Monday 28 October 2013

Arulmigu Kutralanathar Temple, Thirukutralam / Courtallam, Sri Kasi Viswanathar Temple, at Tenkasi & Sri Nellaiappar Temple at Tirunelveli, Tirunelveli and Tenkasi Districts, Tamil Nadu.

 27, October 2013.  
This week end  temples visit was to  Kutralam and Tirunelveli on 26-10-2013. This visit was planned two months before  and booked the train tickets on both ways travel. During this visit didn’t  stayed anywhere.  My plan was starting from Chennai Egmore  to Tenkasi through Pothigai Express and return to Chennai From Tirunelveli after  visiting Kutralanathar's temple at Kutralam and Nellaiappar Temple at Tirunelveli on the same day. So both the nights were spent in the train itself. Also Planned to visit Sivasailam Shiva temple. I could not make it for want of time, since I have to take a diversion form Tenkasi via Alwarkurichi  and the frequency of the public transport was limited.  This time’s temple visit was a thrilling experience, starting from my residence.  

A thrilling experience to catch the train Podhigai super fast express at Chennai Egmore, The story goes like this….…

After the close of work at office reached home around 17.30 hrs on 25-10-2013,  and thought of starting from home  around 18.30 hrs to catch the train  Pothigai Express at Egmore which scheduled to depart at 20.10 Hrs, calculating the  EMU journey time of 30 to 35 minutes from Guindy to Egmore. But Lord Shiva’s calculation was on the reverse. There was an intuition in me to start little earlier. So Started from home around 17.50 Hrs and reached Guindy railway station around 18.30 Hrs, after leaving my motor cycle  at my old office SPIC House. There was a huge rush at Guindy railway station and I did not know what for. The 18.30 hrs Electric train arrived  at 18.49 hrs and moved slowly up to Saidapet.  The train stopped more than a minute, which was unusual.

The same thing happened at Mambalam also. After Mambalam the train stopped before Kodambakkam station and people were talking  there might be  problem with signal. The time was 19.15 Hrs  and there was no sign of starting. After 15 minutes the train started once again and reached Kodambakkam station. Also I had  seen the 18.49 hrs train from Guindy over took us on the other track and stopped at Kodambakkam station. At the station it was announced that the train to beach was  stopped   due to derailment of a goods train near beach station and will be announced latter about starting. Already the time was 19.30 Hrs, my blood pressure was shooting up. Decided to get down and  go to Egmore through an Auto.

Out side Kodambakkam station many people were  asking for an auto to go to Egmore and central. Since it was two days holiday many IT people  were travelling to their native. Many autos refused to ply to Egmore or Central. After walked away from the station an auto agreed to drop me at Egmore and the Auto driver pacified me ( to sit calmly on the back seat ) that he will reach station before the train’s departure. Lost the hope of catching the Pothigai Express around 18.50 Hrs when I was  still travelling  in the auto in Nungambakkam area. Every time the Auto stops for the Signal my blood pressure started shooting up.  Started chanting of Thiruvasakam to reduce my tension. Also there was a diversion for about 2 KM by the traffic police, which tested my patience.

After crossing the hurdles and hoping the train will start at least 10 minutes late landed at Egmore railway station exactly by 20.05 Hrs. The auto charged me Rs 109 as per meter and I gave Rs 120 & thanked the driver for dropping me safely at station.   Inquired the porters about the platform and told me the train is on the platform no 8 and it may start at any time. Hurried with walk & run boarded the train at 20.07 Hrs  after climbing up the foot over bridge  and climbing down to platform. The train was on 9th platform and not on the 8th, luckily 8th and 9th platforms are adjacent. Searched my coach and sat down on my seat and the train started moving exactly by 20.10 Hrs. Confirmed with the co-passengers whether I boarded in the correct train or not, by asking when the train will reach Tenkasi and if the answer is negative thought of getting down at Tambaram. Since the answer was positive I was relaxed.   My breath came to normal after 10 minutes.

( The goods train derailment news I came to know  during my auto travel  and in detail in the Hindu on 27-10 2013. Many people who travelled along with me in EMU might have missed their train and their total plan might have spoiled. )

The Pothigai express reached Tenkasi  around  8.45 Hrs on 26-10-2013, late by an hour. Reached old bus stand to catch bus to kutralam through an auto, which  charged me Rs 40.00. The bus to Kutralam was limited during non-seasonal time. After reaching Kutralam, searched to take a bath at any of the lodge.  They suggested me to go to Main falls where locker facility is available. The locker at the main falls charged Rs 20 for an hour and had a nice bath. Since it was a non season there was not much crowd. There was also a  moderate water from the falls. Many Shiva Lingam reliefs chiseled on the rock, which many people may not aware, who visits Kutralam only during the season.  Changed my dress  and went to Sri Kutralanathar temple which is about 25 meters from the main falls.

Coutralam main falls - view during non-season - no crowd.
 Shiva Lingams reliefs chiseled on the rock - see  the water falling from avudayar
Water is falling on Lord Shiva 

257 / 13. ARULMIGU KUTRALANATHAR TEMPLE, KUTRALAM / COURTRALLAM


This is the 257th Paadal Petra Shiva sthalam  and 13th Shiva Sthalam in Pandiya nadu. Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.

A small Rajagopuram with stucco images.

Moolavar  : Arulmigu Kutralanathar, Sri Kurumbalaeesar,
  Sri Thirikoodachalapathy, Sri Thirikoodaleswarar.
  Arulmigu Courtrallanathar Swamy Temple
Consort    : Sri Kuzhalvai Mozhiammai , Sri Venuvaakkuvahini.

Some of the important features of this temple are….
After entering through a 3 tier Rajagopuram there is a big mandapam called vasantha mandapam. The rajagopuram has lot of cute stucco images with 3 kalasams on the top. The temple is in the shape of conch ( Sangu ).In koshtam Dakshinamurthy ( not in the niche ), Mahavishnu in place of Lingothbavar. In the artha mandapam Urchavars and Natarajar Saba. The moolavar is small.

In the inner prakaram sannadhi for, Kumbha Muni, Brahma, Sabtha mathakkal, Suradevar, Ayyanar, Brahmi, Thurayanar, Mahavishnu, Narasimhar, Kanni Vinayagar, Chandran, Vanmeki Nathar, Jambukeswarar, Annamalaiyar, Kalathiappar, Thirumoola nathar ( Very small moortham ), Ramalingar, Subramaniyar, Chandikeswarar, Saneeswarar and Suryan.

In the outer prakaram sannadhi for Ambal with a Nandhi in front ( a separate Koil  with steps – Kailasanathar and Durgai are in the Ambal temple’s pakaram  ) on the right side of moolavar sannadhi, Kurumbala nathar ( from here we could hear the sound of main falls ), 63var, Nannagara perumal, Paabanasar with Ulagamman, Nellaiappar with Gandhimathi, Manakolanathar, Narambu Nathar, Sankaralingam, Palvannanathar, Chokkalingam with Meenakshi, Dharmasastha, Mathunatheswarar with Aramvalarthamman, Agasthiyar, Vasuki, Somalingam, Maha Lingam, Sahasralinga, Kasi Viswanathar with Visalakshi, Shivalaya Munivar ( 2 steps below the ground level ), Parasakthi Peedam and Navagrahas. Near one of the sannadhi on the south side the main falls top is visible.

Then comes the  mandapam with Dwajasthambam, Rishabam / Idabam and Balipeedam. In the mandapa pillars Chinna Pattar and Periya pattar Kings reliefs on the pillars who had built this temple.  

This temple has two parts. One is this temple and the other is Chitra sabai which is about ½ a KM from the main temple. The temple is of 2000 years old and there are lot of old Tamil inscriptions  on the prakaram walls.

Pattinathar, Manickavasagar, Arunagirinathar has sung hymns about this temple. It was believed that the sage Agathiyar has transformed the Shiva Lingam from  Thirumal moortham. Moolavar is small.

HOW TO REACH:
The place Thenkasi is on the bus and train route to Shenkottai from Tirunelveli, Madurai, Chennai etc.
Pothigai express passes through Tenkasi.
Lot of Town and mini buses are available to Kutralam from Tenkasi during Chaaral season and frequency is less during non season.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:
The temple is open between 06.00 Hrs to 12.00 Hrs and 16.30 Hrs to 20.00 Hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:
The phone numbers of the temple are 283318 and 283398 and mobile number is 9488374077.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

 Saptamatrikas
 Old Tamil inscription can be seen on the walls
  Chandikeswarar
 Ambal Temple Vimanam



After peaceful darshan  of Sri Kutralanathar, had been to Chitra Sabai, which is about a ½ a KM from the main temple after climbing steps to a distance of 50 meters. The Sabha was open to public and the entrance fee was Rs 10. The caretaker did not allowed me to take photographs. After my repeated requests he allowed me to take only the dwarapalakar on the right side.

CHITRA SABAI:
Some of the features of this sabai are….
There is a mandapam with a Gopuram at the center of Temple tank in front. There is no pictures in front mandapam of 

Chitra sabai.
Learned that the Chitrams were drawn using the natural herbs. The Sabai is in the form of a temple with thamira plated  roof with 8 kalasams on the top.

Some of the chitrams / drawings are Shiva’s Urdhva thandavam, Kaali, Murugan, Shiva with Parvati, Soorapadman, Singamugan, Thaaragan, Manmadhan, Rathi, Gajendra moksham, Shiva’s Thiruvilayadal, Shiva and Parvati's marriage, 63var, Bhairavar, Saneeswarar, Hiraniya’s samharam, Kutralanathar who gave darshan to Agasthiyar,  etc. Wooden reliefs / Sculptures of Vinayagars can also be seen.
 Thirukkulam with neerazhi mandapam
Entrance of the Chitra Sabai
Dwarapalakar chitram

After darshan at Chitra Sabai took a bus to Tenkasi. From a distance I could see the magnificent view of the rajagopuram standing tall and called me. Got down from the bus before the bus stand. When I entered through the rajagopuram  I could feel the heavy flow of the wind. The entrance must be 40 feet high and I had seen the 4 pillars on the side walls  with out any joint up to the ceiling.

SRI KASI VISWANATHAR TEMPLE, TENKASI

Moolavar    : Sri Kasi Viswanathar
Consort      : Sri Ulagamman

Some of the important features of this temple are…..
The rajagopuram is of 9 tiers. At the entrance under a mandapam with Balipeedam. The mandapam pillars has large size reliefs / sirpangal of Kaali, Rathi, Shiva’s Thandavam, Mahavishnu ( must be Krishna – since playing the flute ), Manmadhan, Agora Veerabhadra. The Rishabam is little big. In Koshtam Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu and Brahma. Moolavar is in an elevated position looks so beautiful.

In the inner prakaram sannadhi for, Nalvar, 63var, Suradevar,  Sabtha mathakkal, Kanni Vinayagar, Pancha Lingas, Ayyannar, Chandramouleeswarar, Mahalakshmi, Shanmugar, Gajalakshmi, Saneeswarar, Natarajar ( Stone moortham) and Suryan.

In the outer prakaram sannadhi for, Ulagamman, Sri Subramaniar in between moolavar and Ambal sannidhi, Naagars under peepal tree, sannadhi with lamb ( Might be a Lingam inside the flowers ), Sahasra Linga, Parasakthi Peedam similar to Kutralam, Sokkanathar with Meenakshi and  Bhairavar.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
The temple has connection with Uthra kasi in Uttarakhand state. The temple is more than 2000 years old and has a  lot of old Pandya period Tamil inscriptions.

The poem inscription on the Rajagopuram records the beauty of Tenkasi  and those who takes care of this town along with the relatives, might have been blessed by Thirumagal. Also will be praised with due respect by the King of Korkai Parakrama Pandya. The original poem inscription reads as… ( Thanks to Kudavayil Balasubramaniyam )

" பூந்தண் பொழில்புடை சூழ்ந்தென் காசியைப் பூதலத்தில்
தாந்தங் கிளையுட னேபுரப் பார்கள்செந் தாமரையாள்
காந்தன் பராக்கிரமக் கைதவன் மான கவசன்கொற்கை
வேந்தன் பணிபவ ராகியெந் நாளும் விளங்குவரே".

The magnificent view of the 9 tier Rajagopuram 

It was around 12.30 Hrs when I came out of Tenkasi Shiva Temple. Had my lunch in one of a mess near bus stand. Inquired the bus route to Sivasailam. The people suggested me to go to my next Temple Visit of Sri Nellaiappar, since there is no  frequency of bus  to Alwarkurichi a big place near Sivasailam and the temple will be opened only after 16.00 Hrs.  It will become too late to reach Tirunelveli and I will miss the Nellaiappar temple’s visit, if I had been to Sivasailam. So skipped Sivasailam and boarded a bus to Tirunelveli.

It was too early when I reached Tirunelveli around 14.30 Hrs. Spend time up to 16.00 Hrs sitting in front of the temple’s office.

258 / 14. SRI NELLAIAPPAR TEMPLE,  TIRUNELVELI


This is the 258th Devaram Paadal petra Shiva Sthalam and 14th & last Shiva Sthalam in Pandiya nadu. Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.

 Rajagopuram on the eastern side 

Moolavar    : Sri Nellaiappar, Sri Venuvananathar, Sri Nelvelinathar
Consort      : Sri  Kanthimathi Amman.

Some of the important features of this temple are…..
The temple is facing east with a 7 Tier rajagopuram. A wooden mandapam is in front of the Rajagopuram. Moolavar is swayambhu and a scar can be seen on the top due to the sword hit the moolavar while cutting the bamboo tree. It is believed that the avudayar visible is 21st and there are 20 avudayar still below the ground level. In koshtam Dakshinamurthy.

The temple has 8 Mandapams and 5 Rajagopuras. The entrance mandapam on the eastern side Rajagopuram has an old wooden mandapam with lot of  wooden relief works. There are two Durgai Amman sannidhis in this temple. Balipeedam with a Big size Stucco Rishabam under a mandapam is at the east side entrance. The pillars has beautiful relief works.

The big stucco Rishabam

In the 3rd outer Paraharam, sannadhi for Naalavar, Subramaniyar, Dakshinamurthy ( On the opposite, way to Ambal Kanthimathi Amman Temple ), Sankaranainar Swamy, Gomathi Amman Sannadhi, Arumuganainar sannadhi ( 6 faces and can go around the moolavar  to see the back side of the face ), Vinayagar ( with sudhai vinayagar on the top) – on the western side, Kasi Viswanathar with Visalakshi, Vayu Lingam, Vanniyadi sastha, Kala bhairavar and navagrahas.

Arumuganayinar Sannadhi

At the entrance of the 2nd outer prakaram on the left,  moorthams of Vedha Pattar, Adhikara nandikeswarar, Namasivaya moorthy.

In the Second outer prakaram sannadhi for, Suryan, Naalvar Urchava idols / moorthangal, Thiyagaraja sannadhi, 63var in brass, Agasthiyar, Suradevar ( with three faces, three hands with thandam, mani and soolam, three legs ), Theyu Lingam, Polla Pillayar, 63var  murtis in stone, Somaskandar in the upper level with steps to climb, Vayu Lingam, Vinayagar, Mutrum Kanda Ramakon, Aagasa Lingam, Nellai murugan with Valli devasena, Santhana sabapathy ( sandal paste is applied throughout the year ), Gajalakshmi with Ashta lakshmis on both sides, Sani Bhagavan, Sahasralinga, Sabamandapam and Chandran.

Perumal in Anantha sayana posture is on the left side of moolavar ( Right side when we stand in front of moolavar ).

Musical pillars are special attraction in this temple. Different musical notes sounds can be heard when tapped.

 Isai thoonkal ( musical pillars )
HISTORY :
Mutrum Kanda ramakon was the instrumental  for finding Lord Shiva’s moortham under the bamboo tree while he carries milk to the king.

This is one of the pancha sabhai called Thamira Sabai, since the river Thamiraparani is flowing through the place. The river water contains some amount of metal called Thamiram, hence called a Thamirasabhai.

Many old Pandya Period Tamil inscriptions are found in the temple.

LEGENDS 
The name Tirunelveli came after Lord Shiva put a fence ( veli ) to the rain  for the safety of the paddy meant for Lords Naivedyam/ Thiruvamudhu. Vedabattar was behind the story of this temple.

TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple opens between 07.00 Hrs to 13.00 Hrs and 16.00 Hrs to 21.00 Hrs

HOW TO REACH:
Lot of buses available from various parts of Tamil  Nadu.
3 KM from Junction and Town buses available from old bus stand.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE :  CLICK HERE

 Kandhimathi amman sannadhi rajagopuram
 The relief of a King, who built this temple
 Dakshinamurthy sannadhi 
 West side Rajagopuram
 West side Vinayagar sannadhi
 Corridor looks beautiful is it not?
 Chariot kept at the north side  entrance 
 Shiva and Parvathy relief on the inner prakaram wall
 Urchava images are with Stucco images on the back 
 Entrance to the main shrine
  Juradevar with three heads, three hands and three legs.
Santhana sabapathy - santhanam ( sandle wood paste is applied throughout the year )
 Some of the relief  in the corridor

SRI KANTHIMATHI AMMAN SANNADHI
Ambal is in a separate temple with a rajagopuram in front. Except at the entrance there is not many reliefs.

In the inner parakaram sannadhi for Kanni moola Ganapathy, Sri Valli Deva sena Subramaniyar.

Sannadhis in the interconnecting corridors between Lord Shiva and Ambal Temples are A Shiva Lingam, Kasi Viswanathar, mahalingam, Murugan with Valli Devasena, Manjanavaravu Amman.

 Thirukkulam with neerazhi mandapam between Nellaiyappar and Kanthimathi amman sannadhi.
The entrance to Kanthimathi Amman Sannadhi with Musical pillars

After peaceful darshan of Lord Nellaiappar, thought of buying Halwa from irruttukadai. Learnt the shop will be open around 18.00 Hrs and the people started standing in Q, since 15.00 Hrs. I do not want waste time, standing in the Q,  came to old bus stand and purchased halwa from Sri Lakshmi Sweets shop. The Train Nellai Express was on the platform No1, when I reached railway station an hour earlier around 17.50 hrs.  From Tirunelveli the train started late by 15 minutes ( 19.05 Hrs ) and reached Tambaram around 7.00 Hrs on  27-10-2013. Reached home after taking my bike from SPIC House.  
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

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