August 15th of 1947 had been agreed as the date for transfer of power from Britain to Bharat. Attendant political, administrative and legal preparations were on full swing. At that time, a question came up as to how the historical occasion could be symbolised. Jawaharlal Nehru, who professed himself to be an agnostic, sought the advice of Rajaji.
Rajaji, on the other hand was an ardent follower of traditions and at the same time as a viveki knew how to balance the customs and the modern times. He could recall the age old tradition followed in our country during the pattabishekam (coronation) of a king. In such occasions, Rajaguru- chief pontiff- guide of the kingdom hands over the sceptre to the new king with the vedaghosam and mantras in respective regional language by the pundits for the well being of the king, kingdom and citizens.
Rajaji proposed the preparation of a sceptre per customs and it was accepted by the people who mattered. Time at disposal was short and Rajaji approached Thiruvaavaduthurai Aadheenam, a Saivite mutt located in Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu. Aadheenakarta (Head of the mutt), inspite of his illness, happily accepted the task and completed it on time. The responsibility of taking gold- plated silver sceptre to New Delhi was fulfilled by the Ilaya Aadheenam (junior or second in the hierarchy) Thambiran Pandaara Swaamy accompanied by Odhuva Moorthikal (the trained vocalists who chant Thevaram- Thirumurai- mantras of Saivite tradition).
On the appointed mid-night, when the whole world was sleeping and this nation was getting freed breaking the thousand years of shackles of foreign rule, transfer of power took place when the Ilaya Aadheenam ceremonially handed over the Sceptre to Prime Minister when the Odhuva Moorthikal rendered the Thirugnana Sambanthar’s (first of the quartet- prominent four Saivite devotees – Naalvar in Tamil) composition ‘Kolaru Pathigam ‘ – 11 verses in praise of Siva urging a devotee to chant imbibing the purport of the shloka with full faith for dispelling the fear of ominous signs or portends supposedly indicated by planetary or stars’ positions or evil designs of those who bear grudge on their hearts to injure others.
Thus Thiruvavaduthurai Aadheenam was an instrument in the hands of Almighty to add a touch of divinity and a stamp of our culture to the whole ceremony, which would have otherwise passed off as mere official or administrative affair.
Tail Piece: Tamil Nadu can take pride for two more historical facts: On Aug 15, 1947 midnight Mahakavi Bharathi’s prophetic song ‘ Aaduvome Pallu paaduvome, Ananda Sudhanthiram adainthuvittomenru..” sung by famous Carnatic Musician D K Pattammal was broadcast in All India Radio.
In the first news bulletin on that night, Poornam Viswanathan had the privilege of announcing the independence of our country over AIR. Poornam Viswanathan went on to make valuable contributions as part of government service and in his personal capacity to the world of art and culture.
