Kandaswami Temple (Tamil: ???? ?????? ??????) is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Murugan, located in the Parry's corner (Old: George Town) neighbourhood of Chennai city, in Tamil Nadu, India. It is also called 'Mutthu Kum?ra Sw?mi deva sth?nam' (Tamil: ?????? ????? ?????? ???????) and popularly known as Kandha kottam (Tamil: ???? ???????). It is managed by the Tamil Nadu Hindu religious and charitable endowments department of the government of Tamil Nadu. The Kandha kottam temple has associated educational institutions for music and dance classes; primary and high schools; and a college, in various locations. The Kandha kottam temple also performs social welfare initiatives like free medical clinics and free pharmacies.
Video Kandaswami Temple, Georgetown
History
The original temple was constructed by the Maari Chettiar in the 1670s. The existing temple was built with stone in the very early 1800s. It has seen many renovations, and is considered to be one of the finest in the neighbourhood. The area covered by the temple is about eight acres. The temple tank is 'Saravana Poigai' and the Sthala Viruksham (tree) is Magizham tree.
According to the stone inscriptions in the temple, the moolavar vigraham (main idol) of Murugan in this temple was discovered and brought from a tank bund near Thiru porur Shri Kandha Sw?mi Temple. It is a famous Murugan temple situated on the Chennai to Mahabalipuram route and that vigraham was installed in this temple during the 1670s.
Maps Kandaswami Temple, Georgetown
Deities
The moolavar vigraham 'Shri Kandha sw?mi', (???? ???? ??????) which was brought from 'Thiru porur', is about two feet in height. Shri Deiv?nai (???? ????????) and Shri Valli (???? ?????) are on either side of this presiding deity. The uthsava moorthi is known as 'Shri Mutthu kum?ra sw?mi' (???? ?????? ????? ??????), has consorts Deiv?nai and Valli. They are in a separate shrine in a big uthsava mandapam. Next to the temple tank Saravana poigai, there is a shrine for Shri Kulakkarai Vin?yagar with Siddhi and Buddhi as his consorts. There is a shrine nearby for Shri K?shi Vishwan?dhar and Shri K?shi Vish?l?kshi.
At the entrance of this temple, there is a hall called 'Parivedan mandapam'. Sculptured images of Vezha mugatthu Vin?yagar in sitting and standing positions are kept on either side of the mandapam. To the front of the Artha mandapam, there is a 'dwaja sthambam' (Flag Staff). The Mukha mandapam is where the idols of Sarva Siddhi Vin?yagar, Meen?kshi Sundareswarar, Idumban, R?malinga Sw?migal (Vallal?r), and P?mban Sw?migal are found.
R?malinga Vallal?r and Kandha kottam
The Kandha kottam temple is associated with the life of the saint R?malinga Sw?migal (Vallal?r, ????????), who composed 'Deiva mani malai' here.
Saint R?malingam (1823 - 1874) was a small child when he relocated with his mother to Chennai in 1826; after the death of his father in 1824. He and his mother lived with his eldest brother Sabhapati and his wife P?pp?thi at 31/14 Veerasamy Pillai Street, Sevenwells, Chennai-600001, which is in the area near Kandha kottam temple. During visits to the temple, when the priest offered the Deepa aradhana (adoration by lighted lamp being brought close to the vigrahams), this was perceived by R?malingam as a deep spiritual experience. In later years he said of the experience:
-
- "No sooner the Light was perceived, happiness prevailed on me", and
-
- "The sweet nectar was tasted by me as soon as the Arut perun jothi (Supreme Grace Of Light) became visible".
After R?malingam reached five years of age, Sabhapati initiated his formal education. But the young child was not interested in that, instead he preferred trips to the nearby Kandha sw?mi temple. Sabhapati thought that the child needed punishment as a form of discipline, and he told his wife not to give R?malingam his daily meal. His kind sister-in-law, however, secretly gave him food and persuaded him to study seriously at home. In return, R?malingam asked for his own room, lighted lamp and mirror. He placed the light in front of the mirror. He started meditation by concentrating on the light and thus began the young boy's spiritual life. He miraculously saw a vision of the Lord Muruga. R?malingam said:
- "The beauty endowed divine faces six, the illustrious shoulders twelve."
At one time, R?malingam had to replace his elder brother Sabhapati at an upany?sam (religious stories) session. His great discourse on verses from the `Periya pur?nam', an epic poem by Sekkizhar about the saintly '63 N?yan?rs', was appreciated by the devotees as being given by a very learned scholar. R?malingam's mental and spiritual growth progressed rapidly. R?malingam says thanks to the Divine by:
- "Effulgent flame of grace, that lit in me intelligence, to know untaught."
Saint R?malingam evolved in his spiritual journey from being a devout devotee of Lord Siva to worshipping the formless.
Festivals
The Kandha kottam temple has its famous yearly festivals of ?di's Kirutthigai with silver car, Aippasi's Kandha Shashti & Deiv?nai Thiru kaly?nam, Karthigai's Deepam, Thai's Brahmotsavam, Thai Poosam, Panguni's Utthiram and the monthly festivals of Kirutthigai and Kandha Shashti. The temple has weekly 'Arut perun jothi Agaval' song on every Thursday and its daily ?ru j?ma poojai (six times a day worship).
References
- Muthiah, S. (2004). Madras Rediscovered. East West Books (Madras) Pvt Ltd. p. 329. ISBN 81-88661-24-4.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
0 Comments