Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, Kalavai, Vellore
Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam is a Hindu Matha located in
Kalavai Town in Vellore District of Tamilnadu. The town
is historically significant for the Sankara Matham, and houses the Adhistanams
(place where the mortal remains of a saint are interred) of the 66th
and 67th pontiffs of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam - Sri
Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi VII and Sri Mahadevendra Saraswathi V. The 68th
Pontiff Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi Swamiji was initiated into ascetic
order and ordained as the 68th Acharya of the Kanchi Kamakoti Math
in Kalavai.
Legends
The
incident of how Mahaperiyava took over as the 68th Peetathipathi is
an interesting legend. The 67th Peetathipathi was the only son of
the widowed and destitute sister of Paramacharya’s mother. There was no one in
Kalavai at that time to console her on her son assuming the Sanyasa Asrama. So
Paramacharya’s mother with 13 years old Swaminathan (the pre Sanyasa name of
Paramacharya) and other children started for Kalavai to console her sister.
They travelled by train to Kanchipuram and halted at the Sankara Mutt there. A
carriage of the Kalavai Mutt came there to buy articles for the Maha Pooja on
the 10th day after the passing away of the 66th Acharya.
A
hereditary Maistry of Kalavai Mutt, asked Paramacharya to accompany him alone
with a separate cart engaged for the rest of the family to follow them.
During the journey, the Maistry started with a hint that Paramacharya might have to spend the rest of his life in the Mutt itself and then gradually began to clarify that the present Acharya, Paramacharya’s cousin, had fever which developed into delirium and that was why Paramacharya was being separated from the family to be quickly taken to Kalavai. T
During the journey, the Maistry started with a hint that Paramacharya might have to spend the rest of his life in the Mutt itself and then gradually began to clarify that the present Acharya, Paramacharya’s cousin, had fever which developed into delirium and that was why Paramacharya was being separated from the family to be quickly taken to Kalavai. T
he Maistry
was commissioned to go to Thindivanam, where Paramacharya was studying, but was
able to meet Paramacharya at Kanchipuram itself. Paramacharya was stunned and
was repeating “Rama Rama” during the rest of the journey. Paramacharya’s mother
later only found that instead of her mission of consoling her sister, she
herself was placed in the state of having to be consoled by someone else. It is
said that Paramacharya once set foot in the Kalavai mutt, the 67th Peetathipathi
also attained Siddhi after 7 days of heading the mutt, as if was just waiting
for Paramacharya to arrive.
So, the
young Swaminathan had no Guru at the time of initiation and sat in between the Adhistanams
of the two Gurus to be ordained as the 68th Peetathipathi. Surprisingly, a Tulsi plant is growing in
the stone slab on which Paramacharya sat and took initiation. It is said that Paramacharya
appeared in the dream of the Mutt Manager not to remove the plant since he
Himself is present there.
History
Kalavai
sprang into worldwide prominence with the association of Sri Chandrasekarendra
Sarasvati swamigal, the Mahaswamikal of Kanchi Kamakoti pitha. Two of his
predecessors on the pitha attained samadhi merged with (Para-brahmam) in the
village where their Brindavan temples
are enshrined. Providence brought young Swaminathan (the pre Sanyasa name of
Mahaswamikal) to Kalavai when he was hardly 13 years of age and was ordained as
the Head of the Kanchi Mutt under the diksha name Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi,
in this village in 1907. After the country was liberated from the Colonial rule
and its associated alien thrust, this Great Acharya by his divine wisdom and
pure and simple life guided the religious destiny of India.
He
instilled a sense of harmony and spiritual life among the people of India and
received veneration from Mahatma Gandhi down to all the leading personalities
of India. His Call to the United nations in his celebrated song "maitrim
Bhajata" - cultivate friendship and harmony among different people of the
world, - rendered into soul stirring song by the musician M.S Subbhalakshmi,
echoes even to this day. The Acharya started his march of peace and
spirituality from this village and ever since this village is a place of
pilgrimage not only for the devout but all sections of people.
Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi VII:
He was
the son of Sitarama Sastri. This Acharya's poorvasrama name was Swaminatha. He
was a native of Udayambakkam. He attained Mukti at Kalavai in the year 1907 on
Krishna Ashtami in the month of Magha of the cyclic year Parabhava (1907
AD).
Sri Mahadevendra Saraswathi V:
He was
the son of Narasimha Sastri and Lakshmi and was known as Lakshmi Narasimha
prior to Sanyasa. He occupied the Peetha for seven days only and attained Mukti
at Kalavai on Sukla Prathama in the month of Phalguna of the cyclic year
Parabhava (1907 AD).
The Mutt
The town
is historically significant for the Sankara Matham, and houses the Adhistanams
(place where the mortal remains of a Saint are interred) of the 66th
and 67th pontiffs of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam - Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi
the VII and Mahadevendra Saraswathi the V. The 68th Pontiff His
Holiness Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi Swamiji was initiated into ascetic
order and ordained as the 68th Acharya of the Kanchi Kamakoti Math
in Kalavai. The Sankara Matham is located very close to
the Bus-stand.
The
Matham also runs a home for the aged and a home for the physically handicapped,
close to the Matham premises. Unlike Kanchi Sankara mutt which is located at the
heart of the busy town and buzzing with activities all round, the Kalavai mutt
is in a very calm and serene location. You can see several Vedic students
chanting and memorizing different Vedas at different places inside the campus.
A great place to sit in for meditation and feel the vibration.
Connectivity
The Kanchi Mutt is located at about 500 meters from
Kalavai Bus Stop, 5 Kms from Kalavai Koot Road Bus Stop, 23 Kms from Arcot, 24
Kms from Ranipet, 25 Kms from Arani, 22 Kms from Cheyyar, 39 Kms from Kanchipuram,
46 Kms from Vellore and 118 Kms from Chennai. Kalavai is well connected to
Kanchipuram, Cheyyar, Arani and Arcot by Buses. Nearest Railway Station is
located at Ranipet (24 Kms) and Nearest Airport is located at Chennai (100
Kms).
Location
References
