In Focus - Thirunarayanapuram

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IN FOCUS - THIRUNARAYANAPURAM

Svami Ramanuja’s favorite Place

Presiding Deity:

Sri Yoga Narasimha (hill top), Sri ThiruNarayana (Moolavar), Sri

Yadugiri Naachiyaar (Divine Consort), Chelva Pillai (Sampath KuMAran) (Processional Deity) and Yatiraja (Sri Ramanujacharya -Tamar uganda Tirumeni (The image that is dear to the devotees).

Salient Aspects of the Place and Temple:

ThiruNarayanapuram is also called Yadavadri, Yadushaila, and Melukote. It is located in the present Mysore/Karnataka district. This small town’s hub of activity is its temple. This Sri Vaishnava abhimAna sthalam was the place where Ramanuja resided after he and his disciples were exiled from Srirangam by the local fanatical chieftains. Of all of the places where he resided, ThiruNarayanapuram was particularly dear to his heart; so much so, that he stated that he would place his very spirit in the processional image that bears an exact likeness to him, and instructed all of his disciples to make an effort to reside here.

ThiruNarayanapuram is a place where people glorify Sri Ramanuja as the

King of Ascetics, the King of Philosophers, the King the Vedas awaited,

and the Father of the divine child Sampath KumAran (Chelva Pillai-the

dear darling child). Despite its appearance as a sleepy little town, the

temple and town is home for many learned Acharya Purushas and Vedic

Pandits.

Sri Vaishnava tradition with Sri Ramanuja as its central focus and most

important acharya, explains the important relationship of this Great Soul

with his beloved child, Sri Chelva Pillai. It is understood that Sriman

Narayana is the Only Being in this Universe that is Truly Independent,

i.e., His Actions and His Will is not limited by the bounds of karma, as it

is with every other soul. But, since His Very Nature is Love and

Compassion, He is under the sway of those who love him, and to Great

Souls like Sri Ramanuja, He becomes like their own child, much in the

same way in which He allowed Himself to become Nandagopa's and

Yashoda's Beloved Son, Krishna. Sri Ramanuja is the father to Chelva

Pillai, caring for Him, nurturing Him, as well as instructing Him on the

merciful attitude He should maintain when He is approached by all

souls.

Establishment of the Temple:

 

The auspicious Thai Punarvasu (the Makara month) when Sri Ramanuja

found His TiruNarayana from the Hills in Yadavadri is celebrated with

much enthusiasm. All the temple festivities to this date are carried out

by the local Mahans in the same manner as Sri Ramanuja established

more than 900 years ago. In 1098-99 Sri Ramanuja reached this town at

the age of 82 and uncovered TiruNarayana who was hidden, buried in

the Yadavadri Hills. A temple was built and the Lord worshipped by the

pAncharAtra tradition. As Sri Ramanuja was in search for a processional

deity for the temple festivities, He was instructed by the Lord to go north

(Delhi) and bring Him back from the Delhi Sultan’s daughter Bibi. Sri

Ramanuja resided in Melkote for 12 years, establishing and

administering temple.

People:

Many scholars and people from different faiths surrendered to Sri Ramanuja under the Hoysala reign of King Vishnuvardhana. The Mandyam, HebbAr, Hemmige, and MelnAttar communities are some of the many Sri Vaishnava groups that have originated from here.

Although their spoken language is the Sanskrit based Kannada, more importance is given to the Dravida Vedas, the 4000 Divine outpourings of the Azhvars, than to the Sanskrit Vedas.

Tradition and Festivals:

In accordance with the Sri Vaishnava tradition where the Acharya is given equal or more importance than the Lord, the bhagavathas of this special divine place give extraordinary importance to Sri Ramanuja and His Darling Child. The daily worship is done first at the shrine of Sri Ramanuja and subsequently to the main presiding deities.

 

Although there are no azhvar pasurams sung in direct reference to

 

Thirunarayanapuram, Sri Ramanuja dedicated the 4.1.1 verse of Sri

Nammazhvar’s Thiruvaimozhi to ThiruNarayana.

The two main festivals held at this sacred place are the famous Vairamudi festival (The Festival of the Diamond Crown) and Sri Ramanuja Tirunakshattiram (Sri Ramanuja’s Appearance Day) festival. The former is held in the Tamil/Solar month Panguni on the star Pushyam where Chelva Pillai also called Yatiraja Sampath KuMAran majestically adorns the sparkling, resplendent diamond-studded crown. The latter is held during the month of Chittirai, during the TiruvAdirai star. Both these are 10-day-long festivals where the town sees tens of thousands of devotees to enjoy the Divine Form of the Lord ThiruNarayana and His Father, Yatiraja Sri Ramanuja.