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Sri Ramajayam.

Dasaratha performed ‘puthra kaameshti yagam’ under instruction and

guidance of Maharishi Rushya singar who was the son of Maharishi Vikanda.

Maharishi Vikanda had his ashram in the vakulaaranya kshetram where he was

performing daily aradhanam to Karunaakaran and His consorts.

On return from Lanka on their way to Ayodhya, Perumal, Piraati and Ilaya

Perumal visited the ashram of the Maharishi. On request of the Maharishi the

trio have taken the Archa vrattam and are till date ushering their blessings to

the devotees.

This Kshetram was later ruled by the Cholas and was donated to Brahmins who

mastered all the four Vedas. The place thus used to have the name

‘Chaturvedi mangalam’ and today it is named after the Chola king

who built a beautiful temple there for Perumal and also gifted this kshetram to

the scholars- Mathurandhaka cholan.

Later during British rule the lake nearby developed a breech due to the floods

and all attempts by the administration to seal it proved futile. The prayers of

the locals to save their lives, lands and cattle were answered by the divine

couple; acknowledging that the floods were controlled only by the divine grace

of The Lord the collector announced several grants to the temple administration

and even made personal donations for its renovation. Since then the Perumal here

is called ‘Eri Kaatha Ramar’ (The Rama who guarded the lake.)

The reason why Perumal of Madhuranthakam is called Eri Kaatha Ramar may sound

fascinating to common men; it is only an ostensible reason. The real one for

the Perumal being so called is the particular incident, which saved the

JagathAcharya Ramanujar for us the Sri Vaishnavites.

In this slokam of ‘Embaar’:

 

LakshminAdhAkya sindhow sadaribulatha:

PrAbya kAruNyanIram

NAthAdhrAvabyashingcath thadhanu

RaghuvarAmbOjacakshurjarAbyAm /

Gathva thAm yAmunakyAm sariDhamatha

YathIndrAkyapadhmAkarEndhram

Sampurya praNisasyE pravahathi

BahuthA desikEndhrabramowkai //

 

[Lakshminathan being the ocean, the water of grace was consumed by Sadagopan and

then shed on Nathamuni the mountain; this water through the two falls

Pundarikaksha or Uyyakondar and Ramamisrar or ManakkalNambi reached the Grand

River Yamunaacharya or Alavandar. From this river through five achryas such as

Periya Nambi being the five canals the water of grace reached Ramanuja the

lake. Through seventy-four simhasanathipathies the sluices the water continues

to gush through for the benefit of the plants like us the jivas]

Ramanuja is described as a lake from where we the plants get our life force through our acharyas.

We learn from Guruparampara Prabavam that when Ramanuja went to Sri Rangam to

become the disciple of Yamunacharya he was faced with the shocking news of the

demise of Swami Alavandar. Ramanuja came back to Perumal Kovil and insisted

that Thiru Kachhi Nambigal be his acharya. This request was declined and so

Ramanujar again set out for his journey to Sri Rangam after bidding farewell to

Kanchi. Periya Nambigal met him on his way at Madhuranthakam. Ramanuja did not

want to miss the opportunity of being initiated into Sri vaishnavam and hence

prayed for Hithobadesam. Periya Nambigal said that he would perform the ritual

in Hasthigiri at Kanchi. Ramanuja convinced his acharya expressing his fear

learning from his experience after the death of Yamunacharya. Periya Nambigal

at this temple of Raghunanthan of Madhuranthakam performed Pancha samaskaram in

accordance with Pancharathra Agamam to Ramanuja and taught him regarding

prmaanam, prameyam and pramaatha. As this Rama saved Ramanuja the lake (from

his fear of losing his life without being initiated in Sri vaishnavam) He is

rightly called as Eri kaatha Ramar.

The temple is situated in a calm and serene atmosphere located on the Grand

South Trunk road and about sixty kilometres from Chennai towards Tiruchi. After

the Chakrathalwar and Vedanta Desikar sannidhis, we may proceed to the Thayar

Sannidhi. Sita piraati has a thani sannidhi only in this temple. Janakasya

puthri in this temple is named as Janakavalli Thayar. The jagan maatha grants

us the permission to proceed to the main temple on our way during our

perambulation we can have the darshan of Andal and senai naathan.

The main sannidhi is a treat to our eyes (body) mind and soul. We can see

Ramachandra murthy in the middle, Piraati to His right and Ilaya Perumal to His

left. Perumal has his Kothandam in His left hand and a bow in His right. With

the same right hand Perumal is seen to be holding Piraati’s hand (Perhaps

signifying that They both are in the Iswara ghoshti) for this reason Perumal is

also called Kalyana Raman here. Piraati’s head is slightly reclined

towards Perumal (like the women of those days who bow their head down when in

company of her husband expressing shyness). The trio give us the ‘Pranava

artha vivaranam’ or the explanation of Om (A, U and Ma).

Karunaakaran and His consorts the Aradhya deivam of Vikanda Maharishi has his

Gadhai in His left hand and shows abayam through His Right Hand. The Divaya

Mangala Vigrahams of Perumal, Piraati and Ilaya Perumal and a narthana Krishnan

are also there in this sannidhi along with Karunakaran. Archanai and Puarppaadu

are done only to Karunaakaran. The Rama Lakshmana Seethai has purapaadu just on

two days during a year and all other utsavams are for only Karanukaran. It is

very very difficult for a person to come out of this sannidhi.

This essay will not be complete if a description of the next sannidhi is not

given. Here Ramanuja is seen clad in white vasthram with anjali mudra. Periya

Nambigal shows a chin mudra typifying the pancha samaskaram that was performed

by Periya Nambigal to Ramanuja here in this place when Ramanuja was still in

samsara ashrama. The chakra and conch used to perform the tapa samaskara are

kept in this sannidhi and aradhanam is performed to the Krishna given to

Ramanuja during the yaga samskaram. What a place of historic and philosophical

importance to us the sri Vaishnavites.

Then there is the Lakshmi Nrusimhan sannidhi and a temple tank next to which is

the Thiruvadi sannidhi. Near the temple is the Ahobila Mutt’s famous Veda

patasala to continue the tradition which once brought this place the name

Chaturvedi Mangalam.

 

Mangalam Kosalendraya Mahniya gunabthaye

Chakravarthy thanujaya sarvabowmaya mangalam //

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Great to know about Maduranthakam. Thank you Sri Vasu.

Krishna Srinivasan.

-

VASU VENKAT.K.

oppiliappan ;

Monday, March 25, 2002 3:32 AM

Eri Kaatha Ramar

Sri Ramajayam.

Dasaratha performed ‘puthra kaameshti yagam’ under instruction and

guidance of Maharishi Rushya singar who was the son of Maharishi Vikanda.

Maharishi Vikanda had his ashram in the vakulaaranya kshetram where he was

performing daily aradhanam to Karunaakaran and His consorts.

On return from Lanka on their way to Ayodhya, Perumal, Piraati and Ilaya

Perumal visited the ashram of the Maharishi. On request of the Maharishi the

trio have taken the Archa vrattam and are till date ushering their blessings to

the devotees.

This Kshetram was later ruled by the Cholas and was donated to Brahmins who

mastered all the four Vedas. The place thus used to have the name

‘Chaturvedi mangalam’ and today it is named after the Chola king

who built a beautiful temple there for Perumal and also gifted this kshetram to

the scholars- Mathurandhaka cholan.

Later during British rule the lake nearby developed a breech due to the floods

and all attempts by the administration to seal it proved futile. The prayers of

the locals to save their lives, lands and cattle were answered by the divine

couple; acknowledging that the floods were controlled only by the divine grace

of The Lord the collector announced several grants to the temple administration

and even made personal donations for its renovation. Since then the Perumal here

is called ‘Eri Kaatha Ramar’ (The Rama who guarded the lake.)

The reason why Perumal of Madhuranthakam is called Eri Kaatha Ramar may sound

fascinating to common men; it is only an ostensible reason. The real one for

the Perumal being so called is the particular incident, which saved the

JagathAcharya Ramanujar for us the Sri Vaishnavites.

In this slokam of ‘Embaar’:

 

LakshminAdhAkya sindhow sadaribulatha:

PrAbya kAruNyanIram

NAthAdhrAvabyashingcath thadhanu

RaghuvarAmbOjacakshurjarAbyAm /

Gathva thAm yAmunakyAm sariDhamatha

YathIndrAkyapadhmAkarEndhram

Sampurya praNisasyE pravahathi

BahuthA desikEndhrabramowkai //

 

[Lakshminathan being the ocean, the water of grace was consumed by Sadagopan and

then shed on Nathamuni the mountain; this water through the two falls

Pundarikaksha or Uyyakondar and Ramamisrar or ManakkalNambi reached the Grand

River Yamunaacharya or Alavandar. From this river through five achryas such as

Periya Nambi being the five canals the water of grace reached Ramanuja the

lake. Through seventy-four simhasanathipathies the sluices the water continues

to gush through for the benefit of the plants like us the jivas]

Ramanuja is described as a lake from where we the plants get our life force through our acharyas.

We learn from Guruparampara Prabavam that when Ramanuja went to Sri Rangam to

become the disciple of Yamunacharya he was faced with the shocking news of the

demise of Swami Alavandar. Ramanuja came back to Perumal Kovil and insisted

that Thiru Kachhi Nambigal be his acharya. This request was declined and so

Ramanujar again set out for his journey to Sri Rangam after bidding farewell to

Kanchi. Periya Nambigal met him on his way at Madhuranthakam. Ramanuja did not

want to miss the opportunity of being initiated into Sri vaishnavam and hence

prayed for Hithobadesam. Periya Nambigal said that he would perform the ritual

in Hasthigiri at Kanchi. Ramanuja convinced his acharya expressing his fear

learning from his experience after the death of Yamunacharya. Periya Nambigal

at this temple of Raghunanthan of Madhuranthakam performed Pancha samaskaram in

accordance with Pancharathra Agamam to Ramanuja and taught him regarding

prmaanam, prameyam and pramaatha. As this Rama saved Ramanuja the lake (from

his fear of losing his life without being initiated in Sri vaishnavam) He is

rightly called as Eri kaatha Ramar.

The temple is situated in a calm and serene atmosphere located on the Grand

South Trunk road and about sixty kilometres from Chennai towards Tiruchi. After

the Chakrathalwar and Vedanta Desikar sannidhis, we may proceed to the Thayar

Sannidhi. Sita piraati has a thani sannidhi only in this temple. Janakasya

puthri in this temple is named as Janakavalli Thayar. The jagan maatha grants

us the permission to proceed to the main temple on our way during our

perambulation we can have the darshan of Andal and senai naathan.

The main sannidhi is a treat to our eyes (body) mind and soul. We can see

Ramachandra murthy in the middle, Piraati to His right and Ilaya Perumal to His

left. Perumal has his Kothandam in His left hand and a bow in His right. With

the same right hand Perumal is seen to be holding Piraati’s hand (Perhaps

signifying that They both are in the Iswara ghoshti) for this reason Perumal is

also called Kalyana Raman here. Piraati’s head is slightly reclined

towards Perumal (like the women of those days who bow their head down when in

company of her husband expressing shyness). The trio give us the ‘Pranava

artha vivaranam’ or the explanation of Om (A, U and Ma).

Karunaakaran and His consorts the Aradhya deivam of Vikanda Maharishi has his

Gadhai in His left hand and shows abayam through His Right Hand. The Divaya

Mangala Vigrahams of Perumal, Piraati and Ilaya Perumal and a narthana Krishnan

are also there in this sannidhi along with Karunakaran. Archanai and Puarppaadu

are done only to Karunaakaran. The Rama Lakshmana Seethai has purapaadu just on

two days during a year and all other utsavams are for only Karanukaran. It is

very very difficult for a person to come out of this sannidhi.

This essay will not be complete if a description of the next sannidhi is not

given. Here Ramanuja is seen clad in white vasthram with anjali mudra. Periya

Nambigal shows a chin mudra typifying the pancha samaskaram that was performed

by Periya Nambigal to Ramanuja here in this place when Ramanuja was still in

samsara ashrama. The chakra and conch used to perform the tapa samaskara are

kept in this sannidhi and aradhanam is performed to the Krishna given to

Ramanuja during the yaga samskaram. What a place of historic and philosophical

importance to us the sri Vaishnavites.

Then there is the Lakshmi Nrusimhan sannidhi and a temple tank next to which is

the Thiruvadi sannidhi. Near the temple is the Ahobila Mutt’s famous Veda

patasala to continue the tradition which once brought this place the name

Chaturvedi Mangalam.

 

Mangalam Kosalendraya Mahniya gunabthaye

Chakravarthy thanujaya sarvabowmaya mangalam //To from this group,

send an email to:Srirangasri-Your use of

is subject to the

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  • 2 weeks later...
Guest guest

Hari Om.

Namaskaram. Just wondering if the ThirupPullaani kshetram in Ramnad

district also has a separate sannidhi for the Thayar. Any more light

on the significane of the Lord at Thirupullani will be also equally

satisfying to learn more about.

 

K N Venkataraman,

Toronto, Canada.

 

, "VASU VENKAT.K." <vasu_venkat@h...> wrote:

> Sri RamajayamSri Ramajayam.

>

> Sita piraati has a thani sannidhi only in this temple. Janakasya

puthri in this temple is named as Janakavalli Thayar. The jagan

maatha grants us the permission to proceed to the main temple on our

way during our perambulation we can have the darshan of Andal and

senai naathan.

>

>

> Mangalam Kosalendraya Mahniya gunabthaye

>

> Chakravarthy thanujaya sarvabowmaya mangalam //

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