Experiences with Maha Periyava: Compassion towards the Atheists--"Did you all get to drink the buttermilk?"
It was the beginning of May, with the sun at its scorching best.
There was a political meeting opposite to Kacchabeswarar (Kacchabam - tortoise) temple. They were atheists. The audience was around 200. The leader swore that he would demolish all temples and build industries in those places and provide jobs to every one.
Inside the Kanchi Mutt, Sri Maha Periyava called for the Paatti who used to serve butter milk in front of the Mutt. He told her to make an 'Unda’ (big vessel) full of butter milk. He listed the ingredients. Asafoetida, curry leaves, green chillies, ginger, mustard (roasted). Shishyas and devotees were surprised at His knowledge and were also worried because it was an ordinary day and there were not too many people in the Mutt.
Meanwhile, the Atheists' meeting ended and the leader got into the car and drove away. The crowd walked to the bus stop near the Mutt. Then they saw the Paatti serving butter milk. In hardly 10 minutes the 'Unda' was empty.
Then, one of them said to another, "Shall we go inside the Matham and have darshan of Saami?”
Everyone felt the same, but hesitated because they thought others would curse them. At that moment, MahaSwami came out to go to Gangai Kondan Mandapam to have darshan of Anjaneyar. The whole crowd prostrated before Him on that midday, May month, standing in the hot sand.
Periyava stopped before entering Gangai Kondan Mandapam, blessed them and asked, "Did all of you get to drink the butter milk?”
There could be limits to Gods' (Shiva, Vishnu...) Mercy but there is no limit for Periyava's Compassion.
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