A Brief History: The Mahaan
In the land of Bharath, South of Vindhyas is considered a blessed land, Wherein South India emerges as a great and holy land with more than 50% of all temples of India. Many great souls took their birth here and they were called as “MAHANS” by the common people, in reverence.
One of these Holy Mahans, took birth in a tiny village named “ODUKATHUR” near Madanur and Vellore in the Vellore District. His Poorvashrama name was Seshaiah. He was later destined to become a Siva Gnani . In the beginning, the Swamy wandered from place to place in search of Gnana and Mukti and visited SRI KALAHASTI, SRI KANCHI, SRI TIRUVANAKKAVAL, SRI CHIDAMBARAM, SRI MADURAI, SRI RAMESHWARA and came to ODUKATHUR to perform TAPAS. He was called affectionately a Mouni. Many times, he was lost in YOGA SAMADHI, and lived on air for months and became a great Yoga Purusha. His spiritual advancement was inexplicable. Yet it drew a large number devotees from far and near who were to feel the blissful grandeur of his penance.
He was eventually requested by devotees of Bangalore to come to Bangalore and stay and bless them. After a number of such pleas, His Holiness came to Bangalore in the year 1914 and stayed in this area. The area became a centre of pilgrimage. The swami entered Maha Samadhi in the year 1915. During Mahan Odukathur Swamigal stay at this place, Lord Muruga appeared and bestowed him SIVA GNAANA.
Sages say that Silence, Meditation and Prayer are essential to achieve a spiritual experience. The Odukathur Mahan�s life was found full of these, and he became a spiritual religion for those who followed him. He rejoiced in the life of the Spirit through renunciation. He communed easily with the common man when he chose, though he often preferred the penance and silence that bolstered the spirit. For him all were one irrespective of caste, creed, colour or religion. As a result there were both Hindus and Muslims among those who followed him devotedly. He loved to play with children. On a number of occasions, he healed the sick and the forlorn. There were occasions when he blessed true devotees with his mystic powers. They were relieved of the trials and tribulations with which they came to him.
The Temple
A small shrine of Sri Dandayuda Pani Swamy existed in the Southwest corner of the mutt before the Mahan took this place for his tapas. The devotees of Mahan Odukathur Swamigal considered that Sri Dandayudapaniswamy as the Prime deity of the mutt and offered poojas and worship to that deity and also to the Odukathur Swamigal. In the year 1969, a new shrine was built for Sri Dhandayudhapani� Swamy with Sri Siddi Vinayaka, and� Sri Kamakshi Amman. The foundation stone for this was laid by the great 20th century devotee of Lord Muruga, Sri Thirumuruga Kripaananda Vaariar.
SRI ODUKATHUR MAHAN SWAMIGAL SANNIDHI with SRI BALAMURUGAN SANNIDHI and SRI NAVAGRAHA SANNIDHI are in the centre of the Mutt. In the KANNI MOOLAI of the Mutt, idols of SRI KARPAGA VINAYAGAR, SRI BALA SHASTHA, and SRI HANUMAN were installed on 21.11.2007 per vedic procedures. On the same day SRI NAGA DEVATHA and MUNEESHWARA SHRINE were also consecrated on the southern side of the Mutt in the garden. The Mutt also constructed a Maada Gopuram and Aarupadai Veedu of Lord Muruga on the roof of the Mantapa of Sri MAHAN SHRINE.
There is a Meditation Hall in the Mutt. The Mutt has one discourse hall named JYOTHI MANRAM. In this Jyothi Manram many religious and cultural programs are conducted by the Management, throughout the year. The functions are, THAI POOSAM, PARAYANAM OF �THIRU ARUTPAA� of SRI RAMALINGA SWAMIGAL with Annadaanam, GURU POOJA on THAI SWATHI followed by Mahendra Pooja, MAHASIVARATHRI, PANGUNI UTTIRAM, VAIKASI VISAKHAM, and the great Annual festival of Lord Muruga, AADI KRITHIGAI� The temple also conducts NAVARATHRI, KANDA SASHTI and KAARTHIGAI DEEPAM. Each year during the month of Margazhi, THIRUVEMBAVAI discourses are conducted. This is the 63rd year of such discourses, with the blessing of Muruga.
We pray that the THIRU ARUL of SRI DHANDAYUDHAPANI SWAMY ( the presiding deity of the mutt and our lives), and the GURU ARUL of SRI MAHAN guides us through life.