Monday, 18 September 2023

Ponnambaleshwarar Temple / பொன்னம்பலேஸ்வரர் ஆலயம், Sembakkam, Vembedu, Kattur, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Ponnambaleshwarar and his disciples Jeeva Samadhi Temples at Sembakkam was a part of Shiva & Vishnu Temples and a Shiva Temple with Gajaprishta Vimanam, believed to have been built during the Pallava period at Melaiyur, also called as Melur in the Chengalpattu District, on 3rd September 2023.


This Jeeva Samadhi temple is dedicated to Sri Ponnambala Swamigal, Chinna Ponnambala Swamigal, and his disciple Palaniswamy Swamigal. Ponnambala Swamigal is in the sanctum sanctorum, and a Shiva Lingam is installed. His disciple Chinna Ponnambala Swamigal‘s samadhi is in the mandapam, and a Rishabam is installed over the Samadhi. The disciple Pazhani Swamigal’s Samadhi is on the south side of the mukha mandapam. A tablet with images of Shiva Lingam and Rishabam is installed on the Samadhi. Chinna Ponnambalam Swamigal attained Samadhi a day after Ponnambala Swamigal. 

Annapoorana and Dhandayuthapani are in the praharam.  

Pazhani Swamigal Samadhi 
Dhandayuthapani

Sri Ponnambala Swamigal and Sri Thirumeni Linga Swamigal, also called Chinna Ponnambala Swamigal, are called Twin Siddhars, since both are found together always. They used to meet Sri Periya Chidambaram Swamigal of Velachery at Mylapore Chitrakulam, through one of the Ashta siddhis. Hence, the tank was called “Siddhar Koodam Kulam”, which has been corrupted to the present name of Chitrakulam.

Brief history of Ponnamabala Swamigal…
About 200 years ago, Sri Ponnambalam Swamigal was born to ChiRRambalam Mudaliar and Chokkammal. His birth was a miraculous one. ChiRRambalam Mudaliar and Chellammal have been without a child for many years after their marriage. They used to pray to Jambukeswarar for a child boon. One day, a Sanyasi was found meditating in the temple. On seeing this Sanyasi, ChiRRambalam Mudaliar wished to feed him. The sanyasi refused to accept, but he said that he would prepare his own food. ChiRRambalam gave rice and vessels to the Sanyasi for preparing the Food. The Sanyasi prepared the food and gave the balance food to Chellammal and said, “You are pure gold, and I am offering this Ponnambalam- நீ சொக்கத் தங்கம், உனக்கு பொன்னம்பலம் தருகிறேன் பெற்றுக்கொள்” and blessed her. After that, Chellammal gave birth to a male Child and named him Ponnambalam. Ponnambalam was initiated by his father himself. His father took him to many spiritual places, which include Sri Muthaia Swamigal of Mylapore. His Atma Gnana was increased, and his interest grew towards Siddhars. On seeing this, Chellammal was worried that his son might become a Sanyasi. Hurriedly, Chellammal arranged a marriage to Ponnambalam. Initially, Ponnambalam was reluctant towards family life, and Sri Muthaia Swamigal persuaded him to accept the marriage. He married Amirthammal of Saidapet, and they were blessed with a male child called Shivalingam. After some years of family life, Ponnambalam observed the sanyasi life, continuing in the family life.

When he was in family life, he earned minimum wages from weaving clothes. When he was constructing a house, his father-in-law also gave him some money. He used to spend some time doing meditation. One day, his father-in-law scolded him about whether he would get food with vada payasam by doing the meditation. Immediately, Ponnambalam went inside a room and started meditation. After some time, he came out and asked his father-in-law and his relatives to go inside the room to see what was there. Inside the room, his father-in-law and his relatives found that the food was served with vada payasam on a big banana leaf.

He had done many miracles in his lifetime. He cured many people’s diseases with Vibhuti. He had shown Tiruvannamalai Deepam to his disciple Thirumeni, without physically going there. He did siddhis, like showing his physical presence in many places, entering somebody’s body, etc. Ponnambalam Swamikal attained Samadhi in 1834 CE, Masi month, Uthradam Nakshatra day.


CONTACT DETAILS
C Vivekanandan +919094498845 and C. Ponnambalam +91 9840224400 may be contacted for Nidhya Poojas, and Archakar N. Kulandaivel Aiyar +91 9710124577 may be contacted for poojas & darshan.   

HOW TO REACH
This place, Sembakkam, is  9 km from Thiruporur, 32 km from Tambaram,  20 km from Chengalpattu, and 56 km from Chennai Central station.
The nearest Railway Station is Chengalpattu.

LOCATION OF THE JEEVA SAMADHI TEMPLE: CLICK HERE


Annapoorani Amman Sannidhi
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

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