The soul and its union with the Divine have always been subjects for introspection among the scholarly and the simple.
Who is God? What do his manifestations stand for? What is the relationship of Man to God?
In most of us, these questions remain in the back of the mind, while in some they lead to the study of the scriptures.
In a rare and brilliant few, the enquiring mind is wrought to such an extreme that there is a process of
extreme agitation leading to enlightenment and outpouring of joy.
These spontaneous exudations such as Adi Sankara’s Maneesha Panchakam or Vedanta Desika’s Sudarsana Ashtakam,
have become pillars of Hindu philosophy and an inspiration for millions.
Similar is the composition "Kumarastavam" by Sree Pambanswamigal.
It at once describes the glory of Lord Muruga and expounds a set of philosophical truths.
These Tamil verses were written by him in 1918, after he was cured of a severe ailment after intense worship of
Lord Muruga. Likewise he wrote the "Shanmuga kavacham" and "Paripujana panchamrutha vannam" in 1891.
Sree Pambanswamigal’s life is a story of trial and tribulation.
Every episode led to an increase in his faith in Lord Subramania.
That faith never goes unanswered was time and again illustrated when Lord Muruga came to his aid in his hour of distress.
It is also significant that unlike some other saints and savants, Sree Pambanswamigal turned to God in his childhood.
No wonder then that he serves as a source of strength and steadfastness to the thousands of people who gather
every Pournami night at the spot where he, literally, drew in his mortal breath.
Appavu, the son of Sathappa Pillai and Sembagavathi Ammal, was born in Pamban near Rameswaram,
after which place he is named. Even at the age of 13, he showed inclinations towards spiritualism and this trend continued.
On the instruction of his parents, he married and three children were born to him.
After carrying out his duties and marrying off his daughter, he entered Sanyasam.
In the year 1894, Pambanswamigal undertook a severe penance for 35 days.
He emerged from the penance on the night of Chitra Pournami as an enlightened being.
"Thakaralaya rahasyam" was the work written by him following this penance.
Pambanswamigal began performing abhishekam to Lord Muruga every Pournami day since then.
His spiritual experiences were many and coming so near our own times have proved a tangible and real source of hope
for the people. Only one is related here. Pambanswamigal came to Madras in 1995. In 1923, at the age of 73,
he met with an accident while walking on the road.
He was admitted to the Government General Hospital with a fractured leg.
The leg did not heal despite all efforts. He began praying to Lord Muruga and was granted the vision of two
peacocks and a small fair baby. A voice told him that his fracture would heal in 15 days. Incredibly,
his leg healed just as foretold.
One can see hundreds of devotees gather in the Arulmigu Pamban Kumaragurudasar koil also called the
Arulmigu Mayuranathar thirukkoil at Mayurapuram in Thiruvanmiyur every Pournami night.
This is the place where Pambanswami spent his last days. The devotees congregate in a large hall facing the
shrine of Mayuranatha (Muruga) and a small bronze idol of the swami in the sanctum sanctorum.
The temple is open on all days from 8 to 12 in the morning and 4 to 8 in the evening.
The priests there say that anybody who witnesses the Pournami abhishekam will be cured of all ailments.
It was the firm belief of Pambanswami that the force that never forsook him would take care of all his devotees.
MS CHERWEROYAR
TRICHY
Who is God? What do his manifestations stand for? What is the relationship of Man to God?
In most of us, these questions remain in the back of the mind, while in some they lead to the study of the scriptures.
In a rare and brilliant few, the enquiring mind is wrought to such an extreme that there is a process of
extreme agitation leading to enlightenment and outpouring of joy.
These spontaneous exudations such as Adi Sankara’s Maneesha Panchakam or Vedanta Desika’s Sudarsana Ashtakam,
have become pillars of Hindu philosophy and an inspiration for millions.
Similar is the composition "Kumarastavam" by Sree Pambanswamigal.
It at once describes the glory of Lord Muruga and expounds a set of philosophical truths.
These Tamil verses were written by him in 1918, after he was cured of a severe ailment after intense worship of
Lord Muruga. Likewise he wrote the "Shanmuga kavacham" and "Paripujana panchamrutha vannam" in 1891.
Sree Pambanswamigal’s life is a story of trial and tribulation.
Every episode led to an increase in his faith in Lord Subramania.
That faith never goes unanswered was time and again illustrated when Lord Muruga came to his aid in his hour of distress.
It is also significant that unlike some other saints and savants, Sree Pambanswamigal turned to God in his childhood.
No wonder then that he serves as a source of strength and steadfastness to the thousands of people who gather
every Pournami night at the spot where he, literally, drew in his mortal breath.
Appavu, the son of Sathappa Pillai and Sembagavathi Ammal, was born in Pamban near Rameswaram,
after which place he is named. Even at the age of 13, he showed inclinations towards spiritualism and this trend continued.
On the instruction of his parents, he married and three children were born to him.
After carrying out his duties and marrying off his daughter, he entered Sanyasam.
In the year 1894, Pambanswamigal undertook a severe penance for 35 days.
He emerged from the penance on the night of Chitra Pournami as an enlightened being.
"Thakaralaya rahasyam" was the work written by him following this penance.
Pambanswamigal began performing abhishekam to Lord Muruga every Pournami day since then.
His spiritual experiences were many and coming so near our own times have proved a tangible and real source of hope
for the people. Only one is related here. Pambanswamigal came to Madras in 1995. In 1923, at the age of 73,
he met with an accident while walking on the road.
He was admitted to the Government General Hospital with a fractured leg.
The leg did not heal despite all efforts. He began praying to Lord Muruga and was granted the vision of two
peacocks and a small fair baby. A voice told him that his fracture would heal in 15 days. Incredibly,
his leg healed just as foretold.
One can see hundreds of devotees gather in the Arulmigu Pamban Kumaragurudasar koil also called the
Arulmigu Mayuranathar thirukkoil at Mayurapuram in Thiruvanmiyur every Pournami night.
This is the place where Pambanswami spent his last days. The devotees congregate in a large hall facing the
shrine of Mayuranatha (Muruga) and a small bronze idol of the swami in the sanctum sanctorum.
The temple is open on all days from 8 to 12 in the morning and 4 to 8 in the evening.
The priests there say that anybody who witnesses the Pournami abhishekam will be cured of all ailments.
It was the firm belief of Pambanswami that the force that never forsook him would take care of all his devotees.
MS CHERWEROYAR
TRICHY
