THIRUKOLUR PEN PILLAI RAGASIYAM-77

Dear Chellas, In the wonder packed world of veda patti the next statement that Penpillai told was "Neerorugam Kondeno Kasi Singanai pola". One's EGO will end up in total disaster only so also self pride is highly dangerous- is the message here. 

In the city Kashi there lived a man called Singan. He was a versatile swimmer.   He uses to collect Lotus flowers from very many different ponds to offer them to Lord Vishnu.  As he did it from different p ponds, he became an expert in swimming.

Lotus plants grow under water at the bottom of the lakes and pools and blossoms at the water surface.   Hence only those who are physically tough, healthy and fearless could do this task of gathering Lotus.  Because if the one gets stuck in the mud at the rock bottom,it is very difficult to get released from there. 

This Kasisingan is courageous,robust and hence he was doing this pushpa kainkaryam very casually and effortlessly. 

One day he made an attempt to swim across in the wide and deep Ganga river. He swam across from this bank to that for a number of times. He felt proud over his swimming skill and started feeling that he became a versatile swimmer. 

In Ramayana,Swami GUHA uses to cross the river only by swimming.   His  competency in swimming was so high that he uses to pick up the soil and sand of Ganges from the rock bottom. Chingan use to tell "I too could perform all those feats in Ganga as Guha did ".

From then on Singan developed self Ego. He did swimming circuses every day in Ganges by swimming from the West Bank to the South making all public wondering at his rare skill and his passion for swimming. Day by day Singan started feeling proud and his ego shooted up.  He started laying bet and challenge with all public and conducted competitions  to touch banks of the river Ganga and participated in all races.  Though the public participation in the race was initially high, slowly the number got reduced  making Sarngan feel that- in such a mighty river Ganga HE is the only one who could swim across easily and effortlessly. 

Singan continued his Lotus collection every day but his kainkaryam of offering them to Lord Vishnu has stopped altogether.  Ganga Matha,the awesome godess having direct links with Mummoorthigal (Brahma,Vishnu & Sivan-the creator, the protector and the destroyer).who uses to take away the sins of her devotees and also the dhurgunas(bad traits)such as pride and ego.   Ganga matha has decided to teach a lesson to Chingan. 

As usual, one day Chingan swam across to pluck Lotus and on seeing alot of people on the river bank watching him,he has started doing some  gimmicks to attract their attention. When he was swimming  the flood level in Ganges became very violent.

It just washed away Singan and pushed him into a whirlpool. He made all out efforts using his strength, skill and courage but all in vain and could not come out of the whirlpool. Kasi Singan was perplexed and was struggling for his life. But he could not come out of the current despite his all our efforts. He felt completely exhausted after trying till his arms were fully tired. He didn't know what to do. 

Now he realized his mistake and started lamenting that he failed to offer the flowers to Perumal as he was carried away by his EGO as the best swimmer. He then realized that he is just an ordinary human and hence should not have Pride or Ego.

At that time the story of Gajendra - to protect whom God came running  - came to his mind.   At once he started praying, Oh God  when Gajendran was struggling for his life calling you  'Aadhi Mulame',Narayana, Manivanna etc. You rushed to the spot and saved him; likewise you please save my life now,as you are my only savior.  Sarngan has started doing SARANAGATHI.  Maha vishnu has accepted his Saranagathi and at the same time wind started blowing very heavily resulting in to a huge tide  and pushed him to the river bank.  

Kasi Singan found one Lotus flower in his hand. He felt very happy and was moved at the kindness of the Almighty who saved his life and offered the flowers to Perumal.   Perumal,with his grace has saved Singan from floods and his EGO.

Neerorugam means Lotus flowers. 

Now Pen pillai asked Ramanuja whether she has remembered Perumal with unshakable faith as Kasisingan did? Or offered pushpam to God even when got caught in the whirlpool as Chingan did?  What qualifications I have got to remain in this Thirukkolur? For that  Ramanuja answered Pillai quoting Bhoothathazhwar who praised Vishnu in his pasurams - Perumal is stationed at Thiru Parkadal(ksheera sagaran)and also in our heart and soul too.  He appeared in the form of a giant tide when Kasisingan prayed to him. 

Neerorugam is to guide one to take the right decision when he is in water.  Here, he made Kasisingan to strongly believe that Perumal alone could save him and also made him to pray Vishnu  to come to his rescue. Also it was ONLYthe Perumal who made Kasisingan offer Lotus to Him.

We should not allow bad and undesirable traits such as ego,self-boasting to creap in to us and occupy our minds.   Humility and Modesty alone should be with us as they alone could do good to us  -RAmanujar very clearly told  Penpillai. 

When asked - about whom we are going to hear next,Thirukkolur Thozhi told "Vaakkinal Vendreno Bhattarai pola"?.We are going to meet a child prodigy  with intelligence  Vak Chathuryam and smartness  - in our next episode. 

JAI SRIRAM