Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Sankarankovil

Last week my family had a small trip to my native place Tirunelveli dist  after a long time. We visited kuladeivam kovil, then sankaran kovil, tirchendur, Tenkasi, ayikudibalasubramania kovil. In short it was a small pilgrimage. Last Monday we visited Sankran  kovil. Sankran  kovil is home to the famous Sankara Narayanar temple. The temple is also known as Sankaranayinarkovil and Sankaranarayanakovil.





This temple is a representation of fusion of two faiths Saivism and Vaishnavism. This temple is one of the big temples that can be found in the district of Tirunelveli and this is also one of the important shrines of Lord Siva in south India. The main deities in the temple are of Lord Shiva (southern portion inside the temple) and Goddess Parvathi in the name of Gomathi Amman (northern portion) with separate sanctums. There is another deity in between these two that is of Sankara Narayanar. The legend has it that Lord Siva appeared, on the request of His consort Parvathi, revealing Lord Vishnu in Him on His right side half to prove that Hari (Lord Vishnu) and Hara/Haran (Lord Siva) are one and same. To commemorate this and to emphasize the oneness of Hari and Haran ideology the deity of Sankara Narayanar (the deity depicts Siva on the rightside and Vishnu on the left side) was installed. The temple therefore is also known as Sankaranarayakovil.
Main Deity: Sankaralingeswarar, Sankara Narayanar.
Goddesses: Gomathi Amman.
Theertham: Nagasunai.
Holy tree: Punnai.
Sankaran koil is home to the famous Sankara Narayanar temple. It is situated at Thirunelveli District and 56km away from Thirunelveli City.Amman went on penance on the earth to see “Lord Shiva” & “Lord Vishnu” together hence known as Sankara Narayanar.The right portion of the idol has sandal and indicates Lord Siva, with cobra around his neck & moon above his head.The left side of the idol indicates Lord Vishnu having “Sanghu” in his hand.It is very famous for “Adi Thabasu” festival.
It is known from the stone inscriptions that the construction of this temple was commenced at 1022 A.D. by Pandya king Ukkiraman. The temple tower raises upto 125 feet with 9 floors. The sacred pot on the top of the tower measures 7 feet and 4 inches. There are various others deities of lower strata installed in the corridors of the temple. One can also find beautiful paintings and stone carvings adorning the temple walls and ceiling.
Once, a deva by the name Manikkireevan took birth as a Paraiyan after being cursed by Goddess Parvathi. He was known as Kavarparaiyan. He demolished a snake pit which was inside the forest garden that he was looking after and found a snake and a Sivalingam inside the pit. Panicked by this sight he rushed to inform King Ukkirama Pandya who was visiting the nearby forest during his usual visit to Madurai for worshipping Lord Shiva and Meenakshi. On the same day, the King’s elephant collapsed on the floor after piercing the floor with its tusk and it was at this time when the King was filled with bewilderment Kavarparaiyan brought the news of the snake and Sivalingam found in the snake pit. Following this the King heard the voice of Lord Shiva ordering him to construct a temple at the spot.
Lord Siva appeared, on the request of His consort Parvathi, revealing Lord Vishnu in Him on His right side half to prove that Hari (Lord Vishnu) and Hara/Haran (Lord Siva) are one and same. To commemorate this and to emphasize the oneness of Hari and Haran ideology the deity of Sankara Narayanar (the deity depicts Siva on the rightside and Vishnu on the left side) was installed. The temple therefore is also known as Sankaranarayakovil.
Gomathi amman is one of the manifestation of Adhi shakthi. The temple is popularly known as sankaranayanar kovil and she is the consort of vanmikanathar and seen along with sankaranarayanar(the unification of shiva and vishnu).
Story
The goddesses is a yogini who was performing her penence on the tip of the needle to please lord shiva and merge with him. Two snake kings namely "sangan" and "padman". Sangan was worshipping lord shiva and padman was worshipping lord narayana. One day they had a quarrel on who is great whether lord shiva, the destroyer or Narayana,the protector. They were trying to prove their own power and finally went to the yogini and pleaded her to give them a proper judgment.
The yogini grew out of her grace pleaded the almighty to show his universality form so that not only the snake kings but also fro every human being.By the intense penance lord shiva appears before the yogini in the form of half shiva and half vishnu showing the world that they are equal and it is with love and sacrifice they could reach them. Hence sangan and padman worshipped the lord and prayed to the yogini for showing them a way to attain the god and they stayed with her. the yogini was none ther than goddesses gomathi. Gomathi means repositary of wealth.Since the snakes stayed with the goddesses,this place is free from all venomous creatures and praying to this goddesses can eliminate the fear of venom.
One of the 18 siddhas, the great pambatti siddhar worshipped this goddesses as valai kumari and he regarded this goddesses to be the great serpant power which can make miracles in taking aspirant in yogic transformation. Pambatti  siddhar samadhi is seen behind the temple.
The deity Gomathi ambal is very powerful. in my experience she made lot of wonders in my life. If we tell about our problems to her ,she will clear it, and make us very happy. She gave me a lot of things,which i need at that time. It’s very nice place to visit it. There are so many wonder's were took place in that temple. It’s a very powerful temple.
Gomathy Amman a petite statue with pleasing facial features, not more than 3-feet tall in appearance, Gomathy Amman, our family deity is indeed the pride of this place. During the month of Aadi Gomathy Amman does a penance “Aadi Thavasu” and at the end of the 10 days the lord presents hiumelf in the “Sankaranarayana” form, half Shiva and half Vishnu, and this alankara is unique to witness.
There is a Srichakram it is believed that the hole (Srichakram )before Gomathi Amman Sanadhi cures people affected with black magic –When ever I visit I used sit times in front of gomathi amamn. Even the temple tank has got lot of significance. For many people Gomathi Amman is the Kula Deivam (protecting deity of the family). It is believed that worshipping Gomathi Amman in this temple can cure many ailments and childlessness.
There is a snake pit inside the temple and it is believed that applying the sand/mud from the snake pit on one’s body can cure various diseases. Those who come visit this temple also offer miniatures of snake, scorpion and other reptiles to get rid of curses. These miniatures are sold outside and inside the temple premises. The putthu sand has healing properties it is said, so we brought home some “putthu mannu” as it is called to give to friends and relatives. Putru marundu has curing properties.We always keep it in our house. Maavilakku is an important offering in this temple .This time I cant able to offer Maavilakku.Gomathi Amman is our family deity. I always wanted to visit the temple, since it gives peace of mind to me. Whenever I visit temple, really i feel free and got peaceful mind. 
Do not forget to visit the Elephant place. Thanga pavadai allangaram is very good on amman if u get chance don't miss. Really its a good temple every  one should try to visit the temple at least once in their lifetime.
 Great Poet Subramania Bharathiyar wrote about gomathi Amman. But some reasons it has not been complete gothrough this link-http://www.lakshmansruthi.com/tamilbooks/bharathiar/bharathi-II41.asp

12 comments:

  1. Hey Aunty

    Very Informative. U took the pains to pen down each and everything. Great!!

    Regards
    Daya

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  2. very informative.. I have heard a lot about this temple, though have not yet visited it..

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  3. Thank you Daya & anu:)
    @anu This temple is worth to visit. atleast once u visit to this place;)

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  4. My mother's name is Gomathy named after the deity in Sankarankoil. I am a senior citizen. My wife and I would like to visit/pray at this great temple. Is there a decent place to stay in this temple town? Appreciate your response. Thank you.

    Subramanian

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  5. Hai aunty,
    My mom's native and my birth place is sankaranakovil (studied and brought up in madurai) just like that me and my friend was discussing about our native and their prides, i was surfing and got my temple and was proudly showing to my friend :)
    thank u aunty for sharing some of the photos, now i am in bangalore , though married and settled, still long for my mom's hometown :)

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  6. Thanks you for your excellent article. OUr kula deivam is Gomathi Amman. I appreciate your effort to blog about it. Keep up the good work.

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  7. My Mom's kula deva is sankaran kovil.... excellent article....keep it up.

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  8. Very informative, I just loved reading it.

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  9. ஸ்ரீகோமதி அம்பிகைஅஷ்டோத்திரம்
    1)ஓம் ஸ்ரீ மஹாஸம் மோஹின்யை நம
    2)ஓம் தேவ்யைநம
    3) ஓம் ஸுந்தர்யைநம
    4)ஓம்புவனேஸ்வர்யைநம
    5)ஓம் ஏகாட்சர்யைநம்
    6)ஓம் மஹாமந்த்ர்யைநம
    7)ஓம் ஏகாங்க்யைநம
    8) ஓம்ஏகநாயிகாயைநம
    9)ஓம்ஏகரூபாயைநம
    10)ஓம்மஹாரூபாயைநம
    11)ஓம்ஸ்தூலசூட்சுமரூபிண்யைநம
    12) ஓம் பிந்துரூபாயைநம
    13)ஓம்சங்க்ரராமஜெயவர்த்தன்யைநம
    14)ஓம்மனோன்மன்யைநம
    15) ஓம் பராசக்த்யைநம
    16)ஓம் யோகின்யைநம
    17) ஓம்பாபநாசின்யைநம
    18) ஓம்ஆபத்சக்த்யைநம
    19)ஓம்தயாரூபாயைநம
    20)ஓம்வைஷ்ணவ்யைநம
    21)ஓம்பத்ரகாள்யைநம
    22) ஓம்பக்தப்ரியாயைநம
    23) ஓம்மஹாகோராயைநம
    24)ஓம்ஹரிப்ரம்மாதிகாரிண்யைநம
    25)ஓம்சிவரூபாயைநம
    26)ஓம்விஷணுரூபாயநம
    27)ஓம்ஸுட்சுமரூபாயைநம
    28)ஓம்ஸுசாவஹாயைநம
    29)ஓம்புராண்யைநம
    30) ஓம்ப்ரபுராண்யைநம
    31)ஓம்பூர் ணரூபாயைநம
    32)ஓம்பவித்ராயைநம
    33)ஓம்பத்மதாரிண்யைநம
    34)ஓம்ருத்ராண்யைநம
    35)ஓம்இந்த்ராண்யைநம
    36) ஓம்ஈசான்யைநம
    37)ஓம்பார்வத்யை நம
    38)ஓம்சங்கரார்த்தசரீரிண்யைநம
    39)ஓம்நாறாயண்யைநம
    40)ஓம்மஹாலட்சும்யைநம
    41)ஓம்மஹாதேவ்யைநம
    42)ஓம்சுமங்கல்யைநம
    43)ஓம்அகராதிசகாரந்தாயைநம
    44)ஓம்அஷ்டத்ரிம்சத்கலாதராயைநம
    45)ஓம்சப்தமாத்ருகணாயைநம
    46) ஓம்தார்யை நம
    47)ஓம்ஸரீரோர்த்பத்திகாரிண்யைநம
    48)ஜராமர்ணவர்ஜிதாயைநம
    49)ஓம் நாஸக்ரேஷீசமுத் பண்ணாயைநம
    50)ஓம்மத்யேஹ்ருதயதாரிண்யைநம
    51)ஓம்வாயுலேகாயைநம
    52)ஓம்மஹாஞான்யைநம
    53)ஓம்லிங்வேஸ்வர்யைநம
    54)ஓம்பரமேஸ்வர்யைநம
    55)ஓம்லோகலாத்ரேநம
    56)ஓம்ஸ்வர்கதாயைநம
    57)ஓம்விந்த்யவாசின்யைநம
    58)ஓம்அஹோராயைநம
    59)ஓம்ஆதயேநம
    60)ஓம்மஹாரௌத்ர்யைநம
    61)ஓம்அனந்தகுணசாலின்யைநம
    62)ஓம்சத்யோஜாதகலாரூபாயைநம
    63)ஓம்சோமசூர்யாக்னிலோசனாயநம
    64)ஓம்குணத்ரவிபேத்காயைநம
    65)ஓம்த்ரிஸ்தாயைநம
    66)ஓம்த்ரிபுரதேவ்யைநம
    67)ஓம்ஸிம்ஹாஸநஸ்த்தாயைநம
    68)ஓம்சக்திசுரேகர்யைநம
    69)ஓம்பத்மரூபாயைநம
    70)ஓம்பரப்ரம்மண்யைநம
    71)ஓம்ஹரரூபாயைநம
    72)ஓம்பஹிஷ்டாயைநம
    73)ஓம்ஆகாசரூபிண்யைநம
    74)ஓம்டமருகதாரிண்யைநம
    75)ஓம்கட்வாங்கதாரிண்யைநம
    76)ஓம்கட்கதாரிண்யைநம
    77)ஓம்கமலதாரிண்யைநம
    78)ஓம்முசலதாரிண்யைநம
    79)ஓம்சத்ரதாரிண்யைநம
    80)ஓம்அணுரூபாயைநம
    81)ஓம்மஹூரூபாயைநம
    82)ஓம்தபஸ்யை நம
    83)ஓம்காலபாசசக்த்யைநம
    84)ஓம்ஸ்ரீயைநம
    85)ஓம்ஷோடசகலாரூபாயைநம
    86)ஓம்காந்தாயைநம
    87)ஓம்ஹ்ருல்லோகாயைநம
    88)ஓம்த்ரைலோக்யஜனன்யைநம
    89)ஓம்ஸேவ்யாயைநம
    90)ஓம்நந்திண்யைநம
    91) ஓம்சிவவல்லபாயைநம
    92)ஓம்ப்ராஹ்யைநம
    93)ஓம்மஹேஸ்வர்யைநம
    94)ஓம்கொளமார்யைநம
    95)ஓம்வைஷ்ண்வ்யைநம
    96)ஓம்வாராஹ்யைநம
    97)ஓம்மாஹேந்தர்யைநம
    98)ஓம்சாமுண்டாயைநம
    99)ஓம்சண்டிகாயைநம
    100)ஓம்அம்பிகாயைநம
    101)ஓம்சர்வேஸ்வர்யைநம
    102)ஓம்பவஸ்யதேவஸ்ய பத்ன்யைநம
    103)ஓம்சர்வஸ்யதேவஸ்யபத்ன்யைநம
    104)ஓம்ஈசான்யதேவஸ்யபத்ன்யைநம
    105)ஓம்பசுபதேர்தேவஸ்ய
    பத்ன்யைநம
    107)உக்ரஸ்யதேவஸ்யபத்ன்யைநம
    108)ஓம்பீமஸ்யதேவஸ்யபத்ன்யைநம
    109)ஓம்மகதோர்தேவஸ்யபத்ன்யைநம
    110)ஸ்ரீகோமத்யம்பிகாயைநம

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  10. அனைவரும் படித்து பயன்பெறலாம்
    கோமதிஅம்மன் துணை எங்கும்எப்போதும் விஷஜந்துக்களால் ஆபத்து இருக்காது தோஷங்கள் விலகும்
    ஆரோக்கியம் சீராகும் ஜயஜய சங்கரா ஓம்நமோநாராயணா

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  11. ஸ்ரீகோமதி அம்பிகைஅஷ்டோத்திரம்
    1)ஓம் ஸ்ரீ மஹாஸம் மோஹின்யை நம
    2)ஓம் தேவ்யைநம
    3) ஓம் ஸுந்தர்யைநம
    4)ஓம்புவனேஸ்வர்யைநம
    5)ஓம் ஏகாட்சர்யைநம்
    6)ஓம் மஹாமந்த்ர்யைநம
    7)ஓம் ஏகாங்க்யைநம
    8) ஓம்ஏகநாயிகாயைநம
    9)ஓம்ஏகரூபாயைநம
    10)ஓம்மஹாரூபாயைநம
    11)ஓம்ஸ்தூலசூட்சுமரூபிண்யைநம
    12) ஓம் பிந்துரூபாயைநம
    13)ஓம்சங்க்ரராமஜெயவர்த்தன்யைநம
    14)ஓம்மனோன்மன்யைநம
    15) ஓம் பராசக்த்யைநம
    16)ஓம் யோகின்யைநம
    17) ஓம்பாபநாசின்யைநம
    18) ஓம்ஆபத்சக்த்யைநம
    19)ஓம்தயாரூபாயைநம
    20)ஓம்வைஷ்ணவ்யைநம
    21)ஓம்பத்ரகாள்யைநம
    22) ஓம்பக்தப்ரியாயைநம
    23) ஓம்மஹாகோராயைநம
    24)ஓம்ஹரிப்ரம்மாதிகாரிண்யைநம
    25)ஓம்சிவரூபாயைநம
    26)ஓம்விஷணுரூபாயநம
    27)ஓம்ஸுட்சுமரூபாயைநம
    28)ஓம்ஸுசாவஹாயைநம
    29)ஓம்புராண்யைநம
    30) ஓம்ப்ரபுராண்யைநம
    31)ஓம்பூர் ணரூபாயைநம
    32)ஓம்பவித்ராயைநம
    33)ஓம்பத்மதாரிண்யைநம
    34)ஓம்ருத்ராண்யைநம
    35)ஓம்இந்த்ராண்யைநம
    36) ஓம்ஈசான்யைநம
    37)ஓம்பார்வத்யை நம
    38)ஓம்சங்கரார்த்தசரீரிண்யைநம
    39)ஓம்நாறாயண்யைநம
    40)ஓம்மஹாலட்சும்யைநம
    41)ஓம்மஹாதேவ்யைநம
    42)ஓம்சுமங்கல்யைநம
    43)ஓம்அகராதிசகாரந்தாயைநம
    44)ஓம்அஷ்டத்ரிம்சத்கலாதராயைநம
    45)ஓம்சப்தமாத்ருகணாயைநம
    46) ஓம்தார்யை நம
    47)ஓம்ஸரீரோர்த்பத்திகாரிண்யைநம
    48)ஜராமர்ணவர்ஜிதாயைநம
    49)ஓம் நாஸக்ரேஷீசமுத் பண்ணாயைநம
    50)ஓம்மத்யேஹ்ருதயதாரிண்யைநம
    51)ஓம்வாயுலேகாயைநம
    52)ஓம்மஹாஞான்யைநம
    53)ஓம்லிங்வேஸ்வர்யைநம
    54)ஓம்பரமேஸ்வர்யைநம
    55)ஓம்லோகலாத்ரேநம
    56)ஓம்ஸ்வர்கதாயைநம
    57)ஓம்விந்த்யவாசின்யைநம
    58)ஓம்அஹோராயைநம
    59)ஓம்ஆதயேநம
    60)ஓம்மஹாரௌத்ர்யைநம
    61)ஓம்அனந்தகுணசாலின்யைநம
    62)ஓம்சத்யோஜாதகலாரூபாயைநம
    63)ஓம்சோமசூர்யாக்னிலோசனாயநம
    64)ஓம்குணத்ரவிபேத்காயைநம
    65)ஓம்த்ரிஸ்தாயைநம
    66)ஓம்த்ரிபுரதேவ்யைநம
    67)ஓம்ஸிம்ஹாஸநஸ்த்தாயைநம
    68)ஓம்சக்திசுரேகர்யைநம
    69)ஓம்பத்மரூபாயைநம
    70)ஓம்பரப்ரம்மண்யைநம
    71)ஓம்ஹரரூபாயைநம
    72)ஓம்பஹிஷ்டாயைநம
    73)ஓம்ஆகாசரூபிண்யைநம
    74)ஓம்டமருகதாரிண்யைநம
    75)ஓம்கட்வாங்கதாரிண்யைநம
    76)ஓம்கட்கதாரிண்யைநம
    77)ஓம்கமலதாரிண்யைநம
    78)ஓம்முசலதாரிண்யைநம
    79)ஓம்சத்ரதாரிண்யைநம
    80)ஓம்அணுரூபாயைநம
    81)ஓம்மஹூரூபாயைநம
    82)ஓம்தபஸ்யை நம
    83)ஓம்காலபாசசக்த்யைநம
    84)ஓம்ஸ்ரீயைநம
    85)ஓம்ஷோடசகலாரூபாயைநம
    86)ஓம்காந்தாயைநம
    87)ஓம்ஹ்ருல்லோகாயைநம
    88)ஓம்த்ரைலோக்யஜனன்யைநம
    89)ஓம்ஸேவ்யாயைநம
    90)ஓம்நந்திண்யைநம
    91) ஓம்சிவவல்லபாயைநம
    92)ஓம்ப்ராஹ்யைநம
    93)ஓம்மஹேஸ்வர்யைநம
    94)ஓம்கொளமார்யைநம
    95)ஓம்வைஷ்ண்வ்யைநம
    96)ஓம்வாராஹ்யைநம
    97)ஓம்மாஹேந்தர்யைநம
    98)ஓம்சாமுண்டாயைநம
    99)ஓம்சண்டிகாயைநம
    100)ஓம்அம்பிகாயைநம
    101)ஓம்சர்வேஸ்வர்யைநம
    102)ஓம்பவஸ்யதேவஸ்ய பத்ன்யைநம
    103)ஓம்சர்வஸ்யதேவஸ்யபத்ன்யைநம
    104)ஓம்ஈசான்யதேவஸ்யபத்ன்யைநம
    105)ஓம்பசுபதேர்தேவஸ்ய
    பத்ன்யைநம
    107)உக்ரஸ்யதேவஸ்யபத்ன்யைநம
    108)ஓம்பீமஸ்யதேவஸ்யபத்ன்யைநம
    109)ஓம்மகதோர்தேவஸ்யபத்ன்யைநம
    110)ஸ்ரீகோமத்யம்பிகாயைநம

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  12. There is one poem of Bharathiyar near Gomathi amman sannithi. Can anyone post the verse here?

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