Kannappa Nayanar

2

Thru Kannappa Nayanar

Vaitheeswaran Koil Sannithanam ….

Deeparadhanai of Easan is taking place.

The eminent Siththar Dhanvanthiri, holding his hands above his head in reverence is yelling loudly ‘Hara Hara Mahadeva.’ His disciples repeat after him.

All of them stand spell bound seeing the beauty of Easan, highlighted by the steady deepam. The Gurukkal brings along the plate holding the deepam and gives thiruneeru as prasadam.

Dhanvanthiri after accepting the prasadam and bowing to Easan comes out of the Sannathi with his chief disciple Susruthar immediately behind him and all others following him.

They reach the mandapam.

 Dhanvanthiri takes up his seat and Susruthar sits on the floor facing him. All other disciples sit behind him in rows of three facing the chief Guru. He finds that only two are seated in the last row. He looks at Susruthar questioningly since one of the disciples is absent.

Susruthar

Salutations to Guru! When we finished our bathing in the pond and were coming out I saw Gouthaman in the middle of the pond taking a dip. I think he will be late as usual.

At that very instant Gouthaman rushes at great speed and falls on the feet of Guru repeatedly shouting salutations to Guru to save himself from getting admonished.

Dhanvanthiri (in a lighter vein)

What excuse you have today for being late Gouthama?

The guru laughs and is joined by others.

Gouthaman (breathing heavily)

When I finished my bath in the pond and came out I could not find anyone else. I thought perhaps they are still bathing and under water. So I again went into water in search of them. Not being able to find any one there I again came out and was looking for them on the banks. Not seeing anyone I started rushing to the temple. On the way to the temple…

Gouthaman stops his narration trying to catch his breath.

The Guru (interrupts smiling)

Well! What happened on the way?

The disciples are all laughing expecting a cock and bull story from Gouthaman.

 Gouthaman

I was forcibly stopped by some of the village youths.

The Guru (contemplating)

This is something very unusual. Tell me in detail as to what happened.

Gouthaman narrates the incidence.

   ******

Gouthaman rushes out of the pond and walks towards the temple briskly.

He is stopped by a few village youths blocking his way.

Gouthaman (a little scared)

Why are you blocking my way?

A Youth  

Hey!  You small Pandaram!  How come you are alone? Where are the other Pandarams? Are you trying to rope in some woman?

All the other youths laugh seeing Gouthaman totally embarrassed.

Gouthaman

Firstly I am not a Pandaram. You called me a small Pandaram. It implies that there is a big Pandaram also.

The Youth

Yes! There is a big Pandaram.  Don’t you know?  He is the one who sits in the mandapam in front of whom all you small Pandarams sit.

Gouthaman

It is sacrilege to call him a Pandaram. He is our Guru and he teaches us. It is sinfulto call him a Pandaram.

The Youth

I witness all the happenings. He does not teach anything about Vedas. He is always talking about some roots and herbs. After he finishes you all await the prasadam from the temple. After eating you all disperse. Tell me frankly. Aren’t you all coming to the temple only for eating? I am, therefore, right in calling you are all Pandarams and your chief as the big Pandaram.

The other youths laugh aloud on hearing this.

 Gouthaman

It is wrong and wrong totally. We are not here to take free food from the temple. The main deity here is Vaitheeswarar. He has imparted the science of medicine to this world. We are here to learn and gain that knowledge. We are not destitute to come and wait for the prasadam. In our hermitage we have a hoard of gold and other gems. If our Guru wants, he can buy off not only this town but also this entire country.      

The Youth (mockingly)

Oh! You can buy this whole country!

We have only heard that Pandarams build madams in the air.  But you are even building huge forts in the sky! Tell me what are you if you are not a Pandaram?

Gouthaman

I am a vaidhyan.

Another Youth

Are you a half vaidhyan or a quarter vaidhyan?

There is laughter all around.

 Gouthaman

I don’t understand what you mean. There is no such half or quarter vaidhyan.

The Second youth

 Don’t you know that the one who has killed a thousand people is only a half vaidhyan? Tell us how many people you have killed, we will then  know whether you are a half or a quarter vaidhyan.

All the youths laugh uncontrollably at Gouthaman’s discomfiture.

Gouthaman

It is a great sin to kill anyone. Not a single person has died because of my treatment.

The Second youth

That proves that you are not a vaidhyan. As my friend said, you are but a small Pandaram.

The assembled youth laugh and tries to disrobe Gouthaman. With great difficulty Gouthaman escapes from their clutches and runs towards the temple followed by the youths. He runs fast and reaches the temple and looks back. Finding no one following him he runs to the mandapam.

 ******

The temple mandapam…

The guru looks at Gouthaman with great contemplation.

 The Guru

 Gouthama! Go and take your seat.

But Gouthaman keeps standing there.

Susruthar (whispering)

Gouthama! Haven’t you heard what the Guru said?

Gouthaman

Yes! I heard it.  Without getting an answer, I don’t feel like taking my seat. 

The Guru

What is your query? Tell that first.

Gouthaman (innocently)

I have not killed anyone while I treated them till now. Nor I intend to kill any in future. Does that mean that I will never become an expert vaidhyan?

The Guru

Oh! You are confused because of that ‘half vaidhyan’ saying. That saying has been altered over the years. There are many such well meaning sayings in Tamil which over the years have been similarly modified to convey totally wrong and sometimes silly interpretations. The original saying meant that one can be considered to be  half way in his expertise unless and until  he recognises about a thousand roots and herbs, their properties , their dosage and  their curative powers for various ailments. 

Gouthaman (disheartened)

With the grace of Guru, I can recognise quite a few of the roots of herbs.  When will I be able to recognise a thousand of them to become a half vaidhyan and another thousand to become a full vaidhyan?  It appears that I may never be able to become an expert by these standards.

The Guru (laughing loudly)

You should not take the saying literally. By ‘thousand’ what is implied is ‘very many’ roots. We say about a habitual liar that whenever he opens his mouth a ‘thousand lies’ will come out. Similarly when we remind some absent-minded person we say I told you a thousand times and so on.

Susruthar

I inferred ‘very many’ also coveys ‘all’.  Should we take that even if some one knows about all the roots of herbs, he is deemed only as a ‘half vaidhyan’? When will he be acknowledged as a ‘full- fledged vaidhyan’?

The Guru

It is not enough if one gains knowledge of the herbs, their properties, their composition, their extraction and things like that. For a person to become an expert vaidhyan, he needs to be knowledgeable on very many other things.

He halts wondering whether to proceed or not with his explanation further.

Susruthar (taking the cue)

It appears that you are reluctant to speak further.

The Guru

Indeed! There are a few things which are to be taught and a few others which are not to be taught!

Susruthar

Are there items of expertise which are not to be taught? Why such an embargo on those? If those were not to be taught, how you have come to know of them?

The Guru

There are many questions and I will tackle them one by one.

Your first question. Are there items of expertise which are not to be taught? 

Yes. There are. For example ‘Rasavadham.’

 The next question is ‘Why it should not be taught?’

The answer…

If unscrupulous people get the hang of it, they will misuse it and bring about a great havoc for the humanity.

The third question is ‘How I learnt it?’

The answer…

By poring over the codified writings in palm leaves and understanding the hidden meaning of the words I learnt that science.  Our ancestors have preserved these coded writings for thousands of years.

Now regarding your very first doubt as to when someone becomes a full vaidhyan. Only when a person has acquired skill in ‘Vada Vindai’ he can be called a full-fledged vaidhyan.

Susruthar

‘Vada Vindai’ means ‘Rasavadham.’ I have read that by using the techniques of ‘Vada Vindai’, iron can be transformed into silver and copper to gold. Are these truly possible?

The Guru

Yes, indeed! The silver which is incomplete in its composition becomes iron. Likewise gold becomes copper . If we can remove the incompleteness, we can recover the originals. 

Gouthaman (astonished)

Are the silver and gold lying in abundance in our asramam obtained this way? 

The Guru (in an angry tone warning Gouthaman)

During day time you must be cautious and look around before opening your mouth. At night time you should keep it shut.

Hearing this caution Gouthaman covers his mouth with his palms terribly shaken.

The Guru

Yes. Those that are lying in our asramam are the results of experiments done by students like you to test their skill.

Susruthar

I have read that it takes one’s life time to master ‘Vada Vindai’. 

The Guru

Quite true! Those items have been produced over hundreds of years by my students as experiments.

There is a loud exclamation from Gouthaman and every one’s attention is directed to him. 

Gouthaman

What? Hundreds of years! If that is so how old will be the Guru now?

Though that question was in the minds of all of them, they were awaiting Guru’s reply.

Susruthar gets up and bows to Guru.

 Susruthar

Our Guru is a great Siththar. He is beyond age and ageing.

All the disciples stand up in reverence acknowledging the greatness of their Guru. The Guru asks them to be seated.

Susruthar (bowing to the Guru)

May I be permitted to ask a question?

The Guru

Go ahead. It is only be relentless questioning and answers one can enhance his wisdom.

Susruthar

Can we take it, that when one becomes a complete vaidhyan, he has mastered the ‘Rasavadham?’

The Guru

To become a complete vaidhyan is the first step. He has to climb a lot many more steps to master ‘Rasavadham’. That too will be possible only if he gets the blessings of his Guru,

Gouthaman

If only I can master ‘Rasavadham’ I will hoard gold and gems to make those youths who ridiculed me to fall in my feet. For that I need the blessings of Guru.

Gouthaman prostrates in front of the Guru.

The Guru

For the one who masters ‘Rasavadham’, gold and wealth are of no consequence. The one who can produce water by his mind power will never be thirsty. And whenever he feels thirsty, he will produce only so much water to quench his thirst and not a drop more.

Susruthar appears to be taken aback by this reply. 

The Guru (observing this)

 Susrutha! Why you seem to be put off hearing my explanation?

Susruthar

The one who identifies a large number of roots and herbs and use them effectively for treatment is only a half vaidhyan where as  the one who wastes his life time finding out the method of making gold and silver by mastering ‘Rasavadham’ is a complete vaidhyan. I am not able to digest this logic! 

The Guru

Don’t be under the impression that ‘Rasavadham’ is the science of converting copper to gold and iron to silver only. ‘Rasavadham’ includes study of all minerals like gold and silver, the various types of salts, the organic herbs like roots, bark, leaves, fruits and nuts, the nine varieties of gems like pearl, the parts and excreta of animals and birds, the effect of Sun and the moon, the five elements like earth, water, fire, wind and sky. One has to master the properties of these and how they interact with one another to make an effective medication, what will be the side effects etc. These are highly evolved and involved study. It is not enough to have only the bookish knowledge. The physical ratio of quantities for compounding these, the way they are to be mixed, the dexterity in making these compounds by experience are equally critical. One who has mastered these becomes a full or complete vaidhyan or a Siththan. He becomes equal to Vaitheeswaran.  

Susruthar

Is knowledge and expertise in surgery not perquisite to become a complete Vaidhyan?

Gouthaman

Surgery involves cutting parts of humans and animals for treatment. Such procedures cannot be undertaken by Brahmins like us. What is the use in learning surgery if we are not going to practice it for treating patients?

The Guru (annoyed)

Quiet! Gouthama! You are allowed to only participate in a debate and you must not propound a conclusion.  Surgery is one of the branches of medical science which is necessary for treating an ailment. The knowledge of anatomy is essential to know the effect of four thousand four hundred forty eight diseases that afflict the human body which consists of seventy two thousand nerves. A knowledgeable surgeon can make a torn flesh or a broken bone to rejoin. A surgical specialist is one who can repair and rebuild any part of a body. Medicine and Surgery are like two eyes creating a single vision.

 Susrutha! I know what thoughts are running in your mind. You will create formulae through aphorisms based on what I have taught you. These will become the guide for future generations in the practice of medicine and surgery.

After saying this, Dhanvanthiri closes his eyes and goes into meditation. All except Susruthar silently leave the mandapam. Susruthar sits in front of the Guru closing his eyes. There is an unspoken exchange of communication between the guru and his disciple.

    *******

Dhanvanthiri Asramam…

Holding a scriber for engraving on a palm leaf, Susruthar is sitting in his cottage fully absorbed in thoughts.

At that time…

There is a sudden commotion outside and a few men are running towards his cottage. As Susruthar is coming out of his cottage, about a dozen men carrying a cot with a man lying on it reaches there. They place the cot in front of Susruthar. A man was howling in great pain holding his right ear and blood is running out of his hand.

Susruthar  

What has happened?

By this time the other disciples hearing the commotion also reach there.

One of the villagers

Ayya!  During a fight in the village, his ear was chopped off. The chopped portion of his ear is here.

They hand over a blood smeared part of the ear to Susruthar.  The students run away in fear and disgust by the gory sight. Susruthar without batting an eyelid takes it and examines the patient closely. He presses the scriber in the fore arm joint and the bleeding stops in a few seconds. This act of Susruthar in stopping the bleeding in no time makes the villagers wonder as to the skill of Susruthar. He cleans the wound with cotton fabric and inspects the depth of the cut. He tells the villagers to carry the patient inside and then sends all of them out. He starts his surgical procedure. It is almost two hours and there is no sound emanating from inside. The villagers outside are murmuring as to what the Vaidyar is doing which is clearly heard by Susruthar. After completing his work carefully he comes out and is soon surrounded by the villagers and his students.

Susruthar

The ear has been set right by cutting a portion of flesh from the thigh. In twenty one days, the ear will get attached fully. In forty eight days, the wound in the thigh will also heal. For the next four hours he will be immobile like a dead man. After he regains his consciousness and opens his eyes give him hot cow’s milk. He can also be given his usual food. For the next forty eight days, you must make sure that the wounds are protected from getting wet and protected from water.

The villagers prostrate before Susruthar and carry the patient back.

The students, who have been keeping themselves away all this while now surround Susruthar and start asking a number of questions.

Gouthaman  

 The Chief Disciple! What did you do? How the ear was attached and stuck? You said you took away a portion of flesh from his thigh. He did not cry nor shout. What did you do to make him quiet?

Susruthar looks at Gouthaman who posed such a barrage of questions. He appears very happy.

Susruthar

I followed the teaching of ‘Varma Sastram’ and practice of ‘Salliya Tantra’ guided by the principle of ‘Flesh for Flesh’. Because of that he did not cry or shout during the surgery. The ear also got attached.

Overawed by the skill displayed by Susruthar, the other disciples stand wonder struck.

Hearing the episode, Dhanvanthiri reaches there sporting a broad smile.

    ******

Dhanvanthiri asramam…

The Guru and Susruthar are seated.

There are cut palm leaves in guru’s hands and he is absorbed in reading them. After he finishes reading them…

The Guru

Marvellous! Indeed an exceptionally brilliant work! Susrutha! People will remember you forever for your wonderful work! 

Susruthar

These are because of the grace of my Guru!  I may be the author of this work  but they will be known as ‘Dhanvanthiri Sampradhayam’.  What title may we give for this work?

The Guru

 Give it the title of ‘Susrutha Samhitha.’ In the Atharva Veda, all these will be accepted as ‘Salliya Tantra’. 

Susruthar (haltingly)

I was expecting a poser from the Guru!

The Guru (observing his hesitation)

What was the question you expected from me?

 Susruthar

I expected the question as to why I did not write this volume in Tamil.

The Guru (smiling gently)

 What will be your answer for that?

Susruthar

 I have written this book in Sanskrit not  just because it is the Vedic language. Sanskrit words are unique in their meaning and representation. There are no distinct words in it to denote a specific thing.  Since the science medicine is for saving lives there can be no room for any ambiguity in the meaning of words used in its exposition. That is the reason for choosing Sanskrit! I am sanguine that the Guru will accept my reasoning.

The Guru

Language is not a barrier for art. If someone has to learn a particular language prior to learning an art, only those become successful who learn that language first. Only they become eminent in practising that art. A word having multiple meanings in Tamil language is primarily in medical science. As you have rightly said the practise of medicine is to save lives. The Tamil Vaidhya sastram is given to us by Lord Vaitheeswaran Himself. The live saving medicines compose of many types of compounds. In order that they are not misused for earning money by unscrupulous persons, they are told in a codified form understood by siththars. A wise man’s uttering will be discerned correctly by another wise man. So you can say what you intend in any language of your choice.

Susruthar

My doubts have been clarified, thanks to the Guru!

The Guru

A very important axiom has not been expressed, Susrutha!

Susruthar

If the Guru indicates, I will include the same.

The Guru

What does ‘Varnasramam’ dictate?

The Brahmin…. The one who learns the Vedas and also teaches them.

The Vanikan… The one who does trading.

The Kshatriyan.. The one who rules. The one who fights wars.

The Sooththiran as a rope who binds all the three of them.

Out of this who has been ordained to learn Medicine? Who can practice Medicine?

 Should there be not a ruling on this?

Susruthar

There is no constraint that only a particular sect can practice Medicine.  The only perquisite is the thorough knowledge of medical science. Wisdom born out of experience is essential for the practitioner.  He need not be even a man of letters. Anyone can practice it. Since Brahmins are both teachers and the taught, they will take up this profession.

The Guru

The technique of surgery involves cutting the flesh of birds, animals and humans in the course of treatment.  Do you expect, a Brahmin who by his nature has revulsion even seeing flesh, blood or bones, will take up this profession?

Susruthar

You are absolutely right. The caste is not a constraint for any science. For carrying out surgery, the practitioner must have enormous courage, strength and fortitude. While the Brahmin is highly suited to teach the science of medicine, the most suited for practising that science is the hunter! He hunts wild animals in the forest and carves them. He roams around the forest and identifies the medicinal herbs. By nature he will be most suited surgical specialist!

The Guru (blessing)

 So be it!

 Susruthar (bowing)

 Sivan intends and Siththar says that!

    *********

 Poththoppi Naadu….

The Uduppur forest range!

 All around there are mountains…

 Plenty of wild streams are running down to the plains.

The wild elephants are making merry in the water with their off-spring.

Generally the country folk avoid places frequented by wild elephants.

But on that day….

There are groups of people walking in the forest range.

The usually quiet forest is teeming with people making such a din even the wild animals get scary and hide themselves for safety.

The middle of the forest …

A beautiful and palatial house built of bamboos standing on bamboo stilts to protect the habitants from attack by wild animals. The house is well decorated with thoranams of mango leaves and colourful flowers. People are in a festive mood as on that day, Naagan, the head of the forest is getting married.  All the people living in the areas under his control have assembled to witness and take part in that happy event.

On one side of the house…

The make-up of the bride is going on in full swing.

Bride’s friend 

 Hey! Thathai!  Your husband to be looks enormous like a hillock. It is scary even to look at him. How will you manage him after the marriage?

That doubt was nagging her as well. Her friend’s poser kindled the anxiety and she becomes nervous.

At that time Naagan’s grandmother enters.

The Grandmother (chiding)

 You girls are yapping all day long without any break. Is the make-up of the bride still not over?

Looking at Thathai, she observes that her eyes are fraught with fear.

The Grandmother

Come on! I can make out that this girl must have told you something to frighten you. Naagan is the king of this entire forest. He can catch and subdue an elephant all by himself. So his girth is like that. But his heart is very sweet like sugarcane. Due to your good deed in your previous birth, you are blessed to become his wife. Wipe of your tears without disturbing the eye liner. Do you know how nicely it is enhancing your beauty?

The grandmother leaves from there…

Thathai (thinking)

 For such a petite and demure girl like me, how man with the stature of an elephant will match?

Unable to control the tears that are welling up, she gets highly perturbed.

At that very instant there are calls to bring in the bride to the wedding arena. Her friends take her along and reach the hall. Scared to look up her would-be husband, she bows down her head. Naagan happily garlands her.  Thathai’s father hands over a garland to her and bids her to garland Naagan. She does so without even looking up. The assembled crowd blesses the newlyweds by showering flower petals and the wedding concludes.

The night of the nuptials….

 Thathai (to herself)

I am going to meet my husband face to face. I am afraid what will happen!

Hearing Naagan approaching the room, she stands up.

Naagan (calls aloud)

Thathai! My sweet heart!

The tenderness and sincerity in his call make her to look up and she makes eye contact with Naagan.

 Thathai (to herself)

He sounds so tender and sweet!  How foolish I was to gauge him as a brute and worry myself to desperation?

 Without realising what she is doing, she falls on his feet. Naagan, moved by her gesture gently lifts her up and hugs her.

Thathai realises that she has met her match and feels that she will be secure under his care.

********* 

As the King of the forest, Naagan makes it a routine to visit different forest locales every day to meet his subjects and to know their problems. He makes it his prime duty to solve the problems of his subjects. He was therefore regarded in great esteem by his subjects. Every day he would start off in the morning and return by evening visiting each of the localities in turn. Thathai gets agonised awaiting his return. But becomes elated and forgets her agony the moment she sets her eyes on him on his return.

This routine continues for months and years. Thathai has not yet conceived. This becomes the most distressing aspect of both their lives. While Naagan suppresses his sadness   by the distraction of his kingly duties, Thathai, by her constant grief loses her faculties. Everything needs to be repeated to her to make her understand. The poor status of his wife is making Naagan even more miserable. The people are also murmuring that there is no heir to the throne.

One of those days…

Naagan is seated in his Court with all the ministers seated discussing the administration of the forest kingdom.

At that time the forest guards bring a small boy with his hands tied up behind. Everyone is looking at the boy.  Though dressed in a hunter’s costume, the innocent face of the boy makes Naagan to feel affection towards him.    

The Forest Guard

Oh! King! This boy was hunting in our area. We advised him not to hunt animals in our area and to go elsewhere.  He gives an innocent look and appears docile but actually he is very obstinate and arrogant. He not only ridiculed us but also started fighting with shooting arrows. With great difficulty we could subdue him and bring him here.

Naagan

My dear Boy! I have not seen you before. But I have a feeling of having known you before!

Who are you Appa?

The Boy

I am Suppan.

Naagan

What do you mean by Suppan…?

The Boy (haughtily)

Appan’s son is Suppan!

Naagan by his very nature is a tough person. If anyone else speaks to him haughtily he would have punished him severely. But hearing the boy only brings out laughter in him.

 Naagan (laughing)

 If you are ‘Appan’s son Suppan’ may I know who that Appan is and who this Suppan is?

The Boy

My Appan is without a beginning or end. He teaches the whole world. He is named Nathan. And I …. I teach him.  They call me Guru of even Appan.

The Forest Guard

Look! My King! He talks impertinently like this.

Naagan

Asking the guard to remain calm, he looks intently at the boy. The mischievous smile of the boy makes him ecstatic. He stands up abruptly to the amazement of all others. Addressing the boy:

 Ayyane! I am unable to fathom why on seeing you, I feel like bowing to you in reverence. Can you please disclose who art thou?

He folds his hands and bows to the hunter boy.

Thathai runs down on seeing Naagan paying reverence to the boy.

The Boy (still with his mischievous smile)

You are asking me who I am. If you ask me properly you will get an answer and a good fortune as well.

Thathai on seeing the boy’s hands tied at the back is horrified!

Thathai

What cruelty is this? How can anyone twist the hands of a child and tie them up like this?

 She unbinds the string and frees his hands. He hugs the child and kisses him.

The Boy

Thaye! Whosoever is going to get you as his mother will be truly blessed!

 After uttering these words and blessing Thathai, the boy vanishes into thin air.

Everyone is dumbstruck.

An Elderly Person

Oh! King! The boy who came in the garb of a hunter is no ordinary child. He claimed his Appan as Nathan.  He said, ‘I teach even my father… I am hailed as Guru.’  That implies that He who came here is none other than ‘Gurunathan.’ He is Subramanian, our family deity. Since He married a girl from hunters’ clan, he came in the garb of a hunter. He had come here to bless you and your wife with progeny and subtly indicated that by telling you ‘If you ask me properly you will   get the answer. Not only that you will get a good fortune as well’. We should now observe the sacred vows to propitiate the deity of our clan- by piercing the tongues with spears, carrying milk laden Kavadis, donating cocks and peacocks to the temple and then begging for a progeny. He will answer you and bless you as well. You start your Vratham today itself and on the forty eighth day of Thai Poosam, hand over the dues to Him.  Your wish will be fulfilled right way.

Naagan and his wife are highly pleased and start their Vratham on that day itself.

There are ten more days left for Thai Poosam. Naagan, Thathai and many of his subjects carry pots and pots full of honey and flour, countless number of cocks and peacocks and walk towards Thiruththanigai.

After tonsuring their heads as offering, carrying the Kavadis of milk and rose water, hailing Murugan and his weapon Vel all through their way, they all reach His Sannithanam. Prostrating in front of the deity, they pray and beg Murugan to grant their wish and Thathai gets up without even opening her eyes.  

 “Ammai… Thathai!”   A voice hailing Thathai is heard.

 Naagan and Thathai look towards the direction of the voice ….

An immense sound emanates from the sky.

The Heavenly Voice

 Naagan! Thathai! I am pleased with your devotion. You will beget a great son. He will perform unparalleled feats. His name and fame will remain unsurpassed forever!

Every one assembled hail Murugan with ecstasy.

Thathai conceives shortly thereafter and the delivery of the child is calculated to be in the month of Thai.

Thathai is in labour. Naagan returns to his palace after quickly finishing his duties. There is crowd of females in front of his house. A sign of anxiety is pervading their eyes.   

 Naagan

What is the matter?

Grand Mother (with hands clasped in prayer)   

The baby is yet to turn over. Thathai is under severe labour pain. Pray to Lord Murugan for the safety of the mother and the baby.

All those assembled pray to Lord Murugan for safe delivery of the baby.

Naagan

Muruga! I and all of my clan people will tonsure our heads as offering.  Please let Thathai deliver the child safely without much pain.

The bay’s wail is heard outside and every one hails Murugan with shouts of ’Arohara.’

Grand Mother (bringing the child from the labour room)

 By the grace of Lord Murugan, a son is born to ensure continuity and prosperity of your clan. Born under the star of ‘Mrigaseersham’, he will bring fame to your clan.

Naagan (accepting the handed over baby with great joy)

The baby is hefty (Tamil thin is hefty or big). We will name him as ‘Thinnan’.

He bends and calls out the name ‘Thinna’ three times in the right ear of the baby. The baby, as if it has understood something, opens its mouth wide joyfully.

    ******

   

The palace…..

Thathai and Naagan are watching   Thinnan taking his baby steps with great joy.

Thathai (hesitatingly)

 Now that Thinnan has started walking, we have to keep on eye on him through out the day. For that…

Naagan

Why do you hesitate? Tell me what is in your mind.

Thathai

I feel that it will be better if we employ two people to look after him

Naagan gets irritated immediately.

Naagan

This boy is born to us after our fervent prayers by God’s grace. It is ridiculous to suggest that we employ people to look after him. Does the Maharani have more important work than looking after him?

Thathai

I was hesitant knowing full well that you would be angry hearing this.  Nothing is more important to me than looking after my child. But Thinnan is so mischievous that he runs away even if I am inattentive for a second. Only for his safety I requested for two men, though one may be sufficient. If one is not present for any reason, the other can keep an eye on him always.  I also feel that it is also wrong to confine him all the time.  If we do that he will remain house bound as he grows up. At this age he should be running around and explore things. He should be taken to the forest at this stage itself so that he grows up knowing the nuances of a hunter’s life.

Naagan

Very well said… Thathai!   I will arrange for two men immediately.

On his orders Naanan and Kaadan are employed to look after Thinnan.

Naagan (To Naanan and Kaadan)

I am giving you both the responsibility of carefully looking after Thinnan. Till he grows up to maturity, both of you will remain with him always. Is that clear? 

Naanan and Kaadan happily nod their heads for having got this onerous yet joyful duty.

Naagan and Thathai are euphoric to see Thinnan happily running towards his new caretakers.

         *******

From a very young age, Thinnan is put through training befitting a prince. He acquires the skills of sword fighting, archery, javelin throwing, horse riding, elephant riding, snaring of wild animals without injuring them. The time goes by and he reaches adulthood.

   ********

The Palace…

Naagan calls for his son.  Seeing his son as a replica of himself with wide chest, strong shoulders, and steady gait brings tears of joy which he wipes out unseen by him.

Thinnan

 Salutations to father!

 Naagan feels proud observing the good manners of his son.

Naagan

Thinna! My Child!   I am getting old.  I am unable to administer the forests as I used to do before… I also get tired quickly. Very soon you must take over the kingdom and relieve me. Before that there are a few skills you need to acquire. These skills were imparted to me by my father. Likewise I will have to impart those skills to you. It will take a minimum of five years to master all these skills. What do you say?

Thinnan

 It is my good fortune that I am able to learn from my father!

Naagan

Very well said! My son! We are kings. We have to rule the forest areas under our sovereignty perfectly. We are responsible for the protection of not only our subjects but also the animals, birds, insects, herbs, rare gems, elements from the mother earth. We also have to protect our subjects during natural calamities, attacks from our enemies, and their person and properties from thugs. Likewise our responsibilities are very many.

While they were talking, a few of his people reach there carrying a man on their shoulders in great commotion.  Hearing their cries Naagan and Thinnan get up. The people lay that man on the floor in front of Naagan.

One of the people 

Oh! King! We bow to you. This man has been bitten by a king cobra. He has lost his consciousness. We have brought him before you on our shoulders so that he can be revived and survive. Only our King can make him alive. He has a huge family to support.

Silencing them, Naagan examines the man. On his right foot he observes the bite marks and the skin has turned blue indicating that the poison is spreading.

Naagan (Chiding the villagers)

Why you people are so indifferent? I have told you a number of times that you must put a tourniquet above the bite to prevent the poison from spreading.

He opens his eyelids and examines the same. For a second he prays aloud to Lord Murugan and closes his eyes. He runs inside and brings a toy chest.

By this time Kaadan brings out the grinding stone and receptacle and Naanan brings a handful of betel leaves. Standing close to his father, Thinnan is closely observing all the actions. Naagan squashes the betel leaves and pours the juice in the receptacle. Opening the toy chest, he takes out a tablet and grinds it in the juice. He then opens the right eye of the man and pours the medicine and repeats it on his left eye as well. After a few minutes there is movement of the limbs of the man. He tries to open his eyes as well. His breathing becomes regular. All heave a sigh of relief.  The snake bitten patient tries to get up and sit.

Naagan

Hey! You have come out from the jaws of death! 

Looking around at the villagers he says:

‘For the next ten days you should give him porridge of raw rice only. If he takes any meat

 Stuff, the medicine will lose its potency. We cannot predict the outcome. No use crying later on. You can take him slowly by walk …

The People

Maharaja! We will do as you say. Bowing to Thinnan all of them leave. 

Naagan

Thinna! Apart from administering the forest wealth, we also have to respond to our subjects in distress. The nature has endowed us with immeasurable wealth! At the same she has also created hazards everywhere. For the people danger lurks from wild animals and poisonous reptiles. Diseases afflict them due to changes in season and climatic conditions. Whenever our people are threatened by wild animals, it is our duty to drive them out. If they are attacked by wild animals and sustain injuries, we must provide appropriate medical care. There are different medications for monkey bites and fox bites. There is an altogether different medication for injuries due to tiger attack. So we should have the knowledge of all these varieties of medicines and treatments. The nature has given us enormous amount of medicinal herbs in our forests. We must master their proper utilisation. Whatever palm leaves manuscripts my father has given me, I will hand them over to you. You must learn from them and assimilate the knowledge of diseases, their diagnosis and their treatment. We may be able to drive away tiger, lion and other wild animals attacking us using the weapons we have. But highly poisonous reptiles like cobra, scorpions, centipedes, spiders bite the unwary people who trod on them or when they are asleep. Unless the correct treatment is not given immediately it will result in loss of lives. It is therefore essential that we acquire knowledge of medical science.

Thinnan

 Are there so many things to learn?

 Naagan looks at his son who stands amazed on hearing his father.

Appane! I have a doubt. I just now saw how you treated the man bitten by a snake. Instead of administering the medicine orally, why you applied it on his eyes?

Naagan

When a man is bitten by a snake, the poison will reach the brain. When the medicine is given orally it will go the stomach, gets digested and then reacts against the poison which involves time lag. The man may die before that. To neutralise the poison which has reached the head, we have to administer the anti dote through veins and save the brain from damage. The only way is through eye medicine. When we apply it through the eyes, it will run through the veins in the eyes and reach the brain immediately. We may be able to save the person.

Thinnan

I have one more question. When you examined his eyes why did you invoke the name of Murugan, our family deity?

Naagan

Murugan is the presiding deity of all herbs. We must always bow to his feet and pray to Him before starting any treatment. When I examined the man, I was able to open his eye lids and see his eyes. Because of that, I was able to apply the medicine through his eyes and we could save him as well. We must be grateful to Lord Murugan for having kept him at that stage. Sometimes it may be impossible to pry open the eye lids. The other limbs also may have gone inert. Under such state it is impossible to apply the eye medicine. To overcome such problems our ancestors have devised other methods. In such cases, his skull needs to be scratched and the medicine applied liberally at the spot where blood gushes out. Then a hot pot is placed over the wound. The heat will ensure that the medicine mixes in the blood circulation faster and neutralises the poison which has reached the brain.

Thinnan (elated)

Aha! What fantastic methods! I realise now, how very essential to master the skills of saving lives. I am blessed to learn them from my Appan!

Naagan

 You are right! Only their good deeds in their previous birth bless such souls to master medical science. By proper application of medicine it is possible to revive a dead man bitten by a snake or the one who has drowned in water.

Thinnan

Is that so? Resurrect a dead man! Is it possible? Appane! I cannot believe it.

 Naagan

I have seen it with my own eyes.  The incident of resurrecting a dead man by your grandfather is legendary and spoken about throughout the country.  Once I was going with my father on a routine round of forest administration. On hearing that someone has died in the village of Kattankulam, we went there. A wood cutter of around twenty two years of age had died of snake bite in the forest. The whole village was mourning his death by loud wailing and crying. They were about to take the dead body for cremation when we reached there. When the villagers saw my father they all fell on his feet.  When he learnt the details, he told them to lift his body and keep it in a sitting posture near the well. Quickly he took out a tablet from a chest he was carrying and asked for breast milk. It was soon offered in a cup. He put the tablet in that milk and dissolved it. He took a small knife and made incisions along the ten fingernails and ten toenails. He applied the dissolved paste and told the people to keep it pressed hard along the finger and toe nails.  After a few minutes he told the villagers to pour hundred pitchers of the water from the well on his head. After that he got him covered all around with a thick wet blanket. He sat next to the dead man calmly. The villagers were spell bound and there was absolute silence. A few hours passed. He told the villagers to make porridge of raw rice and bring it steaming hot. When the porridge was brought, the miracle happened. The dead man started moving and pushed the blanket aside. Forgetting for a moment that your grandfather was the king, the villagers lifted him up and carried him around hailing his feat. When the din subsided, he asked them to feed that man with hot porridge. 

Thinnan

Then what happened?

 Naagan

What then! The news spread all around like wild fire. The miracle deed of revival of a dead man by your grandfather became so popular that the Emperor himself came down to purchase that medicine paying a lot of gold and gems.

Thinnan

How can one make that medicine?

Naagan

Good question you asked! You know, that medicine is known as ‘Panchakam.’  ‘Pancha’ denotes five and ‘Aham’ denotes inside. The medicine is made of the internal organs of five living beings.  These are the livers of ‘Sarai Pambu’, the ornament of Devi Annai, Moonjuru, the vahanam of Vinayagar, Garudan, the vahanam of Thirumal, Udumbu and Keeri pillay. Their livers are to be sun dried and mixed by equal weight. They are to be ground for four Samams and made it into a round tablet. It can be dissolved in breast milk or hot water in its absence for use whenever needed.

 Thinnan

How to revive man who has died by drowning?

Naagan

Quite frequently you have cases people who do not know how to swim drowning in ponds or rivers. Sometimes even expert swimmers may meet the same fate if they are caught in a whirl-pool. Their bodies get swollen and float. Even such dead bodies can be resurrected by this ‘Panchakam.’ The chest and top of the tongue of the corpse need to be cut open and the Panchakam is applied on these parts. The body will expel the water and become dry. When the dead man stands up the people around run away in fear as if a ghost has risen up from the dead body! I myself have saved about fifty lives like this.

Thinnan (bowing to Naagan)

It is exciting even to hear such incidents. I request my Appan to impart this skill to me.

Naagan (laughing)

You have already started learning the skill by listening to the procedures I have narrated so far!

Thinnan joins him in his laugh.

   *****

The days move on…

Thinnan masters all the facets of the herbal treatments and surgical procedures.

One day…

 Naagan

Thinna! My responsibilities are going to be over today.  The medical knowledge you have acquired is sufficient to take care of the people. Now I am going to teach you a few methods to safeguard yourself. Please listen carefully….

Thinnan (amazed)

Appane! Will not my expertise I have gained in archery and sword fighting sufficient to protect me?

Naagan

You have mastered every skill that is mandatory for a Forest King. There is only one lesson left. If you learn that also, my responsibility will be over.

Naagan goes silent and is in deep thought. Thinna is wondering what that highly important lesson yet to be learnt from his father.

In a few moments Naagan speaks up as if he has awakened from sleep.

Naagan

 Are you aware that there are many outsiders in the forest ranges under our rule?

Thinnan (perplexed)

I have not seen a single outsider so far? Whom are you referring to?

Naagan

The munivars! Always contemplating on nothing but God, they remain with their eyes closed without any concern for time or weather! I am referring to them.

Thinnan

I have heard of them. But I have never seen any of them so far.

Naagan

They remain in deep forest where other humans cannot reach easily.

Thinnan

If they stay in deep forest, aren’t they troubled by wild animals and poisonous reptiles? Are they skilled in medicines like us? Do they kill animals?

 Naagan

Though they are highly knowledgeable and skilled they will not kill any animal. They do not indulge in violence. For that matter they do not even keep any weapons with them. 

Thinnan

If they do not have bows and swords, how will they tackle the attacking tigers? How can one protect himself from the wild animals? Wont’ they attack and kill us within seconds if we are unarmed?

Naagan looks at his son smiling.

Naagan

You have gone on hunting expedition many a time. Do the animals come to attack you or try to run away and escape?

Thinnan (thinking)

 They try to run away and escape. Sometimes they try to attack us.

 Naagan

When do they try to attack? Only when they are cornered and there is no way to escape! Isn’t it?

Thinnan

Yes! That is true. 

Naagan

That is what the great power granted to us by the nature!  The animals will not attack the hunters like us. They will only run away in fear.  Like when the snake smells the approaching snake catcher. The munivars who are doing penance in the forest are neither hunters like us nor snake catchers. They do not carry any weapons as well. You said just now that the wild animals will attack and kill any unarmed person within seconds. Then how come these munivars are not attacked and killed though they have nothing to protect themselves? These people are not scared of wild animals or poisonous reptiles as much as they fear fellow humans! It is because they have a special power! They know the technique of ‘binding the mouth.’ They will create a protective cordon around them before they start their penance. Neither wild beasts nor poisonous reptiles will do any harm to them.  Knowledge of that technique is very essential for you since you are going to be crowned as  the ruler.  You must know it to protect yourself at some critical times. I will now impart to you the skill of ‘binding the mouth.’

You must learn it as per proper procedure.

Thinnan gets up and folds his hands and covers his mouth   in reverence and bends down. Naagan imparts the mantras to his son by reciting them in his ear.

     ******

After ten days…

Thinnan is going to be crowned and the entire forest range of Uduppur wears a festive look!

    ******

Thirukailayam…

Easan and Annai are deep in their meditation.

Annai opens her eyes and looks at Easan who is still deeply meditating.

She lets out a gentle laugh. Easan opens his eyes by Annai’s laugh.

Easan

Annaye!  Very unusually, today your laughter disturbed my mediation!    What is the reason?

Annai

 Merely thinking about you made me laugh.

 Easan

I do not comprehend what you say, Devi!

Annai

They say Love is Sivam. Being Sivam yourself and still craving for love makes me laugh.

Easan

Who will not crave for love? And I am no exception!

 Annai

Yes!  Love wields tremendous power. That is what makes the universe going.

Easan

Yes! It is Love which is omnipresent.  Many are its manifestation! The mother’s love, the father’s affection, the passion between the husband and wife, friendship, the kindness shown to other beings, the compassion shown to blood relatives and others, the sympathy shown to downtrodden, the respect shown to one’s teacher are all  only love which has taken different forms.

Annai

Ayyane! Out of all these forms of love which is the highest?

Easan

Love manifests itself. It happens on its own in all these forms. It has no limits. There is no ranking in them as to which is higher and which is lower.

Annai

Is it because love is self manifest and limitless just like you, you became ‘Love is but Sivam’?

Easan

It is also implied in the saying ‘Where love resides Sivam resides there.’

Annai

Whatever it is, you are highly partial!

Easan smiles…

Easan

Annaye!   How is that you are in a mood for confrontation today?

Annai

Why not? Why you are so selfish?

Easan

You have ascribed the qualities of partiality, selfishness to me so far! What other abuses you are going to attribute to me!

Annai (slapping her cheeks)

Abacharam! Abacharam!

Love is feminine and Sivam is masculine!  We merged into each other to prove ‘Love alone is Sivam.’ So If I insult You will it not amount to insulting My own self?

Easan

Annaye! You have not yet come to your point.

Annai

I will narrate now! Sometime ago, You were depressed   that You were an ‘Anadai’ having neither a father nor a mother and were in tears.   Karaikkal Ammayar has joined as mother. Navukkarasar reached us to fill the void of father. Chandikeswarar arrived here as son.  Now an Adiyavar is waiting to join you as a friend! You are building up a posse of relatives and friends all for yourself.  What else is this but selfishness?

Easan

To propagate the power of love, the relations reached Us one by one. Isn’t time that we publicise the value of friendship to the world?

Annai

Is friendship so highly valued?

Easan

Yes! Though a mother showers all her motherly love and affection on her children, she expects their concern towards her in return. A friend is not like that. Without expecting anything in return, a true friend does not mind to forsake even his life for the sake of friendship.  The time has come to absorb unto myself such a true friend!  It is time that I depart!

 Easan gets up to leave and Annai raises and bows to Easan, who vanishes into thin air.

   ********

Thirukalahasti….

Agraharam… The house of Sivakosariyar…

Early morning… after having his bath, Sivakosariyar is readying himself to leave without making even a slight noise. However, as he bends to pick up a plate it slips and falls making a big noise. Scared, his wife jumps up from sleep on hearing the noise.

His Wife

Why are you troubling me like this? Why all this drama in the middle of the night spoiling my sleep?

Sivakosariyar

It is not midnight… This is early morning and Brahma muhurtham! In a short while the sun will rise. The Kudumithevar is waiting for me there. If I start now and take a quick walk, I will be able to climb the hill and reach Him. I am not getting into argument with you now …

He is about to depart but his wife’s angry looks make him stop. 

His Wife

Hear what I say! How many times do I have to repeat this sermon? You take the name of ‘Kudumithevar’. The name itself is repulsive!  For whose sake you have to walk eight miles in the thick forest to climb the Kudumi hill and carry out the puja? I keep worrying to death till you return home as to which animal is waiting to devour you.  Close by there is the ‘Dhrishti Ganapathi’ temple. Thousands of people visit this temple every day to get rid of evil eye cast on them. My uncle is the head Sivachariyar there. Even ten sivachariayars are not able to handle the crowd. If you go and join them, we will be better off. Don’t be stubborn. Leave the bags here and   go and meet my uncle. Stop this nonsense of midnight dramas!

Sivakosariyar

You call it nonsense and drama!  Don’t seek the wrath of Siva!  Once and only once! You come and see my Kuduminathan! After performing Abhishekam, dressing Him and decorate Him with flowers it is a wonderful sight to see Him offered with food! I do not know how many previous birth I might have had and how blessed I am for the present one! Every time I leave His presence, I am very much distressed.  My heart yearns to stay there itself. He is worshipped by all Devas and their superiors. The spider called ‘Thiru’, the Cobra by name ‘Kala’ and the Airavath ‘Hasti’ worshipped Him here thereby giving the title of “Thirukalahasti’ for this village.

His Wife

So be it! You may go. I am not destined for any fortune. At least I don’t have to beg anyone for my living as my father has provided for me!

She moves away annoyed.

This is their everyday confrontation. 

Sivakosariyar, realising that he is already delayed hurries up to the temple of Kuduminathar carrying water and other materials for the Abhishekam and puja. The womenfolk of the Agraharam who are awaiting his arrival stand in reverence.

    ******

Uduppur…. The Forest Palace…

Thinnan is seated and in front of him all the village headmen are seated. This is the day when they bring out their concerns and problems and seek solutions.  Thinnan carefully listens to them as they speak one by one and gives his advice for their action. The headman from Thirukalahasti gets up.

Thinnan

 Vallabhare! What is the matter?

Vallabhar 

An unusual thing happened yesterday.  A wild boar entered our fields and prodded the vegetables and other roots. We ran after that boar and surprisingly it vanished as we were pursuing it!

Thinnan (mischievously hinting that Vallabhar is intoxicated)

 What? The boar vanished! Vallabhare! Were you in your senses?

As the assembled members laugh at Vallabhar, he bows his head ashamed.

Thinnan

Vallabhare! I am sorry to have hurt you. Please do not take it to heart. You and all others stay here today and we will have a forest feast. I am leaving now with my men to capture that wild boar and let us feast on it to night.

Thinnan with Naanan and Kaadan depart for the forest area where the boar was last seen on horseback fully armed with bow, arrows, spear and sword.  Iraivan is awaiting his arrival there! The three reach the spot by midday under the scorching sun.  At that very moment, the wild boar appears before them. They are amazed to see its huge size and bearing. The next moment it disappears with a jump. As Vallabhar described, the boar seems to be a mysterious one!’   As the three rush to the spot, it gets spotted but vanishes as they reach there.  Chasing the boar here and there all of them get tired. Overcome with hunger and thirst they were about to give up the chase. Suddenly the boar appears before them. Thinnan quickly draws his sword and flings it sharply. It cuts the boar and it falls with a loud wail. The three go near the boar and find that the sword has cut it in half. Naanan and Kaadan lauds Thinnan’s dexterity with the sword. Thinnan is happy to have carried out his mission happily. He looks around to quench his thirst and hunger. 

Kaadan

Having run around for miles chasing the boar, we are parched and starved. If the King approves, we can cook a portion of the meat and eat it hear. Otherwise we may die of hunger!

Thinnan

So be it! You two prepare for the cooking. I will look around whether there is any water source nearby.

Naanan

If we walk a little we may reach the ‘Ponmugali’ river.

Thinnan

All right! Let us carry the boar to the river bank. We will cook and eat it there and return thereafter.  By the way, where are our horses?

Kaadan

Searching for water, they have already gone to the river side...

Guided by Naanan, Thinnan walks laughing seeing the discomfort of Kaadan and Naanan caused by the heavy weight of the boar they are carrying.  Soon, they reach the Ponmugali River. Thinnan looks up the Kalaththi hill in front. A flash of brightness appears on his face which all along was displaying agony due to hunger, thirst and tiredness. Naanan seeing the sudden change in Thinnan’s composure is surprised.

Naanan

Oh! King! That hill which you see is the Kalaththi hill. If we climb the hill we can see Kuduminathan. I have gone there once with your father and prayed there.

Thinnan

Kaada! You start a fire and cook the meat. We will come back soon.

Guided by Naanan, he crosses the river and climbs the hill and reaches the top. There he sees the Sivalingam.  Forgetting everything and totally absorbed, he looks at the Sivalaingam without batting an eyelid.

 Thinnan

My Lord! How blessed I am to have Your darisanam.  Thinnan embraces the Lingam and with tears in his eyes kisses it like a mother who has found her lost child.  Easan is enthralled by the unfettered love of His friend. t so?  If you are delighted with these acts, I will also do the same. My Lord! There is no one here to bring the food you relish. If I go way to fetch it, you will be left alone. My heart prevents me to leave you alone. What shall I do?

Saying these words he starts weeping and wailing. The crazy behaviour of the king makes Naanan scared to go near him. Keeping himself at a distance he watches the king. Thinnan gets up suddenly as if he has decided to act.

Thinnan

If I keep sitting here, how can Your hunger be satiated? I will forthwith go and bring the meat.

 Realising his bow and arrows have fallen on the ground, he picks them up and wears on his shoulders and starts. He would have hardly taken about ten steps. Looking back, he rushes and embraces the Sivalingam.

Thinnan (weeping)

I am unable to separate from you even for a second. If I continue to remain here who will appease your hunger?  

Naanan (to himself, saddened by seeing his king in this condition)        

He is shedding tears and crying like a baby.  What should I do?

After a few minutes, Thinnan gets up consoling himself.

Thinnan

Nathare!  Please bear with me. I will swiftly go and bring meat for you to partake. Don’t be alarmed that you are left alone! I will return in a second!

He runs down the mountain path followed by Naanan. Seeing them running Kaadan stops them and bows to the King.

Kaadan

 Arase! I have been waiting for you all along. Where have you been? I have grilled the best part of the boar’s meat. Please eat and appease your hunger.

Kaadan offers the hot cooked meat kept covered by leaves.

Tasting the pieces of the meat one by one, Thinnan keeps the juicy and tasty parts in the leaves and spits out the rest.

Perplexed by this action, Kaadan looks at Naanan.

Naanan

What can I do? The king climbed the hill and saw the Kuduminathar.  He behaves as if he is bound by some spell. He talks to himself as if he has gone mad. He even forgets that I am around.

Kaadan

Yes! He seems not to have recognised our presence. Otherwise he would have told us to eat also. He does not seem to realise that we are very hungry. This is very strange! It is better we go back and bring elders from the palace.

Naanan

I agree that it is a good idea. Let us mount the horses, go to the palace and return in a trot. 

Both of them proceed to the palace.

Thinnan is oblivious to their talk as well as their departure. He keeps the selected pieces of the meat and wraps them in a leaf. A few more he sticks to the arrowheads. Suddenly, remembering something, he leaves the meat safely and runs to the river. He fills his mouth with clear after from the river. Plucking a few flowers from the plants on the riverbank, he sticks them up on his head  here and there. Picking up the meat he rushes to the hill top.

As his mouth was filled with water, he converses with Kuduminathar mentally.

‘What my friend! Are you famished? In a fraction of a second, I will clean you up and wash you. Then I will feed you.’

He removes the Vilva leaves on Easan’s head with his foot wear, spits out the water he was holding in his mouth to wash him up. He opens up the leaf and spreads the boar’s meat. Remembering the meat pieces stuck to the arrow heads, he removes them and keeps them along side.   Remembering the flowers stuck on his head gear, he removes them and places on the head of Kuduminathar.   Stepping back and observing the beauty of Easan decorated by the flowers he is jubilant!

Thinnan

Swami! To make sure that the meat is tender for your consumption, I bit it with my teeth and tasted it. Please partake it.

He gets up suddenly and says to himself: ‘How forgetful I am!  Wild animals attracted by the scent of wild boar meat may come and attack Easan’.

He takes out and strings his bow and takes guard. Easan consumes the food offered by His friend happily! Soon it is night time and darkness engulfs the forest.

Thinnan

Natha! Don’t be scared of the darkness around! I am here! I have mastered the skill of binding their mouth. No wild animal or poisonous reptile can approach you by passing me. You sleep well tonight!

With his sword drawn, Thinnan keeps awake throughout the night, guarding Easan who guards the entire universe!

     ********

It is day break...
The birds noisily leave their nest in search of food.

Thinnan

Natha!  It is day light now. I will hunt and bring you food in a short while. Please bear with me till I return...

He rushes out into the forest in great haste...

At the same time, Sivakosariyar reaches there carrying a pitcher of water on his head and carrying flowers, rice and jaggery for puja and neivedyam.

Seeing bones scattered around Easan he is horrified. Leaving the items he was carrying at a distance he comes back.

Sivakosariyar (to himself)

What kind of sacrilege is this? Who has the temerity to carry out such an atrocious act? Only the hunters are capable of doing such heinous acts.  My Lord! How can You tolerate such acts in  Your abode?

With tears in his eyes, he sweeps away the bone fragments using the twigs from nearby plants. He cleans the whole place with the water he has brought along. He goes down to the river, take again another bath to clean himself and brings one more pitcher of water and does abhishekam. He then decorates Easan with flowers and Vilva leaves. He makes a sweet dish with rice and jiggery and performs neivedyam. After singing hymns from Sama Vedam, which are very dear to Easan, he prostrates in front of Him.

Sivakosariyar (addressing Easan)

Kuduminathare! You have tied me up with family responsibility! I am forced to return to fulfil my social obligations. Otherwise I will always be here in Your presence. When will I get the blessing of staying with you forever?

Taking the articles he carried with him, he climbs down the hills.

From the other side of the hill Thinnan arrives with his mouth filled with water and head sporting the flowers carrying the grilled meat.  He sees the items of neivedyam offered lying in front of Easan.

Thinnan (to himself)

Who has been here in my absence?  Who has scattered the leaves on my dear Easan and kept the cooked rice?

Finding no one after looking around, he clears them with his foot wear. As before, he spits the water on the top of Sivalaingam.  Easan is ecstatic as if he is showered by Ganga herself!  He then removes the wild flowers from his head and spreads them on His body. They turn into fragrant Parijatha flowers.

Thinnan (addressing Easan)

 My dear friend! Before I reached here someone has left the cooked rice for you. How can You eat it without the accompaniment of meat? I have carved out the most tender parts of a wild boar, a stag and a bison and cooked them. After tasting them to select the most suitable, I smeared them with the sweet honey from the hills and brought them to you.  You may not have eaten such a tasty food in Your lifetime. Please eat while I take guard.

Easan (to himself)

In his desire to feed me, this man is not even thinking of his own food.

He is overwhelmed by Thinnan’s affection and eats the food offered to Him.

Easan (to himself)

This offering is tastier than even Amudham. Even I am blessed to eat this offering. I know your greatness and devotion.  Shouldn’t this world also be aware of it?

Not aware of the thoughts presently engaging Easan, Thinnan is busy in keeping guard.

 Kaadan and Naanan, who left the previous day alarmed by his behaviour, reach there, bringing with them Thinnan’s parents and a few others. Thinnan looks up at the group of people disturbed by the noise and movement.

Thinnan

Stop! Who are you all? Nathan is having his food. Your presence will disturb Him. Get out from here quickly!

Naagan and Thathai are perplexed that Thinnan has not recognised them even! The parental instinct to reach out to him is suppressed by the radiance emanating from Thinnan’s countenance.

Naagan  

Thathai! It is impossible that he will come back to us. He has realised Iraivan. The very radiance of his face reveals that. There is no use standing here any further. Let us not interfere between him and Easan and let whatever Easan wills happen.

Thathai (crying)

As the mother I am agonised. But he seems to have stony heart!

Totally distressed, all of them leave that place.

Thinnan hunts animals during the day time and cooks he meat and offers to God, himself going without food.  He is wake the entire night guarding Easan. It so happens that when Sivakosariyar comes up the hill Thinnan is away on his hunt. Sivakosariyar is highly perturbed to see flesh and bones scattered around.  He concentrates on cleaning that area and offering puja and prays to Easan that such sacrilege must not happen in future. Five days pass like this.

    *****

Thirukalahasti...

Agraharam...

Not wanting to have his food Sivakosariyar goes to bed. Being a Brahmin, the spectre of bones and flesh scattering around Easan gives him immense distress. He goes to sleep deeply perturbed.

In his dream...

Easan appears...

He prostrates and stands up spell bound with tears in his eyes. Easan looks at his devoted adiyar.

Easan

Sivakosariyare! My aficionado!   I have come here to remove your anguish! The one who is doing all that you see done in front of me is Thinnan.... He is a huntsman. His flesh, blood and soul are totally in Me! He thinks nothing except Me! Whatever he does are totally agreeable to Me. When he removes the Vilva leaves with his foot wear, it gives me the same pleasure as if Subramanian is kicking me with his foot. Ponmugali River mixed with his saliva spit on me is holier than the waters of all the sacred rivers. When the wild flowers removed from his head are decorating me, they are more sacrosanct than the ones showered on me by Brahma, Vishnu and other Devas. The food he offers to me is already tasted by him to see whether it is tasty and properly cooked. I find it much tastier than the offerings to Me through Agni in the yagaVelvi by the thirty three crores of Munivars and Devas. His blabbering to me sounds as sweet as Veda recitation. Tomorrow, after you finish your offerings to Me, don’t leave but climb and hide in a tree behind and observe the happenings.

Sivakosariyar (still in his sleep)

Prabho! I will do as I am ordered!

He wakes up from his dreamy sleep. Happy to have conversed with Easan in his sleep, he keeps awake eagerly awaiting the day break.....

    *****

Kudumimalai...

Sivakosariyar climbs the hill and cleans up the scattered bones and flesh without a trace of his usual revulsion. He takes his bath in the Ponmugali River and brings up water in the pitcher. After performing abhishekam and offering puja with Vilva leaves he quickly prepares the rice dish and offers neivedyam. After singing the hymns from Sama Veda as usual, he bows to Easan. Remembering Easan’s instructions he climbs the big tree behind and hides himself...

Chanting the Panchakshari mantra, he awaits curiously the happenings.

At about the same time...

 Thinnan, carrying a heavy load of meat on his shoulders, his mouth filled with water, and his head covered by wild flowers is climbing up the hill. He hears the cry of wild owls all the way. He sees garuda circling anti-clockwise above his head. The vampire bats in large groups are flying around. He becomes highly perturbed. 

Thinnan

Whatever I am seeing around portend bad omen signifying spillage of blood.  I must quickly climb the hill and reach my Nathan.  What has happened to him?

He quickens his pace and reaches the place. Seeing the hunter with meat and other paraphernalia, Sivakosariyar concludes that this must be the divine hunter Iraivan spoke of today. He pays his respects to him from his hiding place and covers himself with leaves so as to remain invisible. While he is wondering why the divine hunter is suddenly agitated, the meat from his shoulders, the water from his mouth and the flowers from his head all fall apart all around.  He sits there mystified not knowing the reason for the happenings.

Thinnan looks at Sivanar and observes that blood is oozing from his right eye.  Taking a step to go near, he finds that he is unable to move his legs. Falling on the ground he crawls and reaches the Sivalingam.

Thinnan

While climbing up the hill I noticed the bad omen.  I thought that unless there is some bloodletting somewhere such indicators are not observed.  What I thought has come true. There is blood oozing from my friend’s eye. What shall I do now? He falls down wailing.

A few moments later he gets up and wipes the blood with his hand. The blood flow does not stop.

Thinnan

Even after wiping the blood, the flow is not stopping from my Nathan’s eyes. What shall I do now?

He falls down swoons.  After a while, he wakes up and sits upright. Thundering words emanate from him as he stands up.

Thinnan

Who has done this unpardonable act to injure my Nathan?

Shouting, he runs here and there looking for any one around. Sivakosariyar, mortally afraid of his anger and fearing what would happen, covers himself further. Thinnan picks up his bow and arrows and runs down the hill to see whether any human or animal is around. Finding there is not any one or any animal around he returns quickly.  He starts wailing on seeing that the blood is till oozing from Nathan’s eye.

Thinnan (recollecting his knowledge of herbs to stop bleeding)  

Nathare! I need to bring a few herbal leaves to stop the bleeding. I will go and search for them and bring them here. The bleeding will stop. Give me a few seconds.

He runs down to the foot hills and returns as fast as he can with the leaves. He extracts the juice and let it fall on Easan’s eye.  The bleeding stops due to the proper medication.

But the events that are to happen are due to the divine game being played by Easan!

Not knowing the game being played, Thinnan heaves a sigh of relief and goes near Easan. Seeing the blood again started oozing from the eye he gets disheartened.

Thinnan

Dear Friend! My herbal treatment has also not been successful. What shall I do now/

 Suddenly he recollects a surgical procedure he has learnt ...

Thinnan

The only way to cure is organ replacement surgery! I am elated that I have now found a way to cure Your ailment.

He picks up a few arrows one by one and tests their heads for sharpness. Selecting the most suitable one, he removes his right eye carefully and replaces it on Iraivan’s right eye accurately. The bleeding stops.   Thinnan’s joy knows no bounds and he compliments himself by beating his chests and shoulders, least conscious of his own pain and the bleeding in his own eye.

He goes around the Sivalingam proclaiming that his deed has indeed been successful.  Sivakosariyar is observing all these fully astonished. Easan wants to proclaim the unfettered affection of His friend and he causes the blood to flow from His left eye now.

Seeing the blood Thinnan becomes extremely sad.

Thinnan

The problem in your eye is not getting resolved and is bothering you more and more. What should I do now?

He starts crying embracing the Iraivan unable to stand the perceived agony of Iraivan.

Thinnan

How foolish I am to forget the very treatment I just now administered to cure your right eye? I have one more eye. I will take it out and cure your ailment.

He takes out the arrow he used earlier and takes it near the left eye but stops short of removing it.

Thinnan (slightly disheartened)

When I took out the eye earlier, I had the vision of the other eye to fix it on You at the correct place. If I take out my other eye I will go blind and how will I replace it properly?

An idea strikes him soon.

Thinnan

Nathare!  Don’t be afraid. I will keep a marker on your face to guide me correctly to fix the other eye easily. 

 He keeps his left foot with the foot wear just below the left eye of Easan as reference point.  The entire universe trembles by this supposedly sacrilegious act.  All the Devas rush there because of this audacious act. Brahma and Thirumal with their consorts appear there that very instant.

As Thinnan takes the arrow downwards to pluck out his left eye, there is loud blowing of Conch shells and other divine musical instruments. Sivaperuman with Parvati appears there mounted on his Nandi vahanam.

Sivaperuman (catching the hand of Thinnan)

Kannappa! Stop!

 There is a shower of flowers from the heavens. All the Devas are bowing to Easan in reverence.  Sivakosariyar, overcome with emotion joins his trembling hands in reverence of Easan who has brought to fore the unfathomable love of his devotee and who has also dispelled his misgivings.

 Sivaperuman

My Friend! To drive out my agony, you have without a thought, gave way your one eye and now you are steadfast to sacrifice the other one also! You will henceforth be called as ‘Kannappanayanar’ by all the people. . Your name and fame will remain forever. Who so ever worships Me will worship you as well.

Blessing him, Iraivan transforms into a huge jyothi.  With folded hands Kannappanayanar merges into Iraivan. The heavens open up with a shower of flowers.

   *******

Thirukailayam…

Easan and Annai are deep in their meditation.

Annai opens her eyes and looks at Easan who is still deeply meditating.

She lets out a gentle laugh. Easan opens his eyes by Annai’s laugh.

Easan

Annaye! Your laughter disturbed my mediation again today!    What is the reason?

Annai

 Merely thinking about you made me laugh!

 Easan

I do not comprehend what you say, Devi!

Annai

 One day, some time ago, when we were deep in meditation, I opened my eyes earlier and laughed. You asked me the reason.  I said ‘They say Love is Sivam. Being Sivam Yourself and still craving for love makes me laugh’. You replied, ‘Who will not crave for love? And I am no exception!’

Easan

Yes! It is very true! I said Love has tremendous power and that alone runs this universe!

Come on! What else you have to say?

Annai

Craving for mother’s affection, you have taken Karaikkal Ammayar as Your mother.

Longing for a father’s affection, you have taken Thirunavukkarasar as Your father.

For showering fatherly love, You adopted Chandikeswarar as Your son. Yearning for a friend, you have blessed Kannappanayanar to be always near You......  

Observing that Annai is hesitant to continue....

Easan

Yes! It is true... But, then what?

Annai

Are You aware that friendship has given rise to ridicule?

Easan is perplexed.  Annai without narrating any further laughs.

Easan

Devi!  Tell me, what is that infamy?

Devi laughs at Easan on His anxiety.

Easan (showing a bit of anger)

Devi! Are you or are you not going to tell me now?

Seeing Easan getting angry, Annai is unable to control her laughs.

Easan goes silent and after Her laughs dies down..

Annai

 How I dare I reveal a ridicule  Myself? You will come to know when it is revealed by someone blessed by Me!

Devi resumes her laughter.

Pondering as to what that bad name could be which has made Devi merry, Easan looks at Annai.

Years roll by...

Easan gets the answer he is longing for!

    *******

Madurai...

Near Thiruamapthy...

 A son is born to the cook of the Madappalli of Thirumohur Kalamegha Perumal temple.

The mother (cheerless)

 What a pity! The baby is absolutely black.

The father

 Don’t moan. The colour of the skin should be of no consequence!

The mother

As you stand near the hearth all the time, you have turned black. I only pray that this boy need not have to stand near the hearth.

 The father

The Thirumohur temple is one of the hundred and eight Divyasthalams. The Perumal himself is black and assumed the name of Kalamegham. Unless you have performed good deeds in your previous births, you will not be blessed to serve the Perumal. If he is also so blessed, he will also prepare and serve food for Iraivan. Do not demean the service tendered to the temple! It amounts to demeaning the God Himself!

The mother

Pardon me. I have realised my folly. I will not speak like this in future. My anguish that the baby is born black made me utter unethical things.  What name we should give to this baby?

The father

We can name him ‘Kalamegham.’ But these villagers may belittle the name of the Presiding deity of this village by calling him names. So we will name him ‘Varadhan.’

 Not realising that the name ‘Kalamegham’ is the one that will remain forever, he calls out ‘Varadha’ in his ears three times.   

Time flies.....

Varadhan grows up to a fine youth.

His father, being busy in the temple kitchen all the time, cannot devote time for his education. Varadhan, giving a helping hand to his father in the kitchen all the time, has no inclination to study.

 News is received that there is requirement for a helper for the Madappalli in the Sri Ranganathar temple at Thruvarangam in Tiruchi. Varadhan is sent off by his father with great enthusiasm.

   ********

Thruvarangam..

Ammamandapam...

Varadhan, after his bath before sunrise in the Cavery is returning. Mesmerised by the beauty of a girl he sees on the way, he follows her. Realising that a man is following her, the girl quickens her pace .Varadhan fallows her by quickening his pace as well. The girl enters the Tiruvanaikovil and Varadhan also enters. He loses sight of her once inside and is lost as to what to do. The girl appears with a wooden club from behind and is about to hit his head.  Looking behind suddenly, Varadhan is dumb struck but quickly moves away to avoid getting hit. The girl loses her balance and stumbles. He catches her to prevent her hitting the floor. The body contact of a grown man for the first time in her life makes her almost faint. That very moment a few girls reach there.

Girl 1

What has happened Mohanangi? Why you are holding on to this man? What is that? A club! Why are you holding it in your hand? 

Mohanangi quickly frees herself from Varadhan’s hold and regains her composure.

Girl 2

Ayya! Aren’t you the temple cook of Thruvarangam? What business you have in Tiruvanaikovil?

Girl 3

Silly! Can’t you make out that the black bumble bee has come in search of the beautiful flower?

All the girls laugh. Varadhan, setting aside his usual quick temper, gives a smile.

Varadhan (hesitatingly)

My name is...

Girl 4

We know... Kari Varadhan is your name.

Varadhan (Unaware that Kari implies black and she is alluding to his colour)

I am not Kari Varadhan! I am simply and only Varadhan!

Girl 5 (poking fun at Varadhan)

Hey! Look at it! He claims his name is ‘simply and only Varadhan’! Has anyone come across such a name?

All the girls laugh on this joke and Varadhan in his innocence simply blinks.

Mohanambal realises that the man is a simpleton and is engaged in the service of temple like her and comes to his rescue.

 Mohanambal

Stop it! Enough is enough! You should not poke fun at someone engaged in cooking and serving food for Iraivan. What impression he will have on us? Won’t he think we are impudent?

Chiding the girls, she turns to Varadhan.

Mohanambal (coyly)

Ayya! Please pardon me! Not knowing who you are, I was about to hit you. I am thankful to you for breaking my fall when I lost my balance.

Varadhan

I am at fault rather! On seeing you, I felt as if some heavenly damsel has descended on earth! Forgetting all propriety I followed you. I admire your guts to club down an unknown man following you!

 Mohanambal feels elated when he compares her to heavenly damsel!

Girl 1

Good enough! Unless we stop you it appears you will talk for hours together! Varadchariyare! Depart from here quickly. Otherwise your Perumal will be famished!

Varadhan

Penne! I told you already. My name is simply Varadhan.. And not Varadhachari...

While all of them laugh heartily, Mohanambal leaves the place overcome with shyness.

Later on...

Mohanambal and Varadhan meet each other often and love blossoms.

One day ...

In the Akhilandeswary sannathi, Mohanambal sings with great devotion. Her eyes fill with tears as she completes her singing. Her friends guide her away to a secluded place.

Friend 1 

Mohana! We are aware that you and your lover meet on the Cavery river bank. Before the town’s people get to know about it, you change your stance. Otherwise it may lead to untoward consequences.

Unable to comprehend what her friend has said Mohanambal goes blank.

Friend 2

From her blank looks, it appears to me that she has not understood the gravity of what we are implying.

Mohanambal

 I am unable to make out what you people are driving at. Why should I forsake the man I am in love? 

Friend 1

Mohana! You seem to be totally naive on these matters! Only Akhilandeswary will be able to help you out!

Mohanambal gets more and more scared hearing her friends.

Friend 2

Yes! Only Annai can help her in this predicament!  Mohana! Are you aware who your lover is and where he belongs to?

Mohanambal

I know very well. He is native of Thirumohur. He has no brothers and sisters being the only son of his parents. He works in the Madappalli of Ranganathar temple. He has been frugal and saved enough to look after me if we get married. What else is needed for a girl to live happily? By the way what calamity will befall if our love is known to the town folks? 

Friend 3

Hey! Mohana! Varadhan is a Vainavan. You follow the tenets of Saivism. Your duty is to proclaim His praise by singing Thevaram and Thiruvasagam. Your marriage will not be acceptable to the temple authorities. If you disregard the tenets and still marry him, you may have to forgo your right to sing in the temple. You will also be not permitted to stay in the temple premises. We know of your deep devotion to Annai Akhilandeswary. We also know you will never be able to leave Annai!  You better decide now whether you want to continue to serve Annai Akhilandeswary or get married to Varadhan and go away.

Only now Mohanambal realises that the stumbling block for their action is the distinct way of worship between them.

Mohanambal (weeping)

My dear friends! Only now I realise how I have got myself entangled! I am in servitude of Sivan for my entire lifetime. It is my fortune to worship the glorious feet of Akhilandeswary forever. I will not abandon it for the sake of my love.  

Mohanambal enters into her room and bolts it from inside. From that very moment her tears roll down nonstop. Varadhan, after waiting on the banks of the river for a long time for her reaches Akhilandeswary temple. He goes to Mohanambal’s room and knocks on the door. Mohanambal neither opens the door nor gives him any reply.

Mohanambal (to herself)

If I open the door I will have to answer his questions. Like I am restrained from crossing my social limits, it is improper for me to ask him to cross his limits for my sake. From now on, I will refrain from speaking to him.

To muff the sound of the knocks she cups her ears with her hands. There is no respite from shedding tears however. Varadhan not able to make out why Mohanambal is not opening the door or replying to him sits on the door step. Overcome by grief he goes to sleep around midnight.

To help her devotee Mohanambal, Annai reaches there. She looks at Varadhan in deep slumber with his mouth open. She stamps her Beejaksharam on his tongue and grants him Siva Deekhshai. Annai showering her motherly glance on him vanishes from there. Varadhan gets up with a start. Realising what he just saw was not a dream but Annai Akhilandeswary has actually been there! He starts singing with great devotion in praise of Akhilandeswary.  His sweet and resounding voice reverberates everywhere goading the entire town folks to reach the temple even at the middle of night. Mohanambal also comes out of her room. Hearing her sweetheart singing so melodiously with great devotion, she is moved to tears.  The songs come flooding from Varadhan. The entire composition to be titled ‘Thiruvanika Ula’ thus gets staged. As his songs are coming as bountiful showers from dark clouds (kalamegham), the learned elders paying their respects give him the title of ‘Kavi Kalamegham.’ Mohanambal gets married to him in due course. 

Life goes on..

Kavi Kalamegham embarks on a pilgrimage to various shrines and takes leave from his wife. After visiting a few temples he reaches Tiruvarur. He is in deep meditation in the sannathi of Easan in the Tiruvarur temple. Disturbed by the din created by the gurukkal, he opens his eyes and looks at him in anger.

Gurukkal (mockingly)

 Why are you staring at me in anger? Will you burn me to ashes?

Kalamegham (still seething with anger)

I am a poet.  If I compose a poem it may burn you to cinders!

Gurukkal (mockingly challenges him)

So! Are you a poet?  Will I be reduced to ashes by your singing? Let me see if you can bring down the diamond embedded in the necklace of Easan by your song!  

Kalamegham getting angry with the Easan for putting him in such a predicament composes a song critical of Easan. The embedded diamond gets dislodged from the necklace and falls down. The onlookers and the gurukkal realise that he is none other than the famous Kavi Kalamegham. 

Gurukkal (folding his hands in reverence)

Oh! The Emperor of all poets! Please pardon my impertinence. Please make the diamond that has fallen down to get embedded back in the necklace of Easan by another kavi.

 

 Kavi Kalamegham then composes a song and sings it to nullify the criticism he has levelled and the diamond gets replaced in the necklace.

He then realises that Annai has blessed him with the siddhi of ‘Varakavi.’ He praises Easan and Annai by very many songs and continues with his pilgrimage. After visiting a few more places he reaches Kalahasti and goes for the darisanam of Kuduminathar. When his eyes fall on Easan, he bursts into laughter just like Annai Parvati did some time ago. The Gurukkal who was standing nearby is livid.

Gurukkal

What type of a man you are?  You are making fun of Iraivan. Are you mad or what?

Kalamegham (enraged)

Whom are you calling mad?  You are mad. Your Easan is mad....

Gurukkal (furiously going nearer to him)

 What temerity you have to call Easan mad? 

Kalamegham

Haven’t you heard of the famous song addressing Easan as ‘Piththa’?  Does that not prove that your Easan is ‘Piththan’?

Gurukkal

Standing in the very presence of Easan, you are making fun of Easan as if you are blind. Get out of this temple at once.

Kalamegham

You are calling me blind!  At least I have two eyes.  Your Easan has only half an eye! Are you aware of that?   I laughed recollecting that.

He sings

‘Elders call ‘Aran’ as having three eyes,

 But what He hasis  only half an eye, Why?

After the share of Umayal, he is left with one and a half,

Out of which one belongs to the divine hunter’  

முக்கண்ணன் என்று அரனை முன்னோர் மொழிந்திடுவார்

அக்கண்ணார்குள்ளது அரைக்கண்ணே!

மிக்க உமையாள் கண் ஒன்றரை  

மற்று ஊன்வேடன் கண்ணொன்று அமையும்!

When he completes the song, the temple bells start tolling and the lamps in the sannathi brighten up indicating that the man who has come is no ordinary mortal but a great devotee of Sivan. 

At the same time ...

In Thirukailayam, Easan and Annai are witnessing the happenings in Kalahasti.

Annai (with a mild laugh)

Haven’t you noticed! Because of your friend you are ridiculed as having only half an eye!

That day I laughed aloud because of this only!

Easan

 I don’t get it! Will You explain the composition?  

Annai

What games you are playing by asking me to explain though being well aware of the connotation?  Still I will explain. Because you made me as Your half, out of three eyes of Yours, one and half belong to Me. Of the balance one and half eyes with you, one eye was given to you by Kannappanayanar. So you own only half an eye of your own!   There is no error in what the Kavi has said.  So I laughed!

Easan

 What Kavi Kalamegham sang is a kind of parody. It camouflages the praises in words which seem as abuses. A cursory glance will give a facade of insults.  Only an in depth analysis will reveal the great devotion. He has similarly mocked our Vinayagar saying ‘The famished elephant is being carried off by a rat.’ When Thirumal was flying on his Garuda vahanam he mocked ‘You are carried off by Garudan lest you indulge in some mischief if left alone.’  Anyway,   I am afraid that You are not in the know of the calculations.

Annai (perplexed)

What is that calculation please?

 Easan

Formless as We are, We assume the form of Sivalingam after letters of A, U and M unite to form ‘AUM.’ You have two eyes so do I. Together we have four. Out of that one is donated by Kannappan.  So the balance is three.  Isn’t that why I am refereed as the ‘Three Eyed one’?

Easan laughs heartily looking at Annai who is pondering over this new calculation!

Thiruchchitrambalam