The Stalavrikshas:

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The Stalavrikshas:

 

The Ficus Tree ("Atthi Maram") is the stalavriksha. An interesting story is told

about this tree. Once, in devaloka – the five heavenly tharus (trees), sandanam,

devatharu, karpagam, mandharam and parijadham were re-considering their life at

devaloka. They wore distressed and dejected because of the constant trouble

created by the asuras. They wanted to leave heaven to some place with some quite

and peace. As they were thinking thus, they heard some sages discuss the glory

of Tiruvotriyur. The five tharus came to Tiruvotriyur and sat in meditation

intrigued with the intensity of their prayers.

 

Shiva appeared before them and asked them what they wanted. The five tharus

replied – “Please grand our request. We would like to touch your feet eternally

and stay there worshipping you for all time.” To this Shiva answered with a

smile – “My manifestation at Tiruvotriyur as Padampakka Nathar is a form which

is not to be touched by any hand – mortal or immortal. In fact, when my son

Murugan wanted to worship me by touching my feet, I ushered him to Thirumayilai.

However, I can give you another alternative. You can stay here as a Magizha

maram and I will be glad to stay under your shade”.

 

On hearing this, their joy knew no bounds. The five tharus became the Magizha

maram that one sees today at the Thiagarajaswamy temple. Even today, they stand

singing the praise of Shiva. The tree is seen as a manifestation of Shiva

Himself. Tradition holds that those who climb the tree will have committed

eternal sin. But if flowers fall on their own accord, devotees may wear them.

They will be blessed in this life and the next.

 

It was under this tree that Sambandar promised Sangili Nachiar that he would not

part from her or the temple of Tiruvotriyur. Sambandar’s story starts at Mount

Kailas where he was a devotee of Lord Shiva. Once, when he went to the garden to

pluck flowers for puja, he met Shakthi’s aides, Anithigai and Kamalini and fell

in love with them. They were interested in him too. Shiva, with his omniscience

knew this and blessed the three of them to be born on earth to partake of its

pleasures. Sambandar immediately pleaded that Shiva should not allow him to

become chained and bound by the ephemeral pleasures of the world. Shiva promised

that He would stop him at the right time.

 

Sambandar was born of a family of temple priests at Tirunallaru. The name his

parents gave him was Nambi Arooran. Anithigai was born as Paravai Nachiar at

Tiruvarur and Kamalini was born as Sangili Nachiar at Gnayiru. Nambi Arooran

grew up to be a handsome boy. Such was his charm that the King of

Tirumannaippadi adopted him with his parents’ sanction and brought him up as his

foster son.

 

Plans were made for the wedding pf Paravai with Nambi Arooran. The day before

the wedding, an old Brahmin claimed that the wedding should be stopped and that

Nambi Arooran was his slave for his lifetime. His grandfather had sold him off

to him generations ago. Nambi Arooran became furious. He couldn’t believe that

this could happen to him the day before his wedding. He scolded the old man with

a vengeance and asked for proof for his senile musings. The old Brahmin showed

him a document which bore the signature of his grandfather and which indeed

slated that he was the old man’s slave for the rest of his life. In agony and

frustration, Nambi Arooran tore up the document that was the only proof.

 

The old Brahmin was furious and took up the issue of the kings’ court at

Thiruvennainallur. There he produced one more document stating that what he had

shown earlier was a duplicate version and he still had the original with him

safe and secure. On comparing the signature on the document with other

signatures of Nambi Arooran’s grandfather, the king gave the verdict that t he

Brahmin was right and that Nambi Arooran was the old mans’ slave.

 

Happy with the verdict, the old Brahmin bade Nambi Arooran to follow him to his

house. Arooran followed him with a perplexed mind and heavy heart, only to find

that the Brahmin led him to the main shrine of the temple at Thiruvennainallur.

He then disappeared as a gleam of light and reappeared with his consort, Shakthi

and bade Nambi Arooran to compose a verse. When he hesitated, Shiva reminded him

that he had called him a senile and mad person and so should sing of him as

such. Nambi Arooran Sundarar sang the verse..

 

gpj;jh gpiwR+b ngUkhNd mUshsh

vj;jhy; kwthNj epidf;fpd;Nwd; kdj;Jd;id

itj;jha; ngz;izj; njd;ghy;

ntz;nza; ey;Y}uUs; JiwAs;

mj;jhTdf; fhdhapdp my;Nynddy; MNk ?

 

Sundarar then proceeded to visit various punyastalas singing the praise of Shiva

until he visited Tiruvotriyur and married Sangili Nachiar. Sambandar promised

Sangili Nachiar, under the stalavriksha, the Magizha maram, that he would not

part from her or the temple of Tiruvotriyur. On breaking this promise, Sundarar

lost his eyesight. He composed several heart rendering verses on his miserable

condition, asking forgiveness for his breach of vow. He regained his sight with

the grace of Shiva. The scene of Sundarar’s vow under the Magizha Maram is

recreated till today as Magizhadi Servai, when Sundarar goes thrice on a

pradakshana around the shrines of Sri Thiagarajaswamy and Vadivudai Amman and

vows not to leave Sangili Nachiar or Tiruvotriyur for the rest of his life.

Hundreds of devotees come to the temple on Masi Magam to witness this festival.