Srimathe Ramanujaya Namaha
Sri Nikamnatha Maha Desikaya Namaha
Sri Adi Van Satakopa Yatheendra Maha Desikaya Namaha
Sri Van Satakopa Sri Narayana Yatheendra Maha Desikaya Namaha
Five forms in one
Episode II:
In the second episode, a devotee born in a ?Panar? family which was rated as
?Panchama? who was not permitted to set foot in Srirangam soil. They are
minstrels who sing in praise of Lord Narayana carrying with them a stringed
instrument and dance in ecstasy. The devotee of this episode expressed his deep
piety to Lord of Srirangam by singing continuosly without any interruption on
the banks of the river Cauvery. He believed that his voice would be heard by
lord Ranganatha and that he would receive His grace one day.
The practice in Srirangam was as of now to fetch water everyday
from Cauvery by Archakas in big containers for ?Thirumanjanam? of Lord. One
fine morning the priests from Srirangam temple as per practice came to the
river and saw ?Panar? in trance and dancing with ecstatic pleasure completely
oblivious of the surroundings. The Holy Brahmins on seeing the untouchable
Panar, requested him orally and by clap of hands to move away from the spot.
Panar did not budge as his mind was in tune with the infinite seeking His
bliss. Exasperated by Panar?s nonchalance and the obdurance, one of the priests
aimed a stone which hit him on the forehead. Unmindful of the wound and the
profuse bleeding, the Bhaktha was in full excitement being engaged in his
prayers and his mind having transcended the limits of universal ambit. However
after a while he came back to normal state and kept away from the Brahmins of
the temple to enable them to collect the holy water. On entering the sanctum
sanctorum, the Archakas were bewildered to notice blood in the forehead of
Archamurthy of Lord Ranganatha. They felt that an act of profane had been
committed and prayed to Lord to forgive them for any blunder on their part done
wittingly or unwittingly. Lord Ranganatha through the Archakas spoke that the
stone aimed at the devotee had hit HIM also and ordered that Panar be brought
to the temple by the Archaka, whose name was Loka Saranga, by carrying him on
his shoulders to honour the commitment of the panar not to step into the Holy
place. Accordingly, Loka Saranga went to the banks of the Cauvery where he
found Panar in a rapturous mood and disclosed to him all that had happened in
the Temple. The initial reaction of the panar was a resistance to the proposal
demonstrated by his running away from the place. After persistent pleading
panar agreed to the request.
On reaching the inner precincts of Lord Ranaganatha, Panar began
singing spontaneously the hymn ?Amalanathipiran? with nine verses following,
where he reaches the lofty heights of devotion unequalled in its content and
expression. Having been carried away by the appearance of the lord he declared
that those broad black eyes with red streaks and unique glow in them had
overwhelmed him. He further added unequivocally that the eyes which have seen
the nectar in physical frame will not see another thing. Enchanted by the
string of songs sung with deep devotion and conviction that the Lord drew Panar
towards Him. He is called ?Thirrupanazhwar? also ?Amalanathipiran?. Panar
disappeared and joined the Archa who was ?Vibava? in action.
This article was written by Late. Sri. L.P.Sampath Iyengar
Comments and feedbacks are welcome to suprajaiyengar@xxxxxxxxx
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