BG 14.30

This temple in this Kshetram is called Naalumoorthy Perumal koil. Because Pancha [five] Pandavas installed the Four idols here. Sri Uyya Vanda Perumal was installed by Arjuna. Sri Vishnu Moorthy was installed by Yudhishtra. One more Sri Uyya Vanda Perumal was installed by Bhima. At the entrance itself is, another Sri Vishnu, installed jointly by Nakula and Sahadeva. Thus Four Moorthy were installed here. For a long time this was Naalu moorthy Perumal temple only. Later on, there was a person serving in Viswanatha Temple, Kasi. He was in Kasi for a long time. His mother was here and to see her, this person came to South. But his mind was full of Kasi Viswanatha. He came to this temple and after placing his umbrella near the sannidhi, he went to the river Bharatapuzha, to wash his hands and feet and perform sandyavandanam, etc. On returning, he tried to take the umbrella, but could not. When he forcibly removed the umbrella, the ground blasted opened and Viswanatha idol was seen. From that time Kasi Viswanatha also is gracing here. Around this sannidhi also beautiful pictures of Dasavatara are painted. We can also notice the beautiful wooden carvings in this sannidhi also. This temple stands as a witness to Saiva - Vaishnava unity! Kulasekara Alwar has praised this temple. Today's [7th April 2009] lecture on the Mahatmyam [glory] of Chapter 14, is from this temple. Parvati asked lord Shiva about the glory of Chapter 14. Once Kashmir was ruled by King Suryavarma. He was a very close freind of King if Sinhala. Both used to exchange compliments. Once King of Sinhala sent a pair of hounds to the King of Kshmir, who responded with safron and other valuables from Kashmir. Once King of Kashmir went for hunting taking the hounds with him. In the forest the female hound chased a male rabbit. The rabbit ran and both stopped at the hermiatge of a sage. Again, the hound was chasing and so the rabbit jumped into the nearby river, splashing water, some drops of which were sprinkled on the hound chasing behind. Immediately, both the rabbit and the hound cast off their bodies and were going high up in the sky. When the rabbit and hound came to the hermitage, the sage asked them a question: " is your enmity not settled, and continuing in this birth also?" The King was surprised and so approached the sage and enquired. The sage replied that in a previous birth, this hound was Kesava, husband of a woman, who was now the rabbit. Both did not lead peaceful life and had frequent quarrels. Once Kesava killed his wife. That enmity had not faded and now the hound was chasing the rabbit! But how the river water made them to reach higher worlds?, the King asked. The sage replied that there was an Acharya in this place and he was daily studying Chapter 14 of Gita. He daily bathed in this river, which got sanctified. This sage also was studying Chapter 14 and was also taking bath in the river. Thus this river water was able to send both hound and rabbit to higher worlds, just by contact! This is the glory of Chapter 14. Let us review Chapter 14:

• The Lord initially told how the Three qualities [satvam, rajas and tamas] bind atman in samsaram. In the First Two slokas the Lord told Arjuna that He would teach this superior knowledge. By knowing this knowledge, persons attain the quality of the Lord.They are never destroyed in Pralayam nor created after that.
  
• Then the Lord explained how the Three qualities bind us in samsaram. He explained by which methods these qualities keep us in samsaram.
  
• Then the Lord detailed the identifications when anyone of these qualities was exalted - Gyana in satvam, efforts and action in rajas and carelessness in tamas.
  
• Then the Lord explained what happened if one died when any of these qualities was predominant.
  
• Further, the Lord explained how to cross these Three qualities and how the person having crossed the Three qualities would appear.
  
• Arjuna desired to know how to identify such a person and the Lord indicated the identifications of the person, who had crossed the Three qualities. That person is inert to abuses and praises, indifferent to respect and disrespect, treats happiness and sorrow alike considers mud and gold as same and regards friend and enemy equally! Thus the internal and external identifications were revealed.
  
• Later, the Lord said that to attain wealth or Kaivalyam or Bhagavt Prapti in Vaikuntam, He was the only means.