'Kaisika Dwadasi' கைசிக மகாத்மியம் Numpaduvaan @ Thirukkurungudi Divyadesam 2017

Western Ghats, very rich in bio-diversity,  is older than the Himalayan mountain range. The  forests of the wide ranging region include some of the best representatives of non-equatorial tropical evergreen forests in the world. A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Western Ghats has a significant impact on the monsoon weather pattern in the country.  At least 325 globally threatened (IUCN Red Data List) species occur in the Western Ghats. It possesses rich varieties of  flora and fauna and some of the critically endangered ones thrive here. Howsoever interesting it be otherwise, for us – this mountain range is most important to Srivaishnavaites for the great divyadesam and this post is on a drama that occurs every year at this divine place.

This pic credit : Thirumazhisai Kannan

Thirumangai Azhwar, whose uthsavam is celebrated in the month of Karthigai, during his times, built the huge walls of Srirangam and contributed in no small measure to the temple there, sought moksham, Lord Ranganatha directed him to visit his ‘Southern Home.’ Accordingly, Kaliyan came down to  the Vamana Kshetram of Thiru Kurungudi  and performed services invoking the blessings of Lord Azhagiya Nambi and composed the last of his sacred verses (Paasurams) on the Lord before attaining moksha at Thirukkurungudi.

It is “ThirukKurungudi” divyadesam  located on the  foot of the Mahendra Hill on the Western Ghat. From Chennai, one can take the Kanyakumari/Ananthapuri Express to Valliyur. From here, one can reach Thirukkurungkudi (10 km) in 20 minutes by boarding the Papanasam bound bus.   At this divine place, stands the most majestic Azhagiya Nambirayar Temple ~ sung by Periyazhwar,  Thirumazhisaippiran, Thirumangai Azhwar and Swami Nammazhwar.   The famous ‘Kaisika puranam’ is associated with this temple and is read on ‘shukla paksha’ dwadasi of the month of Karthigai, known as ‘Kaisika Dwadasi’ and enacted in drama form too .. .. ..

If one were to describe the Puranam in a simple captivating manner: it is :-  

"ஊன் மல்கி மோடு பருத்தவனுக்கும்..... நினைந்து,  நினைந்து  உள்கரைந்துருகி இளைத்தவனுக்கும்' நடந்த சத்திய போராட்டம் “கைசிக புராண மகாத்மியம்.”

(the battle of wits beween a Rakshas who grew fat eating meat and the baktha who became leaner living  thinking, and singing paeans of God all the time)

Every year on the Kaisika Dwadasi day (this year it falls on 1^st Dec 2017)  the puranam is  read out [in characteristic manner by Sri U.Ve M. A. Venkadakrishnan Swami] at Sri Parthasarathi Swami temple and by sampradhaya vidwans in many other divyadesangal.   The high moral  story of Nampaduvaan is in the 48^th  chapter of Sri Varaha Puranam,;  explains and emphasizes the importance of singing the glory of Lord Sriman Narayana.     Sri Varaha Purana is considered one of the major eighteen Mahapuranas. 

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj10eSPFx88I1qVggHxFcfyFL-oRweooAr2YQpoCDH0iVIqZxgrnlTJz_EtfOmMjA7uXcgJnpU9uHYeiAryb9AApYDcrA5bBRaHSETZa9m9tF_trbH2FziX9MX_u5_ZMMUHfDYZWNHQ4rOa/s640/Thirukurungudi-004.jpg

எம்பெருமானிடத்திலே  பக்தி கொண்டு அவனது திருவடி நீழலையே அடையவேண்டி திண்ணம் கொண்டு  இருப்பவர்கள் - சகல உயர்வும் பெறுபவர்களாவர்.  திருக்குறுங்குடி திவ்யதேசத்தில் மகேந்திர மலையில் நடந்த இந்நிகழ்வு அனைத்துக்கும் சிகரம் வைத்ததை போன்றதாகும். கார்த்திகை மாதம் சுக்ல பக்ஷ ஏகாதசி இரவு அன்று ஸ்ரீமன்நாராயணின் பரமபக்தனான நம்பாடுவான் திருக்குறுங்குடிநம்பி பெருமாள் கோவிலை நோக்கி செல்கிறான். அந்த இரவு நேரத்தில் அவன் செல்லும் வழியில் ஒரு ப்ரம்மரக்ஷஸ்(பிசாசு) அவனை வழிமறித்து அவனை பிடித்துக் கொள்கிறான். ப்ரம்மரக்ஷஸின் தேகமோ கொழுத்து பெருத்த தேகம். நம் பாடுவானோ மிகவும் இளைத்து மெலிந்த தேகம் உடையவன். அதனால் ப்ரம்மரக்ஷஸின் பிடியிலிருந்து தப்ப இயலாதவனாக இருந்தான். ஆனாலும்  அவன் சற்றும் மனக்கிலேசம் அற்றவனாய் தான் ஸ்ரீமன் நாராயணனிடத்திலே கொண்ட நம்பிக்கை சற்றும் அசையாதவனாய் இருந்தான். ப்ரம்மரக்ஷஸை பார்த்து, "நான் ஏகாதசி விரதமிருந்து நம்பெருமாளை துதிக்க சென்று கொண்டிருக்கிறேன் என்னை விட்டு விடு;  என் விரதத்திற்கு பங்கம் செய்து விடாதே என்று கெஞ்சினான். எனது இந்த அற்புதமான விரதத்தை கோயிலின் வாசலில் வீணையை மீட்டி  நம்பெருமாள் முன்பே ‘பண்’ இசைத்து திருப்பள்ளியெழுச்சி  பாடி எனது விரதத்தை முடித்து விட்டு வருகிறேன் பிறகு நீ உன் இஷ்டம் போல் என்னை புசித்துக் கொள் என்று வேண்டினான்.

அதற்கு ப்ரம்மரக்ஷஸ் பலமாக சிரித்து, "யாரவது தானாக வலிய  வந்து உயிரை மாய்த்துக்  கொள்வாரோ ?  நீ என்னிடமிருந்து தப்ப பொய் சொல்கிறாய்; நீ  இந்த வழியே வராமல் வேறு வழியில் சென்று தப்பிவிடுவாய்" என - அதற்கு நம் பாடுவான் பதினெட்டு விதமான ப்ரதிக்ஞைகளை செய்கிறான். லோகம் உண்டானதும் சத்யத்தாலே என வாக்கை காப்பாற்றி  திரும்பிய நம்பாடுவானிடம் ராக்ஷஸ் பல பலன்களை யாசித்து,  கடைசியில் கீத பலத்தையாவது தருமாறு கேட்டு, சத்தியத்தின் பெருமையை உணர்ந்து, அவனிடமே சரணாகதி அடைந்து மோக்ஷம் அடைந்தது. இந்த சிறப்புதான் கைசிக மகாத்மியம்**

Tomorrow 1^st Dec 2017 is a very significant day for all of us -  ‘shukla paksha’ dwadasi of the month of Karthigai.  [shukla paksham is the waxing phase of Moon and dwadasi is the 12^th day – the day following Ekadasi].  It is the day of “Kaisika Dwadasi”.  In Divyadesams, most importantly at Thirukurungudi, Thiruvarangam,  Azhwar Thirunagari, Thirukachi,  and in Thiruvallikkeni – ‘kaisika puranam’ is read before the Lord. 

  

சங்கினோடும் நேமியோடும் தாமரைக் கண்களொடும்;

செங்கனி வாயொன்றினொடும் செல்கின்றதென்  நெஞ்சமே.

Swami Nammalwar describes this Divyadesa Emperuman thus – that upon seeing His most beautiful thirumeni,  Azhwar’s thoughts are with the Emperuman and he cannot think of anything else…..  it is the divyadesam hailed as most proximate to Lord Mahavishnu’s abode of Sri Vaikundam [~calling distance from here~] – the most sacred place located around 40 kms from Thirunelveli…… 11 km from the seat for Thennacharya Sampradhayam “Nankuneri aka Vanamamalai – Thirusirivaramangai” and on the other side lying closer is another divyadesam called ‘ThiruvanParisaram [Thirupathisaram]’.

The World exists on promises and fulfillment of them and the story of Nam Paduvaan only describes the greatest virtues of those devoted and committed to the kanikaryam (service) to Lord.  The ardent devotees of Sriman Narayana will never err or sin in life.   There cannot be a better example than that of ‘Nampaduvaan’. 

The story of Num Paduvaan can be best summarised as “the fight between ‘Padi Ilaithavan and Pasiyale Ilaithavan’ [one who leaned by fasting in the vratha of Singing paeans and one who was starved off food].  Legend has it  that on every Kaisika Ekadasi day, Nampaduvaan, an ardent devotee of the Lord Maha Vishnu  used to do Namasankeerthanam for Emperuman at Thirukurungudi.  This Nampaduvan Charithram was narrated by Sri Varaha Perumal to Bhoomi Pirarttiyar in Varaha puranam. The gist of the story as heard from Sampradhaya Periyarvargal and as heard at Thiruvallikkeni divyadesam in earlier years  (read out by Dr MA Venkatakrishnan) is given here :

Nampaduvaan, a great bhagavatha at Thirukurungudi used to observe ‘jakratha vratham’ without sleeping full night singing the glory of the Lord and thinking only about Him. ‘Ninainthu nainthu ul karainthu urugi’ ena he keeps singing the glory of Lord Sriman Narayana.  This went on for many  years…..

 On a  particular  year while on the way to the temple of  Thirukurungudi, (Malai Nambi sannathi atop Mahendra parvatham),  situate on the hills in dense forestry; where even today ordinary mortals find it somewhat difficult to access, Nampaduvan was confronted by a Brahma Rakshas. This Rakshas who has been starved off food, tells Nampaaduvaan that he would devour him. Nampaduvan humbly requests that he has the duty of nama sankeerthanam. Nampaduvan pleads with the rakshas that he would return back after his vratham and darshan of Kurungudi Nambi. The rakshas naturally was not prepared to believe  and asks whether in this material World  would  come back as food ‘when death is certain’  and asks : is there any possibility that a deer could escape after it was caught up by a lion ? 

Nampaduvan has nothing else in life but his sincere devotion to Lord Nambi. He promises that he would indeed return; he mentions of the various sins that he would get, if he were not to return.  He tells the Rakshas that the World revolves on Sathya, the truth and if he were to act against his dharma, he would be getting the results of worst sins; some of which are stated to be : ‘taking food without taking bath on important days such as Sashti, Amasvayai, Chathurthasi’;  ‘reclaiming the land donated’; ‘to differentiate between self and the visitor when eating food’; ‘chasing away the herd of cows when they are thirsty’ ~~.. and more….

When he says that he has been rendering this for 10 years, the brahmarakshas says that it had been without food for 10 days and is so hungry that it immediately wants to devour the flesh and blood of the devotee.  Nampaduvaan finally convinces the rakshas to release him for a while.  With intent will, he goes straight  to Thirukurungudi temple renders pasurams on Sri Vadivazhagiya Nambi; Kaisikam is a kind of music composition (called பண் in tamil)

Completing his vratham with the singular determination,  he returns as stated back to Brahmarakshas.   While returning Nampaduvan is interrupted by Thiruk Kurungudi Nambi Himself in the disguise of an old man advising him to take alternate route escaping the rakshas.  Nampaduvan firmly tells that he will keep his promise, would stand by his dharma and would go back to the rakshas.  He even says that if the rakshas is not found in the appointed place, he would further go in search of the rakshas.  Such is his commitment that he indeed fulfills his vow and presents himself  before the Brahma rakshas.

The Brahma rakshas is startled by the return of Nampaduvaan and offers to free him,  if he were to transfer the fruits of his dharma;  Nampaduvaan retaliates saying that he had agreed to offer himself and is for the taking.  Awe struck the rakshas asked for the palan(fruit) of the pasurams Nampaduvan had rendered; then least the fruits of song rendered during one yamam [a measure of time]  and in the series of discussions that went on rakshas wanted at least the palan of the last kaisika pan.

It gets  revealed that the Brahmarakshas was a vidwan by name Soma Sharma who was cursed by Devas arising out of his ahankaram.  He also incurs soola dosham as he dies without completing a yagna. Despite all this, the palan of pun (the song) relieves him of the curse.   This occurred thousands of years ago and few hundred years ago,  on Kaisika Dwadasi day, Sri Parasara Bhattar chanted kaisika puranam before Lord Ranganatha;  a tradition continuing till date with the descendants of Bhattar remndering  the puranam on kaisika dwadasi day at Srirangam.

It is believed that those who go to temple on this holy Kaisika Dwadasi day and read ‘kaisika purana’ will be showered with  munificence of Lord…. For us hearing the Kaisika puranam in Divyadesam nearer will give us all benefits of a good pure happy life ; those who hear ‘kaisika purana’ will get His choicest blessings and perhaps all of us who read and think of Nampaduvaan and Lord would also be getting the bountiful blessings of Lord Sriman Narayana,

Parayana palan 

ஸ்ரீ வராஹப் பெருமாள் பிராட்டியிடம் உரைத்தது : " யார் ஒருவன் கார்த்திகை மாதம் சுக்ல பக்ஷ  த்வாதசி நாளில் -  நமக்கு முன்பாக கைசிக மகாத்மியம் வாசிக்கின்றானோ, வாசிப்பதை கேட்கிறானோ - அவன் நமக்கு என்றும் திருப்பல்லாண்டு பாடியபடி இருக்க கடவன்". இப்படி ராகம்/பக்தி  மூலமாகவே எம்பெருமானை அடைவதற்கான உபாயம்  உள்ளது.

Azhwar Emperumanaar Jeeyar Thiruvadigale Saranam. 

Adiyen Srinivasadhasan.

30^th Nov. 2017.

Karthigai Thiruvonam ~ Sri Parthasarathi purappadu @ Thiruvallikkeni 2017

Today is Thiruvona nakshathiram in the month of Karthigai and Sri Parthasarathi had chinna maada veethi purappadu.

In all such purappadus, Moonram Thiruvanthathi of Sri Peyalwar is rendered and here is the sarrumurai pasuram (with due credits to Sri Kanchi swami @ dravidaveda.org)

Alwar directs us to fall and take the lotus feet of Emperuman.  He with eight hands at Attabujakaram divyadesam in the holy Kanchi – holds victorious eight weapons that have never heard of defeat, He who wields the Chakra that went sparkling towards the proud crocodile, killed it and saved the elephant King Gajendra purely because of his devotion.  Can there be any better refuge than His feet – let us fall and pray to the most benevolent Lord, our only Saviour.

தொட்டபடையெட்டும் தோலாத வென்றியான்,

அட்ட புயகரத்தான் அஞ்ஞான்று, - குட்டத்துக்

கோள்முதலை துஞ்சக் குறித்தெறிந்த சக்கரத்தான்

தாள்முதலே நங்கட்குச் சார்வு.

திருமயிலை பேயாழ்வார் வாக்கு :  எம்பெருமான் தனது கரங்களில் ஏந்தின  எட்டு திவ்யாயுதங்களை  பற்றிக்கொண்டு நமக்கு அருளும் என்றுமே தோல்வி என்பதே அறியாத ஜெயசீலன். அவ்வெம்பெருமான் திருக்கச்சி திருவட்ட புயகரத் திருப்பதியிலுள்ளவனும், முன்பொருகாலத்தில், நச்சு நீர்ப் பொய்கையிலே, மிடுக்குடைய முதலை வாழ்வுதான் முடியும்படியாக  இலக்குத் தப்பாமல் பிரயோகிக்கப்பட்ட திருவாழியையுடைய பெருமானது திருவடி தாமரைகளே - நம் அனைவருக்கும் சார்வு, பரமப்ராப்யம்.

~ adiyen Srinivasa dhasan # 24^th Nov. 2017.

Swami Manavala Mamunigal sarrumurai at Periamet Sri Prasanna Venkatesa Temple

For a Chennai resident, trip to Chennai Central is but regular- beside the iconic Red building that provides the trackway to many other destinations, is another landmark building – the Ripon Building, a fine modern attempt at the Indo-Saracenic, the headquarters of the Corporation, to which the move from Errabalu Chetty street was made in 1913.

Nearer is located the famous Jawaharlal Nehru stadium to which people thronged in large numbers today to witness the home team Chennaiyin FC play FC Goa in Indian Super league 4.  There was so much of tumult as after two goalless draws, it was entirely a different ball game as the host lost 2-3 in their opening campaign at Chennai.  The Goa team had the better of exchanges in the early part of the first half and maintained its stranglehold ~ this is no post on Sports but what the group from Triplicane, who travelled to Periamet had in store at the famous Sri Prasanna Venkatesa Swami temple. 

செடியார் வினைகள் தீர்மருந்தே. திருவேங் கடத்தெம் பெருமானே,

நொடியார் பொழுதும் உன பாதம் காண நோலாதாற்றேனே.

சுவாமி நம்மாழ்வாரின் அமுத வார்த்தைகள்.  திருவேங்கடமலையில் உறைகின்ற எம்பெருமான், நிலத்தில் விளையக்கூடிய எத்தகைய  மருந்தைக் காட்டிலும் மலையில் விளையும் அசேதநமான மருந்து; அத்தகைய அற்புத எம்பெருமானை ஒரு நொடிக்கணமும் பிரிந்திருக்ககில்லாது, அவனது திருவடி தாமரைகளையே எப்போதும் சிந்தித்து உய்வுபெறுவோமாக என்கிறார்.  செடியாய வல்வினைகள் தீர்க்கும் திருப்பதி திருவேங்கடமுடையான் நாம் சிந்திக்கும் திசைகளிலெல்லாம் நமக்கு அருள் புரிகிறான். 

சென்னை சென்ட்ரல் ரயில் நிலையம் அருகில் பெரியமேடு என்றழைக்கப்படும் இடத்தில் ஸ்ரீ பிரசன்ன வெங்கடேசப்பெருமாள் கோவில் அமைந்துள்ளது.

As one moves on the Sydenhams road leading to the famous Nehru stadium – is the Periamet area, the  hub of leather trade in the city. You may not have  ventured into the many winding small lanes through Karpura Mudali Street to Thoppai Street ~ and what a great darshan it turned out to be !  – today, we had the fortune of darshan of Prasanna Venkatachalapathi, Alarmelmangai thayar and .. .. Swami Emperumanar with our Acharyar Swami Manavala Mamunigal  

Ramanujacharya  travelled far and wide through the Bharatham – he went to Thiruvananthapuram, established order at Thirumala, went to Kashmeeram  to access ‘boddhayana vrutti’ – a rate treatise on Vyasa brahma sutra. While his thirumenis at Srirangam, Thirumalai, Thirupathi, Sriperumpudur, Thirunarayanapuram, Thirukachi, Thiruvallikkeni and many many more places are exceptionally prominent, there are thousands more at other temples too .. .. ….

Today, we  had darshan of our Swami Ramanujar and Acharyar Sri Manavala Mamunigal  at Sri Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal Temple, Thoppai St., Periamet, Chennai 3 – there was rendering of Kovil Thiruvaimozhi, Iramanusa Noorranthathi and Upadesa Rathinamalai.  Here are some photos taken today by me.

adiyen Srinivasa dhasan

19^th Nov. 2017

Thirumayilai Sri Peyalwar mangalasasanam at Thiruvallikkeni Divyadesam 2017

Thirumayilai  Sri Peyalwar mangalasasanam at Thiruvallikkeni Divyadesam

Today 14^th Nov 2017 is Ekadasi day.  On all Ekadasis, there will be periya maada veethi purappadu of Sri Parthasarathi Swami at Thiruvallikkeni Divyadesam.  Today is more  special.  Over a decade now, annually Sri Peyalwar from Sri Adhi Kesava Perumal Devasthanam has been visiting Thiruvallikkeni for mangalasasanam of the Divyadesa perumal.

Here is how he enjoyed seeing the Lord on that beautiful rainy day at Thirukkovalur whence in the company of Sri Poigai Alwar and Bootathalwar, lighting with the Universe and love, had darshan of Emperuman.  He glorifies as having seen the lotus-dame on the frame of Ocean-hued most bountiful Lord, who wields a fiery discuss (Chakra) and the dextral conch (Sangam) in His Hands and radiating more than the Golden Sun ~ what a darshan and how great even to imagine such a darshan .. .. ..  in his Moonram thiruvantathi, Alwar starts :

திருக்கண்டேன் பொன்மேனி கண்டேன் * திகழு

மருக்கனணி நிறமுங்கண்டேன்*  செருக்கிளரும்

பொன்னாழி கண்டேன் புரிசங்கங்கைக் கண்டேன்*

என்னாழி வண்ணன்  பாலின்று**

Sri Adhi Kesava Perumal Devasthanam better known as ‘Kesava Perumal Kovil’ is near Mylai Kapaleeswarar Temple and the Chithirai kulam belongs to this Temple.  As we all know, among the 12 Azhwaars of Srivaishanva Tradition, Poigai Azhwar, Boothath Azhwar and Peyazhwar – were the ones to have decended on this Earth earlier.  They were contemporaries and are praised as “Muthal Azhwars (the first among the Azhwars).  They were born in the month of “Aippasi: in the thirunakshathirams of ‘Thiruvonam, Avittam, Sathayam’ respectively.

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.  At Thiruvallikkeni, the road adjacent to Sri Parthasarathi Kovil houses a separate sannathi (temple by itself) for Sri Peyalwar and the street is named after the Azhwar and is known as ‘Peyazhwar kovil Street’.

Among the 12 Azhwaars of Srivaishanva Tradition, Poigai Azhwar, Boothath Azhwar and Peyazhwar – were the ones to have descended on this Earth earlier.  They were contemporaries and are praised as “Muthal Azhwars (the first among the Azhwars).  They were born in the month of “Aippasi: in the thirunakshathirams of ‘Thiruvonam, Avittam, Sathayam’ respectively. This divine trio met on a rainy day at Thirukkovalur – when they sang 100 verses each which now form part of Moonravathu Ayiram (Iyarpa) in Naalayira Divyaprabandham. 

Now the Peyalwar who graces the Mylai  Kesava Perumal temple – annually 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 to let all 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.  Sri Peyazhwar visits all sannathies inside the Temple ~ those of Lord Venkata Krishnan, Vedavalli Thayar, Varada Rajar, Azhagiya Singar and Andal and does mangalasasanam – i.e., ‘praying and praising the divine Gods and begetting happiness in doing so’.

Sri Peyawlar has sung about Thiruvallikkeni temple in his ‘Moondram Thiruvanthati’ – today’s purappadu from Mylapore was delayed due to some contingency and later  in the evening at around 0800pm, there was the grand purappadu of Sri Peyalwar with Lord Sri Parthasarathi.   It was a grand festival grandly organized by Sri NC Sridhar, Trustee of Sri Kesava Perumal Kovil, Mylapore….   Here are some photos taken on the occasion.

Adiyen Srinivasa dhasan [Srinivasan Sampathkumar from Thiruvallikkeni]

Malabar DEvaswom trying violent take-over of Guruvayur Sri Parathasarathy temple

For us, Thiruvallikkeni, the abode of Sriman Narayana as Lord Sri Parthasarathi, the charioteer of Arjun [Parthan] is everything ~ here is something on another divyadesam where the presiding deity is Parthasarathi ~ and another temple where things are not so good now ! sad !!

Most likely you have had darshan of that most beautiful charming little Sri Krishna at Guruvayur, the hero on whom thousands of mellifluous songs have been sung.  Guruvayur in Thrissur houses Guruvayur Sree Vishnu Temple, the fourth largest temple in India in terms of the number of devotees visiting per day.  Guruvayur, according to the legends is more than  5,000 years old as the Guruvayur temple idol is. Lord Krishna, asked 2 sages to take the idol from his temple in Dwarka while the city was being destroyed and establish it in Kerala. The idol of lord krishna was brought by Vayu deva and brhaspathi and was placed in guruvayur.

The land of Kerala once contributed much to Hindu culture and civilization, but is now poised as its destroyer. This land has a great line of Rishis, preceptors, with Jagadguru Sankaracharya born here in Kaladi. Aryabhatta I, astronomer and many more have been  true sons of the Hindutva tradition of ancient Kerala. Now the State has seen many killings and spillage of blood. A few months back, an young activist  Rajesh Edavakode, 34, was hacked to death reportedly by left-wing Marxist workers in the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. Rajesh was stabbed mercilessly. Over 70 wounds were inflicted, his left hand severed and his right leg dismembered and flung into the rice fields.  That speaks volumes on the way Red rules the land.

Washington Post recently had an article titled ‘One of the few places where a communist can still dream’ – it started - On a recent morning in southern India, one of the world’s last true-believing communists rose to speak in a place where communists can still whip up the masses and win elections.  The  finance minister for the state of Kerala, gazed out at a crowd of hundreds gathered to honour the founding father of Kerala’s communist party, a man killed by a snakebite while organizing farmworkers whose dying words were reputed to have been: “Comrades, forward!” “We are trying to build our dream state in this fascist India!” Isaac began, and in so many ways it was still true. A century after Bolsheviks swarmed the Winter Palace in Petrograd, Russia (now St. Petersburg), the Indian state of Kerala, home to 35 million people, remains one of the few places on earth where a communist can still dream… .. .. .. reads the article which has created some furore

This is no post on Communism or the merciless killings but on the struggle of devout and Temples !!  -  Devaswom are socio-religious trusts in Kerala  that comprise members nominated by both government and community. Their aim is to manage Hindu temples and their assets and to ensure their smooth operation in accordance with traditional rituals and customs. After the passing of the States Reorganisation Act 1956 (Act No. 37 of 1956 ),Malabar district excluding the islands of Lacadives and Minicoy and Kasargod Taluk of South Kanara district came to be known as Malabar district in the state of Kerala along with the territories of the existing State or Travancore and Cochin. Under the legal provision of adaptation Clause in part XI of the Kerala Service Rule Act, the Madras H.R & C.E Act 1926 came to be under the administrative supervisory control of the Government of Kerala.  The four Kerala devaswoms (Guruvayur, Travancore, Malabar and Cochin) together control the finances of nearly 3000 temples i.e., taking away the donations and property doing nothing for the devotees and the religion.

In the land of Guruvayur there is a temple for Sri Parthasarathi,  the temple in present form  was built on the advice of Acharya and the rituals and prayers were done strictly. The followers of Sri Shankaracharya added glory to the temple and placed the idols of Lord Krishna in it. The temple came under the control of the Trichur 'Naduvil Madam' where it flourished greatly. It was later taken over by the Mallissery Brahmins. During Tipu's time, the temple lost its glory. The temple's walls, the eating place - 'ootupura', 'vaadil madam' and other sections collapsed and for years it stayed unnoticed. Finally it was renovated and today the temple stands glorified.

The presiding deity of the Parthasarathy Temple of Guruvayur is Lord Krishna, in the form of Parthasarathy (charioter). It is  believed that  this Glorious “Idol” was the “One” worshiped by Kunthi Devi, mother of Pandavas, in Indraprastha during dwaparayuga.  Now this temple is under threat of a violent take over by the Red Govt trying to usurp the money and glory of the temple.  Recently, members of Hindu Aikya Vedi and temple committee blocked nearly 250 cops and officials of Malabar Devaswom Board  when they turned up at the Pardhasarathi Temple in Guruvayur to take over the temple administration citing a High Court order. The stalemate that began at 7 am ended at 5.30 pm. Devaswom officials returned after a filing a police complaint that they were prevented from doing their duty. Soon after, 12 cops in civil dress entered the temple. Protesters closed the main entrance of the temple to prevent officials and police.

It is the much usual way ~ allege corruption, take over and then institutionalise corruption.  It is happening in Tamil Nadu ~ the wealth, donations and all the money goes to the Govt in the name of administration and misused for all other needs with nothing done for the original purpose for which devotees made such funds.  Can the secular Govts do this with any other religion ?? dare not !! – sad now another temple is falling to the Malabar Devaswom.  

In concluding the other divyadesam dedicated to Lord Parthasarathi is at ‘ Aramula ~ Thiruvaranvilai.’  The Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple is in  Aranmula, a village in Pathanamthitta District of  Kerala.   Constructed in the Kerala style of architecture, the temple is glorified in Thiruvaimozhi of  Swami Nammalwar. (10 songs – 7aam Pathu – Patham Thiruvaimozhi). சிந்தை மகிழ் திருவாறன் விளையுறை  தீர்த்தனுக் கற்றபின்னே.

With regards – S. Sampathkumar

7^th Nov. 2017