Thirupavai -1.

Maargazhi thingal madhiniraindha nanalaal,
neerada podhuveer!podhumino neirizhaiyeer!
seermalgum aayarppadi selavasirumeergal'
koorvel kodunthozhilan nandagopan kumaran!
yerrarandha kanni yashodai illam singam,
kaarmeni senghan kadirmadhiyam pol mughathaan,
Narayanane namakku paraitharuvaan
 paror pughazh padindhe lorembavai.

Meaning

In the month of Margazhi on the auspicious day of the full moon all those petite girls of Gokulam who are interested in bathing in the river do join us.
One who is the son of Nandagopan who bears a sharp spear  and has a fierce profession,

One who is the lion cub of Yashoda who has beautiful eyes,

One who is of the hue of rain bearing clouds  with red eyes  and a face that is like a moon which radiates the brilliance of sun,
He is Narayana .He will grant us the boon that is approriate to our penanace.
Take part in this penance that is hailed ,world over.

Doctrine of karma---reaction to an article

An author of an article on Karma in Bhavans journal  was playing the devils's advocate in his supposedly first instalment [the next issue didn't carry the next  instalment with alternate arguments] by questioning the irrationality of this doctrine by posing the question as to how a fish condemned to its lowly state due to its previous karma know that it was suffering due to its past deeds?So this doctrine is laughable as there is no repentance.

To my knowledge the doctrine of karma is propounded for the benefit of a human being with his sense of right and wrong ,who is warned of the pitfalls that await him in due course of time ,if not  then in his next birth ,that of being born as a lowly form of life without any power of reasoning.It is not necessary for the fish to know its former birth but for human beings endowed with reason to know that a birth as a fish may await that person as a result of his karma / deeds.
That person could be born as better person viz,in a good family with scholarship and prosperity.Even then that person enjoying the fruits of past deeds has no knowledge of his prior birth because  Sri Krishna has said in the Gita "Arjuna i have the knowledge of my previous births [as a bhagwan] but you as a mortal do not have",must be taken by all reposing faith in karma doctrine  as its justification  and rightly so.Learnt this
by personal experience.
.
 

Periya aazhwar's thirumozhi turned the tables?

I wanted a bit of spiritual literature to enliven the day and the hymns i chanced upon in my book of translations [done by me]were that of 8 th cent vaishnavaite saint cum poet Peryiahzwar .His hymns  apart from devotion and bhakthi are full of wit ,wisdom capped by beauties of nature as well as natural happenings  .
For our purposes i' ll quote two of them which i read at 11.30 am today that may have a bearing in sudden twist and turns in the political scenario.

**378 .Before you are wrapped up in new clothes from head to foot and placed on the bier and taken to the cemetery,
and before your relatives converge and weep loudly lamenting  only about your good deeds ,
Like a pack of jackals hovering around a pot full of jaggery ,
If you merge yourself into Govinda ,one who is adorned with kuasthuba jewel , by placing him in your heart ,
then you can skip yama's   domain.

The above verse is guidelines to householders to overcome fear of gruesome punishments that may be meted out by yama the god of death at time of death.


**369.When a fistful of grains is sold for exorbitant amounts as during famines,
The residents of thirukottiyur are famous nation wide for their large heartedness and kindness ,in willingly parting with thier food to those in need,
Without hiding their scarce resources and without expecting anything in return,
To those residents of T kottiyur who also worship bhagwan calling aloud ,
Kesava, purushotama  !the self illumined vamana ! ,
I am willing to enslave myself and do their bidding!

This hymn is in praise of  Koshtiyur a sacred Narsimhar sthalam at Tn.

My skin pricked with the shafts of 1ooo stares and felt like as if  i was licked by spiky tongue of a poisonous pup as i read on , an itchy feeling that had lost its intensity after i joined bjp[i am not a full fledged activist at the ground ,which may explain the indifference of that party or its sheer inability and exploitation of the space thus ceded, to its perceived advantage by the ruling party,what ever i am sticking to bjp] only its intensity and not its omnipotence, it is clear now and it lasted  for quite sometime.

The news at 2pm was that fgn minister was supporting his colleague--defence,

the news at 3 pm , a jolt from the blue that the food security bill had been tabled, presided over by a very smiling speaker whilst the opposition leader sputtered in indignation and helplessness .

An cruel example of the dictum 'Victors take it all and the losers have to grin and bear it '.

 6 pm read the news item of 6 Aug in Sankara daily that rss chief has asked all units to help modi to win.
could that explain the mental pressure i was subject to that whole day [with accompanying itchiness] and the day before , but i held my tongue to the obvious disappointment of kgb---pale face displayed by kicking and kicking the scooter..[having been trained by constant symbolism for past one year  i have to hazard guesses.]

Now why should the buzz around modi [the info reg his political moves i am pretty ignorant of but is at the finger tips of kgb, ppt's and co]make me the recipient of the works [covert pressures --gadgets, aroma , etc]
and needle me to speak or act in a manner that would goad the leadership or decision takers of Cong to arrive at a instant decision and act swiftly?Weird! Why is my mundane every day life getting more and more inextractibly connected with modi's very active political life?

An eccentricity /perversion cum superstition of those in very high places.The irony of it all is that i have never had my horoscope or my family members read nor did i ever consult the Almach -panchangam for auspicious or inauspicious time in all my life so far.

 

Stotra ratna by Alavandar/Yamunacharya

பெருந்தேவி தாயார் ஸமேத ஸ்ரீ தேவராஜ பெருமாள் -ஸ்ரீ வரதராஜ கோவில் -காஞ்சிபுரம்

The Strotra Ratna are   pearl like hymns in Sanskrit on Narayana strung  together with deep devotion and eloquence by Yamaunacharya also known as Alavandar ,in the 10 th century AD.He is regarded as a very important acharya by Sri Vaishnavaites.

At the age of 36 ,he relinquished his kingship and suzerainty over Madurai and large tracts of neighbouring regions .He had originally gained these  when the reigning king of Madurai kept his part of the bargain and promise to cede these if young Alavandar could defeat the most renowned scholar of his court which was against all odds ,owing to the tender age of alavandar. Alavandar a precocious child  how ever defeated the pompous scholar as easily as a child's play and the king as was the dharma of those days honoured his promise and immediately handed over half of his kingdom. Alavandar relinquished his kingdom which he had governed well  and also had  extended it on coming to know about his lineage, that he had descended from Nathamuni [his grand father] who was  deeply devout and committed to the cause of Vaishnavism,  by the patient efforts of  one of the aged disciples of Nathamuni who gently made him realise that it was his[ alavandars] duty, to which he was naturally disposed to carry on the work of teaching the essential  principles of Sri Vaishnavism that was slowly going into abeyance due to lack of good acharyas to carry it, forward.

Alavandar's innate spiritualism submerged under polity and materialism  was awakened when he read a few lines of Gita ,showed to him by that aged disciple of Nathamuni .He immediately renounced his kingdom and life of a house holder and proceeded whole heartedly thence forward into the realms of spirituality.
It was Alavandar at  ripe old age who recognised young and bright Ramanuja as his succesor and the fit person to carry the mission of teaching and propagating Sri vaishnavaite faith and philosophy.

The following is sloka  from the Strotra ratna
                                  _________-
               ஸ்ரீமதே யமுனார்ய மஹா தேசிகாய நம :
                         Srimathe Yamunaarya MahaDesikaya namaha

                                         ஸ்தோத்ர ரத்னா
                                            Stotraratna

60**पिता त्वं माता त्वं दयितत नयस्त्वं प्रिय सुहृत्
        त्वमेव त्वं मित्रं गुरुरसि गति च असि  जगताम्
        त्वदीयसत्वत् भ्रिदत्य स्तव परिजन स्तव गतिरहं
      प्रपन्न क्षैवं सत्यह मपि  तवै वासिम हि भर :|| 

பிதா தவம் மாதா தவம் தயிதா த்னயாஸ்தான்
ப்ரிய ஸஹத்வ மே த்வம் மித்திரன் குரூர் சிகதி சாக்ஷி
த்வதீய ஸத்வத்ர த்வஸ்தான்  பாரிஜன்ஸத்வ  த்ராத்திரஹன்
ப்ரபந்ந ஷ்ரேவம் சத்யா ஹம்பி தவை வாசிம் ஹீ பார் ||

**Pitha  tvam ,matha tvam  dayithathnaysathan
priya sahthva mev tvam,mitran gurur sigathi  shaksi jagatham
tvadheeya sathvadra tyasthan parijansathva drathirahan
prapann shrevam sathyahampi thavai vasim hee bhar|

meaning:
You are the father.You are the mother.You are the dear son,
you alone are the friend.you are the ally .you are the teacher and the refuge of the world.
I am yours.Your servant,your associate .you are my goal,
I have taken refuge in you .When such is the case i am really a burden to you alone.

           ஸ்ரீமதே  யமுநார்ய    மஹா தேசிகாய நம :  
           Srimathe Yamunaarya Maha Desikaya namaha

                        ____________________
Dated 9.6.13   -- written and published 9.30.-10.30 AM

Budding dyarchy in judicial process.

The news heading 'Sharia courts to be set up in Mumbai' sent waves of alarm rippling through me as i conjured up visions of death by stoning, public be heading and chopping of limbs, the punishments to acts of transgressions and of criminal intent.

Was this a slow and steady overtaking of the system by fanatic islamists with the brazen approval of politicians hungry for power?

On a closer perusal it was clear that such courts were being set up to try the law relating to marriages and divorce of Muslims  and not criminal acts ,as an means to facilitate the quick disposal of cases.
Hindus and Muslims and Christians have been historically governed by their personal laws ,but with the constitution coming into force it was clearly established that whatever law is adopted in this field viz customary or shastras or shariayat it is the properly constituted courts that have the authority to adjudicate and decide.

The setting up Shariat courts cannot be justified by saying that it was an alternative dispute  redressal mechanism ,that are in vogue these days to settle disputes swiftly,since adr's are part and parcel of the judiciary.The shariat courts on the other hand is more or less like a parallel system of judiciary!

By honouring and recognising them the state will be conferring a legitimacy that is due only to courts set up under the provisions of the Constitution.Then won't khap panchayats [frowned by all] feel emboldened to seek similar legitimacy for the enforcement of their customary laws? And headman's start  demanding   that their say  the final word in all matters  ? A throw back to earlier centuries.

The setting up sharia courts  will only chip and erode the inherent, non transferable sovereign powers of the judiciary ,bit by bit and along with it ,the respect and faith it commands amongst the citizens will diminish correspondingly.
To me these courts are an assault on the Independence and authority of one of the finest institutions created by the constitution--the Judiciary.

Athigiri mantap.at Sri Vardaraja Perumal temple at Kanchipuram

sri Vardarajar with His consorts Sri Devi, Bhu Devi and PerunDevi Thaayaar at Varadarajar Temple

Two arasamarams/aswath trees/ flanked the  still greenish waters of the temple tank that has in its depths the wooden idol of Sri Varadharajar ,immersed to be taken out only once in 40 years and then worshipped for a month and then to be lowered into the watery sanctum till the next cycle .
One of the trees was in fullsome prime ,covered by huge swathes of green leaves through which it was impossible to see their support--the tawny branches.The other tree was quite bare and lean ,having shed the year old fatigued and worn out leaves and was unfurlng copper coloured leaflets all over its crown that was a perfect foil to its lush green companion as well as the leafy green pond below.

The mid day sun shone directly overhead burnishing the tender leaves on the top to gleaming deep red tassels whilst the dazzling reflection of the fiery sun from the tanks surface lit up those leaflets at the lower branches that were overshadowed by the ebullient red canopy that did not allow the rays to penetrate below, to a delicate rose  .
All this i watched from the steps of the steel enmeshed enclosed mantap built by Vijayanagar emperors that lies just outside the main temple of Sri Varadharajar at kanchipuram,when i took a short break from my leisurely and detailed examination of the wealth of sculptures adorning the huge and tall and numerous  pillars ,from its very top to its  base.Is it the unique shape and the feathery light weight of the leaf of the sacred fig tree/arasamaram that makes it catch the slightest whisper of wind ,to sway and dangle individually from its stem though growing in bunches like other trees, that makes it so enticing, attractive and eye catching?

Does its exalted status in Hindu belief since time immemorial apart from the various legends associated with it ,stem from this simple fact?That unlike other trees ,each leaf of Arasamaram is an individual in its own right and has an independent identity of its own, though they look alike and are dependant on the branches and roots of a single primary tree for its growth,stability and sustenance?

Now back to the highly sculpted mantap which according to a very sleepy watchman manning it is nearly 2000 years old!One familiar with history would put it to only 700-500 years ,since each sculpture bears the clearly artistic and unique signature of Vijayanagar emperors who ruled the Deccan from near about13 th cent --16 th cent ad. The temple however could be 2000 years or even older.Since all visitors and devotees are not familiar with history a notice board with a brief history would help in dispelling the ignorance shrouding the facts.

An leisurely examination by moving the head from the base to the high ceiling ,since every inch of every pillar has been painstakingly carved led to the conclusion that the mantap is more or less a dedication or a memorial of sort to the 11 th cent Sri Vaishnava acharya Sri Ramanuja--[1017--1137]His familiar seated form with the staff of a sanyasi held inbetween his folded hands adorns the base, mid section and the capitol of most of the pillars along with those of Vishnu, varahar, Narsimhar, Krishna , Hanuman Vyasa,Rama Sita and Lakshmi,carved all over .
AS the arsamarams leaves dangled in  a delectable dance and quivered in a rosy reflection over the green waters housing Varada ,the deity worshipped by Ramanuja who lived in Kanchipuram for decades, i couldn't help wondering at the energy and force that impelled him to carry on tirelessly to revive Hinduism that had become vague due to the wrong interpretation of Maya philosophy of Adi Shankara,[years after his departure], that dismissed every thing as mere delusions .

Sri Ramanuja established that life is real and Iswara is full of good qualities and is worthy of worship in any form and that archa  or deity form is  the easiest and tangible way of paying obeisance to the ultimate .

He was also an extra ordinary  revolutionary  In those early centuries viz 1000 AD when caste barriers were strictly upheld and its transgressions punished immediately with ostracisation ,undeterred by societal pressures to conform ,he honoured knowledge and devotion where ever he found it on whom so ever it may be and thus pestered a Sudra , a very pious man to become his guru and was overcome with such a rage at his wife's treatment ,[customary demeaning but the norm those days] whilst serving food to his guru that he immediately expelled her to her parents and instantly took up sanyasa .  Ramanuja was a brahmin.  
--
And when he learnt the closely guarded mantra for moksha from a Brahmin to be passed only to Brahmin's with repercussions for transgressions he chose to climb a nearby temple tower and to proclaim it loudly to all those interested to the way to moksha .His guru's fury abated with his reasoning that he didn't mind going through the vicious cycle of birth and death if 1000 others are enabled to gain entry into Vaikuntum or  attain moksha!

A rare , bright individual whose personality overcame all hurdles thrown by society and authorities.


He attracted followers from all strata of the society as well as castes and he embraced them all into his sect --Sri Vaishnavisim by following the earlier aazhwars--mystic vaishnavaite saints dictum that a devotee of Vishnu was more dearer than Narayana himself1But he did all this with missionary's zeal .He made 74 families--his followers [and not any mutt ]responsible to carry on vedic, sri vaishnavaite traditions ,visishta dwaita  philosophy  as well as the thorough reading of the Ramayana and the Gita compulsory , with clear injunction to never stray away.And i have descended from one such family.

Sri Ramanuja lived in times when royal patronage was necessary to practise and propagate one's religious convictions and beliefs.As Brithrahari had observed in 1 cent AD itself that there were only two gods  --Siva or Vishnu , the same was true in the times of Ramanuja a 1000 years later as well .

The Tamil king was a staunch saivite who couldn't tolerate the popularity that Ramanuja was acquiring , hence went on the path of persecution that made Ramanuja to leave Sri rangam and live in karnataka in exile for more than a decade,returning after his son ,who wasn't all that dogmatic suceeded to the throne.  .Another religion that was in dominanace was Jainism to which the ruler of karnataka subscribed to,which he relinquished to embrace Sri Vaishnavism , overwhelmed by the ministering abilities of Ramanuja who cured his daughter of her hitherto incurable ailment and gave him his full patronage.

However Ramanuja had to face stiff resistance to his all embracing policy to his fold and in his quest to standardise the form of ritualistic worship in temples  in neighbouring kerala  as well as, orissa ,where the priests couldn't stomach such ideas and literally beat him and left him for dead .The Brahmins of Kashmir were also equally jealous in guarding their own ways of worship and unwilling to share their philosophical thoughts  ,when Ramanuja visited that place .He was driven away overnight.

Was the rapid spread of Islam an factor in the relentless endeavour of Ramanuja to throw open the spiritual secrets guarded jealously by Brahmins for centuries to all irrespective of caste and creed, to keep the drifting flock intact?By now Ghaznivadis were established at Delhi and were spreading their power, influence and religion in the principalities of their conquests.He might have wanted to consolidate all Hindus under one banner --Sri Vaishnavism as a bulwark against the rapid spread of Islam in Bharat,

There is a story held to be factual that when Ramanuja requested the Delhi sultan to hand over the processional deity of the main deity of the temple at Melkote, karnataka , which was heaped along with other idols raided by the marauders , the king's daughter was so attached to that idol which was her favourite doll that she wouldn't let go ,though her father acceded to Ramnuja's request ,and followed him to Melkote and remained there till her premature expiry.

In commemoration of this unique attachment and devotion  of that young Muslim girl an idol known as Bibi nachiayar,   standing in supplication at the feet of the idol ,was installed at the sanctum of the vishnu temple at Melkote and it remains there till date.There is also a sannidhi for this 'Tulaka Nacchiayar' at the second prakara [circumbulatory passage] of Sri Rangam temple .And the daily prasad cooked at the temple kitchen and offered to Sri Ranganathar includes chappathi, butter and dhal ,in honour of that  muslim girl's devotion to the idol of Narayana.This practise is continuing till today.

Sri Ramanuja's sphere of influence endures till date  in Tamilnadu, Andhra pradesh and Karnataka.


 

Salutations to Sri Rama by Sri Desikan and Khambar.

Sri Rama, Sita Devi , Lakshman  at SrinivasarTemple at Tirumala

**Chathur mukai ,kshvarmukahai ,putra  pautradhi shaline|
Namaha seetha samethaiya Ramaya grihamedhine..................from Mahavira vaibhavam by Sri Desikan.

meaning: Salutations to Sri Rama the father of four faced Brahma and grand sire of Siva and who beholds the entire universe as his household,with Sita always at  his side.

**Nanmaiyum selvamum naallum nalgume ,
thinmaiyum pavamum sidhaindhu theyume,
janmamum maranamum indri theerume,
immaiye Rama yedrirende yezhuthinaal......................From Kambha Ramayanam by Khambar

Meaning:  Good fortune and wealth will increase daily,
misfortune and sins will disintegrate and wane,
the problem of the cycle of birth and death will be solved ,
Now itself ,by uttering just two letters Rama   ['Rama' is encompassed within  two letters in Tamil]

To Udipi Sri Krishna temple --east to west coast.

Since childhood i always associated Udupi with Udipi hotels that dotted South India and were famous or their delicious cuisine ,of tasty meals and tiffins made tastier by generous garnishing with desicated coconuts.
The connection between Udupi and Sri Krishna was always there but somewhat hazy and distant  but its importance to our religious psyche was as concrete and equivalent to that of Krishna's temple at Guruvayoor.

It was my long cherished desire to visit Udupi that had reached fruition only now after harboring it within fir several decades and here i was walking down the Railway platform at Chennai searching for our coach, in the night express.
A slender man lay stretched out languidly on a sheet of paper in a corner of the platform ,with a cement bag for a pillow .He was unperturbed by  all the characteristic bustles of a busy rly station . His eyes fixed dreamily on the sky visible through a slit in the covering .
A sigh escaped me .How lucky he was to stare moodily and meditatively without anyone finding it ridiculous or insane  or abnormal.Some people even those lowly placed have all the fun effortlessly  that is bent on eluding those specially those who set a time frame to have it like me who has the additional burden of artificially  manufactured status  that is either out of genuine  respect or mere scorn ,unceremoniously thrust upon

The red shirted coolies have dwindled in numbers what with 90 % of the passengers be it a small boy clutching his mothers hand or a old lady bent with age pulling their travel bags ,all with wheels ,with ease.

The golden rays of the morning sun poured over the landscape the next day that was no longer  arid or cultivated fields as it was in Tamilnadu but that of dense foliage ,clumps of coconut trees ,whose dark shadow was reflected by innumerable ponds,way side ditches [ i recollected the heavy rains that lashed the train on its journey the night before] and backwaters  along the way. .
We had entered Kerala and were soon thereafter in Karnataka .The spacious red tiled houses occupying every available space in Kerala continued to do so as we neared Mangalore .The sea sky blue and restful beckoned us at a distance.

17.2.13--18.2.13

Thirupavai---22.

Angannama gyallatharasar abhimana pangamai vandhu nin pallikatirkeezhe,
sangam irruparpol ,vandu thalaipeidhom                                                                                                      Kingini vai seidha thamarai poo pole,
sengann sirisiridhe yemmel vizhiyavo?
Thingalum adhithanum yezhundarpol angan irrandungkondengal mel nokkudhiyel,
yengal mel sabham izhindhe lorembpavai.

Meaning:
A huge crowd of rulers who have held sway over vast tracts of bountiful lands ,preening in their pride of being unchallenged in their superiority in the earth  have all assembled, humbled ,at your bedside.
We the ordinary mortals have also joined them and are yearning to reach you.
Won't your eyes ,that is as red as a lotus bud that has unfurled its petals only slightly to the size of the mouth of tiny bells adorning anklets[sadhangai] look in our direction?
Kindly bless us to be free of the curse of separation from you by favouring us with a divine look of those two eyes which posses the brilliance of the sun as well the coolness of the moon that have risen together.

Thirupaavai----10

Notru swargam pugukindra ammanai!
matramum thararo vasal thiravadhaar?

 Naatra thuzhaai mudi Narayanan nammaal, 
 potra paraitharum punniyanaal panduorunaal

Kootrathin vaiveezhindha kumbakarananum,

thotrum unnake perunthuyildhan thandhano?

Aatra anandhal udaiyai!Arungalame!
thetramai vandhu thirave lorembpavaai .

Meaning:

'O' leading lady.You are reeling in the heavenly experiences emanating from following the vows.
 You are neither opening the door nor are you replying.

 We are praising the pure one ,Narayana  who adorns his hair with aromatic tulsi .
He is sure to reward us for singing his sacred names.
But you are lost  in deep and heavy slumber and not paying any heed to our call !  [like bhagwatas immersed in their own world of spiritual experiences , immune to the distractions of the sensory world]

 Did Kumbhakarna cede his gigantic sleep to you for vanquishing him and sending him to the jaws of Yama?
 You are very lazy.'O' precious jewel! Wake up and open the door with a clear mind.


This 10 th hymn of thirupaavai of Andal's   co- incided with Vaikunta ekadesi celebrated on 23 rd of December 2012 .This is a masterly poetry characterised by wit and subtle humour.

Thirupavai--3

The following hymn composed by Andal the woman vaishnavaite saint of 9 th cent AD is sung on the third day of Margahzhi month viz December to January.This gem out of the total of other equally precious gems of 3o hymns sung by her is specially noted for its poetic excellence in its description of nature and this nation's wealth.

Vongi ulagalanda uthaman perpadi nangul nam pavaikku satri neeradinaal,
Theengu indri nadellam thingall mummari peidhu vongu perun sen neloodu kayalkhalapa
poongkuvallai podhil porivandu kanndu pathengadhe pukkirundhu seerthu mulai patri
vaanga kudam niraikkum vallal perum pasukkal neengadha selvam niraindhe lorempavai

Meaning:  In pursuance of our penance if we sing the names of the self sacrificing superior one--Purushotaman ,who measured this entire world by stretching himself effortlessly,
Without fail , the entire country will be blessed with rains, thrice a month!
Fishes will play amidst towering and vast expanse of fields of ripened red grains,
And spotted bees ,after having their fill of heady nectar will drowse peacefully ,with eyes closed on soft and downy beds [fit for princes] of the petals of flowers blooming in profusion,
And the indestructible wealth of this land , the generous and gentle cows, will grow steadily in numbers , ready to be milked,
And the milking vessels will overflow , flooding the country.!

This poem is a testimony to this country's limitless wealth as well as Andal's inexhaustible literary wealth.

Tirunedunthandagam day. at Sri Ranganathar Temple at Srirangam

Thiru nedundhandagam is the compilation of 30 verses composed by the  famous Sri Vaishnavaite saint Thiru Mangai Azwar in 10 th cent AD.

The first 10 verses describe the five forms of Bhagwan---Para, Vyuha, Vibhava or avatara,Antaryami and Archa or deity in a splendid manner  with special emphasis on Archa form that is deities  consecrated in temples like in Kovalur, Kanchipuram ,Sri Rangam, Tirupati and so on.

The next 20 verses express the Azhwars utter obedience or Sesvatam to Bhagwan.
At the end he entreats Bhagwan to protect [Rakshatvam] his soul .

All the 30 hymns are recited  and enacted at front of Utsavar of Sri Ranganathar at Sri Rangam by a sect known as Arayars  during Adyana utsvam  every year .This is believed to be at the behest of Lord Ranganathar himself.

This festival with the recitation of nedunthandagam falls today viz--13 th December 2012.
By reciting all the 30 hymns ,today one is assured of the blessings of Ranganathar .

His final entreaty of this composition runs thus ---"Minnum mazhai thavazhum meghavanna vinnavar tam perumane arulay."

Meaning: O bhagwan ,your colour is like  those sprawling clouds  that bear sparkling rains .You are also the leader of Nitya suri's. Kindly bless me.

Courtsey:Narsimha priya

Anantha aazhwar's legacy.

This time around on a visit to Tirumala i was determined to see the pond dug by Ananatha aazhwar in the 11 cent AD at the request of his acharya Sri Ramanuja [the greatest acharya of Sri Vaishnavism]to supply water within hands reach of Srinivasar's temple at Tirumala ,to maintain a garden of flowers and herbs so as to offer them to the Lord every day for decoration as well as in the pooja's performed therein.

The tree jasmines lining the ghat roads leading to the temple were in full bloom.The flowers hung in delicate bunches of pearly white completely hiding the green boughs and leaves with their ethereal sheen.The sacred hills were filled with their sweet fragrance .

The garden and the pond is quite near the temple and is quite quiet.It seemed , very well tended at first look from behind the bars of a locked iron gate at the entrance.

But for an old man performing sandya vandanam near the pond there wasn't a single soul around.
The sun had set scorching the sky at the horizon with a band of fiery red that could be mistaken as a blaze of some distant forest fire.Meanwhile a silvery moon , nearly full ,had  risen quietly without its rise being heralded by birds unlike its radiant counterpart in the  morning ,spreading its cool rays and dousing the streak of red fire in the darkening sky.A gentle breeze rustled the silent trees .An atmosphere as sylvan and peaceful as it would have been nearly a thousand years earlier ,when the devoted disciple of Ramanujar undertook very bravely and solely the onerous task of renovating the crumbling prakaras of this remote temple [then] and dug the pond all by himself with his bare hands and a crowbar and laid the garden and spent his entire life in service of Sri nivasa ,leading a  simple liife in a nearby cottage where his descendants 28 th in line , greeted us from his house as he directed us to enter the garden from another entrance.
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He explained that when Anantha aazhwar first came here, the place was thickly forested with fierce animals like tigers etc  that roamed freely and that there were no water bodies nearby.
It was purely the immense dedication , will power and determination of Anantha aazhwar as well as the blessings of Balaji  that made him bear all the travails in clearing the overgrowth and ensure a constant supply of tulsi, jasmine , and other flowers to his beloved deity.

An pioneer who made it easier for succeeding generations of priests to deck the lord with flowers and in worship.
An maghizham poo tree right in the middle of the garden is said to be off shoot of the original tree planted by him .This is also the place where he shed his mortal coils.and it is believed that Sri Venkateswara in recognition of his selfless service visits the tree unfailingly every day.The processional deity of Srinivasar/Venkateswara  visit and halt ,twice a year in this very spot ,in remembrance and out of gratitude.

As we walked back to our lodgings ,came upon the fountains spraying water on granite Shanku and Chakram and crowds of devotees milling around noisily .My thoughts flew 1000years back  to the time Anantha aazhwar laboured all by himself in a inhospitable place with hardly any human beings around .Would he have ever imagined that this remote dark and silent [except for the menacing calls of animals and alarm cry birds] pilgrimage spot would be flooded with high mast lights burning fiercely at every corner turning the night into day and water so sparse then, would be emptying in gallons  from fountains and uncountable crowd of people would displace all those wild denizens with many of then munching bhelpuri as they watched the water, music and light show?
His lonely toil has been forgotten and blown away by the winds of time.In the fast paced life that we live in   he doesn't exist to the masses  nor would they care to know .It is only a few, who look back in gratitude at one man's solitary endeavour that made all this possible.

Photo:The garden laid down by Anantha aazhwar.The pond is right at the back.The small tree under the banyan tree at the centre is believed to have been grafted from the  original maghizhum poo tree planted y Anantha aazhwar.

Post script.Ananthaazhwar took only his wife's  help who obliged whole heartedly though she was in advanced stage of pregnancy .Pitying her plight Lord Venkateswara assumed the form of a young boy  and helped  her carry  the mud scraped out whilst aazwar dug out that pond .On seeing this the aazhwar threw  a stone that hurt the boy in his chin and chased him away when that lad insisted on helping his wife, since the aazhwar didnot want his 'punya' to be shared with an unknown person.Srinivasar's moorthy started bleeding in the chin that very instant and could staunched only when Anantha aazhwar sought forgivness and applied camphor on the dent .The camphor is  applied till date.

Date of travel and this write up --26.11.12

What is religion?

In the ultimate analysis religion is nothing but a comforting concept dealing with the most unacceptable and indigestible truth that confronts each and every being ,that is thinking human beings, that of 'death.'

That deadly state that no one thinks of and is wilfully blind to unless it nears one's near and dears or oneself.
The most defining concept  for all of us is the sense of' I' ,'Me' and 'Myself'.And the most troubling question that confronts one is "How can I be extinguished ? It cannot be and should not be .Iam sure to exist in some form or the other.I cannot be wiped off the slate  .It is just impossible."

It is precisely at this most vulnerable juncture that religion comes in with its explanations as to what happens after death .The most comforting explanation given about the state of person after death renders that religion more popular than others.

Every human being is confronted with that invisible and insurmountable yet rock hard wall that very effectively and to some frustratingly ,blocks intelligence and intellect from penetrating it , and to have even a tiniest glimpse or the minutest grasp of that which ,one is very sure ,lies beyond.

So all religions are based on 'Fear'.The basic foundation of all religions is raised on this fear of the unknown and  is developed over man's ego.Advise is tendered as per perceptions, experience, observations and inspirations as to how best one can deal with this bitter, bitter truth , that of one's erasure ,one day or the other.

Nam aazhwar.

Srinivasar with His consorts Sri Devi and Bhu Devi at  Srinivasar Temple at Tirumalai

In Sri Vaishnava's long list of Gurparamparai Namaazhwar has the pride of being first amongst the mortals and fourth only to Narayana who is the first acharya and then his consort Sri or Mahalakshmi followed by Visvaksena.
Namaazhwar the foremost Sri Vaishnavaite saint who is said to have clearly enunciated the Sri Vaishnavaite philosophy through his innumerable hymns in Tamil, was born in  agricultural caste in 8 th cent AD in Tamilnadu.

His mind was attuned to the creator since his birth and he spent his short life of 32 years wholly in deep meditation and in pouring forth 1000's of hymns in praise of Narayana as well as condensing the meanings enshrined in the 4 vedas , in poetic Tamil.

Of his4 literary and poetic works viz--Thiruvrittam, Thiru vasiriyam, Periya thiruvandhadhi and thiru Vaimozhi, it is 'Thiruvaimozhi' that is considered as the the elucidation of Sama veda in all its entirety and and is regarded as TamilVedam.
The following are two of his hymns from Thiruvaimozhi.


** Ullan yennil ullan avan  uruvaruvam ivvvuruvugal ullan allan yenil avan aruvam ivv uruvugal ullan yena illan yena .ivvai kunnam udaimaiyil ullan irru thagaimaiyodu ozhivu illan parande'...........(1.10......2683)

Meaning:  If one believes that He is there ! Then everything around  is his body!
                If one dis believes and thinks No he is not there! Then it means that all have merged with him!
     He does exist either in concrete form or in the abstract form and is all pervading!

**அவரவர் தம தம தரிவாரி வகை வகை அவர் அவர் இறையார் யென அடி அடைவார்கள் ,
அவர் அவர் இறைவர் குறைவிலார் அவரவர்  விதி வாழி அடைவனின்றானே *
Awaravar  thama thama tharivari vagai vagai avar avar irraiyvar yena adi adaivargal,
Awaravar irraiyavar kuraivillaar , awaravar vidhi vazhi adaiyaninrane'r.

Meaning:  All the people of this world acting under the dominance of 3 types of nature  --[satvic, rajas and thamas].worship and reach the feet of their choice of god,
The gods thus favoured are without any fault or lacking in divinity,
since they are all ultimately worshipping Narayana along with Lakshmi, who is residing within all the gods thus worshipped!            

                       

ஆழவார் திருவடிகளே சரணம்                                                                                             ..................(.2679)

The Adi Kesava temple at Sri Perumbudur....religion.

The temple is huge with the unmistakable print of Vijayanagar emperor's bounty.Neat and nicely kept and quiet.
It struck me as i stepped on to the ground with my bare feet leading to the temple  which is right opposite o the house where Sri Ramanjar was born and raised , that once upon  a time this very ground  was touched and thus sanctified by the feet of this great acharya and that i was lucky to be doing so now.

Since the temple of Vishnu predates Ramanujar ,he must ave worshipped in these very precincts and i could feel his assuring presence as meditated and ciumbulated the silent corridors .
There is a  separate sanidhi for Ramanjar .According to the priest presiding over the puja's the panchaloka idol of Ramanujar was fashioned in Ramnujars lifetime itself  ,towards the end of his long 120 years of life and was given the finishing touches by the acharya himself, before it was installed , there in. The priest continued saying whilst the SriRangam temple houses in its compound the physical body of Sri Ramanujar, interred , the temple at Sri perumbudur has his spirit or atma encased ,for all times to come.

The prasadam viz 'pulihorai 'that is tamarind rice is as tasty as the prasadam available at Vardhrajar temple at Kanchipuram.