Wish that led to a Penance
T. A. SRINIVASAN
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It was festive time at Sankarankoil temple, 50 kilometres from Srivilliputtur, where `Aadi Tapasu' was celebrated recently.
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PhotoS: A. Shaikmohideen.
SPECIAL OCCASION: The deity being taken in procession with the majestic Rajagopuram of the temple in the background.
All Amman shrines are busy during Adi, whether they are the main temples dedicated to them or sub-shrines in Siva temples. It was festive time at the Sankarankoil temple 50 km from Srivilliputtur on the road to Tirunelveli. The most important festival is the `Aadi Tapasu' when Goddess Gomathi Amman is believed to be doing penance to see the unified images of Siva and Vishnu. This was celebrated last month on Aadi Pournami day.
Sankarankoil is one of the `Pancha Bhoota Sthalas.' Over one lakh people congregated at Sankarankoil for this year's festival and offered various agricultural products to Gomathi Amman during the car festival. They also made offerings that would cure them of physical ailments. Sacred earth or `Putru Mann' collected from here is also believed to cure ailments when applied to the affected parts or sometimes even consumed.
As Sankara-Narayana
According to legend, Goddess Parvati once prayed to Lord Siva to show to the world that He and Lord Narayana are two different forms of the Supreme Being. The Lord directed Her to go to the Podhigai hills in the far south and do penance under the Punnai trees in the forest. The Goddess immediately left for the place and the celestials who could not bear Her separation went with Her as well. They went as cows and the Goddess, as the chief of the cowherd, came to be known as `Gomathi' in Sanskrit and `Aavudaiyall' in Tamil. After they did penance for thousands of years Lord Siva appeared on `Aadi Pournami' day as Sankara-Narayana. The right portion of His body was that of Siva, clad in tiger skin and wielding a `Mazhu,' while the left side was that of Narayana adorned in Pithambara and holding Panchajanya (conch).
According to another legend, a Pandya king, Ugraperuvazhuthi, an ardent devotee of Lord Siva, used to worship Him at the Madurai temple everyday. One day, he got stranded in the Punnai forests off Sankarankoil and in response to his prayers, the Lord appeared as a Sivalingam and Manigreevan, a forest guard, identified the lingam. The king built a temple for the Lord and the pillars in the eastern prakaram have the carvings of of the king and Manigreevan. The temple has three shrines — one for the presiding deity, another for Sankara-Narayana and the third for Gomathi Amman. At the entrance of the main shrine of Sankaralinga Swami stands the majestic Rajagopuram with nine tiers, rising to a height of 135 ft. On the northern side is the holy water source known as Naga Teertham. After passing through the Dwajasthamba Mandapam, Balipeedam, Adhikara Nandi and Vinayakar, one can worship the presiding deity with Manonmani Amman by His side. In the Mukha Mandapam, the idols of Lord Nataraja, Sivakami Amman and Karaikal Ammaiyar are found.
There are shrines for the Saivite saints, Sekkizhar, Meenakshi Chokkanathar, Suradevar, Ashta Sakthis, Veerabhadra, Sastha and other deities. On the western side of the sanctum sanctorum is the idol of Narasimha, instead of Lingodbhavar. There are also shrines for Navagrahas, Balasubramania, Brahma, Durga, and a portrait of Pulithevan, who was the ruler of the area, is found hanging on the wall.
No abishekam performed
The shrine of Sankara-Narayana has a Mukamandapam, where many paintings adorn the walls.
The twin concept.
There is a Balipeedam and Dwajasthambam. No abishekam is performed to the idol of Sankara-Narayana. Instead it is offered to the image of the emerald Lingam kept in front of the idol.
The next shrine is that of Gomathi Amman with a low ceiling. The ceiling has provisions to let in light and fresh air, and one can never feel the heat even during peak summer. There are shrines for Vinayaka and Subramanya in the Prakaram and on the northern side is the pit containing sacred earth known as `Putrumann,' which is taken home by devotees. The idol of Gomathy Amman in the sanctum sanctorum is full of grace.
A `Srichakram' is found in front of the idol and it was said to have been installed by the Aadheenakarthar of the Thiruvavaduthurai Math 200 years ago. It is believed that one can be at peace if it is worshipped after praying to the Goddess.
There is a separate shrine for Surya or Sun God in the prakaram of the Sankaralinga Swami shrine and according to legend, Surya, who was afflected by `Dosha' worshipped the Lord to get relief and even now the Sun's rays fall on the lingam on six days, during Dakshinayanam and Utharayanam.
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