Twin temples that draw devotees

Pilgrims throng the two hill temples in Sholingar in the Tamil month of Karthigai. T. A. SRINIVASAN writes...

COME the Tamil month of Karthigai, especially the Sundays of the month, the quiet township of Sholingar and the two hill temples near it are thronged by lakhs of pilgrims from far and near, seeking the blessings of Sri Lakshmi Narasimhaswami on the bigger of the two hills, and Sri Anjaneya on the other.

The Lord showers His blessings on true devotees and has gained the name of Bhaktochitha Swami in Sanskrit and ``Thakkan'' in Tamil.

The Utsavar idol of the Lord, which is kept in the temple in the town at the foot of the hills, is known by this name while the Moolavar on top of the hill is known as Lakshmi Narasimhar or Yoga Narasimhar and Akkarakkani Perumal by which name.

He is addressed by Thirumangai Azhwar in his Periya Thirumozhi.

This holy place was originally known as Chozhasimhapuram which later got corrupted as Sholingar. It is situated 27 km west of Thiruthani. After reaching Sholingar one has to travel three km further south to reach Kondapalayam from where one has to climb 1,305 well-cut stone steps to reach the temple of Lord Narasimha.

The hill temple is also known as Kadigachalam or Thirukkadigai. Peyazhwar refers to the Lord here as ``Vann Poonkadigai Ilankumaran.'' It is known as Kadigai as, one could get salvation if he stayed in the place for one ``Kadigai'' (24 minutes).

Sri Vishnu Puranam and Sri Padma Puranam speak about the greatness of the place and it is said that sage Viswamitra became a Brahmarishi by staying in this place for one ``Kadigai.'' As the presiding deity here is Lord Narasimha the place could have been known as Simhapuram and as it was in the Chozha country it might have got the name of Chozhasimhapuram.

According to legend, saptharishis - Arthri, Kasyapar, Vasishtar, Jamadagni, Gautamar, Bharatwajar and Viswamithrar - did penance here to have a vision of Lord Narasimha.

The Lord, in His incarnation as Rama, after slaying Ravana, wanted to return to His abode and when Anjaneya expressed the wish to accompany Him, He directed him to stay here and offer protection to the saptharishis.

When two demons, Kalan and Keyan, caused hindrance to the penance of the saptharishis, Anjaneya tried to defeat them. The Lord gave him His sacred conch and holy discus to slay the two as well as other demons.

The Lord also appeared before the sages as Narasimha. He directed Anjaneya to sit atop the nearby small hill and bless the devotees till the end of Kaliyuga.

According to a few Vaishnavite scholars, Anjaneya was doing penance atop the hill to become the next Brahma and he suspended the same in the Karthigai month as per the directive of the Lord to bless the devotees.

Hence the big crowd in the two hill temples during this month, especially Sundays, which are auspicious for worshipping Lord Narasimha as well as Anjaneya.

The Goddess here is known as Amritabalavalli or Sudha Valli as She emerged sitting on a thousand petal lotus in a tank near Kadigachalam. As She was holding the Amrita creeper in Her hand She came to be known as Amritabalavalli and was married to the Lord on a Friday.

Hence the devotees worship the Goddess here on Fridays to obtain Her grace.

Sage Durvasa, who was overwhelmed with joy after getting a tulsi garland from Lord Narayana, began to dance. On seeing this, Budha, one of the nine planets, laughed, and was cursed by the sage.

He got relief from the curse after visiting the hill temple and taking a dip in the ``Pandava Theertham''. Apart from this there are Amrita Theertham and Thakkankulam or Brahma Theertham.

According to the puranas there are 14 peaks at Kadigachalam and the hill temple has existed for aeons. If one takes a dip in the holy tanks here and goes round the two hills they can achieve many things in life. The circumambulation of the two hills has been classified under two heads.

Taking a dip in the Brahma Theertham, Agni Theertham, Soma Gundam, Padma Sarovaram, Valmiki Theertham and Vajra Theertham and going round Narasimhar's hill is known as ``Mahapradakshinam''.

Taking a dip in the Brahma Theertham, Bairava Theertham, Halavartham, Varaha Theertham, Pundarika Theertham, Gaarudam, Papavinasanam, Amrithakundam, Vama Theertham, Rathna Theertham, Vasishta Theertham and Lakshmi Theertham is known as ``Anthra Pradakshinam''. No one can say where these holy waters, except three or four, are to be found.

It is also claimed that performing the rites for our forbears in this holy place is more effective than performing the same at Gaya in the North.

The vimanam over the sanctum-sanctorum of the Narasimhar temple is known as Hemakoti vimanam. The height of the hill is 750-feet and the total area atop it is 1.25 acres. In it the temple is situated on a 200 feet by 150 feet site and faces north. Goddess Amritabalavalli is in a separate shrine facing East. While in other temples, the Goddess never leaves the temple's precincts, here the Utsava idol is taken to Sholingar in the Tamil month of Purattasi, for the Navarathri festival at the Bhaktochitha Swami Temple there and returns to the hill in the Karthigai month.

The Anjaneyar temple is situated atop a separate 350-feet high hill just opposite the Narasimhar hill. It is said that Anjaneya is always looking towards the sanctum-sanctorum of the Narasimhar temple and is offering prayers.

The temple was visited by preceptors like Nathamunigal, Thirukachi Nambi, Ramanuja and Manavala Mamunigal. It was the birth-place of Doddachariar, a descendant of Mudali Andan, the chief disciple of Ramanuja.

The temple is under the custody of Doddachariar's successors known as Periappangar.

The birth-place of Erumbiappa, one of the eight important disciples of Manavala Mamunigal, is very near Sholingar. Mamunigal performed ``Tiruppavai Kalakshepam'' in the temple at the foothill at the request of Erumbiappa, as he did at Srirangam.

The temples at the foothill as well as those atop the two hills have many inscriptions. According to them the area was known as Kadigai Nadu and they mention the names of kings like Seeyagangan, Kulothungan III, Mayura Varman and others.

Many grants were made to the temples by these kings. One of them says that the Andal idol in the temple was lost and a new idol was installed in its place.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Features
Previous : Yoga on CD