TTT - part 2 - kappalil pAthi pAkku

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Srimadh Azhagiya singar thiru vadikaLE saraNam

 

Thiru mangai Thiru Aranga Thirup paNi

 

TTT - part 2 - kappalil pAthi pAkku

 

Dear BagawathAs,

 

Once there was a vAnikak kappal (trading ship or popularly known

as sea liner) that was coming from SriLanka carrying a cargo of

paaku (betel nuts) pothi (sacks). i.e. sacks of betel nuts.

Thirumangai and his parivAram (his shishyALs or disciples)

happened to travel in this ship upto nAgap pattinam. (probably

from uRaiyur). On seeing them and their " sAthvikam " the merchant

gave room for them to travel even though that was mainly a

commercial liner. Once the ship set off from the port, (uRaiyur

was a port) One of thirumangai's shishyAn or disciple known as

thOlA vazhakkan, started to chew betel leaves and betel nuts

(chewing " veRRilai paakku " or thAmboolam a common practice even

today in Tanjore district formerly known as chola kingdom).

 

thOla vazhakkan took one betel nut and broke it into two pieces

and chewed one half of it. He smiled at the merchant and said to

him " Sir, I am leaving this one half of this betel nut in your

ship. Please return it to me when we reach the shore " . The

merchant laughed at him and replied, " why not ? We will do return

it " . Then thOlA vazhakkan said, " Sir, can you also provide me

with a note of receipt? " . The merchant looked at the young thOlA

vazhakkan and felt that he is just making fun and that he is not

a very person. On a sea journey such entertainment are critical

to keep the enthusiasm for both the crew and the passengers.

SO the merchant thought thOlA vazhakkan would be an ideal company

in their journey for jovial conversation. He enjoyed the company

of all these sAdhus and especially the company of thOlA vazhakkan.

So he said to him, " You are a funny person as well, why not ? I

will provide you with a note of receipt " . He took a " oLai suvadi "

or " kaimuRi " " Palm leaves " and wrote in it that he owes a half of

the pAkku to thOlA vazhakkan and would provide the same on

arriving at their destination, and gave it to thOlA vazhakkan.

tholA vazhakkan kept it safely with him.

 

Once the ship docked, tholA vazhakkan demanded one half of the

betel nut cargo as his share. The merchant and thOlA vazhakkan

argued for a while until the port authority turned up for " sungam "

or tariff. thOlA vazhakkan presented his case to port officer and

demanded for his share of the cargo. When asked for proof, thOlA

vazhakkan presented the " kaimuRi " or " chit " or note (in tamil it

is popularly known as ( " seettu " ie. " seettu ezhuthi kodutthArgaL "

means they made a written note) in which the merchant had written

by his own hand writing the following.

 

" En kappalil umakku pAthip pAkku uNdu " ie., " You have half of the

pAkku or betel nut from my ship " . Since it is a written note the

officer ruled that thOlA vazhakkan be given his due share and he

oversaw the unloading personally and escorted half of the share to

thOlA vazhakkan. Shell shocked by this the merchant was very

upset. Then thOlA vazhakkan it seems explained to him personally

that the proceedings of the sale of this cargo will goto the

construction expenses of the " Alayath thirup paNi " in Srirangam.

At this moment due to divine grace the merchant realized his fault

that a rich person similar to him must have volunteered in the

first place to such kaimkaryam. The merchant considered their company

with him during the sea travel as a " bAgyam " . Then it is

believed that the merchant offerred them with more money

and other materials for the construction from the sale of his

own half share of the cargo as well.

 

Sri lOka nAyaki samEtha Sri lOka nAyakan thiru vadikaLE saraNam

thirumangai AzhwAr thiruvadikaLE saraNam

adiyEn rAmAnuja dAsan

Sampath Rengarajan

 

note: Whether this is a true story or not, the message is such

that only a few are given with the bAgyam of serving Sri

Ranganathar. Sri Rangantaha temple is a treasure that does not

happen every century or at every place. There is an opportunity

for north American Indians and all the other bAgawathAs from all

over the world to take part in this kainkaryam and be part of making

new history.

 

 

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