XII§
We have already seen how Yogaswami arranged to conduct Puranam story-music discourses, Thirumarai and Siddhanta classes in temples, devotee’s houses and shops. Further, Sivathondan society took the responsibility of publishing Sivathondan magazine and it needed an office to administer the publication of the magazine. In addition, Swamigal’s devotees needed a place to do meditation and religious practices (sadhana). To fulfill all these needs Sivathondan Nilayam (Centre) was inaugurated on 4.11.1953.§
The house selected for Sivathondan Nilayam in Vannarpannai was closer to Saiva Welfare Society, Hindu College, Vaidyeeswaran Temple, Vaidyeshwara Vidyalayam, Navalar Vidyalayam and Saiva Pragasa Workshop. It is apt that Sivathondan Nilayam was located in Vannarpannai, the hub of many Saiva religious societies.§
We will understand the objectives for the Sivathondan Nilayam if we look at the plan of the building. The Sivathondan Nilayam was complete with a Purana Hall, meditation Hall, rooms for the followers to stay, kitchen and washroom facilities. In the Purana Hall, activities such as Purana and music discourses, recitation of Thirumurai and memorizing practice of Natchinthanai were conducted. In the meditation Hall upstairs, a Thiruvadi (Holy Feet) was enshrined and silence is always observed. At the time of Pooja to Holy Feet, the bell is rung, only arathi (showing of camphor flame) and pushpanjali (flower oblations) are done but the recitation of Thirumurai would be stopped.§
The Mattakalappu Sengaladi Nilayam follows the same pattern of Sivathondan Nilayam in Jaffna.§
The Thiruvadi Pooja was important and central in Swamigal life, which signifies Holy Grace. At first, the holy Thiruvadi was placed on a pedestal specially designed, to the West of the well in the flower garden of the temple land, opposite Columbuthurai Ashram. But that Thiruvadi got lost, and they placed a new Thiruvadi in the eastern corner of the north side of the Ashram building of Swamigal. Every year, on second Monday in the month of Panguni, special Pooja was held for Thiruvadi.§
Swamigal revived and gave a new impetus for Tiruvadi Pooja, which was a tradition in Hindu Religion, but had become uncommon now. In Ramayanam, Bharadan went to jungle and requested Rama to come back to Ayodya to rule the country. When Rama refused, Bharadan got his sandals, did coronation ceremony for that and ruled the country as a representative of Rama.§
Our preceptors had sung the glory of Thiruvadi in many Holy verses in Thevaram. Thiruganasambanthar, in his Koyil Thirupatigam, had sung, “praising bountiful God’s Holy Feet is wealth of wealth”.§
“Across prosperous towers sky high§
With golden moon shining §
Very wealthy and well learned people living in Thillai Chithrambalam, Praising bountiful God’s Feet which is wealth of wealth.”§
Appar Swamigal had sung the glory of Tiruvadi in Tirutandagam and in Tiruvadi Tiruvirutham. In the first song of Thiruvadi Thiruvirutham he had praised the glory of Tiruvadi as follows.§
“The Holy Feet of Aiyarappan who dons circled serpent§
Who beyond thoughts, beyond comprehension§
To those able, special ambrosia pours§
Removing all past karmas and giving muktiӤ
Sundaramoorthy Swamigal in Thirupunkur Thirupathigam refers to the grace of Siva on His devotees and to receive such Siva’s Grace, he too surrendered to God’s Holy Feet. The following is a verse from the song :§
“When the Lord of Death came§
A Sage took refuge, Thou saved him§
For this reason I too take refuge unto Thou Holy Feet,§
So when Yama comes, tell him I’m Thou devotee§
And save me from death§
Oh Lord of bountiful Tirupunkur.Ӥ
Manickavasagar had sung many verses on the glory of Thiruvadi beginning from his very first song of Sivapuranam. In the first line of Sivapuranam, he had sung,§
“Long Live Namasivaya, §
Long live the the Lord’s Holy Feet”§
and ended the song by,§
“They will be placed under the Holy Feet, §
To the delight of multitude of people.” §
In Vaishnavam also, the Holy Feet has special significance. Ganesaiyer, in his memorial issue, has written as follows:§
“Those who have been to Vaishnava temple could not have missed noticing a crown like ornament on the feet of procession deity in the sanctum sanctorum. This object is called, ‘Sadagopam’ and is seen in all Vishnu Temples. In Vishnu temples, after the Pooja, they will place this Sadagopam on the head of the devotees to bless them. On close examination one will find two foot steps carved on the Sadagopam. Those are the Holy Feet of the God that we go to worship. In Vishnu Temples, the first Pooja is done to this Sadagopam. Vaishanavites, who firmly believe in the philosophy of surrender to the Holy Feet of Vishnu, avidly regard this surrender as their lifetime goal. To signify this, the Holy Feet of the deity is deeply respected, honored and revered in Vishnu Temples and is placed on the head of devotees as blessings.”§
In Sivathondan Nilayam, on special occasions such as Maha Sivaratri, Tiruvadi Pooja, Swamigal Guru Pooja and Tiruvathirai, special abishekam and elaborate Soda-Sobasara Pooja to Thiruvadi is done. On ordinary days, Pooja is done in morning and evenings. On special Homa days, Pooja is also done in midday.§
In Sivathondan Nilayam, daily in the evenings, Puranam story-music discourses and Tirumurai recitation are done regularly. Thirumurai classes are conducted on Saturdays and Sundays and Siddhanta classes on Sundays. Homa is done on the first Sunday of each month. The Sivathondan Nilayam also sponsors Maheswara Pooja (Annathanam) in Nallur Temple on every Nakshatra day of Maha Samadhi of Chellappaswamigal (Asvini) and Yoga Swamigal (Ayiliyam).§
Swamigal never entered the Sivathondan Nilayam until 1963 i.e. some time before His Maha Samadhi, though he founded and looked after its administration. In following lines He gave the reasons: “I move with different types of people. If I go in they too will follow me in. This Nilayam has a Holy order to follow. But we have no tradition.”§
I want to mention about an incident happened in 1963 at the time when Swamigal was living in Sivathondan Nilayam. Professor T.M.P. Mahadevan had come to Jaffna to launch a book, “Studies in Hinduism” written by Kalaipulavar Navaratnam. As he had already visited Swamigal in a previous occasion and got blessed, he wanted to visit Him again. Professor was staying with me and I took him to Sivathondan Nilayam in the evening around 4 o’clock. At that time, Swamigal was sick as he had fractured His leg. When we reached there, teacher Sellathurai, who was responsible for the activities in Sivathondan Nilayam, was wiping Swamigal’s Holy Body. He asked us to wait outside for a while. Once cleaning was done Swamigal applied Holy ash liberally on His body and appeared like Lord Thatchinamoorthy. Teacher Sellathurai ushered us to come in. We went in, paid obeisance and sat there. Swamigal was in meditation for long time and then gave permission for Mahadevan’s departure.§
The interesting thing was Swamigal suddenly had instructed Sellathurai teacher much earlier to wash Him just few hours before we went there. According to him, Swamigal had told he wanted to keep the body clean. It must be that Swamigal wanted to give special Darshan to Professor Mahadevan.§
When Professor visited Sri Lanka in 1955, some miracles happened. At that time Prof. Menakshisundaranar, Prof. Mahadevan and Prof. A.S. Ganasambandan had come as invited guests to attend the anniversary celebration of Parameshwara College. They stayed with Mr. Nadesapillai as guests. They visited Swamigal on their first day and Swamigal asked them to come the next day too. The next day they wanted to take some food to Swamigal and arranged with the cook of Mr. Nadesapillai. But, unexpectedly, the cook got sick. They arranged for other alternatives but that too did not materialise. Anyway they went there again with some disappointment. Swamigal greeted them and asked, “Why do you want to bring food from Mr. Nadesapillai? Do you think we cannot give you food?” On hearing this, all three were shocked. Then Swamigal served food to everyone. While eating, Mahadevan thought in his mind that how nice would it be to receive food from Swamigal’s hand from His serving. Immediately, Swamigal mixed well His food on His leaf and served a portion of His food on Mahadevan’s leaf. When grapes were served, Ganasambandan thought how nice if the skin is peeled off. Swamigal peeled off the skin and gave it to Ganasambandan.§
After this experience, the Professors wanted to know more about Swamigal. At that time, no writings on Swamigal was available in essay or book form. I had a hand-written article about Swamigal written several years ago. It was was not published as I was afraid of Swamigal. I got them typewritten and gave them a copy. Later, I showed the copy to Kalaipulavar, got his approval, and got it published in ‘Veerakesari ‘ with a pseudo name ‘Sivanadiyan’. After some time it came out as small booklets.§
Swamigal desired that devotees should assemble in Sivathondan Nilayam from time to time and involve in Ashram life. At one time, he made some students and teachers from Parameshwara College and Vaidyeshwara Vidyalayam to stay in the Ashram for two days in a month. The following Natchinthanai Song explains the goals of Sivathondan Nilayam:§
“Join Sivathondan Nilayam Meditate and attain salvation Rest in silence§
Regard this as Mantra.§
You want to know that man and this man§
But do you know the Atma is immortal§
Bear in mind it’s bliss uncomparable§
Know that All is Truth§
Do not indulge in lure of five organs§
Do conquer the Five senses§
Let go extreme enimosity§
Learn Vedanta and Siddhanta§
Know that There is No Wrong§
Worship chanting Aum Sivayanama§
Melt your hearts and attain Bliss§
Know that this is solid Truth.§