Once a disciple of the great Acharya Sri Periavachanpillai asked his Guru ,
Swamin ! My attempts to control the EGO is always ineffective and this EGO is not getting rid of me .
Few occasions this is becoming more prominent and making me to misconduct myself repeatedly .
Gurudeva , adiyen is enslaved by my nature and am scared.
Is there still any scope for me to attain the Supreme Lord ?? or will this behaviour of mine throw me in the deep pit of hell .
The disciple was in distress .
The revered Acharya replied ,
My Child !!
It is wrong for the jiva to think that he is the enjoyer or that he is totally independent . Once Lord decides to save the Jiva, he makes him do good things and If HE wishes him to push him down HE makes him to do the evil deeds….
Pride is an alternative name for EGO .
The feeling that I am Independent , strong , wealthy , intelligent , handsome etc compared to others invites this EGO with open arms .
Such EGO is responsible for disrespecting Elders .
The one who keeps EGO at a distance is alone eligible for God Realisation .
The paramour that accompanies the EGO is the feeling of I ness or the feeling of mine .Whenever any attractive thing is perceived the mind wants to claim it or possess it .This feeling is the wife of the EGO and as a chaste wife she will never leave her husband EGO .The children born to this couple are anger and jealousy .
The mischief created by these kids destroys the peace of the Jiva .
And to get rid of this couple !!!! the jiva suffers ….
Its like this my child !!
The head of the family is EGO .
If one has to destroy him the wife will also end her life .
Due to their absence the kids jealousy and anger also will vanish .
Whatever the Jiva does is under the control of the LORD .
Just as the minister functions under the limited delegation conferred by the King even the jiva is totally dependent on Paramatma .
The jiva enjoys only the fruits showered by the Lord .
Just as the independent one and the one who confers the rewards is the King , the totally Independent Lord is the complete enjoyer .
The Lord who creates this universe is constantly at work and enjoys the fruits also .
We enjoy only the balance that is given to us , because we have served the Lord in full faith and love .
We do not have a life of our own ( that is independent of hIM ) We are there to be used , where and when as required by HIM ..
The Lord is the principal enjoyer .
It is to be understood that we are here to be enjoyed by Him .
Assume , a person has gifted a Jack fruit to a King .
The King receives the entire fruit together with the skin and the fiber .
But when he desires to eat the fruit the King enjoys the inner kernel after removing the fibre and the skin which are not needed .
In the same manner LORD who is the principal enjoyer accepts the Jiva even though he may have qualities that are not favoured for his up liftment .
When the LORD wishes to enjoy the offering he removes the offending qualities of the jiva .He accepts whatever is offered with joy .
A pasuram from Divya Prabhandam by revered Nammazhwar goes as below
It means LORD is an ocean of mercy with a big heart ….
and
HE accepts all those who have a desire for liberation and even though they are covered with evil qualities which are sticking to them like dirty mud , HE ensures the same is cleaned thus correcting them (thiruthI ) and accepts them to HIS presence .
And finally he who has offered himself to LORD in his Saranagathi has nothing to fear at all .
The LORD himself will rid the person of the undesirable qualities and being the real enjoyer will accept him .
The devotee was pleased and was relieved to receive the advise .
It was a eye opener for him too to surrender his Freewill and accept the divine will .
The lesson was simple but crystal clear .
Any act of kindness , devotion , charity , cheerfulness obedience , love makes us near to LORD and its reverse takes us away from LORD .
Adiyen Ramanuja dasan
Pics courtesy : Google images and several social media uploaded by several devotees
Gauthama Maharishi was a great devotee of ParamaSivan . The Rishi used to offer fruits and fresh blossomed flowers for worship daily . For the same , he had to climb trees with great difficulty to pluck the same .
In order to continue his services with ease he prayed Paramasivan to grant him sharp eyes and claws like a tiger .Thus he got the name Vyangraapadha rishi. Rishi Vyangraapadha undertook penance at Chidambaram invoking the blessings of Lord Nataraja for salvation .
However , ParamaShivan instructed Vyangrapadha rishi ( Vyangra =Tiger ) ( Pada = feet) to proceed to Srirangam and worship Lord Ranganathar . Owing to his poor eye sight, the rishi lost his way, went southward and reached Krupa Samudiram Perumal near Mayavaram . Unable to walk any further, he sat in penance at Sirupuliyur.He did penance at Sirupuliyur for attaining Srivaikuntam by worshipping Lord SrimanNarayana .
The Lord appeared in his full sayana posture like the one at Srirangam. Since the sage was not able to swallow the big form with his feeble eye sight, Lord appeared in the form of a child – Baala Sayana.
As a mark of respect to the great saint the saint’s idol is seen under the feet of the Perumal in the Moolavar Sannathi. There is another divine pastime enacted at this holy place . Garuda and Adhisheshan were discussing about the services rendered to Lord by them .In the course of discussion ,Garuda pointed it was his service which was more compared to Adhishesha . Both the servants , surrendered to the LORD for judgement .
Lord who overheared Garuda’s egoistic words , sided with Adhisheshan to correct Garuda for his words of “I”.
Another important feature of the temple is we can have darshan of Adhisheshan sannithi separately. In this temple the Garuda sannithi is at a lowest level compared to other sannithi.
This wonderful temple can be reached by travelling about 15 km from Mayiladuthurai towards Thiruvarur Route . From Kollumangudi, the temple is just 2 km.
Sirupuliyur (Thiru sirupuliyur) which is one of the 108 divya desams in Tiruvarur district near to Mayavaram The Lord of this temple is Arulmaakadal, Sthala Sayana Perumal who gives darshan in bujanga sayanam posture facing south.
. The temple tower is a 75-foot structure and has two enclosures around. The Processional deities Krupa Samudra Perumal / aruL mA kaDal perumAL and Goddess Dayaanayagi grace the devotees with abundant mercy.
The association of Kadamba tree with Lord Krishna is most memorable . The Kadamba tree is consecrated by all the the devotees of Lord Krishna and its flowers are used as offerings to LORD at various temples.
Several legends that are related to the Kadamba tree are famous to relish . Under the Kadamba tree, Lord Krishna used to swing from the branches and dance in festivity with all the gopikas of Vrindavana.
Once
while grazing the cows along with the gopas near GOVERDHAN near a village Sammai our little krishna saw a elder gopa distributing kheer ( payasam ) to bhagavathas .
Our little krishna approached the elder gopa and asks Bhayya !!
what about my share ??
The elder gopa smilingly asks ( chinni krishna ) kanhaiyya to get a cup for collecting the Kheer not knowing what our chinni krishna can do ..
.
The butter thief he was goes near the Kadamba tree and asks for a leaf Cup .
Yes Master !!!
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The Kadamba tree with all obedience bows down to the Master and gives its leaf in the form of a small cup for kanhaiyya to have that Kheer .
This divine leela which was enacted few thousand years ago still continues in the sacred dhaam of Vrindavan near Giriraj Goverdhan .
As a part of our Vraj Dhaam yatra , during Sri Goverdhan Parikrama , we were eager to have darshan of the divine cup .
We had to go inside the village from the Goverdhan parikrama marg upto almost 3 kms in search of the kadamba trees .
Praying LORD for his grace we were trying to request vrajwasi to help us in having a darshan of the leaf cup which is rarely visible .
A brajwasee passing by entered the scene , but was not very sure about the location .
Our chant of the Holy name somehow attracted a dark skinned young boy who suddenly appeared under a tree smiling at us . He was nowhere around when we searched .
It was all of a sudden he appeared and the miracle happened……..
He called another vrajwasee ( who was also not seen for few seconds ) , and told him to go to a particular Kadamba tree and come with the divine cup .
Within seconds the divine cup arrived and it was a blessing to have a darshan of the butter leaf cup from the kadamba tree which was graced by a vrajwasee himself .
This divine anubhutee can be felt even after 5000 years the kadamba tree gives that divine cup to the lovable brajwasees ..
We later spent some divine time with this young lad (!) discussing some esoteric truths on Premabhava of gopikaas and Lord’s love to his devotees ..
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All of us were in tears for the mercy LORD showered on us …
All glories to the Divine leela
Adiyen Ramanuja dasan
Swamy Mudali Andan was the foremost disciple of Jagatha Acharyar Swamy Ramanuja . AndAn was sad that he did not have a male heir to continue the kainkaryam of Lord Ranganathar at Srirangam.
Lord out of abundant mercy enacted a divine play . Inside the temple at the same time , Swamy Ramanuja received prasadam from the temple priest which was covered with a garment (Kandadai- Kandal Gandam + aadai – a piece of cloth with fragrance) worn by Lord ( Lordships ).
Swamy Ramanuja indicated to Andaan about the auspicious happening and told him he will be blessed with a son soon. As per the divine will , during the tamil Masi Month , Poonarvasu thirunakshatram , Swamy Mudali AndAn was blessed with a child with divya thEjas.
Mudaliandan took the young boy wrapped in the cloth that was used to dry periya perumal after his ritual bath . The torn cloth was smelling of gandham ( sandal ) . Swamy Ramanuja took the little boy and blessed him . and said he came in a torn cloth, but he shall be with a golden heart and spread Sriman narayana’s moola mantram to the world and hence will be called Kandhadai .
Years passed , the child grew up and came to be known as KanthAdai AndAn . KanthAdai AndAn was just 28 years old when his father Swamy MudaliAndaan reached Srivaikuntam .
Swamy Ramanujar consoled him, took him to NamperumAls Sannidhi and gave him the duties and responsibilities performed by his father Mudali AndAn .
KanthAdai AndAn also discharged the responsibilities like his father . Among this great lineage another great Acharyar Swamy Appachiaranna appeared .
Swamy Appachiaranna was the direct descendant of Swamy Mudaliandan Swami and occupies the nineth (9) position in the legacy .
Appachiaranna was addresed by Swami Manavala Mamunigal as “Nam Appachiarannao”. Swamy Manavala mamunigal out of abundant compassion gifted two similar deities of himself to Appachiaranna (one for the worship of Sri Appachiaranna Swamy himself and the other for Swamy Vanamamalai jeer Swami, the Acharya of Appachiaranna) , made from the theerthapathram used by Swamy Ramanujar received by Swamy manavala mamunigal which was in a poor condition and later named as ‘RAMANUJAN’.
Swamy Manavala Mamunigal also gave Appachiaranna the deity of ” Lord Teemanam Keduthar”, the Perumal worshipped by Sri Atkondavilli Jeer.
As directed by Swami Manavala Mamunigal, Appachiaranna lived at Kancheepuram at Swamy Mudaliandan thirumaligai performing Nithya Thiruvaradhanam to “Sri Azhaithu Vazhivithavar” (the Lordships given to kandhadai thozzappar by ( Lord Varadarajar) Perulala perumal himself) one among the shad bheras of Kanchi Perarulalan .
In the foot steps of Swami Ramanuja, Appachiaranna also spent his life time doing the Salaikinaru Kainkaryam for the ( Abhishekam ) thirumanjanam of Perarulalan and Perundevi Thayar.
Swamy Appachiaranna’s thirunakshatram is Avani Hastham falls on25th of August 2017.
This grand festival is being celebrated for 5 days from August 21st 2017 , at Sri Sri Mudaliandan Swami Thirumaligai , Singaperumal Koil, Thirunarayanapuram & Srirangam .
On this grand occasion, Chellapillai Perumal and Swami Ramanujar grace Swamy Mudaliandan Thirumaligai at Thirunarayapuram ( Melkote) to bless all Sishyas and abhimanis. This grand festival is taking place for many years as practiced by our Poorvacharya’s.
Swamy Nampillai just finished his daily worship and was about to conduct a discourse .
His ardent disciple Pinbalagaram Perumal Jeeyar had a doubt to be clarified.
He approached Swamy Nampillai and submitted his question
.. Acharya !!
Please tell me , whenever a person is in difficulty we approach our Acharya and seek his blessings to ward off the problems .
Acharyar also blesses by abundant compassion ” shubena manasa dhyaatam ” adding Thathasthu …and the problem is solved .
Such incidents have happened several times in the past and continue to happen .
Adiyen wants to know whether this is because of Acharya or the Lord ?
Swamy Nampillai in a composed mood , clarifies his disciple that all the good that was happening was because of Lord himself .
Pinbalagam Jeeyar again once again submits , Acharya !! in that case can we approach LORD directly ?
Swamy Nampillai with compassion replies !
My child …….
It is incorrect to directly approach the Lord .
In order to seek LORD’s grace we must first seek HIS devotees blessings .
LORD ensures that the blessings showered by HIS pure devotees are always effective . There is no other way to seek HIS grace .
Pinbalagam Jeeyar was convinced with the answer , but expected more .
Swamy Nampillai continued !
Look my child !!
In Mahabharata, Jayadhrata the powerful warrior killed Abhimanyu ( Arjuna’s son ) after leading him into the Padmavyuham ( Lotus formation ) .
Arjuna deeply upset vowed that before the sunset he would kill Jayadhrata else he would kill himself.
Having coming to know about Arjuna’s vow the kauravas were very happy . They decided to protect Jayadratta till sunset to see the end of Arjuna . Meanwhile , Arjuna was searching for Jayadratha everywhere in the battle field till the evening . Time passed swiftly and the sun was about to set . The Kauravas were overjoyed . They were keen to see Arjuna killing himself as per his vow .
Srirangam Sri Ranganathaswamy Kovil
Lord Krishna watching Arjunas anxiety , released his Sudarshana chakra and covered the sun thus appearing the night has arrived .
The kauravas were overjoyed . Jayadratta also came out from the hiding place . Looking at Kauravas , Lord Krishna ordered Arjuna to behead Jayadrata which was immediately obeyed and simultaneously recalled the sudarshana chakra . The sun came back in its own glory which amazed the kauravas . The vow announced by Arjuna was fulfilled by Lord Krishna . Lord ensured that HIS help is always available for HIS devotee. This pastime proves that LORD alone is responsible for the blessings of the devotee to be effective .
Swamy Nampillai further continued , Koorath azhwan the ardent disciple of Swamy Ramanuja was humiliated by the bigoted cruel king Krimikanta .
He along with Peria nambi lost their eyes in the process of saving the rich srivaishnava sampradaya . Koorathazhwan returned to srirangam in great distress . The tyrant king passed an order that all those who had any connection whatsoever with Swamy Ramanuja shall not be permitted to enter the temple in Srirangam.
Unknowingly , one day Koorathazhwan makes an entry into the SriRangam temple . The temple guards stop him from entering . However one temple guard allows him to enter into the temple to have darshan of Lord Ranganatha . Kooresan was curious to know what was the reason for his special favor towards him ? The temple guard replied Oh Seer ! you seem to look like a person with good qualities though a follower of Swamy Ramanuja and that is the reason you were being allowed . Kooresa was shocked .
He exclaimed ..
Are you concluding that the followers of Swamy Ramanuja have bad qualities ?? and If my good qualities entitle me to enter the temple are the followers of Swamy Ramanuja bad ?
In that case I do not wish to sever my relationship with Swamy Ramanuja and will avoid entering into the temple ………
For realisation of the self, my association with Swamy Ramanuja is essential . No prayer pleases Lord without Acharyar’s mercy. Kooresan politely refuses to accept the gaurd’s honor and walks back to his house . This pastime establishes the supremacy of Acharya sambandham with our poorvacharyas …
A lotus which is not in the water , will not be allowed to blossom by the sun .. Not only that It will fade away soon …….
Amongst the 12 Azhwars , Vishnuchittar was glorified as ” Peria Azhwar” . Our poorvacharyars comment that though he appeared after Mudal azhwar, Nammazhwar, Thirumazhisai Azhwar, he was honoured with the title “Peria Azhwar because while all other azhwars glorified Lord as Supreme Personality, Azhwar had “pongum parivu” ( vatsalyabhava).
Swamy Manavala Mamunigal in ” Upadesa Ratnamala ” says “Pongum parivaale petraan Periazhwar ennum peyar” meaning that because of the vatsalya bhaavam like a mother towards the Lord, he was conferred with this title. Periyazhwar was overwhelmed to have darshanam of the Lord after winning the debate called by the Pandyan King at Madurai few hundred years back . Having darshan of Lord Koodal Azhagar Perumal , along with the Goddess who had come to witness the marathon procession honours done by the King to the Azhwar , on Garuda Vahanam , Periyazhwar was worried that such a beautiful form of Lord may attract evil eye .
He innocently takes the bell from the elephant’s neck from where he was riding (as symbol warding off the evil ) and starts glorifying Lord with his mangala shasanam instantly , by chanting the introductory verses of Divya Prabhandam “Thirup PallaNdu”
(Long live for many years, Long live for many years for Hundreds of thousands of years! my Lord !!!!)
Out of the vatsalya bhaavam which he had for the Lord, he considered himself to be Mother Yasodha and experienced all the divine pastimes which the Lord displayed during HIS avataram. Out of the 473 pasurams which he composed known as “Periazhwar Thirumozhi”, about 190 pasurams are about the divine pastimes of Lord Krishna …..
Periya Azhwar was an incarnation of Garuda (the divine vehicle of Lord Maha Vishnu).
Azhwar was serving Lord Vatapatrasayi perumal at Srivalliputhur . During a recitation event of Srimad Bhagavatam inside the temple , Azhwar was struck to one incident which inspired him to take up the garland service to Lord . This sweet pastime of Lord Krishna meeting a person at Mathura moved him . Lord Krishna meets a person who was carrying garlands to the demon king kamsa . Lord asks him to part with a flower garland much to the surprise of the villager.
The innocent man he was , replied Oh Lord !!! ” several saints perform austerity and devotional service to seek your company and I am humbled with your mercy on me . Please take this wonderful garland as a small gift .. I surrender even If Kamsa kills me ….
The lord was very pleased with his service and blessed him . The incident left a strong impression on azhwar’s mind and he concluded that preparing and offering flower garlands to the Lord was the best kaimkaryam to HIM and thus he cultivated flower gardens all around the temple and used to prepare a small flower garlands with different varieties of flowers. The list included Tulasi, lotus, lilly roses and other perfumed flowers ( shengazhaneer, mallikai mullai ) which he offered to Lord daily with deep love . He used to offer eight varieties of flowers which would blossom at different times in a day . The divine couple competed amongs’t themselves to bless this devotee. Bhoomi devi, the Lord’s eternal consort appeared as his daughter whom he named “Kodhai”/ Andal His love for Lord Krishna was ultimate . Always in the mood of serving LORD as little Krishna he used to swoon in bhakthi bhava of Yasodha .
After being conferred “Bhattar pirAn”, PeriaAzhwAr continued on his garland service while singing the pasurams on Lord Krishna .The mood in which Azhwar sung was as if he became His mother, yasOdhA. He bathed him, fed Him, dressed Him up played with him and enjoyed every part of his beauty . Azhwar imagines all his childhood mischief which yasOdhA had undergone. The Child’s naughty mischief, divine leelAs, were all sung by periyAzhwAr at a stretch which is a prayer book of all vaishnavas .
All the pAsurams of Azhwar are to be sung , re-sung and enjoyed.
All were bhakti laden pAsurams and shall taste like a ripe grape fruit soaked in honey by the devotees .
Azhwar , takes over the scene from LORD’s appearance , wherein all citizens of Mathura are happy on the appearance of Lord Krishna. Here he considers Thirukkottiyur a place near Madurai as Mathura and paints the picture of people going ecstatic, unable to contain the unlimited joy of LORD’s appearance . His choosing of words are so perfect that it can bring the divine scene before the devotees eyes . He reveals the ecstatic joy encountered by the gopas .
Azhwar immerses himself into the emotional outpourings of Yashoda maa that keeps the reciter to visualize the mood of a mother giving holy bath to little Krishna while cleansing the tiny mouth of the Lord in his pasurams . The verses keep the reciter emotionally charged with several divine pastimes of Lord Krishna in the following verses .
Azhwar observes the seven worlds or universe itself inside the little mouth ! Next, he enjoys the beauty of the parts of LORDs body from the Holy Feet to the lovely Locks of hairs and as a mother he invites other gopis to partake in his transcendental bliss .
As Lord Krishna was hid from the demon Kamsa notice and secretively brought up, Azhvar innocently says that this child was born in ascendant star that is tenth from Hastam star ! Counting forward tenth star from Hastam is Thiruvonam ( Sravana ) which is Lord Narayana’s star and counting backwards from Hastam is Rohini, Star of Lord Krishna. This is he does to ensure the demon kamsa does not harm little Krishna after knowing his whereabouts . Azhwar intelligently announces this for the safety of this child in his wonderful pasurams .
Azhvar further proceeds by singing a Lullaby for Divine Child and lists out the various presents made by different celestials Brahma, Rudra, Kubera, Varuna, Indra, Sri Mahalakshmi, Bhumadevi and Kali .
Azhwar visualises Yashodamma along with little krishna and shows him the moon. She invites the moon to come near as child is eager to play with him. She pleads the moon to come quickly as He is feeling sleepy after His food and if He sleeps late the food will not be digested properly ! She also cautions Moon not to ignore him saying He is no doubt a small kid and don’t take him lightly as one incident (reminds him of the experience of Mahabali with this small one !)
In the next few pasurams Azhwar visualises as mother keeping the child and sways him forward and back like a see saw . The outpourings further highlight about the dwarf and the faltering steps. Azhwar like any mother quotes ………………
Acho Acho …………for the child’s bravery for his little steps…….
While feeding the Lord and the ear boring ceremonies , he visualizes and sings the Twelve Holy Names of the Lord ,
and advises the ordinary mortals to name their kids with the holy names of Lord to be attached to the supreme personality .
Azhwar now visualises the holy oil bath ( Neerattam ) of little krishna . Krishna is not keen to join his mother for taking a bath . Yasoda pleads him with several quotes amusing the reciter . Little Krishna refuses and runs away every attempt . She entreats him saying- Kanna !! “Having besmeared your body with butter and mud, I will not let you soil your bed tonight. See! For how long I have been waiting with oil, scented soap-nut powder etc. O! Lord! Narana! who is beyond anybody’s reach. Please do come and have your bath”.
Yashoda having failed convincing , finally tricks him into a sense of shame by saying “I might even like to leave you go with all the dirt on your beautiful body smeared by you, while playing in the cattle-shed but others ‘will not like it a bit and more importantly, if your darling Nappinnai ( Radha rani ) sees you in this state, she will laugh at you!.
Are you so shameless to let this happen to you? Come,Quickly finish your bath and get ready” – This hymn is recited in all the Srivaishnava temples during Abhishekam Tirumanjanam (ceremonial bath) to the Lord. Azhwar amuses him by calling Kakkai (crow ) to groom the hair, to get a Stick for Him to play.
Further Azhwar visualises decorating the Lord with variety of eight flowers which is taken out immediately once it blooms . Azhwar dresses him with finest sandal perfume and to ward of the evil eye for his nectarian beauty he keeps a Rakshai …
The Naughty divine pastimes of little Krishna and the casual complaints of the neighbours on little Krishna is interesting .
The verses take the reciter to many moods of a mother . Affection , Emotion , Deep love concern etc …. ( why not !!!! And it has a message for ordinary mortals like us ) At one stage , Yashodamaa is in awe of child is refusing to feed her breast but only solid food.
She feels sorry that she had to send child to tend the calves for grazing , and worried about his safe return . The Gopikas getting enamored of Lord coming behind the Cattle. The verses conclude with some of the finest pictures of Krishna playing the flute in the forest.
The incident of Lord Krishna’s lifting Govardhana Hill follows with glories to the Hill and the Lord who lifted saving the entire inhabitants . He gives vivid description of mountain itself. Azhwar visualises Lord Krishna’s playing Flute mesmerizing the Gopis, Cows, the birds the trees and the celestial in heaven. Periazhwar describes Lord Krishna’s flute-playing in 10 mellifluous verses.
Azhwars often express their love as a mother OR of a daughter OR a lover meaning their own Souls longing for union with the Supreme Lord. Most of his 473 verses in Divya Prabandham, collectively known as “Periazhwar Tirumozhi” speak of the early years of Krishna. Azhwar became the father- in- law of Lord Narayana when his daughter Andal marries the Lord. – – an honor none else could claim.
Adiyen Ramanuja dasan
Pics credits : Courtesy : Google images uploaded by devotees
video credits: Shri Ananthanarayana for MS Amma’s clip
” 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,
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.
LORD TRIVIKRAMAN AT SIRKAZHI
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. )
LORD TRIVIKRAMAN AT THIRUKOVALUR
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
Video credits : HG Balagovindadasa for Brahmakadigina padamu
