WHY SRIVILLIPUTTUR IS KNOWN AS ‘’CHEVVAI’ (MARS) PARIHARA STHALAM ?

Srimathe Ranga Ramanuja Mahadesikaya Namaha:

WHY SRIVILLIPUTTUR IS KNOWN AS ‘’CHEVVAI’ (MARS) PARIHARA STHALAM ?

( by Dasan Kudanthai Amudhan) PART - 1

Mars is known as ‘செவ்வாய், மங்களன், சேனாபதி, சேய், குஜன், அங்கராகன், குருதி, நெருப்புகொள்ளி, கனல், பூமகன், ஆரல், பூமிகாரகன், சகோதரகாரகன் வக்கிரன். In sanskrit he is called as mangal, kujan, vakra, angaraka, bhumiputra, kumara, bheem, randhir, kurunnetra, lohitanga, krura, aaram, rhauma, avaneya, bhauma, aaral ect. Mars Colour-red, Direction- south, Vahana- Ram,goat, Animals- bulls, red ox, sharp horned animals like wild boars,sharp toothed fast moving cat family like tiger, cheetah, panther, leopard. Birds- eagles, hawks, vultures, cock, raven, ostriches, wood pecker (horn bills) besides poisonous reptiles like scorpion, snakes, king cobras ect. crocodiles (makara) and mythological animal “yali ‘ are represented by mars.

Dhanyams-Toor ( pigeon peas ),red lentils, red chillies, red mustard seeds,red pepper, red annatto seeds used in food, lip sticks coloring.Flowers-Shenbaham (chambhak), red aarali. Vegetables-Tubers/roots/bulbs grown below the earth like red radish, beet roots, yam and tapica roots ect.Fruits-red pomegranate,red bell pepper. Weapons- plough, knife, spear, trident ect.Adi devatha-Bhumi devi, Priythoga devathas- Agni, Chakrathazhwar, Presiding deity-Jwala Nrishimar. Garuda is closely connected to mars.Raga-sama veda, Metal-zinc,copper, Gothram-bharadwaj,Caste-kshetriya, Dress-red cloth,Food-rice mixed with toor dhall powder,Gems- Red coral,blood stone,red garnet,red jasper, Consort-Shakti devi, Native-avanti(ujjain),Day-Tuesday,Human body- brain, blood, bone marrow, Diseases-blood related, Taste-bitter, hotness, Asana-Triangle, Samithu-karungaali, Language- Tamil/mani pravalam. Element-earth.Planetary cabinet-commander in chief, Guna-tamasa, fiery, Stature- short, Season-peak summer(agni nakshtra) Masa- aadi month, Worship place- Tulsi plant,neem tree and banyan tree, Gender-masculine, Stars-mIrgasesh, chittrai, avittam, Signs-mesha, vrichika, Neecha rasi-kataka, Uccha rasi-makara Friendly grahas-sun,moon,jupiter (guru), Directional aspects-4,7,8. Dosha-manglik. place of living-forest,ant-hills, mountain, volcanoes ect.

Mars tree ( as per sloka)- Mandhara tree -மந்தார மரம் also known as ‘’flame tree’ or ‘tiger claw’ is called as ‘kalyana murungai’ in tamil having dark red color flowers.Its branches will resemble the shape of sea coral .Its trunk and branches are covered with sharp thorns which disappear as the tree gets older ( mars dosha is seen to be active for the young aged people and reduce its cruel effects over a period of age )

Mars rules over boldness, ego, arrogance, individuality, courage, motivation, impulsiveness, will power, persistence, initiative besides its related actions like endurance, conflict, expressing anger, violent behavior, fast action, tension, quick retaliation, talking fast, uttering sharp words,doing cruel acts instantly without realizing its consequences, dominating nature, adamant, emotional outburst, courageous, stubborn, aggressiveness , quarrelsome, heroism, adventurous nature, and valor ect. Because of above characteristics, mars governs and rules over - sports, martial arts, physical energy, stamina, strong sexual drive, vigor, participating in competitions and emerging victorious, organizing capacity, commanding, inspiring, bravery, fighting spirit ect. On the negative side, weak mars in the horoscope of a native will give quite opposite results to the above characteristics.

Mars is the lord of war.Hence Mars denotes army soilders, , armouries, battlefields, fighting, using of sharp weapons, explosives, guns ect besides signifying shooters, gunners, ordinance depot ect.Mars denotes physical energy representing athelets, hunters, poachers, shooters, boxers, wrestlers, commando forces. Hence Mars rules over gym fitness centers, physical exercise, sportsmen, game players, sports accessories, racers, stadium , all dangerous games like car / motor cycle races .

Mars governs over sharp tools like knifes, Scissors, plough,forks,mace ,needles,razers, cutters, spade, swords, spears ect besides being the karagha for blood, mars is very closely connected to the profession of medical and rules over surgeons, operation theater. Kitchen/ matapalli, cutters, barbers, carpenters, mechanic, butchers, blacksmith, potters, sculptures, dentists, machine operaters are under mars karagathvam.Cooks are under the rulership of mars as cooking is done with kniefs, sharp cutters and also handling of fire burning stoves. So kitchen/matapalli is ruled by mars. Rust formation in iron items is due to mars as it is the planet which is full of iron oxide and hence has red-signature color.

Mars colour is red. He denotes blood, red corpuscles in the blood, blood bank. redcross, and its related diseases like blood pressure, hyper tension, blood hemorrhage ,blood cancer, loss of blood, anemia, bone marrow, thirst, spinal card ect.Mars rules over the growth of brain,denoting diseases like migraine, fever, menstrual problems for women,scars in face/body. Mars also rules over muscles, male gentitalia besides chicken pox, boils, acidity, pitta, typhoid’s ,skin diseases, burn injuries, tumors , yellow jaundice, gall stone, left ear defect, Swine flu, abnormal heart beat ect are indicated by mars.

Mars is the karagaha for both physical energy and mechanical energy.Such combined energy forces in action like driving of vehicles, machine operations, working in factories are under the influence of mars. Although sukran denotes the luxury of comfort in vehicle transporation,the driving of vehicles are under the control of mars.So mars signify automobiles, engines, generators, spark plugs,drivers, rash driving, fatal vehicle accidents, red signals, emergency services/vans, blood bank, surgery, operation ect. Fractures, wounds, injuries,deaths caused in accidents, instant death are due to mars influences only.Energy tablets/ energy drinks like red bull ,steroids are under mars care.

Mars is the பூமிகாரகன் (bhumi karagha) being the son of earth.So he denotes the element prithvi- earth.He signify lands, properties, real estate, buildings, red soil, forests, hills, houses, gardens, towers, forts , walls ect. Hence mars rules over the property purchase as well as the property disputes also. Building houses and buying of lands, forefathers properties, getting treasures in the earth are due to the strong placement of mars in the horoscope. since mars rules over both earth and destruction, it influences in sudden eruption of lava in volcanoes, landslides, earth caving and earth quakes/termers and collapse of buildings resulting in death of people. Tall pillars, beams, flyovers buildings are under the karagathvam of mars.

Since mars, being the dry,fiery red planet, it will signify the Cause of both constructive and destructive energy of any nature. So he is called in vedic astrology as‘’ vakra’ and‘’kururan’.Hence mars rules over litigation, court cases, criminal acts, violent riots, thefts, accidents, disputes, debts in business and properties besides having strong influence on marital life. Malific mars of bad ownership during his dasa running in the early age of a native will end up in the break of marital life or ending in the family court,besides the death of a life partner since mars rule over the karagathvam of 7^th sign for the women and for men, the venus (sukran) as kalathra karaghan, rules over the 7^th sign from lagna.The profession of lawyers are related to mars.

Mars is the kargaha for blood relation and represent brothers/ sisters as he governs the 3^rd sign from the lagna which denotes the siblings in horoscope .Hence mars play important role in the relationship of brothers and sisters. Mars also being the karagha of bhumi, any land and properties dispute arised among brothers/sisters are related to mars influences. In rural areas, we can see such property disputes even result in some worst cases with brutal killings among siblings/others due to mars impulsive nature. Hence செவ்வாய் is known as சகோதரகாரகன்.

Mars being the hot graha is the source of fire.Its related products like explosives, bombs, match boxes, crackers, fire engine, fire extinguisher ( all painted with red), burning, fire accidents, mortuaries, foundries, furnaces, chimney, brick chambers,, boilers, heaters, explosive storage/factories, besides warping and moulding of metal products by fire are under the influence mars.

Mars rules over non ferrous metals mainly zinc and copper besides non metallic minerals like quarts, silica sand,feldspar,limestone, gyspum ect used in the manufacturing of building materials like cement, plaster of Paris, clinkers, bricks, ceramic tiles,sanitaryware besides glass and glass products, abrasive stones, foundries, fire stone, metal power ect. Electricity is the power generated out of thermal, atomic, Hydel, wind forces converted in to electrical energy through mechanical process by turbines and generators. mars has great influences in the production of electricity power and its supply through transmission towers. So all electrical accessories like switch, circuit breaker, transformers, generators, energy meters, batteries, iron Box, electrical wire , grinders, ovens besides causing of fire by electric leak and electrocution are under the influence of mars.

Mars also governs the reactive chemicals, inorganic chemicals, dyes and pharma raw materials, distillation process,chemical reaction by thermal energy in their production units ect.Hence Engineering professions in mechanical /civil/ automobile/ metal/ chemical industries, metallurgy as engineers, architects, alchemists are represented by mars. Profession like pharma, electrical shops,medical shops,cooking,carpentary, are coming under the influence of mars.The employment status for a native is denoted by mars.

1) SRIVILLIPUTTUR – Sthalam for ‘Chevvai”-

Lord Vishnu after fulfilling the purpose of Varaha avatar, came to this varahakshetra and rested under a banyan tree in the forest of Shenbagaranyam ( the forest full of trees of Shenbagam-champak flowers ) after slaying the demon Kalanemi who was disturbing the penance of sages over here.”Shenbagaranyam was part of a larger kingdom known as ‘Malli Vala Nadu’ ruled by its queen malli. She had two sons Villi and kandhan who were brothers and hunters.One day they went on a hunting mission to the forest where in an hunting adventure, kandhan was killed by a tiger that pounced on him suddenly when he was chasing it.Villi who lost track of his brother became tiresome and fell asleep not realising what happened to his brother. Lord appeared in his dream and consoled villi by telling about the fate and end of his brothers life. He further told that his idol in a reclining posture as “vatapathrasayee’ was lying hidden underneath the shrubs and ant- hills nearby a banyan tree and directed him to clear the forest and build a temple for him by using the wealth of gold treasure lying in a nearby cave.

Accordingly Villi built a temple by establishing a small town around it and installed the idol of Sri Vatapathrasayee in this temple. As the forest was full of Snake mounds and cleared by Villi, it got the name as ‘Villiputtur” derived from “villi “(also as Bowman in tamil), “puthu ( anthills or new in tamil) and “ur” ( a place or town ).After the avatar of Sri andal here, this town became to be called as “ Srivilliputtur”.

Mars is the karagha for hunters, forest, wild animals like tigers, hunting adventure, brotherhood, ant hills, hidden treasures in the bhumi ect. Shenbaga flowers are the flowers of mars. Even now Shenbhagathoopu,the nearby reserved forest at the foothills of western Ghats just 8 kms away from the temple is often frequented by tigers, chettah, bears and other wild animals as often reported from Srivilliputtur.

2) THIRUMUKKULAM THEERTHAM- THE CONNOTATION WITH CHEVVAI

Sri Sudharsana Chakram has sharp spokes on its wheel from which great ball of flames are emerging to look like a ‘’mangala jyothi’’. Sudharsana is refered as‘’Ayudhesa’ and”Hethiraja” meaning the lord of weapons.He is the weapon of maha vishnu, remover of dangers to the devotees of Sri Vishnu from accidents, enemies, evil spirits, incurable diseases, sorcery thereby annihilating the evil forces.He has 16 weapons in his 16 hands.‘’chevvai ‘ is called as ‘ aaral“ meaning sharp tooth as he denotes all weapons, flames, sharp spokes ect. “Plough”, one of the 16 weapons of Sri Sudharsana azhwan is closely connected to mars as plough is tied up with bulls to be used on the land for cultivation of crops. Bull and plough are the animal and weapon of mars for farming field.

When Janaka maharaj was Ploughing a piece of land to prepare for a yajna,the Spiritual sacrifice, he unearthed a golden casket in which he found a beautiful girl child, later named as ‘ Sita’ meaning “the line made by the plow”. She is considered to be the daughter of bhumi devi. Similarly Akasa raja wanted to perform a yajna as he had no heirs. As a part of sacrifice, he himself had to plough the field where he stumbled upon a golden lotus in which he found out a beautiful girl. Since she was born out of a golden lotus, he named the child as ‘Padmavathi’,the avatar of Sri lakshmi who married lord Srinivasar at Tirumala.

Sri bhumi devi is the divine wife of Varaha avatar of lord vishnu and fertility form of Sri lakshmi as godess of mother earth.She took avatar in Srivilliputtur in this kali yuga as ’Andal’ who was found out by vishnuchittar in the bhumi near a tulsi plant in his nadavanam. Since mars is the son of mother earth, he is called as ‘’kuja’ meaning “ku” as earth and “ja” means birth.Other related names of mars are bhumiputra and bhauma (son of bhumi).Sri Balarama, the brother of lord krishna is considered to be the avatar of Adisesha,the serpent. He is portrayed to hold plough as his weapon. Mars being the symbolic of progency, brotherhood and as bhumi karaghan, he is signified with the connection to Serpent, plough and brotherhood of Balarama , the brother of lord Krishna.

Mars asana or symbol is triangle which symbolically represent Shakti. Mars wife is also shakti devi. The triangle pointing upwards signifying agni tattva as fire is always oriented upwards.Sudharsana chakra is the intersection of superimposed two triangles one pointing upward and another pointing downward forming six points known as shut kona. Chakram is the abode of Vyuha murthis and hence Jwala Nrisimhar is present in the charkam signifying the mighty jwala (fire) that emanates from its spokes having the radiance of thousands of Suns.Sri Sudarsana chakram was present in the nails of lord Nrisimha.Sri Sudharsana azhwar is said have been manifested during the month of Aani in Chittrai star, owned by Mars.Hence Sri Sudarsana jayanthi is celebrated on chittrai star in Aani month.Since mars represent fire, bhumi and weapons, he is closely connected to sudharsana chakram and Jwala Nrisimhar as his prithyuga god. Mars connection to ‘plough’ and its connatation to the avatar of Sri bhumi devi and with Varaha kshetrams janakapuri, Tirumala and Srivillputtur are understood from the usage of ‘plough’the weapon of mars for bringing out motherearth, sri bhumi devi.

Once upon a time,’Srivilliputtur’ was a deep forest known as ‘Shenbagaranyam’ where many sages were doing penance. Kalanemi, a demon, was disturbing the meditation and harassing the saints. They prayed to the Lord who was resting near this forest in a hill known as ‘Vadeswarapuram’, the Varaha kshetra under a Banyan tree (vatavriksham) after fulfilling the purpose of Varaha avatar. The lord killed the demon kalanemi with his Sudarshana chakram.In order to wash the chakram from the blood strains of asura by immersing in water,the lord created out of his sankalpam, a holy tank with the confluence of all the three holy rivers ganga, Yamuna and saraswathi who assembled in this tank. This tank is known as ‘Thirumukkulam’ where still one can find a stone image of charkathazhwar deep inside the water. Chevvai is called as“குருதி” as he denotes blood, blood strains, sharp spokes of chakra, weapons, plough and the fire which formed part of this legend involving Sudarshana chakram. Hence chevvai connection to this holy theertham,THIRUMUKKULAM at Srivilliputur is understood from above.

Chevvai and Agni Nakshatram -

When Sun transit over the star krittika during the hot summer season of chitrai and vaikasi months, the summer will be very severe.This peak hot days are considered to be the period of chevvai, when auspicious functions are avoided. This period is also called as ‘’kartari’ in sanskrit and “katri’ in tamil.The word ‘kartari” literally means as ‘’cutter’ in sanskrit and also as ‘ “kathi’ (scissor) in tamil. The cluster of stars of pleiades in the sky appears to be like a ‘Scissor. Hence the name ‘krithika’, the star that formed part of this cluster of stars of Pleiades owe its name to the appearance like a scissor in the sky.

The peak hot summer goes for a period of 24 days when sun transit from 3^rd paada of Bharani star to all the four quarters of krithika up to Rohini 1^st paada in both mesha and vrushaba signs passing through total 7 paadas.The important festival that normally falls during the period of ‘katri’ is Sri Nirsimha jayanthi on sukla paksha chadurdasi in vaikasi month.Mars is a hot graha denoting the peak summer,scissor,cutter,agni deva, Nirsimha avatar and the month of chitrai due to the sign of mesha owned by mars.While summer season is denoted by Suriyan generally, Chevvai signify the days of agni nakshatram during summer when the sun passes through the star krittika,ruled by Sun and dedicated to agnideva. It is believed that chevvai is the graha which ignites the fire first.That is why mars is called as ‘நெருப்புகொள்ளி as agni deva rules over mars.Therefore all auspicious functions are traditionally avoided during this period of mars by hindus in agninakshtram.

Sarvam sri krishnarpanam

!!OM NAMO NARAYANAYA!!