Babur, Narayana Bhattatri and MaRaneri Nambikal

Babur, Narayana Bhattatri and MaRaneri Nambikal


In History we have read the story of Babur.
When Babur was 47 years old his son Humayun had fallen sick. Babur loved his son very dearly and the best physician in his empire was attending to him. But his condition was deteriorating.
The queen requested Babur to consult Abdul Paka the most pious man. He told Babur that he should pray to God and offer him the most valuable thing he possessed.

Babur thought that his life was the most valuable one than any other material things. He prayed to Allah to transfer the illness to him and save his son. Allah had heeded to his prayer and Humayun recovered, but Babur had got the disease and died. Babur sacrificed his life for the sake of his son.

Melapathur Narayana Bhattatri composed Narayaneeyam. Achyutha Pisharoty was his guru. Bhattatri studied under him for many years.

When Pisharoty had become old he was affected by rheumatism. He was reeling under great pain and Narayan could not see his guru wriggling with pain. One day he prayed to the Lord and said, “Lord Guruvayurappa! I could not bear to see my guru suffer like this at this age. I beg you to relieve him from this suffering, and transfer the disease to me as I am young and could bear the pain.”
With true devotion he prayed to the Lord and the Lord heeded to his prayer. Achyutha Pisharoty got cured and Bhattatri got the disease.

His people at home were very much distressed to see him suffering. They tried several type of medications without success. Then Bhattatri told them to take him to Guruvayur and that he had faith in Lord Guruvayurappan . He would keep praying to him and he would cure him.

In the meanwhile a devote servant who was looking after him could not see his master suffering. He went to consult Thunjathu Ezuthachan who was a great scholar and composer of Ramayan in Malayalam which is renowned as Valmiki and Kamba Ramayan.

Ezuthachan told him to go and tell Bhattatri to serve Lord Guruvayurappan with fish. The servant was puzzled to hear this, but he went and gave the message to Bhattatri. But Bhttatri understood the message and he started the first sloka of Narayaneeyam describing Lord’s first avathar, the macha avathar. Every day he composed one dasakam (10 slokas) and continued for hundred days. He was relieved of his pain little by little. On the 100th day the Lord appeared before him. Bhattatri was in ecstatic condition and he sang the wonderful soul stirring and ecstatic experience of Lord’s beauty from head to foot in the last ten slokas.

Narayana Bhattatri voluntarily chose to transfer the disease from his guru.


Sri Alavandar, the Sri Vaishnava Acharya was suffering with carbuncle (Abscess at the back) which is known as raja pilavai and was undergoing terrible pain. One day he asked his disciples if any one was willing to take the disease from him. Maraneri Nambi who was born in a low cast, but was chosen as his disciple by Alavandar himself got up at once and said that he was willing to take Alavandar’s disease. So the disease was transferred to Nambi and Alavandar was relieved.

Here on Acharya’s request the disciple took up the disease. After the demise of Alavandar Maraneri Nambikal was left alone. But Periya Nambikal had great affection for him. He took care of him and when he died he performed his last rites as for his request even though he was born in low caste. Periya Nambikal was ostracized for his action by the Brahmins.

Babur sacrificed his life for his beloved son that was natural. Narayana Bhattatri voluntarily took his guru’s disease and suffered with pain, but was relieved due to Lord Guruvayurappan’s grace.We got the most beautiful Narayaneeyam the essence of Bhagavatham because of his sacrifice.

Maraneri Nambikal suffered till his last days, but due to guru’s grace he had attained mukthi.

Among the three Babur had sacrificed his life for the sake of his beloved son that only attributes to personal interest.

Narayana Bhattatri voluntarily taking up the disease shows his deep devotion to his guru.

Maraneri Nambikal took up the disease when his guru requested, but he was the only one who responded spontaneously even though there were many other disciples. Though he was born in low caste his guru bhakthi was commendable.

 

Dear Sreemathi,
Thanks for your fb. We have lot of stories portraying guru bhakthi.
Each one shows guru bhakthi in an unique way. You must have known the story of Ekalavya.
Love,
PS

 

Dear Sriniketan,
Yes. There is lot of difference in using bhakthi for personal gain and for the benefit of loka kshemam.
Love,
PS

 

Dear rgs,
Thank you for your nice comments. Sorry for acknowledging late as I was very busy. Then today only I saw the new formate of IL and was a bit confused in the beginning.
Love,
PS