God never forgets His devotees

Like a mouse falling into a trap, tempted by a piece of coconut, or a fish hooked by an angler’s worm, humans fall prey to worldly pleasures, losing sight of the path to God. Elders recommend that one walks in the path of the four (Naalvar), the Fathers of the Saivite faith, who showed the efficacy of dasya bhakti (service to the Lord), said Damodhara Deekshithar.

Everyone has a wish list that they place before God, but they also forget Him. However, God never forsakes His devotees, as exemplified by His protection of Sundaramoorthy Swamigal. As Alalasundaranar, the latter had been a servitor of Siva but was sent from heaven to earth by Siva in order to rid himself of the residual worldly attachments. When Alalasundaranar wondered what would happen if he forgot Him while living as a human, Siva promised He would intervene and enslave him (thaduththuaatkolludhal).

Accordingly, Alalasundaranar was reborn on earth in Navaloor. Adopted and raised by the chieftain, he was well-versed in scriptures, and soon it was time for him to get married. At the marriage hall, an old servitor of Siva arrived, saying he had come not to bless the groom but to claim him as his slave. A shocked Arooran sought proof of his enslavement, and the old man produced an ancient palm leaf document. Arooran called him a madman (pithan), asking how a Brahmin could enslave another Brahmin.

During the angry exchange, the palm leaf script was damaged. Undeterred, the old servitor suggested they all journey to Tiruvennanalloor where the original script was safely kept. The original did indeed state that Arooran of Navaloor and his descendants would perform hereditary service to the great sage of Vennainalloor. The seniors in the gathering demanded that the old servitor show proof of his residence; he led them to Tiruvaratthurai, the temple in the town, and vanished. When Nambiarooran called out, Siva appeared in the sky and said, “Thadutthu attkollavandhom” (”We came to take you to our bosom”). Deeply moved that Siva had taken care of him while he himself had forgotten the Lord, Arooran sang the famous verse, “Piththaa, Pirai soodi”, a line suggested by Lord Siva Himself.