The Lord @ Athigiri engira Vishnu Kanchi is hailed by that epithet by Thirumangai alwar. A mis nomer that many make from the 4000 is that they believe that it was sung at each temple by the alwars and then collected. Actually this is not so.
The division of temples into 108 was in a period very very later than the Prabhandam and might be erroneous too. The hymns were read and the temples identified with the help of the geographical pointers present. "Thiruvallikeni kandene" prompts that the song could only be on Thiruvallikeni. But for names long forgotten and places ruined under the age of time, only guesses could be made.
For example, for the temple @Kabisthalam also called Kannan Kabisthalam, the only song sung sang of a Krishna temple on a river's bank. Using this the spot was guessed as Kabisthalam. Similarly with Thirupreethi in the North. Temple on the banks of Ganges was the only pointer. They could not locate it and arbitrarily chose Joshir Mutt as the one.
The reason I wish to acclimatise the reader with this is because there are lot of inconsistencies with the Prabhandam itself. To get a round number of 4000, many hymns were condensed into one. Thirukurunthandagam, Periya Thirumadal and Siriya Thirumadal are all examples. So was the grouping of the 108 Thirupathis. For example, the shrine of Sri Varahar in Sri Moshnam was not sung by any alwar even though Thirumangai had visited and sung shrines 10 miles away. And it is one of the syamvrata kshetras which says that the Lord is syambhu like Sri Srinivasar.
The temple town of Kumbakonam was sung and resung by the 11 alwars but nobody even lay claim to Sri Rajagopalan of Mannargudi even though there is reference to a "kal sthambam" which is a solid granite second Dwajasthambam in the premises of the temple. We shall go over this when we talk about Kumbakonam.
This inconsistency comes to play at Kozhiyur enapadum Thiru Urayoor. There is not direct song for Urayoor. Expert analysts of the 4000 claim that a passing reference as "Kozhiyur" in a song sanctifying another divyadesam refers to Uraiyoor.
The reason behind going prolonged in this discussion is the hurt that I bear for there is no song in the 4000 glorifying Lord Varadarajar of Athigiri. No alwars had sung this Lord. As experts claim. There is a reference in another hymn as "athigiri arulalanukke". Which could only only only refer to Shri Varadar as we shall see but the claim was rejected.
But the Lord at Hastagiri could not be denied as the temple is one of the oldest and most sanctified of the temples in India and dates back to most alwars.
It is the third most important of all Vaishnavaite sthalas and is so because it is the pillar of Shri Vaishnava Sampradyayam. The Vadagalai philosphy was evolved and rooted here. Also the Vishistadvaitam of Shri Ramanuja. We shall learn more of the temple in the next blog.
Adipaninthen Athigiri Arulalanukke!!!
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Thiru Kachi
Kanchi, the land of the pallavas, the land of temples, the seat of ancient learning, the gateway to moksha, one of the seven ancient cities, the seat of Vaishnavism, the land of Ramanuja, koorathalwar and many many more..
All these epithets and more cant be enough or more well suited. The third of the 108 thirupathis, it is home to around a 1000 pillayar temples(My favorite) apart from Kamakshi amman Kovil, Ekambareshwarar sannithi and 14 Vaishnava divyadesams.
Each time we say we went to "the temple", it only means we went to Srirangam. Each time we say we went to Perumal Kovil, we inadvertently refer to Varadarajar sannithi.
Kanchi has been my adopted kshetra for long. My first visit to Kanchi was just deja vu. I have been here. I have seen this Lord. I lived here a few janmas were my thoughts.
The divya desams in Kanchi are :
1. Thirukachi , Hastagiri enapadum Varadar sannithi
2. Pavala vannan sannithi
3. Thiru Vekka enapadum Sonna Vannam seitha Perumal sannithi
4. Thiru Vellukai enapadum Azhagiyasingar sannithi
5. Parameshwara Vinnagaram enapadum Vaikunthanathar sannithi
6. Thiru Thoopul enapadum Deepaprakasar sannithi
7. Thiru Uragam enapadum Ooragathan sannithi
8. Thiru Neeragam enapadum Neervanan Sannithi
9. Thirupadagam enapadum Pandavathootha Perumal Sannithi
10. Thiru Nila thunga Thundapperumal Sannithi
11. Thirukalvanur enapadum Kalvan sannithi
12. Thiru Astabujakara Perumal Sannithi
13. Ulaganatha Perumal sannithi
14. Thiru Karvannan
15. Thiruputkuzhi enapadum Vijayaragava Perumal Sannithi.(not in kanchi but around 10 kms away).
These divya desams form a part of the Thondaimandala Divya desams along with Thiruvallikeni, Thiruvallur, Thiruninravoor, Thiruneermalai and Thirukadigai.
Each of these temples is rich with vivid history and interesting tales. We shall proceed to each in the "to -come" episodes.
Nandri. Meendum varuga.
All these epithets and more cant be enough or more well suited. The third of the 108 thirupathis, it is home to around a 1000 pillayar temples(My favorite) apart from Kamakshi amman Kovil, Ekambareshwarar sannithi and 14 Vaishnava divyadesams.
Each time we say we went to "the temple", it only means we went to Srirangam. Each time we say we went to Perumal Kovil, we inadvertently refer to Varadarajar sannithi.
Kanchi has been my adopted kshetra for long. My first visit to Kanchi was just deja vu. I have been here. I have seen this Lord. I lived here a few janmas were my thoughts.
The divya desams in Kanchi are :
1. Thirukachi , Hastagiri enapadum Varadar sannithi
2. Pavala vannan sannithi
3. Thiru Vekka enapadum Sonna Vannam seitha Perumal sannithi
4. Thiru Vellukai enapadum Azhagiyasingar sannithi
5. Parameshwara Vinnagaram enapadum Vaikunthanathar sannithi
6. Thiru Thoopul enapadum Deepaprakasar sannithi
7. Thiru Uragam enapadum Ooragathan sannithi
8. Thiru Neeragam enapadum Neervanan Sannithi
9. Thirupadagam enapadum Pandavathootha Perumal Sannithi
10. Thiru Nila thunga Thundapperumal Sannithi
11. Thirukalvanur enapadum Kalvan sannithi
12. Thiru Astabujakara Perumal Sannithi
13. Ulaganatha Perumal sannithi
14. Thiru Karvannan
15. Thiruputkuzhi enapadum Vijayaragava Perumal Sannithi.(not in kanchi but around 10 kms away).
These divya desams form a part of the Thondaimandala Divya desams along with Thiruvallikeni, Thiruvallur, Thiruninravoor, Thiruneermalai and Thirukadigai.
Each of these temples is rich with vivid history and interesting tales. We shall proceed to each in the "to -come" episodes.
Nandri. Meendum varuga.
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Thirukkanden!!!
Coming back to the original theme of this blog, alwars and Nayanmars have done a great deal for the Hindu religion to be what it is today. The rest we have contributed!! They in the process also accelerated the easy entry of vernaculars into the divine tongue. Tamil. Where sanskrit used to hold sway in the form of Vedas, Divya Prabhandham, Devaram, andhadhis and much more entered as popular hymns thus taking the religion and language to greater heights and lower stratas of the society.
One of my favorite "trinity" as I would attribute has been the mangalasasanams from Thirukoviloor, Ulagalandha Perumal Sannithi.
It was one rainy evening in the earlier eras of mankind. When religion was being celebrated and God literally deified.
Poigai alwar, Boothath alwar and Pei alwar were three of the twelve alwars of Vaishnava sampradayam. All three of them wanted to worship Ulagalandha Perumal in the Thirukoviloor district. Poigai alwar reached first and as it was late in the evening, the temple was closed. He was shown to a house where accomodations for the night was available. The landlord declared as the alwar entered "Oruvar Padukalam" meaning one person can lie down. The alwar promptly entered and fell asleep.
Boothathalwar who was a bit more late was shown to the only set of rooms. Now the land lord said "Iruvar Amaralam" which was "two could sit comfortably". Poigai alwar obliged and took the new guest into the room where they both sat down.
Now the last entrant was Pei alwar and now the diction was "Moovar Nirkalaam". Translate to "Three can stand comfortably". Both the alwars stood up and the third guest was accepted cheerfully. Now these were the days when Edison(I know there is a lot of opposition to this. But I use the accepted version) had not yet come along with his brilliant bulb. So they did not even have a lamp as it was anyways late night.
As the three of them were standing together, they suddenly got a nudging sensation of a fourth person trying to squeeze in among them.
You could have from the land lord's description gathered that the room was small enough for three. How could a fourth be possibly put up with!! And that too unknown.
But it was the late night. No door had been opened. How comes a stranger in their midst?
The alwars decide to find out by :
Poigai alwar :
"Vaiyam Thagaliya, Var kadale Neiyaga,
Vaiyakkathiron Vilakagachheya,
Sudaraazhiyaan Adikke soodinen sonn malai,
Edarazhi Neengugave endru!!"
"As the earth as the vessal, the sea to be the oil,
the Sun lord himself to be the guiding light,
I garland, the feet of The One who wields the shining discus, with words,
May the trouble be dispelled if there it be!!! "
But the light did not show clearly even though it revealed a fourth person amongst them.
Boothathalwar goes :
"Anbe thagaliya, Arvame neiyaga,
Inburu sinthai Idu thiriya,
Nanburugi, Gnanachudar villaketrinen, Naranarke,
Gnanath Thamizh purintha nan."
"As love the holding vessal, my sincerity as the very ghee that sustains the lamp,
As the happy mind the lead of the light,
Bowed down by affection do I light this lamp,
I who sing hyms of enlightenment. "
The Lord is revealed in all His shining glory. Resplendant with His conch and discus, The Thayar shining benovelantly from His chest,..
Pei Alwar :
"Thirukkanden, Thirumeni kanden,
Thigazhum Arukan ani niramum kanden,
Serikillarum Ponnazhi kanden,
Puri sangam kaikkanden
Enazhi vannan pal Indru" .
"I saw His persona, I saw His person too,
I saw the blue body of His,
I saw the brilliant shining Chakra(Aazhi),
and the sounding conch,
On my cloud coloured Lord".
The Lord stands in the happy company of His devotees. Be it night or day, where would be better company than of His devoted bhaktas? That too, those who sing His praises all day? Who would not like it if somebody with a pure heart sang their praises all day??
The Lord perceiving His devotees to be stranded due to the weather and the closed sanctum had without a moment's delay rushed to be with them.
What would more glory be than to praying to the Lotus feet of My Lord?
Amen. Good Lord. Amen.
One of my favorite "trinity" as I would attribute has been the mangalasasanams from Thirukoviloor, Ulagalandha Perumal Sannithi.
It was one rainy evening in the earlier eras of mankind. When religion was being celebrated and God literally deified.
Poigai alwar, Boothath alwar and Pei alwar were three of the twelve alwars of Vaishnava sampradayam. All three of them wanted to worship Ulagalandha Perumal in the Thirukoviloor district. Poigai alwar reached first and as it was late in the evening, the temple was closed. He was shown to a house where accomodations for the night was available. The landlord declared as the alwar entered "Oruvar Padukalam" meaning one person can lie down. The alwar promptly entered and fell asleep.
Boothathalwar who was a bit more late was shown to the only set of rooms. Now the land lord said "Iruvar Amaralam" which was "two could sit comfortably". Poigai alwar obliged and took the new guest into the room where they both sat down.
Now the last entrant was Pei alwar and now the diction was "Moovar Nirkalaam". Translate to "Three can stand comfortably". Both the alwars stood up and the third guest was accepted cheerfully. Now these were the days when Edison(I know there is a lot of opposition to this. But I use the accepted version) had not yet come along with his brilliant bulb. So they did not even have a lamp as it was anyways late night.
As the three of them were standing together, they suddenly got a nudging sensation of a fourth person trying to squeeze in among them.
You could have from the land lord's description gathered that the room was small enough for three. How could a fourth be possibly put up with!! And that too unknown.
But it was the late night. No door had been opened. How comes a stranger in their midst?
The alwars decide to find out by :
Poigai alwar :
"Vaiyam Thagaliya, Var kadale Neiyaga,
Vaiyakkathiron Vilakagachheya,
Sudaraazhiyaan Adikke soodinen sonn malai,
Edarazhi Neengugave endru!!"
"As the earth as the vessal, the sea to be the oil,
the Sun lord himself to be the guiding light,
I garland, the feet of The One who wields the shining discus, with words,
May the trouble be dispelled if there it be!!! "
But the light did not show clearly even though it revealed a fourth person amongst them.
Boothathalwar goes :
"Anbe thagaliya, Arvame neiyaga,
Inburu sinthai Idu thiriya,
Nanburugi, Gnanachudar villaketrinen, Naranarke,
Gnanath Thamizh purintha nan."
"As love the holding vessal, my sincerity as the very ghee that sustains the lamp,
As the happy mind the lead of the light,
Bowed down by affection do I light this lamp,
I who sing hyms of enlightenment. "
The Lord is revealed in all His shining glory. Resplendant with His conch and discus, The Thayar shining benovelantly from His chest,..
Pei Alwar :
"Thirukkanden, Thirumeni kanden,
Thigazhum Arukan ani niramum kanden,
Serikillarum Ponnazhi kanden,
Puri sangam kaikkanden
Enazhi vannan pal Indru" .
"I saw His persona, I saw His person too,
I saw the blue body of His,
I saw the brilliant shining Chakra(Aazhi),
and the sounding conch,
On my cloud coloured Lord".
The Lord stands in the happy company of His devotees. Be it night or day, where would be better company than of His devoted bhaktas? That too, those who sing His praises all day? Who would not like it if somebody with a pure heart sang their praises all day??
The Lord perceiving His devotees to be stranded due to the weather and the closed sanctum had without a moment's delay rushed to be with them.
What would more glory be than to praying to the Lotus feet of My Lord?
Amen. Good Lord. Amen.
Om!
Archaryan thiruvadigale charanam :
The pranava mantra. The sound that is supposed to have been originated with the start of the universe.
It is some kind of a mystery that surrounds this mantra. It is the starting syllable of all mantras. It is believed to have been the combination of the three syllable : aa, oo and ma.
The base sound of the universe. The mantra that Subrahmanya explained to Brahma thus ridiculing his position as the creator. The mantra for which if the meaning is known we become "Brahmans".
I do not know much about it. I was just wondering on what to discuss today and my fingers typed OM. Hence this blog. If any of the readers know much about it, please share your knowledge as a comment.
In Hindu mythology, each of the pancha bhoothas are associated with a property. The property of the sky, akasham is Shabdam. There are two meanings associated with this word. "Sound" and if interpreted as "sapta" the number seven.
If we take it to be shabda then the property of the sky is sound. But the only thing that cannot pervade empty space is sound as modern science claims. The sky or interchangeably the space does not possess a material medium for sound to pass through.
But the pranava mantra is the sound that originated with the universe and is throbbing in it. I strongly feel that shabdha refers to sound or the pranava that pervades the universe.
Just a byword. Please choose to enlighten me by your comment. Thanks!!!
The pranava mantra. The sound that is supposed to have been originated with the start of the universe.
It is some kind of a mystery that surrounds this mantra. It is the starting syllable of all mantras. It is believed to have been the combination of the three syllable : aa, oo and ma.
The base sound of the universe. The mantra that Subrahmanya explained to Brahma thus ridiculing his position as the creator. The mantra for which if the meaning is known we become "Brahmans".
I do not know much about it. I was just wondering on what to discuss today and my fingers typed OM. Hence this blog. If any of the readers know much about it, please share your knowledge as a comment.
In Hindu mythology, each of the pancha bhoothas are associated with a property. The property of the sky, akasham is Shabdam. There are two meanings associated with this word. "Sound" and if interpreted as "sapta" the number seven.
If we take it to be shabda then the property of the sky is sound. But the only thing that cannot pervade empty space is sound as modern science claims. The sky or interchangeably the space does not possess a material medium for sound to pass through.
But the pranava mantra is the sound that originated with the universe and is throbbing in it. I strongly feel that shabdha refers to sound or the pranava that pervades the universe.
Just a byword. Please choose to enlighten me by your comment. Thanks!!!
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
A measure of Bhakti
As we all aware of, Lord Shri Krishna and Arjuna were the closest of cousins among the Pandavas. This was not only due to the fact that Arjuna idolised Krishna but also because they are a pair of divine twins. "Nara-Narayanargal" as they are hailed. Also as Jishnu-Vishnu.
But as a human that he is, Arjuna could not escape the folly of ego and self pride. He pompously went about saying that he was Krishna's favorite and there can be none other who could beat him in his devotion to Lord Krishna.
But Krishna in a number of occasions took time off to prove that there was no measure to bhakti and also that He was impartial to all His devotees.
I can recall atleast five occasions in this context. Once with Anjaneya, once with Karna, once with a brahmana,once with Bhima and one more time with satyeki.
The encounter with the brahmana is my favorite and here goes:
Once Arjuna thinking that he was the most favored of Krishna was behaving very arrogantly. Lord Krishna who observed this decided to teach him a lesson. He took Arjuna aside for a walk in the forest.
As they proceed into the depths, they see a "Brahmana", who is a Vedic scholar by profession wielding arms with dexterity. He was sword fighting with an invisible opponent and doing it extremely well.
In those days, the kshatriyas were the only warriors and all others were protected by them. Lord Krishna pointed him to Arjuna and asked him to enquire the reason without revealing his identity.
As Arjuna was a kshatriya, he went to the brahmin and said "Oh, Learned scholar, It is not right according to the dharma of your caste to wield arms. Can you tell me the nature of your foe and the cause of your anger? If it is justified, I shall protect you as I am a Kshatriya by birth".
The brahmin stopped practising and said, "No. It is my personal score.I shall need none to fight on my behalf. But I can tell you why. I am a devotee of Lord Krishna. I need to find and kill,
Draupadi, Narada and Arjuna ".
Now. You could imagine the fright that Arjuna got at those words. He went on to enquire why and what enimity he possessed with the above named.
The brahmana replied, "Draupadi without even realising that the Lord was enjoying a day of rest with His consort, summoned Him to the court of the Kauravas to help her from humiliation.
Narada without even realising that the Lord might be sleeping keeps of calling "Narayana Narayana!". As the Lord hearing the bhakta's voice keeps His eyes open and can never sleep.
Arjuna! The worst of the three!!! He, with his ego made the Lord his "sarathy"(Charioteer). The Lord suffered from innumerable cuts on His face while that fellow escaped without a scratch. When I get my hands on him!!!!"
The brahmana went on the give the invisibe foe aka Arjuna a sound thrashing...
Arjuna left the scene without so much a glance at the Lord. He had got the message of the drama enacted and realised that there were more devotees, beyond count who would do anything for their Lord though they might not be as mighty as him..
Sri Hari:
But as a human that he is, Arjuna could not escape the folly of ego and self pride. He pompously went about saying that he was Krishna's favorite and there can be none other who could beat him in his devotion to Lord Krishna.
But Krishna in a number of occasions took time off to prove that there was no measure to bhakti and also that He was impartial to all His devotees.
I can recall atleast five occasions in this context. Once with Anjaneya, once with Karna, once with a brahmana,once with Bhima and one more time with satyeki.
The encounter with the brahmana is my favorite and here goes:
Once Arjuna thinking that he was the most favored of Krishna was behaving very arrogantly. Lord Krishna who observed this decided to teach him a lesson. He took Arjuna aside for a walk in the forest.
As they proceed into the depths, they see a "Brahmana", who is a Vedic scholar by profession wielding arms with dexterity. He was sword fighting with an invisible opponent and doing it extremely well.
In those days, the kshatriyas were the only warriors and all others were protected by them. Lord Krishna pointed him to Arjuna and asked him to enquire the reason without revealing his identity.
As Arjuna was a kshatriya, he went to the brahmin and said "Oh, Learned scholar, It is not right according to the dharma of your caste to wield arms. Can you tell me the nature of your foe and the cause of your anger? If it is justified, I shall protect you as I am a Kshatriya by birth".
The brahmin stopped practising and said, "No. It is my personal score.I shall need none to fight on my behalf. But I can tell you why. I am a devotee of Lord Krishna. I need to find and kill,
Draupadi, Narada and Arjuna ".
Now. You could imagine the fright that Arjuna got at those words. He went on to enquire why and what enimity he possessed with the above named.
The brahmana replied, "Draupadi without even realising that the Lord was enjoying a day of rest with His consort, summoned Him to the court of the Kauravas to help her from humiliation.
Narada without even realising that the Lord might be sleeping keeps of calling "Narayana Narayana!". As the Lord hearing the bhakta's voice keeps His eyes open and can never sleep.
Arjuna! The worst of the three!!! He, with his ego made the Lord his "sarathy"(Charioteer). The Lord suffered from innumerable cuts on His face while that fellow escaped without a scratch. When I get my hands on him!!!!"
The brahmana went on the give the invisibe foe aka Arjuna a sound thrashing...
Arjuna left the scene without so much a glance at the Lord. He had got the message of the drama enacted and realised that there were more devotees, beyond count who would do anything for their Lord though they might not be as mighty as him..
Sri Hari:
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