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nAmakkal perumAL and ubhaya nAcchiyArs - Utsavar

 CONTENTS

Foreword 1

Introduction 7

RAmA meets HanumAn 11

The origin of NAmagiri kshetram 16

Ahi-Mahi Ravana and BhagavAn's vatsalyam 23

NAmagiri kshetram - Virtual Tour 26

NAmakkal Anjaneyar 33

HanUmath SahasranAmam in Sanskrit 39

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All images pertaining to the NAmagiri kshetram, Kumbakonam RAmar
temple murals and the temple murals of NAmagiri found in this e-book
have been lovingly provided by Sri.Lakshminarasimhan Sridhar, the
author himself.

Pl. check the following site for additional pictures of the NAmakkal
kshetram - http://www.pbase.com/svami/namakkal_narasimhar

The HanUmath SahasranAmam included in this e-book is from ParAsara

Samhitai. The entire samhitai can be accessed at:

www.archive.org/details/SriParasaraSamhitaHanumaCharitramVol1

www.archive.org/details/SriParasaraSamhitaHanumaCharitramVol2
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Utsava mUrthys of NAmakkal kOil

 FOREWORD
By
SrI nrusimha SEva Rasikan
Oppiliappan kOil Sri.VaradAchAri SaThakOpan svAmi

(Editor-in-Chief of Sundarasimham-ahObilavalli E-Books series)

b
Sundara KaaNDam of Srimath Vaalmiki RaamAyaNam has 2,885 slOkams. The
two key personalities who dominate the above slOkams of Sundara KaaNDam
are our Jaanaki MaathA and Dheera HanumAn.

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As the scout for Lord Raamachandra to locate SithA PirAtti, Veera HanumAn
jumped over the ocean, arrived at LankA and found Her in the middle of AsOka
Vanam. As Raama Daasan, HanumAn delivered the message of Lord
Raamachandra and assured SithA PirAtti that the Raghu Veeran will arrive
very soon at LankA to kill RaavaNa and rescue Her from the prison in which
RaavaNa had confined Her. Next, HanumAn's upadEsam to RaavaNa to
surrender SitA PirAtti to Her husband, RaamA and seek His forgivance as an
ambassador of Raama (Raama DhUthan) was not accepted by the power
intoxicated RaavaNa, who in turn ordered his servants to set fire to
HanumAn's tail. Thanks to the power of SithA PirAtti's chastity, Agni did
not cause any harm to HanumAn's tail that was set ablaze. HanumAn used
that fire to burn down the city of Lanka. At the end, HanumAn quenched the
fire on his tail in the sea water, returned to AsOka Vanam and took leave of
Jaanaki MaathA, reassured Her and returned to RaamA's side on the other
side of the Ocean to convey the Joyous news of finding SitA PirAtti in Lanka
nagaram.

The heroism displayed by HanumAn as Raama Daasan are brilliantly described

by Sri Valmiki Maha Rishi in Sundara KaaNDam: http://www.ahobilavalli.org (E-

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 book # 19)

Sundara KaaNDam deals with the Vaibhavam of Yeka Mukha AnjanEya

(HanumAn). In another version of RaamAyaNam, there is an incident dealing
with Mayil/Mahi RaavaNan, another Raakshasan with the name of RaavaNan,
where we hear for the first time the exploits of HanumAn with Pancha
Mukhams (Five Faces). That Pancha Mukha HanumAn killed the Mahi or Mayil
RaavaNan at his place of residence in PaathALam and retrieved the
kidnapped Raama and LakshMaNa. The PurANAs state that the disillusioned
and battle weary RaavaNan, the king of LankA requested the help of his name
sake to use black magic (necromancy) to kidnap the princes of AyOdhyA, who
were proving invulnerable in the battle field. HanumAn was defending Raama
and LakshmaNa out of his sense of duty at that time by forming a fort around
them with his tail. Mayil RavaNan got past the defenses by taking on the form
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of VibhIshaNa and abducted Raama and LakshmaNa right under the nose of
HanumAn. Once the real VibhIshaNa brought HanumAn to speed on what had
happened and briefed HanumAn on the sure way to kill Mahi RaavaNan,
HanumAn rushed to PaathALa lOkam, found Mahi RaavaNan and killed him by
taking on the Pancha Mukha Svaroopam. HanumAn had to take the Five-faced
form to blow out simultaneously the lamp lit with five wicks (Pancha Mukha
dheepam). This was the marma sthAnam (secret spot of weakness) for Mahi
RaavaNan. Once the five faced dheepam was blown out simultaneously through
the blowing of the air from the five faces of Pancha Mukha HanumAn, the life
of Mahi RaavaNan was extinguished. The victorious HanumAn placed Raama
and LakshmaNa on His two shoulders and emerged out of the nether world
and returned to the battle field. The next day, RaavaNa was killed by Lord
Raamachnadra to complete His avathAra Kaaryam.

The worship of Pancha Mukha HanumAn started from then on by His devotees.

What are the five Mukhams of HanumAn ?  

1. The east facing one is HanumAn Himself, who is celebrated in the Sundara

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KaaNDam.

2. The South facing fierce Mukham is that of KarALa Narasimhan, who

destroyed HiraNya Kasipu for his offenses against the Baala BhAgavathan,
PrahlAdhan. Bhaktha RakshaNam is emphasized here.

3. The West facing Mukham is that of Mahaa Veera Garudan, who is Thrayee
Mayee (Veda Svaroopan). He fought with Indhran and brought nectar from
Svarga lOkam to release His mother from bondage.

4. The North facing Mukham is that of SrI Lakshmi VarAhan, who blessed us
with the VarAha Charama SlOkam as Laghu upAyam to gain Moksham.

5. The Urdhva Mukham (Upward looking) is that of the VidhyA Murthy, Sri
HayagrIvan (Jn~Anandha Maya dEvan).

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All these tatthvams are invoked when one has the darsanam of Pancha Mukha
HanumAn.

Each of the five Mukhams has its own Moola Mantram and Gaayathri. Each of
the Mukhams receive specific naivEdhyam. For instance:

1. The east facing HanumAn is offered sundal Kadalai;

2. Narasimhan prefers Paanakam;

3. Garudan likes Honey;

4. Lakshmi VarAhan wishes to have sugar rice and Vadai.

5. Lord HayagrIvan receives the naivEdhyam of horse gram (KoLLu).

There are slOkams for dhyAnam for Panchamukha HanumAn:

http://www.panchamuka.org/slokas.htm

There are few well known temples for Pancha Mukha HanumAn in Tamil Naadu

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 and Karanataka. This form of HanumAn was worshipped by Sage ParAsara, who
blessed us with VishNu PurANam. Sage ParAsara, the Father of Veda VyAsa
and grandfather of Sukha Braham is associated with two more Sri Sookthis:
Poorva ParAsaryam and ParAsara Samhithai. The first one deals with the
mysteries of JyOthisham, an angam of the VedAs; the second one houses the
Panjaram, Kavacham, DhyAna slOkams, AshtOtharam, Hanumath Geetha,
Hanumath Hrudhayam, HanUmath MaalA Mantram, Nithya dhyAna
PrakAram and SanthAna Hanumath Mantram and BheejAksharams for Pancha
Mukha Hanumath AarAdhanam.

ParAsara Samhithai is a treasure house for Pancha Mukha HanumAn worship.

This samhithai created by Sage ParAsara has 50 chapters extolling the life
history, greatness, intelligence, strength, fame, courage, fearlessness, agility
and skill in speech (Vaak PaDuthvam) of HanumAn, who is slated to become the
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next Brahma Devan.

ParAsara Smhithi is thus an encyclopedia on the Vaibhavam of Yeka and Pancha

Mukha HanumAn, who is the embodiment of Daasya Bhakthi. He is recognized
as the SaakAra Murthy (Vigrahavaan/embodiment) for Bhakthi just as
HanumAn's Lord is saluted as the embodiment of Dharma (DharmO
VigrahavAn). The best place for worship of HanumAn has been pointed out by
the Samhithai to be the plantain fields.

The oldest known sannidhi for the UpAsanaa Moorthy (Pancha

Mukha HanumAn) is at MantrAlayam (Pancha Mukhi) at KarnAtaka on the south
bank of river TungabhadhrA. Here Sri RaaghavEndhra SwamigaL (1601-1671
C.E) performed AarAdhanam for Lord Raamachandra and His Daasan, Pancha
Mukha AanjanEyan. There is a temple for Pancha Mukha HanumAn at
KumbakONam, the birth place of SrI RaghavEndhra Swamy. There is
another famous temple for Pancha Mukha HanumAn at East Tank
Street, Mylapore inside a Battar's house. More recent temples are at the
village of Periya Kuppam near ThiruveLLUr (Viswa Roopa Pancha Mukha
HanumAn, who is 40 feet tall and has 10 hands and resplendent faces carved

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out of monolithic green granite from Hassan, KaranAtaka). The other recent
shrine for Pancha Mukha HanumAn is at Paappan ChAvadi near
PondicchEry. The monolithic form of Pancha Mukha HanumAn is carved out
of a 150 ton granite piece from the Pazhya Seevaram village on the bank of
PaalAr (Garuda Nadhi) near Kaanchipuram. It is intersting to note that Pazhaya
Seevaram (SrI Varam) village is an ancient Nrusimha KshEthram, where SrI
Devi worshipped Lord Narasimhan.

My dear friend, Sri Sridhar Lakshmi Narasimhan visited Naamakkal recently,

where the threads of SrI Devi's tapas to see SrI Narasimhan as the HiraNya
SamhAra Moorthy, the sojourn of HanumAn at Naamakkal during His flight to
HimAlayAs to bring the Sanjeevini oushadham come together beautifully. Sri
Sridhar tells us in his inimitable way the Sthala PurANam with outstanding

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murals from Naamakkal (Naama Giri) and presents us the beautiful images
of the towering HanumAn (SanjeevirAyan) standing majestically without a
roof over His head. After TrethA Yugam, when His UpAsanaa Moorthy, Lord
Raamachandran ascended to Sri Vaikuntam after His avathAra Kaaryam
was over, HanumAn accepted the invitation of SrI Narasimhan to stay at
Naamakkal to engage in performing Kaimkaryams to the ArchA Moorthys at
Naamakkal with the NaamAnkitham of Raama Daasan. adiyEn wishes all the
readers the darsana soubhAgyam of Naama Giri ThAyAr SamEtha Veera
Narasimhan's sevai at Naamakkal in Salem district of Tamil Naadu.

SeegramEva Darsana SoubhAgya PrApthirasthu

- Oppiliappn Koil VaradAchAri Sadagopan

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Pancha Mukha Anjaneyar - NAmakkal KOil Mural

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 ïI>

FG
There are few stories in this world that can compare to the divya caritram of
Sri RAmachandramoorthy and His beloved sishyan, HanumAn, in bringing
instant joy and intense devotion to one and all. (Annotated commentaries of
Sundara Kandam can be found at http://www.ahobilavalli.org/ebooks_s3.htm ).
It is the story that qualifies as auspicious at all three levels:

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1. Reading the RAmAyaNam

2. Listening to the recitation or discourses on RAmAyaNam

3. Thinking of the RAma kathA as well as seeing the divya mangaLa

moorthy's of the divya kshetrams that have been eulogized by our
great aazhvArs and aachaaryaas.

It is often said that where the story of RAmA is being recited, there the vAyu
Putran (Hanuman) makes his presence with folded hands and tears of joy in his
eyes:

"yatra yatra raghunAtha kIrtanam

tatra tatra kruthumhastkAnjalim

bhAshpavAri paripoorNa locanam

mArutIm namata rAkShasAntakam"

In the footsteps of SrI RAmA: 

So before we travel to the sacred stalam of nAmagiri and have a darshan of

the nruhari bhagavaan, nAmagiri thAyar and Their ever devoted shishyan,
Hanuman, let us for a moment travel back in Time to trEta yugA.

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Sri RAman - Thirupathi

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It was the era of RAmAchandra Murthy. Dasaratha, the King of Ayodhya
wanted to coronate his eldest son, Prince RAmA as the King of Ayodhya. Evil
Mandara (Kuni), servant maid of Kaikeyi (RAmA's step-mother), who resented
RAmA, poisoned Kaikeyi's mind by reminding her mistress of the boons granted
by King Dasaratha. Kaikeyi was persuaded and pressed her husband to fulfill
the promises made to her by him earlier.

Her request was:

(1) her own son Bharatha should be crowned instead of RAmA and

(2) RAmA should be exiled to the forest for 14 years (Vana Vaasam).

The king had no choice except to fulfill his earlier promises to Kaikeyi and as a
result Lord RAmA abandoned the throne out of respect for his father and

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following the command of his father (Pithruvakya Paripalanam) left for the
forest; Sita Devi and Lakshmana joined him on this vana vaasam. The heart
broken Dasaratha died. Bharatha had no interest in being the king and hated
his mother for scheming to deprive Raama from becoming the rightful
inheritor of the kingdom. Bharatha, his mother and step mothers went to meet
RAmA in the forest to persuade RAmA to return to Ayodhya to be coronated
as per his father's heart-felt desire. RAmA was against breaking the promise
made to his father and declined Bharatha's and His mothers' requests to
return to Ayodhya. He blessed Bharata to rule the kingdom in his absence with
the protection of His Paadhuka. A dejected Bharatha returned to Nandigram
and placed the PaadhukAs of his brother on the hereditary throne and ruled as
a servant of the Raama Paadhuka.

RAmA proceeded with His avathAra kaaryam and destroyed the ogres, who
were causing harm to the sages of DandakAraNyam. On the way, RavaNa's
sister, Surpanaka showed up and invited RAmA to abandon Sita and marry her.
RAmA had her disfigured through LakshmaNa for the insults that she made to
Sita. Angry Surpanaka minus ears and nose ran to her brother Ravana's court
in Lanka and wanted her brother to destroy RAmA and make Sita his own wife.

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 Bharata performs RAma PAdukA PattAbhishekam
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(Kumbakonam RAmar koil murals)

Ravana was overwhelmed by the description of the beauty of Sita by

Surpanaka and went to the hut in the forest, where RAmA was residing with
His wife. He used stealth to abduct Sita Devi, when RAmA-Lakshmanas were
away from the hut and took her to Lanka and imprisoned her at the Asoka
Vanam. RAmA was heart broken, when He found out that Sita Devi was
abducted.

RAmA went in search of Sita devi. Jatayu, the old eagle king told RAmA about
the abduction of Sita Devi by Ravana with whom he had engaged in fight and
yet had failed to protect Sita Devi, the daughter in law of his dear friend, King
Dasaratha.

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 RAMA MEETS HANUMAN

During their wanderings in the forest in search of Sita Devi, RAmA and
Lakshmana met HanumAn (SiRiya thiruvadi) and his king, Sugriva. RAmA vowed
to help Sugriva, for the offenses committed by his brother Vaali and after
killing Vaali, crowned Sugriva as the king of Monkeys. Sugriva sent HanumAn
and a band of VAnaraas in search of Sita Devi down south.

On learning from Sampathi, the brother of Jatayu that Sita is at Lanka

(present day Sri Lanka), HanumAn flew across the sea and reached Lanka. He
met Sita Devi and gave Her the ring given by RAmA and also collected Sita
Devi's Choodamini and assured Her that RAmA will invade Lanka and kill evil
Ravana and then take Sita Devi back to Ayodhya.

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HanumAn gives ring to SitA (NAmakkal Temple Mural)

While at Lanka, as an emissary of RAmA, HanumAn tested the enemy so as to

report their strengths and weaknesses to RAmA. Fighting with the
raakshasaas of Ravana, Hanuman set fire to the city. But when challenged by
the BrahmAstram deployed by Indrajit, the powerful son of Ravana, Hanuman

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Sri RAman hears good news from HanumAn - ChUDAmaNi pradAnam

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let himself be captured, in deference to the power of BrahmAstram. He
reached Ravana's court and advised Ravana to surrender before Lord
RAmAchandra and return Sita Devi to RAmA inciting the wrath of Ravana, who
decided to kill HanumAn. But the good counsel of VibhishaNa, the pious
brother of Ravana, prevailed against Ravanaa's rage and secured HanumAn's
release. So Ravana ordered his servants to set HanumAn’s tail on fire as
punishment. But SitA mAtA's piety and purity protected HanumAn against the
power of Agni and instead the fire burnt down the palaces and mansions of
Lanka.

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HanumAn in the court of Ravana

Then crossing the ocean once again Hanuman bore the happy news of finding
SitA at the Asoka Vanam in Lanka to Sri RAmA. Sri Rama then decided to
invade Lanka and retrieve Sita from Her prison there.

On their way to Lanka, RAmA and his entourage reached the sea shore
(Present day Dhanushkodi-Sethu). On obtaining permission from the samudra
rajan to build a dam (Sethu) across the ocean to reach Lanka, the army of
RAmA made up of monkeys and bears built a Sethu/bridge to Lanka. The nAma

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 mahima of RAmA made the heavy boulders with His name written on them float
like cork on the sea.
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Bridge across ocean and a divine pat for a squirrel

RAmA along with His Vaanara Senai reached Lanka on top of that bridge and
waged a battle with the mighty army of Ravana. In the battle almost all of
Ravana's soldiers and most of his kith and kin’s were killed.

Lakshmana hit by a powerful arrow aimed at him by Indrajit, well-versed in

magical arts fell down faint. HanumAn got deputed to get the Sanjiveeni Herb
from the Sanjeevi Mountain in HimAlayas within a stipulated time as suggested
by the vaithiyar. Upon reaching the mountain after flying at incredible speed,
Hanuman found it hard to identify the required herbs.

So mindful of the shortage of Time, he uprooted the entire Sanjeevi

Parvatham and flew back to Lanka! There the Mrutha Sanjiveeni herb was
identified and then Lakshmana and all Vanaras were brought back to life.
There was much rejoicing and applauding (karaghosham) in Lord RAmA's camp.

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HanumAn brings the Sanjeevini parvatham

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 THE ORIGIN OF NAMAGIRI KSHETRAM

HanumAn then safely returned the Sanjeevini Parvatham back in its original
place at Himalayas near Gantaki River. After placing the Sanjiveeni Parvatham
back, HanumAn refreshed himself by taking a bath in Gantaki River (Present
Day Divya Kshetra of SaligrAmA where you find SaligrAmA for your day to day
worship in house). As he got out of the water, he found a SaligrAmA Moorthy
in his hand, He thought it as Bhagavath sankalpam and wanted to keep the
moorthy for his personal worship,
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HanumAn finds a SaaligrAma shila in the Gantaki river

He then flew back to Lanka and it was close to Sandhya Kaalam. He was then
near present day Naamakkal. Seeing the Kamala Theertham there, he decided
to alight and perform the Sandhyavadhanam at the Theertham. But He was
faced with a predicament! As a rule SaligrAmA moorthys should not be placed
on the ground, so he searched for a person to whom he could hand over the
saaLigrAmAm and proceed to do the Sandhyavadhanam.

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ThAyAr doing penance on the banks of Kamala Theertham

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 Thanks to his good luck, he found a Divine lady in the banks of the Kamala
Theertham doing prayer. He approached her and explained his situation to
Her. Then he requested if she would help him by taking care of the Saligrama
while he performed his sandhyavandanam. The divine lady told Hanuman that
she will help him, but he should come back soon. HanumAn went and performed
Sandhyavadhanam and then started doing Raama Naama Sankirthanam, he got
so deeply involved in the Naama sankeertanam that he forget about the
SaalagrAmA Moorthy and also the words of the Divine lady.
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HanumAn hands over the saalagramam for safe-keeping

So when at last he came back to self from Raama naama japam it was too late
and he saw a huge mountain in front of him. He was astonished to find such a
big mountain in front of him and asked the divine lady what had happened to
the SaalagrAmA he gave. She responded that since HanumAn did not come
soon and she had to place the SaalagrAmAa in the ground and it had become a
huge Mountain.

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ThAyAr places the saaligrama on the ground

Hanuman was very unhappy and tried to lift the mountain thinking that since he
has lifted a huge mountain like Sanjeevi Parvatham before and it would be an
easy task to lift this comparatively small mountain in front of him. He tried
lifting it but found it to be of no avail. Next he tried pulling it off the ground
by his tail and did not succeed.

HanumAn tries in vain to lift the rock

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ThAyAr wished to witness PerumAL's Narasimha avatAram at NAmakkal

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He then began to wonder about this strange situation in which his every effort
to lift the hill was failing. He wondered also about the identity of the divine
lady.

Immediately an asariri (a divine voice) told that the divine lady was none other
than Goddess Mahalakshmi Herself. The Lord stayed as a mountain to fulfill
the promise to His divine consort, who wanted to witness Lord Narayana's
Narasimha Avatharam there. The Mountain is the manifestation of Lord
Narasimha and Lord Ranganatha. Then BhagavAn told that He wished to remain
there and bless His devotees. Since Mahalakshmi performed Naama japam at
this SalagrAmA Shila Kshetram, this Sri Kshetra came be known as Naamagiri
Kshetra and the Thayar/ Mahalakshmi is known as Naamagiri Valli.

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ThAyAr and HanumAn worshipping Sri Nrusimha PerumAL at NAmagiri

Then the Asriri also announced that to appreciate HanumAn’s untiring service
and his great devotion to Lord Sri RAmA, he had been bestowed with a boon
from Lord Narasimha. The boon was that when Lord Sri RAmA returned back
to His heavenly abode of Sri Vaikuntham, HanumAn would come and serve Lord

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 Sri Narasimha at Naamagiri Kshetra. On hearing this, SiRiya thiruvadi's heart
was filled with joy. HanumAn thanked Lord Sri Narasimha and Goddess Sri
Namagiri Lakshmi for the blessings.
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 AHI-MAHI RAVANA AND BHAGAVAN'S VATSALYAM

After paying his respects to Lord Narasimha and Goddess NAmagirvalli he

returned back to Lanka and joined the War. HanumAn played a vital role in
RAma - Ravana Yuddha. With the blessings of Lord Narasimha, HanumAn won
over the Ahi Mahi Ravana. The story goes like this: another demon King named
Ahi Mahi Ravana, the ruler of paathala on the request of Ravana, the king of
Lanka, kidnapped RAmA and Lakshmana right under the nose of HanumAn, when
HanumAn was guarding them. Ahi Mahi Ravanan took Lord RAmA and
Lakshmana to Paathaala Loka. On the advice of Vibhishana, HanumAn
descended into the Paathaala Loka, located RAmA and Lakshmana and killed
Ahi Mahi Ravana, having learned the secret of his life force. This episode goes
to prove as to how BhagavAn uses various vyAjyams to show the greatness of

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His devotees to the world. Being the avathAram of Sriman nArAyaNan, Lord
RAmA, had He so wished could have killed the demon Ahi Mahi Ravana in a
second, by Himself. Yet He chose to eclipse His own powers so that
HanumAn's dedication may be highlighted in this world. Such is His dayaa and
karuNa towards His loved ones!

RAvaNa vadam, RAma pattabhishekam and His ascension to Sri VaikuNTham: 

Lord Sri RAmA killed Ravana the demon King and he installed Ravana’s younger
brother Vibhishana as the king of Lanka. Then everyone traveled back to
Ayodhya, where RAmA’s Pattabhishekam took place. Many years later, Sita
Maathaa was sent to the forest by Lord Raama, again as part of His leela to
establish dharmam and equal justice for all in this world. His sons, Lava and
Kusha's birth took place in Sage Vaalmiki aasrAmAm. Few years later, Lord
Raama performed Ashwamedha Yaagam; Lava and Kusha captured the royal
horse and a fight ensued with Raama’s army; Raama Himself joined the battle
and recognized that Lava and Kusha were his sons. At this time, SitA Devi
invoked Bhoo Devi, Her Mother and returned to Her abode. Some time

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HanumAn carries Sri RAma and Lakshmana on his shoulders from pAthAla loka

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afterwards RAmA performed the coronation for Lava and Kusha and Himself
returned back to His supreme abode of Sri Vaikuntham. HanumAn chose to
stay on this earth and devote his time for Raama Kathaa sravaNam and
dhyAnam on His Lord. HanumAn returned to Naamagiri Kshetra to serve Lord
Narasimha. When he arrived there, he could not see the Lord who was in the
middle of Cave Mountain, so he started increasing his height till he reached
the level where he could see the Lord's Feet. Even today, it can be seen that
Siriya Thiruvadi’s eyes and Lord Sri Narasimha feet are in a straight line.

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The colossal HanumAn at NAmakkal

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 NAMAGIRI KSHETRAM-VIRTUAL TOUR

So after the brief encapsulation of the RAma kathA and the origin of the
nAmagiri sthalam, let us look at the virtual tour of the temple and also
understand the Kshetra Mahima.
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NAmagiri ThAyar

Namagiri Thaayar’s sannidhi is found as one enters the temple and then takes a
turn to the left. It is an extraordinary visual treat to see Her majestically
seated there. Here no photography is allowed in Moola Sthanam. Her kaarunya
katAksham captivates one such that it is impossible to take one's eyes away
from Her. Coming out of the Sannidhi, there is a big Portrait of Namagiri Valli

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thAyAr. (adiyEn tried photographing it but much to adiyEn's dismay, could not
capture it. But Sri Raaja Bhattar after coming back from Sevai gave adiyEn a
big picture of ThaayAr, the same portrait which was near the Thayar Sannidhi!
adiyEn came to know that Sri K S Elongovan spent Rs.17,000/- to get this
Portrait drawn, a great Kaimkaryam. Later adiyEn also got a gift from Sri K S
Elongovan in the form of original pictures taken by him of Thayar, Perumal and
SiRiya Thiruvadi.)

nAmagiri thAyAr 

Let us know some more details on our divine Mother. Her eyes are the most
merciful and she is seated on a huge Lotus; She has chaturbhuja. In the two
upper hands, she holds beautiful Lotus/Padmam. Through the two lowers hands,

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she displays Abhaya and varadha mudhrAs. She also has a Silver staff in her
hand. Her glory is spread throughout the world. Here all devotees come and
pray with full heart and they put forward their problems to her: whether it be
longing for progeny or cure the disease or request for job etc.

1. Bhattar informed adiyEn that Sri Adhi Shankaracharya has presented Our
Thayar with Gold Oddiyaanam (Golden belt).

2. The King of Mysore gave a Golden Statue of Namagiri Thayar and also the
Sri / Lakshmi yanthra drawn on gold.

3. She is Vara Prasadhi. The Bhattar informed that she blesses Her children
by appearing in their dreams and instruct them on ways to solve their
problems. adiyEn was also informed that She showered her fullest blessings
on great mathematician Sri Srinivasa RAmAnujam of Thirukudanthai aka
Kumbakonam. She taught the crucial Mathematical problems and also the
answers for them to him in dreams. He has openly admitted in a conference
that Namagiri Thayar has showered Her full krupa on him.

4. A great musician Sri Pallavi Narasimhachari is also a blessed person in that

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 Mother Goddess Herself taught lot of new Pallavis to Him in his dreams.

5. There were many devotees in the Temple that adiyEn met and who shared
their own personal accounts of the many blessings they had received from
the thAyAr.

6. It is said the touch of ThAyAr's silver staff on the head of any person
with mental illness removes the inauspiciousness.
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Naamakkal utsava mUrthys

Adbhuta kEsari 

After paying obeisance to ThAyAr and receiving Her blessings, it is Time to

bow low at the feet of the adhbudha kesari Sri Narasimha swAmy in the Cave
Temple. For that one has to walk a little further from ThAyAr's sannidhi and
climb a few steps. Inside the Temple the gambhIram and ferocious beauty of
the splendid mUrthy of Nruhari Perumal takes one's breath away.

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NAmakkal Sri Narasimha swAmy

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 He is a very big Moorthy and it is said that He is seated on a rathna
Simhasanam (A divine seat studded with Precious stones). He appears in the
yogic posture of Veera Asana facing the West. Veera Asana is one of the Yoga
posture, in which body remains stiff and straight and mind remains strong and
brave. The West facing posture is in itself considered a rarity. According to
vAsthu Science if one sits in east direction facing west it will give immense
courage and powers. So by the darshan of the veera simham who is seated
facing the West direction, the devotees are renewed with the immense energy
and courage flowing from Him.
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utsavar - NAmakkal

He is wearing a Makutam or crown known as Varadha; he has swarna Kundalam,

wearing beautiful malai and his body is smeared with sandal paste. He also has
chaturbhuja like Thayar. In the upper right hand he is holding the Chakra and
it is rare posture to have prayoga Chakram, not the regular Chakram. In the
left upper hand he holds the Shanku. His lower right hand is in Aaswasna
Mudhra again, a rare posture. Then his lower left hand is placed on his left

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knees. Our Thayar stays in his right chest (Vakshathalam), he is adorned with a
SaligrAmA Maalai containing 108 SaligrAmAams, he holds a silver brahma
dhandam (a silver staff); this is to nullify the evil and black magic. As desired
by Mahalakshmi, here lord is sitting after the Hiranya Samharam, same angry
expression is seen in His eyes.

In the dark cave, His eyes glow in the light of ghee lamp. One can also see here
the images of Sanakan, Sanathan, Suryan, Chandran, Brahma and Rudhran. It is
said that Sanakan and Sanathan are conveying to the Lord the happenings in
the world in both the ears. Suryan and Chandran are doing the Kainkaryam of
VeNN Saamaram. Brahma and Rudhran have come down to earth to worship our
Adbutha Nara Kesari. It is one of the very few temples, where one can see all
the three Moorthys at one site. Lord is giving the darshan after slaying

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Hiranyan and one can still see some blood stains in His right palm.

PerumAL in Garuda vAhanam - NAmakkal

This Cave temple is one of the best example of the architecture and sculpture

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 of Pallava Kingdom. This cave is very big in size and has been designed by
carving as roof, floor and pillars. We can say that this is one of the special
cave temples of Lord Narasimha with lot of unique features. It reminds adiyEn
of Baadaami Cave temples of Karnataka. There is a huge Ugranarasimhar
Perumal in these caves known for their splendid period architecture linked to
the Chalukya King, Pulakeshi.
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aswa vAhanam

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 NAMAKKAL ANJANEYAR

Next, after the darshana sowbhAgyam of thAyAr and perumAL, it is now time
for the grand finale. Walking out of the main temple one arrives at the place
of our beloved SiRiya Thiruvadi. Here HanumAn manifests himself as a
gigantic mUrthy, which is a rare sight. Let us pay our respect with a small
dhayana Sloka composed especially for SiRiya Thiruvadi of Naamakkal:

"Chandraabham charanaravindha yugalam kowpeenam mouncheedharam

Baalam soNitha tharam thrikooda vadhanam yagnOpa-veethaanchanam!

Hasthaabhyaam anjalisputam aaravali kundalam pasyath

Lamba sikham Sri Vaayu puthram bajeth!! "

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It means:

"Sri HanumAn’s face is shining like moon! His feet are just like fresh lotus. He
is wearing a short golden dress - kaupeena (loin cloth) and deer's skin in hip
(resembles his scared divinity)! He wears Yagnopaveetham (Holy thread)
circling left shoulder and hip which looks like a cross belt (This is a symbol
scared to Sri Vaishnavaas)! The BrahmachAri aspect of HanumAn is
emphasized here (Kaupeenam, Mounchi, YajnOpaveetham, Kundalam etc) He
wears big golden ear rings which are moving east to west! He has a long Sikhai
(Hair is properly brushed and neatly combed and tied at the back side. This is
also one of the symbols scared to Sri Vaishnava)! Raama Daasa bhAvam is
expressed thru Anjali Hastham and with all the above mentioned atributes, Sri
HanumAn stands on sacred lotus! I pray to this HanumAn who is the son of
Vaayu."

We can also say Lord Sri HanumAn is the Leader of the entire kulam of Sri
Vaishnavas; He is the greatest devotee of Lord Sri Ram, he is the powerful
Knight and Commander of the army of Monkeys, and he is one of the key people
of the greatest epic RAmAyana.

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NAmakkal Anjaneyar

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A radiant face with kundalams

yajnopaveetam

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kaupeenam, deer skin and knife

Standing on a lotus pedestal

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RAma dAsa bhAvam expressed thru anjali hastam

When Lord Sri Ram decided to go back to his divine abode, Sri Vaikuntham, He
asked Sri HanumAn also to join him. But Sri HanumAn wanted to live in this
Bhoolokam and do RAma nAma Japam for ever and ever. Lord Sri Ram had
blessed Sri HanumAn to be “Chiranjeevi” (unlimited life). Also, he ordered Sri
HanumAn to guide this world towards spiritual thoughts, save Dharma and
devotees, help the living beings and mankind from all the problems. Then
RAmA, Lakshmana, Bharatha and Shatruguna left for Sri Vaikuntham. Then
HanumAn left Ayodhya and remembered the Divine Command of Lord Sri
Narasimha Swami (refer the above mentioned story of Naamakkal Narasimha).
He reached Naamagiri kshetram (divine place, and present day it is called as
Naamakkal).

Like Lord Brahma hosting the Brahmotsavam of Lord Sri Srinivasa at

Thirupathi, Here in Naamakkal temple, Sri HanumAn hosts all the festivals.

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 Being a sacred Sri Vaishnava, Sri HanumAn receives the first maryAdhai in all
the festivals. Look at Sri HanumAn and enjoy his wonderful gigantic figure
with Big and beautiful eyes, Curved eyebrows and Lengthy ears, Wide mouth
and Bulged chin, Broad Chest and Muscular Shoulders. That is the divine look
of Sri HanumAn standing on a big sacred lotus at Naamakkal.

Naamakkal SthalapurANam sampoorNam.

The contact details of Raja Bhattar:

Sri V Venkatesha Iyengar alias Raja Bhattar,

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Sri Vikanosa Anugraham,

#18/26, Sannathi Street,
Kottai, Namakal 001.
Tel: 0 94429 57143.

Sri Elangovan, the official photographer of Kumudam Josiyam can be reached

at the above address. He is the one, who created the big and beautiful painting

of SrI Naama Giri Devi.

NOTE:

b HanumAn chAlisA composed by GoswAmi Tulsidas and rendered by the

sweet voice of Late Smt. M.S.Subbhalakshmi can be accessed at:

http://www.musicindiaonline.com/music/devotional/album.417/language.10

b The text for HanumAn chAlisA can be found at:

http://www.prapatti.com/slokas/sanskrit/hanumaanchalisa

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