Swetha Sundaram's Blog, page 7
February 9, 2017
BOOK RELEASE FOR THIRUPPAVAI – GODA’S GITA
BOOK RELEASE FORTHIRUPPAVAI – GODA’S GITA
Everyone would like to learn the essence of the Bagawad Gita but, with over 700 slokams in the Bagawad Gita, it’s not an easy text to study; but, what if there was a simpler way to learn the Bagawad Gita? The Bagawad Gita is the essence of the Upanishads, part of the Sanskrit Vedas. The Sanskrit Vedas are called as ‘marai” in Tamil because it is not easy to decipher the meaning of the verses easily as they contain many hidden meanings. The AzhwAr Saints revealed the meaning of the Vedic Verses in Tamil. They composed the pasurams in such a way that it is easy to understand the meaning of the Sanskrit Vedas. The Thiruppavai is an anthology part of the Tamil Vedas called as 4000 Divya Prabandhams. It was composed by Andal (Goda Nachiar) who is none other than Goddess Bhumi Devi. ThiruppAvai has 30 Paasurams and it is eulogised as GodhOpanishad since it summarises the sacred meanings of the Upanishads in just 30 verses. With the blessings of my preceptors, I have brought out the commentary of the Godopanishad in the format of a novel – conversation between Goda and her friends. Today I have released the first volume of Thiruppavai – Goda’s Gita. The commentary is based on formal lectures attended by me. A copy of the forewords from my acharyans is attached with this release.The book can be purchased from amazon. The book is available in paperback and kindle ebook format.For USA : http://ow.ly/eT3G308RK6zFor Canada: http://ow.ly/AV3Y308RKcXFor India: http://ow.ly/vJag308RKgy
Please see a preview of the book attached with this book release.















Published on February 09, 2017 19:32
January 9, 2017
In Search Of My Prince Charming

The following is my experiment with prose-poetry. Please feel free to discuss symbolism in the comments section.
In Search of My Prince Charming
I wandered through a forest so dark,
that I knew not if it was night or day.
Over hills and vales I went, and through rivulets in spate.
I knew not what time t'was, what week, month or day
many a seasons went by of hot humid days, of rains and cold clammy days
I wandered through the forest of gloom
with nary a ray of hope in sight.
Trees there were of many fruits, of nuts, pomes and berries so sour
but, behind each fruit lurked creatures of wile ready to strike
with fangs so long, dripping with venom , disease and gall
Ores there were of gold, copper and silver their purpose to weigh me down, to tarry my flight.
Glades there were a few, with sunshine that was but pale,
with grass so green and soft but betwixt the blades were thistles and thorns.
At night when the sun went down,
wolves and vultures waited round the glade.
Weary of my ramblings through the forest so dark and foreboding,
I yearned for my knight in shining armor, to carry me to the land of promise.
By some luck I chanced upon the path that shone with the light of faith,
at its end , the forest broke opening up to a great big lake,
so still like glass it was, dark as the darkest of nights.
Everywhere that my eye could see, was water that seemed to touch the sky. I sat on the shore weary of my flight, hungry and with tears in my eyes.
Oh! What will I do? Is there no way to the land of my prince?
I know not how to wade and know not the depth of the sea,
I know not what fearsome creatures lurk beneath the watery depths
waiting to grab those who brave the sea
Yonder where the lake met the sky, there emerged a line like a silver crack, from it there appeared, a white spec that seemed like a shining star,
bright it was against the velvety dark and as it came nearer,
I saw t’was a bird with beautiful plumes.
White it was all over with a glow that broke through the darkness.
It glided through the water with ease, nearer it came as if to speak.
Oh thou with beautiful quills, so soft but strong! Why thou cometh near me? Do ye have a message from my prince? Or know of a way out of here?
Oh fair maiden, it spake, are thou weary of the darkness? ‘fraid of the woeful forest?
Do thou seek thy knight, to take ye yonder to the land of peace?
Oh my feathered friend with beautiful wings, tell me, have thee met my prince?
Speak the glories of my prince, to ease the distress I feel.
Hear oh fair maiden, His glories are but many. Do thou see the silvery line in the East?
Fear not but the sun is near to bring warmth and good cheer.
What shall I tell thee about thy prince, the handsomest of all men and Gods.
There is none who is taller than He for He stands taller than this Universe
This cosmos was measured by He in under three strides
and for a beauty spot, wears He this Earth on His cheek.
He is darker than the new-moon night on a starless sky, and darker than the rain-bearing clouds. Just looking at Him quenches the heat we feel.
He is richer than the richest of men, angels or Gods for,
He owns all that we see and also all that is unseen.
He is stronger than strength itself and held a mountain for a brolly
to protect men , women and kine from the rain of icy stones
He gives vigor to strength itself and light to the Sun, Moon and the stars
Sing His names and He will come to thee, Sing His names for He be the only one who can take thee away from this murky sphere,
Sing His names to fill thee heart with warmth and good cheer,
Sing His names to dispel fear. Worry not for daybreak is near.
Oh ye swan of beautiful plumes, tell me, will He come to me? Will one so splendid, fetching, and great, come to me, the one in need?
Me a waif, weary with sorrow, with no possession in my name.
All I have is this life and even that is not mine;
for, tell me, my feathered-friend, doesn’t one who owns the cosmos own me too?
Oh damsel no need to worry the prince is not without mercy. In a lake like this one, caught in the jaws of a croc was the king of elephants.
For a thousand years he fought the croc with no sign of victory.
Tired at last he trumpeted thy prince’s name for help.
And Lo! Thy prince appeared atop the bird with golden wings,
freed He the elephant king from the jaws of death itself!
Befriended He a poor huntsman, a monkey king and the kin of a fiend
He walked this Earth to save a maiden so fear not, He will come to thee.
Oh ye swan tell me this, who be this maiden He saved? If His heart is Hers what use is it, to call His name to come to me?
If She be His love of life, what use is it, to love my prince?
Worry not my dear lass for She be the one who gives Him charm The golden maiden sits next to His heart and reigns Him to save us all
Jealous She is not with no sign of bitterness in Her soul.
She is sweeter than nectar, makes Him our elixir ,
and rests She does not till He hath saved us all.
Call Him, the one who is with Sri the only one to free us all.
Joy to thee when you are free for, in His world there is no fear. No sin there is nor old age, no death nor is there grief.
In His world there is no room for hunger nor thirst.
In His abode of enjoyment all good wishes come true.
Tell me dear maiden, are thee ready to leave? Are thee ready to call thee prince? Give thy headdress to me, to carry to thy prince.
He knows of thee and sent me to thee.
He sent me here to talk to thee, to bring ease to thee tortured mind.
Oh the one with beautiful plumes, take this my diadem to Him but, what shall I do when ye be gone? Ye the only one who sang His praise be gone?
What shall I do till ye return, for alone I feel my sorrow.
Dear lass, look around thee, many feathered friends are around thee. With plumes of green and beaks so red, they will sing to thee His divine praise.
Worry not for when the Sun is here, He shall come atop the golden bird.
With these words the bird took off to bring to me my charming prince.
Wait I hath not for long, after the bird sailed like the Moon across the sky,
The golden lights of the Sun arose to chase the shadows away.
With the Sun came the golden bird bringing to me the prince of mine,
to carry me o’er the sea to the land of eternal peace.
.
Published on January 09, 2017 11:16
October 20, 2016
ANDAL AND NAMPERUMAL

My fond memories from my childhood go back to the time when we were in Sri Rangam. I remember as if it was only yesterday when I went running through the halls of the Ranganatha Swami temple. To me, visiting the temple was like visiting my parents’ house. My mom raised me by imbibing in me that Lord Ranganathan and Ranganayaki Thayar were our parents. To this day, when I enter the temple I have the feeling of “coming home” to my parents. On our way back from the sanctum, I would stop near every bannister designed in the shape of an elephant because I had to ride on them. My dad would help me to climb on top of the stone elephants. When I was on the lookout for stone elephants, I was really searching for Andal the temple elephant. 'There she is,' my parents would tell me. ‘she is standing in the Garuda Mandapam. Would you like to say hello to her?' my dad would take me near her and only at that moment I would realize that she is much bigger than the stone elephants. Overcome by awe, I would try to hide behind my father, but she would gently touch my head with her trunk transporting me to seventh heaven!
Like every citizen of SriRangam, we visit the temple not to seek blessings, but, to say 'hello' to our beloved Lord Ranganathan. We go there to feast our eyes on his "beauty". When someone meets their friend returning from the temple, they never ask whether they had a good darshan but, ask for a description of the Lord's attire; "Is He wearing the Pandyan kondai today? What is the colour of His garment?" The love we feel for Him can't be described in words. He is truly our Lord and hence the name Namperumal". He is the King of not just SriRangam but, the entire Universe. Maharajas in general have elephants in their palaces. When even ordinary Maharajas have elephants, shouldn’t the Lord of the Universe be entitled to having elephants in His temple? Everything associated with Him is cherished by the people of SriRangam and that includes Andal. The name given to her itself will show the love and respect people have for her as how can anyone think about “Andal” without contemplating on “Namperumal”?
I have fond memories of Andal, walking through the streets of SriRangam. We used to rush outside to welcome her when we heard her bell ringing (யானை வரும் பின்னே மணி ஓசை வரும் முன்னே ) and fed her large chunks of jaggery, bananas and water. It was especially fun to watch her take her pick from the coconut palm trees in our garden. She would pull down the leaves with ease, remove just the blades with her trunk, and roll it all up before putting it in her mouth.

People of other religious beliefs ponder over the fate of an animal's soul. They wonder if animals too go to heaven, and if they do, is there a separate heaven for them or will they go to the same place as a human soul. In Sanatana Dharma, we do not have such doubts because we are taught that all souls (jeevatmans) are equal to one another. A jeevatman according to its past karma may take on the form of an animal, bird, human or celestial being. The form taken i.e., the body is just like a dress. The Shape or color of the body may vary, but, there are no differences amongst the atmans. Only the people who do not understand the identical nature of the souls, give in to discrimination based on gender, colour, caste, etc which are but bodily differences. The equal status given to the souls in which they are equal to one another in every way is termed as “prakara advaitam” in Sanskrit. Hence, animals too are eligible for salvation. Even great sages could take birth as an animal like Jata Bharata who took birth as a deer. The story of Gajendran the elephant shows us without any doubt that the Lord grants moksham to all living beings. As a Hindu we are trained to treat all living beings, including plants with compassion. From snakes to elephants, all living forms are respected. Hence, when we visit Andal to get her blessings, we are not abusing her, but we are showing our respect to the Lord's devotee and we are seeking the blessings of a devotee. When we see her, we are reminded about Gajendran and other elephant devotees of this Yuga like Guruvayur Kesavan. It is a bonus when she recognizes us and nods her head in the most charming manner!

Contrary to popular beliefs, temple elephants are well cared for. The average lifespan of the Asian elephant is only 48 years and that of the African elephant is 60-70 years. The average life span of elephants in zoos is only 17. Guruvayur Kesavan lived to the ripe old age of 72 years – quite long for an Asian elephant! His devotion to Lord Krishna is legendary and it is a well-known fact that he enjoyed serving Lord Krishna of Guruvayur. Even on the day when he ascended to Sri Vaikuntam, he wouldn’t allow any other elephant to take over his duties. It is said that he even had an elephant guru called Padmanaban. It is evident from history that elephants too enjoy performing devotional service. There are many temple elephants in India who live well beyond their life span. The State Governments take good care of the temple elephants. There are even initiatives in place to start old-age homes for aged elephants http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/ci...
Andal has caught the attention of many animal welfare societies. These groups can rest assured that the citizens of SriRangam will not allow Andal to face any harm. She is well beloved and is a VIP. She is the princess of SriRangam. She even enjoys well organized vacations with other elephants from Tamil Nadu. She has every right to perform devotional service to the Lord just like people. The focus should be shifted to other animals facing abuse like animals in rodeos and experimental animals like lab rats. If the organizations really care for animal rights, then they should stop the slaughter of cows and other animals for their meat. If training animals is abusive, isn’t it also applicable to training dogs and putting them on a lead or seeing eye dogs?
Published on October 20, 2016 17:47
August 17, 2016
The Greatness of Sri Ananthazhwan - Part 7
Continued From: http://thoughtsonsanathanadharma.blogspot.ca/2016/07/the-greatness-of-sri-ananthazhwan-part-6.html
Photo: https://kmkvaradhan.wordpress.com/2015/02/14/lord-venkateshwaras-pranayakopa-anger-in-love-on-ananthazhwan/
Sri Ananthazhwan Controls His Emotions
Sri Ananthazhwan came to know that Swami Ramanujar was unwell. He immediately left for Sri Rangam with his disciple Nambi Guha Dasar. After traveling for many days, they finally arrived at the banks of the Cauvery but, they did not feast their eyes on the beautiful island, instead, they were met by some Sri Vaishnavas with shaven heads who had just taken a dip in the Cauvery. This sight indicated to them that all was not well at Sri Rangam. Their fears were confirmed when upon inquiry, they were told that Swami Ramanujar had left for Parama Padam. ‘What?’ cried Nambi Guha Dasar. ‘How can we live in this world without our beloved Acharya? What is left for me to live here in this miserable world?’ Sobbing uncontrollably, Nambi Guha Dasar quickly climbed a tall tree with the intention of jumping from the topmost branch to end his life. ‘Come down!’ commanded Sri Ananthazhwan. Even though he was overcome with grief, he mastered his emotions in order to be there for Sri Nambi Guha Dasar. ‘Do you think that you have control over your life? If you really cannot live without our beloved acharyan, you should have died the moment you heard the news but, you are still breathing. Don’t you realize that, even if you jump from the tree, you will only break a limb but not die? If you jump from the tree, you will insult the name of our beloved acharyan. Do you think you will attain moksham after displeasing him?’ Nambi Guha Dasar realized his error and climbed down the tree. Even when faced with immense sorrow when Sri Ananthazhwan was permanently separated from his acharyan, he functioned in such a way that he only pleased his acharyan.Conclusion
Photo From: http://anudinam.org/2013/03/05/thirumalai-sri-ananthazhwan-959th-avathara-utsavam/The sojourn of Sri Ananthazhwan on Earth came to an end on Thiradipooram day. Last rites for him were performed under a maghizham tree in his garden at Tirumala. To this day, Lord Srinivasa visits the tree to offer His garland to the tree in memory of Sri Ananthazhwan. Lord Srinivasa also visits the tree during the Thirunakshatram of Sri Ananthazhwan on Chitra month on the day of Chitra star. The great Acharya won the heart of Perumal with his Acharya bakthi. He was definitely another Madurakavi Azhwar and surprisingly, he also shared the same birthday as Sri Madurakavi Azhwar. He led his life in such a way that every act he performed, taught us the importance of Acharya bakthi and Bagawatha paratantriyam. Let us pray to Sri Ananthazhwan who composed the Venkatesa Ithihasa Mala.
Concluded

Sri Ananthazhwan Controls His Emotions
Sri Ananthazhwan came to know that Swami Ramanujar was unwell. He immediately left for Sri Rangam with his disciple Nambi Guha Dasar. After traveling for many days, they finally arrived at the banks of the Cauvery but, they did not feast their eyes on the beautiful island, instead, they were met by some Sri Vaishnavas with shaven heads who had just taken a dip in the Cauvery. This sight indicated to them that all was not well at Sri Rangam. Their fears were confirmed when upon inquiry, they were told that Swami Ramanujar had left for Parama Padam. ‘What?’ cried Nambi Guha Dasar. ‘How can we live in this world without our beloved Acharya? What is left for me to live here in this miserable world?’ Sobbing uncontrollably, Nambi Guha Dasar quickly climbed a tall tree with the intention of jumping from the topmost branch to end his life. ‘Come down!’ commanded Sri Ananthazhwan. Even though he was overcome with grief, he mastered his emotions in order to be there for Sri Nambi Guha Dasar. ‘Do you think that you have control over your life? If you really cannot live without our beloved acharyan, you should have died the moment you heard the news but, you are still breathing. Don’t you realize that, even if you jump from the tree, you will only break a limb but not die? If you jump from the tree, you will insult the name of our beloved acharyan. Do you think you will attain moksham after displeasing him?’ Nambi Guha Dasar realized his error and climbed down the tree. Even when faced with immense sorrow when Sri Ananthazhwan was permanently separated from his acharyan, he functioned in such a way that he only pleased his acharyan.Conclusion

Concluded
Published on August 17, 2016 19:56
July 31, 2016
The Greatness of Sri Ananthazhwan - Part 6
Continued From: http://thoughtsonsanathanadharma.blogspot.ca/2016/07/the-greatness-of-sri-ananthazhwan-part-5.html
Sri Ananthazhwan Becomes Lord Srinivasa’s Acharyan - 2
With the permission of the Sri Vaishnavas, Madurakavi Dasan hurried on His way and soon was nowhere to be seen. Meanwhile after a few hours, the Sri Vaishnavas finally made it to the abode of Sri Ananthazhwan. They were surprised to see that there was no one waiting to receive them. They were overcome with worry. They felt concerned about the whereabouts of Madurakavi Dasan. As soon as they arrived at the abode of Sri Ananthazhwan, they were welcomed warmly by Sri Ananthazhwan. ‘Wish I had received intimation about your trip to Tirumala so that I could have been prepared to receive you with due respect.’
The Sri Vaishnavas were perplexed to hear the words of Sri Ananthazhwan. ‘What had happened to Madurakavi Dasan? Didn’t He make it safely to His acharyan’s abode?’ They wondered. ‘Did He probably take a short cut through the wilderness and was lost or worst still, had been attacked by a wild animal?’
‘How can it be that, you hadn’t received news of our arrival? Your disciple Madurakavi Dasan met us at Madhurantakam and helped us to reach Tirumala safely. He left us at the base a few hours ago in order to come here ahead of us so that, he could inform you. Where is Madurakavi Dasan?’ asked the panic stricken leader.
‘Who is Madurakavi Dasan?’ asked Ananthazhwan. His question further shocked the Sri Vaishnavas. ‘I do not have any disciple called Madurakavi Dasan.’
‘How can He not be your disciple? He recited your taniyan!’
‘Could you please recite the taniyan He had sung?’
The Sri Vaishnavas repeated the taniyan which had been recited by Madurakavi Dasan. Tears flowed from the eyes of Sri Ananthazhwan. It dawned on the assembly that, Lord Srinivasa Himself had appeared to guide the pilgrims to Tirumala.
‘How blessed am I to meet you!’ exclaimed Sri Ananthazhwan with tears of joy in his eyes. ‘My abode has been blessed by Bagawathas today who have been helped by Lord Srinivasa Himself!’
‘His main intention when He helped us was to show to the world that, He has accepted you as His acharyan. Why else would He state that He was your disciple? Moreover, He has composed a taniyan praising you!’
Continued On:
Sri Ananthazhwan Becomes Lord Srinivasa’s Acharyan - 2

With the permission of the Sri Vaishnavas, Madurakavi Dasan hurried on His way and soon was nowhere to be seen. Meanwhile after a few hours, the Sri Vaishnavas finally made it to the abode of Sri Ananthazhwan. They were surprised to see that there was no one waiting to receive them. They were overcome with worry. They felt concerned about the whereabouts of Madurakavi Dasan. As soon as they arrived at the abode of Sri Ananthazhwan, they were welcomed warmly by Sri Ananthazhwan. ‘Wish I had received intimation about your trip to Tirumala so that I could have been prepared to receive you with due respect.’
The Sri Vaishnavas were perplexed to hear the words of Sri Ananthazhwan. ‘What had happened to Madurakavi Dasan? Didn’t He make it safely to His acharyan’s abode?’ They wondered. ‘Did He probably take a short cut through the wilderness and was lost or worst still, had been attacked by a wild animal?’
‘How can it be that, you hadn’t received news of our arrival? Your disciple Madurakavi Dasan met us at Madhurantakam and helped us to reach Tirumala safely. He left us at the base a few hours ago in order to come here ahead of us so that, he could inform you. Where is Madurakavi Dasan?’ asked the panic stricken leader.
‘Who is Madurakavi Dasan?’ asked Ananthazhwan. His question further shocked the Sri Vaishnavas. ‘I do not have any disciple called Madurakavi Dasan.’
‘How can He not be your disciple? He recited your taniyan!’
‘Could you please recite the taniyan He had sung?’
The Sri Vaishnavas repeated the taniyan which had been recited by Madurakavi Dasan. Tears flowed from the eyes of Sri Ananthazhwan. It dawned on the assembly that, Lord Srinivasa Himself had appeared to guide the pilgrims to Tirumala.
‘How blessed am I to meet you!’ exclaimed Sri Ananthazhwan with tears of joy in his eyes. ‘My abode has been blessed by Bagawathas today who have been helped by Lord Srinivasa Himself!’
‘His main intention when He helped us was to show to the world that, He has accepted you as His acharyan. Why else would He state that He was your disciple? Moreover, He has composed a taniyan praising you!’
Continued On:
Published on July 31, 2016 22:48
July 24, 2016
The Greatness of Sri Ananthazhwan - Part 5
Continued From: http://thoughtsonsanathanadharma.blogspot.ca/2016/07/the-greatness-of-sri-ananthazhwan-part-4.html
Sri Ananthazhwan Becomes Lord Srinivasa’s Acharyan
The Lord's wish always comes true and He found an opportunity to fulfill His desire when a congregation of Sri Vaishnavas from Sri Rangam decided to travel on a pilgrimage to Tirupathi. They packed groceries to last till they reached Tirupathi but, by the time they reached Madhurantakam, they found out that, they didn't have any food to last them for the rest of the journey. As they were Sri Vaishnavas, they couldn't accept food from anyone who wasn't a Sri Vaishnava or dine in restaurants. They realized the predicament they were in.
'Does anyone have any relatives or friends who can help us?' asked their leader.
It was soon determined that none of them had any contacts at Madhurantakam or the nearby regions. 'What shall we do? Shall we return to Sri Rangam?’
‘Unfortunately, this is the half way point in our journey. We do not have sufficient groceries even if we turn back.'
'I can help you.'
The Sri Vaishnavas turned around to face the speaker. Their eyes fell upon a lad with dark complexion and beautiful eyes. 'My name is Madurakavi Dasan,’ introduced the lad. ‘I am a Sri Vaishnava. I can supply food till we reach Tirupathi.'
‘Where did He come from?’ asked a few people to their friends. ‘Does anyone remember seeing Him? Did He come with us from Sri Rangam?’
The Sri Vaishnavas were won over by the tejas of the newcomer who was but a lad, but, their leader wished to ascertain that, the lad was definitely a Sri Vaishnava.
'Thank you for your kind gesture. We will accept food from you if you can tell us your acharyan's name.'
'My acharyan is the great Ananta Suri of Thiruvengadam.'
At the mention of Sri Ananthazhwan's name, the people felt relieved.
‘The Lord has definitely sent this disciple of Sri Ananta Suri to help us!’ They murmured.
The leader however wished to get proper proof that the young man was really the disciple of Sri Ananthazhwan. 'If Sri Ananthazhwan is really your acharyan, recite his taniyan.'
The youth without any hesitation recited,' Akhilatmagunavasam ajnanatimirpaham Asritanam susaranam vande Anantharyadesikam (Adiyen bows to Acharya Ananthazhwan, who is the storehouse of auspicious qualities like compassion and wisdom, the one who is capable of dispelling ignorance and is the one who is eligible to accept the surrender of his disciples )'
The leader smiled. This is not a proper taniyan. You have shown us that, you are not used to reciting taniyans. Where are the lines which mention the acharyan of Sri Ananthazhwan?'
'Please do not jump to conclusions; I hadn't completed my recitation,' the youth rebuked. He continued to recite the second verse of the taniyan,' Srimath Ramanujacharya Sripadamboruhadvayam Sathutha manga sandaryam Anantharyamaham Bhaje (Adiyen pays obeisance to adiyen’s Acharyar , Swami Ananthazhwan who is the lotus feet of Swami Ramanujar and who is worshipped by SrI Vaishnavas all over the world )'
‘How beautifully He has recited the taniyan!’ applauded the Sri Vaishnavas. ‘What more do we want? We are lucky that, He has come to solve our problem.’
All the others who were gathered there unanimously accepted the help rendered by the lad whose dark complexion and lotus like eyes melted their hearts. The Sri Vaishnavas visited many temples on their way to Tirumala well attended by Madurakavi Dasan. Finally one day, they arrived at the base of the Thiruvengadam hills. ‘Adiyen seeks your permission to go ahead of you so that, adiyen could inform my acharyan that you have arrived and help him make all the necessary arrangements to receive you,’ requested Madurakavi Dasan.
Continued On:
Sri Ananthazhwan Becomes Lord Srinivasa’s Acharyan

'Does anyone have any relatives or friends who can help us?' asked their leader.
It was soon determined that none of them had any contacts at Madhurantakam or the nearby regions. 'What shall we do? Shall we return to Sri Rangam?’
‘Unfortunately, this is the half way point in our journey. We do not have sufficient groceries even if we turn back.'
'I can help you.'
The Sri Vaishnavas turned around to face the speaker. Their eyes fell upon a lad with dark complexion and beautiful eyes. 'My name is Madurakavi Dasan,’ introduced the lad. ‘I am a Sri Vaishnava. I can supply food till we reach Tirupathi.'
‘Where did He come from?’ asked a few people to their friends. ‘Does anyone remember seeing Him? Did He come with us from Sri Rangam?’
The Sri Vaishnavas were won over by the tejas of the newcomer who was but a lad, but, their leader wished to ascertain that, the lad was definitely a Sri Vaishnava.
'Thank you for your kind gesture. We will accept food from you if you can tell us your acharyan's name.'
'My acharyan is the great Ananta Suri of Thiruvengadam.'
At the mention of Sri Ananthazhwan's name, the people felt relieved.
‘The Lord has definitely sent this disciple of Sri Ananta Suri to help us!’ They murmured.
The leader however wished to get proper proof that the young man was really the disciple of Sri Ananthazhwan. 'If Sri Ananthazhwan is really your acharyan, recite his taniyan.'
The youth without any hesitation recited,' Akhilatmagunavasam ajnanatimirpaham Asritanam susaranam vande Anantharyadesikam (Adiyen bows to Acharya Ananthazhwan, who is the storehouse of auspicious qualities like compassion and wisdom, the one who is capable of dispelling ignorance and is the one who is eligible to accept the surrender of his disciples )'
The leader smiled. This is not a proper taniyan. You have shown us that, you are not used to reciting taniyans. Where are the lines which mention the acharyan of Sri Ananthazhwan?'
'Please do not jump to conclusions; I hadn't completed my recitation,' the youth rebuked. He continued to recite the second verse of the taniyan,' Srimath Ramanujacharya Sripadamboruhadvayam Sathutha manga sandaryam Anantharyamaham Bhaje (Adiyen pays obeisance to adiyen’s Acharyar , Swami Ananthazhwan who is the lotus feet of Swami Ramanujar and who is worshipped by SrI Vaishnavas all over the world )'
‘How beautifully He has recited the taniyan!’ applauded the Sri Vaishnavas. ‘What more do we want? We are lucky that, He has come to solve our problem.’
All the others who were gathered there unanimously accepted the help rendered by the lad whose dark complexion and lotus like eyes melted their hearts. The Sri Vaishnavas visited many temples on their way to Tirumala well attended by Madurakavi Dasan. Finally one day, they arrived at the base of the Thiruvengadam hills. ‘Adiyen seeks your permission to go ahead of you so that, adiyen could inform my acharyan that you have arrived and help him make all the necessary arrangements to receive you,’ requested Madurakavi Dasan.
Continued On:
Published on July 24, 2016 12:47
July 8, 2016
The Greatness of Sri Ananthazhwan - Part 4
Continued From: http://thoughtsonsanathanadharma.blogspot.ca/2016/07/the-greatness-of-sri-ananthazhwan-part-3.html?spref=fb

The Two Snakes
Not only was Sri Ananthazhwan a faithful disciple but, he was also a great vedantin. One morning, Sri Ananthazhwan was gathering flowers from the garden. He was followed by his disciples who also helped him. Sri Ananthazhwan lectured them on the commentaries of the 4000 Divya Prabandham and on the divine qualities of the Lord. Sri Ananthazhwan would pluck the flowers while the disciples carried them in bamboo baskets. As Ananthazhwan reached out to pluck a cluster of ylang-ylang, he was bitten by a black cobra. His disciples were terrified when they found out that their acharyan had been bitten by a deadly snake. They started to panic.
‘You are the only one who can run very fast. Hurry! See if you can find a doctor. If you are near the temple, make inquiries to see if anyone knows of someone who belongs to the tribes who live in the forest as, they know some herbs which can break the venom,' instructed a disciple to his colleague.
'What is the reason for the panic?' asked Sri Ananthazhwan.
The disciples were astonished by Sri Ananthazhwan’s calm demeanor.
'You have been bitten by the deadliest snake. Isn't this enough to cause panic even in the three worlds?'
'Did you forget so soon everything I just taught you? Didn't I just teach everyone that, the most deadly snake is our body? So what if my body has been bitten by a snake? Can the venom harm me, the atma which cannot be destroyed?'
The disciples gathered around Sri Ananthazhwan with tears in their eyes.
'We agree with the philosophy but,...'
‘There is no room for but, what you see here is a struggle taking place between two snakes. If the cobra wins, I will take a dip in the Viraja and serve Paramapada Nathan. If my body wins, I will continue to serve Lord Srinivasa here at Tirumala. It doesn't matter to me which snake wins as the result is the same. Come on, help me gather flowers.'
The disciples watched Sri Ananthazhwan with apprehension, but, to their relief, he continued to serve Lord Srinivasa. Perumal was overjoyed with Sri Ananthazhwan. He found in Sri Ananthazhwan, one who lived per the instructions provided in the Bagawad Gita. 'How I wish that, I could call Sri Ananthazhwan as my acharyan!’ sighed Perumal.
Continued On:

The Two Snakes
Not only was Sri Ananthazhwan a faithful disciple but, he was also a great vedantin. One morning, Sri Ananthazhwan was gathering flowers from the garden. He was followed by his disciples who also helped him. Sri Ananthazhwan lectured them on the commentaries of the 4000 Divya Prabandham and on the divine qualities of the Lord. Sri Ananthazhwan would pluck the flowers while the disciples carried them in bamboo baskets. As Ananthazhwan reached out to pluck a cluster of ylang-ylang, he was bitten by a black cobra. His disciples were terrified when they found out that their acharyan had been bitten by a deadly snake. They started to panic.
‘You are the only one who can run very fast. Hurry! See if you can find a doctor. If you are near the temple, make inquiries to see if anyone knows of someone who belongs to the tribes who live in the forest as, they know some herbs which can break the venom,' instructed a disciple to his colleague.
'What is the reason for the panic?' asked Sri Ananthazhwan.
The disciples were astonished by Sri Ananthazhwan’s calm demeanor.
'You have been bitten by the deadliest snake. Isn't this enough to cause panic even in the three worlds?'
'Did you forget so soon everything I just taught you? Didn't I just teach everyone that, the most deadly snake is our body? So what if my body has been bitten by a snake? Can the venom harm me, the atma which cannot be destroyed?'
The disciples gathered around Sri Ananthazhwan with tears in their eyes.
'We agree with the philosophy but,...'
‘There is no room for but, what you see here is a struggle taking place between two snakes. If the cobra wins, I will take a dip in the Viraja and serve Paramapada Nathan. If my body wins, I will continue to serve Lord Srinivasa here at Tirumala. It doesn't matter to me which snake wins as the result is the same. Come on, help me gather flowers.'
The disciples watched Sri Ananthazhwan with apprehension, but, to their relief, he continued to serve Lord Srinivasa. Perumal was overjoyed with Sri Ananthazhwan. He found in Sri Ananthazhwan, one who lived per the instructions provided in the Bagawad Gita. 'How I wish that, I could call Sri Ananthazhwan as my acharyan!’ sighed Perumal.
Continued On:
Published on July 08, 2016 21:00
July 1, 2016
The Greatness of Sri Ananthazhwan - Part 3
Continued From: http://thoughtsonsanathanadharma.blogspot.ca/2016/06/the-greatness-of-sri-ananthazhwan-part-2.html

Sri Ananthazhwan decided to keep an eye on the garden at night. He appointed one of his disciples to watch over the garden, but, the following morning, he found all the flowers plucked and scattered across the floor. Someone had walked through his sweet marjoram patch. There were faint traces of footprints around the ponds. ‘Didn’t you notice anyone messing around the garden at night? Sri Ananthazhwan questioned his disciple. The disciple had not noticed anyone. Perplexed, Sri Ananthazhwan decided to stay awake and watch over the garden at night. It was a full moon night. There was a gentle breeze mixed with faint drizzle. The perfume from the garden mixed with the herbs growing on the hills made the region seem like a beautiful wonderland. The garden seemed to transform into an enchanting, magical land in the moonlight. A nightingale broke into a song. Sri Ananthazhwan did not pay attention to the beautiful landscape. He remained oblivious to the sweet perfume which filled the breeze. That night, there was a very strong scent of tulasi leaves and yet, Sri Ananthazhwan seemed to have trained his senses only to find the person who was destroying his garden. Yonder under a magnolia tree, Sri Ananthazhwan noticed two figures. He got up from his seat and focused his eyes on the two strangers. Upon scrutiny, he identified them as a young couple frolicking in his garden. Sri Ananthazhwan’s ears turned red with rage when he noticed the young man gather the magnolia blossom to decorate the hairdo of His companion. ‘Stop!’ yelled Sri Ananthazhwan. His voice echoed through the garden. ‘How dare you trespass in this garden which is meant to offer flowers to Lord Srinivasa?’ The young man looked at Sri Ananthazhwan who was rushing towards them, armed with a stick. ‘Run!’ He yelled at His bride and before Sri Ananthazhwan could near the magnolia tree, the man had vanished as if into thin air. Sri Ananthazhwan fumed as he looked here and there trying to locate the mischievous stranger. The lady however had been left behind as she had been unable to run fast. ‘Come here this instant!’ commanded Sri Ananthazhwan. ‘Who are you? Don’t you know it's wrong to trespass?’ ‘We didn’t think we were doing anything wrong. After all, gardens are created for the public to enjoy. How were we to know that this garden was meant for your use?’ Sri Ananthazhwan winced when he heard her utter that; the garden was there for his personal use. ‘This garden is not for my use. This place exists to serve Lord Srinivasa and Padmavathi Thayar. By trespassing you have destroyed the flowers which I had carefully grown to offer to the Divine couple. ‘He felt his anger ebb away as he looked at the young girl. He felt paternal affection creeping into his heart as he looked at her long lotus like eyes which were wet with tears.’ Poor child!’ he thought. ‘It was probably his idea.’ ‘I do not blame you.’ He said. ‘I know it was His idea but, if I have to capture Him, I have to first tie you to this tree. If I hold you as my hostage, He will definitely come back to free you.’ ‘Does it seem right to you to tie a young girl to a tree? If you are a man, you should go after Him. Why do you pick a fight against a helpless woman?’ chided the girl.‘I do feel sorry for you. I do not want to hold you responsible but, to get Him, I must hold you as my hostage!’ In the meantime, the young man returned as soon as He realized that, He had left behind His bride. Sri Ananthazhwan focused his wrath on the man. ‘Is this the way for responsible adults to behave by destroying temple property? Look at this place! Do you know how long it took me to establish this garden? In just a few nights you have destroyed my hard work. I don’t feel sorry because my efforts have been wasted but, I feel sad because, there are no flowers left in this garden to offer to the Lord tomorrow? How do you plan to compensate me?’ ‘I can’t offer you any compensation,’ uttered the young man in a subdued tone. ‘We are not very rich. We are nomads. We wander through theses hills in search of sustenance. I will leave behind my bride. She can sweep your yard and help to clean whatever mess we have created.’ Sri Ananthazhwan was moved by the young man’s speech. He felt sorry for the young girl and felt deep affection for her as if she was his daughter. He took her hand and placed it in the young man’s hand. ‘I give her in marriage to you!’ He said. ‘Take her with you and be off!’ The next moment, the couple vanished from Sri Ananthazhwan’s view and in their place stood Lord Srinivasa and Padmavathi Thayar. Sri Ananthazhwan fell down on his knees. He was speechless. Tears of joy flowed from his eyes. ‘We had been frolicking through this garden because we thought that you had established this garden for our pleasure. May we continue to come visit this garden?’ asked Lord Srinivasa with a mischievous smile on His lovely face. ‘What a question to ask your servant? Everything here, including me belong to you! Where is the need then to ask my permission? This is your pleasure garden! Please forgive my deeds!’ Lord Srinivasa embraced Sri Ananthazhwan and revealed to him that He had performed this leelai in order to make Sri Ananthazhwan His father-in-law. To this day, an Utsavam is conducted at Tirumala in which, Sri Ananthazhwan gives the hand of Sri Padmavathi Thayar in marriage to Lord Srinivasa.
Continued On:
Published on July 01, 2016 20:15
June 19, 2016
The Greatness of Sri Ananthazhwan - Part 2
Continued From: http://thoughtsonsanathanadharma.blogspot.ca/2016/06/the-greatness-of-sri-ananthazhwan-part-1.html?spref=fb
Sri Ananthazhwan Becomes Lord Srinivasa’s Father-in-law
Sri Ananthazhwan’s little garden flourished. Very soon, it started to look like the parks found in the celestial worlds like Indra lokam. Cuckoos and parrots flocked to the trees in the enchanting garden. Peacocks walked along the pathways and danced whenever it rained. There were many small ponds filled with beautiful lotuses and lilies which attracted a variety of aquatic birds. Bunches of Indian magnolia, clusters of ylang-ylang, marigolds, and various colours of jungle geranium (vrikshi), firecracker flower (kanakambaram) adorned the garden. Sri Ananthazhwan had built beautiful arbours and trellises which supported a variety of jasmine creepers. There was also beautiful night blooming jasmine (parijatam) trees. The sweet scent from the garden made a person to experience celestial bliss! Honey bees flocked to the garden attracted by the divine nectar.
Sri Ananthazhwan watched over his garden with great care. He protected the garden from critters which destroyed plants. He spent his spare time walking through the garden and examined every single plant. One day, Sri Ananthazhwan was happy to note that a golden lotus was about to bloom for the very first time. ‘This golden lotus should form the centre of the garland,’ planned Sri Ananthazhwan. After concluding his daily inspection, he retired for the day. He mentally made plans on the floral arrangement with focus on the golden lotus to be offered to the Lord. Lord Srinivasa looked at Sri Ananthazhwan with love. Sri Ananthazhwan reminded the Lord of Sri Periazhwar who also dedicated his life to doing pushpa kaimkaryam. ‘I wish, Sri Ananthazhwan could become my father in law like Peria Azhwar,’ commented the Lord to Goddess Mahalakshmi. He knew that Goddess Mahalakshmi had not incarnated as the daughter of Sri Ananthazhwan like Goda Nachiar had incarnated as the daughter of Sri Peria Azhwar. The Lord, however made a sankalpam to make Sri Ananthazhwan His father in law. With this desire in His heart, He decided to perform another leela to fulfil His heart’s desire.
The coral rays of the Sun kissed the peaks of Thiruvengadam from the valley below. Sri Ananthazhwan rushed to the pond with great expectations to see the fully blossomed golden lotus but, to his dismay, he noticed that someone or something had plucked the lotus bloom. He stood transfixed on the spot looking at the lotus plant with tears in his eye. ‘What had happened to the plant?’ He decided to inspect the rest of the garden and to his shock, he found that someone had plucked all the flowers and had carelessly scattered them on the ground. The petals were strewn across the garden. He was appalled to see that even the buds had been plucked from the plants and tossed around the garden. Under a Spanish cherry tree, Sri Ananthazhwan found the golden lotus which had never had a chance to blossom. ‘Who has been playing mischief in this garden!’ thought Sri Ananthazhwan. ‘Had the garden attracted a family of monkeys? Or perhaps it was a herd of wild elephants. If so, what should be done to deter them in the future?’
Continued On:
Sri Ananthazhwan Becomes Lord Srinivasa’s Father-in-law

Sri Ananthazhwan’s little garden flourished. Very soon, it started to look like the parks found in the celestial worlds like Indra lokam. Cuckoos and parrots flocked to the trees in the enchanting garden. Peacocks walked along the pathways and danced whenever it rained. There were many small ponds filled with beautiful lotuses and lilies which attracted a variety of aquatic birds. Bunches of Indian magnolia, clusters of ylang-ylang, marigolds, and various colours of jungle geranium (vrikshi), firecracker flower (kanakambaram) adorned the garden. Sri Ananthazhwan had built beautiful arbours and trellises which supported a variety of jasmine creepers. There was also beautiful night blooming jasmine (parijatam) trees. The sweet scent from the garden made a person to experience celestial bliss! Honey bees flocked to the garden attracted by the divine nectar.
Sri Ananthazhwan watched over his garden with great care. He protected the garden from critters which destroyed plants. He spent his spare time walking through the garden and examined every single plant. One day, Sri Ananthazhwan was happy to note that a golden lotus was about to bloom for the very first time. ‘This golden lotus should form the centre of the garland,’ planned Sri Ananthazhwan. After concluding his daily inspection, he retired for the day. He mentally made plans on the floral arrangement with focus on the golden lotus to be offered to the Lord. Lord Srinivasa looked at Sri Ananthazhwan with love. Sri Ananthazhwan reminded the Lord of Sri Periazhwar who also dedicated his life to doing pushpa kaimkaryam. ‘I wish, Sri Ananthazhwan could become my father in law like Peria Azhwar,’ commented the Lord to Goddess Mahalakshmi. He knew that Goddess Mahalakshmi had not incarnated as the daughter of Sri Ananthazhwan like Goda Nachiar had incarnated as the daughter of Sri Peria Azhwar. The Lord, however made a sankalpam to make Sri Ananthazhwan His father in law. With this desire in His heart, He decided to perform another leela to fulfil His heart’s desire.
The coral rays of the Sun kissed the peaks of Thiruvengadam from the valley below. Sri Ananthazhwan rushed to the pond with great expectations to see the fully blossomed golden lotus but, to his dismay, he noticed that someone or something had plucked the lotus bloom. He stood transfixed on the spot looking at the lotus plant with tears in his eye. ‘What had happened to the plant?’ He decided to inspect the rest of the garden and to his shock, he found that someone had plucked all the flowers and had carelessly scattered them on the ground. The petals were strewn across the garden. He was appalled to see that even the buds had been plucked from the plants and tossed around the garden. Under a Spanish cherry tree, Sri Ananthazhwan found the golden lotus which had never had a chance to blossom. ‘Who has been playing mischief in this garden!’ thought Sri Ananthazhwan. ‘Had the garden attracted a family of monkeys? Or perhaps it was a herd of wild elephants. If so, what should be done to deter them in the future?’
Continued On:
Published on June 19, 2016 09:56
June 18, 2016
The Greatness of Sri Ananthazhwan - Part 1
It is impossible to think about Lord Srinivasa of Thiruvengadam without thinking about Sri Ananthazhwan; a prominent acharya in the Sri Vaishnava Guru Parampara who was steeped in acharya bakthi that he was considered to be another Madurakavi Azhwar. He has written many granthams like the Goda Chatusloki, Ramanuja Chatusloki and Sri Venkatesa Ithihasa malai. Adiyen wishes to present below the Vaibhavam of Sri Ananthazhwan.

The gentle breeze from the Cauvery River filled the air with divine fragrance of tulasi leaves and jasmine, the divine fragrance carried from the garland of Namperumal. The streets around the temple looked charming. The sweet smell of the agnihothram fire enhanced the serene atmosphere. Parrots and peacocks flocked to the surrounding orchards while, spotted deer played in the orchards and woods. Pious men and women walked through the streets well decorated with beautiful rangoli with eagerness to attend the kalakshepam rendered by Swami Ramanujar. The lecture hall was packed with eager disciples who concentrated on each and every word uttered by the great Acharya. They not only focused their mind on the words of their acharyan but, they also paid attention to the expression on Swami Ramanujar’s face in order to understand the essence of the commentaries on the Thiruvaimozhi pasurams. Swami Ramanujar had started to explain the ten verses on Thiruvengadam composed by Swami Namazhwar with the intention of seeking nithya kaimkaryam (eternal service to the Lord).
‘enthai thanthai thanthai* thanthai thanthaikkum munthai,* vaanavar* vaanavarkOnodum,* sinthupoo makizum* thiruvENG kadatthu,* antha milpugazk* kaarezil aNNalE.'
While reciting the above pasurams, all the disciples noticed tears flowing from Swami Ramanujar’s eyes. They looked at one another trying to decipher the reason for the tears in the eyes of the great acharyan. Was it tears of joy or sorrow? Which line in the above verse provoked the Acharya to shed tears? The attentive disciples correctly determined that the line,’ sinthupoo makizum* thiruvENG kadatthu’ had caused Swami Ramanujar to shed tears. They wished to know if Swami cried because he was feeling happy or because he was feeling depressed.
‘We wish to know the reason for the tears in your eyes while reciting the line “sinthupoo makizum thiruveng kadatthu”'
‘I feel dejected at the thought of the flowers growing on the Thiruvengadam hills which fall to the ground because there is no one there who is dedicated to gather the flowers and offer them to the Lord of Thiruvengadam. Is there anyone amongst you who is willing to go to Thiruvengadam and do pushpa kaimkaryam to the Lord of Seven Hills?’
The disciples looked at one another. They understood the need for someone to do service to the Lord of Tirumala. In the time period of Swami Ramanujar, it wasn’t an easy task to travel to Thiruvengadam. The roads were treacherous, crawling with fierce thieves and wildlife. Some disciples refrained from volunteering as they were worried about living in a remote area quite far from civilization. Others felt distress even at the thought of leaving Sri Rangam. They felt great love for Lord Ranganatha and couldn’t bear the thought of not being able to worship Namperumal every day. The disciples who were very close to Swami Ramanujar felt concerned at the thought of leaving their acharyan. They would even give up Lord Ranganatha but, they couldn’t think about staying away from their dear acharyan. While the disciples were fidgeting and trying to avoid looking at their acharyan lest they should be nominated by him, Sri Ananta Suri got up, walked towards Swami Ramanujar, paid his obeisance and said, ‘if it would please you, I wish to go to Thiruvengadam and offer pushpa kaimkaryam (floral service) to Lord Srinivasa.’ His words struck wonder at the hearts of everyone who had gathered there.
‘You are Ananthan Pillai!’ Swami Ramanujar exclaimed as he embraced Sri Ananta Suri. From that moment, Sri Ananta Suri came to be known as Ananthan Pillai or Ananthazhwan. ‘You are the only one in this assembly who is courageous enough to undertake this task.’
‘When do you plan to leave?’ asked a disciple.
‘Immediately, with the permission of our acharyan.’
‘Don’t start immediately,’ advised another. ‘Wait till your wife gives birth as she is not in a condition to undertake a trek to Thiruvengadam.’
‘What you say is true but, it would be much difficult to travel with an infant and we shouldn’t put off following the command of our acharyan for even a second. I will start to Thiruvengadam immediately with my wife.’
Thus, without wavering for even a second, Sri Ananthazhwan left behind the beautiful island town of SriRangam which hosted the blue sapphire called Ranganatha. He volunteered to leave his acharyan behind in order to put his acharyan’s mind at peace by offering service to Lord Srinivasa. The couple trekked to Thiruvengadam with joy. After all, they had been given a chance to serve their acharyan. They soon arrived at Thiruvengadam. The Lord’s Pranayakopam


Sri Ananthazhwan filled a basket with excavated earth and passed the basket to his wife. Sri Ananthazhwan’s wife started to walk with the basket to the site which had been selected by them for dumping the earth. It was quite far from their garden. She had to walk along the weather-beaten pathways that wound through the hills. As she turned a corner, she heard someone who asked her to stop. As she turned around, she saw a hunter. He looked as dark as the rain bearing clouds. He wore peacock feathers on His hair. He carried a bow with a quiver bag for His arrows. On His waist belt hung a conch and a sword.
‘You shouldn’t be carrying such heavy load in your condition. I have been watching you. I know where to dump the earth.’ Without waiting for her response, He snatched the basket from her and ran towards the dump site.
Ananthazhwan’s wife returned to the excavation site.
‘You have returned very soon. Did you dump the earth in the location I showed you or did you dump it somewhere nearby?’
‘I didn’t get a chance to go to the site. A hunter snatched the basket from me saying that, I shouldn’t be working in my condition and ran away towards the dump site. I didn’t have the strength to stop Him.’
‘I will deal with the hunter,’ said Sri Ananthazhwan as he tossed his spade down. ‘Let us go and find Him.’
‘There He is,’ pointed Sri Ananthazhwan’s wife.
They saw the hunter walk towards them with the empty basket.
‘Why did you snatch the basket from this lady?’ questioned Sri Ananthazhwan. ‘Don’t you know it’s wrong to prevent people from serving the Lord?’
‘I do not know anything about your rules. All I know is that it is not right to let a woman in her condition to do such laborious task.’
‘What do you know about us?’ thundered Sri Ananthazhwan. ‘Don’t pretend to be compassionate and hinder the service we are performing for the Lord. I command you to leave us alone. If you further thwart our work, I will hit you with my spade!’
The hunter hurried away without arguing with Sri Ananthazhwan.
‘He won’t hamper you anymore. I have filled another basket for you to carry.’
Sri Ananthazhwan’s wife carried the second basket and walked slowly towards the dump site. As she neared the same corner where she had met the hunter earlier, she was startled by Him as He once again grabbed the basket from her without giving her a chance to speak. She once again, returned and complained to Sri Ananthazhwan.
‘Is He still troubling you?’ roared Sri Ananthazhwan. ‘I will teach Him a lesson.’ So saying, he grabbed his spade and went in search of the hunter.
He soon came across the hunter along the forest path. ‘Didn’t I warn you to leave us alone? How dare you show your face here again?’
The hunter did not wait to reply. He threw down the basket and started to run towards the temple with Sri Ananthazhwan pursuing Him through the jungle path. They soon came within the temple premises. The hunter started running around the temple. Unable to keep up with the hunter, Sri Ananthazhwan threw his spade at the hunter with the intention of stopping him. The spade hit the hunter on His jaw. The hunter rubbed His jaw as He ran away without stopping to look at Sri Ananthazhwan. The hunter turned a corner and vanished from view. He was nowhere to be seen. Sri Ananthazhwan gave up his pursuit and returned to his wife. ‘The hunter won’t trouble us anymore.’
He looked at the Sun and realized that the excavation had to wait till the next day since he had to tie the flowers he had gathered from the garden for Lord Srinivasa. Lord Srinivasa, who had appeared in the form of a hunter before Sri Ananthazhwan, wished to reveal His leelai to Sri Ananthazhwan. He commanded a Sri Vaishnava at the temple to bring Sri Ananthazhwan with him to the sanctum. The Sri Vaishnava found Sri Ananthazhwan in his garden tying flowers. He paid his obeisance to Sri Ananthazhwan and conveyed the Lord’s message. He expected Sri Ananthazhwan to start with him to the temple immediately, but, to his surprise, Sri Ananthazhwan refused to come.
‘I have to tie these flowers for the Lord. If I delay, they will wilt before they can be offered to the Lord. Please let Perumal know that I will see Him when I come with the flower garland.’
The messenger stood speechless. He looked at the mound of flowers which by themselves resembled a hill.’ How long will it take to tie these flowers?’ wondered the messenger. He did not know of anyone who would refuse to obey the lord’s command. The messenger returned to the temple and conveyed that Sri Ananthazhwan would only pay the Lord a visit after he had tied together all the flowers into a garland.
‘Go tell Him that, the flowers can wait. I do not care if they wilt. Tell him that I order him to appear before me immediately!’
‘I have already told you once that I cannot abandon my pushpa kaimkaryam. Let the Lord know that I cannot come before Him now!’ replied Sri Ananthazhwan to the perplexed messenger.
Once again the messenger carried Sri Ananthazhwan’s refusal to Lord Srinivasa. Perumal feigned anger and responded heatedly. ‘Ask him for whom is he tying the garland? If he doesn’t come this instant, tell him that I will not accept his garland!’
‘Tell Lord Srinivasa that I do not care if He accepts my garland or not. It is my duty to tie the garland and I will not neglect my duty!’
The Lord once again responded angrily. ‘Ask him; to please whom, is he tying the garland?’
‘I am only tying this garland to please my acharyan Swami Ramanujar!’
The messenger once again brought Lord Srinivasa’s message in reply to Sri Ananthazhwan’s. ‘The lord doesn’t want you to stay at Thiruvengadam for even a second; since, you do not obey His divine command.’
To the messenger’s surprise, Sri Ananthazhwan remained cool and composed. ‘Tell the Lord that He too is a visitor to these hills like me. He has come here few thousand years ago from Vaikuntam while I have come here recently. This makes both of us visitors to this hill which means that He doesn’t have the right to evict me. Moreover, I came here to serve my acharyan. Unless my acharyan asks me to return, I will not leave these hills, even if it is the will of the Lord to send me away!’
Lord Srinivasa smiled when He heard Sri Ananthazhwan’s reply. He felt very happy to witness Sri Ananthazhwan’s acharya bakthi. He waited eagerly to see Sri Ananthazhwan. After tying the garlands, Sri Ananthazhwan walked to the temple carrying the garlands in a basket on his head.
‘The Lord will be very angry with me,’ he thought. ‘It is better that I do not meet the Lord’s eyes today. I should give Him a chance to cool down.’
Sri Ananthazhwan entered the sanctum, but, without even looking at Lord Srinivasa, he left the basket at the Lord’s feet and turned to go.
‘Don’t you wish to see me wear your garland?’
Sri Ananthazhwan turned around when he heard the divine voice and to his shock, saw a gash on the Lord’s jaw.
‘I wished to show you that I had appeared before you as the hunter.’
Sri Ananthazhwan felt horrified when he realized that he had hit the Lord with a spade. ‘I can get a doctor to cure human beings whose bodies are Prakruthik in nature, but, how can I find a cure to heal your aprakruthik Divya Managala Vigraham? Oh! What have I done! I came here to please my acharyan by serving you but, alas! I have instead hurt you! What will I tell my acharyan?’
Lord Srinivasa consoled Sri Ananthazhwan. He asked for a paste made out of the foot dust of His devotees to be applied on His chin to heal the wound. To this day, this paste is offered to devotees and is called “Sripada Renu”.
Continued On:
Published on June 18, 2016 11:35