Thiru Gokarnam of Pudhukottai and Ettiyathali temple.  

Posted by Shamala Krishnan

  1. Thiru Gokarnam:


    The place Thiru Gokarnam is in Pudhukottai, which is 57 kms from Trichy.


    This is cave temple. The temple was built by Mahendra Pallavan which was later improved. It’s a big temple with a long corridor and the sanctums are in different levels. we see beautiful sculpture to pillar in the corridor. It was something different from normal temples.


    There are two Siva lingams installed by Kapila Muni and chandran.







    Main deity here is Gokarnaeswarar and his consort Bragadambal. We find another deity known as Magizhavanayser and Amman Mangalambikai.



    Inside the temple we see Vinayakar, Kasi lingam, Veerabadhrar, Sapthamadhar, saptha Lingam, Brahaman, and Bairavar. We see Mangala teertham near Amman sannidhi.



    We have to climb few steps to reach Subramanyar sanctum. Here we get darshan of Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswthy and Pazani Andavar.



    As per Purana, once Brahma was thinking he was the supreme power. Lord Siva was not happy about his thought and he disqualified Brahma from his work creation. This led to lot of confusion, and Brahma realized his mistake and he requested Lord Siva to resque him.


    Lord Siva asked him to do meditation at Thiru Gokarnam and get back his power of creation. Goddess Sridevi and Bhoodevi also worshipped Siva of this place.


  2. Ettiathali:



    This village is about 8kms from Aranthangi of Pudhukottai district. The temple dates back to some 2000 years.






    Lord Siva of this place was worshipped by Agasthaya muni.
    Main deity is Swayambu Lingam known as Agastheeswarar and his consort Akilandeswari.



    Purana says once Agasthyar was traveling from kasi to Rameswaram, he had to perform his daily rituals so he stopped at this place, to do his Siva pooja. There is a pushkarani near by. He performed pooja and he had to stay back for the night in the temple.


    At the same time King Kalingarayan was there with his force in the same village in a matt. As per his fate he was in the grip of Ashtama sani period and he performed pooja at Rameswaram, and Lord Sani pooja at Thirunallaru as per guidance of his jyothish.


    On his way back as it was night he stayed in this village for that day. King and Agasthya muni when they met here, to get rid of Lord Sani’s grip on him, King was asked to built a temple for the Siva lingam, in this place. He asked him to install Navagrahas. Here Sani is placed visible to Agastheeswarar from inside to NE direction.



    Another unique thing is Ragu and Kethu are exchanged there place unlike the normal trend.


    We see Goddess Akilandeeswari in a sanctum near the main Deity Agastheeswarar, and the Goddess Akila near the Navagraha.



    Purana says Lord Siva had Kalathra dosha and when Agasthya muni worshipped Lord Siva, he was out of the dosha. So, Muni installed Goddess Akilandeswari near the main sanctum. Goddess Akila, known as Navagraha Nayaki is near the Navagraha, so the grahas are considered powerful.


    As per purana Kalathra dosham and Sani dosham can be rectified by worshipping Lord Agastheeswarar of this place.

0 comments »

Thiru Meyyam Vishnu and Siva temples, Pudhukottai district.  

Posted by Shamala Krishnan

  1. Thiru Meyyam:



    This is a cave temple about 20 kms from Pudhukottai.
    This temple is one of 108 Divya Desam.



    Pudhukottai District is the only district where we find lot of cave temples in Asia. All the temples were mostly to pallava regime. Here we find temple for Lord Vishnu and a temple for Lord Siva also in the same mountain in two different caves. Here the mountain itself is considered as Vishnu and Siva, which is one more example for Siva and Vishnu are one and the same.






    The temple was built by Narashima Pallavan. The temple is older than Sri Rangam temple and hence it is known as Adi Rangam.


    Main deity is Sathyagiri nadhan in standing posture, and his consort Senbagavalli or Uyavandha Nachiayar. Utsavar is known as Meyappar.


    Jack fruit tree is sthala vruksham of the temple. As we go around, we see Chakkratzwar, Andal, Krishna, Lakshmi, and Narashimar sanctums.



    Inside the cave here we see Anantha sayanam of Vishnu Moorthy, carved to the mountain rock. Here we find Perumal in relaxing posture which is about 30’ length and this is supposed to be the lengthier idol in Asia.


    He is relaxing on 5 headed snake known as Adiseshan, and at the back to the rock we see Garuda, Chitrguptan, Markandeyar, Brahma, Devas, Rishi, Kinnaras, and rakshasas Madhu, kaitabar. Bhooma devi is seen sitting under the leg, Lakshmi Devi on his chest with his left hand holding her close to him, and the right hand on Adiseshan in the form of patting him.



    Purana says Madhu, Kaitabar came to attack Vishnu, Bhoodevi and Sridevi were afraid of asuras and we see Bhoodevi hiding under his leg and Sridevi to the chest. Adiseshan in anger spelled out poison air and defeated them. This incidence is also carved beautifully in the cave temple.


  2. Sathyagereeswarar temple, Thiru Meyyam.


    Lord Siva temple was built by Mahendara Varma Pallavan.



    This was the first cave temple he built immediately after his change from Jainism to Hinduism. Main deity here is Sathyagirieswarar and his consort Sri Veuvaneswari.

0 comments »

Seethanajchery, Kancheepuram district.  

Posted by Shamala Krishnan

  1. Seethanchery



    This is our home town. The temple here is Siva temple.
    The village is 25 kms from Kancheepuram. This is the only big temple to nearby villages.The temple was renovated and Kumbabishekam was performed some 3 years back. Recently families who belong to the village are showing interest in developing. Regular pooja’s are taking place in recent years. The temple was constructed during Pandya period.







    Main deity is Swayambu Lingam known as "Sree Kaleeswarar" and "Goddess Sivakama sundari".



    There are beautiful stone carvings to the main entrance pillar. We see dwajasthambam and nandi in front facing main deity Lord Siva. We find pillars with neat and peculiar carvings on a platform to both side of the main entrance of the sanctum.


    As we go around the inner prakaram, we see "Vinayakar, Subramanayar", and "Goddess Sivakama Sundari" in prakaram."Dakshina moorthy", "Lingothbavar", and "Brahma" are seen on side walls of main sanctum.


    There is a carving of a cow delivering a calf from the side of neck. This sculpture is relating to purana of the temple.


    As we go around the outer circle of the temple we see Sthala Vruksham Mani punga with Nirtha Vinayakar and a tank for the temple.


    Purana says once a merchant was passing through that place which was like a forest and he happen to see the cow delivering calf from neck and milk pouring down to ground.

    This was peculiar and not a normal thing. He informed the village people about it. They came and started looking around the place where milk was poured and they found a Siva Lingam which was named as Sree Kaleeswarar.


    As per purana "Lord Krishna" worshiped Lord Siva of this place.

1 comments »

Kurathazwar temple, Kuram, Kancheepuram.  

Posted by Shamala Krishnan

  1. Kuram: Sri Adi kesava perumal.



    The place is about 10kms from Kancheepuram. There are mini buses plying from kancheepuram. The place is on the route from Arakonam to Kancheepuram. We come across Kuram gate halt and from there the place is 3 kms.







    Main deity is Adikesava perumal in sitting posture with Sridevi and Bhoodevi. There is separate sanctum for Pankajavalli thayar to right and Andal sannidhi to right.


    There is a separate sanctum for Chakratazwar and Anjaneyar within temple premises. There is a separate temple for Kurathazwar in the same premises.



    As per purana says kurathazwar is avatara of Lord Vishnu in kaliyuga. Srivatsangamithrar {Kurathazwar} was ruling Kuram. He was devotee of Lord Varadaraja perumal of Kanchi and used to help needy people and Annadhanam was performed for pilgrims who visited Kanchi.


    The palace main door has bell hanging to it, and the sound of the bells can be heard till Kanchi. Normally the door of the palace is closed only after the doors of the Varadaraja swamy doors are closed.


    One day there was a delay in closing the temple door, and the doors of the palace door was closed before. Goddess Perundevi Thayar heard the bell sound and enquired about the sound to Perumal Varadarajar.


    When she came to know about the sound she wanted to meet the King. Thiru Kachi Nambi went to Kuram to inform about the invitation of Thayar. Srivatsangamitrar was surprised to hear this, and there was a transmission in this time and he left all the wealth and took to sanyasa ashram to dedicate his life for the service of Lord.



    Lord Srirama as Azwar in this Yuga was able to render his service to Lakshmana who dedicated himself to Sri Rama in Tretha yugam.
    Purana says by worshipping Kurathazwar here in this place any ailment of eye, is cured.


    This year upto 2010 is celebrated as 1000year of his birth anniversary.


  2. There is Lakshmi Hayagreevar temple and Andavan Ashram adjecent to Adi Kesava perumal temple.

2 comments »
<< Newer Posts
Older Posts >>