sree nootretteeswarar temple, chinnakaavanam, ponneri (Chinnakavanam)

India / Tamil Nadu / Ponneri / Chinnakavanam
 temple, hindu temple
KPVT - sree ashtotheeshwarar temple, chinnakkaavanam is one of the kAnchi periyavA visited temples.This several thousand years old Shiva temple has two significances – Ankola tree and a Swayambu Vinayagar
Ankola Tree:
A 2500 years old Erazhinjal tree (called Ankola in Sanskrit) has a special significance that its seeds are getting attracted to the tree itself like a magnet.
This tree has been referred in the Sivaananda-lahari and following is the translation of the explanation by Kanchi Mahaperiyavar, Sri Chandrasekharendra Sarasvathi Swamigal:
Ankolam nija-beeja santatir
Ayaskaantopalm soochikaa
(Sivaananda-lahari, 61)
“Just as: the seed of azhinjil (or ankola) tree merges with the parent tree; the iron needle is attracted towards the magnet; the creeper grows around the tree; and the river merges with the ocean: Bhakti is the constant immersion of the mind in the thoughts of the lotus feet of Pasupathi (or Siva).
It is stated that there is a tree called Eru Azhinjil. Its fruit ripens, falls on the ground and breaks open. Then the seeds from the fruit, attracted as it were by a sort of force of gravity, move and attach themselves to the parent tree. Thereafter it is said that these seeds form part of the latter and disappear from sight. We, who have become separated from Bhagwan (God) should similarly gravitate towards Him; and ultimately become one with Him.”

Angola Ganapathy:
Here Agasthiar created a lingam everyday with the sand from the nearby Brahma Aranya river and worshipped them for 108 days. But on the final day, all the 108 lingams merged themselves into a single Vinayahar for the simple reason that he did not start the worship with a Vinayahar on day one. Then Lord Shiva gave dharshan to Agasthiar in the form of Vinayahar. The 108 lingams which got merged into a Vinayahar is present under the Ankola tree as a Swayambu (sand) Vinayahar in the name of Ankola Ganapathy. In spite of many thousands years and in spite of sitting under the tree without any roof, the sand made Vinayahar is still sitting pretty and looking great.

Note: Look at the amazing commonality of the two - 108 lingams getting merged into a Vinayagar and the seeds of the Ankola tree getting attached to the parent tree – in combination with the Kanchi Maha Periyavar’s explanation that “We, who have become separated from Bhagwan (God) should gravitate towards Him; and ultimately become one with Him”.

For a travelogue to this temple, pls visit:
shanthiraju.wordpress.com/2007/12/18/chinna-kavanam/
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   13°20'52"N   80°11'50"E

Comments

  • Sri Nootreteeswarar temple at Chinna Kavanam near Ponneri at Chennai http://shanthiraju.wordpress.com/2007/12/18/chinna-kavanam/ This several thousand years old Shiva temple has two significances – Ankola tree and a Swayambu Vinayagar Ankola Tree: A 2500 years old Eranzhil tree (called Ankola in Sanskrit) has a special significance that its seeds are getting attracted to the tree itself like a magnet. This tree has been referred in the Sivaananda-lahari and following is the translation of the explanation by Kanchi Mahaperiyavar, Sri Chandrasekharendra Sarasvathi Swamigal: Ankolam nija-beeja santatir Ayaskaantopalm soochikaa (Sivaananda-lahari, 61) “Just as: the seed of azhinjil (or ankola) tree merges with the parent tree; the iron needle is attracted towards the magnet; the creeper grows around the tree; and the river merges with the ocean: Bhakti is the constant immersion of the mind in the thoughts of the lotus feet of Pasupathi (or Siva). It is stated that there is a tree called Eru Azhinjil. Its fruit ripens, falls on the ground and breaks open. Then the seeds from the fruit, attracted as it were by a sort of force of gravity, move and attach themselves to the parent tree. Thereafter it is said that these seeds form part of the latter and disappear from sight. We, who have become separated from Bhagwan (God) should similarly gravitate towards Him; and ultimately become one with Him.” Ankola Ganapathy: Here Agasthiar created a lingam everyday with the sand from the nearby Brahma Aranya river and worshipped them for 108 days. But on the final day, all the 108 lingams merged themselves into a single Vinayahar for the simple reason that he did not start the worship with a Vinayahar on day one. Then Lord Shiva gave dharshan to Agasthiar in the form of Vinayahar. The 108 lingams which got merged into a Vinayahar is present under the Ankola tree as a Swayambu (sand) Vinayahar in the name of Ankola Ganapathy. In spite of many thousands years and in spite of sitting under the tree without any roof, the sand made Vinayahar is still sitting pretty and looking great. Note: Look at the amazing commonality of the two - 108 lingams getting merged into a Vinayagar and the seeds of the Ankola tree getting attached to the parent tree – in combination with the Kanchi Maha Periyavar’s explanation that “We, who have become separated from Bhagwan (God) should gravitate towards Him; and ultimately become one with Him”.
  • Can you translate it in Tamil?
This article was last modified 7 years ago