RamarpaNam 77

File 77.

Dated: July 16, 2012.

Jai Sri Ram.

Churning the milky ocean.

There are 108 SrivaishNava Divya Desams. They are considered Divya Desams because Alwars have sung, in their chaste Tamil, in praise of the main Deities here. Thiru NindraOor, falling within the Thondamandalam cluster, is one among them. The Deity here is known by the names Nitilathothu, Patharaavi PerumaL, Bhakthavatchla PerumaL. Also the Deity of Rama is installed here named Yeri Kaatha Ramar. He is known for His SaraNaagada vatsalatwam and so, He the SaraNaagada Vatsala PerumaL. When Bhakti culminates in SaraNagati, Patharaavi PerumaL subjects to the act of Grace in the form of Rama, going by His name thEvai idAthavar.

Thirumangai Azhwar in His Thiru KaNNamangai and Thiru Kadalmallai pathigams, brings a reference to the Deities of ThiruNindraOor temple in two of His Paasurams.

In the story of Rama, as Vishvamira is proceeding towards Mithila, They had to cross River Ganga and walk across Vishala Desa. The modern-day Hajpur in Bihar.

vishaalaam nagariim ramyaam divyaam svarga upamaam tadaa

This place is referred in the legends in connection with Dhithi undertaking penance for 1000 long years to beget a child who could avenge the defeat of her children, the Asuras, in the hands of Indira, because they were favored in sharing the Nectar of immortality, churned from the milky ocean.

puurvam kRita yuge raama diteH putraa mahaabalaaH |
aditeH ca mahaabhaagaa viiryavantaH sudhaarmikaaH ||

Thus Vishvamitra happen to narrate the story of how the Nectar of immortality was got and who helped whom etc.

tato nishcitya mathanam yokhtram kRitvaa ca vaasukim |
manthaanam mandaram kRitvaa mamanthur amita ojasaH

Kasyapa had two wives by name Dhithi and Adhithi. The children of Dhithi are the Asuras and that of Adhithi are the Devas. The two always at logger heads, Devas once were routed and Indira lost His post and had to do something to get back to the pinnacle. So they all went to Sri Maha VishNu. As per His guidance the milky ocean was churned to get Amruta, the Nectar of immortality.

This was done in co-operation with the Asuras by installing the Mt. Mandira in the Milky ocean, VishNu sitting in the bottom as Koorma, held the mountain without shake, swirl or shift and Vasuki, the python snake, was tied as a tug and held on either side by Asuras and the Devas. During the churning several things came and the first of them was the Halakoota visham (waste rejection before tasty production) . Lord Shiva consumed it and held it in His neck and became Neela Kanta.

haalahaalam viSham ghoram samjagraaha amRita upamam

Lord VishNu took Mohini Avatara to distribute the Amruta, so gotten, to the Devas and deny the same to the Asuras, just to help Indira regain His glory by winning over Asura-shakti.

How sage Vishvamitra narrates this to Rama LakshmaNa will be seen next.

To facilitate Good (Devas) win over the Evil (Asuras), even the Gods have to strike a strategic co - operation between themselves and between the vying factions. So maim the opposition by being within.