“Oh Lord, I would never forget the blessing you gave me to render Thiruppugazh, the nectar of knowledge and devotion, which is hailed in all directions of the world, all over the west, east, north and south.” Thus said sage Arunagirinathar, in his song, ‘Bhakthargana Priya’. As said by the Tiruvannamalai saint, the author of Thiruppugazh, there is virtually no place on earth where the sound of Thiruppugazh has not reached. Wherever Muruga temples are located like USA, Europe, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, the sweet sound of Thiruppugazh is being reverberated.
Is it not necessary to have a temple for Sri Arunagirinathar whose glory has reached all the corners of the world? Would it not be ideal to have a Mani Mandapam at Tiruvannamalai, Sri Arunagirinathar’s place of birth, where devotees can come, worship and sing ? It was a high dream nourished by many devotees. With the benign blessings of Gurus and overwhelming support of devotees, the dream became reality and a beautiful Mani Mandap came up on the Girivalam route of Arunachalam. The consecration ceremony was held in a grand manner on 20th October 2023.
Among the many temples, Ashrams and Mutts that shine on the Girivalam route, the Mani Mandapam for Sri Arunagirithar serves as a great spiritual center. Many sages and saints come and give guidance and advice to devotees. In his Kandhar Anubuthi, Sri Arunagirinathar has prayed to Lord Muruga to come as Guru and grace – (Guruvai Varuvai Arulvaai Guhane). We have a glorious tradition of Guru worship. It was a momentous occasion when the lotus feet of Pujyasri Sankara Vijayendra Saraswathi Sankaracharya Swamigal of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam touched on the sacred sands around the Mani Mandapam. The President of Mani Mantapam, Sri Chinnaraj, Treasurer Sri Dhanusu, Annamalai Temple Trustee Sri T.V.S. Rajaraman and the great devotee, Sri Amaresan and many devotees extended a warm welcome to Swamigal by offering the Poorna Kumbham. Swamigal went inside the sanctum sanctorum, performed Puja and blessed all the devotees present. In his discourse, quoting a Thiruppugazh song, Swamigal exhorted the audience to bring perfection in their life by being expert in intellect and by being pure in mind. (Madhiyaal vithakanaaki, manathaal uthamanaaki..)
