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

21st February 2020.

The visit to Maha Periyava’s Mani mandapam, at Orikkai was a part of the 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 “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 Vratha, 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 the Suddha variety 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 maintaining the ratio 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-upa peedam. 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 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 pPeriyava was made out of sandalwood and kept in front of the portrait. Hence called Paduka mani mandapa. 

Another Significant feature of this mani mandapam 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 the first Guru followed by the disciples. – Vishnu, Brahma, Vasishta, Sakti, Parasara, Vyasa, and 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 the sculpture. 

Guru Parampara ie first Guru followed by the disciples. – Vishnu, Brahma, Vasishta, Sakti, Parasara, Vyasa, and 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 until 13.00 in the morning.

HOW TO REACH:

All the buses from Kanchipuram to Uthiramerur will stop at Orikkai and the mani mandapam 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 OF THE MANI MANDAPAM:  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 a wheel with spokes symbolically depicting the twelve Rasis – the twelve months.

   

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---