Srinivasa Perumal Temple (Vedanta Desikar Temple),
Mylapore – Legends
Vedanta Desikar, Incarnation of the Thirupathi Divine
Bell:
Vedanta
Desikar, one of the most important Acharyas of the Vaishnava tradition was born
to the devout couple Ananthasuri and Thotharamba. Instructed by the Venkatamudayan,
the couple went on a pilgrimage to Thirumalai. The Lord appeared in the
couple's dream as a Vaishnava youth and handed over a golden bell which Thotharamba
swallowed. The following morning, they were astonished to find that both of
them had dreamt the same sequence of events.
When the
Archaka opened the doors of the Sanctum Sanctorum, he found the bell missing.
During an investigation ordered into the loss of the bell, the Lord appeared by
Avesa (spiritual trance) on Tirumalai Nambi and told that he had himself
presented the bell to the Ananthasuri couple and thereafter, the small
hand-bell need not be used in the Tiruvaradhana in the temple. Hence, Swami Vedanta
Desikar is considered as the incarnation of the Divine Bell.
Vedanta Desikar as prime deity here:
Azhwars
and Acharyas travelled throughout the country extolling the beauty and grace of
Narayana. However, in the case of Mylapore, the Supreme Lord and the Acharyan
switched roles. Lord Srinivasa and Alarmel Mangai Thayar willed to grace the
abode of the Acharyan (Swami Desikan) and relish his company.
