Ponniyin Selvan Varalaatru Peravai

Saraswathi Pujai and Sakalakalaavalli Maalai-#1


The Goddess Sarasvathi is one of the goddesses who has been
worshipped by the Tamils since ancient times. She was known as
KalaimagaL,
NaamagaL, KalaivaaNi, etc.
Until a few venturies ago, the influence of the poets and scholars
far surpassed the influence of even the kings and emperors.
Even during the 20th century, even though they did not enjoy that
much of influence, still they had respect, prestige, and esteem. Only
during
the present times, scholars and poets of Tamil have lost much respect
among the Tamils.

Because of the influence exhibited by the poets and scholars,
added to the value and importance of education, Sarasvathi worship
was in vogue. Even those poets and scholars who worshipped other
deities as The Supreme God, also prayed to Sarasvathi.

Kamban was a great VishNu Bhaktha. Ottakkuuththar was a staunch
Siva Bhaktha. They had the full Grace of the Goddess Sarasvathi. They had
the great boon of seeing and hearing Sarasvathi often. Adhi Sankara had a
confrontation with Sarasvathi three times. He was tested personally by
Her.
Because of that, he could ascend the 'Sarvagnya Peetam'. This peetam is
reserved for scholars who excelled in all branches of knowledge and arts.

Poems, songs, and thuthis dedicated to Sarasvathi are numerous
in Tamil. Almost every Tamil literary work would contain at least one
verse
dedicated to Sarasvathi.
If a person would collect the verses dedicated to Sarasvathi in the
various literary works in Tamil, the collection alone would make a big
voluminous work.
Even the Jain major work, Siivaka ChinthaamaNi contains a section
called 'naamagaL ilampakam'. Buddhists revered Her as Tara.
Kambar's 'Sarasvathi andhaadhi', Ottakkuuththar's 'Iitti elzubathu',
and Kumaraguruparar's 'Sakala-kalaa-valli Maalai' are very powerful
thuthimaalais. They are packed with mystic and miraculous force-fields.
Kumaraguruparar was greatly blessed by the Goddess Sarasvathi.
He was not able to speak since birth. When he was five years old,
his parents took him to Thiruchendhur and left him in temple at the mercy
of Muruga KadavuL.
Due to the Grace of Muruga Peruman, Kumaraguruparar was able
to compose beautiful poems. The very first collection of songs that he
sang was the 'Kandhar Kali VeNba' in praise of Muruga Peruman.
'He who has Murugan as his Guru'.
He came from Thiruchendhur to Madurai. At that time, Thirumalai Nayakkar
was ruling over Madurai country. He had done extensive extensions and
refurbishing to the Meenakshi Temple.
When Guruparar neared Madurai, the Goddess Meenakshi appeared
to Thirumalai Nayakkar and told him to receive Kumaraguru royally and
welcome him to the temple. She also told Kumaraguru that Thirumalai
Nayakkar would receive him.

When they reached Meekashi Temple, Kumaraguruparar sang the
'Meenaatchiyamman PiLLai Thamilz'.

The Goddess Meenakshi came out of Her shrine in the form of a small
girl and sitting on the lap of the Nayakkar, listened to
Kumaraguruparar's
rendering of the PiLLai Thamilz.
When Kumaraguruparar sang the verse, 'thodukkum kadavuL palzam
paadal thodaiyin payanE', She took off a pearl garland from the neck of
the Nayakkar and adorned Kumaraguruparar with it.
Kumaraguruparar went around Tamilnadu and other places and
challenged other religous groups called them out to debate and won them.
In the course of his sojourn, he reached Kaasi Benares.......