Periyapuranam 44 to 63

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font-weight:bold">Sai Ram Brothers & Sisters

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font-weight:bold">This is the continuation of the “Periyapuranam

Series”………………… With this part the

series comes to an end. The stories of last 20 nayanmars (attached in the word

document) were given together in a brief form as their life stories are either

narrated as part of some other nayanar’s life account or their life closely

depicts another nayanar’s life. Hope this series would have enlightened

me and you through the devotion, determination and service that glorified the

lives of these great saints who lived for Lord, served the Lord and merged with

the Lord.

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10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:windowtext;font-weight:bold">SYNOPSIS

OF PERIYA PURANAM

font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue;font-weight:bold">Periya Puranam is the

epic work of Sekkilhar. He has researched, written and extolled the lives of

all 63 Nayanmars (saints) in the 12th century AD. Sekkilhar was a

minister in the royal court of the Cholha King. His conviction in the Saivaite

philosophy was so deep that he quit his job and indulged in religious activities.

In particular Sekkilhar adored the devotion of Suntharar and his compilation of

“Thiruth Thondat Thokai” in which a brief sketch was available on

most of the Nayanmar. 62 saints who lived their lives, expressing their

devotion to Lord Shiva, (considered to be one of the supreme manifestations of

divinity and the most ancient of Gods held in worship in the Indian tradition)

were honored in Tirutondattogai, a Tamil work by Sundaramoorthy Nayanar, the 63rd

of these saints in the famed Tyagaraja temple at Tiruvarur. Tirugnanasambandar,

Tirunavukkarasar and Sundaramoorthy Nayanaar constitute the Thevaram trinity.

Sambandar, Appar and Sundarar undertook long pilgrimages visiting Shiva temples

in existence then, singing of their glory in chaste Tamil verse. The number of

Shiva temples that have been sung by these saints are 275. But, please note

that only 274 of the 275 shrines have been traditionally referred to as Paadal

Petra Stalams (means temples that were praised by the saints in their hymns).

The 275th, Tiruvidaivaai was discovered only in 1917, with

Sambandar’s patikam dedicated to it engraved on its walls. This patikam

is not a part of the works of Sambandar traditionally associated with the Tamil

tirumurais.

color:#003300;font-weight:bold">Before concluding the series lets look at what Swami

says about the “Puranams” in His own words!!!

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10.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua";color:navy;font-weight:bold">“Now,

about the Puranas. “Puranam pranjali kshanam.” That is to say, the

Puranas deal with historical incidents of Creation and Evolution. The incidents

are so chosen and narrated that they provide illustrations of basic philosophic

truths. The Puranas were composed to expound the teachings of the Veda and

Vedanta to the common man through interesting mythological and legendary tales.

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language of the Vedas is very ancient and it contains many archaic elements of

grammar and vocabulary. Even great scholars find it difficult to discover the

age when the Rks were formulated. But the Puranas were composed in the language

that was current and that was easily understood at the time. What we now know

as the Sanskrit language is the language of the Puranas. Not only scholars but

even ordinary folk could easily follow that language when the Puranas were

written.

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"Book Antiqua";color:navy;font-weight:bold">The Puranas have historical

narratives of Divine Personages, great Rulers and Dynasties; and the fortunes

of kingdoms and communities. Through them all can be seen shining examples of

Dharma and expositions of spiritual principles.”

 

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10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";font-weight:bold">Taken from “Sathya Sai

Vahini” – Chapter 12 : Values In Later Texts (Page 99 – 100)

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Sai Ram

 

Shivathmika

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