“Finished. Finished. Completely Finished.” Can you imagine hearing those words? They were exclaimed by Sri Dakshinamurthy Swamigal just days before his Maha Samadhi.
Welcome to Sri Math Dakshinamurthy Swamigal Jeeva Samadhi Madam. It is a place of peace and reflection. This site honors a 19th-century Siddhar. He was a saint known for his wisdom and miracles.
Sri Dakshinamurthy Swamigal was born Arunachalam. His parents were Siva Chidambaram Pillai and Meenambigai. They lived in Kezhaththur near Tiruchirappalli. Legend says Arunachalam’s birth was a divine blessing from Thiruvannamalai’s Shri Shiva.
As a child, Arunachalam was silent. He spent his time in meditation. One day, a sadhu visited their home. The sadhu asked what he was doing. Arunachalam replied, “doing nothing”. He said, “summa irukkiren”. When asked who he was, he replied in a similar fashion. The Sadhu declared Arunachalam an incarnation of Shri Shiva.
Arunachalam traveled to many holy places. These included Chidambaram, Tirupati and Thiruvannamalai. At Tiruvottiyur, he meditated at Pattinathar Samadhi temple. Later, he settled near Thiruvarur. He meditated at the Somanatha Swamy Temple.
A man named Somanatha Mudaliar suffered from severe stomach pain. Doctors could not help him. He prayed to Nataraja in Chidambaram. Lord Shiva appeared in a dream. He directed Mudaliar to Dakshinamurthy in Thiruvarur. Mudaliar found Arunachalam. Arunachalam cured his pain with prasad. From then on, he was known as Dakshinamurthy Swamigal.
It is believed that Dakshinamurthy Swamigal attained Jeeva Samadhi in four places. One of them is here in Chennai. The others are in Madapuram, Nellai and Rangoon.
This Jeeva Samadhi faces north. A mottai gopuram base marks the entrance. Stucco images of Shiva and Parvati adorn the mottai gopuram. Inside, you’ll find shrines to Vinayagar, Nagars and Amman. The main Jeeva Samadhi is at the center. A path allows devotees to walk around it.
Guru Pooja is celebrated grandly here. The temple is open at specific times. You can visit from 6:00 AM to 10:30 AM. It also opens from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. The madam is near Washermanpet Metro Station. It is behind Stanley Government Hospital.
Sri Math Dakshinamurthy Swamigal Jeeva Samadhi Madam is more than a temple. It is a reminder of a saint’s life. It shows his devotion and the miracles attributed to him. Take a moment to reflect on the saint’s teachings. Consider the interconnectedness of all things. Let the peace of this place stay with you.