Thursday 28 January 2016

Sri Muventheeswarar Temple / ஸ்ரீ மூவேந்தீஸ்வரர் கோயில் & Sri Adi Narayana Perumal Temple / ஸ்ரீ ஆதி நாராயணப் பெருமாள் கோயில், நசியனூர், Nasiyanur, Erode district, Tamil Nadu.

 28th January 2016.
In search of History – Nasiyanur in Kongu Nadu ( ERODE DISTRICT ). As per the inscription the Present Nasiyanur was called as Nasiyanur during 15th century. This place comes under Melkarai Poonthurai Nadu one of the  24 subdivisions of Kongu Nadu. Planned to Visit  Sri Muventheeswaramudayar Shiva Temple, Sri Adi Narayana Perumal and Sri Muniayappan Temple. Could not visit Muniappan Temple,  for want of time and location & guidance. Utilizing the opportunity of my official visit  on 25th January 2016 and on the way to Chennai visited these two temples. Both temples are side by side  on the Perundurai to Bhavani Main road. Hope both temples are very old, but only Shiva temple has the 15th century inscriptions around athistanam and Pillar.  Both the temple are managed by the HRCE Dept with Local Gounder  caste  peoples.  Well maintained temples  with recent renovations. The inscriptions  are recorded by the Tamil Nadu Archeological Department and Prof Raju  played a main role since he belongs to Erode area.  Now these inscriptions are not in readable condition.   I was lucky to have the darshan of Lord Shiva and Perumal in the evening hours ( Normally the temples will have one kala ppoja in the morning hours only ).

SRI MUVENTHEESWARAMUDAYAR TEMPLE, NASIYANUR IN KONGU NADU ( ERODE DISTRICT )

 West side entrance 

Moolavar    : Sri Muventheeswaramudayar.
Consort      : Sri Muthu Maragatha Valli.

Some of the important details are…...
The temple is facing west without Rajagopuram and Dwajasthambam. Rishabam is inside the mandapam. There is a Vilakku thoon or a Gauruda thoon. On the base there s  relief of a deity with bow, which is  strange. A peepal tree of very old is in front of the temple. Vinayagar and Nagars are at the base of the tree. The entrance to the temple is from the south with Koorai Kula vinayagar sannidhi facing east.

Both Moolavar and Ambal are facing west in a separate temple. Moolavar is small and beautiful in simple alangaram. In Koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai.

In the outer prakaram sannadhi for Chandran, Idumbar, Balathandayuthapani, Arumuga Peruman, Kalabairavar, Navagrahas, Naanmugan, Saneeswarar, Kannimoola Ganapathi, Semba Kula Vinayagar, Eenja Kula Vinayagar, Sirai Kula Vinayagar, Pandiyan Kula Vinayagar ( the sub divisions of Gounder castes created these Vinayagar sannidhis at a latter stage).

Ambal  Sri Muthu Maragatha Valli is facing west  in a separate sannidhi and small in standing posture. The sannadhi has a mandapam  and the pillar has the old inscription.  Meta colour sheet shed is erected in front of the  Ambal temple.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
These inscriptions belongs to  Nanjaraya Udayar, Kumara Virupatchirayar, Kembayaudayar and veeranancharaya udayar periods. They all speaks about donations given to this temple for the Pooja, Land, construction of maha mandapam, imposing of tax for celebration. If one misuse it will get the sin equal to killing a cow on the banks of river Ganges  and torturing the 7 brahmins. The inscriptions are during  15th to 17th century ( 1442 CE, 1464 CE, 1772 CE). As per the inscription the Present Nasiyanur was called as Nasiyanur during 15th century. 



POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Mutrum othuthal is regularly conducted on the 3rd week of every month. Apart from the important functions.

TEMPLE TIMINGS :
The temple is kept open between 06.00 hrs to 12.00 Hrs and 16.30 Hrs to 20.00 Hrs. It will be better to confirm before  going to the temple.

CONTACT DETAILS :
Mr Sakthivel  on his mobile 9443246871 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH :
The temple is on the main road from Perundurai to Bhavani.
Town bus nos 13 and 8  from Erode to Perundurai and Kanjikovil passes through Nasiyanur and about 500 meters from the bus stop.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE :CLICK HERE



  Rishabam relief on the vilakkuthoon base. 
 This relief is on one side of the vilakkuthoon base with bow – who is he ?, what a beautiful posture...!!! 
   It was told that this tree must be 500 years old 
 Vinayagar and Nagars under the age old Peepal tree 
 West side view of Temple complex with entrance arch

 West side Mandapam view 
 West side Mandapam view 
 Arumugar sannadhi  with vimanam 
 Moolavar sanctum vimanam with Chandikeswarar sannadhi 

 Ambal sanctum vimanam
 Nalvar
 Ambal sannidhi meta colour sheet mandapam with flex banners
 Gounder castes – Vinayagars ( caste also peeped in to religion and worship.
 Moolavar sannadhi entrance mandapam on south side with flex banners
 South side entrance Vinayagar temple for one sub section of Gounder caste
 South side entrance
 Abandoned Shiva Lingam avudayar with Rishabam 


SRI ADI NARAYANA PERUMAL  TEMPLE. NASIYANUR IN KONGU NADU ( ERODE DISTRICT )

 East side entrance arch 

Moolavar    : Sri Adhi Narayanaperumal.

Some of the important features of this temple are….
The temple is facing east with a Vilakkuthoon at front. There is a small mandapam with arch at the front. Moolavar sannadhi with Garudan is at the front. Moolavar Adi Narayana Perumal is with Sridevi and Bhudevi. There is no separate thayar sannidhi.

Sri Anjaneyar sannidhi is at the north east corner of the temple. There are  some statues / idols kept in front of Compound wall, the reason is not known.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
The Mandapam ceiling has the recent period inscription. These inscriptions belongs to 1827 AD speaks about the renovation of the stone mandpam which was in damaged condition.  This on the ceiling of the front mandapam.




TEMPLE TIMINGS :
The temple is kept open between 06.30 Hrs to 12.00 Hrs and 17.00 Hrs to 19.30 Hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS :
Archakar Mr Babu may be contacted through his mobile 9786105429.

HOW TO REACH :
The temple is on the main road from Perundurai to Bhavani.
Town bus nos 13 and 8  from erode to Perundurai and Kanjikovil passes through Nasiyanur and about 500 meters from the bus stop.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

 Vilakku thoon 
 Vilakku thoon Garudalwar relief  
 Front view with Garudalwar sannadhi 
 Moolavar sanctum with vimanam 
 Moolavar sanctum with vimanam 
 Moolavar sanctum with vimanam 
 Anjaneyar sannadhi  
  Anjaneyar sannadhi Vimanam 
Abandoned statues 
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA:---

Wednesday 27 January 2016

Navagraha Temples, Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu

SL NO

GOD AND GODESS

SPECIAL

PLACE
1

Suriyan ( Sun )
Suriyanar Koil
2
Chandran (Moon )
Thingalur
3
Angarahan ( Mars)
Vaitheeswaran Koil
4
Budhan ( Mercury)
Thiruvengadu
5
Guru ( Jupiter ) – Pragaspathi  
Alangudi
6
Sri Karpagambaigai Samedha Sri Agneeswarar
Sukran ( Venus)
Kanjanoor

7
Sri Piranambigai Samedha Sri Dharparanyeswarar
Saneeswaran ( Saturn)
Thirunallar

8
Sri Kujambigai Samedha Sri Nageswarar
Raghu ( North Lunar Node)
Thirunageswaram

9
Ketu ( South Lunar Node )
Keelaperumpallam

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA : ---


Thursday 21 January 2016

Pancha Bootha Sthalangal

SL NO

GOD AND GODESS

SPECIAL

PLACE
1
Earth ( Boomi ) 
 Kanchipuram
2
Water ( Jalam)
 Thiruvanaikkaval
3
Fire ( Agni)
 Thiruvannamalai
4
Air ( Vayu )
 Kalahasti
5
Sky ( Akasa )
 Chidambaram


--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

JYOTIRLINGA TEMPLES / STHALANGAL

A Jyotirlinga or Jyotirling or Jyotirlinga Sanskrit:ज्योतिर्लिङ्ग), Devanagari ज्योतिर्लिंग) is a devotional object representing the Supreme God  Shiva. Jyoti means 'radiance' and lingam the 'Image or Sign' of Shiva; JyotirLinga thus means the The Radiant Sign of The Almighty Siva. There are 64 Jyotirlinga sthalam of which  twelve traditional Jyotirlinga shrines are believed to be most auspicious and holy in  India.

It is believed that Lord Shiva first manifested himself as a Jyotirlinga on the night of the Arudra nakshatra in the form of jothi ie as column of fire piercing through the earth after he reaches a higher level of spiritual attainment.

According to Siva Mahapurana once Brahma (the god of creation) and Vishnu (the form of God during Preservation) had an argument over supremacy of creation.  To settle the debate, Supreme God Shiva pierced the three worlds appearing as a huge Infinite column of Light. ( The Jyotirlinga which later cooled into the Holy Mountain Annamalai,  on which the Temple of Arunachaleshwara is located). Vishnu in the form of varaha and Brahma in the form anna bird, split their ways to downwards and upwards respectively to find the end of the light in either directions. Brahma lied that he found out the end and asked Thalam poo ( a flower ) to give witness to Shiva, while Vishnu accepted his defeat.  After this debate Shiva cursed that Brahma will not be worshiped in a separate temple and the flower Thalampoo should not be offered for worship. The Jyotirlinga in all Shiva Temple are worshiped in the form of Lingothbavar just back side of Sanctum.


Sanskrit Sloka
The following sloka (द्वादश ज्योतिर्लिंग स्तोत्रम् Dvādaśa Jyotirliga Stotram) describes the 12 Jyotirlingas:

தமிழில்
“ஸௌராஷ்ட்ரே ஸோமநாதம்ச ஸ்ரீ சைலே மல்லிகார்ச்சுனம்
உஜ்ஜயின்யாம் மாகாளம் ஓங்காரம் அமலேச்வரம்
பரல்யாம் வைத்யநாதம்ச டாகின்யாம் பீமசங்கரம்
சேதுபந்தேது ராமேசம் நாகேசம் தாருகாவனே
வாராணஸ்யாம் து விச்வேசாம் த்ரயம்பகம் கௌதமீதடே
ஹிமாலயேது கேதாரம் குஸ்மேசம் சிவாலயே
ஏதானி ஜோதிர் லிங்கானி ஸாயம் ப்ராத: படேந்த:
ஸ்ப்த ஜன்ம கிருதம் பாபம் ஸ்மரணே வினச்யதி”

In Sanskrit
Saurāṣṭre Somanātha ca Śrīśaile Mallikārjunam
Ujjayinyā Mahākālam Omkāram Mamleśhwaram
Paraly Vaidyanātha cha ākinyā Bhīmaśhakaram
Setu Bandhe tu Rāmeśa Nāgeśha Dārukāvane
Vārāasyā tu Viśveśa Tryambaka Gautamītae
Himālaye tu Kedāra Ghuśmeśa ca Śivālaye
etāni jyotirligāni sāya prāta pahennara
saptajanmakta pāpa smaraena vinaśyati
karmakayo bhavettasya yasya tuṣṭo maheśvarā

In DEvanagiri ( Hindi )
सौराष्ट्रे सोमनाथं  श्रीशैले मल्लिकार्जुनम्।
उज्जयिन्यां महाकालमोङ्कारममलेश्वरम्॥
परल्यां वैद्यनाथं  डाकिन्यां भीमशङ्करम्।
सेतुबन्धे तु रामेशं नागेशं दारुकावने॥
वाराणस्यां तु विश्वेशं त्र्यम्बकं गौतमीतटे।
हिमालये तु केदारं घुश्मेशं  शिवालये॥
एतानि ज्योतिर्लिङ्गानि सायं प्रातः पठेन्नरः।
सप्तजन्मकृतं पापं स्मरणेन विनश्यति॥
एतेशां दर्शनादेव पातकं नैव तिष्ठति।
कर्मक्षयो भवेत्तस्य यस्य तुष्टो महेश्वराः॥:

In English
Somnath in Saurashtra and Mallikarjunam in Srisailam;
Mahakaal in Ujjain, Mamleshwar in Omkareshwar;
Vaidyanath in Parali and Bhimashankar in Dakini;
Ramesham (Rameshwaram) in Setubandh, Nagesham in Darukavana;
Vishwa-Isham (Vishwanath) in Varanasi, Trimbak on bank of the river Gautami;(Godavari)
Kedar ( Kedarnath ) in Himalayas and Grushnesh (Ghushmeshwar) in Shivalaya ( Shiwar ).
One who recites these Jyotirlingas every evening and morning
is relieved of all sins committed in past seven lives.
One who visits these, gets all his wishes fulfilled
and one's Karma gets eliminated as Maheshwara gets satisfied to the worship. 

  
SL NO

GOD AND GODESS

PLACE

LOCATION
1
Somnath
Gujarat
2
Mallikarjuna
Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh
3

Mahakaleshwar
Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh
4

Omkareshwar
Madhya Pradesh  
5
Kedareswara
Kedarnath, Uttarakhand  

6
Sri Bhimashankar
Bhimashankar
Pune, Maharashtra

7
Vishwanath
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
8
Sri Trimbakeshwar
Trimbakeshwar
Nashik, Maharashtra

9
Sri Vaidyanath ( Sri Vijnath in Marathi )
Vaidyanath
Parli, in Beed district, Maharashtra

10
Sri Nagnath
Aundha Nagnath
Aundha, Hingoli district, Maharashtra

11
Sri Parvathavardini Samedha Sri Ramanatheeswarar
Rameswarar
Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu

12
Sri Grishneshwar or Sri Ghusmeshwar
Grishneshwar
Ellora near Aurangabad, Maharashtra

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---