The Lord Who Did Exactly As He Was Told: Yathoktakari Perumal

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.