GITA 10.19

GITA 10.19'

TIRUNARAYANAPURAM TEMPLE

Srirangamangala nidhim karuna nivasam

Sri venkatadri sikaralaya kalamekam

Sri hastisaila sikarotvala parijatam

Srisan namami sirasa yadusaila deepam.

This sloka praises the Four important Kshetrams - Srirangam, Tirumala, Kanchipuram and Tiru Narayanapuram. First, comes Srirangam, known in sampradhayam as Koil. Next, the Lord of Seven hills, Sri Srinivasan, is praised. Next is Sri Devaraja [ஸ்ரீ தேவப் பெருமாள் ] in Kanchipuram, known in sampradhayam as Perumal Koil. Finally, Tiru Narayanapuram also known as Melkote, near Pandavapuram, in Karnataka, is considered important. We are now in Tiru Narayanapuram, which is famous as Dakshina Badarikasrama. In North, in Badarikashrama, the Lord graces as Sri Narayana and Sri Nara. Here, the Lord graces as Sri Narayana. The story of this Kshetram and how the Lord came to reside here, are quite interesting. This place is on a hill top. Nature's beauty can be felt in reaching this place. Plenty of lakes and ponds, gardens, trees and passing clouds grazing the tree tops are all worth experiencing. This place is surrounded by many hills. As we enter, first we notice the hill where Sri Narasimha Swami is gracing. We will see that place in detail later on. Next, we come across Kalyani Pushkarini.

KALYANI PUSHKARINI

 Today's [22nd August 2008] lecture is from the banks of Kalyanipushkarini. It contains the sacred water auspicious to eliminate the sins of those bathing in it. Sri Thayar of this place is also known as Sri Kalyani. Everyone desires to have good and happy occasions to occur in their lives. All such events can be got from this pushkarini. It is said that bathing in this pushkarini for three days and worshiping the Lord Sri Narasimha nearby and Sri Narayana inside the place, is equivalent to performing Twelve Ashwamedha Yaga. Up to about Twenty miles from this Pushkarini is called Vaikunta vardhana Kshetram. This place will stimulate the urge to reach Vaikuntam. It would enthuse people to get Moksham. Lord Brahma, in the beginning, was worshiping this Lord Sri Tiru Narayanan. The Lord is with Sri Lakshmi. Lord Brahma was performing pooja for this Lord in Satya Loka for many thousands of years. He gave this Lord to his son, Sanatkumara. In Krutha yug, Sanatkumara selected this place for establishing the Lord here. While Sanatkumara was performing pooja here, this place was called Narayanadri. In the next Tretha yug, the Lord here was worshipped by Sri Dattatreya. That time, this place was called Vedadri. Dattatreya Peetam is in this place only and we will see that on another day. In Dwapara yug, the Lord here was worshipped by Sri Balarama and Sri Krishna and this place was called Yadavadri or Yadugiri. In the present Kali yug, Swami Ramanuja was worshiping and the Lord is called Sri Yadusaila Nathan. Thus the Moolavar of this place was worshipped in various yugs by various persons. When the Lord was First established here, many great sages had come to participate in the Prathishta utsavam. They bathed in this pond and blessed, "Kalyani! Kalyani!!", to invoke sanctity for the pushkarini. From that time the pond is known as Kalyani pushkarini. Nearby, there is another pond called Dharba theertham, where sage Sandilya was meditating. When the Lord appeared before him, Sandilya desired to worship the Lord at Badarikashram. The Lord, considering the difficulties in reaching Badarikashram, advised the sage to see Sri Narayana of Badarikashram, here itself and so this place is known as Dakshina Badarikashram. This place is also called Gyana mandapam. Srirangam is known as Bhoga mandapam, where the Lord is enjoying. Tirumala is called Pushpa mandapam, where the Lord is decorated by flowers. Kanchipuram is known as Tyaga mandapam, as the Lord appeared from Yaga or sacrifice [tyaga]. Here it is Gyana mandapam, where one's knowledge would develop and grow. Swami Ramanuja had ordained his disciples to follow some advice. One of them was to live in Tirunarayanapuram. So, at least we can visit and worship the Lord. On the East of Kalyani pushkarini is Sri Lakshmi Varaha sannidhi. On the South is Sri Sita Rama sannidhi. It is said that Sri Rama sent a missile and brought out water, which is called Dhanushkoti theertham. On the West of this pond is Pancha Bhagavata Kshetram, where Vyasa, Ambareesha, Kumbareesha, Sukha and Rukmangatha, meditated. In the North, it is said that Garuda came from Swethadweepam. So it is called Garuda Kshetram. Thus this pushkarini is surrounded on all Four sides by sacred Kshetrams. The Lord owns all these as also all the 108 Divya desams.

 Even to understand one Kshetram we feel exhausted. But Arjuna asked the Lord to tell him all about His empire! He was prepared to listen to them as he was not satisfied with the very brief account and as he felt it would be like nectar flowing through his ears. In the 18th sloka, Arjuna wanted to know the Lord's attributes, His wealth and His power of command over His property, in detail. From sloka 19th the Lord replies:

sri-bhagavan uvaca
hanta te kathayisyami
divya hy atma-vibhutayah
pradhanyatah kuru-srestha
nasty anto vistarasya me

"The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: Yes, I will tell you of My splendorous manifestations, but only of those which are prominent, O Arjuna, for My opulence is limitless."

Kuru srestha = noble son of Kuru dynasty!, kathayisyami = [I, Sri Krishna] will tell [you, Arjuna]. Hanta = alas [Sri Krishna wonders how He is to tell in detail about His wealth and attributes, as even the Lord would find it difficult to list them. One can say there is nothing which is not His. That would be simpler.]. Te =to you [the Lord is going to reply Arjuna]. Atma = My [Sri Krishna's], divya = sacred, vibhutaya = wealth. The Lord might be ready to tell, but Arjuna should have the capacity to understand. Pradhanyata = important ones [as the Lord fears it might not be possible for Arjuna to understand all and time might not permit. So He would select the more important ones and tell Arjuna]. Me = My [Sri Krishna's], vistarasya = spread out [of His wealth], nasty = has no, anta = end. Since the property of the Lord is so large without a limit, He would list out some important ones which would make Arjuna gauge the property of the Lord. Those to be listed are all very sacred and superior ones. He wants to tell Arjuna, who had expressed his eagerness to know and who had accepted the Lord as the Supreme God. Swami Desika in his Tatparya Chandrika explains this. Arjuna, in sloka 18, wanted Sri Krishna to tell in detail His wealth and attributes. Instead of listing all, Sri Krishna tells him that He would tell only the more important ones. It is because His wealth and attributes have no end or limitless. His wealth is all sacred. The Utsavar of this place is called Sri Selva Narayanan or popularly, Sri Selva Pillai [ஸ்ரீ செல்வப் பிள்ளை ]. Selvam in Tamil means wealth. Thus Kalyani [which means sacred] and Sri Selva Narayana Perumal, give an idea of His sacred wealth.

                                                                                                    (continued)