Vaidyanathan shares with us an incident that reveals the ‘Foresightedness’ of Maha Periyava who has been the Living God. He is the Secretary for Sankara Bhakta Jana Sabha. Right from his childhood, he was under the radar of Maha Periyava .
Let us view his experience as an interesting story.
That was a dawn in the month of March. The cool breeze which started in January was still flowing. It was pitch dark and a palanquin procession with the torch lamp was proceeding enroute the shore of a river. First, it was the palanquin followed by the followers’ crowd, followed by elephants, horse, camel families. This was the sequence…. This group crossed Maayanur, Harischandrapuram, Thittacheri and when it reached a place called Naththam, there was a sound emanating from the strike of Dhandam (the stick held by Maha Periyava ) against the palanquin. The procession came to a grind halt.
There was a Ganesha temple. And from there were two ways leading to the left and right side. As per the plan, it was decided to take the left side from the main road and then continue the travel. But again there was a sound (Dhandam knocking the palanquin doors) from inside of the palanquin. So Mali, a devotee could understand that it was an indication for them to take a right turn instead. Accordingly, the procession was heading towards right side from the main road.
One of the devotees skeptically enquired, “This seems to be the route towards Manmangalam”.
When we get an indication and order that we need to follow a particular path, we should necessarily take that path. It will for sure have a Cause Effect. As Mali was saying so, no question was raised from anybody else.
Manmangalam village has not yet awaken. A lady from that house came out, lit an earthern lamp in the threshold of the house. Immediately after that she went to the nearby Lord Venkateshwara (Perumal) temple and lit one more lamp at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum and came back to her home and started sweeping and cleaning the house entrance with water. At the same time, she heard some sound from a marching procession and was surprised after seeing. She was taken aback on seeing such a huge procession with elephants and horses in that village.
Exactly when the procession was near the lady’s house, there was a sound from inside the palanquin. The Palanquin was made to halt there. It has been declared in so many epics and stories that a flower booms on seeing the sun. Such a anugraham was experienced really that day by the Manmangalam village.
The Divine Lotus who has surrendered to the Supreme Lord, by way of body, words, deeds and thoughts, slowly opened the curtain of the palanquin to show His face. Only after that, the Sun God, with the idea of not delaying further, unveiled the curtain of clouds, showered his rays on the entire village and touched and worshipped the lotus feet of the Divine Lotus.
Yes, the village had been well deserving and virtuous to have received such a Grace. The Divine Lotus (Maha Periyava ) has touched the village and blessed it by affirming the feet on the village.
The lady who was cleaning her house entrance with water, never expected such a Divine Darshan. For a moment she was stand still, but in a few minutes she came back to normal, immediately went inside her house and informed her husband. On hearing this, he at once took bath quickly, applied sacred ash and at the same time the lady has kept a pot filled with water and Arathi (camphor to circumambulate Maha Periyava ) ready.
The couple washed the holy feet with the pot water, took Arathi, prostrated and welcomed Maha Periyava . In a few minutes, the house entrance balcony was cleaned and rangoli was done. Maha Periyava sat down there.
In the meantime, the sounds of elephant and horse families made the entire village awake and all the people of the village surrounded the lady’s house. There was huge gathering around the house with plates full of fresh fruits, flower garlands to worship Maha Periyava . The camels and elephants were taken to the river shore and the devotees of Maha Periyava were given the necessary hospitality for the stay and food.
“How did Periyava happen to come to this place”? the question was being asked by almost everyone. They had a doubt that without prior information, all of a sudden He will not usually plan to come from Sri Madam to this village.
“The plan was actually go towards Nedungarai. But Periyava ordered us to come to this place. We came as per the order. There must be an important reason for this”. So replied Vaidyanathan.
Maha Periyava was in silence for the past two days. Anytime he might come out of that mode. The village people felt that had they known in advance that Periyava was visiting their village, they would have welcomed Periyava from the borders of the village with all due respects with Poorna Kumbham. But only He knew what the Divine Will was.
Everyone had bath, performed puja and the lunch was also done. Maha Periyava partook only dry grapes and milk. For others, they were served feast from the villagers’ homes with Banana leaf and they had Porridge, papad etc. The news spread so fast that even the neighbouring villagers started coming to that village to have Darshan of Maha Periyava . The mid-March marked the completion of all the harvests and so the village heads and the main business people could make it for the Darshan. The village people offered whatever they brought for Maha Periyava , like lotus flowers, tender coconuts, banana stem etc. and sought His blessings. An old day brought some paddy that was earned as her daily wage. She put the entire paddy stuff in front of Maha Periyava and offered her namaskarams (prostration) to Him. One should see her face that time…such an ecstasy and happiness! The whole balcony was filled with gifts and offerings.
There were lot of things the village people had that they wanted to discuss with Maha Periyava. Cases like delay in marriage, obstacles in construction house, problems in property division and share. This way everyone had a problem and each of them put forth his problem to Maha Periyava. There was no sign of improvement in the caste system in the North. Blood was flooding like a river. Only Maha Periyava should bring in peace. So many problems like these were discussed.
Maha Periyava didn’t speak, but was listening to all these silently. He lifted his Hands and blessed everyone. He gave away some Basil leaves, lemons to some of them. Time was ticking. Periyava’s silence was still not broken. Suddenly He called up Mali and conveyed something through his body language. He was forming some shapes with His hands like Lingam and Temple tower and looked like He was asking for where do they find them in this village.
Mali could interpret that. Mali asked the villagers, “Where is the Shiva temple in this village?” there was no response from anyone in that village for his question.
Among the villagers, an old man said, “There is a Vishnu temple here. Apart from that, there is a Devi temple and Ayyanar (Village God for Protection) temple. There is a Ganesha temple in the village border. That’s all. We are not sure if Shiva temple is here.” When an old man who was 90 years didn’t know about the details of Shiva temple, nobody else in the village will happen to know!
Maha Periyava again asked something through his body language. If Vishnu temple is there is the upper part of the village, there should have been definitely a Shiva temple in the lower part of the village. It would have been there for sure. But at present there is no Shiva temple. The villagers were not sure if that existed in the past. Everyone was silent.
During this conversation, there came an Islamic couple. The man introduced himself as Latif Bai and his wife as Meharunnisa. They offered 2 bunches of banana clusters and rose flowers that they brought along with them, to Maha Periyava.
The Moving God saw the couple from head to toe. The Islamic couple were lost in the divine feeling that was caused by the compassionate looks of those Divine Eyes. But then, the Islamic man came back to his normal state from that blissful state and started conversing. His conversation revealed a wonderful information.
Some centuries back there was a Shiva temple in that village. As years passed by, the temple got deteriorated and got buried inside the land. The land was occupied by many of them and now finally it is in the possession of Latif Bai.
When my dad was taking care of Durgah lands during his time, he also took lease of some temple lands and started cultivation. He is very honest that he doesn’t give any less even a brass glass of the cultivation. He conducted himself in such a manner that he believed that Shiva’s property will destroy one’s lineage. I am happy that God Has given me the same honesty, belief and conduct. But what to do? The only daughter born to us was mentally challenged and she passed away 10 years back.
I thought that knowingly or unknowingly we have committed some sin and we consoled ourselves thinking that is the reason Allah Has punished us this way. Time passed so quickly. Yesterday I was doing some work in the backyard in the sand. I heard a strange noise when I hit the sand with the ploughing device. When I carefully took the sand aside and looked inside, there was a huge Shiva Linga. I didn’t get sleep, the whole of that night. We were worried and praying Allah as to what to do with that. When it dawned, the people around were speaking about your visit to this village. Immediately we came here. Only Maha Periyava Has to guide us on what to do beyond this.
“Whole heartedly I will give off my land. I don’t need any money in return. We can construct Shiva temple as it was before. If that helps the villagers and if they feel happy for that, it will make Allah happy!” Saying this the old man was speaking emotionally with tears in his eyes and he also did one more thing.
“Please accept our share of Rs.101/- for constructing the temple. Kindly accept this as a first resource”. So saying the old man gave this money in a plate along with betel leaves and nuts. Everyone around was taken aback and dumb found.
So far Maha Periyava had been listening all these silently and smilingly He asked something to the old man through his actions. Since the old man could not understand that, he brought a slate and a chalk piece and handed over to Maha Periyava. He wrote in the slate asking the old man if he has finished his Mecca pilgrimage.
After reading that the Islamic old man replied that he has still not done that and he further added that Allah Has still not given them the financial aid to undertake the pilgrimage. He also told with tear filled eyes that even after planning for so many years, they have still not got the fortune of visiting Mecca Madina.
Immediately Maha Periyava turned to the side of Vaidyanathan and indicated in an enquiring mode, “Such an elevated person has agreed to offer the land. Shouldn’t we help them with something? He also conveyed what needs to be done further. Vaidyanathan conveyed Maha Periyava’s intention and desire to the villagers around there.
On hearing that, the entire village unanimously agreed to what had been proposed. They said, “we will bear the entire expenses of their pilgrimage”. The couple’s joy knew no bounds. Maha Periyava then blessed the Islamic couple and also all the villagers around there.
Thereafter, Maha Periyava slowly got up and took the Dhandam that was leaning against a wall. He got into the palanquin and sat inside that. Again smiled at the villagers and blessed them.
The procession family followed the palanquin and proceeded further. Mahalingam who was part of the procession, said, “I understand only now, why Maha Periyava decided to stop into this village.” Without reason, there is no effect. Maha Periyava ’s every
action has a strong reason.
Two divyadesams are inside Kamakshi and Ekambareswarar temple
action has a strong reason.
Two divyadesams are inside Kamakshi and Ekambareswarar temple
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