Sri :
Dear BhakthAs :
Sep 14 was dedicated to a visit to ThirukkOshtiyUr
,
a dhivya dEsam closely linked to AchArya RaamAnujA's life
.
Azhwaar's
ManagaLAsAsanams
*****************************************
The AchAryan of PeriyAzhwAr (Selva Nambi)
was a resident of
this dhivya dEsam as well . This dhivya dEsa EmperumAn
has recieved 39 Paasurams from 5 AzhwArs : PeriyAzhwAr ,
13-22 , 173 , 360-370 , Thirumangai 1550, 1838-1847
, 1856 ,
2674(125) , Bhutham 2227, 2268 , pEy 2343 and
Thirumazhisai 2415 .
Location & Sthala
VisEshams
**************************************
ThirukkOttiyUr ( ThriugghOshtiyUr ) is 21 miles
from
the dhivya dEsam of Thirumeyyam . The names of
the dhivya dampathis at ThirukkOttiyUr are
Sowmya NaarAyaNan and ThirumAmahaL respectively
.
DEvAs are said to have come here to conduct
secret
consultations in a batch (GhOshti) to
strategize on ways
to eliminate HiraNyan . Hence , the KshEthram
is known
as ThirukkOshtiyUr ( SrI GhOshtipuram ) .
There are two
fierce images of BhagavAn Ugra Narasimhan in
the northern
prakAram : (1) One where the Lord is in the form of
chasing
and catching HiraNyan and (2) Holding HiraNyan
in His lap
and tearing his chest and pulling out of his
intestines
in a great fit of anger over his apachAram
to PrahlAdhan .
These are exquisite pieces of sculpture , which
were once
in worship inside the temple . They were
brought out
with binnam to reduce the ugra nature of the
Moorthams
at a later date .
The AshtAnga VimAnam
**************************
ThirukkOttiyUr VimAnam is the exquisite
AshtAnga VimAnam ,
where the vimAnam is built in the form of four
storeys .
The gound floor has the sannidhi for Sayana
Moorthy .
The first floor houses the Lord in the standing
poisture .
The second floor , the Lord is seen in the
sitting poisture .
There is also a basement , where there is an
archai of
Narthana KrishNan . Thus , the Lord seen
in this kshEthram
in Sitting , standing , resting , walking and
dancing Poistures
( irunthum , ninRum , kidanthum , nadanthum and
kootthAdum
roopams ).
AchAryAs & ThirukkOttiyUr
****************************
ThirukkOttiyUr Nambi was a disciple of
Swamy
AlavanthAr and one of the five AchAryans of
Sri RaamAnuja . It was here , AchArya
RaamAnujA
travelled 18 times from Srirangam to
recieve rahasyArtha
ManthrOpadEsam on Moola Manthram. For 17 times
,
ThirukkOttiyUr Nambi refused to instruct Sri
RaamAnuja
on the esoterics of the Moola Manthram and
finally on
the 18th round , Nambi relented and performed
the upadEsam
on condition that his upadEsam be kept
absolutely
confidential . There is a legend that Sri
RaamAnuja
went up the AshtAnga VimAnam and shouted the
meanings of
Moola Manthram to one and all so that they
can also
benefit from the knowledge about the esoteric
meanings
and be saved from SamsAric sufferings . There
is a statue
of AchArya RaaamAnujA at the site , wherefrom
He is
said to have performed the upadEsam for the
crowd of
aasthikAs assembled below in the court yard of
the temple .
Strict observers of the SampradhAyam would not
agree
that AchArya RaamAnuja rashly disobeyed his
AchAryan's
command . The view from the crawl space near
AchArya
RaamAnujA's statue is extraordinary . The
surrounding
countryside for 10 miles atleast are seen from
there .
It is an exerting journey up the VimAnam to
reach
this area and those who are of generous
dimensions
will experience stresses to get to this
height and stand
next to the AchAryan's statue . All the
physical troubles
to get there are worth it . One races back more
than
900 years in Sri VaishNavite History
.
After AchArya RaamAnuja , Sri ParAsara Bhattar came to
ThirukkOttiyUr to spend some time away from the ChOLa king ,
who was the ruler of Srirangam territory . This king had committed
an asahyApachAram to a Parama BhAgavathar and would not
listen to Swamy ParAsara Bhattar . The saddened Bhattar left
Srirangam for sojourn in ThirukkOttiyUr until the king passed
away as a result of a sudden disease . During his ThirukkOttiyUr
stay , Bhattar missed so much the worship and sevai to Lord of
Srirangam . He composed Sri Rangaraja Sthavam at ThirukkOshtiyUr
to console himself over the unavoidable seperation from
Sri RangarAjan . There are sanndhis for AchArya RaamAnujA and
ThirukkOttiyUr Nambi here and one of the descendants
of latter
is performing AarAdhanam today with the traditional Munkudumi
( Poorva SikhA ) .
( To be continued )
Sri Sumya NaarAyaNa SWaminE Nama:
Dasan , Oppiliappan KOil VaradAchAri Sadagopan
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