The Greatness of Sri Ananthazhwan - Part 3

 Continued From: http://thoughtsonsanathanadharma.blogspot.ca/2016/06/the-greatness-of-sri-ananthazhwan-part-2.html

Sri Ananthazhwan decided to keep an eye on the garden at night. He appointed one of his disciples to watch over the garden, but, the following morning, he found all the flowers plucked and scattered across the floor. Someone had walked through his sweet marjoram patch. There were faint traces of footprints around the ponds.

‘Didn’t you notice anyone messing around the garden at night? Sri Ananthazhwan questioned his disciple.

The disciple had not noticed anyone. Perplexed, Sri Ananthazhwan decided to stay awake and watch over the garden at night. It was a full moon night. There was a gentle breeze mixed with faint drizzle. The perfume from the garden mixed with the herbs growing on the hills made the region seem like a beautiful wonderland. The garden seemed to transform into an enchanting, magical land in the moonlight. A nightingale broke into a song. Sri Ananthazhwan did not pay attention to the beautiful landscape. He remained oblivious to the sweet perfume which filled the breeze. That night, there was a very strong scent of tulasi leaves and yet, Sri Ananthazhwan seemed to have trained his senses only to find the person who was destroying his garden. Yonder under a magnolia tree, Sri Ananthazhwan noticed two figures. He got up from his seat and focused his eyes on the two strangers.

Upon scrutiny, he identified them as a young couple frolicking in his garden. Sri Ananthazhwan’s ears turned red with rage when he noticed the young man gather the magnolia blossom to decorate the hairdo of His companion.

‘Stop!’ yelled Sri Ananthazhwan. His voice echoed through the garden. ‘How dare you trespass in this garden which is meant to offer flowers to Lord Srinivasa?’

The young man looked at Sri Ananthazhwan who was rushing towards them, armed with a stick. ‘Run!’ He yelled at His bride and before Sri Ananthazhwan could near the magnolia tree, the man had vanished as if into thin air.

Sri Ananthazhwan fumed as he looked here and there trying to locate the mischievous stranger. The lady however had been left behind as she had been unable to run fast. ‘Come here this instant!’ commanded Sri Ananthazhwan. ‘Who are you? Don’t you know it's wrong to trespass?’

‘We didn’t think we were doing anything wrong. After all, gardens are created for the public to enjoy. How were we to know that this garden was meant for your use?’

Sri Ananthazhwan winced when he heard her utter that; the garden was there for his personal use. ‘This garden is not for my use. This place exists to serve Lord Srinivasa and Padmavathi Thayar. By trespassing you have destroyed the flowers which I had carefully grown to offer to the Divine couple. ‘He felt his anger ebb away as he looked at the young girl. He felt paternal affection creeping into his heart as he looked at her long lotus like eyes which were wet with tears.’ Poor child!’ he thought. ‘It was probably his idea.’

 ‘I do not blame you.’ He said. ‘I know it was His idea but, if I have to capture Him, I have to first tie you to this tree. If I hold you as my hostage, He will definitely come back to free you.’

‘Does it seem right to you to tie a young girl to a tree? If you are a man, you should go after Him. Why do you pick a fight against a helpless woman?’ chided the girl.

‘I do feel sorry for you. I do not want to hold you responsible but, to get Him, I must hold you as my hostage!’

In the meantime, the young man returned as soon as He realized that, He had left behind His bride. Sri Ananthazhwan focused his wrath on the man. ‘Is this the way for responsible adults to behave by destroying temple property? Look at this place! Do you know how long it took me to establish this garden? In just a few nights you have destroyed my hard work. I don’t feel sorry because my efforts have been wasted but, I feel sad because, there are no flowers left in this garden to offer to the Lord tomorrow? How do you plan to compensate me?’

‘I can’t offer you any compensation,’ uttered the young man in a subdued tone. ‘We are not very rich. We are nomads. We wander through theses hills in search of sustenance. I will leave behind my bride. She can sweep your yard and help to clean whatever mess we have created.’

Sri Ananthazhwan was moved by the young man’s speech. He felt sorry for the young girl and felt deep affection for her as if she was his daughter. He took her hand and placed it in the young man’s hand. ‘I give her in marriage to you!’ He said. ‘Take her with you and be off!’

The next moment, the couple vanished from Sri Ananthazhwan’s view and in their place stood Lord Srinivasa and Padmavathi Thayar. Sri Ananthazhwan fell down on his knees. He was speechless.  Tears of joy flowed from his eyes.

‘We had been frolicking through this garden because we thought that you had established this garden for our pleasure. May we continue to come visit this garden?’ asked Lord Srinivasa with a mischievous smile on His lovely face.

‘What a question to ask your servant? Everything here, including me belong to you! Where is the need then to ask my permission? This is your pleasure garden! Please forgive my deeds!’

Lord Srinivasa embraced Sri Ananthazhwan and revealed to him that He had performed this leelai in order to make Sri Ananthazhwan His father-in-law. To this day, an Utsavam is conducted at Tirumala in which, Sri Ananthazhwan gives the hand of Sri Padmavathi Thayar in marriage to Lord Srinivasa.

Continued On:  http://thoughtsonsanathanadharma.blogspot.ca/2016/07/the-greatness-of-sri-ananthazhwan-part-4.html