Kulasekhara Alvar
Kulasekhara Alvar was born in ThiruvanjikulamChera Kingdom (Kerala). His father was renowned king Dhidaviradhan and Mother Nadhanayagi who was the daughter of Pandya King. He is the Avatar of Gem adorned by Lord Vishnu in his Chest named “Kousthubham”.
He was born in Maasi (between mid-February and mid-March) on Punarvasu Star (Nakshatra).
Kulasekhara Alvar – 7th Among 12 Alvars
He was seventh among the twelve Alvars. He learned all the Astras (Warfare) and Shaastras (Vedas) very young. He married Pandya princess and had a son who was named after his father and a daughter Ilai or Chera Kula Naachiyaar. He was very much attracted towards Lord Ram, hence ruled like “Rama Rajya”.
He was praised as “Kolli Kavalan, KoodalNayagan, Kozhiyaarkone” as he won Chera, Chozha and Pandya Kingdom. He ruled with Justice and people were delighted. But, he was always aligned towards spiritualism.
Devoted to Lord Rama
He was extremely devoted to Lord Ram and he always wanted to visit the Lord of Sri Rangam, Sri Ranganatha Swami. His devotion became extreme when he had a dream of Lord Venkateswara blessing him. From that time onwards, he was not much interested in worldly pleasures. He used to listen to Ramayana daily.
Once, when Ramayana was discoursed, there was an incident where Lord Ram was alone fighting with Demons. At that time, Kulasekhara, who was very involved in listening to Ramayana, ordered his Army to start towards Lord Ram to help him fight against the Demons.
Then, the discourse person immediately reacted and informed to Kulasekhara that Lord Ram had already won the battle and was now safe. Thus, made Kulasekhara back to his normal state. Few people in his court were very much upset about Kulasekhara’s behaviour.
So, they wanted to put the blame on Sri Vaishnavas informing that Lord’s ornaments (Navaratnamala) were stolen by Sri Vaishnavas. Hearing that, Kulasekhara wanted to prove that Sri Vaishnavas would never do such odd jobs and put his hand into the pot which had a very poisonous snake. He challenged the people that, if Sri Vaishnavas had stolen, then the snake would bite him to death.
Chera Kula Naachiyaar
God’s grace, the snake did not bite him as he was so sure to prove that Sri Vaishnavas would not do any such bad deed. He later decided to serve Lord Ranganatha, so he handed over the kingdom to his son and started his spiritual journey. It is also said that Kulasekhara Alvar dedicated his daughter “Chera Kula Naachiyaar” to the Lord of Sri Rangam. We have a shrine dedicated to her.
SerthiServai
During Rama Navami in Sri Rangam, Lord Ranganatha and Chera Kula Naachiyaar give darshan together in Arjuna Mandapam which is also called “SerthiServai”. It was a great day and celestial bath and puja will perform in that Mandapam.
Kulasekhara Alvar’s work
Kulasekhara Alvar was skilled in Tamil and Sanskrit. He wrote “Mukunda Mala” in praise of Lord Krishna in Sanskrit. He wrote 105 paasurams named as “Perumal Thirumozhi” which is part of “Naalayira Divya Prabhandham”.
His paasuram mentions below Divya Kshetrams –
- Uraiyur (near Trichy),
- Sri Rangam,
- Tirupathi,
- Thirukannapuram (Near Kumbakonam),
- Thiruchirakootam (Chidambaram)
- Thiruvaali Thirunagari (Sirkaazhi ),
- Thiruvitthuvakodu (Kerala),
- Ayodhya (U.P),
- Thirupparkadal (Celestial Abode).
Mukunda Mala
Mukunda Mala is a Sanskrit poem beautifully composed describing Lord Narayana who took the Avatara as Krishna. If one has to save from the clutches of Samsara the sea of sorrow, one has to surrender at the feet of Lord Krishna. He emphasizes that Lord Krishna is like medicine, he is the doctor and he is the nectar (the Amritha) who can save us from this distress.
He informs that always thinking of Lord Narayana, performing puja to Lord Narayana, doing service to Lord Narayana and his devotees, singing his praise will help one to attain Moksha (liberation).
Perumal Thirumozhi
Perumal Thirumozhi Comprises of 105 poems on Lord Ram, Lord Krishna, Lord Ranganatha, Lord Venkateswara. The poems are called as “Perumal Thirumozhi” because, the term Perumal represents Lord Ram. As he was very much devoted to Lord Ram, it was named as Perumal Thirumozhi.
In that, Perumal Thirumozhi, Varieties of devotion were showered by Alvar as Father Dasaratha, Mother Devaki, Mother Kausalya, as a Devotee, as a non-living thing and many more. He was also called as Kulasekhara Perumal as he was very much devoted to Lord Ram who is referred to as “Perumal” in Sri Vaishnava Sampradaya. He was the only King in the line of Alvars.
On Lord Venkateswara
He wanted to be born as herbs or fish or stone or dust or Shenbaga Tree or gold vessel which carries flowers to the Lord and finally as a stepping stone which is in front of Lord Srinivasa. Even today, that step is divine and is called as “Kulasekhara Padi”. He is happy to be a non-living thing if he is with devotees as well as united with the Lord.
As Dasaratha,
he lamented Sri Ram, Sita and Lakshmana on moving to the forest. He cries as though he is Dasaratha who made Lord Ram to suffer in the Dandakaranya forest. He laments how Ram would walk in the forest which is full of stones, rocks, and thorns which would prick his soft tender feet. The poem will depict the extreme grief of Dasaratha.
As Kausalya
on Thirukannapuram Divya Desam – Kulasekhara Alvar sung a very beautiful lullaby to Lord Ram which is even today sung during in all the Vishnu temples. The poem depicts the beauty of Lord Ram, his limbs, hair, style of walking, holy feet, smile and many more. By singing this song, one feels the real lullaby which is soothing to babies even today.
As Mother Devaki
he lamented that she did not get any happiness like Mother Yashodha who was able to get all the happiness in raising up Lord Krishna. She was able to hug him, feed him, dress him up, bathe him, could eat his remaining food as prasadam, could teach him dancing, walking, talking and more.
On Lord Sri Rangam
During his kingly period, he wanted to visit Sri Rangam. He was so passionate that daily, he would decide to leave to Sri Rangam. But, the royal workers will somehow convince him that they will take him the next day. The poem depicts the Alvars’ longing wish to get the Darshan of Lord Ranganatha Swami between the “ThirumanaThoongal (Marriage Pillars)”.
Kulasekhara Alvar claims that by getting the darshan of Lord Ranganatha, one can be saved from the sorrows of life. He also expresses that he wanted to praise more on Lord of Sri Rangam. He felt shy that he is not have enough Bhakti to praise the Lord.
On Thiruchitrakootam
Kulasekhara Alvar finally completes the paasuram by writing the Ramayana in short form and dedicates to Lord of Thiruchitrakootam which is the Govindaraja Perumal Temple inside Chidambaram Nataraja Perumal Temple. Kulasekhara spent his last 30 years in Mannarkoyil near Ambasamudram Tirunelveli by performing service to Lord. He was attracted by the beauty of Veda Narayana and Rajagopalaswami who was resembling Lord of Sri Rangam.
As per Alvar’s advice, whoever or whatever position, one should never forget the Lord, should always worship Lord Narayana and Serve his devotees with utmost devotion which will show the way to Salvation.
Kulasekhara Alwar – An Avatar of Kousthubham
– Smt. T.S. Rajalakshmi
