Meenakshi Pancharatnam: मीनाक्षी पञ्चरत्नम्*Meenakshi Temple *63 Nayanars*275 Paadal Petra Sthalams
Meenakshi Pancharatnam: मीनाक्षी
पञ्चरत्नम्
- उद्यद्भनुसहस्रकोटिसदृशाम्
उद्यद्भानुसहस्रकोटिसदृशां
केयूरहारोज्ज्वलां
विम्बोष्ठीं
स्मितदन्तपङ्क्तिरुचिरां
पीताम्बरालङ्कृताम्
।
विष्णुब्रह्मसुरेन्द्रसेवितपदां
तत्त्वस्वरूपां
शिवां
मीनाक्षीं
प्रणतोऽस्मि
सन्ततमहं कारुण्यवारांनिधिम्
॥१॥
Udyad-Bhaanu-Sahasra-Kotti-Sadrshaam Keyuura-Haaro[a-U]jjvalaam
Vimbo[a-O]sstthiim Smita-Danta-Pangkti-Ruciiraam
Piita-Ambara-Alangkrtaam |
Vissnnu-Brahma-Surendra-Sevita-Padaam Tattva-Svaruupaam
Shivaam
Miinaakssiim Prannato-[A]smi Santatam-Aham
Kaarunnya-Vaaraam-Nidhim ||1||
Meaning:
1.1: I meditate on Devi Meenakshi Who is rising (in my
mental vision) with the splendour of Thousand Million Suns, shining with
Bracelets and Garlands (matching
the splendour of the rising Suns),
1.2: She is rising with a Smiling Face, (appearing
beautiful) with Lips Red like Bimba Fruits, and having beautiful Rows of Teeth;
She is adorned with shining Yellow Garments (which are again matching the
splendour of the rising Suns),
1.3: Vishnu, Brahma and the king of Suras (i.e. Indra Deva)
are serving Her Lotus Feet; And Her Auspicious Form is of the essence of
Eternal Consciousness (Tattva),
1.4: (Seeing that vision) I Bow down again and again to Devi
Meenakshi, Who is an Ocean of Compassion.
मुक्ताहारलसत्किरीटरुचिरां
पूर्णेन्दुवक्त्रप्रभां
शिञ्जन्नूपुरकिङ्किणीमणिधरां
पद्मप्रभाभासुराम्
।
सर्वाभीष्टफलप्रदां
गिरिसुतां वाणीरमासेवितां ।
मीनाक्षीं
प्रणतोऽस्मि
सन्ततमहं कारुण्यवारांनिधिम्
॥२॥
Muktaa-Haara-Lasat-Kiriitta-Ruciraam Puurnne[a-I]ndu-Vaktra-Prabhaam
Shin.jan-Nuupura-Kingkinnii-Manni-Dharaam
Padma-Prabhaa-Bhaasuraam |
Sarva-Abhiisstta-Phala-Pradaam Giri-Sutaam
Vaannii-Ramaa-Sevitaam |
Miinaakssiim Prannato-[A]smi Santatam-Aham
Kaarunnya-Vaaraam-Nidhim ||2||
Meaning:
2.1: (Within the splendour of Her Form of rising Sun is) Her
Face shining with the splendour of a Full Moon; Her Crown shining with the
splendour of the Diadem (adorning it); and Her Bosom shining with the splendour
of the Garland of Pearls (decorating it),
2.2: Her Lotus Feet decorated with jingling Anklets with
Bells and Gems over them, are shining with the splendour of a Lotus (as if
blossoming with the Million Rising Suns),
2.3: (That Lotus Feet is the) Granter of all Wishes,
belonging to the Daughter of the Mountain, Who is accompanied by Vaani (Devi
Saraswati) and Ramaa (Devi Lakshmi),
2.4: (Seeing that Lotus Feet) I Bow down again and again to
Devi Meenakshi, Who is an Ocean of Compassion.
श्रीविद्यां
शिववामभागनिलयां
ह्रीङ्कारमन्त्रोज्ज्वलां
श्रीचक्राङ्कितबिन्दुमध्यवसतिं
श्रीमत्सभानायिकाम्
।
श्रीमत्षण्मुखविघ्नराजजननीं
श्रीमज्जगन्मोहिनीं
।
मीनाक्षीं
प्रणतोऽस्मि
सन्ततमहं कारुण्यवारांनिधिम्
॥३॥
Shriividyaam Shiva-Vaama-Bhaaga-Nilayaam Hriingkaara-Mantro[a-U]jjvalaam
Shriicakra-Angkita-Bindu-Madhya-Vasatim
Shriimat-Sabhaa-Naayikaam |
Shriimat-Ssannmukha-Vighnaraaja-Jananiim
Shriimaj-Jagan-Mohiniim |
Miinaakssiim Prannato-[A]smi Santatam-Aham
Kaarunnya-Vaaraam-Nidhim ||3||
Meaning:
3.1: (Behind the splendour of Her rising Form is rising the)
Sri Vidya shining with the splendour of Hrimkara Mantras, where She is residing
as the left-half of Shiva, ...
3.2: ... within the Bindu, at the center of the Sri Chakra;
and presiding over the assembly of Deities (in the Sri Chakra),
3.3: She Who is the Mother of Shanmukha (Sri Muruga) and
Vighnaraja (Sri Ganesha), is the Mother of the Universe, Enchanting all (by Her
infinite Creations and Transformations),
3.4: (Seeing Her form of Sri Vidya) I Bow down again and
again to Devi Meenakshi, Who is an Ocean
of Compassion.
श्रीमत्सुन्दरनायिकां
भयहरां ज्ञानप्रदां निर्मलां
श्यामाभां
कमलासनार्चितपदां
नारायणस्यानुजाम्
।
वीणावेणुमृदङ्गवाद्यरसिकां
नानाविधामम्बिकां
।
मीनाक्षीं
प्रणतोऽस्मि
सन्ततमहं कारुण्यवारांनिधिम्
॥४॥
Shriimat-Sundara-Naayikaam Bhaya-Haraam Jnyaana-Pradaam
Nirmalaam
Shyaama-[A]abhaam Kamala-[A]asana-Arcita-Padaam
Naaraayannasya-Anujaam |
Viinnaa-Vennu-Mrdangga-Vaadya-Rasikaam
Naanaa-Vidhaam-Ambikaam |
Miinaakssiim Prannato-[A]smi Santatam-Aham
Kaarunnya-Vaaraam-Nidhim ||4||
Meaning:
4.1: (Even though Her infinite Creations and Transformations
brings Fear) Seeing Her as the Beautiful Presiding Deity (as the Source of
everything), takes away Fear, bestows Knowledge, and makes us Pure,
4.2: (Taking meditative delight in) Her Dark Form,
(visualizing) Her Feet being worshipped by the one seated on Lotus (i.e.
Brahmadeva), (I worship Her), Who is the younger sister of Sri Narayana,
4.3: She takes delight in various musical instruments like
Veena, Venu (Flute) and Mridanga; and assuming various Forms as Mother (She
plays Her play of Creations),
4.4: (Seeing Her as the Source behind all) I Bow down again
and again to Devi Meenakshi, Who is an Ocean
of Compassion.
नानायोगिमुनीन्द्रहृत्सुवसतिं नानार्थसिद्धिप्रदां
नानापुष्पविराजिताङ्घ्रियुगलां
नारायणेनार्चिताम्
।
नादब्रह्ममयीं
परात्परतरां
नानार्थतत्त्वात्मिकां
।
मीनाक्षीं
प्रणतोऽस्मि
सन्ततमहं कारुण्यवारांनिधिम्
॥५॥
Naanaa-Yogi-Munii-[I]ndra-Hrtsu-Vasatim Naanaa-[A]rtha-Siddhi-Pradaam
Naanaa-Pusspa-Viraajita-Angghri-Yugalaam
Naaraayannena-Arcitaam |
Naadabrahmamayiim Paraatpara-Taraam
Naanaa-[A]rtha-Tattva-Atmikaam |
Miinaakssiim Prannato-[A]smi Santatam-Aham
Kaarunnya-Vaaraam-Nidhim ||5||
Meaning:
5.1: Residing within the hearts of various great Yogis and
Munis, She bestows various Siddhis (spiritual accomplishments),
5.2: Her Lotus Feet adorned with various Flowers (of
Devotion of Devotees) is adored by Narayana Himself (Who is fond of Pure
Devotion),
5.3: She is the embodiment of Nada Brahman, beyond all
Existences, pervading everything as their innermost Soul (i.e. innermost
Essence),
5.4: (Meditating on Her within the heart) I Bow down again
and again to Devi Meenakshi, Who is an Ocean
of Compassion.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meenakshi_Temple
Meenakshi Temple
(also referred to as Meenakshi Amman
Temple or Meenakshi
Sundareshwarar Temple
also spelled as Meenaatchi Temple)
is a historic Hindu temple located on the southern bank of the Vaigai
River in the temple
city of Madurai,
Tamil Nadu, India.
It is dedicated to Thirukamakottam udaya aaludaiya nachiyar (திருக்காமக்கோட்டம்
உடைய ஆளுடைய நாச்சியார்)Meenakshi,
a form of Parvati, and her consort, Sundareshwar, a form of Shiva.
Madurai Meenakshi Sundareswarar
temple was built by King Kulasekara Pandya (1190-1216 CE). He built the main
Portions of the three-storeyed gopura at the entrance of Sundareswarar Shrine
and the central portion of the Goddess Meenakshi Shrine are some of the
earliest surviving parts of the temple. The traditional texts call him a
poet-saint king, additionally credit him with a poem called Ambikai Malai, as
well as shrines (koil) each for Natarajar and Surya near the main temple,
Ayyanar in the east, Vinayagar in the south, Kariamalperumal in the west and
Kali in the north. He also built a Mahamandapam. Kulasekara Pandya was also a
poet and he composed a poem on Meenakshi named Ambikai Malai.
Though the temple has historic
roots, most of the present campus structure was rebuilt after the 14th century
CE, further repaired, renovated and expanded in the 17th century by Tirumala
Nayaka.
In the early 14th century, the armies of Delhi
Sultanate led by Muslim Commander Malik Kafur plundered the temple, looted it
of its valuables and destroyed the Madurai temple town along with many other
temple towns of South India.
The contemporary temple is the result of
rebuilding efforts started by the Vijayanagara Empire rulers who rebuilt the
core and reopened the temple.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaigai_River
The temple is a major pilgrimage
destination within the Shaivism tradition, dedicated to Meenakshi Devi and
Shiva. However, the temple includes Vishnu in many narratives, sculptures and
rituals as he is considered to be Meenakshi's brother.
This has made this temple and Madurai
as the "southern Mathura",
one included in Vaishnava texts. The Meenakshi temple also includes Lakshmi,
flute playing Krishna, Rukmini, Brahma, Saraswati, other Vedic and Puranic
deities, as well as artwork showing narratives from major Hindu texts. The
large temple complex is the most prominent landmark in Madurai
and attracts tens of thousands visitors a day.
The temple attracts over a
million pilgrims and visitors during the annual 10-day Meenakshi Tirukalyanam
festival, celebrated with much festivities and a ratha (chariot) procession
during the Tamil month of Chittirai (overlaps with April–May in Georgian calendar,
Chaitra in North India). The Temple has been adjudged
best ‘Swachh Iconic Place’ in India as on October 1, 2017 under Prime Minister
of India Narendra Modi's Flagship Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
Meenakshi (Sanskrit: मीनाक्षी, lit. 'Mīnākṣī', Tamil: மீனாட்சி, is a term meaning
"fish-eyed", derived from the words mina ("fish") and akshi
("eyes"). She was earlier known by the Tamil name Thadadakai
("fish-eyed one"), which was called later as Meenakshi. According to
another theory, the name of the goddess literally means "rule of the
fish", derived from the Tamil words meen (fish) and aatchi (rule).She is also
known by the Tamil name "Angayarkanni" or
"Ankayarkannammai" (literally, "the mother with the beautiful
fish eyes").
The goddess Meenakshi is the principal deity of the temple,
unlike most Shiva temples in South India where Shiva is
the principal deity. According to a legend found in the Tamil text
Tiruvilaiyatarpuranam, king Malayadwaja Pandya and his wife Kanchanamalai
performed a Yajna seeking a son for succession. Instead a daughter is born out
of the fire who is already 3 year old and has three breasts. Shiva intervenes and
says that the parents should treat her like a son, and when she meets her
husband, she will lose the third breast. They follow the advice. The girl grows
up, the king crowns her as the successor and when she meets Shiva, his words
come true, she takes her true form of Meenakshi. According to Harman, this may
reflect the matrilineal traditions in South India and the regional belief that
"penultimate [spiritual] powers rest with the women", gods listen to
their spouse, and that the fate of kingdoms rest with the women. According to
Susan Bayly, the reverence for Meenakshi is a part of the Hindu goddess
tradition that integrates with the Dravidian Hindu society where the
"woman is the lynchpin of the system" of social relationships.
The marriage of Meenakshi and Shiva was the biggest event,
with all gods, goddesses and living beings gathered. Vishnu is believed to be
the brother of Meenakshi. Vishnu gives her away to Shiva at the wedding.
The sacred temple tank is called Porthamarai Kulam
("Pond with the golden lotus"). It is also referred to as Adhi
Theertham, Sivaganga and Uthama Theertham. The pool is 165 ft (50 m) by 120 ft
(37 m) in size.
The pool walls were painted with frescoes. Only a fraction
of 17th- and 18th-century paintings of Nayak period survives and one such
portion is found in the small portico on the western side of the tank. It
depicts the marriage of Sundareswarar and Meenkashi attended by Vijayaranga
Chokkanatha and Rani Mangammal. The painting is executed on a vivid red
background, with delicate black linework and large areas of white, green and
ochre. The celestial couple is seated inside an architectural frame with a
flowering tree in the background.
The small six-pillared swing mandapam (Unjal) was built by
Cheventhi Murthi Chetti during this period, and this remains in use currently
for a Friday ritual and it also houses the model of the entire temple complex
created in 1985.
Deities inside the Temple
Sundareshwarar (Main God)
Meenakshi Amman (Main Goddess)
Mukkuruni Vinayagar
Irattai Vinayagar
Dakshinamurthy
Mahalakshmi
Saraswathi
63 Nayanmars
Saptarishi mothers
Kasi Vishwanathar
Lingothpavar
Sahasralingas
Subramaniyar with Deivayanai and Valli
Chandrasekhar
Chandikeshwarar
Kalyana Sundareshwarar with Meenakshi Amman
Siddhar
Durgai Amman
Bhairavar
Appar
Sambandhar
Sundarar
Manickavasagar
Suryanarayanan with Usha and Prathyusha
Sangam poets
Vivhooshi Vinayagar
Navagrahas
Along with these, there are statues of King Thirumalai
Naicker with his wives within the temple complex.
The temple is at the
center of the ancient temple city
of Madurai mentioned in the Tamil
Sangam literature, with the goddess temple mentioned in 6th century CE texts.
This temple is one of
the Paadal Petra Sthalam. The Paadal Petra sthalam are 275 temples of lord
Shiva that are revered in the verses of Tamil Saiva Nayanars of 6th-9th century
CE.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paadal_Petra_Sthalam
The Paadal Petra Thalam are 275 temples that are revered in
the verses of Saiva Nayanars in the 6th-9th century CE and are amongst the
greatest Shiva temples of the continent. The Divya Desams by comparison are the
108 Vishnu temples glorified in the poems of the contemporary Vaishnava Alvars
of Tamil Nadu, India
Thevaram literally means "garland of divine songs"
and refers to the collection of verses sung praising Shiva, the primary god of
the Shaivite sect of Hindu religion, by three Tamil poets known as Saiva
Kuruvars - Thirugnana Sambanthar, Tirunavukkarasar (aka Appar) and
Sundaramoorthy Nayanar (aka Sundarar) The three are considered the primary
three among the sixty three Nayanmars of the Saivite sect of Hinduism. The former
two lived during the 7th century AD while the latter around 8th century AD. All
songs in Thevaram are believed to be in sets of ten songs, called pathikam in
Tamil. Some musical experts consider Thevaram as a divine musical form.
There is a common view that Sanskritization of names of the
temples are carried out in later period that superseded the names mentioned in
Thevaram - some of the common examples are Chidambaram as against Tillai in
Thevaram and Kumbakonam as against Kudanthai.
The 275 temples that are mentioned in Thevaram are referred
as Paadal Petra Thalam, meaning the temples that were sung in the verses. On
the contrary, Vaippu Thalam are temples that were mentioned casually in the
songs in Thevaram and lacking a mention of those temples. In modern times, the
verses of Tevaram are sung daily and during the festive occasions in most Shiva
temples in Tamil Nadu by musicians called Odhuvars.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nayanars
The Nayanars (or Nayanmars; Tamil: நாயன்மார், romanized: Nāyaṉmār, lit. 'hounds of Siva', and later
'teachers of Siva') were a group of 63 saints living in Tamil Nadu during the
6th to 8th centuries CE who were devoted to the Hindu god Shiva. Along with the
Alwars, their contemporaries who were devoted to Vishnu, they influenced the
Bhakti movement in early medieval South India.
The names of the
Nayanars were first compiled by Sundarar. The list was expanded by Nambiyandar
Nambi during his compilation of material by the poets for the Tirumurai
collection, and would include Sundarar himself and Sundarar's parents.
The list of the Nayanars was initially compiled by Sundarar
(Sundararmurthi). In his poem Tiruthonda Thogai he sings, in eleven verses, the
names of the Nayanar saints up to Karaikkal Ammaiyar, and refers to himself as
"the servant of servants".
List of 63 Nayanars
1 Sundarar Born in Aadhi month, Swathi
nakshathiram
2 Tiru
Neelakanta
3 Iyarpagaiar
4 Ilayankudi
Maranar
5 Meiporul
6 Viralminda
7 Amaraneedi
8 Eripatha
9 Yenathinathar
10 Kannappa Mutharaiyar
11 Kungiliya
Kalaya
12 Manakanchara
13 Arivattaya
14 Anaya
15 Murthiyar
16 Muruga
17 Rudra
Pasupathi
18 Nandanar
(Thirunalai Povar)
19 Tiru Kurippu
Thonda
20 Chandeshvara
21 Appar
(Tirunavukkarasar)
22 Kulachirai
23 Perumizhalai
Kurumba Kurumbar
24 Karaikkal
Ammeiyar Woman saint who lived in the
6th century
25 Apputhi
Adigal
26 Tiruneelanakka
27 Nami Nandi
Adigal
28 Sambandar
29 Eyarkon
Kalikama
30 Tirumular
31 Dandi Adigal
32 Murkha
33 Somasi Mara
34 Sakkiya
35 Sirappuli
36 Siruthondar Army general of the Pallava king
Narasimavarman I
37 Cheraman
Perumal Modern historians identified
Cheraman Perumal Nayanar as the Chera ruler Rama Rajasekhara (c. 800—844 CE).
He is the first known ruler of the Cheras of Makotai (c. 800—1124 CE)[9]
Born in Aadhi month, Swathi nakshathiram
38 Gananatha
39 Kootruva
40 Pugal Chola Mutharaiyar King
41 Narasinga
Muniyaraiyar Mutharaiyar
42 Adipaththar
43 Kalikamba
44 Kalia Born in Aadhi month, Kettai nakshathiram
45 Satti
46 Aiyadigal
Kadavarkon
47 Kanampulla
48 Kari
49 Ninra Seer
Nedumaara Pandya king
50 Mangayarkkarasiyar Queen and consort of Nindra Seer Nedumaran
51 Vayilar
52 Munaiyaduvar
53 Kazharsinga
54 Idangazhi
55 Seruthunai
56 Pugazh Thunai
57 Kotpuli Born in Aadhi month, Kettai nakshathiram
58 Pusalar
59 Nesa
60 Sengenar
(Kochengat Chola)
61 Tiru
Nilakanta Yazhpanar
62 Sadaiya Sundarar's father
63 Isaignaniyaar Sundarar's mother
The list did not go
into the detail of the lives of the saints, which were described in detail in
works such as Tevaram.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tevaram
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kokarneswarar_Temple,_Thirukokarnam
The Kokarneswarar Temple
is situated in town of Thirukokarnam
located 5 kilometres from the town of Pudukkottai
in the Tamil Nadu, India.
The presiding deity is Kokarneswarar considered to be a form of the Hindu God
Shiva. His consort Brihadambal is the family deity of the Thondaiman kings
which ruled the princely Pudukkottai state. The temple was constructed by the
Pallava king Mahendravarman I.
The rock-cut cave Temple
of Sri Kokarneswarar Brahadambal at
Thirukokarnam is of Mahendraverma Pallava's period. Thirukokarnam is situated
just about 5 kms from Pudukkottai. The presiding deity is Gokarneshwarar and
His consort is Brahadambal. Lord of Kokarnam is main deity of Tondaiman
kings.Locally, this temple is known as Brahadambal temple and it is also known
as Arakasu Amman temple. Kokarneswarar
Cave Temple
is excavated on the southern slope of a low rising hill and faces east. A
sanctum is sunk into the back wall and has a monolithic Shiva linga inside.
Right side has Ganesha while left is adorned with Shiva as Gangadhara.The
mandapams in front of the main rock-out shrine are the work of the Cholas and
Pandyas, between 11th & 13th century AD. There is an upper tier in this
temple, where the shrines of Subrahmanya, Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswathi,
Annapurani and Rudrakshalingam, Brahma, Jvarahareshwarar, Bhairava, Surya, the
Shaivait saints.
The presiding deity of temple is Arulmighu Brahadambal
sametha Gokarnewarar(Lord Shiva).. There are many interesting legends are
associated with the Temple,The sthala Purana goes like….Once Kamadhenu( Surabhi
is a divine bovine-goddess described as the mother of all cows) arrived late to
Indra Sabha.Indra, in his anger,cursed the Kamadhenu to lead a life of normal
cow till she makes papa pariharam(clearing her sins).Kamadhenu visits Sage
Kapila and explains her situation,Sage Kapila advices Kamadhenu to worship Lord
shiva under Vakula tree( Mimusops elengi) and perform abhishekam with Ganges
water daily. Kamadhenu followed Sage instructions with complete devotion.As
Kamadhenu used to bring Ganges water through her
ear..The place became popular as Gokarneswar(lord worshipped through the ear of
cow).One day while Kamadhenu is on the way for abhishekam,a tiger attacked
her,She pleaded the tiger to leave her as she needs to complete her puja. Tiger
allowed to perform puja only after kamadhenu promised to come back.As per her
word,Kamadhenu returned to tiger after completing her abhishekam. The tiger is
none other than Lord Shiva himself,pleased by her sincere devotion, Lord blessed
her with Salvation.
No comments:
Post a Comment