Experiences with Maha Periyava: Crown of Flowers
Sadasivam was a bachelor from Salem. He spent his days, hiring a room in a hotel. He had immense bhakti on the Mahan.
A very large homam (fire sacrifice ritual) was conducted in the year, 1990 at Kanchi Matam, Salem. Approximately sixty Vedic experts and Pundits from outstations had been invited for the occasion. The homam was held continuously for eleven days. Sadasivam’s duty was to ensure that the flowers needed for the homam were supplied without any hitch.
The homam was completed in a religious manner. The next thing that the organisers had to do was to start for Kanchi, along with the teertha pots and the maha raksha (homam ashes that serve as protection) and submit them to the Mahan and get His blessings. Three notables accompanied the Vedic Pundits in three vans to Kanchipuram. Sadasivam, who was responsible for the flower decoration, also went along with them.
There were good rains en route to Kanchipuram. At length, they all reached Kanchipuram with the articles of the homam. Everything including the kalasha neer (water in the pots) was kept before Sri Maha Periyava. His face showed immense happiness when He looked at them since He was one who was well versed with the phala (fruits) and bala (strength) of this homam.
The Mahan went inside after asking for the kalasa neer (water) to be brought to Him and chanted some mantras and sprinkled the water from the pot over His head.
After He came out and sat, He took the large garland brought for Him and wore it around his neck. He then took the flower crown in His hands and had a look at it. It was made with a lot of decorations. The Mahan raised a question, “Who made this?” The people who came in the vans pointed Sadasivam to the Sage. He came out of the crowd wearing a lungi over his waist and a red shirt covering his upper part.
Sri Maha Periyava placed the flower crown on His head. “Does it look good?” He asked, with a smile blossoming over his lips.
Unable to speak in it words, the people around nodded their head in affirmation, expressing their happiness and bowing to the Mahan.
In the meantime, Sadasivam removed his shirt and went and stood before the Mahan. He did not know what to say to the Mahan. His palms remained folded. Tears gushed from his eyes in streams. The Mahan took the flower crown from His head. He smiled at Sadasivam. He then asked the man to bow slightly and placed the crown on Sadasivam’s head. What a great bhagyam (fortune)!
The people assembled there shivered with ecstasy. Until then the Mahan had only given the honour of placing a flower crown with His own hands only to a well learned Pundit.
Perhaps He thought that it was right to bless a devotee who worshipped Him with flowers!
Author: R.Venkatasamy (in Tamizh)
Source: Sakthi Vikatan issue dated Jul 17, 2004
Categories: Devotee Experiences
What a karunai. Only Periyava can do this. We may think we are negligible before him, he will shower his infinite mercy without any differences. No words to describe the MahaPrabhu! Karunai deivamey un thiruvadi Sharanam!