Author: Kazhiyur Varadan

Few years ago , Meera was living a very happy married life with her family which included her husband, four sons, their wives and children. She had served the family with full devotion. Her husband was a wealthy jewel merchant and the sons had also joined the family business.

Everyone in the family was very respectful to their parents. It so happened one day Meera saw a small boil on her foot . She applied some turmeric to heal and continued with her daily house chores . However the boil eventually turned out into real shape. She had developed the germs of leprosy. There was no cure and she had to accept the reality .There was a sudden change of attitude among all the members of the family towards her. Everyone including her husband who loved her dearly tried to avoid sitting next to her. She was thus isolated and spent her days in a secluded room. Her utensils were kept separately which she washed herself.

She could understand that for the welfare of her family this was to be carried out . But one day she got a rude shock when all her sons came with their wives and wanted to say something to her. The eldest son on behalf of others came with the proposal and said

Amma ………You should go and stay in some place of pilgrimage away from all of us .

We will send money for your daily needs Amma please understand ..

.After all this is an infectious disease and even you will not like it if any of your grand child gets infected. We care for you Amma .Please accept our proposal .The choice of Old age home OR pilgrimage spot is yours .

Each son had a different proposal . Meera kept on listening and just nodded.

The sons went away leaving her to wonder if they were the same sons who would not eat before amma started eating her meal.

That night Meera skipped her dinner which, the maid servant had left for her in the room.

The whole night she was tossing and turning and could not have even a wink of sleep. She went on thinking what to do.

Should I jump in a well?

Should I leave home?

All types of thoughts came to her mind. At last in the early hours of morning she quietly packed a few clothes and took what ever meager money she had and left home without telling any one.

She had no one to share her plight.

One poor lady used to come to her previously and she used to give her many things in charity to help her. She knew her house . She landed at her doorstep and woke her up. On opening the door she saw a old slightly torn photograph of Lord Krishna hanging on the wall .

The poor lady was shocked to see her . She invited her , but she politely ignored her invitation . She expressed her inability to enter her house and shared her plight . Looking at the photograph she enquired which temple deity he was .The poor lady replied the pic is of Lord Bankey Bihaari and he is at Vrindavan.

She advised her to go to vrindavan where she could get help from one of her relative who had gone there and had become a Meera serving the Lord

The lady offered to go with her and leave her there with her relative and soon they reached vrindavan. For a few days the relative of that lady shared the food she used to get from temples as prasad . She was old and died in few months . Now Meera was again left alone to fight for her survival. She felt embarrassed to go to temples and ask for prasad in the beginning but soon got used to it. Vrindavan became her home . She started naming every temple in Vrindavan as her Uncles home , Aunts home and Parents , grand parents house . She made every temple deity as her family member and shared her daily experiences going close to them .

Immersed in Satsangh true to her name got Meera bhakthi .

One day Meera went to bathe in the yamuna river along with few devotees . It was a special day as Sri Sri Bankey biharee had arrived . Amongst the crowd , looking at the merciful eyes of the Supreme Lord , suddenly , her foot slipped and she fell in the river and was on the verge of drowning.

Suddenly , something strange happened .. The crowd gathered around She was in an unconscious state and all she could remember was that a very attractive blue eyed boy had dived into the river to save her. When she became conscious she was surrounded by some brajvasee . She looked every where to find the charming diver but he was no where to be seen. The people around her told her that she had a very lucky escape. She looked at her foot and was astonished. She found that there was not a single wound, her leprosy had disappeared.

One person from the crowd advised her to go to Sri Sri Bankey Bihariji’s temple and thank the Lordships for saving her life. She had never been here before so now that she was no longer infected by leprosy, she wanted to thank Lordships , she entered the temple and was looking at Lord Bihariji spell bound because it was this charming boy only who has dived in the Yamuna river and saved her life. With tears in her eyes and a shiver of excitement going through her entire body she vowed that she will depend only on Sri Sri Bankey Bihariji who had brought her to vrindavan. Leprosy was just a temporary excuse to detach her from her family. Now she does sewa of the Supreme Lord Bihariji in her small way by helping many devotees who are in need near the temple

Swami sri haridas ji says in one of his padas roughly translated in English …

 Oh My dear brother!If you want to love, then love only Bihariji or love his bhaktas who are always engrossed in Bihariji’s bhajans only.The worldly love is temporary made out of faded colours of flowers which is finished the moment you are of no use to your so called loved ones, but Bihariji’s love is permanent which is made out of the scent of flowers. It is Lord alone who will by your side when you are in pain or trouble, your relatives and friends will run away the moment they see approaching for help. Bihariji will wash away all your sins and take you in his arms. Such is the love of our Sri Sri Bankey bihariji.

Shri Shri Banke Bihari Mandir is located at Vrindavan. The Lordship presented themselves for the ardent devotion of Sri Haridas

Elders believe Swami Haridas was the reincarnation of Lalita ‘sakhi’ , of the close companion of Lord Krishna. Haridas left his village for Vrindavan, which was a dense forest at that time and choose a secluded spot, which is now known as Nidhivan, to practice his service to Supreme Lord with music and to enjoy eternal bliss . He constantly and continuously meditated on Nitya Ras and Nitya Bihar of Lord at Nitya Vrindavan. His way of Saadhna was to compose and sing songs in the praise of Lord. While on earth, living in a mortal state, he facilitated his regular unobstructed entry in the Nitya Bihar and always enjoyed the pleasure of closeness of Lord always in the ocean of eternal bliss.

His disciples were curious about this place and one day with permission of Swamiji, they all entered the kunj. But instead of seeing anything they were almost blinded by bright, intense light, which seemed to fill the whole place. On knowing of their plight Swamiji himself went there, and then after his requests, lord appeared in person with his divine consort, pleasantly smiling and in a playful mood and casting a spell of charm on every living being present there. Those who witnessed this, were so spell bounded by the beauty of the Lord and his consort, that they couldn’t even blink their eyes, it seemed that all of them had turned into stone statues.

The legend as handed down to the generations of Goswamis, says that the beauty of the divine couple was such that no one wanted to loose the sight and proximity of divinity, but then what kind of divinity is it, which cannot make a mere mortal swoon and charmed enough to forget and give up the world and its luxuries? The beauty of the divine couple was so much that lesser mortal would not be able to bear such a heavenly beauty. Sensing this Swami Haridas ji prayed the Lordships both of them to take a single form, as the world won’t be able to bear their image. He submitted to them to take a single form like Ghan (cloud) and Damini(lightning) thus giving a perfect metaphor to the combined beauty of dark Lord and his fair consort, Radhaji. Also he wanted his beloved lord to be in front of his eyes always. Granting him his both wishes, the couple turned itself into one single black charming deity , the same one can have darshan in the temple today. The charm and beauty of Shri Banke Bihariji is the only reason why the ‘darshan’ in the temple is never continuous but is broken by the curtain drawn on him regularly. It is also said that if one stares long enough into the merciful eyes of Shri Banke Bihariji, the person would lose his self consciousness. Thus came into existence the physical form of Lord Banke Bihari, popularly know as Bihariji.

The sewa of the Bihariji is unique in its own way. Three parts of Seva is done every day ie Shringar, Rajbhog and Shayan. While shringar (which includes bath, dressing and adornment with jewellery like crown and necklaces) and Rajbhog(feast) is offered in the forenoon, Shayan Sewa (shayan means sleep) is offered in the evening. The temple doesn’t have a tradition of Mangala (early morning) sewa. Swami Haridas did not favour Mangla Sewa as he wanted his child like Lord to take complete rest and did not want to disturb him out of deep slumber so early in the morning.

So, the temple today stands with its full glory, inside which the Lord himself resides. It is thronged by thousands of visitors everyday.

This real incident was shared by a Goswamee in the temple

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

Pic & Videos : Courtesy ..Uploaded in social media by several advanced devotees

  Santh Narsingh Mehta was very much engrossed always in singing Lord Holy names . The neighborhood did not like his behavior . His own siblings avoided him . Narsingh Mehta was very simple and did not take their criticisms seriously , instead prayed Lord for their upliftment .

As a customary ritual to perform the shraaddha ceremony of his father , he used to go to his brothers house as he did not have anything to perform the same . 

Once ,when Narsingh Mehta’s wife and his brother’s wife one day came together, his elder brother’s wife cursed her, “You don’t have anything. Your husband just goes on singing kirtans and every year we have to spend money for shraaddha.”

Narsingh Mehta’s wife felt sad .

She replied ..Sister , “This year we shall perform the shraaddha, ceremony ….. much to her surprise .

..Oh really . replied her sister in law …… let me see how you perform”. 

Santh Narsingh Mehta’s wife told her husband about her determination to perform shraaddha ceremony .

Santh Narsingh Mehta was very pleased as he wanted to serve the devotees who attend the ceremony .

Mehta did not have anything to eat . But as soon as he imagined they are going to perform the shraaddha ceremony he was elated.

He started inviting the whole village for the shraaddha ceremony as Hari Naam along with Hari Bhaktaas was the only motto in this life …

The Shraaddha ceremony date was approaching and his wife was worried.

She said . ….

My dear …. It was my strong feeling to perform the Annual rites this time at our place as your Sister in law insulted us . But dear ……

Am afraid as “You have invited the whole village little knowing we do not have anything to eat for the evening …

Santh Narsi Mehta smiled and replied

Did we ever plan for the next minute ,,, …

.Lord knows …. “Don’t worry, Just relaxxx .. It is HIS plan .something will come out.” 
His wife was worried as the entire village folk was eagerly waiting for the ceremony date .

The date arrived .. It was gloomy … She overheard her neighbors discussing about the big feast at Nasi Mehtas house and there participation …

His wife rushed to Santh Narsi Mehta and said I can know understand .. We must do something ..She said ..

My dear

You do one thing. I have golden bangles given by my father during marriage which I kept in safe custody . . Please sell them and bring all the groceries so that we can cook for everyone. Forget about dakshina, as they must have at least some plate of prasad offered.

She prepared the list of the groceries to purchase and requested him to bring the same soon..

Santh Narsingh Mehta went to the market, sold the bangles, and bought all the groceries . But he forgot to buy ghee.

Santh Narsi Mehta’s wife started to cook , however was searching for the ghee which was the main ingredient for the dishes .

She immediately asked her husband to please buy ghee as the preparations cannot be started without ghee.

 
Narsingh Mehta did not have any money left with him to buy ghee . He once again went to market. Approaching the ghee shops he pleaded to give him ghee for his immediate sevas to bhagavathas . He assured he would repay once he had some money . The merchants ignored his pleas by giving false reasons . Being a simple man , he was prepared for any service in lieu of the ghee ….

As many of the shop keepers avoided his entry .. slightly upset he walked down towards Lord Dwarakadeesh temple side . He was taken back when he saw a lustrous boy in the shop with blinking eyes . Rushing to the shop he said ..Jai Dwarakadeesh

My son … Can you please give me some quantity of ghee for my fathers ceremony … I do not have any money to pay you but believe me …On name of Dwarakadeesh I promise to repay you …

The boy was smiling and said . Who ? … Dwarakadeesh …..Will he pay ?

Santh replied …. Yes !!! He will pay ..and please be assured ….HE only can pay

The boy mischievously said I dont know who will pay but on one condition I can spare the ghee to you …. I am told you sing wonderful kirtans …. If you can sing Kirtans I will give this ghee ..free of cost ….

Santh was overjoyed …. Looking at the temple gopuram … Praying the Supreme Lord …. he began …. his soothing and heart melting kirtans ….Fully immersed in the satsangh and kirtan he completely forgot his wife and the feast at home and his wife who was waiting for his arrival to begin cooking …..

In the mean time, Lord Krishna went to Narsing Mehtas home exactly like Narsingh Mehta
His wife asked …so late …. Where is the ghee ? Krishna replied ..why do you need ghee ?

She said, Are you mad ? “We have to cook, as you have called many people …

Krishna said ..Don’t worry . Come with me …..

He took her to the kitchen .. To her surprise all the bhogas was already cooked and was ready to serve. 

She couldn’t believe …
He said, “Today, everybody will come and eat in golden plates.” 

She asked, “How many golden plates you have got?” He replied, “As many as you want!” 

So the golden plates were there. She was completely elated and surprised, “I gave you only 2 bangles, from where have you brought all these gold?” 

He said, “Don’t talk now, let them eat.” 

Then He said, My dear Can we honor “those who come for eating, they eat in the golden plate and take away the golden plate as a dakshina.”

. 

The whole village was very happy. Immediately the word went out that Narsingh Mehta is giving out golden plates. Everybody in the village came over

And then He said My dear for “Ladies who come, they get new sarees.” 

So all the ladies came with torn sarees and got new sarees. 

Whole village was very happy. Narsingh Mehta (Krishna) finished the whole thing and went away.

And after the kirtan , Narsingh Mehta came home a bit scared.

Looking at the crowd coming out from his hut , he was shy and feeling low for not attending them …

Each guest thanked him profusely for the hospitality and blessed him .. en route …

All of a sudden the pawn broker rushed to Mehta returned the gold bangles and fell at his feet asking forgiveness for taking the those golden bangles in exchange of cash not knowing his devotion and sath sanghat

As he stepped in his wife offered obeisance’s and said, My dear “This time you proved it ..

By the by tell me from where did you buy the gold plates ? I just gave you two golden bangles

He was surprised to know what all happened .. With tears he submitted

Hey Dwarakaseesh .. I have really troubled you ..Please forgive me …

True … Lord answers ..

Those who worship Me with devotion, meditating on My transcendental form–to them I carry what they lack and preserve what they have.

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

Pictures& Videos Courtesy : Thanking all the advanced devotees who had shared in the social media

No one can be able to know about Life of Eknath without receiving an inspiration for a higher and better life that delivers us from this repeated births in samsara as per a scholars words ….

Few hundreds years ago , Pandharpur was plagued in gloom when neighboring countrymen carried away the deity of Lord Vithoba to Vijayanagar and Bhanudasa the great devotee risked back his very life to bring back to Pandharpur . Lord pleased with his devotion , assured to appear in his family lineage.

Accordingly Lord appeared as Eknath great grand son of Bhanudasa . Maha Santh Eknath’s grandparents went to Sri Janardhan Swamy and requested to shower his mercy on the lad . We are glad Lord has bestowed abundant mercy on him . We are getting old and anytime we may leave this world. We are worried that our lineage will not continue if he remains single. We request you to kindly advise him to get married .” As per his Guru’s advice, Eknath got married. His wife Girija Bai also a nice dvotee . The couple spent almost 40 years serving Lord Vittala Bhajans.

Eknath had a nice disciple named Udhava . Eknath wanted to celebrate a grand Hari Naam sankirtana on Janmashtami which was approaching . He wished to invite all the village members and celebrate the festival with HARI NAAM SANKIRTAN and later serve prasad sumptuously to every devotee . However, as usual he did not have money for the same . He expressed his desire to his disciple. Uddhava wanted to fullfill his Masters wish .He also did not have money .He decided to go and raise the required money for celebrating Janmashtami and feed the devotees . Uddhava approached a pawn-broker who used to lend money to people with interest.

He approached him and said … Maharaj ..Kindly lend us some money for the feast to be conducted at Eknath Maharajs place . Initially , he refuses .However as he referred Santh Eknaths name he agrees to hand over cash but with a condition the amount must be returned in a weeks time with interest .

The Janmaashtami feast went off very grandly . All the devotees who attended felt so elated .Few villagers who could not attend requested Santh Eknath to re do one more HARI NAAM SANKIRTAN as they were not blessed to attend the first event .

Eknath was overwhelmed . The next day he arranged for a AKHANDA HARI NAAM SANKIRTAN The villagers came in large numbers .The HARI name reached every corner of the village ..It was VITTAL …VITTAL …VITTAL … everywhere …

Meanwile , the pawn broker waited for one week and finally went to Eknath’s house. The VITTAL NAMA SHOWER was repeated by all .The mood of the devotees was in elixir as LORD VITTAL had already reached them

The hari bhaktas were asked to partake the prasad and they were enjoying the feast Eknath and his wife personally were serving the food items to them and as usual, they planned to eat the left overs after feeding the devotees .

The pawn broker entered the house and looked at Uddhava and started abusing him in presence of all the devotees for not returning the money .

Uddhava requested him to wait till the function was over and not to disturb Eknath but the pawn broker approached Eknath.

Eknath was unaware of all the happenings . Assuming that the pawn broker too was a devotee, he gives him prasad . After finishing eating his food, the pawn broker meets Eknath with folded hands and says “Swamiji ! You look like a very pious and honest person. Since you have not returned money on time, I have suffered a loss. I also have to survive.

And If you are a true devotee of LORD VITTALA , without returning my money, you should not eat”.

Eknath was confused but he agreed to check what was the matter with Udhdhav and promised ” Sure! My dear ..I will not partake any thing without repaying the loan ….

I give you my word on Vittal. I will do as you say. I shall eat only after returning your money”. From then on Eknath fasting started.

Where would he go for money. He surrendered to Vittal and said LORD this is your divine leela .

You decide what is in store …May all my senses surrender to your HOLY NAME ….. Will hunger , thirst scare a HARI BHAKTA ..

.When VITTAL the real treasure for me .. Why must I be worried …More HARI NAAM ..is my motto now …

Meanwhile ,all efforts to raise money failed.

Eknath did not have water or food till then. It was just HARI VITTALA …HARI VITTALA …HARI VITTALA …

Lord couldn’t see his devotee starving . It was raining heavily and in midnight someone knocked at the front door of the pawn brokers house. The pawn broker was sleeping . He suddenly woke up and shocked as at this dark night who was disturbing him . He opened the door with a lamp in his hand. He saw Uddhava standing in the front yard. But there was something special in Uddhava . He had a benevolent smile and his voice could make any one fall.. His eyes was glowing with compassion … Any one would have been drawn into those eyes …He couldn’t move his eyes

Am sorry Sir !!! Couldn’t wait seeing my Master starving hence had to disturb you in this night .Please take this money with cumulative interest and kindly give me a receipt that you have received the money for my master to partake food .Please make it fast before I get drenched completely .

The Pawn broker was spell bound . He continued , My master is fasting since the day you asked them not to partake food till money is returned . I had to collect the same for this

The pawn broker completely forgot what he said momentarily and regretted. He quickly ran in and brought the receipt book and gave a receipt saying that the debt had been settled.

Uddhava returned thanking him … The pawn broker was in trance watching him ….

The pawn broker felt very bad that he was the cause for the elderly couple to starve . He felt offended that the ones who fed him nicely that day were still starving .

He wanted to appreciate Eknath for his honesty and apologise for the inconvenience. He also wanted to know whether Uddhava was a realised soul .

He quickly got up the next day and rushed to Eknath’s house and fell at his feet.

He said Maharaj ….“Please forgive me. I was very rude to you “.

Ekanath replied …Hey “Vittal! What is this? Sir! You have not done anything wrong. I told you I would return the money but have not done so. So I am the one who did not keep up my promise to you. I shall try my best to settle the debt as soon as possible. I assure you that I will not eat until then as you instructed sir.”

” Maharaj What are you saying? Your disciple Uddhava came to my house last night and returned the money. He took a receipt also. Didn’t he tell you? Have you not eaten yet?”

Udhdhava who was there with his guru Eknath was startled.

He pleaded immediately that he doesnt know any thing .

He replied “Sir! I did not come to your house. I am still trying to get money”

The money lender raised his voice in emotion

Maharaj …. this man Udhdhava is lying before you.

He came to my house last night at midnight and handed me the money due with huge interest and took my written receipt for same in full settlement of the dues”

He took the receipt and said he will show it to you as you were not partaking food.

Eknath silently prayed to Vittal and went in to check his account note book where all receipts and bills were usually preserved.

There he saw the receipt given by the moneylender on the previous night.

”Is this the receipt you gave Udhdava? last night asked Eknath to the money lender

“Yes Sir”. Yes …the same receipt

Eknath was in tears. He said “Who else can do such a thing other than my Vittala”.

The money lender and Udhdhava too were shocked.

The money lender cursed himself for scolding VITTALA the previous night for disturbing his sleep. He begged Santh Eknath to forgive him.

Jai Jai Ramakrishna hari

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

Pictures & videos : Courtesy From devotees who uploaded in social media

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Few hundred years ago the King of Puri, Purusottama Deva, was to marry the princess who was the daughter of a king, Maharaja Salluva Narasingha, from the southern state .

That was the period the Annual Ratha-Yatra festival was to take place . The King of Puri invited the father of the princess for the great festival . However , the King sent his minister Chinnu bhatta Godaranga instead.

The Minister carefully observed the kingdom to give the inputs to his King . The Rath Yatra date arrived . The King of Puri along with his ministerial staff went to the temple performed pooja and with the permission of the Supreme Lord the tradition of sweeping the road in front of the carts was done by the King .

The visiting minister was shocked to see the King hold the broom , Rather , being impressed with the devotion of the King for Lord Jagannatha, he did not agree of him sweeping the road, even if it was for the Supreme Lord.

He took leave and reported this incident to King Salluva Narasingha. The king too was unhappy and objected to the idea of his daughter marrying the King of Puri as he was merely a street sweeper. He informed through his counsel about his ejection for the alliance .

Purusottama Dev was extremely angry that he, as the servant of Lord Jagannatha, would be insulted for his service to the Supreme Lord . He gathered his army troupes and went to the southern state to teach King a lesson.

Unfortunately, King Purusottama Dev was badly defeated.

Upset , with a downcast mood, he approached “Saikatacharya”, who was a great ascetic, and a householder devotee of Lord Jagannatha.

The Sadhu said , My dear King You had forgotten to ask permission from Lord Jagannatha before you went to Southern state . It was your mistake . You are King but Lord Jagganath is Emperor. Please take his permision before waging a battle

With this realization, the King returned to Puri and rushed to the temple of the Lord, crying over his defeat, asking why the Lord had let this happen. He spent the entire night in the temple, and with doors closed, before the night came to an end, the King heard a voice asking why he was so distraught over such a simple thing.

The divine voice said … my dear Purusottama Please go and gather our troupes again, and we two brothers, Jagannatha and Balarama, would go along to fight on the your behalf.

The King was astonished . He did all that as Lord commanded . As the news spread, many people, both old and young, joined the King’s forces to fight along with their Lordships. However, as they proceeded , the King was filled with some doubts whether their Lordships were really coming along with him.

While the King along with his army went onward, far ahead were two soldiers who rode , one on black horse and one white horse.

They were looking majestic from behind . They stopped to quench their thirst at a small village near Chilika Lake by buying some yogurt from a devotee named “Manika”.

Manika offered them yogurt looking at their beauty . She was awe stuck and just could not move her eyes away from them . The soldiers looked at Manika and smiled . They said they did not have any money to give her . She just kept looking without uttering any word . The dark soldier shook her and said , Manika ..we don’t have money but I have my ring that will be your payment for the sweet yoghurt . Please give this to your King and collect the gift he gives . Both of them smiled and proceeded

The King was fast approaching behind them . Curious he was , he caught up to the lady, who flagged him down to give him the ring and asked for payment for the soldiers’ drink.

The king was shocked to see the ratnamudrika ring of Lord Jagannatha and then regained his confidence that, indeed, their Lordships had certainly come along with him.

Overjoyed , In payment for the ring, the king gave her the whole village, which is still named “Manikapatna”.

The king and his troupes effortlessly won the battle and as planned he also took King Sallowo’s daughter back to Puri.

The King did not marry her after the insult her father had given him.

He instructed his minister to see that she get married to a most qualified sweeper.

Exactly after one year, Ratha-Yatra date was announced . As per traditional guidance , the King again took blessings from Supreme Lord and performed his sweeping of the ground before the Rath .

The king’s minister felt pity for the princess and announced that the king was the most qualified sweeper, since he swept for Lord Jagannatha, and that the princess, Padmavati, should marry him.

Amongst the crowds Maharaja Purusottama Dev married the princess and she later gave birth to “King Prataparudra” the great devotee of Lord Chaitanya Maha Prabhu .

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

Pictures& Videos : Courtesy from advanced devotees who uploaded in social media

Few hundred years ago at Sri Rangam , One day, Swamy  Nampillai  along with his disciples were walking on the shores of Cauvery river . They saw some boys playing on the banks of the river .The boys were building houses of sand. They divided their sand houses into different portions and said one was the living room, one was the dining room, one was the kitchen and so on. One of the boys pretended to be a mother. Another acted as a father, and a few others were as children. 

Swamy Nampillai watched them while they played. After some time, the boys demolished the houses of sand, which they had built, and began to play some other game.

Swamy Nampillai  walked towards them, and said My children …

“You were so long playing the roles of father, mother, children etc. But now, suddenly, you have forgotten those roles.”

The children innocently said, Swamy We are bored with that game hence “Now we are playing a new game, and so our roles have changed.”

Swamy  Nampillai used this simple game and explained his disciples to explain how, in life, we merely play roles. A person is daughter to someone, wife to someone, mother to someone. But when life ends, all this comes to an end, in the same way that all the role playing of the children ended. That being the case, is attachment to people or things in life justified? Our attachment must be only to Lord Narayana, for there is none equal to or superior to Him. This is what the Upanishadic statement,

Ekam eva adviteeyam, stresses. LORD remains the only constant, and we must focus on Him

 Ekam= The One; Eva= only; Advitiyam= without a Second

One disciple said “Swamin, all vaishnavas say in one voice that all celestial beings other than Lord Sriman Narayana are not to be worshipped.  But are they not worshiping them in their daily rituals during Sandhyavandana and Amavasya tharpanam , Grahana (eclipse) tarpana as prescribed in sastras.  What is wrong in worshiping these deities in their respective temples dedicated to them?”

Swamy Nampillai answered, My dear child ……

“Though the fire in Agnihotra (the daily fire worship ritual) and the fire used for cremating the corpse in the crematorium are one and the same, the former one is considered to be holy and the latter one unholy. 

Same is the case with the worship of the deities prescribed in the veda sastras and divinities consecrated in their respective temples. The underline is upaya and upeya in performing the act .

Having absolute faith in Acharya and Supreme Lord Narayana is a very strong appetite for the covetable virtues of the Lord are the most requisite essential qualities of a Sri Vaishnava which would ensure him liberation from worldly bondage at the end of his life. 

As they were walking on the shores one disciple requested Swamy to brief about the Sri Vaishnava Sampradaya on which all could repose their confidence.  Swamy looked at the shores and imagined the sea shores and told them My children Please remember always “The magnificent sea shore”.

  Surprised at this answer, the disciples exclaimed, Swamy “Are we expected to remember the sandy hillocks and huge regions on this sandy seashore?” Swamy Nampillai smiled and said , My child Lord Rama accompanied by a huge host of monkey army encamped on the sea shore before crossing it.

The night came.  As all the monkeys were very much attached to HIM , they kept a close watch over securing his safety even at the cost of their lives.  Lord Rama slept while the monkeys were keeping awake and guarding him.  As the night darkened , Lord woke up and saw the little monkeys had gone to sleep in their own position .Lord along with his brother, Lakshmana fastened the quiver at the back of their shoulders, strung the bow and holding the sharp arrow in their hands, went round the entire army of vanaras throughout the night in order to ward off any catastrophe that may befall on them.  This proves that there is no other protector except Lord Sri Rama.  This is what you have to remember always.”

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

Videos & Pics : Courtesy Uploaded in social web sites by advance devotees

https://wp.me/pNaL5-Pc

Srimad Bhagavatam reveals that ParamaShiva is the foremost of all the Vaishnavas. (SB – 12.13.16) Vaishnavanam yatha sambhuh purananam idam tatha……

Lord Sriman Narayana (Lord Vishnu)- the Supreme Personality of Godhead  is glorified  as Parabhrahmam as everything has emanated from HIM .

All the ancient scriptures like Puranas, Vedas, divya prabhandham clearly mention that Sriman Narayana (Vishnu) alone is the Supreme Lord.  The invocatory verse (thanian) of Naanmugan Thiruvandhadhi starts with “Narayanan padaithaan naanmuganai, naan muganaku eraar sivan pirandhaan…..” ..

meaning that Lord Sriman Narayanan created four faced Brahma who in turn created Siva implying that everything emanates from Mahavishnu.  Lord Krishna says “Vaishnavanam yatha samubhuh:’ meaning ParamaShiva is the best of all Vaishnavas and is very dear to the Lord.    Parama Shiva adorns Ganges-the holy water from Lord Vishnu’s feet in his matted locks on the head and is known as Gangadhara.  He shares with Parvathi devi that he always contemplates on Lord Vishnu while meditating.  He declares to Parvathi devi that uttering Rama naama thrice is equal to recitation of 1000 names of Lord Vishnu.  Lord Shiva tells Parvathi “Aaradhananaam sarvesaam vishnor aaraadhanam param” meaning that the most exalted system of worship is the worship of Vishnu. It is believed that in Varanasi (Kashi),  ParamaShiva whispers Lord Rama naamam in the ear of a person who leaves his body

A true Vaishnava doesn’t seek any material benefit from Lord but always prays for more services and bhaagavatha sambandham.   Azhwars have clearly expressed in their pasurams that we should not waste time worshipping demigods and do offence who worship them.

(Nammazhwar in one pasuram reveals :”matrore dheivam padi adi panindhu…..-instead of worshipping demigods, come to Thirukurugoor and fall at the feet of our Adhipiraan( Lord Narayana ) thus wasting our limited time and should resort to the lotus feet of Lord Narayana 

Andal says “Narayananey namakke parai tharuvan..

”At the same time, Azhwar has emphasised that we must cling to the feet of the devotees to attain the Supreme Lord thus avoiding any sort of offences to any devotees .

There are few Vaishnava divyadesams and Abhimana sthalams with shrines for ParamaShiva with an some incident related in the respective sthala puranam.

Few temples are briefed below

Badrikasramam (Badrinath), Thirupiridhi, Thirusaalagraamam ( Muktinath), Thirukandiyur, Nilathingalthundathan (Ekambareswara temple in Kanchi), Thirukannapuram, Thirukovalur, Thiruchitrakoodam, Thirukoodal, Thirumeyyam, Vrindavan, MUkti Dwaraka near Somnath, Nageshwar near Dwaraka,   Thiruvananthapuram, Mammiyur in Guruvayoor and many many more

• BAdrikasramam (Badrinath):- is one of the 11 vada naadu divyadesams (divyadesams in the north). The entire range of Garhwal Himalayas popularly known a “Chaar dhaam-4 imp. Temples) is considered as ParamaShiva kshetram. It is believed that ParamaShiva was meditating at Badrinath before Lord Narayana manifested here .  Lord Narayana appeared in answer to the prayers of Nara and Narayan parvatham and continued to stay here in between the two mountains on Urvashi peetam.  So, it is believed ParamaShiva moved from this place to Kedarnath.  The Lord blessed that pilgrimage to Badrinath would be deemed to be complete only after visiting Kedarnath.  As it may not be possible for everyone to visit Kedarnath which is comparatively on a higher altitude and considering the strenuous journey one has to undertake.
• Adisankaracharya installed a Shiva lingam right in front of Badrinarayanan temple.  This lingam is known as “Adi  Kedareshwar Mahadev” .  This shrine is located towards our left while going inside the Sri Badrinarayana temple.  Devotees have darshan of Adi Kedareshwar temple before having Badrinarayanan’s darshan.
• Thirupiridhi(Jyotirmutt):- One of the 11 vada nadu divya desams located enroute to Badrinath.  The presiding Perumal is Lord Narasimhar. The Lord’s right wrist is waning and it is believed that when the hand falls down, the way to Badrinath would become inaccessible.  Adisankaracharyar established four mutts in the four corners of our country- in the north at Joshirmutt, in the east at Puri, In the west at Dwaraka and in the south Rameshwaram. He installed a lingam in the prakaram of Lord Narasimhar temple.  Shiva is worshipped here as “Kalpeshwar Mahadev”
• Thirusaalagramam(Muktinath): Only divya desam which is located outside India in Nepal.  MUktinath is situated on the Annapurna ranges in Nepal.  Lord Pashupathinath (ParamaShiva) is the guardian diety for this kshetram.  This famous temple is located in Kathmandu .  It is believed that one must have prior darshan of Pashupathinath before going to Muktinath.  Many skip this as they take alternative route from Gorakhpur to Pokhra or fly from Kathmandu to Muktinath/Jomsom. 
• Thiruchitrakoodam(Chidambaram): Thillai Thiruchitrakootam, . one of the 40 chola nadu divya desams located about 150 kms south of  Chennai  . The temple comprises of Vaishnava divyadesam Sri Govindaraja Swamy temple  and also Nataraja temple.  The divya desa Perumal is known  as Govindaraja Perumal lying in bhujana sayanam facing east.  In Mount Kailash-the abode of Lord Shiva, Shiva out of ecstasy for Lord Vishnu’s qualities started performing Anandha thaandavam   Nataraja remained close to Govindaraja Perumal.
• Thirukandiyur: One of the 40 chola nadu divya desams located about 4 miles north of Tanjavur. This place is famous as there are temples for Trinity-Vishnu,Shiva and Brahma.  After pralayam, when Mahavishnu started creation, Brahma emerged from the lotus navel of Vishnu.  He had five faces at that time signifying pancha bhoothas and was seated on a 14 petalled lotus signifying creation of 14 worlds. Lord is glorified as “Hara saapa vimochana Perumal”.
• Thirukarambanur (Uttamar Kovil):- The chola nadu divya desam is about 3 kms from Srirangam.   The Lord Purushotaman in bhujanga sayanam pose facing east is praised by Thirumangai Azhwar as “Karambanur Uttaman”.  Uttamar means one who is blemishless and has matchless good qualities.  Here ParamaShiva is glorified as “Bhikshender” .    ParamaShiva is along with Perumal   Also, there are separate shrines for Brahma, Shiva, Saraswati in the temple precincts.
• Nilathingal thundathan temple:– One of the 22 divya desams in Thonda Naadu and is one of the thirteen divyadesams in Kanchipuram. This is part of the Ekambareswarar temple in Shivakanchi.  Perumal is known as “Nilathingal thundathaan/ Chandrachooda Perumal.  Elders reveal the divine wedding of Ekambareswar(Shiva) with Kamakshi(Parvathi) took place here.
• Thirukannapuram:- This chola nadu divya desam located in Tanjavur district between Nagapatinam and Nannilam is an important divya desam. It is one of the Pancha Krishna kshetrams.  Lord is considered as the personification of Ashtakshaari.  Nammazhwar has glorified this Perumal as “Maranamadaindhaal vaikuntham kodukkum piraan” meaning the one who bestows Vaikuntam when leaving the physical body..  Perumal is acharyar for Thirumangai Azhwar.    On the seventh day during Vaikasi Brahmotsavam, the utsava murthi Lord Sourirajan is dressed in white clothes, wears rudraksha maala and vibhuthi is applied all over the thirumeni(body) of the Lord . Perumal sports this on one day for a muhurtham.(48 minutes).  As per the sthalapurana, Perumal has given  a place on HIS chest to Shiva.  As he is the Lord of the Universe including Shiva , he dresses like Shiva.  Another reason is during Mughal invasion, to prevent massacre, this Lord was transported to Thiruvaanaikaaval (siva temple) and was kept in safe custody.  As a token of remembrance of this incident, at the behest of the devotees, Lord agreed to give darshan as Shiva for a muhurtham.  .
• Thirumeyyam:- This Pandya nadu divya desam famously known  as Satya kshetram is close to Pudukottai.  Two identical temples for Lord Satyagirinathan (Vishnu) and Lord Satyagiriswaran( Shiva) are carved out from a single rock within a distance of 50 feet.  Both the dieties are facing east.  Earlier, both the shrines could be seen together from a distance until a wall was constructed to curtail disputes .  There is no sthala puranam for the existence of Shiva temple, may be the Pallava kings built these two identical temples . The entire cave is an archeological site.
• Thirukoodal (Madurai):- This Pandya nadu divya desam is situated in Madurai. As the trinities assembled here to discuss annihilation of demons in Kritya yuga, it is known as “koodal”. Everything about this place is sundaram (beautiful).  The Lord is Sundararajan, Shiva is known as Sundareswaran.  Lord Sundararaja Perumal along with Maduravalli Thayar is residing in this sacred town since the first yuga.   Meenakshi-Sundareswara swamy temple is nearby. Every year, Azhagar perumal from Thirumaliruncholai visits this place and performs Meenakshi-Sundareswara kalyanam grandly.
• THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:- Trivandrum:- In this famous Malai nadu divya desam located in the capital city of Kerala, the Lord Ananta Padmanabha swamy is in reclining posture and THIS huge form can be had darshan through 3 dwarams. Through the first dwaram, Lord’s thirumukham, through the centre –Lord’s middle part-nabhi kamalam etc, and through the last dwaram. Lords’ thiruvadi(holy feet) can be seen. Lord Shiva is seen near Perumal’s thriumudi (head).

• THIRUVAATARU :- This malai nadu divya desam situated between Nagercoil and Trivandrum is the temple of Adikesava Perumal.  Lord is worshipped as the elder brother of Lord Anantapadmanabha Swamy who is in bhujanga sayanam.  ParamaShiva is at the lotus feet of Perumal.

• MUKTI DWARAKA (PRABHASA THEERTHAM):- Located in Veravel near Sourashtra , Mukti Dwaraka is the place from where Lord Krishna ascended to Srivaikuntam.    Somnath kshetra, one of the  jyotir lingam is close by .

All glories to Spiritual Masters

Pics : Courtesy Google images uploaded by several devotees

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

Swamy Embaar ( Govinda bhattar ) appeared during the year 1026 in the month of Makara ( Tamil Month of Thai ) under the the constellation of Punarvasu (  and swamy  is said he was the amsam of  Vaiynatheyan/Garudazhwar ) .

Embaars maternal uncle Thirumalai nambhi named him as Govinda Bhattar. Govinda was the first cousin of  JagathAcharyar Swami Ramanuja .Both of them attended the Academy of Yadhava Prakasha ( Yadhava Prakasha a  Advaitin ) at Thiruputkuzzi near Kancheepuram .

The  unfortunate  design planned  that need  not be discussed by their Guru Yadavaprakasha to eliminate  Swamy Ramanuja was foiled by  young Govinda by seeing an early opportunity .

More details of this divine pastime can be read  from the below url blog post

https://kmkvaradhan.wordpress.com/2015/04/05/lord-arrives-in-the-guise-of-hunter-couple-to-save-his-ardent-devotee-swamy-ramanuja/

Govinda bhattar  advises  Swamy Ramanujar  about the evil intentions of the troupe.   As advised by Govinda bhattar  , Ramanujar leaves them and by LORD’s will reaches  Kanchi ( We  cherish  how our  Swamy Ramanujar was saved by Lord Varadar  and his consort from getting lost in jungles and had safe passage to Kanchipuram) { Even to this day the same event is celebrated as Salai Kinaru Usthavam .

Yadhava Prakasha noticed Ramanujar missing and asked all the disciples to search for him ,and even our Govinda pretended to search so that he should not be doubted. Then unable to locate him ,  all concluded that Ramanuja must have lost his way in the wild jungle and must have been devoured by wild animals.

Inwardly happy they all continued the sojourn to Kashi.  On reaching Kashi , Govinda took  a dip in Ganges  and rose his palms .To his amazement , he notices  a Shiva Lingam in his hand . He immediately proceeds to  show the divinity it to his master .

His Guru  Yadavaprakashar commands  Govinda that as Paramasivan  was  pleased with Govinda he had the fortune to have his divinity and as it was  his direct blessings , he must worship the Siva Lingam.

Govinda  accepts his Master’s command.  He starts worshipping  the  Siva Lingam in Madhuramangalam ( even to this day we  can  have darshan of the Siva Lingam) .

Later , he  dreams  Paramasivan of Kalahasthi  advising  him to come to his divine abode .With directions from his Guru , he proceeds  to Kalahasthi . He joins in temple service  and remains there .

Years rolled on . Swami Ramanuja becomes the disciple of Thirukachi Nambhigal ,

Periya Nambhi, Thirukoshtiyur nambhi and had takes  sanyasa .

 Swamy Ramanuja  now remembers  Govinda , whose timely advice saved his life.

Knowing Govinda bhattar is at Kalahastee  he requests  his maternal uncle  Swamy Thirumalai Nambhi to explore the possibilities of bringing Govinda back to srivaishnava fold . Thirumalai Nambhi  proceeds  to Kalahasthi and  meets  Govinda bhattar  and quotes few verses of His Acharyar Alawandar’s Shostra Ratna Malai  elucidating the importance of the Supreme personality Lord Sriman Narayana .

He impresses  upon Govinda that worshipping Lord Sriman Narayana is the only way for path to salvation . Govinda bhattar gets all his questions answered and proceeds to the sanctum .

He  takes  permission from Paramasivan  for joining Swamy Ramanuja in his mission . Paramasivan pleased with his service advises him to remain with Swamy Ramanujar .Govinda bhatar now proceeds  along with his uncle to Thirumala to learn Divyaprabhandam under him.

Meanwhile Swamy Ramanuja  proceeds to Tirumala  for learning the inner secrets of Srimad Ramayana from his uncle Thirumalai Nambhi  at  Tirumala.

After learning the  inner secrets of the geat epic Srimad Ramayana from Swamy  Tirumalai Nambhi , Acharyar  wanted to gift something to his student and  felt sad  that he did not have anything to give.

https://video.wordpress.com/embed/MPhgt2Z9?hd=0&autoPlay=0&permalink=0&loop=0

Seizing the wonderful  opportunity  Swamy Ramanuja   requests Acharyar to gift him with Govinda bhattar  who was  very obedient and a  true seeker of knowledge. Swamy Thirumala Nambhi understood Swamy Ramanujar’s future plan in spreading the Sri Vaishnava doctrine and hence  readily agrees .

Swami Ramanuja and Govinda return  back to Srirangam via Kanchipuram. Though he joins swamy Ramanujar , Govinda was always sad that he was missing his Acharyar and Uncle .

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

On reaching he understands  his  Acharyar is unhappy with his decision  After staying for a week ,. Acharyar  advises Govindar and tells  “Cow once sold or gifted in dhana cannot be taken back .

Govinda with humility seeks forgivance and  returns back to  Swamy Ramanuja , more refined, wiser and chastened.

https://video.wordpress.com/embed/fzSByjzr?hd=0&autoPlay=0&permalink=0&loop=0

Now Swamy Ramanuja is   pleased with  his move .With  affection  he advises him to attend  all lectures, discourse, debates expositions and dispositions.  

Govindar gradually  becomes  a shadow of  Swamy Ramanuja and serve his master day and night.

Though Govinda bhattar  was married, he never lived a householders life,  and he remained like a Brahmachari . He wanted to take Sanyasa like his master Swamy  Ramanuja.

Much against his mothers wishes Swami Ramanuja agrees to give him Sanyasa after testing his sincerity to accept the sanyasa ashram He presents Govinda a Arch robe of an ascetic and  gives  his initiated  name  as “Emperumanar” .

Govindar bhattar feels humble and    informs  his master whether he  did  deserve this honor.   https://video.wordpress.com/embed/r9HtBq9k?hd=0&autoPlay=0&permalink=0&loop=0

Swamy Ramanuja  joins  the first and last syllables of his name and gives the name   “EMBAR”and thus  Govinda got his name “EMBAR” our most revered Acharyar

As commanded by  Swamy Ramanuja , Embaar taught  his disciple Parasara Bhatta all that he learnt from his Acharyar   . He succeeded in making the Parasara Bhattar the worthy successor of  Swamy Ramanuja to carry on the  great Ramanuja Sidhantha to the future generation.

During the year 1137  when our beloved Swamy Ramanujar shed his mortal coil and proceeded to Srivaikuntam , Swamy rested himself  keeping his head in Embaars lap .

  Swamy Embaar composed the  great work called “VIJNAASTHUTHI”.

rAmanuja padhachchAya gOvindAhvAna pAyini |
thadAyattha svarUpAssA jeeyAnmadviSramasthali: ||

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

Photos and videos : 

Courtesy great devotees of LORD who uploaded in  social media . 

Lord Sriman Narayana  incarnated in  different  avatharas in this world, for spreading the message of the liberation for the jeevatma  from this material bondage .

Unsatisfied ,  LORD summoned His serpent couch, the nitya-soori (eternally free soul) .

 Adisesha, and instructed,

My dear Adishesha !  

“Go down to the mortal world and live there for 200 years, and through your exhortations, empower the people with knowledge about their true nature and make them come to..

My world, so that they enjoy “eternal bliss” forever …….

Accordingly,  Adishesha appeared as “Swamy Ramanuja” in the age of Kali, where Adharma  was in the forefront due to the karmic vasanas .

Swamy Ramanuja followed LORD;s directives by spreading the divine message of  Azhwars  and the true knowledge to seek Lord’s mercy  and disappeared at the age of 120.

 The Lord was not satisfied  with the developments and felt the mission was incomplete Hence he once again advised  Swamy  Ramanuja  to complete the original assignment of remaining in this material world for complete  200 years and uplift the jivatmaas .

With implicit obedience, Adishesha  who appeared as Swamy Ramanuja once again appeared as Azhagiya Manavala Perumal Nayanar at Sikkil Kidaaram . 

In his early years he  was  trained by  his  father Tigazhaakkidanthan  on Vedas and the Divya Prabhandam .

He  moved from Sikkil Kidaaram to Azhvar Thirunagari to become the disciple of the revered  Acharyar  Thiruvaimozhipillai who was the disciple of Loka Acharyar Swamy Pillai Lokacharyar .

Thus our Saint Vara Vara Muni was the last of the poorvacharyas  amongst  the  grand galaxy of  preceptors of Srivaishnavam.

Check the appended blog post for more details

https://kmkvaradhan.wordpress.com/2017/09/23/thiruvaaimozhi-pillai-vaibhavam-parama-guru-of-lord-ranganathar-swamy-manavala-mamuni-attributing-everything-to-the-lotus-feet-of-his-legendary-acharyar/

It is believed , AdisEsha, in his previous incarnation as Swamy Ramanuja, was very much attracted to Nammazhvars’ s appearance and his divine outpouring (thiruvAimozhi), and hence, earned the appellation “mAran adipaNindhu Uynthavan”.

In keeping with this overwhelming love for Swamy  Nammazhvar, the second time AdisEsha selected Azhvar Thirunagari as the place most suited for his  appearance  and thus Swamy  appeared   in the month of Aipassi  under the  star Moola  which falls on November 1st 2019 ,  and was named “Azhakiya maNavALapperumAL nAyanAr by his parents  .

This was an year after Swami Desikar ascended to Srivaikuntam 

  Swami Azhakiya maNavALapperumAL nAyanAr   excelled as the disciple of Swamy Tiruvaimozhi pillai . 

One day  Swamy Tiruvaimozhi pillai  while meditating on the great qualities  of saint Ramanuja, pondered over those stanzas of Thiruvarangath-amudanar………….
depicting Swamy  Ramanuja as a staunch devotee of Saint  Nammazhvar  proclaiming to the inhabitants of this wide world, end to  end, the great glory of the Azhvar’s hymns.

Swamy Tiruvaimozhi pillai ( Srisailesar)  decided  for  raising a fitting memorial  for Swamy Ramanuja, right at  the  appearance  place  of Swamy  Nammazhvar (Azhvar Thirunagari).  This took concrete shape soon thereafter.

Tiruvaimozhi pillai  with the support of the villagers after clearing the wild vegetation at Azhvar-thirunagari  took all initiatives in bringing back the sacred deity which was lost during invasions . 

Swamy  thus  had  erected a temple at Azhvar-thirunagari for Swami Ramanuja and installed Sri Ramanuja’s deity ( Swamy Ramanuja’s Bhavishyad Acharaya vigraha ) which had been presented to Sri Madhurakavi Azhvar that  lay buried at the foot of the famous Tamarind tree few hundred years back .

The surrounding streets were  named  as Sri Ramanuja Chaturvedi Mangalam   and  were permanently inhabited, exclusively  by the ardent worshippers of  Swamy Ramanuja.

The zealous disciple, Azhakiya Manavala Nayanar, was called upon by Srisailesar  to stay in this new colony and look after the daily routine of the temple.

  Nayanar s extra-ordinary devotion to this great cause earned the unstinting  approbation of  his Acharyar 

Srisailesar, who started calling him a  Yateendra Pravanar  signifying the enormous love and devotion borne by him for Swamy  Ramanuja, the  Prince of ascetics  a name which became immortal .

Over a period of time , Swamy Tiruvaimozhi pillai  ordered his ardent disciple Azhakiya maNavALapperumAL nAyanAr who had learnt all sastras , to  propagate the divya prabandham ( azhvar’s 4000 hymns and their commentaries) to the world.

   He wished that living in Sri Rangam and propagating the true tenets of the Sri Vaishnava Sampradaya as given in the hoary aruLiccheyal (divya prabandham) was the need of the hour. Hence advised him to proceed .

The devoted disciple that he was, Azhakiya maNavALapperumAL nAyanAr   did act according to the commandments of his  Acharyar    Thus Azhakiya maNavALapperumAL nAyanAr  spent  his time in  giving divine discourses at Srirangam  .

Once during this period , few relatives passed a message about  some asowcham            ( impurity ) which was  coming in the way of service to the Lordships .

Not being able to be kept out of  service  even for few days,  Nayanar decided to take up sanyasam and requested  LORD’S  permission. 

After accepting sanyasa, Nayanar  offered benedictions   to namperumal for uninterrupted services forever . Pleased with nAyanar, NamperumAl blessed him with theertham, thirumAlai,   thiruparivattam, and Sri sadagopam and  gave him a  honorable name 

                                     AZHAGIYA    MANAVALA   JEEYER.

Thus the bonding between LORD and his disciple became  closer and closer .

Lord Ranganathar ( Peria Perumal ) had a desire to be accomplished through Azhagiya Manavala Jeeyer  in Srirangam.

He seized the golden opportunity  and  ordered him to give a public discourse on the Eedu (36000 padi), the super-commentary of Swami Nampillai on Thiruvaimozhi along with other commentaries, in  alluring style for having the good fortune of being trained by the esteemed  Acharyar  Thiruvaimozhip pillai .( Srisailer )

 In order to accommodate unhindered conduct for the  divine  discourses all festivities of the temple  was kept in abeyance . History  reveals   that for a whole year,  Namperumal had enjoined cessation of all festivals  which proves the  dedication of the disciple and the Acharyar .

On the final day of the discourse , and  uplifting event occurred ,  which was interestingly, by the “Ani thiru-moola”  star. 

And hence the  Sri Vaishnava-world attaches equal importance to this Ani moola star  auspicious day also, in a manner akin to the day of  Acharyar’s  “Aippasi Thirumoola” appearance  day.

 Lord appeared amidst the august assembly of Acharyar  and  galaxy of sri vaishnavas, in the guise of an archakar’s (priest) son by the name Aranga Naayakam and brushing aside the opposition getting  into proximate presence to Swami mAmunikaL’s seat

recited the following stanza in

His inimitable, majestic voice resembling the thunder of a rumbling cloud……………

“SriSailEsha dayA pAthram dheeibhakthyAdi guNarnavam
Yetheendra pravaNam vandE ramyajA mAtharam munim”

  LORD in the guise of an archakar’s (priest) a small boy   ( kept a palm leaf containing the above sloka on a golden plate full of flowers, fruits, coconuts and other sacred paraphernalia   of guru dakshiNa (token of appreciation) and after offering it at the holy feet of Swami mAmunikaL, walked towards the sanctum  & disappeared.

To add to this magnificent miracle, Periya Perumal, the Lord Ranganatha Himself, immediately ordered through the archaka……….

let this slOka be recited at the beginning of all divya prabhanda recitations  just as a Vedic recital begins and ends with the sacred

‘Om’

so also all recitals of the tamil veda, the divya prabhandam, shall commence and end with

‘srI SailESa dayA pAtram’.

adiyArgaL vAzha arangka nagar vAzha
sadakOpan thaNdamizh nUl vAzha * –

kadal sUzhndha mannulagam vAzha *

maNavALa mAmuniyE * innum oru nURRANdirum *

These holy verses extols Swamys contributions to continued existence and prosperity of Sri Vaishnavaism, the followers, their holy temples, scriptures, traditions, and the well being of the whole world, and concludes with the prayer, that the great  saint  Swamy Manavalamaamuni live for another hundred years for fulfilling  that purpose.

Swami mAmunikaL’s life was punctuated by many events that demonstrated that he was no ordinary person. In fact, authentic accounts of Sri Vaishnava literature and lineage, position Swami maNavALa mAmunikaL at the very pinnacle of the orthodox lineage of Sri Vaishnava AchAryas (called `OrAn vazhi’) and  with the above divine incident , identify him as the Acharya (guru) for Lord RanganAtha himself!!

The apparent conflict between 100 years and perpetuity is resolved, when one understands the key link of devoted Sri Vaishnava devotees, their ongoing practice of the prayer and traditions as a “Vaazhaydi Vaazhai”, for the perpetuation of the faith.

Thus the  100 and more number of years down the line there will be faithful chanting  of the divine  prayers  for the same for the  infinite future.

 Among several disciples  the foremost eight disciples  were very special . They are glorified as  as “Ashta Dhig Gajams”  or the mighty elephants guarding the eight directions of earth who are as below

(1) VaanamAmalai Jeeyar

(2) BhattarpirAn Jeeyar

(3) ThiruvEnkata RaamAnuja Jeeyar

(4) Koil aNNan

(5) PrathivAdhi Bhayankaram aNNan

(6) ErumpiappA

(7) aAppiLLai  and

(8) AppiLLAr .

 Swamy Erumbiappa, one of the astadiggajas  glorified   100  verses  adorning the divine qualities of  Swamy Manavalamamuni  .

In  Srivaishnava  sampradayam,  Azhvar it indicates to only nammAzhvar, the term swamy refers only to  Swamy Ramanuja  and Jeeyer is a special term indicating Periya Jeeyer, our  Sri Vara Vara Muni.

The  verses  of  Swamy erumbiappa are called as Vara Vara Muni sathakam .

Swamy   prathivAdi bayankaram annan  had  also  glorified the divine qualities of  his Acharyar .

 Swamy Maamuni had the highest regard for Swami Desikan and used to refer him  with great affection as ” ABHIYUKTHAR ” OR THE REVERED ONE  likewise Swami Desikar  had the highest regard for the Achaarya of  Swamy Maamuni’s own Achaarya, Swamy  Pillai LokAcharyar.

 Swamy has been glorified with several names  like  Varavaramuni,     Periya Jeer,   Vichatavak Shikhamani ,  Sowmyajamatrumuni,  ramyajamatra muni,   Sowmyopayanthrumuni, Sundarajamatrumuni, , YatheendraPravanar .

“Upadesa Ratinamala” is  a  wonderful work composed by   Swamy Mamunigal which  has 73 verses that  gives  the details of Azhwars  and  Acharyas appearance  & their  divine works.

Swamy  Erumbiappa composed the 74 th  verse and pleaded  Lord Ranganathar requesting  LORD  to accept them and hence as a result of Lord’s command, the following verse  was included in Upadesa Ratinamala.

The verse goes like

“mannuyir_kAL ingE maNavALa mAmunivan *  

senkamalappOthukaLai * –

unnis siraththAlE  theeNdil

 amAnavanum nammai *

karaththAlE  theeNdal kadan “

The   Meaning  of the above verse ………….

“Oh  my dear  devotees  who desire  for Moksha seeking Swamy  Mamunigal’s lotus Feet

listen …. taking refugee   at  the Lotus  feet of Swamy  Mamunigal will definitely lead us to the  blessings of “Amanavan” who allows us at the  entrance into  Sri Vaikuntam” as we are Swamy Manavala mamuni’s disciples …

Swami Manavala Mamunikal  is compared favorably with the kind of divinity exuded by Swami Ramanuja. After all, they were both the incarnation  of our Lord’s dear serpent servant Adi sEsha.

. Fortunate are the devotees who are at Srirangam and Azhwar Thirunagari celebrating  the grand  festival of Aani Thirumoolam

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

Swamy Manavala maamunigaley thiruadigaley  sharanam

Pictures credits : Advanced devotees  serving Lord

videos : At Sri MudaliAndaans swamy Thirumaligai

Swamy Periyavaachan Pillai appeared in the same asterism as Lord Krishna namely Rohini star in tamil month of Aavani which happens today 10-09-2020

Periyavaachan Pillai elucidates about a revered venerated great teacher .

We have glories to Periya perumal ( Lord Ranganathar) Peria Azhwar ( Bhattarpiran ) Periya Jeeyar ( Swamy Manavalamamuni) and Periyavaachanpillai ( our great teacher) .

Thirumangai Azhwar, the last Azhwar was affectionately called as Kaliyan . He was the valiant army chief of the then Chola King. https://video.wordpress.com/embed/gmUye6fk?hd=0&autoPlay=0&permalink=0&loop=0

For his valour the king gifted him with a small territory to rule over. Hence, he was known as Thirumangai Mannan .

Thirumangai Azwar had initiated lot of services to our LORD at Srirangam. The hundred pillar mandapam for the yearly festival adhyayana uthsavam was his contribution .

https://video.wordpress.com/embed/g35qfFcW?hd=0&autoPlay=0&permalink=0&loop=0

He also built the north and south gopurams at Kulasekaran thiruveedhi ( streets ) the fourth compound wall ( Mathil suvar) which is called Maharlokam .

The outburst 1253 of HIS EMOTIONAL OUTPOURING BLISS was shared through the divine pasurams sung instantly during his sojourn to almost about 86 divyadesam temples.

His compositions were Periya thirumozhi ,Periya thirumadal , SiRiya thirumadal ,Thiru nedunthANdakam , Thiru KurunthANdakam , Thiru vezhuk kurrirukkai.

During his piligrimage to Divyadesams , one day Azhwar majestically marches to Thirukkanamangai a divine place located in Tanjore district of Tamil Nadu which is around 8 kms from Tiruvarur amidst a huge tank Darsha Pushkarini near Western banks.

This temple is 25 miles from Kumbakonam and is among the Pancha Krishnaraya kshetram. The others being Therazhandur, Thirukannapuram, Thirukanankudi, Thirukannamangai and Thiru kapisthalam. Few include Thirukolur.

https://video.wordpress.com/embed/3FNaChdJ?preloadContent=metadata&hd=1

This holy place is also called as “Sapthamirtha Kshetram”

Azhwar offers poetic glorifications to Lord Bhakthavatsala perumal .Azhwar keeps comparing the Lordships here to the sugarcane and also refers to the village as the place where blue lotuses bloom.

Azhwar swooned in the beauty of Lord and both exchange words …

Lord speaks … My dear Azhwar !!

How is that you instantly pour the nectarine pasurams …?

For which Azhwar humbly submits ..Lord !!

ven cengamon erndiya kanna

nin tanakkum kurippakil

karkalam kaviyin porul taaney… ( 7-10-10 )

meaning ..

Kanna ..the bearer of the white conch ..should you be so inclined …

You can also do that ….

This offer by Azhwar could not be accepted by Lord for the protocol of Archavatara ..

Thus after few years ,

Swamy Periyavaachan Pillai appeared in the same asterism as Lord Krishna namely Rohini star in tamil month of Aavani

and the illustrious Acharyar Swamy Nampillai appeared in the same asterism of Thirumangai Azhwar namely Krittika asterism in the tamil month karthikai.

Periyavaachan Pillai appeared at Chenganoor near Thiruvelliyangudi divyadesam. At a very young age he went to Tirumala on piligrimage .He was blessed by Lord by giving him a deity of Lord himself which he carried and worshiped all through out his life.

Later he moved to Srirangam and became a direct disciple of the illustrious Acharyar Swamy Nampillai . Under his Acharyars care , he learnt several commentaries of Srimad Ramayana and sastras. He thus inherited the widest and richest legacy of srivaishnava sampradayam from his Acharyar . The desire was thus fullfilled by Perumal himself.

Swamy Periya vachan pillai is the only Acharyar who had written commentaries of all the 24 compositions of Naalayiram DivyaPrabhandam.

Pacurappadi Ramayanam is a great work which has not a single word of his own.

With sentences , phrases and divine words recognisably found in DivyaPrabhandam , Acharyar had reconstructed the whole Ramayana in just two pages without omission of any important incident .

The legacy was carried further to his disciple named varadarajan who was very ordinary person serving Acharyar in all means . Once few disciples of the celebrated poet “Appaya Deekshittar” an advaitik scholar reached Swamy’s Ashram .

https://video.wordpress.com/embed/G2nyuNjT?hd=0&autoPlay=0&permalink=0&loop=0

They started discussing about the incidents of Srimad Ramayanam . The discussions attracted Varadarajan to come out of the kitchen and find out what was the discussion about .

He approached a vedantin and requested him to share the content of the topic being discussed . The Vedantin looking at ignorant cook , with arrogance replied .

https://video.wordpress.com/embed/pQneg1JC?preloadContent=metadata&hd=1

Oh !! yeah … Its your content of work we are discussing …

Yes about Musalakisalayam…. ( The wooden pestle used for dehusking the grains )

The group left after meeting Acharyar .

Varadarajan was eager to know about the vedantin words .

He approached Acharyar and begged to know about the Musalakisalayam..

The Acharyar replied there was no book about Musalakisalayam .The group just made fun out of him . Varadarajan was deeply hurt. He wept and holding Acharyar’s feet seeked mercy to make him of some worth in understanding scriptures.

In course of time Acharyar with merciful attention taught him several topics and thus he became a revered scholar .

He was glorified as Vadikesari Azhagiyamanavalla Jeeyar .

Azhagiya Manavalla Jeeyar wrote commentaries on Thiruvamozhee called Pannirayarappadee which is an authority giving word by word meaning to the treasure given to us by Poorvacharyas ....

Swami also wrote a book naming it MUSALAKISALAYAM …

All glories to Acharyar Swami Periyavaachan Pillai

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

Pics credits : Advanced devotees who have uploaded in Facebook, Google pics

Few hundred years ago   Gangaikonda Chozhapuram a place  in Tamil Nadu ,  was ruled by the Cholas  who  were active patrons of the arts , poetry, drama, music and  dance .  The Chola kingdom grew  into an extensive and well-knit empire, efficiently organized and administered by the King .

One fine day  two courtesans from other kingdom  came  to meet the King for his generosity in encouraging their talents . One of them  could sing according to a  pattern  called deva‐gana (celestial mode) and  the other  could sing in the normal method   manushya gana (human mode). Each thought their music was the best  and   excelled the other. Their objective of having an audience with  the King was to settle the dispute  between them  as the King was well versed in those forms of art .

The king  summoned his  royal artists and ordered  the  council to meet, for them to  perform .  In the process ,  the council of royal artists agreed that the courtesan who sung with manushya gana was better than the deva gana  . Thus   the dispute was decided in favor of  the manushya gana .  Rich presents  was  bestowed on that performer with all the honours  while the other was considered to have failed.

The lady of the deva‐gana thought thus  “My method of singing, cannot be appreciated by normal  humans and hence  I shall  submit  the same to the Devas (celestial beings)” in all the temples . So with  deep concern ,  she went to the temples  from one Holy Shrine to another  displaying her art to the deity and seeking their blessings

 In due course  she reached Viranarayanapuram a place near to Kattumannar koil .  She went to the Shrine of  Lord Veeranarayana Perumal  and  sang her song  among  the  opulence audience of our great  Sage Nathamuni  the torch bearer of Srivaishnavam . Nathamuni  was pleased with her recitation  and as a mark of his appreciation  blessed  her   with the tirtha and prasada of  Perumal and encouraged her  with blessings .

The lady thanked  Swami Nathamuni for his  patience and accepting her song  and blessing  on her . Overjoyed ,  she then went to king Chola and said    Oh Highness !! Atlast  “there is one soul, at least in your kingdom , who can understand the inner truth  of my devaganam .  Swamy Nathamuni,  who is the blessed devotee of Lord Mannanar at Viranarayanapuram is the reason for your country’s prosperity .

The king was curious to know about the sage . He sent  his messengers to  Swamy Nathamuni, begging him to visit his  royal palace .  Swamy  Nathamuni ,  on receiving the invitation, thought  “We have set the blessed Divya  Prabhandhas to exquisite music. Let us visit the king’s court, and take this opportunity of making these holy hymns  known to the world. Thus he went to the king’s court taking it as Lord’s command .

On his arrival, the king rose and welcomed  the Sage with every mark of honor,  and offered him a suitable seat. Whereon the Sage blessed the king, and inquired as to his object in inviting him. The king  submitted  “Holy sage can you distinguish between the  two patterns of ragas sung by these courtesans  ? Can we be enlightened about this inner secret ?

Swamy Nathamuni  requested that the performance be given  once again before the audience .  When this was done, he addressed the king  and said  “You all have ears  to receive the flow of  the manushya‐gana only. 

The other one can be understood by  the Devas  only .

 “But”, the king respectfully asked, how can we be made to hear it? There upon  Swamy Nathamuni  directed that the 400 kinds of tala (rhythm) be marked, and explained to the king the rate of each. The king understood from this explanation the  harmonical progression and symphony  in which this  is composed  to the deva‐gana music, which produced in him a bliss never  experienced before  .

 A small demonstration was also shown among the elated arts lovers .A  pair of cymbals was placed near a consecrated post while  the deva‐ gana was sung. Over a period of time , it was found that the post began to melt. The singing was stopped  , and when an attempt was made to lift the cymbals, they stuck to the post  and when the music was once again played they came off.  

It is said that Nathamuni directed a number of bronze cymbals of different weights to be sounded together and forthwith described correctly their different weights from a perception of the acute differences in the pitches of the notes. The king went into raptures over this, and falling at the feet of the Sage proposed to reward him abundantly.

But the Sage, to whom even the offer of Lordship over worlds was no temptation, politely declined the presents offered and blessing the king, returned to Viranarayanapuram. Thus with this incident the King  became a disciple of Swamy Nathamuni and spent his time at Kattumannar learning the esoteric truths regularly .

Swamy  Nathamuni set the 4000  Divya prabhandam to tune and music and taught to his dear disciples  Melai agatthazhwAn and Keezhai agatthazhwAn (his nephews) and propagated the divine nectar  in various divya desams. Nathamuni re arranged 4000 into four parts and introduced the same as part of recitation in Divya Desams, as part of worship.  

Once , the King  got down  along with his wives to Viranarayanapuram temple . Looking at the Royal couple  in such great ornaments, crown, and silk cloth,  Nathamuni for a moment lost himself and thought  Lord Krishna with His devis have come from Dwarakai. He fell at the feet of the king to prostrate. The king was shocked and immediately sprung to lift  Nathamuni . The King realised the deep devotion of the Sage and submitted himself .

During  another occasion, the king had  just completed discussing with the Sage about Lordships and  took Acharya’s permission to leave. He started walking towards the chariot. When he was about to board, (as usual, the king used to call the chariot driver on whose shoulder he  used to set  his foot to jump into the chariot), the driver was there for the king to jump in.

After he jumped in, he saw below and it was  Nathamuni’s shoulder. The king was shocked . He got down to apologize  for his grave offence . He felt ashamed and said ! Swamin ….  “What have I done! Stepped on your shoulders! I have committed  a great apacharam!”

Nathamuni thought it  was Lord  Rama who had come by the chariot along with Sumanthrar. Hence, he offered his shoulders for Lord  to step into the chariot. That was  Nathamuni’s unalloyed devotion who was always in transcendental bliss always seeing LORDSHIPS everywhere .

One day  Nathamuni was in Samadhi Yoga. The  Chola  king  passed near Veeranarayanpura with his soldiers   after a hunting exercise.  The sage,  interrupted in his meditations by the attendant bustle, opened his eyes and, construing the party to be the divine Lord  Rama and his brother, on whom  his thoughts were wholly bent in meditation, followed the track of the party and walked with weary steps till the very gates of the Chola capital Gangaikondapuram  from Kattumannar Koil  and went searching ..

Nathamuni  already in that bliss  imagined that Lord Rama with his brother Lakshmana and  Mother  Sita is have come to  grace him .

He  fainted  at a place in a divine bliss  and  reached Lord’s abode  on an Ekadasi day.

More details about this great saint can be seen in the appended  linked post below

https://kmkvaradhan.wordpress.com/2015/01/09/lakshmi-natha-samarambham-nathayamuna-madhyamam/

All glories to Swamy Nathamunigal

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

Pics : Google images

Lord Sriman Narayana the Supreme lord created this universe starting from Brahma (who emerged from HIS navel ) along with innumerable species of birds,animals, humans etc. Appearing as kapila rishi, he gave Saankya yoga , practicing by which one would attain the final beatitude like Devahuti. As Lord Sri Rama, HE demonstrated to the world on living a righteous life and as Lord Sri Krishna , imparted the Bhagavad Gita.   The jivatmas who followed the lord and attained salvation were few. Also, the study of scriptures and Vedas which were in Sanskrit were limited to  only few people  who were authorized to read .  

So Perumal decided to depute HIS (weapons )ayudhams to the world for preaching the Vedas to all irrespective of caste,gender etc.. The various ayudhams of Perumal appeared as 12 azhwars during the end of Dwapara yuga and beginning of kali yuga.   The azhwars who were immersed in bhakti composed various  emotional outpourings known as pasurams which is glorified as “naalayira divya prabhandham”. The Azhwars were so much engrossed in LORDs thoughts that they could not impart knowledge to jivatmas and hence   these divine pasurams were lost to oblivion. 

 The compassionate LORD decided to instruct the nityasuris to appear as Acharyars to this world who would give the divine knowledge about the Supreme Lord and bring the jivatmas back to Godhead.Nityasuris do not descend from Vaikuntam but bestow their yogic powers to the jivatmas who were to be born in this material world.  Accordingly, Vishwaksenar (Senainayakar)-the chief Commander of Lord Sriman Narayana bestowed his mercy to Nammazhwar.  Vishwaksenar along with wife Sutravathi  had 8 attendants who guard the entrance of Sri Vaikuntam on either sides and the chief among them is known as “Gajanan” . The chief attendant of Vishwaksenar , “Gajanan” appeared as Nathamuni.After about 3500 years, With the blessings of Lord Sri Veera Narayanan perumal , Sri Nathamuni, the first acharyar in Srivaishnava Guruparamparai was born to Sri.Iswara bhattar at Veeranarayana puram (Kaatumannarugudi near Chidambaram)  in the Tamil year “Shobhakruth varusham” on pournami thithi ,Anusham star in the tamil month of Aani (june-july) in 823 A.D.  His parents named him”Ranganathan” but was fondly addressed as “Nathamuni”.  He instructed his son,Iswara muni to name his child as “Yamunai Thuraivan” who was famously known as Yamunacharyar.

srIshailEsha dayApAtram dhIbhaktyAdi guNArNavam |
yatIndra pravaNam vandE ramya jAmAtaram munim ||

lakshmI nAtha samArambhAm nAthayAmuna madhyamAm |
asmadAchArya paryantAm vandE guru paramparAm ||

The above sloka …. reverberates in all srivaishnava temples and homes glorifying the rich sampradaya we have inherited from our poorvacharyas …

Swamy  Nathamunigal and Swamy  Alavandar, the two great acharyas  have been pillars to Srivaishnava sampradayam, took their avatara at  the holy place Kattumannar koil, which is 25 kms from Chidambaram in Cuddalore district of Tamil nadu, South India.

Kattumannarkoil (situated on the banks of the vast Veeranam Lake) hallowed by the birth of these Acharyas is the only place with magnificent temples dedicated to Swamy Nathamunigal and Swamy  Alavandar.

Swamy Nathamunigal  was the  foremost Acharya  of Srivaishnava sampradaya .

Nathamuni mastered himself in Vedas at a  very young age.

He was devoted to Lord  Veera Narayana Perumal and spent most of his time performing daily   ( aaradhanai) poojas for the Lord here.

One day, during his pilgrimage to Thirukudanthai ( present day Kumbakonam ) Temple  he was attracted to the Archakas chanting the divine nectarine verse …. Aaravamuthey song….

The  devotees ended  the song with the words… “ these 10 out of the 1000” verses .

“ Aaraavamudhe Adiyen Udalam,

Ninbaal Anbaaye

Neeraal Alainthu Karaiya Urukinra Nedumaale

Seeraar Sennel Cauvery Veesum,

SezhuNeerth ThiruKudanthai

EraarKolam Thigazhak Kidanthaai, Kanden Emmaane”

Swami Nathamuni was drawn to these songs and  pleaded them to sing the rest of the 990 verses.

However, they expressed ignorance and said they  knew only these 10 songs which they were reciting daily following their ancestors  .

Seeking to find  the remaining  of these  divine songs,  Swamy Nathamuni proceeded  from Kattu Mannar Koil and went to Kumbakonam, where Lord Aaravamudhan appeared before him and asked him to go to Thirukolur for  knowing more ..

Swamy proceeded to Thiru Kolur, where he got initiated with the great Acharyar  Madhura Kavi Azhvaar’s  holy verses of Kannin Siruthambinaal.

Madhurakavi Azhwar was a direct disciple of Swamy Nammazhwar .The divine pastime of Azhwar can be read in the below  appended post

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

He came back to Thiru Kurugur and meditating  under the Tamarind tree,  recited these  divine verses 12000 times.  

On completion of which the all compassionate NammAzhvaar is said to have appeared before him and shared the entire 4000 songs the  “Divyaprabhandam” —Naalaayira Divya Prabandham which we are able to relish glorifying the LORDSHIPS .

Lord Veera Narayana Perumal is then said to have called Swami Nathamuni back to Kattu Mannar Koil where the Vaishnavite Saint  chanted and shared the “Naalayira Divya Prabandham”.

Thus, Nathamuni of Kattu Mannar Koil, was instrumental in bringing back to the world the 4000 verses of the Azhvaars.

He also initiated the Sri Vaishnava Sampradayam from here.

As Lord Narayana came here as ‘Mannan’ to wed  Mahalakshmi and  asked Nathamuni to share the Divya Prabandham and the Vaishnava Sampradayam to the world at large, he was referred to as ‘ Kattum’ ‘Mannan- Aanaar’ (the Lord who came aa kings and later presented the entire prabandham through Nathamuni).

Poorvacharyars glorify this place as “divya prabhandham vilaindha oor”-the place where Divya prabhandham came into existence.  the Lord KAatu Mannar(another thirunaamam of Veeranarayanan) came to be known as “KAatum mannar”

In course of time, Kattum Mannan-Aanaar became Kattu Mannar.

Nathamuni’s grandson was named as ‘Yamunai Thuraivan’(Alavandar) .

Born in Kattu Mannar Koil, Aalavanthar would travel to Srirangam and spread the message of SriVaishnavism. Swamy Ramanuja was nominated by him  as the ’to be’  next Acharyar of the great sampradhayam  after his disappearance .

Alavandar’s  disciples include Periya Nambi, ThiruKoshtiyur Nambi, Thiru Kachi Nambi and Srirangam Araiyar.

A clip was taken during our in which Bhattar elaborately explains in tamil about the glorious Srivaishnava Sampradayam.

Swamy  Nathamuni set the 4000  Divya prabhandam to tune and music and taught to his dear disciples  Melai agatthazhwAn and Keezhai agatthazhwAn (his nephews) and propagated the divine nectar  in various divya desams.

Nathamuni re arranged 4000  nectarine verses equivalent to Vedas  into four parts and introduced the same as part of recitation in Divya Desams, as part of worship in all temples

During the period ,once , the  Chozha  King  got down  along with his wives to  have darshan of Lord at Viranarayanapuram temple at Kattumannar  .

Looking at the Royal couple  in such great ornaments, crown, and silk cloth,  Nathamuni who was a transcendental devotee , for a moment lost himself and thought  Lord Krishna with His devis would  have come from Dwarakai.

He fell at the feet of the king seeing him as  Lord Krishna .

The king was shocked and immediately sprung to lift  Nathamuni and  realized the deep devotion  the Sage  had .He immediately  submitted himself for his offense .

During  another occasion, the king had  just completed discussing with the Sage about Lordships  divine pastimes. He took Acharya’s permission to leave.

He started walking towards the chariot. When he was about to board, (as usual, the king used to call the chariot driver on whose shoulder he  used to set  his foot to jump into the chariot), the driver was there for the king to jump in.

After he jumped in, he saw below and it was  Nathamuni’s shoulder.

The king was shocked . He got down to apologize  for his grave offense .

He felt ashamed and said ! Swamin ….  

“What have I done! Stepped on your shoulders! that too my Acharyar !!! 

I have committed  a great apacharam!”

Nathamuni thought it  was Lord  Rama who had come by the chariot along with Sumanthrar. 

Hence, he offered his shoulders for Lord  to step into the chariot.

That was  Nathamuni’s unalloyed devotion who was always in transcendental bliss always seeing LORDSHIPS everywhere .

One day   Swamy Nathamuni was in  deep meditation .

The  Chozha  king  passed near Veeranarayanpura with his soldiers   after a hunting exercise.  

The sage,  interrupted in his meditations by the attendant bustle, opened his eyes and, construing the party to be the divine Lord  Rama and his brother in the streets ,( on whom  his thoughts were wholly bent in meditation )  followed the track of the party and walked with weary steps till the very gates of the Chozha capital Gangaikondapuram  from Kattumannar Koil  and went searching ..

Nathamuni  already in that bliss  imagined ” Lord Rama with his brother Lakshmana and  Mother  Sita  have come to  grace him .

He  fainted  at a place in a divine bliss  and  reached Lord’s abode  on an Ekadasi day.

All glories to Swamy Nathamunigal

Swamy Natha Munigals appearance day is  being celebrated  on  2-07-2020                  ( Aaani Anusham ) in all Srivaishnava temples .

nama: achinthya adhbudha aklishta jnAna vairAgya rAsayE
nAthAya munayE agAdha bhagavadh bhakthi sindhavE

All glories to the devotees participating in all the temples 

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

Pics credits : Google images uploaded by several devotees

venkaTAdri samam sthAnam brahmANDe nAsti kincana;

venkateSa samo devo na bhUto na bhaviSyati

This sloka  taken from the Puranas  claims  …………

There is no place in the entire universe that equals Venkatadri, the place where the Lord resides and there is no God, neither in the past nor in the future who equals  Lord Venkateswara.

Everything begins and ends or is reduced to sunyam (nothingness) before him, while the infinite world pens to the sincere seeker with an infinitesimal offering.

This is because spiritual wealth through devotion is the basis of life .

TIRUMALA, the abode of Lord Srinivasar stands unique as an embodiment of man’s eternal quest for the divine and His infinite grace.

A piligrimage to the sacred Hills is a soul-stirring experience cherished by every devotee. The puranas say that soon after Dwaparayugam ended and Kaliyugam started, Lord Krishna, decided to stay back to protect one and all and chose TIRUMALA.

The Lord of the seven hills is the Lord of the universe. The special significance of Lord Venkateswara temple at Tirumala lies in the fact that it is the oldest religious institutions in the world where unbroken religious worship is being carried on for over 1,500 years by revered Acharyas and millions of pilgrims  reach the holy abode more than any other temple in the world. A pilgrimage to the sacred Hills is a soul-stirring experience cherished by every devotee. Even atheists and rationalists admit a sense of humility and the presence of the Lord here .

It was during 1781. the British army was camping at a station called Thakkolam, a place close to Vellore in Tamilnadu. The Nawabs of Arcot, ruled the Carnatic region of South India. They  had their capital at Arcot near Vellore  region  in Tamil Nadu .

The French army were advancing in the areas around Madras  with the Muslem kings . The British were responding to the French onslaught during the Carnatic wars .. Defending them , there was several days of battle going on . A British soldier by name Vellian, was lying down almost dead in his bed, for many days, after he was brutally injured by a bullet…

With no more hopes left Vellian was left to his fate by the British army doctor.

There was a temple nearby and the locals ardent devotees of Lord Venkateshwara used to visit the temple regularly .

Villian used to watch them going up the hills with some cloth bags over their head with reverberating chants

Govinda Govinda Govinda …

Invariably his mind got entangled to the holy name Govinda listening the chants frequently … and it became a routine for his mind to chant the holy name all the day when the pilgrims trekked the hills chanting the holy name GOVINDA ...

The craving to see the temple and the deity

G O V I N D A on the temple became more intense .

He prayed silently for curing his pain due to bullet injury ..

It was early morning … A twelve year old mystic Hindu boy came to serve tea in that army camp..

After serving tea to all the major officials in the camp, the boy then went straight to Vellian’s bunker and greeted him saying..

“..Good morning sir..”..

Vellian, who at that moment was still in great pain was in no mood to talk to any one..However, taking the soldier by surprise this was what the 12 year old mystic Hindu tea boy told Vellian..

Vellian said “Good morning” but with a little disinterest in his voice..

Transferring tea into a cup, the boy smiled and said,”Sir, with your kind permission may I tell you something..? ? ..”

“Sir, I know you are in pain for several days.. I also know that you lost all your hopes of any recovery..But sir..Please listen to me and offer your prayers to Lord Sri Venkateswara of Tirumala temple..Tirumala is a Temple very near to this place and Lord Sri Venkateswara is the most merciful God in this world…

Am sure He will save you from death..Trust me sir..”

With a little curiosity in his voice and a little dazzle in his eyes this time, Vellian then slowly turned towards the tea boy and said “..

Thanks my dear, but what do you want me to do for that..’..

With a smile,the boy replied”..Thanks for taking my words sir..

All that you have to do is to just offer your prayers to Lord Sri Venkateswara and request Him to heal you fully.. ”

And now with more hope in his voice,

Vellian asked the boy..”Okay my dear..I would certainly do.

.But how to offer my prayers ….

I have never done that before..You need to help me do that..

And this time Without seeking any permission from Vellian, the mystic boy walked with all the divine command in this world to the bedside of Vellian; held both his hands first; brought them close to each other…

And later bringing them together, by creating a traditional Hindu NAMASTE posture, raised Vellian’s hands and turned them towards the direction wherein the Tirumala temple was located and surprising Vellian further,very loudly chanted

GOVINDA

Amazingly , the boy holding a much surprised Vellian’s hands, closed his eyes for a few moments and silently offered his personal prayers to Lord Sri Venkateswara. .

“.. Vinaa Venkatesam Nanatho Nanathah..

Sadaa Venkatesam Smaraami Smaraami.

Hare Venkatesa Praseeda Praseedah..

Priyam Venkatesa Prayachcha Prayachchah. .”

“.. Aham Doora Tasthe Padaam Bhoja Yugmah.

. Pranamechcha Ya Gachcha Sevaam Karomi..

Sakrut Sevayaa Nitya Sevaa Phalantvam..

Prayachcha Prayachcha Prabho Venkatesaa..”

Furthermore amazed at the command with which the Hindu boy held both his hands and also at the ease with which he had chanted the intricate Sanskrit sloka, Vellian slowly got up in his bed; turned both his hands that were still held in a NAMASTE posture towards the smiling mystic boy and offered him his salutations.

Vellian who had lost all his hopes of any recovery from that near dead situation had quite miraculously regained a complete normalcy in just about a few days time..
This miraculous recovery of Vellian shocked the British Army Doctors who have by then had literally written him off as a medical ‘case of complete hopelessness beyond recovery’..

Much later,as he could not personally visit the Tirumala temple due to his job constraints, Vellian requested his friend,an Indian soldier by name Ramachandra Ganesh, to visit the Tirumala hill Shrine on his behalf and offer the holy Lord Sri Venkateswara what he promised to offer…EPILOGUE

“Vinaa Venkatesam” sloka although is an integral part of Sri Venkateswara Suprabhatham, was however written and recited first by Sri Markandeya Maharshi,when He visited the Tirumala hills and offered this sloka to Lord Sri Venkateswara. .

In the later period, the story of Vellian’s miraculous recovery reached the governing authorities of the British Kingdom.

.In 1801, after having known the sanctity of Lord Sri Venkateswara temple, the British took over the administration of the Temple from the hands of the Nawabs of Arcot for lack of discipline and misappropriation of funds in the Temple..

Later in 1821, strictly in accordance with the norms of the Tirumala Temple,the British introduced what is called the Bruce Code..

This code has 42 provisions formulated in it with well defined customs and duties meant both for the Tirumala Temple as well as for the Hindu officials working there..

Quite surprisingly, the British, known for their iconoclastic nature, never interfered with the day to day affairs and rituals of the Tirumala Temple except taking care of it’s administration.

.After that divine incident, renowned British personalities like Sir Thomas Monroe and Colonel Geo Stratten went on to become great devotees of Lord Sri Venkateswara. .

During their tenure of office in India, they have never allowed the British army to camp anywhere close to the Tirumala Hill Shrine and also never allowed any British national enter the Tirumala Hills with footwear..

After that incident in the army camp, Vellian and the whole of British army had made a frantic search for that 12 year old mystic boy but they couldn’t find Him anywhere..

Who was HE..?? ..And where did He come from..??“.

.Sarva Avayava Soundaryaa Sampada Sarva Chetasam

Sada Sammohanayastu Sri Venkatesaya Mangalam..” .

The great saint poet Annamaya  of Tirumala in one of his sweet  composition sings about the  glory of  LORD  VENKATESHWARA which is truly divine …..

Oh Lord! Your devotees visualize You in many ways…

They want to see You in different forms and ways. However, the deeper one’s heart envisions You, the more shallower is Your grace felt!

Vaishnavites assume and believe You profoundly to be Lord Vishnu;
Vedantis envisage You as the ‘Supreme Lord’ or ‘Parambrahma’;
ShAivites and some others deem You as Lord Shiva;
Kaumalikas pray and revere You as Adi Bhairava;
Shaaktheyas presume You to be the incarnation of Shakthi;
You bless all of them in the form they desire You to be in !!

In this way, Your devotees revere and prostrate before You, giving you the form and shape they wish to see You in.

 To those devotees who see You in the tiniest form, You are the tiniest to them;
Likewise, those who revere you with high esteem, You are the greatest and all-in-all for them.

There is no dearth of anything in this world if only YOU  are beside me!

Just as a lotus plant creeps all over the span of water (in a pond/lake/river or wherever it is) leaving no space for anything else,

Just as the wells around the great Bhagirathi river never dry up (because the wells are always fed with water from this river beside)

(    I pray to You,     Oh Lord!        Please be beside me!     )
If YOU are the Lord incarnated on the Venkatadri mount, YOU are bound to be by my side!
It is You, Oh Lord, who have made me to become Your devotee;
It is You, Oh Lord, who have knocked my doors ~ only to grant me the Protective asylum under Your Lotus Feet;
You are the ONE who enlightened me;
This is the eternal bliss for me!
This is the Para-Tattvam for me!
This is my moksha-marga (and salvation)!

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

Pics credits : Google images

Source : Inspired from a post shared by ardent devotee of Lord Venkateshwara

 Kendubilva is a small village near to  LORD  Jagannatha Kshetram Puri , and 25 kms to Bhuvaneshwar .    This is the holy place  where the great devotee  Jayadevar appeared .

                   The village became  more prominent and famous by the presence of  the great devotee Jayadevar  for his devotion to the Supreme  Lord .

          Jayadevar learnt all the Vedic scriptures at an young age .  He was   complete into devotional services .Always immersed in Lord’s divine leela , he ignored  material wealth or associations.  When he came of marriageable age, his parents were searching for a bride  so as to bring him into family fold .

                             Jayadeva’s was  not keen in entering family life  . He  remained all  alone, always in  thoughts of the great  Lord Jagganatha  divine pastimes and avoided family commitments .

His parents pleaded him to get married  as they were getting old  . Jayadevar did not agree  as he felt that it  would hinder his dedication to Lord Jagganatha Days rolled by.     Jayadevar continued his devotional services  going places , His parents were getting old and  passed away.

Jayadevar was now all alone. He moved away and resided near to the temple  and was performing  srimad bhagavath  parayanam.  He  lived on Unchavrutti accepting what Lord Jaggantha sends him through his devotees  He was with niyama  performing his karmanustams and was steadfast in his activities.But  Lord Jagganatha  had other ideas.

Near to the village ,  there was another  devotee  by name Devasharma. Devasharma prayed Lord  that if he  had a son he would offer him to Lord  to perform  devotional  services  in the temple of  Lord Jagannatha at Puri..

  Lord , however  graced  him a  with girl child. The bubbly  child was named Padmavathi.  She was trained in all household chores and devotional service from her childhood.      Padmavathi came of marriageable age.He proceeded to  Sri Jagannathar temple  and prayed LORD  as to what he could do to fulfill the promise he made as he had a daughter who will not be allowed inside the temple for HIS service  .

He  prayed Lord !!!  I dont know the way, how will you take this girl, he asked with tearful eyes. Being tired he slept that night near the temple.

  Lord  appeared in his dream and said, “Oh Devasharma ..We  appreciate your bhakthi,  and  will  definitely take your daughter for our  services  and will tell you the way how. Me and my  devotee  are no different. As you only wanted to perform the service  , well………., you can do the same to my  devotee  for a long long time.

 Our adorable devotee  is Jayadevar who is living very near to  you . Please approach him and accept him as your bridegroom. Give Padmavathi in marriage to Jayadevar”. Having heard this  Devasharma was quite pleased that his prayers are  fulfilled. He returned to his village. Looking at his daughter he said   …. my dear child .. padma … LORD  has given his blessings and mentioned the name of her husband.  He proceeded  to the ashram of Jayadevar  and introduced himself  . He requested Jayadevar to accept his daughter as his wife .

 Jayadevar  a  sincere devotee   did not argue or answer him .  He  just left looking walking  towards temple . Devasharma however did not feel bad  as he had faith in LORD’s   instructions . He went home  called Padmavathi and told  My dear  child “Padma……Please come with me now …. He went towards Jayadevar’s ashram and showed the ashram of  Jayadevar and said …Look there ,  the effulgent face with divine look  who is walking towards the temple ....Yes  he is your husband henceforth . Its Lord Jagganthar’s sankalpam that you be married to him  for a divine cause . Serve him as you are serving the LORD himself . Its my final wish  my child …

Padmavathi obeyed her father’s instructions implicitly. Normally Jayadevar would rise early everyday, have his  bath  from the nearby stream . He would  perform japa  and walk back to his Ashram . Padma  would come  to his ashram  sweep the surroundings , water the plants , pluck flowers, clean the pooja vessels , clean the altar and leave the ashram before Jayadevar returns 

Jayadevar after finishing his japa would return  and see everything in the ashram transformed . Very much surprised , he believed some devotee is serving Lord . The services continued  and a month passed by.  Jayadevar  liked  his ashram being  kept clean and neat and  being a brahmachari he appreciated this very much.

He felt the need to inquire and find out all about this and once identified who it was he wanted to do something in return for the favor and if  she had any  desires  he wanted to bless her with that. Thinking thus one day he arrived a bit early to his ashram and saw Padmavathi

Jayadevar hardly had looked at her   He now inquired about her name and where she was from and what she wanted and the reason why she was serving this ashram. His questions were without any preamble just like Dasaratha had asked Vishwamitra. Padmavathi replied that she always wanted to do some service   to  Lord Jaggantahar  for a long long time and serving his devotee will make her LORD more  happy.

He then understood why such a question had been asked by him and why such an answer was received as probably the bhagawan‘s wish. He understood the divine motive of the Supreme Lord .  Jayadevar  went to Padmavathi’s father and requested his daughter to be given in marriage to him. Jayadevar’s coming was known to the brahmanan as he was sure that it was bhagawan’s sankalpam and it will definitely happen one day. Marriage happened between Padmavathi and Jayadevar. They both performed LORD JAGGANATHA service ( Krishna seva)  together. The ashram now became a Griham.

Sadhu seva, Bhagavath kainkaryam was being done as this is the main activity of a Grihasta.Jayadevar started to understand what Bhakthi fully was. Now as the Bhakthi became  more like a rasam, Jayadevar started to like it very much and he started to appreciate Padmavathis kainkaryam, he also started to like the various rasams described by padmavathi and his bhakthi started to blossom tenfold.

While performing abhishekam, Jayadevar would pour all of the abhishekam ingredients  at once on top of the  deity  of  Lord  Krishna . Watching this  Padmavathi would say   …Swami …..“Why dont you  offer  the milk , water  slowly as Sri Krishna would become breathless with your action.  Jayadevar would think, “Oh! Why did I not know this. He corrected himself and became more connected with deity worship…

While  performing archanas with flowers, padmavathi would tell  him not to put the flowers all over the  LORD and cover  instead   spread the fragrant  flowers  all around so that while doing the archana we could have the grace of the beauty of  our krishna and be able to see the  lotus feet  (thiruvadi )of the  Supreme Lord Thus, Jayadevar  started to like and understand the suggestions made by Padmavathi very much as he started learning the loving ways of performing kainkaryam to the bhagawan.

While adorning the dresses to the Lordships ( Vasthrams ) , Padmavathi would give some suggestions on how to tie the vastrams differently as she now said, ‘instead of the same blue black vastram, you can put the yellow one and the red one here on the top and see how nice it looks’.

Jayadevar started to think, ‘oh thats a good idea, why did I not think of that before’. He felt that Padmavathi was showing the way to him to bhakthi rasam and as Padmavathi started singing, Jayadevar, himself being a poet, his poetic instincts started to flower. Because of his poetic instincts, Krishna bhakthi and the  support from Padmavathi  his heart started to pour kavyams. This Kayvam in the form of Gita slokas started flowing and he started to teach Padmavathi how to dance. The young couple were more of Prema Bhakthas.

Jayadevar considered Padmavathi not as his better half but as a Krishna dasi. Padmavathi in turn feels herself as Jaya and Jayadevar as padma and they were like two sakhis for Sri Krishna. Both of them dancing in front of Sri Krishna, their shringaram was like Bhakthi shringaram. Not like the worldly shringaram.

In all his Krishna leelas, Brindavanam prasidha leela, Kandithaa Varnanam leela is most prominent Jayadevar thinks in his mind that Sri Krishna in order to pacify Radha rani  would request   to place  her lotus  feet on his head.

 Jayadevar  suddenly  doubts ….He  thinks this is not correct as ‘Radhai (jeevatma) keeping her feet on the head of the paramatma’ is incorrect  . Jayadevar is perplexed at this.

This poem is not Jayadevar’s, its just coming on its own  from his divine thoughts . Thus LORD  Krishna has put the seed in his thoughts Jayadevar  decides to write this,  but then he puts the pen down  confused . Thus he does many times not getting courage enough to write it.

He never thought of Radha as a separate but rather as a Bhaktha, Gopikai and thats Bhaktars anyway. For all the devotees ,  Lord Sri Krishna’s respect for their Bhakthi is also true . But Jayadevar had a little hesitation.

Jayadevar thinking so decided that in this part, ‘I need to modify with some other phrase’. Thinking thus, he went to perform his usual Thaila Snanam (oil bath). Padmavathi  who was  alone in the house ,  heard her name being called “Padma” and as she turned to see, she saw that he has already come back.

She  said …Swami you just left ..How is that you returned so quickly … Jayadevar who was looking so effulgent  said,I suddenly remembered a sentence, and hence  wanted to write in the poem  otherwise I would  forget it. That’s why i came so early.

Please bring that palm leaf’. He took the leaf and then in his beautiful handwriting started to write the  verse  he did not want to write initially.smara-garala-khandanam
mama sirasi mandanam
dehi pada-pallavam udaram roughly translated means The beautiful flower blossoms of Your feet counteract the deadly poison of amorous love. They extinguish the terrifying fire of the pain of that love, which rages within My heart. Therefore, please be kind and allow Your feet to decorate My head.”

Then returning the palm leaf to padma and asking her to keep it back, he left. Jayadevar went back  and after completing his shower and  japa  came to see that what he had not wanted to write had already been written by some one already … He was shocked and amazed to see the palm leaf which  had the verse he did not want to write …He asked Padmavathi,   my  dear   please tell me  ‘Who wrote this verse ?  She  expressed ignorance  and asked  Swami ….Why?

He replied  …dear   ……What I did not want to write, somebody has  already written that …Padmavathi asked,   Swami  ‘Did you tell your  feelings  to anyone else or me anytime’. Jayadevar said, ‘No! this should not be said, its  a divine secret . So I had kept it in my heart only.’  Padma replied,

Swami   ‘Whoever was in your heart only would have written this then’. The moment he realized what Padma was saying, tears flowed like torrent Oh Krishna …. he wept  like a child …

He saw the palm leaf repeatedly ..the  handwriting and the words written were  like pearls and he touched them with his eyes. Lord  had accepted his words for that sentence. Not only that, the entire Gita Govindam was accepted.

He then looked at Padmavathi and said, My dear  “Padmavathi,  you are blessed one! With tears he said ….Am blessed to have a devotee as my life partner … 

Your  devotion  is  flawless   and that’s the reason  LORD appeared .  Recollecting the divine incident  tears flowed down her face. LORD  blessed the coupleGita Govinda is  centered around  24 Ashtapadis (songs with 8 couplets). saturated with the flavour of the divine love of Krsna and Radha…

The Ashtapadis are about different moods  of  love between  Lord Krishna and Radha….

Some are almost  in form of hymns, listing  Lord Krishna’s achievements in his various incarnations ……..

Some are glimpses into Krishna’s and  Radha’s minds at times of separation, anger or reconciliation and   Some others are the words of messengers sent to each other, urging mercy and to swallow pride. 

ALL GLORIES TO JAYADEVAR for giving us KRISHNA BHAKTHI ..

.May my mind surrender to all the  great devotees of the Supreme LORD

 JAI JAI JAI JAGANNATHA

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

Pics & Video : Courtesy shared by devotees in social media 

Once  , Thirumisai Azhwar came to have a darsanam  of Lord  Aaraamudha perumal   near Kumbakonam at Tamilnadu.    Azhwar  was very much impressed by  Lord’s  beauty .

He instantaneously recited ..

Nadanda kalgal nondhavo nadunga gnala menamai

Idanthamei kulungavo vilangumaal varaichuram

Kadanda kaal parandha kavirikarai kudanthaiul

Kidanthava yezhundirundu pesu vazhi kesane

Meaning O lord !  your lotus  feet must be  feeling the pain walking  the worlds  covered  with  mountains,   thorns etc  .

Your lotus feet are very soft that even Mother Lakshmee  feels her  service may hurt  LORD if she touches them. 

AzhwAr then realizes that  as LORD  went to the pAtALa lOka to rescue Mother during varAha avatAra, perhaps  due to this   LORD  should be relaxing in this pose .

While Azhwar was enquiring ,  Lord casually  lifted up His head to get up and reply to  AzhwAr  as he said said ‘pESu’ in his divine verse  ( speak my LORD ) ..

  Azhwar did not  want  to disturb his yoganidra  and hence  prayed LORD   to remain in the same posture so as to bless each devotee  coming  to HIM praying  .

The Azhwar  thus requested  LORD  to remain in the reclining position as this posture of  LORD looked very attractive .

 The  divine pose of  LORD Aara Amudhan is called as Uthra Sayanam and he is thus called as Uthanasai. 

Lord Aramudhan like Sonnavanam saitha Perumaal of Thiruvekha Divya Desam  at Kancheepuram has also received credit for obeying His dear devotee Thirumisai Azhwar.

 Due to the above reason  LORD  is  glorified  as Aramudha Azhwan  and the Azhwar as Thirumahizai Piran.

The word Piran means Lord.

As Thirumahizai Azhwar asked Perumaal to get up from His  serpent bed, Azhwar was given the title of “Piran” by  LORD .

Aramudhan took the title “Azhwan” to show us HIS  love  towards  Azhwar.  Lord’s sparkling  darshanam  of his cheeks (so chubby )  pulls our soul to  just be there for ever .

 Lord’s coral lips   invites HIS devotee which has a   half-smile (“Punmuruval”) indicating  HIS mercy and  pleasure  seeing us.  Lord’s  broad forehead is adorned by a sparkling green gem, triangular in shape .

 Lord’s long thighs and then  legs, resembles  the trunk of a magnificent tusker,  encased in soft and supple silk, while the broad and beautiful chest sports several strands of gold and pearl necklaces ,  with goddess  Mahalakshmi.

Mother Sri Devi and Bhoodevi  grace us  on either side of the Lord, in postures of devotion.   As noticed in Thiruvellarai Divyadesam , similar  feature of this beautiful temple is that the sanctum sanctorum has two entrances, each with nine steps-one used during Dakshinaayanam and the other during Uttaraaayanam.

 Everything about the Lord  here is elixir .

check the videohttps://wpcomwidgets.com/render/

https://wpcomwidgets.com/render/

None  of the devotees will exclaim  “I have had enough of this Lord”, the desire to see Him and be with Him increases  with every  darshan .

Among the Azhwars seven  out of twelve have immersed there divine thoughts and glorified the boundless beauty of  Lord Aaraavamudan and devoted around 51 nectarine verses  in the DivyaPrabhandam .

This nectarine Lord is sweet not only to our external senses like the eye, ear and the nose, but provides an incomparably pleasurable sensation all over, inside and out and in the soul too-

 “Aaraavamudaai adiyen aavi agame tittippaai”. 

When we relish  something very sweet  we become sick eating the same  recipe  repeatedly . This is true for all material  and  worldly enjoyment all through in our lifestyle.  But once we engage  our senses towards the omnipotent LORD  we find that we can  relish HIM   continuously without  any hindrances and  not getting  bored.

 Once we follow the Nava Vidhi Bhakthi  as advised by Elders viz:   Shravanam  , Kirtanam  Smaranam ,  Pada sevanam , Archanam , Vandanam  Dasyam ,  Sakhyam and finally   Atma Nivedhanam  the purpose of our Life is realised . The more we  start enjoying  the nectar that is LORD HIMSELF , the more we want to continue enjoying this nectar as our desire for this nectar becomes insatiable .

 Aaramudhan means  “the pure nectar which can never produce satiety”.  NammAzhwar glorifies LORD as  “Ara Amude” and  expresses Oh Lord !! ,

‘When I  have your divine darshan !  my body melts in the love  and the separation from your divineself  means  am washed out   with a  torrent force of a  flood away .  

Oh Lord!  such  overflowing emotions……..  grace me  because of your  abundant mercy you have for me.

Lord Aramuda Perumaal compassion on HIS devotees is unlimited .  

When all of us celebrate Diwali in our houses , LORD  performed last rites for one of His  ardent devotees.

 The divine pastime goes like this .

There lived a devotee  named ” Lakshmi Narayana ”  in this holy place . Narayana spent his entire life doing  services to Lord Aramudhan. He was  the one who built the Rajagopuram  which is app  44-m tall, 11-tiered tower by collecting  small small donations from devotees and strived hard to finish the task  . 

He had surrendered all his wealth and everything in the noble service .Narayana swamy  who became old   ,passed away, on  a  Deepavali Amavasya day .

The  devotees  were worried about performing his last rites as he had no progeny and neither he adopted any one .  His entire life was serving the LORDSHIPS  with total surrender .

When the  Priest  entered the sanctum   of Lord Aramudhan he noticed that  Lord  was wearing the yagnopavithram in the direction worn while performing last rites. The Priest  thought that he had made a mistake while decorating LORD  on the previous day.

Therefore he corrected the direction of the yagnopavithram but to his utter amazement found that the yagnopavithram switched direction again. The Priest  realized that it was  Lord’s  way of saying that He was going to perform the last rite for his devotee  Narayana .

 And ever mindful of His duties, He continues to perform the annual shraaddham for this sincere  devotee , to this day.  Narayana’s  sculpture with folded hands adorns one of the pillars in the pradikshina marga .

 Lord performed the last rite for Jatayu during Rama Avataram and as  Lord Aaramudhan performed the rites for  his devotee Narayanaswamy.

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

Pics : Credits  Google images ( Thanks to all the devotees who uploaded them )

King Veerasikhamani was  one of the disciple of Swamy Parasara bhattar . He used to personally come to Srirangam and have darshan of Lord Ranganathar and  his Acharyar Swamy Parasara Bhattar  .

 Due to preoccupation with the state matters , he  arrived  to Srirangam after few months .

He was  feeling guilty and sad for he could not progress in his spiritual endeavors like listening to discourses , worshiping the Lord , seeking  satsangh etc  .  

 He humbly submitted to  Acharyar about his  poor commitment  in  spiritual progress .  The King pleaded Acharyar to advise him a simple method  for Lord realisation .

Swamy parasara bhattar out of abundant compassion ,  advised him to carry the image of LORD RAMACHANDRA always with him   in his  heart and cherish the divine pastimes . The King was curious to know that incident  of Lord Rama which swamy cherished .

Swamy Bhattar replied about that  time when Lord Ramachandra and the army of vanaras camped on Suvela mountains the sun  was about to  set .  

The army of  vanaras assembled and were discussing about their next plan .  

One leader announced  , dear friends !!!

You know  we are very near to Lanka  and  as  the night approaches  the Rakshasas become stronger  and possess enormous strength to attack  our Lord Rama .

 Hearing the leaders words ,the vanaras were very confused and upset as they knew that the Rakshasas will somehow create illusions  and  may create problems to Lord Rama and Lakshamana   .

The leader suggested that they will  take all measures to protect Lord Rama and Lakshamana  . For this they had to be awake shielding Lord Rama and Lakshmana .  The vanaras decided that they shall take turns and be on the sentry duty thus protecting Lord Rama  and lakshmana whole night .

They alloted the time and were guarding Lord and Lakshamana. However due to  the gentle cool breeze from the ocean  and their tiredness all the vanaras fell asleep .

As soon as all the vanaras fell asleep, Lord Rama and Lakshmana got up , took over the duties and ever on alert with their bow and arrows .

They created a magical illusion around vanaras  thus  the Rakshasas were able to see only Lord Rama and Lakshmana  and the vanaras were invisible .

The Rakshasa seeing Lord Rama  tejas were terrified and fled away without any trace . Thus the army of vanaras were protected by the Karunamoorthy  .

Lord Rama is an ocean of mercy when protecting his devotees in distress . Lord Rama saved the very army which had formed only to save Rama .

One must never loose direction even in his thought about the abundant mercy of Lord always protecting us and ever to be with us as Antaryaamee .

So the best way is to hold him in our thoughts and deed always .

Jai Sree Ram

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

Pictures : Courtesy Google pics

Video clip :  Courtesy : vikrantchugh  1987

In Srimad Bhagavatha Mahapurana as part of a discussion between King Nimi and sage Karabhajana the advent of the Srivaishnava Azhwars appearance in the Kali age is revealed .

” In the Kali age men devoted to Lord Sriman Narayana will be born in large numbers near the Dravida territory where in the rivers Tamaraparni, Vaigai , Paalaar the most sacred Kaaveri flows
.” True to the epic , both Swamy Namaazhwar and Madhurakavi Azhwar appeared on the banks of Tambaraparni river .

It is said that just after 40 years of the disappearance of Lord Krishna , Nammazhwar appeared . Periyazhwar and Sri Andal appeared in a place close to river Vaigai , the Mudal Azhwars and Thirumazhisai Azhwar appeared near Paalaar and Thodaradippodi Azhwar, Thiruppaanaazhwar and Thirumangai Azhwar appeared near river Kaaveri.

The most holy place Thirukurugur “Alwar Tirunagari” is about 30kms east of Tirunelveli on the Tirunelveli-Tiruchendur highway off the Southern banks of Tamaraparani .Check this post for more details :https://kmkvaradhan.wordpress.com/2015/06/14/the-glory-of-thirukkolur/Thirukurugur Vaishnava divyadesam is located on the banks of the river Tamaraparani and is one of the 108 divya desams in Pandiya Nadu. This was later known as Alwar thirunagari after the great Nammazhwar’s appearance . Legends reveal there lived a pious devotee Kaariyaar an advanced bhaktha who was serving the devotees from his agriculture earnings .

Udaiya Nankaiyar from Thiruvanparisaram was his wife who was equally pious and served the devotees with all dedication . They had no progeny for a long time .

Their prayers were answered by the mercy of Lord of Thirukurungudi . Udaiya Nankai gave birth to a male child on Vaikasi month in Visakam star( who is considered to be the incarnation of Senai Mudaliyar the commander in chief of Lord Sriman Narayana) .

His parents named him Maran ( being different from others ) and he also had other names Parankusa and Satakopan .

The boy was not an ordinary kid nor did he have an ordinary life .

He displayed none of the usual characteristics of a baby, neither would he cry nor attempt to drink milk.

Looking at the strange behaviour of the divine child, the parents went to the temple for divine interference. All of a sudden the child crawled and went under a tamarind tree inside the temple where he remained almost for sixteen years in yogic trance under the trunk . The divine incident became the talk of the town.

After many years one day a elder Vaishnava who was on a pilgrimage to Ayodhya observed a shining light emanating from a far off place .He followed the light and reached Thurukurugoor. As he enquired around the place , he was directed into the temple . He was surprised looking at the divine aura being emitted from the young boy and attempted to go near him .

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

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

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

Lo presto !

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

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

Thus he asked a question

“Seththathin vayitril siru kutti pirandhaal etrai thindru enge kidakum?

A divine voice was heard with a smile

“Atrai thindru ange kidakum”.

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

The peripheral meaning of the question…

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

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

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

The inner meaning of the question:

“Seththadhu” – body,

“siru kutti” – soul.

“vayiru” – stomach.

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

The soul enjoys and suffers everything through the body.

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

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

Swami Madhurakavi azhwar was amazed by azhwar’s knowledge and fell at his feet and pleaded him to accept him as his disciple.

Azhwar agreed and asked him to help him in composing his divine works. Thus came out the fountain of divine out pouring of Lord’s kalyanagunas .

Madurakavi Azwar wrote all of them in Palm leaves which were called ‘ pattolai. The divine out pourings were

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

A grand festival is celebrated for ten days marking the appearance day of Azhwar …….

at this holy place every year ending with a holy bath ( Abhishekam ) and ‘Theertha vari’ on Vaikasi Visakam day .

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

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

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

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

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

Nava Tirupathi is part of the 108 Divya Desam temples .

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

Thiruvaragunamangai,

Thirupulinkudi,

North & South temples of Thirutholaivillimangalam,

Thirukkulanthai,

Thiruperai,

Thirukolur and

Thirugurukoor.

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

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

A big mandapam in front of the main temple known as ‘PANDAL MANDAPAM” is decorated for the grand festival to happen .

This pandal was built by an ardent devotee Sri Pandala Ramaswamy Nayaakar during 1807 .

He took initiative in starting this wonderful Nava garuda Sevai utsavam and made arrangements for the mandapam and other paraphernalia .

In honour of his devotional service the mandapam is named Pandal Mandapam.

.

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

Thirunagari to grace our most beloved Nammazhwar .

Swamy Nammazhwar had darshanam of all the 108 Divya

desam perumal staying in Azhwar Thirunagari itself .

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

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

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

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

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

After this, managala haarathi is given to Perumal and Azhwar and Perumal enter the main temple.

This procedure is followed for all the Perumals. This function takes place for about 2 to 3 hours.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Azhwar waits just outside the Maha dwaaram of the temple to receive the Perumals from all the Nine Divya desams .

The temple doors are closed and Azhwar along with his favourite devotee Madurakavi Alwar wait for the Garudaseva Utsavam to happen.The Mahadwaram doors are opened amidst the mangala Nadaswarams .

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

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

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

PERUMAL PASURAM NOS.

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

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

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

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

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