Category: Uncategorized

Jai Jai Ramakrishna Hari Jai Jai    Panduranga Hari Jai Jai Ramakrishna Hari Jai Jai Panduranga Hari Sri Rakumaayi sametha Sri Panduranga parabrahmane namah Srimathey Ramanujaya namah Jai Jai Ramakrishna Hari Pilgrimage to Pandharpur near   Sholapur in Maharashtra  and  having  darshan of Lord Vittal  is incomplete without having the darshan of the great saints Sri […]

Jai Jai vittala Jai Hari Vittala

Swamy Parasara Bhattar the great successor of Jagath Acharyar Swami Ramanuja was a prolific writer of great distinction. Acharyar’s works in Sanskrit and tamil bear amazing scholarship and command . Swamy’s works in Sanskrit include Ashtasloki, BhagavadgunaDarpanam , SriGunaRatnakosam, SriRanganathaStotram, Sri Ranganatha Stavam. Swamy Parasara bhattar was officiating as the chief-priest in SriRangam temple, and […]

The In-dwellers deep love

Originally posted on kazhiyur varadan’s blog:
Madhurakavi Azhwar appeared at a holy place in Thirukolur, a small village near Alwarthirunagari, Tamilnadu . Once he undertook an pilgrimage  to Ayodhya. He was very moved by the beauty of deities of Lord  Rama, Sita Devi, Lakshmana &  Anjaneya  and decided to  stay in Ayodhya for sometime. During…

“tEvu maRRariyEn” …….. I do not know of any LORD other than my AchAryan, Swamy NammAzhwAr

In Srimad Bhagavatha Mahapurana as part of a discussion between King Nimi and sage Karabhajana the advent of the Srivaishnava Azhwars appearance in the Kali age is revealed .

” In the Kali age men devoted to Lord Sriman Narayana will be born in large numbers near the Dravida territory where in the rivers Tamaraparni, Vaigai , Paalaar the most sacred Kaaveri flows
.”

True to the epic , both Swamy Namaazhwar and Madhurakavi Azhwar appeared on the banks of Tambaraparni river .

It is said that just after 40 years of the disappearance of Lord Krishna , Nammazhwar appeared . Periyazhwar and Sri Andal appeared in a place close to river Vaigai , the Mudal Azhwars and Thirumazhisai Azhwar appeared near Paalaar and Thodaradippodi Azhwar, Thiruppaanaazhwar and Thirumangai Azhwar appeared near river Kaaveri.

The most holy place Thirukurugur “Alwar Tirunagari” is about 30kms east of Tirunelveli on the Tirunelveli-Tiruchendur highway off the Southern banks of Tamaraparani .Check this post for more details :https://kazhiyurvaradanblog.in/2015/06/14/the-glory-of-thirukkolur/

Thirukurugur Vaishnava divyadesam is located on the banks of the river Tamaraparani and is one of the 108 divya desams in Pandiya Nadu. This was later known as Alwar thirunagari after the great Nammazhwar’s appearance .

Legends reveal there lived a pious devotee Kaariyaar an advanced bhaktha who was serving the devotees from his agriculture earnings .

Udaiya Nankaiyar from Thiruvanparisaram was his wife who was equally pious and served the devotees with all dedication . They had no progeny for a long time .

Their prayers were answered by the mercy of Lord of Thirukurungudi . Udaiya Nankai gave birth to a male child on Vaikasi month in Visakam star( who is considered to be the incarnation of Senai Mudaliyar the commander in chief of Lord Sriman Narayana) .

His parents named him Maran ( being different from others ) and he also had other names Parankusa and Satakopan .

The boy was not an ordinary kid nor did he have an ordinary life .

He displayed none of the usual characteristics of a baby, neither would he cry nor attempt to drink milk.

Looking at the strange behaviour of the divine child, the parents went to the temple for divine interference.

All of a sudden the child crawled and went under a tamarind tree inside the temple where he remained almost for sixteen years in yogic trance under the trunk . The divine incident became the talk of the town.

After many years one day a elder Vaishnava who was on a pilgrimage to Ayodhya observed a shining light emanating from a far off place .He followed the light and reached Thurukurugoor. As he enquired around the place , he was directed into the temple . He was surprised looking at the divine aura being emitted from the young boy and attempted to go near him .

More details of Madhurakavi Azhwar can be read in this appended linked post

https://kazhiyurvaradanblog.in/2015/08/04/tevu-marrariyen-i-do-not-know-of-any-lord-other-than-my-acharyan-swamy-nammazhwar/

He approached the divine boy who was meditating deeply with his legs crossed and hands in chin mudrai pose. Madhurakavi thought that the boy could be deaf and dumb. To draw his attention ,he took a small stone and threw it in the lotus pond nearby.

Lo presto !

the boy opened his eyes and Madhurakavi could see the divinity in his eyes with golden hue.

Madhurakavi wanted to test the boy further whether he could reply.

Thus he asked a question

“Seththathin vayitril siru kutti pirandhaal etrai thindru enge kidakum?

A divine voice was heard with a smile

“Atrai thindru ange kidakum”.

The answer to his question made the madhurakavi ponder about the divine presence of the boy and the esoteric reply.

The peripheral meaning of the question…

“If a small one is born into a dead thing, what will it do ? and where will it be”?

The reply was “It will eat that and stay there”.

Nothing could be understood if not for our great achaaryas who had provided us with the inner meaning of this important quote

The inner meaning of the question:

“Seththadhu” – body,

“siru kutti” – soul.

“vayiru” – stomach.

The inner meaning mentions that when a soul enters a body, the body gets life and the soul forgets its true nature , thus thinks that the body is everything

The soul enjoys and suffers everything through the body.

It eats and lives on whatever the body earns as sin and virtues . Once the body is dead, the soul departs. Till the time the soul is present, it has to suffer and enjoy all the feelings of the body.

But once the soul realizes its true nature that it is the servant of Lord Sriman Narayanan and surrenders , the soul gets liberated from the cycle of births and deaths.

Swami Madhurakavi azhwar was amazed by azhwar’s knowledge and fell at his feet and pleaded him to accept him as his disciple.

Azhwar agreed and asked him to help him in composing his divine works. Thus came out the fountain of divine out pouring of Lord’s kalyanagunas .

Madurakavi Azwar wrote all of them in Palm leaves which were called ‘ pattolai. The divine out pourings were

1. Thiruviruttam (100 verses)
2. Thiruvasiriyam (7 verses)
3. Periya ThiruvandhAdhi (87 verses)
4. Thiruvamozhi (1102 verses )

A grand festival is celebrated for ten days marking the appearance day of Azhwar …….

at this holy place every year ending with a holy bath ( Abhishekam ) and ‘Theertha vari’ on Vaikasi Visakam day .

The Vaikasi Visakam celebrations are being held past 500 years or more

The temple at Thirukkurugoor was under the direct administration of our revered Acharyar Swamy Manavala Mamunigal.

Adiyen is recollecting the wonderful darshan we had few years back at Azhwar Thirunagari

The most important day for Srivaishnavas is Swami Nammazhwars Thirunakshatram ( Apperance day ) which happens on Monday june 9th ,2025 this year .

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Nava Tirupathi is a cluster of Nine temples of Lord Sriman Narayana.

Nava Tirupathi is part of the 108 Divya Desam temples .

Located around the banks of the River Thamarap arani, the 9 temples of Nava Tirupathi are Thiruvaikundam,

Thiruvaragunamangai,

Thirupulinkudi,

North & South temples of Thirutholaivillimangalam,

Thirukkulanthai,

Thiruperai,

Thirukolur and

Thirugurukoor.

This otherwise a calm village is overcrowded with devotees for the 10 day grand festival.

Almost all the chathirams, Ramanujar koodams and houses were packed with devotees who come to witness the Nava garuda sevai from long distances .

A big mandapam in front of the main temple known as ‘PANDAL MANDAPAM” is decorated for the grand festival to happen .

This pandal was built by an ardent devotee Sri Pandala Ramaswamy Nayaakar during 1807 .

He took initiative in starting this wonderful Nava garuda Sevai utsavam and made arrangements for the mandapam and other paraphernalia .

In honour of his devotional service the mandapam is named Pandal Mandapam.

.

All the Perumals ( Lordships ) of the Nava Tirupatis come to

Thirunagari to grace our most beloved Nammazhwar .

Swamy Nammazhwar had darshanam of all the 108 Divya

desam perumal staying in Azhwar Thirunagari itself .

In the pandal “ Abhishekam for Azhwar is done with due honours by the recitation of vedic hymns being watched by a large groups of devotees .

Meanwhile ,there was an alert by the bhagavathas that the Nava Tirupathigal Perumal have already started from their temples “ Thirukolams “and after crossing the beautiful Tambaraparani River are arriving at Pandal Mandapam.

We rejoiced to see Perumals coming from different directions with a troupe of Nadaswaram goshti and the recitation of pasurams by Elders.

All Perumal started arriving to Pandal Mandapam. Every Divyadesam Perumal arrive in a well decorated palanquin with full temple honours.

Here Azhwar receives the Perumal and does Pradakshinam to Perumal thrice. Azhwar is then blessed with satari, peedambaram and prasadam which were offered to the Perumal.

After this, managala haarathi is given to Perumal and Azhwar and Perumal enter the main temple.

This procedure is followed for all the Perumals. This function takes place for about 2 to 3 hours.

All the Perumals alight inside a huge mandapam inside the temple. Parallel arrangements like decorating Peria Thiruvadi ( Garudazhwan ) for the evening function is done for the Garuda sevai.

The villagers share a wonderful hospitality inquiring about the details of stay, food etc of all the visitors . Most of the Thirumalagais are eager to serve the devotees with Prasadam.

The same evening around 5 P.M., Thirumanjanam ( Abhishekam ) would start for all the Perumals. Several groups of devotees coming from far off places assemble and chant azhwar pasurams with music. At 5 P.M the Vedic Pundits carrying silver kudams filled with holy water arrive . The water for Neeratam is brought from the river Thamparaparani with full honours (an umbrella, Nadaswaram)

The holy abhishekam “ Thirumanjanam” for all the Perumals are performed at the same time. Thirumanjanam is performed for all the Perumals inside the mandapam. It takes about 2 to 3 hours for the alankaranam to get completed.

Around 8 P.M. the much awaited garuda sevai starts

In the Nava Garuda Sevai, the lordships ( Perumals ) are seated on Garuda vaahanam. Azhwar is seated on a Hamsa vaahanam and his dearest devotee, Madurakavi Azhwar is seated on Pirangi Naarkaali (a chair)

Azhwar waits just outside the Maha dwaaram of the temple to receive the Perumals from all the Nine Divya desams .

The temple doors are closed and Azhwar along with his favourite devotee Madurakavi Alwar wait for the Garudaseva Utsavam to happen.The Mahadwaram doors are opened amidst the mangala Nadaswarams .

Azhwar is the first to have darsanam of Perumal. Perumal is given Mangala karpoora aarthi and managalasaasanam done to the particular Perumal by the Azhwar . The recitation of the Mangalaasanams with the divyadesam pasurams by Elders drives one to spiritual ecstasy. Similar to Srirangam, Araiyar sevai is followed tradition here

The sevai is a special treat to the eyes and fill LORDs grace unlimited . And being among-st our Azhwars and the advanced srivaishnavas its sheer bliss

The order in which the Perumals appear in Garuda vaahanam along with the paasuram number is mentioned for devotees sung by Azhwar is given below:

PERUMAL PASURAM NOS.

1) Sri Adinatha Perumal of Thirukurugoor 3106,3116
2) Sri Vaikuntanatha Perumal of Srivaikuntam 3571,3575
3) Sri Vijayasanar Perumal of Natham (varagunamangai) 3571
4) Sri Kaichinavendan of Thirupulingudi 3473,3568-78
5) Sri Mayakoothan of Perungulam(Thiuukulandhai) 3561
6) Sri Devapiran of Irattai Tirupati }
7) Sri Aravinda Lochanan of Irattai Tirupati } 3271-3281
8) Sri Bhoomipalar of Then Thirupperai 3359-3369
9) Sri Vaithamanidhi of Thirukolur along with Madurakavi Azhwar 3293-3303,3473

After this, neivedyam is offered to Perumal, Azhwar and Madurakavi Azhwar and Perumal leaves the place . All the Perumals assemble at East Mada street and from here all the Nava tirupathi Perumal are taken in procession in the 4 mada streets of Thirunagari with the Nadaswaram troups for each perumal , Veda goshti .

The devotees burst crackers and lit the roads with dazzling light. The local residents receive Perumal by sweeping the roads and decorating the roads with kollams etc.The zeal in their offering fruits and karpooram at the time of Perumal’s oorvalam is a great blessing. Almost the entire village are well versed with Perumals arrival. This procedure of waiting near the entrance, offering karpoora aarthi and rendering mangalasaasanam on that particular Perumal is followed for all the Perumals.

By the time the ninth Perumal Sri Vaithamanidhi of Thirukolur leaves the place, Adinatha Perumal of Thirukurugoor who left first comes back to the temple. After all the nine Perumals assemble, Azhwar pays his deep respects to all the Perumals and all the Perumals get inside the mandapam. Madurakavi Azhwar who has organized this function, payshis respects to Nammazwar who is pleased with his disciple.

The function concludes around 4 A.M. The next day morning, all the Perumals leave to their respective temples gracing all the devotees and Nammazwar accompanies them till the entrance of the temple as a Royal guest . Nammazwar ‘s hamsa vaahanam is placed in such a manner that he looks at the proceedings until Perumal leaves the temple street

The Perumals leave the Mandapam around 7.00 –7.30 AM . Only after the sight of Perumal completely disappears, Nammazhwar leaves inside a bit sad due to the departure of the perumals to their respective divyadesams.

All glories to the devotees who are at Thirukurogoor seeking the grace of Azhwar and Perumal ….

Prostrating vaishnavas ,Azhwar and Lordships for their abundant grace adiyen …..

silently walk behind Azhwars Palanquin asking for forgiveness and his grace in attending many more Satsangs…

Adiyen Ramanuja dasanPics courtesy : Google images , web site ; heritagetown .orgVideos : Thanks to Sri Govindarajan

In Srimad Bhagavatha Mahapurana as part of a discussion between King Nimi and sage Karabhajana  the advent of the  Srivaishnava Azhwars appearance in the Kali age is revealed . ” In the Kali age men devoted to Lord Sriman Narayana will be born in large numbers near  the Dravida territory where in the rivers Tamaraparni, Vaigai ,  Paalaar  the most sacred Kaaveri   flows .” True to the epic , both Swamy  Namaazhwar and Madhurakavi Azhwar  appeared on the banks of Tambaraparni river . It is said that just after 40 years of the disappearance of Lord Krishna , Nammazhwar appeared .  Periyazhwar and Sri Andal  appeared in a place close to river Vaigai , the Mudal Azhwars and Thirumazhisai Azhwar appeared  near Paalaar and Thodaradippodi Azhwar, Thiruppaanaazhwar and Thirumangai Azhwar  appeared near river Kaaveri.The most holy place Thirukurugur  “Alwar Tirunagari”  is about 30kms east of Tirunelveli on the Tirunelveli-Tiruchendur highway off the Southern banks of Tamaraparani   .

Check this post for more details  :

https://kmkvaradhan.wordpress.com/2015/06/14/the-glory-of-thirukkolur/Thirukurugur  Vaishnava  divyadesam  is located  on the banks of the river Tamaraparani  and is one of the 108 divya desams in Pandiya Nadu. This was later known as Alwar thirunagari after  the great Nammazhwar’s  appearance . Legends reveal there  lived a pious devotee  Kaariyaar    an advanced bhaktha who was  serving  the  devotees from his agriculture earnings . Udaiya Nankaiyar from Thiruvanparisaram was  his wife  who was equally pious and served the devotees with all dedication . They had no progeny  for a long time .Their prayers were answered by the mercy of Lord   of  Thirukurungudi  . Udaiya Nankai  gave birth to a male child on Vaikasi  month  in Visakam star( who is considered to be the incarnation of  Senai Mudaliyar the commander in chief of Lord Sriman Narayana) . His parents named him Maran  (  being different from others ) and he also had other names Parankusa and  Satakopan .

The boy was not an ordinary kid  nor did he have an ordinary life . He displayed none of the usual characteristics of a baby, neither would he cry nor attempt to drink milk. Looking at the strange behaviour of the divine child, the parents went to the temple for divine interference. All of a sudden the child crawled and went under a tamarind tree inside the temple  where he remained almost for sixteen years in yogic trance under the trunk . The divine incident became the talk of the town.

After many years one day a elder Vaishnava who was on a pilgrimage to Ayodhya observed a  shining light emanating from a far off place .He followed the light and reached Thurukurugoor.

As he enquired around the place , he was directed into the temple . He was surprised  looking at the divine aura  being emitted from the young boy  and attempted to go near him .

More details of  Madhurakavi Azhwar can be read in this appended  linked post

“tEvu maRRariyEn” …….. I do not know of any LORD other than my AchAryan, Swamy NammAzhwAr

 He approached  the divine boy  who  was meditating deeply with his legs crossed and hands in chin mudrai pose. Madhurakavi thought that the boy could be deaf and dumb.  To draw his attention ,he took a small stone and threw it in the lotus pond nearby.

Lo presto ! the boy opened his eyes  and Madhurakavi could see the divinity  in his eyes with golden hue.

Madhurakavi wanted to test the boy further  whether he could reply.

Thus  he asked a question

 “Seththathin vayitril siru kutti pirandhaal etrai thindru enge kidakum?

A divine voice was heard with a smile

“Atrai thindru ange kidakum”.

The answer to his question made the madhurakavi ponder about the divine presence of the boy and the esoteric reply.

The peripheral meaning of the question…

“If a small one  is born into a dead thing, what will it do ? and where will it be”?

The reply was “It will eat that and stay there”.

Nothing could be understood if not for our great achaaryas who had provided us with the inner meaning of this important quote

 The inner meaning of the question:

“Seththadhu” – body,

“siru kutti” – soul.

“vayiru” – stomach.

 The inner meaning mentions that  when a soul enters a body, the body gets life and the soul forgets its true nature  , thus  thinks that the body is everything  The soul  enjoys and suffers everything through the body.

 It eats and lives on whatever the body earns as  sin and virtues . Once the body is dead, the soul departs. Till the time the soul is present, it has to suffer and enjoy all the feelings of the body.

But once the soul realizes its true nature that it is the servant of  Lord Sriman Narayanan and  surrenders , the soul gets liberated from the cycle of births and deaths.

Swami Madhurakavi azhwar was amazed by azhwar’s knowledge and fell at his feet and pleaded him to accept him as his disciple. Azhwar  agreed and asked him to help him in composing his  divine works.  Thus came out the  fountain  of divine out pouring of Lord’s kalyanagunas . Madurakavi Azwar wrote  all of them in Palm leaves which were called ‘ pattolai. The divine out pourings were

1. Thiruviruttam (100 verses)
2. Thiruvasiriyam (7 verses)
3. Periya ThiruvandhAdhi (87 verses)
4. Thiruvamozhi  (1102 verses )

A  grand festival is celebrated for ten days marking the appearance day of Azhwar at this  holy  place every year ending  with a holy bath ( Abhishekam ) and ‘Theertha vari’ on Vaikasi Visakam day .

  The Vaikasi Visakam celebrations are being  held  past 500 years or more .

 The temple at Thirukkurugoor was under the direct administration of  our revered Acharyar Swamy Manavala Mamunigal.

Adiyen is recollecting the wonderful  darshan  we had few years back at Azhwar Thirunagari

The most important day for Srivaishnavas is  Swami Nammazhwars Thirunakshatram     ( Apperance day ) which happens to be on May 22nd   ,2024 this year .

Nava Tirupathi is a cluster  of Nine  temples of Lord Sriman Narayana.

Nava Tirupathi is part of the 108 Divya Desam temples .

Located around the banks of the River Thamarap arani, the 9 temples of Nava Tirupathi are Thiruvaikundam,

Thiruvaragunamangai,

Thirupulinkudi,

North & South temples of Thirutholaivillimangalam,

Thirukkulanthai,

Thiruperai,

Thirukolur and

Thirugurukoor.

 This otherwise  a calm village is  overcrowded with devotees for the 10 day grand festival.

Almost all the  chathirams, Ramanujar koodams and houses were  packed with devotees who  come to witness the Nava garuda sevai from long distances .

 A  big mandapam in front of the main  temple known as ‘PANDAL MANDAPAM” is decorated for the grand festival to happen .  This pandal  was built by  an ardent  devotee Sri Pandala Ramaswamy Nayaakar  during 1807 .

He  took initiative in  starting this wonderful  Nava garuda Sevai utsavam and made arrangements for  the mandapam and other paraphernalia . In honour of his devotional service the mandapam  is named Pandal Mandapam.

  All the Perumals  ( Lordships ) of the Nava Tirupatis come to

Thirunagari to grace our  most beloved Nammazhwar .

Swamy Nammazhwar   had darshanam of all the 108 Divya

desam perumal staying in Azhwar Thirunagari itself .

In the pandal “ Abhishekam for Azhwar  is done with due honours by the recitation of vedic hymns being watched by a large groups of devotees .

 Meanwhile ,there was an alert by the bhagavathas that the Nava Tirupathigal Perumal have already started from their temples “ Thirukolams “and after crossing the beautiful Tambaraparani River are arriving at Pandal Mandapam.

 We rejoiced to see Perumals coming from different directions with a troupe of Nadaswaram goshti and the recitation of pasurams by Elders.

All  Perumal started arriving to Pandal Mandapam. Every Divyadesam  Perumal  arrive  in a well decorated palanquin with full  temple honours.

Here Azhwar receives the Perumal and does Pradakshinam to Perumal thrice. Azhwar is then blessed with satari, peedambaram and prasadam which were offered to the Perumal.

 After this, managala haarathi  is  given to Perumal and Azhwar and Perumal enter  the main temple. This procedure is  followed for all the Perumals. This function takes place for about 2 to 3 hours.

 All the Perumals alight  inside a huge  mandapam inside the temple. Parallel arrangements like decorating Peria Thiruvadi ( Garudazhwan ) for the evening function is done for the Garuda sevai.

The  villagers share a wonderful hospitality inquiring about the details of stay, food etc of all the visitors . Most of the Thirumalagais are eager to serve the devotees with Prasadam.

The same evening around 5 P.M., Thirumanjanam ( Abhishekam ) would start for all the Perumals. Several groups of devotees coming from far off places assemble and chant azhwar pasurams with music. At 5 P.M  the Vedic Pundits carrying silver kudams filled with holy water arrive  . The water for Neeratam is brought from the river Thamparaparani with full honours (an umbrella, Nadaswaram)

The holy abhishekam “ Thirumanjanam”  for all the Perumals are performed at the same time.  Thirumanjanam  is performed for all the Perumals inside the mandapam.   It takes about 2 to 3 hours for the alankaranam to get completed.

Around 8 P.M. the much awaited garuda sevai starts

In the Nava Garuda Sevai,  the  lordships ( Perumals )  are seated on Garuda vaahanam.  Azhwar is seated on a Hamsa vaahanam and his dearest devotee, Madurakavi Azhwar is seated on Pirangi Naarkaali (a chair)

Azhwar waits just outside the Maha dwaaram of the temple to receive the Perumals from all the Nine Divya desams .

The temple doors are closed and Azhwar along with his favourite devotee Madurakavi Alwar wait for the Garudaseva Utsavam to happen.The Mahadwaram doors are opened amidst the mangala Nadaswarams .

Azhwar is the first to have darsanam of Perumal. Perumal is given Mangala karpoora aarthi and  managalasaasanam done to the particular Perumal by the Azhwar . The recitation of the Mangalaasanams with the divyadesam pasurams by Elders drives one to spiritual ecstasy. Similar to  Srirangam, Araiyar sevai is followed  tradition here

 The sevai is a special treat to the eyes and fill LORDs grace unlimited . And  being among-st our Azhwars and the advanced srivaishnavas its sheer bliss

The order in which the Perumals appear in Garuda vaahanam along with the paasuram number is mentioned for devotees  sung by Azhwar is given below:

PERUMAL PASURAM NOS.

1)  Sri Adinatha Perumal of Thirukurugoor             3106,3116
2) Sri Vaikuntanatha Perumal of Srivaikuntam      3571,3575
3) Sri Vijayasanar Perumal of Natham (varagunamangai) 3571
4) Sri Kaichinavendan of Thirupulingudi                3473,3568-78
5) Sri Mayakoothan of Perungulam(Thiuukulandhai) 3561
6) Sri Devapiran of Irattai Tirupati }
7) Sri Aravinda Lochanan of Irattai Tirupati }     3271-3281
8) Sri Bhoomipalar of Then Thirupperai              3359-3369
9) Sri Vaithamanidhi of Thirukolur along with Madurakavi Azhwar 3293-3303,3473

After this, neivedyam is offered to Perumal, Azhwar and Madurakavi Azhwar and Perumal leaves the place . All the Perumals assemble at East Mada street and from here all the Nava tirupathi Perumal are taken in procession in the 4 mada streets of Thirunagari with the Nadaswaram troups for each perumal , Veda goshti .

The  devotees burst crackers and lit the roads with dazzling light. The local residents receive Perumal by sweeping the roads and decorating the roads with kollams etc.The zeal in their offering fruits and karpooram at the time of Perumal’s oorvalam is a  great blessing. Almost the entire village are well versed with Perumals arrival. This procedure of waiting near the entrance,  offering  karpoora aarthi and rendering mangalasaasanam on that particular Perumal is followed for all the Perumals.

 By the time the ninth Perumal Sri Vaithamanidhi of Thirukolur leaves the place, Adinatha Perumal of Thirukurugoor who left first comes back to the temple. After all the nine Perumals assemble, Azhwar pays his deep respects to all the Perumals and all the Perumals get inside the mandapam. Madurakavi Azhwar who has organized this function, payshis respects to Nammazwar who  is pleased with his disciple.

The function  concludes  around 4 A.M. The next day morning, all the Perumals leave to their respective  temples gracing all the devotees  and Nammazwar  accompanies  them  till the entrance of the temple as a Royal guest  . Nammazwar ‘s hamsa vaahanam is  placed in such a manner that he  looks at the proceedings until  Perumal  leaves the temple  street

Temple	Perumal	Thayar	Distance from SriVaikuntam
Srivaikundam	Vaikundanathan Kallapiran	Vaikundanaayani Sooranathanayagi	–
Srivaragunamangai Natham	Vijayasanar Emmiderkadivan	Varagunamangai Varagunavalli	2 KM
Thiruppuliyangudi Puthan	Boomipaalagar Kaaichinaventhar	Nilamagal Pulingudivalli	3 KM
Erattai Thirupathi	Srinivasan Thevarpiran	Alamelumangai	10 KM
Erattai Thirupathi	Aravinason Chenthamarai Kannan	Karunthdankanni	10 KM
Thirukuzhanthai Perungulam	Venkadavannan Maayakoothar	Kamalavathi Kulanthivalli	12 KM
Thenthiruperai	Maharenedun Kuzhaikaathar Niharilmukil vannan	Kuzhaikaathu valli Thiruperal Nachiyar	10 KM
Thirukkolloor	Vaithananidhi Nichopavithan	Kumuthavalli Kollor Valli	8 KM
Azhwarthirunagari Viyazhan	Aadinathan Polinthunintrapiran	Aadinatha Nayagi	5 KM

The Perumals leave the Mandapam around 7.00 –7.30 AM . Only after the sight of Perumal completely disappears, Nammazhwar  leaves  inside a bit sad due to the departure of the perumals to their respective divyadesams.

All glories to the devotees who are at Thirukurogoor seeking the grace of Azhwar and Perumal ….

Prostrating vaishnavas ,Azhwar and Lordships for their abundant grace  adiyen silently walk behind Azhwars Palanquin asking for forgiveness and his grace in attending many more Satsangs…

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

Pics courtesy :  Google images ,

 

One day, during the recitation of the Srimad Ramayana  by the  Royal guru,  King  Kulasekhara heard the following passage:

There twice seven thousand giants stand
with impious heart and cruel hand.
Here Rama stands, by virtue known;
how can the hero fight alone?

On hearing the lines “How can the hero fight alone?” King Kulasekhara rose in a frenzy of devotion for  Lord  Rama and commanded his army to march with him to where  Lord  Rama was fighting alone and helpless.  

To relieve Kulasekhara’s distress, the ministers silently  arranged for a battalion  of soldiers to meet him as he was going out and tell him that  Lord Rama had been victorious thus avoiding the King’s confusion. In spiritual delirium, Kulasekhara believed their tale and returned home

The daily recital of Srimad Ramayana went on as usual andevery important event which was read, was celebrated with great  pomp and rejoicings, and taking Lord  Sri Rama’s deity along with all the family members  in  huge  procession throughthe streets of his city with royal endeavours    ending with the  sumptuous feedings  to devotees and donations to  sages  and with distribution of charities  and whatever a King could offer in celebration of the Emperors of the celestial world .That was the great Kulashekara Alwar a great devotee of Lord Rama

Knowing the peculiar temperament of the king, and his keen spiritual susceptibility which carried him to the stigmata-stage, the reader (to the king) of Ramayana exercised utmost caution during the daily recitation of Srimad Ramayana

However, one day, the reader Royal Guru was obliged to be absent himself, as other business called him elsewhere. He deputed his son to do the recital in his place.

The son was unaware of the king’s abnormal religious fervour; and so he read and expatiated on all passages of the Srimad  Ramayana alike. And the incident of Sita’s abduction by the demon  Ravana, came to be read.

 Instantly, it lit fire to the King’s imagination, his wrath roused, and his enthusiasm burst forth.

Come on … “Immediately, he roared

  Yes !!!   I must  take charge and ,”across the ocean,” he raved, ‘”reduce Lanka to ashes,  slay its ruler, Ravana, with all his crew of brothers, friends and relations,  rescue my weeping mother Sita and join her with my Father Sri  Rama.”

 As he raved, he rose, armed himself, bid his army. He rushed immediately along with his armies forth to the sea-shore, looking towards Lanka, plunged into it without a thought of the dire consequences which must follow from such rash and reasonless act.

The ministers and others were shocked in anxiety and dread, and wonder staring in their faces, eagerly watched the King’s procedure. They were so staggered as not to be able even to think how to advise him against his head strong impulses, nor dare to move to prevent him from giving action to his impulses.

As they could not think anything at this critical juncture, they simply stared.

 As they stared, the King had already plunged into the sea, and was neck-deep in water, resolved to swim the vast stretch of the ocean beyond, to reach the shores of Lanka.That was the deep devotion he had for the Lordships

All compassionate Lord SriRama who was being worshipped in our Saint’s Home-Shrine, was watching throughout, the course of events.

Now matters had assumed a critical aspect. There was noalternative.

   I must appear now to my child said HE and lo! as the King was about to swim forward in the delirium of his frenzy, he saw before him the  most enchanting sight of our Lord  Sri Rama approaching him, with his dear consort sita, clinging to His powerfularm.

Addressing his devout servant, our King-Saint Kulasekhara-

Lord Sri Rama spoke, O my dear Kulasekhara ! My child

 We are returning victorious from the battlefield. Our foe-men have all perished. Our illustrious Partner we have rescued. Your .venture for our aid has been forestalled, and your wish has been fulfilled.

Pray let us all return to thy city. Let me lift and carry you  to the shore, even as souls are lifted and carried by us from the larger and deeper sea of Samsara, to the shores of Heaven beyond.

“So saying, Sri  Rama caught hold of His king-servant, brought  him safe to the shore, and accompanying him as far as the city, vanished out of sight.

The ministers and the crowd surrounding him whispered ..

“God-sick is our king; what is the remedy for this disease?

 Let us diagnose. Ah, we find the cause row.

It is the association with the Godly and the Saintly  -the Vaishwavas—that has brought the king to this pass

.Let us wean him then from such associations.” Such were the cogitations of the poor ministers who surrounded the king.

The king who, on the other hand,was daily sighing to go to Sri Rangam and live there forever, was now in earnest.He ordered preparations to be made for his bidding adieu to his kingdom and join the Kingdom of God.

The ministers thought: —”When the king  goes there, he will never return. The association with the Godly there, is even of a worse (!) type than here.

Irresistible associations abound there; let us devise a plan to foil the king’s designs. He is so attached to Godly men—the vaishnavas that he looks upon them  as God’s•own ; and being so, worthy of first worship, or worthy of worship even before God Himself.” So, whenever the king essayed to go to SrlRaniga Shrine, the ministers had a batch of Srl-Vaishnavas ready as hailing from one Holy Shrine or the other. The king would postpone his journey on their account. In course of time, the ministers found that their plan proved but a case of ‘out of the frying pan into the fire,’ for the king’s court, hispalace, his private apartments as well as public places all became swarmed with  vaishnavas  who  came and went regularly.

The Vaishnavas were allowed free access and familiarity, and the king literally venerated and adored them according to the procedures  as Sastric  injunction  say that ‘ a Srt vaishmiva even once worshipped’ carried the merit of worshipping the Supreme Lord himself  The ministers found these Godly folks a nuisance and were in a fix as to what to do.

They felt  worried as any move will upset the King . If they tried to wean the king from his Srt-Ranga journey, they had to suffer the Godly people assembling in huge numbers and  to assemble and accumulate-but their crowd was becoming unmanageable-

but if they tried to eradicate this root of the king’s divine ailment,— asthey thought always by bringing about their evacuation from the country, the king would say farewell to his dominions and depart.

“Supposing we could by some means calumniate these  people , in the king’s eye, “they thought, “then he would certainly awake from his delusion of believing: these are godly men.

 If the godly,-as he thinks-were proved ungodly, there is a good chance of re claiming the king from his odd ways.

” They thus hit upon a method:–Out of the box ‘ containing the valuable jewellery of the king’s darling deity Lord  Sri-Rama, they secreted a precious necklace, unknown to anyone. It would be missed, and reported to the king of course.

 He would hold an inquiry. And who should be the culprit ?

Surely these seeming vaishnavas , who arc the warders and guarders of the jewellery, the appointed priests as they were for fulfilling the function of daily worshipping Sita Rama and therefore directly concerned in constantly using the jewellery. So, the necklace was missed and a report was made to the king that the Sri Vaishnavas who had the management in their hands of the worship-department, were culpable; and were to be subjected to trial  and punishment.

The king heard it all but at last exclaimed in a loud tone

“Hear  hey … ministers,

True Lovers of God are incapable of stealing.

It is impossible that even a notion of vice can enter into their thought, motto  say of act. Be hold ! I can swear to what I say. To prove this truth of my conviction and prove the falsity of your accusation against my Innocents, let a vessel, with a live venomous cobra imprisoned in it, be brought to me. I shall thrust my hand into it.” As soon said  as done. And the King, before his Court in solemnconclave assembled, said : “If my Innocents are straight In thought, word and deed, I cannot be bit by thiscobra ; but if they are crooked, let it bite me and kill.”

So saying, he fearlessly plunged his arm into the vessel of death, but drew it forth as clean as when he thrust in . The ministers were put to shame they hung

their heads.

 It was useless, they thought, to dodge and trifle with the king, who was to’o much for them ;fell at his feet, confessed their trick, brought the necklace and placed it before him in fear and respect.

The king pardoned them even as Kama pardoned the vile culprit Kakusura, the crow,—and the King was Lord Rama’sdiscipl and bid them from that away forward to be the slaves of his Innocents.

” No more will I dwell with these  vile and scheming ministers “, the king thought within himself, “l am disgusted with all of them.

Why them  ? well the whole worlds weary to me.

With the world and with the worldliness  feel as if I would rather allow myself to be placed in the midst of flaming fire than keep company with them.

Brutes are  those who are turned away from God

” So determined, our Saint would no longer bear to remaining his kingly estate, but called his son named Dridhavrata(so called after his grand-father), and entrusted him with the charge of his government, and accompanied by his daughter,—who, it is recorded, was a divine daughter of the Amsa of devi  went to the Shrine of Ranga, — his heart’s Eternal Hunger. And there he gave his daughter in marriage to Lord Ranganatha  Himself and remained there for a length of time engaged in conducting manifold services to the

Majestic Lordships  and his devout servants

 At intervals he undertook pilgrimages to  Holy Shrines as Tiruvewgadam( Tirupati ,Ayodhya, Chitrakutam, and all divine places  and as an embodiment of the divine emotions and enjoyments which came to him on all these occasions, is penned to us  as the Dravida Prabandha, called  Perumal Tirumozhi, consistingof one hundred and five stanzas .

He undertook a pilgrimage to the Shrine of Swamy .Nammnzhvar, (Tirunagari near Tirunalvelli),

It was this Royal Saint who sang the gem of strotas  MUKUNDA MALA

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

Pics : Courtesy Google images and Pics shared by devotees from social media

 Madhurakavi (meaning in sanskrit the sweet poet ) appeared at a holy place in Thirukolur,,  Tamilnadu which happens today (chitrai nakshatram) 

Once Madhurakavi Azhwar   undertook an pilgrimage  to Ayodhya.

He was very moved by the beauty of deities of Lord  Rama, Sita Devi, Lakshmana &  Anjaneya  and decided to  stay in Ayodhya for sometime.

[

During his stay, one night he saw a bright light  in the sky emitting from  the southern direction .

He couldn’t comprehend if it was a bright star, a forest fire or anything else. Amazed with the strange happening , he decided to follow the light and see it for himself. 

Unmindful walking long distances , he followed the light .

After days of voyage, he finally reached Azhwarthirunagari a remote village and the light  suddenly disappeared .

He was surprised at the phenomenon.

He enquired  from the villagers about  anything strange happening in their village assuming the dazzling light could have some prophecy too  .

The villagers replied in negative, but expressed that  a boy has been  meditating  under a Tamarind tree for past 16 years without  even opening his  eyes.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

He had crawled to the tree as a baby 16 years back and remained in the tree thereafter.

Madhurakavi Azhwar was amazed with the villagers expression .

He  decided to see the child for himself.  Azhwar goes close  as  near to the tree and finds the divine child with tejas .  Eyes closed and meditating the boy was glowing with radiance  which was  what he saw at Ayodhya . 

The place was filled with divine aura and true the boy was looking too divine as much as Lordships themselves ..

Azhwar   attempts  to question   the divine boy  about what is  True knowledge and  gets convinced with his instant replies .

He immediately  accepts  the divine boy who is none other than our        great Swamy Nammazhwar as his ACHARYAN

Sri Madurakavi AzhwAr becomes an ardent disciple of  NammAzhwAr and serves him with utmost devotion . With all humility he submits  the  11 verses  of the  grand KaNNinunchiRuthAmbhu  glorifying  his Acharyan     Swamy NammAzhwAr / Sri SaTakOpar with all humility  equating to  Lordships .

A devotee  can dwell and enjoy these verses  for ages on the divine works of Madhura kavi AzhwAr’s  grand    

“KaNNinunchiRuthAmbhu”  . 

Azhwar   declared in this Prabhandham

                                               “tEvu maRRariyEn”

( I do not know of any God other than my AchAryan, Swamy NammAzhwAr).

After NammAzhwAr departed from this earthly world to srivaikuntam , MadhurakaviAzhwAr was  worshipping  deity  of Swamy  NammAzhwAr with deep devotion 

which he consecrated and performed ThiruvarAdhanA and uthsavams in his honour. 

Impressed by Swamy NammAzhwAr’s works  he wanted to stage NammAzhwAr’s works in front of other scholars .

Azhwar used  to contemplate on the divine knowledge shared by Acharyar .

 Vaikaasi visaakam the appearance day of  Swamy NammAzhwar was celebrated in a grand manner .

One particular year, when Swami Madhurakavi azhwar was taking azhwar’s  deity in a procession during the celebrations,  few  poets from Madurai Thamizh Sangam    objected to Swami Madhurakavi azhwar  and said .

“Oh! Madhurakavi!!  

You are worshiping   Nammazhwar who is a just a  ordinary devotee not  Perumal  and reciting verses glorifying him ..

Are those verses  “sangam” certified?  and   authenticated by  the great Madurai Tamil  Sangam as “  the original and of the highest quality”?  

and  is he really  qualified enough to translate the Vedas into tamil ”?

all is  Lord Krishna the Food – eaten to satisfy the appetite,

water drunk to quench the thirst,

  the betel leaves consumed after the food, are all  Lord Krishna  .

Chanting  HIS holy  name, speaking of HIS qualities, and thinking of HIM , HIS  devotee will feel the hunger and the thirst and all other needs satisfied.

thaanE ulagelaam
thaanE padaiththidandhu
thaanE undumizndhu
thaanE aaLvaanE 

aaLvaan aazi_neer
kOLvaaya aravaNaiyaan
thaaLvaay malarittu
naaLvaay naadeerE.naadeer naaLthORum
vaadaa malar_kondu
paadeer avan_naamam
veedE peRalaamE.mEyaan vEngadam
kaayaa malarvaNNan
pEyaar mulaiyunda
vaayaan maadhavanEmaadhavan enRenRu
Odha valleerEl
theedhonRum adaiyaa
Edham saaraavE.saaraa EdhangaL
neeraar mugilvaNNan
pEr aar Othuvaar
aaraar amararEamararkku ariyaanai
thamargatku eLiyaanai
amarath thozuvaargatku
amaraa vinaikaLEvinaival iruLennum
munaigaL veruvippOm
chunai nan malarittu
ninaimin nediyaanEnediyaan aruL soodum
padiyaan sadakOpan
nodi aayiraththippaththu
adiyaarkku aruL pERE

 

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

Pics : Credits to  antaryami.net, Smt Geetavasudevan, divyadesam all the advanced devotees who captured the picsVideos : Credits  4000 Divyaprabhandam

 

Kazhiyur village is located near Cheyyar in North Arcot district  about 81 km  towards east of Thiruvannamalai and about 103 KM from Chennai .

Almost  130 years ago  Sri vaishnavaite Aiyyangars  migrated from Mannargudi another holy place in Tanjavur and came to settle down in this village.

It is said that a plague like epidemic made people leave Mannargudi  long long back .

The  srivaishnavas were disciples of  His Holiness  Sri  Sri  Sri  Mudaliandaan swamigal who is the first and the dearest disciples of Swami Ramanuja.

It is believed that the  srivaishnavas  , carried the deity  of  Lord Adhi Keshava Perumal  all the way from Mannargudi on their head to Kazhiyur  the present place and  worshipped the LORD by constructing a temple with the  locals  support .  Elders believe that the deity was sculpted from a meteorite that had fallen from the divine abode .

It is not a practice to abandon Perumal  even in adverse circumstances.

The  Lordship gives darashanam  in Nindra Thirukolam ( standing posture).

After their resettlement in Kazhiyur, the village became a cradle of Vedic scholars, purohits and astrologers.

The  devoted  families lived in the Agraharam (first row of houses built around the temple and occupied by the temple priests)

.

The Agraharam is located around the temple of ‘Sri Adhi Keshava Perumal Swamy’, which was also built and maintained with financial support from the  local Mudaliars and many devotees .  Kazhiyur has been a great centre of Vedic Astrology.

They  have been uniformly well versed in astrology and are keepers of the most ancient astrological knowledge in the world. https://video.wordpress.com/embed/7UzGVxNE?hd=0&autoPlay=0&permalink=1&loop=0&preloadContent=metadata&muted=0&playsinline=0&controls=1&cover=1

Almost all of them have been treated like the religious leaders and the astrological guides from time immemorial.

Many Kazhiyur  families have been practicing astrology for more than seven generations in an unbroken tradition since they first arrived in 1840.

It is believed that in ancient times there was a temple dedicated to Goddess Kali near to the main temple  and hence the village is called ‘Kazhiyur’ the home of Goddess Kali.

After moving to Kazhiyur the srivaishnavaites engaged  themselves in agriculture apart from performing the temple services .

Due to this reason they are also called the Mannar Mudumbai families a direct connection to Lokacharyar  Swamy Pillai Lokacharyar’s legacy . https://video.wordpress.com/embed/ndFIr3Vi?hd=0&autoPlay=0&permalink=1&loop=0&preloadContent=metadata&muted=0&playsinline=0&controls=1&cover=1

They were orthodox and are considered to be an authority on  Sri Vaishnavism.

Unlike other South Indians who carry the name of village and the name of the father as their initials the Kazhiyur srivaishnavas  use the initials

K. M. meaning Kazhiyur Mannar.

It  was an attempt to retain the Mannargudi identity.

The priests from Kazhiyur have been  serving in  some seva or other  in almost all the 106 Sri Vaishnavite temples  and the majority of them  at  Tirumala , Sholingur ,  and  southern side vaishnava divya desams .

The first Priest who served  even in the Temples at United states of America are from Kazhiyur . https://video.wordpress.com/embed/icSZSYkd?hd=0&autoPlay=0&permalink=1&loop=0&preloadContent=metadata&muted=0&playsinline=0&controls=1&cover=1

Kazhiyur is also closely connected with the Sri Ramar Sannadhi and the temple of Shree Govindaraja at the foothills of the Tirupati temple.

 Srivaishnavas  from Kazhiyur were also  chosen to carry the offerings from the Lord of Seven Hills at Tirumalai to the temple of Govindaraja at foothills.

The priests walked bare-footed all the way down the hill carrying the offerings on their head.

Kazhiyur has been very closely linked to Kancheepuram from the very inception. Every year during the month of January, July and December, the utsavar  ( processional deity )  of Lord  Adi Keshava Perumal , shri Varadar is taken in a procession to the Iyengar Kulam, a lake at the outskirts of Kancheepuram.

About forty people start the procession and many more join them en-route to Kancheepuram. The procession travels on foot for the entire stretch of 18 km. After arriving at Iyengar Kolam, the Lord is given a ceremonial bath in the kolam and then taken back to Kazhiyur with pomp and show .  

This custom has been  inspired from the grand festival ( Lord Varadharaja going to ‘Padai Seevaram’ on the day of Chithirai Poornima at Tirupati) . This ritual is also known as ‘Parvettam’ (forest hunting).

 Today out of  few  houses in Kazhiyur Agraharaham , only few houses are occupied and the remaining are kept locked.

However, every year during the month of April, on the day of Chittirai Revathi, the birth star of Lord Adi Keshava which is tomorrow April 29 , 2022 ….

kEsavan thamar * kIzh mEl emar Ezh ezhu piRappum *
mA sadhir idhu peRRu * nammuDai vAzhvu vAykkinRavA! **
Isan en karumANikkam en sengkOlak kaNNan * viNNOr
nAyagan * empirAn emmAn * nArAyaNanAlE…….

Kazhiyur  srivaishnavas  from all over the world gather in the village to celebrate the annual festival.

Shri  Kodandan swamy  was serving the temple  past  two decades  leaving his lucrative job .

Adiyen is blessed to be born in this glorious village and feel honored to be among st the  illustrious and glorious elders . 

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

Pics : Courtesy Google images

Videos : Courtesy DD Podhigai

“Nachet Ramanujet desha, Cathurat Chathurakshari
Kamavasthan Prapadhyanthe Janthavo Hantha Madrusha:”

The above solka by our Poorvacharyas, brings out how our Acharyar Swamy Ramanujar appearance leads us to Sri vaikuntam, and he is called “Vishu Loka Mani Mandapa Marga Dhayee” (one who shows way to Sri Vainkuntum) in Dhaati Panchakam and he was the first revolutionist who called Harijan as “Thiru kulatthar”

When he discovered that certain categories of people were barred from entering the temple, he bunched them all together as Thirukulathar and admitted them into the folds of the temple for serving the supreme LORD …He charted the work flow of a temple’s administration in a holistic manner. From the priest to the man who plays the mridangam, to the flower seller, everyone’s role in the running of the temple was factored in. To this day, the Vaishnavite temples adhere to his vision.

The gem of a work presented to us by Jagath Acharyar Swamy Ramanujar is        ” SRI BHASHYA”.  

The illustrious Sri Vaishnava preceptor  Swamy Alavandar  wanted  Swamy Ramanujacharya to take over spiritual leadership of the Sri Vaishnava community.

Swamy Ramanuja set off to meet Alavandar as per the instructions , but before the meeting could materialize,  Swamy Alavandar departed from this world.  Swamy Ramanuja  was sad  for the sudden turn of events .

He noticed that three of  Swamy Alavandar’s fingers remained folded.  Swamy Ramanuja asked the  Elders  assembled there why  was  it  so.   They  replied that Swamy Alavandar had three unfulfilled wishes. On inquiring further it was revealed that the great Acharyar  Alavandar wanted to write a commentary for Brahmasutra, but he could not get round to doing it because of his  busy occupations .

Hence the first folded finger indicated this unfulfilled desire. Secondly, he wanted to do something to honor the contributions of the revered  sages Vyasa and Parasara and thirdly, he wanted to write a commentary on Nammazhvar’s Thiruvaimozhi.

Swamy  Ramanuja instantaneously  promised to carry out all  the three wishes unfulfilled by Swamy  Alavandar.   Miraculously , all the  fingers  restored its normal course  .

Swamy  Ramanuja’s Brahmasutras   is glorified  as Sri Bhashyam.   Ramanuja named  his disciple Kooratazhvan’s sons Parasara Bhattar and Vedavyasa Bhattar, thus  the second wish of Alavandar was fulfilled. Upon the command of  Swamy Ramanuja, his disciple Sri Kurukesa (Pillan) wrote a commentary for Thiruvaimozhi. Thus  Swamy Ramanuja ensured that all of  Acharyar Alavandar’s   three wishes were fulfilled.

 The efforts made by Swamy Ramanuja to take up the important task of his Acharyar must be cherished by every vaishnava . The comprehensive commentary of this outstanding work was given the name Srutha Prakashika. 

The legendary Acharyas after our Jagath Acharyar who explained this beautiful commentary were    Kurukeshwaran disciple of Swamy Ramanuja  , Vishnuchittar disciple of Swamy  Kurukeshwaran  , Varadacharyar disciple of  Vishnuchittar and Sudarshana bhattar disciple of  Varadacharyar ( Nadaadhoor Ammal)

 The great devotee  of Lord Varadarajar of Kancheepuram ” Swamy Nadaadhoor Ammal wrote a book with all the understandings gained from the Elders in the form of arguments answers and counter arguments about the great work Sri Bhashya.

This work was called as PRAMEYAMALA .

He continued his writing with monumental works like Tatwa sara and Prapanna Parijata.  Swamy was respected as  the most authoritative commentator on Sri Bhashya and several disciples used to approach him for learning the esoteric truths .

A great devotee and an obedient disciple Sudarshana suri was keen to meet the Acharyar for the same . He traveled to Kancheepuram after taking permission from his  aged mother . Always attentive and serving his Acharyar Ammal he was learning the rich truths from the commentaries daily.  He was always  there  to attend the class , no matter even If he  had already attended the same .That was his interest . He was always in the mood of being near to his Acharyar serving him .

One day  it so happened all the disciples were awaiting for the class to begun . Acharyar also had come . But he was waiting for Sudarshana  arrival . The disciples were upset for the special care given to Sudarshana  The disciples expressed their unhappiness for the special care given to Sudarshana  as they found him to be a dull witted person attending  the  same classes repeatedly  without any knowledge.

The next day Ammal conducted the class as usual . He paused at a verse … and looked at Sudarshana  and said ……..

My Child !  Please repeat what was explained  about  this verse  . Sudarshana bhattar obediently  got up and with folded hands  replied ..

Acharya … Please command me !!!  Which adhikarna  ? This verse was given wonderful explanations in every discourse .Please tell me which explanation are you seeking ? The first class OR the last class ?

The disciples were dumb folded . Ammal continued . My child ! Please tell me both of them ..

Sudarshana   explanations was a continuous flawless flow of words that mesmerized all the disciples .He was simply excellent in reproducing the content as explained by his Master ..

Acharyar praised him for his comprehension  diction and dedication . All the disciples rushed towards Sudarshana and requested him to elucidate all the meanings .

https://video.wordpress.com/embed/9Mn47wZI?hd=0&autoPlay=0&permalink=1&loop=0&preloadContent=metadata&muted=0&playsinline=0&controls=1&cover=1

Sudarshana attempted to codify all the texts and bring together the various commentaries of  Elders  as the gem Sri Bhashya.. The disciples all together edited the various commentaries of the Acharyas and hence the name   …

                                                 

SHRUTA PRAKASHIKA  ….…

                        THAT WHICH IS HEARD HE MOST AUTHORITATIVE

This treasure is considered as a full mail of diamonds for Sri Bhashya like a kavacham ( shield )  This great commentary has provided answers to various onslaughts made on it in the form of questions and the doubts raised by people with limited vision .Because of this lovely work Sri Bhashya withstood firmly the many arguments and counter arguments of mayavadis  .

Once this wonderful work was completed Sudarshana seeking blessings of Acharyar  returned to Srirangam . He was shocked to see the tyranny of Ulugh Khan  the Moslem rulers . There was chaos everywhere  .

The tyrants were pulling down the towers of the mandapams .The people were living in deep fear .The palm leaf manuscripts stored in the houses of advanced  srivaishnavas were being burnt .

Many elders lost their lives saving the treasures of commentaries .  Sudarshana  was sad . He carried the manuscripts to his aged mother and pleaded her to save this jewel  which was his life breath .   He approached the elders to contribute his services in protecting the LORD ..

 The young Swamy Desikar , Swamy Sudarshana  and other Acharyas assembled , and met Swamy Pillai Lokacharyar  inside the  Srirangam temple .They all  concluded it was  Ulugh Khan  the army commander sent by Tuglak who was creating this  tyranny to loot the temple   . They had to take a quick decision  .

All of them informed the  temple priests for staying beside the deities at all cost , and gave some important  tasks to be completed without any delay . 

.Swamy  Lokacharyar called the Chieftain and the Elders  of the temple and  advised them what could be the steps  that  may have to take facing the invader inside the temple .The   objective was not to confront the enemy but to focus their efforts to ensure that the moola virat  was not desecrated.

All of them decided that they shall form three groups . One group shall be headed by  the eldest  Swamy Pillai Lokachariya,   who shall carry the deities of Lord Ranganatha and His concerts in a covered palanquin and proceed southward with few disciples .

Sudarshana  who had just arrived  took up the task of erecting a stone wall in front of the  main sanctorum to  misguide the invaders . Thus a  stone wall was constructed with support of many disciples in a short time  .

The third team was to provide cover for the team lead by Swamy Pillai Lokachariya [the team with the deities  of our lord and his consorts so that swami had enough time to maintain safe distance from the enemy.

Swami Desika who was the youngest among the Acharyas was requested  by Shri Sudarsana  to go with the third party and somehow save himself so that he at least might be left to propound Sri Vaishnavism and the teachings of Jagatha Acharya Shri Ramanuja.

There was not much time left . Sudharsana  entrusted his two  young  sons and manuscript “Sruta prakaasikA” to  Swami Desika asking him to save this treasure for future generations    Swami Desika earnestly    prayed LORD that this great work  must at any cost  be saved . Swami  as instructed immediately took up the directions from Sudharsana Suri and was about to leave  towards northward with the little boys . 

At the temple town , all of them decided in one voice that  they will not oppose the army  , but behave as if nothing is so serious ..   There was a regular update about the Invaders  who were approaching . The people  were in two moods  whether they should remain in town or flee. 

Who was to decide and advise them? The people  were utterly confused .They decided to take counsel from Lord Ranganatha himself then decided to appeal to the LORD  Himself  . They all dropped chits (Tiru Ulla seettu) expressing their opinion and  with  devotion they drew up one chit which said that all could remain at Srirangam  itself.

They decided in was the Lord’s order and remained facing the situation bravely.The same evening, the  invaders marched inside the  Srirangam town from Samayavaram  . Thousands of the town’s  citizens were  harassed and injured .The terror in which  the enemy looted the prosperous town   speaks about the bravery of the srivaishnavas there  .

It was a very sad plight and the  bloodbath that followed who resisted will make one cry  for our great forefathers who sacrificed their lives . This had been recorded in the History of Srirangam Temple known as Koil-Ozhugu . The  sad  bloodshed of 12,000 Sri Vaishnavas at  Sri Varahaswamy Sannidhi makes it the worst day in the temple town .

Inside the Hall , Swamy Desikar  saw heaps of corpses lying around . He somehow braved the boys to lie down unnoticed to give an impression that no one survived . The little boys stretched underneath  along with some of them and our dear Swami also lay down next to them along with the holy book.

Swamy Desikar thus concealed the two boys and himself amidst a heap of corpses and passed the night with caution . The enemy troops assumed that they were corpses and did not bother to probe. Observing the enemy troops moving away , Swamy  Desikar slowly took the frightened boys before dawn unnoticed in North-Westerly direction .

He suddenly saw some gaurds chasing them. He managed to  hide near the mud rocks at the banks of river kaveri. With caution ,  hiding the young boys beneath the mud rocks he dug one yard deep pit in the sands of the river and buried the great work  giving mother kaveri a rare tribute .

He somehow managed to lay down covering himself with the kaveri sand escaping any detection . When the gaurds moved  he regained his position  and quickly moved away to Satyamangala  with  the treasure book and the small kids . He made few copies of the manuscripts and taught the contents to all his disciples .

 Our Poorvacharyas have struggled to give us this treasure and hence It is the bounden duty of every vaishnava to proudly say….. 

                                                     

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan …..     https://video.wordpress.com/embed/pHcG4AIA?hd=0&autoPlay=0&permalink=1&loop=0&preloadContent=metadata&muted=0&playsinline=0&controls=1&cover=1

  I am Ramanuja dasan … and thus protect /propogate the works of our Poorvacharyars and our sampradaya ..saying .

https://video.wordpress.com/embed/B34oyAMq?hd=0&autoPlay=0&permalink=1&loop=0&preloadContent=metadata&muted=0&playsinline=0&controls=1&cover=1

All glories to Swamy Pillai LokaAcharyar

All  glories to Swamy Sudarshan suri

All glories to Swamy Vedanta  Desikar…………

All glories to Poorvacharyas for their abundant mercy …

“shrImAn venkaTa-nAthAryaH kavitArkika-kesari |
vedAntAcharya-varyo me sannidhattAm sadA hridi |
kavithArkika simhAya kalyANa guNa Saline
Srimathe vEnkateSAya vEdhAntha guravE namaha

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan …..

Adapted from a discourse shared by an advanced devotee .

Pics Credits : Google images/sri varavara muni /All devotees of Lordships

Once  , Thirumisai Azhwar came to have a darsanam  of Lord  Aaraamudha perumal   near Kumbakonam at Tamilnadu.    Azhwar  was very much impressed by  Lord’s  beauty .

He instantaneously recited ..

Nadanda kalgal nondhavo nadunga gnala menamai

Idanthamei kulungavo vilangumaal varaichuram

Kadanda kaal parandha kavirikarai kudanthaiul

Kidanthava yezhundirundu pesu vazhi kesane

Meaning O lord !  your lotus  feet must be  feeling the pain walking  the worlds  covered  with  mountains,   thorns etc  .

Your lotus feet are very soft that even Mother Lakshmee  feels her  service may hurt  LORD if she touches them. 

AzhwAr then realizes that  as LORD  went to the pAtALa lOka to rescue Mother during varAha avatAra, perhaps  due to this   LORD  should be relaxing in this pose .

While Azhwar was enquiring ,  Lord casually  lifted up His head to get up and reply to  AzhwAr  as he said said ‘pESu’ in his divine verse  ( speak my LORD ) ..

  Azhwar did not  want  to disturb his yoganidra  and hence  prayed LORD   to remain in the same posture so as to bless each devotee  coming  to HIM praying  .

The Azhwar  thus requested  LORD  to remain in the reclining position as this posture of  LORD looked very attractive .

 The  divine pose of  LORD Aara Amudhan is called as Uthra Sayanam and he is thus called as Uthanasai. 

Lord Aramudhan like Sonnavanam saitha Perumaal of Thiruvekha Divya Desam  at Kancheepuram has also received credit for obeying His dear devotee Thirumisai Azhwar.

 Due to the above reason  LORD  is  glorified  as Aramudha Azhwan  and the Azhwar as Thirumahizai Piran.

The word Piran means Lord.

As Thirumahizai Azhwar asked Perumaal to get up from His  serpent bed, Azhwar was given the title of “Piran” by  LORD .

Aramudhan took the title “Azhwan” to show us HIS  love  towards  Azhwar.  Lord’s sparkling  darshanam  of his cheeks (so chubby )  pulls our soul to  just be there for ever .

 Lord’s coral lips   invites HIS devotee which has a   half-smile (“Punmuruval”) indicating  HIS mercy and  pleasure  seeing us.  Lord’s  broad forehead is adorned by a sparkling green gem, triangular in shape .

 Lord’s long thighs and then  legs, resembles  the trunk of a magnificent tusker,  encased in soft and supple silk, while the broad and beautiful chest sports several strands of gold and pearl necklaces ,  with goddess  Mahalakshmi.

Mother Sri Devi and Bhoodevi  grace us  on either side of the Lord, in postures of devotion.   As noticed in Thiruvellarai Divyadesam , similar  feature of this beautiful temple is that the sanctum sanctorum has two entrances, each with nine steps-one used during Dakshinaayanam and the other during Uttaraaayanam.

 Everything about the Lord  here is elixir .

check the videohttps://wpcomwidgets.com/render/

https://wpcomwidgets.com/render/

None  of the devotees will exclaim  “I have had enough of this Lord”, the desire to see Him and be with Him increases  with every  darshan .

Among the Azhwars seven  out of twelve have immersed there divine thoughts and glorified the boundless beauty of  Lord Aaraavamudan and devoted around 51 nectarine verses  in the DivyaPrabhandam .

This nectarine Lord is sweet not only to our external senses like the eye, ear and the nose, but provides an incomparably pleasurable sensation all over, inside and out and in the soul too-

 “Aaraavamudaai adiyen aavi agame tittippaai”. 

When we relish  something very sweet  we become sick eating the same  recipe  repeatedly . This is true for all material  and  worldly enjoyment all through in our lifestyle.  But once we engage  our senses towards the omnipotent LORD  we find that we can  relish HIM   continuously without  any hindrances and  not getting  bored.

 Once we follow the Nava Vidhi Bhakthi  as advised by Elders viz:   Shravanam  , Kirtanam  Smaranam ,  Pada sevanam , Archanam , Vandanam  Dasyam ,  Sakhyam and finally   Atma Nivedhanam  the purpose of our Life is realised . The more we  start enjoying  the nectar that is LORD HIMSELF , the more we want to continue enjoying this nectar as our desire for this nectar becomes insatiable .

 Aaramudhan means  “the pure nectar which can never produce satiety”.  NammAzhwar glorifies LORD as  “Ara Amude” and  expresses Oh Lord !! ,

‘When I  have your divine darshan !  my body melts in the love  and the separation from your divineself  means  am washed out   with a  torrent force of a  flood away .  

Oh Lord!  such  overflowing emotions……..  grace me  because of your  abundant mercy you have for me.

Lord Aramuda Perumaal compassion on HIS devotees is unlimited .  

When all of us celebrate Diwali in our houses , LORD  performed last rites for one of His  ardent devotees.

 The divine pastime goes like this .

There lived a devotee  named ” Lakshmi Narayana ”  in this holy place . Narayana spent his entire life doing  services to Lord Aramudhan. He was  the one who built the Rajagopuram  which is app  44-m tall, 11-tiered tower by collecting  small small donations from devotees and strived hard to finish the task  . 

He had surrendered all his wealth and everything in the noble service .Narayana swamy  who became old   ,passed away, on  a  Deepavali Amavasya day .

The  devotees  were worried about performing his last rites as he had no progeny and neither he adopted any one .  His entire life was serving the LORDSHIPS  with total surrender .

When the  Priest  entered the sanctum   of Lord Aramudhan he noticed that  Lord  was wearing the yagnopavithram in the direction worn while performing last rites. The Priest  thought that he had made a mistake while decorating LORD  on the previous day.

Therefore he corrected the direction of the yagnopavithram but to his utter amazement found that the yagnopavithram switched direction again. The Priest  realized that it was  Lord’s  way of saying that He was going to perform the last rite for his devotee  Narayana .

 And ever mindful of His duties, He continues to perform the annual shraaddham for this sincere  devotee , to this day.  Narayana’s  sculpture with folded hands adorns one of the pillars in the pradikshina marga .

 Lord performed the last rite for Jatayu during Rama Avataram and as  Lord Aaramudhan performed the rites for  his devotee Narayanaswamy.

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

Pics : Credits  Google images ( Thanks to all the devotees who uploaded them )

Sundare sundaro ramah …… Sundare sundari katha……….

Sundare sundari sita ………… Sundare sundaram vanam,

Sundare sundaram kavyam…….Sundare sundarah kapih ………

Sundare sundaram mantram…….Sundare kim na sundaram…….

The fifth kaandam in Sriramayanam known as “SUNDARA KAANDAM” is the most popular kaanda.  Unlike names of other kandams which are self explanatory, this kandam is known as “Sundaram-beautiful” as everything ..

–Hanumanji’s Rama bhakti, Sitadevi’s chastity, Srirama’s plight to rescue HER, their concern for each other, torments in samsaara  are so beautifully described by maharishi.  The characters of the trio makes even a stone melt.  That’s the reason even after so many lakhs of years, we read Sundarkandam with reverence.  Also, reciting Sundarakandam is considered equivalent to reading the entire Ramayana as Hanuman and Trijata narrate all the incidents-past,present and future in the august presence of Sitadevi.

            

 

 

 

 

 

                    

 

 

 

 

 

             After  coronation of  Sugreeva as the King of Vaanaras,  Lord Srirama and Lakshmana spent four months during monsoon   in Malyavan parvath in Prasvanagiri  in Hampi, Karnataka.

  Lord  Srirama experienced unbearable pain due to separation from  our mother Sitadevi.  The Lord was worried about Sitadevi’s welfare and  used to lament uncontrollably. 

At the end of monsoon, Sugreeva deputed crores of vaanaras and bears in all directions in search of Sitadevi giving them one month’s  time to trace the whereabouts and inform for taking up next course of action. 

 Sugreeva explained geographical  particulars  about all the places  around  the world in detail .

 

 

 

 

 

The vanaras headed by  Prince Angadha and supported by senior  Jambavan and Hanuman were assigned the task of searching in the southern direction.  Lord Srirama handed over HIS finger ring to Hanumanji  who was standing in a corner.

Our poorvacharyars give reason as to why Srirama selected Hanuman to give his  finger ring .  It was the time  at Kishkinda  when Lord Rama was in search of Mother Sita .   Hanumanji  was in thoughts  to see Srirama lamenting for a lady.

Hanumanji a brahmachari was wondering as to why a person of high stature like  Lord Srirama  tutored by rishis like Sage Vasishta, Vishwamitra was so emotional .

Lord   Srirama  our antaryami   sensed Hanumanji’s  feelings .  To make Hanuman realise the greatness of    Sitadevi, Srirama selected Hanuman and handed over HIS finger ring with HIS holy name engraved on it. 

And it was also an indication that Paramatma  laments for all the  jivaatma in the same lines .

It was because of the  holy ring that Hanuman could cross the ocean and meet  Mother Sitadevi and obtain HER blessings.  When Hanumanji saw Sitadevi’s steadfast devotion towards   Lord Srirama, he regretted for his thoughts initially   .

Having understood HER greatness , Hanuman visualised both of them together in his heart and offered prayers.

                           Hanumanji introduced to  mother Sitadevi that he was “Rama dhoothan” whereas when he returned to Lord Rama as “Sitadevi’s messenger” to convey the good news about Sitadevi’s welfare, he addressed himself as “Raama daasan”. With Mother’s grace, our ego vanishes.  Our poorvacharyars comment that when Hanuman went as “rama dhootan”-, he was gifted with fire on the tail whereas when he returned as Sita dhootan, he was embraced by Lord Rama.  

The vanaras who went in the southern direction explored all the places until they reached  SWayamprabha caves in Kadayanallur near Tirunelveli in Tamilnadu .  

 

 

Swayamprabha an  advanced Sathwi  was the guardian for the magical cave owned by Mayasuran.   Anyone who entered could not come out.  She hosted the vanaras  and later  transported the vanaras to the seashore( about 150 kms away from Kadayanallur) after knowing about their devotion to Lord Rama with her powers . 

 Having reached the seashore, the vanaras were worried because the stipulated time of one month   fixed by their King Sugreeva  was over and they could not trace Sitadevi. They knew for sure that Sugreeva would not spare them and decided to end their lives as they did not have the courage to face Srirama  who was already suffering pangs of separation.

Angadha had lit a big pyre for them to sacrifice their lives.

He started lamenting about Sitadevi’s abduction, Jatayu sacrificing his life in Ramaseva after fighting with Ravana , their search expedition and failure in the assignment.

 

 

 

 

 

Sampaati-the eagle bird summoned Angadha and introduced himself as Jatayu’s elder brother , shared how he lost his wings while protecting Jatayu from the scorching heat of sun in the process loosing his wings and became immobile.

Sampaati was informed about Jatayu’s Raama kainkaryam and he too resolved to do the same.  He informed the vanaras about Sitadevi’s whereabouts with his sharp vision in the far away land, Lanka.  Having done this Raama kainkaryam, Sampaati regained his lost wings and flew away.

Now that the whereabouts of Sitadevi were known, the vanaras started contemplating as to who would cross the ocean which was measuring 100 yojanas (1000 miles) to meet   mother Sitadevi.

Each vanara  expressed their  ability to cross few yojanas . 

Angadha said that he could cross 100 yojanas but would not have the energy to return. The aged Jambavaan who knew Hanuman’s capabilities approached Hanuman and started enumerating his strength and skills.  When Hanuman was a child, he mistook Sun to be an apple and leapt in the sky to hold it.

      He was hit by Indra with vajrayudham on his chin(hanu) and hence was called Hanuman.  Vayu, hanuman’s father stopped air which made the whole world breathless.  To appease his anger, brahma and other devas bestowed many boons on Hanuman. 

Brahma cursed him to forget his  prowess but would get back his strength when someone reminded him at an apporpriate time.  Jambavan reminded him of his capabilities and requested Hanuman to undertake Rama kainkaryam.  (Sage Agastya extolled Hanuman’s greatness  to Srirama in Uttara kaandam)

He confidently proclaimed that he would finish the yeomen task of locating  mother Sitadevi saying that like  Sri Rama’s arrow which never failed to hit its target, he would accomplish the task.

All the vanaras vowed to observe fast until Sitadevi was found.  Reposing confidence to the vaanaras,  Hanuman stood on Mahendragiri parvatham in Thirukurungudi beyond Tirunelveli in Tamilnadu and after offering prayers to Suryan, Indran, Vayu,  Sri Rama , He increased in size and leapt on the sky to cross the ocean.

Thus starts Sundarakandam,-the most beautiful kaandam as everything is beautiful in it.  Every household in India has a copy of Sundarakanda .  It is a normal practice in Srivaishnava wedding to present Sundarakandam to the groom as it is considered very auspicious. 

Our poorvacharyars have clearly indicated that

Lord Rama is the Paramatma

MOther Sita is the Jivatma suffering in this material world for reunion with Paramatma

Lanka is the samsara(material world)

Our manas is Ravana and the ten senses are considered as the ten heads of Ravana

Hanuman is the acharya(gurudeva) who extols Paramatma’s qualities to Jivatma, gives the holy name to Jivatma,  submits Jivatma’s plea to Paramatma,  destroys Lanka(samsaara) with the fire of knowledge and finaly reunites Jivatma with Paramatma.

The jivatma who gets illusioned with material world, leaves Paramatma and ends up in trouble loitering in the material world until an acharya intervenes and imparts supreme knowledge about the Lord, gives us the mantra to attain  HIM, submits our plea to the Lord and ensures our union with the Supreme Lord by destroying our desires (samasara)

 

 

 

 

 

 

                              And our journey to Sri Lanka to have the darshan of all the holy places fructified in August 2018 and an attempt is being made to reproduce the divine bliss to millions of Hari bhaktha . 

     Hanumanji must have entered Srilanka from the north-western part via Thiruketeeswaram near Mannar, proceeded southwards and landed on Ramboda hills.  The places related to Sundarakandam are mostly located in Central Srilanka upto Sigiriya in the north and Ussangoda in the south.  

 

 

 

 

 

Valmiki maharishi beautifully describes Hanuman’s flight.  Hanumanji increased in size and stretching his hands wide leapt  from Mahendragiri mountain causing its residents to leave the place.  The flowers from the trees had covered Hanuman who was now resembling a flowered mountain. 

Hanumanji  faced the first hurdle which was a friendly gesture by Mynaaka parvatham who was  a close  friend of Vayu bhagavan ( Hanumanji’s father ). He offered fruits and asked Hanuman to take rest but he refused politely by embracing the mountain for its gesture saying that he intended to reach Lanka by evening and was lacking time.

Hanuman won Mynaakam  with his friendly gesture. He didn’t succumb to any temptation.

The second hurdle came in the form of Surasa who was a Naagamaatha( mother of snakes).  The devas prompted her to test Hanuman’s capabilities.  Surasa obstructed Hanuman’s way saying that she wanted to swallow Hanuman to satiate her hunger.

 

Hanuman informed her about his mission promising her to return and satiate her hunger but she didn’t budge saying that as per Brahma’s words, none could pass by her without fulfilling her wish.  He asked her to open her mouth wide enough for him to get into , started increasing in size.  Surasa also widened her mouth to match his size.  The witty Hanuman suddenly decreased in size , went inside her mouth and came back even before she closed her mouth, offered obeisances to her and having satisfied her wish continued his journey.  As she was a well wisher , Hanuman won her with his intelligence and presence of mind  and didn’t kill her.

Surasa  was pleased with Hanuman .She blessed him assuming her true form.

 The place where this incident took place is known as Nagadweepa, also known as Nayanateevu,  is an island near the North-western part of Srilanka (between Mannar and Jaffna) is now identified as the place where this incident took place.

  There is a big temple for Naagamaatha known as Nagapooshani temple. This is also considered as one of the eighteen shakti peetams.

To reach this place, one has to drive from Jaffna for about 38 kms upto Pungudutheevu .  From Pungudutheevu drive for about 15 kms on a bridge to reach jetty. 

Our journey to this wonderful place is recorded in this video

 

 

 

 

 

                   Regular boat services at an interval of one hour is available to go to Nagadeepa.  The fare for the boat ride is LKR 50/- and will take about 20 minutes .

It is one way-the boat stops near the buddhist monastery and the return would be pick up from Nagapooshani temple or vice-versa .  Autos ply between these two places for a nominal charge of Rs.10/- LKR. 

 

 

 

 

 

In Nagadeepa, there are two places to be visited- the first one is the Buddhist monastery as Buddha had visited this place and changed the factionist Naagas into pious people and made them follow Buddhism. Nagapooshani amman temple  can be reached by auto.   Devotees perform  milk abhishekam to the naagas in the temple. 

The third hurdle for Hanumanjee  was   a rakshasi  named Simhika.    Lying on the ocean  she had the power to pull the shadow of anyone flying over her.   She  used her strength to   reduce  Hanuman’jis  speed by pulling his shadow. 

Hanumanji realised the gravity and the unexpected hurdle . She opened her mouth widely and with all her might, she tried to swallow Hanuman  who entered into her mouth and came out swiftly  piercing her stomach  thus killing her.  Simhika was in a pool of blood.  Hanumanjee thus  encountered the third hurdle who was an enemy in reality  with his strength.

This place is identified as Thiruketeeswaram near Mannar on the North-western part of Srilanka (between Jaffna and Anuradhapura) about 116 kms  north-west  of  Anuradhapura-a famous site for Buddhists. 

Also, Kethu-one of the navagrahas who is Simhika’s son prayed to Shiva at this place.  Hence this place is known as Thiruketeeswaram.

  Mandodari’s father built this temple.  Presently the Shiva temple is undergoing renovation.

Hanumanji landed on Suvela parvatham in Srilanka . This place is now known as Ramboda. Chinmaya mission have constructed a beautiful temple for 16 ft Hanumanjee .  There are 3 sets of deities of  Sita-Rama Lakshmana  in the temple premises. 

Chariot procession takes place during  December . As Hanumanji alighted on this parvath on Pournami (Valmiki rishi mentions that Hanuman started his search operation on Pournami and the full moon helped Hanuman with his cool light to see things clearly ), special poojas are performed here. Guest house accomodation(LKR 6600/-for more than 2 PAX) and food court (AnnapurnaVeg.restaurant) are being operated by the mission. (Srirama viewed Lankapura from this placE)

After sunset, Hanumanji took a miniature form to search for Mother Sita.  He marched towards Lankapura city after crossing forests.  Being an island, Lanka was protected by sea on all four sides which was a natural barrier, it has many mountains ,lakes and rivers. Lankapura was situated on one such mountain known as Trikuta parvatham(Sigiriya) and the surrounding places around Kandy are also considered part of this . The historical importance of Sigiriya (a world heritage site ) now is being attributed to King Kasyapa who was an unjust king very similar to Ravana and hid at this place.  (Research relating to Ramayana reveal that this was Ravana’s kingdom) 

It was well guarded on all sides by armed soldiers right from the foot of the hill. The beautiful city was built by Mayasuran-architect for asuras and Ravana’s father in law. Valmiki rishi has aptly described this location which can be found even today.    There were tunnels connections various mountains to which only Ravana had access.  Also, there were aircraft centres at various places which was used by Ravana to fly on his pushpaka vimanam.     

 

 

 

 

 

Hanumanjee   was encountered by Lankini- a rakshasi who was a personification of Lanka when he was trying to enter into Lankapura. Hanuman politely told  her that he would return after viewing the beautiful city but the raksasi didn’t accede. Though she hurt  Hanuman  by  hitting with a mace, hanuman pitied her and slightly hit her with his left fist which was unbearable for her.  She accepted defeat and recollecting Brahma’s words that when she would be defeated by a vanara, Lanka’s destruction would be inevitable, she  blessed Hanuman to be victorious in his mission.  

Lankapura is considered as the places around Sigiriya and Kandy.

RAvana ruled from Sigiriya Fort

Hanuman defeated Lankini and started searching for Sitadevi in all the places including the Pushpaka vimanam, palaces of RAvana’s queens, Ravana’s palace, Mandodari’s palace, kitchen ,etc. Lankapura was situated on Trikuta parvatham(Sigiriya rock ) making it inaccessible to intruders. 

Ravana’s court, palace, his queens’ palaces were all situated around this.  Right from the foot of the hills, every place was well guarded. The fort was surrounded with mouts, lakes with crocodiles is it . There are about 

 He came across stationed armies well equipped guarding the kingdom. 

The place where Pushpaka vimanam was kept is now known as Gurulopotha near Sita Kotuwa about 100 kms north east of Kandy. (There is  only a name board and a buddhist temple ).  Likewise Mandodari palace is now known as  “Sita Kotuwa” as Sitadevi was first kept here. This is an archeological site about 3 hours drive from Kandy. 

A guide from the archeological survey office accompanies the visitors to the place. (Guest house facility and a small restaurant serving cool drinks,water, snacks  is run by them.)  We need to walk down the steep terrain for about an hour to reach Sita Kotuwa.    The place where the army was stationed is known  as Weragantota. Gurulopotha and Weragantota are situated near Sita Kotuwa. 

  He found heaps of food in the kitchen but didn’t have the slightest temptation to eat.  He searched every nook and corner of Lanka but could not trace  mother Sitadevi. Hanuman was worried that he  had to look  many ladies which was against his brahmachari vow. But he convinced himself that if you have to search for a deer, you will have to search amongst deers.  Likewise, a woman has to be searched amongst women.  AS he respected all women as his mother and sister, his mind was very clear and was only focused on our Mother’s ( Thayar’s ) welfare.

After searching for the second time, Hanumanji was worried .He  sat on a rock  and decided to end his life as he knew that if he returned without seeing Sitadevi, he would be the cause for destruction of Ishvaku race and the vaanaras. 

Hanuman however regained his determination and realized his mistake. 

He understood that though he  prayed to all the gods  he  forgot to offer prayers to  Mother Sitadevi

Recollecting HER appearance as an ayonija,  

He immediately prayed to Sitadevi guarded by Rama and Lakshmana to disclose her whereabouts similar to the way SHE chose to appear to King Janaka.

 By the grace of Sitadevi,  Hanumanji spotted Ashoka vanam- a beautiful garden which he had missed to explore. 

This place where Hanuman sat and contemplated on Mother Sita is identified as MANIKATUTHER located between Ramboda and Nuwara Eliya.

It is about 20 kms from RAmboda hill and Nuwara Eliya is about 50 kms from Manikatuther. 

 

 

 

 

 

Manikatuther is located in Labbookelle Tea Estate in Kondakalai village on a hill bgetween Nuwara Eliya and Ramboda.  WE need to take an auto to go up the hill which has a muddy path from the base. 

AFter reaching a certain point, we have to trek up the hill through Labbookelle Tea Estate .

 

 

 

 

 

The scenic beauty is inexplicable. When we visited this place, the whole area was engulfed in fog , it was drizzling and cool breeze was soothing . ( As the muddy road was drenched with rain, we were told that it would not be possible to go there by our guide.  But we insisted to be taken there and because of Hanuman’s grace, two auto drivers agreed to take us and we could visit the place.)  Presently , there is only a small shiva linga under a tree. 

Sri.Kanakaraj, a disciple of Chinmaya Mission who accompanied us informed that on a clear day, we can view both Ramboda and Nuwara Eliya.

 

 

 

 

 

Reaching Lanka, Ravana held Sitadevi captive in Mandodari’s palace which is now known as Sita kotuwa.  Indra prayed to Sitadevi to sustain herself by partaking heavenly sweet for the world’s welfare .  Ravana later shifted HER to Ashoka vanam(presently known as Hakgala Gardens in Nuwara Eliya)

presuming SHE would like the hill station and the natural beauty of his kingdom and succumb to his wish. The village is named as Kondakalai because while Ravana was forcibly taking Sitadevi to Ashoka vanam, Sitadevi’s hair got deranged.

 

 

 

 

 

He also informed that the food given by RAvana to Sitadevi was thrown away by HER which fell scattered in the surrounding forests.  The remains became  fossils  known as “SITA GOOLI” have been certified by American researchers as vitaminised rice balls dating few   thousands of years . These balls are considered as symbol of auspiciousness.  We were fortunate to get them to be placed in our altar.

Near Manikatuther, there is a  temple for Sriman Narayana seated on Garuda with Sridevi and Bhudevi.  Mahavishnu is bluish in complexion .  But the locals address this temple as “Rama temple”. 

During Margazhi,(Dec-Jan), early morning Pooja is performed and bhajans are conducted in the nights during the whole month. Few rare beautiful pics from Ramayanam are hung on the walls inside the temple.

When Hanumanji entered Ashoka Vanam (presently known as Hakgala Botanical Gardens in Nuwara Eliya), the flowers blossomed , birds chirped and the weather was very pleasant.  Some flowers dropped on Hanuman’s body which added to his beauty.

 

 

 

 

 

Hanuman jumped from one tree to the other in search of Sitadevi.  Finally, he found a sobbing distressed lady glowing with effulgence under a tree and looking at her appearance, the colour of her sari  and the jewels which were hanging from the tree, Hanuman guessed that it was Sitadevi.  His joy knew no bounds.

He was contemplating as to how he has to pick up a conversation with her. Meanwhile, RAvana arrived and started persuading  Sitadevi.  

Mother Sita underwent all these troubles to put an end to Ravana’s atrocities who was slave to lust thus causing harm to womanhood all over the world.  (Poorvacharyars reason that as the wives of celestial persons  were held captive by him, Mother Sitadevi came to Lanka to rescue them ).  Just as a mother who will ensure to protect all the children,
Sitadevi who is the mother of Universe  advised him to restore HER back to Lord Rama and get saved mentioning Sri Rama’s nature to forgive anyone who came for asylum even if it had committed the gravest sin.    When Sitadevi rebuked him by recalling his cowardly act of stealing HER in Srirama’s absence , he became so wild that he wanted to harm her but was stopped by his wife Daanyamaalini. 

The egoistic Ravana  left after warning her that she would be killed and served as breakfast at the end of two months in case she doesn’t concede to his request.

The rakshasis who were threatening her were chastised by Trijata-Vibhishana’s daughter who disclosed the dream she had. 

Trijata revealed her dream in which  she saw victorious Lord Rama seated with Sitadevi wearing white silk clothes on Pushpaka vimanam ,Ravana’s death, anhilation  of rakshasa clan, Vibhishana’s coronation and advised the rakshasis to stop  torturing Sitadevi as SHE alone could protect them from SRirama’s wrath. 

The rakshasis stopped harassing and slept.  Sitadevi who was totally devastated, decided to end her life by hanging HERSELF from Simshuka tree with her hair.

Hanumanji who was sitting on the Simshuka tree became worried at HER approach.  To save HER from this disaster, Hanuman softly sang Srirama’s story  starting from HIS appearance,wedding, banishment , Ravana’s foul play in kidnapping Sitadevi, Jatayu’s death, Sugreeva’s friendship, their search operation etc. Hanuman presented himself as Rama’s messenger and sugreeva’s minister.

He described in detail about Srirama and enquired about devi’s identity.  When Sitadevi got convinced that he was Rama’s messenger, Hanuman presented the holy ring given by Srirama to her and pacified HER that SRirama would kill Ravana ,resuce HER and return to Ayodhya to rule the world. Just as our acharyar gives us the holy name (Tirumantram) to us during Samasrayanam, Hanuman gave tthe holy ring with SRirama’s name engraved on it.  Looking at the ring, Sitadevi wept uncontrollably remembering their separation and suffering .

Thus , the entire Ramayana was sung by Hanuman. This place is known famously known as “SITA ELIYA-SITA AMMAN TEMPLE” located about 4 kms from Nuwara Eliya on a lower altitude. Nuwara Eliya,also known as “Little England” located in the Central highlands of Srilanka  is a hill station and one of the coldest regions in Srilanka .

 

 

 

 

 

The thought that Sitadevi sitting under the tree in the cool Ashoka gardens without any protection against the harsh weather conditions made us feel depressed.

Hanuman convinced Sitadevi that Srirama would come at the earliest and rescue HER.  Unable to tolerate Sitadevi’s distress, Hanumanji offered to carry HER on his shoulders and unite HER with Srirama.  He expanded his form to convince about his capabilities.  So, we can see  two sets of footprints in Sita Amman temple-one small and the other one huge .  

Hanuman pacified Jaganmatha assuring HER of Srirama’s arrival to resue HER and consoled her thus saving HER life.  When Hanuman requested Sitadevi  to give some token of identification to present to Srirama, Sitadevi handed over the “choodamani ” and shared few incidents with Hanuman including Kakasuran’s episode , about how the Lord applied thilak so that HE would believe Hanuman as these incidents happened in solitude.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After taking Sitadevi’s blessings, Hanuman decided to meet Ravana and convey Rama’s message.  So, he uprooted the trees in Ashoka vanam .  He defeated the rakshasas who came to fight, destroyed one-fourth of Ravana’s army including 80000 kinnaras, five army chiefs, Ravana’s son-Akshakumara and finally voluntarily got bound by Indrajit’s brahmastra as vayuputra wanted an audience with Ravana.

All these incidents took place at “” Hakgala Botanical Gardens”.  

Hanuman was taken to RAvana’s assembly in Sigiriya Fort. 

Hanuman introduced himself as Sugreeva’s minister and Srirama’s messenger , informed the killing of Vali who had humbled RAvana earlier ,  advised Ravana to return Sitadevi and save his clan from Srirama’s wrath which infuriated Ravana .

 

Ravana ordered Hanuman to be killed but was intercepted by Vibhishana who said that a messenger should not be killed but could be punished. 

 

Ravana ordered that Hanuman’s tail be burnt and taken along all the streets .  Hanuman’s tail was wound with cloth dipped in oil and fire was lit. The jubilant rakshasas unaware of Hanuman’s prowess abused him and insulted him by throwing stones and took him through all the places.  Hanuman unmindful of the pain thought that it was a good opportunity so that he can once again see Lanka in the day light.  Few rakshasis rushed to Sitadevi to inform about the happenings.    Sitadevi experienced intolerable grief for the punishment.  She washed her hands in the nearby stream , lit a pyre and prayed to Agnideva to protect Hanuman by proclaiming that if she was chaste and if it is true that sirama would resuce her, Agni should not harm Hanuman.  

Hanuman realised that though his tail was burning, he didn’t feel any burning sensation or pain. He realised that it was because of Sitadevi’s compassion , the fire didn’t harm him.  Hanuman wanted to express his gratitude to firegod by offering the tall mansions to agni. Hanuman freed himself from rakshasas’ clutches and jumping from one building to the other including RAvana’s palace and assembly , he lit fire in all the places. 

 

 

 

 

 

AS  the golden Lankapura  was on a hill where heavy winds blow, the fire spread immediately . The whole of Lanka was in flames.

Hanuman burnt the whole Lanka including Ravana’s airports at WEragantota , Ussangoda (the southern tip of Lanka). 

Hanuman cooled his burning tail in the waters near Ussangoda near Hambantota- a sea coast about 83 kms from Galle.The sand  here is red in colour.  Usually red sand would be wet whereas here it is as hard as rock.  No vegetation grows here. This is a protected site.  It is advisable to visit this place in daytime .

 

 

 

 

 

 Hanuman became worried about Sitadevi’s welfare as the entire Lanka was burning.  But he heard from celestial beings about Sitadevi’s safety and Vibhishana’s house not burnt.  The pleased Hanuman returned to Ashoka vanam and after personally seeing Sitadevi assured her about Rama’s arrival and returned to Kishkinda after taking Mother Sita’s blessings. Assuming a huge form, Hanuman took off from “Arishta” parvatham from Lanka to cross over the ocean to reach Mahendragiri.  Unable to bear his weight, Arishta parvatham got submerged into the sea with only the top visible.  This is considered as “Andaman islands” (this info was shared by Andamanese during our visit-not sure about the authenticity but there is a similarity in the names-Arishta—Andaman)

Hanuman returned to the vanara camp and shared with them Sitadevi’s welfare.  He informed them in detail about his entire journey.  They started the return journey to Kishkinda to inform the good news to SRiram, Enroute  stopped for a while at Madhuban near Hampi to satisfy their hunger. While all the vanaras were satiating their hunger by drinking honey and eating fruits, Our Hanuman was relising   the nectarian names of Lord Rama  which was his lifeline.

Hanuman and other vanaras headed by Angadha returned to Maalyavan parvath and informed about Sitadevi’s welfare and presented the choodamani to Srirama.  A beautiful temple for the Lordships at the place where this incident took place can be seen in Hampi.  Srirama praised Hanuman and  embraced him for completing the mission thus emphasising that HE COULD BE ATTAINED ONLY WITH HANUMAN’S GRACE.

Our poorvacharyas say that  when Hanuman submittd to Srirama without Sitadevi, his tail got burnt but when he got Sitadevi’s blessings, he was blessed with  Lord Rama’s  embrace . 

This emphasizes  Thayar’s intervention as PUrushakaaram in our Srivaishnava sampradayam.   Thus ends  the wonderful prose Sundarakandam.

Pics credits  :  Few from Social media 

                  

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

 

Out of the innumerable avatars ,  Lord  Maha Vishnu incarnated as   Lord Rama…

Lord   appeared  to establish dharma in the world by following the rules and regulations laid down as per  the Shastras. 

https://video.wordpress.com/embed/r7eY13sp?hd=0&autoPlay=0&permalink=1&loop=0&preloadContent=metadata&muted=0&playsinline=0&controls=1&cover=1

  The purpose of his appearance was to annihilate the evil forces  torturing the world in the form of Rakshasas headed by Ravana and establish dharma .

Dasaratha Chakravarthy who ruled the world from Ayodhya performed Putrakameshti yagam and was blessed with NECTAR  which was distributed amongst his three wives- Kousalya who was given half the share, then to Sumitra with one-fourth share , and then to Kaikeyi who was given one-eighth share and the balance of one-eighth was again given to Sumitra.  Kousalya consumed first, followed by Kaikeyi and then Sumitra who had two shares consumed the one-fourth share and then one-eighth share.  Based on this sequence, four  lovely sons were born to Dasaratha during Chaitra month in Sukla paksham starting from Navami thithi.

Sri Rama was born to Dasaratha Chakravarthy and Kousalya Devi in the star  Punarvasu , Bharata to Kaikeyi in Poosam star,  

Lakshmana and Shatruguna were born to Sumitra in Asilesha star. 

Right from birth, Ram –Lakshmana and Bharata-Shatruguna were inseparable.

Our poorvacharyars say that

Rama demonstrated how youngsters have to respect and abide by elders’ wishes,

Lakshmana was born to do service to the Lord,

Bharata was born to obey Sri Rama’s orders and

Shatruguna was born to serve devotee-Bharata.

Lakshmana did all services to Srirama as per his own will

whereas Bharata always obeyed his brother, Srirama. 

In Kamba Ramayana it is briefed , Lord Rama is asked by  his father Dasaratha to  fulfill mother Kaikeyis wish .     Rama comes to tell this news to kousalya.

She asks him “Who will be the king then?”.

Ram replies “It will be my brother Bharatha“.

Kousalya replies, My son !!   “except for the small problem that he is younger to you,

I don’t see anything wrong in it.

He is three times better than you to rule this kingdom”.

Kousalya saw Bharatha as three times better than Rama even when her only son was about to go to forest.

Kambar next describes the scene of Bharatha going to forest to meet Rama.

He meets Guha on the way.

When Guha knows why Bharatha has come to forest,he is overjoyed.

He hugs Bharatha and says “Even thousand Rama’s are not equal to you.

” Kambar elevates Bharatha to 1000 times than Rama.

Earlier it was three times,now its 1000 times..

https://video.wordpress.com/embed/fCLRvLdi?hd=0&autoPlay=0&permalink=1&loop=0&preloadContent=metadata&muted=0&playsinline=0&controls=1&cover=1

Ram doesn’t return after 14 year period.

Bharatha  as per his vow to Lord Rama is about to jump into fire.

Whole ayodhya is weeping.

Kousalya runs to stop Bharatha.

She says “Don’t do it my son.

I can live without Rama but not without you.

Not even multi million Rama’s are equal to you”.

https://video.wordpress.com/embed/ULFvBurR?hd=0&autoPlay=0&permalink=1&loop=0&preloadContent=metadata&muted=0&playsinline=0&controls=1&cover=1

Bharathas status is elevated to multi million times than Rama,the hero of kamba Ramayanam. 

Bharata is considered to be the foremost bhagavata who never exercised his free will and always obeyed  Lords’ instructions. 

He is the embodiment of saranagathi. 

Shatruguna is praised by our acharyars as the one who served the Bhagavata (devotee) than the Lord. 

For him, devotee was everything.

https://video.wordpress.com/embed/aVT4xtA8?hd=0&autoPlay=0&permalink=1&loop=0&preloadContent=metadata&muted=0&playsinline=0&controls=1&cover=1

One can understand the true character of Bharata in Ayodhya kaandam and Yudha Kaandam.

  By just contemplating on Bharata, the embodiment of virtue , our minds get purified. 

Such is his character.

It is well known that Kaikeyi exercised her boons and demanded that the  kingdom  to be given to her son, Bharata  and banish Srirama for fourteen years to forest  which Dasaratha had to accept without any option.

Though  Srirama was the rightful heir, he  happily agreed the kingdom to be ruled by his dear brother, Bharata and left for forest with Mother Sita and the inseparable Lakshmana.  During this incident, Bharata and Shatruguna were in their uncle’s place.

Soon after Srirama left for forest, Dasaratha left his  mortal body and Bharata was summoned to return to kingdom .  He was aghast to know the happenings and accused his own mother,Kaikeyi  for banishing Srirama and being the cause of death of his dear father.   Kaikieyi came back to senses only after Bharata shouted at her and blamed her. The whole world accused  Bharata that he is part of his mother’s conspiracy in usurping the throne and for banishing Srirama. 

Bharata , the embodiment of dharma had to face so much humiliation from the world for his mother’s foolish act.

When   Bharata learnt from Sage Vasishta that he was not allowed to do the final rites for his father and when he was  proposed by the elders to occupy the throne for which his mother fought, he was totally shattered and devastated. 

He pleaded  innocence  in front of everyone and declared  that he is not part of the foul play and makes various promises to convince everyone that he is not prepared to upsurge the throne.  This incident in Ramayanam will make even a stone hearten person weep.  He proposed to go personally in search of Srirama and bring him back.

The funeral rites were performed by Shatruguna and immediately after completing the necessary formalities , Bharata set out with Sage Vasishta and other rishis, ministers, his mother and step mothers and  entire army and came  to the banks of Ganges where he meets Guhan.  Guhan, the hunter chief initially suspected  him to be a traitor was ready to fight with the mighty Ayodhya army and kill Bharata whom he felt was the cause for Srirama’s exile.   But when he saw Bharata from close quarters with swollen eyes caused due to crying inconsolably, he realized that he was misguided . 

  https://video.wordpress.com/embed/wM6kYXaM?hd=0&autoPlay=0&permalink=1&loop=0&preloadContent=metadata&muted=0&playsinline=0&controls=1&cover=1

  Bharata lamented  about his innocence and with tear filled eyes, convinced  Guha that he is not interested in the throne and that Lord Rama’s lotus feet is the only refuge for him.

They proceeded to Chitrakoot. Seeing the dust filled in the air and hearing various sounds in that serene place,  Lakshmana climbed  on top of a tree and saw an army approaching them.

He saw their flag and concluded  that Bharata has come in search of Srirama to kill him.  He furiously took  his weapons to challenge Bharata.  Srirama pacified  him and ordered  him to remain cool.

Leaving the citizens ,army and queens behind, Bharata along with Shatruguna walked  bare footed along with Sage Vasista and elderly ministers towards Sri rama’s hermitage.  Bharata fell like a stick at Rama’s lotus feet and wept  inconsolably.

Srirama pacified him, cajoled him, made him sit on his lap and enquired him about the kingdom and instructed him of how to manage the kingdom and take care of citizens.  Bharata was confused as to why these instructions were given to him.  He said that he is not eligible to rule the kingdom and it is Srirama’s birth right to rule over the world and protect everyone including him. 

Srirama comes to know about Dasaratha’s demise and is shattered.  The four brothers lamented  over their father’s demise and as per Sage Vasishta’s instructions performed tharpanam to the departed soul on the banks of Mandagini in Chitrakoot. It is customary to give oblations to the departed souls at this place even today.

Bharata placed the crown in front of Srirama and requested the sages and priests to coronate Srirama with the sacred water brought from various punya theerthams amidst chanting of vedic mantras.   He pleaded with Srirama to return to Ayodhya but Srirama refused that it was HIS Responsibility to keep up his father’s promise. 

Despite repeated persuasions by Bharata to return to Ayodhya, Srirama was firm in keeping up his father’s promise.  So, finally Bharata requested him to promise that the Lord would return after fourteen years and rule the kingdom for which Srirama accepts.  Meanwhile, Bharata proposed Srirama to give his paadhukas (wooden sandals) to him which would rule Ayodhya during his absence.

He submitted that he would act as HIS representative and take care of the citizens till Srirama’s return. He made Srirama promise that he would return after completion of his exile and even if he delayed by a single day, Bharata would commit suicide.  

This incident makes even the rock on which Srirama sat to melt.  This can be seen in Chitrakoot.

As his attempts in cornating Srirama became futile, Bharata poured all the punya theerthams brought for the coronation in a nearby well.  We can see this well even today at Chitrakoot.  The uniqueness about this well is the taste of water is different.    During our  Sri Rama Anu Yatra done few years back , we are asked to draw water from four sides of the well and much to our amazement, we find that the taste differs.

Bharata returned with Srirama padhukas to Ayodhya and after placing the padhukas on the throne, he represented  Lord Rama in ruling. 

Bharata opted to stay outside the city in Nandigramam which is about 20 kms from Ayodhya , disrobed the royal costumes and adorned deer cloth like Srirama and knotted his hair like jadai.  Shatruguna followed suit.

A beautiful temple is constructed at the place where Bharata had his ashram.

  It is known as Bharat Mandir. 

There are two temples-old and the new one wherein we can see Bharata in tapasvi attire and Srirama padhukas placed on the altar.

Bharata used to feel ashamed of himself to such an extent that he used to have bath in cold waters of River Sarayu even before dawn so as to avoid abuses from the citizens.  This pond is known as Bharat kund in Nandigramam.

At the end of fourteen years after exile, Bharata was eagerly waiting for Srirama’s arrival.  As the time was ticking away, he became restless and  lit the fire to sacrifice his life while others were perplexed and didn’t know what to do. Such was his devotion to Srirama.

He did only those acts  which pleased Srirama and obeyed HIS instructions

He started circumbulating the fire when Hanuman, the prana dhaata, appeared on the sky singing the praises of Srirama.  Hanuman approached Bharata with the good news of Srirama’s arrival and saved his life.  Bharata overwhelmed with the news hugged Hanuman tightly to his chest.

This can be seen at Bharat Milap Mandir in Nandigramam. 

He praised Hanuman for bringing such nectarian news about his brother’s arrival.

As soon as Srirama’s  Pushpaka vimanam halted, he entered into the vimanam  prostrated at the lotus feet of his brother and handed over the kingdom.

Shatruguna arranged for shaving their jadais and having bath.  There is a temple on the banks of Bharat kund at Nandigram where this incident took place.  Later the princes returned to Ayodhya and Srirama ruled the kingdom.

  When Srirama proposed Lakshmana to be the Yuvaraja and assist him in ruling the kingdom, Lakshmana refused as his free will of serving Srirama all the time prevailed over everything.  But when Srirama proposed Bharata to be the Yuvaraja , he accepted it as Rama kainkaryam.  He did everything as per his brother’s wish.

In the holy epic Srimad Ramayana we come across many  people who had served LORD with supreme love and  devotion. 

A doubt  arises  as to who among st all these people was the supreme devotee ?

Few  consider it was Lakshmana ,

few say it was Hanuman ,

few Vibhishana  ,

and few Guha 

while some  Sugriva  , sabaari , Jataayu so on .

 However  Swamy Desikar in his magnum opus Paduka Sahasra expresses

Bharataaya param namostu tasmai

pradhamodaaharanaaya bhakthibhaajam

it was Bharata  to be praised as the most supreme devotee among the devotees of Lord Ramachandra .The reasons quoted are enlightening .

Though Bharata and Lakshmana were both immensely devoted to Lord Rama and wished to serve him , the one who obeyed was  Bharata .

He submitted to Lord Rama by ruling Ayodhya for 14 years patiently bore the sorrow of separation and ruled the kingdom to the joy of the people .

Even though he was the King , he wore matted locks and the bark of a tree , denied himself the prosperity of the Kingdom , slept on the floor and led a harsh life .

https://video.wordpress.com/embed/zld46oNd?hd=0&autoPlay=0&permalink=1&loop=0&preloadContent=metadata&muted=0&playsinline=0&controls=1&cover=1

He demonstrated how a great a Tapasvi he was .

When lord  returned from exile after 14 years he was himself overcome by the harsh penance observed by his dear brother and praised him.

Lord Rama concluded by saying that Bharata observed the vow of separation by virtually standing on the edge of a sword .

https://video.wordpress.com/embed/kbIoOA6V?hd=0&autoPlay=0&permalink=1&loop=0&preloadContent=metadata&muted=0&playsinline=0&controls=1&cover=1

The subject decides on the immense love and devotion Bharata had for his brother , he was not mentally inclines to enjoy any of the kingly pleasures and observed the vow of awaiting the return of his brother in a most unwavering manner .

When Bharatha arrived in search of Lord Rama and Lakshmana to this holy place Chitrakoot , he offered his obeisances and requested for them to return and prayed  to come along with his retinue .

Lakshmana doubted Bharata’s approach and threatened to kill him . https://video.wordpress.com/embed/B6nk3awX?hd=0&autoPlay=0&permalink=1&loop=0&preloadContent=metadata&muted=0&playsinline=0&controls=1&cover=1

Lord Rama prevented him and said Bharata has no desire or eagerness to rule the kingdom .He neither entertains any deceitful thoughts about me .

If on the other way you have such desire to rule over the kingdom , please tell me .

I shall speak to Bharata  and convince him to handover the kingdom to you so that bharata will remain with me

..On hearing these words Lakshmana felt ashamed and bowed down his head in remorse .

https://video.wordpress.com/embed/2FdoJ4ef?hd=0&autoPlay=0&permalink=1&loop=0&preloadContent=metadata&muted=0&playsinline=0&controls=1&cover=1

Though Bharata was given the kingdom to rule and had access to all sorts of enjoyment, he rejected and abstained from all sorts of comfort and undertook a vow for Srirama’s reunion with him.  Such is the character of blemish less Bharata.

Let us prostrate to the lotus feet of Bharata and pray for Sri Rama bhakti.

JAI SRI RAM

https://video.wordpress.com/embed/iCcCcvdK?hd=0&autoPlay=0&permalink=1&loop=0&preloadContent=metadata&muted=0&playsinline=0&controls=1&cover=1

Pictures/Videos Thanks to all the great devotees who shared the pics in social media

venkaTAdri samam sthAnam brahmANDe nAsti kincana;

venkateSa samo devo na bhUto na bhaviSyati

This sloka  taken from the Puranas  claims  …………

There is no place in the entire universe that equals Venkatadri, the place where the Lord resides and there is no God, neither in the past nor in the future who equals  Lord Venkateswara.

Everything begins and ends or is reduced to sunyam (nothingness) before him, while the infinite world pens to the sincere seeker with an infinitesimal offering.

This is because spiritual wealth through devotion is the basis of life .

TIRUMALA, the abode of Lord Srinivasar stands unique as an embodiment of man’s eternal quest for the divine and His infinite grace.

A piligrimage to the sacred Hills is a soul-stirring experience cherished by every devotee.  The puranas say that soon after Dwaparayugam ended and Kaliyugam started, Lord Krishna, decided to stay back to protect one and all and chose TIRUMALA. 

The Lord of the seven hills is the Lord of the universe. The special significance of Lord Venkateswara temple at Tirumala lies in the fact that it is the oldest religious institutions in the world where unbroken religious worship is being carried on for over 1,500 years by revered Acharyas and millions of pilgrims  reach the holy abode more than any other temple in the world.  A pilgrimage to the sacred Hills is a soul-stirring experience cherished by every devotee. Even atheists and rationalists admit a sense of humility and the presence of the Lord here .

It was  during 1781.  the British army was camping at a station called Thakkolam, a place close to Vellore in Tamilnadu.  The Nawabs of Arcot, ruled the Carnatic region of South India. They  had their capital at Arcot near Vellore  region  in Tamil Nadu .

The French  army were advancing in the areas around Madras  with the Muslem kings . The British  were responding  to the French onslaught during the Carnatic wars .. Defending them , there was several days of   battle  going on .  A British soldier by name  Vellian, was lying down almost dead in his bed, for many days, after he was brutally injured by a bullet…

With no more  hopes left  Vellian was left to his fate by the British army doctor.

There was a temple nearby and  the locals  ardent devotees of Lord Venkateshwara used to visit the temple regularly .

Villian used to watch them going up the hills with some cloth bags over their head  with reverberating chants

Govinda  Govinda   Govinda …

Invariably his mind got entangled to the holy name  Govinda  listening the chants frequently … and it became a routine for his mind to chant the holy name all the day when the pilgrims  trekked the hills chanting the holy name GOVINDA ...

  The craving  to see the temple and the  deity 

G O V I N D A  on the temple became more intense .

He prayed silently for curing  his pain due to bullet injury ..

It was early morning … A  twelve  year old mystic Hindu boy came to serve tea in that army camp..

After serving tea to all the major officials in the camp, the boy then went straight to Vellian’s bunker and greeted him saying..

“..Good morning sir..”..

Vellian, who at that moment was still in great pain was in no mood to talk to any one..However, taking the soldier by surprise this was what the 12 year old mystic Hindu tea boy told Vellian..

Vellian  said “Good morning” but with a little disinterest in his voice..

Transferring tea into a cup, the boy smiled and  said,”Sir, with your kind permission may I tell you something..? ? ..”

“Sir, I know you are in pain for several days.. I also know that you lost all your hopes of any recovery..But sir..Please listen to me and offer your prayers to Lord Sri Venkateswara of Tirumala temple..Tirumala is a Temple very near to this place and Lord Sri Venkateswara is the most merciful  God in this world…

Am sure He will save you from death..Trust me sir..”

With a little curiosity in his voice and a little dazzle in his eyes this time, Vellian then slowly turned towards the tea boy and said “..

Thanks my dear, but what do you want me to do for that..’..

With a smile,the boy replied”..Thanks for taking my words sir..

All that you have to do is to just offer your prayers to Lord Sri Venkateswara and request Him to heal you fully.. ”

And now with more hope in his voice,

Vellian asked the boy..”Okay my dear..I would certainly do.

.But how to offer my prayers ….

I have never done that before..You need to help me do that..

And this time Without seeking any permission from  Vellian, the  mystic  boy walked with all the divine command in this world to the bedside of Vellian; held both his hands first; brought them close to each other…

And later bringing them together, by creating a traditional Hindu NAMASTE posture, raised  Vellian’s hands and turned them towards the direction wherein the Tirumala temple was located and surprising  Vellian further,very loudly chanted

    GOVINDA

Amazingly ,   the boy holding a much surprised Vellian’s hands, closed his eyes for a few moments and silently offered his personal prayers to Lord Sri Venkateswara. .

“.. Vinaa Venkatesam Nanatho Nanathah..

Sadaa Venkatesam Smaraami Smaraami.

Hare Venkatesa Praseeda Praseedah..

Priyam Venkatesa Prayachcha Prayachchah. .”

“.. Aham Doora Tasthe Padaam Bhoja Yugmah.

. Pranamechcha Ya Gachcha Sevaam Karomi..

Sakrut Sevayaa Nitya Sevaa Phalantvam..

Prayachcha Prayachcha Prabho Venkatesaa..”

Furthermore amazed at the command with which the Hindu boy held both his hands and also at the ease with which he had chanted the intricate Sanskrit sloka,  Vellian slowly got up in his bed; turned both his hands that were still held in a NAMASTE posture towards the smiling mystic boy and offered him his salutations.

Vellian who had lost all his hopes of any recovery from that near dead situation had quite miraculously regained a complete normalcy in just about a few days time..
This miraculous recovery of  Vellian shocked the British Army Doctors who have by then had literally written him off as a medical ‘case of complete hopelessness beyond recovery’..

Much later,as he could not personally visit the Tirumala temple due to his job constraints,  Vellian requested his friend,an Indian soldier by name Ramachandra Ganesh, to visit the Tirumala hill Shrine on his behalf and offer the holy Lord Sri Venkateswara what he promised to offer…EPILOGUE

“Vinaa Venkatesam” sloka although is an integral part of Sri Venkateswara Suprabhatham, was however written and recited first by Sri Markandeya Maharshi,when He visited the Tirumala hills and offered this sloka to Lord Sri Venkateswara. .

In the later period, the story of  Vellian’s miraculous recovery reached the governing authorities of the British Kingdom.

.In 1801, after having known the sanctity  of Lord Sri Venkateswara  temple,  the British took over the administration of the Temple from the hands of the Nawabs of Arcot for lack of discipline and misappropriation of funds in the Temple..

Later in 1821, strictly in accordance with the norms of the Tirumala Temple,the British introduced what is called the Bruce Code..

This code has 42 provisions formulated in it with well defined customs and duties meant both for the Tirumala Temple as well as for the Hindu officials working there..

Quite surprisingly, the  British, known for their iconoclastic nature, never interfered with the day to day affairs and rituals of the Tirumala Temple except taking care of it’s administration.

.After that divine incident, renowned British personalities like Sir Thomas Monroe and Colonel Geo Stratten went on to become great devotees of Lord Sri Venkateswara. .

During their tenure of office in India, they have never allowed the British army to camp anywhere close to the Tirumala Hill Shrine and also never allowed any British national enter the Tirumala Hills with footwear..

After that incident in the army camp,  Vellian and the whole of British army had made a frantic search for that 12 year old mystic  boy but they couldn’t find Him anywhere..

Who was HE..?? ..And where did He come from..??“.

.Sarva Avayava Soundaryaa Sampada Sarva Chetasam

Sada Sammohanayastu Sri Venkatesaya Mangalam..” .

The great saint poet Annamaya  of Tirumala in one of his sweet  composition sings about the  glory of  LORD  VENKATESHWARA which is truly divine …..

Oh Lord! Your devotees visualize You in many ways…

They want to see You in different forms and ways. However, the deeper one’s heart envisions You, the more shallower is Your grace felt!

Vaishnavites assume and believe You profoundly to be Lord Vishnu;
Vedantis envisage You as the ‘Supreme Lord’ or ‘Parambrahma’;
ShAivites and some others deem You as Lord Shiva;
Kaumalikas pray and revere You as Adi Bhairava;
Shaaktheyas presume You to be the incarnation of Shakthi;
You bless all of them in the form they desire You to be in !!

In this way, Your devotees revere and prostrate before You, giving you the form and shape they wish to see You in.

 To those devotees who see You in the tiniest form, You are the tiniest to them;
Likewise, those who revere you with high esteem, You are the greatest and all-in-all for them.

There is no dearth of anything in this world if only YOU  are beside me!

Just as a lotus plant creeps all over the span of water (in a pond/lake/river or wherever it is) leaving no space for anything else,

Just as the wells around the great Bhagirathi river never dry up (because the wells are always fed with water from this river beside)

(    I pray to You,     Oh Lord!        Please be beside me!     )
If YOU are the Lord incarnated on the Venkatadri mount, YOU are bound to be by my side!
It is You, Oh Lord, who have made me to become Your devotee;
It is You, Oh Lord, who have knocked my doors ~ only to grant me the Protective asylum under Your Lotus Feet;
You are the ONE who enlightened me;
This is the eternal bliss for me!
This is the Para-Tattvam for me!
This is my moksha-marga (and salvation)!

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

Pics credits : Google images

Source : Inspired from a post shared by ardent devotee of Lord Venkateshwara

Few hundred years ago the King of Puri, Purusottama Deva, was to marry the princess who was the daughter of a king, Maharaja Salluva Narasingha, from the southern state .

That was the period the Annual Ratha-Yatra festival was to take place . The King of Puri invited the father of the princess for the great festival . However , the King sent his minister Chinnu bhatta Godaranga instead.

The Minister carefully observed the kingdom to give the inputs to his King . The Rath Yatra date arrived . The King of Puri along with his ministerial staff went to the temple performed pooja and with the permission of the Supreme Lord the tradition of sweeping the road in front of the carts was done by the King .

The visiting minister was shocked to see the King hold the broom , Rather , being impressed with the devotion of the King for Lord Jagannatha, he did not agree of him sweeping the road, even if it was for the Supreme Lord.

He took leave and reported this incident to King Salluva Narasingha. The king too was unhappy and objected to the idea of his daughter marrying the King of Puri as he was merely a street sweeper. He informed through his counsel about his ejection for the alliance .

Purusottama Dev was extremely angry that he, as the servant of Lord Jagannatha, would be insulted for his service to the Supreme Lord . He gathered his army troupes and went to the southern state to teach King a lesson.

Unfortunately, King Purusottama Dev was badly defeated.

Upset , with a downcast mood, he approached “Saikatacharya”, who was a great ascetic, and a householder devotee of Lord Jagannatha.

The Sadhu said , My dear King You had forgotten to ask permission from Lord Jagannatha before you went to Southern state . It was your mistake . You are King but Lord Jagganath is Emperor. Please take his permision before waging a battle

https://videopress.com/v/3FNaChdJ?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true

With this realization, the King returned to Puri and rushed to the temple of the Lord, crying over his defeat, asking why the Lord had let this happen. He spent the entire night in the temple, and with doors closed, before the night came to an end, the King heard a voice asking why he was so distraught over such a simple thing.

The divine voice said … my dear Purusottama Please go and gather our troupes again, and we two brothers, Jagannatha and Balarama, would go along to fight on the your behalf.

The King was astonished . He did all that as Lord commanded . As the news spread, many people, both old and young, joined the King’s forces to fight along with their Lordships. However, as they proceeded , the King was filled with some doubts whether their Lordships were really coming along with him.

While the King along with his army went onward, far ahead were two soldiers who rode , one on black horse and one white horse.

They were looking majestic from behind . They stopped to quench their thirst at a small village near Chilika Lake by buying some yogurt from a devotee named “Manika”.

Manika offered them yogurt looking at their beauty . She was awe stuck and just could not move her eyes away from them . The soldiers looked at Manika and smiled . They said they did not have any money to give her . She just kept looking without uttering any word . The dark soldier shook her and said , Manika ..we don’t have money but I have my ring that will be your payment for the sweet yoghurt . Please give this to your King and collect the gift he gives . Both of them smiled and proceeded

The King was fast approaching behind them . Curious he was , he caught up to the lady, who flagged him down to give him the ring and asked for payment for the soldiers’ drink.

The king was shocked to see the ratnamudrika ring of Lord Jagannatha and then regained his confidence that, indeed, their Lordships had certainly come along with him.

Overjoyed , In payment for the ring, the king gave her the whole village, which is still named “Manikapatna”.

The king and his troupes effortlessly won the battle and as planned he also took King Sallowo’s daughter back to Puri.

The King did not marry her after the insult her father had given him.

He instructed his minister to see that she get married to a most qualified sweeper.

Exactly after one year, Ratha-Yatra date was announced . As per traditional guidance , the King again took blessings from Supreme Lord and performed his sweeping of the ground before the Rath .

The king’s minister felt pity for the princess and announced that the king was the most qualified sweeper, since he swept for Lord Jagannatha, and that the princess, Padmavati, should marry him.

Amongst the crowds Maharaja Purusottama Dev married the princess and she later gave birth to “King Prataparudra” the great devotee of Lord Chaitanya Maha Prabhu .

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

Pictures& Videos : Courtesy from advanced devotees who uploaded in social media

The term “Azhwar“ refers to those saintly souls who immerse themselves in the exclusive devotion of Lord Sriman Narayana in total and unconditional surrender.  The saints, as the supreme devotees of Lord Vishnu propagated Sri Vaishnavism among the masses through their poetical compositions in the vernacular highlighting the beautiful effulgent form, auspicious attributes and divine deeds of the Supreme Lord in His various incarnations based on their personal mystic experiences in 108 Divya desams . 

The Divya Prabhandams of the Azhwars are, therefore, held in as great veneration and reverence as the Vedas in Sanskrit. 

The Azhwars have together rendered 195 verses in praise of the Lord of the Seven Hills Sri Venkateshwara.  The largest number of compositions i.e. 63 have been compiled by the last among the twelve Azhwars named Tirumangai Azhwar

while Tiruppan Azhwar makes a passing reference to Tirumala in two of his eleven verses in praise of the Lord of Tiruvarangam. 

The first three Azhwars are collectively known as the Mudal Azhwars.  The first among them named Poigai Azhwar is the author of the Mudal Tiruvanthathi or the first hundred psalms and he has sung ten verses in praise of Lord Balaji.  He calls Venkatam as MAL UGANDA VUR i.e. the Abode most preferred by the Supreme Lord. 

The second Azhwar known as Bhutatazhwar has given us the Irandam Tiruvanthathi or the second hundred verses.  He has rendered nine verses on Tirmalaiappan and he refers to Lord Venkatesa as  VENKADATHAN VINNOR MUDI THOYUM PADHATHAN meaning thereby that the prostrating Devas or the demi-gods with bowed head worship the Lotus Feet of the Lord of the Seven Hills who is the Parama Purusha of the Vedas in Archa form in Tirumalai.

  The third Azhwar called Peyazhwar is the author of Munram Tiruvanthathi or the third hundred verses and he has composed as many as 19 verses in praise of Lord Govinda.

Peyazhwar refers to Venkadathan as VEDATHAN indicating that Lord Venkatesa is the one Supreme Lord without a second and the Ultimate Truth and Reality of the Vedas.  The fourth Azhwar by name Tirumalisai Azhwar who is the author of Nanmugan Tiruvanthathi has recorded 12 verses in praise of Tiruvenkadathan more or less on the lines of his three illustrious predecessors

Nammazhwar who is the crest jewel and the most prominent of all the Azhwars in one of his 44 verses in praise of Lord Venkatesa says that the entire life time should be spent in ceaseless loving service of the Supreme Lord in Tirumalai.  In his most popular verse beginning with the words AKALAHILLEN the saint abjectly surrenders himself to the Lotus Feet of the Lord declaring that His Consort Shree resides for ever in the bosom of the Lord inseparably united and indistinguishable from Him as fragrance from Lotus flower.

  The two are in fact One conceptually but different functionally.  The ethical idea of justice and the rule of law and the religious idea of redemption from sins by Grace are reconciled in Saint Nammazhwar`s Prapatti to the Divya Dhampathi. 

The inner purport is that Lord Venkateshwara rules strictly by the moral law of Karma whereas Mother Shree in His bosom entices Him by love to pardon the sinning souls.  Mother’s love is indispensable for gaining the Lord’s Grace.  Knowledge is inspired by devotion and Bhakti is illumined by Jnana and the two together constitute Bhakti utpanna Jnana or knowledge inspired by devotion. 

The whole attitude of devotion is consummated in Prapatti or Saranagathi ( surrender ) in the case of Nammazhwar when he says  PUGALONDRILLA ADIYEN UN ADIKKEEZH AMARNDU PUKUNDENE.

 His Lotus Feet are the sole refuge for all sinful souls.

In the eleven most poignant and moving verses composed by Kulaseharazhvar, the saint fervently prays to the Lord of the Seven Hills that he should always reside with the Tirumal in His Tirumala hills either as an insect or a bird or a fish or a vessel or a flower or a tree or a passing stream or a foot-step or any other object to see the coral lips of the Supreme Lord in ceaseless remembrance. 

In fact, the psalms of all the ten Azhwars on the Lord of the Seven Hills are full of piety and love that can move even the most stone hearted people into tears. 

These verses describe vividly the natural beauty of Tiruvengadam as also the glory and greatness of the Supreme Lord in lyrically brilliant Tamil verses, which cannot be recaptured in English translation

Name of the Azhwar             His work                                         Number of Verses

        

Periazhwar                              Tiruppallandu                                                  1

 Periazhwar    ,,                       Periazhwar Tirumozhi                                     7

Poigai Azhwar                          Mudal Tiruvanthathi                                      10

Bhutatazhwar                          Irandam Tiruvanthathi                                     9

Peyazhwar                               Mundram Tiruvanthathi                                 19

Trimalisaiazhwar                     Nanmugan Tiruvanthathi                               12

       ,,                                       Tirucchandaviruttam                                       2

Nammazhwar                          Tiruviruttam                                                     8

       ,,                                       Peria Tiruvanthathi                                           1

       ,,                                       Tiruvaimozhi                                                  35

Andal                                      Nacchiar Tirumozhi                                       16

Kulasekharazhwar                   Perumal Tirumozhi                                         11

Tiruppanazhwar                      Amalanadipiran                                                2

Tirumangaiazhwar       Peria Tirumozhi                                              55

         ,,                                     Tirukkurundandakam                                       1

         ,,                                     Tirunedunthandakam                                       3

         ,,                                     Siriya Tirumadal                                              1

         ,,                                     Peria Tirumadal                                               2

                                                         Total                         195 verses

Sri Ramanujacharya has not composed any devotional hymn in praise of the Lord of the Seven Hills.  However, at the very start of his monumental Magnum Opus called the Sri Bhasya which is his detailed commentary on the Vedanta Sutras, in the Invocatory verse he begins the work praying to the Lord in Tirumala with the words SRUTI SIRASSI VIDEEPTE BRAHMANI SRINIVASE.  In this introductory verse he seeks the blessings of Lord Venkatesa with the words -“ May my mind be filled with devotion towards the Highest Brahman the Abode of Goddess Shree who is luminously revealed in the Upanishads. 

Swamy Yamunacharya (also glorified as as Alavandar who was Acharyar to Swamy Ramanuja )  who in his poetical work called the STOTRA RATNA  (the Hymn Jewel) asks the question KAHA SRIHI SRIYAHA?  His question is who is the Lord of Shree?  This question is an obvious reference to the passage in the Purusha Sukhta  HRISCHA TE LAKSMISCHA PATNYOU i.e. Hari and Shree are Lord Srinivasa`s consorts

Among the subsequent Sri Vaishnava Acharyas Swamy Vedanta Desika and Pillai Perumal Iyengar have rendered detailed poetical works in praise of Lord Venkateswara. 

In his hymnal work called DAYA SATAKAM Swamy Vedanta Desika has composed a hundred and odd verses exclusively in praise of the Daya /Abundant mercy of the Lord of the Seven Hills.  The prolific poet begins his work with the words

PRAPDYE TAM GIRIM PRAYAHA SRINIVASANUKAMPAYA

by surrendering himself like Swamy Nammalwar in AGALAHILLEN to Lord Venkateshwara before taking up the task of describing the Lord’s profound mercy.  According to scholarly Acharyas, this work of hundred verses can be grouped into ten verses each and each decade refers to an auspicious attribute of Lord Venkateshwara

1. He is the sole Lord of Immortality
2. He is omniscient and omnipotent , all knowing and all powerful
3. He removes the miseries and ills of His devotees
4. He is the sole means for release from samsara
5. He is the one single goal of life
6. He is the sole refuge in Prapatti (Surrender)
7. He is easily accessible even to the most sinful
8. The Supreme Lord’s Abode is Tirumala
9. He takes Avataras and
10. Those who surrender to Him gain release here and now

“Venkatadri Samasthanam Brahmande Nasti Kinchana,

Venkatesha Samo Devo Na Bhuto Na Bhavishyati”

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

Pictures/Videos : Courtesy Google images

The month of  ( March – April )   in tamil (Panguni )  is sacred  as it is the appearance month of –  Lord Ranganatha  on Panguni Revathi and Goddess  Sri Ranganayaki Thayar on Panguni Uthiram both occur during this month.

            This is the only day on which the Divya  Dampatis of Srirangam are seen together in Utsavam.

The Utsavam  takes place at the royal court located at the western entrance of  the great Temple of Lord Ranganatha.

Interestingly, this is the only  entrance which does not have a Rajagopuram.

Incredibly Swamy Ramanuja  chose this blessed day for reciting the wonderful hymns  the Gadya  Trayam- Saranagathi gadyam, Sriranga gadyam and Vaikunta gadyam, unambiguously outlining the doctrine of  Surrender .

(SharaNagati-which is  atma Vivaham) wedding of the jivAtma to the paramAtma.

On this day Panguni Uttaram , Swamy  Ramanuja gathered  all his  disciples and  approached  the great Temple of Lord Ranganatha.

Our Paramacharya was greatly moved by the majestic sight of the Divya Dampatis beautifully decorated in Utsavam at the Royal Court .

As a result of this Anubhavam, Swamy  Ramanuja  poured out his heart in an extremely soulful, highly intimate, and deeply intense SharaNagati  ( TOTAL SURRENDER ) in the Sharanagati Gadyam and the Sri Ranganatha Gadyam.

The most important and the oldest Brahmotsavam called as “Adi Brahmotsavam” is performed during this month for 10 days and culminates on the next day of Panguni Uthiram.

 During this brahmotsavam, Lord Ranganatha marries Kamalavalli Nachiyar of Uraiyur  divyadesam.

Many devotees make it a point to have darshanam of Lordships on this day specially to have kataksham by Divine Parents .

3 

Few days before Panguni Uthram(when Asilesha star is in ascendant),  Lord Namperumal visits  Goddess Kamalavalli Nachiyar at Uraiyur and marries the princess..

And , only on this day, Perumal gives darshan with Kamalavalli Thayar  at Uraiyur for one full day.  

 Incidentally this is the place where our  great  Thiruppan Azhwar appeared .

On the 9th day of Brahmotsavam, the serthi (divine union) takes place at Srirangam.

On this day alone, Namperumal gives darshan along with Ranganayaki Thayar.  

An  interesting event cherished as  ” Pranaya Kalagam Uthsavam ”  takes  place on Panguni Uthiram  day morning and in the night , Gadyathrayam  (threee gadyams) are recited in presence  of the Supreme  Lordships which is followed by Thirumanjanam (Holy abhishekam) to Namperumal and Ranganayaki Thayar .  

Thirumanjanam is performed for 18 times reminding us of Swamy  Ramanujar’s visits to Thirugoshtiyur.  which  are sequel to this  sweet visit.

Our Mother Sr Ranganayaki comes to know of  LORDs  visit to  Uraiyur  nachiyar and gets upset. ( a vatsalya bhava )

The dramatic events on the Panguni Uthiram day unfold as Sri Ranganachiyar vents her Pranaya  Kobam  on Lord  Namperumal and how Lord  pacifies her and how in the end the divya dampathis join together to bless the devotees makes this festival a feast to the soul  .

 In the morning hours  , Lord aware of Goddess mood goes around the four mada streets without any  musical instrument being played ( Nadaswaram )  to collect  kanikai ( gifts )  from devotees and  thus gives darsanam to everyone   .

 The devotees are given an opportunity to serve Rajadhirajan (Lord of the Universe) with offerings . He stops at every house asking His  devotees  to support Him when He faces the queen   Goddess Sri Ranga Nachiyar.

With the temple elephant (Andal) leading the way followed by the vedic pundits reciting  dhivya prabhandha goshti  LORD  enters the temple and walks towards the  sanctorium (sannidhi)  of Goddess (Thayar)  after literally moving around  for  three hours  around the prakarams.

When Sri Ranga Nachiyar understands that  Lord Ranganatha coming towards Her, the temple  doors  are  shut.

For the next couple of hours, Pranaya Kalagam Uthsavam (household quarrel between the Lord and His consort) takes place that is wonderfully enacted by Arayar swamy..

The conversations  between Namperumal and Ranganayaki Thayar are  communicated through Arayar swami (for Namperumal) and through Pandari swami (for Ranganayaki Thayar) and they never face each other during this  kalagam Utsavam .  

The Lord pleads innocence  and tries to appease  the goddess  in many ways but all his submission is out rightly rejected .   

Few questions asked by Goddess  make this  utsavam very interesting …

Goddess questions  Lord  about  his scratch marks on His Thirukkazuthu (neck) and  reason for  His Thirukkangal (eyes) becoming  so red.

She also asks why His Thiruman kappu  ( Tilak ) and His Thirukkuzal (hair) are all messed up.

She also goes on to ask Him why His Thiruvadharam (lips) are white and  ……

why He has kungumappoo (Saffron powder) all over his Thirumeni (body),

His ThiruvadigaL (lotus feet) are red.

Hence,  She was very unhappy because of HIS indifference to her .

The Lord  out of divine love  responds back to each question.

 My dear …. Listen …

Being   the protector of the universe (Jagadhrakshakan),   riding the horse  in the night   and fighting against all evil  forces to protect my  devotees I had to be awake  and  thus the  eyes  have become  red.

These Hair locks are messed up because of the fierce winds  which faced me while I was  galloping on the horse.

And listen dear  ….

This  Thiruman kappu had dissolved because of the harsh sun rays during my horse ride

And my  lips are  white because  i was   fighting  against the asuras (demons)  with single pointed concentration

My  neck was   scratched by  those thorns while  I  was riding through thick forests to fight the same  Asuras.

Lord further continues .. my .dear Listen   , these  legs were red because I  had to ride the horse with  the  feet tightly hooked  in the stirrup and finally this  kungumappoo  is all over my  body because the Devathas  were happy and praised us  after the victorious campaign by showering me  with flowers.

Thus,  Lord   submits to Goddess  that He was late because of all the battles he  had to wage with the Asuras and due to this calamity  he had   lost the ring in the river Kollidam while   returning.

And  had to get a new ring and some flowers before he  meets  Her.

This caused Him to be late.

Goddess    is still not convinced and   refuses all His gifts and flowers and  commands  him to never come inside and return back to Uraiyur  where HE had been  a couple of days ago.

Lord Namperumal with a very innocent look replies saying that He doesn’t know  the place called Uraiyur and has never been there. Ranganayaki Thayaar asks the Lord to prove His statements.

To prove his innocence  Lord offers to put His hands in a vessel full of snakes ,

cross any ocean  of Goddess choice ,

and offered to promise on His devotees that He has never seen Uraiyur.

Sri Ranga Nachiyar rebukes HIS explanations.   She replies /.

He, the one who sleeps on a bed of Adhi Sesha  ( Serpent bed ) would never be harmed by any snakes. He, the one who lies in the great milk ocean (ThiruppArkadal) and for whom the river Yamuna parted to let Him through as baby Krishna will have no problem crossing any ocean.

Also, HE, whose lotus feet are sought after by all His devotees would never be betrayed by them. Unmindful , she exhibits her  annoyance of Pranayakalpa by  throwing  milk, curd, butter and flowers on Him .

Lord Ranganatha now pleads  innocently then says that He has come to meet Her after going through such difficulties and She is not letting Him in. He says He feels very depressed and embarrassed as She shut the door in His face. The Lord says – “andha avamanam umakku andri yamakku illai” meaning “this embarrassment is not for me but for you.”

Seeing the Lord is feeling very sad,  our  great  Nammazwaar, acts as the mediator and approaches  mother Sri Ranganayaki and says that if the supreme Lord and Goddess  are upset against each other, then that would be the end of all known universe (Pralayam).

He requests  Mother and  prays that  the Lord is for all and She has to understand that He is sought after by all and so She should be able to let Her Azhagiya MaNavalan go to His devotees too  as well for granting their prayers  and uplift them finally  So, He humbly requests that Sriranganachiyar forgive the Lord and allow Him to enter Her premises.

Goddess Ranganayaki   understands Nammazwars reasoning and commands Her assistants to let Her Lord  enter inside.  Lord Ranganatha and Ranganayaki come together and exchange garlands, Kasturi Thilakam, turmeric and necklaces  making a benchmark of a  divine couple .

As soon as the door is opened, Lord  Azhagiya Manavalan is delighted and rushes  in to be with His consort. A beautiful scene transpires here.

The Lord does not go immediately to our Sri Ranganayaki  sannidhi . But rather goes to the mudhal mandapam and stands there, as if to ascertain whether our Thayar has really accepted and forgiven him.

 Lord sends his vastram  across to Thayar, which is accepted  by the Thayar. After this the Lord then directly heads towards and Thayar Sannidhi and then he seats directly across Sri Ranganayaki Thayar.

Now our Aranganathan looks at our Lokamatha  Thayar’s eyes directly as if to ask “why did you make me go through this struggle” and Thayar in turn asks him “Why did you go away without telling me”.

At this point of time other than the Sri Ranganayaki’s Archakas and our Sriranganathan’s Archakas, no one is allowed to be present. 

Thus sweet conversation takes place between our  Lord Aranganthan and Ranganyaki Thayar as it would take place between any husband and wife.

After they have talked for a long time, our Azagiya manavalan asks Thayars permission to go and complete the Panguni uthram thirunal as several devotees are waiting.

  Thayar replies that how can she let him without having performed any upacharam. She then gets delicious and sumptuous “Akkara adasil” ( Sweet pudding )   prepared for him, with copious amount of milk, rice, dhal ( lentils ) , jaggery and lots pure ghee.

Both our  Lordships now grace  together and have the delicious “Akara adisil” ! The happiness of the Lord and   Thayar can be seen in the eyes of lord who cannot take his eyes away from the Thayar! After this beautiful sight, the lord then decides to head towards the beautifully renovated Panguni Uthram mandapam. As soon as our Azagiya manavalan reaches the mandapam in the afternoon, our Thayar immediately, but silently and surreptitiously enters the mandapam as if she doesnt want anybody to talk about or ask her about what  had happened .

After this the Lord and Ranganayaki Thayar  give darsanam to several devotees who have thronged to see them. It has to be mentioned that here only the Thayar is adorned with a garland and not then Lord himself!

Also, Namperumal doesn’t face the audience but looks uninterruptedly at Thayar.

The  recitation of the Gadhya Thrayam begins at about 11 P.M. . Those heavenly chants fill the air with beatitude and immense happiness.

At this time the whole srirangam is very festive and people make sweets and savories as if there is a marriage in their own house.After all, it is a happy and beautiful unification between the Royal couple! The Gadhya Thrayam starts with the chant of “Vaikunta Gadhyam” and then proceeds with the “Sri RangaGadhyam” and at last ends with the beautiful chant of the “Sarangadhi gadhyam”!

Lord Namperumal (Sri Ranganathar) and Peria pirattlar (Sriranga nachiar) are seated together. Lord (naMperumAL) is standing majestically as usual and more beautiful and graceful today due to the compassionate looking pirAtti and is enjoying the beauty of Her Lord without taking Her eyes off Him even for a second This was the right opportunity for LokaAcharyar Swami Ramanuja to ask for favors from our DIVINE PARENTS.

He submits to the LOTUS FEET through his divine outpourings Gadyatrayam. Swamy Ramanuja worshipping them, submits his deep fear of samsara (association with the body in a cycle of births) and begs the Lord to save him. Swamy Ramanuja surrendered his all to the Lord and begged Him to be his sole savior. In the Three Gadyaas, Swamy Ramanuja’s prayed swamies innermost feelings of deep devotion to the Lord break all restrictions and flow freely towards the Lord and His consort.

https://wn.com/vaikunta_gadyam

These are prima facie a spontaneous outburst of devotional experience and not coldly labored compositions. The inner voice of the devotee addresses Sri and the Lord and they do reply clearly through the same inner voice.

In the Saranagati gadya, Swamy Ramanuja first addresses Sri as the mother of the Universe, as his own mother, and as the loving consort of his Lord, and seeks her intercession on his behalf. This is itself a saranagati addressed to the mother.

Happy at being addressed this, Sri replies ‘So be it’; “let your prapathi bear the proper fruit of being accepted as a devoted servant” The commentators have it that this assurance is not only for the Acharya but for all his spiritual progeny. The boon that Lord granted to Swamy Ramanuja applies to his spiritual heirs. It is worth noting that once he gets the assurance from Sri of her sure mediation, he addresses himself directly to the Lord seeking Him as the sole savior.

The LokAcharya then addresses the Lord speaking of His incomparable glory, “His immense wealth, His power, His retinue, His divine weapons, His beautiful ornaments, His loving consorts, of His infinite compassion and other admirable qualities words which are a rhapsody of devout fervor which can come only from the very depth of a realized soul. Swamy Ramanuja holds out prapathi as the highest message he had for his followers.

The Sriranga gadyam is a shorter piece and is essentially the same as the Saranagati gadyam.

It is addressed directly to Sriranganatha.

” Sriranganatha!

mama natha!

namostu te”

are the words of the acharya.

To the seeker of salvation who has taken to the path of Prapathi, it is essential that he should spend his time in devoted service of the lord; in serving his devotees; by meditating on Him and singing His praise; by repeatedly uttering the Dvaya mantra (this is an enjoyable and sweet pastime).

The acharya gives expression to all these, briefly, in confidence to the lord at Srirangam. His intention is that this short text may be repeated easily in the presence of the Lord by devotees intent on the fruit prayed for.  

 Immensely pleased , Lord assures Swamy Ramanuja that  He and all his disciples will be surely uplifted for attaining the paramaporul Moksha for sure .

Later, Thirumanjanam to Namperumal and Thayar are performed for 18 times.  This signifies Sri Ramanujar’s visit to Thirugoshtiyur to learn the dwayam mantra artham.  All the upacharams are performed for 18 times.

 Later, saatrumarai goshti is done at Udayavar (Ramanujar’s )sannidhi in the early hours.  At about 7 A.M. the next day, Perumal reluctantly leaves thayar and goes back on Goratham.

After all this, the Lord then requests Thayar’s permission to go and complete the remaining procession.

At this request, our Ranganayaki thayar’s face drops and looks downcast, which indicates her reluctance to part with  the Lord at this point of time.

But ,  thayar then mentions that First she will leave and return back to her Moolasthanam after which the Lord can start.

This shows the patience, forbearance and the humility of our beloved Thayar.

The Lord then starts to leave towards the “Goratham (Chariot), before which  he peeps into Sri Ranganyaki Thayrs sannidhi, as if to take a glimpse of his beloved wife and say “Bye” before proceeding . After this the Lord starts for the procession.

 Anywhere in the world a woman has to undergo lot of troubles and hardships and still put  up a smile to make everyone in her family happy.

 On Panguni Uthiram day, only Thayar sannidhi is kept open and it is not possible to have Sri Ranganathar(moolavar) darsanam on that day.

All adiyars know that the Lord and Thayar are above all such domestic quarrels taking place in our lives all the time.

We also know that He is the fountainhead of all things in the universe and there is nothing like He  should  be going after several  women  etc. when He himself is paramporul ( The ultimate )  . 

Secondly  the big question  will Thayar ever quarrel with the Lord? So what is the significance ??

Elders clarify that  the significance of all this drama is that Namperumal and Thayar are doing a play act to demonstrate to ordinary mortals like us how to run the household with harmony in the face of upsets. They also show the deep love ,  mercy  and  compassion  true ladies have and why we have to give the ladies great respect and exalted position in our society.

 Azhwar describes Srirangam as the abode of the supreme Lord who had sixteen thousand devi’s (as he married all of them in His Krishnavataram by their  deep devotion and request ).

When he has already taken sixteen thousand consorts which Sri Rukmini Devi whole heartedly accepted, where is the question of getting upset about one Kamalavalli nachiyar of Uraiyur .

Our   Perumal is Paramatma and the jivatmas represented by Thayar are all wedded to Paramatma with Thayar doing the purushakaaram(bridge between Perumal and the fallen souls)

Andal nachiyar explains:-
“Peyyu ma mukil pol vanna, un pechum seikaium engalai
Maiyal erri mayakka un mukam maya mandiram than kolo”

Hey, dark skinned Lord, your words, acts and your innocent looking face are all designed to cast a spell over us. The Lord will always cast his spell over His devotees to protect them. And Maya Jagan Mohini Thayar always  assists Him in his spell!

When the Lord knows that Nachityar is upset with him, He is planning to pacify her indicating thereby that all of us should try earnestly to take care of the ladies’ concerns.

In this entire drama, what stands out is the “Paraspara Anyonyam” of the Divya Dampathis.

When Thayar is angry Lord understands and adopts a seemingly submissive posture. And Thayar relents when overlooking the fact that it is the only day in a year she is with Him and He has been to another nachiyar.

She sets an example of kindness and  forgiveness  for all the womenfolk.

When Thayar allows Lord  to enter Her Sannadhi, He at first stops at first mantapam and sends His Vastram to her. He does not rush in all the way. Thayar also understands His intention and accepts the vastram.

She knows He will be hungry and gets a sumptuous Akkara Adisil  ( sweet pudding) prepared for Him. In these days of hurried life when both the partners sometime go to work, can you imagine such understandings  .

Later…….

She silently follows Him so that the devotees do not smell any difference between them! It is truly amazing that Divya Dhampathis had set examples which are relevant even today………

Let Lord Ranganatha protect us    

Let Shri Ranganachiyar bless us always …

Sri Ranga MangaLa nidhim karuna nivAsam
Sri Venkatadhri SikharAlaya KaaLamegham
Sri Hastigiri Siksrojvala Paarijatham
Sreesam namAmi Sirasa yadhusaila dheepam
Seeking the Lotus feet of Narayana

Kaveri Viraja Seyam Vaikuntam Rangamandiram,
Sri Vasudevo Rangesaha, Prathyaksham paramam patham
Vimanam Pranavakaram, Vedasrungam mahadbhutham
SriRangasayi bhagavan pranavaartha prakasakaha!

May the Lord and Thayar bless all devotees with such anyonyam. Let the  eyes which had darshan of the Supreme Lord who ate plenty of butter and who has conquered my heart view nothing else.

All glories to devotees who are having darshan on the auspicious day 30.03.2018 in several divya desams

Adiyen must have committed apacharas in expressing this wonderful utsavam which is due to adiyens mandha budhee and seeks forgivance to all the bhagavathas who are reading this ..

Arangan Vazhga,     Arangamaanagar Vazhga

Vachaka Dhosham Kashamikkavaum………….

Pics : Courtesy Google images /and all the great devotees who shared in social media

Adapted from Sriman Narasimha bhattar article ..
Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

More sweet than all other sweet things; more auspicious than all other auspicious things;

the greatest purifier of all purifying things—————-

———————-The holy name of Sri Hari alone is everything…………..

There was a  temple of Lord Krishna in a village . The temple was always flooded with several devotees. The mood in the temple used to be festive always . Continuous Hari naama sankirtan made the place vibrating with devotion .The  devotional  Hari nama tunes took one into  a serene mood asking for more . It was a continuous flow of elixir .

The continuous chants made the mind swoon into devotional fervor and nothing else was remembered .There was no hunger or thirst .

No desire except for just being there and feeding the soul through these ears the elixir that was abundantly poured . It was sheer bliss .

 A young man  lived near the temple  who had no belief in God . He considered devotion to be waste of time and felt that they were mere superstitions and the ones going to temples were in false illusions . He used to object them during their extended stays and  condemn the non stop hari naam sankirtan program  in the temple  .

One day , one elderly person  among the devotees in a composed mood advised the youth to realize the importance of ” Namasankeertanam”  and explained the enormous power of  chanting the Holy names  .

The youth a rationalist  asked ! OK old man does chanting your gods name fetch me food ? Does the  Holy Name take care of my well being ?? He was rude with his questions …

Yes !!! said the old man confidently !!!The youth being an atheist  demanded proofs but finally ended up in a challenge. 

The old man said ,

Look Young man ..

You  chant the Holy name for at least   12 hrs  and  see for yourself  the  change .  Be assured …. You  would be getting food  served . And in case this  does not happen  I am prepared to stop this practice of devotional service in the temple. It was a  bold statement among several devotees assembled there ….

Looking at the confidence of the elderly person the youth confided with the agreement and  said ..Ok … ..

Just 12  hours  I will chant  sunrise to sunset  ….

and thus he started chanting Lord Krishna’s Nama as advised .He was not very keen to see the old man winning the bet .He knew He will anyway win the bet and make them understand it was a waste of time .

Time was ticking ….

He thought if he had stayed  along with them or at home or at his friends place or within the limits of the village he would have been coaxed and fed saying  please have prasad etc .

He decided to go to such a place where he would not be noticed by anyone thus ensuring no habitat can see him and provide him with any  food . 

He went into  a forest and thus settled himself on one of the branches of a huge tree  confident of not being noticed by any one . He was no  doubt  chanting   mentally the Holy name   but without faith . The time  swiftly passed .He had almost engaged the mind in the Holy name synchronized  to  the temple tunes.  Used to always hear the devotional tunes  residing near the temple and thinking of the bet continously his mind was fixed  and started relishing it unknowingly . 

The sun  was about to set . He was not at all feeling hungry  .Suddenly he happened to see few men with weapons under the tree . They were looking ferocious.They were carrying some booty along with them .

One thief happened to look above and found a man relaxing He cautioned his friends . They  dragged him down from the treetop much to his resistance ..

The thieves who had dragged the youth from the treetop  roughed him up and   asked  him … So you are so smart and think we will  foolishly fulfill your plan ?

The young man was shocked . He took courage and asked   .Who ..? Me …  Plan ?  What plan ???  The thieves dragged him to  the nearby tree and said .. What made you leave that delicious food there ?

The young man was blank when he was questioned .He stammered … What Food ….Which food / where …. I am unaware ..I just came  here to avoid the villagers ..please …please believe me. He revealed his purpose of entering the outskirts and the bet with the old man  . The thieves refused to accept the young mans version.

One Elderly Thief intervened and said ..

Friends !!

This food which looks to be too delicious seems to contain poison and this young man wants to see we are dead so that he can run away with our looted jewellery .

I suspect his moves .

Let us teach him a lesson ..

Come on !!!  Please get me that food kept over there …. Saying this  two of the thieves held  the youth’s  hands, one of them opened his mouth and the other one dumped the food inside his mouth by force . The youth was helpless and was forced to eat the food.His repeated pleas were ignored and they laughed seeing his reluctance in having the food ….

After the thieves had left the place, the youth started memorizing the whole incident that had taken place in his life for the past 12 hrs . He started remembering the words of that elderly person.

It was at this point of time the youth realized that while he was doing Namasankeerthanam even thirst, hunger and other things did not affect or disturb him .

The youth had neither any sincerity, dedication, devotion nor any desire to do Namasankeerthanam. Inspite of this Namasankeerthanam proved its result.

 

Even on doing Namasankeerthanam  in the  outskirts of a village  comfortably  seated on the top of the tree without any fear, tension, and disturbance  had provided him  with food without any  personal efforts…

This entire event made the youth realize the power and greatness of Namasankeerthanam and the truth in the words of that elderly person. This developed within him a strong belief that Lord  provides a helping hand to all those who  seek HIM.

 He understood that although he had lost his bet  to the elderly person who arrived in  the form of Sathguru,he  had made him victorious in his  spiritual life. He rushed to meet the elderly person and with tears revealed what all had happened in the 12 hours time  .

The old man  pleased with the youth , addressed the gathering ,

my dear children,

It is said in Srimath Bhaagavatham 12-3-52 

“KruthE yadh vishnum ththrEthaayaam yajathO makai:

dhvaaparE paricharyaayaam kalau thath harikeethanaath”

The result that one yields in kritha yugam by doing dhyanam (meditation),

the result that one yields in thretha yugam by doing yagnam,

the result that one yields in Dwapara yugam by doing archanai (pooja) ,

the same result is derived in this kaliyugam just by chanting Lord’s Holy  Name.

Everyone  here is leading a very busy life.

One does not find time to progress in spiritual life .

The only way out is chanting the Holy name wherever you are will take you near HIM …

He continued to quote Azhwars pasurams from Divya Prabhandam ,thus making them aware the glory of Holy name

‘Aadi aadi agam karaindu isai paadi paadi kanneer malgi’…………………..
‘Naadum nagaramum nangu ariya namo narayana yenru paadu’………………..
‘Harer namaiva namaiva namaiva mama jeevanam … na gatir anyata’……………..

madhuraḿ madhurebhyo ‘pi |

mańgalebhyo ‘pi mańgalam |
pāvanaḿ pāvanebhyo ‘pi |

harer nāmaiva kevalam ||

More sweet than all other sweet things; more auspicious than all other auspicious things; the greatest purifier of all purifying things—

The holy name of Sri Hari alone is everything…….

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

Adapted from a discourse from a  advanced devotee

Pics credits : Google images and pictures shared by advanced devotees..

 

 

 The most revered disciple Swami Rama Misra (Manakkal Nambi) appeared at maNakkAl (a village on the banks of river cauvery, near srirangam). 

He lived with his Acharyan UyyakkondAr and served him for 12 years  at the holy place Thiruvellarai. . UyyakkondAr pleased with Swami Rama Mishrar  appoints him  as his successor while leaving to paramapadham  ( srivaikuntam) .

He  advises his disciple Rama mishrar ( Nambi)   to train Ishvara muni’s son Swamy Yamunacharya such that he takes over the duty of  spreading the sri vaishnava dharisanam.

Meanwhile  at Srirangam , Swamy  Yamunar   joins the school of Sri Mahabhashya Bhatta  who is well versed in all the  vaishnava sampradayas . During this period all the Vidwans (scholars) in the Chola Kingdom had to pay annual tribute (prescribed fee) to Aakkialwan, the royal purohit who was close to the King .

As it is the case ,one day on receiving the notice for payment  , Mahabhashya Bhatta  became very sad, as he was penny less.

Observing his  Acharyars  sad face, and coming to know the difficult situation, Swamy Yamunacharya  took it upon Himself to put an end to the audacity and the atrocity of  Royal  purohit Aakkialwan .   In presence of the gaurds ,Yamauna  tears  the notice to pieces and sends the messenger back.

On hearing the happenings there ,  Aakkialwan send backs   the messenger  to check  whether Yamuna  was a poet or a scholar well versed in Shastras.   The guards  come to know about Yamuna’s  proficiency from the neighbors   and  informs the Purohit about his strong hating to the opponents .

 Aakkialwan  ,  astonished at the scholarship of  Yamuna informs the  Chola King.

The King orders  this young Scholar to come to his court immediately.

Yamuna   bluntly refuses……..

The King realizing that he wasn¡¯t dealing with an ordinary person, sends a palanquin along with  bearers to bring Swamy Yamuna.

As Yamuna reaches the courts, he  passes  a sloka to show his scholarship which stuns the gathering ..

The sloka meaning goes like this ….

 

¨ Though you strive hard to find an equal to me ,  mastered both the Meemamsas starting from the slope of the Himalaya mountain (in the north) which is lucky enough to possess the tender foot prints of the mountain girl Parvathi up to the bridge (in the south) which caused the blooming of the Lotus like face of Sita, abducted by the demon Ravana and also beginning from the rising mountain (in the east) of both the luminaries Sun and Moon and ending with the setting mountain (in the west).

The Purohit  face turned red  and he shouted aloud that he would debate with this young imposter.

Looking at Yamuna, the king orders  him ..

Young man …

You please start the debate with our court pundit, Aakkialwan to prove your scholarship

 Yamuna replied, ¡

Well, your Majesty it is hard for you to decide who is  the winner and the loser when we debate and we both may not accept defeat.

Therefore it would be appropriate if we argue in the midst of learned scholars who are assembled here..

Having invited all learned men, the King occupying  the royal throne along with his queen at the debating hall looks at the young  man  .

The queen, being very much impressed by the handsome appearance of the young man, drew the attention of the King towards him and exclaimed that he would never sustain defeat in the wordy quarrel.

If at all  Yamuna is defeated, she said that she would become a maid and cook the food for the dogs in the palace.

The King too retorted saying that in case Aakkialwan was the loser, he would part with half of his kingdom by presenting it to  Yamuna.

The debate started much to the eagerness of the Royal couple . Aakkialwan said to  Yamuna,  Let us start with ordinary worldly affairs. I will negate all your affirmatives and your negative statements will be made affirmatives by me.

Agreeing to this proposal, Swamy Yamuna uttered three sentences to Aakkialwan expecting him to counter the statements ..

1) Your mother is a barren woman.

2) The King is righteous one

3) The Queen is a very chaste woman.

Fearing  severe punishment at the hands of the king by the denial of the three statements, Aakkialwan simply blinked and winged his hands.

 Yamuna came out with his denial of these three statements and explained from sastras .

1) A single tree cannot become a garden. Similarly one child is not enough to make a mother. As Aakkialwan is the only son of his mother, she is still a barren woman.

2) The sins committed by the subjects will go to the King, as he has not prevented them from doing so. Thus the king loses his righteousness.

3) Normally a girl becomes the wife of some divine personalities like Indra etc. after her marriage. Hence, the husband is not allowed to share her bed immediately after the marriage. Thus the queen has forfeited her claim for chastity.

These negations earned the approval of all scholars and thus Aakkialwan was put to shame.

The same fate overtook Aakkialwan in the Shastra debate that followed.

Now  Yamuna had acquired the right to strike on the head of Aakkialwan.

But he politely declared his decent decision,

Oh gentleman! I will not strike you on your head as per our agreement before the debate.

It is because, I give due respect to your age and the exalted position that you occupy in the royal court.

This proclamation earned the appreciation and approval of all the scholars.

The queen rushing towards  Yamuna embraced him and observed with a slippery tone full of affection You have come to my rescue.

Hence you are  my ruler (Ennai Aalavandeero!).

From that day onwards he came to be called Aalavandar.

Having said so, she took him to the palace accompanied by the King.

His Majesty also kept up his promise by offering half of his kingdom to Aalavandar. Enjoying all the royal pleasures in the company of his wife, the young prince ruled over the kingdom happily and peacefully.

Manakkal Nambi got this news that the future Acharyar of Srivaishnavism has become the King .  

Watching silently the eminence which Alavandar had reached so rapidly and       Aakkialwan ’s ignominious defeat  and Alavandar becoming a king, his joy knew no bounds He  wanted to fulfill his promise to his revered Guru Uyyakkondar in bringing him back to the Sampradaya .

He  thought of his Acharyar’s instructions in  making Alavandar the future Apostle of the Faith. So, he went to the palace, but the guards obstructed his entrance.

He found his way however into the kitchen where contracting friendship with the cooks, had ascertained from them the potherbs that pleased Alavandar most.

He took that herb Thoodhuvalai, a kind of spinach, daily to the kitchen for a period of six months and yet no notice was taken of it.

Wearied, he stopped away for a few days. Alavandar finding his favourite dish missing from his dinner so suddenly enquired of the cooks the reason.

They informed him of an old Brahmana having, for six months uninterruptedly, brought the green herb and having stopped the supply for a few days.

“If he should return again,” commanded the king, after chiding them, “inform me at once.” Rama Misra thought he would try again, and so put in his appearance with the favourite vegetable, after some interval.

The king was immediately informed; and he ordered the venerable man being conducted into his presence.

When he duly arrived, the king rose, and making obeisance, seated him with every mark of respect; and asked how he may reward him for his services, -by money or by lands.

Our Misra said: “Good king, these riches I do not need from thee; for I have precious riches, amassed by your ancestors, to give thee; and I shall show thee where they lie treasured up. Till I put thee in possession of these, let me be admitted to thy presence without hindrance by the guards at thy gates.”

Alavandar was taken out of himself by this unexpected revelation, and placed his men under instructions to admit the worthy visitant freely without caring for ceremony.

Swamy Rama Misra now began to teach Alavandar the Bhagavad Gita, the essence of all the Upanishads.

As Alavandar listened attentively through the eighteen books of this Sublime Poem, his spiritual sense was awakened, and a craving caused in his heart to realize God, as is spoken therein.

“How shall I realize Him?” asked he of his Acharya.

“That is taught in the Great Charama Sloka”, promptly responded the teacher and taught its significant Mysteries.

The more Alavandar meditated on these, the more they entered deep into his heart.

The saving grace taught therein made him more and more inclined to surrender himself to God, and more and more to cultivate the sense of resignation to His will.

His soul bent more and more to Him with the nourishment the teachings gave, just as the ripening grain-stalks bend as they receive more milk.

As days passed, his love for the Merciful grew warmer and warmer; and as this love increased, his attachment to other things; became weaker and weaker.

The Teacher watched the spiritual progress of his disciple, and thought the time was ripe for leading him to where his promised patrimonial wealth lay hidden.

He led him therefore to the Holy Shrine of Srirangam, where, pointing to God reposing therein in the serene glory of His presence, to all worshippers accessible, he said: “Who will not worship Rangam, the most Holy, – if he be wise?

For doth not wisdom blossom here and keep Yama (death) out of sight?”

This is your trove, your heritage, and my trust, which I here discharge on this auspicious day.

”Alavandar, with the spiritual vision which was endowed to him by God’s Grace, saw in the Holy Image of Ranga the Treasure of the Universe enshrined; and exclaimed, with  a feelings of remorse in his heart for past days, which had been spent without this Blessed Vision, and  feelings of bliss overflowing in streams of loving tears, at the fascinating sight he enjoyed

“O Blissful God”, he exclaimed,

“Many days have I lost in the vain pursuits of the world. I mourn for this. Now I have seen Thee reclining on Thy Sesha.

I serve Thee for evermore.

I find myself reclaimed from the death of worldly enjoyments, and initiated into the life of Thy service.”

Lord! lands and friends and riches,
Sons and wives, cattle and houses,-
To him who has thy service tasted,
Hateful objects become they.

After this, a determination came to him to renounce the world, and don the robes of the Sanyasin, in as much as the love of the world and of God were incompatible with each other.

Hence forward he devoted himself to divine contemplation and service.

Swami Manakkal Nambee was binding force for srivaishnavam to progress.
All glories to Swami Manakkal Nambee

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

Pics : Google images

 

Swami Thiru-kachchi Nambi occupies a very unique position, both as an Acharyar, and as an advanced devotee in srivaishnava guru parampara .

Swamy Nambi is one of the very few devotees with whom the Lord Himself conversed regularly.
Swami Thirukkachchi nambi appeared in a place called poo irunda valli (currently called poonamallee, near Chennai ) which falls on 7th March 2025 Maasi Mrigasira Nakshatra this year .

Swamy moved to kAnchIpuram, and started performing devotional service to LORD Varadaraja at Kancheepuram temple

His unique service was to fan the Lord of Kanchi, Swami Varadaraja, everyday in the late morning-early afternoon, and in the night before Lord takes rest .
While doing the fanning service (called thiru-Ala-vatta Kainkaryam in tamil), Lord Varadaraja used to converse with Swami thiru-k-kachchi nambi about the happenings around the world.

The topics used to be anything from how the temple was being run, to the happenings in the city of Kanchipuram and esoteric topics about philosophy.
The Lord considered swami thiru-k- kachchi nambi as His closest friend, and talked to him just like any friend would.

All this was due to the great qualities of swami thiru-k- kachchi nambi – his supreme devotion to Lord Varadaraja, his being devoid of any ego, and his being a true servant of the Lord, wanting no other thing but service to the Lord.

One incident in his life is used to show how much Lord cared for him.
One morning, after the morning holy rituals were completed in the temple, everyone left as usual. Lord Varadaraja and Swami thiru-k- kachchi nambi were discussing , with Swami thiru-k-kachhci nambi performing the usual Kainkaryam of fanning the Lord. They were immersed on some interesting topic, and time passed without both of them noticing. Suddenly , It began to rain very heavily.
The time for thiru-k- kachchi nambi to go home for his afternoon prasadam arrived, and Lord seemed to be resting.
So, swami thiru-k-kachchi nambi took leave from Lord, and went outside the covered Mantapam.

It was raining very heavily, and hence he could not move out . He was getting concerned that if he is delayed now, then he will be delayed coming back to the temple for evening services.
Suddenly, an aged Sri Vaishnava person appeared with an umbrella, and told swami thiru-k-kachchi nambi that Lord Varadaraja had instructed him to accompany swami thiru-k-kachchi nambi to his home with the umbrella, and bring him back.

Swami thiru-k-kachchi nambi was very moved with this kindness, and thanked the Sri Vaishnava and the Lord for the great help …
Evening came, and swami thiru-k-kachchi nambi was delayed a little bit in starting for the temple.
The Sri Vaishnava who accompanied him to his house was still there, waiting for him, so that he could accompany him back to the temple.
Meanwhile, in the temple, the priests arrived to start performing the evening rituals.

When they entered the sanctum sanctum, they were shocked and taken aback.
The Lord was not there in the temple!
They looked everywhere, and the Lord was not there!

They were much worried, and were waiting for swami thiru-k- kachchi nambi to come back so that they can ask him if he knew where the Lord went, or if the Lord was upset with some mistake that might have happened.

After sometime, Swami thiru-k-kachchi nambi came along with the SriVaishnava.
The priests immediately went to him, and explained the situation, and asked him with great concern if he knew anything. Swamithiru-k-kachchi nambi told them he had no idea about what might have happened, and immediately started shedding tears .

After all, Lord Varadaraja was not just the Supreme Being to him…
He was also his closest friend.
Swami thiru-k-kachchi nambi was anxious about the sudden happenings .
Offering prayers silently he attempted to check all the places he was familiar inside the temple ,like how a father would search for his lovable child so as to get any clues from there.
He went to the usual place of the Lord, and lo and behold, the Lord was there,smiling and with a very satisfied look on His lotus face!

Immediately, swami thiru-k-kachci nambi rushed to the priests and conveyed the happy news about the great Lord arrving …
Everyone wanted to celebrate, and looked for the Sri Vaishnava who had accompanied swami thiru-k-kachchi nambi so that they could invite him to join the celebrations too.
They could not find him.
He had vanished.
When the priests went near the Lord to start performing the services ,they saw water droplets on Him!
Everyone now realized what had happened.

The Lord Himself, unable to bear the thought of swami thiru-k-kachchi nambi getting wet by the rain, had accompanied him to his home.
Not only that, He waited there so that He could accompany swami thiru-k-kachchi nambi back to the temple!
Such was the greatness of the revered Acharyar Swami thiru-k-kachchi nambi…

Later during his last days , once Swamy Thirukachi nambhigal while continuing his fanning service to Lord Sri Varadaraja Perumal his aalavattam (fan) slipped and fell down….
Very disturbed he realized his body was not supporting his most blessed kainkaryam ….

Thirukachi Nambh was sad ..
He realized that the time for him to leave this materialistic world had come as the body was not serving its purpose of serving the Supreme Lord
Nambhi offers obeisances and submits to LORD and requests Perumal to grant him liberation as he is not able to be of any use to Lord with his physical body .
Lord Varadaraja Perumal smiles and replies

My dear Nambee !!…
granting Moksham needs
“Bhaagavatha Sambhandham”.
Your fanning made me speak to you ..
“Neer Veesiner, Naan Pessinen”.
Thirukachi Nambhigal understands that devotees association is paramount in the process of Moksha.
He decides to “earn” some Bhaagavatha Abhimaanam by serving the pure devotees .

He takes permission from Lord Varadaraja and proceeds to the home of the great Acharya Thirukostiyur Nambhi at Thirukoshtiyur a place near to Madurai

He realises that Thirukostiyur Nambhi (Swami Ramanuja’s acharya) would not accept as a domestic help someone whom Lord Varadaraja himself had conversed with.
So Thirukachi Nambhigal under the guise of a common peasant meets some of his disciples and introduces himself as Gajendra Dasan (his Birth name) and requests for some small work at their ashram …
Unaware that he was the great devotee , Thirukostiyur Nambhigal asks his disciples to engage him to take care of his cows and bullocks in the Goshala .
Always in the mood of serving Lord Varadaraja he takes up the new service of go seva
Thirukachi Nambhigal was relieved and happy that he has had got an opportunity to serve a great Acharya.
Days pass …

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

The routine service in the Goshala , grazing the cows , fetching fodder , milking the cows , farming with bullock by the disciples was supervised by Nambhigal ..

One rainy day the Goshala boys report to Thirukostiyur Nambhigal about few cows missing from the cow shed due to thunder and unexpected rain .
Acharyar asks for Thirukachinambi as he doesn’t want the boys to get drenched in the heavy rains and blowing winds.
Thirukostiyur Nambhi decides to look for the cows by himself .
Thirukachi Nambhigal very eager to serve Acharyar , instantly replies ..
“Adiyen”…
your servant is awaiting for your instructions ….

Thirukostiyur Nambhi is surprised as the voice is unique …and looks in the direction of the voice.
To his wonder, Thirukachi Nambhigal had already brought the cows home and covered them with his own clothes .

Thirukoshtiyur Nambhi is instantly pleased at Thirukachi nambhigal’s devotion . He calls his wife and advises her to honor the disciple with prasad….
Since his Master had called him as his own disciple he is overjoyed that signifies a relationship ….and hence Bhagavatha Sambandham Nambhi is overjoyed ….

Thirukoshtiyur Nambi is shocked to see Nambigal real identity .
He honours him and discuss esoteric truths

He reveals his identity and narrates the sequence of incidents that led him to coming as Gajandra dasan to Thirukostiyur Nambhigal.
Thanking his Acharyar for the association he takes leave to Kancheepuram.

Lord Varadaraja is happy to see his dear devotee friend .
Like an eager mother expecting her child back, Lord Varadaraja with open arms welcomes Nambhigal right at the steps and praises Thirukachi Nambhigal’s steadfast devotion and affection.

The emotional outpour “Devaraja Ashtakam”, glorifying the Lord’s boundless love for His Bakthas is revealed ……and the pains of this materialistic world!

Swamy Nambhigal attains moksham to serve Sriman Narayana in Sri Vaikuntam permanently .
7-3-25 is
Swamy Thirukachi Nambi 1016 th appearance day ( Thirunakshatram) ….
lets pray for steadfast devotion from our revered Acharyar …
Adiyen Ramanuja dasan
Pics : Courtesy Google images and several advanced devotees
Videos : Sri Devanathan & Sri Padmanabhan..

All glories to Spiritual Masters

Pics : Courtesy Google images uploaded by several devotees

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan