Visit to Thenambakkam and Kalavai - Two important places one should never miss.

Visit to Thenambakkam

Thenambakkam is less than 10 Kms from Kancheepuram.

Brahmapuriswarar Temple is situated here. The presiding deity is Brahampuriswarar, which is a Swayambhu Lingam. 

Generally, Somaskanda is a particular form of representation of Lord Shiva with his consort Parvati and Skanda as a child on the laps of Parvati. 

But the speciality in this temple is that Somaganapathi is the form of representation of Lord Shiva with his consort Parvati and Ganapthi as a child on the laps of Parvati instead of Skanda. Inside the sanctum sanctorum, behind the Lingam, in the background, you will find the form of Somaganapathi (Shiva, Parvati, and Ganapathi) and Adi Sankara.

Apart from the main Sannadhi of Brahmapuriswarar, the sannadhis of Ananda Dakshinamoorthy, Chandrasekara Ganapathi, Navagrahas, Kaalabhairavar are also there. There is a separate Sannadhi for H.H. Mahaperiyava, which has been constructed additionally. There is a Veda Patashala too functioning here, where students learn and chant vedas regularly. 

Significance of this place:-

Mahaperiyava (H.H.Jagatguru Sri.Chandrasekarendra Saraswati Maha Swamigal 68th Pontiff of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam) lived inside this temple for long, for a period of more than one year and performed penance/tapasyA. 

H.H. Mahaperiyava lived in a small room close to the temple premises and never came out of the room for a year. 

There is a small well inside the room itself and a cement tub for washing. There are two rectangular openings inside this room. One was meant to serve Bhikshai to Mahaperiyavaa and through the other opening Mahaperiyava used to have darshan of two sannadhis namely;a) the sannadhi of Ganapathi and b) the sannadhi of Ananda Dakshinamoorthy. It's Ananda Dakshinamoorthy because, he has a smiling face. The sannadhi of Ganapathi has been named as Kaarya Siddhi Chandrasekara Ganapathi. Mahaperiyava's nayana deekshai continuously fell on these two deities and hence they have gained lot of significance.

The Brahmatheertham, where H.H. Mahaperiyava had his snaan and performed anushtaanams, and the place near Ananda Dakshinamoorthy, where  H.H. Maha periyava performed Vedanta Vichaaram, and Bhaashyapaatham are all close by to this temple, within the temple compound.

This place is serene and a visit to this place assures the blessings of H.H. Mahaperiyava to all the devotees.

Some of images captured in this place are given below.

Visit to Kalavai

Kalavai is a small town about 50 Kms from Kancheepuram on the Kancheepuram-Cheyyaar-Arcot State Highway Road, closer to Arcot. The State Highway Road is very good for driving. From Kalavai, Ranipet Circle on the Chennai-Bengaluru National Highway, is somewhat closer.

Significance of this place:-

This is the holy place where (H.H.Jagatguru Sri.Sri. Chandrasekarendra Saraswati Swamigal 68th Pontiff of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam) (H.H.Mahaperiyavaa) accepted Sanyasa Ashrama in 1907 and remained as an incumbent of the Peetam till 1994.

The Adhishtanam and Brindavanam of:- a) 66th Pontiff of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, H.H. Jagathguru Sri Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswati Swamigal (Parameshti Guru of H.H. Mahaperiyavaa) 1891-1907, and b) 67th Pontiff of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, H.H. Jagathguru Sri Sri Mahadevendra Saraswati Swamigal (Parama Guru of H.H. Mahaperiyavaa) 1907, are situated here.

It is important to note that the 67th Pontiff H.H. Jagathguru Sri Sri Mahadevendra Saraswati Swamigal occupied the position/was an incumbent of the Peetam, only for 7 days.

In between the two Brindavanams of the 66th and 67th Pontiffs, one finds a stand alone Tulsi sapling growing, which they say represents the Mahaperiyavaa as he had originally wished his adhishtanam here, but his Brindavanam was made inside Kanchi Mutt, Kancheepuram. 

This place too is serene and a visit to this place not only assures the blessings of H.H. Mahaperiyava but also the blessings of his Gurus too, to all the devotees.

Some of images captured in this place are given below.

Exploring Temples in and around Chennai

Part-1

Temples dedicated to Ichha Shakti, Jnana Shakti, and Kriya Shakti

In Sri Lalitha Sahasranamam, Verse #130 states "Ichha Shakti-Gnana Shakti-Kriya Shakti- Swaroopini.

The Divine Mother Shakti - Sri. Parvathi, Sri Lalitha Tripurasundari is portrayed as the Tri-Shakti.

Ichha Shakti represents Power of Will.

Gnana Shakti represents Power of Knowledge.

Kriya Shakti represents Power of Action.

The Tri-Shakti temples are located in and around Chennai. These temples are historic, traditional, and legendary and worthy of a visit and darshan.

Thiruvudai Amman represents Ichha Shakti.

Vadivudai Amman represents Jnana Shakti.

Kodiyidai Amman represents Kriya Shakti.

Temple dedicated to Ichha Shakti

Thiruvudai Amman Samedha Thirumanangeeswarar Swami (Lord Shiva - Swayambhu Lingam. Earlier known as Sugandavaneswarar and later on over time, Lord's name changed to Tamil name Thirumanangeeswarar.)

This temple is located at Melur Village, near Minjur, a suburb of Chennai. Ennore Port and Vallur Thermal Power Plant are nearby Melur. Minjur is the nearest town. Melur is well connected by good road. Container Trailers traffic is horrible on this road.

Temple dedicated to Jnana Shakti

Vadivudai Amman Samedha Thyagaraja Swami (aka) Adhipuriswarar Swami.

This temple is located at Thiruvottriyur, Chennai. The temple complex is quite sprawling and spread over a large area.

There are many interesting sannadhis here. Adhipuriswarar Sivalingam is very unique and is made of sand. They apply only a specific oil to this lingam and abhishekam is not performed. Thyagaraja Swami like Somaskandar is in a sitting posture and abhishekam is performed to this idol. Vadivudai Amman Sannadhi attracts huge crowd.

Tamil Saivaite Saint Pattinathaar attained Jeeva Samadhi in this temple. One of the big four Nayanmars and Tamil Saivaite Saint Sundarar married Sangili Nachiyar in this temple. This temple is classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam.

Temple dedicated to Kriya Shakti

Kodiyidai Amman Samedha Masilamaniswarar Swami (Lord Shiva - Swayambhu Lingam)

This temple is located at Thirumullaivoyal, Avadi, Chennai.

This temple is classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam. Saint Sundaramurthy Nayanar, Saint Vallalar (aka) Ramalinga Swamigal and Saint Arunagirinathar have sung hymns in praise of Lord.

Sandal paste is applied to the Shiva lingam on all days. The Sannadhis of Ambal and Swami are interchanged in this temple, which is an uncommon position of the deities. The Nandi in the outer prakaram, instead of facing the Lord, faces the eastern entrance, as ordained by the Lord, which is unique.

An Ode to my Parents

When my father passed away on 18-Jan-2003, at 78, he left behind my mother with us. So we could carry on by feeling  the vacuum only partly. Now my mother too has left us for heavenly abode on 03-Feb-2016 at 82, after 13 years after my father's death. We feel total vacuum in our lives now. We abundantly feel the absence of our parents. We now realize the difference between leading life with parents and leading life without parents. One realizes at some point in one's life, how the parents shape our lives, how they teach us values and morals, how they inculcate religion and bhakti in our minds, and how they pass on traditions and beliefs to us. Many a times, parents set an example before us to follow.

I have spent initial 22 years as a student with my parents, and then as a young bachelor for 6 years. Subsequently after marriage, along with my wife, I have spent 29 years with my parents as a joint family.  Thus personally I have ended up spending 57 years of my life with my parents. This arithmetically proves how much I miss my parents now.

Saint Thiruvalluvar composed Thirukkural in Tamil between 2 BCE and 5 CE with 1330 couplets. Kural in Tamil means short couplet with a total of 7 words, 4 in the first line and 3 in the second line. What Twitter has designed in the 21st Century,  by restricting the tweets to 140 characters, Saint Thiruvalluvar had introduced Kural concept even in BCE.

Shri. Gopalakrishna Gandhi, a former administrator, diplomat and Governor of WB, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, and daamaad of Shri. Chakravarthi Rajagopalachari, who also happens to be my father's contemporary and former colleague in TN Raj bhavan, in his recent book "Thirukkural" has wonderfully translated all the 1330 couplets into English. (This book is in my current reading list. I met him at the Hindu Litfest after many years). I am quoting a few relevant couplets from his book on this somber occasion.

"On Impermanence"

331) "That life's tree will always be in leaf. Is a foolish and fond belief."

334) "The day, I see, as a day, of course, but also another way. As a fine-toothed saw that saws life down day by day by day."

336) "Here today, gone tomorrow. Fun today, tomorrow sorrow. Wondrous indeed is this odd world".

337) " None can tell if she or he will last the day today. And yet we go, fools that we are, planning and plotting away".

338) "As the restive bird, singing abandons it nest. So the soul flees the body, tired of being its guest".

339) "Death's but a nap' says old wisdom. But birth?  A break in the soul's freedom".

340) "The soul is a wanderer, a wanderer is she. She sits in the body, just waiting to flee".

Going back to my parents, both my parents belong to the Sub-sect of "Pazhamaaneri Brahacharanam" a South Indian Hindu Brahmin Aiyer family from Thanjavur. My father's native is Thiruvaiyaru and my mother's native is Ranganathapuram, both in Thanjavur Dist. Their relations were settled and spread in Onbathuveli, Thirukaattupalli, Koothur, and Vishnampet Villages around. The Tanjore culture will be evident and marked in our tradition, style, culture, religion, food, and language.

My forefathers starting from my grandfather were all Doctors/Surgeons by medical profession in the olden days. In those times, there were no qualified medical professionals. My great-great grandfather Vaidyam Subbaiyer and his grandson Swaminathan and his great grandson Natarajan were all in medical profession during their times.

My father migrated to Chennai during the British rule and joined the Legal Secretariat of the British administration. Subsequently he was posted to the Governor's Secretariat in Tamilnadu. He then accompanied Governor Shriprakasa, (the then Governor of TN when Shri. Chakravarti Rajagopalachari was the CM of TN) to Bombay when he was transferred as the Governor of Maharashtra. My father spent more than 6 years in Bombay and then returned to home cadre in TN, back to Raj Bhavan in Chennai.  I was born to my parents when they were in Bombay.

By serving 14 Governors at a stretch in Raj Bhavan TN for more than 3 decades, he grew from position to position and reached the pinnacle of his career as the Secretary to the Governor of TN. He was virtually the brainwork behind the Governor in those days both in administration and writing speeches for various Governors. He had handled President's rule in TN twice in his career. He made himself indispensable in his position during his times. He did not want both his sons to opt for government service.

My father is an assiduous self-made man, a voracious reader and built a legion of literary, philosophic, religious, science, and non-fiction books at home. He had a variety of Dictionaries for his reference. During his time, there was no Google. He has left behind a legion of his books as his legacy which I preserve and cherish. I imbibed my reading habit from my father. He was a lover of fountain pens and had a myriad collection of it.

My mother was 14 years when she was married to my father, who was 23 years at the time of his marriage. She delivered the first male child (my elder brother) when she was 15 years. My mother, from being a humble home maker, suddenly was exposed to Bombay culture with her Parsi family neighbors and forced to learn and speak Hindi when she lived in Bombay. Then she had to move with VVIPs and VIPs along with my father in his career. She nicely got herself adjusted to all this and picked up a lot of confidence, courage and exposure in her life. Later both my parents spent about 12 years with me in New Delhi when I had to shift to Delhi to take up a bank job. I can never forget the Badrinath and Kedarnath pilgrimage and trip to Shimla, Manali and Kulu with them along with my daughter, who was a small child then. My daughter spent a lot of time playing with her grandparents, who were very fond of her. When my daughter was born, my father composed a poem describing her as a Rajakumari. (Princess) But unfortunately he did not survive to see my daughter going to USA for study and career. But she carried his abundant blessings with her. Fortunately my mother survived then to see off my daughter going abroad. She took great pride and pleasure to see her grandsons and granddaughter going to USA. She was always fond of her grandsons, great grandson, grand daughter and great granddaughter. We performed Kanakabhishekam to our mother in 2008 on the occasion of the birth of great grandson who is her straight fourth generation.

We are now left only with their memories, which we go on recollecting every now and then incident after incident. I can go on extolling the honor of my parents veritably in this blog in order to eulogize and enliven their memories. But mainly I am writing this blog for posterity. I am picking up this quote from my father's handwritten quote.

 "People will not look forward to posterity, who never look backward to their ancestors. Respecting your forefathers, you would have been taught to respect yourselves." ~ Edmund Burke.

May my parents souls rest in peace! May God give us the strength to bear this loss! Life must go on.