Akshaya Tritiyai ~ Sri Udayavar Yanai vahanam 2019

The Mānasollāsa, also known as AbhilashitarthaChintamani, is an early 12th century Sanskrit text composed by the South Indian king Someshvara III of the KalyaniChalukya dynasty. It is an encyclopedic work that inter-alia states that it is the sovereign’s duty to protect the forests where elephants thrive — because only the richest and widest of forests can support the large, long-ranging Elephas maximus. 

Miles away, conservationists in Tanzania's Tarangire National Park were surprised to know that  57-year-old elephant gave birth to twins in Aug 2017. Elephant twins are rare, and mortality is often higher among twins, but the calves are reportedly doing well.   In Botswana, President of the Nation arrived  for the Kasane Elephant Summit which is expected to bring together three other Heads of State whose countries are part of the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area to discuss a common policy towards the management of jumbos.The environment and tourism minister of Botswana, the nation with the world’s biggest population of elephants, called for southern African countries to agree on a common approach to control populations of the animal to counter criticism from the international community.  At a time when elephants are ruthlessly killed for its tusks and other reasons, it is stated that the number of elephants in Botswana has surged to 160,000 from 55,000 in 1991, increasing conflict between the animals, which at times destroy crops and kill villagers, and farmers.

Gold prices are trading modestly higher in early-morning U.S. trading this week, following a U.S. economic report that was much stronger than expected. Gold’s resilience in the face of the strong jobs report suggests recent selling pressure has at least temporarily exhausted the bears, and the yellow metal is due for at least a respite from downside pressure.  Back home, for sure you would have noticed so many advertisements and offers being made by famous as also little known jewellers – and everyone is shouting to offer gold ! ~ today there would be huge crowds at gold jewellery shops, while smart some would have made online purchase or pre-booked their share of gold. No prize for guessing what the buzz is all about – it is ‘Akshaya Tritiya 2019’

It is not about Gold alone – of the  glittering white metal ‘Silver’  - its prices  extended their sharp rally in London trade  reaching new 11-week highs for US investors at $17.30 per ounce while gold edged back from an overnight rise. Global gold prices rose on Tuesday as US President Donald Trump's threat to hike tariffs on Chinese imports re-kindled trade tensions between the two countries and pushed investors to seek insurance in safe-haven assets.  Silver prices however were falling.  Market fundamentals still bear hope for silver prices due to three factors: diminishing silver supply, rise in investment demand, and potential for increased industrial use. As if investors didn't have enough to worry about already, Wednesday provided them with yet another one. A strong performance in the crude oil market underscored the ongoing geopolitical tensions which have served to buoy the price of gold lately.

So much on Gold and Silver for today is ‘Akshyatritiya’ ~ a day marketed to be good to buy gold and other ornaments.   “Akshaya Tritiya” is  the day when Lord Parashuram, the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, was  born. It is considered one of the most auspicious days in the year and, as such, people not only buy jewellery but also perform all 'shubhkarya' on the day.  One of the most important legends associated with observing AkshayaTrithiya is that of Lord Krishna and Sudama [Kuchela].  Another significant occurrence  is that of the Pandavas receiving the Akshay Patra from Krishna.

I have posted earlier  on how marketeers have converted this to be a day of buying gold ornaments and silver ~ making it a great day for the Sellers.  The word "Akshaya" means the never diminishing in Sanskrit and the day is believed to bring good luck and success. This is no post on Gold or Silver – but on our AcharyarEmperumanaar. Today, (7^th May 2019) the 8^th day of the Uthsavam,  it is  ‘yaanaivahanam’ for Udayavar in the evening; and the yaanai in Thiruvallikkeni is silvery.   Swami Emperumanaar had purappadu on the silver elephant and the oozing grace simply outweighed the serenity and beauty of the moon – one could see only the kindness and glory of Swami.  Here are some photos of Swami Yathirajar on Yaanaivahanam.

பண்தருமாறன்பசுந்தமிழ் * ஆனந்தம்பாய்மதமாய்

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கொண்டநல்வேதக்கொழுந்தண்டம்ஏந்திக்குவலயத்தே

மண்டிவந்துஏன்றதுவாதியர்காள்உங்கள்வாழ்வுஅற்றதே.

திருவரங்கத்து அமுதனாரின் அனுபவம் :எம்பெருமானார் தன்னை அண்டியவர்களைக் காப்பாற்றுபவராகவும், தான் விரும்பியவர்களுக்கு நல்லநெறியை காட்டித் தருபவராகவும், அழகான யானை போன்றும் உள்ளார்.  நம்மாழ்வார் அருளிச்செய்த, அழகான பண்களுடன் கூடிய, தெளிவான தமிழில் உள்ள திருவாய்மொழி,  ஸ்ரீமந்நாராயணன் எனும் கடலில் இருந்து,  ஆழ்வார்கள் ஆசார்யர்கள் வழியாக எம்பெருமானாரை அடைந்து, ஸம்ஸாரிகளைக் காக்கிறது.  கம்பீரமான யானை போன்ற எம்பெருமானாரின் வாதங்களை எதிர்த்து வாதம் செய்பவர்கள், வாழ்வு பயன் எம்பெருமானை அடைவதே என உணர்ந்து அவரிடமே உபதேசம்  பெற்றனர்.

அடியேன்ஸ்ரீனிவாசதாசன்

7^th May 2019