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Re: tiruvalur

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Anand Karalapakkam • February 12, 2000 


SrI:
SrI Kanakavalli nAyikA samEtha SrI VeerarAghava ParabrahmaNE namaha
SrI Lakshminrusimha divya pAdukA sEvaka SrIvaN SatakOpa -
 SrI nArAyaNa yateendra mahAdESIkAya namaha

Dear Smt Smitha Ajay,
namO nArAyaNA.

 This is in response to your question about a brief idea on the
  thiru yevvuL divya dEsam. I will answer the rest privately to
  you.

 Recently, a devotee made a SArngam (Bow)  and kadgam
 (Sword) for Uttsavar and Azhagiyasingar presented it for the
 Lord. Though the PerumAL is known as "yevvuL kidanthAn"
 as per the sthala purAnam, the name "VeerarAghavan"
 became more popular due to the pAsurams of Thirumangai
 AzhwAr, in which the "VeerarAghava" aspect of PerumAL
 has been glorified. But, the uttsavar was not adorning SArngam,
 the most important weapon signifying the name Veera- rAghavan.
 Azhagiyasingar has now fulfilled the wishes of kaliyan (thirumangai
 AzhwAr), who in his ecstacy enjoyed the PerumAL as
 Veera-rAghavan. The Uttsavar now is adorned with 5 weapons.

  After the recent samprokshanam, the moolavar is with
  unsurpassable beauty and the beauty of  Uttasavar is already
  well known. Have an excellent trip !!

  Appended are the various articles that appeared in
  the daily "Indian express" few months ago. The pAndian
  kondai kainkaryam referred below needs some more
  funding ( around 2 lakhs). Interested devotees in US
  can kindly contact SrI Srivatsan .
  Please comeforward to donate towards this noble
  cause.

Kindly  make your check payable to "Srivatsan Narasimhan"
 and mail to the following address :

Srivatsan Narasimhan
2920,Scioto Street, #606
Cincinnati OH-45219
USA
Phone :  (513)556-8460

   adiyEn rAmAnuja dAsan,
   ananthapadmanAbha dAsan,
   krishNArpaNam.
-------------------------

CELEBRATED DOCTOR

 Dr.Veeraraghavan, worshipped as Sri Vaidya Veeraraghavasami,
 of Thiruvallur, is the most celebrated physician this side of the
 country.  He is available for consultations just 50 kms. from
 Chennai City.  He can be easily reached by car, train or bus.

 The temple at Thiruvallur bearing His name is one of the most
 celebrated of the 108 Vaishnavite Divya Desams, centres that
 have been fervently endorsed by the Vaishnavite saints, as most
 holy, through their, pasurams (devotion-drenced songs) in the
 4000 Divya Prapandham.

 Thirumangai Alwar and Thirumazhisai Alwar have worshipped
 this Lord through their sacred collect pasurams nos.1058 to
 1067, 2674 (116) & 2417.

 This Lord of Lords blesses his devotees with infallible cures for
 their ailments.  Childless couples are blessed with progeny.  You
 certainly enjoy peace of mind in his presence.  Have faith in him,
 adore him with incurable devotion, and to, thou shall be blessed.

 This temple enjoys a rich heritage, a hoary tradition.  Besides the
 ordained daily puja rituals, the temple celebrates two Brahmotsavam
 every year, once during Chitthirai month (April-May) and, again, in
 Thai (Jan-Feb).  On these festival occasions, the Lord  and his
 consorts dazzle you, in all their resplendent glory, adorned with
 a variety of ornaments and crowns.

 Sri Veeraraghava Kainkarya Sabha, which has been contributing,
 purposefully and meritoriously, to the all round improvement of
 the temple and its environs, over the last three decades, has now
 proposed to crown this Load with a special gem-encrusted
 Kireetam - the Pandian Kondai - similar to that worn by Sri
 Rangaraja of Srirangam.

  The proposed gold-crown will be embedded with high quality
  diomonds, emeralds and rubies and is estimated to cost rupees
  twenty lakhs.  Naturally, devotee support is a must.

 H.H. Srimad Azhagiyasingar, the 45th Jeeyar of the 600 year old
 Sri Ahobila Math, under whose benign care the Thiruvallur temple
 is placed, has appealed to all sections of public everywhere to
 do the needful and earn the Divine DoctorÂ’s Grace.

The Kainkarya Committee can be contacted at:11, Hasthigiri St.,
West Mambalam, Chennai - 600 032.  Tel.K.G.Krishnan, 4834666:
 E-mail: kgk@md2.vsnl.net.in.

 Meantime why donÂ’t we go round Tiruvallur temple, learn more about
 it through this column and cure ourselves of our ills?  The
 Hridyataapanaasini theertham invites you!  Come pleaseÂ…Â…..
-------------------------------

  THE LORD OF TIRUVALLUR

 “O Lord of Tiruvallur!  Thou art verity an ocean of inexhaustible]
 compassion! Those who rebelled against you, opposed you
 vehemently, calling you all sorts of evil names and also fought with
 you, were forgiven readily the moment they sought refuge in you!
 O Lord! Why donÂ’t you take pity on me, forgive me for all my
 misdeeds and bless me to earn thy Grace divine” - verse from
 Divya Kavi Pillai Perumal IyengarÂ’s 108 Tirupati AndaathiÂ’
 (free translation) - NIE Oct, 18.

 In her book on 108 Vaishnavite Divya Desas (Vol I)Â’,
 Ms M.S.Ramesh, IAS (retd.), has brought out in a praiseworthy
 manner all the relevant details about this sacred temple in Tiruvallur,

 one of the 108 specially holy ones in the country and one of the 22 in
 Thondaimandalam (Kanchi, and in and around Chennai).

 Vaishnavites hold these 108 Divya Desams as of great emotional,
 sentimental and esoteric significance,  It must be recorded here,
 contextually, that out of these 108 Kshatras, two are not in this world

 Sri Vaikuntam and Thiruppaarkadal, the two heavenly abodes of the
 Lord), one is in Nepal (Saalagramam) and one is in forest form
 (Naimisaaranyam) in UP.

 The Sthalapurana of Tiruvallur states that sage Salihotra requested
 the Lord to be prevent and reside  in that area where he did severe
 penance.The Lord acceded to this request but asked the sage to show
 him the exact place for his residence - `Uriya Ull Evvul?Â’. The
 sage showed the lord the exact locale and, hence this holy centre
 is hailed as `Thiru EvvullurÂ’ since known in popular parlance as
 Tiruvallur.

 The presiding deity is Lord Sri Veeraraghava Perumal seen on His
 serpent-bed, Adhisesha, in a reclining posture (Bhujanga - meaning
 serpent, Adi Sesha - Sayanam) with his right hand blessing sage
 Sallhotra.  The other hand expounds, as it were, the esoteric
 nuances of the primordial sound,  the Pranava Mantra, to Lord
 Brahma the Creator, seen emerging  from the umbilicus (Naabhi
 Kamalam) of the Lord.  The LordÂ’s gaze is directed toward the
 southern direction while the feet are seen pointed toward the
 northerly direction.

 This principal deity of Tiruvallur temple is worshipped as
 Vaidhya Veeraraghava Perumal, implying that He cures His
 devotees of all mental and physical ills.  The Vishnu
 Sahasranama (579 and 580) halls him as Beshajaaya Namah and
 Bhishaje Namah accordingly!
-----------------------------------

CURE FOR ALL MALADIES

 When you consult your doctor for treatment he asks you detailed
 questions such as whether you are a diabetic, whether you are
 allergic to a particular medicine-series, etc. before preparing
 you for specialised treatment.

 Lord Sriman Narayana is worshipped as Vaidyo Narayano Hari. He
 is the first, the foremost and the greatest of all physicians.
 During the churning of the Milky Ocean, the Lord manifested
 Himself as Dhanvanthiri, the Divine Physician.  In Srirangam,
 there is a special shrine for Dhanvanthiri.

 The Lord cures you first of your mental ills.  He then prepares
 you for liberation from all mundane afflictions.  That is why
 he is worshipped as Sanyaasakrit - effective prescription and
 preparation for proper cure for all your maladies.  Periazhvaar
 refers to Him as ‘ the gem of a doctor’- Maruttavanaal Nindra
 Maa Manlvanna (free interpretation).

 This doctor of doctors is even on the look out for some excuse
 to cure you of your problems and ills of all costs. Thus, think
 of Him fervently, He will visit you with no visiting fee, no
 other charges either.

 The Hari naama has such amazing curative potency that no one
 can become unhealthy thereafter.  The afflicted person learns
 the way to healthy living, mentally, physically, emotionally,
 spiritually. In her Tiruppavai Pasuram Andal, stresses this
 truth effectively - the efficacy of Hari naama sankirtanam.

 In the Tiruvallur Pushkarani - Hrittaapanaasini - devotees
 dissolve jaggery.  It is said that just as the sweet jaggery
 gets dissolved in the sacred waters so easily, your afflictions
 will get cured thoroughly. Please do not ask me why sugar or
 salt cannot be better substitutes. In this respect as there
 are easier solutes.  A tradition has been set up, it was found
 to be efficacious and the practice continues.  Faith defies
 rational analysis invariably.  Believe in the Lord.  He will
 take proper care of you.  Have no doubt.

 Tiruvallur is not the other end of the world as far as
 computable distance goes. Make haste to refer to
 Dr. Veeraraghavan for all your mental and physical ills. Have
 a dip in the temple tank and emerge pure of heart. Have
 patience, faith and devotion. Praise the Lord, offer yourself
 at His service, seek refuge in Him and get cured permanently
 in the true sense of the word.  Be patient, and be His Patient.
 The Doctor of Doctors will confer on you healthy thoughts,
 healthy ways of life and healthy outlook!  Try it please!
----------------------------

FOR A HEALTHY HEART

 Hridayataapanaasini is the name of the temple tank at Tiruvallur
 where Lord Sri Vaidya Veeraraghava Swami Perumal resides (ref.
 NIE Oct 18,20).  A dip in this sacred tank will ride on of the
 shortcomings of the heart - say, the anguish or distress caused
 to the heart as a result of a negative approach to life:
 Hridaya (heart); Taapa (distress or anguish); Naasini(that which
 enables you to overcome such ills totally).

 This Pushkarani (holy tank) is believed to be endowed with
 miraculous curative powers.  Traditional belief is that if you
 take a daily dip in this holy tank for one year, all your earthy
 desires will be fulfilled and eventually you will purify your
 thought-processes to such an extent that you will liberate
 yourself as you should.  In short, you will be cured of all
 petty, negative and mundane distresses that upset the heart
 continually, all thanks to yourself!

 On the New Moon day in the tamil month of Thai (Jan 14-Feb 13)
 all the rivers in our land - Ganga, Yamuna, Kaveri, Godavari,
 Krishna and others - flow into this tank unseen by the naked eye.
 It is also said that all the celestials take a dip in this tank
 on that day.  If you and I can manage to get such a holy dip on
 Thai Amavasya day, believe me, we will be blessed with divine
 grace. The crowd, of course, will overflow the tank!
 Be prepared!

 The consort of Lord is known as Kanakavalli Thaayar.  Our
 Puranas detail the special significance of the temple, the
 tank and the deities adorning the shrines in the temple.
 The Tiruvallur area itself is acclaimed as Punyaavrata -
 Veekshaaranya Kshetram and the temple Vimanam is worshipped
 as the Vijayakoti Vimaanam.

 It is said that this tower got this name as a result of the
 LordÂ’s victory over evil forces that harassed this area for
 a long time. As oneÂ’s  sins get wiped-out in this holy
 place it is known as Punya Vrata Kshetram.

 One must know that temples have always been worshipped as
 the abode of the Lord and His Consorts on earth.  It is
 enjoined on the devout Hindu that he should not reside in
 a place where there is no temple at all.  He should also
 sing the glories of the Lord unfailingly, everyday.  Temple
 worship has been ingrained in the Hindu psyche from times
 immemorial.  The temple, in effect, is a vital link between
 us and the Supreme Reality.
--------------------------