The Temples of Karuvazhakarai!

Shahuji I, popularly known as Shaji was the Maratha ruler of Thanjavur during the period 1684-1712. During his reign, there were several unrests and threat to his Kingdom from the Sethupathis of Ramnad and Rani Mangammal, who ruled over Madurai with Trichy as her capital. Shahuji, was constantly strategizing to save his empire from his neighbours who were waiting with drawn swords.

It reached a point when he felt that only divine intervention can strengthen his arm, as the game plan kept changing day after day without a result in his favour.

He consulted with his minister, Lakshmana Pandit, on a solution to reinforce his hold over Thanjavur. Lakshmana Pandit consulted with several astrologers and learned men, and they all came up with a uniform solution - to construct temples for Shiva and Vishnu on the banks of the holy Cauvery river. 

Lakshmana Pandit shared this solution with King Shahuji who immediately tasked him with finding the right location to get the temples constructed. So Lakshmana Pandit set out along the banks of the Cauvery, visiting several temples on its banks and seeking divine intervention in showing him the right place for the construction of the temples. 

He travelled across Kumbakonam, Swamimalai, Thiruvidaimarudhur, Dharmapuram, and Mayiladuthurai and set off on the northern bank of the river towards Poompuhar. It was getting to be dark and Lakshmana Pandit decided to spend a night in a grove of Marudham trees (Arjuna trees) on the outskirts of Poompuhar.

The grove had almost all trees and flowering plants that would be used to worship Lord Shiva and Vishnu and Lakshmana Pandit felt an unusual sense of serenity and calmness when he rested there. By morning, his mind was made. It was there the temples were going to come up.

He felt down on the floor and thanked the Gods for showing him the ideal location and went back to Thanjavur with news for Shahuji. Very soon, the construction of the temples began - Lord Shiva sat right in the middle of the grove and came to be known as Raja Rajeswara and Lord Vishnu in the form of Lakshmi Narayana was installed towards the end of the grove. The place where the Lakshmi Narayana temple was built came to be called Lakshmi Narayana Puram and the village came to be known as Marudhur or Karuvazhakarai.

Six Maratha Brahmins, a Yajur Veda family from Senkalipuram and a Sama Veda family from nearby Kanja nagaram who were experts in the Vedas were brought to the village to take care of the temple, Very soon, the King was able to overcome the problems from his neighbours and was also able to defeat the Moghuls and acquire lands upto Varanasi.

Over time, the land between the temples became habitations and soon were taken over by individuals. The temples lost their glory and became dilapidated. The Shiva temple was granted to a family for maintenance about 200 years ago, through a court deed and the descendants of the family maintain it to date. It is a delight to see a well maintained, albeit poorly patronised temple, right in the middle of a grove, with practically every single tree, fruit or flower that is used to worship Shiva.

Lord Rajarajeswara sits majestically in the sanctum sanctorum while Goddess Devanayaki is waiting patiently in her humble abode for the odd devotee to visit. There is also a Bhairava from the Maratha period in the temple. Another noteworthy feature is the huge Nataraja and Sivakami that is under worship. Shiva looks extremely splendid and regal that you cannot take your eyes off him. His Holiness Maha Periya has visited this temple twice during his life time, and spent several hours in meditation before this Nataraja.

The remains of the Lakshmi Narayana Temple that was once worshipped for victory, beauty and prosperity is today being reconstructed through the efforts of Shri Anandhanarayanan, who is leaving no stone unturned in ensuring the temple is reconstructed. But for the main deity, Sri Lakshmi Narayana, and a few other idols, most of the structure and idols belonging to the original temple have been lost and are now being recreated in Mamallapuram.

The consecration is being planned in July 2016 and every single rupee contributed in completing the work will bestow upon the donor, victory in their endeavor, beauty and prosperity. If you happen to be in this locality, please stop by to visit both the temples at Karuvazhakarai, now popularly known as Marudhur.

You may kindly send your contributions to Sree Lakshmi Narayana Perumal Tirupani Committee, State Bank of India Pallavaram CI, SB Account No. 33737211400

How to get here:

Marudhur is found on the road from Mayiladuthurai to Poompuhar at about 9 kms from Mayiladuthurai. 

Contacts: 

For Lakshmi Narayana Temple - Mr Anandhanarayanan - 94440 79673

For Rajarajeswara Temple - Mr Swaminathan - 95974 37157

Pillai Kaaragan Swamy @ Melvenpakkam!

The Swayambu Sri Lakshmi Narayana Temple, Melvenpakkam

Time and again I have mentioned in my articles about planning to visit a place for a long time, which suddenly came true or alternatively, visiting a temple all of a sudden because an invitation came out of the blue. Now I have come to understand that everything moves as per the divine plan and we must just play our pre destined part. Therefore, I was not surprised when I received a call from Mr Manivannan, Principal Trustee of the Melvenpakkam Sri Lakshmi Narayana Swamy temple just a couple of days before our scheduled visit to Kanchipuram. I immediately agreed on the time and date of the visit.

The Lakshmi Narayana Perumal Temple at Melvenpakkam

This temple, in a non-descript village off the Chennai - Bangalore Highway, hardly comprises of a sanctum sanctorum and an Artha Mandapa. Two tiny shrines have been recently constructed to house the Periya and Siriya Thiruvadis. A temple that once had its own 11 tier Rajagopuram, Mada Veedhis and several acres of land, has been reduced to this status with passage of time, invasions and encroachments. It used to be earlier known as Mahalakshmi Kshetram with individual sannathis for all the eight lakshmis.

Dhampathya Anyonyam: The Lord within the humble temple, is a great Karuna Moorthy. He is said to date back before three Yugas, measuring 12 feet in the Kritha Yuga, 8 in the Thretha Yuga, 4 in the Dwapara Yuga and now 2.5 feet in Kaliyuga. The Narayana and Goddess Mahalakshmi are seen as one form. Usually one can see the Lakshmi seated on the left lap of the Lord either facing him or even if she is facing the devotees there is a gap between the two dieties. However, here both are found in an Änyonya Bhavam with their faces close to one another and no gap in between.

Sri Lakshmi Narayana Perumal at Melvenpakkam
Photo Courtesy: Mr D Manivannan

This form is unique and worshipping the Lord in this form has brought harmony into many a family were the couples were suffering from lack of understanding and harmony. Mr Manivannan says there is ample evidence in the temple of families reunited through worshipping the Lord sincerely and with faith and devotion.

Pillaikaaragan Swamy: The Lord is also called Pillaikaaragan Swamy. Mr Manivannan narrated his own experience with a lot of emotion. He and his wife had lost two children soon after their birth and were not blessed with a child for thirteen years. Not knowing the reason, and heartbroken at having lost their new borns, they visited several temples. Through Prasnam, they came to know of the Melvenpakkam temple which had been locked up for sixty years without worship. They made efforts to have the temple opened and worship resumed. Soon afterwards, they were blessed with a healthy child. Till date, over three hundred families have visited and been blessed with children. A special  Thirumanjanam is performed on Friday mornings at 7 am with Sri Lakshmi Narayana Hridayam chanting and Paal Payasam Neivedhyam . This prasadam is then given to the childless couples and they are soon blessed with Santhana Prapthi.

Brahma Hathi Dosha Nivarthi: Usually Adhiseshan can be found as the Asana or bed for Lord Mahavishnu. However, in this Kshetram he can be seen as a Vyjayanthimala around the Lord's neck. The serpent circling the Lord's neck twice and lifting up his hood on his chest can be seen very clearly during Milk Abhishekam. This form is said to rid one of Doshas like Brahma Hathi Dosha, Naga Dosha and Rahu Kethu Dosha. It is believed that Lord Hanuman worshipped Sri Lakshmi Narayana Swamy for three months to be rid of the Brahma Hathi Dosham from killing the Asuras who guarded the Ashoka Vana.
Jyothisha Chakravarthy Shri A M Rajagopalan, has been recommending this Kshetram as a Parihara Sthalam for Marital Harmony and for those born under Dhanusu or Mithuna Rasi and based on his advice, a Nagabaranam (Adhiseshan) has been made and adorned to Sri Lakshmi Narayana Perumal on the Pradhistaa Dhinam - 15 June 2014.

The Lakshmi Narayana Perumal adorned with Nagabharanam

                             
In 1957, Paramacharya of Sri Kanchi Sankara Mutt has spent three days and nights in meditation in front of this Lord and it remained one of his favorite temples.

Uthratadhi Homams: Every month on Uthratadhi star, special poojas are performed at this temple.A very holy Homam known as Sree Lakshmi Narayana Nava Kalasa Homam is performed approximately around 8.45 am. This homam has immeasurable power against all Doshas. During this homam, the very holy Sree Lakshmi Narayana Hridayam is chanted and Thirumanjanam is performed with the sanctified water from the Homam with the nine Kalasas that had been placed in the Homam.People seeking good alliance, marital harmony, childbirth and relief from disease attend this homam and are immensely blessed.

Sri Lakshmi Narayana Nitya Parayana Sloka: Chanting this sloka which forms part of the Shree Lakshmi Narayana Hrudayam, in the Atharva Rahasyam, Uththara Bagham, 28 times in the morning and evening is said to bring all sixteen elements of prosperity into one's life.

Swarna Vridhdhim Kuru mae Grihae Shree:

Sudhaanya Vridhdhim Kuru mae Grihae Shree:

Kalyana Vridhdhim Kuru mae Grihae Shree:

Vibhuthi Vridhdhim Kuru mae Grihae Shree:

The temple is in the process of construction of Maha Mandapa and Dasavatara Mandapa for which contributions are invited from the public. Please send your contributions to : Melvenpakkam Sri Lakshmi Narayana Perumal Charitable Trust (Regd), No.11, 4th Main Road, Ram Nagar, Nanganallur, Chennai 600 061 or through bank transfer to SB A/c No. 01013962, Corporation Bank, Kellys Corner Branch, Chennai 600 010. IFSC Code: CORP0000123

How to get here: (Details Courtesy Mr Manivannan)
Google Map link

From Chennai:

By Bus:

This temple is approximately 84 kms from Koyambedu and 67 Kms from Tambaram.

If commuting by bus from Koyambedu, please board bus bound for Arcot and get down at Baluchetty Chaththitram bus stop and again board a bus bound to Panapakkam and get down at Check Post Stopping. From there, every 10th minute, you will get a share auto to drop you in the temple. (or) You can board straight buses from Koyambedu. Bus Numbers: 150 and 107, both bound to Panapakkam and get down at Panapakkam and catch a share auto to the temple. ( It takes 3 hours from Chennai).

Also, you can come to Kanchipuram and catch a bus bound to Panapakkam via Damal and get down at Check post and catch a share auto.

By Train:

People coming from Chennai, can board the electric train bound get down at Thirumalpur, go to Panapakkam from there and catch a share auto to Melvenpakkam.(but this travel will be very tedious from Thirumalpur to Panapakkam, though the distance is just 9 Kms)

From Kanchipuram:

This temple is situated at 22 Kms from Kanchipuram in the Madras - Bengaluru Highway, towards Vellore. Any bus bound to Panapakkam, via Damal, can be boarded and you have to get down at Check post and take a share auto. T3, T3A, T3B, T49, 150, MBD and Balaji are the bus routes plying between Kanchipuram and Panapakkam.

From Vellore:

This temple is 56 Kms away from Vellore (via, Arcot, Ranipet, Walaja, Kaveripakkam and Ocheri). You can board the bus bound to Panapakkam, get down there and catch a share auto to the temple.

From Arakonam:

​Devotees coming from Bangaluru, Coimbatore, Salem etc, by train, can get down at Arakonam Railway Junction and board a bus to Panapakkam (24 Kms) and from there, catch a share auto to the temple.
There are plenty of buses from Kanchipuram, Vellore and Arakkonam.

Travelling by Car from Chennai:

This temple is just 4.5 Kms away from the Madras - Bangaluru National Highway.

After crossing Baluchetty Chaththiram and Damal take a right turn to Panapakkam. A Board depicting the name Melvenpakkam Sree Lakshmi Narayana Peumal Sannadhi will be visible under the blinking orange light kept in the highways.Take a right turn and within one km, you will find a big banyan tree to your left and from there, take the right turn, that is opposite to the tree. There also you will find the name board. From here, it is just 4 Kms, into the villages along the paddy fields and the third village is Melvenpakkam. You will find this small temple next to a water tank.

Travelling by Car from Vellore:

From Vellore, come on the national highway via Arcot, Ranipet, Walaja, Kaverpakkam, Ocheri and approximately 8 Kms from Ocheri, you will find the Name board of the temple below the blinking orange light and you have to take a left turn after which follow directions as above.

Contact Details:

Mr D Manivannan, Principal Trustee - 9003177722/9383145661/9444970066

Temple Website:

http://melvenpakkamperumal.com/