NINE PLANETS NINE TEMPLES

  THE NAVAKAILAYA TEMPLES IN TIRUNELVELI DISTRICT, TAMILNADU

In this journey of life, what gives us peace, happiness and satisfaction is the pilgrimage we take to various temples. Journey of bhakthi is a part of our life. When our mind is tired and with pain, bhakthi becomes a medicine and a rejuvenator. These words come out of experience and everybody who is even a little bit spiritual will accept this. During this journey of going to temples and worshiping our gurus and prostrating ourselves before lord gives us immense pleasure. Along with our body our mind also gets nurtured and we gain some sanctity(punyam) also.

I am going to share with you all my experience during the journey of navakailayam temples which I took with my wife.

The celestial wedding of Lord Shiva and Parvathi is one of the major events in Shiva Purana. When sage Agastya stood on the Podigai hills and earned to see the divine wedding of Shiva and Parvathi, the lord gave darshan to the sage on the rishaba. Here in Podigai hills, they say that the vedas have taken the shape of trees. Romasa maharishi who was the disciple of sage Agastya wanted to have darshan of lord Shiva and attain mukthi. Sage Agastya told him that he will place nine lotus flowers on the course of the river Tamirabarini. Wherever each one of the flowers halt he has to build a temple for the lord and worship him. These temples built by this great disciple are called the navakailasam temples.(kailayam or kailash is the abode of lord shiva)

1. PAPANASAM

Located 45 km away from Tirunelveli and on the foothills of podigai hills and on the western banks of the river Tamirabarini is the temple of Papanasam. Here sage Agastya himself is said to have done penance.

This is the first temple of navakailasam. River Tamirabarani which sources from podigai hills lands first in the plains in papanasam. Papanasam in tamil means the destroyer of sins.

God: Shri Kailasanathar

Goddess: Ulagambigai 

Temple timings: 6.30 am to 12 noon--5 pm to 7pm

Planet : Sun

The speciality of the gopuram or the tower is that it has 7 stages in it. 

In the vasantha mandapam since we could see the shape of fishes engraved, it is believed that this temple was built during the period of pandian Vikramasingan.

2. CHERANMAHADEVI

This is the place where the second lotus flower went and stopped. Located approximately 25 km from Tirunelveli and on the right side of the river Tamirabarani, this temple is a beauty in itself. 

Romasa maharishi did the prathista of a shiva linga and worshipped here. The linga he worshipped was found under a pipal tree. The story goes like this. Two sisters who were ardent devotees of lord shiva, came here every day before going for selling their goods. They both wanted a build a temple for their favorite shiva linga and started saving money for it. As the lord always does, wanted to test their bhakti and came in disguise as a rishi and wanted to eat in their house. Happy to feed him, they both took him to their house. But seeing that there is no light he denied to eat. As they had no lamp to light, one of the sisters broke a coconut and added ghee and put a wick to it and lighted a lamp. Lord realised that they are very desperate to feed a shiva bhaktha. Pleased with their bhakthi, he showed them his original form. Both the sisters were very excited and Lord blessed them with more wealth and properity. They fulfilled their wish of buildig the temple for shiva.

God: Ammai nathar

Goddess: Avudai nayagi

Planet: chandran(moon)

Temple timings: 9am to 10am--4pm to 5pm

Scriptures say that the main sanctum is built by the two sisters. Rest of the temple is built by the king Raja Raja Chola.

Offering of ghee lamp in the coconut placed on the pile of rice and abhishekam to goddess with the juice of pomegranate is a very special here. We can see the idol of Romasa maharishi in one of the pillars in the temple. 

3. KODAGANALLUR

The third lotus flower stopped in this place which was formerly called Karkodaganallur (karkodagan means serpent). The serpent was given mukthi in this place by lord shiva and so this name. As days went by the name of the place became Kodaganallur.

God: shri kailasanathar

Goddess: shri sivagami amman

Planet: chevvai (mars)

Timings: 9am-10am--5pm-7pm

There is no kodimaram in this temple. Everyday the lord is given a change of vastra(cloth) 8 times. Thirukalyanam(wedding) to nandi is performed every day. People tie a bell around the neck of nandi after their wishes are fulfilled. 

4. KUNDRATHUR

The fourth lotus came and stopped in this place. Romasa maharishi prayed Shiva and installed a Shivalinga here.

God: Kothaparameshwarar

Goddess: Sivagami amman

Planet: rahu

Timings: 7am-8am--5pm-6pm

The story goes like this. Once on the banks of the river there was a mango tree which bore only one fruit per year. That fruit was eaten by the king. One year, as the king was little late, the mango fell into the river and in its flow went into the pot of one of the woman who came to bath in the river. Without realising she took the pot home. When the king found the mango missing from the tree, asked his soldiers to search each house. The woman in whose house the mango was found was brought to the king. Without making a justified query, the king ordered death sentence for the woman. The whole village stood and watched this. Nobody came to her rescue. in a rage, the woman cursed the whole village except the cows be destroyed by snakes. Panicked villagers, went and prayed to lord shiva. He came and advised the citizens that when king goes wrong, it is the duty of the citizens to correct him. The lord took all the serpents and wore them as ornaments and thus saved the village. Villagers in turn, chose the right king for them. Even now, we can see serpents moving on shiva, dakshinamoorthy and bhairavar.

During rahu kalam special pooja is offered to shiva.

5. MORAPPANADU

Situated 17 km from Tirunelveli on the route to Thoothukudi, this place is very special as Shiva himself took the form of guru to bless his devotees. Like the Ganges flows from north to south in Varanasi, here the river Tamirabarani takes a turn and flows from north towards south. So this river here is called dakshina ganga. Taking a dip here is equivalent to taking bath in Ganges. 

The nandi in this temple has the face of a horse..surprising isnt it? The story goes like this. The queen of the place gave birth to a baby girl which had a face of a horse. The king was shattered and sought the advise of the rishis. They told the king to find the linga installed by Romasa maharishi on the banks of the river and asked him and his daughter to worship it everyday. The king and the princess did so, and in due course of time, the horse face of hers transformed into a beautiful human face, and nandi took the face of the horse. The king built the temple and worshiped Shiva for the rest of this life.

God: Kailasanathar

Goddess: Sivagami amman

Planet: guru 

Timings: 7am-9am--5pm-7pm

6. SHRIVAIKUNTAM

The 6th flower came and halted here in this place known as Shrivaikuntam where already a temple for Vishnu exists. This place is located 30 km from Tirunelveli towards Tiruchendur.

This place is also a part of navathirupathi (9 temples of Vishnu). Here in the Vishnu temple the planet worshiped is suryan(sun), whereas the shiva temple here is said to be the amsam of planet shani (saturn). 

Shrivaikuntam is flooded equally by saivaites and vaishnavites. They live in perfect harmony here.

In this temple of shiva, what we should not miss seeing is the herbal paintings of the details of the navakailasa temples on the roof of the kalyana mandapam--the place they conduct the divine weddng of shiva and parvathi every year.  

The kodimaram (pillar in front of the sanctum) is brought from kanyakumari bhagavathi temple.

The lord, is believed to be the incarnation of shani. Devotees offer offerings to shani, for a successful marriage and to get back lost property. 

God: Kailasanathar

Goddess: Sivagami amman

Planet: Shani

Timings: 6am-10am--4pm-8pm

7. THENTHIRUPERAI

The 7th lotus halted in this place on the banks of the river Tamirabarani which is located 38km from Tirunelveli towards Tiruchendur. 

During the British rule, the viceroy ordered a tender coconut water to be brought from the nearby coconut farm for him to drink. When his servant went and asked for it in the farm, he was told that the whole farm and coconuts there are dedicated to the Kailasanathar temple and the coconut water will be offered to only to god and not to human beings. Hearing this the viceroy got wild and asked his servent "Do the tender coconuts offered to the god have horns?" and asked the servant to pull down one from the tree. The servent did so. To the amazement of he viceroy, he saw that the coconut had 3 horns. He had the scare of his life and asked God for to forgive him. 

Even now we can see the coconut with the horn hung in the sanctum of the Goddess, but only with one horn. Due to the constant touching of the devotees, the other two horns have broken off. The pillars of this temple are made of white stone. 

Like Shrivaikuntam there is a Vishnu temple here in Thenthiruperai which is one of the navathirupathi temples called "Thentirupathi"

God: Kailasanathar

Goddess: Azhagiya ponnammai

Planet: Budhan (mercury)

Timings: 7am-9am--5pm-6pm

8. RAJAPATHI

Situated one km from Thenthiruperai, this is the place  where 8th lotus flower halted. This is the parihara sthlam for kethu, who gives the victory over evil in our lives.

This place which was destroyed by natural calamities, has only one stone out of the temple previously built by the king. So for a long time there was no temple for the devotees to worship.

In 2010, some devotees started building a temple in Manathi near Thenthiruperai when some devotees found a old temple amidst a forest which resembled the temple of Thenthiruperai. 

According to the priest who performs puja in the temple this is the shiva worshipped by Romasa maharishi.

God: Kailasanathar

Goddess: Azhagiya ponnamal

Planet: Kethu

9. SERNTHAPOOMANGALAM

This temple where the 9th and the last of the lotus went and stopped is the parihara sthalam of sukran (venus). This place is situated enroute from Tirunelveli to Punnakayal. This the place where the river meets the sea. 

There is a scripture of kubera with his two consorts on inside of the roof of the main sanctum sanctorum of Kailasanathar. It is said that after worshipping shiva we have to worship kubera who is on the roof to attain wealth and prosperity. 

God: Kailasanathar

Goddess: Soundara nayagi

Planet: Sukran

Timings: 7am-9am--5pm-6.30pm

After worshiping all the nine Shivalingas, Romasa maharishi attained mukthi as blessed by sage Agasthya after having the darshan of the lord himself. 

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF NAVAKAILASAM: The river Tamirabarani travels from podhigai hills through her course to reach the Indian ocean. During this process, the river goes through so many hindrances. But the river never deters to proceed in its course and ultimately reaches the ocean which is its final destination. This process of the river is compared to the lives of human beings. We, born in this materialistic world are completely controlled by the nine planets. We are bearing the boon and bane of these planets according to our karma. When we, like the river, take the course of this life, with determination and devotion to the supreme Lord, can conquer the nine planets and attain mukthi, as the river reaches the ocean. 

This tour to the navakailaya temples can be finished in one day. I pray to the Lord to bless everyone with the darshan of these temples.

                              

                            OM NAMAH SHIVAYA!

PILGRIMAGE TO SOMNATHPUR AND PANCHA DWARAKA

In this materialistic world, the only way to attain God as told in puranas is the birth as human being. Human being is the only one among all living beings is blessed to think. So, the only motto of taking birth as human being is to attain the lotus feet of God. Can it happen in one birth is the question that is still unanswered! In which form or in which birth we will attain God is unknown. After attaining maturity, one must worship god in the form of his idol and in the form of jyothi(fire). Renunciating the worldly affection, we can also attain god by removing the evil from mind and concentrating on the good deeds.

In today’s environment, the man who is everyday looking for peace elsewhere can get it by visiting temples of importance. For the peace of the world, we pray that the air from these pilgrimage places may purify the inner self of the human being.

After planning for so long, I and my wife left for Somnath and Panch Dwaraka from Chennai.

SOMNATH: This temple located in the Prabhas Kshetra near Veraval in Saurashtra, on the western coast of Gujarat, India. This is one of the twelve jyothirlinga shrines of God Shiva. It has currently become a tourist spot for pilgrims. Somnath means “the protector of Moon god”. This temple has its mention in the pages of Indian history as that has been destroyed many times by Islamic kings and rulers. As per the skanda purana, the moon god married all the 27 daughters of Daksha Prajapathi. But he showed affection to only one of them named “Rohini”. Seeing this, all the other 26 sisters went and complained to their father about the negligence towards them. The father got wild, and cursed the moon god that he would wane day by day till be becomes non-existent and he might be affected by leprosy. When moon god pleaded for the reversal of curse and Daksha denied, he went to Lord Brahma for the remedy. Lord Brahma told him to do penance for lord Shiva. After six months of severe penance, lord Shiva appeared before moon god and gave him a boon, that once he becomes nonexistent after waning for 15 days, he would grow phase by phase for another 15 days in a month, and this cycle would repeat. Lord Shiva was also pleased with devas and named himself as Someshwar. To memorise this, the moon with the help of architect Vishwakarma, built here this great temple of Somnath.

This temple after getting destroyed by the Muslim rulers many times was built in its present structure by none other than the “Iron man of India” Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel with the height of 155 ft of the temple tower.

MUL DWARAKA: Sri Krishna developed Dwaraka 35 km away east of this present site. When pandavas were engaged in the meditation in Prabhas, lord Krishna came here. Before, he ended his incarnation in this world the intercommunity conflict between Yadhavas took place. Krishna left his mortal human form to reach for his heavenly abode. His Dwaraka submerged in the sea. Krishna was hit by an arrow by a hunter known as Jara, who mistook his feet to be a deer. Lord Krishna blessed the hunter and the mortal remains were consigned to flames on the back of River Saraswati.

(GOMATI) DWARAKA:  lord Krishna was the ruler of this place and this entire city was built by the divine architect Vishwakarma. This entire city submerged into sea. The present Dwaraka is built by the grandson of lord Krishna, “Vajranama”. The temple tower is of 140 ft height and has 7 floors in it. Here in this temple we ourselves can offer tulasi mala to the lord and touch his feet and pray. The river Gomati joins the sea here. There are separate small temples for balarama and other relatives of lord Krishna. The present temple is built on rock 17 m wide and 52 m tall and the main entrance is called Swarga dwar, which is on the side of the river Gomati and the gate which is on the other side is called “Moksha dwar”. The walls have carvings of various incarnations of Vishnu. 60 pillars support the roof. A huge flag of width 117ft is hoisted on the top of the tower every day. The old holy idol of Dwarakadeesh called “Ranchhodraiji” was taken away and what we see now is the new idol. A lighting show about the temple is organized everyday from 19.30 to 21.00 hours.

BAET DWARAKA: we travelled on a boat in the sea for around 15 mins where river Gomati empties itself. We reached the spot where the three rivers, Gomati, Saraswathi and Kapil merge into one. Arthi is performed in the evening. This place is told that lord Krishna and his school friend Kuchela met after years and Kuchela who was in utter poverty was blessed to become a crorepati (millionaire) by the lord after eating one handful of beaten rice (aval in Tamil) brought by Kuchela.

NATH DWARAKA: The main deity Shrinathji manifest as a seven year old child. The place is situated 48 km north east of Udaipur city of Rajasthan, on the banks of river Banas. Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya institutionalized the worship of Shrinathji. There are specific timings for the 8 rituals conducted in the temple ONLY during which devotees are allowed to have a glimpse of the lord. Rest of the time, as the lord is a child, is assumed to be playing outside with his friends. The eight rituals or darshan timings are Mangala, shringar, gval, rajbhog, utthanpan, bhog, sandhya and shayan. In all these rituals what one feels is the bhava of gopijan’s viraha and raasa-rasika’s unique lila.

DAKOR DWARAKA: Situated near the city of Vadodhra in Gujarat, this place is of extreme importance as it shows the blessings of the lord to the poorest of his devotees.  One man named Vijayasimha used to travel 200 miles from Dakor to Dwaraka every month to have the darshan of the lord. When the devotee turned 80, he could not frequent the temple. So once when he came to Dwaraka with great difficulty the lord accompanied him to Dakor and stood still inside the devotee’s house. When Vijayasimha asked if the lord is not willing to go back to Dwaraka, the lord replied that he would stay in Dakor to give darshan to his devotee. In Dwaraka the priests got perplexed when the idol went missing and they found out about Vijayasimha and blamed him for stealing the idol. Then the lord told them that he has left one more of his idol in the well of Dwaraka and let them worship it. Thus is the blessing of the lord who shows no differences in caste or creed or rich or poor. His blessings is one and the same!

KANGROLI DWARAKA:  Situated 20 km from Srinathji, this place is known for the pranks played by lord Krishna during his childhood days.

PUSHKAR: After the darshan of pancha Dwaraka, we went to the town of Pushkar 11 km from Ajmer. This place is an ancient Hindu pilgrimage city, famous for the temple of Brahma. It is very dear to lord Brahma. This holy lake in Pushkar has 52 gods residing there. A holy dip in this lake will wash off all evils and salvation is attained. The story goes like this: Lord Brahma wishing to have a place in the earth threw a lotus down. The lotus fell down in a place from where a holy water spring came out. This place is known as Pushkar. King Aurangzeb started a campaign of destroying all Hindu temples. He went to wash his face in the temple pond. When he noticed that his hair has turned grey and he looked like a old man, he understood the celestial powers of Pushkar and gave up the idea of destroying the temples. Pushkar is known as the dwelling place of all the gods. A fair called the Pushkar mela is held every year, which is a fair of camel and livestock. Buying and selling of camel and cattle take place here.

AMBAJI TEMPLE: From Ahmedabad, we went to a place called Ambaji located on top of a hill called Gabbar. We reached there by the rope car. It is considered to be one of the 51 Sakthi peetas and is believed that the chest of Goddess Parvathi fell here. There is another temple for goddess Parvathi 3 km away from the foot hills. The goddess is assumed to be an epitome of Mata Vaishno Devi.

We felt so happy that God blessed us to fulfill our long time wish of visiting Pancha Dwaraka and Somnath. Lord Krishna’s deeds are very astonishing and spell binding. When we see other lords with bow, arrow and other weapons, we see lord Krishna only with flute and butter. This kindest and sweetest of the Gods bless us with peace, prosperity and good health! I would request everyone to go and visit places like Dwaraka, Brindavan, Mathura and Jyothirlingas at least once in lifetime to attain salvation.

Radhe Krishna! Radhe Krishna!! Radhe Krishna!!!

KANAKADHARASTHAVAM AND SRI ADI SANKARA

  

Sanathana Dharma or Hinduism is vibrant today largely due to the efforts of Jagadguru Shri Adi Sankara who lived over 1300 years ago. In his brief life of 32 years, he restored the pristine glory of Advaitha vedantha philosophy of the Upanishad and re-established the path through which everyone can experience and become one with divinity.

Seldom in history, had one individual had so much influence on a nation, its civilization and its religion! The divine couple Aryambal and Sivaguru was blessed with a son on Vaishaka sukla panchami day in 788 CE. The lord Shiva himself incarnated as the son of this couple. He was named Sankara.

Sankara knew hymns and could grasp poetries. When Sankara was five years old, sacred thread ceremony was performed by her mother, with the help of relatives. Reading at gurukula, Sankara mastered in Vedas and Sastras. He grasped everything by merely listening to the teachings just once and thrilled everyone and his mother felt very happy.

After his upanayanam at the tender age, Sankara rigorously followed the injunctions of the “brahmacharya” life and lived on the food obtained by “biksha”(alms). In the course of his daily biksha rounds, one day he stood  at the threshold of a poor brahmin and asked for alms by uttering the prescribed formula “bhavathi bikshaam dehi”. The master of the house who himself lived on the charity of his neighbours, was away and the lady of the house, who possessed a magnanimous heart wanted to give something to the child. With a divine countenance, her search resulted in unearthing only a small “amalaka” fruit (goose berry, nellikani in tamil). This she deposited in the bowl devoutly, her heart melting at the thought that she had nothing better to offer. Shri Sankara divined the situation and realized that the small gift came from a heart as expansive as the sky itself.

He composed and sang the 21 verses which go by the name SHRI KANAKADHARASTHAVAM. Goddess Mahalakshmi responded to the prayer and showered golden amalaka fruits inside the house of the poor Brahmin couple and banished their poverty. Incidentally this was also the first composition of Shri Sankara. There is internal evidence in the stotram itself to substantiate the story.

While Adisankara's achievment are eternal and unforgettable, his birth place was forgotten by society for many centuries. The 33rd Jagadguru of the Shri Sharada Peetam at Sringeri Sri Sri Sachidananda Shivabhinava Narasimha Bharathi Mahaswamiji rediscovered KALADI, the birthplace of Adi Sankara with the help of former rulers and spiritual leaders who were influenced by the great philosopher.


Till today, the house in which Shri Adi Sankara made this miracle happen stands a few miles away from Kaladi, Kerala. The house is located in a place called “pazhanthottam’ near to a place called  “patti matham” on the Perumbavoor-Chottanikkara route about 22km from Kaladi.

We a team of 8 members visited “Ponnorthukkottu mana” also called “Swarnaththu Illam” on 12Oct 2011. The present heir of the family Sri Narayanan namboothiripad received us and after brief verification took us around the Illam. The area is about 16 acres of land with 10,000 sq. ft house containing antiques. At present the family of Sri. Narayanan namboothiri is staying in the house. We had a golden opportunity of reciting Kanakadharasthavam sitting in the verandah of the house.

We returned back after satisfying ourselves with the darshan of the house.

If we too recite Shri Kanakadharasthavam with devotion, we shall be relieved of poverty, sufferings, affiliations and sins.

Jaya Jaya Sankara    Hara Hara Sankara

RESTORATION OF AN ANCIENT TEMPLE

Temple: Lalithambika Sametha Sri Agneeswarar Temple

Location: Neyveli village, Thiruvallur district, near Poondi reservoir, Chennai, Tamilnadu

Due to the invasion of outsiders, our nation was in the grip of fear. The intruders destroyed not only the temples, but the people connected with the temples, the Vedic scholars and pundits in that temple. The temples were also looted of their booty. The people in the villages around the temples went to exile and died there because of the lack of basic amenities. Many temples went uncared for after these invasions.

The above mentioned temple is one among such ruined temples which went uncared for.

In 2004, two Saiva patrons were directed to this temple which was buried under mounds of shrubs and weeds amidst a paddy field by a small boy who disappeared after showing them the site. When the two removed the shrubs they found one part of the Shivalinga and the rest was buried under a banyan tree with no hanging roots.  The devaprasnam conducted by a namboodhiri from Kerala surprisingly revealed the same details such as

• ·        The main deity is Shri Agneeswarar
• ·        Temple is more than 1000 years old.
• ·        Siddhars Shri Karur Devar and Nerur Shri Sadasiva Brahmendrar worship this deity in sukshuma roopa even today during mid nights.
• ·        There is also pond called Agni theertham on the north eastern part of this temple, which is believed to have spurted from the third eye of lord Shiva. A dip in this pond is sure to eliminate any kind of sarpa dosha.

In the beginning a divine guidance was sought which revealed that a vastra dhanam (donation of cloth) has to commence to start up the construction activity. One has to visit the Karur Siddhar’s adhishtanam on a Monday and if the siddhar accepts a vastra dhanam, the temple construction can go ahead. Much to the surprise, Shri Ramamurthy who went to the Karur Siddhar’s Samadhi got himself a vastra from the shrine. As well as an old man came to his home to partake a dhoti and angavastram made this double sure about the proceedings of the construction.

The construction work of separate sannidhis for deities such as Shiva, Lalithambhika, Murugan, Vanadurgai and Vinayaka is under way.

It is said under devaprasnam, that this temple would become very famous and be one day equal to Thirukalathi temple near Tirupathi.

A committee has been formed under Vadapalani S. Ramamurthy for the purpose. Those interested in contributing towards the construction and restoration of this temple can send their donation to the following address.

Shri Agneeswarar Aalaya Seva committee

18/21, 2^nd main road, Vengeeswarar Nagar,

Vadapalani, Chennai 600026

Tel: 044-24729660/99403 98648

Shankar Trivedi: 94450 04908

J. Lakshmi Narayanan:  98407 89096

Bank details

Bank of India

West Mambalam branch

Chennai 600 033

A/c no: 802910210000019

IFSC: BKID0008029

OM NAMAH SHIVAYA

A LETER FROM FATHER TO HIS SON

Dear son,

Today as you see me as an old man, I request you to understand me.

You get irritated if I wear a soiled shirt or if I scatter food when I eat. Remember it was I who taught about cleanliness to you.

You feel bored when I repeat the same things again and again a hundred times, but when you were a boy you slept hearing the same story again and again everyday and I never felt bored.

If I don’t take bath even for a day out of tiresome, you feel angry, but you enjoyed those days when I used to run around you to give you a bath.

I understand that the new technologies don’t get into my brain so easily. Please give me some time to understand them. Don’t get annoyed.

When my feet tremble to walk just hold my hands and help me to walk. Didn’t I teach you how to walk when you started walking?

When we are conversing with each other, sometimes out of confusion I come to the same topic again and again. Don’t get impatient with me. It is not important what I talk with you; I just feel that I get more of your time for me. Is it wrong?

Don’t think I am pinpointing what all I did to you in your childhood. When I am not feeling good, just comfort me and make me feel your warmth. That is what I want.

Someday I may pray “God give me early death”. Don’t mistake me and get angry. It is because of the old age and the sufferings that make me pray like that. One day you may also do that!

For all the things I have done to you, till this day I haven’t asked you anything in RETURN. Today I am asking a little bit of PATIENCE, LOVE, ADJUSTMENT and above all a little of your TIME for me. Will you give? That is more than enough for me to survive and be happy.

Ever loving

DAD

Courtesy: Sri Ayyappa Sangam, Trichy

BHAGAVATHAM IN SUKRATAL

HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE! HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE!!

Srimad bhagavatha sapthaha yagnam was conducted in Shri Sukhdev Ashram Swami Kalyandev Sewa trust, Sukhtheerth, Sukthaal (also called Sukhratal or Sukhasthal), Muzaffarnagar Dt, Uttar Pradesh which is approximately 87 km from Haridwar. The venue is right under the same Vata Vruksha where Sukhdev Maharaj rendered his very first Sapthah to king Parikshit 5100 years ago in this kaliyuga and the name of the small town is derived there from. The holy Ganges flows nearby. The Ashram is doing all good services for Bhagavatha Katha and has many allied religious/educational institutions. The word ‘shuk’ denotes peace of mind and according to scriptures, ‘Shuk’ is the root, which implies the meeting of two hearts and reflects absolute compassion, gratitude and welfare and elimination of sin.

This yatra was arranged under the guidance of Guruji Shri Shri Muralidhara swamigal of Maharanyam.

Srimad Bhagavatham is considered the most precious literary work of Bhagvan Ved Vyasa. One can do without reading other books when one has read or heard this epic composed by Ved Vyasa. Mahamuni Ved Vyasa composed the Srimad Bhagavatham inspired by devarishi Narada, who was not satisfied with Vyasaji’s composition of the Vedas and Upanishads. When the great sage saw that Shri Vyasa was worried because of his dissatisfaction, he encouraged the latter to compose the Bhagavatham. Shri Bhagavatham contains a beautiful description of Sri Krishna’s leela, his glory and his pious cosmic fame. The holy book comprises of 18,000 verses. Through its stories about the lives of avatars, sages and kings, it communicates some of the essential teachings of the Vedas. Srimad Bhagavatham is an immortal story for providing salvation. Those who hear it with dedication, become immortal.

The holy recitation of Bhagavatham ie the “Bhagavatha Ganga” started flowing on 1^st of May till 8^th of May 2011 with holy recitation, prabhashanam, followed by bhajans during intervals. It was golden opportunity for the devotees to listen and enjoy Srimad Bhagavatham by eminent Bhagavathars and Acharyas.

On the first day, in the evening inauguration of this Bhagavatha Saptaham was done by Swami Omanand Brahmachari, the present president of the trust. During his lecture, he gave in brief the activities of the trust, the life of Kalyandevji, the founder of the trust and about Bhagavatham.

In Bhagavad Gita Krishna said:

Yada yada hi dharmasya glanirbhavati bharata

Abhyutthanamadharmasya tadatmanam srijamyaham

This means ‘whenever there is a decline of dharma and rise of adharma, I embody myself and descend on earth in every age, to protect the virtuous, destroy the wicked and establish dharma’.

For the protection and welfare of the world, God, or his representative, takes on earthly form, age after age. With the blessings of god, Sukhadevji descended into this universe.

King Parikshit, the son of Abhimanyu and grandson of Arjuna, was on a hunting expedition. After a long deer chase, he became thirsty and tired. As he was wandering looking for water, he entered the hermitage of sage Shameek. The king begged him for some water, but since the sage was in deep meditation, did not reply. Unable to bear his hunger and thirst he decided to return to his palace, but he could not bear the neglect by the sage and so on his way back he revenged by laying a dead snake as a garland around the sage’s shoulders.  This was certainly a sinful act by the king and the confusion of the age of kaliyuga was beginning.

Sage Shringi, the young son of the sage Shameek who was playing with his friends heard about the incident and became angry with king Parikshit. The young Shringi took some holy water and cursed the king saying that within seven days the poisonous snake Takshaka would bite the man who did this to his father to death. When sage Shameek broke his meditation, he came to know about the shameful act of the king in the moment of weakness. He went to the palace and told the king about his sin and the curse of his son. The king accepted his fate as blessing and handed over the kingdom to his son Janamejayan. He went to the banks of river Ganga to fast for seven days before he dies bitten by the snake. The great sage Sukhdev, the 16 year old son of sage Vyasa Deva appeared there and told the king “at the last stage of life one should be bold enough not to be afraid of death, cut off all attachments to the material body and all such desires.” The king settled his mind with his spiritual self and he became as stationary as a tree.

Srimad Bhagavatham was recited to king Parikshit by sage Sukhdev and departed after blessing the king. As the seventh day was approaching, Takshaka the serpent who was to bite king Parikshit went to his kingdom, but found that there was no way that he could get to the king. So he turned himself into a caterpillar and entered one of the fruit baskets being taken to the king’s chamber. On reaching the king, Takshaka came out of the fruit, took his original form and bit king Parikshit. The king immediately died and his body turned into ashes. The king left his body and entered spiritual world (moksha) as he was full of devotion for lord Krishna. It is said that only after many life times of performing pious action, one achieves the opportunity of hearing Bhagavatham.

Sukratal is the first Bhagavatha Peetam. There is a 5100 years old vatavriksha (banyan tree) which is on top of the hill where 80,000 sages gathered and sage Sukhdeva recited Srimad Bhagavatham to king Parikshit under this tree. The tree is towers to about 150 feet. It casts soothing shadows and sense of calmness upon the temple. Like other vat vrikshas fibrous parasitical roots do not emerge from this ancient tree. Shri Kalyandevji constituted the seva trust and with the help of eminent personalities saved the tree from falling.

The process of reviving Suktheerth began in 1944 with the revered Shri Kalyandevji performing great religious sacrifice and oblation on the banks of the river. The Sukhdev temple, Gita Bhavan, Hanuman temple, and other temples were constructed around the vat vriksha by some prominent people under the guidance of Kalyandevji. Lots of honourable personalities like Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Dr. Rajendra Prasad and many more eminent kathavachaks have visited this place. There is a long list of other ashrams and dharamshalas along with tourist rest house that are located here. One can experience peaceful but spiritually powerful nature in this holy place.

In many ways, Sukrathal reminded of Naimisaranya (near Sitapur) where Suta Goswami spoke the Bhagavatham to the thousands of sages who had gathered there to perform a large ritual for the upliftment of people in kaliyuga. Sukrathal  is so important in our tradition that at some time we should establish a temple and ashram there especially to emphasize that the real yagna of today is “hari nama sankeerthanam” and pilgrims would greatly appreciate since that process is also enunciated in Bhagavatham.

Excellent arrangements were made by the organizing committee for the transportation, food and stay of the devotees at Sukhatal.

Pranams to Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamigal!

JYOTHIRLINGAS

We believe God or some eternal power has made this world for us. He had made the trees taken in carbon dioxide and leave out oxygen for us. Can we do? When we get hurt can we make the new cells grow in our body? During summer, the heat in our body is compensated by excessive sweating. Is there our hand in this?  The distance between the earth and the sun decides the climatic conditions. When we near the sun, we feel the heat and we move farther away we feel the chill. Who decides this distance and gives the optimal temperature for us? By all the above statements we understand that there is a superior power which is above all of us and that superior power we call as GOD or THE ALMIGHTY.

God is a self effulgent light, who does not come in the birth and death cycle. Hence He is known as the liberator, guide, protector, supreme teacher and supreme preceptor. All religions in the world believe that God is a point of light. Jyothirlingas represent the light form of God. There are innumerable lingas with great aura and presence. But the main ones are called Jyothirlingas and they are just twelve in number. 

They are

1.     Somnath in Sourashtra, Gujarat

2.     Mallikarjuna in Srisailam, Andra pradesh

3.     Mahakaleshwar in Ujjain, Madhya pradesh

4.     Omkareshwar in Vindhyapradesh, Madhya pradesh

5.     Kedareshwar in the mountain range of Himalayas

6.     Bhimashankar in Dakini, Maharashtra

7.     Vishweshwar in Varanasi, Uttar pradesh

8.     Thrayambakeshwar in Maharashtra

9.     Vaidhyanath in Jharkand 

1        Nageshwar in Dwaraka, Gujarat

11.  Rameshwar in Rameshwaram, Tamilnadu

12.  Grishneshwar in Maharashtra.

1.     SOMNATHESHWAR—SAURASHTRA

This linga is considered as the first one among all 12 Jyothirlingas and located in Veraval port, Prabhas Pattan in Saurashtra, Gujarat.

History says that this temple exists since 2000BC.

The significance of the temple goes like this: the moon God Chandra (Som) was cursed by his father-in-law Dahshaprajapathi, because Chandra even after marrying all this 27 daughters was more inclined towards Rohini. Chandra was cursed that he would lose his charm. Then Chandra did penance in this place. Pleased by his penance, lord Shiva gave him the boon, that Chandra would lose one shade per day for 15 days till new moon, and grow by one shade till new moon for the next 15 days. This Shiva who blessed the Som came to be known as “Someshwar”.

2.     MALLIKARJUNA—SRISAILAM

This is the second of all the 12 Jyothirlingas. This famous temple is at Srisailam located 230km from Vijayawada and 220km from Hyderabad in the Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh.

The presiding deities of this place Lord Mallikarjuna swamy is one of the twelve Jyothirlingas and Goddess Bhramarambha Devi is one of the eighteen Mahasakthis and both are self-manifested. This unique feature of the combination of Jyothirlingam and Mahasakthi in one campus is the only one of its kind.

There is a custom that the linga is touched and worshipped by all devotees irrespective of caste, creed and religion.

The Krishna river flows here in the name of Pathala Ganga through the feet of three mountains—Brahmagiri, Vishnugiri and Rudragiri. It is believed that Narada, Pandavas and even lord Rama have visited this place and worshipped the lord here.

Srisailam is approachable through four places on the plains generally called the gateways, on all four cardinal directions.

The eastern entrance: The presiding deity Tripuranthakeshwar is erected on “Kumaragiri” approximately 80km from Srisailam.

The southern entrance: The presiding deity is Siddhavateshwara Swamy on the banks of river Penna. There is a Vatavriksham which washes off all our sins on touching.

The western entrance: The presiding deity is the Jogulamba Sakthi of Alampuram on the banks of river Tungabadra in Mehaboobnagar district.

The north entrance: The presiding deity Umamaheshwara is situated in Umamaheshwaram about 6 km from Acchampet in Mehaboobnagar district.

Sakshi ganapathy: This small shrine located 3km from Srisailam is frequented by all the pilgrims who come to Srisailam, because it is believed that this Ganapathi keeps regular account of all the pilgrims who visit this kshetram.

3.     MAHAKALESHWAR—UJJAIN

This temple is situated 53km from Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh on the banks of the river Kshipra. This place is also called Awanthi.

The idol of Mahakaleshwar is known as “Dakshinamurthi” which means that it is facing the south. This is a unique feature found only in Mahakaleshwar among the 12 Jyothirlingas.

There are five levels in this temple one of which is underground. The temple is located in spacious courtyard near a lake. The shikar is adorned with fine sculptures. Those who have darshan of Shiva here would attain salvation and all their wishes would be granted.

On the day of Mahashivarathri, a huge fair is held is near the temple and worship goes on throughout the night.

Ujjain Mahakali: This is located in the northern corner of the city of Ujjain near the banks of the river Kshipra. In this temple, the idol of Mahakali is placed in between the idols of Mahalakshmi and Saraswati.

4.     OMKARESHWAR—VINDHYACHAL

This temple is situated on the banks of river Narmada 12 km from Mortakka in Madhya pradesh. This is a self-manifested linga on an island surrounded by the river shaped like “OM”.

God Shiva revealed the true meaning of “OM” to human beings that “I am soul and this is my body”. OM is the beginning of any mantra that starts with the name of God. Hence He is known as Omkareshwara.

The river Narmada branches into two and forms an island Mandhata or Shivpuri in the centre. There are two temples here one to Omkareshwar and one to Amareshwar. Legend says that upon the request of Devas, the Shivalinga who blessed Vindhya mountain split into two—one half being Omkareshwara and the other Amareshwara.  The smooth, round pebbles found in this river are called ‘Banalingas’.

5.     KEDARESHWAR—HIMALAYAS

Among the twelve Jyothirlingas this is located in the snow-covered area of the Himalayas. This Jyothirlinga can be visited only during six summer months in a year i.e. from the month of the month of Vaishaka to Ashwin. The rest of the year is too cold and the temple is closed for pilgrims. 

This temple is located in the Himalayas in Uttaranchal on Kedar Mountain near the river Mandakini. There is one more river Alakananda on the banks of which Badrikashrama is located. This place is approximately 240km from Haridwar and situated at a height of 16,000 feet from the sea level. Some part of the journey is motorable and the rest has to be walked. This part of the way through the Himalaya is not only difficult but dangerous. To climb this steep path, some use mules and some use Dolis and some others walk with walking sticks. There are resting places in between to serve the tired pilgrims.

A little farther away from a place called Gaurikund, the Kedarnath temple becomes visible. There is no idol of linga here. There is just a triangular shaped high mound which is worshipped and considered to be hind part of the buffalo. This is the biggest of all the Jyothirlingas.

After their war with kauravas, pandavas felt very sad that they had to kill their kith and kin. In order to absolve themselves of this sin, they started for a pilgrimage. They came to Haridwar and from there proceeded to Himalayas and came to this place. Lord Shiva gave darshan to the pandavas in this place as Jyothirlinga. That is why in this temple we can see the idols of pandavas.

Around the main Kedarnath temple there are many holy places.

6.     BHIMASHANKAR—MAHARASHTRA

This temple is located on the banks of river Bhima on Sahyadri hills in Pune, Maharashtra. This place is also called Dakini Bhimasankaram.

Legends say that there was a demon called Bhima, whose parents were Kumbhakarna (brother of Ravana) and Karkati. Demon Bhima was torturing and harassing people. He was hell bent in the path of destruction of Dharma. Bhima learnt that king Kamarupeshwar was making preparations to kill him. Bhima went to the king and asked him to stop the worship of Shiva and asked to worship himself instead. When the king denied, Bhima attacked the linga with his sword. Before he could strike, lord appeared and a severe fight broke out. Finally Shiva burned Bhima to ashes. Thus all were released from their sorrows. Devas and Gods requested lord to remain in that place and the lord remained there as Bheemashankara Jyothirlinga.

Around this temple, Mokshakund, Kamalaja Devi temples are the important places to be seen. There are also Sakshi vinayaka, Sarva Theerth and Goraknath ashram.

7.     VISHVESHWAR—VARANASI

Where the Varana and Asi rivers join the Ganges, a beautiful city was built in ancient times. This city is called Varanasi also called Kashi. In this beautiful city in Uttarpradesh the Jyothirlinga Vishweshwar is located.

In this temple city, there are one crore sivalingas and nearly 84 river ghats out of which Manikarnika, Harischandra and Dasashwamedha are important.  This is the city of moksha. Those who live here attain mukthi or salvation.

Kashi nagar is so great that even if the universe is to be destroyed in Pralaya, it would remain intact. Dandapani and Kalabhairav guard this city.

Kashi Vishweshwar temple as seen now was built by Ahilyadevi Holkar in 1777AD. Hindu devotees visit Kashi to make offerings. Here they perform many rituals and consider themselves blessed. The kashi kshetra and Vishweshwara Jyothirlinga are considered the holiest shrines in the world. The Ganga water here is considered as the nectar of the earth. Dying in Kashi or performing the final rites are considered way to the heaven i.e. moksha.

Vishwesham madhavam dundim dandapanimcha bhairavam

Vande kashim guhaam gangam bhavanim manikarnikam

It is auspicious and pious thing to carry the holy water of Ganges from Kashi and do abhishek to the lord Shiva in Rameshwaram. After this a little sand is carried from Rameshwaram to Allahabad and offered to Bindu Madhava and immersed in Triveni Sangam. Completing this ritual is believed to make the pilgrimage complete and successful.

8.     THRAYAMBHAKESHWAR—MAHARASHTRA

It is located at the foot hills of the mountain Brahmagiri near the originating point of river Godavari near Nasik. This temple is situated in Trimbak, 30km west of Nasik.

As Bhagiratha got the River Ganga to earth, it was Rishi Gauthama who brought Godavari to earth. At the request of Rishi Gautama, lord Shiva accepted and established himself and the River Ganga was released in the name of Gautami also called Godavari. Papakund is a small lake is filled with the water of Godavari.

The lord in this temple’s garbagraha is not worshipped with Abhisheka with water. There is just a bottom part of the pounding stone like structure. In that hole there are three lingas shaped like thumb. They are supposed to represent Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva and hence Thryambhakeshwara. Of these three lingas the linga of Shiva has a constant shower of water from an orifice above.

From these Jyothirlinga sometimes, the roar of a lion can be heard. Sometimes flames can be seen emanating from it. At such times, in order to calm down Shiva’s anger, milk mixed with Bhang (opium) is put in a pitcher and the pitcher is hung upside down on the linga so that the milk keeps dripping on the linga till its anger comes down and is peaceful.

Parasurama mandir, Kushavartham, temple of lord Krishna, temple of Ganga and Goda devi, and ashram of Rishi Gautama are worth seeing.

9.     VAIDHYANATH—JHARKAND

This temple is situated near Devghar in Jassidi, in Jharkand state. This place is also known as Parali. We can reach Parali Vaidhyanath temple by travelling for nearly 12 hours from Aurangabad.

Parali is the only place where lord Shankara is seen together with his consort parvathi. Therefore this place is also called “Anokhi Kashi”.

The story goes like this: Once the demon king Ravana went to mount kailash to do penance. When lord Shiva did not appear before him even after severe penance, he got angry and started cutting off his head one by one. When he was about to cut his tenth head, Shiva appeared before him and granted boon. Ravana wanted to carry Shivalinga to Lanka. He told Ravana to be careful not to put it down on earth until he reaches Lanka. Ravana began the journey carrying the linga. On the way, he wanted to relieve himself by urination. He bid a cowherd boy to hold the linga. The cowherd was not able to bear the linga and he put it down. The Shiva linga stayed there. The boy was lord Ganesha sent by Indra so that the Atmalinga given by the lord himself should not reach Lanka, because if Atmalinga reaches Lanka, then Ravana will become unbeaten. Ravana tried his best to lift up the linga. He failed and was injured badly. Lord Shiva appeared there and cured all his injuries. As lord Shiva treated and cured Ravana, lord Shiva was named Vaidhyanatha.

Markandeya theertha, Chadrapaleshwaralinga, Dadheecheeswaralinga, Harihara theertha and Ganapathi temple are other places to be visited.

10.  NAGESWAR—DWARAKA, GUJARAT

This temple is located in Dwaraka on the coast of Gujarat. This Nageswara linga is situated in between Arabian Sea and Gomati of Darukavanam. The Nageswara temple is the smallest of all Jyothirlingas.

Shiv Purana narrates the tale about the temple and it says that Shiva started to reside here in the form of Jyothirlinga after killing the demon by name Daruka. The place got its name from the demon Daruka who had appealed to the god before his death that the place be named after him. Hence the name Darukavan came to existence.

The structure of the temple is very beautiful. Inside it, there is another shrine called the Runamochan teerth. There is no Nandi in front of Lord shiva. There is a separate Nandikeshwara temple at the back of the main temple.

It is said that the vices are like poisonous snakes. We can root out all the vices by constant remembrance of god Shiva and attain peace, happiness and prosperity in life. Hence god Shiva is known as Nageshwara.

11.    RAMESHWAR—RAMESHWARAM, TAMILNADU

This temple is situated on the seacoast of Ramanathapuram in Tamilnadu in the Gulf of Mannar. Rameshwaram Jyotirlinga of Lord Shiva is situated on the peninsular tip Rameshwaram.

After abduction of Sita by Ravana, Rama met Sugriva and made friend with him. With the help of Hanuman, Rama found out that Sita was taken to Lanka by Ravana. Ravana was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva and also the son of Lord Brahma. Rama with the blessings of Shiva killed all the demons including Ravana.

To get rid of the sin of killing Ravana and other demons, Rama wanted to worship Lord Shiva and so asked Hanuman to bring a Shiva linga from Kailash. Because hanuman reached late, Sita made a linga out of mud and that was worshipped. When hanuman reached he wanted to remove the mud-linga and replace it with the linga he brought. But he could not do it. This idol worshipped by Rama is called Rameshwar. Linga brought by hanuman was also installed here and is called Hanumantheswara and both became very famous.

This island shrine consists of 24 odd holy water sources like Rama teerth, Sita Kund, Jata Teerth, koti teerth etc. inside the temple premises. The water at all these places is sweet and each one has a unique taste of its own. Every teerth has a typical story attached to it. Devotees take bath in these holy wells. The corridor of Ramnathaswamy Temple at Rameshwaram is the largest temple corridor in India. The temple has 1220 metres of magnificent corridors and has 1200 gigantic granite columns.

The Rameshwara linga statue is covered with silver sheet and diamonds. Seshnag, the snake god stands up with his hood covering the linga like umbrella.

Some famous temples around Rameshwar are Gandhamadhana parvat, Kodandaramaswamy temple, Dhanushkoti, Devipattinam where you find the Navagraha temple inside sea water.

12. GRISHNESHWAR—MAHARASHTRA

The temple is located about 30km west of Aurangabad. It is situated near the Ellora caves in the Verul village of Maharashtra.

Legend has it that a woman named Kusuma offered prayers to lord Shiva regularly by immersing a Shiva linga in a tank. Her husband’s first wife, envious of her piety murdered Kusuma’s son and threw his head in the nearby pond. An aggrieved Kusuma continued her worship to Shiva. Shiva pleased by her devotion, restored her son’s life. Shiva appeared in front of her and the villagers and then on is believed to have been worshipped in the form of Grishneshwar or Ghushmeshwar.

Eashwara kundam, dhara theertha, Daulatabad fort and the world famous Ellora caves are the places to be visited near Grishneshwar temple.

“Saurashtre Somanathamcha Srisaile Mallikarjunam|
Ujjayinya Mahakalam Omkaramamaleswaram ||
Paralyam Vaidyanathancha Dakinyam Bheema Shankaram |
Setu Bandhethu Ramesam, Nagesam Darukavane||
Varanasyantu Vishwesam Tryambakam Gautameethate|
Himalayetu Kedaaram, Ghrishnesamcha shivaalaye||
Etani jyotirlingani, Saayam Praatah Patennarah|
Sapta Janma Kritam pApam, Smaranena Vinashyati||”

By taking a darshan of the twelve Jyothirlingas, the auspicious air surrounding it and the holy pilgrimage, will bring happiness, peace and satisfaction to all.

Om namah shivaya!          Om namah shivaya!!         Om namah shivaya!!!