Copy Paste - Part II

Sri Narayana Theerthar

Sri Narayana Theerthar is well known for his Krishna Leela Tharangini. He is believed as reincarnation of Sri Jaya Deva.

He belonged to Telugu smartha Brahmin family who settled down at Thanjavoor district during the time of Vijayanagar kings. His father’s name was Neelakanta Sasthri and mother’s name was Parvathi.
He attained high proficiency in Telugu and Sanskrit at a young age. He used to study Bhagavatham and sing ashtapathis of Jaya Deva. His parents initiated him in grihasthasrama at the appropriate age. Narayana Theertha loved his wife very much.

Strange are the Lord’s ways when he decides to win over a devotee. An incident took place in Narayana Theertha’s life also similar to Thulsidas’s life.

Once there was heavy rain and Narayan Theertha’s wife was at her father’s house. He had a desire to see her and to spend the night with her. He had to cross the river Vennar to go to his in law’s house. He plunged into the river and started swimming, but when he was at the mid stream there was a sudden surge in the water and he was carried away in the floods. Though he tried his best to fight back the current, it was too difficult for him. He was afraid that he could not save his life. Being a spiritual person he suddenly remembered that there was only one way to save his life. He remembered Bhagavad Pada Sri Adi Sankara’s life in which he took aapath sanyasam to save himself from the clutches of the crocodile. He decided to try his luck by adopting the same method. Accordingly he discarded his sacred thread and plucked off a handful of hair from his head ( as a token of shaving his head) and recited the relevant manthras and virtually became a sanyasi. A few moments later to his great relief the current and the flood subsided. He resumed swimming and reached the bank of the river safely.

Now he was caught in a dilemma and his inner voice started questioning him. Sanyasashram forbids family life and the pleasures of family life was still lingering in him. He began to argue with his mind. “Why not I go to my father in law’s house and enjoy the bliss of family life with my wife? After all besides me no one knows that I have taken aapath sanyasam.”

Though his conscience was pricking him he could not control his passion. His legs without expecting his order carried him to his father in law’s house.

As usual his in laws welcomed him heartily. Then his wife came out from her room. She was an embodiment of chastity and virtue. When she saw him he appeared to her not his usual self, but a mahapurush and she witnessed a halo around his head. His face looked radiant and resplendent.

He went with her to their room. When he tried to touch her she resisted and fell at his feet.

She said, “Swami! I sense something unusual when I see you. I feel some mystery surrounds you. Please tell me what happened today. I never had this kind of feeling before.”

Narayana Theertha was quite startled to hear these words from his wife. He felt ashamed and confessed the truth and revealed the incident that made him to take maanasika aapath sanyasam. Though she was sad to hear this she told him that he should abide to the vow he had made. Her parents also came to know this and they become grief stricken for their daughter. But all being spiritually enlightened people had to put up with reality.

Consequently Narayana Theertha decided to lead a regular sanyasi’s life. Later he was initiated in sanyasashram through a guru called Sivaramananda Theertha. After that following the custom of a newly ordained sanyasi, he took leave of his relatives and went on thirtha yathra. After visiting many holy places in the north he came to Andhra Desa and stayed there for a long time. While he was staying at Krishna district he composed songs in praise of Sri Vedadri Narasimhaswami, the presiding Deity of Chillakallu near Vijayawada.

Later he was suffering from severe stomach pain and he went to Tirupathi to get cured with the grace of Lord of seven hills. As he reached the foot of the hill he heard a Divine voice saying, “You will not get cured here for your ailment, and you must go to a temple near Thiruvaiyaru where my idol has already gone.” Hence Narayana Theertha started his journey towards Thiruvaiyaru.

Prior to the advent of Narayana Thirtha a sanyasi had left with the Idols of Venkatachalapathi and ubaya Nachiyars towards south to save the Idols from the invasion of muslim rulers. This incident had happened after the battle of Talaikotta.

The sanyasi stayed at different places offering puja to the Lord wherever he stayed and at last came to a place called Boopathirajapuram now known as Varahur. As usual here also after offering puja he tried to lift the Idols to resume his journey.

But Lo! The Idols got rooted to the ground and would not move.
Presently he heard a Divine voice telling, “Do not try to move me. I want to stay here.” Hence the sanyasi stayed there doing puja to Venkatachalapathi until he attained mukthi. Even now at Varahur the same Idols are worshiped.

Narayana Theertha came to a hamlet called Nadukkaveri at the bank of the River Kaveri. As the night approached he slept at a Ganesh temple. In his dream Lord Venkatachalapathi appeared and told him,” Tomorrow morning after you complete your morning ablutions a white boar will appear before you. You follow that boar and it will lead you to a temple where you will be cured of your stomach pain.”

Next morning Narayana Theertha woke up, took bath and offered puja to Lord Vigneswara. To his astonishment a white boar had appeared from nowhere and Lord Vigneswara was pointing him to follow the boar. The boar started moving towards western side leading to Boopathirajapuram. Even now we can see Lord Vignesswara’s fingers pointing towards that direction.

Narayana Theertha followed the animal nearly for 4 kilo meters and finally the boar reached the Venkatachalapathi temple and just entered the temple and disappeared from sight. Narayana Theertha entered the temple and after having darshan of Lord Venkatachalapathi, he was relieved of his stomach pain instantly. He thanked and praised the Lord for guiding him to reach His abode through His incarnation of Varaha. From then onwards Boopathirajapuram was called Varahapuri and later on the name changed to Varahur. Varahur is located at 15 miles northwest to Thanjavur.

Being an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna and well versed with Bhagavada puranam Narayana Theertha started composing Krishna Leela tharangini while he was in Krishna district. He completed it at Varahur. Krishna Leela Tharangini starts with the birth of Lord Krishna and ends with Rukmani Kalyanam. Narayana Theertha had taught the songs and abinaya also to his disciples. It is in the form of dance drama and enacted by dance troops.

Narayana Theertha used to celebrate Sri Krishna Jayanthi at the temple in a grand manner during his life time. He had become old and stayed there for two to three years only. He entered into a pit in Jeeva Samadhi on the Sukla Ashtami Krittika day of the Masi month at Thirppunturutti village. A mango tree under which he used to sit and meditate during his last days is in front of the Samadhi and is spreading its branches over it offering shade to the Samadhi.

Besides Krishna Leela Tharangini Narayana Theertha had written a dance drama “Parijathapaharana.” Similar to Jayadeva’s Ashtapathi, Krishna Leela Tharangini is also sung by devotees during bajanothchavams of Radha Kalyanam and Sita Kalyanam.

Paahi Paahi Jaganmohana Krishna

Paramaananda Sri Krishna

Paalitha Narayana Theertha Krishna

Parama Paavana Sri Krishna!

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