Kaari Nayanar

2

Kaari Nayanar

In the Royal Court of the Chozha Kingdom…

The Mannar is presiding over the court. The Amaichchar and Senapati have taken their seats. The public is in attendance.

An Adiyavar enters the court and bows to the Mannar and others assembled there. The Mannar calls for a seat and makes the adiyavar seated. The Adiyavar is highly pleased by the royal gesture.

Mannar (cupping his palm in salutation)

May I know who you are and from where you have come from!

Adiyavar

 As I am of dark complexion and as I teach the glory of Thiruneeru, people call me Kaarinathan combining my skin color and my profession of teaching. I hail from Thirukkadayur.

Mannar

 Adiyavar Perumane! We are eager and waiting to know about the glory of the place you hail from!

Kaarinathar sings a beautiful composition about the eight places where Easan took a courageous and furious form.  The king and all those assembled get captivated by the song.

Kaarinathar (explaining the meaning of the song)

This song was composed by Thirunavukkarasar Peruman. He has sung about the Veerattanam. Veerattanam denotes the eight places where Easan emerged in great bravery. I will tell you about these eight places presently.

 In Thirukkandiyur on the banks of Kavery, He emerged in all his fury to pluck off the head of Lord Brahma for having committed the sin of lying.

In Thirukkadayur, the place where I hail from, He vanquished Yaman to save Markandeyan from his death noose.

  In Thiruvathigai, He emerged in all his fury to burn the Thiripuram to save the entire universe from destruction.

In Vazhuvur, he vanquished a demon who came in the form of an elephant. He skinned its hide and   wrapped it around as his garment.

 Mounted on his Nandi Vahanam, He killed an Asura named Andakasuran at Thirukkovilur.

At Kurukkai, He burnt to ashes, Manmadhan, who came to disrupt his deep meditation by His third eye.

In Thittaikudi, He took the furious form to kill the Asura named Salandirasuran.  In all these eight places, he emerged in all His fury and hence they are collectively called as Veerattanam. Easan is hailed as Veerattaneswarar in all these temples.

Mannar

Adiyavar Perumane!  I am very eager to know about the Easan’s episode at Thirukkadayur! Can you please tell us about it?

Kaarinathar elaborates…

     *******

Vilvavanam….

A Munivar is undertaking a very severe penance. Pleased by his devotion and the power of his penance, Lord Brahma reaches there.

Brahma (hailing him gently)

Mrigandu Munivare!

The Munivar opens his eyes and seeing Lord Brahma in front of him prostrates at his feet in great piety.

Brahma

Munivare! What you wish to seek?

Mrigandu Munivar gets up with folded hands and tears falling from his eyes.

Brahma

Do want gold? Do you seek wealth? Whatever you want, ask Me… without hesitation. I will grant your wish!

Mrigandu Munivar (with great emotion with tears flowing down)

As a Munivar, why would I ask for gold and wealth? Great Lord! Aren’t you aware what I am seeking desperately?

 Brahma (looking at him in great compassion)

 I am very well aware of it! But still, what you seek must be pronounced explicitly by you!

 Munivar (bowing)

A man’s life is said to be complete in this earth only if he begets a son to continue his clan. Please grant me a son so that my clan can flourish and does not end with me.

Brahma

 What kind of a son you want to beget? One who is a dimwit but will for a hundred years or A Gyani who will live only for sixteen years?

Munivar

 A fool, even if he lives for a hundred years is of no use to the society. But a Gyani, even if he lives for a short time will lead the people and show them the righteous path.  Please therefore grant me the one who will be a Gyani.

The Munivar bows his head in reverence. A voice emerges, “So be it!”. Munivar raises his head and Brahma has vanished from there.

 Time passes…

The Munivar’s hut…. The young boy, after looking after his parents goes out for reciting the Vedas.   Though highly pleased by their son’s diligence, they are at the same time very depressed.  

Mother

Markandeyan is going to be sixteen very soon. I am heartbroken to know that he will be leaving us. For a mother, it is immaterial whether he is a Gyani or a fool.   For her, it is enough if he lives long.  Aren’t you aware that the severest loss is loss of progeny? Why did you get such a boon from Brahma?

Markandeyan enters the hut hearing his mother’s lament. Rushing to her, he falls on her feet.

Markandeyan

Thaye! If I am destined like this, it is no fault of my father. Please do not be harsh on him…  A fool is as good as a dead man.    He is useless and worthless! To become a learned person will bring glory to his creator!

Mrigandu Munivar     

Mahane! I am unable to understand… How does the creator get glory due to one being learned?

Markandeyan

Thanthaye! Iraivan alone is Paramatma! We are, including all the creatures are Jivatma. Why should Easan create the Jivatmas on this earth? It is only to make us realise Him, the Paramatma! The Vedas tells us the way to realise Easan. Therefore, one must have Gyanam to realise Easan. A foolish person does not have Gyanam and so he can never realise the godhead. That is why I said that to be born with intelligence will bring glory to the creator.

Mrigandu Munivar     

Aaha! No one has explained the true import of being born on this earth in such a lucid fashion. We are really proud to have begotten you as our son.

Still he is deeply perturbed that Markandeyan’s days are numbered.

Markandeyan

Thanthaye!  Having known that I have only a few more time left, I want to visit all the temples of Easan in these days.

Mother

 Mahane! I cannot bear to see you away even for a minute.  If you go away, I will worry to death!

Markandeyan

Thaye! I will return when I am about to complete my sixteenth year. My life will depart only at the feet of Amritagateswarar. Please permit me to go!

With a heavy heart, they let him go on his pilgrimage.

     *******

 Markandeyan returns home….

Mrigandu Munivar and his wife welcome him back who is carrying a pot on his head. His mother takes off the pot from him. Markandeyan prostrates in front of his parents in great reverence.

Markandeyan

Thanthaye! After visiting many sacred shrines, I finally reached Kasi.  There I visited the temple Viswanathar and after praying to him, I collected the water from the river Ganga  in this pot and carried it all the way here for consecrating our Lord Amritagadeswarar.

Instead of being happy seeing their son, both of them are highly distressed and his mother is shedding tears.

Markandeyan

Thanthaye! I can understand! By midday today, I complete my sixteenth year. What next?

Without answering his own question, he looks up his parents with his eyes misty with tears.

Thai

Mahane! I will follow you, the moment you leave me.  What have I got to do here when you are not here?

She starts crying aloud.

Markandeyan

This life is granted by Iraivan. We have no right to relinquish it unless it is His wish! If you end your life because of me, it brings no credit to me and it is contrary to my way of life. Whatever happens is due to Easan’s will! Let whatever is in store happen at the sacred feet of my Easan! 

 Bowing to his parents and then taking the pot of with him, he walks towards the temple.

  *******

The Sannadhi of Amritagateswarar…

As Markandeyan pours out the Ganga water and does Abhishekam of Easan, the Veda mantras are recited resoundingly. He then drapes the Easan with fresh new clothes and adorns Him with garlands lying nearby.  Easan is radiant and glittering as if a billion suns have emerged there. Deeply absorbed by this wonderful sight and totally lost in himself, Markandeyan hugs the sacred Lingam chanting the Panchakshara mantram. At that very instant the appointed time for his death coincides. Yaman appears there to carry off his soul.  To end the life of Markandeyan, he throws the noose around him which encircles the Easan’s Lingam form also. As he pulls the rope to haul Markandeyan, the noose tightens and leaves a mark on Easan’s body.  Easan emerges in great fury breaking open His Lingam.  As Yaman stands shell shocked seeing His fury, Easan kicks him with His foot   to the floor. 

Easan (in great anger)

You have come to take the life of an adiyavar when he is praying to Me! You have done a great sacrilege by throwing your noose around…. I will not be content   without killing you ! 

All the Gods and Devas headed by Brahma and Indiran appear there. The parents of Markandeyan also reach there.

 All of them appeal for peace and pray to Easan praising His virtues. Easan calms down.

Yaman (verily shaking)

 I threw the noose around Markandeyan to carry out my assigned duty. It encircled the sacred body of Easan also. I have thus done a great sin. Please pardon me and grant me permission to let me complete my task. 

Easan

My adiyavar, Markandeyan, by embracing Me, has conquered death by surrendering to Me! There is no death for him forever.

Yaman (confused)

Does that mean that the boon granted by Brahma is void?

Brahma

Those who surrender and reach the sacred feet of Easan are conquerors of even Yaman! There will be no death for them… At the same time the boon granted by Me will also not be void. … Markandeyan will remain in his age of sixteen forever!

As Brahma blesses Markandeyan, the heavens open up with a shower of flowers.

Yaman (still remaining confused)

How will I know that a person whose life I have to terminate is a Sivanadiyar? Am I or Am I not empowered to end their lives? 

Brahma

 When the time comes for the Adiyavars of Easan to shed their lives, instead of the messengers of Yaman, the Sivaganas will come take away their souls.

All present bow to Easan.

     *******

As Kaarinathar thus concludes the story of Markandeyan, the Mannar rushes to him and prostrates in front of him.

Mannar (with tears welling up in his eyes)

You have come from the place where Amritagadeswarar has set foot. Prostrating before you is as good as prostrating in front of Easan Himself!

As he keeps standing bowing to Kaarinathar, he blesses him and all others there greatly pleased. As he was about to depart, the Mannar gives him a huge cache of gold and other valuables.

Kaarinathar

 Why do you gift me this wealth as I am a mendicant and have no use for this?

Mannar (bowing)

Only those who shun gold and other riches will execute the divine and sacred deeds. Let a large number of temples for Easan be constructed in our land by you… Let there be regular feeding of the poor started at all places… Let there be a large number of Matams be constructed by you for lodging the adiyavars.    By your noble acts, please let me also attain salvation.

 Kaarinathar

 I take your words as though they are from Easan Himself… From now On, I will devote my entire life for building temples for Easan and for looking after the welfare of Adiyavars.

Om Namasivaya, Om Namasivaya, Om Namasivaya

The Mannar and all those assembled repeat the Panchaksharam after Kaarinathar.

    ********

Due to his sustained efforts, a large number of temples and lodging houses for adiyavars are established all over the country. Whenever there is shortage of funds, he approaches the Kingdoms of Cheran, Chozhan and Pandiyan and gives discourse on the greatness of Thiruneeru and obtains the needed funds to complete the pending works. After completing all these works, he embarks on a trip to North to reach Kailayam.  The trip is stretching arduously long and seems to be never ending. Overcome with fatigue one day…

Kaarinathar

Just like Appar Peruman was denied permission to reach Kailai, perhaps I am also now debarred. There is no alternative for me except to give up my life!

He holds his breath and sits down. Suddenly there is a resounding “Onkaram” emanating as if from nowhere fallowed by equally loud chanting of Panchakshara mantra. As he opens his eyes, he sees the Sivaganas bowing in front of him.

One of the Sivaganas

 Adiyavar Perumane! This place, where your sacred feet have touched is verily the sacred Kailai! Where you sat with your eyes closed meditating, is the place where Easan does His meditation. Iraivan is about to reach here. Come on! Let us go and offer our prayers to Him!

   To the resounding blowing of trumpets and conch shells, Iraivan appears along with Annai mounted on His Nandi Vahanam.

On seeing Easan and Annai, he prostrates in front of them and overcome with emotion he is unable to even get up. Iraivan picks him up and hugs him.

Kaarinathar (with tears of joy)

 How limitless is Your Grace! You let me reach Kailai in my human form! I have no other contemplation except that on your sacred feet!  

Iraivan

Kaarinathare! You have constructed innumerable temples and thousands of lodgings for the Adiyavars to stay and have their food. You have spread the glory of Thiruneeru all through this land and your deeds are indeed unparalleled.

Your name will shine as long as this earth remains. Whosoever worships Me, will worship you as well!

As Iraivan blesses His adiyavar, the Sivaganas blow their trumpets and other musical instruments in great enthusiasm. The sacred sound of Onkaram reverberates all over!

Thiruchchittrambalam