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Re: Mandangudi Divya Desam (and more)

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jayasartn • July 16, 2002 


SRIMATHE RAMANUJAYA NAMAHA.

-Dear sri Venkatesan,

A small correction.
Mandangudi, better known as Thirumandangudi, is not included in the 
108 divya desams. It is alwar avthara stalam and its condition is no 
better than the diva desams in its vicinity.

In fact the entire interior stretch between Thanjavore and Kumbakonam 
where you can see as many as 6 diva desams apart from Mandangudi, is 
vibrant with green wealth, but no shred of bhakthi, nor even the 
pride that the places have some unique past (divaya desams are unique 
and different from other shrines because the lord had appearerd as 
prathyaksha to  someone in divya desams) can be sensed in these 
places. 

Mention must be made about Koodalur and Kaviththalam (kapisthalam). 
Of all the 40 divya desams in Chola nadttu pradesam, these two have 
been surrounded by a community which care less or know nothing about 
the perumal in these kshetras. You can not even spot Koodalur by that 
name, (Thaam tham perumai ariyar ..This opening line  of Thirumangai 
alwar mangalasashanam on this shrine meant to denote something else, 
aptly suits the people found  here now.) In local parlance it is 
Aduthurai perumal koil and people are ignorant that a perumal koil 
exists in that area! 
The bhattars (family) themselves are a scared lot to venture out 
because of the anti-brahmin feelings in this area. We heard that some 
renovation is going to take place, but the perumal who is known as 
Jagath rakshkan stands there with no oil kappu(white patches all over 
the body), and no one to sing his praises, seemingly waiting for 
someone to take the rakshai of the shrine. ( No apachram meant. It is 
with extreme sense of pain these words are penned here) 

Another divya desam that requires immediate attention of the devotees 
is Kapisthalam. Small solace, here there are two Vaishnavite families 
to take care. It is in this kshetram, Gajedra Moksham has taken 
place. But a lot needs to be done to improve the condition in this 
temple. ( Moopanar family can certainly do something to this temple, 
as this is the native palce of Mooppanar.) 
There is no copper/ bronze plate to place your offerings. Everything, 
the bhattar manages to do in/with the long 'karpoora aarathi  
karandi' ( tears ..tears..)
Just one or two leaves of thulasi are added to the theertham (anyway 
the lord has been complacent with pathram, pushpam ..etc -BG)

We visited this temple on the day of Deepavali. I didn't 
wear 'pudusu' (new cloth) on that day in spite of the compulsion from 
my family members. And after visiting this temple, I had a great 
feeling - i have Gajedra Varadhan too to give me company!!
Hey varada! what is this Vilayattu?
Are you testing your devotees or 
you have not yet made the sankalpam 
to whom you can entrust the task of renovation and betterment?

Actually after visiting these temples, one can not enjoy the luxuries 
of home.
Padukkai nOgum
pAl kasakkum
AC sudum
Moochchu AviyAgum
Perumalai, 
paramapadaththil kANbathe usitham
yendru manam pidattrum.
Hey, BhagawAnE,
unakku koodavA 
KoovikkoLum kAlam kuruga vEndum?
 (Absolutely no apacharam meant.. It is a dialogue with HIM out of 
eyalaamai .. helplessness on my part)

jayasree sarnathan.

(PS:
I request the devotees visiting these shrines to take the following. 
These are most needed than the puja draviyam you would be conditioned 
to take.
# Any number of perumal paathram like big plates, vaddil etc in 
copper or bronze.
# enough stocks of vaasanaadhis like pachcha karpooram, yelakkai etc 
to be added to the theertham.
# tins of oil which they can use for Ennai kappu (the moolavar in 
most of thses places are in stone.)
# good quality vasthram in paththaaru (Perumal is tall and in good 
built)and sarees.)


> Dear Bhagavathas,
> 
> I just came across an item about divya desam 'Thiru 
> Mandangudi'(Thondaripodi Azhwar janma kshetram) near Kumbakonam. It 
> talks about the dilipated condition of the shrine and no vaishnava 
> around this temple...(Mandangudi enbar mammarayore maniaseer 
> thondaradipodi thonnakaram vandu ...)
> http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Troy/7673/divyas.html
> 
> 
> Dasan
> Venkatesan
> 
> Hari Om  Hari Om



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