Sabapathy Pillai was delivering weekly discourses on PERIYAPURANAM IN Muthaialupettai,a suburb in george Town,madras.The lectures were arranged by a wealthy religious man named Somu chettiar.One Day, he decided to install a golden image of God nataraja in his house.He requested Sabapathy Pillai to attend the function and start on that auspicious day his discourses on the life of St.Thirugnana Sambandar.
It so happened that Sabapathy Pillai was laid up with fever and head-ache on that date.He was very sorry for his inability to participate in the function.As Some Chettiar was attached to him very much,he did not want to disappoint him very much,he did not want to disappoint him on a day when the image of God nataraja was to be installed.But he was not in a position to stir out.He called his wife,explained to her the dilemma in which he was and consulted her.
It was in vogue then,that those who were engaged in delivering religious discourses
used to employ an assistant for reading the text and for citing proper references to suit the context.A widow who was a very near relative of Sabapathy Pillai and who was well versed in devotional and puranic literature,was helping him in this respect.But, on one day during the preceding week,she fell ill.Sabapathy Pillai was badly in need of a person to read the text.His wife after getting the consent of Ramalingar suggested to her husband that he might employ his brother Ramalingar for the purpose.Sabapathy Pillai reluctantly agreed to the proposal,because he had no confidence in Ramalingar.But when the discourse began,Ramalingar started to read a few stanzas.Sabapathy Pillai as well as the audience were thrilled to hear his musical voice.His method of reading was clear and pleasing.Though Sabapathy Pillai
was very happy to know this change in his brother,he was not fully aware of his brother's real ability.He was delivering his discourses with the assistance of Ramalingar for a few days.
But on the date mentioned above,when Sabapathy Pillai consulted his wife,she requested her husband to send his brother in his stead.Though her suggestion was acceptable to him,he still doubted whether Ramalingar would be able to do the job.
So he wanted to send him only to convey the news of his illness to the Chettiar.He sent for his brother and said,"Please go to the chettiar and tell him that I am suffering from fever; request him to pardon me for my inability;read a few stanzas from the book,make the usual offerings to the deity and come back.
But this was the opportunity created by God to show to the world what a great bhakta and genius Ramalingar was.It was so ordained by the Almighty that Sabapathy Pillai fell ill and Ramalingar went to take his place.It was this incident that made Sabapathy Pillai realise the greatness of his brother.Besides Ramalingar was an ardent devotee of Lord Muruga,He took Thirugnana Sambandar,the boy -saint of seventh century A.D as his spiritual teacher.It is really wonderful to see that Providence caused Ramalingar to be introduced to the world on a day when the life history of his spiritual guru was to be inaugurated.
According to his brother's advice,Ramalingar went to the place with his face shining like rising sun.he informed Some Chettiar of his brother's illness.Though he felt much disappointed at first,he was a little satisfied that the discourse was not to be discontinued or postponed.Moreover as the audience had already heard him read the text,they now pressed him to deliver the discourse himself.As it was God's will,he agreed to their request.
With due invocations to God and his spiritual guru,Ramalingar started his discourse.
he explained the portions with such a vivid exposition of surpassing beauty that there was an universal burst of applause every now and then in the large assembly.His lucid speech was not only pleasing to the ears but also to the mind of everyone.Even the distant passers-by were charmed by his faultless flute-like voice and they all joined the assembly.No one stirred from his place.The men who came to hear him were on the increase till he finished.Usually the discourse would come to an end at 9o'clock;but on that day it was midnight and Ramalingar had finished explanations only for two lines in the first Stanza.Still no one seemed weary.When the lecture came to a close,there was nothing but grave astonishment and many sighs from the listeners-"What a gifted and wonderful speaker!.Alas! It should have been finished so soon!"Through out the speech Ramalingar was the life and soul of the entourage and such was his great achievement of which nothing could be said without admiration.If even the wild beasts like tiger,bear etc, would leave off their ferocious habits on hearing his speech,it is no wonder that human beings bestowed with intelligence are enhanced by his fascinating spiritual address.
Somu chettiar eulogized Ramalingar for his excellent discourse and offered him more presents than he would usually offer his brother.As Ramalingar had attained divine wisdom and as he was above the worldly wants and pleasures,he refused to touch the money offered;but he took only the betel leaves with arecanut according to custom.Some chettiar was taken aback at this attitude of Ramalingar and he could not insist on his taking money.All the prominent persons who heard the discourse asked Some Chettiar to request Ramalingar instead of his brother Sabapathy pillai to continue his lectures on the life of St.Thirugnana Sambandar. Such was the inspiring spell of his maiden discourse,which brought him out of the seclusion of his room to the wide world.
It so happened that Sabapathy Pillai was laid up with fever and head-ache on that date.He was very sorry for his inability to participate in the function.As Some Chettiar was attached to him very much,he did not want to disappoint him very much,he did not want to disappoint him on a day when the image of God nataraja was to be installed.But he was not in a position to stir out.He called his wife,explained to her the dilemma in which he was and consulted her.
It was in vogue then,that those who were engaged in delivering religious discourses
used to employ an assistant for reading the text and for citing proper references to suit the context.A widow who was a very near relative of Sabapathy Pillai and who was well versed in devotional and puranic literature,was helping him in this respect.But, on one day during the preceding week,she fell ill.Sabapathy Pillai was badly in need of a person to read the text.His wife after getting the consent of Ramalingar suggested to her husband that he might employ his brother Ramalingar for the purpose.Sabapathy Pillai reluctantly agreed to the proposal,because he had no confidence in Ramalingar.But when the discourse began,Ramalingar started to read a few stanzas.Sabapathy Pillai as well as the audience were thrilled to hear his musical voice.His method of reading was clear and pleasing.Though Sabapathy Pillai
was very happy to know this change in his brother,he was not fully aware of his brother's real ability.He was delivering his discourses with the assistance of Ramalingar for a few days.
But on the date mentioned above,when Sabapathy Pillai consulted his wife,she requested her husband to send his brother in his stead.Though her suggestion was acceptable to him,he still doubted whether Ramalingar would be able to do the job.
So he wanted to send him only to convey the news of his illness to the Chettiar.He sent for his brother and said,"Please go to the chettiar and tell him that I am suffering from fever; request him to pardon me for my inability;read a few stanzas from the book,make the usual offerings to the deity and come back.
But this was the opportunity created by God to show to the world what a great bhakta and genius Ramalingar was.It was so ordained by the Almighty that Sabapathy Pillai fell ill and Ramalingar went to take his place.It was this incident that made Sabapathy Pillai realise the greatness of his brother.Besides Ramalingar was an ardent devotee of Lord Muruga,He took Thirugnana Sambandar,the boy -saint of seventh century A.D as his spiritual teacher.It is really wonderful to see that Providence caused Ramalingar to be introduced to the world on a day when the life history of his spiritual guru was to be inaugurated.
According to his brother's advice,Ramalingar went to the place with his face shining like rising sun.he informed Some Chettiar of his brother's illness.Though he felt much disappointed at first,he was a little satisfied that the discourse was not to be discontinued or postponed.Moreover as the audience had already heard him read the text,they now pressed him to deliver the discourse himself.As it was God's will,he agreed to their request.
With due invocations to God and his spiritual guru,Ramalingar started his discourse.
he explained the portions with such a vivid exposition of surpassing beauty that there was an universal burst of applause every now and then in the large assembly.His lucid speech was not only pleasing to the ears but also to the mind of everyone.Even the distant passers-by were charmed by his faultless flute-like voice and they all joined the assembly.No one stirred from his place.The men who came to hear him were on the increase till he finished.Usually the discourse would come to an end at 9o'clock;but on that day it was midnight and Ramalingar had finished explanations only for two lines in the first Stanza.Still no one seemed weary.When the lecture came to a close,there was nothing but grave astonishment and many sighs from the listeners-"What a gifted and wonderful speaker!.Alas! It should have been finished so soon!"Through out the speech Ramalingar was the life and soul of the entourage and such was his great achievement of which nothing could be said without admiration.If even the wild beasts like tiger,bear etc, would leave off their ferocious habits on hearing his speech,it is no wonder that human beings bestowed with intelligence are enhanced by his fascinating spiritual address.
Somu chettiar eulogized Ramalingar for his excellent discourse and offered him more presents than he would usually offer his brother.As Ramalingar had attained divine wisdom and as he was above the worldly wants and pleasures,he refused to touch the money offered;but he took only the betel leaves with arecanut according to custom.Some chettiar was taken aback at this attitude of Ramalingar and he could not insist on his taking money.All the prominent persons who heard the discourse asked Some Chettiar to request Ramalingar instead of his brother Sabapathy pillai to continue his lectures on the life of St.Thirugnana Sambandar. Such was the inspiring spell of his maiden discourse,which brought him out of the seclusion of his room to the wide world.
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