Kambali Swamy Madam, Puducherry

Kambali Swamy Madam, Puducherry

Kambali Swamy Madam is a religious mutt located behind Thattanchavady Industrial Estate in Puducherry Town in Union Territory of Puducherry. This Mutt houses various Jeeva Samadhis of Madathipathis of this prestigious Mutt.

History

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://explore-pondicherry.blogspot.com/2020/03/kambali-swamy-madam-puducherry-history.html

The Madam

The Madam complex has an entrance on the southern side. The complex is situated amidst groves. A pond with a large stucco image of Shiva Shakthi Thandava on lotus Peedam in the centre can be seen immediately after the entrance. Idols of Hanuman and Krishna can be found near this pond. There is an entrance arch guarded by two Simha can be found immediately after the Pond.

The sanctum faces east. Nardana Vinayaga and Murugan can be found at the entrance of the sanctum. The main structure consists of long corridor, front Mandapam and Sanctum. Classrooms for conducting Yogas and office room are situated to the right side of the corridor. The Wall of the office room contains a stucco image of Rishabaroodar guarded by Dwarapalakas.

Nandi and Balipeedam can be found in the front Mandapam facing the sanctum. Another big Nandi with a portrait of Kambali Swamy can be found in the same Mandapam facing the sanctum. Jeeva Samadhi of Kambali Swamy is housed in the sanctum. A Linga has been installed over the Samadhi.

Sanctum structure includes a Nandi facing the Lingam. This Nandi placed over the Jeeva Samadhi of Ambalavana Swamigal, chief disciple of Kambali Swamy. Jeeva Samadhi of Gitananda Swamy is situated to the right side of Sanctum and close to the big Nandi. The structure is housed in a thatched hut. Stucco image of Saraswathi can be found near the Samadhi. 

Stucco images of dancing Vinayaga and Vinayagi, Linga under the serpent hood on lotus Peedam and Nandi, Nagas & Balipeedam facing the Lingam can be found on a platform, before the main entrance.

Stucco image of Horse and Naga idols can be found at the right side of main entrance. 

Stucco images of Agastya and Thirumoolar can be found before the entrance. Both the idols facing west i.e. facing the sanctum.

There is an east facing shrine for Anandha Ganapthy on the right side and Gitananda Arumugam on the left side behind sanctum with their respective vehicles mouse & peacock and Balipeedam. There is another south facing shrine for Lakshmi on the left side besides the sanctum. Elephant and Balipeedam can be found facing her shrine. There is a dilapidated structure behind the sanctum can be seen in the premises.

Jeeva Samadhis:

Jeeva Samadhis of other Madathipathis are located in an open area adjacent to the sanctum. It is situated to the left side of Sanctum with an entrance from sanctum area. Divine vehicles of Hindu Gods like Nandi, Mouse, Peacock and Dog can be found in a group in the Jeeva Samadhi area near to Sri Sankaragiri Swamigal Jeeva Samadhi.

Sri Subramanya Swamigal Jeeva Samadhi:

This is the first Jeevasamadhi in the Jeeva Samadhi complex. It is of square shape.

Sri Manicka Swamigal Jeeva Samadhi:

This is the second Jeevasamadhi in the Jeeva Samadhi complex immediately after Sri Subramanya Swamigal Jeeva Samadhi. It is of round shape.

Sri Shanmuga Swamigal Jeeva Samadhi:

This is the third Jeevasamadhi in the Jeeva Samadhi complex immediately after Sri Manicka Swamigal Jeeva Samadhi. It is of star shape.

Sri Sankaragiri Swamigal Jeeva Samadhi:

This is the fourth Jeevasamadhi in the Jeeva Samadhi complex behind Sri Shanmuga Swamigal Jeeva Samadhi and beside Sri Velu Swamigal Jeeva Samadhi. It is of star shape.

Sri Velu Swamigal Jeeva Samadhi:

This is the last and fifth Jeevasamadhi in the Jeeva Samadhi complex behind Sri Shanmuga Swamigal Jeeva Samadhi and beside Sri Sankaragiri Swamigal Jeeva Samadhi. It is of triangle shape.

Madam Opening Time

The Madam remains open from 05.00 AM to 12.00 Noon and 03.00 PM to 08.00 PM.

Festivals

Sri Kambali Gnana Desika Swamigal – Guru Pooja on Margazhi Amavasai.

Sri Ambalavana Swamigal – Guru Pooja on Aadi Amavasai.

Sri Manicka Swamigal – Guru Pooja on Aani, Moolam Nakshatram.

Sri Shanmuga Swamigal – Guru Pooja on Masi Amavasai.

Sri Velu Swamigal – Guru Pooja on Margazhi Shashti.

Sri Subramanya Swamigal – Guru Pooja on Aadi Amavasai.

Sri Sankaragiri Swamigal – Guru Pooja on Vaikasi, Pooradam Nakshatram.

Sri Gitananda Giri Swamigal – Guru Pooja on Margazhi Amavasai.

Contact

Kambali Swamy Madam,

Thattanchavady, Puducherry – 605 009

Priest No: +91 98436 73412

Madathipathi: +91 98423 11433

Connectivity

The Madam is located at about 1 Km from Muruga Theatre Signal Bus Stop, 3 Kms from Puducherry Airport, 4 Kms from Puducherry Bus Stand, 5 Kms from Puducherry Railway Station, 149 Kms from Chennai Airport and 152 Kms from Chennai. The Temple is situated on Pondicherry Bus Stand to JIPMER (Gorimedu) Bus Route. Devotee can get down at Muruga Theatre Signal Bus Stop.

All the Buses coming from Chennai (either through ECR nor via Tindivanam) stops at Muruga Theatre Signal Bus Stop. The Temple is located at a walkable distance from this Bus Stop. Taxis and Autos are also available to reach this temple from any part of Puducherry. Nearest Railway Station is located at Puducherry. Nearest Airport is located at Puducherry and Chennai.

Location

Kambali Swamy Madam, Puducherry – History

Kambali Swamy Madam, Puducherry – History

Akanda Paripurana Satchidananda Srila Sri Kambali Gnana Desiga Swamigal was a renowned Siddhar lived in early 19^th Century CE in the area today known as Thattanchavady, Puducherry. He was a great Yogi and praised as the King of Ashtanga Yoga. He was attributed to many miracles like ability of tele-transport himself, convert straw to gold and stay submerged under water for hours on end. He attained Maha Samadhi on the new moon day of Tamil month Margazhi in 1873 CE. He was interred in a Samadhi structure with Shiva Lingam on top as per Shaivite custom by his successor Sri Amabalavana Swamigal.

Sri Amabalavana Swamigal, successor of Kambali Swamigal and a devotee named Subbamal cared Kambali Swamigal in his last days. These two people were the founders of Kambali Swami Madam. Sri Amabalavana Swamigal was mainly responsible for taking care of the Samadhi Site and performing the daily Poojas and other celebrations to honor Kambali Swamigal. Subbamal, on her death bed bequeathed all her properties to Sri Amabalavana Swamigal and the Madam. He interred her mortal remains in Samadhi close to that of Guru’s and today there exists a beautiful shrine to Anandvalli, a form of Kamala Lakshmi established there by Swami Gitananda Giri.

Sri Ambalavana Swamigal fed and cared for saints who were travelling from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. Thus, this Samadhi site became a holy pilgrimage site for those who were interested in South Indian Siddha Siddhantha tradition. Sri Ambalavana Swamigal on his deathbed willed all the properties to his chosen successor Sri Manikka Swamigal who placed his Guru in Samadhi as per list last wish, directly in front of Sri Kambali Swamigal Samadhi facing his Guru for eternity.

The customs and usage of this Samadhi site were set by the second Madathipathi Sri Manikka Swamigal who conducted all the activities efficiently. The daily activities included Guru Poojas, Annadhanam, Neiveidhyam, lighting of lamps and observing Annual Guru Poojas on Maha Samadhi dates. Sri Manikka Swamigal was unmarried and had no children. Hence, this property became part of Madam. He enlarged the properties of Madam drastically. He voluntarily handed over his duties along with the property will to his successor Sri Shanmuga Swamigal before his death.

After the Maha Samadhi of Sri Manikka Swamigal, his body was interred in Samadhi in the adjoining garden area, to the north of Samadhi of Sri Kambali Swamigal. Thus, in the same manner Sri Shanmuga Swamigal, who in turn passed his authority to Sri Velu Swamigal, who in turn passed it to Sri Subramaniya Swamigal who then passed it to Shankara Giri Swamigal. Sri Shankara Giri Swamigal chose Dr. Swami Gitananda as his disciple and successor after observing him for many years while he was teaching Yoga in his Ananda Ashram at Lawspet and Thattanchavady. Sri Shankara Giri Swamigal was fully satisfied by the competence of Dr. Swami Gitananda. He was confident that Dr. Swami Gitananda could run the Madam as per Madam customs.

Dr. Swami Gitananda was one of the leading four masters on Ashtanga Yoga. During the annual Guru Pooja in December 1973, Srila Sri Shankara Giri Swamigal fell ill and requested Dr. Swami Gitananda to perform the Poojas. Sri Shankara Giri Swamigal nominated Dr. Swami Gitananda as his legal heir and successor to the position of Hereditary Trustee and Madathipathi of Sri Kambali Swamy Madam. The Madam was restored and renovated under the guidance of Dr. Swami Gitananda. The Madam became famous throughout Indian and world as an ideal Guru Kula. Because of his tireless efforts, the madam came to be called as Shanti Niketan of the South. Classes in Ashtanga Yoga, Bharata Natyam and Carnatic music were started from 1975 onwards and attracted thousands.

Dr. Swami Gitananda was trained in modern allopathic medicine. He combined the modern science with ancient yogic traditions. He attained Maha Samadhi on 29^th December 1993. Yogacharya Dr. Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani was annointed as Madathipathi of Sri Kambali Swamy Madam on 13.01.1994 by Sri Sankaragiri Swamigal. Sri Sankaragiri Swamigal was born in a village near Trichy, into the family of goldsmiths. He renounced his family life at the age of 51 and spent nearly a decade in Himalayas. He came to Kambali Swamy Madam in the early 1960s and became chief disciple of Subramanya Swamigal, then head of Madam. He had a great influence on Ananda Balayogi, son of Sri Swami Gitananda.

Sri Sankaragiri Swamigal confirmed Ananda Balayogi as the successor and head of Kambali Swamy Madam in January 1994 and attained Maha Samadhi on June 11, 1995 at the age of 95. His Samadhi is placed in the northern side of Sri Kambali Swamy Madam and daily Poojas are performed there. Since the time of Maha Samadhi of Sri Sankaragiri Swamigal in 1995, Yogacharya Dr. Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani Giri has been carrying the responsibilities of Madam under the guidance of his mother and Guru, Yogacharini Kalaimamani Smt Meenkashi Devi Bhavanani popularly known as Ammaji.

Thakkalur, Karaikal – Literary Mention

Thirilokanathar Temple, Thakkalur, Karaikal – Literary Mention

The Temple is considered as Thevara Vaippu Sthalam as Devaram hymns sung by Appar and Sundarar had a mention about this Temple. The Temple is mentioned in 6^th Thirumurai in 2^nd Patikam in 1^st Song,  6^th Thirumurai in 51^st Patikam in 8^th Song & 6^th Thirumurai in 70^th Patikam in 3^rd Song by Appar and 7^th Thirumurai in 12^th Patikam in 1^st Song by Sundarar.

Appar:

6-2-1:

மங்குல் மதிதவழும் மாட வீதி

மயிலாப்பி லுள்ளார் மருக லுள்ளார்

கொங்கிற் கொடுமுடியார் குற்றா லத்தார்

குடமூக்கி லுள்ளார்போய்க் கொள்ளம் பூதூர்த்

தங்கு மிடமறியார் சால நாளார்

தரும புரத்துள்ளார் தக்க ளூரார்

பொங்குவெண் ணீறணிந்து பூதஞ் சூழப்

புலியூர்ச்சிற் றம்பலமே புக்கார் தாமே

 6-51-8:

அஞ்சைக் களத்துள்ளார் ஐயாற் றுள்ளார்

ஆரூரார் பேரூரார் அழுந்தூ ருள்ளார்

தஞ்சைத் தளிக்குளத்தார் தக்க ளூரார்

சாந்தை அயவந்தி தங்கி னார்தாம்

நஞ்சைத் தமக்கமுதா உண்ட நம்பர்

நாகேச் சரத்துள்ளார் நாரை யூரார்

வெஞ்சொற் சமண்சிறையி லென்னை மீட்டார்

வீழி மிழலையே மேவி னாரே

6-70-3:

இடைமரு தீங்கோ யிராமேச் சுரம்

இன்னம்பர் ஏரிடவை ஏமப் பேறூர்

சடைமுடி சாலைக் குடிதக் களூர்

தலையாலங் காடு தலைச்சங் காடு

கொடுமுடி குற்றாலங் கொள்ளம் பூதூர்

கோத்திட்டை கோட்டாறு கோட்டுக் காடு

கடைமுடி கானூர் கடம்பந் துறை

கயிலாய நாதனையே காண லாமே

Sundarar:

7-12-1:

வீழக் காலனைக் கால்கொடு

பாய்ந்த விலங்கலான்

கூழை ஏறுகந் தானிடங்

கொண்டதுங் கோவலூர்

தாழையூர் தகட்டூர்

தக்களூர் தருமபுரம்

வாழை காய்க் கும்வளர்

மருகல் நாட்டு மருகலே