BHA06-SwamigalFallsVictimToSnake-Girl Bharathiayar Stories Madurai Project. Article in Tamil Translation: Veeraswamy Krishnaraj |
1.
The snake girl captivated Kartthapa Swamigal.
2.
When Kartthapa Swamigal lived with his pupils in Sālivādipuram in South
India, the snake girl arrived. She had a complexion of ripe lemon, eyes
of a doe, face like the moon and a body, that of a tiger: Build and
dexterity.
3.
One evening, the Swamigal ate his noon rice, had a four-hour
postprandial sleep, woke up, ate five Dosais and half a carafe milk,
munched on fragrant areca nuts, and lectured to his pupils.
4.
Swamigal says:
''Hear me, students,
Janmanā Jāyathē Sūtras;
Karmaṇā Jāyathē Dvijā,''
5.
"At birth a Śūdrā; after sacred thread ceremony a Brahmana: There is no
exception to this rule. Only after Upanayaṇam, Brahmaṇathvam dawns on a
Brahmana boy. Until Upanayaṇam is complete, he does not care about
salivary contamination and touching the lower castes. He grows up like a
Chandāla. If a mother touches her son in that condition, and without
taking a bath, goes to a kitchen to cook meals, that food is not fit as
Naivēdhyam to the deity. Those who serve that food as Naivēdyam are akin
to smearing mud while going for a bath and earn sin while doing puja."
Espousing such tenets and injunctions, Swamigal establishes his
standpoint.
6.
The pupils were nodding their heads in assent with great devotion. The
snake girl came in and offered her Namaskāram to Swamigal at that
moment.
7.
In a soft voice, Swamigal said to the girl, "Sit down, my child." She
sat down.
8.
Swamy questioned her, "Who are you?"
9.
The snake girl says, "Tāmarai Pū (Lotus flower) takes its birth in the
mire. The beetle takes birth in the forest and comes searching for the
lotus flower. I am Singala Rajan's daughter. I am on a Yātra
(pilgrimage) in the Baratha country and arrived here just now. I came to
the street where Amman Temple is. I heard that you are the town's great
devotee, Yogi, and Jñāni. I
came to you to receive Mantrōupadesam from you for the liberation of the
soul.
10.It
was like showering flower petals on his head. He was exhilarated,
horripilated, and joyous. Who would not be ecstatic if a princess comes
as a pupil?
11.Swamigal,
head over heels, in a
hurry, says, "Shall I do the Mantrōupadesam right now?"
12.Roja
says, "I am looking for an auspicious day, hour, and Lagnam (ascendant
star) for such an important event. I must arrange to offer gifts to a
guru laid at his feet. Please advise on an auspicious day."
13.Swamiyār's
ecstasy was bursting at the seams, and he consulted astrological charts.
14."Today
is Sunday. Tomorrow is Monday, which is a good day; Rāhu Kālam lasts
from 7:30 AM to 9 AM. After that, an ascendant star comes. Sastras
delineate an auspicious day and hour. Anyone receiving this
Mantrōupadesam can be sure of attaining liberation in this birth."
15.
Roja displayed a trace of a smile. Swamigal's ecstasy attained feverish
proportions.
16.Swamiyar
continues, "Listen to me, Singala Desa princess! Is your name Roja? Āhā!
An appropriate name for your Kulam and appearance. Life forms are in
millions.
“I was born as a blade of grass, elements, a worm, a tree, animals, a
bird, a snake, a stone, a human, a demon, one of the Ganas, a strong
Asura, a sage, a god, and all creatures that act or do not act. I was
born as all things on this earth, and I am tired. (Translation by
Shaivam.org)”
17.Says
Tiruvasakam.
18.Swamigal
sang the song in line with his nature and his reputation. The poem had
the word snake. Yet, Roja was not afraid. She realized he was an
ignoramus. She thought she should not give up on the Swamigal since many
others she could not retain. She thought she could manage the Matam to
her liking. The snake girl decided she had attained her objective.
19.Swamigal
says: Listen, Roja! Births are innumerable like the sand in the river
and like the stars in the sky. 'Punarabhi Jananam, punarabhi Maranam.'
Human birth is the best of all. If such a person does not find a proper
Guru and know the path to liberation, he or she takes birth in the womb,
remain there for ten months in misery, come into this world, and
experience many untold miseries. The miseries are
not new to you. I will reveal to you the Vairava Mantra. You are
a lucky person.
20.Let
me make the story short.
21.The
next day, the snake girl presented a cobra-owned gem to the Swamigal and
received Mantropadesam (initiation with a Mantra). In a few days, the
Swamigal was dancing to her tune. That was the story told by peacock
Madhukandikai told to Rasika Sirōmani.
22.The
peacock said, "Karttha Swamy Became the victim of the snake girl's
deceit. He earned a bad name in the town. The townspeople drove him out
of town. Later, the snake girl left his company. Their lives faced
innumerable difficulties, and they died.
23.Then
the donkey Rasikasirōnmani asked the peacock why it told that story.
24.Peacock:
The story's object is to tell you that your caste people are easily
gullible and suffer from stupidity. But you do not belong to that
category. Though you are a donkey, you are intelligent. Justice binds
you. Please tell me the story of Thanjavur
Swindler Chetty's story. |