Sri Munigiri Digambara Jinalayam at Dusi Mamandur Rock Cut Cave, Sanjeevi Rayar Swamy Temple at Ayyangarkulam, Sri Sthambeswara Shiva temple, Seeyamangalam, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu.

                                                                            05, February 2012

On 4^th Feb 2012, along with Reach Foundation members went to the following temples near Kanchipuram. I enjoyed the Tour and learnt many things which are not known earlier. The tour mainly focused to have more exposure to the early Tamil scripts chiseled on the walls of the temples and caves. I extend my sincere thanks to Reach foundation  and Mr. Varadharajan who has immense knowledge about the places and temples. ( He had made short films on Chola kings and Pallavas  for Discovery Channel ). He explained every details of the temples we visited. We ( 12 peoples ) went to all the places  through a van  from Chennai which costs us only Rs 650.00, each  including a very good food for the whole day,  packed from Chennai.  

On the way we had a darshan of “Saptamatrikas” at Pazhaya Seevaram on the road side ( Sri Arulmigu Aartrangarai Amman Thiru Koil ). All are in sitting posture with left leg folded. The Saptamatrikas and a Pillayar, belongs to Pallava Kings Period made of Sand stone, since it is on the road side regular poojas are conducted.

 

SRI MUNIGIRI DIGAMBARA JINALAYA  - AT KARANTHAI

There are lot of  Jain temples from Kanchipuram to Arani via Vandavasi built in many villages. One such place is Karanthai. The temple is very spacious and we found Pallava period Tamil  inscriptions. We were allowed to take photographs.  We found lot of similarities between Hindu temple and Jain temples. The Rajagopuram and the Moolavar Gopuram are built very similar to Hindu temples. There are  four separate shrines for  Sri Munigiri Digambara, Sri Bramakshan – Sri Bhrama Thevar ( Similar to Ayyappan  in meditation Posture with band on one leg ), Sri Mahavir, 1008 Sri Virukshaba Natha Bhagwan and Sri Kuhmandini yakshi – Sri Dharma devi.

 

In Dharma Devi mandapam paintings were done beautifully on the ceiling. We understand that there  is no abhishekam for the moolavar, since moolavar was made of stucco. There is  a navagraha sannidhi in which the  deities  are named as follows.

Badma Tirthankara	- Suriyan
Vaasu Boojya Tirthankara	-Angarakan
Varthamana Tirthankara	- Guru
Mallinaatha Tirthankara	- Budhan
Pushpathantha Tirthankara	- Sukaran
Muni Sooviratha Tirthankara	- Sani
Chandraprabhu Tirthankara	- Santhiran
Naemi Tirthankara	- Raghu
Barkoova Tirthankara	- Kethu

 

The Jinalaya Gopuram is of Vesara Style ( some claims as gajabirusta / Gajaprishta Style - Back of elephant ). In the 1008 Sri Virukshabanatha Gopuram we could see the Saraswathi sudhai statue on the top. Since education and Medicine to the local peoples are the motto in Jainism.

 

( Saraswathi Temple )

 

( Murals on the ceiling of Dharma Devi Temple )

                                            ( Murals on the ceiling of Dharma Devi Temple )

                                            ( Murals on the ceiling of Dharma Devi Temple )

                                            ( Murals on the ceiling of Dharma Devi Temple )

( Saraswathi temple )

( Navagraga's sannadhi  and the corresponding theerthangaras ) 

( Rajagopuram is similar to Hindu temples ) 

( Rajagopuram )

Ramar

DUSI MAMANDUR

There are four rock cut caves in the Mamandur hills of which two caves were used as shrines  with Pallava Period Tamil inscriptions. The total site is under the control of Archaeological Survey of India ( ASI ).  There is also a natural cave with a stone bed in which there is an  early 2^nd century Tamil Brahmi inscriptions found on the rock. There is no proper steps to reach this natural cave. The details of the two rock cut cave temples are as follows and other two were only mandapams with no specific importance.

This cave is called as Rudra Vilasawaram cave temple. This rock cut temple consists of  a front mandapam with two rows of pillars. The pillars are as usual  massive square at the base & top and octagonal in the middle and carry heavy corbels. The pilasters are at either end are square from base to top. Flight of three steps from the Mandapa leads to the simple shrines entrance, such shrines are guarded by a pair of dwarapalakas or the door keepers typical of deity enshrined. Only Shiva Statue if found in the middle of the three shrines. There are two Chozha inscriptions of the time Parantaka Chozha and Rajaraja called this cave as Viruttiravaliswaram and Valiswaram respectively and mentions the Chitraaneghatalaka, a large Pallava irrigation tank. No Pallava inscription exists, but stylistically the cave is attributed to Mahendra Varma Pallava – 1 ( 600 – 630 CE ).

The north end rock cut cave  temple is facing east. The pillars has a lotus symbol of octagonal faces with pothiyals/ corbels / capital. This was chiseled during Mahendravarman -1 ( 600 – 630 CE ). This rock cut cave has Tamil inscriptions on the inner mandapam wall. From the inscriptions it is learnt that Mahendravarman has written the dramas Mattavilasa Prahasana and the other names of  MahendraVarman are “Sathru Mallan”, Nithya Virthan, “Sathya Saanthan“. In the shrines hole are provided to install the statues. At present there is no statue.

LOCATION OF THE CAVE :CLICK HERE

( Second cave ) 

( Pillars with pothiyals on the same rock)

( Pallava period tamil inscriptions ) 

( Siva lingam was installed after completion - Dwarapalakas also chiseled  ) 

( Third cave ) 

( Brahmi letters on the rock ) 

( Way to climb the Brahmi letters cave ) 

( Tablets found on the banks of the lake near dhooshi )

SRI SANJEEVARAYA  SWAMY TEMPLE/ ANJANEYAR TEMPLE, Ayyangarkulam 

This is also one of the oldest temple and maintained by the private trust. Only the main shrine is in good condition. The wall and the front gopuram is in damaged condition. The inner shrine outer walls has huge grandha inscriptions. There are 83 postures of Anjaneya's are chiseled on the pillars. There is a small mandapam with old marks of Gajalakshmi stucco images are found below the roof.

Nadaivavi : Also we visited the architectural marvel of the arch with mandapam completely built in a well, which is below the ground level. During the Chithirai festival Sri Varadharaja Perumal of Kanchipuram, who came on procession to this place used stay in this mandapam, during that time water will be taken out, for which  a permanent structure is erected. This structure is not used now. ( It was learnt that the Naan Kadavul film was shot in this place ).

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

( Entrance mandapam of the Anjaneya Temple ) 

( Mandapam of the  banks of the Temple Tank ) 

( Bas-relief of Hanuman on the pillar ) 

                                                   ( Bas-relief of Hanuman on the pillar ) 

( Grantha inscriptions on the wall)

( A big stone pot ) 

SRI AMIRTHAVALLI SAMETHA SRI STHAMBESWARAR SHIVA TEMPLE.

This is also one of the rock cut Shiva temple  under the control of ASI. But daily poojas are conducted by the priests. This Seeyamangalam is about 4 KMs from Thesur, for which we have to take left diversion from  Vandavasi to Arani. There are lot of Tamil inscriptions found on the walls of inner, outer and pillars. Here we can see the details of warriors statues with their feelings before and after war. The temple has the first Lord Shiva's Aanandha Thandavam is chiseled on one of the pillar with minute  details of the sculpture can be seen. Agni in one hand and a weapon on the other. It is a wonder to see how a big Shiva Shiva Linga was taken and installed inside a small Sanctum. The sanctum Vimanam is on the top of the rock very much similar to the Valli malai near Vellore. This temple complex  is very big and neatly maintained by ASI as it was once.  This temple has no Dwajasthambam and there is no separate sannathi for Ambal.  Since it is of rock cut cave temple it has no inner prakaram  

From the Tamil inscriptions it is learnt that the rock cut temple was built during Pallava kings period. As per Mr Vakula Varadharajan it is also learnt that Bodhidharma was from this place. According to him, the film ‘Elam Arivu “ was distorted from the original story. 

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

  ( The moolavar vimanam can be seen on the rock )

 ( Majestically standing even after centuries )

 ( The moolavar vimanam can be seen on the rock )

 ( View of the temple complex )

 ( Tamil Inscriptions ) 

  ( Tamil Inscriptions ) 

  ( Tamil Inscriptions ) 

  ( Tamil Inscriptions ) 

  ( We can see one Bhuta gana is playing drum under the feet of Lord Shiva, for his dance. The snake is under Lord Shiva's feet instead of his neck. The regular muyalakan is not under the feet of Lord Shiva )

Vamana avatar

( Front maha mandapam )

The above Photographs were taken through my Sony Ericsson X10 Mini mobile.

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA : --- 

Tirupati Pada Yatra 2012, from Chennai to Tirumala Tirupati.

07, January 2012

I am lucky enough to join the SPIC's  30^th Patha Yathra  group  to Tirumala from Chennai. This was my 6^th pada yatra  from Chennai. The route followed  was Chennai,  T Nagar – Red hills – Karanodai -Periyapalayam (Night stay ) – Uthukottai – Surutapalli – Nagalapuram – Pitchathur ( Night stay) – Narayanavanam -  Puthur (bypass ) – Vadamal pet ( Night Stay ) – Tiruchanur – Alipiri – Tirumala. We had a tough time of walking between Puzhal & Red hills  and Periyapalayam & Uthukottai ( early morning 02.00 Hrs to 05.00 Hrs), since it was raining. Many devotees had the bite of cheppal and boil.  Apart from this I had the other problem of  muscle cramp on my right leg.  

Devotees sincerely followed the schedule, and got up at 02.00 Hrs and started Yathra on every day. On the last day of our yathra ie on 04-01-2012, we started at 01.00 Hrs to avoid  Vaikunta Ekadasi rush ( Skipping the Sri Varadharaja Perumal Temple at Tirupati ). But to our surprise (Disappointment), on reaching the Kali Gopuram  we are able to get the Darshan ticket only after 12.00 Hrs on 05.00 Hrs. ( Man proposes God Disposes ). So we  are forced to take rest in the rooms on 04-01-2012 night. On 05-01-2012, the rush was regulated by  the Devasthanam strictly as per the timings allotted. Entered in the “Q” at 09.30 Hrs as per the announcement ( 12.00 Hrs Darshan time ). After 6 Hrs moved in the “Q”,  we are able to see Lord Balaji’s  Nija pada Darshan  and we are very lucky enough to see  the ‘SORGA VAASAL Darshan’ too. Returned to Chennai around 03-00 Hrs on 06-01-2012.     

WE EXTEND OUR SINCERE THANKS FOR ALL THE SPONSORS OF THIS PATHA YATHRA AND WE PRAYED  LORD BALAJI TO SHOWER HIS BLESSINGS ON THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES.

( Stucco Rishabam in front of Surutapalli Pallikondeswarar Shiva Temple )

( Surutapalli Pallikondeswarar Shiva temple - This is the only place where Shiva's moortham is in stucco images as moolavar)

                                           ( Nagalapuram Sri Vedanarayana swamy Temple )

( Sri Maha Vishnu's Avatars stucco images in front of the main Rajagopuram )

( Nagalapuram Sri Vedanarayana Swamy Temple )

( Nagalapuram Sri Vedanarayana Swamy  Temple Rajagopuram with Thayar Sri Vedavalli Sannadhi Vimanam )

(Nagalapuram Karuvarai entrance Rajagopuram )

( Siva linga Kone falls on the way to Nagalapuram )

( Rajagopuram view from inside - Sri Kalyana Venkateswara Swamy temple at Narayanavanam)

 ( Early morning view of Sri Padmavathi Thayar Temple Rajagopuram )

( Hanuman statue  on the route to Thirumalai )

( The Rajagopuram near mulangal muduchu )

(

 Night view of Rajagopuram with lighting decoration 

Night view of Rajagopuram with lighting decoration 

( Thiru kalyana mandapam in front of Rajagopuram where early morning program is  in progress )

( Stucco images on the walls - southern side )

( Stucco images on the walls - southern side )

( Temple tank - beautifully maintained )

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

As per Kudavayil Balasubramaniyam, the 1542 CE inscription, in this temple records that special naivedyam of Athirasam to be offered to Lord on Deepavali Day. 

Details will be added latter...

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA : ---

Mahabaleshwar Temple, Gokarna, Sri Murudeshwar Temple, Murudeshwar, Sri Krishna Temple at Udupi, Sri Manjunatha Swamy Temple at Dharmashala TULU NADU - KARNATAKA - UTTAR KARNATAKA

 20, December 2011.

To add to my list of  Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalangal dharshan I planned to go for the Tulu Nadu (Karnataka ) Paadal petra Shiva Sthalam at Gokarna. This is Thirugnanasambandar Paadal petra sthalam.  When I discussed with friends, every body suggested to add more temples during this visit. Murudeshwar, Udupi and Dharmasthala are the temples which were added in the list of my yathra. One of my best friend Mr C K Namdev who helped me a lot  and arranged for accommodation  at Gokarna and Udupi. I cannot forget the hospitality extended to me by his daughter during the stay at Gokarna. I was honoured that they dined along with me and they even skipped the usual non vegetarian  sea food, since I am a strict vegetarian ( Now !!!).

The yathra went like this......

After reaching the Mangalore at 4.25 Hrs on 17-12-2011, boarded the Mangalore Verna Passenger  train to Gokarna ( 225 Kms ) starts at 06.50 Hrs. On seeing the Murudeshwar Temple Gopuram and Shiva statue from long distance  got down at Murudeshwar station and went to temple, through auto  from the main road. The auto driver charged me only Rs 20, which is a surprise to me. Shiva statue is the second tallest in the world ( 123 feet, 1^st is at Nepal ) with a history of the sthalam is constructed under the statue made up of Stucco suthai. The Rajagopuram is of 20 story height  ( 237.5 feet ) with 2 nos of electric lifts.

After having a darshan at Murudeshwar came to main road to catch the bus to Gokarna. Since there is no straight bus to Gokarna went through  Kumta. In Gokarna temple did pooja to Mahabaleshwar as directed by the priest and able to touch and  feel the Shiva statue  of very very small size ( Kottai pakku ). The fee paid to the temple was Rs 150.00.  The temple is constructed  unique  Kerala style with wood and Mangalore tiles with out Rajagopuram.  Amman sannathi is at the back of the Shiva temple.  The Vinayagar temple is in front of the Shiva temple and one can see the mark on the statue hit by Lankan King Ravana. After the dharshan went to sea shore on the western side of the temple entrance. Since the day happened to be a week end Saturday lot of school children and public came for darshan.

After the darshan of Mahabaleshwar, left for UDUPI about 16.45 Hrs via Kumta by bus after thanking Mr Namdev’s daughter and his son-in-law. Arrived Udupi at 00.30 Hrs on 18-12-2011 and went to the lodge Mallika. The room was reserved by Mr Namdev’s brother-in-law  Mr Ganesh.  After having a sleep of  just 3 hours went to Udupi Temple. Even though there was a heavy rush I could  be able  to have  two different alankara dharshans of Sri Krishna through Kanaka kindi (Window grills). After dharshan vacated the lodge by 08.00 Hrs and proceed to Dharmasthala.

From Udupi there are no frequent buses. Got the bus at 09.00 Hrs and it took nearly 3 hour 15 minutes to reach the Dharmasthala temple ( 110 Kms through hill route. The road in many places are very bad. Since the day Sunday, happened to be a weekly holiday, very heavy rush was there. It took me about  30 minutes to deposit my Chappel and back bag. Got Rs 200 ticket and moved through  very very long QQQQQQQ and had the darshan of Sri Manjunatha Swamy and Ammavaru. After darshan came out at 13.00 Hrs and boarded the bus ( Near the temple entrance) to Mangalore to catch the Chennai super fast Express Train which leaves by 16.00 Hrs. I was little upset  for not able to spend more time to see the Bahubali statue and other places, importantly missed the free meals as every body suggested. When I reached the station the time was 15.45 Hrs and announcement  call to board the train.

Total distance covered in the yathra  is 2500 Kms in 72 hours ( 16^th  09.00 hrs from Chennai Home  and reached on 19^th Dec 2011 at 09.00 Hrs ) of which Darshan time in the temples was around  7 to 8 hours only.

GOKARNA AND MURUDESHWAR

( The history is taken from the wikipedia website ).The origin of the name "Murudeshwara" dates to the time of Ramayana. The Hindu gods attained immortality and invincibility by worshipping a divine Lingam called the Atma-Linga. The Lanka King Ravana wanted to attain immortality by obtaining the Atma-Linga (Soul of Shiva). Since the Atma-Linga belonged to Lord Shiva, Ravana worshipped Shiva with devotion. Pleased by his prayers, Lord Shiva appeared before him and asked him what he wanted. By this time Narada had asked Lord Vishnu to change Ravana's mind. As a result of this plot, Ravana asks for Goddess Parvati, and Lord Shiva offers her to him. On his way back to Lanka Narada tells Ravana that Lord had not given him the real Parvathi and that the real Parvathi was in Pathala. So Ravana frees his companion, goes to Pathala and marries a king's daughter, assuming her to be the real Parvathi. He then returns to Lanka, where his mother asks him for the Linga. Ravana then comes to know of the tricks played on him by Lord Vishnu. He therefore prays to Lord Shiva again, begging for his forgiveness. Lord Shiva appears and this time, Ravana requests the AtmaLinga as his boon. Lord Shiva agrees to give him the boon with the condition that it should never be placed on the ground. If the AtmaLinga was ever placed on the ground, all the powers would return to Lord Shiva again. Having obtained his boon, Ravana started back on his journey to Lanka.

Sage Narada, who came to know of this incident, realised that with the AtmaLinga, Ravana may obtain immortality and create havoc on earth. He approached the Lord Ganesh and requested him to prevent the AtmaLinga from reaching Lanka. Lord Ganesh knew that Ravana was a very devoted person who used to perform prayer ritual in the evening every day without fail. He decided to make use of this fact and came up with a plan to confiscate the AtmaLinga from Ravana.

As Ravana was nearing Gokarna, Lord Vishnu blotted out the sun to give the appearance of dusk through his srichakra. Ravana now had to perform his evening rituals but was worried because with the AtmaLinga in his hands, he would not be able to do his rituals. At this time, Lord Ganesh in the disguise of a Brahmin boy accosted him. Ravana requested him to hold the AtmaLinga until he performed his rituals, and asked him not to place it on the ground. Ganesh struck a deal with him saying that he would call Ravana thrice, and if Ravana did not return within that time, he would place the AtmaLinga on the ground.

267. SRI MAHABALESHWAR TEMPLE, 

GOKARNA - THIRUKOKARNAM 

Now this place is called as Gokarna. This is 267^th Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and only one sthalam in Thuluva Nadu on the sea shore. Thirugnanasambandar and Appar has sung hymns in praise of  Lord Shiva of this temple.

( Entrance of the temple)

Moolavar : Sri Mahabaleshwar, Sri Piranalingeswarar,

               Sri Aathma lingeswarar
Consort  : Sri Gokarneswari, Sri Thamragowri

Some of the important features of this temple are…
The temple architecture is similar to Kerala style architecture with wood and mangalore tiles. Moolavar is facing west and there are entrance on the south and west side. Ambal is facing east, in a separate sannadhi. Moolavar is very small and can be touched through a hole like avudayar below the ground level. Devotees can do abhishekam and pooja to the moolavar through their own hands.

Sannadhi for Thathreyar and Adi Gokarneswara, Vinayagar, Mahisasura Marthini. There is a Vinayagar sannidhi on the east side of the temple and there is a scar on his head due to Ravana’s hit.

Brahma, Agasthiyar, Kamadhenu, Markandeyar, Saraswathy, Vasistar, Ravanan, Nagarajan  worshiped lord shiva of this temple.

HOW TO REACH :

Gokarna is on the train route Mangalore to Goa and about 5 KMs from Railway station.

Buses available from Udupi and Mangalore.

CONTACT DETAILS:

The temple web site : CLICK HERE  
Contact: Administrator,
Shri Samsthana Mahabala Deva,
Post: Gokarna, U.K,Karnataka
Phone :  +91 9482331354 / 08386-257956
E-Mail : info@srigokarna.org

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

( Moolavar vimanam - View through  shades )

( Side entrance of the moolavar sanctum  )

( Vinayagar temple  on the main temple street - Marks of Ravana's hit on the head)

( Aadhi Sankara's mandapam on the sea shore )

( A small temple on the hill )

( Temple car / Chariot ) 

MURUDESHWAR

Entrance arch of the Temple about a KM on the main road  - Opposite is the Murudeshwar railway station - Built by Tamil sthapathy where Temples name is written in Tamil- Latter learned that Mr Ganapathi Sthapathi's Son in law had done this project.

( Rajagopuram is of a unique construction - The Rajagopuram has Lifts to climb to the top )

( Moolavar Vimanam  - A Tamil Nadu type architecture / Dravida  )

( Temple complex view )

( Entrance of the Rajagopuram )

( Second tallest man made structure of Shiva Statue in Asia )

( Stucco sculptures under the basement - Ravana asks brahmin boy ( Vinayagar ) to keep the Siva Lingam )

( Ravanan hit Vinayagar on head )

( Ravanan tried to lift Shiva Lingam - Shiva lingam  has become like cow's ear ( GOKARN ))

SRI KRISHNA TEMPLE - UDUPI

HISTORY : One of the popular story goes like this. The main statue of Sri Krishna at Dwaraka got completely covered by gopichandanam ( holy sandal wood). A sailor from Dwaraka loaded this heavy lump in his boat as ballast, in one of his trips along the west coast. The ship was caught in a terrible storm while sailing in the western coast of Malpe. When the meditating Sri Madhvacharya sensed this by his 'aparoksha' or divine gana thirushti (knowledge), he got the ship safely to the shore by waving the end of his saffron robe and pacifying the storm. The  pleased captain of the ship offered Sri Madhvacharya anything in the ship in return. Sri Madhvacharya asked for the sandal wood piece containing the statue of Sri Krishna. Later as the story goes,  Sri Madhvacharya took it to the lake, purified it and installed it in the mutt. 

( Temple complex view with Temple Tank )

( Fire wood chariot )

( Temple chariot )

( Rajagopuram in front of kanakakindi statue )

( Temple entrance arch )

( Temple complex view )

( 5 tier Rajagopuram ) 

SRI MANJUNATHA SWAMY TEMPLE AT DHARMASTHALA

HISTORY : Initially this place was a small village by the name Kuduma in Mallarmadi and was situated in Belthangady. In this village resided a Jain Bunt chieftain, Birmanna Pergade, along with his wife, Ammu Ballalthi. The house they lived in was known as Nelliadi Beedu.

Legends foretell that the four guardian angels of Lord Dharma disguised themselves as human beings and visited the chieftain’s house. They were searching for a place where Dharma could be preached and it could be propagated and continued. The Pergade family received them with due respect as is shown to visitors. The Dharma Daivas were very pleased with the hospitality shown by Birmanna Pergade and appeared in his dreams that night. The guardian angels informed the chieftain the purpose of their visit and requested the Pergade couple to vacate their house and follow the path of Dharma and also worship the Daivas. The Pergade couple vacated the house at Nelliadi Beedu and built another house for themselves. Till date, the worship of the Dharma Daivas continues in this house.

Again the Dharma Daivas appeared in the dreams of the chieftain and instructed him to build separate shrines for the four Daivas. You will find that the Dharmasthala Manjunatha Temple has four separate shrines dedicated to the four Dharma Daivas. Pergade was also directed to choose two persons of noble descent who would act as the oracles of the Dharma Daivas. Pergade chose four worthy persons who would assist him in performing his duties as an Executive Head of the four shrines.

The Daivas promised that the Pergade family would get abundant resources in the form of charity and fame through the Kshetra. Brahman priests were invited to perform the rituals after Pergade constructed these shrines. The priests requested Pergade to also build a Shivalinga besides the Daivas. Annappa Swamy, the servant of the Daivas, was subsequently sent to Kadri, near Mangalore, to procure a Shiva Lingam. Shortly afterwards the Dharmasthala Manjunatha Temple was erected around Shiva Linga.

( Temple entrance is like a palace, no Rajagopuram like in Tamil Nadu ) 

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---