THE POWER OF DEVOTION PART 1

As Navarathri is just round the corner (25.9.2014), thought I would share the story of a devotee of Goddess Sri Abhirami, Abhiramipattar, whose devotion moved and made the goddess "alter the course of the events in a mysterious manner".

This story is based on The Little Flower Company's publication in Tamil of the Sri Abhirami Andhathi.

It was the Tamil month of Thai, an ammavasai night or a new moon. King Sarobhoji, ruler of the kingdom of Tanjai having dipped in the waters of Kaveri, headed for with his entourage. On returning from Kaveripumpattinam he stopped over at Thirukadavur to have a darshan of Lord Sri Amudhakadaysar and Goddess Sri Abhirami.

Abhiramipattar was lost in deep meditation at the temple. The king who noticed the devotion of Abhiramipattar inquired about him from the locals. They briefed the king about Abhiramipattar. The king entered the inner sanctum to offer his prayers. But the king could not bring himself to focus on his prayers as the image of Abhiramipattar stood in front of him. On completion of his prayers, the king stopped to chat with Abhiramipattar. He asked what was the tithi that day, knowing pretty well that it was ammavasai or new moon. 

Abhiramipattar who was engrossed in the beauty of the goddess replied what he saw, a full moon. The king took to believe that Abhiramipattar was a lunatic just as the villagers had informed him earlier. The king left the premises.

Upon coming out of his tapas Abhiramipattar was informed of what had transpired earlier. Abhiramipattar regretted for having lied to the king unknowingly. He felt he had established himself as a lunatic in the eyes of the king and the public through this incident, just as they had teased and branded him all this while. He turned towards the goddess to remove the tainted perception she had brought on him. 

To prove his innocence he dug up a large pit and set a fire going. He hung precariously over the fire on a platform held by ropes. He prayed that the goddess should clear his name or he shall die in the flames. 

Abhiramipattar began singing the first verse of the Abhirami Andhathi, "Uthikindra sengathir ucchi thilagam unarvudai orr". As he completed each verse he cut into the ropes that held him afloat. When he had sang the 79th verse, "Vizhikke arul undu abhirami vallikku vedam sonna", the goddess appeared before him. She let afloat her tadangam or ear-ring into the sky. It took the shape of a full moon.

She spoke, "What you unknowingly uttered I have made it materialize. Complete the Andhathi. Thus continued Abhiramipattar with "Kuttiya vaa yennai thanadiyaaril kodiyavinai". Abhiramipattar sang another twenty verses to complete the Abhirami Andhathi. The king and the locals realized that they had misjudged continued Abhiramipattar and asked for forgiveness.

Gnana Jyothi Amma's post on Google+ appropriately explains Abhirami Pattar's experience with the Divine that made him spontaneously sing the Abhirami Anthathi at the eleventh hour in the face of humialition and danger. 

The live experiences what I had with Agathiya Maharishi, and still have ...... the impact of HIS grace, love and protection in my life ... my very existence ... makes me want to post the following.

It is absolutely true to the core that the Divine Grace, which is superior to all natural laws and the most powerful force in the universe can modify .... rather alter .. what ever is termed as "DESTINED" for an individual.

This extract is taken from a blog, administered by Shanmugam Avadaiyappa .......... www.agathiyarvanam.blogspot.com.

D C Desai quotes Paul Brunton in DIVINE GRACE THROUGH TOTAL SELF SURRENDER.

"Divine grace is a manifestation of the Cosmic freewill in operation. It can alter the course of the events in a mysterious manner, through it's own unknown laws, which are far superior to all natural laws, and can modify the latter by interaction."

"It is the most powerful force in the Universe. It descends and acts, only if it is invoked in total surrender. It acts from within, because God resides in the hearts of all beings."

It's whisper can be heard only by the minds purified by self surrender and prayer."

There can NEVER be more truer statements that what is mentioned above. This powerful force from the universe, that dwells within you, does descend and alter your very existence. Your DNA gets altered, your Inner Self gets revealed to you ... it reforms you into a totally, "NEW YOU."

A similar miracle took place in the life of Pattinathar. Wondering as a hermit he decides to spend the night in a ruined down temple. He enters the dark inner sanctum and goes into deep meditation unaware of what was taking place around him. He is suddenly jolted from his tapas and dragged to the court of the ruling king. He is charged for theft at the king's place. The gold ornaments he was supposedly stolen is hanging around his neck, sufficient proof for the king to condemn him to the gallows. Pattinathar remains silent throughout the trial not even lifting a finger to defend himself. Since he chose to remain quiet, the king finding him guilty executes the sentence for theft accordingly to the law of the day. Pattinathar is tied to a pole and is about to be tortured when the pole mysteriously catches fire. News of this miracle reaches the king. The king sensing that his judgement and sentencing was wrong hurries to the torture chamber and falls at the feet of Pattinathar asking for forgiveness. This king was to become a disciple of Pattinathar later, known as Patragiriyaar.