LORD RANGANATHA'S BIRTH STAR : IS IT REVATHY OR ROHINI ?

[Guest guest]

Sri:

 

Dear SrI Ranganatha BhakthAs :

 

There has always been questions about the exact

" birth star " of the Svayam Vyaktha Moorthy , Lord

RanganAthan of Sriranga Dhivya dEsam .

 

I would like to share with you some of the recent

discussions on the subject and the reconciliation of the two

points of view .

 

The discussion has been between myself , Sriman Murali Bhattar

of Srirangam ( http://www.srirangapankajam.org ) and

SrI A.M.R.Kannan , who is knowledgable about

Srirangam traditions .

 

Please enjoy this trialog .

 

SrI RanganAthO Jayathi ,

V.Sadaghopan

 

 

**************************************************************

 

1. Sriman A.M.R. KaNNan's Excellent case for RohiNi

*********************************************

Regarding , SriRangam Periya Perumal's Thirunakshatram, adiyen heard

from Sri KrishnaPremi Swamigal (Sri Anna) and Sri Velukkudi Krishnan

Swami (Sri Ranga Mahathmyam upanyasams) that Sri Periya Perumal along

with SriRanga Vimanam and Gayathri Mantapam first appeared to Sri

Brahma on the shores of Ksheerabhdhi on the day of Dvithiyai in the

month of Iyppasi when the ascendant being Rohini. It seems that during

our Purvacharya's time that there was a big festival celebrated in

Srirangam during this time. In Periya Thirumozhi ThiruNaraiyur pasuram

commentary Sri Periyavachchan Pillai, mentions " like the big festival

of Iyppasi " which gives us some evidence about the big festival during

the month of Iyppasi. Even now during the month of Iyppasi, Perumal

will have the Dolothsavam. Usually dolai means the swing or the

cradle. Not sure whether that is the reason why Perumal has gold pot

(Thanga Kudam) thirumanjanam during the month of Iyppasi as well as

Dolothsavam since his Avatharam happen in that month. In Srirangam

adiyen heard that when Bhattar was born, Perumal sent his golden pot with

his Theertham and adiyen believe that still that tradition continues

for the Bhattar's Thiruvamsam in Srirangam. Similarly, the Aathi

Brahmothsavam celebrated during the month of Panguni is also mentioned

in SriRanga Mahathmyam.

 

But then, how did Revathi has become the star of SriRanganatha?

According to Satha Adhyayi (Sri Garuda puranam) and Dasa Adhyayi (Sri

Brahmanda Puranam), that Perumal came to SriRangam on the day of

Panguni Revathi. Sri Dharmavarma was the King who was ruling the

Chozha kingdom at that time and he requested Sri Vibhishana (who

stopped over in SriRangam to perform his Madhyahnikam), that Sri

Vibhishana along with SriRanga Vimanam should stay in SriRangam.

Revathi was the star, when Periya Perumal, SriRanga Vimanam and

Gayathri Mantapam came to Sesha Peetam. (We need to remember that the

name SriRangam came into existence only after SriRanganatha came here.

Before that it used to be known as Sesha Peetam, please refer to Swami

Desikan's Hamsa Sandhesa sloka 45). The next day is Ashvini and the

day after is Bharani. On the day of Bharani, the purvangam for the

Aathi Brahmothsavam starts with Thirumulai and the next day is

Ankurarpanam (called Nagara Sodhanai with Senai Mudaliyar) and on the

day of Rohini, Dwaja Aarohanam will be performed. According to Sri

Pancharatra Agama, the annual festival either has to start on a

deity's star or end on a deity's star. The Aathi Brahmothsavam starts

on Rohini and ends on Uthiram day. Therefore it is the uthsavam for

both Perumal and Thayar. Since, Perumal's uthsavam is performed

explicitly; Thayar's uthsavam is kept as ekantham. So, the Aathi

Brahmothsavam is the unique festival where both Perumal and Thayar

thirunakshatrams are celebrated. Also adiyen thinking that normally

auspicious activities will not be started on the day of Bharani and

Karthigai nakshatras. The usual reason would be, since these stars'

athidevadhas were Yama and Agni, anything that starts during these

stars would be destroyed. Probably that may not be the correct reason.

These are the days (even now) most of the festivals would start in

Srirangam and hence our elders do not want to start anything when

Periya Perumal's uthsavams start. Adiyen is very sure that learned

scholars can give more detailed explanations.

 

Adiyen Kannan

 

 

********************************************************************

(2) V.Sadagopan's Input : In defense of RohiNi

********************** ***************

The Moolavar at Srirangam is DaamOdhara KrishNan

with the welt marks from His mother's tying Him up

to a mortar . The Utsavar is traditionally recognized as

Sri Raamachandra . The attribution of RohiNi nakshathram

might have arisen from the links of the Moolavar to Cheshtais

as Bala KrishNan ( KaNNinuNN SiRutthApinAl kattuNNa patta

PerumAyan ) .

 

NamO Sri RanganAthAya ,

V.Sadagopan

http://www.ahobilavalli

Tribute to Revathi avathAran In

Sri Ranganatha Mahima Volume I

 

************************************

(3) Sri MuraLi Battar's original question

************************************

Murali Battar Rangaraja

Dr. Sadagopan

Tuesday, April 03, 2007 10:29 AM

Re: Sri Ranganatha Mahimai - Volume I - Release Announcement

 

 

Adiyen Swamin!

 

Today after finishing the great utsavam 'Panguni Uthiram' here,

I got the bhagyam to go thro' your 'Sri Ranganathan Mahimai - Vol.1' and

became

speechless. I find no words to express my gratitude to you. It is

great, it is giving us the divine pleasure, divinely vibrations and also

guiding the Vaideekas to understand .

 

Swamin! One clarification please! Any pramanam for the birthstar

'Revathi' Belongs to Sri Ranganatha.

 

Because if you go thro' the Archana for Sri Ranganathan one archana says

" Rohini Sri Jenma Tharakaya Namaha " . It is describing 'Rohini' as His

birth-star.

 

Moreover, I heard from my father (Late) Sri 'Anna' N.Rangaraja Battar,

that Rohini is His birthstar and Vibeeshana Landed this Ranga Vimana on

Srirangam Land on 'Revathi' star.

 

So, In recognition of His installation during 'Revatthi' we are

celebrating 'Revathi' and included this in our 'Panchaparva' Purapadu of

every month.

 

Dasanu Dasan

Murali Battar-

Srirangam

[Guest guest]

Dasan, very nice discussion, Thanks for enlighting us. Dasan, Govindarajan.

On 17 Apr 2007 17:20:38 -0700, Dr. Sadagopan <yennappan wrote:

 

 

 

 

 

Sri:Dear SrI Ranganatha BhakthAs :There has always been questions about the exact " birth star " of the Svayam Vyaktha Moorthy , LordRanganAthan of Sriranga Dhivya dEsam .I would like to share with you some of the recent

discussions on the subject and the reconciliation of the twopoints of view .The discussion has been between myself , Sriman Murali Bhattarof Srirangam (

http://www.srirangapankajam.org ) andSrI A.M.R.Kannan , who is knowledgable aboutSrirangam traditions .Please enjoy this trialog .SrI RanganAthO Jayathi ,V.Sadaghopan**************************************************************

1. Sriman A.M.R. KaNNan's Excellent case for RohiNi*********************************************Regarding , SriRangam Periya Perumal's Thirunakshatram, adiyen heardfrom Sri KrishnaPremi Swamigal (Sri Anna) and Sri Velukkudi Krishnan

Swami (Sri Ranga Mahathmyam upanyasams) that Sri Periya Perumal alongwith SriRanga Vimanam and Gayathri Mantapam first appeared to SriBrahma on the shores of Ksheerabhdhi on the day of Dvithiyai in themonth of Iyppasi when the ascendant being Rohini. It seems that during

our Purvacharya's time that there was a big festival celebrated inSrirangam during this time. In Periya Thirumozhi ThiruNaraiyur pasuramcommentary Sri Periyavachchan Pillai, mentions " like the big festival

of Iyppasi " which gives us some evidence about the big festival duringthe month of Iyppasi. Even now during the month of Iyppasi, Perumalwill have the Dolothsavam. Usually dolai means the swing or the

cradle. Not sure whether that is the reason why Perumal has gold pot(Thanga Kudam) thirumanjanam during the month of Iyppasi as well asDolothsavam since his Avatharam happen in that month. In Srirangamadiyen heard that when Bhattar was born, Perumal sent his golden pot with

his Theertham and adiyen believe that still that tradition continuesfor the Bhattar's Thiruvamsam in Srirangam. Similarly, the AathiBrahmothsavam celebrated during the month of Panguni is also mentioned

in SriRanga Mahathmyam.But then, how did Revathi has become the star of SriRanganatha?According to Satha Adhyayi (Sri Garuda puranam) and Dasa Adhyayi (SriBrahmanda Puranam), that Perumal came to SriRangam on the day of

Panguni Revathi. Sri Dharmavarma was the King who was ruling theChozha kingdom at that time and he requested Sri Vibhishana (whostopped over in SriRangam to perform his Madhyahnikam), that SriVibhishana along with SriRanga Vimanam should stay in SriRangam.

Revathi was the star, when Periya Perumal, SriRanga Vimanam andGayathri Mantapam came to Sesha Peetam. (We need to remember that thename SriRangam came into existence only after SriRanganatha came here.Before that it used to be known as Sesha Peetam, please refer to Swami

Desikan's Hamsa Sandhesa sloka 45). The next day is Ashvini and theday after is Bharani. On the day of Bharani, the purvangam for theAathi Brahmothsavam starts with Thirumulai and the next day isAnkurarpanam (called Nagara Sodhanai with Senai Mudaliyar) and on the

day of Rohini, Dwaja Aarohanam will be performed. According to SriPancharatra Agama, the annual festival either has to start on adeity's star or end on a deity's star. The Aathi Brahmothsavam starts

on Rohini and ends on Uthiram day. Therefore it is the uthsavam forboth Perumal and Thayar. Since, Perumal's uthsavam is performedexplicitly; Thayar's uthsavam is kept as ekantham. So, the AathiBrahmothsavam is the unique festival where both Perumal and Thayar

thirunakshatrams are celebrated. Also adiyen thinking that normallyauspicious activities will not be started on the day of Bharani andKarthigai nakshatras. The usual reason would be, since these stars'

athidevadhas were Yama and Agni, anything that starts during thesestars would be destroyed. Probably that may not be the correct reason.These are the days (even now) most of the festivals would start inSrirangam and hence our elders do not want to start anything when

Periya Perumal's uthsavams start. Adiyen is very sure that learnedscholars can give more detailed explanations.Adiyen Kannan********************************************************************

(2) V.Sadagopan's Input : In defense of RohiNi********************** ***************The Moolavar at Srirangam is DaamOdhara KrishNanwith the welt marks from His mother's tying Him upto a mortar . The Utsavar is traditionally recognized as

Sri Raamachandra . The attribution of RohiNi nakshathrammight have arisen from the links of the Moolavar to Cheshtaisas Bala KrishNan ( KaNNinuNN SiRutthApinAl kattuNNa pattaPerumAyan ) .NamO Sri RanganAthAya ,

V.Sadagopanhttp://www.ahobilavalliTribute to Revathi avathAran InSri Ranganatha Mahima Volume I

************************************(3) Sri MuraLi Battar's original question************************************Murali Battar RangarajaDr. SadagopanTuesday, April 03, 2007 10:29 AM

Re: Sri Ranganatha Mahimai - Volume I - Release AnnouncementAdiyen Swamin!Today after finishing the great utsavam 'Panguni Uthiram' here,I got the bhagyam to go thro' your 'Sri Ranganathan Mahimai - Vol.1' and becamespeechless. I find no words to express my gratitude to you. It isgreat, it is giving us the divine pleasure, divinely vibrations and alsoguiding the Vaideekas to understand .Swamin! One clarification please! Any pramanam for the birthstar

'Revathi' Belongs to Sri Ranganatha.Because if you go thro' the Archana for Sri Ranganathan one archana says " Rohini Sri Jenma Tharakaya Namaha " . It is describing 'Rohini' as His

birth-star.Moreover, I heard from my father (Late) Sri 'Anna' N.Rangaraja Battar,that Rohini is His birthstar and Vibeeshana Landed this Ranga Vimana onSrirangam Land on 'Revathi' star.

So, In recognition of His installation during 'Revatthi' we arecelebrating 'Revathi' and included this in our 'Panchaparva' Purapadu ofevery month.Dasanu DasanMurali Battar-

Srirangam -- V.C. GOVINDARAJAN,COORDINATOR, DEPARTMENT OF SANSKRITINDIAN SCHOOL, AL-GHUBRA,SULTANATE OF OMAN.

PH: 00968-99076048