Dakshinamoorthy Swamy Jeeva Samadhi Madam, தட்சிணாமூர்த்தி சாமி ஜீவா சமாதி மடம், Washermanpet, Chennai, Tamil Nadu

The visit to this Sri Dakshinamurthy Jeeva Samadhi Temple / Madam was a part of the “Hero Stones and Siddhars of Tiruvottiyur Visit”, on 11^th September 2022.  This visit was mainly focussed on the Siddhar Jeeva Samadhi Temples of Tiruvottiyur.

Most of the Siddhar Jeeva samadhis in Chennai belong to Siddhars who migrated from various parts of Tamil Nadu and other States, like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, etc,. The Siddhar Samadhis in and around Thiruvottiyur are closely linked with the 11^th Century Pattinathar and 19^th Century Vallalar alias Ramalinga Adigalar. 

Siddhar: Guru Dakshinamurthy Swamigal

Some of the salient features of this Jeeva Samadhi temple are...

The Jeeva Samadhi Temple of Guru Dakshinamurthy is facing North with a mottai gopuram base. A stucco image of  Lord Shiva with Parvati, in the form of Rishabarooder, is on the top of Mottai Gopuram. Vinayagar temple is immediately after the Mottai Gopuram. Jeeva Samadhi Temple is a little offset from the main entrance, with a small entrance gate on the compound wall. Swamigal’s Photo is fixed above that entrance.

In the premises Sannidhis of Vinayagar, Nagars, Amman. A small tank, Sri Guru Dakshinamurthy’s Jeeva Samadhi, and a Madam.

ARCHITECTURE

The main Jeeva Samadhi is at the center with a circumambulation path around the Jeeva Samadhi. Balipeedam and Rishabam are in front of Samadhi. The roof of the Samadhi is with Mangalore tiles. Stone Jala is provided on all three sides. The verandah overhang is supported by beautifully carved Pillars.

 

LIFE HISTORY OF GURU DAKSHINAMURTHY

The 19^th Century Siddhar / Saint, Sri Guru Dakshinamurthy Swamigal was born to Siva Chidambaram Pillai and Meenambigai at Kezhaththur near Tiruchirappalli as a Second Son. Since Swamigal was born due to the grace of Shri Shiva of Thiruvannamalai, his parents named him Arunachalam. He didn’t speak anything, sat in padmasana, and practiced meditation most of the time up to the age of 5. When a sadhu visited their house and asked Arunachalam …“What are you doing?”. Arunachalam replied that “doing nothing – சும்மா இருக்கின்றேன்”. These are the words uttered at the age of 5 after his birth. When Sadhu asked again who are you..?. Arunachalam replied as “நீயேதான் நான்.. நானேதான் நீ”. On hearing this, the Sadhu told Siva Chidambaram that Arunachalam is the incarnation of Shri Shiva and not a normal Child. 

Swamigal like Arunachalam traveled to many places like Neelapadi, Chidambaram, Virudhachalam, Thiruvannamalai, Tirupati, etc during his spiritual yatra,. He had done many miracles/ Siddhus in all these places. Arunachalam visited Pattinathar Samadhi temple at Tiruvottiyur and spent some days, practicing Meditation. Then he returned back to Vanmikapuram near Thiruvarur and started his meditation at Somanatha Swamy Temple and under the trees on the banks of River Odampokki. Whenever he feels hungry, comes down and eats whatever he gets through Picksha.

A person called Somanatha Mudaliar from Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh was suffering from stomach ache. He tried all the medicines, but there was no relief from the pain. Somebody guided him to go to Chidambaram. At Chidambaram, he prayed to Nataraja to get relief from the stomach pain. Since there was no improvement even after praying to Natarajar, He decided to end his life at the temple itself. On the third day, Lord Shiva came in his dream and asked him to go to Thiruvarur and meet Dakshinamurthy,  there you would get a solution for your Stomach pain. Somanatha Mudaliar went to Thiruvarur Thiyagarajar temple and prayed to Dakshinamurthy.   That night also he got stomach pain. Once again Lord Shiva as Nataraja came in his dream and said that the Dakshinamurthy identified by him is at Odampokki and not this Dakshinamurthy of Thiruvarur Temple. Mudaliar meets Arunachalam at Madapuram, a part of Thiruvarur, on the banks of river Odampokki. Arunachalam relieved Mudaliar from his stomach pain through the prasad. Since Chidambaram Natarajar identified Arunachalam as Dakshinamurthy, Swamigal was called by that name till he attained Samadhi. 

Usually, Siddhars will show their presence in many places at a time or at different times. In the same way, they attain Jeeva Samadhi in many places at different times. It is believed that Dakshinamurthy Swamigal attained Jeeva Samadhi at 4 places, Madapuram in Thiruvarur, Vannarapetta / Washermanpet in Chennai, Nellai and Rangoon.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from Oru kala pooja, Guru Pooja is conducted in a grand manner.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The Temple will be kept open between 06.00 hrs to 10.30 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20 Hrs.

HOW TO REACH

This Jeeva Samadhi is about 220 meters from Washermanpet Metro Station, in front of Police Quarters and on the back side of Stanley Government Hospital.

8.5 KM from Central Station 

LOCATION OF THE JEEVA SAMADHI TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---