Gajasamhaaramoorthy

[Guest guest]

Gajasamhaaramoorthy

The full moon (03-03-07) was considered by many as one of the most

auspicious times for spiritual purification. Many devotees of Siva

would have gathered at Vazhuvoor (In Maayuuram/MayilADuthuRai taluk,

Tamil Nadu, India). All go there to have a glimpse of the `inner

foot' of the dancing Lord. According to the Vazhuvuur temple

authorities, this Gajasamhaara dance happens in the Kumbh month,

Maghaa nakshatra, on the Paurnami day. Parvathi is seen standing on

the side awe-struck holding the baby Skanda on her right hip. The

infant Muruga (Skanda) points his finger to Gajasamhara. Folks say

the beauty of Gajasamhaaramurti is in the sole of his foot being

visible. " VazhuvUr " comes from " vazhuvaiyUr " where vazhuvai =

elephant in Tamil language.

Siva at this temple is called " Gaja Samhaara Murthi "

considered to be an `Ugra' form of Lord Shiva, with Shakti Herself

frightened by the fury of the Lord. One version says that there was a

demon Gajamukhaasura who after getting a lot of boons (due to his

intense tapas earlier for all wrong reasons) started torturing the

devotees in the city of Kaashi. This demon had the form of an

elephant. Standing tall as Vishwaroopa, Siva slays the demon

elephant by ripping open the skin of the elephant and covering

Himself with it. The elephant's head is under Siva's right foot and

its detached body; tail and all, held high in a triumphant dance pose

(sole of the foot exposed).

Another version has it that a group of egoistic but highly learned

saints had begun to ridicule God. They thought their knowledge was

supreme. To bring some sense to these learned saints, Lord Siva took

the form of a haggard beggar and appeared in front of the saints, who

did not recognize His true self. They assumed that He was some devil

who has come to harm the humans. They started misusing their mantras

to attack Siva by sending many forms of fierce animals and finally

the form of a mad elephant. Lord Siva disappeared temporarily when

the elephant started to attack him. Goddess Parvati got concerned.

But ultimately, the elephant was no match for Siva. He killed the

elephant and emerged attiring himself with the elephant's skin. Thus

he earned the name Gaja Samhaara. Thus Siva is known to have removed

the pride, arrogance, ego and haughtiness of the sages. So at this

temple, the siddhas and saints worship Siva to seek the inner foot

Darshan of Lord Siva that wipes out the entire Ego completely.

Sculptors opine that it is technically very complex and difficult to

create Gajasamhaaramurti of Mid-Chola fame! than Natarajas. In this

G. bronze from VazhuvUr, gaNaas are playing cymbals, With an elephant

being slayed and kept upside down, 'Siva' extricates himself out of

the carcass in a spiraling fashion and while dancing. This event is

celebrated in Vazhuvuur as an annual festival. A huge, hollow

elephant is made out of reeds, bamboo, leaves etc., this elephant is

then carried in a procession from the opposite side of the temple.

The famous Gajasamhaara, all decorated and in splendour, comes only

on this day out of the temple. Around 10 P.M, the UtsavamUrti enters

the belly of the man-made elephant. That is the climax. All lights go

out for 10 minutes or so, crackers explode: to symbolically

represent 'Siva' fighting the demon. After that an elaborate puja and

feasting follows.

Traditionally 'Siva has performed 8 heroic acts, supposed to have

taken place at 8 places .To perform each heroic act, He adopts a

specific dance at each site.

These different dances performed once a year at that particular spot,

the sculptures associated with them, Tamil / Sanskrit relevant

passages could be the subject of a good research topic on Indology!!!.

" The same pride, arrogance, ego and haughtiness appear continually in

our modern times, be it in family life, at the office, in politics or

in government. It is the most appropriate time to shun our ego,

pride, arrogance and surrender ourselves at the divine feet. " says

one ardent Siva devotee.

 

 

Warm rgds

V V R

06 Mar 007