Periyapuranam (15)

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Sai

Ram Brothers & Sisters

 

This

is the continuation of the “Periyapuranam

Series”…………………..

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font-weight:bold">15. AMARNIDHI NAYANAR

font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">In the Chola kingdom is the town Palaiyarai

which was a centre of wealth, prosperity, business and activeness. In it born

the honest trader who is known as Amarnithiyar.

bold">Professional in his business Amarnithiyar was quite wealthy to have heaps

of rubies and diamonds, gold and garments from all parts of the world. Still

his mind wandered only about the Pashupati's (Lord Shiva) lotus feet - the peerless

of all gems. The humbleness is good

for all, but for the rich it is the glorious wealth. He was very rich in his

mind as it was filled with only the thoughts of the Supreme Lord served His

devotees with high modesty. He gave them feasts enriched with his kind words

and cloths (“

"Comic Sans MS";font-style:normal">Kovanam” – a male undergarment)

to wear saluting them.

font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue;font-weight:bold">In the festival of the

Three eyed Lord at

"Comic Sans MS";font-style:normal">Thirunallur, he worshiped

the Love that robbed his heart and made shelters where the devotees could take

rest, have food and relax thinking of God. Along with his whole family he

stayed there and personally made sure that devotees are served properly.

bold">One of those days when he was filled in happiness of serving His

servants, the Lord Shiva decided to show his deserving fame to the whole world.

So the Lord came as a bachelor with the Holy Ash and other Shaiva symbols.

bold">On seeing him, with a blooming heart and a widening face he gave a warm

welcome to the devotee in disguise and asked him to stay there and bless his

service. That Veda chanting bachelor said He would take bath in Kaveri and in

the meanwhile as it was about to rain he asked Amarnithiyar to secure His cloth

(Kovanam) without any carelessness since that cloth was matchless, He claimed.

Our Nayanar kept that in a very safe place with due care.

10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:purple;font-weight:bold">The Supreme

Lord in the disguise removed the cloth from the hiding place without the

knowledge of Amarnithiyar.

font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:purple;font-weight:bold">After coming back

from the bath acting as if he knew nothing he asked Amarnithiyar to get that

cloth as He was completely wet.

bold">Amaranithuiyar rushed to the place to find the cloth missing. Tensed he

searched thoroughly but how can he find that when the Heart-stealer stole that off

too!!! Feeling guilty, brought another fine cloth, begged His pardon and said

he had brought a cloth which was very nicely woven, He should accept and

forgive him.

font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:purple;font-weight:bold">Did that Lord who

gave all the covetable wealth to

font-weight:bold;font-style:normal">Kuberan

font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:purple;font-weight:bold"> came to accept that

white cloth ? What He wanted to clad was the white heart of Amarnithi

Nayanar to exhibit to the world his in-equable service!!!

bold">He like a jumping flame shouted that Nayanar was trying to steal his

invaluable cloth and wondered how honest was his trade. Shivering devotee fell

on that Bachelor's feet and said he would give gems and jewels to compensate

for that cloth.

font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue;font-weight:bold">He refused and said He

would accept only cloth that is equivalent of it. When Nayanar asked how he

could give the equivalent cloth he lost, the devotee in disguise said whatever

the wet cloth He was wearing right then was the equivalent of the one he lost.

So he asked Nayanar to give the cloths equal to the weight of it.

font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue;font-weight:bold">Agreeing to His

suggestion Nayanar placed a balance instrument there. He put the other cloth of

the direction-cladded Lord in one plate and on the other he kept on adding

neatly woven cloths. Whatever he put into the balance he couldn’t get it

baklanced as the plate with the cloth of the Bachelor weighed more. Surprised

he ordered to put all the new garment bags to balance. That pile was not able

to equate the magic cloth. Scared he asked permission from the Lord to put his

gems and other wealth too. He told that somehow He wanted things to be

equivalent of His cloth. Amarnithiyar piled all his wealth. Nothing happened.

bold">What can be equivalent of the cloth of Vedas that the Lord wears in the

entire world? Even the whole worlds may not match it !

bold">Everything he had was placed. Now nothing left the true devotee who stood

strong in serving the devotees asked permission to put himself, his wife and

son to compensate.

font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:purple;font-weight:bold">The Lord who shows

the path to climb out of the ocean of tidal sweets and sufferings allowed them

to climb on the balance.

font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue;font-weight:bold">Feeling blessed, he

with his son and wife circumambulated the balance where the Lord's cloth was

there and said, "If it is true that in the purity of love we did not fault

in the God's Holy Ash's honest slavery then it should come to balance." He

chanting the Lord's Holy Five letters (Na Ma Shi Va Ya)

got on the plate over the piles of his wealth.

10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:purple;font-weight:bold">The wholeness

of love and dedication brought the instrument to a balance. The world wondered.

The heavenly bodies praised. The devotee who was making all the fuss about a

simple cloth vanished. Instead the Lord of Vedas who showed the balance of Amarnithi

Nayanar’s heart to the whole world appeared with His inseparable consort

Shakti on the Holy Bull in the Horizon and blessed the devotee and His family who

were standing on the plate of the balance. For the deserving devotee who

used all the worldly wealth for His service He gave the wealth of being with

Him forever. With the plate becoming the heavenly carrier to the abode of

Lord Shiva in Kailaya that gifted family reached the abode with the prostration

of all the people.

font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">

font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:green;font-weight:bold">Let the determination

in doing a flawless service for which Amarnithiyar was ready to give himself

stay in the mind!!!!

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