21st April,
2015
While I
was browsing the South Indian Railways official website for seat
availability, I found that there were no seats available from Friday to
Sunday to distant places. So planned this month’s tour well in advance and
booked the Trains after registering on the website. During April 2015, all the Saturdays and Sundays, I was away from home either on official visits
or Personal visits to temples. In this month’s temple visits to Madurai on 18th April
2015 and Velliangiri on 2nd May 2015 are planned. Last
year, I could not do the same due to a leg injury. This time hope Velliangiri
Andavar will help me to do this Yatra.
On the 18th and
19th of April 2015, I had the darshan of Madurai Aalavai (Sri
Meenakshi Amman Temple), ThiruparanKundram, and Thiruvedagam. All three
temples are Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalangal. In addition to this, I had the
darshan of Sri Kasi Viswanathar on the Thiruparankundram Hilltop, Koodal
Alagar, Sri Kallalagar Sundararaja Perumal, and Lord Muruga of
Pazhamudircholai. I also traveled to the 13th-century rock-cut cave temple of the Pandya Period on the back side of the Thiruparankundram temple.
18th April
2015.
Reached
Madurai through Nagercoil Express on the 18th morning, 07.00 hrs.
After taking a bath had the darshan of Sri Aalavai Peruman with Sri Meenakshi
Amman. Since the camera was not allowed to be taken inside the temple, I took
some of the pictures with my Samsung Mobile camera. Noted important details
for this post and left for Thiruparankundram. From the Periyar Bus Stand, I
could get a bus up to the temple. Had the darshan of Lord Shiva and
Thiruparankundram Murugan.
My next
plan was to go to Thiruvedagam. From the website, I had seen that the Rock Cut
temple is at the back of the hill, so I had also been there on a walk. (Autos were reluctant to come there, and a minibus was also not available at that time)
(Details are written in a separate post - for Details CLICK
HERE. After the visit to the Rock Cut temple, I saw a signboard of Sri Kailasanathar Temple at the top of the hill with
neatly paved steps to climb. Seeing the height skipped and returned to the
front side (North) of the hill by the Minibus, which dropped me near
the railway gate.
When I
walked towards Thiruparankundram Murugan’s temple from the Railway gate happened to see once again the direction & sign board of Sri
Kasi Viswanathar temple. (Kasi Viswanathar Temple can be reached from the North and South sides.) Details of the temple’s visit are written in a separate
post. After Darshan of Sri Kasi Viswanathar and Macha Muni proceeded to Thiruvedagam through Periyar Bus Stand. Thiruvedagam is on the way
to Chozhavandhan. This time the temple was kept open (This is the
second visit to this temple) and had the darshan of Sri Edaga Nathar.
There is a separate temple/shrine for Thirugnanasambandar. After darshan
returned to Madurai.
On
landing at the Periyar Bus stand, Sri Koodal Alagar called me to the temple by showing
his glittering vimanam. Since the temple is very near the Periyar Bus
Stand, reach the temple on foot. The first time I had seen a temple of
magnificent construction, it was unique in nature. For Details CLICK
HERE. Being a Saturday lot of devotees came for the
darshan. After darshan returned to the Lodge.
19th April
2015.
Today I have to leave for Chennai through Madras Link Express
from Guruvayur around 11.15 Hrs. So planned to visit Alagar Koil and Pazhamudircholai. Through town bus no 44 from Periyar bus stand
reached Alagar Koil. Considering the time to take for trekking to
Pazhamudircholai, utilized the van service of Devasthanam. The crowd was not very large. Had the peaceful darshan of Lord Murugan returned to the Base of the hill
for Sri Kallalagar darshan. After darshan reached Madurai Railway
Station to catch the Train. Around 21.00 hrs reached home safely with the
blessings of Lord Shiva, Murugan, and his uncle Sri Vishnu. For Details CLICK
HERE
245/
1. THIRU AALAVAI TEMPLE ( MADURAI MEENAKSHI TEMPLE ), MADURAI.
This place
is now called Madurai. This is the 245th Thevaram Paadal Petra
Shiva Sthalam and the 1st Sthalam in Pandiya Nadu on the banks of the river Vaigai. Thirugnanasambandar, Thirunavukkarasar, and Manickavasagar have
sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.
Temple complex view from inside with Potramarai kulam
Moolavar :
Sri Somasundarar, Sri Chokkalinganathar, Sri Chokkesar,
Sri Aalavai Annal, Sri
Chokkanathar.
Consort :
Sri Meenakshi, Sri Angayarkanni
Some of
the important features of this temple are…
When we
enter through East Rajagopuram in front of Amman sannadhi, the mandapa is
called Ashta Sakthi Mandapam. Meenakshi Sundareswarar kalyanam in stucco images, eight Sakthi Murtis on eight pillars.
Thiruvilayadal puranam themes are in this.
The next
is the Nayakkar mandapam. The lights are very beautiful. Thiruvasi is glittering through
the lights.
Next is
the Potramarai Kulam. Indran plucked a golden Lotus flower from this pond.
Thirukkural was proven as one of the sangha nool from this Pond. On the north
bank of the pond, eight sanga Pulavars moortham on the pillars. On the south
bank wall, Thirukkural is inscribed and the walls.
Unchal
mandapam with mirrors is on the west side of Potramarai (Golden Lotus) Pond. On Fridays, Lord Shiva and Ambal Ponnoosal are performed.
The next one is
the Kilikootu mandapam. Sculptures to be watched. Sirpams of Pandavas, Vaali,
Sugriva, Draupadi, and Purusha Mirugam are in this mandapam. On
the ceiling, Gods, different postures, and Meenakshi kalyanam are painted.
In the
praharam of Ambal Sannadhi Stucco images of Thirumalai Nayak with
his two wives, Koodal Kumaraswamy with Valli Devasena, and Vinayagar. There is a
six-pillar peedam, and it was believed that Kumaraguruparar Swamay’s
Sri Meenakshi Pillai Tamil was introduced on this peedam.
In the
Maha Mandapam, sannadhi for Airavata Vinayagar and Murugan Peruman. On the outer
side wall top Meenakshi Amman’s history reliefs.
In the sanctum, Ambal is in a standing posture with a parrot in her hand. On Fridays, alangaram is done with Golden kavasam with Vira crown.
After
crossing Kilikoottu Mandapam and Gopuram, Mukkuruni Vinayagar is on
the way to Swamy sannadhi. Vinayagar is a little big, 8 feet high. There is a painting of circulating Lingam on the ceiling. The lingam avudai circulates
when you circulate.
Kambathadi
mandapam is in front of Swamy sannidhi. Golden Flag, Balipeedam, and Rishabam are at the center. Beautiful sculptures on the 8 Pillars. Some of them
are Sankaranarayanar, Somaskandar, Arthanareeswarar, Thirumal’s 10 avatar sirpangal, and the Meenakshi Sundareswarar marriage is worth seeing. Near the
Kambathadi Mandapam, Sri Agni Veerabhadra, Agora Veerabhadra,
Oorthuva Thandavar, Kali’s sila roopams on the pillars.
Dwarapalakas
are at the entrance of the sanctum. Next is the 6-pillar peedam (in which the
Thiruvilayadal Puranam was introduced).
In the
outer praharam of Swamy Sannadhi, Kambathadi Mandapam, Naalvar,
Paramasivam, Lingas, Sanga Pulavar’s sannadhi, Kalatheeswarar, Kalyana
Sundareswarar, Dhyana mandapam, Kariya Manicka Perumal mandapam, Navagrahas.
In the
inner praharam, Suryan with his concerts, Sekkizhar, 63var, Sankara Lingam,
Ekadasa lingam, Shoda lingam, Saraswathy, Saptamatrikas, Meenakshi,
Soma Sundarar, Subramaniyar, Panchamuga Lingam, Muthuskandar, Jwara Linga,
Pichadanar, Kasi Viswanathar, Vishalakshi, Ellam Valla Siddhar, (separate
Sannadhi), Akshara Lingam, Mahalakshmi, Rathna Saba, Bairavar, Pancha Bootha
Lingas, Chandran with his consort.
In
koshtam Narthana Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Durgai.
After
darshan of Silver Ambala Natarajar (Danced after changing his leg, ie, left
foot on the ground), we had to enter Sri Somasundara Peruman's
sannadhi. The vimanam of the sanctum is supported by eight
elephants in eight directions, 32 Lions, and 64 Bootha ganas. Moolavar is the Shiva Lingam.
There is
a 1000 Pillar mandapam, Chakra, which denotes the Tamil 60 years. Kuravan
Kurathi, Nirutha Ganapathy, Saraswathy, Arjunan, Rathi, Mohini, Manmadhan, and Kalipurudan are worth seeing.
Mangayarkarasi
mandapam is near to 1000 Pillar mandapam. In this, Koon Pandiyan, Mangayarkarasiyar,
Thirugnanasambandar, Kulachirayar, and a Shiva Lingam.
The Servaikara
mandapam, built by Maruthu Pandiyar, and the kalyana mandapam are next to
that.
The 22
Musical Pillars are on the north side of Rajagopuram.
On the
opposite side of East Rajagopuram, there are Vasantha mandapam (Pudhu mandapam), built by Thirumalai Nayak. In this image of Thadathakai Pirati, Meenakshi
kalyanam, Thirumalai Nayak, A stone elephant eats sugar cane, Ravana lifting the
Kailash. On the contrary, Rajagopuram is in an incomplete state.
LEGENDS
This is one of the 5 Pancha sabai, ie, Silver sabai. For Varaguna Pandian, Iraivan has danced, changing his leg. Sri Meenakshi, as Thadathakai, ruled this place.
TEMPLE TIMINGS:
The
temple opens for darshan between the Morning of 5:00 am to 12:30 pm, and in the evening from 4:00 pm
to 10:00pm.
CONTACT DETAILS :
Temple
telephone numbers: 0452-2344360 (office) and 0452-2341777(fax)
e-mail
ID: info@maduarimeenakshi.org
HOW TO REACH :
Madurai
is on the railway route and all the trains to Rameswaram, Nagercoil, and Kanyakumari pass through Madurai.
Bus
facilities are available from all the district headquarters.
South side Rajagopuram
The east side of Rajagopuram
East side Rajagopuram Preparing for the Chithirai thiruvizha
North side Rajagopuram
Southside Rajagopuram view from inside with Potramarai kulam
Oonjal Mandapam with mirrors.
Oonjal Mandapam ceiling mural painting.
Oonjal Mandapam ceiling mural painting.
Oonjal Mandapam ceiling mural painting.
Mural Painting on the North wall of Potramarai
Kulam
Mural Painting on the North wall of Potramarai
Kulam
Mural Painting on the North wall of Potramarai
Kulam
Oonjal Mandapam ceiling mural painting.
Statues
on the Ashta Sakthi Mandapam Pillars
Statues
on the Ashta Sakthi Mandapam Pillars
Statues
on the Ashta Shakthi mandapam Pillars ( Dwarapalakas- the shop people)
Statues
on the Kambathadi Mandapa Pillars. – Sri Kala Samhara Moorthy
Statues
on the Kambathadi Mandapam Pillars. – Sri Chandrasekar
Statues
on the Kambathadi Mandapam – Sri Nandhi Mandapam
Statues
on the Kambathadi Mandapam Pillars. – Sri Somaskandar glittering in the sodium vapor lamp
Statues
on the Kambathadi Mandapa Pillars. – Sri Rishaparoodar
View of praharam ( looks like a mini Rameswaram
temple praharam )
Musical Pillars
Natarajar
in the 1000 Pillar mandapam museum
1. Sri Sundareswarar Sannadhi, 2.
Sri Meenakshi Amman sannadhi, 3. Ashta Shakthi Mandapam, 4. Nayakar Mandapam, 5.
Chithirai Gopuram, 6. Potramarai Kulam, 7. Oonjal mandapam, 8. Kambathadi
Mandapam, 9. 1000 Pillar Mandapam, 10. Kalyana Mandapam
247/3. SRI
PARANGIRINATHAR TEMPLE, (ARULMIGU SUBRAMANIYA SWAMY TEMPLE ), THIRUPARANKUNDRAM
This
is the 217th Thevaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and the 3rd Sthalam
of Pandya Nadu. Thirugnanasambandar and Sundarar have sung hymns in praise of
Lord Shiva of this temple.
Moolavar: Sri Parangirinathar
Consort: Sri Avudai Nayaki
Some
of the important features of this temple are...
Even
though this is a Shiva Temple, this is Lord Murugan’s first abode of the six
abodes (Arupadai Veedu). Murugan married Deivayanai in this place. Abhishekam
to Gana Vel is special here. Nakkeeran,
Parasaran’s son, Sibi King, and Brahma worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple.
At
the entrance (first Level) mandapam Karuppana Swamy Sannidhi and on the
pillars, reliefs of Natana Ganapathy, Parvathy, Shiva, and Parvathy with Perumal
(in Kalyana Kolam), Rani Mangammal, Mahavishnu, Viyakrabathar, Patanjali
Muni, Vishnu Durgai, Natarajar, Sivakami, Kala Bairavar, Maha kali, Vetri
Vinayagar, Vasantha
mandapam is on the way to Temple Tank.
In
the 2nd level mandapam, Vallabha Ganapathi, Vahana mandapam, Subramaniyar,
Deivanai, Golden Chariot mandapam, on the ceiling, 12 Rasis. On Pillar Relief of
Thadathagai Pirattiyar, Valli Deivanai Murugar, Aalavai Annal &
Dwarapalakas.
In
the 3rd level mandapam 4 Pillar mandapam, Dwajasthambam, Balipeedam, Rishabam / Idabam & on both sides Peacock and moonjuru, Andaparanar, Anikai Vinayagar,
Parasarar Maharishi, Ugra moorthy, Sivachariyar, (Meikandar, Arul Nandhi,
Umapathy, Marai Ganasambadar) and Urchavar Sannadhi.
In
the 4th Level mandapam Panchabhuta Lingas, Saneeswarar, Senthil Andavar, Garudalwar, Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Jwradevar, 63var, Arumugar Urchava
mandapam, Nayakars relief, (On the pillars).
In
the 5th level, Urchavars, Natarajar, Veera Surar, Veerakesari, Veeramarthandar,
Veerabahu, Veerabhadra, Dakshinamurthy, Chandran, and Suriyan with their
concerts. Kovarthanambigai in a separate sannadhi.
In
6th level is the sanctum. In Arumugam’s sannadhi, moolavar is in a marriage
posture with Deivanai, along with Narathar.
A
Vishnu Sannadhi in line with the other two, Suryan and Chandran.
Sri Parangirinathar sannidhi
is of the Kudaivarai temple, a rock-cut temple facing east. On the back of Moolavar is the Kalyana Sundareswarar bas-relief.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
The
temple was built during the 8th century by the Pandyas as a rock-cut temple, ie, Kudaivarai Kovil. Later, during the Nayaks (1559 to 1736 CE), gopurams were
constructed. The front mandapam with 48 sculptured pillars was installed
during the Pandya and Nayak periods.
There
are 11 inscriptions found in this temple. One of the epigraphs gives the details
about Muthu Karuppan Kumaran Chetty, who fought with Europeans and
died after he fell down from Rajagopuram. For which land was it gifted to his
family?
THE TEMPLE
TIMINGS :
The
temple is kept open from 05.00 hrs to 13.00 hrs, and from 16.00 hrs to 21.00 hrs
CONTACT DETAILS :
The
telephone number is 0452 2484359.
HOW TO REACH :
It
is one of the Railway routes.
Town
Buses are available from the bus stand. Since few buses are going near the temple,
we can reach the temple through the Thirumangalam buses. Get down at the Railway
gate, which is a walking distance of the temple.
Buses
are available from the state capitals of Tamil Nadu up to Madurai.
Rajagopuram
Gold-plated Dwajasthambam and Nandhi, Peacock and Moonchuru
Vasantha
mandapam
Thirukulam
Chariot
248/4.
SRI EDAGANATHAR TEMPLE, THIRUVEDAGAM
This is the 248th Thevaram
Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and the 4th Sthalam of Pandya Nadu.
Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.
Moolavar : Sri Edakanathar
Consort : Sri Elavarkuzhali, Sukuntha Kunthalambigai
Some of the important
features of this temple are…
Brahma, Thirumal,
Garudan, Vyasar, and Parasarar worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple.
The temple faces east with a 5-tier Rajagopuram separately for Lord Shiva and Ambal.
In Kambathadi
mandapam, Balipeedam, and Dwajasthambam ( Is not in line at an elevated level to
match the sanctum level of 9 steps).
Vinayagar and Murugan
are at the entrance of the shrine. Moolavar Edakanathar
is of Shiva Lingam in a Sanctum sanctorum with beautiful architecture. The Dwarapalakas are big and beautiful and installed in front of the wall.
In koshtam Ganapathy,
Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, and Durgai.
In praharam 63var,
Urchavars (Edaka Nathar, Elavar Kuzhali Amman, Vinayagar, Arumuga Swamy, Somaskandar, Thirugnanasambandar), Rettai Vinayagar, Subramaniyar, Nagalakshmi, Durgai,
Sakthi Vinayagar, Chandikeswarar, Pancha Lingas, Saptamatrikas,
Navagrahas, Vallabha Ganapathi, Sastha, Chandran & Suryan with their
consorts, Karthikai, Bairavar, Natarajar Saba (Natarajar in stone
and Cheppu).
Ambal is
in a separate temple, and the bell in front was brought from Malaysia (it is not
now ). Thirugnanasambandar’s relief without out thalam on the mandapa pillar. In Koshtam Sakthis,
Icha, Kiriya, etc.
In praharam Vinayagar
and Palliyarai. Nandhi is at an elevated level to match the Ambal sanctum of 7
steps.
LEGENDS
Samanar (Jains) challenged
Sambandhar to 'anal vadham' (hot dispute) at Thirunallar, where he
wrote pachai pathigam. The Samanar (Jains) were defeated by Sambandhar in
the anall vaadham, and they got down to punal vadham near this temple. The
Samanars wrote 'Athi Naathi' on a palmyra leaf and floated it down the river
Vaigai, while Sambandar wrote in Tamil:
'வாழ்க அந்தணர் வானவர் ஆனினம்...வீழ்க தண்புனல் வேந்தனும் ஓங்குக....ஆழ்க தீயதெல்லாம் அரன் நாமமே.....சூழ்க வையக முந்துயர் தீர்கவே'
and
floated it down the Vaigai. The palm leaf that Sambandhar floated reached
the bank on the other side, where there lies an idol of Lord Ganesha, who is
known as "vaathu venra Vinayagar".
Sambandar was feeling
happy and called the place 'Edu Senranai Tharum Edagam', which came to be known
as Thiruvedagam. The palmyra leaf that the Samanars left
was swept away by the river and reached 'Thirupasethi' (thiru + pa + serthal),
later to be known as thirupachetty.
There is a shrine of
Thirugnanasambandar on the main road facing east/ Temple.
THE
TEMPLE TIMINGS:
The temple is kept
open between 06.30 hrs to 12.00 hrs, and 16.30 hrs to 20.30 hrs
CONTACT
DETAILS :
Mobile No:
99432 61487
E-Mail:edaganaathaswami@gmail.com
HOW
TO REACH :
Thiruvedagam is on the
way to Chozhavanthan from Madurai.
Town bus numbers
are 68A, 54R, and 29A from Periyar Bus stand, 93 A from Mattuthavani, 28A &
93 from Anna Bus stand,
The temple arch on the Main Road
Shrine mottai gopuram
Ambal Temple Rajagopuram
Dwajasthambam, balipeedam, and Rishabam
Ambal Temple second-level Rajagopuram
Durgai Silamoortham in the praharam (not in the
kostam)
Thirugnanasambandar
Sannadhi on the main road
Thirugnanasambandar
---OM
SHIVAYA NAMA:---
