Saint Sketch -7- Sri Sridhara Venkatesa Ayyaval -Last Part By Sri.Sri.Muralidhara Swamiji

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         Sri Shridhara Ayyaval

 

One Sri Shridhara Ayyaval was on his way to Kaveri for a bath. It was 'Sraardha'

(ceremony for ancestors) in his home and everything was ready for it. On his

way, he found a man who was poor and low in caste lying on the ground

unconscious due to hunger. Not standing the suffering of the man, Sri Shridhara

Ayyaval, rushed to his home and brought the food prepared for the ceremony and

gave it to the man. Sri Shridhara Ayyaval , who saw the Lord in all, neither had

a second thought about doing this nor was he bothered about the sin he might

incur. He knew that by appeasing the hunger of this man, he would be pleasing

the Lord. After giving him food, Sri Shridhara Ayyaval, went back home and

cleaned the entire place. He cooked fresh food for the priests and invited them

for performing the ceremony. The priests who were to perform the ceremony were

already jealous of Sri Shridhara Ayyaval. Considering this the right opportunity

to get back at him, they

picked up fight with Sri Shridhara Ayyaval. Sri Shridhara Ayyaval quoted

scriptures to show the greatness of timely help and said it was in no way sinful

to feed a hungry man. However, the priests were adamant and refused to accept

any explanation. They all walked out of the house and announced Sri Shridhara

Ayyaval as an outcast.

 

Sri Shridhara Ayyaval accepted this too as the divine will of Lord and continued

the ceremony without help of the priests. The Trinity of Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu

and Lord Brahma themselves appeared at the home of Sri Shridhara Ayyaval and

participated in the ceremony! They partook of the food cooked by Sri Shridhara

Ayyaval with pleasure. What will the Lord not do for His loving devotee?

 

Though the ceremony was performed that way that year, the next year Sri

Shridhara Ayyaval, again requested the priests to participate in the ceremony,

soft at heart that he was. The arrogant priests refused bluntly. Sri Shridhara

Ayyaval begged that he would do any atonement for the sin incurred. The priests

then said, " In that case, take a dip the Holy river of Ganga. That is the only

atonement for the terrible sin incurred. " Sri Shridhara Ayyaval replied, " The

Holy Ganga is up in north and I am already old. I do not think I can travel that

far anymore. Instead, I shall bring the Holy Ganga to me well here in the

backyard. " Hearing this, the priests said, " How preposterous of you to speak so!

Of course, there are some verses in the scriptures, which exalt the Holy Name of

Ganga by saying that if one takes a dip in any water chanting the name of Ganga,

he would gain the merit of having taken a dip the Holy River Ganga. But these

are nothing but

exaggerations! Just as you exaggerate the glory of Divine Names! " and laughed

out. " Don't even imagine that you can trick us and become one among us again! "

Sri Shridhara Ayyaval humbly replied, " I do not intend to cheat anybody. I shall

bring the Holy Ganga right here. " Saying so, he prayed to Holy Ganga in eight

verses by composing Gangashtakam. And lo! The Holy River Ganga gushed out of the

well in the backyard of Sri Shridhara Ayyaval's home!

 

The priests were terrified to witness this miracle. Now they were alarmed to see

the river gush out to the roads! They ran and fell at Sri Shridhara Ayyaval's

feet and begged his pardon. They requested Sri Shridhara Ayyaval to send the

river back! Sri Shridhara Ayyaval invited all of them to take a dip in the

river. The panicked mass insisted he send it back and refused to take a dip. Sri

Shridhara Ayyaval then prayed to Mother Ganga to stay in his well in the

backyard of his home for ever. The Holy River Ganges heeded his prayers. This

incident happened in the month of 'Karthika' on a new moon day. Till this day,

many pilgrims travel to Tiruvisainallur to take a dip in this well every year

new moon day of the Karthika month.

 

Sri Shridhara Ayyaval joined Sri Bodendra Swamigal in spreading the message of

chanting the Divine Names as the easiest means to gain both material and

spiritual benefits. One day, while Sri Shridhara Ayyaval was on his way to visit

the temple of Lord Shiva, he discoursed to his devotees emphasizing the glory of

divine names and love for the Lord. Sri Shridhara Ayyaval looked unusually

bright and lustrous that day. In the sanctum sanctorum of the Lord, he prayed

with tears in his eyes to the Lord by singing many verses. Overwhelmed by the

pangs of separation from the Lord and unable to stand it any longer, Sri

Shridhara Ayyaval rushed to the Sanctum of the Lord in order to embrace Him.

While the priests attempted to stop him, Sri Shridhara Ayyaval, ran and

disappeared into the Sanctum of the Lord. The Lord, in the form of Linga, shone

brightly like a sun for some time. The awestruck devotees stood looking on, as

this wonderful incident happened, and shed

tears.

 

Sri Shridhara Ayyaval spent every moment of his life striving to uplift the mass

by spreading the nectarine Divine Names of the Lord. Let us all pray to Sri

Shridhara Ayyaval to bless us all with a taste for the divine names of the Lord.

 

Regards

 

Let’s Chant

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

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