திருக்குலத் திருத்தொண்டன்

 Experiences with Maha Periyava: Nandhanar Parampara

He belonged to the Nandanar hierarchy!

Once Sri Maha Periyava was returning to SriMatham camp in Brahmins street after visiting a temple of village deity. With Him were about seven or eight persons, mostly His devotees and helpers.

On the way, there was a small causeway with two feet-high walls on either side. (Culvert). On one of those were placed a lot of vegetables such as pumpkins (both the red and white variety), coconut, broad beans (avaraikkaay), tender coconut and groundnuts. Every one was surprised to see them now, since they were not there when they went towards the temple. But a more and bigger surprise awaited them.

Sri Maha Periyava stopped near the culvert wall. About fifteen feet away, a man (belonging to the ‘backward community’ Balu Mama used to call him ‘Thirukkulath thiruththondan’ [திருக்குலத் திருத்தொண்டன்]) with folded hands, and expression full of devotion was standing with all humility.

Tears were about to roll down his cheeks.

Periyava instead of standing in one place, started to turn around one way and the other (sort of self-pradhakshinam) many times, and was talking to the devotees without any pretext! Yes, some childish blabbers with no connection to that situation!

What was the necessity for that talk? No one understood!

Then He told the devotees to ask that man why he had kept those items there.

“I have kept them for ‘Saami’ only (he was referring to Periyava as ‘Saami’). All these were grown in the garden. I saw ‘Saami’ going to the temple. Knowing that He will return this way only, I ran back and brought these from my house. ‘Saami’ will not accept if I offer milk or curd. But, will accept these, will he not?” said he.

Periyava indicated to His helper to take all of them.

“Like Sri Rama accepted what was offered by Guhan (the boatman).He (Rama) was an example, who showed the way! All these vegetables are the offerings to Lord Chandramouleeswarar tomorrow!’

After about ten steps, He turned around and looked at him for a second. The man was wiping off tears from his eyes!

Periyava didn’t speak for the next five minutes.

“Tell me, those who prostrate before me, will they be able to see my back?”

“No, they can’t”

“What should be done if they want to see the back?”

“They should do ‘pradhakshinam’ of Periyava”

There was a heavy silence for one minute!

“Otherwise, I should do self-pradakshinam in front of him… then he can see all sides, isn’t it?”

Everybody was awestruck!

‘Oh! That’s it! All His drama near the culvert was for this, Atma--pradhakshinam! Is it so?’

‘For whom? For which ‘Shiva bhaktha’, did He give him His darshan?’

Yes, for him; that true devotee’

For the devotees, the vegetables were like the fruits Sabari offered to Sri Rama! The white pumpkin was like a ‘Shivalinga’, the ash on it was like the sacred ash!

They reached the camp.

“He belongs to the Nandhanar hierarchy…” saying this, Periyava entered inside.

(Those who were witness to this incident, felt very emotional. Because even heads of States were not known to have had that type of darshan. In Periyava’s vision, that man was a true ‘Parameshwara Bhaktha’. Is any other qualification that was required?)

Narrated by SriMatham Balu Mama

Source: Mahaperiaval Darisana Anubhavangal Vol. 6

Compiled by Jagadguru Sri Maha Periyava - Kanchi Paramacharya/Fb