Aramudhan Perumaal of Thirukudanthai Divya Desam

The Third Tirupati in the List of 108 Tirupatis 

ArAvamudE! aDiyEn uDalam ninpAl anbAyE

nIrAy alaindu karaiya urukkukinRa neDumAlE!

sIrAr sennel kavari vIsum sezhu nIrt tirukkuDandai

ErAr kOlam tikazhak kiDandAy! kaNDEn emmAnE!

Sri Nammazhwar in the 5^th pasuraam of the eight thiruvaimozhi states that the Lord Sarangapani of Thirukuddandai (Kumbakonam) divya desam is like pure nectar! He is the elixir which can never produce satiety.

When we eat something very sweet after a while we become sick and tired of eating the same thing. This is true for other types of worldly enjoyment as well like listening to music or reading a book; we do not like to read or listen to the same thing over and over again. After a few repetitions we get bored. Even if it is the best chocolate cake we do not like to eat it every day for the rest of our lives.

We get bored with only worldly enjoyment but when we turn our senses towards the eternal Bagawan we find that we can enjoy Him continuously without feeling bored. The more we enjoy the nectar that is Him, the more we want to continue enjoying this nectar as our desire for this nectar becomes insatiable; Perumaal is called as Apariapthamrutham in Sanskrit and as Aramudhan in Tamil. Apariaphtamrutham and Aramudhan mean “the pure nectar which can never produce satiety”. By using the rules of sandhi the name Aramudhan is split into Ara + Amudham. Ara is insatiable or that which is never boring. Amudham is nectar or elixir. Thus Azhwar starts this pasuram by calling Sarangapani Perumaal of Thirukuddandai as “Ara Amude” and then says that, ‘When I see You my body melts in the love I feel for You and flows with a force equal to the force generated by a powerful flood. I flow like molten gold melted by a goldsmith. The reason I feel such strong emotions is because of your grace and the deep love you have for me. At your beautiful divya desam of Thirukuddandai the stalks of red paddy sway in the breeze and it looks as if they are fanning you! Your reclining posture at Thirukuddandai is very striking. I yearn to be united with you and to converse with you’

Not only is Aramuda Perumaal beautiful but also very compassionate. He even performed last rites for one of His devotees.

 Perumaal performs the last rite to His devotee:

Once there existed a devotee called Narayanaswamy who did not have any progeny. Narayanaswamy spent his entire life doing kaimkaryams to Lord Aramudhan. When Narayanaswamy passed away the people were worried about performing his last rites. When the bhatachariar entered the sanctum of Lord Aramudhan he noticed that Perumaal was wearing the yagnopavithram in the direction worn while performing last rites. The bhatachariar thought that he had made a mistake while decorating Perumaal on the previous day. Therefore he corrected the direction of the yagnopavithram but to his utter amazement found that the yagnopavithram switched direction again. The bhatachariar realized that it was Perumaal’s way of saying that He was going to perform the last rite for Narayanaswamy. Perumaal performed the last rite for Jatayu during Rama Avataram and as Aramudhan performed the rites for Narayanaswamy. To this day the rites are continued to be performed for Narayanaswamy at Thirukudanthai.

ASTA Trust:

The beauty of Aramudhan arrests all our mundane thoughts. He occupies our mind and heart completely. He is very compassionate and is ready to come down to our plane to help us. The incident in which Perumaal performed the last rites for His devotee illustrates Perumaal's compassionate and loving nature.  It is sad to note that due to lack of proper funds the temple is facing difficulties in conducting utsavams for Aramudhan Perumaal. Due to lack of funds the temple authorities were unable to facilitate kaimkaryams to Lord Aramudhan. For example due to a shortage of funds to facilitate payments to Sripadams, the temple authorities had to use motorised vehicles thus causing damages to the beautiful Utsavar murthy.

Sri U.Ve Karunakaran Swami has set up a trust called ASTA - Aramudhan Sripadam thangi Anbargal trust to facilitate payments to the Sripadams as well as to finance other kaimkaryams at Thirukuddandai Divya Desam.

Interested Bhagavathas can contribute to the trust  by cheque to :
ASTA Trust
“Srinidhi Karuna” # 6, Bharathiyar Street
Sivakami Nagar, Gowrivakkam
Chennai 600073 . Tel : 044 22780854.
For electronic transfer, the account Details of ASTA Trust are :
Account No 1787 01 00000 4835
Indian Overseas Bank,
Gowrivakkam Branch, Chennai
IFS code No IOBA0001787.

Bhagawathas can also order CDs/DVDs on Yaksha Prashnam and Tat Tvam Asi by Sri U.Ve. Karunakaran Swami. The sambhavanai for the CDs/DVDs are added to the ASTA trust account. Please send an email to Sri Ananthanarayanan giving details of the number of CDs/DVDs required. Sri Ananthanarayanan is the administrator of Sri Karunakaran Swami’s website http://www.nadadoor.org/ and he can be reached at anonavinakere@gmail.com

You can also send an email to myeffort4asta@gmail.com  as this is the contact detail provided by Anudinam.org The link to the page is http://anudinam.org/2012/01/09/sri-u-ve-karunanakarachar-swamys-upanyasam-dvd-and-cd-yaksha-prashnam-and-tat-tvam-asi/

Facts about Thirukudanthai:

I would also like to provide some background information about Aramudhan Perumaal.

Thirukuddandai Divya Desam is the 3^rd Tirupati in the list of 108 Divya Desams.

The Vimanam is called Vaideeka Vimanam

The pushkarini is Hema Pushkarini

The moolavar is seen in a reclining posture and is called as Aramudhan. This posture is known as Utthana Sayanam. Moolavar is also called as Utthanasayi and Apariapthamruthan.

The utsavar is Sarangapani.

The thayar of this Divya Desam is called as Komalavalli.

 Sthala Puranam:

According to the sthala puranam, Lord Vishnu gave the Vaideeka Vimanam with Lord Aramudhan to Lord Surya. The thiruvaradhanai to Aramudhan Perumaal was performed regularly by Lord Surya. Lord Vishnu also gave the Pranavakara Vimanam with Lord Ranganatha to Lord Brahma.

Lord Surya passed the Vimanam with Aramudhan Perumaal to his son Vaivaswatha Manu who took the Vimanam and consecrated it at Ayodhya.

Lord Brahma passed the Pranavakara Vimanam to Ishvaku who took it to Ayodhya as well. At Ayodhya the two vimanams merged into one and the Lord was called as Jagannathan. A celestial voice declared that when the right time arrives the Vimanam will split once again into the Vaideeka Vimanam and Pranavakara Vimanam; the Pranavakara Vimanam will remain at Sri Rangam while the Vaideeka Vimanam will remain at Thirukuddandai. Lord Jagannathan was worshipped by Lord Rama. After the coronation ceremony, Lord Rama gave the Vimanam as a present to Vibhishana. We all know the story that Vibhishana was unable to lift the Vimanam again after placing it on the banks of river Cauvery. As per the akashavani, the two Vimanams split with the Vaideeka Vimanam remaining at Thirukudanthai and the Pranavakara Vimanam staying at Sri Rangam.

I remember that when my mother and I looked at the picture of Lord Aramudhan we were amazed that He looked identical to Lord Ranganatha. After reading the above sthala puranam I realize that the two Perumaals were worshipped as one Perumaal in Ayodhya.
Pic 1: Ranganathar at Sri Rangam

Pic 2: ranganathar

Pic 3: Aramudhan

Pic 4: Aramudhan


Once, some rishis gathered on the banks of river Saraswati. They were planning to perform a yagnam. They had some disagreement about to whom they should make the offerings. Brigu Maharishi suggested that they must offer to the most satvik devathai. He left to find out the most satvik devathai. He first went to Lord Brahma’s Sathya Lokam. Brigu Maharishi was the mind born son of Lord Brahma but he was very disappointed when Lord Brahma did not even notice his arrival. From there Brighu Maharishi left for Kailasham where he was told that Lord Shiva is with Parvati Devi and hence he cannot obtain darshan. Brighu Maharishi rushed past Lord Shiva’s guards but upon entering their private chambers Lord Shiva started to chase him with his trident as the rishi had disobeyed the rules and regulations of Kailasham. From there the rishi went to Paarkadal. He recognized Sesha Sayee Bhagawan as the Supreme Being. He wanted to show everyone the satvik nature of Bhagawan. As a test the rishi kicked Perumaal’s chest with his left feet. Perumaal’s chest is the abode of goddess Mahalakshmi. In spite of the rishi’s behaviour, both Perumaal and Thayar received the rishi with due honours. Perumaal massaged the rishis’s feet afraid that the rishi’s foot might have been injured when he kicked Perumaal.

The rishi returned to the bank of Saraswati River and proved to his colleagues that Lord Vishnu is the most satvik as well as the Supreme being.

Brighu Maharishi repented kicking Perumaal. He felt that he did not deserve to receive the grace of Perumaal. He left his body and took birth as Guha in Shringiperapuram and served Lord Rama and Sita Devi. In his next birth, Brighu Maharishi took birth as Hema Maharishi. He retained knowledge about his previous births. As he had kicked Perumaal on his chest which was the abode of Mahalakshmi Thayar, Brighu Maharishi felt that he must undertake a severe penance. As fruit for his penance he wanted Mahalakshmi to be his daughter so that he can give her hand in marriage to Perumaal.

Perumaal and Thayar always want to please their devotees. In order to make the Maharishi’s wish come true, Sri Mahalakshmi Thayar pretended to be upset with Perumaal because He had allowed the rishi to kick him on his chest which was her abode. Thus she left Perumaal and came down to Kolhapur. When she heard that the Lord had incarnated as Srinivasan and had wed Padmavathi Thayar, Mahalakshmi pretended to be upset with the Lord and rushed towards Tirupati. Lord Srinivasan left Tirupati to escape her wrath.

Sri Mahalakshmi Thayar arrived near a beautiful pond in Thirukudanthai. She meditated upon the Lord sitting on top of a beautiful lotus and was hence called as Komalavalli. Hema Maharishi was instructed by the Lord to go to Thirukudanthai. Upon his arrival he saw the goddess and adopted her as his daughter. The Lord then appeared before them and received the hand of Komalavalli Thayar in marriage.  

Aramudhan Perumaal and Thirumahizhai Azhwar:

Thirumahizhai Azhwar visited Thirukudanthai. He was looking forward to see Lord Aramudhan and expected Perumaal to receive him. Azhwar was disappointed when the Archai Vigraham of Lord Aramudhan did not  receive him. The Azhwar then requested Perumaal to get up from His snake bed to receive the Azhwar. He sang the following pasuram.

Nadanda kalgal nondhavo nadunga gnala menamai

Idanthamei kulungavo vilangumaal varaichuram

Kadanda kaal parandha kavirikarai kudanthaiul

Kidanthava yezhundirundu pesu vazhi kesane

Azhwar wondered if Lord Aramudhan was lying down on His snake bed on the banks of Cauvery River because His feet ached from walking all over India as Lord Rama during Ramavataram. Azhwar wanted to know if the Lord was feeling tired because He had raised the submerged Earth from the ocean floor during His Varaha incarnation. He then asked the Lord to get up from His bed and to speak with Azhwar.

To everyone’s amazement Perumaal started to get up. The Azhwar requested Perumaal to remain in the reclining position as this posture of Perumaal looked very attractive. Thus the posture of Aramudhan is called as Udhana Sayanam as He appears in a reclined position as if ready to get up from His snake bed. Lord Aramudhan like Sonnavanam saitha Perumaal of Thiruvekha Divya Desam has also received credit for obeying His dear devotee Thirumahizhai Azhwar. As a result of this incident Perumaal is known as Aramudha Azhwan in this Divya Desam and the Azhwar as Thirumahizai Piran. The word Piran means Lord. As Thirumahizai Azhwar asked Perumaal to get up from His bed, Azhwar was given the title of "Piran" by Perumaal. Aramudhan took the title "Azhwan" to show us His love for Azhwar.

Sarangapani and Chakrapani:

The utsavar Sarangapani is always accompanied by Chakrapani during utsavams when Perumaal travels around the streets surrounding the temple to bless His devotees. Komalavalli Thayar is known as “padi thanda pathini”. She always stays in her sanctum and never ventures out. She is always keen on us obtaining Perumaal’s grace. She has appointed Chakrapani (Lord Sudarsana) to accompany Perumaal to ensure that Sarangapani Perumaal blesses us with His divine grace. Due to this same reason the moolavar Aramudhan is seen to be holding the Sudarsana Chakram close to His ear. This is to remind us the Chakrapani prompts Perumaal to bless all of us.

Such is the compassionate nature of Aramudhan Perumaal. He loves each and every one of us and is ready to shower us with His supreme grace. To express our gratitude we must provide financial aid to the temple to support the Bhagawathas and bhatachariars working for Perumaal. Any little we can provide will help the temple administration to run smoothly. Unfortunately a temple cannot depend upon government grants alone as the funding from government is very less. I implore every one of you to contribute to the ASTA trust and protect the beautiful Indra Neela gem lying on the banks of Cauvery.

BEAUTIFUL VIDEO OF THE JYESHTABHISHEKAM OF THE RESPLENDENT

DIVYA DAMPATHIGAL OF TIRUKKUDANTAI.

Part 1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a21bFmnxFKE
Part 2 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFjBPNoDr4c
Part 3 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82geF1UKYp8
TIRUKKUDANTAI GARUDA VAHANAM/PAVITROTSAVAM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNNoq7H2buM&feature=channel
TIRUKKUDANTAI TIRTAVARI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNNoq7H2buM&feature=channel

To listen to some upanyasams rendered by Sri U.Ve Karunakaran Swamin please visit the following link.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=karunakaran+swami+upanyasam&oq=karunakaran+swami+upanyasam&gs_l=youtube.3...66.5049.0.5379.24.19.0.5.5.0.175.1547.14j5.19.0...0.0...1ac.1.78pmDYrFFCo 

Photos from sadagopan.org