Tuesday, June 9, 2020

surrender to the holy feet of Govindha ~ బ్రహ్మ కడిగిన పాదము|


ஓய்வை விளைவிக்கின்ற கிழத்தனமென்ன, வாழ்க்கையில் கஷ்டங்கள் என்ன ? - மரணம் என்ன ! -  மனித வாழ்க்கையின் அவலங்களை கேள்விப்பட்டு இருக்கிறோம், கண்ணுற்று இருக்கிறோம்.  மனித வாழ்க்கையே நமக்கு இது நேராது என்ற நம்பிக்கையில் காலம் கழிப்பது தானே ! ~ எனினும் 'கரோனா நோய்" போன்ற வியாதிகள் பரவும்போது - மனம் பயந்து என்ன செய்வது என்பது அறியாமல் தளர்வது மனித இயல்பே அல்லவா !

செடிபோலே செழித்த பாபங்களைத் தீர்க்கும் மருந்தானவன்: திருவேங்கடவன். 'கலியுகத்தில் கண் கண்ட தெய்வமான திருவேங்கடமுடையானின் திவ்யதேசம்,  அருள்கள் அனைத்தையும் தரும் சிறந்த இடமாய் திகழ்கிறது. The sacred and most reverred temple of Sri Venkateswara is located on the seventh peak – Venkatachala hill of Tirumala.  The Lord stands tall as bestower of all boons and lakhs of people reach here to have a glimpse – a few seconds darshan of the Lord.  This beautiful temple in its present form owes a lot to the works of the greatest Vaishnava Acharya – Sri Ramanujar.


Since 1997, crowds have gathered at Shakespeare’s Globe to experience the Bard’s plays as they were originally staged. Actors perform without microphones or sets, and half of the theater’s 1,500 audience members stand in “the pit,” where they can interact directly with those onstage.  Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Globe—a reconstruction of the original Elizabethan theater, which burned down in 1613—has been shuttered since March. This week, reports William Booth for the Washington Post, its owners warned the British Parliament that without financial assistance, the London cultural institution may remain closed indefinitely.

The World Health Organization said on Monday that most people across the globe are still at risk of coronavirus infection and that the biggest threat to further spread is complacency, as mass gatherings resume in countries worldwide. The coronavirus pandemic is worsening across the globe as the number of new Covid-19 cases on Sunday reached an all-time high, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during a press conference at the agency’s Geneva headquarters. He said that almost 75% of the cases come from 10 countries!- we could understand this, as almost 75% of the affected Indians are from 5 or 6 States, also 70% of the affected in Tamil Nadu are from its Capital Chennai. 

Government of India has issued fresh guidelines for officials and staffers of Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) to prevent spread of coronavirus, after several officials in various Central Government Ministries and Departments have tested positive for the infection. Govt has laid out new protocol which must be followed by DARGP employees. India on Tuesday reported another surge in the number coronavirus disease cases. The country recorded 9,987 cases in the last 24 hours, which took the overall tally to 2,66,598, according to the Union health ministry. The number of active cases in the country is 1,29,917, while 1,29,214 have been cured or discharged, the health ministry update at 8 am showed.

The foregoing for sure would only dampen our spirits and Corona update is one which most of us do not wish to hear, but go any social forum or see news – you get to see more and more panic messages from people. One only prays that the situation improves and life returns normal.

For a blissful soothing experience, just recall your last visit to the holy Thirumala Tirupathi  ~ even as you start feeling the chillness, most likely the mellifluous song of Sri Annamacharya  would pervade you….

adivo alladivo śrī hari vāsamu ** padivela śeula paagala mayamu ||

   Look and behold, this is abode of Hari- the place where He resides . sang Tallapaka Annamacharya [popularly Annamayya], the 15th century musician who composed  many keerthanas on Lord Venkateswara. Another popular song :

బ్రహ్మ కడిగిన పాదము| బ్రహ్మము తానెని పాదము||
ப்ரஹ்ம கடிகின பாதமு ! ப்ரஹ்மமு தானெ நீ  பாதமு ||
Brahma Kadigina Paadamu | Brahmamu Taanenee Paadamu ||

..............

పరమ యోగులకు పరి పరి విధముల| పరమొసగెడి నీ పాదము|
తిరువేంకటగిరి తిరమని చూపిన| పరమ పదము నీ పాదము||

Parama Yogulaku Pari Pari Vidhamula | Varamosagedi Nee Paadamu |
Tiru Venkatagiri Tiramani Coopina | Parama Padamu Nee Paadamu ||


Just like our Azwars and Acaryas have guided us, Annamayya too glorifies the holy feet of Lord Venkateswara – it is that  lotus feet of Sriman Narayana  cleansed by the Brahma  when Lord as Trivikrama measured the whole Universe.  The water used by Brahma descended on earth as holy Ganga.  This holy feet itself is "Brahmam” – the supreme Lord.  It is this holy feet that can grant us all salvation, in the way of great sages.  It revealed us that this Tirumala ( Tiru vEnkaTa giri ) hill itself is paramapadam.  Just a glimpse of the Ananda vimanam will purify us and rid us of all the sins.

குன்றமேந்தி குளிர் மழை காத்தவன் *  அன்று ஞாலமளந்த பிரான்* பரன்
சென்று சேர் திருவேங்கடமாமலை * ஒன்றுமே தொழ நம்  வினை  ஓயுமே

Swami Nammazhwar’s hymn in Thiruvaimozhi reminds us that  our  Saviour Emperuman Sriman Narayanan saved the cowherds and everyone at Govardhan by holding the hill with His little finger and the One who measured the earth with His feet, is settled in the Great Hill of Thirumala and everywhere  ~ those of us going and worshipping Him there will get rid of all bad things – the ill-effects of Karma will get destroyed in a trice.




After days of lockdown 8.6.2020 dawned differently – it was  a ‘darshan’ with a difference for the 6,000-odd devotees when the doors of the Lord Venkateswara temple in Tirumala reopened on Monday, after staying closed for 80 days due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Elaborate preventive measures were put in place by the authorities of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) to ensure all Covid-19 norms are in place. There was no pushing or shoving, social distancing and hygiene were paramount.   It is stated that the  trial run will continue for two more days. On the first two days, entry would be allowed only to TTD staff and their family members, while Tirumala locals can have darshan on June 10. The temple opens for devotees from across the state and outside from June 11. – and as everyone had dreamt, devotees are having peaceful darshan – no distinction between any bakth and VIP.  From lakhs of devotees in a day to a select 500 per hour now, life has totally changed.  There are no arjitha sevas now. 


Let us sincerely pray to the Lord of Seven Hills for our time – that significant day to have His darshan at Holy Thirumala.  There have been instances where we have walked, waited and prayed patiently for hours and got a glimpse for few seconds – let us pray for another darshan – now even if we are to get that split second darshan, we would relish that more ! – waiting for that magical moment of another darshan of Thiruvengadamudaiyan and hours of darshan of our own Sri Parthasarathi Emperuman at Thiruvallikkeni.

Cinemas are taken for minting money.  A few decades ago, there were many devotional films – slowly we are seeing lot of Tamil films with sinister designs. The hidden propaganda (or rather open) is to vilify all Hindus – showing the villains with Hindu religious marks and heroes doing good belonging to other religion. There are dialogues against the culture, God, practices and people – and some actors use some stages for making vitriolic comments against our religious practices. All this will go on – either we should react, condemn, fight on the street or at least hit back economically.  Stop watching such movies, the shows of such stars – if revenue is not coming, they would understand and stop nonsense.

Telegu tinseldom is to be appreciated – from the days of NTR   who played Krishna in 17 films,  including some landmark films such as Sri Krishnarjuna Yudham (1962), the Tamil film Karnan (1964) and Daana Veera Soora Karna (1977). He was also known for his portrayal of Lord Rama, essaying that role in films such as Lava Kusha (1963) and Shri Ramanjaneya Yuddham (1974) to name a few.  Nagarjuna too is to be appreciated for doing many such roles with religious fervor.  He donned the title role of Annamayya
Annamayya , released in  1997 was biographical devotional film  directed by K. Raghavendra Rao,  starring Akkineni Nagarjuna, Mohan Babu, Suman, Ramya Krishna, Bhanupriya, Roja, Kasthuri – with mellifluous  music composed by M. M. Keeravani. The film was recorded as a Blockbuster at the box office. It won eight Nandi Awards, three Filmfare Awards and two National Film Awards.

adiyen Srinivasadhasan
Mamandur Veeravalli Srinivasan Sampathkumar
9.6.2020 (photos taken during earlier visits – mostly 2016)






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