1. Sundaramurthi Nayanar Story by Swamy Sivananda

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Source: http://www.dlshq.org/download/nayanar.htm#_VPID_4

For Telugu Nayanars Stories

http://www.telugubhakti.com/telugupages/Nayanars/Nayanars.htm

 

1. Sundaramurthi Nayanar

Sundaramurthi Nayanar flourished in the 8th century. He was a great

devotee of Lord Siva. He is one of the Tamil Samaya Acharyas (four

Tamil religious Teachers).

 

Sundaramurthi Nayanar sang the glories of Lord Siva at all the sacred

places that he visited. These hymns are called Thevaram. They have

been collected into a book-form. All devotees sing the Thevaram even

today. The hymns sung by Sundarar, Appar or Tirunavakkarasu, and

Tirujnana Sambandar are called Thevaram. The hymns of Manickavachagar

are called Thiruvachagam.

 

Sundarar had the Sakhya Bhava or the attitude of a friend towards the

Lord. He freely demanded of the Lord whatever he wanted. He did not

do so with selfish desire, however. Whatever he asked for was for the

sake of those who were dependent on him. He lived only eighteen

years.

 

Sundaramurthi Nayanar was born in Thiru Navalur where the entire

atmosphere was full of spiritual vibrations and Saivism was well

established. In this place, there lived a pious, devout and respected

Brahmin by name Sadaiyanar whose ancestors were all ardent devotees

of Lord Siva. Isaignaniar was his dutiful wife. She gave birth to a

divine child whom the parents named `Nambi Arurar' after its

grandfather.

 

In his previous incarnation Arurar was Alala Sundarar, who was an

ardent devotee of Lord Siva. When the Milky Ocean was being churned

by Devas and Asuras, a deadly poison began to spread on the surface

of the ocean threatening the existence of all beings. Then Alala

Sundarar collected that poison in his hand and gave it to Lord Siva

Who drank it for the protection of the world. Hence, Sundarar got the

word Alala (for Halahala, the poison) prefixed to his name.

 

Once when Alala Sundarar was living by the side of Lord Siva in the

Mount Kailas, serving the Lord and bringing flowers from the garden

for His worship, he cast a lustful look at Aninditi and Kamalini, the

attendants of Goddess Parvathi who had also gone to the garden to

collect flowers for the divine Mother's worship. They, too, fell in

love with him. Lord Siva, through His divine vision, understood all

that had happened in the garden. He called Alala Sundarar and

said: `Sundarar, since you fell in love with these girls, you and

they, too, will go down to the earth and take a human birth. You will

marry them and enjoy the pleasures of the world.' Sundarar wept

bitterly, regretting his folly which had resulted in his separation

from the Lord. He prayed to the Lord: `Oh Lord! It is due to my evil

thought that I have to undergo this separation from Thee. I am afraid

lest I should be steeped in ignorance and forget Thee. Oh Lord of

mercy! Let this not happen to me. Oh Lord of compassion! Dispel my

ignorance soon and take me back to Your lotus feet.' Lord Siva

granted this wish.

 

There was another cause for Sundarar's human birth. To an ordinary

man it may appear that Sundarar was a victim to lust, even in the

divine realm of Kailasa. It was not so. Sundarar was only an

instrument in the hands of God. It was Lord Siva's wish that Sundarar

should sing Tiru Thonda Thogai for the benefit of mankind. So, Lord

Siva entered his mind and created a desire for these two girls. Also,

the Lord wanted to teach mankind a great lesson. Lust is extremely

powerful. It can delude even a great devotee of the Lord like

Sundarar, if he is not ever vigilant. Maya's charms are powerful.

Unless this evil quality is burnt, the Jiva cannot reach Siva. Yet

another lesson. The lustful eye was the cause of Sundarar's downfall.

But, when it is used in the service of the Lord (for looking at the

holy shrines, holy images of God, saints, and study of scriptures)

the very same organ will help towards our emancipation.

 

Sundarar was, therefore, born as Arurar. The king of that place,

Narasinga Munaiyar, happened to see the beautiful child. He liked

him. He wanted to bring him up himself and asked for the parents'

permission, Sadaiyanar, whose mind was full of dispassion and who was

not attached to anything in this world, immediately complied with the

king's wish. As we shall see later, he and his devout wife are also

regarded as Nayanars.

 

The boy grew up under royal care. At the proper age, the parents

wanted to get their son married. Sadaiyanar sought Sandakavi

Sivachariar's consent to obtain his daughter's hand for his son,

Arurar. Sivachariar gladly agreed. But, the wedding was not to take

place.

 

Just when the ceremony was to begin, an old Brahmin, with sacred

ashes on his body, Rudraksha around his neck and matted locks on his

head appeared and said: `This man, Arurar, is my bond-slave. I have a

document to that effect executed by his grandfather. He cannot

marry.' This put an end to the ceremony. Sundarar and the Brahmin

left the place. The young bride fixed her mind on the holy feet of

Sundarar, shed her mortal coil and attained the immortal abode of

Lord Siva.

 

Sundarar and the old man had a heated argument. Sundarar asked

him: `Who are you and from where have you come?' To which the Brahmin

replied: `I belong to Tiruvennai Nellur.' Sundarar called him a liar

and said: `Come, let us go to Tiruvennai Nellur and get this dispute

settled by the wise men there.'

 

At Tiruvennai Nellur, before an assembly of wise men the old Brahmin

produced the document which read as follows:

 

I, Aruran, the Adi Saivite of Tirunavalur, execute this bond of

slavery with heart and soul. I and my progeny for all time to come

are bond-slaves to Pithan of Tiruvennai Nellur, and we are bound to

serve him by all means.

 

Pithan means Lord Siva who delights to be called a `mad man', to

exemplify the state of the highest Yogi whose behaviour resembles

that of a mad man but who teaches us that there is nothing in this

world worth taking any notice of and the worldly `wise men' are all

mad people in truth.

 

After examining the witnesses cited in the document and verifying the

grandfather's signature, the assembly confirmed the old man's claim.

Sundarar had to accept it as God's will. Followed by all of them the

Brahmin entered the temple of Tiru Arul Turai on the pretext of

showing them his house, and promptly vanished. Arurar understood that

it was the Lord Himself who had appeared as the old man to save him

from the shackles of Samsara. He was afflicted very much at heart

that he had not recognised Him earlier. He cried aloud. The Lord

appeared before him and blessed him: `Oh noble soul. You are already

My Bhakta. You were in My Abode in Kailasa before this birth as a

man. A wrong thought made you take this birth. Now I have Myself come

to save you.'

 

Because Sundarar had quarrelled with Him, the Lord Himself called him

Vanthondan (the devotee who used harsh words) and asked him to sing

His glories. `My clear child, you called Me Pithan (madman) during

your quarrel. So, begin with this word and compose a poem.' Sundarar

did so: the result was that inspiring poem Pitha Pirai Soodi. The

Lord Himself came to be known as Taduthatkonda Iswar (the Lord

prevented and saved him from Samsara).

 

Sundarar later visited a number of holy places and sang the praise of

the Lord in all of them. He came to Adigai Virattanam, the sacred

place where Appar served the Lord Viratteswarar and was blessed.

Sundarar did not like to place his foot on the sacred ground and so

stayed on the outskirts of the village.

 

That night when Sundarar was asleep, the Lord in the guise of an old

man entered the Mutt. He lay down close to where Sundarar was

sleeping and pretended to sleep. He then placed His feet on the head

of Sundarar. When Sundarar objected to this, the old man apologised.

Sundarar went over to another corner of the room. There, too, the old

man repeated the same action. Sundarar did not lose his temper. He

calmly asked him for his identity and explanation for the abnormal

behaviour. `Oh friend, don't you know me?' asked the Lord and

disappeared. Sundarar realised that it was again the Lord Himself.

Since he had not gone into the place for His Darshan, the Lord

Himself had come out to where the devotee was! Sundarar prayed: `Oh

Lord! How kind and merciful You are! Even devotees who are well

versed in Vedas and Agamas cannot touch Your feet. Out of love

towards this poor creature, You left Your abode and came here to

bless me with Your Holy Feet.'

 

Sundarar again continued his pilgrimage. At Tillai (Chidambaram), he

went into a trance even as he saw the temple tower. In his ecstasy he

rolled on the ground and shed profuse tears of love. He had the

Darshan of Lord Nataraja. A heavenly voice commanded him to go to

Tiruvarur.

 

He then visited many other shrines and came to Tiruvarur. The Lord

appeared to the Brahmins of Tiruvarur and asked them to receive

Sundarar with due honours. They did so. As Sundarar was worshipping

the Lord in the temple, he heard a heavenly voice: `Sundarar! I have

made you My friend. I prevented you from getting married. Hereafter

you will appear for ever as a bridegroom and sport on earth.'

Immediately, Sundarar became a handsome bridegroom. People called him

Tambiran Thozhar (friend of God).

 

In Tiruvarur, there was a chaste woman by name Paravayar who was none

other than Kamalini, the attendant of Parvathi in Kailasa. Daily she

would go to the temple and worship the Lord with faith and devotion

and sing His glories. One day, she came to the temple, as usual, with

her friends, to worship the Lord. At the same time, Sundarar, with

his devotees entered the temple. Prompted by past Karma, Sundarar was

attracted by Paravayar's beauty. He wanted to marry her, and entered

the shrine of the Lord with this thought. The Lord was his friend,

and so, he expressed his desire to Him!

 

Paravayar who had seen Sundarar in the temple also fell in love with

him and wanted to marry him.

 

The marriage was pre-ordained by Lord Siva Himself and it was now His

duty to bring it about. He appeared to both of them in their dreams

and told them that they would get married. He also commanded His

devotees in dream to arrange for the wedding of Paravayar and

Sundarar the very next day. This was done accordingly, to the joy of

both Paravayar and Sundarar.

 

One day, Arurar went into the temple and found a number of devotees

of the Lord there. He wanted to sing their glories. The Lord Himself

sang the first line of the famous poem Tiruthonda Thogai and by His

grace, Sundarar completed it.

 

During his stay at Tiruvarur, a Vellala by name Kundaiyur Kizhar who

was very highly devoted to him, was regularly supplying Paravayar

with enough grains and groceries for the maintenance of Sundarar and

the devotees. Suddenly there was famine in the district and people

suffered for want of food. Kundaiyur Kizhar was also affected. He was

afflicted at heart because he could not supply the needs of Sundarar.

Lord Siva appeared in his dream and promised enough grain! Kubera,

the God of wealth, did the needful, as commanded by the Lord. The

next morning, Kundaiyur Kizhar found huge heaps of grain. At the same

time the Lord appeared before Sundarar and informed him of the

incident. At once Sundarar left for Kundaiyur to meet Kizhar. They

met half-way. Sundarar saw the heaps of grain at Kundaiyur and knew

that it was His Lila. He went to a nearby Koili and sang the praise

of the Lord, and entreated Him to have the grain removed to

Tiruvarur. A celestial voice immediately assured him of this.

Sundarar returned to Tiruvarur and informed Paravayar of all that

happened. That night the Bhuta Ganas, the servants of Lord Siva,

removed the heaps of grain and filled the entire town of Tiruvarur

with it! Paravayar offered repeated prostrations to the Lord and sang

His glory. She asked the people to take the grain to appease their

hunger. Thus the famine came to an end. All the people glorified the

Lord and Paravayar.

 

Kotpuli Nayanar of Tirunattiyattankudi, the Commander-in-chief of a

Chola King, and an ardent devotee of Lord Siva came to Sundarar and

entreated him to grace his house with his presence. Sundarar agreed

to this and went. After worshipping Sundarar, Kotpuli Nayanar

prostrated himself at Sundarar's feet along with his two daughters,

Singadiyar and Vanappahaiyar, and pleaded that Sundarar should marry

the two daughters. Sundarar, however, placed them on his lap and

fondled them, treating them as his own daughters. Then Sundarar went

to the temple and sang in praise of the Lord, a song in which he

called himself Singadiappan, since he took Singadiyar as his

daughter.

 

Sundarar then returned to Tiruvarur. It was Paravayar's custom to

distribute plenty of money and other articles in charity on Panguni

Uttaram, a festival day. Sundarar went to Tirupugalur and prayed to

the Lord to give him gold for the sake of Paravayar. That night he

slept there with a few bricks as his pillow. The next morning, he

woke up to find that all the bricks had been converted into gold.

Sundarar was surprised at this miracle of Lord Siva and sang His

glory and returned to Tiruvarur. On the way he had a vision of the

Lord at Tiru Panaiyur.

 

After visiting many holy places again and singing hymns in praise of

the Lord, Sundarar came to Tiru Pachilasramam. There he worshipped

the Lord and asked for a gold coin. He did not get it immediately. He

sang a Padigam (song) and the Lord at once gave him a heap of gold.

The Lord was so fond of hearing Sundarar sing.

 

Then, Sundarar left for Vridhachalam, visiting a number of holy

places on the way. He had omitted Tiru Koodalaiyarrur. So, the Lord

came to him as a Brahmin of whom Sundarar enquired the way to

Vridhachalam. The Brahmin led the way up to a certain distance, and

then suddenly disappeared. It was close to Tiru Koodalaiyarrur which

Sundarar now visited and sang a song in praise of the Lord there.

 

Then Sundarar came to Vridhachalam. He worshipped the Lord, and sang

a Padigam expressing his desire for gold coins. The Lord gave him

12,000 pieces of gold. Sundarar prayed to the Lord to remove these

gold pieces to Tiruvarur. The Lord asked him to throw them into the

river Manimukta and to receive them back at Tiruvarur. Sundarar did

so, keeping a piece for identification. On return to Tiruvarur,

Sundarar and Paravayar went to the tank to get back the gold pieces.

Sundarar dived into the eastern side of the tank and searched for the

gold, as though he had put them there. He could not find them. Sorely

afflicted at heart, he sang a song. That was what the Lord wanted.

Sundarar got the gold. All were amazed. But, on identification, it

was found that the gold was inferior in value to the piece that

Sundarar had kept back with him. He sang a song: and the Lord

restored to them their original value. So fond was He of hearing

Sundarar sing a song.

 

Sundarar went out on another pilgrimage again. On the way, he was

afflicted with hunger and thirst. The Lord Who is the Indweller of

our hearts, erected a water-shed and was waiting for Sundarar there

in the guise of a Brahmin. Sundarar and the devotees entered the

shed, singing the Panchakshara. The Brahmin offered him food and

water and asked him to rest awhile. All of them appeased their

hunger, but the quantity of the food remained the same. When they

were resting, after food, the Lord disappeared. They knew that it was

none other than the Lord Himself. Sundarar sang a song alluding to

this incident.

 

On another occasion, soon after this, while on a visit to Tirukachur,

Sundarar went to the temple, worshipped the Lord and was resting

outside the temple, feeling hungry. The Lord understood it: and so,

in the guise of a Brahmin came to Sundarar and said: `It appears that

you are hungry. Please wait here. I will give you food.' The Lord at

once went out in the scorching sun, begged from each and every house,

and offered the food so obtained, to Sundarar. As Sundarar and the

devotees were eating, the Brahmin disappeared: and they understood

that it was the Lord Himself. Sundarar sang a song alluding to this

incident, revealing the Lord's supreme mercy.

 

Later on, he went to Tiruvotriyur and stayed there for some time,

worshipping the Lord there. Aninditiyar, the other maid-servant of

Parvathi in Kailasa, who had also taken a human birth, was now

Sangilyar in Jnayiru in Thondai Nadu. Her father was Jnayiru Kizhar,

a Vellala by caste. He was also a staunch devotee of Lord Siva.

Sangiliyar was devoted to Parvati from her very childhood. Once her

parents mentioned that she should get married, but the very

word `marriage' made her faint. Later, a respectable Vellala wanted

to marry her. He sent some people to approach the girl's father.

Jnayiru Kizhar did not like even to speak to his daughter about it.

He sent them away with an evasive reply. Soon after, the boy who

wanted to marry Sangiliyar, and the party that went to negotiate,—all

of them died. When Jnayiru Kizhar heard this, he understood the

greatness of his daughter. He took her to Tiruvotriyur and built a

small Ashram for her there.

 

It was part of Sangiliyar's Sadhana to make garlands for the Lord in

the temple. She regularly visited the temple and worshipped the Lord.

One day Sundarar and the devotees went to the temple. After the

worship, they came to the place where some devotees were making

garlands for the Lord. Sangiliyar was also there. Sundarar was

attracted by her beauty, due to past Samskaras. He wanted to marry

her, and expressed this wish to the Lord. The Lord promised to fulfil

his wish.

 

The Lord appeared in Sangiliyar's dream and said: `Oh noble soul, I

am highly pleased with your devotion. Now I tell this for your own

good. Sundarar wants to marry you. He is My friend. He asked Me to

arrange the marriage. So, marry him. You will be happy.' Sangiliyar

prostrated before the Lord and said: `Oh Lord, I will obey Your

command and marry him. But, he may desert me since he is already

married.' The Lord asked her to get a promise from Sundarar that he

would not part from her under any circumstance.

 

Then the Lord appeared before Sundarar and said that Sangiliyar had

agreed to marry him on condition that he would not part from her.

Sundarar said: `Oh Lord, how can I agree to this condition since I am

constantly moving about visiting many holy shrines? But, if You so

desire, then assure me that You will withdraw Your presence from the

Lingam in the temple and will take Your abode in the nearby tree,

when I take the oath before Your image.' The Lord granted him this

wish and disappeared.

 

He again appeared before Sangiliyar and said: `Oh noble soul,

Sundarar has agreed to your condition. But, ask him to make this

promise, not before the Lingam in the temple, but in front of the

nearby tree.'

 

The next morning Sangiliyar came to the temple. Sundarar was waiting

there for her. Sangiliyar's friends told him that she wished the

promise to be given in front of the nearby tree. He was taken aback,

but accepted the proposal. The promise was given. The marriage was

immediately solemnised.

 

In Tiruvarur, Vasanta Utsavam was being celebrated on a grand scale.

Sundarar remembered the festival and longed to go there. He also

recollected that Paravayar would sing and dance there in front of the

Lord. At the same time, he could not part from Sangiliyar. For a long

time, he struggled between the two conflicting duties. Finally, he

decided to leave.

 

When he crossed the border of Tiruvotriyur, he suddenly lost his eye-

sight and fell down on the ground. The Lord is impartial. None can

escape the operation of the Law of Divine Justice. Sundarar slowly

regained his consciousness. Immediately he realised his fault and

prayed to the Lord for forgiveness, asking for the grant of the eye-

sight. `Oh Lord, I take complete refuge in You. I always repeat Your

Name. Even when I fell down losing my eye-sight, I remembered You

only. Oh Lord of Mercy, even if I commit a crime, is it not Your duty

to forgive me? Oh Lord of Compassion, save me.' In spite of the

blindness, however, his thirst for the Darshan of the Lord at

Tiruvarur did not abate. With the help of some people on the way he

came to Tiru Mullaivayil. Here, again, he prayed to the Lord to give

him eye-sight. At Tiruvembakkam he again prayed to the Lord in a

similar strain. In the temple, he prayed and asked: `Oh Lord Who

accepted me into His fold, prostrations unto Thee. Oh Lord Who

cleverly played a trick on me, are You inside the temple?' The Lord

gave a stern reply: `I am here; you can go.' and gave him a blind-

man's stick. This attitude of indifference on the part of the Lord

pained Sundarar and he pleaded for mercy. `Oh Lord of Mercy, have I

not taken You as my sole refuge and support? I committed a mistake

thinking that You will pardon me. You are even indifferent to public

criticism. Will they not accuse You for turning a deaf ear to a

devotee who is sincerely weeping at Your feet, accepting his fault

and craving for pardon? Oh Lord, can You not understand suffering?

Like a loving child that has been separated from its mother for a

long time and wants to hug her, I have come to You: but, instead, You

treat me like a stranger. Oh Lord, You deceived me, who asked You to

remain for a while near the tree, by cleverly informing Sangiliyar of

the same and asking her to get the promise from me near the tree. Oh

Lord, You gave me Sangiliyar and all the pleasures. But, now You give

me the blind-man's staff and say `You can go'. Oh Lord, am I unfit to

receive Your mercy? Pardon me and relieve me of my sufferings.'

 

Then, completely resigning himself to God, Sundarar came to

Conjeevaram, after visiting many holy places on the way. He

worshipped Mother Kamakshi and expressed his sufferings to her and

pleaded to her to relieve him of his sufferings. Sundarar then

worshipped Lord Ekambareswarar. Mother Who is seated on His left

side, had already been moved by Sundarar's prayers and wanted to

shower Her grace on him. Lord Siva understood this. He at once

restored vision to Sundarar's left eye. In ecstasy he rolled on the

ground, shedding profuse tears of love.

 

After spending some days there, singing the glories of the Lord,

Sundarar proceeded to go to Tiruvarur. At Tiruvavaduthurai, he again

prayed to the Lord to forgive him and restore sight to the other eye,

too. Sundarar then came to Thiruthurithi. The Lord asked him to take

a dip in the northern tank there. Sundarar did so, and came out of

it. To the surprise of all, his body had become as bright as polished

gold. People were amazed at this change. Sundarar went into the

temple and prayed.

 

Sundarar reached the outskirts of Tiruvarur. He grieved that, due to

his partial sight, he could not get a complete Darshan of the Lord.

The very sight of the temple tower entranced him. Sundarar wanted to

feast both his eyes on the beauty of the Lord and so prayed to Him to

restore vision to his other eye also. Sundarar's supreme devotion and

lamentation moved the Lord's heart. He at once cured the other eye

also. Sundarar was extremely happy. He worshipped the Lord and

remained completely absorbed in divine bliss.

 

In the mean time, people whom Paravayar had sent to greet Sundarar

and inform him of her eagerness to meet him, found out that he had

married Sangiliyar. They went back and told Paravayar about this.

Paravayar was sunk in grief. She was annoyed, too. Paravayar's people

refused to allow Sundarar's devotees to enter the house. When

Sundarar heard of this, he was afflicted at heart. He sent some

elderly devotees to Paravayar, to bring about a reunion. They failed.

At midnight when all the devotees were asleep, he prayed to the Lord

for His help in pacifying Paravayar. The Lord appeared before him and

assured him of His help. The Lord disguised Himself as Sundarar's

messenger, a Brahmin priest, and went to Paravayar's house. The

Brahmin pleaded Sundarar's cause and asked her to accept him back.

She refused, though she herself was grief-stricken at the separation

from Sundarar. Her annoyance at his second marriage was so great! The

Lord coolly returned to Sundarar, who was anxiously awaiting His

return. When the Lord informed Sundarar of all that had happened,

Sundarar fell down on the ground, in grief. `If You do not help me,

Oh Lord, I will give up my life.' The Lord seeing Sundarar's pitiable

condition, assured him of help and again set out to go to Paravayar's

house.

 

In the mean time, the devout Paravayar had understood that the

Brahmin was no other than the Lord Himself and was suffering from

terrible anguish for not recognising Him. The Lord again went to her

house: and this time He appeared before her in His real form.

Paravayar at once prostrated before Him. The Lord said: `O Paravayar,

I have again been sent by Sundarar to plead his case. Do not refuse

this time. He is undergoing terrible agony on account of separation

from you. Accept him and allow him to come to your house.' Paravayar

prostrated to the Lord again, with folded palms and said: `Oh Lord,

first You came in the guise of a Brahmin but I did not recognise You.

Again You have come and have shown me Your real form. Oh Lord, how

kind You are! You have graced my hut and showered Your grace on me.

You have taken so much trouble this midnight, for the sake of Your

friend. How can I go against Your wish? I will accept and obey Your

command.' The Lord was immensely pleased with her. He blessed her and

returned to Sundarar. The Lord informed him that he had pacified

Paravayar and that he could now return to her. He then disappeared.

Sundarar was overwhelmed with joy and sang the Lord's glories.

 

In the mean time, Paravayar had decorated her house beautifully and

was eagerly waiting for her Lord. Sundarar, with his devotees,

entered the house. Paravayar fell at his feet. Thus they were re-

united after a long separation.

 

Yet, this was not all. The news that Sundarar had sent Lord Siva

Himself as his messenger, had reached the ears of Eyarkon Kalikama

Nayanar of Tiru Perumangalam in Ponni Nadu. He was a great devotee of

Lord Siva. He was terribly angry with Sundarar for treating the Lord

as a messenger to settle a domestic quarrel. How, in a wonderful and

mysterious manner Lord Siva brings about a reconciliation between the

two Nayanars, both of them greatly devoted to Him, we shall see, when

we describe the life of Kalikama Nayanar.

 

Equally interesting is the way in which the Lord unites in friendship

Sundarar and Cheraman Perumal Nayanar, another royal devotee of the

Lord. We shall describe it in detail when we come to the life of

Cheraman Perumal Nayanar.

 

When, along with Cheraman Perumal, Sundarar was proceeding to

Madurai, they arrived at Tirunagaikkoronam. Here Sundarar sang a song

in which he asked the Lord to give him a pearl garland, precious

stones, musk, spectacles, fragrance, clothes, jewelry, one-third of

the wealth of Tiruvarur, horses which ran as fast as the wind, golden

flowers, palanquin, etc. How wonderful is the relation between the

devotee and the Lord! Sundarar regarded God as his friend, because

God Himself had wanted it to be so. He adopted towards God the Sakhya

Bhava (attitude of a dear friend).

 

In the company of Cheraman Perumal, Sundarar went on several

pilgrimages, and met many of the kings of South India. Once, when

they were at Tiru Kandiyur, they saw Tiruvaiyar on the opposite bank

of the river. Cheraman desired to visit that place also. The river

was in flood, and it was impossible to cross it. Sundarar sincerely

prayed to the Lord to help them. He sang one of his songs which

easily pleased the Lord. At once the river gave way, leaving a sandy

tract through which they could walk across to the other bank. As soon

as they reached the other bank, the river resumed its former form.

They were delighted at this miracle of the Lord. Even the five

elements are ever ready to serve the devotees of the Lord, at His

command.

 

Cheraman then took Sundarar to his own place, with great honour and

pomp. Sundarar stayed with Cheraman for some time. He suddenly

remembered the Lord of Tiruvarur and wanted to go there. Cheraman

could not accompany him and was therefore grief-stricken. Sundarar

consoled him and asked him to stay behind and rule the country wisely

and justly. Cheraman prostrated himself before him and gave him rich

presents. He sent his own people to carry these presents, and to

accompany Sundarar. It was the Lord's wish that Sundarar should

receive gifts only from Him! How could His friend receive from

others? Hence, He desired to deprive Sundarar of what Cheraman had

given him. When Sundarar and his retinue were passing through

Tirumuruganpondi, the Lord sent His Servants to rob Sundarar of all

the riches that he had received from Cheraman. The Lord's Servants

disguised themselves as hunters and attacked the party that was

carrying the presents. The party dropped all and fled. They went to

Sundarar and reported to him what had happened. Sundarar went to the

local temple and sang a Padigam. He came out of the temple and to his

surprise he saw there all that they had been robbed of. Now, it was a

gift from the Lord Himself, and so Sundarar, God's friend, could have

it. Wonderful are the Lilas of the Lord.

 

After some time, Sundarar again desired to see Cheraman Perumal. On

the way to Kundakolur, he went to Tiru Pukkoliyur Avinasi. As he

entered this place, he heard simultaneously auspicious as well

wailing sounds emerging from different houses.

 

On enquiry, he learnt how two Brahmin boys of the same age, from

these two houses went to tank for a bath; and how one of them was

caught by a crocodile, and the other escaped, providentially. The

latter was being invested with the sacred thread that day, and hence

the auspicious sound from that house. The people in the deceased

boy's house were bemoaning the loss of the boy, sore at the feeling

that, had he been alive, he would also be celebrating the sacred

thread ceremony that day. Sundarar wanted to console the bereaved

family. As he stood in front of the house, the people stopped wailing

and came out to receive Sundarar. They were eager for a long time to

get his Darshan, and so, forgetting their sorrow, they came to

welcome him. Their devotion moved Sundarar's heart. He was prompted

by the Lord to bring the dead boy back to life. So, he went to the

same tank and sang a song on the Lord of Avinasi to give the child

back to the parents. The Creator, pleased with Sundarar, entered the

stomach of the crocodile and re-constituted the body of the boy,

though it had already been digested. Lord Yama, too, for his part,

released from his custody, the life he had once removed and the

crocodile vomitted the boy! To the wonder of all, the boy was much

more handsome than when he met with the accident, and he showed signs

of growth, appropriate to the lapse of time. All were amazed at this

miracle of Sundarar. The parents of the boy were immensely pleased

and embraced Sundarar's feet. Sundarar took the boy to the temple and

worshipped Lord Avinasiappar. He himself performed the sacred thread

ceremony for him.

 

At Kodunkolur, Cheraman, who had already come to know of the

crocodile miracle, received Sundarar with still greater love and

veneration than before. Sundarar stayed with the king for some time.

One day Sundarar visited the temple alone and worshipped the Lord.

The very sight of the Lord sent him into trance. He rolled on the

ground shedding tears of God-love. The hairs on his body stood on end

and his mind was filled with rapture. He regained consciousness after

a long time. He was tired of worldly existence and so requested the

Lord to take him back to Kailasa. He sang a Padigam.

 

The Lord, desiring to take Sundarar back to His Abode, commanded the

celestials to bring him to Kailasa on a white elephant. He also

informed Sundarar of this. Sundarar came out of the temple. The white

elephant was waiting for him there. He mentally wished to take

Cheraman Perumal also with him to Kailasa. Then he climbed the

elephant and proceeded towards Kailasa.

 

In a Padigam he sang on this occasion, Sundarar himself reveals that

this departure for Kailasa was not in his physical body, but in his

spiritual body. The physical body was discarded here in this world

itself, and the elements of which it was composed were returned to

their sources.

 

Cheraman learnt by intuition of Sundarar's departure for Kailasa. At

once, he mounted a horse and came to Tiru Anchaikalam. There he saw

Sundarar going along the sky on the celestial elephant. At once

Cheraman pronounced the Panchakshara in the ears of the horse. The

horse flew up and reached Sundarar. Cheraman worshipped Sundarar

there. Both of them went to Kailasa in their spiritual body.

 

At the Gate of Kailasa, Sundarar was allowed to enter, while Cheraman

was not. Sundarar went into His presence and praised His mercy: `Oh

Ocean of Mercy, You have pardoned my sins and released me from the

quagmire of Samsara. You have taken me back into Your fold, and

bestowed on me the Immortal Bliss. How kind and merciful You are!' He

then informed the Lord that Cheraman was outside the Gate. To please

His friend, Lord Siva sent His Mount, Nandikesvarar to bring Cheraman

also in. The Lord asked Cheraman how he could come to Kailasa without

His permission. Cheraman replied that when he saw Sundarar proceeding

to Kailasa, he could not bear separation from him and so accompanied

him. Now, by the good offices of Sundarar which earned for him the

Lord's grace he had been admitted into the Lord's Abode. In these

words, Cheraman expressed a very great truth: that even if the

devotee is undeserving, if he is devoted to a saint (the Guru), he

will also gain a place in the kingdom of God, through the

intercession of the Guru.

 

Sundarar, as before, engaged himself in His service with all his

heart and soul. Paravayar and Sangiliyar, being purged of their

Karmas, also reached Kailasa. They resumed their original duty as the

servants of Mother Parvathi.