Kulasekara Azhwar Quiz Q & A

15-Feb-2015

Swami Desikan details the advantage of reciting Thiruvashtaksharam daily in a verse which consists of the word எ翍� in 16 times. Identify the pasuram & the name of the prabhandam? அதிகாரச柍கிரக믍, பா�ர믍 45

சரணமா�믍 தனதா쿍 அைடꏍதா쏍ெக쯍லா믍 மரணமானா쯍 ைவ�ꏍத믍 ெகா�埍�믍 ப�ராꟍ - Please identify the Azwar who said this & who is the PIRAN referred to here? vaikundam kodukkum piran - Nammazhwar, thiruvaai mozhi utsavar Souriraja Perumal is referred as PIRAN

There is a divyadesam which is also called Bhooloka Vaikundam other than Srirangam, where there is no Paramapatham special entrance. Identify the divyadesam தி�埍க迍ண�ர믍. There is no ‘Swarga Vasal’ for this temple as they say that one can reach ‘Vaikunta’ if they just step on this soil

Muniyodharan pongal This Prasadams is famous is in which divyadesam? Give reasons Thirukannapuram is famous for ‘muniyodharan pongal’. Muniyodharar's job is Collecting the tributes and handing it over to the Chola king. Once, instead of giving the money to the king, Muniyodharar spent it on some temple work. This made the king angry and Muniyodharar was imprisoned. His wife was struck with grief and she approached the Lord and said if her husband was not get released within five days, she would jump into the fire and die. The Lord appeared in the king’s dream and ordered him to release Muniyodharar. The king did so. Later, Muniyodhara, when his wife served him ‘pongal’, offered it to God and then ate the delicacy. The next day, the temple priests were surprised to see pongal rolling down with ghee on the body of the Lord. When they came to know about what had happened and why, they praised and thanked the Lord for his mercy and grace. From that day, it has become a tradition to offer ‘pongal’ to the lord at midnight in this temple.

List the names of divyadesams consecrated by Kulasekara Azhwar srirangam, tirukkannapuram, tiruchitrakoodam, tiruvittuvakodu, tiruvenkadam, ayodhya & parkadal

Page 1 of 11

Kulasekara Azhwar Quiz Q & A

Please give account of birth details of Kulasekara Azhwar Period 8th C. AD, Place Thirvanjikkalam Year Prabhava, Month Maasee, Star (Natshatram) Punar Poosam (Punarvasu) Hamsam - Kaustubha Mani Kulasekara Azwar was born to king Dradavrada & Naadhanayagi as a Kshathriya

What are the other names of Kulasekara Azhwar? Kollikkaavalan, Koodal Naayagan, Koyikone, Villavar Kone, Cheralar Kone

What is the similarity between & Kulasekara Azhwar? Like Rama, he was born as a Kshatriya; Like Rama, he was born in Punarvasu nakshatram; Like Rama, his Archa moorthi was that of Lord ; Like Rama, he renounced royal pomp and preferred a simple ascetic life

How many pasurams & decad did Perumal Thirumozhi contain? Who composed thanian on perumal Thirumozhi? Thaniyan composed by Sri Emberumanar & Sri Manakkal Nambi 105 Pasurams, 10 decads

Kulasekara Azwar also composed sookthi in . What is the name of it? What does it sums up? MUKUNDAMALA. Mukunda can be Translated as The Giver of Liberation Or Salvation. Mukunda Mala – is A Garland For Mukunda. The Two Words “muktim Dadaati ” have United to Form The Single Word “mukundah” It is The 518th Name of Sri Sahasra Naamam. Sri Parasara Bhattar has Commented That Mukunda is The One, Who bestows The Boon of Salvation, When The Devotees Pray to Him with Supreme and Single-minded Devotion Mukunda Malai is based on our profound principle of Srivaishvam, namely, Nama Sankeertanam, Saranagathi, Parathtva nirnayam, Prayer for increasing remembrance of Lord's feet

This Sloka from Kulasekara Azwar is considered as Pallandu - identify the Slokam & the eight names by which the Azhwar salutes the lord

Deva, Devaki Nandana, , Vrishni Vamsa Pradeepa, Mega Syaamala, Komalaanga , Prithvi Bhara Nasa & Mukunda

Page 2 of 11

Kulasekara Azhwar Quiz Q & A

In one of the Slokam Kulasekara Azhwar says to Mukunda that he is not praying for these things. What are these things? Instead what does he asks? Identify the Slokam as well

I Am Worshipping Your Holy Feet Not to Gain Evanescent Joy Or to Shake off My Samsaric Sorrow; I Am Praying You Not to Escape From The Terrifying Narakam Known as Kumbhipaakam. I Certainly Am Not offering My Salutations to Enjoy The Celestial Damsels with beautiful Limbs In The Pleasure Gardens of . O Lord, who Chases Away The Sorrows of The Bhakthaas! Please Grant Me The Boon of Realizing You Through Meditation In Every One of My Births In The House of My Heart. That is All I Am Praying For and Not For Anything Else

One of the Slokam (Mukunda maala) Is the essence of similar verse from Nammazhwar's Periathiruvandhadi Please identify the verses

Mukundamala Slokam 3

O, Mukunda! I Prosrate before You and Only beg For This Small Boon. Please Bless Me to Remember Your Lotus Feet In Every One of My Births without fail

நாேததி நாகஸயேநதி ஜகꏍநிவாேச Why he is called Jagannivaasan? He is Jagannivaasa For Two Reasons: (1) He Gives A Home For The Universes In His Stomach During The Mahaa Pralayam (2) He is Sarva Vyaapi and Therefore He is Saluted as “antar Bahisccha Tath Sarvam Vyapya Naraayana: Sthitha: ”

அꯍேபாைத埍� இꯍேபாேத ெசா쯍லி ைவ鏍ேதꟍ-reminiscent of this verse is in Mukudamala - identify the Sloka

Page 3 of 11

Kulasekara Azhwar Quiz Q & A

In response to Sloka no 7 Lord answers by assuring to Bhakthas. What is that assurance? sarma slokam is the answer that the lord gives to kulasekara alwar

What is the VAraha Charamasloka ? Give. The meaning Mriyamaanathu kaastha paashana sannibam, Aham smarami mash baktham nayami paramagathim Lord varaha assures to bakthas that he will think of them at the time of their death. When they lie incapacitated on their death bed as stones or a piece of wood and lead them to his supreme abode

In this Sloka, Azhwar Addresses for humAnkind to utter thiruvashtaksharam - identify the Sloka & tell the benefits of reciting Ashtaksharam as detailed in his slokam Verse – 18, He Martha paramam hitam srnuta vo vakshyami sankshepata Alwar reveals the recitation of Om Namo Narayana together with pranavam would remove their ignorance and set them on the right path, Leading to moksham. By chanting of ashtakshara manthram will easily deliver them from their sorrows and worries

16-Feb-2015

Kulasekara Azhwar recommends to recite Krishna Manthram-Name the Sloka &what are the benefits of reciting the same as prounced by Azhwar

It is The One Mantram Which Will Destroy One’s Enemies. It is The Mantram Which has been Identified as The Most Sacred By The Upanishad Vakhyams It is The Mantram Which Gets Us Across The Ocean of Samsara. It is The Mantram Which can Banish The Deep and Dark Clouds of Ignorance and Despair It is The One Mantram For Attaining All Kinds of Wealth It is The Mantram Which Acts as A Sure Cure For The Poisonous Bites of Serpents Known as Worldly Afflictions The One Mantram, Recitation of Which Makes One’s Life Worth Living and Fruitful. Sri Kulasekharar Therefore asks Us to Recite Constantly The Holy Mantram Known as Sri-krshna- mantram

Page 4 of 11

Kulasekara Azhwar Quiz Q & A

“There is no necessity to recite for salvation . There are Lord's name to recite . There is a tongue under one's control; in spite of it men still fall into hell. What a wonder!!!”- this is a quote from Vishnu Puranam. Our Kulasekara Azhwar stated similar Thing in a verse Please tell the verse

While The Alwar is Reciting The Nama-nirmalam of Sriman-narayana, He is bemused By The Unfortunate Who Do Not Engage In Calling The Many Names of Sriman-narayana Such as Sri- natha (husband of ), Vasudeva, Krshna, Bhakti-priya, Chakra-pani, Padma-nabha, Achyuta, Kaitabhari, Rama, Padmaksha (The Lotus-eyed), Hari, Murari, Ananta (The One Who is Not Limited By Time), Vaikuntha, Mukunda, Govinda, Damodara, Madhava. The Alwar Points Out That Human beings, Although Capable of Reciting The Wonderful Names of Sriman- narayana, Do Not Make An Effort to Do So; because, Their Minds Are Filled with Pursuit of Perishable Pleasures of The World, Which Eventually Result In Sorrow Only

There has been certain doubt about authorship of Mukunda Maala by K .Azhwar. Why? In 40th verse "mitre dvi-janma vara-padma-sarvabhutam" -- In this part of verse kulasekaraazhwar acknowledges his friendship to two brahmin poets padman and saran. This reference to his friends has cast doubts as to sri kulasekaraazhwar's authorship of mukunda mala

How this doubt is removed with? What is the interpretation? Interpretation is that King kulaSEkhara is paying tribute to nammAzhvAr and periyAzhvAr who appeared before and after kulaSEkharAzhvAr. In this interpretation, “dvijanma” refers to SrI periyAzhvAr who appeared in a brAhmaNa family. The term “padmaSara” refers to SrI nammAzhvAr since it means one with flower arrows in his hand. Since nammAzhvAr’s name is “mARan SaThakOpan”, by some stretch of imagination, one can equate the term, “padmaSaran” with SrI NammAzhvAr who preceded KulaSEkharAzhvAr

What is the name of the deities in Thiruchithrakoodam? How many mangalasasanam pasurams are done by K Azhwar Govindarajan, Pundaregavalli Total 11 pasurams Tenth decad, Perumal thirumozhi

Why this divyadesam is called Thirchithrakoodam? Kulasekhara was moved by the beauty of Thillai nagar that he was reminded of the beauty of the Chitrakootam of the north and called Thillai as Thiruchitrakootam

Page 5 of 11

Kulasekara Azhwar Quiz Q & A

The 10th decad which deals Thiruchithrakoodam Can be called as ______Ramayanam & why? Sampoorna Ramayanam The story of is narrated in these 11 verses. Hence this is called Sampoorna Ramayana

Thiruchithrakoodam is a place to devotees who seek salvation- please explain how? Kaveran the king of Kalinga had a daughter named Lopamudra married to Sage Agasthya. Sage changed Lopamudra as River Cauvery. Kaveran and his wife bathed in the river every day and asked their daughter Lopamudra-Cauvery the means of attaining salvation. She advised them to go to Thillai Nagar and perform penance on Lord Vishnu to realize their wish and darshan of Lord. Pleased with their penance, Lord appeared with Mothers Sridevi and Bhoodevi and granted salvation to the couples. The Padukas of Lord are in a shrine in the prakara ensuring salvation to the devotees.

Why the lord name in Thiruchitrakoodam is Govindarajan? What are the different postures of lord here? 3 postures – Parthasarathy as Irundha perumal, Chitrakoodathan as Nindra perumal, Govindarajan as Kidantha perumal It is believed that cauvery's parents undertook penance at this place uttering the name of Govinda, and were blessed with moksham. Hence the lord came to be called Govindarajan

17-Feb-2015

Which divyadesam is called Nageswara Theerthma which is consecrated by K Azhwar? Why is it so called? Thiru Ayodhi Sri Ramar had two sons namely Lavan and Kusa. One day, Kusa was having a bath in Sarayu river who was very much attracted by his beauty by Kumudavathi, a princess of Naga Lokam. she wanted to marry him and because of this, she caught hold of Kusa's hands but she could not stop him. After reaching the palace, kusa found his ornaments (bangle) was missing. He thought it might have fallen in Sarayu river and to take out the bangle from the river he dried up the river using his astram. The Naga princes got frightened of the astram and returned the bangle and falled to the feet of Kusa. Kusa explained the bangle was so important since it was given by Vasistar to Sri Ramar, his father. And finally, Kusa let the river to flow once again. Because of this, the theertham is called as "Nageswara theertham"

Why K Azwar says அ믍�ய鏍ேதாꟍ அேயா鏍தி மꟍன쏍� அள�鏍த ேகாய�쯍 about Ayoddhi Swayavambhuvamanu, the 1st son of Devan met him in Sathya lokam and asked him in which place he need to start the task of creation. Brahma along with his son went towards Sriman Narayanan in vaikuntam. Through brahma, sriman Narayanan hands over the middle portion of vaikuntam which is said to be the Ayodhya Rajyam. This explains that all the wealth of grandfather belongs to grandson i.e. since Brahma emerged from the naabhi of mahavishnu he is considered to be his son and swayambhuvunu is considered as grandson of mahavishnu. That is the reason why azhwar says this.

Page 6 of 11

Kulasekara Azhwar Quiz Q & A

What is the name of the deities in Thiruayodhya & what is special about this divyadesam ? Sri Ramar / Chakravarthi Thirumagan, Seetha Pirattiyar SriRamaPiraan’s Avathaara Sthalam & one among the 7 mukthi kshethram

What are the MangAlasasanam pasurams of K Azhwar on Ayodhya? Please tell name of the pasuram (starting only) Decad 8 6 - �쟍றெமலா믍 ப�ꟍெதாடர, 7 - ஆலின�ைல பாலகனா뿍 Decad 10 1 - அ柍கெண� மதி쿍�ைட, 8 - அ믍ெபாெண� மண�மாட Total 4 Pasurams

18-Feb-2015

Which divyadesam is called Anjumoorthy koil ? What is the name of the deities? Thiruvithukodu, Uyyavantha perumal & vithuvakkottu valli / padmapaani naachiyar

Thiruvithuvakodu is prathyakshyam for ______& is said to be Mukthisthalam of ______Ambhareeshan

Why did Durvasa get angry with Ambareesha& blessed him later? Once ambhareesh did fasting towards emperumaan on all ekadesi. He finishes the viradham by doing parayanam on dvadesi. Once he did this, he was waiting for Narayana bhakthas, so that he may give them the food and then he can eat. At that time he saw durvasar and ask him to take the food. He also accepted but after complete bathing. Durvaasar went to kalathi river for bathing and he didn't come up till the end of dvadesi. Ambhareeshan had to finish the viradham by taking some food. At the end time of dvadesi he could not wait for durvasar and took water and finished his viradham. On seeing this durvasar for angry on him. He sent an arakkan to kill ambhareesh. However Vishnu helped ambhareesh by killing the arakkan with Vishnu chakram. Durvasar felt bad on his act and blessed ambhareeshan

Name the mangalasasanam pasurams of K Azhwar on Vithuvakodu Fifth decad, Ten pasurams Starting Pasuram: Tharuthuyaram thadaayel. .

Page 7 of 11

Kulasekara Azhwar Quiz Q & A

K Azhwar calls the lord as Doctor- identify the pasuram & what is the analogy in it? Fifth Decad, Fourth pasuram

Here the analogy is that even if a surgeon cuts the patient for performing an operation the patient obliges as it is for his own good. Similarly the sorrows that Lord gives us are only for purifying ourselves. So just like a patient doesn't leave a doctor we should never leave the Lotus feet of the Lord.

In Fifth Decad, Azhwar establishes Ananyagathivam (having no other as his refuge) - please give 2 examples 1) Even if a surgeon cuts the patient for performing an operation the patient obliges as it is for his own good. Similarly the sorrows that Lord gives us are only for purifying ourselves. So just like a patient doesn't leave a doctor we should never leave the Lotus feet of the Lord – Pasuram, Vaalal Aruththu 5.4 2) When the hot sun rays enter and disturb only then the lotus will bloom. Like the lotus how it tolerates the hot sunrays I will also bear the pain you give me with red fire – Paasuram, Senthazhale vandhu 5.6

K Azwar has not done mangalasasanam in one of the following Avathara- which one? Varaha, Nrusimha,, Rama& Krishna Narasimma avatharam

Please identify the pasuram in perumal Thirumozhi which describes the avatarams of Varaha & Vamana

Please identify the pasuram in perumal Thirumozhi which describes the avatarams of Koorma

Page 8 of 11

Kulasekara Azhwar Quiz Q & A

19-Feb-2015

In composition of works, there is a similarity between K Azhwar & Swami Desikan- please tell how? Kulasekara Azhwar has composed 10 pasurams for Aakinchanyam and MahA VisvAsam Swami Desikan also has written about these in his Nyaasa Dasakam, SaraNAgathi Deepikai as well as in Daya Sathakam And, RaghuveeraGadhyam is similar to perumal thirumozhi's 10th decad in explaining Ramayanam

20-Feb-2015

Why K Azwar is called K Perrmal? Who conferred this title? K alwar was ready to help Rama blindly after hearing an upanyasam. Such was k alwar’s bakti for Rama. It is said lord Rama cane in his dream and gave him the title k perumal

Why K Azwar ordered a pot? What happened afterwards? Name the reference of this incident in a pasuram

In order to vindicate the innocence if srivaishnavas when they were accused by his ministers of stealing the precious pearl necklace

Identify the pasuram which says that one need not do Ganga snanam to remove their sin if they simply wear the dust from the feet

வ篍சைன தாயா뿍 வꏍத �தைண - Puthanai killing is referred in Swami Desikan Stotra - identify the sthotra & the Slokam

Gopala vimsati, Sloka No. 3

Page 9 of 11

Kulasekara Azhwar Quiz Q & A

People of erudition celebrate the incarnation of the ruler of Kolli on this day- which Acharya says this? Identify the pasuram

Manavaala maamunigal, upadesa rathna maalai, pasuram 13

21-Feb-2015

Narrate the incident which reveals the unflinching Bhakti of K Azwar towards Rama? Kulasekarar had a great attention towards hearing the purana stories. He called up lots of old persons and heared lots of old stories and the thathuvam in it. He gave lots of prizes to the old person. Likewise, one day an old yogi was called to say a story in the . The old yogi told the story of Ramayana and the way of life led by Sri Ramar. On hearing the story of Sri Ramar, Kulasekarar as he was deeply attracted by the life of Sri Ramar, his eyes started to release water and he was totally surrounded towards Sri Ramar. The next day, the old yogi explained about the war scene that happened in Ramayana. In that he explained, that Lakshmanan was asking for the permission to fight with the Arakkars (Demons) who had come against them. But, at that time Sri Ramar stopped him not to go to fight with them, but asks him to stay as the protection for Seetha amd came out from the hut. On seeing Sri Ramar, Soorpanaka roared at all of the Arakkars that Rama has come out and asks his entire troops to surround him. All the arakkars had lots of sharp weapons and surrounded Sri Ramar. On hearing the story of Sri Ramar and he was deeply attracted by this scene, Kulasekarar thought that there is something harm is going to happen for Sri Ramar and quickly stood from that place and orders all of his army persons to get ready for the war. But, all the war members, on seeing the action of Kulasekarar was amazed and surprised that why and with whom they are going to raise the war, since the choza and Pandiya kings who are treated as their enemy are being quiet at that time. But, they have to obey the orders of their king and prepared all the horses and Elephants for the war. Kulasekarar made himself comfort for the war and came out of the palace and stood on the Chariot. But, on knowing the great bhakti towards the Emperumaan he had towards Sri Ramar, his ministers found that the war plan was because of the story the old yogi was telling and asked the yogi to tell the complete story to their king. The yogi completed the story that there is no necessity for the war, since Sri Ramar, single handedly have defeated all the arakkar. On hearing this and the greatness of Sri Ramar, he was very much attracted to him and at the same time, he order all of him army members to go to their places and tie up the horses and elephants in their places. This explains about great attraction of Kulasekarar towards the Emperumaan

Page 10 of 11

Kulasekara Azhwar Quiz Q & A

Puthanai killing is also referred in prabhandam composed by Swami Desikan - name the prabhandam & pasuram

Thiruchinnamaalai, Pasuram 9

I neither mix with non-devotees nor consider living like lords a virtue- identify the pasuram of K Azhwar?

25-Feb-2015

One of the Slokam of K Azhwar is the essence of mahA NarayaNa Upanishad. Identify the Slokam & what does it tell

Mukundamala, Slokam 19: In this verse SrI KulaSEkhara talks about the splendor and glory of the God behind the ashTAkshara-mantram. This verse is the essence of the mahA- nArAyaNa upanishad. Where SrIman-nArAyaNa is described: 1. as the eldest among Gods (yO dEvAnAm dEvEbhyO jAta:) and 2. as the benevolent leader of the Gods. (yO dEvAnAm purOhita:) The fourth and the fifth verses of mahA-nArAyaNa upanishad provide the basis of SrI KulaSEkhara's celebration of SrIman-nArAyaNa as the most Supreme principle and the highest among the Gods. These verses of the upanishad are as follows: "yatam prasUtA jagatam prasUtI tOyEna jIvAn vyacasarja bhUmyAm yadOshadhIbhi: purushAn paSU{gm}Sca vivESa bhUtAni carAcarANi | ata: param nAnyadaNIyasa{gm}hi parAtparam yanmahutO mahAntam yadEkam-avyaktam- ananta-rUpam viSvam purANam tamasa: parastAt || "

Page 11 of 11