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 and 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 the temple is a Paadal Petra Vaipu Sthalam by Sundarar Nayanar, but that particular song is not known.

 

Entrance Rajagopuram on the east side 

LEGENDS

The Sthala Purana 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. Everybody 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 have a Parrot face. When Brahma knew 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 worshiped Lord Shiva in the form of a Parrot, a hunter Vachirakanthan killed Sugar along with other parrots, who tried to save Lord Shiva's statue. The weapon also hits the Shiva statue and blood oozes 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's face installed in the temple. Some of the photographs taken through my X10 Mini mobile are uploaded below.

Suga Munivar whose nose is like Parrot's nose 

HOW TO REACH :

The temple is the 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 :---