by: Sri Swami Sivananda
Punithavathiar as
Karaikal Ammaiyar was called, was born in a Vaisya family. Her father was
Danadathan. He was a wealthy merchant. He was very virtuous, too. He and his
dutiful wife prayed to the Lord for a child, and the child the Lord blessed
them with they called Punithavathy. From her childhood, Punithavathy had an
intense love for Lord Siva and His Bhaktas. She was married to Paramadattan, a
wealthy Vaisya. Both of them were leading an ideal householders life.
One day Paramadattan sent
two mangoes to his house. Punithavathy kept them safely so that she could serve
her husband with them at meal-time. In the meantime, a Siva Yogi appeared
before her. He was hungry and completely exhausted. Punithavathy worshipped him
and offered him Bhiksha. She had nothing to give him, except the mangoes. She
gave one to the guest. At midday Paramadattan came to the house. The wife
served him with one mango. He liked it, and asked for the other. She was upset.
She appealed to the Lord for help.
When she finished her prayer, mysteriously a
mango fell on the palm of her hand. She gave it her husband. He tasted it. It
was exceptionally sweet. He asked her to tell him from where she got it, as he
was quite sure it was not the mango he had sent. Punithavathy told him the
whole truth. Paramadattan, however, would not believe this and challenged her
to produce another. She prayed again to the Lord. Another mango appeared on her
palm. She gave it to him. But, at once it disappeared from his hand. He was
astounded. He understood the greatness of his wife. He felt that it was a great
sin to live with her as her husband. On the pretext of going to a foreign country
for trade, he sailed with a ship load of goods. On return, he established
himself in a big city in the Pandyan kingdom. He married a Vaisya girl and
lived happily. He had a daughter by her and he named her Punithavathy, after
his first wife.
Punithavathiyars
relatives came to know of her husbands whereabouts and took her also there in
a palanquin. When Paramadattan heard that Punithavathy was coming to him, he,
with his second wife and child, went forward, and fell at Punithavathys feet.
When the people demanded an explanation, he revealed that he regarded her, not
as his wife, but as a Goddess. Punithavathy understood his mental condition,
and prayed to the Lord: In that case, Oh Lord, deprive me of the present
physical charm and let me have a demonaical form. Her prayer was immediately
granted and her charming body was transformed into a skeleton.
Then she went on a
pilgrimage to the holy Kailasa. Feeling that it would be a great sin to place
her foot on those sacred grounds, she made the last part of the journey on her
head. Mother Parvathy was surprised to see Punithavathys strange form and her
wonderful devotion. Lord Siva told her of Ammaiyars greatness. When she went
near Him, Lord Siva welcomed her with extreme love and granted a boon to her.
She fell at His Feet, and prayed: Oh Lord of Mercy, give me sincere, pure,
unalloyed, eternal and overflowing devotion unto You. I want no more birth. If,
however, I have to take birth here, grant me that I should never forget You.
Whenever You dance, I must be at Your feet singing Your praise. This is my only
wish. Lord Siva granted the boon and asked her to proceed to Tiruvalangadu to
witness His dance. She went to that place and spent her life singing the praise
of Lord Siva.
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