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The First Kakasseri Padapooja

   On Arudhra celebration day, when the stars of Mrigasheersha and Thiruvadirai (signs of the Hindu zodiac) were in conjunction, the padukas were brought to Thirukkadaiyur Abhirami temple (a famous Devi temple in Tamilnadu state) sannadhi on 1^st January, 1999 by the last son of a lady named Sivakamasundari in whose form Swami had received the first darshan of Goddess Chothanikkara Devi. The padukas were delivered to one of Swami's devotees. He was celebrating his sixtieth birthday on that day. That couple brought the padukas to Bagavathi siddhar peetam in Tambaram.

   When Swami asked Devi for the reason the padukas going from the sannadhi of Abirami and subsequently to the siddhar peetam, Ambal told him the story of Abirami Pattar (a priest in Abirami temple) where on new moon day, Ambal made the full moon appear in the sky to save Abirami Pattar. On this occasion, Ambal had decided to convert the full moon day to a new moon day (Amavasya - a pithru karma day according to Hindu religion), so that pithru karma can be performed here at the siddhar peetam.

   By performing the pada pooja to the padukas of Kakasseri who is the rishi for pithru lokam and feeding some five to ten persons on that day, the pithrus of the concerned persons will be fully satisfied and they will be absolved of all pithru dosham. The conversion of full moon day to new moon day was done by Ambal just like the new moon was made to appear as a full moon by casting her earring into the sky and making it glow as the full moon to support and save her devotee Abhirami Pattar, who by mistake had said to his king that the moon can be seen on a new moon day.

   Thus Swami invoked the grace of Ambal to convert the full moon day into pithru karma day on the day when the prathishta of the kakasseri padukas was to be done. The pithrus of all the devotees who participated in the Paduka Prathishta day celebrations were given Moksham (salvation).

   The next day, after the pooja, Swami explained that for anyone who has performed Kakasseri Pada pooja, there is no need for the yearly srardhams for their forefathers, no need for performing rites on pithru karma days (Amavasya) and no need to feed the crows daily as per Hindu tradition. The reason being that all forefathers of the last three generations would have attained salvation and also the present generation (the devotees themselves) had all been guaranteed mukthi (salvation) and so they need not worry whether their children would perform the necessary religious rites for them or not.

   Thus, the obstacles arising to devotees due to their forefathers' grievances and their janmanthara karmas (karmic actions in a lifetime) of previous births have been completely wiped out by performing Kakasseri pada pooja as per Swami's divine grace and advice. This pada pooja can be performed by anyone, of course only after obtaining Swami's permission. Whenever anyone approaches Swami and seeks his blessings, Swami by his divine vision will know the seeker's problems and troubles and he will advise them accordingly about the date and day of the pada pooja to be done if necessary. The concerned persons can perform the pada pooja and enjoy the fruitful results thereof.

   Thus, performing the pada pooja of pithru mandala Rishi Kakasseri with Vadakkunathar (Lord Siva) holding solid ghee, ghee that stays unmolten with the rays of Pithrukarakan Suryanarayanan (sun's rays) as sakshi (witness) and offering annadhanam to 5 to 10 persons gives the same effect of performing pithru rites at holy places like Kaasi and Gaya (holy places in north India). The natural spring water in the peetam is equivalent to the Ganges. Mere sprinkling of this water over oneself is equivalent to having a holy dip in the Ganges. Those who would like to achieve the benefit of this Kakasseri pada pooja can seek Swami's darshan and seek his help in performing the pooja.

Loka Samastha Sukhino Bavanthu

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