UNCOOKED RICE NAIVADYAM

The Episode Of Bhagawati

Here is an anecdote that illustrates her benignity to the adorers. She was blessing the kalaradhakas in several ways and was always at their beck and call. The story goes that once a certin Marar drew one of the priests into a strange contest. This Marar was an expert drummer, besides being an ardent devotee of Bhagawati. He said that he would make Bhagawathi appear before them with playing 'pani', a kind of drum held very sacred. The priest unwittingly said that he would offer special naivedyam, if she were to appear as said. Being an efficient percussionist he played to such perfection that the Goddess did appear to enjoy the drumming, but the priest found himself at wits end-no time to cook rice for naivedyam. So, he offered uncooked rice as naivedyam due to exigency. Lo! she was pleased beyond measure and accepted it. Since then only the uncooked rice is offered to the deity. She proved herself thus extremely generous, but her reckless roaming ended in imprisonment. Are gods exonerated from sins? No. Never. The scales are always kept even by Dharma Devatha.

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