Thirumangai Azhwar at Nagapattinam(A divine pastime)
Azhwar was overjoyed for the kainkaryam ( services ) Lord bestowed on him. He invited all his friends to discuss the means to achieve this gigantic task of modeling the temple. One relative who was his own brother-in-law Yatirasan suggested visiting Nagapatnam for he heard that there was a priceless golden deity of Buddha. The information was welcomed with absolute joy and all were accepted in one tone to proceed to Nagapatinam. Arriving at Nagapatinam Azhwar set about to enquire about the place. Fortunately, a goodly woman made him understand it was a secret and she was told by her mother-in-law the whereabouts of the place but it had such secret passages and mechanical contrivances which were difficult for strangers to reach. However, the architect lived out in the sea on a small island. Azhwar along with his men took a boat and proceeded to the shores of the island and discovered the Architects residence. Azhwar planned something different to extract more about that dwelling. Azhwar along with his men would loiter near his house as if way farmers met and exchanged intelligence of other countries and ensured the architect was listening. They would wait for him to dine and stroll for a walk. Looking at him, they started …Oh my friends !! what fate has fallen on Nagapatinam? What a fall of gloom over the temple… You know the temple has been reduced to dust by the invading mighty Turks. And that golden Buddha has been stolen by those ruffians. How sad …. And am afraid of what is more to come.
This information was heard by the Architect. The Architect was shell-shocked. He never expected this calamity. He shed tears and came running and said ..It cannot be possible. Is it that easy to move that whirling wheel at the main entrance … and that secret chain hanging from that top of the tower and invisible where a pin is hidden under the stone pavement under which that Go mukhee waters drop? Impossible. It was my design …How can that be possible to enter the temple which has zig zag entrances bringing the person confusion except for the one who takes the path which is circular and has an underground entrance seeming to look like pavement ..and he went On… even If he enters how will he walk into those invisible stairs looking like a painting …he lamented …. The Azhwars detectives learned all the clues by looking at each other secretly and laughing in their sleeves as their project was opening up with more information. They thanked them internally for his lamentation and approached him. Take heart Oh good soul they consoled him. Why must you cry over the spoilt milk .. Be cool ..Go home and relax. We bid goodbye to you ..Thank you and take care said the detectives of Azhwar
Azhwar was briefed and they chalked up a strategy. They arrived at the seashore and saw a huge ship laden with areca nuts about to be displaced to Nagapatinam. A merchant was busy weighing the loads. Dressed as mendicants they approached him, blessed him, and asked him to give them a passage without any fare. He gladly accepted. En route on their traveling, Azhwar was seated near loads of Areca nuts. Azhwar took a full nut, cut it into two halves, and dropping one half said to the merchant who was watching. Sir .. Will you let me have my half the nut on the arrival at the destination? Certainly said the Merchant. Azhwar smiled and said. Please give me a written chit what you said. The chit HALF the nut is yours … was handed over to Azhwar.
On arriving at the harbor at Nagapatinam, Azhwar claimed half the load of areca nuts. The merchant remonstrated but Azhwar challenged. An appeal was put in. But the elders seeing the chit as promised by the merchant to Azhwar favored Azhwar was right. Very puzzled the merchant had to give half the shipload to Azhwar as agreed on the paper. The merchant presumed it was some pre-natal debt with them. He consoled himself and proceeded. Azhwar blessed the merchant and entered Nagapatinam,
They all hid inside the temple enclosure. At midnight they slowly came out for conducting the plan. The heavy pavement stone was located. Slowly they lifted and found the secret pin and walked towards the zig-zag roads and reached that invisible steps. They slowly looked down and released the chain. As they mounted over the tower the cap of which the chain was fastened was now free. Slowly they opened and looking down could see the dazzling gold deity of Buddha almost shining like the sun .. Azhwar seeing the deity exclaimed. Will Buddha, who renunciates everything will be happy to be made in Gold? Foolish fellows … saying he watched closely. There was a teethed whirling wheel that was preventing in approaching the golden deity.
Foolish fellows … saying he watched closely. There was a teethed whirling wheel that was preventing in approaching the golden deity. They brought a number of plantain trunks and cast one after another at the wheel. The bark sticking to the teeth of the wheel got tangled and stopped the movement. Azhwar was looking for a person who can dare to go in and complete the formalities but must be quick. His brother-in-law volunteered to get in. Yatiraja got down and when he put his hands on the deity it escaped and ran in a circular motion. Yatirasan was sweating and he somehow managed to drop his sweat on the deity thus polluting the deity's mantra siddhi. The mantra power that gave the deity this motion vanished with Yatirajan throwing his sweat over the deity.
He clutched the deity and hoisted it up in the aperture for Azhwar to pick it up easily from the gopuram tower. Azhar lifted the deity and next pulled up Yathirajan. But low… he couldn’t pass through that hole as it was too small. But in the process, put his head and the rest part of the body was hooked into the aperture as the hole was too small.
Azhwar was confused. Oh Rangaaaaaa
He said.. my dear what Am I supposed to do now…you are stuck in this hole ..Though the mission is accomplished can't leave you like his … And how will I go without you?
But I must go and must serve Lord Ranga as per HIS command … but at what cost?
Rangaaa.. What is this litmus test ??
Yatiraja saw his brother-in-law. And said. Please don’t forget the divine command …Have you forgotten your mission on earth And is not our life on earth for lightning duration Is not the divine service our only purpose of life … Is not this body perishable, subject to hunger disease, and a series of calamities? Is it not but a stinking mixture of flesh and nerve and blood and bones. My time has come to pass out of this dismal prison of urine and feces and pass in with a spiritual body to serve the eternal. Please don’t worry. My savior over there will take care. Please don’t feel pity. Please make me HIS victim in this mission. Am I not worth HIS service .. Please ..In this narrow pass please cut this head of mine once and for all and let the mission be accomplished and escape the discovery of this event.
Azhwar with a heavy heart says ..Oh Yathiraja …What will I tell my sister …This is a big test for me …
Holy saint …Please extend your vision beyond matter and all temporal interests … Please cut my head off once and for all. It is dawning already. We may be noticed … Let me be off to HIS eternal world …
Yatiraja saw his brother-in-law. And said. Please don’t forget the divine command …Have you forgotten your mission on earth And is not our life on the earth for lightning duration Is not the divine service our only purpose of life … Is not this body perishable, subject to hunger disease, and a series of calamities? Is it not but a stinking mixture of flesh and nerve and blood and bones. My time has come to pass out of this dismal prison of urine and feces and pass in with a spiritual body to serve the eternal. Please don’t worry. My savior over there will take care. Please don’t feel pity. Please make me HIS victim in this mission. Am I not worth HIS service .. Please ..In this narrow pass please cut this head of mine once and for all and let the mission be accomplished and escape the discovery of this event.
Azhwar with a heavy heart says. Oh Yathiraja …What will I tell my sister …This is a big test for me …
Holy saint …Please extend your vision beyond matter and all temporal interests … Please cut my head off once and for all. It is dawning already. We may be noticed … Let me be off to HIS eternal world … Merciful heaven …This scene unparalleled martyrdom for the cause of the LORD…. All the above was being watched by the gods of the blue celestial. Azhwar quickly came down with Vathirajans head and the golden buddha. The party now laid Vathirajans head on a stretcher covered it as a corpse and ranged themselves into a funeral procession with a fire pot wood and sobbings slipped into the Nagapatinam town as if nothing was noticed. Going far away beyond human sight they deposited Vathirajans head safely in a thicket and carrying the gold deity proceeded on their journey.
Our Divine mother mercy Incarnate who stands as a light to the sun and scent to flower .. Our Sri Ranganayakee the mercy unlimited was embittered in her heart that one of her brave sons should meet such a horrible death. She marched to the chamber of Lord Ranganatha and expostulated with concern… Swamy, How can you be so cruel watching silently such things happening? Have your omniscience and omnipotence taken leave of you? Swamy, Should I remind your valor for bringing back all the Banaras of Sugriva camp after they were dead in the war due to Indrajit's high-handedness?
And did you not bring back your Guru Sandipanis sons from the ocean? Like our Gajendra and Vibhishina, my Yathirajan had no selfish motto except your glory and hence sacrificed his life. Strange indeed are your ways ..Am heartbroken seeing all this …And I cannot accept this and I can accept my child Andal to be made a widow…. I plead I pray grant his life Oh Lord …
The Lord became affected on hearing the pleadings of his tender-hearted consort and summoning Garuda to bid him go to the tower of Budha temple at once and rescue the trunk of Yathirajans body join it with his head and breathe life into it and review their journey.
Garuda was overjoyed to take up the service as he was going to see a martyr for LORDS' cause. He at once flew to the tower reverently lifted the trunk lying there and carried it to where the head lay ..united them and breathed life …
Yathirajaa opened his eyes out of shock and seeing the feathered GarudaAzhwar promptly fell at his feet and learned from him all the events which led to his rebirth …
With tears filed eyes … He said what a sinful creature I am … I have been denied heaven now …. Sobbing uncontrollably he thanked LORD for his abundant mercy … Gardaazhwar simply lifted him and took him near Azhwar and safely dropped him and returned to Srirangam to give a full account to the Supreme Lord
Azhwars joy knew no bounds seeing his brother-in-law. He and his men embraced him. They kissed him, wept with tears of joy, and danced with him …
Our Azhwar said …. What is celestial joy after all joy of serving the Supreme Lord right here in this land of darkness … Our Royalty is here ..Our life is for HIM and HIM only ..No force can stop us from our service to HIM …Maddened without a flush of divine enthusiasm they minded for the night and rose for the next day chanting Rangaaaaa…..
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