remembering my thatha ~ Sri Athichozhamangalam Ramanujachar Swami

A decade or so ago, as you passed GST road in Chromepet, one could smell some strong fragrance.  People used to say – it emanates from Pond’s.  .. .. there was another -  Maschmeijer Aromatics India, setup in 1960 in collaboration with the world famous Maschmeijer Aromatics B.V., Amsterdam for the manufacture of musks and fragrances.  It was a modern aroma chemical plant  that was setup in Madras, alongwith a blending unit for fragrances.

Life in a divyadesam is always exhilarating – you get to mingle with so many persons whose life is entwined in service to Emperuman Sriman Narayana.  There would be purappadu on Uthsava kalams and on pancha parvams too.  There are Battacharyars whose exceptional dedication ensures that Emperuman comes out adorning the choicest of flowers, ornaments, dress and more.  There is the  Veda adhyapaka goshti – hundreds of them chant Nalayira divyaprabandham in front of Emperuman on the streets and  chanting Vedam  after the Perumal.   Of the many kainkaryams, Sripadham thangis are  physically associated too and can be very demanding.   

Thiruvallikkeni Veda Adhyapaka goshti is extremely organized ~ doing kainkaryam in exceptionally meritorious manner.  In the present goshti, there are at least 3 who are more than 80+ and they are very regular too.  Divyaprabandha kainkaryam flows from Azhwargal, Acaryas, Swami Ramanujar, our Acaryar Manavala Mamunigal .. .. .. and continues to eternity.  In Triplicane, the Adhyapaka sabai has legal sanctity too. 

My initiation to participating in Nalayira divyaprabandha goshti started in mid 1970s, when a bunch of school going students (close to 100+) were taught Peyalwar’s moonram thiruvanthathi by MA Venkatakrishnan swami, who himself was a college student those days.  To me personally, it flowed through my maternal grandfather Sri Athichozhamangalam Ramanujachar Swami, a tall personality, who was regular in attending to purappadu and was a muraikarar (who had the privilege of starting goshti on the given day of the week).  When I was young – my grandfather and my mother inculcated the habit of going to sandhai, learning divyaprabandham from MAV and attending thiruveethi purappadu without fail.

Those days, chinna mada veethi purappadu would take around 20 minutes and periya mada veethi purappadu approx 45 mins.  As I could remember, the first line was garnished by Sri U.Ve  :  Kavalkazhani Ananthachar swami, Desur Srinivasa iyengar swami, Anantheri Vathiyar, Kanthur vathiyar (fondly kittachi), Kuvalai Ramanujachar, Ashtagothram Parthasarathi Swami,  Athichozhamangalam Ramanujachar (my grand father),Vinjamoor Narasimhachar,  Thirucherai Ramanujachar, Vanamamalai Sampath swami ~  Sri Varadhanarayana iyengar, Vanamamalai Deivanayagam swami, Kooram Bashyam swami .. and more .. .. then there were: Dr VV Ramanujam, Sthalasayanathu Uraiyavar,  Sri Rangarajan,  MA Venkatakrishnan, Vinjamoor Raghavan, Sathish, Rajappa, TR Raghavan,  MS Srinivasan  .. .. ..  and more . .. (and all of them encouraged all the children who enthusiastically came for the purappadu) [obviously there are so many swamins who did great kainkaryam  over the period of time – if I had left out some names, please forgive me or put on the comments, so that I can correct and mention appropriately.]

This is no chronicle of purappadu and divyaprabandha goshti of Thiruvallikkeni – more of my remembrance of grandfather whose annual ceremony took place this day.  On 18.12.1984, early morning @ 3 am, Athichozhamangalam swami, started from home for Danur masa viswaroopam and Thiruppavai sarrumurai.  After viswaroopam, before thiruppavai sarrumurai, he reportedly collapsed – some (could remember VM Soundararajan) took him in a cycle rickshaw – we at home were alerted – went to a 24 hour dispensary (probably all was over by that time) – were directed to Royapettah Hospital, where Doctors stated that he had passed away peacefully sometime earlier. 

A very natural and peaceful passing away, though coming as it, so suddenly – it took us to deep grief.  My grand father Ramanujam – was identified in goshti circles by his native place as ‘Athichozhamangalam Ramanujachariyar’.  He did kainkaryam as  Adhyapakar in Sri Parthasarathi Swami Temple at Thiruvallikkeni for more than two decades.   He was an extremely affable person, tall, well-built, strict disciplinarian with neat disposition.  He was so fond of his children and grand-children.  We have very sweet memories of our sweet thatha.   In his early days, probably in his teens, he moved out of this village to the city of Chennai for greener pastures – when he landed up at Mambalam, it was sort of forest where foxes and snakes were seen..  he worked as an Accountant in Mashmeijer Aromatics and did some part-time job for some advocate in Parrys corner too.  Having lost his father very early in life, he toiled against odds – and ensured that his family was well placed.  He had a son and 3 daughters – now all his grandsons/ granddaughters are well settled by his support and with the grace of our Emperuman. 

This place ‘Athichozhamangalam’ is really a very small tinydot village nearer Thanjavur – Thiruvarur.    Have heard from my family elders that this place is nearer ‘Kodimangalam’ which has a Mariamman temple – known as Thirumathikundram [a Railway station] in the Thanjavur – Tiruvarur route.  A few years ago, explored my way and reached this ancestral village too .. 

The village Athichozhamangalam lies around 2 km away from the Thirumanthikunam railway station.  The village  Athichozhamangalam comes under Block : Koradachery; in the district of Thiruvarur.  When I went there on an evening in 2012, the  fields in tune with Thanjavur / Thiruvarur belt were lush green – not many knew of this place, even when enquired in nearer places.  Travelled from Kumbakobam – on road to Mannarkudi / Alangudi - Needamangalam - Left - Koradacheri - around 7 km - 4 road junction - Right - ONGC - 400m left - Athichozhamangalam - Byepass road - Ammaiyappan - road to Thirukannamangai divyadesam.

There is ONGC exploration on the way and this is a small [really small] village – only fields – no big streets even.  There is a Post Office by the name of the village itself with name board proudly reading:  Athichozhamangalam P.O.  This is not my native village, - it is Mamndur, my father’s ancestral village – the one  identified with the nearest bigger place Dusi Village and known as Dusi Mamandur. 

On this day our family members remember Sri U.Ve. Athichozhamangalam Ramanujachar for all the good things that he has left for us all.  He is proudly remembered for his affection that he showered on us all,  sincerity, authoritativeness without sounding harsh ever, and being punctual in everything he did.  He was never late to goshtis and would spend long hours  inside the temple waiting for the proceedings to take place ~ a trait appreciated by all those who knew him.    He was very friendly to neighbours and other people of the divyaprabandha goshti too.  Remembered as a Man who rose to greater heights starting from a very challenging situation .. .. ..

~ adiyen dhasan S. Sampathkumar.

1^st Jan 2019.  (Margazhi 17)

Margazhi Hastham ~ Sri Varadha Rajar purappadu at Thiruvallikkeni 2018

வீடு ஆக்கும் பெற்றி அறியாது -  வீடு எனப்படும் மோக்ஷத்தைப் பெறுவிக்கும் வழி தான் யாது ?  ~  அறிந்துகொள்ள ஆசையா ?? - ஸ்ரீ திருமழிசைப்பிரானின் நான்முகன் திருவந்தாதியை அறிவீர் !!

தவமிருத்தல் சிறப்பு; மனதை அலையவிடாமல் சிந்தையை ஒருங்கே நிறுத்தி, உடலை சிரமப்படுத்தி - தவமிருக்க வேண்டும்.  திருமழிசைப்பிரான்  அனைத்தும் அறிந்தவர்.   அவர் அருந்தவம் புரிந்து கஷ்டப்படுகின்றவர்களை விளிக்கிறார் . அந்தோ! மோக்ஷமடையவேண்டிய வழி எளிதாயிருக்கச்செய்தேயும் அந்த மார்க்கத்தைத் தெரிந்துகொள்ளாமல் அபாயங்கள் மிக்க கொடுவழியில் செல்லுகின்றீர்களே!  வீடு எனப்படும் மோக்ஷத்தைப் பெறுவிக்கும் வழி தான் யாது ?  ~    இதோ அறிவீர் என்கிறார்.

Generally, people get excited about Vaikunda Ekadasi and ‘Paramapada  Vasal’ ~ commonly called ‘Sorga vassal thirappu’.. .. this year Vaikunda Ekadasi fell on Tuesday 18^th Dec 2018 (3^rd day of Margazhi) ~ Pagal pathu uthsavam commenced on 8.12.18 and from Vaikunda Ekadasi it was Irapathu – culminating with ‘thiruvadi thozhal’ of Swami Nammalwar reaching Paramapadam and returning to this earthly world for our benefit – a day later on 29^th it was  Iyarpa Sarrumurai  ~ completing chanting of Sri Nalayira divyaprabandham in 21 days. 

Now it is the month of Margazhi and early morning it is Thiruppavai Sarrumurai on all days .. .. sooner we will have Andal Neeratta Uthsavam.  Today is Hastham nakshathiram in the month of Margazhi and Sri Varadharajar had chinna mada veethi purappadu at Thiruvallikkeni ~ here are some photos of the purappadu.

வீடாக்கும் பெற்றி அறியாது மெய்வருத்திக்

கூடாக்கி  நின்றுண்டு கொண்டுழல்வீர், - வீடாக்கும்

மெய்ப்பொருள்தான் வேத முதற்ப்பொருள்தான், விண்ணவர்க்கு

நற்பொருள்தான்   நாராயணன்.

வீடு எனப்படும் மோக்ஷத்தைப் பெறுவிக்கும் வழி,  சரீரத்தை வருத்தி (உபவாஸாதிகளாலே) க்லேசப்படுத்தி எலும்பே மிகுந்த கூடாக அஸாரமாக்கி நெடுங்காலம் தவம்புரிந்தும், சொற்பமாக  புஜித்தும் திரிகின்றது என்பது அல்ல;  மோக்ஷத்தைத் தரக்கூடிய மெய்யான உபாயமாயிருப்பவனும் வேதங்களினால் முழு முதற்கடவுளாகப் பிரதிபாதிக்கப்படுபவனும், பரமபத வாசிகளான நித்யஸூரிகளுக்கு நற்பொருள் என போக்யமான  வஸ்துவாயிருப்பவனும் - முழு முதற்கடவுளான ஸ்ரீமந்நாராயணனேயாவன்.  அவனை வணங்கி, அவனது பொற்பாதகமலங்களிலே நம்மை செலுத்தினாலே போதும், வேறு ஒன்றும் தேவையில்லை என அழகாக எடுத்துரைக்கிறார் நம் மழிசைப்பிரான்.

There cannot be simpler and saner advice than what Thirumazhisaippiran offers.  He addresses those people who without understanding the real nature of eternal bliss, practices various forms of penance, pushing body to extremes by eating frugal food and doing many acts in solitary confinement -  simple, is to know that Sriman Narayana, the supreme Lord, is the path as also the goal for the eternity.  HE is the only Lord spoken in Vedas; He is the Lord of Celestials ~ only HE can relieve us of all our fears and difficulties.  Do nothing – simply place yourself in the golden lotus feet of Sriman Narayana – everything else is taken care says Thirmazhisai Alwar.

~ adiyen Srinivasadhasan

30^th Dec 2018.

Pranams to Sri Kachi Swami PB Annangarachar and dravidaveda.org.

Thiruvallikkeni - Iraapathu Uthsavam 8 (2018) - Raja Mannar Thirukolam

Thiruvallikkeni - Iraapathu Uthsavam 8 :  25^th Dec 2018   - 

திருவல்லிக்கேணி இராப்பத்து  உத்சவம் 8

It is good to live in a divyadesam like Thiruvallikkeni, for one  can have darshan of Emperuman in His various beautiful forms.  In the words of Swami Nammalwar : 

“எல்லியும் காலையும் தன்னை நினைந்தெழ, நல்ல அருள்கள் நமக்கே தந்தருள்செய்வான்”..

He would besides giving us all the good things in life, give us the good mind to think of Himself of all the time during the day and night ~ and those of us who start feeling so, are the most blessed.   Today (25.12.2018) is  day  8  of Irapathu Uthsavam ……… today it was   ‘Raja Mannar’ Thirukolam……….. it is but natural – Krishna was the King of cowherds and Sri Parthasarathi  in His natural self…as Rajamannar, blessed  His bakthas.  The whip and the crowning glory were of unparalleled beauty – one could also notice the small calf at His lovely feet and the beautiful cow behind Him. 

The easiest way to reach Him, is surrender thyself (Saranagathi) ~ of the infinite kalyanagunas of the Emperuman – there is one of ‘Vathsalyam’ – the exposition of patience and forgiveness……… we make so many mistakes knowingly  and yet our Lord protects and takes us nearer removing us of all the sins….. it is rendered that the cow would like the dirt off the calf revealing it’s extreme love for its progeny.  So also Emperuman accepts us even when we are full of dirt and mistakes.   We need to do nothing but surrender, prostrating at the divine feet of Sriman Narayana. The meek cow represents the devotees who reach to Him, as the Eternal Saviour ~ the Emperor who protected the cows would sure protect us and give us the ultimate salvation. 

எடுத்த  பேராளன் நந்தகோபன்றன் இன்னுயிர்ச் சிறுவனே! * அசோதைக்கு

அடுத்த  பேரின்பக்  குலவிளங் களிறே! அடியனேன்  பெரியவம்மானே!*

கடுத்த போரவுணன் உடலிருபிளவாக் கையுகிராண்ட  எங்கடலே !*

அடுத்ததோர் உருவாய் இன்று  நீவாராய் எங்ஙனம் தேறுவர் உமரே ?

செல்வச்செழிப்பு வாய்ந்த சீமானான நந்தகோபனுடைய இன்னுயிர்ச்  சிறுவனாய் வளர்ந்த கண்ணன், ஒருத்தி மகன் என தேவகிப்பிராட்டி வயிற்றிலே பிறந்து,   யசோதைப்பிராட்டியிடம் அக்குலத்திற்கோர்  இளங்கன்று போன்று  சீரும் சிறப்பையுமாய் வளர்ந்தவன்.  பல களங்களை கண்டு சண்டையிலே தினவு விஞ்சின இரணீயாசுரனுடைய உடலை இரண்டு  துண்டமாகும்படி திருக்கையிலுள்ள நகங்களைக் கொண்டு  பிளந்த கடல் போன்றவனே ! ~  யாம் மிக விரும்புவளவிலே ஒரு வடிவழகைப்  பூண்டு, உந்தன்னை  உபேக்ஷித்து இருப்பவர்களுக்கு வருகை தருவாயாக !  என்போன்றவர்களான (உம்மைச்சேர்ந்த) பக்தர்கள்  உன்னை சர்வரக்ஷகன் என கொண்டாடும்படியாக வாரும் என நம்மாழ்வார் பிரார்திக்கிறார்.

Swami Nammalwar in his Thiruvaimozhi (8^th decad 1 thiruvaimozhi) prays Emperuman to come and provide darshan to His devotees calling Lord Krishna, the little sweet child, who came to the rich chieftain Nandagopan; having been born to Devaki but gave Yasodha the pleasure of His upbringing.  He, with his claws tore apart the wild Hiranya  ~ He is our eternal SAviour – and sAdagopan prays that He presents Himself in a much more adorable form. 

Here are some photos taken during today’s  purappadu.

adiyen Srinivasa dhasan.

25^th Dec 2018

Record thanks with gratitude to dravidaveda.org.

Thiruvallikkeni - Iraapathu Uthsavam 2018– day 1 : திருவல்லிக்கேணி இராப்பத்து உத்சவம்

Thiruvallikkeni - Iraapathu Uthsavam 2018 – day 1   - 

திருவல்லிக்கேணி இராப்பத்து  உத்சவம்  1

இன்று 18.12.2018 வைகுண்ட ஏகாதசி நன்னாள்.   ஸ்ரீவைஷ்ணவ உலகமே கொண்டாடும் ஓர் அற்புத நாள். இன்று முதல் பத்து நாள்கள் அனைத்து கோயில்களிலும் எம்பெருமான்,  சடகோபராகிய நம்மாழ்வார் அருளிய தமிழ் மறையாம்  திருவாய்மொழியை அனுபவித்து பத்தாம் நாள் நம்மாழ்வார் அனுபவித்த பரமபத அனுபவத்தை 'திருவடி தொழல்' எனும் நிகழ்வில் காரிமாறனை திரும்ப அளித்து நமக்கு அருள் செய்வான்.  பத்து நாட்கள் பகல் பத்து உத்சவம் முடிந்து, இன்று முதல் இராப்பத்து.

On the day of Vaikunda Ekadasi in the morning @ around 04.30am  Sri Parthasarathi bedecked in precious jewels entered Paramapada vassal and gave darshan to His devotees throughout seated in the beautiful ‘Punyakodi vimanam’ at Thiruvaimozhi mandapam. The auspicious Vaikunda Ekadasi heralds the start of ‘Irapathu’ Uthsavam.  As the name suggests, there will be celebrations for 10 nights.

                  Those who frequent Thiruvallikkeni would know this….. still can you guess the time whence the Irapathu Uthsavam purappadu on day 1 took place and around which time – Thiruvaimozhi’ muthal pathu – was rendered ??

நம்மாழ்வாரின் அற்புத வரிகளில் : ஸ்ரீமன் நாராயணன் ~ 'பத்துடையடியவர்க்கு எளியவன்' -  அவனிடத்தில் பக்தி கொண்ட அடியார்களுக்கு, சுலபன் என எளியவனாய், அவர்களுக்கு வேண்டிய எல்லா நலன்களையும் அளிப்பவன்..  During Pagal Pathu, the Muthaliyaram and Thirumozhi of Thirumangai Mannan are rendered.   It is time for Nammalwar’s Thiruvaimozhi during Irapathu.  In the Thiruveethi purappadu, all the 10 days, ‘Upadesa Rathinamalai’  of Acharyar Sri Manavala Maamunigal is recited. After the conclusion of the Purappadu, inside the temple before the Lord in the Grand sabha of all Azhwars and Acharyas, every day 100 songs from the Thiruvoimozhi of Nammazhwaar gets recited.  The day of Vaikunda Ekadasi being day 1 it was  ‘muthal pathu’ of Thiruvaimozhi.

At Thiruvallikkeni, devotees thronged the temple in tens of thousands to have glimpse of His darshan and the queues got extended to many streets in the vicinity.  At around 11 am, there was Thirumanjanam of Sri Parthasarathi.  After Thirumanjanam, at around 11.30 pm  (midnight) – there was the Periya maada veethi purappadu – Irapathu day 1 purappadu. There were thousands of bakthas on the street waiting to have His darshan.  Those waiting in the queue and those who were returning to their parked vehicles after having darshan were enthralled to see Swami Nammalar and Sri Parthasarathi in purappadu – for some coming from distant places, such a grand purappadu and having darshan of Perumal in close quarters were exceptionally divine.   At around 12.30   am of 19.12.18, there was  Thiruvaimozhi Muthal pathu goshti and sarrumurai….an hour or so later, hundreds of  people had the fortune of His theertha and other prasadams. 

From this day on,  Paramada vassal will be opened in the evening with Swami Nammalwar receiving Him.  Here are some photos of Sri Parthasarathi and Swami Nammalwar of day 1 of Irapathu.

Azhwar, Emperumanaar, Jeeyar Thiruvaidgale saranam.    

adiyen Srinivasa dhasan – S. Sampathkumar.

19^th Dec 2o18.