Srivilliputtur.

Srivilliputtur the birth place of two of the twelve alwars and famous for a host of great souls who lived and cherished the greatness of this temple town bordered by the western ghats and mountain ranges to the north and south west region of this famous temple town. It has an impressive temple tower which comes to view as soon as one enters this region. This temple tower forms the official emblem of the Tamilnadu Government. 
There are two temples in this town one is the Vathapatra Sayee Perumal divya desham temple, the other is the temple of Andal, the famous Vaishnavite saint. Both the temples face east. The Andal temple is locally known as Nachiyar Thirumaligai and is believed to be the residence where Perialwar resided.
The Vathapatrasayee temple which is also called Periya Perumal Temple has a huge tower measuring nearly 196 ft tall consisting of 11 tiers and 11 kalashams on top built by Sri Vallabha Devapandyan, or Nedumaran. an interesting story connected to this tower is: At the time of the Muslim invasion the army had reached the temple but found a vaishnavite devotee standing before them and trying to prevent them from plundering the temple. the army chief was impressed and threw a challenge that if the devotee climbed up the huge temple tower and jumped and was saved by his god on whom he had so much faith the army would recede without harming the people or destroying the temple. the devotee accepted the challenge and went straight away and jumped from the top most tier he was indeed just as before without any injury in spite of the jump the army chief receded without plundering the temple.
The Moolavar Vathapatra Sayee perumal is seen in bhujanga sayana pose The thayar is Andal, the theertham is Thirumukkulam, the vimanam is Samsana vimanam. God appeared to Manduka Muni and Perialwar here. This temple was under the control of the Travancore Maharaja. the unique features are the temple has three entrances. also the temple is in two floors. Agamas prescribe that if the temple is built in two tiers the bottom tier should have the Avatara bhimbams and the top tier must have the sayana bhimbams. accordingly here in the top tier on a high base is situated the moolasthanam with perumal in the sayana pose lying down on the five hooded Adhisesha, Sridevi and Bhoodevi are sitting on the two sides pressing the divine feet. god is seen in the bhoga sayana pose his right arm is hanging down. the left hand is in abhaya mudra. nearby are the idols of Valli and Kanthan the hunter chieftains, from the naval the lotus is emerging with Brahma seated on it, Perumal has the five ayudhams bow, mace, shanka, chakra and the sword.
The sun god, the moon god, Varuna are also seen Garudalwar and Senai Mudalvar are also seen near his head. a male and female form is also seen they are know as Kinnara Mithunam, they have the foot of a bird and above the waist they have a human form they also have wings. one of them is holding a veena and the other a cymbal. Markandeya Rishi and Brighu maharishi are also seen on left and right side. on the northern wall a picture of shiva is painted.
the crown clothes and jewellery have a golden colour and hence one sees the dazzling picture.
Two stories connected with the origin of this temple. one is its the Varaha kshetram. earth personified as Bhoomidevi being carried away by the demon Hiranyaksha and kept hidden in the ocean and perumal manifestes as Varaha and rescues Bhoomidevi and killed the demon. he continued to stay there to bless his devotees. 
This above place in course of time  got deserted and a wild forest grew here the region came under the rule of one queen named Malli who had two sons Villi and Kanthan. one day as they were hunting in the forest, Kanthan followed a tiger which ultimately attacked and killed him Villi searching for his brother got exhausted and slept under a tree. God appeared in his dream and said that his brother was killed by the tiger and he Perumal was lying hidden underneath the ant hill, he directed Villi to clear the undergrowth and with the help of the Pandya king build a temple for him there.
since he rediscovered the temple and lord the place came to be known as Villi Pudur. Sri came to be added in course of time being associated with Andal.
The Andal koil is bigger than the Vathapatrasayee perumal temple.
It has exquisitely sculpted huge pillars with figures of Venugopala, Rama, Lakshmana, Karna, Manmatha, Paramasiva, Visvakarma, Saraswathi. The figure of saraswathi when viewed  if an imagenery line is drawn from the tip of the big toe to the nose of the figure we can see they are in a straight line yet the figure has four bends. thats the marvel in the sculpting another pillar has a face of an elephant from the face to the waist below which is the figure of a woman. yet another the face to waist of a woman then downwards is the figure of a lion. In the same pillar on the other side is a sculpted figure of shanks nidhi and padma nidhi of goddess Lakshmi. This figure is not found anywhere else. There are three wells in the temple one is famously called the Darpana Kinaru or Kannadi Kinaru here the water is crystal clear and this well never dries up. no fishes are found here. the other two wells are Chandana Kinaru, and Thirumadapulli kinaru. 
Here we see Rangamannar, Andal and Periya Thiruvadi in Eka Simhasanam. Rangamanar in the center andal to the right and Garudar to the left. here Perumal does not have shankha and Chakra but instead has a Sceptre, which is a unique feature.
Lots of stories are connected to this important temple and what can be written can be never ending. however. ......  

Uttamar Koil Thirukkarambanur.

There are three sannidhis for each of the three trinity. the respective consorts also have a shrine, There is also a shrine for Saraswathi, For Karthigai deepam both Siva and Perumal are taken together in a procession round the streets of the temple. The temple has two seperate prakaras inside. Kolidam river flows close to the temple also Ayyan Vaikkal and Kadamba Thirukkulam.
The Moolavar perumal is Purushothaman seen in Bhujaga sayanam pose facing east. almost all the temples down south god is seen in a resting pose as compared to the north of India. towards the middle of India God is usually seen in a squatting pose.
Thayar is known as Poorna valli or Poorna devi it is said that when she gave Bikshai to shiva the Brahma Kapalam became full. Kadamba theertham and Kadali viruksham, vimana is Udyoga vimana. the Lord appeared to Kadamba Muni, Thirumangai Alwar, Uparisaravasu and Sanaka sananthana sanathana sanath kumaras.
This temple is also known famously as Uttamar koil, Bikshandar koil,Neepa kshetram, Kadamba vana kshetram, Trimurthy kshetram and Adhimahapuram.
Lots of interesting stories even of warfare and protection are told of this unique temple. vedas assumed the form of Kadamba Viruksham, the Agamas became flowers, the Ithihasas became fruit, the puranas became birds and stayed in the Kadamba Kshetram.
yet another one is of siva plucking off a face of brahma and that getting stuck to his hand  as Kapalam and how he would be redeamed of this if on begging the Kapalam got filled and in the end how lakshmi thayar Bikshai fills up the Kapalam and siva is rid of the curse are some stories connected to this kshetram.

Thiru Kozhi (Nichulapuri Uraiyur)

THiru Kozhi or Uraiyur or Nichulapuri, the Moolavar is Manavala Perumal in standing posture with the Prayoga chakra in his hand facing north. Thayar is by his side Known as Kamalavalli Nachiyar, or Urayur Valli or Vasa lakshmi. she is seated and also facing North. The Lord and thayar are in their wedding finery and dress. the theertham is aptly known as Kalyana Theertham, or surya Pushkarini, Vimana is also Kalyana Vimana. God appeared to a chola king called Dharmavarma.
the story runs that Ranganathar came from Srirangam to marry the daughter of the Chola King Dharmavarma. Vasa lakshmi. Even today in the month of Panguni a day prior to Uthiram the Lord Ranganatha comes here and the wedding is performed with Vasa lakshmi. this area is also famous for the birth place of Tirupan alwar who wrote Amalanadhipiran.
The story of Brighu maharishi visiting the Trinity and cursing Lakshmi is all too well known a story for repetition. Lakshmi as promised by Vishnu was born to a Chola King Dharmavaram.
How Lakshmi came to be born to King Dharmavaram is an interesting story.
On the banks of the kaveri there was a forest Kararanyam where a number of brahmins lived their King was from the Ikshvaku dynasty. once he happened to visit the forest for hunting, he liked the peaceful atmosphere where the rishis were living. He decided to live there too they told him of their plight caused by the deamons he gave them protection, he also built a beautiful town and named it after the queen Nichulapuram, since he had no progeny the King with the help of the rishis performed a Lakshmi Tantra yagam. the goddess was pleased and said she herself would be born to them. In the month of Chitirai, Sukla pakshami  dwadasi uthara Nakshathiram on a Friday evening a girl was born to them she was named Vasa Lakshmi. they had a boy too a little later and he was named Chandra tilakan. the children grew with lot of affection and care. when Vasa lakshmi came of age her father arranged for her Swayamvara where Lord Ranganathar also was present as Raja Kumara. Lakshmi identified him as her Lord Vishnu and selected him. the wedding came to be celebrated. The kings joy knew no bounds. he built a huge temple and requested the Lord to stay there giving his blessings to all the devotees visiting Uraiyur or Nichulapuri.

Thirukoilur

Thirukoilur is famous as it was here that the Divya prabandham was first composed. the first three alwars met here and sang the glories of the Lord here. thus shedding the darkness of the whole world.
The Vishnu temple here is very big. Bronze idols of the first three alwars are in the Garbhagriha. the area where the temple is located has been known previously as the headquarters of the Malayaman chieftains who were known for their valour, generosity and love for literature. VD wrote Dehalisa Stuti in this temple. the temple also has a idol of Durga here. Neivedhyam is performed to her also after the Lord and thayar even today.
the Moolavar is Thrivikrama where the right leg is lifted to measure the entire heavens. the lord is facing east the utsavar is known as Ayanar and Gopala. the thayar is Poongovai Nachiyar, theerthams are plenty Pennai river, Krishna Theertham, chakra theertham, Srikara Vimanam. God appeared to Balichakravarthy, Mirusandu rishi, Brahma, Sounaka Rishi, Kasyapa Rishi, Kalava Rishi, Kusadwaja King and of course to the first three alwars. so the stories also are equal in no. The temple is one among the pancha Krishna Kshetrams and is managed by Thirukoilur Sri 'Emberumanar Jeer Swamy. Famous interesting stories are connected to this temple and the appearance of the Lord to a host of devotees, who requested him to stay on and bless pilgrims to the place. Important Siva temple is also found close by. with as interesting a history as the one for this temple.

Thought.

earthly evolution

Miracles are happenings where we see the result only without the process that leads to the result. It is like a mathematical problem where the solution only is given and not the gradual steps that lead to the solution. The steps may be shortened or totally suppressed, it looks like the puzzle, a riddle or a paradox.

Ignorance is usually equated with innocence. A child is ignorant, therefore he is innocent. spiritually however, ignorance does not mean innocence. Ignorance or unconsciousness or inconscience different degrees of the same thing that is to say lack of consciousness mean, at bottom, falsehood. It is through the ignorance that maya, the great illusion, was born. Ignorance is false apprehension, it begins with the same separation, "I am other than the Divine." That is how jiva is born through the ignorance. The world is separate from the Divine. that is how matter is born as or in inconscience. And the creation appears as evil. this sense of separation is a falsehood for in reality nothing is separate from the supreme consciousness, all is that.

To regain the Truth-sense, to move upward in the cycle of ignorance and falsehood towards this Truth-sense is the world-labour and also human labour.

Even in the state of separation under conditions of the inconscience and falsehood, in spite of all appearances the Unity, the Truth-consciousness remains intact behind. It is never effaced or obliterated.

the sense of earthly evolution is the gradual unfolding of the Divine, the Supreme Consciousness in and through the gradations of consciousness from the inconscience through unconsciousness and consciousness to supra consciousness- Matter wholly transmuted into Light.

God above and God within.

God is not only above or beyond the creation. He is also here within the creation. He is not only over our head looking down upon us. He is within our heart inspiring us, enlightening us, loving us, this is the dynamic Divine the Supreme consciousness concealed within the apparent inconscience of the material existence. It is that which pushes creation upward in its evolutionary course. It is that which lies behind man's ignorance purifying his obscurity leading him to a more luminous revelation.

In the Vedic image above shines Surya, here below burns Agni Both are aspects of the same truth.

Emptying and Replenishment.

The body is composed of cells, living cells. these cells from the standpoint of consciousness are desire cells, that is to say particles of desire, concrete and consolidated packets of hunger and thirst. A string of such innumerable packets of hunger and thirst is life. 

buddha said the cells are to be emptied completely. Emptiness of cell is Nirvana.

Not necessarily. For one may empty the cells of their obscure contents but replenish them with something of a purer order. this is a possibility we envisage and which we are working for. The Divine life empties the cell of desire but fills it with the energy of solar Light.

EGO.

To renounce is a greater delight than to enjoy.

To give is greater joy than to take.

To love is greater ravishment than to be loved.

In one it is ego, man's self centredness that limits, dilutes, and even perverts his happiness. In the other it is precisely the egolessness that brings the pure felicity. It is the ego, the personal shift that cuts the Infinite, obscures the consciousness which otherwise in its natural condition is always the supreme bliss and beatitude.

Ego turns reality into unreality, light into darkness, immorality into death.

And whatever the interim necessity and utility of the ego, originally and also ultimately it has no space or standing. For originally and ultimately and absolutely, it is the Divine that exists in and through the Divine, moves in and through the Divine to the Divine.

It is the Divine that knows the Divine through the Divine.

It is the Divine that dynamises the Divine through the divine.

It is the Divine that enjoys, loves the Divine through the Divine

Consciousness and Dimensions of View.

material world is three dimensional. every material object is three dimensional. but another dimension Time can be added to create the fourth.

to be continued.

THIRUVAHINDRAPURAM

Deivanayakan the Moolavar is seen facing east, known to be the manifestation of the Trinity. the stalapurana and details are available in the Brahmanda Puranam, Skanda Puranam and Brahannaradiya Puranam. god appeared to Garudar, Adhisesha and Siva. 
The Beautiful idol of Rama, Sita Lakshmana and Anjaneya are seen here it is believed that V D wrote the Raghuvira Gadhyam in this place.
The river Gadilam and the hillock Oushadagiri add to the beauty of this temple which is situated in between these two spectacular natural beauty. The temple structure is majestic and beautiful too.
Oushadagiri has a temple for Hayagrivar there are two Bronze idols of Hyagrivar one in the temple on Oushadagiri and another in the temple of thiruvahindrapuram which is believed to be the idol prayed to by V D. the life of VD and the history of the temple are so intertwined that description of one without the other is not possible. 
Once upon a time, in Tirupapuliyur, Lord Sankara was standing for a long time and praying to Devadinatha. At that time an asareeri voice told Sankara that Janardhana would shortly appear before him. it advised him to go to the banks of Garuda nadhi close by and pray to Lord Devanatha. accordingly siva did as told. Janardhana appeared before Shiva. siva then asked for help to kill the mighty asuras Triprasuras. Vishnu promised him all assistance, saying that Brahma would be used as the sarathi, Maha meru would be the dhanus, Bhoomi would be used as the ratham, Chandra and surya as the great wheels, Vasuki as the bow string rope and the four oceans as the quiver pouches holding the arrows, the vedas would become the horses. Lord Vishnu said he would become the arrow which can be let loose from Lord Shankara's bow. He thus promised with the combined might they would be able to kill the asura. He gave the bow to Lord Shankara, this bow is said to be faster thasn the thought process of the mind. The battle was waged and in the process lots of lives on the asuras side was lost siva was so lost in the fight that he was swept away into the sea of blood towards the ocean. Lord Devanatha too went to the sea shore and played on his flute a melodious tune hearing which shiva was again united with Vishnu. this incident is celebrated even today in the month of  Feb Mar when the full moon in the month of Masi shines.
The Utsava moorthi is spoken of as Moovar Agiya Oruvan as you can see the lord has a lotus flower in his right hand a symbol of brahma, the third eye which isthe symbol of shiva can be seen on the forehead, the matted hair on the utsavamurthi is another likeness to shiva and shanka and chakra Vishnu symbols are held in the two hands. Thayar is called Hemamnujavalli, and Vaikunta Nayaki,Garuda nadhi, Chandra theertham and Sesha Theertham, the vimana is Chandra Vimana, also called Suddha Sattva Vimana. 
As is seen from other divya desam lots of stories are also connected to this temple. On the whole a beautiful temple with a lot of history written amidst its vicinity. Thirumangai alwar alone has sung in praise of the lord here.

education of nature.

I marvel how Nature could ever find space 
For so many strange contrasts in one human face: 
There's thought and no thought, and there's paleness and bloom 
And bustle and sluggishness, pleasure and gloom. 

There's weakness, and strength both redundant and vain; 
Such strength as, if ever affliction and pain 
Could pierce through a temper that's soft to disease, 
Would be rational peace--a philosopher's ease. 

There's indifference, alike when he fails or succeeds, 
And attention full ten times as much as there needs; 
Pride where there's no envy, there's so much of joy; 
And mildness, and spirit both forward and coy. 

There's freedom, and sometimes a diffident stare 
Of shame scarcely seeming to know that she's there, 
There's virtue, the title it surely may claim, 
Yet wants heaven knows what to be worthy the name. 

This picture from nature may seem to depart, 
Yet the Man would at once run away with your heart; 
And I for five centuries right gladly would be 
Such an odd such a kind happy creature as he. 
W W.