Who is this deity?

[Guest guest]

Dear Bhagavatas

Following is an excerpts from Chapter 8 "Where is God?" from my book

"Hinduism Rediscovered" archived at www.srivaishnava.org/sgati

Please go to TOC of SDDS Volume 1 Issue 23 dated 4th December 1996

for fuller details.

 

While describing the "Param" abode of the Lord, I have mentioned about

"GAJANANAN" (Not to be confused with Ganapathi) at item 17 as also one

SKANDAN (Not to be confused with Subrahmanya) at item 23 in the list of some

of the Nitysooris in Paramapadam.

 

In many PerumAL koils, you will find this deity.

I have seen one on the left side of one of the entrances in Sri Parthasarathy

PerumAL Koil at Tiru Allik kENI (Triplicane).

 

They are all the "ParivAras" of the Lord and if one looks carefully, one can

find them depicted in pictures or chistleled on architecture in the precincts

of PerumAL koils.

Dasoham

Anbil Ramaswamy

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SECTION 1 : PARAM (TRANSCENDENTAL)

NITYAVIBUTHI is called 'PARAMAPADAM' 'SRIVAIKUNDAM' 'TRIPADAVIBUTHI',

'AMRUTHAM', 'APRAKRITAM', 'ANANDA LOKAM, 'AYODHYA', 'PARAMAKASAM' and by many

more names which are' paryaya padas' or equivalent terms. The description of

this 'PARAM' is given in 'KAUSHITAKI UPANISHAD', and Sri RAMANUJA'S

SRIVAIKUNTA GADHYAM'.

 

This SRIVAIKUNTA is the holiest city with Mansions of gold, Groves,

Waterfronts, Natatoria, Halls, Canopies, Ramparts, Towers and Mantapas

(Courtyards) the most important of which is the 'TIRU MAMANI MANTAPA'.

 

Sri NARAYANA presides over the Nitya Vibuthi seated on a majestic Lion-throne

(SIMHASANA) installed on the thousand headed divine serpent (ADHISESHA), with

his consorts SRIDEVI, BHOODEVI and NEELA DEVI.

 

The NITYASURIS include -

 

I. ASHTA DIK PATHIGAL (8)

(1) KUMUDAN

(2) KUMUDAAKSHAN

(3) PUNDAREEKAN

(4) VAMANAN

(5) SANKU KARNAN

(6) SARVANETRAN

(7) SUMUKHAN

(8) SUPRATISHTAN

 

II. DWARA PAALAKAAS - (8)

(9) CHANDAN

(10) PRACHANDAN

(11) BADRAN

(12) SUBADRAN

(13) JAYAN

(14) VIJAYAN

(15) DHAATAN

(16) VIDHAATAN

 

III. PARIVARAS (2)

(17) GAJAANANAN (Not to be confused with Ganapathi)

(18) JAYATSENAN

 

IV. OTHER "CHIEF" NITYASURIS

(19) VISHWAKSENAR- the Commander - in- Chief and Chief Advisor

(with his wife SUTRAVATHI)

(20) VAINATEYAR a.k.a GARUDALWAR and PERIYA TIRUVADI

(with his wives RUDRAI and SUKEERTHI)

(21) ANANTAALWAN a.k.a AADHI SESHAN - the divine couch of the Lord

(with his wives VAARUNI and KAANTI)

(22) NANDAN

(23) SKANDAN (Not to be confused with Subrahmanya)

(24) PUSHKARA

(25) PUSHKARAAKSHA

(26) PRISNIGARBHA

(27) KAALA (Not to be confused with Yama, the Lord of death)

(28) AMAANAVA PURUSHA a.k.a MAANASA PURUSHA

(29) SARVAGANDHI

And, many, many, many more.

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[Guest guest]

Sri:

Srimathe Gopaladesika Mahadesikaya namaha

 

BhAgavathAs:

 

In the bhuloka vaikundam (Srirangam, Tiruchirapalli), you can see GajAnanan (The

thumbikkai

Azhwar) in the left side of inner prakaram to Sriranganathar moolavar sannidhi

(adjacent) where people wait.

 

namO nArAyanA!

 

Ramanbil wrote:

>

> In many PerumAL koils, you will find this deity.

> I have seen one on the left side of one of the entrances in Sri Parthasarathy

> PerumAL Koil at Tiru Allik kENI (Triplicane).

>