THIRUKOLUR PEN PILLAI RAGASIYAM-78

My dear darling children,

In the wonderland of Vedha Patti, the message that our Pen Pillai says is -

Vaakinal vendreno  Bhattarai pola - Have I ever been victorious because of my eloquence and debating skills?!  It is something fantastic.  We are going to see someone who was brilliant in their communication and linguistic skills.

Bhagavad Ramanujar is identified by many titles, such as Emperumanallur, Udayavar, Ethirajar, Bhashyakarar, and Perumpudur Muni.  The hero of this episode was very much appreciated and praised by Ramanujar.  In a village called Kooram (near Kancheepuram), he was living with his beloved wife Andal like an emperor with all powers, wealth, luxury, etc.  Oh, hearing about Ramanujar, his greatness, that he has relinquished all his wealth, luxury, etc. and became Ramanuja’s sishya (disciple).

One rainy day, he could not get out for Bhikshai. That night, Kurathazhvar went to sleep without taking dinner. His wife Andal recalled her husband’s past life. He led a princely life, with many servants to attend to his every need, and always enjoyed rich and delicious food. Yet, today, he was going to bed without food. She thought to herself and prayed to Ranganatha.

Lord Sri Ranganatha could not tolerate one of his ardent devotees’ suffering, so he performed some wonders. Arangan ordered to send Prasadam to Kurattazhvar through the priest. Instantly, Kurathazhvar asked his wife, Andal, whether she had expressed her unhappiness to Lord Ranganathar. Andal replied that she had appealed to Ranganathar as she could not bear to see her husband suffer from hunger.

Out of the Prasadam, Kuraththazhvar took one-third and offered the remaining two-thirds to Andal. Eventually, by the grace of Lord Ranganatha, Andal became pregnant and gave birth to two male twins.  Kurathazhvar wanted Swami Ramanujar to name his sons. Ramanujar named them as Vedha Vyasa Bhattar and Parasaran Bhattar.  Out of the two, Lord Ranganatha and Thaayar have adopted the one in Vaikasi, Anusham, as their child.

Both lord Ranganatha and Thayer looked after Parasaran Bhattar as their child.  In the pillar at Perumal Sannidhi, they hung a cradle for baby Parasaran to sleep and play.  He was offered Thirumanjana Theertham to quench his thirst and Perumal Prasadam as regular food, and with these, Parasaran Bhattar grew up.

Parasaran Bhattar was a child prodigy. He had the rarest skill of understanding, remembering, and reproducing whatever he sees, listens to, and reads - only once.  Ethirajar had assigned the duty of imparting Vedic knowledge and Sastras to Parasaran Bhattar to Embar.  Parasaran was outstanding in all subjects, at a young age. He memorised the Vedas and Azhwar Pasurams, easily. He was able to recite and reproduce all that was taught to him at one time.  He was ‘Eka Shantha grahi’ - one with photographic memory.

As told by an adage, 'vilayum payir mulayile’, which means the potency and quality of a plant could be estimated even when it is in its sapling stages. Even at the age of five, he started asking doubts in Nammazhvar’s Thiruvaimozhi.

Quoting a verse from Thiruvaimozhi, SIRU MAA MANITHAR, Bhattar asked, 'SIRU means small, MAA means gigantic. How could both these contradictory traits be applied to the same person?' For that, Kurathazhvar explained to Parasaran Bhattar that great intellectual giants like Mudali Andan and Arulala Perumal Emperumanar, though they may not appear big and muscular and may seem simple, puny, and small in stature, their Shasthra Gnana and knowledge level are immeasurable.  They will be small in Moorthy but great in Keerthi and fame.

One day, when the young child Parasaran Battar was playing in the street in Srirangam, a palanquin came in. All orchestral accompaniments surrounded it. Some people in the front row shouted 'Maha Pandithar (great scholar) Sarvagya Battar is on the way - Parak Parak'.

The small kid Parasaran looked up and wondered, 'In this Srirangam, which is like the main root for Sree Vaishnavam and where saints and scholars such as Acharya Ramanujar, Koorathazhvar and Mudhali Anandan live, who is that one who proclaims himself as Sarvagnyan. He followed the palanquin, asking the bearers who was inside? They said it is Sarvagnya Bhattar who came down to Srirangam to demonstrate his extraordinary debating talent.

Parasaran peeped into the palanquin and asked, “Oh, are you Sarvagnya Bhattar? Will you answer my question?” The all-knowing Sarvagnya from inside the Pallakku told him sarcastically, "Oh my boy, you may ask any question you like, and I will answer you."

Parasaran picked up from the ground his hand full of sand and asked him, ” How much sand do I have in my hand? “.  Vidhan got confused and amazed at how it is possible to exactly count the sand dust in the kid’s hand. He became spellbound and realised his pride.

Parasaran told the Maha Vidvan laughingly, “You don’t even know how to tell that it is ‘just a handful’ - then why do you make all this pomp and show? Please stop all this drama,” said Parasaran.

Surprised at the intelligence of Parasaran, the Maha Vidvan took him to his home in his Pallakku. Upon knowing that the small boy is the son of Kurathazhvar, he understood that the kid’s brilliance is natural.  From that day onwards, Maha Vidvan stopped using the fancy palanquin. He asked Parasaran Bhattar’s mother, Andal, to never leave the child alone and unattended on the street and protect him with Dwaya Manthra.

Now, Pen Pillai asked Ramanujar, "Have I ever won any erudite scholar in any debate? What rare skill do I have like Parasaran, who vanquished Sarvagnyan with his Vak Chathuryam even at a very young age? I have no such rare traits and requisites to stay here at Thirukkolur?"

Ramanujar was overwhelmed to hear about Parasaran from Pen Pillai. Ramanujar told Kurathazhvar that his son, Parasaran Bhattar, with his unique talents and brilliance, would bring laurels to Sri Vaishnavam and enjoy an excellent reputation.

When asked about whom you are going to tell next. Pen Pillai told - Vaayil Kai vitteno Embaarai pola - we will discuss about EMBAAR in our next episode, and before that, the words of the great visionary Ramanujar came true.  Parasaran Bhattar, as he grew older, visited other countries and conquered many scholars, bringing fame to our Vaishnavism.

We will meet Embar next and will cherish his greatness.