Dakshina Mookambiga - a temple in the middle of a lotus pond!

Dakshina Mookambiga temple at North Paravoor

The word Mookambiga immediately brings to mind Goddess Mookambigai of Kollur, in Udupi district of Karnataka. North Paravoor or Vadakkan Paravoor as it is called in Malayalam,  is a town in Ernakulam district which has the Dakshina Mookambiga temple.

What is special about this temple and why is it called Dakshina Mookambiga? 

The thampuran of Paravoor was a staunch devotee of  Kollur Mookambigai. Every year, during Navaratri, he made it a point to visit his favourite goddess in order to offer prayers. Over time it became physically difficult for him to undertake the long journey to Kollur. He was heartbroken that he could not longer get a darshan of his favorite goddess. The goddess appeared in his dreams and asked him to build a temple for her near his palace. Based on her instructions, the Dakshina Mookambiga temple was built in the middle of a lotus pond  and the Goddess Mookambigai was installed here in the form of Bala Parameswari.. 

Dakshina Mookambigai temple at North Paravoor (photo courtesy: Dakshina Mookambiga temple)

The goddess holds a japamala and a veda manuscript and shows Abhaya Hasta. The temple is symbolically placed within the lotus pond. Just like how a lotus blooms when the sun shines, the brain will bloom and glow when the spiritual light is bestowed upon it in this temple. 

Devotees flock the temple to worship the goddess and offerings here to the Goddess are considered to be equivalent to offerings made at Kollur.

Mookambiga is a popular goddess in this part of the world and about fifty percent of the footfall in Kollur is from Kerala. This is the only Mookambiga temple in Kerala and comes under the Travancore Devasam Board. The poojas are carried out by the tantris of Tripunithura.

The presiding deity is worshipped as Saraswathi and during Navaratri, which is probably the largest festival at this temple, thousands flock here for Aksharabhyasam or Vidyarambam on Vijayadasami Day. This ritual symbolises the beginning of education for a child. 

Vidyarambam at the North Paravoor temple (Photo Courtesy: Dakshina Mookambiga temple)

Children between the age of three and five years, sit before the gurus in the Saraswathy Mandapams, which are make shift tents that are created within the temple complex specifically for this purpose. The Gurus inscribe Harisree on the tongues of the children with gold rings and make them write Om on grains of paddy spread on a plate. Huge queues can be seen before the temple right from the middle of the night. The nada opens at 3 am in the morning after which the Poojayeduppu ceremony is performed.

The Vidyarambam begins at 5.30 am and goes on until 2 pm in the afternoon. Prasadam is served to all the devotees in the mandapa facing the temple tank. In the nine days preceding Vijayadasami, several cultural programs take place in the temple, wherein several budding dancers and musicians make their arangetram (stage debut).

Children performing arangetram at North Paravoor temple (Photo Courtesy: Dakshina Mookambiga temple)

During the rest of the year too, this temple is considered as an important destination for students seeking enhancement in education. A special pooja termed Sree Vidhya Mantra Pushpanjali is performed here and Mookambiga Kashayam is offered to the students as prasadam. This mookambiga kashayam contains select herbs that enhance memory and wisdom. This is generally offered around 7.30 pm in the evening after the Aththazha pooja. Students can also perform Saraswathi puja or offer Chuttuvilakku at the temple to get better results in their examinations. 

Apart from this, a ten day annual festival is celebrated in the month of Makaram (January - February). Other than the presiding deity, there are also shrines for Ganapathi, the remover of hurdles, Muruga - the Gnana devatha, Vishnu, Hanuman, Veerabadra and Yakshi.

How to get here:

The temple is about 23 kms from Ernakulam. Take the Pipeline Road to Salem - Kochi - Kanyakumari Highway in Edapally for about five kms. Follow NH 17 to North Paravoor. Continue on Peruvaram Road once in North Paravoor. Turn left into Fort Road and then at Mookambiga Junction turn into Mookambiga Road. The temple can be found on the right. Map Coordinates : 10.146567, 76.232293

Temple Timings:

5 am to 11 am, 5 pm to 7.30 pm

Contact Details:  093870 45353

Mangudi Maakali !

The old Brahmin woke up with a start. He had just witnessed a very divine dream. Goddess Kali had appeared in his dream, promised to come to Mangudi village on a specific day as a Pancha Bootha Swaroopini.

He shared this great news with his kith and kin and everybody in the agraharam were excited. They all gathered on the banks of the river Pandavai on the said day, with flowers and fruits, incense and camphor, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Goddess.

Morning turned to noon. There was absolutely no movement in the river. The villagers were anxious but stayed put. Evening turned to night. The crowd was slowly dispersing. But the Brahmin and those who believed his words stayed put. It was midnight and the dim lights were flickering. Not a leaf moved and the water seemed to have come to a standstill too.

The old brahmin and those with him peered into the darkness with weariness. The Brahmin had not lost hope. He knew for sure that the Goddess would come as promised. Suddenly, a divine fragrance wafted in. As if in a trance, the Brahmin stood up. "She is here, she has come", he murmured.  He stepped forward into the water. Those with him, lit torches and got close to the water.

A gentle breeze wafted in, forming ripples in the water. In the light that shone on it, they could see an unburnt earthern pot, covered with Neem leaves moving gently towards them. The Brahmin ran towards it, with tears of joy, and hugged the pot close to him. "Amma, Maakali! You have come as promised!", he wept.

He raised the pot over his head, and carried it out of the water, chanting praises of Goddess Kali. The crowd followed him, singing and rejoicing. The old brahmin placed the pot in the raised platform in front of his house, and started worshipping Goddess Maakali.

The Goddess, as promised in the dream, had appeared as a Pancha Bhootha Swaroopini. In an earthern pot (Earth), propelled by the wind (Air), she had appeared through water (water), in the form of Neem Leaves that are used to reduce heat (Fire) and without a defined form (Sky).

For many years, the Goddess stayed on the frontyard of the Brahmin's house, bringing harmony, good health and happiness to the people of Mangudi. Those who came after him, desired to build a temple for the Goddess and a humble mandapa with a thatched roof was built.

About four hundred and fifty years later, in the 1950s, the first temple was built for the Goddess,which over time was developed into the current structure, with a Gopuram, Maha Mandapam, Artha Mandapam and a separate shrine for Lord Ganesha.

This Ganesha is said to have been found below the ground while digging for the foundation of a house in the village and has since found place next to Goddess Maakali!

The Goddess is now housed in the main shrine of the temple. The earthern pot in which she came has been fixed to the platform on which she resides. The Kalasam is decorated with fresh neem leaves which form the face of the Goddess. These neem leaves are changed every Friday and the water in the Kalasam is given to devotees to rid them of diseases.

The vibration in the sanctum is unbelievable. Usually, in temples, there is an idol which has been consecrated. Several yagnas are performed and mantras chanted, the Ashtabandhanam and the abhishekams add to the sanctity and divinity of the shrine, which in turn result in the vibrations.

Goddess Maakali of Mangudi

But here we are, in a shrine that has the Goddess in the formless form, manifesting through neem leaves in an unbaked earthen pot, and the vibrations are really strong. Every year, the Laksharchanai festival is celebrated with great glory. During this time, the priest goes up to the Pandavai river, to collect water in a new earthern pot, he then covers it with neem leaves and garlands, and performs avahanam of Goddess Kali and carries it over his head. Several villagers, start dancing to the tune of drums and chanting, and take turns to carry the earthern pot into the temple. The miracles that the Goddess has performed in this temple, must be heard narrated by the villagers. It is such a divine experience.

Apart from the Laksharchanai, festivals like Navarathri, Fridays in the months of Aadi and Thai are celebrated with a lot of festivity. Devotees flock here to offer Maavilakku, and garments to the Goddess. The favourite offering is Panakam ( a sweet drink with dried ginger and jaggery)

Acknowledgment: My sincere thanks to Swaminathan Natarajan and his brother-in-law Mr Ganesh Kumar Sundaresan whose Kula Deivam is the Goddess, for providing lovely pictures of the Goddess and the history of the temple during the Kumbabhishekam last year which prompted me to visit this very divine temple in June this year.

A close up picture of the Goddess Maakaali of Mangudi

How to get here: Mangudi is about 4 kms from Tiruvarur.

Contact Details: Sri T Narayanaswami aka Mani Iyer - 98943 67113
Kindly be mindful to call him during morning or evening hours if you want directions to the temple. He is senior in age, but nonetheless more than willing to help anyone visiting the temple. 

A temple for Mohini near Guruvayur!

The entrance to Hari Kanyaka Bhagavathy Temple

Every trip hides within itself several gems and treasures that are revealed to those who seek for it with patience, determination and passion! Our recent trip to Kerala had several such gems that were revealed to us which I will share in the forthcoming articles. Please note that the number of pictures would be few considering that temples in Kerala strictly do not allow photography inside its premises.

The Guruvayurappan Temple in Guruvayur is one that draws several hundreds of visitors each day from 3 am to 9.30 pm from different parts of the world. There are a number of interesting temples around the Guruvayurappan temple and it was good to see many of them listed in the brochures that are available in the hotels. However, the one we were looking for was not part of the list (as usual!)

After a soul-refreshing Nirmalya Darishanam of Lord Guruvayurappa at 3 am in the morning, we set out to explore the place we were looking for. Our driver too, did not know the place nor had he heard of it. Soon, in broken Malayalam, we were making inquiries. It might have helped if we had known the actual name of the temple, all we knew was that it was a temple devoted to Mohini Avatara and it was near Guruvayur.

After about five-six failed attempts, an auto-rickshaw driver came to our rescue - go to Ariyannoor and ask for Hari Kanyaka Bhagavathy temple, he said.

Thanks to Google maps, we were off to Ariyannoor soon. It is five kms away from Guruvayur and the map led us into small lanes among fields. With some guidance from the locals, we were soon in front of the temple. We subsequently found that we had taken a round about route and it was just one straight road to the temple. (See route below).

A view into the Hari Kanyaka Bhagavathy temple

The temple was up a slope and as we walked up to find very few people in it. The architecture is typically that of Kerala with the sloping roofs and a liberal usage of wood and brick in the construction. This is one of the temples constructed by Perunthachchan, the greatest architect Kerala has produced and dates back to the Seventh Century.

We crossed the threshold and went into the temple. However, we found that there is no entrance further. Surprised, we went around the temple, trying to see if there were entrances at the sides, but again could not find any. As we came to the other side of the temple, we found a lady enter the temple and go towards the left of the entrance. We almost ran to catch up with her to see how she was entering.

Trying to find the entrance to Hari Kanyaka Bhagavathy temple :)

We felt quite foolish when she effortlessly stepped over a short wall on the side of the temple to enter it. It was really interesting to see that there are no direct doors either in front or the sides. One has to enter a courtyard with a huge Bali Peetam by crossing a relatively low stone wall on either side. Was this a distinctive design of the times, or something that was done with a specific purpose or something that came up subsequently to protect the temple during invasions....only experts will be able to say.

Once we crossed the courtyard, we came to a long passage with platforms on either side. Inside this was a Naalambalam - an open courtyard with corridors running along all four sides. Right in the middle stands the Sanctum Sanctorum in which the Goddess whom we came looking for stood.

The ceiling was a treasure trove of sculptures depicting the Churning of the Ocean - the cause for Mohini Avatara. The brick structure of the sanctum sanctorum is visible through the peeling plaster which shows the remains of wonderful murals that had once decorated it.

One stands in awe till you are gestured aside, to give way to the priest bringing the deity in after Seeveli. (procession around the temple).

A beautiful portrait of Hari Kanyaka Bhagavathy adorns the Courtyard

We turned our attention to the Goddess - Vishnu in the magnificient form of Hari Kanyaka or Mohini. This is the form that Lord Vishnu took when the Devas and Asuras churned the ocean to find nectar. When both started fighting over it, Lord Vishnu took the form of a very beautiful maiden, and was able to take the pot of nectar away from the Asuras and share it with the Devas. Lord Ayyappa, is said to be the son of Lord Shiva and Mohini.

In this temple, Lord Vishnu is found in the virgin form of Mohini - Hari Kanyaka. With the symbolic Conch and Discus (Sanku and Chakra) on the two upper arms, she holds a pot of nectar (Amrutha Kailasam) in her lower right hand with the other hand placed elegantly on her slender waist.The beauty of the deity holds your attention. Truly a Mohini indeed!

Typical of Kerala temples, there is a Ganesha at the end of the corridor to the right of the Sanctum Sanctorum.  Murals and elephants adorn the walls and corridors all around .

The lady who showed us the entrance, told us that this temple is worshiped by those who seek good marriage alliances. They pray to Harikanyaka Bhagavathy for a good marriage proposal and then come back after marriage to show their gratitude. There is a fifteen day festival that happens in the month of March-April, wherein the Bhagavathy is taken on procession atop a female elephant around the temple.The temple is an ASI protected monument. Truly an architectural delight and a souvenir of the craftsmanship of Perunthachchan. His large chisels still adorn the temple as testimony to his architecture.

                                                                                                               

How to reach here:

The temple is about five kms away from the Guruvayur temple and there are a number of autos that ply to and fro. The name of the village is Hari Kanniyoor (which has now become Ariyannoor). Today a non-descript village, with two ancient temples (there is a Shiva temple too near the Hari Kanyaka Bagavathi Temple), this place used to be larger and more prominent than Guruvayur in the past and was the head of 32 deshams. (villages).

From the East Nada where the temple is located, one has to head East towards Guruvayur- Choondal Road, and the temple can be found on the right side in about five kilometres.The Google map link can be found here.

Temple Timings:

The temple is open between 5.30 am and 9.30 am in the morning and 5.30 pm to 7.30 pm in the evenings.

If you happen to visit Guruvayur, please take some time to visit this ancient and unique temple too!

The Goddess in the middle of the forest!

A view of a stream running through the woods in the Srisailam Forest

Ishtakameswari Devi - The Goddess who fulfills all our desires! Who does not want their desires fulfilled? However, in order to achieve that, one needs patience, faith and endurance. The Ishtakameswari Devi temple is located underground in the middle of the Srisailam Tiger Reserve - A dense forest with no proper roads, access only through authorized jeeps, and the strength to bear with the one and half hour journey which threatens to juggle your bones and intestines!

During the last two trips to Srisailam, much that we desired, we were not able to visit Ishtakameswari Devi. There are a limited number of jeeps, that are allowed to ply into the forest and the booking must be made in advance (the previous night). This time around, we were very keen that we somehow visit the temple and our prayers paid off. We were able to book two jeeps the previous evening and were all set to go - armed with water, biscuits and pooja items, as nothing is available inside the forest.

Jeeps all set to go into the forest towards Ishtakameswari Devi temple

The jeeps are allowed to enter only at 9.30 am so we had to wait for a while outside the tiger reserve where there are shops for people to buy supplies, drink tea/ lime soda, considering the jerky ride. Soon, we were at the forest  check post, where the entrance fee is collected, the number of passengers in each vehicle checked, and approvals verified. Each jeep is allowed to carry only five people, to make sure the vehicle is able to climb the uneven terrain comfortably.

One has to but wonder at the prowess of the young jeep drivers who maneuver the jeeps effortlessly through the dirt tracks inside the forest. Soon, we were moving into the forest, on one hand admiring the glory of nature as it spread before us, untouched and raw, and on the other hand, clinging to the side rods and the holders above, for dear life, making sure we did not fall out, as the jeeps juggled their way into the forest.

It was as if we were all put into a mixer to be churned up. Minutes grew longer as the 11 km stretch from the forest check post took close to an hour to cover.  We then reached a landing, beyond which the jeeps could not go. From here, we had to walk through the forest, making our way over slippery rocks, and small pools of water.

Walking through the jungle towards Ishtakameswari Devi Temple

One has to be very careful while walking. It is better to wear shoes or sandals with a good grip so that one is able to walk comfortably through the wilderness. Avoid high heels or flimsy footwear. We could see a couple of people slipping during the hop, skip and jump through the stones.

Chenju children practicing their trade inside the Srisailam forest

Soon we came across a clearing where we could see the inmates of the forest - the Chenjus (hunters). These people stay within the forest and hunt animals. The women sell forest products like honey and fruits near the temple. The children are found practicing with their bows and arrows. Look at the little boy shooting at the target and the even smaller ones, sitting down and waiting for their turn!

A few hundred meters further we could see the first glimpse of the hunters settlement. Right in the middle of it, underground, is the Ishtakameswari Temple. Before visiting her, one has to go down steep rocks to the perennial stream that runs all around her temple, to wash their hands and feet.

The perennial stream that runs around the Ishtakameswari Temple

Senior citizens will definitely need help going down and coming up. We were lucky to be in the first few jeeps that went to the forest, so the temple was almost empty. One has to go to the entrance of a small cave like structure and then crawl inside towards the Goddess. Once inside the cave, there is space for the person to sit cross-legged.

The priest sits towards the right of the Goddess and it is amazing how he is able to sit in the restricted space, with very little circulation of air and light, throughout the day. The only light that comes in, is through the opening of the cave and at a time, only three to four people are allowed inside.

A sneak peek into the Ishtakameswari Devi Temple

Photography is strictly prohibited inside the cave. Once in, the priest allows the people to sit around the Goddess and meditate for a few minutes. He then asks each one to put Kumkum on the forehead of the Goddess while making their wishes. One can definitely feel a quiver running down the spine while doing this. The skin on the forehead is almost akin to human skin and the pressure of the thumb against it brings an indescribable feeling and you automatically feel tears welling up.

The picture of Ishtakameswari Devi (Courtesy: Ishtakameswari Devi Devalayam)

The priest then gives Kumkum and bangles and one has to crawl their way back into the opening of the cave and then carefully step out. By the time we came out, we found a long queue of people waiting for their turn to worship the Goddess. Many of them carry flowers, fruits, and sarees to adorn the Goddess. Once their genuine desire is fulfilled, they always come back to thank their Goddess and demonstrate their gratitude through their offerings.

A number of people waiting to go into the Ishtakameswari Devi Temple

Other than the main Goddess, there are a row of very old idols placed inside the thatched roof that constitutes the Artha Mandapa. The temple is estimated to be in existence from the 8th Century and has been popular even in those times.

Ganesha and other deities placed in the Ishtakameswari Temple

The Chenju women sell honey and photographs of the Goddess under a huge tree. Each bottle of forest honey is sold at Rs.500 for 500 gms and there are a number of takers. They also use the jeeps coming in and out of the forest for their commute into Srisailam and back for procuring anything that is not available in the forest.

Buying honey from the Chenju women at Ishtakameswari Devi Temple

Once darshan is complete, the people are requested to move back, in order to allow for the next set of jeeps to come in. So, soon we were on our way back, jumping up and down in our seats as the vehicle made its way through the rocky terrain. But there were no two thoughts in agreeing that this was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

One of the smoothest areas during the drive :)

How to get here:

• The temple is about 21 kms from Srisailam out of which 11 kms are through the forest. It takes about an hour and a half to reach the temple. So one has to plan at least four hours to visit Ishtakameswari Devi Temple.
• The only mode of transport is jeep. Only ten jeeps are allowed per day, so jeeps have to be booked the previous evening itself, if it is in a weekend. On weekdays, it would be wise to book the jeeps as early as possible, to avoid disappointment.
• The jeeps charge Rs.800 per person which includes the fee paid to the forest department at entry point.
• The jeep ride is rough. Although the drivers are extremely skilled, and there are safeguards like holders and crossbars, it is important that children and senior citizens are placed in the middle. To get a better idea about the terrain, you could watch this video by Naveen Konam here:  http://youtu.be/wiWDjmo4ft0
• People with back problems are advised to wear appropriate gear during the trip.
• Please do not litter. The forest is extremely clean and free from any garbage which is a remarkable thing. Let us try to preserve the environment too.

Temple Timings:

The first set of jeeps is allowed inside the forest at 9.30 am and a maximum of ten jeeps are allowed per day. There are times of the year when permission is not granted so it is better to check in advance before planning a trip.

If you happen to be in this part of the world, you must definitely not miss visiting the Ishtakameswari Devi Temple!

Mul Padukalam!

Selliamman Temple, Oottathur

Through the length and breadth of India, there are several unique places of worship with very unique rituals. The devotion with which these rituals are performed over time go to prove the faith that people have in the Gods and Goddesses of the land, which makes India what it is.

A couple of months ago, we visited the Oottathur Suddha RatneswaraTemple (Aalayam Kanden article on the temple here). While we were there, the local youth told us about the Selliamman Temple nearby and the unique ritual of Mul Padukalam at the temple. Intrigued, we wanted to visit the temple immediately.

It was just around the corner from the Suddha Ratneswara Temple - A massive Banyan Tree in front of it welcoming us. We entered the temple and went straight to witness the magnificent Selliamman.

The huge Banyan Tree in front of the temple

"A very powerful Goddess", said Ashok, one of the youth who were escorting us. "Even new born babies are placed in the Mul Padukalam and nothing happens to them, thanks to the grace of Selliamman" he continued.What is this Mul Padukalam and why is it conducted? I was bursting with curiosity.

" Finish your prayers and the Poojari will tell you all about it", he said. We went into the Artha Mandapa and stood before the Goddess. 

Goosebumps rose in my hands as I looked at her. Her ten hands rose majestically holding various weapons. She had a demon pinned below her foot and sat on another. She wore the intestine of the third as a garland around her neck. Her look was one of satisfaction, having won over evil. I had seen a number of goddesses who had demons or asuras under their feet. But this was the first time, I was witnessing a Goddess who not only had a demon under her foot, but also sat on one (can you see the crown and feet of the second demon on either side of the green saree?) and wore the third's intestine as a garland. What was the mythology behind this?

We came out and the Poojari gave us prasadam. I requested him to narrate the story of Selliamman and the Mul Padukalam. While he was narrating the story, he became emotional a number of times. His voice shivered and I could barely understand what he was saying. 

The story of the Mul Padukalam, as told by the Poojari:

Once there was a brahmin in Madurai who had seven daughters. When the daughters were very young, his wife passed away. Unable to bring up his daughters, the brahmin gave them in adoption to seven different kings. The Kings found the girls to be with divine powers and hence treated them with respect. They created small living areas for them where they could stay undisturbed. These subsequently became temples, and are known as Madhukarai Selliamman in Madurai, Vekkaliamman in Trichy, one more Selliamman in Madurai, Neikulam Madhakulathamman, Oottathur Selliamman, Siruvachur Madurakaliamman,and Arunakarai Amman.

The Selliamman that is now in Oottathur was in Madhakulam originally and that Amman was here in Oottathur. There were four bad men in the village who were captivated by the beauty of the girl and wanted to have her. They started following and harassing the girl, asking her to agree to their desire.

Fed up with the harassment, the younger Selliamman who was in Oottathur went to her elder sister in Madhakulam and sought her help. She offered her the first pooja and first sacrifice (Mudhal Poosai, Mudhal Kaavu) if she helped her tide over this problem. Agreeing to this, the elder Selli offered to switch places with her younger sister.

So the younger Selli stayed back in Madhakulam, while the elder sister took her place in Oottathur. Not knowing this, that night, the four men came to the residence of Selliamman, and knocked on the door. "Open up Selli, we have lost patience" shouted the drunk men and started banging on the door. There was no response from inside. Angered, the men asked one of them to watch outside, while the other three broke the door and entered.

In a flash, Selliamman assumed her divine form, with ten hands, armed with weapons, she tore open the stomach of one of them, and wore his intestine as a garland. The other two soon fell and she sat on one, while pinning down the body of the other under her foot. 

Having accomplished her mission, Selli wanted to set out to reach Madhakulam where her sister waited to give her first sacrifice and first pooja. But the fourth fellow, was still waiting outside. Disguising himself as a brahmin youth, he shaved his head and wore a dhoti and sacred thread so that she would not be able to recognise him. 

The Padukalam festival happens on the last day of the fourteen day celebrations which start on the first tuesday in the tamil month of Panguni where people from different communities of the village take turns to guard the temple to ensure the fourth man waiting outside, does not enter the temple. The Poojari said that they even climb on a ladder and on the tree outside to see if he was coming.

On the last day, the Goddess sets out to visit her sister. In order to prevent the man waiting outside to come in, thorns (Mul) are spread over 250 to 300 feet around the temple and people lie down on these thorns forming a human protection as the Goddess goes thrice around the temple. Even new born babies and senior citizens vow to do this ritual and complete it with utmost faith and devotion."Nothing happens to those who lie on the thorns, including infants" says the Poojari. 

This Mul Padukalam festival and the Car Festival that happens three days later attract huge crowds from many parts of the country as this is very unique to this temple.

The Poojari narrating the story of Selliamman

Amazing story and amazing ritual, indeed! What was even more astonishing was the personal experience that my sister-in-law underwent. Hearing the story and the devotion with which the Goddess is being worshipped, she prayed to her to sort out a long pending issue regarding an encroachment of land belonging to her. Just as we got into the car to drive away, she got a call from a relative regarding this issue and a possible solution. Within a week's time, the issue that had been pending for many years got sorted out amicably and she hopes to be able to take possession very soon.

If you happen to be in the vicinity of this temple, do make it a point to visit.

How to get here:

Oottathur is about 35 kms from Trichy and 5 kms from Padalur. The temple is close to the Suddha Ratneswara Temple, Oottathur.

Temple Timings:

The temple is open from 9 am to 6 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Weekends.
On Tuesdays and Fridays it is open from 9 am in the morning till 8 pm at night.

Contact Details:

Mr. Moorthy Poojari - 97880 61622
Mr. Karthikeyan - from the Vazhipaatu Mandram - 88838 52198

With the members of the Vazhipattu Manram of Oottathur 

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!

Hanuman with his parents!

Ever since I started the Aalayam Kanden blog, there have been several occasions to remind me that I do not get to decide what to write about - it happens ! The last couple of months have been extremely busy for me on the personal front, with a change in job and my son's school final exams and the subsequent series of entrance tests that he had to give for his engineering admission. My husband and I have been taking turns to accompany our son to his exam centers.One such exam centre was at Padappai and since it was a Saturday we both decided to go. It was indeed a golden opportunity to visit some temple nearby. When I proposed this to my husband, he agreed and our plan was made.

The next morning, we set out early and reached the exam venue. After settling my son in, we moved out. As we passed the Saravana Icecream factory, and the Salamangalam Bus Stop we saw a board reading Jaya Durga Peetam on the other side. For some reason, my husband said, " Let us go there". I had heard a lot about Upasana Kulapathi Sri Sri Durgai Siddhar who had established the Jaya Durga Peetam. He was the saint who pioneered the Rahu Kala Durga Pooja which is now practiced by several devotees for gaining maximum benefit. It was indeed divine will beckoning us there. Without any further hesitation, we took a U-turn and drove down the road. After about half a km, we saw the temple.

On getting down, and entering the temple, we were a little taken aback to see the board reading " Private temple, Entry on permission". However, there was no one to stop us when we entered the temple.

There were no devotees around when we went in. After a few seconds our eyes adjusted to the light inside, and we were able to see a number of shrines, and a priest performing pooja . I looked around and was pleasantly surprised to see a board reading, "Anjana Devi, Vayu Bagavan sahitha Sanjeevi Anjaneya". How very cute!

There sat Lord Hanuman between his parents, the serene Anjana Devi on one side, and Vayu, on the other, symbolised by a lamp whose wick shook wildly to symbolise the presence of Vayu inside the Sanctum Sanctorum. Hanuman with folded hands, looked like an obedient child accompanying his parents on his day out. The shrine is built in such a way that only Hanuman is visible when seen directly. Another unique feature of this shrine was that the Dwarapalakas on either side of the shrine were also Hanumans. It is believed that worshipping this unique Hanuman rids one of Moola Nakshatra Dosha. I stood there enthralled for several minutes.

My husband gently nudged me to draw my attention to the other shrines.  We met Mr Nair the manager at the temple. He was happy to provide pamphlets and information about the temple, when we explained our mission and led us to meet Durgai Siddhar's wife, a compassionate lady who welcomed us warmly. She gave the contact information of her sons, Dr. Sri Sridhar and Mr. Srivatsan who take care of the affairs of the temple and lead the various spiritual events. Mr. Nair explained the significance of the various shrines briefly.

There are a total of ten shrines in this temple.

Prathyaksha Varahi:

Prathyaksha Varahi is the Goddess who grants the power of words, the one who destroys enemies. Her special day for worship is Shukla Panchami day.

Sri Dhanvantri:

Dhanvantri as popularly known, is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu who cures chronic ailments and diseases.

Sri Panchakshara Ganapathy:

This shrine is the first of the two Ganesha shrines at the temple.

Lord Muruga:

Lord Muruga in this temple is seen as the consummation of the Kundalini Sakthi. He is the confluence of the Trimurthis and the Trisakthis. Worshipping him is said to bring prosperity and happiness.

Goddess Jayadurga:

Goddess Jayadurga sits in all magnificence in the main Sanctum Sanctorum. The Ishta devatha worshipped by Sri Durgai Siddhar, bestows health, wealth and prosperity to her devotees. The four arms shower the four Purusharthas - Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha.

Bhuvaneshwari - Mahamayi:

To the right as we enter the temple, is the Shrine housing the two Shakthis - Bhuvaneshwari and Mahamayi, the Goddesses who rule the world and protect and save all beings on it.

Swarna Akarshana Bhairavar:

The Swarna Akarshana Bhairavar at this temple is the Upasana Moorthy of Sri Durgai Siddhar's Guru, Sri Trikoota Sarbha Siddhar. Worship of the Swarna Akarshana Bhairava is said to remove poverty and bestow bliss and happiness. Upasana of this Bhairava can grant one the Ashta Maha Siddhis.

Raja Karuppar:

The "Padhinettam Padi" Raja Karuppanaswamy will protect his worshippers from evil spirits. The 18 steps he sits on can be worshipped by devotees.

Uchishta Ganapathy:

Uchishta Ganapathy is said to be the Supreme form of Lord Ganesha. Worshipping him in this form would help the devotees overcome all obstacles in life.

The four Gods in the center of the temple represent the four Vedas - Goddess Jaya Durga represents the Rig Veda, Lord Muruga the Yajur Veda, Swarna Akarshana Bhairava the Sama Veda and Uchista Ganapathy - Atharvana Veda. The Homakunta in the centre is also designed as a Chathur Veda Homakunta. 

Apart from these shrines, the Adhistanam (Samadhi) of Sri Sri Durgai Siddhar is also present inside the temple. It was here that I spent a long time meditating.

The temple houses the several books and slokas written by Sri Durgai Siddhar. Verses composed by him on different Gods and Goddesses are also featured near the shrines and on the walls making it easy for devotees to read and pray.

How to reach the temple:
The temple is situated in Padappai on the Tambaram - Kanchipuram State Highway. While going from Tambaram, take a left turn opposite to the Saravana Ice cream Factory. You will enter the Ashramam Salai. The temple is about half a kilometre down the road.

Address:

Jaya Durga Peetam
1 and 2, Ashramam Salai,
Padappai - 601 301

Contact Details:
Ph: 044-2717 4150, 98407 83066
99400 58809