NaradarStories09
Published:05 Aug 2013 8 PMUpdated:05 Aug 2013 8 PM  Sakthi Vikatan
NaradarStories09
Vikatan Correspondent

Author: Balakumaran

1. Narada Maharishi apprehends whosoever recites the name of God. The vibrations caused by the God worship with intensity and sincerity seek the attention of Naradar. Naradar's favorite pastime is to investigate on the spot the who, the what, and the where of a matter and render help to that person.

  2. When he, as usual, was jogging in his mind, he noticed, nearby, a person supplicating to Vinayakar, from whom arose an immense worshipful reverence, peaceful, vibrant, tranquil, and full of faith. That intense reverence changed the surroundings: Fragrance abounded; the plants thrived; the wind was calm.

   3.  Naradar gravitated to that place where the reciter of Japams changed the environment for the better. He saw a huge Banyan tree. The plants appeared luxuriant. A worshipper of Vinayakar spread a sheet near the base of the tree and supplicated to God. He seemed to be in agony, had a subdued voice, and suffered from some disease. Naradar appeared before him.        

  4. Naradar: "Who are you? What are you asking for from Vinayakar? Your body parts appear normal and well poised. But the body seems to have some problems. What happened? Get up and come to the sunlight."           

  5. Commanded by Naradar, the man walked as if he was unbalanced and, holding on to the aerial roots, arrived at the sunlight.           

  6. Naradar: "Who are you? You have the attributes of a king. But your mind seems to look for some subtle thing. Why are you alone? Tell me about yourself."

 

    7. The man: "I am Rukmangathan, the son of Biman. I am the king of the Vitharpa Desam. My people love me. I love them. I ruled the kingdom as a good king. My military was obedient."           

  8. "My subjects and the farmers complained that the wild animals destroyed the verdant fields: The elephants ate the sugarcanes; the bears ate the bananas; the feral buffalos grazed on the rice fields; the lions and the tigers were chasing the buffalos; unable to attack the buffalos, the tigers and lions entered the towns and killed, maimed and mutilated the people."           

  9. Unable to bear my crying subjects' suffering, I went to the neighboring forest, chased the elephants, killed the feral buffalos, made the bears and monkeys go out of my woods. I killed the lions and tigers with my arrows as they chased the buffalos. The people were happy and pointed to the nearby forest, where I chased the wild animals. It was high noon, and I felt thirsty. My water-pouch was empty from my drinking. I pursued a tiger and lost touch with my army, which was left behind.            

  10. The king continued to speak. "At a distance, I saw a well-built and a huge Asramam. I understood it was a Muni's Asramam as I stood at the entrance. I clapped my hands, asking the occupants to come outside. A tall woman with a good physique and a beautiful face emerged at the door and asked me to go inside.            

  11. The king "Forgive me for the intrusion. My name is Rukmangathan. I am the king of Vitharpa Desam and came to hunt in the forest. My leather pouch has no water, and I am very thirsty. Please give me water to slake my thirst and also fill my water bladder with water." He was humble and respectful.            

  12. In the forest with no people or no snake, the surprised woman saw the handsome Rukmangathan and immediately lust popped its head in her mind. 

           

 

  13. The woman: "Let your visit be welcome—my name of Mukundhai, the wife of the resident Muni. I feel happy to see you, esp. your handsomeness. I have never seen such a beautiful person among men with unique, attractive body parts. You speak with a majestic bearing. Your language is rich and cultured.            

  14. Your moves are regal. Your poetic language, stately appearance, robust body, beautiful eyes, soft speech give me thoughts to love you.            

  15. I desire to hold hands with you. Come in and consort with me. Do not hesitate because I am the wife of a Muni. A man must satisfy a woman's sexual needs when she desires it. Sexual violence is assaulting an unwilling woman. Your compliance with my request is not a violation.            

  16. As you need water to quench your thirst, I need your embrace to satisfy my longing. Come in. Come near me." She extended her hand and invited him.

      17. Rukmangathan stepped aside and said, "Annai! You are the Muni's wife. I am a virtuous king and a good ruler of my kingdom and fear blame and sin if I consort with you. I came hunting with the permission of my subjects. I am thirsty. Give me water, bless me, and send me on my way. Please say no inappropriate words. I am not willing to do any vile deeds. Please forgive me." He refused to accede to her demands.            

  18. The Muni's wife: "What is this? A woman is willingly asking for your embrace. Why do you walk away from the proposal?            

  19. "Am I not beautiful?  Does not my great beauty impel you? Are not my words sweet? Don't I have stylish looks? Do I look like an illiterate? Tell me the reasons for your hatred?" Mukundhai wailed.           

  20. The king said to her with humility, "You are the Rishi's wife."      

    21. Mukundhai: "What problems do you have with it. I come forward desiring you. You can tell my husband of my consent if he walks in on us. You can say you refused, but your wife insisted on a consortium with me."           

  22. Since no blame is on you, my husband will not do you any harm. You don't have to fear. Come and consort with me." Saying such words, Mukundhai leaned on his chest.            

  23. Rukmangathan spurned her and pushed her away. She fell on the floor. She stood up and was angry. She ranted, "You are a great beauty,  sagacious king, and a good ruler. You love your subjects. These are the causes of your arrogance, making you detest me. You are the best of handsome men. Can't I ruin your good looks? I invited you so your comeliness can be useful for others like me. Your pulchritude got the best of me, and so I called you. Your beauty kindled a fire in me, and now you want to leave me with a burning fire. Should I burn in the fire of lust? What a travesty? Come hither and embrace me."

  The king refused to accede to her order and said, "I will not."            

  24. The woman flaming with love and rage said, "Is that so! You think you can get away with it. Here is my curse, and don't go empty-handed. Did not your comeliness make you arrogant and caused you to ignore and insult me? Your beauty, causing your arrogance you are better than everybody else, will melt away, and leprosy will embrace and afflict you. Let your hands and feet wither. Let your strength lose its vigor." Mukundhai ranted with vitriol.           

  25. That moment, his body changed, his skin split, hands shrunk, the fingers appeared truncated at the ends, and his gait became unsteady. He left from her presence, holding on to the fence, as she looked at him with hatred.            

  26. Soliloquy. 'Why did this happen to me? I was good. Would anyone curse a person for being an upright person? What atrocity is this? Why did this happen?' With a broken heart, the king sat down under a banyan tree. His attendants searched for him but never found him.      

  27. Naradar arrived at the banyan tree, and on his inquiry, the king narrated the story. Naradar said to him, "That is why you sit in the shade and recite the glories of Vinayaka. A beautiful Cintamani Vinayakar temple with an adjoining pond is a little distance away.             

  28.  A leprous man, with no idea of a cure, dipped in the pond and emerged cured of his disease. He was his former self, youthful, healthy, and handsome. You also take a dip in the Cintamani Vinayakar temple pond."           

  29. The king expressed his gratefulness to Naradar. "You came on your own accord and helped others. Is there anyone equal to you? You wander in the three worlds to help others. Not even great Gods can do things like you.            

  30. Narada Maharishi! How can I express my gratitude? I am helpless and clueless. Tell me more about Cintamani Vinayakar."           

  Naradar said, "What do you mean?"

The king: "Is there anyone who benefited from worshipping Cintamani Vinayakar?"

Naradar said happily, "Certainly."