Post by Amritha Varshini on Dec 4, 2013 7:20:08 GMT 5.5
Vadalur Vallalar - Part 1
Childhood
Ramayya Pillai and Chinnamai were leading a simple life at Marudhur in South Arcot district a village 15 km north-west of Chidambaram. Pillai was a teacher in a local school and an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva. They were blessed with four children [Sabhapathi, Parasuraman, Sundarammal, Unnamulai]. A sage visited their house a fine morning and conveyed the message that a child of extraordinary brilliance would be born to them. Days turned into months and on 5th October 1823 a baby boy was born to the delight of the couple. They named him Ramalingam. When Ramalinga was five months old his parents took him to the Chidambaram temple and when the priest offered the traditional “Deeparadhana” to the Lord the child laughed aloud as if to tell the world that he will later worship the eternal God in the form of Deepam or Light as “Arut perum Jyothi, Thani perum Karunai”. Child Ramalinga lost his father within a year of his birth in the year 1824. The responsibility of the family fell on the shoulder of Sabhapathi the elder son of the family. Later the family moved to Madras.
Commencement of spiritual journey
Being a teacher himself Sabhapathi wanted to Ramalinga to get educated but Ramalinga showed no interest towards formal education but rather prefer to spend his time in the precincts of Kanda Swamy temple at Kandakottam, [which is near to the present day Parry’s Corner, Madras]. Sabhapati was upset with the behavior of his younger brother Ramalinga and as a punitive measure he instructed his wife not to give his daily meal. However the compassionate sister-in-law secretly fed him food and softly advised Ramalingam to pursue his studies at home. Ramalingam relented with a condition that he is given a separate room of his own which was agreed.
Now in the solitary confines of the room Ramalingam set up a mirror and in front of it lit a small lamp and start mediating relentlessly and this was the beginning of the young Ramalinga’s spiritual journey. The first reward came in the form of a vision of Lord Muruga and in the saints own words “The beauty endowed divine faces six, the illustrious shoulders twelve”. Ramalingam spent most of his time in his room. Sitting before a mirror, he used to meditate and compose poems. As he meditated his individual self had disappeared and the Lord he realized within revealed himself in the reflection on the mirror. Visiting the Kanda Kottam Murugan temple became the daily routine and he felt intensely emotional and poured out his devotion in the form of Deiva Mani Malai, Kandar Sarana Pathu, Shanmugar Kalaipathu etc.,
Interesting incident
Sabapathi was a learned scholar and also a upanyasaka [one who tells religious stories]. It so happened that Sabapathi has to give a spiritual discourse one particular day but due to his poor health condition could not able to go. He deputed Ramalingam to convey the message of his inability to perform. As the organizers could not make alternative arrangements they insisted Ramalingam to perform the role of his brother. A reluctant Ramalingam took the stage. However when he started enunciating a verse from the Periya Puranam he gave a brilliant exposition of Shaiva Sidhantha and kept the audience spell bound and awestruck. “No ordinary person can perform a divine discourse as effortlessly and magnificently as Ramaligam” this was one of the remark from the audience. Later his brother Sabhapathi felt ashamed that he could not able to recognize the greatness of his own brother. The Saint later himself expressed his gratitude to the divine of the performance he gave and said “Effulgent flame of grace that lit in me intelligence to know untaught”.
Divine Composition of “Thiru Arutpa”
Ramalingam gave beautiful expression of his devotion through songs. He composed many verses of poems and the foremost among them was ‘Thiru Arutpa’ which is a collection of 5818 poems divided into six volumes. Thiruvarutpa is considered as an outstanding work of literature and devotion. Such is the devotion and appeal of Thiruvarutpa and has been placed as part of the Twelve Thirumurai or collection of songs sung by Saivite devotees on Lord Shiva. Disciples thronged to hear him and drew immense inspiration from him.
Commencement of spiritual journey
Being a teacher himself Sabhapathi wanted to Ramalinga to get educated but Ramalinga showed no interest towards formal education but rather prefer to spend his time in the precincts of Kanda Swamy temple at Kandakottam, [which is near to the present day Parry’s Corner, Madras]. Sabhapati was upset with the behavior of his younger brother Ramalinga and as a punitive measure he instructed his wife not to give his daily meal. However the compassionate sister-in-law secretly fed him food and softly advised Ramalingam to pursue his studies at home. Ramalingam relented with a condition that he is given a separate room of his own which was agreed.
Now in the solitary confines of the room Ramalingam set up a mirror and in front of it lit a small lamp and start mediating relentlessly and this was the beginning of the young Ramalinga’s spiritual journey. The first reward came in the form of a vision of Lord Muruga and in the saints own words “The beauty endowed divine faces six, the illustrious shoulders twelve”. Ramalingam spent most of his time in his room. Sitting before a mirror, he used to meditate and compose poems. As he meditated his individual self had disappeared and the Lord he realized within revealed himself in the reflection on the mirror. Visiting the Kanda Kottam Murugan temple became the daily routine and he felt intensely emotional and poured out his devotion in the form of Deiva Mani Malai, Kandar Sarana Pathu, Shanmugar Kalaipathu etc.,
Interesting incident
Sabapathi was a learned scholar and also a upanyasaka [one who tells religious stories]. It so happened that Sabapathi has to give a spiritual discourse one particular day but due to his poor health condition could not able to go. He deputed Ramalingam to convey the message of his inability to perform. As the organizers could not make alternative arrangements they insisted Ramalingam to perform the role of his brother. A reluctant Ramalingam took the stage. However when he started enunciating a verse from the Periya Puranam he gave a brilliant exposition of Shaiva Sidhantha and kept the audience spell bound and awestruck. “No ordinary person can perform a divine discourse as effortlessly and magnificently as Ramaligam” this was one of the remark from the audience. Later his brother Sabhapathi felt ashamed that he could not able to recognize the greatness of his own brother. The Saint later himself expressed his gratitude to the divine of the performance he gave and said “Effulgent flame of grace that lit in me intelligence to know untaught”.
Divine Composition of “Thiru Arutpa”
Ramalingam gave beautiful expression of his devotion through songs. He composed many verses of poems and the foremost among them was ‘Thiru Arutpa’ which is a collection of 5818 poems divided into six volumes. Thiruvarutpa is considered as an outstanding work of literature and devotion. Such is the devotion and appeal of Thiruvarutpa and has been placed as part of the Twelve Thirumurai or collection of songs sung by Saivite devotees on Lord Shiva. Disciples thronged to hear him and drew immense inspiration from him.
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