63 Nayanmar - 24 Karaikkal Ammayar

24

Karaikkal Ammayar



Karaikkal Ammayar with cymbals

In the coastal area of Tamilnadu, Kararikkal was an olden port famous for its burgeoning trade and honest merchants. In this town there was a honest merchant in the name Danadhatta, a vaishya  who was very rich and his praise spread wide and far. Danadhatta was a Shiva devotee and he was blessed with a pretty girl child. Danadhatta and his wife named their child as Punithavathi. The child had a sterling nature as per her name and was chaste and virtuous. She was a devout follower of Shiva and had interest in listening to stories of Shiva. She also liked to serve the disciples of Shiva and also read the spiritual books. She grew into a pretty damsel of pious nature and virtue with sweet smile and was dutiful towards sages.

            Danadhatta and his spouse wanted to marry punithavathi as she had reached a suitable age. Paramadhattan, son of Nitipathi, another merchant from Nagapatinnam sent a proposal for marriage to Punithavathi to her parents.The marriage was held in great plomb and splendour in Karaikkal. Danadhatta gave his son in law lot of money, jewels and house in Karaikkal so he can stay in karaikkal with his newly wedded wife. Paramadhattan with blessings from his father Nithipathi and his father in law Danadhatta started living in Karaikkkal. He invested his money wisely and was making a name for himself in Karaikkal. Punivathi was managing both her home and she served shiva devotees with same love and care.

One day Paramadhattan sent two mangoes home to Punithavathi which he had received from his associates. Punithavathi received the mangoes and kept it aside. She saw an venerable old man with ascetic beard and alms bowl at her gate. She called the old man in her home washed his tired feet with water and served him hot food. She also served one of the mangoes for the old sage and sent him away feeling happy at the miniscule help to a saivaite saint.

After some time Paramadhattan came and asked Punithavathi for food. She served him food and also served the second mango. Paramadhattan was enamoured with the taste of mango and asked her for the second mango he had send. Punithavathi was in distress as she had given the other one to the saint. Being a dutiful wife, she went to Lord shiva and prayed for a mango with sincerity. A mango appeared between her folded hands and her joy behold no bounds. She went and gave the miracle mango to her husband who liked the taste of this one even better than the first one asked her. “How come the second one tastes better than the first one?”

Punithavathi being a chaste wife told her husband how she had given the first mango to an ascetic and she got the new mango on praying to Lord shiva. Paramadhattan not believing his wife tale asks her to pray to Lord Shiva for another mango. Undettered by her husband request she prays to Lord Shiva and gets another mango. She gives the mango to her husband who is shocked and as he is about to eat the mango , it disappeared from his hands. Paramdhattan realises his folly and notices his wife’s great bhakti and devoution towards Lord Shiva. He thinks that he is not a fit husband for her and gathers his money and goes on a long voyage.

Paramadhattan after his long travel settles down in the Pandya kingdom at one of its port. Paramadhattan marries a beautiful girl and they have a beautifull girl child. Paramadhattan names his child after his first wife Punithavathiar as Punithavathi. In the mean time, Danadhatta is worried as his son in law dint return from the long sea voyage. He sents out envoys and comes to know about Paramadhattan settlement in Pandya kingdom.Meanwhile Punithavathi had completely engrossed herself into service of Lord Shiva and his devotees. 

Danadhatta brought Punithavathi to the place where Paramadhattan has settled. He Called for paramdhattan to ome to his home. Paramdhattan reached Punithavathiar place with his daughter and wife. Paramadhattan and his family fell at the feets of Punithavathiar with reverence. All are shocked by his demeanour, Paramdhattan explains that Punithavathiar is so pure and divine that she is like a goddess to him and he cannot think of her as his wife. Paramadhattan calls her Karaikkal Ammayar and he will always remain her devote. Punithavathiar is shocked and enlightened about herself. 

“Oh Lord, deprive me of the present youthful charm and let me have a demoniacal form."

She requests Lord Shiva to make her a mere Skeleton and discards her human form and becomes a spirit. Her prayer was immediately granted and her charming body was transformed into a skeleton. She travelled to many shaivaite shirnes and holy places.

Karaikkal Ammayar wanted to visit Mount Kailash. She starts her journey towards the mountain as she reached the bottom of the Mount Kailash,she starts climbing the mountain with her head and hands as she did not want to defile the holiness by walking on her feet. Mother paravathi is stunned at her devotionand asks Shiva about her. Shiva explains that she is a mother devoted to him. Lord Shiva calls out to Karaikkal Ammayar,” o Mother, come here” “what is your wish?”

Karaikkal Ammayar,”I want to see your celestial dance and I don’t want rebirths but endless devotion to you in life after death”. The Lord acceded to  her wish and asked her to go to Thiruvalangadu to watch his celestial dance. The spirit moved to Thiru Alankadu and sang the beautiful hymn Arpuda Tiru Anthadi. She went to that place and spent her life singing the praise of Lord Siva.