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Re: Fwd: Re: kamba rAmAyanam

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Sadagopan • November 17, 2002 


Dear SrI Venkat:

Your question on the right hand of Moolavar 
placing a flower on the head of a Siva Lingam
below the bed of the Lord at Thiruvananthapuram 
generated the following thoughts :

It is true that the right hand of Moolavar touches
the head of a small siva lingam . One sees the flower
on the head of theLingam only in rendered pictures . 
As the sEvArthis know , the giant size of Moolavar 
at Thiruvananthapuram has to be enjoyed (taken in) 
in three sections thru three vaasals . The lingam is 
at a position below the Naaga paryankam.

Here are some random reflections:

1. Lord Sivan (Ahirbudhnyan) is a grand son of SrIman NaarAyaNan
(Thirumazhisai's Naanmukan ThiruvandhAthi). The flower placed 
on the head of Siva Lingam could be viewed as an affectionate 
presentation of a Flower from the garland (Vyjayanthi 
Maalai) resplendent on  "the grandfather's " chest (Thiru Maarbhu).
This can be viewed as the head of the family 
(SrIman NaarayaNa Anantha PadhmanAbhan) recognizing
the deeply  respectful Ahirbudhnyan, the grand son , 
who performed Prapatthi to Him thru the Manthra Raaja Padha SthOthram.
On the prAkAram of Moolavar, You can also have the darsanam 
of the archai of Narasimha para Brahmam.  

2. If one has to provide support for the conjecture 
that the Moolavar is offering KusumAnjali (Pushpa
AarAdhanam) , one can not see how one (PerumAL)can be lying
down and casually place a flower on the supposed
object of worship even without looking at the Siva
Lingam . Under normal circumstances of
worship , One will be standing face to face 
in revenrence and offer(place) the flower.

3. Thiruvananthapuram is a VaishNavite Dhivya desam dear to
Swamy  NammAzhwAr . When Swamy  AlavanthAr heard one Thiruvananthapuram
paasuram , he travelled immediately to Thiruvananthapuram and
worshipped the Lord there and lost track of time so  much
so that he missed the appointment to recieve initiation 
on the Yoga Rahasyam , which was his grandfather's family
treasure from a direct sishyA of his grandfather (Swamy  Naatha Muni).

4. Finally , Swamy  NammazhwAr's paasuram (TVM 10.2.6)
pasage gives us a  perspective on this ArchA Moorthy :

"KumaranAr thAthai thunpam tudaiytthaa GovindanArE"

The reference here is to BaaNAsura Yuddham , where 
Lord Govindhan met Both Rudra Sivan and His second
son, SubrahmaNyan as allies of BaaNAsuran and chased 
them away in the battle . Lord Govindan , who blessed 
His grandson once (Hara Saapa vimOchanan) to get freed
from the sin of plucking one of the five heads of
his father( BrahmA's) is referred to here as
"KumaranAr ThAthai thunpam tudaiyttha Govindhan"

Swamy  NammAzhwAr states in this paasuram that
the Garbha graham is full of multitudes of dEvAs
--who owe their origin to Sri Ananatha PadhmanAbhan)--
have thronged to offer their worship ( aarAdhanam 
of the Jagath Kaarana vasthu).Swamy  NammAzhwAr instructs
us ( as the ParamaachAryan to join the nithya sooris and
DevAs to offer our worship (and recieve pushpa praaAdham
at the end of our worship like Rudra Sivan) without hesitation .   
 
Taking all these in to account, we can safely say that 
Thiruvananthapuram is an ancient VaishNavite dhivya desam 
worshipped by our AchAryAs for many  centuries. There are
many unique Siva Sthalams in KeraLA like Thirusoor ,
Naagar Koil  et al.Thiruvananthapuram for reasons
stated  is a distinct and undisputed VaishNava dhivya desam 
from ancient times.

" padamuday aravil paLLi payinRavan Paadham
  nadaminO namarkaLuLLIr Naam umakku aRiya chonnOm "

--TVM of Swamy  NammAzhwAr: 10.2.8

(Meaning):  SrI PadmanAbhan  has taken His abode
at beautiful Thiruvananthapuram and is reclining there 
on Adhi Seshan of wide hood . His sleep appears to be
a practised one (PaLLI payinRavan) and is some thing
(Yoga nidhrA) from which He can not be awakened easily.
Oh my kith and kin and blood relations! I suggest that
you all travel to Thiruvananthapuram and offer Your
homage to SrI Ananatha PadmanAbhan's sacred feet .
I instruct you to do this (kaimkaryam) so that you
do not miss the opportunity to ber redeemed." What 
I have gained from the Jn~Anam and intution bequeathed by
our Lord , I am conveying this aadesam " to my close
circle of blood realtions".  

This is the clear message of Prapanna jana santhAna kUtasthar,
Swamy  NammazhwAr to us about  Thiruvananthapuratthu 
Aadhi NaaRAyanan. 
 
SrI Hari Lakshmi SamEtha Sri Anantha PadhmanAbha
SwaminE Nama:     

Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri Sadagopan

>&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
>2) Sri Anathapadmanabha in Thiruvananthapuram- the moolavar reclines on
>Adisesha, and his right hand places a flower on a Siva Linga.
>
>>>>>>> I am not sure about this... as I havent had the oppourtunity to
>visit Thiruvananthapuram.
> 
>Those who have had the BhAgyam of visiting this Dhivya DEsam please
>clarify.
>
>regards
>Venkat




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