Abirami Battar

Abirami Battar lived in Thiru Kadvoor (The place in which the Mother Abiraami is). He was always enjoying with his immersed thoughts about the praise of the Goddess Abirami and not at all botherd about the worldly matters.

The King King of Tanjore, Saraboji made a visit to the town and went to the temple to worship the Mother.At that same time, Bhattar was in meditation thinking about Mother's gloring face without bothering the kings presence. At that time, King approached him with due respect and asked him what the day (Thithi) it was. Without realising the actual day as a New Moon Day (Amavasya), Abirami Battar mentioned that the day as a Full Moon Day (Pournami). Every one laughed at Bhattar.

The King was angry and ordered to burn him alive if his words (i.e., Full Moon Day) fail. He was put to test from a hanging platform with lots of fire underneath. Abirami Battar realised his statement and put the blame on Goddess Mother. He said to her that I made this mistake only because of you as I was immersed in your thoughts. He started singing about the Goddess Abiraami in 100 slokas, so beutifully sung.

The songs come under a class of Tamil poetry called "Andhaathi". This means, the next poem should start with the ending from the previous one. One should be able to appreciate the talents and God's grace in Abiraami Battar to sing all these beautiful 100 songs in one night. One more speciality of Abirami Andhathi is, there is no starting and ending. The first verse starts with "udhikkindra sengathir utchi thilagam...." and the 100th verse ending with " ...... udhikindravE".

When Abirami Battar was singing 79th verse, "vizhikke arulundu vEdam sonna ....." Goddess Abirami pleased by the bakthi of the Abirami Battar appeared and thrown her ear-ring (Thadanga or kundalam) in to the sky which enlightened the whole sky like a full bright moon.Everyone worshiped the Goddess and her majestic powers. The king requested his apologies from Abiraami Battar.