Spiritual Stories

Author(s): Raman Maharshi
Publisher: Ramanasramam Tiruvannamalai

Page 95

THE LORD is Within Me
THE MADURA KING Pandyan was inclined towards Jainism. His wife was the daughter of the Chola King and was attached to Saivism. She had heard of the great saint Jnana Sambandar, his powers. And she also came to know of his camping at Vedaranyam. The Pandyan Queen, with the help of a minister who was also attached to Saivism, sent an invitation to the Saint to visit Madurai and convert the king to Saivism. The Saint came accordingly. When the queen saw that he was a mere boy of about ten or even less, she had serious misgivings whether he could be a match for all the big Jain leaders surrounding the king and if by inviting this child she had put him in jeopardy. When the Saint noticed this, he sang some songs, addressed to the queen and assuring her, “I am not in any way inferior to these Jains. The Lord is within me. Don't, therefore, be afraid."
A devotee added, “The songs mention the names of Jain leaders, referring to them in contempt and stating, 'I am not inferior to all these, as the Lord is within me'. It is amusing to read those songs.”
Bhagavan added, “This was after the saint came to Madurai. When the invitation reached Vedaranyam and Jnana Sambandar wanted to start for Madurai, Appar (Tirunavukkarasar) who was with Sambandar pleaded, 'Do not start today. The day is not auspicious for you. They, the Jains, are terrible and powerful persons'. Thereupon Jnana Sambandar sang the Kolaru Padhikam, in which he again says, “As the Lord is within me, in my heart, no days, no planets, can affect me adversely and every day of the week is equally auspicious”.”