Gopala Vimsathi, Sri ManavalaMaamunikal and RajaMannargudi

[Guest guest]

Sri:

Srimathe Ramanujaya Namaha:

 

Adiyaen would like to post this messge in response to the query on Gopala

Vimsathi.

 

Quote from the Sthala Puranam as well as from a write up from my maternal

Grandfather (Late Sri T.M Thirumalai Iyengar of Mannargudi) and from my father,

 

"The last of the great acharyas, Sri MANAVALA MAA MUNIGAL spent some time in

this shrine and regulated the mode of worship by enjoining the recital of the

2nd psalms in THIRU VAAI MOZHI in the daily routine. Sri Manavala Maamunikal has

also sung the GOPALA VIMSADHI and the KAMALA STHUTHI in praise of Sri

VidyaRajagopalan of Mannargudi".

 

In addition a few more facts related to Sri Rajagopalan are obvious:

 

-2 chapters (iv-6 & v-3) of 22 verses in esoteric language of verivilakku and

madal thurais of TAMIL grammar have been sung by the doyen of alwars, Sri

SATAKOPA therein . HE was refereed to as the LORD in HIS 4 manifestations of

VANDHUVARAVAPADHI MANNAN, MANIVANNAN, MANIYIN ANI NIRA MAYAN and VASUDEVAN.All

these names are engraved within the temple precincts on the basis of these

prehistoric idols.

 

- THIRUMANGAI ALWAR has adored HIM (Sri VidyaRajagopalan of Mannargudi) in his

stanza 'PONNANAI' (stanza10 in THIRUNEDUNTHANDAGAM) as "GUNAPALA MADHA YAANAI";

the great commentator PERIAVACCHAN PILLAI refers to Sri RAMANUJA's views that it

refers to SRI MANNAR only.

 

- According to the BRAHMANDAPURANAM of VEDA VYASA, the origin of MANNARGUDI is

traced to the two sages (Gopila and GoPralaya), the sons of an ancient saint

"VAHNIMUKKAR". As legends would have it, the sage GOPRALAYA performed severe

penance in the DWAPARAYUGA to seek the boon of LORD VISHNU. The LORD in his

infinite mercy, granted the boon and settled down as a cowherd GOPALA in the

same fashion as he did in DWARAKA in the north. HE appeared before their human

eyes in person ; at their request, the LORD appeared before them as KRISHNA,

from HIS birth as four handed VASUDEVA, to a GOPALA in a series of 32 scenes

enacted during HIS temporal sojourn. Hence this place is known as

"DAKSHINADWARAKA.

 

- Lord BRAHMA was said to have worshipped the LORD in the KRITHA yuga to recover

his memory power with regard to HIS creation of the cosmic lives.

 

- In the THRETHA yuga, sage BHRUGU and MAHALAKSHMI worshipped the LORD to rid

themselves of curses. As a result the LORD took her in marriage and she came to

be known as VASUDEVA MAHISHI, CHAMPAKAVALLI, AND SENKAMALATHAYAR.

 

- In the DWAPARA yuga the GOD, AGNI offered penance on the banks of the sacred

tank in Mannargudi and regained his heat.

 

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

Dwarakanath Srinivasan