Neelakanta Dikshithar – Origin of
Ananda Sagara Sthavam
Tradition,
supported in a way, by the internal evidence by the works of Nilakanta, has
evoked the charming legends about his life – history, about his port life,
entry into the Pandya dynasty, as the Prime Minister of Thirumala Naik, his
brilliant career like that of Manikavachakar and his last stage of life in the
Palamada village.
In the
course of a family partition of Appayya dynasty, budding boy Nilakanta declared
unhesitatingly that he value Appayya’s blessing higher than even a Maharaja,
with tears of pride and joy welling up in his eyes. Ayyappa had given
Neelkanta, Raghuvamsa and Devi Mahatmayam in palm leaf manuscripts with 200
lines on each leaf which he had sent to him in Madura.
Pathanjali
in yoga shastram solemly answers – Sathyaprathirshayam
Kriyaphalashrayathvam. Bhavabhuti is the Uthra Rama Charithra which declares:
Lokaikanaam Hi Sadhunamartham Vananuvarthahey!
Rishinaam Prunuradhyanaam Vaachmarthaanudhavathi!!
The daily
discourse on Devi Mahatmayam, regularly delivered by Nilakanta while yet in his
teens on the banks of Swarna Padmin, the ancient soul. Stirring in oriental
style, nonchalantly disappearing before an ever growing gathering of thousands
of people who often gathered to listen to him at the river banks. Thirumal
Nayak himself during his routine nocturnal visits, revealed the priceless
treasures hidden within the tiny frame of Neelakanta. He at once set his heart
upon making the boy his Prime Minister. On returning to his palace he openly
proclaimed and declared about entrusting him with the position of prime
minister.
To steam the
tide of discomfort surging among his indigenous subjects against the
introduction of an alien element among them, he set forward a test. In those
days, a king was learned and scholar in many languages. The king, in true
oriental style, offered the position of being a prime minister to anyone who
would answer his simple question.
“How did
Kakah (Crow) come to be called Kakah?”
Vacant
looks, violent heart beats and shaking heads were the only respond king got
from the onlookers. The kind was about to dissolve the gathering of learned
scholars, when a young lad rose to his feet with a stern and resolute look on
his face from a remote corner. The young lad was none other than Neelakanta.
His response was as follows:
Seethev Rama Iva Amaya Dayaya Bhuvan Iva Kakah!
Dwathyaathmaghoshavachasa Tajathiyanaam Thadaiva
Sangyaseetha!!
Meaning:
When all the merciful Sitha devi, unmindful of the outrage committed on her by
Jayantha, son of Indra, had come in form of a crow and pecked her boson
intrigued generously by her incense. But in the presence of Sitha Devi’s
husband, the all pervading and all forgiving Ramachandra, Jayanth stood seeking
pardon. Both Sitha Devi and Ramachandra decided to forgive the hideous act of
Jayanth. In response to being forgiven, Jayanth cried aloud:
Which woman
in this world (Kaha) can equal Sitha in KChama (forgiveness)?
Which man in
this world (Kaha) can equal Rama in Daya (charity)?
Thus,
pronounced by them gave tise to the appellation Kakah. Applause
greeted the small figure from all directions and he was at all without
hesitation installed as Prime Minister of the kingdom.
Amidst the
pleasures and splendors of a life in a dazzling royal court, Nilakanta was
living the austere, serene life of a Recluses.
On fine
morning at the behest of Tirumal Nayak the usual Palanquin appeared before the
house of Nilakanta, earlier than the appointed time, for taking his to the
Royal court room. Neelakanta’s daughter who was 18 years old and was visiting
her parents along with her 25 year old husband stepped out of the house to
inform the palanquin bearers that her father was in Cobbler’s house. But, when
they were about to leave, they happened to notice that Neelakantha was very
much in the house and stopped immediately to argue with his daughter. Hearing
the commotion, Neelakantha stepped out of his house. On understanding the
situation , he smiled at the palanquin bearers and informed them that his
daughter had indeed spoken the truth. He explained to the perplexed audience
that though he was physically seated in front of the God in the state of
worshipping, he was actually thinking about his worn out sandals which he had
sent out to the cobbler for mending. He was concerned about the fact that even
after a few days of time, the cobbler had not returned the mended sandals. He
then proudly announced that though married for 10 years, his daughter still
could read his mind like an open book.
Between 1628
and 1635, the construction of the famous Pudu Mandapam was underway.
Sundaramurthi Apari, the palace sculptor, had carved out in a pillar of marble
exquisitely the figure of Lord Shiva’s
Ekpadhmurthy with Lord
Brahma on one side and Lord Vishnu on the other side. The vaishnava (believers
of Lord Vishnu) objected to such an installation. Nearly, for a period of six
months, a controversy raged between the Shaivaites (believers of Lord Shiva) and Vaishnavites (believers
of Lord Vishnu). The controversy started to ease out only with continuous
dialect and leadership skills displayed by Nilakanta. Sundara Murthi Apari had
then easily gained name and fame for reaching perfection in his art at his very
first display of the art.
While
chiseling the statue of senior queen of Thirumal Nayak, which was intended to
be placed in the Pudu Mandapam, a thin slice was cut away from the right thigh
of the statue, leaving that part defective. Perplexed and perturbed beyong measure,
Sudharamurthi rushed to Nilakanta and outpoured his story. Nilakanta examined
the statue and concluded that a normal onlooker might not decipher the defect
and hence, advised the sculptor to go ahead and install the statue in its
deemed place.
To the great
tragedy of Nilakanta, king’s sharp eyes noticed the defect and the sculptor on
being summoned outpoured the entire story. King immediately doubted Nilakanta’s
purity as unfortunately his queen indeed had a mole in her thigh. King accused
Nilakanta of having illicit relation with his wife and ordered burning camphor
in Nilakanta’s eyes to blind him for life.
King’s
soldiers arrested Nilakanta when he was in the middle of offering his prayers
to Goddess Meenakshi in the Puja room in his residence. The soldiers carried
out king’s orders and Nilakanta became blind as a result. On interference from
his queen and other learned courtiers, King realized that he had passed a wrong
judgment without any enquiry. Smitten by his conscience, he rushed to Nilakanta
and filled with remorse, begged for his forgiveness.
Touched by
king’s request, Nilakanta set into a communication with Goddess Meenakshi
requesting the Goddess to forgive the King cure him so that King could overcome
his guilt. His communication with the Goddess gave birth to one of most
beautiful poems, “Anand Sagarasthava”. This is a 105 verse poem which is heart
felt prayer from Nilakanta for restoration of his eye sight with a view of
giving relief to the guilt conscience king than to himself.
Nilakanta
then regained his eye sight but the King’s accusation of his illicit relation
with the queen was intolerable to him. He left the Royal court and moved to
Palamadai village where he ended his life.
Written By: P S Venkatachalam
Edited by: Aparna RamMohan Sridhar
Courtesy: http://thanjavurpalakkadmami.blogspot.in/2012/10/neelakanta-dikshithar-origin-of-ananda.html
Note: Sri Nilakanta Deekshithar wanted to renounce worldly things and wanted to have a peaceful life to further his sadana and he settled at Palamadai village gifted to him by Thirumalai Nayaka the ruler of Madurai. His Adhistanam is in Palamadai. Supportive material is available in ASI Majura Manual Epigraphy Section of Majura Manual published in the year 1983 84.
