Kapisthalam Desikachariar Swami of Tirupati .--Biography

Biography written by DR K.C.Narsimhan ,great grand son of Sri Swami.

Introduction :

                    Mahamahopadya Kapisthalam Desikachariar Swami of Tirupati was one of the most distinguished exponents of Visishtadavaita school of Philosophy, besides being one of the few great scholars of his time.At the same time he was a ardent devotee of Lord Srinivasa , which made him decline number of remunerative posts and good offers outside Tirupati. Sri Swami was much superior to and deserved greater recognition than what he had received , which itself was quite considerable .He was regarded for several decades as the greatest living authority on Taraka sastra [logic], Nyaya dialetics and Vedantic philosophy during his life time .He had made use of Nyaya in precisely defining the metaphysical categories and epistemology in Visishtadvaita philosophy of Ramanuja .
He was considered as 'Apara Desika avatara'   meaning-  an incarnation of AcharyaVedanta Desika .

Early life and family.
                                    Sri Desikachariar Swami was born in Trichanur [near Tirupati in Chitoor district of Andrapradesh] on 15 th october ,1855, in Tamil month of Purattasi under the constellation Anuradha star , synchronising with the birthday of Tirumala Nambi--a great savant of Tozhappa family and the maternal uncle of Srimad Ramanuja [the exponent of Visishtadwaita philosophy].
He belonged to Kaushika Gothram like Sri Vedanta Desikar .His father was Sriman Gopalachariar , a scholar and orthodox Vaishnavaite and his mother was Srimathi Venkataraghavaamma.His forefathers might have migrated from the village of Kapisthalam [near Kumbkonam]to Tirupati some two or three generations earlier
He had a younger brother Sriman Rangachari Swami who was equally eminent scholar in Sahitya and Alankara sastras , as he did not stir out of Tirupati , his erudition and scholarship could not be known to all.He was also a distinguished poet.Sri Desikachariar had a sister by name Srimathi Mangammal.
Being poor their father could not afford them the modern education .But by their own efforts ,Sri DesikachariarSwami and his brother studied Sahitya, Alankara ,Vyakarna and Tarka under the able guidance of Sriman Vidwan purisai Sri RangachariarSwami of Tirupati [in the present G.car street]

In his boyhood Sri Desikachariar Swami was noted for his precocious intellect with ingenious grasp of the lessons which made him obtain complete mastery over Vyakarana[grammar] and Tarka[logic] before he was 18 years of age.Then he was intiated into Vedantha[philosopy] and sampradaya works by the famous Sriman LadapuramGopalachariar Swami of Trichanur who was a grihastha intellectual like Sri Vedantha Desika.

When the great sanyasin Srimad Rangaramanuja Mahadesika  Swami of Kethandapatti visited Trichanur during 1874-76,Sri Desikachariar Swami came under the inspiring influence of the yathi and was initiated into esoterics of visishtdwaita  contained in its four classical texts,Sri Bhashya,Gita Bhashya, Rahasyatrayasra,and Bhagvat Vishaya.

Sri Desikachariar Swami married Srimathi Srinivasammaa daughter of Tozhappa family.Through her had two sons  -Sri Kapisthalam Tirumalachariar and Sri Kapisthalam Veeraraghava chariar.Fate was cruel to him as it  snatched away his young wife at his early age leaving his sons motherless.Later he married Srimathi Lakshmamma --a daughter of Arasanapalai family.Through her he had two sons-Sri Kapisthalam Chetlur Gopalachariar and Sri Kapisthlam Chetlur Srinivasachariar and two daughters Srimathi Kamalamma and Srimathi Andalamma.Sri Desikachariar bought a house in Govindrajaswami North Mada street at Tirupati where he lived till he attained paramapada.
When Sri Desika chariar Swami completed his education at the age of twenty , his father wanted him to visit places like Puddukotai , Trivandram etc and participate in Vidwat sadas[discussions,debates].However Sri Swami a very humble person felt that he was too small a man  to engage  eminent pandits in debates.When he told his guru about the desire of his father his guru was pleased about it  encouraged him to fulfill his father's desire and blessed him that he would never experience any defeat or parajaya.
Whilst Sri Desikachariar Swami  was discussing vedantha with his guru,the Kethandatti Swami at Trichanur , both used to be so deeply engrossed in the discussions that they were never conscious of passing of time .It was said that it used to be a pleasure to witness their discussions.

Head of Sanskrit college at Tirupati.
                                        
                                                          The persistent efforts of Sri Desikachariar swami resulted in the starting of the Grand Duff Sanskrit Patasala in 1885 with the assistance of the then Mahanth [person administering Tirumala temple] and it was in the fitness of things that  Swami  became the first Head Pandit and in charge of Patasala ,in which capacity he served for many years .Mahanth Sri Prayaga Dasji had high regards for the SriSwami and he often took his advise on religious matters.

A doubt was raised in 1912 about utilising the Devasthanam funds for educational purposes .It was resolved ,when a act was passed in 1913 which made it possible for Devasthanam  Funds to be utilised for educational purposes .At  that time the Patasala was upgraded into a Sanskrit college and Sri Desikachariar Swami ,by virtue of his eminence was made the first Vice Principal and head of the college ,even though he had no English education .In this capacity he continued till 1926 .Thus Sri Swami rendered distinguished service to the institution for over forty years .Later in his life his brother's son Sri Kapisthalam Krishnamachariar was appointed as the Principal as per the university rules.

Sri Desikachariar Swami taught lessons to his pupils in a lucid way .He was affectionate   towards his students and disciples.He used to take Purva Mimasa for Siromani examinations with ease and impressed upon  the students  with his command of the subject although he did not undergo any training in the same under any guru.An Advaitin by name Sri Ottipali Narakanteerava Sastrulu who also a pandit in the Patasala had difference of opinion with Sri Swami on a particular subject and finally they reconciled .

 

Invitations and visits :

Sri Desikachariar Swami's merits were recognised in all the Indian states of South India and more than once in far off Benares [kasi] and other places in Northern India.
At the age of 27 he was invited by the Maharaja of Travancore to participate in the Vedantic discussions held in the traditional style during Navarathri celeberations  in his palace.There Sri Swami established the truths of Visishtadvaita by refuting the argumentsof rival schools of thought and the Maharaja was all praise for his subtle intellect, vast learning and dialectic skill and suitably honoured Sri Swami.This was the first experience of Sri Swami to be involved in Vedantic Sadas outside Tirupati.

In 1892
Sir S.Subramania aiyar,the distinguished judge of Madras high court sought Sri Swami's help to learn the Sankara Bhashyam and Advaitic system of Philosophy and Sri Aiyer expressed his admiration for Swami's unique powers of intuiting the fundamental and the foundational tenets of each system of Philosophy and expressing them with unsurpassed lucidity.

In 1912 Sri Swamy was invited to Benares for the first time by Sri Sathya Theertha Swami of Uttaradhi Mutt who was one of those propogating Madhwa philosophy , to participate in a Vidwat sadas .Sri Desikachariar Swami's lectures made an astounding impression on the sadas and the Uttaradhi Mutt Swami was so impressed with the knowledge of Sri Desikachariar Swamy  that he not only honoured him at the sadas  but also invited him for all the Vidwat Sadas conducted by him and suitably honoured Sri Desikachariar Swami by giving the first place to him.Particularily ,during all the visits of Uttaradhi Mutt Swami to Trichanur ,he never failed to invite Sri Desikachariar Swami and honour him .Hence it became a regular feature for Sri Desikachariar Swami to participate in every annual Vidwat Sadas conducted by Uttaradhi Mutt Swami  at various places like Rajamundry, Raichur, Gadag, Bhagalkot ,Belgaum, Bangalore etc.Sri Uttaradhi Swami took the help of Sri Desikachariar Swami ,during his visit to Belgaum ,for justifying the sentence " Maya vada  macchastram pracchanam baudda muaccyate"in a book written by Sri Lakshmi puram Srinivasacharyulu ,the astana poet of Mysore palace ,when the other pandits and poets from Mysore state opposed the same.
Sri DesikachariarSwami visited Benares in 1911 and 1918 thrice at the invitation of distinguished men and by his supreme dialectic skill in Vedantic disputations , prodiguos memory  and unassailable logic, sustained the claim of Visishtadvaita to be the only system that satisfied the tests of Scriptures and Reason.
Pandit Madan Mohan Malavia ,the then Vice chancellor of Benares Hindu University was so fascinated by Sri Swami's intellect ,that he offered him a post in the University,But Sri Swami did not accept it as he did not want to leave Tirupati--the abode of Lord Srinivasa .Neverthless Sri Malvya had a very  high regard and reverence for Sri Swami .Sri Malaviya paid a visit to Sri Swami's   residence at Tirupati where they conversed in sanskrit for few hours .

One of Sri Swami's visits to Benares was at the invitation of Sri Jagathguru Gadi Ananthachariar Swami .While Sri Anantha chariar Swami was at Benares ,the Advaitins challenged him and objected to his calling himself 'Jagadguru'.Since he could not  refute the challenge a telegram was sent to Sri Desikachariar Swami requesting him to immediately proceed to Benares and meet the challenge of Advaitins by expounding the tenets of Visishtadvaita philosophy.After Swami reached Benares ,the polemics seem to have been conducted in the form of court room trial with the Maharaja of Benares acting as judge.The Advaitins were effectively defeated which resulted in conceding their defeat in writing and also that Sriman Desikachariar Swamy can claim  the tittle as the legitimate Jagadguru.At this ,Sriman Desikachariar convinced them to agree for the continuance of the Jagadguru title claimed by Sriman Gadi Ananthachariar Swami,since Sriman Desikachariar Swami was not after titles..

In the year 1912 ,Sriman Swami was invited by the Maharaja of Pithapuram to be his Astahana Vidwan.But as Sriman Swami never wanted to leave lord Srinivasa's sannidhi ,he declined the offer.He however attended the Navarathri celeberations at Pithapuram and delivered lectures  for which he was profusely honoured by the Maharaja.Where ever Sriman Swami went to participate in the discussions ,he made an ever lasting impression on the pandits with his lucid and awe inspiring expositions .

During 1930 Sriman Swami was invited by Sri Suvarathindra Swamiji of Sri Raghvendra Swami Mutt in the Vidwat Sadas held at Kumbakonam where eminent Pandits like Sri Virupaksha Sastrulu of Mysore and others were present.At that time he delivered a lecture which was appreciated by Sri Suvarithindra Swamiji ,who honoured Sriman Desikachariar Swami  with a shawl and  a silver vessel full of rupee coins.

After his retirement as Vice Principal of the Sanskrit college ,SriSwami was made the Devasthanam Poet Laurete [Astana Vidwan]thanks to the generosity of Sri Mahant Prayaga Dasji ,whose cultural discernment was keen enough to recognise the erudition of Sri Swami.Fortunately he was given the same amount  as his former salary as honorarium /pension for the rest of his life.It was this leisure so kindly afforded to him that had enabled him to produce some valuable books which none in the country but he could have written .

.During 1927-28 Sri Desikachariar Swami was invited by the Maharaja of Rewa to be the Astana Vidwan of his state .But the Mahant was not prepared to spare the services of Sri Swami nor did Sri swami want to leave Tirupati and be away from Lord Srinivasa .

When the  Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam committee took over the Administration from the Mahant ,there were some objections from some quarters for the continuation of Sri Swami as the Astana Vidwan of T.T.Devasthanam.Sri Mahant who was the president of the committee was very particular about continuing with Sri
Thus Sriman Swami had the unique distinction of being the first Astana Vidwan of T.T.Devasthanam after the advent of the committee .Evidently it was the wish of Lord Srinivasa to retain his ardent devotee with himself .
In 1927 he delivered lectures on Vedantha -about fifty in number before a distinguished and appreciative audience in Vedanta Desika temple at Mylapore.

 During 1927 -31 Sriman Desikachariar Swami presided over a number of Vaishnava conferences in Poonamallee , Tiruvaheendrapuram ,Kanchepuram,Mannargudi and other places.He was one of the special invitees of Sri Vaishnava Sidhantha  sabha at Mannargudi  where Sriman Bhagvathi Shyam Chetlur Narsimhachariar presided .Sri Desikachariar Swami expounded Visishtadvaita  Sidhantha there to the delight of all the discerning and perceptive audience .
At one of the Vaishnava sabhas held at Tiruvaheendrapuram under the presidentship of Sriman Desikachariar Swami,Sriman Bhagavatvishayam Chetlur NarsimhachariarSwami pointed out that Lord Devanatha [the presiding deity at Tiruvaheendrapuram temple and the place where in  Sri Desikan had stayed for a number of years ] was capable of greater accessibility [sowlabya] than Lord Srinivasa .Sriman Desikachariar Swami in his presidential concluding remarks commented that for Swami Vedanta Desika the ultimate refuge was Lord Srinivasa as is evidenced by his firts sloka in Dayasatakam'Prapadhyetham girim srayaha '.But if Sriman Narsimhachariar wanted he could salute Lord Devanatha as 'Namathaha shri disaanaam naatham.'This reveals Sriman Desikachariars Swami's attachment to Lord Srinivasa which is quite in line with Sri Swami Desikan's own conviction.This wonderful exposition was applauded by the discerning audience that had gathered there.
Sri Desikachariar Swami was invited by the Calcutta university to take the Sanskrit chair but he declined as his attachment to Lord Srinivasa was very strong..

In 1931, Sri Swami delivered the Rukmini lectures instituted by Sri .N.Gopalaswami Ayyangar at Mylapore .There he elucidated the essential principles of Dwaita, Adwaita and Visishtadwaita which was appreciated by the eminent pandits who had gathered there..He took one day to explain Dwaita philosophy ,two days for Advaita philosophy and finally two days for Visishtadwaita philosophy.
After hearing his exposition on Adavita philosophy ,it appeared that everybody was wondering ,how he  could establish the primacy of Visishtadwaita.But he sustained the claim that  of Visishtadwaita to be the only system that satisfied tests of scriptures  and Reason.
Sri P.N.Srinivasachariar ,the then principal of Pachaiyappa college who attended the lectures stated that the logical and lucid style and genius exhibited by Sri Swami in his comparison of the three systems was a marvel of metaphysical exposition .
His intellectual vigour and zest with which he threw himself into the discussions of different schools of Vedantic thought were never impaired by age , physical infirmities or failing eyesight.

The Rukmini lectures of Sri Swamy were published as Traya -sangraha in Tamil.This was translated into English by Sri M.R.Rajagopal Ayyangar of Madras formerly of Education service , an erudite scholar with a profound knowledge of philosophical doctrines  and in Telugu by Vangipuram Sri Rangaswami Ayyangar of Trichanur ,who is a author of many books in Telugu, Tamil and English and was one of the disciples of Sri Desikachariar Swami.

Sri Desikachariar Swami showed his genius by giving 10 meanings for the slokam in Ramayana :

'Ramam dasradham viddhi, maam viddhi janakatmajaaam,
Ayodyam ataveem viddhi, gaccha thatha yada sukam'

in such way that the gist of entire Ramayana is brought out .Just as Sri Valmiki taught Ramayana to Lavakusa , Sri Swami taught this to his disciple Sri Susvaram Gopalakrishnacharyulu who has popularised the interpretation.


The following are the links to Kapisthalam Desikachariars publications and awards .

https://kcsujata.blogspot.com/2017/03/kapisthalam-desikachariar-swamis.html

https://kcsujata.blogspot.com/2017/03/kapisthalam-desikachariar-swamy-awards.html
 

Is Vaishnavism an offshoot of christianity?

Around the turn of 20 th century a number of indologists [Weber, Macinol and others ]had noted "points of similarity "between the Vaisnava philosophy of unalloyed devotion and Christian doctrine.
They argued that Vaisnavism [worship of Vishnu and Krishna] must have been an offshoot of Christianity,and cited the similarity between stories about Krishna and about Christ to further support their claim.But discovery of the inscription on the Heliodorous column laid their speculation to rest Here was conclusive archaeological proof that Vaisnava tradition antedated Christianity by  at least two hundred thousand years .

A Greek by name Heliodorous was envoy of Greek ruler of Bactria  Antialkidas to Kasiputra Bhagabhadra who was the ruler of Central India in 113 BC .Greeks were ruling North western India ever since Alexander conquered it in 325BC.By the time of Antialkidas the area under Greek rule included what is today Afghanistan, Pakistan and Punjab.

A stone pillar erected by Heliodorous in Besanagar in Central India was first  discovered in archaeological survey conducted by Cunnigham in 1877.Cunningham concluded from its shape that this pillar  belonged to Gupta age --300AD-550AD.The inscriptions on this pillar went unnoticed because the pillar had a thick coating of red paste.It had been the custom of pilgrims  who had worshipped there to smear the column with vermilion .Thirty two years later ,however when the inscriptions was brought to light it became clear that the monument was several centuries older.
In January 1901 A Mr Lake discerned what he thought was some lettering on the lower part f the column and removal of some of the vermilion paste proved him right.Dr J.H.Marshall who was accompanied by MR Lake ,described the discovery in the journal of the Royal Asiatic Society in 19o9.Cunningham, Marshall explained had been mistaken about the age of the column and "could little have dreamt of the value of the record which he just missed discovering"."A glance at the few letters exposed was all that was needed to show that he column was many centuries earlier than the Gupta era .This was indeed a surprise to me but a far greater one was in store , when the opening lines of the inscription came to be read "

A reproduction of the transliteration and translation of the ancient Brahmi text,on the inscription is given below in the manner in which it appeared in the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society.

1.Devadevasu Va[sude]vasa Garudadhvajoayam .
2.Karitoia Helidorenabhaga
3.Vatena Diyasaputrena Takhasilakena
4.Yona datenaagaten namaharajasa
5.Amtalikitasaupa [m]ta samkasam-rano
6.Kasiput[r]asa [Bh]agabhadrasatratarasa
7.Vasena [chatu] dasenarajenavadhamna sa.

meaning--This Garuda -column of Vasudeva [Visnu] the god of gods, as erected here by Heliodorous , a worshipper of Visnu , the son of Dion and an inhabitant of Taxila who came as Greek ambassador from the Great King Antialkidas to King Kastiputra Bhagabhadra , the Savior, then reigning prosperously in the fourteenth year of his kingship.

1.Trini  amutapadani -[su ] anuthitani
2.nayamtisvagadamochcha goapramado

meaning--Three immortal precepts  [footsteps]when practised lead to heaven -self restraint , charity conscientiousness.

From the inscription it seems clear that Heliodorous as so influenced by Vedic principles that he could be considered to be a Vaisnava , a follower or worshipper of Visnu.

Professor Kunja Govinda Goswami of Calcutta university  in his book 'A study of Vaisnavism '-1956 concludes that Heliodorous was well acquainted with texts dealing with  Bhagvat [vaisnava] religion

From the above translation of the column at Besanagar it would appear that  Heliodorous is the earliest  westerner on record to adopt Vedic principles. But some scholars most notably A.L.Basham in his book'Wonder that was India ' and Thomas Hopkins are of the opinion that Heliodorous was not the only Greek to adopt such principles .To quote Hopkins , chairman of the dept of religious studies at Franklin and Marshall college as published by Steven J Gelberg in the book  HareKrsnaHare Krsna [1986] has said
" Heliodorous was not the only foreigner who converted to Vaisnava devotional practises -although he might have been the only one who erected a column ,at least one  that is still extant.Certainly  there must have been many others ."

The column also struck down another popular notion .For centuries it was a common belief among scholars that India's orthodox tradition did not accept converts .An Islamic historian ,Abu Raihan Alberuni , who visited India in   1017 AD tried to explain in his book Indica  why the Indian orthodoxy donot admit foreigners .Alberuni suggested that the practise developed only after Moslem incursion after 674AD .
Antagonism between Moslems and Hindus seems to be the main reason behind non conversion practise.
For many centuries prior to Moslem presence ,however there had been no bar to conversion into the orthodox fold as attested by Heliodorous column.

      From the above archaeological evidence and from research and deductions of  several notable historians  it can be safely concluded  that Vaisnavism is not an off shoot of Christianity ..

Books referred to--
1.The Origin and Development of Vaisnavism by Suvari jaiswal--page--116
2.A cultural history of India --by A.L.Basham--pg--431
3.Journal of Royal Asiatic Society --pg--1053--54
4.A study of Vaisnavism by Kunja Govinda Goswami pg--6.
5.The wonder that was India  by A.L.Basham -pg --60
Hare Krsna Hare krsna  by Steven J.Gelberg --pg 117
6.Alberuni's India by Ahmad H.Dani --pg 37
7 From Internet --Jack Hebner and Steven Rosen

Courtesy --Sri Nrisimha Priya

Note--This 2200yeras old  pillar is standing though without the Garuda mount.It is 5-8kms from  Sanchi in MP which is 40-50kms from from Bhopal .[Sanchi is famous for its Buddhist Stupa]
An Vishnu temple must have existed at front of this sthamba .It is still the practise to erect Dwaja stambhams at front of temples.Since this is garuda dwajasthamba it was definetly erected at front of a Vasudeva temple as Garuda is the vehicle or mount of Vishnu.
Vasudeva is another name of Krishna.Krishn a is avatar of Vishnu.       Several years back an excavation was carried in the sea bed of Beyt Dwaraka in the Arabian sea in which archeologists unearthed building structures ,cooking utensils,pots and other items of human use .They were carbon dated and were found to belong to5000 BC.  Beyt Dwaraka is the place from where Krishna ruled his territory .Beyt Dwaraka was his capital city which as per purana was swallowed by the seas towards the end of Krishnas reign.Sevaral archeologists are of the firm view that these ruins dating back to 5000bc,ie  lying onthis seabed for more than 8000years was the capital city of Krishna.

The excavated objects,and geologists explanations were shown on Discovery channel.Footage ofundersea divers exploring the ruins was also shown.This discovery at Beyt Dwarka is clear proof and evidence that Krishna who is worshipped as avatar of Vishnu lived 5000years before Christ wa s bornthe excavations at Beyt Dwaraka establish without any doubt that in general Vaishnavism thrived many centuries before Christianity and in particular That SriKrishna lived thousands of years before Christ was born.The claim thatVaishnavism is offshoot of Christianity has no historical basis.However it is highly likely that Christianity is  a off shoot of Vaishnasvism since Krishna who lived 5000years before Christ is  being worshipped as Black .Christ .by some Christians in here.

KalyanaSrinivasaPerumal at Srinivasamangapuram temple--Tirupathi

Sri Rangam and Koiladi-- Tour diary

I embarked on this annual trip to Sri Rangam with trepidition and abundant caution .Since 2014 this state and country no longer feels like the one i am used to .Freedom i took for granted has been forcibly taken away .I feel like a suspicious tramp/jail bird  out on parole with a rfid tag who invariably commits a great crime on each such outing by visiting temples .Punishment for this serial offence is swift and dehumanising at the very sacred premises with a harsher punishment on my return.
This process of alienating me from my environments and to be in the receiving end of constant hostility from all around including my once friendly flatmates which started in 2011 reached its nadir in 2014.
However from 2011 to  2014 i could visit temples without much physical harrassment though my right to sole enjoyment of my property viz the flat i live in and my right to privacy within it wasn't respected , rather it was taken away without my consent but my right to pursue the religion and sect into which i am born viz Hinduism and Sri vasihnavism wasn't overtly and so atrociously trifled with .Temples in and around Tamil nadu and other states were my place of refuge , the haven for me, but no longer after 2014.In those visits i could let down my armour but could no longer after 2014..
The very  evening we reached Srirangam , had a good darshan of Ranganayaki thayar and Sri Ranganathar.Though it was marred by a priest banging the silver Chadari on my head and then placing it on a thin poor man who slipped in between me and my husband, a procedure that priests do not follow.normally.They will place it on the couples standing side by side  first and then only on others.That thin man was waiting to do this as he was following us closely in the line .This sort of disrespect was shown since 2011 ,yet it am unable to brush it away.
The darshan of Namperumal the processional deity of Sri Ranganathar standing small and petite at front the huge Moolavar  in a reclining position was good.This petite deity whose face has lost its defining contours owing to passage of time and tribulations ,moved me with its quiet assurance of seeing it all since time immemoriol  and continuing to reign as a calm and eternal ruler..Again the moment was marred by a young dark priest yelling near my ears.


Next day morning visited the temple again and all the sannidhis .The renovation of the graineries abutting the walls of the temple which is said to have been built by kings of yore probably Tirumangai aazhwar of 9 the cent AD is  over.It looks new .Good work.
Whilst partaking prasad within the temple complex near Ramanujar's brindavan[resting place]i suddenly saw from my corner of my eyes a white fez cap making me jerk my head in alarm and saw that it was a old bare bodied ayengar man with dark glasses walking at the front.what  a nasty trick was  played on me .Wondered how.Saw  a mini van  with iron casing standing right in front of where we were seated.This as well as light and specs effect [on ostensible devotees wearing it] in the Ramanujar sannidhi we had just visited  could have been used .As if on cue a state govt truck used for  cleaning drove down .Also saw a group of foreign tourists [white]taking photos of hall built by Vijayanagar rulers at the bend  as we walked back to our lodge.
Saw a lot of namums bustling in scooters and on foot in Sri rangam.This sight warmed my heart .Srirangam appeared as a haven  of Vaishnavaites in a sea of vibhuthees .It reminded me of Tirupati 40 years back.
Felt glad that at least this temple town has its identity as stronghold of SriVaishnavaites  intact.

Noon i sat on the outside passage of our tiny room .This passage overlooked some of the temple towers and was very quiet with a warm breeze blowing gently.It was like a ashram and i started reading Periya aazhwars pasurams.A dark room boy  with a blank forehead [no sect mark]who was  walking up and down the passage on and off glared at me with unconcealed anger.He seemed to cool down only after i finished reading the hymns and put the book down !It is for several years now that my reading habits and blogging it bother others but only on that day i saw it first hand.Now that i have become more or less like a spy living among spies[karma] i have started observing location of cctv cameras and i was pleased that i had won a round by sitting away from it, behind it.It appears that i didn't win the round.

Proceeded to Koi ladi 30 kms away by taxi.The route to this divya desam --a temple visited and praised by aazhwars--is flanked by waters of Kaveri and Kollidam  rivers.Now only its sandy bed overgrown with weeds is visible.
With a sinking heart saw that units manufacturing concrete has multiplied  on the banks of these rivers since my last visit 3  years  back as also brick kilns on one of the most fertile  aluvial soil in this state-TN.even a blade of grass will not grow on grounds coated with concrete.Couldn't these people find a waste land to set up such units?
Two sign boards on the road side frther down informs one that both kollidam and Kaveri breached its bank in 1961.and had reached this road which is on higher ground which is higher than the tallest palm trees growing in their banks.
Further in  were lush paddy fields with pumps gushing out water.Labourers wre dehusking and drying in heaps bundles of  golden brown rice stalks on the tar road itself leaving a small gap for vehicles to pass.
Further down had to cross kaveri by bridge and dam It is like a small pond.
A new structure as memoriol for Karikala chozhan who is said to have built the original dam in here ,has come up.An endeavour to keep history alive .
Despite lush paddy fields villages look decreipt and slovenly.
Passed a church named Punitha Anthony at the entry of the small koiladi villageand reached the temple
This temple has a good make over ,it is  literraly sparkling  in its fresh paint and renovated works whilst the houses in what could have been the agraharam where brahmins and sri vaishnavaites who lived once ,leading to it are deserted and crumbling .A gaping gap which would be filled by alternatives sooner or later .To put it bluntly the village  could be christianised soon.
In my visit to Cherran kulam last year a small village near Mannargudi i was surprised to see a house owned by Muslims in the agraharam itself.what were they doing near a temple away from thier community  folks that to in a village? In this village also there was exodus of brahmins for jobs but on retirement most have returned and are actively taking part in up keep of  a ancient Srinivasar temple and traditions .NRI's visit regularily to take part in the temple festivals.
similarily the small Vardharajar temple in Satyagala village near Mysore has been renovotaed by NRI'S who have provided excellent facilities for lodging in there and many take part in events associated with Desikan who lived here in exile in 14 th cent.The village is non descreipt as it must have been in Desikan's days.yet NRI's have traced it and poured a lot of money to keep its importance in Sri vaishnava  history alive.NRI's seem to have more interest in keeping our traditions alive than most of those living in here do.


I climbed the gaily painted steps  of the tiny hillock over which the temple for appla ranganathar has been built and reached the entrance.The dry bed  of kaveri overgrown with weeds was visible from there.It gentle flow snaking behind and around the temple  a balm to weary eyes and mind was missing .
We two were the only visitors and i could drink the details in leisure unhindered
Appala Ranganathar is as huge as Sri Ranganathar and in similar  yoga nidra--reclining position .His face was glowing with happiness and a knowing smile lingered at his lips.
In the several trips i made to this temple since 2007 this is the first time that i observed his visage with clarity
It was like as if he was saying -All this is my lila--sport .
He was smiling in a similar manner when i first stood on the entrance all alone in 2007 waiting for the priest and trying to still my mind by watching the river flow.The difference is that i never noticed it then and in subsequent visits or was too distraught to assimilate the message Ranganathar was beaming.
Soon a group with a toothless spectacled old woman laughing at me with too much familiarity joined us and alerted me that my private time was over .
Decided to meditate in the inner prahara .The habit of meditating in all temples i visit which  i have picked up to gain spiritual solace since 2007 is no longer a easy one.I have to make sure that there are no lights or electric connections behind me .Sounds paranoid?Well if spot decisions are going to be taken by what i write or talk by competing top political leaders i have to take precautions  lest my poor back weakened by sound , jamming and squeezing out of liquids absorbs others suggestions whilst  thus concentrating on japa .
My guard slipped and i went and sat inside though i had intended to go out in the open prahara.chose a spot away from fixtures and embarked on my habit since 2007 some filthy words in tamil flitted across my jammed forehead in that rocky corridor and immediately drums beat and bell was rung as if on cue commemorating the successful bid of some pervert to invade my inner space in a sacred place .
 Didn't want to give up though i knew that sanctity i attach to my meditation in hoary  and sacred places where galaxy of saints  have immeresed  themselves in bhakthi  down the ages was axed  brutally, yet  went out with bravado to repeat my meditation.
two country crows --Andangkaka were eating with relish the sacrificial cooked rice placed on a beam whilst  a flock of parrots screeched as they flew around .Chose a place to meditate .Parrots were screeching hysterically .It was unlike the ordinary screeches of parrots of earlier trips.Continued stubbornly with what maybe a  mere lip service and heard the drone of a plane .Here to!Didnt hear them in SrirangamWas our trip pre planned ?Does it explain that poor priest's[ who must have been micro waved ]sudden staggering as i went past him to go out?Does it also explain hubs breaking into sweat and my restlessness and indecisivness  in finding a spot for meditation  few minutes before?
Had headaches in lodge as well as in return train trip that very night --21st.
Kept writing whole of 22nd in fits and gaps as my mind seemed to be  stuffed and i had to get rid off it all. Wrote my diary at length and then this article for blog.Observed that there were barely any take offs .Not much take offs today --23rd also saw landings and my diary writing is yet to stop.After ages  my sore throat returned with fever!
this is the concluding piece of the tour diary article --It is the bodily nastying i am subject to in my annual  trip to Tirupathi which hurts me most , this is since 2014 .Probably those who are deliberately doing this dirty job on me know that i am unable to stomach the nastying i am subject to in Tirumala temple due to my special affinity to Srinivasar lay it  thick in there  .So i'll be adding fuel to fire when i share this piece of information ,that my great grand father on my paternal side a sanskrit pandit never left Tirupathi though he had lucrative offers from Benares , trivandram , Rewa ,mysore and many others , due to his deep devotion to Srinivasarand that he wrote 150 slokas in sanskrit on Srinivasar at ripe age of 80 for every Bramha sutra explaining that brahman in those sutras refer to Narayana and Narayana is vishnu and it is he who is enshrined at tirumala.
He did  all this in britishers period and even got audience and a medal for  representatingHindu
  orthodoxy in south, with King George when he visited India .He seems to have lived more freely under British than me under Independant Republic of India!Irony! Double irony is that my maternal grand father  sacrifised a lot of time and money and energy to free India of britisher rule and help create this independant republic of India was also a deep devotee of Srinivasar at Tirumala.He spent his last years at Tirupathi.

I guess it is  my lineage which makes me even more vulnerable to such unspeakably dirty physical and mental harrassments  in such sacred places by those who are envious of my anscestry and it gives them a high to rub my nose to the ground .

Emergency calls only

I am getting this above message-viz emergency calls only in my airtel mobile since yesterday.Nobody can reach me as well.This i observed yesterday after i made a call .i made a call on 7 th and it reached .But yesterday when i tried to call i got this message and am still getting it.Didn't call on 8th and 9th.
I read that all the  MLA's  guarded in a resort , mobiles have been jammed.Was mine also jammed ?I brushed away this doubt as it rose yesterday on seeing this message on my mobile as too far fetched.I am not a MLA or MP to have my phone which was  giving the following messages like --'you are not allowed to make this call' when i tried answering missed calls or' This is conditional access' when i rang up some of my relatives and family members for years to suddenly get this ban.
But the doubt is persisting that may be it is jammed probably due to my earlier blog viz on the current political turmoil in Tamilnadu.
If so i find it ludicurous since tv and papers and mags have much more franker views than mine. If i have assumed that it is jammed  and not some mistake in airtels services then i am showing that i am attaching to much importance to my blogs power and influence, so i am ludicruos.                                                                       If what i have assumed is true then it is even more ludicruos .which means i am viewed as a threat at par with whims and fancies of elected reps  and unelected leaders pulling the rug from under each others legs in pursuit for power  !Mine  could be even worse as it comes with a 'communal' tinge.
It is a fact that conversion was attempted on me in september 2014.The process employed like micro wave messaging , commands , shows that  it can be done only with state's assistance and conniavence .so who is communal?Me or those attempting to change my religion, sect and belief's from a Hindu sri vaishnavaite to a muslim or a christian or a saivaite or to shakthi sect?
Why shouldn't i call it state sponsered conversion when i am sure even with my limited knowledge that rfid implants, micro waves commands , jamming my head[ so much that it is nearly vaccumised ]and conditioning our activities and bodily ejections, pains as per flights , changing flights path could be done only by state and not by individuals or groups .Impossible for any one apart from state to do what is being done to me /us.

Is conversion or holding it as a threat the only way to tackle critics? Maybe this  process started much earlier as early as 2004 in a subtle way which could do with my husbands political views-full fledged right, anti congress + pro modi.We are living in Muslim majority area.so all politicians will vie to please them . Majority of my neighbours in my flats who are constantly monitering us and maybe nastying us are Muslims and not christians.Saivaites are also a sizeable lot but somehow i cannot believe that they are doing this out of fury at us but are helping muslims in assuaging thier fears or lessening thier fury.But they are also doing dirty stuff so equally culpable  .So are the shakthi sect  and Christians.They all seem to enjoy probing my private parts with radio frequency waves and feel victorious after doing this cowardly act.it could be a christian youth of lower stratta or middle aged  shakthi devotee- man from lower stratta  or middle aged middle class saivaite or middle aged muslim from lower and middleclass.one thing in common is that they all seem to be enjoying touching my skin though indirectly.Lechers and shodhas.
Which was subtle become quite open and daring in 2012 itself .i would say 85 -90%.In 2014 it went public and extreme. i would say 500%  -1000%

Why 2004?I remember hearing pressure cooker whistle even when Vidat was around , which is before 2007 This is not ordinary cooker sound but goes on and on as if to warn  .i observed that after it stops a muslim neighbour will drive out of the flat either in car or bike.So i think it is to do with them .maybe they are looking into our house, at us or sending some waves.Weighing all this it makes me wonder whether there was a communal angle to Vidat's death. A revenge?
   It came in open in 2014 when it was sought to be completed coercively harshly and.quickly .

Though it is being hinted that it is only christian conversion my actual observation is not so .christians, muslims iand saivaites are trying thier hand non stop in nastying us and sublimial commands are sent to confuse and detract us from our beliefs.
I started with ban on my phone and have wandered off into past happenings after analysing the causes that could have prompted it.
So if it was banned  , how will talking lightly with relatives affect politics ? Is there a intent to keep me at all times foccussed only on conversion and the communal obssesions that some news papers and tv channels are fond off but on the converse and let it out in blogs?
Very tough to extricate oneself from politicians.

I have blogged so extensively on this  subject viz --intrusion into our lives and conversion but no one is bothered ,why? Vote bank
The more i am harrassed and make me write about it specially provoking me in temples it is better for politicians.Their secular credentials go higher and higher with every nasty detail i narrate.It makes sense that they would naturally bend backwards to please minorities and seculars and atheists since they can bring them to power and therefore status and money .what would pleasing me or relenting give them?Nothing.Few words of praise?of what use are they to practical people?
i have a feeling that my write up on OPS observing that there was reduction in my harrassment under his rule may not be liked by his campor even himself .Won't the mino's/seculars/aetheists feel that he is not thier zealous protector having heard it from the horsesmouth[me]?                                                                                                                    Probably i did a great disfavour to OPS by expressing my support for him vis a vis sasikala.
i didn't want to put it on google + as i have got fed up with its managed profile views but did ,maybe due to suggestions and proddings.from the ceiling.
Those who know as to who or which political party or faction  is using upper floor  for controlling us will know as to who did it.