Adhishtanam at Elayathangudi /Ilayathangudi

Ilayathangudi

Close to Pudukottai near Karaikudi is Elayathangudi (Vidiathangudi)

HOW TO  REACH:

The village is situated south of Pudukottai and north west of Karaikudi.Once you cross Thirumayam  from Pudukottai take the road to sivaganga and in 15 kms you will come to the road to this village towards the west

Alternatively it is 26 kms north west of Karaikudi via small roads, Since I was driving down from Karaikudi I used both roads and I felt the Thirumayam road to be of better quality(Nov 2019)

There are plenty of lakes and ponds with the Sri Kailasanathar sametha  Nithyakalyani amman  temple nearby on the west side and Sri Athmanadhaswamy temple in front of the adhishtanam  . This area houses the  vedapatashalai of the Kanchi mutt.There are total 7 temples around the adhishtanam in the village 

The Ganesh temple before reaching the Adhishtanam and patasalai take a right here to reach the adhishtanam.

picture from Kanchi mutt premises

Sri Sudarsana Mahadevendra Saraswati :  Son of Seshadri Sastri of Madhyarjuna was known as Mahalingam prior to his sanyasa. He toured extensively and attained siddhi at Ilaiyattangudi on Amavasya in the month of Phalguna of the cyclic year Virodhi (1891 AD).His pontificate was for 40 years. .

(Actually this periyava is also  related to our Mahaperiyava in his poorvashrama. ) ref:http://www.kamakoti.org/souv/4-12.html

This periyava was also known as,"Laddu periyava" as he was fond of  feeding the patashala students  with large laddus and reward the them with 1 kasu for eating one laddu .

He is reputed to have travelled from Kumbakonam to Vedaranyam for Adi amavasya alone on horseback.

He apparently came here on his tour and meditated at the present adhishtanam spot  and asked the  Kailasanathar temple authorities if they could donate the land to him. The temple authorities said they will give a better land for periyava if he so wants, shortly afterwards he attained siddhi and the place he asked for was itself given for his adhishtanam and he was interned here

(Above info was related to me by Prof. Dr.S.Kalyanaraman Neurosurgeon who also came with me during both trips to this adhishtanam It seems about 1 April 1962, Mahaperiyava called Dr.Subramania 

  his father, fondly referred to as "Pal" Doctor Subramani iyer by his holiness  and instructed him to start a trust for bhikshavandanam and pada pooja on specific days in a year in this adhishtanam premises Mahaperiyava suggested the name and also gave other  specific instructions and the same was done with his blessings at once and is still being carried out religiously even today 57 years later!! Today many more activities have been included with the  permission and blessings of their holinesses' and Mahaperiyavas instructions are being carried out with the blessings of present and past acharyas religiosly by the next generations also) 

From the Kanchi mutt calender 2018

November 2019

Last week I had the opportunity to revisit the Adhishtanam The Kumbabhishekam of nearby Shiva temple has been done and also a Statue of Mahaperiyava has been installed a the tank bund where he used to do his anushtanams

(For the reader who wanted a clearer picture )

details of Adi shankara's mutts

ancient inscription from original construction

Sri Sudharshana Mahadevendra Saraswathi

from the wall hanging in the adhishtanam

The Mahaperiyava statue installed in the tank bund 

above pics are from 4/04/24 when preparations for the Aradhana of this periva were in flow. we could get darshan below are the contact details of the adhishtanam and the event

I recd this notification by post on 27 Jan 2025 posting here for info 

Received via whatsapp on 29/03/25  very concise history of this periyava

Today (29 Mar 2025, Saturday) is the Aradhana day (1851-1890) of Jagadguru Pujyashri Sudarsana Mahadevendra Saraswati Shankaracharya Mahaswamigal who adorned the Illustrious Moolamnaya Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham as it's 65th Acharya.

Pujyasri Acharyal took Avatara in the Holy land of Tiruvidaimarudur near Kumbakonam in Thabjavur District. 

His Upanayana Sanskara happened at the age of 5 and soon Pujyashri Periyava's initiation into Vedic Studies happened then and there. 

As a Young boy Pujyashri Periyava had friends of his age in the Maratha Royal family who ruled Thiruvidaimarudur during those times which resulted in him learning and becoming proficient in Marathi language and also got trained in horse riding through their acquaintance.

Pujyasri Ilayathankudi Periyava in his purvashrama as a Vedic scholar was at the forefront overseeing all Vaideeka and Rajeeya Karyams accompanying the Holy Ceremonies of Goddess Akhilandeswari Thatanka Pratishta and Kanchi Kamakshi Ambal Devasthanam Kunbabhishekam which was conducted by Pujyashri Vadakodi Periyava who happened to be the 64th Peethadhipati during that time.

On their return to Kumbakonam, Pujyashri Vadakodi Periyava initiated Ilayarthankudi Periyava into Sanyasa Ashrama Sweekara and anointed him as his Successor with the Deeksha Nama *Sudarshana Mahadevendra Saraswathi. 

After Pujyashri Vadakodi Periyava attained Brundavana Sidhi, Pujyashri Ilayarthankudi Periyava who was initiated into Sanyasam in the year 1851 decorated the Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam till 1891 as it's Peethadhipati.

The now famous Kriti 'Shankaracharyam' set in the Raga Sankarabharanam was composed in the glory of the 65th Periyava by Sri Subburama Dikshitar , grandson of Nada Yogi Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar.

Pujyasri Periyava undertook Yatra by foot covering the length and breadth of the country extending upto Puri Jagannath.

Having spent his early childhood days playing and spending time with the children belonging to the Maratha Royal family , Pujyasri Periyava became eloquent in Marathi and Hindustani languages. He became an expert at Horse riding too.

Soon after taking up the mantle of Peethadhipati of the Peetham Pujyasri Periyava was camping at Kumbakonam. 

Pujyashri Periyava organised a Vidwat Sadas featuring Sampradaya Vidwans, Sivacharyas and Bhattacharyas to set aside certain disagreements and differences arising while following Vaakya and Drik Panchanga ( Almanacs ) and it was concluded in concurrence with all participating Vidwans and was subsequently directed by Pujyasri Periyava that for Vaideeka Rituals Drik Panchangam be followed and for Vrata Anushtanams Vaakya Panchangam be followed.

Pujyashri Ilayathangudi Periyava's Sri Chandramuliswara Pooja was very famous.

Pujyasri Periyava in a meditative state with his eyes would do Bilwarchanai to Lord Chandramouleeswara and while doing so the Bilwa leaves which were unfit for Archana would fall by the side and only the leaves fit for Archana would decorate the Lord. Such was his deep devotion.

The famous Tamil Scholar Sri U.Ve. Swaminatha Iyer in his old age made it a habit to often visit Srimatham and be present during the Sri Chandramouleeswara pooja done by Pujyashri Periyava

Sri. U.Ve. Sa during one of his visits to have Darshan of Pujyashri Mahaperiyava fondly compared with utmost happiness that the Sri Chandramouleeswara Pooja done by Pujyashri Mahaperiyava reminded him of the way Pujyashri Ilayathangudi Periyava would do Sri Chandramouleeswara Pooja with the same devotion, beauty and grace.

While undertaking Vijaya Yatras across the nation Pujyashri Periyava through Srimatham generously honoured Veda Vidwans, Artists with huge grants and gifts and was equally generous in donating to the needy as well and these acts of Philanthropy as recalled by many today have very few parallels till today.

Pujyashri Ilayathangudi Periyava as Pujyasri Periyava was reverred and fondly called undertook a Sethu Yatra and in that Yatra all the wealth submitted to him as Kaanikkai by many of his devotees were filled in two big copper vessels and then Pujyashri Periyava dug his hand deep into the huge vessel and whatever came in his blessed hands were handed out as gifts to the locals, artistes and devotees who came from all walks of life as his blessings. All these have been documented as proof in ancient records.

After offering Gangabhishekam by his holy hands to Sri Ramanathaswamy at Remeswaram Pujyashri Periyava left for Tirupathur , camped there, and had Darshan at Thiruthalinathar shrine. 

Proceeding from there and after Darshan at various Kshetras Pujyashri Periyava kindly accepted the honours bestowed on him by the Koviloor Mutt.This Mutt belongs to the Nagarathar Community and only those Sanyasis hailing from the Said Communiy decorate the Mutt as Peethadhipathis)

Ilayathangudi Temple, one amongst the nine temples owned and governed by the Nagarathar community was renovated in a grand scale and it's consecration was duly done by people belonging to the community and our Pujyashri Periyava was invited to visit the temple.

On visiting Ilayathangudi Pujyashri Periyava while visiting the schools and the residential premises built for temple priests and volunteers was immensely pleased with the exceptional services offered and camped there for a long period.

Even while staying there Pujyashri Ilayathangudi Periyava summoned Pujyashri Kalavai Periyava from Udayambakkam, granted Sanyasam and anointed him as his successor and kept him under his care at Ilayathangudi.

Pujyasri Ilayarhangudi Periyava attained Siddhi on Phalguna Amavasya day. There existed a Bilwa tree next to where he stayed and Pujyashri Periyava derived utmost happiness doing Bilwa Archana to the Lord.

On the day of Pradosham which preceded his Siddhi Day Pujyashri Periyava had remarked to his close Sishyas all these days his pleasure knew no bounds having done Archana to Sri Chandramouleeswara with the Bilwa leaves from the tree and added never has he come across such quality Bilwa leaves. 

But, soon expressed his doubt whether he would be fortunate enough to be blessed to do Pooja with these Bilwa leaves.

Our Pujyashri Mahaperiyava on his first Ilayathangudi Yatra soon after ascending the Peetham did Pradakshina to the Bilwa tree and did archana to Lord Chandramouleeswara with Bilwa leaves from the same tree.

A few days before Pujyashri Periyava's Siddhi, Periyava had asked from the Nagarathars a barren rocky piece of land to be donated to him. The Nagarathars had requested Periyava that they would instead donate a large piece of fertile land in place of what Periyava had requested for. Refusing what the Nagarathars offered Periyava insisted for the same piece of land which he had initially asked. 

Soon after Periyava attaining Siddhi the Nagarathars sensed the reason behind Periyava's insistence, cleaned up the place to make way for a beautiful Adhsishtanam to be built there.

The day prior to his Siddhi Pujyasri Periyava called Ilayathangudi Poojakar Sri Ramaswamy Sivchariyar who was then in his teens and Said to him " Ambal , is calling out to me with both her hands outstretched , Come unto me ! After completing your anushtanams, tomorrow early morning please come to me. " . 

On hearing Periyava say thus Sri Ramaswamy Sivachariar twice came to the Mutt in the Mid of night to have darshan of Pujyasri Periyava and saw Periyava was deeply immersed in Bhakti while Chanting Devi Stuthis the whole night.

Sri Ramaswamy Sivachariar as directed by Pujyashri Periyava soon after completing his Anushtanams early in the morning proceeded towards Periyava's Sannidhi only to see Periyava sitting in a deep meditative state on the steps leading to the pond. 

Pujyasri Periyava in that state attained Siddhi then and there .

And Sri Ramaswamy Sivachariar's description of this poignant moment is available on various media platforms.

Why Vaikasi Anusham is accorded so much importance?

The Avatara diwas of both Ilayathankudi Periyava, Pujyashri Sudarsana Mahadevendra Saraswati Swamigal the 65th Acharya and the 68th Acharya Pujyasri Chandrasekarendra Saraswati Swamigal happens to be Vaikasi Anusham. Hence the significance.

Pujyashri Mahaperiyava soon after his ascension visited Ilayathankudi and had darshan of the Adhishtanam for the first time on a Vaisaka Suddha Pournami Anusham day in the year 1908. 

And subsequently on 17th May 1908 coinciding on the day of the Jayanti, which happened to be Vaikasi Anusham of both the 65th and 68th Acharyas a grand celebration commemorating the occassion took place at Ilayathankudi. 

Pujyashri Mahaperiyava observed Chaturmasya Vratham at Ilayathankudi in the year 1924. In the same way Chathurmasyam was observed at Ilayathankudi in the years 1961 and 1962 by both Pujyashri Mahaperiyava and Pujyashri Pudu Periyava, the 69th Acharya of the Peetham.

That was the time when heads turned and adored in adulation the unparalleled services rendered Mutt which was instrumental at the successful conduct of a Conference named Vyasa Vidwat Sadas at Ilayathankudi as per the wishes of both Pujyashri Mahaperiyava and Pujyashri Puduperiyava.

Jaya Jaya Shankara! Hara Hara Shankara!