A Lucky Visit to the Land of Yogarahasya

A panoramic view of Sri Adinathar Temple - the presiding deity of Azhvar-thirunagari

 

It was an unplanned visit to Azhvar thirunagari in Toothukudi district Tamilnadu yesterday 16th June. I was in the district for my Kuladevata darshanam. After that, we were heading to Thiruchendur, that has a very famous sea shore temple of Lord Subrahmnaya venerated by Sri Sannkaracharya, in a Taxi. My father casually said, Azhvar Thirunagari is in the route. I was elated and excited because of the Yogic Connect that this place has.

On reaching sacred Azhvar Thirunagari, I was extremely happy to know that It was Vaigasi visagam -Tirunakshatram- the day of incarnation- of Nammalvar , a Sage who practiced Tapas under a Tamarind tree for 16 years and attained enlightenment. It was also the place where Sage Nathamuni meditated and received Divyaprabandhams from Sage Nammalvar in nineth century, that were mostly lost. I had Darshna of the 5000yr old tree -date according to local belief- called as - Thiruppuli Azhvar or Urangapuli- the source of wisdom and enlightenment.

 

The Information board about the Tamarind Tree that Sheltered Sages Sri Nammazhvar and Sri Nathamuni

 

As a practitioner of Yoga in the Tradition of Sri Krishnamacharya, it has more significance to me - as this is where Yogacharya Sri Krishnamacharya rediscovered the lost text of Sri Nathamuni Yogarahasya during early 1900s under Yogic circumstances.

A sculpture of a Seated Yogin - outside the Main Gopuram 

I met a software-professional-turned-Tamil writer there - Mr.Sujatha Desikan -, who told me that UVe Swaminatha iyer, the great Tamil Manuscriptologist, who rediscovered and published many ancient and classical Tamil works, found a manuscript that he was searching for by the grace of Lord Adinatha the presiding deity of Azhvar thirunagari. It is interesting to note that Hathayogapradeepika, a classical 15th century work on Hathayoga, begins with a salutation to Sri Adinatha. 

 

 

The Writer in front of the Temple

Hence as a person involved in Yoga - that too in literary research, this was an unexpected and unplanned pilgrimage that was a surprise blessing Just before the International Yoga Day this year. #KYM #Krishnamacharyayogamandiram #yoga #internationaldayofyoga

I am happy and proud that I have my native village not very far from this Yogabhumi. 

I feel, unlike me, who made an unplanned visit, every practitioner of Yoga should take up a pilgrimage to this ancient seat of Yoga.