Kalyana Venkatesa Perumal Kovil

Marriage or Kalyanam is one of the important phases of life and one who is born and is willing to take up worldly desires needs to get married at some part of life. While for some marriage happens quite easily with less effort, for some it takes certain efforts based on their horoscope, dasa etc., and can turn into frustration if the search continues for a long period of time.

Kalyana Venkatesa Perumal Kovil is a temple situated in the East Coast Road, Chennai which leads to Pondicherry. This temple is close to 25-30 kilometres from the city.

Kalyana Venkatesa Perumal Kovil is believed to be a place where the unmarried people worship Narayana and they go back with 2 garlands given to them. Once they get married, they need to return back the garlands to this temple to complete the vratha.

It is strongly believed that those who suffer from prolonged delay in getting married have found it quite astonishingly after visiting this temple how they get alliances / proposals immediatley.

While I havent personally experienced this, I did visit this temple sometime back and could see the huge number of devotees puring in with garlands to get a glimpse of Kalyana Venkatesa Perumal.

The Perumal is in the form of Varaha with Lakshmi Thayar, Bhooma Devi and Maarkandeya Maharishi nearby.

There is also a Ranganatha Perumal Sannidhi within the premises.

Its worth a trip if you happen to travel across the ECR Road, atleast to get a glimpse of Sriman Narayanan, the ultimatum.

Narayanayethi Samarpayami !!!

Maangaadu Kamakshi Amman Temple

Maangaadu Kamakshi Amman Temple is one of the famous temples in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Situated around 20 kms from the City it boasts of a rich heritage and great number of devotees particularly around the months of July, August etc., There are various beliefs around the temple's existence and the one told by the people around is as follows:-

Parvati Devi, mother of the universe once playfully closed the eyes of Lord Shiva while he was in penance. The act was just a romantic gesture but resulted in the whole world becoming dark. Lord Shiva's two eyes are believed to be the Sun and Moon and since Parvati closed the eyes, the whole world plunged into darkness and life became stand still.

Lord Shiva got angry and cursed Parvati Devi that she would be born in earth as a human being and needs to worship Shiva to get married again.

Born in earth, Kamakshi (Kama + Akshi - one who controls "Kama" or Sexual desire) she grew up and also started worshipping Lord Shiva. The place where she worshipped was then a Mango Forest and hence the name "Maangaadu" meaning forest of mangoes. Her worshipping became fierce since Lord Shiva didnt turn up and she started penancing with one leg facing up and hands over her head in the form of a flame. Lord Shiva got pleased with her and asked her to come down to Kanchipuram where they married each other.

Interestingly, Vishnu who is believed to be the brother of Parvati (here Kamakshi) came down before the marriage with a Gem Stone Ring (Kanayazhi) and still waits at this location since the marriage didnt happen here. This diety can be found in the Perumal Kovil that is a few metres away from the Kamakshi Amman Temple.

Also, a few kilometres into the town, there is also a Shiva temple which is believed to have bene formed since Shiva came down to the earth to extinguish a fire which Kamakshi left as is before going back to Kailash. The name of Shiva here is Vellishwarar and little is known about this temple even for frequent visitors to Kamakshi Amman temple. It is very important and relevant to visit both the Shiva and Vishnu temples nearby whenever one visits Kamakshi Amman temple.

One has to accept that the huge number of devotees turning up get the blessings of Kamakshi Amman and get all health, wealth and prosperity after visiting here. There are various beliefs around visiting the temple for 12-13 weeks regularly and getting your desired wishes fullfilled etc.,

Narayanayethi Samarpayami !!!

Oppiliyappan - when Narayanan quit salt taste

Oppiliyappan is the one of the ancient and famous Vaishnava Gods, prominently worshipped in the south Tamil Nadu - Kumbakonam, Tanjavur etc.,

In fact Oppiliyappan Temple is one of the famous 108 Divyadesams and commands a heavy vaishnava worshippers, particularly during the Margazhi month.

Lets explore the history of Oppiliyappan Temple.

Markandeya Maharishi was a very famous worshipper of Narayana and with his blessings, Markandeya got Lord Bhooma Devi (Lakshmi) as a daughter.

While Bhooma Devi (Lakshmi in a human form born in the earth) was equally a good believer in worshipping Narayana, Markandeya Maharishi had extreme faith in Narayana and prayed and sang about him day-in and day-out.

Once, Lord Narayana appeared in the form of an Aged Man and asked for the hands of Bhooma Devi.

Markandeya asked the Aged Man (Narayana in disguise), that whether this marriage is possible since his daughter was a very young girl whereas the person seeking alliance (Narayana in old man form) is quite old.

Markandeya expressed that his daughter doesnt even know how to properly cook food using salt.

Narayana insisted and told that he would quit having food items with salt but wanted to marry Bhooma Devi.

Markandeya got convinced and he agreed to arrange for their wedding.

Narayana showed his real form along with Mahalakshmi (Bhooma Devi) to Markandeya and wished him all the good things in life and asked him to continue his good deeds and disappeared.

From that day, the temple doesnt accept / make food in any form involving salt. In fact people who are in fasting for this God, need to forsake Salt taste and thats what pleases him the most.

It is believed that the name "Oppili" also referred as "Uppili" (meaning without salt) also derives from this track.

The temple is situated in Tirunageswaram, close to Kumbakonam. In fact you can get good buses and cabs from Kumbakonam junction.

It is a overnight journey by train from Madras and is worth a visit to experience the power of Lord Oppiliyappan.

For more details, visit this site http://www.oppiliappan.org/

Narayanayethi Samarpayami !!!

Why "Rudraksham" is so powerful ?

"Rudraksham" or (Rudraksh as they call in Hindi) is very powerful. The person wearing the same needs to adhre to immense ethics and standards.

Let us explore the history of Rudraksham.

There were 2 rakshahas who were giving immense trouble to the world. Lord Shiva decided to end their atrocities and hence killed them. When they were being killed, they suffered from pain.

On seeing their pain and sufferings, Lord Shiva felt sad for them and he started crying for them. The tears he shed fell down to the earth and they started growing as trees.

Thats why its called "Rudhra - Aksh". Rudhra is Shiva's name and Aksh refers to the tears that fell from his eyes.

He who wears Rudraksh and recites "Om Namah Shivayah" is blessed with all the good things in life and becomes dearer to his heart.

Om Naham Shivayah !!!

Narayana is there everywhere !!!

Most of you must have heard the story of Prahlad. For the benefit of those who don't, the following is the same:

Prahlad was a deep devotee of Narayana and the fact that his father was anti-Narayana was a strange coincidence. His father, Iraniyan was one of the most feared demons and Iraniyan felt that he was the supreme power and with his deep penance got some great boons and thereby threatened the whole world including the Devas, Rishis and other good people.

On the contrary, Prahlad, his son was the deepest devotee of Narayana and always sung fame of Narayana. Iraniyan tried all his means to teach / change his attitude but Prahlad continued to be an unfathomable devotee of Narayana.

Prahlad was many times saved from death when Iraniyan tried different means to kill him since he no longer felt could change the mind of the kid.

One final day, Prahlad was asked by Iraniyan whether Narayana can come in front and whether he existed. Prahlad told that he exists everywhere. The famous dialogue (Tamil version) was

Iraniyan: "Indha Thoonla iruppana da Narayanan?"
( Will Narayana be in this pillar ? )

Prahlad: "Thoonilum Iruppar, Thurumbilum iruppar!!!"
(He [Narayana] would be in pillar and every peck of the world)

Thereafter, Iraniyan got angry and broke down the pillar only to find Narayana take Lakshmi Narasimha avatar to kill Iraniyan. The Lakshmi Narasimha avatar was a clever avatar which had all the requirements to kill Iraniyan (Iraniyan had got specific boon as to who all cannot kill him).

The Lakshmi Narasimha avatar is one of the special ones since it was an instant appearance (all the other avatars were born on earth and grown up) and hence very powerful one.

He who recites Lakshmi Narasimha karavalambam will have no harm from anybody.

Narayanayethi Samarpayami !!!

Sahasranama and Lord Shiva - Parvati

Parvati asked Lord Shiva, Oh Lord of Lords, how can a common man say these 1000 namas of Vishnu everyday. He may not have the time to utter all these namas in the fast world.

Lord Shiva said,

"Sri Rama Rama Ramethi Rame Raame Manorame
Sahasranama Thathulyam Rama Nama Varaaname"

In case one is unable to utter the 1000 namas, by uttering the word "Rama" he gets the fruit of saying those 1000 names. The name Rama has all the meanings in it.

Lord Shiva and Vishnu didnt quarrel on who is greater than who.

We ourselves, human beings, fight whether Iyer is better than Iyengar or whatsover.

The fact is, pray God in your true sense, whoever you like !!!

God takes care of you even if you dont pray. But if you pray, he really feels happy.

Think of it with a common example

If you do a good cause, you may or may not be praised and felicitated. But that doesnt stop the cause you worked for. But if you are felicitated, you feel happy right? That is the exact thing when you pray to God. Thank God everyday for what he has given and how he has kept you.

God is in different forms, he is omnipresent, he is supreme power and he is far beyond our imagination.

Narayanayethi Samarpayami !!!

Why Sahasranama is the holiest of all

Bheeshma when in his arrow bed was frequently visited by Yudhishtra and the other 4 Pandavas. It was the last days of the Mahabaratha.

Yudhishtra asked Bheeshma, that he wanted information on some of his questions.

Bheeshma, a worshipper of Vishnu told answers to those questions. The answers started the base and the first few slokas in Sahasranama are dedicated to Yudhishtra's questions and Bheeshma's answers.

Ex.- Yudhishtra: Who is the one God whom we can pray and remain peaceful in life.
Bheeshma: In this world, everything is Purushothaman (Vishnu). I pray to him the one with four hands, Lotus Feet, The Chakra and the Sangu and the one who is dressed in silken white.

There are Sahasranamas for all Gods ex.- Lalitha Sahasranama, Sai Sahasranama. But what makes Vishnu Sahasranama popular is that it is the immediate thing that comes to mind whenever somebody says Sahasranama (1000 names). This is not a comparison of who is better than what but just the time that it has come through make it the most popular.

One who recites Sahasranama everyday (or atleast "Rama" Nama everyday) becomes the purest, sacred and holy being.

I have experienced it. I have felt God in my tears when I pray to him.

I have felt God when he helps me with each and every endeavour. In my life, whatever I wishes for or longed for, I have immediately got.

Narayanayethi Samarpayami !!!

Shuklam Baradharam Vishnum Shashi Varnam Chaturpujam Prasanna Vadanam Dhyayeth Sarva Vignopa Shantaye

I pray to Vishnu, the one who wears Silken Robes, who has the color of Moon and the graceful face, who has four arms, to relieve me from all troubles.

Well, this may be a puzzling start for the readers.

I have explained the First Stance of Vishnu Sahasranamam in the first paragraph.

The Vishnu Sahasranamam is the one of the greatest ever slokas given by Bhishma to Yudhishtra and thereby to the world.

One who prays the Vishnu Sahsranama daily will never have to worry and will be saved by the Almighty.

In my forthcoming articles, I will write about each and every ways in which God can help us from our troubles.

Narayanayethi Samarpayami !!!