Srījñāṉiyār Swāmigaḷ
Swāmigaḷ had a customary visiting Tamil Pundit in Tiruppātirippuliyūr
Tirumadam to teach an Aṭikalār (servitor of God). Those were the days
when Yāppilakkaṇam was taught to the pupils. The Pundit before leaving
for home, presented to the pupil a verse to parse the end words of a
line and the beginning words of the next line. He did just that once
before he left. 1
நற்பா டலிபுரத்து நாதனே நாயினேன்
பொற்பாம் நினதடியைப் போற்றினேன்- தற்போது
வேண்டும் செலவிற்கு வெண்பொற்கா சுப்பத்து
ஈண்டு தருக இசைந்து - என்றிருந்தது பாடல். 2
Naṛpā dalipuraththu Nāthaṉē nāyiṉēṉ
Poṛpām niṉathadiyaip pōṛṛiṉēṉ- thaṛpōthu
Vēṇdum selaviṛku veṇpoṛkā suppaththu. (Kāsu = coin, note. Patththu =
ten).
Īṇdu tharuka isainthu – eṉṛirunthathu pādal. 2
The verse’s words ‘Pādalipura Nāthaṉ’ refers to Sivaperuman, the
resident God in the Tiruppātirippuliyūr Temple. 3
Next day, the Tamil Pundit came. Aṭikalār gave the sheet of paper with
the poem with its metrical foot and metrical connection along with a
ten-rupee paper currency. Those days ten rupees carried a great value.
The pundit noticing the ten-rupee paper currency said, “I just simply
noted a poem on a paper. You gave me money.” The younger Aṭikalār with a
calm demeanor said, “I put a note to the Pāttu (poem).” In India the
paper currency is called a note (= Nōttu = நோட்டு = paper currency),
which rhymes with Pāttu, meaning poem. 4
The pandit continued. “Did you take it to heart the meaning of the poem?
I simply wrote the poem with no other motive.” 5
Aṭikalār: “I too put the note (money) for the Pāttu (the poem).” The
Pandit happily took the money. 6
Aṭikalār knew that he should not cause any suffering to the teacher who
came to teach him Grammar. That Aṭikalār who at his youth gave the money
graciously, was Jñāṉiyār Swāmigaḷ. 7
Though Jñāṉiyār Swāmigaḷ had no attachment to wealth, he never gave up
his attachment to Tamil. Yes, his love of and attachment to Tamil was
extraordinarily great. He does not like people communicating in Tamil
dialects, slangs and corrupted spoken words. He was firm in speaking in
pure Tamil. He was meticulous about it. He never showed off and never
liked ostentation. 8
Once, a Muslim in Gūdalūr, though he scored high in all subjects in his
SSLC examination (Secondary School Leaving Certificate), received only
16the percentile in Tamil and therefore did not graduate. 9
The Muslim student requested a Tamil scholar Tirugñāṉasambandam to offer
him tuition in Tamil. He explained the educational qualifications of
Jñāṉiyār Swāmigaḷ and sent the youth to him for further studies. 10
The young man went to the Swamy’s place, saw a recluse with simple
clothes and told him, “I need to see the Swāmigaḷ.” 11
The recluse asked, “What for?” The youth described his needs. The
recluse reassured him, “Don’t worry! I will teach you.” The recluse
taught him a few poems from the book of poems brought by the youth and
told him, “Come tomorrow at this time.” The youth took leave. 12
The youth was not satisfied. He was disappointed. He thought to himself,
“I approached Tirugñāṉasambandam, but he sent me away to a recluse.” He
told Tirugñāṉasambandam of his disappointment. Tirugñāṉasambandam,
discovering the particulars of the recluse’s physical appearance, was
happy and blossomed with a smile. He mentioned to the youth, “What is
your objection? Whom you saw was the Jñāṉiyār Swāmigaḷ. Go and report to
him at the appointed hour tomorrow for your lessons.” 13
The youth with no protest or procrastination showed up before the
Jñāṉiyār Swāmigaḷ. The youth addressed him, “Forgive me Swamy!
Yesterday, I did not know who you were. The Madathipathis like you look
with pomp and foppery. It is difficult to get an appointment to see
them. That is what I heard. But your simplicity has attracted me.” He
cried and sobbed. 14
Jñāṉiyār Swāmigaḷ comforted him and taught him Tamil lessons. An ancient
text describes this event wonderfully. Umādēviyār fed Tirujñāṉasambandar
the milk of wisdom. Likewise, Tirujñāṉasambandam sent the Muslim youth
to Aṭikalār, who fed him the Milk of Tamil. Tirujñāṉasambandar feeding
on the Divine Milk of Wisdom, sang ‘Thōdudaiya seviyaṉ.’ The youth
having imbibed the Aṭikalār’s Milk of Tamil, graduated with flying
colors in Tamil.” That was the description of the youth’s attainment in
the book. 15
Tiruvahīnthirapuram near Tiruppātirippuliyūr is famous Vaishnava sacred
place. Jñāṉiyār Swāmigaḷ at the request of Vaishnava Aḍiyārs went there
to explicate within the traditions of Vaishnavism ‘Māragazith Thiṅgal’
the first verse of Tiruppāvai. 16
Aḍiyārs joy and wonderment exceeded expectations. They paid homage to
him by offering him a very long garland. Immediately, Jñāṉiyār with a
penchant for double meaning said, ‘I attained Nedumāl.’ The first
meaning: Nedumāl = Nedu + Māl = Tall, Long + great man or God; Vishnu.
The Second meaning: Nedumāl = Nedu + Māl = Tall, Long + floral garland.
Nedumāl refers to either the tallest individual touching the heaven as
in the Vāmaṉa Avatara or the long garland offered to Swāmigaḷ. 17
Jñāṉiyār made several words and phrases of holy nature like this. 18
Jñāṉiyār was the repository of love, grace, charity, pure devotion, and
an effulgent appearance. He rode no vehicle in his life. No vehicle had
the luck to carry or transport him. An episode happened as if no infamy
should befall to any transport vehicle. 19
Jñāṉiyār Swāmigaḷ went to Pazani, had a Darśan of Pazaniānḍavar and came
down the hill past midnight. At 3 A.M, he left Pazani. The temple
officials, the Adityars and others sent him off at the city limits with
music, drums and cymbals. 20
As the journey neared the town of Sinthila-vādaṉ-paṭṭi, Jñāṉiyār
Swāmigaḷ’s Āṉmā reached the Jñānavēlāyuthaṉ’s sacred feet. (shuffled of
his mortal coil). His body rode the palanquin up to the town of
Oṭṭaṉchaththiram. After that his holy body rode a car. 21
Jñāṉiyār who rode no vehicle in his life gave the opportunity to a car
to touch and bear the burden of his body. Who knows what merits the car
did to earn this merit? 22
Jñāṉiyār Swāmigaḷ’s holy body arrived at Tiruppātirippuliyūr, where his
body was interred in the Samadhi temple. 23
He was born on May 17, 1873 and departed this world on January 31, 1942
(68 years old). He was born of Aṇṇāmalai and Pārvati because of their
Tapas (Austerity) and given the holy name of Pazani. 24
The selfless service Jñāṉiyār Swāmigaḷ did for Tamil and spiritual
progress was beyond measure. We just touched on them with the tip of our
finger. 25
He remained the head of the famous Holy Mutt and also in the forefront
as the head of charity, compassion, love and sweet speech. It is only
proper that we emulate him, realize him and spiritually attain great
heights. 26
Divine Grace will thrive.
Wordsmith with the golden tongue, P.N.Parasuraman.
Images: T. Cilambarasan.
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