Guruvayurappan - Kururamma, another favourite devotee – 2 of 3

Part 13

Vilwangalam swami was the renowned Vaishnava Acharya of that period. He was famous for performing Puja having vision of Sri Krishna in front of him.

It was Kururamma's great wish to have one such Puja performed at her home by Vilwangalam Swami. She requested the Acharya with great humility, and he agreed.

Unfortunately, Kururamma had an envious neighbor called 'Chemmangatt Amma' who was immensely rich and influential. When she heard about this Puja, Chemmangatt Amma took it as an opportunity to humiliate Kururamma. She used her influence to cancel Vilwangalam's commitment to Kururamma and booked that Puja for herself. Poor Kururamma was unaware of this change of plan!

On the dawn of the Puja, Kururamma was washing her clothes in the nearby tank. A few drops of water unintentionally fell upon Chemmangatt Amma who had just finished her bath. She felt polluted and took a second plunge in water to purify. She sarcastically told Kururamma:

"Hey widow, now I am doubly clean. Today Vilwamangalam is coming to my house for doing Puja".

Kururamma was surprised to hear that and she said :

"But, Vilwamangalam Swamy has already promised to perform Puja in my house today."

Chemmangatt Amma and her arrogant servants laughed at Kururamma and made fun of her. Kururamma was very hurt by this public humiliation. Soon after reaching home, she sent a person to Vilwamangalam's house to confirm about Swami's Puja. But Vilwamangalam apologetically refused saying that he couldn't upset the powerful Chemmangatt family.

Kururamma was heartbroken when she heard about this refusal. But Unni pacified her by assuring that Vilwamangalam will come for Puja as agreed before.

Kururamma believed Unni. But she lamented: "O Unni! Because of this confusion, I didn't make any arrangements for the puja. I don't know what needs to be done also. You see, Vilwamangalam Swamy is a Mahatma and therefore we shouldn't upset him in anyway. O Bhagavan, I really messed up everything and I don't know what to do now! "

Unni consoled her by saying: "Mother, don't worry at all. I will do all the needful now itself. You relax and just take rest."

He quickly completed all jobs such as cleaning the floor, washing the Puja instruments and utensils, bringing flowers and other Puja materials, preparation of food offerings for the puja, etc.

After his daily worship, Vilwamangalam started for Chemmangatt Amma's house for the Puja. But the person who was to lead his way by blowing conch (shankh) to announce his presence could not produce any sound at all. It was a bad omen and Vilwamangalam was bewildered. Then he remembered his failure to keep up the promise to Kururamma and hence he decided that it is Bhagavan's wish that he should go to Kururamma's house to do Puja there. On this thought itself, the conch started functioning and filled the air with its resonant sound. The Acharya then started on his way towards Kururamma's house.

Vilwanagalam and his shishyas (disciples) finally arrived at Kururamma's home. According to tradition, a brahmin lady should not talk directly to any man other than her husband. Hence, hiding behind the door, Kururamma asked Unni to welcome Vilwamanagalam Swami.

When Unni welcomed, Vilwamangalam looked at him, but due to "Maya" he couldn't recognize Bhagavan.

After taking bath, Vilwamangalam got ready for the puja.

Meanwhile, his shishyas were looking amazed. They are the ones who prepare items for the Puja as no one else knows the requirements. But, alas! this small Kid had arranged everything so perfectly. They stared at Unni enviously and he gladly teased them in turn, by winking at them.

Vilwamangalam was pleased by the perfect arrangement.  While touching the Puja materials, a divine bliss filled his heart.

The Puja commenced. At first, the seat was sanctified for seating Bhagavan. Then the invoking of Sri Krishna. Swami closed his eyes and meditated on Bhagavan. While Vilwamangalam was invoking Krishna with great concentration, Unni stood straight in front. Seeing this, the shocked Shishyas were enraged and they whispered to each other:

"This fool is standing in front of Acharya. How can we inform this to Him? See, the flowers offered are falling on his feet!"

They tried to push out Unni. But, he stood firm on the ground and the offered flowers kept on falling at his feet. Vilwanangalam Swami opened his eyes to see Sri Krishna on the offered seat as usual. But he couldn't see Bhagavan and only Unni was standing in front of him. Vilwamangalam was annoyed. As ordered by him, Unni was moved from there to a corner and then the invoking was restarted.

Again the offered flowers kept on falling at the feet of Unni, though he was standing in the corner. Immediately, Vilwamangalam Swami realized that this helper of Kururamma is Bhagavan Himself. He looked at Unni again and there He was! "Bhagavan Sri Krishna in all 
His Supreme Glory !!!!

Vilwamangalam tried to rush forward towards him to prostrate. But Bhagavan stopped him with a gesture which meant:

"Keep this as a secret. Let Me continue as Kururamma's Unni".

The Puja ended auspiciously and Vilwamangalam departed with his shishyas. Kururamma was extremely happy. However, she made a comment to Unni:

"Hey Unni! I wonder why Vilwamangalam Swamy repeatedly bowed down to both of us and cried while leaving."

Unni's only response was his mind-captivating smile which filled 'Sat-Chit-Anandam' in Kururamma's heart! The famous devotional song "Kani kanum neram" was composed by Kururamma.

Kururamma completed the mission of devotion by asserting the right of women on her own, to spiritual evolution and eventual salvation by chanting the holy name.

In the year AD 1640, Kururamma prayed to Bhagavan to take her to His abode from this mortal world and Bhaktavatsalan immediately took her to Sri Vaikunatam, along with her body. After Kururamma’s disappearance without leaving even her mortal remains, her abandoned home collapsed over time.

Recently, when an ‘Ashtamangala Devaprasnam’ was performed, there was a divine revelation that ‘Sri Krishna-Chaithanyam’ is existing at a particular spot in village Venginissery.

(Ashtamangala Devaprasnam is a certain type of practice of the prasna branch of Hindu astrology. It is very popular in Kerala. The terminology indicates the use of eight auspicious objects in its practice. It is used to ascertain the unknown causes or unwelcome situations and to plan remedial actions).

After excavations, the illam (house) of this pious lady, Kururamma was found. Surprisingly, for more than 350 years no one had occupied this land. A temple of Sri Krishna has been constructed by bhaktas at that very sacred place where excavations were done, and it has been aptly named as ‘Kururamma Sri Krishna temple’.

The temple's construction and consecration (Prana-Prathishta) was strictly in accordance with Vastu-Shastra and Tantra-Vidhi. Existing soil up to 7 feet depth was removed and filled-in by pure river-sand. The Moorthy is Kurumma's Ishta-Deva "Bala Gopalan" -  Bhagavan wearing  'Pattu-konakam' ( kaupinam / silk loin cloth) -  holding butter in one palm and Flute in the other hand. Butter offered to him on His Hand, is distributed as 'Prasadam' to Bhaktas.

"They are forever free who renounce all selfish desires and break away from the ego cage of "I," "me," and "mine" to be united with the Lord. This is the supreme state. Attain this and pass from death to immortality."