kazhiyur varadan's blog

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

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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 ….

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..

Srimad Bhagavatam reveals that ParamaShiva is the foremost of all the Vaishnavas. (SB – 12.13.16) Vaishnavanam yatha sambhuh purananam idam tatha……

Lord Sriman Narayana (Lord Vishnu)- the Supreme Personality of Godhead  is glorified  as Parabhrahmam as everything has emanated from HIM .

All the ancient scriptures like Puranas, Vedas, divya prabhandham clearly mention that Sriman Narayana (Vishnu) alone is the Supreme Lord.  The invocatory verse (thanian) of Naanmugan Thiruvandhadhi starts with “Narayanan padaithaan naanmuganai, naan muganaku eraar sivan pirandhaan…..” ..

meaning that Lord Sriman Narayanan created four faced Brahma who in turn created Siva implying that everything emanates from Mahavishnu.  Lord Krishna says “Vaishnavanam yatha samubhuh:’ meaning ParamaShiva is the best of all Vaishnavas and is very dear to the Lord.    Parama Shiva adorns Ganges-the holy water from Lord Vishnu’s feet in his matted locks on the head and is known as Gangadhara.  He shares with Parvathi devi that he always contemplates on Lord Vishnu while meditating. 

He declares to Parvathi devi that uttering Rama naama thrice is equal to recitation of 1000 names of Lord Vishnu.  Lord Shiva tells Parvathi “Aaradhananaam sarvesaam vishnor aaraadhanam param” meaning that the most exalted system of worship is the worship of Vishnu. It is believed that in Varanasi (Kashi),  ParamaShiva whispers Lord Rama naamam in the ear of a person who leaves his body

A true Vaishnava doesn’t seek any material benefit from Lord but always prays for more services and bhaagavatha sambandham.   Azhwars have clearly expressed in their pasurams that we should not waste time worshipping demigods and do offence who worship them.

(Nammazhwar in one pasuram reveals :”matrore dheivam padi adi panindhu…..-instead of worshipping demigods, come to Thirukurugoor and fall at the feet of our Adhipiraan( Lord Narayana ) thus wasting our limited time and should resort to the lotus feet of Lord Narayana 

Andal says “Narayananey namakke parai tharuvan..

”At the same time, Azhwar has emphasised that we must cling to the feet of the devotees to attain the Supreme Lord thus avoiding any sort of offences to any devotees .

There are few Vaishnava divyadesams and Abhimana sthalams with shrines for ParamaShiva with an some incident related in the respective sthala puranam.

Few temples are briefed below

Badrikasramam (Badrinath), Thirupiridhi, Thirusaalagraamam ( Muktinath), Thirukandiyur, Nilathingalthundathan (Ekambareswara temple in Kanchi), Thirukannapuram, Thirukovalur, Thiruchitrakoodam, Thirukoodal, Thirumeyyam, Vrindavan, MUkti Dwaraka near Somnath, Nageshwar near Dwaraka,   Thiruvananthapuram, Mammiyur in Guruvayoor and many many more

• BAdrikasramam (Badrinath):- is one of the 11 vada naadu divyadesams (divyadesams in the north). The entire range of Garhwal Himalayas popularly known a “Chaar dhaam-4 imp. Temples) is considered as ParamaShiva kshetram. It is believed that ParamaShiva was meditating at Badrinath before Lord Narayana manifested here .  Lord Narayana appeared in answer to the prayers of Nara and Narayan parvatham and continued to stay here in between the two mountains on Urvashi peetam.  So, it is believed ParamaShiva moved from this place to Kedarnath.  The Lord blessed that pilgrimage to Badrinath would be deemed to be complete only after visiting Kedarnath.  As it may not be possible for everyone to visit Kedarnath which is comparatively on a higher altitude and considering the strenuous journey one has to undertake.
• Adisankaracharya installed a Shiva lingam right in front of Badrinarayanan temple.  This lingam is known as “Adi  Kedareshwar Mahadev” .  This shrine is located towards our left while going inside the Sri Badrinarayana temple.  Devotees have darshan of Adi Kedareshwar temple before having Badrinarayanan’s darshan.
• Thirupiridhi(Jyotirmutt):- One of the 11 vada nadu divya desams located enroute to Badrinath.  The presiding Perumal is Lord Narasimhar. The Lord’s right wrist is waning and it is believed that when the hand falls down, the way to Badrinath would become inaccessible.  Adisankaracharyar established four mutts in the four corners of our country- in the north at Joshirmutt, in the east at Puri, In the west at Dwaraka and in the south Rameshwaram. He installed a lingam in the prakaram of Lord Narasimhar temple.  Shiva is worshipped here as “Kalpeshwar Mahadev”
• Thirusaalagramam(Muktinath): Only divya desam which is located outside India in Nepal.  MUktinath is situated on the Annapurna ranges in Nepal.  Lord Pashupathinath (ParamaShiva) is the guardian diety for this kshetram.  This famous temple is located in Kathmandu .  It is believed that one must have prior darshan of Pashupathinath before going to Muktinath.  Many skip this as they take alternative route from Gorakhpur to Pokhra or fly from Kathmandu to Muktinath/Jomsom. 
• Thiruchitrakoodam(Chidambaram): Thillai Thiruchitrakootam, . one of the 40 chola nadu divya desams located about 150 kms south of  Chennai  . The temple comprises of Vaishnava divyadesam Sri Govindaraja Swamy temple  and also Nataraja temple.  The divya desa Perumal is known  as Govindaraja Perumal lying in bhujana sayanam facing east.  In Mount Kailash-the abode of Lord Shiva, Shiva out of ecstasy for Lord Vishnu’s qualities started performing Anandha thaandavam   Nataraja remained close to Govindaraja Perumal.
• Thirukandiyur: One of the 40 chola nadu divya desams located about 4 miles north of Tanjavur. This place is famous as there are temples for Trinity-Vishnu,Shiva and Brahma.  After pralayam, when Mahavishnu started creation, Brahma emerged from the lotus navel of Vishnu.  He had five faces at that time signifying pancha bhoothas and was seated on a 14 petalled lotus signifying creation of 14 worlds. Lord is glorified as “Hara saapa vimochana Perumal”.
• Thirukarambanur (Uttamar Kovil):- The chola nadu divya desam is about 3 kms from Srirangam.   The Lord Purushotaman in bhujanga sayanam pose facing east is praised by Thirumangai Azhwar as “Karambanur Uttaman”.  Uttamar means one who is blemishless and has matchless good qualities.  Here ParamaShiva is glorified as “Bhikshender” .    ParamaShiva is along with Perumal   Also, there are separate shrines for Brahma, Shiva, Saraswati in the temple precincts.
• Nilathingal thundathan temple:– One of the 22 divya desams in Thonda Naadu and is one of the thirteen divyadesams in Kanchipuram. This is part of the Ekambareswarar temple in Shivakanchi.  Perumal is known as “Nilathingal thundathaan/ Chandrachooda Perumal.  Elders reveal the divine wedding of Ekambareswar(Shiva) with Kamakshi(Parvathi) took place here.
• Thirukannapuram:- This chola nadu divya desam located in Tanjavur district between Nagapatinam and Nannilam is an important divya desam. It is one of the Pancha Krishna kshetrams.  Lord is considered as the personification of Ashtakshaari.  Nammazhwar has glorified this Perumal as “Maranamadaindhaal vaikuntham kodukkum piraan” meaning the one who bestows Vaikuntam when leaving the physical body..  Perumal is acharyar for Thirumangai Azhwar.    On the seventh day during Vaikasi Brahmotsavam, the utsava murthi Lord Sourirajan is dressed in white clothes, wears rudraksha maala and vibhuthi is applied all over the thirumeni(body) of the Lord . Perumal sports this on one day for a muhurtham.(48 minutes).  As per the sthalapurana, Perumal has given  a place on HIS chest to Shiva.  As he is the Lord of the Universe including Shiva , he dresses like Shiva.  Another reason is during Mughal invasion, to prevent massacre, this Lord was transported to Thiruvaanaikaaval (siva temple) and was kept in safe custody.  As a token of remembrance of this incident, at the behest of the devotees, Lord agreed to give darshan as Shiva for a muhurtham.  .
• Thirumeyyam:- This Pandya nadu divya desam famously known  as Satya kshetram is close to Pudukottai.  Two identical temples for Lord Satyagirinathan (Vishnu) and Lord Satyagiriswaran( Shiva) are carved out from a single rock within a distance of 50 feet.  Both the dieties are facing east.  Earlier, both the shrines could be seen together from a distance until a wall was constructed to curtail disputes .  There is no sthala puranam for the existence of Shiva temple, may be the Pallava kings built these two identical temples . The entire cave is an archeological site.
• Thirukoodal (Madurai):- This Pandya nadu divya desam is situated in Madurai. As the trinities assembled here to discuss annihilation of demons in Kritya yuga, it is known as “koodal”. Everything about this place is sundaram (beautiful).  The Lord is Sundararajan, Shiva is known as Sundareswaran.  Lord Sundararaja Perumal along with Maduravalli Thayar is residing in this sacred town since the first yuga.   Meenakshi-Sundareswara swamy temple is nearby. Every year, Azhagar perumal from Thirumaliruncholai visits this place and performs Meenakshi-Sundareswara kalyanam grandly.
• THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:- Trivandrum:- In this famous Malai nadu divya desam located in the capital city of Kerala, the Lord Ananta Padmanabha swamy is in reclining posture and THIS huge form can be had darshan through 3 dwarams. Through the first dwaram, Lord’s thirumukham, through the centre –Lord’s middle part-nabhi kamalam etc, and through the last dwaram. Lords’ thiruvadi(holy feet) can be seen. Lord Shiva is seen near Perumal’s thriumudi (head).

• THIRUVAATARU :- This malai nadu divya desam situated between Nagercoil and Trivandrum is the temple of Adikesava Perumal.  Lord is worshipped as the elder brother of Lord Anantapadmanabha Swamy who is in bhujanga sayanam.  ParamaShiva is at the lotus feet of Perumal.

• MUKTI DWARAKA (PRABHASA THEERTHAM):- Located in Veravel near Sourashtra , Mukti Dwaraka is the place from where Lord Krishna ascended to Srivaikuntam.    Somnath kshetra, one of the  jyotir lingam is close by .

All glories to Spiritual Masters

Pics : Courtesy Google images uploaded by several devotees

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

It was Namperumal’s divine plan to make Swamy Ramanujar leave Srirangam for a short time , and purify other places by placing his holy feet in Melnadu and retrieve Thirunarayanan who was worshipped by Sri Ramar and Sri Krishna during Tretha and Dwapara yugas .

Peria Perumal thus created a difficult situation by which Swamy Ramanujar had to leave Srirangam after taking Peria Perumal’s consent and thus proceeded towards north accompanied by Sri Mudaliandan Swamy.

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After many days of travel and undergoing various hardships following the course of Kaveri, Swamy Ramanuja finally arrived in Karnataka where the local tribals served them.

En route he met his disciple kongu piratti and graced her

.

Check the url below for kongu piratti divine pastime with Swamy Ramanuja

Kongil Piratti worships Swamy Ramanuja padukas……

Later he moved near Srirangapatinam. https://video.wordpress.com/embed/iUgKlN3R?hd=0&autoPlay=0&permalink=1&loop=0&preloadContent=metadata&muted=0&playsinline=0&controls=1&cover=1

The local people who were averse to Swamy Ramanujar conspired a plan to do away with him.

Swamy Ramanujar learning their evil intentions ordered Mudaliandan Swamy to place his feet in the drinking water pond in that area now called saligrama near Thondanur , which he politely obeyed.

At salagrama ,by partaking this Sripada theertham, the minds of the evildoers changed miraculously and they fell at Swamy Ramanujar lotus feet seeking forgiveness. Such was the greatness of Swamy Mudaliandan .

Ramanujar named this place as “Saligramam” which is near to Melkote.

Even today this pond is maintained by the archakar family .

There is a small temple opposite to this pond in which Swamy Ramanujar’s lotus feet are worshiped.

Swamy Ramanuja had a large number of disciples at Melnadu .

Vangipurathu Achi , Vangipurathu Nambi , Thondanur Nambi , Marudhur Nambi, Malur Nambi , Anathazhwan were some of them in the large group of disciples he had at Melnadu.

Thondanur Nambi was a great bhagavatha , a saint and most respected scholar as he was close to the Royal family .

Thondanur Nambi , during his pilgrimage to Srirangam was attracted to Swamy Ramanuja .

He loved his approach and the simple teachings which leads to self realisation that takes one to godhead. He was one among the 74 Simhadhipathees .

Thondanur was the summer capital of the Hoyasala kingdom ruled by King Vittala deva who was a staunch follower of Jainism .

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They were tolerant to other religions too . The King had a daughter who was possessed with an evil spirit .

No treatment could cure her illness . She was always under the possession of the evil spirit which made her do unnatural things .

She was almost dressed like a madwoman and was a big embarrassment to the Royal family . There was another tragedy , during a war the King lost his finger.

This earned him the name Bitti deva .

The King was very upset due to the deformity and the new worry of his daughter that took shape .

No treatment either medicines or tantric rituals could cure her .

The Jain monks also tried their best but nothing seemed possible to relieve her from the evil spirit .

Thondanur Nambi, the disciple of Swamy Ramanujar suggested to the queen that his spiritual master who arrived recently and staying at Saligrama was capable of restoring the princess to normalcy.

The Jain king pleaded Nambi to invite Swamy Ramanuja to his palace .

He even promises that If his daughter is cured he will adopt Srivaishnava faith and surrender to Swamy Ramanuja..

Thondanur Nambi goes to Saligrama and surrenders to the lotus feet of Swamy Ramanuja and briefs him about the Jain Kings intentions .

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It was a wonderful opportunity to grace the King and his people and induct them in the great srivaishnava sampradayam .

Swamy Ramanuja and Thondanur Nambi look for an auspicious time and leave to Thondanur to the Royal palace .

The Royal couple have the divya darshan of JagathAcharyar Swamy Ramanuja .

Both of them fall like uprooted trees looking at Swamy Ramanujas divine aura .

They welcome Swamy to their Royal chambers .

The whole Royal family pay their obeisance’s to Swamy Ramanuja .

The mad princess who was irritating the members few minutes back suddenly leaves into another room when Swamy enters the chambers . With some cajoling the princess who is shabbily dressed is brought before Swamy Ramanuja .

Looking at the pitiable state of the princess , Swamy gives the holy water that was offered to his Lordships and applies the holy turmeric paste offered to Lord on her forehead .

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The moment she sips the holy water and makes an eye contact with the great Acharya the evil spirit vanishes and she almost faints before him .

The princess is slowly brought back to senses by sprinkling some water on her .

To everybody’s surprise she gets up , looks at herself feels shy and runs away to her chambers . She dresses herself elegantly and offers obeisances to Swamy Ramanuja amongst all the people .

The Royal couple are amazed with the sudden happenings . They accept that the great seer who is with them is a very pious soul who has incarnated to uplift them . Instantly they surrender to his lotus feet and beg to be taken into his fold .

Swamy Ramanuja asks them to offer prayers at Nambi Narayana Temple and meet him there .

At Swamy Nambi Narayana temple , Swamy Ramanuja conducts a discourse attended by many people . The King along with his Royal family too attend the discourse which speaks about the ultimate purpose of life as a srivaisnava .

. Attracted to his simple teachings the entire crowd adopt srivaishnavism . Amongst the citizens the King , Queen and all his family members are given Panchasamskara initiation .

The King is given a name a Vishnu vardhana after due initiation by Swamy Ramanuja himself . The celebration among st the citizens is multi fold .

All the citizens hail Swamy Ramanujas discourse and accept him as their Jagath Acharya .

Somewhere down the lane the Jain monks are upset with the happenings .

All of them march to the Royal Palace and argue with the king for taking such a foolish step  

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They convince the King that their proposed debate with Swamy Ramanuja will prove Jainism superiority and he must agree to their command .

The King knew very well that such thing can never happen .

However he along with the Jain monks in huge numbers walk up to the Yoga narasimhar temple located on a hillock as Swamy Ramanuja was staying there .

The Jain monks along with the King meet Swamy Ramanuja and invite him to a debate on the esoteric truths . All the Jain monks assemble and start posing questions .

The euphoria around makes Swamy Ramanuja to command his disciples to surround him with a curtain . Almost 1000 jain monks shoot questions on him without any break .

It is was ONE vs ONE THOUSAND 

The divine incident of Swamy Ramanuja taking over one thousand Jain monks was relished by the disciples . Inside , Swamy Ramanujar was covered by a curtain and with his original form as Adisesha with 1000 hoods, he answers every question of the monk with patience and clarity .

Thus he defeats all the 1000 Jains at a time. One monk was inquisitive to find out why the curtain was put .He slowly managed to peep inside the curtain .

To his shock he could see JagathAcharyar’s viswaroopam and fainted . The Jain monks had no reply and were forced to accept defeat and adopt to srivaishnavism .This incident happened at Lord Narasimha swamy temple in Bhakta nagari (presently known as Thondanur).

Swamy MudaliAndaan who gave us the nectarian sloka DHAATI PANCHAKA in praise of Swamy Ramanujar at this place. This place is on the way to Melkote(about 16 kms) from Srirangapatinam.

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The wonderful opportunity given by Swamy Ramanuja to Mudaliandaan is remembered even today . “Dhati Panchakam” speaks of the victory of Swamy Ramanuja over other philosophies – both those that accept Vedas and those that don’t – and his establishing the Visishtadvaita philosohpy that was built by Azhvars and Purvacharyas.

As the name suggests, it comprises of five slokas The word “DHATI” means “attacking” – as this work shows the attack that Ramanuja carried over the other philosophies that were widespread at that time, it is an appropriate name for it.

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Swamy out of his love composed a wonderful composition on Swamy Ramanuja called “DHATEE PANCHAKAM” which starts with the introductory sloka ..

Our  Varthamana swamy descendant of Swamy MudaliAndaan was kind to recite this sloka at our residence during his recent visit , a clip presented below and the sloka

Click to access SreeMudhaliandanThirumaligai-DhattiPanchakam%20-%20English.pdf

Our moksham is not guaranteed only with the sambandham of any other acharya – but Ramanuja”.

Our daily chant is ” RamanujArya divyAgya vardhatAm abhi vardhatAm. ”

It is only he who can command and all our acharyas and we follow his command .

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Swamy Ramanuja is the only acharya who was referred with respect and followed by all other schools in vaishnavism like chaitanya, vallabhacharya, Swamy narayan as the margadayee .

Uyya Ore Vazhi Udayavar Thiurvadi!

(only way for spiritual up liftment is to take refuge in Yathiraja Padhuka)

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Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

Pictures courtesy : Google images uploaded by several devotees

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Lord SrimanNarayana out of abundant mercy sent Azhwars who appeared at different parts of South India during kaliyuga to spread Srivaishanvism and steadfast faith and devotion to Lord for their own up liftment .
They expressed their divine experience of Lord and His glorious kalyanagunas in their mystic outpourings in chaste Tamil language which are collectively known as “Nalayira Divya Prabandham”.
The divine pasurams (songs) contain rich philosophical and religious thoughts drawn from the Upanishads and Ithihasa Puranas. They cover all the essential teachings of Sri Vaishnavism and thus made a very great contribution for further development by our Poorvacharyas like Sriman Nathamunigal, Sri Yamunacharya, Swami Ramanuja and other revered acharyas who came after the Azhwars.

Swami Ramanuja systematized the system of thought of Srivaishnavism religion and the Azhwar’s pasurams to propagate among the masses.
Swami had thus established the Seventy Four (74) Simhasanadhipathis all over.

Swami Appachiaranna was the direct descendant of Swami Mudaliyandan and occupies the nineth (9) position in the order. Swami Appachiaranna was addressed by Swami Manavala Mamunigal as “Nam Appachiarannao” .

In the foot steps of Swami Ramanuja, Appachiaranna also spent his life time doing the Salaikinaru Kanikaryam ( The well from where water was taken for worshipping LORD VARADARAJA in Kancheepuram ) for the thirumanjanam of Perarulalan and Perundevi Thayar.
Swamy Appachiaranna Swami, the nineth descendant in the Vadhula race was sincerely serving Kancheepuram LORD VARADARAJA as per his Acharyars directions .
Swami Annavilappan , Thirukumarar (son ) of Appachiaranna Swami had a divine dream. The Lord of Singaperumal Koil Pataladhri Narasimha, appeared in the dream of Swami Annavilappan and ordered him to set right his abode at … Narasimha Vinnagaram…which was submerged in the sand dumes in the past ….
His abode which was covered under sand dunes and establish a place with agraharam and kainkaryaparas and to live ever in His Service.
Accordingly, Swami Annavilappan followed the divine order and lived his full life time in the service of the Lord of Singaperumal Koil

The present “Singaperumal Koil” was built during 8th century by the kings, Mahendra Varman and Narasimha Varman.
It was known as “Narasimha Vinnagaram” in those days, and belonged to Chengundram Village. Later the temple was eroded by sand.
Swami Annavilappan renovated this temple in later 15th century and established it to be the most visited temple by devotees .
The appearance day of this great Acharyar Swami Anavillapan is celebrated in a grand way at Singaperumal koil at chennai

The great acharya Swami Annavilappan’s Thirumasikettai Thirunakshatra Mahotsavam is celebrated in a grand way at Singaperumal Koil at Chennai during the tamil month of Maasi , Feb- March . Today March 14th 2023 is the appearance day of our Swamy .
Singaperumal Koil is about 25 kms from Tambaram and the temple is just 100 meters off the GST Road.
Jai Jai Narasimha
Sri Annavillappan Swami Thiru Avathara Mahotsavam (Maasi Kettai) is celebrated at Sri Mudaliandan Swami Thirumaligai (Singaperumal Koil) in a grand way.
Thiru Maasi kettai Satrumurai will be celebrated on March 4th 2024

Swamy Annavillappan Swami Thanian ( Glorification )
Vaadhoola Varadhacharya krupaapoorna manoratham |
Shri venkata gurum vandhe sheelathi guna saagaram ||
Devotees interested in participating in the seva may
Contribute by M.O/D.D/Cheque to the below address
In favor of “Sri Dasarathy Trust”,
Sri Mudaliandan Swami Thirumaligai,
4/345, Sannadhi Street,
Singaperumal Koil (near Chengalpet),
Kancheepuram District,
Pin Code – 603 204
Adiyen Ramanuja dasan
Pics : Courtesy Mudaliandan.com

Swami Mudaliandan was the foremost disciple of Swami Ramanuja. Mudaliandaan is considered as being an Avathara of the Lord Rama Himself. Lord Rama was so pleased with Adiseshan’s service to him as Lakshmana that he wanted to serve him in future Avatharas. As a result, He bestowed the Avathara of Balarama to Adiseshan and himself as Krishna. Adiseshan incarnated as Swami Ramanuja , and LORD Rama became his daasan. ( Daasarathe his original thirunamam) .

Once, while serving Swami Ramanuja inside a temple Andaan expressed his anxiety about blessing him with a progeny to continue services to Asmath Acharyar and his mission . During the conversation , Swamy Ramanuja received maha prasadam from the temple which was covered with a garment (Kandadai – Gandam + aadai – a piece of cloth with fragrance) worn by Lord’s thirumeni (Lord’s archamurthy).

Swami Ramanuja indicated to MudaliAndaan about the auspicious happening and told him he would be blessed with a progeny soon. In due course , a son was born to Andaan. Thus, Andaan vamsam (family) were called Kandadayar family. It is said that a whole street [north mADa street] in Srivilliputthur bears the name ‘kandadaiyar vithi’, to signify the importance of the illustrious family.

Kandadai Aandan appeared during Kumba (Maasi) Punarpoosam day for rendering faultless service to bhaagavathaas. He appeared at Sri Rangam and under the care of Swami Ramanuja. His father was his Shiksha guru who taught him Vedas, Sastras and Divya Prabhandam.

Swami Kandadai Andan pleased his Acharyar Swamy Ramanuja and sought his permission to install an idol replica of him at his appearance place (Sriperumbudur) for the benefit of all the future generation.

Swamy Ramanujar granted his disciple request. At once Andan summoned a sculptor and advised him to make a replica of his Acharyar “Swamy Ramanujar” in his then advanced age. He invited Acharyar to grace the thirumeni of Swamy Ramanujar . Swamy Ramanujar was pleased with his devotion and embraced the deity . Placing all his grace and all the mercy in that idol, he told Andan to install it on the day of Guru Pushyam.

With due respect, Andan carried the deity to Sriperumbudur with all the paraphernalia and installed on the day nominated by Swamy Ramanujar. While this was being done at Sriperumbudur at Sri Rangam , Swamy Ramanujar felt that his strength was draining out and wondered why was it happening . He then recollected and understood the reason .He sent out a message to invite Andan to report to him at Sri Rangam.

On receipt of the communication Kandadai Andan reached Sri Rangam and prostrated before Swamy Ramanujar. Swamy Ramanujar advised Kandadai Andan to peform his final rites and also to install his idol at the place where his body was laid to final rest.

As ordered ,Swami Ramanujar’s utsavar thirumeni was installed by Kandadai Aandan at Sri Rangam. He also commanded “ Swamy Ramanujar Mahotsavam “ to be performed on his appearance day “Thiruvadhirai day” forever, by succeeding generations.

Swami Kandadai Andan was also glorified as Ramanuja Dasar.

vaadhoolaanvaya vaartheendhum shreemad dhaasharathe sutham |
vedhaan thadhvaya nishnaandham vandhe raamaanujam gurum ||

mesha Punarvasudhinae daasarathi hamsa sambhavam |
yatheendra paadhukaapikyam vandhe daasarathim gurum ||

Kumbhey Punarvasou jaadham Ramanuja gurum bhaje |
Agaroth yathiraajaarchaam Range boothapurae saya: ||

All glories to Kulashekara Azhwar

All glories to Swamy Kandadai Andan

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

Pics credits : google images

….Sri Vishnusahsranama ..………a divine gift from Bhishmacharya ………………..

After the great Mahabharata war, as per destiny , Bhismacharya was lying on the bed of arrows . He was letting the world know that he was waiting for the auspicious time [punya kala] for the sun orienting its direction northwards [Uttarayan] for leaving his mortal body.

Deep inside his heart he was praying Lord Krishna to bless him with his darshan during his last moments of his life .
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Bhismacharya was patiently bearing the pain and being a nice devotee had the firmness not to ask the lord for relief and instead waited for the Lord to grace him .The lord also acted in the same way as his devotee. Since Bhismacharya did not directly call upon Lord , the Lord also decided that he will not use that as a direct reason for giving him his darshan.

It is also revealed , before the onset of the war, Arjuna was perplexed and hence Lord Sri Krishna gave the Holy epic Srimad Bhagavat Gita to clarify all the doubts of Arjuna and indirectly to the humankind.

Meanwhile after the war , the whole of Dwaraka was eagerly waiting for the Lord’s arrival Lord Krishna was getting ready to depart to Dwaraka

. Yudishtira somehow wanted to delay the lord’s departure for some reason. He submits to Lord humbly and pleads , Oh Lord Krishna! I cannot sit on the throne which is stained by the blood of all my relatives and all my grandsir’s.

I am not sure about the righteous path and am confused over the path of dharma.” Please help me ..

Lord thought that probably he had to bestow Yudhistira with another sermon of Bhagavat Gita but decided not to do so. He thought of a better option. He told Yudistira that the best person to seek knowledge on dharma was none other than Bhismacharya . The lord said “When Arjuna was confused; I thought that my discourse would make his mind light and devoid of any doubts. But I later realized that he was all the more confused and worried.”

He advised , Yudishtira that he was going to lead him to a satsang which was a divine communion with a great devotee Bhismacharya. So the entire retinue now proceeded towards Bhismacharya in the war field .Bhishma was lying on a bed of arrows with no food, water and was sustaining his life only by uttering the Lords holy names silently and living with sheer divine grace.

The moment Bhisma looks at Lord Krishna along with Yudhistira, his face brightens up with a smile. He is overjoyed with Lord Krishna darshan. Lord walks near him and with a bewitching smile requests Bhisma to clarify Yudhishtira’s doubt’s . Lord thus created a situation and used this as a pretext to grace Bhisma.

(He wanted to show the greatness of Bhisma).

Lord looks at Yudishtira and says , Yudhishtra !!! when people are about to depart this world, they would disclose the supreme of all secrets which they have been guarding all their lives. This is akin to the father giving all his wealth to his son only during his last moments. The lord advises him to clarify all his questions related to the highest dharma from Bhisma who was considered the man for his strength, honesty , values and benevolence .

All the Pandavas and Draupathi arrive at the Kurukshetra battle field where Bhisma was lying on the bed of arrows. Bhisma looks at the them and becomes very emotional..

Bhisma recollects all the misfortune that happened one by one

. He concludes with tears even for wise people some things are apprehensive ..“Sarvam kala krutham manyae” It is all the play of time [kala] and none other than Lord Krishna can comprehend this.

Time is no different from Krishna as the lord appears as time outside. Yudishtira moves close to Bhishma to voice his concerns on dharma and requests to expound on Dharma.

Hearing his question, Bhisma replies ..

My child listen ….

Dharma can be classified as follows

Raja dharma – The dharma for politics

Moksha dharma – The dharma for different stages of one’s life as a student, as a house-holder

Varma Dharma – The dharma that one needs to adhere by someone who is ready for renunciation

Ashrama dharma – The dharma for a renunciant

Look here, your own mind, senses, will, discrimination, ability, brilliance, valour, courage, your own abode and the dweller of the above are all pervaded by the living Lord.  Synthesis, wisdom, understanding, learning, formulating and executing of the various activities of the creation are included in the one wisdom which comes out as the breath of the Supreme  Lord.

Bhisma elucidates on the prayachitha dharma [pavana dharma ) set of guidelines that one needs to follow if one commits a mistake.

After patiently listening to the discourse on dharma , Yudishtira pleads Bhisma to expound on the supreme of all dharmas.

Bhishma smiles and says My child !!! Can any one compare between dharmas. Every dharma is unique in its own way.

However ..listen the supreme of all dharmas is verily chanting the divine names of Lord Vishnu.

It is superior to any other dharma. It is indeed greatest of all dharma, jnana and bhakti yogas. The chanting of divine names of the lord exists independently of other dharmas.

Bhishma blessed us all by revealing Sri Vishnu Sahasranama which has the powers to cure any disease in samsara and liberate us from this prison of samsara and ensure we are united with Lord Sriman Narayana.

All the great commentators of Bhagavad Gita and Vishnu Sahasarnama gracefully point out the fact that chanting the divine names of the lord is indeed the greatest of all dharmas in the age of Kali.

Human mind thinks that if a path has lot of intricacies then it is a supreme. Human mind also thinks that if a path is rare then it is great.
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The same mind also thinks that a simple path cannot be a great path. The great Azhwars , Acharyas and advanced devotees from all the vaishnava schools justifiy why the path of nama sankirtan is indeed supreme. There are six reasons to substantiate the greatness of this path.

Firstly there is no violence involved. It is easy to perform, for it has no expectations on six fronts – himsa [violence], purushantara [irrespective of caste/creed], desha [place], kala [time], dravyantara [no material cost], niyama [no rules]. There are absolutely no rules.

Namasankirtan will unite everybody. It will unite countries, people, cultures and races. People will unite and come together irrespective of their religion, tradition and philosophies they follow and everyone will be united by the bond of love which will be further strengthened by the chanting of the divine names of the lord.

The battle of Kurukshertra took only twenty years before the start of the Kali Yuga which is about 5200 years ago.

So Bhismacharya gave a fitting dharma which logically, philosophically fulfills the principles of Bhagavad Gita. Srimad Bhagavatam fulfills Bhagavad Gita and it explains Gita with lot of relish by quoting examples and anecdotes.

At the end of Mahabharatha war, Yudhistira was bestowed with the thousand names of the lord, the Vishnu Sahasarnama.

Sree Vishnu sahasranama Sthothra, is a garland of the thousand divine names of Lord Vishnu, strung into a beautiful sthothra by the legendary Rishi “Veda Vyasa” , acknowledged as one of the greatest exponents of the Vedic wisdom. The first 13 stanzas are the dialog between Yudhisthira and Bhishmacharya . The next three stanzas are the customary Dhyana verses…. It is said that in Veda Vyasa’s 149th chapter Anushasanika Parvam of the Great Epic Mahabharatha, the Vishnu Sahasranama Stotra, the 1000 names of the Lord Vishnu are written..

The person who requested for it is the Dharma Putra and the person who gave it is Dharma Swaroopa, the very embodiment of dharma, Bhismacharya.

The witness to this wonderful episode was none other than the end of all dharma, Lord Sri Krishna.

It was in such a beautiful way that the chanting of the divine names of the lord was introduced to the world in such an auspicious setting and amidst a holy group. After hearing this, Yudhistira was completely satiated and relieved.

It is saids by Elders , that One who learns these  holy names by mind, heart and soul meets with nothing undesirable. He is free from the conditioning of the worlds, mundane and spiritual.

One who wants wisdom, will know all the philosophy. The ruler meets with success, and the businessman finds the culmination and significance of his wealth. The labourer attains happiness. The seeker of Law realises what is Law. He who is desirous of wealth will attain the real wealth.

He who wants accomplishment will be accomplished. One who wants a child realises what a child is. One who chants these thousand names without any desire, becomes prominent in society and is known as inevitable. His Wealth lies in stability and his prosperity lies in his virtue. Ability and brilliance keep him fearless. His divine aura keeps him in strength, beauty and virtue and protects him from any indisposition.

The unhealthy one finds himself healthy, the imprisoned realises freedom. The frightened one is freed from fear and the one who is in peril, will be out of peril.

Everyone stands above and beyond his own hurdles by chanting the prayer of the Supreme Person.

This is because a devotee of the Lord bears no malice, no anger, no hatred and no coveted expectation of anything. Remember that the vault of heavens decorated with the sun, moon and the sparkling myriads is kept in poise by the Lord of all Lords, who lives in everyone of them.

Since He pervades all, you remember that the whole creation which includes the gods and demons and the beings astral, etheric, etherial and meteorological, exists in obedience to Him.

Why?

Sage Veda Vyasa very joyfully included the divine name chanting in Mahabharatha.Satsang brings in the aura of peace, ushers into clarity and keeps our intellect intact so that we can enjoy happiness and love of the lord.

HARI NAAM SANKIRTAN KI JAI…

By Asmath Acharyar’s and Elders blessings we were able to conduct 108 times recitation of

SRI VISHNU SAHASRANAMAM recitation in our temple that takes almost 30 hours non stop attended by a large group of devotees . Today  1st   Feb 2023 is Bhishma Ekadasee and this is the Seventh year and Adiyen seeks readers good wishes and blessings for continuous gathering . Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

Pics Credits : Google images

Swamy Embaar ( Govinda bhattar ) appeared during the year 1026 in the month of Makara ( Tamil Month of Thai ) under the the constellation of Punarvasu (  and swamy  is said he was the amsam of  Vaiynatheyan/Garudazhwar ) .

Embaars maternal uncle Thirumalai nambhi named him as Govinda Bhattar. Govinda was the first cousin of  JagathAcharyar Swami Ramanuja .Both of them attended the Academy of Yadhava Prakasha ( Yadhava Prakasha a  Advaitin ) at Thiruputkuzzi near Kancheepuram .

The  unfortunate  design planned  that need  not be discussed by their Guru Yadavaprakasha to eliminate  Swamy Ramanuja was foiled by  young Govinda by seeing an early opportunity .

More details of this divine pastime can be read  from the below url blog post

LORD ARRIVES IN THE GUISE OF HUNTER COUPLE TO SAVE HIS ARDENT DEVOTEE SWAMY RAMANUJA

Govinda bhattar  advises  Swamy Ramanujar  about the evil intentions of the troupe.   As advised by Govinda bhattar  , Ramanujar leaves them and by LORD’s will reaches  Kanchi ( We  cherish  how our  Swamy Ramanujar was saved by Lord Varadar  and his consort from getting lost in jungles and had safe passage to Kanchipuram) { Even to this day the same event is celebrated as Salai Kinaru Usthavam .

Yadhava Prakasha noticed Ramanujar missing and asked all the disciples to search for him ,and even our Govinda pretended to search so that he should not be doubted. Then unable to locate him ,  all concluded that Ramanuja must have lost his way in the wild jungle and must have been devoured by wild animals.

Inwardly happy they all continued the sojourn to Kashi.  On reaching Kashi , Govinda took  a dip in Ganges  and rose his palms .To his amazement , he notices  a Shiva Lingam in his hand . He immediately proceeds to  show the divinity it to his master .

His Guru  Yadavaprakashar commands  Govinda that as Paramasivan  was  pleased with Govinda he had the fortune to have his divinity and as it was  his direct blessings , he must worship the Siva Lingam.

Govinda  accepts his Master’s command.  He starts worshipping  the  Siva Lingam in Madhuramangalam ( even to this day we  can  have darshan of the Siva Lingam) .

Later , he  dreams  Paramasivan of Kalahasthi  advising  him to come to his divine abode .With directions from his Guru , he proceeds  to Kalahasthi . He joins in temple service  and remains there .

Years rolled on . Swami Ramanuja becomes the disciple of Thirukachi Nambhigal ,

Periya Nambhi, Thirukoshtiyur nambhi and had takes  sanyasa .

 Swamy Ramanuja  now remembers  Govinda , whose timely advice saved his life.

Knowing Govinda bhattar is at Kalahastee  he requests  his maternal uncle  Swamy Thirumalai Nambhi to explore the possibilities of bringing Govinda back to srivaishnava fold . Thirumalai Nambhi  proceeds  to Kalahasthi and  meets  Govinda bhattar  and quotes few verses of His Acharyar Alawandar’s Shostra Ratna Malai  elucidating the importance of the Supreme personality Lord Sriman Narayana .

He impresses  upon Govinda that worshipping Lord Sriman Narayana is the only way for path to salvation . Govinda bhattar gets all his questions answered and proceeds to the sanctum .

He  takes  permission from Paramasivan  for joining Swamy Ramanuja in his mission . Paramasivan pleased with his service advises him to remain with Swamy Ramanujar .Govinda bhatar now proceeds  along with his uncle to Thirumala to learn Divyaprabhandam under him.

Meanwhile Swamy Ramanuja  proceeds to Tirumala  for learning the inner secrets of Srimad Ramayana from his uncle Thirumalai Nambhi  at  Tirumala.

After learning the  inner secrets of the geat epic Srimad Ramayana from Swamy  Tirumalai Nambhi , Acharyar  wanted to gift something to his student and  felt sad  that he did not have anything to give.

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Seizing the wonderful  opportunity  Swamy Ramanuja   requests Acharyar to gift him with Govinda bhattar  who was  very obedient and a  true seeker of knowledge. Swamy Thirumala Nambhi understood Swamy Ramanujar’s future plan in spreading the Sri Vaishnava doctrine and hence  readily agrees .

Swami Ramanuja and Govinda return  back to Srirangam via Kanchipuram. Though he joins swamy Ramanujar , Govinda was always sad that he was missing his Acharyar and Uncle .

Seeing the sad plight,  Swamy Ramanuja immediately asks  him to go back to  Acharyar Thirumalai Nambhigals place . Overjoyed Govindar returns to Tirumala .

On reaching he understands  his  Acharyar is unhappy with his decision  After staying for a week ,. Acharyar  advises Govindar and tells  “Cow once sold or gifted in dhana cannot be taken back .

Govinda with humility seeks forgivance and  returns back to  Swamy Ramanuja , more refined, wiser and chastened.

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Now Swamy Ramanuja is   pleased with  his move .With  affection  he advises him to attend  all lectures, discourse, debates expositions and dispositions.  

Govindar gradually  becomes  a shadow of  Swamy Ramanuja and serve his master day and night.

Though Govinda bhattar  was married, he never lived a householders life,  and he remained like a Brahmachari . He wanted to take Sanyasa like his master Swamy  Ramanuja.

Much against his mothers wishes Swami Ramanuja agrees to give him Sanyasa after testing his sincerity to accept the sanyasa ashram He presents Govinda a Arch robe of an ascetic and  gives  his initiated  name  as “Emperumanar” .

Govindar bhattar feels humble and    informs  his master whether he  did  deserve this honor.   https://video.wordpress.com/embed/r9HtBq9k?hd=0&autoPlay=0&permalink=0&loop=0

Swamy Ramanuja  joins  the first and last syllables of his name and gives the name   “EMBAR”and thus  Govinda got his name “EMBAR” our most revered Acharyar

As commanded by  Swamy Ramanuja , Embaar taught  his disciple Parasara Bhatta all that he learnt from his Acharyar   . He succeeded in making the Parasara Bhattar the worthy successor of  Swamy Ramanuja to carry on the  great Ramanuja Sidhantha to the future generation.

During the year 1137  when our beloved Swamy Ramanujar shed his mortal coil and proceeded to Srivaikuntam , Swamy rested himself  keeping his head in Embaars lap .

  Swamy Embaar composed the  great work called “VIJNAASTHUTHI”.

rAmanuja padhachchAya gOvindAhvAna pAyini |
thadAyattha svarUpAssA jeeyAnmadviSramasthali: ||

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

Photos and videos : 

Courtesy great devotees of LORD 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

Swamy Embaar ( Govinda bhattar ) appeared during the year 1026 in the month of Makara ( Tamil Month of Thai ) under the the constellation of Punarvasu (  and swamy  is said he was the amsam of  Vaiynatheyan/Garudazhwar ) .

Embaars maternal uncle Thirumalai nambhi named him as Govinda Bhattar. Govinda was the first cousin of  JagathAcharyar Swami Ramanuja .Both of them attended the Academy of Yadhava Prakasha ( Yadhava Prakasha a  Advaitin ) at Thiruputkuzzi near Kancheepuram .

The  unfortunate  design planned  that need  not be discussed by their Guru Yadavaprakasha to eliminate  Swamy Ramanuja was foiled by  young Govinda by seeing an early opportunity .

More details of this divine pastime can be read  from the below url blog post

LORD ARRIVES IN THE GUISE OF HUNTER COUPLE TO SAVE HIS ARDENT DEVOTEE SWAMY RAMANUJA

Govinda bhattar  advises  Swamy Ramanujar  about the evil intentions of the troupe.   As advised by Govinda bhattar  , Ramanujar leaves them and by LORD’s will reaches  Kanchi ( We  cherish  how our  Swamy Ramanujar was saved by Lord Varadar  and his consort from getting lost in jungles and had safe passage to Kanchipuram) { Even to this day the same event is celebrated as Salai Kinaru Usthavam .

Yadhava Prakasha noticed Ramanujar missing and asked all the disciples to search for him ,and even our Govinda pretended to search so that he should not be doubted. Then unable to locate him ,  all concluded that Ramanuja must have lost his way in the wild jungle and must have been devoured by wild animals.

Inwardly happy they all continued the sojourn to Kashi.  On reaching Kashi , Govinda took  a dip in Ganges  and rose his palms .To his amazement , he notices  a Shiva Lingam in his hand . He immediately proceeds to  show the divinity it to his master .

His Guru  Yadavaprakashar commands  Govinda that as Paramasivan  was  pleased with Govinda he had the fortune to have his divinity and as it was  his direct blessings , he must worship the Siva Lingam.

Govinda  accepts his Master’s command.  He starts worshipping  the  Siva Lingam in Madhuramangalam ( even to this day we  can  have darshan of the Siva Lingam) .

Later , he  dreams  Paramasivan of Kalahasthi  advising  him to come to his divine abode .With directions from his Guru , he proceeds  to Kalahasthi . He joins in temple service  and remains there .

Years rolled on . Swami Ramanuja becomes the disciple of Thirukachi Nambhigal ,

Periya Nambhi, Thirukoshtiyur nambhi and had takes  sanyasa .

 Swamy Ramanuja  now remembers  Govinda , whose timely advice saved his life.

Knowing Govinda bhattar is at Kalahastee  he requests  his maternal uncle  Swamy Thirumalai Nambhi to explore the possibilities of bringing Govinda back to srivaishnava fold . Thirumalai Nambhi  proceeds  to Kalahasthi and  meets  Govinda bhattar  and quotes few verses of His Acharyar Alawandar’s Shostra Ratna Malai  elucidating the importance of the Supreme personality Lord Sriman Narayana .

He impresses  upon Govinda that worshipping Lord Sriman Narayana is the only way for path to salvation . Govinda bhattar gets all his questions answered and proceeds to the sanctum .

He  takes  permission from Paramasivan  for joining Swamy Ramanuja in his mission . Paramasivan pleased with his service advises him to remain with Swamy Ramanujar .Govinda bhatar now proceeds  along with his uncle to Thirumala to learn Divyaprabhandam under him.

Meanwhile Swamy Ramanuja  proceeds to Tirumala  for learning the inner secrets of Srimad Ramayana from his uncle Thirumalai Nambhi  at  Tirumala.

After learning the  inner secrets of the geat epic Srimad Ramayana from Swamy  Tirumalai Nambhi , Acharyar  wanted to gift something to his student and  felt sad  that he did not have anything to give.

https://video.wordpress.com/embed/MPhgt2Z9?hd=0&autoPlay=0&permalink=0&loop=0

Seizing the wonderful  opportunity  Swamy Ramanuja   requests Acharyar to gift him with Govinda bhattar  who was  very obedient and a  true seeker of knowledge. Swamy Thirumala Nambhi understood Swamy Ramanujar’s future plan in spreading the Sri Vaishnava doctrine and hence  readily agrees .

Swami Ramanuja and Govinda return  back to Srirangam via Kanchipuram. Though he joins swamy Ramanujar , Govinda was always sad that he was missing his Acharyar and Uncle .

Seeing the sad plight,  Swamy Ramanuja immediately asks  him to go back to  Acharyar Thirumalai Nambhigals place . Overjoyed Govindar returns to Tirumala .

On reaching he understands  his  Acharyar is unhappy with his decision  After staying for a week ,. Acharyar  advises Govindar and tells  “Cow once sold or gifted in dhana cannot be taken back .

Govinda with humility seeks forgivance and  returns back to  Swamy Ramanuja , more refined, wiser and chastened.

https://video.wordpress.com/embed/fzSByjzr?hd=0&autoPlay=0&permalink=0&loop=0

Now Swamy Ramanuja is   pleased with  his move .With  affection  he advises him to attend  all lectures, discourse, debates expositions and dispositions.  

Govindar gradually  becomes  a shadow of  Swamy Ramanuja and serve his master day and night.

Though Govinda bhattar  was married, he never lived a householders life,  and he remained like a Brahmachari . He wanted to take Sanyasa like his master Swamy  Ramanuja.

Much against his mothers wishes Swami Ramanuja agrees to give him Sanyasa after testing his sincerity to accept the sanyasa ashram He presents Govinda a Arch robe of an ascetic and  gives  his initiated  name  as “Emperumanar” .

Govindar bhattar feels humble and    informs  his master whether he  did  deserve this honor.   https://video.wordpress.com/embed/r9HtBq9k?hd=0&autoPlay=0&permalink=0&loop=0

Swamy Ramanuja  joins  the first and last syllables of his name and gives the name   “EMBAR”and thus  Govinda got his name “EMBAR” our most revered Acharyar

As commanded by  Swamy Ramanuja , Embaar taught  his disciple Parasara Bhatta all that he learnt from his Acharyar   . He succeeded in making the Parasara Bhattar the worthy successor of  Swamy Ramanuja to carry on the  great Ramanuja Sidhantha to the future generation.

During the year 1137  when our beloved Swamy Ramanujar shed his mortal coil and proceeded to Srivaikuntam , Swamy rested himself  keeping his head in Embaars lap .

  Swamy Embaar composed the  great work called “VIJNAASTHUTHI”.

rAmanuja padhachchAya gOvindAhvAna pAyini |
thadAyattha svarUpAssA jeeyAnmadviSramasthali: ||

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

Photos and videos : 

Courtesy great devotees of LORD who uploaded in  social media . 

Offering countless obeisances to Asmath Acharyar, Sri Sri Mudaliandan Swamy and all spiritual masters , Adiyen wishes to share our travel and darisanam experiences at Thirunangoor done few years back . We had attended this great festival twice and wish to share the divine experiences to all the devotees .



It will be a great fortune and mercy for the ones who will be attending this year festival on Thai Amavasai which is being celebrated from 29 January to 31st at Thirunangoor and get the blessings of our Thirumanga Azhwar .Watch the clip and get in that mood of devotion .... 

     .   The remote village of Thirunangoor near Sirkazhi reverberates with satsangh every year Thai Amavasya and the succeeding 2 days are celebrated in a very grand manner. On Thai Amavasya, Thirumangai Azhwar the great saint of Vaishnava sampradaya is given Manjal Kuliyal ……..

(holy bath with turmeric water) which is being celebrated in this remote village past 12 centuries .











The next day, 11 Garuda Seva of LORD is celebrated which is being done since past 100 years .The third day marks the return of Azhwar to Tiruvali-Thirunagari temple. Srivaishnavas make it a point to participate in these festivities.

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MANJAL NEERATAM AND ELEVEN GARUDA SEVAS HELD AT THIRUNANGOOR EVERY YEAR ON THAI AMAVASAI AND PRADHAMAI DAY respectively.






 May the Supreme Lord bestow me the knowledge to describe about the Garuda Seva. Adiyen seeks the blessings of all the devotees , Acharyas and Azhwars for describing the great event .

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Thirumangai Azhwar affectionately called as Kaliyan, was the valiant army chief of the then Chola King that the king gifted him with a small territory to rule over.



 Hence, he was known as Thirumangai Mannan .



He was attracted to an apsara Kumudavalli , daughter of a physician and expressed his desire to marry her.

 Kumudavalli who appeared on this earth to transform this valiant king to a devotee , laid the condition that he should serve 1000 Srivaishnavas every day by offering Prasadam for one year .



Thirumangai Mannan fulfilled her condition and continued to do so even after his marriage as he got habituated in this wonderful kainkaryam of feeding the srivaishnavas. 



In due course, his wealth diminished and as Lord Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita, when HE decides to bless HIS devotee, HE takes away wealth and enacted a divya leela.



Due to his love for vaishnavas , our Azhwar resorted to stealing and plundering wealth from the rich and the egoistic but used the wealth for feeding Vaishnavas and renovating temples.



One day , Tirumangai Mannan comes to know through his friends that a newly wedded couple bedecked with precious jewellery were passing through a forest in a palanquin and if they could plunder their wealth, they could continue with their cause of serving Srivaishnavas forever.



Overjoyed , Thirumangai Mannan along with his four friends rush to the place in the midnight , galloping fast on his horse, who he calls as Aadalmaa. He waylays the divine couple who are resting near a mandapam at “Thirumanankollai” and plunders their wealth. This precious booty is carefully put over a cloth and ties it .

Not being satisfied with the loot, he advances towards them and tries to remove the Thirumetti of Thayar with all his might but is unsuccessful.



By coming in contact with Thayar’s thiruvadi, realisation dawns on him. He is amazed .Something draws him towards them for a second look . However he manages and when he tries to lift the loot, he is unable to do so. He suspects the bridegroom for having put some charm on the loot . He threatens Perumal who is disguised as the bridegroom with a sword to disclose the secret which is not allowing him to lift the loot .



Perumal smiles at him . He advises him to purify himself by having a dip at the Kavery tributary and return so that he can impart the secret to him.



Thirumangai mannan politely obeys the advise . He returns to Perumal. Lord gives him the most sacred mantram,Thirumantram . The moment Perumal whispers the sacred Ashtakshari Thirumantram , wisdom dawns on Kaliyan and he surrenders at the Lotus feet of the Divya Dampadhigal.

He repents for all his earlier deeds and outbursts his divine pourings starting with the wonderful pasuram



“Vaadinene Vaadi….” and decides to glorify Perumal by visiting holy places in India..



He is transformed as Thirumangai Azhwar and riding on his Aadalma horse glorified Perumal in about 86 divya desams.

Check the appended post appended below for more details of Azhwar's appearance vaibhavam...

The glory of “Parakaalan” … “kaalan” for people who refuted “paran” ( Our Supreme Lord ) …

https://kmkvaradhan.wordpress.com/2017/12/02/today-is-the-appearance-day-of-thirumangai-azhwar-our-parakaalan-kaalan-for-people-who-refuted-paran/

 OUR PILIGRIMAGE EXPERIENCES

With the directions given by senior devotees we reached Thirunangoor in the evening and discussing about the divine pastimes of Azhwars with elders .


Though we did not have a proper resting place all of us relaxed lying down at the temple entrance awaiting Azhwars arrival as it was almost midnight when we reached Thirunangoor. 



The village of Thirunangoor is fully crowded with many devotees . We all relaxed in front of a house near Thirunagari temple. Suddenly around 1.30 A.M. in the early morning, we were awakened by sounds of crackers and trumpets .




The drums and Nadaswaram were being played to welcome our Azhwar .

On enquiry, we were told that Azhwar’s purapaadu ( procession ) was about to start and Azhwar was being dressed as the chief .




https://www.youtube.com/watchv=NtXbiYGBi08&index=31&list=PL28444E81CFBBC177

Adiyen was keen to join the procession amongst many many senior devotees and the excitement in following Azhwar . Un mindful adiyen took a shower near a bore well and quickly changed my clothes and applying Urdhvapundram ran behind the crowd to be as close to Azhwar and the devoted priests . 



It was totally dark with few street lights which were going ON and Off and sad that there were no proper roads. Unmindful of the thorns and stones, all the bhagavathas were literally running behind the Azhwar as some one is waiting for us .


True !......



The all compassionate LORD is so keen to meet the Azhwar for his upliftment . Adiyen had the same feeling .



As it was too difficult to carry children in the crowd my family followed us by hiring a motor car amongst other devotees .


This unique devotion of the villagers and the devotees coming from far off places has to be seen in person to taste the bliss . 



The holy intention of the procession ( purapaadu) is Azhwar personally goes to each of the 11 temples, glorifies the respective Perumals while going for Manjal Neeratam and personally invites the LORDSHIPS to grace them to come to Thirumanimaada kovil for the Garuda utsava darshanam which will be held the next day. 



 The tradition of glorifying the LORD at the respective divyadesams by the pasurams sung by Azhwar is done with all humility

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 Let me attempt to narrate the happenings in the chilly night of Amavasai . Our Azhwar (Thirumangai Azhwar) was seated majestically in a well-decorated palanquin and the procession started from the temple Azhwar proceeds to Thirukuraiyalur, his birth place.



The crowd braves the chilly weather to somehow occupy the temple corridor to have the closest darshan of Azhwar and Perumal . It was 2.30 AM when we reached this temple . We could see hundreds of devotees following the procession . 



The Azhwar literally runs and the bhagavathas also run behind the azhwar. Adiyen participated in the procession and literally was in bliss being with advanced devotees . It was a memorable trek for spiritual quest .

The zeal cannot be explained.

We are in THIRUKURAIYALUR, the appearance place of Thirumangai Alwar.



 The Temple Priest along with the senior devotees receive Azhwar with due temple honours and mangalasaasanams. The first pasuram starting with “VAADINEN VAADI” was recited .


It was as if Azhwar was almost there guiding us .



The pasuram literally brought chilled tears in my eyes . Adiyen was able to feel the soul literally craving for HIS grace and the nectar was directly being fed .



Was able to meet bhagavathaas who were carrying out “PUSHPA KAINKARYAM FOR THE AZHWAR ON THESE TWO DAYS”. 



 Ahead of this recitation we were offered hot prasadam ( Kesaree) .This prasadam became a benchmark for me to offer it LORD later .

 After honouring the prasadam adiyen moved near to the temple premises where the devotees were thinning away .



Offered humble obesiances to LORD NARASINGA PERUMAL and prayed LORD to bestow his abundant mercy in having satsangh always .


The special feature in this big festival is that without any discretion, all the residents of the 11 villages participate in this function and the hospitality extended by the local residents cannot be described in words.



All the bhagavathas who attend this function are sumptuously fed . We can see the village residents voluntarily offering us buttermilk, hot milk and food etc en route

They all consider it as their own family function. Now our Azhwar proceeds to THIRUMANGAIMAADAM , the birth place of Kumudavalli Thayar., who was solely responsible for transforming our Azhwar into a Srivaishnavite.




It’s a very old temple and the darshan of Azhwar specifically at this place reveals his liking to this place and his consort .

 After recitation of the respective pasurams and mangalashashanams , we were offered Chakrapongal prasadam which was honoured . The sweet prasad , the sweet pasurams , the sweet crowd and our SWEET AZHWAR was indeed most memorable night .




On looking at the watch , Adiyen was amazed ,It was already 3.30 AM and was looking as fresh .

Never was Adiyen awake except for the Suprabatha seva at Tirumala Hills . 

We must have around 4 Kms .



From here we proceeded along with Azhwar to

THIRUKAVALAMPADI THIRUMANIKOODAM and THIRUPAARTHANPALLI 

 scattered around for about 10 kms and as done in the temples our Azhwar requests Perumal to grace the garuda Utsavam the nest day after reciting the prescribed pasurams of the Divya desams .



 Few temples the time taken is more as per the number of Pasurams .Adiyen was fortunate to be around the learned bhagavathas and advanced devotees who were literally up to date with the history of temple and Azhwars pastimes . 




All these temples are scattered in a radius of 10 to 12 kms .Unmindful of the darkness , poor roads and route followed each of us were moving in a brisk pace to match the speed of the Procession .



We must congratualate the palaquin bearers of Azhwar who are so energetic and infuse the spirit to just keep moving seeking his mercy . 



The whole place is charged with religious fervour and was eye- captivating. One must not miss to see bhagavatha’s bhakti for the Azhwar. Due to Azhwar’s sheer grace, Adiyen was able to participate in the procession.


The procession was more or less like a running race. 

It shows the Azhwar’s anxiety to have darshan of Perumal at different divya desams . 



In each of the temples, we could see the utsavar anxiety to receive the Azhwar by waiting outside the garbagriham to welcome our Azhwar. 

Adiyen was overwhelmed with joy and at the same time was stunned to see an ocean of Srivaishnavas running behind the Azhwar. True ! If a bhaktha makes a small attempt to seek him



…LORD moves few miles to reach him .All through the way, Perumal’s naamasmaranam was done and Azhwar’s vaibhavam was recapitulated.

 Even the thorns and stones on the road become flowers to the devotees now .Enjoying the company of a senior devotee adiyen suddenly noticed Azhwars procession moving inside a field lushy and so green . 



For a moment, was totally confused . Adiyen didn’t know what was happening. 

The senior devotee explained that it was Azhwar’s practice to go across fields, muddy lands and canals during his times and as a mark of respect the procession goes in the similar fashion and that practice is followed even today. 



It was a very thrilling experience. Around 8-10 bhagavathas were shouldering the palanquin and by seeing the speed in which the procession was taken, Adiyen thought they may drop the palanquin. 

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But was corrected about my misconception by other bhagavathas that such incidents do not happen and Azhwar enjoys the procession to be taken in this way. Adiyen decided to accompany the procession in the damp fields along with the bhagavathas though was bit apprehensive about slipping in the green fields . 

Adiyen never ever felt that we were in the fields . 

We along with Azhwar cross the agricultural fields, (keni kattu), canals etc. One young devotee was sharing his experience that the local people request the procession to be taken across their fields because they strongly believe that Azhwars mercy on them will have a good yield if the procession goes from their fields.



 It takes about half a day for our Azhwar to cover these 5 temples. After inviting the Perumals in these five divyadesams it is almost the next day afternoon .




Now our Azhwar proceeds to the banks of Manikarnikarai 

 ( tributary of the river cauvery )




On the banks of the canal, Azhwar does mangalasaasanam to his Acharyar , Sri Naraiyur Nambi Perumal (Naachiyar kovil, Kumbakonam) who personally initiated him into Vaishnavism and mangalasaasanam to his favourite Perumal, Sri Ranganathar . The Divyaprabhanda pasurams takes you literally to the divyadesam along with Azhwar .



An interesting happening takes place .The Priests along with bhgavathas stood in knee deep water reciting pasurams on LORD Thirunaraiyur Nambi and Sri Ranganathar. Our Azhwar takes a quick dip in the canal . Along with the Azhwar, all the devotees also had a holy dip.



One devotee informed that Azhwar, when he was the chief ,he used to have bath in these waters for refreshing himself after he returned from his looting expedition. Hence, the old practice of having holy dip in the Manikarnikai waters is still followed even today. 



 Azhwar is now honoured with garlands and peethambarams which were adorned by the two Perumals of the divya desams previously. These gifts are specially brought from Kumbakonam and Srirangam with due temple honours. Now our Azhwar proceeds to a nearby old mandapam well decorated for Manjal Neeratam..



..Thirumanjanam ( Abhiskekam) was performed to SINDANAIKU INIYAN ( one who is sweet for contemplating ) who accompanies Azhwar during the entire procession ( deities worshipped by Thirumangai Azhwar himself),



Thirumangai Azhwar and Kumudavalli Thayar. It is very interesting to note that Azwar is never separated from Thayar except on one occasion i.e. during THIRUVEDUPURI UTSAVAM celebrated during Panguni Uthiram day every year in April. Only during this occasion, Azhwar leaves Kumudavalli Thayar alone for a span of 3-4 hours as he goes to rob Perumal’s properties and eventually transforms to become HIS only property .



We are now in the Mandapam premises . A sahsradhaara plate where the Azhwar deities are honoured with a holy bath . 



The beauty is during Abhishekam ( Thiurmanjanam) to Lord Sindanaiku Iniyan the remnants holy water / milk/ honey /curd flows through the Sahasradhaaram on Thirumangai Azhwar and Kumudavalli’s who are underneath LORDS LOTUS FEET

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Its a great bhagyam to have darisanam of Azhwar when the holy water of his deities is allowed to bathe the divine couple who have showed us the path of surrender to our only LORD SRIMAN NARAYANA.




Adiyen was fully charged amongst the bhagavathas . 

Few senior bhagavathas sang Azhwars Pasurams with some dancing to the tunes .






Overall the festive atmosphere infused more and more bhakthi and adiyen found there was some special attraction in our Azhwars bewitching smile . 



 Reflecting on Azhwars pastimes adiyen reclined at the mandapam premises sometimes with tearful eyes thanking Azhwar and Asmath Acharyar for blessing me to be among this wonderful devotees who are in the trance of HARINAAM all the while .



At about 6 P.M., Azhwar reaches Thirumanimada kovil popularly known as Narayana Perumal kovil. It is here that 11 Garuda sevai is performed. The garuda vahanams of all Perumals are kept here in designated mandapams. 



Azhwar is greeted as usual and pasurams comprising of Thirupallandu, Kanninunsiruthambhu, respective pasuram from Peria Thirumozhi are recited followed by neivedyam, saatrumarai and vaazhi thirunaamam. Azhwar then visits Thiruvanpurushothaman kovil where professional musicians entertain Azhwar by exhibiting their talent in playing nadaswaram and mrudangam . 



 After mangalasaasanam, Azhwar visits Manavaala maamunigal sannidhi in the temple precincts. Azhwar was one of the favourites for Manavala mamunigal mamunigal organizes the 11 garuda seva on the following day. We were offered prasadam , panchaamrutham, chakarai pongal etc sumptously . 

The Manjal Neeratam is still fresh in our minds. May Azhwar bless us by giving us many many more oppurtunities to be amongst his devotees It was almost 3 P.M now . As per the plan , the procession re started. Azhwar now marches to THIRUMANIMADAKOVIL , THIRUNAGARI and glorifies the Perumals to grace the function the next day .



Prasadam is offered at every Divyadesam to the devotees .

 Now our Azhwar proceeds to 

THIRUVANPURUSHOTHAM KOVIL , 

THIRUVAIKUNTAVINNAGRAM

THIRUSEM PON SEI KOVIL

THIRUTHETRIAMBALAM 

THIRUARIMEYAVINNAGARAM

 and finally awaits for all Perumals to grace him at THIRUMANIMADA KOVIL



 and following the same custom of reciting the divyaprabhanda pasurams glorified by Azhwar at the respective divya desams. 




We were overjoyed to be among a sea of devotees and managed to take rest in open area and moved to the premises of Srinivasa Perumal kovil more popularly known as “Annan Kovil “ and passed the night at temple along with devotees .



The next day morning, all of us assembled at Thirumanimada kovil for participating in the most awaited 11 GARUDA SEVA.



Adiyen took this small oppurtunity to have darisanam of Anann kovil,, Thirupaarthanpalli, Thiruvaali-Thirunagari before proceeding to attend the Eleven Garuda sevai . Offering repeated obesiances to our Azhwar in Thirunagari temple. The temple itself is very big. The deity of Thirumangai Azhwar along with Kumudavalli Thayar is eye captivating. 



It makes one recollect Acharyar Manavala mamuni’s thaniyan . 

Azhwar’s lips are slightly opened as if they are uttering THIRUMANTRAM.

 Azhwar is seen holding THIRUMADAL in one hand and has a spear with him.

 Azhwar is seen wearing anklet. 

This anklet and Vel were given as gifts to the Azhwar when he won in a contest about Vaishnavism with a advanced saiva devotee Thirugyanasambandhar .

THE PREPARATION FOR ELEVEN GARUDA SEVAI BEGINS






From 10 A.M. onwards we can have darhanam of divya desa Perumals from each temple who accept the Invitation of Azhwar We are able to observe a big pandal erected for the Perumals.



 The Perumals arrive in their respective palanquins with mangalashanams . Now we race towards Thirumanimadakovil at 14 hours. We take darshanam of almost Seven Perumals who had arrived

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 Almost by 4 P.M. all Perumals from 11 divya desams arrive and take the gaurd of honour from our Azhwar as our Azhwar arrives to recieve our most reverred guest of the wonderful seva from Thirumanimada kovil for receiving the Perumals.

Our Azhwar awaits near the entrance of the temple. Acharyar Manavala maamuni awaits facing our Azhwar.

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 Swamy Manavalamaamuni was very fond of Thirumangai Azhwar and he , as a disciple supervises this grand Garuda Utsavam . The place was over crowded but fortunately we could have a clear view of the proceedings and were able to have good darisanam . To enable the crowd to know about the proceedings, a big board was hung depicting the particular Perumal’s Thirunaamam, and Divya desam.



 Mangalasaasanam on the particular Perumal rendered by Thirumangai Alwar was recited and our Azhwar does pradakshinam to Perumal. Azhwar is honoured with parivattam and garlands previously worn by the Perumal as a blessing . 

Our Azhwar humbly bows down to accept the gifts given by respective Perumals from the divyadesams . Azhwar wears the garland given by Perumal and adorns the parivattam . Fruits etc are offered as neivedyam to Perumal and then to Azhwar and later to Swamy Manavala Mamumuni followed by karpoora aarthi

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 Now the honoured Perumal gets inside the Thirumani mada kovil. An interesting feature noted was there was a separate troop of musicians who played naadaswaram, mela and thalam for each Divyadesam Perumal.



 Finally Karpoora mangala haarthi with Poorna khumbham is given. The sequence in which the mangalasaasanam done to the Perumal is as follows



 1) THIRUNARAYANA PERUMAL OF THIRU MANIMADA KOVIL- adorned in white colour dress .

2) KUDAMAADU KOOTHAR PERUMAL OF THIRU ARIMEYA VINNAGARAM- adorned in blue colour dress

3) SRI LAKSHMI RANGANATHAR OF SEM PON SEI KOVIL

4) SRI SRINIVASA PERUMAL OF ANNAN KOVIL (palanquin covered with blue and meron velvette cloth)

5) SRI PURUSHOTHAMAN OF THIRUVANPURUSHOTHAM (dressed in white and grey)- palanquin covered with green cloth (Note: All the palanquins were covered with cloth with sankhu, chakram and Thiruman embedded on it)

6) SRI VARADARAJA PERUMAL OF THIRUMANIKOODAM (silver crown, holding mace, dressed in blue and red –palanquin covered with white cloth)

7) SRI VAIKUNTANATHAR OF THIRUVAIKUNTAM ( Adiseshan seen as umbrella for Perumal, blue and red colour cloth covered over the palanquin) (The alankaranam for all the Perumals are fantastic)

8) SRI MADHAVA PERUMAL OF THIRUDEVANARTHOGAI (meron colour kreetam-dressed in yellow and red )

9) SRI PARTHASARATHY PERUMAL OF THIRUPAARTHANPALLI (dressed in printed silk cloth-silver umbrella –Maragadham visible on Perumal’s Thirumaarbhu-red colour palanquin

10) SRI RAJAGOPALAN of THIRUKAVALAMPAADI (dressed in pink and blue coloured silk cloth-red coloured palanquin)



 During circumbulation to LORD Sri Rajagopalan Azhwar majestically circumbalates amidsts the enchanting Nadaswaram ( Nagin music) . After all the Perumals take leave , Swami Manavala mamuni does pradakshinam to Azhwar amidst the background nadaswaram playing style and the Azhwar along with swami Manavala mamuni enter the temple. The reception function takes place for about 2 hours. Around 5PM inside the temple, we can have darshanam of each Perumal who have a separate chamber and ( Abhishekam ) Thirumanjanam to all the Perumals and Azhwar is performed in Ekantam ( private) . After the Maha Abhisheskam , all the Perumals are adorned with wonderful ornaments and flowers .The Garuda vahanam is also adorned with flowers and other paranphalia . We had darishnam of all the Perumals and seeked their grace in having satsangh always




 Around 11 P.M. , the Garuda seva starts. We quickly come out of the temple and eagerly await to have the Garuda seva darshanam of all the Perumals . We observe the moment the main door opens our Acharyar Swamy Manavala mamuni followed by Thirumangai Azhwar and Kumudavalli Thayar seated on hamsa vahanam arrive much to the joy of the devotees . Swamy Manavaala mamunigal in his parangi naarkali vahanam comes out first and receives Azhwar seated on Hamsa vahanam. One by one all the Divya desam Perumals arrive in Garuda vaahanams. Mangalasaasanam sung by Azhwar is recited and after due honours, the Perumal goes round the 4 mada streets..



 Its a divine feeling to be amongst a sea of srivaishnavas assembeled reciting the Divya Prabhandam pasurams . Few devotees were distributing the pasurams books for others to follow and recite . Now the Perumals on Garuda vahanam grace Azhwar and the devotees who are eagerly waiting for his darshan . and All the divya desa Perumals follow them. The procession winds its way through the four mada streets of Thirumanikoodam. It takes about 3 hours for all the Perumals to complete the oorvalam. All the Perumals assemble in front of Thiurumanimaada kovil. Azhwar thanks all the Perumals for having blessed all the sinners like us with their Divine Grace. Swamy Manavala mamuni’s saatrumarai takes place later and all the Perumals enter into the temple. On the way to Thirunagari, Azhwar proceeds to Sri Annan Kovil, Madhava Perumal kovil (Thirudevanarthogai), Thiruvaali and Thirunagari divya desams

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On the third day, after all the divyadesa Perumals leave to their respective divyadesams, Azhwar also leaves Manimada kovil.. On the way he visits Annan Kovil where he is received grandly as he is considered as their “Maapillai”(son-in-law”). Finally Azhwar reaches Thirunagari where Vayalaali Manavalan-the presiding diety of Thiruvali-Thirunagari temple waits near the entrance on Garuda Vaahanam to welcome Azhwar . Perumal and Azhwar then enter into the temple together. This marks the end of the three day festivities at Thirunangoor which is celebrated for more than 140 years. Adiyen with tears submit to the divine will of Azhwar and Almighty who graced us tohave the darishna bhagyam amongst several devotees .

What else does a soul needs except HIS cool benovalent grace always to be among Haribhaktaas………..




Nadu nagaramum NAMO NARAYANA enru ..

Thats the final prayer LORD ..

Adiyen seeks his mercy to be HIS always …

Please forgive adiyen for any slips in glorifying and describing the great festival .

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

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

Lord Krishna declares in Bhagavad Gita

” paritranaya sadhunam vinasaya ca duskrtam
dharma-samsthapanarthaya sambhavami yuge yuge.

(In order to deliver the pious and to annihilate the miscreants, as well as to re establish the principles of religion, I advent Myself millennium after millennium.)

The Supreme Personality of Godhead appeared at various times to protect the good and eradicate the evil. Out of the prominent Dasa-avatarams, Vamana avataram has a special significance .

Bhakta Prahalad’s grandson Mahabali Chakravarthy had conquered all the worlds including Deva lokam as a result of which the devas headed by Indra had to leave Devalokam and sought their mother, Aditi’s intervention. Kashyapa rishi and Aditi prayed to Lord SrimanNarayanan for protecting the devas.

The All compassionate Lord appeared to them as their own child during the month of Sravanam when the star Sravanam was ascendant which is celebrated as Vamana Jayanti. This place is presently in Buxar, Bihar .

The revered parents in the presence of rishis,devas and demi-gods performed yagnopaveetham (thread ceremony) to the divine child .

The demi gods attended in large numbers and presented deer skin, stalk, kamandalam, umbrella etc to the divine child who immediately left for the place where Bali Chakravarthy was performing a yaaga.

Though Bali Chakravarthy was born as an asura, he was dharmic and a great devotee of Lord MahaVishnu. Out of pride , he conquered the Devalokam and occupied Indra simhasanam which could be attained only after performing 100 aswamedha yagas. As the Lord had promised Prahalad earlier that HE would not kill any one his descendants and as Bali himself was a great devotee, Lord resorted to approach Bali Chakravarthy asking for alms.

As per the sastras only a brahmachari and a sanyasi can go for alms. The all-compassionate Lord arrived in the form of brahmachari for seeking alms.

This divine scene makes Andal glorifiy the Lord in Thiruppavai as “ONGI ULAGALANDHA UTTHAMAN PERE PAADI…..” She addresses Perumal as “UTHTHAMAN” because the all opulent Perumal resorted for seeking alms for the sake of saranagathaars (who took refuge in HIS LOTUS FEET )

Looking at the divine aura of Vamana murthi who was approaching Bali’s yaagam, Bali Chakravarthy went forward to welcome him. Bali Chakravarthy with reverence offered athithi sathkaaram and pleaded the boy to ask for anything.

The boy replied that HE needed only 3 measures of land measured by HIS holy feet to which Bali immediately consented. Bali’s guru, Sukracharyar guessed who the guest was and warned his disciple to refrain from fulfilling the grant. Bali didn’t listen to his guru and went ahead to make the offering.

The guru cursed him that he would loose all his wealth. His guru, in order to protect his disciple, assumed the form of a bee and obstructed water from passing through the kamandalam with which Bali was offering.

Lord Vamana poked the hole with a dharbai which resulted in Sukracharyar losing an eye. Bali was an exalted devotee who was prepared to forego everything for pleasing the Lord who was their kula dhanam.

The moment Bali Chakravarthy finished oblations, Lord grew gigantically and with HIS first foot measuring the earth, with HIS second foot measured the above worlds .

When the holy FEET reached Satyalokam, Brahma immediately did paada puja(washed the Lord’s Lotus Feet). The water which washed the holy feet became the holiest river, Ganges which Parama Shiva adorns on his head.

Annamacharyar says “Brahma Kadigina Paadhamu…….” Lord who had taken the Viswaroopam showed HIS two fingers saying that HE had conquered the entire Universe and asked as to where HE should place HIS third foot. Bali Chakravarthy with reverence offered his head to the Lord for him to place HIS LOTUS FEET.

Prahalada appeared before Lord and praised him for the mercy HE showered on his grandfather.

Lord pleased with his bhakti ordered him to rule the Patala loka and granted Bali’s prayer to have HIS darshan always by remaining as a guard in Patala loka!!!!! such was the Lord’s compassion…..

This Viswaroopam of Lord is glorified as Trivikraman .

One can have darshan of this Divya Roopam at 3 Srivaishnava divya desams in Tamil nadu- namely,

1. Kaazhiseerama vinnagaram(Sirkazhi ).,

2) Ulagalandha Perumal kovil at Thirukovalur and

3) Ulagalandha Perumal kovil at Kanchipuram.

As per elders version, in Sirkazhi, Lord Trivikraman measured the first step. Vamana murthi grew in size and taking the Viswaroopam measured the world with HIS left foot here which is on the air.

WE can have darsanam of right thiruvadi ( divine foot) along with Vamana murthi at this place only once in a year on Vaikunta Ekadasi when the kavacham from Thirumaal’s thiruvadi is removed. Here in garbagriham, Lord gives darshan all alone. Compared to the other divya desams mentioned above, the Lord ‘s thirumeni ( roopam ) is smaller in size . The main deity in this temple is glorified as ‘Kaazhicheerama Vinnagaram‘, and ‘Thavitu Paane Thadalan‘, the King of World.

The Thirivikarama Perumal Temple is located near Seerkazhi of Tanjore district in Tamil Nadu. It’s about half mile away from the Seerkazhi Railway station. . Lord Thiru Vikrama is otherwise called “Thadalan”. As Lord scaled the world with his foot He is called “Thadalanperumal”.

Andal in her verses praise the glory of LORD THIRUVIKRAMANARAYANA calling him ‘THAADALAN’.

As LORD scaled the world and sky with his FOOT so he is called ‘THAADALA PERUMAL’.THAAL in tamil means‘THIRUVADEE’ (foot) and AALAN means MEASURING or SCALING.

Thirumangai Azhwar glorifies the LORD here with the below pasuram :

Oru kuralai irunilam moovadi mannvendi

Oolagamanathium Eeradiyal odukki onrum

Tharaga ena maavaliya sirayil vaitha

Thaadalan thaalanaiveer thakka keerthi

Arumaraiyin thiral naagum velvi ayinthum

Angamgal avaiyarum esaigal yezhum

Theruvil malivizha valamum sirukkum kazhi

Srirama vinnagare sermin neere

The next Divya desam is Thirukovilur located 75 kms from Cuddalore, 36km from Villupuram, 36 km from Thiruvannamalai, and 40 from Kallakurichi .

This holy place is celebrated as one of the 108 Divyadesam and more significant in the Nadunadu region. Lord in Thirukovilur adorns shankhu and chakaram as abharanam whereas in Thiru uragam of kanchipuram he is unarmed and raises his left and right lies up in order to scale the whole world by his foot, a majestic darisanam . But at Seerkazhi, Lord Narayana gives darshan as Thirivikrama with all his five weapons with his left hand extending upto the left foot, which is folded upwards.

The Thirukovalur darsanam of the Lord measuring the nether worlds with HIS second foot is majestic . This place is very important because this is

(1) one of the Pancha Krishna kshetrams with the temple tower is 192 feet tall , third biggest in Tamilnadu.

(2) the place where Poigai Azhwar from Kanchi, Bhoodath Azhwar from Mahabalipuram and Pey azhwar from Mylapore met for the first time on a rainy night. Perumal appeared to them and was glorified by each of these azhwars in 100 stanzas. This is the place where Naalayira Divya Prabhandham began.

(3) Another interesting feature is Thiurmangai Azhwar has glorified Vishnu Durga, a demigoddess here. Sukra, the teacher of the demon king has a temple here.

(4) Lord gives darsanam as Trivikraman. with HIS right thiruvadi raised , Lord is seen measuring heaven. On the right side top, Brahma from heaven is seen offering water to Lord’s thiruvadi which turned to be the sacred Ganges. Here, near the left Thiruvadi of Lord , Bali’s son is seen doing puja.

As this is the place where Mudal Azhwars met, we can have darsanam of Mudal Azhwars on the left side of Perumal and Mruganda rishi in whose hamlet Lord appeared to the Mudal Azhwars is seen on the right side. The Moolavar is seen in Pachai varnam. (Like in Tirukurungudi, they have now adorned Moolavar’s thirumeni with different colours using herbs. )

Finally, the darsanam of the Lord placing the third foot on Mahabali’s head can be had at Kanchipuram in Ulagalandha Perumal temple. Ulagalandha Perumal (Trivikraman) is about 35 feet high with HIS left foot raised and right foot on Bali’s head.Lord’s 2 fingers on HIS left hand pointed upwards symbolising measuring of the entire Universe with HIS two feet and pointing out one finger of HIS right hand downwards towards Bali as to where HE has to place HIS third foot. Ulagalantha Perumal Temple is glorified in Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the Vaishnava canon, with hymns sung by the great saint Thirumazhisai Azhwar

The Lord’s form is so captivating that it remains fresh in the minds of devotees. The beautiful floral design on Perumal’s vastram can be clearly seen on Perumal’s thirumeni. Perumal is under Srikara vimanam, the Pushkarini is known as Vamana Pushkarini, thirumanjanam is performed in Ekantham, the priest lights a lamp attached to a stick to enable us to have HIS gigantic darshan.

As Bali Chakravarthy who was under the Lord’s feet (as nammazhwar says “adikeezh pugundu….. in 6-10) wanted to have darshan of Perumal, the Lord appeared in a very small form of adisesha and fulfilled his wish. This form of the LOrd is known as Ooragathan and is one of the divya desams.

The priest clad in wet clothes with complete fasting performs abhishekam to the Lord and offer milk payasam to this Lord here on Fridays and Sundays.

Pictures credits : Google images and several friends who contributed in social media

Video credits : HG Balagovindadasa for Brahmakadigina padamu

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

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Kaisika Ekadasi vaibhavam

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Glories of Srimad Narayaneeyam Day … Dec 13 th 2024

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

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

About 800 years ago ……………………………………………

an unusual incident occurred which has remained as one of the most cherished brave effort by our Acharyas for protecting and leaving us the legacy of our great srivaishnava sampradaya and our Lordships…

Almost 800 years ago , the festive mood was vibrating with splendor. At the banks of Kollidam river preparations were being made for Lord’s arrival with pomp and show . The stage was decorated with wonderful flowers and the best decorative lamps .

A huge golden throne decked with diamonds and costly jewels, attracted the venue. The devotees were discussing..

Who else except Lord of the Lords is going to preside now.

Devotees from far off arrived in large numbers to attend the great festival .It was a darshanam not to be missed .

It was customary for the Lord to alight and have Abhishekam done amongst the huge gathering of devotees

. The entire stage was decorated. Milk , Curd , Honey, Coconut water , Rose water , sandal oil , various types of perfumes , flowers , holy basil leaves garlands was set in order for the Lords ceremonial bath .

The feast for the eyes was about to begin …

Finally the time arrived …amongst the mangala Nadaswaram and the priests chanting Azhwars prabhandams Lord of Lords arrived in majestic style .

The great Acharya Swamy Desikan , Swamy Sudarshana suri along with several disciples accompanied the Lordships and were guiding the priests in conducting the rituals . Mangala haarathee was offered amongst the huge crowd .

All the devotees in one voice chanted loudly clasping their hands on their heads …..

G O V I N D A ….. G O V I N D A G O V I N D A ….G O V I N D A…… R A N G A

Among the most revered Acharyas , Priests and devotees , a distinguished very old devotee aging around 85 years or more ,was contemplating on the various divine pastimes of the great devotees who had served Lord in all aspects , even sacrificing their lives for the Lordships .

Silently glorifying the great Jatayu who served Lord Rama , and Lord Rama performing funeral rites for Jatayu , Lord Krishna preferring to dine with Sri Vidura even though he had the option of dining with exalted elders such as Drona or Bheeshma the episode of ThiruppAN azhvar, LOkasAranga Munithe the great kulasekhara azhwar attachment to Lord , Sri Periya Nambi and his attachment to Sri MaranEri Nambi, Swami Ramanuja and his deep devotion to Sri Thirukachchi Nambi he was silently cherishing …

His thoughts were with pure devotion overflowing ….

What have I done for the Lord ??? for his mercy in being among this august gathering . His face exuded serenity and was in total peace.

Caught up in these devotional thoughts and having darshanam of Lord Ranganatha he was lost in a different world full of bliss …

He had slowly forgotten the world around him.

That great personality was none other than our Jagath Acharyar Swami Pillai Lokacharya .

The proceedings were being conducted smoothly .All of a sudden among the august gathering a person rushed to the old Acharyar .

He was sweating .

He took courage and said …

Acharya , I was washing clothes on the banks of Cauvery river when my donkeys ran away suddenly hearing some unusual noise .

I attempted to find what was the reason .

Slowly I climbed a small hillock to see what was that frightening my donkeys .

Much to my surprise I noticed a large battalion of men on horses with ammunition marching towards our direction .

With their attire I guess they should be the moslem invaders .

I am told by my relatives that many temples around us were being looted and desecrated by these invaders.

Acharya , I am scared ..

What would happen to our temple and our Lord Ranganatha .

I am afraid for our families .Please do something .

Swamy Lokacharya was taken aback . He closed his eyes and said ..Don’t worry ..Our Lord will take care ..

He got up majestically and walked towards the deities . Prostrating to Lord seeking his grace He looked at that man and said …

Just go and continue with your routine work . But ! Just keep watching the invaders movements and inform as soon as possible

Swamy Desikar , Swamy Sudarshana suri and other Acharyas assembled and met Swamy Pillai Lokacharyar and concluded it was Ulugh Khan the army commander sent by Tuglak . They had to take a quick decision .

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

They briefed them about the unexpected calamity that may take place any time and hence instructed the priests to secretly carry the Lordships to the temple without the regular Abhisheka .

The devotees who had assembled were slowly coming to know about the sudden change in the programme as the news spread like fire .

All the assembled devotees silently marched back to their respective homes cursing the enemies who created this unholy trouble.

The Lordships were silently taken back inside the temple . 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.

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 .

Swamy Sudarshana suri took up the task of erecting a stone wall in front of the main sanctorum to misguide the invaders .

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 suri 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.

Shrutaprakashika was the work that was made out of generations of learning’s from Acharyas and an elaborate commentary on JagathaAcharyar Swamy Ramanuja’s Sri Bhasyam .

Sudharsana Suri entrusted his two young sons and manuscript “SrutaprakaasikA” to Swami Desika Swami Desika had an earnest desire 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 great bloodshed of 12,000 Sri Vaishnavas at Sri Varahaswamy Sannidhi makes it the worst day in the temple town .

Inside the Hall , Swamy 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 slowly took the frightened boys before dawn unnoticed in North-Westerly direction towards Satyamangalam .

He was completely exhausted and was worried with LORD and the other revered Acharyas .

At the other side of the temple , while the enemy was invading the town, the old Acharyar dutifully carried the Lord’s deity with a small group of disciples with utmost caution braving the worst scenarios of terror with fear .

Leaving Srirangam, he had to suffer many hardships during the journey. He had to be wary of the enemy attack while he also had to protect himself and his party from robbers.

He was constantly praying LORD for his mercy and keeping his disciples motivated with LORD’s divya charitam . All of them decided that whatever sufferings may befall them, Lord Ranganatha’s should not face any danger or desecration. After an arduous trek, they reached Jyothishkudi near Madurai. Lokacharya was a man strictly adhering to religious modes of conduct and manners.

He was finding it difficult to secure accommodation and catering facilities on the way. These troubles were common to people in those days but the Acharya had to face more severe hardships as he had to carry Lord Ranganatha without any hardships to the Lord . All through the journey, they had to pass through possible attacks from invaders and thieves. They had to trek hundreds of miles on foot. In spite of all kinds of hardships, the Acharya carefully kept the Lord Ranganatha in his
personal possession.

He was particular that the traditional daily worship of Lord Ranganatha should not be missed and therefore carried the deity himself with greatest care and devotion and proceeded towards the south. Trekking several miles with constant fear of the enemy lack of food and rest had adversely affected the Acharya’s health. Also enroute , he had to face the enemies wrath some occasions injuring him too .

Swamy Pillai Lokacharyar accepted all the sufferings for our LORD .He was mentally distressed about the future . His mind refused to continue living on this earth seeing the tragic state in which Ranganatha had to be kept often hiding here and there .

He wept several times with the unexpected turn of events .

It was like Jatayu the great devotee of Lord Rama injured by Ravana while the latter was carrying away mother Sita, he wept helplessly.

He proceeded to a village called jyothishkudi, which was surrounded by the Anamalai
mountains adjoining thick, dense forests. They found a dilapidated mandapam (ceremonial hall), and decided to retire for the night.

He was exhausted and came to know it was time for him to leave his body. He was surrounded by his great disciples .

Looking at LORD sweating , he said to his disciples , Please fan the Lord as he is also tired coming along with us .

The disciples were sad to see their Acharyar completely exhausted and had tears watching the scene when he was fanning the Lord with those injuries in his body ..

There was a pin drop silence ..With tears He meditated on his Acharyar and father, Swami vadakku thiruveedhip piLLai , pleaded them to forgive him as He could not able to protect Lord Ranganatha .

He could see numerous ants in the small place .

He touched all of them, for the reason they also would be in srivaikuntam along with him , as it is believed that any living being touched by the hands of a Sri vaishnavA is assured mOksha .

He was always pining, ‘Let this body and soul of mine be sacrificed for Lords sake!’ and had his wish fulfilled. He sought nothing for himself, amassed no earthly riches, and laid down his life for a Noble cause and became Lokacharyar .

He once again justified his name as the universal guru, for he delivered even ants and insects until his last moment!!

The most amazing incident was when we can observe millions of ants in that region even this day who could be the descendants of the ants that Swami delivered by his touch.

Lokacharya was one of our esteemed teachers and philosophers who preached equality of men irrespective of caste, place of residence, etc.

After the disappearance of Pillailokacharya the disciples performed the last rites and continued their journey along with Lord Ranganatha towards south passing through a very long route covering Thirukoshtiyur ,Jyotishkudi .Srivalliputhur ,Calicut , Gundulpet , Chittoor Melkote , Sathyamangalam and finally Tirumala in the present Sriranganatha Mandapam where LORD stayed for 60 years .

Click the appended blog post below for details of LORD meeting our Nammazhwar and the divine pastime of Swamy Srisailer with Azhwar and Lordships

https://atomic-temporary-2692795.wpcomstaging.com/2017/09/23/thiruvaaimozhi-pillai-vaibhavam-parama-guru-of-lord-ranganathar-swamy-manavala-mamuni-attributing-everything-to-the-lotus-feet-of-his-legendary-acharyar/

The great Iyppasi sravana ( October –November ) festival is celebrated as a mark of respect for Acharyar Pillailokacharya’s sacrifice even today .

He attained the lotus feet of his Acharyar in the tamil month of Adi, on the dwAdasi day. On reading this wonderful divine pastime we need to believe that…

May be our LORD wanted to see himself being protected by his devotees and glorify our respectful Acharyas who had done everything as HIS kainkaryam ..

Who or How else can we explain the need to “save” our Lord!!! who is beyond every thing .

All glories to Swamy Pillai LokaAcharyar

lOkAchAryAya guravE krushNapAdaSya SUnavE |

SamSArabhOgiSandashta jIvajIvAtavE nama: ||

All glories to Swamy Sudarshan suri

All glories to Swamy Desikar…………

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

aththigiri aruLALar anumathiyOn vAzhiyE
aippasiyil thiruvONaththavathariththAn vAzhiyE
muththi neRi maRaith thamizhAl mozhintharuLvOn vAzhiyE
niththiyam nampiLLai patham nenjchil vaippOn vAzhiyE
nIL vachana bUdaNaththil niyamiththAn vAzhiyE
uththamamAm mudumbai nagar uthiththa vaLLal vAzhiyE
ulagAriyan pathangkaL UzhithoRum vAzhiyE

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

Pics : Courtesy Google images

video / Pictures credits : Google images shared by several devotees

Sriranga yatra , Perumal pictures ( CDs available in 2 volumes Must watch )

Hanumanji traversed through the country three times. First time,from southern tip of India to central srilanka when he came in search of Sitadevi. He flew from Mahendragiri –the southern tip of India and landed on Suvela parvatham (Ramboda) after encountering Surasa at Nagadeepa(presently this is near the north-western part of Srilanka). Further, came down and […]

RAMAYANAM IN SRILANKA -AN INTRODUCTION

Many years ago there was a severe drought in melnadu located near present coimbatore The drought continued for almost 12 long years . An old couple who were living there decided to leave to the banks of cauvery and reside near the holy Sri Ranga Kshetra .

They shifted their camp near to the Lord’s temple . Good or bad is Lords divine will .They surrendered to the Lordships and managed their daily lives .

One day they observed huge number of srivaishnavaites following Swamy Ramanuja to the banks of cauvery . Curious to know about the following , they followed Swamy Ramanuja and found the entire place were his followers .

The elderly lady was charmed by the divine tejas of Swamy Ramanuja . She walked near the banks and asked the villagers ,Who the revered swami was and those followers .

The group replied that Swamy Ramanuja was the king of Ascetics and he moves along with 700 ascetics 74 Acharya Purushas , 1200 Ekangees and 300 kotti ammai .

Several kings and sattadars are his disciples . You are blessed to have his darshan remarked a old man .

She liked the place and the vibrations .She used to observe Swamy Ramanuja completing his temple duties and entering seven houses daily for alms . She tried her best to have an audience with the great seer but was unsuccessful .

One day as she waited she saw Swamy entering her house . She offered obeisance’s and with all humility spoke to him .

Oh Revered Swamin … please listen to my prayer …. You are a sanyasi who had given up everything in life and there are no possibility for having wealth , gold , jewels , mansions or any other worldly prosperity. You just have a saffron cloth , a Tridanda and Bikshu .When that is the case how was that so many people are following you all the time ? and landlords , kings fall at your lotus feet ,and whereas you are living on biksha only. what is that you can give to so many followers who are with you . What is the secret behind all these disciples as I don’t find any difference between a King and you . You are truly YathiRaja..

Swamy Ramanuja with abundant compassion told the old lady , Mother ! I don not have any wealth to share but I give them bits of information about Lordships and have a mantra that will cut the bonds of samsara which is full of worldly cares and that as a result of this they would get grace of the LORD which would confer eternal bliss in the form of their attaining to the presence of Lord Vaikuntanatha .

The lady was quick to request Acharyar for the mantra for her upliftment as she was in a pitiable condition . She fell at Swamys feet and shed copious tears , in great distress crying all the while that Swamy must grace her . Swamy Ramanuja looking at her supreme devotion informed the disciples to help her in her endeavor . They guided her to be at ashram for the initiation ceremony and succeeded in becoming Swamy Ramanujas disciple .With great mercy he asked her to repeat the Guruparampara verses and later initiated her with the sacred ashtakshari mantra .

Swamy Ramanuja performed Panchasanksaram, did Mantra Upadesam and the lady got a Dasya Name as “Kongil Periya Piraattiyaar”. The old lady was overjoyed and offered her obeisances to the revered saint with all humility .

After few months , the situation in Karnataka was better and the old day decided it was time to leave Srirangam . Kongil Piratti went to Swamy Ramanuja’s mutt and seeking Swamys blessings informed about her leaving Srirangam . She longed to have something special to remember her Acharyar forever and hence pleaded Swamy Ramanujar to bless her with Swamys Padukas . Swamy Ramanuja gave his pair of divine sandals (Padhukas) on the request of his disciple . With much relief and joy, she returned back to her native place.

Years rolled by, By divine will Swamy Ramanuja had to leave Srirangam for some time . After few days of trekking though the Nilagiri hills and the dense forests , Swamy along with his disciples saw few tribal people nearby . Looking at the srivaishnava marks and the aura they came near them and inquired about their well being .

On knowing they were from Srirangam , they inquired about Swamy Ramanuja well being . They could not identify Swamy Ramanuja among them due to the white dress worn by the Holy seer . The tribals lead them to the heart of Nilagiris with utmost caution as it was dark and the weather was too chilly . Trekking almost for many hours they reached the Chiefs house . The Chief had gone on hunting rounds .

They requested the chiefs wife to take care of the sri vaishnavas with due respects as they were disciples of Swamy Ramanuja and their Guru Nallan Chakravarthy had commanded them to accept Swamy Ramanuja as their Maha guru .Touched by the august presence of almost 50 disciples the Chief offered fruits and honey .

He knew the brahmanas will not eat at their place .He commanded his men to go to the neighboring village to the house of a brahmana by name Kattalai vari along with abundant provisions to honor the revered guests with food without any delay . The wife of Kattalai Vari was our KONGIL PIRATTI also called as Chelanchalamba .

Now , the disciples along with Swamy Ramanuja reached Kongil Pirattis hut . She was overjoyed to have darshan of so many sri vaishnavas in the remote forest . She offered her humble obeisance and prostrated them . She pleaded them to honor the food at her place . The disciples were keen to know her discipleship for entertaining her in cooking for them . She politely replied she was a disciple of Swamy Ramanuja and requested them to reveal their Acharyars name . When the disciples echoed it was Swamy Ramanuja she happily said that It was a great honor to cook for them and hence allow her to cook food for them .

Swamy Ramanuja who was in white dress was overhearing the discussion between the disciples and Kongil Piratti . He called one of the disciple and asked him to observe Kongil Piratti while cooking . Kongil Piratti in turn went to her hut , cleaned the entire place with cow dung and water . She had a bath , brought new pots and entered the kitchen chanting

Srimathey Ramanujaya namah :

Srimathey Ramanujaya namah :

All the time ,while she was cooking , the chanting of her Acharyar Thirunamam was going on . She also recited few Prabhandam pasurams . After completing her cooking , she took all the dishes in a clean basket into the chapel . She offered her obeisances to the sandals that was given by Swamy Ramanuja .

She offered the dishes to the Padukas and mentally chanted few slokas . Once done , she went to the srivaishnavas and asked them to honor the maha prasada. The diciple who was observing the scene went to Swamy Ramanuja and informed how exactly Kongil Pirattis was cooking in the kitchen . The disciple said as it was dark in the chapel and he couldn’t really see whom the dishes were being offered .

Though Swamy Ramanuja knew whose sandals they were , he called Kongil Piratti and said , my mother ! can we see the sandals whom you are worshipping . Kongil Piratti without any inhibition brought the sandals among the disciples . The disciples informed her Swamy Ramanuja was amongst them .Immediately she offered the sandals and when Swamy decorated himself with the sandals , her joy touched new heights .She was ecstatic and felt overjoyed . Offering obeisances and washing the lotus feet she apologized that she couldn’t recognize as Swamy Ramanujar was wearing white dress .

Out of abundant mercy Swamy Ramanuja said , Lord Krishna dined with Vidura , Lord Rama had fruits from Sabari and all of you shall honor the prasada served by our Kongil Piratti .

( Swamy Ramanuja did not partake the food as it was offered to his sandals)

Kongil Piratti humbly submitted , Acharya please have some fruits from us . Acharyar with compassion partook few fruits and blessed her . Kongil piratti served the prasada to all the disciples and took the remnants along with the Sripada water to her husband . She woke him up and said , My dear please have this nectar which we are so fortunate to have . The husband looking at her Acharyar bhakthee asked her why she was fasting ?

She replied , My Acharyar had just fruits and remember he is on a fast since one week .What is store for me .. But !!! Promise me you will surrender to asmath Acharyar for initiation tomorrow . The husband readily agreed .The next day Kongil Piratti humbly surrendered to Acharyar along with her husband . She requested Swamy to initiate him into Srivaishnava fold . Swamy Ramanujar initiated him with Panchasamskara and blessed him . After this, memorable incident , Swamy Ramanuja proceeded towards Melkote where he lived for about 20 years.

In SrimadRamayana, Bharatha got the divine sandals of Lord Rama and as a servant to Sri Rama’s Padhukas, he ruled Ayodhya for nearly 14 years.

In the second instance, Kongu Piraatti got the Padukas of her Acharya Swamy Ramanuja, worshipped them and was performing Poojas daily .

Kongu Piraatti’s husband Sri Kongilachan was 24th among the 74 Simhasanadhipathis who propagated Srivaishnavism.

The Appearance day of the great Acharya is being celebrated this year at Srirangam on September 11th 2024 in a grand manner .

All devotees are requested to participate in the satsangha .The Varthaman Acharyar can be contacted on the below Mobile number 99445 48161

Contribution to this divine service may be done in this Account

Karur vysya Bank, Srirangam
S.B. ACC.NO: 1276155000142914
IFSC Code : KVBL0001276
Name: V.Mahalakshmi

G PAY/ PHONE PAY can be remitted on Mobile number 99445 48161

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

Pics credits: Sri Koyil Kongilaachaan Thirumaaligai and google images .

This whole world is moving according to the plan of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.  There is a specific plan being carried out in this material world. What is this plan? The cosmic manifestation is a chance for the elevated souls to go back to Godhead.  By the imperceptible power of time, the greatest of Himalayan Mountains will become dust, the great oceans will dry up, and the stars in the sky will perish – what to speak of our lifetime in comparison to those objects within the creation. Nothing can alter the influence of time even for a moment. Conquerors cannot defeat it. Beauty queens cannot seduce it. Billionaires cannot bribe it. Scientists cannot manipulate it. Champions cannot win over it. Geniuses cannot trick it. Military arsenals cannot stop it. A time piece may stop but time won’t, as the saying goes, “Time and tide wait for none.” When bored, we want to kill time but no one can do so. It is   Kaala purushaa ( TIME ) who kills all without discrimination

     Bhagavad Gita refers TIME   as a power that pervades the entire creation – like a commanding force pushing us ever forward. Young people often find it a difficult task to grasp the concept of devouring nature of time. They are impatient and always looking for the opportunities in the future. First, when will I grow up and go to school? And then, when will I ride my bicycle? While in school, when will I get vacations so that I can play cricket like all these other big people? After growing up and entering a college, when will I graduate so that I can develop a career? And then, they are waiting to get married – all the while longing for the watch to speed up so that they can enjoy life. But by the invincible power of time, they grow old if they are fortunate (because some people never make it that long in the world.) While in old age, they are inclined to think of the past: what I used to do and how was life in those days. The good old days! Those expectations and mysteries do not stand any longer in front of them. They become apprehensive and nervous while the old age creeps in – making things worse.

Staring into their eyes, death begins to approach rapidly. We could drive for a long time recollecting  and seeing all the old photographs and those memories . It will look impressive, but on closer examination we see it’s a sad reflection of the real world — devoid of all its glamour and glitz.  A dead person is cremated and few customs bury them in an attractive casket. Then, there is the tombstone which is made of granite or marble. All are there inside the same soil few cremated and few buried with luxury of their tomb stones and   the dates of birth and death are written on the tombstone along with a message.

A few friends drop by for a few years to remember the dead person. Although the body is buried seven feet below the ground, still the insects feast on the casket and the body. There’s nothing in the cemetery except for the name and the years of our life. We thus become an insignificant statistic after a few years, lost in the teeming crowd of millions who are wandering in this material world. Our life in this world is as brief as a flash of lightening in comparison to the sky of eternity.

 The first fundamental principle of Bhagavad Gita is that the soul is beyond time. The body is always changing from childhood to youth to old age, but the soul remains the same. For the soul, there is neither birth nor death. True wisdom is to appreciate the potential of every moment by grounding ourselves in the reality of the timeless soul.  

 Now the important question of ourselves. From Albert Einstein to Stephen Hawkings all modern physicists have been confronted by common questions about evolution, existence and sustenance of human life on planet earth. Doctors of medical science often wonder what death is, and why it should be inevitable.

Modern Science, despite its great advancements in many fields has been unable to answer some of these questions most satisfactorily.

Who am I? (My nature)
Who is the Supreme Personality of Godhead?
What is the purpose/s of human life on earth?)
How can I achieve this goal or life purpose?
What are my obstacles to achieving this goal or life purpose?

The most revered Srivaishanava  LokaAcharyar H H  Swami Pillai Lokarcharyar answers the above questions in his great work “Artha Panchakam”

Who am I?
“I” refers to the Jeevatma (Soul) that owns this physical human body.

  Jeevatmas ( Souls) are classified into five sects
Nityar – Jeevatmas (Souls) who live eternally in the Lord’s kingdom serving HIM.

  They include our Adisesha , Garudar , Vishvaksenar, and all the Nitya soories .
Muktar: (Souls) Jeevatmas who have reached the Supreme Lord’s kingdom having attained salvation (Moksha) from cycles of birth and death
Baddhar:  (Souls) Jeevatmas who are born on earth and continue to live through the cycles of birth and death (this includes those born as human beings, animals, plants etc.)
Kevalar:  (Souls) Jeevatmas stuck in “self-experience” of the Atma
Mumukshu:  (Souls) Jeevatmas presently born as Baddhar but strive in achieving ( Salvation )Moksha and graduating to the Lord’s kingdom as soon as possibleto join Nityar.

To be continued………….in detail

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

Pictures Courtesy Google images and Social media ….

Good Morning Sir!!  A young doctor woke me up … I attempt to open my eyes .It was not heavy as it was. I was surprised looking around. The doctor smiled and apologized saying it was their mistake for putting me in the ICU room as there were no beds in the general ward. I was perplexed. My wife took my hand and slowly walked out of the ICU unit. She too smiled and said yesterday after the religious discourse we attended, as you said you were feeling dizzy, I had to bring you to this hospital. The doctor advised rest for a day in the clinic and as there were no beds they had to put you in ICU.

And as everything is fine, they called me to take the discharge sheet . We both return home and as it is my habit, I bow down to my Acharyar and all blissful supreme Lord.

Later in the evening we together attend a religious discourse .

The Upanyaskar  was glowing with tejas . The most interesting topic  of  leaving the mortal body was  explained  . All my queries were being answered  . The Upanyaaskar continued ..

          The Scripture exhorts us to get out of Samsara by adopting a suitable strategy therefor. This is because this world of ours is both impermanent and sorrow-filled-“anityam asukham lOkam”. Things regarded by us as pleasures prove to be both short-lived and temporary .

The Lord Himself tells us the way out too-“anityam asukham lOkam imam prApya bhajasva mAm”. Having suffered enough from the unrelenting shackles of Karma, the only way we can obtain relief is to surrender to Him, either directly through Prapatti or indirectly through Bhakti.

Since the latter strategy is beyond the contemplation of frail mortals like us due to its long-drawn-out and continuous nature, involving strict adherence to numerous tenets requiring super-human discipline, we have to plump for Prapatthi through our Acharya.

This done, we live the rest of our lives on this earth in sweet relief-“nirbharO nirbhayOsmi”, looking forward to the day when this life would end, the day the Lord would take us away to His abode.

But … why and why at all  does Death scare us? The Kousheetaki Upanishad, Sri Bhashyakara’s Vaikuntta Gadyam and Swami Desikan’s “Gati VishEsha adhikAram” provide us graphic accounts of what happens when a sincere devotee ( PrapannA ) leaves his mortal coils…..

Once the time comes for the spirit to leave the body, the Lord arranges for some plausible cause like a heart attack. All the ten external senses like speech, sight, smell etc. are merged with the mind, the mind in turn with the life spirit (“PrANa vAyu”). This composite of twelve items is then merged with the JeevAtmA, accompanied by the subtle aspects of the five elements comprising the mortal remains. The Lord, as the antaryAmi or Inner-dweller, keeps the JeevAtmA beside Himself, affording it much-needed rest and recuperation from the immeasurably long travails of Samsara. After this, the Soul leaves the body, destined for its final journey, soaring up into the skies towards liberation and endless bliss.

During the commencement of the journey, the Lord ensures that the Jeeva leaves the body through the right exit (“Brahma nAdi”), as it would otherwise be led astray again to places of impermanence like heaven or hell.

I was inquisitive to know more about the process of liberation …

The Upanyasakar continued …At the time of death, the Jivatma leaves the body.  Along with the Jivatma , the following join  1) The five senses of knowledge; (Jnana Indriyas) 2) The five senses of action; (Karma Indriyas) 3) Manas or mind; 4) Prana or principal vital air; 5) The five elements viz., ether, air, fire, water and earth, in subtle form.  First, the speech rests in mind. As we know, the mind thinks first and then the person speaks. So, at the time of death, it is the reverse. The power of speech stops first and thus one cannot speak. He is able to think, but not able to speak. This is the first stage in the process of death. Similarly, the five senses of knowledge and the five senses of action rest in the mind. Then the mind rests in the vital air or prana. This means that his thinking function also stops. Then, the people say that he has become unconscious. He does not know what is happening around. But, life is still there. So, we say that the mind rests in prana. Next, the prana reaches the soul or Jivatma. After this, the soul joins with the five gross elements (panchabhuta), of ether, air, fire, water and earth, in a subtle form. Then, they all depart from the body.

The Upanishad figuratively states that the prana then rests in the fire, in the body. In other words, after the prana departs, there is still warmth in the body.  That is why for some time after death, the body is still warm. When the fire also departs, then the body becomes cold.  Now, the  five gross elements in subtle form, proceed out of the body. Along  with the five senses of knowledge five senses of action, combined with  mind (manas),  prana (vital air) and the soul .Again there must be a path for them to leave this mortal body .  Now, the most interesting  topic of how  Jivaatma  takes exit is explained .

 There are innumerable veins (nadis) in the body. Out of these, there are 101 veins, that go upwards. Out of these 101 veins, going upwards, there is one special vein, called Brahma nadi.   And the Jivatma, who is  about to attain moksha,  exits  through this special   nadi.  And the Jivatmas, who passes through the other 100 veins, going upwards, reach heaven and enjoys pleasures, in the company of devas. The Jivatma, who passes through one of the 100 veins, going downwards, is re born in samsara in this world. When a person dies, the soul leaves the body; and depending upon the karma accredited,, the soul  either  goes to svarga or  takes on some other body or he  goes to Srivaikuntam

Now , when the soul goes to svarga or to some other body, all the ten senses also follow the soul. But when the soul goes to Sri vaikuntam, the senses are left behind. In any case the senses are not destroyed. Suppose the individual soul or Jivatma performs good and meritorious acts. So, for the good and pious acts done in this world, they enjoy the fruits. So, to enjoy these fruits in the other world, the Jivatma, accompanied by senses and elements, as mentioned above, reaches the heaven or svarga

There he takes a body, to enjoy the fruits of his good acts. In the company of the devas, he enjoys the fruits of his action. When his good karmas or the good acts get almost exhausted, he is born again in this world, along with the balance of karma.

After enjoying the fruits of his good action, in the heaven, as described above, some people who do good and meritorious works, like performing the yaga, or digging ponds, for the good of the people. Such persons go through the path of smoke, night, krishnapaksha,  dakshinayana to the world of manes (pitrus) etc. and – reach the Moon god.Such people, who have done good work and reach the moon, through the path of smoke, enjoy the fruits of their action in svarga. Then they come back into this world.

The Jivatma thus  returns by entering   the clouds. Then, along with the rain from the clouds, he again enters this world.  As the rain water falls on the earth, he also falls on the earth along with rain. There, he then becomes united with the earth and becomes one with  anything  which is grown in the earth.

 Example The paddy, is made into food, and is eaten by man. So, he also enters the man. If eaten by birds, animals etc   v) Then, from the man,, he (along with the creative fluid of the man), enters the womb of a woman; when the man and woman unite. He is subsequently born from the womb of the woman depending upon his poorva karmas.

 The  Upanyasakar  continued  ….

Glories to those devotees who perform bhakti yoga ,  the path of prapatti,  who  also reach the moon, but by a different route, the route of the devas. They go through the path of light, suklapaksha, uttarayana, air, sun and moon. To reach  Sri Vaikuntam

. Lord  Srimannarayana- the ever merciful Lord is always our esteemed protector. That is He is our Atma bandhu   . He is glorified in the Vedas as the Supreme entity.  

By understanding Him and His greatness we can devoutly pursue Him alone as our means to salvation……

To be continued ……..

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

Pictures /Videos Credits : Google images

It was midnight. Something strange happened. Suddenly my breath pattern changed. There was a nagging pain near the cavity of my heart .The disinfectant smell and the continuous beep sound of those ECG machines around made me believe   I was far  away from my house and may be in some hospital.   

 My eyes. were  so heavy and I couldn’t open as much I tried .May be the anesthesia  dose was high    .Feeling exhausted and  lonely completely in a different world ….trying to brush my memory what happened to me and why am I here  .my thoughts wander…. .?

 No matter what ever I try to attempt to open my eyes, my eyes are so drowsy and dissolved, my eyelids seems like huge boulders unable to open up.  …Unaware what was happening around, with difficulty to move an inch with closed eyes gasping for breath , in those painful moments of finding out , Why I am here ?.I doze to slumber sleep with tears in my eyes due to the unexplainable pain deep inside …

….Watching my helplessness, my  inner self  the  soul,   feels pity and attempts to reveal … where I am ……and why am I here … but  in the thought process  , another  youthful voice  abruptly enters to interrupt this aged voice  ..

   I keep observing  my thoughts which are flowing randomly with different analogies as the Inner self wishes to whisper whereas the thoughts doesn’t stop.

 Like the waves of ocean with roaring noise it hits the being …With deep physical pain. Eager to know who I am and why am here …

The  partner   who is pumping those random thoughts I suppose,  calls me   and  reveals …….it’s me your active mind  (manas) ..  

 The MIND MATTER got it … it said ….

  The   I  in you is me …. Inside you and …

   And I know all that is with you …

.

…Yes … Its  you’re  I .…who is in you seeking these temporary  pleasures through you all the time …and  my bandwidth is large  going around  this body  through all  those  72,0000 nadis …

The whisper goes on … SAYING … Am very powerful my dear  …  You know something he goes on … … Am with you right from the  day creation began.. we are always together …    And  MY dear   We have moved together in several types of  bodies  almost 84 lakhs bodies …since the roughly in water over 9 lakhs times , among trees and plants 20 lakhs occasions another 11 lakhs as insects and reptiles and almost 30 lakhs as 4 legged animals and so on finally in this body having intelligence.

The. I  in you is me and we reside with an objective and operational style ………… My dear I existed with you every time you entered several bodies in several births as above and you know ..

i never die .I am immortal.

And in fact you are with me and I am with you …   

The wheel of time is moving and Am shocked to see the  I talking to me …

I attempt to speak …But HOW?

It is indeed a funny game which is going on in our life, first we erroneously take this limited physical body as our self, the preconceived thoughts and impressions as final being judgmental creating spaces developing false ego  and thereafter we work to remove this sense of limitation. The fact is that there is no real limitation, it is just an error borne out of ignorance of our true self. The I the me is the strong companion who can be befriended but not controlled.. The I , me paramour is I ness ..the thirst to possess all without any discretion ..and our children are Anger , greed and jealousy . I ..always compare and expect and this is my food ..for thoughts ….

  Am stuck ….. The discussion is interesting …..The ME …Mind speaks ….  Let me explain with an example… Snow exists as snow at low temperature and gives away as water with the temperature rise due to atmospheric conditions   and from this water on heating it becomes water vapor.  And now if I freeze this water it becomes ice.

It’s a  simple process …we are all same but in different forms and depending on the place whether cold , warm etc we change …Now the same Ice becomes snow … Everything works on the principle of  Time and place … And you know I exist  at   every stage of the process .

 Creation .destruction …it goes on …and Am with you since creation….. … With you always …. and you know I maintain a family inside you  ….

My Eldest sister is sky , my second sister is wind , my third sister is Fire , fourth sister is water and the youngest is earth .

 All my sisters are very affectionate to each other …Inside you and outside you all my sisters coordinate. And along with sisters I have 10 brothers. Five brothers look from outside and five look from inside …The five go out and do what I command …  

  You people call it   karmendriyas and gnyendriyaas and Its always in  my control .

In short, .I am like Duryodhana sometimes and  like Yudhisitra sometimes dual personality ..Ok Split personality ….. ……And my brothers never question me, They are very obedient …eyes..ears..nose..Tongue and skin …together are my brothers living inside …My other five brothers are legs, hands, speech and excretion

I see through your eyes … I speak through your mouth as they transmit information and I DECIDE.

.And same with Nose and touch ….  And most importantly, you know I have a master who is also within us watching us        …. But I overpower him with my reasoning  and  for my I pleasures  … Both me and my master have gone into several bodies ( houses) along  with you as per the dictum of  our Supreme Master .

We are always in synchrony. And I always maintain  records of all  the good deeds and the bad deeds … I dodge our master inside and put him to sleep and  always take over …My master is the  Intellect and you call  him Jiva  who is silent spectator ..  

There is something more …

There is something more …….

In the rumblings of these thoughts tears trickling, praying Almighty  I once again doze of to slumber sleep ……..

To be continued ………

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

Pics Credits : Google images

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

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 ,

Azhwars were the incarnations of of Lord Sriman Narayana’s divine weapons and ornaments (“Azhwar” in Tamil means ‘one who is immersed’).

Since the advanced saints were always immersed in the Lord and His qualities, they were glorified as Azhwars and the places which was glorified by Azhwars are earmarked as Divya desams .
Out of the 12 azhwars, 4 Azhwars appeared towards the end of Dwapara yuga and Eight Azhwars appeared during Kali yuga.

Thirumangai Azhwar appeared on the 397^th year after the advent of Kaliyuga as per “Guru Parampara prabhavam” composed by Sri.Pinbhagzhagiya Perumal Jeey.ar Neelan as he was called appeared on a bright Thursday in Nala varushey(year name), Karthigai maasey (karthigai month as per tamil calender[Nov-Dec])on Krithikai star on Pournami in Kallar kulam at Thirukuraiyalur – a small village near Thirunangoor about one hour drive from Sirkazhi.

The remote village of Thirunangoor near Sirkazhi reverberates with satsangh all through out the year .
Three important festivities are celebrated grandly in this village.
(1) Thai Amavaasai for 3 days (Jan-Feb)
(2)Thiruvedupari utsavam on Panguni-Pooram (March-April)
(3)Thiru avataara utsavam-10 day utsavam during Karthigai month culminating on Karthigaiyil Karthigai

Thirumangai Azhwar affectionately called as Kaliyan, was the valiant army chief of the then Chola King that the king gifted him with a small territory to rule over.
Hence, he was known as Thirumangai Mannan .

“Thirumangai mannan” who had that power , fame , position which took him to material pleasures like any human .
The possessions and power engulfed him .
Blinded by daring heroism, Neelan was indulged in sensual pleasures..
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By Lord’s mercy , for his reformation he happened to meet Kumudavalli daughter of a physician in Thiruvellakulam who played a vital role in transforming Neelan into Azhwar.
Kumudhavalli a damsel (apsaras) who was named Thirumaamagal/Sumangalai along with her friends descended on Himalayan forests mocked at a siddhar who was being imparted knowledge by Kapila maharishi.

The infuriated rishi cursed her to descend to earth and get married to a human being .
When she repented for her mistake and asked for a means to go back to the heavenly planet, the sage advised her to transform Neelan(an amsam of Saarangam) and make him a great devotee and get married to him.
After accomplishing her mission, he blessed her that she would be able to get back to her heavenly abode.
Thus , she appeared as a small girl on the banks of Swetha Pushkarini(Thiru vella kulam) in front of Srinivasar Kovil in Thirunangoor.

As he was childless for a long time, he considered to be Lord Srinivasar’s blessings .As she was seen holding Kumudha flower, he named her as Kumudavalli.
Once Neelan , the ruler of the province around Thirunangoor happened to come to Thiruvellakulam. He was mesmerized by Kumudavalli’s beauty and expressed his ardent desire to marry her. He approached her parents and expressed his desire .

The Parents were overjoyed as the King was at their doorstep . However , Kumudavalli expressed her desire “to marry only to a person who sported Thiruman kaapu ( Tilak ) on his forehead and got pancha samskaaram ( initiation ) done”.
Immediately Neelan set out in search of an Acharya to get initiated (pancha samskaaram in srivaishnava sampradaya) done.
No one dared to initiate him considering his qualities. The ever compassionate Lord Srinivasar of Thirunaraiyur appeared before him as a Priest and did panchasamskaaram to Neelan.
Later, Thirukannapuram Lord Sowriraja Perumal imparted the intricate meanings of Ashtakshari to him. Hence, these two Lordships are considered as “Acharyar” for Azhwar.

Having fulfilled her condition, Neelan approached Kumudavalli .
She replied Oh Prince !
Am glad with your desire in entering a relationship with me .But please understand as your better half I have another condition . I wish you undertake to carry out the bhaagavatha dhadhiaaradanam to 1000 people for one year which gives me immense satisfaction.
Neelan accepts the condition with a smile as she would be his queen soon .
Now , the couple did dhadhiyaaradhanam for one year and continued with the kainkaryam later. The place where he did dhadhiyaaradhanai kainkaryam is known as “Mangai maadam”.
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It was a grand feast every day . A vast area was covered with pandals .for devotees thronging daily . It became a sacred shrine with hundred of devotees gathering daily with vaishnava tilaks and glorifying Lordships with songs . Few were discussing the greatness of Neelan and kumudha .Filled with bhagavathas , the place became more vibrant with devotion.

Neelan loved the new role. He never questioned the spending even the coffers of Thirumangai was coming to a stock out position . The Ministers whispered about the coffers getting emptied , but he continued the services selling his jewellary and other precious things .
The news reached the chozha king. He summoned Neelan to return the entire money or face repercussion. As Neelan didn’t oblige, the king had to send an army . Neelan defeated the army with ease . Shocked , the king came in person to wage a war.

Knowing Neelan’s might, the king with the help of his minister, conspired a plan to trick Neelan and arrested him.
Neelan was locked up in a temple for 3 days without food and water.(very similar to bhakta Ramadasar).
The ever compassionate Lord Varadarajar of Kanchipuram appeared in Neelan’s dream informing that he could use the wealth lying on the banks of Vegavati river in Kanchipuram to clear the king’s dues.
The next day , Neelan informed the king that he would return the entire money given a chance . The King sent Neelan along with his soldiers to the banks of Vegavati river.
He cleared the king’s dues and kept the balance with him for continuing the bhagavatha kainkaryam which he got infected to.
Neelan resigned from the king’s service and dedicated his full time for bhaagavatha kainkaryam. To continue the kainkaryam, Neelan resorted to looting wealth from the rich peasants who were egoistic selfish and greedy .
He did that by waylaying with the help of his four friends -Neermel nadappan(one who could walk across water), nizhalil odhunguvaan(one who was an expert in following a person’s shadow), thaaaludhuvaan (one who could open any lock without key), tholavazhakkan(one who could not be defeated in any argument).
As the looting expedition was also getting a bad name to Neelan who was doing a great kainkaryam ( service ) Lordships of Thiruvaali divyadesam along with Thaayar had to intervene.
The Lordships appeared as a newly wed couple fully bedecked with costly jewels and set out on a closed palanquin to Thiruvaali .
His friends who came to know of this, informed Neelan that if the bridal party is looted, they would have enough wealth to support lifelong bhagavatha kainkaryam. Neelan was very pleased .He immediately galloped on his horse(Aadalmaa) followed by his thief-friends and reached the place which is presently known as “Thirumanan kollai”.
On reaching the place, Neelan threatened the couple to part with their entire jewellery. Accordingly , the couple surrendered all their jewellery except the toe ring on the bride as it could not be removed. Though Neelan had the entire loot , Lord veiled a maya on him which made him to lure for the toe ring too which was very attractive.
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Neelan himself bent down to remove the ring but as his efforts were futile, he tried to remove the ring with the help of his teeth by his mouth. Unknowingly, he surrendered to Thayar’s lotus feet for the material wealth .But , by coming into contact with Goddess (Thayar’s) lotus feet, wisdom dawned on him. He was mesmerized and choked with no words .He attempted to move quickly and thus bundled the entire loot in a big cloth. Looking at the divine couple , he tried to lift the baggage but for its weight .
Shocked that the small booty could not be lifted , Neelan thought that the bridegroom must have cast a spell on the bundle . He wanted to frighten the bridegroom now . He threatened them with a dagger to reveal the secret which made that booty so heavy that he couldnt lift it .
The mischievous bridegroom smiled and agreed to share the secret with him .He advised him to purify himself in the nearby stream and wait under the banyan tree (arasa maram).
Neelan did as advised and the bride groom uttered the sacred Ashtakshari mantram on Neelan’s right ear.
Wisdom dawned on Neelan and there was an instant flash ….
he repented for all his deeds.
He understood his real purpose of his birth .
The divine couple appeared as Lord Lakshmi-Narayanan on Garuda vahanam and blessed their child .
Lord addressed him as Thirumangai mannan as he had the blessing of Thiru (Thayar first).
Now the jeevatma “Thirumangai mannan” in ecstasy repenting for all his misdeeds outpours torrential verses instantaneously in presence of Divyadampathigal starting with the most beautiful verse ….
“vaadinen vaadi varundhinene manathaal……”
concluding each phrase glorifying “Narayana” naamam…..

The name N A R A Y A Y A N A itself can give stature and wealth.The name destroys miseries .This Holy name gives a seat in heaven a seat in Paramapadam .It will give you strength It will give you everything .This lovely name will give more that what a loving mother can give …And thus Azhwar reveals saying ..
I have found such a good word in HIS holy name….
This wonderful incident is recapitulated every year in the holy place and is celebrated grandly as “Thiru vedupari utsavam” on the night preceding Panguni Uthiram in the month of March-April .

As part of 10 day brahmotsava celebrations at Thiruvaali, on the sixth day, Lord (Perumal ) arrives to wed Goddess ( Thayar ) and set out on a “moodu pallaku”. The divine wedding (thirukalyanam) takes place in the afternoon and saatrumarai goshti gets over by 9 p.m .
Later the divine couple set out on a palanquin slowly and head toward Thirumangai maadam and rest in a mandapam. Azhwar sets out from Thirunagari temple at midnight and swiftly reaches the mantapam and goes round the couple thrice.
A screen is drawn and it is presumed that all the ornaments are removed. Lord gets ready to give darshan on Garuda vahanam along with Thayar. Meanwhile Thirumangai mannan is taken to a nearby mandapam where thousands of devotees throng to have the beautiful sight of Azhwar riding on the horse for about an hour.
Later Azhwar is taken towards Perumal who imparts the Eight syllable mantra “Ashtakshari. The bhog is offered to the Lordship. Azhwar circumblates around Lordships with benevolence.
Lord blesses Thirumangai Azhwar with prasadam, maalai, parivattam. The assembled goshti start reciting “Vaadinen vaadi….” slowly and after completing of the first 10 pasurams, mangalaaarthi is given to both Perumal and Azhwar.
This beautiful incident is re enacted at this holy place and happens around midnight .Almost around 2 AM , a group of devotees playing the role of Neelan’s friends ente the temple to inform Neelan about the newly wed couple.

Within minutes, the temple doors are opened . Thirumangai mannan in blue velvette dress wearing innumerable intrinsic jewellery holding gem studded sword , precious gems studded dagger and all other weapons required by a king majestically gallops on his favourite horse”Aadalma”. The gathering rushes outside the temple and set forth on the journey to loot the wealth .
The night is pitch dark . The sevarthees bearing torches literally run along with Neelan ( Our Azhwar ) . It is a sight never to be missed. The zeal with which Kaliyan rides on the horse is inexplicable.
One has to be physically present to witness this Neelan swiftly marches through the narrow muddy roads to reach the place .Meanwhile Lord ( Perumal) and Thayar in Kalyana Thirukolam arrive giving darshan to the assembled devotees.
One devotee relished his experience that when the azhwar sets out from the temple to loot the Lord, his valour ,pride ,strength ,determination can be seen on Azhwar’s thirumugam and when he returns after having Perumal’s darsanam, Azhwar’s speed is reduced as he becomes submissive having shed away his pride and takes about 4 hours to reach the temple as the procession moves slowly.
Coming back to the divine incident , ..Neelan who becomes transformed to Thirumangai Azhwar decides to visit all the holy shrines and glorify the Lordships .
Lord captivated his attention by giving HIM beautiful darshan in all the temples. In his divine pasurams, he vividly describes the Lord, location of the holy place , surroundings and the opulence .

Azhwar now sets to have darshan of all Divya desams and glorifies LORD the maximum number of temples – 86 divya desams and has the credit of glorifying 47 divya desams exclusively.
His outburst of HIS BLISS was shared through HIS pasurams and visited almost about 86 temples . He also took efforts to construct Temple walls of Srirangam without affecting ThoNdaradippodiAzhwAr’s nandhavanam.
(“pAdi pAdi paraparappAi thirinthAr”)
His compositions were
1. Periya thirumozhi
2. Periya thirumadal
3. SiRiya thirumadal
4. Thiru nedunthANdakam
5. Thiru KurunthANdakam
6. Thiru vezhuk kurrirukkai.
His pAsurams are marvellous; excellent and have unsurpassed beauty in them.
Here is one of his periya thirumozhi pasurams recorded at the venue

vAdinEn vAdi varundhinEn manatthaal/
perun thuyaridum idumbaiyil piRanNdhu/
koodinEn koodi iLaiyavar thammOdu/
avar tharum kalaviyE karudhi/
OdinEn Odi uyvadhOr poruLaal/
uNarvenum perumpadhan therindhu/
naadinEn nAdi nadi nAn kaNdukoNdEn/
nArAyaNA vennum nAmam.Being born into this body, a reservoir of profound sorrow, I am repenting, melting and crying, I am filled with pathos and self-pity;I have let myself run after beautiful women, seeking the sensual pleasures from their union; Through the grace of our Lord I have now realized that there is a greater goal and That will deliver me into eternal happiness; I have been searching for this state and have now found it IN THE SWEET NAME NARAYANA.

This pasuram will bring tears to the eyes of any devotee for AzhwAr’sBhakti and love and his heart longing for the lotus feet of our Lord Narayana.
All glories to the devotees who will be attending the Thiruvedipuri Utsavam on April 4 , 2023
Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

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

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

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