Adhi Parasakthi Siddhar Peetam, Melmaruvathur,
Kanchipuram
Arulmigu Adhi
Parasakthi Siddhar Peetam is situated at Melmaruvathur, 92 km from Chennai (Formerly known as Madras) in
the southern state of Tamilnadu, India. This is the place where 21 Siddhars
(saints) men as well as women from different religion, had their Jeeva-Samadhis
(meaning, where the Siddhars left their human forms behind, while they are
still alive as holy spirits). Here in Melmaruvathur Adi Parashakti Siddhar
Peetam, the divine mother Adhi
para Sakthi transmigrates into
Arulthiru Bangaru Adigalar thereby promoting
spirituality and devotion. Women are the priests of this temple performing
pujas and archanas in the very sanctum sanctorum to Mother Adhi Parasakthi.
Legends
There is
a Woman-Siddha in swayambu form in the place wherefrom Mother Adhi Parasakthi
emerged. She is head of all Siddhas. It is believed that a huge
number of Siddhas are in this holy soil. Fertile lands are on the northern
part of the temple. For the convenience of devotees staying during nights,
it was suggested that a thatched roof tent may be built. But Bangaru
Adigalar says that permission from Mother could be obtained as still many
Siddhas exist under this land. Hence, the temple is called Siddhar Peetam.
History
Where
the current temple's sanctum sanctorum stands today, there was only a neem
tree in the 1960s. Unlike every other neem tree, which
bear bitter tasting fruit, this tree secreted and dripped a sweet nectar. Residents of that village found that they had an urge
in their mind to taste this nectar whenever they passed by this tree. Since
many passers reported of curing their illness and diseases after tasting this
nectar, the word spread swiftly to entire village and its neighborhood. So it
became a customary for these villagers to take a drop of this nectar to ailing
friends and relatives. They treated this as a medicinal tree and protected it
from grazing cattle and wood cutters.
In 1966,
a severe storm uprooted this neem tree, which exposed the Swayambu underneath
to the villagers for the first time. Swayambu means a self-emerging,
naturally formed oval shaped object (carved of rock). People built a small hut
on top of this Swayambu and conducted poojas (prayer rituals) to it. This place
is known as Siddhar Peetam (Siddhar in Tamil language means enlightened or
evolved souls. Peetam means throne. Thus Siddhar Peetam means The
Throne of Evolved Souls or Great Spiritual Masters/Gurus) where 21 Siddhars are
laid in Jeeva Samadhi.
Swayambu
alone was worshipped for many years. The idol of Mother Adhi
para Sakthi was installed later
in the sanctum sanctorum on November 25, 1977. The idol of beautiful Mother is
three feet tall, seated on thousand-petal lotus seat, with her right leg folded
and the left leg resting on the lotus petals. The thousand petal lotus has significance
in meditation. In this idol form, she holds the bud of a lotus in her right
hand, the mudra (sign) of knowledge in her left hand and with her hair plait
and knotted upwards like a crown.
Principles
of the Siddhar Peetam
The
basic tenet of Melmaruvathur Adhi Parasakthi Siddhar Peetam is One Mother,
One Humanity, means the whole human race is one and all the human beings who
inhibit this vast earth are children of Mother Goddess and therefore there is
no distinction amongst the human beings on any basis, be it religion, race,
creed, community, caste or even gender at any Siddhar Peetam. Amma has
revolutionized the concept of spirituality by letting everybody irrespective of
caste, creed, religion, language, nationality, social status, gender, education,
etc., to enter the sanctum sanctorum and perform the daily rituals and prayers
to the Mother Adhi Parasakthi. Women can enter the temple even during their
menstrual cycle (which is prohibited in Hindu Temples) after taking bathe.
Here in
Melmaruvathur Adhi Parasakthi Siddhar Peetam, during the transmigration
Adigalar (Amma) tells Arulvakku (oracle). Through the Arulvakku
(oracle) Adhi Parasakthi herself speaks to her devotees, this is the
unique specialty of this Siddhar Peetam. Hearing the Goddess Adhi Parasakthi’s
oracle is a great spiritual experience, this miracle takes place at Siddhar Peetam.
Arul Thiru Bangaru Adigalar is called by his devotees as Amma (means Mother),
here in Siddhar Peetam whatever "Amma" says is the law and it is
administered under the guidance of 'Amma' which is a divine administration.
The
Temple
Mother
Adhi Parasakthi is a swayambumurthy in the temple. Women perform pujas and
archanas in the sanctum sanctorum. Three feet tall Mother Adhi Parasakthi
appears in a sitting posture with right leg kneeled, and the left touching the
lotus shaped phallus thus indicating that she is all supreme. Mother is
holding lotus bud in her right hand. As a tradition, Gods and Goddesses
are formed with four hands. But here, as in the Madurai Sri Meenakshi
Amman temple, Mother Adhi Parasakthi appears with two hands only. It is
said that such forms – with two hands – are adopted in such places where the
Goddess functioned in a human form. Her hair is knotted upward indicating
high wisdom.
The
Lotus phallus on which Mother is sitting indicates that she is in the heart of
devotees. It may be recalled that the shape of human heart is also as a
lotus bud placed upside down. The petals of the Lotus are both upward and
downward indicating higher spiritual efforts and the material leaning of the
human mind respectively. The sitting posture of Mother Adhi Parasakthi
tells that she is pulling the unwise to enlightenment and that she is all supreme.
It may
be recalled that the idol of Mother Adhi Parasakthi was sculpted by Sri Ganapathi
Sthapathi, principal of Mahabalipuram Sculpture College. This is probably
the only temple in Tamilnadu where women enjoy the right of men-priests
performing pujas in the very sanctum sanctorum of the temple. As a rule
during the monthly cycle days, women do not go to temples for physical purity
reasons. There is no such restriction to them in this temple. As this
is a rule of nature in case of women, no debate on the issue is necessary, says
Bangaru Adigalar.
The Om Sakthi Podium:
The Om
Sakthi Podium, with the Trident in its centre, stands vibrantly at the entrance
and in front of the Siddhar Peedam. Since Adhi Parasakthi is the Mother of all
Gods and Goddesses, there are no separate structures for the Navagrahas (the 9
planets generally termed as Planetary Lords, which can be usually seen in the
Hindu Temples) in the Siddhar Peedam.
The
Mother has strongly ascertained, “Those who surrender to me need not pray to
the Planetary Lords. They are just my officers who carry out the work of
implementing My Law of Karma. If you go round the Om Sakthi Podium, all the
evil effects will be reduced in intensity or fully nullified.”
The Sanctum Sanctorum:
In the
Sanctum Sanctorum, The Divine mother, Adhi Parasakthi showers her Choicest
Blessings from the Lotus Peedam. She showers her Blessings in the ‘sitting’
posture folding her right leg and letting her left leg down. Keeping the
left leg down signifies that The Divine Mother Adhi Parasakthi has the highest
place in everything.
She
holds the Lotus Bud in her right hand signifying Gnana (wisdom) and depicts the
Chin Mudra (index finger touching the thumb and the other fingers stretched
out) in the left hand. The Swayambu is situated right in front of the Adhi
Parasakthi statue. Anointments (Abishekam) and Archanas (pooja) are performed
to the Adhi Parasakthi statue and Swayambu, every day. The sanctorum is only
about 10X10 feet room.
Putrumandapam:
The
Mother in order to keep blessing people at all times, dwells in the snake pit (Putrumandapam)
in the form of a cobra. The Mother appears before the devotees who stay in the
mandapam (Hall) at nights, in the form of a snake till this day. It is the Putrumandapam
where the Mother gives her Oracle.
Saptha Kanniyar:
Saptha
Kanniyar Kovil (The Temple of Seven Virgins) to the right of Putrumandapam.
Normally the temple of the virgins will never have a roof. So also this temple
of the virgins, with wall on four sides has no roof. To ascertain the fact that
all are her children and that She doesn’t differentiate between any of us, the
Mother ordained the local Harijans (considered to be low caste people in India)
to construct the Saptha Kanniyar (Saptha means seven and Kanni means virgin.
Kanniyar is plural for virgins) worship center within the Temple.
In 1974,
the Saptha (Seven) Kanni (Virgin Angels) Sannidhi (Temple) was consecrated in
Melmaruvathur Adhi Parasakthi Siddhar Peetam, Tamilnadu, India. As with
everything else in Melmaruvathur, Saptha Kanniyar (Virgin Mothers) and their
Temple is also unique, transcends the traditional and emphasizes the
fundamental Universal Nature of these Mothers. Seven Angels are Saptha Mathas, Saptha
Matrikas, Saptha Kannikas, etc. Also, some of these sources attempt to
differentiate between Matrikas, Mathas and Virgin Angels, although in reality,
they are one and the same.
In all
Hindu scripts and Devi
Mahatmayam, one will note that
Saptha Kannikas are mentioned as Parivaara Devatas of Aadhi Para Shakti. Among
the millions of Parivaara Devatas, these Seven Virgin Mothers carry special
place in Aadhi Para Shakti as depicted in Sri
Yantra (Sri Chakra). The
seven nodes in the middle line of the First Enclosure (Prathama Aavaranaa) are
occupied by the Saptha Kannikas, namely Brahmi, Maheshwari, Kowmari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Indrani, and Chamundi .
The
eighth node is occupied by Mahalakshmi. Traditionally, all the Hindu
Temples in villages and
rural areas of India, these seven virgin mothers are consecrated as seven
stones and worshipped as formless. These shrines are often called “Kanni Kovil”
meaning “Virgin Temples”.
Naga Peedam:
Naga
Peedam is situated behind the Putrumandapam. Upon worshipping the deity
in the Naga Peedam by lighting lemon lamp, the devotees can gain the benefits
of worshipping three Goddesses Kanchi Kamakshi, Kasi Visalakshi and Madurai
Meenakshi thereby nullifying family related problems and fostering unity within
the family members.
Arut Koodam:
The
divine Arut Koodam is situated in the North-Western corner of the Siddhar
Peedam. At Arut Koodam, the devotees perform Paadha Pooja to His Holiness for
getting His Divine Blessings and Guidance to get rid of their personal
problems.
Atharvana Badrakali Temple:
This is
a small temple is situated opposite to the Omsakthi Podium of the Siddhar
Peedam. People who have been affected and crippled by the negative forces of
Witchcraft and Black Magic will be cured if they worship the powerful Goddess
of this temple.
Special
Features
· With a
view to show divine miracles, supernatural and spiritual powers and to talk to
common man, the Adhi Parasakthi had appeared in the form of Arul thiru, Bangaru
Adigalar at Melmaruvathur.
· Melmaruvathur
is the adobe of 21 Siddhas who are said to be in Jeeva Samathi here.
· All
people irrespective of caste, creed, community or religion, can go inside
sanctum sanctorum and worship the goddess.
·
Ladies
also can go inside sanctorum for worshipping and perform pooja.
·
During Aadipooram,
Adigalar is doing Angaprathatchanam in the temple.
·
During
1st day of Navarathri, Adigalar lights the holy Agandam.
·
For the
welfare and betterment of the family and wipe out sins, lights are lit in the
lime fruits at Naga Peetam.
· In this
temple. Angaprathatchanam is considered to be the best way of showing Divinity
for one’s welfare.
· Angaprathatchanam
during Aadipooram and worshipping holy Agandam in Navarathri are
considered best for Papa Vimochanam.
· During Aadipooram
people themselves, can do Ablution (Abishekam) to Swayambu with milk.
· People
are allowed to do Poojas according to their religious practice in this temple.
· Agama, shilpa
Rules are not followed in this Peetam. What Adigalar dictates is Veda and
practice and a Divine Administration is held in this temple.
· Tamil Mantras,
velvis and kalasa, Vilakku Poojas are conducted periodically.
· There is
a separate sanctum for Atharvana Badrakali who expels all evil activities and removes all
enchantment.
·
All-religious
practices exist in books brought in to practice in this temple.
· Poor
feeling, supplying clothing and industrial Equipments to down trodden, free
marriages to poor, help to widows, giving aids, wheel chairs, tricycles to
disabled etc. are being done on important festivals towards socio economic
service to the community.
· Spiritual
conferences are held for world peace, thus getting wealth from those who
possess and distribute it to those who need it.
· Sakthi
Peetams and Mandrams are started throughout the world to spread spirituality
and also to do social works. There are Sakthi Peetams all over world and over
5000 Mandrams in India, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Nigeria, America,
Zambia, France, etc.
·
All of
these are mainly based on Adigalar’s Arulvakku only.
· Arul Vaakku
is the prime capital; Adigalar is the prime sustainer for this organization.
·
In this
place, whoever does meditations 108 times with proper fasting & carry
Irumudi 9 times are not affected with bad evils.
Temple
Opening Time
The
temple is open from 3.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. and from 3.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.
Festivals
·
Thaipoosam - January
·
His
Holiness’ Birthday - 3 March
·
Telugu
New Year’s Day - April
·
Tamil
New Year’s Day - April
·
Chitra
Pournami - April
·
Adi Pooram
- August
·
Navarathri
- October
·
All Full
Moon Days and New Moon days throughout the Calendar Year
Poojas
Timings
|
Poojas
|
3:00 AM
|
Opening of the Sanctum Sanctorum
|
3:00 AM - 4:00 AM
|
Abishekam to the Suyambu and the Presiding Deity
|
4:00 AM - 5.30 AM
|
Alangaram
|
5:30 AM
|
Maha Deeparathanai & Public Darshan Starts
|
8:00 PM
|
Temple will be opened till 8:00 PM for Public Darshan
|
The
timings given are approximate. It may vary on certain special occasions. On
Sundays, Tuesdays, Fridays, New moon days, full moon days, and Siddhar Peedam
festival days, there will be no break in Darshan Timings.
The Daily
Routine
The
people who serve in the Siddhar Peetam are normally the devotees clad in red
dress. They come from outstations, render services and return home. To serve at
the sanctum sanctorum, each one of the weekly worshipping centers (Mandrams) is
allotted a day and informed sufficiently early. Accordingly, all Mandrams
compete with one another in rendering the best service. Every day Abhishekam at
the sanctum sanctorum takes place at 4:00 am. After this, idol of the Mother is
decorated followed by aradhana. The Mother's blessed Prasadam (proceeding of
the prayer) is then offered to the devotees. Every day around 11:00 AM free
food is distributed to all visiting devotees. Besides, on the new moon and full
moon days, Adigalar is given a special welcome and the free food distribution
is done on a large scale.
Prayers
Devotees
throng the temple for all prosperity in life. Devotees offer Shakti Mala
garlands, carry Irumudi as followed in the Ayyappan prayer model and they do
the Anga Pradakshina – rolling around the prakara.
Contact
Sri
Melmaruvathur Adhi Parasakthi Temple,
Melmaruvathur,
Kancheepuram District
Phone: +91 – 44 – 27529217
Connectivity
Melmaruvathur
is 92 km far from Chennai on the Tiruchi National Highway and falls 25km before
the Tindivanam. It's a straight single road from Chennai and is well connected
through train and buses. Nearest Railway Station is located at Melmaruvathur
and Nearest Airport is located at Chennai.