St. Thomas Garrison Church, St. Thomas Mount, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

… A continuation post.

07^th January 2017.

After darshan of Sri Vaikunta Perumal, Manimangalam, we had our lunch at Sri Balaji Bhavan, Pallavaram and landed at St Thomas Garrison Church located at No.1, on GST Road, St Thomas Mount. The church was constructed as per the request of Military personnel of St Thomas Mount but latter shared between St Thomas Mount and Pallavaram. After crossing many road blocks the Church was finally completed in the year 1830 CE, using brick and lime mortar. Initially it was built with two floors and one was removed to fulfill the airport authority's norms. The roof is bomb proof. The church was named after St Thomas, one of the 12 apostles of Jesus.  The  original bell made in UK was replaced  by a Rangoon made, which was donated by a member. It is believed that the railings were made of  steel recovered from the Tippu’s arms. The church has the 13 tablets, mainly speaks about the personnel who rendered service to this Church.

In addition to this Mr Gopu explained the experiment of velocity of the sound was done between this Church and Fort St George by firing a gun measuring the time delay. This was adopted latter in deciding the time lag between India and London and All India Railways.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE 

… to be continued ( Cosmopolitan Club – Annexe – Saidapet)

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Sri Rajagopalaswamy Temple & Sri Vaikuntha Perumal Temple, Manimangalam, Tamil Nadu

… a continuation post 

07^th January 2017.

SRI RAJAGOPALASWAMY TEMPLE, MANIMANGALAM

During our last visit to this temple ( THE ADYAR - a cultural mapping CLICK HERE ),  we could not see the sanctum since the entrance was locked. This time the Pattar was kind enough to open the door for us, when we went little late.

The moolavar is in standing posture with conch on his upper right hand and disc on the left upper hand, which is reverse of the usual posture. The lower right hand with vara hastham and left hand holds a gatha. Sridevi and Bhoodevi are on both sides.

In koshtam, moorthams of Vinayagar, Yoga Narasimhar, Perumal with prayoka chakra, Paramapatha Narayanan sitting under the hood of adhiseshan with prayoga chakra, Vishnu Durgai, which are  unique feature of this temple.

In the thorana above koshtam reliefs of Dakshinamurthy, Kalinga Narthanar, lakshmi, etc,. In the boothavari reliefs of Seetha in captivity, Geethopadesam etc,.

It was told that Sri Ramanujar had done service in this temple and if one worships Perumal of this temple, the eye related ailments will get cured.

   

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

 Chozha inscriptions

 Dhakshinamurthy in the thoranam

 Kalinga narthanar in the thoranam

 Vinayagar 

Paramapatha Narayanan

SRI VAIKUNTHA PERUMAL TEMPLE, MANIMANGALAM.

Moolavar : Sri Vaikuntha Perumal

This a very simple temple with vimana or a Rajagopuram. Perumal is in a sitting posture with Sridevi and Bhoodevi. Perumal’s upper hands hold the conch and Disc and lower right hand in abhaya hastham and left hand fingers are closed and resting on the lap, which is unusual ( The reason also not known).

Vinayagar sannidhi is on the left side of the entrance. We could find 2 pillars with grantha inscriptions. As per the adhistanam and Virudha kumudam ( circular ), the  temple may belongs to Chozha period.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE 

SRI RAMAKRISHNA BHAKTHA JANA SABHA, MANIMANGALAM.

The mandapam with sabha was established during 1935 with only photos of Krishna. The unique feature of this Sabha has two unsymmetrical Lion pillars of Pallava Period.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE 

…. To be Continued ( St Thomas Garrison Church )

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Sri Neervanna Perumal, Sri Ranganathar, Sri Narasimhar and Sri Ulagalantha Perumal Temple, Thiruneermalai, Chennai, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu.

 07^th January 2017.

Our next destination was to Thiruneermalai Vishnu temples where we had seen Perumals 4 postures. Standing posture at the base temple as Sri Neervanna Perumal and the three other postures are at the top of the hill. This is the 108, Thirumangai Alwar's mangalasasanam petra Vaishnava temple.

1079.   

காண்டாவனம் என்பது ஓர் காடு*  

அமரர்க்கு அரையன்னது கண்டு அவன் நிற்க* முனே 

மூண்டு ஆர் அழல் உண்ண முனிந்ததுவும் அது அன்றியும்* 

முன் உலகம் பொறை தீர்த்து 

ஆண்டான்* அவுணன் அவன் மார்வு அகலம் 

உகிரால் வகிர் ஆக முனிந்து*  அரியாய்  

நீண்டான்* குறள் ஆகி நிமிர்ந்தவனுக்கு இடம்*  

மா மலை ஆவது நீர்மலையே*  

1080.   

அலம் மன்னும் அடல் சுரி சங்கம் எடுத்து*  

அடல் ஆழியினால் அணி ஆர் உருவில்* 

புலம் மன்னும் வடம் புனை கொங்கையினாள்*  

பொறை தீர முன் ஆள் அடு வாள் அமரில்* 

பல மன்னர் பட சுடர் ஆழியினைப்*  

பகலோன் மறையப் பணிகொண்டு அணிசேர்* 

நில மன்னனும் ஆய் உலகு ஆண்டவனுக்கு இடம்*  

மா மலை ஆவது நீர்மலையே.

1081.   

தாங்காதது ஓர் ஆள் அரி ஆய்*  அவுணன் தனை 

வீட முனிந்து அவனால் அமரும்* 

பூங் கோதையர் பொங்கு எரி மூழ்க விளைத்து 

அது அன்றியும்*  வென்றி கொள் வாள் அமரில்*

பாங்கு ஆக முன் ஐவரொடு அன்பு அளவி*  

பதிற்றைந்து இரட்டிப் படை வேந்தர் பட* 

நீங்காச் செருவில் நிறை காத்தவனுக்கு இடம்*  

மா மலை ஆவது நீர்மலையே.      

1082.   

மாலும் கடல் ஆர மலைக் குவடு இட்டு*  அணை கட்டி 

வரம்பு உருவ* மதி சேர் 

கோல மதிள் ஆய இலங்கை கெட*  படை 

தொட்டு ஒருகால் அமரில் அதிர*

காலம் இது என்று அயன் வாளியினால்*  

கதிர் நீள் முடி பத்தும் அறுத்து அமரும்* 

நீல முகில் வண்ணன் எமக்கு இறைவற்கு இடம்*  

மா மலை ஆவது நீர்மலையே.   

1083.   

பார் ஆர் உலகும் பனி மால் வரையும்*  

கடலும் சுடரும் இவை உண்டும்* எனக்கு 

ஆராது என நின்றவன் எம் பெருமான்*  

அலை நீர் உலகுக்கு அரசு ஆகிய* அப் 

பேரானை முனிந்த முனிக்கு அரையன்*  

பிறர் இல்லை நுனக்கு எனும் எல்லையினான்* 

நீர் ஆர் பெயரான் நெடுமால் அவனுக்கு இடம்*  

மா மலை ஆவது நீர்மலையே. 

...... திருமங்கை ஆழ்வார்

SRI NEERVANNA PERUMAL TEMPLE, THIRUNEERMALAI   

Dr. Padma Sugavanam has sung the pasuram of this temple in  front of Thayar’s sannadhi  mandapam. Really it was very nice to hear from her. 

Moolavar : Sri NeerVanna Perumal

Thayar    : Sri Animaamalar Mangai

This temple is facing east with a 3 tier Rajagopuram with a palipedam and Dwajasthambam. Moolavar is in  standing posture and urchavars are in mandapam. It was interesting to note that the Urchavar is not belongs to this temple. The story goes like this… During muslim invasion the Chennakesava Perumal Temple of Chennai was brought here for safety reasons and kept along with this temple’s urchavars. While taking back they had taken the Neervanna Perumal’s urchavars and the existing might belongs to Sri Chenna kesava Perumal Temple.

The entrance  to the sanctum  is from south with steps. Separate sannadhi for Thayar and Ramar under the mandapam facing east. There is a Hanuman stucco statue in the outer prakaram. The temple is more than 1000 years old with Rajaraja Chozha period inscriptions on the wall.

When Thirumangai alwar came for worship Perumal the place was completely surrounded by water and he waited till the water recede in the other hill to have the darshan of Perumal, hence perumal is called as Neervanna Perumal. 

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, artha mandapam and a Maha mandapam. The Sanctum Sanctorum is on a upanam and prati bandha adhistanam with brutha kumudam. The prastaram consists of Valapi, Kapotam with Nasi Kudus and Viyyala vari. 2 tier Nagaram - Vesara brick Vimanam is above the Adhi talam. 

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be  opened between 08.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 16.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

The land line and mobile numbers are +91- 44-2238 5484,98405 95374,94440 20820.

HOW TO REACH:

Thiruneermalai is very near to Pallavaram and Chrompet and Town buses are available.  

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

SRI RANGANATHAR , SRI NARASIMHAR AND SRI ULAGALANTHA PERUMAL TEMPLE, AT THIRUNEERMALAI. 

 

Moolavar : Sri Ranganathar

Thayar    : Sri Ranganayaki

After darshan of Sri Neervanna Perumal temple, climbed up the hill. It took us almost 5 minutes to reach the hill top. The Kalki mandapam at the end of the steps serves as the entrance of the temple. Sri Ranganathar sannadhi is facing south. Sri Ranganathar is in reclining posture, resting his head on Thayar’s lap under the 5 headed hood of Adhiseshan. The sanctum is facing south. The Thayar Sri Ranganayagi is one level below the moolavar on the left side of the entrance.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE 

Kalki mandapam

Sri  Narasimhar (is in a peace mood) also called as Bala Narasimhar, and Ulakagantha Perumal are on the back side of Sri Ranganathar Sannadhi. Both are facing east. Rajaraja and Kulothunga period inscriptions are there on the south side wall of Sri Narasimhar Sannidhi, which are not legible to read due to painting.

 Bala Narashimhar or Shantha Narasimhar

 Ulagalantha Perumal

The Chozha inscriptions

It was told that many famous  personalities marriages were held here which include  MSV.  It was a awesome view of the base temple with the big tank from the top of the hill.

… to be continued ( Sri Rajagopalaswamy Temple, Manimangalam )

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Sri Sundareswarar Temple at Kovur, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu.

…. A Continuation post

07^th January 2017

Our next stop was at Sri Sundareswarar Temple, Kovur. This temple is one of the Navagraha sthalam around Chennai. The temple has a Pancharatna Keerthana sung by Saint Thyagaraja Swamy. It was a different experience to hear the song of the temple by the singer Dr Padma Sugavanam. This post was updated with History and Inscriptions and Architecture etc,. Please Click this link for the updated post.. 

As per the legend, Thiyagaraja Swamy was attacked by the thieves at Kovur on his way to Thirupathi. When inquired, they denied their act of throwing stones. Thiyagaraja Swamy  realized that the act was by Sri Rama. He stayed for 6 months at this place and worshiped lord Shiva of this temple. The details of my earlier visit to this Kovur Sri Sundareswarar Temple was posted in my blog.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE 

 Stucco images of Thyagaraja and his disciples, the sthala purana  

 Stucco images of Thyagaraja and his disciples, the sthala purana 

 Kovur Pancha Rathna keerthana 

 Looking What? Stucco images of Thyagaraja and his disciples 

 Dr Padma Sugavanam’s musical treat  

… to be Continued ( Vishnu Temples, Thiruneermalai )

---ON SHIVAYA NAMA---

Sri Angala Eswari and Sri Muneeswarar Temple, Nandambakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu

07^th January 2017

Some of the historical important  places on the banks of river Adyar are covered during this Kovur trip arranged by Mr Venkatesh, the historian and the writer assisted by M/s Sreemathy, Vaidhyanathan and Raja. We 23 history enthusiasts in two vans started our Journey from Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam, T Nagar as per the schedule on 07^th January 2017.

Our first destination was to Sri Angala Eswari  and Muneeswarar temple at Nandambakkam after out break fast. My earlier visit to this Sri Angaleswari and Sri Muneeswarar Temple with details are recorded in my blog.

   

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

…. To be continued ( Sri Sundareswarar Temple, Kovur )

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---