Loving Ganesha: Chapter 17 (section 1) - Saint Auvaiyar Ma--Sadhvi Auvaiyar Ma

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font-family:Arial">Namaste all,

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The first section of chapter 17,

from http://www.himalayanacademy.com/books/lg/lg_ch-17.html.

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font-family:Arial">Neil

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color:#810D18;font-weight:bold">Sadhvi

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UITE A LONG TIME AGO, IN THE NINTH CENTURY, there

lived in the south Indian Tamil land a woman saint known as Auvai or Auvaiyar, a Tamil

appellation for a respected senior mother or lady. Abandoned by her parents

at birth, Auvaiyar was raised by a family of Panars, who were wandering minstrels. As a young girl,

she was deeply devoted to religion and literary pursuits and wanted to serve

the people. Known for her intelligence and extraordinary beauty, she had many

aristocratic suitors, and pressure was brought to bear for arranging her

marriage. While most young women would welcome such attention, it was for

Auvaiyar more threat than opportunity. Her interests were

philosophical and devotional, and her life revolved

around her love of Siva. She did not want to make a man the center of that

universe. Faced with the impending marriage that her family would surely

arrange, Auvaiyar wept and prayed before her chosen

Deity, Vighneshvara, to save her from this fate: “Oh, my Lord, these

people are only after my youth and beauty; but I want to dedicate myself to

the Goddess of learning and to the spread of learning. Please take away my

youth and my beauty so that I can have peace and follow my chosen way of

life.” Ganesha heard her prayer, and in the days that followed her skin

wrinkled, hair grayed, eyes dulled, limbs stiffened

and breasts sagged. Looking at her reflection in the village well, the maiden

was overcome with joy, knowing she was safe from the world, knowing that her

loving Ganesha had graciously answered her prayers.

Auvaiyar left the shelter of home, where most people find

security, and wandered far and wide in the palmyra-covered

Tamil kingdoms of Chola, Pandya

and Chera. Her life was simple, dedicated to the

practice of yoga and to following her guru's instructions. As her spiritual

sadhana bore fruit, she slowly matured

into spreading the tantras, the mystical teachings

of the siddhars, the wisdom of God Siva and the Gods.

Her innumerable literary and philosophical works, for both children and

elders, cover the entire gamut of human experience and testify to her

profound wisdom. Her royal benefactors, among whom

were Shri Shri Shri Adiyaman, Pari, Kari and Seraman, are historical figures distinguished by their

bravery and benevolence. These maharajas patronized her cultural works so

that her fame spread far and wide. She is now acclaimed as the wisest woman

of all ages in the chronicles of Indian culture.

Auvaiyar Ma was a contemporary and close associate of two

noble Siva bhaktas, Sundarar

and Seraman Perumal,

ruler of the Chera kingdom, both extolled as great Saiva saints in Sekkilar's epic

hagiography, the Periyapuranam. One day, near the end of her life, it

is said that Auvaiyar was in the midst of her daily

worship of her beloved Ganesha. She had a vision in which Saint Sundarar was

proceeding to Mount Kailasa, Siva's abode, with his comrade, King Seraman.

Sundarar was riding a

white elephant, and Seraman was on a white horse.

They were as aware of her as she was of them. She became disturbed and tried

to rush her worship, filled with a yearning to join her spiritual friends on

their last journey. But Lord Ganesha appeared and told her to finish her

rituals calmly and without haste, with the promise that she would be taken to

Kailasa ahead of her two friends. Thereupon she

entered her trance even more deeply and sang the renowned hymn of praise

entitled Vinayaka Ahaval.

(This great song of religious devotion to Ganesha is sung to this day

throughout the Tamil land at the time of Ganesha worship, particularly during

the annual Ganesha Chaturthi festival.) As she finished her worship and

placed the sacramental offering at His gracious feet, Vinayaka appeared

before her, lifted her in His gentle trunk and delivered her to the Sivaloka, to

Mount Kailasa, before the two friends arrived. When Seraman Perumal inquired how

it

was that she had arrived ahead of them, she sang this in her unique and

charming Tamil:

O king, is there anything unattainable

To them who intensely contemplate

On the fragrant feet of the son

Of Ummaiyal, of sweet and comely speech?

The thunderous thud of the swift elephant

And that of the agile horse must give place

To that of the rider of this old dame!

He is none other than the mighty Mahaganapati.

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font-family:Arial">Loving Ganesha by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami

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font-family:Arial">Web sites: http://www.hindu.org/

& http://www.himalayanacademy.com/

email: contact (AT) hindu (DOT) org

Himalayan Academy

Kauai's Hindu Monastery

Arial">107 Kaholalele Road

Kapaa, HI 96746-9304

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