Swamy Doddaacharyar vaibhavam

                     Sholingur is a small town in Vellore district  in Chennai city in South India. Lord Narasimha temple and Hanuman temple are  located on top of two separate hills in this town and  are  the most popular Sri Vaishnaivite temples in India. 

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Located about 90kms west of Madras (and about 25kms from Arakkonam and 40kms from Tiruttani), atop a hill on a single rock  is the Lord Narasimha Divya Desam in Sholingur, also called Chozha-Simha-Puram and Thiru Kadigai.

sholinguurruThe Yoga Narasimha Swamy temple is situated on this  hillock is  at a height of 750 ft, and there are 1305 steps. This is also referred to as UtheeCheerangam(North Srirangam).There are two temples of significance here- the Yoga Narasimha temple at Periya Malai (the big hill) and the Yoga Chathurbhuja Anjaneyar temple at Chinna Malai (the small hill). Bhaktha Anjaneya also was doing thapas (penance) here.

The Lord  pleased with him  gave His Shanku and chakram to him .This is the only place where Lord Anjaneya is giving darshan in sitting position as yoga Anjaneya adorned with sangu chakram in upper hands and with ,japa malai and counting with fingers on lower hands. Anjaneyars temple is just opposite to Lord Narasimha’s temple on a smaller hill.

sholinguuru After killing the demon named Hiranya, it is believed that Lord Narasimha reached Sholingur and settled down here. As he gave darshan to Sapta rishis(seven saints) for a kadigai time duration (24  minutes), the site is called as Kadigachalam.

This place was also called as Chola Simha Puram, which later became Sholinga Puram and ultimately to ‘Sholingur’.

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              The Lord Shri Yoga Narasimhar atop the Sholinghur hill is  glorified as  “AKKARAKANI” meaning sweetest fruit by Thirumangai azhwar.

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At  this holy place Sholingur , ( Ghatikachalam)   there were two Sri Vaishnava brothers Swamy Periyappan and Siriyappan the descendants of Swami Mudaliyandan who were the nephews and disciple of Acharya Ramanuja.

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They were well versed in sasthras . They were doing kainkaryam to the devotees of Lord Narasimhar .  The great devotee Swamy Dhoddachar was born on auspicious star uthradasha to Siriyappan which falls on 20-02-2020 ( Today) 

He learned Vedas and divya prabandam from Periyappan who was his acharya and mentor. Slowly with his steadfast devotion , He became an  upasaka of Sri Sudarsanazwar.

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He continued his  upasana for twelve years  Lord Sudarsana  was pleased with his devotion  and  appeared before  his devotee .

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Lord  said,” I am very much pleased with your devotion.

What do you want?”my child ….

 Swamy Dhoddachar said,” I want to have darshan of Lord Nrusimhar .”

Sri Sudarsanazwar told him to follow him. He took him to a cave and showed him Lord Nrusimha’s  deity  with His upaya Nachimar Sridevi and Bhoodevi .

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 Swamy Dhoddachar was very happy to  have darshan of  Lord Nrusimha in yoga nishta pose in a calm and serene pose  and christened Him as Akkarakani as described by our Azhwar ( Thirumangai Azhwar )

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He decided  to build a temple for the Lord and conduct all uthsavas and daily rituals.

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King Achutha Devaraya who was related to Krishna Devaraya was ruling over Kanchipuram. He came to know about Sri Dhoddachar  intention to build a temple to Lord Akkarakkani, (The Yoga Nrusimha.)

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He came to Ghatikachalam and paid his obeisances to  the great devotee Dhoddachar.

He rode on his favourite high breed horse and to honour Dhoddacharya he arranged to carry him on a pearl palanquin.

When they reached a village called Erumbi Achutha Devaraya’s horse suddenly fell on the ground and died.

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Achutha Devaraya felt very sad to see this.

 Swamy Dhoddachar saw this . He took out water from his Thirtha pathram and sprinkled it over the horse.

Presto ! The horse got up as if it woke up from sleep.

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Achutha Devaraya was wonder struck to see this and he prostrated before  acharya and thanked him immensely for giving new life to his horse.

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He also gave Erumbi village and some other places nearby to him.

Dhoddachar built a temple for Lord Nrusimha with the help of his disciples and also built a tank which is called Thakkan Kulam.

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He was now happy that his wish to build a temple was fulfilled.

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He also made Thiruvabaranams (jewelery) to the Lord and started celebrating all the  uthsavas with the help of his shisyas and Srivaishnavas.

He visited Kanchipuram “PeraruLaLa PerumaL” who was his favourite Deity regularly .

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Every year he used to go to Kanchipuram on the third day of Brahmmothsavam when LORD VARADARAJAR PeraruLaLa perumal would give darshan on Garuda vahanam.

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But one year he was indisposed and so was unable to go to Kanchipuram.

He prayed Lord for his darshan

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On the  day of garuda vahanam  early morning he took  a dip  at thakkan kulam              ( pond ) .

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He felt very sad and prayed to Lord Devaraja at the bank of the tank chanting his Holy names .

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     Lord Devaraja was very much pleased with his deep devotion and he flew to Ghatikachalam on Garuda and gave darshan to his dear devotee .

Dhoddachar was overwhelmed with emotion and his eyes were filled  with tears of joy and gratitude.

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He prostrated before the Lord repeatedly  and praised the Lord with five slokas which is known as Devaraja Panchakam.

Even now on Garuda vahana sevai  day early morning when Lord Devaraja comes out of the entrance of the temple, he stops for a few minutes and He  is covered by an umbrella to symbolize this incident marking the incident of LORD giving darshanam to his dear devotee .

There is a temple for Lord Devaraja on the bank of Thakkan kulam where the moolavar is giving Darshan on Garuda Vahanam which is a very rare sight.

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On Vaikasi visakam day in  this place Ghatikachalam Garudothsavam for utsava murthi is  conducted with due respects  to the devotee Dhoddachar .

All glories to Swamy Doddaacharyar!

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

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 Photos : Courtesy : Google Pics/varavaramuni

MAATHA NARASIMHA, PITHA NARASIMHA BRAATHA NARASIMHA, SAKHA NARASIMHA VIDYAA NARASIMHA,  DRAVINAM NARASIMHA SWAMI NARASIMHA, SAKALAM NARASIMHA………..

EETHO NARASIMHA,    PARATHO NARASIMHA

YATHO YATHO YAHIHI,  TATHO NARASIMHA

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This is one of a real incident happened in the life of  His Holiness the 33rd Jeeyar of Ahobila Mutt .

One day ,  His Holiness  Jeeyar was passing through the dense forest  from Ahobilam to Mysore accompanied by his disciples, journeying to the next destination .

It was a very tough task traveling those old days .

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Enroute , His Holiness Jeeyar decided to halt at a spot near a small rivulet to perform his evening puja to Lord Narasimha .

As he was settling down to offer prayers, there was a commotion.

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His disciples rushed to him  informing about  the  bandits  who  had come to loot the baggage they were carrying which had Lords Jewelry and paraphernalia offered by several kings and devotees .

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The unperturbed Jeeyar went  boldly to meet the  bandit leader of the gang, and told him that they had nothing which belonged to them , and everything they possessed belonged to Lord Narasimha .

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He requested him to take it  without any inhibitions , after he finished his  evening puja . He politely returned and offered prayers .

The dacoit leader  followed His holiness and was waiting for his turn to loot the jewelry.

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The jeeyar commenced his puja.

He offered “Chakkarai Pongal (Sweet) prepared out of rice and jaggery” to the lord.


A Mangala Haarati to Lord Narasinga thrice and prayed LORD  humbly to accept his offerings .

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At the end of third round of the mangala Haarathee  all the dacoits  who were hiding near the bushes  came out and suddenly fell at the  lotus feet of Jeeyar and asked him to protect them .

They were shivering with fear and pleaded His holiness to save them as  large number of lions were attacking them.

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The Jeeyar could not see the lions but he realized that his Lord had come to rescue him. He requested the lions to disappear.

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The dacoits who had come to rob fell at his lotus feet  repeatedly , begging forgiveness and then escorted the jeeyar safely out of the forest till Mysore .

Let us immerse in the divine glories of Lord Narasingha deva..

Lovely darshan of Lord in various divya desams uploaded by great devotees in Social media is being shared below …

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Lets glorify our LORD by singing HIS holy names .

MAATHA NARASIMHA,

PITHA NARASIMHA

BRATHA NARASIMHA,

SAKHA NARASIMHA

VIDYAA NARASIMHA, 

DRAVINAM NARASIMHA

SWAMI NARASIMHA,…………………………

SAKALAM NARASIMHA………..

ITHO NARASIMHA,

PARATHO NARASIMHA

YATHO YATHO YAHIHI,

TATHO NARASIMHA…

NARASIMHA DEVAATH PARO NA KASCHIT TASMAAN NARASIMHA SHARANAM PRAPADYE

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Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

Pics credits : Google images and uploaded pics from social media shared by several advanced devotees

Sundare sundaro ramah …… Sundare sundari katha………. Sundare sundari sita ………… Sundare sundaram vanam, Sundare sundaram kavyam…… .Sundare sundarah kapih ……… Sundare sundaram mantram…… .Sundare kim na sundaram……

Sundare sundaro ramah …… Sundare sundari katha……….

Sundare sundari sita ………… Sundare sundaram vanam,

Sundare sundaram kavyam…….Sundare sundarah kapih ………

Sundare sundaram mantram…….Sundare kim na sundaram…….

Jaya Jaya Sri sudarsana, Jaya Jaya Sri Sudarsana.

Thirumazhisai is a holy place located equidistant to Kancheepuram , Mahabalipuram and Mylapur in the present  chengelpet district ( Tamilnadu) . This place is very famous for  Lord Jagganatha Perumal temple . 

The holy place  has  cool streams  fruit and flower grooves yielding abundant fruits.  The  blossoming flowers all through makes it  a  perfect place for a  nature  lover .

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Several seers , sages , nomadaic saints , bhikshukas relax and perform penance at  this place for eternal peace .

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In such an wonderful place , Thirumazhisai Azhwar appeared  much earlier than the advent of Kaliyuga .

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Azhwar lived for almost 300 years glorifying the Lordships .

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Thirumazhisai Azhwar was a junior contemporary of the foremost Azhwars Pogai , Pey and Bhudath Azhwar  who laid a solid foundation for vishistadvaita long long ago .

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Azhwar was brought up by his foster parents at Thirumazhisai . It is believed Azhwar left them at a very young age  and practiced Ashtanga Yoga .

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With the main aim of seeking absolute truth  he performed severe austerities and penances . He studied and practiced  all religious ideas  existed during those days  Jainism , Buddhism , Carvaka etc one by one until he got disillusioned with each of them . Slowly he came into the fold of saivism through a siddar and  started practicing their faith .  He was given a name Sivavakyar .

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However his search to the absolute truth was not finished . It so happened  by divine will he happened to see the effulgence of  Pey Azhwar  at Kanchipuram.

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Peyazhwar was maintaining a garden and  Siva Vakyar used to pass that way. Keen to know the secrets of the divine knowledge , both used to discuss about the faith they followed and wanted to conclude  about the ultimate truth . Peyazhwar decided to practically demonstrate the absolute truth to his friend .

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One day Peyazhwar took a weak rope with knots and a pot with holes .He drew water from the well through this pot  and poured it to the  plants that he planted upside down.

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Siva Vakyar  saw this  strange act and was surprised to see PeyAzhwar’s behaviour  . Peyazhwar asked him why  was he disturbed  . Thirumazhisai  replied   Holy Sire ! I am surprised with your strange act!  being so learned  ,  How will the purpose of watering the plants serve in this method , as the plant is planted upside down and the pot that contained  holes will water the plants?

Peyazhwar  was glad  that he had started pondering over the truth   .Peyazwar told him that the rope was the example for his Athma which is searching through different faiths  to find the Absolute truth ,  but  has not succeeded in its search for the truth and still going on searching wasting precious time .

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  Peyazhwar further explained ,

My dear young man ,

Our ancestors had explained in the following verse“ Thirumaal is like the root of the plant and is  the only Paramporul…

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From the root only , the  leaves, branches, flowers and fruits appear . Similarly all the demigods  took forms only from the root and so they might wither away at some time or other. Hence it is poor understanding  to think that the other parts of the plant are superior to the root, meaning without the root the plant cannot survive.

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 “Persons engaged in the worship of demigods are not  clear , although such worship is indirectly offered to Me.” For example, when water is poured  on the leaves and branches of a tree instead  on the root, he does so without sufficient knowledge or without observing regulative principles. The process of watering a tree is to pour water on the root.

Similarly, the process of rendering service to different parts of the body is to supply food to the stomach. The demigods are, so to speak, different directors in the government of the Supreme Lord. One has to follow the laws made by the government only , not by the others . Similarly, everyone is to offer his worship to the Supreme Lord only. That will automatically satisfy the different  denigods who are working under the  the Lord.

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Peyazwar’s explanation put Siva Vakyar in deep thought. He realized that he was still searching for the true knowledge , but couldn’t find it.

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He requested Peyazhwar to accept him as his disciple.  Peyazhwar  named  him Bhaktisaara . He started following vaishnavism and serving Peyazhwar  for more lessons  .

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Later he took leave of Peyazhwar and went on divya desa yathra. After visiting few divya desams he went  back to Thiruvekka ( Kancheepuram) and stayed there. Kanikannan  a devotee , requested  Bhaktisarar  to accept him as his disciple. Azhwar accepted him as his disciple.

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 It so happened  at Thiruvekka in his ashram an old lady used to come and clean his place, and perform small service to him. One day she prayed him that being old she felt that she may not be able to serve him longer and regretted for joining this pious service after becoming old.

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Azhwar was touched with her devotion and sincerity and blessed her regain her youth .

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One day the king who ruled over Kanchi happened to see this lady who was so beautiful after Azhwars blessings , and instantly fell in love with her. He married her and took her to his palace. As years rolled by the king was becoming old, but his wife was as young as she was when he got her married.

He asked her what was the secret and she  revealed about Azhwar’s blessings..

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.She suggested the King to ask KaNaikaNNan to request Azhwar to the palace and pray for the same. 

The king sent for KaNIkaNNan and told him to summon  Azhwar and compose a verse in his praise and to restore his youth. KaNikaNNan told him that Azhwar would not compose verse praising mortals, but only in praise of  Lordships..

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 He orders  them  to leave the kingdom immediately. KaNikaNNan informs  Azhwar all that had happened.  Azhwar decided to leave the kingdom with his disciple and prays  Lord  to join along with them folding His couch ( AravaNai)

கணிகண்ணன் போகின்றான் காமரு பூங்கச்சி
மணிவண்ணா நீ கிடக்க வேண்டா -துணிவுடைய
செந்நாப் புலவனும் போகின்றேன் நீயுன் உன்றன்
பைந்நாகப் பாய் சுருட்டிக்கொள்.

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Lo presto! What a surprise! The Lord obeyed his true devotee’s order,

He got up and followed his devotees out of the city, folding His snake-bed and sticking it under arm.

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The next moment the whole city plunged into darkness and ill omens occurred. The king got frightened and called his ministers for quick remedy.

They told him that he had committed a big blunder by expelling a true devotee of the Lord and so no other alternative, but to go and ask for his pardon and beseech him to come back.

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The king along with his courtiers reached the place where Azhwar and KaNikaNNan were staying for the night. He fell at their feet and begged them to return to the city.

Azhwar again requested the Lord to return to his abode with His snake-bed and the Lord also was happy to return.

aqFrom then onwards the Lord got the name Sonna VaNNAm Seytha Perumal and in Sanskrit Yathokthakari. 

This divine incident had been glorified by Arunagirinatar and Kumaragurupanar both devotees of Paramasivan and Skandar in their works  .

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The place they stayed for the night got the name Oriravu Irukkai and at present is known as Orikkai where a Mani Mandapam is erected.

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A special feature of Thirumazhisai Azhwar at the Jagannatha Perumal temple in Kancheepuram is that he gives darshan  with a third eye.

Thirumazhisai Azhwar  later  moved to Thiru Kudanthai ( Kumbakonam ) and glorified the Lord there .

jai2Thirumazhisai Azhwar’s contribution to the Nalayira Divya Prabhandham includes over 200 verses

(Naanmugan Thiruvanthaathi and Thiruchandha Viruththam) of praise. 

 

It is construed , Azhwar expresses after thoroughly convincing himself about the futility of all the other faiths of his first hand experience and affirms

LORD  SRIMAN NARAYANA is the supreme and absolute reality .

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The second composition “Thiruchandha Viruththam” has 120 pasurams which is included in the first thousand of the DivyaPrabhandam .

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The composition is so charming that the chanter is tempted to swoon himself to the lilting chants coming out naturally in the divine composition .

The rhythm goes like tana tana tana tana tana tana Tanana…

almost reminding the gallop of an horse .

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This prabhandam is recited in Srirangam during the Ashwa vahanam festival when Nammperumal rides the Horse .

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Azhwar  expresses in his Prabhandam , Creation or Life emanated through creatures and vegetation around , on all four sides everywhere . This creation is rampant quickly spreading continuous and  is powerful . The divine fragrant LORD the Universal Lord created Brahma . Brahma in turn created Rudra  . 

wp-1480341508099.jpegI the humble devotee of the Universal Lord submit these  in my prabhanda Naanmugam Thiruvandhaadhi . In his Prabhanda , Azhwar builds up by stages the total helplessness of the jivatmas and affirms that only LORD should shower his mercy and grace the helpless soul every stage for his upliftment and reach Godhead .

Makhayam makare mase     Chakramsam bhargavodbhavam

Mahisara puradhisam     bhakthisara maham bhaje

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Azhwar Thiru adigale sharanam
Sonna VaNNam Seytha PerumaL ThiruvadikaLe SaraNam!

Pics Courtesy :

Google images and pictures uploaded by several advanced devotees in social media

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Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

 

My child , I appeared several times and took various incarnations to punish the evil doers and reward the one who did virtuous deeds ..I took all the pain in seeing that people like you are uplifted But am sad ..you never ever sought me and preferred to be Independent .

Everyone needs to fulfill his dharma on earth, fulfill the duties, the reason why we are here and then hand our existence over to existence and let life itself play its tune on us , the hollow bamboo flute. just let destiny fulfill itself through us , emptying our self of all the selfish ego desires and illusions and then realize the divine which is acting in us through in order to bring blessings and final up liftment