VenkatesaPerumalTempleChennai
Posted Date : 06:00 (16/05/2007)
Chennai’s Great Temples
Saukarpettai Sri Venkatesa Perumal
P. Swaminathan
Saukarpettai of Chennai is where many North Indians live.
Ekambaresvarar, Kanthakottam…are among the many temples present here.
One among the many important temples is ‘Bairaki Matam Graceful
Tiruvenkatamudaiyan Venkatesa Perumal Temple.
Population density is high in Saukarpettai. This Vaishnava temple is in
Muththaiya Street over a wide area with its own sacred pond. There are a
multitude of shrines. The fixed deity is Sri Venkatesa Perumal
reminiscent of Tiruppathi Ezumalaiyan (the Lord of the seven Hills).
Alarmel Mangai Thayar (Consort) has a nearby separate shrine here.
Shrine for Devaraja Perumal reminds us of Kanchi Kshetra Perumal, along
with other shrines for Sri Kannapiran as Venugopal with Sridevi and
Bhudevi, Sri Lakshmi Narasimhar, Puri Jagannathar, Azhvars,
Acharyas…replete with eternal bliss in the Bairaki Matam of Graceful
Venkatesa Perumal Temple.
That is fine. What is Bhairāki Matam as a name in the forefront?
Bhairāki
means
Sannyāsī. Today, we have transportation facilities to go to holy places
like Kāsi, Ramesvaram…We can buy tickets without moving from our seats.
In the olden days, travel by foot is the norm.
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Sannyasi Lāldās
in 1800s came to Chennai from Lahore on foot. Built 420 years ago
(presently 2007), the temple hosted his stay. Those days, Rama was the
presiding deity according to temple register. Lāldās took a dip in the
pond before he came for worship. He worshipped the Supreme Being with
melting heart and soul pleading for refuge for all.
He prayed with closed eyes. Responding to Atīta
Bhakti (Transcendent devotion) of Lāldās,
Perumal decided to reveal himself through Lāldās.
Lāldās established for the North Indian visitors to the temple a place
for rest, meals…He stayed for good in Chennai because he had no mind to
stop his service to God.
One night, when he was sleeping, Malaiappan Venkatasalapathi of
Tiruppathi came in his dream and offered him in-person live vision to
Lāldās.
Lāldās seeing him in person in his dream, shed tears of ecstasy. He stood there with his melting heart. Appreciating his ecstasy and transcendental belief in God, Venkatasalapathi in a state of horripilation said, “Bhakta…I want a deed done by you for me.”
Lāldās was ecstatic and said, “Tell me Perumal! You are the refuge and
preserver of this world. And you need a deed done by me for you. I am
waiting for your order.”
“Clean up this temple and
make it look
sparkling clean. Establish a permanent Shrine for me. Also build a
separate shrine for my consort Alarmel-Mangai. We selected you knowing
well that you are capable of doing this. Saying thus and offering his
blessings, Mādhava disappeared.
“I am a Sannyasi. With extraordinary efforts, we built this Matam.
Āṇṭavan is bidding me to build a Sannidhi. Where am I to go for
labor and money? These
worries haunted Lāldās. How
many devotees get this boon and command from God?
To build a Sannidhi for him is the biggest and the best Boon from
the Lord. He was in ecstasy and forgot all his shortcomings. He decided
to take on the assigned task from God. He realized later how difficult
it was.
Lāldās went to the rich people in the neighborhood, narrated to them the
dream of bid by Venkatasalapathi to build a temple and asked for
monetary support. The interlocutors laughed, derided and sent him on his
way home. He rendered service to the lord by singing Bhajans in the
streets and receiving pittance from the passersby. For lack of funds,
there was a suspension of services. He performed alchemy by converting
copper into gold. With the cash, he received for the gold, he was on the
cusp of finishing his temple work on time.
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The neighborhood people came to know that he was an accomplished
alchemist. The devotees came forward forcing themselves to render help
in building the temple, when they felt bad about their own
niggardliness, and hurt to Lāldās considering his extraordinary
abilities. The Temple work came to a completion on fast pace.
Under these conditions, Perumal worked one more wonder.
There was a flower garden on Poṉṉappan
Sandhu near the Temple.
Perumal appeared in Lāldās’s
dream, and told him he could find him (his idol) buried under the garden
with Sri Devi and Bhū
Devi. Lāldās narrated this news to the supervisor of the temple. One
more surprise. As he was getting ready to dig the flower garden, the
supervisor told him that Perumal came in his dream the night before
advising him to dig the garden for the buried idols.
Both made a search and discovered the idols. Sri Devi and Bhū
Devi found as companions in the dugout are the same processional idols
still used in the temples today. |
The temple is facing south. In the front, there is a 60-foot high
five-level Raja Gopuram (Flagpole). July 8, 2007 was the dedicated day
for the consecration ceremony (Kumbabishekam), the last one in 1997. The
temporary shrine is functioning with services, while the temple is under
repair. For that reason, Darśanas of all shrines including the primary
shrine with fixed deity are not possible.
Going past the temple tower are Bali Pīdam,
Flagpole, Garuda shrine, Maha Mandapam with the image of Temple car in
its façade, two rock elephants pulling the car. During festival days,
beautiful arrangement had been made for the appearance of processional
deities. |
The fixed idol of Venkatesa Perumal is about 6.5 feet tall. Beyond the
gatekeepers, Jaya and Vijaya, in the sanctum is the idol reminiscent of
Tiruppathi Perumal idol’s regalia. Broad and expansive chest and
shoulders, wherein abides Sorna Lakshmi (made of Lapis Lazuli). Sanku
Sakradari evokes ecstasy. Wonderful form. The services here are the
exact duplicates of Tiruppathi temple. All
festivals including Brahmotsavam, Pavithrosavam, Rathorsavam… are just
like those in Tiruppathi, celebrated with pomp and circumstance. One of
the Temple Battachariyars says that the ones unable to visit Tiruppathi
obtain Darśan and grace here.
The circumambulatory walkway is wide. There are umpteen shrines. Twelve
Azhvars and famous Acharyas are resident in the shrines. The noteworthy
Sannidhi is that of Tirumangai Azhvar with his consort Kumudavalli. Near
Thayar Sannidhi are those of Periyanambhi, Tirumalai Nambhi,
Tirugoshtiyur Nambhi, Tirumalaiyandan, Tirukkacchi Nambhi… Special and
elaborate services of idols of Azhvars, Achariyars…are conducted on
their Nakshatra days. |
Along the circumambulatory pathway is the Melmangai Thāyār Sannidhi. In
the forefront is the Hall of processional deity. All the festivals in
Tirucchanur at the foothills of Tiruppathi also are celebrated here in
the honor of Thāyār (Sri Devi). Among them, the
Kārttikai (kārttikai
= November-December)
month festival of Pañćami Tīrtham is important. On Panchami day, you can
have Darśan of bathing of Idol and worshippers and next day of Santhāṉa
Lakshmi.
During festival days Garuda Vāhaṉa
(Bird as transport) of Thāyār is of female gender, worth noting. Garuda
Vahana in other temples has a portrayal of Garuda with a twisted
mustache, muscular shoulders… The Garuda here has earrings, and pierced
nose rings wearing sari. Hanuman also takes on the female form. There
are a multitude of shrines for Sri Devi, Bhu Devi, Plus Varadarāja
Perumal; Anjaneya and Lakshmana, Sita and Kothandarāmar;
Sri Devi, Bhu Devi plus Sri Venugopālan
(Kaṇṇaṉ);
Aṇḍāl,
Varāha
Perumāḷ,
Ranganāthar,
Lakshmi Narasimhar, Puri Jagannāthar… |
Sannidhi of Sri Lakshmi Narasimhar needs a particular mention. He presents
himself in a fierce manner. His eyes, when lighted up with ārati appears
to stare at the devotees. The temple Battāchāriyār sprinkles the sacred water from the conch containing the ablution so the
droplets strike the face fiercely. This sacred water can cure any
diseases. The drops drive away any fear in the devotees. Just to get
doused with these striking drops of water, many visit the temple.
Adjacent to walkway, Vara Puṣkaraṇi is the sacred lake, appearing pleasantly cool.
Near this are the Sannidhis for Siva, Anjaneya…built by the
spiritual descendants of Bhairāki Matam. The present (2007)
Mahant Dvārakadās comes in the family lineage of caretakers of the temple.
This temple is the (spiritual) bank in the heart of Chennai, wherein we get
Darśan and blessings of Venkatavan. |
Sthala name: Bhairāki Mutt Graceful TiruVenakataMudaiyāṉ Venkatesa Perumāḷ Temple.
Fixed Deity: SriVenkatesa Perumal
Thayar: Sri Alrmelmangai’s sacred site: Paris Corner N.S.C Bose Road (Netaji
Subas Chandrabose Road adjacent to General Muththaiah Mudali Street,
near Central Railway station. Approach to temple from Waltax Road and
Flower Bazar Police station is easy of access.
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Executive Officer, Bhairaki Mutt.
Arulmigu
Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal Koil,
Bairagi Mutt, Thiruvngadamudiyan Venkatesaperumal Thirukoil. Phone : (044) 2538-2142 |