Sri Nada Munigal Sarrumurai and Veera Narayana puram sirappu 2015

On the 4^th day Evening it was ‘Surya Prabhal’ in the morning and the cool ‘Chandra Prabhai’ in the evening  for Sri AzhagiyaSingar.   Today,  29^th June 2015  is ‘Aanianusham’ – the birth star of our AcharyarNadhamunigal.  AcharyarNathamunigal had purappadu with Sri ThelliyaSingar.

Every summer gives trouble not only of sweltering heat but of the water shortage to the residents of Chennai.  Though there are four reservoirs of Poondi, Cholavaram, Redhills and Chembarakkam as lifelines for drinking water needs of Chennaites, there is another important water source that supplements daily water supply to the city and that is more than two hundreds of kilo meters away…… it is the Veeranam lake in Cuddalore from which water is brought in by 230 km long pipeline.  The lake built by Chola kings has been in news for long - located 14 km off Chidambaram; nearer  Sethiyathope – it one of the water reservoirs from where water is planned to be supplied to Chennai. The Veeranam project, to supply water to Chennai, was conceived in 1967; later got mired in rampant corruption.  The project's completion in 2004 was a major political victory for the AIADMK government of the time due to the project's long history of corruption and politicking. At some point of time, water started flowing from the lake to Chennai.  

“I take you all on time-machine (in a boat) to a period aeons ago … started a great novel written in 1950” … the wonder PonniyinSelvan of Kalki – much happens here  – the story  starts with the description ‘bounded by Chozha kingdom and Thondainaadu, nearer ThillaiChirrambalam is a vast ocean-like lake ……….-and on that 18th day of Aadi – a young horse rider ‘VanthiyaThevan’ was …… ’

தொண்டைநாட்டுக்கும்சோழநாட்டுக்கும்இடையில்உள்ளதிருமுனைப்பாடிநாட்டின்தென்பகுதியில், தில்லைச்சிற்றம்பலத்துக்கு மேற்கே இரண்டு காததூரத்தில், அலைகடல் போன்ற ஓர் ஏரி விரிந்து பரந்து கிடக்கிறது. அதற்கு வீரநாராயணஏரி என்று பெயர். அது தெற்கு வடக்கில் ஒன்றரைக்காத நீளமும் கிழக்கு மேற்கில் அரைக்காத அகலமும்உள்ளது. காலப்போக்கில்அதன்பெயர்சிதைந்துஇந்நாளில் ‘வீராணத்துஏரி’ என்ற பெயரால் வழங்கிவருகிறது. புதுவெள்ளம் வந்து பாய்ந்து ஏரியில் நீர் நிரம்பித்ததும்பி நிற்கும் ஆடிஆவணிமாதங்களில் வீரநாராயணஏரியைப் பார்ப்பவர் எவரும் நம்முடைய பழந்தமிழ்நாட்டு முன்னோர்கள் தங்கள் காலத்தில் சாதித்த அரும்பெரும்காரியங்களைக் குறித்துப் பெருமிதமும் பெருவியப்பும் கொள்ளாமலிருக்கமுடியாது.

ஆடித்திங்கள் பதினெட்டாம்நாள் முன்மாலைநேரத்தில் அலைகடல் போல் விரிந்து பரந்திருந்த வீரநாராயணஏரிக்கரை மீது ஒரு வாலிபவீரன் குதிரை ஏறிப் பிரயாணம் செய்துகொண்டிருந்தான். அவன் தமிழகத்து வீரசரித்திரத்தில் புகழ்பெற்ற வாணர்குலத்தைச் சேர்ந்தவன். வல்லவரையன் வந்தியத்தேவன்என்பதுஅவன்பெயர்.

Sri Vaishnavaites have more to know about this lake. The Veeranamlake derived its name from the nearby place ‘VeeraNarayanapuram’(present day KattuMannargudi) which is of great significance to Srivaishnavaites.  It is here that our AcharyarsNathamunigal and later Sri Alavanthar were born. Sri Nadhamunigal was born in  Anushanakshatra of ‘Ani’ month at Sri Veeranarayanapuram.   Sri Nathamuni went on a long pilgrimage that took him to holy places  like Mathura, Vrindhavan, and other holy places including Puri.  Back home, upon hearing some Srivaishnavaites reciting Thiruvaimozhipasuram ‘Aaravamuthe’ ~ he followed its trail went to KUmbakonam and Lord Aravamudhan directed him to ThiruKurugoor; with the divine blessings, collated Sri NalayiraDivyaprabandham and thence onwards these hymns are continually sung in  Divyadesams and other Sri Vaishnavaite temples,  Dravida  Veda.

After him, the Guru paramparai mantle passed on to Uyyakondar, Manakkal nimbi and  thence to Yamunacharyar @ Aalavandhar, the grandson of NathaMunigal.  Nathamunigal was also a great Bhakti Yogi and practiced the Yoga of eight accessories ( ashtAnga yoga); he authored the  treatise “Yoga Rahasya”.  He was also an exponent of divine music  who initiated the ‘singing of divyaprabandham ~ now known as ArayarSevai’. Without this great Acharyar’s efforts in retrieving aruliCheyal,  theVaishnava World would not have got the rich possessions that we have today.  Alavanthar in his SthothraRathinam sings the glories of Nathamunigal in the first 3 slogas.

Salutations to Naatha muni who had the single minded devotion to the Lord and who is the treasure of both Gnaana and Vairaaghya.  At Thiruvallikkeni Sri Nathamunigal had purappadu with Lord AzhagiyaSingar in Chandraprabhai. Here are some photos taken during the Brahmothsavapurappadu of Sri AzhagiyaSingar.

With regards – S. Sampathkumar

29^th June 2015.

Sri Nathamunigal at Avathara Sthalam above and at Thiruvallikkeni below :