HAGIOGRAPHY OF SITHTHAR SRI ARUMUAGATH THAMBIRAN

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                                                                        SITHTHAR SRI ARUMUAGATH THAMBIRAN'S HAGIOGRAPHY

                           

SIDHAR AARUMUGATH THAMBIRAN PYRAMID DHYANA BEEDAM

            Praising the LOTUS FEET OF THE LORD OF WISDOM, THE SIVA JYOTHI  SUBRAMANYA FORM, EVER YOUTHFUL LORD MURUGA let us start the divine life hagiography of ARUMUGTHTHAMBIRAN one of Thiru Murugan Adiyars in lineage  from  Arunagirinathar, Pamban swamigal, Vallimali swamigal, etc.

EARLY LIFE OF ARUMUGANAR

           

             THIRUTHANGAL – a divine sthalam (place) near Sivakasi, has many historical credits. It is a place adored in Silapathikaram. It shows the unity of vaishnavisim and saivism as the ancient majestic temples of SRI NINRA NARAYANA PEUMAL and SRI KARUNELLINATHAR TEMPLE were built up on a same hillock. This unity shows whatever religious path we follow, the final goal to reach The Pathi, The Paramporul remains the same. In this sacred place, around 18th century, a divine baby named ARUMUGANAR was born to a divinely couple who were  blessed by Lord Muruga, named Chinnaiya- Vellaiyamma at Nadutheru street. The house where he lived is now known as Kalkoodam or Kavadikoodam in Thiruthangal. He had a brother named Shanmugam and younger sister named Veeralakshmi ammal.

        Aarumuganar, who is ever in contemplation of Lord Muruga, wakes up early in the  morning at 4 a.m., daily and walk towards west to Singarathope garden (now Kalaimagal school campus) and have bath in the pond there and pluck flowers for worshipping Lord Murugan. He dedicated his whole life to his favorite deity, Lord Muruga, and so abstained himself from family life and lead an ascetic life.

ENVELOPED BY ETERNAL LOVE

        

       To test his devotee’s devotion towards him, The Almighty Lord Muruga gave him severe eye irritation because of which he lost sight in an eye and blurred vision in another eye. Going through hard times doesn’t shake up  Aarumuganar’s devotion for Lord Muruga even a bit as he was able to weigh up both happiness and hardships equal in life. Even though afflicted with painful ailness, Aarumuganar strengthened his devotion by continuous prayers and through his stone-melting songs on Lord Muruga. Seeing his unwavering, pure, selfless and steady devotion  Lord Muruga disguised himself with Sri Valli as a hunter and his consort and came to him. He cured his ails  and gave his clear sight back. The Almighty showered His Grace upon Aarumuganar by becoming his Guru (teacher) and taught  him Yoga siddhis and Siddha medical knowledge. That is it. It is a lesson for us all. If we put faith in The Almighty, even though it may take some time to sail through the hard times in our life, the Grace of the Lord will be felt abundantly at the end. Gnana comes only at times of difficulties.  He aspired for Divinity and so God took care of him  in all ways. He was now able to master all thatwas. We should realize that being a devotee of God, God only gives happiness but not sorrow.From that time onwards Arumuganar became a vaidhyar (doctor) and cured the disease of poor people. He served the downtrodden people affectionately.

THAIPOOSAM

        

         Thaipoosam is an auspicious day forTamilians to worship Lord Muruga. It comes on the full moon day with the star Poosam. So many divine incidents happened on that day. It was said in Puranas that our world was created on Thaipoosam, that is, the Siva-Sakthi union took place on that day. The Siva-Sakthi form of Lord Muruga received his Vel,  known to give Wisdom, Victory, Courage, Love and Grace from Mother Shakthi on this day. Thaipoosam will be celebrated in all Lord Murugan temples in a grand manner. Devotees will be carrying Kavadi to Lord Murugan to show their faith and gratitude to him. Aarumuganar practices his ritual (fasting) viratham from the Tamil month of Karthigai (November) month to Thai (January)month every year and on the auspicious Poosam day carries Kavadi to Palani.

THE GLORY OF ARUMUGANAR’S KAVADI VIRATHAM

      

           Aarumuganar undertakes fasting from the month of Karthigai till the Thaipoosam day. Eight days before Thaipoosam,  he travels about 30 miles with his Kaavadi around Thiruthangal to get biksha (begging) from people as rice, dals, vegetables for annadanam to poor people at the eve of Thaipoosam. Knowing the selfless cause of Aarumuganar, people donates him groceries and vegetables liberally.

   

  

         But few people ignored and degraded him. One day when he was on his biksha to the house of Sevalpatti zameendar (landlord) he shouted to his servant to shun the paradesi (wanderer) away from his village. Aarumuganar without uttering a single word, left that place calmly. But the Almighty Lord Muruga, decided to show the greatness of Aarumuganar through which the zameendar would also be reformed.

      

         The zameendar who was hale and healthy till that day, suddenly suffered from paralysis. Even his royal medicants were not able to diagnose and cure the disease. In his dream his Kuladeivam ordered him to beg pardon from Aarumuganar and call him to his house politely. Immediately the zameendar sent for Aarumuganar to forgive him and to cure his paralysis.  Aarumuganar who was all in love for fellow beings gave the zameendar the sacred ash, thiruneeru, upon applying through the affected parts the zameendar was cured. Realizing Aarumuganar’s height of spiritual enlightment the zameedar donated him lots of rice, dal and vegetables for the Thaipoosam annadanam. 

    

         Two days before Thaipoosam, Aarumuganar starts giving away rice, dal and vegetables to mendicants and poor people. The day before Thaipoosam Aarumuganar with the left off groceries and vegetables, cooks food and feed the poor people. There will be sumptuous food to serve the unknown number of people to come that day!

      

         At 6.00am on Thaipoosam day, Aarumuganar takes his Kavadi on his shoulders and with one leg on ground and other  folded  he hops around Thiruthangal village and then starts to Palani, one of the Arupadai Veedu of Lord Muruga.  He has divine radiance on his face and dances in ecstasy with Kaavadi as if the Lord Dhandayuthapaani has possessed him. The village people gathers around him to see his Yoga Siddhi of hoping on one leg  with Kavadi upto Palanimalai. They follow him till the borders of the village with Kottu (special band). Only upto one mile till Karuppasamy temple, Aarumuganar with his Kavadi will be visible. Then people will hear a loud Omkara sound and the juggling bell sound of Kaavadi. Such is his fastness of hoping on one leg with Kavadi. His sacred Kavadi is still protected and worshipped in Kaavidikoodam with his paatharatchai (wooden slippers). 

       

(to be continued)