The Saivite saint Manickavachagar, has written verses where one girl asks questions about Lord Siva and her friend answers. The significant thing is that the girl who answers had once been unable to speak. The story goes that the king of Lanka had a daughter who was unable to speak. He heard of Manickavachagar and sought his help. When questions were raised about Saivism, Manickavachagar said that the questions would be answered by the princess who could not speak. When asked the questions, the girl began to speak. Thus in one stroke Manickavachagar set forth the greatness of Lord Siva through the verses, and also cured the girl, thereby proving to the world the power of Lord Siva, said K. Sambandan, in a discourse.
These verses, where questions about Siva are answered, also show the importance of thinking of God even when one is young. It is said of Karaikkal Ammaiyar, that when she was a child, and played with her friends, she included Lord Siva’s name even in her games! She herself says that from the moment she started to speak, she began to utter His name.
In the case of the princess from Lanka, she had been unable to speak, but by the grace of Lord Siva she began to speak. Her first words were about the Lord Himself, and His greatness. There is another story told, where again we are shown that we should not judge a person by his or her appearance, or underestimate anyone. There was a Tamil work called Iraiyanaar Kalaviyal. Forty eight poets wrote commentaries for it. But the question arose — whose was the best commentary? The poets were told that there was a boy called Rudrasanman, who could not speak, but that he would be the best judge in the matter. So the poets brought him over, but he was unresponsive as the poets read their commentaries. However, when Nakkeerar read his commentary, Rudrasanman responded by shaking his body, thereby recording his appreciation for the work.
