Sri:

Srimathe Rāmānujaya Namaha
Srimad VaravaraMunaye Namaha

VEDICS Foundation, due to the efforts its members and in association with the respective administrative bodies and Kinchitkaram Trust has been extending small measures of support to various Divyadesams. The Divyadesams we support right now are Tirupper Nagar (Koviladi), Tirukannangudi, Kāttu Mannar Kovil and Sirupuliyur.

Kāttu Mannar Kovil is a small town located in the Cuddalore District. It is slightly removed from the banks of the Kollidam river and is situated on the banks of the Vîranarayana (Vîranam) Lake.

The Moolavar perumal at this sthalam is Vîra Narayana Perumal and this place is named after him as Vîra Narayana Puram in some form of mystic metonymy that is so characteristic of our divyadesams. He is flanked by Ubhaya Nachiyaars SriDevi and BhooDevi. It is said that a great war once took place and all of the onlookers and participants were bestowed with a divine experience of his kalyāna guna - "Vîryam". The Utsavar Perumal is Mannār. He showers upon us divine grace in the form of the chief of cowherds that he was when he took the incarnation of Lord Krishna. Present on either side of our Achyuta Bhanu are Rukmini and Sathyabama, who aid him in his eternal sport and strengthening our bond of rakshya-rakshakam with the Lord. The utsava murthy has an immense aura of majesty about him that has captured the minds of all of those that visit this kshetram. This also happens to be the birth place of two of the of the most important acharyas of our sampradayam namely - Swami Nāthamuni and Swami Yāmunachārya (also known as Ālavandār). Due to their presence here, the area was transformed into a knowledge capital and among the srivaishnava faith, this sthalam has come to be known as "Chaturvedi Mangalam" and this name continues to be used to this day. Abundant praise has been showered on these acharyas, since they are the ones who are considered the pioneers of the Sath Sampradayam as we know it today. In fact, Swami Yāmunachārya is considered as the preceptor to Swami Rāmānuja himself.

The mesmerism of Mannār is explained in the vyakhyanam authored by Swami Periyavāchan Pillai for the Tirunedunthāndakam pasuram #10. The pasuram starts with the words "Ponnanai". While explaining the meaning of the word "Gunapāla-madha-yānāi", Swami Periya Vāchān Pillai comments: "(gunapala-madha-yānāi) periya mudhaliyār pakkal, thamakku undāna ādharatthāle Mannan udaya vadivu azhagayum nilai azhagiyum pattra, Udayavar (gunapāla-madha-yānāi) endru - Mannanārai arulicheyvar". Roughly translated, this means: "Due to the immense regard that Swami Rāmānuja had for Yamunāchārya, he would attribute the phrase "gunapāla-madha-yānāi" and recall the beauty in form and stature of Mannār. Here Mannan/Mannanār refers to the utsava murthy and Periya Mudaliyār refers to Yamunāchārya. So, everyone is encouraged to visit this temple and drink in the beauty and majesty that Swami Emperumanār was so fond of.

A special note about those serving at Kāttu Mannār Kovil - the archakās and parichārakās serving here are known for their tireless efforts and their welcoming nature. Several devotees and volunteers have appreciateted their nature and have recommended several people to visit the sthalam and experience their hospitable nature first hand. To serve is one thing and to be welcoming is another. To find people who have it in them to display a combination of both these tendencies is rare and a lot of people would certainly agree.

Currently, the kaimkaryams that are underway at Kāttu Mannār Kovil are largely helping the tirunandavanam (sacred garden). A bhāgavathar is stationed there and is taking care of the daily needs of the garden.

Water resources are not scarce and arrangements for expansion of this garden need to be made. VEDICS Foundation requests readers to come forward and try to involve themselves physically in the upkeep of the gardens. Help is required in the form of reaching water to the saplings, weeding the existing areas and clearing out other portions of the land so that more plants can be planted. A set of plants that will supply flowers of appropriate colors, for making garlands that can be offered to the deities daily need to be purchased from a nearby nursery and reached to the place. The nursery identified nearby is home to some rare varieties of flowers and one of the goals is to have these flowers grow in the nursery. Also, some monetary support is being extended to other kaimkaryaparās of the temple who are serving the Lord in various capacities. Future expansion plans as detailed in the Membership Program also need to be addresses.

Serving at Kāttu Mannār Kovil can also be done via the Ramanujarya Divyagnya plan which is currently underway. Link to the program is here: http://kinchitkaramtrust.org/kkt/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&layout=edit&id=35.

Often times we visit, we pray or we serve. This is a rare occasion where we can do all three. Should you require any assistance, please contact us. VEDICS Foundation will get you in touch with the right people in order to plan for your stay, service and darshan.