Sri Veeratteswarar Temple, Thirukovilur and Sri Athulya Natheswarar Temple, Arayaninallaur / Arakandanallur, Kallakurichi District, Tamil Nadu.

 25, July 2011.

On 24-07-2011 went to Thirukovilur and had a darshan of Sri Veeratteswarar  temple, one of the 276 Paadal Petra sthalangal. Some of the photos are  from the new chariot below.

43/11. SRI VEERATTESWARAR TEMPLE. THIRUKOVILUR 

( This post was up dated with Thevara Hymns, History, Inscriptions and legends. For the details of this updated post please click this Link )

This is the 43rd Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 11th Sthalam in Nadu Naadu. Thirugnanasambandar and Appar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.

Rajagopuram with kodimaram an inside view

Moolavar    : Sri Veeratteswarar

Consort      : Sri Sivanthavalli, Sri Periyanayagi

Some of the features of this temple are....

The temple is on the south bank of Pennai river. The temple is facing west with a 4 tier Rajagopuram. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam and Rishabam are immediately after the Rajagopuram. Shiva and Ambal Sannathi are built as separate Temples with separate entrances. This is one of the atta veeratta sthalam.

Legends

Anthakasuran samhara sthalam. Natarajar's posture with thirisoolam is to be seen.  A relief of this story is carved on the wooden chariot. Meiporul Nayanar lived and had done seva at this temple. Avvaiyar has sung the famous “Vinayagar Agaval” starts with “ Seetha kalaba chenthamari poompatha Silambu  pala Isai pada …..சீதகலப செந்தாமரைப் பூம்பாதச்சிலம்பு பல இசை பாட... ”, in this temple. Hence Avvaiyar reached kailash  before Sundarar through Vinayagar's trunk.

It was  learned that Chozha King Rajaraja Chozhan was born in this place.

HOW TO REACH 

Lot of buses are available from Villupuram, Thiruvannamalai, Panruti.  

CONTACT DETAILS 

Mobile number +91 93456 60711

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE 

Natarajar saba mandapam  vimanam  looking from prakaram  wall

Vinayagar sannadhi vimanam

Temple Chariot sculptures

Chariot a relief of Anthakasuran vatham.

Temple chariot Reliefs 

On 24th July 2011 went  to ThiruKovilur  and had the  darshan of Sri Athulya Natheswarar. Of Aryani Nallur. Now this place is called as Araganda Nallur.

44/12. ATHULYA NADHESWARA TEMPLE, ARAYANINALLUR ( ARAKANDA NALLUR - THIRUKOVILUR )

( This post was up dated with Thevara Hymns, History, Inscriptions and legends. For the details of this updated post please click this Link ).

This is the 44th Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam on the north bank of river Pennai and 12th Sthalam in Nadu Nadu. Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.

Temple complex view from a distance

Moolavar    :Sri  Athulya Nadheswara, Sri Oppilaa Maneeswarar,   
                  Sri Aryani Nathar

Consort      :Sri Soundarya Kanakambigai, Sri Arul Nayagi,  
                  Sri Azhakiya Nayagi.

Some of the important features of this temple are...

The temple is facing west. This temple is built on a mount like rock ( Paarai ).  The 7 tier Rajagopuram is on the south side on the banks of river Pennai. The sanctum sanctorum door of this temple made open by Lord Shiva for Thirugnanasambandar's song, which was locked by samanars. Ulagalantha Perumal Temple and Sri Veeratteswarar Temple's can be seen from this temple.

Sri Ramana Maharishi  had done meditation before going to Thiruvannamalai, which is 30 KM from this temple. A Ramana maharishi's Statue is also installed in front of Nalvar.

CONTACT DETAILS: 

Mobile number : +91 9965144849  

HOW TO REACH : 

Buses also available from various places like Panruti, Vridhachalam, Panruti.

Lot of buses are available from Villupuram which is 39 KM, get down at Thirukovilur Railway Station and also called as Araganda Nallur. 

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

Rajagopuram 7 tier

Moolavar vimanam

Ambal sannadhi vimanam with Rajagopuram 

 ---OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sri Abirameswarar Temple at Thiruvamathur, Sri Panamgatteswarar Temple at Panayapuram and Sri Panchanatheeswarar / Vadugunathar Temple at Thiruvandarkoil- Paadal Petra Sthalangal Darshan in and around Nadu Nadu, near Villupuram.

 12, July 2011.

In Continuation to my Paadal Petra sthalangal darshan,  I had been to  the following three Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalangal  (in Nadu Naadu) near Villupuram on 09-07-2011.

53/21. SRI ABIRAMESWARAR TEMPLE, THIRUVAMATHUR

( This post was updated with Thevara hymns, History, Inscriptions and Legends. For the details of up dated post please click this link )

Now this place is called as Thiruvamathur. It is  the 21^st  Moovar Paadal Petra sthalam  of Nadu Naadu.

Iraivan: Sri Abirameswarar, Sri Azhakia nathar

Iraivi   : Sri Multhambigai, Sri Azhakia Nayagi.

Some of the important features of this temple are ....

The temple is facing east with a 7 tier Rajagopuram. Balipedam, Dwajasthambam and Rishabam are immediately after the Rajagopuram. This is one of the temple where the Ambal temple is facing west, separately built opposite to Shiva temple.  There are two Nandhis. One is big and is made of sudhai / Stucco and the other one is stone located in a Pit. Purpose of Nandhi in a pit is to pray Shiva to get rain, by immersing Nandhi in water.

Vattaparai Amman Sannathi is famous here, which is south west corner of the Ambal temple. To find out the truth of a guilty person, the person will have to do sathyam  in front of the Amman. It is believed that Ambal will give punishment to the guilty. Now only Shiva lingam is installed in place of Ambal.

HOW TO REACH : 

Town buses are available from Main bus stand. Route nos 22,8C, 32, 6E and 18. Buses going to Mel Gudalur  and Elu Sempon  is going via this temple.

Mini bus also available from the old bus stand.

To catch bus, better to wait at Hospital Stop signal, Villupuram ( Chennai buses also pass through this stop )

CONTACT DETAILS:

Telephone and mobile numbers are +91 4146 223379 and +91 98430 66252

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

Moolavar Rajagopuram with kodimaram and Ambal temple on the other side of the road Rajagopuram is also visible

A big Sudhai nandhi  and a small ( Stone ) kal nandhi below the ground level under the mandapam

View of Shiva Temple Rajagopuram  with Ambal temple gopuram view from Ambal temple

52/20. SRI PANANGATEESWARAR TEMPLE, PANAYAPURAM 
( PURAVAR PANANGATTUR ) 

( This post was updated with Thevara hymns, History, Inscriptions and Legends. For the details of up dated post please click this link )

This temple is 20^th  Paadal Petra  Shiva  sthalam of  Nadu Naadu. Saint Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple,   Now this place is called  as Panayapuram.

Iraivan : Sri Panangateeswarar

Iraivi   :: Sri Sathyambigai, Sri Puravammai.

Some of the important features of this temple are...

The temple is facing east with a 4 tier Rajagopuram. Palipedam, Dwajasthambam and Nandhi are immediately after the Rajagopuram. It is one of the five Shiva temples, in which Palm Tree as sthala vruksham. There are separate sannadhis for Ambal and Sri Murugan, both are are facing East. 

This temple was under threat of shifting to give way for road expansion and the road alignment was changed after public protest.

This temple was built by Chola King  Kulothungan -I.

HOW TO REACH :

From Chennai to Villupuram get down at Mundiambakkam. The buses  going to Pondicherry  via Mundiambakkam  is going through  Panayapuram.

From Chennai to Neyveli, Panruti, Thanjavur, 2 KM after Vikravandi get down at Panayapuram.

Auto/ Share autos are available from Mundiambakkam Sugar Factory opposite side. 3 KM from Mundiambakkam.

CONTACT DETAILS 

Mobile number is +91 9942056781

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE :CLICK HERE

( Moolavar vimanam  with Vinayagar sannadhi

Siva Lingam under the Palm tree the sthala viruksham

( Ambal sannadhi vimanam )

Ambal sannadhi entrance

Front view of the temple with Dwajasthambam

Arumuganar with Lakshmi

Rajagopuram 4 tier 

48/16. PANCHANATHEESWARAR TEMPLE/ VADUGURNATHAR TEMPLE, VADUKUR - THIRUVANDARKOIL

( This post was updated with Thevara hymns, History, Inscriptions and Legends. For the details of up dated post please click this link )

It is a 16^th  Temple in Nadu Nadu Saint Thirugnanasambandar Paadal Petra sthalam. Now the place is called as Thiruvandarkoil.  

Iraivan        : Sri Vadugeeswarar, Sri Vatugunathar, Sri Vatugurnathar

Iraivi           : Sri Thirupurasundari, Sri Vadukirkanni

Some of the important features of this temple are ....

The temple is facing east with a Balipeedam and Rishabam. The temple do not have the Dwajasthambam and Rajagopuram. A base of a mandapam is on the right side of the Nandhi & Palipedam. The Koshtams has the Chozha period statues. In the outer prakaram sannadhi for Vinayagar and Valli Devasena Subramaniar.

This temple was  built by Chozha Kings, similar to Thanjavur Rajarajecharam /  Peria Temple but not to the size. The temple complex is under the control of archaeological department.ASI. 

Legend: It was believed that Vadugu Bhairavar worshiped Lord Shiva to get rid of the sin caused by killing  demon / Asuran Mundakan.

CONTACT DETAILS

Sundara Moorthy Gurukkal may be contacted on his mobile number  +91 9698886111, for further details.

HOW TO REACH : 

All the buses from Villupuram to Puducherry pass through Thiruvandarkoil. The temple on the road side opposite to Food Corporation Go-down.

After visiting Panayapuram Panagateeswarar, Via Koliyanur koot road, we can reach this temple, through bus to Puducherry.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

Stone velaipadu moolavar vimanam

Vinayagar sannadhi

Moolavar vimanam

Aalingana moorthy installed at a latter stage in one of the nitch of the koshtam

Palipeedam with nandhi there is no Dwajasthambam (kodimaram)

Temple entrance with nandhi mandapam 

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sabarimala Yatra, Kerala.

18, June 2011.

Self and one of my friend went to SABARIMALA  and had very good darshan of Lord Sri AYYAPPAN on 15^th of June 2011, shrine opens for the monthly pooja. . The river pampa is running with full of water and we had a good bath. The water current is also so  high. Since it is the  rainy season  there was  intermittent  showers  throughout our journey. The path was completely paved with granite steps and without steps.( Only slope ). It was a very good journey and nice experience  to climb the hills during heavy rain with holding the IRUMUDI on the top of the head. The rain water flowed like a stream in the concrete slope paths and steps. The crowd was much less and we had a good dharshan without waiting more time in the Q. The following are the photos taken through my mobile X10 mini.

 ( Pathinettampadi )

 ( Self at pathinettampadi )

 ( Myself with my friend Mr G. Shunmugasamy )

 ( Main shrine ) 

 ( Main shrine )

 ( Mancha madha sannadhi )

 ( Steps in the slope to the sabarimalai)

 ( Steps in the slope to the sabarimalai)

 ( Green forest while climbing down ) 

( The water is flowing to the brim level in Pamba river )

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA :---

Arulmigu Swarnambigai Sametha, Sugavaneswarar Temple, Salem, Salem District, Tamil Nadu.

01, June 2011 

This is one of the five  Shiva temples built along the river Manimuthar. These five temple's main shiva lingas are of  swayambhu. There is a belief that worshiping  the 5 temples in a single day will remove all the sins. This temple was built by the Chozha king Koparakesari, which is more than 1000 years old. But there is no sign of Chozhas / Cheras period architecture. There are about 15 inscriptions available in the temple. The sthala Puranam claims that temple is a padal petra Vaipu sthalam by Sundarar Nayanar, but that particular song is not known.

 

Entrance Rajagopuram on the east side 

LEGENDS

The Sthala puranam was told by Nandi Devar to Sanatha munivar, which has 672 songs. Once, Brahma was sitting on the lotus among the Devars, Munis,  Asuras and 4 Vedas in the form of  cows/pasus. Every body appreciated the unique creation power of Brahma. After hearing all these happenings the Muni SUGAR, ( The voice of the muni is similar to that of Parrot’s voice ) who is a Lord Shiva devotee, went and told everything to Devi Saraswathi. This muni was born to Muni Vyasar and Thilothamai, who has a Parrot face. When Brahma known this he cursed the Muni Sugar to become a Parrot ( King of Parrot) and the curse will disappear at Salem after worshiping Lord Shiva.

While Muni Sugar worshiping Lord Shiva  in the form of parrot, a hunter Vachirakanthan  killed sugar along with other parrots, who tried to save Lord Shiva statue. The weapon also hits Shiva statue and blood was oozing from the lingam. On seeing this the hunter  also killed himself. Lord Shiva appeared and blessed the parrots and the hunter. Muni Sugar also got the original appearance.  To show this there is Urchavar and moolavar of Muni Sugar with Parrot face is installed in the temple. Some of the photographs taken through my X10 Mini mobile are uploaded below.

Suga munivar whose nose is like parrot nose 

HOW TO REACH :

The temple is heart of Salem City.
Frequent buses are available from various parts of Tamil Nadu 
The temple is very near to old Town bus stand  

CONTACT DETAILS :

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

Bas-reliefs of Subramaniyar with Valli Devasena

Bas-relief of Shiva with Murugan

Stucco Rishabaroodar

Subramaniyar sannadhi

Temple complex view with Subramaniyar sannadhi

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA :---

Pillayarpatti Sri Karpaga Vinayagar Temple, Pillayarpatti, Sivaganga District, Tamil Nadu.

 24, May 2011

Karpaga Vinayagar Temple is one of the oldest Cave Temples (Rock Cut) temples of Tamil Nadu and situated at Pillayarpatti, which is between Pudukkottai and Karaikudi. 

The town of Pillayarpatti is named after 'Pillayar' - the Tamil name for Ganesha, and this ancient temple houses rock cut images of Shiva, Lingothbavar and others as well as several other shrines. Steeped in the tradition of Agamic texts the temple bears testimony to the vibrant temple culture of the Tamil people, passed down through centuries.

View of front mandapam with east side Rajagopuram in front of Shiva's sannadhi    

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Antiquity: Over 15 inscriptions are found within the temple, that help establish the age of the temple. The Sthalapuranam published by the temple classifies the growth of this temple into three distinct stages.

The first stage goes back in time by about 1600 years. During this period, the innermost rock cut shrines housing Karpaka Vinayakar and Tiruveesar came into being. The uniqueness of the image of Ganesha is one factor testifying this date; the characters used in the temple inscriptions also help establish this date. The pillars within the shrine are of pre-Pallava origin.

The Pallavas were prolific builders of rock cut temples (Mahabalipuram, Mahendravadi, Mamandur, Mandagapattu, Seeyamangalam, Namakkal, Tiruchi, Narthamalai, Kudumiyanmalai, Thirukokarnam, Thirumeyyam, Peraiyur, Malayadipatti, Thirukolakudi, Kundrakudi etc.). A number of these can be traced to Mahendravarman I (615 - 630 CE ) and Narasimhavarman I (630 - 668 CE ). However, the inscriptions at Pillayarpatti date further back to the 4th century CE. Also, given the location of the temple in the Pandya kingdom it would only be logical to associate Pandya patronage to this temple, especially in the light of Pandya patronage at the Kazhugumalai temple not too far from here. There are several inscriptions within this temple that date back to the period between 1091 CE and 1238 CE, making it apparent that the Pillayarpatti Nagarattar became the custodians of the temple during the 13th century AD during the second growth phase of this temple, when Vimanams and Rajagopuras were built.

The third phase of growth is much more recent and it involved the repair, rebuilding and refurbishment of the entire temple complex, including the renovation of the temple tank. The tank and the two Raja Gopuras provide an attractive approach to the temple, in this rather remote town of Pillayarpatti.

DEITIES

Karpaka Vinayakar or Desi Vinayaka Pillaiyar is the presiding deity here, and he is portrayed with two arms and a trunk curled towards his right in the valampuri mode. This 6 feet tall mammoth image of Ganesha is a bas-relief in an excavated cave, off of a hill in the precincts of the temple. Scholars says that Lord Vinayaka is the Lord of wisdom, which is confirmed by the head of elephant in the shape of sacred mantra "OM". When we draw a line from the broken left tusk, starting upward, then turning left to wards right ear and after passing through the bend of the left tusk up to the tip of trunk, Tamil alphabet "O" appears. The Lingam in the hand indicates the alphabet "M". Together they form "OM". This is confirmed by the lord here "Valampuri Pillayar". As Vinayagar satisfies the wishes of his devotees like Karpagam tree, he is also known "Karpaga Vinayagar".

Here Lord Vinayaka appears with 2 hands unlike in other places where he is seen with 4 hands. Also he is seen seated without Pasa Angusa, with his legs folded and stomach not touching the Asanam in the form of "Ardha Padmasana".

The word Vinayaga means "Incomparable Leader" Devotees worshiping Valampuri Vinayagar seated facing towards north, will be blessed with all wealth. Chanting of sacred mantras by the student learning Vedas and agamas in the Vedagama School create a divine atmosphere.

( Entrance of east side Rajagopuram )

SHIVA TEMPLE INSIDE THE PREMISES OF PILLAYARPATTI.

The deity of this temple is known as "Marudeeswarar" as Marudha tree (In Sanskrit Arjuna Viruksha, The Botanical name is Termanalia Arjuna) worship is followed in this temple which indicates that this temple in an ancient temple. The sculptor of Pasupatheeswarar, "A cow worshiping Lord Siva by offering his milk" is the special feature of this temple. Also kubera the Lord of wealth had worshiped at this temple.

To illustrate the information that one where controls his five senses will be able to understand God, a sculpture of five headed snake wearing a Lingam on its neck is found here. The five head of the snake indicate the five senses while the Lingam indicates God. Also adding to the spirituality Goddess Lakshmi, Saraswati and Durgai are found together at the same sport.

Unlike other places the three Lingams Thiruveesar, Marudheesar and Senchadeswarar and the three Goddess Sivagami Amman, Vadamalar Mangaiamman and Soundara Nayagi Amman all appear together at the same place and bless the devotees.

It is believed that by worshiping Kathyayini amman at this temple women get relived from sevvai dosham which prevent them from getting married. "Saptamatrikas" whom importance due to changing time are provided with a separate sannadhi known as Sakthi sannidhi at this temple.

HOW TO REACH :

Frequent buses are available from Karaikudi.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE :CLICK HERE

Temple complex view with temple tank

Ambal Sannadhi vimanam 

Rajagopuram in front of Vinayagar sannadhi 

A small sannadhi on a rock 

Daughter sitting in front of a mandapam near Vinayagar sannadhi Rajagopuram 

 

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---