Back with Kanchi. Trivia.

Till we took a detour with the Diwali video, we had been discussing Kanchi and its allied diyvadesams.

Some more interesting facts about Kanchi. It is a potpourri given below. Mixed from different temples. Pray bear with me. It is a long one.

1. Kanchi was one of the ancient cities of India. It was a seat of learning and religion. Various dynasties and rulers made Kanchi their capitol. Most famous being the Pallavas, the most ancient of rulers.

2. Kanchi is one of the seven cities that can bestow moksha. One of the seven cities called "gateways to heaven and immortality". Few others are : Avantika, Maya, Dwarka, Kasi, Mathura. I dont remember one more.

3. Kanchi is the seat of the Kamakshi Peetam, of the famous Adhi Sankaracharya's mutt.

4. Iithiga has it that it was at the Kamakshi ammam temple, the Jaganmatha performed tapas to marry Lord Shiva and did so at the Ekambareshwarar temple nearby. There is no Shiva Vigraha in the Kamakshi ammam temple.

5. Interestingly, on the other hand, it houses a divya kshetram of the Shri Vaishnavaites : Thiru Kalvanur. Here the Lord and His consort have taken positions in an ante room behind the sanctum of Shri Kamakshi. Special permission is required to behold the Lord. But if one asks, the authorities generally comply. Padasthalam : Thiru Kalvanur. Mangalasasanam : Thiru Mangai Alwar (1 pasuram).

6. "Ekambareshwarar sannithi is the famous shrine wherein the age old mango tree that bears a different type of fruit in four different branches is present. The age of the tree cannot be determined" --so went the guide, though I had my doubts about it.

7. Ekambareshwarar sannithi is also one of the pancha lingams and is the prithvi kshetram.

8. Here the Lord and His consort are not seen separately and the Linga has vadiva of both. It is both the male and female together -- or this was what I gathered. (I really did not listen properly! May the Lord forgive me.)

9. The Ulagalantha Perumal sannithi(Thiru Karagam) is very very close to the Kamakshi ammam sannithi. We shall see it in the coming blog. We shall also cover Thirukovillur again with it.

10. Each of the 108 divya desas has some speciality associated with it. In some it is the beauty of the Lord Himself, in others a way of ritual followed till date in the temple.

11. Lord Varadaraja's shrine in Vishnu Kanchi is world renowned for its "Kudai Azhaghu". "Nam Perumal Nadai Azaghu, Varadan Kudai azhaghu" nu periyava solli kettu erupom. We added a line with it saying, " Sarathy Vadai azaghu". Parthasarathy Perumal kovil Vadai : Amrutham.

12. Also during purapadu, there is a special style associated with Kanchi. Just before and just after the porapadu, the Lord rests in a place called, "Vahana Mandapam". In any temple.

But the speciality in Kanchi is that as He is about to leave, the "Shri Padam Thangigal" throw up the entire arrangement, the Lord, the Vahana and the structure binding the setup and catch it three times. Maybe I shouldnt say throw up. The Iithiga is that the Lord is so happy on leaving for the procession that He literally jumps in joy.

It is really a site to behold and man!!. Aha.

13. Again, the spectacular event of "Koda poduthal" wherein the famous Umbrellas are hoisted on the the vahanam is also something to be seen and enjoyed.

14. Another of the interesting legends associated with Lord Varadarajar is that :
There used to be a great devotee of the Lord named "Doddacharyar". He used to live at Kadichalam(aka Sholingur). He used to arrive at Kanchi for the Varadar Garuda sevai during the Brahmotsavam and behold the Lord. His only purpose in life was to see the Lord. This continues year after year. But one day the inevitable happened and he fell sick. He could even move as he had become old. He, at the time of porapadu, shouted "Varada Varada" from his house.

The Lord hearing that and seeing that His devotee could not make it to Kanchi, left the temple at the time of porapadu :Read as disappeared and gave darshan to His devotee in Sholingur. He then after the aged Doddacharyar had been satisfied came to Kanchi to resume porapadu.

This ithigam is still respected and held year after year on the Garuda sevai day to remember the ailing devotee who was not forgotten by the Lord. It is called "Doddacharyar seva". At the mouth of the temple, the Lord pauses for a minute(60 seconds) and is covered completely. It is believed that He appears in Kanchi for that minute. The thirai is removed after 60 seconds, the "kodai poduthal" happens and the Lord rides out in His majestic stride.

Vazhga Emperuman. Vazhga Avan Adiyargal.

Alwar, Acharyan, Emperuman Thiruvadigale Saranam.