Tirukkadavur is a famous Siva kshetra in South India. The Lord there is called Amrita Ghateswara! He is also called as “ Kala Samhara Murthy”- one who killed Yama the God of Death! According to legend, Markandeya, the son of sage Mrikandu had only a life span of sixteen years! The secret was revealed to him very late and the parents were in intense agony. Markandeya, a pious devotee of Lord Siva decided to change his fate by intense tapas and invoking the Lord. He sat in penance and lost himself in deep meditation. The God of Death sent his servants to get the life of young Markandeya. But they couldn’t near him because of the power of his penance! Yama grew angry and came in person to grab Markandeya! He threw his Pasa, the rope that takes the lives of all, on the lad!Out of fear, Markandeya embraced the Linga and prayed! The pasa thrown by Yama fell on the Linga and the Lord became furious and kicked the God of Death with His left foot and warned him severely for his misdeed! He ordered that Yama should never commit the indiscretion of approaching His devotees. The Lord blessed Markandeya with longevity and happiness! Yama begged the pardon of the Lord and departed! Thus the Lord at this Temple came to be called “ Kala samharamurthy”!
The Goddess at this great shrine is called “Abhirami”- the most beautiful! She is associated with an incredible miracle that she performed to save Her devotee and proclaim to the world his greatness and devotion. Abhirarama Bhattar was so devoted to the Goddess that others thought that he was mad! They couldn’t gauge his extreme ecstasy and devotion to Her! But He never bothered about what others thought about him. The news of Abhirama Bhattar,and his devotion reached the ears of the king! He wanted to see for himself and examine how far the news was true! The king came and wanted to test him. Abhirarama Bhattar was in deep meditation. The king asked him what day it will be the next day! The great devotee, in total Bliss in the thought and vision of Devi said it will be a full moon day! The king was shocked! The next day was actually a New moon day! The king thought that Abhirarama Bhattar was really mad. He said that if he didn’t prove it the next day he would be killed! Abhirarama Bhattar felt that Devi should save him as she was responsible for what he had said! He prepared a platform with strings under which fire was raised! He started singing in praise of Devi and after every stanza he cut a string! People were aghast at this terrible decision. At a particular stage, Devi worked a miracle! She threw Her ear studs into the sky and lo, behold, the whole temple and vicinity was filled with the glow and coolness of the full moon! It was a full moon day as Abhirarama Bhattar said!! The king was dumbfounded! He realized the spiritual greatness of Abhirarama Bhattar and fell on his feet and apologized! The 100 stanzas composed are called Abhirami Andadi and are a precious treasure of classical Tamil! The following Stotra is a composition of mine on Devi Abhirami which I could write during my visit to The Temple a few years back. The Stotra in five Slokas, glorifies the attributes of Devi Abhirami as the consort of Lord Siva as Kala Samhara Murthy! The Stotra is in Sanskrit and set to the chandas (prosody) “Sardhula Vikridita”! I have not given the meaning of the Slokas for fear of making the blog too long!
SRI ABHIRAMI PANCHARATNAM
Srinaathaarchita paada Padma yugalaam srungaara rupojvalaam
Naanaarupa vilaasinim Bhavanutaam naadapriyam saankarim
Naanaadaanava darpanaasani mahaa mantraartha yantraatmikaam
Matangi! Abhirami naama viditaam Sri Mataram bhaavaye!
Omkaara Pranaveswari Girisutaam Iswaryadaayim Sivaam
Hrinkaaraadbhuta Mantrarupini mahaa sakthyaathmikaam Iswarim
Im Klim Souhu Mani mantra vaibhavayutaam Bhandaasura dhwamsinim
Matangi! Abhirami naama viditaam Sri Mataram bhaavaye!
Kaarunyaambudhi bhakta Kalpalathikaam soundarya vaaraamnidhim
Sri Rajni bhavapaasamochani Sudhasaamraajya sampatpradaam
Maaraaraadhita mangalaangi Girijaa maangalyadaayi Sivaam
Maatangi! Abhirami naama viditaam Sri Mataram bhaavaye!
Sri Kaameswara vamabhaaga sudati sowbhaagya sandhaayani
Raakaachandra manojna manjulamukhim thaatanka ramyojwalaam
Kalyaani Abhirarama Bhatta varadaam Sri Chakra sanchaarinim
Maatangi! Abhirami naama viditaam Sri Mataram bhaavaye!
Sri Chintaamani Divya pita vilasath sarvaartha siddhipradaam
Mathpaapaagni vinaasadakshanayanaam Kaadambavaati priyaam
Gangaadhiswara divyapathniramalaam Sri Kamasanjivani
Maatangi! Abhirami naama viditaam Sri Mataram bhaavaye!
ITI SRI ABHIRAMI PANCHARATNAM
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