HOW TO TREAT A VAIDHIKA BRAHMIN(VEDIC PRIEST)

 

HOW TO TREAT A VAIDHIKA BRAHMIN(VEDIC PRIEST)-

A Startling Fact

The following incident which I am bringing to your notice had occurred a few decades back. The time of it's happening has no relevance with the content. My intention is to bring about the greatness of 'Jagadguru Chandrasekhara Saraswati Swami' with the following episode. If the reader closely follows this incident, he can get reply to certain chronic doubts.

1. The greatness of SWAMIJI for that matter any swamiji who is devoted and dedicated, we can say surrendered to God can think of the good of any human being who is pious.

2. There are virtuous persons in our neighborhood but we seldom recognise them as we are mentally disinclined to acknowledge such people as we always think that we are the only virtuous.

3. Once a group is selected for a specific purpose all of them are to be treated equally by the organizer.

4. Anybody being a human being should never deviate from his humanitarian outlook.

5. All said and done the greatness of this SANATANA DHARMA is sheltered and safeguarded by the real pontiffs like MAHASWAY who are connected to God throughout their life.

We are to be more careful with the duplicate goods that glitter more than the originals. As you know a 'Jarini' will have more array of magnetism than a SAMSARINI whose heart mind and sole contain only the Prudence.

The source of this incident is given here under. This is brought by Sri Ramani Anna (In Tamil)

Source: *Sakthi Vikatan* issue dated Nov 05, 2006. Please note that the non-English spellings are according to the pronunciation of Tamil Language. Please start reading now.

A *Citra* full moon day, many years back. An *abhiSekam* was performed in a grand manner with *mahAnyAsa rudra japam* at Sri Mahalingaswami Temple, Tiruvidaimarudur. The person who conducted it with 11 Vedic pundits was the landowner Narayanaswami Iyer of Tiruvarur. The *rudrAbhiSekam* that started

at eight in the morning came to a completion around one in the afternoon.

The landowner Narayanaswami Iyer was extremely devoted to Kanchi Maha SwamigaL. He decided 'this *rudrAbhiSeka prasAdam* should be submitted to Periyavaa somehow.' He reverentially kept the *prasAdam* on a banana leaf and folded it inside a new silk cloth. That same evening, he boarded the Madurai Madras passenger train at Tiruvidaimarudur railway station. He got down at Chingleput station in the early morning, took a bus and arrived at Kanchipuram.

There was a large crowd at the *maTham* on that day. Finishing his bath and other chores, the landowner waited for Periyavaa's darshan. At about 12 o'clock in the noon, Maha SwamigaL came and sat down, after finishing his Chandramouleesvara puja. The crowd of devotees rushed forward. The landowner couldn't approach SwamigaL. He showed the *prasAda* bag and begged everyone, "All of you please make way! I have brought Tiruvidaimarudur Mahalingaswamy*rudrAbhiSeka prasAdam* for Periyavaa. I

have to submit it to him."

No one seemed to make way. An employee of the *maTham* who saw the anxiety and haste of the landowner, created a trail for him among the people and brought Narayanaswami Iyer near PeriyavaL. When he saw PeriyavaL, the landowner became insensate, dropped down heavily for a prostration and got up. Maha SwamigaL looked at him raising his head. He raised his brows as if

he inquired what the matter was.

With his hands shaking, the landowner babbled, unpacking the *prasAdam* bag, "*prasAdam, prasAdu* Periyavaa". "What*prasAdam*?" asked PeriyavaL and looked at him. In the meantime, the landowner managed to extract the *

prasAdam*. He kept it on the cane plate found there and submitted it to PeriyavaL. On that plate were found in a small banana leaf, *vibuti, kuN^kumam*, sandal paste together with some *bilva dalam*, two parts of a broken coconut, and some *poovan* banana fruits.

Maha SwamigaL asked, "All these are *prasAdam* of which *kSetra*?" and looked at the landowner once again. The landowner calmed himself and said with humility, "Periyavaa! I performed the *rudrAbhiSekam* for Mahalingaswami at Tiruvidaimarudur yesterday. It was a large *abhiSekam*

with *mahAnyAsa rudra japam*. This is that *prasAdam*. Since Periyavaa would be happy, I have rushed here to bring it, boarding a train; you must receive it and bless me."

Looking at that *prasAda* plate sharply for sometime, Periyavaa asked: "Narayanaswami! You are a big landowner yourself. Even then you performed this *rudrAbhiSekam* for Swami, teaming up with some other people to meet the expenses?"

The landowner replied, "No, Periyavaa! I performed it *myself*, out of my own expenses," stressing the 'myself' part a little.

PeriyavaL smiled to himself. He did not leave it at that. "So you did for

for *loka kSema* at Madhyaarjuna kSetra", he added.

The landowner replied with some uncertainty, "No, Periyavaa! For the last two or three years there was no yield in my fields. Some fields were even barren. I checked up with Tiruvidaimarudur Muthu Josyar. He advised me, 'On a *Citra* full moon day perform *rudrAbhiSekam* for Mahalingaswami. That will give you an abundant yield!' Only on that belief I performed it, Periyavaa".

The *prasAda* that was kept before the sage remained untouched. AcharyaL did not  accept it. Saying, "So it seems that you did not perform this act either for *AtmArtam* or for *loka kSemArtam*", he closed his eyes and

dropped into meditation.

AcharyaL opened his eyes after fifteen minutes. There was such a clarity in his face! And a knowing look of having understood many things within those fifteen minutes. Everyone around was very quiet. SwamigaL continued, "Alright... How many vedic brahmins attended the *rudrAbhiSekam*?"

"I had arranged for eleven vedic pandits, Periyavaa!"

SwamigaL persisted, "Did you know who were the *vaidikaL*s and which place they belonged to? Was it only you who made all arrangements?"

The devotees who were witnessing the scene were surprised at the detailed inquiry Periyavaa was making. They also understood that he wouldn't do anything without a reason. The landowner took a piece of paper that he had tucked in his waist.

 

"I am reading out, Periyavaa. Tiruvidaimarudur Venkatrama SastrigaL,

Seenuvasa Ganapadigal, Rajagopala ShrautigaL, Marutthuvakkudi Santhana Vaadyhar, Sundaa SastrigaL, Subramanya SastrigaL, Tirumangalakkudi Venkittu Vaadhyar, and then--"

AchargaL interruped him and asked easily, "All experts only, who you have arranged. Alright, check if your list has the name Thepperumaanallur Venkatesa GanapadigaL."

Seething with happiness, the landowner replied, "It is there, Periyavaa! He also attended the *japam*", showing surprise in his voice.

Though the devotees were taken by surprise at such detailed inquiry about an *abhiSekam* that was over, no one said anything. Everyone was silent and attentive.

SwamigaL said, "Besh, besh! So you had engaged Venkatesa GanapadigaL also for the *japam*! A very good thing. Maha Veda *vid*! GanapadigaL is now very aged. Even difficult for him to raise his voice. He would feel it hard to control his breathing and intone the *japam*."

As if he waited for this remark, the landowner replied, his tone raising,

"Yes, Periyavaa! What you have said is very correct. He did not chant the * rudram* well. Sometimes he was siting silent with closed eyes. Often he yawned. All these resulted in the shrinkage of the counting of the *japam* numbers.

He gave much trouble yesterday. I regretted having engaged him for the*japam *."

 

SwamigaL swelled with indignation. "What you said... What did you say? So you have the temerity to talk anything because you have the money? What do you know about the *yogyatAMsam* of Thepperumaanallur Venkatesa GanapadigaL? Would you match the dust of the feet of that veda *vid*? How can you talk such words about him? I have now understood what happened yesterday at the Mahalingaswami Sannidhi! You answer my question now! When

the GanapadigaL was sitting quiet with closed eyes at the time of the *japam * yesterday, did you not shout harshly at him, '*EngaaNum*, are you not getting the money, you are sitting still with a shut mouth without doing the *japam*?' Tell me, did you shout these words to him or not?" The landowner was appalled. The crowd was amazed.

Narayanaswami Iyer fell at SwamigaL's feet, his eight limbs touching the ground. SwamigaL did not say anything. The landowner got up himself. He closed his mouth and replied shivering, "My mistake, Periyavaa! It is true that I used the very same words you spoke know to the GanapadigaL in the Swami Sannidhi yesterday. Periyavaa should kindly pardon me."

Periyavaa did not stop. "Wait, wait. Did you do that mistake only? You did honour the *vaidikaL*s with money, right? How much did you give each * vaidikaL*?"

The landowner gulped and said weakly, "I paid ten rupees for each head, Periyavaa."

SwamigaL did not leave him with that. "Tell me correctly! *I know

everything!* Did you pay all the *vaidikaL*s equally with ten-ten rupees each?"

The landowner stood silently. But the AcharyaL did not relent. "Listen,

shall tell you* what you did yesterday. Perhaps you feel shy to talk it

out. You seated the *vaidikaL*s in a row at the Sannidhi and was giving the *sambhAvanA* of ten rupees to each of them. When the turn of Thepperumaanallur Venkatesa GanapadigaL came, you decided, 'This man did not chant the*rudram* properly. Why should I give him ten rupees as I did for the others?' and gave him just seven rupees. You had the thought that somehow you had taken revenge on him. Did he care anything about it all? He just accepted what you gave him and tied it to the edge of his *vastram*."

AcharyaL asked him hotly, "Tell me, is not what I am saying correct?"

The devotees were stunned. No one did say anything. They wondered how PeriyavaL came to know what took place in Tiruvidaimarudur temple yesterday.

The landowner prostrated to the sage and said, "A gross mistake, Periyavaa! It was out of ignorance that I behaved like that! I won't behave in such a fashion henceforth! Kindly parden me!" Before he finished, PeriyavaaL continued, "Wait, wait! It would have been

less worse had it ended there." He asked, "For the*japa* brahmins, you arranged for the meals at the house of Ramachandra Iyer of Mahadhana street, right?"

"Yes, Periyavaa!"

"You served sumptuous meals, of course, with a feeling of immense

happiness. You had arranged for cooking very tasty sweet *pongal*, with lots of cashew nuts and raisins added to it, and you served it with your own hands, with ghee dripping from it in the meals session, right?"

Narayanaswami Iyer was more and more appalled. He closed his mouth and spoke with uncertainty, "Yes, Periyavaa! In the session I served only the sweet pongal with my own hands."

"Alright, does your conscience admit that you did it with the dharma for serving a meal?" SwamigaL asked him sternly.

The landowner did not open his mouth. AcharyaL said himself, "You need not tell me, I shall tell you! When you served the sweet *pongal*, since it was very tasty, the *vaidikaL*s asked for repeated helpings. And you obliged them. But when Thepperumaanallur Venkatesa GanapadigaL, giving up his

reticence asked you many times, 'Serve me more of the sweet*pongal*, it is very tasty...' did you not carry on without serving him more, though you heard him? How many times did he ask you, giving up his normal reticence! And you did not serve him more! You committed the sin of partiality in a meals session! Was it dharma? You insulted a great sadhu!" SwamigaL fell into silence, overwhelmed with distress.The landowner stood with bowed head. The devotees were amazed and speechless. Closing his eyes and folding both his legs behind him, AcharyaL

sat upright. His divine frame looked like the Lord Parameswara Himself. He sat motionless. Fifteen minutes passed by in complete silence. Then AcharyaL opened his eyes. Everyone was silent. AcharyaL continued his talk, looking at Narayanaswami Iyer: "*MirasudarvaL*! You should know one thing. GanapadigaL is eighty-one years of age now. He had done *rudra japam* in countless * kSetra*s since his sixteenth year. Sri Rudram is always coursing his veins and nerves and breath. He is such a *mahAn*. The way you behaved to him is an act of great sin... an act of great sin!" PeriyavaL stopped, unable to continue further, and closed his eyes.

He resumed again after sometime: "Your act of partiality in the meals

session affected him deeply. You know what he did? I shall tell you, listen. He did not go back to his native place Thepperumaanallur yesterday evening. Instead, he went to Mahalingaswami temple. He did *pradakSiNa* of the outer courtyard three times. Went straight to Mahalingaswami and stood before Him. You know what he prayed for, joining his palms?" PeriyavaL

couldn't continue. He steadied himself and then resumed his talk.

"With tears streaming down his eyes, he spoke to the God, 'Appa, Jyoti

Mahalingam! I am your steadfast devotee. Since my early days I have recited *mahAnyasa rudra japam* countless times in your *sannidhi*. You have listened to it. I am now eighty-one years old. I have the mental strengh, but that strength is gone in my speech! It can't be that you wouldn't know what happened this afternoon when we were dining. I asked that landowner many times, leaving my shyness aside, for more of that *pongal*, since it was very very tasty. Though he heard me, the landowner moved away as if he did not hear my request. You know that I have an immense fondness for sweet

*pongal*. Though I asked him out of temptation, I was grieved that he did not serve me more.

'But then only after I had finished my meals, washed my hands and sat on the *thinnai* it occurred to me whether I could have such a *jihvA sabalam* at this age. Which is the reason I am now standing before you, Appa Mahalingam! With you as the mediator, I take a vow from this moment.

Everyone gives up some favourite edible when they go to Kasi. It is only

You who is in Kasi, as well as here. Therefore I take a vow before you that I will not touch the sweet *pongal* or any other sweet dish from now on until my soul goes out of the body! This is a promise Mahalingam.' With that *vairAgya pramANam* he said, 'Appa Jyoti Mahalingam! I take leave of you now," and did *shASTaaN^ga namaskaram* twelve times. Tears were flowing down GanapadigaL's eyes, as he left for his place. Now, you tell me... What you did was dharma? Will Mahalingaswami agree to it?"

Periyavaa stopped. It was then three o' clock in the afternoon. "I don't

want any *bhikSA* today", said SwamigaL. No one moved from here. Not even for their lunch. Total silence prevailed. Tears were seen in everyone's eyes. The landowner Narayanaswami Iyer stood transfixed. He could not raise his tongue to speak. Everyone's wonder was, 'How does Periyavaa narrate everything that happened yesterday at Tiruvidaimarudur as if he witnessed them personally?'

Falling down to Periyavaa's feet, the landowner started sobbing vehemently. His tongue slurred as he said, "Periyavaa! What I did was a great sin! I did it out of vanity. Kindly pardon me. Never again shall I behave this way in my life. You should say 'I have pardoned you'!" The landowner patted his cheeks loudly.

AcharyaL did not open his mouth. The landowner was persistent. "I pray to you, Periyavaa! You should accept this Mahalingaswami *rudrAbhiSeka prasAdam *. Kindly pardon me!" He pointed his hands towards the *prasAdam* plate.

AcharyaL said, "Let it be, let it be there. That Mahalingaswami Himself

will give me the *prasAda anugraham*."

Before he finished his words, a voice was heard outside the crowd: "Make way, make way!" Everyone moved to make way.

Only a tuft of hair knotted at the end on the head. A bright five-folded

dhoti on the waist, with a silky green cloth covering it. A large *rudraksha * garland on the neck. A noble man who could be around sixty-five years old, arrived near PeriyavaL, carrying piously a brass plate on which was the *prasAdam* preserved in a silk cloth. He submitted the *prasAdam* plate reverentially to AcharyaL and said, "My name is Mahalingam. I am the *arcakA * of ruvidaimarudur

Mahalingaswami temple. Yesterday a*rudrAbhiSekam* was

performed for Swami. A landowner conducted it. My elder sister is given in marriage to this place. I came to submit the *prasAdam* to AcharyaL and then look her up. Periyavaa should do me the *anugraham*." SwamigaL prevented him as he proceeded to prostrate.

Saying "You people have been given *shiva dIkSA*, you shouldn't do

namaskaram* to me", AcharyaL accepted the *prasAdam*s brought and asked the Shivacharya to be given the *MaTham*'s honors in return. Meantime, the SivacharyaL saw the landowner who was standing at some distance.

"Periyavaa, it is this man who had conducted the *rudrAbhiSekam* there yesterday. He has come himself come here!" With these words, Mahalingam Shivacharya left the place, taking leave of the sage.

The landowner Narayanaswami Iyer again prostrated AcharyaL and patted his cheeks loudly. He pleaded, "Again and again I pray to you, Periyavaa. It is a great sinful act I have committed. Only you should tell me the remedy for this act."

SwamigaL got up briskly. "I cannot tell you the remedy for this. Only

Thepperumaanallur Venkatesa GanapadigaL can tell you the remedy."

"Will the GanapadigaL tell me the remedy for the deed of this *paavi*, Periyavaa?", the landowner asked with grief.

SwamigaL said in a slightly raised voice, "If you have the *prAptam*, he will certainly tell you!" and hurried inside. He did not come out at all.

The landowner waited for a few hours. And then, having come to a decision, he left the place and arrived at Chingleput boarding a bus. He caught a train and arrived at Tiruvidaimarudur on the next morning. He finished his bath in the Kaveri river there and with firmness of heart started walking towards Thepperumaanallur. He walked briskly with the resolution that he would somehow meet Venkatesa GanapadigaL, fall *shASTaaN^gam* at his feet, ask for his pardon, perform the remedy he would suggest and obtain *paapa

vimocanam*.

The landowner entered the Thepperumaanallur *agrahAram*. He inquired the first man he came across, the address of the GanapadigaL. The man pointed

to a house on the street before which was a crowd of people and said, "You have come to offer your condolences? That is the home of Venkatesa GanapadigaL. Early this morning, he suddenly passed away. A painless, peaceful death. Go and have a look."

Narayanaswami Iyer was stunned. He felt as if someone had hit him on the head. The firm words of AcharyaL at the MaTham yesterday seemed to ring in his ears. *If you have the prAptam, he will certainly tell you!*" He now understood that PeriyavaaL known yesterday itself that the landowner would not have the *prAptam*.

The landowner went to GanapadigaL's house, offered his condolences, and prostrated to the gross body of the GanapadigaL, seeking his pardon mentally. Then he moved away from the place.

Swasti.