In December 2011, the newly constructed Satsang Mandap at Sri Gnanananda Niketan was consecrated and inaugurated with the chanting of Tiruvacakam, called ‘Tiruvacakam Muttrodal’, performed by over a hundred devotees of Lord Siva. It was a joyful event, a Gnana Yajna which charged the atmosphere with finest and exalted spiritual vibrations of the content of the devotional hymns.
It was such a great experience that all felt Muttrodal could take place every year in the Tamil month of Kartikai, the sacred month when Deepam festival takes place at Arunachala, just before the commencement of the month of Margazhi when Saivaite hyms are sung early morning throughout Tamil Nadu.
In the month of Margazhi, Aradhana celebrations of Sadguru Gnanananda also take place. He was very fond of Tiruvacakam hymns.
Eagerly looking forward to the celebration of the forth-coming events, expressing our reverence to the sacred Arunachala and to Sadguru Gnanananda, and invoking their Presence and Blessings in our lives, Tiruvacakam Muttrodal will take place this year on Sunday, the 24th November 2013 (8th of Kartikai month). The one day function will be conducted under the graceful guidance of Pujya Sri Swami Omkarananda Saraswati of Swami Chidbhavananda Ashram at Theni, Pujya Sri Swami Nityananda Giri and Pujya Sri Swami Brahmavidyananda Saraswati.
The chanting will be performed from 9 AM to 5 PM by more than a hundred Sivan-adiyars (devotees of Lord Siva) from and around Tiruchirapalli and from East Tambaram, Chennai.
The program will be same as in the previous years. It will include Sandana kappu alankara of Sri Somaskanda (Lord Siva, Sri Parvati Devi and Sri Subrahmanya) seated on Rishabha. In front, will be the four Saivite saints, Appar, Sambandar, Sundarar and Manickavacakar also in Sandana kappu alankara.
All are welcome to attend the Muttrodal
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Short note about Thiruvacakam
Manikkavacakar was born in an orthodox brahmin family in Tiruvadavur near Madurai. His father was an adviser to the Pandya king. Legend has it that Manikkavacakar was appointed as a minister by the king and was sent to purchase 10,000 horses. When he went to carry out the King’s command, he had a vision of Lord Siva with his saints and subsequently he spent the money given to him in building a temple in Tirupperundurai. From that time, renouncing everything he visited various temples and composed and sang in exalted devotion his hymns to Lord Siva.
Tiruvacakam is one of the profound works of Tamil devotional literature. In it, every phase of spiritual path is discussed, from doubt and anguish to perfect faith in Lord Siva, from joy to sorrow, from earthly experience to guru-disciple relationship and ultimately freedom from rebirth. There are 658 poems in the work and along with 400 poems in Tirukkovayar also by Manikkavacakar constitute the eigth volume of Tirumurai - the sacred anthology of Tamil Saiva Siddhanta.
Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi narrates in his inimitable manner full of feeling, the story about how Tiruvacakam was written:
“Manikkavacakar was going from one place to another until he came to Chidambaram. While witnessing Lord Nataraja’s dance, he started singing heart-melting songs and stayed in that place itself. Then one day, Lord Nataraja with a view to make people know the greatness of Manikkavacakar and to bless the people with an excellent collection of hymns, went to the house of Manikkavacakar in the night in the guise of a brahmin. He was received cordially and when asked the purpose of the visit, the Lord smilingly and with great familiarity asked, “It seems you have been singing hymns during your visit to sacred places of pilgrimage and that you are doing it here also. May I hear them? I have been thinking of coming and listening to you for a very long time but could not find the required leisure. That is why I have come here at night. I suppose you don’t mind. Can you sing? Do you remember them all?” - “There is no need to worry about sleep. I shall sing all the songs I remember. Please listen.” So saying Manikkavacakar began singing in ecstasy. The Lord in the guise of a brahmin sat down there writing the songs on palm leaves. As Manikkavacakar was in ecstasy he hardly noticed the brahmin who was taking down the songs. Singing on and on, he completely forgot himself in the thought of God and ultimately became silent. The old brahmin quietly disappeared.
At daybreak, the dikshitar (priest) came to the Nataraja temple as usual to perform the morning puja and as he opened the doors, he found in front of the Lord Nataraja, on the doorstep, a palm-leaf book. When the book was opened and scrutinized, the words Tiruvachakam were written as well as an explanation that the book was written, as dictated by Manikkavacakar . It was signed below Tiruchitrambalam, i.e. Chidambaram. The stamp of Sri Nataraja was also there below the signature. Thereupon, all the temple priests gathered in great surprise and sent word to Manikkavacakar , showed him the Tiruvacakam, and the signature of Lord Nataraja and asked him to tell them about the genesis of the hymns. Manikkavacakar did not say anything but asked them to accompany him, went to the temple of Sri Nataraja and standing opposite the Lord said, “Sirs, the Lord in front of us is the only answer to your question. He is the answer.” - “After having said that, he merged into the Lord.”
As he narrated the story, Bhagavan’s voice got choked. Unable to speak any more, he remained in ecstatic silence.
(SPIRITUAL STORIES AS TOLD BY RAMANA MAHARSHI)
