Indian Antiquary Vol 34

SR No.: 032526
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 548
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 18 MB

Page 315

DECEMBER, 1905.]
STORIES OF THE TAMIL VAISHNAVA SAINTS.
285
Tirumangai for debt. The general was accompanied by foot-soldiers, elephants and carts. When Tirumangai Gaw this concourse, he sent out his own soldiers to meet them and they fought together, until Chandiávars and his soldiers were routed. The general's son returning, with much dismay, reported this to the râja, who thereupon, with the help of some neighbouring rdjas, went himseli and attacked Tirumangai, who routed him also an l gained possession of the kingdom. Then the rdja disguised himself as a Brâhman and went to Tiruniangai, and begged as a gift the kingdom, which bad been gained from the rája: this being granted, the rdja, further more by a cunning contrivance, managed to obtain possession of Tirumangai's person and sent bim as a prisoner to the temple of Tirunarayar.
While Tiramangai was left in the temple and was suffering from want of food, Lakshmi seeing it, brought the matter to the notice of Vishņu, who, thereupon, commanded the priests of the temple to give the offerings of rice and milk to Tirumangai, who after this, remaining a long time as a prisoner, became very downcast, and prayed that he might rather be imprisoned in Kandi or Tirupati. That night he dreamt ubat God told him that he should be sent to Kandi and obtain money to pay his debts. So it happened that he was sent to Kandi, guarded by warders, but not receiving any money there, became still more downcast. But one night he dreamt that God told him to go to the banks of the Vegavatl to a certain spot, the exact position of which was given ; 80 early the next morning he went to the place described and there found a quantity of money, with which he paid off all his debts, and with the remaining money he coatinued as before to feed and support the Vaishnavas.
On one occasion the police guards came to him and demanded that he should supply them with corn; not knowing how to do this, with an anxious mind he went to sleep that night, and was told in a dream that if he went to the same place where he had found the money and collected heaps of sand there, they woald become corn. He did this and called the guards to take away the corn, with some money, and present it to the rája, which they did with great amazement. When the raja saw it, he was awestruck and said it was like the miraculously lengthened garment of Draupadi, and understood that Tirumangai obtained these gifts through the grace of God, therefore he would not touch them, but sent back the corn and money to Tirumangai, begging his forgiveness, who used them in charity.
At last, all this money being exhausted, Tirumangai and his advisers consulted together, and resolved to obtain fonds to carry on their charitable work by means of highway robbery, and bethought themselves first of a temple of Buddha, which contained a golden image, but the door of the shrine was very high up and they did not know how to open it. Then Tirumangai thought of a device. Knowing where the architect of the temple lived, they went a long journey to him and reported that the image in the temple was robbed. The architect expressed much astonishment, saying he could not understand how anyone could get at it, and furthermore unguardedly divulged to them the secret of the opening of the door. Then, with their object gained, they took a chip back, which they loaded with areca-nuts, and by a cunning trick obliged the owner to pay half the value of the cargo. On landing they went at once to the temple and opened the small door, which was extremely parrow. Tiramangai told his brother-in-law Yatiraja to go in and hand out the idol, which he did, but when he tried to get out again, he found he could only squeeze his head through the door. Being stuck there, and fearing to be caught like that, he begged of them rather to cut off his head, which they did and went away. But this coming to the notice of Lakshmi, she had the head of Yatiraja replaced and restored him to life, and going to Vishna she asked him what was the meaning of all this, and why he allowed Tirumangai to commit so many bad actions. Vishnu replied that Tirumangai's sufferings would now soon come to an end, and directed that she should disguise herself as a bride, while he would appear as a bridegroom.
At this time Tiramangai was engaged in building, the walls of the temple at Srirangam, so that his need for money was very urgent, and he was constantly frequenting the highways. One day, while he was at this work, the bride and bridegroom, covered with jewels, appeared before him. He at once seized them, and as they made no resistance he robbed them of every