A Day in the Life of Our Acharyas - 103

[Guest guest]

Sri:

Srimathe Ramanujaya Nama:

 

Dear devotees,

 

There was a question raised recently about the possibile

distribution of vibhuthi as prasadam at a divyadesam.

The following episode in this series is appropriate in

this regard.

 

adiyEn madhurakavi dAsan

 

 

One time Bhattar took his bath (in kaveri river) and

was walking back when a Shaivite came opposite to

him. Some of the ashes he was wearing, fell on Bhattar.

Bhattar returned to the river and took a bath again

and went home. But he did not enter. Instead he called

his mother Andal and asked her "What is the

rectification for this?"

 

Andal was taken aback and thought for a while about it.

Then she said "Accept the holy water from the feet of

a bhAgavata to purify yourself".

 

Bhattar asked "Will a bhAgavata allow me to take his

srIpAda thIrththam?"

 

Andal replied "When something happens that can

destroy one's life, should you not even be ready to

give your life and try to protect it?"

 

Bhattar said "If that is the determination in your

divine heart, then I will follow it".

 

At that time, a parama bhAgavata who carried the

palanquin of Azhvar Thiruvarangap Perumal Araiyar

came that way. Seeing him, Andal said "Here comes

the thIrththam (holy water)".

 

Bhattar then worried "Will I be able to get it".

 

Andal said "To get milk for one's child, one has

to even feed the cow fully and get it. So, you

have to get the divine water from him somehow".

 

Bhattar then seeked that bhAgavata and obtained

the divine water from his feet and purified

himself.

 

 

Azhvar Emberumanar Jeeyar Thiruvadigale Sharanam

 

A Day in the Life of Our Acharyas:

http://www.acharya.org/articles/aditlooa/index.html