Arudra Darshana and the Thiruvadhirai ‘Kali’

Today is Thiruvaadhirai day (day of the Ardra or Arudra star) in the month of Margazhi. The day’s dear to Shiva Parameshwara and as we sit sampling some ‘Kali’ (a sweet dish made of jaggery, broken rice and pulses), why not hear the story of how the Lord himself ate all the Kali one day at the home of one of his ardent devotees!

Yes, we go back nearly a millennium to the times of a true devotee Sendhanaar, who was blessed with a vision of Lord Shiva on this very day. Sendhanaar used to be the accountant at the establishment of a rich merchant Thiruvenkaadar (who later became the famed saint Pattinatthaar) in the city of Kaveripoompattinam. When Pattinatthaar renounced all his wealth to turn a mendicant, he auctioned all that he owned. But in those days, one couldn’t donate such wealth without informing the monarch. The then Chola ruler, King Gandaraditya on hearing the news of the auction, was incensed and imprisoned Sendhanaar. The poor accountant was perplexed and prayed to his master and Guru Pattinatthaar. Pattinatthaar at once meditated on Lord Shiva, at which the prison doors opened miraculously and Sendhanaar was freed.

Out of prison, Sendhanaar, weary of the world, settled down in the holy town of Chidambaram (or Thillai in Tamil), where he eked out a living as a woodcutter. Of whatever he earned every day, he would use some to feed a devotee of Shiva regularly and only then eat himself.

Pleased at his devotion, the lord decided to test Sendhanaar. 

One day, suddenly, the heavens poured and in those torrential rains, all the wood that Sendhanaar had gathered became damp and unfit for sale. Penniless and with no means to buy rice, Sendhanaar was in a fix about how to feed the daily devotee.

At last, Sendhanaar cooked up Kali with the millet flour he had and awaited a visitor. As the night hours passed, there seemed to be no one coming. 

Wishing to bring his devotee's steadfastness to the world's notice, Lord Nataraja of Chidambaram arrived at Sendhanaar's humble abode as a matted yogi and knocked the doors. 

Upon opening them, Sendhanaar was so pleased to find a devotee of Shiva that he invited him inside and fed him Kali with his own hands. Having had all the tasty millet with pleasure, the Yogi asked him for some more, which he took with him as a parcel.

Meanwhile, the Chola King Gandaraditya, also a devout Shiva bhakta, was at the altar, worshipping the dancing lord of Chidambaram as was his daily practice. 

It is said that the King, with his devotion had the fortune of hearing Lord Nataraja's anklets tinkle everyday, as he finished his rituals.

On that rainy night, however, as Lord Nataraja feasted on Kali at Sendhanaar's home, the King missed the divine jingle.

Surprised, Gandaraditya worried whether he might have been amiss in his devotion and with a heavy heart, went to sleep.

Thillai Nataraja appeared in his dream and told him, "Worry not, Child. I had been to Sendhanaar's place for a dinner of Kali and therefore you couldn't hear the sound of my anklets. Tomorrow, at the Chidambaram chariot festival, you will meet the devotee Sendhanaar."

Marvelling on this fortuitous dream, the King wondered on the selfless Bhakti of Sendhanaar and his true love for Lord Nataraja and rested again.

As the sun dawned the next day, as usual, the priests of the Chidambaram temple opened the sanctum sanctorum and were amazed to see flecks and bits of Kali strewn everywhere around the shrine. They rushed to the King, who was glad again, remembering his dream of Lord Nataraja.

At once, he ordered his ministers to find Sendhanaar, but the simple devotee had already left to have a glimpse of the Parameshwara at the chariot festival.

At the chariot festival, the crowds milled, and as the divine image of Nataraja was seated on the chariot, the King and others readied to pull it as was the custom.

However, they discovered to their dismay that the chariot was stuck on the marshy path as refused to budge.

Suddenly, a divine Asariri boomed from the heavens, "Fetch Sendhanaar". 

Sendhanaar arrived but was in doubt as he wondered, how can an ignorant one like me sing the lord's glories?"

As Nataraja's blessings poured forth, Sendhanaar sung a series of thirteen pathikams (hymns) on Lord Nataraja, at which the chariot moved miraculously.

Everyone assembled including the King and priests of Thillai fell at Sendhanaar's feet. The King recounted wondrous dream be had and the tale of how lord Shiva ate Kali at his devotee's home.

Since then that day is celebrated as Lord Shiva's own day and till the present times, households across South India prepare sweet, yummy Kali and offer it to the Lord to commemorate the simple yet supreme Bhakti of Sendhanaar. The day is this known by the name of the dish itself as 'Thiruvaadhirai Kali'.

#Har Har Mahadev