Proud of Prabhu Mahalingam and his team! What have they done?...

Dear Sir,

Mahaperiyava Charanam

I wanted to write to you with a special thanks for your support.

Please find the attached Kumbabhishekam photos for your reference. Also the photo of the old temple.  This is the 8th project completed by Akshayam Trust by Mahaperiyava's grace. HH Bala Periyava attended the Kumababishegam of  Vanmeega Nathar too.

It would be helpful to reach out to more people for more Kaingaryam's in future. Can you please upload this in the blog. Thanks for your continued support.

With Regards,

Prabhu Mahalingam

*****

Shankara.

So proud of Prabhu and his team.

May God SHOWER them with All the Blessings.

Shankara.

Here is a background about that Temple:Swamy Vanmeega Naathar is the name of the Lord residing in the middle of the paddy field, at Pilayar Palayam, Padalam, Kanchipuram. 

Sthala Puranam  of this temple is available in KANCHI PURANAM and is narrated as follows. 

Once, all the Devas were performing Yagyam for the sake of attaining Glory & Fame. This yagyam was performed in Kurushektra. At the end of the Yagyam, unlimited fame and glory was showered by Lord Shiva. But Lord Narayana stole all the Glory and Fame from the Devas and drove them away. 

Devas under the leadership of Indra could not compete with Lord Narayana’s Bow and Arrow. They started receding back. Seeing this Narayana laughed at them with pride and was standing with his Bow near an ant-hill (Puttru). Immediately Indra came down to Kanchipuram, installed and Shiva Lingam to the south west of Kailasanathar temple and started  doing Pooja.

Pleased with his penance, Lord Shiva appeared and asked about his wish.  Indra requested the Lord to grant back the lost fame and glory from Lord Narayana. Lord Shiva replied thus “Indra, you take the roopa of the termite in the ant-hill and make the bow string of Lord Vishnu to break so as to get back the lost Fame and Glory”. Indra performed as   per the words of Lord Shiva.  By taking the roopa of a termite, Indra destroyed the bow which suddenly broke down the head of Tirumal (which was resting on the bow)   and it severed and fell down. 

By this the Deva’s & Indra regained their lost Glory & Fame. Since then, this place was called “ Chinna Maakesavadhaanam” with the river China Chenniyaru flowing through this place.  

But soon the Devas realized that without Lord Vishnu, who was the real cause of yagya, they would not be able to receive their “Havi- Baagam. The Devas longed for the Havi-Baagam and became sad. 

Once again Indra reached Kanchi and prayed the same Lingam to get the head of Lord Vishnu restored and for Him to regain His form. Lord Shiva appeared again and replied that Lord Narayana’s head would be restored back by the Aswini Devas and he instructed that  Havi-Baagam should be given to them too each time during the yagyam. Accordingly Indra prayed to Aswini Devas and Lord Vishnu’s head was restored. 

The place where Indra prayed and got his wishes full filled is call   “Vanmeega Naatham” and the Lingam is called Vanmeega Naathar.  

It is said that those who pray to this Shiva Linga will never have rebirth.

Exquisite Pictures from Kanchi Kamakshi Kumbabhishekam!

Kanchi Kamakoti Peetadhipati Jagadgurus Pujyashri Jayendra Saraswathi Shankaracharya Swamigal and Pujyashri Shankara Vijayendra Saraswathi Shankaracharya Swamigal performed the Maha kumbhabhishekam of Sri Kamakshi Ambal temple, Kanchipuram on February 9th, 2017. 

In the morning, after completion of Yagashala pujas, the Kalashas were taken to all gopurams, and Abhishekam performed. After this, Abhishekam was performed to Kamakshi Ambal, Adi Shankaracharya and other Sannadhis by Pujyashri Acharyas.

Members of the Kumbhabhisheka committee, workers and volunteers received the blessings of Pujyashri Acharyas in a brief function held in the Vasanta Mandapam.

A commemorative stamp was released on the occasion.

Source: Kamakoti.org and Vanjari Sankar.

Kamakshi Amman temple getting ready for Kumbabhishekam!

The consecration of Sri Kamakshi Amman temple, Kancheepuram, will take place on February 9.

Earlier, it was announced that the consecration would be held on February 1 2017 by the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetathipathi HH Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal. Disclosing this to mediapersons here on Thursday, the Srikaryam (manager) of Sri Kamakshi Amman temple, Challa Viswanatha Sastry, said the ‘yagasalai’ pujas for the consecration would commence on February 3. The seven-session main homam for the consecration of the presiding deity and other deities, including the Aadhi Varaha Perumal of Thirukalvanoor Divya Shetram would commence on February 6 morning and culminate on February 9.

The consecration of Sri Kamakshi Temple, Kanchipuram, is set for February 9. The ancient temple, has undergone a major facelift.

‘Nagareshu Kanchi’ — City Unparalleled— the presence of many temples and the spiritual richness have earned Kanchipuram this credit. Special for both Saivites and Vaishnavites, the temple town is synonymous with Sri Kamakshi, whose shrine draws thousands of devotees. The ancient temple has undergone restoration on a massive scale and consecration has been set for February 9. The rituals connected to the event get under way today.

Established by Sri Adi Sankara, the pontiffs of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam are the hereditary caretakers of the temple. The temple witnessed consecration last in 1995. The mission this time was to do a thorough job, right from freeing the campus from clutter to carrying out repairs with an eye on aesthetics. The year-long work has paid dividends with the temple looking brighter, cleaner, greener and more spacious.

But it didn’t happen through the swish of a magic wand. Hundreds of people have worked relentlessly paying attention to the smallest detail to present a project that could be showcased as one of the best of its kind. From the chief sthapati to the worker lowest in the hierarchy, involvement has been cent per cent. A tour, guided by Srikaryam Sri Viswanatha Sastry, shows how the multi-crore work had devotees’ comfort and environment as pivot. Engineers and scholars in the field of archaeology, epigraphy and architecture were consulted in the execution of the mammoth project.

The Kamakshi temple is a unique case of history, legend, archaeology and architecture coming together. Excavation for the restoration yielded fresh evidence regarding the age of the temple. The historian’s interest might be the identity of the place where the present temple exists. Was it a Buddhist worship place, which became a Hindu temple? Did both co-exist, the one outlasting the other?

Prof. Sankaran Narayanan, Department of History, Sri Chandrasekharendra Viswamaha Vidyalaya, Kanchipuram, says that literary and historical evidence point to the fact that the temple is ancient dating back to the sixth century, the Chola, Pandya and Pallava rulers and later the Vijayanagara kings and Telugu rulers lending their unique touches. The sanctum sanctorum should have been renovated by the Pandyas in the 14th century, he says.

Evidences point to the presence of a Buddhist monastery. “Quite possibly both existed and one outlived the other,” he says. “The presence of a Divya Desam within the premises proclaims the Saiva-Vaishnva unity that prevailed in those days,” he adds. The abode of Sri Adivaraha Perumal (Kalvar) has been restored and another Vishnu shrine (Ninran-Irundan-Kidanthan) has been spruced up to facilitate easy flow of devotees

Inscriptions relating to Parantaka Chola, Raja Raja, Rajendra Chola II and Kulothunga III provide evidence for 1,200 years, 10th-12th centuries. Many Pallava vestiges in the form of tablets and balustrades with their signature lion motif are available too.

Appar and Sundarar refer to Kamakottam Kanchi in their Thevaram hymns while the seventh century Sangam poet Adiyarkunallar sings of Kachikotta Kamakshi. Thevaram and Periyapuranam also refer to Kachi Sastha. In the narration of Balarama’s tirthayatra, Bhagavatapurana speaks of Kamakotipuri Kanchi. The name of Sangam poetess Kamakanni could be the chaste Tamil version of Kamakshi. Perumbanatrupadai has it that an aerial view of Ooragam (Kanchipuram) reveals the lotus shape of the town. In such a formation, Mahavishnu takes the centre with a shrine for Sakti close to Him, explains Prof. Sankaran Narayanan.

The temple has a shrine for Sri Adi Sankara, who installed the Sri Chakra inside the sanctum sanctorum. The spruced up niche of the Acharya has a golden roof, now renewed. The sudai images of the guru parampara have been replaced with stone sculptures.

The renovated temple tank, Panchaganga, looks beautiful with its reinforced banks and the majestic Neerazhi mantapam. The hereditary Sthanikam talks of the days when his father would dive into the tank for a bath before entering the shrine for puja.

Raja Chandra Samana Kanti Vadana Nagadi Rajastuta

Mookanamabi Kurvati suraduni Nikasa Vagvaibhavam

Sri Kanchi Nagari Vihara Rasika Sokabahandrisatam

Eka Punyaparampara Pasupate Akaarani Rajate

(Verse 11)

Kaivalyataya Karunarasa Kingaraya

Kamakshi Kandalita Viprama Sankaraya

Alokanaya Tava Bhakta Sivankaraya

Mathar Namostu Paratantrita Sankaraya

(Verse 47)

These two verses are from Mookapanchasati, the 500-verse sloka, of which Kanchi Paramacharya recommends at least 31 for recitation.

Mookan was a mute illiterate, who fervently prayed to Kamakshi for the power of speech. The Goddess responded by making him compose 500 verses in Her praise.

“This shrine draws unto it the power of any sanctum that you may be praying at and returns it manifold” - Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati said this of Kamakshi. Referred to as Mokshapuri and Muktistalam, even an accidental arrival at Kanchipuram is said to offer liberation to the soul. Of the five sacred places associated with the five elements of Nature, Kanchipuram is Pritvikshetram (Earth).

Legend has it that tortured by Bandakasura, the celestials on the advice of Lord Siva, prayed to Sri Mahatripurasundari. She emerged from Bilahasa, annihilated the demon and went into the Biladwara to emerge as the resplendent Rajarajeswari. Sri Lalitha Mahatripurasundari is hailed as Kamakshi, sporting the cane bow, flower, the rope (paasa) and the ankusa. She is in meditation (Yoga Nishtai), seated in Padmasana.

The Biladwara, opening, and Gayatri Mantapam, where it is located are therefore most sacred. Kanchipuram, in this context, is Akasa Kshetram, as mentioned in ‘Sowbhagya Chintamani,’ a work of sage Durvasa, who is enshrined in the temple.

Known as Kamaraja Peetam, Kanchi is considered the waist of the Universe. Sri Kamakshi is the presiding deity for the entire town, so much so that the processions of all temples go round her abode. She is the personification of Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. Her shrine is situated in such a way that the devotee can never show his back to Her. And the Siva temples here do not have a separate shrine for Ambal.

Kanchi Paramacharya often said that the Goddesses in the entire South up to Thanjavur, are actually Kamakshi although local lore may refer to them by different names. The temple, he said was a rare instance of Sakti and Sri Chakra enshrined exclusively.

Halls of worship

All the mantapams — Gayatri, Sukravara, Vasantha, Aippasi Pooram, Dwajarohanam, Tirthavari, Navaratri (Dasara), Kanu and Deepavali — where the utsava deity is brought during various festivals wear a new look.


The other names of Kanchipuram include: Satyavrata Kshetram, Bhaskara Kshetram, Harihara Kshetram, Satya Kshetram, Sripuram, Kailasam and Vaikkuntam.

It has as its boundaries Swamipushkarani (Tirumala) in the North, Pinakini in the South, Bay of Bengal in the East and Virinjipuram in the West.

Three-generation span

Swaminatha Sthapati considers it a blessing to have been given the opportunity to do the Tiruppani. He is the third generation architect to be associated with the Kamakshi temple. “My grandfather Subbaiah Sthapati renovated the Vasantha Mantapam and he built the shrine where the Chandramouliswara puja is conducted daily,” he says.

HH Sri Sankara Vijayendra Saraswati Swamigal’s brief to the Sthapati was terse but clear: “Don’t hurry. Tradition should be preserved and take absolute care.” So every nuance was attended to and there was no pressure. “It has been a huge learning curve for me,” exults the architect, who along with his father executed the work on the monumental golden temple in Vellore. An experience that stood him in good stead while working on the golden roof of Sri Kamakshi and Adi Sankara.

The Sthapati singles out as challenge the Sudai Karuchakkarai padimam and Sila Soolam techniques adopted while restoring the Perumal Moolavar image. “A skill of high order is required for this and it was first time for me,” he adds.

Working on the sculptures on the East gopuram, not touched since 1975, and sculpting the 80 Guruparampara images on the pillar of the Q-Mantapam are other aspects he mentions in particular.

Highlights

--- All the four Rajagopurams have been refurbished.

--- The golden vimanam of Sri Kamakshi and Adi Sankara have been refurbished and strengthened.

--- A golden palanquin has been made for the utsavar.

--- The silver chariot, an offering of Mahaswami, has been repaired and polished.

--- Marble and tiles have been removed to be replaced with traditional black granite.

--- The prakaram has been made fit for the smooth run of the golden chariot.

--- The temple kitchen has been expanded, an exclusive area created for naivedyam preparations.

--- Devotees (yaatrikas) will have access to water and food through the day.

--- The premises is self-sufficient in power supply generating electricity from solar panels and biogas plants.
Visesha Pujas and events at Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam in February 2017.

பிப். 1 - புதன் - வஸந்த பஞ்சமி
1st Feb – Wed – Vasanta Panchami

பிப். 3 - வெள்ளி - ரத சப்தமி
3rd Feb – Fri- Ratha Saptami

பிப். 8 - புதன் - பிரதோஷ பூஜை
8th Feb – Wed – Pradosha Puja

பிப். 9 - வியாழன் - ஸ்ரீகாஞ்சி காமாக்‌ஷி அம்பாள் திருக்கோயில் கும்பாபிஷேகம்
9th Feb – Thu – Kumbhabhishekam of Sri Kamakshi Ambal Temple, Kanchipuram

*****

Source: The Hindu

That one is a precious picture of Kamakshi Amman temple from 1944 when Kanchi Mahaswamigal performed the Maha Kumbabhishekam on February 7th in that year of 1944! Thanks a bunch to Shankar Anand for that picture.

HH Pudhu Periyava in Kamakshi Amman temple couple of days back. Thanks to Vanjari Shankar for this lovely picture.

Shri Subbaiah Sthapati and Shri Swaminatha Sthapati are seen in the last picture.

Saffron from USA for Kamakshi Amman Temple!

Dear Everyone,

This is related to Sri Kamakshi Amman Kumbabhishekam this Feb 2017. A devotee Bharatwaj Srinivasan spoke to temple priest Suresh Sastrigal and it seems they are in need of 1kg of Saffron for Ambal Abhishekam. He also feels it would be good if we can send some from USA because of the high quality avaliable here. Suresh Sastri's sister's son is flying from USA on Feb 4th and he is also ready to carry saffron if anyone give it to his address. 

Devotees living in the US, you may please ship the Saffron to him at the below address:

Rajesh Venkataraman (Suresh Sastrigal Sister's son)
Address: 111 Hana Road, Edison, NJ 08817
Email: Rajesh_v5@yahoo.com
Leaving to India: 04-Feb-2017

or to

Kannan Ramanathan (Suresh Sastrigal's another relative's son)
Address: 8714 Newcastle bend
Irving, TX 75063
Email: Kannancr@hotmail.com / Kannancr10@gmail.com
Leaving to India: 26-Jan-2017

or to

Priya Venkataraman (phone: 510 676 5506)
Address: Residing in Fremont California.
Leaving to India on: January 19th, 2017


Saffron brand: Any Spanish Saffron like this brand "The Gatherings of Saffron".

 Please check your local Indian Stores or you can buy the saffron brand from Costco or Sam's club near you. That is also a good quality one.

This is the original post on this: http://vandeguruparamparaam.blogspot.com/2017/01/saffron-needed-for-kamakshi-amman.html
Please do note the dates mentioned above before sending them. Thank you Everyone!

Saffron needed for Kamakshi Amman temple kumbhabhishekam!

As many of you know, the Kumbhabhishekam of the world famous Kamakshi Amman temple in Kanchipuram is coming up in early February, 2017. They are in need several kilograms of Saffron for the function.

Saffron can be handed over to Sri Kamakoti Suresh or to other Sthanikams of the temple. Shri Suresh Sastri's contact number is 9791545422. Please do your bit and be blessed. Thanks to Shri Kamesh Bavaratnam for sharing this with us.

The above picture is of the Pournami Ambal pooja conducted by Praveena Krishnan at her home in Los Angeles. How Beautiful it is. Words fail me. Shankara. The other is the picture of Kashmiri Saffron. *****

Here below is a beautiful incident involving our Kamakshi and Saffron paste: Kanchi Mahaperiyava was once running a high temperature. His chest was congested with phlegm. Vengudi Doctor usually attended on Periyava and prescribed medication. This time Periyava did not take his medicines. The fever did not subside nor did the phlegm decrease. A lady who came every day for darshan arrived. Having seen Periyava’s condition she had made a paste of saffron flower on the stone used for grinding sandal paste and heating it to the right temperature and had brought it. Periyava was then seated inside the Mena. The lady offered the costly medicine reverentially. Taking it casually as if it were a common object, Periyava placed the leaf-cup in a corner of the Mena. Sri Kamakshi Amman was then arriving outside Sri Matha in the ceremonial procession down the streets. “Kamakshi has arrived in front of the Matha. Why don’t you go for darshan?”, said Periyava to the Lady. The lady went out on Periyava’s suggestions. No sooner did the lady go out than a young peasant woman came in. It needed no insight to know that she was very poor. She carried a baby, which was struggling to breathe through a severe chest congestion. "The baby has a bad cold… I am not able to buy medicines… Sami must give me some sacred ash!”, prayed the mother, almost in tears, to Him. Periyava picked up the leaf cup (given by the first lady, containing Saffron paste) hurriedly and gave it to the young woman and instructed her to take it home and apply it on the baby’s forehead twice or thrice during the course of the day. The woman left at once. Even as she did so, Periyava issued another instruction. “The dust from the roads may fall into the medicine. Take it home carefully covered with your cloth.” The very next minute, He took some kumkum, which was there in the mena, and mixing a little water with it applied it on his forehead as if it were a poultice made from saffron-flower! Shankara. What Compassion for Everyone. The lady who had brought the saffron-flower paste for Periyava came back after Kamakshi’s darsan and stood near the Mena. There were a red paste on Periyava’s forehead. “Iswara! Periyaval has accepted the saffron-flower paste that I had brought and has applied it on His forehead!” The lady was very happy and came back the next day. “The phlegm has reduced and the fever went down because of your saffron-flower poultice!”, told Periyava to her. The lady was deeply moved. Periyava did not say, "'My' phlegm decreased because of your saffron-flower” After all her medicine had been useful. Besides, what other occasion could have been more suitable to acknowledge and praise the lady’s sincere devotion? But the attendants who were witness to this divine sport knew that the expensive saffron-flower removed the distress of the child of the poor family, for such divine secrets fell to the share of their experience. Source: Smt Sujatha Vijayaraghavan 'In the presence of the Divine'. That is a beautiful drawing of the Two Kamakshis by Meenakshi Ramamoorthi

Note: Poultice is a soft, moist mass of material, typically of plant material or flour, applied to the body to relieve soreness and inflammation and kept in place with a cloth. Address of Kamakshi Amman temple (if it is required :))) New No. 6, Old No. 144/A, Kamakshi Amman Sannathi Street, Big Kanchipuram, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu 631502,

India Post issues special cover for Sringeri Rajagopuram Kumbabhishekam!

India Post has issued a special cover on 8th June 2014 on the occasion of  the Rajagopuram Kumbabhishekam celebrations which was held in Sringeri from 1st to 13th of June in 2014. It was contributed by Shri Gauresh Mehra of Bangalore.