SASTHAA! – AYYAPPAN! -
Both are NOT one
and the same
There lived a Siva
Devotee called as Dhikshithar (mostly known as Avatar of Siva) in the year 1554
(16th century) and he was seated in the Palace of a Chola King named
Narasimha Bhoopaalan. He went to a
Sastha Temple along with the Dhikshithar.
The king saw the Idol of Sasthaa in a different way. The finger of
Sastha was placed on his nose. The king
and others were astonished on seeing this.
The king wanted to know the reason for such a pose. He enquired with some of the Vedic people
there. One of them replied that a very
eminent and authorized person would clear his doubt. On clearing the doubt automatically the
finger will be removed. On hearing this
answer, the king asked the Dhikshithar to sing for the reason for Sasthaa’s
position like this.
The Dhikshithar was
having head weight. He sung a song. The meaning of the song was “I am the son of
Vishnu. Hence I am equal to Lord
Brahmma. All Devaas also do poojas to
me. I am also the son of Sivan who is the leader of all the Bhoothaganaas. May be all the boothaganaas are around me
also praising me. Sastha would have
thought of this and that is why he was shocked the finger was placed on his
nose”. On completion of the song the
finger had not come down. On seeing
this, the king asked the Dikshithar to continue the song. Dikshithar thought a while. He understood the reason for the position of
Sastha. He continued to sing. The meaning of the song is follows:
As you all know “Sastha
is the son of Mahaavishnu & Sivan and he learned all Vedas from Lord
Brahmma. He is the God of Dharmam. He is
called as Dharma Sastha. This Sastha calls Gowri (Consort of Sivan) as
Mother. Sivas wife is my mother. In any case I will call Mohini (Vishnu) as
Mother since I am born as their (Siva & Vishnu) son. But, how will I call Goddesses Lakshmi (wife
of Vishnu)? Generally, father will
be having a wife.
But, here, a mother is having a wife.
How is it? It is really
wonderful. That is why Sastha has placed
his finger on his nose”. This is the
meaning of the song. Immediately the
king with everybody there saw the Idol.
The hand of Sastha was placed on the right position.
There is another
story also for this. One day Sastha was
sitting over the laps of His father Paramasivan at Kailasam (Everest). During
that time a king known as Palingan ruled Nepal.
Though he was Devotee of Goddess Kali he was very expert in the arts of
Mantram & Thantram. Even then that
King also got aged and he was sinking in the Old age. He got disguised. Some of his Courtiers asked
him to kill one virgin girl in front of Kali.
If you do so the old age will go away.
King also got tempted and wanted to be youngster. Immediately he asked his persons to fetch a
girl and tie her in the temple of Kali. The girl prayed for Sivan and requested
Siva to release her. Sivan also thought
of the girl and asked Sastha to go and release the girl since it is his duty. Because he did that act he is called as
Dharma Sastha. Sastha also in turn went
to the temple and released the girl. He
immediately presented in front of the concerned king. He (Sastha) told, “You being a king, should
rule and save every body in his Kingdome.
Instead he kills a girl. Is it
right? King also realized the matter. He bent down before Sastha and requested him
to marry his daughter Pushkalai. Sastha
also finished the marriage.
Another purana says a
different thing. That is, Sastha married
the Pushkala, sister of Daivayanai w/o God subrmanyan and daughter of Himvan
and was staying in Swarga. As already
told Pushkala is not the daughter of King Palingan.
The days were going
on like that. Once upon a time a King
named Pinchagan was ruling Kingdome of Vanchimanagar. He was famous in Devotion to God. Not only was that he also notorious in
welcoming the guests and treating them nicely.
One day the king went out to the forest for hunting. It was night then. The army went behind the king, have gone
somewhere else wrongly and the king was left alone in the midst of the
forest. Then some Boothas (demons) appeared
in front of the King. They asked the
king “why you came here as a hindrance to us as we are walking around
freely. We won’t leave you”. They shouted “catch him, kill him” and also told
so many other sayings. The king was
frightened then. He cried out “will the
darkness will not go! Hai Sastha! Boothanadha! Save me from this bhoothas!”
After a lot cry like this, Sastha appeared before him. Immediately all the Boothas vanished from the
place. Sastha took the king and left him
in King’s palace. He immediately told
Sastha” Hai Boothanadha! You saved my life & me from the Boothas. Hence accept my request also. Please marry my daughter Poorna. Save me and my family ever”. Sastha also accepted his requests.
Somehow King of Nepal
came to know about this marriage and he got very angry. He thought of Sastha and told “is this
marriage is correct since you have married my daughter Pushkalai”. On worring about this he cursed Sastha “take
birth in the earth and live for 12 years – and during the time you should be a
bachelor only”. On hearing this, Sastha
laughed at the King and told, “Prabho Maharaja – I accept your curse. Why you
know? There is my need in the earth,
which will be requested to me by Devaas later.
I have live on the earth for 12 years.
For that you this curse become a reason.
So you also will take birth on the earth and will be named as
Rajasekharan, the King of Pandalam in Kerala.
I will become an adapted son of yours and live there for 12 years and
the requests of Devaas will also be completed”. He immediately disappeared.
After this only, Dharma
Sastha, as per his words, has took avatar (incarnation) in the earth (named
Manikandan) and came to the hands of King Rajasekharan of Pandalam. Ayyappan’s vahanam (car) is Tiger. We all know the story of Pampa Balan who is
known later as Ayyappan.
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