THIRU ANBIL
Enroute from Trichy to Lalgudi lies a small village, Anbil by name. Here is the Lord Sundaarajan who blessed Sage Valmiki. Tirumangaiazhwar’s mangalasasana “ nagaththanai” reads Anbil as Peranbil. The very reason for the name is that the Lord showers his bountiful grace, immense love ( Peranbu) on his bhakthas. The Lord Sundararajan and Sundaravalli shine in beauty as their very names suggest. The Tarakavimanam shines there in glory. This kshetra called Banapuram in Sanskrit has an interesting anecdote.
Ruksha, a hunter lived at anbil protecting his clan. He lived a cannibalistic life feeding on animals, killing passers-by. Once his wife Vanjula, pestered him for a nagarathna ( a jewel lying in the hood of the snake). Ruksha who loved his wife very dearly killed hundreds of sankes for the jewel but in vain. One night he happened to meet Naradha who was wearing a chain of rathnas. Ruksha immediately stopped him and questioned him:
Ruksha (R ): Oh sage How on earth did you come across this jewel?
Narada ( N ): Why? Kubera gave it to me. I have made it into a garland for my japa. Sometimes I also wear it around my neck.
Ruksha: Interesting, Snake jewel for a japa mala. You could use the tulasimala instead. You shall hand over this jeswel to me.
N: How strane indeed. One is supposed to donate to Brahmins and not snatch away from them.
R: Enough of your preaching. I will kill you if you do nit hand it over to me.
N: You foolish hunter, it is a sin to thieve. You will beget hell.
R: No Not at all. I do not steal it for my sake. I steal for my wife’s happiness. So the sin is her’s.
N: No. You are wrong. The sin of a disciple is the sin of his guru. The sin of citizens belong to the king. The sin of the children belong to the parents’. Thus the sin of one’s wife is nothing but the sin of her husband’s. Also note Ruksha, the sin of the husband however does not reach the wife.
The hunter disblieveingly tied Narada to a tree and went back to his relatives. He questioned them about Narada’s statements.They confirmed it. None including his wife were ready to share his sin.
The hunter realized the transcience of the world. People are willing to share my happiness but not my suffering. What a selfish world. Of What use is my love towards them?
Ruksha went back to the sage, released him and asked him for salvation from his sins. Narada pacified him and gave him the Rama nama japa. Oh Hunter this mantra is called the Taraka mantra. It will obliterate one from all sins. It has no restrictions regarding time, place or state. The Vedas, smruthis, puranas all echo the greatness of Rama nama.
However Ruksha could not pronounce the word Rama. He lisped lama, lama instead. Narada intelligently advised him to chant instead Mara, Mara instead. Ruksha began:
“ Mara Mara Maramaramara Rama Rama Rama”
Mara became Rama
Ruksha became Valmiki maharushi.
Ruksha’s penance of rama nama japa was concentrated and severe. An ant hill covered him up. Yet his concentration did not fade. The very Lord Bruhma came to him very many years later. “ Arise Oh Ruskha. As you come from the valmika ( anthill) you will be called Vaalmiki from now on. You are a Brahmarushi. You are no more a hunter, no more Ruksha, no more a thief, no more a sinner. You are the incarnation of Brugu, the son of varuna. You are born in this world to give the world the nectar of Ramayana. May you go to the banks of River Sarayu. Ramawill be born there”
Thus by the blessings of Bruhma Valmiki of Anbil became Valmiki of Ayodhya.
The place where Valmiki did his penance became a Vishnu kshetra, a taraka kshetra. Vishwakarma made the taraka vimana here and Brahma worshopped Lord Sundararaja with great festivity.
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