Sri Parthasarathi swami thirukkovil in twilight

 Wow pic - Thiruvallikkeni Sri Parthasarathi Emperuman thirukkovil in twilight

(brilliant pic taken by Kanakarajakumar .. .. camera mattum ennuthu !!)

Yajur Upakarma wishes 2022

  

இனிய  "யஜுர் உபாகர்மா"  தின நல் வாழ்த்துகள்  .. .. அனைவரது இல்லங்களிலும் அமைதியும், இன்பமும், செல்வங்களும் வளங்களும்,  சிறக்க எல்லாம் வல்ல ஸ்ரீபார்த்தசாரதி எம்பெருமானை வேண்டி அவன் தாளடி பணிவோம்.

Aadi Shukla paksha Ekadasi @ Thiruvallikkeni 2022 - sea-shell sound of Sea !!

இன்று 8.8.2022 ஆடி மாச சுக்ல பக்ஷ ஏகாதசி.  திருவல்லிக்கேணியில் ஸ்ரீபார்த்தசாரதி பெருமாள் பெரிய மாட வீதி புறப்பட்டு கண்டருளினார்.  சிறு தூறல்கள் காரணமாக குளக்கரை மட்டும் ஏளவில்லை.

ஒவ்வொரு குடும்பத்திலும் இனிய வரவு குழந்தை.  பச்சிளம் குழந்தையை  பார்க்க வருகிறவர்கள் விதவிதமான பரிசுகளை வாங்கி வருவார்கள். அதுபோல, குழந்தைக் கண்ணனையும் பார்ப்பதற்குப் பலர் வருகிறார்கள். சிறப்பான பரிசுகளை வாங்கிவருகிறார்கள். அவற்றை யசோதை அவனுக்குச் சொல்லித் தூங்க வைக்கிறாள்.இப்படி நமக்கு அருமையான பாசுரம் தந்தவர்  பெரியாழ்வார்.  அவர்தம் பெரியாழ்வார் திருமொழியில் கண்ணனது பால்ய பருவங்களை அழகாக பட்டியலிட்டு சீராட்டியுள்ளார். 

 

Living in the holy Thiruvallikkeni divyadesam provides ample opportunities for darshan of Emperuma Sri Parthasarathi as there are so many purappadus.  There perhaps is time for us to go to Marina beach and enjoy Bay of Bengal too .. .. on the shores one finds lot of sea shells too !!

A seashell  is a hard, protective outer layer usually created by an animal that lives in the sea. The shell is part of the body of the animal. Empty seashells are often found washed up on beaches by beachcombers.  A seashell is usually the exoskeleton of an invertebrate (an animal without a backbone), and is typically composed of calcium carbonate or chitin. Most shells that are found on beaches are the shells of marine mollusks, partly because these shells are usually made of calcium carbonate, and endure better than shells made of chitin. Seashells have been used by humans for many different purposes throughout history and prehistory.   

Do you remember trying this as a kid -- Holding one of the seashells you grabbed as a souvenir up to your ear? It seems like no matter how far away from the ocean you are, you can still hold a seashell up to your ear and hear the roar of the waves rolling onto the shore. The best shells for producing this sound are the large, spiral conch shells. Some people have suggested that the sound you hear from the seashell is the echoing of your blood rushing through the blood vessels of your ear. That is not the case. If that were true, then the sound would intensify after exercising, since your blood races faster after exercising. However, the sound is the same even after exercising.  Others say that the whooshing sound inside the shell is generated by air flowing through the shell - air flowing through the shell and out creates a noise. You'll notice that the sound is louder when you lift the shell slightly away from your ear than it is when the shell is right against your head.  The most likely explanation for the wave-like noise is ambient noise from around you.   

In an interesting article in Live Science, "It isn't the sound of the sea," Trevor Cox, a professor of acoustic engineering at the University of Salford in the United Kingdom,  writes that - "You are hearing ambient or background noise that has been increased in amplitude by the physical properties of the seashell." Andrew King, director of the University of Oxford's Centre for Integrative Neuroscience and head of the Oxford Auditory Neuroscience Group explained that the "hard, curved surfaces" inside shells reflect soundwaves, causing the waves to "bounce around" inside the shell. Consequently, the shell "acts as a resonator, boosting certain sound frequencies, so that they are louder than they would be without the seashell placed next to your ear.”  The frequencies you hear will depend on the size and shape of the seashell. If the seashell has an irregular shape, it will likely resonate at multiple frequencies, King said.  "The seashell is like a wind instrument," Cox said. "It has a set of resonant frequencies where the air inside the shell will vibrate more strongly. Hold the shell to your ear, and it is those frequencies in the ambient sound that get amplified. Because the sound changes, your brain pays attention to it." However, King noted that "background noise must be present" for anything to be heard. "You won't hear anything in a completely soundproofed room," King said. 

பிரம்மன், சிவன், இந்திரன், வருணன், தேவர்கள் என பலப்பலர் - பாலகண்ணனுக்கு பரிசு மழை பொழிந்தனர்.  தேவர்களின் அரசனாகிய இந்திரனைத் தொடர்ந்து, அழகிய வானத்தில் வாழும் தேவர்கள் எல்லாரும் வருகிறார்கள்.  சங்கின் வலம்புரியும் சேவடிக் கிண்கிணியும்அங்கைச் சரிவளையும் நாணும் அரைத் தொடரும்  என அழகுபடுத்துகிறார் பெரியாழ்வார்.  

சங்கின் வலம் புரியும் சேவடிக் கிண் கிணியும்

அங்கைச் சரிவளையும் நாணும் அரைத் தொடரும்

அங்கண் விசும்பில் அமரர்கள் போத்தந்தார்,

செங்கண் கருமுகிலே! தாலேலோ! தேவகி சிங்கமே தாலேலோ! 

                           சங்குகளில் சிறந்த  வலம்புரிச் சங்கையும், செவ்விய திருவடிகளில் அணிவிக்கத்  தக்க  சலங்கைகளையும்,  அழகிய கைகளுக்கு உரிய முன் கை வளைகளையும்,  தோள்வளைகளையும், இடுப்பில் அணிய வல்ல,  பொன்னரை நாணையும் இன்னமும் பிற அணிகலன்களையும் அணிவித்து அழகு பார்க்க தேவர்கள் ஓடோடி வந்தனர்.   திருவடிக் கொலுசுகளும், சரிகையும், தோள்காப்பும், அரைஞாண்  கொடியும்  பெறப்பெற்ற  சிவந்த கண்களை உடைய தேவகி பெற்ற சிங்கமே  உமக்கு தாலாட்டுப் பாடுகின்றேன்.  என விஷ்ணு சித்தர் பாடி மகிழ்கிறார். 

The great Bala Krishna on whom encomiums were heaped by Periyazhvar, presented a divyadarshan embellished with beautiful ornaments this day on the occasion of Aadi Shuklapaksha Ekadasi.  Here are some photos taken during Sri Parthasarathi perumal periya mada veethi purappadu this evening. 

adiyen Srinivasa dhasan
Mamandur Veeravalli Srinivasan Sampathkumar
8.8.2022 

Acarya Thirumalai Ananthazhwan uthsavam at Avathara sthalam 2022

We read about British history, that of Mughals and something of Chera, Chozha, Pandiyas .. .. there is another Empire remembered  for its temple architecture.  There are over hundred temples from this era still standing in various parts of Karnataka – and it is that of Hoysalas ! 

Wish to experience the extreme Bliss ! ~ even as you start feeling the chillness, most likely the mellifluous song of Sri Annamacharya  would pervade you….  

adivo alladivo śrī hari vāsamu ** padivela śeṣula paḍagala mayamu ||  

even to those who may not know or understand Telugu –  it is divine, it is the sankeerthana about the most sacred Seven Hills, the abode of Supreme Lord. Sure you would have visited the holy Thirumala, many a times, next time, take a leisurely stroll on the Mada veethis of the holy hill and feel Him fully.  This post would try to link the holy Thirumala, the abode of Lord Srinivasa (Thiruvengadam aka Thirumalai) to a small village miles away nearer Mysore.  

Most great civilizations grew on river beds.  The sacred Cauvery from its source to its union with Sea makes flourish thousands of miles and there are many holy bathing ghats too.   Hoysala empire ruled  between the 10^th & the 14^th  centuries. The capital of the Hoysalas was initially located at Belur but was later moved to Halebidu.  Art, architecture,  Kannada & Sanskrit literature  and Vaishnavism flourished during their reign. On way to Mysore from Bangalore lies Mandya district, region purportedly getting its name, meaning a habitat preceding a civilization or roughly an ancient abode.   Then there is - 'Pandavapura'  which literally means "Town of Pandavas". Legend has it that the Pandavas during their period of exile stayed here for sometime, and Kunthi, mother of the Pandavas, liked the hillock so much that it became one of her favorite haunts. The town has historic relevance also as it was used as the camping ground by the French army.  There are many jaggery manufacturing units too adding sweetness to the town which has Cauvery water flowing through Visweswarayya Canal ~ and there is some connection of this place to Thirumala.  

To us, devout Sri Vaishnavaites, this place – to be specific a small village known as Siruputhur ‘Kiranganoor’ [Hale Kiranguru] in Srirangapatna taluk is of significance for its association with one of our Acharyars.  Sri Ananthazhwaan was born in year 1053 near Mysore here in this  village called ‘siruputhoor’ ~ now called Hale Kiranguru in Srirangapatna Taluk -  571807 situate on Pandavapura Station High Road.    

When Udayavar was rendering kalakshepam on Thiruvaimozhi, (the verse – sindhu poo magizhumThiruvengadathu – meaning the place replete with flowers), Udayavar asked whether anybody would do the pushpa kainkaryam at Thirumala.  Remember, Tirupathi was a very dense jungle ridden with wild animals with adverse weather.  Ananthazhwaan readily came forward and said that he would go, if Udayavar so desires.  Udayavar was so elated that he praised Ananthazhwaan as the real man and till date, his descendents have the name  Thirumalai Ananthanpillai’ meaning manly.  

Thirumalai Ananthazhwaan continued his floral and other services to Lord Srinivasar for many years. He was so devoted in his service ordained by Ramanujacharya that for him, it was service that was of primary importance, even when compared to God.     The Vigraham of Sri Ramanujar that we worship inside the Sri Vari Temple was installed by him. ‘Sri Venkatesa  ithihasamaala’ is considered the best amongst the many works of Thirumalai  Ananthazhwaan.  

ஸ்ரீரங்கபட்டணத்தில் தமிழ் பொன்னி என்று நாம் கொண்டாடும் 'காவிரி' அகண்டு பிரம்மாண்டமாய் பிரவகிக்கிறாள். இங்கே கங்கையில் புனிதமாய காவிரியில் ஆனந்த நீராடி, ஸ்ரீரங்கபட்டணத்து ஆதி ரங்கனை தரிசித்து 'சிறுபுத்தூர்  ` ஹலே  கிரங்கூரு' எனும் கிராமம் சென்றடைந்தோம்.   இது நம் ஆசார்யர்  திருமலை அனந்தான் பிள்ளையின் அவதார ஸ்தலம். பல சக்கரை ஆலைகள் உள்ளதனால் லாரிகளில் கரும்பு எடுத்துச்  சென்றுகொண்டு இருந்த  அந்த பிரதான சாலையில் பயணித்தவர்கள், திவ்யப்ரபந்தம் செவியால் கேட்கும் பாக்கியம் பெற்றார்கள்.  ஸ்ரீபெரியாழ்வாரின் பக்தி மணம் கமழும் வரிகள் இங்கே :  

உன்னுடைய விக்கிரமம் ஒன்றொழியாமல்  எல்லாம்**

என்னுடைய நெஞ்சகம்பால் சுவர்வழி எழுதிக்கொண்டேன்**

மன்னடங்க மழுவலங்கைக் கொண்ட இராமநம்பீ ! **

என்னிடைவந்து எம்பெருமான் இனியெங்குப் போகின்றதே.  

"  மன் அடங்க "  -  துஷ்ட குணங்கள் கொண்ட ஆள்பவர்கள் அழியும்படி, மழு என்னும் ஆயுதத்தை  தமது வலக்கையில் கொண்ட ஸ்ரீமன் நாராயணன்,  பாசுராமனாய்த் திருவவதரித்த ராமநம்பீ.. .. அத்தகைய எம்பெருமானின் வீரச் செயல்களை  ஒன்று   தப்பாமல்,  ஆழ்மனம் தனிலே, சுவரில் சித்திரமெழுதுவதுபோல எழுதிக்கொண்டேன்;  எங்களாயர்  தலைமகனே தாமே என்னிடத்தில் வந்து வேறு எங்கும் செல்லாமல் என்மனம் தனிலே நிலைத்திரும் என்கிறார் ஆழ்வார்.  

For the past few years, anniversary of avathara Uthsavam of Sri Ananthazhwaan is being celebrated at his place at Thirumala.  His descendants thought it fit to organize one at his birth place too and this year on 23^rd July 2022   -  his Thirunakshithiram was grandly celebrated at his avatharasthalam at Kiranganur. Understand that till a few years ago, other than a slab nothing existed here ~ now it is a beautifully constructed place having a temple  tank, a Sannadhi where Thiruvengadam Udaiyan, Sri Andal, Sri Mathurakavigal,  Sri Ramanujar and Sri Thirumalai Ananthanpillai, Swami Manavala mamunigal  are worshipped.   

This year by rotation, it was Iyarpa m rendered by close to hundred Sri Vaishnavaites comprising of Adhyapakars from  Perumal Kovil, Thiruvallikkeni and other places and of course from ThiruNarayanapuram.  It was divine leisurely rendering of Thiruvanthathis, Thiruviruthatham, Thiruvasiriyam, Thiruvezhukoorrirukkai, Thirumadals -  rendering  that extended for hours.  

The function was grandiosely well organized thanks to the untiring efforts of Swamis like Sri U Ve Selvanarayanan Swami  from  Melkote,  [unfortunately I am missing out the details of the names of those Organisers  who did untiring work as they remained in the background  ~ a visitor like me was awe-struck seeing the spirit, enthusiasm and ease of people who visibly were Septuagenarians or perhaps easily more.  One needs to see their high energy levels; their knowledge, humility, culinary skills total devotion to Sriman Narayana].  They offered so many varieties of prasadams (so many sweets) to Perumal during Divyaprabandha sevakalam.  My Pranams to those Organisers and thanks to  Dr. MA Venkatakrishnan swami [& MA Madhusudhanan]  and other organizers Kannamani, TA Bakthisaran  among others  who took care of the group so well]  for taking us there.   His Holiness Sree Dhanurdasa Ramanuja Jeeyar Swamy blessed us all during the sarrumurai.  This young sanyasi after kainkaryam at Acarya avathara sthalam, is presently doing kainkaryam at Mirle Saligramam associated with Ramanujar, Mudaliandan and .. . Vaduga nimbi.   Towards the end, Ananthazhwan vamsathinar were honoured.  MA Madusudanan – highlighted the activities, elaborated on the kainkaryam done by sthalathars,  thanked those who had travelled down here for the kainkaryam and profusely thanked Melukote swamis for hosting in such a great manner.                

                               A  few years earlier,  a branch of the divine Magizhamaram from Thirumala [‘Puraisaivari Thottam’] planted here, has now grown well thanks to the divine grace and pervading fragrance.  Let us worship the feet of ThirumalaiAnanthalwar renowned for his knowledge, devotion, steadfastness and more good qualities. Some photos taken at his avathara sthalam are here.  

adiyen Srinivasadhasan. [Mamandur Veeravalli  Srinivasan Sampathkumar]
7^th  Aug 2018.  

PS:  Three of the most well-known Hoysala Temples are the Kesava Temple at Somanathapura, Chennakesava Temple at Belur and Hoysaleswara Temple at Halebidu. The figurine representing Sala attacking the tiger became the emblem of this royal family and can be seen in almost every temple built by the Hoysalas.  The Hoysalas ruled a large part of modern day Karnataka and parts of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu from the 10th to the 14th century. In the late 1100s, King Vishnuvardhana Raya’s grandson, Veera Ballala II freed the Hoysalas from the Chalukya subordination and established an independent kingdom. Kannada folklore suggests that he founded the city of Bangalore. He was succeeded by his son; Narasimha II who in turn was succeeded by his son, Vira Someshwara.    

Historians consider them to have been natives of the Malnad region in Karnataka but inscriptions also point towards connections with the Yadavas from North India. The Hoysala Empire was founded by King Nripa Kama II who is remembered to having built an alliance with the Western Ganga dynasty. He was succeeded by his son Vinayaditya who was followed by his son and their sons until Veera Ballala I who died childless and was succeeded by his younger brother Vishnuvardhana Raya.  In the history of Hoysalas the name, Vishnuvardhana Raya holds great importance. It was under King Vishnuvardhana Raya that the kingdom achieved political prominence. Of his many military conquests, he is best known for winning the Gangawadi area from the Cholas in 1116.  It was also under his reign that the influence of Swami Ramanujacharya  spread in the Karnataka region and Srivaishnavism grew in popularity. Vishnuvardhana Raya himself was originally known as Bittideva later fell at the feet of Udayavar and embraced Srivaishnavism.  

Here are some photos taken by me during the recent visit on 23^rd July 2022.