Story of Purandara Kesavalu

Once Maha Swami of Kanchi undertook piligrimage to Srisailam. As the group reached Karnool town a grand reception was accorded to Maha Swami. They were provided some rest in a Bhajan mantap. Paramacharya gave dharshan to thousands of devotees assembled there and distributed prasadam after giving a small speech about Sanatana Dharma. After that the yatra continued.

After crossing the town limits of Karnool suddenly the sky was overcast and there was heavy downpour. All requested Acharya to get in to the palanquin in vain.

"While all of you are drenched I don't need this protection. No,...No I can manage " with this reply he stepped up his pace of walking.

They could see a Shiva temple nearby and already people were waiting for Acharya's arrival. He was given a respectful reception with customary purna khumbha. The entourage got some time to change their clothes and by the time the dharshan was complete rain had completely stopped. They proceeded further.

Just after seven or eight miles they came across a very fertile village, The entire village assembled there with their kith and kin. They offered the traditional purna kumbha reception and ferverently appealed to Acharya to stay at the village and offer his blessings for some more days. The Jamindar of the village in all humility offered a big choultry for their stay and all other facilities to make a comfortable stay.

Touched by their deep devotion Maha Swami agreed to stay there for twenty one days and the whole village felt deeply blessed.

Next morning the whole village was in festive mood. Acharya had gone to the near by water tank (pushkarani) for performing morning oblations. Regular puja of Chandramoleeshwara to be performed after his return. The local boys had collected plenty of fresh flowers and other puja materials but there was no bilva leaves! An old official of the sree-mutt struggled to make the boys understand about bilva leaves as he could not speak telugu. He prompted some persons who knew telugu to show a sample of the leaves from the previous day's puja and arrange three baskets with in half an hour.

All those who looked at the sample of the leaves said they had not seen bilva leaves in their surroundings. By then it was 10:30 am and maha swami had returned to begin the puja. As he set his eyes across the puja material arrangement he noticed the missing bilva leaves. The mutt-official was at a loss to explain the non availability of bilva leaves. Acharya, with a smile on his face went to the backyard of the choultry, entered the cattle shed and sat there in dhyana on a rocky boulder.

The message reached Jamindar who also put some more persons on the assignement. It was past 11:30 am and many felt that due to non performance of puja Acharya may forego his bhiksha (food) that day. Those who wers blessed to see acharya in his deep dhyana felt that Kailasanatha himself had come down on earth.

Suddenly one of the boys belonging to the Sree Mutt carried in a big basket full of bilva leaves to the great relief of everyone. Acharya too came down from his dhyana with a big smile asserting that the puja would proceed as planned.

After inspecting the bilva leaves he appreciated the great care with which they had been plucked all of them fresh and shining. The leaves were wholesome without any trace of damage. He enquired how was it possible to get such high quality leaves when the whole village said there was no bilva tree. No one could answer that question.

Acharya got in to specifics as to who brought the leaves. All persons looked at the boy who carried the basket inside. He informed that the basket was found near one of the pandal posts. He didn't know how it came there. In a lighter vein Acharya said "May be Chandra mouleeshwara himslef delivered it !"

That day the puja went off well prasadam was distributed to all. In the evening Maha Swami gave a discourse on Ramayana in Telugu.

Next day early morning there was bhajan group singing along the streets of the village and Acharya was away for morning oblations. The old gentleman requested the same boy to check for the basket of bilva leaves. Indeed it was found in the same place as in the previous day. He was surprised why anyone should leave it without properly handing over in side.

When acharya returned he looked at the official with a meaningful expression. The official who understood, informed Swami " Yes. the basket was at the same place. No one had noticed who brought the bilva leaves."

After that days puja, late in the afternoon he called sree-karyam and advised him, with a big smile on his face, to trace the person next day by remaining vigilant and take him to Acharya without any questions. Acharya's Ramayana discourse continued for the second evening. The entire village listened in rapt attention. A feeling of elation was prevalent all around.

On the third day morning Sree-karyam hid himself behind a banyan tree opposite to the choultry where they had camped. Around 8:30 am a boy emerged from the mango orchard behind the choultry with the bilva basket . Looking hither and thither he quickly moved near the entrance and left the basket there. As he was about to turn quickly the sree-karyam blocked his way.

The boy's attire was a dirty dhothi tied around the legs in the traditional style . Had a tuft of hair unkempt. He started shivering as soon as he was caught in the act. He fell at the feet of sree-karyam.

"Are you the one who secretly leaves this basket in the last two days?" sree-karyam asked.

The boy shook his head in affirmation.

"okay ! take a good bath, comb your hair and come in the evening in a clean dress. Smear any of your marks as per your practice. I shall take you to the acharya" he informed the boy. The boy left just shaking his head as if he understood.

By 3:00 pm the boy arrived looking tidy, his tuft well knotted and smearing the body with vibhuti. He stood in a corner with great reluctance. Sree-karyam informed Acharya about the boys arrival and he was brought before him. The boy fell in front of the Acharya to show his respect.

Acharya asked the boy to be seated in front of him in the courtyard but he continued to stand

Swami enquired his name in Telgu.

"Purandara Kesavalu" the boy replied in chaste Tamil. Surprised to see a Tamil speaking boy Swami started conversing with him in Tamil. "Oh! you speak good tamil"

The boy explained his background saying that he hailed from a place called Usilampatti near Madurai. His mother passed away when he was hardly two years old and his fahter moved to Andhra in search of employment when he was six. He had not gone to any school and his father was his sole teacher. As his father was fond of music and used to sing very well. He had taught him plenty of devotional songs of Purandara dasa, Thiagaraja and many others and he had been named after them due to his father's extraordinary interest in music. He also passed away when he was ten years old and for the past two years he had been taking care of cattle in the Jamindar's house where food and shelter were provided to him.

Very much touched by his story Maha Swami asked him how he could locate the bilva tree when no one had seen in the near abouts.

The boy politely replied, "Three miles from here at the foot of the hill there are three bilva trees. My father had once shown me those trees and informed that performing shiva puja with bilva leaves is highly precious. He advised me to specifically note it for any future requirement. I could recognize immediately when the leaf was shown to me. I rushed immediately and collected them. But as I am a cowherd boy I was afraid that it could be rejected. That is why I intended to leave it at the entrance before anyone could see me. This is all the truth".

There was a small pause. With full of love, Acharya looked at the boy and asked him,
"what do you desire, Purandara Kesavalu, tell me. I shall ask the Mutt to fulfill it."

"Siva..sivaa' by tapping his cheeks (mark of seeking forgiveness) Purandara replied " my father had advised that one should not seek anything in one's life except for one thing. But I have two wishes now. If you permit I shall tell you my first wish now and the other at the time of you leaving the village"

'' okay okay tell your wish " said Acharya encouragingly.
" Saami (a manner of addressing saintly persons) my father had taught me plenty of devotional songs of Purandara dasa and Thiagaraja. I shall be blessed if you allow me to sing them in your presence till your stay here" said Purandara with great reluctance.

Very pleased with his request," Indeed you can sing every day. Come at 3 O'clock every day. I shall listen and make everyone listen. Lord Chandramoulieeshwara's blessing will protect you. What about your next wish. Tell that also" enquired Maha Swami.

"I shall inform you on the day of your departure saami" respectfully told Purandara.

Swami blessed him with Prasada, Thulsi mala. Next day onwards Purandara regularly sat infront of Acharya and sang the songs he learnt from his father. His voice was sweet and melodious. Swami used to correct his pronounciations at many instances. Twenty days passed and the last day arrived.

Maha Swami was taking leave after the puja and bhiksha in the afternoon. Villagers started to follow him. As if he remebered something he suddenly stopped and looked back at the choultry. Purandara kesavalu was crying uncontrollably holding the pandal post. Acharya sent for him. He came running and fell at his feet.
"Purandara I am pleased with your Shraddha Gnana and Bhakti. You are blessed. Tell me now the other wish you have" asked Acharya with affection and love.
"Saami, my father used to say that we should never aspire for anything of worldy material. Only thing one should pray for no rebirth or Moksha. For that we should lead life of satya and dharma. If you ever happened to meet any sanyasin beg for your Moksha is his frequent advice. I wish only moksha now saami. Please bless me with Moksha" said Purandara with tears in his eyes.
Surprised by such a request from a twelve year old boy Acharya said to him in a very soothing manner "Purandara, don't worry. At the ripe moment God will bless you with Moksha". Then he turned to Jamindar and told him that any development concerning with Purandara-kesavalu to be informed to the Sree-Mutt at once. The entire village went with them till the boundry and gave an emotional send off.

Years passed. One afternoon at Kanchipuram, Maha swami was in conversation with some of the mutt officials on routine matters. Suddenly he walked out of the mutt and reached the pushkarani (water tank) of Kamakshi temple. He took took bath and started performing japa. After an hour again he took few dips and continued with japa. He was repeating this seven or eight times till six o'clock in the evening.

Finally as he sat down on the steps of the water tank, some one brought a telegram message from the mutt. He was told that the telegram was from Karnool informing that Purandara kesavalu was serious. Those who were with him at that time were not knowing who Purandara was.

Maha Swami clarified them that Purandara had already attained the desired moksha.

"He was down with heavy fever and praying for moksha in his death bed. In a normal course it would have taken him six more births to attain moksha. As I had promised in the name of Chandramouleeswara I had to perform this japa to accelarate the process and cut short his number of births. A very noble soul Purandara was" saying this Acharya walked back to the Mutt leaving Others speechless on the foot steps of the pushkarani of Kamakshi temple.