Greatness of temples , holy things and penance

Greatness  of temples  , holy  things and penance (altogather 16)

Translated by

P.R.Ramachander

 

(Long back   I had written about 58  divine  materials and things.This  was sent by a  Thirumeni in Kerala and has  the  Malayalam texts

1.॥കുംഭകോണമാഹാത്മ്യം॥

Kumakonam Mahathmyam

Greatness  of Kumbakonam

 

((Kumbakonam is virtually   a city of temples in THanjavur district  .Unless you visit  the city possibly you may not be  even to able imagine   the several  mega temples there. It is believed   that when the Pot of nectar was being carried by the Devas they kept it in Kumbakonam. In that spot there  is a Mahamaha tank where  every twelve years  a Mahamham  is celebrated.  )

യോ നരഃ കുംഭ്കോണേസ്മിന്‍ ക്ഷണാര്‍ധമതിതിഷ്ഠതി
കരസ്ഥം തസ്യ കൈവല്യം കിമുതാന്യാ വിഭൂതയഃ॥

 

Yo  nara  Kumbakonasmin Kshanardham ithi thishtathi

Karastham thasya kaivalyam  kimutha anya  Vibhoothaya

 

They who stay  in Kumbakonam for  half  a second

The salvation  will be in his hand and many more welfares

2.॥കാവേരീമാഹത്മ്യം॥

Cauvery  Mahathmyam

The  greatness of Cauvery

((The holiest of the rivers in Tamil Nadu which is its life line  .gOddess Cauvery is also worshipped by people of Coorg   as their Kula Deivam)

കാവേരീതോയമാശ്രിത്യ വാതോ യത്ര പ്രവര്‍ത്തതേ।
തദ്ദേശവാസിനാം മുക്തിഃ കിമുതഃ തീരവാസിനാം॥

 

Cauvery   thoyam   aasrithya vatho  yathra  pravarthathe

THaddesha vasinam  Mukthi  kimutha  theera  vaasinam

 

To those  who depend  on Cauvery prosperity  will act

And those who live  there  will get  salvation and What  about  those who lives on its banks?

3.॥ഗംഗാമാഹാത്മ്യം॥

Ganga  Mahathmyam

Greatness  of Ganga

(Ganga   the life giver to is the most sacred  river in India.  Every Hindu wants   to take bath in its waters. Every Hindu wants  The water of Ganga   to be the last  drink that he takes before  leaving to heaven.)

ഗംഗാ ഗംഗേതി യോ ബ്രൂയാത് യോജനാനാം ശതൈരപി।
മുച്യതേ സര്‍വ്വപാപേഭ്യഃ രുദ്രലോകം സ ഗച്ഛതി।

 

 

Gangaa gangethi  yo brooyath  yojanaanaam  sathairapi

Muchyuthe sarva  paapebhya , rudra lokam sa  Gachathi

 

He who chants , ganga , ganga  for some time  , atleast  hundred times

Would escape  from all sins and would go to the  land  of Shiva

4.॥കാശീമാഹത്മ്യം॥

Kasi Mahathmyam
Greatness  of Kasi

((Benares  or Varanasi Or Kasi   is the holiest  town for the Hindus.The most holy temple of Shiva, which every Hindu wants to visit   at least once is located here.)

അഹം കാശീം ഗമിഷ്യാമി തത്രൈവ നിവസാമ്യഹം।
ഇതി ബ്രുവാണഃ സതതം കാശീവാസഫലം ലഭേത്॥

 

Aham Kasim  Gamishyaami  , thathraiva  nivasamyaham

Ithi broovaan  , kasi vasa  phlm labeth

 

I will go to Kasi  and  I will stay there

Saying this, would get you effect of living in Kasi

5.॥ഹാലാസ്യമാഹാത്മ്യം॥

Halasya  Mahathmyam

Greatness  of Madhurai

((Halasyam   is another name for the city of Madurai in Tamil Nadu. The God is known as  Sundareswarar  or Halasya nathar  .Halasya is  another name to Halahala  poison which came out of ocean of milk   when it was churned.)

ഹാലാസ്യനാഥായ മഹേശ്വരായ ഹാലാഹലാലങ്കൃതകന്ധരായ।
മീനേക്ഷിണായാഃ പതയേ ശിവായ നമോ നമഃ സുന്ദരതാണ്ഡവായ॥

 

Halasya  naadhaya  maheswaraaya hala halaalunkrutha  kandharaaya

Meenekshnaaya  pathaye  Shivaaya namo nama Sundara  thandavaaya

6.॥ചിദംബരമാഹത്മ്യം॥

Chidambara Mahathmyam

Greatness  of Chidambaram

((Possibly the greatest Shiva temple in  Tamil Nadu.The Akasa Linga  is in this temple.The :Lord   stands in a dancing pose   and is called Lord Natarajar. Deekshithars  who have tuft inb front do worship in this  temple as well as maintain it.)

കൃപാസമുദ്രം സുമുഖം ത്രിണേത്രം ജടാധരം പാര്‍വ്വതിവാമഭാഗം।
സദാശിവം രുദ്രമനന്തരൂപം ചിദംബരേശം ഹൃദി ഭാവയാമി॥

 

Krupa samaudram, sumukham, trinethram, Jadadaharam, Parvathi vama bhagam,
Sada shivam, rudramanantha roopam, Chidambaresam hrudhi bhavayami.

I meditate on that Lord of Chidambaram,Who is the ocean of mercy,Who has a pleasant mien,Who has three eyes,
Who has matted locks, Who keeps Parvathy on his left side, Who is ever peaceful, And who is limitless and angry.

7.॥വേങ്കടേശമാഹാത്മ്യം॥

Venkatesa  Mahathmyam

((The holiest of the holies  is the Mountain THirumala   at Thirupathi where Lord Venkadachalapathy has a huge temple  .The annual  income of this temple   is the largest in India..The God is called Balaji in noreth   and Yezhumalayan in Tamil Nadu  )

വേങ്കടാദ്രി സമം സ്ഥാനം ബ്രഹ്മാണ്ഡേ നാസ്തി കിംചന।
വേങ്കടേശ സമോ ദേവോ ന ഭൂതോ ന ഭവിഷ്യതി॥

 

Venkatadri  samam  Sthanam  , brahmande  naasthi  kinchana

Venkadesa  samo devo , na bhootho  , na bhavishyathi

 

A place  like  venkatadri, in the universe  does  not exist

A god  equal to  Venkatesa was not present in past and will not exist in future

8.॥സേതുമാഹാത്മ്യം॥

Sethu Mahathmyam

Greatness  of Sethu

((This is the bridge  which was buikt by Rama   to  go to Sri Lanka.  The remnants  of the bridge   could be seen even now .)

രഘുവീരപദന്യാസ പവിത്രീകൃത പാംസവേ।
ദശകണ്ഠശിരച്ഛേദ ഹേതവേ സേതവേ നമഃ॥

Raghu veera  padha  nyasa , pavithrekrutha  paamsave

Dasa kanda  siraschedha Hethave  sethave  nama

 

The foot steps of Lord Rama  purified the  contemptible area

Salutations to Sethu , the cause  of cutting the head  of Ravana

9.॥കാഞ്ചീമാഹത്മ്യം॥

Kanchi  Mahathmyam

Greatness of Kanchi

(Kanchipuram is an ancient Indian city   and it has been told  “Nagareshu Kanchi”.It is a city full of great temples.The Vidshnu Kanchi is the place  of Vishnu temples .The most prominent  among them is the temple of Lord Varadaraja. Great Vaishnavite   saints were  born in this place)

സദാ പരിമളോല്ലാസ വാസിതം പല്ലവോപമം।
മുഖം വരദരാജസ്യ മന്ദസ്മിതമുപസ്മഹേ॥

 

Sadhaa  parimaloullasa vaasitham   pallavopamam

Mukham  varada  rajasya mandasmitha  mupasmahe

 

I  worship  the  pleasant smiling  face   of the Varadaraja 

Who has  a scented   blossom of   great splendour   on his  navel .

10.॥അഹോബിലമാഹാത്മ്യം॥

Ahobila  Mahathmyam

The greatness  of Ahobila

(A series of eight temples  of Lord Narasimha is situated here .Devotees believe that Lord Narasimha killed  Hiranya Kasipu at this place .This is a great Vaishnavite  pilgrim centre ,. This is located in Kurnool district of Andhra  Pradesh.)

അഹോവീര്യമഹോ ശൌര്യം അഹോബാഹുപരാക്രമം।
നാരസിംഹം പരം ശൌര്യം അഹോബിലം അഹോബിലം॥

 

Aho veeryam aho sauryam  Aho  bahu  parakramam

Narasimham param sauryam  , Ahobilam   Ahobilam

 

What a  great  valour, what a great courage  What a   great power of  his hands,

The Lord Narasimha in rage  is thegreatest God,  What  a great power in Ahobilam.

11.॥മധ്യാര്‍ജ്ജുനമാഹാത്മ്യം॥

Madhyarjuna  Mahathmyam

Greatness  of Thiruvidai maruthur

((This is a temple town near Thanjavur called Thiruvayyaru as five rivers  flow through the town. The God in the  temple is called Panchanadheeswarar. The great Musical trinity  of Tamil Nadu  lived in this town.)

ചൌര്യേണ വാ ശങ്കരസേവയാ വാ ശാതോദരീ സങ്ഗമവാഞ്ചയാ വാ।
ഭൂതാഃ വസിത്വാ പുനരേകരാത്രം മധ്യാര്‍ജ്ജുനേ നാസ്തി ശരീരബന്ധഃ॥

Souryena vaa  , Sankara  sevayaa  vaa  , SAthodhari  sangama  vanchaya  vaa ,

Pumsam ushithwa punar eka rathram,Madhyarjune   nasthi   sareera  bandha.

 

Either due to Sun or due to service of Sankara Or due  to wish to meet the  thin bellied one  ,

 If the people  stayed   again for  one more night, In Thiruvidai marudur, they would leave their attachment to body.

12.॥വൈത്തീശ്വരമാഹാത്മ്യം॥

Vaitheswara Mahathmyam

Greatness  of  Vaitheeswara

((Lord Vaitheeswaean  of Vaitheeswaran koil in Tamil Nadu  is considered as the God of doctors. This temple is located near Mayavaram(Mayiladu thurai) of Tamil Nadu.)

ബാലാംബികേശ വൈദ്യേശ ഭവരോഗഹരേതി ച।
ജപന്നാമത്രയം നിത്യം മഹാരോഗനിവാരണം॥

 

Balambikesa  Vaidhyesa, bhava  roga harethi cha,

Japen  nama thrayam  nithyam  maha roga nivaranam

 

Balambika   and king of doctors cure   the disease of  birth death cycle ,

If this is repeated    thrice with devotion   , all  great diseases  would be cured.

13.॥പഞ്ചനദമാഹാത്മ്യം॥

Panchanadha  Mahathmyam

Greatness of Thiruvayyaru

((This is a temple town near Thanjavur called Thiruvayyaru as five rivers  flow through the town. The God in the  temple is called Panchanadheeswarar. The great Musical trinity  of Tamil Nadu  lived in this town.)

പഞ്ചാപകേശ വൈദ്യേശ ഭവരോഗഹരേതി ച।
ജപേന്നാമത്രയം നിത്യം പുനര്‍ജന്‍മ ന വിദ്യതേ।

 

Panchapakesa  Vaidhyesa  , bhava  roga  harethi  cha

Japen nama  thrayam  nithyam Punarjanma  na vidhyathe

 

The  Panchapakesa  who is a docor, would cure  diseases of SAmsara

If you daily   chant his name thrice, There  would not be  rebirth

14.॥തുളസീമാഹാത്മ്യം॥

THulasi  Mahathmyam

Greatness of THulasi

(( This is a scared plant   worshipped by all Hindus. It is believed the plant is the earthly manifestation of Goddess  THulasi   who is a consort of Lord Vishnu.)

 

യന്മൂലേ സര്‍വ്വതീര്‍ഥാനി യന്മധ്യേ സര്‍വ്വദേവതാഃ।
യദഗ്രേ സര്‍വ്വവേദാശ്ച തുളസീം താം നമാമ്യഹം॥

 

Yan mole  sarva  theerthaani , yanmadhye  sarva  devatha

Yadagre SArva  vedaschs  , Thulaseem thaam  namayaham

 

In its root  all sacred waters, In its  middle  all gods

In its tip all Vedas,And so  I salute  the thulasi

15.॥ബില്വമാഹാത്മ്യം॥

Bilwa  Mahathmyam

Greatness  of Bilwa

(It is a sacred tree dedicated to Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva gets greatly please  if its leaves are used to worship him.)

ത്രിദളം ത്രിഗുണാകാരം ത്രിണേത്രം ച ത്രയായുധം।
ത്രിജന്മപാപ സംഹാരം ഏകബില്വം ശിവാര്‍പ്പണം॥

Tridalam trigunakaram , trinethram   cha  thrayayusham,

Trijanma papa  samharam  , Eka bilvam  sivarpanam

 

I offer one leaf of Bilwa to Lord Shiva,Which has three leaves, Which causes three qualities,
Which are like the three eyes of Shiva, Which is like the triad of weapons,

And which destroys sins of three births.

16.॥ഏകാദശീ മാഹാത്മ്യം॥

Ekadasi Mahathmyam

Greatness  of Ekadasi

(The eleventh  lunar day is considered as   a day suitable   for penance by all Hindus  .Religios people do not take    food during that day.  There are very many stories about great devotees  who observed this penance.)

 

ശുദ്ധം ഭാഗവതസ്യാന്നം ശുദ്ധം ഭാഗീരഥീജലം।
ശുദ്ധം വിഷ്ണുപദധ്യാനം ശുദ്ധം ഏകാദശിവ്രതം।

 

Shudham  Bhagawathasyannam Sudhham BHageeradhi  Jalam

Sudham Vishnu  padha  Dhyanam Sudham ekadasi vritham

 

Pure  is  the devotees food  , pure  is water  of Ganges

Pure  is meditation  on fet of Vishnu  , Pure  is penance  of ekadasi