Sri Ramanujo vijayathe ~ Yathiraja Rajaha: Hail Sri Ramanuja 2016

Thiruvathirai ~ celebrating birth of Sri Yathiraja

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.

21^st Oct 2016 is also Thiruvadhirai nakshathiram. It was on ‘Thiruvathirai of Chithirai month  ~ 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.  Last month had the fortune of rendering ‘Iramanusa Noorranthathi’ at Sri Varadharaja Manavala Mamunigal Thirukovil at Kothawal chavadi 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.

 Of the many winding lanes,  there is Varadha Muthiappan Street housing  this ancient temple Sri Varadharaja Manavala Mamunigal Thirukovil.  Some details of this Temple and sannathies in a different post.  Here are some of the Udayavar here.  The picture at the start of this post was taken at the old library at Melukote Thirunarayanapuram in front of the famous Sri Cheluva Naranar Temple.

Adiyen Srinivasadhasan.

21^st Oct 2016.