AhobilaMutt.org – A valuable site on Sri Vaishnavam

Recently we had a post on Sri Ahobila Mutt, following which now we have a little post on their website – AhobilaMutt.org. One look and anyone can say that the site is regularly updated, has lot of information and yet, very neatly designed and put together. The site is the best place for those looking for some basic information about the Mutt as well as for those ardently following their Acharya {Azhagiya Singar} and the Mutt. The home page is updated with the latest happenings at the Mutt and the sancharams / journeys of Jeeyar Swamy {Azhagiya Singar}.

Apart from news & information about the Ahobila Matam, the site also has a library of articles of the mutt & many Sri Vaishnava audio & text downloads. Text downloads include the 4000 Divya Prabhandams, Sri Ramanujars’ Sriranga Gadyam, Sri Vaikunta Gadyam, Saranagathi Gadyam and Alavandar’s Chatussloki and Sthothrarathnam. Ahobila Mutts’ publications can also be ordered through the site bookstore. There is also a Quiz page where you can test your Sri Vaishnava knowledge, selecting from the Basic, Intermediary, Advanced levels. Ekadashi & Amavasya calculators for the western visitors. The site also offers a Matrimonial service for Sri Vaishnavas.

Vaikasi Visakam 2009 info

For the year 2009, Vaikasi Visakam utsavam at Alwarthirunagari starts on 28th of May. The Nava Thirupathi Perumal Garuda Seva falls on 1st of June. Here is the itinerary / details of the Utsavam (click the image for a bigger sized one).

Vaikasi Visakam : The Vaikasi Visakam of Alwarthirunagari is one of the most well known festivals of Sri Vaishnavam. It is celebrated to mark the birth of Swami Namalwar, who was born in the month of Vaikasi and the star of Visakam, hence the name. Vaikasi Visakam is a 10 day festival. The Garuda Seva on the 5th day, where all the NavaThirupathi Perumals take part is the highlight of the Utsavam. Devotees from various parts of the country throng this village during these 10 days and the 5th day Garuda Seva attracts the maximum number of devotees. The entire village wears a very festive look during the 10 days.

Travel Info : Alwarthirunagari is very easily reachable from Tirunelveli, which is also the nearest well connected Railway Station. Madurai is the nearest Airport. From Alwarthirunagari you can hire a cab and visit all the NavaThirupathi stalams in half a day. The following are the trains and timings to Tirunelveli from Chennai.

Sri Ahobila Mutt – The incredible journey

After Sri Ramanuja, Sri Manavalamamuni and Sri Vedantha Desika are considered the 2 important acharyas of Sri Vaishnavam, followed by 2 different sects of Sri Vaishnavas. There are many Mutts / Organisations of both the sects. Among the Mutts that follow Sri Vedantha Desika are Sri Parakala Matam, Srimad Ahobila Matam, Sri Powndareekapuram Andavan Ashramam and Sri Srirangam Andavan Ashramam. Among these, the oldest is Sri Parakala Matam and then Sri Ahobila Matam is the second in this line. Sri Ahobila Mutt is considered one among the very important organisations of Sri Vaishnavism. It was established 600 years ago in a place called Ahobilam by Srimad Athivan Satakopan.

Srimad Athivan Satakopan was originally known as Kidambi Srinivasachar. He was a student under Gadikasadam Ammal in Kanchipuram. One day, the Lord of Ahobilam, Sri Lakshminrisimha, appeared in Srinivasachar’s dream and instructed him to come to the temple town of Ahobilam. After consulting with his Acharya, he proceeded to Ahobilam.

At Ahobhilam, the Lord Malolan {one of the nine Nrisimhas of Ahobilam} himself, jumped into the hands of Athivan Satakopan and ordered him to travel the length and breadth of the country. Thus began the institution called Sri Ahobila Matam and the travels of Lord Malolan to village after village, town after town, so that devotees get a chance to undertake Panca Samskaram and perform Bhara Nyasam at the lotus feet of the Lord.

To this day, all the Jeeyars of the Ahobila Mutt {known as Azhagiya Singar} carry with them the Lord Malolan to every place they travel. This tradition of carrying the Lord to the people has been continuing for 600 years – ever since the Mutt was established. The Jeeyars travel for most part of the year. The incredible fact in this journey is that, the Lord is taken with his Mandapam {shrine}, all the deities, and sculptures of all the past jeeyars of the Mutt. The deities include those worshiped by Sri Ramanuja & Sri Alavandar themselves. Thiruvaradhanam {Pooja} is done to all the deities every day. Recently I was blessed with an opportunity to see the Lord Malolan and the present Jeeyar. Seeing such an incredible journey, such an tradition is really an wonderful feeling. The travel itinerary of the present Jeeyar can be viewed here.

The Golden mandapam of Lord Malolan. The present (45th) Jeeyar of the Mutt.

Finally, this incredible journey is just another reminder that the Lord takes every effort to relieve us – his children, from this materialistic world. All we need is to believe and surrender to him.

Thirumalisai Alwar Vaibhavam 3

Continued

After the debate with PeiAlwar, Thirumalisai Alwar became a devout Sri Vaishnava and moved to Thirumalisai where he lead a life of Poojas, Kainkaryams & Meditation. Some incidents during this period show Alwar’s greatness.

Once Alwar was sitting in his Ashram and stitching a cloth when Lord Shiva and his consort Parvathi were crossing him in their divine vehicle on sky. Seeing a divine glow in Alwar face, Parvathi enquired about it. Shiva explains that the person was Thirumalisai Alwar who had once been his devotee but now was Sriman Narayana’s devotee. Hearing this Parvathi was happy and said to Shiva that they should get down to Alwar and present him a boon. Lord Shiva accepted and both appear before Alwar. But Alwar inspite of having noticed them, doesn’t welcome or even react to their presence. Lord Shiva then announces his arrival to Alwar and asks why he had not reacted to their presence. Alwar replies that he doesn’t require anything from Him and so he didn’t mind to do anything. Shiva insists that he had decided to give him a boon and so he should ask for something. Alwar then asks Shiva to give him the Moksha. Lord Shiva replies that He can’t give anyone Moksha and only Sriman Narayana is capable of giving Moksha. Shiva asks Alwar to ask for some other boon. Alwar then asks him to give him a long life so he can do all the Penace, Poojas& other things required to attain Moksha. Shiva explains that a persons life time is determined based on his Karma’s and that cannot be changed by him. Again Shiva asks Alwar to seek any other boon. With a funny smile Alwar asks for a boon, wherein the thread should follow the needle with which he is stitching. Lord Shiva is enraged by Alwar’s reply and opens his third eye to bring out a fire and burn Alwar.

Madhurakavi Alwar Thirunakshatram

Today is the Thirunakshatram of Swami Madhurakavi Alwar, the devout disciple of Swami Nammalwar. Though it was Nammalwar who said the Thiruvaimozhi, it was due to Madhurakavi Alwar that the world came to know of it. Here is a short story of Swami Madhurakavi Alwar.

Madhurakavi Alwar was born in Thirukolur, a small village near Alwarthirunagari. Alwar was born into a devout Sri Vaishnava family and eventually grew up into a learned and devout Sri Vaishnava. Once he undertook an pilgrimage to North India and visited many Kshetrams and finally to Ayodhya. He was very moved by the beauty of Deities of Sri Rama, Sita Devi, Lakshmana & Hanuman and put stay in Ayodhya for sometime.

During his stay, one night he saw a bright light coming from South. He didn’t know what it was. He couldn’t comprehend if it was a bright star, a forest fire or anything else. Regardless he decided to follow the light and see it for himself. After days of voyage, he finally reached Alwarthirunagari and the light disappeared. He was surprised at the phenomenon. He enquired the villagers if there was any festival or anything strange happening in their village. The villagers replied in negative, but added that a boy had been sitting under a Tamarind tree for past 16 years without drinking, eating or even opening the eyes. He had crawled to the tree as a baby 16 years back and remained in the tree thereafter. Madhurakavi Alwar was amazed and decided to see the child for himself.

Madurakavi Alwar reaches the tree and finds the child, with its eyes closed as if meditating. Alwar wanted to see if the child was healthy and if it reacted to the external world, and so he dropped a huge stone on the ground to make a noise. The child slowly opened its eyes and saw Alwar. Alwar next wanted to see if the child  was knowledgable, and so asked a question,

“Sethathin Vayitril Siriyadhu Pirandhal; Eatthai Thindru Engae Kidakkum?”

to which the child replied,

“Atthai Thindru Angae Kidakkum”

Madurakavi Alwar immediately realised that the child, Nammalwar was a hamsam of Sriman Narayana and possessed infinite knowledge. Madhurakavi Alwar fell at Nammalwar’s feet and became his disciple. After this, Nammalwar said the Thiruvaimozhi which is the fine nectar of the Vedas themselves {Thiruvaimozhi is known as the Tamil Vedam}.

Madhurakavi Alwar wrote Kanninun Siruththambu on Nammalwar’s advice. The pasurams and meanings of Kanninun Siruththambu can be read here.