Poosa Lingam (18th Century AD) was a great Shaivite Saint, and with regard to his staunch devotion on Lord Shiva, he could be treated as a Nayanmar Saint, since he cultivated lot of Shiva Bhakti from his young age itself.
Poosa Lingam was born in a ShaivaVellalar Family, and his father was doing hotel business, and his mother was a pious, chaste and a good natured woman, who considered her husband equivalent to the god, and remained as a dutiful wife throughout her life time. Though Poosa Lingam was good in studies, but, however, he spent most of the time in sitting inside the Shiva Temples, and used to meditate Lord Shiva by chanting the Shiva Mantra, “OM NAMAH SHIVAYA”. His family members, friends and relatives used to affectionately call him as “POOSU”.
Due to his Shiva Bhakti, when his parents tried to perform marriage to him, he rejected their proposal, and decided to remain as a strict bachelor for ever in his life. In course of time, his father has died, and due to his disinterest in running his family hotel business, the hotel was closed, and he and his mother, began to starve in hunger. However, his affectionate mother began to work as a house maid in few of her neighborhoods, and with the meager money which she has earned, she provided sufficient food for her son Poosa Lingam, but for most of the days, she didn’t eat food properly, but even then, she showered great affection towards her only son, “POOSA LINGAM”. Everything goes on well for some time, but on one day, due to starvation, his mother has died, and this made Poosa Lingam to get shocked, and he cried for a while.
After performing last rites to his dear mother, Poosa Lingam began to wander in the streets, by considering Lord Shiva and Ma Parvati as his true parents. Due to his utmost devotion, on one day, Shiva and Parvati appeared before him in the form of a saintly couple, and they spoke badly about Shiva and Parvati, in order to notice his reaction. Poosa Lingam didn’t realise that they are his wonderful divine parent, and hence, he got angry with them, and began to beat them with a stick. On knowing about his true devotion, Lord Shiva and Parvatihad revealed their true form before him, blessed him, and also granted salvation to him.
“OM NAMAH SHIVAYA”
WRITTEN BY
R.HARISHANKAR