VELUDHARAN TEMPLES VISIT : July 2016

Wednesday 27 July 2016

Sri Veera sekarar Temple, Sakkottai, Devakottai in Sivaganga District, Tamil Nadu.

27^th July 2016

When I told about the missed opportunity of attending my friend Mr Venkatesh, son’s marriage at Devakottai, to one of my friend Mr Nachiappan, in turn invited me to Devakottai to attend the Kottai Amman’s annual 15 days festival, which is unique in nature and lakhs of people used attend from various parts of India. So I decided to attend the festival to get the blessings of Sri Kottai Amman. I stayed along with his family and visited Two shiva temple and a Saibaba temple.

SRI VEERASEKARAR TEMPLE, SAKKOTTAI, SIVAGANGA DISTRICT

The temple is maintained by 130 pulli Devakottai nagarathars through former Chief justice A R Lakshmanan and his family. They have their madam which was renovated recently.

Moolavar : Sri Veerasekarar

Consort : Sri Umayambigai.

Some of the important features of this temple are…

The temple is facing east with a 7 tier Rajagopuram and a temple pond in front with a mandapam. The temple was constructed in stages like a mada temple. Constructed completely with stone. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Brahma, Durgai.

In the inner prakaram 63var, Bhairavar Subramaniyar, Gajalakshmi, Perumal ( This Vishnu statue was unearthed during renovation at Nandhavanam ), Bairavar, Natarajar, Navagrahas, Veeramaram in stone with Nagars.

Ambal sannadhi is in the front mandapam with separate Dwajasthambam, Palipedam and Nandi.

There are about 4 statues of Nagarathars sculptured on the pillar ) Might have done thirupani to this temple ).

HISTORY

There is no inscription on the moolavar sanctum but available in the front mandapam, which is of latter period. From the recent period inscription it was learnt that the kumbhabhishekam was conducted during 1887 and from other inscriptions, the temple might have constructed during 15^th to 16^th century.

HOW TO REACH :

The temple is very near to Karaikudi, can be reached through Taxi and frequency of the bus is limited.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE :CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA:---

Sri Saibaba Temple, Devakottai, Sivaganga District, Tamil Nadu.

27^th July 2016

SRI SAIBABA TEMPLE, DEVAKOTTAI.

This temple was built by former Chief justice AR Lakshmanan through his own fund and managed by his brothers. The temple is facing east with an entrance arch on south side. The Saibaba idol was sculptured from white marble and brought from north India. A Vinayagar temple is by the side of Saibaba temple. The architecture is of north Indian style. It was told that Sri Sai Baba’s miracle vibhuti appears on the plate.

HOW TO REACH :

Devakottai is about 20 KM from Karaikudi and frequent buses are available from Karaikudi

The temple is on Gandhi Road near Lions Club hall.

Autos are available from Bus stand.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE :CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA:---

Sri Kottai Amman Temple / ஸ்ரீ கோட்டை அம்மன் கோவில், Devakottai, Sivaganga District, Tamil Nadu.

27^th July 2016

SRI KOTTAI AMMAN TEMPLE, DEVAKOTTAI.

This temple is also belongs to 40 sections 130 pullis of Devakottai Nagarathars with 5 trustees on board with 2 years period. But as per the comment Devakottai Kottai Amman maedai belongs to 40 clans of nagarathar totalling around 5000 families( pullird what we call) and not 230 pullird as appearing in one of the comments. Please stand corrected on this data Once in 16 year a group gets as trustee of the temple. The 15 days annual festival will be conducted from 18^th July to 1^st August 2016. During rest of the period people used to worship through grill. The temple is very simple with a front mandapam constructed with mangalore tiles roofing. In the sanctum there is no moortham, but only a platform. During function days a kumbh with coconut was placed on the platform and decorated like Amman.

Pooja was performed only to the kumbh decorated like Amman. But abhishekam was conducted 2 times in a day to balipeedam installed in the mandapam. The abhishekam was done with Thiraviyam, Milk, Curd, honey, cut fruits, Panchamirtham, Sandalwood paste, Turmeric paste, Tender Coconut water, Panneer, Lemon, etc,. About 300 to 400 liters of milk was used for Abhishekam. After abhishekam the balipeedam was decorated with flowers.

Devakottai nagarathars used to attend this festival every year, from where they are. The Amman is very powerful and people pray for all like, diseases, buying property, getting visa for foreign countries, employment, getting marriage, Child, etc. etc,.. After wishes are fulfilled, people used to offer to Amman, like Pongal, Sugar cane cradle ( Children will be carried through this cradle ), Ma vilakku etc..

Sugarcane cradle – an offering by a devotee after child was born

People will not fry food items during the 15 days and it was believed that this will increase the heat of Amman. After the function Decorated Amman will be immersed in the temple pond to reduce the heat. It was learnt that during the function days no mutton shops will open for sale. Till 15 years back goats and cocks are sacrificed to Amman. This practice is stopped now.

HOW TO REACH :

Devakottai is about 20 KM from Karaikudi

The temple is on the Oorani street. Autos are available from Devakottai Bus stand.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE :CLICK HERE

Milk abhishekam

Pushpa ( flower ) decoration

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA:---

Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple, Devakottai, Tamil Nadu.

27^th July 2016

SRI MEENAKSHI SUDARESWARAR TEMPLE – DEVAKOTTAI

The temple belongs to 40 sections of Nattukkottai nagarathars.

Moolavar : Sri Sundareswarar

Consort : Sri Meenakshi

Some of the important features of this temple are…

The five tier Rajagopuram is in front with balipeedam, Dwajasthambam and Rishabam / Idabam. In the koshtam the sculptures instead of yazhi are worth to watch. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Brahma and Durgai. Sanctum is built like mada kovil with steps to climb.

Ambal is in a separate temple with Rajagopuram, Balipeedam, Rishabam and Dwajasthambam.

Both temple are facing east with Rajagopuram. In between Rajagopuras, Stucco images of Meenakshi Sundareswarar thirukalyanam on the top of the wall.

Meenakshi Sundareswarar thirukalyanam

In the inner prakaram sannadhi for 63var, Somaskandar, Maragatha Vinayagar, Sri Viswanathan & Visalakshi, Balathandayuthapani, Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Gajalakshmi, Natarajar Saba, Bhairavar, Chandran and Saneeswarar.

In the prakaram sannadhi for Palliyarai, Navagrahas. In koshtam, Icha, Gana and Kiriya sakthi moorthams. There is a mandapam between Ambal and Shiva’s sannadhi to conduct important functions.

Sculptures above koshtam

HOW TO REACH :

Devakottai is about 20 KM from Karaikudi

The temple is about 1.5 KM from Bus stand and autos are available from bus stand.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE :CLICK HERE

Used for drum played for functions

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA:---

A Wonder of Chettinad Culture and Houses of Devakottai, Sivaganga District, Tamil Nadu.

27^th July 2016.

கடந்த ஞாயிற்றுக்கிழமை 24 சூலை 2016, நண்பர் திரு நாச்சியப்பன் அவர்களுடன் தேவகோட்டை பயணம். நான் செட்டிநாட்டிற்க்கு செல்வது இது முதல் தடவை இல்லை என்றாலும், இந்தமுறை சென்றது முக்கியமானது.. காரணம் கோட்டை அம்மன் தரிசனம். ஒருமாதத்திற்க்குமுன்பு தேவகோட்டை திரு வெங்கடேஷ் அவர்களின் புதல்வர் திருமணத்திற்க்கு செல்லவேண்டியது கடைசி நிமிடத்தில் அலுவல் காரணமாக தடைபட்டது. திரு நாச்சியப்பன் அவர்கள் கோட்டை அம்மன் திருவிழா சிறப்பாக இருக்கும் என்று கூறியதால் தேவகோட்டை செல்ல முடிவு செய்தேன்..பயணம் இனிதாக இருந்தது..அவருடைய விருந்தோம்பல், சிறியவர் முதல் கொண்டு பெரியவர் வரை “வாங்க” என்று வரவேற்றது என்னை திக்குமுக்காட செய்தது..ஒருநாள் முழுவதும் அவருடைய குடும்பத்தாருடன் இனிமையாகக் கழிந்தது... அவர்கள் பழைய வீடு நூறு வருடத்தை தாண்டிவிட்டது என்றும்.. சமீபத்தில் மிக பொருட்செலவில் மராமத்து வேலைகள் பார்த்ததாகவும் கூறினார்..ஏழாம் எட்வர்டு பட்டமேற்ப்பு விழா, மைசூர் மன்னர், அவர்கள் தாத்தா, கொல்லுத்தாத்தா புகைபடங்கள் மிக அருமை.. வீதிகளிலும் சாலைகளிலும் செல்லும் போது அவருடைய உறவினர்கள், அண்ணா, தம்பி, தங்கை, மாமனார் வீடுகளையும் காட்டினார்..அடுத்து அடுத்த வீடுகள்…

காலையில் ஸ்ரீ மீனாட்சி சுந்தரேஸ்வரர் தரிசனம்.. பின்பு கோட்டை அம்மன் தரிசனம் ( விபரம் தனியான பதிவில்)..மாலை ஸ்ரீசாய்பாபா தரிசனத்துடன் சாக்கோட்டை ஸ்ரீ வீரசேகர பெருமான் தரிசனம்..