Wednesday 31 March 2021

Sri Vanchanatham Bhajeham

 I had learnt this some time back . ... Muthuswamy Dikshithar, Adi, Surutti.

Srivanchiyam is located 18 km from Thiruvarur and 27 km from Kumbakonam. It was also called Thapovanam or Bhu Kailasam( Kailasam on earth). In fact , in the charana , there is a line " Bhu Kailasa sthithi paatram"

It was also called Gandharanyam since it was once a forest of sweet smelling sandal trees. This is also referred  to in the charanam( Shri Gaandharanya Kshetram)

In fact, Goddess Ganga is supposed to have worshipped here to cleanse herself of the sins left by devotees who bathed in her waters.

The Shiva Linga here is believed to be Swayambhu and Appar, Thirugnansambandar, Sambandar and Manikkavachagar are all supposed to have composed on this deity. 

Parvathi is worshipped here as Mangalambikai( referred to right in the Pallavi.. Shri Mangalamba Sametam)

The Sthala vriksham is Chandana( since it was in the middle of a sandal forest) and the temple tank, Pushkarini is called Gupta Ganga or Yama Kundam. 

A special feature of this temple is a separate sanctum for Yama, along with his assistant Chitragupta. In fact Yama is one of the Vahanas of Shiva here. I am a bit surprised that there is no reference to this in the krithi.

He is also the person who grants both Jivan Mukthi and Videha Mukthi. Jivan Mukthis is supposed to refer to liberation during lifetime and Videha Mukthi is liberation after Death. In fact Kumara is supposed to have asked Shiva about this 

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