Arunagiri Naadhar (7)

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As per his scholar's request, the king decided to

hold a public gathering in the temple of

Thiruvannamalai, and it was decided that the loser will be exiled

from the kingdom. Arunagiri too accepted the

invitation and went to Thiruvannamalai. First was the turn

of Sambandan. He started offering prayers to Devi.

He was offering for quite some time, but the Devi

didn't appear. After a relatively long time the Devi

appeared before the scholar. <br>He was very glad, and

told the king, 'I have done as promised, and here is

Devi.' But no one could see Devi there. Sambandan was

the only one who could see the Devi. Then Sambandan

asked Devi as to what was happening. To this the Devi

replied, "Your prayers are not of great strength wherein I

can give darshan to everyone. Hence, you alone will

be able to see me. " Sambandan, with his huge ego

couldn't accept defeat, and tried to manipulate the

situation by telling the king, " Your Highness, It's very

difficult for normal people to see Devi. I alone am able to

see her now. However, I will do special prayers, and

give you some powers later, by which you can also see

the Devi." In his pride he added, " Anyway let's see

if Arunagiri can invoke Muruga".<br><br>Arunagiri

sang a few songs on Muruga, but Muruga didn't turn up.

He then closed his eyes, and tried to see in his

Jnana Drishti (Divine vision), as to what was holding

Muruga from coming. He saw that, as Muruga prepared to

come, Devi interrupted Him, and put Him on Her lap, on

the cunning request of Sambandan. Hence, Arunagiri

had to invoke Devi first, to let her go of Muruga.

This is when the 'Kausheeka Manthra' that Muruga

taught him on an earlier occasion came to the rescue. He

chanted the Manthra, and Devi let go of Muruga

immediately. He then sang the song 'Athala seda Naar aada'.

This song invoked the peacock and the cock (vehicle

and devotee of Muruga), and Muruga came quickly on

the peacock and gave darshan with the cock to

everyone present at the temple. The king and the public

were overwhelemed on having the divine Darshan of the

Lord and they all feel at His Lotus Feet. Many people

, 1000s in number, on having the divine Darshan

gave up their lives, and attained Liberation (Moksha).

<br>Thus again Arunagiri Naadhar won. Sambandan was then

exiled.<br><br>to be contd....<br><br>Hari Aum !!!