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| Miracle well, Sridhara Ayyaval. Thiruvisanallur, Kumbakonam, TN. flickrhivemind.net |
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| Sridhara Ayyaval(1635–1720). flickrhivemind.net |
Presently when lots of people with a singular mind are chasing money in this mad, mad world, in India there lived centuries ago scores of holy people of different religious faiths, who led a humble and self-contended life, dedicating their entire lives in the service of God. Particularly, in Hinduism, such people led a highly principled moral life of dedication to god and service to people. To them the splendor of riches was nothing before the divine blessings and grace of God.
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Sridhara Venkatesa Dikshitar (13-8-1635–1720), also commonly known as Sridhara Ayyaval, a native of Thiruvisanallur village (in the then Thanjavur Maratha kingdom) about 12 km from the temple city of Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva. He used to visit the near-by Mahalingeswarar temple, a huge ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva at Thiruvidaimaruthur. He was a pious Hindu Brahmin saint, dedicated his life to the spread of devotion to god through '' Nama Sankeerthanam'' singing divine songs and conducting Bhajans. He was also a composer of numerous divine songs in Sanskrit and lived in the Agraharam - a traditional place where Brahmins live.
Sridhara Venkatesa Dikshitar (13-8-1635–1720), also commonly known as Sridhara Ayyaval, a native of Thiruvisanallur village (in the then Thanjavur Maratha kingdom) about 12 km from the temple city of Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva. He used to visit the near-by Mahalingeswarar temple, a huge ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva at Thiruvidaimaruthur. He was a pious Hindu Brahmin saint, dedicated his life to the spread of devotion to god through '' Nama Sankeerthanam'' singing divine songs and conducting Bhajans. He was also a composer of numerous divine songs in Sanskrit and lived in the Agraharam - a traditional place where Brahmins live.
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| Sridhara Ayyaval, Miracle well, temple.dinamalar.com |
About Ayyaval's ancestry, very little information is available and is subject to debate. His father Sridhara Lingarayar settled in Thiruvisanallur village during the reign of Thanjavur Maratha ruler Shahuji I. Some accounts mention that his father held a senior position in the Mysore kingdom and upon his death, the same post was offered to Ayyaval. However. Ayyaval did not take the post. Interested in the service of God, he moved over to the delta region of Thanjavur to be near the Shiva temples there. Upon his arrival, the local Maratha ruler who was known for his charity and munificence, impressed by his bhakti gave him assistance and patronized him. Soon he moved over to the Agraharam in Thiruvisanallur and settled down there along with his wife.
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| Thiruvisanallur, near Kumbakonam,TN.Tamil.nativeplanet.com |
On the day of giving Thithi/ Srardham (death anniversary) to his parents, Ayyaval, being humane, fed some hungry Dalits. who approached him for food. People doing pithroo karyam were not allowed to feed outsiders - those from other castes. This particular act was a taboo in those days among Hindus, especially Brahmins. The food was specifically cooked in an orthodox way at home for the 'Pitru Karya' (to the departed ancestors) and the priests (prohits) had to be fed that day. Upon knowing Ayyaval's act of breaking the long held tradition, the priests/pundits refused to conduct the ceremony and the local orthodox Brahmins chastised him. They insisted on his going to Kasi (Varanasi now in UP), thousands of miles away to take a bath in the Ganges to wash off sins. Legend has it, Ayyaval, having abiding faith in Easwara, prayed to him to get him out of this predicament. No sooner had he finished reciting the Gangashtakam slooga, invoking Ganga than water from the holy Ganges river started flowing out of the well in his house. The water began to flood the village and was non-stoppable. Later Ayyaval managed to contain the water in the well in his house.
This miracle happened on the Karthigai Ammavasai day and since then, to commemorate this event, every year on this day, thousands of devotees from Tamil Nadu and neighboring states have visited the house of Ayyaval to bathe in the holy waters of the miracle well, where the Ganges sprang up. This year this event called 'Gangashtakam Mahotsavam' took place on the 11th of December, 2015. In the past on a couple of occasions I visited the serene place with my family and took bath in the near-by Cauvery river. It was an exhilarating experience for me, my wife and children. During my late childhood my uncles used to visit this holy place every year from near-by Veppathur village. Even in the early 1950s, 'Gangashtakam Mahotsavam' was a grand event and lot of devotees used to throng this holy place.
Ayyaval is believed to have died in 1720 at the age of 85 and some accounts claim that he disappeared mysteriously while on a visit to the Mahalingeswarar Temple, his soul left his body and entered the idol of Easwara in the garbhagriha (sanctum), and became one with him.
Ayyaval is believed to have died in 1720 at the age of 85 and some accounts claim that he disappeared mysteriously while on a visit to the Mahalingeswarar Temple, his soul left his body and entered the idol of Easwara in the garbhagriha (sanctum), and became one with him.
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| Sridhara Ayyaval Mutt. shanthiraju.wordpress.com |
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| Sridhara Ayyaval Mutt,Thiruvisanallur,T.N.flickriver.com |
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| Bodhendral, Ayyaval and Sadguruswamigal.satguruseva.org |
Tit-bits:
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| Kanchi Acharya at the miracle well,Thrivisanallur.twitter.com |
Above image: H Pujyashri Shankaracharya Swamigal visited the house of Saint Sridhara ayyaval on 15 March-2021. Sri Ayyaval lived here in the 1600s. .......
Nama Japam or Nama Sankeerthanam, a sort of japa (meditation) or Sankirtana of nama (name) of the Almighty is a way of expression of devotion to god. The devotee has to choose Ishta-deva or Ishta devata (Sanskrit iṣṭa-deva(tā), meaning "cherished or desired divinity" or deva "deity") and repeatedly chant the name vocally or in the mind any time, anywhere while at rest or on the move. Like-minded devotees can form a group and engage in sankeerthanam or singing with devotion and dedication focusing on the Almighty. Adi Shankaracharya, the Advaita philosopher and theologian, in the verse 27 of his hymn, Bhaja Govindam, mentioned that the Gita and Vishnu Sahasranama should be chanted and Lord Lakshmi-Narayana should always be meditated on. Bhishma, one of the five Pandava brothers in the Mahabharata, expressed his view that chanting of the Vishnu Sahasranama is the best and easiest of all dharmas; one of the ways to attain salvation (relief from all bondage and cycles of birth and death).
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