Giving back to Society

Thanks to Aravind who wanted me to write about the Temple at thiruvotriyur in chennai. that was one of those days when you get up early in morning and the whole world looks very frustrating and you dont know what to do.

it became a God send message to me. So started my preparation to go the temple. I reside in the south chennai and the the Temple is at Thiruvotriyur in North Chennai. and the travel time will be more than 1.30 hours. So we started at 10.30 and reached around 11.45. The temple closes at 12 noon after the mid day pooja. What a divine visit it was. I came back so calm and filled with energy.

This is a Shiva temple and the God is known as Tyagarajar, Adipureeswarar and Padampakka Nathar. The main deity is said be in the form of Lingam formed of Mud which is covered with Golden cover sheet. Once a year during Karthik Poornima, the Gold cover is removed and the necessary abishekam is performed and the once again the Lingam is covered with all the medicinal materials.

His concert is Goddess Vadivudai Amman. She is such a beautiful sight to behold the eyes. You can forget yourself looking at her gracious form. She is embodiment of Gnana Shakti, the goddess who bestows knowledge and wisdom and the mid day pooja or the Uchi Kala pooja is the best worshipping time for her.

To categorize the importance of this temple, I can go about like this

1. Ancient - The temple is said to be over 1300 years old. According to mythology, this abode of Lord Shiva (shivasthalam) is considred as the first shivasthalam after the great deluge (pralayam). The pillars in this temple mandapam have inscriptions from the period of Chola Kings Parakrama Chola I and Uttama Chola. .Adi Sankaracharya the great religious leader is said to have visited this shrine. Ancient Pallava inscriptions are found in this temple.
2. Specialities - Unlike the other Sanctum Sanctorium, this is in a round shape which you see when you go round the Gharbhagraha. It is believed that Adi Sankarana calmed down Kannaki who after extinguished ‘Madurai’ with her flames, arrived at this temple with the burning stick in her hand, which was a light in darkness for the poet ‘Kambar’. Adi Sankarar consecrated the deity ‘Kannak’ with his ‘Mandra’ and ‘Yandra’ Sakthy which is still present in this temple. Now, it is called Vattapparal Amman. The Dhakshinamoorthi shrine in this temple is different. Not only is it large, but also he is facing north. Legends say that since he is facing the north, he is powerful and blesses devotees with knowledge as well as wealth (Traditionally, Dhakshinamoorthi faces the South). There are also 27 lingams each representing one star or nakshatrams under which all of us are born.
3. The Famous People who had worshipped in this temple since the ancient days

• In 12 A.D. Kambar learnt the Ramayana from Pandit Sathuranana all day and composed poems in Tamil by night. Pandit Sathuranana, a Keralite, was well versed in many languages. Stone inscriptions say that many disciples studied various scriptures at the Sathuranana madam. Kambar learnt Valmiki’s Ramayana from him. Legends say that Kannagi who burnt Madurai appeared as Vattapparai Amman before Kamban with a torch of fire and bade him to compose a poem on her.
• It is believed that Sage Agasthiyar had prayed here and was blessed with the vision of Lord Shiva and Parvati in their Wedding ensemble
• Suntharar, one of the main 3 devotees gets married to
• Pattinathar, one of the great saints visited this temple before he attained Jeeva Samathi (being buried alive)
• Ramalinga Adigalayar who used to visit this temple everyday from Parry's corner was one day late in reaching back home due to rains. As he didnt want to disturb his sisterinlaw to late at night, he went to sleep hungry. But it is believed that Goddess Vadivudai Amman came in the form of his sister in law, woke him up and served him food. This was known only when his sisterinlaw coming out to serve food after having realized that he was back home

Like this I can go on and on, but all good things must also come to an end. so my only request to my readers is It is indeed a blessing to go to this temple. so have a great darhsan of the Lord and Goddess and you are sure to be come back with all their grace on you for ever.