Post by jksivan on Oct 3, 2013 19:24:09 GMT 5.5
24 COME TO ME
Dear children
One thing is very clear when we read the Vittalan stories. Rich or poor, young or old, educated or illiterate. None of these matters. HE wanted only their pure love and devotion. That is what made them closer to him. Even in this story, we shall be able to see the fine thread of love with a tinge of sadness.
Mangalaveda was a town a little far from Pandaripuram. There lived a woman who was not well respected by the town people. She had a daughter by the name Kanopathra. Kanopathra was very beautiful. The mother was so proud to have a beautiful daughter and she thought of making money by using her. She decided to take her to King. She felt that if the King sees her dance, he would give money.
So the mother kept on nagging the daughter to go to the palace. But Kanopathra had other ideas. She wanted a handsome person who could be equal to her beauty. She was worried that the King would take her as his wife for some time and leave her in the harem as she becomes old. So she kept on delaying her visit to the palace.
One day, she saw a group of Pandurangan devotees singing and dancing their way to Pandaripuram. She prostrated to them and asked "where are you all going?".
They said "We are going to Pandaripuram to have darshan of Vittalan".
She asked "Who is Vittalan and what attracts you to him?".
They replied "We cannot describe Vittalan's beauty, strength in words. You have to see HIM to understand. He is equal to the beauty of thousand Mahalakshmis".
"Will he allow me to see him? Will you take me?" asked Kanopathra.
They answered "It is enough if the thought of visiting him comes into your mind. He would happily welcome you".
Hearing this, Kanopathra decided to go to Pandaripuram. She convinced her mother and took a Veena in hand and went to Pandaripuram with the devotees.
When she saw Vittalan in Pandaripuram, Kanopathra completely forgot herself. She felt that He was hers. She sang his praises and danced. She lived in the temple itself.
One day, the Sultan's minister visited the temple. He saw Kanopathra and told the Sultan about her beauty. The Sultan fell for her beauty and ordered his messengers to bring her to him. The Sultan's soldiers reached Pandaripuram.
They caught Kanopathra. However hard she tried, she could not escape. She cried "Hey Vittala! I cannot leave you. I am yours. I shall not allow others to touch me". But no use. She begged the soldiers to leave her. Nothing worked. They took her in the Palanquin and went. The moment she thought Vittalan, she felt HE came to her and said something.
She smiled and said "Sir! I shall come with you but please allow me to go into Pandaripuram temple only once. I shall have a darshan of Vittalan and then come with you". The leader of the soldiers was touched by her request and let her go.
She jumped from the palanquin and ran into the temple like an arrow from the bow. She hugged Vittalan and showered him with her tears. She lamented 'Hey Vittala! Please do not separate me from you anymore. I cannot bear it". She heard Vittalan saying "Yes. I cannot leave you either. Come to me".
Kanopathra replied "I am giving myself to you".
Vittalan said "Yes. You have come to me and joined me". True to his words, Kanopathra's soul joined Vittalan.
As per Vittalan's wish, her body was buried near the temple. Even today, she is there in the temple in the form of a beautiful Tree for us to pray.
Dear children
One thing is very clear when we read the Vittalan stories. Rich or poor, young or old, educated or illiterate. None of these matters. HE wanted only their pure love and devotion. That is what made them closer to him. Even in this story, we shall be able to see the fine thread of love with a tinge of sadness.
Mangalaveda was a town a little far from Pandaripuram. There lived a woman who was not well respected by the town people. She had a daughter by the name Kanopathra. Kanopathra was very beautiful. The mother was so proud to have a beautiful daughter and she thought of making money by using her. She decided to take her to King. She felt that if the King sees her dance, he would give money.
So the mother kept on nagging the daughter to go to the palace. But Kanopathra had other ideas. She wanted a handsome person who could be equal to her beauty. She was worried that the King would take her as his wife for some time and leave her in the harem as she becomes old. So she kept on delaying her visit to the palace.
One day, she saw a group of Pandurangan devotees singing and dancing their way to Pandaripuram. She prostrated to them and asked "where are you all going?".
They said "We are going to Pandaripuram to have darshan of Vittalan".
She asked "Who is Vittalan and what attracts you to him?".
They replied "We cannot describe Vittalan's beauty, strength in words. You have to see HIM to understand. He is equal to the beauty of thousand Mahalakshmis".
"Will he allow me to see him? Will you take me?" asked Kanopathra.
They answered "It is enough if the thought of visiting him comes into your mind. He would happily welcome you".
Hearing this, Kanopathra decided to go to Pandaripuram. She convinced her mother and took a Veena in hand and went to Pandaripuram with the devotees.
When she saw Vittalan in Pandaripuram, Kanopathra completely forgot herself. She felt that He was hers. She sang his praises and danced. She lived in the temple itself.
One day, the Sultan's minister visited the temple. He saw Kanopathra and told the Sultan about her beauty. The Sultan fell for her beauty and ordered his messengers to bring her to him. The Sultan's soldiers reached Pandaripuram.
They caught Kanopathra. However hard she tried, she could not escape. She cried "Hey Vittala! I cannot leave you. I am yours. I shall not allow others to touch me". But no use. She begged the soldiers to leave her. Nothing worked. They took her in the Palanquin and went. The moment she thought Vittalan, she felt HE came to her and said something.
She smiled and said "Sir! I shall come with you but please allow me to go into Pandaripuram temple only once. I shall have a darshan of Vittalan and then come with you". The leader of the soldiers was touched by her request and let her go.
She jumped from the palanquin and ran into the temple like an arrow from the bow. She hugged Vittalan and showered him with her tears. She lamented 'Hey Vittala! Please do not separate me from you anymore. I cannot bear it". She heard Vittalan saying "Yes. I cannot leave you either. Come to me".
Kanopathra replied "I am giving myself to you".
Vittalan said "Yes. You have come to me and joined me". True to his words, Kanopathra's soul joined Vittalan.
As per Vittalan's wish, her body was buried near the temple. Even today, she is there in the temple in the form of a beautiful Tree for us to pray.