Murthy Nayanar

2

Murthy Nayanar

The capital city of Madurai flying the flag with the insignia of Meen (fish)....

In the temple of Sokkanathar, Iraivan and Annai are covered in sandalwood and turmeric pastes respectively. People are waiting in large numbers in the temple for the decorations to be completed. As the temple bells toll to announce that the curtains are opened to enable darisanam of the people in the respective sannathi, the temple elephants trumpet their happiness loudly. The Panchakshara mantram of “Om Namasivaya” is echoing everywhere. The auspicious music wafts in the air announcing that Easan and Annai have resumed their benign rule over the city.   A thousand lamps arranged in the form of “Om” glitter in the sky. Murthynathar is intensely looking at Easan without batting his eye.

Murthynathar prays and hails Easan as well as all the devotees assembled there. Gurukkal starts distributing thiruneeru to everyone and as he nears Murthynathar, he stops.

Gurukkal

Adiyavare! When Iraivan was bathed in the sandalwood paste water offered by you today, its fragrance was akin to that of Parijatha flowers which nurtures all the creatures of this universe. Let the fragrance of the sandalwood paste purifying the air we breathe proclaim your glory to the world at large!

He then extends his hand to offer him thiruneeru. Murthynathar accepts it with great piety and smears it on his forehead. He looks up at the Gurukkal and wonders as to why he addressed him as adiyavar’.

Gurukkal

Sporting matted hair and wearing a Rudrakshamala, how can you be otherwise?

He then returns to the sannathi with a hearty laugh!

    *****

The palace of the Pandiya Mannar!

The Mannar is seated in his private secretive chamber. The Amaichchar is seated in front of him with two more persons   bowing to him with their hands folded. The Amaichchar appears to be highly perturbed.   The mannar looks up to the Amaichchar.

Amaichchar

Manna! The Kingdom of Chalukya is our adversary. When the Samana Thuravis entered our kingdom about ten years ago, I apprised you of the same.

He gives a pause.

Mannar

Yes! I remember that. You also said that the Samana Thuravis are hollowing out the rocks for staying. The reason you gave for their action even surprised me. If they want to live on land, they have to   dig the earth for constructing the huts.... and that may harm the creatures living on the earth. Fearing that such harm is not caused by them, they hollow out the rock and stay there... This is what you said. You also said that we may not be troubled by these monks as they believe that non-violence is the path to their Mukti. What is the situation now?

Amaichchar

The teachings of Samana religion are very lofty. There cannot be two opinions on that. The only difference between them and us Saivites is that we believe that there is Iraivan. We also believe in the four Vedas handed down to us by Him. But they only worship their teachers who were born humans calling them as Thirthankarars. 

Mannar (intervening)

Like our Vaishnavites worship Rama and Krishna.

Amaichchar (continuing)

Though the Vaishnavites revere Rama and Krishna, they consider them as the incarnation of Perumal and accept the belief in the existence of Iraivan. Many of the people who wrote detailed commentary on Vedas are Vaishnavas. But the people of this Samana religion are not like that.  Living in the mountains devoid of clothes and preaching of salvation, they are converting a large number of our six sects to their religion. They are now constructing a huge structure in Madurai for accommodating a huge congregation of their monks. They call these structures as Palli. There many such structures in use at Anaimalai, Parankunram and Nagamalai regions. There is an unusual movement of outsiders in these places recently. Our spies have gathered intelligence on these issues.

Amaichchar (Turing to one of the two persons)

Maara! Tell the mannar what all did you see and hear.

Maaran (bowing to the king)

Mannar manna! As ordered by the Amaichchar, I and this other man Muthu got employed as sanitary staff of their Palli at Parankunram and Madurai respectively to watch over the happenings there. We are informing the Amaichchar regularly whatever intelligence we gather. In the last two weeks, the subordinate chiefs of the Chalukya Army have come here disguised as monks with their head shaven and wearing a single while clothe to spy on our state. When we were cleaning the floor, we could overhear them talking like this, “If the Chalukya King invades the Pandiya kingdom with his troops, we can easily capture it”. That is why I rushed to the Amaichchar and informed him.

Muthu

The Palli that is being built in Madurai can accommodate about a thousand people. Though outwardly, this structure is embellished with fine carving and sculptures, they have created a large number of rooms underground to make it an impregnable fortress. There is one Chitrasenar, who is hailed as Mahaguru.  Anyone who sees him prostrates in full along the floor. If someone does not do so, he is not seen again. Either he is sent elsewhere or eliminated.

Mannar (surprised)

How can these people who hold non-violence in such great esteem behave like this?

Amaichchar

Our spies have sent messages from the Chalukya country. The Chalukya King has started on his campaign with his great force. Against who he is planning the war is kept a secret. From the direction of their movement, it is gauged by the experts that they are planning their invasion against Pandiya kingdom.

Mannar (giving a deep thought)

How many people are employed in the construction work of their palli at Madurai?

Muthu

About two thousands are employed... All of them are young.  I used to ponder why there are no elderly persons among them... Only now it is getting clear. All of them must be actually soldiers. The Mahaguru Chitrasenar has come with a grand plan to Madurai.

The Mannar is totally devastated and sits dumb founded. At that very moment a huge wail is heard inside the palace. In the next ten days, everything has turned topsy-turvy. The soldiers stationed at the palli surround the palace and the Chalukya king enters Madurai with a huge army. The Pandiya Mannar is killed in action. The Madurai city is captured by Samanars and their flags flutter everywhere. The Chalukya King is crowned by Mahaguru Chitrasenar and he starts his reign over Pandiya kingdom.

     ****

The Chalukya mannar runs the kingdom following the advice of Mahaguru, Chitrasenar. The people who get converted as Samanars are given more privileges.... Slowly and steadily the people of Madurai convert from Saiva to Samanar.  The effect is telling in the temple of Sokkanathar. The temple which used to be teeming with devotees is empty. Though abhishekam is carried out for Easan and Annai, it takes very little time to complete the rituals and decorations. There is no one other than Murthynathar in the sannathi. The temple bells are silent as there is no one to sound them. The thousand lamps that used to brighten the sky are unlit save for just one of them.  Disturbed deeply by these changes, Murthynathar stands shattered. The Gurukkal comes near him and gives him thiruneeru and he accepts it with great piety and applies on his forehead.

Gurukkal (with tears in his eyes)

Just because you have undertaken the service of giving sandalwood paste for the abhishekam, you are present here. Otherwise, there would have been no one here in the temple. Because of the influx of Samanars, our temple has lost all its glory. I wonder when we will see better times! Why Easan is not doing anything even after seeing all these things?  

Murthynathar (with a surprised look)

Gurukkale! What do you expect Iraivan to do?

Gurukkal (agitated)

Iraivan is hailed as one having a third eye! Has he not burnt to ashes by opening his third eye whenever unholy things happened?  Here, the Samanars have brainwashed our people and converted them to their religion. Should He not punish them appropriately and bring the converted people back to our fold? Is there anyone else here today to revere Him except you and me?

Murthynathar

Iraivan is the creator of all life forms....  In this list of life forms, these Samanars are also included. Will He punish them as they are also His own creation? What is the aim of being born in this earth? It is to realise His existence. You and I are aware of Him... The Samanars are ignorant ..  So they claim that there was, there is and there will be no one known as Iraivan.  The people are blindly following them lured by their logic. All creatures must realise Him on their own and of their free will! Gurukkale! There is no requirement for Iraivan to prove His entity by meting out punishment! 

Gurukkal   

 Though you have a valid argument, my mind is unable to remain at peace. Unless some miracle happens, the Samanars will not leave this land.

He enters the sannathi.

Murthynathar

 Not an atom can stir without Easan’s will!

He bows to Easan and leaves.

     ******

Arrogant with power, the Chalukya King wants everything under his control. He gets the royal elephant from Chera kingdom. The royal horse for his use is imported from Persia. Everyone is amazed the way he takes his luxurious bath. He gets enormous amount sandal wood paste ground and applies it all over his body before washing it off with scented water.  What is even more shocking is his edict that no one other than him can use sandalwood paste for any purpose. This is announced by the town crier with the beating of drums for the information of the public. No sandal wood logs are available in market as all of them are diverted to the palace for the king’s exclusive use. Though the order of the king has scant effect on the public, Murthynathar is overly concerned.

Murthynathar goes to bed deeply worried as how to continue his service of grinding sandalwood paste for the abhishekam of Easan.   The next morning he finds only a small piece of sandal wood in the puja room.   He goes to the temple wondering how that will suffice for the day’s service!

 Gurukkal (worried)

Ayya! Murthynathare! Have you heard the edict of the king announced yesterday?

Murthynathar

Yes! I have heard. I am in great anguish that I may not be able to fulfill my obligation to Easan. If there is no sandalwood for Easan’s abhishekam, what shall I do? 

 Shedding tears he starts grinding the small piece of sandalwood on the stone. The ground paste is very little and he is deeply perturbed as to what to do. Quickly he bends his elbow and starts grinding it against the stone. A spurt of blood erupts. Chanting “Om Namasivaya” he goes on grinding his arm against the stone continuously. His skin wears off and the bones become visible but he continues to grind his ar.

 A radiant light appears in the sannathi!

A Divine Voice (blessing him)

Murthinayanare!  To make sure your vow is not broken at any cost, your act of rubbing off your own and skin and bones to make sandalwood paste, is a glorious deed to be engraved in golden letters and remain so as long as this universe exists. Whosoever worships Me will worship you as well! You will reach My abode when the times comes for you leave this earth. Adiyavar Perumane! Is there anything else that you need?

Murthy Nayanar (bowing with his hands folded)

Iraiva! The one who is seated in the throne belongs to the sect of Samanars who are atheists.   If there is someone who cares for Saivism more than his life replaces him as the king, the glory of Thiruneeru will flourish one again!

The Divine voice

 If that be your wish, I shall make it happen!

The Jyothi disappears and Murthy Nayanar regains his arm as before. In the grinding stone, there is enough sandalwood paste for conducting the Thirumanjanam.

Seeing these happenings the Gurukkal bows to Murthy Nayanar.

    *******

That night ...

The Chalukya king retires to his bed and does not wake up the next morning. The scared guards of the palace run to Chitrasenar and inform him. Chitrasenar rushes there only to find the king is dead. The Amaichchar Peruman also arrives there.

Amaichchar Peruman

 There is no one in his clan to succeed and be crowned as the next king. What to do now?

Chitrasenar

 As per tradition followed by our kings, we will choose the next king by making the royal elephant to choose the king by sending it with a garland. Whosoever is garlanded by it will be crowned as the king.

A garland is placed on the trunk of the royal elephant which marches ahead followed by the Mahaguru.

The other Samana thuravis follow him. The Amaichchar peruman with other ministers follow him. The Senapati with his sword drawn marches along. Seeing the Royal elephant walking with a garland on its trunk, the people of Madurai gets excited first.  Many of them come and stand in front of the elephant in the hope of getting garlanded and becoming the king. The elephant drives them out and they scatter in great fear.  The royal elephant increases its stride and reaches the temple of Sokkanathar. It stops in front of Murthynathar who is about to enter the temple. It puts the garland around his neck with its trunk and goes on its knees in front of him in great reverence. Raising its trunk skywards it trumpets resoundingly as if to confirm its selection of the king to be! All the Samanars including the Mahaguru are dumbstruck by the swiftness of the events.

Amaichchar peruman (enthusiastically)

Hail to Mannar Mannar! Hail to Mannar Mannar!

The assembled crowd repeats after him and crowds around the king parting the dumfounded Mahaguru and others who are shocked to realise that a Saivite has become the king.

With his folded hands and joyful tears Murthy Nayanar enters the temple followed by the public. Once again the temple is filled up as before. The Gurukkal conducts the abhishekam of Iraivan and Annai with sandalwood paste and turmeric as before.

The fragrance of sandalwood wafts in the air. The Panchakshara mantram reverberates around the temple walls as before. The temple bells toll resoundingly once again. The thousand lighted lamps once again display ‘OM’ high in the sky!

Murthy Nayanar (in raptures)

Have You come down to earth for my sake, an insignificant adiyen?

Easan (in a loud voice)

I am servitor of Adiyavars! I only carried out your order! I have given you this kingdom to glorify thiruneeru! You reign upholding justice and when the time comes join Me and be on My right side forever!

The heavens open up showering flowers. The people accept thiruneeru from the Gurukkal and smear it on their forehead. Murthy Nayanar comes out of the temple. Amaichchar peruman looks here and there to locate the Samana Guru and his disciples. He finds them running for their lives. Murthy Nayanar mounts the royal elephant and it proceeds towards the palace trumpeting happily all the way driving the other Samanars in the city to scramble away. 

In the Royal Durbar of the palace, Murthy Nayanar    stands in front of the throne . He surprises everyone present by bowing to the Jeweled Crown and the Royal Baton of the Kingdom and places them on a separate pedestal.  He turns around and looks at the Amaichchar and others assembled there.

Murthy Nayanar

Makkale! If Adisaivam regains its preeminence obscuring the earlier Samanam, we will look after this earth but rule the heavens! What you have to say?

Amaichchar Peruman (coming in front and bowing)

If that is your order, is there  anyone to oppose it?

He looks at the public.

One of the subjects (coming forward)

 Mannare! It is only because of you that we have realised that there is Iraivan. We have discarded their saying that ‘there was, there is and there will never be any one called Iraivan’ as unwise and have come before you. We are truly blessed to be under your benign rule!

He prostrates in front of Nayanar and all others clap in great ecstasy as if they have also taken a similar stand. There is happiness all around.

Murthy Nayanar

My matted hair is the jeweled crown for me. The rudrakshams I am wearing is jewellery for me. The thiruneeru used for the abhishekam of Easan will embellish my forehead forever!

Om Namasivaya!

Om Namasivaya!

Om Namasivaya!

 He bows to Easan and takes his seat on the throne to the accompaniment of auspicious music. At the same time, the bells of Sokkanathar temple toll resoundingly. The whole world is surrounded by Omkaranatham!

Thiruchchitrambalam