Sunday, March 6, 2011

Kulasekara Azhvaar's Perumal Thirumozhi

மரம்திகழும் மனம் ஒழிந்து வஞ்சம் மாற்றி
வன் புலன்கள் அடக்கி இடர்பு பாரத் துன்பம்

துறந்து இரு முப்பொழுது ஏத்தி எல்லை இல்லாத்
தொல் நெறிக்கண் நிலை நின்ற தொண்டரான

அறம்திகழும் மனத்தவர்தம் கதியை பொன்னி
அணி அரங்கத்து அரவணையிர் பள்ளிகொள்ளும்

நிறம்திகழும் மாயோனை கண்டு என் கண்கள்
நீர்மல்க என்றுகொலோ நிற்கும் நாளே




Kulasekara Azhvaar describes the handsome Lord of Srirangam
as one who resides on a serpant bed between the Cauvery and Coloroon rivers.

He says that for all those who practice the true form of Dharma with unshakeable faith and never swerve from the the righteous path, cleansing the vices in them and controlling their negative senses, Lord Ranganatha is the sole refuge.

For the true devotee, visiting Arangan Lord rids them of the painful load of karma.

I ask, when will I be in Arangam to be in the midst of the true devotees offering my sincere prayers and ridding myself from this cycle of birth...

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Poonamallee Varadaraja Perumal



Located 25kms from Madras on the Bangalore Highway is the 1100year old Varadaraja Perumal temple in Poonamallee. This place is also referred to as Pushpaporu Kshetram and Poovirantha Kshetram.

Construction
The temple is believed to have been built in the 10th Century AD during the reign of the great Chozha King Paranthaka Chozha ( 907-954AD). Inscriptions dating back to this period refer to this place as Puliyur Kottam Poonthamallee and Nedunchezhiya Vinnagaram.

Story
This is the avathara sthalam of Thirukachi Nambi, the Guru of Ramanuja. Thirukachi Nambi used to walk to Kanchipuram and present flowers in the morning to Lord Varadarajan. Given his special devotion , Lord Varadarajan would engage in conversations with Nambi.

Once when Nambi fell ill and could not walk to Kanchipuiram to present his flowers, Lord Varadarajan himself came here in the morning and provided darshan to Nambi with the Sun’s chakra behind him, a special feature at this temple.

Thirukachi Nambi also had darshan of Lord Ranganatha of Srirangam and Lord Srinivasa of Tirupathi at this place. Ranganatha is seen in a handsome sleeping posture with four hands.

This place came to known as 'Poovirintha mallee'after the Thaayar 'Poovirintha Thaayar'.

Avathara Sthalam of Thirukachi Nambi


Festivals
Thirukachi Nambi Avathara Utsavam in Maasi
Ranganatha Utsavam in Chitrai
Varadaraja Utsavam in Vaikasi
Srinivasa Utsavam in Puratasi

In Panguni (on April 10, 2011), Garuda Seva with all the three Lords


Quick Facts

Moolavar: Devaraja Perumal in a standing posture facing West
Thaayar : Pushpavalli thaayar (separate sannidhi)
Temple Time: 7am-1130am and 430pm-830pm
Contact : S. Gopalakrishna Bhattar/Sriram Bhattar @ 97911 42968 or Sowriraja Bhattar@ 98401 22515

How to reach
This is on the Madras- Porur-Poonamallee-Sriperumbudur highway. The temple is a 5minute walk from the Poonamallee bus stand.
Number of buses ply between Parrys/Broadway and Poonamallee.