Mottayan Swami and Kootankuchi Swamigal

On October 20, 2009 I received a note from Dr. S. Ananthakrishnan which became lost in my computer files and which I unearthed only recently whilst clearing my files. On going through the note thought it was time to make an effort to respond to the questions raised by Dr. S. Ananthakrishnan. 

Kottankuchi Swamigal

The note went thus: 

"Have you heard of the mouna Swamigal on the Girivalam route? . . . I have personally met him and it was a casual meeting near the main Annamalaiyar Temple. His appearance is of a young person not less than 30-31, with a naturally formed French beard and he wears the Kaavi dress like the Kanchi Paramacharya style. This Mouna Swamigal himself wrote and told me when he visits the Mottayan Swami, that Mottayan Swami makes him sit in his lap. Still this mouna Swamigal preserves the photo of the Mottayan Swami though the edges of the photo are slightly damaged.

I would request you if you could post the photo of this Swamigal and his current whereabouts. Recently (note: i.e. at the end of 2009) on Zee Tamil T.V., they showed a video on the research on the Parakkum Siddhar. During the show they showed Mottayan Swami and this mouna Swamigal . . . “

Current house of Kootankuchi Swamigal

After stopping at several places and talking with another Swami (who I will write about in due course on my blog Arunachala Mystic) residing in a house near the old Shantimalai Trust Gokulam, I and my friend arrived by auto rickshaw at the house of the silent Swami now residing just off the Girivalam roadway (near the Rajarajeshwari Temple). The mouna Swamigal is still in silence but responded to my questions occasionally by hand signs and sometimes by writing his answers in a notebook. 

Kootankuchi Swamigal's compound right of Sai Mandir, Girivalam Road

Swami goes by the name Kootankuchi Swamigal. As he is a sannyasin, he did not wish to answer many questions regarding home and previous family but he did give several bits of information. His age is around forty years old and even though he is in silence he is available to visitors. He worships the Divine Mother in the form of Varahi. His guru is the now deceased Jangalidas Maharaj who has an ashram about seven kms from Shirdi. Kootankuchi Swamigal stayed at that place for six months many years previously. 

Kootankuchi Swamigal has been living at Tiruvannamalai for a number of years and for the last 10 years has been maintaining a verbal silence. He had great love for Visiri Samiyar (Yogi Ramsuratkumar) and spent a lot of time with him in earlier days. 

When asking Kootankuchi Swamigal whether the story of him sitting in the lap of Mottayan Swamigal was true. He said that previously (over 7 years ago) Mottayan Swamigal would sometimes come and meet with him and at that time, Mottayan would often lie on the floor resting his head upon Kottankuchi Swamigal and sometimes sitting in his lap. I asked Kottankuchi Swamigal as to his opinion of Mottayan Swami. He bowed his head in great reverence and indicated in writing that Mottayan Swami was a great Siddha. 

Jolly workers building Swami's house

I visited the Kootankuchi Swamigal with a friend Mr. Hari Prasad and my regular auto rickshaw driver Gandipan. Whilst there a number of personal questions were asked by us all, which Kottankuchi Swamigal answered (in writing and by gesture) clearly and at length. On a personal level I found that his advice was in line with the advice I have received through my own prayers and meditation upon the Divine Mother. 

Kottankuchi Swamigal is currently building his own house a short distance from his rental accommodation and as soon as that is complete (probably not before the beginning of 2014) he will shift from his current abode. 

Construction of House underway

I have made many postings of Swami Mottayan (also known as Mookupodi Swami = snuff Swami as he is in the habit of daily taking snuff). As it has been sometime since I last saw him, early this morning I stopped at the new Navagraha Shrine (near Rajarajeshwari Temple) on the girivalam road, where I had heard that he currently stays at. 

Mootayan Swami (Mookupodi Swamigal)

A crowd of about thirty people were standing silently and reverently close by the Navagraha Shrine taking silent darshan of Mottayan Swami whist he was drinking his morning tea at an adjacent tea stall. I have heard that nowadays there is often a crowd of pilgrims and visitors surrounding him. 

Crowd watching Swami take his morning tea

The times that I was able to get easy access and even sit with him on the verandah of a local school playing with thayam stones seemed to be a very long time ago. To view some of the posts on Mottayan (Mookupodi) Swami on Arunachala Grace, go to this link here. 

Mottayan Swami (aka Mookupodi Swami)

Mookupodi Swami Current Location

I’ve recently received many requests about how to connect with Mookupodi Swami. In this respect a few days back I received a comment from SOURI KB on a very interesting and informative posting relating to Mookupodi Swami (at this link here) about the current whereabouts of the Saint. 

“Hello every one, if you want to have the darshan of MPS. Please visit the Hanuman Temple near the High School on the girivalam path. Nowadays he is staying there. Recently I had his darshan. Every day after the breakfast swami will do girivalam in an auto in anti-clockwise (opposite to how we do) between 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and rest at the Hanuman Temple. Happy darshan.” 

I have made a number of postings on Mookupodi Swami on two of my blogs; Arunachala Grace and Arunachala Mystic. But to those unfamiliar with this Saint, am below posting a short narrative about some of my own experiences with Mookupodi Swami.

Mookupodi Swami at Deepam Hotel in 2007

Swami at Hotel 2007

Mookupodi Swami at High School, Girivalam Roadway, 2009

I first met Mottayan Swamiji (now more commonly known as Mookupodi Swami) in 2007. He moved to Tiruvannamalai some 40 years ago and although he occasionally disappears—after a short time returns. He has been known in Tiruvannamalai for many years by traders, merchants and devotees. It used to be Swamiji’s custom to habituate a particular shop or restaurant for months at a time and then suddenly, for no apparent reason, leave the spot and take up residence at some other place. Wherever he remains, its always with the grateful thanks of the owner of whatever establishment Swamiji has selected. In much the same way Sri Seshadri Swamigal’s nomenclature was “golden hand” because he imbued everything he touched with auspiciousness, Mottayan Swami is also believed to bring good fortune to those he moves with. 

When I met him in 2007 his abode was the restaurant Hotel Deepam on Car Street (near Arunachaleswarar Temple). He would sit quietly in the same corner and rarely notice or look at anyone. And yet he was sought by many. Devotees and visitors would come, sit at a table nearby hoping for a glance, blessing or some sort of signal or recognition. He would not receive offerings of food instead when he wished to eat he would command whoever he choose to ‘bring me food’. At night he slept on the restaurant floor. Sometimes he would get up and wander about the town. About three times a week Swami ordered an auto rickshaw driver to take him around the Hill—but always in an anti-clockwise direction. I’ve heard of several saints and sages who also habitually travel anti-clockwise around the Hill. 

For many years Swamiji has been offered expensive clothes and gifts, but rarely accepts anything, preferring instead to remain in his own well worn rags. The Hotel manager told me a story of a rich devotee who offered Swamiji a fabulously expensive embroidered shawl. Swami accepted the shawl and proceeded to drop it onto the filthy street, stomp on it and only after ingraining it with dirt, put the shawl around his shoulders. 

Many locals believe Mottayan Swamiji is some kind of Avadhuta much in the same way as Shirdi Sai or Seshadri Swami. He was born in East Rajapalayam, near Salem with the name of Mottayan Gaunder, and hailed from a farming community. In his youth Mottayan Gaunder spent most of his time at the Veerapathiran Temple performing pujas and making garlands for the God statues. He was 25 years old when his family arranged his marriage to a girl named Chadachi. The couple had a son Periyarswamy but shortly after the birth of the child, Mottayyan Gaunder left his birth village, only to return twelve years later a few days before the death of his wife. 

Swami is now commonly known as Mookupodi Swami (Siddhar) because of his habit of using snuff. Over the last years he has spent most of his time in spots around the Hill; including Rajarajeshwari Temple, Adiannamalai Temple, Hanuman Shrine and more recently the Navagraha Shrine close to the Ner Temple off the girivalam roadway. 

In much the same way the actions of Seshadri Swamigal were believed to always be in the devotees best interest—so too, Mookupodi Swami’s actions of shouting at devotees, sometimes threatening or beating them with a stick, are also attributed to his teachings and blessings. His actions are ever random and unpredictable. He may command a visitor to give him money which he proceeds to put inside a towel and then wrap the towel around his head or some other part of his body. After some time he might give the money to a different person nearby. In such incidences both the giver and receiver feel blessed—the giver believes Mookupodi Swami (by taking the money) has taken off bad karma, and the receiver feels the gift from the saint will bring auspiciousness and good fortune into their life. In many of my earlier postings on Mookupodi Swami, people have replied with comments telling of their own extraordinary experiences with him.  

Postings on my Arunachala Blogs from September 18 to October 17, 2013

Below are links and short extracts of postings on my various Arunachala Blogs from Wednesday, September 18, 2013 to Thursday, October 17, 2013 

Arunachala Grace 

Some Favoured Arunachala Temples and Shrines: Selection of some out-of-the-way girivalam Shrines and Temples.

Pradosham Photographs: Pictorial report of Pradosham at Arunachaleswarar Temple.

Aarti at Pavala Kundru: Photographs of the beautiful Temple on Coral Hill spur, Arunachala. Video. 

Navaratri Kolu Celebration: Visting two homes of Arunachaleswarar Temple Priests to view their Kolu displays.

Navaratri Alangarams, Arunachaleswarar Temple: Amman Lingam Alangaram and Saraswati Alangaram, Mandapam Hall, Big Temple.

2013 Arunachala Navaratri Functions: Information and links of Navaratri Pujas at Ramana Ashram.

Visit to an Elephant: Time with elephant from Trichy at Seshsadri Ashram who was going to participate in the Raja Parivara Puja on Girivalam Roadway.

Rudra Pasupathi Nayanar: Famed devotee of Lord Shiva, who made a practice of chanting the Sri Rudam, while half immersed in water.

Pradosham, October 2, 2013: Photographs of the large crowds at Arunachaleswarar Temple attending Pradosham.

Counting the Cash: Photographs of Temple appointees counting Hundial donations.

Mahapuja for 18 Siddhars, Arunachala: Raja Parivara Puja to be performed for the 18 Siddhars at Tiruvannamalai.

Mottayan Swami and Kootankuchi Swamigal: Information about two holy beings residing off the Girivalam Roadway, Arunachala.

Tremors felt at Tiruvannamalai: After a gap of almost 25 years, Tiruvannamalai experiences a small earthquake.

Whisper into my Ear: The method and benefits of talking into sacred Nandi’s ear.

Arunachala Birds 

House Sparrow: Description of the most common bird in India and resident at Arunachala. Photographs and Video

Ways to deal with Bully Birds: Modern bird feeders and hints of how to control bully birds in the garden.

Arunachala Land 

Act for Seed and Food Freedom: Information and links about the agricultural independence of India

Tiruvannamalai Puja Flowers: Tiruvannamalai trees and shrubs, flowers of which are used in Temple pujas.

Arunachala Mystic 

Significance of Arunachala Girivalam Asta Lingams: Story of Mooppanar Swami, and his work restoring the Asta Lingams on Girivalam Roadway.

Sri Siva Siddhar Mona Swami Birthday Function: Photographs, video and report of Swami’s birthday celebrations at his Ashram

Mouna Swamigal, Girivalam Roadway: Photographs and narrative of a Swami residing off the Girivalam Roadway

More on Mooku Podi Swami

I am reposting here two earlier links on Mooku Podi Swami as they are both still getting a lot of attention. The first post is of August 5th and entitled, ‘I am still in shock,’ and the second post is of August 6th, ‘Trip to Chennai.’

In response to the posting of August 5th, received today the following anonymous comment:

“I too had a darshan of the Swamy on 21st August. He was staying at the high school on the girivalam road at the back of the mountain. I believe he is also called mookupodi samiyar (mookupodi-snuff). Well, it goes like this: My mother wanted to do girivalam in auto. So I, my wife and my mother hired an auto outside Ramanasaramam and were going around it when my mother asked the auto driver about the whereabouts of the swamy. He said the swamy is staying in the school which is on the girivalam route and promised to take us there. We were all excited. When we reached the school, the guard said that the swamy had just left and pointed out the direction. The swamy was just 50 away. So the auto driver took us near him. Then the strangest thing happened. The swamy started shouting at us even before we got out of the auto. We were so scared we asked to auto driver to immediately vacate the place.

I cannot make any sense of this incident. Were we not spiritually mature enough to have darshan of swamy? Or did he infact benefit us spiritually in his own mysterious way, just like Seshadri Swamigal? Maybe, he is not the one to take some karma load off us. I really dont know.”

I expect the reader of the comment would be happy to receive feedback from others who have also visited with Mottayan Swami.

For myself, hope to visit with Swami within the next week or so, at which time, if allowed will take LOTS of snaps. So check back to Arunachala Grace for my report and photographs.

Mottayan Swamiji (Mooku Podi Swami)

I wasn’t planning on posting this story, but the Manager of Hotel Deepam suggested that it was the right time to do so, and as Swamiji didn’t seem to object to having his photograph taken, maybe its okay. The photograph is of Mottayam Swamiji who is also known as Mookupodi Swamiji. It is believed he hails originally from Kumbakonam and moved to Tiruvannamalai some 40 years ago. Occasionally he disappears from this spot but after a short time returns. Although not famous outside this place, he is well known to traders and merchants near the Big Temple where it seems to be Swamiji’s custom to habituate a particular shop or restaurant for months at a time and then suddenly, for no apparent reason, leave his spot and take up residence at some other place.

Wherever he remains, it is always with the grateful support of the owner of whatever establishment Swamiji has selected. In this respect he moved to his current abode, the restaurant Hotel Deepam on Car Street (near Arunachaleswarar Temple) about 4 months back. He sits quietly in the same corner and rarely notices or looks at anybody. When he wishes to eat he will command whoever he chooses to ‘bring me food’. At night he sleeps on the restaurant floor. Sometimes he will get up and go for a wander about the town; about three times a week Swami will order an auto rickshaw driver to take him around the Hill – but always in an anti-clockwise direction. I have heard of several saints and sages who also have practiced going anti-clockwise around the Hill.

Mottayan Swamiji is sought by a number of devotees who will come and sit at a table near him hoping for a glance, blessing or some sort of signal or recognition. The owner of Hotel Deepam tells me that Swamiji is often offered expensive clothes and gifts, but he will never accept them, instead preferring to remain in his own well worn rags. He also will not receive offerings of food – at the times he wishes to eat he will select who it is that will feed him, and then give his orders.

Whatever may or may not be his spiritual state; I do know that recently at an important decision making juncture of my life, I was drawn to present myself at the Hotel where I sat at a table near Swamiji. Whatever the reason for the impulse that brought me to Swami, I left feeling satisfied that my question had been fully answered.

Some locals feel that Mottayam Swamiji is some kind of Avadhuta much in the same way as Shirdi Sai or Seshadri Swami. As to that I have no opinion, all I can say is that I’m grateful he is available and thankful to be able to spend time in his presence.

Mottayan Swamiji Experience

I wrote a previous posting about Mooku Podi Swami and some of my thoughts on him. Subsequently a reader of Arunachala Grace has just posted the below comment on her own life changing experience with Mooku Podi Swami, and below I reproduce her comment in its entirety.

“Hi, I cannot express my joy in words after seeing Appa's photo and a article on him. Appa is how he is referred by all his devotee children. After my personal experience with Appa I have unshakeable faith that only when you are in dire need in your life, Lord Arunachaleswarar blesses you to meet Appa. We are not meeting Appa actually. He will decide to see us and it is only then that we can see him.

I would like to share my personal experience with Appa. We met Appa in May 2009 unforgettable month of my life. My husband had lost his job in the U.S. due to recession. We were searching for jobs for 2 months now. In the meanwhile I was having very sudden and severe health problems related to my brain and fertility. All these put together we were having the toughest time of our life, not to mention that we were married for less than a year.

My husband is a devotee of Lord Arunachaleswarar and so, as is our habit, we went to Thiruvannamalai for Swami's darshan. On the blessed day when we met Appa, we were leaving Thiruvanammalai to go back to our home in Madurai. After having breakfast, I hired an auto. Of all the autos that were present there, God had to send me only that particular auto. In that auto, there were two photos. One was the photo of Uchimalai Swamigal who was no longer present in Thiruvannamalai. There was this other photo we did not recognise. We asked the auto driver about it and it was he who told us about Appa. We wanted to meet him very badly and asked him to take us to Appa.

The first time we met Appa he was in a Mariamman Temple in the Giri route. He was having a thiruvodu in his hands. When he saw us, he walked to the nearby plants and started to pluck leaves from them. He then kept those leaf bunches in his head. After being there for sometime, he decided to go for girivalam and signaled to a person standing near by. He then started for girivalam in the anti-clockwise direction.

We took off behind him. He went into Hotel Akasha and asked for the senior owner. When he learnt that the owner was out of town, he broke his thiruvodu by sending it crashing on the floor. The owner immediately asked the guard to clear it and he explained to us, the spectators that Appa had actually done drishti kalippu by breaking the thiruvodu.

Our girivalam continued and at one point only one leaf bunch flew from Appa’s head and fell on the road. Of the 4 -5 bunches only one flew. We took the leaf bunch as Prasad. I am very happy that I took it. We had kept the leaf in a plastic cover. We were very surprised to see that the leaf was fresh and green as if in a plant for a month.

I don’t think it is a coincidence that the leaf was fresh till all our problems were solved. My husband got a job in Singapore, and all my health problems were resolved. Appa stayed with us in form of the leaf till our problems were solved.

If you go to Thiruvannmalai try to have the divine experience with Appa. He will not talk through his mouth. But if you ask him something (you should talk using your heart and not mouth) then he will shake his head as an answer. If the answer is a yes then he will nod and if it is a no then he will indicate accordingly. If you have been blessed to meet Appa then I am sure, that Appa could not bear seeing you in pain and so he chose to see you and free you of all the pain. I am also sure that from that moment on, your life will only improve and you will reach heights.

Even now, if I think of the whole experience and the leaf bunch in particular, I cannot help but shedding happy tears of joy. I pray to Annandale that all those reading this Blog also get the blessing to meet Appa. Appa's annadana matam is situated in the girivala pathai. Anyone will be able to tell you. You can go there for any further details.”