This place is also called as Thotadri [தோதாத்ரி]. The Lord is gracing, just as He does in Vaikuntam! The Lord is Sri Thothadri Nathan and Sri Utsavar is Sri Deiva Nayaka Perumal. He is in seated pose, like in Vaikuntam. Sri Thayar is Sri Sirivaramangai Thayar, by Whom this place has all the glory. Nammalwar performed saranagati at the Divine feet of the Lord here. Swami Ponnadikkal Jeer was one of the Ashta Dik Gaja of Swami Manavala Mamunigal. Present successor Swami Kaliyan Ramanuja Jeer of Sri Vanamamalai Mutt, is administering this temple.
80. SRI VAIKUNTAM ஸ்ரீ வைகுண்டம்:
We now start visiting Nava Tirupati [நவ திருப்பதிகள்]. We are welcomed by the Three Kshetrams, Sri Vaikuntam, Varagunamangai and Tiruppulingudi. Nammalwar has praised all these Three, in one pasuram. Alwar Tirunagari is at the center and all other Kshetrams are around it. In Sri Vaikuntam, the Lord Sri Vaikunta Nathan is in standing pose. Once lord Brahma started creation. He had kept the secrets of creation in a manuscript. One Asura stole it away. When Brahma prayed to the Lord, He appeared as Sri Kallar Piran [ஸ்ரீ கள்ளர் பிரான்], and got back the lost one. How Vaikunta Pathi became Kallar Piran? There was one thief Kaladoota. He used to offer a portion of things he stole, to the Lord. Once, he was caught by the King. When produced before King for enquiry, the Lord took the guise of the thief and appeared! When the King realized that the Lord was there, he surrendered all and devoted himself to the Lord. Sri Thayar is Sri Vaikuntavalli. The idol is so beautiful that the craftsman, enamoured by Its beauty, pinched the cheek of the Lord! We can see the mark even now!
81. TIRU VARAGUNA MANGAI திரு வரகுண மங்கை:
The Lord Sri Vijayasana Perumal, is seated. Sri Thayar is Sri Varagunavalli Thayar. A Brahmin Vedavit, wanted to learn mantras and prayed lord Brahma, who sent him to this Kshetram. This place is also known as Nattham [நத்தம்].
82. TIRUPPULINGUDI திருப் புளிங்குடி:
The Lord is Sri Bhumipalaka. Sri Utsavar is Sri Kaisinavendar [ஸ்ரீ காய்சினவேந்தர்] or Sri Kasinivendar [ஸ்ரீ காசினிவேந்தர்]. The Lord is reclining as a large statue. Sri Sridevi and Sri Bhudevi are at His Divine feet. Alwar prays that he should also be included at His feet! To view His feet, we have to see through an opening, when we come around the temple.
83. TIRU THOLAIVILLI MANGALAM திரு தொலைவில்லி மங்கலம் :
This is also called Irattai Tirupati [இரட்டை திருப்பதி Twin Kshetram]. For Alwar, everything was the Lord only! The Lord appears as Sri Devar Piran in one temple and as Sri Aravinda Lochanan in another temple. Alwar says that by deeds, by speech and by thoughts, Sri Devar Piran was his father and mother. Sri Thayar is Sri Karunthadankanni Nacchiyar [ஸ்ரீ கருந்தடக்கண்ணி நாச்சியார்]. Sage Chitraba once performed a yagna. To accept the Havirbhaga, the Lord came with other Devas and so, He is Sri Devar Piran.
84. TIRU KULANDHAI திருக் குளந்தை:
The Lord is Sri Mayakkootthan [ஸ்ரீ மாயக் கூத்தன்]. The Lord killed an asura and danced on his head and so was called Sri Chera Nathan. Now, we will see Gita.
svadharmaj˜n¯anavair¯agya s¯adhya bhaktyekagocarah.|
n¯ar¯ayan.ah.param.brahma g¯ıt¯a´s¯astre sam¯ıritah. || (1)
Yamunacharya, that is Swami Alavandar, has composed this sloka in his Gitartha Sangraha, as the essence of entire Gita with all its 18 Chapters. We are going to see, for the next few days, what was told in each Chapter by Sri Krishna and which doubts of Arjuna were clarified. Svadharma - the duty of each person, or Karma yoga, jnana - Gyana yoga, vairagya - [karma yoga and Gyana yoga] without any attachment, sadhya - attain [bhakti yoga], bhaktyekagocharah - bhakti yoga, when continuously performed, becomes parabhakti, then paragyana and then Parama Bhakti, and ultimately attains the Lord Himself. Swami Alavandar has sectionalised Gita into Three parts of Six Chapters each - Pratama Shadkam, Madyama Shadkam and Charama Shadkam. In Pratama Shadka,
j˜n¯anakarm¯atmike nis.t.he yogalaks.ye susam.skr. te |
atm¯anubh¯utisiddhyarthe p¯urvas.at.kena codite (2),
the First Six Chapters talk about atman sakshatkaram. To attain this result of atman sakshatkaram, Karma yoga and Gyana yoga are necessary. If we realize about atman and do Karma yoga continuously, our mind is purified, and Gyana yoga emerges. Gyana yoga, when performed continuously, will fetch atman sakshatkaram. This is the essence of the First 6 Chapters. Now, we will see the summary of First Chapter of Gita:
asth¯anasnehak¯arun.ya dharm¯adharmadhiy¯akulam |
p¯artham.prapannamuddi´sya ´s¯astr¯avataran.am.kr. tam (5)
In the Mahabharata War at Kurukshetra, on one side was Duryodana with 11 Akshauni troops. The Pandava troops were 7 Akshaunis. While the Two sides were ready to start, Dridarashtra asked Sanjaya as to what his children and Pandu's children were doing in Kurukshetra, a Dharma Kshetram. Sanjaya started narrating the incidents in the battle field. Arjuna saw both sides and asked Sri Krishna to take him in his chariot, between the Two sides. Sri Krishna did accordingly. Arjuna saw relatives on both sides. He saw his teachers, elders of family, brothers and friends on the opposite side. He wondered whether he should fight them. Was it necessary to defeat them and get the Kingdom? Arjuna thought that it was better to beg and live. Cowardice feeling came on him. He forgot his duty or dharma of fighting and saving his people. He mistook dharma as adharma. Where he should not show mercy, he was overwhelmed by compassion. Where he should not show friendship, he showed the same. Swami Alavandar says that he saw dharma as adharma. Arjuna fell at the Divine feet of the Lord and prayed Him to guide and advice the right course of action. Sri Krishna agreed to preach him good. In First Chapter, thus, we see Arjuna disillusioned and fearing. We are also like Arjuna, disillusioned and afraid. Sri Krishna advised not merely one Arjuna, but for the benefit of all of us.
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