[Anubhavam] Blessings of Sri Koodal Azhagar & Kula Deivam

[Guest guest]

Adiyen Ramanuja Dasan.

 

Adiyen wanted to share the blissful feeling of being blessed by the lord. I seek

the blessings of all the Vaishnavas in order to be attracted to the Lord in his

deity form and perform eternal devotional service to him and his servants.

 

Below is the experience of the blessings which this unqualified and lowly soul

felt. I aspire to offer this mail in a mood of service and with a hope of

purification.

 

namO nArAyaNAya!

---

 

Adiyen travelled from Hyderad to Chennai to Madurai to Athangothangudi and back

to Madurai and then to Chennai. Adiyen experienced the transcendental blessings

of the Lord on the 21st of March.

 

1. OBEISANCES TO KULA DEIVAM

Kuraitheerkum Sri Srinivasa Perumal along with his eternal consorts Sri

Alamelumanga and Sri Padmasini reside in Athangothangudi, a 1 hour drive from

Paramakudi (which is near Ramanathapuram and Madurai). I had completely

forgotten about my relationship with Kula Deivam for 7 years. However, on being

advised to by asmad acharyan to not set such a trend, I had fortune to be the

Lordships' premises. And by now it was afternoon (past 2).

 

2. PLANNED TRIP TO SRI RANGAM

Before catching the night train to Chennai my mother and my elder sister wanted

to make a quick trip to SriRangam to offer their obeisances to Aranganathar.

However, energy & availability of time made them to have second thoughts on such

a trip and they eventually canceled it.

 

3. SUDDEN VISIT TO KOODAL AZHAGAR

We had reached Madurai and were proceeding to our relatives place to take rest.

Suddenly, my mother wanted to pray at the temple of Koodal Azhagar. There were

people in the temple but there was hardly any crowd before the Lord.

 

4. MURALS IN THE MANDAPAM BEFORE THE SANCTUM SANCTORUM

As we were there amongst the devotees we couldn't stop appreciating at the wall

paintings that were sequenced in the hall before the sanctum sanctorum. The

sequence depicted the appearance of Tiruppallandu. After all, this is the

Avatara-stalam of Tiruppallandu!

 

5. LORD IN SEATED POSTURE

The Lord had a large form (Tirumeni) and had large eyes(Visaalaakshan!). Thus,

he made himself accessible to the inattentive ones(adiyen) in the crowd.

 

6. MERCY OF THE PROCESSIONAL DEITY

After having the darshan of the Lord who was adorned with wonderful jewellery,

we came out and paid our respects to the Yaaga-Bherar. I was informed by the

Archakar that in front of the Moola Murthy(main deity) were 'Pooja' Murthy,

'Utsava' Murthy and 'Nitya-Utsava' Murthy. In the hall outside, the temple of

the Lord stood the 'Yaaga' Murthy.

 

7. SURYANARAYANAR AND KSHEERA NARAYANAR

The Lord along with his eternal consorts are also residing in a tier above the

current complex. With an entry fee of 5/- per person we were allowed to approach

the Lordships. The Suryanarayanar (In standing posture) and Ksheera Narayanar

(In reclining posture) were of wonderful forms. Their chambers were also

wonderfully enhanced with the paintings on the wall.

 

8. CHAKRATHAZHWAR

The Chakrathazhwar in the adjoining complex has really attractive eyes! Adiyen,

who has no taste and appreciation of the Lord in his deity form, could not stop

marveling this.

 

9. THAAYAR

The 'Utsava' deity of Thayaar was seated outside and one could pay respects of

the 'Moola' deity of Thayaar only from afar. I was told that this arrangements

were for Fridays and Saturdays. However, due to inconceivable reasons, Adiyen

and Adiyen's elder sister where asked to come in and pay our respects from close

quarters.

 

10. SANKIRTAN

As we were circum-ambulating (taking a pradarshanam) the Perumal's complex.

There were two ISKCON devotees inside the temple singing Kirtans with gusto.

They were oblivious to the surroundings and their energetic kirtans were

infectious. I was in a half-a-mind to join them aloud! The devotees are always

truly inspiring!

 

11. ANDAL

We were able to pay our respects to Sri Andal, whose complex is adjacent to the

Lord's. As we were coming we offered out respects to Sri Manavala Mamunigal

whose Sannidhi was right beside the generator room. The healthy volume and

strong stench of fuel made the insincere souls like adiyen to return even

quicker.

 

12. GIFT AT PRASADAM STALL

As we were about to buy some prasadam, for our overnight Train journey, from the

prasadam stall, I was gaping at a picture in the Prasadam stall. The picture

contained all the Azhwars with Acharyas (Nathamunigal,

Emperumaanar-Azhwan-Andan, ManavalMamunigal-Ponnadikal Jeeyar). On seeing my

face my mother asked the vendor as to where we could get such a picture. He

asked they were gift from a Chettiar and were not available. After some moments,

he asked if were outsiders ('Ulloora veliyoora?'). I said 'Hyderabad'.

Immediately, he gave us a copy of the wonderful poster.

(I was also reminded of the mails in this group, when somebody asked for such a

picture.)

 

13. CONCLUDING THOUGHTS

Adiyen was convinced that this was indeed the plans of Sri Ranganathar & Sri

Srinivasar with their eternal inseparable associates. If not for him, I wouldn't

have seen the him in his beautiful Koodal Azhagar form, I wouldn't have offered

respects to Thaayaar in such a close proximity, I wouldn't have been inspired by

wonderful devotees seen at the temple, I wouldn't have had the picture of

Azhwars which I have been longing to have and pay respects to.

 

What I carry in this dirty heart is an insincere, unenthusiastic, fragile, weak,

wavering desire to see him and offer obeisances. He doesn't seem to detect them.

Instead he along with his eternal associates take a thousand steps and make

themselves available.