Spgm 044 - Life In The Forest Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

THE MADURAI CHAPTER BEGINS

(Kovalan, Kannagi and Kownthi Adigal—the three
Were walking towards Southern direction. They
learnt from Mangattu Sage the nature of the route.
Kanurai Deity in disguise of Vasanthamalai tried
to prevent Kovalan from going to Madurai.
Ignoring her advice, they went ahead and
reached the Aiyallin Temple)

THE SAGE HAD COME

The Presiding Deity of the town,
Under the shadow of the sun,
Who had a beautiful decoration,
The three worshiped Him then.

As the Saranar directed them,
They stayed at Thiruvarangam,
In the company of devotees,
And spent that day in peace.

Before the break of dawn,
The next day they moved on,
Towards southern direction,
After crossing Uraiyur town.

The sun rose from the east.
There was a bench for rest
Near cool water tank bund.
This on the way they found.

While they were taking rest,
They saw a very old pundit.
They inquired each other
What for they were there?

SALUTE TO THE SOUTHERNER

King Pandian had brought,
In several battles he fought,
Many kings under his feet,
Who had to face retreat.

The southern sea once rose up
When his spear he threw up,
And it sucked in a portion
Of the land near Kumari Mountain.

To compensate this loss in south,
He extended it up to Ganges in north,
To bring it under his dominion,
Long live, with fame, King Pandian.

As a strengthen to his lunar dynasty,
O'er his broad chest hung the mighty
And powerful talisman of Lord Indra.
Long live, with fame, King Pandian.

For sometime there was no rain,
He forced the clouds to rain,
Thus went his country's gain.
Long live, with fame, King Pandian.

Kovalan saluted the pundit.
'Which your place, oh pundit,
And what for you're here? '
The pundit gave an answer.

THE DESIRE OF THE PUNDIT

The Pundit said:

'Lord Thirumal, I wish to see,
With her consort Lakshmi
Resting on Audhi Seshan's bed,
With its one thousand heads.'

'Near the western mountain side,
The village Mangadu inside,
I live and all the way came here.
To see my Lord is my desire.'

OH PUNDIT, WHAT IS OUR WAY?

'The riches of this southern place,
I've already seen with my eyes.
My blessings go to Pandian, '
Said the pundit to Kovalan.

'Oh pundit, tell me the way
To go to Madurai. I pray.'
Asked in eagerness Kovalan,
The pundit began to explain.

CAN YOU COME IN SUMMER?

'Just like king, an autocrat
As his mind goes to act,
The summer sun scorches
Whatever objects it approaches.'

'This time with your consort
Why you chose this part? '
Will this weather suit? '
Asked the learned pundit.