Monday 25 July 2011

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 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 TEMPLEARAYANINALLUR ( ARAKANDA NALLUR - THIRUKOVILUR )


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 ---

Tuesday 12 July 2011

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


Now this place is called as Thiruvamathur. It is  the 21st  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 temple is 20th  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


It is a 16th  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 ---