Hindu Article-Greatness of saints

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Greatness of saints

to day is thai amavasya. the article is about Abirami Bhattar who was

devoted to the godess Abirami and sang beautiful Andadi. the inner

meanings show the real meaning and phylosophy of Shankaras Adwaita.

 

CHENNAI, FEB.23 . The hagiographies of saints and mystics document

the trials and tribulations they faced in their lives. While their

hymns and works are the legacy bequeathed by them for spiritual

edification, one may wonder about the significance of their

biographies. They enable a spiritual aspirant to relate to them and

also show that it was through harrowing situations that their

spiritual merit came to be known to the world.

 

In her discourse, Srimathi Sudha Seshayyan said the circumstances in

which Abirami Bhattar composed the hymn Abirami Andadi revealed his

greatness and devotion. Known as Subramanian before he came to be

popularly called after the hymn he composed, he lived in the 16th

Century A.D. during the rule of King Serfoji in Tanjavur. This ruler

distinguished himself as a patron of arts and culture. He was himself

a great scholar and enabled literature and religion to flourish in

his kingdom. These facts are necessary to appreciate his role in the

life of this saint. On a certain new moon day (Thai Amavasya) the

king went to Cuddalore for the auspicious dip in the ocean and while

returning decided to visit Tirukkadavur to worship the Divine Mother

there.

 

As was the usual practice his entourage accompanied him and they went

into the shrine. The king saw Abirami Bhattar in deep meditation

oblivious to his surroundings and learnt from those there that he

performed the religious ritual of reading the almanac everyday at the

temple. When he opened his eyes by chance the king enquired what

phase of the lunar cycle (Thithi) it was on that day. Bhattar replied

it was the full moon day and immediately realised his mistake but he

did not correct it. The king ordered him to be killed and it was

while the punishment was meted out that this devotee sang this

beautiful hymn in 100 verses on the Divine Mother.

 

She did not intervene till he sang the 79th verse. Bhattar also did

not beseech Her intercession for saving himself but only glorified

Her. When he sang about Her benevolent sidelong glance in the 80th

verse a miracle happened. A full moon appeared in the sky by Her

grace and the Goddess asked him to complete the hymn. It was not as

if the king did not recognise Bhattar's greatness in the first place;

it was to quell the aspersions cast on him by the people who did not

understand his spiritual attainments that he tested him.

 

COPY RIGHT: THE HINDU DAILY