Miscellaneous - Religion   

Divine intercession

CHENNAI: Hagiographical accounts are replete with instances of divine intercession in the lives of saints and preceptors which may appear implausible but they do play an important role in religious tradition. A number of pilgrim centres are associated with the compositions of hymns. Recitation of these hymns as a devotional practice certainly augments a devotee’s faith if he recalls the divine grace that was instrumental in its composition. One such hymn is Adi Sankara’s Subramanya Bhujangam believed to have been composed by him at the shrine in Tiruchendur.

In his discourse, Sri Mathivannan said Sankara was cured of a stomach ailment after receiving the sacred ash at Tiruchendur temple. Lord Muruga (Kumura, Skanda) is hailed as Vaidyanathan (one who cures all afflictions including repeated births in this world) and hence He is the panacea for all ailments. Sankara is believed to have had the vision of Muruga and spontaneously sung this hymn in the Bhujanga metre. He declares there is no deity who is more gracious than Him. In one of the verses of this hymn he states that meditating on Guha (which is another name of Muruga meaning “the cave of the heart”) calls attention to the rows of waves (Tiruchendur temple is located on the sea shore) splashing on the walls of the temple as if to say “just as the high waves of the ocean disappear when they reach the shore, so also do the afflictions of those who worship Me will disappear in My presence.”

Another act of Muruga’s grace is documented in the life of Kumaraguruparar who is said to have been born dumb. At the age of five he experienced His grace at Tiruchendur which made him not only speak but also compose the Kandarkalivenba in chaste Tamil. Arunagirinathar’s Tiruppugazh is very popular in devotional tradition and it is hailed as the essence of the Vedas, music and wisdom. That it is enough to chant only the Tiruppagazh attests to its comprehensiveness. In his Kandaralankaram, Arunagirinathar says that one can attain liberation from bondage by remembering the sacred feet of Muruga and that there is no need to do yoga or chant mantras to emphasise His graciousness.

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