A Wandering Heritager: Matsya Narayana Temple / Chinmaya Tarangini/ சின்மயா தரங்கிணி / Uthandi, Kanathur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

Friday 4 August 2023

Matsya Narayana Temple / Chinmaya Tarangini/ சின்மயா தரங்கிணி / Uthandi, Kanathur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Matsya Narayana Temple at Uthandi was a Part of not popular temple’s of Chennai South Visit on 27^th November 2022. Uthandi is on the ECR Road and the temple is on the sea shore.

This temple is dedicated to Maha Vishnu’s 1^st Matsya Avatar of 10 Avatars / incarnations. In this incarnation Maha Vishnu retrieved the 4 Vedas, which hidden in the sea in the form of fish.

Moolavar : Sri Maha Vishnu as Matsya Narayana

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

This temple is facing west and Moolavar Matsya Narayana is standing at the centre on a circular raised platform. Moolavar face is similar to Triplicane Sri Parthasarathy with mustache. A small sannidhi for Lakshmi & Narayanar is on the same platform. A Moat with fish is around the circular platform. Vahanas, Tiger, Lion, Crocodile, Mouse / Mooshika, Peacock, Eagle, Owl, Swan are on the bund of the moat and their significance is given below. The Kutty’s Kovil ( consists of panels from Ramayan, Ananda Sayana Perumal, Ram Parivar, Shiva and Parvati, Vinayagar, Murugan, Om, Krishna ) is on the left and Geeta Ratham is on the left side of the entrance. Vikrama Anjaneyar is facing Matsya Narayana Perumal in Anjali hastam, Mrityunjaya Shiva ( not a regular Shiva lingam ), Navagrahas ( Navagrahas are installed on a created mount with grass, in different levels facing their respective directions ), Vinayagar, Lakshmi Narayana, Vahanas are around the circular temple.

ARCHITECTURE

This temple is Open to Sky in circular formation raised about 3 feet from the ground level with 108 Pillars of 7 to 8 feet high and Moolavar is at the centre. Moolavar is about 12 feet tall. Moolavar is with two hands holding Vedas in left hand and right hand is holding a small umbrella like material ( Chakra..?). A moat with fish is around the Circular platform. The Vahanas are on the moat’s bund. A plain and pebble path ways are formed around this Circular platform. The Pillars has the inscription of Narayana Perumal’s ashtothra namavali, in Tamil, Sanskrit and English.

HISTORY

The temple called Chinmaya Tarangini also called as Sri Matsyanarayana Dhyana Niketan, was built in the Birth Centenary Year of Gurudev Swami Chinmayanandaji, was consecrated by Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayanandaji on 24^th May, 2015 at Uthandi, Chennai. Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayananda, Swami Shantananda, Swamini Gangananda and Swami Mitrananda were present at the Kumbhabhishekam / maha samprokshanam. The land for the temple was gifted to Chinmaya Mission about 25 years before.

LEGENDS

Matsya Narayana - Chinmaya Tarangini

Millions of years ago, the world approached a cosmic deluge. Lord Vishnu, incarnating in the Matsya form, saved the seething waters by bringing everything to safety, using a specially designated marine vessel that preserved on form the seeds for continuity of all species in the ensuing cosmic cycle. Outside Bharat also, we find similar narrative prominently in several theologies of much later date.

A fisherman, once, caught a small fish that he brought home in a container. The next day the fish had grown to the size of the container. So he dropped the fish in the well. To his surprise, the fish had grown to the size of the well the very next day. Wonderstruck and confused, he presented himself to Raja Satyavrata and narrated the incident. The king transported the fish to a big pond. On the next day, the fish had grown to the size of the pond. The wise king realized that it was no ordinary fish and that it is something mystical. So, he surrendered to the fish with utmost humility and asked the fish to reveal itself. The fish smilingly said that it is Lord Vishnu and advised the king to load a special marine vessel with seeds of all species in subtle form and be ready for the day of the deluge. On the day of the deluge, the fish took the vessel to the safest point. Raja Satyavrata spent the entire journey engaging in wise conversation with Vishnu. After the deluge, Vishnu returned the marine vessel to safe land. When all the species were safe in the land, they observed that the four Vedas were missing. Deep within the dark oceanic womb lay the Vedas, hidden away by the demon Hayagreeva. The Lord as Divine Fish retrieved the sacred scriptures, so that spiritual wisdom and righteousness prevail and protect humankind.

So too, when 20^th century Bharat was oppressed by an era of decadent human values, H.H. Swami Chinmayananda emerged to resurrect the fading spiritual traditions. Working tirelessly to inspire faith In the potency of our scriptures, to enrich and transform everyday life, He brought the ageless Vedic wisdom to the masses, transcending caste, creed, country and religion, restoring there by the glory and authority of the Vedas. On the sacred occasion of His birth centenary, Chinmaya Mission Chennai humbly dedicates The Matsya Narayana Meditation Centre at the Lotus Feet of the great master and spiritual revivalist Swami Chinmayananda, The Matsya Narayana temple stands a fitting tribute to the lord who, brought back the knowledge of the supreme from the depths of disuse and certain oblivion. The 108 pillars are inscribed with the 1000 names of the lord from the Vishnu Sahasranama, each a precious indicator of the nature of the self, calling out to all to meditate on the same. The names of Swami Chinmayananda from the ashtothra are also inscribed on the pillars invoking in us, a sense of gratitude. The meditation centre is open to the sky and allows a blend of all the five elements, setting the perfect stage for the experience of oneness.

Lakshmi Narayana

Narayana symbolises the Power of Dharma. His consort revered as the Svarna Hasta (golden handed) Goddess Lakshmi represents wealth. To maintain and grow our material as well as spiritual strength as we walk the path of a Life Divine we need inner and outer wealth.

The holistic developmental approach of Hinduism emphasises the building of Artha (material prosperity) upon the unshakeable foundation of Dharma (core spiritual values) and the intelligent use of both to reach the final goal of every human experience which is Moksha (liberation).

Lakshmi Narayanar Sannidhi

Mukthi Vinayaka

This enchanting form of the Lord is worshipped as the remover of all hurdles - be the physical limitations of any kind that impede our worldly progress or subjective obstacles namely, kama (desire), krodha (anger), lobha (greed), moha (delusion), mada (pride), matsarya (jealousy) which stagnate our spiritual evolution.

Geeta Ratham

The Bhagavad Geeta which literally translates as The Song of God, is a between Bhagavan Shri Krishna and Arjuna, that is said to have transpired in a chariot readied for war on the battle field of Kurukshetra.

The chariot in this great epic Mahabharata represents our body. The five horses that pull the chariot represent our 5 senses. Shri Krishna represents the Self. The analogy of the chariot and it's component parts helps route a seeker back to the guidance and directives of the Self within.

Our Geeta chariot hosts Bhagavan Shri Krishna who delivered the Geeta. Sage Vyasa who authored the Mahabharata. Adi Shankaracharya who wrote the commentary on the Bhagavad Geeta and Swami Chinmayananda who brought this eternal wisdom of the Geeta to the common man through his electrifying Jnana Yagnas all over the world.

"When we go through Geeta - we grow through Geeta."

Vikrama Hanuman

Vikrama Hanuman, who stands facing Matsya Narayana, his hands folded in a gentle namaste, his eyes closed in concentration, is a reminder to all of us to surrender our individual egos at the altar of the supreme. Vikram means the valorous one, courageous in his quest and steadfast in his task.

As the seeker invokes the qualities of Hanuman on his quest.

Mrityunjaya Shiva

The transformative Power of Shiva is responsible for the metamorphosis of a bud into a flower, a caterpillar into a butterfly, a jiva into the Eternal Self. The grace of his Shakti is invoked here to help us overcome the greatest fear - the fear of death!

Navagrahas

Through keen observation and introspective study Hindu rishis of the past had a perfect understanding of astronomy. They were the first to measure the distance between sun and moon and earth and moon. Aware of the color of the planets long before any scientific declarations, they were also the first establish the fact that the Sun is the nexus of our solar system.

Their biggest contribution to metaphysical exploration is the connection that they drew between the movement of the planets and the consequent effects upon sentient and insentient matter upon Earth. Staggering truths that modern science is still struggling to catch up with. Invoking the potent energy of these navagraha (planets) helps us tackle any seen and unseen challenges that may arise in our lives due to their ever shifting positions in the Cosmos.

Vahanas

The term Vahana is used to describe vehicle is a carrier. The for appears to carry the form of God but also indicates a form attribute that we would do well to pay heed to. The moat, surrounding lord Matsya Narayana is studded with Vahanas of various deities. The form is visible, the formless attribute it depicts, is inscribed stone alongside.

The Vahanas are, Tiger vahana of Durga, Rishabam – Vahana of Shiva, Peacock- Vahana of Subramanya, Lion – Vahana of Durga, Crocodile – Vahaana of Mother Ganga, Garuda – Vahana of Maha Vishnu, Owl – Vahana of oddess of wealth, Swan – Vahana of Goddess of Saraswati and Mouse / Mooshika – Vahana of Ganesha.

Kuttys Kovil ( Chiildren’s Temple ).

This complex consists of Sculptures and bas-relief Panels of Ganesha, Vyasa, Muruga, Krishna, Brahma and Saraswati Devi, Vishnu and Lakshmi Devi, Shiva and Parvati Devi, Ram Parivar and Om.

In and through the process of education, child psychology concludes hat to make a child understand any concept in life one must come down to the level of the child. And so we observe how parents teachers and elders actually get down on their knees to make eye contact with the child and by engaging in age appropriate language, successfully explain things larger than life to them.

Why then must it be different in the case of Spiritual upbringing?Especially in a world like ours where religion is literally thrust upon child before it has had a chance at any pondering to relate to something that resonates with its own inner workings and understanding life? Spiritual connections that then develop within a child remain unproven, wavering and most definitely do not stand the test of time.

To address this dilemma faced by our children of today. Chinmaya Mission Chennai has come up with a brilliant and the only one of it's kind on earth initiative to create a temple exclusively for children along the awe inspiring shores of the Bay of Bengal in the undisrupted town of Uthandi, Tamil Nadu.

Kutty's Kovil : A creatively conceptualised walk through space of worship that will house child-size avatars with illustrative panels in the background of Hinduism's most popularly worshipped deities, namely - Shiva, Skanda, Krishna, Hanuman, Ram, Sita and Ganesha.

The aim of this innovation is to allow children to roam on their own these sanctified parameters, without fear or intimidation, as they listen to stories connected to each deity, familiarise themselves with the right incantations and prayers to invoke the Grace of each, and by offering whatever they are drawn to from their hearts, experiment with Lord Krishna's echoing promise in the Bhagavad Geeta -

"patram puspam phalam toyam

yo me bhaktya prayacchati

tad aham bhakty-upahrtam

asnami prayatatmanah",

Literally translated as, "if one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it."

And thus through this very personalised journey, they will avail of the blessed opportunity to effortlessly feel their way through to where they connect the deepest. This way, in time, with repeated visits, each child would form an individual rapport with either a single form of the Divine (as Ishta Devata - Lord of their Heart) or begin to comprehend and revere the unity of all and develop at a very young age the understanding of Hinduism's foremost teaching of Advaita (non duality).

For the first time ever, awarding every child the freedom to choose it's object and means of Devotion, in a fun and alluring environment that is sure to appease every one of it's doubts with regards to worship and religion, Kutty's Kovil (A Child's Temple) revolutionises the idea of Spirituality for a young seeker's mind.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from poojas to Murtis, special aarti is Shown for Matsya Narayana and Sea, where the Vedas are retrieved, after sun set.

Matsya Narayana Aarti

Il śrīmatsyanārāyaṇāya namaḥ Il

om jaya jaya namaḥ lakṣmipataye

jaya jaya jagannatha 11

சின்மய தரங்கிணியில் உறித்தருளும் மத்ஸ்ய நாராயணனே

புண்ணியம் எங்களை சேர்த்திட

பண்ணிய பாவங்கள் தீர்ந்திட

எண்ணியவுடன் அருள்வாய்

ஓம் ஜய் மத்ஸ்ய நாராயணனே

இந்து தர்மத்தை உயர்த்திய நியே சத்யன்ரதனை காத்தாய்

மன்னன் சத்யன்ரதனை காத்தாய்

வேதங்கள் நான்கையும் காத்தாய் (2)

வேண்டியதை அருள்வாய்

ஓம் ஜய் மத்ஸ்ய நாராயணனே

முதல் அவதாரமாய் உயிர்களை காத்தாய்

உலகத்தை நீ படைத்தாய்

மீண்டும் உலகத்தை நீ படைத்தாய்

ஊழியில் ஆடிய தேவா (2)

ஆழியில் துயில்வோனே

ஓம் ஜய் மத்ஸ்ய நாராயணனே

பரம்பொருள் எதுவென பக்தர்க்கு உணர்த்திடும் பரம்பொருள் நீதானே

உயர் பரம்பொருள் நீதானே

கடற்கரைக் கோயிலில் மகிழ்ந்திடும் (2)

கருணைக்கடல் நீயே

ஓம் ஜய் மத்ஸ்ய நாராயணனே

அலையினில் ஆடிடும் எங்களின் வாழ்வு

நிலைபெற நீ வந்தாய்

நின்று நிலைபெற நீ வந்தாய்

அன்பர்கள் எங்களை காத்திடும் (2)

மன்னவன் நீ தானே

ஓம் ஐ மத்ஸ்ய நாராயணனே

சின்மய தரங்கிணியில் உதித்தருளும் மத்ஸ்ய நாராயணனே

புண்ணியம் எங்களை சேர்ந்திட

பண்ணிய பாவங்கள் தீர்ந்திட

எண்ணியவுடன் அருள்வாய்

ஓம் ஜயி மத்ஸ்ய நாராயணனே (3)

Sagar Aarti

As the sun goes down on Sunday evenings, the crowds at the Chinmaya Tarangini witness an amazing sight. The Torches are lit, and the crowd looks on in awe and wonderment as the pundits climb up the stairs from where they offer their salutations to the lord of the oceans. The melodious Aarti song plays in the background and the devotees watch in silence. The only other sound is that of the waves that roll endlessly. The soothing chants calm the mind and as the flames dance and flicker. The sound of the conch uplifts the spirit and charges the atmosphere and you can almost sense the crackle of energies, focused in prayer and the mind quietens automatically.

This weekly ritual is an ode to the lord of the seas into whom all the pious rivers flow. The Ocean is as blue as Krishna and seemingly as infinite. Whilst it plays host to several creatures that are constantly on the move.

The ocean itself doesn't move, offering them sanctuary and the source of livelihood for many, and a protector of all creatures, great and small, the Sagar Aarti is a fitting tribute to the lord of the mighty oceans.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between 06.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs on week days and 06.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs to 16.00 hrs to 21.00 hrs on Weekends and Special Days.