1. I am blessed to be born a human. The Siddhas have said it again and again that human birth is rare to come by. The http://veda.harekrsna.cz/planetarium/human.htm refers to Srimad Bhagavatam and details the various species of plant, animal and human totaling some 8,400,000.
While rotating in the cycle of birth and death again and again in different species because of his own fruitive activities, the dependent living entity, by good fortune, may happen to become a human being. This human birth is very rarely obtained.(Source: http://veda.harekrsna.cz/planetarium/human.htm)
Generally it is to be understood that the human form of life is one of great responsibility.
After thus rotating through many, many forms of life in the cycle of birth and death, the living being gets a chance for a human form. Therefore every human being, especially one belonging to a civilized nation or culture, must be extremely responsible in his activities. He should not risk degradation in the next life.
(Source: https://prabhupadabooks.com/sb/8/22/25)
2. I am blessed. One cell propelled by energy derived from metabolism of fructose, beats million other cells in the race to fertilize the egg cells. After fusion with the egg cells, a new organism developed. That was me.
3. I am blessed to be born perfect and raised well. When Lord Muruga asked Avvai to list out “What is the most awful thing in the world?, What is the most pleasantest thing in the world?, What is the most biggest thing in the world?", and finally "What was the rarest thing?”, she comes out with a thought provoking list.
கொடியது கேட்கின் நெடியவெவ் வேலோய்
கொடிது கொடிது வறுமை கொடிது,
அதனினும் கொடிதே இளமையில் வறுமை,
அதனினும் கொடிதே ஆற்றொணாக் கொடுநோய்,
அதனினும் கொடிதே அன்பிலா பெண்டிர்,
அதனினும் கொடிதே இன்புற அவள் கையில் உண்பது தானே.
Kodiyadhu Kaetkin Nediyavev Veloi
Kodithu Kodithu Varumai Kodithu,
Adhaninum Kodithae Ilamayil Varumai,
Adhaninum Kodithae Aatronaak Kodunoi,
Adhaninum Kodithae Anbila Pendir,
Adhaninum Kodithae Inbura Aval Kayil Unbadhu Thaanae.
If You ask what is the most awful thing in the world, my Lord with the long spear (Vel),
Poverty is awful,
Even more awful is poverty during youth,
Even more awful is incurable disease,
Even more awful is women without kindness,
The most awful to take the food served by her
இனியது கேட்கின் தனிநெடு வேலோய்
இனிது இனிது ஏகாந்தம் இனிது,
அதனினும் இனிது ஆதியை தொழுதல்,
அதனினும் இனிது அறிவினர்ச் சேர்தல்,
அதனினும் இனிது அறிவுள்ளோரை
கனவினும் நனவினும் காண்பது தானே,
Iniyadhu Kaetkin Thaninedu Veloi
Inidhu Inidhu Ekantham Inidhu,
Adhaninum Inidhu Aadhiyai Thozhuthal,
Adhaninum Inidhu Arivinar Saerdhal,
Adhaninum Inidhu Arivullorai
Kanavinum Nanavinum Kaanbadhu Thaanae.
If You ask what is the pleasant thing in this world, my Lord with the unique spear (Vel),
Being independent and alone is pleasant,
Even more pleasant is to worship the Supreme Being,
Even more pleasant is to be in touch with the learned and knowledgeable,
Even more pleasant is to see their presence in reality and in the dreams.
பெரியது கேட்கின் எரிதவழ் வேலோய்
பெரியது பெரியது புவனம் பெரியது,
புவனமோ நான்முகன் படைப்பு,
நான்முகன் கரியமால் உந்தியில் வந்தோன்,
கரிய மாலோ அலைகடல் துயின்றோன்,
அலைகடல் குறுமுனி அங்கையில் அடக்கம்,
குறுமுனியோ கலசத்திற் பிறந்தோன்,
கலசமோ புவியிற் சிறுமண்,
புவியோ அரவினுக்கு ஒருதலை பாரம்,
அரவோ உமையவள் சிறுவிரல் மோதிரம்,
உமையோ இறைவன் பாகத்து ஒடுக்கம்,
இறைவரோ தொண்டர் உள்ளத்து ஒடுக்கம்,
தொண்டர்தம் பெருமை சொல்லவும் பெரிதே.
Periyadhu Kaetkin Yerithavazh Veloi
Periyadhu Periyadhu Bhuvanam Periyadhu,
Bhuvanamo Naanmugan Padaippu,
Naanmugan Kariyamaal Undhiyil Vandhon,
Kariya Maalo Alaikadal Thuyindron,
Alaikadal Kurumuni Angaiyil Adakkam,
Kurumuniyo Kalasathir Pirandhon,
Kalasamo Puviyir Sirumann,
Puviyo Aravinukku Oruthalai Baaram,
Aravo Umaiyaval Siruviral Modhiram,
Umaiyo Iraivan Baagaththu Odukkam,
Iraivaro Thondar Ullaththu Odukkam,
Thondartham Perumai Sollavum Peridhae.
If You ask me the biggest thing,
The world (landscape) is a big thing,
The world is a creation of Lord Brahma,
Lord Brahma came from the umbilical cord of Lord Vishnu,
Lord Vishnu sleeps in the big ocean,
The big ocean was contained within Agathiar's kamandalam (small vessel),
Agathiar was born in a small pot (Kalasam),
The pot is a small portion of this earth
The earth is a burden for one of the heads for the Aadhi Seshan - The snake with a thousand heads.
The Aadhi Seshan is a ring in Goddess Parvathi's finger,
Goddess Parvathi is a part of Lord Shiva,
Lord Shiva is inside the hearts of his devotees,
So praising the devotees of Lord Shiva is a big thing.
அரியது கேட்கின் வரிவடி வேலோய்
மக்கள் யாக்கையிற் பிறத்தலும் அரிதே,
மக்கள் யாக்கையிற் பிறந்த காலையும்
மூங்கையும் செவிடும் கூனும் குருடும்
பேடும் நீங்கிப் பிறத்தலும் அரிதே,
பேடு நீங்கி பிறந்த காலையும்
ஞானமும் கல்வியும் நன்குறல் அரிதே,
ஞானமும் கல்வியும் நன்குறும் ஆயினும்
தானமும் தவமும் தரித்தலும் அரிதே,
தானமும் தவமும் தரித்தார்க் கல்லது
வானவர் நாடு வழி திறவாதே.
Ariyadhu Kaetkin Varivadi Veloi
Makkal Yaakkaiyir Piraththalum Aridhae,
Makkal Yaakkaiyir Pirandha Kaalaiyum
Moongaiyum Sevidum Koonum Kurudum
Paedum Neengip Piraththalum Aridhae,
Paedu Neengi Pirandha Kaalayum
Gnanamum Kalviyum Nankural Aridhae,
Gnanamum Kalviyum Nankurum Aayinum
Dhananum Dhavamum Thariththalum Aridhae,
Dhananum Dhavamum Tharithaark Kalladhu
Vaanavar Naadu Vazhi Thiravaadhae.
If You ask me what is the rarest thing, my Lord with the spear (Vel)
Being born as a human is rare,
Even if born a human, it is rarer
To be born without being dumb, deaf, humpback, blind,
Even if born without disabilities, it is rarer
To have knowledge and education,
Even if one has good knowledge and education, it is rarer
To have benevolence and ethics,
Without those benevolence and ethics
Heaven would not open its gates to give to people.
This scene of Avvai being tested by Lord Muruga with the above questions, depicted in the movie, reminds me of how the Lord comes in mysterious and unexpected forms to deserving devotees.
My guru Supramania Swami of Tiruvannamalai climbed Parvatha Malai some 30 kilometres and 36 minutes away from Tiruvannamalai to search for some herbs that he had know idea how they looked like in the first place. While figuring out which was the herb he came for, he was approached by a familiar face. The man had a grocery (sundry and spices) shop in the streets of Tiruvannamalai. He volunteered to pick the herb for Swamiji. Later when Swamiji went into town he enquired when the shopkeeper returned from Parvatha Malai. The man replied that he had never stepped on that hill! Who did come to his aid in the form of the shopkeeper earlier?
When Jnana Jhothiamma sat to rest at the foothill of Palani and began to massage both her feet that were aching after the climb up to the hill temple, a boy ran down the steps to her and enquired if her legs hurt badly. Immediately he took out a tiny vel stashed around his hips and massaged her legs with it for a while before going back the way he came! She was relieved! Who did come to bring relief to her then in the form of the kid?
Asokhan, as a 17 year old lad, who was in extreme hunger headed for Lord Muruga's temple nearby, confident that the temple priest will have something for him to eat as usual. But on arrival, the temple priest was nowhere to be seen. He then made a deal that he would take one of two bananas that is usually kept at the various shrines in the temple complex. But to his astonishment each deity was served only one fruit that day. He sat down crying his heart out. When he heard footsteps approaching he looked up to see the temple priest standing beside him. The priest enquired if he had eaten and pointed him to the inner sanctum saying that he could have all the fruit he wanted. True enough there was a single large bunch of bananas. He ate to his heart's content. Several days later he met the priest at the temple. The priest, surprisingly, mentioned that he was only back from his village that day after a long absence! Who did come to appease his hunger in the form of the priest earlier?
Tavayogi too had many close encounters with the divine during his travels and also at his Kallar Ashram. A lad stood at the gateway to his old ashram once and slowly made his way into the peedham, stopping to observe the landscape and surroundings. When invited to join them for lunch, he refused but instead he began to talk gibberish and out of context, making no sense. In between these nonsensical talk, he lamented that he was in Kathirkamam and was disappointed. He moved on to Thiruchendur. Nay even there he was not happy he said. Then he went to Palani. Disappointed and saddened, he had come to Kallar where he heard good souls resided. He wanted to take a look, he said. Only then Tavayogi realized this was no ordinary person that had come. Before even he could openly show his recognition, the lad brought his finger to his lips, stopping Tavayogi from revealing and moved into the peedham where he blessed them by anointing the sacred ash or vibhuti on their foreheads.
Similarly Lobha Ma and Konganar spent a night at Kallar Ashram only to have Tavayogi realize that it was them the next morning just moments before they left.
The Tamil movie Seedan is a classic example of how the divine comes into the lives of the devotees, serves them, helps them and finally exits mysteriously.
Learn to cherish all the small things in life that are a blessing too. Be grateful.