Gudalur Kumbabhishekam - Kamakshi sametha Sri EkambareswararTemple

"Never in the 90 years of my life have I seen this whole Village of mine come together, with all differences - social and political - forgotten as it has these eight days!" ---- said a Senior Citizen ( 90 years old) of the Village, in awe and with tears in her eyes!

At the behest of and with the blessings of Sri Swamigal the Temple renovation and 'Kumbabhisheka' of Gudalur Temple(s) were performed by 'Dharma Kalpataru' Gudalur K.Ramamurthy, a descendant of the great Appayya Dikshitar family.

Sthalapurãna: (The History of the Holy Place)

This 'Kshetra' is known as 'Gooda Kanchi' - 'gooda' means secret (Sanskrit) - as it is akin to Kancheepuram, the ancient village in Tamizhnadu, S.India. This 'Kshetra' has been sung by Thirunãvukarasar (Appar) in 'Thevaram'. 'Koodi' in Tamizh means 'to come together'. It is also said that it is known as 'Koodalur' because Goddess Parvati (the consort of Lord Siva) took the form of a cow and was amidst the herd in this Kshetra.

One of the Chozha Kings was cured of a serious ailment when he bathed in the Sãra pushkarini here and worshipped the Lord.

The Festival!

Sri Swamigal stayed in a house quite close to the temple. Every morning, Sri Swamigal performed 'Tirumanjanam' for the 'salagramam' and blessed all with 'Tirthaprasad'.

Highlights!

All the eight days Sri Swamigal blessed thousands of people with darshan, for six hours during the day and another six hours from 6 p.m. stretching into midnight!! The people, the locals and from nearby villages, waited very patiently for hours in the queue to have darshan of Sri Swamigal. Sri Swamigal was highly appreciative of the good job done by the local NSS and Youth Association volunteers in regulating the massive crowd.
	About 100 and odd National Social Service (NSS) students and local Youth Association volunteers regulated the massive crowd wonderfully - in the darshan of Sri Swamigal, in the Temples' Kumbabhishekas, in the huge dining area and in the 'maidan' where cultural events took place.
People from the villages around Gudalur poured into the Village in tractors, bullock carts, lorries and camped in their vehicles! The local Government Body had made special transportation arrangements from the nearby Big towns of Mayiladuthurai and Kumbakonam.

Every house/family exhibited its affection and respect to Sri Swamigal through the Big 'kolams' at their door steps on all the eight days.

Sr Thiurvaaduthurai Aadhinam and Sri Dharumapura Aadhinam participated in the temple kumbabisheka.

The entire Village was covered with 'pandal' that one had to come out of Village to see the Sky, the Sun, the Moon and the Stars!! Wonderful lighting arrangements switched off the 'nights' during all the eight days of festivity!!!

10000 to 15000 people were fed to two sumptuous meals every day.

The local dailies and satellite channels gave a good coverage of all the Kumbabhishekas.

Every evening the people were treated with classical and light music concerts, drama, folk arts, etc.

Apart from the Main ancient Temple of Ekambareswarar and Kamakshi, three other local temples of recent times, viz. Bãlavinãyakar , Bãla Sastha and Lakshminarayana temple were also renovated and Kumbabhisheka performed.

The Eight-Day long programme started off on Monday, the 29th January, 2001. The main event of the Mahakumbabhisheka of Sri Ekambareswarar-Kamakshi Temple was performed on Monday, the 5th February, 2001.

Day 1 - 29.01.2001 (Monday)	Morning -	'Anugnai', Vigneswara Puja
Day 2 - 30.01.2001 (Tuesday)	Morning -	'Ganapathy Homam'
Day 3 - 31.01.2001 (Wednesday)	Morning -	'Go' puja followed by dhana puja, Mahalakshmi homam
Day 4 - 01.02.2001 (Thursday)	Morning - Evening -	'Go' puja followed by dhana puja, Mahalakshmi homam 'Vasthu Santhi'
Day 5 - 02.02.2001 (Friday)	Morning -   Evening -	'Thirtham' (Holy water) was brought from the Cauvery and 'Prasannãbhisheka performed Yãgasala Pravesh - 1st kãla Yãgasãla puja
Day 6 - 03.02.2001 (Saturday)	Morning (8.00 am) - Evening -	2nd kãla Yãgasãla puja, Suvasini puja, Brahmachari puja, Kanya puja 3rd kãla Yãgasãla puja
Day 7 - 04.02.2001 (Sunday)	Morning - Evening -	4th kãla Yãgasãla puja 5th kãla Yãgasãla puja
--- 9.10 a.m. - The Kumbabhisheka of Bãlavinayakar and Bãlasastha Temples were performed in the august Presence of Sri Swamigal.
Day 8 - 05.02.2001 (Monday)	Morning (6.00 am) -	6th kãla Yãgasãla puja Mahãpurnahuti
9.10 a.m. - KUMBABHISHEKA OF SRIEKAMBARESWARAR-KAMAKSHI TEMPLE

In the evening 'Mahãbhisheka' and 'Thirukalyanam' were performed. Following this the 'Panchamurthy' (the five deities of the temple) were taken in a grand procession.

On all days during the Yãgasãla puja, the Vedas were chanted, 'Itihasa-purana'(Epics) chanting was carried on as also recitation of the Works of Nayanmars (devotees of Lord Siva). Devi Bhagavata Pãrayana was also performed.

The 'vimãnam' of Ekambareswarar temple has been 'gold' plated!

A new sannidhi was opened for Appayya Dikshitar in Ekambareswarar temple and the kumbabhisheka was performed on the morning of 5th february, 2001.

New Panchaloka Idols were installed in Ekambareswarar temple for Vinayaka Somaskanda, Ambãl, Murugan and Chandikeswara.

Every morning and evening - Thirukarugãvur T.K.Ramanan and T.K. Saravanan played the Nadaswaram.

Lakshminarayana perumal temple Samprokshanam

This was a four-day event beginning from the 1st February evening.

On the 1st (February) evening Anugnai and Vasthu santhi were performed.
Pãrayana of the Vedas, Divya Prabandam and Srimad Bhagavatam was conducted.
On the 2nd (February) morning the 1st kãla Yãgasãla puja
And in the evening the 2nd kãla Yãgasãla puja was performed.
On the 3rd (February) morning 3rd kãla Yãgasãla puja
And in the evening 4th kãla Yãgasãla puja were performed.

On the 4th (February) the 5th kãla Yãgasãla puja and Purnahuthi were Performed.

--- 9-10 A.M. LAKSHMINARAYANA PERUMAL SAMPROKSHANAM

All - the dignitaries and the common man had joined hands together in welcoming back the son of the(ir) soil, 'Dharma Kalpataru Gudalur K.Ramamurthy.

Home • e-MM • Contact

Radhe Krishna