by: Sri Swami Sivananda
Cheraman Perumal Nayanar
was born in Kodunkolur. It was the capital city of Malai Nadu or the present
Kerala. He was born in the royal family of Kothayars, otherwise known as the
Uthiyan family. The name Cheraman was the common name for all Cheras. Perumal
was the title adopted by him after his coronation. His original name was
Perum-Ma-Kothayar. He was endowed with good Samskaras. He had great devotion to
the Lord even as a child. As he grew, his devotion also grew. He had a
remarkable degree of dispassion and discrimination. He did not like to rule the
country: and so, when he came of age, he renounced the world and went to Tiru
Anchaikalam and engaged himself in the worship of the Lord there. The country
was ruled by Sengol Porayan. He, too, soon realised the evanescence of worldly
life and renounced the world! He had no issues and the throne was vacant. They
went to Tiru Anchaikalam and requested Perum-Ma-Kothayar to ascend the throne.
Though he was reluctant, lest it should interfere with his daily worship, he
bowed to the divine will. He went to the temple and offered a prayer. The Lord
permitted him to accept the rulership. By the Lords grace he ascended the
throne and ruled the country justly and wisely. He could understand all
languages, even the language of the birds. The Lord had bestowed upon him all
the Aiswaryas, great strength, royal vehicles, etc.
After the coronation, he
went to the temple and after worshipping the Lord he was returning to the
palace. On the way, he saw a washerman whose body had been smeared with white
sand and mud. The very sight enraptured Cheraman who saw in him the image of
Lord Siva with the sacred ash smeared all over the body. He was raised to
God-consciousness. He descended from the elephant and fell at the feet of the
washerman, in spite of the latters protest. All were wonderstruck to witness
the supreme devotion of Cheraman.
By his many acts of
devotion and piety, he earned the grace of Lord Siva. The Lord sent to him a
renowned musician and devotee, Banapatirar, with a palm leaf on which was the
Lords own song in praise of Cheraman! It read: Oh king who honours great
poets with rich presents, who rules his subjects with love! Glory to you! I am
very highly pleased with your devotion and charitable nature. The bearer of
this message is Banapatirar who is a great devotee like you. He is a great
musician and always sings My glories on his favourite instrument, Yazh. He has
come to see you. Welcome him with due respect and honour him with plenty of
riches. Cheraman welcomed the musician with great love and devotion. When he
read the song of the Lord, he was overjoyed and rolled on the ground. He said
to Banapatirar: Oh noble soul, kindly take possession of all these and accept
my kingdom also. Banapatirar was astounded to witness the kings devotion and
said: Oh king, I am highly pleased with your Darshan. I shall accept only what
is absolutely necessary for me, for that has been the command of the Lord. He
took what he needed and left Kodunkolur on an elephant. Cheraman escorted him
up to the border.
Cheraman was greatly
devoted to Lord Nataraja. He had surrendered his body, mind and soul to Him. He
would daily worship the Lord: and, by His grace, at the time of his prayer, he
would hear the musical sound produced by the Lords anklets during His dance. One
day, however, at the time of the prayer, he did not hear the usual divine
sound. Cheraman was greatly afflicted at heart. He thought that he must have
been guilty of a great crime and decided to end his life, with his sword. At
once he heard the divine sound and a voice in the sky explained: Oh noble
soul, My friend Nambi Arurar has come to Tillai and he was singing sweet Tamil
songs. I was completely absorbed in that and hence the delay in blessing you
with the musical sound of My anklet. The Lord wanted to create a friendship
between Sundarar and Cheraman and so spoke highly of Sundarar to Cheraman.
Cheraman, desirous of worshipping Lord Nataraja and also of meeting Sundarar,
at once started for Tillai. The very sight of the Lord in Tillai entranced him.
He sang Pon Vannathu Anthadi on Lord Nataraja. In appreciation, the Lord
blessed him with the musical sound of His anklets. Cheraman was swimming in
divine bliss.
Before Cheraman reached
Tillai, Sundarar had already left the place. Cheraman proceeded to Tiruvarur
where he met Sundarar. They embraced each other and fell at each others feet.
They became fast friends. At Tiruvarur Cheraman composed the famous Tiru
Mummanikovai on Lord Thiagaraja.
Then they went to
Vedaranyam. There Cheraman sang his Tiru Anthati on the Lord. After visiting
many shrines on the way they came to Madura. The Pandyan king welcomed them.
The Chola prince who was staying with the Pandyan king also welcomed them. In
their company the great saints visited many shrines. Taking leave of the kings,
Cheraman and Sundarar returned to Tiruvarur. From there, at the request of
Cheraman, Sundarar accompanied him to Kodunkolur. There Cheraman took Sundarar
on an elephant and went round the city in procession.
When
Sundarar returned to Tiruvarur, he had instructed Cheraman to rule the country
justly and wisely. Cheraman obeyed the saints commands. On the next occasion
when Sundarar visited Kodunkolur one day Sundarar suddenly left the place and
went to the sacred shrine at Tiru Anchaikalam where he sought the Lords grace
and attained Liberation. By intuition, Cheraman learnt of Sundarars release
and he also attained the Lotus Feet of the Lord, as we have already seen, while
dealing with Sundaramurthi Nayanars life. In Kailasa, Cheraman became the
chief of Lord Sivas Ganas (servants).
|