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சக்தி விகடன் - 03
Jan, 2007
சிறப்பு கட்டுரை
Posted Date : 06:00 (03/01/2007)
பிள்ளையார் கண் திறந்தாரா,
இல்லையா?
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Did Piḷḷaiyār
Open His Eyes or not? |
மகா பெரியவரின் ஞான திருஷ்டி! Mahā Periyavā’s Jñāna Dṛṣṭi (Spiritual Vision) S. Ramaṇi Aṇṇā |
Kanchi Mahā
Periyavā
was on a tour of the south visiting Tanjore, Tiruchi, Tiruvānaikkāval,
Srīrangam,
Tiṇdukkal…
He was on his way to Madurai with his entourage. Many people including
children from many villages paid homage to Periyavā
(who gave them Prasāda in the form of fruits and rock-candy…)
and received his blessings.
Madurai was a short distance away. People from the villages on the way
invited him with great respect. Swami was happy to see their enthusiasm
and devotion. He sat down
near the trunk of the tree on the exposed root. They all fell prostrate
at his feet.
The president of the Panchāyat Board paid homage to him and
pleaded with him to visit the Piḷḷaiyār temple recently built by the
village people.
He stood up mustering an enthusiasm asking, “where is the Temple.”
Swami walked fast towards the temple accompanied by drums with
Nathavaram and entered the temple, where he saw the six foot idol of Vināyaka.
The idol shone brightly. Swami kept his eyes on the idol for a quite
some time and at the end questioned the president of Panchāyat,
“When did Kumbābishekam
take place.”
The president said, “It hasn’t happened yet.”
Swami: “I see all seem complete and perfect. Why did Kumbhābishekam
not take place?” The president answered his question humbly, “Swami, everything is complete. Mahatma Gandhi is coming this way in a month’s time. The Madurai VIPs (religious elders) gave us guarantees to conduct the consecration ceremony in Mr. Gandhi's presence.
Acharya had a silent laughter within himself.
Again, he fixed his eyes for two minutes on the idol without
blinking once and said, “It appears there is no need (for any delay).
Gaṇapati
sees with wide open eyes. You should not postpone Kumbābishekam
anymore. Find an auspicious
day for consecration.
The president admitting confusion said, “Swami, that is not the case. We
have not yet conducted the ‘Eye opening Ceremony’ to the Vināyaka
idol. I don’t understand what you say.”
Swami smiled and said, “I am not making this up. Ganapati is looking at
us manifestly. Start preparing for the ceremony soon.
When Gandhi comes this way, let him have Darśan of Ganesa.” The
assemble people could not comprehend his statement. They just stood
there confused.
The president of the Panchāyat Board sent for the Sthapathi
(sculptor) of the idol. He told what Acharya told the assembled people.
The sculptor emphatically told Swami, “Not so Swami… Vinayaka has not
opened the eyes. If they are open, I should know. I am the sculptor
duty-bound to sculpt open the eyes. I did not do so yet. “
The sculptor fell at Swami’s feet and stood up with folded hands.
Swami again made the third inspection of the vigraham (idol) and said,
“The eyes are open. He is looking at us in a joyous mood. It is not good
to wait any longer. Find an
auspicious day and conduct the consecration ceremony. It will bring
prosperity. So saying, he walked
away fast leading his followers. The villagers accompanied them to the
border of their village.
Soon after Swami left, the Grāma
Panchāyat
association assembled. They explored and discussed the statements of
Acharya. The sculptor emphatically said, “Acharya Swami is well-known to
know things by spiritual vision. I did not yet sculpt the eyes open.
Why did Swami insist on the open eyes? I saw the idol with great
care and did not notice any open eyes. What are we going to do?”
Silence prevailed. No one breathed a word. A 12-year-old boy came
running into the assembly hall and stood there with folded hands.
The president said, “Boy, why did come here running? What is the
matter?”
The boy addressed the president with humility, “Mr. President, I know
certain things about the idol. May I narrate it?”
The president showed interest in what he had to say and said, “What do
you know that we don’t.” The assembly was all eyes looking at him.
The boy spoke, “Sir, Mr. President! What I know as truth I tell you. The
Swamiyār
was right in his statement. When the sun was in the high noon the other
day, the grandson of the sculptor a friend of mine, took us to the
temple, and opened the eyes in the idol with a small chisel and mallet.”
"See here fellows! This is the way my grandfather opened the eyes of the
idols. Saying, ’Pillayar, open the eye, Pillayar, open the eye’, and
asking as to chorus with him, he put the chisel to the eye and hit it
with the mallet several times. Pillayar literally opened his eyes and
saw us. We all jumped up and down saying, ‘Pillayar has opened his
eyes.’ This is what happened. Please forgive us.”
As the assembly members sat there in silence, the president’s eyes were
brimming with tears. They just realized the greatness of Acharya.
Sculptor’s grandson was eight-years old. They called the grandson and he
admitted doing it and Piḷḷaiyār opening the eyes.
The assembly members ran to the temple and fell prostrate at the
idol’s feet. The sculptor examined the eyes with a magnifying glass and
said with glee, glow and surprise, “Beautiful winking eyes.”
The villagers ran on the Acharya’s path and found him resting under the
shade of a banyan tree with his followers.
They all fell at his feet like sticks blown by wind and got up.
The president of the Panchāyat and the sculptor sobbed.
Seeing these two, the Parabrahmam smiling asked them, “Now that you know
for real that Piḷḷaiyār has open eyes, go on and perform the
consecration as soon as possible. Prosperity will come your way.”
Raised his hands and conferred his blessings, that ambulatory deity.
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