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Source: The Hindu (http://www.hinduonnet.com)

 

A chosen devotee of the Almighty

 

CHENNAI, JULY 26. The galaxy of saints of the Saiva fold in South

India has been chronicled in the Thiruthondar Puranam by

Sekkizhar. Because of the greatness of the devotees whose lives

are detailed in it and due to the sheer compass of the

hagiography spanning the lives of 63 Nayanmars it has come to be

known as Periya Puranam. It encompasses their spiritual

attainments and hence looked upon as a devotional classic

expounding the manner in which each one of them became the

recipient of Lord Siva's grace.

 

Among them, Sundaramurti Swamigal, Manikkavasagar,

Thirugnanasambandhar and Thirunavukkarasar are considered as

Samayakuravars for the role they had in systematising the faith

through their hymns, Thevaram and Thiruvasagam, which have been

canonised in the Tirumurai by Nambiandarnambi. Karaikal Ammaiyar

is a lady among the Nayanmars and she is one of the few whose

spiritual legacy has come down to us in her own words through her

hymn, Arputha Tiruvandadi, in 101 verses.

 

In his discourse, Sri Mathivannan said that the opening verse of

this hymn attested to the fact that she was a chosen child of

God, even before she was born, like Prahlada who had the

opportunity to listen to the glory of God even while in his

mother's womb. Named as Punithavathi at birth, she grew up as the

apple of her father's eye, since she happened to be the only

daughter of a rich merchant in Karaikkal. The turning point in

her life came when her husband happened to learn about her

spiritual attainments. A merchant like her father, once he

happened to get two mangoes of a special variety. By chance a

devotee came to her house and as was the custom she offered food

and one of the mangoes to him.

 

When her husband wanted the remaining fruit after she served him

the other one she became anxious and prayed to God. No sooner did

her mind dwell on Lord Siva another fruit appeared on the palm of

her hand. Her heart filled with gratitude and she served the

fruit to her husband. The matter did not end there. Curious that

the second fruit tasted very delicious, he stated that it was

unlike the first one served to him and wanted to know the reason.

She related how she had obtained it with God's grace. Convinced

that his wife was a goddess of some sort he asked whether she

could get another fruit. When another one was given when she

prayed, he decided that he could not treat her as his wife and

deserted her. She became like a wraith and lived in total union

with the Lord singing His praise and was privileged to be

addressed by Lord Siva as His mother.

 

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