Let us glorify our LORD  before we enter AHOBILAM  …

Ugram  Viram   Maha Vishnum    Jvalantam      Sarvato Mukham

Nirisimham     Bhishanam      Bhadram    Mrutyur Mrutyum       Namamy Aham..

Ugram – the ferocious one

Viram – The most courageous

Mahavishnum – The all-pervasive one (Lord Maha Vishnu)

Jvalantam – the effulgence of fire

Sarvato Mukham – Having his face everywhere (manifested throughout the universe)

Nrisimham – The Lion-man form

Bhishanam – The terrific

Bhadram – The auspicious

Mrutyur Mrutym – death of death

Namamy Aham – I bow down and revere

TRAVEL DIARY IS IN THE BELOW MENTIONED BLOG :

https://kmkvaradhan.wordpress.com/2014/12/07/ahobilam-travel-diary/

AHOBILAM 

The holy place where LORD NARSINGHA BHAGAVAN incarnated for Prahlada Maharaj ..

Please read the vaibhavams of the Nava Narasingh bhagavan .

The  holy place is situated 25 Km from Arlagadda in Kurnool district can also be approached via Cuddapah district, Andhra Pradesh ,India.

The most sacred shrine of Lord Narasimhar  at Ahobilam is located in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh in the hills of the eastern ghat. 

The temple consists of nine shrines to Lord Narisimha located around a 5 KM circle.

The shtala Purana states that  PakshiRajar Garuda prayed  for a vision of Lord Narisimha .  Garuda commended his penance near to Srisaila Kshetra .

MORE ABOUT NAVA NARASIMHA KSHETRAM
————————————————————————–
There are 9 shrines dedicated to nine forms of Narasimhar

Out of this Prahalada varada Narasimhar is in Lower Ahobilam, Ugra Narasimhar, who is a swayambhu and is treated as the divya desa Perumal is seen in Upper Ahobilam. The other shrines are scattered all over the hills.

Apart from the nava Narasimha shrines, “Prahalada padi” where Prahalada studied and “Ugra Sthambam” from where Perumal emerged are usually visited by pilgrims.

There are number of Theerthas in this shrine.

A few like Lanjekonneru near Bhargava Narasimhar , Ramatheertha near Lower Ahobilam and Raktha Kundam near Jwala Narasimhar , Bhavanaasini near Ugra Narasimhar which flows through both the mountains are a few to name.

PRAHALADA VARADA NARASIMHA SWAMY

Situated at the foot of the hills known as Lower Ahobilam, this temple can be visited by one and all. Usually all homams and yagams are performed here.

Here Perumal is seen along with Thayar blessing Prahalada.

Hence, Perumal is known as “Prahalada Varadar”.The utsava vigrahams of all the Narasimhars except Malola Narasimhar areoffered nitya thiruvaadhanai here.

To the left of Perumal, utsava vigraham of Pavana Narasimhar can be seen majestically .

In front of the Lord, the utsava idols of Prahalada varada Narasimhar along with Sridevi and Bhoodevi grace us .

The processional deity of Jwala Narasimhar along with His consorts is also seen in the garbagriham . The deity  is superbly carved and on request , the archakar removes the alankaranam and performs Aaarathi to the idol. 

Lord  has 10 arms and Hiranya vadham (killing) is beautifully depicted.

There is also a small  deity  of the first Ahobila Mutt Jeeyar facing south.

The temple is a huge one and many monkeys can be seen here.

The walls of the temple depict sthalasthala puranam briefly.

There is a Thayar Sannidhi to the right of the temple.

2) BHARGAVA NARASIMHA SWAMi:

This temple is situated two kilometres from Lower Ahobilam on a small hillock and can be approached by foot. As Bhargava(Parasurama) did penance here, the Lord is thus known. It is easily approachable.

3) YOGANANDA NARASIMHA SWAMI:

Situated at a distance of 3 kilometres from Lower Ahobilam, this can be approached by foot. It was here that Prahalada mastered the art of yoga from Perumal Himself.

The divya mangalaswaroopam of the Lord is eye captivating. Perumal is seen alone in Yogaasanam.

4) CHATRAVATA NARASIMHA SWAMI

This is situated at a distance of nearly 3kms from Ahobilam on a different route also reachable on foot . As Perumal is seated alone under a peepul tree which protects Perumal like an umbrella, He is known as Chatravata Narasimhar.

This Perumal is fond of music played by Gandharvas. It looks as if the Lord is deeply engrossed in music by clasping His hands. We were told that He is fond of Adi Thalam. Reptiles keep moving in this place but they don’t harm the devotees. One has to take care of these.

5) UGRA NARASIMHAR SANNIDHI:-

This is in Upper Ahobilam. There is a narrow bus route and it takes about 40 minutes to reach this place from Lower Ahobilam.

This is considered as the divya desa temple. Usually, pilgrims have bath in Bhavanaasini or Paavanaasini (a spring which flows from the top of the hill) and then have Perumal’s darsanam.

A dip in Paavanaasini absolves all the sins committed.

Though there are no proper bathing ghats, still we can see hundreds of devotees having holy dip unmindful of their surroundings. The sannidhi is located inside a cave .

Perumal along with Thayar is seen in Veetruirundha Thirukkolam .

Opposite to Perumal, there is an idol of Prahalada. There is a dark room on the other side of the cave which is believed to be the place where Chenchulakshmi resides .

Recently, under the supervision of Jeer, a bridge across Paavanasini river has been constructed which facilitates the pilgrims to go to Varahanarasimhar temple (Krodha Narasimhar)

KRODHA NARASIMHAR:

One kilometer further from Upppper Ahobilam leads to the shrine of Krodha Narasimhar. He is also known as Varaha Narasimhar as His Thirumukam resembles a varaham (a boar).

Any japam done here elevates one spirtually. Especially, Narayana Sadakshara Japam from Varaha Kanda bestows manifold benefits as told by Archakar Swamin..

KARANJA NARASIMHAR SHRINE :

This temple is situated between Upper Ahobilam and Lower Ahobilam..

As the divya mangala moorthi is installed under Karanja vruksham, the deity has been named so. Perumal is seen in Veetruirundha Kolam and is holding Sarngam (bow), dhanus (arrow) and chakram .

 Adisesha acts as “Kudai”(refer Irundhal Kudaiyam…) and is protecting. The theertham here is known as Bhairava kundam. Hanumar who visited this place was a staunch Rama bhakta .

Lord Narasimhar appeared to Hanumar, who was a staunch Ramabhakta, with bow and arrow thus showing that He is Lord Rama Himself. This Lord is in Padmasaanam pose. One can have darshan of Hanumar also. We are reminded of Sholangur .

6) MALOLA NARASIMHAR:

This shrine is situated two kilometres away from Upper Ahobilam. Perumal came in search of Mahalakshmi Thayar who was doing penance here and placed Her on His lap. Hence, Perumal seen along with Thayar has a somya (graceful) form. Due to Thayar’s presence, Perumal graces even the worst sinner .

Azhwar refers to this Perumal in pasuram no. 1016 (Peria Thirumozhi) when he says that bhaktas are always protected by Perumal and only the wicked have to fear .

This Lord gives abhayam to His devotees and Thayar bestows Asthaaiswaryam and grants the wishes of the devotees.

There is a vigraham of Thirumangai Azhwar in the sanctum . Outside the temple, there is a small pillar with murthis. Those who are not able to go to Ugra sthambam can prostrate this pillar.

7) JWALA NARASIMHAR:-

This temple is located at a higher altitude may be around 2800 feet. And can be approached from Malola Narasimhar shrine.

It takes about 2 hours to reach this temple from Upper Ahobilam. The path is slippery and as mentioned care has to be taken.

It was here that Perumal killed Hiranyakasipu by tearing his stomach with his spear like nails.

The idol with 10 hands which is approximately 3 feet high and is scaring to look at. Beside this shrine, there is a small pond known as “Raktha Kundam” where the Lord is believed to have washed His blood-stained hands .

The water is reddish in colour and this was the explanation given by the guide to us. Recently, a temple has been constructed for this Lord and a archakar is appointed to perform Nitya Thiruvaaradhanai.

8) PAVANA NARASIMHAR:

It is situated six kilometres away from Upper Ahobilam towards north east on the banks of River Pavana. It is difficult to approach this temple as wild animals keep roaming. If one wishes to visit this temple, he must do so during daytime with the help of a guide. The path is too narrow, the trek amidst cluster of rocks is strenuous .

It takes about 45 minutes for trekking. One can view Malola Narasimhar shrine and few water falls on the way on the other side of the mountain.

Forest fire is very common in this place and this helps in one way to ward off wild animals. It is believed that devas offer worship to this Lord. The Lord is seen along with Thayar .

The local tribals usually observe fast on Saturdays and offer flowers, honey, fruits, rice, jaggery etc. to the Lord.

The general notion that “bali” (sacrifice) is done here was rebuked by the priest. He said that the sacrifice would be done elsewhere in the jungles .

He also added that wild animals do not roam near the temple and only during severe summer, they come to the river bank to quench their thirst.

They usually do not hurt any one. Besides the above shrines, other place of interest are Prahalada Padi or Prahalada Mettu (Mettu in Telugu and Padi in Tamil means “step”) and Ukku sthambam.

PRAHALADA PADI

is the place where Prahalada had his vidyabhyaasam from Sukracharya’s sons. The way to Prahalada padi though tough is breathtakingly beautiful with river flowing on one side and with various water falls amidst a huge valley.

This reminds me of the route to Badrinath. The temple is in a small cave and one has to crawl to enter inside the cave. Only 4 persons can be accommodated inside at a time.

Mountain lizards and bats move freely here.

It was here that the child started propogating Lord’s qualities. Prahalada used to resort to this place for meditating upon the Lord. There is a vigraham of Narasimhar in centre . to its right, there is an idol of Chakaratazhwar and to the left , there is a vigraham of Lord Vishnu.

                                                                       UKKU STHAMBAM

which is situated at a distance of 8 kms from Upper Ahobilam is the pillar from which the Lord emerged . The pillar which is situated at the edge the cliff is split into two as a proof that Lord appeared from this pillar.

Pilgrim usually give their offerings here. It is very difficult to reach this place which is at a highest altitude .Doing pradakshinam around this pillar is even more difficult as it is in the cliff. Near the ukku sthambham (iron pillar) as the Telugus call, there is Perumal’s Thiruvadi.

The climb is very difficult . Only with His grace can one visit this place. One has to have a sharp vision and a flexible body to bend, crawl etc.

This can be approached from Prahalada padi on the way to Jwala Narasimhar shrine. While describing this pillar, Sri Mukkur Swamy says that the entire world is still pregnant with Narasimhar inside except this because Perumal has come out of it.

The symbols of Vishnu, namely, Sankhu, Chakram, Naamam are carved on the face of the hill. One can have a bird’s eyeview of the entire Ahobilam from this place.

The atmosphere is calm and serene . Various waterfalls all around looking like thin streams makes us wonder and appreciate the nature and Lord’s creation.

It’s a best place to meditate the cliff is split into two as a proof that Lord appeared from this pillar. Lets glorify our LORD singing HIS praises…..

namas te narasiḿhāya
prahlādāhlāda-dāyine
hiraṇyakaśipor vakṣaḥ-
śilā-ṭańka-nakhālaye
ito nṛsiḿhaḥ parato nṛsiḿho
yato yato yāmi tato nṛsiḿhaḥ
bahir nṛsiḿho hṛdaye nṛsiḿho
nṛsiḿham ādiḿ śaraṇaḿ prapadye
tava kara-kamala-vare nakham adbhuta-śṛńgaḿ
dalita-hiraṇyakaśipu-tanu-bhṛńgam
keśava dhṛta-narahari-rūpa jaya jagadīśa hare…

Jai Jai Lakshmee Narsinga bhagavan ..

All glories to the devotees who have been to Ahobilam reading this short description of the Temples https://video.wordpress.com/embed/u8ZlzB2l?hd=0&autoPlay=0&permalink=1&loop=0&preloadContent=metadata&muted=0&playsinline=0&controls=1&cover=1 https://video.wordpress.com/embed/r4iCTKyy?hd=0&autoPlay=0&permalink=1&loop=0&preloadContent=metadata&muted=0&playsinline=0&controls=1&cover=1

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

More info at this web link :
http://www.srivaishnavam.com/divyadesam108/ahobilam.pdf

Pics /videos credits : Google images and  all advanced devotees who shared it in social media..

prahladesha jaya padma-mukha-padma bringa

The most sacred shrine of Lord Narasimhar  at Ahobilam is located in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh in the hills of the eastern ghat. 

The temple consists of nine shrines to Lord Narisimha located around a 5 KM circle. The shtala Purana states that  PakshiRajar Garuda prayed  for a vision of Lord Narisimha .  Garuda commended his penance near to Srisaila Kshetra .

After long years of penance  Lord manifested Himself in the cave of a mountain. 

Few miles to the north east of the holy mountains where Garuda was performing penance  a vision of HIS manifestation was granted to Garuda………………..

who  after obtaining as sign of  location of the mountain cave gladly traveled to the holy spot and was blessed to be graced by Satswaroopa , Mahapurusha , Lord Jwala Narasimhar not easy accessible to common people those days

Garuda worshipped the Lord and glorified LORD as Ahobilam  is Mahabhalam .

The Lord was worshiped with glorious verses by Garuda …..

The mountain on which Garuda performed tapas became famous as Garudachala . In the days of yore when truth and dharma prevailed , great heat was observable near the mountain cave of Ahobilam , according to legend when green grass was put in the cave , it would catch fire and smoke would be emitted  .

There are nine Narasimha Kshetras  ..

Jwala ,

Ahobila ,

Malola 

Kroda ,

Karanja,

Bhargava

, Yogananda,

Kshatravata,

Paavana Nava Moorthayaha 

The uniqueness of Narasimhaavatara has been extolled by many  a devotee .

LORD appeared out of a Pillar neither man nor beast and yet both man and lion..

His very appearance bespeaks HIS supremacy and transcendence .

Among the distinguished disciples of Swamy Vedanta Desikar was brahmatantra Swantantra Jeeyar  Swamy  who had a illustrious disciple Ghatikastam Ammal .

He was grandson of the great Acharyar Swamy Nadaadooor Ammal  the chief disciple and successor of Engal Azhwar .    Sreenivasacharyar was his disciple and was studying under his holiness .

He was well versed in the ancient lore  and was very knowledgeable in  Swamy Ramanuja sampradaya right from his  boyhood.

One day the  Supreme  Lord Narasimha dev appeared in his dream and beckoned him to Ahobilam  located  in the Nallamallai Hills .

Could this vision be true ? he kept asking himself again and again ..

He hurried to meet his Acharyar  and told him  about his dream .

The old Acharyar was pleased with the direction of Lord .He asked him to obey the mandate.

Sreenivasacharya proceeded to Ahobilam as per Lord’s command .  

 He had to climb the hills amidst dense forests.  Recollecting the divine dream he passed on the deep jungles with ease …

He had a dip in the  Bhavanasini river ,  and took up abode in that wilderness .

As LORD always takes care of  HIS devotee ,  Mukundaraya, the local chieftain also reached the holy place to receive our Acharyar as per divine command.

On proceeding further  he could see the tribals worshipping Lord Narasimha .

They believed LORD had married their foster daughter of a  Chenchu Chief .

And since they became His votaries .

They called him Obelessuddu …

They used to celebrate Annual festival by presenting clothes , honey fruits and all the beautiful things .

Srinivasacharya  along with few locals  entered the forest . After he finished his many chores , a yati beckoned him and administered the Preshamantra  after ordaining him into the ascetic  order  .

Lord  addressed him as Sri Satakopa Yati and then revealed his real form of LORD NARASIMHA  

He directed the yati to be the Chief Aaaradhaka thus going to villages ministering to the spiritual well being of  all  his disciples .

Be their Acharya …..

purify them …

and

with the emblems of Conch and Discuss instruct them into the mysteries of the creed…….

He was the first Jeeyar who received the charter from LORD himself.

This happened on the fifth lunar day of of bright fortnight in the year 1320 the appearance day of Lord srinivas ( Purattasi sravanam ) 

As Lord disappeared the deity of Lord Lakshmi Narasimha had landed into his hands .

  Our dear  Lord Malola Murthy wears a paduka indicating he is ever ready to proceed to shower HIS mercy on devotees. 

A palanquin and other paraphernalia was offered to the Supreme LORD….. 

And thus  LORD has graced to accompany the Ahobilam Jeeyars   past 700 years .

It was during this time the great King  Prataapa Rudrudu was ruling Andhra pradesh.   Once  while returning from Srisailam after his worship to Paramasivan ,  Prataparudra stopped and camped at  Ahobilam .

He used to worship Paramasiva daily  . Everyday he used to mould a linga roopa in gold and worship .He used to offer the worshiped Linga to a brahmin before he partook food .It was a daily routine.

The next morning  he was eagerly waiting for his   goldsmith to bring the molded linga for worship. It was getting delayed and hence he himself approached the tent where the gold smith was molding the linga . To his surprise  he could see the molded gold was taking shape of Lakshmi Narasimha instead of Linga roopa  . 

Suddenly he  heard  vedic mantras .

He looked around  and was  attracted to  divine chants near by . He asked his ministers to find out the details . He approached the  vaishnavas who were radiating with opulence and requested them to introduce themselves .

The King was led into the Ashram where our First Jeeyar Sri Sri  Sri Adivan Satakopan was worshiping the great LORD .

The King was overjoyed to see the holy abode of Lord Narasimha .

He liked the pious  atmosphere around  with greenery everywhere .

His holiness Sri Adivan Satakopa Yatheendra Mahadesikar was radiating with divinity . The King fell at  the lotus feet of the Jeeyar and offered repeated obeisances . He explained the miracle of the molded gold turning into Lord Lakshmi Narasimhar deity instead of Linga roopa  .

The Jeeyar was pleased and blessed him .

The King offered the Suvarna Lakshmee Narasimhar to Jeeyar and asked for his benediction .He directed his ministers to provide all financial  and labor support for Jeeyar in propagating the path the Supreme  Lord had desired .

The King got converted to srivaishnavism and played a role in the Jeeyars journey of propagating the sampradaya.

Thus one would be very fortunate to have darshan of Jeeyar and the  Lordships who  accompany the Ahobilam Jeeyars . 

  The divine world  Jeeyar accompanies all compassionate our  Lord Maalola Narasimhar , Suvarna Narasimhar  Mangalagiri Panaka Narasimhar  who arrived and joined 42nd Jeeyar  Lord Krishna who enjoys Dolotsavam . Lord Ranganathar reclining on Adhishesha with Goddess Mahalakshmi ,Lord Athagiri Varadar worshipped by the great Acharyar Nadathur Ammal . Lord Sreenivasar with Alamelumanga thaayar  Sampath kumaran with Yadhugiri Nachiyar  Parimalarangan with  Goddess Sridevi and Bhudevi , Lakshmi varahan, Bhuvarahan , Adhikesavar with goddesses , Sudarshana Azhwar,  Sri Seetha Rama , Lakshmana perumal  Lord Aaravamudham , Hayagreevar Sri Andal ,Lord Rangamannar and  Saaligrama Moorthies  .

The divine world showers divinity all around .Great Acharyars Vishwaksenar Swamy Nammazhwar ,  Thirumangai Azhwar shower opulence on the lucky ones who have darshan …

Jai Jai Lakshmee Narasimha

All glories to His holiness Sri Sri  Sri Adivan Satakopa Yatheendra Mahadesikar

All glories to Lord Narasinga devotees

All glories to Ahobilam Kshetra

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

Pics Credits : Google images and various social media shared by several advanced devotees

Swami Alavandar is universally considered to be the Acharyar of Sri Ramanujacharya, though he had never spoken once to Swami Ramanuja till he lived. Whatever he taught Ramanuja he did it only through his disciples. Alavandar’s disciples were priceless gems. Perianambi, Thirukoshtiyur Nambi, Thirumaalaiyaandan and Peria Thirumalai Nambi were the chief disciples.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“May you be blessed, Maraneri Nambi.

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

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

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

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

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

“Thanks, Gurudeva.”

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

Alavandar was puzzled.

“Please Gurudeva show me your hands.”

“What for, Maraneri?”

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

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

Take it………………….

“No, Acharya.

”“Then..’

“Please repeat whatever I am going to say..

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

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

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

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

You have promised to give whatever I want…….

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

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

You are our Guru. You have a hundred disciples.

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

Even the Lord who sleeps forever in the temple is looking forward to see you every day.“How can you afford to be confined to your bed? And by your kind, wise words you are removing our pains. Pains which have been following us for millions of births. How can you suffer in pain, Acharya?

“I am a low-born worm, Gurudeva. By accepting me as your disciple you made a gift to me which is worth more than the whole universe.

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

If you refuse to give your disease then I will have no option than to die at your feet. It’s your call.” Alavandar melted. He poured the water on his hand and chanted the appropriate mantra.

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

Alavandar looked at his disciple through a screen of tears.

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

Alavandar was happy and sad at the same time.

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

Maraneri Nambi went out as a happy man.

Peria Nambi met him outside the room.

“Why are you so happy, my friend?”

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

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

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

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

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

Years flew.

  Swamy Alavandar was more than a hundred years old.

One day he passed away.

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

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

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

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

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

I have quite a lot of them, no doubt.

But most of them are drunkards and cheats.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Believe me, Maraneri. “

Maraneri Nambi was relieved.

He died peacefully in his sleep that very night.

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

And then he did the unthinkable.

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

It was nothing short of a revolution in those days.

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

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

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

Now Perianambi was Ramanuja’s teacher.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What’s your answer, Acharya?” 

Perianambi knew his disciple like the palm of his hand.

He knew that the show was only for the gallery.

He saw the disciples jeering at him.

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

“Ramanuja, I have not done anything wrong.

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

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

Measured words.

Not a single word wasted.

Pointed arguments.

The arrow hit the bull’s eye.

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

Or at least that was what he thought……

Ramanuja clapped his hands like a child.

He then turned to the other disciples. 

“Are you clear now?

Do you have any counter arguments?”

Nobody spoke.

But very few understood.

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

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

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

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

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

He was very sad.

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

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

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

They were about to close the doors.

They were waiting for the Acharya to finish his darshan.

Ramanuja was sobbing before the sleeping Lord.

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

I have failed in my mission.

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

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

Please my, Lord. Please…

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

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

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

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

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

He had never missed the car festival in the past. Because he was a well-learned Brahman and one of Alavandar’s disciples, the car would stop at the gate of his house so that he could have dharshan.

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

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

His eyes were shedding tears of love…..

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

Maraneri Nambi is a much better person than I. And I am really proud that I had the blessing to light his funeral pyre.

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

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

When Azhagia Manavala Perumal seated in the car was right in front of Perianambi’s house-entrance the huge car suddenly came to a grinding halt.Actually the administrators had cunningly planned to make the car run at double the usual speed when they were crossing Perianambi’s house.

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

And He always had his way.The gigantic Ther stopped before Perianambi’s house. It looked as if their roles had been reversed. For years and years Perianambi used to wait outside his house for the Lord.

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

Yet the car would not move.They sent word to the nearby villages. Hundreds of people came to pull the car. The Lord did not even move a milli-metre.They sent word to the stable and six elephants were brought to pull the car. The Lord was adamant. They then went in search of mantrikas and astrologers.The Lord was waiting patiently at the gate of Perianambi’s house.

Four hours had passed. Perianambi was crying in the pooja room. Nothing moved.The best of mantrikas was summoned. He came there, closed his eyes and went into a state of trance.

After thirty minutes he woke up. “Idiots, you have hurt a good man, a noble soul. Unless you give Lord’s prasadam to him with due respects the Lord will not move an inch from this place. And fools, do remember this.

If he thinks ill of you even for a second you’ll all be burnt to ashes in no time. You can even play with this God. He won’t mind. But never try to play with his devotees.

You will be annihilated.Emboldened by their silence the mantrika delivered his punchline with aplomb.“You fools, if you have any sense still left in you, fall at Perianambi’s feet and beg his pardon.

Unless he forgives you even this loving Lord will not forgive you. Mind it.”He refused to accept any fees from them.

“I have a strong policy not to accept anything from sinners like you.” He ran away from the place. Then and only then they realized their mistake.

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

At your gate. Looks like He won’t move any further unless you come out and see him. ‘Please come with me and accept the Lord’s prasadam. And please forgive all of us. We are all petty-minded people.

 “We now know for sure that you are on our Lord’s side. No, no, our Lord is on your side. Please come, Peria Nambi. The Lord has been waiting for you for the past four hours.” Perianambi ran out of the house.

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

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

Azhagia Manavala Perumal was affectionately smiling at his devotee. Perianambi was respected like a King amongst his peers.

For did not the Lord Himself stop at his place? Seeing the bewitching smile on Azhakia Manavalar’s most beautiful face Peria Nambi folded his hands.

He did not even attempt to control his sobs. “Any day your love is a million times better than mine, my Lord. Give me a billion births to be born as a worm to be crushed by the feet of your loving devotees. I can’t even repay a small fraction of your love.

Oh My Lord, you stopped at my place! You stopped at the house of this worm! You waited for me! My Lord! My Lord!”

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

Perianambi moved away.

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

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

Credits :  HG Shri  Varalotti Rengasamy

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

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

It was Namperumal’s divine plan to make Swamy Ramanujar leave Srirangam for a short time , and purify other places by placing his holy feet in Melnadu and retrieve Thirunarayanan who was worshipped by Sri Ramar and Sri Krishna during Tretha and Dwapara yugas .

Peria Perumal thus created a difficult situation by which Swamy Ramanujar had to leave Srirangam after taking Peria Perumal’s consent and thus proceeded towards north accompanied by Sri Mudaliandan Swamy.

https://video.wordpress.com/embed/7RWxlOHh?hd=0&autoPlay=0&permalink=1&loop=0&preloadContent=metadata&muted=0&playsinline=0&controls=1&cover=1

After many days of travel and undergoing various hardships following the course of Kaveri, Swamy Ramanuja finally arrived in Karnataka where the local tribals served them.

En route he met his disciple kongu piratti and graced her

.

Check the url below for kongu piratti divine pastime with Swamy Ramanuja

Kongil Piratti worships Swamy Ramanuja padukas……

Later he moved near Srirangapatinam. https://video.wordpress.com/embed/iUgKlN3R?hd=0&autoPlay=0&permalink=1&loop=0&preloadContent=metadata&muted=0&playsinline=0&controls=1&cover=1

The local people who were averse to Swamy Ramanujar conspired a plan to do away with him.

Swamy Ramanujar learning their evil intentions ordered Mudaliandan Swamy to place his feet in the drinking water pond in that area now called saligrama near Thondanur , which he politely obeyed.

At salagrama ,by partaking this Sripada theertham, the minds of the evildoers changed miraculously and they fell at Swamy Ramanujar lotus feet seeking forgiveness. Such was the greatness of Swamy Mudaliandan .

Ramanujar named this place as “Saligramam” which is near to Melkote.

Even today this pond is maintained by the archakar family .

There is a small temple opposite to this pond in which Swamy Ramanujar’s lotus feet are worshiped.

Swamy Ramanuja had a large number of disciples at Melnadu .

Vangipurathu Achi , Vangipurathu Nambi , Thondanur Nambi , Marudhur Nambi, Malur Nambi , Anathazhwan were some of them in the large group of disciples he had at Melnadu.

Thondanur Nambi was a great bhagavatha , a saint and most respected scholar as he was close to the Royal family .

Thondanur Nambi , during his pilgrimage to Srirangam was attracted to Swamy Ramanuja .

He loved his approach and the simple teachings which leads to self realisation that takes one to godhead. He was one among the 74 Simhadhipathees .

Thondanur was the summer capital of the Hoyasala kingdom ruled by King Vittala deva who was a staunch follower of Jainism .

https://video.wordpress.com/embed/YIeJQTjx?hd=0&autoPlay=0&permalink=1&loop=0&preloadContent=metadata&muted=0&playsinline=0&controls=1&cover=1

They were tolerant to other religions too . The King had a daughter who was possessed with an evil spirit .

No treatment could cure her illness . She was always under the possession of the evil spirit which made her do unnatural things .

She was almost dressed like a madwoman and was a big embarrassment to the Royal family . There was another tragedy , during a war the King lost his finger.

This earned him the name Bitti deva .

The King was very upset due to the deformity and the new worry of his daughter that took shape .

No treatment either medicines or tantric rituals could cure her .

The Jain monks also tried their best but nothing seemed possible to relieve her from the evil spirit .

Thondanur Nambi, the disciple of Swamy Ramanujar suggested to the queen that his spiritual master who arrived recently and staying at Saligrama was capable of restoring the princess to normalcy.

The Jain king pleaded Nambi to invite Swamy Ramanuja to his palace .

He even promises that If his daughter is cured he will adopt Srivaishnava faith and surrender to Swamy Ramanuja..

Thondanur Nambi goes to Saligrama and surrenders to the lotus feet of Swamy Ramanuja and briefs him about the Jain Kings intentions .

https://video.wordpress.com/embed/rzQGGS2O?hd=0&autoPlay=0&permalink=1&loop=0&preloadContent=metadata&muted=0&playsinline=0&controls=1&cover=1

It was a wonderful opportunity to grace the King and his people and induct them in the great srivaishnava sampradayam .

Swamy Ramanuja and Thondanur Nambi look for an auspicious time and leave to Thondanur to the Royal palace .

The Royal couple have the divya darshan of JagathAcharyar Swamy Ramanuja .

Both of them fall like uprooted trees looking at Swamy Ramanujas divine aura .

They welcome Swamy to their Royal chambers .

The whole Royal family pay their obeisance’s to Swamy Ramanuja .

The mad princess who was irritating the members few minutes back suddenly leaves into another room when Swamy enters the chambers . With some cajoling the princess who is shabbily dressed is brought before Swamy Ramanuja .

Looking at the pitiable state of the princess , Swamy gives the holy water that was offered to his Lordships and applies the holy turmeric paste offered to Lord on her forehead .

https://video.wordpress.com/embed/QeZcNanG?hd=0&autoPlay=0&permalink=1&loop=0&preloadContent=metadata&muted=0&playsinline=0&controls=1&cover=1

The moment she sips the holy water and makes an eye contact with the great Acharya the evil spirit vanishes and she almost faints before him .

The princess is slowly brought back to senses by sprinkling some water on her .

To everybody’s surprise she gets up , looks at herself feels shy and runs away to her chambers . She dresses herself elegantly and offers obeisances to Swamy Ramanuja amongst all the people .

The Royal couple are amazed with the sudden happenings . They accept that the great seer who is with them is a very pious soul who has incarnated to uplift them . Instantly they surrender to his lotus feet and beg to be taken into his fold .

Swamy Ramanuja asks them to offer prayers at Nambi Narayana Temple and meet him there .

At Swamy Nambi Narayana temple , Swamy Ramanuja conducts a discourse attended by many people . The King along with his Royal family too attend the discourse which speaks about the ultimate purpose of life as a srivaisnava .

. Attracted to his simple teachings the entire crowd adopt srivaishnavism . Amongst the citizens the King , Queen and all his family members are given Panchasamskara initiation .

The King is given a name a Vishnu vardhana after due initiation by Swamy Ramanuja himself . The celebration among st the citizens is multi fold .

All the citizens hail Swamy Ramanujas discourse and accept him as their Jagath Acharya .

Somewhere down the lane the Jain monks are upset with the happenings .

All of them march to the Royal Palace and argue with the king for taking such a foolish step  

https://video.wordpress.com/embed/2MwY0Cfp?hd=0&autoPlay=0&permalink=1&loop=0&preloadContent=metadata&muted=0&playsinline=0&controls=1&cover=1

They convince the King that their proposed debate with Swamy Ramanuja will prove Jainism superiority and he must agree to their command .

The King knew very well that such thing can never happen .

However he along with the Jain monks in huge numbers walk up to the Yoga narasimhar temple located on a hillock as Swamy Ramanuja was staying there .

The Jain monks along with the King meet Swamy Ramanuja and invite him to a debate on the esoteric truths . All the Jain monks assemble and start posing questions .

The euphoria around makes Swamy Ramanuja to command his disciples to surround him with a curtain . Almost 1000 jain monks shoot questions on him without any break .

                                              It is was ONE vs ONE THOUSAND 

The divine incident of Swamy Ramanuja taking over one thousand Jain monks was relished by the disciples . Inside , Swamy Ramanujar was covered by a curtain and with his original form as Adisesha with 1000 hoods, he answers every question of the monk with patience and clarity .

Thus he defeats all the 1000 Jains at a time. One monk was inquisitive to find out why the curtain was put .He slowly managed to peep inside the curtain .

To his shock he could see JagathAcharyar’s viswaroopam and fainted . The Jain monks had no reply and were forced to accept defeat and adopt to srivaishnavism .This incident happened at Lord Narasimha swamy temple in Bhakta nagari (presently known as Thondanur).

Swamy MudaliAndaan who gave us the nectarian sloka DHAATI PANCHAKA in praise of Swamy Ramanujar at this place. This place is on the way to Melkote(about 16 kms) from Srirangapatinam.

https://video.wordpress.com/embed/SBSp4tN3?hd=0&autoPlay=0&permalink=1&loop=0&preloadContent=metadata&muted=0&playsinline=0&controls=1&cover=1

The wonderful opportunity given by Swamy Ramanuja to Mudaliandaan is remembered even today . “Dhati Panchakam” speaks of the victory of Swamy Ramanuja over other philosophies – both those that accept Vedas and those that don’t – and his establishing the Visishtadvaita philosohpy that was built by Azhvars and Purvacharyas.

As the name suggests, it comprises of five slokas The word “DHATI” means “attacking” – as this work shows the attack that Ramanuja carried over the other philosophies that were widespread at that time, it is an appropriate name for it.

https://video.wordpress.com/embed/Uf3h0k5w?hd=0&autoPlay=0&permalink=1&loop=0&preloadContent=metadata&muted=0&playsinline=0&controls=1&cover=1

Swamy out of his love composed a wonderful composition on Swamy Ramanuja called “DHATEE PANCHAKAM” which starts with the introductory sloka ..

Our  Varthamana swamy descendant of Swamy MudaliAndaan was kind to recite this sloka at our residence during his recent visit , a clip presented below and the sloka

Click to access SreeMudhaliandanThirumaligai-DhattiPanchakam%20-%20English.pdf

Our moksham is not guaranteed only with the sambandham of any other acharya – but Ramanuja”.

Our daily chant is ” RamanujArya divyAgya vardhatAm abhi vardhatAm. ”

It is only he who can command and all our acharyas and we follow his command .

https://video.wordpress.com/embed/pHcG4AIA?hd=0&autoPlay=0&permalink=1&loop=0&preloadContent=metadata&muted=0&playsinline=0&controls=1&cover=1

Swamy Ramanuja is the only acharya who was referred with respect and followed by all other schools in vaishnavism like chaitanya, vallabhacharya, Swamy narayan as the margadayee .

Uyya Ore Vazhi Udayavar Thiurvadi!

(only way for spiritual up liftment is to take refuge in Yathiraja Padhuka)

https://video.wordpress.com/embed/B34oyAMq?hd=0&autoPlay=0&permalink=1&loop=0&preloadContent=metadata&muted=0&playsinline=0&controls=1&cover=1

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

Pictures courtesy : Google images uploaded by several devotees

Rate this:

“Nachet Ramanujet desha, Cathurat Chathurakshari
Kamavasthan Prapadhyanthe Janthavo Hantha Madrusha:”

The above solka by our Poorvacharyas, brings out how our Acharyar Swamy Ramanujar appearance leads us to Sri vaikuntam, and he is called “Vishu Loka Mani Mandapa Marga Dhayee” (one who shows way to Sri Vainkuntum) in Dhaati Panchakam and he was the first revolutionist who called Harijan as “Thiru kulatthar”

When he discovered that certain categories of people were barred from entering the temple, he bunched them all together as Thirukulathar and admitted them into the folds of the temple for serving the supreme LORD …He charted the work flow of a temple’s administration in a holistic manner. From the priest to the man who plays the mridangam, to the flower seller, everyone’s role in the running of the temple was factored in. To this day, the Vaishnavite temples adhere to his vision.

The gem of a work presented to us by Jagath Acharyar Swamy Ramanujar is        ” SRI BHASHYA”.  

The illustrious Sri Vaishnava preceptor  Swamy Alavandar  wanted  Swamy Ramanujacharya to take over spiritual leadership of the Sri Vaishnava community.

Swamy Ramanuja set off to meet Alavandar as per the instructions , but before the meeting could materialize,  Swamy Alavandar departed from this world.  Swamy Ramanuja  was sad  for the sudden turn of events .

He noticed that three of  Swamy Alavandar’s fingers remained folded.  Swamy Ramanuja asked the  Elders  assembled there why  was  it  so.   They  replied that Swamy Alavandar had three unfulfilled wishes. On inquiring further it was revealed that the great Acharyar  Alavandar wanted to write a commentary for Brahmasutra, but he could not get round to doing it because of his  busy occupations .

Hence the first folded finger indicated this unfulfilled desire. Secondly, he wanted to do something to honor the contributions of the revered  sages Vyasa and Parasara and thirdly, he wanted to write a commentary on Nammazhvar’s Thiruvaimozhi.

Swamy  Ramanuja instantaneously  promised to carry out all  the three wishes unfulfilled by Swamy  Alavandar.   Miraculously , all the  fingers  restored its normal course  .

Swamy  Ramanuja’s Brahmasutras   is glorified  as Sri Bhashyam.   Ramanuja named  his disciple Kooratazhvan’s sons Parasara Bhattar and Vedavyasa Bhattar, thus  the second wish of Alavandar was fulfilled. Upon the command of  Swamy Ramanuja, his disciple Sri Kurukesa (Pillan) wrote a commentary for Thiruvaimozhi. Thus  Swamy Ramanuja ensured that all of  Acharyar Alavandar’s   three wishes were fulfilled.

 The efforts made by Swamy Ramanuja to take up the important task of his Acharyar must be cherished by every vaishnava . The comprehensive commentary of this outstanding work was given the name Srutha Prakashika. 

The legendary Acharyas after our Jagath Acharyar who explained this beautiful commentary were    Kurukeshwaran disciple of Swamy Ramanuja  , Vishnuchittar disciple of Swamy  Kurukeshwaran  , Varadacharyar disciple of  Vishnuchittar and Sudarshana bhattar disciple of  Varadacharyar ( Nadaadhoor Ammal)

 The great devotee  of Lord Varadarajar of Kancheepuram ” Swamy Nadaadhoor Ammal wrote a book with all the understandings gained from the Elders in the form of arguments answers and counter arguments about the great work Sri Bhashya.

This work was called as PRAMEYAMALA .

He continued his writing with monumental works like Tatwa sara and Prapanna Parijata.  Swamy was respected as  the most authoritative commentator on Sri Bhashya and several disciples used to approach him for learning the esoteric truths .

A great devotee and an obedient disciple Sudarshana suri was keen to meet the Acharyar for the same . He traveled to Kancheepuram after taking permission from his  aged mother . Always attentive and serving his Acharyar Ammal he was learning the rich truths from the commentaries daily.  He was always  there  to attend the class , no matter even If he  had already attended the same .That was his interest . He was always in the mood of being near to his Acharyar serving him .

One day  it so happened all the disciples were awaiting for the class to begun . Acharyar also had come . But he was waiting for Sudarshana  arrival . The disciples were upset for the special care given to Sudarshana  The disciples expressed their unhappiness for the special care given to Sudarshana  as they found him to be a dull witted person attending  the  same classes repeatedly  without any knowledge.

The next day Ammal conducted the class as usual . He paused at a verse … and looked at Sudarshana  and said ……..

My Child !  Please repeat what was explained  about  this verse  . Sudarshana bhattar obediently  got up and with folded hands  replied ..

Acharya … Please command me !!!  Which adhikarna  ? This verse was given wonderful explanations in every discourse .Please tell me which explanation are you seeking ? The first class OR the last class ?

The disciples were dumb folded . Ammal continued . My child ! Please tell me both of them ..

Sudarshana   explanations was a continuous flawless flow of words that mesmerized all the disciples .He was simply excellent in reproducing the content as explained by his Master ..

Acharyar praised him for his comprehension  diction and dedication . All the disciples rushed towards Sudarshana and requested him to elucidate all the meanings .

https://video.wordpress.com/embed/9Mn47wZI?hd=0&autoPlay=0&permalink=1&loop=0&preloadContent=metadata&muted=0&playsinline=0&controls=1&cover=1

Sudarshana attempted to codify all the texts and bring together the various commentaries of  Elders  as the gem Sri Bhashya.. The disciples all together edited the various commentaries of the Acharyas and hence the name   …

                                                  SHRUTA PRAKASHIKA  ….…

                        THAT WHICH IS HEARD HE MOST AUTHORITATIVE

This treasure is considered as a full mail of diamonds for Sri Bhashya like a kavacham ( shield )  This great commentary has provided answers to various onslaughts made on it in the form of questions and the doubts raised by people with limited vision .Because of this lovely work Sri Bhashya withstood firmly the many arguments and counter arguments of mayavadis  .

Once this wonderful work was completed Sudarshana seeking blessings of Acharyar  returned to Srirangam . He was shocked to see the tyranny of Ulugh Khan  the Moslem rulers . There was chaos everywhere  .

The tyrants were pulling down the towers of the mandapams .The people were living in deep fear .The palm leaf manuscripts stored in the houses of advanced  srivaishnavas were being burnt .

Many elders lost their lives saving the treasures of commentaries .  Sudarshana  was sad . He carried the manuscripts to his aged mother and pleaded her to save this jewel  which was his life breath .   He approached the elders to contribute his services in protecting the LORD ..

 The young Swamy Desikar , Swamy Sudarshana  and other Acharyas assembled , and met Swamy Pillai Lokacharyar  inside the  Srirangam temple .They all  concluded it was  Ulugh Khan  the army commander sent by Tuglak who was creating this  tyranny to loot the temple   . They had to take a quick decision  .

All of them informed the  temple priests for staying beside the deities at all cost , and gave some important  tasks to be completed without any delay . 

.Swamy  Lokacharyar called the Chieftain and the Elders  of the temple and  advised them what could be the steps  that  may have to take facing the invader inside the temple .The   objective was not to confront the enemy but to focus their efforts to ensure that the moola virat  was not desecrated.

All of them decided that they shall form three groups . One group shall be headed by  the eldest  Swamy Pillai Lokachariya,   who shall carry the deities of Lord Ranganatha and His concerts in a covered palanquin and proceed southward with few disciples .

Sudarshana  who had just arrived  took up the task of erecting a stone wall in front of the  main sanctorum to  misguide the invaders . Thus a  stone wall was constructed with support of many disciples in a short time  .

The third team was to provide cover for the team lead by Swamy Pillai Lokachariya [the team with the deities  of our lord and his consorts so that swami had enough time to maintain safe distance from the enemy.

Swami Desika who was the youngest among the Acharyas was requested  by Shri Sudarsana  to go with the third party and somehow save himself so that he at least might be left to propound Sri Vaishnavism and the teachings of Jagatha Acharya Shri Ramanuja.

There was not much time left . Sudharsana  entrusted his two  young  sons and manuscript “Sruta prakaasikA” to  Swami Desika asking him to save this treasure for future generations    Swami Desika earnestly    prayed LORD that this great work  must at any cost  be saved . Swami  as instructed immediately took up the directions from Sudharsana Suri and was about to leave  towards northward with the little boys . 

At the temple town , all of them decided in one voice that  they will not oppose the army  , but behave as if nothing is so serious ..   There was a regular update about the Invaders  who were approaching . The people  were in two moods  whether they should remain in town or flee. 

Who was to decide and advise them? The people  were utterly confused .They decided to take counsel from Lord Ranganatha himself then decided to appeal to the LORD  Himself  . They all dropped chits (Tiru Ulla seettu) expressing their opinion and  with  devotion they drew up one chit which said that all could remain at Srirangam  itself.

They decided in was the Lord’s order and remained facing the situation bravely.The same evening, the  invaders marched inside the  Srirangam town from Samayavaram  . Thousands of the town’s  citizens were  harassed and injured .The terror in which  the enemy looted the prosperous town   speaks about the bravery of the srivaishnavas there  .

It was a very sad plight and the  bloodbath that followed who resisted will make one cry  for our great forefathers who sacrificed their lives . This had been recorded in the History of Srirangam Temple known as Koil-Ozhugu . The  sad  bloodshed of 12,000 Sri Vaishnavas at  Sri Varahaswamy Sannidhi makes it the worst day in the temple town .

Inside the Hall , Swamy Desikar  saw heaps of corpses lying around . He somehow braved the boys to lie down unnoticed to give an impression that no one survived . The little boys stretched underneath  along with some of them and our dear Swami also lay down next to them along with the holy book.

Swamy Desikar thus concealed the two boys and himself amidst a heap of corpses and passed the night with caution . The enemy troops assumed that they were corpses and did not bother to probe. Observing the enemy troops moving away , Swamy  Desikar slowly took the frightened boys before dawn unnoticed in North-Westerly direction .

He suddenly saw some gaurds chasing them. He managed to  hide near the mud rocks at the banks of river kaveri. With caution ,  hiding the young boys beneath the mud rocks he dug one yard deep pit in the sands of the river and buried the great work  giving mother kaveri a rare tribute .

He somehow managed to lay down covering himself with the kaveri sand escaping any detection . When the gaurds moved  he regained his position  and quickly moved away to Satyamangala  with  the treasure book and the small kids . He made few copies of the manuscripts and taught the contents to all his disciples .

 Our Poorvacharyas have struggled to give us this treasure and hence It is the bounden duty of every vaishnava to proudly say….. 

                                                      Adiyen Ramanuja dasan …..     https://video.wordpress.com/embed/pHcG4AIA?hd=0&autoPlay=0&permalink=1&loop=0&preloadContent=metadata&muted=0&playsinline=0&controls=1&cover=1

  I am Ramanuja dasan … and thus protect /propogate the works of our Poorvacharyars and our sampradaya ..saying .

All glories to Swamy Pillai LokaAcharyar

All  glories to Swamy Sudarshan suri

All glories to Swamy Vedanta  Desikar…………

All glories to Poorvacharyas for their abundant mercy …

“shrImAn venkaTa-nAthAryaH kavitArkika-kesari |
vedAntAcharya-varyo me sannidhattAm sadA hridi |
kavithArkika simhAya kalyANa guNa Saline
Srimathe vEnkateSAya vEdhAntha guravE namaha

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan …..

Adapted from a discourse shared by an advanced devotee .

Pics Credits : Google images/sri varavara muni /All devotees of Lordships

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 )

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

Swamy Nampillai appeared in Krithikai Month on Krithikai Nakshatra which happens to be today .

Swamy Nampillai was a disciple of Swamy Nanjeeyar who in turn was the disciple of Parasarar bhattar , son of Koorathazhwar. Swamy wrote commentaries for the great works Kanninunsirutthambu, Thiruviruttam, and Thiruvoimozhi, all belonged to and included in the collection of works “Nalayira Divya Prabandam”. His commentary on Thiruvoimozhi is glorified known as Edu.

Swamy Nampillai discoursed the lectures of Parasara Bhattar to his disciples Periyavachaan Pillai and Vadakku Thiruveedi Pillai who in turn employed them in their respective commentaries..

An interesting incident happened when Swamy Nampillai should have been 25 years old and his teacher, Nanjeeyar should have been in his early fifties. 

One sunny day Pillaiathan approached Swamy Nanjeeyar . He was about forty years old. He prostrated at the lotus feet of Swamy Nanjeeyar and requested him to teach any one padhikam (a set of eleven songs) of Thiruvaimozhi. The  Sacred hymns “Thiruvaimozhi “written by  a great Azwar Sri Nammazhwar which consists of 100 padhikams.  

Swamy Nanjeeyar was busy in some service to the Supreme Lord
He told Pillaiathan,
“I am a little busy now. The best person to teach you Thiruvaimozhi is my disciple Swamy Nampillai. Please go to him.” I will advise him to teach you . Pillaithan was not interested as he was elder to Nampillai .. He said …
“But Swami, there is a delicate problem in that.”
“What’s the problem?”

“Our sasthras dictate that a student should prostrate at the feet of his master. You see I am a forty year old man. I can fall at your feet because you are a sanyasi and you are older than me. But Nampillai is much younger to me. And he is a householder. How do you expect somebody of my stature to fall at his feet?

Swamy ”Nanjeeyar now knew where exactly the problem was .Oh !!

 “That’s not an issue.

Our sasthras allow us to waive that condition in exceptional cases.

Any way Your case appears to be quite exceptional. I will advise Nampillai not to expect the usual formality of the disciple falling at his Guru’s feet.

You may start the classes from tomorrow.

”Pillaiathan went back happily. 

Nanjeeyar called Nampillai and reported the conversation verbatim. 
“My dear boy, Nampillai, we have a moral responsibility for the long-term welfare of our disciples. I have told you what is there in his mind. It is up to you to make him realize what is right and what is wrong. I am sure you will teach him the lessons in his expectations

Swamy Nampillai replied “As you wish, Acharya.”
Next day Pillaiathan went to Nampillai’s house.

Nampillai had already made the seating arrangements for the classes.

A seat was placed two steps above the ground level. Another seat was placed at the ground level.

Pillaiathan now knew the trick. He thought: ‘This boy is offended because I won’t prostrate before him. That’s why he has made a high seat for himself.

What a pride! I should make it a point to tell this to Nanjeeyar.’

Mean time , to his surprise , Nampillai came near Pillaiathan, took his hand in his and led him to the high seat over his . He made Pillaiathan sit there and he sat at the ground level.
That was probably the only one-to-one class in the whole world where the teacher sat at a lower level than his student. 

‘What a nice boy! He has given me the proper seat respecting my age, erudition and my position in the society.’
A teacher’s role is not just to fan the ego of his student.

Nampillai remembered his Guru’s words.
I have told you what is there in his mind. It is up to you to make him realize what is right and what is wrong. I am sure you will teach him without hurting him.”

The lessons started. Nampillai had cleverly chosen the 27th prose in which Nammazhwar talks about his love for the devotees of the Supreme Lord.
In the third verse in that paasuram , Nammazhwar melts;
The heaven and the earth always sing praises about the Supreme Lord, Sriman Narayana, the one who loves Tulsi leaves. The Lord has a shining golden disc about him and he is more than a father to me. 
Many fall at the feet of that kind Lord. Even greater are those who fall at the feet of those who worship that Great Lord.

And I am a slave to those who worship the devotees of our Lord.

I am a slave to them not only in this birth, but all my births to follow.
As Nampillai was quoting from the scriptures, from Ramayana, from many religious texts and emphasizing the importance of selfless love and the total absence of pride, Pillaiathan was transported to a different world. 

He now realized his mistake of refusing to prostrate at the feet of this great man. He started crying for what he had done. 
He could not sit in the high chair any longer looking down on one of the greatest teachers of his time, of all times.

He stood up from his place.
Nampillai misunderstood the meaning of that gesture.
“I know Pillaiathan, that you are a true devotee of God.

Now come and stand here facing East.

Let me fall at your feet and get your blessings.”
As Nampillai prepared to prostrate at his feet, Pillaiathan prevented it with all his might.
“Swami, you are my Acharya.

You have made me realize the dangers of pride.

I had never known about this padhikam of Namazhwar. By deciding to teach me this, you have reformed me. Now please stand there. Let me fall at your feet. Please forgive me, Swami.”
Now it was Nampillai’s turn to block his move. 
“Pillaiathan, my Acharyar , Nanjeeyar has clearly told me that you will not prostrate at my feet. I am a householder and I am younger to you.”
“Oh, Swami, please do not kill me with my own words.”
“No, Pillaiathan I wont let you worship me. It’s against the orders of my Acharyar

.” “Ok, Swami. Then grant me a favour. Please come with me.”
Pillaiathan did not even wait for Nampillai’s answer.

He grabbed him by his hand and walked out of the house.

He virtually dragged Nampillai to Nanjeeyar’s place. 
Nanjeeyar was taking classes at that time.

There were more than fifty students in the class.

Pillaiathan begged Nanjeeyar to stop teaching for a while.

He then told him what had happened.He fell at Nanjeeyar’s feet. He stood up and amidst tears begged him,
“Swami, please instruct your disciple Nampillai to accept me as his disciple.

Please tell him that I am going to fall at his feet in your presence and that he should accept and bless me.”
Nanjeeyar was very happy with his disciple.

He then nodded to Nampillai. 

Pillaiathan then fell at Nampillai’s feet in the presence of Nanjeeyar and all the students in his class. 

Nampillai lifted him up and hugged him.

Thereafter Pillaiathan learned the entire Thiruvaimozhi from Nampillai.

At the beginning and at the end of every class he would fall at his young teacher’s feet. 

All glories to our Swamy Nampillai

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

Pictures/Videos : Courtesy Google images and uploaded by many devotees in social media

All Merciful “Lord Sriman Narayana” appears in five different forms as para, vyuha, vibhava, archai and antaryAmi . To uplift the fallen souls Lord advises the Nityasurees to incarnate in the mortal world and spread the message of divine love and true knowledge for a common man to come back to God head .

Thus Azhwars were the incarnations of of Lord Sriman Narayana’s divine weapons and ornaments (“Azhwar” in Tamil means ‘one who is immersed’). Since the advanced saints were always immersed in the Lord and His qualities, they were glorified as Azhwars and the places which was glorified by Azhwars are earmarked as Divya desams . Out of the 12 azhwars, 4 Azhwars appeared towards the end of Dwapara yuga and Eight Azhwars appeared during Kali yuga.

• Poigai Azhwar – Panchajanya ( Lord Krishna’s conch)
• Bhootha Azhwar – Kaumodakee (Lord Maha Vishnu’s Mace/Club)
• Pey Azhwar – Nandaka ( Lord Maha Vishnu’s sword)
• Tirumazhisai Azhwar – Sudarshanam ( Lord Maha Vishnu’s discus)
• Nammazhwar – Vishvaksena ( Lord Maha Vishnu’s commander)
• Madhurakavi Azhwar – Vainatheya ( Lord Maha Vishnu’s , Garuda)
• Kulasekara Azhwar – Kaustubha ( Lord MahaVishnu’s necklace)
• PeriyaAzhwar – Garuda ( Lord Maha Vishnu’s eagle
• Andal – Bhoodevi
• Thondaradippodi Azhwar – Vanamaalai ( Lord Maha Vishnu’s garland)
• Tiruppaan Azhwar- Srivatsa (An auspicious mark on Lord Maha Vishnu’s chest)
• TirumangaiAzhwar – Sharanga ( Lord Rama’s bow)

The Srivaishnava Divyadesams are  the temples glorified by 12 azhwars. Among the 108 Divyadesams, 105 temples are located in India and one in Nepal. The remaining two temples are in the celestial world glorified as Sri Vaikuntam and ThiruParamapadham. The 106 temples are classified into six divisions –

• Chozha Nadu divya desam – 40 temples situated in Central Tamilnadu around Trichy,Kumbakonam,Mayavaram, Srikazhi,Nagapatinam
• Pandya Nadu divya desams– 18 temples situated in southern part of Tamilnadu around Madurai,Tirunelveli, Ramnathapuram, Sivakasi
• Nadu nadu divya desams – 2 temples in the northern part of Tamilnadu located near Virudhunagar and Cuddalore
• Thondai nadu divya desams -22 temples in the northern part of Tamilnadu located in and around Chennai(4),Kanchipuram (15), Arakonam(3)
• Malai nadu divya desams – 13 temples out of which 2 are in Southern tip of tamilnadu and the rest 11 temples are in Kerala scattered around Trivandrum,Chenganoor, Ernakulam, Thrissur
• Vada nadu divya desams – 11 temples out of which 2 are in Andhra Pradesh, 1 in Gujarat, 4 in Uttar Pradesh, 3 in Uttaranchal and 1 in Muktinath.

The 4000 Divya Prabandham(Naalayira Divyaprabhandham) also known as “Dravida Vedas” are the out pouring of the Azhwars who  appeared in Southern India  few thousand year ago as per the divine commands of Lord Sriman Narayana to uplift the humankind and thus composed the divine pasurams which all the vaishnavas make it a law to recite . In Srimad Bhagavatam, Lord declares that HIS devotees would be born in Kaliyuga around the banks of Tambaraparani ,Cauvery rivers. As the recitation of vedas is restricted tto only few (women and low caste are not allowed to recite them), the compassionate Lord made azhwars appear on the earth for the upliftment of one and all and compose the pasurams in nectarian Tamil so that it could be relished by all.

Thirumangai Azhwar, the last among all the Azhwars was the only Azhwar who has glorified the maximum number of temples -86 divya desams and he alone has the credit of glorifying  47 divya desams exclusively. 

Azhwar appeared on the 397^th year after the advent of Kaliyuga as per “Guru Parampara prabhavam” composed by Sri.Pinbhagzhagiya Perumal Jeeyar a disciple of Swamy Nampillai,,,

Neelan as he was called appeared on a bright Thursday in Nala varushey(year name), Karthigai maasey (karthigai month as per tamil calender[Nov-Dec])on Krithikai star on Pournami in Kallar kulam at Thirukuraiyalur – a small village near Thirunangoor about one hour drive from Sirkazhi

.

His parents –Aaliaaduudaiyaar(father) and Vallithiru (mother) named him as “Neelan” as he was Neelavarnan . He had various other names which he himself mentions in the last verse of his works (pasuram) dedicated to Sirkazhi Perumal as “Aali naadan”, “Arulmaari”, “Aratamukki”, “mangai vendhan”, “parakaalan”, “kaliyan”,”thirumangai mannan”, “Naalukavi Perumal). Lord (Perumal) addressed him as “kaliyano??” .

As he was like kaalan for people who refuted “paran”(perumal), he came to be known as “Parakaalan” . He was an expert in composing different types of poems in different meters as per Tamil grammar which earned him the name “Naalu Kavi Perumal”.

In thanian ( Introductory verses ) for Peria Thirumozhi, Swamy Embaar says “Engal gathiye Ramanusa muniye…..mangaiyar kon eendha marai aayiram anaithum thangumanam enaku thaa” which means Swamy Embaar submits to Swamy Ramanuja grace for remembering the 1000 pasurams sung by the famous Thirumangai Azhwar and hence the Sattaree is “Ramanuja Padhuka” who in turn is considered as “Thirumangai Azhwar’s padhuka” at Tirunagari divya desam

.

Swamy Manavala Maamunigal in the ninth verse (pasuram) of the great work Upadesaratnamalai glorifies the appearance day of Thirumangai Azhwar as “VEERUDAYA KARTHIGAIYIL KAARTHIGAI NAAL”as this azhwar exhibited his veeram (valour) in getting Perumal’s anugraham. 

Its a great day as Azhwar , Acharyar Nampillai and Asmath acharyar-Sri Kumara Venkatacharyar( descendant of Swamy MudaliAndaan ) also appeared on the same dayThree important festivities are celebrated grandly in this village.(1) Thai Amavaasai for 3 days (Jan-Feb)(2)Thiruvedupari utsavam on Panguni-Pooram (March-April)(3)Thiru avataara utsavam-10 day utsavam during Karthigai month culminating on Karthigaiyil Karthigai

.

Neelan was very valiant and brave which earned him a position as army chief in Chola kingdom . He was later elevated to the position of a king for a small territory named “Aalinaadu” . Thus we have “Thirumangai mannan” who had that power , fame , position which took him to material pleasures like any human . The possessions and power engulfed him . Blinded by daring heroism, Neelan was indulged in sensual pleasures

(Azhwar himself admits in his pasurams that he was behind dove-eyed beautiful women).

By Perumal’s nirukethu sankalpam, he happened to meet Kumudavalli daughter of a physician in Thiruvellakulam who played a vital role in transforming Neelan into Azhwar. Her appearance also was a divine plan to correct Neelan in the right path …

Kumudhavalli a damsel (apsaras) who was named Thirumaamagal/Sumangalai along with her friends descended on Himalayan forests mocked at a siddhar who was being imparted knowledge by Kapila maharishi. The infuriated rishi cursed her to descend to earth and get married to a human being .

When she repented for her mistake and asked for a means to go back to the heavenly planet, the sage advised her to transform Neelan(an amsam of Saarangam) and make him a great devotee and get married to him.

After accomplishing her mission, he blessed her that she would be able to get back to her heavenly abode. Thus , she appeared as a small girl on the banks of Swetha Pushkarini(Thiru vella kulam) in front of Srinivasar Kovil in Thirunangoor.

A physician who happened to pass by was attracted to the small kid. He learnt from her about the cause of her appearance and adopted her as his daughter. As he was childless for a long time, he considered to be Lord Srinivasar’s blessings .As she was seen holding Kumudha flower, he named her as Kumudavalli.

Once Neelan , the ruler of the province around Thirunangoor happened to come to Thiruvellakulam. He was mesmerized by Kumudavalli’s beauty and expressed his ardent desire to marry her. He approached her parents and expressed hos desire .

The Parents were overjoyed as the King was at their doorstep . However , Kumudavalli expressed her desire “to marry only to a person who sported Thiruman kaapu ( Tilak ) on his forehead and got pancha samskaaram ( initiation ) done”.

Immediately Neelan set out in search of an Acharya to get initiated (pancha samskaaram in srivaishnava sampradaya) done.

No one dared to initiate him considering his qualities.

The ever compassionate Lord Srinivasar of Thirunaraiyur appeared before him as a Priest and did panchasamskaaram to Neelan. Later, Thirukannapuram Lord Sowriraja Perumal imparted the intricate meanings of Ashtakshari to him. Hence, these two Lordships are considered as “Acharyar” for Azhwar.

Having fulfilled her condition, Neelan approached Kumudavalli . She replied

Oh Prince ! Am glad with your desire in entering a relationship with me .But please understand as your better half I have another condition . I wish you undertake to carry out the bhaagavatha dhadhiaaradanam to 1000 people for one year which gives me immense satisfaction.

Neelan accepts the condition with a smile as she would be his queen soon .

Now , the couple did dhadhiyaaradhanam for one year and continued with the kainkaryam later. The place where he did dhadhiyaaradhanai kainkaryam is known as “Mangai maadam”.

It was a grand feast every day . A vast area was covered with pandals .for devotees thronging daily . It became a sacred shrine with hundred of devotees gathering daily with vaishnava tilaks and glorifying Lordships with songs . Few were discussing the greatness of Neelan and kumudha .Filled with bhagavathas , the place became more vibrant with devotion.

Neelan loved the new role. He never questioned the spending even the coffers of Thirumangai was coming to a stock out position . The Ministers whispered about the coffers getting emptied , but he continued the services selling his jewellary and other precious things .

The news reached the chozha king. He summoned Neelan to return the entire money or face repercussion. As Neelan didn’t oblige, the king had to send an army . Neelan defeated the army with ease . Shocked , the king came in person to wage a war.

Knowing Neelan’s might, the king with the help of his minister, conspired a plan to trick Neelan and arrested him.

Neelan was locked up in a temple for 3 days without food and water.(very similar to bhakta Ramadasar). The ever compassionate Lord Varadarajar of Kanchipuram appeared in Neelan’s dream informing that he could use the wealth lying on the banks of Vegavati river in Kanchipuram to clear the king’s dues.

The next day , Neelan informed the king that he would return the entire money given a chance . The King sent Neelan along with his soldiers to the banks of Vegavati river.

The search could not find any wealth . The Soldiers were instructed to harm Neelan If the search was untrue.

Lord appeared in Neelan’s dream again and informed him the exact location of the wealth. Neelan , overjoyed once again marched to the river and thus found the wealth. He cleared the king’s dues and kept the balance with him for continuing the bhagavatha kainkaryam which he got infected to.

The greedy king along with few others who realized that Neelan had wealth , claimed that their dues were not fully settled and asked for more wealth.

Neelan prayed to Lordships to help him out . The Compassionate Lord asked him to measure the sand on the banks of Vegavati river using “marakkal”( a measure) and settle the dues.

Obediently , Neelan accordingly collected the sand and handed over the same in gunny bags. This infuriated the king that Neelan was giving them sand instead of wealth.

But as the soldier who was trying to put the same in treasury , it turned into gold dust. The king realized that Neelan was not an ordinary person. He begged forgivance and after rewarding him sumptuously , released him forever,

It was a home coming . Neelan resigned from the king’s service and dedicated his full time for bhaagavatha kainkaryam. To continue the kainkaryam, Neelan resorted to looting wealth from the rich peasants who were egoistic selfish and greedy .

He did that by waylaying with the help of his four friends -Neermel nadappan(one who could walk across water), nizhalil odhunguvaan(one who was an expert in following a person’s shadow), thaaaludhuvaan (one who could open any lock without key), tholavazhakkan(one who could not be defeated in any argument).

As the looting expedition was also getting a bad name to Neelan who was doing a great kainkaryam ( service ) Lordships of Thiruvaali divyadesam along with Thaayar had to intervene.

The Lordships appeared as a newly wed couple fully bedecked with costly jewels and set out on a closed palanquin to Thiruvaali .

Neelan’s friends who came to know of this, informed Neelan that if the bridal party is looted, they would have enough wealth to support lifelong bhagavatha kainkaryam. Neelan was very pleased . He immediately galloped on his horse(Aadalmaa) followed by his thief-friends and reached the place which is presently known as “Thirumanan kollai”.

On reaching the place, Neelan threatened the couple to part with their entire jewellery. Accordingly , the couple surrendered all their jewellery except the toe ring on the bride as it could not be removed.

Though Neelan had the entire loot , Lord veiled a maya on him which made him to lure for the toe ring too which was very attractive. Neelan himself bent down to remove the ring but as his efforts were futile, he tried to remove the ring with the help of his teeth by his mouth.

Unknowingly, he surrendered to Thayar’s lotus feet for the material wealth .But , by coming into contact with Goddess (Thayar’s) lotus feet, wisdom dawned on him. He was mesmerized and choked with no words . He attempted to move quickly and thus bundled the entire loot in a big cloth. Looking at the divine couple , he tried to lift the baggage but for its weight .

Shocked that the small booty could not be lifted , Neelan thought that the bridegroom must have cast a spell on the bundle . He wanted to frighten the bridegroom now . He threatened them with a dagger to reveal the secret which made that booty so heavy that he couldnt lift it .

The mischievous bridegroom smiled and agreed to share the secret with him . He advised him to purify himself in the nearby stream and wait under the banyan tree (arasa maram).

Neelan did as advised and the bride groom uttered the sacred Ashtakshari mantram on Neelan’s right ear.

Wisdom dawned on Neelan and there was an instant flash …. he repented for all his deeds. He understood his real purpose of his birth . The divine couple appeared as Lord Lakshmi-Narayanan on Garuda vahanam and blessed their child .

Lord addressed him as Thirumangai mannan as he had the blessing of Thiru (Thayar first).

Now the jeevatma “Thirumangai mannan” in ecstasy repenting for all his misdeeds outpours torrential verses instantaneously in presence of Divyadampathigal starting with the most beautiful verse ….

“vaadinen vaadi varundhinene manathaal……”

concluding each phrase glorifying “Narayana” naamam…..

The name N A R A Y A Y A N A itself can give stature and wealth. The name destroys miseries .This Holy name gives a seat in heaven a seat in Paramapadam .It will give you strength It will give you everything .This lovely name will give more that what a loving mother can give …And thus Azhwar reveals saying ..

.I have found such a good word in HIS holy name….

This wonderful incident is recapitulated every year in the holy place and is celebrated grandly as “Thiru vedupari utsavam” on the night preceding Panguni Uthiram in the month of March-April . As part of 10 day brahmotsava celebrations at Thiruvaali, on the sixth day, Lord (Perumal ) arrives to wed Goddess ( Thayar ) and set out on a “moodu pallaku”. The divine wedding (thirukalyanam) takes place in the afternoon and saatrumarai goshti gets over by 9 p.m .

Later the divine couple set out on a palanquin slowly and head toward Thirumangai maadam and rest in a mandapam. Azhwar sets out from Thirunagari temple at midnight and swiftly reaches the mantapam and goes round the couple thrice.

A screen is drawn and it is presumed that all the ornaments are removed. Lord gets ready to give darshan on Garuda vahanam along with Thayar. Meanwhile Thirumangai mannan is taken to a nearby mandapam where thousands of devotees throng to have the beautiful sight of Azhwar riding on the horse for about an hour.

Later Azhwar is taken towards Perumal who imparts the Eight syllable mantra “Ashtakshari. The bhog is offered to the Lordship. Azhwar circumblates around Lordships with benevolence.

Lord blesses Thirumangai Azhwar with prasadam, maalai, parivattam. The assembled goshti start reciting “Vaadinen vaadi….” slowly and after completing of the first 10 pasurams, mangalaaarthi is given to both Perumal and Azhwar.

This incident happens around early hours 2-3 a.m. The entire group return to Thiruvaali temple and on the way , the entire Peria Thirumozhi ( the compositions of Thirumangai Azhwar ) is recited by the goshti.

One devotee relished his experience that when the azhwar sets out from the temple to loot the Lord, his valour ,pride ,strength ,determination can be seen on Azhwar’s thirumugam and when he returns after having Perumal’s darsanam, Azhwar’s speed is reduced as he becomes submissive having shed away his pride and takes about 4 hours to reach the temple as the procession moves slowly.

Coming back to the divine incident , Neelan who becomes transformed to Thirumangai Azhwar decides to visit all the holy shrines and glorify the Lordships .

Lord captivated his attention by giving HIM beautiful darshan in all the temples. In his divine pasurams, he vividly describes the Lord, location of the holy place , surroundings and the opulence .

Azhwar , personally visits the divya desams beginning with the Northern side temples starting at Thirupiridhi ( JoshirMutt ) and submits his glorifications to the Lord . Every verse he puts before LORD moves the person with tears reciting them .

The struggle of a jiva in this material world seeking true knowledge with stiff opposition of maya draws comparision with all of us .

Thirumangai Azhwar composed six prabhandhams which are treasures .He stands second to Swamy Nammazhwar in the contributions to Divya Prabhandam.

Thirumangai Azhwar’s six prabhandhams are the six angams for Maaran’s four works (Nammazhwar’s four prabhandhams-

Thiruvaimozhi,

Thiruvirutham,

Thiruvaasiriyam ,

Peria Thiruvandhadhi)

Azhwar’s compositions are:

• Peria Thirumozhi comprising of 1084 pasurams
• Thirukurunthandakam comprising of 20 pasurams
• Thirunedunthandakam comprising of 30 pasurams
• Thiruvezhukootruirukai comprising of 1 pasuram
• Siriya Thirumadal consisting of 155 lines considered as 1 pasuram
• Peria Thirumadal consisting of 297 lines considered as 1 pasuram

Details of 86 temples glorified by Azhwar starting from Srirangam with PRABHANDHAM reference are given below:

Out of these, 70 temples are in Tamilnadu,

2 in Andhra,

4 in Kerala,

1 in Gujarat,

4 in Uttar Pradesh,

2 in Uttaranchal,

1 in Nepal and 2 out of reach.

(PT-Peria thirumozhi; TKD-thirukurundhandakam; TND-tirunedundandakam

STM-siria thirumadal; PTM-peria thirumadal; TVKT-thiruvezhukootruirukai)

1. CHOLA NADU DIVYA DESAMS (Trichy,Kumbakonam,Thanjavur,Mayavaram ,Sirkazhi)

• Srirangam                             – 73   (PT, TKD, TND, STM, PTM)
• Thirukozhi(Uraiyur) -Uraiyur near Trichy –  01   (PT)
• Thirukarambanur(Uttamar kovil) – 01    (PT)
• Thiruvellarai                                                   -13     (PT,STM, PTM)
• Thirupernagar                                -19     (PT,TKD,TND, STM,PTM)
• Thirukandiyur                                                 – 01    (TKD)
• Thirukoodalur                              -10     (PT)
• Thirupullamboothangudi                              -10     (PT)
• Thiruaadhanoor                                  -01     (PTM)
• Thirukudandhai                                 -25   (PT,TKD,TND,STM, PTM, TVKT)-only Perumal who was referred to in all the 6 prabhandams
• Thiruvinnagar                                 -34     (PT,TND,STM,PTM)
• Thirunaraiyur                               -110   (PT, TND,STM, PTM)
• Thirucherai                                 -13     (PT,STM, PTM)
• Thirukannamangai                                -14      (PT,STM,PTM)
• Thirukannapuram                           -104    (PT, TND, STM,PTM)
• Thirukannangudi                             -10      (PT)
• Tirunaagai                           – 10 (PT)
• Thiruthanjhaimaamanikovil    –  03 (PT)
• Thirunandipuravinnagaram                        –  10 (PT)
• Thiruvelliangudi                          – 10 (PT)
• Thiruvazhundur                          -45 (PT, TND,STM,PTM)
• Thirusirupuliyur                        – 10 (PT)
• Thiruthalaisanganaanmadiyam  – 02 (PT)
• Thiruindhalur                         -11 (PT,PTM)
• Thirukaavalampaadi                     – 10 (PT)
• Thirukaazhiseerama vinagaram  – 10(PT)
• Thiruarimeya vinnagaram                     – 10 (PT)
• Thiruvanpurudothamam                   – 10 (PT)
• Thirusemponseikovil                      -10 (PT)
• Thirumanimadakovil                         -12 (PT,PTM)
• Thiruvaikuntavinnagaram                      – 10 (PT)
• Thiruvaali Tirunagari                        –  41 (PT, TND,STM,PTM)
• Thirudevanaar thogai                     -10 (PT)
• Thiruthetriambalam                    -10 (PT)
• Thirumanikoodam                   -10 (PT)
• Thiruvellakulam                      -10 (PT)
• Thirupaarthanpalli                      – 10 (PT)
• Thiruchitrakoodam                      – 21(PT,PTM)

NADU NADU DIVYA DESAMS(near Cuddalore,Vizhupuram)

• Thiruvahindrapuram                         – 10(PT)
• Thirukovalur                       –  18 (PT, TND, STM,PTM)

THONDAI NADU DIVYA DESAMS(in and around Kanchi, Arakonam,Chennai)

• Thirukachi athigiri                     – 04 (PT,TKD, TND)
• Thiruashtabuyakaram                         – 11(PT, PTM)
• Thiruthankaa                          -02 (PT,TND)
• Thiruvellukai                           – 01 (PTM)
• Thiruneeragam                         – 01 (TND)
• Thirupaadagam                          -02  (PT, PTM)
• Thirunilathingalthundam                    – 01 (TND)
• Thiruooragam                    –  04 (TND, STM, PTM)
• Thiruvekka                     –  06 (PT,TND,STM,PTM)
• Thirukaaragam                                             –  01 (TND)
• Thirukaarvaanam                     – 01 (TND)
• Thirukalvanoor                      – 01 (TND)
• Thirupavazhavannam                   – 01 (TND)
• Thiruparameswara vinnagaram                    -10 (PT)
• Thiruputkuzhi                      – 02 (PT, PTM)
• Thirunindravoor                     -02 (PT)
• Thiruevvul                                   – 11 (PT, PTM)
• Thiruallikeni                    -10 (PT)
• Thiruneermalai                    -19 (PT, TND,STM,PTM)
• Thiruidavendhai                        -13 (PT,STM,PTM)
• Thirukadalmallai                      -26 (PT,TKD,STM,PTM)
• Thirukadigai                     -03 (PT,STM)

VADA NADU DIVYA DESAMS(Andhra,Gujarat,Uttar Pradesh,Uttaranchal,Nepal)

• Thiruayodhi               – 01(PT)
• Thirunaimisaranyam                -10 (PT)
• Thirupiridhi                  -10 (PT)
• Thiruvadhariasramam                     -21 (PT, STM)
• Thirusalagraamam                    -10 (PT)
• Thiruvadamadurai                   -04 (PT, STM)
• Thiruvaayarpaadi                                        -07 (PT, STM)
• Thirudwaarakai                     -02 (PT)
• Thirusingavelkundram                   -10 (PT)
• Thiruvenkatam                    -61 (PT, TKD,TND,STM,PTM)

MALAI NADU DIVYA DESAMS(Kerala)

• Thirunaavai                                                        – 02(PT)
• Thirumoozhikalam                      – 03(PT,TND,PTM)
• Thiruvallavaazh                                             -11 (PT,PTM)
• Thirupuliyur                -01 (STM)

PANDYA NADU DIVYA DESAMS(near Madurai,Tirunelveli,Sivakasi,Ramnad,Trichy)

• Thirukurungudi                    -25 (PT,TND, PTM)
• Thiruthankaal            -04 (PT,TND, STM, PTM)
• Thirukoodal            – 01 (PT)
• Thirumaliruncholai             – 33(PT, TKD,STM,PTM)
• Thirumoghur                -01 (STM)
• Thirugoshtiyur               – 13 (PT,PTM)
• Thirupullani        – 21 (PT, PTM)
• Thirumeyyam            – 09 (PT, TKD,PTM)

DIVYA DESAMS NOT IN THIS WORLD

• Thirupaarkadal         – 11 (PT, TND)
• Thiruparamapadam                     – 01 (TKD)

As per the great compositions of “Peria Thirumozhi” Azhwar started from north, has sung ranging from minimum 10 pasurams to 100 pasurams .  Azhwar’s pasurams details the geographical locations . Peria Thirumozhi is divided into 10 hundreds and in each of the 10 pasurams, Ahwar glorifies only that particular divya desa Perumal.  ONly in the 10th hundred pasurams, azhwar has sung pasurams on multiple divyadesams.  IN Peria Thirumozhi, azhwar eloborates about 50 divya desams and the remaining 36 divya desams(out of 86 glorified by him) have been referred to in other prabhandhams.

While one recites them, the ambience feeling and the quench to have darshan of the Divya dampathees draws us closer and gives the soul to rejoice in bliss knowing its identity in seeking our loving Lord….

Divya desams as per Peria Thirumozhi are given below:-

VADA NADU DIVYA DESAMS

• Thirupiridhi (10) – Joshirmutt in Uttaranchal
• Thiruvadhiri (20) — Badrikasramam in Uttaranchal
• Thirusaalagramam (10) — Muktinath in Nepal
• Naimisaaranyam (10) — near Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh
• Singavelkundram (10) — Ahobilam in Andhra Pradesh
• Thiruvengadam (61) — Tirumala Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh

THONDAI NADU DIVYA DESAMS

• Thiruevvul (11) — Thiruvallur near Arakonam in Tamil nadu
• Thiruvellikeni (10) — Triplicane in Chennai
• Thiruneermalai (19) –Pallavaram in Chennai
• Thirukadalmallai (26) –Mahabalipuram near Chennai
• Thiruvidandhai (13) — near Mahabalipuram
• Thiruvattabuyakaran (11) — Ashtabhuja perumal in Kanchipuram
• Thiruparameswara vinnagaram (10) — In Kanchipuram

NADU NADU DIVYA DESAMS

• Thirukovalur (18) – in Vizhupuram-Thiruvannamalai route
• Thiruvahindrapuram (10) – near Cuddalore

CHOLA NADU DIVYA DESAMS

• Thillai Chitrakoodam (11) – Chidambaram Natarajar temple
• Thirukaazhi seeraama vinnagaram (10) -1 km from Sirkazhi station

THIRUNANGOOR DIVYA DESAMS TOTAL 11(About 1 hour drive from Sirkazhi)

• Thiruvaali Thirunagari (41) – 8 kms south east of Sirkazhi
• Thirumanimadakovil (12) – Thirunangoor- 8 kms from Sirkazhi
• Thiruvaikunta Vinnagaram (10) – Thirunangoor
• Thiruarimeya vinnagaram (10) – Thirunangoor
• Thirudevanaar thogai (10) – 4 kms from Thirunangoor
• Thiruvanpurudothamam (10) -8 kms from Sirkazh
• Thirusemponseikovil (10) -Thirunangoor
• Thiruthetriambalam (10) -Thirunangoor
• Thirumanikoodam (10) -1 km from Thirunangoor
• Thirukaavalampadi (10) -10 kms south of Sirkazhi
• Thiruvellakulam (10) -10 kms from Sirkazhi enroute to Nagapatinam
• Thirupaarthaanpalli (10) -3 kms from Sirkazhi Venkadu
• Thiruindhaloor (11) -in Mayavaram
• Thiruvelliangudi (10) -Kumbakonam -near Aduthurai
• Thirupullamboothangudi (10) -Kumbakonam-near Swamimalai
• Thirukoodalur (10) -Kumbakonam –tanjavur route near thiruvaiyaaru
• Thiruvellarai (13) -20 kms from Trichy near Thuraiyur
• Thiruvarangam (73) -Srirangam -12 kms from Trichy
• Thirunandhipuravinnagaram ( 10) – Nathan kovil-4 kms south of Kumbakonam
• Thiruvinnagar (34) -Oppiliappan kovil -7 kms from Kumbakonam
• Thirunaraiyur (110) – 9 kms from Kumbakonam enroute to Thiruvaarur
• Thirucherai (13) – 24 kms in Kumbakonam-Thiruvaarur route
• Therazhundhur (45) -21 kms from mayavaram enroute to Komal
• Sirupuliyur (10) -3 kms from Kollumangudi station-

in Mayavaram-thirvarur route

• Thirukannamangai (14) – 7 kms from Thiruvaarur
• Thirukannapuram (104) – 2 kms from Thirupugalur on Nagapatinam-

Nannilam route

• Thirukannangudi (10) – 1 km from Aazhiyur on Nagapatinam route
• Thirunaagai (10) – Nagapatinam

PANDYA NADU DIVYA DESAMS

• Thirupullani (21) -near Ramnathapuram
• Thirukurungudi (25) -12 kms from Nanguneri near Tirunelveli
• Tirumaliruncholai (33) -20 kms from Madurai
• Thirugoshtiyur (13) – near Karaikudi

MALAI NADU DIVYA DESAMS

• Thiruvallavaazh (11) -Tiruvalla on Ernakulam-Kollam route

In most of the pasurams , Azhwar repents starting with “vaadinen vaadi….” and claims that he has got everything now with the great Narayana thirunaamam.

He confesses to Lord Srinivasar at Tirumala for all his misdeeds and praises his mind for having resorted to the Lord’s holy feet.He says that he was under the illusion that his parents,wife etc are everything -did many mistakes when he was in  youth,later he strived hard for serving his family and now with repentance approached the Lord like a dog and prays to Lord to accept him.  (Azhwar who is an amsam of Lord couldn’t have been so but just to uplift us, he demeans himself)

In pasurams dedicated to Lord Narasimhar of Ahobilam, the place is only accessible to devas.

IN the pasurams dedicated to Naimisaranyam, he surrenders to the Lord Devarajan for upliftment. He addresses the Lord as “mother-Naimisaaranyathul enthaai…” .

He addresses all the five forms of the Lord at Thiruvellikeni-Parthasarathy, Thelliya singam, Gajendra Varadar,Ramar,Ranganathar.

During his course of enlightened journey the Divya dampathees ( Lordships in the temples ) were eager to meet their child which can be authenticated by citing a divine incident. During his journey Azhwar by oversight skipped Thirunindravoor near chennai and after doing mangalasaasanam at Thiru-evvul, he directly proceeds to Thiruvellikeni and in due course reached Mahabalipuram.

Goddess Sudhavalli Thayar-the divine consort of Lord Bhaktavatsalan persuades Lord to invite Azhwar as he had missed them by oversight. . Lord appeared at his next destination Thirukadalmallai and while glorifying the Lordships at Thirukadalmallai, Lord Bhaktavatsalan gave a vision to azhwar which made him take HIS name.

In the course of his travel, Azhwar glorified (mangalasaasanam) at 86 divya desams and finally reached Srirangam and undertook various construction and renovation activities.

However, Lord commanded to continue his services as HE wanted to relish the nectarine outpourings of Azhwar. (Very similar to Annamacharyar’s life)

Later he composed Thirukurunthandakam comprising of 20 pasurams where he begs Lord (Perumal) expressing his craving to have HIS darshan (as Perumal wanted him to reach the highest transcendental bliss)

Thirunedunthandakam comprising of 30 pasurams(in the first set of 10 pasurams, Azhwar sings with his own identity , in the 2^nd set of 10 pasurams, azhwar assumes the role of a mother expressing her daughter’s plight and in the last set of 10 pasurams , donning the role of a girl expresses her desire to attain Perumal to her friend ) .

Our most revered Acharyar Swamy Parasara bhattar used to always contemplate on this prabhandham and thus invited Nanjeeyar into Srivaishnavism by a debate based on this lovely prabhandham. During Adhyayana utsavam , this is recited on the first day and the goshti is honoured with medicated oil to be smeared on the vaishnavas neck who would recite as a honrarium.

Thiruezhukootruirukkai comprising of one pasuram glorifies Lord Aaravamudhan of Thirukudandhai.

In Siriya Thirumadal Azhwar assumes the role of a lovelorn lady who suffers pangs of separation from her lover-. She holds his picture in her hand, longing for her lover’s association. She contemplates on how to defame the various archa murthis but faith prevails upon her which makes her restrain from doing so. She waits patiently and with confidence that her Lord would come to take her. The emotional outpourings takes us to transcendental heights.He composed both the madals at Thirunaraiyur as the Lord of Thirunariayur is considered as the acharyar for him.

In Peria thirumadal, Azhwar becomes restless for poor response from the Lordships. He starts lamenting how the Lord who had taken various forms and resides in various divyadesams didn’t concede her request even after repeated pleading . Realising that the Lord cannot be confronted in commanding , he decides by just surrendering to HIM he would be pleased and respond.

Thirumangai Azhwar personally visited all the above holy shrines on his courageous horse “aadalma”.

He has done mangalasaasanam (glorified) to 86 divyadesams and has the special honor of glorifying the Lord exclusively in 47 divya desams. The 47 divyadesams which was glorified by Thirumangai Azhwar alone are as follows ….

Thirukozhi, Thirukarambanur, Thirukandiyur, Thirukoodalur, Thirupullamboothangudi, Thiruaadhanoor, Thirucherai, Thirukannamangai, Thirukannangudi, Thirunaagai, Tirunandipuravinnagaram,Thiruvelliangudi, Thiruvazhundur, Tirusirupuliyur, Thiruthalaisanganaanmadhiyam, Tiruindalur, Tirukavalampadi, Thirukazhiseerama vinnagaram, Thiruarimeya vinnagaram, Thiruvanpurudothamam, Thirusemponseikovil, Thirumanimadakovil, Thiruvaikuntavinnagaram, Tirudevanarthogai, Thiruthetriambalam, Thirumanikoodam, Thiruvellakulam, Thirupaarthanpalli, Thiruvahindrapuram, Thirukovalur, Thiruthankaa, Thiruvellukai, Thiruneeragam, Thirunilathingal thundam, Thirukaaragam, Thirukaarvaanam, Thirukalvanoor, Thirupavazhavannam, Thiruparameswara vinnagaram, Thiruputkuzhi, Thirunindravoor, Thiruvidavendhai, Thirunaimisaranyam, Thirupiridhi, Thirusingavelkundram, Thiruthankaal, Thirupullani,Thirumeyyam.

He was more inclined to have darshan of Archa Moorthy at the holy shrines on the earth rather than the Lord in Paramapadam. Azhwar’s pasurams serve as a guide for visiting various divya desams.

Azhwar continued with his divine services in various divya desams especially at Srirangam.

His ardent desire to construct vimanam, mandapam, big walls around Srirangam, gopuram, kitchen etc. for Srirangam temple needed financial support .

Azhwar priorities was service to Perumal and HIS children for which he went to any extent of getting wealth by looting, robbery etc. Coming to know about the golden Buddha vigraham at Nagapatinam from a passerby , he decided to try his skills to possess it . He was informed that the vigraham was being protected by a revolving wheel.

He managed to pick the golden Buddha idol from Nagapatinam to construct the compound walls of Srirangam temple . On follow ups from them, he issued a promissory note to the Buddhists saying he would return even the little finger unscathed and after one year, he just gave them the little finger and won them by argument.

After the completion of the projects , he did not have sufficient money to pay them . Still he assured all of them that they would be paid for their divine deed . The laborers who were travelling by a boat got drowned due to some imbalance in the middle of the river.

Unknowingly , the kith and kin of the laborers approached the Azhwar. Azhwar cooly replied everything that has happened was with Lord’s will .To reveal their state he advised them to come the next day.

Lord Ranganathar with abundant mercy appeared in Azhwar’s dream and advised him to ask the relatives of the deceased to enter into Srirangam temple after taking a dip in Kaveri. On reaching the temple, Lord Ranganathar made them have a vision of not only their deceased ones but also their great ancestors.

The muktas applauded Azhwar’s contributions and felt fortunate to be associated with him. They advised their kith and kin that they would attain the highest position by serving Azhwar who was performing devotional service which would assure them salvation.

Extremely pleased with Azhwar’s services one day Lord Ranganathar called Azhwar and asked him to choose a boon.

Azhwar expressed his deep desire to have darshan of the dasa avataarams of Lord. Lord Ranganathar fulfilled his desire immediately .

Thanking Lord , Azhwar requested Lordships to honour Swamy Nammazhwar’s Thiruvaimozhi for 10 days starting from Vaikunta Ekadasi which was immediately accepted . The grand “Thiruvadhyayana utsavam” at Srirangam was started by Thirumangai Azhwar.  Azhwar arranged to get Nammazhwar’s idol from Azhwar Thirunagari and in the presence of Namperumal in the newly constructed mandapam, Azhwar arranged for recitation of Nammazhwar’s Thiruvaimozhi for 10 days.  Initially, Adhyayana utsavam was celebrated for 10 days during azhwar’s time.  Later Nathamunigal arranged for 21 day festival by including recitation of the entire divyaprabhandam by dividing it as “Pagal pathu” and “Raa pathu ” utsavams.

As per Lord’s instructions, Thirumangai Azhwar constructed a mandapam for Namperumal to listen to Nammazhwar’s nectarian Thiruvaimozhi.

Lord also blessed Azhwar that whoever reads the six prabhandams composed by Tirumangai Azhwar considered as the six angams for Swamy Nammazhwar’s works will be blessed with salvation.

As a mark of confirmation ,Lord commands Azhwar to throw his Vel ( spear) assuring that the entire place where the spear falls, if a person’s last rites are performed , he would be liberated .

This special place is on the northern banks of Kaveri. ( “Paadiya vaalan Padithurai” where last rites are performed for the departed even today).

As days passed one day Azhwar requested Lord to liberate him from this samsara . Lord out of abundant compassion advised Azhwar to go to Thirukurungudi a holy divya desam which is known as “Siriya Veedu”to serve MalaiNambee perumal .

Azhwar overjoyed leaves Srirangam. Like a newly wedded girl who before leaving for her inlaws place bids goodbye to her relatives, Azhwar recollects Lordships at various divya desams .

Thirumangai Azhwar reaches Thirukurungudi and continues his services at this temple On a Vaikunta Ekadasi day with Lord’s mercy he attained salvation . Even today we can have darshan of this holy place which is about 3 kms from Thirukurungudi temple

Azhwar doesn’t have a spear and is seen with folded hands along with Kumudavalli Naachiyar.

After few years , Swamy Manavala maamunigal visited Thirunagari to have darsanam of Azhwar. He was in ecstasy and composed “Vadivazhagu Choornikai “-a beautiful poem vividly describing the beauty of Azhwar.

This deity of Azhwar was installed by Tirumangai Azhwar’s brother in law as per Lord Ranganathar’s instructions in Thirunagari temple at Tirunangoor – a small village near Sirkazhi and is being worshipped since time immemorial.

Freely translated, Swamy describes Azhwar’s beauty as the one who is holding spear(vel), with folded hands, wearing thiruman, lips slightly opened in such a way as if he is uttering “Omkaram”, having a sharp nose, cool face, broad eyes, curly hair, ears slightly bent as if to listen to Ashtakshari ( Eight word syllable )being imparted by Lordships , long ear rings, body bent at 3 places (thribangam) near neck, hip and feet , standing benevolently to obtain Lord’s grace.

He glorifies further about Thirumannankollai-the place where Perumal ( Lord) imparted ashtakshari –how he threatened Lakshmi’s husband with a knife forcing him to reveal the spell and how Lord gave the precious mantra extolled by the vedas to him and having received the mantra how realisation dawned on him and he got transformed into a devotee and humbly stood in front of the Lord with folded hands .

Swamy concludes that his eyes are blessed to see the broad chest holding the spear, one who utters the eight lettered mantra , the beautiful face and the holy feet.

VAAZHI PARAKAALAN

VAAZHI KALIKANDRI

VAAZHI KURAIYALUR

VAAZH VENDHAN

VAAZHIYARO MAAYONAI

VAAL VALIYAAL MANDHIRANKOL MANGAIYARKONE THOOYONE CHUDARMAANA VEL.

All glories Thirumangai Azhwar

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

Pics Courtesy : Google images uploaded by several devotees

Garudalwar has been   affectionately  glorified as Peria Thiruvadi , Pakshiraja,  Vainateya, Suparna, Garuthman, Vinatasuta,  Vishnuvahana, Nagantaka and Kashyapeya by  devotees Garudalwar  is  always engaged in eternal service to Lord  Sriman Narayana .

As a result, of his SharaNagati to Lord Sriman Narayana (Narayana Sayujyam).  Garudalwar enjoys the benefit of  Sameepyam (constantly being beside the Lord), SarUpyam (Shuddha Satvam) and SalOkyam (residence in Vishnu Lokam).

Garudalwar  serves as the eternal chariot of Lord  Vishnu. Consequently, Garuda received the name Periya Tiruvadi as against the divine  role played by Hanumanjee as the Vahana for Lord Rama. Hence, Hanumanjee  received the title Siriya Tiruvadi.

Those who have  had the mercy  of the darsanam of the 11 Garuda seva at  ThirunAngUr dhivya desams  at ThirunAngUr are truly blessed . Their  fortune  is comparable to those who had  witnessed the  Garuda Sevai at Kanchi ( VaikAsi and Aadi ThiruvONam ), SrIrangam ( Thai , Maasi, Panguni and Chitthirai) , NaacchiyAr Koil , AzhwAr Thirunagari  and the famous  Nava Garuda seva ( “Nine Garuda  Sevais”) at  Thirukurungoor  with  Swamy NammAzhwAr vaibhavam enacted .

Garudaalwar  is  worshipped as Veda Moorthy . His  appearance star   is SvAthi , which is the same as for Lord Narasimhar. Garudalwar  incarnated as PeriyAzhwAr at SrI VilliputthUr and became the Father-in-Law of Lord RanganAthan and had the privilege of having his daughter and  son-in-law live at his home in SrI VilliputthUr, which is known today as NaacchiyAr ThirumALigai.

At TheruzhunDUr dhivya desam , Garudalwar  stands next to Aaamuruviyappan (GhOsakhan) awaiting His Lord’s  command .  At AhObilam, Garudalwar  performed penance for the darsanam of Lord Narasimhan as He appeared  before PrahlAdhan and the Lord responded to his tapas by giving darsanam to Garudalwart as “JwAlA Narasimhar”.  Hence one of the names for AhObilam is GarudAdhri.

At Vadanadu Divya desam ,  Badarikashramam  , Garudalwar  is blessing  the devotees  with his darsanam in the  assembly of  of Nara-NaarAyana.

At ThiruveLLiyangudi dhivya dEsam , Garudalwar  graces   in PerumAL Sannidhi with Sankham and Chakram as  a Nithya Soori.  At ThiruvallikkENi Garudalwar  gives the darsanam with  Lord  GajEndra Varadhan , in a separate Sannidhi.

 Nachiyar Koil is  a srivaishnava Divya desam is located in Tirunaraiyur en-route to Tanjavur from Kumbakonam. Since importance is given to Nachiyaar in this temple, it is called Nachiyaar Koyil.

The moola virat  Lord  Tirunaraiyur Nambi  worshipped  as Vasudevar graces us  in the Kalyana kolam with Vanchulavalli Thayar in the sanctum sanctorium . The Theertham is Manimuktha pushkarini and the Vimanam Srinivasa Hema Vimanam. Legend has it that Lakshmi appeared  as Vanchulavalli  and MahaVishnu  manifested himself in the Pancha Vyuha forms and married Vanchulavalli.

In the sanctum one finds the sculptures of the deities Sankarshana in the east, Pradyumna in the south, Anirudha in the west, Purushottaman in the north and Vasudeva in the center. There is no separate shrine for Thayar. There are shrines for Yoga Narasimhar, Ramar, Hanuman and Chakrapani.

Kal garudan  is of special significance at this temple.  The Garudalwar   gives darshan  with nine serpents and is believed to have the powers to remove the Navagraha dhosham. 

It is  understood from elders that a sculptor  was  making this  deity  of Garuda  with utmost devotion . On completion,  he suddenly found the  deity   flying after he had made  Garuda’s  wings.  

Excited and simultaneously  confused   at this sudden action, the sculptor prayed Garudalwar  for his mercy .

 Garudalwar   pleased with his dedication and  prayers  decided to settle here at this place and bless the devotees. ( Kal  in tamil means stone ).

 A huge and well built Garudalwar  gives darshan to all the devotees coming to this Srivaishnava Divya desam . During the Tamil month of Aadi,  the temple Lordships  Thiru Naraiyur Nambi makes a visit to  this Garuda’alwars Sannidhi.

A magical event happens during Garuda Sevai .  Garudalwar  increases  his  weight manifold .  Science has not been able to explain the mystery underlying the fact that when the Salagrama deity  of Garudalwan  is taken out for procession, he is  so light that he is carried  by just 4 persons.  

As the  palanquin bearers (Srimaan taangigaL) , cross the outer enclosures one by one,  Garudalwar  becomes progressively heavier and  needs 8, 16 and 32 men to carry the palanquin  after each enclosure. Finally, when the Lord is taken outside the temple, Garudalwar  increases in weight so much that 128  devotees assemble  to carry the Lordships .

Similarly, after the  outing  procession (PurappaaDu), when Garudalwan  enters the sanctum, he keeps loosing  weight so that it need progressively lesser number of men to hold it  from 32 to 16 to 8 and finally just 4 and in that order. 

Another unique feature of this grand festival  is that one can see  Garudalwar  sweating profusely as he makes his way out for the procession.

Thirumangai Azhwar, Periya Azhwar, Poigai Azhwar etc have done their Mangalasasanams to Garudalwar.

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan..

 Photos credits : google images

video credits  : ramyagiri , mighty garuda and advanced devotees

To reaffirm the faith of HIS devotees,  LORD conversed with  HIS devotees  time to time .

There are three incidents which our Elders keep saying about the compassion of OUR Supreme LORD in temples .Srirangam Sri Ranganathaswamy Kovil and Tirumala

At  Tirumala – Tirupathi, Lord Venkateshwara  used to converse with the King Thondaman Chakravarthy .  In Kancheepuram, Lord Vardarajar used to converse with his  dear devotee  Swamy Tirukachi Nambigal who used to fan him daily .

Similarly at Srirangam  Lord Ranganathar used to converse with  “Tiruvilakku pichan”the temple servant who used to light the lamps in the temple .

It is a general practice all the devotees surrender to LORD and express their gratitude pain and love for the LORD in this material world.

  Few devotees develop extremely intimate relationship with the Lord conversing   freely  and interact almost daily  treating him as a  human friend.

At Srirangam ,  there lived a man who was serving at temple .    His job was to light all the lamps at the huge temple of Srirangam  .

He used to  keep the lamps topped with oil  and ensure they were maintained in perfect condition . Under constant vigilance he had to ensure the lamps are lighted effectively without any flaws.

He had free access to enter the temple and light all the temple lamps being the temple servant . He had a peculiar habit of addressing the LORD  daily about how his day was and was he treated well .

It was almost routine especially during  festivals when LORD had to be amongst HIS devotees . For his behaviour he earned a title Pichan ( mad person ) . Unmindful of whatever people spoke of him he continued to  greet the LORD and converse  with utmost sincerity and faith .

Lord  Ranganathar also got used to HIS devotee’s greeting .    Days became months .Months turned to years .Lord out of abundant mercy wanted to reply to HIS dear devotee .

It so happened one day Lord spoke from his Archa thirumeni ,and this also happened regularly .Lord was answering his dear devotees queries .It was more of vatsalya bhavam inquiring the well being of each other . There was no  barrier in the divine exchange of speech .A lowly employee  of the temple speaking to the LORD who was replying too .To the devotees who were witnessing this man standing before the LORD  and apparently talking to himself appeared to be a mad person conversing with himself  and they called him  “Picchan” ( a mad man). Combining his job title and popularity  of remaining , he came to be known as “ThiruviLakku Picchan”. 

One day, while carrying out his daily  chores , Picchan  conversed  with  the Lord  about the  great people and the  huge crowd attending the festival in the temple . 

There is another pastime which installs absolute surrender to LORD in Archathirumeni . The great Acharyar Swamy  Nampillai was delivering  a lecture in the mandapam inside the temple and as usual our Thiruvilakku Picchan was standing in front of the sanctorum with a lamp in his hand. Lord  was so impressed hearing  Swamy Nampillai’s  divine discourse which made him get up and  wished to be among the august gathering hearing the divine discourse

Suddenly , Thiruvilakku Picchan saw a huge personality near him and realizing that it was LORD himself , he requested LORD to relax  and not do this and  remain  in his original Archa Swaroopam .  LORD politely obeyed his devotees concern……………

All glories to this great devotee  who had the  fortune to enjoy such intimate relationship with the Lord  himself  who listened to  Him .

Sri Venkatadri shikaralaya kalamegam

Sri Hasthisaila sikarojwala parijatham

Srisannamami sirasa Yadhusaila deepam

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

Photos credits : Google

Video credits  :  Tamil gold channel

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