Thiru Nagai

The Neelamega Perumal seen in standing posture facing east and holding a mace in his hand. The Utsavar is Soundarya Rajan. thayar here is known as Soundarya valli. Utsava thayar is Gajalakshmi. the pushkarini is Sara and vimanam is Soundarya. the lord appeared to Nagaraja, Druva and Salisugan.
the Lord Soundarya Raja can be seen in three poses the reclining posture of Ranganatha, the sitting posture of Sri Govinda raja and the standing posture of Sri Soundarya Raja. the vimanam here has five kalasams which is rare. Garuda is seen sitting which is also rare. there is an ashta bhuja Narasimha swamy in this temple which is also rare. there are 15 vimanam in this temple which was built by a staunch devotee and the topmost tier seven had a bright light which served the purpose of the light house in this important sea port during the 17th century.

Thiru vellarai. Svethagiri kshetram.

The Moolavar is Pundarikakshan, seen standing facing east. The thayar is known as Shengabavalli, Pankaja selvi, vimanam is Vimalakruthi vimanam, seven theerthams. 
god appeared to Garudar, Sibi Chakravarthi, Bhoodevi, Markandeya rishi, Brahma Rudra and Indra. 
the temple is said to have been built by Sibi chakravarthy the forefathers of Rama. In treta yuga Sibi Chakravarthy is said to be ruling at Ayodhya, he had heard of the atrocities of Ravana the King of Lanka. He is said to have decided to punish Ravana and so assembled his army and proceeded towards Lanka. The army had reached the Area Neelikavanam near svethagiri and decided to rest there for a while. here an unusual event provoked the kings curiosity as he was resting enjoying the coolness of the place. he saw a white boar rushing about the place the king followed the boar as it seemed unusual and behaving so too. as he was following the boar it vanished into a bush. the king got the bush cleared. he came upon Markandeya rishi and Bhoomi devi doing penance there. he is said to have heard a asareeri voice which said "O Sibi Raja, I will be born as the son of Dasaratha. I will destroy Ravana at that time. The king is said to have had a dialogue with the voice and requested to what his future course of action should be. He was advised to build a temple for Perumal at Svethagiri, and that the Lord would be appearing there. he built a temple and Markandeya rishi arranged for all the religious functions to be performed there by bringing 3700 brahmin families from a place Antarvedi village which lies some where between Ganga and Yamuna. these people came to be known as thiruvellarai Vaishnavas.
Ramanujacharya is said to have taken 52 families to Melkote when he wanted some priests to render service to Tirunarayana. another 64 families went to Kongu nadu (Erode today). In Alwar Thirunagari in Thirunelveli district some of the Sri vaishnavas are known as Thiruvellaraiyaar. Hence the original 3700 families who Markandeya rishi is said to have brought from antaravedi seem to be scattered today in places like Srivilliputtur, Thirukoshtiyur, Vembathur, Kidaram, Perunkarunai. 
God is said to have promised thayar that she would get Sengol Paripalanam at this place hence when ever the deity is taken out in procession the idol of the thayar precedes the Lord, even to Moolasthanam. 
a particular entrance to the temple is known as Nazhi Ketta vasal. It is said that one day there was a delay in Perumal returning after his rounds in the village. the goddesses is said to have asked him as to why he was delayed at this particular entrance. on getting the suitable reason   he entered the temple precincts.
The Moolavar on top of the hill has to be approached by climbing 59 steps. these steps have a significance here.
The first 18 steps are said to represent the Gita.
The next four steps represent the four vedas.
after crossing these one reaches the Bali peetam. here the Bali peetam is considered holy and powerful. the devotees who offer prayers to the lord and when their prayers are answered promise to do Thirumanjanam to the Bali peetam and offer Pongal to both the Bali peetam and the perumal at the temple as thanks giving. after the bali peetam five steps which represents the pancha bhoothams. after crossing this one comes to the Nezhi Kettai vasal. then one has to go round the hill in a pradakshina form. we find two entrances to approach the temple. these are known as Utharayana and Dakshinayana entrances. from the first day of Adi to the end of Markazhi July to Dec the Dakshinayana vasal is kept open and from the beginning to thai to the end of Ani Jan to June the Uttarayana vasal is kept open. thus the path taken by the sun has a great significance to approach the Perumal. after crossing this vasal there are eight steps which are said to represent Ashtakshara, then comes 24 steps which represent the 24 aksharas in Gayathri mantram.
In the Moolasthanam we find to the right of Perumal is Sun God and to the left is the Moon god. both are facing the perumal. To the right Garuda and the left Adiseshan are seen in human form. To the right side Markandeya and the left side Bhoomippiratti are seen in a seated posture as if they are doing tapas. the disc is in the prayoga form. In the front of the Moolavar Pankaja Nayaki and Pundarika utsavar idols are also seen.
As one comes down after the dharshan there is a Chithirai mandapam. sculptures of Surya, chandra, Indra, Garuda, Iravatham, Brahma, siva, along with Pundarikakshan all very beautiful can be seen.
In the street where the Ratha is drawn there is a tank which is known as Mother in law, daughter in law tank known as Marupati kinaru or chakra theertham this is in the swastik shape. the construction is such that if one is having a bath in one wing and another in the other wing they cannot see each other. 
Ramanuja is said to have stayed in this place for twelve years. One day the goddesses is said to have asked Perumal what he proposes to do to the sanyasi who was staying in that place for so long. God is said to have replied that the Goddesses could send to him as prasad, food after she had partaken of it. since that day the food is taken to the Udayavar sannidhi with Melam and thalam as neivedhyam.this custom is followed even today. this sannidhi is in the street where the tank is. there is a udayavar kulam where Ramanuja is said to have had his bath. there is another tank too called Paal ootru kulam. god is said to have used this water to apply the vaishnavite caste mark. the water here is very clear and tastes of tender coconut water.
The five tanks are Padma theertham, Kusahasti teertham, Kandha Pushkarini teertham, varaha teertham and Mani Karnika teertham. a person who wishes to be blessed with progeny must  have his bath in these pushkarinis.
Thiruvellarai is famous for a host of acharyas. Perialwar calls the god here as Gnana sundar, Desikar refers to the lord as Swayam Prakasa. Thirumangai Alwar refers to the lord as most precious golden one who is safe up in the hills. Veeyakkondan and Engalalavan. Nathamunis sishyas Pundarikakshan and Kurugai Kavalappar. Nathamuni named Pundarikakshan as Uyyakkondan.
Engalalvan also known as Vishnu chittar. it is he who helped Udayavar complete the Sri Bhasyam and thus he was lovingly called Engalalavan by Ramanuaja. Nadadur ammal learnt the sri bhasyam kalakshepam from Engal alavan who also adopted Nadadur ammal as his son. Nadadur ammal is said to have built a statue for his teacher and left it in the care of Engal alavan's daughters family.

Bhakta Pootana (W)

Bammera Potana (1450-1510) was born in Bammera, a village twenty miles away from Warangal, into a Niyogi Brahmin family. His father was Kesanna and his mother was Lakkasanamma. He was considered to be a natural scholar (sahaja panditha) without a teacher. Potana was a very polite gentleman. He was an agriculturist by occupation. Though he was a great scholar, he never hesitated to work in the agricultural fields.

At an early age he wrote ‘Bhogini Dandakam’ a poem wrote in praise of king Sri Singa Bhoopala’s concubine Bhogini. This was his first poetic venture which had the seeds of his great poetic talents. His second work was "Virabhadhra Vijayamu" which describes the adventures of Lord Virabhadhra, son of Lord Shiva. The main theme was the destruction of a yagna performed in absence of Lord Shiva by Daksha Prajapathi.

As a young man, he was a devotee of Lord Shiva. Later, Potana became a devotee of Lord Rama and more interested in salvation. His conversion from Shaivism to Vaishnavism was triggered by an incident. One early morning during a lunar eclipse, on the banks of river Godavari, Potana was meditating on Lord Shiva. At that auspicious moment, Lord Rama appeared dressed like a king and requested Potana to translate Bhagavatam into Telugu and dedicate it to him. This inspired him to translate Vyasa’s Sanskrit Bhagavatam into Telugu.

The king of Warangal, Sarvajna Singa Bhoopala, wanted Potana to dedicate ‘Andhra Maha Bhagavatamu’ to him. But, Potana refused to obey the king’s orders and dedicated the Bhagavathamu to Lord Rama, whom he worshipped with great devotion. It is said that Potana remarked, ‘it is better to dedicate the work to the supreme Lord Vishnu than dedicate it to the mortal kings.’ He was of opinion that poetry was a divine gift and it should be utilized for salvation by devoting it to the God.

He was quite fond of using rhythm and repetition of sounds giving a majestic grace to the style of writing. He was very skilful in using alankaras (figures of speech) like similes and metaphors. Potana imparted the knowledge of the divine to the Telugu people along with lessons in ethics and politics through Andhra Maha Bhagavatamu.

Even illiterate Telugus readily quote verses from chapters 'Gajendra Mokshamu' and 'Prahlada Charitra' of his work, ‘Andhra Maha Bhagavathamu,’ the crown jewel of Telugu literature. Andhra people are greatly indebted to the most beloved poet Bammera Potana.

In fact, Pothana himself ascribed in the following poem, the purpose of his writing the Bhagavatam:

palikeDidi bhAgavathamata
palikincheDivADu rAmabhadhrunData
balikina bhavaharamagunata
palikedavEronDu ghAdhapalukaganEla

"Visvamayata lemi viniyu oorakayundiri

Amujaasanaadulu addu padaka"

"Visvamayudu vibhudu visnundu jishnundu

Bhakthi Yutunaku

Addupada thalanche"

Annamayya.

Oh ye worldly men! move away do not interfere with our lives.
This tongue which has tasted the glory of singing Hari nama will never again sing the praise of any one else.
This head which has bowed low at the feet of Murahari will not accede to bowing at the feet of others.
These hands which offered worship to Sripathi will never stretch out seeking alms from others.
These feet of mine which walked towards the temple of Hari will never proceed towards any other house.
This mind of mine which for ever dwells on Sri Venkatachalapathi will not even by mistake for a moment think of any one else.
This body of mine which is His property will never be subservient and amenable to control by others.
Aakativelala.
When I am hungry or when I am tired the only succour is the name Hari.       There is no other way.
When I desire something or when I am lonely or when I am held captive or when I am threatened with incarceration my only succour is Harinama.        however much we may try there is no other way.    or source of help.
When I am in distress or when I am frightened or fear a scandalor any other evil.  I know for certain there is no other succour except Hari nama.
When I am tied up by chains or when I am sentenced to death or when Iam troubled by creditors my only key for release is the name of Lord Venkatesa.    however much one may try there is no other succour.

Phalastuti. of the Ayudhams of Maha Vishnu.

If the hymns of the five weapons of Maha Vishnu are read in the morning all sorrow fear sins are removed and joy conferred on the reciter is the belief.
Pancha Janya:
A mighty asura lived inside a conch. Sri Krishna and Balarama were students in the ashram of Sage Sandeepani. On the eve of completing their education, an asura named Pancajana carried away the sages son who was bathing in the Prabhasa teertha. The asura kept the child captive inside the conch where he lived. The sage was grief striken. He asked his disciples to bring back his son as Guru Dakshina. Krishna and Balarama went to the banks of the river and prayed to Varuna. when Varuna appeared Krishna appraised him about the situation and asked him for assistance. Withthe help of Varuna Krishna and Balarama killed the asura Pancajana and got back the sages son. Krishna took the conchin which the asura lived as a momento, and the name panchajanya coined. (10th skanda Bhagavata)
Nachiar Tirumozhi has ten stanzas devoted to the beauty of the Panchajanya.and how envious she was of the conch which was so close to the Lord. beautiful verses.
Vishnu Purana describes how the Child Dhruva who had started a penance hoping for kingship asked God for Moksha when the Lord lovingly touched him with the Panchajanya on his cheek.
Kaumodaki.
The club is known as Kaumodaki, this was given by Varuna to Vishnu Kaumodaki or The Mace of Vishnu represents spiritual, mental and physical strength, which has a tendency to be quite overwhelming at first. 

The name Gada has a lot of history that comes along with it. Gada was the name of a mighty demon who once brought much terror upon humanity. Many legends tell about how terrible Gada was, but he had one flaw that was quite easy to take advantage of. It is said that despite how horrible Gada was, he could also be quite charitable. Gada never refused a request that was asked of him no matter how ridiculous the request might have been. My creator, Vishnu, disguised himself as a poet of sorts, also known as a Brahmin. The disguised Vishnu approached Gada and requested that Gada lend his own bones to him. Gada ripped himself apart at the seams to deliver his bones to Vishnu. Vishnu then took these bones and fashioned for himself one of the most grand maces of all time. This mace is called as Kaumodaki. Due to the fact that the mace was created from the bones of Gada the word Gada came to permanently mean mace in sanskrit.
Kaumodaki was created in order to protect humanity. There is nothing that it cannot conquer. This is why the mace has often been compared to the element of time. Time is always moving and can never be stopped. Time itself is unconquerable just like Kaumodaki. (found in the Adi parva chapter of Mahabharatha)
Nandaka
The sword of Maha Vishnu. Brahma performed a sacrifice on the banks of the Ganga at the peak of Mount Mahameru.  asura Lohasura came to disturb the sacrifice. immediately a male being came into existence from the meditation of brahma, he paid homage to the devas and brahma the devas blessed him he immediately changed into a sword. as he was blessed and welcomed by the devas he came to be known as Nandaka one who gives joy. 
Lohasura was an asura with a blue complexion with a thousand hands he whirled his hands and scattered the devas. Maha vishnu then used the sword to cut off his hands. thus Nandaka helped Vishnu.
Saranga.
Saranga is Vishnu bow. as seen in the Visvaroopa darshanam in the battle field. this is said to have been made by Brahma and presented to Vishnu (Krishna)
Sudarsana.
the discus. the sun god married the daughter of Visvakarma by name Samjna. She could not bear the radiance of the sun and complained to her father,  who put the sun through a machine and decreased its radiance. out of the dust produced by rotating the sun in the machine, Visvakarma is said to have made the discus weapon, the aerial chariot Pushpaka, the trident of shiva and the lance of subramanya. (vishnu Purana)
The forest Khaandava was burning, Indra showered rain on that fire. the god Agni gave sudarshana to lord Krishna and the Ghandeeva bow to Arjuna to fight against Indra. Sudarshana had the power of completing the task and returning to the owner. The Srivaishnava community endearingly and reverentially call it Chakrattalvar.( alwar means one who is deeply in love with God)

double your reading ability in ten days.

One Million words.
It has been estimated that a college student, or an average man in a position of average responsibility may be expected to read up to at least one Million words in a single week. Its best to start now.
Get a watch with a sweep second hand and begin timing  yourself. your reading must not be a burden but simply you should learn how to handle it. When ever the world has made new demands new methods have been developed to deal with the situation. you can master your reading by following it will help you to get to the core of the article, to evaluate the central idea, recognise details and to spot faulty or in consistent processes. at the end you will become a rapid and effective reader. But you have to practice. Best times of course is around 3 A.M in the morning.( I must mention an science exhibition i went to in Helsenki where they monitored eye fixation as you passed in front of the stall and gave a graphical picture to tell you what your eye saw while you walked and viewed the stall as you came to the end of the stall. it was amazing the picture the mind actually does not see everything the eye does.)
When your eyes move along a line, they do not travel in a single smooth sweep, but in a series of stops and starts called eye fixations. the more eye fixations you make on a single line the more longer it takes you to read it.
the first reading technique is phrase reading. do you read word by word or do you read phrase by phrase. you should remember a single word are rarely significant by themselves. but take on meaning only with context in the group.
the best way to train your eyes to read phrases is to practice space reading. i.e. rather than focusing your eyes directly on the print, lift them so they focus slightly above the line; allow your eyes to relax and spread your span of vision over several words so that you are reading a whole phrase at a time rather than a single word. this can also be practiced by making a hole in the center of a card and placing the reading material at about fourteen inches distance from your eye try reading it through the hole of the card. you will be able to count the eye movements you make while reading. also you could use the card to move faster and faster through the page while you repeat read you will be astonished how much progress you can make in a single day. Once you have understood what you have read move on, sometimes we unnecessarily spend  more time than is required even on understanding the sentences and  by practice this regression could be avoided. next step is to read not only word groups but meaningful word groups. look for the units of thought in a passage you are reading. you could box the thought units by a pencil mark. soon you will develop the awareness of logical phrase structure. practice this every day. the above two techniques have already helped you to become a faster reader.
Next step is Indentation. 
Say when you focus on the first word of the sentencehalf of your vision span you will notice is on the blank space before the word same also as you end the sentence. try and manipulate the card movement a few words within the line of print. that way you can control eye span better. but never skip words. but train to read nothing but words. you could at first draw two light lines vertically on the page for eye fixation a few words before the line begins and so to before the line ends surely your speed has improved by now. 
key word reading.
once you have mastered the art of phrase reading next is to (you have already marked the phrases by pencilyou will notice as you read the passage faster and faster you will concentrate on only the key words that ring out the meaning in the passage. key word and eye swing exercise over a passage will help.
you would now have developed a smooth reading rhythm and also reduced the number of stops your eye makes on each line of print.
happy reading.

Thiru Kudalur (Aduthurai Perumal Koil)

Chola Nadu divya Desham the Moolavar is known as Vaiyam Katha Perumal also Jagat Rakshakan seen standing facing east with a prayoga chakra in His hand. the Utsavar is also know as Jagat Rakshakan but he holds a sceptre in his hand. The Goddess is known as Padmasini as also Pushpavalli. Chakra theertham Kaveri nadhi. the Vimanam is Suddha Satva Vimanam and Sangamuga kshetram. This is the only other temple with the name Kudalur as here the devas along with Nandaka Munivar and other rishis joined to worship Perumal. in tamil the word Joined is referred to as Kooda. there are a few stories interesting connected with this place.
Two stories of the generous and devout King Ambarisha, Nandakar rishi, Kaveri river, Devout Parrot and Rani Mangammal.