Showing posts with label sakthi peetam.. Show all posts

This time our christmas vaccation trip was towards Madurai in and around temples, Part of Sivagangai district and Ramanad district. We were six in number and hired a qualis for our trip from Madurai. The trip was of seven days, and it was wonderful trip which i wish to share with everyone.


Madurai is about 450 Kms SW from chennai. The place is well connected by Rail, Road and Air. Good frequency of city bus services available to near by places as well. We started from Secunderabad, AP, and travelled upto Danushkoti and back to our place.


The expenditure worked out to Rs 5000/ per head. This includes train tickets, taxi, room and food. All temples are opened from 5.30Am to 12 noon and 4Pm to 8pm. I have tried to give few important things about the temples which we visited.


This time we were able to cover most of the places as we planned. All temples in Madurai are in connection to the 63 Siva leelas of Lord siva.



Next few posts will be about, temples of Madurai, Thirupattur, Sivagangi and Ramanadhapuram districts.

1. Meenakshi temple:
   
   
   
   One of 275 important Siva temples.
   The temple dates back to 1600BC. The construction of walls and it structure resembles to those of 7th century.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Main deity is Swayambu lingam known as Chokka Nadhar, and his consort, Goddess Meenakshi amman in seperate sanctum. Teertham is Portamari and vaigai.
   Sthala vruksham is Kadamba Maram.
   
   
   
   
   Importance: This is the place were Siva performed his 64 siva leelas. Pandya king was without child and he prayed God. Parvathi came out of fire and was brought by the king. She was named as Thadathagai and was married Siva who ruled the place. Here Goddess is given more importance and one has to visit goddess sanctum first and then Lord Siva's sanctum.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   In front of Meenakshi Amman sanctum, we see portamari kulam (tank). Near the tank on the step we see Vibudhi pilliar. We have darshan of Goddess Meenakshi.
   
   
   As we go to Sunderaswarar sanctum, we see Mukkurani pilliar which is huge in size.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   We then enter into Kambathadi mandapam
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Here the pillars are carved with huge sculpture, like Agni veerabadharar, Akora veerabadharar, Urrthava thandava moorthy and Badhrakali.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   In the mandapam we see Nandi in a mandapam and a dwajasthambam with gold covering. The pillars of Nandi mandapam are with beautiful carvings of Lord Siva in different forms to huge size. The sculptures are so good the place is always crowded with foreginers. Non hindus are not allowed inside after this place.
   
   
   
   
   
   To he sides of entrance Dwarabalakas are seen which are about 12 feet height and made of single stone. As we enter inside the artha mandapam Nataraja sabha is seen, which is known as Velliampathi. Natarage is made of stone, and it is huge in size. Sivakammi ammai is seen next, to the side of Nataraja. Here he Nataraja has changed his leg posture, to other side, different from regular side, as we see in Siva temples.
   
   
   
   
   The story goes like this King was feeling sad for Nataraja being in the same posture and his leg may pain. So he requested Lord Nataraja to change the leg so that he can relax the other one. Lord Siva obliged for his prayer, and he gives, same darshan for public also as king had the darshan of Lord Nataraja. This is unique feature in the temple. Finally we see Siva in the form of lingam in the main sanctum known as Sundareswarar.
   
   
   
   
   As we come out of the sanctum we see Ellam valla chiiter in different sanctum. The wall, of main sanctum is rested on 4 elephant, 8 lions and 16 Demons. Other deities are Bala Dakshina moorthy, Durgai, Lakshmi devi, Vanni maram of stone and a small well, and Navagraha.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   The day we visited the temple we were lucky to have darshan of Meenakshi sundareswarar in golden charriot
   
   
   
2. Pudhu Mandapam:
   
   
   
   This mandapam is seen in front of Meenakshi temple main Gopuram. There are pillars carved with sculptures is seen. The mandapam is full of stalls inside.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Thousand pilliar Mandapam:
   
   
   
   
   
   
   This mandapam is almost like a museum full of stone sculpture which is worth having a look. The whole thing is so beautiful no words to express. The pillars are in a straight line and the mandapam is designed in such a way it looks like a charriot pulled by elephant. I have posted the photos of the sculptures of this mandapam.

1. Adi Kesava perumal temple: Peyazwar thiruk koil.
   
   
   The temple is at the back of Kapaleeswarar temple.
   
   
   Main Deity is Adi kesava Perumal and Maragadha valli thayar or Mayoora valli thayar. Teertham is Sarva teertham or Hari hara teertham.
   
   
   Importance: Peyazwar’s birth place. There is a separate sanctum for him. We see Anjeyaneyar and Chakkrathazwar in different sanctums.
   
   
   
2. Vedanta Desikar temple:
   
   
   The temple is next to Adi kesava perumal temple.
   
   
   Importance: Origanally it was Vedanta Desikar temple. Now we see Sreenivasa perumal, Padmavathi thayar, and Anjaneyar in different sanctums.
   
   
   
3. Virupaksheeswarar Temple: Siva temple.
   
   
   The temple is in Mylapore, Chennai.
   
   
   Main Deity is Siva linga known as Virupaksheeswarar and his consort known Visalakshi Amman in different sanctum.Sthala Vruksham is Vilvam.
   
   
   Importance: Sundara moorthy nayanar worshipped Siva here and he saw Nataraja, in Lord Siva.Nataraja has a sanctum here.
   
   The other deities in the temple are Subramanaya swamy in different sanctum and Navagrahas.
   
   
   
4. Karaneeswarar: Siva temple of 12th century.
   
   
   The temple is in Bazzar Street.
   
   
   Main Deity is Karaneeswarar and his consort known as Porkodi amman.
   Sthala Vruksham is Mango tree.
   
   
   Importance: Siva lingam here is, Square in shape. Surya with his wife among Navagraha is seen here.
   
   
   
5. Mallieswarar: Siva temple.
   
   
   The temple is in Mylapore, Chennai.
   
   
   Main Deity is Siva lingam known as Maleeswarar and his consort Maragadhambikai amman. Sthala vruksham is jasmine.
   
   
   Purana says Parthan King of Ayodha meditated here to acquire the blessings of Siva. Lord Siva was pleased with his penance, and appeared before him and blessed him. Parthan worshipped Siva in this place which is full of Jasmine plant hence he is named as Malleeswaran
   
   
   Importance: There is a neem tree and pipal together look like one tree.
   
   
   
6. Valleeswarar: Siva temple.
   
   
   The temple is to South mada veedhi of Mylapore,Chennai, near Kapaleeswarar temple.
   
   
   Main Deity is siva Lingam known as Vallieswarar and his consort known as Kamakshi amman.in different sanctum.
   
   
   Asura guru Sukracharya made a Siva lingam and worshipped. Siva was pleased with his worship and revealed himself along with Vishnu and Brahma. Hence, the name Vallieswarar for the deity here.
   
   
   Puranasays once a lamp in Siva was dim and at that time a rat came there to drink the oil in the lamp and doing so the lamp started glowing. Siva took it as a good deed of rat. The rat had a rebirth, as King Mahabali on earth with fame. Once when Mahabali performed a yaga, Vishnu came in the form of Vamana roopam to acquire dhanam, from the king.
   
   
   Asura guru knew it and wanted to stop the act of king; he took the form of bee and entered into the beak of can to stop the act.
   
   
   Vamana pocked with grass into the beak of can for the water to pour out. By this act Sukracharya lost his eyes and to get back the vision he did meditation and pooja in this place.
   
   
   
7. Mundakanniamman Temple:
   
   
   The temple is at Mundakanniamman temple street, Mylapore, Chennai.
   Sthala Vruksham is Banyan Tree.
   
   
   Main Deity is Swayambu roopam of Goddess known as Mundagakanni Amman in sitting posture. This is one of the sakthi peetam.
   
   
   The main sanctum is of covered of coconut leaves only and the rest of the place is normal construction. The goddess is also known as senthamaraivasini because she is seated on lotus flower like goddess Lakshimi. At the back of main sanctum, we see banyan tree with snake pit.
   
   
8. Madhava perumal temple:
   
   
   The temple belongs to 13th century. The temple is at Mylapore, Chennai.
   
   
   Main deity is Madhava perumal in sitting posture, and his consort known as Amrita valli thayar. Teertham is Santhana pushkarani.
   
   
   Sthala puranam: Thirumagal was adopted as, daughter of Brugu muni and he named her as Amirtha valli. Vishnu meets muni as Madhavan and asks permission for his daughter to marry him. Brugu muni performed their marriage in this place.