Mahalaya Amavasyai 2016 ~ Navarathri Golu - dolls display

Today 30^th Sept. 2016  is Amavasyai (Amavasai  /New Moon day) in the month of Purattasi which  is celebrated as ‘Mahalaya Amavasai’. 

In many houses, traditionally, Navrathri golu ~ the beautiful display of dolls takes places.  Here are some photos of dazzling dolls on sale at a shop nearer Thiruther of Sri Parthasarathi Temple.

Adiyen Srinivasadhasan.

                                             

Thirumayilai Sri Peyalwar mangalasanam & purappadu with Sri Parthasarathi 2016

The Karusha Kingdom is one of the Yadava kingdoms of the Mahabharata epic ~ have you heard of ‘Vakkaran or Dantavakran’ ?

Among the 12 Azhwaargals of Srivaishanva Tradition, Poigai Azhwar, Boothath Azhwar and Peyazhwar – were the ones who descended on this Earth earliest.  They were contemporaries and are praised as “Muthal Azhwars (the first among the Azhwars).  Sri Peyalwar was born in a tank in Mylapore (thence known as Mylai Thiruvallikkeni).  His birthplace is in the present day Arundel Street in Mylapore closer to Mylai Madhaava Perumal Kovil. 

Today 27^th Sept. 2016  is  Ekadasi day.  On all Ekadasis, there will be periya maada veethi purappadu of Sri Parthasarathi Swami at Thiruvallikkeni Divyadesam.  Today is more special. For over a decade now, annually Sri Peyalwar from Sri Adhi Kesava Perumal Devasthanam has been visiting Thiruvallikkeni for mangalasasanam of the Divyadesa perumal – and it becomes a great festive atmosphere at Thiruvallikkeni.

 Sri Adhi Kesava Perumal Devasthanam better known as ‘Kesava Perumal Kovil’ is near Mylai Kapaleeswarar Temple and the Chithirai kulam belongs to this Temple.  Now the Peyalwar who graces the Mylai  Kesava Perumal temple –  visits Thiruvallikkeni in a grand procession.  Sri  Peyalwar is taken in a palanquin and nearer Triplicane [at the TP koil Street – Besant Road Junction] – the pallakku is opened enabling devotees have his darshan fully.  From there, Peyalwar is taken on a grand procession in Chinna mada veethi with ‘Moondram Thiruvanthathi’ goshti – from the Vahana mandapam, Azhwar enters Thirukovil in kaipalagai – does mangalasasanam to Emperuman inside temple.

Thence occurs the grand veethi purappadu of Alwar with Sri Parthasarathi – after thiruvanthikappu, Alwar prepares to go back, heavy-hearted longing for the next year to be with Emperuman again.  Sri Peyawlar has sung about Thiruvallikkeni temple in his ‘Moondram Thiruvanthati’ – he describes that at Thiruvallikkeni waves are white as milk and there are red pavazham and white pearls at the time of twilight and at that sandhya time he has the darshan of the Lord at Thiruvalllikeni:

பேசுவார் எவ்வளவு பேசுவர், அவ்வளவே*

வாசமலர்த்துழாய் மாலையான், - தேசுடைய*

சக்கரத்தான் சங்கினான் சார்ங்கத்தான், பொங்கரவ*

வக்கரனைக் கொன்றான் வடிவு.

எம்பெருமானுடைய பெருமைகளைப் பேசுவதற்கு மாஞானிகளால்தான் ஆகும், மற்ற  சாதாரணர்களால் ஆகாது‘ என்பதில்லை, வாய்திறந்து நான்கு சொற்களைத் தொடுத்து பேச வல்லவர்கள் எவராயிருந்தாலும் எம்பெருமான்   பெருமையைப் பேசலாம்.  நிரம்பிய ஞானமுடையார் பேசினால்; அவன்  பெருமை உள்ளவளவும் பேசினதாக ஆகும், அற்ப ஞானிகள் பேசினால் ஒரு திவலையளவும் ஆகமாட்டாதே !  எனினும் அவர்களும்  அவனுடைய பெருமைக்கடலிலே ஒரு திவலை மாத்திரமாவது பேசினதாக ஆகும். ஆகவே பேச வாய்ப்படைந்தவர்களெல்லாரும் பேசலாம்.  பொங்கரவ வக்கரனைக் கொன்றான் – வக்கரன் – தந்தவக்ரன் -  கண்ணபிரான் ருக்மினிப்பிராட்டியை ஸ்வீகரித்தருளினபோது எதிர்த்து வந்து போர் செய்த அரசர்களில் இவனேருவன், சிசுபாலனுக்கு பரிந்து வந்தவன்.

Alwar asks us – how much will they speak about the greatness of Sriman Narayana – by asking so, he does not mean that ordinary mortals shall not speak of his glory.  The hidden meaning is while the learned Saints can speak of the completeness of Paramapurushan, everyone desirous of singing His glory, shall speak to the extent one can ~ of that Sriman Narayana, of His Chakra, Conch, Sarngam (the bow) and the mace that killed Dantavakra.  The Karusha Kingdom is one of the Yadava kingdoms of the Mahabharata epic. It is placed to the south of Chedi. Karusha king Dantavaktra supported Chedi king Shishupala and was killed by Vasudeva Krishna. Karusha Kingdom is identified as modern Datia district of Madhya Pradesh.

The purpose of our birth is to appreciate and pray Sriman Narayana with folded hands calling Him by His various names.  Let us  surrender to His feet and enjoy His great qualities, which will stand us in good stead. Here are some photos taken during the purappadu at Thiruvallikkeni.

Adiyen Srinivasadhasan.

Divyaprabandham meaning credit : dravidaveda.org (Swami PB Annangaracharyar Swami of Thirukachi)

Sri Ramar punarvasu purappadu ~ Thiruvallikkeni Sept 2016

What a day today ! ~ Punarvasu nakshathiram and purappadu of Sree Ramapiran with Sitadevi and Lakshmana at Thiruvallikkeni divyadesam.

Lord Rama descended on earth for the purpose of upholding righteousness and rewarding virtue. His life is the subject of The Ramayana. Rama lived the life of perfection and responsibility exhibiting glorious traits of wisdom and conscientiousness.  

The greatest Ithihasam ‘Sri Ramayanam’ accurately depicts without an iota of exaggeration,  the life and journey of the immortal Maryadha purush - perfect man’s adherence to dharma despite harsh tests of life and time. Lord Rama is the epitome of all virtues and the perfect human being who abandoned the throne and served exile in the forest for the sake of honour of his beloved father.

In the epic, His glory is described by Sage Valmeeki as :

यावत्स्थास्यन्ति गिरयस्सरितश्च महीतले । तावद्रामायणकथा लोकेषु प्रचरिष्यति ॥

~  that as long as the hills remain and streams add life by their flow on earth, so long shall the true story of Rāma prevail.  **

The appearance of Lord Rama on earth is a day of great of celebration, widely celebrated as ‘Sri Rama Navami’ – On all monthly thirunakshathirams, there will be purapadu of Sri Rama.  It will give immense punniyam (spiritual gain) - not only in the present world but would also help in the other world also, whenever we think and utter the name ‘Rama’.

Today, 25^th Sept after Sri Ramar purappadu – inside in the main mandapam,  Kulasekara Alwar, Mudaliandan and Swami Embar were seated nearer.  There was rendition of ‘Perumal Thirumozhi’ of Kulasekara azhwar.  Here are some photos of the purappadu.

Adiyen Srinivasa dhasan. 

** credits : ReadRamayana.org

Sri Azhagiya Singar - Purattasi Sanikkizhamai (Week – 2) - at Thiruvallikkeni

Sri Azhagiya Singar Purappadu - Purattasi Sanikkizhamai

(Week – 2) - at Thiruvallikkeni

நீரார்கடலும் நிலனும்முழுதுண்டு, ஏராலமிளந்தளிர்மேல் துயிலெந்தாய்!,

சீரார் திருவேங்கடமாமலைமேய, ஆராவமுதே!அடியேற்கருளாயே!

Thiruvengadam, the abode of Lord Srinivasa is significantly important ~ the wealthy seven hills are the abode of Lord who swallowed the ocean and the earth and after consuming all, slept as a little child on a fig leaf ! ~ to that ambrosial Lord, I pray to accept me as His servant. 

24^th Sept 2016 is Sani vaaram 2 – at Thiruvallikkeni, in the golden hued sunlight, Sri Thelliya Singar had periya maada veethi purappadu.  Here are some photos taken during the purappadu

Adiyen Srinivasadhasan.

Hail Thiruvathirai ~ birth of Swami Ramanuja - temple at Acharappan Street, Chennai

Thiruvathirai ~ celebrating birth of Bashyakarar

Blessed are our generation ~ a few more months from now, we are to witness and be part of the grandeur celebrations – Sahasrabdi (1000 years) of our Great Acharyar Sri Ramanujar, who was born in Sriperumpudur in 1017.    It was divinely the constellation of Thiruvathirai in ascendance in the blessed month of Chitthirai  ~ a day  more glorious than other days, as rendered by our Acharyan Swami Manavala Mamunigal.

We must fall and do service to the lotus feet of Swami Ramanuja ~ immerse ourselves to Him -  “ Ramanujam Yatipatim pranamami moordna”  - prostrate by putting our head at his feet saying  I am worshipping (pranamami!).  For us nothing gives more pleasure than thinking of our Acharyar Udayvar and we celebrate Thiruvathirai every month ~ today 24^th Sept 2016 is also Thiruvathirai nakshathiram.

It was on Thiruvathirai ~ almost ten centuries ago, was born Sri Ilayavazhwar later acclaimed to be Ramanujar – at Sriperumpudur.  Hundreds of kingdoms have fallen wayside – some reached pinnacle of glory but slowly fading to oblivion – amidst  our Acharyar Sri Ramanuja, always has the  pride of place continuing to remain at the helm of all Yathis and all devotees.  He is a multi-faceted genius – the proponent of Sri Vishistadvaitam; a great social reformer, temple-builder, one who built tanks and lakes; united people; management expert who set in place the management of temple involving thousands of people of various hues.

There are so many places related to him – Thiruvallikkeni, Sriperumpudur, Thirukachi, Thiruputkuzhi, Thiruvarangam, Thiruvellarai, Thirumalai, Maduranthakam, Thirunarayanapuram – the list extends to Delhi, Kashmir, Simhachalam, Puri, Thiruvananthapuram and more

His birth nakshathiram is celebrated widely ~ at every divya desam, for sure there would be rendering of ‘Ramanuja noorranthathi’ of Thiruvarngathu Amuthanar.  Besides the most divine Thiruvallikkeni Sri Parthasarathi Thirukovil, there are many other temples of Sriman Narayana that are centuries old and many of them are in Parrys area.  From NSC Bose Road, Flower bazaar PS to Elephant gate area, there are so many narrow lanes and bylanes in what is known as Sowcarpet, a sprawling neighbourhood, far different than the other parts of North Madras.  Here once existed Kothawal chavadi, the wholesale vegetable market which since lost its glory once Govt decided to shift it to Koyambedu.  There are so many kalyana mantaps in the narrow streets of Parrys / Georgetown area – roads so narrow that one would find difficult to drive a two-wheeler, but that is only a perception, for there is so much of heavy vehicle traffic transporting various material into Chennai from other parts of India.

Down under – of the many winding lanes,  there is Acharappan Street which has this ancient temple Sri Adhikesava Perumal Sri Bashyakarar Thirukovil - today on the occasion of Thiruvathirai had the fortune of worshipping here.  The moolavar stands tall – beautiful Adhikesavar looking alike Thirupathi Balaji – made of Athimaram - Ficus racemosa, a species of plant in the family Moraceae, well known to us as Fig.   In front of the Perumal sannathi, is Acharyar Udayavar sannathi.

This morning there was Thirumanjanam for Udayavar – was delighted to render alone Ramanuja Noorranthathi.  Here are some photos taken this morning.

Adiyen Srinivasadhasan.

24^th Sept. 2016.

ஸ்ரீ ராமானுஜோ விஜயதே : visit of HH Sri Yadugiri Yathiraja Narayana Ramanuja Jeeyar Swami 2016

**   ஸ்ரீ ராமானுஜோ விஜயதே யதிராஜ ராஜ:  **

“Sree Ramanujo Vijayathe – Yathiraja Rajaha”

– the concluding lines of ‘Thadi (dhaTee) Panchakam’ – rendered by Swami Mudaliandan, which speaks of the  victory of Swami Ramanuja over other philosophies  and his establishing the Visishtadvaita philosophy that was built by Azhwars and Purvacharyas.  In those golden days when Swami Emperumanar walked on the streets of Thiruvarangam and other Divyadesams – tens of thousands of his disciples and hundreds of Jeeyars followed him hailing “Ramanujo Vijayathe – Yathiraja Rajaha”

It was divine – ordained by Namperumal that Acharyar Ramanujar had to be away from Thiruvarangam for a while, do digvijayam to all parts of the country upto Kashmir and purify the places.  .. .. on this sojourn our great Acharyar came to Melukore,   retrieved Thirunarayanan who was worshipped by Sri Ramar and Sri Krishna during Tretha and Dwapara yugas.

I had recently posted about the renovation of Yadugiri Yathiraja Mutt at Triplicane – though people know more of it as a Kalyana mantap, it in fact is the branch of Mutt associated with Udayavar.  It was Emperumanar who started the mutt following the commandments of his Gurus, chiefly Sri Yamunacharyar.  The mutt has flourished branching out to many places including Chennai and Bangalore. 

The present pontiff is His Holiness Sri Yadugiri Yathiraja Narayana Ramanuja Jeeyar who assumed the role in Nov 2014.   He was preceded by  Srimath Yatiraja Sampath Kumara Jeeyar Jeeyangar Swami who was the Mutt’s head till April 2005.  The varthamana peetathipathi is a great scholar, a noble person who is a synonym of selflessness and service to the society ~ a real reformer in the very mould of our Acharyar Emperumanaar.   The mutt that has the honour of Sri Bhagavad Ramanuja Himself as the found madathipathi is preserving and propagating the tenets of Sree Vaishnavism and Vishistadvaita. 

HH Shri Yadugiri Yathiraja Narayana Ramanuja Jeeyar swamin has been travelling and visiting many places, making everyone realise and understand the great tenets profounded by Sri Ramanujacharya.  Yet it was a great ordeal, as in the present tense circumstances, he had to travel in car all the way from Mysuru, changing vehicle enroute.    It is only the fortune of Thiruvallikkeni that Jeeyar swamin was at Thiruvallikkeni on  18^th Sept 2016 for the nuthana samprokshanam of Sri Yadugiri Yathiraja Mutt at East Tank Sq street, Triplicane. 

Thiruvaradhana perumal of Jeeyar

Blessed are the people to fall at his feet, hear his great speech on the tenets of Swami Ramanuja.  Here are some photos taken by me.

Adiyen Srinivasa dhasan.