25 year old Sthaanegam commits to staying back in a remote temple to carry forward the hereditary Kainkaryam that his forefathers have been performing for several generations
Plans to run a Patshala in this historical temple town
It is refreshing to see the 25 year old Yogeswara Shiva move around the legendary Uthira Kosa Mangai temple. He is completely in a traditional attire with a huge tuft, a well grown beard, sporting a panchakacham and with a Rudraksha Malai around his neck. After completing MA in Sastras and learning the Shiva Agama at Pillayarpatti for six years, he had multiple options in life with the obvious one being to follow the current trend and move to a top city to leverage his knowledge, financially. His forefathers have been the 1st Sthaneegam for generations and he had no second thoughts about how he wanted his life to be. He returned to Uthira Kosa Mangai last year to continue the Hereditary Kainkaryam after taking Samaya Deekshai, Shivaya Deekshai and Acharya Deekshai.
Draws devotees towards him
Yogeswara Shiva is highly devotional and draws devotees' attention through his mere presence. He counts being part of this hereditary clan as a great blessing. It was here that Shiva transferred the secrets of the Vedas to Ambal. Hence the name Uthira Kosa Mangai (Upadesam of the Secrets to Parvathi) “I could have gone to the cities and monetized my knowledge but I chose to be at the temple where Shiva Agama was created here. Every night, the God goes to sleep listening to Manickavachakar’s sacred verses praising Uthira Kosa Mangai”, Yogeswara Shivacharya told this writer at the temple.
His appa Ravi Gurukal had performed service at this temple for many decades through the period when devotees were very few in number and they had to encounter a financially challenging phase. In those days, the priests had a share in the daily Neivedyam.
“While the devotee numbers dwindled, those steeped in Veda, Agama and Thiruvachakam visited Uthira Kosa Mangai for they always knew the significance of this temple”, says Yogeswara Shiva.
Manickavachakar's Pon Oosal Verses on Uthira Kosa Mangai
It was in Uthira Kosa Mangai that one rishi out of 1000 failed to secure Mukthi at the Agni Theertham. When he asked the Lord, he was told that he would be born again to spread the glory of the Saivite temples to the world at large. Thus was born Manickavachakar in Thiruvathavur. Sitting in Chidambaram, he sang praise of the greatness of Uthira Kosa Mangai, nine verses of praised that is presented every night by the Othuvars every night during the Artha Jaama Pooja to put the divine couple to sleep.
சீரார் பவளங்கால் முத்தம் கயிறாக
ஏராரும் பொற்பலகை ஏறி இனிதமர்ந்து
நாரா யணன் அறியா நாண்மலர்த்தாள் நாயடியேற்
கூராகத் தந்தருளும் உத்தர கோசமங்கை
ஆரா அமுதின் அருள்தா ளிணைபாடிப்
போரார்வேற் கண்மடவீர் பொன்னூச லாடாமோ - Thiruvachagam
Nataraja's secret presentation to Ambal
It was also in Uthira Kosa Mangai that Nataraja showcased his dance prowess exclusively to Ambal. When asked as to where the devotees could enjoy his dance magic, they were directed to Chidambaram where he presented the Pon Oosal verses.
A life dedicated to Mangalanathar and Mangalambigai
Yogeswara Shivachariar says that he is blessed to be born in this clan and wants to dedicate this life to perform kainkaryam at Uthira Kosa Mangai “I see this role as being specifically assigned to me by the Lord and I want to perform the pooja with total devotional commitment and be a positive influence on the devotees."
Through his unwavering devotional pooja, he wants to reach out to the devotees and impress upon them the process of devotion once they enter the temple. He believes that the sincerity of the Deepa Arathanai has the power to transform people devotionally “I have to create great devotional interest in people who come all the way to have darshan of Mangaleswarar and Mangalambigai. My role is not to show off my intelligence but to take the devotees on a spiritual journey through my pooja wherein they forget everything once inside the temple and submit themselves completely to God.”
மாதாடு பாகத்தன் உத்தர கோசமங்கைத்
தாதாடு கொன்றைச் சடையான் அடியாருள்
கோதாட்டி நாயேனை ஆட்கொண்டென் தொல்பிறவித்
தீதோடா வண்ணந் திகழப் பிறப்பறுப்பான்
காதாடு குண்டலங்கள் பாடிக் கசிந்தன்பால்
போதாடு பூண்முலையீர் பொன்னூச லாடாமோ
Another Sthaneegam returns
Gnana Sekara Gurukal, 2nd Sthaneegam at the temple with five days Kainkarya Murai every month and belonging to the Mayil Swami Gurukal clan, looks back at how their forefathers performed Kainkaryam “They had moved to Paramakudi and would make their way to the temple on their Murai days. They would walk along the railway track from Paramakudi to make it to the temple. And then later, they came on bullock carts. They were totally committed to performing their Kainkaryam even though there were very few devotees at this temple in those days.”
The second half of the previous century turned out to be a challenging time for priests, especially in remote temples. Against this backdrop, he studied Electrical Diploma and worked across the country in the corporate world for over two decades. He has been back at the temple over the last dozen years to perform alongside his younger brother Mangaleswara Gurukal. He is happy at the way the temple’s historical greatness has gained prominence in recent years “Devotees had dwindled in the 1970s and 80s but they are now thronging the temple in good numbers. While in the decades gone by, Thiruvathirai was when devotees visited the temple, we are now seeing a dramatic rise in devotees coming for darshan on Amavasai and over the weekend and even on weekdays. Also, those visiting Rameswaram and Thiru Pullani are making Uthira Kosa Mangai as part of their spiritual journey.”
Gnana Sekara Gurukal performs pooja at the Nataraja Sannidhi where Nataraja is seen in Sandalwood paste every day of the year except on Aruthra in Margazhi “The tall and handsome Maragatha Nataraja is a one of its kind idol and is even more special here for he displayed his exquisite dance exclusively to Ambal.”
The temple has a tall seven tier raja gopuram in the East and a separate sannidhi for Saivite Saint Poet Manickavachakar. There are also exquisite stone sculptures inside the temple.
A Patshala in Uthira Kosa Mangai
Yogeswara Shiva plans to soon open a Patshala in Uthira Kosa Mangai with the aim of creating a set of spiritually inclined students who will take the Vedas and Agamas and spread its greatness among the devotees in the future. It is hoped that like minded devotees will support the setting up and the growth of the Patshala.
It is a devotionally delightful experience to watch the young Yogeswara Shiva move around this huge temple and perform the rituals. He believes, firmly, that the devotees should transform themselves into silence inside the temple and immerse themselves fully in thoughts of the Divine Couple. He seems himself playing an important role in taking them on this devotional process of those that visit this temple.
At a time when most of the the next gen are making their way either into the corporate world or to performing Vaideeha activities in larger cities, Yogeswara Shiva has made a bold devotional call to stay back at his hereditary temple. He is confident that he will be able to create a positive impact in the minds of the devotees on the way they should engage with God and as to how they should lead their life, the dharmic way.
Uthira Kosa Mangai is located around 15kms west of Ramanathapuram off the Madurai Highway and about 10kms from Thiru Pullani. The temple is open from 6am - 1pm and 4pm to 9pm. Contact: Yogeswara Shiva@75388 18062/ Mangaleswara Gurukal @ 99529 14119/ Gnana Sekara Gurukal @ 89035 62628
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