Jai Sriman Narayana !!
Jai Shiv Shankar !!
Adhinan Marainul Vaimai Apputhiyarai Nokki
Kathalar Ivarkku Mootha Seiyunkattum Munney
Meydhakku Poothi Chatha Endralum Vilaindha Thanmai
Yathumondruraiyar Ippothuingavan Udhavan Endrar
Apputhi Adikalar was born in a village called Thingalur in the Kingdom of Chola. He was born in a Brahmin family and a zealous devotee of Lord Shiva. Thingalur is one of the 275 Thevaram Shivasthalam of Lord Shiva, here Lord Shiva worshipped as Kailayanathar (Kailasanathar) with his consort Goddess Periyanayaki. Apputhi Adikalar worshipped Lord Shiva in this temple and served the devotees of Lord by constructing water-sheds (Thanner Panthal) in front of the temple to satisfy the thirst of the devotees.
Apputhi Adikalar had great respect and reverence towards Appar (Thirunavukkarasar). He had the opportunities to listen to the great deeds of Appar – a fervent devotee of Lord Shiva and the struggle he had undertaken to reinstate glorious Shaiva Siddhantha back to the sacred land. Apputhi Adigalar’s vast admiration and immense faith on Appar was obliged him to accept Appar as his Acharya. His boundless affection and respect towards his Guru made him to name each and everything including living and non-living things as Thirunavukkarasar. He named his two children after Thirunavukkarasar. In this way he constantly remembered his Acharya with full of respect.
Once, Thirunavukkarasar happened to travel through this sacred land Thingalur on his way back to Thiruppazhanam. Appar was carrying out his ‘Uzhavar Thiruppani’ (cleaning temple premises and nearby areas) all through his journey. He was tired of scorching heat and took shelter under a tree. He noticed that his name was mentioned everywhere on all the service centers providing service to the devotees of Lord. It made him curious to know about his dedicated follower and came to know about Apputhi Adikalar, an ardent devotee of Lord who conducts Yaga on regular basis for the welfare of the entire world. This made Appar to visit Apputhi Adigalar at his house.
Thirunavukkarasar walked towards the doorsteps of Apputhi Adikalar. Apputhi Adikalar rushed to welcome Appar and prostrated before him without the knowledge that he was the Acharya he had been worshipped all along. Seeing his sincereity, Appar enquired Apputhi Adikalar about the reason for naming his own service centers in somebody else name. Appar’s sarcastic statement about his Acharya annoyed Apputhi Adikalar. Apputhi Adikalar sternly answered the greatness of his Acharya in a few simple words. Apputhi Adikalar continued praising the glories of his Acharya, a great human being who was undertaken all the struggles and severe punishments from the King who himself was a follower of Jainism. The pains Appar had to experience to reinstate Shaiva Siddhantha when the country was under threat of Jainism. Last but not the least, the greatest of the miracle happened in his life when he was tied into rock and sunk deep into the sea turned out a boat. Finally, Apputhi Adikalar shot a question back to his guest ‘Who are you?’
Thirunavukkarasar (Appar) soberly answered Apputhi Adikalar ‘I am the one who was fallen for other religious faith without realizing the glories of Lord. Finally, afflicted with the severe colic sought the shelter of Lord.’ Apputhi Adikalar was petrified and fell at Appar’s feet with shame and guilt. Apputhi Adikalar was ecstatic at the sight of his Acharya; he called out for the entire family to pay obeisance to Appar. They washed the feet of Appar and received him with great honor. The virtuous couple prepared a grand feast for their Acharya. Apputhi Adigalar instructed his elder son – Mootha Thirunavukkarasar to get some banana leaves from their backyard to serve food. The boy enthusiastically ran out to bring the leaves; while in action unfortunately he was bit by a cobra. He rushed to his parents with the leaves and handed them with the leaves. In a short time, he fell down unconscious and died instantly. In order to avoid any delay in serving the guest with the food, the couple decided to cover the body of the child in a mat and kept aside.
Thirunavukkarasar sat on the floor to have meal. He instructed Apputhi Adigalar to be present before him with the entire family to recive the holy ashes. The couple dutifully present before Appar and received his blessings. Appar asked for the children and invited them to be with him to have meal. Seeing the couple’s saddened faces and enormous anxiety Appar could sense the seriousness of the situation. Apputhi Adikalar failed to cover up the serious issue; he did not want to lie to Appar. He explained the whole heartbroken incident to Appar. The couple deeply mourned at the death of their child.
Immedaitely, Appar raised from his seat and instructed the couple to wrap the body of the child in a cloth. They took the body of the child to the temple of Lord Shiva; the couple placed the boy in front of the temple. The whole crowd was witnessing, Appar sang a song poignantly with an earnest desire to save the life of the child. Surprisingly, the child got his life back and rose on his feet as if he was awaken from deep sleep.
Thirunavukkarasar stayed with Apputhi Adikalar for a little while and preceeded to Thirupazhanam. Later, Appar described the immense devotion and faith of Apputhi Adikalar in one of his glorious verses.
In the Tamil month Thai – Sathayam is widely celebrated as Guru Puja day of Apputhi Adigalar, the day he attained the Abode of Lord Shiva.
Jai Shiv Shankar !!
Jai Sriman Narayana !!
Photo courtesy: shaivam.org
