Miraculous Return of Lord Arumuga

Miraculous Return of Lord Arumuga by Chitra Murthy It all happened in the 17th Century when Dutch looters came by sea to Tiruchendur in India on 20th February 1649 and encamped there. The locals objected to the Dutch and an armed confrontation followed. Three Dutch soldiers lost their lives in this and the Dutch demanded compensation. The Indians categorically refused. Irate Dutch pirates started plundering many temples. They took away the idol of Lord Arumuga mistaking it to be a golden idol and also an idol of Lord Nataraja.   They set sail with the idols on board. They didn't anticipate the danger they faced by this unscrupulous act. They set sailed with the idols on board. The Dutch had not gone far when their ship was capsized by deadly storm and torrential rains. This made the Dutch think that the calamity had struck them because they had the stolen the deities. They quickly threw Lord Nataraja's idol overboard. Still the cyclone refused to abate. Then they tied the idol of Arumuga with a rope and lowered it into the sea. To their surprise the storm subsided. Relieved to have escaped from the danger for their lives they continued their journey back home. After this the temple was deprived of the festivities for a couple of years. A that time a local called Vadamaliappa Pillai, a devotee of Senthil Andavan, used to work for the British. Lord Muruga came in his dream and told that his idol was at the bottom of the sea.  He would be able to spot the exact location when he finds a lemon floating and a garuda (Vishnu's mount) circling right above it.  As guided in his dream he went to sea and brought the idols of Lord Nataraja and Arumuga back to the temple .The festivities were resumed with fervour. This story has been preserved for eternity as drawings on the ceiling of the temple. To date you can see the evidence of the idol submerged in salty water as scars on its face. Researcher Mr Somasundara Mudaliyar says the word ‘Thirunallaru' is carved at the base of the idol of Lord Nataraja. This is the reason for the idol in the chariot taken out during the Masi Brahmotsavam, appearing as Lord Muruga at the front and Nataraja on its back. Masi Brahmotsavam is held every year in Thiruchendur. There is also a widespread notion that Lord Muruga gave his Dance Darshan to Saint Arunagirinadhar in Thiruchendur granting his entreaty and hence this twin darshan in one idol. Courtesy: Gnana Alayam, May 2013 About the Author Chitra Murthy, an ardent devotee of Lord Muruga, writes many research articles on Thiruppugazh and gives musical discourses on Thiruppugazh. She also teaches Thiruppugazh to interested students in Chennai. She learned Thiruppugazh from Thiruppugazh Gana Chakravarthy Guruji Shri A.S. Ragavan and Thiruppugazh Adimai Shri Natarajan. Guruji Shri Ragavan helped her to explore the expanse of Thiruppugazh ocean and Thiruppugazh Adimai Shri Natarajan helped her to delve deep into it. Source : Murugan Bhakti editor@murugan.org via mail28.wdc03.rsgsv.net  %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

FOOD IS GIFT OF GOD

                Food is Gift of God Kids Moral Story

Once upon a time there was a girl named Samridhi. She was 10 years old. She was very intelligent and good girl. Everyone in the family liked her a lot. Her hobbies were drawing, dancing, pottery etc. But she had one bad habit. Whenever she was unable to finish her Tiffin, she would throw it in the garbage in school and would lie to her mom. Her mom was aware of her habit and tried all methods to stop her from doing so but she didn’t.

Totally upset with this habit of Samridhi, her mom thought of complaining it to the teacher but teacher was careless and rather she had to look at 50 students of class. So no improvement was seen in Samridhi. Then on one Sunday her mom thought of an idea which she shared with her father. He also agreed with it. So the full family planned a picnic on coming Sunday. Samridhi was excited full week and on Saturday she made all preparations for the picnic tomorrow. On Sunday the left for the picnic spot. In car her father said that he had some important work on the way which he will finish in 10 minutes. All agreed to it. Her father stopped the car near a signal where some children were begging.

Her mother asked her to go and ask the children why they were doing so. She went and asked to one of them. The beggar said “I haven’t eaten anything since yesterday. I am very hungry. I am doing this so that I can manage some food for myself and a small brother”. This shocked Samridhi. Then her mother came to her and said “Beti, we are lucky that god has given us everything we want. We don’t have to beg in front of others. You should feel lucky and thank god. And keep in mind never waste anything. If you have something extra you can give it to the needy”. Hearing this Samridhi went to the car and brought the eatables which her mother had cooked for picnic and distributed it to the beggars there. Her mother, father was very happy seeing this. They gave her a treat in a restaurant nearby and took her to a park in the evening. Samridhi also promised her parents that she would never throw food in garbage and would always help the needy.

Moral: Food is a very big gift of god and so we should not waste it.

Source : http://www.hindudevotionalblog.com

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KRISHNA AND SUDAMA FRIENDSHIP

             Krishna and Sudama Friendship

Friendship story of Krishna and Sudama teaches us several important lessons. God has gifted us our relationships whether it’s a father, mother, uncle, aunt, brother sister, son and daughter but there are two relations we choose ourselves one is our soul mate and other is our friends. Friendship is a very wonderful relation. Though not bounded by blood sometimes friends become more important than blood relations. Pure and selfless friendship is very difficult to find in this selfish world today and friendship like Sree Krishna and Sudama (known as Kuchela in South India) is just next to impossible.

Krishna was a king and Sudama was a poor Brahmin. Krishna and Sudama were in same Gurukul. They were friends since childhood. One day guru Mata (wife of guru) asked Krishna and Sudama to bring some woods from the forest. She gave them some eatables so that if it gets late while returning they can eat it. While returning it started raining heavily. They took shelter under the tree they found around. The eatables were with Sudama and he ate them all without sharing it with Krishna. When guru Mata came to know about it she cursed Sudama that he will remain poor all his life.

Krishna became king of Dwarka and Sudama remained a poor Brahmin. One day Sudama’s wife insisted him to go to Dwarka and ask for help from Shri Krishna. Sudama hesitated but finally agreed as he was unable to provide even a onetime meal to his kids. So he travelled to Dwarka and reached Krishna’s palace. He asked the guards to tell Shri Krishna that his childhood friend Sudama is here to meet him. They made fun of him addressing a poor Brahmin and a king can never be friends. But as soon as the news reached Lord Krishna he came out of his palace bare foot to meet his childhood friend.

SUDAMA & LORD KRISHNA

He welcomed him in his palace and after dinner they discussed all old memories. Sudama’s wife gave some raw rice for Shri Krishna as present which Sudama was hesitating to give. But Krishna took it from him and ate with full of love and affection. With this he made him king and removed his poverty. But Sudama was unaware of this gift and while leaving he looked at Krishna with hopeful eyes expecting some kind of favour. All the way he was thinking what he will say to his wife and children. All their hopes will be shattered. When he reached his house he saw a palace instead of a hut. He thought some big landlord must have acquired his place but when he saw his wife and children coming out of the palace he was amazed. He started thanking Shri Krishna.

This is true friendship that one does a favor and doesn’t tell the other that he is doing so. Also when one becomes rich he is the same old friend of the other irrespective of the status.

source : http://www.hindudevotionalblog.com/2013/06/krishna-and-sudama-friendship-story.

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