Because of Nandachōzan, Araṅganātha Perumāḷ took the form of Maṇavāḷar
in Uṛaiyūr. That is how we all got the benefit of Azhagiya Maṇavāḷa
Perumāḷ Temple. This is a beautiful love story. 2
Nandachōzan had no children. He supplicated to Araṅganāthar. Perumal
conferred on him an alternate solution! 3
There was a lotus pond with that day’s blossom in full bloom.
Araṅganāthar placed a crying Ayōṉi-c (not born of a womb) baby girl
right in the center and top of the flower. The cry of the baby attracted
the attention of Nandachōzan near the pond and made him look in the
direction and see the infant. 4
Is it a baby? Saffron flower! 5
The king scooped up the baby. He understood. She is Araṅgan’s gift! 6
Since the baby was found on and picked up from the lotus flower, he
named her Kamalavalli (= கமலவல்லி = Lotus-creeper). Kamalavalli breezed
through (life), waxed like the moon and became the ‘waneless’
ever-present full moon. 7
One day, Araṅgaṉ came just to titillate Kamalavalli. He came on a white
horse. He rode the horse by the leafy pond with panache. Until then,
Kamalavalli never saw a man eye to eye except for her father,
Nandachōzan. She lost her self-awareness and composure and looked at the
white-horse Araṅgaṉ intently. At that moment she fell in love with
Araṅgaṉ, caught in his romantic clutches. She followed him. Araṅgaṉ too
seemed to beckon her by his eyes, took her past the Tiruvaraṅga Temple
Tower and disappeared magically inside the sanctum. 8
Kamalavalli realized intuitively he was not a womb-born man, but a
Māmāyaṉ who is the universal inducer and supporter of all pregnancies.
Kamalavalli was so enamored with and enslaved by Araṅgaṉ, she was
stubborn in pursuing him (to the end of the earth). She would not return
without seeing and knowing him. 9
The companions of Kamalavalli came rushing in search of her. They
followed the hoofprints of the horse and Kamalavalli’s footprints and
found her frozen still before the temple tower. They asked her
beseechingly, “Princess! Thank God, you are here. We looked for you
everywhere.” 10
Kamalavalli was so immersed in her thoughts she did not hear the
concerned voices of the companions. Her mind was dwelling on the hero’s
smiling face and the galloping white horse. She traced the hoofprints of
the white horse beyond the entrance to the temple tower. She followed
the hoofprints into the temple past the tower. 11
The temple priests and the guards alerted by the news ran to welcome
Kamalavalli. She did not look at them, even tangentially. Her eyes were
fixated on the hoofprints, which were not visible to the eyes of others
in the melee. 12
A Vēthiyar (Temple Brahmin priest well-versed in Vedas) humbly asked the
princess, “Devi! What do you see on the ground?” 13
Kamalavalli: “Are they not visible to your eyes? I followed the
hoofprints of a horse of the beautiful Maṇavāḷaṉ. See here! I am still
following them.” 14
The Vēthiyar with exasperation: “Horse’s hoofprints? None are visible to
our eyes. These are floors with granite slabs. How could the hoofprints
leave marks on them?” 15
Kamalavalli saying, “Here, here! How could I follow the hoofprints if
they are not visible to me?” She followed the hoofprints of the horse
ignoring everybody else. The hoofprints were pointing to the Inner
Sanctum. 16
The Vēthiyars and the guards followed Kamalavalli. They entertained
doubts in their minds and wondered whether she was in a trance. As
Kamalavalli neared the sacred Inner Sanctum, they heard the neigh of the
horse. She righted herself from the stoop looking at the hoofprints.
There it was: a white horse standing in the fore of the Mandapam at the
entrance to the sanctum, smeared with turmeric from the mane to the rear
end with shining kum-kum spots and flailing grandiloquent tail. 17
Kamalavalli excitedly burst out, “The same white horse…the same white
horse…” 18
The priest: “Princess! This is the temple horse along with the elephant
and the cow. Right now, horse worship is taking place.” 19
Kamalavalli: “All that, I don’t know. This is the horse, that handsome
man rode on. He invited me with the call of his eyes. I was playing ball
near the Palāśa tree pond, and as soon as I saw him on the horse, I
followed him.” 20
The hostler went to the captain of the guards and addressed him,
“Captain! A little while ago, this white horse was missing. I walked the
horse to this place from the stable a little while ago. Since I forgot
the silk drape for the horse, I left the horse here to bring the drape,
and on return, the horse was missing.” 21
The hostler: “I searched for the horse everywhere. I could not find it.
I panicked before the Sanctum, shed tears and beseeched Perumāḷ, “What
kind of test is this?” At that moment, a great hero of a man touched me
by the shoulder and pointing in a direction said, “The horse you are
looking for is there.” As I turned to face him, I saw him enter the holy
sanctum. He never came out, to this moment. Princess Devi’s reference
must be to this man. He had a blue upper garment hanging from his
shoulder.” 22
The Vēthiyar group (the passel of priests) entered the sanctum that very
moment to discover ‘Who that person was.’ Inside the sanctum, the
assigned Sanctum priest was in meditation. He opened his eyes hearing
the melee. 23
The Sanctum Priest: “What happened? Why all this excitement?” 24
The priests addressing the Sanctum Priest: “Did anyone come inside the
sanctum?” 25
The Sanctum priest: “Here! Inside the Garbha Graham (= The womb-house =
Sanctum Sanctorum)? Who other than the Initiated can come inside?” As he
raised these questions, he turned towards Araṅgan’s Cyaṉa Kōlam (The
Reclining Lord’s habiliment) and saw a blue shawl on the holy body of
the Lord!” 26
Once he saw it, his heart, mind, and soul melted. “Emperuman! Was it you
who came in?” His eyes brimmed with tears. Kamalavalli, standing apart
on the side, saw Araṅgaṉ in a shut-eye pose sporting the blue shawl. Her
blue eyes froze in place. 27
That time, the king was in royal administrative consultation with the
ministers. The head maidservant arrived at the entrance to the council
chamber, went on her knees with bowing head, a sign that an important
matter was on hand and royal permission to speak. Nandachōzan, having
noticed her, pulled the long milk-white shawl off the floor and on to
his shoulder, approached her and enquired, “What is the matter?” 28
The maidservant: “King! The princess with the attendants was bathing in
the Palāśa pond and seeing a beautiful youth on a white horse, followed
him. The young man entered the Tiruvaraṅga Temple, the sanctum sanctorum
and disappeared inside the Sanctum. The young man was Araṅga Mahāprabhu
as surmised not only by the princess but also by the temple officials.
29
“Having experienced such an extraordinary event, she, as a Yogi, is in
constant thought of Araṅga Prabhu. She rejected food and sleep, and
babbles, “Araṅga-p-prabhu! Why did you invite me? Leaving me alone, you
disappeared. When will you come back to take me as your slave and
servant (confer grace to a faithful devotee, that I am)? 30
Hearing what the maidservant said to him, Chōzan’s face had the look of
astonishment and later of confusion and agitation. The king asked the
maidservant to be near his daughter and offer succor and support. He
came back to the council of ministers, narrated the incident and asked
for their advice. He said to them, “Dear ministers! What do you think of
the mental state of my daughter?” 31
Ministers: O King! Let us go to the princess. We will ask her directly,
to appraise the situation. Later, we will come to a conclusion.” They
came to the inner chambers of the palace and found the princess
performing puja with lights and incense to Tiruvaraṅgaṉ’s small rock
idol. Seeing it, fear enveloped them. Kamalavalli, until then, was an
ebullient youngster singing, dancing, and playing hide and seek. She was
a delightful youngster with an airy and floating persona. Now, it is all
topsy-turvy. 32
Changes in life are common. Making allowance for it, will a young girl
subject herself to such drastic changes? 33
Nandachōzan was confused and agitated. He spoke to his daughter. 34
King: “What is all this, my dear child?”
Princess: “Father! This is my chosen path. Is it not apparent to you?”
King: “Where is the need for it now?”
Princess: “Father! There is no time (and place) for these things to
happen.” 35
Kamalavalli’s perceptive answer shook the council of ministers. 36
Is it appropriate for the princess to fast on this account? A minister
interrupted and voiced his opinion, “Painting is possible only when a
wall is available.” 37
Kamalavalli agreed with him with beauty and grace. In a soft voice, she
said, “I have seen the Panacea! Possibly because of it, I have no hunger
pains.” 38
That answer, they did not expect coming from her! 39
More is coming.
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