GIVING ETERNAL BLISS(MUKTHI) TO A SRORK

In the southern side of Pandiyan kingdom there was a big tank in which a stork was living by eating the fishes in that tank. Once there was no rain because of which the tank became dry. The stork did not get its food. So it went to a nearby forest and ate the fishes found in the tanks there. There was a tank by the name ‘ ACHCHO’. A number of sages were performing penance on its bank. There were  lot of fishes in the tank used by these  divine people. The stork felt that it is a sin to eat the fishes in the area in which these divine personalities were performing penance. Sathyan was the name of one of the sages. He used to talk about the Madurai city and the Lord Sundaresearar in the temple there to his fellow sages. On hearing these talks, the stork flew towards Madurai. It flew away after sinking its head into the water of the Potramarai tank so that the water  touched its body. Then it circumambulated the Indra vimanam(tower) above the shrines of both Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar. For about fifteen days it did like that and on the 16th day it came to the bank of the tank.

The fishes were playing in the tank. It got divine wisdom when it was about to pick up those fishes. Is It  not a sin to do like this? It controlled its hunger. Lord Sundareswarar appeared before the talk which had changed its natural character because of grace and the self confidence it had on itself. He asked “O” stork what boon you want?” It replied  “O” Lord, Eating fish is the in built habit of my community. But you should bless us that that it should not be done in this divine tank. So ensure that there are no fishes in this tank. Further you should give me the fortune of living in the Shiva lokam(shiva’s world). The Lord also blessed so. The stork got four hands, three eyes and assumed the form of shiva. It entered the divine aircraft, while the celestials sprinkled flower petals on it . The celestials played Thunthubi( a musical instrument). Thus it reached the shiva lokam. Then it stayed as a minion of Nandhi.It should be specially noted that even today there is no fish in the Potramarai tank and this is because of the request of the stork.