Sri Kamakshi Ambal Temple.

Periyava had gone to have darshan at Sri Kamakshi Ambal Temple. Sri Kannan Mama and Sri Vaitha Mama accompanied Him. In the early days, Sri Kamakshi Temple had been a centre for ‘asavya’ marg, lead by Na.Subramanyam (Guhanandha Mandali). It was stopped by Periyava in 1920. Even then, till 1950s, it was called ‘pappaan koil’ (‘பாப்பான் கோயில்னு சொல்லுவா’) and seldom public at large used to come.

In fact, after 6pm on any day, no one will be there. ‘Sthanikas’ were struggling to survive. It was during such times, Periyava went there…“அது என்னடா?” (“What is it?”), Periyava said pointing to a ‘swarna’ like mala on Ambal.

“த்ரிசதி…” (“Trisathi…”)

“த்ரிசதி தங்கத்துல யாரு பண்ணியிருக்கா?” (“Who has done Trisathi in gold?”

“தங்கத்துல இல்லை… வெள்ளில பண்ணி முலாம் போட்டிருக்கு.” (“Not in gold… Made in Silver and coated with gold.”)

“அம்பாளுக்கு முலாம் போட்டது என்னாடா? தங்கத்துலேயே பண்ணு… அதை எடுத்துடு!” (Gold coating? For Ambal? Remove it. Make it gold itself”)

It was removed. Looking at both Sri Kannan Mama and Sri Vaitha Mama, Periyava said, “ஏய்! நீங்க ரெண்டு பெரும் சஹஸ்ரநாம மாலை தங்கத்துல அம்பாளுக்கு பண்றேளா?” (“Yei! Will you both do a Sahasranama Mala out of gold?”)

Highly experienced sevakas, they are. So they replied, “பெரியவா அனுக்ரஹம் இருந்தா பண்ணறோம்!” (“With Periyava’s anugraham we shall.”).  Periyava blessed them. There came a lady, a relative of Sri CP Ramaswamy’s family. She instantly took her bangles off and offered to Periyava.

“வாங்கிக்கோடா…” (“Receive them…”) said Periyava.

It was taken by Sri Mama. It was about 8 sovereign.. then everything was collected. Each “Archanai” was half-sovereign. The golden chain alone weighed 200 sovereign as it has to hold all the aksharams”, recollects Sri Kannan Mama.  And Mama continues, “It was offered and Periyava would have prayed within HIS mind, ‘அம்மா! நீ இன்னும் நன்னா பிரகாசிக்கணும்!’ (‘Amma! You may shine better!”)…

That’s it! Then…

Then ‘Velli Ratham’. Pudu Periyava did ‘Thanga Ratham’. Then ‘Thanga Vimanam’. What is left out?”, says Sri Kannan Mama.

Look at the ‘anugraham’ that Ambal is doing now to the public at large!

Mangadu Kamakshi Amman Kovil

Sri Kannan Mama, “முன்னெல்லாம் மாங்காடு காமாக்ஷி கோயிலுக்கு போனா… தேடனும் அந்த கிழவரை” (“In those. Day, we’ve to (really,) search for that aged person (Gurukkal)…”. It used to be so hard to find the ‘Archaka’. “பெரியவா என்னை, இந்த…சில்பி, அனந்த விகடன் ஸ்ரீதரன் (பரணிதரன்), எல்லோரையும் அனுபிச்சி பாத்து படம் எழுதி விகடன்ல போடச் சொன்னா…” (“Periyava sent me, Silpi, anantha vikatan sridharan (baranidharan) to Mangadu Temple and asked to draw the Ambal and publish in Vikatan…”) says Sri Kannan Mama.

Periyava shared additional details, “அம்பாள் ஆதி காமாக்ஷிடா… அம்பாள் பஞ்சாக்னில தபஸ் பண்றா… அங்க ஸ்ரீசக்ரம் இருக்கு… மேரு இருக்கு…”  (“Ambal is Aadhi Kamakshi and … Ambaal is doing thapas in Panchaagni… Sri Chakram is there… Meru is there…”)

Sri Kannan Mama, “பெரியவா ரெண்டு மூணு தடவை மாங்காட்டுக்கு போயிட்டு வந்தா… இப்போ பாருங்கோ… தரிசனம் பண்ணனும்னா ரெண்டு மணி நேரம் ஆகும்!”  (“Periyava has gone to Mangadu 2-3 times… See now, it’ll take 2 hours to have darshan…”