The Hindu : Lord's benign mercy

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jan 22, 2004

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous - Religion

Lord's benign mercy

CHENNAI, JAN. 22. Human beings observe fasts and participate in rituals to get the blessings of God and other celestials. His love for mankind is boundless and the quality of His benign mercy is ever there for all to perceive, behold and benefit from. Whenever His devotees either collectively or individually seek His help with sublime faith and in all humility, He is ready to rush to the succour of the beloved followers.

The Vaishnavite tradition enshrines the incarnations of the Lord and His valorous deeds to save humanity and uphold virtue. Saivism extols the valiant role played by Lord Siva, traditionally accorded the status of destroyer, and celebrates His role as the saviour of humanity.

In his discourse Sri Vijayendra Saraswathi Swamigal said that Lord Siva has both saved and sported with His devotees in order to deliver them from distress. He is ever willing to support humanity in the most critical hour, an aspect highlighted in scriptural literature like Thevaram, Sivananda Lahari among others. The list of His encounters where He indulged in divine playfulness is long and is enshrined in them.

Help serves the purpose only when rendered on time. This is well highlighted when Devas and Asuras joined hands to churn the Ocean of Milk in quest of manna. The poison secreted by the celestial snake Vasuki threatened to destroy the world with its toxins. Lord Siva swallowed the entire venomous mass thus saving the whole world.

In His manifestation, after having wooed and won the Pandian princess, Siva arrived for His wedding ceremony as a mendicant. When confronted by a boastful Pandian king about the bridal gifts, the Lord came with a befitting reply by presenting him with horses and other riches. The king was thus chastised and made to realise his folly.

So is the story of the Lord coming to the wedding feast with a single guest. When the boastful king again taunted Him about the quantity of food prepared and the absence of numbers from the groom's side, the Lord merely asked him to feed His guest. The single guest proved more than equal to the task and all the available food could not fill his appetite.

When another king embarked on the task of strengthening the banks of the Vaigai, and called on all countrymen to join the task, the Lord joined the work force. When He deliberately behaved in a negligent way, the king flogged Him — a blow that was felt by the entire humanity.

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