Kanchipuram - The Place of Learning and Moksha

Ayodhya, Mathura, Maaya, Kaasi, Kaanchi, Avantika, Dwarika. These kshetras are mukti tharum kshetras. What is moksha or mukti? Some say it is a state of mind, some say it is a final destination. However, in order to attain the state of mind or the destination, Gnyana is an important tool. All these 7 places are the seat of Gnyaana or learning which leads us to the path of moksha. Kanchi is one of the most important seat of learning in ancient India and has produced more scholars and acharyas for Sanatana Dharma. It is now known for Kanchi Sri Sankara matam which follows the Advaitha philosophy. Both Advaitha and Vishishtadvaitha philosophies has existed in Kanchi for centuries and still an active repository of these knowledge.

                Adiyen is thoroughly blessed as I studied my graduation in engineering under the shade of this age old institution of Sankara university. Adiyen visited the Vaishnavite divyadesams in Kanchi several times during my college years and also in recent times.

                As usual, my day started early at around 3:45 AM to 4:00 AM. I finished all my morning duties by 5:00 AM and was ready. It is a Friday and a long weekend so have to start early to avoid crowds and worship without any hassles. I started from Velachery at around 5:30 AM in my car and I had to go alone since my wife and daughter were staying in my in-law’s house. Started the trip with a beautiful playlist of Kuldeep’s Vande Guru paramparam and Indian raga. I usually take the Chennai – Tambaram – Padappai – Oragadam- Walajabad – Kanchipuram. The reason being, I like visiting Varadaraja temple first as it becomes crowded during the day. Go to varadaraja temple first thing early in the morning to avoid tourist crowd. 

                Reached Varadaraja temple around 6:50 AM in the morning, Worshipped Lord Varadaraja first and then followed by Perundevi Thaayar. I usually take some samagri for perumal and Thaayar. The archaka was happy enough to present it to Perumal and Thaayar and gave me the maha praasadam of Sataari and manjal.  What a pleasant morning, Lord Varadaraja beaming with his usual smile. His pose reminds us of his words “Ahameva Param Tatvam”, “Maam ekam Saranam vraja”. Reciting the Dvaya mantram, I reached near the lord. Since there was almost no crowd, I stood there for 5 minutes experiencing Lord Varadaraja and Lord Devarajan. The archaka enquired about my Poorvikam and acharya parampara and gave me Satari. I came down from the Perumal’s prakaram and reached the Thaayar’s sannidhi.

Aakarathraya Sampannam Aravindha Nivaashineem

Eesijagath deeshitreem vande Varadha Vallabaam

Lo!! Behold!!. Thaayar at her usual best on a Friday. The important thing to experience in Thaayar sannidhi is her smile behind her nose ring (on the utsava murti). It is a wonderful experience and it is important that you also worship the thirumaangalyam of the Thaayar. Don’t forget to get the manjal as a prasadam.

                Visited Nammazhvar and Chakrathalwar sannidhi and worshipped them. The speciality of Nammazhwar Sannidhi is that Nammazhvar hold his hand near this chest and instructs himself to worship Narayana. This is a depiction of the first Thiruvaimozhi Uyarvara uyarnalam.

Came out of the temple and I usually park the car on the right-hand side of the temple complex as it is easy to get in and get a parking space. Also, it is easy to come out of the temple area which is usually congested.

Now you have 2 options in front you for the next temple to visit. And both these temples are opposite to each other. You must drive towards Kanchipuram and keep looking for an arch after the first petrol bunk on the left-hand side.  You can turn left and Visit Ashtabhujam temple on the left or Yadhothakari temple on the right. These temples are not crowded usually unless it is a utsavam time. My practice is to go to Yadhothakari temple, park the car, worship Yadhothakari first and then walk and go to Ashtabhujam temple. The reason being, the parking space near the Ashtabhujam temple is cramped and if bikes are placed haphazardly, it becomes slightly hectic to reverse and come back. Yadhothakari temple is free and has a options to park and it is just a walk down across the street and crossing to reach the other temple.

Yadhothakari temple

It is said that Perumal is Bhakta Paraadeenan. This perumal is also known as Vegasethu perumal. There existed a river called Vegavati which is now extinct. You can see some river bank kind of a structure while you travel from Walajabad to Kanchipuram. Perumal descended to this place and became a dam to stop the Vegavati river from destroying the Brahma’s Ashvamedha yaagam. Also this is the place where perumal listened to word of Thirumazhisai azhwar and started to go with him. That’s why he is called as Sonna vannam Seitha Perumal.

                Went into this temple around 8:00 AM. No one was there except me and the archaka was waiting outside the sannithi waiting for devotees.  I had a talk with him about the temple and his kainkaryam. Visited the perumal sannithi. Wow!!! Perumal on a reclining posture from right to left. Usually, he reclines left to right, only in this temple he does it the other way. Had a very contended darshan and proceeded to worship Thaayar. Please note that this is also the avatara stalam for Poigai azhwar. The archaka was kind enough to open the Sannidhi and explain azhwar’s avatara mahatmyam.

                Acharyas used to say if we take one step towards Perumal by expressing interest in visiting these divyadesams, he takes 10 to 20 steps to make sure that he blesses us with the opportunity.  The temple was so peaceful, that I took some time sitting there and contemplating on the works of Swami Desigan, Koorathazhwar. One thing to take away is that Material world is always a Maaya!! I do a lot of effort to earn money during the week-days and it is stressful. Make sure that you also experience the culture and the Spiritual world. It balances you.  Take some time out, experience spirituality. It will be rewarding. Open the books of great acharya. Whoever it may be, Ramana maharishi or Sankara or Ramanuja or Desika. These are times where it is important to preserve. These are ways how we can identify ourselves individually in this globalized world.

                The trip experiences will be continued. The day turned out to be excellent with a trip to Thoppul and Kooram as well. Until the next time…