Satyopanisad

[Guest guest]

Swami! Right now, we are in Kodaikanal. Tamilnadu is known for its

renowned devotees. We often hear about Manikya Vachakar and

Tiruvalluvar. We want to hear from you about these two illustrious

sons of Tamilnadu.

 

Manikya Vachakar is the personification of forbearance, forgiveness,

patience, and devotion. One day the son of a very rich man came to

him. You know, Manikya Vachakar was selling saris and maintaining his

family. This boy who came to him was a pampered spoilt child. Picking

up a sari there, the boy asked, " What is the price of this sari? "

Manikya Vachakar said, " Twenty rupees, sir " . The boy tore the sari

into two halves and said, " What is the price of this half sari? " The

sari seller said, " Rupees ten, sir " . The boy tore it further into two

halves and asked, " Now what is the price of this quarter sari " ? The

former patiently replied, " Rupees five sir " . The mischievous boy was

very much taken aback by Manikya Vachakar's patience. He then

asked, " How is it that you are so patient in spite of my mischief? "

Manikya Vachakar smiled and said, " 1 am a devotee of God and I have

full faith in Him. He is responsible for my peace and calmness " .

 

In Tamilnadu there was one devotee by name Tiruvalluvar. He was

highly reputed and is known even today for his devotional

composition, Tirukkural. In those days, the Pandya king had

youngsters serving him as ministers. Tiruvalluvar was one of them.

The Pandya king had a great liking for horses. He liked to have a

number of horses of different breeds from all parts of the country.

He called Tiruvalluvar, gave him some money, and sent him to get new

breeds of horses from all places. The latter agreed and proceeded.

 

On his way, Tiruvalluvar found a temple in a dilapidated condition.

He decided to renovate it. In so doing, he had spent all the money he

had with him. Having come to know what he had done, the king became

very furious and wild. He kept Tiruvalluvar in prison as a

punishment. There in the prison Tiruvalluvar composed his famous

Tirukkural. The king repented later for his hasty and wrong decision.

He requested Tiruvalluvar to come back and resume his duties as a

minister. However, Tiruvalluvar politely refused to take up any

responsibilities in the kingdom. He spent the remaining part of his

life wholly in spiritual pursuits.