|
Home > Devotees > 63 Nayanmar Stories
kazaRiRRaRivAr (cheramAn perumAL) nAyanAr - Part I
In the Kerala famous for its giant elephants with long sharp tusks
was the ancient chEra kingdom situated. The city holified with
thiruvanychaikkaLam the abode of the Lord on the bull was the
capital of the kingdom called koduN^kOLUr. Above the roar of the
sea that sprinkles its water into that beautiful terrain, sounds the melody
of various instruments that serve the musical thirst of those people. The
mutts spread across the city spread the fragrance of the shaiva path. In
that ancient capital of chEras because of the excess of austerity the family
of chErAs and this world did perumAkkOdhaiyAr was born. He grew for
growing the love of saivism in the world. His only intention being involving
himself in the thoughts of the Golden dancing feet, he did not bother to take
up the rightful royal throne but spent his days only in the service of the
Lord of thiruvanychaikkaLam. Rising like the sun in the dawn always
thinking the Supreme's glory would have a dip in the water and the dip in the
holy Ash, from the temple bring the fresh, fragrant, blooming, colorful
flowers to make lovely garlands for the Charming Lord, bring the water clean
as his heart for the holy bathing of the God, clean the abode, wash the
floors, do all the services required and sing His fame putting himself
completely into it, he served the Lord who wears for His holy feet the
flowers of His slaves' love.
One day the virtuous king of the land cheN^kOR poRaiyan
left the throne to lead and austerous life. The caring ministers of the
royal throne after analyzing decided the best one to govern the empire
would be perumAkkOdhaiyAr. When they went to him requesting to
take up the royal crown, he felt it as a hindrance to the holy service he
was doing and went to his King sitting in that abode to know His order.
The Prime Lord blessed him to be the emperor of the state giving him the
boons of His loveful worship, the power to know all the thoughts of anybody
or anything (hence he is called kazaRiRRaRivAr), great valor and
charity, army and carriers and others required for the king. On the day when
the stars and planets were in auspicious positions the slave of the Lord
was crowned the emperor of chEra kingdom. The king of impartial justice
kazaRiRRaRivAr saluting Lord shiva at thiruvanychaikkaLam
came on the royal elephant around the town with the privileged fanning him
with veNchAmaram. A Washerman was coming in front of the procession.
His body was covered in white lime. On seeing him n^AyanAr felt the form of
the Ash smeared devotees and at once he got down from the elephant to salute
the washerman with folded hands. The washerman shocked and shivering said,
"I, your slave, am a washerman." The great wonderful king who stood on the
peak of love replied, "I, the slave, chEra, your slave." He reminded the king
of the holy form of devotees, n^AyanAr continued and asked the washerman to
ahead with an undisturbed mind. The ministers and the people praised that
emperor of devotion with folded hands. He reached the palace amidst the
flower rain. Along with the other two emperors chOza, pANdiya the
splendid chEra emperor ruled the land in the luminance of Holy Ash.
chEramAn perumAL started worshiping the Dancing Lord with
holy anointing, floral decoration, fragrant sandal pasting, showing the smoke
of pleasant smell, light salutations and food offerings. The Lord accepting
his worship used to make sound from His golden leg anklet everyday. Getting
His grace the chEra king ruling the kingdom with charity and justice did
many rites that hail the Lord of bull flag. In the capital of pANdiya
kingdom madhurai there was a musician by name baththiranAr
The Charming Lord of beauty, the Hold of the slaves, wanted to shower gold
and gems to the devotee baththiranAr driving away his poverty. He,
whose fame can not be completed by even the goddess of speech, who is sung
by the devotees to be blessed with materials to bliss, wrote a poem
addressing the chEra king and gave it to the musician asking him to collect
huge wealth from the chEra king. (This poem is the first one in the eleventh
thirumuRai - AlavAyudaiyAr thirumukappAchuram). baththiranAr hailing the
saN^ga Poet who blessed him with that song went to chEramAn perumAL.
On hearing the news n^AyanAr with his folded hand kept on the head, tears of
joy wetting his cheeks and the floor, the body shivering in excitement came
running all the way through his palace to fall and hold the feet of
baththiranAr. The musician gave the letter of God in all salutations to the
emperor. The blessed king who received a poem addressed to him by the Lord
Himself lost the consciousness of the world, danced in ecstasy, words came
stammering.
He respectfully took and read the poem. He ordered the ministers to
stack all the precious material available in the exchequer. The ministers
also sincerely brought and piled gems, gold and valuable materials. He showed
the heaps to baththiranAr and requested him to accept those along with
elephants, horses and his royal throne itself !! But the other devotee who
was interested in singing the Lord sOmasun^dharEshwara in the with
the seven scales of music accepted only the things he required and pleaded
him to take back the kingdom and the royal belongings. Taking the wealth he
needed the musician proceeded towards madhurai on an elephant of
giant tusks wishing good bye to the emperor who stood exemplifying
friendliness. (This incident is narrated in thiruviLaiyAdaL purANam also (1)
). The chEra emperor continued his golden rule to the glory of His graceful
feet. The other two emperors of the thamiz land chOza, pANdiya
maintained good relationship with him and the land was peaceful.
kazaRiRRaRivAr n^AyanAr - part II (Friendship with the Lord's friend)
See Also:
1. thiruviLaiyAdal purANam - thirumukaN^ koduththa padalam
|
|