Yet Another Love Story, This Time A Perfect One!

‘Not again, Varalotti. Perfect love story, impossible! With your advancing age, instead of becoming more and more senile, you are becoming more and more romantic. Indhu, beware.’

‘There is no perfect love story. There are only love stories with tragic endings, and love stories with happy endings.’

Possible, understandable reactions! I am also reminded of my friend’s words. ‘All love stories have a tragic ending. In some cases the lovers part ways, when it is really tragic. In others the lovers marry each other, in which case it is even more tragic.’

Here I am going to narrate a love story, a period story again, in which the lover could not even see his beloved. Yet he fell in such a deep love and the story had such an ending that even the word ‘perfect’ is but a poor substitute.

‘Kanaamal Kaadhal’ – loving without seeing was popularised only after the release of the Tamil movie, Kadhal Kottai, in which Ajith and Devayani will be in deep love even without seeing each other in person. The love story I am going to narrate now – a story that happened several hundreds of years ago – was a forerunner to that.

First the lover. We do not even know his real name. In accordance with the customs of those days he was known simply as Paanan, the name of his caste. There were four major caste divisions in those days – the priestly class, the warriors, the traders and the workmen. But this guy fell into the fifth caste. And so low was his social order that he was considered not just an “untouchable” but many times even “unseeable.”

Paanan used to play his veena and sing. In fact that was his only occupation. He never knew when he fell in love. But his beloved occupied his heart,soul and being to such an extent, that he could not think of anything else. And the pity was that he was not allowed to even enter the street in which his beloved’s abode was there.

And now his beloved. You have guessed it, right?Yes, it was Lord Renganatha of Srirengam. Some upper caste man who had the fortune of having a dharshan of the Lord told Paanan about Him, His beauty, His Grace, His Vaatsalyam (his love for his devotees) and His saulabhyam, that is His easy approchability.



It required mountains of pure, strong faith of a special kind to belive that Lord Renganatha was easily approachable – because for Paanan the good God was not approachable at all. Period. (Pun intended – period is full stop and also refers to the period when this gross injustice happened)

It is easy now for us to stand up against the caste system. But in those days it took men of extraordinary moral courage and boundless compassion like Sri Ramanuja to oppose the system.

Paanan did not have the benefit of Sri Ramanuja's influence, as he was born a few hundred years before the Great Saint. Nowadays I see many rich men and politicians wearing Khadi shirts. I just laugh within myself.

To wear kadhi during the peak of British Rule required the moral strength of Gandhi or Nehru. Wearing khadhi now, when the best terri-wool suits themselves are made in India, is just an anachronism, a hypocrisy.

Paana lived in the South Banks of Cauvery where all the members of his caste lived. Every day he would come to the river bank and see the Raja Gopuram of Srirengam Temple. That was the closest he could get with his beloved, the Lord of Love. It was a miracle, for the ocean of his love was blocked by a river, River Cauvery, flowing between him and the Lord’s place.

Even the sight of the Gopuram would melt him into tears and sobs and he would start playing his Veena and sing praises about his beloved. He would forget the time, the place, everyting including himself. Late in the afternoon somebody would take him home and give something to eat.

After eating he would sit there and sing – again about the beauty and the grace of Lord Renganatha.


Somebody would tease him, “Paana, why don’t you just set your foot in the temple and see for yourself, how the God looks like?”


Paana would shrink in shame and guilt.


“Oh My God! What are you saying? My foot in the holiest of all places, His temple! No way! Do you think I would be mean enough to sully my God’s place with my body! No. The Loving God did not want me to come near Him. That’s why He made me born in the Fifth Caste. I swear I’ll never set my foot on the steps of My Lord’s Abode.”

Goddess Lakshmi was attending on Lord Vishnu. She was gently massaging the feet of Sarveshwaran, enjoying the eternal beauty of His face. As she turned towards His feet and looked again at His face, She was shocked.



The eyes of the Great Lord were filled with tears.

“What happened, My Lord?” Now Ma Lakshmi’s eyes were also full.
The Lord did not say anything. He just pointed out his index finger to the earth. Lakshmi saw Paanan and heard what he had just said.


“Oh, my poor child! You made the Great Lord Himself cry for you! There is nothing in the Universe equal to your Love, child. Things are going to be fine, don’t worry. You are blessed.”


When Jagan Matha Herself makes such a statement, all the forces in the Universe had to rush to Paanan’s side.


“Lakshmi Dear, I am now eager to see my Lover. And I am going to play a prank. Paana’s words would literally become true. He would never set his foot in my temple.”


“Swami, what are you saying? The child is crying out of purest love. And you do not want him inside your temple? Is your heart made of stone?”
The all knowing Lord smiled.


“Lakshmi, my temple, even the best one at Srirengam is not as holy as his love for me. If he sets his foot in my temple, I am afraid, he would become slightly impure. I have something else for him. Paana is a phenomenon which occurs once in a million years. And I should give him something which has not been given to any other human being. Just watch the fun.”


All the forces of Universe had taken positions and were justing waiting for the Lord to give his nod. And nod He did.

Dear Sridhar,
That was exhilarating to read about Panna and I just forgot to blink. He thinks that the temple will become impure even if he sets foot in it.It is an experience in itself not to see the idol and knowing that you never may, be so devout that even when you pray or see the Rajagopuram burst into sobs. This also explains that you do not need to go to the temple to be more than a devotee and give unto the Lord in surrender
What does Lord Vishnu have in store for Panna???????????????
He thinks that letting Panna inside the temple is the answer to his prayers , Truly blessed is He!!!!!!

Dear Janani,

Thanks. After reading Paana's story I was crying for days on end. I have read, heard,listened to and have written, thousands of stories. None of the stories I know can even come near Paana's story.

You are right, persons like, Paana, for whom even the mere sight of the Raaja Gopuram is enough to make them cry and sob, do not have to enter the temple.

We always attempt to solve our problems with our limited intelligence. But the Great Gord who is infinite love and infinite wisdom Himself, has different ways. Let's just keep our hands folded in prayer and let the mystery unfold before us.
And yes, thanks for the Boni.
love,

Originally Posted by Jananikrithsan

Dear Sridhar,
That was exhilarating to read about Panna and I just forgot to blink. He thinks that the temple will become impure even if he sets foot in it.It is an experience in itself not to see the idol and knowing that you never may, be so devout that even when you pray or see the Rajagopuram burst into sobs. This also explains that you do not need to go to the temple to be more than a devotee and give unto the Lord in surrender
What does Lord Vishnu have in store for Panna???????????????
He thinks that letting Panna inside the temple is the answer to his prayers , Truly blessed is He!!!!!!

Dear Varalotti...

That is a nice start up... When I read the title... I was thinking about materialistic love... hahahahahaha... Though I am happy to read more about the great people... I find that you have started moving towards spiritualism... I always... for some reason under the impression... you are a die hard romantic person... though this is a-k-r (another kind of romance)...

Only today morning I was thinking that I should stop seeing all movies and think of love towards God and all... Here, you come out with Panna... Great....

In the latest hifi movies, we see, time machines etc... so... why cant we go forwards in time... so that we can read all the parts without any inturruptions....

Now, we have to recommend to Indus lady to introduce this feature...

Veda

Dear Sridhar,

kudos once again for the feat !

Dear I have read this story as "THIRUPAN", hope this thiru is the respectful address for Panan. I should say thanks to Amar chitra katha series for helping me read these beautiful stories. Even to this day i love reading those books.


Once again you have done this - bringing a fresh whiff of pure & divine love to us.

Lakshmi, my temple, even the best one at Srirengam is not as holy as his love for me. If he sets his foot in my temple, I am afraid, he would become slightly impure. I have something else for him. Paana is a phenomenon which occurs once in a million years. And I should give him something which has not been given to any other human being. Just watch the fun.”

These words are very true that even the holiest place becomes little impure infront of this divine love. It is really our blessing to read these kind of stories again and energise ourselves with Pure love which is very much needed in today's world. And defintely Lord Ranganatha had no other way but to give his nod before this beautiful and Pure love of Thirupan.

I sincerely pray to the Lord to fill this world with more of this kind of love. Once again thanx Sridhar for bringing this to us. I really understand and appreciate the effort behind this.

Dear Veda Vyasan,
Actually the point I am trying to make in this post as well as in the Villi-Ponnachi's post is that there is no difference between love of woman and love of God. It is the intensity and the selflessness that is important. If you happen to see someone in love,be it with a person of the opposite sex, or God or even a street dog, you can see a glow in her face, extraordinary confidence in her actions and happiness in her heart which will be radiating their surroundings.
Legend has it that before Villi came into contact with Sri Ramanujacharya and when he was in love with Ponnachi (in Uraiyur), he had to fight with the wrestler from Vijayapuri. Now this man was six and a half feet tall and was twice the size of Villi. The Chola King, to whose court Villi was attached, asked him, if he wanted anything to be done for the wrestling match. Villi asked that Ponnachi should be made to sit in the front row and that she should not lift her eyes from him. And as he predicted he saw her eyes, got the strength and overthrew the giant wrestler in no time.

You are right in your assessment, Veda Vyasan. I am a die hard romantic person.My next serial will be proof enough of your assessment.But now I am just dwelling on a different kind of romance.

And as your elder brother (sure enough, I will be older to you) let me advise you not to indulge in any "should" statements. Like "should stop seeing the movies" and "should start thinking about God" etc. When the time matures She'd take care of you in Her own way.

I am trying to post the next part quite soon. Let's see if we can get to finish discussion on this part early.

thanks a lot for your kind fb.
love,

Originally Posted by Vysan

Dear Varalotti...

That is a nice start up... When I read the title... I was thinking about materialistic love... hahahahahaha... Though I am happy to read more about the great people... I find that you have started moving towards spiritualism... I always... for some reason under the impression... you are a die hard romantic person... though this is a-k-r (another kind of romance)...

Only today morning I was thinking that I should stop seeing all movies and think of love towards God and all... Here, you come out with Panna... Great....

In the latest hifi movies, we see, time machines etc... so... why cant we go forwards in time... so that we can read all the parts without any inturruptions....

Now, we have to recommend to Indus lady to introduce this feature...

Veda

dear varlotti,
well great story again but i am still waiting for the perfect ending!!!!
mandaye vedichudum pola erukku!!!!
what happened next post it as soon as possible!!!!!
regards
pavi

Dear Sridhar,
I too am waiting for the PERFECT ENDING to this Perfect Love story as your title says!
True that the word Love makes one dwell only on the romantic kind between a many and woman...isnt that what is portrayed in all movies. We have grown with this feeling only, so it is difficult for one to understand the kind of LOVE you are talking about. I liked your FB to Vysan.....
"there is no difference between love of woman and love of God. It is the intensity and the selflessness(THIS IS THE POINT!) that is important. If you happen to see someone in love,be it with a person of the opposite sex, or God or even a street dog, you can see a glow in her face, extraordinary confidence in her actions and happiness in her heart which will be radiating their surroundings."

The selflessness is the one which leads to the happiness, glow and confidence isn't it!
Now for the story of Panna.....i just had a query in my mind, belonging to the lower than lowest casted how did he excel in singing and veena.....wasn't it something practised by the higher caste only.....i am asking about that PERIOD!
But awaiting the Darshan of Lord Renganatha in this Lover's abode!?! Hope it will be soon!

Dear Sridhar,

Sorry to come in your space. Kindly correct me if I am wrong. as far as my little knowledge goes, Pannan had learned to play Yal a kind of stringed instrument very difficult to learn. His father had taught him the same.

.....i just had a query in my mind, belonging to the lower than lowest casted how did he excel in singing and veena.....wasn't it something practised by the higher caste only.....i am asking about that PERIOD

Sridhar, please enlight us on this - which is the true version?