Thirugnanasambandar
Story of Thirugnanasambandar
This story about Thirugnanasambandar depicts the abundant love of Lord Shiva and Parvathi for their devotees.
Long long ago, there lived a pious couple, Shivapadahrudaya and Bhagavathi Ammal in the old city of Seerkali in Tamilnadu. They were staunch devotees of Lord Shiva. Everyday they would visit the nearby temple of Shiva where the Lord was addressed as Thoniyappar.
Soon a bonny boy was born to Bhagavathi Ammal and they named the child Sambandan. One day, the child all of three years was adamant to accompany his father to the temple. The father reluctantly allowed him to accompany him. Upon reaching the temple, Shivapadahrudaya decided to take dips in the holy pond of the temple Brahma Teertham. He instructed Sambandan to sit on the banks of the pond and the child agreed. Sambandan observed his father’s head diving into the pond and coming out. This kept happening and the child looked at this scene with childish glee!. Suddenly he couldn’t see his father’s head and the child got worried. Shivapadahrudaya had momentarily stayed for longer time under the water holding his breath. The child who did not know about this, started screaming, “Amma, Appa”!
Meanwhile, Lord Shiva and His consort Parvathi were going on celestial rounds. They are the Mother and Father of this vast Universe and when they heard the cries of an infant, they were very moved. They rushed to the spot to find a child crying in anguish. Mother Parvathi’s heart melted and she started feeding the child milk, from a cup. She thought this would calm the child. And it did calm the child as who would not feel the bliss while receiving milk from the divine Mother herself? After this, Lord Shiva and Parvathi continued on their rounds.
Soon, Shivapadahrudaya returned after his bath. He was shocked to see milk dripping from the mouth of his son. He got very angry and asked his son as to who had given him the milk. The child smiled and this made Shivapadahrudaya even more angry. He took a stick and threatened to hit the child if he did not divulge who the person was. Just then, the dense clouds moved and Lord Shiva and Parvathi descended upon earth and appeared before Sambandan. Sambandan suddenly broke into a verse that meant “One who wears earrings, rides a bull and wears moon on his head”.
The boy continued to sing many more verses to the astonishment of his father. Soon people gathered around and they named him “Gnana Sambandan” which meant “Sambandan who is full of knowledge”. People also called him as “Thirugnanasambandar” with reverence. He later went on to sing many more songs called “Thevarams” which were about Lord’s glory. These hymns are devotional poetry on Lord Shiva and are sung in many Shiva temples even today.