Srimathe Ramanujaya namaha

This is not Sri VishwaksEnar. This is Gajavaktra, who is one of the second
line commanders of the total of 8 i think, of Sri VishvaksEna.

AzhwAr emberumAnAr jeeyar thiruvadigaLE saraNam

adiyEn rAmAnuja dAsan.

Thirumalai Vinjamoor Venkatesh




>>I've often noticed in south Indian vishnu temples of a deity quite
similar to the elephant god/ganesh/vinayak with a "namam " . Is >>this
lord
ganesh /some other deity?

I believe the deity is actually Lord Visvaksena, the Chief of (Defense!)
Staff, for Sriman Narayana's services at Sri Vaikuntam - His permanent
abode.

According to our philosophy Sri Visvaksena is our first and foremost
Acharya - since he was taught directly by the Divine Couple. Visvaksenar
subsequently passed on the knowledge to our other Acharyas - beginning with
Sri Nammalvar. We regard Sri Visvaksena to be one among the nitya-sooris or
divine souls (?), along with Sri Adisesha, Sri Garuda, Sri Sudarsana, and
Sri Anjaneya.

Please refer to Bhakti list's archives, for further information.

Regards,
Sriram




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