love to visit Sri Lanka - the Ramayana Trail

The ithihasam -  Ramayana,  is the undiluted reallife story of Sri Rama - Lanka (island) was the abode of Ravana.    Valmiki Ramayana  describesa Lanka and its surroundings in great detail.   

In Sundara Kanda – Sage Valmiki describes the abode of Ravana where Sita Mata is incarcerated in the following verses :

 

हृष्टप्रमुदिता लङ्का  मत्तद्विपसमाकुला ।

महती रथसम्पूर्णा  रक्षोगणनिषेविता ।

वाजिभिश्च सुसम्पूर्णा  सा पुरी दुर्गमा परैः ॥

 

Laṅkā is huge,  joyful and happy. With elephants in rut everywhere, filled with chariots and horses and protected by hordes of Rākshasas, that city is impregnable to the enemy.

 

स्थिता पारे समुद्रस्य      दूरपारस्य राघव ।

नौपथोऽपि च नास्त्यत्र     निरादेशश्च सर्वतः ॥

With it situated on the farther shore of the wide ocean, O Rāghava, there are no tracks for the ships to sail, and there is no means of communication from any other part of the world.  

Sri Lankan Airlines is the flag carrier of Sri Lanka and a member airline of the Oneworld airline alliance. It was launched in 1979 as Air Lanka following the termination of operations of the original Sri Lankan flag carrier Air Ceylon. As of April 2024, it is Sri Lanka's main airline by number of aircraft and destinations. Its hub is Bandaranaike International Airport. Following its partial acquisition in 1998 by Emirates, it was re-branded and the current livery was introduced. In 2008, the government of Sri Lanka acquired all the shares of the airline from Emirates. After ending the Emirates partnership, it retained its re-branded name and logo. SriLankan Airlines operates over 560 flights per week across Asia.  

Promoting tourism and showcasing Sri lanka as a great place for people – they have launched ‘Relive the epic of The Ramayana Trail’.  Their campaign  reads :   Embark on a journey through Sri Lanka’s legendary landscapes with SriLankan Holidays, offering a fully customized experience tailored just for you. Every step of your adventure is designed to bring out the grandeur and glory in the ancient tales when you explore the real-life locations of the mythical sites. Ready to dive into these enchanting stories? Begin your unforgettable journey today and enjoy exclusive flight fares when you book your flight with us” the Airlines wrote on X. [@flysrilankan]  

The five-minute-long video begins with a grandmother narrating the Ramayana to her grandson from depictions in a children’s book. As the video progresses, the inquisitive child asks where Ravana kept Sita after abducting her. The grandmother explains that all the locations in the book are real. “Today, we know Lanka as Sri Lanka,” she says.  

It is really a very well made narrative which is truly appreciable – it is not simply an advertisement but a factual place itinerary that intertwines epic Ramayana with real-life locations across the island Nation.  This advt aims to position Lanka as a leading tourist destination, specifically for Indians and devotees of Lord Rama.   

“Ready to dive into these enchanting stories? Begin your unforgettable journey today…," the caption further reads. The advertisement opens to show a grandmother and her grandson exploring the ‘Ramayana Trail’ together. When the boy asks if the locations in the Hindu epic are real, she confirms it. It then leads to an animated depiction of Ravana flying with Sita to Sri Lanka in his Pushpaka Vimana, followed by visuals of actual sites in Sri Lanka, including Ravana’s Cave, where Sita was held. The grandmother explains how Hanuman found Sita in Lanka, praying for rescue, and describes his capture, burning tail, and revenge on Ravana’s palace.  

When asked if Rama flew to Lanka to save Sita, she narrates the story of the Ram Setu bridge built by Lord Rama’s army. She then recounts Hanuman’s journey to lift the entire Sanjeevani mountain to save Laxmana. The ad also showcases the place where Rama used the Brahmastra to defeat Ravana and depicts Vibhishana’s crowning as Lanka’s king before Rama’s return to Ayodhya.  

The video, since being shared on November 8, has since sparked numerous reactions globally receiving rave reviews and appreciations.  It is a great initiative and worth of exploring.  Let SriLankan Holidays guide you through this unforgettable adventure. Discover the wonders of the Ramayana Trail and create memories that last a lifetime.  More details at - : https://ramayanabysrilankan.com/  

Before concluding the livery of the Airline earlier was   red stripes on a white fuselage. The tail was solid red and sported the corporate logo, a stylised vimana locally known as "Dandu Monara" (Flying Peacock Aircraft) of King Ravana of ancient "Lanka", Ravana.  The five "tail feathers" represented the "Five Precepts" (Pancha Seela) of Buddhism and the three "crown feathers" represented the "Triple Gem" (Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha) of Buddhism. Red reflects the predominant colour in the Sri Lankan national flag, which represents the majority race in the country, the Sinhalese. This was the sole livery of the airline for nearly two decades, from 1979 to Oct 1998. After Air Lanka began a decade-long partnership with Emirates, the name was changed to SriLankan Airlines; the livery was changed into a much simpler one, with an all-white fuselage, covered by blue 'SriLankan' titles, and the tail adorned with the new corporate logo.  

Interesting !

 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
14.11.2024. 

Pics credit : Srilankan air twitter video and their website brochure

Mamunigal Sesha vahanam 2024 - nowmi Sowmya vara Yogi pungavam ||

 

Swami Manavala Mamunigal Sesha vahanam 2024

- nowmi Sowmya  vara Yogi pungavam ||

                   

Triplicanites are ecstatic.   Swami Manavala Mamunigal uthsavam is being celebrated grandly.

There is the illustrious lineage of Purvacharyargal – the hierarchy of Srivaishnava preceptors – through whom the glorious traditions passed by in generations.  Its happy culmination with Namperumal Himself becoming disciple of Acarya Mamunigal redounds the wisdom of our holy lineage.  Swami Emperumanar (Sri Ramanujar) and Mamunigal – both were incarnation of Adisesha.  Born as Nayanar, Mamunigal was an ocean of knowledge, yet learnt at the feet of his erudite father and others – the way Sri Rama and Sri Krishna did, during their stay on earth – through courses under great sages of their times like Vasistha, Viswamitra, Sandeepani .. .. 

The whole Sri Vaishnava World is rejoicing at the very thought of sarrumurai celebrations of great Acaryar.   Getting back to our own place,  there have been rain forecasts – nothing unusual for Chennai, in this season.  Today, 29.10.2024, it is day 3 of the Uthsavam  – and after Sri Periyazhwar thirumozhi rendering in the afternoon,  and mangalasasanam,  there was purappadu of Swami Manavala Mamunigal – in Sesha vahanam.  When it rains,  ordinary mortals would take  shelter – move  around carrying umbrellas, wearing rain coats and more – for the Supreme Lord, it is Adisesha who is the parasol. Adisesha in our Sampradhaya is fondly Ananthazhvan ~ he serves the Lord always - in His various avatars, Ananthazhwan accompanies Him in some form and continues his service.

Sri Erumbiappa in his thanian to Yathiraja Vimsati extols Acaryar :

Ya: sthuthim yathipathiprasAdaneem

vyAjahAra YathirAja vimsatheem |

Tham prapanna jana sadhakAmbhudham

nowmi Sowmya  vara Yogi pungavam || 

"I offer my homage to Acarya Swami Manavala Mamunigal, who blessed us with this great work of  ‘Yathiraja vimsathi’ with the intention of pleasing the heart of our Udayavar Bashyakar Sri Ramanujar.  He is the one, who showered Prapannars with the nectar of sakala saasthra arthas, just as the rays of moon fully nourish the  Chataka  birds."  The thaniyan inclines that those who recite this work will have blessings of Emperumanar.  ‘Prapanna jana chatakam budam’ would mean Acarya Emperumanar is like the rain-bearing cloud which provides lifeline of water for all including skylarks.  Yogi PUngava refers clearly to our Acarya Mamunigal 

Emperuman Sriman Narayana  once decided to depute Adisesha  to the earthly  world on a mission to reform men and women and remain there for 200 years. Adisehsa  spent 120 years as Sri Ramanuja, for the rest of the determined period (80 years) he was reborn as Swami Manavala Mamunigal. That our Acharyar Mamunigal  was a manifestation of Adisesha was proved in an incident when some jealous people set fire to his house but he slipped away to safety under certain compelling circumstances and to continue his task uninterrupted he took to ascetic order. 

On day 3  of Sri Manavala Mamunigal Thiruvavathara uthsavam –     it was  purappadu of Mamunigal in Sesha vahanam. Here are some photos taken during the evening purappadu and during mangalasasanam at Swami Nammalvar sannathi.

 
~ adiyen Srinivasa dhasan
Mamandur Veeravalli Srinivasan Sampathkumar
29.10.2024

குணமணி நிதயே! நமோ நமஸ்தே; Acaryar Manavala Mamunigal 1 - 2024

Srivaishnavaites  are ecstatic.  Today  27^th   Oct 2024 (Aippaisi 10)  started the grand uthsavam of Swami Manavala Mamunigal uthsavam – it is Mamunigal’s  654^th   birth day celebrations.    In 4 days’ time it is Deepavali - and  19^th of Aippaisi ~ 5.11.2024 – is the exalted day ‘Aippaisiyil Thirumoolam’ ~ the day when our Acarya Swami Manavala Mamunigal’s thiruvavathram occurred. 

There is the illustrious lineage of Purvacharyargal – the hierarchy of Srivaishnava preceptors – through whom the glorious traditions passed by in generations.  Its happy culmination with Namperumal Himself becoming disciple of Acarya Mamunigal redounds the wisdom of our holy lineage.  Swami Emperumanar (Sri Ramanujar) and Mamunigal – both were incarnation of Adisesha.  Born as Nayanar, Mamunigal was an ocean of knowledge, yet learnt at the feet of his erudite father and others – the way Sri Rama and Sri Krishna did, during their stay on earth – through courses under great sages of their times like Vasistha, Viswamitra, Sandeepani .. ..  

The whole Sri Vaishnava World is rejoicing at the very thought of sarrumurai celebrations of great Acaryar.   Getting back to our own place,  there have been rain forecasts – nothing unusual for Chennai, though this year there have been some good rains at the start of the season itself. On day 1  – and after Sri Periyazhwar’s Thirupallandu and Periyazhvar thirumozhi rendering in the afternoon, evening at 0645 pm there was purappadu of Swami Manavala Mamunigal – in Sesha vahanam.  When it rains,  ordinary mortals would take  shelter – move  around carrying umbrellas, wearing rain coats and more – for the Supreme Lord, it is Adisesha who is the parasol. Adisesha in our Sampradhaya is fondly Ananthazhvan ~ he serves the Lord always - in His various avatars, Ananthazhwan accompanies Him in some form and continues his service.  

Sri Erumbiappa in his work  to Varavaramuni Sathakam  extols Acaryar Mamunigal :  

குணமணி நிதயே!  நமோ நமஸ்தே;  குருகுல துர்ய நமோ நமோ நமஸ்தே |

வரவரமுநயே நமோ நமஸ்தே ; யதிவர தத்வ விதே நமோ நமஸ்தே ||  

சிறந்த குணங்களுக்கு நிதியாக இருப்பவரின் பொருட்டு வணக்கம். ஆசார்யர்களில் சிறந்தவரே உமக்கு வணக்கம்.    மணவாள மாமுனிகளே உமக்கு வணக்கம். யதிராஜரின் திருவுள்ளம் அறிந்தவரே உமக்கு வணக்கம்.  

The Lord once decided to depute Adisesha  to the world on a mission to reform men and women and remain there for 200 years. Adisehsa  spent 120 years as Sri Ramanuja, for the rest of the determined period (80 years) he was reborn as Swami Manavala Mamunigal. That our Acharyar Mamunigal  was a manifestation of Adisesha was proved in an incident when some jealous people set fire to his house but he slipped away to safety under certain compelling circumstances and to continue his task uninterrupted he took to ascetic order.  

Today (27.10.2024)  is day 1 of Sri Manavala Mamunigal Thiruvavathara uthsavam –  and it was  purappadu of Mamunigal in Sesha vahanam. Here are some photos taken during the purappadu.  

ஸ்ரீமதே ராமானுஜாய நம: ஸ்ரீமத் வரவரமுநயே நம:

 
~ adiyen Srinivasa dhasan.
Mamandur Veeravalli Srinivasan Sampathkumar
27.10.2024 

Aippaisi Punarvasu Sree Ramar 2024 : ஏததாக்யாநமாயுஷ்யம் படந் ராமாயணம் நர:

Aippaisi Punarvasu Sree Ramar 2024

ஏததாக்யாநமாயுஷ்யம் படந் ராமாயணம் நர:

Today  24.10.2024  is Punarvasu in the month of Aippaisi .. .. after some rains earlier this month, now there are no rains !  with Mazhaisamy Acaryar Manavala Mamunigal uthsavam commencing on 27.10.24, there is likelihood of more rains

Ramayanam is the undiluted history – greatest Ithihasa Purana of Bhagwan Sree Rama.   In this Epic, Srimad Valmiki   narrates the journey of Virtue to annihilate vice. This epic poem Ramayana is a smriti which is translated as "from memory". Rāmāyaṇa presents various challenging situations and shows how each one of the personalities succeed or fail in those situations.  

Vālmeeki, a Tapasvi, earnestly inquired  Nārada, veritable  among Munis, the foremost of the men of letters, who was deeply engaged in Tapa and Swādhyāya:  Muni is someone who is focused on the pursuit of his quest, especially on the nature of the Universe, breathing and living it every moment.  Tapa is following a strict regimen to stretch, train, tune and hone the body and mind, to make them perform at their best. Tapasvi is one who performs Tapa.  Valmiki further queried Naradha - O Maharshi, you would assuredly be aware of such a person if one ever existed. I am very curious and yearn to know about him from you.  .. .. ..   and Narada responded - He is born into the lineage of Ikshwāku. He is known to all by the name Rāma. He has complete mastery over himself. He is a man of great valour. He is of brilliant radiance. He is extremely courageous. He has complete mastery over his senses.   

Here is a verse from Valmiki Ramayana Bala kanda :

एतदाख्यानमायुष्यम्    पठन् रामायणं नरः ।

सपुत्रपौत्रस्सगणः   प्रेत्य स्वर्गे महीयते ॥ 

ஏததாக்யாநமாயுஷ்யம்  படந் ராமாயணம் நர: ।

ஸபுத்ரபௌத்ரஸ்ஸகண: ப்ரேத்ய ஸ்வர்கே மஹீயதே ॥

Whoever reads this Rāmāyaṇa, the great ithihasa real life narration of  practical and real significance, will enjoy a long and prosperous life along with their kith and kin and will be honored in Heaven also  after their timely  death.

இன்று திருவல்லிக்கேணி திவ்யதேசத்திலே மாச திருநக்ஷத்திர  புறப்பாடு;  ஸ்ரீராமச்சந்திர மூர்த்தி அழகான திருவாபரணங்கள் - திருமார்பு பதக்கம், காசு மாலை,   மலர்மாலைகள்  - இவை எல்லாவற்றையும் விட.. .. இராமனது திருக்கரங்களிலே அழகான மணிகள் கொண்ட கோதண்டம் எனும் வில்; மற்றோரு திருக்கரத்தில் அம்பு பாணம் !   சற்று கூர்ந்து நோக்கினால் அவரது வில்லின் குமிழ் யாளி போன்ற அமைப்பை கொண்டதையும் அங்கேயும் மணி உள்ளதையும் சேவிக்கலாம்.  

At Thiruvallikkeni divyadesam this evening  – Sree Ramachandra moorthi with his consort Seethadevi and Lakshmana had siriya mada veethi purappadu on Punarvasu and there was rendering of ‘Perumal thirumozhi’ inside temple with Sri KUlasekara Azhwar, Mudali Andan and Embar too seated nearer Sri Ramar.  

Here are some photos of Sree Ramar punarvasu purappadu at Thiruvallikkeni.    

adiyen Srinivasa dhasan
Mamandur Veeravalli Srinivasan Sampathkumar
24.10.2024.  

Aavani Moolam 2024 - குணமணி நிதயே! நமோ நமஸ்தே

 Aavani Moolam 2024 - குணமணி நிதயே! நமோ நமஸ்தே

இன்று 12.9.2024 ஆவணி மாச  மூலம் நக்ஷத்திரம் - இன்னும் இரண்டு மாதங்களில், ஐப்பசியில் திருவோணம் நாம் சிறப்புற கொண்டாடும் நம் மாமுனிகள் சாற்றுமுறை வைபவம் – Nov 5 2024  ஐப்பசி 19 அன்று.   இன்று திருவல்லிக்கேணி திவ்யதேசத்தில் பவித்ரோத்சவம் அங்குரார்ப்பணம்.

நம் ஸ்ரீவைஷ்ணவ தென்னாசார்ய  குருபரம்பரையில் கடைசியாக விளங்குபவர் ஸ்வாமி மணவாள மாமுனிகள் (காலம் கிபி 1370 - 1443 முதல் ). நம் எல்லாரையும் எம்பெருமான்  திருவடியில் கொண்டு சேர்க்க திருவதாரம் எடுத்தவர் ஸ்ரீ மணவாள மாமுனிகள். 'சென்றால் குடையாம், இருந்தால் சிங்காசனமாம்' என்ற முறையில் நொடிப்பொழுதும் பிரியாமல் பகவானுக்கு வழுவிலா அடிமை செய்து கைங்கரியம் செய்து வரும் ஆனந்தாழ்வானாகிய ஆதிசேஷனின் அவதாரமே ஸ்ரீ மணவாள மாமுனிகள். ஸ்ரீ ராமானுஜரும் ஆதிசேஷன் அவதாரம் தான். ஸ்ரீ மணவாள மாமுனிகள் பொறுமையே உருவானவர். சந்திரனை போல் குளிர்ச்சி மிக்கவர். குளிர்ந்த திருவுள்ளம், குளிர்ச்சியான கடாக்ஷம் மற்றும் திருவாக்குடையவர்.

நம்முடைய பூர்வாசார்யர்களிலே நம் ஸ்வாமி எம்பெருமானார் திருவல்லிக்கேணி ஸ்ரீபார்த்தஸாரதி எம்பெருமானுடைய திருவவதார-விசேஷம்  என்றும்,  ஸ்ரீபெரியவாச்சான் பிள்ளை  திருக்கண்ணமங்கை எம்பெருமானான கண்ணனுடைய திருவவதார-விசேஷம் என்றும்,  ஸ்ரீவேதாந்தாசார்யர் திருவேங்கடமுடையானுடைய திருவவதார விசேஷம்  என்றும் , ஸ்ரீவாதி கேஸரி அழகியமணவாளஜீயர் திருநாராயணபுரம் செல்வப்பிள்ளையின் திருவவதார- விசேஷம் என்றும்,  ஸ்ரீபிள்ளலோகாசாரயர் ஸ்ரீகாஞ்சீ தேவாதிராஜனுடைய திருவவதார-விசேஷம் என்றும், அவர்தம் திருத்தம்பியரான ஸ்ரீ அழகியமணவாளப்பெருமாள்நாயனார் திருவரங்கராஜனான அழகிய மணவாளப் பெருமாளுடைய திருவவதார-விசேஷம் என்றும் கொள்வது மரபு. 

 

ஸ்ரீஅழகியமணவாளமாமுநிகளுடைய (அஷ்டதிக்கஜங்கள் என்று வழங்கப்பெறும்) எட்டு ப்ரதாந சிஷ்யர்களில் எறும்பியப்பாவும் ப்ரதிவாதிபயங்கரம் அண்ணாவும் தனித்தனியே *வரவரமுநிஸதகம்* என்னும் திருநாமம் பூண்ட மாமுநிகளுடைய வைபவாநுபவபரமான ஸ்தோத்ர க்ரந்தங்களை அருளிச்செய்துள்ளனர் என்பது ப்ரஸித்தம். 

Sri Erumbiappa in his work  to Varavaramuni Sathakam  extols Acaryar Mamunigal thus:  

குணமணி நிதயே!  நமோ நமஸ்தே;  குருகுல துர்ய நமோ நமோ நமஸ்தே |

வரவரமுநயே நமோ நமஸ்தே ; யதிவர தத்வ விதே நமோ நமஸ்தே ||  

சிறந்த குணங்களுக்கு நிதியாக இருப்பவரின் பொருட்டு வணக்கம். ஆசார்யர்களில் சிறந்தவரே உமக்கு வணக்கம்.    மணவாள மாமுனிகளே உமக்கு வணக்கம். யதிராஜரின் திருவுள்ளம் அறிந்தவரே உமக்கு வணக்கம்.  

இப்படி சிறப்பு பெற்ற நம் ஆசார்யன் ஸ்வாமி மணவாள மாமுனிகள் பொன்னடியாம் செங்கமலத்தில் ஆர்ஜவத்துடன் கைங்கர்யம் செய்து அருள் பெறுவோமாக !  ஆர்ஜவம் என்பது சிந்தையாலும் , சொல்லாலும் , செயலாலும் ஒருபடிப்பட்டிருப்பதாகும் 

Here are some photos taken during  Mamunigal  uthsavam day 5 on 11.11.2023, which incidentally was Deepavali eve.  

ஸ்ரீமதே ராமானுஜாய நம:   ஸ்ரீமத் வரவரமுநயே நம:

 
~ adiyen Srinivasa dhasan
Mamandur Veeravalli Srinivasan Sampathkumar
12.9.2024

மேற்கோள் :  ப்ரதிவாதிபயங்கரம் அண்ணா அருளிச்செய்த வரவரமுநிஸதகம்

ந்யாய வேதாந்த சிரோமணி வித்யாபூஷணம் ஸ்ரீ உ.வே. திருநாங்கூர் ப்ரதிவாதிபயங்கரம் அண்ணங்கராசார்ய ஸ்வாமி சதாப்தி மஹோத்ஸவ நினைவு மலர்