Kalyanapuram Sri Venga had darshan of Sri MahaPeriyava from his early childhood (1933), as his father was an ardent devotee of MahaPeriyava even when Periyava was very young.
Once Sri Venga Thatha saw Sri Kunju Sastrigal, a (poorvashrama) brother of Periyava pleading to HIM for a grand ceremony of ‘Brahmo Upadesam’ (Poonal Kalyanam) for his kid. He wasn’t wealthy. So, he was seeking some monetary support of Periyava.
As we all know, the Kings, Queens, Presidents, Prime Ministers, Chief Ministers, Zamindars, Mirasudhars and the whole world was at the feet of Periyava waiting for His command. Yet, Periyava simplicity personified replied to Sri Kunju Sastrigal…
“There is an event of Dharma-Upanayanam happening at the Kumbakonam Matam… You get it done there!”
[“கும்பகோணம் மடத்துல தர்ம பூணூல் போடறா… நீயும் அங்கேயே போட்டுக்கோ!”].
Sri Kunju Sastrigal was aware about Periyava’s staunch adherence to Dharma but still Periyava’s reply was a shock to him.
“Dharma-Upanayanam?” – Sri Kunju SAstrigal pleaded again…
“From the Matam? Where is the money in Matam (for all these)? If you have maoney you do it, else get a Dharma-Upanayanam!”, Periyava replied. [“மடமா? மடத்துல ஏது பணம்? உன்கிட்டே காசு இருந்தா, நீ போடு. இல்லையனா தர்ம பூணூல் போடு!”]
Sri Kunju Sastrigal was further shocked. Why Matam? If Periyava shows an eye, there are 1000s of VIPs who would come forward and do Periyava’s Purvaashrama grand kid as a very grand festival…
“No way! – There it stood.” [“ம்ம்ஹும்!”], recollects Sri Venga Thatha.
Thatha also says that if a Purvaashrama closer relative comes with any obligation of this sort, Periyava’s stand becomes even more tougher. There is no need to explain further on how this incident would have concluded.
Periyava once told Sri Ugranam Thiyagu Thatha : “Aren’t you aware that I don’t take anything from the Matam other than ‘Vibhuthi’?” [“இந்த மடத்துலே இருந்து விபூதிய தவிற நான் வேற ஏதும் எடுத்துக்கறது இல்லைன்னு உனக்கு தெரியுமோ இல்லையா?”].
That happened when few Sweet Lime fruits(saththukudi) were bought for Rs. 10/- from Sri Matam’s account without Periyava’s knowledge.
Sri Venga thatha also recollects that when two mentally challenged boys, one who was Sri Kunju Sastrigal’s son and the other from a devotee’s family came to Sri Periyava’s camp for possible cure, Sri Periyava was giving solution to the boy from the devotee’s family to stay at ‘Mantralayam’ for 30 days. But HE did not offer any such advise to the other boy from His Purvaashrama brother’s family.
Periyava’s stand of adhering to the righteous is above everyone. No comparison.
Prayers to Periyava to keep us in the right path all the time.
Note: Kalyanapuram Sri Venga Thatha attained the lotus feet of Sri MahaPeriyava in March 2014 at the age of 100. The complete video of Sri Venga Thatha can be viewed below:
I have read of similar incidents in the life of several devotees. Maha Periyava lived such an austere, perfect, life that no one could find a single incident that could point to one example of non adherence to the sastras.
Jaya Jaya Sankara Hara Hara Sankara
Maha Periyava ThiruvadigaLe CharaNam! Hara Hara Shankara, Jaya Jaya Shankara!
namaskaram. I also had the great opportunity of having the darshan of The maha swamiji a few thousand times in my life since Feb 1986 to 1993. Maha periyava was a magnet to attract his bhakthas. Achrayal had given his darshan to my father a learned sanskrit scholar and a simple and pious man in Sirkali town. When Acharyal had camped at the town in late 1940s my father was some 25 years old and was in queue for TIRTHA PRASADA.When his turn to receive Maha periyava asked him, Nee yaru? in Tamil. When my father replied him in Pure Sanskrit periyava signed him to come beside him and started to have conversation with him in sanskrit for an hour till prasad distribution was over. Finally he asked him Yaaroda vandhirukke? He replied ” aathile”. Acharyal called both together and blessed, ksHemama Iru. In 1986 when I went to Kanchipuram on 17th/18th February it was my first visit to Kanchi and I was so anxious since some days to darshan the swami, on reaching Kanchi at 8 AM , we immediately had darshan. Periyava those days would come near the barrier( made of two or three casuarina polls near the makilam tree) and bless each devotees enquiring about all. He saw my father said to the assistant near him, Nethram theriathu polirukku(about my father) who lost his vision midway through his life. It is a wonder that Acharya himself was 92 yrs old then and himself had undergone eye surgery. I was taken aback by the Acharyas vision! His comments were very instant and without even a minute look at my father. hat was my father’s first and last visit to Kanchi. But my start to Kanchi and periyava darshans. My father talked so many things about periyava and mutt to one of his great teachers and maha vidwans Sri Prof.V S Venkata subramanya Sastrigal, who at his ripe age of 90 was appointed to teach sstras, vyakarana etc to Sri Bala periyaval. I always recollect those things and rejoice the peace in mind. It need not be said that The great Swami Maha periyava had great rememberence for his simple devotee whom he last met 40 years back.
Sir,
Are you from Thenpathi,Sirkali?
Mahaperiyava prathyaksha deivam! Ava thaan kamakshi! Avare sakshaath shivaroopam! Avare vishnu! Avare ellam! Innum niraya miracles pannindudhaan irukka periyava!
My Personal Experience He just fulfills whatever you ask Him even if it is silly… He sees only your faith and how affectionate you are to Him…He fulfills wishes like a mother.
He is truth..nothing in life is permanent except His karunai….
Sri Mahaperiyava Thiruvadigale Saranam!
Hara Hara Sankara! Jaya Jaya Sankara!