Moorka Nayanar

2

Moorka Nayanar

Thiruverkadu…

Being the month of Thai, harvesting of paddy is going on in full swing…

Due to a bumper harvest the farmers are exuberant and the other public are very happy.  Keeping the first sheared crop separately, they fill up rest in the sacks. Completing their work before sun set, the farmers reach the temple of Vedapureeswarar for offering their share to Easan as a thanksgiving for His grace.

The head of the farmer’s community is given a special honour by tying a parivattam by the Gurukkal which is appreciated by the assembled farmers enthusiastically.  The Gurukkal looks up  to the imposing leading farmer of Thiruverkadu.

Gurukkal (politely)

Ayyane! Because the people call you as “Moorkan” (ruffian), I am not aware of your true name. May I know your actual name?

Moorkan (angrily)

Why must you know my name?

Gurukkal (frightened)

When I conduct the deepaaradhanai after Namavali, I have to utter your name! That is why!

Moorkan

I know who I am… Iraivan also knows who I am… What is there in a name?  You refer me as Moorkan only!

The Gurukkal goes into Sannadhi for deepaaradhanai wondering how could there be a man like him!

    *******

The house of Moorkanar…... There are mounds of paddy kept all over the place.

It is early morning and like every year traders arrive for purchase of paddy. Moorkanar welcomes all of them and get them seated.

Moorkanar (looking at them)

Well! What have you come for?

Surprised to hear this question, they go dumb. Getting no answers …

Moorkanar (angrily)

 Will someone answer me?

One of the traders

 We are traders in paddy. Why should we come to you but for procurement of paddy? We all have come for that very purpose only.

Moorkanar (calmly)

That is fine! But who invited you here for procurement?

Finding his response and acts very strange, the trader who spoke earlier is confused. He looks at other traders.

Another trader (getting up)

After the last harvest season, we came here and procured paddy from you.  This time the harvest is much more bountiful than last time.  After keeping for your own needs, you have to after all only sell off the surplus paddy!  You are to sell… We are here to buy…       Where is the question of any invitation?

Moorkanar

 If I were to sell the paddy, I may call you… If I am not inclined to sell, I need not invite you. I do not welcome any uninvited guests!

The traders who were seated patiently so far get up in anger. The trader who spoke first ask them to resume their seats and maintain calm.

The Trader

Have you decided to sell the paddy to anyone other than us?

Moorkanar

 Do you suppose that I must reply to your question?

The Trader

I agree that it is our mistake to have come here uninvited. But you cannot humiliate us like this. We shall see who dares to procure paddy from you from now onwards?

Moorkanar gets up calmly and after cupping his in respect and signals them to leave the house showing the way out.  The dejected traders leave the place angrily.

One of the traders 

 No wonder that he is named as “Moorkan”!

The others follow him and after all of them leave, the wife of Moorkanar rushes outside.

His wife

What is this? If we antogonise the traders, where will we find buyers for our paddy?

Moorkanar

Earlier, the traders used to come individually and quote the price. I used to sell for the highest quote. Last time itself, they came here as a syndicate and quoted a very low price. How I can I sell it at that low rate?  The farmers who toil in their lands will not get their due if the rate is so low. Only to teach thm a lesson I spoke like that.

His wife

I agree with you! But to whom are you going to sell this paddy for a fair price now?

Moorkanar

Wait! When did I tell you that I am going to sell off the paddy?

Shocked, his wife slumps down unable to even stand. Moorkanar gives a loud laugh!

      *******

After he returns home that night, there is absolute silence in his house. He freshens up and sits down for dinner. He finds that his wife has not kept the food for serving. Understanding that his wife is still angry with him, he gets up, goes to his bed and lies down. He prays to Easan for a while. He senses that his wife is approaching his bed. The sound a vessel getting placed next to him is heard. He opens his eyes after a few minutes and finds the pitcher of milk kept near him. He also finds that his wife is lying on her side facing away.

Moorkanar (to his wife)

 Yesterday when I took the first crop to the temple for offering, a thought came to me!

The moment his wife hears the word temple, she gets up quickly eager to hear what her husband is going to say.

Moorkanar (continues)

We are all local people. After the puja is over, we come home to have our food. But where will the adiyavars who come to the temple from outside go for their food? No one has made any arrangements to satiate their hunger.  When I questioned myself as to how can I let them leave this village in hunger, I decided not to sell the paddy this time but to use it instead to feed the adiyavars. That is why I rebuked the paddy traders in the morning. I have also arranged to erect a huge shed near our house. They will start and complete that work tomorrow morning itself. I have also made arrangements for feeding them from tomorrow itself!

On hearing these words, his wife starts crying aloud holding his feet with her hands. Moorkanar

Wife (sobbing)

 Ayyo! How shamefully I have behaved not realising your great intent! I used to serve you food every night without your ever having to ask for the same.  But today, because of my arrogance I have denigrated you. I   now realise the true import of what you told me and the traders today. They have come truly from your heart and not meant to humiliate us. Please forgive me, come and have food.

Moorkanar

Satiating the hunger of adiyavars is profound in my thoughts and so the thought of having food for myself   is obliterated!  I know that you will not take food without me eating first. Come. Let both of us eat together today!

Wife (to herself – walking along)   

 How they refer such a kindhearted person as ‘moorkan’?

     ******

Thiruverkadu...

 The temple is always full of adiyavars as they are confident of getting their food at anytime during the day...

As the fame of Moorkanar spreads, the people of Thiruverkadu hold him in high esteem. As his charity continues to enlarge, his expenses also keep piling up. As he is totally dependent on farming for his income, a stage is reached where he has to sell off his land to meet the expenses for feeding the adiyavars.

One day, as Moorkanar’s wife is standing near the kitchen where food is being cooked for feeding adiyavars, a cook comes up to her and bows seeking permission to speak.

 Wife (looking up at him)

 Please go ahead!

The cook (after looking here and there)

Amma! Are you aware that Ayya has sold off our fertile lands?

Wife (not intending to give any importance)

Yes!

She walks away not wanting to continue any further talk. The cook follows her.

The cook

Earlier we used to cook food only for the noon meals. Now we are cooking non-stop from morning till late night. We have also employed ten more people now to cope up with the work. Anyone and everyone is coming here for food just after smearing thiruneeru on their forehead. If it continues like this, all your properties will be lost and you will be on the streets! I am cautioning you as I deem fit! Now it is up to you to take care of your properties!

 As he goes away, Moorkanar’s wife stands transfixed hearing his warning. Moorkanar comes there with a smile.

Moorkanar (with a mild laugh)

What has happened? Has he confused you?

Wife

No. Not at all! All these days, the feeding of adiyavars has been going on. I have also been coming here once in a while. All these workers have been showing great respect and were even afraid to talk.  I am shocked that one of them has even the temerity to complain against you now!

Moorkanar

Adada! I thought that perhaps you were shocked on hearing the news from him.  Pardon me for that. In a way, he has actually done a good deed. I was wondering as to how to break the news of selling off our land to you. Even if we sell of our house and all other items, we may not be able to manage for even three more months.

Wife

What do we do after that?

Moorkanar

What is there under our control? Everything happens as per Easan’s plan. He will find a way for us!

He laughs aloud.

Wife (to herself)

How come he is able to laugh even after driven to this stage? I am blessed to have him as my life partner. I can blindly follow him wherever he takes me in great confidence.

She bows to Easan.

    ******

That night...

When Moorkanar is about to have his food, a loud voice is heard from outside his house seeking alms.

“Bhavathi Bikshamdehi”. Hearing this, he rushes outside and sees an elderly Anthanar wearing thiruneeru standing there.

Moorkanar (bowing to him)

My house is blessed by your presence. Please come inside.

The Anthanar (in a firm tone)

Do you mean to let me in without doing Padapujai? Where is your wife?

His wife rushes outside with a pitcher of water, a Tambalam with other items for the puja.

Wife

Adiyavare!  Till now no adiyavar has ever come to our residence. My husband has invited you to step inside as he is unaware of the rituals. Please pardon us for the mistake. I have all the items ready for doing the Padapujai.  She makes him stand on the Tambalam and washes his feet with water. Moorkanar dries his feet and does the Padapujai for the first time in his life. Both of them place flowers on his feet and get up after prostrating in front of him.

Easan is delighted seeing their pious nature.

Adiyavar

I am pleased by your acts.  First you give me good clothes to wear.

Moorkanar quickly brings a set of new clothes which the Adiyavar puts on discarding his old ones.

He seated on a He gets seated and a plantain leaf is put in front of him for serving his food. First the vegetables are served and then the hot cooked rice. As the rice is hot, Moorkanar fans it to cool it down. By this time his wife brings Sambar and pours it over the hot rice. As she looks up ...

Adiyavar (angrily)

What are you doing? I am an elderly person ...  What if I get choked during eating? Aren’t you aware that you must keep water first?

 Moorkanar’s wife rushes to the kitchen to fetch water.

Adiyavar

Adiyavare! Only if you promise Me a thing, I will touch this food. 

Moorkanar (respectfully)

Please tell me what it is.

Adiyavar

You must provide Me with clothes and food during your entire lifetime.

After hearing his request, Moorkanar goes to the kitchen and tells his wife about the adiyavar’s condition.

Wife

 Do you need to take my concurrence for these things?  It is our duty to give whatever he asks for. It is not proper to keep him waiting. Come let us go to him.

Both of them rush to the Koodam. They see the Adiyavar standing without taking his food in great fury.

Adiyavar  

Hey! Moorkane!  Not taking care of Me while I am having food and not answering my question, how dare you have gone inside to hobnob with your wife? Is this your style of treating an adiyavar? Do you think that I have come here for these measly clothes and this food? You come and see in Kumbakonam!  There are plenty of Adiyavars there who will even give up their lives for Me!

He vanishes from there to the astonishment of Moorkanar and his wife. Moorkanar’s wife prostrates where the Adiyavar was standing while Moorkanar stands still stupefied.

Wife

 How blessed we are! Iraivan Himself has come to our abode to bless us! We must have done enormous good deeds to have touched His feet and conduct His Padapujai!

Moorkanar comes back to his senses hearing the word Iraivan and he also prostrates where the Adiyavar was standing.

Wife

Our Peruman has given us some subtle message. Though His words sounded harsh, His look was one of extreme compassion.

Moorkanar

 True! Very True! He asked me to come and see Kumbakonam.  That implies that He wants us to come to Kumbakonam. He also ordered me to give clothes and food to Adiyavar during my entire lifetime. That means that He wants to stay there and serve the adiyavars.  While these are clear to me, I only cannot understand why he said that there the Adiyavars are prepared to give even their lives for Him!   

Wife

 What is the confusion? He has simply said that in Kumbakonam, His adiyavars are prepared to sacrifice even their lives for His sake!

Moorkanar

If that is the case, why should He then ask us to come there?

Wife

 We will get an answer to your question when we reach there. I will keep things ready for our journey tonight itself. Tomorrow, we will leave for Kumbakonam by daybreak.

Both of them start their preparation for their journey forgetting even to have their food.

     ******

As they reach Kumbakonam, they are awe struck by the number of temples and their imposing gopuram they see everywhere.

Moorkanar

My dear! They have given a very apt name for this town. From whichever angle (konam) one looks he can see the kalasam (kumbam) of the Gopuram.

Wife

I can discern that there are innumerable temples here. I wonder how many adiyavars visit this town everyday! Please look for a house for us. I will cook and let us feed the adiyavars to rid them of their hunger.

After searching for a suitable house for some time, they find a house close o the temple of Aadi Kumbeswarar and decide to stay there. After taking their bath on the next morning, they visit the temple for the darisanam of Easan. They find there are no devotees in temple and the temple precincts are unkempt and littered with rubbish. It appears that it has not been swept for ages. The temple Gurukkal comes there seeing this couple looking aghast.

 Gurukkal (off handedly)

 It appears that you are new to this town.

Moorkanar (sadly)

Yes! We are new to this town. Only yesterday we have come here. Our house is close to this temple. It seems that the temple has not been taken care of for a long time.

Gurukkal

You are new! That is why you speak like this. After a couple of days I may not see you also here!

As he goes way, Moorkanar runs ahead and bars his way.

Moorkanar

Ayya! Gurukkale! Is this state of affairs only for this temple or for all others?

Gurukkal (laughing painfully)

This state of neglect is confined only to this temple... All the temples in Kumbakonam are in an equally state of neglect! Now look at the Mahamaha Kulam... There is not a drop of water there.   We have not seen water in the river for the past many months. There is no farming due to lack of water and no one goes to work. The whole town is dependent on agriculture. As there is no work here, many of the people have left to pursue other activities. No one ever comes here from outside. As adiyavars are not visiting the temples, they have lost their sheen.  I wonder when the adiyavars start coming and the temple pujas start resuming as before! 

Moorkanar 

Gurukkale! You said that as there is no farm work, the people have left for other activities. Where do they go to for such activity?

 Gurukkal

I am mortified even to mention it. Anyway, since you have come here please have the darisanam of Easan.

They follow him and have the darisanam. Easan is seated all by Himself in the Sannathi.

    *****

After leaving his wife in the house, Moorkanar goes around the town to unlock the puzzle as to where the people have gone and for what activity.  Street after street are devoid of any body. Even children are not found loitering. As he enters the street of shops, he finds all of them locked up. Even a couple of stray dogs are found famished unable even to bark. He walks along greatly perturbed. He sees a couple of women carrying head loads of dried twigs. He stops them.

Moorkanar 

Pengale! What amazement! The entire town is devoid of men folk. Even children are not found playing around. Where have all the people of this town gone?

One of the women

As there is water in the river, the men folk who have no work have gone out for gambling.  Unable to stand it, their women have left for their home and have gone back to their parents taking their children along. Having enough money from previous harvest, the men folk   have taken to gambling unmindful of their wives and children. For those women who have nowhere to go, we help them by bringing these twigs from the jungle.... This town flourished reverberating with sacred mantram once upon a time! They are all stories now!

As they walk away, Moorkanar returns home totally in shock. He narrates the whole thing to his wife.

Wife

There is some reason behind Iraivan asking us to come here.  We not able to make out what it is.

 The day passes and in the night Iraivan appears in Moorkanar’s dream. Moorkanar bows to Easan in great reverence.

Iraivan

My devotees here are basically good people! The river and the ponds have gone dry due to Adiyavars absence here. If the town has to flourish again, a large number of adiyavars must come to this town. You must make arrangements to feed and clothe them. You must liberate My devotees from the clutches of evil.

After giving these orders, Iraivan vanishes. Moorkanar wakes up and unable to resume his sleep he starts planning a strategy to fulfill the orders of Easan. A grand plan opens up in his mind.

    *****

Early morning on the next day, Moorkanar goes to the temple and starts cleaning its precincts. In about two hours, the area looks neat and tidy. He goes into the Sannadhi and prays to Easan. As he comes out he meets the Gurukkal who looks surprised to see the change in its surroundings. Bowing to the Gurukkal he leaves for home.

Moorkanar (to his wife)

Today, I am going to visit the place where the men folk of this town go every day.

Wife (praying to Easan)

Let whatever you do turn for the good of this town and its people.

Moorkanar reaches the gambling shed where the men folk gather. He is surprised to see a huge shed teeming with people. There is as much crowd as during a festival.  People who are indulging in gambling and the onlookers create a great din that it is difficult to converse with anyone without raising one’s voice.

Moorkanar goes around the shed observing the people indulged in gambling. Those who have produce in their possession, gamble with it. Only a very few are gambling with gold as stake. Those who have nothing in their possession played with seeds, shells while those who are rich play with dice made of ivory. They have their own book keepers to keep their account of wins and losses. The whole shed reverberates with the sound of merriment and despair of those who are winning and losing respectively.

Moorkanar looks around and thinks.

Moorkanar (to himself)

How can I sit among these people to gamble? Will it not bring shame to my clan?

The voice of Easan reverberates in his ears once again. “My devotees here are basically good people! The river and the ponds have gone dry due to Adiyavars absence here. If the town has to flourish again, a large number of adiyavars must come to this town. You must make arrangements to feed and clothe them. You must liberate My devotees from the clutches of evil.”

Moorkanar

This is the order of Easan. I have to abide by it at all cost. If Adiyavars are to come here in large numbers, I need to build a large shed for serving them food. For that I need materials. To ensure that the villagers do not come here to gamble, I must go their way to convert them.

He goes to one of the groups and asks them to include him also.

One of the Gamblers

What have you got to put as stake?

He shows the gold nuggets kept in his hand.  Seeing the gold, the people admit him with great respect and regard. He loses the first, second and subsequent rounds. The gold in his possession also starts depleting alarmingly. But the others who have been winning are increasing the bets and at one stage the wager amounts’ to a thousand gold coins. Everyone in the shed converge here to see how Moorkanar is gambling. Time flies and it is nearing sun set. Moorkanar starts winning steadily now and overtakes all the opponents. When he finally wins the entire stakes, there is a great din raised by the on lookers. As Moorkanar gathers the coins and bundles them in a sack, one of the gamblers stops him from leaving.

One of the Gamblers (in a threatening tone)

You cannot leave the game after cornering all our gold. You must continue to gamble. So do sit down now.

Moorkanar (calmly)

I will continue…. but on one condition. Every one of you must pitch in the same amount as I put as stake. Here are the thousand gold coins I have won as my stakes.  Are you all prepared to place the same amount as your bet? If you are ready, then first show me what you have got in your hands!

The gamblers not having any gold to place as stake go quiet. Moorkanar lifts the sack of gold he has won and walks away. A few of them, planning to rob him walk along closely surrounding him.  As he steps outside the shed, it is already dark.  A little ahead they block his way to snatch the sack of gold. But they get beaten up. They are not able to make out who is beating whom. Fearing that others would come from the shed to share the loot if they made noise, they bear the beatings in silence. At one stage, the beatings become so severe, they run away unable to bear it any longer. Moorkanar reaches home and shows the sack of gold coins to his wife.

Moorkanar

I am going to start constructing a huge shed for feeding the Adiyavars tomorrow itself.

His wife bows to Easan in gratitude.

   ***

 Two days pass by. Hearing that a huge shed to accommodate and feed a thousand adiyavars has come up near Mahamaha Kulam, all the gamblers leave their gambling and rush to the Kulam where Moorkanar is supervising the work. The town’s people reach there and pay due respects to him.

One of the People

Ayya! We heard that you have done a great service to adiyavars in Thiruverkadu by   ridding them of their hunger. You have erected a huge shed to seat a thousand adiyavars and to feed them.  While we, even the local people of this town have forgotten to visit the temple, how do you expect adiyavars from outside to come here and that too in thousands! 

 Moorkanar

This town is called Kumbakonam as one can see the Kumbam on temple gopuram anywhere when one looks up. You are not aware of your greatness. But the world is aware of it. Since Easan Himself has declared that everyone who is born here is a great soul, I have come here to be with you.

 He bows to Easan.

The one who spoke

What! Has Iraivan said that we are of noble descent? We have been doing ignoble things … We have forgotten our family and children … We have been bringing disrepute to our clan… Did Easan declare us  as  dignified people?

He sheds copious tears in repentance. All those who have come there touch Moorkanar’s feet in reverence repenting their deeds.

     ****

The next day…

In the temple of Aadi Kumbeswarar….

A small crowd of Adiyavars assemble in the Sannathi and receive thiruneeru from the Gurukkal.

One of the Adiyavars

Gurukkale! We have learnt that a great soul named Moorkanar from Thiruverkadu, has made arrangements for the stay and food for adiyavars in a grand scale. Where can we meet him?

Gurukkal in great fervor tells them the route to reach his shed.   

     *****

Moorkanar is seated in the shed and a large number of Adiyavars come and have their food. By their grace, the heavens soon open up with copious rains and all the water bodies gets filled up. The river once again flows in all its glory. The Mahamaha Kulam is filled to the brim. The farming works starts in great enthusiasm. The women and children who have left their homes return for the happy reunion.  Needless to say that the gambling shed goes empty!

    *****

That is the day of Masi Maham (the day of the Star Maham in the Tamil month of Masi)! 

There are thousands of devotees assembled to have their dip in Mahamaha Kulam and then go for the darisanam of Aadi Kumbeswarar. The whole town sports a festive look.  Thousands of Adiyavars have their food in the Moorkanar’s shed. Moorkanar gifts them new clothes to each one of them personally as they leave. One of the Adiyavars comes close to him. His radiant countenance make Moorkanar go into raptures.

Easan in the guise of The Radiant Adiyavar

The food you have served is far superior to even to the one that is partaken by the Devas!

Moorkanare! By losing the wagers in the first few rounds and then winning them all and earning enormous wealth only to spend them all in the service of Adiyavars, your deeds are indeed worthy of great adulation!  Taking your food only after feeding the Adiyavars, your act is praise worthy. After completing your work here, you will reach Me and stand on to My right side. Moorka  Nayanare! Your name and fame will remain as long as this world remains. Whosoever worships Me will worship you as well.

Easan blesses him and vanishes while the heavens open up with a shower of flowers.

 *****

The days pass by… The wealth of Moorkanar also starts dwindling. His wife looks alarmed.

Moorka Nayanar

My dear! Why are you looking distressed?

Wife

The gold coins that you gave have all been spent. As there are no grains and other items, my mind is perturbed. The local people have changed their evil ways and turned good. But what do we do to feed the Adiyavars?

Moorka Nayanar laughs aloud confusing his wife even more.

Moorka Nayanar 

Well! There are many adjacent towns which also have gambling dens.

He laughs and Easan and Annai also laugh hearing it at Kailayam!

Their laughter resounds as the great Onkaram spearing the heavens!

Thiruchchitrambalam