Thayumaanavar-The Maternal Magnanimity

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"Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe" are the words of St. Augustine. Faith sculpts the forms of divine experiences that adorn the niche of spirituality in one's life. A pure form of faith entwined with a righteous living has always resulted in making the one on whom faith is exercised to get faithful in attending to the calls of the devotees. But it is His grace that even instills the very faith in Him within a devotee and to worship His holy feet as written by Manickavaasagar in 'Thiruvaasakham'.Here is a heart melting story of His ever attentiveness in rushing to the cause of His believer; the legend behind 'Thaayumaanavar' temple in Trichy.

The Legend

Ratnavathy was the daughter of a noble man called Ratnaguptan in Poombuhaar. Her father who was a successful merchant, wedded her to Dhanaguptan who also did successful trading in Thiruchirapalli ( Trichy). Ratnavathy had inherited her father's nobility, righteousness and piety, that it was customary of her to offer worship to the deity, 'Sevandhinadhar' (Lord Shiva) in Trichy.

In due course, Ratnavathy became impregnated with a child. She anxiously awaited the birth of her baby but never failed to contemplate on her dear Lord Sevandhinadhar. As months rolled by she sent word to her mother to be beside her to help her during childbirth. Her mother on hearing the news immediately started to Trichy. Those were days where there was little or no transportation facilities to reach the destination soon. As her mother with two attendents travelled to Trichy, they came upon a flooded river that obstructed their travel.

Ratnavathy meanwhile wondered about the delay of her mother's arrival. Though caught up in a frenzy when pain seized her, she harboured her hopes on Sevanthinadhar. She continued to pray to Him to help her during childbirth. Her prayers were heard as her mother with her two attendants promptly showed up at the time when she was going through immense labour pains. She was so relieved at the sight of them with whose help she gave birth to a baby boy. Her mother was beside her attending to her and her baby for a day or two.

One day Ratnavathy was stupefied to find her mother and her attendants at the door who had just arrived and related about their wait at the banks of the flooded river that caused them the delay. Her mother furthur enquired as to how she had managed her child birth on her own in her absence. It was then that Ratnavathy realized that it was Lord Sevandhinadhar who played the role of a midwife in disguise of her mother! Thus it was from then Sevandhinadhar came to be endearingly addressed as 'Mathrubhudeshwarar' or 'Thaayumaanavar', meaning the 'Lord who is also the mother' . Her faith had ultimately earned her His maternal compassion and care.