Gnanadevi
Goddess Gnanadevi (literallly Goddess of Wisdom) reigns at the Pallikkaranai Aadhi Parasakthi temple as that aspect of the Divine Mother who bestows deep and abiding knowledge about everything material and spiritual.
The story of the 17th century Tamil Saivite saint, Sri Kumaragurupara Desikar exemplifies the lofty heights of Apara and Para (material and spiritual) vidya to which one can raise by invoking the blessing of the Goddess of Wisdom.
Kumaraguruparar was born in the town of Srivaikundam in Thirunelveli, Tamil Nadu. Dumb till the age of five, he began talking by the grace of Lord Muruga at the holy town of Thiruchendhur, after Lord Muruga Himself appeared in a dream and wrote the Shadakshara mantra on his tongue. Kumaragurupar burst into song with the Kandhar Kalivenpa a poem extolling the glories of Skanda.
Subsequently, Kumaraguruparar took sanyasa from Masilamani Desikar, the head of Dharumapuram Aadheenam of the Saiva Siddhanta tradition. At that time, Bharat was reeling under the cruel and barbaric rule of the Mughal emperor Aurangazeb. Masilamani Desikar commanded Kumaraguruparar to visit Kasi (Varanasi) and establish a Mutt there to spread Saiva Siddhantha. The ruler of Varanasi province at that time is believed to have been Dara Shikoh, the brother of Emperor Aurangazeb. Even though Dara Shikoh was unlike other Mughal kings, he refused to entertain Kumaraguruparar initially as he did not know the Hindustani language.
Handicapped by his lack of knowledge of Hindustani and greatly dismayed that perhaps his Guru’s mission could not be fulfilled, Kumaraguruparar supplicated to Goddess Kalaimagal with deep fervour and sought Her blessing by singing Sakalakalaavalli Maalai to gain the knowledge of the King’s language in order to be able to interact with him. It is stated in the history of Kumaraguruparar (Kumaraguruparar Charithiram in Tamil) that he received the knowledge of the Hindustani language as a blessing from Goddess Saraswathi. As a result, he was able to interact with the king and win his favour for acquiring the land and funds for setting up the branch of the Dharumapuram Aadheenam at Kasi; that mutt still exists at Kasi, more than 300 years later.
How to Worship
Likewise, by sincerely and wholeheartedly mediating upon Goddess Gnanadevi in the meditation hall in our temple, one can excel in education, a chosen profession or a spiritual and yogic quest. The mediation hall was constructed according to the rules of Siddha construction (Siddhaagama Vidhi) in order to attain concentration easily for doing yoga. We can attain wisdom, solve our problems, and feel light by praying and meditating upon Goddess Gnanadevi by sitting in proper posture at the mediation hall.
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