One fine morning, Thangasaamy was walking along the road to Panaiyur. He is 5 feet, unshaved and walking with such an unwanted haste. This particular road is quite popular because of the forest accompanied with it. He made his bread by changing roofs and other wood work. He was thinking of his particular countenance with his wife this morning. She shouted at rage as he failed to buy the pulses needed for their food. He thought he is done with his marriage life. At that time, his neighbour came to him and told that a roof work is there in the next town, Panaiyur. Thangasaamy accepted the work without a second thought.
Panaiyur is a small village located at the outskirts of Poompuhar, the coastal city of Chola period. The village has all kinds of occupations soaring under the rule of the new King. Thus, he is on this very road, walking with the plans to earn money, convince his wife by not letting their family to starve ever. Like all the forest roads of our ancient Tamil Nadu, people have built a Ayyanar temple in this road to protect the people from ill souls.
Just as he crossed the temple, he heard a strong but cautious voice – “Stop!”
Thangasaamy lost his balance. He is so sure that the voice came from the Ayyanar itself. A conversation with the God is not in his calendar of events. He tried to slip away. Again the voice stopped him.
He brought some courage to himself, steadied his feet and asked – “What do you want from me? I’m bankrupt.”
“Thangasaamy.. I know about you. Do you know what lies under your feet?”
He suddenly became aware of the ground. He wanted to run away, only to be stopped by Ayyanar’s voice.
He asked in a feeble voice - “What is there?”
Ayyanar replied “Well, how fast can you dig?”
Thangasaamy bent down immediately and dug with all his might till his hands touched something which felt like clay. He found a pot wrapped with a yellow cloth. He unwrapped it. The pot is filled with gold coins, glowing under his greedy eyes. He emptied the entire pot inside his bag and threw back the pot to its place and began to run.
The voice paralysed him this time. “Stop. You can’t get away with everything. Keep as much gold as your heart might wish to give to another person. Or else, you can’t move from here.”
Panaiyur is a small village located at the outskirts of Poompuhar, the coastal city of Chola period. The village has all kinds of occupations soaring under the rule of the new King. Thus, he is on this very road, walking with the plans to earn money, convince his wife by not letting their family to starve ever. Like all the forest roads of our ancient Tamil Nadu, people have built a Ayyanar temple in this road to protect the people from ill souls.
Just as he crossed the temple, he heard a strong but cautious voice – “Stop!”
Thangasaamy lost his balance. He is so sure that the voice came from the Ayyanar itself. A conversation with the God is not in his calendar of events. He tried to slip away. Again the voice stopped him.
He brought some courage to himself, steadied his feet and asked – “What do you want from me? I’m bankrupt.”
“Thangasaamy.. I know about you. Do you know what lies under your feet?”
He suddenly became aware of the ground. He wanted to run away, only to be stopped by Ayyanar’s voice.
He asked in a feeble voice - “What is there?”
Ayyanar replied “Well, how fast can you dig?”
Thangasaamy bent down immediately and dug with all his might till his hands touched something which felt like clay. He found a pot wrapped with a yellow cloth. He unwrapped it. The pot is filled with gold coins, glowing under his greedy eyes. He emptied the entire pot inside his bag and threw back the pot to its place and began to run.
The voice paralysed him this time. “Stop. You can’t get away with everything. Keep as much gold as your heart might wish to give to another person. Or else, you can’t move from here.”
Thangasaamy knew that it is an order. With wretched heart, he took four coins, counted them thrice and put it back in the pot. He closed the pit, thanked Ayyanar and walked away.
Ponnammaal is a lady at her mid thirties. In Panaiyur, she is known for her good deeds as a Siddha doctor. Her life goal is to open a hospital and help the people. But, she doesn’t have the funds to initiate it. She prayed everyday to bring her dreams into reality. She led a life of happiness. She used to sleep for 6 hours everyday. But, last night it was different. At 11PM, she heard sounds of broken roof and got up. She was alarmed only to find coconut and broken roof pieces on her kitchen house floor. So, she waked her husband, asked him to repair the roof by morning. When Thangasaamy came, he asked her to keep his bag at a safe place and started the work. He told that the bag contains pulses for his dinner. So, she tied the bag under the same roof which is repaired. He wanted to finish the job as soon as possible and sell the gold pot. He worked hastily, without concentration, his mind full of thoughts of gold. He already started searching for a goldsmith shop in his mind. In his unaccepted stroke of luck, he forgot about the bag which is tied under the roof he is working.
When Thangasaamy was working, she was cooking at the kitchen. Suddenly, she realized that her own supply of pulses has run out and she forgot to buy new supply in this broken-roof affair. She thought of Thangasaamy’s bag. She decided to take his pulses and later she can replace them when her husband returns from shop. So, she untied the bag from the roof, opened it. She found golden coins. She sat. Sweat pulses glittered on her nose tips. No doubt, her lifetime prayers have paid off. She thanked God for turning a pot of pulse into Gold. Touch of gold brought up a change of mind. She emptied the whole bag, went to grocery shop, refilled it with pulses and tied it to the roof. She sighed. She will start a hospital soon.
By evening, Ponnammaal’s house got its roof back. She paid him his salary and returned his bag. When he lifted his bag, he found it lighter than he did in morning. He untied and found pulses. All his imaginations shattered. Tongue tied due to his lie, he left the house with cold-heart. He reached the forest road, blaming the fate. As he crossed the Ayyanar temple, he heard that voice for the second time that day.
“Stop!”
Exploded with betrayal and anger, he asked - “If I doesn’t deserve the gold, then why give it to me?” He shouted back. “See, what have you done to me? All my hopes are shattered like a fort of sand.”
Ayyanar replied in a calm soothing voice –"Every person deserves what his heart desires to give away.” “That gold is deserved to that lady. You are just a medium of transport.”
Thangasaamy was on the edge of tears. Ayyanar continued – “Don’t worry. Everyone will get what they deserve. Go and take the pot which you kept in the morning.”
With that, a abrupt silence filled the forest road. Ayyanar is gone.
Thangasaamy blamed his memory for forgetting the four gold coins which he kept back in the pot. Suddenly, he cursed his greed for keeping just four coins.
He realized what Ayyanar’s words really meant. God will give you only if you are ready to give away. He chose his luck of four coins. He wrote his own fate. He happily took the coins and started to his house. His eyes are no more searching for a goldsmith. They are searching for a grocery shop.
His eyes are devoid of vanity. Finally.
When Thangasaamy was working, she was cooking at the kitchen. Suddenly, she realized that her own supply of pulses has run out and she forgot to buy new supply in this broken-roof affair. She thought of Thangasaamy’s bag. She decided to take his pulses and later she can replace them when her husband returns from shop. So, she untied the bag from the roof, opened it. She found golden coins. She sat. Sweat pulses glittered on her nose tips. No doubt, her lifetime prayers have paid off. She thanked God for turning a pot of pulse into Gold. Touch of gold brought up a change of mind. She emptied the whole bag, went to grocery shop, refilled it with pulses and tied it to the roof. She sighed. She will start a hospital soon.
By evening, Ponnammaal’s house got its roof back. She paid him his salary and returned his bag. When he lifted his bag, he found it lighter than he did in morning. He untied and found pulses. All his imaginations shattered. Tongue tied due to his lie, he left the house with cold-heart. He reached the forest road, blaming the fate. As he crossed the Ayyanar temple, he heard that voice for the second time that day.
“Stop!”
Exploded with betrayal and anger, he asked - “If I doesn’t deserve the gold, then why give it to me?” He shouted back. “See, what have you done to me? All my hopes are shattered like a fort of sand.”
Ayyanar replied in a calm soothing voice –"Every person deserves what his heart desires to give away.” “That gold is deserved to that lady. You are just a medium of transport.”
Thangasaamy was on the edge of tears. Ayyanar continued – “Don’t worry. Everyone will get what they deserve. Go and take the pot which you kept in the morning.”
With that, a abrupt silence filled the forest road. Ayyanar is gone.
Thangasaamy blamed his memory for forgetting the four gold coins which he kept back in the pot. Suddenly, he cursed his greed for keeping just four coins.
He realized what Ayyanar’s words really meant. God will give you only if you are ready to give away. He chose his luck of four coins. He wrote his own fate. He happily took the coins and started to his house. His eyes are no more searching for a goldsmith. They are searching for a grocery shop.
His eyes are devoid of vanity. Finally.
