Sadhuragiri Trip

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http://exploringmotherindia.blogspot.com/2008/11/sadhuragiri-part-1.html

Regards,

Krishna Kumar.S

Shirdi Sai Baba

The world is slowly moving away from God. Principles of religions are being ignored. Poverty, hunger has showed its gruesome form in many parts of the world. There are many people who don’t get a plate of meal in a day. Lots of people are killed in the name of fight for religion, caste superiority. Women are raped during intercaste, inter-religious clashes and there is child abuse everywhere. People take immense pleasure in hurting others, not understanding other’s feelings. Money, luxury, wealth has become a priority putting human values aside. But there is something much beyond these three. That is satisfaction and content. Every human needs these qualities in the world. It can be achieved through humbleness alone. There is something common in everything i.e principles. The Bible, Bhagvad Gita and Quran have got many similar points. God is present in books. Every principles stated in books equals God. Hurting a fellow human being by words, physically, by thoughts is a sin. Hurting animals is also a sin. We all are going to live in this world for a short time, let’s not hurt each other. Our existence in this world is temporary and God has sent us for a special task which you would know soon!





There are a few common things, which could be asked by readers. Where is God? Can you show me God? How does He look? If He is there, then why He isn’t protecting us or blessing everyone? These questions have answers within you, as you are more intelligent than me. I am not God to find what’s in your mind. You can get answers for everything by being humble.

As lots of evil things happen, some enlightened forms do take birth time to time to restructure the human society. One such soul was Sai Baba of Shirdi. Shirdi is a small town in Ahmednagar District of Maharashtra, India. His birth origins, early life details are not known or clear. He was believed to be an Indian guru, yogi, and fakir. He was respected by both Hindu and Muslim followers. Hindus revered him as a saint with rituals and Muslim considered him as an enlightened soul. Sai Baba was believed to be an incarnation of Lord Shiva. According to Muslims, he was the reincarnation of Kabir, a mystic poet who was the disciple of Hindu saint Ramananda. It was believed that Saibaba was born to an Hindu couple but brought up by a fakir. During his lifetime, Sai Baba didn’t show interest in answering questions related to his birth and he said that it was unimportant and unneeded.




He was believed to be born in the year 1838 or 1835 in a village slightly away from Shirdi. Sai Baba taught a moral code of love, forgiveness, helping others, charity, contentment, inner peace, devotion to God and Guru. He resided in an old, dilapidated mosque and lived a solitary life, surviving by begging for alms. Baba delivered spiritual teachings to his visitors, recommending the reading of sacred Hindu texts along with the Quran. He often expressed himself in a cryptic manner with the use of parables, symbols, and proverbs.

Sai Baba observed worship procedures belonging to Hinduism and Islam. He also wore clothing reminiscent of a Sufi fakir resembling a Muslim. He opposed all sorts of persecutions on religious or caste background. Although, Baba himself led the life of an ascetic, he advised his followers to lead an ordinary family life. Sai Baba encouraged his devotees to pray, chant God's name and read Holy Scriptures. He advised Muslims to study the Qur'an and told the Hindus texts like the Ramayana, Vishnu Sahasranam, Bhagavad Gita. He advised his devotees and followers to lead a moral life. He also criticized atheism. In his teachings, Sai Baba emphasized the importance of performing one's duties without attachment to earthly matters and being content regardless of the situation.



Sai Baba said that the world and all that the humans may give is transient and only God and his gifts are eternal. He also talked about the need of faith and devotion to one's teacher or Guru. He advised his disciples and followers to overcome the negative features of character and develop the good ones. Sai Baba left no written works. His teachings were oral, typically short, rather than elaborate discourses. He would ask his followers for money, which he would give away to the poor and other devotees the same day.




Sai Baba encouraged charity and the importance of sharing goodness with others. He said, "Unless there is some relationship or connection, nobody progresses in life. If any men or creatures come to you, do not discourteously drive them away, but receive them well and treat them with due respect. Shri Hari will be certainly pleased if you give water to the thirsty, bread to the hungry, clothes to the naked”. Sai Baba took Mahasamadhi on October 15, 1918 at 2.30pm. He died on the lap of one of his devotees with hardly any belongings.

-Krishna Kumar.S

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Chapter#20: Thirumangai Azhwar

Thirumangai Azhwar was the last of the 12 Azhwars. His name was actually Neelar, but later he came to be known as “Thirumangai Azhwar” as he ruled Aali Naadu from the capital city of Thirumangai. From childhood, Thirumangai Azhwar was given proper education. Since, he was born in the generation of brave persons, he learnt the art of fighting. He learnt to use sword, bow and arrow. Neelar fought and led the forces on behalf of Chozha Empire and defeated its enemy invaders. For his braveness, the Chozha king made him as the king of Aali Nadu, having its capital as "Thirumangai". His fighting nature made all of the enemy kings to think him as "Kaalan" (time which takes all of our lives) and because of this, Neelar was also given the name "Parakaalan".

In that time, in Deva lokam (Heaven), a deva kanni by the name "Sumangali" lived and she is the head of the deva mangais. Once she wanted to visit the bhoolokam (earth). So Sumangali along with other deva kanniyars came down to the bhoolokam and first visited the Himalayan Mountains. At that time, kapila munivar was explaining about the beauty and greatness of Sriman Narayanan. Lots of sages and people were found around Kapila Munivar. One among the munis was looking ugly. Sumangali commented on him and laughed at him. On seeing the bad character of all the kanniyars and specifically of Sumangali, Kapila munivar got angry on them and gave Sumangali a curse saying that she would be born as a normal human being.

Sumangali realized her mistake and regretted. But no curse could be taken back. Kapila muni explained that the curse given to her was due to the fate that's written and she will be got married to a great warrior and an intelligent person, who is said to be the Hamsam of Sriman Narayanan's bow. He also added that his (Thirumangai mannan's) mind is concentrated fully on war and fight and it has to be turned towards her and his mind should be diverted towards the bhakti of Sriman Narayanan. If it is done like that, she will be free of her curse and she can return back to Heaven.

Sumangali took birth in earth as a baby. Years passed away and one fine day, her father started to find a proper man for her. At that time, she explained her birth secret and explained him that she will be getting married to the Thirumangai Mannan. That's her fate and he will approach her in getting married.

As the day passed, Thirumangai Mannan heard about the beauty of Kumudhavalli and thought of meeting her and getting married to her. There were two conditions. Thirumangai Mannan should change his life towards Lord Vishnu and avoid fighting wars. Secondly, he should give food to 1008 Vishnu Bhaktas everyday.

He agreed to the conditions and married her. As days passed, his wealth started to decrease as he was doing good things for many people. As a result of this, he could not pay the Kappam (money that has to be paid by the small kings to the king of the Empire). The Chozha king got angry on him and sent some of his soldiers to ask for it. But, since Parakaalan (Thirumangai mannan) spent lots of money for the Vishnu bhaktaas, he could pay the money to the Chozha Empire. The Chozha king was very upset. He was the person who encouraged Thirumangai Mannan. He was the person who made him as the king. Chozha king felt humiliated.

Thirumangai Mannan also felt bad. But he needed to feed Vishnu bhaktas. At the same time, he also needed to be faithful to the King. So he thought of stealing gold and ornaments from wealthy people.

Sriman Vishnu and Sri Lakshmi came to earth in the form of newly married couples. As their caravan was passing through the forest, Thirumangai mannan and his soldiers stopped them. Thirumangai Mannan ordered to give their ornaments and money.

Hearing this, all the people in the caravan including the Maappillai (Sri Vishnu) and Manamagal (Sri Lakshmi) gave their ornaments. Thirumangai mannan checked whether all of their ornaments are removed but found a Kanaiyaazhi (an ornament are that is worn on the legs) on the right hand of the Maappillai. Parakaalan ordered that it should also be removed for which the Maappillai said that he could not remove that. Instead he asked Thirumangai Mannnan to remove it himself. Neelan tried to remove it but he could not do it.

Since he could not remove the Kanaiyaazhi from his legs, he left that and ordered his main soldier "Thoalavazhakkan" to tie up all the ornaments and money in a sack. But, he could not lift the sack full of various precious products. Then Thirumangai mannan also tried and he too failed.

He finally identified that the maappillai and the Manamagan are none other than the Emperumaan and Sri Lakshmi piratti. He apologized for the mistakes. For the rest of his life, he visited many Divya Desams and did a lot of good things to people.

Chapter#19: Thiruppaan Azhwar

Thiruppaan Azhwar is one of the 12 Azhwars. He was born in an untouchable community, but as a result of his devotion towards Sriman Narayanan, he was listed among the great twelve Azhwars. It is said that Azhwar is an hamsam of the small mole, called as "Sri Vatsam" which is found in the chest of Sriman Narayanan. Having a veena in his hand, he always sang on Sri Vishnu. Since he belonged to the backward class, he wasn't allowed inside the temple. Also he wasn't allowed to wash his legs in the banks of Kauvery. One day Lord Aranganathar appeared in the dreams of Sarangamuni, another devotee of Vishnu and asked him to carry Thiruppaan Azhwar into Sri Rangam temple complex. Sarangamuni being a staunch Vishnu devotee went to Thiruppaan and asked him to climb on his shoulders. Thiruppaan refused at first. The reason was that he belonged to the caste of untouchable. Sarangamuni belonged to a higher caste. But at last Sarangamuni convinced Thiruppaan to climb on his shoulders. As Sarangamuni walked towards the temple, everyone was shocked. Surprisingly, Thiruppaan was able to see Perumal. He couldn’t believe his eyes.






He then started to see the whole thirumeni (body) of Emperumaan and he sung a total of ten paasurams which explain the beauty of Sri Ranganathar from his thiruvadi (foot) to thirumudi(head). He explains in his ten paasuram about the clean saffron cloth which is worn on the body of Ranganathar, his jewels the thiru vayiru(stomach) from where Lord Brahma originated, the broad chest, the red lips and finally on explaining the beauty of the two broad eyes, he fell down. After some time, Thiruppaan Azhwar was not found and he is believed to have merged into the body of Thiruvaranganathan. Like Andal, whose thought was always on Aranganathan, who was captured by the love of the Perumal, Thiruppaan Azhwar was also captured by the love and he went towards the Aranganathan.Thiruppaan Azhwar has sung only ten paasurams, where he has explained about how a human should be in his/her life.