Pujya Sri Mahaswamy Divya Charitram Part#90

 

Visit to Thirvotriyur

Sri Swamigal visited the holy city of Thiruvotriyur and had darshan of Sri Thyagesar and Sri Tirupurasundari Ambika. Brahma, Valmiki and Vasuki are said to have performed puja to Siva in this place. Appar, Sundarar and Sambandar have all sung songs in praise of the Lord here. The story where Sundarar married Sangili Nachiar can
be found in Peria Puranam. This is the place where Pattinathar attained mukthi and his burial place can still be found here. Sri Adi Sankara who was born more than 2500 years ago, did prathisthai of Sri Chakra before Sri Tirupurasundari Ambal. We can see an idol of Sri Adi Sankara in the inner sanctum of Sri Thyagesa in this temple. The temple priests still belong to Adi Sankara’s community of Keralite Brahmins. Pujas are performed for Devi as per vedic rituals and they are performed for Siva as per Agamic rituals. It is said that immediately after Adi Sankara, Acharyas belonging to the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam have stayed here for long periods and spent their time in meditation and atma vicharam. There was a Sankara mutt in the South Maada street which was badly in need of repair and our Swamigal took the steps to have it renovated. There are two adhishtanams in the mutt. One is that of the 61st Acharya of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, Mahadevendra Saraswathi Swamigal (1704-1746) and the second is that of the 55th Acharya, Sri Chandrachoodendra Saraswathi Swamigal. Upon our Swamigal’s wishes, pujas are being conducted regularly to both the adhishtanams.

Swamigal stayed in Chennai for more than four months and went to Mylapore, Mambalam, Guindy, Town, Komaleswarer temple, Kachaleswarar temple, Mallikeswarar temple, Kalahastheeswarar temple, Purasaivakkam, Thiruvallikeni and other places, blessed the devotees and gave sermons. Before leaving Chennai, Swamigal gave a speech which said:
“Speak the truth; follow dharma; consider your mother, father and guru as Gods – these are preached by our Vedas. Sri Adi Sankara appeared amongst us thousands of years ago and established six sects of our religion including Saivam and Vaishnavam. He has explained the meaning of truth and dharma as told in the Vedas in “Prasnotra Ratnamalika” composed by him. Doing good for other living beings is the truth.

Practicing the good dharma practiced by ancestors is one’s dharma. We should keep in our thoughts Ambika, Eeswara, and Dakshinamurthy, who are our mother, father and guru, as well as Krishna Bhagawan who gave us the Gita.

Follow the rituals as prescribed in the vedic shastras and reduce the expensive habits and clothing. Reduce your expenses and help poor people who don’t have any food by giving them food once or twice a week. Offer porridge or some food to the village gods at least once or twice a week, especially on Fridays and Tuesdays. Harijans should follow the Siva Bhakti of Nandanar, one of the sixty three saivite saints and not go against their communal restrictions. That will give them benefits in life.

Women of all communities should maintain and practice their faith similar to the ancient Thilakavathiar and Mangaiarkarasi even if the men folk wander away from their faith, and bring them back into the fold. By following our ancestors’ path, our religion and community will prosper more and more.”