Thursday 18 December 2014

Bhagavan Ramana Maharishi - Mamara cave / Mango Tree Cave, Virupaksha Cave and Skandashram at Thiruvannamalai, Thiruvannamalai District, Tamil Nadu.

                                                                           18, December 2014.
After collecting the details of Sri Arunachala temple on 14th December 2014 During my Sri Arunachaleswara temple visit, thought of visiting a temple on the hill and take the photograph of the temple from the hill temple. Initially I do not know I am proceeding towards the Caves which are associated with  Bhagavan Sri Ramana maharishi. When I inquired the locals about the temple they guided me  to go up.  It was scary, since I trekked the hill alone. There was no body in the front or back. After climbing  half the distance near  Mamara cave found, two visitors are climbing down.

MAMARA CAVE ( MANGO TREE CAVE )
This cave is situated before Virupaksha cave. Once there was big mango tree near the cave which has fallen down and there is no mango tree now. There is a Shiva shrine called Sri Maheswarar and Sri Kasi Annapoorani shrine.  Inside the cave we have to knelled down and go. Bhagavan Ramana maharishi stayed for a while in this cave.

LOCATION OF THE CAVE : CLICK HERE

 Sri Maheswarar Sannidhi at maamara cave 
 Sri Kasi Annapoorani Amman sannadhi through which we have to go in to the cave 

MULAIPAL THEERTHAM
The I trekked   further and reached Mulaipal Theertham, where the water from the hill is collected in the pond and well. There is sign board not to take bath and wash the clothes. But the locals did not mind. Above the  theertham there is an ashram called  Sri Annamalaisamy Sri Guru Ram Yogi Lahari with a Amman temple.  One the way plastic bags were strewn on the side of the path ( Spoiling the nature ).

 Mulai Paal Theertham 
 CAUTION BOARD
 
 Amman temple 
 Sri Annamalai Swamigal ashram 

VIRUPAKSHA CAVE
The trek stretches like Hanuman’s tail. Finally reached   Virupaksha cave with ASI caution board. The cave is under the control of Archaeological Survey of India ( ASI ) and maintained by Sri Ramanashram.  Sri Ramana Maharishi’s disciples  visits throughout the year from foreign countries too. The cave is like “OM”.  Sri Ramana maharishi stayed in this cave from 1899 to 1916. It is believed that  Sage Virupaksha’s jeeva Samadhi is in this cave. When I went inside the cave absolutely there was no sound and very very dark. Only one oil lamp  was burning at the center. I could not see any thing. Sat for a while and meditated. When my  eyes got accustomed to the dark, I could see lot of people sitting in two tiers and meditating. Really it was a wonderful experience.

LOCATION OF THE CAVE : CLICK HERE

 Virupaksha cave 

I  trekked further.  There was a long steep stretch. At the end of the stretch there is a falls and a pool of water. After crossing the falls the trek became easier. 

 Path leading to Skandashram
Water  Falls


A long snake was playing the pool of water and must be at least 8 feet length.  On seeing me the snake ran in to the forest.  While climbing down also I had seen the same snake playing in the pool of water. ( The snake can be seen like a stick in the water )

SKANDASHRAM.
The Skandashram is  also controlled by ASI and maintained by Sri Ramanashram.  The cave is not big as Virupaksha cave. There are three rooms for meditation adjoining the cave.  Meditated for a while and enjoyed the beauty of the ashram, plants, trees and hill. I could notice there are lot of foreigners visiting this cave also. They become the ardent disciples of Bhagavan Sri Ramana maharishi. Sri Ramana maharishi lived in the cave between 1916 to 1922 with his mother. After his mother attained mukti he stayed in the base ashram itself. Here only he found out “who am I”

LOCATION OF THE CAVE :  CLICK HERE

 Sri Skandashram
 Sri Skandashram 
 Sri Skandashram 
Water  will fall on Shiva lingam during  rain

On the way to back to Sri Arunachaleswara I found out this panoramic view of the temple.   I clicked Sri Arunachaleswara Temple view. It was completely overcast throughout the day,  I could not take clear picture.


From Skandashram there  is a path leading to Sri Ramashram also. But I returned in the same route.  But  I missed the route half way and diverted to Sadai Swamigal Ashram and they guided me to the base of the hill. Hence it is advisable to trek with some people instead of going alone.

It was said that once the maha deepam is placed on the 10th day it will continue to burn. If the same gets off within short period some bad things will happen. But this is not correct. These 4 people carries the gee and wick to light up the maha deepam every day evening by 18.00 Hrs for 11 days after the mahadeeppam festival.

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Wednesday 17 December 2014

Arulmigu Arunachaleswarar Temple / அருள்மிகு அருணாசலேஸ்வரர் கோயில், Thiruvannamalai, Thiruvannamalai District, Tamil Nadu.

 17, December 2014.
On 13th & 14th, Dec, 2014, I had Thiruvannamalai Sri Arunachaleswarar Darshan. It was a 1 ½ days visit to Thiruvannamalai. I want to cover the temple extensively.  Started from Chennai around 07.00 Hrs from Koyambedu and reached Thiruvannamalai around 12.30 Hrs. My plan was to have the darshan of Sri Arunachaleswara first and then do the Girivalam. Since it was Saturday, there was a lot of rush and Melmaruvathur & Ayyappa devotees also increased the crowd. So kept my back bag in the cloak room and carried only the food and water for the Girivalam. Started the Girivalam by 12.30 hrs and returned back to the temple around 17.30  Hrs.  ( Girivalam experience  and details were up loaded in the previous post ). Joined in the 20 rupees Q, It took almost 2 hours for the dharshan. When I was in the Q the drizzling started and latter it was raining heavily, but the whole day it was overcast and cloudy. Had the peaceful darshan of Sri Arunachaleswara and Sri Unnamulai Ammai. After dharshan I was very lucky to have the darshan of Maha deepam on the Arunachala Hill with heavy rain.


Stayed in the lodge on 13th Dec 2014, night. Around 07.00 Hrs on 14th Dec 2014, once again went in to the temple and started for the darshan of all the other sannadhis.  It took almost 2 hours to find out Hoysala’s “Anda Perandam“, a bird no, an animal, no it is a combination of the both.  It took another one hour to locate King Vallala’s relief on the Nandhi mandapam. But I couldn’t trace King Vallala’s wife’s relief. After collecting the details went to Virupaksha and Skandashram caves, where Sri Ramana maharishi lived and meditated. The details will be posted in the next post.   

22. ARULMIGU ARUNACHALESWARAR TEMPLE, THIRUVANNAMALAI


This is the 22nd  and last Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva sthalam in Nadu Nadu. Nalvar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.

Moolavar  : Sri Arunachaleswarar, Sri Mahadevar,
  Sri Aalwar Anna Nattudayar. Sri Annamalaiyar.
Consort    : Sri Abeethakusambal, Sri Unnamulai Ammai,
Sri Unnamalai, Sri Thiru Kamakottamudaya Nam Piratiyar, Sri Ulakudaya Perumal Nam Piratiyar.

Some of the important features of this temple are….
The temple was built in an area of 24 acres. The temple was built with 9 Gopurams and 6 prakarams. The 6th prakaram compound wall is of 700 feet on south – north, South wall is of 1479 feet and north wall is of 1590 feet. The East Rajagopuram is 217 feet with 11 tiers, the highest of all. The base of the east Rajagopuram is  135 feet x 98 feet. This Rajagopuram was built by Krishnadevaraya. The names of the other Rajagoprams are Thirumanjana gopuram on the south, Vallala maharaja Gopuram, Kili gopuram between 3rd and 4th prakaram, Ammani ammal gopuram ( She only collected the money and constructed ) on the north, Pey gopuram on the west  and three kattai gopurams of shorter than Rajagopurams.

After East Rajagopuram in the 6th and 5th prakaram important places / sannadhis are Arunagirinathar Annadhana mandapam, Sivagangai theertham, Kambathu ilayanar sannadhi, Sarvasakthi sannadhi ( Iraivan’s various forms were painted on the ceiling ), Thirukalyana mandapam, Kalyana Sundareswarar, 16 pillar/ kal mandapam, 4 pillar mandapam, vahana storage rooms, 1000 pillar mandapam, Pathala Lingam, Gopurathu Ilayanar sannadhi, Periya nandhi under a mandapam. On the west side kattai gopuram Sannadhi for Ammaiappar and Annamalaiyar thirupatham. Kosalai is on the south side. Guest house is on the north side of 6th corridor.

After climbing few steps through Vallala maharaja's gopuram we can enter in the fourth prakaram. Sannadhi/ important places are Brahma theertham, Sri Kala Bhairava ( big in size), 4 Pillar mandapam, Mandapam with shops, Brahma lingam ( with four faces – via  fire, Vayu, earth water, and top Aakayam – Chathur mukha lingam or we can call as pancha mukha lingam ), Vidyatheswarar, Naleswarar, Yanai thirai konda Vinayagar, Kambathu Ilayanar Sannadhi, Kalaiarangam and 6 feet Nandhi. In the right side pillar of the Nandhi mandapam a relief of King Vallalan with hand in worshipping posture and on the left pillar relief of hoysalas, Anda Peranndam ( a mixture of bird and a an animal ). Another relief of Vallala maharaja’s murti / idol ( Seems to be aged ) is available in the Vallala maharaja’s gopuram passage.

We have to pass through 6 tires Kili ( parrot ) Gopuram  to reach 3rd prakaram. Lot of parrots are there in this gopuram. From this gopuram Arunagirinathar left his body to get Parijata flower in the form of parrot. Since his body was cremated before his arrival, he remained as parrot. The important sannadis/ places are 16 pillar and 4 pillar mandapams, office room, Ekambareswarar, Chidambara nathar, Pidari Amman ( with a stone soolam at the front ), Kalatheeswarar, Golden chariot mandapam.  Unnamulai amman sannadhi, Balipeedam. There is sudhai sirpam on the right side passage of Kili gopuram ( Parrot gopuram ).

At the entrance of Moolavar sannadhi mandapam on the left Sri Sampantha Vinayagar and Dhandayuthapani on the right. In the front mandapam  Barani deepam ( out side the mandapam ), Balipeedam , Dwajasthambam, Adhikara Nandhi.

In the second prakaram, Sannadhi for Devara Thirumurai parayana mandapam, Nalvar, 63var in stone, Sabtha mathaakkal, Lingangal, Iyappan, Gautama maharishi, Durvasa maharishi, Shethra Kanni Ganapathy, Somaskandar urchavar, Arthanareeswarar, Urchava moorthangal, Sri Sridevi, Bhudevi sametha Venugopala, Gajalakshmi, Valli Devasena Sri Subramaniar, 63var in cheppu moorthangal, Sorna Kala bairavar, Palliyarai, Theertha well, Saba mandapam.

In Koshtam, Ganapathy, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai.

Moolavar is in normal size with golden nagabaranam. Ambal is small in size.

HISTORY & INSCRIPTIONS
The temple has a long history. The temple was constructed by  Pallava, Chozha, Pandya, Hoysala kings in stages. Each one of them had left their stamps. The original structures were changed in some areas during construction and renovation/ thiruppani. Nattukottai Nagarathars had done a lot of thirupani to this temple.
 
There are more than 100 inscriptions available in the temple walls. They were between 849 CE to 1582 CE. These inscriptions mainly records the donations given to this temple. Apart from Tamil inscriptions, some  of Telugu inscriptions are also found on the 3rd  prakara wall. Some of the inscriptions were lost during renovations.

FESTIVALS
Even though festivals are celebrated throughout the year the Thirukarthigai deepam is being celebrated in a grand manner for 17 days. 10th day  maha deepam is placed / burnt in a large deepam pot at the top hill. 11 days after maha deepam every evening at 18.00 Hrs deepam is  placed on the top of the hill for which 2 cans of gee and wick bundle is being carried by the  people from the temple.

ARUNACHALESWARAR TEMPLE TIMING.
Morning 05,00 Hrs to 12.30 Hrs
Evening 15.30 Hrs to 21.30 Hrs
Morning
5:00 Hrs Temple Opens for first session pooja 
5:30 Hrs Gomatha Pooja 
6:00 Hrs Oudshakala Pooja 
8:30 Hrs Kaalai Shanthi Pooja   
Noon
11:00 Hrs Uchi kala pooja 
12:30 Hrs Temple close 
15.30 Hrs Temple open for Second session pooja  
18.00 Hrs Sayaratchai kala pooja    
Night
19.30 Hrs 2nd Kala Pooja 
21.00 Hrs Artha jama pooja
21.30 Hrs Temple Close  

CONTACT DETAILS
Joint Commissioner/Executive Officer
Arulmigu Arunachaleswarar Temple 
Thiruvannamalai-606601
Phone : 04175- 252438.
E-Mail- arunachaleswarartempletvm@gmail.com 
Temple official web site

HOW TO REACH :
Frequent bus facility is available from Chennai, Kanchipuram, Villupuram, Tindivanam, Bangalore etc,.
Tiruvannamalai Railway station is on the Villupuram to Katpadi and the temple is 2 Km from the station.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE :CLICK HERE

 Chariot for Urchavam
 East side RajaGopuram 217 feet high with 11 tiers 
Inner view of east Rajagopuram
 Gopurathilayanar sannadhi, Sri Murugan gave darshan to Arunagirinathar
 Sarvasakthi Temple 
 1000 pillar mandapam with Rishabam mandapam 
  Rishabam mandapam in 5& 6 prakaram
 Vallala Maharaja Gopuram 
 Brahma Theertham with south side Rajagopuram and kattai Gopuram
Kili ( Parrot ) Gopuram 
 Moolavar sannadhi 
 Moolavar sannadhi with hill view 

  Rishabam in 4th prakaram with Ammani Ammal Rajagopuram

 Ekapatha moorthy on the dwajasthambam base - Vishnu on the left and Brhama on the right 
 Adhikara / Rishabam near Dwajasthambam 
 Night view 
 Night view 
 Pathala Lingam on the left and east side Rajagopuram 
 A Pichadanar relief on the pillar of a mandapam 

Vallala Maharaja on the Rishaba Mandapam Pillar
Vallala Maharaja on the passage wall of Vallala Maharaja Gopuram 
Gandabherunda - Combinations of bird and animal - Hoysala's symbol
 View from Pidari Amman Temple 
 Saba mandapam 
 Sri Unnamalai Amman sannadhi 
 Back side of moolavar sannadhi - a Stucco yazhi's face on the  wall  for rain water outlet
Pey gopuram on the west side 
Sarva sakthi Temple
 Paintings on the ceiling of sarvasakthi temple 
 Paintings on the ceiling of sarvasakthi temple
 Paintings on the ceiling of sarvasakthi temple
 Paintings on the ceiling of sarvasakthi temple
 Paintings on the ceiling of sarvasakthi temple
 Paintings on the ceiling of sarvasakthi temple
Paintings on the ceiling of sarvasakthi temple
 Barani Deepam and balipeedam


 ARULMIGU ARUNACHALESWARA TEMPLE COMPLEX

1. East Rajagopuram
2. Sivagangai Theertham
3. Murugan sannadhi
4. 16 Pillar mandapam
5. Sarvasakthi Vinayagar Temple
6. 1000 Pillar mandapam
7. Paathala lingam
8. 4 Pillar mandapam
9. Peria Nandhi
10. Thirukkalyana Mandapam with Kalyana Sundareswarar sannadhi
10. Kopurathuilayanar sannadhi
11. Vallala maharaja Gopuram
12. Sri Kala Bhairavar
13. Brahma Theertham
14. 4 Pillar mandapam
15. Shops, Temple architect sample in a mandapam
16. Kalai Arangam
17. 6 Feet Nandhi
18. Kili Gopuram
19. North Kattai Gopuram
20. Ammani Ammal Gopuram
21. South side kattai Gopuram
22. Thirumanjana Gopuram
23. Brahma lingam
24. Vidhyatheswarar
25. Naleswarar, Vinayagar Sannadhi on the back side 
26. Yanai Thirai konda Vinayagar
27. Kaarthigai Deepa mandapam 16 Pillar
28. Office Room
29. Ekambareswarar
30. Pidari Amman
31. Chidambareswarar
32. Kalatheeswarar
33. Vahana mandapam
34. 4 Pillar Mandapam
35. Sthala Viruksham
36. 4 Pillar mandapam
37. Sri Arunachaleswarar Sannadhi
38. Sri Abeethakusambigai, Sri Unnamulai Ammai sannadhi
39. Annamalayar Thirupatham
40. Ammaiyappar
41. Kosalai
42. West side Kattai Gopuram
43. Pey ( பேய்  ) Gopuram
44. Arunagirinathar Annadhana mandapam
45. Vahana mandapam
46. Guest Houses

SANCTUM SANCTORUM LAYOUT

1. Sanctum Sanctorum with Pradhosha Nandhi
2. Devara Parayana mandapam
3. Nalvar
4. 63 var
5. Sapthamathas
6. Lingas
7. Iyappan
8. Gowthamar and Durvasa Maharishi\
9. Kshethra Vinayagar
10. Somaskandar
11. Arthanareeswarar
12. Sridevi & Bhudevi sametha Perumal sannadhi
13. Lingas
14. Gajalakshmi
15. Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniyar
16. Lingas,Urchavarkal
17. 63var
18. Lingangas
19. Sorna kala Bhairavar
20. Palliyarai
21. Theertha Kinaru
22. Saba mandapam
23. Urchavas
24. Sampantha Ganapahi
25. Dhandayuthapani
26. Adikara nandhi
27. Dwajasthambam
28. Balipeedam
29. Barani deepam
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---