36 Pradakshinam

Chandrasekharapuram temple resides on a hillock at Muppathadom village on the bank of Periyar river, commonly referred to as Dakshina Ganga or the Ganges of the South and the deity faces west, which is also not very common. By virtue of it being on a hill and having a Baanalingam considered to be a piece of the real Kailasam itself, this temple used to be known as Dakshina Kailasam (or the Kailasam of the South) and it is now more famous for its monthly ritual Shadthrimsa pradakshinam (or 36 pradakshinas) which is a very special and divine way of Sivaradhana.

To enhance the rareness of this mahadeva temple and to attract the immediate and full blessings of the diety which holds very special and endless power of Lord Shiva by virtue of its natural and spontaneous formation , hundreds of devotees have been doing 36 Pradakshinams with panchakshara (namasivaya) chanting on every 1st of Malayalam month in the morning and evening at 6 am and 6 pm respectively. Now a days this is a part of life of the devotees of this place to participate in the morning pradakshina which is followed by “akhandanamajapam” ( chanting namasivaya without break) which ends with the pradakshinam in the evening.

Ladies of this area from the last generation recall that in the past, girls used to pray to Lord Siva for an early alliance by fasting on Mondays, collecting 36 bilwapatras or leaves of Koovalam, recite panchakshari mantra 336 times and then do 36 pradakshinas. It was believed that by doing so on every Monday, the girl would get married within 11 Mondays by the grace of the Lord. However, in the yesteryears, this was only a way of praying to Lord Siva for maangalya siddhi (marriage alliance) but it is now believed by devotees that doing such 36 pradakshina is equal to doing a pradakshina of Kailasam with Lord Siva meditating on it, and apparently the Lord is as happy with this offering as He is with Parvathi Devi doing such a pradakshina along with her bhootha gana. The result of this offering also has become varied – removal of sins from earlier lives, cure for diseases, long life, marriage alliance, long married life, achievements in life, prosperity etc. are assured by offering 36 pradakshina. This belief is becoming more and more firm by experiences of devotees over the years.

People from all walks of life irrespective of caste, religion or region take part in hundreds for this very rare submission to God which is believed to be equivalent to the Kailasaparikrama. It is also believed that Lord Umapathi bless this submission of His devotees just like Devi Parvathi’s kailasaparikrama which is accompanied by the Boothaganam. So, it is found that offering prayers with this pradakshinam attract immediate and full blessings of the Lord, who fulfils all their wishes without fail and delay and also it is fruitful to find solutions for the devotees’ long lasting ailments and doshams.