Post by Sumi on Jan 9, 2012 14:20:45 GMT 5.5
This is a transalation of a tamil article wriiten by Sri Ramani Anna
in Sakthi Vikadan
Tiruvidaimarudoor, near Kumbakonam in Tanjore district is famous for a
Siva Temple, Sri Maha Linga Swami.
Many years ago, on a Chitra Pournima day, an Abhishegam for Sri Maha
Linga swami was performed with the chanting of Rudra Japa. It was a
grand success. With 11 Vedic Pundits, it started at 8am and finished
by 1pm. Sri Narayanaswami Iyer, the head of the village (Mirasudar),
an ardent Maha Periyava devotee, organised the whole event.
Very eager to offer the Rudra-Prasad to Maha Periyava, Sri
Narayanaswami Iyer reached Kanchi the very next day. He had packed the
Prasad in a plantain-leaf covered with a new silk shawl.
At Kanchi, after finishing the daily Puja, Sri Maha Periyava was
giving dharshan. A lot of people were waiting for the dharshan. When
his turn came, Sri Narayanaswami Iyer was shivering and lost his
voice. He did a sashtanga namaskaram. Maha Periyava looked at him and
raised his brows, meaning “Whats the news?”
Sri Narayanaswami Iyer opened his prasad packet, kept it in a plate
and offered it to Maha Periyava – still shivering in reverence. The
Prasad offering had vibhuthi, Kumkum, chandan, vilva leaves, 2 half
coconuts, and bananas.
Maha Periyava: “This prasad is from which Kshetram?”
Sri Narayanaswami Iyer: “ Periyava, I organized a Rudra abhishegam
yesterday in Tiruvidaimarudoor for Maha Linga Swami. I brought this
Prasad for Periyava from there. I am offering it for Periyava’s
anugraham”.
MahaPeriyava was looking at that plate containing the Prasad. And then
asked him: “Narayanaswami, you are a rich man; still did you share the
expense with someone else for this Abhishegam?”
Sri Narayanaswami Iyer: “No Periyava…I bore all the expenses myself”
Maha Periyava was smiling after hearing the emphasis on “I, myself”.
Maha Periyava: “You performed this abhishegam for Loka Kshemam?”
Sri Narayanaswami Iyer: “No Periyava…for the last 2 or 3 years we are
not getting good harvest from the fields…..some lands have not yielded
anything…..Muthu Josiyar asked me to conduct a Rudra Abhisegam on
Chitra Pournima day for the best yields….I did that after believing
him, Periyava”
The Acharya still has not accepted the Prasad. “ This means that you
did not do it for aathmaartham or Loka Kshemam….!”, saying this, Maha
Periyava closed his eyes and meditated for 15 minutes. When He opened
His eyes, one could understand that he was very clear as to what had
happened.
Maha Periyava: “Ok. How many Brahmmanals were there?”
Sri Narayanaswami Iyer: “Eleven Pundits were there, Periyava”
“ Who are they, you only organised them, right? From which place are
they ?” this was Maha Periyava.
By now the devotees around were wondering why Sri MahaPeriyava was so
inquisitive. Sri Narayanaswami Iyer took out a paper and read out the
names. ".......Tiruvidaimarudoor Venkatrama Sastrigal, Srinivasa
Ganapadigal, Rajagopala Swouthigal…..” MahaPeriyava intervened, “ Oh…
all of them are great Vedic Pundits….just see in your list, if you
have Thepperumanallur Venkatesa Ganapadigal”.
Sri Narayanaswami Iyer was very happy to find that name in his list.
He exploded: “yes, yes, Periyava, he was there yesterday….”
Mahaperiyava : “besh….besh…..Venkatesa Ganapadigal was also there…Very
good. He is a great Vedic Pundit! He is getting very old now. Nowadays
he chants Rudra Japam with great difficulty.”
As if he got the point, Sri Narayanaswami Iyer immediately said: “ You
are very correct, Periyava. He did not do the Rudra Japam properly.
Most of the times he was sitting with his eyes closed without
chanting…..and the number of Japams got reduced because of that……I was
wondering why I invited him”.
Maha Periyava got annoyed with Sri Narayanaswami Iyer. “ Just because
you have money, you cannot assume you can say anything! Do you know
the qualification of Thepperumanallur Venkatesa Ganapadigal? You are
not even comparable to the dust in his feet. How can you say that
about him?
Now I understand what happened yesterday. Now you answer me. When he
was sitting with his eyes closed, did you not go to him and shout at
him saying ‘ For the money you are getting, why is your mouth keeping
shut?’
There was absolute silence there. The devotees were stunned.
Narayanaswami Iyer, who was at ease a minute ago, started shivering
again, fell down on his knees, got up, closed his mouth with his palm
and with tears in eyes said, “ I was wrong, Priyava…please, please
forgive me. To Ganapadigal, I said exactly what you just now
described. Please forgive me”
“ Wait, that is not it. There is more. Did you give dhakshina to every
Pundit? How much did you give?” – Maha Periyava.
“ I gave ten rupees to each of them” – NI, with great difficulty.
“ I know everything….tell me again. Did you give ten rupees to
everyone?” – Maha Periyava.
Narayanaswami Iyer was quiet. But Maha Periyava did not leave him. “
You are ashamed to tell me. I will tell you what happened. You offered
the ten rupee sambhavana to each Pundit. When you came near the
Thepperumanallur Ganapadigal, you reduced the sambhavana to seven
rupees since you thought he did not do the Japams continuously. You
felt vindicated by this! And you were happy! But the Ganapadigal did
not care. He smiled at you and took it……Tell me all this is true?”
The devotees did not know how Maha Periyava knew all this.
Narayanaswami Iyer was stunned and silent. He repeatedly pleaded
guilty and said he would never ever do such things in future.
While Narayanaswamy Iyer was feeling ashamed and was pleading guilty,
Maha Periyava did not stop there.
“Wait…I would have been happy if it ended here. Did you organise lunch
for all of them at Ramachandra Iyer’s house?”
“Yes, Yes, Periyava” – NI.
“ You served very well……the Chakra Pongal was like Amrut, made with a
lot of cashews and raisins; overflowing with ghee… was served
personally by you. Right?” – Maha Periyava.
“ Yes Periyava, I served the Chakra Pongal myself” – Narayanaswami
Iyer was pleased to say this.
“While serving, did you do it with clear conscience and follow the
proper etiquette and decorum? “ – Maha Periyava.
No response from Narayanaswami Iyer. “OK. I will tell you. Since it
tasted very good, all the Pundits enjoyed it and asked for more Chakra
Pongal. You also served them more and more. But when you saw
Thepperumanallur Ganapadigal asking for more, not once but many times,
you pretended as if you did not even hear him! So many times he asked
for more! Yet, not once did you respond. Is this dharma? You cheated
him off….You played so dirty. You deceived him, you betrayed him, you
insulted him!”. Acharya looked very upset and sad.
Narayanaswami Iyer was standing there, fully ashamed of himself. Maha
Periyava changed his position and sat straight as if Lord Parameshwara
was sitting there. After 15 minutes of silence and meditation, Maha
Periyava opened His eyes. “Mirasudarvaal, you must understand one
thing. The Ganapadigal is now 81. He has been chanting Rudra Japam
from the age of 16 at many Siva temples. Sri Rudram is embodied in
every nerve of his, and runs in his breadth and his blood. He is such
a Maha Purush. What you displayed was absolute sin. Nothing but sin”.
Maha periyava could not talk any more.
Maha Periyava continued: “The insult you heaped on him affected him
thoroughly. Do you know what he did? He did not go back to his
village. Yesterday evening he went straight to Maha Linga Swami
temple. After three pradhakshinas, he stood in front of the Swami and
do you know what he prayed for?”
Maha Periyava had difficulty talking. He continued after some
time…”with tears rolling down his cheeks, ‘Appa Jothi Maha Lingam! You
know I am your ardent devotee. You have heard my Rudra Japams so may
times in your Sannidhi, from my young years. I am now 81. Am very
strong at heart, but the strength in my voice has diminished. You are
well aware of what happened during lunch today. That Chakra Pongal....
was so tasty…. And leaving aside my shame, I was pleading for some
more….so many times. That Mirasudaar just pretended as if he did not
hear me and went away. You know I like Chakra Pongal so much….I felt
so bad that he did not serve me more in spite of my pleading. But
later on, I realised that I should not have that kind of attachment to
a mere dish. That’s why I am standing in front of you. When people go
to Kasi, they give up a vegetable and a fruit. You are the same Lingam
in Kasi as well. That’s why I am promising you that from this minute
on, till my jeevan leaves this body, I am giving up not just Chakra
Pongal, but any sweet dish. I will not touch. Maha Lingam, this is my
promise… I am taking leave of you’. So saying, with more tears from
his eyes, the Ganapadigal left for his village. Now you tell me,
Narayanaswamy Iyarvaal, was it not a sin you committed? Will Maha
Linga Swami accept your actions?”
Maha Periyava stopped here. It was 3pm. He refused the Biksha for the
day. No one left that place. Tears in everyone’s eyes.
Narayanaswami Iyer fell on Maha Periyava’s feet. He was sobbing,
uncontrollably. Unable to speak, but still managed to say, “ Periyava,
I feel very very ashamed. I made a big mistake. I will never do this
mistake in my life. Please pardon me. Please, Periyava. Please tell me
that you forgive me….Please take this Maha Linga Prasad and pardon me.
Please Periyava”. Even then Maha Periyavaa didn't touch the Prasadams
brought by Narayanaswami Iyer but firmly said
“ Wait for a while, that Maha Linga Swami himself will give me
anugraham for Prasadam”.
Just then a Pundit aged around 65, looking fresh with rudraksha around
his neck holding a plate arrived there. He told Maha Periyava: “ My
name is Maha Lingam. I am the Archagar in Tiruvidaimarudoor temple.
The Pundit continued: ”Yesterday there was a Rudra Abhishegam for Maha
Linga Swami. I came to offer the Prasad to Periyava and take His
blessings”.
When he was going to do Namaskaram, Maha Periyava stopped him saying “
those who got Siva Dheeksha should not do Namaskaram to me”.
MahaPeriyava took the Prasadam and offered Matam’s ‘return gift’ –
prasad.
By then the Archagar saw Narayanaswami Iyer and said, “ Periyava, he
is Narayanaswamy Iyer. He was the one who organised the Abhishegam
yesterday.” Then the Archagar took leave from Maha Periyava and left.
Narayanaswami Iyer told Maha Periyava repeatedly that he made a big
mistake and asked for Prayaschittam- ‘how can I wash this sin?’
Acharyal got up and said, ” I cannot tell you the Prayaschittam for
this. Only Thepperumanallur Venkatesa Ganapadigal can tell you”. “But
will he tell me, after whatever I did?” asked Narayanaswami Iyer. In a
loud voice, Maha Periyava said: “ If you have the Praaptham he will
tell you”. So saying, He went inside to His room.
Maha Periyava did not come out for long. Narayanaswami Iyer now
decided to meet the Ganapadigal. He took a bus and reached
Thepperumanallur next day. He wanted to plead for pardon from the
Ganapadigal, get his blessings and then only go back to his place.
When he reached the Ganapadigal’s house, he saw a lot of people
there………the Ganapadigal left for his heavenly abode early that
morning!
What Maha Periyava said hit his head: “ If you have the Praaptham, he
will tell you”.
He said to himself, “Maha Periyava knew I did not have the Praaptham –
what a big sinner am I”.
However, he did Namaskaram to the Ganapadigal’s body and left back to
his village.
Later on, Sri Narayanaswamy Iyer did a lot of service for the Mutts in
the North and obtained Mukhti in Kasi.
in Sakthi Vikadan
Tiruvidaimarudoor, near Kumbakonam in Tanjore district is famous for a
Siva Temple, Sri Maha Linga Swami.
Many years ago, on a Chitra Pournima day, an Abhishegam for Sri Maha
Linga swami was performed with the chanting of Rudra Japa. It was a
grand success. With 11 Vedic Pundits, it started at 8am and finished
by 1pm. Sri Narayanaswami Iyer, the head of the village (Mirasudar),
an ardent Maha Periyava devotee, organised the whole event.
Very eager to offer the Rudra-Prasad to Maha Periyava, Sri
Narayanaswami Iyer reached Kanchi the very next day. He had packed the
Prasad in a plantain-leaf covered with a new silk shawl.
At Kanchi, after finishing the daily Puja, Sri Maha Periyava was
giving dharshan. A lot of people were waiting for the dharshan. When
his turn came, Sri Narayanaswami Iyer was shivering and lost his
voice. He did a sashtanga namaskaram. Maha Periyava looked at him and
raised his brows, meaning “Whats the news?”
Sri Narayanaswami Iyer opened his prasad packet, kept it in a plate
and offered it to Maha Periyava – still shivering in reverence. The
Prasad offering had vibhuthi, Kumkum, chandan, vilva leaves, 2 half
coconuts, and bananas.
Maha Periyava: “This prasad is from which Kshetram?”
Sri Narayanaswami Iyer: “ Periyava, I organized a Rudra abhishegam
yesterday in Tiruvidaimarudoor for Maha Linga Swami. I brought this
Prasad for Periyava from there. I am offering it for Periyava’s
anugraham”.
MahaPeriyava was looking at that plate containing the Prasad. And then
asked him: “Narayanaswami, you are a rich man; still did you share the
expense with someone else for this Abhishegam?”
Sri Narayanaswami Iyer: “No Periyava…I bore all the expenses myself”
Maha Periyava was smiling after hearing the emphasis on “I, myself”.
Maha Periyava: “You performed this abhishegam for Loka Kshemam?”
Sri Narayanaswami Iyer: “No Periyava…for the last 2 or 3 years we are
not getting good harvest from the fields…..some lands have not yielded
anything…..Muthu Josiyar asked me to conduct a Rudra Abhisegam on
Chitra Pournima day for the best yields….I did that after believing
him, Periyava”
The Acharya still has not accepted the Prasad. “ This means that you
did not do it for aathmaartham or Loka Kshemam….!”, saying this, Maha
Periyava closed his eyes and meditated for 15 minutes. When He opened
His eyes, one could understand that he was very clear as to what had
happened.
Maha Periyava: “Ok. How many Brahmmanals were there?”
Sri Narayanaswami Iyer: “Eleven Pundits were there, Periyava”
“ Who are they, you only organised them, right? From which place are
they ?” this was Maha Periyava.
By now the devotees around were wondering why Sri MahaPeriyava was so
inquisitive. Sri Narayanaswami Iyer took out a paper and read out the
names. ".......Tiruvidaimarudoor Venkatrama Sastrigal, Srinivasa
Ganapadigal, Rajagopala Swouthigal…..” MahaPeriyava intervened, “ Oh…
all of them are great Vedic Pundits….just see in your list, if you
have Thepperumanallur Venkatesa Ganapadigal”.
Sri Narayanaswami Iyer was very happy to find that name in his list.
He exploded: “yes, yes, Periyava, he was there yesterday….”
Mahaperiyava : “besh….besh…..Venkatesa Ganapadigal was also there…Very
good. He is a great Vedic Pundit! He is getting very old now. Nowadays
he chants Rudra Japam with great difficulty.”
As if he got the point, Sri Narayanaswami Iyer immediately said: “ You
are very correct, Periyava. He did not do the Rudra Japam properly.
Most of the times he was sitting with his eyes closed without
chanting…..and the number of Japams got reduced because of that……I was
wondering why I invited him”.
Maha Periyava got annoyed with Sri Narayanaswami Iyer. “ Just because
you have money, you cannot assume you can say anything! Do you know
the qualification of Thepperumanallur Venkatesa Ganapadigal? You are
not even comparable to the dust in his feet. How can you say that
about him?
Now I understand what happened yesterday. Now you answer me. When he
was sitting with his eyes closed, did you not go to him and shout at
him saying ‘ For the money you are getting, why is your mouth keeping
shut?’
There was absolute silence there. The devotees were stunned.
Narayanaswami Iyer, who was at ease a minute ago, started shivering
again, fell down on his knees, got up, closed his mouth with his palm
and with tears in eyes said, “ I was wrong, Priyava…please, please
forgive me. To Ganapadigal, I said exactly what you just now
described. Please forgive me”
“ Wait, that is not it. There is more. Did you give dhakshina to every
Pundit? How much did you give?” – Maha Periyava.
“ I gave ten rupees to each of them” – NI, with great difficulty.
“ I know everything….tell me again. Did you give ten rupees to
everyone?” – Maha Periyava.
Narayanaswami Iyer was quiet. But Maha Periyava did not leave him. “
You are ashamed to tell me. I will tell you what happened. You offered
the ten rupee sambhavana to each Pundit. When you came near the
Thepperumanallur Ganapadigal, you reduced the sambhavana to seven
rupees since you thought he did not do the Japams continuously. You
felt vindicated by this! And you were happy! But the Ganapadigal did
not care. He smiled at you and took it……Tell me all this is true?”
The devotees did not know how Maha Periyava knew all this.
Narayanaswami Iyer was stunned and silent. He repeatedly pleaded
guilty and said he would never ever do such things in future.
While Narayanaswamy Iyer was feeling ashamed and was pleading guilty,
Maha Periyava did not stop there.
“Wait…I would have been happy if it ended here. Did you organise lunch
for all of them at Ramachandra Iyer’s house?”
“Yes, Yes, Periyava” – NI.
“ You served very well……the Chakra Pongal was like Amrut, made with a
lot of cashews and raisins; overflowing with ghee… was served
personally by you. Right?” – Maha Periyava.
“ Yes Periyava, I served the Chakra Pongal myself” – Narayanaswami
Iyer was pleased to say this.
“While serving, did you do it with clear conscience and follow the
proper etiquette and decorum? “ – Maha Periyava.
No response from Narayanaswami Iyer. “OK. I will tell you. Since it
tasted very good, all the Pundits enjoyed it and asked for more Chakra
Pongal. You also served them more and more. But when you saw
Thepperumanallur Ganapadigal asking for more, not once but many times,
you pretended as if you did not even hear him! So many times he asked
for more! Yet, not once did you respond. Is this dharma? You cheated
him off….You played so dirty. You deceived him, you betrayed him, you
insulted him!”. Acharya looked very upset and sad.
Narayanaswami Iyer was standing there, fully ashamed of himself. Maha
Periyava changed his position and sat straight as if Lord Parameshwara
was sitting there. After 15 minutes of silence and meditation, Maha
Periyava opened His eyes. “Mirasudarvaal, you must understand one
thing. The Ganapadigal is now 81. He has been chanting Rudra Japam
from the age of 16 at many Siva temples. Sri Rudram is embodied in
every nerve of his, and runs in his breadth and his blood. He is such
a Maha Purush. What you displayed was absolute sin. Nothing but sin”.
Maha periyava could not talk any more.
Maha Periyava continued: “The insult you heaped on him affected him
thoroughly. Do you know what he did? He did not go back to his
village. Yesterday evening he went straight to Maha Linga Swami
temple. After three pradhakshinas, he stood in front of the Swami and
do you know what he prayed for?”
Maha Periyava had difficulty talking. He continued after some
time…”with tears rolling down his cheeks, ‘Appa Jothi Maha Lingam! You
know I am your ardent devotee. You have heard my Rudra Japams so may
times in your Sannidhi, from my young years. I am now 81. Am very
strong at heart, but the strength in my voice has diminished. You are
well aware of what happened during lunch today. That Chakra Pongal....
was so tasty…. And leaving aside my shame, I was pleading for some
more….so many times. That Mirasudaar just pretended as if he did not
hear me and went away. You know I like Chakra Pongal so much….I felt
so bad that he did not serve me more in spite of my pleading. But
later on, I realised that I should not have that kind of attachment to
a mere dish. That’s why I am standing in front of you. When people go
to Kasi, they give up a vegetable and a fruit. You are the same Lingam
in Kasi as well. That’s why I am promising you that from this minute
on, till my jeevan leaves this body, I am giving up not just Chakra
Pongal, but any sweet dish. I will not touch. Maha Lingam, this is my
promise… I am taking leave of you’. So saying, with more tears from
his eyes, the Ganapadigal left for his village. Now you tell me,
Narayanaswamy Iyarvaal, was it not a sin you committed? Will Maha
Linga Swami accept your actions?”
Maha Periyava stopped here. It was 3pm. He refused the Biksha for the
day. No one left that place. Tears in everyone’s eyes.
Narayanaswami Iyer fell on Maha Periyava’s feet. He was sobbing,
uncontrollably. Unable to speak, but still managed to say, “ Periyava,
I feel very very ashamed. I made a big mistake. I will never do this
mistake in my life. Please pardon me. Please, Periyava. Please tell me
that you forgive me….Please take this Maha Linga Prasad and pardon me.
Please Periyava”. Even then Maha Periyavaa didn't touch the Prasadams
brought by Narayanaswami Iyer but firmly said
“ Wait for a while, that Maha Linga Swami himself will give me
anugraham for Prasadam”.
Just then a Pundit aged around 65, looking fresh with rudraksha around
his neck holding a plate arrived there. He told Maha Periyava: “ My
name is Maha Lingam. I am the Archagar in Tiruvidaimarudoor temple.
The Pundit continued: ”Yesterday there was a Rudra Abhishegam for Maha
Linga Swami. I came to offer the Prasad to Periyava and take His
blessings”.
When he was going to do Namaskaram, Maha Periyava stopped him saying “
those who got Siva Dheeksha should not do Namaskaram to me”.
MahaPeriyava took the Prasadam and offered Matam’s ‘return gift’ –
prasad.
By then the Archagar saw Narayanaswami Iyer and said, “ Periyava, he
is Narayanaswamy Iyer. He was the one who organised the Abhishegam
yesterday.” Then the Archagar took leave from Maha Periyava and left.
Narayanaswami Iyer told Maha Periyava repeatedly that he made a big
mistake and asked for Prayaschittam- ‘how can I wash this sin?’
Acharyal got up and said, ” I cannot tell you the Prayaschittam for
this. Only Thepperumanallur Venkatesa Ganapadigal can tell you”. “But
will he tell me, after whatever I did?” asked Narayanaswami Iyer. In a
loud voice, Maha Periyava said: “ If you have the Praaptham he will
tell you”. So saying, He went inside to His room.
Maha Periyava did not come out for long. Narayanaswami Iyer now
decided to meet the Ganapadigal. He took a bus and reached
Thepperumanallur next day. He wanted to plead for pardon from the
Ganapadigal, get his blessings and then only go back to his place.
When he reached the Ganapadigal’s house, he saw a lot of people
there………the Ganapadigal left for his heavenly abode early that
morning!
What Maha Periyava said hit his head: “ If you have the Praaptham, he
will tell you”.
He said to himself, “Maha Periyava knew I did not have the Praaptham –
what a big sinner am I”.
However, he did Namaskaram to the Ganapadigal’s body and left back to
his village.
Later on, Sri Narayanaswamy Iyer did a lot of service for the Mutts in
the North and obtained Mukhti in Kasi.