SIVA TEMPLES OF CHIDAMBARAM

Chidambaram is cradle of Saivism.Nataraja rules the world from here. We all know Nataraja of Chidambaram but this temple town also has three other beautiful temples visited by the fabulous four.

Shall we start seeing these three temples leaving Nataraja for a later date.

Can any one leave HIM ?

THIRUVETKALAM:

RAJAGOPURAM  AND MY BROTHER

THE HOLY POND

THE HOLY WORD OHM WELCOMING

THE LION -PALLAVA ARCHITECTURE

AGATHIYAR

THE HUNTER AND THE HOUNDED

SIVA AS HUNTER

ALL IS WELL THE FINAL POSTURE TO ARJUNA

NATARAJA

Duryadonan was preparing for the war.He had Karnan in his side and felt fairly comfortable that he will win the war.But that has changed now.Apart from the willy Krishnan who has now sided with Pandavas,Duryadona now heard Arjuna is seeking the Almighty’s blessings.The almighty is none other than Lord Siva.

Arjuna had started a penance at Thiruvetkalam to get Pasupathaendhiram.

Duryadona asked “What is this Pasupathaendhiram”?

“It is a mix of Siva,Sakthi and Adhiparasakthi sir”,answered his minister.

“A lethal comibination of Siva’s mind,Sakthi’s eyes and Adhiparasakthi’s words. Lord Siva may give it in the form an arrow to Arjuna and if he does Arjuna will become very powerful sir”.

“How lethal it is”?

“ It can destroy everything sir” was the chilling answer.

Duryodana was perturbed and he decided to send a demon to disturb Arjuna and stop his penance.

The demon was summoned.

The demon said "I will transform myself to a boar and make sure Arjuna is not able to complete his act”.

“Do and come you will be rewarded" muttered Duryodana.

The boar arrived at Thiruvetkalam.

At the same time lord Siva was getting ready to start his next game.

It was boring for him at Kailash. Parvathi asked him “Where are you going lord”?

“Going to earth”.

“For what”?

“To play and fight with the greatest warrior in earth”.

“You mean Arjuna”?

“Yes”.

“Are you going to give him what he is asking”?

“You can watch from here”.

Lord Siva disguised himself in the form of an hunter.

Lord Siva arrived at Thiruvetkalam.

Arjuna was in deep penance. The boar after a long search had found its target.It was nearing the target. The hunters footsteps made some sound. The boar could hear it and turned its head towards the sound. It saw the hunter and changed the target. The chilling eyes of the boar  pierced the hunter.The boar made a jump towards the new prey.The altercation disturbed Arjuna. He opened his eyes and found the boar attacking the hunter. Being an impulsive warrior he started fighting the boar.

A fight started between Arjuna and the boar.It was a tough relentless fight and Arjuna was getting tired. The boar also did not give up. The hunter was watching the fun.

After all its HIS game.

Siva got bored again. He came near the boar and and gave a lethal penetration with his axe.

The demon died happily because he was touched by the almighty.

Arjuna did not even thank the hunter. He wanted to continue his penance.

“You will not thank me”? questioned Siva.

“Why I should, I would have killed it any how”. “You killed when I was about to finish the boar”.

“No way without me you could not have killed it”.

“Don’t talk nonsense no one can defeat me in this world”.

“You can fight with me and prove you are the best”.

Angered and immature Arjuna hit the hunter on his head.

The mark is indelible and still found on the Linga of this temple.

The hunter just gave a kick to Arjuna which took him for a huge toss.

Arjuna fell at this place, Thiruvetkalam.

Parvathi was watching this and she rushed down.

“What are u doing”? “Why did you hit him like this”?

“Before going to a big war the most important things to learn is patience and the next important thing is respecting elders and to recognise the help of others”.

“I had to teach Arjuna all three”. “Just because he is full of muscle he cannot win a war”.

“Go teach him this”. “I will join u in a moment”.

This fight or lesson happened at Esanporveli (esan – siva – porveli-war place)a small village adjacent to Thiruvetkalam.

Parvathi came to Arjuna’s rescue and taught him what Siva said. The almighty came there and Arjuna fell on his feet.

“Arjuna important virtues are simplicity, respect elders and do away your ego”. “Any one can fall”.

“Yes my lord I understood”.

“You can take this the dreaded Pasupatha endiram”

“Its not important to win a war Arjuna you have to win hearts”.

“You will win the war but Karnan will win everyone’s heart”.

We are here now.

The temple is just adjacent to a sprawling Annamalai university.

Reaching this place is not difficult. Enquire Annamalai and come here.

The temple is serene with “Om” welcoming you.

It’s a mix of Pallava and Chozha architecture.Probably built by Pallavas,  refurbished and renovated by Chozhas.The lions of Pallavas and sculptures of Chozhas are seen here.

The pillars of the temple has engravings of the myth we had discussed.

Lord Suryan and Chandran have a separate shrine here.

Narthana ganapati looks divine and of course the lord is calmness personified. We tried to understand lord Sivas teachings and assimilated it.

Lord is called as Pasupatheswarar and bamboo tree is the holy tree at this place.

This place was called as Moongilvanam in olden days(bamboo forest)

Thirugnanasambandar had come here and praised this place as Nanagaram[Good city} Yes it now has Annamalai university.

Thirukazhipalai:

SMALL ENTRANCE TO THE TEMPLE

NANDHI WITH HIS HEAD TURNED AWA

THE PROTECTORS OF THE TEMPLE

SIX HANDED DURGA - A RARITY

ON THE TOP YOU CAN SEE THE LINGA WITH TWO HALVES AND WHITE

ADHIHARA NANDHI - NANDHI WITH HIS WIFE

Our next stop was the twin temples of Kazhipalai and Sivapuri.

Come back to the main road and the landmark is Rajendras statue.Take a staright road and a drive of 3-4 kms takes us to Sivapuri.

We will now go back  around 1000 years to relive the past.

It could be 1800 years ago.The Mudaliars house was washed away by the torrtential rain. Rain had created havoc at Kollidam. Houses and huts were damaged and people had died. Mudaliar and his family had survived.He was rich and was putting lot of efforts to help people by relocating them in livable areas and was buying food along with like minded people.

His young son asked him “Dad broken white Siva would also have gone in this flood”.

Mudaliar had forgotten the white Siva the protector of this place and world.

The ravage the cyclone and flood had caused  made him forget the revered temple which was near the sea. He held his sons hand and started walking towards Siva.

The villagers asked him “Sir where are you going”?

He answered to see “My siva”. Few villagers understood him and started walking with him.

The temple was trampled by the deluge of water. Few stones were left behind.

You give us life and food, what an irony your temple is now fully damaged.

Lord where are you?

“Dad white siva is here”. He was there at the same place. Rock solid on his pedestal.He was looking more white than the sea water. The kid touched the linga and took him in his hand.

“This has to be touched only by Archagars, we cannot touch it”,shouted mudaliar.

“Dad this is my Siva anyone can touch him, You only taught me about Kannappa nayanmar” was the answer.

Its correct or wrong, I have no opinion.

The kid took it in his hand and covered with the cloth.

“Sir the bairavar is here”. “Dont touch him we will call the archagar to come here and secure the Bairavar”. The villager told him “sir, they all left two days before to Chidambaram fearing the flood”.

Thoughts went across Mudaliars mind he kept quiet.

“We will take him also”.

The two idols were relocated to Siva puri.

Next day the villagers and the Mudaliar decided to build a new temple at Sivapuri.

“Dad why our Siva is broken and looks white you never told me”.

“The holy cows at our place used to give milk whenever they wanted and because of the milk  the soil here is always white”.

“One day sage Kabilar made a Siva lingam from this soil and offered prayers and hence it looks white my child”.

“Why it is in two halves”?

“That’s because a horse had come here and ran over Siva and it became two”. Siva had informed Kabilar to keep the same Sivalinga and make a temple.

“Dad  see so many sufferings for lord Siva, Horse ran over him and now the flood”.

“Yes he teaches us that sufferings are universal and it can come for Him also, Important thing is you should fight and come out of it”.

“I can understand dad”.

“God will not milk you and leave you my son”.

Lord here is called Palvananathar[milk god} and the Bairvar{a form of siva who gives long healthy life}here is famous.

The Archakar was here now. He told us the myth and explained that the Bairavar here is exactly similar to Kasi Bairavar.

He told us the same man had created both the idols.

My brother did not believe him.

We prayed at this beautiful temple and sought Siva’s blessings.

My brother  showed me, “See Siva and Parvathi in marriage attire behind the white idol”.

Yes I could see them.

The myth behind this is shared by Agathianpalli and by some other temples as well.(read kodikarai temples)

There is a Adhikaranandhi{Nandhi with wife} inside and a beautiful Nandhi with its head turned to the right at the entrance.

SIVAPURI:

THE POND BETWEEN THE TWO TEMPLES

TWO BROTHERS ENTERING THE RAJAGOPURAM

MR AND MRS NANDHI HERE TOO

DAKSHINAMOORTHY

LION GUARDING THE TEMPLE

HOLY COW POURING MILK ON LINGA

OORTHAVA THANDAVAM OF SIVA-AWESOME

WAITING FOR FOOD FROM SIVA

FIVE LINGAS OF DESCENDING HEIGHT

SIVA AND HIS CONSORT ON HOLY COW

LINGA ON TOP OF HOLY COW

ANNAMALAIYAR CHISELED OUT

A two hundred metres walk from Kazhipalai brings us to Sivapuri.

A beautiful pond is between the two temples.

Adhikara nandhi welcomes us here also.

Siva here is called as Utchinathar.

My brother asked me do you know “Why he is called Utchinathar”.

I told him” If you say I will know”.

Thirugnanasambandar had to go to Achalpuram for his marriage. The marriage party reached this place at around noon. They had to walk another 20 kms to Achalpuram where his marriage is to be held.

They decided to rest here.

But they were hungry. They did not have food to eat.

Will Siva allow his son to suffer from hunger?

He served the entire entourage and Thirugnanasambandar with food and disappeared.

Thirugnanasambandar sings about this and praises the lord.

“Brother its 8.30 am will lord Siva give me food now. I’m also hungry”, I asked my brother.

My immature question was tackled immediately “You are not his son”.

I recited Sivapuranam and circumambulated the temple and saw the beautiful carvings on the pillars of the wall.

When we walked out of the temple I did not feel hungry.

I believe my father and lord Siva are the same.

We never wanted to leave the place.

All good or bad things have to end. All relationships will be broken, if one party is fragile, turncoat or has found a new partner.

Relationship with god does not snap.