An Evening in Mylapore Koils

After many weeks Vijaya and I resumed our long walks around Mylapore yesterday (17 Feb 2008). We started walking as usual via the Norton Street. There was a proposal to rename this street as Ki Vaa Jagannatha (Iyer) Street, in honour of the famous Tamil writer and long-time editor of Kalaimagal. What happened to the renaming? We explored the kurukku therus (Cross streets) branching off Norton Street and came to the Sri Veera Anjaneyar Koil. This Koil is a small but very beautiful one with about 8 feet tall statue of Sri Anjaneya.

After worshipping here, we walked to Sri Vedanta Desikar Koil. Sri Vedanta Desika lived over 730 years ago in South India. He wrote erudite commentaries on Ramanuja's Sribhashyam, Gita Bhashyam and was a great exponent of Visishtadvaita. Apart from Sri Desikar’s vigraha, there are Sannadhis for Hayagriva, Sri Rama, and others. The Moolavar here is Sri Srinivasa Perumal with Sri Alarmel Mangai Thayar.

The annual Dhavanothsavam is being held here now from Feb 19th to 21st. This uthsavam is meant to be a upacharam to the Lord and His Consort. They are decorated with the Dhavana flower garland from Top to Toe (Thirumudi to Thiruvadi). This three day Uthsavam of fragrance concludes on Maasi Makham day (21st Feb) when the Lord is taken for the Samudra Snanam.

Concerts of eminent musicians are held in the evenings these three days. Last year it was Smt Sudha Ragunathan (we attended this concert). Tomorrow (19th) it will be Sri TN Seshagopalan (vocal) and on 20th it is Sri Ramani (Flute)

When we went yesterday some Homam was going on.

From this temple, we went to the nearby Sri Adi Kesava Perumal Koil. This is a very ancient Koil. The temple has various Sannadhis (Sri Rama, Hayahriva, Chakkarathazhwar, Sri Andal). The area where this temple is situated is very ancient with houses of that period jostling with recent constructions. It is predominantly a Brahmin area. The famous Chitra Kulam of this temple is nearby. Once there was no water in this kulam and boys used to play cricket here!

Seeing the pitiable condition, Sri Kanchi Sankarachariyar Swamigal undertook the cleaning of the kulam with the active physical participation of locals. Even small boys lent a helping hand, and once the cleaning was over, the Swamigal urged the Corporation to supply water to it. They helped. Next year there was copious rains and the kulam was full. To the pleasant surprise of the locals the kulam over-flowed and there was water everywhere in the four Mada veedhis!! Nowadays there is plenty of rain every year and the Kulam is always brimming with water.

The Theppothsavam (photo below) which was stopped for decades was resumed last year (2007). It was a wonderful sight last year. We couldn’t go for this year’s theppothsavam.

We walked along the Kulam enjoying the beauty of the brimming water and reached East Mada Street. Entered the Sri Kapaleeswarar Koil (Photo below)

As I said earlier the Gopuram work is in full swing. There was a large Homam and Abhishekam going on yesterday and a large crowd of devotees was present.

We were told we should not enter any temple after a sad event in the family; so we waited for the lapse of 45 days and went to this temple 10 days before also, though we pass by it almost 4-5 times in a week.

Next, we walked to Sri Velleeswarar Koil, on the South Mada St. Legend has it that when Mahabali was about to gift the three-steps’ Land to Mahavishnu, his (Mahabali’s) Guru Sukrachariar objected to it. To stop the dhaanam, Sukrachariar took the shape of a Vandu (bee) and blocked the hole of the Dhana paathram so that the water will not flow out of it thus Dhaanam can not be completed (Dattam). Vishnu took a Darbai and poked the eyes of the bee (Sukracharya); thus blinded and chagrined, Sukracharya sought forgiveness. Vishnu told him to go to Sri Velleeswarar Koil at Mylapore and pray to Lord Velleeswarar there. Sukraharya was granted his eyesight back. Just opposite Sani bhagavan un this temple, one can see Sukra worshipping Lord Shiva under a tree to regain sight. Worshipping here restores vision, believe devotees and so a large number of devotees come here during the Vaikasi Thiruvizha for their eye ailments.

Here Kamakshi abides in a separate shrine and is said to possess the attributes of both Saraswati and Lakshmi. She blesses her devotees with knowledge as well as wealth.

This was our last stop for the day. We trekked back home with the satisfaction of worshipping at five different Koils of Mylapore.

Also read my previous posts on Koils (1) here and (2) here.

rajappa
1245 on 18 Feb 2008