Another Great Tantric who is not a Brahmin by Birth

Once, the right to perform tantric rituals was rested upon those who were Brahmins by birth. The time and history have already proved that the status of Brahmin, as mentioned in the Hindu epics cannot be attained by birth. Still, many people are reluctant to accept the truth. The effect of mesmerism, which kept generations under the Brahminical rule, maybe the reason for such a situation.

Here is a legend of Manakkadan Gurukkal, who was a great tantric and at the same time a great scholar. He was not a Brahmin by birth; still, he could master the art of tantra more than many Brahmins could. This great man lived in Karivalloor, in Kannur district in northern Kerala and was an Ayurvedic physician too.

Many stories of his greatness spread across Kerala and many people sincerely adored him as a personification of God. This created jealous in the minds of many people belonging to the upper cast, especially Brahmins. The king of Kolathiri, a princely state existed in Kerala before the independence of India, planned to test Manakkadan Gurukkal’s expertise in Tantra. King planned to put Gurukkal to a severe test. King and his cohorts believed that Gurukkal could not pass these tests and so he will get insulted and will run away from his country.

Actually, Gurukkal was undergoing some bad times in his life then; still, he could not reject the invitation of King as it was an order. He was sure that he will have to face many hurdles before reaching the palace and even after reaching there. He prayed to his family goddess and then started his journey along with his disciple Puthiyodan Nair.

On those days, traveling was not so easy and they had to travel by walk from Karivalloor and had to cross three rivers before reaching the king’s palace. They started their journey. When they reached near the first river, they could no see any boats to cross the river. Otherwise, there should be many boats to help travelers. Gurukkal understood that it was a test put up by the king. He did not speak anything, instead, hold the hands of his disciple and asked him to close his eyes. Then, Gurukkal performed a particular tantric ritual known as “Jalasthambham” by which the water in the river stood still. Both of them walked over it and reached the other bank. The same thing happened with the other two rivers, Pazhayangadi River and Valarpattanam River too. Finally, they reached the palace.

The doors were closed when they reached the Palace and there were no security persons too. It was another test. However, Gurukkal did not take aback. He caught hold of his disciple’s hand tightly and entered inside the palace with his tantric power. He went through the wall without breaking it. Once they reached inside the palace, Gurukkal saw many persons sitting on similar chairs with a similar royal dress. As he did not see the king before, everybody thought that he will get confused and will bow in front of someone among those. But Gurukkal identified the real king and bowed in front of him.

Then the king invited him for lunch. All others invited were belonging to upper casts and as per the system prevailed on those days, Gurukkal will have to take out the banana leaf which he used as the plate to have lunch. At the same time, those belong to the upper cast will not have to take it out as the servants will do for them. Sensing the insult well in advance, Gurukkal requested to serve the food on the leaf of cucumber and the same has been agreed. As the lunch is over, the leaf too disappeared. Thus, Gurukkal won all the tests.

On that evening King and his people enjoyed various performances done by Gurukkal. After finishing the performance, King gave him a list and asked to arrange all the forty “Theyyams” (A folk art form) by night. Nobody could arrange all those theyyams within a short period, still Gurukkal did it even without moving out of the palace. Here the most important thing is that there was no communication facility such as cell phones etc on those days. When Gurukkal won in that test, King expressed his desire to visit heaven and asked Gurukkal to help him. As they were talking, a rope came down from the sky just behind the king, and Gurukkal asked the king to hold it tightly. Slowly the rope went up as if someone is pulling it from up. Within a short time, everybody heard the loud cry of King saying that he could not withstand the sights and he wanted to come down. Then Gurukkal brought him down. With that test, King felt that if he continues, it will be he who will have to eat the pea, hence he stopped testing and send Gurukkal after honoring him with many awards.

Many years have passed and one day, Gurukkal called his favorite disciple Puthiyodan Nair and nephews and informed them that it was time for him to go from this world. He insisted they to constructed an underground cell with stone and leave a small hole for air circulation. He also instructed them to keep his books and pen inside the cell. After that, he entered the cell and asked them to close it. He also asked them to pour water over the cell for the forty-one days. Then the cell has been closed after he entered inside.

Nephews did according to his direction. On the thirtieth day, a nephew who was pouring water on the cell developed a curiosity to know what is happening inside the cell. He peeped through the hole meant for air circulation and at the same time, the pen of Gurukul, which has been kept inside the cell, came near and pierced his eyes. From that day onwards, no one dared to go near that cell which exists even today.  

Story of Another Great Kerala Tantric

Kerala, the land created by Lord Parasurama by throwing his ax into the sea is well known for its Tantra rituals and Tantriks. Even now there are many people in Kerala who are well versed with all the four Vedas and performing rituals mentioned in Atharva Veda for the benefits of people. There are many stories and myths that are still taking around about the wonderful performance of many Tantriks. Here is one such story, which is believed to have taken place in the near past.

There is a Brahmin family residing in Ramapuram near Palai in the Kottayam district of Kerala. The family name is Kondamaruku and hence the head of the family used to be called Kondamaruku Namboodiri. Once there was a Kondamaruky Namboodiri, who was well versed in Tantri rituals. He has a thorough knowledge of astrology too. Within a short period, his reputation spread across Kerala.

During those days, one Nair family in Northern Kerala used to experience a particular type of tragedy. Nair had three daughters who were well educated and beautiful. Nair got the first two daughters married at the right time. Both of them got pregnant and came back to their house for delivery as per the prevailing custom. During their stay at their parental home awaiting delivery, both of them got disappeared in suspicious circumstances. Nair got worried about the happenings. His biggest worry was about the third daughter. He feared that she may have to face the same fate. Still, it is not possible for him to keep her away from getting married. He found a suitable groom from the locality and got her last daughter married as per the custom. She too got pregnant within a year and brought back to her parental home for delivery.

Nair lost his peace of mind and could not sleep all these days. He spent all nights without sleeping sitting in front of his daughter’s room. Still, he was afraid. At that time he came to know about Kondamkuzhi Namboodiri. Immediately he sent his persons to Namboodiri to bring him to his house. Hearing the whole history, Namboodiri agreed to visit Nair’s house.

After arriving there, he inspected the surroundings and then immersed in meditation reciting some holy hymns. He opened his eyes and told Nair to make arrangements for rituals which may last for forty-one days and Nair made all arrangements. Namboodiri started rituals from the next day early morning. As the days passed, the duration of rituals increased. Namboodiri insisted Nair’s daughter and her husband to be present at the place where the rituals are being conducted from the thirtieth day onwards. Gradually the duration of rituals increased and it started ending at midnight.

On the last day of the ritual, Namboodiri finished everything before midnight and asked Nair’s daughter and her husband to go to their bedroom to have sleep. He also sent two of his assistants and asked them to be there in front of the door of the bedroom and keep vigil. Then he took out a cane from his bag and fixed it in front of the main gate to the compound after digging a small pi. He was chanting some holy hymns all this time. Then he went inside the room allotted to him by the Nair. He opened the window and kept watching what is happening outside.

Almost close to midnight a group of six persons came there with lighted torches. All of them were completely naked. They stand in front of the main entrance of the house with the torch and chanted some hymns and to the surprise of Namboodiri, the doors opened automatically. Then they went inside and stood in front of the bedroom where the husband and wife were sleeping. As they reached there, Namboodiri’s assistants fell asleep due to the magical power of these visitors. Suddenly the door opened and Nair’s daughter came outside without wearing any clothes. She accompanied the group of naked people and started marching towards the main gate.

As they reached the main gate, they saw the cane fixed by the Namboodiri and started taking round around the cane, instead of going outside. Hearing strange noises and seeing light, many locals gathered there and all of them were angry to see six naked persons along with Nair’s daughter taking round in front of the gate. However, Namboodiri calmed them and asked Nair’s son in law to bring his wife’s clothes. As the clothes were brought, Namboodiri came out of the crowd and sprayed a few drops of water from his pot on her face. Suddenly, Nair’s daughter woke up from unconsciousness and started crying seeing herself naked. Her husband took her inside the home immediately. Then Namboodiri asked Nair to call the police. When the police force arrived there, Namboodiri asked them to watch what will happen there. He also told them that, once he sprays the water on them, they will wake from unconsciousness and will try to escape. He insisted the police officer take precautions so that they will not escape.

Then he sprayed water on their head and suddenly they all woke up. To the utter surprise of the public gathered there and the police force, the torches in their hands have turned to be speared. They tried to escape and started fighting with the police. However, police could capture all of them with the help of the public. When questioned in detail they confessed that they have taken both the daughters of Nair earlier and killed them as a part of their ritual.