Table of Contents
Story of Bhagawan Oppiliappan is very interesting. It teaches us the best practices to ensure a happy married life.
Lakshmi Devi incarnates as Markandeya’s Daughter
Namalvar narrates a great pastime of Bhagawan through his Pausurams (Poetic descriptions of the Lord’s pastimes).
Once the great devotee Markandeya arrived at the holy spot of Thiruvinnagaram (திருவிண்ணகரம் The Land of Bhagawan). He undertook a severe penance to have one of his spiritual desires fulfilled. He wanted Sri Laxmi as his daughter and the Supreme Lord Vishnu as his son-in-law.
What other desire could a devotee such as the sage Markandeya have? As he meditated, Markandeya could feel that Sri Laxmi had incarnated as his daughter. He opened his eyes to see the baby form of the Divine mother.
Happy with the fulfillment of a part of his wish, he happily settled in the same town and raised the baby-girl.
Story of Bhagawan Oppiliappan
The Old Man proposes to Lakshmi Devi
Soon, the girl grew up and reached a marriageable age. So, the great Bhagawan Vishnu, took the form of a very old man. He came to the sage’s hermitage to ask for his young daughter’s hand. Markandeya was surprised.
However, he wanted to be courteous and desired to amicably bid farewell to the old hag. Markandeya said “This girl of mine does not know to add proper salt in the food.”
Pat came the reply when the old man said “If the girl cannot cook with salt, that food is nectar to me. From now on, I shall only have food without salt. But, I will wed her alone.”
Now Sage Markandeya was in a fix. He closed his eyes and prayed deeply to Lord Vishnu, only to realize that the old man is his Ishta Deva Vishnu.
His joy knew no bounds. He opened his eyes to see the four-handed form of Sri Vishnu with Shankh (conch), Chakra (Sudarshan Disc), Gada (mace) and Padma (Lotus).
He did Dandavat Pranaam to Bhagawan and gave his daughter Laxmi, in marriage, to Him.
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Message of Bhagawan Oppiliappan
Since, Bhagawan decided to have food without salt as a condition for marriage, that image of the Lord in the Divya Desham ( திவ்ய தேசம் holy site ) of Thiruvinnagaram is known as Oppiliappan (ஒப்பிலியப்பன் one who is offered food without salt).
This form of Bhagawan demonstrated the secret of married life.
In the life of a couple the greatest challenge is adjustment between the two partners. However, the secret of a happy married life is that each of the partner must have the capacity to let go of things, to sacrifice.
For example Bhagawan balanced the weakness of his wife, as expressed by her father, Sage Markandeya. When the great Sage said: “My girl does not know how to use salt in food.”
The point of balance that Bhagawan rendered was: “I will let go of salt just to be with her.” This is a lesson of adjustment, we should try and incorporate in our married life.
What is the Way to Attract Bhagavan’s Attention
The only way to attract Bhagavan’s attention is through two internal processes:
1. By Developing Inner Purity, through thought word and deed.
2. Once this is made possible through Sadhana, Guru Bhakti and Satsanga, one has to offer oneself whole heartedly to the Lord.
What are the conditions to get Bhagavan involved with our Life personally?
1. Our only goal in life has to be Bhagavan and Bhagavan Alone.
2. To Trust that other than Bhagavan, there is no one who can help us or make a differnce to our life.
3. Keep Bhagavan alone at the helm of things, to the exclusion of all other things that are material in Nature.
4. To obey the instructions of a genuine Guru, who is empowered by Bhagavan to infuse the capacity into the Jiva, the points 1,2 and 3 discussed above.
Does Bhagavan test?
Yes for certain. The domain of Bhagavan is the domain of Pure Service or Seva. The domain of Earth is the domain of pure exploitations. Unless the Lord is assured that we belong to the former category, he will continue to test us. Unless Bhagavan is rest assured that the devotee is completely pure, how can Bhagavan personally take our responsibility. The Truth is Bhagavan is the Master of the entire multiverse, this plane as well as the Vaikuntha planes. So, can we take the Supreme Lord for granted? How can we approach the Lord, if we are impure?
How can we ensure that Bhagavan is with us?
The first and foremost condition is to work on ourselves, solely by the Grace and directions of an authentic Sat-Guru and by following every word that the Guru says, one can purify oneself.
Next is, to trust the words of the Guru and take the instructions as one’s own life and perform intense sadhana with the sole intention of Seva and attain the Grace of Bhagavan. There is no other qualification needed to get Bhagavan into our lives. Tests from Bhagavan will continue at every step of sadhana, to check our committment to Guru and Him.
What about people who are not under the direct care of Bhagavan?
Almost the entire world is not under the direct care of Bhagavan. For such a vast population, there is only one caretaker, known by the name Maya Devi. For people under the care of Maya Devi, Bhagavan has no role to play. On the otherside, for people under the direct care of Bhagavan, Yoga Maya (The one who takes care of pure devotees), takes care of the people, under the direct instructions of Bhagavan.
Sacrifice is the Key
Instead of finding fault with the other, if married couples let go of their rigidities, only happiness shall prevail. We must learn to adjust to the other, proactively by reducing our expectations.
Even in times of challenge, the married couple will have each other for company. The irony of marriage these days is that, since expectations out of the spouse if high, couples become alienated from each other. They become lonelier than they were, before marriage.
Couples have to unite and become each other’s strength and not weakness. This is the great lesson that Bhagawan gives to us through His form as Oppiliappan.
Oppiliappan temple
The presiding deity is Lord Oppiliappan (Sri Vishnu) and Bhoomidevi. The beautiful temple is located in the Tanjavur districts of Tamil Nadu, in Thirunageswaram. It is an ancient temple built during the reign of the Cholas, in the 8th century.
Along with the main alter, devotees visit shrines of Maniappan, Enappan, the Azhwars, Sri Ramanuja, Birthplace of Bhoomidevi, Shrine of Anjaneya (Hanumanji) and Sri Garuda. These are spots of worship. By visiting these fully potent shrines, one is blessed with spiritual power and sanity.
The specialty of the Prasadam offered in this temple is that it is saltless. It has no salt. One of the great moods in Bhakti is that, food becomes Prasadam (ப்ரசாதம் food, after being offered to Bhagawan ) when offered it with love.
Devotees partake the nectar of Prasadam. They do not consume any edible substance like onions, garlic, or non-veg as they are rejected from being offered to Bhagawan.
Prasadam: An offering to God
Some Vaishnavas never taste food before it is offered to the Lord. They cannot dream of having their meals, before Bhagawan . Humans are prone to make errors. If a devotee forgets to add salt, spice or any ingredient in the offerings made to Bhagawan , then that Prasadam is had with those very deficiencies.
The devotee does not alter the taste of the Prasadam because his dear Bhagawan had the same food.
How could he offer food to Bhagawan without spice or salt and then alter it to suit his taste? Can this qualify as Love for the Lord?
It certainly does not. This is a sweet transaction of love between Bhagawan and his devotees.
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