Part 4
Is Bhakti(devotion) greater or Vibhakti (scholarship)?
Once Poonthanam wanted to give a discourse on Srimad Bhagavatam. He was hesitant because of his lack of good Sanskrit knowledge. However, he prayed to Lord Siva of Vadakkanathan Kovil and started the discourse there. Suddenly he found Siva and Parvati sitting in the front row and listening to his discourse! They were not visible to others! Such was his Bhakti!
Though both Poonthanam and Melpathur were great devotees of the Lord of Guruvayur, their devotion was expressed quite differently. Poonthanam, a great poet, wrote his verses in the vernacular and was famous for his bhakti whereas Melpathur, an erudite scholar and great poet in Sanskrit, was known for his knowledge.
Melpathur used to laugh at Poonthanam's Sanskrit reading and recitation. One day, Melpathur heard Poonthanam reciting from the Vishnu Sahasranamam the phrase "PadmanabhO Maraprabhu", which means “Lord of trees” in Malayalam. Melpathur openly laughed at Poonthanam and corrected him saying, Padmanabha is not Maraprabhu (Lord of trees) but Amaraprabhu (which means Lord of immortals in Sanskrit). Immediately, there was a celestial voice from the inner shrine, "I am also Maraprabhu" (Lord of trees). Now there is a clay statue of "Maraprabhu" in the Srivalsam guest house (at the southern side of the temple). It is the biggest clay deity in Asia.
The Njanappaana (means the song of wisdom) written in simple Malayalam is Poonthanam's greatest work. Melpathur was the most popular Sanskrit scholar of that time. Poonthanam showed the draft of his Njanappaana to Melpathur. Malayalam was not accepted in learned circles those days and Melpathur held Malayalam in contempt as he did not consider it equal to Sanskrit. He refused to see Poonthanam's work and told him blatantly to learn Sanskrit before writing.
One version: Melpathur was composing Narayaneeyam those days. When he came to offer his daily dashakam (ten stanzas) before the Lord the next day, he could not utter a single word. A small boy, never seen before, presented himself and pointed out mistakes after mistakes in the shlokas composed by Melpathur. After 10 mistakes in 10 shlokas, Melpathur realized the divinity of the boy. He fell at the feet of the boy, but He disappeared. A celestial voice rang out saying, "Poonthanam's devotion is more pleasing to me than Melpathur’s knowledge of Sanskrit grammar". Melpathur realized his mistake and asked Poonthanam to pardon him. He amended his arrogance by reading the works of Poonthanam.
Another version: Melpathur was very proud about his own reputation. It was his habit to treat the writers of other languages with contempt. So, he suggested that Poonthanam should get someone else to edit the book. Poonthanam accepted that suggestion with humility. On the same day of this incident, the paralytic disease of Bhattathiri, cured earlier by Krishna's grace, re-emerged with virulence.
Bhagavan, appearing before Bhattathiri in his dream, declared: "To me the bhakti (devotion) of Poonthanam is far more pleasing than your ‘vibhakti ‘(scholarship)." A thoroughly shaken Melpathur rushed to Poonthanam’s house the next morning itself and expressed his willingness to edit “Njanappaana” and Poonthanam gladly handed over the book. However, a bigger shock awaited Melpathur. “Njanappaana” had been corrected already by Guruvayurappan the previous night itself. Melpathur could not find a single mistake in it. He apologized to Poonthanam and praised his Bhakti-yoga. Immediately, his illness disappeared.
Lord Guruvayurappan has appreciated Poonthanam's bhakthi various times directly and it is believed that he himself came down to earth and took Poonthanam to Vaikuntam.
Melpathur used to laugh at Poonthanam's Sanskrit reading and recitation. One day, Melpathur heard Poonthanam reciting from the Vishnu Sahasranamam the phrase "PadmanabhO Maraprabhu", which means “Lord of trees” in Malayalam. Melpathur openly laughed at Poonthanam and corrected him saying, Padmanabha is not Maraprabhu (Lord of trees) but Amaraprabhu (which means Lord of immortals in Sanskrit). Immediately, there was a celestial voice from the inner shrine, "I am also Maraprabhu" (Lord of trees). Now there is a clay statue of "Maraprabhu" in the Srivalsam guest house (at the southern side of the temple). It is the biggest clay deity in Asia.
The Njanappaana (means the song of wisdom) written in simple Malayalam is Poonthanam's greatest work. Melpathur was the most popular Sanskrit scholar of that time. Poonthanam showed the draft of his Njanappaana to Melpathur. Malayalam was not accepted in learned circles those days and Melpathur held Malayalam in contempt as he did not consider it equal to Sanskrit. He refused to see Poonthanam's work and told him blatantly to learn Sanskrit before writing.
One version: Melpathur was composing Narayaneeyam those days. When he came to offer his daily dashakam (ten stanzas) before the Lord the next day, he could not utter a single word. A small boy, never seen before, presented himself and pointed out mistakes after mistakes in the shlokas composed by Melpathur. After 10 mistakes in 10 shlokas, Melpathur realized the divinity of the boy. He fell at the feet of the boy, but He disappeared. A celestial voice rang out saying, "Poonthanam's devotion is more pleasing to me than Melpathur’s knowledge of Sanskrit grammar". Melpathur realized his mistake and asked Poonthanam to pardon him. He amended his arrogance by reading the works of Poonthanam.
Another version: Melpathur was very proud about his own reputation. It was his habit to treat the writers of other languages with contempt. So, he suggested that Poonthanam should get someone else to edit the book. Poonthanam accepted that suggestion with humility. On the same day of this incident, the paralytic disease of Bhattathiri, cured earlier by Krishna's grace, re-emerged with virulence.
Bhagavan, appearing before Bhattathiri in his dream, declared: "To me the bhakti (devotion) of Poonthanam is far more pleasing than your ‘vibhakti ‘(scholarship)." A thoroughly shaken Melpathur rushed to Poonthanam’s house the next morning itself and expressed his willingness to edit “Njanappaana” and Poonthanam gladly handed over the book. However, a bigger shock awaited Melpathur. “Njanappaana” had been corrected already by Guruvayurappan the previous night itself. Melpathur could not find a single mistake in it. He apologized to Poonthanam and praised his Bhakti-yoga. Immediately, his illness disappeared.
Lord Guruvayurappan has appreciated Poonthanam's bhakthi various times directly and it is believed that he himself came down to earth and took Poonthanam to Vaikuntam.
Very exciting story good keep it well
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