மாசி மகம் - ஸ்ரீ பார்த்தசாரதி வங்கக்கடலில் தீர்த்தவாரி {Sree Parthasarathi visiting Bay of Bengal}

இன்று மாசி மகம் - மாசி மாதத்தில் பௌர்ணமியும் மக நட்சத்திரமும் சேர்ந்து உள்ள நன்னாள். மாசி மகம் அன்று பெருமாள் கடல் மற்றும் நீர் நிலைகளுக்கு எழுந்து அருள்வது வழக்கம்.


இன்று காலை ஸ்ரீ பார்த்தசாரதி எம்பெருமான் கருட வாகனத்தில் அழகாக எழுந்து அருளினார். வழக்கமாக தெற்கு மாடவீதி துளசிங்க பெருமாள் தெரு, சிங்கராச்சாரி தெரு வழியாக நல்லதம்பி தெருவில் திரும்பி கடற்கரைக்கு எழுந்து அருள்வார். இன்று ஒரு அசந்தர்ப்பம் காரணமாக இவ்வழி ஏள இயலவில்லை. பெருமாள் குளக்கரை புறப்பட்டு கண்டு அருளி சுங்குவார் தெரு வழியாக எழுந்து அருளி பக்தர்களுக்கு தரிசனம் தந்தார்.


மெரினா கடற்கரையில் (முன்பு சீரணி அரங்கம், திலகர் திடல் இருந்த இடம்) எழுந்து அருளினார். எனது சின்ன வயதில் பெருமாளுக்கு அழகான பந்தல் போடப்பட்டு திருமஞ்சனம் கண்டு அருளினது ஞாபகம் உள்ளது. கால போக்கில் பல விழயங்கள் மாறி உள்ளன. சமீப காலங்களில் பெருமாள் எழுந்து அருள்வது மட்டுமே.


அதிகாலை ஸ்ரீ பார்த்தசாரதி பெருமாள் புறப்பட்டு கண்டு அருளி கடற்கரையை அடைந்தார். சக்கரத்தாழ்வார் தீர்த்தவாரி நடந்த உடன் திரண்டிருந்த நூற்றுக்கணக்கான பக்தர்கள் கடலில் குளித்தனர். சாதாரண நாட்களில் கடலில் குளிக்க கூடாது என்பர் பெரியோர் - இன்று போன்ற முக்கிய தினங்களில் குளிப்பது புண்ணியமாக கருதப்படுகிறது. இன்று காலை நான் எடுத்த சில புகைப்படங்கள் இங்கே.


அடியேன் - ஸ்ரீனிவாச தாசன்.

கோவில் வாசலில் 

சக்கரத்தாழ்வார்

சுங்குவார் கிழக்கு வாயில் அருகே 

திரும்புகால்

சுவாமி எம்பார் சிறப்பு

29th Jan 2010 was special as it was combination of Thai Pusam and Embar Satrumurai. Sri Parthasarathi had periya maada veedhi purappadu in ‘Kaalinga Narthana thirukolam’ accompanied by Sri Embar and Senai Mudalvar. For Saivaites – thai poosam on pournami day is significant as it commemorates the birth day of Murugan and the occasion when Parvati gave Subramanyar a spear for vanishing the demon Soorapadman.


In Triplicane, traditionally on Thaipusam day, Sri Parthasarathi visits Big Street – the long winding Veeraghava Mudali Street – big street of yore but now narrow lane very difficult to traverse. This is a Uthsavam where Perumal probably went to the field for harvesting (kadhir aruthal). In my childhood days remembered that Perumal would come till the Pycrofts road junction where a pandal would be erected. Slowly, even the pandal disappeared.

உடையவர் 

For Srivaishnavaites – Thai Punarvasu is of great importance being the Thirunakshathram (birthday) of Swami Embar. He was a cousin of Ramanujar. Swami EmBaar was born as Sri Govindar in Madhuramangalam (then known as Mazhalai mangalam) proximate to Sriperumpudur, closer to Sunkuvar chathiram. He was born in Krothana Samvatsaram (1026 AD). Embaar born to PeriyaPiraati and Kamala nayana Bhattar . Swami Ramanujar is known as the incarnation of ThiruAnanthazhvan and Swami Embaar as the incarnation of Periya Thiruvadi . arising out of his connection to Periyathiruvadi, the Theertham of this temple is known as Garuda Pushkarini and it is believed that at this place any snake or poisonous insects will not harm anyone. The Avathara Mandapam of Swami Embaar is located around ½ km from the temple

Govinda studied under Yadava prakasar and rescued Ramanujar from the plot- the Guru Yadavaprakasa hatched. Legend has it that while taking bath in a river, a shivalinga landed in his palm and he became an orthodox Saivatie for a while. He stayed in kaalahasthi praying and offering pooja to the lingam. During this period he was known as ‘ullangai konarntha nayanar’.


A great Acharya and uncle of Ramanuja - Thirumalai Nambi along with his disciples went to Kaalahasthi and started delivering upanyasams (discourses) next to where Govindha was offering floral prayers to the linga. He started with the great epic Ramayana on which Swamy Thirumalai Nambhi was quite well versed but could not succeed. Then he discoursed on Srimath Bhagawatham and then continued on Gita. All these efforts did not fructify. Then he discoursed on Maran’s tamizh vedam – Thiruvaimozhi. In the pathu titled “Thinnan veedu” – there is a pasuram - dhevum epporulum padaikkap poovil naanmukhanaip padiaatha - devan Emperumaanukkallal Poovum poosanaiyum thagume ?


which would mean “ Maha Vishnu is the One who created everything – including all demi gods and all beings, sentient, non-sentient- is Chathurmukha Brahma (he is the one who created even Sivan); and it is the Lord Sriya Pathi Sriman Narayanan – the Primordial Chief who as the indweller enabled Brahma to do so… Essentially it is MAHA VISHNU who does it all..

அவதார ஸ்தலத்தில் எம்பார் 

Chathur mukhan the creator was created on the lotus flower from the navel of Emperuman and Azhwar asks whether any flower could be meant for some one else but HIM – the only one unparalleled !! Govindar jumped down crying ‘thagathu ! thagathu ! (cannot cannot). He fell down at the feet of Thirumalai Nambhi… with tears rolling down his cheeks and cried for saving him and to change him to a Vaishnavaite again.


Embaar’s attachment to Ramanuja can be understood by the excellent description of the divinely beautiful thirumeni azhagu :

Embar's enjoyment of seeing Sri Ramanujacharya's lotus feet , tender fingers reminding one of the creepers, sacred saffron robe, most auspicious poonool, thridandam , His enchanting smile laden with Daya , large dark eyes reminiscent of wish yielding karpaka maram (tree), the kudumi (sikha) formed by abundant tresses is simply beautiful . Embar declares that there is no one equal to him; since Yathirajan's Divine Beauty lingers in his heart.




A great contribution to Vaishnavism is Embar being the acharya to the greatest Sri Parasara Bhattar (son of Koorathazhwan). Legend has it that when Udayavar asked Embar to bring baby Parasarar for naming, Embar by way of protection muttered Dvaya mantram in the infant’s ears and that placed on the baby unusual brilliance. Upon instruction of Udayavar, Embar became the Acharya of the baby and thus vaishnavaites are endowed with a great Acharyar – Sri Parasara Battar.


He attended Ramanujas all lectures, discourse, debates expositions and dispositions and served his master as a shadow. With great resolve and commitment, he secured sanyasa from Udayavar and obtained robe of an ascetic. Udayavar named him Emperumanar but he could not accept this and pleaded that he did not deserve this honour, upon which Udayavar called him “Embar”


In the year 1137 the greatest of Acharyas Ramanujar left for heavenly abode resting on the lap of Embar. His moving away left Embar sans any interest in life and four years later, he followed the Jagadhacharyar. His work ‘Vijnaasthuthi” will ever be remembered by posterity.


Sri Bhagavath Ramanujar Thiruvadigale Saranam


Adiyen Srinivasa dhasan.

THIRUVALLIKKENI THEPPOTSAVAM

To live in punya bhoomi is fortunate. To have darshan of Perumal often is more fortunate. Sri Parthasarathi Swami temple is an important Sri Vaishnava Divya desam dedicated to Lord Krishna – the name “Parthasarathi” in sanskrit means the charioteer of Arjuna. Legend has it that Emperuman offers darshan as sarathi, coming as he did after the great Maha Baratha war with scars all over his face. This is an ancient temple traced to the period of Pallavas of 8th century, then later renovated by Chola kings and Vijayanagara Kings. This temple finds a mention in the songs of Peyazhwar, Thirumazhisai azhwar and Thirumangai Azhwar – known as mangalasasanam.


The temple tank (I had written earlier on SYMA cleaning the tank and maintaining it) is Kairavani Pushkarini which would literally give the name for the place “Thiru Allikkeni” – tank consisting of sacred lily flowers. Thiruvallikkeni in course of time became Triplicane. The tank has added significance attributed to the birth of “Yathi Rajar” – Swami Ramanujar due to the penance undertaken by Kesava Somayaji and Kanthimathi ammal. Pushkarinis were developed closely associated with temples. The water from the tank was once used daily for thirumanjanam and all other religious functions of the Lord. The conclusion of Brahmotsavam would be by ‘thirthavaari’ the sacred bath at the tank.


Every year there would also be the ‘theppam’ – the float festival. A floating structure made up of drums, timber would be constructed and would be beautifully decorated. Perumal would come to the temple tank in purappadu and placed majestically inside the float. The beautifully lit theppam would be dragged around in water. Devotees in hundreds would converge and sit everywhere on the steps of the temple tank to have darshan of the Lord on theppam.


The annual float festival of the Sri Parthasarathy Swamy temple starts every year on Maasi Ammavasai day and is a 7 day affair. The first three days, Sri Parthasarathi would embellish the theppam; the rest four days are for Sri Narasimhar, Sri Ramar, Sri Ranganathar and Sri Varadarajar.


In my young days, the tank was much bigger and would brim with water – so the size of the float also would be much bigger. Now a days, it is much smaller in size, though the grandeur of the festival has only increased.


This year the Theppa Utsavam began on 12th Feb 2010 and yesterday was the second day. Here are some photos taken by me during the celebrations at temple tank.


Adiyen
Srinivasa Dhasan

the theppam

perumal in purappadu

ghoshti inside theppam

perumal inside the theppam

another view of theppam with neerazhi mandap in background

THE QUIZ CONTEST :GOLDWINNER - SYMA CHILDFEST 2009-10 : THE ANSWERS

Yes Quiz is always interesting. There could be clues strewn around and some lateral thinking is required.


Here are the answers.


1. Sitter – The Bharat Ratna
2. Sir Isaac Newton
3. The Nobel Prize winners in Chemistry who shared with Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, Thomas A Steitz of USA & Ada E Yonath of Israel
4. the river Krishna
5. Newzealand
6. the state of Sikkim
7. Michael Fred Phelps (30/06/1985)- an American swimmer. He has won 14 career Olympic gold medals
8. He is the only Indian in the list of players who was never dismissed for a duck in the One dayers – having played 43 matches and scoring 883 runs
9. this was about the Indian connection of the Nobel Laureate – Ronald Ross born in Almora, now part of Uttrakhand, awarded Nobel in Physiology or Medicine in 1902 for his work on Malaria. His first posting was in Madras, worked in Ooty, and did research in Secunderabad and has a road named after him in Kokatta as Ronald Ross Sarani.
10. Martin Marty Cooper – lead Engineer of the Motorola Team that developed the first handheld phone – the mobile phone.


Hope you enjoyed this.


With regards – S Sampathkumar.