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Re: Origin of Sri Venkatesha

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Parthasarati Dileepan • October 25, 1995 


On Wed, 25 Oct 1995 09:53:46 -0400 (EDT) Sundar said:
>
>
  [..snip..]


>3. There was controversy in Sri Ramanuja's time, which still persists,
>as to the nature of the "moola moorti" at Venkatam.
>

     There is no merit to the counter claims as
     the deity of thiru vEngadam is described
     as maayOn (Vishnu) by the Jain poet iLangO adigaL
     in Chilappathikaaram, at least 300 years before
     Sri Ramanuja.  Further 10 aazhvaars, (thoNdar adippodi
     and Mathurakavi not included) sang in praise of
     ThiruvEngadavan.  These aazhvaars are again at
     least 150 - 250 years prior to Sri Ramanuja.
     I am not aware of any Saivite naayanmaars praising
     vEngadam as a vElan site.  Badri, are there any
     such songs by any naayanmaars?


>For a people that say we should not look at "nadi moolam" or "rshi moolam",
>I think an exercise is Sri Venkatesha moolam is a little fruitless.. I'd
>rather stick with my wonderful memories of the peace of the seven hills,
>having saathumurai darshanam on Fridays, and a saying that one sees just as
        ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>you enter the main temple area :
>


     SaaRRumuRai sEvai is an everyday thing.  The only free sEvai
     where you can stand within 10 feet of the Lord for
     about ten minues without any "jerugandi" shouted at you.
     Only for men though :-(.


-- Dileepan