Festival of Tiruvaimozhi

It is not just an honorary encomium to call Srirangam as Sri Vaikunta on Earth. It closely follows the descriptions of Sri Vaikunta given in Agamas. Great scholars like Parameswara Samhita Govindachariyar Swami were able to say the significance of each and every piece of the theological topology around - so I have heard it said by scholars. In Vedanta and Agamas there are descriptions of souls after death reaching through the path of Archiraadi, the Ultimate Divine Land. Archiraadi comes from the root 'archis', which means light. How very positive the very eschatology becomes! The picture of grim death is transformed into a journey through light!

But alas! we have left everything to the fag end of life, all things spiritual to be bothered only after 60th or 70th year. And before we turn 50 we incur all diseases and eye problem, ear problem, if we walk our body lags behind, we cannot attend to anything for long, too much strain is against doctor's advice and so on so on. Such is our involvement and luck!

'Hey! you do not know what cares, what problems, ... bread winning is tough... Job's demands rule large and thick! No time.. as if it is not enough, family worries raking'

Yea yea... of course... but no problem prevents us from long hours of watching cricket, our favorite cine shows, and and... Nothing wrong. World is full of different tastes. But sometime, if at all we care and stop and listen to this line of Nammalvar, "Before the brimming youth withers away, Temple of Mayon of abounding brilliance, wit and wisdom indeed to go and worship undelaying", if one really understands these lines and takes to heart to go to Srirangam, a rare scene indeed to be seen there during the month of Margazhi.

Day break, the cool fogs and the streaming chants of Thiruppavai making the very land of Srirangam as Sri Vaikuntam. Hot pongal and the pleasing morning rays beating rhythm with divine music and Sri Ranaganatha showing the path of liberation all through the month. Araiyars chanting and reciting the Divine Tamil of Divya Suris to Aranga! Who made it possible when? It was Thirumangaimannan. He built the wall around the town. Encircling Truth fashioned his Tamil. Sri Andal woke up the dormant devotion. The unwinking God was fully aware in His wakeful sleep. And Sri Ranganatha, the chasing lover of Tamil, is all attendence in His Divine Office when Tamil is pouring forth all around. Kaliyan was so fond of Nammalvar and his Tamil. He was waiting for an occasion. Once the divine voice spoke to him, 'Kaliyan! what is that you want?' Kaliyan said, 'You must hear our Alwar's Tiruvaimozhi beginning from Ekadasi of Sri Vaikunta.' So it started and so it is coming down. The Tamil planted by Kaliyan, watered by Nathamuni became Karpaga Vritcha in Sri Ramanuja's time, Tamil of Sanga blossoming as Tamil of Ranga.
Srirangam Mohanarangan 

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