All About Azhwars VI

KULASEKARA AZHWAR

(Compiled by Vijaya Kumar)

Kulasekara Azhwar was born in Thiruvanjikkalam, in the month of Maasi and Punar Poosam star which is also the birth star of Sri Rama. He was born in a royal family and his father, Dhidaviradhan was a great Chera emperor.

Even when he was young, he learned all vedas, sastras, tamil and sanskrit. He also learnt various war fares like horse riding, elephant riding, chariot riding and also sword and ghadha fight. When he grew up be became the king when his father became old.

After ascending the throne, he started conquering lots of small kingdoms and established his empire. All the people were very happy because he was ruling like Rama and they had showed great amount of love and affection.

At this time Perumal wanted to show his leela and make Kulasekara change his life towards him and appeared in his dream and blessed him. This made Kulasekara feel bad for all the wars and Kulasekara stopped any further wars. Instead of this he started learning about Vishnu Bhakthi. So he made lots of scholars to come to his kingdom and tell stories on puranas and sastras and tried to learn the inner meanings of the stories. When he listens to these types of stories he used to concentrate so much that he will go very deep into the stories.

Likewise one day, when a scholar was telling the story of Ramayana, the scholar was explaining how Rama was fighting in the battlefield. When the scholar was telling the story, Kulasekara Azhwar thought that he was in the battle field along with Rama and ordered his troops to be ready for the battle. However the scholar passified Kulasekara Azhwar by telling him that Lord Rama had already killed Ravana and he is on his way back to Ayodhya. Then Kulaseakra Azhwar ordered his troops to go back.

That day during night, Lord Rama appeared before Azhwar and told him that he was very much moved by his affection towards Him which was equal to the affection showed by Lakshmana (also called as Ilaya Perumal) to Him and blessed with the name Kulasekara Perumal. He sang pasurams (verses) which were came to be known as "Perumal Thirumozhi".

As he was more and more immersed towards Bhagavadha Bhakthi, he could not devote his time to his Kingdom. So the ministers were confused as to how to bring back Azhwar concentrate in his kingdom. They even constructed a golden statue of Lord Rama inside the palace. On a Ramanavami day the king noticed that a big golden chain was missing from the statue. He enquired about this with the ministers. Ministers were telling that this could be the act of scholar who is coming to tell stories to Kulasekara Azhwar. On hearing this Azhwar was shocked and could not bear this. He started the ministers how dare they can talk about the Adiyars of Sriman Narayana. He immediately called somebody to ask them to bring a poisonous snake and put in a pot. He said and prayed to Lord if the chain had been stolen by a bhaktha, let the snake bite me and put his hand into the pot. The snake did not do anything. The minister immediately accepted his mistake and requested the King to pardon him as he only did this to put the blame on the scholar so that the king would hate the scholar and return to look after the kingdom. Kulasekara Azhwar immediately realised the mistake and put his son on the helm. Azhwar started singing Lord's glories and visited all temples and lost his heart for Sri Rama.

All About Azhwars - V

PERIAZHWAR AND ANDAL

(Compiled by Vijaya Kumar)

Periazhwar was born in Srivilliputhur. His original name was "Vishnuchitthar". His parents kept this name as they were very fond of Vishnu and were very strong devotees of Vishnu. Periazhwar was born in the month of Aani in the star of Swathi. Azhwar chose to create a garden so that he could prepare a garland for his lord. He liked his kainkaryam better than learning Vedas and Sastras. He even sold his property to continue his kainkaryam and also constructed a beautiful nandavanam.

During this period, the Pandya king who was ruling, wanted to learn about Vedas and Sastras. So he announced a great gift for those who gave him a light on the Vedas. Lots of scholars attempted but nobody could give what the king wanted.

At this time, Lord Sriman Narayana appeared in the dream of Periazhwar and told him to go to the king's palace and explain about Vedas and get the prize money. Next day morning Periazhwar went tot he palace and gave all explanations the king wanted. The king was overwhelmed with the explanations and took a grand procession in praising Periazhwar. On seeing this Lord Sriman Narayana along with his consort appeared before everybody. Azhwar was happy and sang in praise of him "Pallandu Pallandu". As he sang in praise of Lord by greeting him in presence, he came to be called as Periazhwar. Then he went back to Srivilliputhur and sang lots of songs in praise of lord which is known as "Periazhwar Thirumozhi".

Periazhwar's important kainkaryam to Perumal was making garlands and offering it to Him. One day on Aadi Pooram, when he was plucking the flowers, he saw a child under a Tulasi plant. He took the child to the house and brought her up. He named the child as "Kodhai".

Everyday periazhwar used to collect all the flowers and thread a garland. At that time Periazhwar will tell lot of stories of Krishna to Kodhai. On listening these stories, Kodhai started liking Krishna very much and wanted to marry Him. She would even wear the garlands which his father used to make. One day Periazhwar saw this and was shocked. He threw the garland and told Kodhai that she should not do this. Periazhwar made a new garland and took it to Perumal. But Perumal refused to accept the new garland and insisted the garland which was worn by Kodhai. Then Periazhwar went and got the garland and Perumal accepted it.

When Kodhai was 15 years old, she sang the Thriuppavai and Nachiyar Thirumozhi pasurams in praise of Lord. Due to the extraordinary love shown by Kodhai (also called as Andal) Lord Ranganatha wanted her to come to Srirangam. When she reached Srirangam and had a darshan of Lord Ranganatha, she went close to him with full ecstasy and merged with Him.

It's a Baby Boy

Sriman Narayana!

Dear All,

Our beloved Sri. Alagappan Prabhu has been blessed with a 'grandson' as of today morning around 11.30AM (IST).

On behalf of Sathsangh Bahrain, we congratulate Sri. Kumar & Smt. Devi on this occasion.

We all pray divya dhampathi for the good health of Mother & Child.

Next Prabandham Class

Sriman Narayana!

Dear All,

The next prabandham class will be on 19th Aug 2011 (Friday), From 10.00AM To 12.00PM at Sri. Sundararajan's residence.

All are requested to attend the class without fail and get blessings of divya dhampathi.

Sravanam & Prabandham Combined Class (13-Aug-2011 - Saturday)

Sriman Narayana!

Dear All,

The next class (Sravanam & Prabandham Combined) will be on 13th Aug 2011 (Saturday), From 7.00PM To 9.00PM at Sri. Narayanan's residence.

All are requested to attend the class without fail and get blessings of divya dhampathi.

ONE DAY PARAYANAM OF 4000 VERSES OF DRAVIDA VEDAM

Dear Bhagavthas,

Sriman Narayana.

Please mark your dairy and  do not move out of Bahrain. We have planned to recite  the full 4000 versus of Azhwar Arulicheyal in a single day during first day of Eid Al Adha (6-NOVEMBER-2011).

It is a rare opportunity. Once in a life time for us to participate on this great event. Please adjust your schedule and  must be there to recite and enjoy  the great versus of Azhwars.

Please tell all of your friends also who are interested to participate on this one day event.

All About Azhwars - IV

NAMMAZHWAR AND MADURAKAVI AZHWAR

(Compiled by Vijaya Kumar)

Nammazhwar is considered to be the foremost among the azhwars. He is an Avatara of "Vishvaksena", commander of Perumal's army which destroys evil and protects good people. He was born in Azhwarthirunagari in the month of Vaigasi in Visakam star. His parents were Kari and Udayamangai. When Nammazhwar was born he was extraordinary. He did not open his eyes and did not take any food at all. But he was in good health. His parents got disgusted and left the child at the mercy of Lord narayana at the temple of Adhinathar, the deity of Azhwarthirumangai (Kurugoor).

As the child was totally different, he was called as Maran. For sixteen years Maran sat motionless under a tamarind tree in the temple without any food, drink and his eyes closed, in padmaasana. During that period, an elderly brahmin scholar named Madhurakavi was on a pilgrimage to North Indian shrines. When he was in Ayodhya, he saw a bright glowing light as a star on the southern sky. Somehow this attracted him and with a curiosity to know, he started coming down to south. Even when he reached Srirangam he still saw the star in the south. He continued his journey and when he reached Kurugoor, the light emerged from Nammazhwar.

With great difficulty Mathurakavi made Nammazhwar speak and learnt the Shasthras by becoming his disciple. He used to wait for months to have his teachings and he learnt a lot about vedas. Nammazhwar, who is considered as seer of Vedas, sang all the four vedas Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda and Atharvana Veda in 1196 pasurams. This reflected / mirrored Nammazhwar's composition. He composed teh following pasurams:

Thiruvirutham - The essence of Rig Veda

Thiruvasiriyam - The essence of Yajur Veda

Periya Thiruvandhadhi - The essence of Atharvana Vedha

Thiruvaimozhi - The essence of Sama Veda

Nammazhwar who is also called Maran, Sadagopan, Parangusar. He lived under the tamarind tree for 35 years and all perumals from various Divya Desams appeared before him so that Nammazhwar could sing in praise of them. How great and blessed the Azhwar is! After living for 35 years, Nammazhwar wished to reach the Vaikuntam and Perumal invited Nammazhwar to get merged with him.

Mathurakavi Azhwar composed a short but beautiful prabandam of just 11 poems in praise of Nammazhwar. it is called as the "Kanninum Chiruthambu", this occupies a very central place in the recitation of Divya Prabandams. At the end of this pasurams, he claims that one who receite these pasurams will definitely get a place in Srivaikuntam. But he spread the teachings and poems of Nammazhwar far and wide. Further it is considered that the "Sataari", placed on the heads of all bhaktas in Vishnu temple is supposed to be Nammazhwar because all other Azhwars are his limbs.

Madhurakavi an incorronate of Vainatheya (divine bird) was born in chithirai month and in chithirai star at a place called "Thirikollor". He was a great scholar and mastered the tamil and sanskrit languages.