VELUDHARAN TEMPLES VISIT

Saturday 21 October 2017

Thyagaraja Temple, Thiruvarur, Thiruvarur Dist, Tamil Nadu.

This post was updated with Thevara Hymns, Architecture, History & Inscriptions, Legends etc. For the details of the updated post please click this link.

14^th October 2017,

This was a planned temples visit in and around Thiruvarur organised by RATHAM for Prof. Madhusudhanan KalaiChelvan on 14^th and 15^th October 2017. Out of two days we had spent almost a day in Thiyagesar Temple. A temple is not only a worshipping place, but it has the treasure of culture, architecture, history, Heritage and so on. The temple complex is very large with many sannadhis. There is a saying that temple is 5 veli area, Temple tank is 5 Veli and Nandhavanam is also 5 veli area.

As a part of Padal Petra Sthalangal Visit, visited this temple earlier during March 2012 and had the darshan of Sri Thiyagesar. There are two Padal petra sthalangal ( Thiyagesar and Araneri ) inside the temple premises. Hope during 6^th to 7^th century most of the present shrines may not be there. Entered through the east Rajagopuram built by the Chozha King Kulothunga –III. It was believed that the two statues in the Rajagopuram are Kulothunga-III and his guru. Prof. Madhusudhanan explained the History, statues in the first level and 2nd level and construction details. It is believed that the temple exists before Chozha period and even before Naalvar ( Thirugnanasambandar, Appar, Sundarar and Manickavasagar ). Sundarar in one of his hymn asks Thiyagesar, when did he came to Thiruvarur.

a dancing girl at the centre with musicians on both sides

Relief of elephant delivery and the other elephants are helping

Nandhi in Bhootavari

Purusha mirugam

After a music treat at Thevasiriyar mandapam by Mr Bharat, had the darshan of Lord Shiva Akileswarar at Araneri. Chembian Madevi had contributed for the pooja and it is believed that Araneri Temple was built by her.

Perumal dances before Vinayagar to get back his chakra

The platform for preparing garland to Lord Shiva

Moolavar Putridangonda Nathar is in the form of an Ant hill. ( The practice of worshiping ant hill started around 5000 to 8000 years before ). On the left side of sanctum is Thiyagesar Sannadhi. Somaskandar is worshiped as Thiyagesar. Only the faces of Shiva and Ambal can be seen and the rest are covered completely with flowers and Kandar will not be visible always. A Special parivattam cloth is being weaved by the local community especially for Thiyagarajar. This temple is one of the saptha Vidanga sthalam ( The Maragatha Lingam was given to this temple by Musukuntha Chakravarthy which he got it from Indran ). Since Lord Shiva’s visit to out side is unpredictable, Nandhi is always ready to accompany with him in standing posture. On the opposite to Thiyagesar, sannadhi for Sundarar with Paravai Nachiyar and Seraman Peruman. Poojas are conducted by a community called Nainars, who only authorised to touch and do pooja. The Dwarapalakas are made of bronze looks cute. Prof Madhusudhanan pointed out that the space behind Thiyagesar, may be a room to keep the jewellery or may be a Sannadhi for Vishnu...?. After the darshan of Sri Thiyagesar we went around the sanctum, admiring the beauty of Rishabanthikar with Ambal, Vatapi Ganapati and paintings around the sanctum.

Kasukalanju Vinayagar

Nandhi in standing posture- ready to go with shiva

Vatapi Ganapathi

Rishapanthakar

Ceiling painting around sanctum

Inch sculptures of Mahishasura Mardini

Inch sirpam of Shiva Holding Ganga on his head - Gangadhara

Next we had the darshan of Sri Neelothpalambal and had seen the paintings drawn during Maratha period on the walls of maha mandapam. We came across Vallabhai Ganapathy, Kasukalanju Vinayagar ( a Chozha Bronze ), Vatapi Ganapathi otherwise known as Kolukattai Pillayar ( Brought from Vatapi, in memory of Kalinga Victory by Chozhas ) and every one has their own story. Some of the inscriptions are Rajendran I, which speaks about the golden lamp gifted to this temple on his birth day of Adi Thiruvathirai.

Maratha paintings on the walls of Sri Nelothpalambal Sannadhi mandapam

.... to be Continued Arura... Thiyagesa ... Thiruvarur Thiyagesar Temple Visit Part - 2

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Friday 20 October 2017

Sri Kayarohaneswarar Temple, Nagapattinam also called as Nagai Karonam, Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu.

15^th October 2017.

This temple visit was a part of Thiruvarur temples visit organized by RATHAM for Prof. Madhusudhanan Kalaichelvan. And also my second visit to this temple within a gap of just 20 days. My First visit to this temple was a part of Paadal Petra Sthalangal Darshan during January 2013.

A city developed near to the sea shore is called as Pattinam, hence Nagai is being called as Nagapattinam. The Nagapattinam was one of the Port during Chozha’s Period. The King Rajaraja had built a Buddhist Vihar "Chudamani Vihar“ in tiers in which Buddha statues were installed in three postures. The Buddhism was practiced in those days and there were lot of conflicts with Jainism. The Pallava King Parameswara Varman gave a solution that who ever wins can stay here in a competition. Buddhist lost and they moved to Sri Lanka during 10^th Century. It was learnt that some of Buddhist were also converted to Muslims on sea coastal areas.

The present Nagapattinam was called as Nagai karonam during Devara Moovar Period. This Shiva temple is the 199^th Devaram Paadal Petra shiva Sthalam. Moovar has sung hymns on Lord Shiva of this temple. Especially Sundarar asked Clothes made of Silk, jewelry studded with precious stones like Diamond, Emerald & pearl, Javadhu and Santhu from Lord Shiva of this temple. Ambal Neelayadakshi temple is a latter addition may be during 16^th to 17^th Century Vijayanagara Period. Sri Muthusamy Dheekshithar has composed songs on Ambal of this temple.

Prof Madhusudhanan explained that there are different cults existed in worshiping Lord Shiva like Maakalam, Kapalikam, Lakuleesam, etc,. This Lakuleesam was practiced popularly in North India and Lakuleesar Statues are found in many parts of North India. The basic principle of this cult is to attain Lord Shiva’s feet with mortal body ( Kayam = காயம், உடம்பு human body ). It was believed that Pundarika Maharishi who practiced this Lakulisa Pasupata worshiped Lord Shiva of Kasi, Kanchipuram and Kumbakonam, where the Kayarohanam or Karonam temples are still exists. Hence this temple Shiva is called as Sri Kayarohaneswarar.

Pundarika maharishi

Then he explained the Athipatha Nayanar, one of the 63 Nayanmars story. This is the birth place of Athipatha Nayanar, who belongs to fishermen’s community. He used to let the first fish caught, back in to the sea. Lord Shiva wants to test his bakthi and made a golden fish to be caught. Though the Nayanar has to survive with that day’s fish catch, he let the golden fish back in to the sea. Lord Shiva appeared before him and blessed him. This incidence is being celebrated as a festival every year and fishermen’s community used to participate from Various parts of the Tamil Nadu.