27,
October 2013.
A
thrilling experience to catch the train Podhigai super fast express at Chennai
Egmore, The story goes like this….…
After the
close of work at the office, I reached home around 17.30 hrs on 25-10-2013 and
thought of starting from home around 18.30 hrs to catch the train Pothigai
Express at Egmore which was scheduled to depart at 20.10 Hrs, calculating the EMU
journey time of 30 to 35 minutes from Guindy to Egmore. But Lord Shiva’s
calculation was on the reverse. There was an intuition in me to start a little
earlier. So Started from home around 17.50 Hrs and reached Guindy railway
station around 18.30 Hrs, after leaving my motorcycle at my old
office SPIC House. There was a huge rush at Guindy railway station and I did
not know what for. The 18.30 hrs Electric train arrived at 18.49 hrs
and moved slowly up to Saidapet. The train stopped for more than a
minute, which was unusual.
The same
thing happened at Mambalam also. After Mambalam the train stopped before
Kodambakkam station and people were saying that there might be a problem
with the signal. The time was 19.15 Hrs and there was no sign of
starting. After 15 minutes the train started once again and reached Kodambakkam
station. Also, I had seen the 18.49 hrs train from Guindy overtook
us on the other track and stopped at Kodambakkam station. At the station, it was
announced that the train to the beach was stopped due
to the derailment of a goods train near the beach station will be announced later
about starting. Already the time was 19.30 Hrs, and my blood pressure was shooting
up. Decided to get down and go to Egmore through an Auto.
Outside
Kodambakkam station many people were asking for an auto to go to
Egmore and Central. Since it was a two-day holiday many IT people were
traveling to their native. Many autos refused to ply to Egmore or Central.
After walking away from the station an auto agreed to drop me at Egmore and the
Auto driver pacified me ( to sit calmly in the back seat ) that he would reach the station before the train’s departure. Lost the hope of catching the Pothigai
Express around 18.50 Hrs when I was still travelling in
the auto in Nungambakkam area. Every time the Auto stopped for the Signal my
blood pressure started shooting up. Started chanting of Thiruvasakam
to reduce my tension. Also, there was a diversion for about 2 km by the traffic
police, which tested my patience.
After
crossing the hurdles and hoping the train would start at least 10 minutes late
landed at Egmore railway station exactly by 20.05 Hrs. The auto charged me Rs
109 per meter and I gave Rs 120 & thanked the driver for dropping me
safely at the station. Inquired the porters about the platform and
told me the train was on platform no 8 and it may start at any time. Hurried
with a walk & run boarded the train at 20.07 Hrs after climbing up
the foot over the bridge and climbing down to the platform. The train was on the 9th platform and not on the 8th, luckily 8th and
9th platforms are adjacent. Searched my coach and sat down on
my seat and the train started moving exactly by 20.10 Hrs. Confirmed with the
co-passengers whether I boarded the correct train or not, by asking when the
train would reach Tenkasi, and if the answer was negative thought of getting down
at Tambaram. Since the answer was positive I was relaxed. My
breath came to normal after 10 minutes.
( The
goods train derailment news I came to know during my auto travel and
in detail in the Hindu on 27-10 2013. Many people who traveled along with me
to EMU might have missed their train and their total plan might have been spoiled).
The
Pothigai express reached Tenkasi around 8.45 Hrs on
26-10-2013, late by an hour. Reached the old bus stand to catch a bus to Kutralam Auto, which charged me Rs 40.00. The bus to Kutralam was
limited during non-seasonal times. After reaching Kutralam, searched to take a
bath at any of the lodges. They suggested I go to Main Falls
where a locker facility is available. The locker at the main falls charged Rs 20
for an hour and had a nice bath. Since it was a nonseason there was not much
crowd. There was also moderate water from the falls. Many Shiva
Lingam reliefs are chiseled on the rock, which many people may not be aware of, who
visit Kutralam only during the season. Changed my dress and
went to Sri Kutralanathar temple which is about 25 meters from the main falls.
Coutralam main falls - view during non-season - no crowd.
Shiva Lingas reliefs chiseled on the rock - see the water falling from avudayar
Water is falling on Lord Shiva
257 / 13. ARULMIGU KUTRALANATHAR TEMPLE, KUTRALAM
/ COURTRALLAM
This is the 257th Paadal Petra
Shiva Sthalam and the 13th Shiva Sthalam in Pandiya Nadu.
Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.
Moolavar :
Arulmigu Kutralanathar, Sri Kurumbalaeesar,
Sri Thirikoodachalapathy, Sri
Thirikoodaleswarar.
Arulmigu Courtrallanathar Swamy Temple
Consort : Sri Kuzhalvai Mozhiammai , Sri
Venuvaakkuvahini.
Some of the important features of this temple
are….
After entering through a 3-tier Rajagopuram there
is a big mandapam called vasantha mandapam. The rajagopuram has a lot of cute
stucco images with 3 kalasas on the top. The temple is in the shape of a conch (Sangu).In koshtam Dakshinamurthy (not in the niche), Mahavishnu is in place of Lingothbavar. In the artha mandapam Urchavars and Natarajar Saba. The Moolavar is small.
In the inner prakaram sannadhi for, Kumbha Muni, Brahma, Sabtha mathakkal, Suradevar, Ayyanar, Brahmi, Thurayanar, Mahavishnu, Narasimhar, Kanni Vinayagar, Chandran, Vanmeki Nathar, Jambukeswarar, Annamalaiyar, Kalathiappar, Thirumoola nathar (Very small moortham), Ramalingar, Subramaniyar, Chandikeswarar, Saneeswarar and Suryan.
In the outer praharam sannadhi for Ambal with a
Nandhi in front (a separate Koil with steps – Kailasanathar and
Durgai are in the Ambal temple’s praharam ) on the right side of moolavar
sannadhi, Kurumbala Nathar (from here we could hear the sound of main falls),
63var, Nannagara Perumal, Paabanasar with Ulagamman, Nellaiappar with
Gandhimathi, Manakolanathar, Narambu Nathar, Sankaralingam, Palvannanathar, Chokkalingam with Meenakshi, Dharmasastha, Mathunatheswarar with
Aramvalarthamman, Agasthiyar, Vasuki, Somalingam, Maha Lingam, Sahasralinga,
Kasi Viswanathar with Visalakshi, Shivalaya Munivar ( 2 steps below the ground
level ), Parasakthi Peedam and Navagrahas. Near one of the sannadhi on the
south side, the top of the main falls is visible.
Then comes the mandapam with
Dwajasthambam, Rishabam/Idabam and Balipeedam. In the mandapa pillars Chinna Pattar and
Periya Pattar king's reliefs on the pillars who had built this
temple.
This temple has two parts. One is this temple and the other is Chitra Sabha which is about ½ a KM from the main temple. The temple is 2000 years old and there are a lot of old Tamil inscriptions on the praharam walls.
Pattinathar, Manickavasagar, and Arunagirinathar have sung hymns about this temple. It was believed that the sage Agathiyar had transformed the Shiva Lingam from Thirumal Murti. Moolavar is small.
HOW TO REACH:
The place Thenkasi is on the bus and train route
to Shenkottai from Tirunelveli, Madurai, Chennai etc.
Pothigai Express passes through Tenkasi.
During the Chaaral season, many town Buses and minibusses are available to Kutralam from Tenkasi, but the frequency is less during the nonseason.
TEMPLE TIMINGS:
The temple is open between 06.00 Hrs to 12.00 Hrs
and 16.30 Hrs to 20.00 Hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS:
The phone numbers of the temple are 283318 and
283398 and the mobile number is 9488374077.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK
HERE
Saptamatrikas
Old Tamil inscriptions can be seen on the walls
Chandikeswarar
Ambal Temple Vimanam
After the peaceful darshan of Sri Kutralanathar, had went to Chitra Sabai,
which is about ½ a km from the main temple after climbing steps to a distance
of 50 meters. The Sabha was open to the public and the entrance fee was Rs 10. The
caretaker did not allow me to take photographs. After my repeated requests he
allowed me to take only the dwarapalakar on the right side.
CHITRA
SABHA:
Some of
the features of this sabai are….
There is
a mandapam with a Gopuram at the center of the Temple tank in front. There are no
pictures in front mandapam of
Chitra
sabai.
Learned
that the Chitrams were drawn using natural herbs. The Sabai
is in the form of a temple with Copper copper-plated roof with 8 kalasas
on the top.
Some of
the chitrams/drawings are Shiva’s Urdhva thandavam, Kaali, Murugan, Shiva
with Parvati, Soorapadman, Singamugan, Thaaragan, Manmadhan, Rathi,
Gajendra moksham, Shiva’s Thiruvilayadal, Shiva and Parvati's marriage,
63var, Bhairavar, Saneeswarar, Hiraniya’s samharam, Kutralanathar who gave
darshan to Agasthiyar, etc. Wooden
reliefs / Sculptures of Vinayagars can also be seen.
Thirukkulam with neerazhi mandapam
Dwarapalakar chitram
After
darshan at Chitra Sabai took a bus to Tenkasi. From a distance, I could see
the magnificent view of the Rajagopuram standing tall and calling me. Got off the bus before the bus stand. When I entered through the Rajagopuram I could feel the heavy flow of the wind. The entrance
must be 40 feet high and I had seen the 4 pillars on the side
walls without any joint up to the ceiling.
SRI KASI VISWANATHAR TEMPLE, TENKASI
Moolavar :
Sri Kasi Viswanathar
Consort : Sri Ulagamman
Some of
the important features of this temple are…..
The Rajagopuram is of 9-tiers. At the entrance under a mandapam with Balipeedam.
The mandapam pillars have large size reliefs / sirpangal of Kaali, Rathi,
Shiva’s Thandavam, Mahavishnu ( must be Krishna – since playing the flute ),
Manmadhan, Agora Veerabhadra. The Rishabam is a little big. In Koshtam
Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma. Moolavar
is in an elevated position and looks so beautiful.
In the
inner prakaram sannadhi for, Nalvar, 63var, Suradevar, Sabtha
mathakkal, Kanni Vinayagar, Pancha Lingas, Ayyannar, Chandramouleeswarar,
Mahalakshmi, Shanmugar, Gajalakshmi, Saneeswarar, Natarajar ( Stone moortham)
and Suryan.
In the
outer praharam sannadhi for, Ulagamman, Sri Subramaniar in between moolavar and
Ambal sannidhi, Naagars under peepal tree, sannadhi with lamb ( Might be a
Lingam inside the flowers ), Sahasra Linga, Parasakthi Peedam similar to
Kutralam, Sokkanathar with Meenakshi and Bhairavar.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
The
temple has a connection with Uthra kasi in Uttarakhand state. The temple is more
than 2000 years old and has a lot of old Pandya period Tamil inscriptions.The poem inscription on the Rajagopuram
records the beauty of Tenkasi and those
who take care of this town along with their relatives, might have been blessed
by Thirumagal. Also will be praised with due respect by the King of Korkai
Parakrama Pandya. The original poem inscription reads as… ( Thanks to Kudavayil Balasubramanian )
" பூந்தண் பொழில்புடை
சூழ்ந்தென் காசியைப் பூதலத்தில்
தாந்தங் கிளையுட னேபுரப்
பார்கள்செந் தாமரையாள்
காந்தன் பராக்கிரமக் கைதவன்
மான கவசன்கொற்கை
வேந்தன் பணிபவ ராகியெந்
நாளும் விளங்குவரே".
The magnificent view of the 9-tier Rajagopuram
It
was around 12.30 Hrs when I came out of Tenkasi Shiva Temple. Had my lunch in
one of the messes near the bus stand. Inquired the bus route to Sivasailam. The people
suggested going to my next Temple Visit to Sri Nellaiappar since there is
no frequency of bus to Alwarkurichi a big place near
Sivasailam and the temple will be open only after 16.00 Hrs. It
will become too late to reach Tirunelveli and I will miss the Nellaiappar
temple’s visit if I had been to Sivasailam. So skipped Sivasailam and boarded
a bus to Tirunelveli.
When I reached Tirunelveli around 14.30 hrs, it was too early. I spent up to 16.00 hrs sitting in front of the temple’s office.
258
/ 14. SRI NELLAIAPPAR TEMPLE, TIRUNELVELI
This
is the 258th Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and the 14th &
last Shiva Sthalam in Pandiya Nadu. Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise
of Lord Shiva of this temple.
Rajagopuram on the eastern side
Moolavar : Sri Nellaiappar, Sri Venuvananathar, Sri Nelvelinathar
Consort :
Sri Kanthimathi Amman.
Some
of the important features of this temple are…..
The temple faces east with a 7-tier rajagopuram. A wooden mandapam is in front of the Rajagopuram. Moolavar
is swayambhu and a scar can be seen on the top due to the sword hitting the moolavar
while cutting the bamboo tree. It is believed that the avudayar visible is 21st and
there are 20 avudayar still below the ground level. In koshtam
Dakshinamurthy.
The
temple has 8 Mandapams and 5 Rajagopuras. The entrance mandapam on the eastern
side of Rajagopuram has an old wooden mandapam with a lot of wooden
relief works. There
are two Durgai Amman sannidhis in this temple. Balipeedam
with a size Stucco Rishabam under a mandapam is at the east side entrance.
The pillars have beautiful relief works.
The big stucco Rishabam
In
the 3rd outer Paraharam, sannadhi for Naalavar, Subramaniyar,
Dakshinamurthy (On the opposite, way to Ambal Kanthimathi Amman Temple),
Sankaranainar Swamy, Gomathi Amman Sannadhi, Arumuganainar sannadhi (6
faces and can go around the Moolavar to see the back side of the
face), Vinayagar (with stucco Vinayagar on the top) – on the western side,
Kasi Viswanathar with Visalakshi, Vayu Lingam, Vanniyadi Sastha, Kala Bhairavar
and Navagrahas.
Arumuganayinar Sannadhi
At
the entrance of the 2nd outer praharam on the left, Murtis of Vedha Pattar, Adhikara Nandikeswarar, and Namasivaya Moorthy.
In
the Second outer praharam sannadhi for, Suryan, Naalvar Urchava idols/Murtis, Thiyagaraja sannadhi, 63var in brass, Agasthiyar, Suradevar (with three faces, three hands with thandam, mani and soolam, three legs),
Theyu Lingam, Polla Pillayar, 63var murtis in stone, Somaskandar
in the upper level with steps to climb, Vayu Lingam, Vinayagar, Mutrum Kanda
Ramakon, Aagasa Lingam, Nellai Murugan with Valli Devasena, Santhana Sabapathy
( sandal paste is applied throughout the year ), Gajalakshmi with Ashta
Lakshmi's on both sides, Sani Bhagavan, Sahasralinga, Sabamandapam, and
Chandran.
Perumal
in Anantha sayana posture is on the left side of the Moolavar (Right side when we
stand in front of the Moolavar).
Musical
pillars are a special attraction in this temple. Different musical note sounds
can be heard when tapped.
Isai thoonkal ( musical pillars )
HISTORY
:
Mutrum
Kanda Ramakon was instrumental in finding Lord Shiva’s moortham
under the bamboo tree while he carried milk to the king.
This
is one of the pancha sabha called Thamira Sabai since the river Thamiraparani
flows through the place. The river water contains some amount of metal
called Thamiram, hence called a Thamirasabhai.
Many old Pandya Period Tamil inscriptions are found in the temple.
LEGENDS
The name Tirunelveli came after Lord Shiva put a fence ( veli ) in the rain to protect the paddy meant for Lords Naivedyam/Thiruvamudhu. Vedabattar was behind the story of this temple.
TEMPLE
TIMINGS
The
temple opens between 07.00 Hrs to 13.00 Hrs and 16.00 Hrs to 21.00 Hrs
HOW
TO REACH:
A lot of buses are available from various parts of Tamil Nadu.
3
KM from Junction and Town buses are available from the old bus stand.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
Kandhimathi Amman Sannadhi Rajagopuram
The relief of a King, who built this temple
Dakshinamurthy sannadhi
West side Rajagopuram
West side Vinayagar sannadhi
The corridor looks beautiful, doesn't it?
Chariot kept at the north side entrance
Shiva and Parvathy relief on the inner praharam wall
Utsava images are with Stucco images on the back
Entrance to the main shrine
Juradevar with three heads, three hands, and three legs.
Santhana Sabapathy - Santhanam (sandalwood paste is applied throughout the year)
Some of the relief in the corridor
SRI
KANTHIMATHI AMMAN SANNADHI
Ambal is
in a separate temple with a rajagopuram in front. Except at
the entrance, there are not many reliefs.
In the
inner praharam sannadhi for Kannimoola Ganapathy, Sri Valli Devasena
Subramaniyar.
Sannadhis
in the interconnecting corridors between Lord Shiva and Ambal Temples are A
Shiva Lingam, Kasi Viswanathar, Mahalingam, Murugan with Valli Devasena, Manjanavaravu
Amman.
Thirukkulam with neerazhi mandapam between Nellaiyappar and Kanthimathi Amman sannadhi.
The entrance to Kanthimathi Amman Sannadhi with Musical pillars
After the peaceful
darshan of Lord Nellaiappar, thought of buying Halwa from Irruttukadai. Learned
the shop will be open around 18.00 Hrs and the people started standing in Q,
since 15.00 Hrs. I did not want to waste time, standing in the Q, came
to the old bus stand and purchased halwa from Sri Lakshmi Sweets shop. The Train
Nellai Express was on platform No1 when I reached the railway station an hour
earlier around 17.50 hrs. From Tirunelveli, the train started late by 15 minutes (19.05 Hrs ) and reached Tambaram around 7.00 Hrs on
27-10-2013. Reached home after taking my bike from SPIC House.
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
