The Hindu : Wise sayings of Avvaiyar

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 26, 2003

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous - Religion

Wise sayings of Avvaiyar

CHENNAI FEB. 26. Can anyone delineate the most pleasant experience in his life as well as describe the worst type of suffering that should be dreaded? Likewise can a person explain the rare privilege that mankind enjoys and the most cherished desire usually considered as rare that could be entertained by him? Questions relating to these topics were raised by God Himself (for the benefit of humanity) and surprisingly a woman devotee presented the pertinent replies in an admirable manner. The statements made by this peripatetic minstrel, spelt out centuries ago, are valid even today.

Several valuable guidelines have been left by this noble woman — Avvaiyar — in the form of aphorisms and simple utterances, pregnant with deep meanings. Divine Grace was showered on her even while very young and so she developed an aversion to worldly pleasures. She made a plaint to God to remove her youthful appearance and make her turn an old woman. Thus a girl who went into her chamber as a bride came out of it as an aged figure. She then commenced her journey to various places — houses, palaces and kings' courts and spread the Divine message through her wise sayings and advice.

Once Avvaiyar was not given due honour as she used to be extended by all others. On this occasion she said a learned person could get entry anywhere, display his or her intellectual acumen and earn reputation. "Cultivate the desire to give charity", "Give respect to deserving guests," "Be polite and humble", are but a few pithy words, which came out of her mouth. Responding to the queries posed by her personal deity, Lord Subramania, Avvaiyar said poverty, more especially when a man is young, is most horrible and distressing and has to be eliminated.

Explaining her replies given to God, Sri Ma. Ki. Ramanan, in a lecture said, God has conferred on a creation an extraordinary privilege by making him to be born as a human being and as such he should grab this opportunity to acquire spiritual knowledge, adhere to moral law, help the deserving poor, associate himself with god men and thereby develop noble qualities and keep the heart cleansed of impure thoughts, seek solitude to experience the Bliss and zealously safeguard the righteous principle followed by our forbears. Avvaiyar's teachings and golden sayings are treasures, which should be preserved forever.

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