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Ayya Vaikuntar's Last Years
Marriage of Seven Virgins
Background:
When Lord Krishna descended in Dwapar-yuga, prior to His final departure to Vaikunta, He had one more task to complete (This was the time when Pandavas after ruling for several years gave the kingdom to Parikshit and left to go for pilgrimage...)
Lord Krishna changed Himself into an old muni and walked in the garden where Seven Virgins from heaven used to come to worship Lord Siva with Ganga water. They were spiritually so advanced that instead of carrying water in a pot, they used to make the water itself into the shape of a pot and bring it to worship Lord Siva. But they were very egoistic. Lord Krishna approached the virgins and asked them to offer Ganga water on His feet instead of Lord Siva's head. The virgins were very angry to hear this. They refused, insulted the muni and went on to take bath prior to worshipping Lord Siva.
When they were bathing in the river, Lord Krishna created a fiery wind to blow away their dresses and made the water and weather bitterly cold. Then He assumed the form of a small fire at the bank. Not able to bear the chiling cold, the virgins came out and stood around the fire and got pregnant by Lord Krishna. As they now lost their virginity, they could not make the Ganga water in the shape of a pot and were crying on their misfortune. They gave birth to seven boys. When they later realised that Lord Krishna did this to kill their ego, they begged Him to be their husband. Lord Krishna promised to marry them in a later incarnation. The seven childen born to the virgins were given to Goddess Bhagavathi for bringing up. Out of these seven, two were later killed by Pandiya king in a fight and the rest of the five became knights to Goddess Bhagavathi and helped Her to destroy Tri-pura...(See Akilathirattu for more details)
These seven virgins were then born when Lord Vaikuntar incarnated. Even though they were born in different places, they all recognised Lord Vaikuntar individually and surprisingly came to meet the Lord at the same time. Lord Vaikuntar married them as Lord Krishna promised in the previous incarnation. They also had children and their descendents are now performing the temple management in Swamithoppu-pathi. All these are detailed in the Arul-Nool and Akilathirattu.
Marriage of Bhoo-madanthai
Bhoomadevi (known as Bhoo-madanthai), who is one of the consorts of Lord Vishnu, was born and living in a nearby place viz, Eathmozhi. Poomadanthai was constantly chanting the praise of Ayya Vaikuntar and Ayya Vaikuntar subsequently married Her. Later, the devotees established a pathi (temple) at this place and called it Bhoo-pathi.
Assumption of powers
Ayya Vaikuntar represented the powers of all the Gods. Thus, he assumed the powers of Lord Siva, Lord Brahma, Lord Karthikeya and all the Godesses to fight the evils of kali-yuga. He narrated how Kalanemi, the source of kali came in different aspects in each yuga. Hiranya, Hiranyakashippu, Ravana, Dhuriyodhana, Kamsa, Surapadma were all manifestations of the same Kalanemi. At the present age, he is present everywhere. The chanting of Lord's name and worshipping God with devotion is the only way to dispel the effect of kali. He prophecied numerous events some of which have already happened.
The maha-samadhi and Swamithoppu Temple
Ayya vaikuntar spent His last six years in Swamithoppu living like a normal person and owned fields and grooves. He also maintained cattle. He clearly expressed that one need not be a sanyasi to attain God, but leading a family life with divine root is the topmost yoga.
When Lord Vaikuntar had finished all the tasks for which He manifested, He informed all His devotees about the final days and told them to bury His material body and to build a temple over it. When He ascended to Vaikuntam on the already forecasted date, the devotees did as Lord Vikuntar asked. The sanctum sanctorum of Swamythoppu Temple today is just on the top of His material body.
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