logo

|

Home >

devotees >

thirunyanachampandha-nayanar-part-IV-the-bag-of-radiant-gold

Tirugnana Sambandha Nayanar History - part IV (The Bag of Radiant Gold)

Thirugnana Sambandhar getting Porkizhi at Thiruvavaduthurai

After worshipping the Lord Triyambaka at Tiruirumpulai, Sambandhar sang about the enchanting Lord at Aradhaipperumpazhi, Tirucherai, Tirunalur, Kudavayil, Tirupputhur, Shivapuram, Tirukudamukku (Kumbakonam), Kudandai Kizhkkottam, Kudandai Karonam, Tirunageshwaram, Tiruvidaimarudur, Kurangaduthurai and then reached Tiruavavaduthurai, where the Lord was propitiated by the continuous stream of milk of cows. At this time, his father required money to perform a Vedic yaga. Sambandhar being his son felt that it was his duty to support his father with money for a holy purpose. For devotees who renounce all material desires, the only treasure is the pair of golden feet of the Lord who wanders for alms. Sambandhar, who realized the fact that it was only His holy feet that was the vault of endless wealth, went to the Lord and appealed to Him in a thought-provoking peerless hymn that, "Come whatever may Oh Lord! I will continue to bow down to Your holy feet. Even if there is  nothing for us, it is but your kind blessing." The Lord who is called Ashutosha, for getting pleased easily, delighted at Gnana Sambandhar’s devotion, sent a Bhuta to place a bag of thousand brilliant gold coins at the altar of the temple. Adoring His grace and thanking the Lord, he gave the bag to his father to perform the holy sacrifice for Lord Rudra in a grand manner. He bowed down to the Lord, who bent the mountain as a bow of yore, at Tirukozhambam, Vaikalmadakkoyil, Tirunallam, Tiruvazhundur, Turuti, Muvalur, Tirumayiladuturai, Chemponpalli, Vilanagar, Pariyalur, Tiruvettakkudi and reached Dharmapuram.

Dharmapuram was the town of Tirunilakanta Yazhpanar's mother. Yazhpanar expressed his happiness at being blessed with the boon of playing the yazh to the pleasing songs of Shivagnana Sambandhar, to his relatives who had come to bow to him. The relatives in their excitement mentioned that it was because of Yazhpanar's music that the songs of Gnana Sambandhar became famous. Appalled to hear this, with his mind disturbed, Yazhpanar saluted to Sambandhar and requested him to sing to prove to the world that the melody in his Tirupadikam was beyond the accompaniment of musical instruments. Saluting to the Lord on the holy bull, the scholar of Sirkazhi, sang the padikam “madar madappidiyum” that is beyond earthly music. Yazhpanar tried to perform the song on his yazh, as usual, but found the music of the song beyond the limits of a string instrument. Afraid, Yazhpanar was about to break the instrument as repentance for the events. The devotee who received gold cymbals from the Lord Himself, Tirugnana Sambandhar stopped and took the yazh from him saying, "The limitless grace of the Infinite Lord is not within the reach of this instrument. So please do not break it. Play whatever is possible with these instruments." Music is only a support for devotion. In the absence of devotion music will not lead to salvation. The relatives realizing this repented and saluted to Tirugnana Sambandhar and Tirunilakanta Yazhpanar. The two Nayanars stayed in the town for some time blessing them. Then Sambandhar with Yazhpanar and other devotees proceeded to worship the Lord of Tirunallaru. Diving in the ocean of His grace, he sang “bogamartha punmulaiyal” with the music that could be pleasantly played by the yazh. When Sambandhar asked Yazhpanar to play it on the yazh after he sang to the rhythm of the cymbals, Yazhpanar - the great musician, performed it with devotion and all the people there were completely entranced by the music.

With the Luminant Lord in his mind, the devotee, moved ahead to pray to Him at Tiruchathamangai where the loving devotee Tirunilanakka Nayanar welcomed him in the traditional auspicious way. They bowed down to the Lord to whom Mount Meru bowed low. They accepted the hospitality of Tirunilanakkar and stayed there to worship at the nearby abodes. From there, Sambandhar went onto praise God at Nagaikaronam and Kizhvelur. Coming to know about the arrival of the prodigy, Senkattankudi Sirutonda Nayanar welcomed and hosted the devotees in his town. Sambandhar sang about the Supreme Who had taken abode at the Ganapatishwaram temple there.

Thirugnana Sambandhar giving life to mechant at Thirumarugal
Thirugnana Sambandhar getting Porkizhi at Thiruvavaduthurai

With the desire to salute the Lord of Tirumarugal, Sambandhar reached and stayed there worshipping the Lord. One night a young merchant came with a young lady and stayed in the inn next to the temple. The father of the girl had previously assured the merchant that he would give one of his daughters in marriage to him. But being greedy, the father, for money, had got six of his seven daughters married to others. His youngest daughter, pitying the merchant’s position, came away from home with him. That night the merchant was bitten by a snake and he died. The hapless young girl cried, but nobody was there to help. The Sun rose on the eastern horizon amidst her wailing. The girl did not want to live without him and cried out to the Lord for help. "Oh Lord, who stopped the awful poison in the throat for the Universe! Oh Lord, who kicked Death to death for the young seer!". The Lord was there to help and so the compassionate Sambandhar heard the girl sobbing while he was coming to worship at the temple. He could not ignore her piteous laments. He comforted her and heard the details. He prayed to the Embodiment of Mercy, the Lord, to take pity on the girl and bless her by singing a hymn stating her state. His prayer that was always fruitful brought the merchant back to life. The child saint initiated them into the fruitful path of married life. 

Meanwhile, Sirutonda Nayanar came to Tirumarugal to request Tirugnana Sambandhar to come again to Tiruchenkattankudi. Together they worshipped the Lord of Tirumarugal before proceeding. Lord Nilakantha showed his form as is at Ganapatishwaram temple of Tiruchenkattankudi, at Thirumarugal itself  - ash smeared, shining in green with red entangled-hair adorned with the crescent and the foaming river flowing down. An excited Sambandhar expressed that grand feeling by singing “angamum vedamum”. He stayed at Thiruchengattankudi accepting the wonderful hospitality of Siruthondar. Then out of the desire to see the Lord of Pumpugalur, he went there. Greeted by Muruga Nayanar at Pumpugalur, he praised the Lord with sweet songs. Staying at Muruga Nayanar's monastery, he saluted the Lord at Varthamanishwaram and sang hymns full of meaning that would lead the world in the direction of the Truth. The king of purifying words Tirunavukarasu Nayanar, desirous to worship the Lord of Pumpugalur, came there. Hearing about the arrival of that great sage, the child of God with overwhelming love came forward from the town to welcome him. The two remarkable devotees with mutual admiration saluted each other in humbleness and inquired each other's well-being. 

Sambandhar enquired about the famed Tiruvarur from where Vagesha was coming from. Enraptured by Tirunavukarasu’s description of the festival of Tiruvadrai, he was eager to visit Tiruvarur. Taking leave of Tirunavukarasu, he went to Tiruvarur. On the way he bowed down to the Lord at Virkudi Virattam. Singing praises of the Lord of Tiruvarur throughout his journey to the holy abode of Lord, he was welcomed by a huge number of Vedic brahmins and devotees to a beautifully decorated town. The ardent devotee first saluted the Devashraya hall and then proceeded to see the Shiva who had taken abode in an anthill at that temple. He prostrated in front of that form of the Lord so many times with the joy of seeing Him, arising from the bottom of the heart. Letting his mind be pervaded by His grace, he went and praised the Lord of Tiruvarur Araneri. He stayed there in that town, where the Lord resides in the anthill, for many days. While staying there, he went to worship the Lord at Valivalam and Kolili. Then he wanted to return to be with Appar and so he left Tiruvarur reminding himself of the unforgettable Lord of Tiruvarur. Saluting the Lord at Panaiyur and many other abodes along the way, he reached Pumpugalur.

< PREV <    
part III (The Pearl shade)
> NEXT >    
part V  (Gold everyday)

 

See also:  
1. Thirunilakanta Yazpanar  
2. Thirunilanakka nayanar  
3. Chiruththonda nayanar  
4. Muruga nayanar   
5. Thirunavukkarasu nayanar   
6. Thiruvadhirai festival

 

Related Content

Drive Away My Fear

Music Beyond Instrument

Get firm devotion - the Glorious wealth

Drive away my fear

சர்ப்பதோஷம் நீங்க