Spirituality

Kannappa, one of the greatest devotees of Mahadev

Arjuna – Kannappa And Devotion to Lord Shiva – Unheard Stories from Mahashivratri 

What’s the ideal way to connect with the divine? Should you follow the instructions in holy texts or stick to what your sect’s preachers teach? Is it about doing what everyone else does, or is it more about what feels right to you?

The story of Kannappa from the ancient Shiv-Mahapuran sheds light on this. It’s a captivating tale of divinity, miracles, and the challenges a devotee faces on the path to getting closer to the divine. Let’s dive in!

Who was Kannappa?

 Kannappa belonged to a hunter-gatherer society that chose to stay away from modern civilization. He was particularly ignorant about so-called modern-day living, its rules, regulations, and ways of living. 

Not too far from Kannappa’s tribal lands stood an ancient Shiv temple. Every day, a devoted man named Shivagochariar would come to the temple. He cleaned it, prayed to Mahadev, washed the Shiva-lingam with care, and offered flowers and food to the deity before returning to the village.

Kannappa’s Unorthodox Puja

One day, Kannappa, after a successful hunt, stumbled upon this ancient temple. He peeked inside and felt an overwhelming sense of devotion as he saw the Shiv-lingam.

This Shiv-Lingam was particularly interesting, as it was adorned with the face of Lord Shiva on it. Seeing that Shivagochariar had already finished his rituals and left, Kannappa decided to conduct his own Puja.

Being a simple hunter, Kannappa didn’t know the Vedic way of worship. So, he did what felt right to him. He offered a part of the wild boar as Prasad, collected flowers from the nearby forest, and filled his mouth with water to offer to Shivji. With utmost devotion, Kannappa bowed and left the temple.

The next day, Shivagochariar discovered Kannappa’s offerings and felt disgusted. He cleaned the temple and conducted the Puja in the usual way. But the same thing happened the following day. Kannappa, in his simplicity, covered the Shiva-Lingam with raw meat to please the lord.

This continued for days, leaving Shivagochariar frustrated. Maa Parvati couldn’t understand why Her Lord was tolerating Kannappa and seemingly punishing the devoted Shivagochariar. Lord Shiva, with a smile, decided to test Kannappa’s devotion.

One day, when Kannappa arrived at the temple, he found one of the eyes of the Shiv-Linga bleeding. Not knowing what to do, he plucked his own eye and offered it. But as soon as he attached one eye to the Shiva-lingam, the other started bleeding. Determined to show his devotion, Kannappa decided to pluck the other eye, too.

Realizing he would become blind, Kannappa marked the spot with his toe and then plucked his other eye with an arrow. At that moment, touched by Kannappa’s unwavering devotion, Lord Shiva appeared and stopped him from making himself completely blind. The blissful Lord restored both of Kannappa’s eyes and also blessed him with liberation from the cycle of rebirths and death.

The Mahabharata Connection 

 In the Mahabharata, Arjuna sought the mighty Pashupatastra (a celestial missile) from Lord Shiva during a penance for the upcoming war. The divine encounter turned into a fierce battle, and Arjuna, unaware of Shiva’s identity, fought valiantly. Upon realizing his error, Arjuna halted the fight, humbly apologizing for his ignorance. Impressed by Arjuna’s devotion, Lord Shiva granted him the powerful celestial weapon, Pashupatastra, as a reward.

However, this newfound strength led to arrogance and boastfulness in Arjuna. His pride became a hurdle on the path to salvation. In his subsequent life, he was reborn as Kannappa, where true redemption awaited him. Through unwavering devotion, Kannappa found liberation, demonstrating the transformative power of sincere surrender to the divine.

So, What Can We Learn From the Story of Kannappa?

Sincerity>>>>Customs

Kannappa’s offerings were unconventional, but his heart was absolutely pure. It’s the sincerity behind our actions that matters most in spiritual practices. This teaches us that authenticity and love in our spiritual journey carry more weight than mere adherence to external customs.

Acceptance: 

No matter how uncouth it may sound to us civilized people, Lord Shiva accepted Kannappa’s unique offerings. This story teaches us to embrace diversity in expressions of faith. It highlights the importance of open-mindedness and inclusivity in the spiritual realm.

Sacrifice: 

Kannappa’s willingness to pluck out his own eyes symbolizes the depth of sacrifice one may undergo in the pursuit of true devotion. It emphasizes that true devotion often involves personal sacrifices and selflessness.

Compassion: 

Lord Shiva, touched by Kannappa’s devotion, not only stopped him from blindness but granted liberation, showing the compassionate nature of the divine. This underscores the idea that the divine responds to sincere love and devotion with boundless compassion and grace.

May Kannappa’s story inspire you to be more compassionate, sincere, accepting, and ready to sacrifice in your spiritual journey. May your devotion be as pure as his, transcending rituals and fostering a deep connection with the divine.

Please subscribe to our mailing list to stay connected and receive spiritual information. If you have any queries, please write to us at info@chamundaswamiji.com. You can check out our YouTube channel, Chamunda Swamiji, where you can learn Tantra, Mantra, Yantra, and Meditation from His Holiness Shri Chamunda Swamiji. If you seek to learn Shakti Kriya, please register with us, and we will get back to you.