Was it fate that brought Sri Karapaathira Sivaprakasa Swamigal to Vyasarpadi? Here at Sri Karapaathira Sivaprakasa Swamigal Madaalayam we remember his journey. This sacred place marks where he attained Samadhi. It is a site of peace and spiritual significance.
Sri Karapaathira Sivaprakasa Swamigal Madaalayam stands in Sharma Nagar. This area is also known as Samiyar Garden or Samyar Thottam. The Madalayam is a testament to Sri Karapaathira Sivaprakasa Swamigal’s life and teachings. Many visit to honor this great Siddhar.
To understand this place we must first know about Sri Karapaathira Sivaprakasa Swamigal. He was born in Thiruporur to Muthuswami and Sengamalam. They were of the Veera Saivam Lingayat family. He was their fourth son. Losing his father at 16 he moved to Chennai. He lived with his mother one brother and his sister-in-law.
In Chennai Sri Karapaathira Sivaprakasa Swamigal entered the betel leaf business. He entrusted his earnings to his brother. He began reading the books of Easoor Satchidananda. Later he met his Guru Rathina Desigar. His Guru taught him the teachings of Ramalinga Vallalar. He learned Pasithiru Thanithiru and Vizhithiru. He studied Ribhu Gita Thirukkural and Vedantham. He reached Samadhi through meditation.
His mother feared his deep meditation. Another practitioner reassured her. This practitioner said that Sri Karapaathira Sivaprakasa Swamigal was in deep meditation. He practiced Samadhi on the beach among casuarina trees.
His Guru advised him to renounce internally. Sri Karapaathira Sivaprakasa Swamigal continued his business. He did so without attachment. His mother wished for him to marry. His brother criticized him for wasting time. He felt betrayed due to a business loan. Sri Karapaathira Sivaprakasa Swamigal left home to earn money for marriage. He went to Thiruvotriyur to pray to Pattinathar. At 19 he renounced all clothes and wore only a Komanam.
His brother demanded the loan money back. Sri Karapaathira Sivaprakasa Swamigal told him to meet their elder brother in Thiruporur. His elder brother urged him to leave sainthood. Instead Sri Karapaathira Sivaprakasa Swamigal tried to persuade his brother to join. His brother relented and offered food. Swamiji refused saying he would live by bhiksha. He asked for three kavala of food in his hands. Since he used his hands as a vessel he became Karapaathira Sivaprakasa Swamigal.
Sri Karapaathira Sivaprakasa Swamigal then went to Thiruvanmiyur. He stayed in an ashram. He only accepted three kavala of food in his hands. He meditated deeply unaware of a snake crawling on him. He meditated under trees in paddy fields or graveyards. He suffered from dysentery. A doctor devotee helped him.
Later Sri Karapaathira Sivaprakasa Swamigal moved to Vepery. It was the home of one of his disciples. He started preaching Thathuvaneri Athivitha Nilai and Gnanam. He spoke under a Kichchili tree. Large numbers of disciples gathered. He traveled to Podhigai Hills for three years. Some devotees persuaded him to return to Chennai.
Back in Chennai a disciple created an ashram. He meditated under a Magizham tree. He entered Samadhi three times for 48 days each. A snake bite did not harm him. Meetings and discourses became frequent. Sri Sivaprakasa Swamigal wrote Anma Puranam and Thathuvatha Santhanam.
He created Anandashram also known as Samiyar Thottam in Vyasarpadi. The land had a pond and a Nagaraja temple. The ashram provided rooms for disciples to meditate. His disciples later developed the site further.
The land was registered on August 28 1914. A will was registered on December 19 1918. Chennai Corporation recognized it as a Sanyasis Samadhi on July 12 1918. Sri la Sri Karapaathira Sivaprakasa Swamigal attained Samadhi on April 4 1918. His last words were Sambo Sambo. A Bana Lingam was installed on his Samadhi.
The Madalayam complex includes seven disciples jeeva Samadhis. There is also an Adhi Vinayagar Shrine and Nagars.
The Samadhi temple features a sanctum ardha mandapam and mukha mandapam. Vinayagar and Murugan stand at the Samadhi entrance. A Rishabam is in front. The Samadhi is elevated. It has Vijayanagara style pillars and a British style tiled roof mandapa.
Today Sri Karapaathira Sivaprakasa Swamigal Madaalayam offers regular poojas. Special poojas occur on Guru Pooja Pournami and Mahashivaratri. You can visit this Madalayam between 06:00 and 12:00 and again from 16:00 to 19:00. The Madalayam stands as a beacon of devotion and peace. It reflects the enduring legacy of Sri Karapaathira Sivaprakasa Swamigal.