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Ennapadam Bhagavati http://ennapadambhagavati.blogspot.in/2011/02/thirumukkoodal-triveni-of...

1 of 18 28/12/2012 21:57

Thursday, February 17, 2011

THIRUMUKKOODAL, THE TRIVENIOF THE SOUTH ANDPAZHAYASEEVARAM

V.SUNDARAM I.A.S.

Bhagavathi at Ennapadam Temple at Kerala


2 of 18 28/12/2012 21:57

Magh Snan at Triveni, Allahabad

MAGH FESTIVAL AT TRIVENI, PRAYAG

Magh month 2011 starts on 20 January 2011 and ends on 18

February 2011 according to the Hindu Calendar. Taking a holy

dip in the Triveni Sangam at PRAYAG (Allahabad) during the

period from Magh Amavasya Day (New Moon Day-3rd February

2011) to Magh Poornima Day (Full Moon Day-18th February

2011) is considered as very sacred and auspicious by all the

Hindus of India. Each man has his Dharma. One must

accomplish ones destinyor, better, surmount it. Life is of

consequence only in the mind, by the liberating power of the

mind. Asceticism prepares the way for spiritual

enfranchisement; knowledge procures it. But what is this

knowledge? Knowledge for India is action. Sensation and

There is no sound or sign more

powerful than OHM. It is neither a

letter nor a word, hence there is

nothing semantic about it. It is not

even Sanskrit, nor exclusively Indian.

All religions of Indian origin, including

Jainism and Buddhism (also Tibetian,

Chinese, Korean, Mongolian and

Jananese versions) hold it in the

highest esteem especially in

upasaana, saadhana, askesis or Yoga.

It is described in the Upanishads as

the "ONE UNDYING SOUND" and is

considered as holy as the Brahman. It

is the picture and symbol of the

transcendental reality.The underlying

reality is that the supreme reality is

beyond words; it is to be found in

silence, in wordlessness. But it is the

seed-sound, the beejakshara from

which all other sounds are formed,

and in which all the word-meanings

can be found. If it is taken as a word

(paada), then the word is devoid of

any transactional meaning. There is

no word beyond it; it is in this sense

the ultimate word (paramam-

padam), the supreme position. The

goal of all meanings. It is the bridge

(sethu) that the Upanishads locate

between the words and the silence.

It is Anaahata (unstruck,

inarticulate).

Followers

Blog Archive 2011 (26)

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3 of 18 28/12/2012 21:57

imagination are something dynamic; understanding and will

are not distinct. The norms have always been successful

creation, right conduct. When all is said and done, the

essential contribution of the Indian genius to mankind is a

psychical and spiritual element, the value of which must be

neither underestimated nor exaggeratedthe sense of

creative activity. INDIA THROUGH THE AGES HAS NOT BEEN

INTERESTED IN FACTS. Through the ages it has pursued

transcendental ends.

What is the transcendental religious and spiritual

significance of having a holy bath in the Triveni Sangam at

Prayag? Triveni Sangam is believed to be the same place

where drops of Nectar fell from the pitcher, from the hands

of the Gods. So it is believed that a bath in the Sangam will

wash away all one's sins and will clear the way to heaven.

Devout Hindus from all over India come to this sacred

pilgrimage point to offer prayers every day and take a dip in

the holy waters. The sacred Kumbh Mela is held every 12 years

on the banks of the Sangam. According to hoary myth and

tradition, the Prakrista Yajna was performed here by LORD

BRAHMA. That is why Allahbad was known as Prayag in ancient

times. Prayag is also called Tirtha-Raja or Prayag Raj, King of

all holy places. It is said that Lord Rama visited Prayag

when he was in exile.

Prayag is one among the four spots where Garuda, the

winged steed of the Hindu God Vishnu, is believed to have

rested during a titanic battle with demons over a pitcher

containing the divine nectar of immortality. Garuda's epic

battle lasted 12 divine days, or 12 years of mortal time,

leading to the celebration of the Maha Kumbh Mela every 12

years. Legend says that the gods and the demons fought a

celestial war, spilling heavenly nectar at the confluence of

three-rivers in Prayag.

Mauni Amavasya or Mauna Amavasya is the auspicious day to

observe Mauna Vrata or the vow of silence on Magh Amavasya

or New Moon day in Magh month. In 2011, Mauni Amavasya

date is 2 February 2011. Mauna is a word derived from Muni,

which refers to a great saint endowed with transcendental

knowledge and wisdom forming the bedrock of his luminous and

resplendent self-realization. Mauna vrat is the symbolic identity

for the spiritual practice. According to Jagadguru

Shankaracharya, Mauna is one of the three essential aspects

of a sanyasi or sadhu. The other two aspects are Balya and

Panditya. Balya is the childlike nature whereas Panditya is

wisdom.

Magh Purnima, or Magh Poornima, is the full moon day in

month of Magh (January February) in traditional Hindu

calendar. In 2011, the date of Magh Purnima falls on February

18. Magh Poornima is considered highly auspicious in Hinduism

March (4)

February (3)

SRI MAHALASA DEVI UTSAV (JATRA)By

V.SUNDARAM I.A.S...

THIRUMUKKOODAL, THE TRIVENI OF

THE SOUTH AND PAZHA...

THE GLORY AND THE RADIANCE OF

RATHA SAPTHAMI V SU...

January (3)

2010 (19)

About MeDurgadevi

Shri V. Sundaram is an I.A.S officer of

the Tamil Nadu Cadre. He took

voluntary retirement in 1994.

Currently he is a freelance journalist.

His detailed profile is available here

Also visit our other blogs:- 1 2

View my complete profile


4 of 18 28/12/2012 21:57

and thousands of Hindu devotees take a holy dip at Sangam in

Prayag. The annual Magh Mela takes place at Sangam in Prayag

during that time. It is believed that Vishwamitra II performed the

ritual bath during the Kumbh Mela on a Magh Purnima Day in

2382 BCE.

Magh Purnima

Bath at the

confluence of

MAHI, SOM AND

JHAKHAM

RIVERS in

Banswara

District in

Rajasthan.

Magh Purnima is

an important day

at the

Baneshwar Fair

held at the

confluence of

MAHI, SOM AND

JHAKHAM

RIVERS in

Banswara

District in

Rajasthan.

Tribals and

other

communities

from Rajasthan,

Chhattisgarh,

Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat gather here to pay homage to

the dead ancestors and relatives.

Eternal IndiaIndia of the agesis a great land of real and

solid underlying cultural unity amidst apparent diversity.

Corresponding to Triveni at Prayag (Allahabad) in Northern

India, we have a holy Triveni at Thirumukoodal in

Kancheepuram District in Tamilnadu. At this spot we have the

confluence of 3 SACRED RIVERS PALAR, CHEYYAR AND

VEGAVATHI and taking a bath at this Triveni during the period

from 3rd February 2011(New Moon Day) to 18th February

2011 (Full Moon Day) is considered as sacred and auspicious

as taking a dip in the Triveni at Prayag.


5 of 18 28/12/2012 21:57

Confluence of 3 Rivers at Thirumukkoodal

At the confluence of three rivers near Kanchipuram in Tamil

Nadu lies the village of Thirumukkoodal. An ancient Chola

temple adorns this village, at the sangam of the rivers PALAR,

SEYYAR, AND VEGAVATHI. As all the three rivers are clearly

visible at the confluence at THIRUMUKKOODAL, this sangam

can be considered almost as sacred as the Triveni Sangam at

Prayag where at the confluence of three rivers only the

Ganga and the Yamuna are visible and the third Saraswati

River is believed to have gone underground and hence is not

visible.

As in Prayag, so also at Thirumukkoodal, in Kanchipuram

District, we find the vital and living tradition of thousands of

pilgrims having a bath at the confluence of 3 Rivers PALAR,

SEYYAR, AND VEGAVATHI on the day of Magh Amavasya. This

year the pilgrims had their bath on Magh Amavasya Day

(New Moon Day) at this sacred spot on 3rd February 2011.

Likewise, the pilgrims will be having their bath on Magh

Poornima Day (Full Moon Day) on the 18th February 2011.


6 of 18 28/12/2012 21:57

Trimurti Appan Venkatesa Perumal Temple in Kanchipuram

District

The Temple at Thirumukkoodal (Thirumukkudal) is known as

the Trimurti Appan Venkatesa Perumal Temple, or Sri

Venkatesa Perumal Temple. The presiding deity here is the

Trimurti, embodied in a single form as Appan (Brahma), Shiva,

and Venkatesa Perumal (Narayana). While Trimurti Appan

Venkatesa Perumal is understood to be the original deity here,

temple epigraphs reveal that the deity was called Vishnu Bhatara

in Pallava times, Tirumukkudal-Azhwar and Mahavishnu in

the Chola period, and Venkateswara Swami at a later date.

The tiny village of Thirumukkoodal in Kanchipuram district,

lies about 75 km from Chennai and dates back to the Pallava

era. It gets its name from its picturesque location --- the

confluence of the Palar and two of its tributaries, the

Vegavathi and the Cheyyar. We understand from an

inscription engraved in this shrine that the Trimurti Appan

Venkatesa Perumal Temple, or Sri Venkatesa Perumal

Temple existed at Thirumukkoodal village overlooking the

confluence of 3 rivers as early as the 9th Century AD.

The Trimurti Appan Venkatesa Perumal Temple, or Sri

Venkatesa Perumal Temple at Thirumukkoodal is maintained


7 of 18 28/12/2012 21:57

by the RCHAEOLOGICAL Survey of India (ASI). Since this

temple is very close to the river bank, there is every possibility of

flood waters entering the temple during the North-East Monsoon

every year. And yet this temple has withstood the ravages of

nature for several centuries mainluy because of the fact that the

original architects of this temple made a special provision for a

suitable drainage system for the flood water to drain away quickly.

This temple is about 1200-1500 years old.

This Pallava style temple is quite large, and is constructed in

an unusual style. Devotees enter through a side entrance

near the perimeter of the temple compound. A mandapa with

large pillars leads the way to the sanctum sanctorum, which

faces north. The pillars have exquisite bas-relief sculptures.

Various inscriptions speak of endowments and gifts made to

the temple during the Chola reign.

Thirumukkudal mandapam


8 of 18 28/12/2012 21:57

Thirumukoodal Sannidhi

In the sanctum, Sri Appan Venkatesa Perumal is found in a

standing position with His consorts Boomadevi (Bhudevi) and

Sridevi meditating at His feet, and the sage Markandeya

(Karumanickar) beside Him on one side, with Sudarshan Chakra

on the other.

Sri Appan Venkatesa Perumal

The Lord at Thirumukkoodal is considered to be a

manifestation of the HINDU TRINITY Lord Siva, Brahma and

Narayana. His crown looks like the matted locks of Siva and

He has a third eye on HIS forehead. He wears the Shanku

and Chakra like Lord Narayana on His left and right hand and

a lotus in one of His hands. He also stands on the lotus

which is the symbol of Brahma.

To the right of the presiding deities is a small shrine for the

Goddess Alamelumanga, which faces east. 'Alamelumanga' is


9 of 18 28/12/2012 21:57

Tamil for Padmavati, a representation of Laksmi Devi. Other

murtis located nearby include Garuda, Hanuman, and others.

There are also stone murtis of many of the Azhwars.

A spacious courtyard houses several mantapams, the pillars

ornately carved with bas-relief sculptures done in

Vijayanagara style, depicting various incarnations of the

Lord, Mahalakshmi, Rama, Garuda, Hanuman and Ramanuja.

This temple which once reverberated with the sound of

Vedic chanting and the recitation of Sanskrit texts now

stands a mute testimony to the glorious times of the

Pallavas and the Cholas, whose kings, besides being great

conquerors and administrators strove for the propagation of

learning and literature.

The main sanctum sanctorum of this temple, which faces

North, houses the imposing image of Lord Venkateswara,

also known as Appan Venkatesa Perumal in a standing

posture with sage Markandeya and Goddess Boomadevi seen

meditating at his feet. The way to the sanctum sanctorum is

through a large-pillared mantapa.

Large-Pillared Mantap

According to the epigraphs in this shrine, Thirumukkoodal

was situated in the ancient territorial sub-division called

Madhurantaka-Chaturvedimangalam which was a part of

Kalatur-kottam, a district of Jayamkonda-chola-mandalam.

Luckily, this shrine as well as the inscriptions here have

been preserved well. The temple is a protected monument

under the care of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

Another striking feature of this ancient Sri Venkatesa

Perumal Temple lies in its rare wealth of copious and

informative inscriptions dating back to the days of the

Pallavas and the Cholas. The walls of the main sanctum as


10 of 18 28/12/2012 21:57

well as those of the second prakara are studded with

numerous epigraphs in the ancient Tamil script, the oldest of

which is datable to the reign of the Pallava ruler,

Nripatungavarman of the 9th century A.D.

There are also many Chola inscriptions of the reign of

Rajaraja-I, Rajendra-I, Vira-Rajendra and Kulottunga-I

which speak of endowments and gifts made to this shrine,

thus showing that this temple enjoyed an immense

popularity during the Chola reign. Interestingly, these

epigraphs reveal that this deity was called Vishnu Bhatara in

the Pallava times, as Tirumukkudal-Azhwar and Mahavishnu

in the Chola period and as Venkateswara Swami at a later

date.

Temple Epigraphs

Among these records, the most important and interesting

one is engraved on the east wall of the first prakara and

belongs to the period of Vira-Rajendra Chola (1062-1070

A.D.). This long epigraph records the existence of a VEDIC

COLLEGE located in the JANANATHA-MANTAPA inside this

temple in the 11th century A.D. where eight subjects

including the Rig Veda, Yajur Veda and Grammar were

taught. The number of students enrolled in this educational

centre, the number of teachers for each subject and the daily

remuneration paid have been detailed in this inscription.

This well-preserved record also mentions that these

students lived in a hostel attached to this college where

cooks and servants were employed to take care of the needs

of the inmates.


11 of 18 28/12/2012 21:57

Temple Epigraphs at Sri Venkatesa Perumal Temple

In addition, this inscription speaks about a Hospital (athura-

salai) attached to this temple where students and temple

staff were treated. This Hospital, called VIRA-CHOLAN, had 15

beds and a large staff comprising a physician named

Kodandaraman Ashvathaman-Bhattan, a surgeon who

performed surgical operations, many nurses who attended

on the patients, servants who fetched medicinal herbs and

also a barber. The payment given to the hospital staff and

the names of about 20 Ayurvedic medicines stored in this

hospital are given in detail in this informative epigraph. This

ancient Chola Hospital followed the Tamil model of Siddha

System of Medicine.

IN MANY OF THE VISHNU TEMPLES IN THE TAMIL COUNTRY

DURING THE CHOLA TIMES, PROVISION WAS MADE FOR


12 of 18 28/12/2012 21:57

THE RECITATION OF NAMMAZHWAR'S `TIRUVOIMOZHI'

AND THE TIRUMUKKUDAL TEMPLE WAS NO EXCEPTION AS

THE CONTENTS OF THIS INSCRIPTION REVEAL.

Other inscriptions mention Rajendra-I, Vira-Rajendra and

Kulottunga-I, referring to endowments and gifts made to

Thirumukkoodal temple, which clearly enjoyed great

popularity during the Chola reign.

Thanks to these ancient epigraphs, Thirumukkoodal Temple

is considered as a monument of national importance. I have

already referred to some of the longest Chola inscriptions on

record in this ancient temple. More than a thousand years

old, these inscriptions contain some of the earliest known

definitions on record for DOCTOR and NURSE.

I am furnishing below the Texts of one of the Chola

Inscriptions relating to the functioning of a Hospital at this

spot.

Text no. 1

# % ' )*

+ '* ,*

-* ./ * 0

-1* 2 - 0

30 5-*6 0

8 )* * 396

0 )* 1',

3* 1' - *

3911 0

* 0 3*

3* * 3 1'* 311

0 )*

0 * * ,*

-1* 3* ;)* 0 16

0

3011' =>* 1

+0 * + + 3*

A- +3* A

+0 * +0 * 3B*

+0 * 3* %)*


13 of 18 28/12/2012 21:57

/* %)* =.- 3*

%)* 3* %)* .. * 1*

* 1* * 3C*

38* 5- 38* '-

38* /* %*

* % *

3* 1',* ;)* D* E .

31* F.. 5; * E

52* )*

0 3 E 80H2

3; 2-' 3I*..

0 06 K -* K

F 1-D* *L 3

' -M ;0 16 0

E N23

38* -* M-*

1 3* 3 P*

2 1K;* % 1

8 8M* Q )

0 0 - F 1-

E * * 3 0 #D*

A- 1N2 2- 8 1%

8M* 5

1H21- 3 D* 5

-+ 0 3 0*

05 D* +3

'* ;+ ''* #'

1 * 0

I have given a detailed description of the spiritual significance of

Thirumukkoodal and the glory and the grandeur of Trimurti

Appan Venkatesa Perumal Temple. Very near the sacred spot,

on the other side of the Palar River perched on a hillock lies

another famous Temple of Pazhaya Seevaram Laksmi-

Narasimha Swamy Temple.


14 of 18 28/12/2012 21:57

Laksmi-Nrsimha Temple on hillside

Front Entrance of Laksmi-Nrsimha Temple, Pazhaya

Sheevaram

Lord Nrsimhadev is a very large Santha-murti (sweet and

charming), and is very beautiful indeed. In His home temple, Sri

Laksmi-Nrsimha sits facing Kanchipuram. His temple is at the

place where Goddess Mahalaksmi is said to have pacified the

Lord.


15 of 18 28/12/2012 21:57

On the day following Sankranthi (Mattu Pongal day in the Tamil

month of Thai), Lord Varadarajaswami leaves his abode in

Kanchipuram and crosses the Palar River and goes to meet Lord

Lakshmi Narasimha at Pazhaya Seevaram. Then Lord

Varadarajaswami and Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy go

together to Thirumukkoodal to visit Sri Appan Venkatesa

Perumal. The 3 deities together proceed from one temple

mandapa to the next, and devotees throng to the Sri Appan

Venkatesa Perumal Temple to get their darshan. This religious

observance is known as Pazhaiya Seevaram Paarivettai, which

celebrates the Lord's destruction of demonic forces. A similar

festival is held in many Vishnu temples in the area.

CONCLUSION:


16 of 18 28/12/2012 21:57

Let me quote the words of Sri Aurobindo: what can one

possibly say of a country that believes in not just a God, but

a God that lives in the heart of men, a god that works

through the hazy networks of life after life, waiting, hoping

and eternally confident that one day we will arrive --- what

words can possibly fit to describe such fervour, such

conviction, such immensity of plan and purpose? What can

be said of those who relentlessly shy away from Darwinian

Theories of Evolution to spew forth their own? What can be

said of those who believe this land to have been struck by

Gods own arrow, giving birth to Gods own country, not just

a mere push and shove of glaciers? Ancient Bharata ---

where does she begin? When did she end? Or has she even

ended? There are those who say, NO. They say She has no

beginning, no end, like the Brahman that She loves and

swears by, which begins from Nothing and ends into

Nothing. Timeless. But what if all our imagination is

empty and meaningless? What if She is truly just another

piece of land, nothing more? What if that strange Echo that

one hears inside the womb of silence is only our madness

and not Her Eternal Spirit, throbbing, pulsating, living? What

if Her Chroniclers, the ones that chisel stones and paint

dreams are only eking out a living, not in tune with the

life-force that runs underneath the stone, unable to put a

finger on the pulse that beats in the heart of brick-walls? If

this is true, then all the more do we hang to our imagination,

empty or not? And if madness is all it is, then who is to say

whether madness is not but a step closer to the Divine? In

that case, it is a step we shall gladly take!Posted by Durgadevi at 12:54 PM

1 comment:

Anonymous December 31, 2011 1:51 PM

Thirumakudal - Please visit this temple. This is really very

good. You can contact the priest of the temple. His phone no.

is 9444915722 & 9443778352 to perform any pooja offerings.

Reply


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