Pillai Kaaragan Swamy @ Melvenpakkam!

The Swayambu Sri Lakshmi Narayana Temple, Melvenpakkam

Time and again I have mentioned in my articles about planning to visit a place for a long time, which suddenly came true or alternatively, visiting a temple all of a sudden because an invitation came out of the blue. Now I have come to understand that everything moves as per the divine plan and we must just play our pre destined part. Therefore, I was not surprised when I received a call from Mr Manivannan, Principal Trustee of the Melvenpakkam Sri Lakshmi Narayana Swamy temple just a couple of days before our scheduled visit to Kanchipuram. I immediately agreed on the time and date of the visit.

The Lakshmi Narayana Perumal Temple at Melvenpakkam

This temple, in a non-descript village off the Chennai - Bangalore Highway, hardly comprises of a sanctum sanctorum and an Artha Mandapa. Two tiny shrines have been recently constructed to house the Periya and Siriya Thiruvadis. A temple that once had its own 11 tier Rajagopuram, Mada Veedhis and several acres of land, has been reduced to this status with passage of time, invasions and encroachments. It used to be earlier known as Mahalakshmi Kshetram with individual sannathis for all the eight lakshmis.

Dhampathya Anyonyam: The Lord within the humble temple, is a great Karuna Moorthy. He is said to date back before three Yugas, measuring 12 feet in the Kritha Yuga, 8 in the Thretha Yuga, 4 in the Dwapara Yuga and now 2.5 feet in Kaliyuga. The Narayana and Goddess Mahalakshmi are seen as one form. Usually one can see the Lakshmi seated on the left lap of the Lord either facing him or even if she is facing the devotees there is a gap between the two dieties. However, here both are found in an Änyonya Bhavam with their faces close to one another and no gap in between.

Sri Lakshmi Narayana Perumal at Melvenpakkam Photo Courtesy: Mr D Manivannan

This form is unique and worshipping the Lord in this form has brought harmony into many a family were the couples were suffering from lack of understanding and harmony. Mr Manivannan says there is ample evidence in the temple of families reunited through worshipping the Lord sincerely and with faith and devotion.

Pillaikaaragan Swamy: The Lord is also called Pillaikaaragan Swamy. Mr Manivannan narrated his own experience with a lot of emotion. He and his wife had lost two children soon after their birth and were not blessed with a child for thirteen years. Not knowing the reason, and heartbroken at having lost their new borns, they visited several temples. Through Prasnam, they came to know of the Melvenpakkam temple which had been locked up for sixty years without worship. They made efforts to have the temple opened and worship resumed. Soon afterwards, they were blessed with a healthy child. Till date, over three hundred families have visited and been blessed with children. A special  Thirumanjanam is performed on Friday mornings at 7 am with Sri Lakshmi Narayana Hridayam chanting and Paal Payasam Neivedhyam . This prasadam is then given to the childless couples and they are soon blessed with Santhana Prapthi.

Brahma Hathi Dosha Nivarthi: Usually Adhiseshan can be found as the Asana or bed for Lord Mahavishnu. However, in this Kshetram he can be seen as a Vyjayanthimala around the Lord's neck. The serpent circling the Lord's neck twice and lifting up his hood on his chest can be seen very clearly during Milk Abhishekam. This form is said to rid one of Doshas like Brahma Hathi Dosha, Naga Dosha and Rahu Kethu Dosha. It is believed that Lord Hanuman worshipped Sri Lakshmi Narayana Swamy for forty one days to be rid of the Brahma Hathi Dosham from killing the Asuras who guarded the Ashoka Vana.
This Kshetram is also a Parihara Sthalam for those born under Dhanusu or Mithuna Rasi.

In 1957, Paramacharya of Sri Kanchi Sankara Mutt has spent three days and nights in meditation in front of this Lord and it remained one of his favorite temples.

Uthratadhi Homams: Every month on Uthratadhi star, special poojas are performed at this temple.A very holy Homam known as Sree Lakshmi Narayana Nava Kalasa Homam is performked approximately around 8.45 am. This homam has immeasurable power against all Doshas. During this homam, the very holy Sree Lakshmi Narayana Hridayam is changed and Thirumanjanam is performed with the sanctified water from the Homam with the nine Kalasas that had been placed in the Homam.