The pundit, the idiot and Sri.Parashara Bhattar-2 of 3

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Dear friends,

 

Parashara Bhattar's house in Sri Rangam adjoined the great wall

running around the Ranganatha temple. The house had a front-yard

where he used to assemble his disciples in the early hours to tutor

them in the vedas, prabhandham, sastra etc. It was a daily routine.

At about the same time, a vedic pundit of local repute too used to

pass Bhattar's front-yard on his way to the temple. Bhattar was known

to studiously ignore him and it used to make the pupils very curious

why the Master was giving such rude and short shrift to a

well-respected Vedic scholar.

 

Their surprise turned even greater when, in a short while after,

another gentlemen used to turn up at the front-yard whom Bhattar

accorded extraordinary deference and courtesy. This gentleman passed

by everyday carrying a huge pot ( " pIpA " ) of water for use in the

temple " madapalli " (kitchen). He was known throughout SriRangam to be

of slightly unsound mind, given to quirky behavior but an otherwise

cheerful, honest-to-God simpleton making a living through

'voluntary-service' ( " kainkaryam " ) and running menial errands in the

temple kitchens. He was also the butt of harmless ridicule in the

community as a " madapalli jadam " -- the half-wit of the SriRangam

temple-kitchen.

 

When this " idiot " passed by his house, Bhattar hastened to interrupt

his tutorials and usually greeted him with the rather typically

effusive " sri-vaishnava pari-bhasha " or expressions of cordiality

(e.g. " swami! dAsoham! deyvell tirumEni paanga! " ). The " jada "

perfunctorily reciprocated if in the right sort of mind, and if not,

was known to ignore the great Bhattar and unmindfully carry on.

 

All this intrigued the pupils so much that one day one of them

gathered courage to ask the Master why a complete fool deserved more

courtesy than a Vedic pundit. Bhattar was amused by the query. With a

mischievous twinkle in his eyes he asked his pupils to wait until the

following day for an answer.

 

The next morning when the vedic pundit passed by, Bhattar called out

to him. " Sir, my students and I would be honored if you'd care to

please step in for a moment " . The pundit readily acceded.

 

The pundit was respectfully received on the front-yard and settled

comfortably on a stone-bench amidst Bhattar's pupils. After a few

brief courtesies Bhattar inquired if the pundit was making good

progress in his vedic studies and spiritual endeavors. At this, the

pundit greatly pleased by Bhattar's solicitude immediately began

recounting at great length the various texts, treatises, essays,

commentaries and exegeses he had mastered in the field of " nyAya " ,

" meemAmsa " , " vyAkarana " and the " dharma-sastra " branches of Vedic

learning. The pupils watched their Master listen patiently to the

pundit's recital and nod his head approvingly. Now and then, Bhattar

even raised his brows expressing great admiration for the pundit's

titanic pursuit of vedic truth.

 

After a good part of an hour spent thus in listening to the pundit

blowing his own trumpet, Bhattar finally asked him a question: " Sir,

your vedic erudition is truly awesome. Tell me now, then, after all

these years of arduous study you must have certainly mastered what is

called " para-tattvam? (i.e the Supreme Principle which the Upanishads

glorify as Ultimate Reality )? "

 

Bhattar's question flustered the pundit completely. After a few

moments of hesitation he confessed to Bhattar, " Oh, that one, Sir!

That's the one thing which still eludes me! I have grappled with the

matter for long and yet can't seem to comprehend it! "

 

Bhattar glanced at his pupils momentarily and spoke again to the

pundit. " Oh I see! Never mind. Keep up your good work, Sir, and who

knows, one day you might perhaps discover " para-tattva " after all!

And here's wishing you all the very best in your endeavors. Good day

to you " . Bhattar dismissed the pundit who went on his way.

 

(Continued in the next post)

 

dAsan,

Sudarshan

 

 

 

 

 

 

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