We are at Tiruvinnagar aka Oppiliappan Koil and Uppiliappan Koil. Sage Markandeya wanted to get his Daughter, Who was an incarnation of Sri Bhudevi, married. The Lord appeared as an old Man and proposed to the sage to get his Daughter married to Him. The sage was baffled. How could he get his young Daughter married to an old Man? He said that his daughter was too young and did not know even how to cook by adding salt! The old Man replied that the father need not worry on that and He was prepared to sacrifice salt altogether! Thus He became Sri Uppili Appan. Many people observe Sravana Vratam, here. The Lord gracing with Sri Bhumi Devi Nacchiyar, has been praised by Tirumangai Alwar and Nammalwar.
14. TIRUNARAIYUR [NACCHIYAR KOIL] திரு நறையூர் [நாச்சியார் கோயில்]:
We are at Nacchiyar Koil aka Tiru Naraiyur, praised by Tirumangai Alwar. The Lord is Tirunaraiyur Ninra Nambi [திரு நறையூர் நின்ற நம்பி] aka Sri Srinivasan, and Sri Thayar is Sri Vanjulavalli Thayar. There was a sage Medhavi and he found a girl Child under Vanjula tree. In this Kshetram, Sri Neela Devi [ஸ்ரீ நீளா தேவி] is appearing as Sri Thayar. Sri Sridevi Nacchiyar is famous in Tiruvellarai. Sri Bhudevi is famous as Sri Andal in Srivilliputhur. Sri Neeladevi is famous as Sri Vanjulavalli Thayar aka Sri Nambikkai Nacchiyar [ஸ்ரீ நம்பிக்கை நாச்சியார்] in Tirunaraiyur. Tirumangai Alwar [in the guise of His sweet heart] wrote Madal [a Tamil poetic form] here. Also, according to Sri Vaishnava sampradhayam, Pancha samskarams have to be got done for every Sri Vaishnava devotee. Among those Pancha samskarams, samasrayanam is important. In this the discus and conch emblems are imprinted on the shoulders of a devotee. Here, the Lord imprinted these emblems on the shoulders of Tirumangai Alwar. The Lord is gracing in Vyuha [ Vasudeva, Sankarshana, Pradhyumna and Aniruddha] form, in a large salagrama stone, in standing pose, here. The Kal Garuda [கல் கருடன் -stone Garuda] is very famous. The Lord appears on Kal Garuda twice a year. It seems, once a sculptor carved this Garuda out of stone and it was so beautiful and life like, that it started flying like real Garuda! Frightened, the sculptor hit the bird with his chisel, and the Garuda statue landed in this Kshetram and is gracing devotees. Kal Garuda is both Moolavar and Utsavar. Daily poojas are performed. One interesting feature is that when the Kal Garuda is taken out from garbhagruha, only Four persons are able to lift. But after crossing the threshold, the weight increases and Eight persons are needed. At the next stage 16 persons are needed to lift and finally 32 persons are needed to take on procession. While returning the weight reduces and gradually number of persons needed to lift, are reduced in the same order!
15. TIRUCCHERAI [PANCHA SARA KSHETRAM] திருச்சேறை [பஞ்ச ஸார க்ஷேத்ரம்] :
Pancha saram - Sri Saranathan Perumal, Sri Saranayaki Thayar, Sara Kshetram, Sara Vimanam and Sara Pushkarini, are here and so it is Pancha Sara Kshetram. Lord Brahma desired to store seeds of all, in a mud pot. He found that mud from various places did not suit to make the pot. He prayed the Lord, Who directed Brahma to take mud from Pancha Sara Kshetram and prepare the pot for storing all seeds. Brahma did like wise. Tirumangai Alwar has praised in Ten pasurams. Sri Kaveri Thayar once meditated on lord Brahma and She came here and the Lord graced Her. Thai Poosam is important here. The Lord holds a lotus flower in His right hand.
16. TIRUKKANNAMANGAI திருக்கண்ணமங்கை:
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The Lord here is Sri Bhaktavatsala Perumal aka Sri Bhaktaraavi Perumal, and Sri Thayar is Sri Abhishekavalli Thayar. Tirumangai Alwar has praised in Ten pasurams. Sri Thayar emerged from Parkkadal or Ksheerabdi [Milk ocean]. She immediately sat on the Lord's chest. To get married, the Divine Couple came here. All the 33 Crore Devas came here to celebrate the marriage. Brihat [large] Bahar [outside] Sindhu [ocean]. The Lord is very large and so is called Sri Brihat Bahar Sindhu Perumal [Sri Perum Purak Kadal ஸ்ரீ பெரும் புறக் கடல்]. One of the notable feature is that all the 33 Crore Devas are in bees form and are in a beehive in Sri Thayar sannidhi. Here also, Garuda is important and is draped in checkered clothe. All prayers are fulfilled. Swami Tirukkannamangai Aandan, a disciple of Swami Nathamuni, preached the importance of Saranagati and lived here.
17. TIRUKKANNAPURAM திருக் கண்ணபுரம்:
This is also referred to as Keezhai Veedu [கீழை வீடு]. The Lord is Sri Neelamega Perumal aka Sri Sowriraja Perumal. Sri Thayar is Sri Kannapura Nayaki Thayar. King Vasi was returning after participating in Deva - Asura battle. He found in this place sages very lean and thin, due to starving. Mistaking them to be some wild grass, his soldiers were about to cut them off. The sages prayed to the Lord, Who appeared and saved them. Utpalakavada Vimanam. The Lord blessed Gandaka rishi in this place. The Lord as Sri Saranya Mukunda, grants to all those surrendering, Moksham. Once one Archaka honoured the King with a garland, presented to his lover. One of the hairs of the lover was in the garland. The King saw the hair in the garland. He called the Archaka and asked how hair was in the garland. The Archaka lied that the Lord had hairs on His head and so the garland had the hair. Unbelieving, the King wanted to see the Lord next morning. The Lord did not want to let His devotee down and so, when the King inspected the Lord next day, he found real hair on the Lord's head! That is why He is called Sowri [wig] Raja! Muniyodharam Pongal [முநியோதரம் பொங்கல்] prasad is very famous here.
18. TIRUKKANANGUDI திருக் கண்ணங்குடி:
Here the Lord appeared to sage Vasishta as Sri Damodara Narayana Perumal. Sri Thayar is Aravinda Nayaki. Vasishta was a great devotee of Sri Krishna. He, by his yoga power, made an idol of Sri Krishna in butter and ensured it did not melt away. The Lord in the guise of an young Boy, took the idol and ran away. Sage Vasishta chased the Boy! On the way there were many sages meditating. The Boy stood there and revealed His true form as Sri Damodara Narayana! Tirumangai Alwar has described the Lord as Sri Shyamalameni Perumal.
Now, we will see sloka 52. In slokas 51, 52 and 53, the Lord has been telling the means for Atman Darshan. In the last sloka it was told that person desirous of Atman Darshan, should control his mind and sense organs, without desire in materialistic pleasures and should concentrate on atman. More requirements are told in sloka 52:
viviktasevī laghvāśī yatavākkāyamānasaḥ
dhyānayogaparo nityaṃ vairāgyaṃ samupāśritaḥ 18.52
Viviktasevi = selecting isolated place. Ths person should choose a place away from crowds. Crowds will distract concentration. For beginners it will be difficult to meditate in places where people are there. Those in very advanced stage might be able to perform Dhyana, even in crowded place. Laghvasi = eating just sufficient food. More food would induce sleep; fasting or very less food will not give strength. So, optimum quantity of food should be eaten. Yata = try, vak = speech, kaya = body, manasa = mind. He should try to concentrate mind, speech and body in atman. Dhyana yoga = meditating on atman continuously. After this only he would achieve Bhakti and concentrate on the Lord. Nityam = daily. Dhyana can not be for once in a few days, but should be daily, till atman darshan is attained. Vairagyam = detachment from desires [raga - desire, viraga - without desire]. Sam upasrita = well attained [vairagyam]. That is he will remain steadfast in vairagyam and would not come away from it. Our vairagyam are very transient! This person has understood the disadvantages of all other pleasures and understood that atman alone gives eternal pleasure. Thus, selcting a solitary place, with minimal food and controlling speech, mind and body, this person practices atman dhyana daily and has no desire in all other things. More requirements will be told in sloka 53.
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