SRI BRAHMACHALAM
BY
S. MAHESHKUMAR
BY
S. MAHESHKUMAR
Sri Brahmachalam as seen from across Sri Bharadwaja Theertham, also known as Lobavi, Srikalahasthi!
SRI BRAHMACHALAM is the name of the holy hill which is also called as Srikalahasthi hill. Sri Brahmachalam is also referred to the region surrounding the hill known as Sri Kalahasthi. Sri Arunachalam is the name of the holy hill which is also called as Thiruvannamalai. Arunachalam is also referred to the region surrounding the hill known as Thiruvannamalai. Brahmachalam is the brain of the world whereas Arunachalam is the heart of the world. Prathyatcha Mukthi is the glory of Brahmachalam whereas Arunachalam is glorified with Smarana Mukthi.
Smaranam means Thinking. Smarana Mukthi is Liberation by Thinking. It is to be understood as the bhaktha's or the devotee's Smarana of Arunachalam which is possible only when Arunachalam thinks of the bhaktha's refined self that finally grants Arunamukthi!
Prathyatcham means Appearing and Mukthi means Liberation. Hence Prathyatcha Mukthi means Liberation by Appearing. It is to be understood as the bhaktha's or the devotee's Prathyatcha in Brahmachalam which is possible only when Brahmachalam Appears in the bhaktha's perfected self that finally bestows Brahmamukthi!!
Refining, Thinking and Arunamukthi matures respectively into Perfecting, Appearing and Brahmamukthi!!!
There are two temples for Lord Sri Arunachaleswara Swamy in Arunachalam apart from the colossal hill Arunachalam being regarded as Lord Sri Arunachaleswara Himself. The older of the two temples is Aadhi Arunachaleswarar Temple, also called as Adi Annamalai in Tamil simply because it is in the vicinity just beneath the Arunachala hill. The other is the modern temple found in the town of Thiruvannamalai which can also be called as Adi Annamalai as it is also in the vicinity just beneath the Arunachala hill. Hence, Adi Annamalai is a misnomer for Aadhi Annamalai!
Aadhi Arunachaleswarar Temple’s ‘Dharmakartha’ – i.e. Chief Trustee is Sri Brahma and the grand temple in the town of Sri Arunachaleswarar’s ‘Dharmakartha’ is Sri Vishnu incarnate Sri Venugopala Swamy. The Aadhi Arunachaleswarar Temple is considered as the miniature blue-print based on which was built the big temple in the town of Arunachalam.
In contrast, there is only one temple adjacent to the hill at Brahmachalam, i.e. Srikalahasthi. The Gaali Gopuram, the biggest temple tower, stands disconnected with the sanctum sanctorum of Sri Kalahastheeswara Swamy temple. Arunachalam appears vertical while Brahmachalam appears horizontal. The 16 year old huntsman Thinnan, on the 6th day of his unorthodox but compassionate worship, who gouged his right eye and transplanted upon Sri Kudumithevar’s bloody right eye thinking that it might stop the bleeding, tried to repeat the same trick when he saw blood issuing out of the left eye, but his effort was curbed by the grace of Sri Brahmachaleswara Swamy who is none other than Sri Kudumithevar and Sri Kalahastheeswara Swamy, yelled at the ardent lad: "Nillu, Kan Appa!, Nillu, Kan Appa!!", meaning: "Stop, don’t engraft eye!" hence the name Sri Kannappa granting him deliverance decreeing that he would thereafter stay to His right. At the grace of the Lord, the priest Sivakosariyar watched hiding behind these activities of Sri Kannappa leading to liberation.
There is a shrine dedicated to Sri Kannappa upon the hill where the episode of Thinnan transforming into Sri Kannappa took place. There we see Sri Kannappa to the right side of Sri Kudumithevar. In the sannidhi of Lord Sri Kalahastheeswara Swamy in the sanctum sanctorum, we see Sri Kannappa to His right. There is also another statue of Sri Kannappa to the right side of the sannidhi of Sri Kalahastheeswarar opposite the grand pillar facing the sannidhi justifying that Sri Kannappa would stay to His right.
Apart from these three idols of Sri Kannappa, one uphill in separate shrine and two within the temple premises, there is the sacrosanct shrine, facing the direction of the majestic Gaali Gopuram, situated at one of the corners of the mysterious quadrangle. All the ‘Neyvedhyam’ meant for Sri Kalahastheeswara Swamy should be first offered Sri Kannappa at his quadrangle’s corner shrine.
The Urchava Moorthies of Lord Sri Kalahastheeswara Swamy and other gods circumambulate this quadrangle on festival occasions. The Urchava Moorthies of Sri Gnanaprasunambika Devi sametha Sri Kalahastheeswara Swamy will go round the Brahmachalam, i.e. Srikalahasthi hill, especially after Sivaraathri.
On the other extreme of the hill is a shrine called Sri Sahasthralinga Swamy. There is a temple in ruins dedicated to Lord Brahma situated slightly above the ground close to the hill at the backyard of the big temple in the vicinity near the entrance steps leading to the temple of Sri Kannappa uphill. There is seen the Brahmalingam, with four faces conjoined at four directions to the central lingam.
At the entrance to the big temple is seen a replica of the Brahmalingam in the shrine of Sri Baalagnaanaprasunaambika Devi Sametha Sri Panchamukheeswara Swamy. This shrine is also called as the shrine of Sri Baalakaalahastheeswara Swamy. The enigma of the quadrangle is associated with the holy temple dedicated to Sri Brahmachaleswara Swamy who is Sri Virat Viswakarma Parabrahma!
The quadrangle and the Gaali Gopuram are the remnants of the sacred temple dedicated to Sri Brahma or Sri Brahmachaleswara. Nowhere in the globe is Sri Brahma worshipped! There is no temple in his honour. The images of Brahma found in the temples of Siva or Vishnu or any other gods entertain no particular importance. They are underrated to fill the gap. But the most important event of these dominating deities’ temples is christened as Brahmothsavam, i.e. the event of Brahma! Before the Mohammedans and Christians invading India by desecrating many Hindu temples inflicted with conversion motives, there have been the same as far as the worship of Sri Brahma is concerned. There is truth in postulating that no religion or religious worship is perfect unless it is free of inconsistencies and contradictions. These imperfections tend to distract by way of inventing numerous gods in succession to add on to the rigmarole.
There is a desecrated statue of Goddess Sri Gnaanaprasunaambika Devi seen near Sri Panchamukheeswara Swamy shrine. The present statue of the consort of Lord Sri Kalahastheeswara Swamy had been sculpted from a monolith along with two others, viz., the statues of Sri Kamakshi and Sri Varadharaja Perumal. The former is the presiding deity of the Kamakshi temple of Kancheepuram and the latter is the presiding deity of the Varadharaja Perumal temple situated in the precincts of the enigmatic quadrangular of Srikalahasthi.
Malik Kafur was notorious for the destruction of many temples in India. In order to evade the invasion of Alauddin Khilji’s eunuch general, Malik Kafur, who himself had been a converted Muslim, during the 13th-14th centuries, it was decided to pile up the entire chamber enclosing the inner shrine of Lord Sri Kalahastheeswara Swamy with bran sacks and alike. A duplicate Kalahastheeswara Lingam was made and kept in the temple premises. The confused squad of Malik Kafur desecrated the duplicate image and the idol of the presiding goddess of the temple and fled.
The concept of Brahmmam is mathematical and in contrast against all other notions mostly based on belief, hearsay, idiosyncrasies, etc., leading to the blunder called religion. People tend to rephrase religion by religioising even science, cricket, cinema, etc. Religion of any kind by default is subjected to imminent collapse at one point or later chiefly due to its inconsistencies.
Like religious fanatics fighting in defense of their religions, say, christians converting non-christians, muslims desecrating temples, churches, etc., siva worshippers called saivas and vishnu worshippers called vaishnavas conspired and ousted Brahma worship for their own loss! Later, these two fanatics started quarrelling against each other giving way to all other similar never-ending disputes.
They commit all sorts of transgressions who call themselves brahmins; do they really worship the Brahmmam in whose name they boast their cults with? No! How dare the worshippers of siva and vishnu call themselves brahmins? Isn’t it a primal flaw? A primal flaw gives way to exposure if pursued seriously! Like the just mentioned brahmins, there are people who call themselves christians, muslims, etc., who do all sorts of delinquencies, mudslinging, nitpicking against their counterparts. They brag that they are stern supporters of their religions without any keen assessment of their imposed beliefs, be it by brainwashing or passed on faiths or any other fixated means. Religion cannot be seriously pursued! If seriously pursued, one becomes irreligious resulting in enlightenment!
The reverberating truth of Brahmmam is ever ubiquitous! All that has been lamented as the fallacies of the Brahmmam are corruptions by those who failed to grasp the ever perfect idea i.e. the Brahmmam!
Before Sri Kannappa, there are references of Lord Rama’s visit to Srikalahasthi in the Ramayana. Prior to Rama, Sri the Spider, Kala the Snake and Hasthi the Elephant worshipped Lord Brahmachaleswara Swamy and attained Mukthi, on behalf of their names, He is called as ‘Srikalahastheeswara.’ We see the five impressions at the head of the Srikalahastheeswaralingam depicting Sri the Snake, the two trunks on either side of the same representing Hasthi the Elephant, Sri the Spider at its base and Sri Kannappa’s offering, i.e. his right eye, at the centre of it. The Brahmachaleswaralingam is unique and it clearly embodies the primordial. It is not the Sivalingam but the Brahmalingam! Abhishekam of the Lord is performed with raw camphor mixed water. The Brahmalingam is encompassed by the Vayulingam which is Sri Brahma. The base of the Brahmalingam is Sri Vishnu. Hence the ubiquitous name, Brahma-Chala-Eeswara! The Kalahastheeswaralingam is realised as the Panchaantharmukhalingam! It is shielded in front by the Navagraha Kavacham, its 9 digits representing the Navagrahas, the 27 Nakshathras are equally distributed into the 9 digits as 3 little stars each!
The Gaali Gopuram of Srikalahasthi had been built by Sri Krishnadevaraya during 1510-1516 AD. There ought to be a similar one in its place which Sri Krishnadevaraya must have rebuilt or renovated! On 26th May, 2010, the famous Gaali Gopuram of Srikalahasthi collapsed completely around 8 PM. A temple tower getting collapsed like this has hardly been ever heard. The temple authorities have been maintaining the sanctum sanctorum very badly for the past few decades, disfiguring the architecture of the temple to make way for queues with the fences, special Rahu-Kethu Sarpadosha Poojas, bombing the adjacent hill to pave way leading to the Bharadwaja Theertham (Lobavi), numb-watching several buildings infest around the temple as well as the Gaali Gopuram and more all due to ignorance.
There have been reports of similar cracks in the other Gopurams guarding the temple precincts like the Gaali Gopuram before it fell. Pothuluri Veera Brahmendra Swamy predicted in his Kaalagnaanam that the Kalahastheeswaralingam would move away to Srisailam and crocodiles amass the inner shrine of Lord Venkateswara in Thirumala. He never mentioned about the fall of the Gaali Gopuram of Srikalahasthi. His false prediction that "sparrows seated on top of the submerged Srikalahasthi Gaali Gopuram would quench thirst by just bending down!" has now put the validity of his Kaalagnaanam in miserability.
It is time for the hidden truth of the place and the temple of Srikalahasthi to unfold on its own after the collapse of the Gaali Gopuram.
The Sthalavrukshas of Srikalahastheeswara's temple are Vilva and Mahizha! The Vilva tree is worshipped with camphor and other offerings in the passage behind the Ashtothralingam Shrine leading to the main entrance of the temple. It is seen as a sapling nowadays and not maintained well to grow as a tree like in the old times. However the other Sthalavruksha Mahizha is adorned by a raised marble square around it and people worship it with turmeric, vermilion and other paraphernalia and some of them tie their Sankalpas or wishes, in the form of sacred threads, bands, tiny cradles, etc., to the tree and its branches, the prayers are mostly, if unmarried, to get married soon or if childless, to beget a child!
The steps to Sri Kannappa Shrine uphill had recently been renovated and the back entrance to the temple is presently decorated with a Mandapam.
Sri Kannappa worshipped not the present Srikalahastheeswaralingam found inside the Srikahalahastheeswara temple which is at the base of the hill. He worshipped the Brahmalingam with one of the five faces of Sri Brahma’s as Bahirmukha, i.e., external face, appearing on it upon the hill of Sri Brahmachalam. The other four internal faces in that case are termed as Antharmukhas.
There are six forms of Sri Brahma, viz., five internal faces (Srikalahastheeswaralingam), four internal faces (Sri Ekamukhalingam), three internal faces, two internal faces, one internal face (Panchamukheeswaralingam) and all external faces Srimadh Virat Viswakarma Parabrahmam) of the Brahmalingam. The flickering of one of the two lamps near the Srikalahastheeswaralingam is attributed to indicate the presence of Vayulingam. But in reality, it is the technique of putting the wick in such a way that one of the two lamps flickers and the other not. This shaking lamp near the Srikalahastheeswaralingam is a later development like the Golden Lizard kept recently in the ceiling near the Dhvajasthambam of Lord Srikalahastheeswara Swamy Sannidhi which is similar to the famous Lizard in Kancheepuram Varadharaja Swamy Temple.
The sole distinction between the Brahmalingam and the Sivalingam is that the former is identified with faces, irrespective of whether they are internal or external of the lingam and the latter is a mere lingam without faces externally and more particularly internally! The Brahmalingam like Srikalahastheeswaralingam with all its five faces residing internally as panchaantharmukham appears as the Sivalingam externally! This is the root of all confusions to mistake Siva as Brahma and to attribute Brahma's qualities to Siva to the extent of suppressing the crucial worship of Brahma! To warn such menace, there are five protrusions on the top of Srikalahastheeswaralingam along with other unique characteristics of Lord Sri Brahmachaleswara Swamy who is the chief deity of Sri Brahmachalam i.e. Srikalahasthi. The episode of Sri Kannappa is also a latter addition like the story of the Spider Sri, the Snake Kala and the Elephant Hasthi for changing the original name Sri Brahmachalam to Srikalahasthi! Panchamukhabrahma is also called Panchamukheeswara for He alone is the Brahmeswara! He digests Siva for He is the Lingajeeranamoorthi! The reason for His five faces Eesanyam, Thathpurusham, Agoram, Vamadevam and Sathyojatham is for the purpose of creation, protection, destruction, cryption and salvation. His Veda is perfect and is called the Brahma Vedam.
For disorder’s sake, Sri Brahma’s quintessential five-fold nature of works are reduced to two, namely, protection by Vishnu and destruction by Siva and they share the remaining tasks, viz., creation, cryption and salvation equally among themselves in order that imperfection would also be given a chance! Confusion prevails when Siva and Vishnu takeover to mimic Brahma! Disorder and imperfection gradually lead to imbalances which in turn lead to mahapralaya resulting in mahasrushti. Siva and Vishnu are mere tools of Sri Brahma and no more and no less than that. When the World turns incurably into a disorderly mess, Sri Parabrahma (Brahma, Vishnu and Siva combined) initiates Mahapralaya, i.e. total destruction, by appearing growing extending towards the base and the apex within Siva as Lingodhbhavamoorthi to wipe out the entire cosmos and after the process called digestion of Siva, as Lingajeeranamoorthi, super-create the Universe,known as Mahashrushti and super-protect it, termed as Maharaksha, afterwards. The Antharmukham in the form of the Lingodhbhavamoorthi and the Bahirmukhams of Sri Parabrahma digests completely the entirety of Siva during all Mahapralayas.
.jpg)
Please refer to the following two tracts I have written in this regard:-
Sri Arunachala Puranam Revisited
Sri Paavaadairaayan
Why are the Vaahanas for Sri Annamalaiyar and Sri Unnamulai Amman the same, i.e. Sri Nandhi?
About the Mounts or Vaahanas of the Trinity Gods & Goddesses:-
Sri Brahma: Cob Swan (Male Swan)
Sri Saraswathi: Pen Swan (Female Swan)
Sri Vishnu: Garuda (Eagle)
Sri Lakshmi: Owl
Sri Siva: Nandhi (Bull)
Sri Sakthi: Lion
An interpretation says that they share the same Vaahana because they are one. That is, Annamalaiyar is Ardhanaareeswara swarupa. He is both Siva and Sakthi.
This explanation as to the same Vaahana, i.e. the Bull, Sri Nandhi to Sri Annamalaiyar and to Sri Unnamulai Amman is based on Siva's yielding the left portion of His Entirety to Sri Parvathi to be known as Sri Ardhanaareeswara! This in no way justifies the grounds for the Nandhi Vaahana for both Sri Annamalaiyar and to Sri Unnamulai Amman found in Thiruvannamalai's Big temple and its miniature, the Aadhi Annamalaiyar temple! The Ardhanaareeswara concept may be suitable for the Sri Kokilaambal sametha Sri Kalyaanasundareswarar temple in Thirumancheri where Nandhi is the common Vaahana of the presiding deities.
Sri Unnamulai Amman is Sri Sarvanaareeswara. She is the female form of Lord Sri Siva. As Sri Mohini is the female form of Lord Sri Vishnu, the female form, or the sibling of Lord Sri Siva is Goddess Sri Saraswathi. The female form of Lord Sri Brahma or His sibling is none other than Goddess Sri Mahalakshmi. Likewise, the female form or sibling of Lord Sri Vishnu is Sri Sakthi or Sri Parvathi. Thus goes the relationship of the gods!
In all of us reside our respective female or male forms according as the body being male or female respectively!
In the case of Sri Arunachaleswara Swamy, 'Runam' means 'Annuvathu', i.e. 'United maritally!' Therefore 'Arunam' means 'Annaathathu', i.e. 'Can't be united maritally!' Hence His match or Consort is extracted from Himself so that the extracted also is like Him, i.e. She is 'Sri Aruna' or 'Sri Arunachaleswari', etc. Because He is Annamalai, She is Unnamulai and vice versa!! Sri Arunachala is Sri Siva, the male form of Sri Unnamulai Amman which implies in turn that Sri Apeethakuchambal is Sri Siva's female form!
It is only keeping with this truth of Sri Arunachalam that Sri Nandhi Vaahana adorns the Sanctum Sanctorums of Sri Annamalaiyar as well as Sri Unnamulai Amman respectively!
Definitely, Sri Unnamulai Amman is not Sri Sakthi! This is clearly evident from the Hamsa Kavacham adorned at the base of Sri Unnamulai Amman's statue seen in Her Moolavar Sannidhi of Sri Arunachaleswara Swamy temple in Thiruvannamalai.
Sri Annamalaiyar and Sri Unnamulai Amman are Sri Sarvanareswari and Sri Sarvanaareeswara respectively! Eeswaram is the primordial form of Eeswara and Eeswari! Eeswaram and Brahmmam are respectively correlated as Zero (0) and Infinity (∞)! It is further elaborated that Eeswara (+0) and Eeswari (-0) are equated to Eeswaram (0) by the mathematical equation: 0 = ± 0. The product of Brahmmam (∞) and Eeswaram (0) is the Universe of Creation or of the Logical Discouse! That is, by mathematical terms: ∞ × 0 = N where N represent Numbers of all sorts! In our elucidation, we take Numbers as Narayanam!
Arunachalam and Brahmachalam are the sacred hummocks representing Sri Saraswathi and Sri Brahma respectively. Also, they represent the Trinities and all possible gods! Sri Narayanam as Sri Anantha Padhmanaabha Swamy is made up of the created, i.e., the Numbers! Sri Brahma appears seated on the Lotus sprouted from Sri Narayana's or the Kaalagarbha's or Time's womb's navel! Sri Anantha is Sri Brahma and Sri Padhmanaabha Swamy is Sri Chalam. Based on this context, Sri Anantha Padhmanaabha Swamy is called Sri Brahmachalam! In Brahmmam = Anantham = Infinity, there are Zero and Numbers! In Chalam = Narayanam = Numbers, there is Zero. Hence, Sri Brahmachalam is Sri Brahmachaleswara Swamy encompassing Sri Brahma, Sri Narayana and Sri Eeswara! The following portrait is also called, 'Sri Naaraayanaasanaanantha Swamy!'
Parabrahmmam is Brahma—Anantha—Aanandham! Brahmaanandham is the Perfect—Bliss. Creation is the quintessential among the five-folded processes of Perfection. Creation comes to an end when Sri Brahma is satisfied. When Sri Brahma is satisfied, in order to stay Perfect, He dismantles His satisfied Mind, i.e. Sri Brahma's Ego, entrusting It to eradicate imperfection if any, in His entirety, due to His momentary satisfaction. If there is imperfection, Brahma's satisfied Ego prepares for Total Destruction. Otherwise, when everything is Perfect, Brahma's satisfied Ego merges in the Brahmmam along with the perfectly created and this is called as the Brahmamoksha or Brahmamukthi!
Sri Brahmachalam is the Aadhi, Madhyamam, Anumadhyamam and Antham of Sri Arunachalam. Sri Aadhi Arunachalam represents birth of it as Brahma's satisfaction incarnate Ego which is a self imposed check of Brahma's perfection. Sri Madhyama Arunachalam represents the shift of Brahma's satisfied Ego to the cosmic container Sri Vishnu in order to effect imbalance resulting in chaos. Sri Anumadhyama Arunachalam is the advent of Brahma's satisfied Ego en route Sri Vishnu in the cosmic eraser Sri Siva as Sri Lingodhbhavanamoorthi on the ordeal to wipe out the cosmic dust. And Sri Antha Arunachalam represents the emergence of Brahma's satisfied Ego as Sri Lingodhbhavamoorthi in Sri Sivalingam in its end of mission by digesting the cosmic dust, the cosmic container and the cosmic eraser termed as Sri Lingajeeranamoorthi leading to Arunamukthi by ardent Refining and Thinking and resuming the process of perfection by creation awaiting for Brahma's satisfaction in the Prathyatcham or Appearance of Brahma's Ego again which qualifies the Perfected culminating in the coveted Brahmamukthi!
Since Sri Arunachalam is the manifestation of Sri Brahma's satisfied Ego, in all its courses until fulfillment of checking perfection in Sri Brahma's enterprise, Sri Brahma's consort Sri Saraswathi also accompanies Brahma's satisfied Ego in the venture. To embody this, Sri Saraswathi adorns Sri Arunachaleswara as Sri Aruna, also known as Sri Apeethakuchambal!
Sri Brahma's vistas range even beyond the five-folded aspects of Jagrath the waking, Swapna the dreaming, Sushupthi the dreamless sleep, Thuriya the consciousness and Thuriyaatheetha the transcendental. Sri Brahmi accompanies Sri Brahma in each and every enterprise. Sri Thuriyaatheetha Saraswathi is the consort of Sri Thuriyaatheetha Brahma!
Sri Brahmachaleswara Swamy is Sri Parabrahma, Sri Gnanaprasunambika Devi is Sri Parabrahmi and their communion is Sri Parabrahmmam! The ideal temple of Sri Parabrahmmam is the Perfected Self alone as derived from the Brahmasoothra, 'Aham Brahmaasmi!' It is said that the Srikalahasthi temple has been built and rebuilt for several times based on varying principles. In fact, there is no structure man-made that stands the test of time, there is none by nature animate or inanimate lasting for ages and there is nothing that encompasses the Parabrahmmam eternally except itself! Sri Brahmachalam is always enshrined in Sri Parabrahmmam and the vice versa!
—S. Maheshkumar.
{Composed from old draft of December 2008 on 1st June 2010 at 4 PM and lastly enhanced on 4th August 2010 at 12.48 PM, Indian Standard Time.}
Smaranam means Thinking. Smarana Mukthi is Liberation by Thinking. It is to be understood as the bhaktha's or the devotee's Smarana of Arunachalam which is possible only when Arunachalam thinks of the bhaktha's refined self that finally grants Arunamukthi!
Prathyatcham means Appearing and Mukthi means Liberation. Hence Prathyatcha Mukthi means Liberation by Appearing. It is to be understood as the bhaktha's or the devotee's Prathyatcha in Brahmachalam which is possible only when Brahmachalam Appears in the bhaktha's perfected self that finally bestows Brahmamukthi!!
Refining, Thinking and Arunamukthi matures respectively into Perfecting, Appearing and Brahmamukthi!!!
Sri Arunachalam as seen from across the Arunachaleswara Swamy Temple!
There are two temples for Lord Sri Arunachaleswara Swamy in Arunachalam apart from the colossal hill Arunachalam being regarded as Lord Sri Arunachaleswara Himself. The older of the two temples is Aadhi Arunachaleswarar Temple, also called as Adi Annamalai in Tamil simply because it is in the vicinity just beneath the Arunachala hill. The other is the modern temple found in the town of Thiruvannamalai which can also be called as Adi Annamalai as it is also in the vicinity just beneath the Arunachala hill. Hence, Adi Annamalai is a misnomer for Aadhi Annamalai!
Aadhi Arunachaleswarar Temple’s ‘Dharmakartha’ – i.e. Chief Trustee is Sri Brahma and the grand temple in the town of Sri Arunachaleswarar’s ‘Dharmakartha’ is Sri Vishnu incarnate Sri Venugopala Swamy. The Aadhi Arunachaleswarar Temple is considered as the miniature blue-print based on which was built the big temple in the town of Arunachalam.
In contrast, there is only one temple adjacent to the hill at Brahmachalam, i.e. Srikalahasthi. The Gaali Gopuram, the biggest temple tower, stands disconnected with the sanctum sanctorum of Sri Kalahastheeswara Swamy temple. Arunachalam appears vertical while Brahmachalam appears horizontal. The 16 year old huntsman Thinnan, on the 6th day of his unorthodox but compassionate worship, who gouged his right eye and transplanted upon Sri Kudumithevar’s bloody right eye thinking that it might stop the bleeding, tried to repeat the same trick when he saw blood issuing out of the left eye, but his effort was curbed by the grace of Sri Brahmachaleswara Swamy who is none other than Sri Kudumithevar and Sri Kalahastheeswara Swamy, yelled at the ardent lad: "Nillu, Kan Appa!, Nillu, Kan Appa!!", meaning: "Stop, don’t engraft eye!" hence the name Sri Kannappa granting him deliverance decreeing that he would thereafter stay to His right. At the grace of the Lord, the priest Sivakosariyar watched hiding behind these activities of Sri Kannappa leading to liberation.
Sri Kudumithevar and Sri Kannappa watched by priest Sivakosariyar
There is a shrine dedicated to Sri Kannappa upon the hill where the episode of Thinnan transforming into Sri Kannappa took place. There we see Sri Kannappa to the right side of Sri Kudumithevar. In the sannidhi of Lord Sri Kalahastheeswara Swamy in the sanctum sanctorum, we see Sri Kannappa to His right. There is also another statue of Sri Kannappa to the right side of the sannidhi of Sri Kalahastheeswarar opposite the grand pillar facing the sannidhi justifying that Sri Kannappa would stay to His right.
Apart from these three idols of Sri Kannappa, one uphill in separate shrine and two within the temple premises, there is the sacrosanct shrine, facing the direction of the majestic Gaali Gopuram, situated at one of the corners of the mysterious quadrangle. All the ‘Neyvedhyam’ meant for Sri Kalahastheeswara Swamy should be first offered Sri Kannappa at his quadrangle’s corner shrine.
The Sannadhi of Lord Sri Kalahastheeswara Swamy, Srikalahasthi
The Urchava Moorthies of Lord Sri Kalahastheeswara Swamy and other gods circumambulate this quadrangle on festival occasions. The Urchava Moorthies of Sri Gnanaprasunambika Devi sametha Sri Kalahastheeswara Swamy will go round the Brahmachalam, i.e. Srikalahasthi hill, especially after Sivaraathri.
On the other extreme of the hill is a shrine called Sri Sahasthralinga Swamy. There is a temple in ruins dedicated to Lord Brahma situated slightly above the ground close to the hill at the backyard of the big temple in the vicinity near the entrance steps leading to the temple of Sri Kannappa uphill. There is seen the Brahmalingam, with four faces conjoined at four directions to the central lingam.
At the entrance to the big temple is seen a replica of the Brahmalingam in the shrine of Sri Baalagnaanaprasunaambika Devi Sametha Sri Panchamukheeswara Swamy. This shrine is also called as the shrine of Sri Baalakaalahastheeswara Swamy. The enigma of the quadrangle is associated with the holy temple dedicated to Sri Brahmachaleswara Swamy who is Sri Virat Viswakarma Parabrahma!
The quadrangle and the Gaali Gopuram are the remnants of the sacred temple dedicated to Sri Brahma or Sri Brahmachaleswara. Nowhere in the globe is Sri Brahma worshipped! There is no temple in his honour. The images of Brahma found in the temples of Siva or Vishnu or any other gods entertain no particular importance. They are underrated to fill the gap. But the most important event of these dominating deities’ temples is christened as Brahmothsavam, i.e. the event of Brahma! Before the Mohammedans and Christians invading India by desecrating many Hindu temples inflicted with conversion motives, there have been the same as far as the worship of Sri Brahma is concerned. There is truth in postulating that no religion or religious worship is perfect unless it is free of inconsistencies and contradictions. These imperfections tend to distract by way of inventing numerous gods in succession to add on to the rigmarole.
There is a desecrated statue of Goddess Sri Gnaanaprasunaambika Devi seen near Sri Panchamukheeswara Swamy shrine. The present statue of the consort of Lord Sri Kalahastheeswara Swamy had been sculpted from a monolith along with two others, viz., the statues of Sri Kamakshi and Sri Varadharaja Perumal. The former is the presiding deity of the Kamakshi temple of Kancheepuram and the latter is the presiding deity of the Varadharaja Perumal temple situated in the precincts of the enigmatic quadrangular of Srikalahasthi.
Malik Kafur was notorious for the destruction of many temples in India. In order to evade the invasion of Alauddin Khilji’s eunuch general, Malik Kafur, who himself had been a converted Muslim, during the 13th-14th centuries, it was decided to pile up the entire chamber enclosing the inner shrine of Lord Sri Kalahastheeswara Swamy with bran sacks and alike. A duplicate Kalahastheeswara Lingam was made and kept in the temple premises. The confused squad of Malik Kafur desecrated the duplicate image and the idol of the presiding goddess of the temple and fled.
The concept of Brahmmam is mathematical and in contrast against all other notions mostly based on belief, hearsay, idiosyncrasies, etc., leading to the blunder called religion. People tend to rephrase religion by religioising even science, cricket, cinema, etc. Religion of any kind by default is subjected to imminent collapse at one point or later chiefly due to its inconsistencies.
Like religious fanatics fighting in defense of their religions, say, christians converting non-christians, muslims desecrating temples, churches, etc., siva worshippers called saivas and vishnu worshippers called vaishnavas conspired and ousted Brahma worship for their own loss! Later, these two fanatics started quarrelling against each other giving way to all other similar never-ending disputes.
They commit all sorts of transgressions who call themselves brahmins; do they really worship the Brahmmam in whose name they boast their cults with? No! How dare the worshippers of siva and vishnu call themselves brahmins? Isn’t it a primal flaw? A primal flaw gives way to exposure if pursued seriously! Like the just mentioned brahmins, there are people who call themselves christians, muslims, etc., who do all sorts of delinquencies, mudslinging, nitpicking against their counterparts. They brag that they are stern supporters of their religions without any keen assessment of their imposed beliefs, be it by brainwashing or passed on faiths or any other fixated means. Religion cannot be seriously pursued! If seriously pursued, one becomes irreligious resulting in enlightenment!
The reverberating truth of Brahmmam is ever ubiquitous! All that has been lamented as the fallacies of the Brahmmam are corruptions by those who failed to grasp the ever perfect idea i.e. the Brahmmam!
Before Sri Kannappa, there are references of Lord Rama’s visit to Srikalahasthi in the Ramayana. Prior to Rama, Sri the Spider, Kala the Snake and Hasthi the Elephant worshipped Lord Brahmachaleswara Swamy and attained Mukthi, on behalf of their names, He is called as ‘Srikalahastheeswara.’ We see the five impressions at the head of the Srikalahastheeswaralingam depicting Sri the Snake, the two trunks on either side of the same representing Hasthi the Elephant, Sri the Spider at its base and Sri Kannappa’s offering, i.e. his right eye, at the centre of it. The Brahmachaleswaralingam is unique and it clearly embodies the primordial. It is not the Sivalingam but the Brahmalingam! Abhishekam of the Lord is performed with raw camphor mixed water. The Brahmalingam is encompassed by the Vayulingam which is Sri Brahma. The base of the Brahmalingam is Sri Vishnu. Hence the ubiquitous name, Brahma-Chala-Eeswara! The Kalahastheeswaralingam is realised as the Panchaantharmukhalingam! It is shielded in front by the Navagraha Kavacham, its 9 digits representing the Navagrahas, the 27 Nakshathras are equally distributed into the 9 digits as 3 little stars each!
The majestic Srikalahasthi Gaali Gopuram on the banks of Swarnamukhi
The Gaali Gopuram of Srikalahasthi had been built by Sri Krishnadevaraya during 1510-1516 AD. There ought to be a similar one in its place which Sri Krishnadevaraya must have rebuilt or renovated! On 26th May, 2010, the famous Gaali Gopuram of Srikalahasthi collapsed completely around 8 PM. A temple tower getting collapsed like this has hardly been ever heard. The temple authorities have been maintaining the sanctum sanctorum very badly for the past few decades, disfiguring the architecture of the temple to make way for queues with the fences, special Rahu-Kethu Sarpadosha Poojas, bombing the adjacent hill to pave way leading to the Bharadwaja Theertham (Lobavi), numb-watching several buildings infest around the temple as well as the Gaali Gopuram and more all due to ignorance.
The Gaali Gopuram few years ago!
The Gaali Gopuram—A Closer View!
There have been reports of similar cracks in the other Gopurams guarding the temple precincts like the Gaali Gopuram before it fell. Pothuluri Veera Brahmendra Swamy predicted in his Kaalagnaanam that the Kalahastheeswaralingam would move away to Srisailam and crocodiles amass the inner shrine of Lord Venkateswara in Thirumala. He never mentioned about the fall of the Gaali Gopuram of Srikalahasthi. His false prediction that "sparrows seated on top of the submerged Srikalahasthi Gaali Gopuram would quench thirst by just bending down!" has now put the validity of his Kaalagnaanam in miserability.
The surrounding hilly region blasted to make way for traffic at Lobavi!
It is time for the hidden truth of the place and the temple of Srikalahasthi to unfold on its own after the collapse of the Gaali Gopuram.
The Sthalavrukshas of Srikalahastheeswara's temple are Vilva and Mahizha! The Vilva tree is worshipped with camphor and other offerings in the passage behind the Ashtothralingam Shrine leading to the main entrance of the temple. It is seen as a sapling nowadays and not maintained well to grow as a tree like in the old times. However the other Sthalavruksha Mahizha is adorned by a raised marble square around it and people worship it with turmeric, vermilion and other paraphernalia and some of them tie their Sankalpas or wishes, in the form of sacred threads, bands, tiny cradles, etc., to the tree and its branches, the prayers are mostly, if unmarried, to get married soon or if childless, to beget a child!
The steps to Sri Kannappa Shrine uphill had recently been renovated and the back entrance to the temple is presently decorated with a Mandapam.
Sri Kannappa worshipped not the present Srikalahastheeswaralingam found inside the Srikahalahastheeswara temple which is at the base of the hill. He worshipped the Brahmalingam with one of the five faces of Sri Brahma’s as Bahirmukha, i.e., external face, appearing on it upon the hill of Sri Brahmachalam. The other four internal faces in that case are termed as Antharmukhas.
There are six forms of Sri Brahma, viz., five internal faces (Srikalahastheeswaralingam), four internal faces (Sri Ekamukhalingam), three internal faces, two internal faces, one internal face (Panchamukheeswaralingam) and all external faces Srimadh Virat Viswakarma Parabrahmam) of the Brahmalingam. The flickering of one of the two lamps near the Srikalahastheeswaralingam is attributed to indicate the presence of Vayulingam. But in reality, it is the technique of putting the wick in such a way that one of the two lamps flickers and the other not. This shaking lamp near the Srikalahastheeswaralingam is a later development like the Golden Lizard kept recently in the ceiling near the Dhvajasthambam of Lord Srikalahastheeswara Swamy Sannidhi which is similar to the famous Lizard in Kancheepuram Varadharaja Swamy Temple.
The sole distinction between the Brahmalingam and the Sivalingam is that the former is identified with faces, irrespective of whether they are internal or external of the lingam and the latter is a mere lingam without faces externally and more particularly internally! The Brahmalingam like Srikalahastheeswaralingam with all its five faces residing internally as panchaantharmukham appears as the Sivalingam externally! This is the root of all confusions to mistake Siva as Brahma and to attribute Brahma's qualities to Siva to the extent of suppressing the crucial worship of Brahma! To warn such menace, there are five protrusions on the top of Srikalahastheeswaralingam along with other unique characteristics of Lord Sri Brahmachaleswara Swamy who is the chief deity of Sri Brahmachalam i.e. Srikalahasthi. The episode of Sri Kannappa is also a latter addition like the story of the Spider Sri, the Snake Kala and the Elephant Hasthi for changing the original name Sri Brahmachalam to Srikalahasthi! Panchamukhabrahma is also called Panchamukheeswara for He alone is the Brahmeswara! He digests Siva for He is the Lingajeeranamoorthi! The reason for His five faces Eesanyam, Thathpurusham, Agoram, Vamadevam and Sathyojatham is for the purpose of creation, protection, destruction, cryption and salvation. His Veda is perfect and is called the Brahma Vedam.
For disorder’s sake, Sri Brahma’s quintessential five-fold nature of works are reduced to two, namely, protection by Vishnu and destruction by Siva and they share the remaining tasks, viz., creation, cryption and salvation equally among themselves in order that imperfection would also be given a chance! Confusion prevails when Siva and Vishnu takeover to mimic Brahma! Disorder and imperfection gradually lead to imbalances which in turn lead to mahapralaya resulting in mahasrushti. Siva and Vishnu are mere tools of Sri Brahma and no more and no less than that. When the World turns incurably into a disorderly mess, Sri Parabrahma (Brahma, Vishnu and Siva combined) initiates Mahapralaya, i.e. total destruction, by appearing growing extending towards the base and the apex within Siva as Lingodhbhavamoorthi to wipe out the entire cosmos and after the process called digestion of Siva, as Lingajeeranamoorthi, super-create the Universe,known as Mahashrushti and super-protect it, termed as Maharaksha, afterwards. The Antharmukham in the form of the Lingodhbhavamoorthi and the Bahirmukhams of Sri Parabrahma digests completely the entirety of Siva during all Mahapralayas.
Sri Parabrahma (the Trinity) during Mahapralaya appearing in Siva as Lingodhbhavamoorthi expanding in either ways as a column of fire, Brahma as Hamsa (Swan) chasing the top and Vishnu as Varaha (Boar) the abyss and Saraswathi as Thazhampoo (Screw Pine Flower/Pandanus odoratissimus) in Brahma’s grip!
.jpg)
Please refer to the following two tracts I have written in this regard:-
Sri Arunachala Puranam Revisited
Sri Paavaadairaayan
Why are the Vaahanas for Sri Annamalaiyar and Sri Unnamulai Amman the same, i.e. Sri Nandhi?
About the Mounts or Vaahanas of the Trinity Gods & Goddesses:-
Sri Brahma: Cob Swan (Male Swan)
Sri Saraswathi: Pen Swan (Female Swan)
Sri Vishnu: Garuda (Eagle)
Sri Lakshmi: Owl
Sri Siva: Nandhi (Bull)
Sri Sakthi: Lion
An interpretation says that they share the same Vaahana because they are one. That is, Annamalaiyar is Ardhanaareeswara swarupa. He is both Siva and Sakthi.
This explanation as to the same Vaahana, i.e. the Bull, Sri Nandhi to Sri Annamalaiyar and to Sri Unnamulai Amman is based on Siva's yielding the left portion of His Entirety to Sri Parvathi to be known as Sri Ardhanaareeswara! This in no way justifies the grounds for the Nandhi Vaahana for both Sri Annamalaiyar and to Sri Unnamulai Amman found in Thiruvannamalai's Big temple and its miniature, the Aadhi Annamalaiyar temple! The Ardhanaareeswara concept may be suitable for the Sri Kokilaambal sametha Sri Kalyaanasundareswarar temple in Thirumancheri where Nandhi is the common Vaahana of the presiding deities.
Sri Unnamulai Amman is Sri Sarvanaareeswara. She is the female form of Lord Sri Siva. As Sri Mohini is the female form of Lord Sri Vishnu, the female form, or the sibling of Lord Sri Siva is Goddess Sri Saraswathi. The female form of Lord Sri Brahma or His sibling is none other than Goddess Sri Mahalakshmi. Likewise, the female form or sibling of Lord Sri Vishnu is Sri Sakthi or Sri Parvathi. Thus goes the relationship of the gods!
In all of us reside our respective female or male forms according as the body being male or female respectively!
In the case of Sri Arunachaleswara Swamy, 'Runam' means 'Annuvathu', i.e. 'United maritally!' Therefore 'Arunam' means 'Annaathathu', i.e. 'Can't be united maritally!' Hence His match or Consort is extracted from Himself so that the extracted also is like Him, i.e. She is 'Sri Aruna' or 'Sri Arunachaleswari', etc. Because He is Annamalai, She is Unnamulai and vice versa!! Sri Arunachala is Sri Siva, the male form of Sri Unnamulai Amman which implies in turn that Sri Apeethakuchambal is Sri Siva's female form!
It is only keeping with this truth of Sri Arunachalam that Sri Nandhi Vaahana adorns the Sanctum Sanctorums of Sri Annamalaiyar as well as Sri Unnamulai Amman respectively!
Definitely, Sri Unnamulai Amman is not Sri Sakthi! This is clearly evident from the Hamsa Kavacham adorned at the base of Sri Unnamulai Amman's statue seen in Her Moolavar Sannidhi of Sri Arunachaleswara Swamy temple in Thiruvannamalai.
Sri Annamalaiyar and Sri Unnamulai Amman are Sri Sarvanareswari and Sri Sarvanaareeswara respectively! Eeswaram is the primordial form of Eeswara and Eeswari! Eeswaram and Brahmmam are respectively correlated as Zero (0) and Infinity (∞)! It is further elaborated that Eeswara (+0) and Eeswari (-0) are equated to Eeswaram (0) by the mathematical equation: 0 = ± 0. The product of Brahmmam (∞) and Eeswaram (0) is the Universe of Creation or of the Logical Discouse! That is, by mathematical terms: ∞ × 0 = N where N represent Numbers of all sorts! In our elucidation, we take Numbers as Narayanam!
Arunachalam and Brahmachalam are the sacred hummocks representing Sri Saraswathi and Sri Brahma respectively. Also, they represent the Trinities and all possible gods! Sri Narayanam as Sri Anantha Padhmanaabha Swamy is made up of the created, i.e., the Numbers! Sri Brahma appears seated on the Lotus sprouted from Sri Narayana's or the Kaalagarbha's or Time's womb's navel! Sri Anantha is Sri Brahma and Sri Padhmanaabha Swamy is Sri Chalam. Based on this context, Sri Anantha Padhmanaabha Swamy is called Sri Brahmachalam! In Brahmmam = Anantham = Infinity, there are Zero and Numbers! In Chalam = Narayanam = Numbers, there is Zero. Hence, Sri Brahmachalam is Sri Brahmachaleswara Swamy encompassing Sri Brahma, Sri Narayana and Sri Eeswara! The following portrait is also called, 'Sri Naaraayanaasanaanantha Swamy!'
Sri Naaraayanaasanaanantha Swamy!
Parabrahmmam is Brahma—Anantha—Aanandham! Brahmaanandham is the Perfect—Bliss. Creation is the quintessential among the five-folded processes of Perfection. Creation comes to an end when Sri Brahma is satisfied. When Sri Brahma is satisfied, in order to stay Perfect, He dismantles His satisfied Mind, i.e. Sri Brahma's Ego, entrusting It to eradicate imperfection if any, in His entirety, due to His momentary satisfaction. If there is imperfection, Brahma's satisfied Ego prepares for Total Destruction. Otherwise, when everything is Perfect, Brahma's satisfied Ego merges in the Brahmmam along with the perfectly created and this is called as the Brahmamoksha or Brahmamukthi!
Sri Brahmachalam is the Aadhi, Madhyamam, Anumadhyamam and Antham of Sri Arunachalam. Sri Aadhi Arunachalam represents birth of it as Brahma's satisfaction incarnate Ego which is a self imposed check of Brahma's perfection. Sri Madhyama Arunachalam represents the shift of Brahma's satisfied Ego to the cosmic container Sri Vishnu in order to effect imbalance resulting in chaos. Sri Anumadhyama Arunachalam is the advent of Brahma's satisfied Ego en route Sri Vishnu in the cosmic eraser Sri Siva as Sri Lingodhbhavanamoorthi on the ordeal to wipe out the cosmic dust. And Sri Antha Arunachalam represents the emergence of Brahma's satisfied Ego as Sri Lingodhbhavamoorthi in Sri Sivalingam in its end of mission by digesting the cosmic dust, the cosmic container and the cosmic eraser termed as Sri Lingajeeranamoorthi leading to Arunamukthi by ardent Refining and Thinking and resuming the process of perfection by creation awaiting for Brahma's satisfaction in the Prathyatcham or Appearance of Brahma's Ego again which qualifies the Perfected culminating in the coveted Brahmamukthi!
Since Sri Arunachalam is the manifestation of Sri Brahma's satisfied Ego, in all its courses until fulfillment of checking perfection in Sri Brahma's enterprise, Sri Brahma's consort Sri Saraswathi also accompanies Brahma's satisfied Ego in the venture. To embody this, Sri Saraswathi adorns Sri Arunachaleswara as Sri Aruna, also known as Sri Apeethakuchambal!
Sri Brahma's vistas range even beyond the five-folded aspects of Jagrath the waking, Swapna the dreaming, Sushupthi the dreamless sleep, Thuriya the consciousness and Thuriyaatheetha the transcendental. Sri Brahmi accompanies Sri Brahma in each and every enterprise. Sri Thuriyaatheetha Saraswathi is the consort of Sri Thuriyaatheetha Brahma!
Sri Brahmachaleswara Swamy is Sri Parabrahma, Sri Gnanaprasunambika Devi is Sri Parabrahmi and their communion is Sri Parabrahmmam! The ideal temple of Sri Parabrahmmam is the Perfected Self alone as derived from the Brahmasoothra, 'Aham Brahmaasmi!' It is said that the Srikalahasthi temple has been built and rebuilt for several times based on varying principles. In fact, there is no structure man-made that stands the test of time, there is none by nature animate or inanimate lasting for ages and there is nothing that encompasses the Parabrahmmam eternally except itself! Sri Brahmachalam is always enshrined in Sri Parabrahmmam and the vice versa!
—S. Maheshkumar.
{Composed from old draft of December 2008 on 1st June 2010 at 4 PM and lastly enhanced on 4th August 2010 at 12.48 PM, Indian Standard Time.}
