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Tirugnana Sambandha Nayanar History - Part V - One Gold Coin a Day


Returning to Pugalur, Tirugnana Sambandhar in the company of the great devotees Tirunavukkarasu, Murugar, Nilanakkar and Sirutondar, stayed at Muruga Nayanar’s monastery for many days experiencing the bliss of conversing only about the Lord, who is always the centre of everything for groups of devotees. Desirous of travelling to other abodes of the Lord, Sambandhar along with Appar continued on their way. Not wanting to miss his company, Sambandhar walked along with Appar on foot during the journey. The sage of love requested him to travel in the pearl palanquin as per the wish of God. Accepting his words, Sambandhar requested Appar to lead the way with the group of all the devotees and he would follow them to the abodes. From that day whenever they were together, Appar would go to the abodes first and Sambandhar would follow in the palanquin. They went to the Almighty's abode at Tiruvambar. Reciting hymns in words as bright as rubies they reached Tirukadavur where the Lord dealt a blow to Death himself. There they enjoyed the excellent selfless service of Kungiliya Kalaya Nayanar. Staying in his monastery, they sang for the Lord of Kadavur Virattam and Kadavur Mayanam. Then they praised the Compassionate Lord of devotees at Tiruvakkur, Miyachur and Pampuranagar with their hearts filled with love. They reached Tiruvizhimizhalai to the warm welcome of the devotees there. 

Bowing down to the Protector who blessed the lotus eyed Mahavishnu at the abode of Tiruvizhimizhalai, they sang many splendid rhythmic, melodic, meaningful and inspiring hymns. During their stay there they visited Triyambaka's abodes at Penu Perunthurai and others nearby. One day, the gracious devotees of Sirkazhi came and requested the child of God to come to Sirkazhi with them. He informed them that he would seek the permission of the Lord of Tiruvizhimizhalai before coming with them to see Lord Tiruthoniyappar. That night Lord Tiruthoniyappar appeared in the dream of Sambandhar and told him that He would appear in the same form that He has in Sirkazhi at the abode-tower of the Vizhimizhalai temple itself. Waking up to that pleasant dream, he went to the temple to behold the form of Tiruthoniyappar at the Vizhimizhalai temple and sang describing the delight of that vision. Then narrating the glorious scene he had witnessed, Sambandhar asked the Vedic brahmins of Sirkazhi to return without him as it was the Lord's grace that directed him to visit various other abodes before returning. 


 

Sambandhar getting golden coin for feeding devotees

At one time, there was a severe drought in the land with rivers drying out, fields going bare, sky deprived of clouds and people starving. Unperturbed in their worship of the Perennial Lord of happiness, but worried about the hurdles the devotees were subject to, the two saints of love prayed to the Lord. In their dreams God appeared and said that though they were beyond the afflictions of nature, for the sake of the other devotees He would leave one gold coin for each of them every day on the temple dais. Hailing the Grace of the Lord, they found a golden coin every day, on the eastern and western sides of the dais. The selfless servitors of God announced a feast at their monasteries daily for all the votaries of the Lord's feet. The dreadful famine faded away for these devotees. In those days of dispelling the worst illness of hunger by their marvellous service and devotion, Sambandhar found that at Appar’s monastery the food was being served earlier and better. He asked his cooks why there was a delay at their monastery. They told him that the gold coin that Appar received was accepted readily by the goldsmiths, whereas his were accepted only after scrutiny for purity and hence the delay. The great young saint thought it was because of the sincere service of the revered sage Appar and prayed to the Lord for him to receive flawless coins. The Lord blessed his modesty with unblemished golden coins from then on, which were readily accepted by the merchants. The two generous Nayanmars continued their peerless service in that town till the torrential rain turned the land green again. They then continued on their pilgrimage and worshipped the Lord at Tiruvanychiyam, Talaiyalankadu, Peruvelur, Sathankudi, Tirukkaraviram, Vilamar, Tiruvarur, Tirukkarayil, Tevur, Tirunellikka, Kaichinam, Tenkur, Tirukkollikadu, kottur, Venturai, Tandalai Nilneri, Tirukkalar and many other temples of the Lord who appears at the call of true devotees.


They arrived at Tirumaraikadu (Vedaranyam) abode of the Lord praised by Vedas. Hearing about the arrival of the two “Suns” in their town, people in preparation for driving away their ignorance, illuminated the town with lamps and flowers. Amidst the hearty welcome, the two saints went to the abode of the Lord of the divine weapon Pashupata. They heard about the main doors at the temple remaining closed ever since the time the Vedas themselves had worshipped the Lord long ago. A small gate being used instead for devotees coming in for regular worship. Sambandhar appealed to Appar to sing a pathigam to open the main doors. As Appar sang the eleventh verse, the door opened to an ocean of wonderstruck devotees. Praising the greatness of the Lord, they went to worship that Great Wonder that sits in the innermost space of devotees' hearts. Falling flat on the ground they saluted God with surging enthusiasm. On coming out, Appar asked the prodigy to sing a pathigam to close the door. As soon as Sambandhar sang one verse in the pathigam, the door locked itself. With Sambandhar and Appar hailing the Lord, the sea of devotees cheered thanking the saints who opened the main doors for regular worship. Not only doors, but also shut ignorant minds are opened to the light of Lord Shiva with their verses! What is not possible for such great devotees who have His Grace in abundance? That night in Tirunavukkarasar's dream, the Lord asked him to come to Tiruvaymur. Excited, the king of Tandaka (type of verse formation) followed the Lord’s command. Coming to know that Appar had gone to Tiruvaymur, Sambandhar went there too. Then the Lord blessed them with the vision of his dance accompanied by Uma. The two devotees worshipped Shiva and Shakti at the temple of Tiruvaymur and returned to Tirumaraikadu.


While the two catalysts of the Bhakti movement were at Tirumaraikadu, the ancient southern kingdom of the Pandyas was running off the path of true devotion to Lord Shiva and dallying in the philosophies that do not lead to the Bliss. Jainism with its self-serving philosophies occupied the land and people 's mind. Vedic principles diminished and the king himself was under an illusion. Except for the gem among women, Queen Mangaiyarkarasiyar and the brave minister Kulachiraiyar, there were very few who patronised the true path of Shaivam. Worried about the king and the kingdom, the two well-wishers fervently worshipped the Lord, whose eyes were the Sun, Moon and fire. By His grace, good news arrived in the form of the beacon of Shaivam – Tirugnana Sambandha Nayanar, who was nearby at Tirumaraikadu. Grateful to the Almighty, they sent a few messengers to the prodigy. Eagerly welcoming the messengers, the saint asked about the well-being of the two devotees of the Pandya kingdom. The messengers conveyed their well-being and also the suffering of the kingdom under the clouds of false religions. They pleaded with Sambandhar to save the ancient Tamizh kingdom of the south. The young saint, after receiving the blessings of the Lord, informed Tirunavukkarasar about the message from Mangaiyarkarasiyar and Kulachiraiyar. Appar was not ready to allow him to go. He knew the cruel and conspiring nature of the Jains. Besides, the stars were not conducive and omens were ominous. Sambandhar convinced him, in the form of the pathigam “veyuru tholi”, that there could be no bad omen for the servitors who depend on the Lord of Parvati. Appar tried hard to warn him about the plot hatched by the Jains, but Sambandhar was resolute and with folded hands took his leave. He proceeded with the Holy Five Letters in mind. Worshipping the Lord at Tiruvagathiyanpalli, Kodikuzhakar, Kadikulam, Tiruvidumkbavanam and Tiruvuchathanam, he travelled southwest saluting the Lord at Tirukodunkunram. At dawn, he entered the Pandya kingdom to reach Madurai. Surely, the arrival of the Sun is a bad omen for the haze and fog. The Jain monks saw nightmares and bad omens all around. They were sure of their imminent fate and lamented. At the same time the queen and the sincere minister saw auspicious signs. When they heard about the arrival of the prodigy, they were like the birds chirping at Sunrise. They prepared to give a warm welcome to the son of the Lord.   

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part IV  (The Bag of Radiant Gold)
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Part VI  (The Holy Ash)

 

See also: 
1. Thirunavukkararsu nayanar 
2. Muruga nayanar 
3. Thirunilanakka nayanar 
4. Chiruththonda nayanar 
5. Kungiliyakkalaya nayanar 
6. Mangaiyarkkarasiyar 
7. Kulachchiraiyar nayanar

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