SREE ABHIDHAGUJAMBAL (UNNAMULAYAL) SAMETHA SREE ANNAMALAIYAR, TIRUVANNAMALAI

SREE ABHIDHAGUJAMBAL (UNNAMULAYAL) SAMETHA SREE ANNAMALAIYAR,
TIRUVANNAMALAI

Tiruvannamalai can be reached from Vellore, Krishnagiri or Villupuram of Tamilnadu and is at a distance of  85, 145 and 65 kms respectively.   It is 180 kms from Salem and 185 kms from Trichirapalli.    The Hill is considered to be the Lord Arunachala and Girivalam on Full Moon day (Pournami) is considered very auspicious and special buses are operated by the Tamilnadu govt bus service to this place from all parts of Tamilnadu and Bangalore also.    As per the ancient legends the Annamalai Hill was Agni during Krithayugam, was Manickam (Ruby) during Threthayugam, was Gold during Dwaparayugam and is a rock during Kaliyugam.   On the request of Brahma and Vishnu, Lord Siva who was in the form of a fire column, took the form of Sivalingam at the foot of the hill , where the temple stands now.  The temple represents Agni in the Panchabootha temples.   

                                     PRADOSHAM AT TIRUVANNAMALAI

Annabhishekam is done during tamil month of Aaipasi (Oct-Nov) in all Siva temples on the Full Moon day and a picture of the one done in Annamalaiyar temple on 29th October 2012:

Ani thirumanjanam (June-July) is a festival celebrated in Siva temples with various abhishekams as Siva is a abhisheka priya.   The human year is a day for the devas and tamil month Margazhi is the dawn for them and tamil month Ani is the evening for devas.  The Siva temples normally have 6 kala poojas to correspond to this identification and thus the six periods of - Masi chathurthasi, Chithirai Thiruvonam, Ani Uththiram, Avani chathurthasi, purattasi chathurthasi and Margazhi Thiruvathirai are considered auspicious for the abhishekam and at annamalaiyar the urchavars after abhishekam are decorated and they bless the devotees and are taken in procession. 

Ani Thirumanjanam procession

The legend has this account for the story-  Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu entered into a controversy of who was supreme and they want Lord Siva to be the judge.  Lord Siva told that who ever sees the crown and the feet of him is the winner and he transformed himself into a column of fire, touching heaven and earth.   Vishnu took the form of a Boar/Varaha and digged deep into the earth to see the feet but accepted that he was not successful in seeing the feet.   Brhama took the form a Swan and flew higher to see the crown of Siva.  As he was doing that without success, he saw a thazhamboo falling supposedly from the crown of the Lord and asked it to be the witness for having seen the crown of Siva and thus lied to Siva that he had seen the crown.   The thazhamboo flower falsely vouchsafed for Brahma to have seen the crown and Siva became angry and told that henceforth Brahma should have no temple on earth and that the Thazhamboo flower should not be used for his pooja.   Also there is the belief that even one thinks of Tiruvannamalai he would get Mukthi or salvation.  

Tiruvannamalai temple has 9 gopurams and 9 prakaras and the main gopuram is of 217 ft height.  The temple covers an area of 25 acres.   It has a massive 1000 pillar mandapam.  Immediately on entrance to the temple, the sannidhi in which Arunagirinathar was blessed by Lord Subramanya can be seen and next is the Sivaganga theertham on the left and Pathala Lingam on the right.  Arunagirinathar is from this place and sung his Thirupugazh here.   On further proceeding, on the left again is the Brahama Theertham.    Annamalaiyar Sannidhi faces east and goddess Unnamulayal also on the east.  Before entering the amman sannidhi, red coloured Vijayaraghava Vinayagar gives darshan.   Amman sannidhi is on the north-western side of the 3rd prakaram.   On the outside prakara to Amman sannidhi, are the shrines of Vinaygar, Venugopalan, Lakshmi and Valli/devayanai sametha Subramanyar.   By the side of the Dwajasthambam on the amman sannidhi, on the northern side is the shrine for Bhairavar, Chitraguptan and Navagrahas.   As we come out of amman sannidhi, separate sannidhis of Pitari amman, ekambareswarar, chidambareswarar, Jambukeswarar and Kalahastheeswarar can be seen.   The latter represent the other panchabootha sthalams. 

Tamilnadu devotees follow the time for lighting the Karthigai Deepam based on the lighting at this temple on Karthigai day, known Thiruvannamalai Deepam. The deepam on top of the hill is on a cauldron with 3 to 4 tonnes of Ghee and can be seen from a distance of 20 kms.   5 large vessels in the tempe precincts are lit up to symbolise the 5 elements during this deepam festival.  The event is widely covered by TV channels.   

தேவார பாடல்கள் - திருவண்ணாமலை  
திருஞானசம்பந்தர் 
(பத்து பாடல்களில் மூன்று கொடுக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.)
பூவார் மலர்கொண்ட டியார்தொழுவார் புகழ்வார் வானோர்கள்
மூவார்புரங்கள் எரித்தஅன்று மூவர்க்கருள் செய்தார் 
தூமாமழைநின் றதிரவெருவித் தொறுவின் நிரையோடும்
ஆமாம்பிணை வந்தணையுஞ்சாரல் அண்ணாமலையாரே.

எனைத்தோரூழி யடியாரேத்த இமையோர் பெருமானார் 
நினைத்துத் தொழுவார் பாவந்தீர்க்கும் நிமலருறை கோயில் 
கனைத்தமேதி காணாதாயன் கைம்மேல் குழலூத 
அனைத்துஞ்சென்று திரளுஞ்சாரல் அண்ணாமலையாரே.

அல்லாடரவம் இயங்குஞ்சாரல் அண்ணாமலையாரை 
நல்லார்பரவப் படுவான்காழி ஞானசம்பந்தன் 
சொல்லால் மலிந்த பாடலான பத்தும் இவைகற்று 
வல்லாரெல்லாம் வானோர் வணங்க மன்னி வாழ்வாரே.


Temple Timings:
5 AM-12.30PM
3.30 PM-9.30 PM

AKILANDESWARI SAMETHA JAMBULINGESWARAR, TIRUVANAIKAVAL, TRICHY

SREE AKILANDESWARI SAMETHA SREE JAMBULINGESWARAR, TIRUVANAIKAVAL, TRICHY

The temple is at the centre of the Trichy (Tiruchirapalli) town in Tamilnadu and on the northern banks of the River Cauvery.  It is very well connected by air and road from Chennai/Bangalore/Trivandrum and within the town by bus-auto or any other mode.   It is on the way to Srirangam Ranganathar temple when one goes from Triuchirapalli Airport, Railway station or Central Bus Stand. Bus No. 1 Tiruchirapalli Railway station to Srirangam goes via Tiruvanaikaval. Lot of flower vendors sell nagalinga pushpam, lotus, jasmine and other flowers at the entrance to the temple.   The temple has 5 prakarams.

Jambulingeswarar sannidhi is west facing and at a lower level to the general floor level.   It has an underground water stream around the lingam.  The temple is one of the Panchabootha Sthalam and represents water and thus known as Appu Sthalam aslo.   The normal darshan of the Lord Jambukeshwarar is through nine apertures made on the wall of the sanctum.   Coming out after the darsahan by the northern entrance here, reach the second prahara and while circumbulating this second prahara offer prayers at the Vinayagar, valli devayanai sametha Subramanya and Saraswathi sannidhis.   Finally Dakshinamurthy on the southern side.  

The Goddess Akilandeswari sanndhi is on the 3rd prahara on the northern side of the prahara and the main entrance is at eastern end.  Flowers, pooja materials and archanai ticket for the Ambal can be here also.  The magnificient vigraha of the Ambal is seen to be believed.  The big thadangam adorned by the goddess was done with powers of the Srichakra inscribed on them by Adi Sankara.   Normally Srichakra will be installed at the feet of the Goddess.   To overcome of the Goddess's fury, apart from this thadangam, Adi Sankara also installed a Vinayagar (Prasanna Vinayagar) and Murugan in front of the mother.  The temple has a Palli Arai but no poojas are conducted here.   When Goddess was in penance in Jambu forest (Thiruvanaikaval), Lord gave darshan to Ambica but did not marry her.   There is no tirukalyanam festival in this temple. When Lord gave upadesa to her on appearing after the penance, she was facing east and the Lord faced west.  Hence this place is also called as Upadesa Sthalam.  As Goddess prayed to Lord Siva in penance, during noon, the Archakar dresses as a female and performs pooja to Lord Siva and the holy cow.  A special breed of cow known as Karam Pasu is brought for the pooja.  Goddess for the pooja during penance made a lingam out of the water from river cauvery and installed at the root of the Venn Naval tree (Jambu).

Immediately on entering the temple, on the right is the sanndhis of Sree Sundareswarar (Chokkanathar) and Sree Meenakshi. 

Two Siva Gnanas Pushpadanda and Maliavan who were serving Lord Siva in Kailash, quarelled over the supremacy among themselves to the intimacy to the Lord.  In the process each cursed the other to be born as a Spider and an elephant.   Pushpadanda was born as elephant and Maliavan as Spider.   They prayed for relief from the present life and not without fighting among themselves.   The spider entered into the ear of the elephant in an attempt to kill it.   Lord Siva gave salavation to the elephant only and made the spider to be born again for its attempt to kill the elephant.   As the elephant was blessed here, the place came to known as Thiruanaika.  The spider was then born  by name Kochengat Chozhan to the Chola King Subadeva and to queen Kamalavathi.  Kochengat Chozhan built Siva temples in which elephants cannot enter and in Tiruvanaikaval also, he renovated the temple preventing the entry of elephants.  There is a shrine for this king also in the temple.

Brahma once incurred  Sthree Dosha, as he loved one the woman he himself created.   To get over that, he prayed to Lord Siva and as told by Goddess, Siva takes the form of Uma and Parvathi taking the form of Lord Siva appeared before him while he was pardoned and given relief from the Dosha.  This is celebrated as a festival near the banks of Brahma Theertham.  

When the fifth prakaram was being constructed, the Chola King had to go in a war and his mind was on the temple construction only, though he went to perform his duty of engaging in war.   Lord Siva appeared as Vibuthi Chithar and completed the work and thus the prakara is known as Vibuthi Prakara or Thiruneetran thirumadhil (திருநீராட்டான் மதில்).   The temple is very big with lengthy praharas.

Once a Brahmin prayed to Mother Akilandeswari for himself to become an acclaimed poet.  Goddess took the form of an ordinary woman and she asked the brahmin whether she can spit the juice of betel leaves she was chewing in his mouth as she did not want to spit in the temple.  The brahmin grew angry on hearing that.  When she approached an another devotee by name Varadhan, he readily agreed as he did not want the temple premises to be spoiled and wanted the temple premises to be clean and allowed the juice to be spit in his mouth. The ordinary man later became the great poet Kalamegam.   Many pray the Goddess to attain wisdom by offering thamboolam.  

Temple timings:
6 AM to 12 Noon
5 PM to   9 PM

SREE KAMALAMBIKA SAMETHA THIAGARAJAR, THIRUVARUR

SREE KAMALAMBIKA SAMETHA THIAGARAJAR, THIRUVARUR
ஸ்ரீகமலாம்பிகா உடனுறை தியாகராஜர் கோவில், திருவாரூர்.

Thiruvarur is very well connected from Tiruchirapalli, Thanjavur from the west and Nagapattinam and Karaikal from the east by road and rail.  The central bus stand and Railway station are very near and one can switch over with both bus and train as required.   Thiruvarur Thiagarajar temple is considered as one of the important temples of Tamilnadu with the stories connecting Lord Vishnu with both Vanmeeganathar and Thiagarajar.   Goddess Kamalambika sits in a yoga pose with ganga and crescent moon in her head similar to the lord.  It is one of the very big temples with 9 Rajagopurams, 80 Vimanas, 13 mandapams, 3 prakaras and 15 theerthams- also has the uniqueness of 365 lingas and 86 vinayaka Idols and 24 temples within temple.   

Abhishekam is not done to the main deity Thiagarajar but to emerald Shiva Lingam known as Veedhi Vidanga Lingam at 8.30 am, 11 am and 7pm each day. The emerald lingam is then placed in a silver box with flowers and kept in another outer silver box and locked in the presence of the officials and kept near the deity sree Thiagarjar.   People worship Thiagaraja's face here and go to a place Vilamal, 3 kms away for the Patha Darshan.  

                                                       Maragatha Lingam

There are 84 vinayagars in the temple. Prominent among them are the Nadukkam theertha vinayagar, Mattru uraitha vinayagar, Mooladhara Ganapthy and Vathabi Ganapathy.   Nadukkam theertha vinayagar is prayed for relief from nervous problems.  Mattru Uraitha Vinayagar was the one who settled the quality of Gold offered to Sundarar by Lord Siva.  He is near the West Gopuram Gate.  Many in the locality pray him before purchase of new jewellery.   Mooladhara Ganapathy appears reclining and dancing on a blossomed lotus with a five headed serpant nearby.  Vathabi Ganapathy blesses the devotees from the first prakara of Lord's shrine.   Muthusamy Dikshitar, one of the famous musician trio from this area, sang "Vathabi Ganapathim Bhaje" from this shrine and which was the first song in Carnatic Music Concerts until a few years ago. He also composed on the Goddess of this temple, Sree Kamalambika known as Kamalambiga Navarathna Kritis.  Vathabi Ganapthy has a connected story in Periya Puranam.  Paranjothi was serving as an army chief under the Pallava King Narasimha Pallavan.  He won Pulikesi 2 and took hold of the capital Vathabi.   As a mark of his victory, he brought the Vathabi Ganapathy, which has clear identifications belonging to the Chalukya regime.   Paranjothi was known as Chiruththonda Nayanar for his devotion to Lord Siva.   As one enters through the eastern Gopuram of the temple, the first to have darshan is the Veedhi Vidanga Vinayagar.   Vallabha Ganapathy gives darshan from the entrance to the main deity Vanmeeganathar.  Uchchishta Ganapathy is in the southern side of Goddess Kamalambal Sannidhi.  People pray him as the form of Sree Vidyai.

Vanmeeganathar 

The presiding deity in the temple is Vanmeega Nathar (Puttridankondaar- (புற்றிடங்கொண்டார்).   Lord Vishnu and other Devas wanted to conduct a Yagna at Gurukshetra and they decided the one who did without tiring the Yagna for a longer time is the one who is greater among them.  Lord Vishnu won and he got agankaara because of that and Lord Siva wanted to teach him a lesson and manifested as a Bow from the Homa gundam.  Lord Vishnu took the bow and went after the Devas and reached this Sthalam as Paraasaththypuram. With the Goddess blessings, his energy sapped and  he rested his head on the Bow by placing the bow on the ground.  As he rested, Devas as guided by Guru took the form of ants underneath the Bow and slowly eroded the bow and thus the bow straightened and cut of Thirumal's head and Lord Siva appeared in the anthill as Vanmeeganathar or Puttridankondaar. Devas prayed him and asked for protection and Lord Siva told the Devas to place the head.  Thirumal and other devas prayed here Lord Siva and thus goes the Sthala purana for Vanmeeganathar.  

Goddess Neelothbalambal blesses the devotees from a separate sannidhi and seen with a friend of her holding Lord Muruga on her shoulders and the goddess touching the head of Lord Muruga.  In this sannidhi, the sanctum also has the palliyarai.  There are separate sannidhis in the temple for - Sree Achaleswar, Sree Kamalambal, Sree Neelothbalambal, Sree Raghukala Rowdra Durgai, Sree Runavimochanar, Sree Viswakarmeswarar, Sree Dakshinamurthy, Sree Anantheeswarar, Sree Siddhiswarar, Sree hayagreeswarar, Sree Dakshinewswarar, Sree Annamaleswarar, Sree Varuneswarar, Sree Ottu Thiagesar, Sree Pulasthiaratcheswarar, Sree Pulasthiya Brahmeswarar, Sree Bhakhtheswarar, Sree Vilwatheeswarar and Sree Pathaleswarar.  There are also temples for Lingas preyed by Thulasiraja and Devendran.

Sree Kamalambal temple is a Gnanasakthi Peetam.  She has the atcharas (உயிரெழுத்துக்கள்) as the rightside peetam and Saraswathi as her left peetam. As a Srividyai amsam, the Utthishta Ganapthy also is in this sannidhi.  Goddess   is on the third prakara on the Northeast towards Esanya.   As said earlier, the goddes is seen with Ganga in the head and crescent moon similar to the lord. Goddess is having the flower on the right hand and keeping her left hand in the hip and in sitting in a yogasana pose.  Hayagreeva, Guru of Saraswathi has prayed here. She is in the form of Lalitha Sahasranama here.  The Nandhi in front of the lord thiagara is in a standing posture. 

                              Sree Kaalambal sametha Sree Thiagarajaswamy

The legend of Lord Thiagraja here is connected with Lord Vishnu and Thirumal wanted to progeny and to have a son and requested the lord here and was in tapas.  Against all odds of weather, thirumal continued his tapas and Lord appeared before him and Thirumal expressed his wish and Lord blessed him for that.  But Lord Vishnu did not pay obesiance to the left half of Lord Siva, Sree Umamaheswari.  She cursed Lord Vishnu that even he had a son, he would not live long.  Lord Vishnu surprised by this, made Lord Siva, Uma and Kumaran in a single asanam and conducted the pooja for the same.  Pleased with the fervent prayers, Lord Siva along with Uma and Kumaran appeared and Lord Vishnu bowed to them all.  Uma said to Vishnu her curse will not stop, though the son would burn of fire but would survive that.  Vishnu requested that the three should bless the devotees in future staying here so that all people of this world should get benefitted by their darshan.  Vishnu was praying the three murthis duly keeping them in his mind and due to the breadth of vishnu, lord siva too had his movements known as Ajaba dance.   Asuras surrounded the deva loga and looted and troubled the Devas and Indra reported the same to Lord Vishnu in Parkadal.  Vishnu told he would give the Somaskanthar which he considered the supreme in his life and asked him to conduct the poojas regularly to overcome the problem.  He got over the problems and was praying the Somaskanthar with love.  Thiruvarur was ruled by Musukunthan, who in his earlier janma was a monkey.  When the Lord and Devi Uma were in Kailayam, the monkey was putting the vilva leaves which fell on the lord and devi.  The happy lord made him to be the king in the next janma, who was Musukunthan.
Musukunthan was friendly with Indra and Indra brought him to devaloga to overcome problems from King valan.   Musukunthan on seeing the vigraha of somaskantha was attracted to the moorthy and with bakthi prayed him.  Lord then appeared to Musukunthan without Indra knowing about it.   Musukunthann also got all the truth of his previous birth and the lord told him to take him to Thiruvarur and conduct pooja there.  When Musukunthan about to leave to Thiruvarur, Indra asked him what he wanted to take from him.  Musukunthan asked for the Thiagaraja peruman vigraha and Indra said that was given to him by Lord vishnu and he would ask him.  Though Lord Vishnu permitted him to give the Vigraha, Indra did not want to give and hence he made identifcal six more vigrahas and asked Musukunthan to take one but Musukunthan identified the original one and thus brought it to Tiruvarur which was installed to the South of Vanmeeganathar on a Hastha Nakshatra day.  Indra finding the devotion of Musukunthan gave all the other six vigrahas too and they were installed at the following places:    Tirunallar, Nagapattinam, Thirukaravasal, Tiruvanimoor, Vedaranyam and Thirukuvalai.  These seven places are called Saptha vithanga sthalams.  They are the seven different dance styles of Lord Siva.


There are two Chandikeswarars in the temple. Adhi Chandeswarar as in any other temple and Yama chandikeswarar which is special for this temple.  As any one born in Tiruvarur are Sivaganangal and thus Yama said the Lord Siva he had no work in this place, lord asked him to bestow blessings to devotees as Yama Chandikeswarar similar the Lord himself.   

The temple car here is very large and when all the decorations are done with the deities weighs around 200 Tonnes.  It has modern brake systems.  The car festival draws huge crowd from all over Tamilandu and celebrated during the tamil month of Panguni (Mar-April) during the Uthiram festival which starts even from Masi month (Feb-March).

Temple Timings:
5 am to 12 noon
4 pm to 9 pm

SREE VILVARANYESWARAR THIRUKOLLAMPUTHUR NEAR KORADACHERI

SREE VILVARANYESWARAR THIRUKOLLAMPUTHUR NEAR KORADACHERI
(ஸ்ரீசௌந்தரநாயகி உடனுறை ஸ்ரீவில்வாரண்யேஸ்வரர், திருக்களம்பூர்)

Thirukollampudur also known as Thirukalambur is 6 kms North of Koradacheri.
Koradacheri is  around 20 kms from Thiruvarur towards West and is about 46 kms east of Thanjavur.    It can also be approached from Kudavasal, which is 6 kms from here.  Koradacheri has a railway station by that name and all passenger trains from Nagore/Karaikal to Thanjavur and Trichy stop at this station.   Koradacheri also has a bus stand, a small distance away from the highway connecting Thiruvarur and Thanjavur.  Local buses from Thiruvarur stop in the Bus stand and there are Mini Buses connecting other villages nearby.  The express buses stop in the Main Road, the highway.   It is wiser to get an auto which is available in plenty in the local bus stand for going around various temples near Koradacheri.  As the Autodrivers knew exactly where the temples are and also are useful, in case the temple is closed and has to be opened.  This is because, the Archakas have been nominated more than one temple and they move from one to the other.   Many of these temples around Koradacheri can be best seen from 9 am than early morning.

                                                   Sree Vilvaranyeswarar

Sree Soundaranayaki

The place is on the banks of River Vettaru and also has other names such as Brahma Vanam, Kandeepa Vanam and Panchakrapuram.   The place is on the southern side of River Cauvery.  This is one of the Thevara Hymns Sthalam.  The entrance gopuram is 5 tiered.  Opposite to the temple is the temple tank Brahma Theertham.   The temple has two prakarams. Even at the entrance there vinayagars on either side of the entrance arch.   On the entrance to the 72 feet high, 5-tiered inner gopuram, Poyya Vinayagar on the southern side and Dhandapani on northern sdie are on the Gopuram walls.  On the inner prahbefore one enters for the darshan of main deity, on the right is Soundaranayaki facing South, which is a tall vigraha. Vilvaranyeswarar is a Swayambhu Lingam facing east                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         On the outer walls of the sanctum is Vinayagar and Dakshinamurthy on the Southern side.  In Kanni moolai that is southwest, a smallm beautiful Valampuri vinayagar blesses the devotees. Next is the somaskandar on the western side, followed by Gajamuththeeswarar, Panchalingam and the valli devayanai sametha Subramanyar followed by Gajalakshmi.  On the western wall of sanctum is big Lingothbhavar.  On the northern side of the sanctum is Durgai and Chandikeswarar.   Then there is Bhairavar and Palliyarai.  On the eastern end in the Prakara is Navagrahas. 

                                 Thirugnasambandar with companions in boat

Legend has it that when Saint Thirugnanasambandar came here, there was floods and no boatman was available to cross the river and to reach the temple. Seeing this, Thirugnanasambandar told the companions with him to fetch one of the boats and they got in and he sang hymns in Thevaram and reached the temple.  This day every year is celebrated in this temple- on Pradhamai after New moon day of Tamil month Aaipasi (October-November).

Stone inscriptions point to the period of 3rd Kulothungan and 3rd Rajaraja Chozha and names of the deities are given in that as Thiru kollambhoodudayar and Azhagiya Nachiar.  Lord Brahma and Arjuna have prayed in this temple.  Brahma worshipped for Brahmmahathi Dosha.  

Though timings have been given as 8 am better to be at the temple at 9 am.
Sthal Vruksham is vilvam.

SREE ABHIRAMI SAMETHA PUNYAKOTINATHAR TEMPLE, THIRUVIDAIVASAL
(ஸ்ரீஅபிராமி உடனுறை புண்யகோடிநாதர் கோவில், திருவிடைவாசல்)

The temple is around 2.5 kms south of Koradacheri.  The kumbabhishekam of the temple had been recently.  When I reached there around 8.30 am, the temple was closed.  The auto driver got the Village Pramukh (முக்கியஸ்தர்) and he informed that the Archagar will come after an hour and half and definitely after 9.30 only, as he has to complete the pooja in another temple and then only will come here.  In case, I can remain upto that he asked me to take rest in a house nearby.  As I wanted to proceed to other temples, he took through the side door which was kept open to facilitate the cleaning of prakaras of the temple.  The main entry door after the Dwasthama had been locked but it had apertures and what little I could see through them, I went round the prakara and returned back to Koradacheri to see temples on the opposite direction.

From the side door, we could enter and through the aperture whatever could be seen with light available, i went round the small outer prahara.   The stone inscriptions pertaining to Thirugnanasambandar visiting the place has been mounted on the sanctum wall on the southern side.    Kannimoolai Ganapathi sannidhi is on the southwest corner.   Dakshinamurthy is on the southern outerwall.  On the Northwest is the valli, deivayanai sametha Subramanyar and Lakshmi sannidhis.   Durgai and Chandikeswarar sannidhi is here.  Then Navagrahas on the eastern end with Bhairavar by the side.  A small and compact temple.  

There are no shops around and I had taken flowers and just kept near the Dwasthambam and thanked the village pramukh and left for next temple.

Will update the site with more details, if I had a chance to be there again.

SREE KOTHANDARAMASWAMY TEMPLE, ADAMBAR (அதம்பார்)

SREE KOTHANDARAMASWAMY TEMPLE, ADAMBAR (அதம்பார்)

This place Adambar can be reached from Achuthamangalam near Nannilam.  It is 3 kms north of Achuthamangalam.   Achuthamangalam is 4km west of Nannilam.  This is a very small temple but is connected with the story of Ramayana.  It is said that Lord Rama aimed the arrow, on Mareesan Deer from here.  (Hatham paar).   It is also said that the place at which the arrow entered the Deer is Manthurai near Kumbakonam and the place in which the Mareesan the Deer lost its life at Kollumangudi.  The Bhattar who is performing pooja Shri Sridharan gave this information.  Sita saw the deer at Nallumangudi.

The entrance to the temple is a small single tiered gopuram  but with beautiful sudais of Sree Sita, Lakshmana Hanumath sametha Sree Rama.

As you enter, the granite slab inscribed indicates the date of the last Maha Samprokshanam done as 27th June 2002 under the guidance and anugraham of Sri Krishna Premi Swamigal.  

On entering the next door, Sree Sita, Lakshmana, Hanumath sametha Sree Ramachandra murthy as Kothandaramar gives Darshan.  The vigraha is beautiful and similar to Vaduvur.   The Lord faces the east and in the next sannidhi Sree Ranganatha along with consort Ranganayaki is giving Darshan.   As you circumbulate the prakara, work on the Vimana in progress can be seen and also from a small sannidhi Sree Garudazhvar is blessing the devotees.  The temple is under renovation and the Samprokshanam/Kumbabhishekam is likely to be done after the works are completed.   

Shri Sridharan also looks after the Anjaneya Temple nearby.   He had already left this temple on the day I went, to perform single kala pooja that is being carried out in the Hanuman temple. He returned back after seeing us and opened the temple and after our darshan, locked this temple and proceeded to the hanuman temple.  

SREE MADHUVANESWARAR TEMPLE, NANNILAM

SREE MADHUVANESWARAR TEMPLE, NANNILAM

                                                 Sree Madhuvaneswarar

Sree Madhuvananayaki

Nannilam is 23 kms away from Kumbakonam and on the road route of Nachiarkoil, Kudavasal and Srivanchiam.   It is at a distance of 6 kms after Srivanchiam.  Nannilam on the southern side of River Cauvery.  On 01-01-2016, I first went to Srivanchiam by bus, early morning at 7 am and then took an auto to Nannilam and nearby temples.  In fact, I went round all other temples and came to this temple only at 11 am.  Sree Madhuvaneswarar temple is of Medium size and has two tiers with a small hill with deities on the hill and on the ground level.  It is a Madakkovil, built at an elevation by Kochengan Chozhan.  The temple is 5 kms away from the Railway Station and about 1.5 kms from the Bus stand.

   Entrance to temple with 5 khalasams

A View of the Temple

Bhrammapureeswarar

Following sannidhis are in the ground level: Siddhi Vinayagar, Valli Devanai sametha Subramanyar, Mahalakshmi, Chandikeswarar, Agastheeswarar, Saneeswarar, Bhairavar, Surian and Navagrahas and Brahmapureeswarar.   In the ground level, as one enters the temple, to the right is the sannidhi of Goddesss Madhuvananayaki and she faces South.  Sun god worshipped the lord here.
On the small hill :
Nardhana Ganapathy, Somaskandar, Brahmapureeswarar, Dakshinamurthy, Annamalaiyar, Brahma and Durga. Sree Madhuvaneswarar faces east here.
Lord Nataraja shrine is next to the sanctum.

                                                        Dakshinamurthy

Shiva lingams were installed in the South by Yama Dharmarajan,  in the west of Varuna, in the east by Indra and in the North by Kubera and they worshipped the Lord here.  The Sthala Purana for the main deity of the temple is similar to the one of Thiruchengodu and other smaller hills around it.  The fight for supremacy between Adisesha and Vayu Bhagavan resulted in Adisesha covering the Meru with its thousand heads and Vayu could not shake the Meru which created panic around the world.   Devas appealed and Adisesha gave in one peak.  Vayu Bhagavan shook the peak and took it to South and where a small piece fell in Nannilam which was a plain.  The temple appears to have built over it.    Lord Shiva appeared here as a Tejolinga on the penance of King Bruhadrajan in Krutha Yuga.  Lord changed all Devas into bees to protect them from the Demon Vruddhasura.  They all made beehives and worshipped the Lord here. Hence the place was called Madhuvanam, the Lord as Madhuvaneswarar and the consort as Madhuvananayaki.  The lord and goddess are also called by the names  Brahadheeswarar and Brahadheeswari.

Thala Vruksham is Vilvam.  Bhramma theertham is to the north of the temple. Soola theertham also on the northern side is made with the trident of Lord Shiva.
Temple Timings: 
7 am  - 12 noon
4 pm -    8 pm