Swami Desikan Thirunakshatram Mahotsavam At SriMushnam Concludes (Part 2)

The 746th Thirunakshatra Mahotsavam of Swami Desikan, which is being celebrated in a grand manner at SriMushnam since October 13, 2013, concluded on October 22, 2013. In the morning at 7 am, thirumanjanam was performed for moolavamoorthys of Bhuvaraha Swamy, Sri Ambujavalli Thayar and Swami Desikan followed by mangalasasanam by Swami Desikan between 9 am and 10 am. Between 11 am and 2 pm, thirumanjanam was performed for utsavamoorthys of Yagya Varaha Swamy, Thayar and Swami Desikan.

After the thirumanjanam, theerthagoshti, Thiruppavai Satrumurai and prasada vinoyogam took place. In the evening between 4 pm and 5 pm, special alankara sevai took place. This was followed by Divya Prabandham Sattrumurai till 8 pm. Thereafter, there was purappadu for Perumal and Thayar along with Swami Desikan. At 12 midnight, Swami Desikan returned to Asthanam after receiving all the Bahumanams.

Several astikas participated in this utsavam and received the blessings of Swami Desikan, Thayar and Perumal.

For Part 1 photographs, please visit Swami Desikan Thirunakshatram Mahotsavam At SriMushnam Concludes

For detailed pathrigai, please visit Swami Desikan Thirunakshatra Mahotsavam at SriMushnam

The following are some of the photographs taken earlier today during the Thirumanjanam and evening alankaram…

About the temple:

The Srimushnam temple is located about 70 km from Cuddalore and 39 km from Chidambaram in the Kattu Mannar Koil Taluk. The temple is an very ancient one with stunning architecture. The amazingly majestic Gopuram welcomes you to the magnificently built temple. Inside the temple, resides the beautiful Bhuvaraha Swamy, a small deity much in contrast to the largeness of the temple, but most wonderful. The Deity is one of the 8 Swayambhu Deities in Vaishnava Divya Desams. Sri Ambujavalli Thayar is the Lord’s consort, and the very moment you see Thayar, you feel She is the very embodiment of affection.

The sthala puranam of the temple is as thus: Hiranyaksha, the brother of Hiranyakashipu, wanted to be a dominant force. To achieve this, he rolled over the earth and took it into the nether world, from where he ruled. Bhoo Devi undertook penance seeking help from Lord Narayana to protect her from the Asura. Lord Vishnu took the form of Varaha (a boar), went into the sea and killed the asura. He brought back the earth on his Adisesha and appeared here as a Swayambu archa-vigraha.

Legend has it that he created the Pushkarani with the sweat emanating from his body after his battle with Hiranyaksha. On his death bed, Hiranyaksha prayed to the Lord and as his final wish wanted the Lord to turn to turn in his direction. Hence Bhoo Varahan’s face is seen turned in the direction of the asura towards the South. An interesting feature of the moolavar deity at this temple is that the face, in the form of a boar, is turned towards South, while the body bearing a human shape is facing West in the direction of the devotees.

While Bhuvarahar is a swayambu archa-vigraha, the temple here in Srimushnum is said to have been constructed by Four Nayak kings- Achuthappa, Ananthappa, Govindappa and Kondappa Nayak.

The story goes that Ananthappa Nayak developed severe stomach pain when they camped at Rajendrapatnam, 8 km East of Srimushnum. He was relieved of his pains when Lord Vishnu came in his dreams and touched his stomach with his leg. Delighted at this, he came here and constructed the temple. To this day, one can see the five fingers of the Lord below his left stomach.

One of the specialities at this temple is the offering of Korai Kazhangu as prasadam to the Lord. Some of the the important festivals include Brahmotsavam in Maasi and Chariot Festival in Chitrai.

About the temple write-up by Sri Prabhu

For detailed sthala puranam in Tamil, please visit Srimushnam – Sthala Puranam