Spirituality in serene settings

THERE ARE many temples dedicated to Lord Srinivasa in the Tamil country like the one at Thirumalai Vaiyavoor, 75 km from Chennai on the way to Vedanthangal.

Known as Dakshina Seshagiri, Then Thiruppathi, Vaiyavoor, Ekamalai and Varahakshethram, the hill temple is over 1,000 years old. It is situated on an 80-acre site and one has to climb 200 steps to reach it.

There are two prakaras housing the shrines of Rama, Venugopalan, Anjaneyar, Sudarsana, the 12 Azhwars and Lakshmi Ganapathi. The idol of Sri Lakshmi Varaha Perumal with four arms, is an enchanting piece of sculpture.

The Moolavar here is known as Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal. Goddess Padmavathi Thayar's shrine is situated on the right side of the Moolavar's sanctum-sanctorum. The Lord's Utsavar image is known as Sri Kallarpiran.

Situated in sylvan surroundings, the temple is abuzz with activity in the Chithirai month when the Lakshadeepam festival is celebrated. Kulasekara Azhwar, in his Perumal Thirumozhiexpresses the wish to take birth as a fish or any creature in the Pushkarani at Tirumala, or become a stone step at the sanctum- sanctorum of the hill temple.

Such a great temple was in a state of neglect in the past. It was left to Sri Seetharam Swamiji, a Govinda Upasaka, to renovate the temple. The work was undertaken by Sri Srinivasa Niketanam, founded by the Swamiji.

The Niketanam has already constructed the temples of Veera Anjaneya and Lakshmi Ganapathy at the foot of the Thirumalai Vaiyavoor hill. The shrines of Sri Sudarsana and Sri Yoga Narasimha Swami atop the hill were renovated and the Samprokshanam was performed in 1995. Important festivals such as the Padi Utsavam, Ratha Sapthami, Brahmotsavam, Pavithra Utsavam, float festival and others are conducted on a regular basis.

On the Sravana (Thiruvonam) Nakshatram day every month, which is the birth star of Lord Srinivasa, the Swamiji offers his blessings to devotees through Deepa Darisanam. It is said that Lord Oppiliappan appears in the form of a `jothi' in the fire pot carried by the Swamiji. A large number of devotees gather on that day to receive the ``Arul Vaakku'' from him.

A padayatra is conducted every year in the Purattasi month to Thirumalai Vaiyavoor from Nungambakkam in Chennai. This year it will start on October 3 from Nungambakkam and reach the hill temple on October 7. This is the 25th year of the Padayatra.

T. A. SRINIVASAN

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