Sundararajan -Appayya Dikishithar / Part One

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Appayya was brilliant and learnt the Vedas and Sastras at a very early age. As he grew older he mastered Dvaita and Vishishadvaita. He was a prodigious writer who produced 104 granthams in Sanskrit. The most noteworthy of his works is 'Sivarkamani Deepika'. His devotional poems include Sri Margabandhu Sthotram, Sri Durga Chandrakala Stuti (essence of Devi Mahatmiyam) and Atmarpana Stuti, which he wrote under the influence of the powerful herbal drug datura that intoxicates.

Though Appayya proclaimed the unity of different streams of Hinduism, his 'ishta devata' was Lord Siva. While praying at Chidambaram he sings that 'on the one side is Paramatma as Lakshmi and her husband and on the other as Uma and Eswara'. It is believed that Appayya was married to two women, one a Saivite and the other a Vaishnavite.

But it was Appayya's relentless struggle that helped uphold Saivism so much so that the Kanchi Mahaswamigal says that if we are able to wear rudraksham and vibhuthi now, it is because of his great effort.

Appayya was a Siddha and a yogi. He was able to transfer his colic pain on to a towel while he sat in meditation. His disciples were thrilled and shocked to see the towel jumping about. He explained to them that it was the pain within him that they were witnessing. After his meditation was over he "took back" the pain.

Appayya was honoured for his scholarship by the rulers of Vellore and nearby places. He used the gold and other gifts to surround himself with scholars and disciples. He is said to have maintained 500 of them and also did his duty towards his children.

After a long and fruitful life, Appayya entered the Chidambaram temple at the age of 72 at an odd hour. He sang then that "in Chidambaram he was praying to reach the Lord's feet; he had lived a full life, his children were good scholars and were dutiful. He had lived a happy life and could ask for nothing more". He is said to have passed away after that.

Virinjipuram was the native place of Appayya's mother and it was here that he set up a mutt and temple housing Lord Vinayaka, Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswara, all under one roof. The mutt was meant to accommodate sages and sadhus when they visited Virinjipuram to meditate or do poojas at the beautiful Margabandeeswarar temple.

Seeing that even the Nandi in front of the Lingam had gone missing after all these years, devotees from Chennai formed the organisation 'Siva Sudha', led by Nilakanda Sharma, to not just replace the Nandi but also renovate the temple.

They plan to build a separate shrine for Goddess Meenakshi, Adi Sankara and Appayya Deekshithar and find new slots for the existing Navagarahas and Anjaneya.

The Lingam and the Salagramam that were worshipped by Appayya are to be found in this temple.

The renovation work was started by Om Murugashramam Sri Sankarananda Swamigal of Chennai and it has the blessings of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam Sankaracharya, Sri Jayendra Saraswati.

"We think it is our good fortune that we are associated with the renovation of the mutt and temple that was set up by Appayya Deekshithar. We would like other devotees also to take part in this immense task and get the blessings of the great man," says S Srinivasan, honorary secretary, who is actively involved in the renovation.

Those who wish to help this noble mission may please send in your contributions to:

Siva Sudha,No 20, Door No 1/497, Middle Street,Natco Colony,Kottivakkam,Chennai -600 041Or call: 24927837/26171865