A follow up discussion on "Sri" and thiru aathanoor

[Guest guest]

In continaution of the two articles "Shivaa - Brahmaa Head count reduction"

and

"Poistion of Sri", I wanted to make an observation (that I already made in a

follow-up discussion with another netter through personal mail and am rewriting

the same, respecting the general suggestion made by Mr. Jagan naath for making

such question answers to be available to others also) and also add a note from

one of the 108 DD. Is It also possible that it was Lord's desire that such a

random reference to shiva - brahmaa episode was made by the questioner when he

(Mr. Vidya Sankar) had asked for the position of "Sri" , such that the position

is implied in this "episode" as well ? The Position of Sri as a mediatrix is

also evident from the fact that Lord Shiva has to seek "Sri's" mercy and her

offering of bikshai in Bikshaandaar koil or Uththamar kOil prior to seeking the

final refuge or relief from Lord Vishnu in Thiruk kandiyoor. The following is

the compelling evidence that Lord Shiva had no other go than to seek the relief

from the ultimate couple and in the order that Srivaishnavam follows (ie Sri as

mediatrix). It was observed that Lord Shiva not only wandered around the

universe to get rid of the "kapaalam" that was struck in his palm and the

brahma hathi thOsham, he had also asked "Agni" (who is the media for the Homam

and the source for "purification", and also known as "agnirvai sarva thEvaa",

due to Agni's unique position as a substitute for all the Devaas) to burn away

this kapaalam. In attempting to do so it was stated that the holiest "Agni" not

only failed to do so but also got the "Brahma hathi thOsham" for going hands

along with Shiva (who was having brahma hathi dOsham at that time) in his

attempts. Finally "Agni" was asked to do penance and pray the Lord at "Thiru

aathanoor" (also one of the 108 DD) and get the dOsham removed.

 

 

Besides Agni, kaamadEnu also sought Lord's blessings in this shekthram (Thiru

aathanoor). It is beleived that there are "two pillars" known as "MaNath

thooNgaL" in parama patham. It is a customary that who gets to go to "parama

patham" hugs and embraces these pillars before becoming "nitya sooris". There

are two such pillars in boo lOgam, only in two of the 108 DD's ie .. Sri

rangam and this temple in thiru aathanoor.

 

This and other narrations on this temple is observed from the following note

on this temple

 

aathi rangEchwaram vanthE paadali vana samasthitham

Brigu, agni, kaamathEnubyaa thaththaapeetham thayaanthiram vimaanE

praNava ranga naayaakyaa soosu

maasaritham soorya pushkarni thirE seShasyO pari saayinam

 

Though this temple is compared on par with Srirangam on some aspects, the

original dual and second only is thiruk kudanthai (due to its vimaanam).

Thirukkudanthai is also included in the club of the five holy rangams

popularly known as "Pancha ranga shekthram".

 

The 5 arangams popularly known as "Pancha Rangams" are

 

1. Aathi Rangam - Sri Rangap pattinam

2. Appaala Rangam - Thirup pEr nagar

3. Madhya Rangam - Sri rangam

4. Sathurth tharangam - (Kumabakonam) thiruk kudanthai

5. anthima (or pancha) rangam - Thiru inthaloor (maayavaram)

 

It is also noted that the order of the all these shekthrams are arranged in

direction

of the flow of (downstream line ) "kauveri" from moolam to sangamam, which

merges

with sea in maayavaram.

 

Sri Boomi DEvi Sri Oppiliappan thriuvadikaLE saraNam

 

Sampath Rengi