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Meenakshi Vs. Ross Peter & Hid White Stallion

Discussion in 'Snippets of Life (Non-Fiction)' started by Thyagarajan, Oct 17, 2017.

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Oct 18, 2017 #11

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PavithraS said: ↑

@Thyagarajan Sir - Very nice narration ! Ambal's Leelais are far too many. Me too have heard about this particular Leelai. If I am correct,Madurai people affectionately refer this person Rose Peter as ' Peter Pandiyan '. Thank you for mentioning this piece of article of yours in my post and giving me a chance to read and enjoy.

Namaskarams and Deepavali wishes,
Pavithra
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Thanks for comments and feedback. God Bless Us All.

Thyagarajan, Oct 18, 2017

Thyagarajan, Oct 18, 2017

#11
Oct 18, 2017 #12

peddadas Platinum IL'ite

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Thanks @Thyagarajan Sir for letting us know ..
Thanks and Wish you all the same !

--PS

peddadas, Oct 18, 2017

peddadas, Oct 18, 2017

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Oct 20, 2017 #13

sln Platinum IL'ite

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Thyagarajan said: ↑

At a time when undivided India was under British empire, an officer from Great Britain was posted by the then Queen Victoria to Madura - now known as Madurai - a city in the erstwhile Madras Presidency of South India. He reluctantly arrived sometime in the year 1812, assumed charges of District Collector of Madura.

He was totally immersed in the city’s governance and soon got quite acclimatized to nuances of the local culture. He witnessed thousands of devotees collecting around Goddess Meenakshi temple, thronging in and around the shadow cast by towering seven-tier pinnacles and of the domes above the sanctum sanctorum. During popular festivals including chithirai thiruvizha (summer festival), the place attracted thousands from outstations and even from Far East. He was greatly moved and impressed by the faith of the devotees of Goddess Meenakshi.

This impression had led him to a profound yearning and quest to enter the temple to have a look at the main deity at her sanctum. Under the extant rules of admission to the temple, authorities barred entry to followers of other faiths and religion to the temple and or sanctum. He being a Christian and given to respect other religions and their sensibilities, he did not force an entry into the temple. Day in and day out, this nagging thought of not being able to see the Deity at her sanctum was weighing heavily on him.

Just around dawn, rain or shine, everyday he used to go around the city. Sitting on a saddle on his fully tacked white tall horse, he used to commence his rounds beginning at the temple, circumambulating the outskirts of huge Madurai Meenakshi temple complex. Residents and bystanders around the temple stood-still in awe, to watch him seated majestically on a robust stout shining horse with his booted-feet supported in glistening metal stirrups on either side. His profound desire to witness the Goddess and proceedings at her sanctum of the temple grew stronger day by day.

Two seasons went by.

It was vee hours of the sultry summer night, when he was all alone in deep sleep; he felt he had heard intermittent jingling mixed with chuckle and chortle. He woke up lazily to distant musical and rhythmic sound and then to his delight he saw without batting an eyelid, an angelic girl with a resplendent countenance radiating effulgence that dispelled the surrounding darkness stood tapping her foot at a distance; it was awesome to look at the bright aura behind her, her tresses tumblr styled, head bedecked with a gem-studded golden crown and wearing a flowing dark red skirt and a silk blouse.

The ankles of her feet were tied with the small musical anklets (metallic bells strung-together). The girl was tapping her foot steadily and softly, beckoning him with her stretched forehands and crooked fingers to come close to her. He stood up lazily in darkness rubbing his eyes softly and stepped slowly toward her. But the distance between him and the girl was lengthening, as the girl was moving backwards producing hypnotizing intermittent rhythmic musical sound emanating from her anklets. He was following her for some time through large hall, long foyer and along the mud-laden tree-lined streets. At last, he found the girl had made him run and panting.

They both had almost reached the main entrance of the Meenakshi temple complex. A pair of highly crafted ornated thick closed huge wooden doors fixed with numerous metallic bells stood blocking the entrance of the temple.

At that juncture he felt the nip in the air which turned tad windy, blowing with a roar and kicked out blinding dust vortex followed by an eerie lightning and deafening thunder that pierced across the entire city. He simultaneously saw the angelic girl transformed into an exquisite woman waving slowly at him while aura receding behind her, she passed through the doors and into the temple. She vanished from his view which had left him nonplussed for a while. It was dark around him.

In lashing rains, he went homewards totally drenched, only to find to his astonishment that his bungalow - an edifice that it was - razed to the ground and stood in a heap of debris. At the same time, the sight of his white stallion standing tall, looking at the distance rubble and kicking in its stable in the far corner warmed his heart. The horse shifted its gaze from the rubble to the master in proximity, its eyes welled-up; acknowledging master’s presence, it lifted its tail, neighed heavily, nodding its head vertically up and down.

Ross Peter believed and concluded in his heart of heart that Goddess Meenakshi arrived in good time and granted apparition to escort him to safety and saved his horse and him. Many in the city too believed that he and his horse were saved due to the very act of his regular circumambulation on that horse during every dawn the shrine of Meenakshi temple with intense contemplation of the Goddess at Her sanctum.

As a show of his eternal gratefulness and indebtedness to Goddess Meenakshi, in consultation with chief priest and authorities of the temple, Rose Peter donated a pair of highly decorated golden shoes weighing 28 tolas (A tola is approximately 11.5 grams) studded with 412 red stones, 72 emeralds, 80 diamonds and cat’s eye, pearls, sapphires. Even to this day, during temple festivals, temple authorities use these golden shoes to decorate and embellish replica of Goddess Meenakshi idol before the latter is taken on a tacked horse around within the precincts and the broad streets around the Meenakshi temple.
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Great description of the munificence of the Goddess to a devotee.Even though I have my roots in Madurai this is the first time I am hearing the story. It is Goddess Meenakshi who is guarding Madurai with all its comforts and contradictions.Thanks for equipping me with a story to share with my grand daughter,
SLN

sln, Oct 20, 2017

sln, Oct 20, 2017

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Oct 20, 2017 #14

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sln said: ↑

Great description of the munificence of the Goddess to a devotee.Even though I have my roots in Madurai this is the first time I am hearing the story. It is Goddess Meenakshi who is guarding Madurai with all its comforts and contradictions.Thanks for equipping me with a story to share with my grand daughter,
SLN
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thank you from bottom of my heart for lovely feedback that too at around dawn. Regards. God Bless Us All.

Thyagarajan, Oct 20, 2017

Thyagarajan, Oct 20, 2017

#14
Oct 21, 2017 #15

Cheeniya Super Moderator Staff Member IL Hall of Fame

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There is a similar episode about the Eri Katha Ramar Temple in Maduranthakam. A report from Google:
During the period between 1795 and 1799 the Collector of Chengalpattu district was a British officer called Colonel Lionel Blaze. During his collectorship, Blaze had witnessed two breaches to the huge tank. The enormity of the problem can be appreciated only when we know of the massive size of the tank. Having an area of 13 square miles (34 km2) and a depth of 21 feet (6 m), the breaching of the tank following torrential downpour was any official's nightmare. Wanting to take preemptive action in the year 1798 the Collector camped in Madurantakam. During his sojourn the Collector was exploring ways and means to undertake urgent repairs of the breaches if and when they happened. During the course of his inspections, he happened to see a large collection of granite and other stones in the precincts of the Rama temple. The Collector mentioned to his subordinates that these could be put to use in restoration of the bunds. Hearing this the temple priests submitted that the stones were meant for constructing a separate shrine for Janakavalli Thayar and since there was paucity of funds the construction could not commence.

Hearing this the Collector is said to have remarked that where was the need for a separate shrine when more urgent work like repairing the bunds was crying for resources. He also asked the priests jestingly as to why the Lord was not able to save the tank each year? The priests replied saying that the Lord was always known to answer a sincere prayer from the heart. The rains came and it poured. Within a few days the tank was full to the brim and a breach seemed imminent. That night a worried Collector camped near the tank hoping against hope that the bunds would hold. As he was inspecting, Colonel Blaze saw a miraculous sight. He saw two warriors bearing bow and quiver guarding the bunds. The British officer went on his knees and prayed, for he knew it was none other than Lord Rama and his divine brother Lakshmana. It was indeed strange that nobody else who was a part of the Collector's retinue saw the Lord. After a while the vision evanesced and the rain stopped. The grateful Collector undertook the building of the shrine for Janakavalli thayar and Lord Rama in the temple came to be known as the Erikatha Ramar (Rama who saved the tank (Eri)). The edict with the Collector's name citing him as a benefactor can be seen even today in the Madurantakam temple.

Cheeniya, Oct 21, 2017

Cheeniya, Oct 21, 2017

#15

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Oct 21, 2017 #16

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Cheeniya said: ↑

There is a similar episode about the Eri Katha Ramar Temple in Maduranthakam. A report from Google:
During the period between 1795 and 1799 the Collector of Chengalpattu district was a British officer called Colonel Lionel Blaze. During his collectorship, Blaze had witnessed two breaches to the huge tank. The enormity of the problem can be appreciated only when we know of the massive size of the tank. Having an area of 13 square miles (34 km2) and a depth of 21 feet (6 m), the breaching of the tank following torrential downpour was any official's nightmare. Wanting to take preemptive action in the year 1798 the Collector camped in Madurantakam. During his sojourn the Collector was exploring ways and means to undertake urgent repairs of the breaches if and when they happened. During the course of his inspections, he happened to see a large collection of granite and other stones in the precincts of the Rama temple. The Collector mentioned to his subordinates that these could be put to use in restoration of the bunds. Hearing this the temple priests submitted that the stones were meant for constructing a separate shrine for Janakavalli Thayar and since there was paucity of funds the construction could not commence.

Hearing this the Collector is said to have remarked that where was the need for a separate shrine when more urgent work like repairing the bunds was crying for resources. He also asked the priests jestingly as to why the Lord was not able to save the tank each year? The priests replied saying that the Lord was always known to answer a sincere prayer from the heart. The rains came and it poured. Within a few days the tank was full to the brim and a breach seemed imminent. That night a worried Collector camped near the tank hoping against hope that the bunds would hold. As he was inspecting, Colonel Blaze saw a miraculous sight. He saw two warriors bearing bow and quiver guarding the bunds. The British officer went on his knees and prayed, for he knew it was none other than Lord Rama and his divine brother Lakshmana. It was indeed strange that nobody else who was a part of the Collector's retinue saw the Lord. After a while the vision evanesced and the rain stopped. The grateful Collector undertook the building of the shrine for Janakavalli thayar and Lord Rama in the temple came to be known as the Erikatha Ramar (Rama who saved the tank (Eri)). The edict with the Collector's name citing him as a benefactor can be seen even today in the Madurantakam temple.
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Thank You for posting the story of "YE RI KATHA RAMAR". Regards.

Thyagarajan, Oct 21, 2017

Thyagarajan, Oct 21, 2017

#16
Oct 21, 2017 #17

shyamala1234 Platinum IL'ite

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Dear Tyagarajan,
We all know the story of Bhakta Ramadas of Bhadrachalam, Andhra pradesh.
Ramadas was the Tahsildar of Bhadrachalam and a great devotee of SriRama. With the money he collected as taxes he made jewellery to Ramal, Lakshmana and Sita. He was imprisoned by Nizam for not paying the amount to the govt. at Golconda fort , Hyderabad. Then two men calling themselves Ramoji and Lakshmoji went to Nizam and paid the amount. Popular belief is that they both were Rama and Lakshmana who came to save their devotee. In Golconda fort even today there is a room where Ramadas was imprisoned and on the walls are pictures of Rama, lakshmana and Hanuman which he drew while in prison. Ramadas Keerthanas are very popular. Even now on Sri Ramnavami day new clothes and pearls are sent by the govt. on behalf of Nizam for Kalyanam at Bhadrachalam.
In Rajahmundry of Andhra Pradesh, in the 19th Century, a British Engineer Sir Arthur Cotton laid the foundation and was instrumental in building Godavari anicut or Barrage which prevented river Godavari water going into the sea and helped many famished farmers to irrigate their lands. The whole area is called Konaseema. It is popularly called as rice bowl of India. He is a lot revered and is literally worshipped by people in Godavari district. When people take bath in Godavari river they chant sankalpam and in that is included the name of Air Arthur Cotton. During Godavari pushkarams people pay respects and Tharpanam along with their ancestors in his name also!
Syamala

shyamala1234, Oct 21, 2017

shyamala1234, Oct 21, 2017

#17

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Oct 21, 2017 #18

jayasala42 IL Hall of Fame

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Dear Shri Thyagarajan,

This is a popular story in Madurai where in Devi saved the foreigner.But details are differently narrated by locals. Anyhow the jingling kolusu sound is the same narration in almost all the temples-Akilandeswari of Thiruvanaikoil, Samayapuram Mariamman and other Devi temples.When we were young, we were told that Devi comes daily at midnight through the streets and the jingling anklet sound would be heard only if we are devoted.

In Thiruvanaikoil we have a popular story about the innocent accused who was to be hanged . Goddess Akhilandeswari warned the judge of his previous wrong decision in his dream. As he was plunged in confusion reg authentic proof, Goddess in the form of a young girl produced stamped papers pointing out the real culprit .In the last moment the hanging order was withdrawn.

The staunch faith that the people had and some incidents told and retold are simply mesmerizing and hair raising and make even the atheists to revisit their thoughts.
Nice presentation.Thyagarajan Sir.

Jayasala 42

jayasala42, Oct 21, 2017

jayasala42, Oct 21, 2017

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Oct 21, 2017 #19

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shyamala1234 said: ↑

Dear Tyagarajan,
We all know the story of Bhakta Ramadas of Bhadrachalam, Andhra pradesh.
Ramadas was the Tahsildar of Bhadrachalam and a great devotee of SriRama. With the money he collected as taxes he made jewellery to Ramal, Lakshmana and Sita. He was imprisoned by Nizam for not paying the amount to the govt. at Golconda fort , Hyderabad. Then two men calling themselves Ramoji and Lakshmoji went to Nizam and paid the amount. Popular belief is that they both were Rama and Lakshmana who came to save their devotee. In Golconda fort even today there is a room where Ramadas was imprisoned and on the walls are pictures of Rama, lakshmana and Hanuman which he drew while in prison. Ramadas Keerthanas are very popular. Even now on Sri Ramnavami day new clothes and pearls are sent by the govt. on behalf of Nizam for Kalyanam at Bhadrachalam.
In Rajahmundry of Andhra Pradesh, in the 19th Century, a British Engineer Sir Arthur Cotton laid the foundation and was instrumental in building Godavari anicut or Barrage which prevented river Godavari water going into the sea and helped many famished farmers to irrigate their lands. The whole area is called Konaseema. It is popularly called as rice bowl of India. He is a lot revered and is literally worshipped by people in Godavari district. When people take bath in Godavari river they chant sankalpam and in that is included the name of Air Arthur Cotton. During Godavari pushkarams people pay respects and Tharpanam along with their ancestors in his name also!
Syamala
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@Cheeniya @shyamala1234 @jayasala42 with posting of additional information in this thread, I find several East India Company men too had the apparition and benevolence of Hindu God/Goddess when they were duty bound. These episodes stands to vouchsafe that When one in catch 22 or plight, surrenders entirely to the cosmic force, in some form or the other - the imminent danger or the source of trouble either removed or vanishes. Even in Tamil/English cinemas it has been depicted impressively. (Thiruvilaiyadal, Benhur) Thanks and regards. God Bless Us all.

Last edited: Oct 21, 2017

Thyagarajan, Oct 21, 2017

Thyagarajan, Oct 21, 2017

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Oct 21, 2017 #20

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jayasala42 said: ↑

In Thiruvanaikoil we have a popular story about the innocent accused who was to be hanged . Goddess Akhilandeswari warned the judge of his previous wrong decision in his dream. As he was plunged in confusion reg authentic proof, Goddess in the form of a young girl produced stamped papers pointing out the real culprit .In the last moment the hanging order was
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thanks for the information. please refer to my response to feedbacks from @shyamala1234 and @Cheeniya

Thyagarajan, Oct 21, 2017

Thyagarajan, Oct 21, 2017

#20

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