Temple Series - Part 10 (Sri Veda Narayana Swamy Temple)

 Hare Krishna!

Srimannarayan is also praised with the name Avatar Purush i.e., he is known for taking different avathars. But, many don’t know his incarnations and also temples for the special incarnation. We all know the temples of Sri Rama and Sri Krishna. But, there are temples for other incarnations too. Today, let’s know the temple of Matsya avathar of Sri Maha Vishnu which is the 1st one in Dasavathars.

Sri Matsya avathar temple of Sri Maha Vishnu is in Nagalapuram, Chithoor District, A.P. It’s some what nearer to Tirupati.

Sri Maha Vishnu took the incarnation, Matsya to kill the demon Somakasura and to protect the vedas.

History of the Temple:

A demon named Somakasura stole Vedas from Brahma and went into the ocean. By the request of devathas, Lord Vishnu thought to take an incarnation to protect Vedas. So, he took a form of Matsya (fish) and went into the ocean. He fought with Somakasura and finally killed him. He took Vedas from that demon. And gave it to Brahma.

It was said that Maha Vishnu in the form of Matsya gave Vedas to Brahma in Nagalapuram. And became a diety there.

This temple was reconstrcuted by Sri Krishnadevaraya. On the way to Sri Rangam, he visited this village and surprised for the beauty of the village. He gave orders to reconstruct this temple beautifully and also he named this village in the name of his mother “Nagaladevi” as “Nagalapuram”. Before it was called with different names like ‘Chathurveda Mandalam’, etc.,

This type of temple is very rare where Lord Vishnu will be worshiped in his Matsyavathar. Here, Lord is called as Sri Veda Narayana swamy and Goddess Mahalakshmi as Maa Vedavalli.

This is the entrance of the Sri Vedanarayana swamy temple.

There is another specialty for this temple i.e., 3 days yearly rays of the sun touch the Mulamurthy. First, it touches the feet of the Lord, second, body and third face of the Lord. Even utsavams are done on this occasion.

This temple is open from 6 AM to 8 PM. There are even Lakshmi Maa and Bhudevi near Moolamurthi.

Sri Veera Hanuman, Sri Sita Ramachandra, Sri Venugopala swamy, Sri Bhuvaraha Swamy, Sri Lakshmi Hayagreeva Swamy and some other upalayas are also there in this temple.

Utsava murthy of Sri Vedanarayana Swamy with Sridevi and Bhudevi in Nagalapuram

Unjal seva of Sri Vedanarayana swamy as Maa Saraswathi 

Sri Vedanarayana swamy murthy will be half in the form of Matsya and other half as Sri Vishnu with four hands having Sankham and Chakram in the upper 2 hands.

We can also see Dakshina Murthy, Vinayaka and others idols too.

Really one should visit this temple which is a very rare one. Present TTD runs this temple. All the utsavas and sevas will be done according to Vaikhanasa Aagamam.

The below is the image of Sridevi Bhudevi sametha Sri Vedanarayana swamy Vimanam in temple.

Matsyavathara Govinda Govinda!!!!!

Om Namo Venkatesaya!!!

Shiva Leela - Part 3 (Appar Swami - Part 2 )

 Story of Shaivacharya Shri Appar Swami.

Appar became a convert to Jainism. He studied all the Jain scriptures. He went to Pataliputra itself and became one of the spiritual heads there, as he was an erudite scholar in the Jain scriptures.

Appar’s sister was very much afflicted at heart when she came to know that her brother became a convert to Jainism. 

She left her native village and went to Tiru Atikai, a neighbouring town. She spent her time in meditation and prayer at the Siva’s temple. She prayed to the Lord for his return.

Appar fell a victim to a severe colic which could not be cured. He threw off the garb of a Jain, his bowl and went to his sister. She smeared the holy ashes on the forehead of Appar and took him to the temple of Siva and asked him to prostrate before the Lord and worship Him. Appar acted accordingly. The severe colic vanished at once. He praised Lord Siva. The spiritual head of the Jains at Pataliputra reported to Kadava, the Jain king, about the

absconding of Appar. The district of Cuddalore was under the sway of the Pallava king Kadava.

The spiritual head induced the king to persecute Appar. Appar proceeded to the Pallava capital and appeared before the king. Appar was persecuted in various ways. He was thrown into a burning lime-kiln. He was compelled to drink poisoned milk

An elephant was sent to kill him. A heavy stone was tied to him and he was thrown into the sea. Lord saved him. He floated alive and reached the shore at Tiruppatirupuliyur. The Pallava king recognised the greatness of Appar and prostrated at his feet. He gave up Jainism and embraced Saivism. He built a magnificent temple of Siva called Gunathara Vicharam at Tirunadhikai.

To be continued........

Glories to Lord Shriman Lakshmi Narayana - Part 19

Where does Lord Vishnu live? How can humans worship him to make him happy?

Lord Vishnu lives in his param dhaam Vaikuntha with Maa Laxmi as per all the Hindu Scriptures. Shriman Narayana in Vaikuntha is the supreme soul of Universe (Parmaatma).

Vaikuntha is briefly described in Shrimad Bhagwata Maha Purana(3.15.16–23) :-

“In those Vaikuntha planets there are many forests which are very auspicious. In those forests the trees are wish-fulfilling trees, and in all seasons they are filled with flowers and fruits because everything in the Vaikuntha planets is spiritual and personal.

In the Vaikuntha planets the inhabitants fly in their airplanes, accompanied by their wives and consorts, and eternally sing of the character and activities of the Lord, which are always devoid of all inauspicious qualities. While singing the glories of the Lord, they deride even the presence of the blossoming madhavi flowers, which are fragrant and laden with honey.

When the king of bees hums in a high pitch, singing the glories of the Lord, there is a temporary lull in the noise of the pigeon, the cuckoo, the crane, the cakravaka, the swan, the parrot, the partridge, and the peacock. Such transcendental birds stop their own singing simply to hear the glories of the Lord.”

Lord Shri Hari Vishnu can be easily pleased by bhakti only and our good behavior. He don’t need materialistic things for getting pleased as some foolish people say. Hari is bestower of All Karmas and hence as per your Karmas, your results will be there. See what Shri Vishnu Stotram from Shri Vishnu Purana says :-

समस्ता कर्म भोक्ता च कर्मोपकारणानि च
त्वमेव विष्णो सर्वानि सर्वकर्मफलमश्च यत्

Samasta karma bhoktaa cha karmopakaranaanicha

Twameva Vishno Sarvaani Sarvakarmaphalamcha yat

All the Karmas are relieved by you and you alone are their giver

and you Lord Vishnu, you alone is the giver of results of all Karmas !

By this shloka it says Lord Vishnu is the giver of the results of the all Karmas.

नमो ब्रह्मण्यदेवाय गोब्राह्मणहिताय च ।
जगद्धिताय कृष्णाय गोविन्दाय नमो नमः ॥२॥

Namo Brahmanya devaaya Gau Brahmana Hitaayacha,

Jagaddhitaaya Krishnaaya Govindaaya namo Namah !!!!!

Salutations to the deva (god) who is Brahman himself, who is the well wisher of cattle and Brahmins.

Oh Lord who is the sun of the world, who is bluish black in color and who is protector of Vedas, all salutations to you.

However as doing Homams, Katha and other ways of worship do have their physical and spiritual significance. So doing that also is a very good way to make him happy. The most simple and best puja to do is :- Shri Satya Narayan puja on every month Punarmaasi (Purnima) and to do Brihaspativaar vrat katha on every Thursday.

Atleast once a year do Maha Satya Narayan Katha and Puja. Ask some people to come and listen it and ask a Pandit do the the katha. The Satya Naryana Katha comes from Skanda Maha Purana. Tie Banana leaves around the place where you have done the sthaapna of Lakshmi Narayana. Offer him Chana (gram pulse) and Guda (Jaggery). He will definetly get pleased as he is always in his prasaanamurthi (always happy form).

Jai Shri Lakshmikaantam Satya Narayan Bhagwaan !!!!!!!

Lord Shiva - A basic introduction (Part 8)

 What are different kinds of Shiva-Lingams and who have worshiped them ?

There are different types of Shivalingas which are worshiped by different gods and goddesses and it comes from Linga Purana chapter 74 which is “Description of the Shivalingas”

All the different types of Shivalingas are actually representative or symbol of Lord Shiva only and hence being formless it also describes Lord Shiva’s supremacy. It’s also said as Lord Shiva’s Nirguna Nirakaar Vishwaroopam. Lord Shiva being the alone god who have 2 Vishwaroopams. One is Sakaar and another is Nirakaar. Shivalinga worship is 100% Vedic and are highly encouraged in Vedas.

Hence now let’s see what description we have about Shiva Lingas provided by our holy and divine Shaastras.

Then Maharishi Suta said :-

The Linga made by Sapphire was worshiped by Lord Shri Hari Vishnu, the most auspicious and holiest one.

The Ling made of ruby was worshiped by Indra. Vishravas worshiped the Linga made of gold. Vishwa-Devas worshiped the Linga of Silver. Vasus worshiped auspicious magnetic Shiva Linga for their powers.

Vaayu highly worshiped the Brass Shivalinga for his powers and Ashvini Kumars worshiped the Shivalinga of earthen materials for their purity. Varuna Deva worshiped crystal Shivalinga for his (water’s) ever existence.

Adityas worshiped Copper Shivalinga for their powers as copper is the identical metal for Adityas and Soma Deva worshiped the excellent Shivalinga of Pearls.

Anantha Shesha (Lord Sheshnaag) with other great and divine Naags (Vaasuki, Takshak, etc.) worshiped the Linga of corals (this defines the presence of Naag-Loka beneath the Ocean). Guhayakas worshiped the Linga of 3 Metals.

Maa Chamunda along with all our divine powerful mothers worshiped the Shivalinga of Sand (Hence Shivalinga made up of Sand have a very very great importance).

Nairriti worshiped the Linga of wood. Yama did of emerald. Neela-Rudra and other Rudras worshiped the Linga of Bhasma because they are the purest one of all.

Maa Lakshmi worshiped the Linga made up of Lakshmi-Vriksha’s leaves (Bilva-Vriksha’s leaves that are Bilva-patra) and hence the Vriksha and its leaves became Lord Shiva’s most favorite.

Guha (Kartikeya) worshiped the Linga of Cowdung (hence Shivalinga made up of Cowdung are known for their power against evil spirits), all the great sages worshiped Shivalinga of Kusha grass.

Lord Shiva as Vamadeva taught to worship the Shivalinga made of Pushpa (Flowers) and Manonamani (Shivalinga of very excellent scents). Maa Saraswati worshiped Shivalinga of Jewels. Maa Durga worshiped the Shivalinga made of Gold.

Daityas and Rakshasas worshiped the Linga of Ferrous (Iron) and hence Iron Shivalingas should be very less used or should be never used.

Hence these were the Shivalingas of Shiva which different gods, goddesses, sages, asuras, daityas, etc. etc. have worshiped him.

Hope it helps !!!!!!

Dhanyawaadam !!!!!!!

Jay Uma Maheshwara !!!!!!

Glories to Lord Shriman Lakshmi Narayana - Part 18

How was the internal relationship between Radha Rani and Krishna?

Internal relationship of my Radha Krishna is so much pure and auspicious that auspicious and purity wants its definition from it. Shri Raasrasheshwari Vrindavaeshwari Radha Devi is herself a swaroop of Bhakti.

“Pranadhisthatri yaa devi Radha roopa cha saa mune” :- Narad Pancharatra Agama

Its said that it may take a very long time to make Lord Krishna happy by your worship but that can be easily done in very less time if you do Devi Radha’s worship. Devi Radha is the female form of pure Bhakti and true Love. Even though Maa Radha rani is herself all the qualities and is too above all qualities but in leela swaroop she has these 2 main qualities as main.

The one who is not able to see raasleela of Radha Krishna as divine and just sees it as a normal dance on the shores of Yamuna is not able to do the Krishna praapti or Krishna bhakti praapti. He/she will only be roaming around Krishna but will not be able to achieve him. So knowing about Radha Krishna prema is very very much necessary for Krishna bhakti.

Radha Krishna are not 2 entities actually, they are one. It is a best example of the line of Upanishads :- Tattva Tattvam asi ! Me and Brahman are now one, not two !

So try to know more and more about Radha Krishna prema through various granths like Bramha Vaivarta Purana.

Jai Radha Krishna !!!!!

Jay Shri Lakshmi Narayana !!!!!!

Glories to Lord Shriman Lakshmi Narayana - Part 17

Why were avatars of Lord Vishnu like Rama & Krishna born in royal families? What would have been the scenario if they were born in common families like of a farmer?

Even if the universal father born as a common man, he would have done the same leelas. However if one really knew about our divine scriptures, this question would not have arose !

Take life of Lord Ram. Though he was born in Kshatriya kula, he at the age of five went to Gurukul with his brothers. Their he lived a simple life only. He use to broom and clean house and the parts of Ashrama too. He also use to cut woods and with all these things have to study also. All these were the activities of an Ashram pramparaa where a person is being ready for its harsh life. Shri Ram Bhagwaan took the 14 yeas of Vanvaasa and walked bear foot everywhere. Even this is a life which is impossible for a common man ! Right ? Shri Ram use to decorate and comb the beautiful silky hairs of Sita Maiyaa ! Is’nt this a life of an ordinary person ?

Shri Ram and Shri Laxman use to become guards of Ashram to kill the Asuras that is like becoming watchman of those time when they were in Vanvaasa. Is this not a life of a common man ? Sita Maiyaa use to wear beautiful dress which tapsvinis and yoginis wore. Is that was not the life of a common woman ? But then also my Shri Hari Vishnu and Maa Laxmi use to do divine leelas for us ! And then also when Ravana took Maiyaa with him and Shri Ram has to fight with him, though being a Vanvaasi and though having the army of vanaras, he with Lord Sheshnaag Laxman ji, he battled with the mighty army of asuras and defeated them and also killed Ravana Asura. This is waht makes him extraordinary even though being like a Common Man !

Coming to Shri Krishna, his earlier life was of common child only. His divine baal leelas are known to everyone. He use to go with cows when cows go for grazing in Vrindavana and Gokul forests. He use to thieve butter and curd from houses. He use to play with his sakhaas and sakhis. He use to roam around the streets of Vrindavan and Gokul also roam around the forests. He use to play and take bath in the holy Yamuna river. He use to drink the milk of cow directly from the buds of cow Venu when he was an year old. He use to play in mud and eat mud. Are not this life of an ordinary child ? but what makes him non-ordinary is though being a normal personality in front of people, killed pootna, agahasur, bakasur, pralambasur and many other very much powerful asuras. He use to do madhur Raas leela with gopis of Vrindavan who were themselves the ansha avatars of Maa Laxmi. He did Tandava on the Kaaliyaa Naag though being a common child. That what makes him extraordinary even being a Common Child !

So basically even if he the supreme Vishnu have taken birth in a common household family, he will then also be an extraordinary person and have showed us the most divine leelas. Shri Hari in every his divine forms is the most divine of himself and thus his divinity cannot be compared with anyone. He with Maa lives everywhere from a smallest atom to the highest Vaikuntha and Kailasha. They are present everywhere in different forms and being Brahman, they can have infinite number of forms which all are equal to them and each other.

Jay Janpaalankarta Shri Lakshmi Narayana !!!!!!!!

Glories to Lord Shriman Lakshmi Narayana - Part 16

What do you know about Lord Shri Rama ? What do you want to say him ?

The one whose divinity is unreachable. The one whose love is un-comparable. The one whose pativrata dharma (rules of a husband) is a lesson for all. The one who is bhakta-vatsala. The one who is aaradya of his aaradya. The one whose glories can’t be sing as whole even if I take 1000s of re-births. That Param-Purusha that Bhakta-Vatsala is my Shri Rama who is Shriman Narayana himself.

Lord Rama is one in all i.e. “Sarva Ramena, Ramena Sarvam” ! His love towards his devotees is so divine that no one can match it. Just like how Lord Shiva is for Shri Shri Goswami Tulsidas ji Maharaj, I have Lord Shri Ram though I am not that great like his divine and I can never be.

Moreover Lord Rama is something so auspicious and divine that words are less for him to be expressed.

As Goswami Tulsidas ji said :-

कामिहि नारि पिआरि जिमि लोभिहि प्रिय जिमि दाम ।
तिमि रघुनाथ निरंतर प्रिय लागहु मोहि राम ॥

Like a lusty man loves a woman and is not able to think anything else except her. Hence oh Lord Ram you too should be in my heart and become dearest to me and I should love you very much.

Hence I love my Shri Ram like this only.

Even I believe that :-

मसकहि करइ बिरंचि प्रभु अजहि मसक ते हीन ।
अस बिचारि तजि संसय रामहि भजहिं प्रबीन ॥

Even if a Mosquito can become a great sage and even a great sage can become less than Mosquito by Shri Ram. Hence all those who have wisdom thinks about Lord Ram and worship him.

Hence without Ram, what knowledge I am going to have ?

If I leave Ram, how can I get Shiva ? Having Shiva leaving Ram is equal to attaining body without soul and attaining knowledge without guru. I may get the knowledge but its essence will be zero, Its experience will be zero.

For me the Lord of Maa Lakshmi, Shriman Narayana is the one who have always guided me whenever I needed and also where I didn’t. Lord Shri Hari Vishnu is always with me. Sometimes I even felt to burn up all the books and all and only trust what they guides. I don’t trust anyone except my Bhavani Shankar and Lakshmi Narayana.

Lord Vishnu’s life as Lord Shri Ram teaches us all the key concepts of life. His life (Ramayana) looks like a story of Bhagwad Gita. His Nishkaam Karma, his ways, his behaviors and what all his qualities I describe, though I am describing nothing of him, such infinite he is.

Maa Sita on other side is ocean of motherly love (Mamtha). I think so another reason of Maa Lakshmi’s avatar as Maa Sita is because we, her children were lacking some amount of love though drinking whole river of her love, She came on earth from her divine dhaam Vaikuntha. Who can know them more than they themselves.

I know how great Shri Ram is, when Sage Bhrigu kicked his chest, he accepted that and massaged Bhrigu’s feet and closed his Agyaan Netra. I know he was the one who cursed my Lord of Vaikuntha because of which he have to get separated from my Maa many times. That curse actually had 0 effect on him but we all know that the worst quality of my Bhavani Shankar and Lakshmi Narayan is that they are “Bhakta-Vatsala”. They accept anything which their devotees offer with love and pain. When Gandhaari did that in Kurukshetra after the Mahabharata war, he the supreme accepted it. Such the ocean of love he is, I just want to get drowned in it.

I know that Kevat, who intentionally told :-

छुअत सिला भइ नारि सुहाई। पाहन तें न काठ कठिनाई॥
तरनिउ मुनि घरिनी होइ जाई। बाट परइ मोरि नाव उड़ाई

The sand of your feets are so magical that you can make a stone into a very beautiful woman than what’s guarantee of this wood (Boat’s wood) ? If my boat also became a beautiful woman than ? It will also fly away and all my ways of economy will be destroyed because this boat alone is the source of my economy.

एहिं प्रतिपालउँ सबु परिवारू। नहिं जानउँ कछु अउर कबारू॥
जौं प्रभु पार अवसि गा चहहू। मोहि पद पदुम पखारन कहहू

Oh Lord ! I am only able to eshtablish my economy through this boat, no other buisness or work I know. So please give me permission to wash your feets.

Such a great devotee he was who got the opportunity to wash the feets of the one who is “Akhilanda koti Brahmanda Naayaka” !

How can I be so great who sings only your glories and that also not properly. I being the devotee knows only Bhakti. Nothing more I want to know and do all the works of mine. This Kaliyuga has its great effect on the devotees and makes their mind also polluted like anything.

But I know you told something very auspicious, pure and universal truth as Lord Dattatreya that :-

ईश्वरानुग्रहादेव पुुंसामद्वैतवासना ।

महद्भयपररत्राणारद्वप्राणामुपजायते ॥ १॥

Through the grace of God alone, the desire for non-duality (Adwaita) arises in wise men to save them from great fear.

:- Lord Dattatreya in Avadhoot Gita

Hence Oh Lord ! As you saved Gajendra and killed that Crocodile, please save me also from black thoughts which brings wrong about You and my Shiva. As you took support of Vaanar Sena and Killed Ravana, Oh Lord ! I will do my karmas which you assigned to me which will be my support to your leela and save me by killing the Ravana inside me. Oh Lord ! As you guided Arjuna and gave him the divine most knowledge of Shri Bhagwad Geeta, give me also knowledge and guide me too on the path of the destruction of ill thoughts and misfortunes in my life. Oh Lord ! I am your refugee alone !!!!!

These all things I wanted to say to Lord Shri Ram and these are my feelings towards it !!!!!

Hope it helps !!!!!

Jay Sita Ram !!!!!!

Jay Lakshmi Narayana !!!!!!!