OM NAMO BHAGAVATHE VISHVAK SENAYA NAMA :

SRIVAISHNAVISM

No.1. WEEKLY MAGAZINE FOR SRIVAISHNAVITES.

Estd : 07 – 05 -2004.

Issue dated 21-06-2009.

editor : poigaiadianswamigal.

Sub editor : sridhara srinivasan.

Flower : 5 petal : 05.

srivaishnavism

Narada, hearing the confirmed opinion from none other than Rukmani, was indeed

overwhelmed and got puffed up.

“Pleasant to see both of you together. Hope all is well with you both,” volunteered Narada.

“ Well all was well until you asked.” So saying he got down

from where he sat and was seen rolling and shouting “ To

hell with it, I've severe headache..”

Rukmani was shocked. Doctors were called in. One of them felt

his pulse while the other his forehead while yet the other his pair

of eyes.. One of them suggested that if fragment of powdered

ginger and pepper mixed with milk from Kamadhenu, heated

moderately and applied on his forehead instant relief was

assured.Kannan wondered whether Kamadhenu was with Sage

Vasishta or elsewhere. The other doctor felt if amirtham brought from Devaloka is given

three times the headache would spirit away. Rukmani felt desperate and wondered if

relief could be obtained locally it would be wonderful.

Kannan , as if keenly awaited her response , said: “My mother Yasoda used to tell when I

was young that if the dust from the foot of someone close and dedicated is mixed with

water and applied on the forehead, the headache would vanish.” “How fortunate to have

Narada right in front of us!”pleased Rukmani. “It'll be disrespectful and and a mark of

incivility on my part – I would rather prefer to have the dust of His sacred feet,” averred

Narada. Narada's reply made by Uthavar and their own Kulaguru.

“Send messengers to scout around for dust “. Fed up with their tiring search, the

messengers sat on a pial cursing their own fate for their helplessness. A cowherd girl who

came out of the house and queried the messengers after their mission. They lamented on

their inability to cope with the sacred assignment. A host of cowherd girls gathered and

ventured to empty the dust on their feet on a half-sari offered by one of them which was

taken to the Lord as pleaded by the girls.

There is no end to Bhakthi.

பொய்கைனடினொன்.

அந்தொழ்யொன் !

கயணயர்ைள் பொற்ி யணங்கும் ன்ிபண்டு ஆழ்யொர்ைில் இந்தப்-பனகபக்ைொணயில்கபன என்று குமம்பயண்டொம். அப்டிபனன்ொல் இயர் ஸ்ரீபொநொநுஜரின் சீடரும், திருநகனில் எம்பருநொனுக்கு புஷ் கைங்ைர்னம் பசய்து யந்த அந்தொழ்யொன் என்று ிகத்தொபொ அதுவும் தயறு. இயர்தொன் அந்தன், ஆதிபசரன்.

சரி இயர் பனருடன் எப்டி ஆழ்யொன் பசர்ந்து பைொண்டது என்துதொப உங்ைள் ஐனம். ஆழ்யொர்ைள் என்ொல் எம்பருநொன் ஸ்ரீநந் ொபொனணன் நீது ஆழ்ந்த க்தி பைொண்டயர்ைள் என்று பொருள். ஆொல் அந்தபொ என்ொல் ஆழ்ந்த க்திநட்டுநன்ி ஆழ்ந்த பசகய நப்ொன்கநயும் பைொண்டயர் . ஆைபய இயர் அந்தொழ்யொன்என்று பொற்ப்டுைிொர்.

“ பசரன் “ என்ொல் பசகயபுரியன் , பசயைன் என்று அர்த்தம். இயபபொ எம்பருநொனுக்கு பசகயபுரியதில் ஆதினொயன் . ஆைபய ஆதிபசரன். பநதத்தில் எம்பருநொனுக்கு பசகய புரியும் ித்ன சூரிைின் யரிகசகனக் கூறும் பொது அந்த, ைருட, யிஷ்யக்பறர் என்று இயர் பனகபபன முதில் கூறுயர். ஆைபய இயர் ஆதிபசரன்.. அப்டி இயர் என்தொன் பசகயபசய்ைிொர் ?எங்கும் இருள்! யொபந திந்து பைொண்டது பொன்று நகம. சிகனில் ிந்த குமந்கதத் தன்க பயற்ிடத்தில் யிட்டுயிட்டு அங்கு ிந்த குமந்கதகன இங்கு பைொண்டுயருநொறு ணிக்ை, தந்கதயும் தன் கை, ைொல் யிங்குைள் தொபந யிை, தன் பநல் யஸ்த்திபத்தில் குமந்கதகன சுற்ி அங்பை ைிடந்த ஒரு கூகடனில் கயத்துக்பைொண்டு பயிபன ைிம்புைிொர். சிக ைொயர்ைள் ஆழ்ந்த உக்ைத்தில் இருக்ைின்ர். சிகக்ைதவுைள் தொபந திந்து பைொள்ைின். நகமனில் அயர் இங்குைிொர்.

டம் யிரியும்...

srivaishnavism

LETTERS FROM OUR READERS.

Dear Swamin,

Adiyen very happy to receive and read Arul Mari. It is interesting. Adiyen would like to

convey adiyen's pranam that even in Swain's busy schedule the continuous mails are posted.

Anantha pranam for the service to our sampradayam. Just one small suggesstion to reduce the

size is to remove the boarders. the borders will take more than 2.5 mb in the actual size.

Thanks,

Govindarajan

DEAR READERS,

PLEASE SEND YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT

SRIVAISHNAVISM WEEKLY MAGAZINE ,

VAARAM ORU KAVITHAI ,

VIVAAHA MANTHIRANGAL ,

WOMEN IN EPICS AND

ARUL MAARI

TO:

poigaiadian@hotmail.com.

Editor.

srivaishnavism

POIGAIADIAN’S esnips FODERS.

1. HIS THAMIZH KAVITHAIGAL AND ARTICLES :

http://www.esnips.com/web/POIGAIADIAN

2. SWAMI DESIKAN’S ARULICHEYALGAL :

http://www.esnips.com/web/SWAMIDESIKANSTHOTHRANGALINTAMIL

3. WHO IS NARAYANAN ? WHY WE HAVE TO SURRENDER AT

HIS FEET ? :

: http://www.esnips.com/web/NARAYANATHATHTHUVAMUMSARANAGADHIYUM READ, ENJOY AND POST YOUR COMMENTS TO :

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SRIVAISHNAVISM

800 SUVARNABHINDHUH: BHUNDUS MEANS LIMBS ONE WHO HAS GOT

GOLDEN LIMBS.

801 AKSHOBHYAH: ONE WHO IS NEVER PERTURBED BY PASSIONS LIKE

ATTACHMENT, AVERSION BY OBJECTS OF THE SENSES LIKE SOUND,

TATE ETC AND BY ASURAS, THE ANTAGONISTS OF THE DEVAS.

802 SARVAVAGEESVARESVARAH: ONE WHO IS THE MASTER OF ALL

MASTERS OF LEARNING (VVAGEESVARAS) INCLUDING BRAHMAA.

803 MAHAARADHAH: HRADHA MEANS LAKE, ONE WHO IS LIKE A

GREAT LAKE OF BLISS.

804 MAHAAGARATHAH: ONE WHOSE MMAYAA IS DIFFICULT TO CROSS

LIKE A DEP PIT. GEETHA SAYS “MMAMA MMAYA DHURATHYAYAA”-

MY MMAYAA IS DIFFICULT TO CROSS”.

805 MAHAABHOOTHAH: ONE WHO IS NOT DIVIDED BY THE THREE

PERIODS OF TIME-PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE.

87

806 KUMUDHAH; “KU” MEANS EARTH-ONE WHO GIVES JOY (MUDHA) TO

THE EARTH BY FREEING IT OF ITS BURDENS IS KUMUDHA.

807 KUNDHARAH: KUNDHA MEANS JASMINE, ONE WHO OFFERS

BLESSINGS AS PURE AS JASMINE OR IN ORDER TO DESTROY

HIRANYAAKSHA THE LORD TOOK THE FORM OF THE BOAR AND

PIERCED EARTH.

808 KUNDHAH: ONE WHO HAS LIMBS AS BEAUTIFUL AS KUMDHA

(JASMINE) OR ONE WHO RESEMBLES A CRYSTAL IN POINT OF PURITY. NAAMAAS WILL CONTINUE

PANJANGAM

FOR THE PERIOD FROM – AANI 08 th To AANI 14th.

22-06-2009 MON AANI 08 AMAAVAASAI A / S MRIGASEERSHAM.

23-06-2009 TUE AANI 09 PRADHAMAI M / S THIRUVAADHIRAI.

24-06-2009 WED AANI 10 DHVIDHIYAI S PUNARPOOSAM.

25-06-2009 THU AANI 11 THRIDHIYAI A / S POOSAM.

26-06-2009 FRI AANI 12 CHATHURTHI M AYILYAM.

27-06-2009 SAT AANI 13 PANCHA / SASHTI A / S MAKAM.

28-06-2009 SUN AANI 14 SAPTHAMI S / A POORAM.

22-06-2009 – MON – THIRUVALLUR MOOLAVAR MUTHANGI SEVAI / AMAAVAASAI.

24-06-2009 – WED - RAMANATHAPURAM KOTHANDARAMAN UTHSAVAM STARTS.

25-06-2009 – THU - - DO - SIMHAVAAHANAM.

26-06-2009 – FRI - - DO - HANUMANTHA VAAHANAM.

28-06-2009 – SUN - - DO - SESHA VAAHANAM

SUBHA MUHURTHANGAL :

24-06-2009 – WED - STAR / PUNAR ; LAGNAM SIMHAM ; TIME : 9.30 TO 10.30 A.M ( IST )

25-06-2009 – THU - STAR / POOSAM ; LAGNAM / SIMHAM ; TIME : 9.30 T0 10.30

***************************************************************************

22-06-2009 – MONDAY – AMAAVAASAI THARPANA SANKALPAM : VIRODHI NAAMA

SAMVATHSARE UTHTHARAAYANE KREESHMA RUDHOU MITHUNA MAASE KRISHNA PAKSHE

AMAAVAASYAM PUNYADHITHOU INDHU VAASARA YUKTHAAYAAM MRIGASEERSHA

NAKSHATHRA YUKTHAAYAM SRI VISHNU YOHA VISHNU KARANA SUBHA YOGA SUBHA

KARANA YEVAMGUNA VISESHANA VISISHTAAYAM ASYAAM VARDHMAANAAYAAM

AMAAVAASYAM PUNYADHITHOU ***------- AKSHAYA THRIPTHYARTHAM DHARSA

SRAARDHA PRIDHINIDHI THILA THARPANAM KARISHYE.

DASAN,

POIGAIADIAN.

SRIVAISHNAVISM

SRIMADH BHAAGAVATHAM.

BEFORE BHAGAVAN’S BIRTH THE INDICATIONS STARTED.

ALL THE RIVERS WERE RUNNING WITH FULL OF WATER AND CRITAL CLEAR.

IN THE HOMAS THE FIRE WERE IN HIGH.

DEVAS AND SADHU’S WERE VERY HAPPY.

IN THE SKY ALL THE GRAGHAAS WERE IN GOOD POSITION.

ON A KRISHNA PAKSHAM, ASHTAMI DAY IN ROHINI

NAKSHATHIRAMEMPERUMAN WAS BORN IN DEVAKI’S GARBAM.

THAT TIME IN THE SKY MANGALA DRUMS WERE MAKING NOICE.

KINNARAR AND GANDHARVAAS WERE STARTED SINGING.

APSARAS STARTED DANCING.

WITH FOUR HANDS, SRI MAHAVISHNU WAS BORN AS A CHILD.

HE WAS BORN WITH CHANKU, CHAKRA, SRIVATHSAM, KOUSTHUBHAM,

PEEDHAAMBARAM, SVARNA KANGANA, KEYURA, HAARA, NOOBURANGAL.

HE WAS BORN LIKE A SKY IN BLUE COLOUR.

ON SEEING HIM DEVAKI AND VASUDEVAR WERE SO HAPPY.

THEY STARTED PRAYING HIM.

BUT DEVAKI GOT WORRIED ABOUT KAMSA.

HER WORRY WAS KAMSAN MAY KILL HIM ALSO WHEN HE COMES TO KNOW.

BHAGAVAN STARTED TELLING LIKE THIS.

WHAT HE SAID , WE WILL SEE NEXT WEEK.

SRIVAISHNAVISM

PalsuvAi virundhu.

Swanin

Herein i am sending details of SAPTHAMIRDHA SHRTHRANGAL - 7

Dasan

Thirukkudanthai

K.S.Jegennaathan

098412 36647

Attachment(s) from Jegennaathan K.S.

1 of 1 File(s)

SAPTHAMIRDHA SHETHRANGAL - 7.xls

Dear All,

A sevarthi has uploaded Kanchi garuda sevai held on 6th Jun'2009 was also

attended by Srimad Azaghiyasingar' s.This is available at www.youtube.

com/dhamalravi.

H H SRIMAD AZAGHIYASINGAR POORVASHRAMA PHOTOS (KIND COURTESY SRI.RANGARAJAN,

THIRUKUMARAR POORVASHRAM

http://ramaswamy03. shutterfly. com/3963# 3963

ASRAMA SWEEKARAM; SRI RANGANATHA YATINDRA MAHADESIKAN; 46TH AZAGHIYASINGAR

http://ramaswamy03. shutterfly. com/4331

SRI MUKKUR AZAGHIYASINGAR IN MUMBAI;SANGALPAM; 27 JULY 1977

http://ramaswamy03. shutterfly. com/3877

Regards,

V.RENGARAJAN

Ananthapranama vignapanam.

I am attaching an article of my revered father pudukkottai Sri

A.Srinivasaraghavac hariar swamy on Desika's desire for Archavatara in English.

I typed the article in word and converted to PDF file. Now it has been

forwarded to you. I wish it goes thro your srirangasri site. First two pages of

the article could not be traced by me. Yet the subject did not lose its flavour

I will be thankful to have your reply on seeing the article

With regards

Dasan Rajagopalan

___

Attachment(s) from Dr.V.Sadagopan

1 of 1 File(s)

ASR on Desikaa.pdf

Namaskarams,

Thank you for the exquisite, excellent and quick spreadsheet containing the

information about all Azhwars.

Balaji/DivyadesamOn line: You should try including this spreadsheet from

http://www.divyades amonline. com/alwars. shtml for a seamless reference and benefit of everyone.

Thanks and Regards,

Kindly visit my blog http://andavantiruv adi.blogspot. com/ for the

roundup of the event.

__._,_.___

SRIVAISHNAVISM

DVIYA PRABHANDHA PAASURANGAL.

KULASEKARA AZHWAR’S PERUMAL

THIRUMOZHI.

THIRUMOZHI – III. PAASURAM – 8.

pEyarE ennakki yAvarum yAnum Or

pEyanE evarkku midhu pEsi yen ?

AyanE ! arangA ! endrazhaikkindrEn

pEyanA yozhindhEn empirAnukkE.

SRIVAISH NAVISM

THIS WEEK PUDHAYAL ( CROSS WORD ) IS ABOUT SOME

NAMES OF THE TREASURES CAME OUT WHEN THE

PARKADAL WAS CHURNED. THE CLUES CONNECTED

WITH THEM ARE HIDDEN. YOU HAVE TO DIG THEM OUT

FROM THE CLUES GIVEN IN THE NEXT PAGE:

K V D A A * T S * A

O A H H I S A A * V

U I A B R R P R * A

S J N M A E A A V R

T A V A A E Y N A S

H Y A R V D A G A I

U A N * A E H A R A

B N T * T V S E U H

H T R * H I K * N C

A I I * A * A * I U

HERE SOME NAMES ARE HIDDEN INSIDE THE CROSS WORD .

YOU HAVE TO FIND OUT THE ANSWERS FROM THE GIVEN CLUES.

1. FLYING HORSE. 2. A BOW.

3. DREAM REALISING GEM. 4. A DANCER . 5. GODDESS OF WEALTH. 6. A GARLAND. 7. WINE. 8. POT OF PLENTY ( NOT COMPLETE ). 9. WHITE ELEPHANT. 10. GOD OF HEALTH. 11. WISHFUL FILLING COW.

ANSWERS FOR LAST WEEK CROSS WORD:

PAANDAVAS; KUNTHIBOJA; DURYODANAN; ADHIRADHAN;

DURVAASAR; DHRONAR; KUNDALAM; RAADHEYAN; SOORYAN;

INDHIRAN; KAVACHAM.

DASAN,

POIGAIADIAN.

SRIVAISHNAVISM

HERBAL USAGE.

INDRAVALLI.

TAMIL NAME : MUDAKATHAN.

KARNASPHOTA, THE BEST FEVER KILLER - HRIDAYAPRIYA.

SAINT THIRUMOOLAR NEVER RESTRICTS A SIDDHA BY GEOGRAPHICSL BOUNDARIES. FOR HIM ,

ANY PERSON WHOSE MIND IS “ SERENE AND CLEAR LIKE AN OCEAN “ IS AN ELIGIBLE CANDIDATE

TO BE REFFERED TO AS A SIDDHA.

THROUGH RIGOROURS PHYSICAL AND MENTAL PRACTICES WHICH INVOLVE VARIOUS

TECHNIQUES SUCH AS THE CONTROL OF THE BREATH ( PRANAYAMA), THE CONTROL OF THE

MIND ( MEDITATION ), THE REGULATION OF POSTURES ( ASANA ) AND GESTURES ( MUDRA ), A

SIDDHA SEEKS TO ATTAIN WHAT IS KNOWN AS SIDDHI ( ACHIEVEMENT ), WHICH IS CLASSIFIED

INTO EIGHT TYPES. OF WHICH LAGHIMA ( LEVITATION OR ABILITY TO TO REMAIN AFLOAT ) CAN

BE ATTAINED BY USING INDRAVALLI.

COUGH, PILES : SOAK A FEW LEAVES IN DRINKING WATER STORED IN A MUD POT AND DRINK

IT FREQUENTLY.

ARTHRITIS, DISEASES CAUSED BY VATA AGGRAVATION : TAKE ½ CUP EACH OF BOTH

CLEANED LEAVES AND ROOTS OF INDRAVALLI ALONG WITH ½ tsp CUMIN AND 2 BLACK

PEPPER, ½ INCH PIECE OF GINGER ( CRUSHED ) IN AN EARTHEN POT. ADD 3 GLASSES OF

WATER AND BOIL THE CONTENTS THOROUGHLY TILL THE VOLUME IS REDUCED TO 1 GLASS.

TAKE ½ GLASS OF THIS DECOCTION TWICE A DAY.

MENOSCHESIS ( SUPPRESSION OF MENSTRUATION ) : FRY INDRAVALLI LEAVES IN COCONUT

OIL AND TIE ON THE LOWER ABDOMEN FOR A FEW HOURS. REPEAT 2 OR 3 TIMES A DAY.

EAR ACHE, PUS-FORMATION IN EARS : SQUEEZE A FEW DROPS OF THE LEAF JUICE INTO THE

EARS. PLUG THE EAR WITH COTTON WOOL.

NEXT WEEK : EGG PLANT.

WANTED BRIDE.

" Wanted suitable Bride for Thenkalai, Vadoola Gothram, Thiruvathirai Nakshathram,

age 25 years, Computer Engineer. Employed and also have own business. Please

contact:

Saranathan at srisara15@yahoo.com or on 876 458 5952. Jamaica. (W.I)"

Thank you very much

With best regards

Saranathan Srinivasan

Vadagalai, Kousiga Gothram, 38 year old Divorcee, Born 9-Oct-70, Uthiradam 2nd

paadam, , Ht - 6 ft, fair, MBA, Ex-Defence, well settled in Navi Mumbai. Working in

leading PSU Bank's ITDivision as Project Leader. Contact - 0-9819001922, Res :

022-27483531. Seeking Educated Iyengar (Preferably) / Iyer bride. Widow /

Divorcee without encumbarances preferred.

WANTED BRIDEGROOM.

WANTED BRIDEGROOM FOR VADAKALI, SRIVASTA GOTHRAM, ANUSHA

STAR,AGE 26 YRS,HT.5'7"., BE, MBA.CONTACT: K.L.NARAYAN,CELL:99446-

91022, RES:0431-2435828.

adiyenMrs. Suchitra Rajan( from Muscat)

SRIMUSHNAM ANDAVAN THIRUVADEGALE CHARANAM

Please send the messages to this

page to :

poigaiadian@hotmail.com.

Arul maari – 6. ThEar azhundhUr pAsuram-s ---Beyond

Description

The eighth ten of the seventh decad

(Ezhaam Patthu, Ettaam Tirumozhi) is

unique, in the sense that all the

pasurams end with the refrain, Amarar

Kove!. This we understand to be a

reiteration of the Emperuman?s

tirunamam at this Divyadesam, viz.,

Devaadi Raajan. This particular group

of ten verses finds the Azhwar

recounting the various magnificent

avataaras of the Lord, commencing with

an enticing portrait of His supine

figure, reclining on Adisesha, with

Sridevi and Bhoodevi gently pressing

His delicate feet, with Maharshis and

Sages singing His praise incessantly,

in apparent slumber but ever exercised

about the welfare of His devotees.

Azhwar tells us that this Vyooha

Vasudeva moorthy is none other than the

one who is adored by the wise and

learned of Azhundoor.

The extraordinary compassion and mercy

Emperuman has for mortals, which found

a reflection in His Hayagreeva

Avataram, restoring the stolen Vedic

lore to Brahma and Maharshis who felt

lost without them, is brought out in

the second pasuram, while the third

recounts how the Lord came rushing post

haste from Srivaikunttam to save a mere

elephant, besieged by a crocodile. The

submarine operation mounted by the Lord

for rescuing Mother Earth from the

depths of the ocean, in the form of a

Magnificent Boar, is brought out in the

fourth pasuram, while the fifth is

about Sri Kalian’s favourite Nrisimha

avataram. The enchanting Brahmachari

who sought a mere three feet of land

and grew later into a colossus,

measuring the three worlds with His

feet, comes in for praise in the next

verse, while it is Sri Rama, whose

glory is recounted in the seventh

pasuram. The ever-entertaining exploits

of the mischievous Krishna occupy two

pasurams, the eighth and ninth. Thus,

the Vyooha Vasudeva, who is the origin

of all avataras, is praised in the

first pasuram and the resulting

avataras, in the rest of the verses.

We have heard as to how Piraatti

confers distinction on Emperuman,

serving as an unerring identification

for the Parabrahmam (Svaroopa Niroopaka

Dharmam). Without Her benign presence

we would be hard put to recognise the

Ultimate. It is She who is the root

cause of all of the Lord’s

accomplishments, says Srimad Ramayanam

too.Aprameyo hi tat teja: yasya saa

Janakaatmaja. Azhwar tells us that just

as Piratti enhances Emperuman, Her

glory, in turn, is accentuated by

association with the Lord. (They are

indeed a glorious couple,

complementing, supplementing and

enhancing each other). Azhwar brings

out this esoteric purport through the

brief appellation, ?Tiruvukkum Tiru

aagiya Selva!.

Does this ring a bell? It should, for,

not one, but three of our Poorvacharyas

have used this phrase (its Sanskrit

equivalent) verbatim in their

compositions. First is Sri Alavandar,

in his Stotra Ratnam Ka: Sree: Sriya:,

followed by Sri Koorattazhwan Tvaam hi

Sriya: Sriyam udaahu: udaara vaacha:

(Sri Vaikuntta Stavam) and Sri Bhattar

Sriya: Sree: Sri Rangesaya (Sri

Guaratna Kosam).

The beauty of Sri Kalian’s Terazhundoor

pasurams is beyond description. They

are set to lilting metres, making it as

much a pleasure to recite them as to

imbibe their inner purport. Each

pasuram is an incredibly sweet amalgam,

consisting of a description of the

Lord’s glories and the magnificence of

the locale, a narration of sublime

personal experience and an enlightening

exhortation to the devout. While I have

attempted to place before you a

severely abridged and perhaps stilted

version of the verses and their

significance, you would find it

extremely profitable to peruse the

pasurams one by one. In the process,

you would emerge much richer in spirit,

your admiration for the Azhwar

increasing manifold.

Vaazhi Parakaalan

Vaazhi Azhundur Amman

The Vertical Growth

If we deeply think on why apartments are coming

up, the obvious answer is shortage of space. In

a given place, the structures have spread

horizontally and once the place is

insufficient, the buildings are being developed

vertically. This is one of the tangible

transformations of urban centers.

These go up, as if scratching the sky and hence

termed as 'sky scrapers'.

The rich horticultural heritage manifest as

various flowers -lotus, senkazhunEr, kaidhai

flowers and so on and so forth. They spread

horizontally initially and also grow on the

ponds hither and thither. Once, these space is

filled up, these gardens grow vertically

filling up the space in the sky. This vertical

growth has been visualized by Sri thirumangai

AzhwAr in Thiru-nAngUr ArimEya viNNagaram first

pAsuram but not in the context of concrete

jungle but in relation to natural vegetation.

This is aptly described by Sri Periya vAchAn

piLLai as follows:

"... malargaL, migu thAmaraigaL .pUkkaL

migundhuLLa thAyaigaL, sen-

KazhunEr,thAmaraigaL, ivai parandha poigaigaL

dhOrum avagAsangaL dhOrum viLanga,ingu idam

illAmaiyAlEa sOlaiyAnadhu parappaiyudaiya idam

adaithukoNdu Ongi..."

The various flowers like lotus, senkazhunEr

kaidhai etc. spread themselves on the various

ponds and due to shortage the gardens grow up

into the sky and fill up the space displaying

splendor and beauty.

"...malargaL migu kaidhaigaL sen-kazhunEr

thAmaraigaL thadangaL dhorum thigazha,

aruvidangaL pozhil thazhuvi ezhil thigazhum

nAngUr" 3-10-1;

Perhaps the

THE HANGING GARDENS of thirunAngUr

Vaazhi Mangai Mannan

Vaazhi Aalinaadan

Courtesy—Vanamamalai Padmanabhan Swamy

By : villiampakkam sri. Govindarajan swamigal.

WOMEN IN EPICS.

9.KOUSALYA

Kousalya the eldest of King Dasaratha's three wives and a queen of Ayodhya. She was the daughter of the King of Kosala kingdom .Her son is LORD RAMA. In Ramayanam her part appears only in Balakandam and Ayodhyakandam. Kousalya's greatness with Dasaratha, Rama, Bharatha,and Guha are discussed in this.

with DASARATHA

King Dasaratha performed Putrakameshti yaga , the sacrifice of progeny, a divine being purusha emerged from the holy fire and offered milk payasam. Dasaratha distributed this to his three wives kousalya, Sumitra, and Kaikeyi according to

their status. He gives a half to his queen eminent patta mahishi Kousalya , the he gives a half of remaining pudding to Sumitra and parts with half of what remains to Kaikeyi. Still there is something that left in the bowl. ,he thinks for a while and

bestows it on his second queen Sumitra. Kousalya thus gave birth to the oldest son Rama. Scholars have established the date of birth of Rama to be 4439 BC,

Chaitra, Shukla, Navami.The parayanam of the sloka in Balakandam Kousalya Ajanayath Ramam Sarva Lakshana Samyutham / Vishnuh arthatham

Mahabagaagam Puthram Yeshvaku Varthanam with offering of payasam and feeding the same to poor children is sure to be blessed with a child. After Rama, Bharata was born to Kaikeyi and twins Lakshmana and Satrugna were born to Sumitrai.Valmiki oberves that a half of Vishnu ,corresponding to the share of a half of the pudding has taken birth as the son of Kousalya. Kousalya's unique

privelege of being a mother to the supreme being is always a subject extolled by many Azhwars, Acharyas, Sages and Ramayana karthas.Suprabatham to Sriman

Narayana starts with the lines of 'Kousalya Supraja Rama 'only because of this glorious mother Kousalya who is mother of Vishnu's incarnation as Rama. This may be to praise kousalya as being more evolved than Dasaratha. Visvamithra

has said 'Aham Vedmi mahathmanam ramam sthya parakramam' as he knew the real identity of Rama. But Dasaratha was not conviinced and said 'Duhkhenoth

padhithaschayam na Ramam nethum arhasi,' that Rama was born after great penance and Visvamihtra cannot take him away. In that context, Kousalya did not say a word, which presumably Valmiki would have recorded, if she has expressed her concern. Such experience is seen even when Rama went on exile . Dasaratha

could not bear the separation but Kousalya endured it with much self control.

with RAMA

Rama went to Kousalya's chamber to receive mother's blessings before leaving the city. Kousalya told Rama that she could not stay in Ayodhya, once he left that place and so she prefered to join them in the forest. It is well known that the firt duty of wife is to serve only to her husband , that too in his old age, and also, when he is in trouble of seperation from his beloved son. But he was in full confused mind with much grief over the exile of Rama ,to leave him for 14 years .She was then very much upset, all in her action, words and mind. But Rama later consoled her slowly. Then, Kousalya too gave Rama her benediction in sweet words and blessed Rama to return in glory after carrying out Dasaratha's orders. Rama thus made her to smile by saying as after all 14 years will pass on easily .

Kousalya used to put her child Rama in cradle to sleep and then start worshipping the family deity in her pooja room. All delicious sweets prepared by her along with fruits wre offered during her prayer. One day Kousalya saw in surprise that her son Rama was taking them in full happiness. But when she went to the cradle, she saw another. was taking them in full happiness. But when she went to the cradle, she saw another Rama in deep sleep. Just like Krishna appeared with various gopigais in Krishna Avatara , Kousalya saw two Ramas at a time. Baffled by her vision, she went to her pooja room, and prayed Deity in closed eyes in deep devotion. Kousalya thus found her son Rama as lord of creation, and protection of this universe. She overwhelmed by love then and prayed him to come to her as her son.

Kousalya asked Rama to see that Dasaratha would never swerve from his words. As he has promised the kingdom to Rama , she wants his words should be kept true. But when Rama told about banishment to him, Kousalya fell on the floor like a chopped tree in the forest. Kousalya felt that she will be loosing all respects as Rama is not to be crowned. She felt more cruel , for snatching Rama after blessing her with a son is more cruel. The loss of bearen woman is only child-lessness, but getting a son but ill treated then is a greater sorrow Eko eva hivan Dhyaayaa hSoko bhavathi maanasah . But Rama adviced his mother Dharma as a wife to Dasaratha is to live with husband only as long as he is alive. When Rama told as fate only is playing the role, Lakshmana said as cowards only fear fate and not the valiant. He was even about to go on war to bring back crown to Rama.Rama then told Kousalya as he dont want to swerve from the path of dharma .

with BHARATHA

Rama left the palace and the kingdom , and came to the forest after the instructions from both Kaikeyi and Dasaratha.Though Bharatha was given with the kingdom, with the efforts of his mother Kaikeyi , he has refused to accept the same. He has avoided the palace, the pleasures and also dressed like Rama and

proceeded to the forest to get back Rama. But Rama, respecting his father’s words ,decided to stay in forest for 14 full years ,and then only to return to Ayodhya. As per Bharatha's request Rama, most mercifully gave away His

most divine Dhivya Paadhukas to him, but at the same time fulfilled the pithru vaakhya

paripaalanam. This greatest Bharatha’s such grandest character, sacrifice, detachment to pleasures, vairagyam, is exemplary in all respects and so Azhwar calls him as “padi il gunatthu Bharatha nambhikku- Even thousand Ramas can not equal one Bharatha- said Kousalya. The greatness of Paadhukas thus became greater only due to this Bharatha’s such grandest deed. Ayodhyaa people wanted Bharatha to be the king. But Bharatha made the Paadhukas of Rama as its king. It seems the same thousand was taken into consideration by Sri Vedanta Desikar . Paduka Sahasram, one thousand verses on the sandals, in praise of the sacred sandals of Lord Sri Renganatha's lotus feet at Srirangam, was composed by him in a night, on request of the learned scholars of Srirangam realising that there was no strong Shloka on Sri RenaganathaSwamy at Srirangam.

with GUHA

Kausalya plays in the epic is rather short and her qualities come into the fore when Rama breaks the news of Bharata assuming the throne, followed by that of his going to the jungle. In Nandhigrama where Bharata is waiting for the arrival of Rama and decides to fall in fire when his arrival gets delayed,Kousalya behaved as a brave, practical and affectionate mother .Then Guha fell at her feet and Kausalya was introduced after making enquiries about him. Kausalya consoles Guha who is in tears in seeing her in such a condition. She is not at all worried about what has happened. She sounds more like a mother who comforts her child, though her mind is set in agony at the death of her beloved husband and having to go through the pains of separation from her son. Though there is a ray of hope in the action of Bharata to bring Rama back and her mind is also brimming with the hope that Rama may relent, she was restless throughout. Kousalya thus told happily that they were in a position to meet the valiant Guha and Guha becoming fifth brother and All the five of them may join together in unison to protect this world.

Kousalya admired her daughter in law as Sita is an extraordinary woman to follow her husband sharing his misery and privation. Dasaratha narrated Kousalya, about Sarayu river incident in which he shoot one boy thinking him as an elephant drinking water. But later he found that he is a young boy of old parents. Later he was cursed by them to have a similar loss in my life. Dasaratha felt Rama's separation in this way. But, Kousalya later felt that a barren woman have only one grief. But when she is blessed with a noble son, she was not able to live him is a cruel . So she had more grief. In our next topic of Woman in epics , in Ramayana the main character of Sita will be discussed with particular reference to her mother in law kousalya .

ARUMBULIYUR JAGANNATHAN RANGARAJAN

SRIVAISHN AVISM

We must constantly think of God and thank Him for all the boons He has conferred on us. We must not take anything for granted, but see everything as a gift from God — be it food, shelter, water, education, employment or riches.

That is precisely what a theist would do, said Ilampirai Manimaran.

There was a man, a believer in Lord Narayana, who worked for a rich man, an

atheist. The servant followed the practice of offering thanks to God for everything — increments that his master gave him, feasts that he gave his servants. This annoyed the rich man.

One day, the rich man took his servants along for hunting. It so happened that he and the Narayana bhaktha got separated from the others.

Soon they realised that they were lost in the forest. The rich man wondered aloud how they were going to find food. “Lord Narayana will provide for us,” answered the bhaktha. The reply angered the rich man, who said the bhaktha should wait under a tree for Lord Narayana to bring him food, while he (the

master) would go and look for food. After a long and hard search, the master found some forest dwellers, who gave him some fruits and honey. He ate some and brought the rest over for the bhaktha.

The bhaktha, as usual, thanked Lord Narayana for the food. The rich man said it was not Narayana who deserved thanks, for He had not supplied the food. To this, the bhaktha replied that he himself was a poor man, while his master was rich. As the servant, he was the one who should have waited on his master. But in this case, it was the master who had brought food for his servant. Who but

Narayana could make a master serve his servant?

The unshakeable belief that Lord Narayana alone can save us is common to all believers. While the immediate benefit of a salary or a gift or some other bonanza may come from a human benefactor, it is God who is behind that human being.

Tondaradippodi Azhvar says he has no wealth, or relatives. But he disdains everything, except the love of the Lord.

He only wants his eyes to feast on Lord Ranganatha of Srirangam

Courtesy :

Chennai, Dt. JUNE 10, 2009.