stories connected to the pancha ayudhams of Maha Vishnu.

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 Panchajana carried away the sages son as he was bathing in the Prabhsa theertha. The asura kept the child captive inside the conch where he lived. The sage was grief striken. He asked his disciples as guru dakshina to bring back his son. accordingly Krishna and Balarama went to the banks of the river and prayed to Varuna. Varuna appeared before them. Krishna appraised him of the situation and asked for assistace.  With the help of Varuna, Krishna and Balarama killed the Asura Panchajana and got back the son of their Guru. The conch in which the asura lived was taken as a momento  by Krishna. Because the conch belonged to Panchajana the conch got the name Panchajanya.

Kaumodaki:
The club of Sri Krishna is known as Kaumodaki. This weapon was given to Vishnu by Varuna the Lord of the waters. It was given at the time of burning the forests Khandava. it is said to be capable of killing every daitya and producing the sound of lightning and thunder.

Nandaka: 
The sword of Maha Vishnu also has a story behind it. Once Brahma performed a sacrifice on the banks of the Ganga on the peak of Mount Meru. While Brahma was sitting in deep meditation one Lohasura came to disturb the sacrifice. Immediately a male being came into existence from the meditation of Brahma. The male being paid homage to Brahma and the devas. the gods blessed and welcomed him. even as the gods blessed and welcomed im he changed into a sword called Nandaki. Nandaka means the one that gives joy. that sword was received by Maha Vishnu by the request of the Gods. just as he took it Lohasura came near he was an asura with a blue complexion with a thousand hands and fists he whirled his club and scattered the assembled devas. Maha Vishnu then used the sword to cut down the limbs of the asura. those limbs became metals when the sword touched them. Maha Vishnu thus killed the asura. he then granted Nandaka a pure body, thus Nandaka became a deity amongst the weapons of the earth. and Brahmas sacrifice was completed with the aid of Vishnu through Nandaka.

Saranga:
It is Sri Krishna's bow. When Krishna showed his visvaroopa in the assembly of the kauravas. he held in one hand a bow. this bow was made by Brahma and given to Krishna.

Sudarshana:
this story is relayed in another post dedicated entirely to the great sudarshana. 

proximity parama pada

Uraimel kondu en ullamovadu eppodum
varaimel maragadame pola tirai mel
kidandanai kkindanai kezalay ppumi
idandanai ettiezum.

My heart will at all times find fulfilment singing in ecstasy the glory of the lord. who is like a sapphire embedded mountain, who is like a sapphire embedded mountain floating on the waves of the milky ocean, who in the form of a boar retrieved this earth lost in the unfathomable depths of the ocean, and restored it to its position. This gives the description of the Sarvasakthi, soulabhya and sowsheelyam f the Lord.

ezuvar uidaigolvar intuzayanai
vazuvar vagai ninaindu vaigal tozuvar
vinai ccudarai nanduvikkum vengadame vanor
mana ccudarai ttundum malai.

The lofty venkata mountain it is that puts out the fire of past sins, of those desirous of worldly riches, those who desire to be with the Lord for the joys of paradise, also to those who constantly seek and pray for proximity of the Lotus feet of the Lord who do not wish to part or stir from being the realized ones at parama padha to be among the ones who are with the Lord wearing the beautiful Tulasi garland.

The alzwar extols the properties of Thiruvenkatam the abode of Lord Srinivasa. 
Lord Krishna in the Bhagvad gita classifies his devotees in the following four folds;
1. A'rtha, those who are afflicted:
2. Jigya,su, those who seek wisdom for hevenly happiness,
3. Artha'rti, those who aspire worldly prosperity,
4. Gya'ni realised beings who wish for nothing except the feet of the Lord.
Thiruvenkatam puts out the fire of accumulated karma of the first three sets of devotees of the Lord. At the same time it kindles the gentle fire of love for the Lord of the realised being.

Abhya sa yoga

Iyalvaga in tuzayan adikke sella
myyalvar iyal amarar munnam --iylvaga
nidiyal odi niyamangalal parava
adiyay ninral avar.

From time immemorial the blessed eternal beings nityasuris have always been in attendance at the lotus feet of the "tulasi garland clad one". But he is ever in the forefront to bless others who, in earnest, recite His auspicious Names, and follow the pursuits prescribed in the spiritual texts.

The alwar observes that it is not as if the Lord is only accessible to the Nithya suris  of Vaikunta who are always in attendance on Him, with garlands, holy water, and incense. He is facile enough for worldly beings like us to reach, if only we recite His names and observe the pursuits prescribed in the shastras for reaching him.
The shastras prescribe a, observance of fasts and other measures of self rectitude. b. listening to the acharya about the teachings of srutis (Sravanam) c, internalising the teachings (Mananam) 
d, worship of the Lord (Archanam) e, singing his praise (nama sankirthanam) f, and rendering service at his feet, and the feet of his beloved devotees(Bhagavad - bha gavatha pada sevanam) Poigai alwar stresse sNidiyal and Iyalvaga meaning in proper manner, to the best of one ability respectively. this is also what Sri Krishna tells in Bhagvad gita as abhyasa yoga practice of devotional service and math karma parama or dedicated to my work (12.9; 12.10)

Inevitable fate.

Kaladi galatte karmaphalambulu
Nilipitimaa nemu nimmaku pulusu

Enta sesinaa ilamuna jeeviki
Chenta najudu vraasina koladhe

Vantala muntiki vaadi vettitimaa
 Kontha teepucherakuku jallitimaa

Ghanamuga buddhulu garapina dehiki
Munu nochina nomu phalambe
Ninupu tenkaayaku neeru ninchitimaa
Onara vemuna chedu nichitimaa

Iravuga Sree Venkatesude praaniki
Karali bhaagyamosagina yante
Maruvamunaku parimalamu sesitimaa
Perigeti yadavulu pencitimaa?

Whatever will be will be. The result of our actions will be whatever they are destined to be.

did we impart sourness in the lemon fruit?
Whatever may be done, the individual in this world will experience only what was destined by Brahma

Were we responsible for making the thorn sharp?
Did we sprinkle sweetness over the sugarcane?

Even the Jiva who is highly educated
will to reap only what he has sowed.

Did we fill the coconut of the tall tree with water?
Did we make the neem bitter?
Did we impart fragrance to the maruva flower?
Did we make the forests grow?


whatever Sree Venkatesvara has destined for this soul only that much they will enjoy.

Evvarivaado ee dehi

Evvarivaado ee dehi
ivvala navvala nee dehi

kaaminchu noorake kalaviyu lenivi
emi gattukone nee dehi
Vaamulaaya iruvadiyoka vaavulu
Emani teliseno ee dehi

Kanduva nijamulu kallalu nadipee
Enduku nekkeno ee dehi
Mundhara nunnavi mogidana paatlu
Inde bhramasee nee dehi

Panchendriyamula paalaaya janmamu
Inchuka eragadu ee dehi
Anchala Sree Venkataadheesaa nee kripa 
Panchaga gelichenu vadi nee dehi.


to whom does this Jeeva embodied self belong both in this world and in the other world?

He freely desires for things that are there as well as those that are not there.

In this process what is it that the Jeeva has achieved?

Problems he has he has twenty one different relationships

It is not cear what is it that this Jeeva has understood and realised through this.
He utters thruths as also lies.
Why this jeeva acts in this manner is not known.
Ahead of him lie tremendous difficulties.
Yet this Jeeva is deluded towards this life.
This life has become subjected to the five senses(Panchendriyas)
This Jeeva knows nothing of all these.
O Lord Venkatesvara! ultimately when You shower your grace on him
THIS JEEVA quickly won and surmounted all the ills mentioned above.

This song highlights the glory and efficacy of Lord's Grace. Once it flashes upon the Jeeva, all his afflictions will absolutely be wiped out without a trace. Dehi the one who has a body. According to Ramanujacharya the bodies are four fold, Divine Sura; human Nara; Stationary Sthaavara; other animal species Tiryak. 
Sufferings are the natural consequences of these four types of embodiment. But the Human being is the luckiest since he has the power to think and worship the Lord Venkateswara.

Adisesa and his association with the Lord.

A well known story yet again to refresh our minds, may be  on what we should ask of God in case we are lucky enough to be blessed when we approach him. Should we be selfless or selfish both seem ok when we have the association Most rishis and great devotees have requested that God be ever present where they were seen to bless others and some like Adishesha are selfish in their request both approach seem ok see the request in the story below:
One day Athri Rishi was performing his morning prayers with his hand folded by the tank bund. suddenly his concentration was disturbed by a small snake which found its way into his folded hands. The great Rishi knew that the small snake was none other than Adisesha, he was annoyed and cursed Adisesha to be doomed to be born on earth. Adisesha repented his childish prank and sought forgiveness. The Rishi however could not redeem him of the curse so he advised him to go to Thiruchitrakutam and pray to the Lord there in due course he would be redeemed. thus Adisesha became Pathanjali (the one who fell from the folded hands). In due course he was blessed by the vision of the Lord who redeemed him he prayed that he be never separated from the Lord, that when the lord lay down he should be his couch, and when he sat he should be his umbrella, and when he walked he should be his foot wear, that he should be the soft cloth which the Lord wore etc God granted his wish to be associated with him always. the temple tank is called Shesha theertham. 

18 days 18 forms how lucky.

Once Gopralaya muni who was performing tapas in the Meru mountains desired to see the Lord as Krishna in his different leelas. In response to his austere penance God appeared before him and asked him to go to Thillai Thiruchitrakutam and offer prayers to him there and that he would fulfill his wish there. accordingly the rishi went to Thillai had his bath in the Pundarika puskarini and prayed to the Lord. God is said to have appeared on 18 days in his 18 forms dipicting the various Krishna leelas. thus the rishi saw the Lord as Kalinganarthana, as Poothana vadham, as Govardhana Giri dhari, Varaha roopam, Narasimha roopam, Trivikrama roopam, Parasurama roopam, rama roopam, seeing his various avtara roopams the Rishi prayed to the Lord to be ever present as Venugopala with four hands and with the company of Rukmini and Satyabhama with him. thus today we have the Lord in the Archa form as Venugopala with Rukmini and Satyabhama at his side.