There was a great gathering and the whole hall was full of people and they were not ordinary people but poets, pandits, sellers of scriptures and all kinds of experts were there. They were eagerly waiting to hear the wonderful book that was going to be staged in that church that day.
The appointed time approached. Kachiyappa Sivacharya got up after completing the puja of Lord Ganda in Kumarakottam.He took the straws wrapped around the venir cloth near the Lord's feet and applied them to his eyes.His gaze was fixed on the Lord Thiruvadi there.
He prayed, "Muruga, O Lord, let your grace be with you to make everything come true". Then he left with those traces in his hands with devotion.
Upon entering the hall, the party was greeted by loud cheers. His heart overflowed with joy. Wasn't it the gold that he had been eagerly waiting for for many days!Tears welled up in his eyes as he extended both hands towards the raised platform in the middle of the hall.
“O dear lords, I have come to perform this book, which I have sung to the best of my knowledge, in your community. Please grant permission.”
Let it begin…. "Let's begin" voices were heard. Kachiyappar slowly climbed up on the platform and took the footprints and looked into his eyes.He was meditating on Kumara Perumal, and he was sitting blindfolded in meditation.he woke up after a While Bhagawan took two flowers from the nearby plate and offered them over the footprints while meditating.Then he took them and placed them on his lap and separated the thread and took the first trace in his hand.The next moment, his voice rose up in the silence of the congregation.
Thikata Chakra Shanmugam Maithula….
Kachiyappar took the first song he had sung as Vinayagar Kaap and gave an explanation for that song.
The subject said, “ thigazh dasakara shenmugam five ulaan. That means Lord Shiva who has 10 tirukas and 5 red faces.
“Sir, what do you want? Shall we sing the song again?”Kachiappar asked.
Swami, I am standing up because of a doubt. After clarifying it, we can proceed further, he said.
“Tell me what your suspicions are,”said Kachiyapar.
"Swami, the word dikadhasam is not found in grammar books such as Vidhi Tolkappiyam, so how did you add the words?" he asked.
"Yes, what he is asking is correct, according to the rules of grammar, tikadasam is not a correct combination," said some others in the crowd.
"Yes, I know what you are saying is right. But I did not sing this first beat 'Thikada Chakra Semmukha Maithulaan'. I have sung the song as it was given by my father Kanda Peruman," said Kachiyappar.
Hearing that, the poet and some others laughed.
"Swami, if what Esan Thirukumaran has given you is true, let it be so. It is a secret known only to you. How can we accept it? Just as Kumara Perumal appeared to them and took a step, let us say that he appeared here and we took this step. Or in some grammar book we will gladly accept it. He said, “We will not allow the show of fate to be staged.”
Some others also agreed that what the poet said was right. What will Kachiyapar do? With what joy he read the first song! Objection to the first word? He did not even think that it would be interrupted like this. He was heartbroken. How will he prove that the Lord took the beating? What test is this? Tears filled his eyes. He was at a loss as to how to deal with this unexpected predicament. He left the footprints on the platform and stood up and waved to the people.
Elders, with the congregation shall dissolve and reconvene tomorrow. Then one of the two will be done to clear their suspicions
Accepting Kachiyapar's words, the congregation dispersed and everyone got up and went away, tears rolling down Kachiyapar's cheeks as they stood watching to describe their departure.
He came to his senses only after the last man had left the hall. He took the footprints and placed them on the pallet, carrying them around in his hands and left for Kumarakottam. The enthusiasm on arrival was no longer evident in his gait. The gait was very relaxed.
TO BE CONTINUED…
