Tradition, supported in a way, by the internal evidence by the works of Nilakanta, has evoked the charming legends about his life – history, about his port life, entry into the Pandya dynasty, as the Prime Minister of Thirumala Naik, his brilliant career like that of Manikavachakar and his last stage of life in the Palamada village.
In the course of a family partition of Appayya dynasty, budding boy Nilakanta declared unhesitatingly that he value Appayya’s blessing higher than even a Maharaja, with tears of pride and joy welling up in his eyes. Ayyappa had given Neelkanta, Raghuvamsa and Devi Mahatmayam in palm leaf manuscripts with 200 lines on each leaf which he had sent to him in Madura.
Pathanjali in yoga shastram solemly answers – Sathyaprathirshayam Kriyaphalashrayathvam. Bhavabhuti is the Uthra Rama Charithra which declares:
Lokaikanaam Hi Sadhunamartham Vananuvarthahey!
Rishinaam Prunuradhyanaam Vaachmarthaanudhavathi!!
The daily discourse on Devi Mahatmayam, regularly delivered by Nilakanta while yet in his teens on the banks of Swarna Padmin, the ancient soul. Stirring in oriental style, nonchalantly disappearing before an ever growing gathering of thousands of people who often gathered to listen to him at the river banks. Thirumal Nayak himself during his routine nocturnal visits, revealed the priceless treasures hidden within the tiny frame of Neelakanta. He at once set his heart upon making the boy his Prime Minister. On returning to his palace he openly proclaimed and declared about entrusting him with the position of prime minister.
To steam the tide of discomfort surging among his indigenous subjects against the introduction of an alien element among them, he set forward a test. In those days, a king was learned and scholar in many languages. The king, in true oriental style, offered the position of being a prime minister to anyone who would answer his simple question.
“How did Kakah (Crow) come to be called Kakah?”
Vacant looks, violent heart beats and shaking heads were the only respond king got from the onlookers. The kind was about to dissolve the gathering of learned scholars, when a young lad rose to his feet with a stern and resolute look on his face from a remote corner. The young lad was none other than Neelakanta. His response was as follows:
Seethev Rama Iva Amaya Dayaya Bhuvan Iva Kakah!
Dwathyaathmaghoshavachasa Tajathiyanaam Thadaiva Sangyaseetha!!
Meaning: When all the merciful Sitha devi, unmindful of the outrage committed on her by Jayantha, son of Indra, had come in form of a crow and pecked her boson intrigued generously by her incense. But in the presence of Sitha Devi’s husband, the all pervading and all forgiving Ramachandra, Jayanth stood seeking pardon. Both Sitha Devi and Ramachandra decided to forgive the hideous act of Jayanth. In response to being forgiven, Jayanth cried aloud:
Which woman in this world (Kaha) can equal Sitha in KChama (forgiveness)?
Which man in this world (Kaha) can equal Rama in Daya (charity)?
Thus, pronounced by them gave tise to the appellation Kakah. Applause greeted the small figure from all directions and he was at all without hesitation installed as Prime Minister of the kingdom.
Amidst the pleasures and splendors of a life in a dazzling royal court, Nilakanta was living the austere, serene life of a Recluses.
On fine morning at the behest of Tirumal Nayak the usual Palanquin appeared before the house of Nilakanta, earlier than the appointed time, for taking his to the Royal court room. Neelakanta’s daughter who was 18 years old and was visiting her parents along with her 25 year old husband stepped out of the house to inform the palanquin bearers that her father was in Cobbler’s house. But, when they were about to leave, they happened to notice that Neelakantha was very much in the house and stopped immediately to argue with his daughter. Hearing the commotion, Neelakantha stepped out of his house. On understanding the situation , he smiled at the palanquin bearers and informed them that his daughter had indeed spoken the truth. He explained to the perplexed audience that though he was physically seated in front of the God in the state of worshipping, he was actually thinking about his worn out sandals which he had sent out to the cobbler for mending. He was concerned about the fact that even after a few days of time, the cobbler had not returned the mended sandals. He then proudly announced that though married for 10 years, his daughter still could read his mind like an open book.
Between 1628 and 1635, the construction of the famous Pudu Mandapam was underway. Sundaramurthi Apari, the palace sculptor, had carved out in a pillar of marble exquisitely the figure of Lord Shiva’s Ekpadhmurthy with Lord Brahma on one side and Lord Vishnu on the other side. The vaishnava (believers of Lord Vishnu) objected to such an installation. Nearly, for a period of six months, a controversy raged between the Shaivaites (believers of Lord Shiva) and Vaishnavites (believers of Lord Vishnu). The controversy started to ease out only with continuous dialect and leadership skills displayed by Nilakanta. Sundara Murthi Apari had then easily gained name and fame for reaching perfection in his art at his very first display of the art.
While chiseling the statue of senior queen of Thirumal Nayak, which was intended to be placed in the Pudu Mandapam, a thin slice was cut away from the right thigh of the statue, leaving that part defective. Perplexed and perturbed beyong measure, Sudharamurthi rushed to Nilakanta and outpoured his story. Nilakanta examined the statue and concluded that a normal onlooker might not decipher the defect and hence, advised the sculptor to go ahead and install the statue in its deemed place.
To the great tragedy of Nilakanta, king’s sharp eyes noticed the defect and the sculptor on being summoned outpoured the entire story. King immediately doubted Nilakanta’s purity as unfortunately his queen indeed had a mole in her thigh. King accused Nilakanta of having illicit relation with his wife and ordered burning camphor in Nilakanta’s eyes to blind him for life.
King’s soldiers arrested Nilakanta when he was in the middle of offering his prayers to Goddess Meenakshi in the Puja room in his residence. The soldiers carried out king’s orders and Nilakanta became blind as a result. On interference from his queen and other learned courtiers, King realized that he had passed a wrong judgment without any enquiry. Smitten by his conscience, he rushed to Nilakanta and filled with remorse, begged for his forgiveness.
Touched by king’s request, Nilakanta set into a communication with Goddess Meenakshi requesting the Goddess to forgive the King cure him so that King could overcome his guilt. His communication with the Goddess gave birth to one of most beautiful poems, “Anand Sagarasthava”. This is a 105 verse poem which is heart felt prayer from Nilakanta for restoration of his eye sight with a view of giving relief to the guilt conscience king than to himself.
Nilakanta then regained his eye sight but the King’s accusation of his illicit relation with the queen was intolerable to him. He left the Royal court and moved to Palamadai village where he ended his life.
Written By: P S Venkatachalam
Edited by: Aparna RamMohan Sridhar
