Peetham

Sri Siddheswari Peetham is located in Courtallam, Tirunelveli district, Tamilnadu state in India. Courtallam is a tourist center in India famous for its waterfall and natural beauty. The Surroundings of Courtallam has natural herbs, which is of medicinal value. It’s a border district to Kerala state, also famous for its natural beauty. Courtallam is famously known as “Agasthya Kshethram”. Agasthya is a great saint and seer of the puranic (ancient) lore who made Courtallam his permanent abode along with his wife Loopamudha a gaint Sri Vidyopasaka. Courtallam is famous for its salubrious climate with several waterfalls carrying water with medicinal value. There are nearly twelve falls. The Chithra Nadhi river a tributary to Tambraparni River starts from hilltops and identified as old falls. Main falls, Five falls, Champaka Falls, VIP falls, Tiger falls, Honey falls are some of the falls in Courtallam.

During the commencement of south-west monsoon in Kerala terrain the first showers will be in and around Courtallam within a radius of 3-4 kms approximately. It continues to shower during the season, which will be from June-September every year. Several lakhs of people of different faith from all over the world visits Courtallam during this period. Among this sick people, mentally retarded, chronic patients with incorrigible diseases besides hale and healthy people also visit and enjoy the showers of Courtallam. Courtallam is recognised as summer resort for middle class people. Showers will be profuse during the south-west and north-east monsoons.

About Courtallam

Sri Siddheswari Peetham: “Sri Siddheswari Peetham” is located in Courtallam (Tamilnadu). It is established by His Holiness Sri Sivachidananda Saraswathi Swamy (popularly known as Sri Mounaswamy) and he himself became the Founder and pontiff. From then onwards Swamiji was known as “Srimadh Paramahamsa Parivrajakacharya Sri Siddheswari Peethadhipati Sri Sivachidananda Saraswatthi Swamy”. As the Peetham was established by Mounaswamy, it is also called as “Mounaswamy Mutt”.

The Peetham is situated in an extensive area, which is about 150 acres with several fruit bearing trees and other trees providing greenery and shade to the Peetham. His Holiness Mounaswamy and the Peethadhipatis who followed after established several temples in the mutt premises. This makes the Peetham a unique place for devotees to pray, meditate and enjoy the natural beauty. The devotees who visit the mutt return back with peace and joy.

The presiding deity of the Peetham is Sri Raja Rajeswari Devi known as “Sri Siddheswari Devi”. Her consort is Lord “Kameswara”

• Sri Siddheswari Devi
• Maha Meru (Maha Marakatha Sri Chakra Meru)
• Lord Kameswara Swamy is her consort
• Naadi Ganapathi
• Paathala Pratyangira Devi
• Kaali and Kaala Bhairava
• Mounaswamy Samadhi Mandir
• Dandayudhapaani
• Sanjeeva Raaya Hanuman
• Shiridi Sai Baba

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Sri Siddheswari Devi

His Holiness Sri Mounaswamy installed the idol of Sri Raja Rajeswari Devi on 3-10-1916, during the holy days of Nava Rathri. Into that idol he invoked Sri Siddheswari Devi, who is the mooladevatha to all Dasa Mahavidyas. Sri Siddheswari Devi was descended by Sri Achyuthananda Saraswathi Swamy, the guru of H.H. Sri Mounaswamy 25,000 years back by the grace of Sri Dattatreya in Siddhasramam of Himalayas. Sri Siddheswari Devi was worshipped by the yogis and siddhas of Siddhasramam, Sri Achyuthananda Saraswathi Swamy and Mounaswamy. By the prayer of Mounaswamy, Sri Siddheswari Devi came to Courtallam and entered the idol of Sri Raja Rajeswari Devi. Thus Sri Siddheswari Devi is the presiding deity of Sri Siddheswari Peetham.

Significance:-

It is believed that Ambal with her smiling face will shower benign grace to all who offer prayers. Devotees got many benefits and fulfilment of their desires due to her grace.

Sevas to Sri Siddheswari Devi:-

NityaSeva (daily):-
Abhishekam
Kumkuma Pooja
Pushpa Pooja
Lalithatrisathi, Ashtothara Sahasranama Pooja
Devi Homam

Special Sevas:-

Special Pooja is done on every Friday, Astami, Poornima
Sri Siddheswari Devi and Kameswara Swami’s Kalyana Mahotsavam in Maagha Maasam

Devi Nava Rathri celebrations:-
Alamkaram is done daily to Ambal during the Navarathri according to the tradition.

Sevas during the Navarathri:-
Laksha Kumkuma Archana
Maha Sri Chakra Archana
Suvaasini Pooja
Devi homam everyday as per the alamkaram

Maha Meru (Maha Marakatha Sri Chakra Meru)

A big Marakatha Meru (made of green stone) was installed in front of Sri Siddheswari Devi. Sri Chakram is of 1m X 1m X 1m size, which is of its unique in its kind in India. Sri Chakra Meru is the king of all yantras.

Significance:-

Any desire can be fulfilled by doing Sri Chakra Archana to this Meru. Sri Lalitha devi’s grace can attained quickly by doing Pooja to this Maha Meru.

Sevas:-

Sri Chakra Archana
Abhishekam to Meru
Kumkuma Pooja
Khadgamala Pooja

Lord Kameswara Swamy is her consort

Naadi Ganapathi

H.H Sri Mounaswamy installed a large idol of Siddhi Vinayaka under the Aswatha Vriksha. After the installation ceremony, at the time of Aarathi, it was found to the amazement of the devotees, that the idol was oscillating and the movements of the idol was also visible. Besides, as in the human beings, heart beat along with Pulse of the idol (Naadi) was also observed clearly. All the devotees and doctors checked thoroughly and found the pulse clearly through their stethoscopes. Geologists came from Tirunelveli district tested the idol and confirmed the strange phenomenon.

Significance:-

It is believed that whoever with unfilled desires breaks a coconut after prayers at the threshold of the temple their desires are subsequently fulfilled.

Sevas:-

Nityaseva:-
Abhishekam
Garika Pooja
Ganapathi Homam

Special seva:-
For Marriage:-
Haridra Choorna Abhishekam and Pooja
Haridra Ganapathi Homam

For Education:-
Vidya Ganapathi Pooja with Brahmi leaves
Vidya Ganapathi Homam

For financial stability and wealth:-
Lakshmi Ganapathi Pooja with lotus
Lakshmi Ganapathi Homam

Chathurthi Pooja:-
To get rid of all obstacles and difficulties special Pooja and homam are performed on every Sankastahara Chaturthi.

Paathala Pratyangira Devi

This is an underground temple. Pratyangira Devi is the fierceful goddess, powerful guardian against the effects of black magic. It is believed that those who worship Pratyangira if suffering from opposition and enmity they will be relieved, enemy can be succumbed and the problems will come to an end. Pratyangira homam is performed with dried red chillies to destroy negative forces, misfortune, rivalry and regaining of the lost power.

Seva:-

Nityaseva:-
Abhishekam
Pooja

Raahu Kaala Pooja:-
Raahu Kaala Pooja is performed on every Tuesday between 2:30-4:00pm.

Amaavaasya Homam:-
On every new moon day PRATYANGIRA homam with dried red chillies is done.

Kaali and Kaala Bhairava

Generally Kaali and Kaala Bhairava have separate temples. But in Kapaala theertha of Kaasi and in Siddheswari Peetham, Courtallam both are installed at one place and Kaali Kaala Bhairava kalyanam is specially performed. Kaali is the incarnation of Goddess Parvathi. Kaala Bhairava is the ferocious form of Lord Shiva. Kaali and Kaala Bhairava Pooja is done to cure all illness, to prevent major accidents. Kaali and Kaala Bhairava homam is performed to extend the life span.

Seva:-

Abhishekam
Special Pooja on Astami, Poornima, Amaavasya
Kaali Kaala Bhairava Homam
Kaali Kaala Bhairava Kalyanam

Mounaswamy Samadhi Mandir

Mounaswamy attained siddhi in 1951. His parthivasareera was interred ceremoniously and later Neelakanteswaralinga was installed on his samadhi. Mounaswamy samadhi mandir is the nucleus of Yoga Sakthi. Mounaswamy’s statue was installed in the samadhi mandir. Many people who meditate in samadhi mandir feel the omniscient presence of Sri Mounaswamy. Even after attaining siddhi Mounaswamy blessed many meditators with his Darshan and helped them to progress spiritually.

Seva:-

Guru Pooja and Abhishekam to Neelakanteswara lingam.

Dandayudhapaani

Mounaswamy installed Dandayudhapani. Dandayudhapani is the Kshetra Paalaka of Sri Siddheswari Peetham. Mounaswamy attained siddhi in Dandayudhapani’s temple.

Seva:-

Abhishekam
Pooja

Sanjeeva Raaya Hanuman

Sanjeevaraaya Hanuman is the Kshetra Rakshaka of Sri Siddheswari Peetham. Hanumath Jayanthi is celebrated every year.

Seva:-

Abhishekam
Pooja

Special seva:-
Hanumath Homam
Hanumath Jayanthi

Shiridi Sai Baba

Sri Siddheswari Peetham is the only Sankara Peetham with Shiridi Sai temple. Mounaswamy and sai baba were friends and exchanged their yoga saadhanas like Khanda yoga. So Shiridi Sai baba is worshipped in Siddheswari Peetham.

Seva:-

Pooja
Abhishekam
Special Aarathi and Pooja on every Thursday

Additionally, following deities are also present at the Peetham:

• Nava Grahas
  
• Lord Ayyappa
• Lord Santana Venu Gopala Swamy
• Lord Yoga Narasimha
• Seeta Devi and Lord Rama
• Valli Deva SenaSahita Sri Subramanya Swamy