Paramārthar
Guru Stories
Constantine Joseph Beschi (8
November 1680 – 4 February 1747), also known under his Tamil name
of Vīramāmunivar
(வீரமாமுனிவர்),
was an Italian Jesuit priest,
missionary in South
India,
and Tamil language littérateur (a
literary person, esp. a writer of literary works)..-Wiky
He mastered the Tamil language and published many books with Christian
teachings in Tamil under the name Vīramāmunivar.
His narrative poem "Dembavani" is famous. In the 18th century, he
translated books such as Tirukkural, Devaram, Thiruppugazh and Athichudi
into Latin and other languages. Parmathaguru Kathas, which he wrote in
Tamil culture, adapted from the comic stories popular in Europe at that
time, were famous for their humorous nature and were translated into
many Indian languages.
Vīramāmunivar
wrote the Paramārtha
Guru stories in Tamil, steeped in humor. The naïve Guru and his five
disciples, Matti, Madaiyan, Pēthai, Mūdan, Milēcchan engage in acts,
which
Paramārtha
guru narrates in a story-form with humor. Their names are
everyday pejorative monikers in Tamil Nadu to describe people with
varying degrees of stupidity.
The story of Paramartha Guru and the Monkey Messenger
1. Paramartha Guru developed a desire to eat without working. For this purpose, he discussed with his foolish disciples.
2. "Gurudev, what about taking up stealing?" asked Matti.
3. "They will beat us if we get caught!" said Madiyan.
4. "Then let's capture a monkey and train it to steal all kinds of things!" suggested the Fool.
5. "Ah! What a splendid plan. But how do we catch a monkey?" asked the Paramarthar.
6. "They say it's as hard as catching Ganesha! What does that mean?" asked Mandu. (Catching Pillaiyar ended up (catching) a monkey.
7. "If we need a monkey, first we must catch Ganesha. Then, it will automatically turn into a monkey," explained the Fool.
8. "That's correct. So, let's go catch Ganesha right now," said Paramarthar as he set out with his disciples.
9. Guru found a Ganesha statue under a fig tree. "Disciples, Ganesha is sleeping soundly. Let's quietly go and capture him suddenly," commanded Paramarthar.
10. The disciples fell onto the statue and captured the idol.
11. Just then, a monkey that had escaped from a trainer arrived there.
12. Seeing the monkey that escaped from a monkey handler, Paramarthar shouted, "Disciples! Here's the monkey, don't let it go, catch it!"
13. Matti and Madiyan quickly chased and caught the monkey.
14. Seeing this, Paramarthar declared, "This is no ordinary monkey. It's Hanuman, who was sent as a messenger of Rama!" He worshipped by falling prostrate at the monkey’s feet.
15. The disciples, chanting "Ranga, Ranga!" tapped on their cheeks.
16. Upon reaching the monastery, Matti said, "Our guru often smokes cigars, but he never shares with us. Let's send the monkey to steal some cigars without him knowing."
17. "Monkey! Bring us finer cigars than our guru smokes, from wherever you can," the Fool instructed the monkey.
18. The next moment, the monkey disappeared magically.
19. It returned after an hour, its hands full of firecrackers.
20. The monkey, mistaking firecrackers for cigars, had taken them from a fireworks shop.
21. "Just as told, it has stolen the cigars!" rejoiced Madiyan.
22. "Hanuman, live long! Prosper in your skill and profession!" said the Fool.
23. Looking at the colorful firecrackers, Mandu boasted, "Our guru's cigars are always black, but the ones we're going to smoke are red, green, blue, of many colors."
24. Seeing the wick of the firecrackers, the Fool remarked, "They have even provided a separate wick for lighting, making this the highest quality cigar."
25. Each disciple put a firecracker in their mouth. The Fool lit them with a burning stick.
26. The disciples fantasized about blowing smoke in joy.
27. The next moment, each firecracker exploded in their mouths with a "boom."
28. The disciples, losing their mouths, screamed, "Oh, Āñjanēyā!"
(Hanuman’s one of many names is Ānjanēyā, the one born of a woman named Āñjanā) ref:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Añjanā
Añjanā - Wikipedia
Anjana was married to Kesari, a vanara chief, and the son of Brihaspati. [4] Anjana was the mother of Hanuman. Being Anjana's son, Hanuman is also called Anjaneya or Anjanayar in the Tamil tradition. [5] There are several legends about the birth of Hanuman. See more
29. Hearing what happened, Paramarthar warned, "From now on, do not do anything without my knowledge."
30. "Guru, your dhoti is all torn. Ask (the monkey) to steal some fine silk clothes for you," the disciples suggested.
31. Paramarthar sent the monkey to steal clothes.
32. The monkey entered the royal palace...
33. It saw the king bathing in the palace pond, his silk clothes and diamond crown on the steps. Without anyone noticing, the monkey took them.
34. The guru and his disciples were astonished to see the silk clothes and the diamond crown.
35. "Monkey! We will build a temple for you and worship you!" exclaimed Mandu.
36. The Fool dressed the guru in the silk dhoti and crowned him with the diamond crown.
37. "Now you look like a crowned king," praised Matti.
38. The remaining clothes were worn by the disciples.
39. "Let's go out in this royal attire!" announced Paramarthar.
40. The moment they stepped onto the street, the royal guards arrested them.
41. They were imprisoned for ten days for stealing the king's belongings.
42. "Guru, we thought only humans could cause us trouble. Even a monkey has managed to get us punished!" lamented the disciples.