The pundit, the idiot and Sri.Parashara Bhattar-3 of 3(CONCLUDED)

[Guest guest]

Dear friends,

 

Shortly later, the " madapalli " idiot strolled by, an outsized pot of

water on his shoulders, making his way to the SriRangam temple

kitchens. The idiot seemed to be in good spirits that morning and

responded merrily to Bhattar welcoming him to step inside the house

and spend a few moments with the students. Bhattar warmly bade him

sit down and offered him refreshments. But in the company of

Bhattar's scholar-students the " jada " nervously fidgeted. He didn't

know what on earth a simpleton like him was doing in the august

presence of Parashara Bhattar, High Priest of SriRangam.

 

Bhattar spoke, " Sire, perhaps you wonder why we have invited you over

for a chat this morning. Forgive our bothering you in the midst of

your busy work-schedules. But we have a matter of utmost importance

to discuss with you. We were all wondering, Sir, if you could help

us " .

 

On hearing this the temple nitwit instantly took fright and said,

" Oh, great Parashara, you and your assembly of pupils are scholars.

Why have you chosen me, of all persons in SriRangam, to clarify your

learned doubts?!. Sir, either you are all crazy, crazier even than

they say I am… or … all you want is some fun at my expense! You are

looking to pull someone's legs this morning and whose could be better

than an idiot's like me, eh? "

 

The man's utter humility truly moved Bhattar. " Not at all, sir! " he

protested, " We are truly serious. We think you might be able to clear

a question greatly agitating us all. These students have a question

for me and I've been unable to come up with a proper answer for many

days now. I am utterly at a loss. "

 

" Very well, then " said the " jadam " , " what is your question " ? " These

students wish to know what is " para-tattva " and where the Supreme

Principle resides. And I'm not sure I have an answer " answered

Bhattar.

 

For a moment the 'jada' sat immobile as if stunned out of his wits.

Then he asked Bhattar incredulously, " What! Do I hear you right, Sir!

You say you don't know 'para-tattva'? Are you sure " ? " Yes Sir, so it

is " , Bhattar replied.

 

The " jadam " suddenly got up, clenched his teeth and his face went

livid with rage. Hands on his hips, he began to yell at Bhattar like

a man outraged. The pupils were shocked. It was feared the half-wit

was struck by one of his occasional bouts of dementia.

 

The idiot shouted, " You rotten Parashara! What a great hoax you are!

What a great fraud! You've been taking all of SriRangam for a ride

these years! Passing yourself off as a man of great learning and

wisdom, eh? I feel sorry for these children here who learn at your

feet! I feel sorry for their parents who sent them to be your wards

believing you will impart the Truth to them. Alas, my God! Oh

Ranganatha! Look at your Parashara Bhatta! He says he teaches veda

and sAstra to young boys and it's now discovered he knows nothing

about 'para-tattva' even! "

 

The students were simply aghast at the idiot's audacious outburst.

But he kept continuing in the same vein, " You're a humbug, O

Parashara! Listen! You want to know what para-tattva is? Let me tell

you! I've known it for years now. If only you'd asked me earlier I'd

have enlightened you! Here, let me now show you what 'para-tattva' is

and where it resides! "

 

With those words the 'madapalli-jada', in a show of great anger,

heaved his great pot of water over the head, and with all might,

flung it across the front-yard sending it sailing like a missile over

the street. Bhattar and his pupils watched the pot careening through

air and then crash with a resounding thump into the temple walls of

Lord Ranganatha.

 

Pointing out at the wall the half-wit said, " Look, Parashara, look

sharply! I'll show you now where para-tattva is! It's over there!

It's right there where the pot crashed! 'para-tattva' lies right

behind the wall in the temple sanctum! It's been lying there for all

times and will remain lying there for all time to come! It's name is

Ranganatha! And if you'd never known this to be the truth of

'para-tattva', O Parashara, shame on you! What sort of rubbish then

have you been teaching your students all these years? Well, at least

now you know, and you'd better know it well, for you better not waste

these little children's time anymore! "

 

Shaking his fists in the air and still muttering words of outrage the

" madapalli-jada " walked away from Bhattar and pupils.

 

After the idiot of the SriRangam temple-kitchens departed, Bhattar

turned to his disciples, smiled knowingly and gently asked them,

" Now, my children, you watched the vedic pundit and the temple

half-wit… the man of knowledge and the man of faith! Tell me, who is

more deserving of our deference? He who after years of ploughing the

vedic field says he is yet to reap the crop …viz. the knowledge of

" para-tattvam'? Or he who, in a trice, showed us what 'para-tattvam'

is and also where it resides! To whom then should I bow my head in

deep obeisance? To the man of unsure knowledge? Or to the man of

certain faith? You tell me? " .

 

His disciples understood Bhattar's great lesson.

***********************

 

(with grateful acknowledgments to U.Ve. Sri.Mukkur

Lakshminarasimhachariar for this incident)

 

dAsan,

Sudarshan

 

 

 

 

 

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