PeriyaPuranam-11-RudraPasupathiyaar from Sainet

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Sub: Episodes of 63 Naayanmaars - 63(11) Rudra Pasupathi Naayanaar

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Dear Sai Sisters and Sai Brothers

 

Resuming the episodes of Periya Puranam I now narrate about Rudra Pasupati

Naayanaar.

 

In the fertile kingdom of Chozhas, there was one beautiful town called

" Thiruthalaiyur " {This " Siva Sthal " is there even today, enroute

Mayilaaduthurai (Mayavaram) and Peralam in the district of Tanjavur in Tamil

Nadu}.

 

It had in its populace, many dharmic brahmins, who never failed in their

daily rituals, yagnyas and duties, and as a result, the town never witnessed

any failure of monsoons or crops. And all the people there lived in

prosperity and peace with the blessing of Lord Siva.

 

In that town there lived a brahmin Sivabhakta named Pasupathiyaar. He loved

Lord Siva from the core of his heart. He was daily reciting " Rudra Manthra "

with deep devotion and all the time thinking about the lotus feet of Lord

Siva. In fact his primary occupation had become Siva Bhakthi.

 

In that Thiruthalaiyur , there was one beautiful lotus lake that never

dried. On the banks of the lake, conches were in abundance, and beautiful

little birds and bees roamed humming musical sounds. The lake was full of

fishes of different varities. The water in the lake always emanated the

smell of divine fire (like the yagnya fire). Such was the glory of the

lotus lake.

 

Standing neck-deep in that lake-water and holding his palms together above

his head in a salutatory posture, Pasupathiyaar, daily, both in the morning

and in the evening, used to chant the " Rudra Manthra " with great

concentration and deep devotion. When he chanted the Rudra Manthra

standing in the lake amidst the lotus flowers, he looked like Naanmuhan

(Lord Brahma). Like this he was carrying on for some time.

 

It is said that Lord Siva does not test his bhaktas who recite " rudram "

regularly with deep devotion and love. So, Lord Siva, deeply moved by the

love of his bhakta, in a short while gave darshan to the devout

Pasupathiyaar and provided him permanent abode in His Sivapuri (Kailash).

 

Thus with daily chanting of " Rudram " with deep devotion and selfless love

towards Lord Siva, Pasupathiyaar attained the lotus feet of Lord Siva and

hence was named Rudra Pasupathi Naayanaar.

 

Such is the greatness of " Rudra Manthra, " . " Rud " means " sorrow or

difficulty and " dhiran " means alleviator of sorrow. Since Lord Siva

alleviates sufferings and provides liberation to human souls, He is called

" Rudhran " . The Manthra which invokes the Rudhran is therefore called

" Rudhram " . It is inherently predominant in Yajur Vedha and is considered as

the eye of the Vedas and the " Panchakshara " (five letters) its pupil. The

two letters " Si-va " reign supreme over the rest.

 

Thus ends the episode of Rudhra Pasupathi Naayanaar who set an example for

proof of the power and glory of Rudhram.

 

The next in the list will be Eribhaktha Naayanaar.

 

Your loving Sai servant

V. Krishnan