Kailasa Yatrai 3

Kailsam is a Padal Petra Sthalam. Salagramam (Muktinath) is a Divya Desam. We visited both the places between May 16 & June 4, 2011.


Kailasam


Kailasam is THE place for Saivism. Karaikal Ammayar  went to Kailasam, walking with her head and hands.


Cheraman Perumal Nayanar chanted the Aithezhuthu in his horse' ears and the horse flew to Kailasam. 


Siva sent Vellai Yanai to Sundarar, who was with Cheraman Perumal Nayanar at Thivanjaikalam , and Sundarar went to Kailasam on this Yanai. Sundarar has described what he saw as he was ascending Kailasam. Devas, Rishis, Indran and Vishnu were surprised to see a human coming to Kailasam. They asked Siva who this person was. Siva responded, as Gopu sir says, "Nanbenda!" ("Nanthamar Ooran", 9th verse). 


Avvaiyar saw Cheraman Perumal and Sundarar flying to Kailasam. She was in Thirukovilur  and sang Vinayakar Agaval. Pillayar, lifted her with His trunk and placed her in Kailasam instantly!


Thirunavukkarasar was very old when he started his Kailasa yatrai. He could not walk and was crawling. The Good Lord asked him to come to Thiruvaiyyaru for Kailasa darisanam. Appar bathed in the temple tank and got up to see the Kailasa Darisanam. This is celebrated every year during the Adi Pooram brahmotsavam at Thiruvayyaru. He sang a padhigam, describing what he saw.


Sundarar has also sung on Kailasam, but I have no idea whether he also had a darisanam of Kailasam.


In Mylapore, Kapaleeswarar proclaims "Mayilai e Kayilai" (Mylapore is Kailasam!)


Kailasam is here 


Salagramam 


Salagramam is sung  (Page 13) by Thirumangai Azhwar. Salagramam is believed to be Muktinath, as Gandaki flows and a lot of Saligamams are found here. In my opinion, he did not visit the place physically but visited in the realm of thought. He has sung "Saligramam Adai Nenje!" (O mind! Reach Salagramam!")


Lumbini
Buddhism and Jainism spread in Tamil Nadu. While Buddhism had strong presence in Andhra and Jainism in Karnataka, both were present in Tamil Nadu. Kerala was living in a time capsule due to its inaccessibility. 


UVe Swaminatha Iyer talks about Tamil Jain families in Kumbakonam clearing his doubts on Jaina concepts, helping him publish Seevaka Sinthamani, a Jaina epic. Ilango Adigal was a Buddhist monk and Silappadhikaram and Manimekalai are Buddhist epics. Semmangudi has a Jaina temple, Sengalipuram agraharam has a Jainan Am (house of Jainas). Tamil Nadu DGP, Sripal is a Tamil Jain.


Saivism opposed Buddhism strongly in Tamil Nadu. Sambandar in all his padhigams, reserved the 10 verse to condemn Buddhism and Jainism. Sample this.  They are frequently referred as Sakkiyar (Buddha being Sakya muni), Therar (Therawada Buddhism). 


However, tide turned. Buddhar was accepted as one of 10 Vishnu's avatarams. Tyagaraja (charanam 8) and Jayadeva  (charanam 9) have hailed Buddhar as an avataram. We decided to go by the judgement of Tyagaraja & Jayadeva. Buddhar has asked his followers to visit Lumbini, his place of birth, 
Gaya, the place of enlightenment, 
Saranath, place of first sermon and 
Kushinagar, place of parinirvana.


We had visited Gaya and Saranath. We included Lumbini in this trip.