56 (a). What is my crime? Shanbaga Maaran found delight in decorating the Sivalingam with shanbaga flowers!
After him fourteen other kings ruled the Paandiya kingdom-starting with Prataapa Sooriyan and ending with Boopa Choodaamani. The fifteenth king was Kulechan. Kulechan was well versed in Tamil Literature and Grammar and other arts besides. So he had secured a place of honor in the famous Sangap Palagai for himself. Kapilan had a good friend named the poet Idaikkaadan. He composed a prabandham exclusively to be read out to king Kulechan. The king was overcome with jealousy at the brilliance of the poet. So he just sat through the session without showing any interest or appreciation. He behaved no better than a cow or goat. The poet got very upset. He fumed and fretted with anger and reached the Siva temple. “A poet must appreciate another poet! It is not me that he has insulted. Uma Devi lives in the form of words and you live in their meanings. So it is you and Devi that the king has insulted.” He left the place in a huff. He walked briskly northwards. Lord Siva also got angered by this incident. He hid his Linga roopam and went away with Devi and the Sanga poets to another temple, situated in the Southern bank of Vaigai river. The devotees who went to the temple,for the Thiruppalli ezhuchi got the shock of their lives that the Sivalingam had disappeared! Had anyone stolen the moorthi? They reported the matter to the king. He fainted right away and fell down on the floor. When he regained consciousness he started crying and begging for pardon. He kept repeating, “What is my crime?” 56 (b). End of misunderstanding. Some people came running and reported that Lord Siva, Uma Devi, and the Sanga poets were now in another temple, in the southern bank of river Vaigai. The king left immediately to that place with tears running down his cheeks and palms pressed together in anjali. He cried to the Lord, “Why have you deserted my city and displaced to this place? What is my crime?” The asareeri replied, “Aalawaai is the holiest among all places. Numerous swayambu lingams abound there. Of those sixty four are very famous. Of them eight are really famous since they were worshipped by the eight digpaalakaas. This lingam was worshipped by Kuberan who is my bosom friend. That is why I moved in here. From hence forth this place will be known as the Vada Thiru Aalawaai. I am unhappy with the way you have treated the poet Idaikkaadanaar. ” The king realized his folly. He begged the Gods and poets to return to his city. He brought poet Idaikkadanaar with due honors. He gave him a royal seat and listened to his prabandham with rapt attention and appreciation. The king enjoyed the session and showered rare gifts and fertile lands on all the poets. They too blessed him with a long and prosperous life. He ruled well for many more years. His son Ari Mardhanan succeeded him. <http://groups.yahoo.com/subscribe/worldmalayaliclub/> *வாழிய செந்தமிழ்! வாழ்க நற்றமிழர்!* *வாழிய பாரதமணித் திருநாடு!* *வணக்கம்* *சுப்பு* [image: Law Article] -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
