Religion and Spiritualism

Thondaradippodiyazwar
Tondaradippodiyazwar was born in Parabhava year, in the month of Markazi in Jeshta (Kettai) star. He was born at Mandangkudi near Kumbakonam to a Sri Vaishnava couple. He was the amsam of the Lord’s Vyjeyanthi malai. His parents had named him as Vipranarayana. He came to Srirangam to have darshan of Lord Ranganatha. He was so attracted by Lord’s beauty that he decided to stay at Srirangam. Like Periyazwar he was also doing pushpa kainkaryam to the Lord. He also maintained a Nandavanam where he grew Champa, Jasmine, Mullai and other fragrant flowering plants. He made garlands for the Lord out of these flowers and used to adorn the lord daily with the beautiful and fragrant garlands. He had remained a brahmachari and was doing kainkaryam to Lord Ranganatha.Near Srirangam there was a place called Thirukarambanur. There was a devadasi named Devadevi in Thirukarambanur. Once she went to the Choza king’s palace with her elder sister for a dance performance. The choza king, pleased with their performance, had given them valuable prizes and they both were returning home. On the way they happened to see Vipranarayan’s beautiful garden. Attracted by the beauty of the garden and the fragrance of flowers they rested there for a while. Devadevi saw Vipranarayana and immediately fell in love with him. Vipranarayan didn’t even look at them and was just plucking flowers and making garlands for the Lord. Devadevi told her sister about her love. Her sister told her that she would never be able to succeed in her attempt to draw the attention of Vipranarayan as he was totally absorbed in bhagavad Bhakthi and was satisfied in doing service to the Lord. Devadevi challenged her sister that she would become her servant for six months and wash her clothes if she failed in her attempt to draw Vipranarayan’s attention towards her and make him love her. Her sister replied that if she succeeded in her love, she would in turn become her servant and wash her clothes for six months. Then Devadevi removed all her jewels and gave it to her and put on a simple sari like a sanyasin. She stayed under a tree in the garden. Shocked by Devadevi’s behaviour her sister had returned to Thirukarambanur.Whenever Vipranarayan came out from his kutil (hut) she used to fold her hands and pay respect to him. But there was no reaction from Vipranarayan and he just neglected her. ​

One day she fell down at his feet and beseeched him to save her. When he asked her what was the matter, she told him that she was born in the caste of devadasi and her mother was forcing her to engage her in prostitution. Further she told him that she wanted to do service to the Lord like him and for that he should help her. Though Vipranarayan told her that it was not possible for him to help her, she told him that she would rather prefer to die in the nandavanm than going back home and live a sinful life.
Vipranarayan was deeply moved and told her that she could help maintaining the garden by watering the plants and plucking flowers and stay in the garden. Devadevi used to clean his hut, fill water for him and put kolam in front of his hut. Six months rolled by. Vipranarayan was firm like a rock and was keeping his distance from Devadevi. But he was put to test by the Lord. We’ll know whether he came out successfully or fell prey to the Lord’s thiruviLaiyadal in the next episode.Azwarkal ThiruvadikaLe saraNam

To be continued​

 

Dear AC,
Thanks for the prompt reply. In the good old days these stories of our Azwars were taken as movies and I enjoyed seeing them. But I could not remember them now.Thondaradippodi Azwar's saritham was taken as Vipranarayana.

 

Dear sriniketan,
Sorry for making you wait. Try to post the other part soon.
PS

 

Dear Viji,
Thanks for your appreciation.
PS

 

Dear Sri,
Now I remember that in Tamil movie also Banumathi played the leading role, perhaps Nageshwara Rao might have played the role of Vipranarayan..
PS