THIRUKOLUR PEN PILLAI RAGASIYAM-76

My dear, cute children, in Veda Patti's world, the statement that our Pen Pillai says is "Neeril kuditheno kanapurathalai pole."

Have I ever jumped into waters as Kanapurattal did?

This is the story of the young girl who bestowed bakthi and abhimana and who risked her life itself for her Acharya. She was born in Thiruk-kanna-puram and migrated to Srirangam; hence, she was called Kanapurattal by all. At Srirangam in the mutt of a guru, she was engaged in cleaning the entrance, putting kolam, gathering flowers for pooja, keeping fruits for Perumal, maintaining the madapalli neat and washing the vessels, etc., very happily. 

She used to listen from her guru the Alwar pasurams and his upanyasam. One day, the guru, along with his sishyas, started for the divyadesam Thiruvellarai.   Kanapurathal also started along with them.  After worshipping Lord Pundarikaksha and Thayar Pangayar Chelvi, they were returning to Srirangam. It was almost nightfall, and in the river Kaveri, water was flowing with a heavy current. In the sky, black clouds formed, indicating heavy rain.  It was a dark evening, and before nightfall, they should cross the river Kaveri. There was no boatman. But only one Parisal (hand-made disc-like boat). Fortunately, the Parisal owner was nearby. Guru, sishyas and Kanapurattal got into the Parisal, and it was slowly moving in the river. 

Suddenly, it started raining with thunder and lightning.  The boat man told guruji - it is extremely difficult to row the boat and in case of any whirlpool it will throw away all of us.  Even when he was telling this, the flood level in the Kaveri had increased, and the small Parisal was struggling miserably. Again, the boatman said that because the boat was overweight, it might topple. If one of you knows swimming, get down from the Parisal and swim across the distance. I will safely take the rest and cross the river, or else, we all will submerge into the Kaveri water as the terrible current drives the Parisal in a remote direction.  No one came forward to accept the boatman's request because it is terrifying even to look at the dangerous river.  No one knows where it will take all of them, and they are afraid of even stepping into the river water.  Now the Parisal man made his final warning that he could safely reach the destination, only if at least one of them got down from the Parisal. 

Now Kannnapurattal understood the situation and decided what she had to do because in such a situation, at least all others should sail across, and more particularly, nothing should happen to her beloved Guru. Then she told the boatman, "You will live happily for a hundred years," and asked him to take her guru to his destination. Then she jumped into the river.

All were looking at her with awe and wonder. No one knows whether or not she knows how to swim.  If the Acharya is safe, innumerable devotees will benefit from him. Realising this, Kannapurattal took such a decision.  Her mental strength and love for Acharya are beyond expression.  Somehow, the Parisal had reached the riverbank. 

Acharya became very emotional, asking what happened to the girl who jumped into the river. To save us all, only she dived into the river, and the Guru was worrying how badly she might be suffering and struggling for life. It was pitch dark and he requested the Parisal man to check where she was. 

'Swami, Adiyal (disciple) Karai Odhungitten. I have reached the river bank and I am here only on the heap of sand," answered Kannapurattal. Guru was wonderstruck and looked at the direction from where her voice came.  She was standing on a sandy spot full of KORAI grass. Acharya sent that boatman to bring her safely to them. Guru told as you got that heap of sand, you  are safe and we got you back. Then Kanapurattal asked her Guru whether it was Guru only who saved her life in the form of heap of sand. At once Guru told her more than guru, your faith on Guru only has saved your life 

Now, Penpillai asked Ramanujar Swami what my status was before a lady like Kanapurattal, who offered her own life for her Guru, and I never got any such opportunity, and I am nothing before Kanapurattal.  She felt sorry, and Ramanuja told her that the best example of guru bhakti is Swami Madurakavi Alwar.  By taking his guru Nammalvar as everything in life and without even seeing any other deity throughout his life, he said " Thevumatrariyen".

Some sishyas strongly believe that if we are devoted and dedicated to our Guru, who is very close to Perumal, the Lord will bless us with Moksham and eternal bliss.  For example, if we keep a lotus flower close to fire, it won't blossom, but it will wither away, because it needs only the heat of the sun. Similarly, if you pluck a lotus flower from the plant and place it on the floor under the sun, even the sun could not make it blossom, as the pond water is also vital for the lotus. 

The one who gives us the real wisdom and make our life blossom like lotus is Narayana.  Role of an Acharya is like water for lotus flower. If we have true guru Bhakti we could escape from a turbulent, whirlpool of water as well as the tough Samsara. 

Acharya Vaibhavam is something that cannot be learned through serious studies, but rather should be realised and experienced.

"Now, about whom you are going to tell next," Ramanuja asked, to which Pen Pillai told "Neerorugam kondeno kasi chinganai pola"- what is neerorugam and who is kasisingan.