Friday 14 March 2014

Sri Veeramathi Amman Temple / ஸ்ரீ வீரமாத்தி அம்மன் கோயில், a History, Talguni, Erode District, Tamil Nadu.

14, March 2014.
After my darshan of Sri Veeramathi  Amman, our Kula Deivam at Talguni near Kolappalur, Gobichettipalayam, I indented to add the history of our Kula Deivam.  Till the end of 20th century our village people believed that Sri Murugan  was our Kula Deivam and used to go to the temple near Getticheviyur ( Thoranavavi ) on Gobichettipalayam to Tiruப்pur bus route. Then  a section of our people argued that a male god cannot be our  Kula Deivam and must be a Female.  Some of our caste people traced and found out the present Sri Veeramathi Amman mentioned  above address.  After that our people started worshiping  Sri Veeramathi Amman, as Kula Deivam. When I inquired, our elders of  our community could not help to trace the history.  In the mean time many people inquired about Sri Veeramathi Amman and the history. This kindles me further to do a research on this subject.

THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF FEMALE GODDESS
1. GODDESS BECOMES GODDESS

Normally we used to worship two types of female gods.  One type is the concerts of female gods, who came to earth to safe guard the human beings from evils. They are normally, Sri Kaliamman, Sri Mariamman, Sri Selliamman, Etc,.

2. HUMANS BECOMES GODDESS
The other type of female goddess are, the Females who lives in the earth & scarified themselves, through Sati and lives as goddess / Kula Deivam in the mind of their sons, grand sons, great grand sons, etc,.  This is being followed to generations. They  worship  them as goddess with regular poojas, annual festival., etc. Also any important functions in their family will be celebrated after worshiping their Kula Deivam. FEMALE GODDESS BECOMES AS KULA DEIVAM in three ways  and they are.

1. SATI.
The widow who lost her husband ends her life by jumping  in to her husband’s funeral pyre. ( Voluntarily  - But in many cases it is not so, they were forcibly to do SATI ).  This practice was adopted from the starting of the human civilization, may be from Vedha ugam. Latter it was modified in different ways. 

 THEEPANJAMMAN AT PUNNAMMAI

THEEPANJAMMAN TEMPLE NEAR CHEYYUR
2. BURIAL.
The widows creates fire separately and  jump in to the fire and scarifies their lives. In south India the dead husbands are  not cremated, instead they are buried. In this case the widows are also  buried along with their husbands with alive. Latter the same was modified. The widows are asked lay down along with their husbands and rituals are only conducted, without buried along with their husbands.

3. LIVES REST OF THE LIFE AS WIDOWS.
The widows will live through out their life  in single, even though they are very young. They are not permitted to join any of the functions, will not have the kumkums in their fore head, they wear white saris and they will not wear any jewels.  It is still believed that the purpose of travel will not be fruitful, if  widows with white saris either they cross their way or came in their front.

For the remembrance/ monuments of   the widows, who sacrificed their  lives the people followed different methods.

1. SATI KAL or NADU KAL.
A stone with inscriptions of the who had undergone the SATI is installed in a place where every body can be seen. Also they may be installed at the burial / cremation ground also.  In north India, palm prints of the widows  ( may be many numbers whose husbands are  killed in battles ) are chiseled on stones.  The SATI stones are also installed in a place where the three roads joins. In some places of Tamil Nadu, the stones with inscriptions of their names are  placed in a common place of the village and the villagers used to do poojas in a particular month like Aadi in Tamil Month.

2. SUMAITHANGI KAL
Sumaithangi Kal  was also installed in remembrance of the lady who died during delivery or during pregnancy. This was mainly installed near the village/ shops/ Madams/ Ponds/ to unload their head loads and take rest. After rest the head loads can be picked up by  them with out much effort and with out others help.  Since I was from a remote Village in Erode Dist of Tamil Nadu, still I remember my good old days.  During my younger days my mother and Villagers used to travel by walk for a distance of 4 KM  to Kunnathur to purchase weekly provisions and vegetables from the weekly market ( Sandhai ), which assembles on every Mondays. There was no bus at that time. There was a sumai thangi stone installed in my Village long back, which is not there now.

In north side of Tamil Nadu there are temples with goddess name with Theepanjamman. This temple was constructed  in remembrance of the widows.The Sati was abolished through Laws by Britishers  in India. Even though it is a punishable act, instances are happening in India here and there.

CONCLUSION OF OUR KULA DEIVAM SRI VEERAMATHI AMMAN’s HISTORY
Our Kula Deivam Sri Veeramathi Amman  also must be a brave mother who sacrificed  for our ancestral father.  Our fore fathers might have installed a NADUKAL. Latter our, latter ancestors might have given the shape of the present  Sri Veeramathi Amman.  But one thing is certain that the temple has been visited by our ancestors whose foot prints are lying in the temples and their souls must be circumambulate Sri Veeramathi Amman, to get blessings of Sri Veeramathi Amman and give blessings to us when we go to the temple. There are many Sri Veeramathi Amman Temples  in Coimbatore, Erode, Salem districts  of Kongu Nadu for different castes and sections of peoples.
  
ANNUAL FESTIVAL : CLICK HERE FOR ( 2012 ) , &  ( 2013 ) 

 SrI Veeramathi Amman - our Kula Deivam
2012 annual festival  - Santhana Kappu alankaram
To see the maavilakku procession please CLICK HERE
2013 - Annual festival Santhana kappu alangaram

The above contents of the above articles are subject to change depends on the facts whenever we receive from the readers.For Further Reading Please Click the following Links.
FOR SATI PLEASE CLICK HERE

For the details of the  Annual Festival ::CLICK HERE  

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Tuesday 4 March 2014

KuranganilMuttam - A Pallava period Rock Cut Cave temple.

 04, March, 2014.
After Darshan, ( on 15-02-2014, ) of  KuranganilMuttam Shiva, visited the  Pallava Period Rock cut Temple or kal mandapam. 

Some of the important features of this Rock cut temple/ kal mandapam are ......
The temple was scooped during Pallava king Mahendravarman - I. This site is very near to Kuranganilmuttam Shiva temple about 300 meters inside the village and is being maintained by ASI - Archaeological Survey of India.

This rock cut temple is a unfinished one with 3 sanctums for Vishnu, Shiva and Brahma. Dwarabalakar's reliefs also chiseled.

Murtis / Deities are not installed and provisions are made to install the same.

The pillars are 4 sides on top and bottom and 8 sided at the middle with pothiyal on the top. Pallava Period Tamil inscriptions are on the right side rock cut pillar.

There are also two niches on the left and right side, may be for installing the parivara moorthangal.

LOCATION OF THE CAVE : CLICK HERE

Pallava Period Rock cut temple / Kal mandapam 

Closer look of one of the sanctum with dwarapalakar reliefs

Pallava Period Tamil Inscriptions 
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sri Ekambareswarar Temple / Sri Ekambaranathar Temple, Sri Kowsikeswarar Temple and Sri Kamakshi Amman Temple, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu - Paadal Petra Sthalangal of Thondai Nadu.

 4, March 2014.
After dharshan of Lord Shiva Sri Manikandeswarar, came to Bus stop and waited. It took 1 hour to get a bus, since I missed one bus, which left just 5 minutes before my arrival to the bus stop. Around 13.30 Hrs reached Kanchipuram.

After seeing the Rajagopuram of Sri Ekambareswarar temple got down near the temple. This Changed my idea of returning to Chennai, earlier. The temple was open only by 16.00 Hrs and spend around 2 hours in the temple. The temple authorities allowed to take photographs  by charging a fee of Rs 20 for still cameras and Rs 10 for mobile cameras.

01 – SRI EKAMBARESWARAR TEMPLE / SRI EKAMBARANATHAR TEMPLE, KANCHIPURAM/  THIRUKKACHI EKAMBAM 


This place is now called as Kanchipuram and Iraivan is called as Sri Ekambareswarar. This is the 1st Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam in Thondai Nadu. Nalvar  ie, Thirugnanasambandar, Sundarar, Thirunavukkarasar and Manickavasagar has sung hymns in praise of  Lord Shiva of this temple.
 16 Pillar mandapam 

Moolavar  : Sri Thiruvekambar, Sri Ekambaranathar,
                 Sri Ekambareswarar
Consort    : Sri Elavarkuzhali

Some of the important features of this temple are…….
The 16 pillar Mandapam at the beginning of the street is named after Viswabrahmana Ingol Che. Sangapathar. The relief of Vishnu, Vishnu in koorma avathar worshiping Lord Shiva, Lord Shiva & Parvati, Varahi are looks cute. There is a 4 Pillar mandapam in between 16 Pillar Mandapam and Rajagopuram.

The Rajagopuram is facing south and has 9 tiers. Except dwarapalakas there is no other stucco images The Rajagopuram is 192 feet tall. It was constructed by Sri Krishnadevaraya during 1509 AD.

The main temple has 5 Prakarams. In the 3rd, 4th and 5th prakaram Sivagangai Theertham with Neerazhi mandapam, Sudhai Rishabam in a mandapam, Valeeswarar sannadhi, Mayaneeswarar sannadhi with Koshta moorthangal, Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, again a Rishabam. The front mandapam pillars are with full of reliefs. We may not afford to miss to watch any one of them.

There is a second level Rajagopuram, through which we have enter to the sanctum sanctorum.

In the 2nd prakaram sannadhi for Sri Pralayathamman, Kazharchinga Nayanar, Lingangal, Urchavar sannadhi, Five face Vinayagar, Maavadi ( It was believed that the Maa tree ( Mango tree ) is  of 3500 years old and the existing was replanted recently ), Sahasra Lingam worshiped by Ramar, Palliyarai, MaavadiKandar, Elavarkuzhali Amman, Navagrahas, Natarajar Saba with Ambal ( on the North side of the prakaram with mandapam and space for circumambulation.

In the 1st parkaram sannadhi for, Balachandra Ganapathy, Spatika lingam, Pralaya lingam, Naalvar, 63var ( old mural paintings of 63var is also visible above moorthams on the wall– may be more than 200 to 300 hundred years old ), Sekkizhar, Santhana kuravargal, Kasi Viswanathar, Santhana Ganapathi,  Sowbhagya Ganapathy, Sakthi Ganapathy, 108 Lingams,  Naaga Lingam, Arumugam, 108 Lingam, Markandeswara, Mathala matheswarar, Kalla kambar, 63var ( impon idols ), Nilathunda Perumal ( Perumal has the  mangalasasanam by Thirumangai Azhlwar. This is one of the 108 Divya Desams of Perumal ).

In koshtam there is no moorthams and moolavar was made of sand by Sri Parvathi to get rid of sin, caused due to closing the eyes of Lord Shiva. She embraced Sand Shiva Linga when the river was flooded. Hence there is mark on moolavar Lingam. Moolavar will be always closed with kavasam and abhishekam will be done only for avudayar. On Mondays Gold kavasam /Cover will be kept on which Ambal relief embracing lord Shiva can be seen.

Sundarar has got back his left eye sight in this temple which he lost on the way to Kanchipuram via Thiruvenpakkam where he got oontrukol from Shiva.

It was believed that Kanchipuram has a history before Christ, 5th century. With Kanchipuram as capital of Thondai Nadu was ruled between 3rd and 9th century by Pallavas. Chozhas and Vijayanagara kings also ruled Kanchi.

It was believed that Dharmabalar, Head of  Nalanda University, Professor Thinnanaakar and Bodhidharma who had written Buddhist philosophy belongs to this place.

Also Chanakya who wrote Arthashastra, Parimelazhagar who wrote the meanings for Thirukkural, Poigai Azhwar, Vedantha Desikar, Vannakazhangiyam Nagalinga Munivar and  Shyma Sasthirikal are belongs to this place.

TEMPLE TIMINGS.
The temple is kept open between 06.00 Hrs. to 12.30 Hrs and 16.00 Hrs. to 20.30 Hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS :
The land line number is 044 - 2722 2084.

HOW TO REACH :
Frequent buses are available from Chennai and buses also available from district capitals of Tamil Nadu. The temple is about 2 KM distance from Bus Stand.
Town bus facility is also available.
Train facility is available from Chengalpattu and Arakkonam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

 A relief of Sri Vishnu  in 16 Pillar mandapam 
 A relief of Shiva and Parvathi
 A relief  in 16 Pillar mandapam
 Relief of Sri Vishnu in Varaka Avathar worshiping Lord Shiva  in 16 Pillar mandapam 
Relief of  Varaki  in 16 Pillar mandapam 
 A relief in 16 Pillar mandapam- may be Donor
The 4 Pillar Mandapam 
 The Nine tier Rajagopuram on the south side 
 Sri Parvathi worshiping Lord Shiva Lingam made out of sand by her
 A relief in the  Front ( anbe sivam ) mandapam. 
  A relief in the  Front ( anbe sivam ) mandapam.
  A relief in the  Front ( அன்பே சிவம்  anbe sivam ) mandapam.
Front mandapam 
 Front Mandapam with 2nd stage Rajagopuram
 Front mandapam
 Stucco Rishabam with mandapam 
  Balipeedam Dwajasthambam and Rishaba mandapam 
 63var  - with mural old painting of 63var on the top
 Sri Pralayathamman sannadhi
Maavadi - Sthala Vruksham Mango tree
Rishaba mandapam in front of Maavadi
 A Bairavar relief in the front mandapam pillar
 A Shiva's relief in the front mandapam Pillar
 The beauty of the pillar in front of Sri Mayaneswarar Sannadhi

An Open mandapam where the functions are held

On the way to Sri Kamakshi Amman temple visited Sri Murugan Temple called Kumara kottam. The temple has a Rajagopuram on the west side and Sri Subramanyar is  also facing west.

KUMARAKOTTAM SRI SUBRAMANYA SWAMY TEMPLE

 WEST SIDE RAJAGOPURAM

Moolavar : Sri Subramanya Swamy

Some of the important features are ....
Here Sri Subramaniar is in Brahma sastha Kolam which he forcibly took over from Brahma, who do not know the meaning of pranava manthiram “AUM”. Kachiappa Sivachariyar has composed the Kandha Puranam in this temple, starting with “Thikada chakkaram”.

Kandha Puranam was composed and placed in front of Sri Subramaniar during 11th century in a mandapam, is still in good condition. Arunagirinathar’s poem “arivilla pithar” was also composed in this temple only. Pamban Swamigal was guided to this temple by Lord Murugan in the form of a small boy.


BACK SIDE VIEW 

There is also a Shiva temple in front – South east corner - of Sri Kamakshi Amman Temple.  Lord Shiva of this temple is called as Sri Kowsikeswarar. It is a small temple. The temple is of complete stone structure constructed during 9th century.

SRI KOWSIKESWARAR TEMPLE




SRI KAMAKSHI AMMAN TEMPLE.
There is no sannadhi for Ambal in any of the Shiva Temples in Kanchipuram. This Kamakshi Amman temple is about a KM from Bus stand and Sri Ekambareswarar Temple.

 Front Mandapam with Rajagopuram view 

The Main Deity : Sri Kamakshi Amman

Some of the important features of this temple are...
The temple is facing south east direction with a 5 tier Rajagopuram with lot of stucco images. In addition to that there 3 more Rajagopuras on the other 3 sides. Dwajasthambam with Balipeedam are in front of Sanctum Sanctorum near Rajagopuram. Amman is in a 24 pillar mandapam, called Gayathiri mandapam. It was said that 24 acharam  is in the form of 24 pillars. There is also another Amman moortham in dhabas /  standing posture on one leg in the same mandapam. Amman Vimanam and Aadhi Sankarar  sannadhi vimanas are covered with golden plates.

Sannadhi for Gnana Saraswathi Lakshmi, Aruba Lakshmi, Shyamala Varahi, Annapoorani, Arthanari, Pilakaasam, Sri Chakkaram, Dhabas Kamakshi,  Bangaru Kamakshi.

Perumal in this temple is called as Kallvan, since he overhears the conversation of Sri Lakshmi and Sri Kamakshi Amman through hiding. This Perumal temple is also one of the 108 Divya Desam and mangalasasanam was done by Thirumangai Azhwar.

LEGEND
This is one of the 51 Sakthi Peetam.
It was believed that Pandasuran was killed by Sri Kamakshi as a 9 year old Child. After killing, her ugram ( anger ) was not reduced. She was pacified to Santham /normal by Sri Sankarachariyar through installation of Sri Chakkara.

It was also believed that Amman’s moola idol /moortham was installed by Rishi Durvasa.

It was also believed that  all the Navagrahas are under the feet of Sri Kamakshi Amman, hence devotees need not worry about  Navagrahas fear, when they worship Sri Kamakshi.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

 South east side Rajagopuram 
 Temple complex view - Aaadhi Shankarar's sannadhi  gopuram is gold plated


 The front mandapam

After darshan of Sri Kamakshi Amman, closed my week end’s Temples visit and proceeded to Bus stand to catch a bus to Chennai. As usual there was a lot of rush to Chennai. This time I was waiting near the entrance of the Bus stand  to get a seat.  I was able to get a seat in a bus which came from Cheyyar.  Reached home around 21.30 Hrs.   
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

PALLAVA PERIOD ROCK CUT TEMPLE AT KURANGANILMUTTAM IS CONTINUED IN THE THE NEXT POST ....

Sri Manikandeswarar Temple, Thirumalpur / Thirumarperu - Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalangal of Thondai Nadu.

 4, March 2014.
A Continuation to the previous Post.............
After Dharshan, visited the  Pallava Period Rock cut Temple or kal mandapam. The details are written in a separate post after covering the temples. 

SRI MANIKANDESWARAR TEMPLE.  THIRUMARPERU 
Now this place is called as THIRUMALPUR. This is the 11th Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam in Thondai Nadu. Thirugnanasambandar and Thirunavukkarasar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.

Temple front view 

Moolavar  : Sri Manikandeswarar, Sri Dhayanatheeswarar,
  Sri Pravaleswarar, Sri Saatharupar, Sri Pavalamalaiyar,
  Sri Vaattamthavirthar, Sri Malvanankesar.
  But called by the first name Sri Manikandeswarar.
Consort    : Sri Anjanaatchi Amman, Sri Karunambigai.

Some of the important features of this temple are …….
The temple is facing east with a 5 Tier Rajagopuram without stucco images. Balipedem, Dwajasthambam and Rishabam are in an elevated level under a kottagai / shed. Moolavar is swayambu theenda thirumeni,  cone shape at the top and always covered with Kavasam. Punuku is only applied. In koshtam  Dhakshinamurthy, Mahavishnu, Brahma, and Astabuja Durgai. Urchava moorthangal are in artha mandapam.

At the entrance of main shrine Vinayagar with 10 hands to be seen on the left and Murugan on the right. Vishnu is standing at the center worshiping Lord Shiva behind Rishabam.

In the inner prakaram sannadhi for Suryan, Nalvar, Soleeswarar, Pancha mathas, Balaganapathy, Uchista Ganapathy, Chidambareswarar, Gajalakshmi, Valli Devasena Samedha Subramaniyar,  Veerabhadra, Bhairavar and  Chandran.

In the sabha mandapam, Natarajar with Ambal and Manickavasagar. Pancha moorthy’s Stucco images are on the top of  entrance. In the mandapam reliefs of Dakshinamurthy, Suryan, Maha Vishnu, Balasubramaniar, Appar, Sundarar, Thirugnanasambandar,  Vinayagar, Murugan, Naanmugan ( all the four faces are visible ), Ambal worshiping Lord Shiva, Kalinga narthanar, Kamadhenu, Bairavar, Veerabhadra doing dhabas standing on one leg.

HISTORY & INSCRIPTIONS
It was told that the original inscriptions are estempaged in the year 1905 by the Archaeological  department.  During the renovations in 1936 all the inscription stones are not fitted on the original places, instead they are used as floor slabs around, Rishabam, balipeedam and Dwajasthambam. With great difficult we could trace the name of Mathuranthakan Kandarathithan and the title of Rajaraja Chozha.

LEGENDS
Thirumal and Chandran worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. Thirumal worshiped lord Shiva with 1000 lotus flowers. When one more number was required to complete 1000, to get back his Chakrayutham. So Thirumal plugged out one of his eye to complete 1000 lotus flowers. To prove this story there is a Thirumal’s urchava moortham is available with a Lotus in one hand.

Perumal moortham worshiping Lord Shiva
Perumal  Impon moortham - a lotus in his hand 

TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple is kept open between 07.00 Hrs to to 12.00 Hrs. and 17.30 Hrs to 20.30 Hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS
Sivachariyar Shanmugam Gurukkal, Mobile number 9444386442  may be contacted for more details and Pooja.

HOW TO REACH :
Buses are available from Kanchipuram. A Private bus KRC from Kanchipuram to  Panapakkam passes through this place.
Another private bus  Bharathi from Arcot to Kanchipuram passes through this place.
Chennai / Chengalpattu to Thirumalpur train facility is available and the place is 5 Km from the station. The Rly station Place is called as Pallur. Share autos are available to Thirumalpur.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

Chariot  - during masi maham festival 
The 5 tier Rajagopuram view from inside 
Front view of Ambal sannidhi
Front mandapam - Sivanadiyars mutrum othuthal
Ambal Sannadhi gopuram
Urchavars

Dwarapalakas

Sri Ashtabhuja Durgai
Adhikara Nandhi under the niche of Rajagopuram
63var 
After darshan of Lord Shiva Sri Manikandeswarar, came to Bus stop and waited. It took 1 hour to get a bus, since I missed one bus, which left just 5 minutes before my arrival to the bus stop. Around 13.30 Hrs reached Kanchipuram.

Kanchipuram Temples visit continued.....
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---