Meevy

Once upon a time there lived a hunter. He used to kill the animals such as pig, cow, goat etc., and eat their meat. His name is Dhimmappan (a fat person).

On a fine evening Dhimmappan was tired and relaxing in the top of a hill. He heard the sound of a temple bell. Dhimmappan went near the temple. He saw what was happening inside the temple hiding behind a bush. The temple priest had come there to offer poojas to Shiva lingam. The priest brought a vessel full of water drawn from the nearby pond. He brought the flowers from the nearby garden.

Then the priest cleaned the lingam with the water and decorated the Shiva lingam with flowers. He also offered some food to Shiva. Dhimmappan was watching all these things. Later, the priest went.

Now, Dhimmappan also wanted to do the poojas to Shiva. First he wanted to bring some water to clean the Shiva lingam but he did not have a vessel. He went to the nearby pond and took some water in his hand but the water did not stay in his hands. So he took water in his mouth and poured the water on the Shiva lingam. Then he took the flowers and decorated the lingam. He also took the beef which he got by hunting animals. He tasted them. Whichever piece of beef tasted nice he gave to Shiva. He was not aware of the fact that we shouldn’t offer food which is first consumed by us. After doing all these things Dhimmappan left the temple.

Next day the priest came and saw pig’s beef thrown here and there near the Shiva lingam. He thought some animals could have done it. So he cleaned the temple and did his pooja as usual. But even the next day he found pieces of pig’s beef. The same thing continued for many days.

The temple priest wanted to know who is doing all these things. So after finishing his pooja the priests went and concealed himself so as to watch who does the mischief. Dhimmappan came on that day too. He took water in his mouth, flowers from the garden and did pooja to Shiva. He also offered the beef after tasting every bit of it. On seeing this priest became very sad. He feared the anger of Shiva as Dhimmappan was doing everything that one shouldn’t do.

That night Shiva came in the dream of the temple priest and told him to watch what was going to happen the next day so that he would know more about Dhimmappan. So the priest covered himself behind the bushes and watched Dhimmappan’s activities. Like everyday Dhimmappan did all the poojas. Suddenly blood came oozing out from the Shiva lingam’s eyes. Dhimmappan on seeing blood in Shiva’s eyes became very sad. Without thinking about anything Dhimmappan took out the knife and pierced one of his eyes and placed it in Shiva’s eye in which blood was coming. The blood oozing out of Shiva’s eyes stopped. After a few minutes blood started oozing from the other eye of Shiva lingam. Dhimmappan thought of piercing another eye too. But if he did so he cannot spot Shiva’s eye from which blood was oozing out. This is because after he pierces his second eye he may not be able to see anything. Dhimmappan realizing this took his leg and placed his first finger of the leg at the eyes of the Shiva lingam from which blood was coming. He then tried to pierce his second eye.

Here, we should note a point. We all pray to god and ask him to give this, that or something which we want. But Dhimmappan on seeing blood in God’s eyes pierced his own eyes and gave it to god. That much devotion he had! On that instant Shiva appeared before him saying “stop kannappa, stop kannappa”. Shiva gave sight to both of his eyes. Dhimmappan saw lord Shiva in front of him. Shiva said, “Since you gave your own eyes for me, you will be called Kannappan (the person who gave eyes to the Lord) hereafter. From now on you will sing in praise of me and do service to the humanity. After that you will reach my lotus feet”. Saying this Shiva disappeared. The priest who saw all the happenings fell in the feet of kannappan. Devotion is not doing poojas physically but praying sincerely thinking about God himself. The priest realized it.

This is the story of Kannappa Nayanar and it took place in Srikalahasti. There is a hill temple for Lord Shiva in Srikalahasti. All the above mentioned incidents took place only in this temple. Srikalahasti is located very near to Tirupathi. Srikalahasti is also dedicated to the Rahu who is one among the nine grahams or celestial bodies in Indian Astrology. The bad effects of Rahu can be reduced a lot if we visit Srikalahasti and offer prayers to Lord Shiva presiding there.