ஸ்ரீ வேங்கடாஜலபதி ஸ்வாமி சுயம்பு விக்ரகம்
ஸ்ரீ VENKATA CHALAPATHY is in Nindra Thirukolam on a high lotus pedastal. The Lord stands majestically on a huge lotus pedastal in the center of the sanctum directly beneath the gold covered Ananda Nilaya divya vimanam. The height of the Lord has never been recorded but we guess it cannot be less than 9 feet from the tip of the makutam (i.e.from the crown to the bottom of the Lotus pedastal) One can have a clear vision on Friday when Thirumanjanam is performed during Vastralankarana seva as all the gold kavachams, clothes, jewellery ornamenting Perumal are removed. Lord’s
beautifully shaped eyes in Samadhrusti, Thayar on His Thirumaarbhu , rich locks of hair, prominent nose, exquisitevely shaped mouth which is always smiling, His pavalavaai (lips), His ears wearing makara kundalam, His chest measuring 36 to 40 inches in width, and waist around 24 to 27 inches, conch- shaped neck, , well shaped body in the posture of a lion, His four arms- upper hands holding Sanku and Chakram(the Sanghu and Chakram are not integral part of the moolavirat but it has been placed on Perumal’s upper arms), the lower right hand in Varadahasta pose and lower left hand in Katyavalambita pose (palm resting on Perumal’s thigh), yagnopaveetam and set of 4 necklaces
are clearly visible on the vigraham during Thirumanjanam Perumal wears a gem studded golden crown, golden makara kundalams and various other ornaments which are described later. The arms have armlet with fingerlike projection which appear to be Nagabharanam or cobra like ornaments. The upper right arm hold gem studded Sudasrshana Chakra and the upper left arm holds the Shankhu. His lower right hand is showing Varada Hastha with the palm facing the devotees all fingers of the hand pointing towards His Lotus feet, indicating that the Lord is giver of boons. His front left hands seems to assure His devotees of protection and indicate that samsara sagara is only hip-deep if they seek His refuge.His ears are adorned with golden makara kundalams. The Kattibandham or waist band is around 2 inches thick. His both knees are bent and slight open upwards giving the stately majestic figure, a grace and a charm that words cannot be sufficient to describe. The Lord’s feet are models of perfection and have ornaments near the anklets. The Lord’s image on the shoulder has marks resembling scars made by constant wearing of the bow.
beautifully shaped eyes in Samadhrusti, Thayar on His Thirumaarbhu , rich locks of hair, prominent nose, exquisitevely shaped mouth which is always smiling, His pavalavaai (lips), His ears wearing makara kundalam, His chest measuring 36 to 40 inches in width, and waist around 24 to 27 inches, conch- shaped neck, , well shaped body in the posture of a lion, His four arms- upper hands holding Sanku and Chakram(the Sanghu and Chakram are not integral part of the moolavirat but it has been placed on Perumal’s upper arms), the lower right hand in Varadahasta pose and lower left hand in Katyavalambita pose (palm resting on Perumal’s thigh), yagnopaveetam and set of 4 necklaces
are clearly visible on the vigraham during Thirumanjanam Perumal wears a gem studded golden crown, golden makara kundalams and various other ornaments which are described later. The arms have armlet with fingerlike projection which appear to be Nagabharanam or cobra like ornaments. The upper right arm hold gem studded Sudasrshana Chakra and the upper left arm holds the Shankhu. His lower right hand is showing Varada Hastha with the palm facing the devotees all fingers of the hand pointing towards His Lotus feet, indicating that the Lord is giver of boons. His front left hands seems to assure His devotees of protection and indicate that samsara sagara is only hip-deep if they seek His refuge.His ears are adorned with golden makara kundalams. The Kattibandham or waist band is around 2 inches thick. His both knees are bent and slight open upwards giving the stately majestic figure, a grace and a charm that words cannot be sufficient to describe. The Lord’s feet are models of perfection and have ornaments near the anklets. The Lord’s image on the shoulder has marks resembling scars made by constant wearing of the bow.
A darshan of the Lord instills in us a divine presence, a power and intangible etherial sensation that completely overshadows any troubled emotions. A darsan of the divya mangala moorthi during Thirumanjanam will leave the devotee totally transformed. Certain sense of fulfillment and indescribable indefinable elation of spirit , a certain peace of mind , absolute security on surrender of oneself to the greatest protector, a supreme sense of satisfaction and joy in short, a divine power and bliss envelopes the devotee. On every Friday, during Thirumanjanam some sandal paste are kept on Perumal’s hastham,. Thirumaarbhu (whereThayar is seated ) and on Perumal’s Thiruvadi. The impression of the same gets imbibed on the sandal paste which is dried and later on given to devotees. This is considered to be very sacred. Every day, after Thomala seva, the ekangi (bachelor who alone has the right to touch Perumal’s vigraham) anoints Thiruvadi with punugu thailam (scented oil) and the Thiruvadis are covered with a silk cloth known as Sripada vastram. This is changed everyday and the old cloth after wiping Thiruvadigal are given to V.V.I.P.s. This is considered to be the most sacred.
After Thirumanjanam, the Lord is bedecked with various ornaments and silk clothes and jewellery which is a real feast to the devotees. A brief description of the same is given below: First, the Lord is covered with a long silk cloth which is 12 yards in length and
2 yards in width. The upper cloth is gold laced and is 6 yards in lengt and 1 yard in width. (This cloth known as Sesha Vastram is later given to the dignatories as per the rules and norms framed by TTD. As this cloth is in contact with Perumal’s Thirumeni, it acquires divya parimalam. )The Lord is later covered with a thin silk cloth so that the ornaments do not prick the Lord. The Lord is adorned with various ornaments like a gold yagnopaveetham, green emerald which is 3 inches in diameter called “MERUPACCHA” which is the biggest. He also wears vajra kavacham (diamond studded kavacham), Lakshmi Haaram which is a big necklace with the images of Lakshmi carved out on each pathakam. He also wears a tulasi necklace,a salagrama garland which contains salagrams encased in gold and on which the Sahasra naamas are engraved. There are also various sets of ornaments which are worn by the Lord apart from the above. Near his knees, He wears a vanghi like gold ornament, a pair of gold anklets, a nagabharanam just below His chest and 2 more nagabharanams in His arms. His Katyavalambita hasta (left hand) and Varada hasta have 2 covers- one made of gold and the other one studded with diamonds .He is adorned with a sword named “suryakatari/ Nandakam” .(It is believed that the great poet Annamacharya was the hamsam of this sword)
2 yards in width. The upper cloth is gold laced and is 6 yards in lengt and 1 yard in width. (This cloth known as Sesha Vastram is later given to the dignatories as per the rules and norms framed by TTD. As this cloth is in contact with Perumal’s Thirumeni, it acquires divya parimalam. )The Lord is later covered with a thin silk cloth so that the ornaments do not prick the Lord. The Lord is adorned with various ornaments like a gold yagnopaveetham, green emerald which is 3 inches in diameter called “MERUPACCHA” which is the biggest. He also wears vajra kavacham (diamond studded kavacham), Lakshmi Haaram which is a big necklace with the images of Lakshmi carved out on each pathakam. He also wears a tulasi necklace,a salagrama garland which contains salagrams encased in gold and on which the Sahasra naamas are engraved. There are also various sets of ornaments which are worn by the Lord apart from the above. Near his knees, He wears a vanghi like gold ornament, a pair of gold anklets, a nagabharanam just below His chest and 2 more nagabharanams in His arms. His Katyavalambita hasta (left hand) and Varada hasta have 2 covers- one made of gold and the other one studded with diamonds .He is adorned with a sword named “suryakatari/ Nandakam” .(It is believed that the great poet Annamacharya was the hamsam of this sword)
The divine Thiruvadis are covered with gold covers. He wears an exquisitively carved Dasavathara belt around His waist which depicts the Lord’s 10 avataarams. On His chest, He has two gold sculptured plaques, one of Srid Lakshmi and the other of Sri Padmavathy Thayar. His two upper hands are also well decorated with gold and diamond studded Sanghu and Chakram are fixed to it. On any ordinary day, more than 100 kgs of gold and diamond jewels are adorned by the Lord. There is an interesting incident which may be recalled here. Perumal originally was holding Sankhu and Chakram. In order to protect His devotee,
Thondaman Chakravarthy’s kingdom, He gave away His Sankhu and Chakram to fight with the king’s enemies and guard the kingdom. As Perumal wanted to be without Sanghu and Chakram for some time, He gave this to the king and said that in future, His devotees would make a sanghu and chakram and present it to Him which He would accept as a token of love. It so happened that the then Saivites came to a conclusion that this divya moorthi was not Naryanan and proclaimed to everyone that the Lord at TIRUMALA was
Murugan. A serious dispute arose and the king requested Sri Ramanujar to settle the issue. Ramanujar argued at length enlisting the features of Perumal and the reasons for Perumal not adorning Sanghu and Chakram. Finally, sri Ramanujar requested the king to make ayudhams pertaining to Vishnu Murthi like Sanghu and Chakram and ayudhams of Murugan like Vel and ordered them to be kept in front of the Garbagriham . Accordingly, the ayudhams were made and kept near the Garbagriham and all the temple doors were closed. The king himself stood as guard the whole night. Meantime, our Acharyar, who was the amsam of Adiseshan entered the temple in the form of a snake and prayed to Perumal to restore SriVaishnavism. The next morning, when the temple doors were opened, the Lord was seen with Sanghu and Chakram. Hence, it was proved by Lord Himself that He was a Vishnu murthi. Later, our acharyar ordered that the Sanghu and Chakram should never be removed and thus restored SriVaishnavism.
Murugan. A serious dispute arose and the king requested Sri Ramanujar to settle the issue. Ramanujar argued at length enlisting the features of Perumal and the reasons for Perumal not adorning Sanghu and Chakram. Finally, sri Ramanujar requested the king to make ayudhams pertaining to Vishnu Murthi like Sanghu and Chakram and ayudhams of Murugan like Vel and ordered them to be kept in front of the Garbagriham . Accordingly, the ayudhams were made and kept near the Garbagriham and all the temple doors were closed. The king himself stood as guard the whole night. Meantime, our Acharyar, who was the amsam of Adiseshan entered the temple in the form of a snake and prayed to Perumal to restore SriVaishnavism. The next morning, when the temple doors were opened, the Lord was seen with Sanghu and Chakram. Hence, it was proved by Lord Himself that He was a Vishnu murthi. Later, our acharyar ordered that the Sanghu and Chakram should never be removed and thus restored SriVaishnavism.
Sometimes, the Lord is adorned with Vajrakireetam. On 15th of March,2003, Perumal was presented with the world’s largest and costliest ruby which is fixed on Perumal’s Makutam which joins the list of Srivari Jewels like Salagrama Haaram, Chakra Sankamulu,kreetamu offered by Akasa Raja,karna pathramulu, bhuja keerthulu, kadiyamulu, nagabharanamulu, karabhooshana kadiyamulu, katihasthamu, vaikunta hasthamu, sahasranama haaramu, surya katari(presented by Sun God), astothara sata naama
haaramu, chathur bhuja Lakshmi Haaramu, Tulasi patra haaramu, saadarana yagnopaveetham, suvarna yagnopaveetham, gopi pathramu, bangaru puligoru haaramu, pedda kantabharanam, china kantabharanamu, dasaavatarasana with chirugantaalu, udharabhandhamulu, kanchigunamu, pagadalu, nooparumulu, suvarna paadamalu, ratna kireetamu, merupaccha, ratnamaya sankhu chakramulu, ratnamaya karna patramulu, ratnamaya vaikunta hasthamu, ratnamaya kati hasthamu, ratnamakara kaanthi, swarna peethambaramu to name a few.
Daily Thirumankaapu is applied to Perumal’s forehead by applying thick refined camphor (Paccaikarpooram). This Thiruman kaapu screens the eyes of Perumal and Kasturi Tilakam is applied in between the two lines. The width of the Thirumankaapu and the gap between the lines are all applied as per the norms laid down by Sri Ramanujar. Starting from Monday (the day Perumal apperared), the Lord is adorned with Thiruman in ‘ U” shape, on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, broad Thirumankaapus is adorned On Thursdays, kempu, diamond studded Thirumankaapu’U” shape is adorned. Sri Ramanujar also mentioned that diamond studded Thirumankaapu could be adorned on festive days.
haaramu, chathur bhuja Lakshmi Haaramu, Tulasi patra haaramu, saadarana yagnopaveetham, suvarna yagnopaveetham, gopi pathramu, bangaru puligoru haaramu, pedda kantabharanam, china kantabharanamu, dasaavatarasana with chirugantaalu, udharabhandhamulu, kanchigunamu, pagadalu, nooparumulu, suvarna paadamalu, ratna kireetamu, merupaccha, ratnamaya sankhu chakramulu, ratnamaya karna patramulu, ratnamaya vaikunta hasthamu, ratnamaya kati hasthamu, ratnamakara kaanthi, swarna peethambaramu to name a few.
Daily Thirumankaapu is applied to Perumal’s forehead by applying thick refined camphor (Paccaikarpooram). This Thiruman kaapu screens the eyes of Perumal and Kasturi Tilakam is applied in between the two lines. The width of the Thirumankaapu and the gap between the lines are all applied as per the norms laid down by Sri Ramanujar. Starting from Monday (the day Perumal apperared), the Lord is adorned with Thiruman in ‘ U” shape, on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, broad Thirumankaapus is adorned On Thursdays, kempu, diamond studded Thirumankaapu’U” shape is adorned. Sri Ramanujar also mentioned that diamond studded Thirumankaapu could be adorned on festive days.
Every day, His chin is pressed with refined camphor. This reminds us of the incident when Perumal disguised Himself as a boy and helped Anantazwar. Anantazwar was digging a well for watering the plants and his pregnant wife was assigned the job of carrying the mud load and deposit it elsewhere. Seeing the plight of Anantazhwar’s wife, Lord disguised Himself as a boy and offered to help them.
No comments:
Post a Comment