Article in Hindu on Uttaramerur

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Cadambi Sriram

08/26/97 01:27 PM

[THE HINDU]

 

Friday, August 22, 1997

SECTION: Entertainment

 

 

 

Has stood the test of time

 

22-08-1997 :: Pg: 30 :: Col: a

 

The country's greatest and most enduring legacy is its

spirituality and it primarily manifests itself in the

form of temples spread across the land. The temples

serve as an unfailing source of solace and hope. The

longing to go on a pilgrimage brings people of different

regions together. All in all, temples are such an

integral part of life that there is a saying in Tamil

``Koyil Ella Ooril Kudiyirukka Vendam''. (One should not

live in a city or town or village where there is no

temple).

 

Most of the well-known and big temples in the country

were built centuries before invaders started making

forays into the country. The monarchs those days were so

catholic that they were not only tolerant of other

faiths as but also made no distinction between Saivism

and Vaishnavism. Rulers belonging to different dynasties

through the centuries built magnificent edifices for

gods and goddesses they deeply revered.

 

One of these remarkable temples, situated in

Uttaramerur, 85 km from Chennai, dedicated to Lord

Vishnu is called the Sri Sundaravaradaraja Perumal

temple. The town itself has many distinctions. It is

believed that a temple of this kind can be built only in

a place where 4,000 pandits well-versed in the four

Vedas reside. According to legend, when this temple was

built towards the end of the eighth century, there must

have been at least 1,000 persons living in the town

having had that qualification. Hence Uttaramerur used to

be called ``Chathurvedamangalam.'' Uttaramerur is also

said to have been derived from the age-old belief that

King Virata in whose court the Pandavas with Draupadi

spent a year incognito, had entrusted the governance of

the place to his son Uttara.

 

A devotee going to this temple will have to first offer

worship to Veera Anjaneya whose shrine is right

opposite. Inside the temple which has three-tiers, on

the right in the ground floor are shrines for Vedanta

Maha Desika, saint Ramanuja and a few Azhwars such as

Nammazhwar and Tirumangai Azhwar. After praying to these

saints one goes on to the god and goddesses in keeping

with the adage, ``Matha, Pitha, Guru, Deivam''. The

presiding deity, Sundaravaradaraja (also known as

Soundarya Varadaraja) Perumal, who is in a standing

posture, is flanked by Sri Devi and Bhoodevi. The idols

of urchavamurthis placed in front of this trinity are

those of Krishna, Sakkarathazhwar, Rama, Sita and

Anjaneya. On the left is the idol of Selvar who figures

prominently during the Brahmotsavam.

 

The temple, built mainly of limestone and no granite at

all, is unique in its conception and execution. The

three-tiers that house the shrines for the presiding

deity in different postures have the sanctum sanctorums

built one above the other with immediate inner prakarams

for devotees to go around.

 

In the second tier, Lord Vishnu called Vaikunta Varadar

also known as Paramapatharathan in sitting posture, is

facing the east. The daily and special aradhanas are

first performed to this deity. As one comes out of this

shrine and goes around from right are Krishna and Arjuna

with the Avatar preaching the Bhagawad Gita to the

Pandava. They face the south. Then there is Narasimha in

meditative posture facing the west. And Varahar is seen

showering His benediction on Lakshmi, who is seen

praying to Him. The Lord's eyes are resting on

``Thayar'', the goddess. Here Vishnu is also called

Bhuvaharagar. The deities face the north.

 

The third-tier has Ranganatha in a lying posture. He is

lying on his right. This deity is similar to Sri Anantha

Padmanabhaswami in Tiruvananthapuram. Facing the Lord is

Nanmuga Brahma. From the lotus navel of Ranganatha,

Brahma is seen emerging. Near Ranganatha's feet is Lord

Siva with a deer and `mazhu' (a weapon). Ranganatha

blesses Markandeya with his right hand. Bhoomidevi is

placed opposite Markandeya.

 

There is also a belief that Markandeya is Maharishi

Bhrigu who came down to earth to seek restoration of his

vision. On being sent to find out who should receive the

first honour at the end of a yagna in ``Devalokam'',

Bhrigu went to Brahma who was immersed in the music,

played by His consort Saraswati on the veena. The sage

found Siva and Parvati in Kailasam in an equally

inattentive mood. On his arrival at Vaikuntam, it was no

better with Vishnu playing with Lakshmi unmindful of the

sage's presence. Enraged by this `humiliation', the sage

kicked the Lord on His chest. Actually, it was a ruse

played by the Lord who wanted to teach a lesson to the

sage who had become conceited because he had a rare eye

below his right toe. Narayana in feigning to assuage the

hurt of the sage caught hold of his feet, profusely

apologising for his lapse and gently smothered the eye.

 

The sage went blind. Meanwhile, Lakshmi furious with the

Lord who had allowed a man to kick Him on the chest

where she resided, got down from that pedestal.

Narayana, it is believed bade His consort and the sage

to go to earth and do penance. Bhrigu, according to

legend, had performed his tapas in Uttaramerur.

 

Before one goes into the sanctum, there are two

``Dwarapalikaigal'' instead of ``Dwarapalakas'' found

usually in temples.

 

The two symbolise the Ganges and the Yamuna and as there

is Prayag in Allahabad in the north, Uttaramerur is

called ``Dakshina Prayag.''

 

Coming down to the ground, in the inner Prakaram there

is a shrine for Achutha Varathar, who faces the south.

Then to the left at the end of the corridor besides the

Prakaram is the shrine for the Goddess Anandavalli

Thayar.

 

For a long time she was referred to only as ``Ulaga

Matha.'' There is a legend behind how She came to be

called Anandavalli. When the Pandavas were in exile,

they had drifted into a state of depression and

confusion. Sensing Draupadi's despair, Sage Narada

appeared before her and advised her to take the Pandavas

to a town where there were 108 temples and make them

bathe in those temple tanks and pray to Varada for the

restoration of their sanity. Draupadi did as Narada bid

and Vishnu in the form of Vaikuntha Varathar bestowed

sanity on Dharma and Sundaravarathar blessed Bhima

likewise.

 

Achutha Varathar made Arjuna his old self, Nakula and

Sahadeva were graced with normalcy by Anirudda Varathar

and Kalyana Varathar respectively. Filled with bliss the

Pandavas called the Goddess Anandavalli. The town came

to be known ``Pancha Varatha Kshetram'' and ``Pandava

Aranyam.''

 

Unlike the other icons for which there is no

thirumanjanam (in the month of ``Karthigai'' alone, the

icons are cleaned with an oil) for the icon of Thayar,

abhisekam is regularly performed. On all Fridays, the

Goddess is taken in procession but only within the

precincts of the temple. But this practice remains

suspended from ``Karthigai Thirunal'' to Koorathazhwar

``Thirunatchathiram'' that falls in the month of

``Thai.''

 

There is Anirudda Varathar who is facing the west. As

one turns right, to his immediate left and at the

beginning of the corridor is the shrine for Andal.

Special pujas are performed to the deity throughout the

month of `Margazhi'. The urchavamoorthy of the deity is

kept in Sundara Varathar's shrine.

 

The `valam' round the temple ends at the shrine of

Kalyana Varathar who is sitting atop a serpent. Devotees

are beginning to make it a point to perform `archana' to

Him for five successive Wednesdays with the faith that

their prayers will be granted.

 

The temple has eight prominent vimanas. In the outer

prakaram there are five mandapams. To begin with is the

``Dwadasi Mandapam'' where guests are fed the day after

``Ekadasi'' when devotees observe fast. The well by the

side of the mandapam never goes dry.

 

The ``Vadayithi Mandapam'' comes next. This is used for

the Lord to relax (`Vidayathiyai iruthal') for three

days after the conclusion of Brahmotsavam. For

conducting the spring festival there is a mandapam. The

two other mandapams are the four pillar and 100-pillar

mandapams.

 

The former is meant for Anandavalli Thayar to play by

the swing on the last Friday of each month.

 

The temple is being renovated at an estimated cost of

Rs. 60 lakhs.

 

A. THIRUGNANASAMBANDA MOORTHY