PAMBAN SWAMIGAL

[Sivan Krishnan]

                     A  SAINT WHO LIVED IN CHENNAI 

Many great saints have blessed us with their appearances from time to time and continue to do so.  Till recently we had the great Pamban Swamigal of Thruvanmiyur, a devotee of Lord Muruga amidst us, and miracles connected with  him  are well known. 

On a Sashti Puja when Pamban Swami was present, the devotees had cooked rice for  annadhanam to  serve about one hundred people . But the small rice pot used for preparing rice for about 100 people,  kept giving more than expected and   enough to feed nearly 400 people. The quantity of rice put in the pot was only for 100 people to eat.  So much was the demand that the other dishes  like vegetables, sambar and rasam had to be prepared three times, but the  cooked rice never got emptied. Such miracles were commonplace in the life of Pamban Swami.

While in Madras, Pamban Swami had a premonition of his mother's death  followed by his elder son's death. Before the telegrams were brought  to be delivered to the Swami  he gave instruction for no one to disturb him because he is a sannyasi, and said to those around him that death news cannot be accepted by a  man without family or bindings.

Once at Pinathor near Chidambaram  some ardent non-Saivites plotted to kill Pamban Swami and  a  black magic was cast on the swami. A demon invocated by the black magician  came near the Swami . The swami simply addressed  it "I have not done any thing wrong. Go back  to the person who has done it.". Next day he heard that one Vinita was dead  all of a sudden vomitting blood. 

Swamiji also filed cases for more than seven years against persons who had published ill of Siva and Saivites He won every case with the help of Lord Murugan. Research papers on these non- Saivites  titled Saiva Samaya Saram were published by Pamban Swami; the anti-Saivites ensured all the five hundred copies were burnt.

Once a the miracle occurred in Govt. General Hospital, Chennai.

In December 1923 Pamban Swami suffered an accident at Thambu Chetty Street in Madras.  He  was run over by a jatka (horse drawn cart)  His  left ankle was broken. He was rushed to and admitted in the Govt General Hospital. The doctors who attended upon Pamban Swami's leg said it would have to be amputated to prevent gangrene set up.

Pamban Swami was simply chanting Lord Muruga's name and said "Let the Doctors decide and do what they wan to do with my leg" and was not at all worried.  

On hearing the news  one Sri Chinaswami Jothidar  who had abnormal faith in Pamban Swami's poem Shanmuga Kavacham  began reciting the Kavacham at his place. 

Chinnaswamy Jothidar had a vision of the Vel entering Pamban Swami's broken ankle. Miraculously the leg was cured in the hospital. Even British doctors were astonished and described it as divine grace.

On the 11th day Pamban Swami saw two peacocks dance before him and also saw the infant Lord Murugan lying next to him on his bed. 

Later on an occasion, Pamban Swami recalled this incident and told his followers of the Maha Tejo Mandal Sabhai to always have strong faith in Lord Murugan and to perform Mayuravahana Seva Vizha without fail. Pamban Swami's life proves this.

 " Velum Mayilum Thunai " is a not just a saying; it really helps sincere devotees in need.

One day Pamban Swami called Chinaswami Jothidar to look for land in Tiruvanmiyur as his last days were near. Pamban Swami marked the four corners of the land,  with his leg  quantifying that portion of land to be purchased and all arrangement were made. 

On 30 May 1929 at 7:15 am Pamban Swami called his followers and advised them to continue chanting Lord Muruga's name and have staunch faith in Him.Then he took a deep breath, held it inside his stomach and entered  the samadhi state.

Those who have visited his Samadhi in Thiruvanmiyur may frequently visit, sit and chant and those who have not seen it may find an opportunity to do so at their earliest.