Shree Matham
The Shree Matham temple complex is located on the west side of the Panduranga Rakhumayi Temple. At the top of the entrance of the Shree Matham temple complex, enclosed in a glass casing are the statues of Adi Shankara and his four primary disciples, along with Swami Gnanananda Giri and Swami Haridhos Giri. The Shree Matham encompasses the Maha Shodasi temple, the Swami Gnanananda Giri Sannidhi, the Swami Haridhos Giri Brindavan and Swami Namananda Giri’s Adhisthanam.
As soon as you enter the Shree Matham, the Maha Shodasi Temple is on the left side.
Sri Maha Shodasi Temple
Sri Vidya Upasana or Saktha Margam is one of the holiest paths to attain Atma Gnana or realise the Brahman. Sri Vidya is the worship of the Goddess in different forms and also includes Ganapathyam, Shaivam, Vaishnavam, Sowram, and Kaumaram as part of this upasana. This upasana-marga can be approached through three methods. Manasika Japa of the moola mantra, is the chanting the mantra in the mind. The other method is known as Vaachikam, where one recites the mantras and shlokas. The third is worshipping the idol form and is known as Kayikam. It is imperative that one follows this path only under the guidance of a Guru.
The sadhana of Sri Vidya is accomplished with Mantra japa and Yantra poojas as per the instruction of the Guru. As a disciple advances, he is given upadesa (instruction) of advanced mantras as deemed by the Guru. The ultimate worship in Sri Vidya is the mantra japa and pooja of the formless Maha Shodasi, the goddess with sixteen hands.
Maha Shodasi is worshipped either as Maha Meru or in the form of Sri Chakra.
Swami Haridhos Giri consecrated a temple and gave an idol form to the Maha Shodasi mantra as he wanted everyone to receive the blessings of the Goddess .This Maha Shodasi temple is one of its kind and the first temple of Maha Shodasi in the world.
Swami Haridhos Giri not only brought the Maha Shodasi into an idol form, but also created the forms of anga, upanga, pratyanga, parivara devathas seated beside her.
Atma vidya maha vidya Srividya Kamasevitha
Sri Shodasaakshari Vidya Thrikooda Kamakotika
In the temple of Sri Vidya Maha Shodasi, Goddess Maha Tripurasundari is depicted in different forms here.
Adi Parasakthi is presiding deity for Jyotir Mutt, one of the four Mutts established by Adi Shankara. The Vedas and Shastras hail Sri Vidya Maha Shodasi as the manifestation of Lalithamba the powerful goddess, Bhuvaneswari the ruler of this universe and Rajarajeswari the Empress.
Maha Shodasi is the culmination of three forms of Durga known as Mahatripurasundari, Lakshmi and Saraswati.
Like Tripurasundari, in her four hands she has Pasam, Ankusam, and bowl of cane sugar representing the mind, five arrows created from a wreath of flowers, a noose and a hook. Like Saraswati, she has Manikka Malai (Akshara Mala), Pustaka or book and the Veena in both the hands. Like Lakshmi, she has lotus in both the hands, and abhaya mudras in the other two hands. Goddess Mahatripurasundari blesses devotees with all her twelve hands.
She is seated on the cot of Sadasiva, which has four legs. Each leg of the cot represents creation, protection, destruction and the maya (or invisible) that are respectively attributed to Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, Lord Rudra and Lord Easwara.
Lalitha Sahasranamam praises the Goddess as ‘Pancha Predasanaseena, Pancha Brahma Swarupini’. Thus, as Mahasakthi she shines as the embodiment of Parabrahma with pancha Brahmas as her seat. As she controls the pancha-brahmas, pancha-bhoota and pancha-indriyas we call her ‘Pancha Brahma Swarupini’.
Ambika is seated in the centre with Ramaa (Mahalakshmi) and Vani (Saraswati) standing on both sides.
By the grace of the goddess, Lakshmi and Saraswati bestow their blessings to their devotees. She fulfils all their desires, through ichcha sakthi, gnana sakthi and kriya sakthi. She is the sarvamangala swarupini having her seat at Thennangur, bestowing boons and grace to all those who seek her blessings.
The anga, upanga, prathyanga family and devathas that surround Maha Shodasi are given below:
Maha Ganapati
Lord Ganapati also known as Vinayaka or Ganesha is worshipped before the start of any pooja and also invoked before any auspicious beginning to prevent any obstacles. Before the battle with Bandasura, the divine mother, Lalithambika, invoked Lord Ganesha to remove all obstacles.
Sri Bala Tripurasundari
Sri Bala Tripurasundari is the Goddess Lalithambika as a nine year old girl. She killed the son of Bandasura and when invoked by devotees, fulfils the desires of those seeking wisdom, marriage and progeny.
Sri Annapurani
On the occasion of Tamil New Year’s Day, the deities are decorated in the form of Guruvayurappan with different kinds of fruits to mark the Vishu Kani festival. A variety of pulses and currency coins placed in front of him denote prosperity for the devotees.
Similar decorations are also made on other Argita Seva days.
Sri Aswarooda
Considered as the head of the horse brigade of the goddess, she is worshipped for getting favourable verdicts in court cases, restoring the family bond and peace by clearing the feuds among couples.
Sri Raja Mathangi
The goddess Raja Mathangi is also called Mantrini. She is also worshipped as ‘Shyamala’. She rules everything with the command of the supreme goddess. She is the one who grants promotions, positions, wealth and the power to charm everyone.
Sri Vaaraahi
She is the commandant of the Goddess. She is also called ‘Dandinai’. She will completely reduce the power of the enemy and destroy them at once. She clears all obstacles when an evil eye is cast on her devotees.
Sri Soolini Prathyankara with Sarabeswara
It is the manifestation of Parameshwara who reduced the aggressiveness of Narasimha after he killed Hiranyakasipu. It is the combined form of animal, human and bird. Lord Sarabeswara rescues his devotees from insanity and the sufferings caused by casting an evil eye. Sri Soolini Prathyankara destroys even those who are sworn enemies.
Sri Sudarshanar or Chakrathaazhwar
He is also addressed as Lord Chakrarajan. He represents Sri Narayana and protects the world on his orders. He removes the evil eye, the influence of negative energy and bestows the devout with success in all the ventures.
Sri Yoga Narasimhar
He took the avataar of Narasimha – a combination of human and animal form and used his teeth and the long claws to kill Hiranyakashipu. At the Thennangur temple of Goddess Shodasi, he is seen in a calm and serene background and shows the devotee the path to gain atma gnana.
Sri Aghoramoorthy
He is the prime respondent of the devatas of Agama Shastras, who implements the commands of the goddess. He is also said to cure all dermatological disorders.
Sri Vana Durga
She controls all the good and bad devatas and removes the fear of the dark in the devotees and protects them against bad and crude events.
Sri Para Saraswati
She controls all the good and bad devatas and removes the fear of the dark in the devotees and protects them against bad and crude events.
Sri Medha Dakshinamurthy
One who guides you to gnana marga? He bestows the pragna sakthi in order to invent fresh ideas and strategies.
Sri Subrahmanya
Praised by the Vedas, he had explained the ‘Omkara mantra’ in detail to his father Lord Shiva. Hence he is hailed as a Guru and a beloved of the devotees.
Sri Chandi Mahakali
She is also worshipped as Ashtadasa Bhuja Mahalakshmi and Mahishasuramardini.
She is called Simhavahini as she rides on a lion. She is the head of the grama devatas like Kali, Mari, Renuka, Magamayi, Durga and all others. She was the one who was created by Devas to annihilate Mahishasura. She is the representation of Adi Parasakthi with three Gunas, appearing in Jyothi swarupa. She is all powerful. She has no parallel in giving gnanam, yogam, bhogam and moksha.
She occupies the highest seat in the Rahasya Thrayam and is invoked during a Chandi homam (havan or fire worship). Anyone who worships her by participating in this homam begets all round happiness, peace and prosperity (sarva mangalam).
Sri Chandika Mahalakshmi created the Ashta Mathrikas, to help her succeed in the war, the names of the devis are given below:
Sri Brahmi
She resembles Brahma in form, seated in a lotus and has the same vahana. She holds a rosary and a kamandalu. Just by sprinkling water from her kamandalu, she reduces the power of her enemies.
Sri Maheswari
She is the manifestation of Easwara’s form. She is trinetra (three eyes), holds a trishula (Trident), damru (drum) and aksharamala (garland of beads).She destroys her enemies with her soolayutham (trident).
Sri Kaumari
Seated on a peacock she resembles the form of Lord Subramanya. She carries a spear ,axe and a bow. She destroys her enemies with the weapon of Shakti.
Sri Vaishnavi
She is the swarupa of Sri Mahavishnu, rides in her Garuda vahana and carries a conch, club, sword, bow and arrow and a chakra (discus). Like Lord Vishnu she is heavily adorned with ornaments like necklaces, anklets, earrings and bangles. With the sound of conch, she makes her enemies swoon and kills them with the chakra. Praying to her will alleviate danger and misfortune.
Sri Indrani
She is feminine power of Lord Indra, seated on a charging elephant. She is armed with Vajra(thunderbolt) , goad, noose and a lotus stalk.
Sri Varaahi
The feminine form of Varaaha, Varaahi is the manifestation of one of the ten avataars of Mahavishnu, who destroys her opponents.
Sri Chamundi
Goddess Chamundi is the one who severed the heads of Chanda and Munda, the generals of Mahishasura.
Sri Narasimhi
She is the divine energy of Lord Narasimha and she is called Pratyangara. She throws all the stars into disarray by shaking her lion mane.
Worshipping the Maha Shodasi in Thennangur is considered to be equivalent to visiting all the Sakthi Peetams and all the sacred places of worship. Navavarana pooja is performed here daily, as part of Saktha form of worship. The Sri Chakra is also installed here and special poojas are performed every day. Since Adi Rahasya Mantras and Yagnas are also conducted here, the reward of standing in front of this sannidhi for a moment brings you all the grace of the goddess. Those who witness the Navavarana Pooja with the recitation of Sri Lalitha Sahasranamam are blessed forever.
All days of the Navaratri festival are celebrated here in a grand manner. Various Archanas and Poojas are performed during Navaratri. It is a real boon to participate in this auspicious festival.
Poojas for Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati are performed every day, along with homams, navavarana poojas and music recitals. Here the Goddess is seated in all her beauty, with different alankaras to bless her devotees.
Sri Ganapathi, Srividya, Sudarshana and Chandi homams are conducted throughout the year as Arjitha Seva.
Swami Haridhos Giri Brindavan
The Swami Haridhos Giri Brindavan is located in the centre of the Shree Matham hall. The Brindavan is dedicated to Swami Haridhos Giri, the founder of the ashram and was erected in 1994. The beautiful Brindavan is made of black granite with a tulsi plant on the top. Every day, Poojas are performed to the Brindavan.
Swami Gnanananda Giri Sannidhi
Swami Haridhos Giri built the Ashram in Thennangur in honour of his Guru Swami Gnanananda Giri.
Sadguru Gnanananda Swami’s sannidhi in the Shree Matham therefore assumes the highest importance in the entire complex. The sannidhi has a large panchaloka idol of Swami Gnanananda, the three holy padhukas of Swami Gnanananda, Swami Haridhos Giri and Swami Namananda Giri. A white marble idol of Radha and a black granite idol of Lord Krishna are also in the GarbaGriha. Tanjavur paintings of all the ten incarnations of Lord MahaVishnu adorn the ceiling. Devotees can also revel in the paintings of the life and time of Swami Gnanananda.
Swami Namananda Giri Adhistanam
Swami Namananda Giri was a disciple of Swami Haridhos Giri. Namaji as he was affectionately called spent his entire life propagating Namasankirtan to people around the world. He attained Samadhi in 2009. Attached to the Shree Matham Hall is the Adhistanam of Swami Namananda Giri, built with the love and affection of his devotees.
GurujiI Mani Mandapam
As soon as you enter the Shree Matham complex, outside the hall, to the right, is a beautiful dome shaped monument with glass walls. Inside the dome is the marble statue of Guruji (Swami Haridhos Giri) and is called as Guruji Mani Mandapam. Guruji was the founder of this huge ashram complex and the Mani Mandapam is dedicated to him by his devotees. The dome is surrounded by a lawn and a lovely flower garden.
