even the alwars

The alwars too have been associated with their closeness to the water bodies river etc.

Karabhajana was one of the nava yogiswaras, who answered King Nimi’s questions. This conversation between Nimi and Karabhajana finds a place in Srimad Bhagavatam, said P.T. Seshadri in a discourse. Karabhajana describes Vishnu’s forms in different yugas and explains how He was worshipped in the many yugas. Karabhajana says that in Kali yuga, Vishnu is worshipped through nama sankirtana. Many sages who lived in Krita Yuga want to be born in Kali Yuga as Vishnu bhaktas, so that they can sing the praises of Vishnu. Nimi asks Karabhajana, where these bhaktas will be born.

Karabhajana says that they will be born in Dravida desa, on the banks of the Tamraparani, on the banks of the Vaigai, on the banks of the Palar and on the banks of west flowing rivers. Here it is clear that Karabhajana was predicting the birth of the Azhvars. Periyazhvar and Andal appeared on the banks of the Vaigai; Nammazhvar and Madhurakavi on the banks of the Tamraparani; Tondaradippodi Azhvar, Tirumangai Azhvar and Thiruppanazhvar on the banks of the Cauvery; Poigai Azhvar, Bhootatazhvar, Peyazhvar and Thirumazhisai Azhvar on the banks of the Palar and Kulasekara Azhvar in the South Western region — Kerala. Thus, the appearance of the Azhvars in Tamil Nadu and Kerala was predicted in the Bhagavata Purana, and as foreseen, the Azhvars appeared on the banks of the rivers mentioned in the Purana. Karabhajana also predicts that these devotees would not desire anything but His mercy. Every individual is born with three debts — debts to devas, rishis and one’s ancestors. Hari bhaktas are released from these three debts, says Srimad Bhagavatam. King Nimi learned about Bhagavata dharma and about the worship of Vishnu from the nava yogisvaras. After they advised Nimi, the nine yogis disappeared.

Book eleven of Srimadbhagvata is considered by the saints to be the book dedicated to devotion. The book contains graphic picture of divine spiritual precept delivered by Lord Krishna to his devotee-friend Uddhava. Besides, dialogue between Sri Vasudeva and Sri Narada King Nimi and Nava Yogishwara are also included therein . The book also contains the historical story of the twenty-four preceptors of Avadhuta. 

Lord Rishabh Dev is one of the 24 incarnations of Lord Narayana. Of his 100 sons, 9 of his sons became masters of the knowledge of the self and hence were called Yogeshwar. There names respectively are:

Hari, Kavi, Antariksh, Prabuddh, Pippalaayan, Aavirhotr,Drumil, Chamas, Tatha, Karabhaajan

Once the Suryavanshi King Nimi had a discussion and had put some questions to the Yogeshwaras, which were answered well by the Yogeswaras. This dialogue is the so-called Nimi-Navyogeshwar dialogue.

The questions that were put up to them are as follows: –

• What is the nature of ultimate welfare and what is its means?
• Describe the character of Bhagavadbhakt (Devotee). What is his religion and what is his nature?
• How does he behave while dealing with humans? What does he talk and what is the trait that makes him lovable by the almighty God?
• What is the manifestation of the Maya form of Lord Vishnu?
• What is the solution to get beyond Maya?
• What is the nature and form of the God who is described as the Supreme Lord Narayana? What is he responsible for?
• Describe the ‘leelas’ (performances) of God, that has been done, is still doing and will be doing.
• How does the life unfold for the people with unfulfilled wishes, have cravings for cosmic and extravagant pleasures, have no control on there senses and mind, and who often do not worship God?
• At what time does the Lord assume forms, and with what names are these forms worshipped?

Karabhājana Muni addresses King Nimi and says, "My dear King, a person who has given up the worship of the demigods and has completely concentrated his energy in the devotional service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead has become very, very dear to the Lord. As such, if by chance or mistake he does something which is forbidden, there is no need for him to perform any purificatory ceremonies.

Nectar of Devotion, 5

There are many other sages, like Śaṅkarācārya, Gautama Muni, Nārada Muni, etc., to whom we are indebted because we take advantage of their knowledge. Similarly, we are obliged to our forefathers because we take our birth in a particular family, where we take all advantages and inherit property. Therefore, we are indebted to the forefathers and have to offer them piṇḍa (prasādam) after they are dead. Similarly, to the people in general we are also indebted, as well as to our relatives, friends and even animals such as cows and dogs who render us so much service.

In this way, we are indebted to the demigods, to the forefathers, to the sages, to the animals and to society in general. It is our duty to repay them all by proper discharge of service. But by the one stroke of devotional service, if someone gives up all obligations and simply surrenders unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he is no longer a debtor, nor obliged to any other source of benefit.

In the Bhagavad-gītā also the Lord says: "Give up all your occupations and just become surrendered unto Me. I give you assurance that I shall give you protection from all sinful reactions." One may think that because he is surrendering unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he will not be able to perform all of his other obligations. But the Lord says repeatedly, "Don't hesitate. Don't consider that because you are giving up all other engagements there will be some flaw in your life. Don't think like that. I will give you all protection." That is the assurance of Lord Kṛṣṇa in the Bhagavad-gītā.

There is additional evidence in the Agastya-saṁhitā: "As the regulative principles of scripture are not required by a liberated person, similarly a person who is engaged duly in the service of Lord Rāmacandra is also not required to discharge the ritualistic principles which are indicated in the Vedic supplimentaries." In other words, the devotees of Lord Rāmacandra, or Kṛṣṇa, are already liberated persons and are not required to follow all the regulative principles mentioned in the ritualistic portions of the Vedic literature.

Similarly, in the Eleventh Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, 5th Chapter, Karabhājana Muni addresses King Nimi and says, "My dear King, a person who has given up the worship of the demigods and has completely concentrated his energy in the devotional service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead has become very, very dear to the Lord. As such, if by chance or mistake he does something which is forbidden, there is no need for him to perform any purificatory ceremonies. Because the Lord is situated within his heart, He takes compassion for the devotee's accidental mistake and corrects him from within." It is also confirmed in the Bhagavad-gītā in many places that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, takes a special interest in His devotees and declares emphatically that nothing can cause His devotees to fall down. He is always protecting them.

Almost all temples are situated close to a water body or a few kms away. when we first moved into this house way back in 2005 i was glad that we had a terrific view of the sea as our house was situated on the mouth of the river bed where the river adayar meets the sea. soon we had a good family friend Suresh who got us the idol of thayar made to order from Kumbakonam. what a blessing it turned out to be at the official house warming when we had the Sudarshan Homa preceding the house warming, The great devotee Malola Kannan got his almost 300 year old  Perumal idol to pair with our Thayar how blessed we felt. But after the festivities he took his Perumal back and I missed the Lord. by the grace of Thayar she found her pair at the cottage industries exhibition where our Perumal was. the Lord seemed to enjoy himself and blessed us plenty with little hurdles we crossed many a testing time but the larger picture was the joys and blessings which came rolling in. after the initial tension of friends and relatives telling us the old house was good etc as Narsim fell ill soon after we moved to this house. we who did not believe in Vastu got the vastu for the house read and were told it had a very good vastu and that only good would follow and so it did. our climb and joys took multi leaps and we saw in a couple of years the children married business growing and general joy and happiness multiplying leaps and bounds but before every major change there was a equal fearful period of gloom. but some how we seemed to have breezed through all the troubles that looked or loomed large today in the great canvas of life those gloomy periods were only stepping stones to the great joy that was behind. it taught us important lessons in life to lie low till the tide crosses great and happy times must arrive. stay positive and be thankful for what has fallen on your palm/lap etc. The house is a blessing and the Lord seems to like it. previously i had only a single pair of Lord and thayar and saw the Srirangam, Kanchi and Tirumala perumal in the same idol. but they all wanted to be represented here and so it happened through Nandhini and Navnith who decided to move in. Then to live with us came the Lords of Kanchi, Tirumala Melkote and Guruvayur. atleast i mentally think so they are not replicas of these Gods but to my minds eye they seem to represent them she had such beautiful idols that soon they settled into my house she also had a great Mandapam which they had. it looks so grand. Krishna Nathana adinar on Adhisesha which to me is Guruvayur perumal is not in the picture. the Tirumala perumal is flanked on either side by Thayars. the one originally i had is Sriranga perumal with Ranganayaki Thayar. next in height is Kachi Vardaraj perumal with Perundevi thayar. then the sitting Narasimha with Thayar sitting on his lap is Melkote  Narasimha perumal on the little hill the visit a few years ago led us to much happiness. Krishna dancing on adhisesha is a reminder of Guruvayur appan. and each has a smaller utsava murthy. i will not be suprised if the grand children will have perumaland thayar utsavams in the house itself.