Seven seas come to Madurai

 






Seven seas come to Madurai

 

Madurai is an ancient city with a lot of history, culture, religion and beliefs attached to it. With all this can stories be far behind. Yes. It has many stories associated with it too.

Madurai was blessed like Kashi. Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati actually ruled the city as King Sundara Pandyan (Sundareswara) and Queen Raja Mathangi (Meenakshi). Imagine a city ruled by the Divine couple. It must have been a flourishing city where the people were happy, prosperous and dharmic.

Even in regular courts, there will be visitors who come to meet the king on various matters. Imagine if the king is Lord Shiva himself. It meant that not only the citizens of the kingdom and the city of Madurai met their divine king, but sages and others came to meet the Lord and Devi to discuss many issues and problems. It was indeed a busy, spiritual and blessed time in Madurai.

One day Sage Gautama came to see the Lord to discuss a few matters. Having finished his work with Lord Sundareswara, Gautama took the blessings of Devi Meenakshi too. The Devi told the sage “Rishi Gautama, can you also meet my mother Queen Kanchanamala She had expressed a desire to meet with you.” (Queen mother Kanchanamala was the mother of Devi Meenakshi. Kanchanamala brought up the Devi Meenakshi as her daughter who was born of the yagna fire.)

Gautama was very happy to do as requested by the Devi. He went to the chambers of the Queen mother Kanchanamala. The elderly queen was happy to discuss many philosophical matters and clear her doubts on the scriptures. Queen Kanchanamala requested Sage Gautama to give her knowledge of the various forms of worship.

Sage Gautama said “Lady. There are three forms of worship – vachika, manasa and kayika. Vachika covers the verbal form of worship where one can chant the various mantras for our deities. Bhajans and kirtans can also be sung by those who are not familiar with the mantras.

Manasa is a form of worship wherein the prayer is done silently, do dharmic activity, be kind and truthful and do charity. Kayika form of worship is that form of worship where a devotee visits temples, imbibes the energy, serve the Lord and take dips in holy rivers and theerthas.”

Hearing this advice, Kanchanamala was moved. She said “Swami, I am too old. Please tell me which holy theerthas I should visit?” Gautama took pity and said “ Mother, if you can have a bath in the ocean. After all, the rivers and theerthas all flow into the ocean. If you take a dip in the ocean, that is equal to taking a dip in the rivers and theerthas.” Gautama then took leave and left.

Later the queen mother Kanchanamala told her daughter Devi Meenakshi about her discussion and expressed her desire to go to the ocean and take a holy dip. Devi Meenakshi, although a Goddess, was worried to send her aged mother far away. She decided to ask her Lord and King for a solution.

Devi Meenakshi went to Sundareshwara and said “Lord , my mother wants to go to the ocean to take a holy dip. She had a discussion with Gautama and wants to do as per his advice. She is very old. How can we send her so far awar?”

Lord Sundareswara smiled and said “Why should she go? We can call the sea here. But why one sea, we will call all the seven seas.” The moment Lord Sundareswara uttered these words, there was a loud roar and in the centre of the city a huge water body occurred with heavy waves and churning waters. The citizens of Madurai got terrified looking at the site and requested the Lord to save them. The seven oceans calmed down at the command of the Lord.

Queen mother Kanchanamala and the entire city of Madurai bathed in these waters and were blessed by the divine couple.

Elukadal tank in Madurai

This is ofcourse in the Puranic times. Interestingly there used to be a tank in Madurai city called Elukadal (seven seas) tank. This was built in 1516 AD by a Vijayanagara kingdom officer called Saluva Nayaka. This was renovated by Timmu Rauvttar who was the administrative Generala of Chokkanata Nayak in 1564 AD.

Unfortunately the tank in disuse today due to encroachments.

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