Posted
by Shamala Krishnan
- Thirunangkoil: Venkatanadhapuram:
The place is about 8 kms from Thirunelveli, on the banks of River Thamirabarani.
The place is known as Venkatanadha puram, Then Tirupathy. This place is compared Tirupathy up hills. As we see here two temples for perumal one is referred to temple of Tirupathy on Hills and the other one to Perumal temple of lower Tirupathy. There is a Siva temple related to Sri Kalahasthy temple near Tirupathy.
The temple is on a small hillock known as Swetha malai.
Main deity is Venkatachalapathy with Sridevi and Bhoodevi in standing posture. We see Thiru Venkta Nadhan with four hands of sanku, chakkram in two hands and the other two as Varadha hastham and kadi hastham.
The temple was renovated by Venkatappa Nayakar of 14th century. Sthala Vruksham is Bamboo and teertham is known as Sreenivasa Teertham, and River Tamirabarani
There are 12 steps to reach the main sanctum which signifies 12 Azwars.
We see a dwajasthambam and Garudazwar near the kodi maram. There are Artha mandapam, Maha mandapam and main sanctum of Lord Venkatachalapathy.
Purana says Azwar’s are like steps for devotees to climb and worship Lord Venkatachalapathy. Bylar, the student of Vyasa Muni, worshipped Lord Vishnu in this place. There was no temple at that time. He did his prayers only by thinking of Lord (manasa).
Seventh day of his worship a light emerged from the flowers he offered and in this he saw Venkatanadha Perumal and also Sreenivasa Perumal. Bylar was blessed by Lord, and to fulfill Bylar's wish, Lord Vishnu stayed back in this place as Venkatanadha perumal with Sridevi and Bhoodevi.
There is another sanctum for Venkatesa perumal and Alarmel mangai Thayar. If someone is unable to visit Tirupathy, and pay their offerings due to some reason, they can pay their offerings here in this place.
Hence the place is known as Then Tirupathy
There are stone inscriptions which say Thirmalai Nayakar and Viswanadha Nayakar visited the place and worshipped the Lord here.
King Venkatappa Nayakar had no child and he visited temples, when he visited this temple he heard a voice asking him to do pooja and fed kids in the temple and he will be blessed with child. He did as he was told and was blessed with male child who was named as Sreenivasan. He developed the temple and the place was named after him.
Garudazwar idol of brass metal is seen. Here his wings are together and his hands are holding Chanku and chakkram which is a rare aspect.
- Keezha Thiru Venkatanadha Puram: Varadaraja Perumal
This temple is about half a kilometer from Venkata nadha perumal Temple.
Main Deity is Swyambu Moorthy of Varadaraja perumal with Sridevi and Bhoodevi in standing posture. He is with chaturbujam in which to his right hand palm they say Dhana reka is seen, and gadhai to the left hand.
Devotees can give a coin and get it back after placing it in Lords palm, which has to be preserved.
Kings Chera Chola and Pandya renovated the temple during their regime.
Purana says one day King Veera Pandyan gave a surprise visit to temple at that time pooja was performed well and the King was honored properly. King was happy with the Poojari and rewarded him. After he left the original poojari came to know that he was saved by Lord, whom he worship daily.
Brugu Muni worshipped Varadaraja Perumal of this place. This place is referred to temple of Lower Tirupathy Perumal. We see Sthala Vruksham which is Bamboo tree and Abaya varadha Hastha Anjaneyar in a small sanctum as we go around the Temple.
- Kailasa Nadhar temple:
The temple is in Keezha salai, Keezah Thiru Venkatanadha Puram:
This is one of Nava Kaiyalam Temple dedicated to Navagraha’s. This place is for Raghu graham. Here we see presence of Nagar in all the deities in the temple which is unique.
Once Romesa Muni, requested Agastiyar to bless him, to have the darshan of Kailasa Nadhar. Agastiyar felt happy and he asked him to the sangamam place of River Thamirabarani.
Agastiyar said he will float nine flowers in River Thamirabarani and they will help you. He asked him to install a Sivalingam in those places where the flowers touch the shore. The deity in this place is to be named as Kailasanadhar and Sivakami Ammai.
These nine temples are known as Nava Kailasam dedicated to each Navagraham.
Main deity is Siva Lingam known as Kailasa Nadhar and his consort Sivakami Ammai.
Lord Siva is known as Godha Parameswarar.
The entrance to the temple is from south is in use and we see Kanni Vinayakar, Sri Arumugar, Dakshina Murthy, Nellaiappar, Sri Chandikeeswarar, and Sri Bairavar as we go around the prakaram. The temple has Maha mandapam, Artha mandapam, and main sanctum.
The Arumugha Nayanar deity is made of single stone. He is seen on Peacock with six faces, twelve hands and Nagar carved to his chest.
There is a Pradosha Nandi seen in Mandapam.
They say the Siva lingam in the sanctum was covered by ant hill. The poojari used to bring the neyvedyam for Lord Siva, ringing a bell, because there used to be a snake. When he does like that snake used to move away from the place.
When milk abishekam is done, they say we can see lines on Siva Lingam like a snake and we feel as though it is moving away from there.
[Siva Lingam][Ragu sthalam][Nava Kailasam][Agasthiyar][Garuda]
Posted
by Shamala Krishnan
- Melacheval: NavaneethaKrishnar Temple.
The temple is about 17 Kms from Thirunelveli to Ambasamudram.
Main deity is known as Navaneetha Krishnan. The Deity is of Salagramaha Stone. Lord Krishna is a small boy with butter ball in his hands.
The temple is of two prakaram with main sanctum, Artha mandapam, Maha mandapam and Mani mandapam. The temple structure is of stones.
Purana says before independence the temple belonged to Trivandram district. There were Vedic pandits living in this village. Sri Villiputthurar listened to Bagawatham in Sanskrit and translated it in Tamil language.
Vallimalay Kavirayar was the person who translated Tiruchendur Puranam in poetic form in this place.
Vallimalay Kavirayar was not interested in studies, and he joined as a cook inTiruchendur Murugan Temple. One day when the Abishekam was taking place in the temple he was so deeply immersed, in watching the abishekam for Lord, he forgot to do the prasadam for Lord Murugan.
Committee members were not happy about his act and they removed him from the job. Kavirayar was frustrated and wanted to commit suicide at that time Lord Murugan appeared before him and told him his birth was for some mission.
Lord Murugan said the mission is not yet completed, and asked him to go to Cheval village and meet Krishna Sastry who will help him. He met Krishna sastry and learned that, Tiruchendur purana was in Sanskrit which he learnt and translated in Tamil in the form of Poem.
He wanted the book to be realesed first at Tiruchendur Murugan temple. There he was insulted and the copy of the script thrown in the sea. The script was found by a devotee of Murugan, in Manaimuri, of SriLanka. He took the script and was reading it daily.
Once there was poisonous viral attack due to which many lost their lives. The people in the land were devotee of Murugan was living, did not suffer. They came to know the script is holy book and that was the reason. Everyone from then on started reading the Script and worship Lord Murugan.
There are beautiful sculptures carved on the wall to roof which depicts the stories of Ramayana
- Melacheval Lord Siva Temple:
The main deity in the temple is Swayambu Lingam known as Aditta Varneswarar and his consort Soundra Ammal.
There is a Dwajasthambam as we enter and nandi to front.
Ganesha is known as Anugnay Vinayakar.
- Tharuvai: Perumal temple.
The place is about 8 kms from Thirunelveli, on the banks of River Thamirabarani.
Main deity is Venkatachalapathy with Sridevi and Bhoodevi.
The temple is a small one with a prakaram and a mandapam with main sanctum.
There is a small sanctum for Sastha near sthala vruksham.
[Krishna][swayambu Lingama][sastha][Navaneetha Krishnar]
Posted
by Shamala Krishnan
- Vaddakku Vallioor: Murugan Temple.
This is a cave temple, about 12 kms from Naguneri town.
Main deity is Murugan. As we go around the temple we Siva lingam known as Jayantheeswarar, and his consort Soundara Nayaki Amman in Artha mandapam.
Sthala Vruksham is Vilvam. Teertham is Saravana Poigai.
Other deities seen in the temple are Acharya Vinayakar, Natarajar, Bairavar, and Saneeswarar in different sanctums.
Agyastiya Muni, and Indran, worshipped in this place and were blessed.
Arunagirinadhar, sang Tirupugazh on Murugan of this place.
- Kanyakumari: The place is to the tip of India, to the shore of Indian Ocean.
Main Deity is bagavathy amman / Kanyakumri Amman with Japamala. This place is known as Kumari peetam, which is one of the pancha peeta Kshetram.
The temple is very old one, and it was constructed by Parasuraman. As we enter we see Dwajasthambam and enter into a mandapam. As we pass through,we reach the main sanctum of Devi Kanyakumari.
Other deities seen in the temple are Thyaga Soundari, Vinayakar, Sooryan, Nagarajar, and Badrakali.
Purana: There was an Asura by name Banasuran who worshipped Lord Siva, and gained a boon, that no male person should defeat him. Once he got the blessing, he started torturing all human beings. Bhoomadevi was unable to tolerate this, and she reported to Brahma who in turn went to Lord Vishnu who is responsible as a protector.
Lord Vishnu told Banasura can be defeated by female person, and this is possible only by Prasakthi. They performed a big yagam to please Parasakthi, and a small girl came out of Yaga kundam. She was great devotee of Lord Siva. She was spending most of her time in worshipping Siva. It was this place which was known as Kanyakumari in later days.
Kumari entered into teen age and they wanted her to get married, Lord Siva proposed, and the marriage was fixed. Narada muni was worried by this. Once if Parasakthi is married she will loose her power, so he approached and told parasakthi, that Banasuran may come to you as Lord Siva on the day of marriage. So to avoid this confusion, he said Devi should ask Lord Siva to get some rare things to identify him.
Devi thought it was good idea, and she told Lord Siva to get, a coconut without eye, Beetle leaf without veins and Sugarcane without node. She says if he fails to get it she will not marry, and he may have to return back.
Lord Siva was worried, and he somehow managed to get these three things and was heading towards her place, to marry her. Narada was once again worried and he started calling out as a cock, Siva heard this and he had to retun back since the time given by Devi was over.
Banasuran came to Devi and he fell in love with her at first sight. He asked her to marry him. She told if he can fight and defeat her she will marry him. Banasuran agreed and there was a fight between them. Banasuran was unable to withstand her, so his brother Mukan came to his help. Devi asked Kaali to fight with Mukan, who died in the place Mookambika. Devi killed Banasuran at Bana teertham in Kanyakumari.
At the time of his death he asked Devi to bless people who have bath and worship her here. The teertham here is equal to River Ganga.
Here we see Devi Kanyakumari with Japamala waiting for Lord Siva to come.
[Japamala][Vddakku Vallioor] [Asura][Cave temple]
Posted
by Shamala Krishnan
- Kalakkadu:
Lord Siva’s Temple. Devara Vaippu Sthalam.
The place is about 12 Kms from Nanguneri
Main Deity: Swayambu Lingam known as Sathya Vageeswarar and his consort Avudai Nayaki, or Gomathy Ammai.
Purana says Sri Rama and Lakshmana worshipped Lord Siva under Punga tree and they were blessed by Siva. Once there was a war between Devas and Asuras. Devas sought the help of Lord Siva, who asked them to penance at Kalandhy temple. They did as they were asked to do, by Lord Siva, and won a victory in the war against Asuras.
The temple is one of the Devara vaippu Sthalam.
- Thiru Kurungkudi: Vamana Kshetram.
This is one of 108 Divaya Desam Temple. The place Kurungkudi is 47 kms from Thirunelveli Town. The main Gopuram is of five storeys and five prakarams.
Main deity is known as Sri Azhagiya Nambi, with Sridevi and Bhoodevi.
Kurugkudivalli Thayar is seen in different sanctum.
Here we see in the prakaram Nidra Nambi and Kidantha Nambi in separate sanctums. In-between the two sanctums there is a sanctum for Lord Siva and Bairavar also.
Purana Says, during the time of Varaha Avatar Lord stayed with Sridevi and Bhoodevi in this place for sometime, and he shrunk his huge size to small, so the place came to be known as Kurungkudi.
There is a place known as Mahendragiri to west of Kurungkudi, where lived a backward cast person named Nambaaduvan. He was an ardent devotee of Lord Nindra Nambi and used to visit temple and worship from outside.
Those days backward class people were not allowed inside the temple. One day when he was on his way to temple, he was stopped by an asura, to have him as meal. Nambi requested the Asura to allow him to worship Lord Nindra Nambi, and then he will be back again to be a meal for him. Asura did not believe his words so, Nambaaduvan promised on the name of Lord. Asura left him.
On his way to temple Nambaaduvan thought probably this was his last visit to temple. As usual he worshipped Lord from out side the main entrance. He was sad about not having the darshan of Lord for this lifetime.
The Dwajasthambam moved a little away, for him to have the glimpse of Nindra Nambi. Nambaaduvan had a good darshan and he left the place, to meet Asura as he promised.
Lord as an old brahmin met him on his way back and asked him to divert his route, but Nambaaduvan refused to do so. He was strict in keeping to his words, and old Brahmin was not able to convince him so he revealed himself to Nambaaduvan.
When he went to Asura's, place who said he is not feeling hungry, but I want the blessing which you acquired from Lord. Nambaaduvan refused to give him the blessings which he acquired. Asura said, he should give him at least quarter portion for him to get out of this Asura form.
Asura was back to his normal form by Nambaaduvan’s help. This was on an Ekadasi day which is named as Kaisika Ekadasi. Even now they play the story of Kaisika puranam as a drama.
Importance: This is the mukthi place of Thirumangai Azwar. Lord was born as, Nammazwar in this place to the couple, Kari and his wife Udaya Nangayar. Acharya Ramanujar called out Vaduga Nambi as he used to call his deciple.
Nindra Nambi came as Vaduga Nambi and helped him with his hand box. Ramanujar went inside to worship Lord inside the sanctum, at this time Vaduga Nambi crossed him and went inside the temple first.
When Ramanujar went inside he did not see Vaduga Nambi following him and he understood that Nindra nimbi was acting as Vaduga Nambi all these while. So, the perumal here was known as Vaduga Nambi from then.
[Ramanujar][Vaduga Nambi] [Nammazwar][Vaippu Sthalam]
Posts
