GREATNESS OF mAnasa pUja

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I wrote this long ago for advaita-L.

 

GREATNESS OF mAnasa pUja

 

In thamizhnADu there is place called thiruninRavUr. In that place

there lived a brahmana called pUsalar who is well trained in

veda-s and agama-s. This brahmana had a burning desire. In that

village there was no temple for Lord shiva and pUsalar wanted to

construct a temple. Eventhough he had the desire, he did not have

the material resources to support it. But pUsalar had the

knowledge of building a temple for Lord shiva according to Agama

vidhiH. After a long contemplation on his inability to build a

temple, pUsalAr got an idea to accomplish what he desired.

 

pUsalAr thought even though he cannot build a temple outside, he

can indeed build one in his mind. From that day onwards he

started building the temple. Even though it was built in mind, he

went through every step as if it built normally. Every single

detail, like amout of material needed and labor required was

planned carefully and executed. Finally the construction was

completed. It took pUsalAr the same amount of time it will

require to build the actual temple. After the completion, pUsalAr

fixed an auspicious time and date for kumbAbhishekam and invited

the Lord to be present and sanctify the ceremony.

 

It so happened that the pallava king wanted to perform

kumbAbhishekam to the temple he constructed on the same date and

began making aranngements for it. Lord who is present everywhere,

to show the greatness of his poor devotee, appeared in the dream

of the king and commanded him to change the date. Lord shiva told

the king that HE is going to enter the magnificient temple built

by the devotee pUsalAr in thiruninRavUr and will be not available

for the king. Next day, astonished pallava king with his

ministers started out to thiruninRavUr in search of pUsalAr and

the temple. After reaching thiruninRavUr, he could not find the

temple or any details about it from the local people. Finally, he

and his ministers, managed to locate pUsalar's house and asked

him the details (after informing about the dream).

 

pUsalar was stunned and was overcome by waves of emotion. Tears

veiled his eyes thinking about his Lord's love and grace. Finally

after overcoming his emotions, when he narrated the details of

his temple. The whole assembly was overcome with joy and emotion.

King paid his respects to the great pUsalar and returned back to

his capital. thiru pUsalAr (in tamizh thiru = shrI), as planned

did the kumbabhishekam in all grandeur and daily at all six times

did pUjA to Lord shiva according to the rules laid down by

agAma-s.

 

Such is the greatness of mAnasa pUjA. Let us bow to the great

pUsalAr for his devotion and to our Father, Lord shiva for his

love and compassion towards all.

 

(pUsalAr is one of the 63 nAyanmArs)

 

 

 

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ambaaL daasan

 

Ravi

 

sharaNAgata raxakI nivEyani sadA ninnu nammiti mInAxI

 

http://www.ambaa.org/ http://www.advaita-vedanta.org

 

 

 

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