Pattinathar / பட்டினத்தார் - Part 3

Pattinathar / பட்டினத்தார் 

Life story of Saint Pattinathar - Part 3

"காதற்ற ஊசியும் வாராது காண் கடைவழிக்கே" - Even an eyeless needle won't accompany you in your final journey.

Pattinathar left town after his mother's cremation and taught villagers on impermanence of life and to focus on attaining salvation by means of God. 

His command of Tamil language and poetry skills were exceptional. His songs were like words flowing on a honey coated tongue (Thenozhuga). He sang with Edugai and monai (Tamil: எதுகை மோனை ) and in praise of the lord/village he is visiting. 

At Thiruvaiyaru (tamil: திருவையாறு) (thiru = sacred; ai = five; aaru = river, Thanjore district, the lord here called "Lord of five rivers") he sings with five "aru" - tamil word for river as well as to cool/to abate.

மண்ணும் தணல் ஆற வானும் புகை ஆற
எண்ணரிய தாயும் இளைப்பாறப் - பண்ணுமயன்
கையாறவும் அடியேன் கால் ஆறவும் காண்பார்
ஐயா திருவை யாறா

Mannum Thanalara (1), Vaanum pugai ara (2),
Ennariya thaimar ilaiparavum (3),  pannumayan 
kai araavum (4), adiyen kaal araavum (5), kanbaar
aiya thriru vaiyara.

Meaning (From Variyar discourse): He thinks of how many births he has to take and cause suffering for the following before reaching god and laments: How many times do i need to be cremated - let the sand become cool (1), let the sky be clear of smoke because of repeated cremations of me (2), Let the mothers who is going to carry me during pregnancy be relaxed (3), let the god who write my fate take a break (4), in each birth i had to suffer running and searching for you, let me also relax my legs (5) - see of Lord of Thiruvaiyara.

Another one, this time at Irupaiyur:

மாதா உடல் சலித்தாள்; வல்வினையேன் கால் சலித்தேன்
வேதாவும் கை சலித்து விட்டானே -நாதா
இருப்பையூர் வாழ் சிவனே, இன்னுமோர் அன்னை
கருப்பையூர் வாராமற் கான்.

Matha udal salithal; valvinayen kaal salithen;
vedhavum kai salithu vittana - natha
irupaiyur vazh sivane; innumor annai
karupaiyur varaamar kaan.

He prayed: 
   "My mother got tired carrying me and giving me birth. 
    My legs were aching being in many mother's womb. 
    Even lord brahma (veda) got tired of writing my fate again and again. 
    Oh Siva of Irupaiyur, please save me from being born again (womb - karupai)".  

At Kanchi:

பிறக்கும் போது கொண்டு வந்ததில்லை; பிறந்து மண்மேல்
இறக்கும் போது கொண்டு போவதில்லை; இடை நடுவில்
குறிக்கும் இச்செல்வம் சிவன் தந்ததென்று கொடுக்கறியாது
இறக்கும் குலாமருக்கு என் சொல்லுவேன் கச்சி ஏகம்பனே

Pirakkum pothu kondu vanthathillai; piranthu manmel
irakkum pothu kondu povathillai; idai naduvil
kurikkum echelvam sivan thanthendru kodukariyathu
irakum kulamaraku en solluven kacchi ekambane!

We did not bring materials to this world when  born,
nor we are going to take anything with us when we die on this earth,
What wealth you accumulate in the meantime is nothing but what God gave,
you misers die without realizing this, what can i say Oh Ekamba of Kanchi.


At Srikalahasti:

வாளால் மகவரிந்து ஊட்டவல்லேன் அல்லேன்; மாதுசொன்ன
சூளாலிளமை துறக்கவல்லேன் அல்லன்; தொண்டுசெய்து
நாளாறில் கண்ணிடத்து அப்பவல்லேன் அல்லன்நான் இனிச்சென்று
ஆளாவது எப்படியோ திருக்காளத்தி அப்பருக்கே? 3

Vaallal magavarinthu utta vallen allaen; maadhu sonna
soolalilamai thurakavallen allaen, thondu seithu
naallaril kannidathu appavallaen allaen; naan ini sendru
allavathu eppadiyo thirukaalathi apparukae?

[Siru Thondary story]I'm not capable of slicing my son's flesh and feed you;
[Thiru Neela kandar story]Due to the challenge of a woman, i'm incapable of losing my youth;
[Kannapa Nayanar story]Nor can i give my eye like Kannapar;
How can i surrender and become one with you Oh Lord of Thiru Kaalathi (Sri Kalahasti).

Somewhere else:

அத்தமும் வாழ்வும் அகத்துமட்டே; விழி அம்பொழுக
மெத்திய மாதவரும் வீதி மட்டே; விம்மி விம்மி இரு
கைத் தலைமேல் வைத்து அழுமைந்தரும் சுடுகாடு மட்டே;
பற்றித்தொடரும் இருவினைப் புண்ணிய பாவமுமே.

Athamum vaazhvum agathumatte; vizhi ammozhuga
methiya madhavarum veedhi matte; vimmi vimmi iru
kai thalaimel veithu azhu maintherum sudukadu matte;
pattri thodarum iru vinai punniya paavamume!

When you die, The friends and relatives will gather at home, The woman you loved comes till end of the street, the sons who cry with hands on their heads come till the cemetery; only the two classes of actions - the good you gather and the sins you had accumulated will follow you after this life. [[Editor's note: This song was  the foundation for kannadasan's "Veedu vari uravu, veethi varai manaivi ..." song]].

He went to Thiruvenkadu next.  A young boy with torn clothes approached him and cried, "Thatha" (Grandpa: it is customary to call old people grandpa/grandma in tamil even if not a relative). He said he was the son of the chief accountant Sendhanar. Why are you wearing torn clothes?, he inquired.  It was because of your words thatha - you asked my Dad to throw away the wealth - he did like you said, and the king arrested him and thrown him in Jail.

Pattinathar got angry. If the people commit crimes, they can complain to the king. Who can you complain to, if the King makes a mistake? 

He sang,

மத்தளை தயிருண்டானும் மலர்மிசை மன்னினானும்
நித்தமுந் தேடிக்காணா நிமலனே யமலமூர்த்தி
செய்த்தளைக் கயல்பாய் நாங்கூர்ச் சேந்தனை வேந்தனிட்ட
கைத்தளை நீக்கியென்முன் காட்டுவெண் காட்டுளானே.

Mathalai Thayirundanum malarmizai manninanum
Nithamum thedi kanaa nimalane amalamoorthy
Seithalai kayal pai naangoor sendhanai vendanitta
kaithalai neeki en mum kattu venkatullane.

Meaning: 

Mathalai - churned curd/butter
mizai - liking
nithamum thedi - searched forever
nimalan - supreme being
vendan - king
kaithalai - handcuffs
neeki - remove
en mun - before me
kattu - show

Pattinathar sings beautifully - instead of telling just Vishna and brahma went in search of finding siva's head and toe (in linga form - Karthigai deepa story), he puts the one who ate butter and the one who went in search of head and saw the flower (Brahma), they searched forever and couldn't find the begining and end of you. Oh Lord, Sendhanar of Naangoor (his accountant) is imprisoned because of the duties though not of his fault, Please remove the handcuffs that were put by the king and show him before me.

Lord Siva signalled Ganesha sitting next to him, and Ganesha's trunk extended to the prison, released Sendhanar from his cell and brought him before Pattinathar. Pattinathar blessed Sendhanar to continue his prayers and charity in Thillai. 

[[Editor's note: The above scene was described in Variyar's discourse, but not many references online. In fact, finding the right song, its' Tamil version and translation took quite an effort :) ]]

பூதமுங்கரணம் பொறிகளைம்புலனும் பொருந்திய குணங்க
ளோர்மூன்றும், நாதமுங்கடந்த வெளியிலே நீயுநானுமாய்நிற்கு நாளு
ளதோ, வாதமுஞ்சமயபேதமுங்கடந்த மனோலய வின்பசாகரனே,
ஏதுமொன்றறியேன் யாதுநின்செயலே யிறைவனே யேகநாயகனே.

Oh Lord, will there be a day, when I stand in unison with you, above the 5 Boodhas, 5 senses, 3 Gunas and Nadas (tattvas) - God is said to be above all 36 Tattvas - Nadha mudi mel irukum sings a poet - the one who stands above all. You are beyond arguments, you are the only way for me. Whatever happens is per your will, not by my conscience. Sri Vallalar sings, "நாதர் முடி மேலிருக்கும் வெண்ணிலாவே - அங்கே  நாணும் வர வேண்டுகின்றேன் வெண்ணிலாவே...'" - (Nadhar mudi mel irrikum vennilave, ange nanum vara venduginren vennilave) - he refers to Lord Shiva, who is above the 36 tattvas  (Nadham / Nadha brahmam) here.

யாவரேயிருந்தும் யாவரேவாழ்ந்தும் யாவரேயெமக்குறவாயும்,
தேவரீரல்லாற் றிசைமுகமெனக்குத் திருவுளமறிய வேறுளதோ,
பாவலானொருவன் செந்தமிழ்க்கிரங்கிப் பரவையாருடலைமாற்ற,
ஏவலாளாகியிர வெலாமுழன்ற விறைவனே யேகநாயகனே.

Whoever is there, whoever lives, whoever is the relation, You are the only one i know, Oh Lord. You went as a messenger to Paravai Nachiyar for your devotee Sundara Nayanar. Sri variyar explains, some claim the district collector is their cousin, some will say, he studied with the current minister in school together. What is the use? When Yama is coming with the Pasa kayiru, who can help?


உண்டதேயுண்டு முடுத்ததேயுடுத்து மடுத்தடுத்துரைத்த யுரைத்தும்,
கண்டதேகண்டுங் கேட்டதேகேட்டுங் கழிந்தனக நாளெல்லாம்,
விண்டதா மரைமேலன்னம் வீற்றிருக்கும்விழ வீதிவெண்காடா,
அண்டரேபோற்ற வம்பலத்தாடுமையனேயு மாறருளே.

Don't waste your days in eating, dressing, gossiping, seeing and hearing the usual nonsense. Focus your mind on the Lord and that is the way to salvation.

கோடியல் மனத்தால் வாக்கினுற் செயலால் கொடியஐம் 
புலன்களால் அடியேன் தேடிய பாவம் நரகமும் கொள்ள செய்தவம் 
புரியினும் தீரா, வீடிய பிரமர் சிரமெலாம் கவர்ந்த விழவரு 
விதிவெண் காடா ஆடிய பாதா! அம்பலத்து ஆடும் ஜயனே ! 













 
[[Tamil version of above two songs credit to ta.wikisource.org]]

[Khodiya - crooked]. God, how many ways i accumulate sins - some have crooked minds, some speak ill of others, some by actions, some by 5 senses. Some get wealth by working, some by interests/loans, some by agriculture, others by trade, but God we seem to accumulate sins through all the means. Even if i perform penance for years, it won't be enough to keep me away from the doors of hell.  Oh Lord of Venkada (Thiruvenkadu).

He then went north to visit more temples. He reached Ujjains' Maha kali temple and worshipped the goddess.

Ujjain.

The place where Goddess Maha Kali rules. She is the Rudra form of Shakthi Devi. She presents as not only as destroyer but as a protector and giver. Many merchants from south visit ujjain and Kalinka in north. The market had products from around the world and one in four merchant spoke tamil.

When Pattinathar and his disciples were walking, people we laughing at them as they were not used to see anyone walking on the streets with loin clothes. Suddenly, everyone is pushed to the side as King of Ujjain (Badragiri) was making his way from the river to his palace. The soldiers tried to push Pattinathar aside.  

Who are you?, asked the angry king. Pattinathar replied, it is the same question every human asks. Where are you going? To the cemetry.

What are you doing here? A drama between (birth and death).
He was angry and said, Answer me properly, I'm the king. He replied, The same one is answering too. (Here Pattinathar considers all are equal as Siva's children and didn't care about external appearances/wealth). 

What did you achieve by becoming a saint? He replied - அரசன் நின்றிருக்க ஆண்டி அமர்ந்திருக்க  - meaning, when the king stands, the recluse is sitting [[ It is customary when the king is standing, everyone should stand too]].

The king ignored him and went away. People were shocked and prostrated to get his blessing. Many know him as "Pattinathu Chetty (City dweller) and not by his real name".

[[Editor's note: This part of story is vastly different between sources. Arthamulla Hindu Matham/Kanndasan's volume 5 book and other sources depict a different version than Variyar's  than Variyar and few other sources including the movie. For the former, refer to the blog post covering the book translation here ]]

Nighttime, Pattinathar was in deep meditative state unaware of senses at a small pillayar temple under the tree. Meanwhile, some thieves strike at the palace and stole expensive jewelry and were chased by the guards. Happy with the loot, the thieves threw a diamond necklace as a token for the successful heist towards the Ganesha idol. In darkness, they didn't see properly and it fell on Pattinathar's neck. The guards found the necklace and thought he we pretending to be innocent and took him to the King.  Maharaja, this Madraswala stole the diamond necklace. 

Under questioning, Pattinathar couldn't come up with a good answer as to how he got the necklace as he was totally unaware. Ignoring the wise minister's wisdom, the king punished him to death by Kazhu as the crime is capital (stealing from king is eligible for capital punishment). [[Kazhumaram - A conical form with sharp point made of iron or wood, lubricated. The prisoner will be set on it, and the death will be slow and painful as it pierces the body]]. 

He was put in jail that night - he wasn't dismayed, thinking if fate is playing a role for a person born in a southern state to die in Ujjain, an act played by the Lord SriKalahasti, who is he to stop this? His disciples were crying - how much he taught them about impermanance and they are still cryings? He related to a story  from childhood. After Lord krishna's bhagavat gita, and the war, when Arjuna's son Abhimanyu dies, Arjuna was crying. Tears dropped from Lord krishna on Arjuna. When arjuna asked, why krishna was crying as he didn't lose a son, he replied, look i spent so much time in explaining the gita to you and how to be strong, and look how soon it was wasted. 

Next dat at sunrise, he was taken out for sentencing. He looked at the post and thinks, Here i had thrown away 9 crores of my wealth and became a sanyasi, and while meditating on the riverbed, i am accused of robbery and being sentenced to death - what else could it be other than fate.

He sang, 

என்செய லாவதியாதொன்று மில்லை இனித்தெய்வமே
உன்செய லேயென் றுணரப் பெற்றேன் இந்த ஊன் எடுத்து
பின்செய்த தீவினையாதொன்று மில்லை பிறப்பதற்கு
முன்செய்த தீவினை யோலிங்ங னேவந்து மூண்டதுவே.

En Seyal Aavadhu Yaadhondrum Illa Ini Dheivamae
Unn Seyale endru unarapetraen, Indha Oon Eduthu
Pin Seidha Theevinai Yaadhondrum Illai, pirappadharkku
Munn Seidha Theevinaiyo Innaganae Vandhu Moondadhuvae.

Meaning, 

"God, i realised what is happening here is not due to my deeds, but none other than your will. It is not becasuse of what i did after i born, but because of the sins i did in my past and in my previous births". Sri Variyar explains this eloquently: Pattinathar sings "he realized" - does it mean he didn't know this before (all actions are due to God and not by him) - no, he know it. Theoratically. What he knows now is by experience - that is why he "realized/experienced" (Aridhal [knowledge] vs unardhal [experience]).  After he said Mundhatuvee - the kazhu was in flames. He fainted and don't know what happened. The kazhu went up in flames and burned to ashes. The swamy burnt the kazhu, but left the king alone.

The news reached the king and he realized he made a mistake. He ran to Pattinathar and asked for his forgiveness. Pattinathar blessed him and hinted his wife was cheating on him (double-minded). In fact she had an affair with the horse-keeper.  When the king exposed them, he sentenced her to die by first shaming her with a practice called "karum-pulli" where her head was shaved and black dots painted over the body and paraded on a horse on the streets. The citizens mad at her arrogance pelted her with stones and she died before the horse returned to the palace.

King Badragiri, deeply disturbed wanted to renounce and asked Pattinathar to take him as his disciple.

Pattinathar adviced him:

ஒன்று என்று இரு; தெய்வம் உண்டு என்று இரு
உயர் செல்வம் எல்லாம் அன்று என்று இரு; பசித்தோர் முகம் பார்
நல் அறமும் நட்பும் நன்று என்று இரு; நடு நீங்காமலே நமக்கு இட்ட படி
என்றுன்றிரு; மனமே உனக்கு உபதேசம் இதே!

Think of only one - that is God [Don't fret with useless thoughts or worry]. Believe in him;
All wealth will leave one soon; help the poor and needy;
Trust in good friendship and deeds, be always just;
Content with what is given; Oh mind, this is my advice to you.

He asked Badragiri to head south and stay at Thiruvidai maruthur and he will join him after finishing his yatra up north. Badragiri handed over his kingdom to his minister and went south and practiced Pattinathar's teaching. After a while pattinathar joined him and they both visited many temples. They were in a sugarcane field eating some sugarcane - the bottom was sweet and top bitter - the farmer told him life is like that - what starts as sweet in childhoold ends up bitter later. He decided to keep sugarcane as a reminder.

[[Editor's note: Another variation here. Some sources indicate God told Pattinathar in his dreams, when the top portion becomes sweet he'll attain mukthi (salvation). Other sources mention about wild sugarcane (Pei karumbu) which is sour in nature - again turning sweet when salvation is near. ]]

There are three kind of viruthis (conduct/behavior) when it comes to gathering food:

1) Unja viruthi (உஞ்ச விருத்தி) -  to pick; picking the kernel from fields and eat them - Kuselar lived like this. 
2) Kabotha Viruthi (கபோத விருத்த) - Kabotha - dove (Pura); They don't keep food for tomorrow - many saints lived like this - believing if god gave them today, he will give them tomorrow too.
3) Ajakara viruthi (அஜகர விருத்தி) - Ajakaram - python; the snake doesn't go in search for food; if some animal comes near it'll eat them, else will starve. Pattinathar undertook this kind of practice - he won't go seek food - when people see him and offer he'll accept it [[may be linked to "Setharai pola thiri" poem referenced earlier in the post]].

He said, வாசற்படி கடந்து வாராத பிச்சைக்கு இங்கு ஆசைப்படுவது இல்லை அண்ணலே - meaning, i do not seek interest in food that doesn't cross the doorstep. Nowadays, when people give food to beggars, they will give it from inside the gate (most of the time the gate is locked too). This creates a status issue - giver being supreme and receiver as lowly. However, for saints and sages, the proper procedure is to give them food either by inviting them inside or going outside the door - thus creating an equal status.  Remember, in Ramayana,  Ravana asked Sita to step outside the boundary lines (drawn by Lakshman) to give food, allowing him to take her away. 

He sang, 
இருக்கும் இடம் தேடி என்பசிக்கே அன்னம்
உருக்கமுடன் கொண்டுவந்தால் உண்பேன் - பெருக்க
அழைத்தாலும் போகேன் அரனே என்தேகம்
இளைத்தாலும் போகேன் இனி.

meaning, Whoever comes to my place with devotion and kindness to give me food, i'll accept that; however, i will not go seek after food even if it is a royal lunch or even if my body leans and i starve. 

Badragiri however did not follow this practice and goes begging collecting alms - giving some to pattinathar and eating the rest. Once, Badragiri found a begging bowl (Thiruvodu) and took possession - Pattinathar told him that is not necessary but he kept it anyway. A while later, he saw a hungry dog and fed her. The dog started to follow him. Pattinathar said to him, he is accumulating things, but he said its just a dog and a bowl. Pattinathar said, "It's your wish" and continued. 

Once God took form of a beggar and came to pattinathar and asked for alms. Pattinathar said, you're a sanyasi and i'm a sanyasi - i don't have anything to offer you. In the upper level, there is a family man - go check with him. The beggar went up and saw Badragiri there. He said to him, the sanyasi from the lower stairs said i'll find a family man here, and asked him for alms.  

Badragiri, realized his guru is calling him a family man because of the things he accumulated and the dog he is supporting. He became a sanyasi leaving a kingdom, yet he is still collecting things. He realized he did a mistake and threw the thiruvodu down - the bowl fell on the dog and broke its head. It died staring at him. He couldn't understand the stare and Pattinathar explained to him that is wife - the queen in previous birth was reborn as this dog. God gave Badragiri salvation right then. Pattinathar was sad that he still had not attained mukthi and continued his work. He visited many more temples and sang beautiful verses.

முடிசார்ந்த மன்னரும் மற்றுமுள் ளோரும் முடிவிலொரு
பிடிசாம்ப ராய்வெந்து மண்ணாவ துங்கண்டு பின்னும் இந்தப்
படிசார்ந்த வாழ்வை நினைப்பதல் லால்பொன்னின் அம்பலவர்
அடிசார்ந்து நாம்உய்ய வேண்டுமென்றே அறி வாரில்லையே!

The crowned king and the ordinary men will end up as handful of ashes; instead of thinking of gold in this life, think of the feet of god and pray for it.

முதற்சங்கு அமுதூட்டும், மெய்குழலார் ஆசை
நடுச்சங்கம் நல்விலங்கு பூட்டும் கடைச்சங்கம்
ஆம்போ ததுஊதும், அம்மட்டோ? இம்மட்டோ?
நாம்பூமி வாழ்ந்த நலம்!

The first conch feeds (also customary in some older cultures to blow the conch to celebrate first feeding to the baby), second blow of conch is during wedding (he calls it good handcuffs), third and final conch is sounded after death - that is all is there in life; make it worthwile.

இருப்பதுபொய் போவதுமெய் என்றெண்ணி நெஞ்சே
ஒருத்தருக்கும் தீங்கினை உன்னாதே - பருத்ததொந்தி
நம்மதென்று நாமிருப்ப நாய்நரிகள் பேய்கழுகு
தம்மதென்று தாமிருக்கும் தான் !

Life is an illusion, death is certain; so Mind, think of this and don't do bad to anyone. We care for our pot belly, whereas the dogs, foxes and vultures also think it is theirs.

காலன் வருமுன்னே கண் பஞ்சடை முன்னே
பாலுண் கடைவாய்ப்படுமுன்னே மேல்வி ழுந்தே
உற்றார் அழுமுன்னே ஊரார் சுடுமுன்னே
குற்றாலத் தானையே கூறு !

Before Yama reaches you, before eyes were covered with cotton, before milk is poured for the final time into your mouth, before the relations fall on you and cry, before you were cremated, talk only about Kutralathan (God of Kutralam - Lord shiva). Through his songs, one can realize the common theme is everything in this world is temporary and praying to god is the only way to achieve salvation and is the final goal.

He reached Thiruvottiyur and realized the sugarcane is sweet and is thrilled that his Moksha is near. He played with fishermen kids on the beach. He performed magic (siddhu). They give him sand, he turned them into sugar. He asked for rocks and turned them into sugar crystals (Kalkandu). 

He asked the kids to bury him deep in sand, and he'll appear in a different place. The third time, his body changed to a Siva Linga where he was buried (Uruva Sitti). Even today we can see Pattinathar samadhi - now a temple in Thiruvottiyur near Chennai.

Image credit: Gopura Darisanam Blogspot

God bless all those who read this story of the great saint Pattinathar. I'll work on translating many of his beautiful songs in the near future.

[[Editor's note: Kuberan being born as Pattinathar is referenced in very few articles - one of them is variyar's discourse. The Wealth god himself realizes that wealth is not permanent and only Salvation is the ultimate goal. The final link is with Pattinathar's samadhi. All the great saints and siddhas have a burial/samadhi in human form after their last birth. God's avatar has no form after the end (Krishna, Rama). Here Pattinathar's samadhi is a Siva Linga transformed from a human body - called Uruva sithi - transformation from body, which is possible only by such devas.

I'm grateful for the many scholars and writers and many more blog posts that covered aspects of his life story, without which this post is not possible. Instead of putting one version of his life history, i opted to list the different versions with notes. I believe it would immensely help readers in similar situation as mine trying to bring the pieces together.  

Anything i missed is unintentional. Please note them in comment section - suggestions welcome. Really appreciate your feedback. ]]

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