Trinity of Dakshina Bajan Sambradaya !! Sri Sridhara Venkatesa Ayyaval !! Part IV !!

Jai Sriman Narayana !!

Jaya Jaya Sankara Hara Hara Sankara !!

Sri Ayyaval used to visit Sri Mahalinga Temple situated in the neighboring city Madhyarjuna.   He made it regular practice to visit this temple of Lord Shiva in the early morning hours, in order to avoid any crowd.   To reach the temple he had to cross River Cauvery.  Once, Sri Ayyaval reached at the banks of the river and found that it was over flowing and there was no boatmen were visible on the sight.  It was unbearable for Sri Ayyaval to think of returning home without paying obeisance to Lord Mahalinga.  But, there was no other option available at that moment.  He watched the majestic tower of the temple longingly with tears teeming on his eyes.  He could not bear the pain, gazing at the temple tower thought that he must have committed sin which made him to repudiate the worship of Lord.   He sang loudly out of grief and pain of separation of Lord, ‘Arthihara Stothra’ praising the glory of Lord Shiva.  Immediately, there found the temple priest with a handful of holy ashes.  The temple priest moved to Sri Ayyaval and handed him with the holy ashes, as he was realized the pain and sorrow of Sri Ayyaval and his helplessness to cross the river to attend the temple.  Sri Ayyaval with great fervor and devotion prostrated before the priest and received the holy ashes. 

While returning home, Sri Ayyaval’ mind were filled with different thoughts.  He was trying to recollect the incident over and over.  The river was overflowing but the temple priest was not drenched and his holy ash marks on his body was not stained a little bit to his surprise.  How it would be possible for a person to cross a brimming river without getting wet?  In the whole night Sri Ayyaval was restless.  The next morning he found the river was calm as ever and hurried to the temple.   The first thing he wanted to do was to thank the temple priest.  Sri Ayyaval hurried to the sanctum sanctorum and met the temple priest; he thanked him wholeheartedly for the yesterday’s happening and his kindheartedness to approach Sri Ayyaval with holy ashes.  But, the temple priest was flabbergasted at the kind words of Sri Ayyaval and described his plight of situation to cross an over flooding river.  Deepily moved by the words of the priest, Sri Ayyaval realized that the most compassionate Lord himself disguised as a temple priest and appeared before him with the holy ashes.  Sri Ayyaval in a state of ecstasy with vivid authenticity sang the glory of Lord Shiva in a few sacred hymns ‘Daya Shatakam’.

Jaya Jaya Sankara Hara Hara Sankara !!

Jai Sriman Narayana !!