ஓர் அடையாளம்
Periyazhvar moves away from ‘Pillai Tamil and Krishna' to narrate Ramayana through Hanuman
Periyazhvar moves away from ‘Pillai Tamil and Krishna' to narrate Ramayana through Hanuman
Hanuman presents ‘Proof of Identity’ and finally succeeds in convincing Sita
This is another exciting set of verses in the Periyazhvar Thirumozhi as Periyazhvar moves away for the first time from the description of Krishna into an interesting episode in the Ramayana. It is also the only decad in the Periyazhvar Thirumozhi where the poet provides an entire set of 10 verses to Hanuman and his presentation.
Periyazhvar narrates through these last set of verses in the third Canto the true devotion of Hanuman and the manner of his presenting his Proof of Identity in an effort to convince Sita at the Ashoka Vana that he indeed is the messenger of Lord Rama.
Begins his narration
The stage was set at Janaka’s court. The great Janaka of Mithila performed a grand Yagna. Rama accompanied Vishwamitra and with his blessings broke the great bow to win Sita’s hand as the prize. When Parasurama, who had vowed to destroy generations of Kshatriyas, marched forward in anger ‘my Lord took his bow and ended his penance’ as well.
To the Forest
Ill advised Kaikeyi remembered her old pending boons and chose the coronation time of my Lord to invoke those boons and the great king had no choice but to grant her wishes. And thus my Lord was banished him to the forest accompanied by his brother Lakshmana and Sita Devi (காடுஉறைப்பபோஎன்றுவிடைகொடுப்பஇலக்குமணன்தன்னொடும்அங்கஏகியதுஓர்அடையாளம்).
And then my Lord befriended that great bow wielder Guha on the banks of the Ganges. And as they moved on to Chitrakoota, there came a surprise visitor - My lord’s brother Bharata. He handed him his Sandals and sent him back.
And at the same location, when a demon disguised as a crow pecked your bosom, my Lord using a sample grass charged with a mantra waved it at the crow that ran helter skelter for life all over the world and finally came and fell at my Lord’s feet for forgiveness, who provided liberation from its sins by removing its one eye.
சித்திரகூடத்துஇருப்பச்சிறுகாக்கை
முளைதீண்டஅத்திரமேகொண்டுஎரிய
அனைத்உலகம்திரிந்தோடி
வித்தகனேஇராமாவோநின்அபயம்என்றுஅழைப்ப
அத்திரமேஅதன்கண்ணைஅறுத்ததும்ஓர்அடையாளம்.
You wanted the Golden Deer
And into the next stage at Panchavati, a deer with golden hue attracted you. And you wanted it badly. My Lord went after it with a bow. And then Lakshmana too followed leaving you unprotected.
பொன்னொத்தமான்ஒன்றுபுகுந்துஇனிதுவிளையாட
நின்னன்பின்வழிநின்றுசிலபிடித்து
எம்பிரான்ஏகபின்னே
அங்குஇலக்குமணன்பிரிந்ததும்,ஓர்அடையாளம்
Rama along with Vanara King Sugreeva sent me on this search for you. My Lord is tormented by your separation. Lord Rama told me in person each of these above stories to be shared with you. He also handed this ring from his own hand to be given to you (இத்தகையால்அடையாளம்ஈதுஇவன்கைம்மோதிரமே) asproof of my identity.
And hearing all these in a moment of great joy, she placed the ring on her head and confirmed to Hanuman that all that he said was true (ஒக்குமால்அடையாளம்அனுமான்என்றுஉச்சிமேல்வைத்துக்கொண்டுஉகந்தனளால்மலர்க்குழலாள்சீதையுமே).