The Number Three

There is a popular saying, "oru dhadavai thappinaa mooNu dhadavai thappum"...Number three has always fascinated me in this regard. There are many instances where I had felt it. This one still has a big impact in me.

He is known popularly in His town as Devarajan. Vaishnavites call Him Varadarajan...Acharyas fondly remember Him as PEraruLaLan. I have always been fascinated by the narrations of the famous Garudasevai at Kanchipuram. I personally wanted to go and take part in that festival...It happened in the year 1997. The scorching sun of May was sleeping..the grand procession started exactly at 4 AM. Mesmerised by the kudai, the vaahanam and the Perumal, I forgot the fact that we didnt have sEvai of moolavar until after I boarded the Kanchipuram II Passenger. Miss # 1.

Mid-2001-- Not this time - as I made up my mind as my father's friend was planning a trip to Kanchipuram in a van. He had made arrangments for a Thirumanjanam at UlagaLandha Perumal Kovil. It was noon when it got completed. We went to Thirupputkuzhi. Alas, the road we took on our way back - NH4 was closed for construction...it was reduced to 2 lanes...Heavy traffic jam created a havoc and we managed to get back to the town only by late evening. This meant that we had time for only one small temple - as we had to travel another hour and a half to Chennai. I had sEvai of Ashtabujam Perumal before returning back. Miss # 2.

Mid 2003 -- Not this time - I was determined. I am the travel organisor this time! I AM planning the trip! What else - Take the Padappai route instead of S.V.Chathram route; Going straight to Devarajan sannidhi and then covering the remaining 14 divyadesams...no more misses and half-hearted returns. We went to the temple sharp at 7 AM as planned. I was literally running through the fifth, fourth and third prakarams after entering the temple. Climbed the stairs three-at-a-time. There I was - just one more turn and I can see Him!! There he was - a bhattar with a rope in hand to stop me from entering the second prakaram because it was time for Thiruvaaraadhanam. He said it might take another one hour to finish. All other gang members voted in favour of visiting Ashtabujam and YadhOkthakAri sannidhis before coming back to Hasthagiri (Yes, it was based on this assurance that I turned back). We were coming out of the temple's fourth prakaram when a bhattar who was selling prasadams called us and asked why were we going back!! When we told him that it is time for thiruvaaradhanam - he said, "ennadhidhu - thirumbi pOrEL? seekkaram mEla pOngO - adhellaam pathu nimishathula mudichiduvaa" (What is this? Are you going back? Go fast - they will finish it in ten minutes)...We went racing back to find a tall Gentleman in excellent alankaaram with all five aayudhams, coming out of Yaaga fire, clad in white silk vEshti with a mischievous smile of victory that he upheld the tradition of number three!

I can get defeated by this manner any number of times as far as I get my reward of THAT mishievous smile. There is one question which is still unanswered - How did the bhattar who was selling prasadams know that we didnt have a sEvai?

Aravi.