Article by Sri U.Ve. Mahavidhwan Elayavilli Srinivasa Bhuvarahachariar Swami, M.A (Retd) Prof of Sanskrit, Alwar Thirunagari

Srimate Ramanujaya Namah
Srimate Baladhanvi Mahagurave Namaha
Srimad Varvara Munaye Namah

In our Sri Vaishnava Sampradaya every Ekadasi (the 11th day of bright & black fortnight) has a special name. Accordingly during the Krittika month, the Ekadasi during the bright fortnight is called Kaishika Ekadasi (today some use the term Koushika Ekadasi, which is wrong; Sage Vishwamitra has nothing to do with this Ekadasi). Kaishika is a raga in music. How is this raga related with this Ekadasi will become clear in the course of this article.

Sri Varaha Puranam has this episode in its body. Once upon a time the earth got submerged in water. Lord Sriman Narayana assumed the garb of a wild boar and without hesitation entered the muddy water and brought out the earth from the deluge. Sri Bhoomi Piratti, who is the presiding deity, was very much upset by this tragic event. She was consoled and comforted by Lord Sriman Narayana, keeping Her on His lap. At that time she was very much worried about Her children on the earth. Their sufferings gave Her great sorrow and She very much desired to know a means (Upaya) for their deliverance from the worldly bondage. The Lord narrated the episode that took place in the village Thirukkurungudi near Thirunelveli in South India and assured Her that the soul means of salvation is singing His glory (Gana Rupa Upayam).

The story is as follows: Once there lived a man at Thirukkurungudi. He was fondly called “Nampaduvan” (We do not know his Original name). He was born in a Chandala family who were known for their merciless nature and activities. But quite contrary to his family behavior he was very pious and deeply devoted to Lord Sriman Narayana. He used to fast during every Ekadasi day. Getting up very early in the morning on the next day he used to go to the vicinity of the temple with his veena in his hands and remaining at a distance from the temple as per the prescription of the shastras he used to sing songs in praise of the Lord going around the temple.

Once during the month of Krittika on a bright fortnight Dwadasi i.e the 12th day, he went to the temple early in the morning as usual. On the way he was met by a Brahma Rakshasa who was very hungry and who therefore expressed his desire to eat him up. Nampaduvan was very happy to offer his body for the food of Brahma Rakshasa. That was because his suffering in this world would come to an end and he would reach the abode of the Lord. But he prayed to the Brahma Rakshasa to spare some time so that he may go to the temple and sing the songs and return. But the Rakshasa was not ready to grant his request, as he would never return having made this false excuse. But Nampaduvan made 18 oaths to the effect that he would certainly return. 

Note: All these promises did not convince or satisfy the Brahma Rakshasa, but the 18th one totally convinced him about the certainty of Nampaduvan’s return. We therefore have to understand that the last sin is the greatest sin of all sins. Hence it is to be meticulously avoided.

The Brahma Rakshas became pleased by all these promises and saluted Nampaduvan and bade him farewell so that he may fulfill his vow and come back to him. Accordingly Nampaduvan went to the neighborhood of the temple and sang the songs as usual. Afterwards the day dawned. Having completed the vow pertaining to Ekadasi (i.e. spending sleepless night) Nampaduvan surrendered to the Lord. With great speed, he returned to the Rakshas as his heart was filled up with pleasure owing to his desertion of his body, which was inimical to his attaining salvation.

On his way a person met him. That man questioned him “Hello, where are you going with such speed?” Nampaduvan replied him in a sweet manner – “I am going to Brahma Rakshas. If I don’t find him there, where I met him before and departed having made several promises, I will go in search of him and offer my body as food for him.” That man desired to test his mind on hearing his steadfast resolve. He said "There stands a Rakshasa by birth. He is not righteous minded like Vibeeshana, but a worst criminal. You cannot escape from his cruel clutches, as he is a cannibal. Don’t go to that strong devil."

Though exhorted by that man, Nampaduvan refused to listen to him and was very determined in keeping up his promise. That stranger, who obstructed him and advised him, was none other than Sri Varaha (the Lord Himself). Nampaduvan found Brahma Rakshas at the same place and offered his body as a carcass (meat) for him, but the Rakshas, remembering his previous birth did not accept it. He narrated his previous life history. He was a Brahmin by name Somasarma in his former birth. While performing a sacrifice, he committed all sorts of blunder, as he was niggardly. Moreover a fatal disease in the course of performing sacrifice afflicted him. The result was his birth as Brahma Rakshasa.

Having given a detailed account of his previous life the Rakshasa knelt before Nampaduvan to grant him the merit of all these songs that he sang in praise of the Lord for a long time but the songster refused sternly. Finally being moved by pity he granted him the merit (Punya) of one song, which he sang that day morning which was in the raga named “Kaishika”. The Brahma Rakshas was relieved of his bond. Later he was born in a family of Vaishnava and at the end of the birth he reached Vaikunta.

This is the story narrated by Sri Varaha Perumal to Sri Bhoomi Devi. The whole episode as found in “Sri Varaha Puranam”, is taken up by Sri Parasara Bhattar for an elaborate commentary in Tamil. Every year the whole episode with all Sanskrit shlokas and commentary of Sri Bhattar is read out in all the Vishnu temples especially at Thirukkurungudi where the event actually took place. This is enacted on the stage even today. Those who take part in the festival or who hear the episode will be rid of their sins. Hence I gave this story in an abridged version.

What do we understand from this episode? Somasarma though a Brahmin became a Rakshasa, but Nampaduvan though a Chandala was able to expiate him of all his sins. Hence caste is not a criterion for us to salute a person. His deep devotion to the Lord, knowledge of the Lord and a total renunciation of all worldly pleasures are very important criteria. The caste is physical. It does not belong to the soul. Hence Nampaduvan was elevated to the highest order. In case of such holy men of that high order, consideration of the caste is an offence. They are equal to Nithyasooris. Hence our Acharyas equate Nampaduvan with Vishwamitra, Sri Vishnuchitta and ThondarAdiPodi Azhwar, all of whom sang divine songs in order to wake up the Lord (Thiruppalliyezhuchchi). The Lord (Sri Varaha) also showered on him love and affection and called him Nampaduvan (My Singer).

Let us therefore be very careful in not committing Bhaagavata Apachara. This is what we learn from Kaishika Puranam.

Azhvar Emberumanar Jeeyar Thiruvadigale Sharanam 

Araiyar Sevai was as moving as the gorgeously attired Nampermal was impressive.

Listening to Parasara Bhattar unravel Kaisika Purana (in Sanskrit) was a new experience. He spoke in simple style making the narration interesting by analysing the different Avataras of Lord Vishnu, showcasing Varaha as the best and the purest, despite the Lord taking the form of a pig.

Kaisika Purana is a part of Varaha Purana and comprises several hundred songs, all in small stanzas. Kaisika Purana is the story of Nampaduvan, a low caste person and his love for the Lord Nambi of Tirukurungudi. He was a ‘Jaagrutha Vrathan,’ one who came out when all others were sleeping. Embarrassed to enter the temple during the day, he would walk several miles every night and stand outside the Tirukurungudi temple and sing in praise of Lord Nambi.

On Kaisika Ekadasi night, Nambaduvan made 18 promises to a demon that wanted to eat him up. In return the monster should allow him to visit the temple one last time.

In the 18th promise, which is the essence of the Kaisika Purana and the reason why Kaisika Ekadesi and Kaisika Purana are most important to a Vaishnavite, Nampaaduvan says, “If one ever tries equating Lord Narayana to anyone else in this world, I will be a party to the biggest sin in the world. And I will never get salvation (from the cycle of births).”

The minstrel returns to the demon, who is stunned by the man’s sincerity and requests him to share the positive results that accrue from singing on Kaisika Ekadasi night. Thus he could get rid of the this obnoxious form and attain salvation. Nampaduvan obliges.

On Tuesday last (December 6), on the occasion of Kaisika Ekadasi celebrations at the Lord Ranganatha Swamy temple in Srirangam, a beautifully decorated Namperumal, the utsava deity, came out on a palanquin at 8.30 p.m. on his second procession of the day, having made one earlier in the morning. Making his way through the Kili Mandapa, he positioned himself at Arjuna Mandapa.

To start the celebration, 365 dresses were draped around Namperumal (one for each day of the year) to make up for not giving him enough new dresses throughout the year.

The highlight of the evening that began at 10 p.m., was the singing of 20 verses from Nalayira Divya Prabhandham including Vyakyanam and Abhinaya of Thirumangai Azhwar’s Periya Thirumozhi verse ‘Akkum Puliyin’ and Nammazhwar’s Thiruvoimozhi verse ‘Enganeyo Annaimeerkal’ through their song and dance enactment. While one Araiyar narrated a verse, another explained its meaning yet another enacting the story through Abhinaya, a unique art/dance performance with their hands and legs.

Throughout his passionate presentation, Araiyar Sampath Kumar had tears rolling down as he sung the praise of Lord Nambi of Thiru Kurungudi. Following the Araiyar Sevai and well after mid-night, 62-year Parasara Rangaraja Bhattar standing in front of Namperumal at the Arjuna Mandapa presented a two-hour recital without any pause. His sang 100 verses from the Kaisika Purana with his brother Parasara Azhagiya Singa Bhatter holding the Kaisika Purana scriptures in his hand, tracing the dialogue between Nambaduvan and Brahma Rakshash.

Karpoora Padi Etra Seva

After a long and eventful night, NamPerumal was allowed only a couple of hours of rest as he was woken up at 5 a.m. on Kaisika Dwadasi (Wednesday) morning for his alankara. Having spent over eight hours at the Arjuna Mandapa providing night long darshan to his devotees, Namperumal started on his return trip at 5.15 a..m with two Araiyars leading him all the way to the Santanu Mandapa.

As a thanking gesture Namperumal was showered with camphor powder, as he made his entry up the steps into the Santanu Mandapa, an event that spread a special fragrance around Him. This special seva is referred to as ‘Karpoora Padi Etra Seva.’

Historical Event at Srirangam

The Telugu ruler Vijayaranga Sokka Nathan was eager to witness the Kaisika Ekadesi Celebrations in Srirangam, especially this morning event of ‘Karpoora Padi Etra Seva’ (showering of camphor powder). Unfortunately, when he reached the temple with his family, the Lord had already entered the Santanu Mandapa. Having come from far just to witness this event, the king requested the Lord to provide a replay as he could not go back without being part of the event. However, the Lord refused to accept this request stating that he was always on time and does not wait for anyone.

NamPerumal asked the king to be back on the same day next year. But so upset was the king that he decided to stay put outside the Sannidhi for one more year. In memory of this event and to mark the King Vijaya Ranga Sokka Nathan’s unflinching devotion, the idol of the king along with his family can be seen even today outside the shrine on the Western side.

Highlights of Kaisika Ekadesi Festival in Srirangam

 07.12.2011, Wednesday, Kaisika Dwadasi is celebrated in Sri Balaji Mandir in Dombivli.

Kaisika Puranam Upanyasam is graced by Sri Sridhar V. Thathacharya. Some photos taken on the occassion were added at the following link with the Thayar Brahmothsavams and also three videos are uploaded at

http://2011pavithro thsavam.shutterf ly.com/
 

On Friday 09.12.2011 Karthikai - Karthikai which is Avathara Dinothsavam of Sri Thirumangai Mannan.

MORNING 8.00 A.M. SRI KALIYAN MANGALASASANAM FOLLOWED BY VISESHA THIRUMANJANAM TO KALIYAN ALONG WITH SRI BALAJI. AT 9.00.A.M. IN THE EVENING AT 5.00 P.M. SEVAKALAM, PERIA SATRUMURAI.

10.12.2011 SATURDAY

AFTERNOON 2.00 P.M. THIRUPANAZHVAR THIRUNAKSHATHRIRAM SEVAKALAM FOLLOWED BY SRI PANCHARATHRA DEEPAM. ILLUMINATION OF LIGHTS AROUND THE TEMPLE, PROCESSION OF SRI BALAJI PERUMAL FOR CHOOKAPANNI AND PLEASE NOTE THE TEMPLE WILL BE CLOSED AT 4.00 P.M DUE TO CHANDRA GRAHANAM (LUNAR ECLIPSE)

SRIRANGAM SRIMATH ANDAVAN PERIASHRAMAM
SRI BALAJI MANDIR,GOGRASWADI,
DOMBIVLI EAST - 421201 DIST.THANE
PHONE:0251-2453081 

It was the day of Kaisika Ekadashi. The message behind the day reinforces the fact that caste is not a hindrance in attaining Him and true Bhakthi alone is enough. This story happened in the beautiful Divyadesam of Thirukurungudi.

Nambaduvaan was born in low – chandala – kulam, but was a great bhagavatha, devotee of Sri Kurungudi Nambi (Lord of Thiru Kurungudi). It was his usual that on every ekadasi, he used to observe “jagrutha vratham” – without sleeping full night, singing the glory of Lord and thinking about him. On one karthigai ekadasi, Nambaduvaan left to Kurungudi nambi temple to observe his fast and render some pasuram (divine song) using various paN’s on Sri Kurungudi Nambi.