A walk in the rain to the God who lives in me – Marudhamalai Murugan Temple

Sairam friends,

I was really pained this week end due to some incidents which really hurt me.  I told my Sister that my parents feel, I keep saying I don’t like this girl for every girl they suggest. I told her, I know my kind of girl and only Sai has to bring her to me.  I told my Mom that no one is understanding my feelings and Saibaba is not helping and simply you think that am playing around when ever I say that I don’t want this girl.

They said, am already old enough and can’t keep dragging. By Sai grace my Sister and Brother in law spoke to my parents and asked them not to keep asking me to marry and when I find the right girl,I shall agree. I was really upset with Saibaba and told no God I worship really cares for me. All of them simply want me to do good to the world and ignore my prayers.

I wish to have been born in a western country because in India,  seems we are supposed to marry just because people expect us to get married.

I woke up and was very angry with Saibaba for playing with my life. I told him “You really don’t care for me” but felt bad for scolding saibaba. One of my friend called up and asked if am coming for a wedding. I told him, Am not coming.

You know, I can’t argue with my parents, make them upset and go out. So I remained at home, thinking what to do.

Few days back, a devotee from Madhya Pradesh asked to guide him about Temples of Dakshinamurthy in India. So wrote the article below

Dakshinamurthy Temples in India – Arulmigu Abathsahayeswarar Thirukovil, Alangudi Guru Bhagavan,Thiruvarur

I slept in the afternoon for few minutes but no dream came. I told Saibaba you are not guiding me in dream also. I woke up and decided to go to Marudhamalai Murugan Temple. My Mom asked me to worship Kala Bhairavar in the Siddhi Vinayakar Temple and go.  For devotees in North India, Murugan is Lord Karthikeya and is famous in south India in the name of Subramanya and Murugan.

A walk in the rain to the God who lives in me – Marudhamalai Murugan Temple

Couple of days back, I saw a dream of mountains and wrote the article below.

If difficulties are like mountains,climb up because Sai wants you to live on Top

I kept thinking of going to Marudhamalai and worshiping Murugan peacefully the past 2 days and I felt happy today I finally climbed the hill by foot.

Photo courtesy of Official website of Marudhamalai Murugan Temple

I love Rain and Murugan

I love Rain and fortunately it was raining. I purposely want to go in rain to have darshan of Lord Murugan so that he will know I really love him and will come to him no matter what happens. I kept my mobile inside a cover so that it won’t get wet. It was already over 6 in the evening and drizzling. I started walking after worshiping the Suyambu Vinayagar whom we can see from the grill of Than Thondri Vinayakar temple in the floor.

A father and his kid were walking speaking to each other and I kept chanting Murugan’s holy name while taking every step in the holy hill of Marudhamalai. I stopped a bit to take photo of the steps and the Temple in distance. Then kept the mobile inside the cover and started walking.

On the way, I was speaking in my mind to Sai and Murugan about the past happenings in my life. In few minutes, the rain started pouring heavily and I loved it too. Fully drenched in rain, I finally reached abode of Murugan – Marudhamalai.

Pancha Vruksha Vinayakar

I usually light lamps to the Pancha Muga Vinayakar under the holy Pancha Vruksha – Five Sacred Trees. I believe this Ganesha is called Pancha Vruksha Vinayakar. I lit 4 lamps and loved the beauty of Ganesha with five faces.

Darshan of Marudhamalai Murugan

It wasn’t crowded due to rain in Marudhamalai and I felt happy about it. I simply walked in the path for darshan with no one to follow me. iii jolly…..but some one is really following me. Sai is always following me and Murugan is always in my heart.

When I entered the main Sannidhi, I found Murugan really divine and glorious. He was shining like gold due to the alankaram they made with sandal wood paste and also many lamps were lit, many colorful garlands were offered. In so many years, today’s darshan of Marudhamalai Murugan was so divine and glorious. The priests allowed me to wait for a while and continue to have darshan of Murugan.

I thanked Murugan because my Sister got a good Job and also one of her research paper got accepted.

I took the sacred ash – Viboothi, had darshan of Pateeswaran, Marakathambal and the Varadharaja perumal. I walked out and saw a Dog sleeping near the Kodi Maram and wished to feed him but had nothing with me.

Ancient Temple of Marudhamalai Murugan

I love the ancient temple of Murugan adjacent to the main temple slightly below the steps. Here, You can have darshan of Murugan with Valli and Daivanai. In 2005, I had given StarSai.com posters with good quotes to these priests but they had forgot me. I used to speak a lot about spirituality those days where ever I go.

I love this Murugan with Valli and Daivanai. Seems, the saint Pambati Sidhar had darshan of Murugan in this temple and there seems to be a path from here to the cave of the saint.

Then I walked down in the rain to Kannimar devi kovil. Now a days some young priests are taking care of this temple. I believe these Saptha Kanyas are like Saptha Mantrikas in Hinduism who are consort of respective Gods in the form of Kanya.

Sapthamantrikas – Saptha Kanya

Brahmani
Vaishnavi
Maheshvari
Indrani
Kaumari
Varahi and
Chamunda or Narasimhi

I got kumkum here and walked to the 12th century Saint’s cave – Pambati sidhar temple. One of the priest who used to serve in this temple is a good friend of mine and knows about my visions about a saint who lived before 6000 years which I revealed to very few people. I am not going to give any hints.

Anyway, that priest was not in pambati sidhar temple today but felt happy that I came to this sacred place though it was drizzling.

12th Century Snake charming Saint – Pambati Sidhar

The story of Pambati Sidhar is very divine. Hundreds of years back, he belonged to the sect in which they hunt for snake which can bring out a precious stone (maanikam). Once during such a hunt in a jungle, the boy broke the ant hill and found a saint meditating deeply. The Saint got disturbed and asked the boy why did he broke the ant hill. The boy said he is in search of a snake which can bring out a Precious stone.

The saint laughed at the boy and said “There’s a snake in your own body and if you realize that you will be a self-realized soul”

The boy was surprised and asked how to realize the God in himself.

The saint taught him to meditate and thus the little boy realized the 7 chakras in human body. The snake is actually the ability to do dhyana (meditation) without any worldly attachment and realize the divinity in the 7 chakras which are depicted in the form of snake in a rock in Pambati sidhar cave.

I prayed few minutes, took Viboothi and walked back.

As I walked down the steps from Marudhamalai, it was drizzling and I stopped near the idumban temple to take a photo though it was raining. I found the mobile camera is finding it difficult to focus sharply due to low light.

I kept speaking to Sai, Dattatreya and Murugan in mind and also chanting the holy name of Murugan.

Then I went to Shirdi Sai Baba Temple – Nagasai mandhir.

The shop keeper anna asked where I had been. I gave him Marudhamalai Viboodhi, lit lamps, waited for aarti to get over in Dwarakamai, stood near the hot Dhuni fire few minutes as I felt good the heat getting into me after spending hours in rain.

I reached home and gave prasad to my parents. I told Murugan and all gods for fighting with my parents. Wish I could make  them happy but what can I do?

There’s a reason, why I wrote Murugan as the God who lives in me.

The greatness of listening and reciting Skandha Guru Kavasam

I love the Sacred Tamil song of Lord Murugan – Skandha Guru Kavasam so much. In 2007, I went to take care of my uncle in Chennai who had severe back ache due to L4-L5 bone pressing the nerves. They have their flat near Marundheeswarar Temple in Thiruvanmiyur and I used to go to the temple every morning.

Once I kept a glass of water and recited Skandha Guru Kavasam loudly and gave it to my Uncle. He drank it and said, it was really divine to listen to me reciting Skandha Guru Kavasam. I told him, It came to me as gift of Murugan because am also not fluent in Tamil when it comes to reciting mantra.

My uncle came to Coimbatore for a surgery in Ganga Hospital. I took him to Nagasai mandhir and also regularly used to give him the water I offer to Shirdi Saibaba in our home. The day before the surgery, My uncle started walking good and said, he don’t need surgey at all.My aunt was surprised and told him not to do this drama getting scared of surgery…he he…but uncle was really healed by Sai grace.

Even now my uncle used to say “Venkat, Its the power of Nagasai and also the prayers you do in your home”

Moral of the Story – If you keep doing prayers regularly in your home with devotion , you as a family are benefited and also the good people who come to your home as guest.

I love the following words in Skandha Guru Kavasam

“சொன்னபடிச் செய்தால் சுப்ரமண்ய குருநாதன்
தண்ணொளிப் பெருஞ்சுடராய் உன்னுள்ளே தானிருப்பான்”

The moment you do what he says , he is not mere a God in statue ,
he lives in your own heart as a enormous flame of light .

I wrote more about Skandha Guru Kavasam in below article

தமிழ்த்தாய் வாழ்த்து – Invocation to Goddess Tamil – Tamil Thai Vazhthu in dream – Sai’s way of asking me to marry a tamil girl

I hope that I did what Murugan wanted me to do and wish I do it for lifetime.

When my Sister called up yesterday, Katya was having stomach ache. As in U.S, they ask not to bring the child to Doctor immediately and see if she’s fine within 2 days, my Sister was asking Amma what to do. Mom suggested to make Jeeraka Kasayam made of Cumin seeds mixed with hot water as it will heal stomach ache. As if Katya knew Tamil very well, she immediately told my sister ” I don’t want Indian Medicines. Give me something else”.

Amma kept laughing at it all this day. Marudhamalai is a holy place known for its sacred medicinal plants and trees which has exited hundreds of years back. The Book Sri Padha Sri Vallaba Charitramrutam about the saint who lived in 13th century starts with an sacred episode in the pambatti sidhar cave. In this book, the place is known as “Marutva malai”.

I believe Lord Subramanya in Marudhamalai blesses a devotee with good health and heals both their physical and mental worries and problems. So prayed Murugan to heal Katya and also bless my parents with good health.

When I was having the glorious darshan of Murugan, I prayed Murugan to bless StarSai family and all the people who feel the presence of God in StarSai.

A Journey to Murugan who lives in me

This article may not have information about Marudhamalai Murugan Temple but its a journey of a ordinary devotee. Everyone of us has a story to tell when we go to a Temple or a pilgrimage.

OK friends, its late night. Am tired now as I walked a lot and feel blissful. Don’t know what Shirdi Saibaba and Murugan has planned for me. I am simply doing all I can for them to show me a way.

Edit:

Blessed with a Dream that shows the sacredness of Chanting Gods name in Mind – Naam Smaran

I slept at 1 o clock after writing this article and touched my Father thinking why I argued with him for all that he has done for me.Then I hugged Sai Satcharitra and slept.

There is a beautiful sentence in Skandha Guru Kavasam which goes like this

“Naathalumberave Yetridave Ninaamam,

Muruga, Muruga endre Moochallaam Vitriduven”

I will chant your holy name  so many times that I get a scar in my tongue

I will let my breath chanting the holy name of Muruga, Muruga !

I was blessed with the following dream

I see someone using a stapler and pressing in on my tongue. I am shocked but never have any pain. I see blood in my tongue and also they staple 2 times. My tongue had four holes. Again they staple in my tongue and now there were 6 holes in my tongue. As Murugan is worshiped as Aarumugan – Holy God with 6 Faces, I realized this way Murugan shows that he is pleased as I kept chanting his name during this walk to Marudhamalai and I have done such chanting in mind of various Gods for many years.

Where ever I go, What ever I do, I could make my mind remember the holy name of Sai and Gods I love.

You too can try doing Naam Smaran when ever you feel like in mind.

I am happy for writing this article because many devotees search for the term “Temples in Coimbatore” and hope this makes them feel the presence of Murugan deep in subconscious mind.

Love,

Venkat