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From the Bhakti List Archives

Parthasarati Dileepan • December 1, 1995 


On Fri, 1 Dec 1995 14:08:09 -0800 Mani Varadarajan said:
>May I ask why Lokasaaranga, the priest who committed the
>great apachaara of both physically and verbally abusing
>the greatest of bhaktas ThiruppaaN Azhvaar, is called
>Lokasaaranga *Muni*? The title "Muni" is usually reserved
>for people of great learning and devotion, such as Vyaasa,
>Alavandaar, and Ramanuja. It seems that none of these
>attributes were present in Lokasaaranga.
>


      There can be any number of reasons for this
      including ones that are in nature similar to
      the reasons given for Gangai throwing little
      babies into gushing waters of Gangai, i.e.
      saapam, vimOchanam, etc., etc.  Be that as it
      may, I for one certainly think Lokasaranga Muni
      deserves the highest respect reserved only for the
      best among our Lord's Bhakthaas, because  he
      repented for his transgressions and made amends
      in a way only great souls will.

      Now, unrelated to the above, it is interesting
      to note that Nandanar, the "untouchable"
      devotee of Nataraja, had to submerge in agni before
      gaining union with his Lord.


-- Dileepan