WHO IS THE REAL ANIMAL?

(- a short story by Vinay Nair published in Tapovan Prasad Nov.2010 issue)

It was a cloudy morning. The rains had been pouring all night long. I woke up and saw my companions all next to me, except for… Uncle Sam!!! He was no where to be seen. I got up and looked all over for him. Since the rope tied to my neck was barely 2 ½ feet long, I could not go very far. The kasai, as they call him, who used to take us out for grazing, never ever thought how roughly he pulled the rope tied to my neck. (But that was the plight of the other goats too.) As a result, an injury, which later turned into an infection, was caused and looked as if I was wearing a red necklace. Still I pulled my neck to the maximum extent to look for Uncle Sam. The pain of his disappearance from my vicinity had taken over the pain caused by the infection on my neck.
At the back of my mind I knew where he must of have gone, but I kept on compelling myself to think that he must be somewhere else. Suddenly I heard a cry from inside the slaughter house, “Baaa! Baaaaaaaaaaa!!”. It was a long cry. It was none other than Uncle Sam. I cried and cried on top of my voice (even though I knew it was in vain), but cry I did; until there was a big silence.
Not that everything was quiet, but I knew what had happened. My ears went deaf. I felt, my heart stopped pumping. In a few minutes, I saw parts of his body thrown out of the slaughter house and within no time some dogs pounced on it as if they did not get anything to eat since ages. The remaining parts must have been taken away by the customers. I felt like weeping, but it was as if my tears got frozen and pricked me hard from inside. He was the last relative I had and the one who was my closest too. He was a real intelligent one. Even the humans would often comment that he was a very clever goat.
Of course, it was not the first time I saw some one getting slaughtered. I still remember the fine summer day when everything was so perfect. I was running around merrily in my owner’s compound; when a man with a long beard came to our home. My mother was very scared and so was I. She took me near to her. Her body was so cold, as if she was dead. The stranger came nearer to us and took my father away. We all cried the whole day. I did not know where they were taking him and seeing my mother’s grief, did not feel like asking her about it. Later in my life, when I got closer to Uncle Sam, he told me that they had taken my father to the slaughter house to kill him. “Kill him? But why??” I asked. I was so bewildered. “Why would anyone do so?”, I asked.
He explained to me that our flesh was a delicacy to humans. I still could not understand because I had seen humans eat many other things like fruits, vegetables, etc. “If they have those things to eat”, I asked, “Why on earth do they have to eat us?” Looking at my astonished face, Uncle Sam said, “Human race is far more superior than ours, or for that matter, to any animal race. They are very powerful and intellectual. They do not lead a mechanical life like we animals.” He went on and on trying to clear my doubts.
A lot of thoughts came to my mind that night. I had seen human children troubling animals. But we ignore them, for we knew that they are children and do not know what they are doing. At the same time, I have also seen my younger brothers and sisters killed mercilessly in front of me by the humans. Now, if what Uncle Sam says is true, i.e. humans are Intellectuals and a superior form of life, they why do not they have mercy on our children? We goats never harm the humans in any way. That night, I did not sleep.
However, as time passed by, I got used to this kind of living. Whenever I was sad, Uncle Sam used to help me come out of it and say – “This is life, my boy. The earlier you accept it, the better for you.” Even though hard to digest, I somehow tried to make myself understand that philosophy.
Whenever I saw the chicken shop opposite to our shop, I felt that we were in a better situation. The chickens were kept in cages, one on top of the other. Approximately, 8-10 cages were kept one upon the other. And all the excretion of the chicken dropped on the below ones. But none of them shouted or even grinned at each other (Perhaps it was nothing to the pain that they were undergoing just like us – the pain of awaiting one’s own death).
Every morning I wake up with my pals who are half dead; with some body parts of our companions lying next to us who were killed the previous day; the smell of blood that would never go; the sight of hanging head-less dead bodies, upside down and flies infesting in it, of our beautiful children and friends with whom we lived till the other day; with hearts filled with fear; waiting for our turn to be taken for the kill.
Perhaps what happened to Uncle Sam was good in a way. He was freed from this miserable life. In fact, all of us have died a thousand deaths in this slaughterhouse and the final death is freedom. My only prayer is that it should be quick and smooth, without pain. May I be killed at the very moment the knife touches my skin. And after I die, if I get to see God, I would want to ask him this one question, “Who is THE REAL ANIMAL?”

Sita Rescued...The Boy's Voice Got Restored!

Author: Sri S. Ramani Anna (in Tamil)
Source: Sakthi Vikatan issue dated Mar 18, 2007


An evening time many years ago. A large crowd in Kanchi Sri Sankara MaTham
to have darshan of Maha SwamigaL. Coming out of his room, SwamigaL stood
for a while looking keenly at the devotees crowd and then sat down leaning
against a wall. The devotees came in a line one at a time, prostrated to the
sage, spoke about their problems, received remedial advice and moved away. A
middle-aged man was standing in the queue holding tightly to a boy's hand.
Tears flooded his eyes and poured out in a stream. The boy stood motionless,
looking bewildered.

When he moved to stand before PeriyavaaL, he did a shASTaaN^ga
namaskaram (prostrated with eight limbs touching the ground). The boy also
prostrated.

Maha SwamigaL looked at him with narrowed eyes and inquired comfortingly,
"Endaappaa! Aren't you the Mylapore Auditor SankaraNarayanan? Why do you
stand with such soggy eyes? What is your problem?"

His grief swell with Periyavaa's words of comfort. He began to sob and said,
"Yes Periyavaa! An unbearable misery has fallen on me now. Don't know what
to do. You are my God, somehow only you should remedy it for me. There is
no other go!" He prostrated to the sage once again.

Understanding the situation, Periyavaa said with vAtsalyam (affection),
"Sankara, don't get worked up! You sit there for sometime. I shall call you
after these people have spoken to me and gone!" The sage pointed to a place
opposite him.

"As per your orders Periyaa... I shall do it." The Auditor sat opposite the
sage, at a distance. Within a half hour, the devotees had their darshan of
AcharyaaL and left. There were none there except SwamigaL's two assistants.
SwamigaL gestured to Auditor SankaraNarayanan to come to him. The Auditor
came and prostrated. Looking at him affectionately, AcharyaaL said,
"Sankara, is the practice going on (well)? You are the 'leading' auditor, so
what to speak about the practice? Alright, your father Panchapakesa Aiyer is
in Thajavaur (right)? He is well (I hope)?" Wiping away his tears, the Auditor said, "The practice is going on well, Periyavaa. My father and mother had gone to stay with my younger brother in Bombay. It's two months now. Only for me a duHkham (distress) has happened Periyavaa! I can't bear it... only you should get it rectified Periyavaa!" Saying this, he hugged the boy nearby and started sobbing.
That walking God understood instantly that something related to the boy had
affected the Auditor Sankaranarayan's mind very much.

SwamigaL told him, "Shouldn't cry Sankara... Whatever it is, puruSa (men)
shouldn't let their eyes get soggy! Alright, who is this puLLaiyAndAn (boy),
your putra (child)?"

"Yes, Periyavaa! This is my son. Name Chandramouli. It was only for him
Periyavaa, suddenly..." SankaraNarayanan was unable to speak further, grief
choking his throat.

With a worried face, AcharyaaL asked him, "Sankara! What happened to him
suddenly? Chandramouli is studying in school?" and said comfortingly, "Why
don't you tell me in detail, without getting upset?"

Wiping his eyes SankaraNarayanan said, "Periyavaa, the boy Chandramouli is
studying in his seventh standard in the P.S. High School, Mylapore. He is
eleven now. Very shrewd in his studies. Stands first in the class. Twenty days
ago, suddenly his speech was gone, Periyavaa! When asked, he gestures that
he cannot talk. He has not gone to the school from that day. Takes his meals
and tiffin as usual, sleeps well, those things are alright Periyavaa, but then he
is not able to talk, what can I do? Only you should show mercy and make him
talk!" Tears rolled down his eyes as he prayed to the sage.

SwamigaL kept silent for sometime. Then he asked the Auditor, "You have the
custom of going to temples with the boy? Chandramouli has bhakti (devotion)
towards God?"

"He has it in plenty, Periyavaa. He would start for the school daily only after
he takes bath and recites the Kanda Shasti Kavacham and the shlokas on
Anjaneya and Rama. There is a large portrait of KothandaRamar in our house
Periyavaa; a Thanjavur portrait from my grandfather's days. This boy would
daily prostrate to it morninig and evening and would touch the feet of Sita and
Rama several times and then dab his eyes (with the fingers that touched the
feet). He would often say, 'I like Sita and Rama very much.' Two or three
days in a week he would go with his mother to Kapaliswara, Mundaka Kanni
Amman and Luz Anjaneya temples and have darshan. For such a good child,
this has come about Periyavaa..." Unable to control his grief,
SankaraNarayanan started sobbing again.

AcharyaaL pacified him and asked, after contemplating for sometime: "You
have the custom of taking him to the upanyAsas that take place in Mylapore?"
"I do Periyavaa! Sometimes I would take him personally. Even the previous day
before his speech had stopped, I had taken him for a Ramayana upanyAsa at
Rasika Ranjana Sabha. He listened to it with shraddhA (eagerness and trust).
And this happened on the next day!"
AcharyaaL laughed and said, "You mean to tell me that this happened due to
his listening to Ramayana?"

The Auditor patted his cheeks loudly. "Rama, Rama! Not that way Periyavaa! I
just wanted to tell you that it was from the next day (that he couldn't talk)."
"Aright. Whoever did the upanyAsa?"

"Srivatsa Jayarama Sarma, Periyavaa."

"Besh, besh. Somadeva Sarma's son; a good lineage; well read. Let it go,
Sankara. Did you show him to a doctor?"
"I did, Periyavaa."
"Who was the doctor?"
"Doctor Sanjivi."
"What does he say?"
"He did all the tests and said, 'Two nerves in his larynx are affected. He may
be alright with an operation.'"
"Did he not say that the boy would surely be alright (after the operation)?"
"He did not give that assurance, Periyavaa. Somehow, only you should make
him to regain his speech. Only you should save us!"
AcharyaaL talked after keeping silent for sometime. "You do one thing,
Sankara. You take the boy and visit all the temples in this city, have darshan
and pray. Take food in the MaTham and stay here for the night. You meet me
at ten in the morning, finishing your bath and any anuSTAnam (religious
routine) that you might have."
AcharyaaL's words were very comforting. Prostrating to Periyavaa, both of
them went away for temple darshans.
It was ten o' clock on the next morning. The walking God had come earlier and
was sitting. There was not much crowd, only five or six people were waiting.
Everyone of them had darshan and left. Prostrating to AcharyaaL,
SankaraNarayanan stood before him with hands folded on his chest. SwamigaL
looked at him penetratingly for a while and said: "Sankara, do one thing. Take
the boy to Mylapore Sri Kapaliswara temple, do a pUrNAbhiSekam (an
elaborate ablution) to Swami and AmbaaL and make the boy have darshan of
them. Thereafter what you do, keep looking for the news of the same
Srivatsa Jayarama Sarma holding a complete discourse on Srimad Ramayana.
If he holds the discourse in a temple or in a sabha (auditorium), do one thing,
from the Sundara Kaandam until Sri SitaRama PattaabhiSeka vaibhava (glory),
take Chandramouli and make him do shravaNa (listening)! What you do on the
day of completion with Sri SitaRama PattaabhiSeka, buy some good hill-grown
banana fruits, hand them over to paurANika (discourser), and both of you do
shASTaaN^ga namaskaram to him. You pray within your mind to that
PattaabhiSeka Sri SitaRama and the paurANika. That Pattabiraman will save
you... do not at all worry... good bye!" The Parabrahmam bade them farewell
with this advice.

The Auditor started checking daily for any news about Srivatsa Jayarama
Sarma's Ramayana pravacana (discourse) in Chennai. One day, he saw the
happy news that Sri Srivatsa Jayarama Sarma's Srimad Ramayana upanyAsa
will take place as navAham (for nine days) at Mylai Sri Shirdi Sai Baba
temple.

That was the day of starting the Sundara Kandam. SankaraNarayanan went to
Sri Sai Baba temple with Chandramouli. It was a moving upanyAsa and
Chandramouli listened to it forgetting all about himself. Sometimes tears
started issuing from his eyes. At those times, SankaraNarayanan caressed his
back and comforted him.

It was the day of completion of Srimad Ramayana upanyAsa. A 'good' crowd
in Mylai Sai Baba temple. At 10:30 hours in the night, Srivatsa Jayarama
Sarma finished the Sri SitaRama PattaabhiSeka narration and ended his
discourse telling the audience about the fruits of listening to a Ramayana
discourse. One by one, the people from the audience prostrated to him and
moved away. After both of them prostrated to him, SankaraNarayanan gave
the bunch of a dozen hill-grown banana fruits to Chandramouli, asking him to
submit them to the discourser and prostrate to him again. He did as his
father told him. The discourser took the banana bunch happily and gestured
them as arpaNa (offering) to the holy portraits of Sri Rama PattaabhiSekam
and Sri Shirdi Sai Baba behind him. Then he plucked two fruits from the
bunch, gave them to Chandramouli and said, "Kozhandhe! (my child!) You will
remain in prosperity. You eat both these fruits," and blessed him. As they
came out of the temple, Chandramouli ate the two bananas.
A miracle took place on the next morning. After he brushed his teeth in the
bath room and came to the hall, Chandramouli gave voice loudly to his mother,
"Amma, is the coffee ready?" Astonished, his father who was reading the
newspaper and his mother who was in the kitchen came running to the hall.
Chandramouli was standing there smiling.

"Was it you who gave the voice inquiring about the coffee, Chandramouli!" His
mother hugged and kissed him, happiness overwhelming her. SankaraNarayanan took the boy on his shoulders and danced! Chandramouli started talking fluently as before. All the familiar people came over and were happy witnessing this change. It was 5:30 hours in the evening on the same day. Maha SwamigaL was sitting in ekAnta (alone). There was not much crowd. Auditor SankaraNarayanan came in a van with ten to fifteen people.

The Auditor prostrated to the sage with Chandramouli and got up.
AcharyaaL's first question was, "Chandramouli, you are able to talk now
fluently? Besh, besh! It is all the grace of that SitaRama!"
Chandramouli immediately chanted loudly, "Hara hara Sankara... Jaya jaya
Sankara." Everyone stood in ecstasy.

That Parabrahmam talked after sometime. "Sankara, I shall tell you now,
listen! There was no other reason for this sudden happening to Chandramouli.
By nature he had abundant priya and bhakti (love and devotion) towards Sita
Devi and Sri Rama. He could not withstand if they came to any distress.

When he first listened to the upanyAsa, Jayarama Sarma should have been
narrating about the part where Ravana abducted Sita Praatti. Am I right,
Sankara?"

The Auditor who stood amazed opened his mouth to affirm. "The same thing
Periyavaa, the same thing! On that day, he talked very movingly only about
that part."

SwamigaL continued: "The moment he heard that a rAkSasa (demon) was
abducting Sita Mata, towards whom he had abundant love and devotion, he
suffered from a condition of mental pressure inwardly that resulted in
helplessness and stoppage of the faculty of speech. It was nothing else. What
was the only remedy, way out for this? It occurred to me that if heard with
his own ears from the same paurANika's words that Mother Sita had been
rescued without any distress to her, that would ease the pressure in his mind
and speech. It was for that reason that I asked you to do what I advised
you. Now everything has concluded well with the grace of SitaRama.
Chandramouli, you will remain parama kSema (in complete prosperity)!"
Everyone who heard the words of that walking God, stood transfixed!

You Want to Know the Greatness of mantra siddhi?"

Author: Sri Ramani Anna (in Tamil)

Source: Sakthi Vikatan issue dated Oct 6, 2006

Once a brahmachary (bachelor) youth came to have darshan of Kanchi
Mahaswami (HH Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati). He prostrated before the sage and got up.

Swamiji looked at him keenly and said, "Are you not Kulitalai Sankaran? You are fine?"

"With your blessings, yes, Periyavaa", said Sankaran.
"Alright, what is your age now?"
"Thirty, Periyavaa."
Periyavaa laughed: "So you have decided to lead your life as a brahmachari, without any idea of marriage."

"Yes, Periyavaa", said Sankaran.
"Alright, anything special about your coming here now?" Periyavaa laughed.
"And you wouldn't come without a reason!"
"Yes, Periyavaa. I have come to get a doubt cleared."
"Is it so? Come on, tell me" said Periyavaa. "What is that big doubt you
have?"

"It is a doubt about mantra japam, Periyavaa", replied Sankaran.
Periyavaa asked quickly: "If it is about mantra japam... Are you doing any
mantra japam?"

"Yes, Periyavaa".
"Oho... You have had an upadesam?"
"Yes, Periyavaa".
"Whoever is that Guru?"
"Mysore Yajna Narayana Ganapadigal", said Sankaran.
"Good, very learned; whatever the mantra?"
Before Sankaran could open his mouth, Swamiji said, "Wait, wait. You should not tell me the mantra. That should remain with you as a secret. Just tell me which devata (God) it is about."
"Hanumat upAsanA paramAna mUla mantra, Periyavaa" said Sankaran.
"Alright. What is it that you want to get clarified in this mantra japam?"
"It is like this, Periyavaa. I am performing this mantra japam since my
twenty-third year which was when I got the upadesam. I am doing it for the
last seven years, still I don't know anything."
"What do you mean by saying 'I don't know anything'?", asked Swamiji with
surprise.
"What I mean, Periyavaa, is that I am not able to find out if I have got the
siddhi of that mantra" replied Sankaran, his voice echoing his sadness.
Swamiji said without hesitation: "What are you going to do by knowing it?
Anyway, are you doing the japam for AtmArtam (to know the self) or
kAmyArtam (for a specific purpose)?"
Sankaran said: "I am doing it only for AtmArtam, Periyavaa. Still, I am at a
loss to understand if I have got the mantra siddhi and the grace of the
devata. I pray to you to kindly tell me about my progress". As Sankaran said this with all humility, tears started rolling down his eyes.

"Only the person who does the japam can understand if he has got the mantra siddhi, by personal experience. There will be a time when the person will experience it, Sankara," said Swamiji with vAtsalyam (affection).

Sankaran wasn't satisfied. "No, Periyavaa. I haven't had any personal
experience so far. And I don't understand anything about it, though I
continue to do the japam, as advised by my Guru, for the last seven years.
Sometimes my mind becomes very tired, Periyavaa. You should kindly inform me about any way that I can know it." As he spoke this, Sankaran joined his palms in reverence and prostrated before Swamiji.

Acharyal (Swamiji) was quiet for sometime. He understood Sankaran's
confusion. He decided to make the disciple understand what he wanted to
know. He asked Sankaran to squat on the floor near him and began talking:
"Many years back, in Sringeri Sri Sarada Peetam, a mahaan named Nrusimha Bharati Swamiji was the peetathipathi (pontiff). One day, a sishya (student) of the matam (hermitage) belonging to that region came to have a darshan of the Swamiji. He did not come for nothing. He bore the same question that you asked me now.

"After prostrating, he presented the guava fruits to Swamiji.
"'Come, you are fine? Tell me what you want', said Swami Nrusimha Bharati with utmost kindness. The sishya told him politely, 'Swami, I am doing japam of a mantra that was given to me by an upadesam. I am doing the japam for many years now. Still I am not able to know if I have got the mantra siddhi.

How do I know it Swami?'
"Swamiji said at once, in a bid to persuade him, 'You continue to do the japam in an AtmArta way. That devata itself will bless you with the siddhi phala (fruits of the efforts) eventually.'
"The sishya was not satisfied with this reply from the Swamiji. He persisted,
'No, Swami. I need to know if I have got the siddhi of the mantra. You must
tell me a way to know it, I pray to you.'
"Swamiji understood the sishya's mental state. He called him near and said
enthusiasticaly, 'Don't worry, my child. There is a way!"
"'Is there a way, then kindly bless me with the knowledge, Swami!' The sishya was in a hurry of excitement.

"Nrusimha Bharati Swamiji said laughingly, 'Every day, before you start your japam, spread paddy grains on a wooden seat, and cover it with a vastram (cloth). Sit over the grains and do the japam. Continue in this fashion day after day. On that day when the paddy grains on the seat fry and blossom into flattened rice, you will understand that you have got the mantra siddhi you have been seeking to know. You understand this?'
"Even though the sishya understood it, he thought confusedly that if the
Swamiji was telling him this way just to satisfy him or if this would really be
possible. Suddenly he asked an unexpected question to the Swamiji.
"'Gurunathar should excuse me. I pray this to you with an intention to know. I should not be mistaken for testing a sage in the guru stAnam (the position of a guru). Spreading the paddy grains, covering them with a cloth... and they will fry...'
"Before he could finish it, Swamiji laughed and said, 'You want to know if I
have had any such experience, right?' He asked for a wooden seat to be
brought then and there and placed facing the direction of east. He asked for a lot of paddy grains to be spread over the seat. When this was done,
Swamiji placed his vastram (cloth) over the grains, seated himself in
padmaasana and closed his eyes. By this time a large crowd had gathered in the place.

"Only a few seconds later, there was a continuous noise of the paddy grains getting fried and flattened. There was a little amount of smoke also. Swamiji got up and removed his vastram (cloth) that covered the grains. On the seat were dazzling white flowers of fried and flattened rice! The crowd was amazed.

"Nrusimha Bharati Swamiji looked at the sishya who asked the question. The sishya was standing sobbing. No one could speak anything more..."
As Kanchi Swamiji finished his narration of this episode, Sankaran was
standing amazed, with tears in his eyes.
When he started to say something soon after, Swamiji interruped him and
said, "What Sankara, are you going to ask me to demonstrate to you?" and
laughed heartily.

Sankaran fell at Swamiji's feet, his eight limbs touching the floor, and said,
"Enough Periyavaa! You have made me understand the mahima (greatness) of mantra siddhi. Kindly bless me, and permit me to return to my place."

"A Double-Stringed Chain in Eight Sovereigns?"

Author: Sri Ramani Anna (in Tamil)

Source: Sakthi Vikatan issue dated Dec 20, 2006

An early morning, many years ago. It was slightly drizzling. Maha Periyavaa
was seated in solitude at Kanchi Sri Sankara maTham. After the bhaktas had darshan of him, Swamiji arose to go to his room. Just then an old grandma and a young woman came running and prostrated to the sage. Swamiji sat down again, looking a bit keenly at them.

With happiness crawling on his face, Swamiji said, "adede! is it Meenakshi
Paatti? What a wonder you have come in the morning time? Who is near you?

Your granddaughter? What name?"
Meenakshi Paatti said, "Periyavaa! I am coming to the maTham to have your darshan for ever so many years. Till today I haven't informed SwamigaL about me. There was no such opportunity. But then, it has come now. This girl standing by my side is my granddaughter born through my daughter. Since she was born in this town, we named her Kamakshi. I had only one daughter, and she closed her eyes twelve years ago, leaving this girl to my care. Some disease she had. Her husband also died before her due to a heart attack.

"Since then I am plodding on alone with this girl. I put her in a school. Study didn't get into her head. So I stopped it with her fifth grade. Now she is fifteen years old. My duty will be over once I give her hand to a man!"
AcharyaL listened to her patiently. "I understood when I saw you come here and stand before me in the early morning itself, that you who used to bring pArijAta puS^pam for Chandramouleesvara puja every morning around ten o' clock, have come to me now with a purpose. What is the news?" he said.

Hesitating at first, Meenakshi Paatti began: "Nothing, Periyavaa. A suitable
alliance has come up for this girl. The boy is also from this place. School
teacher. Sixty rupees salary. Good family. No demand-and-take harassments. They say that both the horoscopes match well. Somehow only you should perform this marriage, Periyavaa!" Paatti prostrated to him.

AcharyaL's tone showed some heat as he chided her: "What? I should
perform the marriage? What are you talking?" Within moments he cooled down and said, "Alright, what do you expect me to do?"
Paatti was happy. "It's like this, Periyavaa! I have somehow managed to save five thousand rupees for her marriage. I can complete the marriage within that amount. But then the boy's mother has said compulsively, 'Paatti, whatever or however you do it, you must present a double-stringed, eightsovereign gold chain for the neck of your granddaughter!' I couldn't do anything big by way of jewels-and-bolts for her within my income. I have
arranged just a bangle of one sovereign each for each hand of this girl. Only that is possible for me. Where can I go for an eight-sovereign doublestringed chain, Periyavaa? Only you--"

Before she could finish, Swamiji asked her with some anger: "Tell me, you
want me to provide her with a double-stringed chain in eight-sovereigns?"
Meenkshi Paatti prostrated to him and rose. Patting her cheeks loudly, she
said, "apacAram, apacAram, Periyavaa. I am not coming to say that. A
number of rich and big people come for your darshan daily. Could you not
gesture to any of them to arrange for the eight-sovereign double-stringed
chain?" Paatti asked him longingly. "What? To gesture to the big people who come for a darshan? There is no such practice. If you want, you seek some other alliance where they don't demand eight or ten sovereigns! Only that is better for you." Swamiji got up.

Meenakshi Paatti said anxiously, "I pray that Periyavaa shouldn't leave me
with such advise! This is a very good alliance, Periyavaa. The boy has a
sanguine temperament. They got their own girls married with a gift of an
eight-sovereign double-stringed chain each. Therefore they desire that the
girl coming as their daughter-in-law should also come with a double-stringed chain. Nothing else, Periyavaa. Only you should provide me with guidance in the matter!" Paatti begged the sage.

AcharyaL, who had got up, sat down again. He was immersed in deep thoughts for sometime. Then he started talking with compassion: "Will you do something
I suggest now?"
"I will do it definitely. Please tell me what!" Paatti was excited.
"Go to the Kamakshi Amman temple tomorrow with your granddaughter. Both of you pray to Her, 'This marriage should take place grandly with the required eight-sovereign double-stringed chain provided. Only You should arrange it, Amma!' and do pradakSiNa of the sannidhi five times. Prostrate before ambAL five times and go home. Pray this way for five days. Kamakshi will arrange the things as you have desired in your mind." AcharyaL blessed them smilingly.

As she prostrated and got up, Meenakshi Paatti said, "What is it Periyavaa,
you suggest everything five times!" She asked with eagerness, "If I do it that way, AmbaL Kamakshi will surely arrange my granddaughter Kamakshi's marriage?"
"I am not suggesting the five-times requirement myself. AmbaL has the
adulation panca saMkhyopacAriNi. She grants favours happily when she is
worshipped in multiples of five." Swamiji said, "I told you only that, nothing
else!"

"When do we start this, Periyavaa?"
Swamiji smiled. "It has been said shubhasya shIghram. Today is Friday. Why, you start today itself." He said and bid them farewell.

With her granddaughter beside her, Paatti walked towards Kamakshi Amman temple. Since it was Friday, there was a heavy rush in the temple. Mother Kamakshi dazzled in full splendour due to special adornments of that day. Both of them closed their eyes and prayed as advised by Periyavaa. Paatti had an arcanA performed in her granddaughter's birth star and secured the prasAdam.

Then they both prayed to Amman about the eight-sovereign double-stringed chain and went around the inner courtyard clockwise five times. Then they prostrated to AmabaL five times as Swamiji had suggested. With faith in heart, they went back home.

On Saturday morning, Paatti started from her house with her granddaughter. Collecting the coral-jasmine flowers, she hurried to Sankara maTham. There was a heavy rush in the maTham. Meenakshi Paatti was standing in the queue some twenty or thirty bhaktas behind. She heard what the person before her was telling his neighbour with concern. 'Today is the day of the anushA star.

PeriyavaL's birth star. So Swamiji has taken up a vow of silence today. He
wouldn't talk to anybody. Only mukha darshan.'

Anxiety got hold of Meenakshi Paatti. She worried, 'I thought of reminding
Periyavaa about the eight-sovereign double-stringed chain, but it seems that won't be possible now.' When they got near Periyavaa, they prostrated to him. That para brahmaM was sitting with no sign of life in him. Paatti paused, yearning that he would ask something about the chain. Swamiji's assistant told her a bit sternly, "Paatti, move away please! Periyavaa adopts a vow of silence today. He won't talk. See, how many people are waiting behind you!"

She made her way towards Kamakshi Amman temple, along with her
granddaughter. As advised by Periyavaa, they performed the panca
saMkhyopacAra worship on that day and got back home. Maha Swamiji
continued the vow of silence on the following two days also. Paatti and her
granddaughter could only have a darshan of the sage at the maTham. Paatti started worrying, 'Four out of five days has gone by since Periyavaa's advice but nothing happened! Will Mother Kamakshi open her eyes and bless me or not?' She could only grieve within herself.

It dawned on Tuesday. Sri Kanchi maTham was very brisk on that day. A
bhajan troupe from Arani was immersing the maTham in bhaktic ecstasy.
AcharyaL came and sat in his usual place. There was such a maha tejas in his face! He had dissolved his vow of silence. There was a large crowd waiting for PeriyavaL's darshan. A middle-aged maami in the queue prostrated to Swamiji happily as her turn came. Happiness was writ on her face. She submitted the things she had brought--a large bunch of rastaLi bananas, un-shorn coconuts, sweet lemons, oranges, pumpkins, and chubby raw-bananas--and prostrated again.

Swamiji smiled to himself as he glanced at the items kept before him. Then he narrowed his eyes and looked keenly at the woman. "Aren't you Ambujam, wife of Needamangalam landowner Ganesa Iyer? You came two months back. Told me something, feeling sad. Looking at the way you have come now with a large banana bunch, it seems that your problems would have been solved by the grace of Kamakshi, right?"

Ambujam prostrated again and said, "True, Periyavaa. My only daughter
Mythili was made to stay away from her husband's home for the last three
years. Two months back I came running to you, reported this humiliation and wept. It was you who advised me to do five circumambulations and five
prostrations for five days and perform ablution and worship in the Kamakshi Amman temple of this town. I completed them with extreme care, and what a wonder, fifteen days back, my son-in-law Radhakrishnan who works in Jamshedpur Tata Steel Plant came over himself and took his wife Mythili back with him. It's all that Kamakshi's grace and your blessings, Periyavaa!" Tears of joy filled her eyes as she spoke.

Swamiji said, "Besh, besh, very glad. Let the dampati rest in prosperity! By
the way, where did you get such a big bunch of bananas? Looks massive!"
Swamiji's laughter rolled by like thunder. Ambujam said smilingly, "This bunch was harvested from our own banana bed, Periyavaa; which is why it is so big!" She spoke with humility.

Showing happiness, Swamiji ordered her, "Alright, only Amma Kamakshi has rejoined your daughter and son-in-law. So you offer this big banana bunch to Her and distribute the fruits to the bhaktas who visit the shrine."
Ambujam said, "No no, Periyavaa. Let it remain in this sanctum. I have an
identical bunch to offer to AmbaL. Now I seek your leave to have a darshan
of AmbaL, complete my prayers and get back here." She prostrated.
"BeshA! After completing your prayers you must take food in the maTham and then only should get back to your place. Remember it!" Swamiji gave her his consent to leave him.

There was not much crowd in Kamakshi Amman temple on that day. It was
eleven in the morning. As it was later than usual, Meenakshi Paatti hurried to the temple with her granddaughter. She halted at the shop selling arcane packs, and told her granddaughter, "Hey Kamakshi! Today is the day of
completion. So we shall do everything in five numbers as told by AcharyaL.
What you do, get five arcanA packs with five coconuts, five bananas, betel
leaves, nuts, etc. and come back running!" and gave her the required money.

The granddaughter bought the things as ordered. Paatti performed the
arcanAs to AmbaL and prayed Her with tearful eyes, 'Amma Kamakshi, I am
completely depending on You only! I have no refuge except You and SwamigaL. Only You should arrange for the eight-sovereign double-string chain and complete my granddaughter's marriage in a fitting manner.' As Paatti sobbed, her granddaughter was also moved and wept. Then they started going round the inner couryard from left to right. They were on their fourth round.

"Paatti... Paatti... Paattee!" Meekakshi Paatti looked back at the loud call from her granddaughter and chided her angrily, "Why do you cry so loud? What have you lost to raise such a noise?"

"Nothing lost Paatti, but something gained! Please come here, I shall show
you!" She took her grandma to a corner, opened her right palm and showed
her something. It was a severed, double-stringed chain with a front.
"Where did you find that?" Paatti asked with surprise. Her granddaughter
said, "As I was coming behind you with a bowed head, my eyes chanced on
this chain. I took it at once, and no one had noticed me! This chain is severed Paatti. Check if it is original or just a coated one."

Paatti took the chain in her hands to guess its weight. She said, "Looks like
sovereign, Kamakshi! May be eight or eight-and-a-half sovereigns. This has
been granted to us by Kamakshi Herself backed by the blessings of Periyavaa.

Alright, let us go out first!" She packed the chain inside the edge of her sari
and hurriedly came out, forgetting to complete her fifth circumambulation.
It was one in the afternoon. Four or five people were waiting for the darshan of AcharyaL in the maTham. Meenakshi Paatti prostrated to the sage with her granddaughter and got up. Swamiji looked at her and laughed. She was confused whether to tell Swamiji about the chain or not.
Swamiji forestalled her. "Today you should have completed your panca
saMkhyopacAra pradakSiNa in order. But then it was not completed because of a vastu that came to the hand of your granddaughter! That sudden delight did not allow you to do more than four pradakSiNas. You came hurriedly, thinking that Kamakshi has given you Her pUrna anugrahah. What, am I
right?"

Paatti was shocked. She became insensate, and swallowed her words as she spoke: "SwamigaL shouldn't mistake me. Once that (object) came to the hand of my granddaughter, I assumed that AmbaL Herself had dropped it for my granddaughter to take. In that sudden delight I totally fogot that I had to make one more pradakSiNa."

Periyavaa said relentlessly, "Only that you forgot. You did not forget to get
the vastu weighed at Rangu Patthar's shop. Or get the severed portion melted in the furnace to rejoin." He clinched his talk with the words, "Let it go.

When you weighed it, was it exactly eight sovereigns?"
Paatti and her granddaughter were stunned. "All you said now is satyam,
Periyavaa!" said Paatti.
Swamiji asked her calmly, "Tell me in fairness. To whom does that padArthaH belong?"
"To AmbaL Kamakshi."
"Tell me yourself, can you take it secretly and pack it inside the edge of your sari?"

"A mistake... nothing else but a mistake! Should excuse me. I have done it
inadvertently." Paatti was genuninely repenting. She placed the doublestringed sovereign chain on the brass plate that was found before Swamiji, her hands shaking. Swamiji laughed.
It was now two in the afternoon. Swamiji asked Meenakshi Paatti and her
daughter to sit before him. It was at that time that Ambujam AmmaL, wife
of Needamangalam Ganesa Iyer, who had taken leave in the morning, came
back full of sorrow and prostrated to the sage. Her eyes were shedding tears profusely. Swamiji saw this and said affectionately, "adAdA, why do you shed tears Amma?"
Ambujam Ammal wiped her tears and replied, "It is like this, Periyavaa. Two
months ago when I did the five days seva in the Kamakshi Amman temple I
prayed to AmbaL earnestly that I would offer Her my eight-sovereign doublestringed chain if she united my daughter and son-in-law, who were then separated. AmbaL has united them. I went to the temple to offer my chain.

It slipped from my neck and fell down somewhere. I searched everywhere
anxiously but the chain could not be found. What can I do now, Periyavaa?"

She started wailing. Swamiji turned his face to Meenakshi Paatti and looked meaningfully. Paatti prostrated to him and got up briskly. She took the double-stringed sovereign chain from the brass plate before the sage in her hand. She turned to Ambujam and said holding up the chain, "Amma Ambujam. Check if this is the double-stringed chain you lost."

Ambujam took the chain from her hand and checked. "The same, the same
chain, Paatti. How did it come here? Looks very wonderful!" Paatti narrated
everything that happened to them in the same breath.

Ambujam Ammal hugged Meenakshi Paatti. "Paatti, you don't worry at all! I
am informing you this before our AcharyaL. I shall arrange for a new doublestringed chain in eight sovereigns for your granddaughter! Her marriage will be performed grandly. This double-stringed I have prayed to offer to AmbaL.

This evening I shall take you and your granddaughter Kamakshi to the
jewellery shop in this down and get her an eight-sovereign double-stringed
chain. In addition, I shall give you five thousand rupees for the marriage
expenses."

Swamiji was sitting as the prat^yakSa kAmAkshi, witnessing this scene.
Everyone prostrated to AcharyaL. He looked at Meenakshi Paatti and said,
"Today you and your granddaughter did not do the five pradakSiNas. Go in the evening, do five pradakSiNas and five prostrations, and have a darshan of AmbaL." Saying this he bid them farewell.

It is not possible to narrate in words the happiness and ecstatic shiver that
Meenakshi Paatti and her granddaughter experienced at that time.

The Connection between the Chettiar's Grandson and the Matham

Author: Sri Ramani Anna (in Tamil)

Source: Sakthi Vikatan issue dated Oct 21, 2006

An evening in Kanchi SrimaTham. A large crowd in a long queue had gathered to have darshan of Paramacharya. Time was slipping by. Slightly tilting his head, Swamiji glanced at the waiting people and saw a twenty year old youth in the queue. Looking intently at the youth, Swamiji called his assistant Ramu, another youth, who came near him and stood, his hand covering his mouth.

"Ramu, you see the person standing as the fifteenth in the queue? A short
boy with a slightly blackish complexion. You need to buy a shirt and pant piece that will suit his size", Swamiji ordered. "Get the cash from the office, and buy good quality cloth from the Mudaliar textile shop near the maTham."

Ramu was surprised and confused at this sudden command from the sage.

He knew that he couldn't ask the reason, so started to proceed on his task.
"Ramu, come here!" Swamiji called. "You know about the name of the modern textile variety?"

"I know it Periyavaa."
"Come on, tell me?"
"It is called terry cotton, Periyavaa."
"Hm... the same thing. Get a costly piece from that variety."
Within fifteen minutes, Ramu appeared before the sage with the cloth.
Swamiji was very happy as he looked at the cloth from a distance.
"Besh, besh. It is very good da!" Swamiji appreciated Ramu. "You do one
thing. Get a bamboo plate and fill it with fruits, purna phalam, and place the
cloth on them. Tell the manager that I wanted a sum of six thousand and
seven hundred rupees, placed in an envelope, get the money and keep it on the plate. I shall tell you later about what to do next." With this order to his
assitant, Swamiji started conversing to his bhakta nearby.

An envelope with the amount ordered was brought. Swamiji gestured that it be placed on the plate. Now the twenty year old boy was standing before Paramacharya, who looked at him head to toe. The youth prostrated to him. Swamiji turned and looked at Ramu, who came near him, running.

"Ramu, take that plate in your hands." Ramu did as he was told.
Swamiji said with a blossoming face, "Give that plate to the boy and tell him of my bountiful blessings to him and his family."

The youth could not understand anything about the offer of cloth and money. He simply blinked at the sage, looked this way and that, and stood without knowing what to do.
AchryaL understood his confusion and anxiety. He spoke, "Ramu, ask him not to get confused. Tell him it is the blessing from the maTham to him and his family. Ask him to safely deliver the money in the cover at his home."

The youth nodded his head, though he understood nothing. He again
prostrated to the sage and moved away with the surprise gift.

Fifteen minutes passed. Everyone had left, having a darshan. AcharyaL came to his room and sat. He called Ramu near.

"Why Ramu, you did not ask me the reason for my honouring the boy in a
special way?" Ramu hesitated and said, "How can I ask Periyavaa about such things? I am here only to carry out your orders."

"Alright, you don't have to ask me! I shall tell you the reason myself."
Swamiji spoke: "This incident happened many years back. Our maTham at that time was finding it a little difficult to make ends meet. I decided to
undertake a yAtra to the north Indian regions with my retinue. We started at
an auspicious time. I came to the entrance of the maTham. There was a small grocery shop opposite the maTham. It belonged to a Chettiar. The maTham had an account for buying groceries from that shop.

"As he saw me at the maTham entrance, Chettiar came running. He
prostrated, tieing his upper vastram around his waist. I thought that he had
come to offer his respect knowing that I was about to go on a yAtra.
"'What ChettiarvaL, you are fine? How does your groceries business go?' I
inquired him. "He closed his mouth and replied meekly, 'Somewhat alright, Swami, but the going is really difficult. I heard that Swami is going on a yAtra north and would return only after five or six months.'

"I told him, 'That's right, ChettiarvaL... might take five or six months to
return.' He took his time thinking something, hesitated much and then said,
'It is not that Swami. The maTham has an account with our shop, as Swami
knows. There is a balance amount for the four to five months goods supplied that remains to be paid. I too find it difficult, with four months rent for this shop in arrears. I am just submitting my problems to you. You finish your yAtra and come back.' As he said it, Chettiar again prostrated.
"I said, 'ChettiarvaL! Immediately after coming back from the yAtra, I shall
arrange to clear your dues.' and started on my yAtra.

"When I came back finishing the six months yAtra and looked opposite the
maTham, the Chettiar's shop was locked. Later when I inquired, I was told
that the Chettiar had attained kAla gati three months back suddenly, when he was out of station. Nothing was known about the whereabouts of his relatives!

I later inquired about the amount of dues to the Chettiar's shop. It was a
sum of eight hundred and seventy five and three-quarters of rupees. I settled the debt with the principal and interest only today! You understand what I am saying? The boy I honoured today was none other than the paternal grandson of the Chettiar. What was due to the grandfather has been settled with the grandson, with principal and interest. No worry henceforth!" Swamiji finished.

Ramu was wonderstruck as he heard the tale. In the meantime another
assistant boy came that side. Ramu took leave of the sage and rushed to the entrance of the maTham.

The twenty year boy was standing there with the blessed bamboo plate on his hands. Ramu was very happy to see him and tactfully inquired about the matter.

The boy said, "Yes, I learnt from my grandmother and father that my
grandfather had a grocery shop opposite the maTham a long time ago. I heard that his relatives came to settle in Krishnagiri after the sudden demise of my grandfather, closing down the shop due to mounting debts.
"Now my father is running a grocer shop there. I came here touring with my
friends from my place. I don't understand why Periyavanga did all these to
me. It is very surprising!"

Ramu was speechless as he understood the foresight of his walking God. He went inside the maTham, wondering about what he saw and heard. It was around seven in the evening. AcharyaL was sitting alone in his room.
He saw Ramu and smiled meaningfully. Ramu did not understand. AcharyaL called him near and said, "You had a doubt about the authenticity of what I told you. So you got it confirmed from the Chettiar's grandson at the maTham entrance!" Paramacharya laughed loudly.

Ramu sought his pardon, weeping and saying that he did it out of curiosity
only. Paramacharya blessed him with a raised hand, still smiling.

9-Paramacharya Stuns a Landowner!Author: Sri Ramani Anna (in Tamil)Source: Sakthi Vikatan issue dated Nov 05, 2006

A Citra full moon day, many years back. An abhiSekam was performed in agrand manner with mahAnyAsa rudra japam at Sri Mahalingaswami Temple,Tiruvidaimarudur. The person who conducted it with 11 Vedic pundits was the land owner Narayanaswami Iyer of Tiruvarur. The rudrAbhiSekam that started at eight in the morning came to a completion around one in the afternoon.The landowner Narayanaswami Iyer was extremely devoted to Kanchi MahaSwamigaL. He decided 'this rudrAbhiSeka prasAdam should be submitted to Periyavaa somehow.' He reverentially kept the prasAdam on a banana leaf and folded it inside a new silk cloth. That same evening, he boarded the Madurai Madras passenger train at Tiruvidaimarudur railway station. He got down at Chingleput station in the early morning, took a bus and arrived at Kanchipuram.There was a large crowd at the maTham on that day. Finishing his bath andother chores, the landowner waited for Periyavaa's darshan. At about 12 o'clock in the noon, Maha SwamigaL came and sat down, after finishing his Chandramouleesvara puja. The crowd of devotees rushed forward. The landowner couldn't approach SwamigaL. He showed the prasAda bag and begged everyone, "All of you please make way! I have brought Tiruvidaimarudur Mahalingaswamy rudrAbhiSeka prasAdam for Periyavaa. I have to submit it to him."No one seemed to make way. An employee of the maTham who saw the anxiety and haste of the landowner, created a trail for him among the people and brought Narayanaswami Iyer near PeriyavaL. When he saw PeriyavaL, thelandowner became insensate, dropped down heavily for a prostration and gotup. Maha SwamigaL looked at him raising his head. He raised his brows as if he inquired what the matter was.With his hands shaking, the landowner babbled, unpacking the prasAdam bag,"prasAdam, prasAdu Periyavaa". "What prasAdam?" asked PeriyavaL and looked at him. In the meantime, the landowner managed to extract the prasAdam. He kept it on the cane plate found there and submitted it to PeriyavaL. On that plate were found in a small banana leaf, vibuti, kuN^kumam, sandal paste together with some bilva dalam, two parts of a broken coconut, and some poovan banana fruits. Maha SwamigaL asked, "All these are prasAdam of which kSetra?" and looked at the land owner once again. The landowner calmed himself and said with humility, "Periyavaa! I performed the rudrAbhiSekam for Mahalingaswami atTiruvidaimarudur yesterday. It was a large abhiSekam with mahAnyAsa rudrajapam. This is that prasAdam. Since Periyavaa would be happy, I have rushed here to bring it, boarding a train; you must receive it and bless me."Looking at that prasAda plate sharply for sometime, Periyavaa asked:"Narayanaswami! You are a big landowner yourself. Even then you performed this rudrAbhiSekam for Swami, teaming up with some other people to meet the expenses?"The landowner replied, "No, Periyavaa! I performed it myself, out of my own expenses," stressing the 'myself' part a little.PeriyavaL smiled to himself. He did not leave it at that. "So you did for for lokak Sema at Madhyaarjuna kSetra", he added.The landowner replied with some uncertainty, "No, Periyavaa! For the last twoor three years there was no yield in my fields. Some fields were even barren. I checked up with Tiruvidaimarudur Muthu Josyar. He advised me, 'On a Citrafull moon day perform rudrAbhiSekam for Mahalingaswami. That will give youan abundant yield!' Only on that belief I performed it, Periyavaa".The prasAda that was kept before the sage remained untouched. AcharyaL did not accept it. Saying, "So it seems that you did not perform this act either for AtmArtam or for loka kSemArtam", he closed his eyes and dropped intomeditation . AcharyaL opened his eyes after fifteen minutes. There was such a clarity in his face! And a knowing look of having understood many things within those fifteen minutes. Everyone around was very quiet. SwamigaL continued,"Alright... How many vedic brahmins attended the rudrAbhiSekam?""I had arranged for eleven vedic pandits, Periyavaa!"SwamigaL persisted, "Did you know who were the vaidikaLs and which place they belonged to? Was it only you who made all arrangements?" The devotees who were witnessing the scene were surprised at the detailed inquiry Periyavaa was making. They also understood that he wouldn't do anything without a reason. The landowner took a piece of paper that he had tucked in his waist."I am reading out, Periyavaa. Tiruvidaimarudur Venkatrama SastrigaL, Seenuvasa Ganapadigal, Rajagopala ShrautigaL, Marutthuvakkudi SanthanaVaadyhar, Sundaa SastrigaL, Subramanya SastrigaL, Tirumangalakkudi Venkittu Vaadhyar, and then--"AchargaL interruped him and asked easily, "All experts only, who you have arranged. Alright, check if your list has the name Thepperumaanallur Venkatesa GanapadigaL." Seething with happiness, the landowner replied, "It is there, Periyavaa! He also attended the japam", showing surprise in his voice. Though the devotees were taken by surprise at such detailed inquiry about an abhiSekam that was over, no one said anything. Everyone was silent and attentive.SwamigaL said, "Besh, besh! So you had engaged Venkatesa GanapadigaL also for the japam! A very good thing. Maha Veda vid! GanagadigaL is now very aged. Even difficult for him to raise his voice. He would feel it hard to control his breathing and in tone the japam."As if he waited for this remark, the landowner replied, his tone raising, "Yes, Periyavaa! What you have said is very correct. He did not chant the rudram well. Sometimes he was siting silent with closed eyes. Often he yawned. All these resulted in the shrinkage of the counting of the japam numbers. He gave much trouble yesterday. I regretted having engaged him for the japam."SwamigaL swelled with indignation. "What you said... What did you say? So you have the temerity to talk anything because you have the money? What do you know about the yogyatAMsam of Thepperumaanallur Venkatesa GanapadigaL? Would you match the dust of the feet of that veda vid? How can you talk such words about him? I have now understood what happenedyesterday at the Mahalingaswami Sannidhi! You answer my question now! When the GanapadigaL was sitting quiet with closed eyes at the time of the japam yesterday, did you not shout harshly at him, 'EngaaNum, are you not getting the money, you are sitting still with a shut mouth without doing the japam?' Tell me, did you shout these words to him or not?" The landowner was appalled. The crowd was amazed. Narayanaswami Iyer fell at SwamigaL's feet, his eight limbs touching theground. SwamigaL did not say anything. The landowner got up himself. He closed his mouth and replied shivering, "My mistake, Periyavaa! It is true that I used the very same words you spoke know to the GanapadigaL in the Swami Sannidhi yesterday. Periyavaa should kindly pardon me."Periyavaa did not stop. "Wait, wait. Did you do that mistake only? You did honour the vaidikaLs with money, right? How much did you give each vaidikaL?"The landowner gulped and said weakly, "I paid ten rupees for each head, Periyavaa."SwamigaL did not leave him with that. "Tell me correctly! I know everything! Did you pay all the vaidikaLs equally with ten-ten rupees each?"The landowner stood silently. But the AcharyaL did not relent. "Listen, I shall tell you what you did yesterday. Perhaps you feel shy to talk it out. You seated the vaidikaLs in a row at the Sannidhi and was giving the sambhAvanA of ten rupees to each of them. When the turn of Thepperumaanallur Venkatesa GanapadigaL came, you decided, 'This man did not chant the rudram properly. Why should I give him ten rupees as I did for the others?'and gave him just seven rupees. You had the thought that somehow you had taken revenge on him. Did he care anything about it all? He just acceptedwhat you gave him and tied it to the edge of his vastram." AcharyaL asked him hotly, "Tell me, is not what I am saying correct?"The devotees were stunned. No one did say anything. They wondered how PeriyavaL came to know what took place in Tiruvidaimarudur temple yesterday.The landowner prostrated to the sage and said, "A gross mistake, Periyavaa!It was out of ignorance that I behaved like that! I won't behave in such afashion henceforth! Kindly parden me!"Before he finished, PeriyavaaL continued, "Wait, wait! It would have been less worse had it ended there." He asked, "For the japa brahmins, you arranged for the meals at the house of Ramachandra Iyer of Mahadhana street, right?""Yes, Periyavaa!""You served sumptuous meals, of course, with a feeling of immense happiness.You had arranged for cooking very tasty sweet pongal, with lots of cashewnuts and raisins added to it, and you served it with your own hands, with ghee dripping from it in the meals session, right?"Narayanaswami Iyer was more and more appalled. He closed his mouth and spoke with uncertainty, "Yes, Periyavaa! In the session I served only the sweet pongal with my own hands.""Alright, does your conscience admit that you did it with the dharma for serving a meal?" SwamigaL asked him sternly.The land owner did not open his mouth. AcharyaL said himself, "You need not tell me, I shall tell you! When you served the sweet pongal, since it was very tasty, the vaidikaLs asked for repeated helpings. And you obliged them. But when Thepperumaanallur Venkatesa GanapadigaL, giving up his reticence asked you many times, 'Serve me more of the sweet pongal, it is very tasty...' did you not carry on without serving him more, though you heard him? How manytimes did he ask you, giving up his normal reticence! And you did not serve him more! You committed the sin of partiality in a meals session! Was it dharma?You insulted a great sadhu!" SwamigaL fell into silence, overwhelmed withdistress.The land owner stood with bowed head. The devotees were amazed and speechless. Closing his eyes and folding both his legs behind him, AcharyaL sat up right. His divine frame looked like the Lord Parameswara Himself. He sat motionless.Fifteen minutes passed by in complete silence. Then AcharyaL opened his eyes. Everyone was silent. AcharyaL continued his talk, looking at NarayanaswamiIyer: "MirasudarvaL! You should know one thing. GanapadigaL is eighty-one years of age now. He had done rudra japam in countless kSetras since his sixteenth year. Sri Rudram is always coursing his veins and nerves and breath. He is such a mahAn. The way you behaved to him is an act of great sin... anact of great sin!" PeriyavaL stopped, unable to continue further, and closed hiseyes.He resumed again after sometime: "Your act of partiality in the meals session affected him deeply. You know what he did? I shall tell you, listen. He did not go back to his native place Thepperumaanallur yesterday evening. Instead, he went to Mahalingaswami temple. He did pradakSiNa of the outer courtyard three times. Went straight to Mahalingaswami and stood before Him. You know what he prayed for, joinng his palms?" PeriyavaL couldn't continue. He steadied himself and then resumed his talk."With tears streaming down his eyes, he spoke to the God, 'Appa, Jyoti Mahalingam! I am your steadfast devotee. Since my early days I have recited mahAnyasa rudra japam countless times in your sannidhi. You have listened to it. I am now eighty-one years old. I have the mental strengh, but that strength is gone in my speech! It can't be that you wouldn't know what happened this afternoon when we were dining. I asked that landowner manytimes, leaving my shyness aside, for more of that pongal, since it was very very tasty. Though he heard me, the landowner moved away as if he did not hear my request. You know that I have an immense fondness for sweet pongal. Though I asked him out of temptation, I was grieved that he did not serve me more.'But then only after I had finished my meals, washed my hands and sat on the thinnai it occurred to me whether I could have such a jihvA sabalam at this age. Which is the reason I am now standing before you, Appa Mahalingam! With you as the mediator, I take a vow from this moment. Everyone gives upsome favourite edible when they go to Kasi. It is only You who is in Kasi, as well as here. Therefore I take a vow before you that I will not touch the sweet pongal or any other sweet dish from now on until my soul goes out of the body! This is a promise Mahalingam.' With that vairAgya pramANam he said, 'Appa Jyoti Mahalingam! I take leave of you now," and did shASTaaN^ganamaskaram twelve times. Tears were flowing down GanapadigaL's eyes, as he left for his place. Now, you tell me... What you did was dharma? Will Mahalingaswami agree to it?"Periyavaa stopped. It was then three o' clock in the afternoon. "I don't want any bhikSA today", said SwamigaL. No one moved from there. Not even for their lunch. Total silence prevailed. Tears were seen in everyone's eyes. The landowner Narayanaswami Iyer stood transfixed. He could not raise his tongue to speak. Everyone's wonder was, 'How does Periyavaa narrate everything that happened yesterday at Tiruvidaimarudur as if he witnessed them personally?'Falling down to Periyavaa's feet, the landowner started sobbing vehemently. His tongue slurred as he said, "Periyavaa! What I did was a great sin! I did it out of vanity. Kindly pardon me. Never again shall I behave this way in my life. You should say 'I have pardoned you'!" The landowner patted his cheeks loudly.AcharyaL did not open his mouth. The landowner was persistent. "I pray to you, Periyavaa! You should accept this Mahalingaswami rudrAbhiSekaprasAdam. Kindly pardon me!" He pointed his hands towards the prasAdam plate.AcharyaL said, "Let it be, let it be there. That Mahalingaswami Himself will give me the prasAda anugraham."Before he finishd his words, a voice was heard outside the crowd: "Make way, make way!" Everyone moved to make way.Only a tuft of hair knotted at the end on the head. A bright five-folded dhoti on the waist, with a silky green cloth covering it. A large rudraksha garland on the neck. A noble man who could be around sixty-five years old,arrived near PeriyavaL, carrying piously a brass plate on which was the prasAdam preserved in a silk cloth. He submitted the prasAdam platereverentially to AcharyaL and said, "My name is Mahalingam. I am the arcakA of Tiruvidaimarudur Mahalingaswami temple. Yesterday a rudrAbhiSekam was performed for Swami. A landowner conducted it. My eleder sister is given in marriage to this place. I came to submit the prasAdam to AcharyaL and then look her up. Periyavaa should do me the anugraham." SwamigaL prevented him as he proceeded to prostrate.Saying "You people have been given shiva dIkSA, you shouldn't do namaskaram to me", AcharyaL accepted the prasAdams brought and asked the Shivacharya to be given the MaTham's honours in return. Meantime, the SivacharyaL saw the landowner who was standing at some distance. "Periyavaa, it is this man who had conducted the rudrAbhiSekam there yesterday. He has come him selfcome here!" With these words, Mahalingam Shivacharya left the place, taking leave of the sage.The landowner Narayanaswami Iyer again prostrated AcharyaL and patted his cheeks loudly. He pleaded, "Again and again I pray to you, Periyavaa. It is agreat sinful act I have committed. Only you should tell me the remedy for this act."SwamigaL got up briskly. "I cannot tell you the remedy for this. Only Thepperumaanallur Venkatesa GanapadigaL can tell you the remedy.""Will the GanapadigaL tell me the remedy for the deed of this paavi,Periyavaa?", the landowner asked with grief.SwamigaL said in a slightly raised voice, "If you have the prAptam, he will certainly tell you!" and hurried inside. He did not come out at all. The landowner waited for a few hours. And then, having come to a decision,he left the place and arrived at Chingleput boarding a bus. He caught a train and arrived at Tiruvidaimarudur on the next morning. He finished his bath inthe Kaveri river there and with firmness of heart started walking towards Thepperumaanallur. He walked briskly with the resolution that he would somehow meet Venkatesa GanapadigaL, fall shASTaaN^gam at his feet, ask for his pardon, perform the remedy he would suggest and obtain paapavimocanam.The landowner entered the Thepperumaanallur agrahAram. He inquired the first man he came across, the address of the GanapadigaL. The man pointed to a house on the street before which was a crowd of people and said, "You have come to offer your condolences? That is the home of Venkatesa GanapadigaL. Early this morning, he suddenly passed away. A painless, peaceful death. Go and have a look."Narayanaswami Iyer was stunned. He felt as if someone had hit him on the head. The firm words of AcharyaL at the MaTham yesterday seemed to ring in his ears. If you have the prAptam, he will certainly tell you!" He now understood that PeriyavaaL known yesterday itself that the landowner would not have the prAptam.The landowner went to GanapadigaL's house, offered his condolences, and prostrated to the gross body of the GanapadigaL, seeking his pardon mentally.Then he moved away from the place. Later, the landowner met with different kinds of adversities and happened to lose all his wealth. He went North and did service at the temple kitchens, finally arrived at Kasi kSetra and attained his mukti there

Thirupathiu Venkataramana by Swami Haridos Giri

THE THREE GREAT PHILOSOPHERS OF THE SOUTH INDIA WHO GAVE

THE THREE GREAT PHILOSOPHERS OF THE SOUTH INDIA WHO GAVE

ADVAITHA,VISHISHTADVAITHA AND DWAITHA PHILOSOPHIES

PART : I : AADI SHANKARA

Friends,

Adi Shankara, Ramanuja and Maadvaachaarya are the three very great Acharyaas , of the SOUTH INDIA who expounded ADVAITHA, VISHISHTADVAITHA and DWAITHA schools of philosophies respectively.

Among these, Adi Shankara was the oldest. There are two different versions about his time. One is that he lived between the years 788-820CE. The other one is that he lived between 509-477 BC. Whatever it may be , without touching the disputed versions of his life period, he was born to a NAMBOOTHIRI pious couple called SHIVA GURU and ARYAMBA in KALADI a place very near to THRISSUR in the present KERALA STATE. There is a story behind his birth. Shivaguru and. Aryamba had no issues for quite a long time. Hence they went to THRISSUR VADAKKUNAATHA Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and started praying. This Temple in Sanskrit is called as VRISHABHAACHALA TEMPLE. During that time, one night during the course of their prayers, Lord Shiva came in their dream and asked whether they liked to have a long lived son but who lacked in intelligence or a short lived son who excelled in intelligence for which they preferred the later one . Accordingly Aryamba gave birth to a son whom they named as SHANKARA an epithet of LORD SHIVA meaning the GOD who gave all goods. Shankara `s UPANAYANAM ( HOLY THREAD WEARING CEREMONY) was performed at his age of 5years How-ever, he was extra-ordinarily intelligent from his early age.

He did not like the worldly life from his young age and wanted to become a SANYASIN. As his father died when Shankara was a child his mother did not like her son becoming a SANYASIN. He learnt all the 4 Vedas by the age of 8 years. As customary he was living with his Guru ( teacher ) and living on alms which he got. Once , he happened to ask a poor lady for alms. She had nothing to give as alms except a gooseberry ( NELLIKKAI ), which she gave as BIKSHA. Shankara was taken aback by this gesture of the lady and seeing her in utter poverty , he made the famous KANAKADHARA STHOTHRA which starts thus "Angam hare pulakabhUshanaamaasrayanthi….."Immediately, there was a rain of GOOSEBERRY made of GOLD on the pious and famished lady. Such was his powers at a very young age attained through BHAKTHI.

As I had told earlier, Shankara was inclined to become a SANYASIN, and since his mother was standing against his wish. One day as usual she took her son to PERIYAR RIVER which flows through KALADY, When Shankara was in water , a crocodile caught his leg. His mother cold not save him . Shankara then told her to give permission to him to become a SANYASIN which she gave but put condition that he should reach

her bed side before she died and also perform her APARAKRIYA to which he agreed. Lo! The crocodile released his leg immediately and vanished. It is said that the crocodile was none else than LORD SHIVA. Friends, I have gone to this place and taken bath there which is called MUTHALA KADAVU in Malayalam. In Kalady there are two memorials built for him , one by Sringeri Mutt and the other by Kamakoti Mutt. In grandeur the first one is considered good but in appearance the 2nd one look good. Whatever it may be this Muthala Kadavu is in the Memorial built by Sringeri Mutt. Immediately, Shankara whom we call as as SHANKARA BHAGAVATH PAADAR, immediately too k Sanyasa which is called Apath SanyAsa. Shankara went to North India and near the banks of the Narmada River GOVINDA BHAGAVATHPAADA who is the disciple of GAUDA PAADA and identified himself as Shankara. While doing so he included ADVAITHA SIDDAANTHA in the verse. Hearing this, Govinda Bhagavathpaada was thrilled and immediately accepted Shankara as his disciple. It is said that Shankara Bhagavthpadar kept his KAMADALU on the flooding water which was about to take the life of his teacher Govinda Bhagavathpada who was in penance on the banks of REVA River. As ordered by his teacher, Ginda Bhagavathpada to write a commentary to Brahma Suthra and also propagate the ADVAITHA SIDHANTHA, Shankara wrote a commentary on Brahma Suthra and started propagating ADVAITHA SIDDHANTHA.

SHANKARA'S ADVAIDA SIDDANTHA

" brahma sathyam jagath mithya, jIvO brahmaiva nAparh " - vivEkachUdAmaNi

The above verse is the shortest form of SHANKARA BHAGAVATHPADA'S ADVAIDA SIDDANTHA. The above-quoted verse is taken from" vivEkachUdAmaNi" which is one of Shankara' s own work based on the UPANISHADS, the BHAGAVAT GITHA and BRHMA SUTHRAS. According to his siddantha, THERE IS ONLY ONE GODWHO IS OMNIPOTENT, OMNIPRESENT AND OMNICIENT. In other words, God is ONLY ONE,

who is present in all matters whether has life or not.. He is NIRGUNA, NIRAAKAARA AND NIRVISHESHA meaning GOD has no attributes or characteristics , He has no forms and He is without any speciality . In short the definition from Upaqnishads say that "EKO DEVA,

SARVA BHOOTHESHU GOODA, SARVA VYAAPEE, SARVA BHOOTHANDARAATHMA, KARMAADYAKHA, SARVA BHOOTHESHU VAASA, SAAKSHEE CHETHO KEVALO NIRGUNASCHA" ., This is the definition of GOD.

This definition is akin to Buddha's definition of GOD and this was very much needed to counter the growing popularity of Buddhism and decline of Hinduism. In fact , Hinduism at that period was about to be routed out. ( Some persons are of the opinion that the famous Venkatachalpathy Temple of Thirumala and Sri. Ayyappa Temple at Shabari Mala were Buddhist Temples )

According to Advaitha Siddantha , our soul is engulfed with MAYA which can be called as AVIDYA, or ignorane in English. We must study (BY VIDHYA) the VEDAS and procure knowledge (JNAANA) in the VEDAS. and obtain enlightment. which paves the way for liberation or MOKSHA.. In other words, When the soul gets enlightment as we are nothing but GOD HIMSELF then we can say the entire universe is a FALSITY (Mithya) . As an example, when we see a rope in darkness we feel it as snake but when the darkness is over the light falls in we will know that the thing which we thought as a snake is nothing but a rope..

Advaitha school of philosophy also allow us to worship any deity like VIGNESWARA OR AYYAPPA, GURUVAYURAPPA , VAIKKATTHAPPA, DEVI SUBRAHMANIA etc as our ISHTA DEVATHA. In fact Shankara Bhagavathpaada's ADVATHA professes that .ALL DEITIES ARE ONE AND THE SAME "SHIVAYA VISHNU ROOPAYA". It means that we can worship SAGUNA BRAHMAN". However, for one's liberation we must meditate on NIRGUNABRAHMAN.

ADI SHANKARA traveled throughout India by foot and defeated all others who believed in other philosophies during his life period. He founded FOUR PEETTHAS ( MUTTS) in order to guide all people (1) the one at Sringeri ( Shri Sharada Peethom – For Yajur Vedam)in the South (2) Dwaraka (. Sharada Peethom) in the West for Saama Vedam (3) Puri (Shri Govardhana Peethom) in Orissa and JYOTHR MUTT in Badarinath, North for Atharva Vedam )and installed his disciples (1)Sureswaraachaaya(2) Padmapaadaachaarya (3) Hasthaamalakaacharya and (4) Thotakaachaarya respectively as the MATTHAADHIPATHIS or Heads of the Matth.

He has written many STHOTHRAS on different deities . among which BHAJA GOVINDAM, SHIVANANDA LAHARI, SOUNDARYA LAHARI, SHYAAMALAA DANDAKAM are only few to mention, and he has also written BHASHYAM (commentary) for Brahma sUthra, Aithreya Upanishad, Bruhat Aranyaka, Isopanishad, Thaiththaryopanishad and other Upanishads, BHAGAVAT GITHA, VISHNU SAHASRANAMA and GAYATHRI MAHA MANTHRA. His treaties "Viveka Choodaamani ,Upadesha Sahasri, Athma Bodha Nirguna Maanasa Pooja etc are worth mentioning.

PROMISE TO HIS MOTHER KEPT UP AGAINST ODDS

When his mother was on her death bed, SHANKARA as promised to her, reached his house.

Her last wish to see PARA BRAHMA was realized to her by him by just her touch on his body. When she died the NAMBOOTHIRI BRAHMINS did not go to help him in her cremation and other APARA KIYAS stating that HE as a SANYASI had no right to perform this as he had left all worldly customs.

SHANKARA had to take the body on his shoulders to the CREMATION GROUND where he could not get FIRE WOOD to burn her body. He saw a newly thrown BANANA PLANT with which he burnt her mortal remains and performed her APARA KRIYA..

SAMADHI OF ADI SHANKARA

This subject is also controversial. According to many SHANKARA BHAGAVATHPAADA attained SAMADHI while trekking the HIMALAYAS near KEDARNATH.. Few others say that He attained SAMADHI at VADKKUNNATHA TEMPLE at Thrissur. Ome others say that after attaining Sarvajna Peettah he attained Samaadhi at Kancheepuram. Where some of is deciples started a PEETHOM called KANCH KAAMAKOTI PEETHOM. However, there is consensus in his life span which was very short i.e. 32 years of age.

Friends, I have not dealt with many of the wonderful works or deeds of Adi Shankara except giving a very short biography due to fear that this may become very lengthy.

I conclude this biography here by praying to this Great SAINT

Let us bow to this GREAT SAINT by saying "sruthi smruthi purANAnAm Alayam

karuNAlayam, namAmi bhagavathpAda Sankaram lOkasundaram".

Regards to one and all.

THE THREE GREAT PHILOSOPHERS OF SOUTH INDIA WHO GAVE

THE THREE GREAT PHILOSOPHERS OF SOUTH INDIA WHO GAVE
ADVAITHA, VISHISTADVAITHA AND DWAITHA PHILOSOPHIES

PART III : H.H. MADHWACHARAYA

Friends,

Having given a very brief biography and principles propounded by ADI SHANKARA and RAMANUJA , I am giving hereunder, a small biography and an entirely a new concept i.e.DWAITHA or DUALISM given by another great SAINT called MADHWACHAARYA.

In a tiny village called PAJAKA in Udupi district in Karnataka state, in the year 1238 AD, a boy was born on Vijaya Dashami day of the Lunar month Ashwin to a devout couple by names Madhyageha Bhatta and Vedavati. They named the child as VASUDEVA which is a synonym of Maha Vishnu., since he was born by the blessing of Lord Vishnu whom the couple prayed in varied ways for over 12 years. The story is that on hearing the prayers of the couple, Sriman Narayana asked VAYU to be born to the couple. In fact, Madhwas believe that he is the incarnation of VAYU like, BHEEMA and HANUMAN. In childhood itself Vasudeva was inclined towards spirituality and had great talents in grasping spiritual knowledge, He was very sturdy and well built. Madhwas have many stories to tell about the miracles Vasudeva perfomed as a child. Due to space constrain I shall narrate only one instance. When he was only ONE YEAR OLD once he accompanied his father's bullocks by just holding them on their tips of tails and
took them for grazing. His parents searched for the child but it was a vain attempt. However, the child returned home in the evening with the bullocks. This shows his great endurance power.

While he was a young boy of eleven years old i.e in the year 1149 AD. he chose to become a SANYASI under a great SANYASIN called ACHYUTHA PREKSHA who named VASUDEVA as PURNAPRAJNA. Here-in , I would like to state that PURNAPRAJNA TRUST, managed by MADHVAS is running many institutions for the benefit of mankind and their Educational Institutions are very famous for their excellence in teaching. This great Sanyasin , Poornaprajna had profound knowledge in SANSKRIT, VEDAS, UPANSHADS etc. and LOGIC OR THARKA SHASTHRA. Achyuta Preksha conferred upon Poornaprajna the title "ANANDA THEERTHA" for his knowledge in VEDANTHA and THARKA SHASTHRA through which he defeated VASUDEVA PANDITHA an eminent logician of his times, and, his disciples. In fact MADHWA is the PENNAME assumed by POORNAPRAJNA while writing his works on VEDAS. This is the exact reason why he is revered as MADHWACHARYA the author of DWITHA OR
DUALISM and how he came to be known as MADHWACHARYA. As a teenager POORNAPRAJNA toured all over south which include Thiruvananthapuram, Kanyakumari, Rameshwaram and Srirangam He had no belief in superstitions and faught tooth and nail against it. He WAS SEVERELY CRITISIZED FOR HIS ATTACK ON ORTHDOXY. He then returned to UDUPI and there he wrote his BHASHYA or commentary on BHAGAVAT GITHA. This commentary . he took to BHADRINATH where daily after bath in the holy river GANGA observed MOUNA VRATHA for 48 days. Thereafter he went to VYASA BADRI and believied to have met the GREAT SAGE VEDA VYASA and presented him with his BHASHYA ON BHAGAVAT GITHA. In his original Bhashya, it is said that he had written that the Bhashya was written with the help of Veda Vyasa which was changed by Veda Vyasa himself as "I have written with my own capacity and not with the help of Veda Vyasa".

UDUPI SHREE KRISHNA TEMPLE

Friends, it is now the right time to tell about this wonderful temple situated in UDUPI which is as famous as Sri Venkateshwara Temple of Tirupati , Srirangam Temple and Lord Krishna Temple of Guruvayur. It is said that Madhwacharya once noticed a ship which lost its direction in the sea at Malpe, a small coastal village near Udupi. Madhwacharya immediately took his saffron anga vasthram ( over-cloth) and waved it like a flag looking towards the ship. The captain of the ship noticed this and took the ship to shore. He was very much pleased with the Acharya's action and in gratitude he asked
Madhwacharya to take any thing which he liked from the ship. Madhwacharya who was a sanyasin had no much desires and hence he took a mound of dried GOPICHANDANA from the captain. On breaking open this mound he found a small and beautiful idol of Lord Krishna. This he installed in the Temple at Udupi which is now one of the famous
temples of Lord Krishna. Madhwacharya, then formed eight Mutts and appointed eight Heads for these mutts to perform POOJA, which are given below and which are situated in UDUPI Ratha Veedhi or Car Street.

(1)Phal.imar mutt : hrishikEsha Theertha
(2) adamAr Mutt : Narasimha Theertha
(3) Krishnapura Mutt : Janaardhana theertha
( 4) Puttige Mutt : Upendra Theertha
(5) Kaaniyoor Mutt : Vaamana Theertha
(6) Sode mutt : Vishnu Theertha
(7) Shiroor Mutt : Raama Theertha and
(8) Pejawar Mutt : Adhokshaja Theertha.

The peculiarity of this Temple is that Lord Krishna's idol in this temple is facing the west. Although no one can tell exactly, why this idol is facing west, according to some, there was a devotee called KANAKA DASA who was from a low caste and who could not enter the temple because of his being born in a low caste. Being a great devotee of Lord Krishna he used to stand daily on the western side of the temple and performed his prayers. Lord Krishna was well pleased with him and in order to give Darshan He turned towards the west. This is one belief. All my friends reading this might have heard about KANAKA DASAR KRUTHIS.
I can narrate many stories about this great saint who gave to the HINDUS the DWAITHA SIDDANTHA but due to space constraint I like to cut short this biography.

MADHWACHARYA'S DUALISM

The Dwaitha Siddantha differs from the other two theories on five counts They are :-

(1) JeevaiEEshwara Beda, or difference between the soul and Vishnu;
(2) Jada-EEshwara Bheda or difference between insentient and Vishnu;
(3) Mitha-Jeeva Bheda or difference between any two souls;
(4) Jada-Jeeva Bheda or difference between insentient and the soul;
(5) Mitha-Jada Bheda or difference between any two insentients..

To clarify: ISHWARA is a sentient being, and the JIVA is also sentient. However they are not fully alike. While ishwara is fully independent JEEVA is fully dependent. It is the energization by ISWARA that is responsible for the activity of the JIVA.

According to Madhwa ( Let us not forget his actual name after he was initiated in to SANYAS i.e POORNAPRAJNA ) as all the three saints believe, LORD VISHNU is supreme. Why I included Shankara Bhagavathpaadar also is, because of the difference with him only another great SAINT BHASAVESHWARA started his famous LINGA CULT called LINGAYATS as HH. Shankaracharya said that "SHIVA AND VISHNU
ARE ONE AND THE SAME". And in Sandhya Vandanam especially performed by BRAHMINS says " AkAshAth pathitham thOyam yaththa gachchathi saagaram , sarvadevanamaskaarah: keshavam prathi gachchathi" meaning as all the waters fall from the sky go to the seas, in the same way all prayers towards all DEVAS ultimately reach KESHAVA. And in samarpanam or conclusion we say "Kaayena vaachaa manasEndriyair vaa ddyaathmanaavaa prakruthe swabhaavath, karOmi yadyath sakalam
parasmai naaraayannayEthi samarpayaami. This is not intended to say that we are wrong but only to show as to why the great saints differ in their approach

Coming again to Madhwa's teachings. He says further that the universe is real and the five differences are real, the leagues of Jeevas are cohorts of VISHNU and are superior or inferior among themselves; salvation is the experience of Jiva's own joy; This can
be achieved only by flawless devotion or Bhakthi towards Vishnu.. etc.

After establishing the Lord Krishna Temple and the Mutts, Madhwacharya again went to Badri. He has authored many books some of the important works are his commenries on VEDIC HYMNS like Rig Veda BHAASHYA, KARMANI MAYA , BHASHYA ON VARIOUS UPANSHADS, BHASHYA ON BHAGAVAT GITHA Etc. HH. Madwacharya lived for 79 years i.e till NAVAMI OF SHUKA PAKSHA (BRIGHTER HALF OF THE MOON ) in the month of Magha of PINGALA SAMVATHSARA. Madhwas believe that this great saint is still alive and guiding them in all spiritual matters.

Friends, let us prostrate before all these three great saints with all reverence who made HINDUISM a most DYNAMIC RELIGION.

By Shri P.R.RADHAKRISHNAN

Sri Ramanujacharya -The great Philosopher and Social reformer.....

Sri Ramanujacharya..

The great Philosopher and Social reformer.....

Born and brought up at Sri Perumbudhur... Just few hours drive from Chennai....

Was instrumental in developing Vaishnavism

Long before, he broke the ills of casteism....

Treated all with equal respect....

Looking forward to more and more information about him and his philosophy on VISHISTADVAITHAM...

Salient Features of Ramanuja's Life.:

(1) Ramanuja was born at a Village SRI-PERUMPUDHOOR.. near Chennai.. as Adwaithi.. so called Smartha,,, Sankaracharya's disciple... Parents KESAVA SOMAYAJI and mother KANTHIMATHI... were childless until their intensive prayer to Parthasarathy deity at Thiruvallikkeni was gracefully answered... by the birth of Ramanuja..

(2) His first Guru was an Adhwaithi... YAADHAVA-PRAKASA... with whom Ramanuja resided at home for Gurukula Vaasam... .. at THIRUPPUTKUZHI village ...near Kanchipuram.... and learnt Vedas initial lessons..

(3) Guru Yaadhava-Prakasa in the course of teaching to a batch of students along with Ramanuja... interpreted the meaning of one Sanskrit word...KAPYAASAM ... that God's Eyes are similar to the Red-buttocks of Monkey. Ramanuja shed tears on hearing this cheap Simile. to a Diviinity.. When questioned, Ramanuja put forth the alternate meaning which alone can be applicable in this context... he said

" God's Eyes are similar to the Lotus-flower"..

.. on hearing which the Guru became furious that he was an Adhikaprasangi (Impertinent-goose).. who oversteps beyond the bounds of a student who has to just accept whatever the Guru teaches..

Ramanuja prayed the Guru for clarification on his preaching... which the Guru could not.. Whereas Ramanuja further elaborated on his perception of alternate meaning of the same word. This fact could not be denied by the Guru..

Thus the Teacher felt insulted before other students.. who may spread a bad image on the Scholar-Teacher... while Ramanuja may excel him as a better Scholarly Competitor- Teacher.. in the near future.

So he decided to kill the student Ramanuja, by drowning in the River Ganga... so that the Guru need not become a sinner by killing, while his purpose also can be served...

.. a Crooked sense of justification .for a malefic autocracy.

RAMANUJA: ADHISESHA-AWATHARA: Proved during Lifetime- 2

The Jain-King Pittiraya’s daughter,.. rather the Princess of the then Karnataka region, suddenly became Insane... and continued so without any imrovement for several years, in spite of intensive treatment of all sorts by many Doctors of various Schools of Medical profession available those days.

Then the King tried his best by alternative means too.. .. including the Spiritual remedy by Bhuddhist and Jain monks

Doubting the effect of extraneous Evil-force, reputed Manthrikas were engaged .. but with no fruitful result.

So the King was much worried whether it was incurable for his affectionate daughter, the Teen-ager Princess .. due to be married as the Royal-Heir.

At that stage Ramanuja had reached his Kingdom, leaving off the neighbour Chozha desam.. On the recommendation of his Minister, the Jain King invited Ramanuja to his Palace and appealed for advice.

On seing the Princess, Ramanuja asked “ What is wrong with you?”

“Pat came the reply.. “ Hae Swami Ramanuja the ADHISESHA AWATHARA.. I am the Brahma-Rakshasa eagerly waiting for you the Divine-Soul... Originally I am a Gandharva who became a Rakshasa due to a Curse. So to get along the days, I entered this Girls body... waiting for the day of Liberation.

I am prepared to leave off.. if you can grace me Liberation by just touching my Head with your Foot.. because you are AADHISESHA.. Consequently I will be radically cleansed of all my sins along with the evil effects of the curse on me... and thus I can go back to the Gandharva my original form.

Ramanuja complied with the appeal .. and immediately the Evil-force occupying the Princess body left off. The Young girl got up cheerfully as if she woke up from sleep.

The Devils voice declaring Ramanuja as the ADHISESHA-AWATHARA.. was clearly audible to one and all around including the King.

So not only the King started revering Ramanuja highly but also made his people too. by ordering them to pay the due honour to the Aadhisesha Awathara Ramanuja.

Veda says even about Lord Narayana ... as .. AJAAYAMAANAHA... means Birthless....

...but further adds.... BAHUDHAA-VIJAAYATHAE.... which means..."yet takes several REBIRTHS as Awathaaras.(Re-incarnations)

But Nowhere it is mentioned in any Puranas or Vedas that the Lord Siva is "Pirhappili".... Vide Thiruvilhaiyaadal-puraanam... where Lord Siva has taken several Disguises and Re-Births... as Fuel-Wood(Virahu)-Seller, Student-Singer etc.

In the Naayanmaars-Charithram... Lord Siva appeared before Thiruneelakantar as a Sivan-Adiyaar and played a drama with a Earthen-Begging-bowl... You know.

However if at all any God-form.... either Vishnu or Siva or Muruha and other Gods... is attributed as PIRAPPILI anywhere... it has to be positively understood in a HIGH-SENSE...as....

... NON-COMMITTED FOR REBIRTH... due to Karmas of past births... like the Humans and other Creatures..

...Yet took Rebirth to make people understand them better, by means of His/Her actions on the field....

In the case of Lord Sankaracharya.... there are two sorts of Faiths amongst his Disciples...

(1) He was just a Holy-Soul...unlinked to any Gods Rebirth....but a Staunch Vishnu-devotee....

...who created a New Philosophy of Adhwaitha....So, being a Vaishnavite.. he was wearing on his forehead. and all over his body... CHANDHANA-PUNDRAM (Symbol of Vaishnavite).... and chanting constantly Narayana-Nama-Japam....

...as also ordained Vishnu-supremacy in all the Kerala Temples... be it a Siva or Ambal or any such other deity...

...stipulating to chant "Amme Narayana in Bhagawathi Temples or Acha-Narayana in Siva-temples

..Such a faith is mostly amongst Namboodris ... so called his Birth-communioty people.. They have their own justifications to fortify such a belief....

Even in Kaladi... where the Acharyas Samadhi exists... and is worshipped by his devotees....only Chandana-Pundram is worn to Sankaracharya deity... as a Vaishnavite.... and Not Viboothi(Saivite-sign).

(2) Another faith amongst a section of his devotees... especially the Peetaadhipathis at Kanchi, Sringeri etc.... including a part of the Kerala people....it is believed...

... that the Aadhi-Sankaracharya was the Awathara of Lord Siva, Vadakkunathar- Swami at Thirussor Temple.... by whose benign grace to his parents, the Acharya was bestowed as the Remarkable Human of divine Re-birth. of Lord-Siva....

...so, being REINCARNATION OF LORD SIVA... his Idols at some places, including Kanchi and Sringeri- Peetam Temples... Viboothi is worn... as well as by themselves his disciples as Saivites.

I have nothing to argue Pro or Anti... other than putting forth here... the various sects' (All of them, his Disciples only) personal beliefs of reverence.... towards the Great Sankara- Acharya.

However the most interesting point to be observed here is....

...While as per SRI-BASHYAM of Acharya Ramanuja... the supreme God is denoted by him mostly as just EESWARA(Which word is common to all the forms of Gods... including Siva and Vishnu) ... even though by the word Eeswara, he means Lord Narayana only.

...Whereas the Acharya Sankara was very careful not to mention anywhere, the word EESWARA or some such common terminology attributable to more than one form of God.....

And so in his SANKARA-BASHYAM, the Adhwaitha Acharya has all along attributed the Supreme-God as Narayana, Vasudeva, Paramaathma ,Kesava and the like specific names and adjectives prescribed exclusively for Lord Narayana only.

Geetha authorises “Social Discrimination” ?

Ramanujacharya continued his reply to the Vedic Scholars…

No doubt further too...in Geetha there are Slokas specifically mentioning as Brahmana, Kashathriya, Vaisya and Soodhra classifications of Mankind CREATED SO BY BIRTH by God.

But invariably in all those slokas, it clearly declares undoubtedly… that such categorizations are based on their varied standards in Sathva, Rajas, and Thaamas qualities… inborn by nature,…

...conveying the same concept of the above-mentioned Sloka more analytically

So to say, even in one and the same family of any Caste, amongst the four Sons of the same Parents of one Blood-relation...

...there can be one born of Kshathriya qualities while his brothers may be Brahmana, Vaisya and Soodhra... conforming to the sense of Geetha.

Thus, such a Quality-basis is totally unrelated to the Communal-theory of the so called Manu-Dharma Sasthram...

...NOT A SAASTHRAM.... NOR DIVINE, since NOT MADE BY GOD....

... but AUTOCRATICALLY stipulated by the Kings, the Human-beings.

...imitating the same names mentioned in Geetha and Vedas..for their Caste- Names..

Then the Scholars raked up the Vedic sense in relation to Geetha....

...Claiming that the Geetha follows the Vedic-concept of Communal- discrimination by birth as high and low...

...in the Strata of Society comprising of Brahmana, Kshathriya, Vaisya and Soodhra....

... Purusha-sooktha of Yajur-Veda... says

Braahmanosya Mukham.aaseeth. Baahu Raajanya krithaha
Ooru thadhasya yadh Vaisyaha Padhmyaagum Soodhro ajaayatha

On hearing so... Ramanuja laughed at them and said

....“What a PERVERTED MEANING.!!”

Dear Mr Rohit,

I never said so... and if I have said there must be under a context and conditions for it.

....But even then.... rather in ANY CASE... both the persons of opposite approaches, cannot be EQUALLED....

...Nor their Approaches can be the same.... Nor of EQUAL POSITIVE VALUE

That was the statement from an Atheist, about 3 years back, in another Thread,...( I remember well ... who and where... but I don't want drag him here now unnecessarily, because he is out of Hub now-a-days.)

... which I vehemently opposed and justified how two persons of Positive and Negative propensities...

...differently react to Onslaughts of Fate in a discerning manner.

I can further elaborate and justify if you want.

Psychologists and Philosophers speak in One Voice... although their Routes and approaches are different.

That conclution is the ULTIMATE TRUTH.... UNSHAKEABLE...by Positive outlook.

Ramanuja too establishes the same Large-hearted approach of GOD IS LOVE.
...

Thanks a lot for the post, sudhaama.

I have a few doubts :

1. I have read that when Ramanuja was summoned by the king, his disciples took his place & made Udaiayavar escape to melkote. When they were produced before the king, they were asked to sign the proclaimation that Lord Shiva was a greater God than Lord Vishnu & when they refused, they were punished.

Assuming that the above is true, when ramanuja is so large hearted, what prevented his followers also to be so?

I know there is some explaination here which I would like to hear from U.

2. Also I have read that since he was saved by harijans or dalits (as we call them now) from the clutches of robbers when he was returing from delhi to melkote, he "allowed" them to enter the shrine for 3 days in a year.

Now we know that udaiyavar's large heartedness knew no boundaries, if that is the case, why only "the 3 day period?

My intention is not to cast aspersions on the Maha Purusha (Avarai paththi vimarsanam pandrathukku yarukkume thagudi illai geradhu ennodiya abiprayam).

I only want to clear certain misgivings, that's all.

As an ardent udaiyavar devotee, it pains me when certain people cast aspersions.

Also, i wonder why U have stopped posting on Udaiyavar, of late. Please continue to do so. It is of immense benefit & delight to Udaiayavar devotees like me (& I am sure to many others as well).


Prabhu Ram wrote:
When we went to Srirangam last year we asked about the idol to the Archakar there (since I had also heard that it was Ramanuja himself). The Archakar said that, after hie breathed his last, Ramanuja was interred and then he rose in his present form (like a Swayambu) with the asareeri announcing his resurrection.


(1) I am sorry we are overstretching the matter.. violating the Secret Code of practice... strictly being adopted by the Disciples of Ramanuja.

As I have already mentioned, quoting the bitter experience of the Mahan Jothi Ramalinga Swamis case, Ramanuja's followers purposively maintain it as a Secret. So No more discussions please on the Material substance of the Ramanuja Moolavar at Srirangam.

However for the sake of the Acharya's followers.. I highlight here one interesting point.

The Tamil terminology... THAAN AANA THIRUMENI... must clarify all the doubts... which glorifies the holy Moolavar as the worshipful Great.

Let us leave at that.

Prabhu Ram wrote:

........................
Sudhaama wrote:
One of such Acharyas, Swami Desika took up personal commitment to save all the Moolavars, including this Ramanuja's Thirumeni.
I read somewhere that when the invasion happened, Vedanta Desikar took charge of the works of Vaishnavite philosophy, that remained unfinished at the time of Ramanujar's demise and took them with him (to Kanchipuram?), to work on the translations and commentary. And MaNavALa MAmunigaL , along with a Vijayanagar chieftain ensured the safe transportation of the moolavar of the temple.

This was offered by the author as one of the possible root for the sectarian split. One sect claiming lineage to those who undertook to great physical risks to protect the idol, while the other chose an 'easier' path. While the other sect stressed that saving the philosophical works was the bigger contribution.

Perhaps, at some time you deem appropriate to the flow of this thread, you can tell us something about what actually happened at the time of the invasion.


You are confusing yourselves with Amavasai and Abdul kadar... So to say with unconnected factors. The cause of Sectarian split is radically a different subject altogether unconnected with this event of Muslim invasion.

At that time there were NO TWO SRI-VAISHNAVA SECTS... but all One, including Swami Desikar.

It has been proved in the Court of Law categorically and UNDISPUTABLY... in case of Srirangam temple.

Swami Desika took charge of personal custody of Sri-Bhashyam Original Palm-leaf text of Ramanuja, even before the Hindu Temple invasions by foreigners...

..while there was a constant threat from some Jains and Buddhist Kings.

But it is not correct to say... that Ramanuja left any of his works incomplete.

As I already said... immediately on hearing the news of advancement of the Foreign-invaders forces towards Srirangam, all the Sri Vaishnava Acharyas called for a meeting and discussed amicably on the due Protective and Defense measures.

Apart from the subsequent Defensive military counter-fights by the Ranganatha devotees... they protected the Idols Moolavars and Uthsavars under different custodies... well in advance... OVERNIGHT...

...by the selfless toil of the thousands of united devotees at Srirangam.

Pillai-Lokacharya took charge of Ranganatha Uthsavar... called Nam-perumal and carried with him out of the temple. It is a pathetic episode how he sacrificed his life for it.

...those invaders' main target used to be the Hindu Temple Uthsavars...

...on which they took Sadistic- pleasure to denigrate them by using as the Footsteps for their places of worship.

Swami Desika took charge of all the Moolavars and protected them as already detailed hereabove.
.

Sudhaama wrote:
.
.What one sows... he reaps.!!

komban wrote:
Sudhaama wrote:

…all your prayers to different God-forms reach ultimately that One and the same Goal…

..which is the ORIGIN too.. for all !.. ...as categorically declared by Vedas.

That One God... Supreme God "Sriman Narayana"… answers your prayers…

...directly or indirectly as you individually approach..

...and showers His benign grace to all.! REMEMBER.!!!"
.


Will this Lakshmi-Narayana ever have time to restore peace in Pakistan or Afghanistan or Iraq ? Aren't the prayers from people of those region doesn't reach him ? Is the mobile signal weak...?

BS!!!


For the SUICIDAL ACTIONS of ... ALL CONCERNED... we cannot blame God.

The Sufferers are facing the Consequences of their PAST MISDEEDS.!

What Ramanujacharya or Lakshmi-Narayana... have to do.?
.

Care to explain what are such misdeeds that those innocent people did to lose their lives for no fault of theirs ?

Embracing Islam ?