SIVAYA NAMA
Thirukalathi (Sri
Kalahasthi)
 |
| Kaali Kopuram |
 |
| Temple view on the banks of Ponmugali river |
LOCATION:
This temple is 19th in Thonadanadu Temples. It is in Chitoor district,
REASON FOR THE NAME:
SRI(See) – KALAM – ATHI = SNAKE – SPIDER – ELEPHANT were prayed and got the blessings of Lord Siva. The name of this place came from this. This temple is one of the Panchabootha sthalam. It represent Vayu (Air) and significance of this one can see the lamp in the sanctum of Swamy would be always be oscillating in the air. This temple is very important for the pilgrims and called this as Dakshana Kayilayam (தென் கைலாயம்).. It is on the banks of Swarnamugi (Ponmugali) river. This river flows towards north in this place. Hence it is Uthravahini in this place. This is one of the specialities of this temple. The temple is on the foot of theKayilasagiri
Mountain
SRI(See) – KALAM – ATHI = SNAKE – SPIDER – ELEPHANT were prayed and got the blessings of Lord Siva. The name of this place came from this. This temple is one of the Panchabootha sthalam. It represent Vayu (Air) and significance of this one can see the lamp in the sanctum of Swamy would be always be oscillating in the air. This temple is very important for the pilgrims and called this as Dakshana Kayilayam (தென் கைலாயம்).. It is on the banks of Swarnamugi (Ponmugali) river. This river flows towards north in this place. Hence it is Uthravahini in this place. This is one of the specialities of this temple. The temple is on the foot of the
This is a famous Raghu Kethu parihara sthalam. Those
affected with the adverse effect of these planets and with any problem related
to snakes will do special parihara pooja here for the relief.
Swamy: Arulmighu
Sri Kalahastheeswarar, Kalathinathar
Ambal: Arulmighu
Gnanaprasannambigai, Gnanapoongothai.
Sthala Viruksham:
Maghizham( மகிழம்பூ )
Theertham:
Swarnamugi, Ponmugali Rivar
The tallest tower in the town is the Kali Gopuram (காளி கோபுரம்)of
this temple. This tower was built by the King Sri Krishna Devarayar in AD 1516. This tower was ruined recently due
to the natural disaster. The Andhra Government taking steps to rebuild the
tower.
After crossing this kopuram one can reach the main entrance of
the temple. The tower here is called (Pikshasala Kopuram” (பிக்க்ஷாசல கோபுரம்). This and other towers of this temple were built by the King Narasimha
Yathavarayar in the 11th century. Here on both the side while
entering one can find Dwara Ganapahy and Dhandayuthapani shrines. But they have
interchanged their respective place. From here one has to go right side to go
inside (Aprathakshanam). On the left side the Pathala Vinayagar shrine is
there. To worship one has to go down 35 feet in narrow steps. Only around
twenty persons can worship in the basement at a time. It will be difficult for
elders to go down and worship. On holidays this place will always be
crowded.
In front of the temple there two Flag Posts are there. One
was covered with copper and the other one is 60 feet height and made of single
stone. After that we can see Peedam and Nandhi. When we enter the South
entrance we can see Lord Dakshinamurthy. Then there are Sankalpa Ganapathy,
Naalvar, Theertha well ( Saraswathy Theertham), and Subramaniar with Valli and
Deivanai are there.
In the Uthsava mandapam we can see all Uthsava Murtys (
Kaalatheeswarar, Gnana Poongothai, Kannappar, Arumygar, Valli, Deivanai,
Barathvaj Maharishi, Pitchadanar, Astharadevar, Vinayagar, Thondaman, Spider,
Elephant and snake.
After worshiping Sundara Ganapathy, Moksha Ganapathy and
Bala Ganapathy we need to go inside to worship Moolavar.
Moolavar is suyambu and untouchable facing west. Sivalingam
looks wonderful and very tall. The bottom is in the shape of a spider, the
centre elephants two tusks and the top snake shape with five heads. There is a mark in the Lingam where Kannappar
fix the eye to Lord Siva. The squire Avudaiyar was constructed later. Gold
shield fixed to cover the Siva Lingam. While removal and fix the shield also
the priest hand should not touch the deity. The 27 stars (27 நக்ஷத்திரம்) are engraved on the shield. We can have
the details of the Lingam only when they remove the shield.
As the Deity was worshiped by Kannapar and he did the
abishekams to the deity, in this temple we will get only the abisheka Pachai
Karpoora theertham. We wont get vibudhi like in other Siva temple. If the
devotees bring Vibudhy packet, it will be kept for the archanas and it will be
given back to the devotees. Moolavar will get abishekam only in Ganga
Theertham. Other abishekams are only for Avudaiyar. Above the Moolavar the
Thara vesal is hanging.
Daily Four kala poojas are there. As Barathwaj Maharishi did
the penance and worshiped, the priests in the temple are belongs to Barathwaj
Kothram. This temple will not close after the Uchikala Pooja. Morning till
night the temple will be open. There is no Arthasama Pooja. Daily Sayaratcahai
Pooja will be the last pooja. Night at 8.00 PM Swamy and Ambal will go to Palli
Arai Pooja.
There is no Navagraha shrine. Saneeswarar, Saptha Mathas and
Bairavar shrines are there.
Ambal Gnana Poongothai facing east in standing posture. On
the feet of the Goddess the “Artha Meru” established by Sri Adhi Sankara Bakavath
Bathar is there. In the hip she is wearing a gold belt with “Kethu” image.
Opposite to the Goddess Simham is there. On every Friday Ambal will wear a golden
skirt and Oonchal uthsavam will be conducted.
There is a beautiful big spadiga lingam established by Sri
Adisakarar in the pragaram. While coming out on the left side we can see
Mirthyunja Lingam shrine and on the right the Sthala viruksham Maghizham is
there.
 |
| Praharam |
PATHIGHAM:
 |
| Sanctum enterance |
PATHIGHAM:
Moovar (Thirugnanasambanthar, Thirunavukkarasar and Sundarar) Sung pathigams on this temple.
உந்துமாமுகலியின்கரையினில்உமையொடும்
மந்தமார்பொழில்வளர்மல்குவண்காளத்தி
எந்தையார் இணையடி யென்மனத் துள்ளவே.
வட்டவார்சடையனைவயலணிகாழியான்
சிட்டநான்மறைவலஞானசம்பந்தன்சொல்
இட்டமாப் பாடுவார்க் கில்லையாம் பாவமே.
தானமுதுசெய்தருள்புரிந்தசிவன்மேவுமலைதன்னைவினவில்
ஏனமினமானினொடுகிள்ளைதினைகொள்ளஎழிலார்க்கவணினாற்
கானவர்தம்மாமகளிர் கனகமணி விலகுகா ளத்திமலையே
மாடமொடுமாளிகைகள்நீடுவளர்கொச்சைவயம்மன்னுதலைவன்
நாடுபலநீடுபுகழ்ஞானசம்பந்தனுரைநல்லதமிழின்
பாடலொடு பாடுமிசை வல்லவர்கள் நல்லர்பர லோகமெளிதே.
வியன்கச்சிக்கம்பன்காண்பிச்சையல்லால்
மற்றூணொன்றில்லாதமாசதுரன்காண்
மயானத்துமைந்தன்காண்மாசொன்றில்லாப்
பொற்றூண்காண்மாமணிநற்குன்றொப்பான்காண்
பொய்யாதுபொழிலேழுந்தாங்கிநின்ற
கற்றூண்காண்காளத்திகாணப்பட்ட
கணநாதன் காணவனென் கண்ணு ளானே.
Thirunavukkarasar
6th Thirumurai
வண்டாருங்குழலாளுமைபாகம்மகிழ்ந்தவனே
கண்டார்காதலிக்குங்கணநாதனெங்காளத்தியாய்
அண்டா உன்னையல்லால் அறிந்தேத்த மாட்டேனே.
STHALA PURANAM:
A snake named Kalan, was worshipping the Lord with precious
stones on his head. An elephant named Athi also worshipped the Lord performing
abishekam with Ponmugali river water and Vilva leaves, removing the precious
stones on the Lord’s head. The elephant and snake were both worshipping God in
turn, one undoing the worship of the other. To find the enemy, the snake hid
itself in the flowers placed by the elephant. The elephant, happy to see its
flowers in order on the Lord began the abishekam performance when the snake
entered the body of the elephant through the tusk and began to screw its head.
Unable to bear this torture, the elephant decided to kill the creature inside
and also end itself, dashed forcibly against the rocks profusely bleeding. The
roaring of the elephant and the noise it made while dashing against the rocks
frightened all the beings. Birds flew high. The celestial beings too were
frightened. The snake was torn to pieces. Breaking its head, the elephant also
breathed its last. Lord Seekalathiappar appeared on his Rishabam vehicle with
Goddess Parvathi, granted Sarupa Mukthi (salvation) to both the snake and the
elephant. The letter See in Tamil represents Silandhi the Spider, Kalam the
snake and Athi (Hasthi in Sanskrit) the elephant. All combined, the place is
named Seekalathi. Later the name changed in to Sreekalahasthi and
Srikalahasthi.
The story of Kannappa Nayanar:
Tinnanar was Arjuna in
the previous birth, according to Thiru Kalahasthi Puranam. When he went to
worship Siva, to get Pasupatha Astra, and when the Lord came to him as a
hunter, Arjuna did not recognise Him. So, he had to be born as a hunter again
and adore the Lord, before attaining final liberation.
Tinnanar was educated
according to the hunters’ customs. He became a good archer. Even when he was
young, his father retired, and crowned him king. Though he was a hunter and
carried on hunting as his Dharma, Tinnanar was full of love and would not kill
young ones, females, diseased animals, etc. Spiritually, he had already killed
the animals within himself, viz., lust, anger, greed, vanity, etc.
One day, Tinnanar went
out hunting. A pig escaped from its net and was running away. Tinnanar pursued
it accompanied by two others, Nanan and Kadan. The pig was tired and stood near
a tree. It was quickly killed by Tinnanar. They were tired, too, and thirsty.
They proceeded towards the Ponmukali. Tinnanar wanted to climb the nearby
mountain. Nanan, too, volunteered to follow him, saying that on the Kalahasthi
hill, was Lord Kudumithevar (God with a Tuft). Kadan was busy cooking the pork.
Even when he began to
climb the hill, there was a definite change coming over Tinnanar, owing to past
samskaras. He felt that a great burden was being lifted off his shoulders. He
was losing body-consciousness. As he saw the Lord there, he felt supreme love
surging in his heart. He embraced the lingam and kissed It. He began to shed
tears of joy. He felt that the Lord was lonely there, and that he should
thenceforth remain with Him. Again, he thought that the Lord might be hungry.
Though he was reluctant to leave the Lord alone, he quickly came down the hill
to fetch some food for the Lord. He took the best pieces of the pork, tasted
them and ear-marked the very best for Him. In the mean time, he gathered from
Nanan that the Lord was worshipped daily with water, flowers, etc, before the
food was offered to Him. So, he began to collect the other articles of worship.
He filled his own mouth with water from the river. Flowers, he gathered and
wore them on his head! He took the pork, bow and arrow and went up the hill
again, alone this time.
At the temple, Tinnanar
poured from his mouth, the water that he had brought for His worship. That was
his ‘Abhishekam’. Then he decorated the Lingam with the flowers he had brought
on his own head. This was his ‘Archana’. He then placed the pork before the Lord.
He went out and stood guard for Him, at the entrance, lest some wild animals
should hurt Him. In the morning again he went out to hunt and bring fresh food
for the Lord.
In the mean time, Nanan
and Kadan worried about the change that had come over Tinnanar (which they
thought to be madness). They went and reported the matter to Tinnanar’s
parents. They came and tried, in vain, to take him back. They, too, went away.
When Tinnanar left the
temple in the morning to get food for the Lord, Sivagochariar (the temple
priest), came there for the usual orthodox worship. He was horrified at the
desecration that some unknown person had done in the temple. He was well versed
in the Agamas (rituals of Siva-worship). He performed the necessary
purificatory rites and took bath again and began his formal worship. He brought
water in a holy pot, with a bandage around his own mouth, lest the breath of
his mouth should pollute it. He brought fresh flowers in a holy basket. He
brought fruits and sweets (newly made and unpolluted by anyone tasting it)
before the Lord as an offering. Sivagochariar then went home after the worship.
Tinnanar returned with
fresh meat. He removed the priest’s decorations, and did the worship in his own
way, and then as usual, stood guard at the entrance.
This went on for five
days. The priest was greatly upset about the desecration of the holy place. He
appealed to the Lord to stop it. Lord Siva wanted to show Sivagochariar the
nature of Tinnanar’s supreme devotion. He commanded him in a dream, to hide
himself behind the Lingam, when Tinnanar went to the temple the next day, and
watch what took place.
On the sixth day,
Tinnanar went out as usual for getting the Lord’s food. While returning, he saw
many ill omens, which made him feel that something had happened to the Lord —
he was so unconscious of himself, that he did not think that something could
happen to him. He ran towards the Lord. He was grieved to see blood issuing
from the Lord’s right eye. The articles he had brought for the worship dropped
from his hand. He wept bitterly. He could not find who had done this to the
Lord. He treated the eye with herbs he knew of. Still the bleeding did not
stop. A simple idea occurred to him: ‘flesh for flesh’. At once, with his own
arrow, he took out his own right eye, and fixed it over the right eye of the
Lord. The bleeding stopped. He was very happy. When he was dancing in ecstasy,
he noticed that now the Lord’s left eye had begun to bleed. But, since Tinnanar
had already found out the remedy. There was only one problem — how to locate
the eye of the Lord, when his own eye had been pulled out. So, Tinnanar planted
his foot at the place where the Lord’s left eye was on the Lingam, and began to
pull his left eye out, with his arrow.
At once, Lord Siva caught
hold of his hand and said, "My dear child, Kannappa! Stop plucking your
eye." The Lord repeated the word Kannappa thrice. Kannappar was
thrice blessed. Tinnanar became Kannappar, because he gave his own eye to the
Lord. Lord Siva took him with both Hands, and kept him on His right side.
Kannappar regained his vision and lived as god himself. Sivagochariar
understood the true nature of devotion.
This story has an
esoteric meaning, too. Nayanar had conquered all other evils but Anava
(egoism), which had to be killed too. The wild pig represents this. Supreme
bhakti dawned, the moment this was killed. In its chase, the seeker is
accompanied by good and evil (the two hunters Nanan and Kadan). Nanan (good)
described the glory of the Lord to him — Nanan represents good Samskaras. Kadan
(the evil) had to be left behind. The aspirant with good Samskaras, goes to the
Lord's shrine. But, when he has to attain God-realisation, even this has to be
renounced. Hence, Kannappar Nayanar, when he went to worship Lord Siva, went
alone. Kannappar Nayanar’s parents (the hidden good and evil tendencies and
worldly desires) tried but failed to take him away from God. The Lord asked the
priest to hide behind Him, while Tinnanar was in front — this means, true
Bhakti is far superior to mere ritual. Tinnanar’s readiness to pluck out his
own eyes for the Lord's sake is total self-surrender (or Atma-Naivedan), the
highest peak of devotion which immediately reveals the Lord in all His glory
References:
Thiru Kannappa Devar Thirumaram:
பரிவின் தன்மை உருவுகொண் டனையவன்
போழ்வார் போர்த்த தாழகச் செருப்பினன்
குருதி புலராச் சுரிகை எஃகம்
அரையிற் கட்டிய உடைதோற் கச்சையன்
தோல்நெடும் பையில் குறுமயிர் திணித்து
வாரில் வீக்கிய வரிகைக் கட்டியன்
உழுவைக் கூனுகிர்க் கேழல்வெண் மருப்பு
மாறுபடத் தொடுத்த மாலையுத் தரியன்
நீலப் பீலி நெற்றி சூழ்ந்த
கானக் குஞ்சிக் கவடி புல்லினன்
முடுகு நாறு குடிலை யாக்கையன்
வேங்கை வென்று வாகை சூடிய
சங்கரன் றன்இனத் தலைவன் ஒங்கிய
வில்லும் அம்பும் நல்லன ஏந்தி
ஏற்றுக் கல்வனம் காற்றில் இயங்கி
கணையில் வீழ்த்துக் கருமா அறுத்து
கோலின் ஏற்றிக் கொழுந்தீக் காய்ச்சி
நாவில் வைத்த நாட்போ னகமும்
தன்தலைச் செருக்கிய தண்பளித் தாமும்
வாய்க்கல சத்து மஞ்சன நீரும்
கொண்டு கானப் பேருறை கண்ணுதல்
முடியிற் பூசை அடியால் நீக்கி
நீங்காக் குணத்துக்
கோசரிக் கன்றவன் நேசங் காட்ட
முக்கண் அப்பனுக் கொருகணில் உதிரம்
தக்கி ணத்திடை இழிதர அக்கணம்
அழுது விழுந்து தொழு தெழுந் தரற்றிப்
புன்மருந் தாற்றப் போகா தென்று
தன்னை மருந்தென்று மலர்க்கண் அப்ப
ஒழிந்தது மற்றை ஒண்திரு நயனம்
பொழிந்த கண்ணீர்க் கலுழி பொங்க
அற்ற தென்று மற்றக் கண்ணையும்
பகழித் தலையால் அகழ ஆண்டகை
ஒருகை யாலும் இருகை பிடித்து
ஒல்லை நம்புண் ஒழிந்தது பாராய்
நல்லை நல்லை எனப்பெறும்
திருவேட் டுவர்தந் திருவடி கைதொழக்
கருவேட் டுழல்வினைக் காரியங் கெடுமே.
போழ்வார் போர்த்த தாழகச் செருப்பினன்
குருதி புலராச் சுரிகை எஃகம்
அரையிற் கட்டிய உடைதோற் கச்சையன்
தோல்நெடும் பையில் குறுமயிர் திணித்து
வாரில் வீக்கிய வரிகைக் கட்டியன்
உழுவைக் கூனுகிர்க் கேழல்வெண் மருப்பு
மாறுபடத் தொடுத்த மாலையுத் தரியன்
நீலப் பீலி நெற்றி சூழ்ந்த
கானக் குஞ்சிக் கவடி புல்லினன்
முடுகு நாறு குடிலை யாக்கையன்
வேங்கை வென்று வாகை சூடிய
சங்கரன் றன்இனத் தலைவன் ஒங்கிய
வில்லும் அம்பும் நல்லன ஏந்தி
ஏற்றுக் கல்வனம் காற்றில் இயங்கி
கணையில் வீழ்த்துக் கருமா அறுத்து
கோலின் ஏற்றிக் கொழுந்தீக் காய்ச்சி
நாவில் வைத்த நாட்போ னகமும்
தன்தலைச் செருக்கிய தண்பளித் தாமும்
வாய்க்கல சத்து மஞ்சன நீரும்
கொண்டு கானப் பேருறை கண்ணுதல்
முடியிற் பூசை அடியால் நீக்கி
நீங்காக் குணத்துக்
கோசரிக் கன்றவன் நேசங் காட்ட
முக்கண் அப்பனுக் கொருகணில் உதிரம்
தக்கி ணத்திடை இழிதர அக்கணம்
அழுது விழுந்து தொழு தெழுந் தரற்றிப்
புன்மருந் தாற்றப் போகா தென்று
தன்னை மருந்தென்று மலர்க்கண் அப்ப
ஒழிந்தது மற்றை ஒண்திரு நயனம்
பொழிந்த கண்ணீர்க் கலுழி பொங்க
அற்ற தென்று மற்றக் கண்ணையும்
பகழித் தலையால் அகழ ஆண்டகை
ஒருகை யாலும் இருகை பிடித்து
ஒல்லை நம்புண் ஒழிந்தது பாராய்
நல்லை நல்லை எனப்பெறும்
திருவேட் டுவர்தந் திருவடி கைதொழக்
கருவேட் டுழல்வினைக் காரியங் கெடுமே.
Kallada Devanayanar 11th Thirumurai
Timings: From 6.00 AM To 9.00 PM
(Temple
Contact: Thiru. S.
Muthukumaraswamy Othuvar, (09848220173)
65, Sannathi Street
Srikalahasthi.
Pin – 517644
Office - 08578-222240
THIRUCHITRAMBALAM
No comments:
Post a Comment