Day 61. Trust -10

Subramaniya Iyer was born  in the village of Thirukadaiyur,Tamil Nadu, where a famous Shiva temple, Amritaghateswarar-Abirami Temple, Thirukkadaiyur is situated. Right from his childhood, Subramaniya Iyer was drawn to the temple and the Goddess.

One day, the King visited the temple to pay homage to Lord Shiva. On noticing the peculiar behaviour of Subramaniya Iyer, who was a temple priest,……  he  approached the priest and asked him what day of the month it was i.e. whether it was a full-moon day or a new-moon day.

Subramaniya Iyer who could see nothing else but the shining luminant form of the Goddess before him wrongly answered that it was a full-moon day while it was in fact a new-moon day. The king rode off informing the former that he would have his head cut off if the moon did not appear on the sky by six in the night.

Immediately realizing his mistake, Subramaniya Iyer supposedly lit a huge fire and erected a platform over it supported by a hundred ropes. He sat upon the platform and prayed to the Goddess Abhirami to save him. He cut off one rope after another in succession on completion of each verse of his prayer. These hymns form the Abhirami Anthadhi.

On completion of the 79th hymn, the Goddess Abhirami manifested herself before him and threw her earring over the sky such that it shone with bright light upon the horizon. The area around the temple sparkled with bright light. Overcome with ecstasy, Subramaniya Iyer composed 21 more verses in praise of the Goddess.

The king repented his mistake and immediately cancelled the punishment he had awarded to Subramaniya Iyer. He also bestowed upon the latter the title of Abirami Pattar or "priest of Goddess Abhirami”.( wiki).

For devotees, there are many such instances from the Indian rich history. One must have an eye and mind to see them. It requires ,definitely, divine grace- even to think on those lines.

Be happy. Be safe.

ॐ तत् सत्

8.45 AM