Day: February 2, 2015

DAMODAR KUND BEYOND MUKTHINATH DIVYADESAM

by Kazhiyur Varadan, posted in Uncategorized

DAMODAR KUND

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The  HOLY DHAAM  “Damodar Kund”  (lake) is situated   under a rain shadow of High Himalayas north of Annapurna range. The elevation of the Damodar Kund  is approximately  4890 meters  . Being at a great altitude the area  is  too  cold and windy place.

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The Damodar lakes are located three days walk north east of the main Mustang trekking route & very close to Tibetan border and Mukthinath .

However nowadays as per the locals there is a mote able road also  .

En route we can have darshanam of Saligrama kshetra (Muktinath) which is situated at a height of 3,800 metres .

Jomsom  airport is at 2713 metres.

The distance to Muktinath from Jomsom by walk is 21 kms (via Kagbeni)

Another short-cut which involves climbing of a steep mountain that  would save about 3-4 kms.

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Presently   Jeeps and motorbikes are operated for easy travel of the piligrims .

To reach Muktinath, we need to cross 3 settlements

– Eklabhatti,

Khinga,

Jharkot

(Earlier, piligrims used to go to Muktinath via Eklabhatti, Kagbeni, Jharkot).  

a6 According to one version, the Salagramam Divya Desam is just the bank/bed of River a2

Gandaki and not the Mukthinath temple.

Few also claim Its Damodar kund .

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River Kaligandaki has its source in Damodar Kund and throughout its flow to south right up to Indian border carries a manifestation of lying lord Vishnu with Damodarkund jeweled as His auspicious Head and with Muktinath as the mouth, Shaligram Chakra as chest Kuru Kshetra as the waist, Devaghatam as the Knee and lastly the auspicious feet of lord Vishnu goes to the credit of Gajendra Moksha devadham,

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Such a beautiful elaboration of the lord, one may find starting from the auspicious lakes of Damodar Kund.

The Damodar Kunda (lake) is situated rain shadow of High Himalayas north of Annapurna range.  

a7According to another version, the Mukthinath temple is very much the Divya Desam of Salagramam.

It is difficult to establish which of the two versions is right. Either way, there is no question that our Thirumangai Azhwar visited atleast the banks of the Gandaki River, as did Swamy Ramanuja.

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And no matter which version is accurate, there is no taking away from the beauty of this Divya Desam and its surroundings where the soul rejoices in being with our own super soul

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                 Thirumangai AzhwAr and PeriyAzhwAr  had glorified this divya desam with 12 Paasurams.

 Thirumanagai AzhwAr visualizes the  Great Lord here as RaamAvathAran and KrishNAvathAran.

PeriyAzhwAr’s  experiences Lord as Baala KrishNan and His play among the Gopikas.

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 In one of   Azhwar’s P asurams , Thirumangai Azhwar counsels His mind to hurry up and reach this divine  SaaLigrama KashEthram to worship the Lord there as  Lord Raama- and Lord KrishNa avathAra Moorthy.

 Azhwar’s  description of the beauty of nature at this dhivya dEsam are  so attractive that one will crave to have HIS darshan .

AzhwAr appeals to His mind politely..

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“KaayAmalar VaNNan SaaLagrAmamadia nenjE”

(Oh My mind! Please travel to the SaaLigrAma KshEthram of the Lord with the dark-bluish hue of KaayAmpoo! “

Manam kamazhum tadam soozhnthu yengum azhahAya SaaLagramamadai nenjE!”

Oh My mind! Please hurry up and get to the SaaLagrama KshEthram of the Lord known for its pretty groves filled with fragrant flowers !…………………..

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AzhwAr exhorts his mind to attain the Lord of Salagrama who, armed with bow and arrow, crossed forests inhabited by wild deer, elephants and horses, and then built a bridge of boulders to reach the high-walled fortress of Lanka and severed the ten heads of Ravana- the king of the RakshasAs glorifying LORD RAMAs avataram  .

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Adiyens very close devotee brother Sri Thiruvenkada ramanujadasan ( Mouni baba) had been to Damodar kund twice . He was kind enough to share the pics . 

 SRIDEVI BHOODEVI SAMETHA SREE MOORTHY PARABRAHMANEY NAMAH :

Adiyen’s travelogue to Mukthinath Divyadesam is available in the below link

SALIGRAMA DIVYA DESAM ANUBHAVAM
Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

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SWAMY EMBAAR THE ARDENT DISCIPLE OF SWAMY RAMANUJA

by Kazhiyur Varadan, posted in Uncategorized

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 ) .

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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 .

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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

https://i0.wp.com/kazhiyurvaradanblog.in/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/a17.jpg?w=1040&ssl=1

https://kazhiyurvaradanblog.in/2015/04/05/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 .

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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.

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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 .

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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.

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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 .

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Years rolled on . Swami Ramanuja becomes the disciple of Thirukachi Nambhigal ,Periya Nambhi, Thirukoshtiyur nambhi and had takes  sanyasa .

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 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 .

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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 .

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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.

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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.

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 .

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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 .

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

 

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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.

 

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.

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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.

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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.  

 

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.

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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: ||

 

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Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

Photos and videos : 

Courtesy great devotees of LORD who uploaded in  social media .