Pakkanar and Rumours

"Kallam Paranjal Kannu Pottum" is a popular idiom in Malayalam. Its literary meaning is If you tell lies you will become blind. If this is true most of us will be blind by now. Another idiom says "pasham chollil pathirilla" means old sayings are all true. When one tells lies he is actually distorting others perception .He is intentionally blocking others from a clear/neutral view of the situation or matter or whatever it is. In-turn his perception will get distorted. That is law of Karma. His perception or understanding will be blared or inaccurate. So he will become internally blind. He will not be able to see things as it is. Half Truths are more dangerous, because people tend to believe it. Same for bad rumours as rumours also have a tint of truth. I will tell you a little story.

The famous and incredible revolutionist Pakkanar of the "Parayi Petta Panthirukulam"  (believed to be an avatar) was chatting with his wife. His wife told him about a rumour spreading in their village at that time. Suddenly Packanar exclaimed "only one Atta was left, and you got it", for which his wife asked for an explanation. A Karanavar (Elder of an aristocratic family) arranged a feast for the elders and important people of his village. During the preparation an ATTA (Centipede) fell on the Payasam. To save his embarrassment the Karanavar asked the chief cook to remove the Atta and serve the Payasam for the gathering. The feast went well and everyone appreciated the Karanavar.

Every night before falling to sleep the Karanavar used to pray to Chithra Gupthan ,the assistant of King Yama who was authorized to keep records of all doings of humans-based on which only rewards and punishments were decided by gods. That day also the Karanavar prayed as usual. Lord Chithra gupta was fond of this Karanavar and wanted to save him from the intending punishment for that day’s deed. So he appeared in Karanavar’s dream and told him about the intending punishment -He has to eat a bucket full of Atta.The Karanavar became miserable-he could not even think of it. He with the help of Chitra guptha devised a trick. He knew that if someone is telling rumours about you that one is sure to get a share of your papas . So the Karanavar temporarily stopped helping his farmers and respecting the elders. He pretended to be a drunkard and womaniser. The villagers slowly started telling rumours about him and Chitra guptha started distributing the Attas. Finally only one was left and you got that. Pakkanar finished the story.