Madurai Meenakshi - A Cinderella moment

 

Madurai Meenakshi – A Cinderella story

 

As children we were all wide eyed when listening about the glass slippers of Cinderella story. But did you know that there is a real-life occurrence in our own back yard in Bharat? Only difference was here the miracle was performed first and the shoes came as a thank you whereas in the Cinderella story the shoes were part of the magic.

When and where did this happen? This happened in the early 19^th century in Madurai. Madurai, like the rest of the country was under the control of the British. Once there was a British collector by the name of Peter Rous.

Peter, was the collector of Madurai from 1812-1828. We need to understand that the many of the British officials in those days were disrespectful of local traditions and customs. Peter was an exception. One of his administrative responsibilities included managing the temple activities. He was very sensitive to the local practices. While passing the temple on his way to work, Peter would normally dismount and take off his hat and foot wear, as a mark of respect to the Supreme Goddess and her consort – Meenakshi and Sundareshwara – inside the temple.

Peter also did not interfere the local customs and celebrations at the temple but did his best to be helpful. The locals liked and respected him and gave him the name of Peter Pandian. This was a term of admiration as the Pandyas were the erstwhile royal dynasty who ruled Madurai.

It happened on a dark monsoon night. The skie had opened and it had been raining non-stop. The locals and the administration were trying to help people who were stranded and providing them with food and shelter. Peter had been busy the whole day overseeing the arrangements. He came back to his official residence tired and worn out and slept

The rains were now accompanied by thunder and lightning. The guards at Peter’s home were standing inside to avoid getting drenched. The time was well past midnight and there was only the sound of thunder and rain splashing on the glass windows of Peter’s residence.

Amidst this uproar, Peter heard a faint tinkling. He was too exhausted and ignored it at first. The tinkling grew steady. Before he could understand what was happening, a voice said “Peter, get up. It’s time to go.” He ignored it first. The voice was persistent. Now it was accompanied by someone nudging him to wake up. Peter got up dazed.

Through his sleepy eyes, he saw a small girl. She was dressed in a silk skirt and was wearing beautiful jewellery. She smiled at him and said “Let us go Peter.” It did not occur to Peter to question the girl or to wonder why she was disturbing him in the night and where she was taking him. He got up like in a trance and followed her.

As Peter was passing his guards, he slowed down. The girl hurried him.” Come Peter, we have to go.” The guards were surprised that someone, that too a small girl, was calling their master by his name. Since he was following her, they did not intervene. The girl led him towards the temple and just seem to dissolve into the closed doors of the temple.

Peter was in a daze and slept the rest of the night in the outer corridor. Next day his staff came looking for him to find him outside the temple. They narrated that the old bungalow in which he stayed had collapsed in the rain the previous night and they just managed to escape. Peter had a vague memory of the girl holding him by his hand and leading him outside.

Peter was shocked. He could not believe his blessing and the kindness of the Goddess. Peter immediately called a meeting of the officials to talk to them about this incident to understand it better. They too were astonished and concluded that it was the blessings of the Goddess that had kept him alive. Even the priests were amazed that she chose to personally lead him out of his home to a safe place.

Peter Rous wanted to show his gratitude to the Supreme Goddess. All he remembered was the small girl who held his hand was walking bare foot with an anklet. He told the temple officials he wanted to give her shoes for her divine feet.

Accordingly, he made a bejewelled shoes that adorn the feet of Goddess Meenakshi during her biggest annual festival. Known as Peter Rous shoes, they are preserved till date. Peter spent his life in Madurai even after retirement. His family still visits the temple once a year from England.

It must have indeed been a blessing to receive such abundant kindness from the Goddess.