SHREEMATH GURU SITHANANDHA SWAMIGAL

SHREEMATH GURU SITHANANDHA SWAMY  DEVASTHANAM

(UNDER THE PRUVIEW OF HRI, GOVERNMENT OF PUDUCHERRY)

KARUVADIKUPPAM, PUDUCHERRY – 605 008.

PHONE: 0413-2235125

PRELUDE:

          This 180 years old temple is basically JEEVA SAMATHI of Shree Guru Sithanandha Swamigal and on which the idol of Siva Linga has been erected.  In addition, the temple encompassed the temples of Shree Sundara Vinayagar, Shree Guru Datchinamoorthy and Shree Ayyappa. 

LOCATION:

          The temple is situated in the ECR Road Sivaji Statue Junction, which is very busiest point in the vicinity.  In the midst of urban cluster this eco friendly temples is sprawling in the 44670 sqfts with pond, trees and shrubs.  As per revenue record the Temple is Situated in Karuvadikuppam Revenue Village. 

HISTORY OF TEMPLE

Origin:

Shreemath Guru Sithananda Swamigal is origin of Vandipalayam, Cuddallore which is 40 kms south of Puducherry.  Since child hood Swamigal used to do Spritual Services in Padaleeswarar Temple in Thirupapuliyur, Cuddallore.  Latter Swamigal completely sacrificed himself for service to God and meditate on God.  As the result Swamigal got inner enlightenment and his fame start spreading in all directions.                    

Swamigal’s Puducherry Arrival:

Shreemath Sithananda Swamigal came to Puducherry on the request of Thiru Muthukumarasamy Pillai to shower blessing to  Tmt. Annammal wife of Pillai as she had been suffered prolonged decease.  By Glimpse and blessing of Swamigal Tmt. Annamal recovered from her incurable decease completely.    This message spreaded everywhere and people from all sects came to Swamigal for his Darshan and blessings.  Swamigal also showered his blessings without any discrimination of caste, creed, rich and poor.  Swamigal fame and spiritual spectacular activities starts spreading in and around Puducherry.  People felt their upliftment in life after the blessings of Swamigal.

Pre-Announcement of date of Jeevan Mukthi:

Swamigal used to preach to his devotees on evey full moon day.  Similarly during one full moon day speech swamigal announced that his life journey is going to end and his soul is going to integrate with the Paramathma.  Astonishingly Swamigal declares that he will attain Jeevan Mukthi on 15^th day of Vaigasi Month of Hevilambi Tamil Year (28-05-1837) which is well before three months.

Attainment of Jeevan Mukthi:

Accordingly on 15^th day of Vaigasi Month of Hevilambi Tamil Year i.e. on 28-05-1837, Swamigal proceeds his spiritual routines as usual.  Huge crowd of devotees surrounded Swamigal with extreme depression.  Swamigal sat in Padmasana, closed his eyes and attained his Jeevan Mukthi in sitting posture itself.  The physical body of Swamigal was kept Samadhi in the place which was already identified by Swamigal.  In that place only the temple of Shreemath Guru Sithanandha Swamigal situated. 

Uniqueness of Temple Bell:

The temple bell of Shreemath Guru Sithanandha Swamigal Temple was made in France during the erstwhile French Regime.  Unlike any other bell, this temple bell has the précised sculpture of Sree Guru Sithanandha. This bell is exclusively casted by the French Metallurgist.  From this sculpture only the image of Shree Sithanandha was drawn. 

Temple pond:

Initially the temple pond is small and it was used for irrigating the garden inside the temple premises.  Later it was improved during 1980s. The Temple Pond is at present balancing the eco system in the temple premises. 

Mahakavi Bharathiyar and Sithanandha Swamy

Bharathiyar fled to Pondicherry which was under the French rule when he was faced with the prospect of arrest while involving in Indian Freedom Struggle activities in the year 1908.   It is said that Mahakavi Bharathiyar had a habit of writing poetry at this Sithanandaha Swamigial Temple which is surrounded by full of trees (Thoppu in tamil) where Quails come and go. Bharathiyar was mesmerised with this place full of birds and also wrote many poems sitting there. This place is was then called as Quail Thoppu . 

Sri Guru Sithananda Swamy Temple still possess a statue of Bharathiyar in sitting posture with a book and a pen in his hand.

Renovation of temple:

The construction and renovation activities of the Shreemath Guru Sithanandha Swamigal Temple has been carried out Temple at various point of times since 1837.  Recently the civil structures of the Temple has been improved and Kumbabishegam has been conducted on 29/01/2016 in a very grand manner.

Important Functions of the Temple:

Pujas and spiritual activities has been conducted in the temple on all days.  Since Guru is predominant in this temple, Thursday Poojas is very special and 1000s of devotees come to Temple on every Thursday.  In addition the functions viz. Maha Sangadahara Chathurthi, Maha Sivarathiri, Guru Poojai, Annabishegam, 108 Sangabishegam.  This year Guru poojai is very special as this is 180^th year Guru Poojai which falls on the same Hevilambi Tamil year as Swamigal attain the Jeevan Mukthi on the same Hevilambi year during 1837 i.e. third cycle of the Tamil calendar comprising of 60 years.

ADMINISTRATIVE SETUP:

     

     As the temple is under the purview of the Hindu Religious Institution, Government of Puducherry, the administration of the temple is under the control of Commissioner, HRI.  The temple is either managed by Board of Trustees constituted by HRI or the Special Officer.  At present Thiru K. Manikandan, Deputy Tahsildar has been appointed ex officio Special Officer.   Thiru Devanasenathapathy is the Chief Temple Priest accompanied by one part time priest.  The total staff strength is 14 which includes two Accountants, three watchmen, four sanitary workers, one Othuvar, one Electrician and one temple cook. 

Thank you.