We need to serve God and most people know this. But this service is possible only if a man’s mind is pure. The Lord will take up residence only in a mind that is free of impure thoughts, said M.A. Manickavelu, in a discourse.
There are many examples of saints, who attained the Supreme One, because their minds were free of mundane thoughts. Saint Gnanasambandar was blessed, for his hunger was assuaged by none other than Goddess Parvati Herself. His mind had room only for Lord Siva, worldly pleasures having no place in his mind. It was because of his purity of thought that Gnanasambandar was able to perform miracles.
In Mylapore, there lived a devotee of Siva, called Sivanesa, whose daughter was named Poompavai. One day Poompavai died of snake bite. Sivanesa cremated his daughter, and put the bones in a pot, which he kept in his house. When Gnanasambandar visited Mylapore, he asked Sivanesa to bring out the pot to him, and he sang verses, which resulted in the girl coming back to life.
Later, upon the insistence of his father, Gnanasambandar agreed to marry. The marriage was solemnised in Nallur Perumanam, where the bride’s father resided. After the wedding rituals concluded, Gnanasambandar led those who had come for the wedding into the temple. He sang the praises of Lord Siva, and a glow appeared in the temple. Gnanasambandar urged those who were with him to enter the glow. He and his new bride, together with his father Sivapada Hridayar, his father-in-law and other devotees like Tiruneelakanta Yazhpana Nayanar, merged into the glow. Thevaram verses are like powerful mantras. That is why, through his verses, Gnanasambandar resurrected a dead girl, attained mukti and ensured the boon of mukti for others too.
