Wednesday 28 September 2011

Sri Viruthapureeswarar Temple/ Pazhampathinathar Temple, Thirupunavasal Shiva Temple, Sri Adhi Rathneswarar Temple, Thiruvadanai, Swarnakaleeswarar Temple, Kalayarkoil / Thirukanaper and Sri Athmanathar Temple, Avudayarkoil / Thiruperundurai - Padal Petra Sthalangal of Pandiya Nadu..

 28, September 2011
After Completing the Darshans of Paadal Petra Sthalangal of NADU NAADU, on 23rd and 24th  September 2011, had been to the Paadal Petra Sthalangal  of Pandya Naadu. Out of 14 Temples, I had covered 5 temples already when I was working  for M/s  SPIC, Tuticorin Fertilizer Plant. ( Tirunelveli, Courtallam, Madurai  Aalavai, Thiruparankundram, Rameswaram ). Had been to Thiruchuli, but I did not gone to the temple, long back and not aware of it.

This time I had been to Three Paadal Petra Sthalangal of Pandya Nadu and Thiruvasakam Paadal Petra Sthalam, Thiruperundurai ( Avudayarkoil) The details I gathered and the photos I had taken through my mobile are enclosed.

251/7. SRI VIRUTHAPUREESWARAR TEMPLE, THIRUPPUNAVASAL.


(Since I reached the temple about 7.00 o’ clock night I could not take clear day light pictures, through my mobile.)
This is the 251st Thevaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam on the banks of river Pambaru ( Sarba nadhi ) and 7th sthalam of Pandya Nadu. Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. 

( Night view of the Dakshinamoorthy sannadhi with Stucco image above )

Moolavar    : Sri Viruthapureeswarar, Sri Pazhampathi Nathar, 
                   Sri Mahalingeswarar.
Consort      : Sri Bhiruntha Nayaki, Sri Periya Nayaki.

Some of the important features of this temple are...
The temple is facing east with a 3 tier Rajagopuram. balipedam, Dwajasthambam and Rishabam are immediately after the Rajagopuram.  In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy ( in yoga posture ), Vishnu, Brahma and Durgai. Vishnu and Anjanayer are installed instead of Lingothbavar. It is believed to be 3000 years old and Lord Shiva is called as Pazhampathi Nathar. 

ARCHITECTURE
The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala and artha mandapam. The Moolavar Vimana is taller than the Rajagopuram.

It was told that the temple at Thanjavur was constructed by seeing this temple. To prove this the Moolavar Lingam is 9 feet high  and avudayar is 33 feet circumference & 5.5 feet high  and komugi is 3.5 feet.

LEGENDS
It is believed that Worshiping Shiva in this temple is equal to worshiping of all 14 temples of Pandya nadu ( 14 Lingams are installed ).  The Vinayagar is Aakanda Vinayagar ( Aakandan – Indra -worshiped the lord).

Kudaivarai Kali ( aroopam ) temple is on the north east corner of the temple premises, which we can see only through a mirror.

HOW TO REACH :
Buses available from Avudayarkoil, Aranthangi and Thiruvadanai.
Taxi to pick up and drop available from Avudayarkoil, ( they may charge Rs 600.00 to Rs 1000. ( The road is toooooo  bad ).

CONTACT DETAILS :
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

( Moolavar Vimanam )
Moolavar vimanam 

253/9. SRI ADHI RATHNESWARAR TEMPLE, 
THIRUVADANAI


Now this place is called Thiruvadanai. This is the 253rd  Thevaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 9th  Sthalam in Pandya nadu. ThirugnanaSambandar has sung hymns in praise of lord Shiva of this temple.

(The 9 tier  Rajagopuram.)

Moolavar    : Sri Aathirathneswarar, Sri Ayagajaeswarar
Consort      : Sri Snehavalli, Sri Anbayeravalli.

Some of the important features of this temple are...
The temple is facing east with a 130 feet high, nine tiers Rajagopuram. Balipeedam Dwajasthambam and Rishabam are after the Rajagopuram. In the prakaram Sannadhi for Vinayagar, Murugan, Somaskandar, Lakshmi and Sabha mandapam.

ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala and artha mandapam. Moolavar Lingam is made out of Blue Rathinam. 
  
Ambal is in a separate sannadhi in chathurbhuja posture facing east. Corridor is beautifully constructed  with rock pillars with many sculptures. 

LEGENDS
As per the legend, due to curse of Durvasa muni, Varunan’s son Vaaruni has got the Elephant body with goat's head ( ஆடு + ஆனை = ஆடானை ). By worshiping Lord Shiva of this temple the curse was removed and he got the original form. Hence this place is called as Thiruvadanai.

It is believed that Suryan installed and worshiped the moolavar.

HISTORY 
The temple is under the control of Ramanathapuram Rajah’s family.

HOW TO REACH : 
Buses from Karaikudi ( 20 KM ), Devakottai ( 10 KM) to Thondi passes through this place Thiruvadanai. 
Buses from Trichy, Madurai to Thondi passes through Thiruvadanai.

CONTACT DETAILS:

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE



( Front mandapam pillars )

254/10. SWARNA KAALEESWARAR TEMPLE, 
KALAYARKOIL - ( THIRUKANAPER )  


This place is now called as Kalayarkoil. This is the 254th  Thevaram Padal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 10th  sthalam in Pandiya Naadu. Thirugnanasambandar & Sundarar has sung hymns in praise of lord Shiva of this temple. 

( Rajagopuram's view )

Some of the important features of this temple are....
The temple is facing east with Two 9 Tier and 5 Tier Rajagopuras. There are Three sanctum and Centre one is the Padal petra Sthalam. All the three sannadhis has the  Balipeedam, Nandhi and Dwajasthambam.
Moolavar                     Consort
Swarna Kaaleeswarar       Sri Sornavalli
Sri Somesar                     Sri Soundaravalli
Sri Sundaresar                 Sri Meenakshi

Some of the important features of this temple are....
There are three Shiva Sannadhi with two Rajagopuram in a single premises.  The sanctum sanctorum is  few feet below the ground level. 
The center Swarna Kaleeswarar is old and Paadal Petra swayambu lingam.
  
It was told that Madurai Meenakshi Amman temple Rajagopuras can be seen from the Tallest rajagopuram.  There is a local kummi -கும்மி song available for this Rajagopuram.  "மதுரை கோபுரம் தெரியக் கட்டிய  மருதுபாண்டியன்   வாராண்டி " ).

HISTORY
During Britisher's period Maruthu Pandiyar saved the Rajagopuram by surrendering himself and latter he was killed by the Britishers. 

LEGENDS
As per the legend Goddess Kali worshiped Shiva and turned to sornam ( Gold colour ) from black.

In Sundarar’s dream, when was at Thiruchuli,  Lord Shiva came in  the form of Kalaimadu with sendu in one hand and Chuzhi on the forehead and said he is in Kanaper. Since Lord Shiva came in the form of Kaalai madu the place is called as Kalayar Kovil.

HOW TO REACH:
Buses available from from Karaikudi, Sivagangai, Devakottai, Madurai to this place.
On the train route get down at Nattarasankottai on the Chennai to Rameswaram and Trichy to Manamadurai.

CONTACT DETAILS :

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

( A mandapam )
Moolavar vimanam
( Inner corridor )
( Someswarar sannadhi entrance arch )
( Sorna keeswarar sannadhi Rajagopuram - Entrance is not through this )


SRI ATHMANATHAR TEMPLE,  AVUDAIYARKOIL /THIRUPERUNTHURAI

This is one of the Thiruvasagam, by Manickavasagar Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam.   

Moolavar    : Sri Athmanatheswarar, Sri Guruswamy, 
                   Sri Paramaswamy,   Sri Athmanathar
Consort      : Sri Yogambal.

Some of the important features of this temple are....
The temple is facing east with a Mukha mandapam. The Rajagopuram is of seven tiers, which is visible from a long distance. There is no Rishabam, Dwajasthambam / Kodimaram and balipeedam. Only Avudai is in the temple, in place of Shivalinga is called as Avudayarkoil. In this temple both Lord Shiva and Ambal  has no idols, since both are in aroopam state.

This temple is famous for its sculpture and architecture. Kodungai of the mandapams were made in a single stone shaped to small thickness and joined together. ( even to day the sculptors used to enter in an agreement for constructing anew temple, “Kodungaikal will not be similar to Avudaiyarkoil “). Bullet marks by the Britishers can also be seen.  It is amazing to see the stone statues on the pillars and the stone chains hanging from the roof.

The naivedyam is boiled rice satham kept on the stone slab in front of the Avudayar. Only steam from the satham is the naivedyam. The vegetables offered in the temple are Bitter guard, spinach / Keerai, which are not offered in any other temples. ( To teach vedam to Anthanar children, Lord Shiva was offered keerai, bitter guard by the Anthanars).
  
Sthala vruksham is Kurantha Maram, under which Lord taught Manickavasagar. The specialty of the tree leaves is, they have three different smells. 

HOW TO REACH:
Frequent buses available from Aranthangi on Aranthangi ( 14 KM ) to Mimisal.
Buses are available to Aranthangi from Thanjavur, Madurai, Chennai, Karaikudi, Trichy etc.

CONTACT DETAILS:

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

Temple entrance arch
Front mandapam with Rajagopuram view
Front mandapam kodungaikal ( roof side )
Lord Shiva's oorthava thandavam - Pillar sculpture in front mandapam
Lord Shiva as Rishabanthigar sculpture on the pillar  in the front mandapam
Lord Shiva's another posture
Rajagopuram side view
One of the shrine's vimanam
( mandapam arch Stucco images )
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

3 comments:

  1. Dear sir, are there any basic logding/bathing facilities in Avudayar kovil?

    Also how is the bus connectivity from Avudayar Kovil to Tirupunavasal and further to Tiruvadanai?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Must be there Shyam.. there are buses also available from temple...

    ReplyDelete