SRI SANJEEVIRAYAN TEMPLE, IYENKULAM, KANCHIPURAM, TAMIL NADU...
gk kaushik
Nettoor koti kanyadhana lakshmi kumara Thathacharyar.
During 1585-1614 AD, the kingdom of Vijayanagara was under the reign of
Sri Venkatapathi Maharaj. Nettoor Sri Thathacharyar was one of his ministers,
and he was well versed in state administration, and had established many
temples in provinces where he was administrator in-charge. He is popularly
known as "Nettoor koti kanyadhana lakshmi kumara Thathacharyar". There is a
saying in Tamil that even the king will become a destitute person after
getting his five daughters married. But Sri Thathacharyar was instrumental
for one crore i.e., one hundred laksha [one laksha is one hundred thousand]
marriages performed. It was possible for him to conduct that many marriages,
since he had the blessings of Lakshmi Devi ,the Goddess for wealth. Hence he
was considered as son of Goddess Lakshmi Devi and was called Lakshmi Kumara.
He is also known as "Ubaya vedanthaachar", for he had established many
temples.
Forefathers of Sri Thathacharyar.
Sri Thathacharyar hails from an illustrious family, and is a descendent
of Thirumalai Periyanambi. It is said that one of his forefathers left his
native place Nettoor to Aanaikunthi (Anakot) the then capital of Vijayanagara
samrajya, to receive presents from Sri Veerupaksha the king of Vijayanagara.
On reaching Aanaikunthi the person visited the palace and expressed his wish
of offering discourses on Maha Bharata. With the King's permission he gave
discourses on Maha Bharata for eighteen days. On the concluding day he was
given gold coins and other presents. The next day he was astonished to see
that there was no palace and others in Aanaikunthi. He was unaware of the
fact that Sri Veerupaksha had shifted his capital from Aanaikunthi to nearby
Hampi. On hearing the Mahabharata discourses the spirits, of those who lost
their lives in the war that was fought at Aanaikunthi before shifting the
capital to Hampi, had attained moksha.
Temple for Lord Anjaneya.
Sri Thathacharyar, who was a descendant of such mahapurush, had built a
beautiful temple for Lord Anjaneya near Kanchipuram. Normally a temple for
Lord Anjaneya will be having a small Gharbhagraham and a large hall in front
of it. But the temple that Sri Thathacharyar built for the Lord Anjaneya is
unique in many ways. If you take the route from Kanchipuram to Kalavai just
after crossing the river Palar the first village to be sited is Iyankulam.
The temple is situated in Iyankulam and one could see the temple from a
distance itself.
Unique temple in many ways.
Instead of constructing a small tank for the temple as normally found he
had constructed a big lake measuring 136 Acres. The temple had been
constructed in such a beautiful way that if seen from the lake, the temple
will look as if it is floating in the lake. The water from this lake was used
for irrigation also. There are steps made of granite around this lake. It is
said that while the lake was under construction, Lord Anjaneya Swami himself
had come and helped by digging in order to complete the job in time.
Biggest Anjaneya Temple of the Bharat.
On the south bank of the lake he had constructed the temple for Hanuman.
The Rajagopuram is facing the tank. Unlike the other temples, to enter this
temple one has to pass through a large mantap which has twenty four pillars
with beautifully engraved forms of Lords and Acharyas. This mantap besides
being built with unique architectural details also served as a comfortable
place for pilgrims to stay. There is an entrance to the temple from the
southern side as well where also a large mantap has been built for the
pilgrims to take rest.
Lord Sanjeevi Rayar.
As normally found in Vijayanagar architecture here also one could see
four small mantaps, with the beautiful cupola over the four tall pillars made
of a single stone on all the four sides of the temple which adds to the
majesty of the temple building. As one enters through the Rajagopuram he gets
into a very big hall with the roof painted artistically, and at the end of
the hall is the main sanctum sanctorum of Lord Sanjeevi Rayar, the Anjaneya.
Lord Sanjeevi Rayar is seen with anjali-hasta. There is conch and chakra in
the backdrop of the deity. With the glowing eyes Lord Sanjeevi Rayar is
blessing one and all who approach Him with piety.
Mahalakshmi at the sanctum.
Just before the entrance to the sanctum of Lord Sanjeevi Rayar, one could
see Sri Mahalakshmi on the right side. Sri Thathacharyar was an ardent
devotee of Sri Mahalakshmi and had installed the deity of Sri Mahalakshmi at
the north end of the lake in the 'natabavi' also. There are inscriptions in
the walls of the temple giving evidences, that many traders from far-off
places like Subatra, Siam had contributed their might for the up keep of this
temple.
Temple Festivals.
There are two mantaps, one at South-east corner and the other at the
North-east corner. During Sri RamaNavami the 'uthsava moorthi' of Lord Rama
and Sita devi are placed here and the marriage function of Lord Rama and Sri
Sita Devi is celebrated with gay and gaiety, which is witnessed by Lord
Sanjeevi Rayan also. Kanchipurm Sri Varadharaja Perumal visits this temple on
the full moon day of the Chitra month of solar calendar.
Lord Sanjeevi Rayar the Sita Lakshmi suthan is ever ready to bless one and all with His Lakshmi Kataksham in this kshethra.
[ed. 13.01.02]