Eppadi Paadinaaro – 5

Monday’s show was on Tirupporur located on the outskirts of Chennai on OMR. This is one of the 274 Thirumurai sthalangal and one of the 306 temples on which Arunagirinathar has sung. It is placed on par with the Arupadai veedu in importance. Also known as Pori, Samarapuri and Yudhapuri, this is one of the 3 battlegrounds between Lord Muruga and Soorapadman where the battle was waged from space, the other 2 being Tiruparankundram where the battle was on land and Tiruchendhur, where the final battle was waged in water and Sooran vanquished. It is believed that Sooran’s Aanava malam was removed here, Karma malam was overcome at Tiruparankundram and finally his Maya malam was eradicated at Tiruchendur. Madurai Chidambaram Swamigal, who lived in Madurai during the 17th centrury and was an ardent Bhaktha of Meenakshi having composed already the Meenakshi Amman Kali Venba and vowed to worship no other deity. One night he was ordered by his Goddess while asleep to go rediscover the lost temple of her son at Samarapuri. Confused by this divine directive, he went to see his Guru in Vridhachalam who directed him to proceed to Tirukazhukudram and then eastward to find Yudhapuri. When he finally reached his destination, he found among a thicket of palm trees, an idol of Lord Muruga made out of Palm wood. This idol was consecrated at the temple. Since this idol is made of wood, all Abhishekam is done only on the Utsava moothy. Smt. Gayathri Girish began with the tiruppugazh starting with “Urukkaar vaali kangal” in Gambheera nattai. This was followed by a virutham of Chidambaram swamigal “Edhu pizhai seidhaalum ezhai enakku irangi” in Sahana. New life was breathed into beautiful poetry long forgotten. She concluded with another tiruppugazh “Thimira mamana” in kedaragowlai.

Eppadi Paadinaaro – 4

Monday’s show was on Tiruverkadu. Although this town is now famous for the Devi Karumariamman temple which has been around only about 50 years or so, the Vedapureeswarar temple is only about a kilometer away and is of historical significance. The place gets its name from the Velaan trees that are found in abundance here. Vedapureeswarar or Verkattunathar is the presiding deity with his consort Balambikai or Verkanni. It is believed that the 4 vedas are present here at this temple as trees to worship the Lord, hence the name Vedapureeswarar. Also Lord Muruga is said to have performed Siva poojai at this temple in order to absolve himself of the sin of locking Brahma up in jail. Legend also is that Parashurama visited this temple along with his mother Renuka Devi and Adhiseshan. Renuka Devi decided to stay back as Karumariamman and Adhiseshan promises not to bite pilgirms to this area. Hence the Lord is also known by Vidamtheendaapathiyan. A splitting image of Devi Karumariamman image is present in this temple which predates the more popular temple by at least a thousand years.

Moorkhanayanar, one of the 63 nayanmaars was born here. He earned his stripes by making money through gambling, recognized as one among the 64 arts, and then donating it for the purpose of annadaanam. Parashara, one of the scholars of Jyotisha shastra, is also said to have visited this temple and a Parashara lingam is found here. The navagrahas are found here in a rather unique configuration – mounted on a ashtakona octagonal chakram.

Smt. Gayathri Girish sang a Thirugnanasambandhar tevaram starting with “Uydhu Ulla Kathirkaman Oli” in Arabhi and one of the two tiruppugazhs that have been sung about this temple that starts with “Aalampol ezhuneela” in Kharaharapriya.

An aspect that detracted from this show was the bad background score editing. Small disconnected instrumental sound bites were added as background for the voice over and video portions covering the temple, which was distracting at best.

If one of the intents of the this show is to encourage pilgrimage apart from providing spiritual fodder, this week’s show on Tiruneermalai was an unmitigated success.
The thick braid intertwining spirituality,religion and music was held up in glorious form and when the show ended in the ringing notes of Shankarabharanam to the words “Ninraan, irundhaan, Nadandhaan, Kidandhaan… maamalaiyaavadhu neermalaiye” one felt the urge to logout and leave immediately to the suburbs of Pallavaram where this temple is located about which two of the twelve, Bhoodathuazhwar and Tirumazhisai azhwars have sung pasurams on.

Counted as one of the 108 vaishnava divya desams and one of the 32 thirupathis in Thondai naadu this temple houses 4 perumals in postures enumerated in the pasuram. On top of the hill are Ranganatha perumal lying down (kidandhaan), Saantha Narasimhar sitting (irundhaan) and Trivikrama perumal taking the third step (Nadandhaan). At the foot of the hill are Sri rama and Seetha in the deities of Neervanna nathan and Animangai thaayaar. Legend is that Valmiki on his pilgirmage went up the hill and worshipped the three perumals above and on his way back regretted not being able to worship Him in the form of his Ishtadevatha and so Vishnu and Lakshmi appeared along with Adhiseshan (Lakshmanan), Vishnu’s sangu (Bharathan), Vishnu’s chakram (Shathrugnan), Viswaksena (Sugreeva) and Garuda (Hanuman). Having presented himself in wedded form (Kalyanakkolam), it is believed that a pilgrimage to this temple removes obstacles to marriage.The name of the temple itself originates from the time Tirumangai azhwar visited this temple and had to wait 6 months for his darshan due to incessant rain and flooding at mandira malai, adjoining this holy site. The description of this temple has also found a place in the sanskrit Brahmandapurana.

Smt. Gayathri Girish sang three pasurams of tirumangai azhwar. “Alam mannum adal suri sangum” was sung in Hamsanandi, “Nedumaal avan meviya” in madhyamavathi and “Anbu adavi animalar mangayodu” in Shankarabharanam.  From the sombreness of Hamsanandi to the worldly joy in madhyamavati to the serene wonder of Shakarabharanam, the viruthams covered the full auditory range of the ragas creating the mood to lead the rasika, at least temporarily, out of the morass of material existence.

Eppadi Paadinaaro on Podhigai – 3

Today’s show was on Tiruvalidaayam, located near Paadi on the outskirts of Chennai which got its name when Bharadwaja muni in the form of a Validaayam, a rare raven-like bird, worshipped the Lord at this temple. The Swami is knows as Validaayanathar or Valeeswarar and the Amba as Thaayambika or Jagadaambika. The architecture of the temple is typical of those commissioned by Kulonthunga Sozhan and features the Gajaprushta Vimaanam or Thoongaanai maadam, where the gopuram resembles the posterior of a sleeping elephant. The temple is also one of the Navagraha Sthalangal and Brihaspathi (Guru) is worshiped here. Guru is the governing god for alliances and in this Kalyana Sthalam his magic extends to Vinayaka, usually worshiped singly at most temples, who is present here with his wives Siddhi and Buddhi.

Smt. Gayathri Girish sang a Tirugnanasambandhar thevaram starting with “Bha(k)tharodu palarum poliya” composed at  this temple in Nattai and a Tiruppugazh verse starting with “Marumalliyaar…” in Vasantha and set to Khanda Triputa tala which describes how Sri Rama visited this temple.

 

Tuesday’s show was on Tirumullaivaayal. There are actually 2 of these among the 744 places sung in thevarams. Then-tirumullaivaayal is near poompuhar. Vada-Tirumullaivaayal is near chennai. Mullaivananathar or Masilamaneeswarar is the presiding deity. Kodi idai nayaki or Latha madhyamba is his consort. Mullai kodi is the thala vruksham. The temple has a 5 stage Raja gopuram. The temple also has a 16 kaal mandapam and a Vasantha mandapam.

The ganapathy is this temple is known as Kshipra Ganapathy, meaning instant granter of boons. The temple lingam is called Rasalingam as it is made of an alloy of mercury (paadarasam) and silver.

The lingam in the temple was unearthed by King Thondaiman, who when retreating after a lost battle with the Kaanthan Onan brothers of Koyambedu was passing through a dense thicket of mullai kodi and as he was cutting this ivy, he accidentally cut the hidden lingam out of which poured out blood. Fearing that he has violated God, he was going to end his own life, when Shiva appeared and extracted a promise to build this temple after winning the war with Kaanthan Onan.
The Lingam bears this cut of the sword to this day and is kept wrapped in a Chandhana Kaappu  throughout the year, except for Chithirai Sadhayam when a hot water abhishekam is done and the Kaappu redone. Pournami fridays are also special at this temple and pilgrims from the area come here to worship the amman in the evening after going to Melur and Tiruvotriyur.

Smt. Gayathri Girish sang a Sundarar padhigam starting with “Thiruvu mei porulum selvamum” in Kambodhi. As always the most complex Tamizh flowed like honey in her delivery. Three tiruppugazh verses have been sung on this temple and “Jodhi maamadhi” was sung in mayamalavagowlai.

Eppadi Paadinaro on Podhigai – 2

Monday’s show featured more on the Thiruvotriyoor temple.The temple is closely associated with Sundarar, the Saivite saint, whose mode of worship was as a “friend” (i.e. Sakhya Bhava which is one of the Nava vidha Bhakthi). Sundarar got married to his 2nd wife Sangili Nachiar under the Magizham tree in this temple. The temple is also famous for its Sahasra lingam, its 27 nakshatra lingams, thripteeswarar sannidhi, and a deity with a single leg (name escapes me at this moment).

Smt. Gayathri Girish presented a Sundarar thevaram followed by Dikshitar’s Adhipureeswaram in Aarabhi and then a Tiruppugazh.

Todays show featured the ThalaShayana perumal temple at Mahabalipuram, which is one of the 108 divya desams. Here the perumal gave darsan to Pundareeka and Brigu maharishis. Bhoodhathu Alwar, one of the 12 alwars, was also born here. The God is in Anantha sayana position on the ground – hence his name. Nilamangai thayar is in padamasana position at this temple. There was also a Jala Sayana temple close to this once, but it has been washed away into the ocean.

Three pasurams were sung. The first one could not be heard due to audio issues. DD made sure that we don’t attain moksham too soon and are born again to hear that pasuram.

Smt. Gayathri Girish chose Desh for the pasuram starting with “Udambu uravil moondru onrai moorthy veraai”. Thirumangai alwar, who has composed the most number of pasurams on the various 108 divya desams, describes how Perumal presented himself in the form of Kalki to him at this temple.

Nattaikurinji was the raga chosen for the next pasuram starting with “thondurayar thaan paravum”. Thirumangai alwar describes how elephants were purchased by foreign traders in exchange for precious gems from “Kadal Mallai”, another name for Mahabalipuram.

 

Eppadi Paadinaro on Podhigai

Podhigai TV has started broadcast of a new program called “Eppadi Paadinaro”. Each episode features a famous temple of historical significance (“Paadal petra sthalam”) and includes a commentary and songs composed at that temple. This week’s episodes were about Tiruvottriyur. Sri Harikesanallur Venkatramanan gave a commentary on the significance and architecture of the temple. Smt. Gayathri Girish presented famous kritis composed on the deities including “Darini telusukonti” and “Sundari nee divya”. There were also some tamil thevarams(?) that were sung but I could not catch the words. Seems like an interesting and educational effort taken by Podhigai. The half hour show airs on Mondays and Tuesdays at 11:30 AM.

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