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PeriyAzhwAr Thirumozhi 4.7- Wonderful PAsurams on KaNdan kadi nagar Divya Desam!

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Madhavakkannan V • May 27, 2003 


SrI:
SrImathE Ramanujaya namah:
Dearest Srivaishnavas,

AzhwAr continues with his involvement in archaavatar. He now enjoys the 
divya desam of ThirukkaNdam kadinagar, which is in the bank of Ganges river. 
In the river bank, he thinks of the southern Thirumaliruncholai and 
ThirukkOttiyoor as well. He had described beautifully about the Bhagawathas 
of Thirukkottiyoor who call PerumAn as” ThirukkOttiyoor Kesavaa! 
PurushOtthamaa!.  Thus, he had thought of PurushOtthaman of this 
ThirukkaNdankadinagar even at that time.

[There is also another aitheehyam- as narrated to Sri UttamUr Swami by 
Samathaamaadhi GuNanidhi ThirukkaLLam vaiyAkaraNa ThiruvEnkatAchArya Swami- 
Once there was no rain for few years in ThirukkaNdankadi nagar. People did 
not know what to do and terribly suffered. The then helpless king prayed to 
the Lord PurushOtthaman of this divya desam and the Lord appeared in his 
dream saying, “Bring Sri Vishnu chitthar of Srivilliputthoor and there will 
be rains.” Imdeiately it was arranged by the king to bring PeriyAzhwAr. 
PeriyAzhwAr rejoiced to enjoy seeing Sri [vaN] PurushOtthaman and sang these 
pAsuram. There was huge rain subsequently. ]

In each PAsuram AzhwAr describes the Lord PurushOtthamanÂ’s glories in first 
two lines and the beautiful river Ganges in the next two lines.

thangaiyaimookkumthamaiyanaiththalaiyumthadindha emdhaasaradhipOy
engumthanpukazhaavirundhu_arasaaNda empurudOththamanirukkai
gangaigangaiyenRavaasakaththaalE kaduvinaikaLaindhidukiRkum
gangaiyin_karaimElkaithozhan^inRa kaNdamennumkadin^akarE.         1.

1. My Raman – the prince of Chakravarrthi Dasarathan- Daasarathi- had gone 
to the forest; cut the nose of the sister [SoorpaNakai] and the heads of the 
brother [rAvaNan]; went back to Ayoddhi to rule victoriously there for 11000 
years- Such greatest Lord my PurushOtthaman resides here in this Divya Desam 
of ThirukkaNdankadinagar- being in the bank of river Ganges - where simply 
by uttering Gangai, Gangai to pay our obeisance with folded hands will rid 
of oneÂ’s paapam (sins). He is here for us.

This Divya Desa EmperumAn is also called neela mEa perumAL. There is a 
separate sannidhi for Thaayaar- PuNdarikavalli; mangaLa vimAnam; mangaLa 
theertham. Prathyaksham (seen physically) by Sage BharadwAja maharishi.

PurushOtthaman is referred to in Gita slOkam:
Utthama: purushasthvanya: paramAthmEthyuvAhrudha: |
yO lOkathrayamAvisya vibharthyavyaya Iswara: || (15th chapter-16)

He is different from them and is called Supreme Soul (Paramathma); who, 
entering the three worlds (as antharyami), supports them and is imperishable 
and is the rule of all.

Karmavasyar (Jeevathmas in leela vivhUthi) and akarmavasyar (mukthathmas and 
NithyasUris) – He is beyond both of them and is above all; He is 
PurushOtthaman. He is the one with jnAna, bhala, aishvarya, veerya, sakthi, 
thEjas – six opulent qualities  *shaaDguNyam).

It may be noted that Rama also is referred to as the one with six opulent 
kalyANa guNas (Anrusamsyam anurgOsa: kshamaa sathyam thama: sama: | 
raaghavam sOpayanthyEthE shaDguNA: PurushOtthamam. Thus this greatest 
PurushOtthamam resides here.

Those who fold hands and pay obeisance will have our sins get crushed 
(kaNdikkiRadhu) and hence KaNdam kadi nagar.

salampodhiyudambin_thazhalumizhpEzhvaaych chandhiranvengadhir_ancha
malarndhezhundhaNavumaNivaNNavuruvin maalpurudOththamanvaazhvu
nalamthikazhsadaiyaanmudikkonRaimalarum naaraNanpaadhaththuzhaayum
kalandhizhipunalaalpukar_padugangaik kaNdamennumkadin^akarE.        2.

2. The cool moon- having its shadow form in the waters; the hot sun with its 
fiery mouths; are all shivering and getting sacred (as to what this form is) 
when Lord Trivikraman took huge form measuring all worlds- the blue hued 
Lord with most beautiful ThirumEni shows Himself as PurushOtthaman in this 
divya desam of ThirkaNdankadi nagar where my Lord PurushOtthaman resides; 
where the most beautiful river Ganges flows swiftly with the flower bedecked 
in the matted locks of Sivan and the flowers offered at the lotus feet of 
Trivikraman by Chathurmukha Brahma. [When Trivikram took huge form, His feet 
was visible in Brahma lOkam and Brahma grabbed the opportunity to offer the 
waters to His lotus feet, which fell from there.. Rudran grabbed the 
opportunity to take the waters from the Lotus feet of Lord Sriman Narayanan 
to cleanse himself of all and become the mangaLa devatha (as Sivan) and took 
all Ganges waters on his matted locks]

adhirmukamudaiyavalamburikumizhththi azhalumizh_aazhikoNdeRindhu angu
edhirmukavasurar_thalaikaLaiyidaRum empurudOththamanirukkai
sadhumukan_kaiyilsadhuppuyan_thaaLil sangaran_sadaiyinilthangi
kadhirmukamaNikoNdizhipunalgangaik kaNdamennumkadin^akarE.           3.

3. My Lord PurushOtthaman -who blows full air into large mouth of the while 
huge Paanchajanyam – Conch Shell; who has the fiery Sudharsana AzhwAn in His 
resplendent hand- cuts the heads of asurA enemies on the opposite side. He 
resides in this Divya Desam of ThirukkaNdankadi nagar where the river Ganges 
started from the vessel (kamaNdalu) of Chathurmukha Brahma while offering 
Paadhyam at the Lotus feet of Trivikraman; landed at the matted locks of 
Rudran- stayed there for some time and flowed (to the plea of Bhageerathan) 
down beautifully and swiftly taking the valuable gem stones along with it.

BhaliÂ’s supporters opposed Trivikraman and were crushed by the Lord is 
addressed here.

imaiyavar_iRumaandhirundharasaaLa ERRuvandhedhir_porusEnai
namapuramn^aNukan^aandhakamvisiRum nampurudOththamann^akar_thaan
imavandhamthodangi_irungadalaLavum irukarai_ulakiraiththaada
kamaiyudaipperumaikkangaiyin_karaimEl kaNdamennumkadin^akarE.        4.

4. When the Devas (celestial) arrogantly and with self pride ruled thinking 
who can conquer us; asurAs wake them up (their ego) and trouble them [later 
they –Devas go to the Lord pleading Him for saving them from AsurAs ]and at 
those times, Lord PurushOtthaman sends His swords at such asurAs to send 
them to YamaÂ’s place. Such grandest Lord PurushOtthaman resides in this 
Divya Desam of ThirukkaNdankadi nagar where river Ganges start from the 
mighty Himalayas; end at the deep vast oceans- much to the delight of the 
people at both banks on the way- with their taking sacred bath – shouting 
the glories of river ganges for its tolerant beautiful form and its 
purifying guNAs.

[sumai udai perumai] It does not feel sacred whether it can cleanse 
everyoneÂ’s paapam with so many of them taking snAnam in it; It does not thus 
get burdened with its heavy load.

uzhuvadhOr_padaiyum_ulakkaiyumvillum oNsudaraazhiyumsangum
mazhuvoduvaaLumpadaikkalamudaiya maalpurudOththamanvaazhvu
ezhumaiyumkoodi_eeNdiyapaavam iRaippozhudhaLavinil_ellaam
kazhuvidumperumaikkangaiyin_karaimEl kaNdamennumkadin^akarE.         5.

5. PurushOtthaman – who is equipped with the most strongest weapons 
(AYudhams) that protect us, namely., Plough (kalappai), Bow, most beautiful 
fiery ChakrA, Sankhu (Conch shell), Axe, sword, as His ornaments resides 
permanently here in this Divya Desam of ThirukkaNdankadi nagar- in the bank 
of river Ganges which is capable of absolving all sins accrued over seven 
births at one stroke within a fraction of a second.

Since there are no enemies here in this Divya Desam, as river Ganges itself 
absolves every one of their sins, the weapons are like His ornaments.

thalaippeydhukumuRichchalampodhimEkam salasalapozhindhidakkaNdu
malaipperungudaiyaalmaRaiththavanmadhurai maalpurudOththamanvaazhvu
alaippudaiththiraivaay_arundhavamunivar avapiradhamkudaindhaada
kalappaikaLkozhikkumgangaiyin_karaimEl kaNdamennumkadin^akarE.       6.

6.the rain laden clouds roared and flocked together and rained torrentially 
and at that time, Lord with his little hand effortlessly lifted the 
Govardhana mountain as an umbrella to prevent the heavy down pour destroy  
the cattle and calves and cowherd group. Such most merciful Lord 
PurushOtthaman of VadamathurA resides here in this Divya Desam of 
ThirukkaNdankadi nagaram, where sages perform yaagams in the bank of river 
Ganges and finally take sacred bath completing the yaagam, and while doing 
so, the swift river with its current pushes the instruments and tools used 
by Sages in the yaaga.

viRpidiththiRuththuvEzhaththaimurukki mElirundhavan_thalaisaadi
maRporuthezhappaayndhu_araiyanayudhaiththa maalpurudOththamanvaazhvu
aRpudhamudaiya_ayiraavadhamadhamum avariLampadiyaroNsaandhum
kaRpakamalarumkalandhizhigangaik kaNdamennumkadin^akarE.             7.

7. Picking and breaking the bow [in KamsaÂ’s yaaga saalai], pushed the mighty 
elephant Kuvalayaapeetam (and broke its tusker), kicked the head of his 
mahout sitting on top of the elephant, fought and destroyed the strong 
wrestlers (who were kept by Kamsa to kill KaNNan), raised himself and jumped 
into the palace of Kamsa and kicked Kamsa off his life. Such most merciful 
Bhaktha vathsalan- PurushOtthaman resides in this Divya Desam of 
ThirukkaNdankadi nagar- where [looking at the beauty and divinity of this 
Divya Desam, Devendran comes on his airAvadham elephant] the waters from 
AirAvadhamÂ’s forehead flow and the kumum (bindi- saandhu} on the forehead 
and the kaRpaka flowers of young damsels of Devas mix [while taking snAnam- 
bath] with the flow of river Ganges.

Looking at the great divya Desam excites the elephant (airAvadham) and hence 
the waters from its forehead flows further more. Also only old women wear 
ThirumaN srIchoorNam; young ladies wear sanndhu- bindi on their foreheads as 
Kaaminis perhaps.

thiraiporukadalsoozhthiNmadhiLthuvaraivEndhu thanmaiththunanmaarkkaay
arasinaiyaviya_arasinaiyaruLum aripurudOththamanamarvu
nirain^iraiyaakan^ediyanayoobam nirandharam_ozhukkuvittu iraNdu
karaipuraivELvippukaikamazhgangai kaNdamennumkadin^akarE.            8.

The king of Dwaraka (surrounded by wavy oceanic waters and tall ramparts); 
the most helpful cousin to Panccha paaNdavas (five sons of his aunt Kunthi 
Devi) and blessed them with their kingdom, by crushing DhuryOdhans and his 
brothers; - PraNathArtthi haran; bhUbhAraharan; PurushOtthaman resides 
permanently in this Divya Desam of ThirukkaNdankadi nagar where in both 
banks of river Ganges, huge yaagas are performed from which smokes emanate 
to fill the skies and make the whole place most fragrant and the tall 
pillars of these yaaga saalais are also pushed and taken along with the 
swift turbulent waters of river Ganges.

vadathisaimadhuraisaaLakkiraamam vaikundhamthuvarai_ayOththi
idamudaivadhariyidavakaiyudaiya empurudOththamanirukkai
thadavaraiyathiraththaraNiviNdidiyath thalaippaRRikkaraimaramsaadi
kadalinaikkalangakkaduththizhigangaik kaNdamennumkadin^akarE.     9.

The mathurA (in the North); SaaLagrAma kshEthram; Vaikuntham (like) Dwaraka; 
AyOddhi and the vast Badrikasramam are all residences of our Lord 
PurushOtthaman who lives on his own here at this Divya Desam of 
ThirukkaNdankadi nagar, where river Ganges flows so swiftly, violently and 
turbulently, with such a current sending shivers through mountains, cutting 
the earth into two in eth banks letting the trees fall into the valleys, 
touching the topmost leaves of even tall trees and stirring even the vast 
deep oceans.

[AzhwAr must have been blessed to enjoy the Lords of other Vadakku Divya 
Desams and thus lists down them as well in this PAsuram]

moonRezhuththadhanaimoonRezhuththadhanaal moonRezhuththaakki moonRezhuththai
EnRukoNdiruppaarkku_irakkamn^an_kudaiya empurudOththamanirukkai
moonRadin^imirththumoonRinilthOnRi moonRinilmoonRuruvaanaan
kaan_thadampozhilsoozhgangaiyin_karaimEl kaNdamennumkadin^akarE. 10.

[A tough pAsuram and commentary to tralsnate- please forgive me for my 
errors].

moonRu yezhutthu adhanai- The PraNavam consisting of three aksharas 
(letters) which are the seeds and essence of three Vedas;
moonRu yezhutthadhanaal- nigaman, niruktham, vyAkaraNam- taking the grammar 
from these akshara saashras.
moonRu yezhutthu aakki- considering the three meanings namely, anaya 
seShathvam, ananya saraNathvam and ananya bhOgyathvam

moonRu yezhutthai- interpreting the three letters as above-
yERRuk koNdu- taking the praNavam in such an entirety, with the meanings 
impregnated as described above enshrined in it;
iruppArkku- Those who are blessed with such a divine consideration;
Irakkam nangu udai em PurudOtthaman- on whom showers mercy and dayA by 
PurusHotthaman (who resides)

moonRu adi- In Trivikrama avatar- he asked for three measures of his feet
nimirtthu- [with one step] took huge form
moonRinil- BhUmi (earth), anthariksham (space) and swargam (heaven)
thOnRi- vyaapitthu- occupied them (viLangi) or manifested ?
moonRinil- For measuring the worlds; For the sake of Devendran (and to be 
come Upendran) and for Mahabhali to enjoy seeing the Trivikrama avatar;
moonRu uruvanaan- Three aspects (forms) of Supreme Lordship -Narayanan 
namely, Seshithvam, SaraNyathvam, PrApyathvamÂ…
kaan- forest of Badrikashramam (in that)
thada pozhil- vast, well spread out gardens are found-
soozh gangain karai mEl kaNdam ennum kadi nagarEÂ… - Kandan kadi nagar in the 
bank of River Ganges surrounded by such gardens in the forest of 
BadrikAshramam-

Thus, in Thiruppallandu AzhwAr had mentioned that “naadum nagaramum 
nangaRiya namO narayana yenRu—naamam pala paravi… Let the whole world be 
known about this grand divine NAMO NARAYANA..

He expresses here about the sacred praNavam and the philosophy, essence of 
Vedas enshrined in it. The three (anaya seShathvam- not being a servant to 
anyone else, ananya saraNathvam- There is no refuge other than Him and 
ananya bhOgyathvam- there is no bliss and enjoyment other than serving his 
lotus feet for ever and ever) are to be realized by us- the devotees of 
Sriman Narayanan.

Also, Seshithvam- being The Master for everyone and every being in the 
Universe (including all demi gods- Rudran and Brahmaa), SaraNyathvam (Him  
Being the sole refuge and none else- Him being one one and only unparalleled 
and peerless and none above Him and equal to Him), PrApyathvam (Him being 
the only Goal).

ThatÂ’s why BadrikAshramam is referred to as forest (by poorvacharyas) for He 
is the Rishi for ThiruvashtaaksharamÂ… and hence is addressed here.

pongoligangaikkaraimalikaNdaththu uRaipurudOththamanadimEl
vengalin^aliyaavillipuththoorkkOn vittuchiththanviruppuRRu
thangiya_anbaalseydhathamizhmaalai thangiyan^aavudaiyaarkku
gangaiyilthirumaalkazhaliNaikkeezhE kuLiththirundhakaNakkaamE.  11

Sri vishnuchitthar of Sri villiputthUr, which is unaffected by the cruel 
Kali yuga, sang these ten Tamil PAsurams with bhakti and desire on the lotus 
feet of Sri PurushOtthaman of ThirukkaNdankadi nagar, lying in the bank of 
river Ganges, which roars while flowing with its swift currents. Those who 
are blessed with the tongue (which listens to them) with an ability to 
recite these pAsurams will be blessed to take bath in the river Ganges and 
stay permanently at the lotus feet (which are unparalleled and are most 
blissful and enjoyable- equal to each other) of Sriya: Pathi Sriman 
Narayanan.

Not just bathing in the river Ganges. This river touches the LordÂ’s lotus 
feet and thus bathing in it and then living at the shadow of His lotus feet 
at ThirukkaNdankadi nagar- there is nothing like it. That is the phalanx 
(fruit) of reciting these pAsurams- says AzhwAr.

AzhwAr resided in this place for some time crushing the presence of Kali 
purushan (Kaliyum kedum kaNdu koNmin) and hence AzhwAr blesses us with the 
line.. “unaffected by Kali..”.
PeriyAzhwAr ThiruvadigaLE saraNam
Regards
Namo Narayana
dAsan

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