Periyapuranam (20 - Part (iv))

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Sai

Ram Brothers & Sisters

 

This

is the continuation of the “Periyapuranam

Series”…………………..

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10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue">20. THIRUNAVUKKARACHU

NAYANAR (Part iv)

font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue">In his continuing pilgrimage to various

holy abodes of Lord Shiva, Appar accompanied the child prodigy Sambandar and

both holy sages had the opportunity to dip themselves in the nectar of the

Divine love and illustrated the Greatness of the Supreme to the whole world. As

few of these happenings have already been provided

under Sambandar’s life story, they are not repeated here.

font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue">After worshiping Thirumaraikkadu Appar wanted

to worship the Lord of Thiruvilimilalai again. He went there saluting the

shrine in

font-style:normal">Nagappattinam. From Thiruvilimilalai

he went to

font-style:normal">Thiruvavaduthurai sang

the grace of God and proceeded to Palaiyarai.

There the Jains obscured the very old abode

of the Lord and claimed the place to be theirs. The humble but cannot be

humbled, the courteous but not coward, fighting for the justice but not

adopting violence as the default way, the soft but determined sage sat in fast

next to the shrine saying he would not leave till he gets to worship the

Omnipresent Almighty who is taken abode there.

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

appeared in the dream of the king and instructed him the location where the

Jains have hid the abode

color:blue">. Awakened in surprise the King

rushed with his men to the site following the marks told by the Lord and

removed all the barricades raised by the Jains. Saluting the sage the king made

a nice altar with tower. Then the victorious valiant sage worshiped the God who

can not be obscured.

font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue;font-weight:bold">He traveled on the

banks of the river

"Comic Sans MS";font-style:normal">Kaveri worshiping

the Lord in the abodes on both the banks and doing his great service with the

hand plow and proceeded towards Thiruppainynyili.

The journey was tiring making him thirsty, hungry and fatiguous - the three

major recurring physical deficiencies to quench which the human strives hard.

The sage holding the feet of the Absolute with non falling spirit went ahead on

his way of determination to Thiruppainynyili

color:blue">.

bold">Can the Mercy on the mountains who responded even to the cry of the

piglets, bear the trouble of His truthful slave undergoing? He appeared in the

form of an ash smeared chanter of Vedas on his way with food waiting for the

devotee to arrive. He told him to have the food He has, drink the chill water

from the pond nearby and come out of fatigue.

font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue;font-weight:bold">Appar ate the food quenched

his thirsty felt pleasant. The Lord in disguise asked him where he was proceeding?

When Appar replied that he was going to Thiruppainynili,

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"Comic Sans MS";color:purple;font-weight:bold">the Lord in disguise said He too

is going there and accompanied him.

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bold">As they reached Thiruppainynili the Lord disappeared.

font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue"> The

sage stricken with wonder and admiration fell on the feet of the Lord of Thiruppainynyili

to praise the immense grace He showed for him.

font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue">He traveled towards north and had

dharshan of many of the holy abodes including Thiruvannamalai, Mother

of the Universe at

"Comic Sans MS";font-style:normal">Thirukkachchi Ekampam, and many others.

He went ahead to salute the golden haired Lord's abode at Thirukkalaththi where

He showed the greatness of simple love of the hunter devotee Kannappa

Nayanar. (whose life story was given under the Part 1 of

this series). Yearning to see the beautiful and holy most abode of the Lord Kailasham

he continued his journey towards north. He worshiped the

font-style:normal">Thirupparuppadham (Shri

Shailam), traveled then in the states Karnataka, Maharashtra,

Madhya Pradhesh and arrived finally in

normal">Varanasi. He saluted

the Lord in Varanasi

with whole hearted devotion. Leaving back the

other pilgrims there he continued his pilgrimage to mount Kailash.

font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue;font-weight:bold">He proceeded to the

Himalayan forests where even Devas would be afraid to go alone. In those days

when there was no proper means of transport for traveling such a long distance

- thousands of kilometers - will be considered to be an achievement. He

traveled in the rough and tough surfaces of the mountains neither with

anybody's help nor with any vehicle to carry him

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color:red;font-weight:bold">All he had was only two things. One was DEVOTION and

the other was DETERMINATION.

color:blue;font-weight:bold"> By walking day and night his feet were worn

out, but his eagerness to worship the Lord with His consort on the mount was

not. When his feet failed to carry him, he used his hands to leap forward to

continue his journey. When his wrists were broken after some, He didn’t

worry , with an undiminishing love he crept forward by dragging his body. The

bones in his chest broke, and the flesh started coming out and he couldn’t

drag his body any further. Even at that situation his determination didn’t

reduce even by the size of a bead. He rolled ahead in his journey towards Him.

The entire body was torn and was not able to roll even. Still he tried to push

his body forward and move.

color:blue"> Immense

is his determination! If one says it as strong as a rock it would exaggerate

the strength of the rock. How many of us have such a strong devotion and

determination towards Lord. Our beloved Swami’s teachings were

practically illustrated by his actions.

color:red">

color:green;font-weight:bold">To Be

Continued……………………..

color:blue">Sai Ram

color:blue">Shivathmika

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