Miscellaneous - Religion   

Humility of the devout

CHENNAI: Service to the Lord and His devotees is the primary maxim governing the lives of Nayanmars and the Periyapuranam showcases the high degree of culture and ethics that prevailed during their times. The intense fervour of their devotion to the Lord that had withstood the severest of tests through the sheer grace of Siva is also well delineated. The noble qualities of humility and selflessness inhere in these saints in a natural way and this has been responsible for the mutual love, honour and respect among all devotees of Siva, irrespective of age or other considerations, said Sengalipuram Sri B. Damodara Dikshitar in a lecture.

This is evident in many instances in the life of Saint Tirunavukkarasar who spent his days worshipping the Lord in the many temples he visited and singing His glory. On learning about Gnanasambandhar’s blessed fortune and impressed by the quality of the hymns of this child/saint, he was desirous of meeting him and proceeded to Sirkazhi. What ensued was a remarkable meeting between two devout saints, the elderly respectable sage and the child prodigy, who expressed their veneration for each other by prostrating. Most deferentially the child called him “Appar” and this epithet of Tirunavukkarasar has come to stay.

Another dramatic incident that comes alive in Sekkizhar’s vivid depiction reveals the noble traits of Siva devotees. Saint Tirunavukkarasar, in the course of his pilgrimage, arrived in Tingalur and was surprised to see his name in a water stall. On enquiry, he learnt that it belonged to one Appudi Adigal, a devout Siva worshipper as well as a scholar and philanthropist. Apparently, the unflinching faith of Tirunavukkarasar had touched him to that extent that though he had never seen the saint, he became his ardent disciple and had given the saint’s name to the many establishments and centres that belonged to him.

Appudi for his part impressed the saint further when he asked the saint how he could call himself a Siva devotee when he didn’t know the greatness of Saint Tirunavukkarasar. The latter then revealed his identity to him. Such seers are equal to preceptors who can show the path to God realisation.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Cartoonscape
The Hindu Crossword 9081
Solution to puzzle 9080
Humility of the devout
dated November 29, 1957: D.K. agitation condemned
dated November 29, 1957: Community projects
dated November 29, 1957: Official language
Weather

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu