DEVA PRAYAG
The sacred water of the Ganges at Kadi Nagar is described as flowing from Brahma’s hands through Siva’s hairs and Lord Trivikrama’s feet down its course to reach here
Having described the greatness of Thiru Maliruncholai and Thiru Kottiyur in the earlier decads in the fourth canto, Periyazhvar moves up North and praises the greatness of Kadi Nagar in an entire decad (4.7). This is the only Divya Desam outside of Tamil Nadu that Periyazhvar praises elaborately. In these set of verses, he praises the Lord as Purushottama.
Periyazhvar starts off this decad in a way interesting way.
The one who chopped off the sister’s nose and severed the brother’s head was Dasarathi Rama, son of Dasaratha!!!
Having thus defeating the Lankan king, he came back here to Ayodhya to rule from here. He describes the city as being right on the banks of Ganga. He credits Ganga with having the powers of wiping out most cruel of sins that one has committed. He praises Kadi Nagar as a magnificent town and calls it Khandam.
தங்கையைமூக்கும்தமையனைத்தலையும்தடிந்தஎம்தாசரதிபோய்
எங்கும்புகழாஇருந்துஅரசாண்டஎம்புருஷோத்தமன்இருக்கை
கங்கைகங்கைஎன்றவாசகத்தாலேகடுவினைகளைந்திடநிற்கும்
கங்கையின்கரைமேல்கைதொழநின்ற
கண்டம்என்றகடிநகரே
He praises the Konrai flowers as one that Siva adorns in his matted hair. Tulsi is described as one that is placed at the feet of Lord Narayana. Both these are described as descending with the stream of water from Ganga to Earth.
One finds sparkling water of Ganges on the banks of the great city of Kadi Nagar where Lord Purushottama resides. Water in Ganges at Kadi Nagar is described as flowing from Brahma’s hands through Siva’s hairs and Lord Trivikrama’s feet down its course to reach this place.
சதுமுகன்கையில்சதுப்புயன்தாளில்
சங்கரன்சடையினில்தங்கி
கதிர்முகமனிகெண்டிழிபுனல்
கங்கைக்கண்டமென்னும்கடிநகரே
It is on both the banks of Ganges at Kadi Nagar that devotees come for a holy dip right from Himalayas to the Sea.
One may have accumulated a number of sins over a long period of time. One dip in the holy Ganges on the banks of Kadi Nagar invoking the blessings of the Lord Purushottam is enough to wash away in just one quick moment the Karmas of 7 lives.
Periyazhvar describes the various weapons of Lord Purushottama as Plough, renowned bow Saranga, flame like discus ‘Sudarshana’, the beautiful Conch ‘Panchajanya’ and the battle axe ‘Nandaka’. He says that all these are divine weapons to kill the wicked people.
உழுவதோர்படையும்உலக்கையும்வில்லும்ஒண்சுடராழியும்சங்கும்
Periyazhvar in another verse reminds us of the Lord of Mathura protecting the entire world by holding the huge mounting with his one when there was a torrential downpour that created a deluge across.
Accessories for Sacrificial yagna
It is here that great sages come for ritual bath. He provides insights into the kind of things used for a sacrifice. The woods that are washed ashore here on the banks of Khandam are used to light sacrificial fire by these sages.
அலைப்புடைத்திரைவாய்அருந்தவமுனிவர்
அவபிரதம்குடைந்தாட
கலப்பைகள்கொழிக்கும்கங்கையின்கரைமேல்
கண்டமென்றும்கடிநகரே
Periyazhvar once again refers to Krishna’s killing of Kamsa. He also refers to the killing of the tusker Kuvalaya by twisting its trunk and rolling down the head of the Mahout.
The celestial Gods and Devas were ruling with pride the three worlds. As if to wake them from Slumber, the asuras came to them with a fierce war cry only to be sent to Yama’s abode – Hell- by Lord Purushottama who is described as wielding the sword Nandaka.
The ichor of elephant Iravata, the sandal paste of Goddess Lakshmi and the Kalpaka flowers all flow here through the Ganges on to Kadi Nagar.
On both sides of this holy town, one finds close knit rows of cow pegs and fragrant smoke of fire altar caused by the Yagnas filling the air.
Periyazhvar also describes the violent nature of the Ganges. He says Mountains rumble, Earth splits and crumble, trees are uprooted and the ocean turns as the water gushes with great speed from the Ganges.
தடவரைஅதிரத்தரணிவிண்டுஇடியத்தலைபற்றிக்கரை
மரம்சாடிகடலினைகலங்கக்கடுத்துஇழி
This great river is surrounded by fragrant groves in the holy town of Khandam. He refers to other holy places surrounding Kadi Nagar as Mathrua in the North, Saligrama, Vaikunta, Dwaraka, Ayodhya and Badari as the abodes of Purushottama.
வடதிசைமதுரைசாளக்கிராமம்வைகுந்தம்துவரைஅயோத்தி
இடமுடைவதரி