Lighting the Darkness
The ancient over 1000year old Ramaswamy
temple at Cheran Maha Devi that had been in a completely dilapidated condition (read the story written in Sept 2011 http://prtraveller.blogspot.in/2011/09/cheran-maha-devi-ramaswamy-temple.html) has
received a fresh lease of life with the recent Samprokshanam in mid January. There
had been no renovation in the last 100 years at this temple.
(It is quite a dramatic change from the the state of the idols and the vimana as seen in 2001 in the story link above. It is particularly significant because this is one of the few temples in
the country with the Ashtanga Vimana similar to the ones at Thiru
Koshtiyur, Parameswara Vinnagaram (Kanchipuram) and Koodal Azhagar Divya
Desam. And the Ashtanga Vimana has been save for yet another generation).
A 5km Underground Tunnel
In the past, there was a 5km long secret underground tunnel from Tier 1 of the Ramaswamy temple that led one to the Perumal temple at Karisulnda Mangalam on the banks of Tamaraibarani, North of Pathamadai. Though this route has remained shut, one can still find the entrance to the tunnel from Tier 1 of the Ramaswamy temple. During the rule of Raja Raja I, the temple was referred to as Nigaril Chola Vinnagar Azhwar temple and the deity as Raghava Chakravarti. This place was referred to as Cheran Maha Devi Chaturvedi Mangalam with the hilly terrain of Papanasam being the short cut from Cheran Maha Devi to Trivandrum.
In the past, there was a 5km long secret underground tunnel from Tier 1 of the Ramaswamy temple that led one to the Perumal temple at Karisulnda Mangalam on the banks of Tamaraibarani, North of Pathamadai. Though this route has remained shut, one can still find the entrance to the tunnel from Tier 1 of the Ramaswamy temple. During the rule of Raja Raja I, the temple was referred to as Nigaril Chola Vinnagar Azhwar temple and the deity as Raghava Chakravarti. This place was referred to as Cheran Maha Devi Chaturvedi Mangalam with the hilly terrain of Papanasam being the short cut from Cheran Maha Devi to Trivandrum.
Description of the Lord in earlier centuries
In
centuries gone by, the Lord was described as ‘top tier’ Azhwar idol (Thiru
Parkadalnathan in a Sayana posture atop Adhisesha), the ‘mid tier’ Azhwar idol
(Veetriruntha Perumal) and ‘lower tier’ Azhwar idol (Aadhi Narayanan standing posture).
The temple that had celebrated
festivals in a grand manner had been in the dark of late, literally with no oil
even to light lamps and bats being the main occupants, quite a contrast from earlier
periods.
Lighting the Lamp in the 11th Century
An 11th Century AD inscription records a specific praise
for Vaikanasas for taking care of the lamps as they would of their own body. So
committed were they that they pledged themselves to maintain a perpetual lamp
at the temple. And they were to be levied a penalty of double the quantity of
ghee if they failed in their duty. Also, there was a deposit made in the hands
of the Vaikanasas for burning a half lamp during the rule of Rajendra I. There
were several more gifts for lighting the lamp clearly indicating that the daily
burning of lamps was well taken care of.
Not just the lamps, the overall
security of the temple too was provided for. There was a gift of pieces of land
in the 11th Century AD by the Merchant Guild for maintenance of a
watchman (Thiru Meiykaappu) at the temple. The gifting by the Merchant Guild is
also an indication that the business and economy at this place was robust at
that point of time.
Rose Water for the Lord
Deposits were also made for
conducting worship of the God during festivals. In the early 13th
Century AD, during the rule of Kulasekhara I, a gift of money was made for providing
rose water to the God for the famous Chitrai Festival.
Grand Festivals in
Centuries gone by
As late as the first half of the
last century, there were several festivals conducted in a Grand manner at the
temple. A 10day Oonjal Utsavam in Aipasi, Garuda Sevai on the last Saturday in
Puratasi, the Big Festival (Brahmotsavam) in Chitrai with Garuda Sevai on the 5th
day, Chariot Festival (indicating the temple had a Chariot) on the 10th
day and Theerthavari on the 11th day were very popular. There was
also a 10 day festival for Anjaneya and a Theppotsavam in Margazhi.
The temple had however lost its
grandeur in recent decades with the Vimana in a dilapidated state surrounded
all around by shrubs and bushes. The outer walls were in poor condition and even
the mooligai painting on the Moolavar idol in each of the three tiers had withered.
There was no oil to light lamps and the Lord was left to guard himself without
even a Vastram. And most of the festivals including the Brahmotsavam were off.
New Facelift
The temple that had been in such
a forlorn state has received a big facelift recently. The entire temple complex
has had a fresh coat of paint. It is refreshing to find each of the Moolavar
idols anointed with a bright colourful Mooligai painting. The lamps are glowing
bright in all the Sannidhis bringing back a great feeling of devotion and
positive vibration inside the temple.
While earlier the entrance to the 1st
and 2nd Tier was through the maha mandapa from the inside, a new
external stair case has been laid for the devotees to visit the top tiers from
the outer prakara. The outer walls too are sporting a new look. All the ancient
inscriptions have been left intact. Other additions include a new lighting
system for the temple, new flooring and a security gate leading up to the
sanctum.
It is hoped that Garuda Sevai
(Garuda Vahana has been painted new and looks in good shape) in Puratasi, Rama
Navami, Theppotsavam in Margazhi and the grand Chitrai Brahomotsavam will once again
be celebrated in a grand manner.
The temple is open from
8am-1030am and 530pm-8pm. Contact Bhattar @ 90435 48173
( A part of this story featured in The Hindu Friday Review on 11 March)
( A part of this story featured in The Hindu Friday Review on 11 March)
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