Nirajala Ekadashi – Clear as Pure Water

Among 24 Ekadashis (11th day of Lunar Months) in the Hindu calendar, some of them are considered extremely important. Nirjala Ekadashi is one among them. It is observed on the 11th day (Ekadashi) of the Jyeshta Maasa (Month) in the Shukla Paksha (Waxing Phase of the moon). Nirjala Ekadashi is also known as Bhimasena Ekadashi, Pandava Ekadashi and Bhima Ekadashi. Like all Ekadashis, this Ekadashi is dedicated to worship of Bhagwan Vishnu.

Om Namo Narayana

The Legend

The belief is that observing Nirajala Ekadashi Vrata (Nirjala – Without Water) reaps the benefits of observing all the 24 Ekadashi Vratas. Nirjala Upavasa Vrata is fasting where complete stringent fasting is observed, without consuming Water. This makes it even more taxing on the human body subjecting it to real penance as going waterless duing Jyeshta month (peak summer) is only for the strong-willed and true devotee. The legend has it that Bheemasena, the 2nd among the 5 Pandava brothers, who is a voracious eater, could not resist eating and hence never observe Ekadashi Upavasa while everyone else in the family were religiously going about fasting and other rituals related to it. He feels guilty that he is dishonouring Bhagwan Vishnu by not observing Ekadashi vrata and approaches Maharshi Veda Vyasa. He pleads “Everyone observes Ekadashi Vrata, but please tell me how to do it without fasting” Maharshi Veda Vyasa then advises him – just for a day in the whole year, on Jyeshta Shukla Ekadashi observe Upavasa without any Food and not even having a drop of water. If you do that, I bless you that benefits of observing all 24 Ekadashis will be bestowed on you. This will be true to every devotee who observes Nirajal Ekadashi”

Bhima with Maharshi Ved Vyasa
Pic Courtesy: https://indiachezmoi.wordpress.com/2014/06/09/bhima-ekadashi/

It is pertitnent to note, Upavasa is not just about Fasting. Upavasa according to Charak Samhita, is giving up of anger etc. (grief, greed etc.) and following of truthfulness. It is said that โ€œcomplete dissociation from sinful acts, association of virtuousness and/or good qualities or person of good qualities should be known as upavasa not just the emaciation of the body

Beliefs

It is believed Tulsi should not be picked on any Ekadashi, but since it is essential part of worship of Bhagwan Vishnu, a necessity on Ekadashi it is usually picked the previous day. Tulsi plants are also not watered on Ekadashi. It is because Tulsi, an ardent devotee of Vishnu will be observing Upavasa and also meditating and we are not to disturb Her during this time.

Vrat and Pooja Vidhana

  • Wake up early in the morning and have a water-only bath (no use of any shampoo or soap or any other such cosmetic products).
  • Ensure you don’t commit any act hereone that can be considered impure (in deed or thought)
  • Offer Puja to Bhagwan Vishnu and also pay your respects to Parents and other Elders, especially Guru
  • Chant Vishnu Sahasranama, Shri Rama Raksha Stotra, and Aranya Kanda of Srimad Ramayana
  • Do not consume any food, not even a drop of water (except for Achamya during Sandhya Vandane)
  • Continue the fasting until next day (Dwadashi) and do the Parana (breaking of fast at sunrise, ensure it is Dwadashi tithi)

Aum Namo Narayanaya

Ganga Dasara – Bhagirathi Jayanti

Bhagirathi (another name for Ganga) Jayanti is celebrated on Dashami (10th Day) in the Shukhla Paksha (Waxing phase of the moon) during the Jyeshta maasa (month) of Hindu Calendar. It is to commemorates and express gratitude to Maa Ganga for descending down to earth for emacipation of mankind.

Ganga Arati in Hardwar
Ganga Arati in Hardwar
Ganga Arati in Rishikesh

King Bhaigratha performs severe penance to bring Ganga from Heaven down to earth to liberate souls of 60,000 uncles who had committed sins and were burnt to ashes due to wrath of Kapila Maharshi. This is also the reason, to get liberated from cycles of births and deaths, every Hindu desires to be pass on on the banks of Ganga, get cremated and their ashes immersed in Maa Ganga.

The LegendKing Bhagiratha

According to Narada Purana, (Legend of Bhagiratha is found in many of them but Narada Purana is one of my favourite back story for Bhagirathi Jayanti), Iskshwaku Kula’s Maharaja Sagara had two wives, Keshini and Sumati. Each of these wives were given a boon to choose between One son who will be very pious, famous and Intelligent and the other option 60,000 sons. Sumati opts for the latter and these 60,000 sons were trouble makers and were a nuisance for everyone in Devaloka and Bhumi too. Kapila Maharshi then suggests King to conduct Ashwameda Yaga to divert the attention of all these spoilt children. A yaga where a horse is let loose to wander all over the place, traveling through all kingdoms. Anyone challenging the supremacy of the king stops the horse and has to overcome the King’s army in a battles. Maharaja Sagara’s children followed the horse to ensure all kings submit to supremacy of their father else they were subdued in the battle and forced to submit to the rule of Maharaja Sagara.

One night Indra from Devaloka steals the horse and ties it in Maharshi Kapila’s Ashram. Sagara’s children come in search of the horse and finding it in Maharshi’s Ashram thinking that he stole the horse, create a ruckus, abuses and assaults the Maharshi. Wrath of Maharshis whose penance is disturbs has no shielf and in anger Kapila Maharshi opens his eyes and reduces all these children to ashes.

Anshuman, Grandson of Maharaja comes and pleads for mercy from Maharshi, but Maharshi says, those dead cannot be brought back to life. However their souls can be liberated only when in future King Bhagiratha in your lineage bring Ganga from Heaven to Earth.

King Bhagiratha a pious, devoted King performs severe penances and observes austerities which pleases Maa Ganga. She concedes to his request but warns that here descent to earth would is such a great force that it would be impossible to sustain. As a solution, She asked him to pray and please Bhagwan Shiva, as no one except him would be able to sustain the force. King Bhagiratha once again begins his tapas for Shiva and finally Shiva agrees to let Ganga flow through his hair, tempering the forces of her descent to earth. Thus source of River Ganga is as Bhagirathi (meaning caused by Bhagiratha)

Representative image- Bhagiratha blessed by Shiva leading Ganga to Earth
Pic Source: WikiPedia

The exact place where Bhagirathi descends to earth is at Gomukh and it flows with same name until Devaprayag where it merges with Alakananda and flows as Maa Ganga. She flows into the plains and liberates 60,000 sons of Maharaja Sagara.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji Offering Prayers on banks of Maa Bhagirathi
Alakananda River in Her Best
Bhagirathi and Alakananda Sangam (Confluence) in Devprayag to become Maa Ganga

Ganga Dasara festival is celebrated for the 1st 10 days of Jyeshta month and it is believed that on the 10th day Maa Ganga touched the earth on Dashami of Jyeshta. A dip by a devotee in Maa Ganga on Bhagirathi Jayanti is believed to remove the devotee of all 10 sins

Ganga Arati – Rishikesh
Ganga Arti in Prayagraj

Ganga Dasara
Since it is believed that Ganga took birth on Earth (descent to earth actually) on this day, She will be the focus of worship. It is said that indulging in Charity will bestow inexhaustible virtues and punya on the donors.

If you have a dip in Maa Ganga on this day, all 10 types of sins committed by us in 10 Janmas will be washed away. For people who are in Kashi, it is more beneficial if they can bathe in Dashashwamedha Ghat and then have Darshan of Mahadeva. In case devotees are not able to bathe in Ganga, the least is to go to a nearby River and have a dip. It is believed that chanting Ganga Dashahara Stotram 10 time while standing in Ganga would be extremely beneficial. While chanting Ganga Dashahara Stortram, take a sankalpa and pray that the 10 types of sins that could be committed by Body, Words and Mind are absolved, says Kashi Kanda of Skanda Purana.

Ganga Dashahara Stotram
(I am told there is some more stanzas in some versions)

เฅ เคจเคฎเคƒ เคถเคฟเคตเคพเคฏเฅˆ เค—เค‚เค—เคพเคฏเฅˆ, เคถเคฟเคตเคฆเคพเคฏเฅˆ เคจเคฎเฅ‹ เคจเคฎเคƒเฅค เคจเคฎเคธเฅเคคเฅ‡ เคตเคฟเคทเฅเคฃเฅ-เคฐเฅเคชเคฟเคฃเฅเคฏเฅˆ, เคฌเฅเคฐเคนเฅเคฎ-เคฎเฅ‚เคฐเฅเคคเฅเคฏเฅˆ เคจเคฎเฅ‹เคฝเคธเฅเคคเฅ เคคเฅ‡เฅคเฅค

เคจเคฎเคธเฅเคคเฅ‡ เคฐเฅเคฆเฅเคฐ-เคฐเฅเคชเคฟเคฃเฅเคฏเฅˆ, เคถเคพเค‚เค•เคฐเฅเคฏเฅˆ เคคเฅ‡ เคจเคฎเฅ‹ เคจเคฎเคƒเฅค เคธเคฐเฅเคต-เคฆเฅ‡เคต-เคธเฅเคตเคฐเฅเคชเคฟเคฃเฅเคฏเฅˆ, เคจเคฎเฅ‹ เคญเฅ‡เคทเคœ-เคฎเฅ‚เคฐเฅเคคเฅเคคเคฏเฅ‡เฅคเฅค

เคธเคฐเฅเคตเคธเฅเคฏ เคธเคฐเฅเคต-เคตเฅเคฏเคพเคงเฅ€เคจเคพเค‚, เคญเคฟเคทเค•เฅ-เคถเฅเคฐเฅ‡เคทเฅเค เฅเคฏเฅˆ เคจเคฎเฅ‹เคฝเคธเฅเคคเฅ เคคเฅ‡เฅค เคธเฅเคฅเคพเคธเฅเคจเฅ-เคœเค‚เค—เคฎ-เคธเคฎเฅเคญเฅ‚เคค-เคตเคฟเคท-เคนเคจเฅเคคเฅเคฐเฅเคฏเฅˆ เคจเคฎเฅ‹เคฝเคธเฅเคคเฅ เคคเฅ‡เฅคเฅค

เคธเค‚เคธเคพเคฐ-เคตเคฟเคท-เคจเคพเคถเคฟเคจเฅเคฏเฅˆ, เคœเฅ€เคตเคพเคจเคพเคฏเฅˆ เคจเคฎเฅ‹เคฝเคธเฅเคคเฅ เคคเฅ‡เฅค เคคเคพเคช-เคคเฅเคฐเคฟเคคเคฏ-เคธเค‚เคนเคจเฅเคคเฅเคฐเฅเคฏเฅˆ, เคชเฅเคฐเคพเคฃเคถเฅเคฏเฅˆ เคคเฅ‡ เคจเคฎเฅ‹ เคจเคฎเคƒเฅคเฅค

เคถเคจเฅเคคเคฟ-เคธเคจเฅเคคเคพเคจ-เค•เคพเคฐเคฟเคฃเฅเคฏเฅˆ, เคจเคฎเคธเฅเคคเฅ‡ เคถเฅเคฆเฅเคง-เคฎเฅ‚เคฐเฅเคคเฅเคคเคฏเฅ‡เฅค เคธเคฐเฅเคต-เคธเค‚เคถเฅเคฆเฅเคงเคฟ-เค•เคพเคฐเคฟเคฃเฅเคฏเฅˆ, เคจเคฎเคƒ เคชเคพเคชเคพเคฐเคฟ-เคฎเฅ‚เคฐเฅเคคเฅเคคเคฏเฅ‡เฅคเฅค

เคญเฅเค•เฅเคคเคฟ-เคฎเฅเค•เฅเคคเคฟ-เคชเฅเคฐเคฆเคพเคฏเคฟเคจเฅเคฏเฅˆ, เคญเคฆเฅเคฐเคฆเคพเคฏเฅˆ เคจเคฎเฅ‹ เคจเคฎเคƒเฅค เคญเฅ‹เค—เฅ‹เคชเคญเฅ‹เค—-เคฆเคพเคฏเคฟเคจเฅเคฏเฅˆ, เคญเฅ‹เค—-เคตเคคเฅเคฏเฅˆ เคจเคฎเฅ‹เคฝเคธเฅเคคเฅ เคคเฅ‡เฅคเฅค

เคฎเคจเฅเคฆเคพเค•เคฟเคจเฅเคฏเฅˆ เคจเคฎเคธเฅเคคเฅ‡เคฝเคธเฅเคคเฅ, เคธเฅเคตเคฐเฅเค—เคฆเคพเคฏเฅˆ เคจเคฎเฅ‹ เคจเคฎเคƒเฅค เคจเคฎเคธเฅเคคเฅเคฐเฅˆเคฒเฅ‹เค•เฅเคฏ-เคญเฅ‚เคทเคพเคฏเฅˆ, เคคเฅเคฐเคฟ-เคชเคฅเคพเคฏเฅˆ เคจเคฎเฅ‹ เคจเคฎเคƒเฅคเฅค

เคจเคฎเคธเฅเคคเฅเคฐเคฟ-เคถเฅเค•เฅเคฒ-เคธเค‚เคธเฅเคฅเคพเคฏเฅˆ, เค•เฅเคทเคฎเคพ-เคตเคคเฅเคฏเฅˆ เคจเคฎเฅ‹ เคจเคฎเคƒเฅค เคคเฅเคฐเคฟ-เคนเฅเคคเคพเคถเคจ-เคธเค‚เคธเฅเคฅเคพเคฏเฅˆ, เคคเฅ‡เคœเฅ‹-เคตเคคเฅเคฏเฅˆ เคจเคฎเฅ‹ เคจเคฎเคƒเฅคเฅค

เคจเคจเฅเคฆเคพเคฏเฅˆ เคฒเคฟเค‚เค—-เคงเคพเคฐเคฟเคฃเฅเคฏเฅˆ, เคธเฅเคงเคพ-เคงเคพเคฐเคพเคคเฅเคฎเคจเฅ‡ เคจเคฎเคƒเฅค เคจเคฎเคธเฅเคคเฅ‡ เคตเคฟเคถเฅเคต-เคฎเฅเค–เฅเคฏเคพเคฏเฅˆ, เคฐเฅ‡เคตเคคเฅเคฏเฅˆ เคคเฅ‡ เคจเคฎเฅ‹ เคจเคฎเคƒเฅคเฅค

เคฌเฅƒเคนเคคเฅเคฏเฅˆ เคคเฅ‡ เคจเคฎเคธเฅเคคเฅ‡เคฝเคธเฅเคคเฅ, เคฒเฅ‹เค•-เคงเคพเคคเฅเคฐเฅเคฏเฅˆ เคจเคฎเฅ‹เคฝเคธเฅเคคเฅ เคคเฅ‡เฅค เคจเคฎเคธเฅเคคเฅ‡ เคตเคฟเคถเฅเคต-เคฎเคฟเคคเฅเคฐเคพเคฏเฅˆ, เคจเคจเฅเคฆเคฟเคจเฅเคฏเฅˆ เคคเฅ‡ เคจเคฎเฅ‹ เคจเคฎเคƒเฅคเฅค

เคชเฅƒเคฅเฅเคตเฅเคฏเฅˆ เคถเคฟเคตเคพเคฎเฅƒเคคเคพเคฏเฅˆ เคš, เคธเฅ-เคตเฅƒเคทเคพเคฏเฅˆ เคจเคฎเฅ‹ เคจเคฎเคƒเฅค เคชเคฐเคพเคชเคฐ-เคถเคคเคพเคขเฅเคฏเฅˆ, เคคเคพเคฐเคพเคฏเฅˆ เคคเฅ‡ เคจเคฎเฅ‹ เคจเคฎเคƒเฅคเฅค

เคชเคพเคถ-เคœเคพเคฒ-เคจเคฟเค•เฅƒเคจเฅเคคเคฟเคจเฅเคฏเฅˆ, เค…เคญเคฟเคจเฅเคจเคพเคฏเฅˆ เคจเคฎเฅ‹เคฝเคธเฅเคคเฅ เคคเฅ‡เฅค เคถเคพเคจเฅเคคเคพเคฏเฅˆ เคš เคตเคฐเคฟเคทเฅเค เคพเคฏเฅˆ, เคตเคฐเคฆเคพเคฏเฅˆ เคจเคฎเฅ‹ เคจเคฎเคƒเฅคเฅค

เค‰เค—เฅเคฐเคพเคฏเฅˆ เคธเฅเค–-เคœเค—เฅเคงเฅเคฏเฅˆ เคš, เคธเคžเฅเคœเฅ€เคตเคฟเคจเฅเคฏเฅˆ เคจเคฎเฅ‹เคฝเคธเฅเคคเฅ เคคเฅ‡เฅค เคฌเฅเคฐเคนเฅเคฎเคฟเคทเฅเค เคพเคฏเฅˆ-เคฌเฅเคฐเคนเฅเคฎเคฆเคพเคฏเฅˆ, เคฆเฅเคฐเคฟเคคเค˜เฅเคจเฅเคฏเฅˆ เคจเคฎเฅ‹ เคจเคฎเคƒเฅคเฅค

เคชเฅเคฐเคฃเคคเคพเคฐเฅเคคเคฟ-เคชเฅเคฐเคญเคžเคœเคฟเคจเฅเคฏเฅˆ, เคœเค—เฅเคฎเคพเคคเฅเคฐเฅ‡ เคจเคฎเฅ‹เคฝเคธเฅเคคเฅ เคคเฅ‡เฅค เคธเคฐเฅเคตเคพเคชเคคเฅ-เคชเฅเคฐเคคเคฟ-เคชเค•เฅเคทเคพเคฏเฅˆ, เคฎเค‚เค—เคฒเคพเคฏเฅˆ เคจเคฎเฅ‹ เคจเคฎเคƒเฅคเฅค

เคถเคฐเคฃเคพเค—เคค-เคฆเฅ€เคจเคพเคฐเฅเคค-เคชเคฐเคฟเคคเฅเคฐเคพเคฃ-เคชเคฐเคพเคฏเคฃเฅ‡เฅค เคธเคฐเฅเคตเคธเฅเคฏเคพเคฐเฅเคคเคฟ-เคนเคฐเฅ‡ เคฆเฅ‡เคตเคฟ! เคจเคพเคฐเคพเคฏเคฃเคฟ ! เคจเคฎเฅ‹เคฝเคธเฅเคคเฅ เคคเฅ‡เฅคเฅค

เคจเคฟเคฐเฅเคฒเฅ‡เคชเคพเคฏเฅˆ เคฆเฅเคฐเฅเค—-เคนเคจเฅเคคเฅเคฐเฅเคฏเฅˆ, เคธเค•เฅเคทเคพเคฏเฅˆ เคคเฅ‡ เคจเคฎเฅ‹ เคจเคฎเคƒเฅค เคชเคฐเคพเคชเคฐ-เคชเคฐเคพเคฏเฅˆ เคš, เค—เค‚เค—เฅ‡ เคจเคฟเคฐเฅเคตเคพเคฃ-เคฆเคพเคฏเคฟเคจเคฟเฅคเฅค

เค—เค‚เค—เฅ‡ เคฎเคฎเคพเคฝเค—เฅเคฐเคคเฅ‹ เคญเฅ‚เคฏเคพ, เค—เค‚เค—เฅ‡ เคฎเฅ‡ เคคเคฟเคทเฅเค  เคชเฅƒเคทเฅเค เคคเคƒเฅค เค—เค‚เค—เฅ‡ เคฎเฅ‡ เคชเคพเคฐเฅเคถเฅเคตเคฏเฅ‹เคฐเฅ‡เคงเคฟ, เค—เค‚เค—เฅ‡ เคคเฅเคตเคฏเฅเคฏเคธเฅเคคเฅ เคฎเฅ‡ เคธเฅเคฅเคฟเคคเคฟเคƒเฅค

เค†เคฆเฅŒ เคคเฅเคตเคฎเคจเฅเคคเฅ‡ เคฎเคงเฅเคฏเฅ‡ เคš, เคธเคฐเฅเคต เคคเฅเคตเค‚ เค—เคพเค‚เค—เคคเฅ‡ เคถเคฟเคตเฅ‡! เคคเฅเคตเคฎเฅ‡เคต เคฎเฅ‚เคฒ-เคชเฅเคฐเค•เฅƒเคคเคฟเคธเฅเคคเฅเคตเค‚ เคชเฅเคฎเคพเคจเฅ เคชเคฐ เคเคต เคนเคฟเฅคเฅค

เค—เค‚เค—เฅ‡ เคคเฅเคตเค‚ เคชเคฐเคฎเคพเคคเฅเคฎเคพ เคš, เคถเคฟเคตเคธเฅเคคเฅเคญเฅเคฏเค‚ เคจเคฎเคƒ เคถเคฟเคตเฅ‡เฅคเฅค

เฅคเฅคเคซเคฒ-เคถเฅเคฐเฅเคคเคฟเฅคเฅค
เคฏ เค‡เคฆเค‚ เคชเค เคคเฅ‡ เคธเฅเคคเฅ‹เคคเฅเคฐเค‚, เคถเฅเคฐเฅƒเคฃเฅเคฏเคพเคšเฅเค›เฅเคฐเคฆเฅเคงเคฏเคพเคฝเคชเคฟ เคฏเคƒเฅค เคฆเคถเคงเคพ เคฎเฅเคšเฅเคฏเคคเฅ‡ เคชเคพเคชเฅˆเคƒ, เค•เคพเคฏ-เคตเคพเค•เฅ-เคšเคฟเคคเฅเคค-เคธเคฎเฅเคญเคตเฅˆเคƒเฅคเฅค

เคฐเฅ‹เค—เคธเฅเคฅเฅ‹ เคฐเฅ‹เค—เคคเฅ‹ เคฎเฅเคšเฅเคฏเฅ‡เคฆเฅ, เคตเคฟเคชเคฆเฅเคญเฅเคฏเคถเฅเคš เคตเคฟเคชเคฆเฅ-เคฏเฅเคคเคƒเฅค เคฎเฅเคšเฅเคฏเคคเฅ‡ เคฌเคจเฅเคงเคจเคพเคฆเฅ เคฌเคฆเฅเคงเฅ‹, เคญเฅ€เคคเฅ‹ เคญเฅ€เคคเฅ‡เคƒ เคชเฅเคฐเคฎเฅเคšเฅเคฏเคคเฅ‡เฅค

10 Factors essential to observe Ganga Dasara

The Shukla Dashami of Jyeshta becomes even more pious for Ganga Dasara if Naksatra (Star) is Hasta Nakshatra and it is on a Mangalavara (Tuesday) and if 10 yogas confluence on the day. Maximum factors that confluence more the beneficial impact of the day. Please note all factor may not confluence.

  1. Jyeshta Maasa
  2. Shukla Paksha
  3. Dashami Tithi
  4. Mangalavara/Budhavara
  5. Hasta Nakshatra
  6. Garaja Karana
  7. Vyatipata Yoga
  8. Moon in Kanya Rashi
  9. Surya in Vrishabha Rashi
  10. Ananda Yoga

10 Types of Sins Ganga Snana Absolves

Through Body

  1. Taking what is not deserved
  2. Cruelty
  3. Coveting other Women

Through Words

  1. Acrimonious Words
  2. Lying
  3. Complaining
  4. Gossip

Through Mind

  1. Thought of usurping someone else’s belongings
  2. Evil Thoughts
  3. Greedy Thoughts

Puja Vidhana

If you have Ganga Jala (Water) from Kashi, Rishikesh, Hardwar or any other place, it is better to use it for Kalasha Sthapana and Avahana (invitation). With utmost devotion, pray to Maa Ganga and install the Kalasha with Ganga Jala in a clean place. In case it is not available, use any clean water for the same. It is believed that doing everything in counts of 10 is recommended: 10 dips in River, 10 types of Pushpa (flowers), 10 types of Patra (leaves), 10 types of fruits for Naivedya, Chanting of all stotrams 10 times, Anna-daana for 10 couples etc.

Ganga Puja by Sri Sri Sri Mahasannidhanam Bharati Teertha Swamigalu of Sringeri Dakshinamnaya Sharada Mutt
Gangotri Temple, Gaumukh
Pic Courtesy: Uttrakhand Tourism
Ganga Mata Temple, Haridwar
Ganga Mandir, Hari ki Paudi, Haridwar
Picture Courtesy: https://www.templetravel.info/2013/02/ganga-temple-in-har-ki-poudi-haridwar.html

Namami Gange, Jai Maa Gange

Thiruporur โ€“ Land of Divine War โ€“ Part 2

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.

Arulmigu Balambigai Sameta Shri Kailasanathar Temple Main Entrance (South Side)
Shri Kailasanathar (Bhagwan Shiva)
Shri Balambigai Temple
The Temple – West Side View
The Temple Welcome Arch
Arch at the Beginning of 100-step ascent over Pranavamalai
100 Easy to Climb Steps leading to the 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.

Ganesha Temple At the Foothills
The Author’s Better Half – She enjoyed the Ascent
With His Blessings Scorching heat and Sun did not Erase our smiles during the Climb
Vembadi Vinayagar Temple below the Neem Tree (Mahalakshmi)
Vembadi Vinayagar Temple View from the top of Pranavamalai

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.

Dwajasthambam and Nandi on the Eastern Side of the Sanctum Sanctorum
Closer View – Window Through which Nandi and Dwajasthambam faces Sanctum Sanctorum

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.

The Secret Tunnel – Connecting Kailasanathar Temple, Shri Kandaswamy Temple and Jeeva Samadhi of Chidambara Swamigal
Shri Kandaswamy Temple Gopuram – From top of Pranavamalai

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||