·       சக்தி விகடன் - 03 Jan, 2007  சிறப்பு கட்டுரை

Posted Date : 06:00 (03/01/2007)

பிள்ளையார் கண் திறந்தாரா, இல்லையா?
Did Piḷḷaiyār Open His Eyes or not?

மகா பெரியவரின் ஞான திருஷ்டி! 

Mahā Periyavā’s Jñāna Dṛṣṭi (Spiritual Vision)

S. Ramai Aṇṇā

 

Kanchi Mahā Periyavā was on a tour of the south visiting Tanjore, Tiruchi, Tiruvānaikkāval, Srīrangam, Tidukkal… 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).  Gaapati 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.”Untitled 2

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.