Details

Parent Category: Vedic Literature

Category: Silapathikaram - Kannagi

Hits: 28176

KANNAGI TEMPLES  ACROSS TAMIL NADU AND KERALA

When Chera king started Kannagi worship , slowly the entire Chera country adopted the cult. After constructing Kannagi  Kottam in Kambham valley , Chera kings found hard to leave their capital city to visit the temple all the time. So Chera Senguttuva constructed the Kodungalloor Bahavathy shrine. With his royal influence , he must have brought the remains of Kannagi to his capital and placed inside the secret chamber.

Kannagi's curse made Pandiya country to suffer without rain for 12 years. Today Sreelanka is siffering with wars and blood sheds because of Seetha's negative mind vibrations. Similarly Kannagi's vibrations brought famine, drought and sickness to Pandiya country.

So Pandiyas decided to adapt Kannagi cult. They started worshipping her as goddess of monsoon rain. She was named as '' Maari amman''. The term ''maari'' means monsoon rainfall. So Pandiyan kings established Maari amman shrines all over the country.

The most famous Maari amman shrines in Pandiya country are,

1. Vera paandy - Gowmaari amman

2. Erukkan gudi - Maari amman

3. Thiruchendur - Sandana Maari amman

4. Ponamaravathy - Ponalagi naachiyar amman

5. Madurai - Shimmakal Selli amman

6. Shankaran koil - Veeri amman

7. Dindigul - Kottai Maari amman

There are various other shrines across Tamil nadu and even in Andra and Karnataka states.

The 3 most famous Maari amman shrines in Tamil nadu are,

1. Trichy - Samayapuram Mahamaari amman

2. Tanjavoor - Punnainalloor Muthu maari amman

3. Chennai - Thiruverkaadu Sreedevi Karumaari amman

How Maari amman looks?

* Today there is no town or village in this state without Maariamman temple. There are villages where there is worst famine and drought, but they never stop in worshipping and celebrating Maariamman festivals once in a year. Maari amman has been celebrated with many adjectives like muthu maari, sandana maari, seethala maari . She is believed to be the goddess of small and chicken pox also. These 2 diseases are believed  to be her physical presence in our body. The anti viral neem tree, turmeric paste and lemon fruit are believed to be her residing places.

She is usually seated on an altar. She folds any one of her leg and hangs another leg, which will be placed on a lotus. She wears a crown which has flames . They represents her chastity , honesty and power. She has 4 hands. The uppers arms holds a small drum tied to a snake and a trident. But some idols holds an anklet. The lower hands holds a sharp sword and a bowl with honey . But Samayapuram and Dindigul Ammans have 8 hands.

Disease with fear and devotion:

Some idols has a 5 hooded snake like an umbrella on the crown. Lion is considered as her mount. Usually she is placed under neem trees. She is decorated with lemon  garlands just to cool her body and mind. Ash is her prasadham. It is believed that she threw all the pearls from the queen's anklets as pox globules. The pox globules are always named as '' muthu'' meaning pearls. The home and person where the pox prevails is respected with devotion and fear for her. Every day  the house member visits her shrine and offer special poojas to her. Especially the women pours water mixed with neem leaves and turmeric to the sacred altar in the shrines. The sacred water will be given to the patient also.

In Coimbatore area Kannagi is celebrated as most important goddess as Maariamman. Elango adikal has mentioned specially this . He said that she is the most important goddess in Coimbatore zone and Western part of the Tamil country which means present Kerala.

Important Kannagi shrines in Coimbatore zone:

* Coimbatore city - Kone amman, Dharnu maari amman

* Bhavani - Sellandi amman

* Erode - Kongu aal amman [ The goddess who rules Kongu nadu] or Kongai alladha amman [ the goddess without one breast]

* Thiruchengodu [ mentioned  by Elango adikal ] - Ardha naari

* Raasipuram - Nithya Sumangali maari  amman

* Salem city - Kottai maari amman

So Kannagi is getting celebrated as a powerful , kind  mother but at the same time one who stand against injustice by Tamils. In Kerala most of the Kannagi has transformed as Goddess Bahavathy. Special article will talk about it later.

So now we are back to our journey towards Kambham valley to see Kannagi kottam. Dr. Govindharasanar only discovered this spot after 14 years of research. But the dispute between 2 states has made this spot to get spoiled more and more. I feel very sorry to say this. When we reached Kambham people said that we need to take a bus and climb the mountains to reach Kumuli town. From there we need to take a jeep into deep forests to Kannagi kottam. We liked to climb the mountains , but every one laughed and teased our eagerness. It was raining when we took the bus and started climbing the mountains. Our minds were just imagining how she would have climbed?

The greatest disappointment:

When we got down in Kumuli town we were flying as if we have achieved a great task. Then we started asking the local auto drivers about the route. They all laughed at us. There we came to know the spot is very very long and the route is very tedious to go. Few jeep drivers asked 1000s of rupees to take to that spot. Then we approached the Kerala state police to guide us. They asked many questions about us and about the motive of our journey and finally said  that  they need the permission letters from  governments of both states. The spot where Kannagi kottam exists is under the dispute. Than that the monsoon was very heavy and elephants were expected to trouble us. I was in tears and prayed Kodungallor amma to show her foot prints. Then a police said that the place will be cleared and opened for the people only in May month to celebrate Chitra poornima day. We were very much disappointed. Pradheep pampered me a lot and I almost cried. Then we bought jack fruit and left back to university.

Later in 1998 Kodungalloor amma permitted me to visit her Kottam without Pradheep.  The next article will talk in detail about my sacred but fearsome trip to Kannagi kottam.

Dr.Madeswaran

Details

Parent Category: Vedic Literature

Category: Silapathikaram - Kannagi

Hits: 18692

MY TRIP TO KANNAGI KOTTAM

In 1998 , I got the support from one of my close family friend who resides in Vathalagundu. It is a small town near Thene. I went there and had a very nice stay before 24 hrs. We just prepared our self mentally  and physically. Our trip was well planned. On May month, Chitra poornima day by 4 A.M myself and Mr. Prathaban took a bus to Thene. On the way Mr. Palaniswamy also joined with us.

We got down in Thene and took a light break fast. Then we went to Kambham town. Tamil nadu and Kerala  governments has arranged for special bus to Kumuli to reach Kannagi kottam.

When we got down in Kumuli, we were so much excited. The devotees were rushing to vans and jeeps . Many people used to climb the mountains from Tamil nadu border all along Kannagi's foot prints. It will take 4 to 5 hrs to climb the hills.

We took a jeep and reached the place 1 Km away from Kannagi kottam. The trip was very very adventurous and dangerous through thick dense jungle. But we did not see any of the wild animals. Women were walking with metal pots, fire wood and pooja items.

We started walking towards the spot. My mind got  back  to Kannagi's ages. I was searching for her foot prints. Slowly we reached the Kottam. It is totally ruined because of the carelessness of both the state governments.

Inside the Kottam:

The entire Kottam is surrounded by strong granite compound wall. The main entrance is facing the east, through which Kannagi has entered. There are clusters of vengai trees dancing in strong wind. There  is a small shrine with a damaged idol of Ganesha. It  must be the later addition, because south Indians knew Ganesha only after 7 A.D.

I saw the idol carved by the Chera king:

There are 2 more shrines. One shrine is facing the east. Inside that we can see the marble stone idol of Kannagi without head. But the priest has decorated with metal mask and garments. The idol looked very beautiful. There was a long line of devotees waiting to see Kannagi and offer the poojas. Women prepared the traditional sweet called '' pongal'' and offered to Kannagi.

Mangaladevi:

Kannagi in Kannagi kottam is known as '' Mangaldevi''. The word '' mangala'' means '' wealth and prosperity''. She is the goddess who bless us with all wealth and prosperity. The word mangal also gives the meaning '' very holy ''. In Kerala she is named as '' Bahavathy'' meaning '' the goddess who bless us with wealth, beauty, braveness, health, victory, wisdom and power''.

The secret chamber:

But near that shrine , there is an other big shrine. But there is nothing inside  this shrine. But my interest got focused in side this . The shrine is a quiet big hall . The sanctum spot is empty. But there is a big hole on the floor. If the main idol is placed in another shrine , why we need to have this place?

This must be an other secret chamber . The shrine must have been dedicated to preserve the remains of Kannagi. Later they must have been taken to Kodungalloor. History has recorded that this temple was under normal regular worship till 12 A.D. Many kings have dedicated to Kannagi and offered many gifts and monitory help.

Because of the safety, wild animals and other reasons like foreign invasions people must have forgot or ignored this place. But Kannagi is still living in every body's mind and life. The Paleyar community has installed another small shrine for Kannagi near Kambham town. Only on this occasion they visit the real Kottam.

The Cheras were staunch devotees of Kannagi and the Chengutuva king must have reinstalled Kannagi's remains from this place. But if we refer to Silappathikaaram, we have very interesting  facts about Kannagi. But we need to get into Kodungalloor shrine and see few things inside the temple complex.

The sacred women inside Kodungalloor temple:

If we keenly observe Kodungalloor temple complex, we can see few women who are involved in various temple activities like making garlands, preparing turmeric paste, sweeping the floor and washing the vessels and lamps. Who are they?

In our country , always public will involve in such activities in temples. But in Kondungalloor shrine the women alone are allowed to participate in such activities. They have a very long history from Kannagi's time.

A true friend:

When Chera king constructed the Kottam in Kumuli , many people who were related to Kannagi and Kovalan were invited to attend the Kumbhabeshekam [ initiative  rituals to begin worship in a new temple]. There came Devanthy --  Kannagi's very close friend along with Aaiyai [ Madhari's girl who gave abode to Kannagi in Madurai ].

When poojas were initiated Devanthy became very upset and emotional. Let us see how she is talking to her close friend 's idol.

'' Dear Kannagi! how can you become an idol? Do you know that your father and Kovalan's father gave up all their wealth to poor people and became Jain monks?

Dear friend! Your mother and mother - in- law have committed suicide. They were unable to accept the tragedy happened to you in Madurai. Please see this poor girl Aaiyai. Her mother could not accept the tragedy happened to you. She was in very guilty conscious about it. So she too has jumped into fire and killed herself.''

Chera king came to know about her close friendship with Kannagi. He appointed her as the special priestess in Kannagi Kottam. Later she must have settled in Kodungalloor shrine because of safety . Along with her , Kannagi's remains must have brought to Kodungalloor. Kannagi's father must have sent her jewels and other things through Devanthy to the Kottam.

Today Devanthy's generations or disciples are continuing  their holy service to Kodungalloor Bahavathy . We must respect them, help them . Their total dedication to Bahavathy is really a sacred service. Today we can see Kannagi's thaale chains adorning Kodungalloor amma's chest.

The sacred thaale of Kannagi:

Kannagi was born in Chettiyar community. Even today the Chettiyar women wear long chains with many thaales. Thaale is the unique symbol of wedding. There must be other such ornaments inside the secret chamber. The arthamerus are decorated with kaasumalai chains . They too must have belong to Kannagi. I am very  dare to say this, because  they all belong to very very old style.

The secret rituals inside the secret chamber:

On Aadi month new moon day , secret rituals will be performed inside the secret chamber. Aadi month new moon days was the day Kannagi burnt Madurai. So on this day the idol is also smeared with a special oil extract prepared from the vengai trees from Kumuli hills. We need to connect the links between the incidents in Kannagi's life. This sacred ritual is named as '' Chaandhu  aatam''.

So there are lot of historical links between Kodungalloor and Kannagi kottam. So I had a very nice experience in Kannagi kottam. I spent lot of time inside each shrine and imagined the various incidents narrated by Elango adikal.

The sacred magical spring:

If we go down from the east entrance , there is  a small spring . The water is yellow color. This spring has been mentioned in Silappathykaaram. It is believed that the spring  water   will make us to remember our previous births. During the Kannagi kottam festival Devanthy has sprinkled this holy water on few devotees and made them to recollect their previous births. I got into the spring and prayed for every body.

The eastern gate is considered to be most important through which Kannagi has stepped into the mountain plain. The clusters of vengai trees are seem to be meditating Kannagi's sacred feet.

Hearty blessings:

I saw the very high mountains covered with clouds and jungles. I asked them to show Kannagi's sacred feet and form. If they have a mouth and language they will talk stories about Kannagi's climax. I also saw the natural boundary [ mountain chains]  which is separating Kerala and Tamil nadu. This is the place where a great noble woman is resting.  If we see this place , we wonder how she has climbed the great mountains. It is a great task to get granites in that area. But how the workers have collected and brought plenty of stones to erect the Kottam? It is Kannagi's blessing to the Chera king and his country people. Today Kerala is very very green and fertile because of the heavy monsoon showers. It is believed that Devi Bahavathy is blessing the whole state with rain and wealth.

Aai rai malai kaali:

 This place  is also called as  '' aai rai malai''. It is actually '' aaye malai''. AAye means Kaale devi. There was  very ancient shrine for Kaale devi in this mountain. She has been praised as '' Aaye giri nandhine'' by saint Aadhi shankarar in his Mahishasura mardhini slokam. I believe that this Kannagi kottam is called Aairai malai Kaale Kottam in ancient times.

The very ancient Tamil literature '' Padhetrue pathu'' [ 10 long songs which narrates the history of 10 Chera kings] say that Senguttuva erected the shrine in Aaerai malai.

Like Poompuhar, Madurai and Kodungalloor ; Kannagi kottam has to be respected and visited by us. The state governments of Tamil nadu and Kerala must care this place of historical importance.

Homage to the great professor:

By afternoon 2 P.M we were asked by the police to leave the place. I was in deep emotional attachment with Kannagi and her Kottam. I was just missing Pradheep. But I took photos and showed him. I was just looking the  deep jungles, clouds and mountains till the bus crossed the Kambham valley. In this context I am thanking the professor Dr. Govindharasanar who took the maximum risk to discover this place. This article is dedicated to his feet which has traveled from  Poompuhar till Kodungalloor and climbed the  Kumuli hills. After this trip for many days my mind was just thinking about the trip and history. One day I made a trip to a famous Devi shrine in Kerala. It is near Ernakulam city. Let us go there .......

Dr.Madeswaran

Details

Parent Category: Vedic Literature

Category: Silapathikaram - Kannagi

Hits: 14819

THE SACRED STONE FOR EXORCIST RITUAL

Kerala state is very famous for its Devi goddess] temples. There are 108 Devi temples considered to be very important. Our ancestors have studied each and every aspect of human life in detail.

Our ancestors have concentrated much in human psychology. Modern medicine has started accepting the fact of '' mind and health''. But in ancient India , the Aayur vedic and Siddha medicinal systems have focused mainly on mental health parallely to physical health.

All great civilizations believe in black magic, spirits and evil energy as devils, ghosts and demy gods. People believe that human beings are often affected by these negative forces and the life becomes sorrowful.

But Indians has made the real spiritualism as the treatment for such patients. We will never feel bad our life and tough timings , if we visit a place called  Chotranikara near Ernakulam city.

It is a very famous Devi shrine in our nation . It is the place were the mentally disturbed patients are treated without any medication. The rituals and  chants alone will cure them. If we see the patients and their family   suffering , we will thank God for making us to live as such. One will give up the desire for wealth and fame if he or she observe the mental illness of such patients.

Chotranikara Bahavathy:

Chotranikara is actually named as '' Jothy yalundha kara''. It means the river bank where goddess appeared as a flame. It is near Ernakulam city. It is very small town with many cottages and hotels. The shrine is very famous for the exorcism and  ancestral rituals.

The temple has very strong link with Kannagi. Let us enter into the temple. The main shrine is located on a raised altar. We need to be there at 4 A.M to see an auspicious deity.

By 4 A.M when the conch blew , the doors are opened. Inside the small sanctum we can see a 5 feet height rock and a small rock also near by. The rocks are dark in color. They are considered as Goddess and Krishna . The goddess is form less and priests clean the sandal paste and flowers from the idols [ rocks].

Then they start washing the idols with cold water . There is a small golden disc as thaale fixed to the idol. Then the idol is decorated and rituals will be done. This idol is Devi Bahavathy. She is decorated as Saraswathy [ goddess of wisdom] in morning with pur white garments and jewels.

By 11 A.M the golden mask of the goddess will be fixed to the rock and decorated as Mahalaxmi [ goddess of wealth] Green , yellow garments will be used to depict wealth.

The golden mask :

The golden mask of the goddess is very big. She showers the true motherly love and affection from her eyes which cures all the mental and physical disturbances. She has 4 hands. She bears a conch and disc . 2 other hands show the symbol of give abode and blessing. The mask will be decorated with unique jewels like in Kodungalloor . Plenty of flowers , lemons adorn her mask. The shrine is illuminated with many ghee lamps.

By evening, the goddess will decorated as   Durga [ goddess of power] with red cloths. By 7 P.M she will be decorated as Kaali [ the ultimate source of universal energy] with blue cloths.

Then the tiny golden idol  of goddess will be taken around the shrine on an elephant for 3 times. I am explaining other rituals and legends about this temple now.

I was made to focus on the tiny golden idol. The goddess has 2 hands holding an anklet and sword. Haa !!! she is Kannagi! My mind just woke up and started searching for her foot prints . How Kannagi came to this place? I was waiting to go home soon to refer the literature.

Who saved the sacred rock?

Silappathykaaram says that there was a sacred dark stone in the central part of Poompuhar city. People who were disturbed by black magic, disease and evil energy were made to stay near this stone for few days. They believed that the stone will cure their mental and physical hazards. People lived in that city has respected the stone and worshipped.

This little piece of information made me to think a lot. What has happened to this stone. When the city got washed away by the early tsunami waves,  many important historical objects must have been saved. When Kannagi's jewels and other things were saved; the Chera king must have saved this stone and the huge Shetrabalaka idol from Poompuhar city and installed here.

The goddess is decorated as Durga, Laxmi and Saraswathy. This temple is very famous for this type of decoration. Why they need to do the rituals like this? Again we need to see Silappathykaaram text.

Elango adikal praises Kannagi as the incarnation of all the three goddesses who killed Pandiya king and burnt Madurai. So our ancient Tamils respected women as the incarnation of goddess. This cult must have introduced the ritual methods in Chotranikara.

I have heared from few priests that even Kodungalloor amma has been worshipped as the 3 forms of goddesses in olden days. So Chotranikara temple is an another place linked with Kannagi cult. Let us travel towards  Thiruvanandhapuram city - the state capital.

Dr.Madeswaran

Details

Parent Category: Vedic Literature

Category: Other Vedic Literature

Hits: 11234

KABILA ACHARYA AVATHARAM FROM SRIMATH NARAYANEEYAM

Maharshih KapilAcharyah Kritajno Medineepatih                  |

Tripadas Tredas-adhyaksho Maha-Shringah Kritaantakrit

||Vishnu Sahasranamam-SLOKA-57||

Maharshi Kapilaachaaryah with gratitude (Kritajno), the one who has mastered the entire knowledge (Medineepatih), the one who is the knower of all the created objects,  guide us to cross the three realms (Body Mind and Intelligence) (Tripadas)to  blissfully (Treedas) preside (witness/experience) (Adhyaksho)  the highest state (Maha-Shringah) where one annihilates all actions (Sakthi-Awareness-Energy) to the Eternal actionless state (Consciousness-Para Brahmam) Kritaantakrit.

* Bhrama's son Swaayambhuva Manu meditated upon Lord Vishnu and listened to Vishnu Puranam and lived a contented life.

 * By this time Bhrama's shadow created a son called Karthamar who is Prajapathy.

 * Karthamar was very much interested in knowing the universal pattern and he meditated upon Lord Vishnu to attain the knowledge of universal pattern for 10,000 years and had the vision of Vishnu.

 * Vishnu appeared before Karthamar and showed his lotus by which he was made to imbibe the wisdom of patterns.

 * He also asked him to marry Manu's daughter Devahuthi.

 * He said that they will give birth to 9 daughters and a son who will be Vishnu himself.

 * Manu and his wife Sadharoopa were advised by Naradha to give their daughter Devahuthi to Karthamar.

 * After wedding Karthamar was totally involved in Vishnu pooja and Devahuthi served her husband with real dedication and love.

 * Karthamar was impressed by his wife's service and by his yogic trans he made her to enjoy the joy of youngness in all 5 levels and made her to be very happy. He mated her with 9 patterns of mind and gave birth to 9 daughters.

 * So Karthamar was known as ''Navathma''.

 * By serving her husband with true dedication Devahuthi was bestowed with all siddies.

 * Karthamar wished to get into jungles for Sanyasa ashram and before that he blessed Devahuthi with a son who is the incarnation of Vishnu.

 * The objective of Lord's incarnation as Kabila is to make the people to realize the ultimate truth about the ''self''.

Narayaneeyam explains further about Kabila's teachings to his mother Devahuthi as follows:

* The human mind is bonded to the 3 characters - Thamasic-Rajas and Sathwik.

* Because of these characters of mind the mind is bonded to all types of relations and attachments.

* When the mind is released from these bonds by the awareness, the amritha of moksha - ever bliss can be enjoyed by us.

* For that the mind has to be trained through ''bakthy marga''.[True surrender by total acceptance and service to all] True devotion and service to God releases our mind from all such bondages.

* So all wise men follow this batkhy marga and attains moksha. For attaining moksha bakthy marga alone is the easiest way.

* Moola prakruthy, mahath thathvam, ahankaram, 5 dhanmatras, panchaboothas, mind, 10 indriyas all these 24 thathvas joins with the 25th thathva called ''purusha''. When these 25 thathvas got realized by our mind the jeeva gets total liberation from all bonds and enjoys the bliss of anandha. [Splitting and simplifying the 25 thathvas is known as Sangiya School established by Kabila Deva]

* Prakruthi's characters never affects the purusha as long as the purusha makes himself relates to them with desires.

* But people who suffer from all these when worship me and trains themself with the spiritual lessons I give them the liberation from 24 thathvas.

* When a person with true love and pure thoughts worship me through pranayama, prathyaharanam, dhyanam and dhaaranai his mind will be released from the bonds.

* He is advised to worship and meditate my form residing upon Garuda.[Garuda is the symbol of Vedas - spiritual sciences]

* I appear upon Garuda with bluish complexion and I am decked with glittering gems and jewels. This form has to be meditated very often in the mind to get rid of ego.[very often spiritual practice has been said like this]

* Listen to my leelas, sing about me, feel me in everything which alone can be the weapon to chop the bonds. Such devotee will enjoy the bliss of liberation like the flow of Ganga.

* ''Son! What makes us to get into the hell of life?''

Kabila says, ''Mother! People, who just earn money and save them, people who just enjoy only the personal life, sex, children’s love with attachment, attachment to the family...ha! I feel very sacred to say how those people will suffer the hell upon Earth''

* During gestation the jeeva has wisdom, but when gets delivered he becomes ignorant and enjoys the attachment. He just spends his youth and become old and dies. He just wastes his life!

* Devahuthi aks, ''Son! Then what can Grahasthas can do?''

* Kabila answers, ''Mother! when a grahastha lives with real devotion and worships his Pithrus and Devathas, after his death, he just spends a good time in Dakshina marga, but when his account of good deeds gets over again he has to get into a birth cycle.''

* Devahuthi asks further, ''Ho..no! Then when can we do?''

* Kabila says, ''Mother! When a person really surrenders to me by ''nishkaama karma, he reaches the Uthara marga and enjoys the liberation, which means they merge with me which is called ''sathyo mukthy''

* ''People who are ignorant again and again takes birth through asura yoni'' [lower body level]

* By listening to this Devahuthi attained moksha and that place is northeast India is called as Gangasagaram.

* Kabila also went to that place and established his ashram and served the man kind.

* ''get surrender to the lotus feet of Lord, which alone can remove you from all fears and bless you with all needs'' says Kabila to his students.

The above article is based on Narayaneeyam. Dasakas: 14 and 15.

Bhagavatham

8: The Sons of Sagara Meet Lord Kapiladeva

http://srimadbhagavatam.org/canto9/chapter8.html

Canto 3b

https://issuu.com/aadhar/docs/canto3b-eng?e=1519898/32135455

Chapter 22: The Marriage of Kardama Muni and Devahûti

http://srimadbhagavatam.org/canto3/chapter22.html

Chapter 26: Fundamental Principles of Material Nature

http://srimadbhagavatam.org/canto3/chapter26.html