Deities: The Moolavar here is Uragamellanaiyaan in a reclining posture facing East, while the Utsavar is Sowmya Narayana Perumaal. Thaayaar here is Thirumaamagal Naachiyaar.
The festival images of Sowmya Narayana Perumaal and his consorts are of silver. There are also shrines to Yoga Narasimhar, Andal, Rama, and Krishna.
There are also shrines to Samhara Anjaneya, Aandaal, Rama, Santanagopalakrishnan within the temple.
Thirukkotiyur temple is situated about 7 miles from Thirupathur near Madurai.
The Moolavar is Uraga-mellanaiaan seen in bujanga sayanam posture facing east. The utsavar is Sowmya Naaraayanan seen in standing posture.
Thaayaar - Thirumaamagal Naachiyaar.
Theertham - Deva Pushkarini.
Mangalasasanam:
Perialwar - 13-22, 173, 360-370
Thirumangaialwar - 1550, 1838-1847, 1856, 2674 (125)
Boodathalwar - 2227, 2268
Peyalwar - 2343
Thirumazhisaialwar - 2415
Total of 39 Paasurams.
Description: This Dhivya Desam is located at Thirukkoshtiyur , at a distance of about 10 km from Thiruppattur near Madurai. This temple is known for its association with Ramanujar, who revealed the significance of the Narayana Mantram to the (for the benefit of the) surrounding humanity from the top of the temple tower here, against the wishes of Thirukkottiyur Nambi who had initiated him.
The Temple: This is a temple in four levels. The first level enshrines Perumaal in a reclining posture, in response to prayers by Kadamba Maharishi. Four other shrines, Dakshineswara Narasimhan, Uttareswara Narasimhan, Ksheeraptinathan and Stita Narayanan shrines portray the 'Ninra, Irunda, Kidanda, Nadanda, Koottaadiya' (standing, sitting, reclining, walking, dancing) forms of Perumaal. The second and third levels enshrine the standing and sitting postures of the deity.
The Ashtanga Vimanam towers (96 feet) above the Rajagopuram, and is capped with a golden filial. The images depicting the destruction of Hiranya (the asuran) by Narasimhar are of great beauty. Other Dhivya Desams with Ashtanga Vimanams are Thirukkoodal and Parameswara Vinnagaram.
Legend: The name Thirukkoshtiyur stems from the legend that the Devas came as a congregation to worship Perumaal to request him to rid the Universe of the demon Hiranyakasipu. . This temple is considered equivalent to Badrinath and is referred to as the Badri of the South. PeriyAzhwar's poems refer to this shrine as Aayarpaadi, given that the festival commemorating the birth of Krishna was being celebrated here during the time of his arrival.
Festivals: The annual Bhramotsavam is celebrated in the month of Chittirai and the Vasantotsavam in Vaikasi. Other festivals here are the Maasi Teppa Utsavam, Aadi Pooram, Pavitrotsavaam, Navaratri, Adhyayana Utsavam and Vaikuntha Ekadasi.
====================================================
Description of Thirukkottiyur by Smt. Saroja Ramanujam:
When we reached Thirukkottiyur it was a different experience altogether. We had darsan of the Moolavar Uragamellanaiyaan and the Utsavar Soumyanarayanan and I expressed my wish that I wanted to see the statue of Ramanuja at the top of the temple tower from which he shouted the ashtakshara manthra for all to hear, without knowing what I had in store. It was just as well, since I might have backed out if I had known. The bhattatr said that the steps were locked but when I told him that I have done my doctorate in Ramanuja's Sribhashya he was very cooperative and opened the gate to the stairway.
Thirukkottiyur temple also has three tiers , Soumyanarayanan in the ground level in sitting posture, while He is standing at the higher tier and reclining at the top.We also had the darsan of the Lord Nrsimha in front of whom Thirukkottiyur Nambi gave the ashtakshara upadesa to Ramanuja .. Thrilled at standing at the place where Ramanuja received his upadesa we started climbing the stairs.I climbed easily the steps upto the second floor and when tried to climb the top we were faced with a flight of steps of rock quite steep and uneven Somehow I climbed to the last but one step but the next one came as a shock since it was two feet high and I almost thought of giving it up when, due to the mercy of the Lord, as I have been chanting 'lakshminrsimha mama dhehi kraavalambham' through out my journey, a lady who was older and stouter than me was climbing in front and she gave me the hope that I could also do it. She heaved herself up with the help of others who joined our party and encouraged me to do so. I was practically hauled up by them and we saw the Lord in sayanakkolam with words at the top 'Paramapadam', very apt, considering our experience.
But that was not all. When we wanted to go out into the tower to see Ramanuja we found that we had to enter into a gateway three and a half feet high and two and a half feet feet wide. The lady in front crawled through which I could not do. So I had to bend double and walk carefully not to bang my head at the rock ceiling and again my friends helped by pulling me by my hands.Lakshminrsimha had given karavalambham!
But after going out and seeing the statue of Ramanuja at the place where he gave his upadesa of ashtakshara to one and all and laying my head at the feet of the Acharya I felt that all my efforts were worthwhile and marvelled at the God's mercy through which I was able to make it. A piece of advice for those trying to enter the gateway to Ramanuja! Do not raise your torso until you are well out of the entrance or you will end up with breaking your spinal column!
===================================================
The Greatness of Thirukkottiyur:
Here, adiyEn would cover briefly the anubhavam
of the AzhwArs about the Lord of ThirukkOttiyUr starting from
PeriyAzhwAr of SrivilliputthUr .
PeriyAzhwAr's anubhavam
*****************************
Twenty two of the 39 paasurams are from PeriyAzhwAr .
The first ten are about the birth of Kutti KaNNan at
ThirukkOttiyUr . AzhwAr recognizes this dhivya dEsam
as Thiru Aayi Paadi and describes the abundant joy of
the shepherds of Gokulam(Aayar and Aaycchiyar)
in celebrating the avathAram of the Lord in their midst .
The scene is one of tumultous joy . Drums sounded .
The people danced out of joy that the Lord was born
amidst them in the idaicchEri .
AzhwAr starts his PeriyaazhwA Thriumozhi with
the beautiful description of ThirukkOttiyUr
and visulaizes it as the AaypAdi itself :
" VaNNa MaadangaL Soozh ThirukkOttiyUr
KaNNan Kesavan Nambi Piranthanil
yeNNai suNNam yethriyethir thoovida
KaNNan muRRam kalamtaLaRaayirrE "
The Joyous Aacchiyars and Aayars assembled at
ThirukkOttiyUr known for its beautiful , multistoried
buildings and went to the palace where Kutti KaNNan
was" born" amidst them. They sprayed scented powder
and fragrant oil on each other to celebrate the arrival of
their darling and made the courts of the palace slippery
with the accumulating paste of oil and the fragrant powder .
They were shouting with joy , " KaNNan Kesavan Nambi
PiRanthAn ".
The tumultous scene is described further in the second paasuram :
The celebrating party ran from one end of the palace to the other.
They slipped and fell in thier rush . They embraced each other .
The newly arrived asked about the exact room in which
Kutti KaNNan was resting on His Mother's lap ( " NaaduvAr
NampirAn yenguRRAn yenpAr ". They sang with joy about
the glory of the Lord , who had chosen to be born
amidst them .Some danced to the beat of drums .
The whole AayarpAdi ( ThirukkOttiyUr) floated in
a flood of joy during this occasion of the Lord's birth .
Third Paasuram describes the spontaneous outburst of
those , who were blessed to see the Parama soundharyam
and dhivya tEjas of Kutti KaNNan , who hid His Parathvam
and acted just as a beautiful child filled with all SaamudhrikA
lakshaNams . Some observed that there is no male that is
equivalent to Kutti KaNNan in valour and beauty ( AaNNoppAr
Ivan nErillai KaaNN "). Other knowledgable ones(cognizenti )
deduced that this divine child born in SravaNa nakshathram will
rule the universe ( ThiruvONatthAn ulahALum yenpArhaLE ) .
The fourth Paasuram describes the intense activities
at the homes of the cowherds and cowherdesses .
Their wealth is Milk , Butter and Curd . They brought
those precious offerings to Kutti KaNNan's residence
as gifts and prayed for His well being . Others poured those
offerings in the courtyard of Kutti KaNNan's house
in a gesture of joy and abandon. They sang and danced
and were immersed in waves of bliss and forgot even
where they were . The joyous experience overpowered them
(" yengum aRivizhanthanar AaypAdi AayarE " ).
The fifth Pasuram describes the arrival of the cowherds
from their night watches over their herds .They had
the staff in their hands , their mats made of coconut
palm leaves .They rushed straight from their duties
of the night to NandhagOpan's palace to have the first
look at the divine child and jostled with each other to get
closer .
A day or two went by . YasOdhai was now ready to give
a bath to her darling child and slowly stretch out His
tender arms and legs . She prepared comfortingly
warm water and added fragrant essences to it .
She painted the little tongue of Kutti KaNNan with
turmeric paste to eliminate any phlegm . As she
looked into the mouth of her darling during that
exercise , she saw the seven worlds inside the mouth
of that divine child ( " Vyaam yEzhum kaNDAL PiLLai
vaayuLLE") . When she saw this astounding scene
inside the mouth of her little one , YasOdha and
the cowherdesses surrounding her recognized that this
mysterious child can not be the child of NandagOpan
and YasOdha and concluded that this child with
anantha kalyANa guNams is none but the Supreme
Being ( Aayar putthiran allan Arumdhaivam , Baalakan
Maayan yenRu mahizhnthanar )... Paasurams 6 & 7.
In the eighth pasuram , PeriyAzhwAr continues
with his anubhavam of shifting the 12th day
celebration happenings at Vada Mathurai to
ThirukkOttiyUr . PeriyAzhwAr visualizes the decoration
of the entire dhivya dEsam with victory pillars
holding multicolored flags and festoons. The cowherdess
took KaNNan in their hands , lifted Him and kissed Him
with great affection in anticipation of the ways
in which He was going to protect them later from
the anger of Indhra by lifting and holding Govardhana
Giri as an umbrella (" Mattha Maamalai taangiya Maindhanai ,
utthAnam seythu uhanthanar AayarE " ).
In the ninth paasuram , YasOdhai refers to the adhubhutha
chEshtithams of this divine child and her dismay over those
Baala KreeDais .
In the tenth and the final Paasuram , PeriyAzhwAr
instructs us that those who sing these ten paasurams
about ThirukkOttiyUr ArchA Moorthy ( Soumya NaarAyaNan )
as KaNNan will never get admixed with Bhagavath -- anubhava
VirOdha Paapams :
" SennellAr Vayal soozh ThirukkOttiyUr
Mannu NaaraNan Nambi PiRanthamai
minnu nool Vittuchitthan virittha
ippannu pAdal vallArkku illai paavamE "
AndAL imagined SrivilliputthUr as Vadamathurai.
Her father identified with ThirukkOttiyUr as
AaypAdi(Gokulam ).He saw ThirukkOttiyUr
EmperumAn , Soumya NaarAyaNan , as KaNNan ,
Kesavan , Nambi , NaarAyaNan and performed
MangaLAsAsanam for Him . ThirukkOttiyUr
PerumAl was instrumental in VishNuchitthar's
inspired participation in the debate at the court of
PaanDyan King to eastablish the Parathvam of
Sriman NaarAyaNan . Hence , VishNuchitthar
chose Soumya NaarAyaNan as the object of
the first ten Paasurams of his dhvya Prabhandham
and celebrated His avathAram as KaNNan .
In the next posting related to this KshEthrAdanam ,
adiyEn will cover the dhivya prabhAvam (Vaibhavam )
of ThriukkOttiyUr , where PeriyAzhwAr regrets over
the misfortunes of those , who do not reflect on
the ThirukkOttiyUr ThUmaNi VaNNan ( PeriyAzhwAr
Thirumozhi: 4.4) .
As adiyEn stood before the most beautiful ,
Saantha Svaroopi , Soumya NaarAyaNan ,
these thoughts of PeriyAzhwAr enshrined in
his paasurams went through my mind . For
PeriyAzhwAr , ThirukkOshtiyUr is the avathAra
sthalam and place of residence of his AchAryan ,
Selva Nambi .
PeriyAzhwAr was a great KrishNa Bhakthar .
He enjoyed Bala KrishNan as YasodhA PirAtti
in his PiLlai Tamizh Paasurams . He started his
Periya Thirumozhi with the visualization of
the birth of Kutti KaNNan at ThirukkOshtiyUr ,
which transformed into AaypAdi right before
his mind's eyes .
Veda Naadham at ThirukkOttiyUr
************************************
As the Kutti KaNNan was decorared with many
aabharaNams from head to foot , MukkUr Swamy
points out that Rg Vedam was heard from the jewelery
adorning the head . Form the aabharaNams around
the neck , one heard the dhvani of Yajur Vedam .
Around the waist , the OttiyANam and mEkalai
raised the Atharva vEsha ghOsham . From the aabharaNams
adorning the ankle ( silampu , TaNDai, ankle bells) arose
the Udhgeetha Saama vEda naadham .
PeriyAzhwAr heard this concert of the Vedams
as he composed his first decad paasurams about
the Soumya KrishNan of ThirukkOttiyUr and celebrated
the Lord's avathAram there .
The other 11 Paasurams of PeriyAzhwAr on ThirukkOttiyUr
***************************************************************
The dhivya prabhAvam of ThirukkOttiyUr is celebrated by
PriyAzhwAr in his 4.4 Thirumozhi . In his previous paasurams ,
PeriyAzhwAr had completed the MangaLAsAsanam for
ThirumAlirumcholai Azhagar . Here at ThirukkOttiyUr ,
EmperumAn revealed Himself as PrahlAdha Varadhan .
That delectable anubhavam made the AzhwAr condemn
the people , who roam around vainly in this world without
performing Kaimkaryam to the Lord ; AzhwAr also takes
the opportunity to salute also those who perform
Bhagavath-BhAgavatha Kaimkaryam in these
ten paasurams . Let us reflect on these paasurams
one by one .
4.4.1 : Naava Kaariyam sollilAthavar - - -
*********************************************
AzhwAr recognizes ThirukkOttiyUr as the seat of
the Lord who rescued Brahma and Rudran from
their troubles . There , AzhwAr sees many Sri VaishNavAs ,
who perform AarAdhanam for the Lord , engage in Bhagavath-
BhAgavatha Kaimkaryams and recite the different Veda
BhAgams daily . In between , AzhwAr comes across
a few unfortunate ones , who hurl offending words at
others , who do not recite Thirumanthiram and have no
AchArya abhimAnam and persist in doing things not
agreeable to their AchAryAs . AzhwAr is distressed
over these avaidhika Sri VaishNavAs and wonders why
and for what purpose did the Lord create such wicked ones .
4.4.2 : KuRRaminRig-guNam perukki - - - -
**********************************************
AzhwAr comes across many Sri VaishNavAs with
superior aathma guNams at ThirukkOttiyUr . He finds
them pursuing only those karmAs allowed by the Lord's
SaasthrAs ; He finds them filled with the power to control
their mind and indhriyams ( Samam , Dhamam) . He lauds
them for worshipping their AchAryans at a par with BhagavAn
Soumya NaarAyaNan Himself , who is resplendent with
aprAkrutha jyOthi as a result of protecting the entire
chEhtanAchEthana roopa prapancham in His stomach
during the time of deluge. Amidst this auspicious scene ,
AzhwAr bumps into a few , who do not pay attention to
the Lord and states that those unfortunate human beings
were born only to cause great pain to their mother's wombs
through their births.
4.4.3 : VaNNa Nann maNiyum Maragathamum - - - -
*****************************************************
Here PeriyAzhwAr continues to wonder at the despicable
state of those , who live in the luxuriant & auspicious
raajadhAni of Soumya NaarAyaNan at ThirukkOttiyUr
and yet do not engage in activities that explore
the meanings of the sahasra naamams of the Lord
and the anantha kalyANa guNams behind those names
to develop svaroopa Jn~Anam . Instead , these lost
souls gulp mouthfuls of food just to fatten themselves .
AzhwAr's disgust over them is revealed through
his choice of apt words : " tamm Ootthai vaaykku, kavaLam
unthuhinRArhaLe ". Their mouths are unclean from
their pursuits away from Bhagavan-nAma sankeertthanam.
Into their mealy mouths , these despicable ones shove
huge mounds of food just to fatten their bodies . Alas !
what a wasted life sighs the AzhwAr.
4.4.4 : Uraha MellaNayAn kaiyil - - - - -
********************************************
Uraga MellaNayAn is the AzhwAr's MangaLAsAsanam for
the Lord of ThirukkOttiyUr , who reclines on AdhisEshan
at this dhivya dEsam . At this sayana sthalam , AzwAr sees
the young Swans in the rice paddy fields , which are as white as
the Paanchajanyam in the hands of the Lord of ThirukkOttiyUr .
These paddy fields are abundant with beautiful red lotuses .
In this dhivya dEsam resplendent with fertile fields rests
comfortably the Lord , who chases away the sufferings
in Narakam for those , who recite His ThirunAmAms .
AzhwAr feels bad for those , who do not use their tongues
to recite the Lord's names and concludes that the water
drunk by them and the clothes worn by them are filled with
sins due to their association with such paapa janmAs .
4.4.5 : Aamayin mudhuhatthidaik-kuthi koNDu- - - -
*******************************************************
The abundance of life giving waters at ThirukkOttiyUr
is celebrated by the AzhwAr here . He sees the playful young fish
jumping in and out of water and landing occasionally on
the back of the resting tortoises and playing hop skip and jump
between the lotus flowers . These sportive fish collide with
one another during such hectic activities . Such is the abundance of
life sustaining waters at ThirukkOttiyUr. Here , AzhwAr comes across
some unfortunate souls , who do not meditate on the Lord of this
dhivya dEsam adorning the radaint sudarsanam in His powerful
hand . AzhwAr's disgust for them has no bounds and he declares that
such beings are a burden to this earth . He asks us to take away
the food that they are consuming avidly and requests us to stuff their
mouths instead with handfuls of green grass , the cattle food . AzhwAr's
conclusion is that such despicable human beings lead an animal
edition of human existence .
4.4.6 : BhUtham Einthodu vELvi Einthu- - - - --
**************************************************
AzhwAr salutes ThirukkOttiyUr as the preferred residence of
great BHAgavathAs , who are known for their control of
the PanchEndhriyams and for their expertise in performing
the Pancha MahA Yaj~nms. They dedicate their lives and
limbs to serve the Lord's BhAgavathAs and perform the Yaj~nams
for Bhagavath preethi . They are generous and free feom
blemishes of any sort . This world is blessed to have
the association with the dust from the sacred feet of these
BhAgavathAs , who travel around ThirukkOttiyUr's streets
singing about the glories of BhagavAn Narasimhan .
4.4.7 : KurumthamonRositthanOdum - - - -
************************************************
The great bhAgavathAs , who recite the Veda BhAgams
that reveal clearly the Bhagavath svaroopam sing and
dance about KrishNa ParamAthmA and spend their days
and nights celebrating Him at ThirukkOttiyUr . Here , they
conduct grand uthsavams for Him and lead devout lives .
AzhwAr is overcome with emotion about their greatness
and observes that the citizens of ThirukkOttiyUr are truly
blessed to live amidst such BhAgavathAs because of
the holiness they confer on this dhivya dEsam .
4.4.8 : naLirntha seelan NayAchalan - - - --
**********************************************
Here , PeriyAzhwAr pays a tribute to his AchAryan ,
Selva Nampi , who has earned the undecaying wealth
( Kaimkarya Sri ) through dedicated service to
Soumya NaarAyaNan . The Saathvika abhimAnam of
the Lord towards Selva Nampi grows day by day .
AzhwAr observes that the people , who live in
ThirukkOttiyUr amidst such great bhAgavathAs
like Selva Nampi are truly fortunate . In that dhivya
dEsam of such prabhAvam , the grains grow by
themselves (without cultivation ) and could not be
plundered by the raakshasAs .
4.4.9 : kombinAr pozhil vaai kuyilinam- - - - -
***********************************************
AzhwAr states here that his longing for seeing and
offering his prostrations to VaishNavAs would be
fulfilled , when he chances to see at ThirukkOttiyUr
those , who sing aloud the glories of Lord Narasimhan ,
who is the exemplary Bhaktha rakshakan . AzhwAr
recognizes such blessed souls as the lakshaNam of
the Lord Himself .Here , AzhwAr identifies Soumya
NaarAyaNan with Lord Narasimhan Himself . In fertile
ThirukkOttiyUr with its huge ramparts , AzhwAr comes
across parrots that are self taught to sing about
the kalyANa guNams of Soumya NaarAyaNan .
4.4.10 : Kaasin Vaaykkaram viRkilum - - - -
*************************************************
Here , AzhwAr salutes the most generous and compassionate
adiyArs of ThirukkOttiyUr , who will forsake their own needs and
help with the feeding of the hungry even in times of drought
without expecting anything in return. AzhwAr states such
generous and devout citizens of ThirukkOttiyUr celebrating
the sahasra Naamams of the Lord have the right to buy and
sell him . AzhwAr points out that he is the adimai (bonded
servant ) of such mahAthmAs of ThirukkOttiyUr.
4.4.11: Seetha neer pudai soozh- - - - -
*******************************************
Azhwar hailing from SrivilliputthUr prostrates before
the BhAgavathAs of ThirukkOttiyUr , who have recognized
their svaroopam as the seshans of the Sarva Seshi and Jagath
KaaraNa BhUthan , Soumya NaarAyaNan of ThirukkOttiyUr.
Azhwar also takes the opportunity to show his displeasure at
those , who have forgotten the great upakArams of the Lord
and wander around the world aimlessly . AzhwAr concludes
this set of ten paasurams by pointing out that those who
comprehend the meanings of this set of Paasurams and
instruct others on its true meaning would be blessed with
Kaimkarya saamrAjyam of HrusheekEsan .
Sri Soumya NaarAyaNa SwaminE Nama:
Dasan , Oppiliappan KOil VaradAchAri Sadagopan
Srimate Sri Laksminrisimha Divya Paduka Sevaka
Srivan Satakopa Sri Narayana Yatindra Mahadesikaya Nama:
======================================================
Thirukkottiyur as experienced by Perialwar:
As a Janmashtami Special, Adiyen will make a post on Vanna madangal where AzhwAr recognizes ThirukkOttiyUr as Thiru Aayi Paadi and describes the abundant joy of the shepherds of Gokulam(Aayar and Aaycchiyar) in celebrating the avathAram of the Lord in their midst. The scene is one of tumultuous joy. Drums sounded. The people danced out of joy that the Lord was born amidst them in the idaicchEri.
Before we get into the thiru avathara chirappu, I would like to add something that I learnt from Praveen.
Why does periyaazhwar say that Kannan ws born in Thirukkoshtiyoor? Does the aazhwar not know that the Lord was born in Mathura?
The puranas say that Thirukkoshtiyoor is the place where the Lord held counsel with the Devas tormented by Kamsa and He decided to be born as Krishna on the earth.
Since this was the place where the Lord decided to be born, aazhwar says that this was the birth place of Krishna.
Let us get to PeriyaazhwA Thriumozhi:
AzhwAr starts with the beautiful description of ThirukkOttiyUr and visulaizes it as the AaypAdi itself:
vaNNamaadangkaL suuzh thirukkOttiyuur
kaNNan kEsavan nambipiRanthinil
eNNeysuNNam ethirethir thuuvidak
kaNNanmuRRam kalanththu aLaraayiRRE.
The Joyous Aacchiyars and Aayars assembled at ThirukkOttiyUr known for its beautiful , multistoried buildings and went to the palace where utti KaNNan was "born" amidst them. They sprayed scented powder and fragrant oil on each other to celebrate the arrival of their darling and made the courts of the palace slippery with the accumulating paste of oil and the fragrant powder. They were shouting with joy , "KaNNan Kesavan Nambi PiRanthAn".
The tumultuous scene is described further in the second paasuram:
Oduvaarvizhuvaar ukandhaalippaar
naaduvaarnampiraan enkuththaanenbaar
paaduvaarkaLum palpaRaikottaninRu
aaduvaarkaLum aayiRRuaayppaadiyE.
The celebrating party ran from one end of the palace to the other. They slipped and fell in thier rush. They embraced each other. The newly arrived asked about the exact room in which Kutti KaNNan was resting on His Mother's lap "NaaduvAr NampirAn yenguRRAn yenpAr". They sang with joy about the glory of the Lord, who had chosen to be born amidst them. Some danced to the beat of drums. The whole AayarpAdi (ThirukkOttiyUr) floated in a flood of joy during this occasion of the Lord's birth.
Third Paasuram describes the spontaneous outburst of those, who were blessed to see the Parama soundharyam and dhivya tEjas of Kutti KaNNan, who hid His Parathvam and acted just as a beautiful child filled with all SaamudhrikA lakshaNams. Some observed that there is no male that is equivalent to Kutti KaNNan in valor and beauty (AaNNoppAr Ivan nErillai KaaNN). Other knowledgeable ones deduced that this divine child born in SravaNa nakshathram will rule the universe (ThiruvONatthAn ulahALum yenpArhaLE).
pENichcheerudaip piLLaipiRandhinil
kaaNaththaampukuvaar pukkuppOdhuvaar
aaNoppaar ivannErillaikaaN thiru
vONaththaa nulaKaaLumenbaarkaLE.
The fourth Paasuram describes the intense activities at the homes of the cowherds and cowherdesses. Their wealth is Milk, Butter and Curd. They brought those precious offerings to Kutti KaNNan's residence as gifts and prayed for His well being. Others poured those offerings in the courtyard of Kutti KaNNan's house in a gesture of joy and abandon. They sang and danced and were immersed in waves of bliss and forgot even where they were. The joyous experience overpowered them ("yengum aRivizhanthanar AaypAdi AayarE").
uRiyaimuRRaththu uruttininRaaduvaar
naRuneypaalthayir nanRaakaththoovuvaar
seRimenkoondhal avizhaththiLaiththu engum
aRivazhindhanar aayppaadiyarE.
The fifth Pasuram describes the arrival of the cowherds from their night watches over their herds. They had the staff in their hands, their mats made of coconut palm leaves .They rushed straight from their duties of the night to NandhagOpan's palace to have the first look at the divine child and jostled with each other to get closer.
koNdathaaLuRi kOlakkodumazhu
thaNdinar paRiyOlaichchayanaththar
viNdamullai yarumbannapallinar
aNdarmiNdippukundhu neyyaadinaar.
A day or two went by. YasOdhai was now ready to give a bath to her darling child and slowly stretch out His tender arms and legs. She prepared comfortingly warm water and added fragrant essences to it. She painted the little tongue of Kutti KaNNan with turmeric paste to eliminate any phlegm. As she looked into the mouth of her darling during that exercise, she saw the seven worlds inside the mouth of that divine child ("Vyaam yEzhum kaNDAL PiLLai vaayuLLE"). When she saw this astounding scene inside the mouth of her little one , YasOdha and the cowherds surrounding her recognized that this mysterious child can not be the child of NandagOpan and YasOdha and concluded that this child with anantha kalyANa guNams is none but the Supreme Being (Aayar putthiran allan Arumdhaivam , Baalakan Maayan yenRu mahizhnthanar )
kaiyumkaalumnimirththuk kadaaraneer
paiyavaattip pasunchiRumanchaLaal
aiyanaavazhiththaaLukku angaandhida
vaiyamEzhumkaNdaaL piLLaivaayuLE.
vaayuLvaiyakamkaNda madanallaar
aayarpuththiranallan arundheyvam
paayaseerudaip paNbudaippaalakan
maayanenRu makizhndhanarmaadharE.
In the eighth pasuram , PeriyAzhwAr continues with his anubhavam of shifting the 12th day celebration happenings at Vada Mathurai to ThirukkOttiyUr . PeriyAzhwAr visualizes the decoration of the entire dhivya dEsam with victory pillars holding multicolored flags and festoons. The cowherdess took KaNNan in their hands , lifted Him and kissed Him with great affection in anticipation of the ways in which He was going to protect them later from the anger of Indhra by lifting and holding Govardhana Giri as an umbrella ("Mattha Maamalai taangiya Maindhanai , utthAnam seythu uhanthanar AayarE ").
paththunaaLumkadandha iraNdaanaaL
eththisaiyum sayamaramkOdiththu
maththamaamalai thaangiyamaindhanai
uththaanamseythu ukandhanaraayarE.
In the ninth paasuram , YasOdhai refers to the adhubhutha chEshtithams of this divine child and her dismay over those Baala KreeDais.
kidakkil thottilkizhiyauthaiththidum
eduththukkoLLil marungaiyiRuththidum
odukkippulkil utharaththEpaayndhidum
midukkilaamaiyaal naanmelindhEnnangaay.
In the tenth and the final Paasuram, PeriyAzhwAr instructs us that those who sing these ten paasurams about ThirukkOttiyUr ArchA Moorthy (Soumya NaarAyaNan) as KaNNan will never get admixed with Bhagavath – anubhava VirOdha Paapams:
SennellAr Vayal soozh ThirukkOttiyUr
Mannu NaaraNan Nambi PiRanthamai
minnu nool Vittuchitthan virittha
ippannu pAdal vallArkku illai paavamE
Sri U Ve. Sadagopan IyengAr
Vanna mAdangal soozh Thirukottiyur
Kannan Kesavan Nambi piranthinil
ennai chunnam edhiredhir thoovida
Kannan muttram kalanthala rAyittrE !
* IN THIRUKOTTIYUR, A PLACE WITH ARTISTIC AND COLOURFUL BUNGALOWS, THE HOUSE IN
WHICH KANNAN WAS BORN WHO HAS BEAUTIFUL HAIR AND GOOD CHARACTERS, ALL MALE AND
FEMALE WERE THROWING COLOUR OIL WATER ON THEM TO CELEBRATE. ON ACCOUNT OF THAT
THE COURT YARD OF THE HOUSE BECAME OILY.
OduvAr vizhuvAr ugandhu AlippAr
nAduvAr nambirAn enguttrAn enbAr
pAduvArgalum palparai kotta nindru
AduvArgalum Ayittru AyaipAdiyE !.
* BECAUSE KANNAN HAS BORN, SOME PEOPLE WILL RUN HERE AND THERE AND THEY WILL FALL DUE TO THE OIL ON THE FLOOR. SOME WILL HUG EACH OTHER AND THEY WILL ASK," WHERE IS THAT BOY "? AND SEARCH. THEY WILL SAY " SEE !OUR LEADER HAS BORN HERE, TO SAVE US".
THEY WILL SING SONGS IN PRAISE OF HIS NAMES, PLAY DRUMS AND DANCE TO THAT TUNE. LIKE THIS THAT AYARPADI WAS FLOODED IN HAPPINESS.
pEni seerudaip pillai pirandhinil
kAnath thAm puguvar pukku pOdhuvAr
AnoppAr ivan nErrilaikAn thiru
OnaththAn ulagAlu menbArgalE !
* THOSE WHO KNOW SAAMUDHRIKA LAKSHANAM,
AFTER SEEING HIM WILL SAY, " NO MEN IS EQUAL TO HIM. THEY WILL ADD, " SINCE HE HAS BORN IN THIRUVONAM DAY, HE WILL RULE THIS WORLD ". LIKE THIS PEOPLE WILL PASS
THEIR COMMENTS ABOUT HIM WHO WAS BORN WITH A DISC & A CONCH WHILE ON BIRTH AND REACHED AYARPADI WITHOUT ALL THESE ( SEERUDAI )TO HIDE HIMSELF.
uriyai muttraththu urutti nindriduvAr
narunai, pAl, thayir nandrAga thoovuvAr
serimen koondhal avizhthilaithu engum
arivazhindhanar AyaipAdi AyarE !.
* THE PEOPLE OF AYARPADI WILL CELEBRATE THE BIRTH OF KANNAN, THE LORD OF THIS UNIVERSE BY SPREADING BUTTER, MILK AND GHEE IN THE FLOOR OF THEIR COURT YARD.
SOME WILL DONATE THEM FOR THE SAKE OF "HIM" FOR HIS LONG LIFE AND LADIES WILL SPREAD THEIR HAIR IN HAPPINESS. LIKE THIS EVERY ONE WERE ENJOYED IN THE AYARPADI.
konda thAl urikOlak kodumazhu
thandinar pariyOlai sayanaththar
vindamullai arumbanna pallinar
andar mindip pugunthu naiyAdinAr.
*THE PEOPLE OF AYARPADI, WHO WERE HOLDING THE ROPE, AXE, STICK, MATS, WITH A SMILE IN THEIR FACE SHOWING THEIR WHITE TEETH AFTER SEEING THE NEW BORN BABY POURED THE GEE ON EACH OTHER WITH HAPPINESS.
kaiyyum kAlum nimirththu kadAraneer
paiyya Atti pasumchiru manjalAl
iyya nA vazhithAlukku angAnthida
vaiyyam yEzhum kandAl pillai vAyullE !
* TO BATH KANNAN, YASODA IN A BIG VESSAL MIXED THE HERBAL AND SCENTED POWDERS WITH WATER. THEN SHE BATHED HIM WITH THAT WATER AND GAVE MASSAGE TO HIS LEGS AND HANDS AND APPLIED TERMARIC POWDER ALL OVER HIS BODY. THEN SHE ASKED HIM TO OPEN HIS MOUTH TO CLEAN HIS TONGUE. BUT SHE WAS SURPRISED TO SEE THE ENTIRE SEVEN WORLD IN HIS MOUTH.
vAyul vaiyyagam kanda madanallAr
Ayar puthiran allan arundhaivam
pAya seerudai panpudai bAlagan
mAya nendru magizhnthanar mAdharE !
* WHEN KANNAN OPEND HIS MOUTH AND SHOWED THE WHOLE WORLD IN IT, THE AYARKULA LADIES WERE SURPRISED AND CAME TO A CONCLUSION THAT HE IS NOT THE SON OF NANDAGOPAN. HE IS ONLY A GOD; HE HAS GOT ALL GOOD CHARECTERS; HE WILL DO ALL TRICKS BECAUSE HE IS "PARAN " !. LIKE THIS THEY WERE PRAISING THE CHILD, BECAUSE HE NOT ONLY SHOWED THIS TO YASODA, BUT TO ALL AYARKULA LADIES.
paththu nAlum kadantha irandAm nAl
eththisaiyum sayamaram kOdiththu
maththa mAmalai thAngiya maindhanai
uththAnam saidhu ugandhanar AyarE !
* ON THE TWELTH DAY OF KANNAN'S BIRTH, AYARGAL STARTED ERRECTING THE VICTORY POSTS ( THORANAMS ) AND DECORATED THE CITY. THEN THEY TOOK THE CHILD (WHO SAVED THE CATTLES AND THE PEOPLE FROM THE HEAVY RAIN CREATED BY INDRAN BY HOLDING THE GOVARDANA GIRI ON HIS SMALL FINGRE ) IN THEIR HANDS AND KISSED HIM.
kidakkil thottil kizhiya udhaiththidum
eduththu kollil mangai irruththidum
odungip pulkil udharathE pAinthidum
midukilAmaiyAl nAn melidhEn nangAi !
* O ! MY FRIENDS, MY SON LIE IN THE CRADDLE,HE IS DASHING THAT WITHH FORCE. AIYO ! IF I TAKE HIM IN MY WAIST THINKING THAT HIS LEGS WILL PAIN, HE IS NOT SITTING THERE. WITH FORCE HE IS BREAKING MY WAIST. IF I HOLD HIM FIRMLY WITH MY CHEST, HE IS AGAIN DASHING MY STOMECH WITH HIS LEGS. I AM FED UP OF HIS ACTIVITIES.
sennalAr vayal soozh Thirukottiyur
mannu NAranan nambi pirandhamai
minnu nool Vittuchithan viriththa ip
pannu pAdal vallArkkilai pAvamE !
* EMPERUMAN, WHO IS BLESSING HIS DEVOTEES IN THIRUKOTTIYUR, WHICH IS SORROUNDED BY PADDY FIELDS IS NOW BORN AS KANNAN HERE. NOW HE IS WELL PRAISED BY A BRAHMIN, A WELL LEARNED PERSON AND WHO STUDIED ALL VEDAS AND WEARING YAGNOBAVEETHAM, THRO'
HIS SONGS. THOSE WHO READ AND LEARN THESE WILL BE RELEAVED FROM THEIR SINS AND LEAD A GOOD LIFE.
Thanks to: http://groups.msn.com/srivaishnavism/divyaprapandham.msnw?action=get_message&mview=0&ID_Message=700&LastModified=4675578391536277371
