Post by Sumi on Feb 17, 2012 8:33:10 GMT 5.5
Author: Balu, SriMaTham, Kanchipuram
Compiler: T.S. Kothandarama Sarma
Book: Maha PeriyavaL - Darisana AnubhavangaL vol. 1
Publisher: Vanathi Padhippaham (Aug 2006 Edition)
In those days even in the games played by children there used to be the reflection of our sampradAya (tradition). Those were days when the new games of the present times did not enter and pollute the social life.
In such a situation, how would be the recreational games of children in places like Kumbakonam where there were many temples, and temple festivals and swAmi vIdhi valams (divine procession on the streets) were held incessantly?
All that hubbub in a real Swami Purappadu (start of divine procession) was there in the games too.
Bring a basketful of clay and let four hands knead it, and the Swami is ready--with all the paraphernalia of the vennai tazhi (butter pot), garuda vahanam, kudirai vahanam (vehicles of Garuda and horse) and so on!
No dearth of flowers, with so many trees along the Kaveri bank.
As for the mantra, should one pass out of a pAThashAlA (Vedic school)? Sivaya Namah, Vishnuve Namah, Subrahmanyaya Nama, Pullayaraya Nama ...
In this way, one Swami came on bhavani (procession) on the SriMaTham street in Kumbakonam!
Swami came and stood before SriMaTham. No one expected it. Periyavaa came out. He did not slight it as just a play by the children.
He bowed to that ' kuzhandai swAmi with his daNDam (staff); joined his palms into a kumbidu (namaste). Asked his people to do nivedanam (offering) with coconut and banana fruit. Asked them to distribute bananas and suger lumps to the boys. Then, lifting his hand in blessing, he allowed Swami to go ahead.
Kushio Kushi (extreme happiness) for the children!
(Would Kannapiran (Sri Krishna) have played with the shepherd lads of Gokulam in this fashion in the Dvapara Yuga?)
Is this not a unique way that Periyavaa used to respect the childrens' bhakti and motivate it for further growth?
It is a known thing to all of us that Periyavaa performs daily, long and elaborate puja in ekAkram (single-pointed devotion). In the same way, he would also honour the pujas performed by others.
Among the bhaktA s who come to SriMaTham, there would be those who do daily Panchayadana Puja. Periyavaa would visit those pujas and pray to the individual Gods.
Once he sights a Pillaiyar temple when he goes out--he would not mind if it is a dilapidated temple, a small temple or one that does not adhere to the Agamas. There would be sidarkkAi (coconut breaking) for all the Pillaiyars!
Compiler: T.S. Kothandarama Sarma
Book: Maha PeriyavaL - Darisana AnubhavangaL vol. 1
Publisher: Vanathi Padhippaham (Aug 2006 Edition)
In those days even in the games played by children there used to be the reflection of our sampradAya (tradition). Those were days when the new games of the present times did not enter and pollute the social life.
In such a situation, how would be the recreational games of children in places like Kumbakonam where there were many temples, and temple festivals and swAmi vIdhi valams (divine procession on the streets) were held incessantly?
All that hubbub in a real Swami Purappadu (start of divine procession) was there in the games too.
Bring a basketful of clay and let four hands knead it, and the Swami is ready--with all the paraphernalia of the vennai tazhi (butter pot), garuda vahanam, kudirai vahanam (vehicles of Garuda and horse) and so on!
No dearth of flowers, with so many trees along the Kaveri bank.
As for the mantra, should one pass out of a pAThashAlA (Vedic school)? Sivaya Namah, Vishnuve Namah, Subrahmanyaya Nama, Pullayaraya Nama ...
In this way, one Swami came on bhavani (procession) on the SriMaTham street in Kumbakonam!
Swami came and stood before SriMaTham. No one expected it. Periyavaa came out. He did not slight it as just a play by the children.
He bowed to that ' kuzhandai swAmi with his daNDam (staff); joined his palms into a kumbidu (namaste). Asked his people to do nivedanam (offering) with coconut and banana fruit. Asked them to distribute bananas and suger lumps to the boys. Then, lifting his hand in blessing, he allowed Swami to go ahead.
Kushio Kushi (extreme happiness) for the children!
(Would Kannapiran (Sri Krishna) have played with the shepherd lads of Gokulam in this fashion in the Dvapara Yuga?)
Is this not a unique way that Periyavaa used to respect the childrens' bhakti and motivate it for further growth?
It is a known thing to all of us that Periyavaa performs daily, long and elaborate puja in ekAkram (single-pointed devotion). In the same way, he would also honour the pujas performed by others.
Among the bhaktA s who come to SriMaTham, there would be those who do daily Panchayadana Puja. Periyavaa would visit those pujas and pray to the individual Gods.
Once he sights a Pillaiyar temple when he goes out--he would not mind if it is a dilapidated temple, a small temple or one that does not adhere to the Agamas. There would be sidarkkAi (coconut breaking) for all the Pillaiyars!
