The One who Tasted the Lord!

A young boy ran into the Srirangam temple, yelling from afar to catch the Bhattar’s attention.

“Swamin, come fast, everyone is waiting for you at the Aryabhatta Gate!”

“What happened? Why the hurry?”

“Some people have come from Tirupati, carrying an utsava murthy looking just like ours! And they’re calling him AzhagiyamanavAzhan and claiming that He is the Lord of Srirangam!”

Bhattar and the boy rushed to the site of the pandemonium. A clash of words had broken out between the visitors – the Kodavar family of Tirupati, and the residents of Srirangam.

“We have our utsava murthy, our ThiruarangumAzhagiAr here already. Who is this Lord whom you bring?” thundered the Srirangam side.

“Sixty years ago, the Srivaishnavas from Srirangam were fleeing from the Mughal invaders. At the risk of their lives, they brought AzhagiyamanavAzhan to us, and all these years, we protected Him. Now that the danger of the invaders has passed, we wish Him to be installed in His rightful home!” came the firm reply from the Kodavar family members.

Everyone looked to Bhattar for the solution, but he was equally clueless. The issue was taken to the king.

“Look all over the kingdom! Find anyone who was living in those days during the Mughal invasion!” ordered the king. “Let us see if we can ascertain the truth of this claim.”

News spread of this strange turn of events.

An old washerman of the Srirangam temple tottered towards Bhattar.

“I was a young boy during the Mughal invasion. I can help you find out which is the original utsava murthy.”

“You! But you are blind! You can’t even see the form of the Lord!”

The old washerman explained his plan. Preparations were made at once. 

Thirumanjanam (ritualistic bath of the Lord) was performed to both the utsava murthys. 

The devotees waited with bated breath. 

Water was wrung out of the clothes of the two utsavar murthys. 

Bhattar offered this thirumanjana teertham of the newly arrived murthy AzhagiyamanavAzhan to the blind old washerman.

No sooner did he swallow it, then the old man sang out in ecstasy.

“NamPerumal! This is our Perumal!" 

"Are you sure?" asked a few doubting voices.

"Yes, I'm sure! All those years ago, before the Mughal invasion, everyday, my father  used to give me the tirumanjana theertham of the Lord. Today, I recognize that same old taste in the teertham of this murthy!" cried the blind old washerman.

After sixty long years, the Lord’s original utsava murthy had finally returned home.

And that is why till today inside the sannidhi, we have the rare sight of two utsava murthys being worshipped.

Image and information: https://kshetrapuranas.wordpress.com/2009/03/07/the-saga-of-thulukka-naachiyaar-sri-rangam/

How great is the glory of this old washerman's devotion that he could not see the Lord, but he could taste Him!

In honour of his invaluable service, the washerman was given the name “Eeram Kolli” – which means “the one who recognized wetness”.

This incident brings to light how devotion can make even a blind man “see”.

But equally, important, it opens our eyes to the enormous efforts our ancestors took and the sacrifices they made to protect our Sanatana Dharma.

The least we can offer in homage is to lead our lives according to the teachings of that Sanatana Dharma.