His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji led the devotees to all the Nine Divya Desams, collectively known as ‘Nava Tirupathi’ (Nine Tirupathi). His Holiness had camped at Sannidhi Street, Sri Vaikuntam and the devotees in a building close by. Every morning bhajan was performed here by Sumant Bhaagavata and party. His Holiness gave darshan at this building every morning. Crowds of devotees from the local Town and places as far as Sivakaasi visited Sri Vaikuntam to have darshan of His Holiness.

The whole Tirunelveli District is aesthetically appealing with greenery filling either side of the neatly laid roads. Plantain and palm trees remind one of the fertile Kerala. There is plenty of water everywhere providing a feast to the dry eyes and parched throats of devotees from Chennai!

Perumaal at every Kshetra looks exquisitely handsome with the Thaayaars’ (Consorts) matching in beauty and ‘Kataaksha’ (Grace filled glance).

On the 28th January, 2004, around 2.15 p.m. His Holiness and devotees left for the first lap of the pilgrimage.

1. Thiru Varagunamangai: This Divya Desam is about a mile and a half from

Sri Vaikuntam. The presiding Deity here is Vijayaasana Perumaal. His Consorts are Varagunamangai Thaayaar and Varagunavalli Thaayaar. Nammaazhwaar has sung praises of this Perumaal.

2. Thiruppulingudi: This Divya Desam is quite close to Thiru Varagunamangai. The presiding Deity here is Kaasinavendar. His Consort is Malarmagal Naacchiyaar. The Utsavar here is Bhoomipiraatti Pullingudivalli. Here, the darshan of the Lotus Feet of Perumaal is had through a small window on the outer ‘prakaaram’. Nammaazhwaar has sung the praises of this Perumaal.

3. Thirutholaivillimangalam:

There are two Temples here and are known as ‘rettai Tirupathi’ (twin Tirupathi). The first Temple is situated on the banks of Tamraparani river and the second on the banks of a canal. They are quite close to Alwaar Thirunagari. Nammaazhwaar has sung the praises of this Perumaal. The presiding Deity in the first Temple is Devapiraan and His Consorts Ubaya (two) Naacchiyaargal. The presiding Deity in the second Temple is Aravindalochanan and His Consorts Karunthadankanni Naachiyaargal. It has been sung by Nammaazhwaar.

4. Thirukkulanthai:

Situated between Sri Vaikuntam and Eral, the presiding Deity here is Soranaathan.

The Lord’s Consort here is Alarmelmanga. The Utsavar is known as Mayakoothan.

The Garuda is also seen as Utsavar next to Perumaal. The praises of this Perumaal has been sung by Nammaahwaar.

5. Thirupperai:

Situated quite close to Aazhwaar Thirungari, the presiding Deity of this big Temple is

Makara-nedunkuzhai-kaathan. The Consort is Kuzhaikaathuvalli Thirupperai Naacchiyaar. The Town has earned its name from her. This has been sung by Nammaazhwaar.

6. Thirukkollur:

Situated quite close to Aazhwaar Thirunagari, this is the birthplace of Madhurakavi Aazhwaar, the great devotee/disciple of Nammaazhwaar. He has done yeomen service to the world by bringing Nammaazhwaar out of his Samadhi state and blessing the world with his words. The Deity here is Vaithamaanidhi Perumaal and His Consorts Kumudavalli and Kollarvalli. Nammaazhwaar has sung the praises of this Perumaal.

On the 29th January, 2004, starting around 8.15 a.m. the remaining Temple of ‘Nava Tirupathi’ as also Vaanamaamalai Temple were visited.

7. Thirukkurungudi:

The praises of Nindra Numbai, the Perumaal here has been sung by Periyaazhwaar, Thirumazhisai Aazhwaar, Nammaazhwaar and Thirumangai Aazhwaar. The Lord’s Consort is Kurungudi Valli Naacchiyaar. This Divya Desam is situated near Naanguneri. The lips of the Lord here are red like the ripe ‘kovai’ fruit.

Nammaazhwaar in his Paasurams (Devotional songs, sung in praise of the Lord by Aazhwaars) on this Lord, sings in ‘Naayikaa bhaava’ (deeming himself to be a lady in love with the Lord) – ‘Thirukkurugundi Nambiyai naan kandapin changinodum, nemiyodum, thaamarai kanngalodum, chengani vaai onrinodum selgindrathen nenjame!’

----“having seen Thirukkurugudi Nambi my heart has been robbed off by those red lips alone.”

H.H. Sri Sri Swamiji in one of his discourses:

‘Deeming himself as a young lady and the Lord here as his lover, Nammaazhwar sings this Paasuram. The mother of this young lady takes her along while visiting this Lord here. The young lady refuses to accompany the mother but goes along, as the mother insistent. However, one look at the Lord and Lo! She falls in Love with Him! On returning home, she is unable to eat or sleep. Her mind is filled with the thought of Thirukkurungudi Nambi that everything around reminds her of Him. On seeing the earth she thinks, “Is this not soil measured by Vaamana?” and picks up the mud and puts it on her head! On seeing the Sun she touches her cheeks with her palms in veneration, as she is reminded of the Chakra in the Lord’s hand. When she sights a snake she is reminded of ‘Aadi Sesha’ the snake bed of the Lord and runs behind it to take hold of it! The mother is astounded by her behaviour and questions her, “What has happened to you, my child? Of late, you seem to have lost your mental balance. You run behind snakes, you touch your cheeks in veneration on seeing the Sun, you pick up sand and throw it on your head. You do not eat or sleep properly.”

The daughter asks the mother, “Why did you take me to Thirukkurungudi? My visit to Thirukkurungudi has brought about this change in me.”

The mother, “How can this be? I had also been there. But, I do not behave so. I am quite normal.”

The young lady explains, “Mother! You are an old lady. All that you seek is Vaikuntam. You pray to the Lord for attainment of Vaikuntam. But, ever since I set my eyes on the Lord, I am not able to forget Him. Those red lips have captivated my heart. I am unable to eat or sleep. I want to marry Him, now!”’

On Kaisika Ekaadasi the ‘Stala puraana’ is enacted here.

8. Thirukkurugur (Aazhwaar Thirunagari):

This is situated quite close to Sri Vaikuntam on the other side of Taamraparanani river. The presiding Deity is Aadhinaathan and the Consort is Aadhi Naathavalli. Nammaazhwaar has sung the praises of this Perumaal.

While waiting at the Mantap just outside the Temple (the Temple opens only at 4.30 p.m. and we were there much early) His a devotee to speak about her experiences with Yogi. With a clear voice and words, the enthusiastic ‘Naama chanter’, spoke on the glory of Guru.

Sitting on the steps leading to the Holy Tamarind tree wherein Nammaazhwaar had sat as a child, H.H. Sri Sri Swamiji narrated, briefly, the life of Nammaazhwar:

“It is here that Nammaazhwaar sat inside a Tamarind tree for 16 years in Samadhi. Nammaazhwaar showed no signs of a normal baby. The parents, therefore, left the baby at the steps of the Perumaal Temple here. The baby at once moved on fours to the tamarind tree here and sat inside a hole in the tree. His hands held the Chinmudra. Born a Jnani, Nammaazhwaar sat in this manner, without eating, sleeping, talking, for 16 long years. Mahdurakavi Aazhwaar, another great devotee of the Lord, sighted a light in the sky and followed it to the tamarind tree and found His Guru seated inside its hole. He brought Nammaazhwaar out of His samadhi state. Madhurakavi Aazhwaar has written Paasurams only on Nammaazhwaar and not a single word in praise of Perumaal! Such was his Bhakti to his Guru. While speaking on the glory of the Lord, Nammaazhwaar would suddenly enter into samadhi state and remain in it for months together. This is no surprise at all. But, what is awe striking is the fact that Madhurakavi Aazhwaar sat in front of his Guru without moving an inch, ready with his writing materials, to take down whatever would fall out of his Guru’s lips as soon as he woke up from his samadhi state! He could not miss out on a single letter falling out of his Guru’s lips Such was his Guru Bhakti!”

Unlike other Aazhwaars who visited the various Perumaal Temples and sang the glory of the presiding Perumaal, the Perumaals of those Temples approached Nammaazhwaar pleading with him to sing their praises! His Paasurams reflect both Bhakti and Advaita state.

The tamarind tree, wherein Nammaazhwaar had sat as a child, was visited. The leaves of this tree and also tamarind are given as prasad.

His Holiness picked with reverence the dust from the ground here and placed it on His head.

9. Sri Vaikuntam:

This Divya Desam is situated on the banks of the Tamraparani. It lies close to Thirunelveli. The Perumaal, Sri Vaikunthanaathan here is in standing position with

Adi Sesha holding His hood as the umbrella over the Lord’s head. The Lord’s Consorts are Bhoodevi and Vaikuntavalli. Nammaazhwaar has sung the praises of this Perumaal.

At ‘Thirukkurungudi’ His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji and the devotees had the darshan of the Jeeyar who blessed all with ‘teerta’ prasad. The Jeeyar also honoured His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji with a shawl.

Before visiting Thirukkurungudi, His Holiness and the devotees also visited Vaanamaamalai Kshetra. The Jeeyar of Vaanamaamalai blessed all with His darshan and teerta prasad. Here is found an oil well! The oil that is used over Perumaal, is then filled up in this well. The well is full with this Holy oil. It is given to visiting devotees as medicine for all ailments.

A separate pond for the Jeeyar is found here very close to the ‘go shala’. A serene atmosphere is found here. The ‘danda’ (staff of the ascetics) used by the Jeeyar is the very same one that had been used by Mannavaallamaamunigal (the founder of ‘Thengalai’ faith of Vaishanava). Since then ‘It’ has been handed down to each successor. The Paaduka used by Mannavaallamaamunigal and several other things that had been used by Him are preserved here. Here again is found Lord Ranganaatha carved in wood that is the exact replica of the Lord at Sri Rangam.

At every Divya Desam of this ‘Nava Tirupathi’ His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji was received with honour. At every ‘Sannidhi’ the Bhattarchayaa honoured His Holiness with ‘Parivattam’ and garland. In all humility His Holiness also received ‘teerta’ prasad and ‘shataari’ in all these ‘Sannidhis’.

Throughout the trip the devotees, led by His Holiness, chanted the Maha Mantra

“Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare! Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare!”

His Holiness also visited many homes of local residents who reverentially and affectionately invited Him.

On the 29th evening ‘Ashtapadi’ Bhajan was sung by Sri Sumant Bhaagavata and party. After the bhajan, Sri Appan Iyengar, retired Ticket collector of the Indian Railways, one of the oldest devotees of Yogiramsuratkumar (Tiruvannamalai) who had come to pay his obeisance to His Holiness was requested by Him to speak on his experiences with Yogi.

On the 30th at 7.00 a.m. ‘Unchavrutti’ was taken performing Namasankirtan around the streets of Sri Vaikuntam.

8.30 a.m. – 12.00 noon: ‘Divya Namasankirtan’ and Radha Kalyaanam were performed under the auspices of His Holiness.

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