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| Lord Nataraja at Thirumathi Swarna Somasundaram's home in Kovai. Photo courtesy of Rightmantra Sundar |
Rightmantra Sundar has posted a beautiful story that took place about 30 or 35 years back on his blog at
http://rightmantra.com/?p=13888 and at
http://rightmantra.com/?p=13927
Thirumathi Swarna Somasundaram of Kovai is a great devotee of Lord Shiva. She was considered a pundit in Thevaram, Thirupugazh and other Saiva Agamas. As her ancestors had been deeply involved in the Bakti marga, it was no surprise that she too should follow suite.
She used to teach Thevaram and Thirupugazh to children at her home. Her long time desire was to have a 3 feet tall murthi or idol of Lord Nataraja made and to teach in the holy presence of the Lord.
One day she went to Swamimalai to commission the murthi that she desired. Just as she arrived at the premises of one of the numerous bronze statue creators at Swamimalai, the packing or mold of a 6 feet tall bronze statue of Lord Nataraja made using the age old lost wax process, was being removed to expose the breathtaking sight of Lord Nataraja. The very first sight of the Lord sent Thirumathi Swarna Somasundaram into a state of bliss. She secretly wished that Lord Nataraja would follow her back home. Suddenly the bronze statue creator asked if she liked the statue. She kept on watching silently the statue being reveal in all its glory right before her eyes. The next moment the bronze statue creator offered her the statue mentioning that he would make another for his client in Paris, France. She politely replied that she did not have the money for such a majestic statue but humbly requested him to make her a 3 feet tall statue instead. But the man asked that she pay whatever she had at that moment and offered to collect the rests the following year.
Hence Lord Nataraja followed her to her home as she had wished for. Amazingly at the moment of arrival at her home, she received a registered mail, a telegraphic transfer of the exact amount due to the bronze statue creator! She runs towards Lord Nataraja and hugs him tightly, for having being so compassionate and loving.
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| A typical process of casting bronze statues using the lost wax method is shown in the following photos. Photos courtesy of the Bronze Creative Swamimalai |
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| Agathiyar at Agathiyar Vanam (far right bottom) was beautifully crafted by Bronze Creative Swamimalai |
The above miracle that took place in Thirumathi Swarna Somasundaram's life is captured by the Jeeva Nadi Guru of Chennai when he worshiped Lord Hanuman at Rana Mandalam hill temple and returned home. The Nadi guru writes in his NADI SOLLUM KATHAIGAL PART 1 as follows. After a wonderful darshan of Lord Hanuman at the Rana Mandalam hill temple and as he was about to leave, he leaves behind Rs101 at the Lord's feet. When he arrived home the next day, he had a surprise waiting for him. His mother handed him a receipt for a Money Order that she had received in his absence. On the receipt was written the Nadi guru's name, address and an amount of Rs101, the exact amount he had placed at Lord Hanuman's feet earlier; and "The Sri Rama Anjaneya Temple Rana Mandalam" written in Telugu!
Rightmantra Sundar in his blog also writes why Swamimalai comes to mind when one needs a bronze statue. At Swamimalai these bronze statues are made using age old traditional methods and according to the agamas. Not only are temple Urchava Murthis made at Swamimalai, statues made here are renowned worldwide. The lost wax method of casting these statues are a specialty here. Clay or mud from the riverbanks of Kaveri used by bronze statue creators at Swamimalai is most suitable for making the molds as it captures even the most minute details, revealing even thumb prints!
The post by Rightmantra Sundar revealed to me today the reason why Agathiyar wanted him to be made at Swamimalai too. Agathiyar in my Nadi reading, gave specific instructions to have his statue made and worshiped. Among the many conditions he laid was that he was to be made in the form he presided at Agasthiyampalli (Thirumaraikaadu), Vedaranyam; he was not to exceed 1 foot in height; he was to be made at Swamimalai; libation or abhisegam and prayers done on him at the Adhi Kumbeshwarar temple at Kumbakonam and only then shipped to Malaysia. As Agathiyar was to be in the form at Vedaranyam, I could not buy his statue off the shelf. I had to commission it. After failing to locate people who could assist me, I searched the net and e-mailed 13 manufacturers in and around Swamimalai and Kumbakonam. Through Agathiyar's grace, Varadaraj of the Bronze Creative at Swamimalai offered to have Agathiyar done as specified. Agathiyar had mentioned in the Nadi reading of 2009, that he was coming on transit to my home while awaiting the Sri Jegathguru Raghavendra Mritiga Brindavanam to be built in Ipoh. On completion of the Brindavanam and awaiting its consecration on 12.6.2013, I was unsure whether Agathiyar still wanted to move to the Brindavanam as stated earlier, as he had not delivered another reading to authorize my next move. I took it upon myself to inform the Brindavanam that as Agathiyar had not spoken I was not sending him over. Almost immediately a devotee volunteered to place Agathiyar at the Brindavanam. I was fearing if I had made the right decision and if I had been selfish in keeping Agathiyar to myself. In my last Nadi reading on 21.9.2014, after more than a year, Agathiyar to my relief, tells me that he had shelved his plan to go to the Brindavanam and instead decided to remain at Agathiyar Vanam!
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| Agathiyar at Agathiyar Vanam |
