully, hinting that he will live to be an octogenarian. And sure enough, Periva's blessing came true!
We had placed before Periva a plate containing some Paruppu (Toor Dhaal), a coconut and a few other items. Periva touched the Dhaal first and asked "what is this?" My wife said, "Paruppu." The next thing he touched was the coconut. Again he asked, "what is this?" One of us replied, "Thengai." Periva then smilingly said "Ohoho, Paruppu Thengaya?" I learnt later that Periva's mention of "Paruppu Thengai" was to indicate a likely wedding in my family. Yes indeed - it turned out to be true. My daughter's wedding got finalized the very next year just as she graduated from college!
Before we left Madras, my brother had just learnt from a friend over phone that his company had suddenly laid off many long-time employees. So, my brother was concerned about his job but did not know how to tell Periva about it. It was my mother who conveyed his concern to Periva by saying "En pullai etho sankatathil irukkaan. Periva asirvadam pannungo. (My son is worried, Please bless him)." Periva did not say anything but showed his "abhaya hastam." (Later, my brother lost his job but very soon he got another one in the same city - I think it was just Periva's grace!)
After blessing us, Periva's attention turned towards other people sitting near us. There was an eye doctor who had come with his wife and newly married daughter and son-in-law. Periva asked the eye doctor, "mappillai enna panrar? (what is your son-in-law doing?)" The doctor said, "avarum kan vaidyar (he is also an eye doctor)." On hearing this, Periva humorously said,"Oho, irandu kan doctor pol irukku (Seems like 'two eye' doctors)." All of us enjoyed Periva's pun.
We returned home with a deep sense of satisfaction and a feeling of happiness in everybody, particularly my parents. Periva's grace has no boundaries!