9. Long Vijaya Yatra – II
( Tatanga Prathisthta to Akhilandeswari)
It was arranged to celebrate the Tatanga prathishta of Akhilandeswari Devi in Tiruchirapalli in the month of April. Swamigal quickly completed his travels in Tirunelveli district going through Sattur, Aruppukottai, Madurai and stopped in Dindigual where he stayed for three days. He visited Sirumalai, a hill station about thirty miles from Dindigul, without his entourage. He undertook the long climb on the
mountain with selected few for assisting in the puja. A medical center using natural herbs was established there by Swamigal. He enjoyed the serenity and isolation of the place and stayed there for two days. Arrangements for Swamigal’s stay at Sirumalai was done by the officials of the Kanniwadi landlord. Swamigal went to Palani from there and had darshan of Sri Dhandayuthapani. He was camped there for three days. He traveled to Thiruvanaikaval via Dindigul, Viralimalai, Ilayathangudi, Kandanur, Thirumayam, Pudukottai and Keeranur in the year 1923. During his stay in Pudukottai, the royal
Regent Sri Vijayaraghunatha Durai Raja gave Swamigal a grand and royal welcome and performed sahasra Pada puja. The natives of Pudukottai made him stay there for a week, conducted Biksha and pada puja as well as a grand procession during what was his second visit to Pudukottai. When he was staying at Thirumayam Chathiram, Kadiapatti D.N.Muthiah Chettiar offered a golden plate for Swamigal’s puja.
Thiruvanaikaval Sankara Mutt
There are several branches for Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam at various pilgrim centers, of which the one at Thiruvanaikaval is very historical in nature. Uptil recent times, Brahmins would conduct upanayanam for their sons at this mutt. The country’s premier scientist Sir.M.Visweswariah conveyed in his 1923 Tiruchirapalli speech, that
his upanayanam and brahmopadesam was conducted in this mutt. In the year 1908, Swamigal had noticed that the building of the mutt, made of stone, was heavily damaged. In the year 1920, he requested renovation on this building to be done. He had a plan to create a premier center where Vedas and Shastras would be taught. This was renovated with all the facilities at the cost of seventy five thousand rupees. Teachers and students learning in this school here, were provided with separate living quarters.
Tatanga Prathishtai
Thiruvanaikaval also known as Jambukeswaram was one of the five Panchaboota pilgrim centers. It was the Appu Sthalam ( Appu meaning water) where the Lord is symbolized in the form of water. There is always water around the lingam in
Thiruvanaikaval. The lord in this holy place was called Jambunathar while the Devi was known as Sri Akhilandeswari. When Adi Sankara traveled around the country, he had performed Sri Chakra Prathishtai to Annapoorni in Kasi, Kamakshi in Kanchi, Mookambika in norther Karnataka, Tripurasundari in Thiruvotriyur and Akhilandeswari at Thiruvanaikaval. This institution of Sri Chakra had been done in various forms in each place. For Akhilandeswari, he had established the Sri Chakram in the Tatangam or the ear rings of the Devi. Along with that, he installed an idol of her son, Vinayaka in front of
her sanctum, there by calming her, making her graceful and pleasing in nature and approachable to her numerous devotees. From that day forth, the Devi has been adorned with the Tatanga, a pair of ear rings made in the shape of Sri charka yantras. The pontiffs of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam have the rights to repair and re-consecrate the ear ornaments of Sri Akhilandeswari.
The Tatanga of Sri Akhilandeswari was repaired by the then Acharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam in the year 1846. The trustees of the temple had conveyed their concern to Swamigal in the year 1920 itself, that the Tatanga was badly in need of
repairs. Swamigal consulted experts about making lasting repairs to the ornaments, renovating the jewels by insetting the srichakra shaped gems and making two new protective covers. A small team of expert goldsmiths, sent from Chennai by T.R.Tawker and Sons, premier dealers in precious stones were engaged to carry out the repairs. When Swamigal arrived at Tiruchirapalli, the reception given by the citizens was a grand one of
proportions that was never seen before. The municipal chairman, F.G.Natesa Iyer described the event in one of his articles published later:
“I was nominated by the public as the chairman of the Reception committee for arranging a reception for the Acharya of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam. As the municipal chairman , it was my duty to provide a proper welcome and respect to Swamigal who was visiting after a long time. The opportunity to welcome His Holiness in a manner that was exponentially greater than receptions given to kings and viceroys, was accorded to me,
along my with supporters Sri MKandaswamy Servai, lawyer Sri. R.Srinivasa Iyengar and the larger public. The procession that was seven miles long, was preceded by seven groups of nadaswaram players, three band groups, four elephants, many horses and camels, instrumental players, Bhajan singers, Seva Samitis. I had the blessing to hold the front side of the ivory palanquin where our guru for the whole world , Sri Sankaracharya Swamigal was seated. He gave darshan to numerous people lined on both sides of the roads, in every floor, irrespective of their religion, caste or creed. There was no count of arathis, Poorna kumbams, garlands, asthika goshams. The procession that started at 6 pm ended at 10 pm in front of the mutt at Thiruvanaikaval. I was enthralled in my service to
Swamigal as service to Lord Shiva himself.”
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