Tuesday, 10 December 2024

Pandurangan Temple /Raghumayi sametha Pandurangan Temple/ ஸ்ரீ பாண்டுரங்கன் கோயில், West Saidapet, Saidapet, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Raghumayi Sametha Pandurangan Temple at Saidapet was a part of the Visit to Siddhar Peedams, Raghumayi Sametha Sri Pandurangan Temple at Saidapet and Sri Anjaneyar Temple at Alwarpet on 27th October 2024.
 

Moolavar   : Sri Pandurangan
Consort     : Sri Raghumayi

Some of the salient features of this temple are…..
The temple faces east, on the first floor. The ground floor is being used for conducting the Bhajans.

Stucco Dwarapalakas are on both sides of the Sanctum Sanctorum. In Sanctum Sanctorum Pandurangan is in a standing posture with hands on the hip along with Raghumayi. In koshtam Lakshmi Hayagreevar, Sri Krishna, and Sri Lakshmi Narasimhar. Stucco bas-relief images of Kora Kumbar Maharaj, Santha Thukkaram Maharaj, Santh Namdev Maharaj, Santh Mukthabai, Santh Eknath Maharaj, Santh Gnanadevar, Santh Gananeswar Maharaj, Sannth Soban Dev Maharaj, and Santh Namdev Maharaj are on the sanctum walls.

In praharam Vinayagar, Nagaras, Ayyappan, Murugan and Anjaneyar.

PC- The Priest

HISTORY
This Pandurangan temple was constructed in recent years about 25 years, ago above the Bajanai Madam.  

LEGENDS
Lord Vitthal or Panduranga is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

Once upon a time, there was a devotee named Pundalik, who was traveling to Kashi, and on the way he reached the ashram of a Saint named Kukkut. Pundalik asked the saint the way to Kashi, to which he replied that he wasn't aware of the way as he had never been there. Hearing this Pundalik made fun of the Kukkut Rishi for not knowing the way, and further said “A holy man like you should have already visited Kashi”. The Rishi kept quiet and didn't react to Pundalik’s comments.

That Night Pundalik stayed at the ashram. And suddenly he woke from his deep sleep hearing to woman’s voice. He saw that 3 women were sprinkling water in the ashram and cleaning.

On inquiry, Pundalik found that the 3 women were Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati, the three Holy Rivers came down to clean the ashram of Rishi Kukkut. Pundalik was a bit surprised how a saint like Kukkut who had not visited Kashi, was such holy and powerful that the 3 holy Rivers had come to His Ashram. The three women told to Pundalik that piousness, spirituality, and devotion don't depend on visiting holy places or doing costly rituals. But depends on performing one's Karma correctly (fulfilling all the duties and responsibilities).

They further added that Sage Kukkut had served and nursed his parents most faithfully and devoted all his life to them. Thus he had accumulated virtue enough to earn Moksha, and thereby the 3 holy women came down to Earth to serve the Rishi.

In contrast, Pundalik has left his old parents at home and was visiting Kashi to gain Moksha and blessing. Pundalik didn't bother to entertain the request of his parents to take them along with him to Kashi. Pundalik after hearing all this understood his mistake and rushed back home, took his parents to Kashi, and after returning from the holy Kashi, started to take utmost care of his old parents.

Lord Krishna was moved by the sincere devotion of Pundalik towards his parents and decided to test Pundalik. Lord Krishna came to Pundalik’s home, but Krishna saw that Pundalik was busy attending his parents. Pundalik saw Lord Krishna at the door, but his devotion towards his parents was so intense, that he wanted to finish his duties first and later attend to his guest.

Pundalik has reached such a stage that it didn't matter to him, whether the guest was a mere mortal or God. All that mattered was service to His parents.  Pundalik gave Lord Krishna a brick to stand on and asked Him to wait until his duty was completed. And Lord Krishna moved by the devotion of Pundalik to his parents, waited for him patiently.

Later, Pundalik came out and asked Krishna for forgiveness for making Him wait. Krishna asked for any desired boon, for which Pundalik said “My Lord, what can I ask for..? My Lord himself waits for me..?”. Krishna insisted that Pundalik asks for a boon, then he asked Krishna to remain on Earth to bless and take care of His devotees.

Lord Krishna agreed to stay there and is known as Vithoba or the Lord who stands on a brick. This form of the Lord Vithoba is Swayambhu (which came into existence on its own).







TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

HOW TO REACH
This Pandurangan temple is on Kavarai Street, about 100 meters off from Kothaval Chavadi Street in Saidapet.   
This Pandurangan temple is 200 meters from Shri Prasanna Venkitanarasimha Swamy temple and 1 KM from Sri Karaneeswarar temple in West Saidapet.
Nearest Railway Station is Saidapet Sub-Urban Railway Station.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE:  CLICK HERE

Bhajan Hall 
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

No comments:

Post a Comment