Can You See A Full Moon On A Newmoon day?

 

image courtesy-wikikedia commons

 Can you see a full moon on the newmoon day?

" Yes.  You can see ." Firmly answered Subramanyan to the king of Tanjore , Sarfoji.

Subramnayan was a priest in Amirthakadeswarar temple , Thirukkadaiyur. Goddess Abhirami is the presiding goddess there. Subramanyan was an ardent devotee of the Goddess. And very often he  would go into trance.
.
On new moon days, King Sarfoji of Thanjavur, had the habit of offering prayers in this temple.When he came there he happened to see Subramnayan lost in trance.

The king to test his devotion, went and asked Subramanyan," What day is it today, Subramanyan?"

"Today is Full Moon Day." answered Subramanyan in trance.

King Sarfoji asked the question again," Subramanya , Do you mean to say that you can see a full moon tonight? "

Subramanyan , who was in trance, answered the question with great disrespect," Yes. You can see. Now stop disturbing me."

The crowd gathered there were shocked to see Subramanyan treating the king with such disrespect.People knew that this should  earn himself severe punishment 

Some tried to save Subramanyan, from  punishment . So they told,  " He is a mad person, Your majesty. He thinks all women as Goddess Abhirami. And so whenever he crosses them  he prostrates before them. So your Majesty can  ignore his words and spare Subramanyan.."

But there were also some who wanted to put Subramanyan into trouble.
They confused the king by saying," Your Majesty. I think that is not true. He actually misbehaves with women and they are scared of him . On seeing him they run away."

King Sarfoji ,was red with rage on the disrespect he met. He ordered," Bring this person to the palace courtyard. There I shall construct a platform with hundred ropes above a huge fire.  Either full moon should be seen on the sky tonight..Or else Subramanyan will see himself inside the fire and be burnt. But he will have time till all the hundred ropes are cut one by one.He has to show the full moon before all the ropes are cut.."

Saying this King Sarfoji left the place.

Slowly , Subramanyan came out of trance and opened his eyes. He saw a huge crowd gathered around him. They told him as to what had happened. By this time two guards came there and took him to the palace . A platform was made ready for him. Under it were piled firewoods ready to be burnt.

Dusk fell. The crowd gathered  there watched the happenings with profound grief. They thought, the end of Subramanyan was fast approaching.

Now silence filled the place.

Subramanyan stood up the platform hung with hundred ropes from a  huge structure . This was open to the night sky. A huge fire started burning under the platform. The helpless Subramnayan started praying Goddess Abirami with his songs.

He started singing  'தார் அமர் கொன்றையும் ....... "He went on to sing verse after verse .  Every verse had four lines . And each verse started with the last word of the previous verse. As he finished singing one verse , one rope got cut.  As each and every ropes get cut, the crowd shouted in grief.

He went on to sing the 79th verse starting with, "விழிக்கே அருளுண்டு ........"  .  Goddess Abirami unable to bear further torture rendered to Her devottee , decided to help him out of trouble. Immediately,She gave darshan not only to Subramanyan, but for all gathered there.Then She removed Her huge earrings(தாடகம்) and just threw into the sky like a frisbee . 

Wow! It fell in right place and shone like moon. The crowd and the king were surprised to see  the full moon. The king immediately, put down the fire and Subramanayan was safely brought down. King Sarfoji, prostrated before him and begged forgiveness. The crowd also seeked his blessings.

Subramanyan then went on  to sing 108 verses and they are compiled under the head " Abirami Andadhi ".He was also affectionately called as Abirami Pattar.

You would like to visualise Abirami Pattar getting darshan of the goddess Abirami.

Here Iam presenting the scene from a Tamil film...

 

This incident happened when King Sarfoji was ruling Thanjavur. But long before that , the presiding God of the temple Amirthakadeswarar  had showered His Grace on Markandeyar. 

 Markandeyar.......who is he? Let us see in the next post.

video courtesy- you tube.

Baktha Prahalad

Once there was a king  called   Hiranyakashipu. His  son is  Prahalad.Prahalad   was  a   great  devotee of   Lord   Narayana.  He   always    prays   Vishnu    and   keeps  chanting      " Hari   Hari "

Hiranyakashipu,   the    king      did  penance    and    God     granted   him  a    boon   that  he   should   not   be   killed   by    any  human   being,  nor   by   any    weapon,    nor  in   the    morning/afternoon/ night   and   also    not   inside/outside   the  palace  .   So   with   this    boon     the  king  became     a   cruel   king .

He  started    telling   his  people    that   there    is   no   other   God   other    than  himself.    So   everone   should   pray    him   only.

Son,    Prahalad     himself  ,    refused   to  obey   his    dad   in   this   regard.   

Inspite   of    his     dad's    orders      Prahalad     continued   his   prayers    for  Lord   Vishnu.

At   this ,  the   king   got   angry    and   he  ordered    his   son  ,Prahalad     to   be    killled   by   elephants.

But   Lord   Vishnu   saved   Prahalad     from     elephants.   Then    the    King     threw     him   into   the     sea  and    even    threw    him    into    the    fire.

But    Lord    Vishnu     being    happy    with    the     prayers    of    Prahalad ,  saved     him     from     all   these      dangers.  

Looking     at    all   this     the    king      was     very     angry     with    his    son.

One      evening      Prahalad      was    praying    Lord   Vishnu  ,   chanting    " Hari Hari  ".

On   hearing    this ,      the   King     dashed    into     the    room.    He    was    very     angry   and   shouted  at  Prahalad   "My   son.   I  am   repeatedly    telling    you  not  to   worship     Vishnu    but   you   keep
on    chanting      "Hari,   Hari  ".  Can   you    tell   me   where     your   Hari   is?"

Immediately,   Prahald    replied    politely,    "  Father,   Hari    is     everywhere.    I   cannot   show  a   place    where     Hari     is   not    present."

At     this   the   king    got   still  more   angry    and    shouted    at  him  pointing    to   a   pillar   in   the  palace   "Do   you    mean   to    say   that   your    Hari    is    inside    this   pillar?"

Prompt    came   the    reply,   " YES ".

Immediately     the   King    asked    his    servants     to   bring     his   "  gatha  "    (  a   weapon    used    for    fighting).    The   servants    rushed  for   it   and   gave   it   to   him.

The   king     started     banging    the   pillar     with    the   "gatha".  
At  one   point   ,   the    pillar     broke     open     and    out     came      Lord   Vishnu,  but     not    in    his      usual  form     
He   came     in the  form  of    " Narasimha "  , with  a     human     body     and   a lion's   face   and   with    long     nails  .

The    King    was     stunned .   Lord   Narasimha     immediately   barged    upon  the    king     and     took     him   in   his    hands    and   moved    towards    the    gateway   .  
He   sat      right    there    on   the    gateway   ,put     the   king    on    the    lap   and    with   his   long    nails    tore       the   king   and   killed   him   .  That    was    the    end    of   king   Hiranyakashipu.

God   also   took    care    that   his   granted    boon     was   not   overlooked.

That   was   the    reason   why    Lord    Vishnu   took   the   unique   form  of  Lord Narasimha  (Neither   a   human  being nor   an   animal).

He   killed   him   with  his   nails    without   using   any   weapon .

Also   the    king   was   killed   neither    inside    nor   outside  but  on  the   steps    of   the   gateway ,  and   also   only in   the   evening    thus     fulfilling   the   boon.

Because   of   his   faith   in  God   Prahalad   attained   a  special   place  in   Vaikunt  (Abode   Of   Lord   Vishnu)   after   his   death. 

image   courtesy  --google.