GITA 8.18

GITA 8.18

SRI SARNGAPANI TEMPLE

We have been drinking the nectar of Gita from various Kshetrams. The Lord at each kshetram is a nectar. All the pasurams on these Kshetrams are also nectar. But the Kshetram from where we are to see Gita in the next few days, is connected with nectar [Amrutham in Sanskrit and Amudham in Tamil]. Yes, we are at the Kshetram of Sri Aravamudhan [Sri Apariamrutham in Sanskrit], also known as Sri Sarngapani (not sarangapani!). We are at Kumbakonam aka Thirukkudanthai. The Lord also has a special name Sri Aravamudhazhvan. Sri Sarngapani is holding the bow Sarngam. This Kshetram is called Kumbakonam, Thirukudanthai, Kalyanapuram and Bhaskara Kshetram. We could see all the remaining slokas of Gita from this place itself. Such is its greatness. We have the temples of Sri Sarngapani, Sri Chakrapani and Sri Ramaswamy. Apart from these, there are many temples in this place. Today [21st May 2008] we are at Chakkara Theertham on the banks of river Kaveri. Very near is Sri Chakrapani temple. We will visit one by one these temples. To begin with we will see Sri Chakrapani temple.

SRI CHAKRAPANI TE,PLE 

 In Chakkara Theertham, Sri Chakrapani appeared. Let us know how this name Kumbakonam came about. It is called Kuda Mooku, Kudanthai and Kumbakonam. Once, lord Brahma, packed in a pot [kudam in Tamil and Kumbam in Sanskrit], all necessary seeds and herbs for the creation and left the pot up in the Himalayas. During pralayam, this pot floating on water moved Southwards and with the prayers of all, and the blessings of the Lord, it settled at this place and from the pot, all the seeds and other contents flowed out. Creation was started. Because the Creation materials came out of the mouth of the pot, it got the name Kuda Mooku. Kumbakonam means from a corner of the pot, all materials flowed out. So all names are related to the pot. It is also called Bhaskara [The Sun] kshetram. Once Sun out of pride dazzled the earth with more brilliance and heat. People suffered. All prayed to the Lord to humble the Sun. The Lord accepting the prayer sent His discus, Sri Sudarsana, and he emerged in this Chakkara Theertham.

SRI CHAKKARA THEERTHAM

 Lord Brahma installed the Lord Chakrapani's image here itself. This temple is situated North of Sri Sarngapani temple, North of Aswatta tree and in the midst of Kaveri. The bathing ghat is called Chakkara padithurai [சக்கர படித் துறை]. During festival, Sri Chakrapani graces the devotees on theerthavari. A bath in Aippasi Amavasya day, is believed to erase all our sins. Thirukkudanthai and Thirumazhisai Alwar are closely connected. He was a great devotee of the Lord, and is believed to be the incarnation of the discus of the Lord, Sri Sudarsana. He was born in Thirumazhisai, near Chennai, in the star constellation of Magham. Masi month Magham  star is connected with this place (famous for Mamangam). He donated his Azhvar title to the Lord, and thus the Lord Sri Sarngapani is known as Sri Aravamudha Alwar. Sri Sudarsana, emerging with the brilliance of thousands of Suns, humbled the Sun. Sun was given back its brilliance and so this place is Bhaskara Kshetram. 

In the 17th sloka, Sri Krishna tells the period of reign by lord Brahma, the highest of the gods.

sahasra-yuga-paryantam
ahar yad brahmano viduh
ratrim yuga-sahasrantam
te ’ho-ratra-vido janah

"By human calculation, a thousand ages taken together form the duration of Brahma’s one day. And such also is the duration of his night."

Aho = day, ratra = night, vidu = those who know, jana = people. Those who know clearly, the day and night times, tell these. That is, those who know Shastras reveal this. Brahmana = lord Brahma. The Four-faced Brahma, who is created by the Lord, is indicated here. These pundits tell the time of a day and a night of lord Brahma. Sahasra = thousand, yuga = time of one Chatur yuga, aha = is a day [for lord Brahma]. Yuga = chatur yugs, sahasrantam = thousands of, ratrim = is one night for lord Brahma. These are revealed by these knowledgeable pundits. Thus, lord Brahma's life term is very large. Though it is a very long period, it is never permanent or everlasting. One day lord Brahma's life has to end. His world [satya lok] also ends and is destroyed. The Lord's abode has infinite time. We are seeing the cycle of time. Thousand chatur yug is one day and another thousand chatur yug is one night. This is one full day for lord Brahma. In the epic Mahabharata, it is told that Kala chakra, Jagat chakra and Yuga chakra are Sri Kesava. Kala chakra is the wheel of time. Jagat chakra is the cycle of births and deaths. Yuga chakra is the periodic cycle of the four yugs - Kritha, Thretha, Dwapara and Kali. It is said that the Lord by His mere sankalpam or determination, administers all these various cycles. Appropriately, we are at Sri Chakrapani's temple. Let us see the time frame. We have 365 days make one year and our life is 100 years. Lord Brahma also has 100 years of life, but the year here is Brahma year and not our earth years. To know how much is Brahma year, we have to know that one chatur yug has 4,320,000 our earth years. Thousand such years or 4,320,000,000 earth years is Brahma's one day time! Therefore, two such periods make one full day or 8,640,000,000 earth years [Eight billion and six hundred and forty million years] make one complete day for lord Brahma. 365 such days make one Brahma year and 100 such years completes his lifetime [=100X365X8,640,000,000 human years]. Some say this yug refers to the period in deva lok. Our one human year is one full day for devas. Based on this, one can work out one deva year and 4,320,000 deva years make one chatur yug and then calculate lord Brahma's lifetime! Anyway, the lifetime of the lord of the Seventh upper loka - Satya lok- is surely very, very long compared to ours. Even then, one day it is going to end. But Sri Vaikuntam will always remain true to its name Nitya vibhoothi  and has no end whatsoever! Whoever attains the Lord is not subject to Kala chakra nor Jagat chakra nor Yuga chakra.

                                                                                                          (continued)