A Humble Request : This is the final part of the Thirumalisai Alwar Vaibhavam series. With the grace of Sriman Narayana, the series will be brought out as an e-book. I kindly request readers to point out errata / suggestions of any kind, so that the final book will be without mistakes I might have committed. Also it would be wonderful if readers are aware of any Paintings from Thirumalisai Alwar’s life which can make the book even more interesting. Artists / Writers willing to contribute are very welcome. Please mail to RamanujaDasan@live.in

Thirumalisai Alwar Vaibhavam Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6

After some days, Alwar goes to the overflowing banks of River Cauvery and throws hundreds of works he had composed into the flood waters. Of all his works, Naanmugan Thiruvandhadi & Thiru Chanda Viruththam alone move against the tide and reach Alwar’s feet. He then realises that these 2 works alone are enough to enlighten the world out of misery and gives these works to some Mumukshu’s.

Finally Alwar goes to Thirukudanthai to see the reclining Lord Aravamudhan. Alwar is mesmerised by the beauty of the Lord and sings “Vaazhi Kesavan”. Alwar requests Perumal to speak to him, to which Perumal readily obliges and gets up (from His sleeping posture) to speak to Alwar. Suddenly, Alwar again requests perumal to be in the very posture of getting up, and to this day Thirukudanthai Perumal can be seen in this posture.

After being in Yogic state for many years, Alwar finally attains Moksham.

Thirumalisai Alwar’s Works

Naanmugan Thiruvandhadi tells about the Supremacy of Lord Sriman Narayana. An English Commentry on Naanmugan Thiruvandhadi is available here (from vedics.org site)

ThiruChanda Virutham vyakhanam can be found here – www.maransdog.org/doc/Puthur_Swamy/Thiru_Chanda_Virutham_Puthur_Swamy_Optimized.zip

Visitors can also contribute news to the website by e-mailing to srivaishnavanews@gmail.com. There is also a Travelogue section which contains travelogues on Sri Vaishnava Divyadesams & temples. Books & CD Releases is a very useful section with information on Sri Vaishnava Books, CD & DVD releases. News from various Ashrams & Mutt can also be found in the site. Apart from these general Sri Vaishnava articles can also be found here.

Lord Srinivasa Himeslf playing dice with Hathiramji

He once undertook an piligrimage to Tirumala. His name was Bhavaji. He was so fascinated by the majestic appearance of the Lord that he decided to stay in Tirumala for ever having darshan of the Lord all the time. He constructed a Mutt (a place where the saints live near the temples) and settled there. Bhavaji used to have the darshan of the Lord at least thrice a day. Still, he wasn’t satisfied of his darshan. He used to look at the lord unmoved for long. This continued for a few weeks. Temple employees have observed Bhavaji visiting the temple and gazing at the lord continuously for longer times. Finding suspicious about his acts, they reported the matter to the Temple Authorities. Next day when Bhavaji entered the temple premises to have the darshan of the lord, he was pushed out of the temple without allowing him to have his Ram’s darshan. He pleaded not to separate him from his Lord Ram. No one listened to his cry. Instead, he was warned not to enter the temple for Lord’s darshan again. A sad and dejected Bhavaji returned to his Mutt.

After getting back to the Mutt, he cried with the Lord. Hey Lord! My Ram! What is my fault? Is it a sin to have your darshan? You know it very well that I can’t live without having your darshan. Why you punished me this way? What am I supposed to do now?

Next morning, Bhavaji went to the temple as usual to have the darshan of the lord. But, he was pushed out of the gate. A dejected Bhavaji retuned back to his Mutt. He was not sure how to pass his time without having the Lord’s darshan. He then took up a dice board and started playing the dice himself assuming that he was playing with the Lord on the other side. He himself used to throw his dice and the Lord’s dice on His behalf. In this way, he played the game all along the day and fell a sleep. When he was in a deep sleep at night, he heard a pleasant voice calling, Bhavaji! Wake up! It’s me, Your Ram! Bhavaji opened his eyes and saw the Lord standing in front of him. He couldn’t believe his eyes. Is it real or a dream? Amazed Bhavaji asked the Lord. The Lord replied that it wasn’t his dream. He really visited him to play dice with him. There was no boundary to the happiness of Bhavaji. A jubilant Bhavaji laid a mat on the floor and sat with the Lord Balaji to play the dice. Bhavaji defeated the lord in his game. The Lord then asked Bhavaji to seek any boon against his victory over Him. Bhavaji politely said, Hey Lord, what can I ask you more than this? I am satisfied with your Vishwaroopa darshan. I do not need any material pleasure or wealth. Give me a little place at your feet to serve you. I need no favour than this. A pleased Lord blessed Bhavaji and vanished with a promise to get back for the game again.

Next day, Bhavaji excitedly waited for the sun to set so that he again plays dice with the Lord. Finally the wait was over. When the temple doors were shut at night, the Lord moved out of his Ananda Nilayam and visited Bhavaji to play the game of dice. After finishing the game, the Lord returned back to Ananda Nilayam promising to come back again. It became a regular practice for the Lord to visit the Mutt and spend time playing dice with Bhavaji at night when the temple doors were closed. One day when the Lord was playing dice with Bhavaji, He heard a voice of someone calling Bhavaji. The Lord asked Bhavaji to go and check it out. When Bhavaji went out to see if anyone was there, he found none. He then returned back to inform the Lord, but he found that the Lord has already left the place without informing him. When he picked up the dice board to keep it safe, he saw a diamond studded necklace of the Lord lying at the board. He picked up the necklace and kept it safe thinking that the Lord might have forgotten it and he would return when He comes back to play next time.

Next morning when Pradhana Archaka was getting ready to give bath to the Lord, noticed a missing necklace. He then took it to the notice of Temple Authorities. The Temple Authority was worried about the theft of Lord’s necklace. All the employees were called up on and enquired about the missing necklace. The Pradhana Archaka informed the management about the incident of Bhavaji in the recent past and straightaway raised suspicion over him. The Temple Authorities ordered to get Bhavaji for enquiry.

On the other hand Bhavaji was waiting for Lord’s arrival to play the game of dice. For long, the Lord hasn’t come to play. In the mean time, he heard someone shouting his name at the doorsteps. By the time he reached there, the soldiers got in and started searching all over the place. Bhavaji was surprised to see them searching all over. He tried to enquire what was going on. He was told that someone has stolen the Lord’s necklace. Bhavaji immediately understood what they were looking for and got the necklace he held it safely to return the Lord when he visits again. Is this the necklace you were looking for? Asked Bhavaji! One of the sainiks said, here you go. You have stolen the Lord’s necklace. You are under arrest! Bhavaji pleaded his innocence but they haven’t listened any of his word. They arrested and took him to the temple Authorities. On enquiry by the Temple Authorities, Bhavaji told them that the Lord used to visit his Mutt and Play dice with him every night when the temple doors were shut. The Lord had forgotten His necklace at my Mutt after playing the game yesterday. When I noticed, I picked up the necklace and kept it safe to return back when He comes again. The Pradhana Archaka of the temple raised his eyebrows and said; we have been doing all sorts of poojas and sevas every day to the Lord for so many years, the Lord hasn’t appeared to us and He appeared to you? Moreover He played dice game with you? Whom are you bluffing? Are you a greater devotee than us? There should be a limit of speaking false. Some of the Authorities suggested presenting him before the King’s courtyard for justice.

The next morning, he was presented in the courtyard of the Emperor Sri Krishnadevaraya, as a culprit who had stolen the necklace of the Lord. After listening to the charges, Sri Krishnadevaraya asked Bhavaji’s explanation. Bhavaji explained all that had happened with him. The Emperor felt him very innocent. He thought it would be unjust to punish him without sufficient proof and proper investigation. He therefore, decided to put Bhavaji on test. Sri Krishnadevaraya told Bhavaji that he will be given an opportunity to prove himself innocent. For this, he will be dumped with heaps of sugarcane in the cell and if he succeeds in consuming the entire heaps of sugarcane by the wake of the dawn tomorrow; he will be released innocent and if he fails to do so, he will be punished for the theft.

Bhavaji never perturbed. He had no choice but to accept the Emperor’s decision. He was then taken to the prison cell and tons of sugarcane heaps were dumped before him and locked the doors of the cell. Bhavaji sat in the corner, closed his eyes and prayed the Lord. Hey Lord! I am innocent and you know the fact very well. I have been charged of theft and put on test of eating this sugarcane heaps. Hey Ram! It’s not my test. They have put you on test. They want to test your existence in this world. If anything I need in this life is a little place before your feet to serve you till my last breath. He left everything on the shoulders of the Lord and immersed in deep penance.

A little later, a giant Elephant appeared in the cell and by the wake of the dawn, the Elephant ate all the heaps of sugarcane dumped there for Bhavaji. The Elephant then awake Bhavaji from his penance with its trunk. Bhavaji was surprised to see an Elephant in the cell. When he saw the entire heaps of sugarcane were finished, he realized that his Ram has arrived for his rescue and immediately fell upon his feet and cried Ram…! Oh Ram..! My Ram…! You have come up for my rescue. How lucky am I? The Elephant then blessed Bhavaji with its trunk and trumpeted at loud. On hearing the Elephant’s trumpet, the guards peeped through the key wholes and wondered to see an Elephant inside a locked cell. They immediately rushed to the authorities and informed the matter. Meanwhile, the Elephant broke open the doors and ran away immediately. Some guards tried to follow the Elephant but it disappeared thereafter.

When the Emperor visited Bhavaji, he was found gazed at the direction where the Elephant has left, repeatedly uttering a word “Hathiram..!” When asked, who was Hathiram and how the elephant entered the prison cell? Bhavaji told that his Ram has come in the form of a Hathi (an Elephant) to save him. Everyone who had assaulted him on the charges of theft exclaimed at the great devotion of Bhavaji. One and all had accepted his devotion to Lord Balaji is eternal. The Pradhan Archaka in particular begged his pardon for the assaults made on him out of pride and ego.

Sri Krishnadevaraya relieved him of all charges and appointed Bhavaji as the Pradhana Archaka of the temple of tirumala. He happily obeyed the orders of the Emperor as he got a life time opportunity to serve his Lord. Since the Baba Bhavaji’s beloved Lord “Sri Ram” has personally come to the rescue of Bhavaji in the form of a Hathi (an Elephant) he as been named as Hathiram Baba. As a Pradhana Archaka of the Temple, Bhavaji served the Lord for many years. He later sacrificed his soul to the Lord and entered into a Jeeva Samadhi. His body was cremated near Venu Gopala Swamy Temple on the way to Papavinasam on the hills of Tirumala. A Samadhi of Hathiram Baba had been constructed there and daily pooja is being performed even today. People visiting Venu Gopala Swamy Temple pay their homage to this great devotee of Lord Venkateswara. The Hathiram Baba Mutt had been built on the southern side of the temple in his remembrance.

Reposted from – tirumalavaibhavam.blogspot.com

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The stunning Gopuram

Srimushnam temple is an very ancient one with stunning architecture all around. The amazingly majestic Gopuram / Vimana welcomes you to the magnificently built temple. Inside the temple, resides the beautiful Bhuvaraha Swami, a small deity much in contrast to the largeness of the temple, but more wonderful. The Deity is one of the 8 Swayambhu Deities in Vaishnava Divyadesams. Ambujavalli Thayar is the Lord’s consort, and the very moment you see Thayar, you feel She is the very embodiment of affection.

Huge Corridors in the Temple

Stala Puranam
Hiranyaksha, the brother of Hiranyakashipu, wanted to be a dominant force. To achieve this, he rolled over the earth and took it into the nether world, from where he ruled. Bhoo Devi undertook penance seeking help from Lord Narayana to protect her from the Asura. Lord Vishnu took the form of Varaha (a boar), went into the sea and killed the asura. He brought back the earth on his Adisesha and appeared here as a Swayambu idol.

Legend has it that he created the Pushkarani with the sweat emanating from his body after his battle with Hiranyaksha. On his death bed, Hiranyaksha prayed to the Lord and as his final wish wanted the Lord to turn to turn in his direction. Hence Bhoo Varahan’s face is seen turned in the direction of the asura towards the South. An interesting feature of the moolavar deity at this temple is that the face, in the form of a boar, is turned towards South, while the body bearing a human shape is facing West in the direction of the devotees.

Childless couples can do a Pooja here and will be blessed with Children soon.

Lord Sri Rama Temple : Outside the temple there is another beautiful temple for Lord Sri Rama. The uniqueness in the temple is that Lord Sri Rama is in sitting posture in this temple, a very rare sight.

More about the temple can be read in detail here – prtraveller.blogspot.com/2009/11/srimushnam-bhoo-varahaswamy.html

Getting There
Srimushnam is about 70 kms from Cuddalore & 39 kms from Chidambaram. The below map can give you an idea about the location.

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1. News Collectors who can collect information on Divyadesa utsavams, Sri Vaishnava events and other information from temples and other online, offline sources.
2. Readers who can read News (in Tamil & English) and also the various Commentaries & Vyakhanams on Divya Prabhandams.

I humbly request everyone to put in whatever effort possible to help the wonderful effort become even more wonderful. Interested people please mail to srinivasanthiruvadi@gmail.com

Sri Andal

The Thiruadipooram Utsavam to celebrate the Thirunakshatram of Sri Andal is set to start on 25th of July. Here are the details of the Utsavam.

Moreover, a man protects his wife in this birth. In the next birth, who knows where and what he will be born as, and where and what she will be born as?
Thus the protection of a father or a husband or a ruler is limited by the specific ties protected persons have with them in this birth.

But the Lord’s connection with a jivatma is not limited by birth or by the physical form the jivatma takes in a birth. It is a connection that is not bound by birth, geography or anything else, said Valayapet Ramachariar in a lecture.

The Lord is the protector of all, and He is the protector everywhere, and always. He has no limitations and neither does His protection have any limitations. All jivatmas constitute the body of Lord Narayana.

Only when we realise the nature of the atma, will we think of surrendering to the Lord. Why do we deposit our jewels in a bank locker? We are afraid that the jewels might be stolen if kept at home, and we know that the jewels are valuable.

In the same way, we should realise that our atma is precious, and that it belongs to the Lord. Only when we realise the precious quality of the atma, do our minds begin to dwell on God. There is only one owner of our atmas, and that is Narayana Himself.

If we own a house, we can call it our own, only until we sell it. The moment we sell it, it ceases to be ours. But all jivatmas always belong to the Lord.

We talk of kings winning battles. But the king might not himself have joined in the fighting. His foot soldiers would have been the ones who would have fought for him.

And yet the king is the one who is given credit. That is because he is the one who gives the order to fight and the order to stop.

In the same way, we are able to carry out tasks, only because the Lord wills that we should. He is the One in charge.

The article can be found here – The Hindu : Today’s Paper / MISCELLANEOUS : Universal Protector.

for Sri Vaishnava Upanyasams & Songs - 24 X 7

A detailed Schedule of Programmes is put up in the same page. The schedule also has slots for Sandhyavandhanam 3 times a day. Apps for Android & iOS are proposed to be released soon. Also coming up is a Sri Vaishnava resources site for Sri Vaishnava related Videos, Audio, Photos & News.  Visitors are requested to contribute any Sri Vaishnava song / upanyasam they might have. Visitors can also request for any Sri Vaishnava upanyasam or Song to be played. The website also has a Twitter feed.

The wonderful site has no information on the creators. All it mentions is that the site is “just a humble attempt“. One can just be amazed and sing “Pallandu, Pallandu”  to the creators. Thinking of Sriman Narayan every moment is the biggest Bliss one can get and there are no words to describe how such a service helps us in it.