Thiru naRaiyoor - Thiru naRiyooraan niyamaNamum thirumangai thirumaNamum - part 3A

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Thiru Mangai was known as "Neelan" while he served the chOlan both as chief of

the command for Armed Forces and as well as the chief of all the Lords as

himself being one of such Lord ie Kuru nila Mannar. He was beleived to be the

intermediate source of recipient of all the Levies from the Lords and was

passing on the Same to the King as well. ie He was also paying a portion of the

levy to the cholan. Neelan came to know of a dEva kannigai (through the Lord)

who was stranded here near "thiru veLLk kuLam". He was encahnted by the beauty

of this apsarus. He asked her hand for marriage and she said that she will

marry only a SriVaishnaVan and that one who bears the holy marks of the Lord on

his shoulders only. Neelan prayed to the NaRaiyoor Nambi and and the lord

offered him the pancha samaskaaram HIMself and duly initiated him as a

Srivaishnavan. The Pancha samaskaaram are the 5 principles that are very

important and is considered the official step 1 for becoming a Srivaishnvaa

sseking mOksham. The 5 principles are summarised below for a quick reference.

 

1. Order of wearing 12 thirumans

 

Getting to know the "order" by which one will wear the 12 thiruman in his body

and getting to know the manthirams that are associated with the wearing of

thriumans. ie one has to chant these mantrams as he wears the thirumans. There

is also a way specified to chant these mantrams and that is also considered a

part of this "order".

 

 

2. Suiting a Sarmaa

 

Being named again with a different name other than the name given by

the parents if the birth name is not the name of either the Lord or his

Adiyaars. Achaaryaa who performs this will offer a suitable name if

required. Neelan was renamed by the Lord of NaRaiyoor here as

"thirumangai".

 

3. Wearing of Thiruch chinnam

 

Bearing the holy ayudha and aabaranam of the Lord on one's shoulder by marking

the skin with such imprints. This may be seen as the utmost loyalty in modern

and rational terms as this is very similar to getting tattooed one's favourite

symbol on one's body. The Chakram on the right and changu on the left shoulders

are printed as similar to Sriman NaaraayaNa who is here the most favourite

symbol of SriVaishnvaa and alike. The process is similar to applying a tattoo

but not that severe. ie. The template marks of these holy symbols are heated

and pressed onto the shoulders of the Srivaishnavaa. This act is supposed to

also purify the body.

 

4. Taking oath to serve the Lord

 

Taking the vow or undertaking that one will do thiru aaraadhanai every day and

will offer a prasaadham to the Lord first in the morning and break their fast

only after offering such prasaadham to the Lord. ie Pray the Lord first in the

morning and offer HIM a prasaadham with pure heart and worship HIM prior to

taking any food ourselves.

 

 

5. Understanding the Thirumanthiram

 

The thirumanthiram was initiated to thirumangai by the thiruk

KaNNapuram sowri raaja perumaal. However, as per the definition of

pancha samaskaaram it is unerstood that the NaRiyoor nambi got him

qualified to chant this mantram by detailing the artham or meaning of

this manthram. The qualification here also means the wearing the

thiruch chinnam physically and also wearing the spiritual thiruch

chinnam mentally! prior to this one can only chant the name "naaraayanaa"

alone.

 

 

It is said that the Lord of "Badri"haasramam performed the role of both aasaan

or teacher or guru and also the student or sishayn. Some call him the aasaan

for all srivaishnavaa. However, some expert Srivaishnavaa who critically

analyse these call naRaiyoor nambi as the paripooraNa aasaan as HE served only

the role of achaaryaaL here in offering the meanings of thirumanthiram.

Thirumangai went to his fiancee kumudavaLLi and informed her of his initiation

as a sriviashnavan. She said it is not enough and that she will marry only a

srivaishnavan who will offer amuthu to 1000 srivaishnvaas everyday for 1 year.

Thirumangai pleaded to her that he will do the same and that the "list" of

demands should end with this great task. She agreed that she will not demand

anything more. Thirumangai started his kainkaryam and was offering everyday the

thathi (adiyaar) aaraadhanam (offering amuthu or food). SUch place this

kainkaryam took place is even now can be seen as a

small city known as mangai madam.

 

Soon he ran out of funds and he started using the money that was meant to be

paid to the king. ChoLan was not all happy about this and asked for proper

explanation from thriumangai. Since chOlan was not happy with his reply he

asked thirumangai to be kept in custody until he reveals the way to return his

Levy money. Thirumangai was held as a captive in naRaiyoor temple for three

days without food. Thirumangai prayed to the Lord to rescue him so that he can

continue his service to the srivaishnvaas. The Lord appeared in his dream and

said "there is a treaure on the river bed of vehavathi (river) ear marked only

for you (ie you only will know its place and you only can take it from there as

it belongs to you only) and ordered thirumangai that he use it for your current

endeavours (or pursual) and also to repay your dues to chOlan". On the fourth

day when the royal ministers came to interrogate, thirumangai offered them that

he will pay the dues from his treasure that he only knows. ChoLan allowed to

him to acquire the treasure and thirumangai not only cleared his dues to the

King but also fulfilled his promise to serve the 1000 srivaishnavaas and

married kumudhavalli. It was the niyamanam of the Lord HIMself that, Thus the

Lord of NaRaiyoor not only offered pancha samaskaaram but also provided the

necessary maargam or direction to fulfill his desires and pay his dues as well.

Thirumangai delivered a paasuram confirming his dream of this Lord of

naRaiyoor.

 

nanavil senRaarkkum naNNaR karai yaanai

naan adiyEn naRaiyoor ninRa nambiyai

kanavil kaNdEn inRu

 

ie he says adiyEn kanavil kaNdEn inRu. ie I saw HIM in my dream today.

 

Thirumnagai thiruvadikaLE saraNam

manjuLavalli samEthara naRaiyoor naMbi thiruvadikaLE saraNam

Sampath Rengarajan