DEIVATHIN KURAL # 26 (Vol # 5) Dated 21 July 2011

DEIVATHIN KURAL # 26 (Vol # 5) Dated 21 July 2011

(These e-mails are translations of talks given by PeriyavaaL of Kanchi Kaamakoti Peetam, over a period of some 60 years while he was the pontiff in the earlier part of the last century. These have been published by Vanadi Padippagam, Chennai, in seven volumes of a thousand pages each as Deivathin Kural. Today we are proceeding from the middle of page No 157 of Vol 5 of the Tamil original. The readers may note that herein 'man/he' includes 'woman/she' too mostly. These e-mails are all available at http://Advaitham.blogspot.com updated constantly)
122. Somaasi Maaran, now got the bright idea of taking some fresh and good quality greens from where he was collecting them for his own use. “It does not matter if I cannot get anything else, to give as a present to Sundara Murthy. These greens are really of a good quality and available plentifully. If I fetch these ‘DootuvaLai’ greens to his house every day, one day or the other he is likely to ask as to who is bringing these to his house and thereby I may get an opportunity to meet him, as he is likely to give me an audience! So, with subtlety he made the ‘DootuvaLai’ green go as a courier carrying his message. (In Tamil ‘Dootuvan’ means a person sent as a messenger!) Not only did he think about it, but put it in action too with utmost sincerity. Everyday not caring for his own discomfort this poor Brahmin walked his way to Thiruvaroor to deliver a wholesome bunch of this ‘DootuvaLai’ Keerai. (In Tamil ‘Keerai’ means edible green leaves.) He was resigned to the idea of waiting indefinitely. “We will quietly supply the greens. It is enough if it reaches the stomach of this noble great man, come what may!” That was the intension of Somaasi Maaran.
123. Sundara Murthy was residing in Paravai Naachiyaar’s residence those days. That place was always a beehive of incessant activities of many people arriving and leaving in an endless procession. In that dynamic hubbub Somaasi Maaran never went anywhere near Sundara Murthy. He would quietly leave the bundle of DootuvaLai greens in the kitchen under the care of the cooks and leave. Paravai Naachiyaar was noticing that some Brahmin gentleman was regularly bringing these greens religiously every day. The least she could do was to ensure that the DootuvaLai Keerai was included in the menu and served to Sundara Murthy every day. She never had time to specifically talk about this Brahmin gentleman to Sundara Murthy.
124. It was the custom for Sundara Murthy to have food with a big gathering of the devotees of Siva. Either he will eat in silence fully absorbed in ‘Siva Dhyana’ or sharing the greatness of Siva with the devotees, while the food will also be shared between them! Before food and after food there will be ‘Naama Sangeerthanam’ or ‘Dhyaanam’ or ‘Aalaya Darshanam’ or he would be composing new poems. There was no occasion when the topic under discussion could be the Keerai- greens or the Brahmin Gentleman bringing it! Days were running into weeks and months. Somaasi Maaran was on his mission of delivering the Keerai-Greens every day uncaring for any pain in his legs due to walking all that distance or the delay caused for his own lunch!
125. Some day or the other the matter had to come to a head! Somaasi Maaran was crossing the river to come to Thiruvaroor every day. Once there was a flood in that river due to which it could not be crossed for some four or five days. He was feeling bad that he could not take the greens across to Sundara Murthy Swami’s place. Somaasi Maaran remained at home very reluctantly. By this process I suppose Easwara was playing into the event. He always plays with his cards held very close to his chest! When for four or five days continuously the DootuvaLai was not to be found in the food, Sundara Murthy particularly noticed it!
126. It is often the case that when things are going on routinely we may not notice and do so when something is missing in the routine! When there is a breeze on, we may not take note of it. By the same breeze if the window gets closed and it is sultry, we will at once notice that there is no breeze. Similarly the absence of DootuvaLai greens was noticed when it was missing for a few days continuously. On enquiry, Paravai Naachiyaar clarified that one Brahmin was quietly but regularly delivering the particular fresh greens every day and possibly due to the floods the delivery has been interrupted.
127. “Oh! How sad that I never noticed this for so long! Was that gentleman so sincerely and regularly doing this service never looking for any recognition or even a word of thanks, is it? Next time he comes please send him inside to meet me and also inform me at once! We must help him in whatever way we can”, said Sundara Murthy Swamigal. As Somaasi Maaran was aspiring to meet Sundara Murthy SwamigaL all these days, it was now the other way totally! This is the play by God, called ‘Easwar ki Leela!’ The floods subsided in the river.
128. “Thank God! The floods have receded and so, I can resume delivering the bunch of DootuvaLai greens once again”, thought Somaasi Maaran and went to Sundara Murthy’s place with the greens. He felt thrilled when he was told that Sundara Murthy would like to meet him! ‘Great man who could directly talk to Easwara, like we converse with each other and so it is God’s grace that I am going to meet him’, with that thought he went and prostrated at the feet of Sundara Murthy! Sundara Murthy was very pleased to meet him. He asked, “Who are you me dear Sir? You are being kind enough to supply these fresh greens every day uncaring for the personal discomfort to yourself!”
129. Though Somaasi Maaran was waiting for this opportunity only, with natural diffidence and shyness requested for a private audience saying, “I need one help from you. But can you kindly give me a few minutes in privacy?” Sundara Murthy realised that there is something big for which this man is fishing for. He said, “Dear Brahmin, do not think that I can make the impossible, possible! If it is within my abilities, I will try. So please tell me.” Somaasi Maaran insisted that there is nothing impossible for him and told him his wish in privacy. Having heard his wish of conducting Soma Yaaga in which he wished that God Parameswara should personally come and receive the Havis from his hands, his reply was this. “For God to come personally to your Soma Yaaga and receive the Havis directly from you is not a small matter. But, since I am indebted to you I will try and recommend your case. To do so or not is God’s Grace. Please do not think otherwise if I fail, that it is due to my not being sincere enough!”
The Test by God Parameswara.
130. Then he went to the temple and told Thyagaraja Swami all the details of Somaasi Maaran’s request. For him to talk to God was quite a normal routine. Thyagaraja Swami’s reply was, “Sundaram! There is nothing that I will not do for you. Whatever you wish will be done. That too if someone has done you a favour of providing fresh greens for you to eat, I am indebted to do him not only to return a favour but also give him a bonus! So, for your sake I will go to receive the Havis personally myself. But, if this Brahmin desires this so much, it will not be correct to go only in this get up. I will go to him in any form. If he correctly recognises me in that form well and good, I will receive the Havis myself! Then saying, “That is OK by me”, Sundara Murthy went and told Somaasi Maaran that God had agreed to come to his Soma Yaaga and left it at that. Somaasi Maaran’s happiness knew no bounds. He was thrilled and returned to Ambar MaakaaLam. He organised the Soma Yaaga taking help from all and sundry. On a good day in the month of Maasi when the Aslesha Star was in the ascendant, he arranged the conduct of the Soma Yaaga.
131. The Homam was reaching the final stages when the Havis had to be given. Somaasi Maaran was anxious waiting for the God’s arrival, wondering whether he will or will not. Suddenly a crowd of seemingly poorly dressed, ill kept and stinking crowd of Pulaiyaas rushed in the Yaaga mandapa beating drums and blowing on horns! The crowd was going round a central figure, who was evidently their leader. He was having four dogs on leash. Near him was his wife carrying a pot of some liquor which was spreading a rank smell all around. The Brahmins who were conducting the Yaaga felt that it was stupid on their part to have agreed to help this poor Brahmin! They were about to take to their heels, saying that the whole function had been spoiled and desecrated!
132. Somaasi Maaran was the only one happily sitting there. His long time ambition to get Easwara to visit his Yaaga was about to become true. His long and arduous service to Sundara Murthy Swami in all faith was about to bear fruits. His sincerity and Sundara Murthy Swami’s Anugraha had opened his eyes at the right time. He had passed in the test by God Parameswara! “The central figure, the leader of these Pulayaas is none other than the Siva Perumaan! He is holding the four Vedas as four dogs around him in a tight leash. Next to him the Lady holding the pot of liquor is AmbaaL Parvathy herself! All the people around him are the Bhootha Ghanas!
(To be continued.)
Sambhomahadeva.