Residential houses around temple

Residential houses in close proximity to temples is considered inevitable in the growing demand for space in the cities.

However I decided to sound caution in this respect, particularly after seeing the disturbing conditions around the Adhi-moolar temple in Vadapalani, close to the Murugan temple in Vadapalani.

This temple is older than the famous Vadapalani temple of Lord Muruga, older by more than hundred years.

The Murugan temple came up recently only.

The Adhimoolar temple (Vishnu who granted Gajendra moksham) is perfectly placed fulfilling all Alaya vastu principles – except the peepal tree in the north east.

The temple tank that is now considered as belonging to Murugan temple originally belonged to this temple and it conforms to the vastu principles of this temple only.

This temple is certainly built by experienced sthapathis and all procedures of temple construction must have been meticulously adhered to.

The town planning and roads around the temple are something perfect and it is obvious that this temple has been a spot of activity in those days

But today this temple is without many visitors except in the month of Purattasi and on Saturdays – thanks to the overshadowing by the Murugan temple.

Perhaps vriskha-defect in the north east had lowered its significance.

The purpose of this post is not to discuss these issues.

My concern is that lot of vastu or energy violations are seen around this temple which is not good for the people living there.

A hall for 'uttar kriyas' for doing death-related ceremonies is found just adjacent to the temple wall on the North.

In the east and south, residential houses have come up adjacent to the temple wall.

Part of the temple space seems to have been encroached in the west and south, making the Thaayar sannidhi (Goddess) go to the extreme corner of 'pitr devas'!!!

This sannidhi could not have been built in this part and it is inferred that part of the land in these directions have been taken up for making road to reach the Murugan temple.

This has made the Thaayar sannidhi pushed to south west corner.

All these do not bode well for the community around the temple.

First of all, people must know that a temple is constructed for the benefit of the community.

The adage in Tamil, "koil illa ooril kudi irukka vEndaam" means that people would lose protection if they live in a place where there is no temple.

But that does not mean they can live too close to it.

According to texts, there should be no residential house just behind a Shiva or Vishnu temple.

The house will be lost and the family will be dissipated.

No house should be there within 200 yards of radius around a Shiva, Vishnu and Shakti temple.

Here the distance is calculated from the Main deity of the temple.

One yard in this calculation is the equivalent to one 'hasta', which is the measuring base for temples.

One 'hasta' which is equivalent to 24 amgulas (inches) which is roughly equivalent to 18 inches of the British system. (details of this measurement given at the end of this post).

18 British inches is equal to one yard.

So one can calculate how far away one can live around a temple.

If some one lives within this radius,

-poverty will be the result, if the temple is that of Vishnu (lakshmi kataksham will be gone)

-fear of enemies and fire will be the result, if the temple is that of Shiva.

It is not advisable to live adjacent to temple of shakthi, - on the sides – the family and money matters will not flourish.

A temple for Ganesha in the North and north west within 200 yards means public insults and obstacles and loss of wealth.

The rationale of this is like this.

A temple – that too the temple built in South Indian agamic way is a replica of Yaga shala where continuous homa and oblations are happening.

One can not sit near the Homa kunda which is continuously and vigorously burning with offerings. The heat will be too much to bear for the people sitting nearby.

Similarly, the continuously functioning temple is like a Homa kunda burning all the time. The heat of the kunda will be felt within the 200 yard- radius and people living within this area will have to bear the brunt of the heat.

This knowledge was there about a couple of generations ago. But today, agnostism and western education had erased this knowledge and even resulted in ridiculing those who point out this.

But we see the results happening.

This applies strictly to any temple built and maintained as per agama sastra.

But today many small and roadside temples have sprung up at every corner.

Obviously our ancestors have not anticipated this kind of mushrooming of temple without proper rules of construction.

In the absence of rules of construction being used, the temple's energy capability is vastly reduced.

To cite an example, in the olden type temples built as per alaya vastu,

Shanku sthapana must have been done.

A shanku or gnomon is established at 10/27 th part of the diagonal of the land (square or rectangular) and upon this only the Garbha gruha is established,

The position of the grabha griha in Adi moolar temple conforms to this.

The shanku draws the pranic energy from outside and distributes it to the entire temple and the land where the temple stands.

This is like how the umbilical chord distributes energy to the garbha (womb).

A temple such as this one – even if poojas are not done for 3 times or 6 times a day, will be continuously drawing energy and distributing energy.

One must bow before this to get benefits from this and not sit beside this and get burnt up continuously.

The Thaayar sannidhi in the south west extreme corner also will make the community around this area – Vadapalnai in particular – suffer on account of affliction to the women folk, immoral ways of acquisition of wealth and usual deaths and murders.

Perhaps this is the way Kali rules even through the temples – through violations!!

Indian system of measurement of lengths and distances.

The basic unit is 'paramaNu' or atom.

This is something which can be seen only by the vision of those who are spiritually enlightened.

8 paramanu = 1 renu (a spec of dust raised when the chariot leaves)

8 renu = 1 vAlAgra ( tip of hair)

8 vAlAgra = 1 liksha (equivalent of millimeter)

8 liksha = 1 yUka (louse)

8 yUka =1 yava (a grain of barley)

8 yava = 1 amgula (inch)

This one inch is not equivalent to the inch of the British system.

This inch is about the length of the inner circumference of the thumb (amguli).

It is equal to the length of 4 grains of barley or width of 8 grains of barley.

24 such inches of the Indian system is equal to 18 inches of the British system.

In this, there types of measurements are there taking into account, width of 8,7 and 6 barleys.

The measurement with 8 barleys is taken for measurement in temples.

24 amgulas = 1 hasta

2 hasta = 1 dhanur mushti

2 dhanur mushti = 1 danda

2 danda = 1 raja danda

2 raja danda = 1 Brahma danda

Of these, the dhanur mushti pramana (measurement) is used for measuring land around the temple.

The Brama danda is used for measuring the temple building, garbha griha etc.

Raja danda is used for measuring villages and towns.

The villages and towns were also made as per vastu principles, with suitable location earmarked for temples and ponds.

But today's town planning – though keen on allotting location for these structures – is not following sound principles of vastu in such a way to benefit the community.

Violations galore everywhere.

Butcher shops are there close to another temple near Vadapalani.

The land of the temple is grabbed by politicians.

'Koil sotthu – kula naasam.'

The pity is that the grabbers don't feel the pinch in their life time.

Their descendants will feel and they themselves will – when they are re-born.

Kala (time) is truly deceptive and with Kali reigning,

there is unabated plunder and violations.

May wisdom dawn on the people!