Pandiya Nadu and Malai Nadu Divya Desams Yathrai (A Virtual Experience)

[Guest guest]

Pandiya Nadu and Malai Nadu Divya Desams Yathrai

21st December 2001 to 30th December 2001.

 

Sri Venkata Gurave Namaha:

Sri Mathe Ramanujaya Namaha:

Acharyan Tiruvadigale Saranam:

 

The yathrai was conducted by Vasu Mama (Vasudevan

Triplicane fame).

 

I started from Hyderabad on 20th evening and reached

chennai on 21st morning.

 

21-12-2001

 

1. Tiruvallikkeni: Afternoon had bhagyam to be among

sevakalam goshti during phagal pathu adhyayana

uthsavam, surprisingly his holiness Sri Tridandi

Srimann Narayana Chinna Jeeyar swamy came to temple.

It was coincidence; by the time he came, Thirumangai

Azhwar’s mangalasasanam pasuram on Parthasaradhy

Perumal started.

 

viRperu vizhavum kaNYchanum mallum

vEzhamum paaganum veezha,

cheRRavan Rannai, purameri seydha

sivanuRu thuyargaLai thEvai,

paRRalar veeyak kOlkaiyil koNdu

paartthanRan thErmunnNin Raanai,

siRRavai paNiyaal mudithuRanN dhaanaith

thiruvallik kENikkaN dEnE.

 

It took almost 20 mins, to recite those 10 pasurams. I

can personally say, no other divya desa perumal is

enjoying the type of Ghoshti “right now”, the way

Parthasaradhy perumal is enjoying. There were easily

more than 300 adhyapakas in sevakalam, including Sri U

Ve M.A. Venkata Krishnan Avl.

 

Yathrai started on 21st Dec night at 8:00 pm from

Tiruvillikeni Parthasaradhi temple. Two buses were

arranged with almost 102 people to travel.

 

22-12-2001

 

1. Thiruvarangam: The bhooloka Vaikuntam. Had very

well darsanam of Sri Ranganathar (moolavar) two times,

Namm Perumaal (Uthsavar), Thaayaar Sri Ranaga Naayaki,

Udaiyavar and Chakarthalwar from 8:00 am to 10:00 am.

>From 10:00 am to 11:30 am, had bhagyam to see “Araiyar

Sevai”.

 

Started from srirangam at 1:30 pm and reached

Thirumeyyam at 5:45pm

 

2. Thiru meyyam: Had darsanam of Sathyagiri Nathan and

Ujjeevana thaayaar at 6:00 pm. Started from Thiru

meyyam and reached Thirukkottiyur.

 

3. Thirukkottiyur: Had excellent darsanam of Sri

UragamellaNaiyaan (Sowmya Naryanan) and Thirumaamagal

naachiyaar at 7:15. Went up in Ashtaanga Vimanam (The

place where Sri ramanjua reveald the sacred

Thirumantram, the mantram that grants moksham to any

jeevathma recited even once in his lifetime). Started

from Thirukkottiyur and reached Thiruppullani. Night

halt at Thiruppullani.

 

23-12-2001

 

4. Had Sethu Snanam in the morning at 7:00 am. Which

is hardly 1-2 kilometres from Thiruppullani temple.

 

5. Thiruppullani: Had darsanam of Sri Kalyana

Jagannathan and Sri Kalyaanavalli (Padmaasani) thaayar

at 10:00 am. Here I have to mention that, the temple

is not in good condition. A sabha which is actively

taking care of renovating temple is planning to do

samprokshanam in another six months. One of the

members of the group Venkat S. Iyengar gave me 500 Rs,

before I started for the yathrai. I gave the amount to

sabha for samprokshnam. I have an Appeal letter given

the by the secretary of the sabha, which I will post

in the next mail.

 

Started to Nava Pashanam at 1:30 pm.

 

6. Nava Pashanam: Had darsanam of nava graha’s at 3:30

pm which were installed by sri Rama himself. Started

from nava pashanam and reached Rameshwaram.

 

7. Rameshwaram: Had darsanam of perumal at 7:00 pm.

Started from Rameshwaram at 9:00 pm and reached

Thirumogoor at night 12:30. Night stay at

Thirumogoor.

 

24-12-2001

 

8. Thirumogoor: Had early morning bath in Ksheerapthi

pushkarani at 3:30 am (this theeratam is very

auspicious, this theertam has mangalasasanam in

NammAzhwar’s Thriuvaimozhi)

 

kooththan kOvalan kuthaRRuval lachurargaL kooRRam

Eththum nangadakum amararkkum munivarkkum inban

vaayththa thaNpaNai vaLavayal soozthiru mOgoor

aaththan thaamarai yadiyanRi maRRilam araNE.

 

Had excellent Vishva roopa darsanam of Sri Kaalamega

Perumal, Mohana Valli Thayaar and Chakrathazhwar in

the morning at 5:00 am. Started to Nupra Gangai at

6:30 am.

 

9. Nupra Gangai: The nupra gangai is on the top of

the hill Thirumaaliransolai. The water here is

considered to be equal to Ganga. Thirumanjanam to

perumal is done only with this theertam.

 

10. Thirumaalirunsolai: Had darsanam of Sri

Sunderaraajan (KallAzhagar) and Sundaravalli Thayaar

at 8:30 am.

 

11. Thirukkoodal: Had darsanam of Sri Koodalazhagar

and Maduravalli Thaayar at 10:30 am. Was in temple

till 12:30. Went back to Thirumogoor at 2:00 pm, had

tadiyaradanai and started from thirumogoor at 4:00 pm

to Thiruthangal.

 

12. Thirutthangal: Had darsanam of Sri Ninra

Narayanan and Sri Segamala Thaayar at 6:15 pm. Started

to Srivilliputhur at 6:45 pm.

 

13. SriVilliputhur: (One of the most important

reasons to go to this yathrai was to see Sri Aandaal

during Margazhi maasam.) Had one of the lifetime

experience sevai of Sri Aandal with Rangamannar,

Vatapathrasaayi at 8:00 pm. Aandaal and ranamannar

were brought from vatapatrasaayi temple to main

sannadhi at 8:30 pm. It was one of the rarest

occasions to see the voyaara nadai. The thirmeni of

Aandaal is so elegant, words fail me to write. Night

started at 11:00 pm to Azhwar Thirunagari.

 

25-12-2001

 

It was one of the days to be remembered in my

lifetime. It was the day I visited 9 divya desams

(Nava Tirupathi) at a stretch. Here is the serial

order

 

14. Thirukkurugoor: Had bath in Thaampraparani

theetham in the morning at 4:30 am and had excellent

vishwa roopa darsanam of Sri Aadhi Naadhan,

Koorugoorvalli Thaayar and Namm Azhwar at 6:00 am.

Recited Thiruppavai at Aadhinaadan and Namm Azhar

sannadhi. (In nava graha kshetrams, this keshtram is

Vzhyayan) Also saw the sacred Tamarind tree.

 

15. Thirukkoloor: (This is the birth place of

Madurakavi Azhwar) Had darsanam of Sri

Nishebaviththan, Kumudha valli Thaayar and Madurakavi

Azhwar at 8:30 am. (In nava graha kshetrams, this

keshtram is Angarakan)

 

16. Then Thirupperai: Had darsanam of Sri maga

nedunguzhaikkaadhan and kuzhaikkaadhuvalli Thaayar at

9:45 am. (In nava graha kshetrams, this keshtram is

shukran)

 

17. Thirukkulandhai: Had darsanam of Sri Sora

Naadhan(Srinivasan) and Kulandhaivalli naacchiyaar(

Alamelu Mangai) thaayaar at 10:45 am. (In nava graha

kshetrams, this keshtram is shanishwaran)

 

18. Thirutthyulaivilli mangalam (1) Irraittai

tirupathi: Had darsanam of Sri Thevappirran and Upaya

naacchiyral at 11:45 am. (In nava graha kshetrams,

this keshtram is Rahu)

 

19. Thirutthyulaivilli mangalam (2) Irraittai

tirupathi: Had darsanam of Sri Aravainda lochanan and

Karunthadankanni naacchiyaar at 12:10 pm. (In nava

graha kshetrams, this keshtram is ketu)

 

20. Thiruppulingundi: Had darsanam of Sri

Kaaysinavendhar and Malarmagal Naacchiyaar at 1:15 pm.

(In nava graha kshetrams, this keshtram is Bhudan)

 

21. Thiru Varagunamangai: Had darsanam of Sri

Vijayaasana Perumal and Varagunavalli Thaayar at

2:00pm (In nava graha kshetrams, this keshtram is

Chandran)

 

22. Thiru Vaikuntam: Had darsanam of Sri Vaikundha

naadhan and Vaigundhavalli (boodhevi) Thaayar at 2:40

pm. (In nava graha kshetrams, this keshtram is

Suryan).

 

With this we were able to complete all 9 (nava

tirupathis) at a stretch without break.

 

On same day evening at 5:30 pm had bhagyam to see

"Arayar Sevai" at Sri Aadhinadhan Perumal koil,

followed by sathumarai ghoshti and Madurakavi Azhwars

procession to Namm Azhwar’s sannadhi.

 

26-12-2001

 

Yet another day to be remembered in my lifetime. It

was Vaikunta Ekadesi day (I don’t have aaharam, except

perumal theertam on this day for the past seven years)

I can say that only perumal gave me strength to Climb

the mountain, which is 10 kms (up and down) to have

darsanam of Thirumalai nambi. On this day I visited

all 5 Nambi’s and had bhagyam to have darsanam of

Paramapada Vasal at Vanamaamalai in the evening.

 

23. ThiruMalai Nambi: Had darsanam of Sri Thirumalai

Nambi, which is also called as Therku (South)

Badrikarshramam. To reach this place, we have to climb

mountain, which is approx 5 kms. Started at 7:30 am

and reached at 9:30 am. Had bath in Pushkarini and had

darsanam of Nambi at 10:30 am. Recited Thiruppavai

followed by Sathumarai. Came down by 2:00 pm.

 

24.Thirukkurungudi: Had darsanam of all three Nambi’s

(1. Ninra Nambi, 2. Idanda Nambi and 3. Kidanda Nambi)

and Kurungudi Naachiyaar from 3:00 to 5:00 pm. Had

bhagyam to have darsanam of his holiness Sri Jeeyar

swami. Thiruvaimozhi modhal pathu sevakalam started at

4:00 pm.

 

25. Thiru ParivattaParai: Had darsanam of Sri

Yethirajar (Udaiavar)at 5:40 pm. In this place perumal

himself became sishya of ramanujar. This is the place

where Emberumanaar put UdhvaPundram to perumal.

 

26. Thirupparkadal Nambi: Had darsanam of Sri

Thirupaarkadal Nambi (5th Nambi) at 6:00 pm.

 

27. Thirumangai Azhwar Brindavanam: Had darsanam of

Sri Thirumangai Azhwar at 6:20 pm. This is the place

where Thirumangai Azhwar attained paramapadam.

 

28. Thiru Varamangai (Vaanamaamalai): (Before begening

I should say I remembered Sri Ramanan Rajagopalan,

because I promised him earlier that I will fulfill his

desire by being at vanamaamalai on Vaikunta Ekadesi

day) One of my life willing desire was to have darsnam

of Sri Totadrinaadan (one of the 8 swayam yuktha

kshetrams) atleast once. But I never imagined to be on

the day, where paramapada vaasal in opened only once

in a year. My joy knew no bounds, seeing the Thirumeni

of Theyvanaayakan with sri varamangai Thaayar. Was in

temple from 7:00 pm to 10:45 pm. Had excellent

darsanam of moolavar followed by Uthsavar and Sri

Satagopan (It should be known that, there is no

separate shrine for Namm Azhwar here, he himself is at

thiruvadi of Perumal i.e Sri Satagopan. It should also

be noted, Namm Azhwar did his final Sharanagathi here

only.) Had Bhagyam to have darsanam of his Holiness

Sri Vaanamaamalai Jeeyar followed by his small

upanyasam to all of us. Thiruvaaimozhi modhal pathu

started at 9:00 pm followed by Sathumarai ghosti and

procession of Thevyanaayakan and Thaayar to moolavar

sannadhi.

 

I have taken many photographs here. If anyone is

interested I will scan it and send in mail.

 

Night halt at Vaanamaamalai.

 

27-12-2001

 

Note: Divya desams in Malai Nadu do not have seperate

shrine for Thaayar, except Thiru Naavai.

 

29. ThiruVanParisaaram (Thiruppathisaaram): Had

darsanam of Sri Thiruvaazhmaarban at 5:30 am.

 

30. Kanyakumaari: Saw sunrise at 6:15 am.

 

31. Suchindram: This is the place where Thrimurthi’s

have different sannadhi’s in one temple. Had darsanam

of Thrimurthi’s followed by Anjaneyar and nava grahas

at 8:30 am (It should be noted; here the nava grahas

are on top at mandapam, not in floor) Had darsanam of

Vinayakee (Here the Vinyaakar is in Penn Thirukolam,

one of the unique of it’s kind.)

 

32. Thiru Vattaru: Before begening, I should say; my

native place (Kazhiyur) perumal Thirunaamam is Aadhi

Kesavan. It is almost a practice in our Kazhiyur

family to have one of the three names as “Kesavan” or

“Aadhi Kesavan”. So I have a fond liking in this name

Aadhi Kesavan.

 

Before beginning the yathri itself, I was very eager

to see this divya desam. As expected I was not in

control seeing the architecture of the temple and

ofcourse the divya Sayana Thirukkolam Thirumeni of Sri

Aadhi Kesava Perumal. Had darsanam at 10:00 am.

 

kaattiththan kanaikazalkaL kadu_narakam pukaloziththa

vaattaaRRem perumaanai vaLangurukoorch sadakOpan

paattaaya thamizmaalai yaayiraththuL ippaththum

kEttu aaraar vaanavargaL sevikkiniya senchollE.

 

Started from Thiru Vattaru at 12:30 pm and reached

Thiruvananthapuram at 3:15 pm.

 

33. Thiruvananthapuram: Many of you would have known

by now that the Thirumeni of Sri Anantha Padamanabar

is complete of Nava Rathnams (Gold, diamond, gems,

vaiduryam and lots more) This was discovered just a

month ago. When Pothi’s (Archakas called as Pothi’s in

malai nadu divya desams) saw some shining in one of

the hand of Perumal while doing Thirumanjanam to

moolavar. When they started cleaning, to their shock

they found that complete thirumeni of perumal is full

of gold and nava rathnams (This was covered with some

black element some centuries back to protect perumal

from invaders). I could’nt beleve with my eyes, when I

saw the Thirumeni of Perumal. He is so glorious, so

beautiful. It was as if he is talking to us. For a

moment I felt I am at Thirupaarkadal. Had darsanam of

perumal at 5:10 pm.

 

34. Sri Parashuramar Temple: Had darsanam of Sri

Parashu Ramar at 6:30 pm. This temple is unique by

itself. It is only temple that has sannadhi only for

Parashu Ramar.

 

Came back to Padmanabar temple at 8:00 pm. Had

excellent “Sevelli” of Uthsavar followed by Moolavr

darsanam at 8:20 pm.

 

Night halt at Thiruvananthapuram.

 

28-12-2001

 

Morning had bath in Padma Pushkarini (Mathysa

Theertam) at 3:30 am. Had excellent Thirumanjanam

sevai of Padbanaabar (Uthsavar) from 4:00 am to 5:00

am.

 

35. Varkala: Had Samudra Snanam at 7:45 am. Had

darsanam of Sri Jaganatha Perumal at 9:00 am. Perumal

here is very attractive. Started from varakali and

reached Thiruvalla vaazh at 3:00 pm. Proposed to halt

at night here.

 

Started from Thiruvalla Vaazh at 4:00 pm to nearby

divya desams.

 

36. Thiruvaaranvilai: Had darsanam of Sri

Thirukkuralappan at 5:00 pm.

 

37. Thiruppuliyoor: Had darsanam of Sri Mayappiraan at

6:00 pm.

 

38. Thiru Sengunoor: Had darsanam of Sri

Imaiyavarappan at 6:30 pm.

 

39. Thiru VanVandoor: Had darsanam of Sri

Paambanaiyappan at 6:50 pm.

 

40. Thirukkadith thaanam: Had an excellent darsanam of

Sri Arpudha Narayanan in “Sevelli” sevai at 8:00 pm.

(Normally the temple timings in malai nadu divya

desams are very firm. Once the doors are closed at

time, they will never be opened at any cost. We were

lucky to be on time to have darsanam of perumal here.

If we would have been late by few minutes, then we

would have not got darsanam of perumal. The bus driver

had done a good job by driving fast). There is also a

story releated to this temple. The maali (servent) who

used to open the doors of the temple daily at 5:00 am

was late by five minutes on one day. The devotees were

waiting outside the temple for the servent to open the

temple doors. Perumal not able to resist this act

cursed him to become stone in front of the temple

until the kaliyugam ends. Even today the statue of

that person can be seen in front of the temple.

 

Night came back to stay at Thiruvalla Vizha.

 

29-12-2001

 

41. ThiruValla Vaazh: Had darsanam of Sri

Thiruvaazhmaarban at 4:40 am.

 

42. Thirukkatkarai: Had darsanam of Sri Kaatkarai

Appan at 7:30 am.

 

43. Thiru Moozhikkalam: Had darsanam of Sri

Thirumoozhikkalaththaan at 8:30 am.

 

44. Guruvaayur: Had darsanam of Sri Guruvaayurappan at

1:30 pm.

 

45. Thiru Naavaay: Had darsanam of Sri Nava Mugundhan

and Sri Malarmangai Naacchiyaar at 5:30 pm. (It may be

noted that, this is the only divya desam in malai nadu

which has separate shrine for Thaayar)

 

46. Thiru Viththuvakkodu: Had darsanam of Sri

Uyyavandha Perumal at 7:10 pm. (This temple is very

interior, also difficult for one to travel alone)

 

Night halt at Phalgaad at 10:45 pm.

 

30-12-2001

 

Morning started from Phaalgaad 10:00 am. Reached

Coimbatore by 12:00 pm. Piligrims who came from

banglore and mysore got down here. Started from

Coimbatore at 1:00 pm halted for 2 hrs in the night to

have food and reached Chennai at 2:00 am in the

morning.

 

31-12-2001

 

Started from Chennai (Anna Nagar) at 5:15 am to board

train “Sapathagiri Express” for Tirupathi.

 

Reached Thirumalai at 11:00 am.

 

47. Thiruvengadam: I don’t find words to write about

this place. He is our Kula Guru Daivam. For me he is

everything. My grand father Late Sri K.M. Manavala

Iyengar severd as Ekangi for 6 years, also most of my

relatives were Ekangi’s earlier and they are still

till date.

 

I have Abhinaabaava Sambhandham with this Peurumal. He

is My all time acclaimed.

 

`agala killEn iRaiyum'en RalarmEl mangai

yuRaimaar_paa,

nigaril pugazhaay! ulagamoon Rudaiyaay! ennai

aaLvaanE,

nigaril amarar munikkaNangaL virumpum thiruvENG

kadaththaanE,

pugalon Rillaa adiyEnun adikkee zhamarndhu pugundhEnE.

 

 

`adikkee zhamarndhu pugundhadiyeer! vaazhmin' enRen

RaruLkotukkum

padikkE zhillaap perumaanaip pazhanak kurukoorch

chadagOpan,

mudippaan sonna aayiraththuth thiruvENG kadaththuk

kivaipaththum,

pidiththaar pidiththaar veeRRirundhu periya vaanuL

nilaavuvarE.

 

Had darsanam of Sri Thiruvengadamudayaan at 3:00 pm.

 

01-01-2002

 

At 12:10 in the morning had unforgettable lifetime

experiencing “Sathumarai” Sevai for 10 minutes from

near Kulashekara Padi with His Holiness Sri Chinna

Jeeyar Swami of Thirumalai.

 

Thiruppavai Pasuram was:

 

ambaramE thaNNeerE sORE aRam seyyum

emberumaan nandhagOpaalaa ezhundhiraay……

 

I had a feeling as if I am requesting perumal to wake

up “ezhundhiraay” and give his anugraham and

aaseervaadham to all of us in this new year.

 

48. Thiruchhanoor: Had darsanam of Alarmelmangai

Thaayar at 2:00 pm.

 

Evening boarded train (Narayanadri express) and back

to Hyderabad on 02-01-2001.

 

I had covered more than 50 temples from 21st Dec to

01st January 2002. Never imagined to be possible.

There are so many experiences to share but a single

mail is not enough.

 

This is the shortest way I could write, otherwise to

write briefly about every Divya Desam and Soulabhyam

of perumaal individually is indeed a great bliss.

 

To conclude, The year 2001 was full of horror, wars,

global economy downfall and many other issues. To

quote a best example that Perumal is always with us

during this trouble periods, I had seen lot of

miracles in the past year 2001 especially last 6

months.

 

I had been to Chola Nadu and Tonda Nadu divya desams

from 27th july to 5th August 2001 (Total 73 temples)

those experiences I had already posted earler. Prior

to that I visited only 15-18 divya desams. But after

comleting this Pandiya naadu and Malai Nadu divya

desams now I have completed 97 divya desams (Overall

120 temples including Abhimana Sthalams). Hope I

should be able to complete the remaining divya desams

in this year or atleast by next year.

 

There is a saying “Man proposes and God disposes” We

can have his anugraham and darsanam only when he

wishes. I feel fortunate to be able to see the Divya

Dampathi’s at the age of 24. This was possible only

due to the blessings of My Acharyan "Sri Mudaliandan

Swamin" and my grand parents, who are now

Vaikuntavasi.

 

Before ending I would like say, The Divya Dampathis in

each divya desam are waiting there for thousands of

years to just give their "Anugraham" for jeevathmas

like us. Is it not our duty to take "Darsanam" from

them ? after-all taking birth as a SriVaishnavan

itself is a great bliss.

 

We keep talking about the Avatarams (rama,

krishna...)and recite Maha Kavyas Ramayana,

Mahabharatha, Bhagavdh Geeta and Srimad Bhagavatham.

But we should be fortunate to have darsanam of all

those perumal in the forms of Aarchavatara Murthi's.

 

NOTE: I would like to mention, the content is solely

written by me to my knowledge and not to affront any

individual. If there are any errors please pardon and

correct me.

 

Adiyen Ramanuja Dasan,

Kaliyur Mannar Shantha Kumar.

http://www15.brinkster.com/mudaliandan/

 

 

 

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