mudhaladiyaip petRREnO agaligaiyaip pOlaE
“Mudhaladi” refers to “The Lord's divine feet”.
Gauthama Maharishi and his beautiful wife Ahalya stayed inside a forest in their Ashram. Ahalya’s beauty, charm, intelligence and her service to her husband were known to all! She is praised by even the gods and devas! Hearing about her great beauty, Lord Indra became smitten with her. Seeing her one fine day in the banks of a river, he fell for her beauty.
When Gauthama maharishi went to the river to take a bath, Lord Indra, taking the form of Maharishi Gautama, approached Ahalya and she allowed herself to be used by him. But before Indra could leave, Gauthama maharishi came back and saw Indra disguised as him, along with his wife. Raged on the filthy act of Indra, he cursed Indra that he would lose his masculinity.
Turning towards his wife, raged Gautama Maharishi cursed Ahalya, "Turn into a stone and along with this ashram’s dust and ashes, stay here!”
On hearing the words of her husband, Ahalya fell on her husband’s feet and begged for mercy.
Maharishi, taking pity on his wife, said- “A curse given is given. You know that! Consider this as a penance to purify your soul. Perform penance for a thousand years, consuming air alone, chanting the names of Lord Sriman Narayana. Sriman Narayana will be born as Sri Rama and will be brought here by Sage Vishwamitra. By the touch of His divine feet, your curse will be removed and then you can join me".
Maharishi Gauthama then left the place.
After a thousand years, Rishi Vishwamitra was accompanied by Prince Sri Rama and Prince Lakshmana to Mithila, after the princes helped the rishis in finishing the yaga by killing demon Tataka in the forest. On their way, he brought them to Sage Gauthama's ashrama’s location which has now turned into dust. By the touch of Lord Rama's feet, Ahalya’s curse was relieved. Sage Vishwamitra then explained the story of Ahalya to Prince Rama and Prince Lakshmana. In the mean time, knowing that the time time has come, Sage Gauthama also came there and accepted his wife.
Thirukkolur Ammal is asking "Did I have the great fortune of gaining the touch of the
Lord's divine feet like Ahalya did?"
