Kattikulam Soottukkol Mayandi Swamigal Jeeva Samadhi,
Thirukkoodal Malai, Madurai
Kattikulam
Soottukkol Mayandi Swamigal Jeeva Samadhi is a Hindu burial shrine of Siddhar Mayandi
Swamigal located at Thirukkoodal Malai near Thiruparankundram in Madurai
District of Tamilnadu. Thiru Koodal Malai is a hillock, situated at the north
east of Thiruparankundram, one of the six abodes of Lord Muruga. Here, at the
foot hill, there have been two Jeeva samadhis of two great saints, named as, Soottukkol
Mayandi Swamigal and Somappa Swamigal. The two great saints, Mayandi Swamigal,
and Somappa Swamigal had attained their Jeeva Samadhis, at this hillock on
1930, and 1968 respectively.
History
Mayandi Swamigal was
born in 1858 in Kattikulam, a village about 45 Kms from Madurai on the route to
Rameswaram. He was born due to the boon granted by Maha Siddha Purusha
Soottukkol Ramalinga Swamigal to his parents Pitchai Velar and Kooththayi
Ammal. Even as a child he revealed divine qualities; many times, snakes used to
roll over his body and spread their hoods over his head. As any other child he
also went to school and helped his parents in making earthen pots. He used to read
the writings of Siddha Purushas, available in the palm leaves in his house, and
through constant Japam and meditation he attained Ashta Siddhis. He also
visited Madurai Meenakshi Temple many times.
Disturbed
by the religious practices at his young age itself, his parents got him married
to a relative, Meenakshi. Mayandi got one daughter, Meenakshi, and one son,
Ganapathy. With this, his family life came to an end. When Chellappa Swamigal,
a disciple of Soottukkol Ramalinga Swamigal, came to his village, Mayandi
became his disciple and took Sanyasa. Though his family members did not permit,
he left his home. He traveled to many holy places, and realized Nirvikalpa
Samadhi at the Pothigai Hills in the south. Later he served his guru, Chellappa
Swamigal, for some time. When his guru attained Mahasamadhi, Mayandi Swamigal
finally settled in Thirukkoodal Malai in Thiruparankundram.
Mayandi Swamigal has done tireless service to spread bhakthi among the people of this region.
During one of his visits to Madurai, Irulappa Konar prayed to him for a long
life, in spite of the prediction of a shorter life of 26 years. Irulappa Konar
is the only son of Karuppana Konar who was one of a few wealthy persons in
Madurai. Mayandi Swamigal took Irulappa Konar to Karuppanendal at Kattikulam.
There Swamigal laid himself down for 48 days and underwent the death sufferings
of Irulappa Konar. Thus, Swamigal saved him from early death. From that moment
onwards Irulappa Konar became an ardent devotee of Swamigal. He spent all his
wealth in the services of Swamigal. He built temples (one such temple is the
Dhandapani Temple at the top of Thirukkoodal Malai), Samadhis for other Siddha
Purushas, Mandapams, etc. at Thirukkoodal Malai under the instructions of
Swamigal. He also got the vision of Kasi Kshetram at Karuppanendal through the
grace of Swamigal.
Mayandi
Swamigal celebrated all the important festivals in Thiruparankundram and other
places by establishing mandapams at various places. He nominated local
hereditary trustees for each mandapam. He himself conducted the month long Navaneetha
Perumal Utsavam every year during Tamil Adi Month, by taking the deity in
different vahanas from Thirukkoodal Malai and upto Manamadurai though many
villages. Because of his grace many families were benefited in terms of wealth,
children, etc. He also helped many devotees attain Mukthi.
Once he
was traveling in a train to Manamadurai. Since he was not having ticket, the
ticket examiner, an English man, got him down at some intermediate point by
pulling the emergency chain. But the train could not be restarted, though
nothing was wrong in the engine. After all the passengers prayed to him, he got
into the train. Then only the train could be started. This was reported by all
dailies the next day, and the Railways made it free for all sanyasis to travel
up to Rameswaram. Swamigal has also built many temples in different villages,
and unearthed a Siva temple in a village called Marnadu. After establishing bhakthi
cult among common people he attained Mahasamadhi in 1930.
Jeeva
Samadhi
Jeeva
Samadhi of Mayandi Swamigal is situated at the foot-hill of Thirukkoodal Malai.
His Jeeva Samadhi is situated to the left-hand side of the foothill. His Jeeva
Samadhi is basically a temple of Lord Vinayagar, worshiped by Mayandi Swamigal,
from the beginning itself. His Jeeva Samadhi has been consecrated as Lord
Vinayagar temple, which has been built upon the same.
This
temple is maintained by the hereditary Trustees belonging to Irulappa Konar’s
family. Daily Annadhanam are being served for 60 sanyasis and many annual
festivals as established by Mayandi Swamigal are going at the temple without
fail.
Contact
Soottukkol
Ramalinga Vilasam,
Thirukkoodal
Malai,
Thiruparankundram,
Madurai – 625 005
Phone: +91 452 248 4714
Mobile: +91 94422 72220 / 98421 24841
Connectivity
The
Jeeva Samadhi is located at about 700 meters from Thyagarajar Engineering
College Bus Stop, 1 Km from Thiruparankundram Kovil Bus Stop, 1 Km from Thiruparankundram
Murugan Temple, 1.5 Kms from Thiruparankundram Bus Stand, 2 Kms from Thiruparankundram
Railway Station, 6 Kms from Madurai Periyar Bus Stand, 7 Kms from Madurai
Railway Junction, 7 Kms from Meenakshi Amman Temple, 13 Kms from Madurai Mattuthavani
Integrated Bus Terminus and 10 Kms from Madurai Airport.
Location