Pandukeshwar, Trail Of River Ganga - Sri Ramanin Padhayil

When the Lord took Sri Trivikrama Avatar and when His Divine foot entered Satya loka, lord Brahma washed the foot with the water, which was Sri Pada Theertham, and became Ganga. Of the many names Ganga is called, Vishnupati is one! It means Ganga flows from Sri Vishnu's Divine feet. Swami Koorattalwan says this in one sloka. Vishnu padam means either Lord Sri Vishnu's Divine feet or His abode. By drinking or bathing or just seeing Vishnupati, we can reach Vishnupadam!

In Bharatha dynasty were born Pandu and Dhridarashtra. To get relieved of the curse of sage Durvasa, Pandu came and lived here and so this place is called Pandukeshwar. Pandukeshwar is on the way to Badrinath. This place is situated on Ganga river. Swami Ramanuja had come here and stayed. Where Pandu meditated and where Swami Ramanuja stayed, there is a temple for Swami Ramanuja.


Legend has it that King Pandu, father of the pancha Pandavas, meditated here to Lord Maha Vishnu to cleanse himself of the sin of killing of two mating deer, who were ascetics in their previous lives. The Pandavas were also born here and Pandu died and attained salvation here. Pandu is believed to have installed the bronze image of Vishnu in the Yogadhyan Badri shrine. Idol of Lakshmi Narayan can be seen killing Shankhasura, and hence, the conch is not blown in the whole Badrikashram region. The main idol (life sized) is Saligrama shila in a meditative posture and hence this place has attained the name Yogadhyan Badri. Yog dhyan Badri is also considered the winter abode for the Utsava-murti (festival-image) of Badrinath, when the temple of Badrinath is closed. Hence, it is religiously ordained that a pilgrimage will not be complete without offering prayers at this place.

We can worship the Lord here on our trip to Badrinath or while returning from Badrinath. Currently, motorable roads are available. But in the past such roads were not there and one had to trek the path. Many have performed pilgrimage like that and have worshiped Lord Sri Badri Narayana. On such trekking path is this temple. Though walking might be slightly difficult, the surroundings present a pleasant scene. This path is along the river and trekking this route, Swami Ramanuja had come here and stayed.



As if this place is connected with Swami Ramanuja, names here are interesting. The river is called Sesha Dhara; nearby forest is called Sesha Vanam; and the mountain is called Sesha parvat. Sesha means Adisesha, who incarnated as Swami Ramanuja. In Swami Ramanuja temple, we can see Sri Seshasayi Perumal, reclining on Adisesha.



It seems the Lord was in Ganga river for Thousand years and was discovered by a noble person, in whose dreams the Lord indicated the place, where He was lying. A very beautiful idol, with Sri Maha Lakshmi at His Divine feet. Swami Ramanuja is seated with right hand in Upadesa mudra and left arm holding manuscript. He is seated on a Sesha peetam and the hood of the serpent is like umbrella. Sri Ramanuja is also known as Maran Adi Panindhu Uyindhavan. Nearby is an idol of Kari Maran Sadagopan Nammalwar. There is also an idol of Sri Sakshi Gopal, crawling with butter in one hand. Here a Go-shal [cow shed] is maintained.

While talking on Goshala (cow shed) Sri U. Ve. Velukkudi Krishnan Swami recollects the below verses from Sri Andal Pasuram and Thiruppavai:

katru karavai kanangal pala karandhu
setraar thiralazhiya chenru seru cheyyum
kutram onrilaadha kovalartham porkodiye
putru aravu alkul punamayile podharaay
sutraththu thozhimaar ellaarum vandhu nin
mutram pugundhu mugil vannan per paada
sitraadhe pesaadhe selva pendaatti nee
etrukku urangum porulelor embaavaay

Meaning: Oh girl, who manages and milks a herd of cows and calves,who destroys the enemies in battle fields, who is born in a flawless sheperd community and glitters like gold, who has a waist like that of a cobra's hood, oh beautiful like peacock, we have come singing the praise of Krishna (who is blue in colour) and arrived at the entrace of your mansion. Oh one who is dear to us why is that despite our chants that you are still asleep?

Yetra Kalangal Yedhir Pongi Meedhalippa
Mattradhe Pal Soriyum Vallal Perum Pasukkal
Atra Padaithan Magane Arivurai
Utram Udaiyai Periyai Ulakinil
Thotrramai Nindra Sudare Thuyil Yezhai
Mattrar Unakku Vali Tholaindhu Un Vasar Kan
Attradhu Vandhu Un Adi Paniyuma Pole
Pottriyam Vandhom Pukazhdhelor Empavai

Meaning: In this verse, Sri Andal praises the compassion, humility and forbearance of Lord Krishna who is the protector of His devotees and requests Him to wake up. The cattle under the custodian of Lord Krishna in Ayarpadi showers gallons and gallons of milk out of love and affection and its overflowing. The supreme Lord Krishna shines like brightest light on Earth. The opponents of devotees of Lord Krishna get attracted to the benevolence of Lord and surrender to His feet. Sri Andal and the young maidens assembled in the early hours of dawn passionately reveal their purpose of visit to sing praising the glories of lotus feet of Lord Krishna.

Now we have had the darshan Ganga in Pandukeshwar Temple. So the flow of Ganga after Rishikesh, Haridwar runs across Uttar pradesh and she crosses Kanpur i.e Bittor, Lucknow and flows to Allahabad. Allahadbad is the Sangama of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswathi. After Allahabad, in the District of Balia is where Ganga and Sarayu Sangamam happens and we have seen this in earlier articles. After crossing Balia, she runs through Chapra and then here is the place of Ganga and Son river Sangamam. This is the place we are currently at. After this is Patna and then Ganga from Patna travels to Sonepur. At Sonepur, river Ganga and Gandaki confluence takes place. We are yet to go to Sonepur. How many Sangamam and mixture and Prayags? After all these, Ganga flows further beyond Patna. Whichever river is joining Ganga after the sangamam the resulting river which is flowing towards eastern direction is called as Ganga only. Many rivers join Ganga like Nandagini, Pindari, Mangagini later another river called Koshi (Koshi runs from Nepal like Gandaki), then with Brahmaputra, Meghna river. In Bangladesh, Ganga is known as Padma. With so many names is Ganga. Brahmaputra which is flowing across many countries, then Meghna, Padma all these rivers join together to form a delta called Ganges Delta - the world's biggest delta. Nile river's delta, Mississippi river's delta, similarly river Ganges delta. Very broad place and with lots of clay/mud Ganga goes and joins into the sea.

Sri U. Ve. Velukkudi Krishnan Swami recites the below verse 4.7.11 from Periya Thirumozhi:

pongoli gangai karaimali kandaththu urai purushoththaman adimel
vengali naliyaa villi puththoor kon vishnu chiththan viruppurru
thangiya anbaal seydha thamizh maalai thangiya naavudaiyaarkku
gangaiyil thirumaal kazhalinaik keezhe kuliththirundha kanakkaame.

Meaning: This is a garland of songs by Villiputtur’s King Vishnuchitta unaffected by Kali, sung with deep and lasting love, for the feet of the Lord Purushottama residing in Khandam on the banks of the gushing river Ganga. Those who recite it will secure the same merit as bathing in the river and offering worship at the feet of the Lord Tirumal forever.

Sri Periyazhwar mentions that those who are involved and well versed in below pasurams (thangaiyai mukkum) are deemed to have taken divine bath in the ganges and doing service at the feet of the Lord of "kandam ennum kadi-nagar" - Devaprayag. Though a devotee may not have visited or seen this Divya Desam at all, the involvement in these pasurams make them reach a stage as if they are doing service at the feet of the Lord there.

Pasuram "thangaiyai mukkum" from Periyazhvar Thirumozhi:

thangaiyai mookkum thamaiyanai thalaiyum thadindha em dhaasaradhi poy
engum thanpuhazhaavirundhu arasaanda em purushoththaman irukkai
gangai gangai enra vaasahaththaale kadu vinai kalaindhidukirkum
gangaiyin karaimel kaithozha ninra kandam ennum kadinahare.

Meaning: The good city of Khandam worthy of worship stands on the banks of the Ganga, whose very name repeated destroys all Karma. It is the abode my perfect Lord Purushottama, son of Dasaratha, who cut asunder the sister’s nose and the brother’s heads. His reign is long and famed everywhere.

salam podhi udambin thazhalumizh pezhvaay chandhiran vengadhir anycha
malarndhu ezhundhanavu manivanna uruvin maal purushoththaman vaazhvu
nalamthihazh sadaiyaan mudikkonrai malarum naaranan paadhath thuzhaayum
kalandhizhi punalaal puhar padugangai kaNdam ennum kadi nahare.

Meaning: The good city of Khandam stands on the banks of the Ganga whose surging water sparkles with Konrai flowers of the mat-haired-Siva and the Tulasi from the feet of Narayana. It is an abode of the gem-hued Lord Purushottama who grew and touched the sky, when the snow-filled Moon and the hot-rayed Sun stood in awe.

adhirmuham udaiya valamburi kumizhththi azhalumizh aazhi konderindhu angu-
edhir muhavasurar thalaihalai idarum em purushoththaman irukkai
sadhumuhan kaiyil sadhuppuyan thaalil shankaran sadaiyinil thangi
kadhir muha mani kondizhipunal gangai kandam ennum kadi nahare.

Meaning: The good city of Khandam stands on the banks of the Ganga whose water flows from Brahma’s hands, over Trivikrama’s feet, through Siva’s mat hair, washing radiant gems down the course. It is the abode of my Purushottama who wields the sonorous conch and the radiant discus, and who rolls the heads of wicked Asuras.

imaiyavar irumaandhirundhu arasaala Erruvandhedhir poru senai
namapuram nanuha naandhaham visirum nam purushoththaman nahar thaan
imavandham thodangi irungadalalavum irukarai ulahiraiththaada
kamaiyudai perumai gangaiyin karaimel kandam ennum kadi nahare.

Meaning: The good city of Khandam stands on the banks of the Ganga which secures forgiveness for past Karmas, and attacks pilgrims from everywhere for a holy dip on both its banks right from the Himalayas down to the sea. It is the abode of our Purushottama who wields his Nandaki dagger over the army of Asuras who oppose the just rule of the gods.

uzhuvadhor padaiyum ulakkaiyum villum on sudar aazhiyum shangkum
mazhuvodu vaalum padaikkalam udaiya maal purushoththaman vaazhvu
ezhumaiyum koodi eendiyapaavam iraip pozhudhalavinil ellaam
kazhuvidum perumai gangaiyin karaimel kandam ennum kadi nahare.

Meaning: The good city of Khandam stands on the banks of the Ganga which has the power to wash away in a trice the Karmas collected over seven lives. It is the abode of the adorable Purushottama who bears the plough, the mace, the bow, the radiant discus, the conch, the axe and the dagger as his weapons.

thalaip peydhu kumurichchalam podhimeham salasala pozhindhidak kandu
malaip perum kudaiyaal maraiththavan madhurai maal purushoththaman vaazhvu
alaippudaith thiraivaay arundhava munivar avapiradham kudaindhaada
kalappaihal kozhikkum gangaiyin karaimel kandam ennum kadi nahare.

Meaning: The good city of Khandam stands on the banks of the Ganga in whose powerful surge; great sages take their ritual bath after a fire-sacrifice and bring back driftwood for making sacrificial ladles. It is the abode of our dear Purushottama, Lord of Mathura, who held a mountain as an umbrella against the laden clouds when they poured incessantly with thunder.

virpidiththiruththu vezhaththai murukki melirundhu avan thalai saadi
marporuthezhap paayndhu araiyanayudhaiththa maal purushoththaman vaazhvu
arpudham udaiya aiyiraavadhamadhamum avar ilampadiyar onsaandhum
karpa kamalarum kalandhizhi gangai kandam ennum kadi nahare.

Meaning: The good city of Khandam stands on the banks of the Ganga in whose water, the ichors of the celestial elephant Airavata, the fragrant Sandal paste of young goddesses, and the Kalpaka flowers of their tresses, blend and flow. It is the abode of our dear Purushottama; the Lord who took the bow and broke it, then wrenched the elephant and broke the mahout’s head, killed the wrestlers, then sprang on the king and smote him head.

thirai porukadal soozh thin madhil thuvarai vendhu than maiththunanmaarkkaay
arasinai aviya arasinai arulum ari purushoththamanam arvu
nirai nirai aaha nediyanayoobam nirandharam ozhukku vittu irandu
karai purai velvip puhai kamazh gangai kandam ennum kadi nahare.

Meaning: The good city of Khandam stands on the banks of the Ganga which is framed by closely-knit rows of cow pegs on either side, with the fragrant smoke of the fire-alter filling the air. It is the abode of our Lord Purushottama, the king of fortressed Dvaraka in the Western sea, who destroyed the king Duryodhana and gave the kingdom to his brothers-in-law the Pandavas.

vadathisai madhurai saalakkiraamam vaikuntam thuvarai ayodhdhi
idam udai vadhari idavahai udaiya em purushoththaman irukkai
thadavarai athirath tharani vindidiya thalaip parrik karaimaram saadi
kadalinai kalanga kaduththizhi gangai kandam ennum kadi nahare.

Meaning:The good city of Khandam stands on the banks of the Ganga which flows so violently that the mountains rumble, the earth splits and crumbles, the trees along the course get sunk and uprooted, and the ocean turns. It is the abode of our Lord Purushottama who also owns the Northern resorts of Mathura, Saligrama, Vaikunta, Dvaraka, Ayodhya and Badari.

moonrezhuththadhanai moonrezhuththadhanaal moonrezhuththaakki moonrezhuththai-
Enru kondiruppaarkku irakkam nan kudaiya em purushoththaman irukkai
moonradi nimirththu moonrinil thonri moonrinil moonruruvaanaan
kaan thadam pozhilsoozh gangaiyin karaimel kandam ennum kadi nahare.

Meaning: The good city of Khandam stands on the banks of the Ganga surrounded by fragrant groves. The three syllables A-U-M, by three-syllable Nirukta, become the three, Akara-Ukara-Makara. Contemplating the three syllables OM expanded to three words with Namo-Narayanaya shows the three aspects of the Atman in three relationships with the Supreme manifested in three forms.

pongoli gangai karaimali kandaththu urai purushoththaman adimel
vengali naliyaa villi puththoor kon vishnu chiththan viruppurru
thangiya anbaal seydha thamizh maalai thangiya naavudaiyaarkku
gangaiyil thirumaal kazhalinaik keezhe kuliththirundha kanakkaame.

Meaning: This is a garland of songs by Villiputtur’s King Vishnuchitta unaffected by Kali, sung with deep and lasting love, for the feet of the Lord Purushottama residing in Khandam on the banks of the gushing river Ganga. Those who recite it will secure the same merit as bathing in the river and offering worship at the feet of the Lord Tirumal forever.

Saying Pasuram from Periazhwar Thirumozhi 4.7.1 to 4.7.11 is equivalent to having holy bath in Ganga.