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 24th 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.
24th Sept. 2016.
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