KURURAMMA
Friends,
This story of Kururamma is not from AITHIHYAMALA. It is told to me by many of my friends who
are BHAKTHAS OF LORD GURUVAYURAPPAN. Every year I used to go to GURUVAYUR to
have Darshan of BHAGAVAN which I have not done for the past two years.
KURURAMMA was born in the year 1570 AD in a
Namboothiri Illam ( House )which was very near to VILVAMANGALAM SWAMIYAR'S ILLAM.
It is widely told by many that she was the cousin of Vilvamangalaththu Swamiar.
In facxt she was born in PARUR village,
very near to THRISSUR. Her Maiden name was THAATHRI KUTTY ( താത്രിക്കുട്ടി, தாத்றிக்குட்டி)This
name is a pollution of DHAATHRI KUTTY. Kutty is a common name for children, which is
used in Malayalam as a pet name for those who are liked most. After marriage and death of
her husband, she became the Senior most member of KURUR NAMBOOTHIRI FAMILY
which is in the village of ADATTHU near THRISSUR . She died in the year 1640
A.D. There is a version in which her name is shown as GAURI.
Many of my friends say VILVAMANGALAM SWAMIYAR was a
devotee of LORD GURUVAYURAPPAN. Although I am of the opinion that he was not
only a devotee of Lord GURUVAYURAPPAN but devotee of all HINDU GODS on whom we
HINDUS have belief. However in GURUVAYUR
TEMPLE you can even now see a SPOT CALLED "NRITHAM" on the eastern side of
NORTH NADA (Entrance) (வடக்கே நட, വടക്കേ നട)where the Swamiar used to dance
in ecstasy.
Now coming to our story, Kururamma became a widow at
an early age of 16 years and issueless and became an ardent devotee of LORD
GURUVAYURAPPAN with the help of POONTHANAM NABOOTHIRI .In fact Kururamma who having no
children adopted Lord Krishna as her
child. She used to play with him and even scold him for his naughty deeds. Even
the Lord used to help her in her house chores. In fact she had nothing as her
own and hence took refuge in her ISHTA DEVATHA LORD GURUVAYURAPPAN. She started
chanting the names of Lord Krishna with ardent devotion which elevated her to
the highest level of KRISHNA BHAKTHI. This filled her with motherly love towards every one and thus she became
mother of every one. It is also rumoured that the famous song ("KANI KAANUM NERAM…..") (കണികാണുംനേരം, கணிகாணும் நேரம்)was composed by her. Singing
Bhajans on LORD Guruvayurappan became
her pastime.
It so happened, once a Brahmin
started suffering from severe stomach pain. He tried all medicines, Thantric Methods and Astrology but could not get
rid of his stomachache. In the mean
while one friend told him about VILVAMANGALAM, who generally can be contacted
in GURUVAYUR TEMPLE. On contacting the SWAMIAR, he was told that he suffered
from this trouble because of the sin he had committed and hence the disease was
not curable.
Dejected of life he unknowingly
reached the house of KURURAMMA. KURURAMMA thought that this Brahmin was hungry probably, and hence offered him with food, but the old
Brahmin told her that he was a patient of stomachache and was unable to take
any food. He also told her that he had gone to VILVAMANGALATHTHU SWAMIYAR and
even he could not cure him. Kururamma told him to pray to Lord Guruvayurappan
who is DHANWANTARA MURTHY and take bath in the temple tank and then go for food
to her place. Accordingly the old Brahmin went , thinking Lord GURUVAURAPPAN in his mind, he took bath in the temple pond
and went to KURURAMMA's place from where he took food. Kururamma told him to
perform always RAMA THARAKA and Shri Krishna Japa. His STOMACHACHE had
disappeared. This news reached VILVAMANGALAM SWAMAR'S ears who asked Lord
Guruvayurappan as to why He did tell him about it for which the Lord told him
that he asked only to know the cause of the pain but not remedy.
Yet one more story of KURURAMMA's
divinity and closeness to Lord Guruvayurappan. One day , Kururamma went for bath. As she washed her clothes few drops
of water fell on another lady called CHEMMANGGAT AMMA, who envied KURURAMMA
most, and who felt bad as she thought
that unknowingly fallen water from the clothes of Kururamma was pollution of
her body and took again bath and said to KUROORAMMA that VILVAMANGALAM SWAMIYAR was to
go to her house to take ALMS (भिक्ष) to herILLAM (House) proclaiming that
she was too close to VILVAMANGALAM. Kururamma smiled and replied that He would not go to the later's ILLAM but would go to her ILLAM for
BIKSHA. Kururamma after bath went to her
ILLAM. She sent a person to invite Vilvamngalam for taking Biksha which he
refused saying that he was to go to CHEMMANGAT ILLAM for Biksha.It is said that
, VIVAMANGALAM started to go to the illam of Chemmangat Amma. It was customary that one person blew the
CONCH before Vilvamangalam goes for ALMS and it so happened that the CONCH did
not produce any sound.He then remembered about his refusal to KURURAMMA to
take alms from her, to whom Lord
Guruvayurappan was extremely partial in favouring, and hence decided to go to
her house for Biksha. Immediately, the conch started producing
sound. Vilvamangalam thought that it was
God's wish that he goes for almas to Kururamma's house instead of CHEMMANGAT
ILLAM and hence went to her ILLAM to take BIKSHA.
Kururamma's bhakthi had no bounds
although she was an illiterate lady and due to that reason started NAMA JAPA of
LORD GORUVAYURAPPAN and RAMA NAMA THARAKAM. Although there are many stories about her and how Lord Krishna became a
child to her I shall tell one more story about her before I conclude. As years
rolled down, all the family members of Kururamma died and she became
alone. She realized that she had no one
in the world except LORD KRISHNA. Her NAMA JAPAM elevated her to the highest
degree of BHAKTHI YOGA. She started
praying to Lord Guruvayurappan who appeared to her in her dreams and asked her
as to what boon she wanted. Kururamma replied that she had none in this world
and wanted him to be her son and not to abandon her as he did with
YASHODA. Lord Smiled and as an orphan
boy came to her and started staying with her.She called him UNNI (ഉണ്ണി, உண்ணி).UNNI in Namboorhiri's Malayalam
is "my pet boy". Although he was very mischievous, he helped her in all
household work including in preparation of food etc. Although, He was
Guruvayurappan himself due to His creation of illusion Kururamma could see him
only as a small boy. Vilvamangalaththu Swamiyar could see all GODS of Hindu
faith and hence Kurooramma wanted him to perform POOJA to her beloved
GURUVAYURAPPAN in her house. But she had
a rival in the form of another Namboothri lady called CHEMMANGATTU AMMA who was
very wealthy and who took a promise from Vilvamangalaththu Swamiyar to perform
a Pooja in her house on the particular day. Kurooramma sent her request through
her servant to the Swamiayar requesting him to go to her house and perform the
Pooja. However, the swamiyaar told that he had already promised to CHEMMANGATTU
AMMA that he would perform pooja in her house in the first instance and
therefore told her to keep it on some other day. Kururamma felt very sad but
UNNI consoled her by saying that he woud reach her Illam on the same day and
told her that he would prepare everything for pooja including the food (പ്രസാദം, ப்றஸாதம்). He brought flowers for the Pooja etc. In the meanwhile, Vilvamangalaththu Swamiyar
prepared to go to CHEMMANGATTUILLAM. The
pilot who used to go with the conch, when started blowing it, did not produce
any sound. Vilvamangalam thought for a
while and then told the Pilot to go to Kururamma's illam. Lo! the conch started
producing sound , and hence told to the Pilot that it was the message from GOD
to go to Kururamma's Illam. He also took
his disciples. As customary Brahmin ladies never spoke to others than their
husband and hence asked UNNI to welcome the Swamiyar . The disciples and Vilvamangalam
were surprised by seeing the arrangements which were carried out by high precision. When Swamiar started Pooja UNNI stood before him and the flowers he put
after chanting MANTHRAS fell on the feet of UNNI. The disciples and the Swamiar were infuriated
by this act of UNNI who asked him to stand in one corner. Alas! Then also the
flowers put by the Swamiar fell on the feet of UNNI. The Swamiyar, then came to know that this UNNI was none other than Lord
GURUVAYURAPPAN, but did not say openly since Bhagavan with a gesture told him
not to let out the secret. This is how KURURAMMA was blessed by Lord
GURUVAYURAPPAN.
I shall tell one more story about
her which I remembered now. Being illiterate
She did not know when EKADASI FALLS since that was the day she should not take
any food. Hence she thought of a device that she used to put from the EKADASI
day a stone in a box for 15 days and started putting stones every day. Thus the 15th day was observed as EKADASI day by her. It so happened that some Brahmins who knew
astrology also, went to her house for food. She told them that the day was
EKADASI and hence she was unable to serve any food to them. The Brahmins took
their KAVIDI BAG (കവിടി സഞ്ചി, கவிடி பை)and checked there itself
whether it was EKADASI dayand found that it was indeed EKADASI DAY. When they
went to another ILLAM where the lady was literate she told them to take bath
and come for food. When they told her that it was EKADASY DAY she told it was
only next day and told them to come for food after bath. The Brahmins took their KAVADI Bag and
checked from that ILLAM as to which was the correct EKADASI DAY and found to their
surprise it fell on the next day. Again, they went to KURURAMMA'S ILLAM and
checked with their KAVIDI when EKADASI fell, it was showing as on that
particular day. Thus Guruvayurappan
showered on her, all His blessings.
Friends, it will not be out of
place for me to tell an incident which happened to me. I went to Guruvayur to have Drarshan of the
Great Lord. Since there was heavy rush on that day, I could not get the
darshan. Dejected, I sat on one KALYANA
MANDAPAM. One person came and asked me
as to why I was sitting there in a dejected mood. I told him my plight. He
asked me as to what was my name and I told him my name. He also told me that his name was also the
same and further told me to stand upon the Kalyana Mandapam and said that I
could see from there the Deepaaradhana.I did the
same and I could see the Deeparadhana being performed. The person then told me to give way to him so
that he could also see it. I gave way to him and to my surprise the person had
disappeared. Even I could not thank him. I do not know yet, whether it was LORD
Himself or not.
LORD GURUVAURAPPAN'S
"MAYA JALA" CANNOT BE COMPLETED BY WORDS DURING THIS BIRTH.
Friends,
This story of Kururamma is not from AITHIHYAMALA. It is told to me by many of my friends who
are BHAKTHAS OF LORD GURUVAYURAPPAN. Every year I used to go to GURUVAYUR to
have Darshan of BHAGAVAN which I have not done for the past two years.
KURURAMMA was born in the year 1570 AD in a
Namboothiri Illam ( House )which was very near to VILVAMANGALAM SWAMIYAR'S ILLAM.
It is widely told by many that she was the cousin of Vilvamangalaththu Swamiar.
In facxt she was born in PARUR village,
very near to THRISSUR. Her Maiden name was THAATHRI KUTTY ( താത്രിക്കുട്ടി, தாத்றிக்குட்டி)This
name is a pollution of DHAATHRI KUTTY. Kutty is a common name for children, which is
used in Malayalam as a pet name for those who are liked most. After marriage and death of
her husband, she became the Senior most member of KURUR NAMBOOTHIRI FAMILY
which is in the village of ADATTHU near THRISSUR . She died in the year 1640
A.D. There is a version in which her name is shown as GAURI.
Many of my friends say VILVAMANGALAM SWAMIYAR was a
devotee of LORD GURUVAYURAPPAN. Although I am of the opinion that he was not
only a devotee of Lord GURUVAYURAPPAN but devotee of all HINDU GODS on whom we
HINDUS have belief. However in GURUVAYUR
TEMPLE you can even now see a SPOT CALLED "NRITHAM" on the eastern side of
NORTH NADA (Entrance) (வடக்கே நட, വടക്കേ നട)where the Swamiar used to dance
in ecstasy.
Now coming to our story, Kururamma became a widow at
an early age of 16 years and issueless and became an ardent devotee of LORD
GURUVAYURAPPAN with the help of POONTHANAM NABOOTHIRI .In fact Kururamma who having no
children adopted Lord Krishna as her
child. She used to play with him and even scold him for his naughty deeds. Even
the Lord used to help her in her house chores. In fact she had nothing as her
own and hence took refuge in her ISHTA DEVATHA LORD GURUVAYURAPPAN. She started
chanting the names of Lord Krishna with ardent devotion which elevated her to
the highest level of KRISHNA BHAKTHI. This filled her with motherly love towards every one and thus she became
mother of every one. It is also rumoured that the famous song ("KANI KAANUM NERAM…..") (കണികാണുംനേരം, கணிகாணும் நேரம்)was composed by her. Singing
Bhajans on LORD Guruvayurappan became
her pastime.
It so happened, once a Brahmin
started suffering from severe stomach pain. He tried all medicines, Thantric Methods and Astrology but could not get
rid of his stomachache. In the mean
while one friend told him about VILVAMANGALAM, who generally can be contacted
in GURUVAYUR TEMPLE. On contacting the SWAMIAR, he was told that he suffered
from this trouble because of the sin he had committed and hence the disease was
not curable.
Dejected of life he unknowingly
reached the house of KURURAMMA. KURURAMMA thought that this Brahmin was hungry probably, and hence offered him with food, but the old
Brahmin told her that he was a patient of stomachache and was unable to take
any food. He also told her that he had gone to VILVAMANGALATHTHU SWAMIYAR and
even he could not cure him. Kururamma told him to pray to Lord Guruvayurappan
who is DHANWANTARA MURTHY and take bath in the temple tank and then go for food
to her place. Accordingly the old Brahmin went , thinking Lord GURUVAURAPPAN in his mind, he took bath in the temple pond
and went to KURURAMMA's place from where he took food. Kururamma told him to
perform always RAMA THARAKA and Shri Krishna Japa. His STOMACHACHE had
disappeared. This news reached VILVAMANGALAM SWAMAR'S ears who asked Lord
Guruvayurappan as to why He did tell him about it for which the Lord told him
that he asked only to know the cause of the pain but not remedy.
Yet one more story of KURURAMMA's
divinity and closeness to Lord Guruvayurappan. One day , Kururamma went for bath. As she washed her clothes few drops
of water fell on another lady called CHEMMANGGAT AMMA, who envied KURURAMMA
most, and who felt bad as she thought
that unknowingly fallen water from the clothes of Kururamma was pollution of
her body and took again bath and said to KUROORAMMA that VILVAMANGALAM SWAMIYAR was to
go to her house to take ALMS (भिक्ष) to herILLAM (House) proclaiming that
she was too close to VILVAMANGALAM. Kururamma smiled and replied that He would not go to the later's ILLAM but would go to her ILLAM for
BIKSHA. Kururamma after bath went to her
ILLAM. She sent a person to invite Vilvamngalam for taking Biksha which he
refused saying that he was to go to CHEMMANGAT ILLAM for Biksha.It is said that
, VIVAMANGALAM started to go to the illam of Chemmangat Amma. It was customary that one person blew the
CONCH before Vilvamangalam goes for ALMS and it so happened that the CONCH did
not produce any sound.He then remembered about his refusal to KURURAMMA to
take alms from her, to whom Lord
Guruvayurappan was extremely partial in favouring, and hence decided to go to
her house for Biksha. Immediately, the conch started producing
sound. Vilvamangalam thought that it was
God's wish that he goes for almas to Kururamma's house instead of CHEMMANGAT
ILLAM and hence went to her ILLAM to take BIKSHA.
Kururamma's bhakthi had no bounds
although she was an illiterate lady and due to that reason started NAMA JAPA of
LORD GORUVAYURAPPAN and RAMA NAMA THARAKAM. Although there are many stories about her and how Lord Krishna became a
child to her I shall tell one more story about her before I conclude. As years
rolled down, all the family members of Kururamma died and she became
alone. She realized that she had no one
in the world except LORD KRISHNA. Her NAMA JAPAM elevated her to the highest
degree of BHAKTHI YOGA. She started
praying to Lord Guruvayurappan who appeared to her in her dreams and asked her
as to what boon she wanted. Kururamma replied that she had none in this world
and wanted him to be her son and not to abandon her as he did with
YASHODA. Lord Smiled and as an orphan
boy came to her and started staying with her.She called him UNNI (ഉണ്ണി, உண்ணி).UNNI in Namboorhiri's Malayalam
is "my pet boy". Although he was very mischievous, he helped her in all
household work including in preparation of food etc. Although, He was
Guruvayurappan himself due to His creation of illusion Kururamma could see him
only as a small boy. Vilvamangalaththu Swamiyar could see all GODS of Hindu
faith and hence Kurooramma wanted him to perform POOJA to her beloved
GURUVAYURAPPAN in her house. But she had
a rival in the form of another Namboothri lady called CHEMMANGATTU AMMA who was
very wealthy and who took a promise from Vilvamangalaththu Swamiyar to perform
a Pooja in her house on the particular day. Kurooramma sent her request through
her servant to the Swamiayar requesting him to go to her house and perform the
Pooja. However, the swamiyaar told that he had already promised to CHEMMANGATTU
AMMA that he would perform pooja in her house in the first instance and
therefore told her to keep it on some other day. Kururamma felt very sad but
UNNI consoled her by saying that he woud reach her Illam on the same day and
told her that he would prepare everything for pooja including the food (പ്രസാദം, ப்றஸாதம்). He brought flowers for the Pooja etc. In the meanwhile, Vilvamangalaththu Swamiyar
prepared to go to CHEMMANGATTUILLAM. The
pilot who used to go with the conch, when started blowing it, did not produce
any sound. Vilvamangalam thought for a
while and then told the Pilot to go to Kururamma's illam. Lo! the conch started
producing sound , and hence told to the Pilot that it was the message from GOD
to go to Kururamma's Illam. He also took
his disciples. As customary Brahmin ladies never spoke to others than their
husband and hence asked UNNI to welcome the Swamiyar . The disciples and Vilvamangalam
were surprised by seeing the arrangements which were carried out by high precision. When Swamiar started Pooja UNNI stood before him and the flowers he put
after chanting MANTHRAS fell on the feet of UNNI. The disciples and the Swamiar were infuriated
by this act of UNNI who asked him to stand in one corner. Alas! Then also the
flowers put by the Swamiar fell on the feet of UNNI. The Swamiyar, then came to know that this UNNI was none other than Lord
GURUVAYURAPPAN, but did not say openly since Bhagavan with a gesture told him
not to let out the secret. This is how KURURAMMA was blessed by Lord
GURUVAYURAPPAN.
I shall tell one more story about
her which I remembered now. Being illiterate
She did not know when EKADASI FALLS since that was the day she should not take
any food. Hence she thought of a device that she used to put from the EKADASI
day a stone in a box for 15 days and started putting stones every day. Thus the 15th day was observed as EKADASI day by her. It so happened that some Brahmins who knew
astrology also, went to her house for food. She told them that the day was
EKADASI and hence she was unable to serve any food to them. The Brahmins took
their KAVIDI BAG (കവിടി സഞ്ചി, கவிடி பை)and checked there itself
whether it was EKADASI dayand found that it was indeed EKADASI DAY. When they
went to another ILLAM where the lady was literate she told them to take bath
and come for food. When they told her that it was EKADASY DAY she told it was
only next day and told them to come for food after bath. The Brahmins took their KAVADI Bag and
checked from that ILLAM as to which was the correct EKADASI DAY and found to their
surprise it fell on the next day. Again, they went to KURURAMMA'S ILLAM and
checked with their KAVIDI when EKADASI fell, it was showing as on that
particular day. Thus Guruvayurappan
showered on her, all His blessings.
Friends, it will not be out of
place for me to tell an incident which happened to me. I went to Guruvayur to have Drarshan of the
Great Lord. Since there was heavy rush on that day, I could not get the
darshan. Dejected, I sat on one KALYANA
MANDAPAM. One person came and asked me
as to why I was sitting there in a dejected mood. I told him my plight. He
asked me as to what was my name and I told him my name. He also told me that his name was also the
same and further told me to stand upon the Kalyana Mandapam and said that I
could see from there the Deepaaradhana.I did the
same and I could see the Deeparadhana being performed. The person then told me to give way to him so
that he could also see it. I gave way to him and to my surprise the person had
disappeared. Even I could not thank him. I do not know yet, whether it was LORD
Himself or not.
LORD GURUVAURAPPAN'S
"MAYA JALA" CANNOT BE COMPLETED BY WORDS DURING THIS BIRTH.
Sir
ReplyDeleteYour narration of Kururamma is very heart touching.
Thanks and Regards
Mrs Radhika
Hare Krishna ����
ReplyDelete