Sri Sridhara Ayyaval Mutt,
Thiruvisainallur – History
The trinities of Dakshina Bajan
Sampradaya Sri Bodhendra Swamigal, Sri Sridhara Ayyavargal and Marudhanallur
Sri Sadguru Swamigal publicized that Nama Sankirthana is the simplest form of
worship of Lord, attain salvation in this Kaliyuga. Sridhara
Ayyaval was born in Mysore. His name was Sridhara Venkateswara Shastrigal but respectfully
addressed as Sri Ayyaval. His father Lingarayar was working under the Mysore
Kingdom. Sridhara Ayyaval was offered with Dewan post in Mysore Kingdom after
his father death but he refused the offer due to his devotion to Lord Shiva. He
undertook religious Yatra and visited various places.
When he came Trichy, a Vaishnava
Nayagar was ruling Trichy and few Brahmins, who were jealous of Ayyaval
informed to the King that Ayyaval was preaching Shaivism. The King wanted to
test Ayyaval by himself. Hence, he dressed Lord Shiva of Rockfort temple as
Krishna and arranged for a street procession. Ayyaval on seeing Lord Krishna sang
the Krishnathvasa Manchari sthothram. The King was very happy seeing his
unconditional love towards Lord Krishna without any discrimination. He further
saved a child from death during his stay in Trichy.
The King requested Ayyaval to
stay permanently in his Kingdom but Ayyaval didn’t want to end up in Trichy. He
left Trichy same night itself. He travelled to many places like Thanjavur,
Kumbakonam, Thirubhuvanam, Thirunageswaram and finally reached Thiruvisainallur.
He settled in Thiruvisalur in an Agraharam established by Shahaji, the then
ruler of Thanjavur. Once, Sridhara Ayyaval was preparing to conduct a Sradha
for his ancestor. Sridhar Ayyaval was returning from Cauvery after his oil bath
and saw a hungry person was about to die because of starvation.
Ayyaval brought the person to
his house and offered the food, that was meant for Sradha. As the food meant
for Sradha should not be offered to other people till the ritual was over. He
then did the purificatory rituals as per vedic rules, cooked Sradha meals again
and invited the Brahmins. The Brahmins refused to participate in his Sradha and
excluded him from the caste. Sridhara Ayyaval, then completed the Sradha by
placing the Koorchams in place of the Brahmins and completed the Sradha. It is
a practice allowed when a person conducting Sradha did not able to get
brahmins.
When the next year Sradha
approached, Sridhara Ayyaval was unable to convince the Brahmins despite
several requests. Then he asked for some remedy for his act and the Brahmins
suggested to take a bath in Ganga to cleanse himself off from the sin. As only
few days left, it was impossible for Ayyaval to take a dip in Ganga. He
proclaimed that he will bring Ganga to the well at his house itself. The
Brahmins laughed at him and expected that he will just take a dip in the well
water and say that the Ganga was present in the well. But Sridhara Ayyaval stated
that he will bring the Ganga to the well to the acceptance and full view of everyone,
but no one believed.
Then Ayyaval went to the well in
his house and sang the hymns of Gangashtakam. The Ganga flowed out from the
well to the Agraharam street and the whole village. The Brahmins understood
their mistake and requested him to stop the Ganga from flowing out immediately.
Ayyaval sang a hymn and requested the Ganga to stay in the well permanently for
the benefit of the people. This incident took place on the New moon day of the Karthigai
month. Sridhara Ayyaval is reported to have vanished after
entering the sanctum sanctorum of Thiruvidaimaruthur
Mahalingeswarar Temple.