THE LIFE OF SAGE THIRUVAZHLUVAR – PART ONE

(Please note that this Life history of Sage Thiruvazhluvar as narrated here is compiled from and based on a few texts collected by this author and will remain undisclosed for the time being.)

In the beginning it is said, Brahma, with the help of some of his children, wanted to created the languages of the North and the South and therefore performed a Yagna with a Kumbha in the centre. Out of this Kumbha appeared the Daughter of the Arts who is popularly known as Saraswati and Brahma married her. Immediately after, Agastiyar appeared from the Kumbha with a short stature. Agastiyar married Samuthrakanni and gave birth to Perunsagaran who in turn married Thiruvaarur Pulaitchi and gave birth to Bhagavan who became a very learned man and was well versed in the Shasthras. 

During those times, Sage Thavamuni who belonged to the lineage of Brahma became one with Arun Mangai who was a Brahmin girl and gave birth to a daughter after which he left to Viraali Malai to do penance there. The child was therefore taken up by Urayir Perumparaiyan who raised her for a while. It was during this time that everybody in that small town died due to a rain of mud. Later, the girl grew up in the Brahmin colony (Agragaaram) in the house of Neethi Aiiyan.

It was at that time that Bhagavan who was also called Yaazhi Thathhamunivar went on a pilgrimage to Kaasi and on his way stayed at a Choultry near Meloor where he was busy cooking after his daily duties and rituals. The girl accidentally came to the Choultry where Bhagavan demanded who she was with anger and hit her with the Chatuvam; which is a stick used for resting the arm while performing penance and drove her away. The girl went back to her home crying. 

Bhagavan then had a cleansing bath and performed his prayers. Soon after this incident Bhagavan proceeded to Kaasi to bathe in the Ganga. He took the holy waters of Prayag and brought it on his shoulder on a Kaavadi. It was but fate that made Bhagavan stay in the same Choultry and as was the case earlier, the girl came to the Choultry once again.

However, the girl had grown up into a very beautiful lady by then and Bhagavan fell in love with her. Noticing this, the owner of the Choutry who was called Neethi Aiiyan requested Bhagavan to marry the girl and stay there itself. Bhagavan replied that the Kaavadi he had undertaken at Prayaag should reach Rameshwaram and he promised to come back after performing Abhishek to the Rama Linga there. 

On his return, Neethi Aiiyan arranged for a grand wedding with rituals on the first four days and the holy marriage bath on the fifth day. During the holy bath, Bhagavan noticed that the girl’s head under her hair had a scar which was caused by his hitting her earlier with the Chatuvam. He then realised that it was his destiny chasing him and exclaimed, “Aren’t you Adhi?” and fled from the place. This was how the girl came to be called Adhi. 

Bhagavan who had fled the marriage hall needed a place to stay when the sun set and therefore rested in a Mandap at a place called Pannai cheri. The girl, Adhi was not to be deterred and followed Bhagavan to the Mandap. She convinced Bhagavan that it was the will of God that had brought them together and it would not be the right Dharma on his part to leave her. She also informed Bhagavan that she would end her life if he left her. 

This made Bhagavan sympathetic and since his wisdom made him realize that it was the will of God, he agreed to do so on the condition that if she really loved him, she should listen to him and should leave behind all the children born unto them wherever they were born without taking these children along with them wherever they went. 

Adhi agreed to Bhagavan’s condition and married him. Thus was born Avvai, Uppai, Adhigamaan, Kabilar and Valliammai as their children. Later, after leaving these children behind in their birth place, Bhagavan and Adhi settled for a while in a grove in Mylapore when Bhagavan desired Adhi leading to the birth of Thiruvazhluvar. 

Adhi was very worried about the fate of this child and wondered who would take care of this baby. The baby, noticing the mother’s distress, then sang the following verse:

“When there is God (Eshwar) to protect all lives,

will I not, another life, also be protected?

The fear of the unknown is not necessary in our lives

and what must happen will happen by itself destined”

On hearing this, both the parents were assured that the baby could take care of itself and therefore left on a holy pilgrimage. It is also said that all the earlier children born to the couple of Bhagavan and Adhi had also sung verse in praise of God and their parents on their birth. This incident is said to be the cause of the Tamil proverb, “Vaai uzhla pillai pizhlaikum.”

(To be continued)