WHY THIRUMALIRUMCHOLAI IS THE KSHETRAM OF CHANDRAN ? part- 7

Sri Ranga Ramanuja Mahadesikaya Namaha:

WHY THIRUMALIRUMCHOLAI IS THE KSHETRAM OF CHANDRAN ? part- 7

by Dasan Kudanthai Amudhan

Mystical No 18 in Jyotish and Srivaishnavam

Mystical No 18 is closely connected to moon and no 7 is linked to Sun.Both these numbers are associated with Srivaishnavam and Jyotish in many respects.

1) There are 18 ancient jyotish siddhanthas rendered by sages during vedic period. Suriya siddhantha is listed as no 1 and Soma Siddhantha is listed as 18^th.

2) For a Lunar or Solar eclipse to occur on full moon or new moon day respectively, the ascending node or descending Node has to be around 18 degrees or less from moon. In short when the Moon is within about 18 degrees of its Nodes, an eclipse will occur. Hence 18 degrees becomes the fudge factor around the nodes when the shadow geometry is precise enough for an eclipse to happen if the sun and moon are closer to the node. Beyond 18 degrees, the Shadows just do not line up and hence no eclipse is possible.

3) Saros cycle is an eclipse cycle repeat over 18 years in cycles when nearly identical eclipse of sun and moon return to approximately the same relative geometry occurrence. In short, for every Saros cycle, the Sun, earth and moon return to approximately same place.Therefore almost identical Solar or Lunar eclipse repeat over 18 years .

4) Zodiac is an imaginary path like a belt in the sky of about 18 degrees arc in width centered on the ecliptic, running around the earth in east-west direction where 27 groups of stars are fixed in this.In short zodiac is 18 degrees wide band placed obliquently to the equator.it is divided in to 12 signs (rasis) with 27 stars,through which Moon transit by staying in each star for a day and more.

5) Astronomers consider that Sky is completely dark if the Sun is atleast 18 degrees below the horizon.Twilight refers to the time just before the Sunrise or Sunset.There are three established twilights,the last being the astronomical twilight which attributes to the darkness in the sky, if the centre of the Sun is geometrically 18 degrees below the horizon (say at sea level ).

6) During any given time, moon orbits earth inclined about 18 degrees north or south to equator(earth tilted degrees minus moon orbital tilted degrees) So the lowest latitude that moon can swing is about 18 degrees which is called as “minor lunastices’.The highest latitude that moon can swing is 28.6 degrees (earth tilted degrees plus moon orbital tilted degrees) to its opposite N or S called as ‘major lunastices’or‘major lunar standstill’.Above extreme Swings repeat everytime over 18 years.

7) The earliest sighting of very thin faint crescent moon to our naked eyes is possible only after 18 hours when the new moon reaches elongation of 11.5 degrees from its astronomical conjunction with Sun subject to moons altitude with horizon depending upon season.This young crescent moon can be sighted before its sets in western horizon within an hour after the Sunset during the phases of new moon.In short, unless the age of crescent moon is min 18 hours,it can not be sighted to our naked eyes.This symbolize with human mind which attains maturity after the age of 18 years legally eligible to act.

8) There is a rare tide called ‘proxigean spring” tides (bulging of sea water level) in addition to the normal Spring tides and Neap tides. This unusual very high tide occurs every 18 months when Moon is at its closest distance to the earth known as its perigee.The distance of earth from moon and sun vary due to its elliptical orbits (not circular).This causes variation in the tidal forces and theoretical amplitude of about +-18% for the moon and +-5% for Sun.

9) Moons ascending and desending nodes are 180 degrees apart from each other.So they are on the opposite side of the sky to each other.Hence in horoscope chart, two nodes namely Rahu and Ketu are in 7th sign from each other.Similarly Full moon is at 180 degrees from the Sun in elongation.So Moon and Sun are in 7th sign from each other on full moon day.Assuming that zero has no value,numerical no 18 finds its importance with moon.

10) Tarot cards used for fortune telling has moon in its 18^th card.In the background of moon in 18^th card, one can see a fish in a pool of ocean water. Water and fish symbolizes the emotions and the individuality.It reminds us the very first avatar of Sri Vishnu.There are 18 holes in golf course to play .There are 18 types (ashtadasa) of musical instruments used in temple poojas and festivals.

11) Total Solar eclipse are rare events.Total solar eclipse occurs somewhere in earth on average of about every 18 months.Moon reflects 7% of the sun light normally it receive from the sun retaining the balance on its surface except on full moon day when it reflects up to 18%.In a given year, rarely not exceeding more than 7 eclipses are formed.Moon and Sun have only 7^th sign aspect in horoscope.

12) All elements are listed in Periodic table under 18 groups in 7 periods. In short this table have 7 periods in horizontal row and 18 groups in vertical column.The last 18^th group is listed as ‘Noble gases’ like argon.Vedic jyotish astronomers consider moons two nodes,the intersecting points in north (ascending) as Rahu and in south (descending) as Ketu, the two imaginary points in Space with no mass.So these nodes are attributed to “Noble gases’ placed under 18^th group of periodic table.

13) Farthest and gaseous planet Saturn has 7 major rings (flat) around it. There are 18 very big named moons and many smaller unnamed moons around Saturn. The earth is orbiting the sun at the speed of about 18 miles per second.

14) Moon nodes -Rahu dasa period is 18 years and ketu dasa period is 7 years. Moon stars are Rohini,Hastham and Sravnam.Counting from each,every 9^th star is Sun star and every alternative sun star falls as 18^th star as Uttradam,karthigai and Utthiram respectively.From each moon star, every 7^th star falls as ketu star.

15) An eclipse year of 346.6 days is short by just over 18 days from solar year.

Since Sun appears moving one degree a day, the 18 degree fudge factor translate in to 18 days either side of the suns passage of a lunar node.so when new moon occurs within 18 days before and after the alignment of a node, a solar eclipse will occur.

16) if a person walks in a normal step of over 3 inches height or a basketball player jumps over 3 ft height on the earth,Same person can walk or jump on the Moon just over 18 inches or 18 ft height due to the fact that moons gravity is 1/6^th that of earth. Chandran denotes water and shelters.Water is present inside the bhumi and gets cooled due to moon rays in the night.Housing is a permanent shelter to human beings built on plots which are measured as“ground’ to ‘acre’.Moons influence is felt here in the conversion factor of just over 18 grounds per acre.Although moon owns a watery sign kataka, its stars are located in the three signs Vrushabha,Kanni and makra representing the element of earth(bhumi)

17) Moon nodes, Rahu and ketu stay in one sign for about 18 months during gochara transit before transiting to another sign (raasi).Thiruvananthapuram Sri AnantaPadmanabha swami idol is 18 ft long reclined on aadiseshan.

18) Full moon cycle (fumacy ) is a cycle of 14 synodic months each of 29.53 days, over which full moon vary in apparent size and age measured from new moon to new moon.Similarly an Anomalistic month of 27.55 days is the time taken by moon in its path of eliptic orbit between passages of perigee ,the extreme point closest to the earth.So correction must be applied after 18 fumocys by skipping the first 1 synodic month in the very first entry of fumacy in order to match synodic and anomalistic months when tracking full moon cycles.So no 18 is the numerical factor used in correction table to arrive equation between synodic months and anomalistic months for predicting accurately the date and time of new moons, full moons and lunastics.

19) Astronomers arrived a theory that Moon was much closer to the earth than now many billions of years ago.Hence its smaller orbit needed just 20 days to go around the earth to make a lunar month.So a day in earth was then only 18 hours long than present day of 24 hours.The ocean tides on earth were much stronger during those period compared to the present days tides resulting in pralayams frequently.

*20) The second sign Vrushabha in which Lord Krishna took birth and where moon gets uccham(exalted), ends up with 18^th pada (constellation in that sign) as each raasi has 9 padas. In other words, 18^th pada (leg) is the last step for Moon in Vrushabha rassi (Vrushabhadri –azhagarhills).There are totally 108 padas for moon to transit in 27 stars of 12 signs similar to 108 divya desams in Srivaishnavam..Also 7^thpatha falls in Mesha where Sun is exalted.Also unlike other uccha signs, Vrushaba is the only exalted sign where no graha attains neecha.Interestingly 7^th Patha star (bharani)ruler Venus and 18^th patha star ruler (Mirgasesha) Mars are exchanged as owners of exalted signs for Sun and Moon.

*21) There are totally 18 divya desams in pandiya nadu .Azhagarkoil is foremost among these 18 divya desams of Pandiya Nadu once upon a time ruled by Chandra kula rulers of pandiya kings.Total 108 divya desams are listed under groups of 7 nadus. Azhagarkoil has 18 steps in its main gopura closed entrance and has 7 hills as listed by Sri Periazhwar pasuram. Kaliyan in his Periya thirumozhi pasurams of (10-1) gave mangalasasanams to Thirumaliurmcholai azhagar among the 18 divya desams lords in this first set.

* 22) Astronomically there are four major moon phases. Ashtami tithi of Krishna paksha(waning)falls under‘last quarters”half illuminated(left) moon phase,when moon rises in the east at mid night and sets in the Noon.This was the time Lord Krishna had chosen to take avatar when moon rises at mid night 18 hours after the Sunrise.Vice versa ashtami tithi of Sukla paksha (waxing) falls under “first quarters”,moon (right) rises in the noon, when Sun rises 18 hours after moon rise in the noon.Lord Krishnas charma sloka is in last 18^th chapter of Bhagwat gita.

*23) 18^th pasuram of Thiruppavai reminds us the urge of prapatti when Sri Ramanjuar during his daily unjavarthi for bhiksha at srirangam stepped in to the thirumaligai of Periya nimbi, He was about to complete the recitation of concluding line of pasuram ‘Vandhi thiravai’.Then the doors were opened by the daughter of periyanambi ‘Thiruthulai’. This prompted Sri Ramanujar to fall at her feet unconsciously to her utter shock since he was fully immersed in this pasuram as if Nappinnai piratti was standing in front of him. This twice recited pasuram mention ‘Madhavi pandhal ‘(jasmine flowers creeper) and end up with the note of happiness in mind.Azhagarhills has“Madhavi pandhal” through which water of Noopura ganga falls in the madhavi mandapam. Jasmine is the flower of chandran.

*24) Chandran transit through 27 stars in a lunar month. 27^th pasuram of Thiruppavai ‘’koodarai vellum seer govinda’ reminds us the tradition followed by us in presenting ‘Akkara vadisil’ (Ksheer annam) to lord azhagar on this day.This was started by Sri Ramanujar who had ultimately fulfilled the promise/vow of Sri Andal to Thirumaliurmchollai azhagar as per her pasuram in nachiyar thirumozhi. This 27^th pasuram is closely connected to chandran and thirumaliurmchollai as desire for wearing ornaments and presenting Ksheerannam,food as mentioned in pasuram comes under the karaghathvam of chandran.

*25)Numerical nos 18,108,180 are connected with chandran.No 18 is two digit number of 1+8 = 9.Similarly chandran stars are 27 (2+7)=9.Starting from 9,18,27…or its multiples 18,36,54,72,90,108 … either 9 or 18 or its both multiples if multiplied with any digit, any numbers will give total 18 or 9 only which no other numerical number gives.Example 18 x 26=288=18=9.Any random number say 18 x132=2376 =18. 18 x 2835=51030=9, 9 x 3162=28458=9, 18 x 56423=1015614=18. Its multiples say 27 x 53=1431=9, 54 x 98=5292=18,it goes for multiples of 9 and 18.

More details of chandran vs mystical no 18 were given in part-1 of march 10 issue.

*Chandra yantra as given above by our vedic sages has numbers on three columns from 2 to 10 which if added will give the figure of 18 both in vertical and horizontal .On its geometric side in the reverse ,it has an image of moon engraved in silver plate.NO 1 denotes the beginning and No 8 denotes the end of life.Given below are its numerical connection to Srivaishnavam-

2-Dvaya mantra (two line words).Dvayam means dual.

8-Ashtothara mantra (eight syllabled mantra) .

6- Six qualities of Vishnu-saulabhya, sausilya, vatsalya, krpa, audarya, bandhuttva.

Six words (tenets) given by Lord Varadhar as a message to Sri Ramanujar.

4- Emanations of vyuha in four forms-aniruddha, pradyumna, Sankarshana

Vasudeva. Also indicates four yugas of Vishnu avatars.

5- Five forms of Vishnu-para, vyuhas, vibhava, antaryami and archa.

10- Ten avatars of lord Vishnu.

3- Three letters of pranavam (AUM) and three Steps of Vamana/trivikrama avatar.

7- 7 parvathas,7 islands,7oceans- Lord Krishna tamed 7 bulls and held govardhan hills for 7 days.Lord rama is 7^th avatar of Vishnu and Ramayana has 7 kandams.

9 -There are Nine granthas (books) written by Sri Ramanujar known as “Navarathnas” to explain the Vishishtadvaita schools of philosophy.

Out of above, Six is the symbolic representation of a human mind which is the 6^th sense organ with 6 faculties.Chandran is said to have come out from the mind of Lord Vishnu.So the Six qualities of Lord Vishnu are connected to chandran.

Sri Rama and Sri Krishna avatars– we could make out from above that mystical Number 18 is closely connected to Chandran and to Lord Krishna.Similarly that Mystical number 7 is connected to Suriyan and to Lord Rama which details were given in our issue of oct 2009 on‘Thirukudanthai as Bhaskara Kshetram”.Since the universe is getting light and life only from two luminaries Sun and Moon, the avatars of Lord Rama and Lord Krishna representing both Suriyan and Chandran are considered as most important among dasa avatars due to their birth being in full human forms.The movement of ‘Hare Rama,Hare krishna‘ slogan echos worldwide the importance of these two avatars.Sri Rama is called as “Rama chandra” because he had 16 gunas similar to 16 kalais of chandran.Lord Rama took birth during Solar month Chittrai when Sun is uccham at Mesha and in the Star of punarvasu at Kataka rassi owned by Moon whearas Sri Krishna took birth during Solar month Avani when Sun is in his own sign Simha and in the moon Star of Rohini at Vrushbha rassi, a uccha sign for Moon.Informatively Sri Ramas birth Star Punarvasu is owned by Jupiter, while Sri Krishna birth rassi (sign) is owned by Venus. Both natural benefic grahas are connected to Chandran.Jupiter gets exalted in moon sign kataka while moon gets exalted in Venus sign Vrushaba whereas Venus gets exalted in Jupiter sign Meena..All 18 padas (steps) are encompassed in Mesha and Vrushabha where two luminaries Sun and Moon are exalted Similar to their connections with the Mystical no of 18 degrees in the Sky.

Lord Krishna and Chandran–Sri Krishna took avatar in Rohini star,the most favourite wife of Chandran.Rohini is the daughter of Surabhi,the celestial Cow.Lord Krishna said in bhagwat gita 10-28“I am the surabhi among the Cows”.Bhuma devi (mother of earth) came in the form of a Cow and made plea to Lord Vishnu to establish Dharma in the earth.So Vrushabha rassi, the earthy sign ending up with 18^th pathas symbolize dharma bhumi.Lord Krishna took avatar in Rohini star patha–2, in which both moon and lagna attain vargottama (both are in the same sign of rassi and amsam respectively) Similarly all grahas at the time of Lord Krishnas avatar attained Vargottma, identically placed in same signs of both raasi and amsam in his horoscope.Symbolically to this, Lord Krishnas was wearing in his crown “Mor Pankh” (peacock feather- Chandrak) with same colourful impressions of eyes or cut moon ( appears like moon with 14 kalais ) on both front and back sides which is very rare,one among million pieces since it has Barbules on both sides of feather.When Sun light falls,it will give colorful shimmer and glow due to its optical interference phenomenon.Normally peacock feather has Barbules only on front side.Hence back side will appear in plain brown color.Chandran denotes peacock feathers while Suriyan signify the peacock itself like Sun gives light and life to moon.One such‘mor pankh” is said to be in a Sri Krishna temple at Madura.

Sri Krishna avatar in Rohini–2 (moon star) happens to fall as 14^th pada.Only at this pada, moon and lagna will get vargottama.This is very important to Chandran because he emerged from Thiruparkadal only on 14^th Tithi.There are 14 lokas created by Brahma and there are 14 manvantras in a kalpam.So Lord Krishna reflected the gunas of Chandran in all respects.Becouse of his avatar in Rohini-2, he stayed in bhumi for 120 years starting from mid of moon dasa to mid of same dasa till end. Dharma devan is worshipped with 14 names in his 14 forms on 14^th tithi of Naraka Chaturdasi prior to deepawali day.So Lord Krishna had to kill Kamsa and other asuras to establish dharma in earth.In Bhagwad gita Sri Krishna said “Among the dispensers of Law, I am the yama”. Hence all azhwars and poorvachariyars had rendered many Pasurams and works more about Sri Krishna due to the importance of his avatar.Moon is viewed as most controversial mysteries in astronomy which baffle scientists.Same way in our Purana about chandran.Similarly Lord Krishnas lilas from his birth to his end were most unpredictable and even Arjuna could not read Sri Krishnas mind.Chandran connection with Sri Krishna is thus explained as above.

Among all avatars,Only Sri Krishna avatar is said to be the ‘Purana avatar” due to many reasons.Starting from his birth,Sri Krishna performed many lilas.He took birth with Sanghu and chakram which he had to conceal later after his mother devaki requested him to hide it. Lord Krishna exhibited the entire universe within himself during Vishvarupa dharshan to arjuna. Sri Krishna lifted “Govardhan”hill in his little finger and held it for seven days as an umbrella to protect gopas, gopisthris and cows from the outburst of indrans anger.Sri Krishna gave fortune to his poor devotee Kusela and made him rich overnight.Sri Krishna brought back the Son of his guru Sandipani from Yamapattinam.Sri Krishna used on many occasions Sudharsana chakra to destroy the evil forces to protect the pious people.Sri Krishna gave amurt to the world in the form of Bhagwat gita.Among the dasa avatars,only Bhagwan Sri Krishna is called as“Sri Krishna Paramathma“ which no other avatars have such credit.Avatar means ‘desending to the earth “.Only Chandran alone has come down much closer to revolve around the earth for serving all beings in bhumi as its satellite while all other grahas are in Solar system very far away from the earth.So moon is like a mother to a child (earth).Hence Chandran is linked with Sri Krishna who stand as ‘Azhagar’in ‘Dakshina tirumala, as Srinivasan in ‘ Utthira tirumala”, as Azhagiya Manavalan in Srirangam,as GeethAchAryan in Thiruvalikeni and as Sri Venu Gopalan at Srimath srirangam andavan ashramam, besides in many Kshetrams.Lord Krishna advocated in his 18^th chapter(last) of Bhagwad gita for Surrender to him.This is possible only through the blessings of achariyar.Hence devotion to Lord Sri Krishna and seeking the grace of achariyar will give happiness.

Sarvam sri krishnarpanam

!!OM NAMO NARAYANAYA!!