Once Shankaraacharya Swamikal came to the Periyaar riverbank in Kerala (not too far from Kochi). That was Shivaraathri day. He finished Sandhyaa vandanam and went into deep meditation. When he opened his eyes he saw a poor Muslim boy called Aali. He just happened to be there while roaming around the neighbourhood. But with in moments, because of the satsangam of Swamikal, the boy felt an unexplainable feeling of peace and comfort. He was attracted to Swamiji and stood there staring at him for several moments.
Swamikal smiled at the boy and immediately the boy fell at his feet. Swamiji asked him what he wanted from him. The boy said that he wanted to pray and meditate like Swamiji. Shankaraachaaryar put his hands on his head and advised him the naamam "Shiva Shiva"He asked him to repeat it as many times as he could. Swamikal disappeared and the boy Aali started chanting Shiva Shiva all the time for several years. People noticed his devotion and enlightenment and was very surprised to find someone at his age chanting the naamam through day and night.
On one Shivarathri day, he was chanting Shiva naamam continuously and while many Shiva devotees watching him with awe and respect, a Shivalingam came out of his mouth. That is the Aaluva Shivan and from that year onwards devotees started celebrating Aaluva Shivaraathri. The aithyhyam is that the name Aaluva came from "Aalivaaya"or Aali's mouth and with time "Aalivaaya" became "Aaluva" !!!
Comments
Post a Comment