Month: May 2016

 The Himalayan mountains are divided into various mountain ranges, Garhwal Himalayas, Central Himalayas, Annapurna ranges and so on.

They stretch from Jammu up to Nepal. The Himalayas are the abode of Gods and innumerable saints contemplate on the Lord at this place.

“PRAYAG” means confluence of  rivers.  Panch Prayag means “Five Confluences” referring to the five confluences of  the holy river Alaknanda with Dhauli Ganga, Nandakini, Pindar, Mandakini and Bhagirathi . The rivers join  at Vishnu Prayag, NandaPrayag, KarnaPrayag, RudraPrayag and Devprayag respectively.

 

 

 

From Rishikesh,  Devprayag is the first  destination  among  Panch Prayags.  Devprayag is 73 kms uphill and will take 3 hours by car. Devprayag is the most important of all prayags  where rivers Bhagirathi, Alaknanda & the mythological river Saraswati (flowing underground) meet to form Ganga.

The Alaknanda flows from the left, and is an eye-catching shade of light blue whereas the Bhagirathi light shade of green. However, in the changing weather, the colours seem to alternate. The Alaknanda has its origins in Alkalananda glaciers at Alkapuri,  beyond bhadrinath ,where  the demigod Kuber settled. Alaknanda is  calm and flows gently, whereas Bhagirathi river flows with much vigor .

When the two merge and flow as one, the colour of Gangaji turns into a beautiful emerald.

From here one road goes by the side of river Bhagirathi to Yomunotri ( via Tehri ) and other road along the side of river Alaknanda goes to Kirtinagarg, Srinagar and Kedarnath.

 

 There is a small suspended bridge that  connects the prayag to the river bank where the highway (more like a lane) is situated. We have  to walk a few hundred meters down the hill, in a narrow lane, to reach the prayag .

Proceeding further we climb  106 steps and  enter   Lord Sri Raghunathji temple.

This Srivaishnava divya desam is glorified by Azhwars  

as  “KANDUM ENNUM KADINAGAR” .

There are 4  Sri Vaishnava divya desams in the Himalayas itself. 

“Kandam ennum Kadinagar” popularly known as Dev Prayag is one among them. Periya Azhwar has glorified the LORDSHIPS here with   divya prabhanda pasurams . Azhwar recollects the pastimes enacted by the Supreme Lord as Trivikraman, Raman, Krishnan in his pasurams. Azhwar elaborates how the Lord who is “Purushottaman” (the best among purushas) approached Bali for 3 measures of land and grew gigantically in size to measure the Universe.

While doing so, when the Lord’s lotus feet reached Satyalokam, Brahma washed the feet with water from his kamandalam which became the Ganges.  ParamaShivan the foremost Vaishnavite adorned  this water on his head and released the flow of water in different directions.  Referring to  Lord Sri Rama avatar, Azhwar says that the Lord who  disfigured  sister’s nose and brother’s head (referring to Soorpanaka and Ravana) resides here.  Referring to  Lord Krishnavatar, he cites how child Krishna killed Kuvalayapeetam, wrestlers and finally killed Kamsa now resides at this place.

The Lord who holds various weapons like conch, sudarshna chakram, gada, saarngam-the bow, kadgam-the sword to reassure the devotees of HIS protection doesn’t have any work with these weapons  as because of holy bath in Ganges, the sinners get cleansed of their innumerable sins.  So these weapons are like ornaments to the Lord.  Peria Azhwar  declares that the one who recites these pasurams will be absolved of all sins by the “Sreepaadha theertham of Lord Vishnu” which is known as Ganges and will be blessed to render service to the Lotus feet of the Supreme Lord , Vishnu on the banks of Ganges at this divya kshetram. The context says when Azhwar was glorifying the Lordships here the kali purusha quietly moved away ….

 The Moolavar ( main deity ) is worshipped as Neelamega Perumal , Purushothaman,   .The  locals worship the Lord as Sri Raghunathjee  and the goddess vimala, pundarikavalli thayar .

The holy theertham is ganges herself .It is believed that to atone the brahmahathi dosha committed in killing the demon Ravana , Lord Rama came to this place for doing penance .

The place where Lord Rama did penance is in the temple premises and is  worshipped as “RAM GADDI”(the place where  Lord Rama meditated).On special festivals such as Vijayadasami, Basant Panchami, Sriramanavami  the utsavar  deity  arrives at this holy spot and give darshan to the devotees assembled . This temple is surrounded by hills on three sides. The hill in front is known as Dasaratanchal, right side is known as Narasimachal, the temple itself is located on Giridhachal.

Continue reading “THE HOLY PLACE UNAFFECTED BY KALI (.. Kaliyum kedum kandu konmin) “KANDUM ENNUM KADINAGAR”.. .” →

 This incident took place 30 years ago  . The  Annual Brahmotsavam for Lord Varadaraja was  being celebrated with piety and fanfare at the temple town of Kancheepuram.

 

 

The big day  “Garuda Sevai”  is conducted in Kancheepuram in the Tamil month of Vaikasi is of special significance.

The Lord of  Lords  was showering his abundant mercy on all the devotees assembled . A staunch devotee of Ahobila Jeeyar was fortunate to undertake the divine service to hold and carry the Royal umbrella that overspreads on the Lordships as the procession proceeds in the streets of  Kancheepuram.

The festive mood is a fortune to watch . The procession was lead by the Temple Elephant ,  a cow , a  horse and the fire crackers specialists . Few   thousand thronged to witness the Lordships in escastcy .

 

 

 

The drummers and pipers  followed behind them. Adhyapakas reciting Divyaprabhandam chants proceeded .Then followed the fortunate bearers of Lordships on their shoulders. The dandikas which they carried joyfully walking amidst  emotional  joy of singing…

 

Govindaa ..Govindaa ..Varadaa .

Govindaa ..Govindaa ..Varadaa .

Govindaa ..Govindaa ..Varadaa ….

was reverberating all around pulling all the starving souls nearer …

Behind them were the pundits  chanting vedic hymns  .

 

 

 

On the Pandal the Archakas stood close to the Lordships and behind the gaily decorated deity on the dandika stood the disciple who was  a bit old , solemnly holding the stem of the pole carrying the spotless canopy that spread shade and splendor over the magnificent Lord who was pouring abundant mercy on the devotees who were thronging multitude.

The bearers of the divine Lordships out of devotion ran , sometimes walked , triumphantly displaying the weighty  divine encumbrance on their shoulders .

The Priests had to balance themselves and  handle the stage with caution perched  in precautionary standing .As they proceeded after a brief halt in front of  a devotees house  the  disciple devotee noticed an electric wire in front of him that was posing as an obstruction to the  royal umbrella he was holding  .

 

Before he could raise any alarm the dandikas ran fast as a result the electric wire pushed the Umbrella . The umbrella is a very heavy structure and before he could really manage he along with the umbrella were about to tumble down .

Helpless though he was ..his sincere devotion to Acharya made him think to recite the holy hymn Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Karavalambam Strotram  so that Prahalada Varadar would give him HIS helping hand .

As he did not have that much time ,  confused  he decided to utter the holy name ..Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Karavalambam and thus completely surrendered to the Lord

This train of thoughts occurred in split of seconds before he could hit the ground and miraculously he landed gently as if by a parachute his firm grip on the pole in tact .

Tears of joy rolled in his eyes .He stood awe in shock as nothing happened as he imagined . The Umbrella was intact and Lord was  gracefully  smiling at him .

His instant prayer recitation of one line gave him instant succor …

 

 

Jaya Jaya Prahalada varada 

Jay Jay Lakshmi Narasimha

 Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

 

Pics courtesy : Anudinam.org /Google images/varavara muni

videos : hindutara

Adapted from Narasimha Priya Magazine

 

 

 

After the Lordships Sita Rama wedding at Janakpur in Nepal , the royal family along with their guests were returning to Ayodhya . It was getting dark .The Royal family decided to retire for the night at this very holy place Punouda which is located near Sitamarhi in the state of bihar

The place where Lokamatha Sita devi’s palanquin (“doli”) alighted under a banyan tree is marked by a hound covered with red cloth. Beside this banyan tree the deities of Lordships Sita-Ramar is worshipped by the local people .

A stone inscription mentioning Lord Rama’s encounter with Parasurama and the divine incident of Lord Rama taking over the Vishnu dhanush is mentioned in the marble slab . It was revealed that the banyan tree is very sacred. The locals believe all disputes of any kind are solved at this place . A Elderly person commented , No one lies here !! If someone dares to tell lie, he would be punished immediately.

Another strange aspect of this holy tree is that the roots of the banyan tree get coiled to the main trunk itself and they do not touch the earth at all .

Exactly one month after Sri Rama navami festival , Seetha Navami is celebrated all over the world .And throughout Janakpur and Sitamarhi, this festival is celebrated for 10 days culminating in Sita Navami to be celebrated on April 28th this year 2023. (in the Tamil month of Vaigasi (May-June). Everyone in this entire belt , feels delighted to be associated with Sita Devi who is eternally remembered for her “PATIVRATA DHARMAM”.( As Ayodhyavasis associate with Lord Rama the Sitamarhivasis associate with mother sita)


Sita an embodiment of purity and wifely devotion and the consort of Lord Ram. Sita Navami is observed on the ninth day of the Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon) of Vaishaka month (April – May). Sita Navami in Vaishaka month is more famous with Hindu communities in western and eastern parts of India.

The locals glorify Sita and Rama and go to the extent of declaring that Sri Rama gained so much recognition because of HIS association with our mother SITA DEVI .
Every evening, Sri Ram charitra Manas is recited under this tree .A dance ballad also accompanies the troupe Nearby this tree , there is a small tank known as “Sita Kund” . Near this kund under a tree, small utsava murthis of Sita ,Ramar, Lakshmana and Hanuman along with a doli(wooden palanquin) is worshipped .

The priest informed that these deities belonged to Sitamarhi temple and it is customary for them to take the deities in procession to Janakpur and while returning from Janakpur, to halt at all the holy places sanctified by Mother Sita Devi.
The priest was was quoting verses from the holy text written by the great saint Tulsidas. He also referred to slokas from Valmiki Ramayanam. He said that in that village, there was neither a police station or panchayat since ages . Any dispute would be solved under this tree . The offender would fear to commit any offense due to the outcome which he would face internally . A net is tied around the tree to ensure that dried leaves do not fall on the ground and protect the sanctity of the place.

The priest informed that many devotees do “ Mithila Parikrama” starting from Sitamarhi , reach Janakpur and on their return visit Panth Pakar, Punouda and other places which are on the way to Sitamarhi and end their parikrama on Sita Navami at Sitamarhi.…..
Jai Jai Sita Ram
Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

In Srimad Bhagavatha Mahapurana as part of a discussion between King Nimi and sage Karabhajana  the advent of the  Srivaishnava Azhwars appearance in the Kali age is revealed . ” In the Kali age men devoted to Lord Sriman Narayana will be born in large numbers near  the Dravida territory where in the rivers Tamaraparni, Vaigai ,  Paalaar  the most sacred Kaaveri   flows .” True to the epic , both Swamy  Namaazhwar and Madhurakavi Azhwar  appeared on the banks of Tambaraparni river . It is said that just after 40 years of the disappearance of Lord Krishna , Nammazhwar appeared .  Periyazhwar and Sri Andal  appeared in a place close to river Vaigai , the Mudal Azhwars and Thirumazhisai Azhwar appeared  near Paalaar and Thodaradippodi Azhwar, Thiruppaanaazhwar and Thirumangai Azhwar  appeared near river Kaaveri.The most holy place Thirukurugur  “Alwar Tirunagari”  is about 30kms east of Tirunelveli on the Tirunelveli-Tiruchendur highway off the Southern banks of Tamaraparani   .Check this post for more details  :https://kazhiyurvaradanblog.in/2015/06/14/the-glory-of-thirukkolur/Thirukurugur  Vaishnava  divyadesam  is located  on the banks of the river Tamaraparani  and is one of the 108 divya desams in Pandiya Nadu. This was later known as Alwar thirunagari after  the great Nammazhwar’s  appearance . Legends reveal there  lived a pious devotee  Kaariyaar    an advanced bhaktha who was  serving  the  devotees from his agriculture earnings . Udaiya Nankaiyar from Thiruvanparisaram was  his wife  who was equally pious and served the devotees with all dedication . They had no progeny  for a long time .Their prayers were answered by the mercy of Lord   of  Thirukurungudi  . Udaiya Nankai  gave birth to a male child on Vaikasi  month  in Visakam star( who is considered to be the incarnation of  Senai Mudaliyar the commander in chief of Lord Sriman Narayana) . His parents named him Maran  (  being different from others ) and he also had other names Parankusa and  Satakopan .
The boy was not an ordinary kid  nor did he have an ordinary life . He displayed none of the usual characteristics of a baby, neither would he cry nor attempt to drink milk. Looking at the strange behaviour of the divine child, the parents went to the temple for divine interference. All of a sudden the child crawled and went under a tamarind tree inside the temple  where he remained almost for sixteen years in yogic trance under the trunk . The divine incident became the talk of the town. After many years one day a elder Vaishnava who was on a pilgrimage to Ayodhya observed a  shining light emanating from a far off place .He followed the light and reached Thurukurugoor. As he enquired around the place , he was directed into the temple . He was surprised  looking at the divine aura  being emitted from the young boy  and attempted to go near him .

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

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

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

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

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

Thus  he asked a question

 “Seththathin vayitril siru kutti pirandhaal etrai thindru enge kidakum?

A divine voice was heard with a smile

“Atrai thindru ange kidakum”.

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

The peripheral meaning of the question…

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

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

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

 The inner meaning of the question:

“Seththadhu” – body,

“siru kutti” – soul.

“vayiru” – stomach.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The most important day for Srivaishnavas is  Swami Nammazhwars Thirunakshatram     ( Apperance day ) which happens to be on Saturday 21 ,2016  this year .

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

Nava Tirupathi is part of the 108 Divya Desam temples .

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

Thiruvaragunamangai,

Thirupulinkudi,

North & South temples of Thirutholaivillimangalam,

Thirukkulanthai,

Thiruperai,

Thirukolur and

Thirugurukoor.

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

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

 A  big mandapam in front of the main  temple known as ‘PANDAL MANDAPAM” is decorated for the grand festival to happen .  This pandal  was built by  an ardent  devotee Sri Pandala Ramaswamy Nayaakar  during 1807 .He  took initiative in  starting this wonderful  Nava garuda Sevai utsavam and made arrangements for  the mandapam and other paraphernalia . In honour of his devotional service the mandapam  is named Pandal Mandapam.

.

 

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

Thirunagari to grace our  most beloved Nammazhwar .

Swamy Nammazhwar   had darshanam of all the 108 Divya

desam perumal staying in Azhwar Thirunagari itself .

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Azhwar waits just outside the Maha dwaaram of the temple to receive the Perumals from all the Nine Divya desams . The temple doors are closed and Azhwar along with his favourite devotee Madurakavi Alwar wait for the Garudaseva Utsavam to happen.The Mahadwaram doors are opened amidst the mangala Nadaswarams .

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

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

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

PERUMAL PASURAM NOS.

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

 

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

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

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

 

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

Puranas states that out of many thousands of gopis, sixteen thousand are predominant and among them  108 gopis are very close , eight are still more prominent . Radharani and Candravalli are very  prominent  and  Srimathi Radharani is the most prominent. Because Radharani possesses all the charm and sweetness to attract Lord Krishna .

Introduction about the Ashta sakhis  is appended in the below linked post

https://kazhiyurvaradanblog.in/2015/11/07/lord-krishnas-ashta-sakhi-temples-near-barsaana-vrindavan-an-introduction/

Braj Bhumi  is the most sacred dham spread over  168 miles-  42 miles on each direction with  Mathura as the center.  The holy place  comprises of Mathura,  Goverdhan, Gokulam Barsana ,Vrindavan and the  surrounding  12 forests. 

The Supreme Lord manifested Himself as Lord Krishna along with HIS attendants and enacted various pastimes 5000 years ago in Dwapara yugam which attracts millions of devotees to have darshan of this holy dhaam repeatedly .

Lord Krishnavataaram is the POORNA AVATARAM of  Lord Maha Vishnu. Every inch in this place is  sacred because of its association with  Lord Krishna’s  lotus  feet (as He walked over all these places).  

Anyone who visits this sacred place is bestowed with   divine love . This is one  of the seven mukthi tharum kshetrams , the rest being Ayodhya,  Avatnti, Kasi,Kanchi, Puri, Dwarka.  Also, Mathura is very dear to Lord Vishnu as it has Lord’s association in all the four yugams.  Lord eternally resides in this place.

Braj Bhoomi, is spread over a area of around 5,000 square kilometers   spanning Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh, Bharatpur district in Rajasthan and Hodal Subdivision of Palwal Dist. of Haryana. On its northern fringe, Braj Bhoomi starts at a distance of around 115 KMs from the border of India’s capital New Delhi, along the National Highway 2. From New Delhi , Vrindavan and Mathura, the popular townships of Braj are thre to four hours drive (145 Kms) on the Delhi-Agra National Highway  . Vrindavan and Mathura are at a distance of around 10 kilometers along the NH 2.

Lord Sri Krishna lived in Vrindavan upto HIS 10th year and later moved to Mathura to annihilate the demon  Kamsa.  After this episode ,  Lord stayed in Mathura and later shifted to Dwarka.  Though Lord Krishna resided in Dwaraka by constructing a beautiful city in the sea and was served by 16,108 wives and innumerable assistants,

HIS HEART ALWAYS CRAVED FOR THE GOPIKAS AFFECTION IN VRINDAVAN.  

The Lord was physically present in Dwaraka but always resided permanently in the hearts of the Gopis and Gopikas of Vrindavan.

Of the 16,108 wives of Lord Krishna, eight are more prominent who are collectively known as Ashta mahishis.  They are  Rukmini, Sathyabama, Jambhavati, Kalindhi, Mithravindha, Sathya, Badra and Lakshmana. Likewise, out of lakhs of gopis in Vrindavan, eight gopikas(Ashta sakhis) along with Radharani are very prominent.

The Eight Gopis who are the foremost, dearest and most beloved friends of Shri  Shri Radharani  are  glorified  as Asta-sakhis  Gopis . Their names are Lalita, Visakha, Chitralekha, Champakalata, Tungavidya, Indulekha, Rangadevi and Sudevi.

Radharani was always surrounded and served by her thousands of gopi-friends out of which eight of them are very prominent and are collectively known as Ashta sakhis.  They are Lalitha , Vishaka, Tungadevi, Rangadevi, Indulekha, Chitralekha, Sudevi and Champakalatha.  These sakhis appeared in different villages around Barsana.

Lalitha at Ucchagaon,

Visakha at Kamaai,

Champakalatha at Karela,

Tungavidya devi at Dabaara,

Rangadevi at Raakoli,

Sudevi at Sunera,

Chitradevi at Chiksoli,

Indulekha at Anjhanak.

These sakhis individually had many assistants under them for serving Radha Krishna. Few of them are elder to Radharani and others are younger to Radha.

The appearance days of all these sakhis coincide with RAdhastami- Radharani’s appearance day which is celebrated after Sri Krishna Janmashtami. Starting from Sashti thithi upto Pournami, the appearance days of these ashta sakhis are celebrated  and Radharani’s appearance day celebrated on RAdhashtami. The details of the Ashtasakhi temples are as follows .

Barsana to Chiksoli Chitrasakhi temple          — 2 kms

Chiksoli to Dabara  Tungadevi sakhi temple  — 2 kms

Dabara to Rakoli RAngadevi sakhi temple     — about 4 kms  and return to Barsana.

Take another route from Barsana to visit Lalitha sakhi and Sudevi sakhi temples

Barsana to Oonchagaon Lalitha sakhi temple — 2 kms

Oonchagaon to Sunera Sudevi sakhi temple   — 3 kms

and return to Barsana to take Delhi route to visit Indulekha, Vishaka and Champakalatha temples

Barsana to Anjanauk Indulekha sakhi temple– 5 kms

Anjanauk to Kamai Vishaka sakhi temple         — 3kms

Kamai to Karela Champakalatha temple (Rajasthan route)– 4 kms  and return to Barsana.

Sudevi, the twin sister of Rangadevi is the last among the ashta sakhis.  Goddess  temple is  located at Sunhera village about 5 kms from  Barsana and about 2 kms from Oonchagaon.  She was  born to Rangasara and Karuna on Bhadrapad maas Chathurdhasi thiti (one day before Pournami and 7 days after Radharani’s appearance day and  was always engaged in the devotional service.

She used to decorate Radharani with flowers, apply kajal and chandan to RAdharani and was an expert in massaging the transcendental body of Srimati RAdharani, apply mehendi on Radharani’s feet.   She used to dress up RAdharani so beautifully that even Krishna used to say that HE is  incompetent and not capable in dressing up Radharani!! like Sudevi

She was  an expert in training parrots . By training them to repeat Krishna’s names  she used to   console Radharani from the pangs of separation from Krishna.

 She was good at reading omens and predictions .  She was also good at gardening and ensured that choicest flowers bloomed to decorate Srimati Radharani.

Links to other  Ashta sakhis

https://kazhiyurvaradanblog.in/2015/11/17/lord-krishnas-ashtasakhis-of-radharani-tungavidya-sakhi/

https://kazhiyurvaradanblog.in/2015/11/09/lord-krishnas-ashta-sakhi-indulekha-sakhi/

https://kazhiyurvaradanblog.in/2015/11/04/lord-krishnas-ashta-sakhi-chitra-sakhi/

https://kazhiyurvaradanblog.in/2015/11/09/lord-krishnas-ashta-sakhi-lalitha-sakhi/

https://kazhiyurvaradanblog.in/2015/11/11/lord-krishnas-ashta-sakhi-champakalatha-and-the-crown/

Jai Sree Radhey

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

Pictures credits : Google images

video credits :  Saadaya..

  Amongst the several revered disciples of Jagath Acharyar  Swamy Ramanujar Swami  AmudhanAr  earlier  known as Peria Koil Nambi  was  transformed    disciple of  JagathaAcharyar .  

Nambi  appeared at a place called Thirumungirkkudi on  Panguni Hastham  day a divine place  near to Srirangam.

 

He became the most  dearest  disciple of Swamy Ramanuja .

However , before becoming a disciple  of Swamy Ramanuja  ,  he was  the  Head Priest at Lord Sri Ranganathar   Temple, Srirangam .

   Filled with  pride  due to his position in the temple he had no   respect  towards Acharya  Swamy Raamanuja for the  command   that was  granted  by Lord Ranganatha to Acharyar . 

He used to get  upset  with Swamy’s  raising popularity .Out of ego he placed many obstacles in the routine of temple services  while  Swamy   followed during the temple administration.

 Swami Ramanuja was upset with his approach that obstructed the services to Lordships .   Swami wished that   Nambi   must be  relocated  in any other service  in the temple for smooth functioning  . This will help in continuing the service to LORD  and  the smooth running of the affairs of the temple was ensured.

However , Lord  Ranganathar had some other plans for Nambi   . He  appeared in  Swami Ramanuja’s dream and  commanded , that the temple priest  Periya Koil Nambi  was   serving him past several years and is dependent on  him . 

Hence , he must be taken care off  in all  reverence   .

Swami Ramanuja shared his dream with his  close disciple Kuresan and concluded that the Lord did not want him to dismiss Periya Koil Nambhi from the present  service ,  instead   Lord wanted Nambi to be engaged in some other kaimkaryam close to him , other than purohitham.

Kuresan responded  to Acharyars request and felt  that the Lord wanted  Swamy Ramanuja to correct the flaws of Nambi and instead  engage him in Acharyar kaimkaryams .

Swamy Raamanuja suggested that Kuresan himself  should correct Nambi’s destructive ways and bring him back to the fold of Bhagavathas.  Kuresan accepted the suggestion of his Acharyan as commanded  and engaged the scholarly Periya Koil Nambi in discussions  daily inside the temple and slowly   changed  his attitude in pure  devotional service  .

One day ,  Nambi’s mother passed away and   he  was performing her Charama kaimkaryam  in seclusion. This happened  due to  his  arrogant behavior. Many vaishnavas avoided to officiate the ceremonies which he had invited .

This news reached Swamy  Ramanuja  . Swamy realized the desperate state  of Nambi  and suggested that Kuresan  must take part in the ceremony and bring  some change in him  .

In this important srarddha ceremony, there is a stage, when the brahmin chosen to accept the ritual food  is supposed to  say,

” I am satisfied with the offerings given by the kartha  ( doer )

However , when that stage arrived, Kuresan  remained silent  and did not reply the  expected word of  ……

“ThrupthAsma :” (  meaning he was satisfied) .

Nambi was deeply disturbed and  hence pleaded   …..

My  Master … Kuresaa

What  needs to be done to satisfy you swamin  ? 

Acharya Ramanuja had  the desire  that  Kuresan  would  ask  Nambi  the following as as dhanam,  

   1) Purohitham and

 2) Purana  patanam for Sri RanganAthan, in his temple , which were the hereditary rights of Nambi’s  family.

When Kuresan asked for these two boons , Nambi  had no choice except to agree.

 Acharya Raamanuja  glad with the outcome handed over the  Srirangam  temple administration  to the advanced devotee  Kuresan. 

He appointed him  to serve as the chief priest and pouranikar for the Lord.

Nambi was glad that the responsibility was handed over to a advanced devotee like Kuresar. Nambi   liked  Kuresar  unstinting devotion to LORD .The daily rituals performed meticulously with utmost devotion  made Nambi change his attitude towards the devotees and especially Swamy Ramanuja

Lord Ranganatha was very pleased with the turn of events.   . Looking at the change in behaviour of Nambi ,  Kuresan  requested  Nambi  to accompany him to Ashram  and both of them went to   Swamy Raamanuja’s  .  Nambi  surrendered to the lotus  feet of Swamy Ramanuja with repentance .

Acharya Ramanuja was overjoyed at the transformation in Nambi  and recognized that extraordinary scholarship .

He   recommended that Kuresan become the Acharyan to Nambi instead of him.

 

The changed personality and his  sweetness of speech  earned him  the name of “AmudhanAr”  by Swamy Ramanuja himself .

From then on, Periya Koil Nambi came to be known as ” Thiruvarangatthu AmudhanAr “. He was also addressed with reverence as “PiLLai AmudhanAr”. AmudhanAr  coming very close to Swamy Ramanuja and his Acharyar Sri Kooresar was moved by the dayaa of  Swamy RaamAnuja and  with utmost devotion composed the 108 paasurams of Sri Raamanuja Noorrandhathi and recited in front of  Lord NamperumaL.

Lord Ranganatha commanded Swamy RamAnuja not to accompany Him on His Raaja Veedhis  procession . He also advised not to play any Naadaswaram ,   and stopped all  the musical instruments .He commanded the  Sri Vaishnavas to recite Raamanuja Noorrandhathi.

From then on, Noorrandhathi is recited after Iyarppaa  Prabhandam at Perumal and Thayar sannidhis as per  the command of Lord  NamperumAL. Acharya Ramanuja obeyed the wish of Lord RanganAthA and included the recital of NooRRandhAthi at the end of Iyarppaa recitation, just as KaNNinuNN SiRutthAmpu is recited at the end of Mudal Aayiram.

Thus AmudhanAr is to AchArya RaamAnujA just as Madhura Kavi is to Swamy NammAzhwAr. The two prabhandhams by Madhura kavi and Thiruvarangatthu AmudhanAr are like Naayaka rathnams adorning the gem necklace.

In Sri In VaishNava sampradhAyam, AchAryan is recognizedas the avathAra visesham of Sriman NaarAyaNan.Therefore, one worships one’s AchAryan in  form of  Perumal .

In every one of his NooRRandhAthi paasurams, AmudhanAr placed the ThirunAmAm of Swamy RaamAnusar for our benefit….

 

iniyenn kuRai namakkemperumAnAr ThirunAmatthAl muni tanatha nooRRettu SAAVITHRI yennu nuNNporuLai kani tantha senjcholl KalithuraiyandhAthi paaDithanthAn punithan ThiruvarangatthamuthAhiya PuNNiyanE

(meaning We have nothing missing in our lives , now that we have the prapanna Gavathree — the 108 pasurams of RaamAnuja nooRRandhAthi celebrating our AchAryan’s sacred name in andhAthi, blessed by puNya moorthi , ThiruvarangatthamudanAr .

Meditating on the deep meanings of this Prabhandham , we do not have any more wants in this world . We do not lack any thing.

This prabhandham is otherwise called as Prapanna Gayathri, i.e it is the gayathri manthra to all Prapannaas the ones who have surrendered . (Prapanna is a sanskrit word that means complete surrender/dedication.) to LORD lotus feet….

A prapanna is one who has totally surrendered at the lotus  feet of Lord  Sriman Narayana.  Our most  revered  Acharyar  Swamy  Pillai Lokacharya lists the qualities of a prapanna in  his works . A Prapanna  must not wish that harm should befall the one who has caused him anguish. He must feel sorry for the tormentor, for even if he forgives the tormentor, the Lord will not forgive one who has tormented His devotee.

The prapanna must laugh at the one who hurts him, because the tormentor has not realised that no hindrance can be caused to the prapanna’s attainment of moksha.

The prapanna also laughs at such people, because of their ignorance. They think that a prapanna cares about worldly problems, when actually such things do not bother him.

Pillai Lokacharya further says that we should actually be grateful to those who harm our bodies and our material possessions.

A prapanna thinks of the body and of material wealth as enemies.

So if a person harms any of these, he is actually harming the prapanna’s enemies!

The prapanna is also grateful to those who harm him in this world, because they make him aware of his faults.

  A Prapanna woul be feeling 

Look … “At a time when I have forgotten my flaws, here is someone who has reminded me of them. So I must be grateful to him ” . .

 Naalooraan was the one, at whose instigation, a Chola king blinded Kooratazhvan. But Kooratazhvan prayed to Lord Varadaraja that Naalooran too should be granted moksha. Kooratazhvan is an example of one who wanted someone who had harmed him also to be blessed. Such is the attitude of a prapanna.

            It is said , Once  amudanAr  while    penning  this prabandha  Swamy rAmAnuja came along  with his  disciples .The lovely  pASura  ‘sezhundirai   pArkaDal’ was written and he was about to write the next one……. ‘iruppiDam vaihundam’. 

With great love seeing Acharyar ,  swamy  wrote the next three pASuras in presence  of Swamy  rAmAnujar  and  others.

His  AchArya  AzhwAn  said  these  three pASuras  would be chanted as SATTru  pASuras       (whereas  in other prabandhas only the last two are SATTru pASuras). This practice is still followed.

  Elders advise to meditate on Swamy Ramanujas thirumeni mentally as all the Poorvacharyas are his personification .The  comparisions is made as follows .All the holy thirumeni is equated with revered Acharyas …..

Eyes : Uyyakondar

Forehead Thiruman Kaapu : Sri Vishvakshsenar

Head : Nammalawar

Face : Nathamuni

Cheeks : Mannakal Nambee

Abdomen : Thiruvarangaperumal Araiyar

Hands : Thirugoshtiyur nambee

Heart : Allavandar

Neck : Perianambee

Lower back : Embaar

Chest : Thirumala nambee

Back : Thirumalai Andaan

Waist : Thirukachhi nambee

Tridandam : Sri Mudali Andaan

Tulasee mani  malai : Thirukurugai Piran pillan

Shawdow : Pillai Urungavilliidasar

Holy Yagnopaveetham : Swamy Koorathazhwan

The Safron dress : Vaduganambee

The thighs : Nampillai

The Holy feet : Swamy Pillai LokaAcharyar

Padukas : Swamy Manavala maamuni

Feet Elbows : Parasara bhattar and Namjeeyar

Knees : Vadakku thiruvedi pillai

Feet marks : Thiruvazhmozhi pillai

Fragnance : Swamy Desikar

RAAMAANUJASYA CHARANAU SHARANAM PRAPADYE.

SRIMATHE  RAAMAANUJAAYA NAMA

 Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

Photos : Courtesy Google images

Videos :   Vijay TV, Social media clips  and Thanks to the devotees who uploaded .

All glories to Spiritual masters .

           Once  JagathAcharyar Swamy Ramanuja was  giving a discourse on the magnum opus  “Nachiyar Thirumozhi ” from the  4000 Divya Prabhandam composed by Azhwars   .

The disciples were engrossed with the  inner meaning of  “Nachiyar Tirumozhi ”  a set of 143  divine verses that was composed by Andaal the only women saint   among the Azhwars .

Mother  Andaal’s  eagerness to meet Lord Krishna is wonderfully described in these emotional outpourings .

Andaal   attempts various methods  to attain union with  Lord Krishna  which forms the major part of this epic ” Nachiyar Thirumozhi” .

Among these verses ,”Varanamaiyeeram ”  is recited at  all srivaishnava wedding  ceremonies compulsorily . The divine verses narrate   Mother  Andaal’s  experiences with her friends  on her way to submit herself to  the Lordships and  thus fulfill  her purpose of birth .

 

 

 

 

 

Another set of verses are chanted  daily in Srivaishnava houses while offering the bhoga to the Lordships ..The verse goes like this ……in tamil

nAru narum pozhil mAlirunchOli  nambikku

nAn…… nooru  thadAvil vennai vAi nErindhu parAvi vaiththEn…

nooru thadA  niraindha   akkAra vadisil sonnEn……….

Aruthiruv udaiyAn endru vandhu evai kollungolO??

..In the above   verses Andaal amma  prays to Lord Sundararajan of  “Thirumaliruncholai”  a  srivaishnava divya desam near Madurai  .

She  submits ..

Oh Lord !!   I  would place before your Lordships  ,

One hundred vessels of butter and another one hundred  vessels of  nectarine  sweet pudding ( Akkarav adishil  …. Payasam of rice cooked in Milk with jaggery and ghee ) and If  my Lord   you accept them…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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  I  would place another one hundred thousand more …………………………..

(This  Nooru Thada (vessel ) utsavam is celebrated to this day in Melkote at Mysore)

 Swamy Ramanuja stopped at this verse  . He looked at his disciples and said ..

Why not we proceed to this Holy shrine “Thirumaliruncholai”  at once…

and carry out our Goddess  Andaal’s wish ?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So saying this,  they all rose and journeyed to the holy place and spread a great feast before the LORDSHIPS chanting the  divine pasurams .

The occasion was too special for Swamy Ramanuja .

After completion , they  proceeded to Srivilliputtur the appearance place of Goddess Andaal. With tears he submitted his prayer before her in giving him an opportunity to serve the Lordships with by offering the nectarine bhoga ….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  As he entered the ardha Mandapam of Andaal’s temple , he was surprised to see  Goddess Andaal eagerly  waiting for him in person to appreciate  for the services he rendered on her behalf to the Lordships  at Thirumalirumcholai .

She moved out of the Inner sanctum  and waited   near the ardha Mantapam  to greet her “elder brother ” for carrying out her task  after  the span of  few centuries just as a responsible elder brother would fulfill the dear wishes of his younger sister.

She  suddenly broke  the protocol of  archa silence and called Swamy Ramanuja as her annan ( brother )  .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She never went back into the sanctum and stays even today at the Ardha Mantapam with Her consort.

Ramanuja is therefore  glorified  with the title KOIL ANNAR .

 

 

 

 

 

With humble reverence ,  Swamy Ramanuja proceeds to Azhwar Tirunagari  the appearance place of Swamy Nammazhwar and  offers  his obeisances to Lord Aadi deva perumal .   Further he proceeds  to Thirukkolur with the object of having darshan of Lord Vaithamanidhi Perumal .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Being the appearance place of Madhurakavi Azhwar it had special significance  and  is believed that one who reaches this place and has  darshan  of the Lord here seldom wishes  to leave the place  due to the incomparable divine beauty of the  LORD at this place .

This is the place where Nammazhwar imagined himself as a beautiful maiden and sings the wonderful pasuram ..

Unnum sorum..  pasuram ……..

Recollecting the  below sweet verses Swamy Ramanuja  walking along  with his disciples  have Lord’s darshan .  En route , all people from the  nearby  villages  had arrived to seek  Jagathacharyar blessings  .Among them a  lady humbly   prostrated and offered obeisances .  Swamy Ramanuja  pleased with her devotion asked her as to where was she coming from.

The lady  replied that  she was leaving  Thirukkolur once for all .  Swamy Ramanuja smiled and quoted a line from Nammazhwar’s paasuram

 

 

and said  my child !!

how is  that when all women are waiting  here to go to Thirukkolur whereas  you have  decided to leave the  divine  place……………..

My child !!  You know ….Thirukkolur is a holy place and most sought by the devotees who rush to be among the wonderful people there worshiping the Lordships .

The lady who was glowing with effulgence  replied eloquently in a free flowing and unimpeded manner   a set of eighty rhetorical questions, which referred to various  divine incidents in the lives of sages, saints and the Lordships  on her eligibility to stay at Thirukolur  .

In each of the questions  she compares the depth of devotion displayed by the  immortal characters  and thus   submits  her ineligibility  to  worship the Lordships  and had no right to expect that Lord  would treat her in a special way.

This  great  work is called ” Thirukkolur Pen Pillai Rahasyam”  written by  the great Acharyar Swamy Thiruvaimozhi Pillai  provides deep insights for a aspiring devotee to spiritually progress in a material world.

The 81 questions referred have been briefly reflected  below along with english translations

( The inner meanings  and reflections shared by advance devotees in their discourses shall be shared separately in the coming posts )

The Thirukkolur Pen Pillai Ammals questions ..…..

Holy sire !!!

What is my eligibity in staying at this holy place …??

Did  I go on a holy mission like  the great devotee Akrura ?

Azhaiththu varugiren endreno akroorarai pOle…

Did I entertain Vidhura in my home ?

Agamozhiththu vitteno vithurarai pole…

Did I cast off my body like the Rishi’s wife ?

Dhegaththai vitteno rishi paththiniyai pole…

Did I cause a  demon Ravana to be killed like Sita

Dhasamuganai setrenO piraattiyai pOle…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did I raise like the dead like Tondaman Chakravarthy

PiNam ezhuppi vittenO thoNdaimaanai pOle…

Did I offer a corpse like Ghantakarana

PiNavirundhittenO gantaakarNanai pOle…

Did I adorn   Goddess Sita like Anusuya

ThaaikkOlam seydhenO anasooyaiyai pOle…

Did I seek a father like Dhruva

Thandhai engE endREnO Dhruvanai pOle…

Did I repeat the 3 lettered  name like Kshatrabandhu

Moondrezhuththu sonneno kshathra bandhuvai pOle…

Did I get trodden like Ahalya

Mudhaladiyai petREnO agaligaiyai pOle…

Did I ripen while yet raw like Andal

Pinjaai pazhuththEnO aaNdaaLai pOle…

Did I  glorify Lord Narayana like Peria Azhwar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did I ransack religions like Thirumisai Azhwar ?

Aaraaindhu vittEnO thirumazhisaiyaar pOle

Did I realise  LORDSHIPS  as the subtlest like Nammazhwar

Avan (Naan) siriyan endREnO aazhwaarai pOle

Did I say anything like Kulasekhara Azhwar

Edhenum endreno kulasekararai pOle…

Did I say  !  I pledge my word like little krishna

Yaan saththiyam endreno krishnanai pOle...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did I give clues to  Lord Rama like Kabandha

Adaiyaalam sonneno kabandhanai pOle…

Did I reveal secrets like Trijatha

Andharangam sonnenO thirijadaiyai pOle…

Did I recognize LORD like Mandodari

Avan dheivam endREnO mandodhariyai pOle…

Did I say   know thee like sage Vishwamitra

Aham vEdhmi endREnO vishwaamiththirarai pOle…

Did I say I know “No god”  like Madhurakavi Azhwar

ThEvu matRaRiyEnO madhurakaviyaarai pOle…

Did I give birth like Devaki

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dheivaththai petREnO dhEvakiyai pOle…

Did i say conceal thy discuss like vasudeva

Aazhi marai endREnO vasudhevarai pOle…

Did I bring up the cowherd like Yasoda

Aayanaai (Aayanai) valarthEno yasodhayai pOle…

Did I do a mite of service like the squirrels..

Anuyaathirai seydheno anilangalai pOle…

Did I take beaten  rice like Kuchela

Aval poriyai eendhEnO kuchelarai pOle…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did I bestow weapons like Agastaya

Aayudhangal eendheno agasthiyarai pOle…

Could I enter the  war mentally  like sanjaya

Andharangam pukkeno sanjayanai pOle…

Could I by works obtain bliss like Janaka

Karmaththaal petREnO janakarai pOle…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did I bite the toe and see HIM like Kaliyan ( Thirumangai Azhwar )

Kadiththu avanai kandeno thirumangaiyaarai pOle

Did I become an Umbrella like Adhisheshan

Kudai mudhalaanadhu aaneeno ananthaazhwaanai pOle…

Did I carry HIM like Garuda

Kondu thirindhEno thiruvadiyai pOle…

Did I keep up the promise like Nampaduvan

Ilaippu vidaai theertheno nampaaduvaanai pOle…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did I behold HIM in a nook like the foremost Azhwars

Idai kazhiyil kandEnO mudhalaazhwaargalai pOle…

Did I guard the two princess like sage valmiki

Iru mannarai petREnO vaalmeekarai pOle…

Did I offer the two garlands like Tondaradipodi Azhwar

Iru maalai eendhEno thondaradipodi Aazhwaar pOle…

Did I obtain truths like Thirukachi Nambee

Avan uraikka petREnO thirukkachchiyaarai pOle…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Was I absorbed into God like Tiruppan Azhwar

Avan mEni aanEno thiruppaanarai pOle…

Did I say send them  like vashista

Anuppi vaiyum endREnO vasishtarai pOle……….

Did I worship sandals like Kongil Piratee

Adi vaanginEno kongil piraattiyai pOle…

Did I offer clay flowers like Kuruva Nambi

Mann poovai ittEno kurava nambiyai pOle…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did I exclaim Oh ! The originator like Gajendra

Moolam endru azhaithEno gajaraajanai pOle

Poosa koduthEno kooniyai pOle…

Did I offer wreaths like Malakara

Did I keep my assigned place like Bharata….

Vaiththa idaththu irundhEno bharathanai pOle…

Did I serve on the way like lakshmana

Vazhiyadimai seydhEno lakshmananai pOle…

Did I land on the other shore like Guha

Akkaraikke vittEno guhaperumaaLai pOle...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did I fight with the demon Jatayu ?

Arakkanudan porudhEno periyavudaiyaarai pOle…

Did I land on this shore like Vibhishina

Ikkaraikke sendrEno vibheeshananai pOle…

Did I offer sweet fruits like Sabari

Iniyadhendru vaiththEno sabariyai pOle

Did I say Here he is like Prahalada

Ingum undu endrEno prahlaadhanai pOle…

Did I hide Little Krishna like  Dhadhibandha the cowherd

Ingillai endrEno Dhadhipaandanai pOle…

Did I go to the forest like Lord Rama’s followers

Kaattukku pOnEno perumaalai pOle…….

Did I proclaim discovery of Mother Sita like Hanumanjee

Kandu vandhEn endrEno thiruvadiyai pOle…

Did I relinquish both hands like Draupadi

Iru kaiyyum vittEnO Dhraupadhiyai pOle…

Did I say the excuse Milk boils over like Vaduga nambee

Ingu paal pongum endrEno vaduga nambiyai pOle…

Did I hold my throat like Selva pilai

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Iru midaru pidiththEno Selva pillaiyai pOle…

Did I deserve the command STOP HERE as Idaiyaitrukkudi nambi

Nillena petrEno idaiyaatroor nambiyai pOle…

Did I carry the message He is dead like Marutiyandan

Avan pOnAn endrEnO maaruthi AndAnai pOle...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did I go in pursuit like Nathamiunigal

Nedundhooram pOnEno naatha munigalai pOle…

Did I say I want HIM not like kuresa

Anukoolam sonnEno maalyavaanai pOle………

Did I refute Advaita like swamy Ramanuja

adadhwaitham vendrEnO emperumAnArai pOle…

Ananthapuram pukkEno aaLavandhaarai pOle…

Did I go to Anantapuram like Alavandar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did I feel separation like Teyvavariyanden

Aariyanai  pirindhEno dheivaari aandaanai pOle…

Did  I compose Andhadee like Malyavan

Andhaadhi sonnEno amudhanaarai pOle…

Did I opine mere ocean roar like Mahapurna

SooLuravu kondEno thirukkottiyooraarai pOle…

Did I exact promise like Goshtipurna

yaan siriyan endrEnO Thirumalai nambiyai pOle…

Did I obtain mercy like a dumb person…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Uyiraaya petrEno Oomaiayai pOle…

Did I give up my body like Tirunariyurariyar

Udambai veruththEno thirunaraiyooraararai pOle…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did I profuse insignificantly like srisailapurna

Sutri kidandhEno thirumaalaiyaandaanai pOle…

Did I  force my finger into snakes mouth like Embar

Vaayil kaiyittEno embaarai pOle…

Did I vanquish a pundit by showing marks on arm like Bhattaraya

ThoL kaatti vandhEno battarai pOle

Did I seek secluded spot like Villiputhur bhagavathar

Turai veru seydhEno bagavarai pOle…

Did I jump into water like kannapurattammal……………..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On hearing these questions and her deep understanding  , Swamy Ramanuja was thunderstruck. Swamy Ramanuja  delivered a sweet discourse that made her reconsider her hasty decision in leaving the holy place .

The lady very respectfully offered obeisance’s to Swamy Ramanuja and requested Swamy to initiate a system to be adopted at the temple where the Lord is  offered traditional poojas daily ,  fortnightly ,monthly and annual festivals with pomp and show .

This would increase the glory of the holy place and force the people to stay there forever .

Swamy Ramanuja ,Ammai along with the disciples entered the holy place  Thirukolur The pious  lady invited Swamy Ramanuja to her house and offered prasada to be honoured by Jagathacharya  . Swamy gladly accepted the same .  

Later all of them went to the  temple at Thirukoloor and offered prayers to the Lordships.

Thus the glory of Thirukolur spread and the great spiritual treasure……

Thirukolur Penpillai rahasyam (Thirukkolur Ammal Varththaigal ) became a legendary guideline  for ardent devotees   seeking Lords lotus feet .

He blessed her and saw to  that the due performance of all festivals connected with LORDSHIPS and Madhurakavi Azhwar are celebrated grandly as emphasised by shastras .

( The inner meanings  and reflections shared by advance devotees in their discourses shall be shared separately in the coming posts in detail very soon by Acharyar’ s abundant mercy )

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

Photos credits :   Google images and social media pics uploaded by  several devotees

Video credits :   Thanks to  “Sharp videos” / Thirukoshtiyar Vembu/                                     4000 divyaprabhandam