Abhirami is the name of the Goddess worshipped in the Tirukkadaiyur temple in Tamil Nadu. She had a devotee called Subramania Iyer, who was so preoccupied with thoughts of the Goddess that he never paid attention to anything else. Such was his obsessive bhakti towards the Goddess that he came to be known as Abhirami Bhattar, said Malayaman in a discourse.
One day the king happened to visit the town and asked Bhattar what day the next day was. Bhattar distractedly answered that the next day was full moon day when actually it was New Moon day. The king said that if the moon did not appear the next day, Bhattar would be killed.
The next day Bhattar was made to stand on a swing that was suspended above a fire. Bhattar was asked to prove his statement and if he failed his life was to be put to an end. Bhattar began to sing about Abhirami. As he completed each verse, the swing was lowered slowly. But although Bhattar continued to sing, there was no sign of a moon and soon Bhattar would have been burnt in the fire. But as everyone watched anxiously, the Goddess made the Moon appear and saved Bhattar, revealing to the world the greatness of Her devotee.
ADVERTISEMENT
The verses Bhattar sang as he stayed suspended above the fire are collectively known as Abhirami Andadi. He praises the Goddess and describes Her in the verses. In one verse, he prays for many boons. He prays for knowledge that cannot be destroyed. Wealth can be lost or destroyed, but knowledge one acquires cannot be stolen. That is why Bhattar prays for knowledge before he asks for anything else. He then prays for long life, friends who can be trusted, good health, children, fame, a life without sorrows and unwavering love for the Goddess. It is not just Bhattar’s prayer, but it can be the prayer of everyone to the Goddess. Just as She helped him in his time of need, She will help all those who are devoted to Her.