Bhuminathaswamy Temple / Sri Thirumeninathar Temple Tiruchuzhi / Tiruchuli, Sri Pushpavaneswarar Temple, Tiruppuvanam, Sri Edaganathar Temple, Thiruvedagam, Appudayar Temple / Sri Rishabareswarar Temple, Thiru Appanoor / Sellur and Thiru Aalavai Temple / Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple, Madurai.

 09, October 2011

On 6^th October 2011, as a part of Paadal Petra sthalangal visit went to Tiruchuzhi, Thirupuvanam, Thiruvedagam, Thiru Appanur, and Madurai Aalavai (Meenakshi Amman Temples. The route I followed is given below. Really I had a tough journey.

Chennai – Madurai – Aruppukottai – Tiruchuli (15 Kms) – Thirupuvanam (Via Manamadurai (50 Kms)- Thiruvedagam (Via Madurai) – Thiru Aappudayar Koil (Near Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple) – Back to Chennai.

256 /10. BHUMINATHASWAMY TEMPLE, SRI THIRUMENINATHAR TEMPLE, TIRUCHUZHI / TIRUCHULI 

This post has been updated with Thevaram hymns, History, Inscriptions, Architecture, Legends, etc. For the details of the updated post please click this Link. 

This is the 256th Thevaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and the 12^th  Sthalam of Pandiya Naadu near Aruppukottai, Sundarar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.

  

 ( Temple front view- Left Ambal sannadhi Rajagopuram and right is Shiva's sannadhi )

Moolavar    : Sri Thirumeninathar, Sri Chuzhikesar,
                   Sri Piralayavidangar, Sri Bhuminathaswamy, 
                   Sri Manakola Nathar

Consort      : Sri Thunai Maalaiammai, Sri Shahayavalli, 

                   Sri Muthumaalaiyumayal.

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

The temple faces east with a 5-tier Rajagopuram with a mandapam and Temple tank in front. Moolavar is swayambhu on a square Avudayar. In koshtam Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, and Durgai.

In prakaram Sannadhis  for Sthala Vinayagars (Thaavara Vinayagar, Bodhi Vinayagar, Arasu Vinayagar, Veladi Vinayagar, and Tharumathaavara Pillayar), Natarajar saba (Natarajar, Sivakami, Pathanjali, Viyakrabathar). Usha, Prathyusha, Suryan, 63var, Santhanachariyar, Saptamatrikas, Gowthama, Agalika. Somaskandar, Kasi Viswanathar, Chuzhikai Govindar with Boomineela devi.

Ambal is in a separate Temple like sannadhi facing east. Ambal is in thiri bhanga style with the hip, neck, and left leg in a slanting posture. Sri chakra is chiseled on the stone ceiling of the Ambal sannathi.  Rasis are also chiseled on the stone ceiling in places of the mandapam. 

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala and Artha mandapam. Sanctum sanctorum is in the form of Moat /Agazhi. 

It is a big temple with a long corridor with unique features like Pandya Nadu Temples. Architecture is very amazing. Viyagrapadar statue is in the Saba mandapam and must be seen. 

The spout of the outlet water from the rooftop is channeled through a stone pipe (big) on either side for the rainwater outlet of the Sanctum to be watched. 

LEGENDS

When Sundarar was in this place, Shiva came in Sundarar’s dream and asked him to come to Thirukkanaper ( Kalayarkoil ) in the form of Kalai ( Young age ) with a chendu in one hand and Chuzhi in the forehead.  This is also the birthplace of Ramana Maharishi.

It is believed that Shiva created piralayam and sent it to Kavvaikadal Theertham.

HOW TO REACH 

From Aruppukottai lot of buses are available.

Buses from Madurai to Manamadurai go via Thiruchuli.

CONTACT DETAILS

Archakar may be contacted through + 91 4566 282644

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

 ( Middle level Rajagopuram )

 ( Murugan sannadhi )

 ( Front Mandapam )

 ( Thirukulam / Temple Tank with neerazhi mandapam )

 Distant view of the temple

( Bas-relief on one of the pillars Krishna with flute and cow )

Rain water pipe

255/9. SRI PUSHPAVANESWARAR TEMPLE, TIRUPPUVANAM

This post has been updated with Thevaram hymns, History, Inscriptions, Architecture, Legends, etc. For the details of the updated post please click this Link. 

This is the 255^th  Devara Padal Petra Shiva Sthalam on the banks of river Vaigai and the 11^th sthalam in Pandiya Nadu.  Moovar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.  Moovar worshiped Shiva from the opposite bank of the Vaigai River since they saw Siva lingam in each and every sand of the river.

 

( Arch in front of Ambal Sannadhi) 

Moolavar    : Sri Pushpavaneswarar, Sri Poovananathar.

Consort      : Sri SoundaryaNayagi,   Sri Minnanayal.

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

The temple faces east with a 5-tier Rajagopuram. balipeedam, Dwajasthambam and Rishabam / Idabam are in a mandapam after the Rajagopuram. The sanctum sanctorum consists of a sanctum, antarala, and artha mandapam, and a mukha mandapam. The Nandhi is not straight to the moolavar and tilted some degrees so that all the three saints had Shiva's darshan from the opposite side of the river. There is a mandapam called Moovar mandapam.

Nataraja is a little big and beautiful look. Shiva had done siddhu of rasavatham and gave Gold to a Woman Devotee called Ponnayal for making Shiva Lingam. After making the Shiva Lingam, she pinched Lingam by admiring the beauty. Still, a scar can be seen on the moolavar.

HISTORY

Tamil inscriptions of Pandya King Kulasekara's period are available in this temple. He was made king in this temple.

LEGEND

This temple is considered equivalent to Kasi since the river Vaigai flows towards the north and is also a parihara Sthalam.

HOW TO REACH : 

Town buses are available from Mattuthavani Bus stand.

Buses from Madurai to Manamadurai pass through Thirupuvanam.

Thirupuvanam is on the Madurai to Manamadurai Train route.

CONTACT DETAILS :

Archakar may be contacted on + 91 4575 265082, 265084, 94435 01761.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

 (Moolavar vimanam )

 ( 5 tier Rajagopuram )

248/4. SRI EDAGANATAR TEMPLE, THIRUVEDAGAM

This post has been updated with Thevaram hymns, History, Inscriptions, Architecture, Legends, etc. For the details of the updated post please click this Link. 

This is the 248th Devara Paadal Petra Shiva sthalam on the banks of river Vaigai and the 4^th sthalam of Pandiya Naadu. Thirugnanasambandar has sung the hymn starts with  'Vazhka Anadhanar'.

   

Moolavar    : Sri Edaganatheswarar, Sri Edaganathar

Consort      : Sri Ezhavaarkulazhi, Sri Sukuntha Kuntalambigai.

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

At the entrance of the temple, stone pillars are installed and this may be the remains of old Rajagopuram. The temple faces east with a 4-tier Rajagopuram. balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, and Rishabam / Idabam are in a mandapam after Rajagopuram. In kostam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai.

In praharam sannadhi for 63var, irattai Vinayagar, Subramaniyar, Nagalakshmi, Durgai, Sakthi Vinayagar and Chandikeswarar, Navagrahas, Vallabha Ganapati, Saastha, Chandran, Suryan, Karthikai. Urchavars are SomasKandar, Thirugnanasambandar, Edaka Nathar, Elavar Kuzhali Amman, ArumugaSamy.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and artha mandapam. The sanctum sculpture, the Gnanasambandar statue in Ambal temple pillar with Chandikeswari, and the Malaysia-made bell are the main attractions of this temple.

Ambal is also in a separate temple with 5 tier Rajagopuram facing east. Built with sanctum, antarala, and artha mandapam.

LEGENDS

Thirugnanasambandar's hymn the "edu" reached the shore after swimming against the flow of the Vaigai during vatham with Samanars.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATION

Once a year on Vijayadasami day, Urchavar is taken to a nearby village called Thachampattu for the Dasara celebration.

HOW TO REACH :

Town buses are available from the Periyar bus stand to Chozhavanthaan. 25.2 Km from Madurai.

CONTACT DETAILS: 

Archakar may be contacted through +91 4543 259311

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

 ( Nandavam view with Rajagopurams)

 ( Bootha Ganam with Rishabam / Idabam on the praharam wall )

( Vaigai river - Edu crossed the river for Thiruganasambandars pathigam ) 

   

246/2. APPUDAYAR TEMPLE, SRI RISHABARESWARAR TEMPLE, THIRU APPANOOR - SELLUR - (THIRU APPUDAYAR  KOIL )

This post has been updated with Thevaram hymns, History, Inscriptions, Architecture, Legends, etc. For the details of the updated post please click this Link. 

This is the 246^th  Thevaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and the 2^nd sthalam of Pandya Nadu. Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.  This temple is on the north bank of river Vaigai and the place is called Sellur.

Moolavar    : Sri Idaburesar ( Rishabaresar ), Sri Annavinodhan, 

                    Sri Aappudayar.

Consort      : Sri Kuravangazhl kuzhali

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

The temple is facing east with a Rajagopuram. In the Prakaram sannadhi for Vinayagar and Valli Devasena Subramaniar and Natarajar. Natarajar is made out of a single stone looks cute. This is the sub-temple of Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of Sanctum Sanctorum, antarala and ardha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhistanam, with three patta kumudam. A two tier vesara Vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum. 

LEGENDS

Iraivan gave Darshan to King Chozhanthagan in the form of AAPPU when he tried to kill himself for killing a man, whose wife worshiped Aappu as lingam. As per the legend Lord Shiva converted the sand to Annam for the anthanar. 

HOW TO REACH: 

Town bus Route No 17  from Periyar bus stand to Sellur. Get down at Thiru Apudaiyar Koil Bus stop.

Town bus from Chozhavanthan  to Mattuthavani passes through Thiruvedagam and Sellur,

CONTACT DETAILS: 

Archakar can be contacted  +91 452 2530173 & 9443676174

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

 ( Navarathiri Lighting of Moolavar Vimanam)

( Mandapam during Night ) 

245/1. THIRU AALAVAI TEMPLE ( MADURAI MEENAKSHI AMMAN TEMPLE
 

A Separate was written with Thevara Hymns, History with inscriptions, architecture, and Legends. Please Click this link for the details of the updated post. 

Since I went at night, this time I could not have the darshan due to the  Sunday & Vijayadasami heavy rush. Earlier I had good darshan on many occasions. I  will post the details Later. Hence I am posting some of the photos taken during this visit. 

 ( Murals on the wall on the side of Potramarai Kulam)

 ( Murals on the wall on the side of Potramarai Kulam) 

 ( Murals on the wall on the side of Potramarai Kulam) 

 ( Navratri festival lighting around Potramarai Kulam)

  ( Navratri festival lighting around Potramarai Kulam - with Rajagopuram view ) 

( Navratri festival lighting around Potramarai Kulam) 

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---