64 THIRU VILAIYAADALGAL
56 (a). What is my crime?
Shanbaga Maaran found delight in decorating the Sivalingam with shanbaga flowers! After him fourteen other kings ruled the Paandiya kingdom-starting with Prataapa Sooriyan and ending with Boopa Choodaamani. The fifteenth king was Kulechan.
Kulechan was well versed in Tamil Literature and Grammar and other arts besides. So he had secured a place of honor in the famous Sangap Palagai for himself. Kapilan had a good friend named the poet Idaikkaadan. He composed a prabandham exclusively to be read out to king Kulechan.
The king was overcome with jealousy at the brilliance of the poet. So he just sat through the session without showing any interest or appreciation. He behaved no better than a cow or goat.
The poet got very upset. He fumed and fretted with anger and reached the Siva temple. “A poet must appreciate another poet! It is not me that he has insulted. Uma Devi lives in the form of words and you live in their meanings. So it is you and Devi that the king has insulted.”
He left the place in a huff. He walked briskly northwards. Lord Siva also got angered by this incident. He hid his Linga roopam and went away with Devi and the Sanga poets to another temple, situated in the Southern bank of Vaigai river.
The devotees who went to the temple,for the Thiruppalli ezhuchi got the shock of their lives that the Sivalingam had disappeared! Had anyone stolen the moorthi?They reported the matter to the king. He fainted right away and fell down on the floor.
When he regained consciousness he started crying and begging for pardon. He kept repeating, “What is my crime?”
56 (a). What is my crime?
Shanbaga Maaran found delight in decorating the Sivalingam with shanbaga flowers! After him fourteen other kings ruled the Paandiya kingdom-starting with Prataapa Sooriyan and ending with Boopa Choodaamani. The fifteenth king was Kulechan.
Kulechan was well versed in Tamil Literature and Grammar and other arts besides. So he had secured a place of honor in the famous Sangap Palagai for himself. Kapilan had a good friend named the poet Idaikkaadan. He composed a prabandham exclusively to be read out to king Kulechan.
The king was overcome with jealousy at the brilliance of the poet. So he just sat through the session without showing any interest or appreciation. He behaved no better than a cow or goat.
The poet got very upset. He fumed and fretted with anger and reached the Siva temple. “A poet must appreciate another poet! It is not me that he has insulted. Uma Devi lives in the form of words and you live in their meanings. So it is you and Devi that the king has insulted.”
He left the place in a huff. He walked briskly northwards. Lord Siva also got angered by this incident. He hid his Linga roopam and went away with Devi and the Sanga poets to another temple, situated in the Southern bank of Vaigai river.
The devotees who went to the temple,for the Thiruppalli ezhuchi got the shock of their lives that the Sivalingam had disappeared! Had anyone stolen the moorthi?They reported the matter to the king. He fainted right away and fell down on the floor.
When he regained consciousness he started crying and begging for pardon. He kept repeating, “What is my crime?”