Under our Saints and Heros block,this week we are learning about Bhakti (devotion) and Bhav(spiritual emotion) of Poosalar.
A temple in the heart
IN Tinnanur, near Chennai, there dwelt a Brahmin, Poosalar by name. Poosalaar, was a poor man in terms of material wealth but rich in dedicated devotion towards Lord Shiva. His heart brimmed with love and devotion for the Lord .His mind forever fixed on Lord Shiva's feet,chanting his name and doing everything for Lord Shiva.
Wishing to build a temple to the Lord, he tried to raise funds. But try as he might, he failed. In grief he pondered,"What shall I do?" He resolved at last to raise within his heart a temple to his Lord. From far and near he fetched in fancy,little by little, stone and metal and other building material.
Skilled masons and sculptors too he engaged and instructed in thought. And at an auspicious hour, he dug the ground and laid the foundation stone. Devoted, busy, sleepless even by night, he watched the temple grow, part by part and layer by layer, gateway, tower and central shrine, all planned according
to the rules of Agama, and wrought in detail with the minutest care. On top of the domed turret over the holy of holies he installed a stone a cubit long. And so with hard, steady effort of the mind, he completed the structure, plastered chinks with lime, dug wells and tanks, put up the outer walls and fixed in his mind the auspicious day and hour for consecrating the shrine and installing the Presence.
The Pallava King had built in the city of Kanchi a mighty granite temple and appointed a day for the grand ceremony of its consecration. But, on the night preceding, the Lord appeared to the King in his dream and said, "Poosalar, my friend, has laboured lovingly for many months and raised a temple for me in his heart, and I must be there tomorrow at its consecration. So postpone your temple ceremony to some later day".
The King awoke, eager to visit Tinnanur and greet this favoured servant of the Lord. He reached the place and enquired of the people, "Whereabouts is this temple built by Poosalar"? But they all said, "We know of no such temple".Then he sent for the leading Brahmins of the town and asked them, "Who is this pure and perfect man, this Poosalar"? They answered, "A Brahmin of that name does dwell in this town. The king was perplexed on the results of his enquiry that Poosalaar lived in poverty and there was not a sign of a new temple being erected in Tinnanur. Counting on the Lord's words, the King sought to meet Poosalaar who was meditating under a tree. The king approached Poosalaar and falling at his feet, asked, "Where is your famed temple? Today I know, the Lord comes there to dwell .He also told him about the words of the Lord in his dream and said I too have come, to meet you and greet you on this day".
Poosalaar replied with joy to have a look at the ceremonious installation of Lord Shiva in the temple that he had built. The king witnessed the consecration ceremony of the temple built by Poosalaar within the heart of Poosalaar, with the chanting of the Vedas and other ceremonial activities!
Staggered by this speech, the Brahmin said with joy, "If the Lord pleases, the world shall know," and told the King the story of the building of the temple thought by thought. The King heard it all, fell again at the good man's feet, and marched back to Kanchi, accompanied by his army with drums and trumpets.
Poosalar regularly performed the daily pujas in his ideal temple in the prescribed manner and in the end attained the feet of the Lord.
We did Shreemad Bhagvad Geeta verse 9: 26- Patram Pushpam... Shloak with this story
Below is the drawing drawn by Nachiketa for this story.
The Pallava King had built in the city of Kanchi a mighty granite temple and appointed a day for the grand ceremony of its consecration. But, on the night preceding, the Lord appeared to the King in his dream and said, "Poosalar, my friend, has laboured lovingly for many months and raised a temple for me in his heart, and I must be there tomorrow at its consecration. So postpone your temple ceremony to some later day".
The King awoke, eager to visit Tinnanur and greet this favoured servant of the Lord. He reached the place and enquired of the people, "Whereabouts is this temple built by Poosalar"? But they all said, "We know of no such temple".Then he sent for the leading Brahmins of the town and asked them, "Who is this pure and perfect man, this Poosalar"? They answered, "A Brahmin of that name does dwell in this town. The king was perplexed on the results of his enquiry that Poosalaar lived in poverty and there was not a sign of a new temple being erected in Tinnanur. Counting on the Lord's words, the King sought to meet Poosalaar who was meditating under a tree. The king approached Poosalaar and falling at his feet, asked, "Where is your famed temple? Today I know, the Lord comes there to dwell .He also told him about the words of the Lord in his dream and said I too have come, to meet you and greet you on this day".
Poosalaar replied with joy to have a look at the ceremonious installation of Lord Shiva in the temple that he had built. The king witnessed the consecration ceremony of the temple built by Poosalaar within the heart of Poosalaar, with the chanting of the Vedas and other ceremonial activities!
Staggered by this speech, the Brahmin said with joy, "If the Lord pleases, the world shall know," and told the King the story of the building of the temple thought by thought. The King heard it all, fell again at the good man's feet, and marched back to Kanchi, accompanied by his army with drums and trumpets.
Poosalar regularly performed the daily pujas in his ideal temple in the prescribed manner and in the end attained the feet of the Lord.
We did Shreemad Bhagvad Geeta verse 9: 26- Patram Pushpam... Shloak with this story
Below is the drawing drawn by Nachiketa for this story.
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