3/28/2023 0 Comments Wandering minstrels hand of fate![]() But Lord Ganesha appeared and told her to finish her rituals calmly and without haste, with the promise that she would be taken to Kailasa ahead of her two friends. She became disturbed and tried to rush her worship, filled with a yearning to join her spiritual friends on their last journey. They were as aware of her as she was of them. ![]() Sundarar was riding a white elephant, and Seraman was on a white horse. She had a vision in which Saint Sundarar was proceeding to Mount Kailasa, Siva’s abode, with his comrade, King Seraman. ![]() She is now acclaimed as the wisest woman of all ages in the chronicles of Indian culture.Īuvaiyar Ma was a contemporary and close associate of two noble Siva bhaktas, Sundarar and Seraman Perumal, ruler of the Chera kingdom, both extolled as great Saiva saints in Sekkilar’s epic hagiography, the Periyapuranam. One day, near the end of her life, it is said that Auvaiyar was in the midst of her daily worship of her beloved Ganesha. These maharajas patronized her cultural works so that her fame spread far and wide. Her royal benefactors, among whom were Shri Shri Shri Adiyaman, Pari, Kari and Seraman, are historical figures distinguished by their bravery and benevolence. Her innumerable literary and philosophical works, for both children and elders, cover the entire gamut of human experience and testify to her profound wisdom. As her spiritual sadhana bore fruit, she slowly matured into spreading the tantras, the mystical teachings of the siddhars, the wisdom of God Siva and the Gods. Her life was simple, dedicated to the practice of yoga and to following her guru’s instructions. Looking at her reflection in the village well, the maiden was overcome with joy, knowing she was safe from the world, knowing that her loving Ganesha had graciously answered her prayers.Īuvaiyar left the shelter of home, where most people find security, and wandered far and wide in the palmyra-covered Tamil kingdoms of Chola, Pandya and Chera. Please take away my youth and my beauty so that I can have peace and follow my chosen way of life.” Ganesha heard her prayer, and in the days that followed her skin wrinkled, hair grayed, eyes dulled, limbs stiffened and breasts sagged. Faced with the impending marriage that her family would surely arrange, Auvaiyar wept and prayed before her chosen Deity, Vighneshvara, to save her from this fate: “Oh, my Lord, these people are only after my youth and beauty but I want to dedicate myself to the Goddess of learning and to the spread of learning. She did not want to make a man the center of that universe. Her interests were philosophical and devotional, and her life revolved around her love of Siva. While most young women would welcome such attention, it was for Auvaiyar more threat than opportunity. Known for her intelligence and extraordinary beauty, she had many aristocratic suitors, and pressure was brought to bear for arranging her marriage. ![]() As a young girl, she was deeply devoted to religion and literary pursuits and wanted to serve the people. Abandoned by her parents at birth, Auvaiyar was raised by a family of Panars, who were wandering minstrels. QUITE A LONG TIME AGO, IN THE NINTH CENTURY, there lived in the south Indian Tamil land a woman saint known as Auvai or Auvaiyar, a Tamil appellation for a respected senior mother or lady. ![]()
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