Deivathin Kural Series - 173

Om Namah Sivaya.

Deivathin Kural # 173 of 23 Mar 2007.

(Continued from the previous e-mail.)

17. At the time of Parvathi's marriage all the worlds were happy. At that time, so that the 'nobody' Ananga and his wife Rathi, may not be having a complaint, he was given back his body. The celibate Parameswara married Parvathy and got a son too. Manmatha felt happy that it was somehow his victory too. He wanted that the world should also know that the credit goes to him. After all it was his department's job to get people married. He realised that all that he had to do, to get his desire fulfilled, is to pray to Mother.

18. He came to know of the Parabrhma Sakthi Ambal's presence in Kanchipuram as Kamakshi. If you think of the whole world as a woman, Kanchipuram is like the 'Oddyanam' (a belt like golden ornament worn on the hip, over the dress. Kanchi in Sanskrit means, oddyanam). In that area of the navel, Kamakshi's sanctum sanctorum is located. It is known as 'Bilakasam'. 'Bil' means a cave or niche and 'akasam' means space. As the baby in the womb gets nourishment through the umblical cord, all living things in the entire universe get their sustenence by Ambal's Anugraha from this Bilakasa

19. Akasam or space itself is representative of Atma, as everything is contained in it. The space that is spread everywhere, in all directions, is called 'Mahakasam'. When it is inside an individual, the Maha becomes small -akasam or 'daharakasam', literally meaning the space of the heart. That is 'chidambaram', which is formed by 'chit + ambaram'. When we get to know ourselves, that knowledge of the 'real self', the source of our breath and being, the root of our existance, enables us to experience and enjoy the 'dahara akasa'.

20. If the whole world is considered as the body of a person, the 'virat purusha', his heart is at Chidambaram. If you go to the Nataraja temple, in the city of Chidambaram, in Tamil Nadu, they show you the 'Chidambara Rahasyam', the Secret of Chidambaram. You do not see anything but 'spce undefined.' It is the same truth in Kanchipuram as 'Bilakasam'. "In Chidambaram, it is only in the 'chit sabhai', but in Kanchipuram, it is spread in the entire city", says the purana.

21. Bilakasa roopini, Kamakshi is enthroned there, holding the Sugarcane Bow and Flower Arrows of Kaman. It is this Royal Highness, to whom, Kaman came to and sat in 'Tapasya'. Amma pleased with his perseverence, gave him a 'Darshan'. He prayed to Her, "Amma! Parameswara after reducing me to ashes, took You as His Consort. You had detailed me as responsible for Love, Desire and Passion, in the entire universe. So the credit for Parameswara falling in love with you, should also accrue to me. But the world knows only about my being burnt off. As the Mother of all, You only have to make the world realise that, I am responsible for Your marriage with Parameswara and the birth of Subrahmanya." Amma took pity on this child.

22. Immediately She withdrew Her power from all the Ambal 'Sannidys' and 'Sri Chakra Yantras', from all the temples, wherever Her statues were installed. Like the light of the eyes, the fact was evident by the absence of divinity. Evidently Siva without Shakthi is 'Sava' or a deadbody, so to say. Brhma came forward in support of Siva, who was playing His part to the letter. Brhma said, "Amma Paradevate! Please become omniscient once again." Amma said, "I had withdrawn my power only on behalf of Manmatha. Now that the power of Manmatha, has become known to all, I will re-establish the 'status-quo-ante'." This story is well described in 'Kamakshi Vilasam'. There are also proof of this incident in engravements on stone in many temples.

23. In many of Siva temples, the Ambal Sannidy, is known as 'Kamakkottam'. Chola kings have engraved on stones, whenever they have repaired or refurbished the temples, in places such as, Avinashy, Vijaya Mangalam, Thiruvorriyur, Thirukkattuppalli, Vallam, Thiruppazhanam, Koiladi and so on. In them all, Ambal's temple has been referred as, 'Kamakkottam udaiya nachchiyar' or words to that effect. In Chidambaram, other than Tamil inscriptions, there is a Sanskrit inscription too, in which, 'Siva Kama Sundari', (Ambal's name in Chidambaram), has been referred as, 'Kamakoshta sthithaya'.

24. Puranam says that from all Amman temples all over the world, the life force of Parasakthi had been withdrawn to Kanchipuram and then after a period, Her 'Sannidyam' or divinity, was redirected to those places. Since then, the practice of calling 'Mother's sanctum sanctorum' as 'Kamakkottam', must have evolved; though Her name in that Sthala or station may be different, like Kanchi Kamakshi, Kasi Visalakshi, Madurai Meenakshi or Kamalamba or Karpagamba and so on.

25. Thiru Gnana Sambandar has sung a Thevaram, in which he says, "Kachip podhi kamak kodiyudan koodi". He not only calls the Amman in Alangudi, as Kamakkodi, so that it may not be mistaken as a normal name of Alangudi Amman, he adds the place name as a prefix, 'kachip podhi', referring to Kanchipuram. Similarly, Appar Swamigal in Thiruvadigai Thiruththandagam says, "kozhum pavala chengani vaik kamakkotti". This is clear proof of this fact that, it is the divinity of Kamakshi, which re-invigorated Amman's Sannidy in other stations too. It is the 'Kamakkotti Vasini' or Kamakshi, referred to as 'Kamakkotti'.

26. 'Kama kodi' is different from 'Kamakkotti'. Kamakshi's place in Kanchipuram, is Kama kottam. Kama kodi on the other hand is the place of 'Gnana' from which 'Kama' is crores of miles away. Kamakshi Herself is Kama kodi too. As a form or murthy, She is Kamakshi. As a 'Peetam' or institution, it is Kama Kodi. In the environs of Kamakshi's temple, the Kama Kodi Peetam is located. In Bhagavatham, while talking about Parasurama's theertha yatra, there is a mention that he came to, 'kamakoti pureem kancheem'. Though there are many Siva Vishnu temples in Kanchipuram, from olden times, it has been specially referred to as Ambal's Kamakoti Puri.

27. Having returned the Ambal's Sannidyam or divinity, back to all temples everywhere, She wanted a permanent memorial to Manmatha's victory. Two things were done accordingly. Till date in Kanchipuram, though there are many Siva temples, except for Kamakottam, there is no 'sanctum sanctorum' of Ambal in any of those temples. Secondly, as an indication of Manmatha's victory over Siva, Kanchipuram was given a new name as 'Sivajit' Kshetram. She wanted that people should wonder about, why there are no Amman Sannidys other that Kama Kottam, in Kanchipuram and as to why the place is known as 'Sivajit' kshetram. This purana will be told to them and they will thereby know that it is Ambal's Anugraha to Kama. Such is Her power of 'Anugraha'.

28. Sundaramurthy Swamigal, while singing in 'Ona Kanthan Thali' in Kanchipuram says:-
var irunkuzhal vaal nedunkan malai magal
madu vimmu konraith
thariru thadamarbu neengath thaiyalal,
ulagu uyya vaiththa

karirum pozhil kachchimudoor kamakkottam
undaga neer poi
ooridum pitchai kolvadenne,
onakantan thaliuleere.

29 He means to say, 'since there is no Amman Sannidy in your temple, possibly you have to go with a begging bowl and live on alms. When there is Kamakshi of Kama Kottam, who feeds the entire world, near by, why should You go to all this trouble?' Kamakshi is not only the Mother who feeds the milk of Gnana, but is also, 'Annapoorani'. Tamil literature talks of how by her just look, She can and does meet all your demands, requirements and needs.

30. If we sit and meditate on the 'Siva Kama Sundari', all our desires, needs, necessities, requirements, unavoidables, anger, greed, madness, jelousies, small and big will vanish; and we will know ourself to be completely contented in all respects.

Sambhomahadeva.