Somasimara Nayanar

2

Somasimara Nayanar

Ambar…

The Shenbaga flowers welcome the visitors entering the village with their pleasant aroma! Growing all     over the village, the Shenbaga trees appear to not only proclaim the blessedness of the village by their profuse sweet smelling flowers throughout the year but also to convey their reverence to Easan. As the visitor   relishes the aroma as he enters, he is equally welcomed by the reverberating chants of Veda mantras emanating from the Agraharam which appear to reach the clouds in the sky!

That day…

The whole Agraharam appears to be very active…

The ladies are busy sweeping   the entrance of their houses unmindful of the hot midday sun. They are busy sprinkling water and drawing Kolam  of beautiful colours.

The house of Sarma…

 As an old Brahmin comes out and looks around intently, his grandson comes near him.

Thatha ( Grandfather)  to his Peran (Grandson)

Hey! What has happened? Have our ladies forgotten to sweep and draw Kolam before sunrise today?

 Why they are doing it now under this hot midday sun?

Peran (laughing heartily)

Thatha! They are not going to stop with drawing of Kolam alone. They will be decorating the entrance with plantain trees and also tie buntings as a welcoming arch across the street… The whole Agraharam is going to take a festive look… After all are we not supposed to give a befitting welcome?

Thatha

Everyone is ignoring me and not keeping me informed. Who is the great man coming to our house?

Peran

Oh! Thatha!  Why will the whole Agraharam be spruced up to welcome a visitor coming to our house? I hear that some Pundits (learned people) are coming to our village from Kasi …

Thatha is taken aback for a second..

Thatha

Aaha! How fortunate I am! I have no good fortune to visit Kasi all these years but now at least I will be able to revere the people coming from there. Please take me to them when they come here. You will be blessed…

Peran (proudly)

 I will definitely do that. Not only that. Let me get half a ‘Kasu’, I will take you along to Kasi itself!     

Hearing this Thatha laughs aloud and Peran blinks not knowing the reason for his laughter.

Thatha

You are a dimwit just like your father! With half a Kasu, we cannot go even to the nearby Thiruvarur!

Peran (forlorn on hearing this)

 Do you mean that I will never be able to see Lord  Kasi Viswanathar?  

 Thatha (pacifying the child)

Why not? If you pray to Him with total devotion, He may even come here and give darisanam!

Peran

 If that is so, let us close our eyes and pray to Him.

He closes his eyes and in a moment a cart carrying plantain trees reaches the house. Disturbed by the noise, he opens his eyes and runs out with a great shout forgetting his prayer!

Startled by the sudden noise, Thatha opens his eyes only to to find his grandson running out of the house!

    ******

Ambar…

In the Sivan temple, the pundits from Kasi are given a grand welcome. After their visit to the temple they are brought in a procession to the Agraharam by the village elders.  As the procession reaches the Vedapatasalai, the chanting of Veda mantras comes to a stop. The Aacharyan who has been relishing the chants opens his eyes. Hearing the commotion outside, he rushes there. On seeing the village elders bringing the pundits with great pomp and show, he welcomes them with folded hands.

The Village Elder (addressing the Pundits from Kasi)

This is Somasimaranar whom you all wanted to meet with.

 The pundits from Kasi pay their respects to Somasimaranar. He requests them to come inside his Patasalai and to be seated.  The Vedapatasalai gets filled up as the locals also enter and get seated with them.

Kasi Pundit1

Perumane! Having heard of your glory, we have come all the way from Kasi only to have your darisanam.

Aacharyan (surprised)

For having my darisanam! How can a man seek darisanam of another man, a human?

 Kasi Pundit 2

 The one who teaches Veda is equal to Lord Brahma Himself!

“Guru Brahma, Guru Vishnu, Guru Devo Maheswara,

Guru Sakshat Para Brahma, tasmai Sri Guruve namah”

You must please take the role of our Guru and clarify our doubts on Vedas.   For us , seeking your darisanam is therefore  most appropriate !

 Aacharyan

All the Glory belongs to Easan!  We are all mere mortals! Easan is the Lord of all of us mortals. He is the Guru, the supreme teacher of all. We are all equal before him. A man can only see another man. Darisanam is reserved only for Easan.  To have His darisanam is the ultimate aim of being born in this earth. Om Namasivaya! Sivame Om!

All the assembled join their hands in supplication and bow to Easan.

Pundit1

Only you can clarify the doubts we have in understanding some of the postulates of the Vedas.

Aacharyan

How come the learned Pundits of Kasi are having doubts in Vedas? How is that you have come all the way from Kasi to this remote tiny speck of a village to get clarifications? It is all very surprising!

 Pundit2

We have heard about the ‘Soma Yagams’ you conduct … We also came to know that people hail you as      ‘Somayaji’ because of that.  Though we are well versed in Sanskrit and can recite the slokas in perfect phonetics, we are ignorant of their deeper significance. Due to that we are confronted with a lot of problems… You must kindly solve our problem and help us.   

Aacharyan

 All right… Please go ahead and ask your queries.

There is pin drop silence in the Vedapatasalai as everyone is eager to listen to the discussion.

 Pundit1

They say that the Vedas are very ancient and they were given by Easan at the time of creation of the universe itself. Is that true?

Aacharyan

Yes! It is! 

Pundit2

It was Atharvana Munivar who was the first to discover that fire can be started by skimming ‘aranikattai’.  Only thereafter, fire came to be used in yagams.  However all the Vedas talk about starting and kindling the fire in a yagam for propitiating the Devatas.  It is therefore logical that the Vedas must have been written only after the discovery of creating fire by the Munivar.  Then how is it correct to say that the Vedas were given by Easan at the time of creation of the universe?

 Hearing this argument, all those assembled heave a sigh of surprise!

Aacharyan

It is true that the method discovered by Atharvana Munivar for starting a fire was used in the conduct of Yagams. But where was the fire before he discovered it? It was very much there.   He only discovered how to start a fire when needed and not the fire itself!  Before he was born … at the time of creation of universe, Agni was also created…

In the forests when dry barks of trees rub against trees, fire gets started. This was known to mankind and they made use of it and also ensured that it did not get extinguished. Atharvana Munivar only discovered a way of starting a fire when needed. That is all.

 The primordial sound Om, transformed into huge light of powerful Agni, then wind, water and earth and formed this universe. At the time of creation of the universe, Easan gave the Vedas to mankind. Vedas were not written by anyone. It is an amalgamation of all things that are present and true. Like Agni, Vedas also   remain from the time of creation of this universe! The truths are present in front of us always. It is the bounden duty men to recognize and make use of them.

Pundit2

Aaha! A very fantastic explanation.. This very question was posed to us in the great congregation in Kasi and we were unable to give a convincing answer and were shamed. The facts and theorems are always available to us. It is very wrong to claim its discovery as one’s own when it comes to light. There are many such questions posed to us which we were unable to answer. Only you can explain the answers to us please!

Aacharyan

What is your next question?

Pundit1

If there are more than one item it is but natural to compare them to find which is better than the other. There are four Vedas. Out of this which the best and which is the worst?  

A Village Elder (surprised)

What is this?  Why such controversial questions are posed?

Aacharyan

Since the postulates of Vedas and the directions they show are wide ranging and large, they were subdivided into four. Since it is basically one which has been divided into four, the question of anyone being superior or inferior does not arise! Rigvedam tells the root mantras of Devatas who are propitiated in the Yagam… It describes the procedure for the conduct of Yagams.. Yajurvedam describes the method of revering the Devatas through gestures. Samavedam is the musical rendition of the slokas of Rigvedam. Out of the 1875 slokas, 1800 of them are explanations of Rigvedam. Atharvanavedam  enumerates the way of conducting Yagams through arts like drama nad dance. All the Vedas say one and the same thing.  That is this. If one has to attain Mukti, the lotus feet of Iraivan, the only method is to lead his life as enunciated in the Vedas.    

Pundit3

You said that there is nothing like superior or inferior among the four Vedas. But Lord Krishna in Bhagavad Gita says,’ Among the Vedas I am Samavedam’. He has therefore elevated Samavedam to a higher pedestal and made it superior! Was He puzzled when He said this?

Aacharyan (without showing any emotion)

In the same Gita, He has said,  “Out of the ‘Months’, I am Margazhi”. It is a fallacy to conclude from this statement that the month of Margazhi is superior to all other months. To indicate that He is of pleasant disposition, he compared Himself to the month of Margazhi. Likewise, to indicate that He is sweet by nature like the music, He equated Himself to Samavedam.

The Audience

Aaha! What an apt explanation!

Pundit4

We have proficiency in Sanskrit.  Yet, we are unable to fully understand the depth and import of the slokas in the Vedas. On top of it there are 108 Upanishads to master. In the Mahasabha, we have been troubled by questions on various Upanishads to our utter discomfiture.  We want to know what the Upanishads convey.

Aacharyan

Every Veda is subdivided into three sections. The first section is called “Samhitai’. It details the method of prayer to various deities.  The second section is ‘Brahmanam’. It gives the details of performance of Yagam to these deities. The third section is called the ‘Aranyakam’.  It includes the Upanishads. The Upanishads bring out the hidden truth contained in the Vedas. The Upanishads contained in the Aranyakam are countless. But only 108 of them are prominent. Even out of these only fourteen are often referred to by learned people. Aitharya and Kousithaki of Rigvedam- Isa, Kata, Brihadahranyaka, Swtaswatara, Mythrayani, Mahanarayan of Yajurvedam- Kena and Santhokkiya of Samavedam - Prasna, Mundaka, and Mandukkiya of Atharvanavedam are these fourteen. Proficiency in Sanskrit alone is not enough to discern the gist of Vedas. It is only Upanishads which reveal their true import. Learning and teaching of Vedas have to be undertaken only with guidance of a Guru. There can be only one correct answer for a question.  The true import of Vedas were revealed only by those who were proficient to do so and they became Upanishads.

The Audience

Yes! A good explanation.

Aacharyan

What is the next question?

 Pundit3

Is not Agni one of the ‘Panchabhuthas’? When it is so, what is your reply to the accusation that only Agni is given prominence in the yagams?   

Aacharyan

Out of the Panchabhuthas, only Agni absorbs whatever offerings are made to it and yet retains its sanctity and flourishes! All deities are therefore propitiated as if they have assumed the form of Agni. At the end of the Yagam, even Iraivan accepts the final offering of ‘Avirbaham’ taking the form of Agni. Agni is the base on which the universe functions. It gives life to all living entities. That is why the Vedas say Agni is none but Iraivan! The Samavedam, in its very beginning, reveres Iraivan in the form of Agni.

Pundit

The Vedas say that there are seven varieties of Agni. We are able to see only one type. Where are the rest six?   This is one of the questions posed to make us embarrassed.  

Aacharyan

The Vedas which proclaim that the very functioning of the Universe is based on Agni, say (Neer)Water, (Neruppu)Fire, ( Katru)Wind, ( Mann)Earth, ( Aakayam)Ether(Sky), (Manasu)Mind and (Ahamkaram)Ego  are the seven Agnis. Ahamkaram is the mind set of feeling that ‘everything is because of own self’. A human is made of these seven types of Agni. Lord Krishna says in Gita that by begetting the human being. The seven Agnis are the Seven Divine Mothers (Saptamatha).  

Pundit3

This one question I am going to ask is the one which makes us humiliated. By asking this question, the Buddhists and Samanars defeat us easily in any debate. They argue, “You say your Iraivan is very compassionate. But Your Vedas say that you have to offer goats, cows, fowl and horses by sacrificing them in Yagams and He accepts them as Avirbaham. There is another brutality… The Kapalikas… They carry out human sacrifice and do abhishekam with blood and consume the offerings as prasadam. It is nauseating and horrible even to hear these things.  How can you accept the one who allows such cruelty as your Iraivan?” 

He bows his head shedding copious tears.  The womenfolk in the audience cup their ears as if his narration is echoing around the Vedapatasalai while the Brahmins in the audience wonder what Somasimaranar is going to reply.

 Aacharyan (looking at the Pundit who posed the question)

 Pundithare! Supposing a poor and hungry man knocks on your door, what will you give him ?

 Pundit3

Whatever eatables are available at home will be given to him.

 Aacharyan

Supposing a Sivanadiyar comes to your house seeking alms, what will you do?

Pundit3

We will revere him, welcome him and do ‘Padapujai’. We will prepare whatever food is requested by him or agreeable to him and serve him with due respect as per tradition. We will ensure he goes off fully satisfied and happy.

Aacharyan

Supposing some guests are coming to your house, how will you entertain them?

Pundit3 (wondering why he is asking such questions)

We will welcome them and entertain them as per laid down norms for treatment of guests

Aacharyan

Could you please explain in detail?

Pundit3 (squirming slightly)

The guests will be welcomed with a smiling face and given the needed items for their rest and refreshment.  They will be served with sufficient food items which they wish to partake. We will ensure they are treated with the same courtesy and vigour irrespective of how long they choose to stay with us as guests. We will ensure that they leave our house at the end of their stay with great happiness.

Aacharyan

Supposing the guests are your own kith and kin or they are related due to matrimonial alliance!

 Pundit3

In that case, the feast will be fantabulous!   We will, ensure that they feel proud of our children having betrothed into their families.

Aacharyan

Supposing they want to have mutton, chicken or beef?

Pundit3 (angrily)

We will not accept such people as our guests. We will serve only those items of food which we ourselves take.

Aacharyan

That is fine! How will a hunter entertain a guest in his house?

Pundit3

I have heard that he would serve the tastiest portion of the meat of the animal he has hunted to his guests!

Aacharyan

Next! Supposing Iraivan Himself comes as a guest to your house?

Pundit3

Will it not be an unimaginable great blessing! I will prostrate before Him in great reverence and welcome   Him.    Offering Him the golden seat   I will perform Padapujai with all sincerity leaving entirely at His disposal my body, my life and my possessions.  I will keep standing facing Him not even batting my eyelid so that I do not miss seeing Him even for that miniscule part of a second. 

Aacharyan

You said you would leave your body, life and possessions at His disposal.  I understand body and life. What does the ‘possessions’ include?

Pundit3 (after a little thought)

My wife, my children, the gold, the goods, my lands, the animals, the garden and the grazing pastures are all my ‘possessions’.

Aacharyan

Likewise, if Iraivan goes to a hunter’s house as a guest what would happen?

Pundit3

Whether he is a hunter or a learned rich man, if Iraivan appears before him, he will surrender and offer even himself at the feet of Iraivan.

 Aacharyan (looking around with his chest up)

This is exactly what the Vedas convey! When Iraivan appears in the form of Agni in yagams, he offers whatever he has brought with him and even himself to Iraivan. There is no killing of life involved in this. Iraivan has created the entire universe and every living and breathing entities. He has not asked for   sacrifice of any creature. When he sees Iraivan in the Yagam in the form of Agni, the man offers whatever he has  in the Yagakundam as ‘Avirbaham’ taking that as a great fortune.   Yagam is a representative act of offering to Iraivan through Agni. In the Yagakundam, flowers are offered representing gold coins. Apparently only a flower is offered. But when it is offered wholeheartedly, it equates to gold. Likewise, bulls, goats, horses and such creatures are offered in the Yagakundam in the form of flowers! The real living creatures are then given in charity to needed people at the end. So physically none of these creatures are thrown in the yagam as sacrifice.

Next you talked of Kapalikas. To clarify it, I have to start from the very beginning. Paramatma who created this entire universe also created many a Jivaatma. These took the form of   housefly, ants, elephants, horses, fish, birds, humans, Devas, Asuras, ghosts etc. Even now they take such forms and in future also they will take such forms.   Iraivan is omnipresent and He lives in all of them. Therefore there is no question as to what is superior and what is inferior among them. To show their gratitude to Iraivan who created them, Jivatmas started following certain rituals… Some people undertake fasts.. Some people   prick their flesh with sharp nails; some people cut their skin with knife; those who are well to do offer gold and other articles as offering… Those days there was only a system of barter. To obtain anything they have to get it in exchange of what they had.  It could be oxen, goats or fowl.

When it comes to offering things to the Creator, they offered those items which were dear to them. For a farmer, his oxen are dear to him… likewise goats, fowl etc.   So they offered those items which they owned and dear to them to Iraivan. Since it is believed that to be born as a human is very rare, offering oneself as sacrifice became a ritual for Kapalikas.. Overtime, they started sacrificing humans who were better than them in all respects. People are only aware that Kapalikas eat human flesh. But they never killed any human for their food. They only ate the flesh of those who were sacrificed as prasadam…

On hearing this womenfolk of Agraharam cup their ears with their hands uttering ‘Siva, Siva’  abhorrent to even hear such a thing.

Aacharyan (continues)

From time to time, eminent teachers emerged and taught the people to differentiate between righteousness and wrong doing… The way of thanksgiving to Easan also started to change. Instead of sacrificing own self, they started tonsuring their heads instead… Instead of sacrificing goats, fowl or oxen, they started giving pulses, salt and other cereals as   offering… There is one important point that is missed by most! Iraivan is the One who has created the entire universe and makes it to function. He is the owner of everything on this earth … Isn’t it amusing that the very things that are created by Him and owned by Him are getting offered to Him! Then why the Vedas insist on offering these things through the Yagam? You may therefore think that they are contradictory! Now I am going to narrate an incidence from Mahabharatham. 

On losing their empire in the game of dice, the Pandavas along with Panchali are driven to the forests. Suriyan gifts Panchali the ‘Akshayapatram’ in order that they do not go hungry anytime.  It will give whatever is needed to satiate the hunger without getting emptied. However after sunset, it will not yield anything till the next sunrise. Also if it is washed and kept reversed, it will start its yield only after the next sun rise. While the Pandavas were living using this gift on need basis, Duryodhanan thought of a plan to get them into a difficulty.  Unaware of this the sages Durvasar along with disciples reach the hut of Pandavas in the forest goaded by Duryodhanan. Just at that time Panchali after feeding all of them, cleans and keeps the Akshayapatram reversed.   The situation is such that the Akshayapatram will not come to her help to feed the guests anymore that day. Durvasar cannot suppress his hunger. if there is no food available, he would curse all of  them the consequence of which cannot even be  imagined… Panchali is worried and almost in tears as to what to do. At that very moment, Kannaparamatma reaches there!

      ******

Parnasalai…

Panchali is sitting in corner cupping her face in her palms totally remorse …

A beautiful note from a flute is heard from outside breathing a new life  into her … She rushes out to welcome Kannan..

Kannan (in a worried tone)

Sahodhari! How come there is absolute silence here? Where are my brothers-in-law?

Panchali

Anna! You have come here by providence.. There is no one to my rescue except You!

She starts crying.

 Kannan

What is the matter? Where is Arjunan? Why are you shedding tears?

Panchali

All the Pandavas have gone to the river with Durvasar for a bath. Durvasar along with his entourage is coming to have his meals here. I have washed the Akshayapatram just now and kept it aside. Only after day break tomorrow, the Akshayapatram will be of any use to yield what we desire. Very soon the Munivar will reach here with his disciples totally famished. We will not be able to feed him. He will burn us all by his very angry stance. What will happen to the vow I have taken? How will the Pandavas regain their lost glory?

Agonised she starts weeping again.

Kannan

Thangaye! I was unable to hear whatever you said as I am very hungry… Go inside and bring the Akshayapatram gifted to you by Suriyan. 

Panchali is confused as to what to do.

Panchali

Anna! Aren’t you aware of everything? We are using the Akshayapatram for only one meal day. As I have washed and kept it away, it will be of use only tomorrow.

Kannan

I am totally famished. .. Do not start all these explanations now.. Show me where you have kept that Akshayapatram.

He goes inside and picks up the Akshayapatram and looks carefully. He sees a grain of rice and a bit of leaf stuck in a corner. With great joy He picks up that grain of rice and the bit of leaf and puts them in His mouth. As He does this, every creature in the entire universe fells fully satiated. After taking bath in the river Durvasar climbs onto the river bank and feels that his stomach is full. So does his entire entourage!

He drops his plan of returning to the Parnasalai of the Pandavas and takes leave of them from there. Surprised at these happenings the Pandavas return to their Parnasalai where they see an equally bewildered Panchali.

Dharmar

Panchali! I was astonished that Durvasar who was feeling very hungry when he reached here left fully satiated after taking the bath.   Seeing you looking bewildered is confusing me even further! What has happened?

 She was amazed because Kannaparamatma, who was talking to her disappeared from there suddenly. She raises her hands and shows the flute left behind Him….

       ******

Ambar Vedapatasalai…

Aacharyan (looking at the Pundits from Kasi)

The way showed by Kannan in Mahabharatham is nothing but what is told in the Vedas. The Avirbaham offered in the yagams are not for Iraivan per se… It is to satiate the hunger of all the creatures in the entire universe… If Iraivan is fed and gets satiated, all the creatures in the universe will be appeased of their hunger! This alone is the truth brought out by the Vedas.

The audience including the pundits from Kasi applauds loudly on hearing this explanation.

 Pundit3

The people who challenge us for debates are very intelligent. It is not easy to win them over in any argument. We are asking you such questions assuming that they would pose similar ones to us. 

 I am going to ask you one more question. You said Samavedam accepts even proxies in place of actual. You said you offer flowers in the yagam saying that you are offering a thousand pieces of gold! Would it not amount to cheating ourselves as well as Iraivan?

Aacharyan

 You may ask, ‘Can all the creatures in the universe be appeased of their hunger by way of Kannan eating a grain of rice and a bit of a green leaf?’  What is apparent and factual is that it did. It is not the quantity that is significant here…      The result and the mind power to get that result are important.

Pundit3

Aaha! An excellent elucidation!  My next question may also be embarrassing..

Aacharyan

Go ahead! Ask me without any inhibitions.

Pundit3

What is your reply to the accusation that the Yagacharyas and others indulge in drinking the intoxicating Somarasam while performing Somayagam?

Aacharyan

Somarasam is the juice extracted from a herb called Somai…  Once the Somayagam starts it must continue without any break or hindrance… The Veda mantras are to be sung with accurate intonation and without any let up.  To ensure that the brain is not fatigues due to continuous careful chanting of Veda mantras and to keep it alert, Somarasam is sipped in between.,. It is not taken to get them intoxicated. For someone who wants to get drunk there are extracts from coconut and palm trees. No one who is conducting the yagam will ever get intoxicated.  By sipping Somarasam, which is a rejuvenating drink they keep their brain alert and fatigue free. It is wrong to assume that all types of liquors are intoxicants…

Pundit4 (going emotional)

Aaha!   Cogent explanations all along! All these days, the Buddhists and Samanars have been making fun of us saying that there was, there is and there never will be anyone as Iraivan.  You come with us to Kasi. We will make them eat their words and shame them… 

Aacharyan

 I am surprised that there are so many fights and quarrels in the name of Iraivan. The main reason is that none of them have understood the basic fundamentals!   We have reached this state due to blind following of the sayings of our forefathers by the later followers without understanding the true import of what was said.  Those who have not experienced Aanma will not realise its existence… Similarly those who have not known Iraivan will not accept His existence.. No one has the right to force anyone to accept or reject what he propounds. Iraivan is a philosophical principle.  To think that everyone can understand it is wrong!  

Pundit3

You said, “Those who have not known Iraivan will not accept His existence”… During the debates the Buddhists and Samanars taunt us with this question, “Is there someone called Iraivan?”   If we reply that He exists, their next question would be, “Can you show Him?” If we reply in the affirmative, they challenge us to show Him physically then and there. We lose the argument and get defeated as we are unable to show Him physically…   To avoid this predicament if we say that we cannot show Him, it amounts to accepting their argument that there is no one as Iraivan. … Only you can show us a way out of this…

The entire audience is keen to hear what Aacharyan is going to reply to the above tearful pleading of the Kasi pundit.

Aacharyan

 You are asking two questions…

“Does Iraivan exist?”  is the first question.

The answer to this question is nothing but “Yes! He does”. The basis for this is what is spelled in the Vedas.  This entire universe, the Panchabhuthas comprising this earth, water, fire, wind and the sky, all the creatures that are made up of these Panchabhuthas are the evidence. An entity can emerge only from another entity.. Nothing can be produced out of void…   Everything is the creation of Iraivan alone is what the Vedas propounded.

The next question is,” Can you show Iraivan?”

The answer to this question is nothing but, “No! No one show Iraivan!”

On hearing this whole audience heave loud sigh of bewilderment which takes a little time to subside.

Aacharyan (allowing the commotion subsides)

I only said that Iraivan cannot be shown. Before I continued with my next sentence you have all become highly perturbed…. No one can show Iraivan to others…. Iraivan has to be seen!

There is a huge applause from the audience and Aacharyan raises his hand to restore order.

Aacharyan

There is a  huge difference between ‘to show’ and ‘to see’.

 A person can identify and indicate a person as so and so only if he knows him. There is no one in this earth who has known Him and therefore who can show Him… The learned say, you can only see or realise Iraivan yourself and no one can show Him to you.  …. You, who are born in Kasi, are well aware as to how Ganga, which you see every day, was brought to earth by the ceaseless effort of Bhagirathan. Only because Bhagirathan saw Easan with his own eyes and prayed to Him, Ganga came down from heaven to earth!  When Hiranyakasipu asked his son Prahaladan, “Where is your Hari?” he replied, “Hari is everywhere be it a pillar or be it a bit of straw”.  When he asked whether Hari was in a pillar in front of them, Prahaladan replies in the affirmative. When Hiranyakasipu smashes his mace to break that pillar, Iraivan in the form Narasimhar emerges and annihilated him. Iraivan wanted to uphold His disciple’s faith   that He is omnipresent.  Can we forget that Hiranyakasipu hid his son behind his back worried that he might get scared seeing the fearsome Narasimhar?

 When Kaalan chased Marekandeyan with his noose to terminate his life, He ran chanting the Panchakshara mantram and hugged Amirthakateswra Easan. When Kaalan threw the noose it snared both Marekandeyan and Iraivan.  Iraivan emerged from the lingam and kicked Yaman on his chest. Was this not witnessed by Devas and earthlings?

When Brahma and Vishnu went to locate Easan’s feet and head at Thiruvannamalai, did not every creature in the universe see Him emerge as a huge radiant light spanning the earth and sky?

 When Karaikkal Ammayar on reaching Kailayam, started to walk on her head, the entire universe quaked and Iraivan supported her next step with His own hands. He addressed her as “Ammaye” with lot of affection.  Did not entire universe move to tears when she told Easan, “Did you address me as Ammaye only to ward off my misfortune of not having a progeny?”      

In Sirkazhi, Iraivan along with Annai came down to feed the three year old baby Sambanadan crying of hunger. When his father Sivapadahridayar on seeing the milk strained face asked him who gave him milk, he pointed at the sky showing Iraivan and Annai and said “Amma Appa.” 

Did not Iraivan get Thirunavukkarasar and Thrugyanasambandar to Thirunallur to display his divine dance form and then give Diksha to Thirunavukkarasar?

Wanting to emulate Karaikkal Ammayar, Thirunavukkarasar starts on a journey to Kailayam to have darisanam of Easan. As he keeps walking the sole of his feet wear off and starts bleeding. Unmindful he keeps walking towards Kailayam.   When his flesh and bones also start crumbling and he is unable to take a step further he collapses. Even Bhumadevi sheds tears seeing his pitiable condition. Not giving up his aim of reaching the abode of Easan he starts crawling heaving his chest. A sharp thorn shears his chest and blood spurts out drenching the earth. Seeing his suffering even the Panchabhuthas are distressed. Iraivan appears before him in the form of an adiyar and tells him that it will be impossible for him to reach Kailayam and it is best for him to go back.  Adamant to fulfill his ambition of reaching Kailayam, he again starts crawling towards not heeding the advice of the adiyavar. Iraivan then appears before him and tells him that he has a lot of unfinished work to complete and therefore cannot be permitted inside Kailayam before that. Seeing the distress in Thirunavukkarasar, Iraivan asks him to take a dip in a nearby pond. As he comes out after taking dip in the pond, he regains his lost physique. Iraivan tells him, “Immerse in this pond and raise at   Ayyaru. I will show you the scene of Kailayam there!” and disappears. Thirunavukkarasar immerses in the pond there and comes out of a pond at Ayyaru. There Ayyarappar along with Annai Parvati, gives His divine Kailaya darisanam!   These true instances are narrated in various poems and are also engraved in stones in various temples.

Why all those… here itself in the nearby Thiruvarur lives, Sundaramurthy Perumanar.   Easan Himself hailed him as his friend! When was about to get married Iraivan came in the guise of an elderly Brahmin and claimed him as his slave to stop his wedding. He dragged him to Thiruvennainallur and brought him in front of judges and proved that he was indeed His slave. When He took him into the sanctum and sanctorum and disappeared, Sundarar realised that it was Easan who came as the old Brahmin and composes his first poem in praise of Easan calling Him as ‘Piththa!’When Sundarar lost himself seeing the dancing pose of Easan, he was ordered to go to Thiruvarur. Easan sent instructions to all the people that he should be given a warm and respectable welcome befitting ‘a friend’ of Him. Even today people of Thiruvarur are nostalgic of the grand welcome accorded to Sundaranar on that occasion as dictated by Easan! When he saw Paravai Nachchiyar in the temple, he fell in love with her.  He pleaded to Easan that he was determined to marry her only and otherwise he would die.   Who can forget the role played by Easan as a messenger of his ‘friend’ for approaching Paravai Nachchiyar and concluding their betrothal? 

 Aacharyan stops here briefly… The audience is spell bound by his discourse…

 Aacharyan

You asked, “Can Iraivan be shown?”… I said, “He cannot be shown but He has to be seen!” 

For replying to a question as to how he can be seen, I narrated all these incidences. ‘Only by trying one can achieve his aim’ is an old adage.   Your next question is likely to be, “Can we see Iraivan if we keep trying?”  I give my answer to that question now…

Let us suppose that one needs to reach the nearby town of Thiruvarur.  How to go about it? First and foremost one has to be sure that he intends to reach Thiruvarur only and then he must find the direction and route to that place to proceed further… That way he will reach Thiruvarur definitely… But if someone does not know to which place he wants to go, he will reach nowhere no matter whichever direction he takes! Likewise to see Iraivan, keeping his mind focused only on that thought, he must find out the ways of achieving it. Saiva Sidhdhantham classifies the union of human and Iraivan in four ways.

The first way is called ‘Sariyai’ or doing service  to Him. He is the one who is the creator of this entire universe and all the creatures. He is the Head! To serve Him is ‘Sariyai’.  The life of Thirunavukkarasar is an apt example of this way..

The Second is ‘Kiriyai’. The way of kindred … To lead one’s life taking Iraivan as own parents or ‘Ammai Appan.’ It is taking liberty to debate, argue or even demand as one would do with own parents with Iraivan.  Thrugyanasambandar Peruman lived his life this way.

The Third is ‘Yogam’ or union. The way of friendship. The relationship between man and Iraivan is akin to that between two close friends taking all liberties as friends do. Is there a limit to such liberties among friends? An apt example is the life that is being lead by Sundaramurthy peruman.  We are truly blessed to be living during his life time!

The Fourth is ‘Gyanam’.   The relationship is between that of a Guru (Teacher) and Sishyan (disciple).   

To surrender oneself totally to Iraivan seeking Him as Guru is the way of devotion.  There are plenty of people who lead their lives with staunch belief that having faith in Him, they will never be letdown.

By creating such relationships man tries to realise Iraivan! From the time we are born and till we die, Iraivan appears before us in various forms. Only we are ignorant of His presence! This is the truth! That Gyanis are able to see Iraivan is almost a daily occurrence!   Seeing Iraivan is an inexplicable experience! It has to be experienced by one self alone! Iraivan is not an object of exhibition. To see Him, one has to do severe penance for thousands of years…

Thundering ‘Sambho Mahadeva’, Aacharyan bows in reverence to Easan. Everyone in the audience follow likewise. All of them become spellbound by the exposition of truth in the discourse of Aacharyan and they all disperse from there in silence. The Kasi Pundits start their journey to Thiruvarur.

       *******

A few days roll by…

In Agraharam of Ambar….

Seated on the thinnai (fore court of a typical Tamil Brahmin house in villages), Sarma is looking around here and there.  He brightens up on seeing a person approaching him in the street.

Sarma (welcoming the person)

Hey!  Is that you Sivasu? It is ages since I have seen you. Come over!

Sivasu

You have distorted my name of Sivasubramanian by abridging it as Sivasu. Let it be! How come you look the same even after a gap of ten years?

Sarma lets out a hearty laugh.

Sivasu (disgusted)

Even your laughter has not changed in all these years.

He sits on the thinnai next to Sarma.

Sivasu

I believe that you are conducting all yagams on your own now! I was told so.

Sarma (contorting his face)

Are you feeling jealous?

Sivasu laughs and replies.

 Sivasu

I should I feel jealous? That too of my bosom friend!  Whenever you forgot to recite the slokas in front of Aacharyan, it was me who used to prompt you in a low voice so that no one could hear it. Have you forgotten those days? I asked the question because I was wondering how you are able to conduct the yagams all by yourself as you were very scatty!

Sarma

Sometimes I do forget and lose track! Somehow I manage to hum the tune with others… Why are you scrutinizing me? Tell me about yourself.  Aren’t you a married man now?

Sivasu

No… My father is no more… I did some farming in the fields left by him… But I could not earn anything worthwhile… But somehow I am able to pull along on my own without having to ask for help from others…   Though I am in Sirkazhi physically, my thoughts are always here revering Aacharyan. I have come here only to meet him. I have decided to spend the rest of my life here assisting him and therefore I have come here once and for all.

Sarma (casually)

Oh! Is that so?

Sivasu is taken back by his careless response.

 Sivasu (perturbed)

Why are so sloppy? Is Aacharyan keeping well?

 Sarma (vehemently)

There is nothing wrong with that so called great man! Everyone is praising him sky high. But due to his action the whole society has gone topsy-turvy! He has ruined the sanctity of this Agraharam.

Sivasu (angrily)

It is improper to   blame Aacharyan. It amounts to ridiculing what we learnt from him. I will not tolerate hearing such vilification. What has he done to ruin the sanctity of this place?

Sarma (continuing vehemently)

Now listen to me… He has been propagating that as we are all created by Easan, He alone is Guru for all, and we are all equal in His eyes! Because of that everything has gone topsy-turvy.  Earlier on people of other castes were scared to enter the Agraharam. Now everyone is entering freely with their chest up!  Earlier they used to keep their distance on seeing us but now, it is we who have to keep a distance from them. Sporting the garb of Adiyavars, they come and have their food at his house every day. How sanctified our Agraharam was earlier?   You know very well! Who has ruined it? Isn’t because of that so called great guru? What reply you have for this?

Sivasu looks at Sarma intently without giving any reply.

Sarma

Hey! What is this? Give me proper reply…  What do you mean by   staring at me like this instead? 

Sivasu

 I am not staring at you.  My look is one of surprise!  I am surprised that one who cannot even differentiate the looks of stare and surprise talking about subtle things of Vedas… The others give us regards. Why?  It is because we have learnt Sanskrit which they don’t understand.  They keep their distance from us out of respect and not out of fear.  We don’t belong to martial race for them to be scared of us… Though we have learnt to read and write Sanskrit, we are living in a small closed circle without understanding the outside world. Our people are not eager to come out of this circle and learn other things and ways of the world. We were not fortunate to have our schooling in Gurukulam where the first thing that is taught is the famous sayings of our learned elders.

 As per one saying there are only two Jathis (sects) in our society and nothing more.

Sarma (interrupting)

I am glad that you have accepted t there only two Jathis, one that is superior and the other inferior.  

Sivasu

Your interpretation is wrong. There are only two Jathis one is Aan Jathi (males) and the other Penn Jathi (female).  There is also another categorization of superior and inferior. Those who give alms are superior and those who are not charitable are inferior.  Please understand this.  Whosoever mitigates the hunger of others and help them in other ways belong to the superior sect.  Those who deny such charity are inferior.

After upanayanam many of our clan observe Brahmacharyam and live on alms. Can we call them inferior just because they beg for their living? You are berating that the sacredness, holiness etc have been ruined. Have you forgotten our younger days as children? When we inadvertently got in contact with ladies they used to curse us and create a big commotion for having spoilt their aacharam. Have you forgotten how much beating we used to get because of that? Does that mean we are also unfit to be touched?

Sarma

Even yesterday, my father scolded me with unspeakable words just because my hand touched his clothes that were drying. Perhaps we may also behave like this as we grow old.

Sivasu

You may behave like that but don’t include me..   I will tell you small calculation. We spend one third of our life time sleeping. One third of it we spend in learning and working for our livelihood. Most of the remaining last part is spent in eating, socializing etc. We indulge in all these unwarranted discussion in whatever little time is left after all the above. What are we going to achieve by segregating people? We carry all these false notions in our mind and it is an enormous load!

The life of a human being is very lovely … very sweet.  Faulting and blaming others we lose all its charm. Have you noticed one thing? Throughout our lives we fall on the feet of our parents and revere them.  What happens when they die? Their body is brought outside and taken to the cremation ground. It is those whom we call untouchables, who lifts the dead body and keep it in the pyre and arranges the wood around it for cremation. The son’s job is over once he starts the fire. It is the Vettiyan, who is an untouchable for us, who ensures that the body is cremated properly and the soul is handed over to Iraivan.  Do those who have been crying hoarse on purity, sacredness, aacharam get up and run way from the pyre when handled by the Vettiyan? Sacredness, purity are highly noble ideas. It is unjust to equate them with what is dictated by the puny human minds!  Creations of Easan all are equal. There is none superior or inferior among them!            

Sarma (irritated)

You also talk confusing things just like Aacharyan! You are quite fit to be his assistant! You said you have come here for doing service. He is in need of help for his kitchen. Do you want to go?

Sivasu

Not everyone is blessed to feed the hungry adiyavars!  To feed a hungry mouth is akin to giving sacrificial items to Iraivan through Agni in a yagam. I am grateful to you for life for giving me this information.

He bows to his friend and departs not even heeding his friend’s request him to come inside the house. 

     *******

Ambar….

The swami sannathi of the Sivan temple….

Somasimaranar is standing decked up as a bridegroom and next to him is the bride !

The Gurukkal hands over the ‘Mangalanaan’ to him. He bows to Easan and ties it around the bride’s neck to the accompaniment of auspicious music. The whole village gets assembled to bless the couple. Maranar accepting the well wishes and blessings returns home to the tumultuous welcome of Sivasubramanian and others. All the adiyavars who have come there also bless the newlyweds.

That night…

Maranar is seated and the bride comes in with a pitcher of milk. Seeing her coming inside with her head bowed down, Maranar not knowing what to say or do gets up and takes the pitcher in his hands and keeps it aside. Catching hold of her hands he gets seated on the cot and makes her sit next to him.

Maranar

 Shenba!

The bride looks up with delighted.

Shenba (blushing)

People call me Shenbaghavalli all along. Your calling me as ‘Shenba’ for the first time in my life made me ecstatic.

Maranar

I am still in disbelief!

Shenba (confused)

What are you referring to?

 Maranar

That I am married and talking with my wife like this!

Shenba

What is so strange in that? It happens to everyone!

Maranar

I am almost middle-aged! I was thinking of remaining as a teacher in the Vedapatasalai and spend the rest of my life like that. Your father came at that time and talked to me about you. Things moved so fast afterwards culminating in the wedding; it appears as though in a dream!

Shenba (laughing aloud)

 Whatever is happening is real!

Maranar is mermerised by the beauty of her laughter. As Shenba catches hold of his hands he comes back to his senses.

 Shenba

They said that you are only thirty six years old. I also heard that you observed the tenets of brahmacharyam very rigour.  Why are you speaking as if you have reached an advanced age?

Maranar

In this place marriages take place at infancy! Aren’t you aware that I have already passed my prime?

Shenba (teasingly)

Who prevented you from getting married early?  

Maranar ( proudly)

Highly noble people (mahanubhava) are classified into three groups of Vasus, Rudras and Adityas. Those who keep Brahmacharyam for 24 years are called Vasus. Those who keep 36 years of very rigourous Brahmacharyam are called Rudras. Adityas are those who keep extremely rigorous Brahmacharyam. I wanted to become an Adityan. But there is a burning desire inside me. So far I have acted as Aacharyan and conducted the Somayagam for others. That raging desire is nothing but that I have to conduct the Somayagam for my own self!   But as per rule the Avirbaham at the end of the Yagam is to be offered only along with one’s consort. That is why I readily agreed to the marriage proposal put forth by your father.  Tell me! How did you agree to get married to me?

Shenba

Like you, I was not keen on getting married.  With great resolve I decided to spend my life in the service of adiyavars by feeding them and removing their hunger.  I lost my mother at the time of my birth itself. My father looked after me both as a father and as a mother. He is a staunch Saivite.  He never compelled me to get married. He joined in the service I was doing… To see the pundits from Kasi who came to your Vedapatasalai, I along with my father went there.

Maranar (quickly interrupting)

I did not see you at all!

Shenba laughs aloud.

Shenba

This noble quality of yours attracted me to you.  In the congregation you displayed a focussed outlook, an upright stance, a bright countenance, truth in utterances and a composed demeanor even posed with seemingly difficult questions. It is these qualities that captivated me.  I liked the way you answered the question whether Iraivan exists or not in the affirmative without hesitation. Though we were aghast initially by your audacious answer that he could not be shown, we were relieved when you qualified that statement that Iraivan had to be seen by people. I was captivated by the way you quoted many true instances from history to reinforce this strong conviction. I decided at that time that if I were to marry, I would marry only you. When I told my decision to my father, he was overwhelmed with joy and he left immediately to contact you.

Maranar is mesmerised by her sweet talk.

 Shenba (continues)

You said that Iraivan has to be seen.  Is it possible for us mortals to see Iraivan who is omnipresent and spread over the entire universe?

Maranar

In the Samavedam, the eighth Prabhadhakam is called the Artha Prabhadhakam. In the fourth part of its first section, there is a clear statement on this. It is a plea to Iraivan who is spread over the entire universe as a blinding source of brilliant light, not to hide Himself behind it! Iraivan can take many forms but to   meditate on Him, one has to view Him in a unique form!  

Mahabharatham… The battlefield at Kurukshetram…

Lined up facing each other are the armies of Kouravas and Pandavas ready to start the battle. Pandavas are waiting for Kannan, the charioteer of Arjunan to blow His conch to signal the start of attack. Looking at his grandfather Bhishmar, his Guru Dronar, his cousins the Kouravas, other relatives and erstwhile friends lined up against them, Arjunan is deeply perturbed.  He throws his bow and arrow to the ground and gets down from the chariot saying,   “Do I have to kill those whom I revered and loved just for getting this piece of land? If I have to annihilate these people to win this land, I don’t need this land anymore.”

Kannaparamatma preaches him Gita to destroy his ignorance.  He says, “Ultimately It is I, who is the destroyer and again it is I who is killed.” He orders him, “Pick up your bow and fight to restore and nurture Dharma.”

 Finding that Arjunan was still confused as to how the same person could be the killer as well as the killed Kannaparamatma continues.

 Kannaparamatma

Arjuna! Look at Me…

He assumes His Viswaroopam covering the entire earth and the sky assuming the faces of every creature in the universe. Arjunan sees his own face also among them. Scared to look at His Viswaroopam, Arjunan closes his eyes and pleads to Kannaparamatma to resume His original usual form. Kannaparamatma regains his usual form holding the flute in his hand. Iraivan is disclosing his divine form in myriad ways to all of us every day.  When we offer food to satiate a hungry person, He sits along with him and partakes the food that is offered… When we offer charity to people He also stands among the seekers and accepts the charity…. To test whether we come to the rescue of a fallen man, He enacts drama of an accident… When we help that man, he enjoys the scene in front of our eyes… We are seeing Him in numerous forms everyday… But we are ignorant that it is He…

Shenbaghavalli is highly delighted hearing his explanation. 

Maranar

What you want to ask next?

 Shenba

In the course of your talk you said that we should all be very blessed to have been born during the time of Sundaramurthy Peruman. You also said that no one can ever forget the way Iraivan came to help His friend Sundarar in marrying Paravai Nachchiyar! Could you please tell me the complete details of that episode as I am very curious to know about it!

Maranar

 I am very fortunate to have you as my wife. To recapitulate and narrate the divine acts of Iraivan is always a pleasure. Let me narrate what all He did for his adiyavar…..

He starts the narration.

      *******

 In Thiruvarur….

People are going about with their work along the main street when they hear a voice from above calling their attention.  As they are looking from where the call has come from it continues.

The heavenly voice (ordering)  

Hey! The people of Thiruvarur! It is I who called you!      Sundaran is coming to this town out of love for Me! You shall accord him  proper welcome when he reaches here!

One of the Adiyavars

It is the grace of our Iraivan that Aaroorar will be our chief! All of you people gather to welcome him. This is the directive of Easan Himself! 

At that moment another adiyavar reaches there gasping for breath.

Another Adiyavar (excited)

From the periphery of our town, I have reached here running in great haste!  Sundaramoorthiyar, by composing and singing “Thiruththondar Thogai” reversed the hostility of Viranmindar towards him to one of love!  Iraivan   reached there with Annai and bestowed ‘Sivagathi’ on Viranmindar and his wife in the presence of Sundaranar.  Perumanar is coming towards our town in all his glory!   It is our good fortune and due to our good deeds of our past lives that Iraivan  Himself gave us this order to  give a fitting welcome to the Perumanar! 

The town of Thiruvarur immediately sports a festive look… The womenfolk start cleaning the roads and draw colourful kolams all along the route. The men folk get busy erecting arches and tying buntings. Even the children are bringing baskets and baskets of flowers. Chanting Veda mantras, the Veda pundits start walking  towards  the entrance of the town to receive  Perumanar with ‘Purnakumbams’ accompanied by musicians playing beautiful tunes.

In a short while, hearing the voice of Easan, Sundaramoorthiyar reaches the town. He is given tumultuous welcome by blasting firecrackers and showering flower petals on his path. He is received with   ‘Purnakumbams’ by the Veda pundits with great reverence and lead along on the path scented by rosewater  to the repeated chanting of ‘Om Namasivaya’ by the on lookers. The exemplary welcome accorded to a mortal on the orders of Iraivan Himself will remain the talk of the town for eons to come!    Overcome with emotion   for the grace of Iraivan has bestowed, Sundaranar bows to all the people and start singing in praise of Iraivan as he walks along. On seeing the Gopuram of the temple, he prostrates and on getting up raises his hands above his head in reverence. He reaches the sannathi and sings the glory of Iraivan through many compositions. 

At that time…

A voice is heard from the sannathi…

Voice

Sundara! Earlier, on your wedding day, I stopped it made you my slave!   Sporting wedding finery by you ensured recognition of Viranmindar by everyone! You will wear this fine dress for ever in future! I will grant you wedded life here which I denied it earlier! You will study and understand the ways of the world and realise which is supreme in due course of time! From now on you are My friend!

Sundaramoorthiyar (Overcome with emotion for the grace of Easan)

Disguised as an old Brahmin,   the great benefactor that You are, you enslaved me! You appeared here, at Thiruvarur, for the sake of this insignificant creature that is me! I am your slave forever and ever!

As Easan Himself hailed Sundarar as ‘My friend’, the entire congregation in the temple goes euphoric chanting aloud “Om Namasivaya” repeatedly. Sundaramoorthiyar composes many songs in praise of Easan and sings them. 

       *************

At the very moment Sundarar is meditating on Easan in His Sannathi with his eyes closed, Paravai Nachchiyar, in her palace,  is completing a garland of flowers for Easan. Six of her female friends (female friend -Thozhi) reach there to accompany her to the temple.

Thozhi 1

Nachchiyare! What is the matter?  You used to be always ready even before we reach here. But today you are still sitting and completing the garland!

Paravayar

Today there was a profuse blooming of flowers. So I was making a rather bigger garland and hence the delay. 

Her friends look at the huge garland made by Paravayar in great awe.

Thozhi 2

Very nice! You always prefer to carry the garland yourself. But today the garland is so huge as to require six people to carry it!

Paravayar (laughing aloud)

Well, there are six of you already for that!

Lead by Paravayar carrying a basket full of flowers, her friends walk towards the temple carrying the garland.

Thozhi 1

Nachchiyare! Something strange happened today!    It appears that Iraivan ordered all the people of the town to give a grand welcome to an adiyavar and to bring him to the temple… Accordingly the town’s people organised a great reception to that adiyavar and guided him to the temple.  The whole temple is now therefore filled up with people to the brim. How are we going to carry this huge garland through the bulging crowd there?

Paravayar

They say serving an adiyavar is superior to even serving Easan! We can imagine the magnificence of that adiyavar when Easan Himself commands the people to give him a befitting reception and bring him to the temple! Even to see such a great man is a blessing! Come! Let us go there fast.

She walks ahead briskly followed by her friends.

Seeing her carrying a basket of flowers followed by her friends carrying a huge garland, a large group of a adiyars follow them.  

All of them reach the Sannathi of Easan.  Disturbed by the commotion, Sundaramoorthiyar, who is deeply meditating on Easan, opens his eyes. Seeing the beautiful Paravai Nachchiyar carrying the flower basket in front of him….

Sundaramoorthiyar (thinking)

Is she the beautiful flower of the divine Karpagavriksham? 

Has she been created by Manmadhan, the God of Love, for his sport?

Is this beauty   the result of immense good deeds?

Isn’t her beautiful figure a great wonder?

Isn’t it by the grace of Easan that I am able to feast my eyes on her? 

 Lost in her beauty he keeps looking at her without battling his eye lids even.

Watching the discomfiture of ‘His friend’ in His own Sannathi, Easan is enjoying the scene!

Gurukkal…… 

Receives the heavy garland presented by Nachchiyar, carries it with great effort and decorates Easan with that. He then conducts the deeparadhanai to the accompaniment of a beautiful song from Paravai Nachchiyar. All those assembled in the sannathi are captivated by her beautiful song. The Gurukkal gives thiruneeru to everyone.

Thozhi 1 (whispering to Nachchiyar)

 Nachchiyare! Look at the one who is gaping at you without a let.  He is the one who is dear to Easan!  Being so handsome, he is aptly named as Sundaramoorthiyar!

On hearing the name of Sundarar, Paravai Nachchiyar opens her eyes instantly and glances at Sundaramoorthiyar standing in front of her.

Paravayar (thinking)

What a great demeanor!   Sporting a crown and wearing necklaces of priceless gems! The long flower garlands reaching up to his feet look as if they are elated by adorning this handsome man!  Wearing a green silken garment around his waist is he   Lord Murugan   personified?  Or is he with such radiant eyes, the very Lord Manmadhan? Is he the true servitor of   Sadayappar? His sporting of thiruneeru proclaims that he is an adiyar of Easan! Is not the fondness exhibited by his eyes, reminds me of relationship of eons?   Let him become my consort!   Let this wish of mine be fulfilled by You, Easane!

She comes out of the sannathi along with her friends. Meanwhile, the Gurukkal approaches Sundaramoorthiyar, as if he has discerned the questions troubling his mind.

Gurukkal

The young lass who gave the garland for Easan is none other than Paravai Nachchiyar, the daughter of Rudra Kanikayar! She is unflinching in her devotion and love of Easan and is endowed with extremely virtuous qualities.

Sundaramoorthiyar (looking at Easan)

I surrender to you! You said to me, “I deprived you of your married life earlier and I am going to grant it to you here!”  Is this young damsel, the one you have chosen for me?

He comes out of the Sannathi.. Sundaramoorthiyar starts walking followed by a large crowd of adiyavars waiting outside to have a glimpse of him. He starts to look around to see the young girl who captivated his mind a short while ago!

Sundaramoorthiyar (to himself)

I have not known anything other than the sacred feet of Easan.  But today she has intoxicated me. She is a gift of Easan and I wonder which way she has gone!

The crowd of adiyavars leads him in a huge procession around all the streets to the matam much to his discomfort while his thoughts are hovering around the girl he has seen in the sannathi.

    *******

Unable to take her mind off the handsome man she has seen in the temple, Paravai Nachchiyar calls her friends for company after she reaches her palace.

Paravayar (to one of her friends)

Hey!   Did you say that the man we saw in the temple is Sundaramoorthiyar?  

Thozhi 1 (with a mild laugh)

Yes… Not only that! I also mentioned that he is an adiyavar of Easan!

Paravayar (feigning innocence)

What do you mean by ‘Adiyavar’?

Thozhi 2

Adiyavar means that he is a servitor to Easan.

Paravayar

Does that mean that he will never be able to marry?

Thozhi 3

Who said so? Does he look like an adiyavar? Wasn’t he looking like a fully decked up bridegroom?

 Paravayar

Then how come she said that he is an adiyavar?

Thozhi 2

Didn’t you see him sporting thiruneeru on his forehead?

Paravayar

Yes!  I did notice that.

Thozhi 2

So, he is an adiyavar for all intent and purpose!

Thozhi 3

Not only that… They say that he is the best among the men!

Paravayar

How do you say that?

Thozhi 3

His name is Nambi Aarooran! Namperuman Easan Himself appeared before him and embraced him hailing him as His friend ‘Nambi’! The word ‘Nambi’ means ‘the best among men’!

Thozhi 4 (teasingly)

How come you are all talking only about that “Aarooran” all the time? What are you all up to and what is the agenda?

Thozhi 5

Don’t you understand?  From now on, our queen will be restless and without sleep! Even the soft bed will be pricking!  She will see only the face of that handsome man everywhere!

All of her friends laugh in mock merriment!

Paravayar

Not only that! I will confront him  saying, “I am burnt even by the cool rays of the moon!  The sandal paste that you sprinkled scorches my skin! Even the cool southerly breeze  turns out as a ‘heat wave’ of summer months!”

Her friends are aghast hearing this.

Thozhi 1

Paravayare!  We are amazed hearing you speak like this!

Paravayar (despondently)

Will the man who is blessed by Easan not listen to my pining? My mind restless and my body is becoming weak by these thoughts…  Are you telling these things only to add to my misery?

Thozhi 1

 Paravayare! Your present state of mind is something new to all of us! A girl is supposed to keep her feelings subdued! How can you forget and forgo the four basic traits of a woman namely Achcham, Naanam, Madam and Payirpu? 

Achcham (Fear / Timidity): It does not mean the sense of emotion when one feels during fear rather it means being alert taking into consideration the fear of strangers, unrelated men, offending others and others.

Naanam (Coyness / Shyness): Coyness in intimate settings, shyness which is the shyness which women posses.

Madam (Innocence): Innocence, as few say does not mean stupidity, but completely believing the man who marries her. 

Payirpu (Aversion): Aversion towards other men. 

You must pray to our Easan, Thyagesan to show the way to attain what you seek. Merely berating your woes will take you nowhere! Paravayare! Seek the blessings of Easan first! We have been here quite long!  It is time we take leave of you….

After all of them leave…

Paravayar (to herself)

Sadayappare!   Should I also endure the agony like your adiyavar does after casting his eyes on me?

Praying to Easan to unburden her misery, she goes to bed.

  ******

At about the same time…

In the matam…

 Tossing in his bed and unable to get sleep, Sundaramoorthiyar is restive looking at the sky and wondering about the beautiful girl he saw in the temple..

Easan (realising the state of mind of both of them)

Any further delay will result in undue misery to both of them ….

He reaches the matam and hails as “Adiyavrahale.”  All the adiyavars who are fast asleep wake up. Finding no one there they become perplexed.  A divine voice is heard.

The divine voice 

Adiyavrahale! There… my friend Sundaramoorthiyar has run into Paravai Nachchiyar whom he will betroth as destined … Both of them adore me dearly. You make all arrangements for their wedding to be solemnised in My sannathi tomorrow.

The adiyavars hurry up to inform every one the orders they have received from Easan. In the meanwhile

Easan appears in Sundaramoorthiyar’s dream.

Easan 

Thozhare! I have offered to you the young lass Paravai! I have informed the adiyavars of the same.

Easan disappears from his dream and appears in Paravayar’s dream.

Easan

Paravai Nachchiyare! I have given you Aarooran as per your wish! Both of you will be married soon.

Both Sundaramoorthiyar and Paravai Nachchiyar are happy to lose their sleep on hearing their wedding news from Easan!

     ******

The next morning…

The adiyavars assemble in large numbers and conduct the marriage of Sundaramoorthiyar and Paravai Nachchiyar in the sannathi of Easan with great elan!

    *****

Ambar…

The house of Somasimaranar …

He is seated with his wife in privacy…

Maranar

Will we be able to obtain the same great benevolence like the one bestowed on Sundaramoorthiyar and Paravai Nachchiyar by Easan?

Shenba

Coming down to earth in the guise of an old Brahmin, halting his wedding by claiming him to be His slave and then uniting him in wedlock with Nachchiyar at Thiruvarur with great pomp ….. All these prove that we are living in this earth during their time is indeed due to our noble deeds of previous birth!

Because of you, I will also be able to obtain the great boon of seeing Iraivan… That is for certain!

   *****

Thiruvarur…

Maranar is standing in the sannathi of Thyagesan …

A glow engulfs his face because of Easan’s darisanam…

Easan

Easan is observing His adiyavar who is totally devoted to Him with his body and soul. Easan’s eyes go moist…

Annai is seated beside Him…

Annai

Is there any bound for pure love? The Adiyavar is standing totally immersed in your thoughts…  You have also become emotional with your eyes filled with tears on seeing him…

Before she completes..

Easan

Yes!  With motherly love…

Annai (jokingly)

Is that why, You keep   testing him to gauge his devotion?

Easan becomes forlorn on hearing this…

Annai

Iraiva? What is this?  You know very well that I meant it only as a joke…  Still how that is you are distressed?

Easan

The tests I put them through are not to gauge their worth. I know very well that they will surmount all of them! It is only to exhibit their greatness to the world at large!

Annai

Now… What are the tests you are going to put this Adiyar through?

Easan (mildly laughing)

It will have to be done by our Sundaran only!

Annai (surprised)

If you want to exhibit the greatness of this Adiyavar to the world at large, what has Sundaran to do in this?

Easan (playfully)

Well! Is he not required to come pleading to Me?

Annai

I don’t get it!

Easan

Please wait and see!

Annai

Who knows the ways of Easan? (Sivan siththam yaar arivaar?)

Annai laughs and Easan joins in her laughter. Both of them bless the Adiyavar Maranar standing in the sannathi.

     *****

Maranar comes out of the temple and looks around perplexed not knowing which way to go.  An elder (Periyavar) calls out to him.

Periyavar

Adiyavare! You seem to be new to this town. … It appears that you are looking for someone and at the same time not knowing where to go! May I know who you are and who you are looking for?

Maranar is surprised!

Maranar

Periyavare! Vanakkam! I am coming from Ambar…. I am an Aacharyan and running a Vedapatasalai to teach Vedas…. How come you are able to make out that I am new to this town and looking for someone?

Periyavar

After the arrival of Sundaramoorthiyar in this town, there are many big changes that have happened to the town as well as to the people of this town. He was welcomed by the entire town on the orders of Easan and was married to Paravai Nachchiyar with great pomp and show. These incidents have made the entire town’s people as belonging to one huge family. So if we see a new face, anyone not merely me, would have posed the same question! I suppose you want to know where to meet Sundaramoorthiyar!

Periyavar continues to the astonishment of Maranar!

Periyavar (pointing the direction of a huge mansion)

There…  You see the sacred pond   Kamalalayam… The tall mansion nearby belongs to Paravai Nachchiyar… You will be able to meet the friend of Easan over there….

After bowing and paying his respects to the Periyavar, Maranar starts walking in the direction shown by him still not overcoming his astonishment…

As he approaches the mansion….

Maranar (to himself)

Sundaramoorthiyar is a great man. I am an insignificant person compared to him.  He has been treated by Easan as His bosom friend. He saved him from the wrath of   Viranmindar and arranged for his grand welcome in this town and later his marriage. I am a no body in front of him. How Can I visit him and convey my appeal without proper introduction or prior appointment? Will that be proper?  The only way is to get a summon from him to meet him.   It will be proper if I put forward my appeal at that time.

Not mustering the courage to meet him, he starts back to Ambar. As he was walking along the riverbank 

and thinking of ways to get a call from Sundaramoorthiyar….

There was an opportunity waiting for him!

       ******

Midday at Thiruvarur… Paravai Nachchiyar is serving lunch to Sundaramoorthiyar…

Sundaramoorthiyar

My dear…  All the dishes served are excellent… How come they are exceedingly tastier today as never before?

Paravayar tastes a few items from his leaf and becomes extremely pleased….

She summons the cook who reaches there quickly.

Sundaramoorthiyar

Siva! Today your cooking is par excellence… How you managed to get this fantastic palate which I have never experienced before? 

Sivasami

I am blessed by Easan for preparing food for you, His Thozhar!  I prepare the food everyday with the same care and devotion to ensure that it is acceptable to your palate…

Sundaramoorthiyar

There is no doubt that! Your preparations are always tasty! But today it is extremely tasty…   A few leaves got entangled in my fingers while I was eating… Perhaps they are the source for the added taste today.

Sivasami

Well! I remember… this mo9rning an adiyavar came and handed me a bunch of leaves saying that they are Kariveppilai… He said that if I add them to the dishes while cooking the taste would improve.  He also said that those who eat the dishes added with these leaves will remain young and ... their hair will never turn grey… It grows as a short bushy tree ... Its leaves, bark, fruits, stem and even its roots have medicinal properties... People call it as “Karpaga Vriksham”.  I tasted a leaf out of it and as it was very tasty I added it in all the dishes I cooked today.... The Adiyavar has promised to bring it here every day..

Sundaramoorthiyar

Why can’t we grow that plant in our garden?

Sivasami

Ayyane!  I am told that it is very difficult nurture that plant in gardens. It belongs to a very delicate and herbal species. It is used by Siddhars as an elixir.

Sundaramoorthiyar expresses surprise ,,,

Paravai Nachchiyar (addressing the cook)

This herb has pleased our peruman. Please ensure that this is added in the dishes every day.

Sivasami bows to them and leaves.

   ***

Days roll on…

One day …. There is a sudden and heavy downpour which continues for days on end… All the streams, rivulets and rivers are flooded. It is impossible for the people to move out. Maranar is unable to wade across the river which is in spate to fetch kariveppilai. So the dishes prepared without it are not as tasty as usual and Sundaramoorthiyar is not relishing the meal.

Sivasami (praying to Easan) 

Iraivane! Please stop the rains immediately.   In the absence of Kariveppilai, the dishes I cook are not relished by Perumanar… 

Easan laughs hearing the prayer of His adiyavar… The rain stops the very next day…

The very next day, Maranar brings a basketful of Kariveppilai and hands it over to an overjoyed Sivasami. As the dishes regain their aroma as before, Sundaramoorthiyar calls for Sivasami.

Sundaramoorthiyar

The dishes are tasty as before!  Kariveppilai is really a great additive to the dishes! Well! I want to meet the adiyavar who brings it here..

The very next day Maranar gets the opportunity he has been hoping for…

Sivasami (accepting the leaves from Maranar) 

Perumanar wants to meet you. Will you meet him?

Maranar agrees and is taken to Perumanar.   Stunned on seeing him in person, decked in finery and glowing brightly, his body shudders in ecstasy. Overcome with emotion as Sundaramoorthiyar welcomes him with a smile he narrates.

Maranar (narrates)

Easan is coming towards Madurai along with Devas, the heavenly damsels, Munivars and His own retinue of Ganas for His wedding with the daughter of Malayadhwajan, Meenakshi.  Lining up on both sides of the roads, the people of the city of Madurai are excitedly waiting to have a glimpse of the bridegroom who is going to wed the princess of the kingdom.  The retinue of Easan is walking ahead and unable to contain their curiosity they start pestering the people in the procession...

The people (asking the Devas) 

How does the bridegroom look?

The Devas 

He looks very handsome as apt to his name of Sunadareswaran.

The Divine damsels

Are you asking how he looks like? His looks will captivate every creature in this universe as he is fittingly called as ‘Sokkanathan’.

The Munivars

He will be wearing a crown as opposed to exposing his flowing hair...

He will be wearing the finest of ornaments on his person instead of the snakes he normally sports...

He will be smeared with fine aromatic powders and scents and not the ash from the cremation grounds...

He will be sporting full length sweet smelling garland around his neck rather than the venomous cobra as  is usual...

Ye! People of Madurai! Hear from us!  He will look like the very emperor of this kingdom!

The Gyanis

You want to know how he looks like! Your princess is Meenaatchi. He is walking down to marry her and be her lord... What does this imply?  Where does fish (meen) reign (aatchi)?    You all know it is the ocean.. He is coming here to grab the Aanma which is toiling in the ocean of births and rebirths and grant it eternal Mukti... So he will look like the boatman who goes to the sea and therefore we may call Him as Thoniappar (the great skipper of a Ship)!

Unable to make out from all these varying descriptions, they run to His own retinue of Ganas.

The people

The Devas call Him Sunaderswarar..

The Divine damsels call Him Sokkanathar...

The Munivars liken Him to the emperor of Pandya Kingdom...

The Gyanis call Him Thoniappar...

We are totally confused... can’t you at least tell me he exactly he is to look at?

The Ganas

They say that to know about someone, you must take a cue from his close friends...! So if you see His close friend Sundaranar, He will be looking exactly like Him

To see you, who is a friend of Easan is like seeing Thyagesan Himself!

After narrating thus, raises his hands above his head in supplication and then prostrates in front of Sundaramoorthiyar who picks him up and embraces him.

Sundaramoorthiyar (smiling)

 Could anyone have narrated our first meeting more beautifully than you?

Maranar is overwhelmed by this reception.

Sundaramoorthiyar (leaving his hold)

By the way ... May I know who you are and where you are coming from!

Maranar

I come from a place called Ambar.. I am teaching Vedas and running a Vedapatasalai... People call me Somasimaranar.

 Surprised and excited on hearing his name Sundaramoorthiyar bows to him. Maranar is taken aback.

Sundaramoorthiyar

Few months ago some pundits from Kasi had come here to see me.. They told me that you clarified all their doubts.. They narrated all their doubts and also your clarifications on each of them... Your lofty ideals of equality among all creatures ... there no one high or low among people due to birth.... all creatures must be venerated...  your noble idea that no one should be left hungry in this world.... all these things I discerned from their narration...  From that time itself, I have been very keen to come to Ambar and meet you... It is very fortunate that you have come here on your own... Your absolute mastery of the Vedas is worthy of veneration! I want to do some favour for you... Please ask me whatever you want without any hesitation...

Overcome with emotion, Maranar takes a little time to bring himself back to reality.

Maranar

I decided to remain a brahmachari for life earlier...  I developed an urge to see Iraivan while I was conducting the Somayagam and debating with the pundits of Kasi.    Because that Iraivan accepts the offerings through Agni at the end of Yagam when offered along with wife, I decided to get married.. I am planning to start the Somayagam from the coming new moon day... I want Iraivan and Annai  must kindly present themselves at the end accept the offerings from us at the end...   Only you can plead with Iraivan and obtain His approval.

Sundaramoorthiyar (without a second thought)

You start your yagam from the coming new moon day... It will be my responsibility to make sure that Iraivan and Annai appear there at the end of the yagam .....

Pleased that his task has ended successfully, Maranar returns to Ambar happily.

    *******

That evening...

Sundaramoorthiyar is in the Easan sannathi.....

Sundaramoorthiyar (praying to Easan)

 Aaroora...   Empirane! Today one of Your staunch adiyavar came to me. He put forth a request to me... I have given my word to him that I will arrange to get his request fructified... He is staring the Somayagam from the coming new moon day... At the end, You along with Annai must kindly arrive and accept the offerings and bless them....

Iraivan (as a divine voice from the Sannathi)

You are my friend... I am bound to help you in need.. But how can you promise some body that Me and Annai will present ourselves in his Yagam and accept the offerings? From Vedic times we accept the offerings only through the form of Agni...   It can never be changed just for your sake...   Just because you are My friend,  I  may still agree to accept the offerings to honour your commitment as you have given your word unaware of the Vedic rules.. But your Annai will never agree to this. You have also assured him that Easan will come along with his consort.. What to do now?

Sundaramoorthiyar (wringing his hands in utter panic)

I have given my word unknowing its implications! What will I do now?

Iraivan

Anyway all is not lost now...  When he comes tomorrow tell him that Iraivan will not be able to come in person and He will accept the offerings only through Agni as ordained in the Vedas. That is all. Why must you panic for this simple matter?

 Sundaramoorthiyar

When you addressed me as ‘friend’, I truly believed that I have become your friend. I totally forgot that you made me your slave earlier showing a document as a proof. ...   Does a slave have any right to take a decision?  I should have asked you before I gave my word to him? It is my fault totally.  Can I   immediately go and tell him, “Adiyavare! Please forgive me. My Easan will not   come to yagams conducted by people like you ... So you look for someone else?” Will not be akin to leaving him in the lurch? Suppose he gives up his life on hearing this from me...  I cannot even imagine such consequences...  Suppose something like that happens, I will also cease to live...

Sundaramoorthiyar starts weeping..

Iraivan (angrily)

Why are you wailing and creating a scene saying that you will cease to live? ...  What do you want Me to do now?

Sundaramoorthiyar (pathetically)

Can’t You, who make the rules, amend it?

Iraivan laughs aloud.

Iraivan

Alright... Alright... Don’t keep blabbering on this issue...  I have to ensure that both your commitment is honoured and also the laid down rules are not violated.  So for your sake Me and Annai will  go there as appropriate...

Sundaramoorthiyar heaves a sigh of relief and is pleased.

    *****

Thirukailayam..

Easan is seated with Annai.  In front of them Vinayakar and Murugan are playing...

Easan and Annai are enjoying their games...

Nandi is seated a little away worried that the children may not fall down and injure themselves...

The sound of panchaksharam “Om Namasivaya’ rings loudly all of a sudden. The children stop their play  

Abruptly and Annai looks around.

Annai  

Look... Somasimaranar has started the Somayagam..   

The vedic chants reverberates at the feet of Easan..

Annai

What are you waiting for?  Are we not to go there and accept the offerings as per your commitment to your friend?

Easan 

Should we go there as we are?

Annai (confused)

Then ... How else?

 Easan 

It is time that the glory of the Adiyavar is known to the entire world. We are going there as a big family...

He transforms himself to that of a hunter ....  an imposing tall figure with wide chest, long curly hair hanging down to the shoulders, wearing a tiger skin around the torso  and a deer skin covering the upper body, sporting  a thick anklet  around the right ankle...  Annai on her part transforms into a hunter woman...  bundling her hair above the head in a bun and tying it with bamboo shoots...sporting a tattoo on the forehead in place of kumkum.... decorating the eyebrows with small greenish dots...wearing a bead necklace... her sari worn in country style...  The silver anklets worn on her feet make pleasing sound as She walks...  Vinayakar and Murugan also change themselves to hunter boys...

Annai (chiding her sons who are up to some mischief)

We can start now...

Easan

Two more are yet to join...

As   Nandi only is in front of them,   Annai gets a little perplexed.

Nandi comes and bows to Easan and he transforms into a dead and rotting calf. The Trisoolam in the hands of Easan turns into an iron rod and the dead calf is hooked on to it.

There is still one person to join. As everyone is wondering who it could be, Annai Ganga Devi descends from Easan’s matted hairs and bows to Easan.

Annai (looking at Easan)

Till now she was sitting on your head .... Is she going climb on to my head now?

As She raises her hand an old clay liquor pot appears and settles on Her head.  Ganga Devi bows to Annai and disappears into the pot.

All of them now proceed to Ambar.

The Ganas taking amorphous form follow their Lord with their hands cupped above their heads in reverence. The Devas assemble in the sky to watch the glorious sight of Easan walking along with His family.

Ambar… The temple of Easan…

The entire village is sporting a festive look and all the people have assembled to witness the grand Soma yagam of Maranar.  Captivated by the beautiful rendering of Veda mantras, the commoners and Brahmins are all crowding at the entrance of the temple. 

Easan arrives there with his family.  An obnoxious smell emanates from the dead calf hooked to the rod resting on his shoulder….  Unable to bear the stench people cover their noses, Sarma who is standing there picks up a stick to drive the hunter away.

Sarma (shouting loudly)

Hey! You! Why do you come here that too with your family? The smell is revolting… Go away from here with your family… The yagam is going on in full swing inside… Before the elders come here run away from here…

An elder warns Sarma to be careful in dealing with him.

Easan

 I heard beautiful singing coming in the air… I was trying to find out from where it is coming and it appears that it is coming from the temple here… Please let us go inside… If we go and sit there inside we will be able to enjoy it more…

He tries to enter the temple…

All the Brahmins there pick up a long pole of bamboo and place it across the entrance so as to prevent His entry.

Annai (mockingly)

Hey!  The entrances to the temple are made very wide so that everyone can enter … But you Brahmins are blocking the way for us …   Now listen to Me… I have ten day’s old country in the pot I have… All of you take a gulp and let us go inside without any hassles…

She opens the lid and the smell of putrefied liquor makes them  retreat….

Sarma (shouting)

You wench! Get away from here…  It is so nauseating that we won’t be able to eat anything for days …

In the confusion Vinayakan and Murugan try to sneak in and there is utter chaos. Hearing the commotion Maranar reaches there and looks at the hunter and hunter woman.

Maranar

Why there is so much of noise here?

An elderly Brahmin (looking at Maranar)

See… This untouchable wants to go inside the temple… The whole family stinks….  Who bothers if   they are   denied entry?

Easan (looking at Maranar)

Ayyare!  We heard good music as we were coming…  We came here since the music was nice… It appears some puja is going on… I also see a cow tied up here.. May be it is going to be sacrificed…

The Brahmins will not eat cow’s meat… We will come inside and wait for the puja to be over and leave after getting the meat. What do you say? 

Maranar (welcoming them)

 That cow is not for sacrifice…. It will be given as a gift… The Veda Mantras are pleasing to the ear when sung…. You can come inside …

The assembled Brahmins are taken aback on hearing this.

Brahmin1 (to Maranar in a firm tone.)

You have conducted innumerable yagams as the head priest… There is nothing unknown to you….

We can never permit these people to enter the temple.

Maranar

There is no embargo for anyone to enter the temple… Also, no one has any authority to prevent any one’s entry…

Annai (clapping her hands happily)

Well said!

The Brahmins become more furious…

Brahmin 2  (angrily)

What will happen to our sanctity if such people are let inside?

Maranar

The Vedas proclaim that Easan is omnipresent and resides in all creatures…. To me He looks as if He is verily Easan ...Mahadevan, and that noble lady none else than Annai Sivakami…. And the children, Vinayakar and Murugan…

He bows to all of them …

The Elderly Brahmin (angrily)

 Do you see Easan in Him? In that case do one thing… Take this untouchable and his wife inside with all honour and get them seated in the place of honour. You do Padapujai and sprinkle the washed water on your head…. You would achieve   your life’s aim… Not only that… Give that cow as a sacrifice to that Mahadevan…. You do what all sacrileges that can be imagined…. But  don’t involve us and leave us alone…

Maranar bows to that elderly Brahmin and bows to him.

Maranar

You have given me a wonderful suggestion at the correct time… I was wondering as to whom I should seat in the place of honour…. You have given an apt proposal….

Without wasting much time, he goes near the hunter and bows to Him. Catching hold of his hand he takes Him inside. His wife and children follow.

While all the other Brahmins stand dumbfounded, Sarma laughs aloud.

The Elderly Brahmin (angrily)

You idiot! Why are you laughing out of context when we are highly anguished? 

Sarma ( laughing aloud again)

 You wait and see … These people have gone inside…. Those who are reciting mantras inside will come out running unable to bear the obnoxious smell shortly…  That will be the end of yagam…

Eagerly waiting for the yagam to be disrupted, all are listening intently to discern what is happening inside….

Time passes…. The Vedic chants continue without any interruption.  Perplexed that the yagam is carrying on without any let up contrary to their expectation, they move inside slowly….

There….

In the seat of honour, the hunter and his wife are seated facing east. The two sons are standing on either side. The dead calf is lying in front of them hooked to the iron rod.

Shenbagavalli is holding the clay pot given by the hunter woman. Maranar is preparing to do padapujai for them. He keeps a tambalam under their feet and his wife is about to pour from the pot to wash their feet.

Sarma (with his eyes bulging in great surprise)

What is happening? How are they able to tolerate the stink?

He goes near them followed by other Brahmins.

A great revelation   is about to unfold…..

As Shenbagavalli looks inside the pot, she sees Annai Ganga Devi present there. Excited she cries “Sambo Mahadeva” and pours the sacred Gangajal into the hands of Maranar ….

Maranar washes the feet of Iraivan and the Gangajal flows out cleansing the feet of Iraivan!

The temple bell tolls and the horns are sounded creating a great noise. 

The untouchable hunter   takes His form of Easan and the woman that of Annai Parvati. The two boys reveal their original forms of Vinayakar and Murugan respectively. The dead calf comes alive as Nandi, and the rod as the Trident of Easan reaches His hand!

Overwhelmed by the scene unfolding in front of his eyes, Maranar joins his palms raises his hands above his head shouting “Hara Hara Mahadeva! Hara Hara Mahadeva!”  to the resounding echo from all those assembled there. All of them bow to Easan.

Easan (extending His arms)

Maranare! Where is your offering to Me?

Maranar (catches the hand of his wife and both of them kneel in front of Easan)

We offer ourselves as the sacrificial offering! Kindly accept the same and show us mercy!

Iraivan laughs aloud.

Easan

Somasimara Nayanare! By this act of yours, you have shown to the world this is what the Vedas teach! Your name and fame will remain as long as this universe exists. Whosoever worships me will worship you as well! 

Easan raises His hand and erupts as huge flame of brilliant hue....

Somasimara Nayanar and his wife merge into that brilliance and become one with Easan. The Devas shower flowers from the sky. The temple bells toll with great resonance. The people of Ambar bow reverentially seeing the divine happening.

Thiruchchitrambalam