“These bananas are spoilt.”
“Discard them, give them to some cow.”
“Where will we find a cow now?”
And, with that last, seemingly rhetorical question, I went and placed the bananas near the Tulsi plant.
If you’re thinking that it’s strange of me to be reporting this mundane conversation, wait till you learn of the stranger event that followed.
It was a normal relaxed Sunday morning.
I had just finished purchasing vegetables from the vendor who comes by my house, and was turning to go back inside.
Just then, a man leading a Basava (bull), began passing by. Even as I had the thought that I should offer some money to him, the guy called out,
“Akka, do pooja for Basava! Offer him a banana, at least!”
I agreed, went inside, brought a banana – a fresh one – and started to offer it while also extending the money towards the man.
He stopped me, saying,
“Give Basava some rice and jaggery also, Akka!”
As I turned to go inside again to get those items, the guy declared,
“Wait, Akka, I’ll bring Basava inside your house! You can do the pooja to him there itself!”
Now, I know that a cow entering your house is one of the most auspicious events that can happen. But I wasn’t too sure about whether that held true for a bull, too. But then, the Basava was carrying a vigraha of some deity, so I guessed it was good only.
The next moment, it struck me that the vigraha was adorned with 3 horizontal lines on the forehead - a direction that was obviously not in alignment with the 3 vertical lines of the sampradaya we follow!
And because of my relatively liberal upbringing, I didn’t know if this should be a cause for concern. But then, haven’t we often welcomed people with those same 3 horizontal lines on their forehead into our home, who have come asking for donations, and never sent them away empty-handed? Then, where’s the question of doubt now when their presiding deity is at the door?
Even as all these conflicting thoughts ran through my mind, the decision was made for me. The man started walking in through the gate, following me into the house, pulling Basava behind him.I powdered some jaggery, mixed it with some rice in a plate and offered it to him. Then both me and my husband respectfully did pradakshina of the Basava, and the next moment, there was the gurgling sound of a holy outpouring from Basava.
“Don’t worry, Akka, it’s a blessing, only!”
The guy spoke pacifyingly, perhaps because he was worried about what these city people thought of such things, little realizing that if someone knows enough to let Basava enter, they know that this outpouring was a sanctification of the home, too! 
Was it a special kind of tug that Basava recognized as meaning “Stay, don’t move”? or was Basava really waiting for something else? I don’t really know the answer but Basava kept resisting the move.
Now the man told us that he was taking Basava to a place where a temple (of that deity on Basava’s forehead) was being constructed. And followed it up by saying that perhaps Basava wanted us to contribute money to that temple.
Now someone who has been willing to offer pooja for Basava is not likely to refuse this request, right?
So, some more daana was given and now, Basava walked out peacefully.
The entire episode was surreal, and left us in a kind of daze.
Because, remember the earlier conversation I reported about offering spoiled bananas to a cow?
Was that us tuning into the universe’s plan, or was the plan orchestrated by the Lord to let us fulfil our wish?
Either way, it feels like yet another occasion where the Lord has showered His ‘nirhetuka krupa’ – unmerited, unconditional grace – on us!
In any temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu in the shayana, or reclining, form, He lies from left to right, on Adisesha, on His back or right side, with His right arm supporting His head or resting on a pillow. His left hand extends along His side.
However, in the Tiruvekka temple at Kanchipuram, this form is uniquely reversed, giving it the name Maaru Sayanam — the “Different Sleeping Posture.” Here, the Lord rests from right to left, with His head on His left arm. Not only is His posture different, He has a unique name too.
In Sanskrit, He is known as Yathoktakari, and in Tamil, Sonna Vannam Seitha Perumal. Both mean, “The Lord who did exactly as He was told.”
What did He do? By whom was He told to do it? And who was it that dared to give instructions to the Supreme Lord Himself?
When Tirumazhisai Azhwar was living near the Tiruvekka temple in Kanchipuram, an old lady served him with devotion. Pleased with her service, the Azhwar blessed her to regain her youth.
Charmed by her beauty, the king married her. But over the years, he noticed that while he was growing older, she seemed to remain young without ageing.
When he asked her about it, she revealed the secret of how she had regained her youth.
The king now wanted the same boon. So he sent word for Tirumazhisai Azhwar to come to the court.
The Azhwar wasn't there, so his ardent devotee, Kanikannan, went to the king's court to find out the reason for the summons.
The king conveyed his wish to Kanikannan.
Kanikannan replied that his guru would not use his spiritual power to fulfil a petty worldly desire of the king.
The king flew into a rage.
“How can your guru disobey me? Tell him that he must come to court and sing my glories!”
“My guru, Tirumazhisai Azhwar, only sings the glories of Lord Sriman Narayana. He will never use his tongue to glorify a mere human being.”
“If your guru won't do it, then you, his disciple, must do it!”
“My tongue only sings the glories of my guru. It will not sing the glories of anyone else!”
Furious, the king ordered Kanikannan to leave Kanchipuram.
Kanikannan returned to his guru and reported everything. He then started walking away, obeying the king's command.
Tirumazhisai Azhwar began walking behind him.
And then, Azhwar turned to the Lord of Tiruvekka.
“Kanikannan is leaving. I am leaving. You too roll up Your serpent bed and follow us!”
And the Lord did exactly that!
He rose from His serpent bed and followed Tirumazhisai Azhwar, who was following Kanikannan.
The three of them left Kanchipuram.
And immediately, the town lost its brilliance and prosperity.
The king rushed to seek forgiveness from the Lord, whose departure had plunged the place into darkness.
The Lord directed him to Tirumazhisai Azhwar.
Azhwar pointed him towards Kanikannan, who humbly accepted the apology and prepared to return to Kanchipuram.
Kanikannan began walking back.
Tirumazhisai Azhwar began to follow him.
Then he turned to the Lord and said:
“Kanikannan is returning to Tiruvekka. I am returning. You too roll up Your serpent bed and come back with us!”
And the Lord did exactly that!
Only, when He returned, in a hurry, He lay down from right to left instead of the original left to right position.
Or, as some Acharyas explain, perhaps He lay down in this unique position as a permanent reminder of how He bends to the will of His dear devotee.
This story tells us something profound about the relationship between Bhagavan and His bhakta.
The infinite Lord becomes bound to the words of a finite being.
Out of overpowering love, the all-powerful Lord gives up His power and simply obeys the instructions of His devotee.
We often think of devotion as our effort to reach God.
We travel to temples, undertake pilgrimages, chant His name, offer flowers, and we fold our hands and pray. Which is wonderful.
But Yathoktakari Perumal reminds us of something even more beautiful.
When the relationship between the devotee and the Lord becomes deep enough, the direction can reverse.
It is not merely the devotee going towards the Lord.
The Lord comes after the devotee.
When Tirumazhisai Azhwar said,
“I am going. You come with me.”
The Lord quietly followed him….
That is why, even today, the name of this Perumal carries the memory of that astonishing moment.
Not simply Vishnu or Narayana or the Lord reclining on Adisesha.
Yathoktakari. Sonna Vannam Seitha Perumal.
The Lord who did as He was told!
The Lord does not become smaller by obeying His devotee.
He becomes more lovable.
He has been waiting for us since eternity.
All that remains is for us to turn towards Him.
