Jai Sriman Narayana !!
Hey Gopalaka Kripa Jalanidhe Hey
Sindhu Kanyapathe
Hey Kamsanthaka Hey Gajendra
Karunapareena Hey Madhava |
Hey Ramanuja Jagathrya Guro: Hey
Pundarikakshamam
Hey Gopijananatha Palaya Param
Janami Na Thwam Vina || (Mukundamala)
Thiru Kulasekhara Alwar/Kolli
Kavalan/Koodal Nayakan/Koyikone/Villavar Kone/Cheyralar Kone was born during 8th
century A.D to King Dhidavratha and his chaste wife Nadhanayaki in the year
Pramadhi, Tamil month Masi with the birth star Punarvasu in Thiruvanjikulam,
Kodungallur, Kerala. The entire Chera
Kingdom rejoiced over the birth of this divine child, an incarnation of Lord
Vishnu’s Kausthubam, the precious gem adorned on the chest of Lord Vishnu. Young Kulashekara was introduced to Astra
& Sastra, sacred scriptures at early years of childhood. In a short span of time, Kulashekara mastered
all the subjects and acquired profound knowledge in war tactics, archery, horse
& elephant riding and the science of armaments. In due course of time, Kulashekara was
crowned as the King of Chera Kingdom.
King Kulashekara was righteous
ruler and a fervent devotee of Lord Vishnu.
The people of the Chera Kingdom expressed immense joy over their mighty
King and his benevolence. He was a wise
and unparalleled ruler, conquered all the neighboring cities including the
Kingdoms of Pandya and Chozha. Later,
King Kulazhekara was married to the princess of Pandya Kingdom. This couple had a son Dhidavradha and a
daughter Ila.
One day King Kulazhekara had a
dream in the Lord Venkateswara of Tirumala instructed the purpose of his life
and remain unfaltering in the path of devotion and dedication. That was the life changing event in the life
of this mighty King. King Kulazhekara
grieved over the several deaths happened while achieving greatest heights in
life and realized his absence in the field of spiritual progress and the missed
opportunities to serve the supreme Lord.
He invited profound scholars in Vaishnavism to the palace and immersed
in the study of the sacred scriptures, contributed immense wealth for the
renovation of temples and its management, especially to the famous temple of
Lord Ranganatha in Sri Rangam. Gradually
King Kulasekhara turned out an zealous devotee of Lord Rama, he would spend
several hours listening to the glories of Lord Rama as an ideal King, dutiful
son, perfect husband, affectionate brother etc….While listening to the
spiritual discourse on the great epic Srimad Ramayana, King Kulasekhara was
deeply perturbed at certain moments after listening to the hardships Lord Rama
had to undergo and the gruesome battle with the demons, he immediately orders
his men to be ready with their forces to assist Lord Rama in the battle, often the orator had to calm down the King
saying that it was Lord Rama won the battle over the demons. The Ministers and members of the assembly
were puzzled at the devotion of the King.
A beautiful idol of Lord Rama & Goddess Sita was installed in the
palace and daily rituals and rituals on special occasions were performed
elaborately.
On a Ramanavami day the deities
were arranged for the special rituals, King Kulazhekara noticed that the
precious jewel ornament was missing from the idol, ordered his men to locate
the same. The ministers suspected the
Vaishnavaite scholars and saints who used to conduct lectures and prayers. There was a custom prevailed in those days
that in case of any dispute the innocent should prove blamelessness by putting
hands into a pot full of venomous snakes.
King Kulazhekara was certain that no Vaishnavaite saint or scholar could
commit such a sin and slipped his hand inside the pot, shortly removed his hand
from the pot unharmed. In this way, King
Kulazhekara proven the innocence and staunch devotion of the saints and
scholars assembled. Later, it was proved
that the ministers constructed a ploy against the holy men; in order to cut off
the association of the King with the Vaishnavaite Saints and scholars, thus put
an end to King’s undue interest in spiritual activities. This incident had cemented King’s devotion and
dedication towards Lord. King
Kulazhekara lost interest in the material world, discarded all the wealth and
crowned his son Dhidavardan as the King of Chera Kingdom. Ilai/Serkkulavalli/Chera Kula Valli Nachiyar,
daughter of King Kulazhekara was a staunch devotee of Lord Ranganatha. On the auspicious day of Sri Rama Navami Sri
Serkkulavalli Nachiyar married to Lord Ranganatha/Namperumal and devoted her life
as a dutiful wife to Lord Rangatha and immersed in the service of Lord. King Kulazhekara lived a life of an ascetic,
composed enthralling verses like Mukundamala and Perumal Thirumozhi (105)
praising the glories of Lord Rama.
Lord was pleased at the devotion of the King and bestowed him with the
title Kulazhekara Perumal.
Thiru Kulazhekara Alwar visited
many sacred shrines of Lord Vishnu and sung praising the glories of Lord. In Perumal Thirumozhi Thiru Kulazhekara Alwar
earnestly reveals his desire to remain close to Lord in the form of a bird or
rock or fish in the sacred pond or stairs before the sanctum of Lord. At the age of 67 years on a Swathi day, Thiru
Kulazhekara Alwar attained salvation at the lotus feet of Lord Narayana. As
desired by this great Vaishnavaite saint Thiru Kulazhekara Alwar resides closer
to Lord Venkateswara in the form of doorstep/Kulazhekara Padi in Tirupathi.
Vanperu Vanakam Uyya, Amarar Uyya
Manuyya, Mannulakil Manisaruyya
Thunpamigu Thuyar Akala, Ayarvu
Ondrilla
Sukam Valara, Agamagizhum Thondar
Vazha
Anpodu Thenthisai Nokki
Pallikollum
Aniyarangan Thirumuttratthu
Adiyar Thangal
Inbamigu Perunkuzhuvu Kandu Yanum
Isaindhudane Yendru Kolo Irukkum
Nale? (Perumal Thirumozhi 1-10)
Namami Narayana Padha Pankajam
Karomi Narayana Poojanam Sadha |
Vadhami Narayana Nama Nirmalam
Smarami Narayana Thathwam Avyayam
|| (Mukundamala)
Jai Sriman Narayana !!
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