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Who is this deity?

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Ramanbil • June 4, 2000 


Dear Bhagavatas
Following is an excerpts from Chapter 8 "Where is God?" from my book 
"Hinduism Rediscovered" archived at www.srivaishnava.org/sgati
Please go to TOC of SDDS Volume 1 Issue 23 dated 4th December 1996 
for fuller details.

While describing the "Param" abode of the Lord, I have mentioned about 
"GAJANANAN" (Not to be confused with Ganapathi) at item 17 as also one 
SKANDAN (Not to be confused with Subrahmanya) at item 23 in the list of some 
of the Nitysooris in Paramapadam.

In many PerumAL koils, you will find this deity. 
I have seen one on the left side of one of the entrances in Sri Parthasarathy 
PerumAL Koil at Tiru Allik kENI (Triplicane). 

They are all the "ParivAras" of the Lord and if one looks carefully, one can 
find them depicted in pictures or chistleled on architecture in the precincts 
of PerumAL koils.
Dasoham
Anbil Ramaswamy
=================================================
SECTION 1 : PARAM (TRANSCENDENTAL) 
NITYAVIBUTHI is called 'PARAMAPADAM' 'SRIVAIKUNDAM' 'TRIPADAVIBUTHI', 
'AMRUTHAM', 'APRAKRITAM', 'ANANDA LOKAM, 'AYODHYA', 'PARAMAKASAM' and by many 
more names which are' paryaya padas' or equivalent terms. The description of 
this 'PARAM' is given in 'KAUSHITAKI UPANISHAD', and Sri RAMANUJA'S 
SRIVAIKUNTA GADHYAM'. 

This SRIVAIKUNTA is the holiest city with Mansions of gold, Groves, 
Waterfronts, Natatoria, Halls, Canopies, Ramparts, Towers and Mantapas 
(Courtyards) the most important of which is the 'TIRU MAMANI MANTAPA'. 

Sri NARAYANA presides over the Nitya Vibuthi seated on a majestic Lion-throne 
(SIMHASANA) installed on the thousand headed divine serpent (ADHISESHA), with 
his consorts SRIDEVI, BHOODEVI and NEELA DEVI. 

The NITYASURIS include - 

I. ASHTA DIK PATHIGAL (8) 
(1) KUMUDAN 
(2) KUMUDAAKSHAN 
(3) PUNDAREEKAN 
(4) VAMANAN 
(5) SANKU KARNAN 
(6) SARVANETRAN 
(7) SUMUKHAN 
(8) SUPRATISHTAN 

II. DWARA PAALAKAAS - (8) 
(9) CHANDAN 
(10) PRACHANDAN 
(11) BADRAN 
(12) SUBADRAN 
(13) JAYAN 
(14) VIJAYAN 
(15) DHAATAN 
(16) VIDHAATAN 

III. PARIVARAS (2) 
(17) GAJAANANAN (Not to be confused with Ganapathi) 
(18) JAYATSENAN 

IV. OTHER "CHIEF" NITYASURIS
(19) VISHWAKSENAR- the Commander - in- Chief and Chief Advisor 
(with his wife SUTRAVATHI) 
(20) VAINATEYAR a.k.a GARUDALWAR and PERIYA TIRUVADI 
(with his wives RUDRAI and SUKEERTHI) 
(21) ANANTAALWAN a.k.a AADHI SESHAN - the divine couch of the Lord 
(with his wives VAARUNI and KAANTI) 
(22) NANDAN 
(23) SKANDAN (Not to be confused with Subrahmanya) 
(24) PUSHKARA 
(25) PUSHKARAAKSHA 
(26) PRISNIGARBHA 
(27) KAALA (Not to be confused with Yama, the Lord of death) 
(28) AMAANAVA PURUSHA a.k.a MAANASA PURUSHA 
(29) SARVAGANDHI 
And, many, many, many more.
===============================================





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