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Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Thiruvallikkeni Kodai Uthsavam 4 : 2017 : செவிக்கின்பம் ஆவதுவும் செங்கண்மால் நாமம்

செவிக்கின்பம் ஆவதுவும் செங்கண்மால் நாமம்,
புவிக்கும் புவியதுவே கண்டீர்,- கவிக்கு
நிறைபொருளாய் நின்றானை நேர்பட்டேன், பார்க்கில்
மறைப்பொருளும் அத்தனையே தான்.



செவிக்கு இன்பம் ஆவது  புண்டரீகாக்ஷனான எம்பெருமானுடைய திருநாமமே; அந்த இனிய திருநாமமே  இப்பூவுலகில்  வசிப்பவரெல்லாம் கவலையற்று  ஒதுங்குவதற்கு  இடமாகவும் அமையும்.  மகா புருஷனான ஸ்ரீமன் நாராயணன் ஒருவன் மட்டுமே பாசுரத்திற்கு நிறைந்த பொருளாயிருப்பவன் .  அவனையே தெய்வாதீனமாக அடையப்பெற்றேன், ஆராய்ந்து பார்த்தால் வேதங்களில் தேர்ந்த பொருளும் அவ்வளவே.

எம்பெருமானைத் தவிர்த்து மற்றையோரைச் கவிபாட நினைத்தால் சொற்களையும் பொருள்களையும் திருடித் திருடிக் கவிபாட வேண்டும். அங்ஙனன்றிக்கே எம்பெருமான் கவிக்கு நிறைந்த பொருளாயிருப்பன், என்கிறார் நம் திருமழிசைப்பிரான்




On day 4 of Kodai Uthsavam, it was chinna mada veethi Kulakkarai purappadu for Sri Parthasarathi who was exceptionally beautiful adorning another different crown. 

Nanmukan Thiruvanthathi of Thirumazhisai Alwar was rendered.  Alwar tells us : - the sweetest music to ears if the name of Lord Sriman Narayana who has beautiful red eyes; He and His feet are the  refuge of all humanity, whom I have arrived and praising with poetry.  He is the centric of all poetry, worthy of it (for praising others, one would only make wrong exaggerated comparisons) -   Come to think, it is the very substance of the Vedas.

Here are some photos of today’s purappadu





-adiyen Srinivasadhasan

27th June 2017

Monday, June 26, 2017

रामो विग्रहवान् धर्मः : Kodai Uthsavam day 3 at Thiruvallikkeni 2017

**தேசும் திறலும் திருவும் உருவமும், மாசில் குடிப்பிறப்பும் மற்றவையும் – பேசில்**

எம்பெருமானை நினைத்த மாத்திரத்திலே, அவனது - தேஜஸ்ஸும், பராக்ரமமும், செல்வங்களும்,  அழகிய ரூபமும், குற்றமற்ற நற்குலமும் மற்றுமுள்ள நன்மைகளும், நம்மை நலம்புரிந்து வந்தடையும். 

எம்பெருமானின் அவதாரங்களிலே  இராம அவதாரமும் கிருஷ்ணாவதாரமும் மிக்க சிறப்புற்றவை.   சக்ரவர்த்தியான  ஸ்ரீராமபிரான், சகல சிறப்புகளும் மிக்கவன்.  மிகுந்த உயரிய குணாதிசயங்கள் கொண்டவன்.

रामो विग्रहवान् धर्मः साधुस्सत्यपराक्रमः । राजा सर्वस्य लोकस्य देवानां मघवानिव ॥
ராமோ விக்ரஹவாந் தர்ம: ஸாதுஸ்ஸத்யபராக்ரம: ।
ராஜா ஸர்வஸ்ய லோகஸ்ய தேவாநாம் மகவாநிவ ॥


Sri Rama was the embodiment of Dharma; He was a good man endowed with great valour coupled with all virtues.  He was the King of all Worlds yet chose to go to the forest forsaking all pleasures obediently following the words of His father to Kaikeyi. 

                 At Thiruvallikkeni divyadesam today is day 3 of Kodai Uthsavam and Sri Parthasarathi had chinna mada veethi, kulakkarai, gate house purappadu.  Here are some photos of the evening.






adiyen Srinivasadhasan.                                                                                  26th July 2017

Credits : readramayana.org and dravidaveda.org.

Juggernaut rolls ! ~ the famous Rath Yatra at Puri Jagannath Temple


மாறிமாறிப் பலபிறப்பும் பிறந்து அடியை அடைந்து  உள்ளம் தேறி*

The aim of life is to reach Him by serving Him and those who do kainkaryam to Him.  Srivaishnavaite way of life is singing paeans, chanting divyaprabandham, doing service and having darshan at His various abodes.  For us, Kovil Thirumalai Perumal Kovilwould mean the divyadesams of ‘Thiruvarangam, Tirumala Thirupathi and Thirukachi’.  When we think of temples, the one at Thiruvallikkeni and other divyadesams – its tall gopurams, the divine Vimanas and the most merciful Moolava vigrahams and blemishless Uthsava vigrahams come readily to mind.  There are more ~those sung by Alwars being 108 Sri Vaishnava divyadesams and the centuries old temples associated with our Acharyars being ‘Abimana sthalams’.    


Just like our Kovil Ozhugu, there is Madala  Panji, a chronicle describing the historical events of Odisha Jagannath Temple.  In the state of Odisha [Orissa] lies the famous ‘Jagannath temple’ in Puri, situate on the east coast.  The moolavar idols of Northern India are different than the ones in South India, mostly in white marble.  Puri Jagannath is different – Perumal is made of sacred wood, which are ceremoniously replaced after few years.  The  Navakalevara  ceremony is an intricate set of rituals that accompany the renewal of the wooden statues.

The Puri  temple was built in the 12th  century atop its ruins by the progenitor of the Eastern Ganga dynasty, King Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva. The temple is famous for its annual Rath Yatra, or chariot festival, in which the three main temple deities are hauled on huge and elaborately decorated temple cars. Lakhs of devotees descend here at this holy temple town for this festival.

Inside the huge temple, the presiding deities are : Sri  Jagannath (Lord Krishna), Balabhadra (Balarama)  and the Goddess Subhadra constituting  trinity of deities worshiped at the temple. The temple iconography depicts these three Gods sitting on the bejewelled platform [ Ratnabedi ]  in the inner sanctum. Lord  Jagannatha is  the supreme God and the sovereign monarch of the Odishan empire. The Deities are adorned with cotton and silk fabrics, Gold Ornaments studded with precious stones, flowers of different varieties, Tulsi leaves, sandal paste, camphor. These articles are used in the daily and periodical rituals.



Pic credit : http://jagannathtemplepuri.com

Lord Jagannath temple at Puri  is built on a gigantic raised platform.   The temple complex is enclosed by a wall about seven meters high. The area of this platform is more than 4,20,000 sq.ft. The wall is pierced by four gates, facing the four directions. On the east-facing gate, there are stone images of two lions and it is called the Simha dwara [Lions Gate]. The north, south and west facing gates are similarly known as the Elephant Gate, the Horse Gate and the Tiger Gate.  As one stands at the Simha dwara,  there is a monolithic pillar about 10 meters high. This pillar is known locally as the Aruna Stambha,  associated with Aruna, charioteer of the Sun-god. 

The main temple is a curvilinear temple and crowning glory  is the 'Sudarshana chakra / Ssrichakra' (an eight spoked wheel) of Vishnu. Also known as the "Nilachakra", it is made out of Ashtadhatu and is considered sacrosanct. The vimana or tower is 215ft high, and in the evening, a temple sevaka  called Garuda sevaka climbs up to the tower to tie pieces of cloth on the flagpole. This chakra is visible from almost all parts of Puri and would appear to be facing you from wherever you are.  The flag atop is believed to flap in the opposite direction of the breeze.  


The temple is situate on expansive landscape and attracts crowds throughout the year; it swells by a few more lakhs during  the annual Rath Yatra.  Sure you have heard of the word ‘juggernaut’ which in English language is a literal or metaphorical of mighty force that is rolling.   The word is coined in an allegorical reference to the famous Temple Car of Puri.  The word has its origin to   Sanskrit Jagannātha ("Lord of the Globe", combining Jagat ("world") and Natha ("lord"), which is one of the names of Krishna found in the Sanskrit epics.


The annual Rath Yatra is celebrated in the month of Ashada [June-July] whence the Presiding deities Lord Jagannatha along with Lord Balabhadra and Subhadra – come out of the main temple for an annual sojourn on decorated chariots, travel to Gundicha temple about two and half miles to the northeast.

The festivity is of very huge proportion, living embodiment of the synthesis of the locals, showcasing the rich traditions of arts of Odisha.  Each year, the three chariots are constructed anew and decorated by a large group of dedicated artisans of carpentry, ironsmiths, tailors, sculptors, painters and other skilled.  The chariots of Lord Jagannatha, Balabhadra and Subhadra called Nandighosa, Taladhvaja and Devadalana have 16,14, 12 wheels respectively and are over 40 ft tall.  They are tastefully decorated with painted wood carvings, Parsav devatas and a sarathi [charioteer], appliqué patterns, flat metal shape and profuse flower garlands.  The chariots have canopies of different coloured cloth.

Gundicha temple


The much awaited event – the ‘Ratha Yatra’ takes place on Asadha Shukla dvitiya, the 2nd day in the bright fortnight of the first monsoon month.  First in pahandi, the deities come out of the Temple to the blowing of trumpets, ringing of bells, claning of cymbals, beating of drums reaching a crescendo.  The Gajapati king of Puri sweeps the floor of each chariot with a golden broom, sprinkles flowers and fragrant water.  Then occurs the pulling of the Chariots after the wooden horses are tethered.




The chariot of Lord Balabhadra moves first, then Goddess Subhadra and then Lord Jagannath – a sea of humanity fills every inch of the grand avenue of Puri and lakhs throng the famed Puri for having darshan of this Rath Yatra.  The destination is the Gundicha temple, considered the birth place and their garden house.  The deities are kept and worshipped here for a week, then they ride their chariots back to the main temple. 

A visit to the holy land kindles our spirits and makes us feel happy enjoying the divine sublime atmosphere.  Here are some photos of the Rathas taken last year.

adiyen Srinivasa dhasan.

26th June 2017.













Sunday, June 25, 2017

ஞானத்தால் நன்குணர்ந்து ~ Kodai Uthsavam day 2 : 2017

Today  25th June 2017 is day 2 of Kodai Uthsavam at Thiruvallikkeni.  It is hot and humid, may not be that sweltering heat of April, May but Chennai it yet to cool down. 

For us life is riddled with difficulties – one seeks solace in God – Sri Boothath Alwar tells us the simple way of life and reaching heavenly abode, by chanting the various names of Sriman Narayana.


ஞானத்தால் நன்குணர்ந்து நாரணன்றன் நாமங்கள்,
தானத்தால் மற்றவன் பேர் சாற்றினால், - வானத்து
அணியமரர்  ஆக்குவிக்கும் அஃதன்றே, நங்கள்
பணியமரர் கோமான் பரிசு.

எம்பெருமானுக்குப் பல்லாயிரத் திருநாமங்களுண்டு; அவற்றில், திருமேனி முதலியவற்றுக்கு வாசகமான திருநாமங்கள் என்று ஒரு வகுப்பும், விபூதி விஸ்தாரங்களுக்கு வாசகமான திருநாமங்கள் என்று மற்றொரு வகுப்பும் கொள்ளத் தக்கன.  ஸ்ரீவத்ஸவக்ஷா; புண்டரீகாக்ஷ:, பீதாம்பர:, சார்ங்கீ, சக்ரபாணி:-  இத்யாதி திருநாமங்கள் முந்தின வகுப்பைச் சேர்ந்தவை; லோகாத்யக்ஷ:, ஸுராத்யக்ஷ:, ஜகத்பதி : -  இத்யாதி திருநாமங்கள் பிந்தின வகுப்பைச் சேர்ந்தவை.  ஆக இவ்விரு வகுப்புகளையுந் திருவுள்ளம்பற்றி, முதலடியில் “நாரணன்றன் நாமங்கள்” என்றும், இரண்டாமடியில் “மற்றவன் பேர்” என்றும் அருளிச் செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது. 




ஸ்ரீமந் நாராயணனுடைய  திருநாமங்களையும் மற்றும் அப்பெருமானுடைய (விபூதி விஸ்தாரங்களுக்கு வாசகமான) திருநாமங்களையும் ஞானத்தால்  உள்ளபடியறிந்து, அவன் மேல் (ப்ரேமத்தின் முடிவெல்லையான) ஸ்தானத்திலே நின்று அனுசந்திப்போமேயானால்,  நமக்கு பந்துக்களையும் எப்போதும் கைங்கர்யபரர்களாயுமுள்ள நித்யஸூரிகளுக்குத் தலைவனான எம்பெருமானுடைய தன்மையாவது,  பரமபதத்திற்கு அலங்காரமான நித்யஸூரிகளாக (நம்மை)ச் செய்துவைக்குமதுவேயாம்.

மகா வித்வான்  ஸ்ரீ காஞ்சி பிரதிவாதி பயங்கரம் அண்ணங்கராசாரியார் சுவாமி உரை – நன்றி:  திராவிட வேதா.org

Alwar offers a simple solution ~ understand and know through revelations and chant the various names of Sriman Narayana,  chanting His names and worshipping  His many avatars and archavatars will secure us a place by His side in the comity of Gods in heaven.

Here are some photos taken during today’s purappadu




adiyen Srinivasadhasan

25th June 2017.

Sri U Ve Kovil Kanthadai Chandamarutham Periyappangar (Doddachar) Swami Thirunakshathiram 2017

Sri U Ve Kovil Kanthadai Chandamarutham Periyappangar (Doddachar) Swami Thirunakshathiram 2017

Sri Vaishnava Sampradhayam places great emphasis on following the path shown by Acharyan.  Our  Sampradhayam is proud of the rich lineage of greatest of Acharyas who have guided us towards salvation.  One can easily discern from the  Great ‘Thaniyan’ of Swami Koorathazhwaan that we observe daily - “Lakshminatha samarambaam, Nathayamuna madhyamam – Asmath Achaarya paryanthaam, vanthe Guru parambaram”  -


For a  Srivaishnavaite, Acharyar leads and guides one to ultimate  Sriman Narayana. My Acharyar  is Cholasimhapuram Doddayachaaryar (presently Sri U. Ve. Kovil Kanthadai Chandamarutham Singarachaar Swamy).   We the Sishyas of Swami belong to the lineage, which emanated from the Holy feet of Sri Periya Perumal, Periya Pirattiar, Senai Muthalvar, Nammazhwar, Naathamunigal, Uyyakkondar, Manakkal Nambigal, Aalavanthar, Periya Nambi, Emperumaanar, Koorathazhwar, Mudaliandan, Embaar, Battar, Nanjeeyar, Nampillai,  Vadakku Thiruveethipillai, Pillai Logachariyar, Thiruvoimozhipillai, Maanavala Maamunigal, Vaanamamalai Jeeyar to  Doddacharyar (of whose lineage we have the present head – Sri Singarachaaryar Swami).

Understand that there were 5 Thirumaligais of the lineage of Doddacharyar  earlier.  Presently there are only two - the family of Swami Periyappangar Swami - of whose lineage is our varthamana Acharyar - Sri Ubhaya Vedantha Kovil Kanthadai Chandamarutham Singarachar Swamy;  the other is that of Swami Vedanthachaar.


Today 25th June 2017,   was a great day for the sishyas as the  Thirunakshathiram of Sri U.Ve. KKCP Periyappangar Swami was celebrated at Vanamamalai Mutt, Triplicane.   Our varthamana Swami descended at Thiruvallikkeni  and hundreds of sishyas and members of ‘Sri Koil Kandadai Chandamarutham Periyappangar Swami Sishya Sabha’ gathered  to get the blessings of Acharyar.   

Tracing back our lineage,  Swami Sri Doddachar was born in 1543 in the famous lineage of Swami Mudaliandan.  In this Kaliyuga, we know that Thirukachi Arulalar directly conversed with Acharyan Thirukachi Nambigal  … and centuries later,  Sri Devathirajar had direct interaction with our Doddacharyar Swami too.  The most famous amongst the  brahmothsavam is the  Garuda Sevai – at Thirukachi,  Lord Devapperumal is taken in procession on vahanam of Garuda also known as Periya Thiruvadi.  Garuda Seva has special significance not only for Kanchi, more so for Sholinghur because of Swami Doddachaaryar connection.  Swami Doddayachar was an ardent devotee of Lord Varadharaja and did many kainkaryams to Him. He was a regular in the annual Vaikasi Garuda Sevai of Devathirajar. Legend has it that on a particular year, he was not well and could not attend the Garudothsavam at Kachi. He was feeling desperate about his misfortune of not being able to have darshan of PerArulalar at Kachi on Garuda vahanam. He lamented standing near the Thakkan kulam at Cholasimhapuram (Sholinghur]. He composed hymns on Lord Varadharaja, known as Sri Devaraja Panchakam. He longed for the Lord's sevai and these outpourings were a direct result.

Emperuman will never let his ardent bhaktha down. He came down to Sholinghur and gave darshan to Doddacharyar - seated on Garuda vahanam. Such is the mercy and leela vinotham of PerArulalar. Continuing as it does, on every  Vaikasi Garudothsavam day, there is a tradition known as Doddachaaryar Sevai, when the archakas hide Lord Varadar at the western gate for a short time with divine white  umbrellas (ven thirukudai) just before He leaves the temple.  It is believed that Lord goes to Sholinghur for giving darshan to Doddacharyar. The mangala harathi takes place thereafter.

We are proud to follow the lineage of  Doddacharyar and follow the footsteps of our Acharyan - Sri U Ve Koil Kanthadai Chandamarutham Singarachaar Swami. Here is the thanian of our Varthamana Swami….

ஸ்ரீமந்  ந்ருஸிம்ஹ வரதேஸிக பௌத்ர ரத்னம் *
ஸ்ரீனிவாஸ ஸூரி பதபங்கஜ  ராஜஹம்ஸம் *
ஸ்ரீமத் வாதூலகுலவாரிதி பூர்ண சந்த்ரம் *
ஸ்ரீமந்  ந்ருஸிம்ஹ  குருவர்யம் அஹம் ப்ரபத்யே **




 This morning at Thiruvallikkeni,  there was Thirupallandu, Thirupavai,  Kovil Thiruvaimozhi, Sri Ramanuja Noorranthathi and Upadesa Rathinamalai goshti.  Panchasamskaram  was performed for some followers of the Mutt.  Here are some photos taken during the festivities at Vaanamamalai Mutt.   We were too fortunate to have Perumal theertham and Sripada theertham of our Acharyan and  darshan of ‘Thiruvaradhana Perumal – Kannan’ of our Swami.  With his kind permission, photo of Lord Krishna who gets daily pooja of our Acharyar is also posted here.




Azhwaar Emperumaanar Jeeyar Thiruvadigale Saranam !
Acharyan Thiruvadigale Saranam !!





ஆழ்வார் எம்பெருமானார் ஜீயர் திருவடிகளே சரணம் !
நம் ஆச்சார்யன் திருவடிகளே சரணம் !!
ஸ்ரீவைஷ்ணவனுக்கு உய்ய ஒரே வழி ~ எம்பெருமானிடம் சரணாகதி அடைந்து,திருவடிகளில் பிரபத்தி செய்வதே.  ஸ்ரீவைகுண்டத்து எம்பெருமானிடம் நம்மை சேர்விப்பவர் நம் ஆசார்யரே *** 

Adieyn Srinivasa dhasan. 

25th June 2017.

## mostly reproduced from last year – with new photos **