Sthalapuranam
of Athigiri
Patthi
mudhalama vatril pathi ennaku koodamal
Etthisaiyum uzhadrodi elaithu vizhum kakampol
Muthitarum nagareazhil mukiyamam kachithanil
Athigiri arulalarku adaikalam naan pugunthanea
Swami Desikan - Adaikalappattu –1
The above mentioned the pasurams in the adaikalappattu reveals that
this posting is about THIRUKACCHI - ATHTHIGIRI : Perun Devi thayar sametha
Varadaraja perumal
Attiyuraan
pulaiyurvan, animaniyin
Tuthi ser nagathin mel thuyilvaan, muthi
Maraiyavaan makadal nanzhuandan tanakum
Eraiyavan engal piran
Boodatazhwar
– Irandam Thiruvandadi – 96
This kshetra is mentioned in padmapurana and kurmapurana. This is the
avathara sthalam of Poigai Piran. This is once a very beautiful and very
important trade centre of the past and this is one of the muktiu kshetra “
nagareshu Kanchi. “.This kshetra is very important to all the
srivaishnavites and it is known as Perumal Kovil in the SrI vaishanavite
parlance.
Location : About the Temple: Kanchipuram is one of the major city in in
South India, where lots of Vaishnava temples are found. Kanchipuram is
situated in Tamil Nadu. It is about 70 Kms away from Chennai. Lots of bus
and lodging facilities are available.(
Please refer map for further details )
The
temple atop a small hill has five prakara viz Vaiyyamailikai, Senayarkon,
Alavandhar, Azhwar Thiruvedhi and Madaveethi. The Garuda sevai during
Vaikasi visakam is very famous.
Specialties:
Avathara Sthalam of Poigai Alwar. Like Srirangam Here also the Vaishnavism
is flourishing.
Here there is Lord named
Athivaradhar.
The Idol is made of Atthi Tree and It is lying in the Temple Tank and it
is taken out for Bhakthas's Darisanam once in 40 years and that too this
Lord gives darshan to Bhakthas's only for 40 days ( One mandalam) .
Then
Lord Kanchi Vardharajars Vaikasi Garudha Sevai is Very famous.
It is said the Iyaravatha ( The celestial Elephant) has taken the form of
a Mountain and our Emberuman is stationed on that ( There are 24 steps if
you observe and it looks like our Devadhi Rajan is standing on a small
Hill lock) Giri means mountain, Hence this place is known as Athi Giri (
Vedhagiri) .
Lord Brahma wanted to get the darshan of Sriman Narayanan in Chathur
Bhujam (with four hands) and because of this, did penance. First the
Perumal gave his seva in the form of Theertham, Which is now called as "PUSHKAR"
situated in Rajasthan. Next he gave the seva in the form of Forest, which
in now called as "NAIMASARANYAM" near Delhi . You know that no one is
fully satisfied so was our Lord Brahma . At that time, he heard an Asarari
(an celestial voice ) which said that to get the darshan of Sri
Varadaraja, he must do the great Ashwamedha yagam (Sathya Vrudam) for
hundred times. Lord Brahma felt so depressed that did not have enough time
nor the patience to perform 100 Ashwametha yagam. Finally Sriman Narayanan
instructed him to perform a Ashwametha yagam at Hasthagiri which will be
equal to doing 100 Ashwametha yagam. It is said that doing one Ashwametha
yagam in Kanchipuram is equivalent to doing 100 times elsewhere.
Lord Chaturmukha Brahma started the yagam and from the yagna Kundam came
our beloved Emberuman , he gave his darshan as desired by Lord Brahma .
Emberuman was pleased with Brahma for performing a Ashwamedha Yagam in
Athi Giri Kshetram and since he granted the Varam to Lord Brahma
Emberuman is called as Sri Vardharaaja . As per the sthala puranam Brahma
performed Ashwamedha Yagna to have the darshan of Lord and the lord
appeared from the Yagam Kundam and the
Face of the Lord displays
signs of scorching from fire.
Pleased with the yagna Lord granted the boon, Hence the name Varadaraja.
This place was worshipped in Krutayuja by Brahma, in Tretayuja by
Gajendra, in Dwaparayuja by Brahaspati and in Kaliyuga by Adishesha
How the name Kanchi came to town is : Ka = Brahma & Anjitham = who was
worshipped. Since, Brahma worshipped Emberuman as Vardharaaja, this
sthalam is called "Kanchi". Since Our Emberuman was satisfied with Brahma
Devan and granted him a boons he is called Varadarajan.
Asamanjan ( Son of King Sakarani of Ayodhya's ) and his wife as a result
of curse, they became Lizards. Sage Ubamanyu as ked them to worship Lord
Vardharaaja and due to this they regained their original form. Both these
two lizards can be seen in this sthalam in a small Sannadhi. It is said on
touching this lizards, all kinds of problems and diseases are cured. Still
now all the bhaktas come far and near to worship these lizards to get
their problems solved.
Azhagiyasingar - Nrusimha is found along with Arithra Devi Thayar and his
Sannadhi Vimanam is (cave) Guhai Vimanam.
Mangalasasnam:
Thirumangai Alwar - 4 Pasurams ( Pasurams # 1541,2050,2060 & 2066)
Bhoodhathalwar- 2 Pasurams ( 2276 & 2277)
Pey Alwar - 1 Pasurams (2307)
Total of 7 Pasurams is sung on praise of Lord of this Kshetram.
Other Noble souls who did Mangalasasnam in Thirukachi are: Aalavanthaar,
Thirukachinambi This place is also dear to Swami Thirukacchi Nambigal
who was one of the acharyas to Swami Bhasyakarar. It is Nambigal who used
to talk with Lord dEva Rajan daily during Nambigal Alavatta Kainkaryam
(Fan) It is said that during the last days of the Nambigal, Nambigal was
not able to travel to Kanchipuram from ponnamalee. Hence the Lord Deva
Rajan became Pratyaksham to Nambigal early morning in ponnamalee. We can
also see that Lord dEva Rajan is giving darshan to people with surya
mandalam in ponnamalee the avathara sthalam of Nambigal . A Mantapam know
as Kacchi Mantapam there where lord Vardha comes and sits during Ustavam
and this Mantapam is very near sacred sanctum) , Udayavaar, Koorathazhvaan,
Nadathur Ammal ( It is said that God gave him the title of Ammal because
whenever he used to offer Hot milk as Neyvediyam he use to make it cool it
and offer milk to God it used to appear as loving mother cares for
welfare of child . Vedantha Desikan (
There is a painting
illustrating the Kalashepam of Nadathur Ammal and this is the place where
our swami Desikan was first spotted and blessed by Nadathur Ammal by
following words "Pratishtapita Vedaantah Prati- Kshipta Bahir Mathaa
Bhooyaah Traividyaa Maanyas Tvam Bhoori Kalayana Bhaajanam"
Please see the
picture in photo gallery.),
Manavala Maamunigal etc.
Bhaktas can enter the temple through Punniyakodi Vimanam, which is 200 H x
800 W and fully surrounded by huge walls. After entering we can find
Nootrukkal Mantapam (Mantapam with 100 pillars) which has extra ordinary
sculptures on each pillars and a chain made up of stone can be seen.
Behind this Mantapam, we can find the Pushkarini.
Ps: Swami Desikan blessed us with a Grantham titled Hasthagiri Mahatmiya
in manipravala style. The Tamil pasurams of this Grantham are compiled as
a Tamil prabandham and titled Meyvratha Mahatmiya. Aththigiri or
Hasthagiri means Kanchipuram. As we can easily guess this prabandham
provides the sthala puranam of Kanchipuram and the birth of PerArulalan.
Here is the story: Long ago Brahma wanted to worship Perumal in person and
he could not succeed due to his karmas. He came to Bharatha Gantam and
undertook severe penance. That time one divine voice or prophecy from the
heavens told him that he should go to Sathyavratha Kshetram and perform
Ashwamedha yagam constructing a Yagashala at Hasthagiri. Brahma then
ordered Viswakarma the chief architect of devas to construct a Yagashala
at Hasthagiri for which Viswakarma obliged. Brahma was getting ready to
perform the Yagam as ordered by the Celestial voice
But at that time Brahma’s wife Saraswathi Devi was not with him due to
some misunderstanding with him. Saraswathi separately went to the banks of
river Saraswathi and performing penance. Since the religious functions
can’t be performed alone and only with the Ardhagini, Brahma sent his son
Sage Vashishta to invite Saraswathi. Sage Vashishta went to his mother and
invited her but she refused. Brahma continued the Yagam with his other
wives like Savithri etc.
Asuras who never be happy with the welfare of devas went to Saraswathi and
created further misunderstanding by telling her that Brahma is continuing
his Yagam without Saraswathi thus ignoring her. This made Saraswathi
furious and she took the form of a river and hurried to destroy the
Yagashala. Sriman Narayana stopped her from destroying the Yagashala by
lying down across her/river. Saraswathi realised her mistake and re joined
Brahma. Brahma was happy at her return and proceeded with the Yagam.
Once the Havis was offered, from the Yagaya Kundam a Vimanam called
Punyakoti Vimanam came out with great tejas. SrI PerArulalan was also
appeared in the Vimanam ( If you closely observe the Uthsava moorthy you
can find some (scars ) Thazumbhu in the face of the idol. Brahma was
extremely happy and offered his prayers to Perumal. Sriman Narayana was
also happy with the devotion of Brahma and ordered him to ask for any
boons. Brahma immediately requested for Perumal to stay at Hasthagiri for
which Perumal agreed to. Brahma thus successfully completed the Yagam and
then went to sathyalokam and immersed in the bhagavath dhyanam.
 
Imaginary Picture depicting Brahma praying to Lord Vishnu & Brahma
conducting a yagna
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