Sri Koorathazhvan Avathara Vaibhavam

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SrI:

Sri Lakshmi Nrisimha Parabrahmane Nama:

Sri Lakshmi Nrisimha Divyapadhukasevaka

Srivan Satakopa Sri Narayana Yatheendhra Mahadesikaya Nama:

 

Dear Sri Vaishnavas:

 

Thai Hastham is Sri Koorathazhvan's Thiru Nakshatram and AdiyEn ventures

into

sharing key aspects of Sri Koorathazhvan's Avathara Vaibhavam.

 

The Thiru Avatharam:

 

Sriman Narayana - the Vathsalyan that He is - was immensely pleased

by Sri Anathazhvar's Nithya Kaimkaryam in Sri Vaikuntam. Our Lord

was further pleased by the dedicated devotion and Kaimkaryam shown

by Sri Anathazhvar during the Lords incarnation of various

Thiru Avatarams in Boo Logam. Our Lord wanted to reward

Sri Anathazhvar for his dedicated devotion and our Lord chose the

route of Kaimkaryam. Yet another instance of our Lord's Kalyana Guna

in action!

 

When our Lord blessed Sri Anathazhvar to incarnate as Bhagavad Ramanuja,

our Lord found it a fitting opportunity to 're-pay' the dedicated devotion

shown by Sri Anathazhvar. Thus the Thiru Avatharam as Koorathazhvan.

 

Sri Koorathazhvan's wealth:

 

Sri Koorathazhvan was born in illustrious family - illustrious in wealth,

knowledge and devotion. Sri Koorathazhvan lived in a place called Kooram -

a small village close to Kancheepuram and the palace of Sri Koorathazhvan

was an epitome of material wealth. Sri Koorathazhvan was known

for his generous help to all and sundry, who lived in the village; who

came for help and those who visited their palace.

 

The main door of the palace had huge bells in it and when the family

retires for the day, the main door used to be closed with a loud bang.

The bang was so loud that the noise would reach the Perumal Koil

[sri Varadarajaswamy Koil, Kancheepuram], which was

atleast 5 kilometers away.

 

The Call by PirAti:

 

Goddess Perundevi ThAyAr used to wonder at the kind of wealth that

Sri Koorathazhvan had and discusses this with none other than our

Lord DevAadirajan. Both of them felt it was time Sri Koorathazhvan

spent more time in Bhagavat and Bhagavata Kaimkaryam.

 

PirAti Perundevi ThAyAr sent for Sri Koorathazhvan and blessed him

to be involved in Bhagavat and Bhagavata Kaimkaryam.

 

Sri Koorathazhvan's Vairakyam:

 

The devout Sri Koorathazhvan instantly obeyed and asked his

Devi Smt. Andal to follow him. It is amazing fact that they

detached themselves instantly from all that huge material

wealth.

 

While they were walking towards Kancheepuram, in dark night,

Sri. Koorathazhvan found his Devi worried about something.

He found that, out of compassion, she was carrying the

golden plate which Sri Koorathazhvan used for eating.

 

Sri Koorathazhvan instantly asked her to throw the plate on

the streets and said any kind of material attachment will hamper

Bhagavat and Bhagavata Kaimkaryam.

 

Such was Sri. Koorathazhvan's Vairakyam, through which we

can see a parallel in our Swami Desikan's life, when Swami Desikan

reacted the same way on seeing small pieced of gold in rice.

 

Amazing Skills:

 

Sri Koorathazhvan was a devout disciple of Bhagavad Ramanuja.

Bhagavad Ramanuja taught the sampradayam in detail and took

Sri Koorathazhvan along in various sancharams. While they were

in place near current day Kashmir Bhagavad Ramanuja won an

Tharkam and rightfully claimed Sri Bodayana's vyakyanam to

Brahma Sutram. However, jealous elements followed

Bhagavad Ramanuja to snatch the works. Sensing this,

Sri Koorathazhvan glanced through the vyakyanam in a single

evening.

 

When eventually, the work was snatched away, Sri Koorathazhvan

could reproduce the entire vyakyanam - verbatim. It was

this amazing feat that helped Bhagavad Ramanuja to compose

Sri Bashyam.

 

Acharya Kaimkaryam:

 

Sri Koorathazhvan stood as an epitome of sishya lakshanam.

He served Bhagavad Ramanuja with complete devotion and

diligence. His daily routine will be to serve his Acharyan

and quickly do what he wanted to do, when the Acharyan rests.

 

In light of this, the above mentioned feat of Sri Koorathazhvan

takes further significance.

 

Thiruarangathu Amudanar was then managing the administration

of Koil [srirangam]. Sri Koorathazhvan sought from Amudanar

that the temple administration be handed over to Bhagavad Ramanuja.

Amudanar knew the greatness of Bhagavad Ramanuja who willingly

handed over and Sri Amudanar went on to compile

"Sri Ramanuja Nootrandhadhi"

 

A Chozha King was a devotee of Siva and went on to forcibly

establish the superiority of Siva over all others [including

Sriman Narayana]. Bhagavad Ramanuja, Sri Koorathazhvan and

Other disciples were in Sancharam in that Kingdom. Ill-advised

by Nalooran, the King sent his men to invite Bhagavad Ramanuja to

the court - to establish his belief.

 

Bhagavad Ramanuja was taking his bath in the river and

Sri Koorathazhvan was waiting on guard. Seeing the King's

men and sensing trouble, Sri Koorathazhvan instantly took

the red garb of Bhagavad Ramanuja and told the King's men

that he was Ramanuja. Accompanied by Sri Peria Nambi

Sri Koorathazhvan went to the King's court and refuted

the King's belief.

 

Angered at this, the King ordered Sri Peria Nambi and

Sri Koorathazhvan to be blinded. Sri Koorathazhvan took

his eyes himself, saying that he does not these eyes

that saw a sinner like the King.

 

While Sri Peria Nambi succumbed to the torture and

Ascended to Sri Vaikuntam, Sri Koorathazhvan joined

Bhagavad Ramanuja.

 

NanEdhan Ayiduga:

 

Bhagavad Ramanuja was deep in sorrow for what happened

and was consoling Sri Koorathazhvan. Sri Koorathazhvan

said that his predicament of losing his eyes could have

been because - maybe for a split second he would have

thought ill about someone sporting Urdhva Pundaram.

 

Sri Koorathazhvan showed by example of the most important

Sri Vaishnavite quality, where you accept the blame

for anything that happens, irrespective of the fact

whether you are the cause or not.

 

What's more! Sri Koorathazhvan went on to seek Paramapada

Baghyam for Nalooran, who was the cause of Sri Koorathazhvan

to loose eye-sight.

 

Sri Koorathazhvan's works:

 

Sri Koorathazhvan brought out 5 works - popularly known as

Panchastavam. They are:

 

Sri Sthavam - 10 slokas [on Sri Ranga nachiyar]

Sri Vaikunta Sthavam - 100 slokas [on Paramapada Nathan]

AthimAnusha Sthavam - 61 slokas [on Emperuman]

Sri Sundara Bahu Sthavam - 132 slokas [on Azhagar]

Sri Varadaraja Sthavam - 102 slokas [on Hastigiri Varadan]

 

Sri Koorathazhvan Thiruvadigale Saranam!

 

With respectful acknowledgments from Sri Anbil Ramaswamy Mama and

The upanyasam by Sri Velukkudi Krishnan Swamy.

 

dAsan

Anand

22nd January 2001

 

Srimad Azhagia Singar Thiruvadigale Saranam

Shrimate Shri Seetha Ramachandra Parabrahmane Nama:

 

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Anand Sampathkumar www.malola.com <http://www.malola.com>

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