Arupadai veedu konda sri vinayaka - six abodes of lord Ganesha

In Hinduism, a unique place has been held for lord Vinayaga, as He is the beginning of everything at any times. Even, when writing a hymn in praise of a god or goddess, it's a custom to write a hymn about the glory of Him. Then only, that work would be fulfilled, otherwise it would go for nothing, that is not getting more welcome among the people.

Regarding this, a lot of legends were there. Even, Lord Muruga had succeeded in His marriage with sri Valli, only after he called for the help of Lord Vinayaga (or Ganesha).He is the god for wisdom, even though, goddess sri "Sarawathi" has been called as the same.

Lord Vinayaga is the elder brother of Lord Muruga, as the son of Lord Shiva and goddess sri Parvathi devi. One time, the celestial sage "Naaratha" came to the place of Lord Shiva (called Kailash), and gave a divine mango fruit to lord Shiva,told that it was a very rare mango fruit, so only he gave it to lord Shiva.

The Lord knew that this would be the cause for something to be happened newly as well a benefit to the world. Normally, any thing started by the sage "Naaratha" would be seen apparently as a chaos, but always ended up with a benefit to the world.

Here also it was the origin-cause of the transformation of Lord muruga into Lord "Palaniandavar" of Thiru Aavinankudi, which is now called as Palani, one of the six abodes of Lord Muruga.

After getting the 'divine mango fruit' from the sage Naaratha, Lord Shiva confused, that to whom he would give the fruit, whether to Lord Ganesha or to Lord Muruga.Then goddess sri Parvathi devi put forth a plan, that the fruit would be given to the person who won the game, that was, who was the first to round the world.

On hearing this, at once lord Muruga jumped up on His vaaganaa (transport), the peacock and went for the 'round of the world'. But lord Vinayaga asked a question to His parents (Lord Shiva and goddess Parvathi devi), whether 'the world and they' have been 'a separate one or the same'. They said that 'they and the world' are considered as the same and not as individual.

At once, lord Ganesha, came around His parents, and said that he won the bet, since the world and the parents are none other than one. Here in Hinduism, the story had been told for the reason, that we should respect our parents as equal as the the world, that is, should be placed at the top.

Lord Muruga became angry when seeing the fruit, being given to His brother Lord Vinayaga, thought that he would have been deceived by His parents. Then he came to palani, and appeared in the "Aandi kolam", that means as sage. So through the drama staged by the "Naaratha", the world has the opportunity of worshiping lord Muruga as the "Bala thandayuthapani".

First, i tell you the six abodes as a whole, then give the details of each as follows:

1) Thiruvannamalai - Here lies as "Allal poekkum vinayakar" - one who relieves the pain and sad.

2) Viruthachalam (Virutha Gereeshwarar temple) - Here lies as "Aalathu pillayaar" - we should get down to worship Him,since He resides in the underground.

3) Thirukadaiyoor (Goddess Sri Abirami temple) - Here lies as "Kallavaarana pillayaar" - One who gives long life and health.

4) Madurai (Sri Meenakshi amman temple) - Here lies as "Siddhi vinayagar" - one who gives us the siddhi (victory in life).

5) Pillayaar patti (Individual shrine) - Here lies as "Karpaga vinayagar" - One who gives us all wealth, what we expect from Him.

6) Thiru Naaraiyoor ( at Cuddalore district) - Here lies as "polla pillayaar" - One who originate by itself,instead of erect it by human effort.

Thiruvannamalai is one of the Siva isthalam (Lord shiva), where the lord Shiva lies in the form of fire. Here the residing god is "Annamalaiyaar", where the "Ramana Ashram" also lies. Kaarthigai deepam is the grant festival celebrated here in every year. In this place,lies our "Allal poakkum vinayakar", who can have the ability to relieves all our pain and sad.

It's the second abode,of Lord Ganesha in the "Virutha Girishwarar temple at Viruthachalam. This temple has been considered as equal to Kasi Viswanatha temple. As in the name itself, he is residing in the underlying area of this temple, We have to get down wards to worship this lord Ganesha.Like this shrine, you can see also in the "Kalaghasthi" temple. Here a unique feature is seen that an individual "Flag Staff" has been here for Him. As we get up in the steps, after we have worshiped Him, like also we can get cherish in our lives.

Here, the lord vinayaka is called as Kallavaarana Pillayaar ,who gives us the long life and the good health. A fierce devotee known as Abirama patter, in his Abirama anthathi, noted the glories of the lord 'Kallavaarana pillayaar'."Andhadi is beginning a new stanza with the first world being the last word of the previous one",sung in praise of the goddess Sri Abirami.

He is called as "Sora ganapathy" in Sanskrit. There is a legend behind this lord Kallavaarana Pillayar. Having chirped the 'milky ocean' (residing place of lord Vishnu), the Ambrosia had been taken out from that, and equally been distributed to the devas (celestial beings) by the lord Vishnu. But in the Hindu mythology, prior to any work to be started, it's a custom to worship lord Vinayaga, that the work should be ended up well without any disturbance. But there, at the time of the distribution of the Ambrosia, the lord Vinayaga had been forgotten and no pooja had been done to Him. So, He had hidden the bowl of Ambrosia (Amirtha kudam - in Tamil) in this place called Thirukadaiyoor. Later on, that bowl of Ambrosia had been transformed into the idol of Linga, who has been called as "Amirthakadeshwarar". So following this only, the poojaas and yaahaas related to the 'long life and good health' has been conducted here.

Once upon a time, there was called Subramanain in Thirukadaiyoor in Tamilnadu which is is in India.He was a fierce devotte of Goddess sri Abirami amman,thinking that all women were in Sakthi-amsam, that is, they were the resemblance of Sri Abirami,and showered the flowers at their feet.

one day when he was on meditation, the king Saraboji paid a visit to the temple of Thitukadaiyoor and saw subramanian in meditation,ignoring him, about his arrival. Provoked with anger, he made an inquiry about Subramanian, knew about his activities towards the women. So he wanted to test Subramaian's gen unity, whether he was really a saint or not.

An idea opened before him, and asked Subramanian whether that day was a 'new moon day' or the 'full moon day',knew that already that day was a new moon day (that is 'Amavaasai' in Tamil). But Subramanian,without knowing what was happened before him, told the king that the day was certainly a full moon day. With immense anger poured on Subramanian, the king ordered him to stand on the platform, hanging on the glowing fire.

Without knowing, what had happened to him, he opened his eyes and knew about the death sentence charged on him. Without having fear, he stood on the platform,and prayed his mother goddess sri Abirami in order to save him,for what he told to the king was not his word, only Her word.

Stood above the fire,with the platform slowly coming down to the fire-bed, he had sung 100 songs which are called as Abirami anthathi about his holy mother sri Abirami. When he sang the 79 th song,which described about her merciful eyes, Annai Abirami appeared before him on the sky and threw Her ear-ring in the sky and it transformed into a full-moon, glittering in the sky, turning the word of Subramanian's as the real truth.

On seeing this miracle,the king with immense astonishment, begged down to the feet of Subramanian and honored him by calling him as "Abirami patter". After wards the king Saraboji also turned as the devotee of Goddess Sri Abirami amman.

Here, what you about to see the video of the old Tamil film called "Aathi paraasakthi", a veteran Tamil actor S.V Subbiah, starring as Abirama patter, showed an exceptional and extraordinary acting, by showing the Abirama patter before our eyes.

Please see Abirama patter in action.... What a performance he had given!

In Madurai, the fourth abode of lord vinayaka lies in the Sri Meenakshi amman temple, on the way to amman shrine, near oonjal mandapam. This idol of lord Vinayaka is small when compared to the "Mukkuruni vinayagar", and course of time, lord Mukkuruni vinayakar is becoming very famous, slowly fading the name of Siddhi Vinayagar. A legend about this "Siddhi Vinayaga" was that Manicka Vaasakar, one of the Naayanmaars (fierce devotee's of lord Shiva), prayed Him, before left behind Madurai, in order to purchase the flock of horse for the king's war-force. He is well known for His generosity in giving the blessing of Siddhi (victory) to all of the devotees, who come in faith with Him.

It's the fifth abode of lord Vinayaka in the form of Karpaga vinayakar,whose trunk is seen as turning right in the direction,where as, the normal form is turn in the left. It's a rock cut temple, that the sculpture curved in the single rock. Some of the "Nagarathaars" (also called as Naatukottai chettiyars), worshiped this god as their family deity. It's very near to karaikudi, on the way to "Madurai to Karaikudi" high ways. It's well connected to all major cities of Tamilnadu. A unique feature about His idol is that he hold the Siva linga in his right hand, and remains in the state of doing Siva-poojai (worshiping Lord Siva). He is blessing the devotees with immense of gifts, what they asked from Him.

This sixth abode of lord Vinayaka is situated in the temple of Thirunaaraiyoor, at cuddalore district, The unique feature of this idol is called as Suyambu (originated by itself - not sculptured by anybody). Actually it's a lord Siva's temple in which, the shrine of Pollappillayaar is accompanied with. It's the Isthala (place),in which, Naarai (a kind of bird) had attained it's Mukthi (immortality), by it's fierce devotion towards Lord Siva and Pollappillayaar. Again it's the place of Nambiandar nambi, who strove to dig out the hymns of Devaaram, which had been told by the lord Pollappillayaar,as they were in Chithambaram temple.

So, as like as His brother Lord Muruga, Lord Ganesha has also the six ( 6 ) Abodes of which are not well known by many of us.If this hub has been for making awareness about the six abodes of lord Vinayaga, then it will be very happy to me.

O.K. now it's the time for leaving you all, and can meet you in the another hub like this...till then ...Bye...

Friendly yours

Selvaganapathy