58 - THIRUVATHAVOORAAR. Thiruvaathavoor was situated on the bank of Vaigai river. The city was celebrating festivals round the year. The people were famous for their hospitality.
There were several Veda paatasaalaas there. Cultivation was on full swing. In this and auspicious place one of Siva’s greatest devotees was born. His name was Thiruvaathavooraar. He learned Vedam, Vedaagamam, puraanam, and saasthram. He became well versed by the time he was 16 years old. A group of wise men was favorably impressed by this young man’s achievements. They advised King Arimardhanan to appoint him as one of his ministers. The young man knew warfare as well as he did the dharma saasthrass. Soon he was made the chief minister. He maintained a friendly relationship with the neighboring countries. Trades were carried on with them. People’s welfare was the prime object of this benevolent rule. His vivekam became very sharp. He could now differentiate the Sat from the Asat. He realized that life in this world as well the one in the next world was riddled with pain and suffering. The only thing worth striving for is Moksham or Liberation. He consulted the authorities in Vedas. The knowledge he acquired did not make him happy or peaceful. Only the intense bhakti to Siva gave him peace of mind and joy. The man in charge of the stable, reported to the king,” Sir! Most of the horses are dead. The ones alive are too old to be of any use. We need to buy more horses for our army.” The king told his minister “Please take enough gold from the treasury for the purchase of new horses. Buy the good ones when the are imported from the other countries!” The minister took the gold but in his mind, he secretly wished that all the gold should be spent on Siva and is devotees. He took a holy dip in the pond and worshiped Siddhi Vinaayaka, Siva and Devi. He set out in his golden palanquin. GURU SIVAN. The gold was carried by camels and protected by the soldiers. The minister traveled in his palanquin. An army marched along with him. Siva decided to shower His grace on Thiruvaadaooraar. He wanted to take the first step. He took the form of a Brahmin guru. Many disciples accompanied him. He entered the temple at Thirup Perunthurai and sat under a tree. As the army marched nearer to that place, the minister started feeling an inexplicable joy in his heart. His palms were joined in Anjali mudra. He attained a state of ecstasy. He quite forgot himself. He took a dip in the Siva theertham and entered the Siva temple. Then his eyes fell on the divine guru seated under a tree surrounded by his disciples. In that place, there was a fusion of various sounds. Vedas were being chanted. Siva Aagamas and Saasthraas were heard. All sorts of people of all ashrams and ages were there. When the guru looked at the minister, he got caught in the web of bhakti spun by Siva with the cords of love. Lord’s glance freed him from the three defects of a jiva. He got freed form all bondage. He was taught the sookshma panchaaksharam. Siva’s lotus feet were placed on his head. He forgot himself. The truth he was seeking dawned in his mind. Saraswathi Devi took possession of his tongue. Divine Tamil poems started pouring out on their own! Songs of praise which he offered to his divine guru. Each word used by him was a gem in itself. He strung them with the thread called his bhakti. The minister was now completely transformed. He was now Maanikka Vaasagar Piraan. He forgot his original mission and was deeply immersed in bhakti towards Siva. EVERYTHING IS DONE BY SIVA. Maanikkavaasagar would listen to the agamas read by the students. The others would listen to Manivaasagar’s songs. God has this strange quality. He would loot all the earthly possessions of his devotees except his bhakti, and then he will bestow on them mukthi. “You have many more duties to perform. Stay here and do them.” Siva told Manivaasagar and went away. Manivaasagar became as forlorn as a cow separated from its calf. The separation was too much for him and he became like a mad man. He came out of the temple and told his soldiers, “Go back to our king. Horses will arrive in the month of Aadi. I will come with the horses.” Manivaasagar spent all the money on various religious activities. The month of Aadi had come, but not the horses. King sent a message to his minister, “Have you purchased the horses for our army?” Manivaasagar did not know what to do. The asareeri told him to write back saying that the horses would arrive in due time. That night Siva appeared in Manivaasagar’s dream. “I will bring the horses myself. You may go back to Madurai.” Manivaasagar returned to Madurai. The king was eagerly awaiting the arrival of the horses. The minister told him again that the horses would arrive soon. Again he got anxious and Siva’s asareeri assured him and told him not to worry. His family members got worried about fearing the consequences of the king’s wrath. Manivaasagar said that everything is done by Siva and there was no need to worry. <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.
