This is the 2nd part of the Two Part Article, the first part (Click on the link for the 1st Part) includes some information about 8th and 9th of the Shodasha (16) Samskaras (loosely the rites of passage in English) and also about the temple, Shri Kandaswamy Temple that we were blessed to visit for performing these Samskaras. The Second Part (this one) is a related temple, Arulmigu Baalambiga Sameta Kailasanathar Temple (Dedicated to Bhagwan Shiva) situated on the North Western side of the famous Shri Kandaswamy Temple.
This amazing temple is situated on top of Pranavamalai, Thiruporur the on Old Mahabalipuram Road, about 40 kms from Chennai and 10kms before Mahabalipuram. Click on this link Google map location of the Thiruporur Arulmigu Shri Kailasnathar Temple.
Arulmigu Balambigai Sameta Shri Kailasanathar Temple.
The Legend
It is in this place that Murugan expounds meaning of Pranava (Om) to Agastya Muni. The very Pranava Principle itself worshipped Murugan in Thiruporur and took the form of a Hill, called Pranavamalai on which Shri Kailasanathar with His Consort, Shri Balambigai made their abode. Bhagwan Vishnu and Lakshmi who were cursed by Sage Kanva were redeemed of the curse after they worshipped Shiva as Vanmeeganathar in this temple. It is believed that Muruga Himself worshipped Arulmigu Vanmeeganathar (Shiva) and washed off his sins of killing Asura Shoorapadman (even if it were of Asuras, one accumulate sins).
Mahalakshmi took the form of a Neem tree and did penance for redemption due to curse of Sage Kanva. There is a temple of Ganapati below this tree and He is known as Vembadi Vinayagar here.
What is unique (and Unusual) to this temple pair is that Bhagwan Shiva’s abode is on top of a hill and his son, Murugan (as Shri Kandaswamy) is at the bottom. The Temple entrance is on the southern side of Main Deities (Kailasanathar and Balambigai) who are facing East and the Dwajasthamba and Nandi is on the Eastern side facing the Sanctum Sanctorum through a Window.
The abode of Srimad Chidambara Swamigal is on the Northern side of the Temple and there is a secret underground tunnel which is believed to divide into two paths midway, one leading to Chidamabara Swamigal’s Jeeva Samadhi and the other to Shri Kandaswamy Temple. Currently the tunnel is closed.
On the Koshta (outer wall around the garbhagriha or inner sanctum sanctorum) we can find Ganesha, Dhakshinamoorthy, Lingodhbavar, Brahma and Durga. The prakara has upadevalayas for Kasi Viswanatha, Shri Kalabhairava, Surya & Veerabadhra.
The lady selling Flowers and Bilva Patra, an old timer in this temple also said, “Not many know that we are supposed to visit Kailasanathar Temple, before visiting Shri Kandaswamy Temple. Many pilgrims skip this temple. A Pilgrimage to Thiruporur is never considered complete without visiting Kailasanathar and then Muruga Temple”
||Om Namah Shivaya||
ensures 