Jaya Jaya Sankara Hara Hara Sankara – Bhagawan always sees what we do and how we act. This is what Sri Periyava says in Deivathin Kural. This incident is another testament to that.

Many Jaya Jaya Sankara to Shri Sankar for the share. Ram Ram

Experiences with Maha Periyava: “Only That Human God Ensures We Have No Shortfall In Life”

An elderly man was doing kaingariyam (service) in the Sri Matam until the year 1952. His name was Panchapakesan. He had service to Sri Maha Periyava as his only lifetime goal. As he suffered from some ailment, he took leave from Periyava and returned to his village near Thanjavur. Although he left the Kanchi Matam, he worshiped the Mahan day and night, always thinking of Him. He never spared an inch when it came to His pooja matters. He had two sons and a daughter, all of them were married. Seeing that his father was still engaging himself only in Periyava Kaingaryam, his eldest son spoke to him:

“Why Appa, do you have interest only in service to Periyava at all times? For the education you have had, had you gone to some Government service, then by this time you would be receiving your pension. And that money will be useful to you for your expenses, isn’t it?”

Panchapakesan panicked hearing these words. His body shivered. Suddenly he couldn’t even talk. Calming himself a little, he said, “Dei, one should be fortunate to do Kaingaryam (service) to Sri Maha Periyava. I got that Bhagyam and I stayed near Him doing my service. By that, what harm have you people come to? You all have studied well, and got married well. Only that human God ensures that we have no shortfall in life.” Thus the elderly man had burst out his feelings. Should his own son blame the Deivam?

“No Appa, had you gone to a Government service at least you would have received your pension now; it is only with this feeling of regret and concern that I spoke my words”, said his son, putting an end to the subject.

A marriage took place in Chennai sometime after this incident. His eldest son was required to go and he attended the marriage, which took place grandly. Immediately after the wedding celebrations ended, the groom and bride were taken to Kanchi for Periyava’s blessings. Panchapakesan’s eldest son too went with them. One by one, people moved away getting Periyava’s blessings and his turn came up. Periyava raised His head and looked at him. “Aren’t you Panchapakesan’s son?” was Maha Periyava’s question. “Yes”, replied the son with surprise. “Is your father doing well?” continued the Mahan. “How much Aathmartha bhakti he has towards me you know? Keep him well. How many children do you have?” After such inquiries, the sage continued,

“It is only my desire that I should do a lot for the people who do seva (service) in this Matam. But then I only administer the Matam here; so I can’t do much. I do paripalanam (nourishing, guarding) of the Matam only with whatever people give us. This is not a sarkar (Goverment) office, isn’t it? So what else can I do except to pray to Kamakshi day and night that everyone should be prosperous? But then for what your father did in this Matam and for his bhakti, it is my desire to do something for him. So we have arranged for him to receive 25 kalam of paddy (one kalam is equivalent to 12 marakkal, which in turn is a measure of eight litres) every month directly at his village–as his ‘pension’.”

When he heard this, Panchapakesan’s son fell Shashtangam before Sri Maha Periyava, wailing. “Sarveshwara! I only talked to my father out of concern. I never blamed it on his seva to you. Please pardon me.”

“I have not blamed you at all. I arranged for this small return only because I cannot do anything bigger to him.” That Trikala Gnani comforted the son.

For the son who thought it was enough about his father’s seva, he too followed the example of his father and became Periyava’s slave. Even today at Needamangalam the pension arrives at his home in the form of paddy. A school teacher who came to Periyava Gruham when he visited Salem for a marriage narrated this incident about the Karunai Ullam (compassionate heart) of Kanchi Mahan.

Source: Tamil book ‘Kanchi Mahanin Karunai Ullam’
Compiled by Jagadguru Sri Maha Periyava – Kanchi Paramacharya fb
Hara Hara Shankara Jaya Jaya Shankara

Categories: Devotee Experiences

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