SRI ADI KESAVA TEMPLE
Thiruvattar
Where Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu discovered Brahma-samhita
LORD SRI ADI KESAVA PERUMAL at Thiruvattar
Sri Adikeshava Perumaal temple is an ancient and a very important temple situated in Thiruvattar.
Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu visited this temple in 1510 AD during His South India tour. This is the temple where Lord discovered the 5th chapter of Sri Brahma-samhita. Brahma-samhita is said to contain 100 chapters. This scripture is so old and so sacred it was practically lost to the general population. But Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu understood the supreme importance of this scripture and He found it in the Sri Adi Keshava temple at Thiruvattar. As soon as Lord began to hear and read the content of Sri Brahma-samhita, He was overwhelmed with ecstatic love. Lord transcribed Brahma-samhita to take it with Him and to share it with His devotees and ultimately with the whole world.
Lord Sri Adi Keshava Perumal is huge 22 feet in a Bhujanga Sayanam (sleeping in the opposite direction - Head in the South, Feet in the North). For a full darshan, the Deity must be viewed through three doors. One of the unique occurrence at this temple is that between the 3rd and 9th day of Puratasi and Panguni, during dusk, sun’s rays directly falls on the Lord inside the sanctum, almost as a mark of respect from the Sun God to Sri Adi Kesava Perumal. Other interesting facts are: Parasurama is said to have undertaken penance at this place and performed daily poojas for Sri Adi Keshava Perumal; Sage Vashista is said to have stayed here for several years. Another remarkable feature is the Otraikkal Mandapam (single stone hall) outside the main sanctum of the temple altar is measuring 18ft width and 3ft height that has been built on a single stone in the 12th Century AD. This is three feet thick and 17½ by 15 feet long. It certainly shows the skill of which the stone carvers had during the day when this temple was built.
Sri Adi Keshava Perumal at Thiruvattar is located near the Kerala - Tamil Nadu border about 6 km north-east of Marthandam town, 30 km north-west of Nagercoil (in Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu), 54 km from Trivandrum and 46 km from Kanyakumari. Temple is one of the 13 Malai Naatu Divya Desams. Though thisDivya Desam is located in Tamil Nadu, there are no big temple towers that are typical of Divya Desams in Tamil Nadu. The temple has been built in typical Kerala style on a three acre land. All poojas are in Kerala style - Thaanthriga Vithi and the priest is from Kerala as well.
The temple is surrounded on three sides by rivers Kothai, Parali and Tamraparni. River Paraliyar takes a turn in this place and diverges to flow forming an island and it is called vattaru and when the temple of Adikeshav Perumaal was created it came to be known as Thriuvattaru. One has to climb 18 steps to reach Sri Adi Kesavasannidhi (altar). This Temple is older than Sri Ananta Padmanabha Swamy Temple at Trivandrum (50 km from here). The temple is situated in a compound of 1½ acres. It is surrounded by a massive 30-foot tall wall. The inner sanctum of the temple was constructed over 4,000 years ago. In the temple there is a spot, the very place that Lord Caitanya sat and read the Brahma-samhita. On western side of the temple is the ghat where Tamraparni river flows. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu took the dip at this river before taking the darshan of Sri Adikeshava Perumal.
The structure of the temple is similar to that of Sri Ananta Padmanabha Swamy temple at Trivandrum. The style and the architecture of this temple is taken as the sample to construct the Sri Ananta Padmanabha Swamy Temple. There are close to 50 inscriptions inside the temple in the outer prakarams in both Tamil and Sanskrit. In addition to the inscriptions, one also finds a number of stunning sculptures on the pillars. No two images are the same. Walking along the outer hallway, we reach the place of the copper flagstaff, the dwajasthamba. This was installed by Maharaja Mulam Tirumal of Travancore in 1895. Next we come to the Nalambalam, the circumambulatory passage around the sanctum (Sri Balippuram), which is a hall with 224 ornately carved granite pillars. The pillars nearby in the Balipeeta Mantap have life-size images that include Visnu, Laxmana, Indrajit, Venugopal, Nataraja, Parvati and others. There is also a shrine to Tiruvambadi Krishna. Additional shrines to Adi Kesava, Venkatachalapati and Taayar are also found.
This temple has been glorified by a decad off 11 verses composed by Nammalwar in the first millennium CE. Vaikuntha Ekadasi is celebrated with pomp and glory. Paal Payasam (Milk Kheer), Aval and Appam are delicious prasadams at this temple. It is an important center of worship and is also referred to as Adi Anantam and Dakshina Vaikuntham.
The Deity of Sri Adi Keshava Perumal is 22 feet huge, made out of 16008Saligrams, is seen in a West facing Bhujanga Sayanam (sleeping in the opposite direction - Head in the South, Feet in the North). The Lord is lying on his snake couch and has to be viewed through three doors. Lord Siva is near the Lord Adikeshava Perumal inside the sannidhi (altar). Sri Adi Keshava Perumal is faces west as it is said that He is looking toward Sri Ananta Padmanabha Swamy temple in Trivandrum. This Deity of Adikeshava is considered the Elder brother of Sri Ananta Padmanabha Swamy.
Legend:
Lord Brahma performed a yajna without Saraswati Devi and as a result of Saraswati’s anger, two asuras (a brother and a sister) by name Kesan and Kesi emerged out of the Yajna agni (sacrificial fire). They were troubling the three worlds. The demigods approached Lord Vishnu and requested Him to find a solution. Lord Vishnu in the form of Adi Kesava fought with Kesan. Lord threw Kesan who fell on top of Mahendragiri and Lord blew His conch. Instantaneously, Adi Sesha wound himself around Kesan thus disabling the asura to move and Lord immediately laid on Adi Sesha thus putting His weight on the asura. When the asura tried to get out of Adi Sesha’s coils, Lord made 12 Siva-lingams to stand as guard all around theasura and Him. These famous Siva Temples are Thirumala, Thikkurussi, Thrupparappu, Thirunandhikkara, Ponmana, Pannippakam, Kalkkulam, Melankodu, Thiruvidaikkodu, Thiruvithamkode, Thiruppanrikkode and Thirunattalam. These are situated at quite a distance from Adi Keshava temple. Even today, the worship to Lord Siva on the occasion of Siva-ratri, the famous Sivalaya ottam - is said to be complete only when the Siva devotee after visiting the twelve Siva shrines ends there trip in the Sri Adi Keshava Perumal Temple.
Meanwhile, Kesi who saw her brother defeated wanted to take revenge. Hence she along with her friend, Kothai took the form of rivers and encircled the temple with the intention of submerging the temple. At that time, it is believed that Bhumi deviraised the temple at a height. Hence, the temple is situated at a height of 55 feet from the ground level. The image of the Gopuram clearly indicates this. The rivers joined with Arabian Sea at a place known as Moovaatru mukham. These rivers were then cursed by Lord to remain as sinful rivers and they later repented for their action. The merciful Lord forgave them and purified them by taking a dip in them. Even today, during Painguni utsavam, Lord’s utsava-vigraha comes on a golden Garuda and have a dip in the river thus enacting the incident.
Thiru Allah Puja
In 1740 AD the men of the Nawab of Arcot looted this temple and the goldenutsava-murti. Out of contempt, Nawab kept the Deity along with rubbish items in a godown. However every day, the Deity would automatically come on top pushing aside all the weights that were put on it. The perplexed Nawab had it chained down, boring two holes in the pedestal. At that time, the Nawab’s wife was afflicted with a serious illness. She was unable to withstand the excruciating pain. The physicians could do nothing about it. Then the Deity appeared in the dream of the temple priest (Azhathi) and ordered him to go to Nawab’s palace and inform the Nawab that if the Deity was returned, his wife would be cured of illness.
Explaining the greatness of the Lord, the Azhathi convinced the Nawab that the illness would be cured once the Deity was restored to its original place in the temple. The Nawab complied and acted accordingly. Nawab’s wife was cured. He was surprised that the illness of his wife had disappeared. The Nawab repented for his blasphemous deeds and as a token of gratitude, he offered a pillow, crown, a golden plate and cup to the Lord. A special pooja or worship was performed wherein a cap that is used to crown the Deity is fashioned like the Muslim head-dress. This was instituted by the Nawab and is still performed during the two annual Utsavams and the paraphernalia offered by Nawab is used at the time of Sheeveli puja every day. He also provided the fund for conducting annual puja, which is called Thiru Allah Pooja. The Thiru Allah mandapam within the temple is linked with this episode and is the place where 21-day Thiru Allah puja takes place even today.
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu discovers Brahma-samhita
Sri Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya lila Chapter 9 verses 234-241 state: That very night, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His assistant Krsnadasa arrived at the bank of the Payasvini River. They took their bath and then went to see the temple of Adi-kesava. When the Lord saw the Adi-kesava temple, He was immediately overwhelmed with ecstasy. Offering various obeisances and prayers, He chanted and danced. All the people there were greatly astonished to see the ecstatic pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. They all received the Lord very well.
In the temple of Adi-kesava, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu discussed spiritual matters among highly advanced devotees. While there, He found a chapter of the Brahma-samhita. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was greatly happy to find a chapter of that scripture, and symptoms of ecstatic transformation - trembling, tears, perspiration, trance and jubilation - were manifest in His body. There is no scripture equal to the Brahma-samhita as far as the final spiritual conclusion is concerned. Indeed, that scripture is the supreme revelation of the glories of Lord Govinda, for it reveals the topmost knowledge about Him. Since all conclusions are briefly presented in the Brahma-samhita, it is essential among all the Vaisnava literatures. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu copied the Brahma-samhita, and then with great pleasure He went to a place known as Ananta Padmanabha.
Lord Caitanya came to the holy Payasvini river, bathed, visited the Sri Adi Keshava temple and took darshan of the ancient deity of Lord Visnu reclining on Ananta Sesa. Lord danced, offered obeisances, prayed and loudly chanted the holy names. In the temple of Sri Adi Keshava, Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu discussed spiritual subjects with very highly advanced devotees. Bhagavad-Gita Chapter 10 verse 9 states:
mac-citta mad-gata-prana bodhayantah parasparam
kathayantas ca mam nityam tusyanti ca ramanti ca
Lord Sri Krishna tells us in the Bhagavad-Gita that real pleasure is when devotees come together and share their love for Krishna with each other, by discussing the teachings, pastimes and the loving service of the Lord. This is the highest form of relationship, not to get something from each other, not to exploit each other, not to enjoy various temporary thrills with each other. The deepest relations we can have are when we enlighten each other, when we share our love, for God with each other and this is actually one of the tests of how we are spiritually advancing.
At that time Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu found the 5th chapter of Brahma-samhita.Brahma-samhita is said to contain 100 chapters. This scripture is so old, so sacred it was practically lost to the general population. But Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu understood the supreme importance of this scripture and He found it in the Adi Keshava temple. As soon as He began to hear and read the content of Brahma-samhita He was overwhelmed with ecstatic love. Lord copied this scripture to take it with Him and to share it with His devotees and ultimately with the whole world.
Lord Krishna is the Supreme controller: Srila Krishna Dasa Kaviraja Gosvami explains how Brahma-samhita is a supreme scripture which encapsulates the very essence of all the Vedas. It reveals not only the path of perfection and how to achieve it but the highest revelations of spiritual world and the most inner secrets.
Sri Brahma-samhita begins with the verse:
isvarah paramah krsnah
sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah
anadir adir govindah
sarva-karana-karanam
This verse explains how Lord Krishna is the supreme controller. In fact everyone to some extent is thinking that I am controlling my destiny. But isvarah paramah krsnah, there is a supreme controller.
Lord Krishna is the controller of all controllers, the supreme controller. All the things that are attractive in this world Krishna possesses them unlimitedly and eternally. In this world whatever we can have, we can have it only for a little time. Even the most beautiful, lovely, charming people of the past, they are either ashes or washed into the rivers or became food for insects underground. Wealth, fame, beauty you can’t hold on to it, nothing. It all slips through our fingers, however hard we try to cling on to it. But Krishna’s beauty, strength, fame, knowledge, wealth, is not only forever but its forever increasing.
Lord Krishna’s form: Lord Krishna is sac-cid-ananda-vigraha, it is not that Lord Krishna’s body is just a temporary manifestation of goodness for the purpose of helping people to get knowledge and direction in life and then that body merges into nothing, a formless state. Scriptures state sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah, His form is eternal, full of knowledge and full of bliss. He is the origin of everything. Lord Sri Krishna explains in the Bhagavad-Gita 10.8,
aham sarvasya prabhavo mattah sarvam pravartate
iti matva bhajante mam budha bhava-samanvitah
“I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds. Everything emanates from Me. The wise who perfectly know this engage in My devotional service and worship Me with all their hearts.”
Lord Krishna’s abode: Then Brahma-samhita goes on to explain how the scripture was written and what is its purpose. It begins at the highest planet of spiritual world Gokula or Goloka Vrindavana. This is the eternal abode of the Lord and that same Goloka, is manifested in this material world as Gokula Vrindavana. The Gokula in this world is called the manifested spiritual world and Goloka is unmanifested because it is not visible to mundane eyes. But the Brahma-samhita says,premanjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena santah sadaiva krdayeu vilokayanti. When our eyes are anointed with love of God then we can see the form of Shyamsundar with in our hearts. But to the degree that love is absent all that the eyes could see is simply earth, water, fire, air and ether.
Brahma-samhita explains that Lord Krishna is Rasa Bihari. He is the supreme enjoyer and He is engaging in intimate loving pastimes with Srimati Radharani and all living beings of the spiritual world. He has no direct connection with this material nature. Indirectly through Their expansions They are manifesting the material existence and sustaining it.
Brahma’s bewilderment: Lord Brahma is born on a lotus sprouting from the navel of the Lord. By the will of the Lord, Brahma had the deep inclination to create, but he didn’t know who he is, he didn’t know what to create, he didn’t know where he was? All around him is nothing but darkness and there is no one else in the universe but him. In order to do big service you have to be willing to go through a lot. Great things don’t come cheaply.
So according to Srimad-Bhagavatam, Lord Brahma after trying a lot sits down on the lotus flower and the original goddess Saraswati speaks to Brahma. The original Saraswati is an expansion of Srimati Radharani. She tells him to practice chanting an 18 syllable mantra. By the grace of the mantra and by the grace of the Lord he develops an attraction for Govinda. In reciprocation Lord filled his ears with the song of His flute which was replete with all Vedic knowledge and realizations and eventually he had the vision of the spiritual world. From the total bewildered darkness of desperation he was now actually seeing Krishna’s abode. What he was seeing, what he was feeling, what he loved, he explains and reveals to the world through the verses of Sri Brahma-samhita.
What is of true value?: Brahma the original father of all beings the original spiritual master is sharing with us what Krishna is revealing to him. In the spiritual world, every grain of dust is ‘chintamani’ more precious than any jewel in this world or in the heavenly abodes. People want diamonds, pearls, rubies, emeralds; because they hope that it is going to satisfy some desire. But they can’t save us from old age, disease and death. They really can’t fulfil any of our desires because what we really desire is happiness and jewels just don’t make you happy, love makes you happy.
The pure devotees have only one desire, to please Lord Sri Krishna and His devotees. This is a consistent prayer among the great souls. Dhruva Maharaja wanted a kingdom greater than his father and his great grandfather but when he saw Lord Vishnu, Dhruva said, I don’t want anything in this world. I was looking for broken pieces of glasses and I have found the precious of all diamonds, greatest of all jewels that is your loving service. Srila Bhaktisddhanta Saraswati Thakur explains, everything is connected to love because that is truly the only thing that anyone wants, to love and be loved.
Lord Caitanya hand copied Sri Brahma-samhita but now we can have it in our phones. But the question is, are we wiser or more realized or knowledgeable than those people who were copying it in hand or palm leaves. So whatever the form may be, what really matters is our eagerness to hear.
Lord Caitanya travelled for two years through the southern, eastern and western parts of India and He kept two books with Him; Sri Brahma-samhita and Krishna Karnamrita. When He met Ramananda Roy, He gave these two books to him and told him that, “all the wisdom, knowledge and realization that you shared with Me is fully supported in these two books.”
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the Founder-Acarya of International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) explains that the Brahma-samhita was revealed when Brahma was in the maturity of his spiritual realization. And now by Srila Prabhupada’s mercy, millions of people all over the world have received it.
Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu taught, that all of this knowledge is revealed to one who learns how to take shelter of the holy names. Sri Caitanya Caritamrta Adi Lila17.22 states:
kali-kale nama-rupe krsna-avatara
nama haite haya sarva-jagat-nistara
“In this Age of Kali, the holy name of the Lord, the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, is the incarnation of Lord Krishna. Simply by chanting the holy name, one associates with the Lord directly. Anyone who does this is certainly delivered.”
Just as everything is revealed in Brahma-samhita and other literatures; everything is contained within the names of Sri Sri Radha and Krishna, if we chant with sincerity:
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
[References: His Holiness Radhanath Swami Maharaj South India Yatra 2010 and Sri Sri Radha-Gopinatha Temple - ISKCON Chowpatty, Mumbai]
Sri Adikeshava Perumal temple at Thiruvattar
Sri Adikeshava Perumal temple at Thiruvattar
Entrance of Sri Adikeshava Perumal temple, Thiruvattar
One has to climb 18 steps to reach Sri Adi Kesava sannidhi (altar).
Sri Adikeshava Perumal temple, Thiruvattar
Sri Adikeshava Perumal temple, Thiruvattar
List of Vaishnava Divya Desam’s Temples in Kerala there distance from close by town.
Divya Desam’s refer to the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the works of the Tamil Azhvars (Vaishnava saints). Divya means "premium" and Desam indicates "place" (temple). Of the 108 temples, 105 are in India, one is in Nepal, and two are outside the Earthly realms. The Divya Desam’s are revered by the 12 Azhvars in the Divya Prabandha, a collection of 4,000 Tamil verses. Out of 105 Vaishnava Divya Desam’s that are in India, 13 of them are in the state of Kerala.
Sri Adikeshava Perumal temple, Thiruvattar
LORD SRI ADI KESAVA PERUMAL, Thiruvattar
Deity of Sri Adi Keshava Perumal is 22 feet huge, made out of 16008Saligrams, is seen in a West facing Bhujanga Sayanam (sleeping in the opposite direction - Head in the South, Feet in the North). For a full darshan, the Deity must be viewed through three doors. The Lord is lying on his snake couch and has to be viewed through three doors. Lord Siva is near the Lord Adikeshava Perumal inside the sannidhi (altar). This Deity of Adikeshava is considered the Elder brother of Lord Ananta Padmanabha Swamy in Trivandrum.
One of the unique occurrence at this temple is that between the 3rd and 9th day of Puratasi and Panguni, during dusk, sun’s rays directly falls on the Lord inside the sanctum, almost as a mark of respect from the Sun God to Sri Adi Kesava Perumal. Other interesting facts are: Parasurama is said to have undertaken penance at this place and performed daily poojas for Sri Adi Keshava Perumal; Sage Vashista is said to have stayed here for several years. Another remarkable feature is the Otraikkal Mandapam(single stone hall) outside the main sanctum of the temple altar is measuring 18ft width and 3ft height that has been built on a single stone in the 12th Century AD.
Lord Sri Adikeshava, Thiruvattar
Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu visited this temple in 1510 AD during His South India tour. This is the temple where Lord discovered the 5th chapter of Sri Brahma-samhita. Brahma-samhita is said to contain 100 chapters. This scripture is so old and so sacred it was practically lost to the general population. But Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu understood the supreme importance of this scripture and He found it in the Sri Adi Keshava temple at Thiruvattar. As soon as Lord began to hear and read the content of Sri Brahma-samhita, He was overwhelmed with ecstatic love. Lord transcribed Brahma-samhita to take it with Him and to share it with His devotees and ultimately with the whole world.
There are close to 50 inscriptions inside the temple in the outer prakarams in both Tamil and Sanskrit. In addition to the inscriptions, one also finds a number of stunning sculptures on the pillars.
Traditional classical Kathakali dance performance at Sri Adikeshava Temple during the festivals for the pleasure of the Lord
Sri Adikeshava Perumal temple, Thiruvattar
In the Kalkulam area of Kanyakumari district, this is a Vaishnava temple built many centuries ago in this place called Thiruvattar totally surrounded by river water. (Thiru is equivalent to Sri in Tamil and denotes auspiciousness, Vatta means circle, aar means river, i.e. a sacred place surrounded in a circle by a river).
In the 108 Diyva Desams this one is 76th in the order. Of the 13 Divya Desams in Malai Nadu (Hill country, in this case the Kerala region), this is an important shrine.
The moolavar (the Deity) is 22 feet long, and is made of 16008 salagramsin a mortar of kadu-sakkara (a mixture of mustard, molasses, lime and granite), lying on Adisesha in yoganidra. Since the temple is west-facing, He is reclining with His head on the other side.
In front of the sanctum the 18 ft wide and 3 ft high mantap is made of a single stone and is an engineering marvel.
Through the three doorways of the garbagraha, one can view the Lord's divine feet, arms and face.
Nammalwar (one of the 12 famous Tamil Vaishnava Alwar saints) has sung 11 songs in praise of the Lord.
Alagiya Manavala Dasa, Adityavarma Sarvanga Natha, Veera Kerala Varmaare some of the people who have sung about the Lord resident here.
Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu came to this temple in 1510 AD, and discovered the 5th chapter of the Brahma Samhita.
In the months of Purattasi (mid Sep-mid Oct) and Panguni (mid Mar-mid Apr), between the 3rd and 9th days, the setting Sun's rays illuminate thegarba graha and it is a divinely wonderful scene.
This temple has beautiful sculptures in stone and wood, in the typical Kerala architectural style.
The special pujas in this temple are Perunthamirdhu Puja, Urchava Bali Puja and Chatur Sata Puja.
Thiruvattar river where Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu took bath before visiting Sri Adi Kesava temple
This river flows about 100 meters from the main entrance of Sri Adi Kesava Temple. This is where Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu took bath before taking darshan at Sri Adi Kesava Temple. A small pathway in front of the main entrance of the temple leads to this river.
Thiruvattar river where Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu took bath before visiting Sri Adi Kesava temple
Thiruvattar river
Beautiful Rubber trees grove near Sri Adikeshava Perumal temple on the way to Thiruvattar river
Beautiful Rubber trees grove near Sri Adikeshava Perumal temple on the way to Thiruvattar river
Sri Adikeshava Perumal temple, Thiruvattar
Sri Adikeshava Perumal temple, Thiruvattar
Sri Adikeshava Perumal temple, Thiruvattar
Temple is surrounded by a massive 30-foot tall wall
Adjacent to Sri Adikeshava Perumal temple there is an ancient Lord Nrsimhadeva Temple
Lord Nrsimhadeva Temple adjacent to Sri Adikeshava Perumal temple
Beautiful rare tree at the compound of Lord Nrsimhadeva Temple
Beautiful flowers of the rare tree at Lord Nrsimhadeva temple
Beautiful flower of the rare tree at Lord Nrsimhadeva temple
ISKCON (Hare Krishna) Parassala Temple
Parassala is a small town at the southern border of Kerala and Tamil Nadu in-between Trivandrum and Kanyakumari. ISKCON (Hare Krishna) temple at Parassala was established in 2002 and through Sunday programs, feasts, festivals, book distribution and the annual Lord Jagannatha Rathayatra, temple is propagating the philosophy of Krishna consciousness to the people in this area. The main deity in the temple altar is of Sri Sri Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra. The temple complex also houses a Goshala (protective shelter for cows) and a school imparting Vedic education to young children. The Sri Adikesavaperumal temple in Thiruvattar, Sri Ananta Padmanabha Swamy Temple at Trivandrum, Thirupathisaram near Nagercoil, ISKCON Nagercoil, Sthanumalayan temple in Suchindram, Sri Krishnaswamy temple in Neyyatinkara, Kanyakumari and many other places of Vaishnava interest are easily accessible from ISKCON Parassala.
ISKCON Parassala Temple
ISKCON Parassala Temple
Their Lordships Sri Sri Jagannatha Baladeva Subhadra at ISKCON Parassala Temple
Their Lordships Sri Sri Jagannatha Baladeva Subhadra at ISKCON Parassala Temple
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Founder-Acarya of International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON)
Goshala at ISKCON Parassala Temple
Goshala at ISKCON Parassala Temple
Beautiful cows at the Goshala of ISKCON Parassala Temple
Beautiful cows at the Goshala of ISKCON Parassala Temple
ISKCON Parassala Temple
Lord Jagannatha Rathayatra, ISKCON Parassala
The Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Sri Krishna at ISKCON Parassala Temple
Lord Sri Krishna at ISKCON Parassala Temple
Lotus Feet of Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Sri Krishna at ISKCON Parassala Temple
SRI BRAHMA-SAMHITA
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada describes in Sri Caitanya Caritamrta Madhalila Chapter 9 verses 239-240 purport:
The Brahma-samhita is a very important scripture. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu acquired the fifth chapter from the Adi-kesava temple. In that fifth chapter, the philosophical conclusion of acintya-bhedabheda-tattva (simultaneous oneness and difference) is presented. The chapter also presents methods of devotional service, the eighteen-syllable Vedic hymn, discourses on the soul, the Supersoul and fruitive activity, an explanation of Kama-gayatri, kama-bija and the original Maha-Visnu, and a detailed description of the spiritual world, specifically Goloka Vrindavana. The Brahma-samhita also explains the demigod Ganesa, Garbhodakasayi Visnu, the origin of the Gayatri mantra, the form of Govinda and His transcendental position and abode, the living entities, the highest goal, the goddess Durga, the meaning of austerity, the five gross elements, love of Godhead, impersonal Brahman, the initiation of Lord Brahma, and the vision of transcendental love enabling one to see the Lord. The steps of devotional service are also explained. The mind, yoga-nidra, the goddess of fortune, devotional service in spontaneous ecstasy, incarnations beginning with Lord Ramacandra, Deities, the conditioned soul and its duties, the truth about Lord Visnu, prayers, Vedic hymns, Lord Siva, the Vedic literature, personalism and impersonalism, good behavior, and many other subjects are also discussed. There is also a description of the sun and the universal form of the Lord. All these subjects are conclusively explained in a nutshell in the Brahma-samhita.
Sri Brahma-samhita
Translation by
His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisddhanta Sarasvati Thakura
Text 1
isvarah paramah krsnah
sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah
anadir adir govindah
sarva-karana-karanam
Krishna who is known as Govinda is the Supreme Godhead. He has an eternal blissful spiritual body. He is the origin of all. He has no other origin and He is the prime cause of all causes.
Text 2
sahasra-patra-kamalam
gokulakhyam mahat padam
tat-karnikaram tad-dhama
tad-anantamsa-sambhavam
[The spiritual place of transcendental pastimes of Krishna is portrayed in the second verse.] The superexcellent station of Krishna, which is known as Gokula, has thousands of petals and a corolla like that of a lotus sprouted from a part of His infinitary aspect, the whorl of the leaves being the actual abode of Krishna.
Text 3
karnikaram mahad yantram sat-konam vajra-kilakam
sad-anga-sat-padi-sthanam prakrtya purusena ca
premananda-mahananda-rasenavasthitam hi yat
jyoti-rupena manuna kama-bijena sangatam
The whorl of that transcendental lotus is the realm wherein dwells Krishna. It is a hexagonal figure, the abode of the indwelling predominated and predominating aspect of the Absolute. Like a diamond the central supporting figure of self-luminous Krishna stands as the transcendental source of all potencies. The holy name consisting of eighteen transcendental letters is manifested in a hexagonal figure with six fold divisions.
Text 4
tat-kinjalkam tad-amsanam
tat-patrani sriyam api
The whorl of that eternal realm Gokula is the hexagonal abode of Krishna. Its petals are the abodes of gopis who are part and parcel of Krishna to whom they are most lovingly devoted and are similar in essence. The petals shine beautifully like so many walls. The extended leaves of that lotus are the gardenlike dhama, i.e. spiritual abode of Sri Radhika, the most beloved of Krishna.
Text 5
catur-asram tat-paritah svetadvipakhyam adbhutam
catur-asram catur-murtes catur-dhama catus-krtam
caturbhih purusarthais ca caturbhir hetubhir vrtam
sulair dasabhir anaddham urdhvadho dig-vidiksv api
astabhir nidhibhir justam astabhih siddhibhis tatha
manu-rupais ca dasabhir dik-palaih parito vrtam
syamair gaurais ca raktais ca suklais ca parsadarsabhaih
sobhitam saktibhis tabhir adbhutabhih samantatah
[The surrounding external plane of Gokula is described in this verse.] There is a mysterious quadrangular place named Svetadvipa surrounding the outskirts of Gokula. Svetadvipa is divided into four parts on all sides. The abode of Vasudeva, Sankarsana, Pradyumna and Aniruddha are separately located in each of these four parts. These four divided abodes are enveloped by the fourfold human requirements such as piety, wealth, passion and liberation, as also by the four Vedas, viz., Rg, Sama, Yajur and Atharva, which deal with the mantra and which are the bases of achievements of the fourfold mundane requirements. Ten tridents are fixed in the ten directions, including the zenith and nadir. The eight directions are decorated with the eight jewels of Mahapadma, Padma, Sankha, Makara, Kacchapa, Mukunda, Kunda, and Nila. There are ten protectors [dik-palas] of the ten directions in the form of mantra. The associates of the hues of blue, yellow, red and white and the extraordinary potencies bearing the names of Vimala, etc., shine on all sides.
Text 6
evam jyotir-mayo devah sad-anandah parat parah
atmaramasya tasyasti prakrtya na samagamah
The Lord of Gokula is the transcendental Supreme Godhead, the own Self of eternal ecstasies. He is the superior of all superiors and is busily engaged in the enjoyments of the transcendental realm and has no association with His mundane potency.
Text 7
Mayayaramamanasya na viyogas taya saha
atmana ramaya reme tyakta-kalam sisrksaya
Krishna never consorts with His illusory energy. Still her connection is not entirely cut off from the Absolute Truth. When He intends to create the material world the amorous pastime, in which He engages by consorting with His own spiritual [cit] potency Rama by casting His glance at the deluding energy in the shape of sending His time energy, is an auxiliary activity.
Text 8
niyatih sa rama devi tat-priya tad-vasam tada
tal-lingam bhagavan sambhur jyoti-rupah sanatanah
ya yonih sapara saktih kamo bijam mahad dhareh
[The secondary process of association with Maya is described.] Ramadevi, the spiritual [cit] potency, beloved consort of the Supreme Lord, is the regulatrix of all entities. The divine plenary portion of Krishna creates the mundane world. At creation there appears a divine halo of the nature of His own subjective portion [svamsa]. This halo is divine Sambhu, the masculine symbol or manifested emblem of the Supreme Lord. This halo is the dim twilight reflection of the supreme eternal effulgence. This masculine symbol is the subjective portion of divinity who functions as progenitor of the mundane world, subject to the supreme regulatrix [niyati]. The conceiving potency in regard to mundane creation makes her appearance out of the supreme regulatrix. She is Maya, the limited, non-absolute [apara] potency, the symbol of mundane feminine productivity. The intercourse of these two brings forth the faculty of perverted cognition, the reflection of the seed of the procreative desire of the Supreme Lord.
Text 9
linga-yony-atmika jata
ima mahesvari-prajah
All offspring of the consort of the great lord [Mahesvara] of this mundane world are of the nature of the embodiment of the mundane masculine and feminine generative organs.
Text 10
saktiman purusah so 'yam linga-rupi mahesvarah
tasminn avirabhul linge maha-visnur jagat-patih
The person embodying the material causal principle, viz., the great lord of this mundane world [Mahesvara] Samhhu, in the form of the male generating organ, is joined to his female consort the limited energy [Maya] as the efficient causal principle. The Lord of the world Maha-Visnu is manifest in him by His subjective portion in the form of His glance.
Text 11
sahasra-sirsa purusah sahasraksah sahasra-pat
sahasra-bahur visvatma sahasramsah sahasra-suh
The Lord of the mundane world, Maha-Visnu, possesses thousands of thousands of heads, eyes, hands. He is the source of thousands of thousands of avataras in His thousands of thousands of subjective portions. He is the creator of thousands of thousands of individual souls.
Text 12
narayanah sa bhagavan apas tasmat sanatanat
avirasit karanarno nidhih sankarsanatmakah
yoga-nidram gatas tasmin sahasramsah svayam mahan
The same Maha-Visnu is spoken of by the name of "Narayana" in this mundane world. From that eternal person has sprung the vast expanse of water of the spiritual Causal Ocean. The subjective portion of Sankarsana who abides inparavyoma, the above supreme purusa with thousands of subjective portions, reposes in the state of divine sleep [yoga-nidra] in the waters of the spiritual Causal Ocean.
Text 13
tad-roma-bila jalesu bijam sankarsanasya ca
haimany andani jatani maha-bhutavrtani tu
The spiritual seeds of Sankarsana existing in the pores of skin of Maha-Visnu, are born as so many golden sperms. These sperms are covered with five great elements.
Text 14
praty-andam evam ekamsad ekamsad visati svayam
sahasra-murdha visvatma maha-visnuh sanatanah
The same Maha-Visnu entered into each universe as His own separate subjective portions. The divine portions, that entered into each universe are possessed of His majestic extension, i.e., they are the eternal universal soul Maha-Visnu, possessing thousands of thousands of heads.
Text 15
vamangad asrjad visnum daksinangat prajapatim
jyotir-linga-mayam sambhum kurca-desad avasrjat
The same Maha-Visnu created Visnu from His left limb, Brahma, the first progenitor of beings, from His right limb and, from the space between His two eyebrows,Sambhu, the divine masculine manifested halo.
Text 16
ahankaratmakam visvam
tasmad etad vyajayata
The function of Sambhu in relation to jivas is that this universe enshrining the mundane egotistic principle has originated from Sambhu.
Text 17
atha tais tri-vidhair vesair lilam udvahatah kila
yoga-nidra bhagavati tasya srir iva sangata
Thereupon the same great personal Godhead, assuming the threefold forms of Visnu, Prajapati and Sambhu, entering into the mundane universe, plays the pastimes of preservation, creation and destruction of this world. This pastime is contained in the mundane world. Hence, it being perverted, the Supreme Lord, identical with Maha-Visnu, prefers to consort with the goddess Yoganidra, the constituent of His own spiritual [cit] potency full of the ecstatic trance of eternal bliss appertaining to His own divine personality.
Text 18
sisrksayam tato nabhes tasya padmam viniryayau
tan-nalam hema-nalinam brahmano lokam adbhutam
When Visnu lying in the ocean of milk wills to create this universe, a golden lotus springs from His navel-pit. The golden lotus with its stem is the abode of Brahmarepresenting Brahmaloka or Satyaloka.
Text 19
tattvani purva-rudhani karanani parasparam
samavayaprayogac ca vibhinnani prthak prthak
cic-chaktya sajjamano 'tha bhagavan adi-purusah
yojayan mayaya devo yoga-nidram akalpayat
Before their conglomeration the primary elements in their nascent state remained originally separate entities. Nonapplication of the conglomerating process is the cause of their separate existence. Divine Maha-Visnu, primal Godhead, through association with His own spiritual [cit] potency, moved Maya and by the application of the conglomerating principle created those different entities in their state of cooperation. And alter that He Himself consorted with Yoganidra by way of His eternal dalliance with His spiritual [cit] potency.
Text 20
yojayitva tu tany eva pravivesa svayam guham
guham praviste tasmims tu jivatma pratibudhyate
By conglomerating all those separate entities He manifested the innumerable mundane universes and Himself entered into the inmost recess of every extended conglomerate [virad-vigraha]. At that time those jivas who had lain dormant during the cataclysm were awakened.
Text 21
sa nityo nitya-sambandhah
prakrtis ca paraiva sa
The same jiva is eternal and is for eternity and without a beginning joined to the Supreme Lord by the tie of an eternal kinship. He is transcendental spiritual potency.
Text 22
evam sarvatma-sambandham nabhyam padmam harer abhut
tatra brahmabhavad bhuyas catur-vedi catur-mukhah
The divine lotus which springs from the navel-pit of Visnu is in every way related by the spiritual tie with all souls and is the origin of four-faced Brahma versed in the four Vedas.
Text 23
sañjato bhagavac-chaktya tat-kalam kila coditah
sisrksayam matim cakre purva-samskara-samskrtah
dadarsa kevalam dhvantam nanyat kim api sarvatah
On coming out of the lotus, Brahma, being guided by the divine potency tuned his mind to the act of creation under the impulse of previous impressions. But he could see nothing but darkness in every direction.
Text 24
uvaca puratas tasmai tasya divya sarasvati
kama-krsnaya govinda he gopi-jana ity api
vallabhaya priya vahner mantram te dasyati priyam
Then the goddess of learning Sarasvati, the divine consort of the Supreme Lord, said thus to Brahma who saw nothing but gloom in all directions, "O Brahma, this mantra, viz., klim krsnaya govindaya gopi-jana-vallabhaya svaha, will assuredly fulfill your heart's desire."
Text 25
tapas tvam tapa etena
tava siddhir bhavisyati
"O Brahma, do thou practice spiritual association by means of this mantra; then all your desires will be fulfilled."
Text 26
atha tepe sa suciram prinan govindam avyayam
svetadvipa-patim krsnam goloka-stham parat param
prakrtya guna-rupinya rupinya paryupasitam
sahasra-dala-sampanne koti-kiñjalka-brmhite
bhumis cintamanis tatra karnikare mahasane
samasinam cid-anandam jyoti-rupam sanatanam
sabda-brahma-mayam venum vadayantam mukhambuje
vilasini-gana-vrtam svaih svair amsair abhistutam
Brahma, being desirous of satisfying Govinda, practiced the cultural acts for Krishna in Goloka, Lord of Svetadvipa, for a long time. His meditation ran thus, "Thereexists a divine lotus of a thousand petals, augmented by millions of filaments, in the transcendental land of Goloka. On its whorl, there exists a great divine throne on which is seated Sri Krishna, the form of eternal effulgence of transcendental bliss, playing on His divine flute resonant with the divine sound, with His lotus mouth. He is worshiped by His amorous milkmaids with their respective subjective portions and extensions and also by His external energy [who stays outside] embodying all mundane qualities."
Text 27
atha venu-ninadasya trayi-murti-mayi gatih
sphuranti pravivesasu mukhabjani svayambhuvah
gayatrim gayatas tasmad adhigatya sarojajah
samskrtas cadi-gununa dvijatam agamat tatah
Then Gayatri, mother of the Vedas, being made manifest, i.e. imparted, by the divine sound of the flute of Sri Krishna, entered into the lotus mouth of Brahma, born from himself, through his eight ear-holes. The lotus-born Brahma having received the Gayatri, sprung from the flute-song of Sri Krishna, attained the status of the twice-born, having been initiated by the supreme primal preceptor, Godhead Himself.
Text 28
trayya prabuddho 'tha vidhir vijñata-tattva-sagarah
tustava veda-sarena stotrenanena kesavam
Enlightened by the recollection of that Gayatri, embodying the three Vedas, Brahmabecame acquainted with the expanse of the ocean of truth. Then he worshiped SriKrishna, the essence of all Vedas, with this hymn.
Text 29
cintamani-prakara-sadmasu kalpa-vrksa-
laksavrtesu surabhir abhipalayantam
laksmi-sahasra-sata-sambhrama-sevyamanam
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, the first progenitor who is tending the cows, yielding all desire, in abodes built with spiritual gems, surrounded by millions of purpose trees, always served with great reverence and affection by hundreds of thousands of laksmis or gopis.
Text 30
venum kvanantam aravinda-dalayataksam-
barhavatamsam asitambuda-sundarangam
kandarpa-koti-kamaniya-visesa-sobham
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who is adept in playing on His flute, with blooming eyes like lotus petals with head decked with peacock's feather, with the figure of beauty tinged with the hue of blue clouds, and His unique loveliness charming millions of Cupids.
Text 31
alola-candraka-lasad-vanamalya-vamsi-
ratnangadam pranaya-keli-kala-vilasam
syamam tri-bhanga-lalitam niyata-prakasam
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, round whose neck is swinging a garland of flowers beautified with the moon-locket, whose two hands are adorned with the flute and jewelled ornaments, who always revels in pastimes of love, whose graceful threefold-bending form of Syamasundara is eternally manifest.
Text 32
angani yasya sakalendriya-vrtti-manti
pasyanti panti kalayanti ciram jaganti
ananda-cinmaya-sad-ujjvala-vigrahasya
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, whose transcendental form is full of bliss, truth, substantiality and is thus full of the most dazzling splendour. Each of the limbs of that transcendental figure possesses in Himself, the full-fledged functions of all the organs, and eternally sees, maintains and manifests the infinite universes, both spiritual and mundane.
Text 33
advaitam acyutam anadim ananta-rupam
adyam purana-purusam nava-yauvanam ca
vedesu durlabham adurlabham atma-bhaktau
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who is inaccessible to the Vedas, but obtainable by pure unalloyed devotion of the soul, who is without a second, who is not subject to decay, is without a beginning, whose form is endless, who is the beginning, and the eternal purusa; yet He is a person possessing the beauty of blooming youth.
Text 34
panthas tu koti-sata-vatsara-sampragamyo
vayor athapi manaso muni-pungavanam
so 'py asti yat-prapada-simny avicintya-tattve
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, only the tip of the toe of whose lotus feet is approached by the yogis who aspire alter the transcendental and betake themselves to pranayama by drilling the respiration; or by the jnanis who try to find out the non-differentiated Brahman by the process of elimination of the mundane, extending over thousands of millions of years.
Text 35
eko 'py asau racayitum jagad-anda-kotim
yac-chaktir asti jagad-anda-caya yad-antah
andantara-stha-paramanu-cayantara-stham-
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
He is an undifferentiated entity as there is no distinction between potency and the possessor thereof. In His work of creation of millions of worlds, His potency remains inseparable. All the universes exist in Him and He is present in His fullness in every one of the atoms that are scattered throughout the universe, at one and the same time. Such is the primeval Lord whom I adore.
Text 36
yad-bhava-bhavita-dhiyo manujas tathaiva
samprapya rupa-mahimasana-yana-bhusah
suktair yam eva nigama-prathitaih stuvanti
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
I adore the same Govinda, the primeval Lord, in whose praise men, who are imbued with devotion, sing the mantra-suktas told by the Vedas, by gaining their appropriate beauty, greatness, thrones, conveyances and ornaments.
Text 37
ananda-cinmaya-rasa-pratibhavitabhis
tabhir ya eva nija-rupataya kalabhih
goloka eva nivasaty akhilatma-bhuto
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, residing in His own realm, Goloka, with Radha, resembling His own spiritual figure, the embodiment of the ecstatic potency possessed of the sixty-four artistic activities, in the company of Her confidantes [sakhis], embodiments of the extensions of Her bodily form, permeated and vitalized by His ever-blissful spiritual rasa.
Text 38
premanjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena
santah sadaiva hrdayesu vilokayanti
yam syamasundaram acintya-guna-svarupam
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who is Syamasundara, Krishna Himself with inconceivable innumerable attributes, whom the pure devotees see in their heart of hearts with the eye of devotion tinged with the salve of love.
Text 39
ramadi-murtisu kala-niyamena tisthan
nanavataram akarod bhuvanesu kintu
krsnah svayam samabhavat paramah puman yo
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who manifested Himself personally as Krishna and the different avataras in the world in the forms of Rama, Nrsimha, Vamana, etc., as His subjective portions.
Text 40
yasya prabha prabhavato jagad-anda-koti-
kotisv asesa-vasudhadi vibhuti-bhinnam
tad brahma niskalam anantam asesa-bhutam
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, whose effulgence is the source of the non-differentiated Brahman mentioned in the Upanisads, being differentiated from the infinity of glories of the mundane universe appears as the indivisible, infinite, limitless, truth.
Text 41
maya hi yasya jagad-anda-satani sute
traigunya-tad-visaya-veda-vitayamana
sattvavalambi-para-sattvam visuddha-sattvam-
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who is the absolute substantive principle being the ultimate entity in the form of the support of all existence whose external potency embodies the threefold mundane qualities, viz., sattva, rajas, and tamasand diffuses the Vedic knowledge regarding the mundane world.
Text 42
ananda-cinmaya-rasatmataya manahsu
yah praninam pratiphalan smaratam upetya
lilayitena bhuvanani jayaty ajasram-
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, whose glory ever triumphantly dominates the mundane world by the activity of His own pastimes, being reflected in the mind of recollecting souls as the transcendental entity of ever-blissful cognitive rasa.
Text 43
goloka-namni nija-dhamni tale ca tasya
devi mahesa-hari-dhamasu tesu tesu
te te prabhava-nicaya vihitas ca yena
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
Lowest of all is located Devi-dhama [mundane world], next above it is Mahesa-dama [abode of Mahesa]; above Mahesa-dhama is placed Hari-dhama [abode of Hari] and above them all is located Krishna's own realm named Goloka. I adore the primeval Lord Govinda, who has allotted their respective authorities to the rulers of those graded realms.
Text 44
srsti-sthiti-pralaya-sadhana-saktir eka
chayeva yasya bhuvanani bibharti durga
icchanurupam api yasya ca cestate sa
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
The external potency Maya who is of the nature of the shadow of the cit potency, is worshiped by all people as Durga, the creating, preserving and destroying agency of this mundane world. I adore the primeval Lord Govinda in accordance with whose will Durga conducts herself.
Text 45
ksiram yatha dadhi vikara-visesa-yogat
sanjayate na hi tatah prthag asti hetoh
yah sambhutam api tatha samupaiti karyad
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
Just as milk is transformed into curd by the action of acids, but yet the effect curd is neither same as, nor different from, its cause, viz., milk, so I adore the primeval Lord Govinda of whom the state of Sambhu is a transformation for the performance of the work of destruction.
Text 46
diparcir eva hi dasantaram abhyupetya
dipayate vivrta-hetu-samana-dharma
yas tadrg eva hi ca visnutaya vibhati
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
The light of one candle being communicated to other candles, although it burns separately in them, is the same in its quality. I adore the primeval Lord Govinda who exhibits Himself equally in the same mobile manner in His various manifestations.
Text 47
yah karanarnava-jale bhajati sma yoga-
nidram ananta-jagad-anda-sa-roma-kupah
adhara-saktim avalambya param sva-murtim
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
I adore the primeval Lord Govinda who assuming His own great subjective form,who bears the name of Sesa, replete with the all-accommodating potency, and reposing in the Causal Ocean with the infinity of the world in the pores of His hair, enjoys creative sleep [yoga-nidra].
Text 48
yasyaika-nisvasita-kalam athavalambya
jivanti loma-vilaja jagad-anda-nathah
visnur mahan sa iha yasya kala-viseso
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
Brahma and other lords of the mundane worlds, appearing from the pores of hair of Maha-Visnu, remain alive as long as the duration of one exhalation of the latter [Maha-Visnu]. I adore the primeval Lord Govinda of whose subjective personality Maha-Visnu is the portion of portion.
Text 49
bhasvan yathasma-sakalesu nijesu tejah
sviyam kiyat prakatayaty api tadvad atra
brahma ya esa jagad-anda-vidhana-karta
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
I adore the primeval Lord Govinda from whom the separated subjective portion Brahma receives his power for the regulation of the mundane world, just as the sun manifests some portion of his own light in all the effulgent gems that bear the names of suryakanta, etc.
PURPORT Brahma is two types: in certain kalpas when the potency of the Supreme Lord infuses Himself in an eligible jiva, the latter acts in the office of Brahma and creates the universe. In those kalpas when no eligible jiva is available, after the Brahma of the previous kalpa is liberated, Krishna, by the process of allotment of His own potency. creates the Brahma who has the nature of the avatara (descent) of the Divinity in the active mundane principle (rajo-guna). By principle Brahma is superior to ordinary jivas but is not the direct Divinity. The divine nature is present in a greater measure in Sambhu than in Brahma. The fundamental significance of the above is that the aggregate of fifty attributes, belonging to the jiva, are present in a fuller measure in Brahma who possesses, in a lesser degree, five more attributes which are not found in jivas. But in Sambhu both the fifty attributes of jivas as also the five additional attributes found in Brahma are present in even greater measure than in Brahma.
Text 50
yat-pada-pallava-yugam vinidhaya kumbha-
dvandve pranama-samaye sa ganadhirajah
vighnan vihantum alam asya jagat-trayasya
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
I adore the primeval Lord Govinda, whose lotus feet are always held by Ganesa upon the pair of tumuli protruding from his elephant head in order to obtain power for his function of destroying all the obstacles on the path of progress of the three worlds.
Text 51
agnir mahi gaganam ambu marud disas ca
kalas tathatma-manasiti jagat-trayani
yasmad bhavanti vibhavanti visanti yam ca
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
The three worlds are composed of the nine elements, viz., fire, earth, ether, water, air, direction, time, soul and mind. I adore the primeval Lord Govinda from whom they originate, in whom they exist and into whom they enter at the time of the universal cataclysm.
Text 52
yac-caksur esa savita sakala-grahanam
raja samasta-sura-murtir asesa-tejah
yasyajnaya bhramati sambhrta-kala-cakro
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
The sun who is the king of all the planets, full of infinite effulgence, the image of the good soul, is as the eye of this world. I adore the primeval Lord Govinda in pursuance of whose order the sun performs his journey mounting the wheel of time.
Text 53
dharmo 'tha papa-nicayah srutayas tapamsi
brahmadi-kita-patagavadhayas ca jivah
yad-datta-matra-vibhava-prakata-prabhava
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
I adore the primeval Lord Govinda, by whose conferred power are maintained the manifested potencies, that are found to exist, of all virtues, all vices, the Vedas, the penances and all jivas, from Brahma to the meanest insect.
Text 54
yas tv indragopam athavendram aho sva-karma-
bandhanurupa-phala-bhajanam atanoti
karmani nirdahati kintu ca bhakti-bhajam
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
I adore the primeval Lord Govinda, who burns up to their roots all fruitive activities of those who are imbued with devotion and impartially ordains for each the due enjoyment of the fruits of one's activities, of all those who walk in the path of work, in accordance with the chain of their previously performed works, no less in the case of the tiny insect that bears the name of indragopa than in that of Indra, king of the devas.
Text 55
yam krodha-kama-sahaja-pranayadi-bhiti-
vatsalya-moha-guru-gaurava-sevya-bhavaih
sancintya tasya sadrsim tanum apur ete
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
I adore the primeval Lord Govinda, the meditators of whom, by meditating upon Him under the sway of wrath, amorous passion, natural friendly love, fear, parental affection, delusion, reverence and willing service, attain to bodily forms befitting the nature of their contemplation.
Text 56
sriyah kantah kantah parama-purusah kalpa-taravo
druma bhumis cintamani-gana-mayi toyam amrtam
katha ganam natyam gamanam api vamsi priya-sakhi
cid-anandam jyotih param api tad asvadyam api ca
sa yatra ksirabdhih sravati surabhibhyas ca su-mahan
nimesardhakhyo va vrajati na hi yatrapi samayah
bhaje svetadvipam tam aham iha golokam iti yam
vidantas te santah ksiti-virala-carah katipaye
I worship that transcendental seat, known as Svetadvipa whereas loving consorts the Laksmis in their unalloyed spiritual essence practice the amorous service of the Supreme Lord Krishna as their only lover; where every tree is a transcendental purpose tree; where the soil is the purpose gem, all water is nectar, every word is a song, every gait is a dance, the flute is the favourite attendant, effulgence is full of transcendental bliss and the supreme spiritual entities are all enjoyable and tasty, where numberless milk cows always emit transcendental oceans of milk; where there is eternal existence of transcendental time, who is ever present and without past or future and hence is not subject to the quality of passing away even for the space of half a moment. That realm is known as Goloka only to a very few self-realized souls in this world.
Text 57
athovaca maha-visnur bhagavantam prajapatim
brahman mahattva-vijñane praja-sarge ca cen matih
pañca-slokim imam vidyam vatsa dattam nibodha me
On hearing these hymns containing the essence of the truth, the Supreme Lord Krishna said to Brahma, "Brahma, if you experience the inclination to create offspring by being endowed with the real knowledge of the glory of Godhead, listen,My beloved, from Me to this science set forth in the following five slokas.
Text 58
prabuddhe jñana-bhaktibhyam atmany ananda-cin-mayi
udety anuttama bhaktir bhagavat-prema-laksana
When the pure spiritual experience is excited by means of cognition and service [bhakti], superexcellent unalloyed devotion characterized by love for Godhead is awakened towards Krishna, the beloved of all souls.
Text 59
pramanais tat-sad-acarais tad-abhyasair nirantaram
bodhayan atmanatmanam bhaktim apy uttamam labhet
The highest devotion is attained by slow degrees by the method of constant endeavor for self-realization with the help of scriptural evidence, theistic conduct and perseverance in practice.
Text 60
yasyah sreyas-karam nasti yaya nirvrtim apnuyat
ya sadhayati mam eva bhaktim tam eva sadhayet
These preliminary practices of devotion [sadhana-bhakti] are conducive to the realization of loving devotion. [Loving devotion]—than whom there is no superior well-being, who goes hand in hand with the attainment of the exclusive state of supreme bliss and who can lead to Myself.
Text 61
dharman anyan parityajya mam ekam bhaja visvasan
yadrsi yadrsi sraddha siddhir bhavati tadrsi
kurvan nirantaram karma loko 'yam anuvartate
tenaiva karmana dhyayan mam param bhaktim icchati
Abandoning all meritorious performances serve Me with faith. The realization will correspond to the nature of one's faith. The people of the world act ceaselessly in pursuance of some ideal. By meditating on Me by means of those deeds one will obtain devotion characterized by love in the shape of the supreme service.
Text 62
aham hi visvasya caracarasya
bijam pradhanam prakrtih pumams ca
mayahitam teja idam bibharsi
vidhe vidhehi tvam atho jaganti
"Listen, O Vidhi, I am the seed, i.e., the fundamental principle, of this world of animate and inanimate objects. I am pradhana [the substance of matter], I amprakrti [material cause] and I am purusa [efficient cause]. This fiery energy that belongs specially to the Brahman, that inheres in you, has also been conferred by Me. It is by bearing this fiery energy that you regulate this phenomenal world of animate and inanimate objects."
Temple Darshan timings
Morning: 5 am to 12 noon
Evening: 5 pm to 8 pm
Festivals:
Panguni, Aipasi 10 day festival
Avani Thiruvonam 12 day Kalapa Pooja festival in Thai
How to reach the temple
Sri Adi Keshava Perumal at Thiruvattar is located near the Kerala - Tamil Nadu border about 6 km north-east of Marthandam town, 30 km north-west of Nagercoil (in Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu) and 54 km from Trivandrum.
By car, one can reach Thiruvattar in half hour from Nagercoil (about 30kms).
Nearest Railway Station: Kulithurai (Marthandam) - Ananthapuri Express stops here.
Address: Adi Kesava Perumal Koil, Thiruvattaru, PO 629177 Kanyakumari District
Places nearby Sri Adikeshava Perumal temple, Thiruvattar
#1. Sri Ananta Padmanabha Swamy Temple, Trivandrum: This is one of the most prominent temples of India. It is considered as one of the 108 Vaishnava temples (divya sthanam), one of the seven moksha sthalas and one of the six Narayana sthalas. Lord Balarama, Lord Nityananda and Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu visited this temple. It is the holiest abodes of Lord Vishnu. The main deity, Sri Padmanabhaswamy, is a form of Vishnu in Anantha sayanam posture (in yogic eternal sleep of yoga-nidra).
For more details please visit: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=16066
#2. ISKCON Parassala: Parassala is a small town at the southern border of Kerala and Tamil Nadu in-between Trivandrum and Kanyakumari. ISKCON (Hare Krishna) temple at Parassala was established in 2002 and through Sunday programs, feasts, festivals, book distribution and the annual Lord Jagannatha Rathayatra; temple is propagating the philosophy of Krishna consciousness to the people in this area. The main deity in the temple altar is of Sri Sri Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra. The temple complex also houses a Goshala (protective shelter for cows) and a school imparting Vedic education to young children. The Sri Adikesavaperumal temple in Thiruvattar, Sri Ananta Padmanabha Swamy Temple at Trivandrum, Thirupathisaram near Nagercoil, ISKCON Nagercoil, Sthanumalayan temple in Suchindram, Sri Krishnaswamy temple in Neyyatinkara, Kanyakumari and many other places of Vaishnava interest are easily accessible from ISKCON Parassala.Website: www.iskcon-parassala.org
#3. ISKCON Trivandrum: International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) has temple in Trivandrum. For details please visit:www.iskcontrivandrum.com
#4. Kanyakumari: Kanyakumari (formerly known as Cape Comorin) is less than 2-3 hour drive from Trivandrum. Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 10 Chapter 79 verses 16-17 mentions that Lord Balarama visited Kanyakumari in the course of His pilgrimage. Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu also visited Kanyakumari during His South India tour as stated in Sri Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya Lila 9.223.
#5. Sri Rajagopala Swamy Kulasekhara Perumal Temple, Mannarkoil near Tirunelveli: This is the place where Kulasekara spent his final days. He stayed here for some time serving the presiding Deity, Rajagopala Swamy. There in association of Vaishnavas he worshiped the deity of Rajagopala Swamy and returned to the spiritual world at age 67. Mannarkoil is a small village located at a distance of around 5 km from Ambasamudram near Tirunelveli. From Tirunelveli it takes about 1 hour to reach Sri Rajagopala Swamy Kulasekara Perumal Temple in Mannarkoil. This temple is over 1000 years old and has beautiful architecture.
#6. Thirukurungkudi Temple: This is an important Vaishnava temple and is amongst 108 divya-deshams. Known as the ‘Dakshina Badri’, Thirukurungudi temple is located about 40 km from Tirunelveli (and about 15kms from Nanguneri) off the Nagercoil highway at the foot of the Mahendra hill on the Western Ghat. Thirukurungudi is a village with history dating back more than 1500 years. AtBadrinath, Lord Narayana instructed Sripad Ramanujacharya. Here, at Thirukurungkudi, He took the role of a disciple and obtained Vaishnava initiation from Ramanuja. Hence the Lord here is called Vaishnava Nambi. Thirukurungudi is also known as Kuranga-kshetram. Kuranga is the name of Bhoomi (earth) devi who performed penance for the Lord in this holy place. The Lord here has 39 different names including Kurungkudi Nambi, Tirupparkadal Nambi and Malai Mel Nambi.Under half a km from the main temple is the Thirupaarkadal Nambi temple and about 8 km from here on the Western Ghats is the Thirumalai Nambi temple, from where Hanuman is said to have taken the leap to Lanka.
Lecture by His Holiness Radhanath Swami Maharaj on Glories of Lord Adi Kesava and Brahma-samhita during South India Yatra 2010
Glories of Lord Adi Kesava and Brahma-samhita (1):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqPYQIwtmuY
Glories of Lord Adi Kesava and Brahma-samhita (2):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OD7c57hI44c
Brahma-samhita
Brahma-samhita - Srila Prabhupada chanting:
Brahma-samhita (audio)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZ61ismgp6Q
Brahma-samhita book:
http://www.amazon.com/Brahma-samhita-Bhaktisiddhanta-Sarasvati-Gosvami-Thakura/dp/0892131454
Mayapur TV: http://Mayapur.tv / Vrindavana TV: http://Vrindavan.tv
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