Kochi Thekke Thalam - My favorite temples - Part II

Few temples may be less ancient in age – but the impact which they give is beyond description. One such temple, which made a remarkable effect in my life is Kochi Thekkethalam..

Over 300 years ago a handful of enterprising men, started from a village called Kallidaikurichi,(Tirunelveli district). Their aim was to establish some business and improve their material prospects.

The Karandhaiyar palayam Samooham (of Kallidaikurichi) situated on the banks of river Thamirabarani, was the origin of a concept called Sastha Preethi. Consisting of 18 Agraharams, Kallidaikurichi was in the western ghat region, it was the border of Chera and Pandya Kingdoms in yester years.

Sastha was the beloved deity on both sides of hills. Kallidakuruchi had a temple for Sastha.

Lord ‘Manikandan’ (during his human incarnation) had come to this village and had called at the house of an old couple for some food. The Lord felt very happy with them and became "Kambankudi Daasan". People started celebrating the Lord and thus began the glorious Sastha Preethi through the Kambankudi family who hailed from Kallidakuruchi.

 

When the people of Karanthaiyar palaya samooham, moved out from Kallidaikurichi towards Kerala in search of a new life, Lord Sastha promised that He would accompany them.

Passing through hills and forests they underwent many hardships, but could overcome everything by the grace of Lord Dharma Sastha. They understood that the divine blessing of Lord Hariharaputra was following them. First they settled in a place between the present Mavelikkara and Kayamkulam. But they were not happy and were suffering with a sense of insecurity there… When the Raja of Cochin who visited Kayamkulam, found a community of businessmen there, he invited them to settle down in Mattancherry to carry on their trade.

Those days the geographical setup and main transport was water way. When the first Brahmin settlement went to Kochi, Vanchi Pattu (the boatmans song) was developed on the rivers and backwaters, sung by boatman on voyages to keep up their spirit.

 

As promised, Lord Sastha accompanied the Brahmin Community and thus they came over to Cochin. Soon was born the Cochin Karanthayar Palayam Mahasamooham.

Soon the Raja of Cochin understood the divine will and the importance of the place and he allotted the piece of land to the Samooham to construct a temple. 

The premises – though seem to look like a brahmin settlement - is a wonderful kshetram of the Lord and a witness to His endless leelas.

The Thekkemadam is located in Mattancherry, inside the Cochin Island. The main part of the shrine consists of the `Thekkethalam' and the sanctum housing the idol of Kurathooril Ayyan Lord Dharmasastha.

According to the temple history, during the time of the settlement, the people were very much troubled by the Yakshi who lived there.  She was troubling the people of Thekkethalam too. Lord Sastha took joy in teasing and tantalizing the Yakshi with His spiritual pranks. The ever merciful Lord assumed the form of a small boy and moved about in the midst of men as a member of the `samooham'. Though everyone warned the boy about the turbulences caused by Yakshi, he was least bothered. He went inside a place lit a lamp and sat there for a while. Everybody left the place out of fear. Soon He arrested her movements and averted a great havoc. He controlled the yakshi and made her reside inside the yakshi kavu.

After completing his mission – the Lord sat at Thekkethalam permanently. The cup with the vibudhi inside it which He used and an “anaiya vilakku”  - lamp lit by Him has been kept lighted permanently at the holy spot. Thekkethalam is now a part of the temple premises.

This temple has borne witness to the growth of the settlement here.

Soon after this, the samooham flourished and the celebration of Sastha Preethi along with the members of the Kambankudi family started here - as it was done at Kallidaikurichi. The festival, is to thank the lord for all the good he has done to us and praying for a better future too.

The actual temple is a real surprise for all those who look at the temple from outside. The temple premises is a beautiful place with serene atmosphere. The main part of the shrine consists of the `Thekkethalam' and the sanctum housing Kulathoor Ayyan which is fronted by a large hall. A beautiful water pond is adjacent to the temple.

There is a strange scene here. Generally we will see Sastha facing east sitting alone or with his consorts inside the Sanctum. But here the Lord is facing North, present along with Ganapati, Yakshi, Boothanatha and Shivalingam on his side. The Lord is called Kochi Thekke Thala Karthan – the master of the Thekke thalam.

We reach the sannidhanam where Lord Sastha reigns supreme in all His radiance, exuding all grace and charm! The idol made of granite is about three feet in height, with the right hand holding a flower bunch, the left hand placed on his folded knee. The image bears a close resemblance to the deity at Aryankavu.

The beauty of the deity defies all description and is more a thing to be experienced than expressed!

I can say even tens of thousands of Suryas cannot match Lord Sastha of Kochi Thekkethalam in His magnificence! 

Sree Manidasar has glorified this temple in his Panchakams and many other Viruthams and songs. Generally, the Sastha preethi performed at all other areas are symbolic and brief; but at Thekke Madam it is an opportunity to take part in the elaborate and traditional form of the sacred ritual and earn the blessings of Hariharaputra. 

The Lord is in all splendour and bestows grace to the devotees. The grace, majesty, benovelence, divinty everything put together is Kochi Thekkethala Karthan. We can see Him facing us asking “What do you wish?” and whatever we ask, he will give.

Gayathri japam during Sandhya vandhana

Question :
During sandhyavandhanam.. how many times we need to chant the gayathri mantra...how much is the minimum number..
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Answer:
Gayathri is called Vedha Matha- the mother of Vedhas. And Gayathri Japa is a duty of every Dwija. (Dwija is not only a Brahmin but includes even Kshatriyas and Vaishyas - who are initiated with Brahmopadesha and given Upanayanam.

It is one of the foremost duty given to you... Consider the case of your employment... You are given the promised salary for the work you do and do not get any additional or special pay for doing your job.. but you are questioned or even punished when you fail to do it.. The same is the case with Sandhyavandhanam.. By doing it you dont gain any special punya. But by leaving it you incur papa.

Gayathri Japam is a part of Sandhya vandhanam. The significant feature of Sandhyavandanam is the self contemplation or meditation through the Gayatri Mantra.

This is done first and foremost for one's personal Shreyas as well as Lokakshemam.

Simply chanting this Japa is of no use. One's mind should be completely focused towards Gayathri Devi. Minimum of 1008 times, is what our Shastras suggest. And if its not possible, it is suggested for a minimum of 108 times.

And now people need to reduce it even. Not only gayatri, any mantra - the more is the number the more you are benefited.

-------- An interesting episode is to be seen in an Islamic book "Akbar nama", the biography of Emperor Akbar
when Akbar was ruling India . Birbal was his minister .Akbar and Birbal would often travel incognito to collect first hand information about the various happenings within the country.

On one occasion , they noticed a brahmin going begging from house to house. Akbar pointed this out to Birbal. Birbal noticed the beggar and kept quiet. After reaching home he sent word for the brahmin to meet him.

When the brahmin called on Birbal , Birbal said ,

"Oh ! Brahmin - You collect your daily earnings through begging from me every day . In lieu of begging please chant Gayatri Japam during the three sandhya periods 108 times everyday. I shall pay you daily for chanting the mantra"

The brahmin agreed and after collecting the money from Birbal, started chanting Gayatri Mantra. This continued daily. After a few days , he thought , why not increase the chanting to 1008 times, since he had a lot of time. Birbal paid him more for increasing the count. This continued for some days but after few days the brahmin stopped going to Birbal's house for begging .

After a few days, Birbal suddenly remembered this Brahim and thought of inquiring about him. He visited the brahmin and asked him as to why he had stopped coming to his house. He was really surprised to see more and more people visiting the brahmin for his blessings and he had become a well known personality. The brahmin welcomed Birbal and profusely thanked him for putting him on the right path by guiding him at the right time. His daily meditation earnt him the power to acquire knowledge , acquire an attractive personality and soon he transformed into a good expounder of knowledge.

One day Birbal mentioned to Akbar that a saintly person had come to town and Akbar promptly invited the person and honoured him. Birbal then asked Akbar whether he remembered this saintly person but akbar could not recollect. Birbal then reminded Akbar about the brahmin beggar episode . Akbar after hearing this exclaimed "Oh! what a change".

This episode appears in the Akbar Nama and brings out the virtue and greatness of the Gayatri Mantra.
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Coming to your question, the minimum in 108.. But Shastras say during Aapath-kaalam(when one is in danger or extraordinary situation) one can chant a minimum of 10 gayathri. If you chant Gayatri for 10 times in a fully involved manner, she will definitely going to bless you. But you have to decide whether are you always in Aapath Kalam? By doing Gayathri Japa, a dwija will grow and glow in social and spiritual life and reach the final destiny.