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Sri Koorathazhvan Avathara Vaibhavam

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Praveena & Anand • January 21, 2001 


SrI:
Sri Lakshmi Nrisimha Parabrahmane Nama:
Sri Lakshmi Nrisimha Divyapadhukasevaka
      Srivan Satakopa Sri Narayana Yatheendhra Mahadesikaya Nama:

Dear Sri Vaishnavas:

Thai Hastham is Sri Koorathazhvan's Thiru Nakshatram and AdiyEn ventures
into
sharing key aspects of Sri Koorathazhvan's Avathara Vaibhavam.

The Thiru Avatharam:

	Sriman Narayana - the Vathsalyan that He is - was immensely pleased
	by Sri Anathazhvar's Nithya Kaimkaryam in Sri Vaikuntam. Our Lord
	was further pleased by the dedicated devotion and Kaimkaryam shown
	by Sri Anathazhvar during the Lords incarnation of various
	Thiru Avatarams in Boo Logam. Our Lord wanted to reward
	Sri Anathazhvar for his dedicated devotion and our Lord chose the
	route of Kaimkaryam. Yet another instance of our Lord's Kalyana Guna
	in action!

	When our Lord blessed Sri Anathazhvar to incarnate as Bhagavad Ramanuja,
	our Lord found it a fitting opportunity to 're-pay' the dedicated devotion
	shown by Sri Anathazhvar. Thus the Thiru Avatharam as Koorathazhvan.

Sri Koorathazhvan's wealth:

	Sri Koorathazhvan was born in illustrious family - illustrious in wealth,
	knowledge and devotion. Sri Koorathazhvan lived in a place called Kooram -
	a small village close to Kancheepuram and the palace of Sri Koorathazhvan
	was an epitome of material wealth. Sri Koorathazhvan was known
	for his generous help to all and sundry, who lived in the village; who
	came for help and those who visited their palace.

	The main door of the palace had huge bells in it and when the family
	retires for the day, the main door used to be closed with a loud bang.
	The bang was so loud that the noise would reach the Perumal Koil
	[Sri Varadarajaswamy Koil, Kancheepuram], which was
	atleast 5 kilometers away.

The Call by PirAti:

	Goddess Perundevi ThAyAr used to wonder at the kind of wealth that
	Sri Koorathazhvan had and discusses this with none other than our
	Lord DevAadirajan. Both of them felt it was time Sri Koorathazhvan
	spent more time in Bhagavat and Bhagavata Kaimkaryam.

	PirAti Perundevi ThAyAr sent for Sri Koorathazhvan and blessed him
	to be involved in Bhagavat and Bhagavata Kaimkaryam.

Sri Koorathazhvan's Vairakyam:

	The devout Sri Koorathazhvan instantly obeyed and asked his
	Devi Smt. Andal to follow him. It is amazing fact that they
	detached themselves instantly from all that huge material
	wealth.

	While they were walking towards Kancheepuram, in dark night,
	Sri. Koorathazhvan found his Devi worried about something.
	He found that, out of compassion, she was carrying the
	golden plate which Sri Koorathazhvan used for eating.

	Sri Koorathazhvan instantly asked her to throw the plate on
	the streets and said any kind of material attachment will hamper
	Bhagavat and Bhagavata Kaimkaryam.

	Such was Sri. Koorathazhvan's Vairakyam, through which we
	can see a parallel in our Swami Desikan's life, when Swami Desikan
	reacted the same way on seeing small pieced of gold in rice.

Amazing Skills:

	Sri Koorathazhvan was a devout disciple of Bhagavad Ramanuja.
	Bhagavad Ramanuja taught the sampradayam in detail and took
	Sri Koorathazhvan along in various sancharams. While they were
	in place near current day Kashmir Bhagavad Ramanuja won an
	Tharkam and rightfully claimed Sri Bodayana's vyakyanam to
	Brahma Sutram. However, jealous elements followed
	Bhagavad Ramanuja to snatch the works. Sensing this,
	Sri Koorathazhvan glanced through the vyakyanam in a single
	evening.

	When eventually, the work was snatched away, Sri Koorathazhvan
	could reproduce the entire vyakyanam - verbatim. It was
	this amazing feat that helped Bhagavad Ramanuja to compose
	Sri Bashyam.

Acharya Kaimkaryam:

	Sri Koorathazhvan stood as an epitome of sishya lakshanam.
	He served Bhagavad Ramanuja with complete devotion and
	diligence. His daily routine will be to serve his Acharyan
	and quickly do what he wanted to do, when the Acharyan rests.

	In light of this, the above mentioned feat of Sri Koorathazhvan
	takes further significance.

	Thiruarangathu Amudanar was then managing the administration
	of Koil [Srirangam]. Sri Koorathazhvan sought from Amudanar
	that the temple administration be handed over to Bhagavad Ramanuja.
	Amudanar knew the greatness of Bhagavad Ramanuja who willingly
	handed over and Sri Amudanar went on to compile
	"Sri Ramanuja Nootrandhadhi"

	A Chozha King was a devotee of Siva and went on to forcibly
	establish the superiority of Siva over all others [including
	Sriman Narayana]. Bhagavad Ramanuja, Sri Koorathazhvan and
	Other disciples were in Sancharam in that Kingdom. Ill-advised
	by Nalooran, the King sent his men to invite Bhagavad Ramanuja to
	the court - to establish his belief.

	Bhagavad Ramanuja was taking his bath in the river and
	Sri Koorathazhvan was waiting on guard. Seeing the King's
	men and sensing trouble, Sri Koorathazhvan instantly took
	the red garb of Bhagavad Ramanuja and told the King's men
	that he was Ramanuja. Accompanied by Sri Peria Nambi
	Sri Koorathazhvan went to the King's court and refuted
	the King's belief.

	Angered at this, the King ordered Sri Peria Nambi and
	Sri Koorathazhvan to be blinded. Sri Koorathazhvan took
	his eyes himself, saying that he does not these eyes
	that saw a sinner like the King.

	While Sri Peria Nambi succumbed to the torture and
	Ascended to Sri Vaikuntam, Sri Koorathazhvan joined
	Bhagavad Ramanuja.

NanEdhan Ayiduga:

	Bhagavad Ramanuja was deep in sorrow for what happened
	and was consoling Sri Koorathazhvan. Sri Koorathazhvan
	said that his predicament of losing his eyes could have
	been because - maybe for a split second he would have
	thought ill about someone sporting Urdhva Pundaram.

	Sri Koorathazhvan showed by example of the most important
	Sri Vaishnavite quality, where you accept the blame
	for anything that happens, irrespective of the fact
	whether you are the cause or not.

	What's more! Sri Koorathazhvan went on to seek Paramapada
	Baghyam for Nalooran, who was the cause of Sri Koorathazhvan
	to loose eye-sight.

Sri Koorathazhvan's works:

	Sri Koorathazhvan brought out 5 works - popularly known as
	Panchastavam. They are:

	Sri Sthavam	-	10 slokas	[on Sri Ranga nachiyar]
	Sri Vaikunta Sthavam - 100 slokas [on Paramapada Nathan]
	AthimAnusha Sthavam - 61 slokas [on Emperuman]
	Sri Sundara Bahu Sthavam - 132 slokas [on Azhagar]
	Sri Varadaraja Sthavam - 102 slokas [on Hastigiri Varadan]

Sri Koorathazhvan Thiruvadigale Saranam!

With respectful acknowledgments from Sri Anbil Ramaswamy Mama and
The upanyasam by Sri Velukkudi Krishnan Swamy.

dAsan
Anand
22nd January 2001

Srimad Azhagia Singar Thiruvadigale Saranam
Shrimate Shri Seetha Ramachandra Parabrahmane Nama:

______________________________________________
Anand Sampathkumar                    www.malola.com <http://www.malola.com>
Malola Software Pte Ltd                  Tel: +65-250 1229
Singapore, India, Malaysia              Fax:+65-234 4417
______________________________________________


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