The Rahu/Ketu tree
June 28, 2009
One of my favorite temples in Kanchipuram is Kachapaeswara temple which is primarily a Shiva temple. ”Kacchapam” is Sanskrit for “Turtle”. The story is that in this temple Lord Shiva was worshipped by Lord Vishnu in his Kurma Avatara; the form of a Turtle. After the purpose of that incarnation was completed, Vishnu wanted to regain his usual form and he came here to ask Shiva to destroy his turtle aspect and replace it with his more pleasing form. Interestingly, the temple is built around a sand lingam that Vishnu made for the purpose of his Shiva puja.
Off to the side is a huge tree surrounded by hundreds of naga statues. This is essentially a Rahu/Ketu area since they are the head and tail of a divine snake. Astrologically, Rahu and Ketu are very representative of karma and this area of the temple has a very strong atmosphere, as you might imagine. Mostly people come here to do pujas to have a child or to get married.
One of the services that we (as Puja.net) perform is the periodic cleaning and maintenance of this area which gives it a much lighter feel.
When visiting temples it is customary to do pradakshina; walking around each deity 1 or 3 times. So when we go to this part of the temple Seetharam always walks around on the lower level. The first time we were there, I decided to walk up among the snakes and walk around the tree three times. That night I had the strangest dreams…really really really strange dreams. Now I walk around at the bottom level.