I must be excused into starting the title of this blog with "Madras" instead of the politically correct "Chennai". Somehow, I don't seem to like calling the city Chennai. Madras has a nice ring to it and of course, it alliterates well with musings. If I had to refer to her as Chennai, then the title may have to be changed to Chennai chavadaal, or Chennai chummma, and I don't seem to like them.
Happened to read extracts of a book called "Madras Matters - A Home in South India" by Jim Brayley-Hodgetts (can be accessed here) where Jim talks about his stay in Thiruvanmiyur. Today I read an interesting piece of news from Wikipedia saying that Marundeeswarar Temple in Thiruvanmiyur is from about the 11th century and that Valmiki did penance here. Hence the name, Thiru-vanmiki-yur, later corrupted to Thiruvanmiyur (check this). Am proud to belong to this place which seems to have been occupied by humans for more than a millenium.
My recollections of this temple are from about 25 years ago when I would accompany my mother for her weekly pujas. The temple courtyard would be clean and big by any city temple standards and would afford enough space for me to walk around undisturbed by the mass of people thronging other temples in Madras. The relative peace and quiet would be a welcome break from the hustle and bustle of an otherwise busy week.
I would complete my 'darshan' very quickly, recite all the prayers that I knew (and they can be counted on the fingers of one hand) and sit on one of the many "seats" so thoughtfully provided by the 'temple architect'. Maybe the seat was necessary in days gone by, when the devotees had to undertake the pilgrimage from far off lands and rest his feet. But nowadays, it serves the purpose of meditating amid the noise of traffic.
I don't know how the temple has changed over the last two decades, but the ECR nearby must have taken its toll and brought with it many devotees from nearby localities. I am sure it may not be the quiet retreat it once was. I will need to visit it again to know first hand how it has changed.
Happened to read extracts of a book called "Madras Matters - A Home in South India" by Jim Brayley-Hodgetts (can be accessed here) where Jim talks about his stay in Thiruvanmiyur. Today I read an interesting piece of news from Wikipedia saying that Marundeeswarar Temple in Thiruvanmiyur is from about the 11th century and that Valmiki did penance here. Hence the name, Thiru-vanmiki-yur, later corrupted to Thiruvanmiyur (check this). Am proud to belong to this place which seems to have been occupied by humans for more than a millenium.
I would complete my 'darshan' very quickly, recite all the prayers that I knew (and they can be counted on the fingers of one hand) and sit on one of the many "seats" so thoughtfully provided by the 'temple architect'. Maybe the seat was necessary in days gone by, when the devotees had to undertake the pilgrimage from far off lands and rest his feet. But nowadays, it serves the purpose of meditating amid the noise of traffic.
I don't know how the temple has changed over the last two decades, but the ECR nearby must have taken its toll and brought with it many devotees from nearby localities. I am sure it may not be the quiet retreat it once was. I will need to visit it again to know first hand how it has changed.
3 comments:
How come you never tell us about all this? :)
Hey! Thanks Mani for your comments. How do you like the blogs? Yesterday I read about Thiruvanmiyur, and decided to post a blog about it. The book, too, came to my attention similarly - serendipity, perhaps!
i am also eager to visit this temple. u have described ur feelings beautifully
hema
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