Pujya Sri Mahaswamy Divya Charitram Part#27

 

Visit to Ramnad, Sivaganga

On the way back from Rameswaram, Swamigal halted at Ramanathapuram for some days at the request of the Rajah of Ramnad where he was given the grand royal reception. He then camped at Sivaganga for three days on October 20th,as the guest of the Raja of Sivaganga, Muthuvijaya Raghunatha Gowri Vallabha Thuraisingha Thevar. He was offered bikshavandanams and pada puja at the palace and also by the residents of Sivaganga.

Pilgrimage in the Pandyan Region

Swamigal left Sivaganaga on October 28, 1922 to visit Kalaiyarkoil where he had the darshan of Someswarar, Kaleswarar and Sundareswarar with the sannidhis of Devis. The saivite saints Sambandar and Sundarar have both sung in praise of the deities in this pilgrim place. The birth place of Manickavachakar, Thiruvadavur was ten miles from here. The temple authorities of Sivaganga officially welcomed Swamigal and provided all
amenities for a comfortable camp. Later, Swamigal traveled through Nattarasankottai,
Cholapuram, Madagupatti and stayed in the vaishnavite pilgrimage center of Thirukottiyur. He had darshan of the lord SowmyaNarayana Perumal and his consort Thirumagal Nachiar as well as the Sarabeswarer sannidhi inside the temple. On November 1st, he visited Thirupathur where Appar and Sambandar have composed songs on the local deities Sivakami and Sri Dhalinathar. The next day, Swamigal came to
Ilayathangudi to see the Nagarathar temple as well his preceptor’s adhishtanam. He climbed the Pran hill to take bath in the springs there on the sixth of November. From there, he visited Karunkalakudi and Melur to reach Thirumaliruncholai alias Azhagar koil on November 11th. He went up the hill here to take bath in the spring there called Noobura Gangai. Later Swamigal had the darshan f Sundararajar and Sundaravalli Thayar. This sacred temple was known to have been worshipped by the four popular Vaishnavite saints, Nammazhvar, Bhoodathazhvar, Periyazhvar, Thirumangai Azhvar and Andal. Moreover, it was also considred to be one of the six key shrines for Karthikeya.

At Madurai

On the twelfth of November, Swamigal arrived at Madurai, the once famous Pandyan capital. The leading citizens of the city welcomed Swamigal and had arranged for a grand reception and procession for him. Thousands of people were gathered in the main streets of the Madurai where Swamigal was taken around. They made all necessary arrangements f rte convenient stay o His Holiness and his retinue. Almost every day he
had darshan of Sri Sundareswara and Devi Meenakshi. After a stay of a mont, Swamigal left on a tour further south. Devotees gathered in great numbers to witness the puja and to hear Swamigal’s speech at the Kalyana Mandap.

Banks of Thamiraparni

Swamigal left Madurai on 12th December, 1922 and headed towards Thirunelveli via Thirumangalam, Vathrayiruppu, SriVilliputhur, Rajapalayam, Chethur, Sivagiri, Chinthamani, Kadayanallur, Thenkasi, Kadayam, Papanasam and Ariyanayakipuram.  Bhikshavandanam and Pada puja was conducted in Veeraragavapuram, Sanyasi gramam, Kailasapuram, Vannarapettai and Thirunelveli township. In the town of Veeraraghavapuram, Swamigal presided over the annual celebration of Vivekasamwardhini Sabha and donated a thousand rupees towards their building fund. In the early part of the year 1923, Swamigal traveled to Azhvar Thirunagari, Sri Vaikunam and Nanguneri. On 11-2-1963, Swamigal reached Thiruchendur where Adi Sankara had composed Subramanya Bhujangam. He later traveled through Ambasamuthiram, Papanasam, Thenkasi, Thirukutralam and Sankaranarayanar temple or a week.