Guruvayurappan - Poonthanam and Lord Shiva at Kottiyoor

Part 6

Poonthanam's rendition of Bhagavatam attracts Lord Shiva

Poonthanam worshipped Guruvayurappan (Lord Krishna) with all his heart. People loved him for his beautiful Bhagavatam discourses. There is a temple in North Kerala called Kottiyoor. The presiding deity in the temple is Lord Shiva. The temple was kept open only for a few days in a year. There was no human activity in that place for the rest of the year.

Once Poonthanam reached the Kottiyoor temple and bathed in the holy water. He worshiped the compassionate Lord Shiva, felt happy and stayed there for a few days. He recited Bhagavatam every day in front of the deity and hundreds of people listened to his sweet discourse on the 10th Canto 60th of Srimad Bhagavatam named, "Lord Krishna Teases Queen Rukmini."

The Lord always plays a complete role in all the avatars. Be as Parthasarathi, a dutiful son, a loving husband or a loyal friend, He plays the role immaculately. The Lord decides to play with a great devotee and His beloved wife Queen Rukmini. He playfully asks Her why She wanted to marry the Lord when She had better choices like king Sisupala, Salva, Jarasandha, etc. Hearing this, Queen Rukmini faints and Lord consoles Her. This is the gist of the chapter.

Poonthanam finished reading this part of the chapter and placed the bookmark at the end of the chapter. Next day, to his surprise, he found the bookmark at the beginning of the same chapter. So Poonthanam read the same part for the second time. This was repeated for the rest of the days. It was the last day to close the temple for the year. Poonthanam finished the discourse and was returning from the temple with the other devotees, but somehow left the Bhagavatam in the temple. Having walked some distance, he remembered that he forgot to take the Bhagavatam with him. He hurried back, crossed the river and reached the entrance to the temple, which was closed. He was all alone.

He could hear somebody reciting the same part of the chapter inside the temple. As he looked through the keyhole, he saw Lord Shiva reading from Poonthanam's Bhagavatam. Mother Parvati and other Bhoothaganas were listening, their eyes filled with tears of devotion. Poonthanam stood there and heard the recitation. In the end, Lord Shiva asked Devi Parvati, "Did you like the recitation"?  Parvathi replied, "Yes, it was nice, but was not as good as Poonthanam's".

Lord Shiva replied, "Yes. That is true. I also like to hear Bhagavatam from Poonthanam. That is why I placed the bookmark again and again at the beginning of the same topic every day."

Hearing this, Poonthanam, who stood outside was shaken and uttered the holy name of Krishna loudly. When he watched again, Lord Shiva and Devi Parvati had disappeared.

Srimad Bhagavatam is a peerless purana. It is most dear to the bhaktas because it describes the pure and supreme knowledge of the paramahamsas or liberated souls. It reveals the means for becoming free from all material desires, together with the processes of transcendental knowledge, renunciation and devotion. Anyone who seriously tries to understand Srimad Bhagavatam, who properly hears and chants it with devotion, is completely liberated.