Pujyasri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Swamiji, - MAHA PERIYAVA MANI MANDAPAM, ORIKKAI, KANCHIPURAM

21st February 2020.

The visit to this Maha Periyava’s Manimandapam, at Orikkai was a part of 2020 Maha Shivaratri Temples Visit, on 21st February 2020. This Village Orikkai is on the Kanchipuram to Uthiramerur main Road, on the northern banks of River Palar. 

It is believed that this place was named after the Vishnu Temple and Vishnu is called as  “Or Iravu Tangi Irunda Perumal - ஓர் இரவு தங்கி இருந்த பெருமாள்” ( Perumal who stayed here for one night ), which has got corrupted to Orikkai. The transformation might have taken like this ஓர் இரவு இருக்கை – ஓரிருக்கை – ஒரிக்கை – Or iravu Irukkai – Orirukkai – Orikkai. This is one of the Villages, where Maha Periyava used to visit, especially during Chaturmasya viratham, first worship Sri Agastheeswarar and will go to camp.

Pujyasri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Swamiji, 68th Shankaracharya of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, built at Orikkai, was consecrated on 28^th January, 2011.

ARCHITECTURE

The Complex consists of Rajagopuram, Deepasthambam, Rishaba Mandapa, Sanctum Mukha Mandapam and 100 feet high Vimana. The Vimana is of suddha verity where only stone is used.  The height of 100 feet symbolizes the life span of Maha Periyava. The Vimana is of Ananda Vimana and Sikara is 56 feet maintain the ration of 1:1.3/4. The Front mandapa is built with one hundred Pillars. All the stones used are white granite stones sourced from Pattimalai kuppam about 50 miles from Kanchipuram.

The Vimana is of 5 tiers and the stupa is also made of stone. The Vimana is on a raised upapeda. The Vimana is beautified with Kutas and intermediate salas. Windows or the jalas are provided on three sides for proper Lighting and ventilation. The Sanctum is not regular sanctum, but like a mandapa with a platform with a 4 pillar mandapa at the center. Two concentric Passages are provided around the platform where Mahaperiyava’s statue was installed. The Paduka of Maha periyava was made out of sandal wood kept in front of the portrait. Hence called as Paduka mani mandapa. 

Another Significant feature of this manimandapam is two sculptures portraying two well known dhyana slokas in Sanskrit. The Sculpture on the south wall of the main temple portrays the Guru parambara ie first Guru followed by the disciples. – Vishnu, Brahma, Vasishta, Sakti, Parasara, Vyasa, Sukha followed by Gaudapada, Govinda Yoginda and Adi Shankaracharya  and his disciples. This is an illustrative sculpture that would enable the visitors to correlate the dhyana sloka recited by all with sculpture. 

Guru parampara ie first Guru followed by the disciples. – Vishnu, Brahma, Vasishta, Sakti, Parasara, Vyasa, Sukha followed by Gaudapada, Govinda Yoginda and Adi Shankaracharya  and his disciples.

 Maha Periyava 

TIMINGS:

The manimandapam will be kept open 08.00 hrs to 12.30 hrs and 16.00 hrs to 19.30 hrs. On Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays, Manimandapam will be kept open up to 13.00 in the morning.

HOW TO REACH:

All the buses from Kanchipuram to Uthiramerur will stop at Orikkai and the manimandapam is about a KM

Orikkai is about 5 KM from Kanchipuram Bus stand,  34 KM from Arakkonam Junction and 80 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway station is Kanchipuram and Railway Junction is Arakkonam.

LOCATION:  CLICK HERE

The Mandapa  Built in five bays, the central ceiling carries a mandala of the 12 rasis symbolically indicated by Mesha, Rishabha, Mithuna etc. The mandapa has a very well laid out stepped entrances on three sides. The steps are decorated with caparisoned elephants. The porch in the front has wheel with spokes symbolically depicting the twelve rasis – the twelve months.

   

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---