A breeze of ardent tenderness and devotion swished past the exquisite temple town of Srirangam. The smouldering sun cast a golden gloss upon the eternal abode of Perumal. The temple town as usual was bustling with life and joy. A lotus among the flowers is the lands of Srirangam among the lands of the earth. In the centre of the town was situated Sri Ranganathaswamy temple in all its glory. The massive prakarams in the form of concentric rectangles surrounded the temple granting the ethereal temple and its inhabitants protection. 

The holy sacred pools glistened with otherworldly energy epitomising the paarkadal upon which Thirumagal kozhunan along with Aadhiseshan and Alaimagal rest. The green grove whose thick branches keep out, as with a dark canopy, the bright host of the sun's rays! The murmuring of innumerable bees reminds one of the soft music of the flute and the lute. The bulbuls can enter here, but not the darkness of sins; and hark, how they now sing in concert. See! the monkeys sit around and watch the dance of the peacock. Here is a pond of water, clear as crystal, with a royal swan sitting enthroned in its midst on a beautiful lotus. Another peacock is dancing there on the bank and cuckoo is calling to it from a branch. Hark to the cry of the water-fowl that sounds like the flourish of a drum. Look at this magnificent lotus on which the flower of the agave, growing on the bank, has shed its white pollen in abundance. Srirangam is one of Bharat's greatest treasures.

Within the centre of the temple is situated the sanctum sanctorum, inside which rests the glorious sirpum of Padmanaban lying upon the mighty Aadhiseshan. His transcendental visage is unfathomable to the normal eye. Only the purest and pious of souls can witness its divinity to its truest potential. One such pure and devout soul was Periyalvar, residing in the nearby town of Srivilliputhur. Being the foremost among the alvars his devotion was pure and pristine, to the point where the lord himself visits him in his dreams.

Being the devout soul that he is, every morning Vishnucittar venerates his lord. Performing rituals and prayers with utter adoration chanting the lord's name with his very soul."Om Namo Bhaghavate Vasudevaya", uttered Periyalvar with extreme adoration and reverence. He considered Kannan as his own child and loved him as Maiya Yashoda did. Whenever he gazed at his Kannan overwhelming maternal love overtook his soul. Oh, how he longs to have a child-like his Kanna! Ever mischievous, ever loving and ever divine like him!

He sighs in melancholy. No father would give him his daughter, for he had no position, wealth or property. The sole purpose of his life has been Thirumaal, Thirumaal and only Thirumaal! Gazing around the serene town of Srivilliputhur, Vishnucittar calmed down his trembling heart and left for his abode.

By this time the sun had set, and the moon rose in the east, making the great and magnificent city look still more picturesque and beautiful. In the grove, the lotus flowers slowly folded their petals; and the swans, which were seated on them, flew up to the comfortable and leafy tops of the coconut trees, to rest for the night. The water-lilies opened out and shone in their fresh and delicate beauty. The nightbird called out to her mate, announcing the fall of day, and other birds of the wood retired to their nests. The udders of the cows which had been grazing all day were now overflowing with milk, and the cows thought of their calves and wended homeward, lowing eagerly. In the city, the Brahmans tended the sacrificial fire, and bracelet maidens lit the lamps. The flute and the lute made sweet music in many quarters. And like a woman, who, having lost her husband in battle, re-enters her father's home, Evening, widowed of the Sun and sorrowing newly, came into the city, robed in the grey twilight. The moon rose higher in splendour in a clear, cloudless sky, and the shadow in the moon seemed all the darker, like faults in great men. The sky was transformed, and the moon's rays streamed into the grove through the crevices in the thick foliage like milk poured from a silver pitcher.

VAIKUNTHAM

The abode of Aazhiyan and Sriharshini is ever infinite and imperishable. The gardens there shine like absolute liberation itself and possess wish-fulfilling trees, which blossom all year-round. There are fragrant zephyrs, and creepers dripping with honey near bodies of water. Cries of exotic birds mingle with the humming of bees, and majestic flowers bloom everywhere.

At the centre of Vaikuntham, Kamalnayan along with his Nayaki rest upon Adiseshan who resides on the paarkadal illustrating the vast expanse of the cosmos. Sreeja charmingly looks at her lord when pressing his divine lotus feet. She wears ocean as her garments (saare) and has mountains on her bosom. Oh moon, there are myriad imperfections within you. One would incur the blame of having done a highly obscene act if comparing you with the countenance of Kamalnayani! Every action of hers exhibited the love and devotion she had for him. Her eyes, lips and soul only knew of one thing. Narayan!

Aravinda opened his eyes sensing Shakti's gaze upon him. He sighed. It was time. "Swami", Ambuja lovingly called him " Fret not, for I shall come to you at the end! No amount of distance or time can separate us for I am yours thine eternally! If Vishnu is the meaning, then Sri is the speech. Sri is the conduct, then Vishnu is the behaviour. Vishnu is knowledge, Sri the insight. Our love is eternal and I am in ever union with you.  Wait for my return, Swami". Lokanayaka chuckled. His Swamini knew how to pacify him very well. Sitting up he pulled his Padma towards him. Her shoulders hit his chest and her arms rest against his broad shoulders. Caressing her soft golden cheeks, he pressed a chaste kiss onto her forehead. Sindhuja's golden complexion took on a pinkish hue. 

She smiled at him and dispersed into a glowing hue blinding the entirety of Vaikuntham. Pundarikaksha closed his eyes reminiscing the events that had led to this outcome.

A DECADE AGO

"Each knows what they know,

each finds a different path

Each has their god

each reaches his feet

Each of these gods lacks nothing,

everyone is fated

to find their way to the great lord

who's always there.

In that place he loved me

fused with my breath.

the lord who wears lovely garlands,

a crown conch disc thread jewels:

His large eyes like a pool of lotuses

his lips red lotuses, his feet too lotuses,

his dark body glows.

You've entered my breath,

radiant light of wisdom

filling the seven beautiful worlds.

My breath is yours

Your breath is mine

I can't describe how this is

I can't describe the way you are" , sang Vishnucittar breathlessly. Entwined within every word of his ,is the immense adoration he holds for his lord. His very name Vishnucittar expresses the belief he has in his lord. Ever since he was born, his lips had uttered only one name. Perumal! Everywhere he went in his childhood he only spoke of Perumal. People called him crazy. His very own family renounced him. He didn't care. He was fine as long as he had his Venkateshwara with him. He busied himself by doing menial tasks around his lord's temple like making garlands, sweeping the temple floors while singing praises about his lord. Nothing brings him joy other than doing the service of his lord.

On the other side ,the Pandyan king Vallabhdeva was making his usual rounds around his town. Unable to withstand the extreme heat of the sun, he decided to take shelter under the local temple. While enjoying the serene shade of the temple, Vallabhdeva heard something extraordinary.

"All have to comprehend that for everyone rear of life is demise;
Deathless condition everyone tries to acquire by praying
God gaining wisdom of holy penmanships through out vitality;
But sans real devotion, love and attachment, it's defeat!

From one's self to selfless form one has to desire here in
Doing all things sans lust, eros and anticipation
And that is real commitment and repudiation one can do
Like the artist becomes one with craft forgetting self!

Like real artist steadfast to his craft, one should treasure the
The Supreme Creator by submitting all of his soundest, grand
And high beliefs for all and sacred to share not only
Now but also forever as heritage to progeny sure....!

Doing all things with whole heart and selflessness is
Real devotion and great culture to attain liberation!"

Hearing such divine verses brought tears to the king's eyes. These verses had a strong influence on the King. Immediately he left for his court. He rennounced his kingship and held a competition between scholars to find out the path to liberation. The prize is 1,00,000 gold coins, tied to a large pillar, which will definitely fall if god is convinced about the answer whoever tells.

Unbeknownst to all the things happening around him, Vishnucittar was making a garland of tulsi leaves for his lord while singing his praises.

"The hero 

who felled in one cluster

 the ten heads 

of the well-armed demon 

with an arrow 

let loose

 from the lovely graceful bow

 fitted

 for the exalted fieldof battle

;our great fatherwho ate the sweet butter spread

 on the surface of brimming jars

 fitfor churning

:he is here,on Elephant Hill

,that cuts to the rootmore 

cleanlythan his Discus— 

that mere ornament—the sinsof the devotee"

That's it for today guys! It is my first time working on a book that focuses purely on bhakti and devotion. If you have noticed most the chapters will have verses and poems praising the Paramaatma. It is my first time trying this so do let me know how it is. Please leave your votes and comments. It encourages me to update more frequently. Most of the poems will be taken from many tamil literary works and are translated by myself. I am an amature so mistakes are inevitable!

Glossary 

prakarams : Indian architecture is an outer part around the Hindu temple sanctum

Perumal/Thirumagal kozhunan/ Thirumal/Kannan/Aazhiyan/Padmanaban/Aravinda/Venkateshwara/ Kamalnayan: All are names of  Lord Vishnu

Alaimagal/Padma/Kamalnayani/Sriharshini/Sreeja/Ambuja : All are names of Lakshmi

Alvar: Tamil poet saints of South India who espoused bhakti through their songs praising Lord Vishnu longing for service , ecstasy and devotion.