Sri: Srimathe Ramanujaya Namaha: Adiyaen would like to post this messge in response to the query on Gopala Vimsathi. Quote from the Sthala Puranam as well as from a write up from my maternal Grandfather (Late Sri T.M Thirumalai Iyengar of Mannargudi) and from my father, "The last of the great acharyas, Sri MANAVALA MAA MUNIGAL spent some time in this shrine and regulated the mode of worship by enjoining the recital of the 2nd psalms in THIRU VAAI MOZHI in the daily routine. Sri Manavala Maamunikal has also sung the GOPALA VIMSADHI and the KAMALA STHUTHI in praise of Sri VidyaRajagopalan of Mannargudi". In addition a few more facts related to Sri Rajagopalan are obvious: -2 chapters (iv-6 & v-3) of 22 verses in esoteric language of verivilakku and madal thurais of TAMIL grammar have been sung by the doyen of alwars, Sri SATAKOPA therein . HE was refereed to as the LORD in HIS 4 manifestations of VANDHUVARAVAPADHI MANNAN, MANIVANNAN, MANIYIN ANI NIRA MAYAN and VASUDEVAN.All these names are engraved within the temple precincts on the basis of these prehistoric idols. - THIRUMANGAI ALWAR has adored HIM (Sri VidyaRajagopalan of Mannargudi) in his stanza 'PONNANAI' (stanza10 in THIRUNEDUNTHANDAGAM) as "GUNAPALA MADHA YAANAI"; the great commentator PERIAVACCHAN PILLAI refers to Sri RAMANUJA's views that it refers to SRI MANNAR only. - According to the BRAHMANDAPURANAM of VEDA VYASA, the origin of MANNARGUDI is traced to the two sages (Gopila and GoPralaya), the sons of an ancient saint "VAHNIMUKKAR". As legends would have it, the sage GOPRALAYA performed severe penance in the DWAPARAYUGA to seek the boon of LORD VISHNU. The LORD in his infinite mercy, granted the boon and settled down as a cowherd GOPALA in the same fashion as he did in DWARAKA in the north. HE appeared before their human eyes in person ; at their request, the LORD appeared before them as KRISHNA, from HIS birth as four handed VASUDEVA, to a GOPALA in a series of 32 scenes enacted during HIS temporal sojourn. Hence this place is known as "DAKSHINADWARAKA. - Lord BRAHMA was said to have worshipped the LORD in the KRITHA yuga to recover his memory power with regard to HIS creation of the cosmic lives. - In the THRETHA yuga, sage BHRUGU and MAHALAKSHMI worshipped the LORD to rid themselves of curses. As a result the LORD took her in marriage and she came to be known as VASUDEVA MAHISHI, CHAMPAKAVALLI, AND SENKAMALATHAYAR. - In the DWAPARA yuga the GOD, AGNI offered penance on the banks of the sacred tank in Mannargudi and regained his heat. Adiyen Ramanuja dasan Dwarakanath Srinivasan
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