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Satakopar, the reincarnation of Sri Rama

The appended episode finds a place in the ? Nava Thirupathi Mahatmiyam? bearing 
close resemblance to a sequence narrated in ?Uttarakanda? of Srimad Ramayana 
and logically stand to ratiocination.

The great festive occasion of the coronation of Sri Rama was celebrated with 
éclat in the presence of and the blessings by eminent dignitaries, celebrities 
and commonality and without discrimination in regard to status, standing or 
station in life. The unique distinction of placing the Royal Crownwas conferred 
on sage Vasishtha, the spiritual head and mentor of the Royal Family. In 
accordance with the traditional practice, presents to the dignitaries were 
bestowed and they were given a warm farewell. All those who participated in 
this unprecedented event dispersed with a satisfaction of sharing the happiness 
with others during the delightful event.

A special mention required to be mentioned about Vibhishana whowas the proud 
percipient of ?Lord Ranganatha? in the form of an icon, from Sri Rama whose 
dynasty has been worshipping Him since the time of KingIkshvahu belonging to 
Solar lineage and who was responsible for bringing the Lord from ?Brahma Loka?. 
The rest of the events that culminated in Lord Ranganatha preferring to stay in 
the island now called Sri Rangam surrounded by the river Cauvery are well 
known. Anjaneya the celibate celebrity had an emotional hugging by Sri Rama 
which he aspired for and considered tobe the best acquisition and present.

Sri Rama thereafter ruled the country for eleven thousand yearswithout 
deviation form truth and Justice and whose reign we often refer toas a model 
for reestablishing ?Ram Rajya? which, Alas, is eluding likewill-o-the wisp and 
remains an utopia.

It would be relevant to quote the great Tamil poet, Kambar, whocompared the 
rule by the King of Kings Dasaratha to that of Ram Rajya whenthe glorious 
Emperor did not have a presupposition of such a son, as Rama would be born to 
him eventually. To dilate further, the famous poet could not find a better 
comparison in this context than to mention Sri Rama?s administration to follow 
later. Here the poet did not mention Sri Rama?s name, but enhanced it by 
saying, ? The Hero of this Great Epic?. Remembering this as if to reciprocate 
the sentiments expressed earlier, Kambar through the words described in the 
sequence where He, on hearing the sad news from Bharatha of passing away of 
their dear father cries ?Oh! The unfadingLight! You have left this World! Who 
is there to uphold ?Dharma? and practice probity!?

There were only three days left for Sri Rama to go back to ?Vyuha? the second 
in the order of five stages from which Sriman Narayana descends on the earth to 
re-establish ?Dharma? when it is in shambles. Just then, Yama, the lord of 
Death came to Ayodhya to have an audience with Sri Rama. Sri Raghava called His 
brother Lakshmana and ordered him not to let anybody during His tête-à-tête. 
Accordingly Lakshmana was keeping strict vigil and surveillance by standing at 
the threshold of the Palace. This is not a new assignment to Lakshmana as he 
was familiar with such a noble service earlier in this epic when he stood guard 
outside the improvised abode in the forest without a wink of sleep till dawn 
while Sri Rama and Sita were sleeping inside.

 

As ill luck would have it, the irascible Rishi Dhuruva made hisappearance 
before the palace entrance and Lakshmana on seeing him allowed the sage inside, 
out of apprehension, thus annulling the command of his brother, the embodiment 
of truth. Sri Rama received the anchorite with reverence consistent with His 
inborn demeanour, notwithstanding the untimely intrusion of the recluse. At the 
same time Sri Rama chided the brother for countermanding His instructions after 
having subtly traced the indignation in Sri Rama?s face and left the palace 
entrance as an act of atonement for thedereliction of duty on his part and was 
strolling hither and thither on the banks of meandering river Sarayu.

Giving an adieu to the Lord of Death, Sri Rama searched for Hisbrother who was 
not at the palace precincts, decided to quit this world after crowning His 
sons, Lava and Kusa.

With that end in view Sri Rama came to the banks of the Sarayu followed by a 
retinue of people. He was amazed to see Lakshmana in a melancholy mood and 
addressed him with indignation in His unfamiliar and unusual fashion, ?You are 
now my antagonist; You have disobeyed my orders; you have an earlier occasion 
had the temerity to accuse father for yielding to Kaikeyi?s obduracy and also 
went to the extent of criticizing ?Dharma? that was then legitimately adopted, 
and now You stand static before me likean immovable object and to which you 
will be transformed. ? This is my curse which is irreversible and has become 
inevitable in the circumstances?

Lakshmana was stupefied and dumbfounded over the impolite utterance of Sri Rama 
the patience incarnate engaging in diatribes. However, he admitted the fault 
and besought pardon from Sri Rama.

Sri Rama a bit mollified and told Lakshmana that His curse has a purpose behind 
it in Kaliyuga and the wrath now displayed by Him serves only as a ruse. At the 
same time, Sri Rama felt penitent over the cruelty inflicted by Him on 
blemish-less Sita by sending her to the forest when she was in the family way, 
and exclaimed that He also should suffer for the above cruel act by remaining a 
celibate taking shelter under a tamarind tree which form Lakshmana would take 
as a immobile object in terms of curse. Incidentally Sri Rama indicated that He 
would be born again in the early part ofKaliyuga to one by name ?Kari? 
(Kashyapar) and his wife Udayanangai (Athithi devi)

Sri Rama revealed that he would be called ?Satakopar? in Kaliyuga and His abode 
be niche of the tamarind tree referred above. He also divulged the secret of 
giving to this world the quintessence of the four ?Vedas? in Tamil in a facile 
style to be understood by one and all.

Thus completing His peroration Sri Rama gave Lakshmana a ring and told him that 
the expected mutation would take place where the ring sliddown the finger.

Lakshmana took leave of his brother and started circumbalation of the earth and 
on reaching the southern strand of the river Thamrabharaniin Thirunelveli 
District and on the northern side of the temple of Adhinatha Peruma, the ring 
fell down. Lakshmana had a dip in the river and offeredworship at the shrine. 
The expected metamorphosis took place and ?IllayaPerumal? became a Tamarind 
tree to do the same service once again to Lord Rama to be born as ?Satakopar? 
as per His asseveration.

The sacred Tamarind tree that exists even now has seasonal budding of flowers 
but will not yield fruits. The tree is considered as ?Adisesha? and worshipped 
as such by devotees who hold it sacrosanct.

The birds like peacock, cuckoo and swan perch on the tree singing in praise of 
Lord. Among them one swan is supposed to address the peopleconstantly, ? Do not 
waste your precious time, surrender unto Lord Adinatha the presiding deity and 
invoke His grace?. Hence this place is called?Kurugapura?. ?Kuruga? in Tamil 
means swan.

The corollary of this ?Sthalapurana? reveals the secret of periodical 
incarnations by Lord Narayana or His adjuncts.

Poet Kambar has invoked the blessings of Satakopar (Kurugainathan) before 
writing Ramayana and has mentioned about him as his ?Acharya? in his great 
work. He has also another work to his credit entitled ?Satakoparanthathi? may 
be due to his conviction that Satakopar alias Nammazhvar is none but Sri Rama?s 
incarnation in Kaliyuga.

This article was written by Late Sri L.P.Sampath Iyengar

Comments and feedback can be sent to suprajaiyengar@xxxx

 

 



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