THAI 08

DARSANAM: 1 SEVAI : 1

YEAR:

SARVAJITH

TAMIL MONTH :

THAI

ENGLISH MONTH :

JANUARY 2008

DARSANAM

taic[mf Monthly BI-LINGUAL Emagazine

JAGATH PATHI:

YATHI PATHI:

MAKAR SANKRANTHI DAY - “PONGAL O PONGAL”

TOOPUL KULAMANI

S R I M A D V E D A N T A D E S I K A N T I R U V D I G A L E S A R A N A M

DARSANAM: 1 SEVAI : 1 2

INTORDECTION PAGE

SRI:

SRIMATE SRI SRINIVASA PARABRAHMANE NAMA:

BHAGAVATE BHASHYAKARAYA NAMA:

SRIMATE SRI NIGAMANTA MAHADESIKAYA NAMA:

ASMAT GURUBHYO NAMA:

Priya srivashnavas,

The new emagazine has been initiated with the blessings of our acharyan Srimad

Vedanta Desikan for the benefit of learning our sampradayam, acharyas,

vaibhavam of all alwars, acharyas and emberuman, works of alwars and acharyas,

our daily activities etc. through interaction on Tuesday, Pongal Festival day, 15th

January 2008. This magazine is really needed? Yes or no. Our Srivaishnava

community in Muscat is now on the track of learning our sampradayam. Now in our

community adiyen see that all have been blessed by their acharyas with

samasrayanam and bharanyasam. Adiyen can see the drastic change in the satsangh

betweeen 2000 and 2008. It is good news to our sampradayam. We organise

Sravanam every month from 1994 without break. But it was started even before in

late 1980s. The Acharyan Tirunakshatrams such as HH Srimad Azhagiya Singar, HH

Srimad Andavan, HH Srimad Poundarikapuram Swami, the grand celebration of

Vaikunta Ekadasi Garuda-Seva, Sri Padmavathi Srinivasa Perumal Kalyanotsavam,

Purattasi Sravanam show our interest and dedication towards our sampradayam and

emberuman. Learning Nithyanusandhanam, important Vedic Hyms are completed.

Learning Srimad Vedanta Desika Stotra Patas are still going on in the two areas

since 2000. We had many upanyasams on various topics in the middle. What is

next? Next is we should know about our sampradayam, greatness of emberuman,

alwars, acharyas, sastras, scriptures etc. and should live happily in this world.

kavyaXaas~ivanaaodona kalaao gacCit QaImatama\ .

vyasanaona tu maUKa-NaaM inad`yaa klahona vaa ..

The intelligent people spend their time by enjoying the scripture and the foolish

people will spend their by quarrel, sleep and worries.

What is the order and wish of sri krishna paramaathma? In this busy world what is

the best way to live?

manmanaa Bava mad\Ba@tao maVajaI maaM namaskuÉ .

mamaovaOYyaisa sa%yaM to p`itjaanao ip`yaao|isa mao .. 18 ,65

Meaning: give your mind to me, be devoted to me, worship me and bow to me.

Doing so you will come to me alone, I truly promise you, for you are exceptionally

dear to me. (Gita:18.65)

The clear instruction is given that we should not miss the flight to Srivaikuntam in

this birth itself. So, to reserve a seat in the flight the Tiruvadi of our Acharyan is very

important and continuous meditation on god, learning sastras will get boarding pass


for us. Learning about the great Alwars, Acharyas and their works will also please

Emberuman. There is ocean of books written by our great linage of Acharyas. We

cannot learn them in a human life span. So let us know some portion about them.

This magazine will be useful to every one.

We would like to request your recorgnition for this magazine and need your support.

This is for your kind information that we all are in the editorial body and

all are chief editors and sub-editors. So praying to our acharyan let us

start.

This magazine includes (kindly suggest more)

Editor's page Panchangam of this Month Vedic information Photo Gallery (Photo of the month) Alwar Stories Alwar Amuda-mozhi Our linage of Acharyas Swami Desikan Story of this month Tit Bits Quiz on Vaishnavism Gita Madhuryam Events Vachagar Kadiam Know about our family member

(Monthly one member of our group) Divya Desa Oorvalam Learn about this work Inda Vaara Karuthu Enga Veettu Nigazhchi Appeal if any.

On behalf of DARSANAM eMagazine VILLIAMBAKKAM

GOVINDARAJAN


PANCHANGAM Name of the month : thai

“thai pirandal vazhi pirakkum” is the ancient proverb. Let everyone enjoy the new

life and experience.

Date Day Item Festival Spl

15-01-08 Tuesday Makar

sankranthi Pongal festival

Pongal paanai 7 am to 8 pm

19-01-08 Saturday Ekadasi Ekadasi vratham

20-01-08 Sunday Dwadasu Paduka aradanam

22-01-08 Tuesday Poornima Embar tiru

Nakshatram

25-01-08 Friday Magham Tirumazhisai

alwar tn Alwar tn celebration

26-01-08 Saturday Republic day of

india

28-01-08 Monday Hastham Koorathalwar tnakshamtram

We can start reciting divya prabandam

03-02-08 Sunday Ekadasi Ekadasi vratham

04-02-08 Monday Dwadasi Paduka aradanam

06-02-08 Wednesday

Amavasai Tirunangur 12 garuda seva

Samudra snanam

Sravanam Swami desikan

monthly tn Swami desikan tn

celebration

13-02-08 Wednesday Masa pirappu Maasi month begins

Thai month beginning on: 15th January 2008. Pongal Paanai can be kept

between 6.30 am to 8 am (sources: Srimad Ahobila Mutt, Srimad Andavan

Ashramam)

WISH YOU ALL VERY HAPPY PONGAL FROM DARSANAM


Photo Gallery (Photos of the month)


Alwar whom Emberuman followed (kindly download Shusha and mylasri fonts)

Records for life history of Alwar : Ari Samaya Deepam, Tiruchanda viruththam, Nanmugan Tiruvandadi, Diyvasoori Charitam, Abhidhana Chintamani Alwars birth :

Bhakti Sarar is the another name of Sri Tirumazhisai Alwar. Alwar was born to Sri Bhargava Muni. His mother delivered as ball of a flesh on Thai Magam in Mahi Saram @ Tirumazhisai, so they threw that flesh ball into a nearby bamboo bush. But by the blessings of Lord Narayana the flesh ball turned as a beautiful baby. Goddess Mahalakshmi herself fed the baby with her breast milk and blessed the baby with all kinds of knowledge. More over whenever the baby sucks his thumb, the nector (devamrtham) will flow frequently. Childhood and his blessings: The child was found and adopted by a bamboo seller called Tiruvalan. Tiruvalan was very happy with the child and taking care of the child. But the child was not feeling hunger, thirst and sleep and all the time meditating on God. People came to know about this child and came forward to feed him. An old couple was one among them. They used to bring milk to the child. One day the child gave them some remaining milk and they also consumed it with great dedication and devotion. What a surprise they both turned young and in course of them they got a baby called “Kanikkannan”. Kanikkannan became Tirumazhisai Alwar’s deciple and serving him day and night. Becoming Siva Vaakyar: After 7 years in Tiruvalan’s house started toward Atmajnanam and went on trip to holy places. He learnt all philosophies and practiced them such as Saakyam (Buddhism), Samanam (Jainism) and Saivism and became a Siva Siddhanti (follower of Saivism) at last. He was called “Siva Vaakkiyar” and has been considered as one of the 18 Siddhas in Tamil Nadu. His compositions on Siva were collected and available now in Saivism. Some of his poems are also included in his works in Tamil Prabandams. It is told that he lived for 4000 years. But how far it is true!!! Meeting with Peyalwar: Siva Vaakyar used to cross the Nandavanam (garden) maintained by Peyalwar every day. Once Peyalwar wanted to teach him a lesson about Vaishnavism, so he was uprooting all the Tulasi plants and planting them ups and downs same way he was trying to fill a pot which had many holes with a broken thread. Looking this Siva Vakiya laughed loudly. But Peyalwar kept quiet, continued his work. The upset Siva Vaakiya asked Alwar “Your action looks foolish and really the water will reach the plants? Are you ghost or a mad?” Now slowly Peyalwar turned towards Siva Vaakiyar and told “I am not a fool or mad. But just to show you that you behave like a fool, I behaved like this.” Now Siva Vaakiyar stunned with these words and requested Alwar to explain this more. Now Alwar explained The broken thread is Atma, the broken pot shows the condition of Atma which got many holes due to the verities of philosophies, the plantation of Tulasi plants shows that the Atma which is deviated does not understand the beginning and the end. This is the condition of millions of souls in the world and your condition


is also like this. I decided to show your condition, so I behaved like this.” Now Siva Vakkiyar flet ashamed and worried for his mistake finally surrendered to the feet of Peyalwar. Peyalwar taught him all the Vishnu Tatvam and Rahasyas. Whatever he learnt from Peyalwar, he followed and became Tirumazhisai Alwar. Alwar describes this thus : cakfkiygf kbfEbamf, cm]mf kbfEbamf – cgfkr[aaf

~kfkiy ~km N\lf ~rayfnfEtamf – pakfkiytftalf

ecgfkdf kaiya^[cf EcafnfEtamf tItilEm

'gfkdf kaiy eta[fbilf.

After sometimes he got permission from Peyalwar, went on holy trip to Vishnu Kshetrams. Finally he settled in Tiru Vekka which is in Kanchi near Varadarar Temple. Episode of Kanikkannan : When Alwar was stying in a hut, an old lady with the anxiety of getting blessed by this great soul (Alwar), cleaned the front side of the hut every day. Alwar also was very much happy and blessed her with young, beautiful personality that she wanted. The king of Kanchi married this lady looking her beauty. After some years he found that he becomes old as per the nature, but his wife was still young and beautiful. He was so curies and asked about this to his wife. Wife told about the blessings of Tirumazhisai Alwar. So he also wanted to turn young and handsome. He called Alwar’s disciple Kanikkan and requested to bring Alwar to his palace. But Kanikannan told that Alwar never enters into the Palace and will not praise a human. Then the king said if it so then you bless me with young and handsome personality. He also refused and composed the following poem :

~dvafkqf 'gfg[f `k[febazivaf ev#kav<mf

padkMmf UrkMmf pwfcrma – nIFymalf ni[fba[f ;Rnfta[f kidnfta[f ;Tv[fEba

m[fbaaf epazilf kcfci ma]fp<

Means the Saints and devotes will not sing anyone other than the Lord in Vekka (yathokta-kari emberuman is in sleeping position) in sleeping posture, in Padagam (Pandava-dootar in sitting position) sitting posture and Ooragam (Ulagalanda perumal is in standing position) standing posture. Emberuman follows Alwar’s request : The king was angry and ordered Kanikannan to go out of the country. Kanikannan accepted and informed Alwar. Alwar was very much upset and thought if Kanikkannan go for exile then no work to me here, so I am going. He went to the temple and requested Emberuman thus : k]i k]f][f Epaki[fba[f kamR p>gfkcfci

m]iv]f]a nI kidkfk Ev]fda – T]iv<Ady

ecnfnapf p<lv{mf Epaki[fEb[f nIy<mf u[fb[f

Apnfnakpf payf CRdfFkf ekaqf”

Kanikkanan leaves Kanchi, so I am also going. Manivannana ! you need not sleep here, bundle your bed of Adisesha and come with us. What a surprise!!! Emberuman accepted Alwar’s request started moving with his bed Adisesha. When Emberuman followed Alwar, all the deities in Kanchi also lost their charm staying Kanchi left the city. Darkness spread everywhere in Kanchi, bad signs were seen in the palace, the


message was conveyed to the king. The King convened the meeting with ministers. Then all the ministers pointed out King’s mistake and now King repent for his mistake, went to Alwar and fell on his feet. At that time Alwar crossed Kanchi city and staying in a place whole night. Every early morning King came with his team asked to pardon his mistake and requested to come back to the city. Alwar forgave is mistake and looked at the face of Kanikkannan. Kanikkannan who follows the orders of Alwars and understands Alwar’s message accepted Alwar’s wish. Then Alwar looked at Emberuman and requested him thus:

k]i k]f][f Epakf ekazinfta[f kamR p>gfkcfci

m]iv]f]a nI kidkfk Ev]fDmf – T]iv<Ady

ecnfnapf p<lv{mf EpakfekazinfEt[f nIy<M[fb[f

Apnfnakpf payf viaitfTkf ekaqf”

Again another surprise. Emberuman also accepted the request of Alwar and all of them came back to Tiruvekka. Then Emberuman is called “(Alwar) sonna vannam seitha perumal” in Sanskrit “Yatokta-kari”. The place where Emberuman, Alwar and Kanikkan stayed is being called as “or-iravu-irukkai” now “orikkai”. This episode has been enacted every year on this day in this temple. Emberuman have Tiruveedhi utsavam on Sesha Vahanam. After some years Alwar went to Tiruvallikkeni on his visit to Divya desams and performing his Kainkaryam to Emberuman. Siva and Parvathi : Once, in Tiruvallikeni Alwar was stitching the torn dress of Emberuman. At that time, Siva and Parvathi was travelling in the sky. Alwar was very much keen in stitching. He did not look up. Parvathi asked about this great person after seeing Alwar, then Siva replied “He is sole servant of Narayana who will not worship other deities”. Parvathi was so happy for his devotion and asked Siva to go to him and bless him with some boons. They both appeared in front of Alwar. Alwar did not see them and seriously engaged in his stitching.

Siva : Do you know who has come? Alwar : Yes I know. Siva : Why don’t you recognize it? Alwar : I have nothing to do with you. Siva : Why not? Ask for some boons. Alwar : I want Moksham. Siva : That is possible only by Narayana. Alwar : if it is so, make the people die tomorrow instead of today. Siva : Death is fixed according to their Karma. It is already fixed. Alwar : Then make the thread to follow the needle all the time.

Now Siva was very angry and opened his third eye towards Alwar. The fire broke out towards Alwar. Alwar was not afraid and lifted his right thumb. Fire more powerful than Siva’s was broke out from his thumb and troubled Siva. Then Siva called a cloud called “Putkala” and showered heavy rain to control the heat happed from Alwar. Then Siva recollected previous episodes and realized that no can defeat Adiyars and granted him the title “BHAKTI SARAR”. Even today we can have the darsanam of the eye in the right thumb of Alwar in Tirumazhisai. This episode has been indirectly described in 99th pasuram of Tiruchanda viruththam. (to be continued…….)


43. TIRUKKACHCHI Vishnu Kanchi

Travel Base: Kancheepuram TIRU ATTIGIRI - ATTIGIRI PERUMAL KOIL

Deities Sree Varadaraja Perumal, Sree Perundevi Thayar

Posture Standing, West Faced

Vimanam Punyakodi Vimanam

Theertham Vegavati River, Anantasaras

Prathyaksham To Birugu Maharishi, Naradha Maharishi, Brahma, Aadi Seshan, Gajendran

Mangalasasanam Total: 7 Pasurams

Boothatazhwar - 2, Peyazhwar - 1, Tirumangai Azhwar - 4 Feature

The original idol of Sree Atthi Varadar here was made from Atthimaram (Atthi Wood) is kept inside the puskarani and is brought out only once in 40 years and kept for dharshan

for ten days. This is the birth place of Poigai Azhwar and Swami Desikar.

Access This temple itself in Kancheepuram and about 1km from Kancheepuram railway station

and 90km from Chennai by road on Chengalpat Arakkonam route. Courtesy : http://www.geocities.com/chittu108/t43.html


SRIMAD VEDANTA DESIKA MANGALAM

Vedantha Desika was the brightest star in the firmament of VisishtAdvaita next only to Sri Ramanujacharya. Initial exposure to Vedas, Divya Prabandhams, and SaasthrAs provided him with an independent and individualistic insight into the secrets of the world of knowledge. Hence, his knowledge was encyclopedic. His knowledge offered him modesty, which is rare commodity among scholars. In him, there was a synthesis of moral fervour and spiritual insight. He was a saint to the core and detachment, the like of which is hard to notice among others. He was a poet, philosopher, scrupulous in the performance of his duties and upholder of the righteous cause. He was imbued with the sense of responsibility to uphold the concepts, which SrI Ramanujacharya preached. He adopted almost all possible ways of writing to achieve this purpose. No writer among the followers of Ramanuja fought for the right place for AhzwArs, as much as Swamy Desikan. His compositions in pure Tamil and in maNipravALam and their graded classifications from the simple to the complex bear ample testimony to this. With all these achievements and attainments, which no single scholar could ever dream of possessing, he has an embodiment of humility, he shunned pelf, repute, gain and adoration and was ever a devout devotee of a Srivaishnava, not slighting anyone. His son SrI Kumara Varadachrya observes: yak khyAthi laabhapUjAsu vimukO vaishnavO janE krayaNIyadasaam praaptah: His appeal to the Lord of Srirangam, that he should be allowed to live amidst those who are mutually well-disposed. “paraspara hithashiNAm parisarEshu mAm varthaya:”. An indefatigable crusader for Vaishnavism like the AchArya Swamy Desikan is quite needed in the present day. Let us pray to the Lord for fulfillment of this prayer of ours. Let us conclude this series with a mangalam verses on Swamy Desikan written by His illustrious son- Sri Kumara varadarya). Sri Vedanta Desikan’s son Sri Nayinacharyar (or Kumara Varadacharyar) composed 13 verses singing mangaLam for Swamy. He reminisces the upakarams of Swamy Desikan in his eulogy. Srima lakshmaNa yogeendra: ...aham bhajE.. I bow down to Varadacharyar, born in Viswamithra kulam (gOthram), who is like the victory flag of Emperumaanaar Sri Ramanuja Siddhaantham Sarvathanthra swathanthraaya… venkatEsaaya mangaLam.. MangaLam to Sarwaswathanthrar, Lion among poets, Vedantacharya by name VenktEsan. (to be continued……..)

(COURTESY : SRIRANGASRI)

THAI 08

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