Persecution

Due to continuous invasions and colonization, the enlightenment ecosystem of Tiruchengode, like many of the regions under the Thondaimandala Kingdom, was nearly at the brink of extinction. British era policies set the stage for government influence into Hindu temples, mutts, and indigenous kingdoms. Upon independence, previously sovereign Hindu kingdoms were forcefully annexed under the Indian State, leaving the indigenous Hindu ecosystems susceptible to further subjugation.

Over the years, the State-run Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Board began interfering more deeply into the socio-religious activities of the Thondaimandala Aadheenam, preventing the Aadheenam from performing its religious duties. The 230th Guru Maha Sannidhanam sought to revive the enlightenment ecosystem of the Thondaimandala Aadheenam with the coronation of The SPH, recognizing Him as an incarnation of Paramaśiva (the Primordial Divinity in Hinduism).

Revival

By the year 2000, when The SPH officially assumed the responsibility of the Kingdom of Thondaimandala, the 232nd Guru Maha Sannidhanam sought to continue the efforts of the 230th Guru Maha Sannidhanam to revive the spiritual lineage of Thondaimandala despite the interference. He instructed a devotee, Pongianna Gounder, to donate his land in the Thondaimandala region to The SPH for the revival of an enlightenment ecosystem. The land, in the village of Avathipalyam, resides at Bhavani Sangam, the confluence of three sacred rivers – Kaveri, Bhavani, and Amirtha.

In 2001, the abandoned land was still waiting to be revived when THE SPH arrived here on the banks of the sacred River Cauvery. At this time, THE SPH healed a countless number of people, exemplifying different techniques from indigenous medicine. Hence, the very ground exudes a profound imprint of THE SPH at an intensely grassroots level. The people actively preserve and venerate that memory through transformative initiatives.

Pre-Inaugural Function for the New Aadheenam

In 2001, Pongianna Gounder eagerly handed this historic land over to The Supreme Pontiff of Hinduism.

The land bares three sacred things:

1. The Jeeva Samadhi (final resting place of mortal remains) of an earlier Pontiff of the Thondaimandalam Aadheenam lineage

2. The Moola Linga – the energised Śiva Linga that is instilled with and carries the Blueprint of this KAILĀSA ecosystem

3. The dilapidated pillared stone structure that was part of the Tiruchengode Aadheenam temple monastery complex that existed here eons ago on the banks of the sacred river Kaveri.

The Auspicious declaration

In March 2001, The SPH held an inaugural function for the announcement of the vision for the nation, the first public disclosure of the vision for the nation. At the event the 232nd Guru Maha Sannidhanam of the Thondaimandalam Aadheenam and the Guru Maha Sannidhanam of the Dharmapuram Aadheenam had both given their blessings and guided the happening at this beginning stage. They were both prominent figures of the Shaivite traditions and had supported The SPH in the revival of KAILĀSA.

Thus, the construction of the second KAILĀSA ecosystem commenced. It was registered under the name Ramakrishna Dhyanapeetam as an offering of gratitude to the revered Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Ma Sarada Devi, and Swami Vivekananda, the Guru Parampara, or lineage, of KAILĀSA. The SPH was only 23 years of age. He began the construction of the Aadheenam brick by brick.

Tying the Turban at the Start

“You can see the photograph with My own hand writing; not to forget the date I Myself recorded, in the name of Ramakrishna Dhyanapeetam. That was the first ashram I created on the banks of Kaveri in Erode. If you see actually, the Sangha started on April 14th 2001. 2003 we became more of an organization in Bangalore, Bidadi, but 2001 was the real beginning that I started My public life.

It was 2001, April 14th that was the morning first I tied the turban, after a long time, after My Parivrajaka and realized the Avataric Mission, I was not able to tie the turban, because the head will always feel heavy. Tying the turban was not possible, so it was April 14th, 2001, I was settled into the body more comfortably and tied the turban, and decided, Come on, lets start.”

– 14 April 2015 KAILĀSA Thiruchengode Anniversary Celebrations

Inauguration Day 

14 April 2001

In this sacred land, The Supreme Pontiff of Hinduism revived and established the KAILĀSA Paramparagatha Tiruchengode Sarvajnapeetha, the ancient enlightenment ecosystem which once existed. On the 14th of April 2001, The SPH inaugurated the first structure built on the land. At the beginning of the event, a procession from the Kaveri River to the new construction was held with the presiding deities of the new KAILĀSA. Once the deities were installed in the altar, the traditional rituals for the inauguration took place.

The SPH named the new ecosystem “Ramakrishna Dhyanapeetham.” commemorating Śri Ramakrishna Mission, which He declared is the mother’s lap for Hinduism. He Himself had served in The Ramakrishna Mission in Chennai, Kanchipuram, and Kolkata, as a pivotal volunteer and monastic member from 1995 – 1999 (from the age of 17 to 21, amidst periods of spiritual wandering in between)

lost heritage

The Supreme Pontiff of Hinduism named the first structure He built here as “Ramakrishna Dhyanapeetham”, commemorating Sri Ramakrishna Mission, which HE declared is the mother’s lap for Hinduism. HE Himself had served in The Ramakrishna Mission in Chennai, Kanchipuram and Kolkata, as a pivotal volunteer and monastic member from 1995 – 1999 (from the age of 17 to 21, amidst periods of spiritual wandering inbetween). Besides the main temple and monastery structures, The Supreme Pontiff of Hinduism inaugurated some of the other important pillars of KAILASA which are: the Gomandir – temple for protecting and worshipping the sacred cows – divine beings, an annalaya – food temple for serving 24 hours free satvic food to the citizens and visitors of Tiruchengode, a safe haven for running the Nithyananda Gurukul – the traditional education system of KAILASA, and paved the way for KAILASA to function from this region in its fullest glory over the years to follow.

Significance

This sacred land has three important significance –

1.The Sacred Kaveri River

The sacred Kaveri river on whose banks the new territory is located is called the Ganga (river in North India) of the South. The sacred river Ganga, the lifeline of millions of people, originates in North India and is worshipped most fervently along its entire course. The river Ganga takes a U-turn against its own current at Kashi (also called Varanasi, the spiritual capital city of India), just to worship Kashi Vishwanatha – the Śiva Liṅga at the Kashi Vishwanath temple at that location. Similarly, the sacred Kaveri takes a U-turn against her own current exactly at this spot where this monastery is located.

2.The svayambhu Linga(the Kāśi Liṅga)

The Supreme Pontiff of Hinduism therefore installed a second Śiva Liṅga (other than the main moola Linga in the main sanctum) that carries the same energy as the Śiva Linga in the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Kashi (also called Varanasi). This monastery is therefore a heritage site equal to Varanasi (spiritual capital city of India) in its potential to liberate people. This second Śiva Linga here, consecrated by The Supreme Pontiff of Hinduism carries the same energy to liberate people in this birth.

3.The Bilva tree

Serving the people

Besides the main temple and monastery structures, The Supreme Pontiff of Hinduism inaugurated some of the other important pillars of KAILĀSA which are:

• The Gomandir, a temple for protecting and worshiping the sacred cows, divine beings,

• An annalaya, food temple for serving 24 hours free sattvic food to the citizens and visitors of Tiruchengode,

• A safe haven for running the Nithyānanda Gurukul, the

traditional education system of KAILĀSA, and paved the way for KAILĀSA to function from this region in its fullest glory over the years to follow.

The SPH offers aarti to Śri Ramakrishna, Sarada Devi, and  Vivekananda

From 2001, KAILĀSA Thiruchengode began its regular flow of activities of which The SPH was the center. The SPH began offering spiritual services from here, from healing to spiritual discourse and everything in between. People came to the new ashram and received services directly from The SPH.

A devotee bows down in deep reverence to The SPH to receive His blessings

Kingdom of  Tiruchengode Today

KAILĀSA Paramparagatha Thiruchengode Sarvajnapeetha continues to serve the subjects of Tiruchengode through various free classes, rituals for peace, and anna dhaan (the food charity). It still holds great significance and sentiment for the citizens of KAILĀSA.

A devotee offers puja and 108 naivedyams (the food offerings) to the deities of the Tiruchengode Kingdom. After offering, the naivedyams will be distributed to the subjects of the kingdom.