108 Divya Desams

Re: 108 Divya Desams :An Introduction

Dear kanaka,
I will be glad if we could share about each of our divyadesa yatrais. I will be looking forward for your experience and will let you know about mine too as and when i write about the particular divya desam. My parents have been to mukthinath last year, but i didn't have the chance to go, but looking forward for it.please contribute your experience.

 

Divya Desam 1- Paramapadam

PARAMAPADAM​

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Emperuman, who is always merciful, took the forms of archavatara to save and protect the world. Our azhwars and acharyas worshipped the Him in his archA form. It is with their effort that the divya desams are preserved till date for us.
The water is in the vapor state, which is called kARnOdhakam, in the form of rain bearing clouds as AkAsa ganga and pours down as rain,in the ground level as pAdAla gangai, which is brought out by the bore-hole machines, it is as lakes, streams and falls which is used for irrigation, agriculture and for future use.

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As the water process, which is not useful in the vapor state, but then it has to be in vapor state to form as a rain bearing cloud and rain and saved, Emperuman, is in the Paramapadam, where we ordinary humans cannot reach. He comes to Vyuham where again only Devathas, Brahma and other semi gods can reach Him. And like the water which is brought from ground level with the using bores, saints and sages reach Him within themselves and bring out the Antharyami. And when he took avatars of Sri Rama and Sri Krishna, we don’t know what we were if at all we were born then. But as a archAvatara, He becomes easily accessible to human be it any caste, creed or color, like the water which runs in streams, falls and lakes. He even comes in processions to give his Divya Darsanam to those who are unable to come to his temple.

The word Divya means metaphysical. The term Divya is preceded with only 3 words. They are Divya Suri the twelve Azhwars, Divya Prabandam the hymns they sang in praise of Lord and Divya Desams the places which were sung in praise by Azhwars.
We cannot reach ThirupArkadal, Vaikundam, Vyham or the Antharyami. Its only His Archa form which has the mercy to bless us with his divya sevai.
The divya desams starts with Srirangam and end in the Paramapadam. As azhwar describes it:
“Vaikundam puguvadhu mannavar vidhiye”

It is the universal fact that we don’t know what happens when some one is dead. When one is alive we knew his body was functioning with predetermined processes. But, when the soul departures the body, it becomes just a dead-body. The eyes, nose, ears, hands, legs and all parts are there, except his breathe. Where did the breath go? Why is he not waking? Why is he not talking? Why is he not doing anything? Because it’s the atma which performs the activities for him. It was because of the atma he was able to walk, run, eat or do anything. The jivatma’s(namely us), should realize the truth that it is the atma within us which enables us to Live. We should make proper use of our given life by doing Kainkaryam to Emperuman. We should not be like “Atthai thindru ange kidakkum”, where we are born in this world again and again to fulfill and satisfy our materialistic needs. We should come out of the clutches of Maya. It is said
“Durlabham mAnusha janmam, durlabham kshEtra vAsam, durlabham sAdu sangam, durlabham Hari kErthanam”.

The difference between animals and man is distinct. We should bring out the distinct qualities by our virtue, wisdom and moral excellence. If we do not serve Him, then, what is the purpose of getting human form? The mouth which doesn’t praise him is just a snake house, eyes which doesn’t worship him is just like a eyes in the peacock feather, tongue which doesn’t praise him is just a snake, hands which doesn’t salute are just tree branch which cannot move, legs are just trees which cannot move about, heart which doesn’t melt hearing his kalyanagunangal is just a rock. The mouth is considered a snake house, with tongue for snake, and the poison it spits is the self-praise, gossip, rumors and other unnecessary talks. The snake will also emit a gem(nAga ratnam), which is considered as the highest quality gem, like-wise the tongue will be when it sings in praise of Him.

The Paramapadam is unimaginable to the human minds. The sense of happiness on earth which is felt by sensory organs is sukham, the happiness felt with the atma is Anandam. Every thing on earth is limited, if we experiencee sukham for a period, we will have dukkham, young age has old age, healthy can become unhealthy, fame can become infamy, loss over gain, beauty over ugly, grades can become higher or lower. Everything will perish when reached its limits. But the anandam in Paramapadam is described as andamil pErinbam. The tamas or the darkness beyond space is called Paramatma, Paramporul, Paramapurushan or Parama Jyothi.

The paramapadam is considered the last resort for every Srivaishnavite. The Srivaishnavan, who completes his divya desam yatra on earth, is taken by Emperuman Himself to his Paramapadam.

There Lord is resting on Thiru ananthAzhvan or Adiseshan(multi-headed snake), His hands adorned by His sankam and chakram, His eyes are like lotus-petals, His face radiating like many suns rising at the same time, with his ever-pleasant smile on them, bejeweling His thiruAbaranangal(jewelry) and silk pIthambaram. His consorts Periya Pirati, Bhooma devi and Nela devi are always with him. The blest jivatma’s who reach Paramapadam are called mumUkshu or Nithya Suri(immortals). They take after the form of Lord Himself with four hands or they can take any desired forms to do divine services to Him. They are always engaged in various kaimkaryams and they singsong blessing him for thousands of years(pallAndu pallAndu pallayerathAndu – a pasuram by PeriyAzwar). There is a mandapam(a pavilion) called thirumAmani mandapam, where the Lord rests. Adiseshan is considered as the epitome of knowledge, Garudan is the epitome of victory and service and vishwaksEnar is the epitome of power. There is no past, present, future, tomorrow, yesterday, today, morning, afternoon, evening, night and not ruled by any planetary times. It’s eternity.

When we are on earth we do not know anything beyond space or anything about birth and death, but when one becomes a nithyasuri he would know the intricacies of evolutions and devolutions. Hence paramapadam is also called as thelivisumbuth tirunAdu and yellai nilam as there is nothing beyond the Paramapadam.

The ecstasy in Paramapadam is eternal, so, it is also called as nalam andhamilladhOr. Nammazhwar described it as andhamil pErinbam. As it the origin(param) of various of His avatar’s it is called Paramapadam.

Paramapadam has the mangalasasanam(singing praise of Lord) of Eight azhwars namely pEriyAzhwar, Andal, thirumazhisaiAzhwars, thirupAnAzhwar, pEiAzhwar, namAzhwar poigaiAzhwar and thirumangaiAzhwar.

When we are born on earth, we live in accordance of our papa punyams. We relish with our good karmas and we suffer for our bad karmas. With our good karma’s we are being birthed as scholars, learned, rich, healthy and yogis. And with our badness we become a poor, suffering and unhealthy being. We attain Paramapadam when we are devoid of our good and bad karmas. There is no discrimination for attaining paramapadam, since the only form present there is Atma(JIvatma) and Emperuman is the Paramatma.

Viraja river flows between paramapadham and this MayA viBudhi. It is considered the border between these two places. The soul which is liberated is said to be bathed in the viraja river and then is lead towards the gates of Paramapadam, where it is liberated from the cycles of birth and karmas.

Though it is Paramapadam which is the last resort for the Jivatma's, I wanted to start with it, because it is where we began our journey of Birth and Life. I pray to Him to give me strength and wisdom to continue my Kainkaryam of this posts of Divya Desams.
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