GLORY OF THE HOLY BEACON - ARUNACHALA!

<Prev |  Next>

Once, the Pandya king Vajraangada set out for hunting. After a long travel he reached Tiruvannamalai. There he saw a civet cat (‘punugu Poonai’) that has a kind of perfume (civet - ‘punugu’) in its body. The king desired to catch the civet cat and began to chase it.

In an attempt to escape, the civet cat ran around the Holy Mountain Arunachala. Unknowingly, the civet cat had actually circumambulated the Hill of Tiruvanamalai. The king, riding on his horse, too, had circumambulated the Hill while he chased the civet cat. As soon as the circumambulation was complete the horse pushed the king down. The king could not bear the pain of the fall. With great difficulty the King lifted his head to see what had happened. He was shocked to find that both the civet cat and the horse were missing. Further, he was astounded to see two beautiful, well-decorated forms standing in the space above. The King addressed them, “Never in my life have I seen such beautiful forms! Who are you, so well adorned?” One of them replied, “I am the horse on whom you were riding and this is the civet cat whom you were chasing.” The King said, “I don’t understand a word of it! Pray! Explain to me.”

At the request of the King, the two told narrated following:

“We belong to a class called Vidyadharas who are endowed with beautiful forms and melodious voice. Vidyadharas are expert musicians and are capable of taking any form as per their wish. We two Vidyadharas were close friends. Once, we visited Mountain Meru and were attracted by a beautiful garden there. Unaware of the fact that Maharishi Durvasa maintained the garden for worshipping Lord Shiva we roamed about the garden carelessly, trampling the tender plants. One of us wandered about here and there like one carried away by pride while the other plucked the fragrant flowers, smelt them and crushed them. Maharishi Durvasa happened to visit the garden while we two were thus roaming around carelessly and destroying the garden. We were frightened at the sight of the Maharishi because the anger of Maharishi Durvasa is well known!

Our behaviour angered the Maharishi Durvasa. Looking at me who roamed about trampling the plants he cursed me, “You will be born as a horse on earth and will suffer carrying people on your back.” And looking at my friend who was crushing the flowers the Maharishi cursed him, “You will be born on earth as a civet cat and suffer.”

Since we, Vidyadharas, knew the pain of being born on earth, we fell at the feet of the Maharishi and begged his pardon. The Maharishi touched by our sincere pleadings said, “The Hill of Tiruvannamalai is verily the form of Lord Shiva. You will be released from this curse of mine if you circumambulate it but once.” Thus, we two Vidyadharas were born as horse and civet cat and having circumambulated the Hill of Tiruvannamalai have been released from the curse.”

Having heard this story from the two Vidyadharas the King asked, “I had also circumambulated the Hill! Then why have I not been liberated? Let go liberation! Why do I feel a peculiar kind of fear gripping me?”

The Vidyadharas said, “You have circumambulated the Hill on horse back. Thus, you have accrued sin and hence this feeling of fear. You will be relieved of it once you walk around the Hill. If you stay at Tiruvannamalai, worship Lord Shiva by chanting the ‘Panchaakshari’ and renovate the temple, you will be liberated.”

The King followed their instruction and attained the Feet of the Lord.

This incident shows us the importance and greatness of circumambulating Arunachala, the Holy Hill of Tiruvannamalai.

<Prev |  Next>

Home • e-MM • Contact

Radhe Krishna