There are many instances where God Himself came and saved the Padars from thieves, wild animals and menace! Sri Thyagaraja Swami, on his way to Tirupati, came to a small village called Kovur near Chengalpattu at the request of Sundaresa Mudaliar, a devotee of Lord Shiva. He sang five beautiful keerthanas on Kovur Sundaresar. They will be called Kovur Pancharatnam. On his way back, Sundaresa Mudaliar placed a bag full of Varahas in a palanquin without the knowledge of others.
Thyagaraja Swamy had said that if a thief comes to the palanquin on the way to the forest, it will be for us. As the Bhogis put on the palanquin and started running, two princes with bows and arrows came and chased away the thieves and disappeared. Seeing that miraculous scene, he sings, ‘E Ram Nin Karunaye Karunai’. A similar incident happened in Sridhar’s life as well.
Sridhara Pandita was a virtuous Brahmana; He excelled in academic questions and piety; He always did the best of his work to give amutham to the Bhagavathars. The queen of her house, on the other hand, was a vow to Partha, and she was known for her dedication and practiced her virtue day in and day out. Both of them were great devotees of Rama, so the house was always ready and full of Namocharana.
These couples wanted to go on a pilgrimage. Both of them were of the same mind, carrying clothes, food items, clothes and ornaments for the Archavataramurtis who were standing on the site. Sri Dhara Pandit selected two good horses, loaded one of them with all his luggage, and then mounted his wife on the other, and led slowly along. At sunset, when we reached a forest and had gone some distance into it, there was a beautiful stream flowing there. It was right for them to reach the river and the darkness began.The two of them put their belongings under a tree and let the horses graze.
As soon as Sridhara and his wife were leaving, a group of robbers, knowing that they were going on a pilgrimage and carrying a large number of clothes and ornaments and food, followed them into the forest and came to their resting place.
As soon as she saw them, Sridhar’s wife felt a kind of suspicion and fear. She said very slowly to Sridhar, “Swami, it is getting dark and we can’t go any further, this is not a place for Raat to endure. Anything like a bear or a tiger can come, So let us go back the way we came, stay at someone’s house in the neighbouring village, and set out early in the morning.
It seemed to her that it was best to say so, so he brought his horses, loaded his luggage, and prepared to go into the town. Then the thieves said, ‘Swami, we have gone through this forest for many nights for business, we know the way, you can go ahead without panicking’.
He said, “I think what you’re saying is good. My wife is the one who doesn’t like it, and if I vote to give her confidence, she will believe it,” said Sridharar.
The robbers, who knew that both of them were devotees of Sri Rama, said, “We have come to tell you not to cause any trouble, but you are doubtful, we swear on Sri Rama, we said it with the intention of helping you.”
As soon as the decree was given to Lord Rama, the couple became confident. They marched along the forest path with them. When they had gone some distance into the forest, the thief who was the first to speak pounced on Sridhar, cut off his head and ordered him to return with the sack of all the things on the horse.
What will her sin do! We have come and caught these sinners, not knowing that they are thieves! He said to the robbers: ‘You sinners, can you do this? If you ask, isn’t he a generous donor? I understood your hypocrisy from the very beginning. We used to believe that you had sworn on Lord Rama, that if you want to steal your luggage, why should you kill a devotee who knows no sin, how does Lord Rama tolerate all these atrocities? Will He spare you unpunished? You have sworn against him,” she lamented.
As she screamed and fainted, the sky darkened and a gust of wind blew through. Lord Rama appeared in front of her with a stick and a hand and destroyed all the thieves in an instant. Sridhara stood up to bring Sridhara’s head and body together. When he saw Valvil Rama standing in front of him, his eyes filled with tears and he said, “Sir, your mercy is mercy.” His wife, who was overwhelmed, bowed to herself, not knowing what to do out of ecstasy. The Lord said to Sridhara, ‘It is my duty to protect both of you’, and he went with him till he crossed the forest and reached the village and then disappeared. Sridhar Pandit and his wife were overwhelmed by the miracle of Lord Rama coming to the forest and telling the country about the miracle of life.
……Sri Sridhara Sasi Sekhara Ananda Muralidhara Krishna Murari…………………………………………….