Devi Kanya Kumari

For other uses of Kanyakumari, see Kanyakumari (disambiguation).
Devi Kanya Kumari
Penance (Sanyas)
Devanagari देवी कन्या कुमारी
Tamil script தேவி கன்யா குமாரி
Affiliation Shree Bhagavathy (Durga).
Abode Southern tip of India
Mantra Amme Narayanaa! Devi Narayanaa! Lakshmi Narayanaa! Bhadre Narayanaa
Weapon Rosary
Mount Dawon (tiger or lion)
Bhagavthy Amman temple, Kanyakumari.
A view from atop to ocean

Devi Kanya Kumari, is Shree Bhagavathy in the form of an adolescent girl child. Devi is also known as Shree Baala Bhadra or Shree Baala. She is popularly known as "Bhagavathy" (Durga or Parvati) "Devi". The Bhagavathy Temple is located in Cape Kanya Kumari in Tamil Nadu; the southern tip of main land India, there by located on the confluence of the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea, and the Indian Ocean. She is also known by several other names, including Kanya Devi and Devi Kumari. She is also worshiped as Shree Bhadrakali by devotees. Sage Parashurama is said to have performed the consecration of the temple. The Goddess is believed to be the one who removes the rigidity of our mind, devotees usually feel the tears in their eyes or even inside their mind when they pray to the goddess in devotion and contemplation.[1]

History

The worship of Devi Kanya Kumari dates back to the Vedic times. She has been mentioned in Ramayana, Mahabharata, and the Sangam works Manimekalai, Puranaanooru and Nārāyaṇa (Mahānārāyaṇa) Upanishad, a Vaishnava upanishad in the Taittiriya Samhita of Krishna Yajur Veda.[2]

As directed by his Guru Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Swami Vivekananda, came here to seek Devi's blessing in December 1892, as devi is the goddess of Sanyasa. It is in this location he decided to embark on the Missionary Work to a higher level of action rather than being passive like the usual Sanyasis'. Swami Brahmananda (1863–1922) and Swami Nirmalananda (1863–1938), another two disciples of Sri Ramakrishna Parama hamsa also worshiped Devi Kanyakumari. In fact, Swami Nirmalananda brought several small girls from many parts of Kerala to worship Bahagavathy in 1935-36 period. To the surprise of all, seven girls later became the members of the first batch of Nuns of the "Sarada Ashrama", a Hindu Nunnery started later in 1948 in Ottapalam, Palakkad, Kerala by Swami Vishadananda. The rites and rituals of the temple is organised and classified by following Sankaracharya's treatise.

The author of Periplus of the Erythraean Sea (60-80 A.D.) has written about the prevalence of the propitiation of the deity Kanyakumari in the extreme southern part of India; "There is another place called Comori and a harbour, hither come those men who wish to consecrate themselves for the rest of their lives, and bath and dwell in celibacy and women also do the same; for it is told that a goddess once dwelt here and bathed."[3] [4] Kanyakumari was under the rule of the Paravar Kings till the downfall of Pandyas, and later by kings of Travancore under the overall suzerainty of the British until 1947, when India became independent. Travancore joined the independent Indian Union in 1947. Later in the state partition Kanyakumari became part of Tamil Nadu. [5]

Mythology

Purusha and Prakriti

According to monotheistic philosophies like Advaita, in Hinduism there is reference to only one God (Addressed as Para brahma, Parameshwara or Parashakti by different sects)but for the purpose of idol worship different forms of The Almighty are considered as avatar or representation of the Almighty.,[6] the supreme one, the form less and with different forms, the nirguna, the unbiased and the ubiquitous, . However, as the Veda and similar literature of ancient times are of Shruthi nature (i.e. there is no written documents and students need to lean it from a Guru by memorising), these literatures are in poems nature with well defined Rhythm (Poem meter) known as Chandass (E.g. Gayatri is one of the chandass as well as; the basic mantra of Gayatri chandass, Surya gayatri is also called Gayatri Mantra) so as to easily memorise. So for using similies, and satyres for a poem they personified many manifestations of the supreme almighty for better understanding. When Upanishads were created in the later years it changed into Smruthi (written literature), however the similies used in Brahmanas, Samhitas and Aranyakas were developed as stories. The personifications of the similes became characters in the Puranas’ (Upanishads’).[2]

During the later stage of Vedic era, when Purana, Vedanta and Itihas (Epics Ramayana and Maha Bharath) literatures emerged the importance of the basic nature elements Agni, Varuna, Vayu and Indra in the literature decreased. The worshiping of The Supreme Almighty gradually became more developed and cultured along with the literature like Bhagavat Gita. So there on rather than worshiping the natural forces Hindu worship redirected to one Supreme Almighty, they addressed The Almighty in different names Para brahma, Parameshwara or Parashakti even though all words meant The Almighty, who is ubiquitous and undefinable, as this form of The Almighty is intangible or unapproachable, the Avatars of The Almighty were believed to be the visual representation of the Almighty for making idol worship, So Hinduism on one end of philosophy is a monotheistic one but on the other end of worship is polytheist.

Different Vedantas (Advaita, Vishista advaita, Dwaita etc.) resulted in the formation of various sects (Vaishnavism, Shaivism, Shaktism) and communities addressed the Almighty in different names. The literatures became more focused on creating guides for leading a better way of life and a better society (e.g. Bhagvad Gita).[1][6] Different forms of worship arose and different avatars arose, however the worship was more or less directed towards The Almighty (in manifested or un-manifested form depending on the one who worships). The nature in which we are part of is defined as the manifested (material) un-manifested (non-material) form of the Almighty. The material or manifestation is everything in the universe we can feel with our senses (E.g. Earth, flowers, humans, stars, light, sound, taste of mango, smell of jasmine). The non material or un-manifested form of the Almighty is that things which we cannot feel by our senses (E.g. Knowledge, Creation, Prosperity, Sustain, Power, Consciousness and Control)
The feminine aspects of The Almighty (in its manifested and un-manifested forms) are called as Prakriti and the male aspects called as Purusha. The Prakriti is addressed in different names by different Hindus communities as Adi-parashakti, Bhadra, Shakti, Devi, Bhagavathi, Amman, Rajarajeshwari, Shodashi; in different locations.[1][4] All the material manifested aspects the Nature around us is classified as feminine and is the Prakriti or Mother Goddess and also the un-manifested forms Knowledge, Prosperity and Power is considered as feminine Prakriti and it is source of energy for Creation, Sustain and Control, which is the male aspect (Purusha) of Prabrahma.[4][6]

In Tantra, the worship of Prakriti is done in different methods Dakshinachara (Right-Hand Path) (Saatvika rites), Vamachara (Left-Hand Path)(Rajas rites) and Madhyama (Mixed) (Taamasa rites) in different temples. The name of Devi in temples during Saatvika or Dakshina rites is 'Shree Bhagavathy' and Vaama (left method) rites is called 'Maha Devi' similar to Maha Vidya.[7]

Shaktism views the Devi as the source, essence and substance of virtually everything in creation, seen or unseen, including Shiva himself. In the Devi-Bhagavata Purana, a central Shakta scripture, the Devi declares:

"I am Manifest Divinity, Unmanifest Divinity, and Transcendent Divinity. I am Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, as well as Saraswati, Lakshmi and Parvati. I am the Sun and I am the Stars, and I am also the Moon. I am all animals and birds, and I am the outcaste as well, and the thief. I am the low person of dreadful deeds, and the great person of excellent deeds. I am Female, I am Male"[8][9]

The Sthala Purana

The confluence of the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean at the temple

The mythological story dates back in the Vedic period. Bana an asura by birth was the ruler of his land. He was a very powerful king. He took penance and obtained a boon from Lord Brahma that his death will only be with the hand of an adolescent virgin girl.[4]
With this powerful boon, he became fearless and wreaked havoc on the entire world. He went to conquest and oust Lord Indra from his throne. He banishes all the devas’ from there. They veiled themselves from the universe. The devas’ who were the personification of the basic natural elements, Agni (fire), Varuna (water), Vayu (air) went uncoordinated and havoc spread in the universe, As Indra (ether) was not able to administer and coordinate the Pancha bootha.[4]
Bhagavathy, the unbiased Prakriti, will only balance the nature; she does not favor or bias, as she itself is the nature where all living beings is a part of. Bhagavathy manifested herself in the Southern tip of the Aryavartha, to kill Bana and recur the balance of nature.[1][6]
As an adolescent girl she had immense devotion towards Lord Shiva. The Lord decided to marry her. All arrangements were made for the marriage. Lord Shiva started the journey from Shuchindram for the marriage. Sage Narada realized Bana could only be killed by a virgin girl and interrupted Shiva’s marriage with Bhagavathy, The marriage muhurat (muhurtam or auspicious time) was in the Bhahma muhurtam early in the morning. Narada made the sound of a cock and send wrong information that the Sun has already risen and the auspicious time passed. The marriage procession returned.[2][4][5]
The poor Devi waited for the Lord and finally she thought that she has been snubbed. With unbearable insult, pain, grief and anger she destroyed everything she saw. She threw away all the food and broke her bangles. When she finally gained her composure she chooses to be a Sanyasin forever and took penance. Ages later Bana, tried to lure and approach the goddess without realizing who she was. The infuriated Bhagavathy, who was the Bhadrakali herself, slaughtered Bana at once. Moments before his death Bana realized that the one before him is the Bhagavathy, the Almighty itself. He prayed her to absolve him of his sins. Bhagavathy maintained her divine presence in the place, in the Devi Kanyakumari Temple.[1][6]

Shri Yantra- The Abode of Devi

Worship

The rites and rituals are performed in the Keralite way. Like most of the Bhagavathy temples in Kerala the shine is opened in the Western door. The eastern door in opened only in certain days of a year on the new moon days in the months of Thai, Aadi (Karkidaka) July, during Navaratri and in the month of Kaartikai. For the purpose of rites and rituals in the temple the Bhagavathi is imagined as (Sankalpam) as Balambika, the kid goddess. The goddess is considered as Devi Katyayani(Hindi: देवी कात्यायिनी), one of the Nava Durga here. She is also considered as Bhadrakali Bhagavathy by devotees while worshipping her.[4]

The mantra for worship is[4]

Amme Narayanaa! Devi Narayanaa! Lakshmi Narayanaa! Bhadre Narayanaa!
Tamil: அம்மே நாராயண! தேவி நாராயண! லட்சுமி நாராயண! பத்ரஏ நாராயண!
Malayalam: അമ്മെ നാരായണ! ദേവി നാരായണ! ലക്ഷ്മി നാരായണ! ഭദ്രേ നാരായണ!
Kannada: ಅಮ್ಮ ನಾರಾಯಣಿ! ದೇವಿ ನಾರಾಯಣಿ! ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀ ನಾರಾಯಣಿ! ಭದ್ರೇ ನಾರಾಯಣಿ!
Hindi: अम्मे नारायणा! देवी नारायणा! लक्ष्मी नारायणा! भद्रऎ नारायणा!

Devi Kanyakumari is the goddess of Sanyasa and penance, the goddess herself is a sanyasin. It is a practice that people choose to receive the deeksha of Sanyasa from here in olden times.[1] Kanyakumari Temple is one of the 51 Shakti Peeth. It is believed that the back spine area of Sati’s corpse fell here creating the presence of Bhagavathy in the region.[2]

Kanyakumari region is a part of the mythological greater Kerala stretching up to Gokarnam in Karnataka. This is one of the four Durga temples created by Sage Parashurama around Kerala for its protection. They are Balambika of Kanyakumari, Hemambika of Palakkad, Lokambika of Lokanarkavu, Kozhikode, Mookambika near Mangalore.[1][5][6] The temple was in the territory of the erst while Travancore Kingdom. So there is a strong influence of Kerala Namboothiri culture in the rites and rituals of the Temple.[2]

The other attractions inside the temple are the Pathala Ganga Theertham, Kalabhairava Shrine. Kalabhairava is a ferocious form of Lord Shiva who annihilates everything, i.e. Kala or time itself. Each of the 51 Shakti Peeth has a Kalabhairava shrine within the temple meant for the protection of the temple. The name of the Kalabhairava in Kanyakumari temple is 'Nimish' and the Shakti is 'Sarvani' and in the Shakti Peetha of Shuchindram the Kalabhairava is 'Sanhar' and the Shakti is 'Narayani'. These are two Shakti Peeth out of the 51 Shaktipeeth all over South Asia.[2] There are also shrines to Vijayasundari and Balasundari, friends and playmates of the Goddess in her youthful form.

Navarathri Mandapam is another specialty where in devotees get a stage to display their artistic ability in music as a dedication to the goddess. Shri pada paara, the rock in the shape of the foot prints of Shri devi. This is now famous as Vivekananda ppara, where Vivekanada got enlightenment to dedicate his life as an active Sanyasi rather than the usual practice of being passive.[2]

The Gayatri of Devi Kanyakumari is. "Katyayanayai vidmahe Kanyakumarim dheemahi Tan no Durgih prachodayat"[5]

Devi Kanya Kumari, is the ancient symbol of a Hindu Sanyasa. The idol is in the form of the goddess holding a rosary.[10] The goddess is worshiped by women to get a good husband. She is considered as Shri Krishna's sister. Kamsa killed Devaki's all kids immediately after birth. The child before the birth of Krishna was a girl. Kamsa lifted the kid up and threw her on the walls of the jail. The aura of Devi Kathyayani arose from the child and warned Kamsa that he is going to die in the hands of Krishna. The gopikas' of vrindavan prayed to Devi Kathyayani to get the almighty as their husband.[5][6] The mantra for marriage and getting a good husband, for girls
Hindi: कात्यायनि महामाये महायोगिन्यधीश्वरि । नन्द गोपसुतं देविपतिं मे कुरु ते नमः ॥
Kannada: ಕಾತ್ಯಾಯನಿ ಮಹಾಮಾಯೇ ಮಯಾಯೋಗಿನ್ಯಧೀಶ್ವರಿ। ನಂದ ಗೋಪಸುತಂ ದೇವೀಪತಿಂ ಮೇ ಕುರುತೇ ನಮಃ॥
Katyayani Mahamaye Mahayoginyadheeshwari । Nandgopsutam Devipatim Me Kuru te Namah॥[6]

New Red Sarees, and Ghee wick lamps are offered to the goddess by devotees. Reciting Lalita Sahasranama while approaching and circumambulating the temple is considered auspicious.[4] The location Kanyakumari, i.e. southern tip of India has been held sacred by Hindus' as it is the confluence of three seas. Pitr Tarpan and taking bath in the sea is done in the Kanyanumari beach as it the convergence of many important theerthas. There are a total of 11 theerthams associated with the temple in the ocean surrounding Kanyakumari.

The Kanyakumari Temple as a Shakti Peeth

Main articles: Daksha Yaga and Shakti Peethas
Shiva carrying the corpse of Sati Devi

Kanyakumari Temple is regarded as a Shakti peetha. The mythological story of Daksha yaga is considered to be the origin story of Shakti Peethas.[11]

Shakti Peetha means the peetha(abode) of Shakti(The divine place enshrined by Mother Goddess), due to the falling of body parts of the corpse of Sati Devi, when Lord Shiva carried it in sorrow. There are 51 Shakti Peeth linking to the 51 alphabets in Sanskrit. The Kalabhairava of the temple is called Nimish and the Shakti is addressed as Sarvani.[12][13]

Temple festivals

Pooja and worship schedule

The temple is opened for darshan from 6.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.[5]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Legends of Kanya Kumari". Amritapuri. 8 February 2000. Retrieved 2013-07-24.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Kanya Kumari Temple". Kanyakumari info. 2012. Retrieved 2013-07-24.
  3. ↑ Manna, Sibendu. Mother Goddess Candi: Its Socio Ritual Impact on the Folk Life. South Asia Books. ISBN 8185094608. Check date values in: |archive-date= (help);
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Kanyakumari Temples of Tamilnadu". templenet. 2013. Retrieved 2013-07-25.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Sri Bhagavathi Amman temple". Dinamalar. 2013. Retrieved 2013-07-25.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 (Translator), Arthur Berriedale Keith (April 29, 2009). The Yajur Veda (Taittiriya Sanhita). BiblioBazaar. ISBN 055913777X.
  7. ↑ "Dakshinachara". taantrik.com. 21 April 2013. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  8. ↑ Srimad Devi Bhagavatam, VII.33.13-15, cited in Brown(a), p. 186.
  9. ↑ Swami Vijnanananda (Translator) (2007). The Srimad Devi Bhagavatam. Munshiram Manoharlal. ISBN 8121505917.
  10. ↑ "The Invocation of Katyayani". Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati. 28 October 2012. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  11. ↑ (Translator), F. Max Muller (June 1, 2004). The Upanishads, Vol I. Kessinger Publishing, LLC. ISBN 1419186418.
  12. ↑ (Translator), F. Max Muller (July 26, 2004). The Upanishads Part II: The Sacred Books of the East Part Fifteen. Kessinger Publishing, LLC. ISBN 1417930160.
  13. ↑ "Kottiyoor Devaswam Temple Administration Portal". http://kottiyoordevaswom.com/. Kottiyoor Devaswam. Retrieved 20 July 2013. External link in |work= (help)
  14. ↑ http://www.journeymart.com/de/india/tamilnadu/kanyakumari/festivals/default.aspx

Further reading

External links

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