Guruji Shri Narendra Babu Sharmaji has started new section in his Bruhat Brahmanda programme called Ashtadasabhuja Durga Darshana. In which Guruji reveals the details on Lalitha Sahasranamam. Guruji have divided the Lalitha Sahasranamam into 18 sections, he plays each section and reveals the Goddess Durga Temple related to it. The Sixth Temple in Ashtadasabhuja Durga Darshan is Sri Tripura Sundari Amman Temple, Thiruvotriyur. The Lalitha Sahasranama verse played by Guruji, is given below.
Sree Lalitha Sahasranamam Adhyaya 6
Dushta-dura duracharashamani doshavarjitaSarvagyna sandrakaruna samanadhika varjita – 51
Sarva-shaktimaei sarvamangala sadgatiprada
Sarveshvari sarvamaei sarvamantrasvarupini – 52
Sarva-yantratmika sarvatantrarupa manonmani
Mahishvari mahadivi mahalakshmi rmrudapriya – 53
Maharupa mahapujya mahapataka nashini
Mahamaya magasatva mahashaktirmaharatih – 54
Mahabhoga mahaishvarya mahavirya mahabala
Maha-bhudirmahasirdhirmahayogeshvareshvari – 55
Mahatantra mahamantra mahayantra mahasana
Mahayaga kramaradya mahabhairava pujita – 56
Maheshvara mahakalpa mahatandava sakshini
Mahakamesha mahishi mahatripurasundari – 57
Chatushashtyupacharadya chatushashti kalamaei
Mahachatushashtikoti yogini ganasevita – 58
Manuvidya chandra vidya chandramandala madhyaga
Charu rupacharuhasa charuchandra kaladhara – 59
Charachara jagannadha chakraraja niketana
Parvati padmanayana padmarga samaprabha – 60
Sri Thiagarajaswamy Temple, Thiruvotriyur:
Goddess Tripura Sundari Amman resides in Thiagarajaswamy Temple in Thiruvotriyur.
Tamil Nadu has innumerable temples, both Saivite and Vaishnavite, which have anancient history and a rich cultural heritage. From this plethora, 275 Saivite temples or punyastalas have been selected as Paadal Petra Stalams on the basis of their antiquity, the richness of their cultural ethos, and the quantum of eulogy dedicated to the temple. In the same manner, 108 Vaishnavite temples have been selected as Divyadesams.
Of the 275 Paadal Petra Stalams, 32 lie in the Tondi Nadu, among which the Thiagarajaswamy temple at Tiruvotriyur is unique. This temple at Tiruvotriyur, several centuries old, eulogized by poets, scholars and devotees alike, affirms the splendor of India’s religious tradition and spiritual ethos
Temple Details:
Tradition holds that this Shiva stala was the first temple ever on the face of the earth and was called ‘Adipuri’ (‘the primordial town’). In the same vein, the moolavar here is called Adipureeswarar. Shiva is present as Agni or fire. He is also present as a swayambu lingam of earth covered with a kavacham removed only on the occasion of the Karthikai Full Moon.Shiva is also present in a third, complex dimension. The story goes like this. Vasuki, the snake heard about the greatness of Shiva here through Sage Upamanyu. He worshipped Shiva ardently until he attained unison with Him. Vasuki’s hood protects the manifestation of Shiva in this temple and Shiva is called Padampakka Nathar (‘He who is protected by a hood’). He is also called Putridam Kondar (He who resides in a snake pit)
Shiva is thus present in Tiruvotriyur in three dimensions:
In the formless form of Agni (fire) or Light with neither beginning nor end, alpha or omega.
In the physical form of a swayambu lingam of earth in turn the form of a snake pit facing the east.
In a form indescribable as Padampakka Nathar who was ordained as not to be touched by any hand, mortal or immortal.
Shiva is present in an inconceivable form, eluding man’s compelling desire to create an interface with which he can translate His mysterious ways. The Tripada Trimurthy image combines the essence of Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma indicating that the latter two engaged in the worship of Shiva.
Shiva is worshipped as the embodiment of the primary elements at what are called as the Panchabhoota Stalams. He is present as wind in Kalahasti, as water in Jambukeswaram, as fire in Thiruvannamalai, as earth in Kanchipuram and as space in Chidambaram.
At Tiruvotriyur, He is present as a being with form (as a swayambu lingam of earth) as a being without form (as agni) and as a being with and without form (as Padampakka Nathar).
The Ficus Tree ("Atthi Maram") is the stalavriksha. An interesting story is told about this tree. Once, in devaloka – the five heavenly tharus (trees), Sandanam, Devatharu, Karpagam, Mandharam and Parijadham were re-considering their life at devaloka. They wore distressed and dejected because of the constant trouble created by the asuras. They wanted to leave heaven to some place with some quite and peace. As they were thinking thus, they heard some sages discuss the glory of Thiruvottiyur. The five tharus came to Thiruvottiyur and sat in meditation intrigued with the intensity of their prayers.
Shiva appeared before them and asked them what they wanted. The five tharus replied – “Please grand our request. We would like to touch your feet eternally and stay there worshipping you for all time.” To this Shiva answered with a smile – “My manifestation at Thiruvottiyur as Padampakka Nathar is a form which is not to be touched by any hand – mortal or immortal. In fact, when Murugan wanted to worship me by touching my feet, I ushered him to Thirumayilai. However, I can give you another alternative. You can stay here as a Magizha maram and I will be glad to stay under your shade”.
On hearing this, their joy knew no bounds. The five tharus became the Magizha maram that one sees today at the Thiyagarajaswamy temple. Even today, they stand singing the praise of Shiva. The tree is seen as a manifestation of Shiva Himself. Tradition holds that those who climb the tree will have committed eternal sin. But if flowers fall on their own accord, devotees may wear them. They will be blessed in this life and the next.
It was under this tree that Sundarar promised Sangili Nachiar that he would not part from her or the temple of Thiruvottriyur. Sundarar’s story starts at Mount Kailas where he was a devotee of Lord Shiva. Once, when he went to the garden to pluck flowers for puja, he met Shakthi’s aides, Anithigai and Kamalini and fell in love with them. They were interested in him too. Shiva, with his omniscience knew this and blessed the three of them to be born on earth to partake of its pleasures. Sundarar immediately pleaded that Shiva should not allow him to become chained and bound by the ephemeral pleasures of the world. Shiva promised that He would stop him at the right time.
Sundarar was born of a family of temple priests at Tirunallaru. The name his parents gave him was Nambi Arooran. Anithigai was born as Paravai Nachiar at Tiruvarur and Kamalini was born as Sangili Nachiar at Gnayiru. Nambi Arooran grew up to be a handsome boy. Such was his charm that the King of Tirumannaippadi adopted him with his parents’ sanction and brought him up as his foster son.
Plans were made for the wedding pf Paravai with Nambi Arooran. The day before the wedding, an old Brahmin claimed that the wedding should be stopped and that Nambi Arooran was his slave for his lifetime. His grandfather had sold him off to him generations ago. Nambi Arooran became furious. He couldn’t believe that this could happen to him the day before his wedding. He scolded the old man with a vengeance and asked for proof for his senile musings. The old Brahmin showed him a document which bore the signature of his grandfather and which indeed slated that he was the old man’s slave for the rest of his life. In agony and frustration, Nambi Arooran tore up the document that was the only proof.
The old Brahmin was furious and took up the issue of the kings’ court at Thiruvennainallur. There he produced one more document stating that what he had shown earlier was a duplicate version and he still had the original with him safe and secure. On comparing the signature on the document with other signatures of Nambi Arooran’s grandfather, the king gave the verdict that t he Brahmin was right and that Nambi Arooran was the old mans’ slave.
Happy with the verdict, the old Brahmin bade Nambi Arooran to follow him to his house. Arooran followed him with a perplexed mind and heavy heart, only to find that the Brahmin led him to the main shrine of the temple at Thiruvennainallur. He then disappeared as a gleam of light and reappeared with his consort, Shakthi and bade Nambi Arooran to compose a verse. When he hesitated, Shiva reminded him that he had called him a senile and mad person and so should sing of him as such. Nambi Arooran Sundarar sang the verse..
Sundarar then proceeded to visit various punyastalas singing the praise of Shiva until he visited Thiruvottiyur and married Sangili Nachiar. Sundarar promised Sangili Nachiar, under the stalavriksha, the Magizha maram, that he would not part from her or the temple of Thiruvottiyur. On breaking this promise, Sundarar lost his eyesight. He composed several heart rendering verses on his miserable condition, asking forgiveness for his breach of vow. He regained his sight with the grace of Shiva. The scene of Sundarar’s vow under the Magizha Maram is recreated till today as Magizhadi Servai, when Sundarar goes thrice on a pradakshana around the shrines of Sri Thiyagarajaswamy and Vadivudai Amman and vows not to leave Sangili Nachiar or Thiruvottiyur for the rest of his life. Hundreds of devotees come to the temple on Masi Magam to witness this festival.
Tiruvotriyur’s Location:
Tiruvotriyur is located about 10 kms from Chennai. Trains from the Chennai Central Suburban Railway Station in the route marked ‘Chennai – Gummidipundi’ stop at Tiruvotriyur. Tiruvotriyur is also accessible by local Government buses.
The Thiagarajaswamy temple in Tiruvotriyur stands majestically in this industrial area, busy with activity and commerce. Devotees from six sects of religion perform puja here. Saivites, Vaishnavites, Saaktar, Uchavar, Adi Saivites and Namboodris visit and worship the manifestations of Shiva and Shakthi at this temple.
The Name of the Town: Therein lies a story!
The etymology of the word ‘Tiruvotriyur’ is interesting. The word originates from the Tamil infinitive ‘orutral’ which means ‘to exempt’. Two stories center around the origin of this name and how Tiruvotriyur had been exempted and so is special.
Stalapurana holds that during Padmagarba (the measure to calculate the passing of an Age or yuga), there ensued a great deluge that threatened to submerge the whole world. Lord Brahma, the God of Creation undertook an austere penance to appease Shiva. He wanted the power to create the world once again. Pleased with his sincerity and effort, Shiva rose from the Yoga-agni in a strange and indecipherable form. Flames of fire crackled and blazed from which emerged a chittirappalakai, a flat square drawing board like shape that formed a Shivalinga.
Brahma prayed for the great waters to subside. Shiva ordained that this town be exempted from destruction. The Agni Kunta became the temple and Shiva resides here as agni or fire with his consort Darbanayagi Ammal who embodies chit shakthi. Tiruvotriyur (‘the town exempted’ from the deluge) was thus created.
Another story holds that the Ayodhya kind Mandata levied taxes on all townships including shivastalams. Surprisingly, when his orders inscribed in palm manuscripts arrived at Tiruvotriyur, an additional line appeared on them, apparently from nowhere. This line decreed that this township be exempted from the orders. The king enquired as to who had interpolated those words. No one seemed to have done it. The king after examination decided that it was not one of his own men who did it.
He rubbed and removed away the words from the palm script that sanctioned exemption and kept it locked. The next day, on examining the manuscripts, the same words had reappeared. King Mandata felt that Lord Shiva himself had chose Otriyur as ‘His Own Land’.
The king exempted the township from tax payment. Tiruvotriyur (‘the town exempted’ from tax payment) was thus created. In consonance with this episode, the moolavar in this temple is also called ‘Ezhuthariyum Peruman’. (‘He who chose to write’)
Temple Postal Address & Contact Information
Mrs. KAVERI, M.L,ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER / EXECUTIVE OFFICER
&
Mr.P.VASUNATHAN, M.A., B.L.,
THAKKAR / DEPUTY COMMISSIONER / EXECUTIVE OFFICER &
ARULMIGU THIYAGARAJA SWAMY TEMPLE,
THIRUVOTRIYUR,
CHENNAI- 600019
TAMIL NADU,
INDIA..
PHONE (FAX ) +91 -044-25733703
+91 -044-25739898
Few words from Guruji Shri Narendra Babu Sharmaji
Visit Bala Tripura Sundari Amman Temple which is located 3Kms from this location and Byravi Tripura Sundari Amman Temple which is located 10Kms from this location while visiting Thiruvotriyur.In the temple premises there is a shrine for Lord Veerabhadra, if you offer vada mala seva to lord in any numerical (ex. 108 or 54), only 11 vadas goes missing.
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