Sunday, June 24, 2012

World's largest Sri Chakra Mahameru!




"Yeri Kaadu" - forest around the lake, today popularly known as Yercaud, is one of the popular hill stations of Tamilnadu. Located in the Shervarayan range of the Eastern Ghats, this popular tourist spot is about 36 kms away from Salem. Apart from the various tourist attractions, Yercaud is also home to the World's largest Sri Chakra Maha Meru.



Located in Nagalore 7 kms from the Yercaud lake, this Lalitha Tripurasundari Temple houses the world's largest Sri Chakra Maha Meru.

The creation of Sri Chakra Mahameru:

It is believed that God who was One, wanted to create many forms of himself. So he first created Devi, the cosmic female force. He then created Shiva, Brahma and Vishnu from his left, middle and right portions respectively. The Devi is hence believed to be more powerful than the Trinity and is called Parashakthi. The central point or Bindu of the Sri Chakra represents the cosmic union of Siva and Shakthi. The various triangles in the Sri Chakra represent innumerable other Gods and goddesses. The Mount Meru, also called Maha Meru when viewed from the top is seen as the Sri Chakra and hence it is called Sri Chakra Maha Meru. 

Photo Courtesy: Sri Chakra Maha Meru Temple, Nagalore
Lord Shiva created 64 tantras to protect and safeguard all living things. These tantras when expanded form the Agamas. Goddess Parashakthi requested Shiva to create a simple form of worship and based on her request, the Lord compressed the essence of all the 64 tantras into one simple form and preached it to the Goddess. This is known as Sri Vidhya.

Sri Vidhya is the integrated form of worship of Ganapathyam (the worship of Ganesha), Kaumaram (the worship of Karthikeya), Vaishnavam (the worship of Vishnu), Saivam (the worship of Shiva) and Shaktham (the worship of Shakthi) and Srichakram is that unique form where all these worships are integrated and exist in one form. Sri Chakra Maha Meru is the darbar of Goddess Lalitha Tripurasundari, where all Gods and Goddesses are bestowing their hands towards her.

True to the description of the Sri Chakra Maha meru, this temple has Goddess Lalitha Tripurasundari, bestowing grace and compassion to all those who seek her, under the shade of the world's largest Sri Chakra Mahameru.


The ambience of the temple is so serene and vibrant. Built in white marble, with paved pathways, the main sanctum sanctorum has a semicircular pit filled with water in which the reflection of the Sri Chakra Maha Meru which forms the vimanam of the sanctum sanctorum can be seen. Devotees throw coins into this pit, praying for their wishes to be granted.

The Goddess Lalitha Tripurasundari is true to her name.  Lalitha means the one who plays the roles of creation, protection and destruction and Tripura means the three worlds and Sundari means beautiful. The most beautiful form in the three worlds sits there waiting to grant all the wishes of those who seek her.

Photo courtesy: Sri Chakra Maha Meru Temple, Nagalore
As the worship of Sri Chakra includes all forms of Gods and Goddesses, there are beautiful wood carvings of Urthuva Thandava Moorthy, Saraswathi and Vishwaroopa Moorthy.  Each one of them is exquisitely carved and over ten feet high.
Photo Courtesy: Sri Chakra Maha Meru Temple, Nagalore
The Urthuva Thandava Moorthy showing the form of Shiva with his right leg lifted high in the air is indeed beautifully carved and so is the idol of Vishwaroopa Moorthy which shows the Vishwaroopa form of Lord Vishnu as he appeared before Arjuna during the Gita Upadesha.

The multi-faced multi-handed Lord Vishnu with the Gitopadhesha scene below and the verse from Gita "Yatha Yatha Hi Dharmasya, Glanir Bhavathi Bharatha, 
Abyuthana madharmasya Thathathmaanam Srijamyaham, 
Parithranaya Sadhunam, Vinaashaya Chatushkrutham, 
Dharma Samsthapanaarthaya Sambavaami Yuge Yuge" ll

 is really awe-inspring. The Goddess Saraswathi with an ornate veena in hand, left leg raised in a dance posture, a peacock at her feet, looking up to her, standing on a beautifully carved lotus is another masterpiece.

The vibration in the temple is extremely strong and the ambiance ideal for meditation. One can easily concentrate in this vibrant yet serene environment. The long pathway to the temple has small fountains, with idols of Buddha and other gods in the middle.

A small pathway leads to the shrine of Guru Dhakshinamoorthy. Surrounded by glass panes, and flowering plants arranged to form a scenic background, this shrine again is a perfect setting for meditation.

This temple though only about a couple of years old, attracts a lot of people due to its serenity and tranquility.  If you happen to be in Yercaud for a vacation, do take the effort to stop by at the Sri Chakra Maha Meru Temple, Nagalore to witness and pray at the World's largest Sri Chakra Maha Meru.

How to get here:

Take a left turn at the rountana after the lake. There is enough signage in English and Tamil to guide tourists. On the way up to Shevaroy Hills the road splits in two. The one on the right takes you to the Shervarayan Temple and the highest point on the Yercaud hills. The one on the left takes you to Nagalore. The total distance of 7 km from the lake, is narrow, where road laying work is going on. One has to drive carefully being aware of the traffic coming down hill. Buses ply from Salem and Yercaud to Nagalore as well.

Nearest Railway Station: Salem

Nearest Airport: Coimbatore/Trichy

Temple Timings:

The temple opens at 6 am in the morning. 
Everyday at 6.30 am Ganapathy Homam is performed. 
At 7 am, one can witness Go pooja and 
at 7.10 am Vishwaroopa Dharishanam.
Abhishekam is performed at 7.30 am.
Uchikala Pooja at 12.30 pm.
The temple closes at 1 pm and reopens at 4 pm and stays open till 7.30 pm

Contact Details:

Shri. K B Babu Founder - 04281 - 291241

Do visit here to bathe in the grace of Goddess Lalitha Tripurasundari and be blessed!

28 comments:

  1. Nice temple. Missed out on this when i visited yercaud.

    www.rajniranjandas.blogspot.com

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  2. Wow--I know Yercaud more as a sweet hill station. This is such a cool info. In btw, I had read in somebody else's blog that there are not many Saraswati temples in India. But I note her here. Have you written about Saraswati temples?

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    1. Dear Bhavana,

      You are right...there are very few Saraswathi temples in India. I have not written about any of the dedicated temples (like koothanur in Tamilnadu) on Aalayam Kanden yet.

      Regards
      Priya

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    2. Dear Mrs.Priya,
      your blog is excellent and very informative. For your kind info i am swamiji's(founder of the temple) daughter Abirami Priyadarshini. In your blog you have missed out one important thing, THE YAGA SALA which is constructed in the form of srichakra itself, wherein NAVACHANDI HOMAM takes place. It is a powerful homam for the devi performed by 27 Siva Achariyas. Also recently my dad is building a 40 feet height Meditating Lord Shiva's statue in the temple. I would also like to inform that the roads to the temple is now being fully completed. I will keep you posted on the forthcoming navarathiri functions at the temple.
      Thanking you,
      Abi.

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    3. Thank you so much Ms Abirami for the information. Please do keep us updated on the functions at the temple.

      Regards
      Priya

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    4. Dear Ms Abhi,

      When I came to the temple last time, I could not talk to anyone responsible to get complete information. I just spoke to the person who was taking care of the pictures and literature. Is there a contact number or email address of the temple that I could feature on the blog post? Also grateful if you could share your number with me through my email address aalayamkanden@gmail.com so that we are in touch.

      Regards
      Priya

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    5. ma'am
      Please just visit our website www.srividhyamahamerutemple.com for more info. And i would be obliged to share more info in person.
      thanking you,
      Abi

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    6. dear ms abi, i am rajesh loiya from raipur chhattisgarh. wer are building a shiva temple at raipur and want to instal mahameru on top. can i speak to you, regarding exact diemnsions of the mahameru.

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  3. I have visited Yercaud, but missed this place

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  4. Nice place. Seems like its a worth a visit.I have been to Tamil Nadu once but I am thinking of visiting again.

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  5. nice to know the details...but is the meru kept in open space as shown in the pic?

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    Replies
    1. yes it is Hari...it forms the vimanam or the dome over the main sanctum sanctorum

      Regards
      Priya

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  6. Dear Priya,
    This is the largest structure one can sit in and meditate and offer pooja on ones own.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devipuram
    TSS

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    Replies
    1. Thank you for your feedback.I checked the site out. Will revert with comparisons shortly.

      Regards
      Priya

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  7. well organized blog, Priya as ever. Will like to see your info on Koothanur!

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  8. Excellent presentation. Very informative.

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  9. Dear priya baskaran
    i came across your blog today. very nice. I want to share about a temple at T.kodiyur, very near to sevalai village and near thiruvennai nallur. The temple is nearly about 2500 years old. She is muthallamman, and she is our kula deivam who came to us after nearly 100 yrs. I wish you can see this tmeple. during navrathiri, i am planning to go to the temple, if you are interested you can contact me at mangalamravi1983gmail.com. I am placed in chennai.
    all the best

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  10. I have lived in Yercaud for three years between the ages of ten and twelve. I now live in Llanelli, Wales, and this brings back sweet memories. I possess a crystal Maha Meru and was thrilled to know that Yercaud has the world's largest Maha Meru. Certainly this is no 'coincidence'!!

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  11. SRI CHAKRA POOJA.
    . once i was blessed to be present at mahameru temple in yercaud.
    till that time i dont know anything about sri chara.
    somethige tells me in my mind to do sri chakra pooja.
    i searched for books contains pooja methods.. i collected books regarding that from vijaya padippagam coimbotore. there only i got it.
    i conducted that pooja with a small book which i buy in yercaud temple. after one month i got a chakra from my friend.
    It is an interesting story,.He went to bangalore for yoga training . Suddenly he had an idea to purchase a chakra for me.The interesting thing is he also dosnt know about chakra,W hen he told me that he is with a chakra for me , I told that i will keep sri chara only in my pooja room. Rest of chakras i am not interested. He answered , i dont know what chakra it is, i bought for u. i will give it to u. thats all. I refused. and finally i told him to show the chakra to me.
    it was the wonder. that chakra is srichakra.
    oh...............what to say.
    i conducted pooja as per procedure in that book for 108 days. now i doing pooja for chakra only with harathi and nivethiym.
    thank god.
    i think this is a miracle.

    sri chakra

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  12. Nice & Well-Informed Write-up. Last Weekend, We were in Yercaud and visited this temple on Friday. Had felt very good being there and came to know more Info about Sri Chakra Mahameru.

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  13. Thank you Priya. This blog made me to recall my memories and our family beliefs and trust in Srichakra Rajam

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  14. hai!!!!! really great to see this temple..... so peaceful... anybody pls share clear contact info.. plz.. as the above given no is invalid.... expecting

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  15. 24 September 2017, nice place to visit to have Devi's blessings under shree chakra , do go and visit Devi when you are in yercaud.

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  16. Very rare temple.
    Well thought out drdide and construction , a bit difficult to reach , but not to be missed if you go to Yercaud.

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  17. The deity is so powerful and you feel as though you are right in front of the god and instantly you are in trance and filled with devotion.must visit temple and seek blessings .

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