Lord Krishna replies ….. “Everyone is drawn to me, but I am drawn to her!”

Neeraja  was a gopi  who came to Gokulam as the daughter-in-law to  a Gopa family. She was beautiful and humble and loved the  new place which had some special vibrations .

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Her husband and in-laws cautioned her  about  a dark skinned cowherd boy  who was very mischievous and warned her to  be away from his pranks.

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They  threatened her to keep away from Him and to avoid Him by every possible means. Neeraja was confused.  

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However ,she was very curious to see how he looked and what were those pranks which attracted so many gopis  .

Her mind was absorbed now .

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One summer evening, near the outskirts of a village  ….

Neeraja was returning from the banks of Yamuna river  immersed in the thoughts of the dark skinned boy.  .

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 Suddenly , she heard some mellifluous music from a direction which almost pulled her She ran towards the direction from where the sweet melody was heard .

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She somehow reached those wonderful grooves in the forest .

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Krishna the irresistibly attractive lotus eyed Preceptor of the Universe, bestower of boons, Eternal Lord, was playing the flute as the sun sank in the west.

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His small lovely fingers were over the flute and the cosmic music  gushed out . She instantly fell for him and was watching from the grooves .

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The vibration of this divine instrument was able to break the meditation of the greatest sages. Krishna the cosmic musician he was thus challenged the cupid  with his transcendental music .

Something divine happened .

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The birds flying above descended down , and one on the trees started chirping with joy . The peacocks assembled to dance with their gaiety steps .

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The calves stopped sucking their mothers udders and remained like statues .The poisonous reptiles were humbled to the divine music .

The bamboo trees nearby were shedding tears of joy because a little part of it which made up the tree was creating such a wonderful music.

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The clouds passing over the land stopped moving and provided an umbrella to Krishna. Lakes and rivers overflew with water, expanding their banks hurriedly desirous of embracing Krishna’s lotus feet which mesmerized her with captivating celestial tune .

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Krishna’s beloved cows stood in tranquilly with their ears spread just to catch the nectar-filled tune flowing out of his flute.

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Few cows and calves that were eating the grass, froze their actions in order not to let those munching sound disturb His divine music and thus get the fullest enjoyment.

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 Krishna knew the gopis  would come and be with him in the moonlight dancing in eternity.  Grace can only flow through Krishna’s flute, as there is nothing inside its body to prevent his will from coming through.

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There were three kinds of flutes used by  LORD …..
One called venu,
one murali, and the third  flute was
called vamsi.
The Flute Venu is very small, not more than six inches long, with six holes for whistling.
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Murali is about eighteen inches long with a hole at the end and four holes on the body of the flute.This flute produces a very enchanting sound.
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The vamsi flute  about fifteen inches long, with nine holes on its body was melodious
 
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Lord  used to play on these three flutes occasionally when they were needed. Lord has a longer vamsi, which  was  called  as mahananda  or sammohini.
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When  the flute is more  longer it was called akarsini and when it is even longer  was called anandini. 
The anandini flute is very pleasing to the cowherd boys and is technically named vamsuli. 
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The flutes were made of marble and hollow bamboo  bedecked with jewels.
When the flute is made of jewels it is called sammohini.
When made of gold, it is called akarsini.

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The gopis heard the celestial music and wondered how sweet it could be if they were able to sing and dance with Krishna in accordance with the music.

 

The minds of the gopis , wandering in different directions, were now centered on the divine music that came from the flute of Krishna.

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The mesmerizing music of the flute it was, each gopi simply left what  household chores   they were doing and rushed to the flow of music like bees encircling the honeycomb without looking back. Few gopis left the dishes still dirty butter un churned racing into the flow .

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Some even left mothers in mid conversation and few  allowed the food to burn on the stove.

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The call of Krishna’s flute was eternal and they couldn’t resist . Lord is never without the flute , whether he is with his mother, on the grazing grounds with his herd of cows, among his cowherd companions or roaming around on the Yamuna banks.

Even when He is not playing the flute , it is safely tucked in His waistband, never leaving Him..

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The Gopis ran into the forest seeking that transcendental bliss, where Krishna stood with his flute. He was too handsome and each gopi felt he was looking right at them. They formed into a garland and began to dance around him, their ankle bells tinkling, their saris waving to the divine tune. He played his flute and the gopis danced eternally.

Some waved their arms in the air, some spun in circles and some bent their knees and waist, swaying with the flute music.

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Krishna meets with Radha and the Gopis

The flowers decorating their neck and ears scenting the air and thus the gopis reached for their Lord of all Senses. As they reached for him he reached back, expanding himself to meet each gopi individually.

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Each gopi placed her hands on his shoulder and Krishna placed his hands on each gopi’s shoulder.


They smiled at him and their eyes twinkled at him. He laughed out loud, delighted with their joy. They danced and danced, waving their wrists, stamping their feet and twirling in the moonlight.

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The bells and bangles of the gopis and the stamping and clapping of hands and feet joined with the singing of Krishna to fill the night. Some gopis twirled their saris, spinning with Krishna. Others sang back and forth with him, or stepped lightly in time with beautiful Lord. Some clung tightly to him, crushing their flower garlands into his strong chest, while others barely touched him as they danced in time with the music.

The singing and dancing, the twirling saris and intertwining arms was so beautiful that the moon paused in her track across the sky to watch the eternal joy .

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Those gentle deers  and sleepy birds watched from the edge of the forest with unknown joy  while the dance continued . Krishna and the gopis danced on, each gopi embracing Krishna as if he was  only for her. Each gopi completely satisfied with Krishna the Soul of the Universe’s touch and gaze.

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The gopi’s faces and arms  were dripped with sweat .  Krisna wiped the droplets from their chubby cheeks. Garlands of flowers lay crushed on the ground as the gopis, one by one, dropped their arms in exhaustion. Krishna, still expanded to be with each gopi individually, led them to the banks of the Yamuna River and poured the cool water over their faces and hands.

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The gopis  splashed the water  on him back playfully and their laughter filled the clearing. The gentle wind picked the scent of flowers from the garlands around the gopis neck and the blossoms in their hair and carried it up to the watching moon.

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Slowly,  the moon sank and  the sun began to rise and  here the gopis rested in the embrace of Krisna, each gopi held tight, held lovingly, held personally by the endless compassionate Lord. Krishna the eternal friend he was  expanded  and held  each gopi in his arms for each one to feel HE is there to  just  be with them.

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Neeraja was watching all  the fun , unmindful of the time that was passing .She was in  a divine trance .She  suddenly shook up and went back home love struck .

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Her husband and in laws disowned her and she was made an outcast  ,  a harsh punishment . Neeraja felt it was a call to transcend the material bonds, to free oneself from the trammels of earthly endeavours. Neeraja did not care for any one now.

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She became mad and yearned to meet Krishna .Her thoughts were always filled with HIS smile and the divine play .She was immersed in HIS love .

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           Everything was Krishna now .Her breath was krishna . She was in overwhelmingly  in an ecstatic state. It was Neeraja who was the first gopi to rush and hold the reins of Akrura’s chariot when he was taking Krishna to Mathura away from Gokulam as per Kamsa’s plan , and try to push the vehicle back.

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Dejected she spent her life  in the Vamsi Kunj, whole mind fixed on the Lord  always whom she had dissolved in her heart .

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Years passed. She was getting old. One day she prayed desperately to Krishna …

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My Lord!! I can no longer bear this forlorn life. My eyes have gone dry, they have no more tears to keep this love for you. My heart too is fast turning into a wasteland.

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Please come   and grace this craving soul  !! My Lord, please come and save me, take me unto yourself. Her prayer was sincere and unconditional..

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Krishna heard the prayer. He responded to her yearning and presented himself immediately  before her .He called her by name, so sweetly that the very voice filled her with new life.

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The Vamsi Kunj was now fragrant with divine glory.

Krishna came near  her and took Neeraja’s palm in His hand and said……..

Neeraja my dear …. Tell me … “What do you desire?”

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Neeraja was  overjoyed. She looked at Krishna and said …

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My Lord!! I wish you to play the flute once just  for my sake.

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Krishna smiled and gave the excuse that He had not brought His flute.

But, looking at Neeraja’s yearning, he plucked a reed from a bamboo tree  in Vamsi Kunj and broke it right and in a trice converted it into a flute.

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With Neeraja on his lap, Krishna played the flute melodiously  by which the entire Gokula and even the whole world, was bathed in ecstatic joy.

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When He stopped, Neeraja had attained final beatitude and was no longer a limited individual Gopi separate from Him.

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Every Gopi’s story is nectarine , each in its own way, for they were all so transmuted by the unconditional bhakthi they bore towards the Lord.

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The Gopis were declared by sage  Narada in the Bhakthi Suthras (aphorisms on devotion) to be the greatest among the bhakthas (devotees).

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Satyabhama  took pride on being Krishna’s most beloved but soon had to swallow it as she made a futile attempt to measure Krishna’s weight in gold.

Rukmini proved her love to Lord by  offering a sacred Tulsi leaf instead which caused the scales to promptly tip by the weight of her devotion to Krishna.

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When Krishna was leaving Gokula to free his biological parents and Ugrasena by vanquishing  the demon Kamsa, Radharani was awaiting for Krishna on the way. Krishna’s eyes dissolves in Radharanis  eyes .He asks the driver to stop the cart. Akrura  surprisingly  asks, Oh Lord!! “Who is she?” Krishna responds,  Akrura

“Everyone is drawn to me, but I am drawn to her!”

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May our lives too celebrate their stay and…………

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let’s fall at HIS holy feet our  divine father always in thoughts and deeds ……….

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Adapted from a lecture by a Santh at Vrindavan

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan…

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Pictures credits : Google images

Video credits :  Krishna devotee

 

 

Lord Jagganath’s bidiapana

Oh Lord, pardon me. I am a fallen man, insignificant before you,

Everything is yours and you are everything. Take whatever I have.

Please accept only the sweet-smelling red betel nut of my heart.”

“Trnadapi sunicena taroriva sahisnuna,

amanina manadena kirtaniyah sada Harih”,

which means, one who assumes a position lower than even a tuft of grass, is as tolerant as a tree, and is a respect of persons without caring for one’s own prestige, he alone is fit to worship Hari the Lord of Lords.

When the Chariot came to grinding halt in front of the great devotee Swamy Perianambi’s house-entrance …


 

Swami Alavandar is universally considered to be the Acharyar of Sri Ramanujacharya, though he had never spoken once to Swami Ramanuja till he lived.

Whatever he taught Ramanuja he did it only through his disciples. Alavandar’s disciples were priceless gems. Perianambi, Thirukoshtiyur Nambi, Thirumaalaiyaandan and Peria Thirumalai Nambi were the chief disciples.

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Of these Perianambi personally taught swami Ramanuja and it was Thirukoshtiyur Nambi who made  swamy Ramanuja walk to his place 18 times to learn the meaning of LORD’S name.

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Alavandar had another disciple by name Maraneri Nambi. The other disciples were all high-caste Brahmans whereas  Maraneri Nambi belonged to a caste which was in the lowest rung of the social ladder during those  period.Alavandar did not discriminate between his disciples and he loved Maraneri Nambi more than the other disciples.

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Peria Nambi and Maraneri Nambi were of the same age. They became close friends. They would discuss their teacher’s words and each friend would contribute to the other’s learning. Once Alavandar was suffering from a painful disease called the carbuncle. Carbuncle, known as the King of Boils, Rajapilavai, in Tamil, is caused due to inflammation of tissues in the back and neck.

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The shooting pain emanating from the fast-spreading boil would be unbearable. Antibiotics and painkillers were unknown in those days and it is difficult for us even to imagine the kind of pain the disease inflicted on its victims.

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Swamy Alavandar was suffering silently. He did not even let his disciples know about the disease lest they should be worried. Perianambi and Thirukoshtiyur Nambi alone knew.

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One day Maraneri Nambi went to Alavandar’s house. He insisted that he should see his Guru. Alavandar was hesitant. But Maraneri was adamant. So he was let in. Alavandar tried to cover his pain and welcomed him with a smile.

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He thought that Maraneri had come there to clear his doubts in his lessons. The best way out was to dispose Maraneri as early as possible without letting him find out his disease. Maraneri came into the room and prostrated at his Acharya’s feet.

“May you be blessed, Maraneri Nambi.

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Please get up. You see I have a lot of things to do today.

Please tell me your doubts fast. We don’t have much time.” “Gurudeva, I have been your disciple for decades. Have I asked anything from you?”

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“No.”
“Today I have come to you with a desire. I have set my mind on that object.

And I can’t live without that. You have that with you. Can you give that to me?”

“It’s yours Maraneri. Whatever it is.”

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“Thanks, Gurudeva.”

Maraneri ran out to fetch a silver vessel containing the holy water.

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Alavandar was puzzled.

“Please Gurudeva show me your hands.”

“What for, Maraneri?”

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“When you gift a piece of land you need to solemnize the gift with the holy water, right?”

“Yes, you are right. You want the mutt’s land near the river kaveri .Well, it’s yours.

Take it………………….

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“No, Acharya.

”“Then..’

“Please repeat whatever I am going to say..

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“I, Yamunaithuraivar alias Alavandar, do hereby gift to my disciple Maraneri Nambi, the Rajapilavai disease which I have now, along with the pain, the suffering and all the after-effects.”

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“What the hell you are doing Nambee ?   This is not a game.

This water is holy. And if I repeat whatever you said, then you will have the disease, you moron. Don’t ever say the words again.

“You are one of the greatest Acharyas, the world has ever seen.

You have promised to give whatever I want…….

How can you go back on your word, Gurudeva?”

“But that’s ridiculous, Nambi.”“What is ridiculous, Acharya?

You are our Guru. You have a hundred disciples.

A thousand people come to you every day to listen to your words.

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Even the Lord who sleeps forever in the temple is looking forward to see you every day.

“How can you afford to be confined to your bed?

And by your kind, wise words you are removing our pains. Pains which have been following us for millions of births.

How can you suffer in pain, Acharya?

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“I am a low-born worm, Gurudeva.

By accepting me as your disciple you made a gift to me which is worth more than the whole universe.

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“Now, Gurudeva, please.. I beg of you.. please allow me to do my part.

If you refuse to give your disease then I will have no option than to die at your feet.

It’s your call.” Alavandar melted. He poured the water on his hand and chanted the appropriate mantra.

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“Please bear with me, Gurudeva. I have one more request.”

Alavandar looked at his disciple through a screen of tears.

“Let this transaction be not known to anybody else in the world.”

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Alavandar was happy and sad at the same time.

Happy that he had such a loving disciple and sad because he was forced to give so much of pain and suffering to such a nice man.

Maraneri Nambi went out as a happy man.

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Peria Nambi met him outside the room.

“Why are you so happy, my friend?”

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“After many decades of discipleship it was only today that our Guru was kind enough to give me a precious prasadam.

And that too only after I compelled him to do so.”

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Perianambi did not understand a word of what his friend said. Alavandar’s recovery was quite dramatic after that day.

A week later Maraneri Nambi was down with carbuncle. It is said that he suffered for three months from shooting pain. Whenever he was in pain he would only chant the name of his Gurudeva.

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Because his Guru’s blessings were fully on him and because the Lord was moved by his selfless love Maraneri Nambi recovered from the disease sooner than the usual time.

Years flew.

  Swamy Alavandar was more than a hundred years old.

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One day he passed away.

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Maraneri Nambi and Perianambi, who were in their eighties, cried a lot over the death of their loving Guru.

Swamy Ramanujacharya then came to Srirangam and took over the reins of the Ashram. Maraneri Nambi was now in his death bed.

 He called his friend Perianambi one day and insisted that he should be left alone with his dear friend.

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“Perianambi, my dear friend, I have a fear.

When I  leave this body they would give  this body to my relatives.

I have quite a lot of them, no doubt.

But most of them are drunkards and cheats.

They would drink arrack, dance around my dead body and utter all profanities.

“I am Swamy  Alavandar’s disciple and I have been thinking only of my Guru and God all these years.

“Giving my body to my relatives would be like giving the sacred ghee offered in the yagas to a street dog.

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My body in which my Guru and my Lord reside should not be humiliated by those crooks.

”Perianambi held his friend’s hands and assured him.

“I will take care of that. Our Lord, our Guru and the new head, the loving  Swamy Ramanuja will never let that happen.

Believe me, Maraneri. “

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Maraneri Nambi was relieved.

He died peacefully in his sleep that very night.

When Perianambi heard of his friend’s death he came running to the Ashram. He supervised all the funeral arrangements himself.

And then he did the unthinkable.

Perianambi who was born in the highest caste of Brahmans did the last rites himself and lit the funeral pyre.

It was nothing short of a revolution in those days.

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How could somebody born in the highest of castes, somebody like Perianambi, do the last rites for someone born in the lowest of castes?

It created a great furore.Many disciples of the mutt opposed Perianambi’s action.

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Perianambi was banned from the temple. He was not allowed to mingle with the people.And somebody took up the matter with  Swamy Ramanuja.

Now Perianambi was Ramanuja’s teacher.

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Ramanuja knew all about Perianambi’s love. He also knew about Maraneri Nambi’s devotion.

After all Ramanuja was the man who stood on the top of the temple wall and revealed the most sacred secret to those born in the lowest of castes, in spite of his Guru’s warnings.

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Yet he wanted the other disciples to know about Peria Nambi and Maraneri Nambi.

He summoned Perianambi to his presence and held a court martial.

“Oh Worshipful Acharya, you have been charged with a very grave offense.

That you did the last rites for a man born in the lowest of castes. You are a learned Brahman. 

“You know it is forbidden by the sasthras. And the punishment prescribed for such an act is total ex-communication.

That is you can’t enter the temple, this mutt or any other Brahman’s house.

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What’s your answer, Acharya?” 

Perianambi knew his disciple like the palm of his hand.

He knew that the show was only for the gallery.

He saw the disciples jeering at him.

Normally a soft-spoken person that eighty year old man now roared like a lion, no like the lion-faced Lord Narasimha.

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“Ramanuja, I have not done anything wrong.

Do I have to remind you that in the great epic Ramayana our Lord Rama did the last rites for a bird, Jadayu?

“Neither am I superior to Rama nor my dear friend Maraneri Nambi inferior to that bird.” 

Measured words.

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Not a single word wasted.

Pointed arguments.

The arrow hit the bull’s eye.

The lion-faced Lord had killed the demon called bigotry.

Or at least that was what he thought……

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Ramanuja clapped his hands like a child.

He then turned to the other disciples. 

“Are you clear now?

Do you have any counter arguments?”

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Nobody spoke.

But very few understood.

Well, they exactly did not have an argument against Perianambi’s powerful example.

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At the same time they were not large-hearted enough to condone Perianambi’s excesses.
They started avoiding Perianambi.

If he went to the temple the priests would leave the place.

If any Brahman saw him on the road he would turn his face the other side and walk away…..

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Swamy Ramanuja came to know of the ill-treatment meted out to Perianambi.

He was very sad.

After teaching love for years and years, these people still acted like fanatics.

‘What’s the big deal? Why should I waste my life teaching these bigots?’

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Ramanuja ran to the temple. It was late in the night.

They were about to close the doors.

They were waiting for the Acharya to finish his darshan.

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Ramanuja was sobbing before the sleeping Lord.

“I tried my best to make them understand Perianambi’s love.

I have failed in my mission.

Please, Lord, you will have to do something about it.

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“Please don’t let Perianambi suffer for his greatest act of love.

Please my, Lord. Please…

”The Lord who is nothing but Love, the Lord who even while sleeping on the banks of Cauvery is constantly thinking about his devotees, the Lord who cannot tolerate any kind of bigotry, just smiled.

He had already made up his mind to teach a lesson to those fanatics.

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It was festival time in Srirangam. The very next day was the famous car festival.

The huge Ther (car) of Srirangam was to pass through the house of Perianambi.

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When the Lord’s Ther came into the street Perianambi was sitting in his pooja room with all the sadness in his face.

He had never missed the car festival in the past.

Because he was a well-learned Brahman and one of Alavandar’s disciples, the car would stop at the gate of his house so that he could have dharshan.

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But this time it was different. He was not allowed in the temple.

And nobody talked to him. He also knew that the Lord’s car would not stop in front of his house, this time.

His eyes were shedding tears of love…..

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“My Lord, do you also think that what I did was wrong?

Maraneri Nambi is a much better person than I.

And I am really proud that I had the blessing to light his funeral pyre.

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“If you have also decided to let me down, Oh My, dear, dear Lord, so be it. If you let me down, I don’t want anybody else to save me.

Do whatever you wish, my Lord.” The Car had just approached the house of Perianambi.

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When Azhagia Manavala Perumal seated in the car was right in front of Perianambi’s house-entrance the huge car suddenly came to a grinding halt.

Actually the administrators had cunningly planned to make the car run at double the usual speed when they were crossing Perianambi’s house.

But those petty minds were but small pieces of cotton in that large fire of love whose name was AzhagiaManavala Perumal. He had his say.

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And He always had his way.

The gigantic Ther stopped before Perianambi’s house.

It looked as if their roles had been reversed.

For years and years Perianambi used to wait outside his house for the Lord.

Today the Lord was waiting for him. 

The administrators thought it was a mechanical problem and could be corrected only if they applied more oil on the axis. Pots of oil were poured on the humongous axis.

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Yet the car would not move.

They sent word to the nearby villages.

Hundreds of people came to pull the car.

The Lord did not even move a milli-metre.

They sent word to the stable and six elephants were brought to pull the car.

The Lord was adamant.

They then went in search of mantrikas and astrologers.

The Lord was waiting patiently at the gate of Perianambi’s house.

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Four hours had passed.

Perianambi was crying in the pooja room.

Nothing moved.The best of mantrikas was summoned.

He came there, closed his eyes and went into a state of trance.

After thirty minutes he woke up.

“Idiots, you have hurt a good man, a noble soul.

Unless you give Lord’s prasadam to him with due respects the Lord will not move an inch from this place.

And fools, do remember this.

If he thinks ill of you even for a second you’ll all be burnt to ashes in no time.

You can even play with this God. He won’t mind. But never try to play with his devotees.

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You will be annihilated.

Emboldened by their silence the mantrika delivered his punchline with aplomb.

“You fools, if you have any sense still left in you, fall at Perianambi’s feet and beg his pardon.

Unless he forgives you even this loving Lord will not forgive you. Mind it.

”He refused to accept any fees from them.

“I have a strong policy not to accept anything from sinners like you.”

He ran away from the place. Then and only then they realized their mistake.

The Chief Priest went into Perianambi’s house and fell at his feet. “Perianambi, our Lord, Azhakia Manavalar is waiting to see you.

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At your gate. Looks like He won’t move any further unless you come out and see him. ‘Please come with me and accept the Lord’s prasadam.

And please forgive all of us. We are all petty-minded people.

 “We now know for sure that you are on our Lord’s side. No, no, our Lord is on your side. Please come, Peria Nambi.

The Lord has been waiting for you for the past four hours.” Perianambi ran out of the house.

It was a sight to see almost the entire town falling at his feet.He ignored them all and fell before the huge car.

The Chief Priest lifted him up and honored him with the Lord’s cloth and his sadari. A garland was taken from the Lord and was placed on Perianambi’s neck.

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Azhagia Manavala Perumal was affectionately smiling at his devotee.

Perianambi was respected like a King amongst his peers.

For did not the Lord Himself stop at his place?

Seeing the bewitching smile on Azhakia Manavalar’s most beautiful face Peria Nambi folded his hands.

He did not even attempt to control his sobs.

 “Any day your love is a million times better than mine, my Lord.

Give me a billion births to be born as a worm to be crushed by the feet of your loving devotees.

I can’t even repay a small fraction of your love.

Oh My Lord, you stopped at my place!

You stopped at the house of this worm!

You waited for me! My Lord! My Lord!”

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The Chief Priest came near Perianambi and gently reminded him.“Please let the Lord go, Perianambi. It’s getting late, you see. Please..”

Perianambi moved away.

The Lord took leave of his devotee and resumed his onward journey. The huge car now moved as if its wheels were on air.

The gigantic Chariot started moving when less than fifty people gently pulled its ropes.

Credits :  HG Shri  Varalotti Rengasamy

All glories to Peria nambee
All glories to Alavandar
Srimathey Ramanujaya namah:

Pics :  Thanks to Google images /and other websites shared by advance devotees

  Lord Athi Varadhar darshanam … a boon not to be missed …..

srIranga mangaLa nidhim karuNA nivAsam* (Srirangam for South)

*srI vEnkatAdhri sikarAlaya kALa mEkam* (Tirupathi for North)

*srI hasthisaila sikarOjvala pArijAtham* (Varadharaja perumal temple for East)

*srIsam namAmi sirasA yadhusaila dhIpam* (Melkote temple for West)

Swamy Ramanuja’s replied . ….My child !! When Vibhishana was allowed to approach Lord Rama , no separate invitation was needed for the four attendants who accompanied him..

With me goes my entire flock ….the flocks have more merit than the shepherd ..

Shatruguna had more merit in following Bharata and

Bharata had more merit in following Lord Rama ,

and our Madhurakavi Azhwar had more merit in following Nammazhwar ..

\and Andaal had more merit following Peria Azhwar

Your assistants dragged me ! but you honor me ! i don’t understand…..’ Yamadharmaraja replied ‘even I don’t understand your greatness; how can they ? You chanted kriSNa’s name once in your lifetime’ Azhwars says .. …. namanum Murkalanum pEsa, narakil nindrArgaL kEtpa narakamE Svargam Agum nAmangaL udaya nambi

A mere mention of the hallowed abodes of Emperuman would, by itself, ensure that none goes to Hell , indeed, if everyone were to just say the name of a divyadesam once, it would render the hellish worlds uninhabited and desolate, says Azhwar in the following pasuram—

  Lord Athi Varadhar darshanam … a boon not to be missed …..

  1. KANCHIPURAM, popularly known as “ Temple town” is situated 70 kms to the southwest of Chennai -30 kms from  Arakkonam and about 25 kms from Sriperumbudur-the birth place of Swamy Ramanujar.  It takes about 2 hours to reach this place from Guindy, Chennai (subject to traffic) and about 1 hour from Arakkonam .

Plenty of buses ply from Chennai at frequent intervals to this place. It takes about one and half hours by car from Chennai Airport.  Cab charges from Arakonam to Kanchi  is fixed as RS.1,200/-. whereas from Chennai Airport it is about Rs.1000/-app.

 As Brahma (KA) worshipped Vishnu in this place, it is known as KANCHI.

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Kancheepuram  is the only mukti kshetram located in South India out of  the seven mukthi kshetrams, the others being Ayodhya, Mathura , Maya, Kasi, Avanthi, Dwaraka which are located in the NOrthern India.

SRIRANGA MANGALA NIDHIM KARUNA NIVAASAM     

SRI VENKATADRI SHIKARALAYA KALAMEGHAM

SRI HASTHISAILA SIKORAJWALA PARIJATHAM   

 SRISAN NAMAAMI YADHUSAILA DEEPAM

The above famous sloka refers to the four most important Vishnu shrines-namely Srirangam(also known as “Bhoga Mandapam”),

Venkatadri(Tirumala)( “Pushpa Mandapam”),

Srihasthisailam(Kanchi)(“Thyaga mandapam”) and

Yadhusailam(Melkote) (known as “Jnana Mandapam”).

The above Perumals were worshipped by famous devotees in the four  yugas.

Lord Ranganatha of Srirangam (known as “Kovil”) was worshipped by Lord Rama who later presented HIM to Vibhishana in Treta yuga

Lord Thirunarayanan of Melkote was worshipped by Lord Krishna in Dwapara yuga,

Lord Venkateswara of Tirupati (known as “Malai”) is being worshipped by Adisesha and us in Kali yuga whereas

Lord Varadarajar in Kanchipuram (Perumal kovil) is being worshipped in all the four yugas- 

by Brahma in Satya yuga,

by Mahashaantan Maharishi who asssumed the form of  Gajendran  in TReta yuga

by Devaguru Brihaspathi in Dwapara yuga

by Ananatazhwan(Adisesha) in Kali yuga

The sthalavaralaaru mentions that Adisesha (the serpent on which Lord Vishnu eternally resides) emerged from Patala to worship the Lord.  This place is now known as “Ananta saras” pushkarini where Lord Athi Varadar resides in water.  There is a snake pit(putru) near Nammazhwar sannidhi in the temple premises which is considered to be Adiseshan’s dwelling place.

Ananta saras is the only temple pushkarini in the world  which has association with Lord always as HE dwells in the sacred waters of the pushkarini. In  all other temples, LOrd visits the pushkarini only for theerthavari and in most of the cases it is the Sudarshana chakram which has holy dip in theerthams.

Brahma-the lotus born who emerged from Lord Vishnu’s naval at the time of creation desired to have darshan of Lord Vishnu and undertook penance.  Lord appeared in the form of water at Pushkar in Rajasthan and later in the form of forest at Naimisaranyam near Lucknow.  He wished to have darshan of the Lord with chathurbhujam and was advised by an asareeri to perform 100 Aswamedha yagams.  AS he felt he was incompetent to perform 100 yagams, he was advised to perform one aswamedha yagam at Sathyavratha kshetram as any act done at this holy place would reap 100 times benefit.

Brahma brought athi (“Dhaaru”-a rare type of wood) known as “DHEVA UDUMBARAM” from DEvalokam on an elephant  and  Viswakarma -the divine architect carved out Vishnu murthi holding sankhu , chakram, gadam and right hand in abhaya hastham.   He installed this murthi and started Aswamedha yagam. The speciality of this wood is it gains lustre when in contact with water unlike normal wood which gets spoilt quickly when kept in water.   By placing a piece of wood in a tree trunk, the tree would start growing.  This tree can be found only in two places -Athiyur(kanchi)  and Gaya. (There are very few temples like Thirukovalur, Thiruvellarai, Puri and Kanchi where the Lord made of wood is worshipped which adheres to agama sastras)

This place came to be known as “Kanchi” as “KA”(Brahma) worshipped Vishnu here.   He  begun  the yagna alone with the help of SAvitri and Gayatri (his  other consorts), without his main consort Sri Saraswati.(It may be recalled that in Pushkar also, Brahma did penance without Saraswati’s presence. this can be observed in the Brahma temple.  )

Angered by this negligence, Saraswati decided to stop the yaga ( A divine play by LORD)   . First, she put the entire world in darkness. The Lord  out of abundant compassion to Brahma appeared as Sri Deepaprakasa on Chitra Revati ( Now glorified as DeepaPraksha temple )   . Darkness was driven out. On the auspicious day in the month of  Chitra(Apr- May) on Revati star day which is considered as the appearance day of  Lord Deepaprakasar , Perumal along with Swami Vedanta Desikar visit Varadaraja temple .

 

Again when Brahma wanted to start the yagna, Saraswati sent a demon with bird and beast features to stop the yagna. Immediately, the Lord appeared with Eight arms –Sri Ashtabuja Perumal  This place  is in  another separate Kshetram within Kanchipuram. This happened in Chitra Rohini . The demon was driven away and lord Brahma restarted the yagna . Not to rely on others to stop the yagna, then Saraswati decided to stop the yagna herself and took the form of a rushing river – Vegavati .

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The Lord now took the reclining pose and as a bridge stopped the flow of the river. This happened in Vekkha  and  thus the Lord is Sri Yatothkari . This wonderful incident  happened on Chitra Punarvasu  day . Thus the Lord appeared in Three forms in the month of Chitra in Revati, Rohini and Punarvasu as Sri Deepaprakasa, Sri Ashtabuja Perumal and Sri Yatoktakari. ( One must have darshan of the Lordships in these temples which is very near to Main temple )  .

At conclusion of yaga, Lord Varadarajan emerged out of the scared fire  pleased with Brahma’s devotion,  in Punyakoti vimanam on the northern banks of River Vegavati.

As Perumal  ( Utsava Moorthy ) appeared from fire, the marks  on  caused due to heat in the form of many small dots can be seen on utsavar’s Thirumugam  ( divine face ) . Perumal gave darshan with chathurbhujam holding sankhu, chakram, gadam with HIS lower left hand and lower right hand in .abhaya hastam on Chithirai month chathurdashi thithi on Hastham star.   “Ka” – means Brahma and “Anjitham” – means who was worshipped.

As Perumal granted all the boons of Devas, He is known as “Varadar” meaning “giver of boons”. As He is very compassionate, He is known as “Perarulalan.

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As He is the master of Devas, He is Devadirajan,

as he resides at Attiyur (this place was once surrounded by Athi maram),

He is known as Attiyuran,

Hastagirinathan as He resides in Hastagiri. Airavatam-the celestial elephant on which Brahma brought the diety  assumed the form of a hill to shelter the Lord.  Hence , the hillock is known as Hastagiri. (Indra who was cursed by Mahalakshmi to become an elephant prayed at this place and was redeemed from curse.

As the Lord is bestower of  boons to , HE is known as “Varadan

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Athivaradar carved out and worshipped by Brahma was the presiding diety  whom Azhwars and Acharyars have glorified.  The  deity  of Lord Varadarajar  glorified  as Athiyuran  was the main deity in the Garbagraha of this temple until 15th Century. But as per the stone inscriptions in Thayar sannidhi, in 1487 , the murthi was replaced with shila murthi by Virupakshanayakan (a local king) under the rule of Narasinarayar of Vijayanagar empire.

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During the Muslim invasion, in 1687 A.D.,the  main deity (Lord Varadarajan) is said to have been under threat by the invaders.  The mughals eyed on temples to plunder the abundant wealth kept in the temples .    In order to preserve the deity and to avoid desecration of the Lordships, the elders constructed a mandapam inside the tank and placed Athivaradan (moolavar diety)  secretly  in a  silver casket and immersed in the temple tank- Anantha saras . (As per Dr.M.A.Venkatakrishnan, the deity is placed in the tank without silver casket. ).  To protect the deity from floating, statues of eight naagas  considered to be Adisesha swaroopam were installed around the diety for protection.

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The utsava murthi of LOrd Varadarajan and Perundevi Thayar were shifted to Udayarpalayam near Trichy. The temple was in a deserted condition for 22 years.  After peace was restored, an advanced devotee named Sri. Aathan Jeeyar who was the guru for  Thodamal-the army chief of Arcot king (whose statue can be seen inside Tirumala temple) arranged to restore  the utsava murthis in 1711 .  AS they could not trace the whereabouts about Moolavar as most of the elders had migrated from Kanchi or left the world, there was none to reveal the whereabouts .  It was decided to install a new Moolavirat from a rock in Pazhaya seevaram (a small hillock)-about 15 kms from Kanchipuram. . A replica of Athivaradar was thus  carved out and consecrated as per vedic injunctions which we worship today.   To mark this incident , every year during Thai maasam(Jan-Feb) , the utsava murthi Varadarajan visits Pazhaya seevaram. The newly consecrated idol was being worshipped along with the utsava murthis.

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 (After 40 years, due to divine will , when the temple tank Ananta saras got dried up (either due to drought or for cleaning purpose), the Lord revealed HIMSELF in the pushkarini.    The Lord was placed in a nearby mantapam for worship as there was already a moolavar inside the temple.

(As per stone inscriptions in the temple, Athivaradar was found in the temple tank in 1781 on July 30th on saturday dasami thithi . )

Later, Lord appeared in a temple priest’s dream commanding him to put back the Lord in the cool waters of Ananta saras as HE was still experiencing the heat generated during Brahma’s yagam.  Lord conceded to the devotees’ request to give darshan once in 40 years for a period of 48 days. Thus the practice of taking out the Lord from Ananta saras approximately once in 40 years for a period of 48 days begun. (As per records, it was taken out in 1892,then after 45 years in 1937, later after 42 years in 1979 and now after 40 years in 2019.)

Lord is placed in two postures -lying posture and standing posture . (As per Dr.Venkatakrishnan, the water from the puskarini is completely drained out and on an auspicious day during JUly-Aug when there are not many utsavams, the Lord is taken out carefully from Anantasaras, given holy bath and decorated .NO preservatives are used for protecting the divine form of the Lord.  The Lord is placed only to have darshan, six times pooja as per Pancharatra  agamasastras are not performed.

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Ananta saras is the most sacred temple tank in the whole world because of its association with the LOrd of Universe always. Sprinkling holy water from this pushkarini redeems us of all the innumerable accumulated sins .    In all other temples, either the utsava murthi of Perumal or ” sataari ” is dipped in the temple puskarini during culmination of brahmotsavam usually once in a year whereas in Ananta saras, the Lord dwells eternally.

It was Lord Varadar in the form of hunter couple who saved Ilayazzhwan(Swamy Ramanujar) from Yadavaprakasa who had planned to kill him.  The most compassionate Lord VAradar along with HIS consort Perundevi Thayar disguised as hunter couple accompanied Ramanujar on the dark night in the forests near Vindhya mountains when Ilayazwan had lost way.  Overnight, he was transported to Kanchipuram. When Ilayazhwan went to fetch water to quench the hunter-lady;s thirst, the Lord disappeared .When the perplexed Ilayazwan enquired about the whereabouts , he was pointed towards “Punyakoti vimanam”. Ilayazhwan realized that it was Lord Varadarajan who escorted him to this place and continued to stay here doing theertha kainkaryam.    Also, Swamy Ramanujan embraced Sanyasam as per the Lord;s instructions by having a holy dip in the Ananta saras and was given orange robes by the Lord HIMSELF. Swamy Ramanujar did theertha kainkaryam to the Lord until he was ordered to shift to Srirangam to fulfill  Thiruvaranga araiyar’s boon bestowed by Lord Varadar who was immensely pleased with Araiyar sevai performed by him.

Another interesting incident:-when Ramanujar ordered Kooratazhwan who became blind while trying to save him ordered him to prayto Varadar, Kooratazhwan composed VAradaraja stavam comprising of 102 slokas in praise of this Lord.  When Lord asked him for a boon, he prayed that he should be given vision  to see the holy form of the Lord and his acharyar only.  He didn’t want to see the material world.

Like Puri Rathyatra performed 10 days prior to Aashada Ekadasi, the  Annual Garuda seva performed on the third day during Vaigasi Brahmotsavam (May-June) especially attracts huge crowds from near and far. The streets are very wide like in Puri.

Another similarity between Puri and Kanchi temples is the dieties are made of woodIN Puri Jaganath temple, once in 12 years, the moolavar dieties of  Lord Jagannath, Subhadra and Baladeva are replaced whereas in Kanchi Varadar temple, Athivaradar-the Lord carved out from athi wood by Brahma is preserved inside the temple tank and is taken out for worship once in 40 years.

This town is sanctified  with many  Acharayas -Sri Thirukachinambigal, Sri Ramanujar, Sri Desikar, Sri Sankaracharyar to name a few.  Also , this is the headquarters for many religious peetams like Kanchi Kamakoti peetam, Sri Mudaliandan swamy Thirumaligai, Sri Appan Swamy Thirumaligai and other associate maaligas of Sri Ramanujar’s sishyas. One of the shatberams(6 utsava murthis) was given by the LOrd HIMSELF to our acharyar-Sri Mudaliandan Thirumaligai.

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VAradaraja Sthavam by Kooratazhwan, Varadaraja Panchasat by VEdanta Desikar, Devaraja Ashtakam by Thirukachi nambigal are few famous renderings on this Lord. Thyagaraja has also composed a beautiful kirtan on this Lord.

Our poorvacharyars attribute the word “amararukku athipathi ” of the first pasuram in Nammazhwar  Thiruvaimozhi to this Perumal.

 

MOOLAVAR SRI VARADARAJAR, PERARULALAN, DEVADIRAJAN, DEVAPPERUMAL, ATTIYURAN
UTSAVAR DEVADIRAJAN
THAYAR PERUNDEVI
THEERTHAM VEGAVATHI RIVER , ANANTH SARAS, SESHA THEERTHAM , VARAHA THEERTHAM, BRAHMA THEERTHAM
VIMANAM PUNYAKODI
MANGALASAASANAM THIRUMANGAI AZHWAR 4 PASURAMS,

BHOODATHAZHWAR 2 PASURAMS,

PEYAZHWAR 1 PASURAM

PRATHYEKSHAM BRAHMA, BRIGU RISHI, NARADAR

This temple  town is dotted with many temples of which there are 14 important shrines dedicated to Lord Vishnu and 13 temples for  Parama Shivan. The sthalapuranam for all the Vishnu temples is inter connected with Brahma’s penance.  Brahma who started Aswamedha yaga without his wife SAraswathi had to face many hurdles and everytime Lord Vishnu appeared in various forms to encounter SAraswati’s obstacles until Brahma successfully completed the yaga.

Athi varsdar

The temples are located in Little Kanchi and Big Kanchi.  Out of 22 divya desams in Thondai naadu, 14 are in Kanchipuram itself and another at Thiruputkuzhi, the details of which are briefly given:-

PERIA KANCHIPURAM:-

  1. Sri Nilathingal thundathan Perumal, (in Ekambareswarar temple)
  2.  Sri Ulagalandha Perumal , Ooragham
  3. Sri Jagadeeswara Perumal, Neeragam in Ulagalandha Perumal temple prakaram
  4. Sri Karunakara Perumal, Kaaragam in Ulagalandha Perumal temple prakaram
  5. Sri Kaarvannan (Kalva) Perumal, Thirukaarvanam in Ulagalandha Perumal temple prakaram(all these temples are in Ulagalandha Perumal kovil itself)
  6. Sri Aadivaraha Perumal, Thirukalvanur (in Kamakshi temple)
  7. Sri Vaikuntanatha Perumal, Thiruparameswara vinnagaram
  8. Sri Pandava dhootha Perumal, Thirupadagam
  9. Sri Pavalavannan Perumal, Thirupavazhavannam(also,Perumal gives darshan as Pachaivarnan beside this temple)

 (CHINNA KANCHI)

  1. Sri Varadaraja Swamy temple, Thirukachi
  2. Sri Ashtabuja Perumal, Thiruattabuyakaram
  3. Sri Deepaprakasa temple, Thiruthanka
  4. Sri Azhagia Singar temple, ThiruVelukkai
  5. Sri Yathothkari temple, Thiruvekha

With Kanchipuram as base town , devotees  can also  have darshan of  Thiruputkuzhi  Divya desam (1 hour drive from Kanchi). If you start early, you can finish visiting Kanchi temples by noon.  Thiruputkuzhi, Sriperumbudur, Kooram can be visited in the second half of the day.

Check out the divine pastime in the appended blog post.  Click the link

https://kazhiyurvaradanblog.in/2015/01/13/lord-varadaraja-arrives-with-an-umbrella-for-his-devotee/

  

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Of these, Sri Varadarajar temple with its imposing towers , Sri Kamakshi temple, Sri Ekambareswar temples attract many pilgrims including foreign tourists daily.

The famous   Lord Varadarajar temple  wears festive look daily .

Around 280 Utsavams happen in this temple  all around the year

 

Lord  Devaraja has captivating beauty and it is said that Swami Ramanuja was totally attracted by His shoulders

Perundevi Thayar, the consort of Devadirajan does not come out of the garbagriham like SriRanganayaki.  Even the utsava murthi of the Thayar is not taken out for procession beyond the four walls of the temple. Whenever Perumal is taken out in procession inside the temple, HE is accompanied by Perundevi Thayar .

The Theppam (float festival) is celebrated in Anantasaras tank.  The temple pond known as Anantha Saras /Amrutha saras never dries up , the Vimanam is known as Punyakoti Vimanam.

Every Friday , Thayar  comes in a procession within the 4 walls of the temple. Almost  280 utsavams are performed to Lord whole year  . Brahma in Kreta Yuga, Gajendran, the elephant in Tretha yuga, Brihaspathi in Dwarpara yuga and Adiseshan in Kaliyuga offered their prayers to  Lord here .

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The  wonderful temple is   located  on a 23-acre complex and  has 3 outer precincts (prakaram) namely Azhwar Prakaram, Madai Palli Prakaram and Thiru Malai Prakaram. The main sanctum faces west and can be entered through a 130 feet tall, 7-tiered rajagopuram (main gateway tower).

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The eastern gopuram is taller than the western gopuram, which is contrasting to large temples where the rajagopuram is the tallest one. There is a 100 pillared hall has sculptures depicting Ramayana and Mahabaratha  .The  main shrine of Varadarajaswamy is on a small hillock 10m tall and a fleet of 24 steps, termed “Hasthagiri..

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The temple has 5 prakarams. The first prakara which is on the Hastagiri hill houses the garbagriha and the pradakshinam path. The garbagriham is known as “Vayya maligai” – earthly mansion of the Lord(Leela Vibhuti)  .

A flight of steps from the lower hill, known as  Varanagiri which houses Narasimhar,  leads us to the garbagriha where we can  have darshan  the Lord in  His pristine glory.

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The second prakaram is known as Thirumalai pradakshinam as it runs round the hill.

The third prakara known as Madapalli prakaram/ Alavandar prakaram houses the temple kitchen, numerous shrines and mantapams for Garuda, Adisesha, Perundevi Thayar, the abhsiheka mantapam where the utsava murthis are given abhishekam, pavitrotsava mantapam where the Lord’s vaahanams are kept, the unjal mandapam etc.

The fourth prakaram known as Azhwar Thiruveedi houses the vigrahams of all Azhwars , Acharyars, Krishna, Varaha, Sri Ranganathar etc and the Anantasaras tank.

The fifth prakaram is known as “Mada veethi “ and it was here that Sri Alavandar first saw Sri Ramanujar and blessed him that he would be the foremost for propagating Vaishnavism by declaring “Aam invan mudhalvan” meaning yes, he is the foremost.

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As mentioned earlier, the Garbagriham is located on top of Hastagiri hill with enclosures on all sides.  However on one particular day after 15 days from Chithira Pournami, the sunrays fall directly on Moolavar’s Thirumugam .  (Similarly in Vaikunta Perumal kovil(popularly known as Kallapiran)  in Pandya naadu, the sunrays fall on the moolavar’s thirumugam twice in a year)

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Even the stones on the compound wall are 24. The pushkarini also has 24 steps. Gayatri mantra has 24 syllables. Therefore, it is no wonder that the Lord, Who has Gayatri as His body, has everything, around number 24. Apart from this, according to Visishtadvaita philosophy, achit entities are 24. That is inanimate entities are 24. When we cross the 24 steps we land on the top floor and that is the 25th entity, Jeevatman.  From this floor we have to climb some more steps to reach the garbha gruham of  Lord Devaraja Perumal. We come to the corridor on the floor and we go round that. One end of the corridor is famous for two things.

 

One of the ancestors of Lord Rama named Asmanjhan and his wife who were cursed to become lizards were redeemed from their curse at this place by the Lord.  Hence, it is believed that touching the golden and silver lizards would cure us of all ailments.  Crowds throng to touch these lizards for getting rid from material ailments forgetting that the Lord of the UNiverse standing as Varadarajan saves us from this “Samsaram” and gives “MOKSHAM”

Another  adjoining  mandapam, Kachhikku vaithan mandapam follows the corridor . Every evening the Lord would arrives at this mandapam, and Swami Thirukacchi Nambi would start his fanning  service Thirukachi nambigal, the great Vaishnavite saint had the bhaagyam of conversing with this Perumal while fanning the Lord(Alavatta kainkaryam). This is beside the “lizard mantapam”

 

 It is believed that  Brahma comes here once a year on the full moon day in the Tamil month of Chitrai (April-May) around mid night, for a darshan of  Lord Varadarajan.       On this day, it is the practice for the priests to place food inside the sanctum and to wait outside for 24 minutes. At the end of this, the food is said to smell sweeter.

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It was thus decided by Elders  that  LORD has to be taken out from the temple tank once in 40 years  and  various pooja  shall be performed for 48 days and then kept in the bed of the Pushkarini for the next 40 years.

The  96th Pasuram of Irandam thiruvanthathi glorifies LORD as 

aththiyUrAn puLLai UrvAn * aNimaNiyin
thuththi sEr * nAgaththin mEl thuyilvAn ** –

muththI maRaiyAvAn * mAkadal nanjchuNdAn thanakkum *
iRaiyAvAn engkaL pirAn

Bhoodathazhwar addresses the Lord as “athiyooran” who is fond of garuda seva(pullai oorvan -pul =bird.  Kanchi Garuda seva is world famous.

Thus  Lord  Athi Varadhar gives His darshan to the devotees only once in 40 years and that too for a period of 48 days.

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Close darshan of Athi Vardar

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 The Rising of Athi Varadhar” happened in the years 1739, 1779, 1819, 1859, 1939, 1979 and  Now in the  year  2019 and fortunate are those who are having darshan .

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Athi Varadar

Athi Varadar  thus   graces the devotees once in 40 years . Lord arrives from the Anantha saras and alights  outside for public worship for a period of 48 days. This event took place last in 1979 and  now in 2019  darshan has already commenced now  . Lord gives darshan in reclining posture during the first 24 days and later gives darshan in standing posture for the remaining 24 days.

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The Great Priests who were involved in the Rising of Athi Varadar from the Anantha Saras

Vendittrellaam tarum vallal Manivannan” is how  our  Nammazhwar describes the Lord. Whatever we ask, the Lord is ready to give us the same and much more, however exalted be the boon we seek.

Check out the url links below on abundant mercy of the Lord of the Lords ..

https://kazhiyurvaradanblog.in/2019/05/29/lord-moved-by-the-vatsalya-bhava-of-varadaguru-calls-him-amma-my-mother-the-divine-play-where-acharyar-varadaguru-is-rechristened-to-nadadhoor-ammal-2/

https://kazhiyurvaradanblog.in/2019/03/14/glory-of-the-great-acharyar-swami-thirukachchi-nambi-and-guide-to-swamy-ramanuja-who-conversed-with-supreme-lord-varadaraja-of-kancheepuram/

He endows us with whatever we need during our mundane sojourn and once we perform Prapatti,

He takes us to his own eternal abode, never to return to the quagmire of Samsara.

And this, only Emperuman can do, say the Shastras-

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”Moksham icchet, Janaardanaat”.

srIranga mangaLa nidhim karuNA nivAsam* (Srirangam for South)

*srI vEnkatAdhri sikarAlaya kALa mEkam* (Tirupathi for North)

*srI hasthisaila sikarOjvala pArijAtham* (Varadharaja perumal temple for East)

*srIsam namAmi sirasA yadhusaila dhIpam* (Melkote temple for West)

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

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Source: Whatsapp info/ youtube videos

Pictures/Videos Credits :

Thanks to Advanced devotees who have uploaded in social media

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Pundalikaa Varadaaa.. My Lord ! Please forgive me for asking you to stand on this brick .. …

Jai Jai Ramakrishna Hari

Pilgrimage to Pandharpur near   Sholapur in Maharashtra  and  having  darshan of Lord Vittal  is incomplete without mentioning  the great devotee Pundalikan. 

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Pundalaikan who hailed from southern part of  India  undertook a pilgrimage to kasi along with his parents and family .  As his old  parents couldn’t withstand the long journey they camped  on the banks of Bhima river in the present Pandharpur.

 

   As there was no improvement in their fitness and due to their old  age , they decided to  stay there forever serving LORD and his devotees .

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 Pundalikan  was  a caring and obedient son .

Always in the service of his parents chanting the holy name he continued to start a fresh life being at this new place. 

 

The Divine Name of ‘ Jai Jai Ramakrishna Hari Jai Jai  Vasudeva Hari’  ever reverberating in this holy town made him swoon into transcendental bliss  .

Pundalikan was so concerned that he  changed the course of  the river so that it would pass by his hut to enable his parents for taking their daily bath .

Even today we can see the  shape of this river  looks like  a crescent  of moon  and hence the river came to be known as “Chandrabhaga” river.

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All compassionate Lord Krishna  in Dwaraka,  wanted  the world to know about   this  great devotee  Pundalikan  who was serving his  parents with utmost sincerity .

  The   cheerful obedience mixed with devotion attracted  Lord  personally  to visit  his hut to bless him. It was a direct meeting of the great Lord  with his favorite  devotee .

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Lord arrived  near his hut  silently  and was immersed in listening to his devotees Nama sankirtana. 

  Lord walked inside his hut  like a normal  man and  looking at his  devotee  called him. 

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Pundalikan was  engrossed in the Holy name and  was serving his old parents by comforting their legs . 

The voice was melodious …… unheard ….  

My son !!

Lord once again called

Pundalikaa…..

Look  ..

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Pundalik was in trance and that bliss he was already enjoying the holy name  in his transcendental mood  and hence he did not want to come out of that mood ..

and he  did not want to disturb his  old parents sleep as they too were engrossed in the Holy name  ..

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He attempted to whisper slowly  his helplessness  ,that he couldn’t come and receive the honorable guest due to his position .

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He requested  him to  please  wait  . 

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He presumed that once his parents were fast asleep he could take leave from them and attend the respected guest .

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He innocently  requested the revered guest to rest .

 

 


Lord replied , I find only bricks around . Any way  as desired by his devotee he just stood  on a small  brick which was lying nearby.

The demigod Indra to atone for his brahmahathi  dosham  immediately took the form of brick  awaiting Lord’s arrival so that the Lord would place HIS lotus  feet. The divine incident was happening at the great devotees hut.

Once he observed that his parents were fast asleep , he comforted them and looked around .

Pundalikan  had a glance of the wonderful  darshan .

 

 

Lord Krishna as Vitthala, standing on a brick, hands on hips, with a smile on his lips.

He scanned the lovely form further .  His eyes were starving for that darshan .Torrent of tears flowed ..Speechless .   His soul now rejoiced in pure love ..

His breath that was synchronized with the holy name could swim deep in that ocean of sheer bliss ..

.Panduranga …

My Lord !! Vittala…

 

 

Nothing more ..Let this remain with me .

..Oh ! Lord …

 

 


Ocean of Compassion … You came to see this worm …

And..

LORD !  Please forgive me for asking you to stand on the brick ..

Pundalikan was inconsolable ….

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Lord Panduranga, Lord Vittala  the enchanter of the Universe, wearing  ‘Makara Kundala’ (fish shaped ear stud) in his ears, …….

 

 

Peethambara (clad in yellow silk), wearing exquisite  royal ornaments, a bewitching smile playing on His lips and having the insignia of Goddess Lakshmi on His chest,  two palms on His hips was looking at Pundalikan ..

 

 

Pundalik     was overwhelmed and touched .

He submitted to LORD for  HIM to stay there forever.

Lord with a enchanting smile replied ..

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My dear son !

Now an forever will I remain on this brick standing to see all my children seeking me…

Rukmini ,SAtyabhama arrived later , assumed the same posture of Lord  and blessed Pundalikan.

 

 

AT the behest of Pundalikan, Lord resides here and gives darshan to millions of devotees . As Lord stands on Vittu(brick) , HE is  glorified as  as Vittalan.

The place where the Lord   stands is the present temple. 

The Saints like Namdeo, Dnyaneshwar to Tukaram wove their life around Vitthala and saw in Vitthala their brother, father, friend and a compassionate Lord who could bless them with ultimate salvation.

“Vittala ”  is  our Compassionate Lord who mingled with all the devotees by taking various roles like a cobbler, barber, servant, potter, gardener thus assisting his devotees in household chores and helping them in their own spiritual up liftment and seek salvation

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Pundalikan and his parents attained Lord’s feet after the divine darshan .   The Pundalika Temple is about half a km from the Vitthal Temple.

 

 

This temple marks the spot where Pundalika, the Lord’s devotee, spent the last years of his life and also is the place of his Samadhi. It is on the riverbank of Chandrabhaga.

Great Bhagavathas have composed wonderful Naama sankirtana which swoon even a rock to breath the holy name and reach HIS holy abode ..One such kirtan is presented below sung by Sri Kadyanallur Rajagopal  feeds the soul with a grand feast of holy names  .The lyrics is shared below for the feel …

Shanka Chakra Dhara Vaijayanthi Dara  
Pithambaradara Govardhanodhara
Tulasimala Shobhita Gala               
Garuda Gamana Hari Pankaja Nabha
Vittala Yere       Pandhari Raya      
Mastaka Linga Swaroopa Linga     

Roopa Banga Sajjana Sangha  
Yadukula Thilaka        Manmatha Janaka 
 Pathitha Pavana       Dena Dayalo  
Vittala Yere Pandhari Raya

Tribhuvana Roopa     ………..
 Vishwa Swaroopa     ……….
Bhava Bhaya Thapa   .
Harithi Papa   Rukmini Kantha  
  Roopa Anantha 
  Janani Janaka     Tuja Mavakalena
Vittala Yere     Pandhari Raya…………

Chandrabhageteeram Ubha Vitevari –
Kara Katavari Ranga Shilevari     
 Mahadwari Garuda Vahini 
Vinavinatha Janardhana Swamy
Vittala Yere Pandhari Raya

Panduranga       Panduranga – Panduranga


Rukmini Kantha    
Roopa Anantha 
 Janani Janaka  …….   Tuja Mavakalena
Vittala Yere     Pandhari Raya
Chandrabhageteeram Ubha Vitevari –
Kara Katavari Ranga Shilevari       
   Mahadwari Garuda Vahini   
Vinavinatha Janardhana Swamy
Vittala Yere Pandhari Raya
Panduranga       Panduranga – Panduranga

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

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Pics Credits : Google images uploaded by advanced devotees

Videos : Credits to all devotees who shared in social media

PLACES RELATED TO MOTHER SITADEVI IN SRILANKA ———- Seetha Kotuwa,Divurumpola,Ashoka Vanam,Ravana Caves ………………. the places which brings tears to Sri Sita Rama devotees

It takes about one hour to reach the caves on top of a hillock ascending through steep narrow steps. There are three caves which have been identified as Sitadevi’s captivity.

The Chariot festival …

            Puri” means fullness. This holiest temple town is in the form of a conch. It is also known as  Jagannath dhaam-the abode of Jaganath, Purushotama   kshetra,   Nilachala  Nilagiri-     the blue mountain,   Sri kshetram-the abode of Sri(Lakshmi).

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          The holy dham vibrates with Mahamantra and other  holy names of the Lord. It is also known as “Yamanika tirtha”-the place where Yama,the God of death cannot enter.

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         The greatness about the holiest shrine Puri is mentioned by LORD

 HIMSELF in Narada Purana as:

“PRATIMAAM TATRA TAAM DRISTVAA SVAYAM DEVENA NIRMITAAM
ANAAYAASENA VAI YAANTI BHAVANAM ME TATO NARAAH

The Supreme LORD  reveals to  Mahalakshmi”

 Jagannath Puri is one of the four holy dhaams (Sacred places) located on the eastern part of India  near the shores of Bay of Bengal. The other three dhams are Badrinath located in the North, Rameswaram in the South, Dwaraka in the West. Sripad Sankaracharyar, Swamy Ramanujar, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu are the prominent acharyars who have  visited this place.

                       The great saint Sankaracharya established a mutt at this place and composed the famous “JAGANATHASHTAKA” in which he prays  Lord to help him cross over the ocean of samsara.The temple is situated over Nilachala mountain.

Out of the 4 entrances to the temple,  the eastern gate  is glorified as  the “Simha dwaaram”. At the entrance, we can find small replica of Lord Jaganatha and Sri Ganesha. deities .

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Rath Yatra  is held in the month of Aashada,  when the Lord HIMSELF steps out of the temple to give darshan to all the lucky souls.  Usually we find Dwaja sthambham in front of all the Sri Vaishnava temples. But at Puri, we find Aruna sthambham.

A huge stone pillar is erected on top of which is Aruna,the charioteer of Sun God with folded hands waits for Lord Jaganaths commands  . It symbolizes that those who worship the Lord will be enlightened . The figure of Aruna is kept in a height which equals the height of the Lord in the garbagriham.

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We have to trek   22 steps to reach the garbagriham  which split into sets of 5  more steps. One has to climb 5 steps, walk few distance, again take another flight of 5 steps and so on.

These steps denote that one has to leave aside the 5 worldly fetters-lust, anger, greed, jealousy and pride.

The first five steps represent the five outer sense organs-eyes, ears, nose, tongue and skin. 

The next 5 steps represent the 5 pranas or life airs-prana, apaana, vyaana, udaana, samaana.

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The next five steps represent the inner sense or tanmaatras-rupa(sight), rasa (taste), gandha (smell), sabda (sound),  sparsa (touch).

The next five steps are tha panch maha bhutas- earth, water, air, fire and ether.

The last two steps represent buddhi or intelligence and ahankara or false ego-the false conception of identifying the soul with the body.

One by one all the must be purified before passing into the Inner sanctum of the temple and having darshan of LORD Jaganath

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Huge mud vessels containing offerings to lord that becomes maha prashad (every day 56 items of bhog (food offerings)  is offered  to the Lord eight times.

Elders point out that the Lord gets up at Tirumala , has lunch at Puri, and relaxes at Srirangam.

The moment one thinks of Puri, he is immediately reminded of the Mahaprashad.

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As is customary in all the Sri Vaishnavite temples, we offered our obeisances to (Peria Thiruvadee)Garudazhwan before having darshan of the Lord. Here , Garuda is in the form of a wooden log. In the big hall in front of the garbagriham, there is a pillar which devotees circumbulate .

This is the place where Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu visited this place to have darshan of the Lord, he fell into ecstasy looking at the mohana roopam of the Lord.

He was in a trance for many hours totally absorbed in the Lord. (Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is an incarnation of Lord  Krishna and Radharani.

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He appeared to promote prema bhakti as the easiest means of attaining the Lord in Kali Yugam. He taught that chanting the Lord’s names as in Mahamantra is the easiest way to reach the lotus feet of the Lord .

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Most of the teachings of Mahaprabhu connects to the principles of Sri sampradaya followed  by JagathAcharyar  Swamy Ramanujacharyar’s )

In another instance, when an old lady was struggling to have darshan of the Lord, Mahaprabhu carried her on his shoulders so that she could have Lord’s darshan clearly. This incident in carved in the pillar .

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Subhadra, Lord Krishna’s sister , painted in yellow marking auspiciousness is in the middle  On HER right is Baladeva in white and to HER left is Jagannath, the Lord of the Universe who is Neelavannan(darkish) in colour Lord  Baladeva and  Lord Jaganath are on the either sides of Subhadramaata.  Near Lord Jaganath’s  is Goddess Rukmini Devi’. Lord Jaganath is the tallest among  all – Sri Sudarshana chakram also graces the devotees .

The outstretched arms of the Lord were like inviting to embrace us.

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The Lord’s eyes are wide open(without eye lids) so that HE can constantly pour HIS abundant grace on us.

A darshan of Lord Jaganath relieves one from the cycle of births and deaths.Holy bath is given only once in a year which is celebrated as Snana Yatra on Jeshta Pournami day before Rath Yathra.

On other days, a mirror is placed in front of the deities and the holy bath (abhishekam is performed to the Lords’ reflection .)

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Kathopanishad says:-
Atmaanam rathinam viddhi shareeram rathamevatu
Buddhim tu saarathim viddhi manah pragrahameva cha

The body is the Chariot and the soul is the deity installed in the chariot. The wisdom acts as the charioteer to control the mind and thoughts. Rath Yatra is celebrated in Puri in the month of Aashadam(June-July) on the second day of the waxing moon (After Amavasya) in Sukla paksham with great pomp.

Lakhs of devotees assemble at Puri to participate in this and get a chance to pull the chariot unmindful of the stampedes.

A glimpse of Lord Jagannatha on the chariot is considered to be very auspicious and saints, poets and scriptures have repeatedly glorified the sanctity of this special festival.

The sanctity of the festival is such that even a touch of the chariot or even the ropes with which these are pulled is considered enough to confer the results of several pious deeds or penance for ages.

THE MAKING OF THE HUGE CHARIOTS

The wooden logs cut from Phassi, Dhausa tree are initially set to float in Mahanadi river and are brought to Puri by road.

Every year new chariots are made for Rath Yatra using these logs of wood. The construction of the 3 chariots starts on the auspicious day of Akshaya Trithyai-(the 3rd day in the bright fornight)in the month of Visakha- about two and half months before the Rath Yatra.

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Only the descendants of the original carpenter are privileged to construct the chariots . After performing yaga, the construction of the chariot commences amidst chanting of mantras. During this time,some important events like Chandan Yatra, Snana Yatra and the Lord falling sick take place in the temple.

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Lord Jaganath along with Subhadra and Baladeva leave the main temple and go to Gundicha temple which is about 2 kms north of the temple.

The Lordships leave in 3 separate chariots specially made for this purpose and give darshan to all the devotees including the persons who are not allowed inside the temple.

They stay at Gundicha temple for 9 days and return on the 10 th day.

Gundicha temple is also known as Janaka Puri , Yajnavedi(as this was the place where Brahma performed first fire sacrifice), Adapa Mandapam (mandapa where the deities are isolated).

The Lord moves about as per HIS free will  the travel time cannot be ascertained.

There were instances where the Ratham would not move for days .

As the three chariots move about simultaneously, the road through which the chariot passes is very wide and is known as Grand Road like in Kanchipuram.

       To enact that everyone is same in front of the eyes of the Lord, before the procession starts, in olden times, the king of the state used to clean the way using a golden broom.

(This practice was started by King Prataparudra who was a great follower of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

He expressed his humbleness by sweeping the road before the procession started, he used to press Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s legs to gain his audience.

A narration about Rath Yatra without mentioning Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s leela is incomplete.

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu after embracing Sanyasrama spent most of his time at Puri in the Lord’s presence . he used to sing and dance in ecstasy for hours together in front ofLord Jagannathar.

Once during Rath Yatra, Mahaprabhu was leading His sankeertana. His disciples were in groups at different locations and chanting the Mahamantra. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu appeared in all the nine groups singing and dancing in ecstasy at the same time.

This was observed by His foremost devotees. He thus revealed that he was an incarnation of the Lord in Kali Yuga. Puri is still vibrant with Gaudiya Sampradayam established by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. The procession winds slowly through the Grand street and reaches Gundicha temple. This is considered to be Lord’s aunt’s place. Some refer Gundicha as King Indradyumna’s wife.

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In the Gundicha temple, the deities are placed in the respective altars and offered puja for 9 days. Devotees throng to this temple to have Lord’s darshan as it is considered to be beneficial for one’s upliftment. On the 10th day when the deities return to the main temple, they are adorned sith golden crowns,necklaces,belts, golden hands, feet and weapons. This is known as “Suna vesa”.

NEELACHALA NIVASAYA NITYAYA PARAMATMANE
SUBHADRA PRAANA NATHAYA JAGAN NATHAYA MANGALAM.
SRIYA KAANTHAYA KALYANA NIDHAYE NIDHAYETHINAM
SRI VENKATA NIVASAYA SRINIVASAYA MANGALAM

May all auspiciousness and unstinting bhakthi to LORD JAGGANTHA be with us
Please forgive this servant of yours for committing any offence by my inabilty to glorify LORD as no words are enough to speak about LORDS opulence.

Our  Sri Sri Gour Nitai  deities at Thiruvengadam ( Residence ) who had  arrived from Sri Jagganath Puri Dhaam ..gour nitai

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***** Sanandana to Padmapada ***** …….. Jai Jai Nrsimha …Govinda keshava janardana vasudeva vishvesha-vishva madhusudana vishvarupa shri padmanabha purushottama pushkaraksha narayanachyuta nrisimho namo namaste

The Acharya stood up and with folded hands and went near his disciple.

He was now worshipping his own disciple.. He could see Lord Narasingha bhagavan in him and thus had a divine darshan.

Instantly he composed the holy sloka “Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Mamadehi Karavalambam” and offered it to Lord’s lotus feet ..