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DECEMBER, 1905.]
STORIES OF THE TAMIL VAISHNAVA SAINTS.
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STORIES OF THE TAMIL VAISHNAVA SAINTS. Translated by N. Kuruthalwar and communicated by Mrs. I. J. Pitt.
The Tirukoralar Avatars.
(A)-Poikhai Alwer. The Conch Avatar. TIS soul was incarnato in a human body, which appeared in a lotus in a well near
Conjeveram. He was born supernaturally of the same mental nature as the Conch of Vishnu.
(B)- Pudhatta AlwAr. He was born supernaturally in the same manner, of the mental nature of the Olub of Vishnu. He was found in a flower called kurukatti at Tirukadalmalli.
(C)- P& Alwar. He was born supernaturally in the same manner, of the mental nature of the Sword of Vishnu, and was found in a lotus in a well at Mailapar, Madras.
These three, by the free grace of God, got rid of rajoguna and tamguna, and were full of pare sattva, and lived only for the service of God, and increased in knowledge, devotion and non-attachment to worldly things. They refraired from eating and drinking, the love of God being their sustenance. They avoided the company of worldly men, travelling about the country, and not staying more than two days in one place, instructing the people as they went; bat ap to this time they had not met together. Then God wished to reveal their real nature to the world, to enable the people to gain more by their instructions, so he caused them to meet in Tirukovalar in the South Arcot District-doring a great storm. One of them being alone in the storm, sought shelter in a small room outside a Brahman's house, shut the door, and lay down. Then the second one, finding himself also in the storm, came across the small room and tapped at the door. Then the first one called out, "There is here hardly room for one to lie down." The second replied, "If one can lie down, two can sit down." The first one, hearing his reply, and concluding that he was a wise man, opened the door and let him in.
Presently the third one came, knocked, and begged for entrance, when the two called out that there was hardly room enough for two to sit. In reply the third one said, "Where two can sit, three can stand." This sensible answer pleased the first and second one, and they let the third one in. After the usual salutations they asked questions of one another. The first said, "I am the inseparable attendant of God." The second, "I am the servant of Vasudeva." The third said, "I am one with Paramâtma, who is knowledge and bliss."
And so they mutually made each other known. When these three were thus met together, Vishnu was desirous to be amongst them, for as he is always present in a garden of tulasi, or in a tank of lotus flowers, so he must be always near his devotees. Accordingly he caused himself to be present amongst them. As it was very dark they could see nothing, but each one felt that there was a fourth presence in the room. One said, "Light a lamp, and see who this is." However, being yagis they were able to perceive mentally that God was amongst them. Then the first Alwar exclaimed, "I will make the earth the vessel, the sea sball be the oil, and the sun shall be the wick; with this light-do I decorate the person of Vishnu." The second Alwar then said, "I will make my devotion the vessel, my adoration shall be the oil, my ardent love shall be the wick. This light is the lamp of knowledge offered to Narayana, by whose free grace I gained this knowledge, which I have given forth in the Tamil language." Then suddenly a great light barst upon them, and the third Alwar cried out, "I behold the golden bodies of Vishna and Lakshmi, the entire beauteous forms
