Article in Hindu on Uttaramerur
From the Bhakti List Archives
• August 26, 1997
Cadambi Sriram
08/26/97 01:27 PM
[THE HINDU]
Friday, August 22, 1997
SECTION: Entertainment
Has stood the test of time
Date: 22-08-1997 :: Pg: 30 :: Col: a
The country's greatest and most enduring legacy is its
spirituality and it primarily manifests itself in the
form of temples spread across the land. The temples
serve as an unfailing source of solace and hope. The
longing to go on a pilgrimage brings people of different
regions together. All in all, temples are such an
integral part of life that there is a saying in Tamil
``Koyil Ella Ooril Kudiyirukka Vendam''. (One should not
live in a city or town or village where there is no
temple).
Most of the well-known and big temples in the country
were built centuries before invaders started making
forays into the country. The monarchs those days were so
catholic that they were not only tolerant of other
faiths as but also made no distinction between Saivism
and Vaishnavism. Rulers belonging to different dynasties
through the centuries built magnificent edifices for
gods and goddesses they deeply revered.
One of these remarkable temples, situated in
Uttaramerur, 85 km from Chennai, dedicated to Lord
Vishnu is called the Sri Sundaravaradaraja Perumal
temple. The town itself has many distinctions. It is
believed that a temple of this kind can be built only in
a place where 4,000 pandits well-versed in the four
Vedas reside. According to legend, when this temple was
built towards the end of the eighth century, there must
have been at least 1,000 persons living in the town
having had that qualification. Hence Uttaramerur used to
be called ``Chathurvedamangalam.'' Uttaramerur is also
said to have been derived from the age-old belief that
King Virata in whose court the Pandavas with Draupadi
spent a year incognito, had entrusted the governance of
the place to his son Uttara.
A devotee going to this temple will have to first offer
worship to Veera Anjaneya whose shrine is right
opposite. Inside the temple which has three-tiers, on
the right in the ground floor are shrines for Vedanta
Maha Desika, saint Ramanuja and a few Azhwars such as
Nammazhwar and Tirumangai Azhwar. After praying to these
saints one goes on to the god and goddesses in keeping
with the adage, ``Matha, Pitha, Guru, Deivam''. The
presiding deity, Sundaravaradaraja (also known as
Soundarya Varadaraja) Perumal, who is in a standing
posture, is flanked by Sri Devi and Bhoodevi. The idols
of urchavamurthis placed in front of this trinity are
those of Krishna, Sakkarathazhwar, Rama, Sita and
Anjaneya. On the left is the idol of Selvar who figures
prominently during the Brahmotsavam.
The temple, built mainly of limestone and no granite at
all, is unique in its conception and execution. The
three-tiers that house the shrines for the presiding
deity in different postures have the sanctum sanctorums
built one above the other with immediate inner prakarams
for devotees to go around.
In the second tier, Lord Vishnu called Vaikunta Varadar
also known as Paramapatharathan in sitting posture, is
facing the east. The daily and special aradhanas are
first performed to this deity. As one comes out of this
shrine and goes around from right are Krishna and Arjuna
with the Avatar preaching the Bhagawad Gita to the
Pandava. They face the south. Then there is Narasimha in
meditative posture facing the west. And Varahar is seen
showering His benediction on Lakshmi, who is seen
praying to Him. The Lord's eyes are resting on
``Thayar'', the goddess. Here Vishnu is also called
Bhuvaharagar. The deities face the north.
The third-tier has Ranganatha in a lying posture. He is
lying on his right. This deity is similar to Sri Anantha
Padmanabhaswami in Tiruvananthapuram. Facing the Lord is
Nanmuga Brahma. From the lotus navel of Ranganatha,
Brahma is seen emerging. Near Ranganatha's feet is Lord
Siva with a deer and `mazhu' (a weapon). Ranganatha
blesses Markandeya with his right hand. Bhoomidevi is
placed opposite Markandeya.
There is also a belief that Markandeya is Maharishi
Bhrigu who came down to earth to seek restoration of his
vision. On being sent to find out who should receive the
first honour at the end of a yagna in ``Devalokam'',
Bhrigu went to Brahma who was immersed in the music,
played by His consort Saraswati on the veena. The sage
found Siva and Parvati in Kailasam in an equally
inattentive mood. On his arrival at Vaikuntam, it was no
better with Vishnu playing with Lakshmi unmindful of the
sage's presence. Enraged by this `humiliation', the sage
kicked the Lord on His chest. Actually, it was a ruse
played by the Lord who wanted to teach a lesson to the
sage who had become conceited because he had a rare eye
below his right toe. Narayana in feigning to assuage the
hurt of the sage caught hold of his feet, profusely
apologising for his lapse and gently smothered the eye.
The sage went blind. Meanwhile, Lakshmi furious with the
Lord who had allowed a man to kick Him on the chest
where she resided, got down from that pedestal.
Narayana, it is believed bade His consort and the sage
to go to earth and do penance. Bhrigu, according to
legend, had performed his tapas in Uttaramerur.
Before one goes into the sanctum, there are two
``Dwarapalikaigal'' instead of ``Dwarapalakas'' found
usually in temples.
The two symbolise the Ganges and the Yamuna and as there
is Prayag in Allahabad in the north, Uttaramerur is
called ``Dakshina Prayag.''
Coming down to the ground, in the inner Prakaram there
is a shrine for Achutha Varathar, who faces the south.
Then to the left at the end of the corridor besides the
Prakaram is the shrine for the Goddess Anandavalli
Thayar.
For a long time she was referred to only as ``Ulaga
Matha.'' There is a legend behind how She came to be
called Anandavalli. When the Pandavas were in exile,
they had drifted into a state of depression and
confusion. Sensing Draupadi's despair, Sage Narada
appeared before her and advised her to take the Pandavas
to a town where there were 108 temples and make them
bathe in those temple tanks and pray to Varada for the
restoration of their sanity. Draupadi did as Narada bid
and Vishnu in the form of Vaikuntha Varathar bestowed
sanity on Dharma and Sundaravarathar blessed Bhima
likewise.
Achutha Varathar made Arjuna his old self, Nakula and
Sahadeva were graced with normalcy by Anirudda Varathar
and Kalyana Varathar respectively. Filled with bliss the
Pandavas called the Goddess Anandavalli. The town came
to be known ``Pancha Varatha Kshetram'' and ``Pandava
Aranyam.''
Unlike the other icons for which there is no
thirumanjanam (in the month of ``Karthigai'' alone, the
icons are cleaned with an oil) for the icon of Thayar,
abhisekam is regularly performed. On all Fridays, the
Goddess is taken in procession but only within the
precincts of the temple. But this practice remains
suspended from ``Karthigai Thirunal'' to Koorathazhwar
``Thirunatchathiram'' that falls in the month of
``Thai.''
There is Anirudda Varathar who is facing the west. As
one turns right, to his immediate left and at the
beginning of the corridor is the shrine for Andal.
Special pujas are performed to the deity throughout the
month of `Margazhi'. The urchavamoorthy of the deity is
kept in Sundara Varathar's shrine.
The `valam' round the temple ends at the shrine of
Kalyana Varathar who is sitting atop a serpent. Devotees
are beginning to make it a point to perform `archana' to
Him for five successive Wednesdays with the faith that
their prayers will be granted.
The temple has eight prominent vimanas. In the outer
prakaram there are five mandapams. To begin with is the
``Dwadasi Mandapam'' where guests are fed the day after
``Ekadasi'' when devotees observe fast. The well by the
side of the mandapam never goes dry.
The ``Vadayithi Mandapam'' comes next. This is used for
the Lord to relax (`Vidayathiyai iruthal') for three
days after the conclusion of Brahmotsavam. For
conducting the spring festival there is a mandapam. The
two other mandapams are the four pillar and 100-pillar
mandapams.
The former is meant for Anandavalli Thayar to play by
the swing on the last Friday of each month.
The temple is being renovated at an estimated cost of
Rs. 60 lakhs.
A. THIRUGNANASAMBANDA MOORTHY
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