KUMBAKONAM TEMPLE VISITS

KUMBAKONAM TEMPLE VISITS

Kumbakonam was once the capital for Chola kings and many temples were built during the Chola period in and around Kumbakonam.  It is 38 kms away from Thanjavur, another place served as capital for cholas.   The town is situated on the Southern Bank of Cauvery river and famous for the temple sculptures of the Chola period, general arts and music and was rich due the fertile lands around river cauvery.   Many of the brass idols as well as Panchaloga of temples and pooja materials are made here.   Nadaswarams are made in  Narasingapettai near Kumbakonam.  Besides Fllute, Mirudangam and other percussion instruments are also made in the Thanjavur- Kumbakonam belt.

           Map showing Trichy, Kumbakonam and Mayiladuthurai (Mayuram)

                                             Nadaswaram in the making

                                             
                           Sculpting Bronze and Panchaloga idols at Swamimalai

                                           Gopura kalasam 5 1/2 ft

During every year, while we have darshan at Vaitheeswaran Koil (Kulatheivam) and also at Swamimalai, we also go to other temples nearby.  The details of some of the temples  in which we had darshan at different times have been made as blog posts.  Kumbakonam also brings us the memory of Mahamaham tank and the story of the Mahamaham tank is linked with the one of Adhi Kumbeswarar temple, which is in the Big Bazaar street.  Very near to this temple is the temple of Sree Ramaswamy, which had Samprokshanam in September 2015.   Swamimalai Murugan temple also, some renovation had been done and on the same date in September 2015, here also Samprokshanam was done.  Sree Sarangapani temple is also nearby and this temple is one of the pancha ranga Kshetrams in the banks of river cauvery with the first one being Srirangapatna and the last at Indalur, Mayiladuthurai.   Chakrapani temple is on the Southern Bank of Cauvery and the only temple on the sountern india where a temple is exclusively built for Sudarshana Chakra.  The Kasi Viswanathar temple here is famous as Guru and Chandran prayed here.   Rajendra Cholans lieutunants brought a Ganesha Statue which is installed in the Arthamandapa of Sree Nageswara Swamy temple.   With more than 80 temples, Kumbakonam is known as City of temples.   Above all, Mahamaham is celebrated every 12 years, the last one being in 2015.  Details on the Kumbam and Nectar and how the spilled Nectar was finally turned into Mahamaham tank can be seen in details given in the blog posting on Adhi Kumbeswarar.

It is said that out of the 274 Thevara Sthalams, 127 are on the Southern Banks of Cauvery River and out of which 3 are in Kumbakonam itself and more than 10 temples within 15 kms from Kumbakonam.

                                                    Mahamaham 2015

While the above temples are within the town of Kumbakonam, there are other temples to be seen which are within 15 kms from Kumbakonam.  The blog posts so for that had been in this category are:
Sree Garbarakshambigai, Thirukarugavur
Satchinathar, Thirupurambiam
Sree Durgai Amman, Patteeswaram
Sree Prananatheswarar temple, Thirumangalakudi
(Links of other temples will be added in future, after posting details on those temples)


The following links of my blog postings will be useful to have details on individual temples near Kumbakonam

1. Sree Garbarakshambikai, Thirukarugavur
http://sarayutoayodhya.blogspot.in/2016/06/garbaratchambigai-of-thirukarugavur.html
2. Satchinathar temple, Thirupurambiam
http://sarayutoayodhya.blogspot.in/2015/11/blog-post.html

3. Prananatheswarar temple, Thirumangalakudi near Aduthurai

http://sarayutoayodhya.blogspot.in/2012/11/thirumangalakudi.html
4. Sree Durgai, Pattesswaram
http://sarayutoayodhya.blogspot.in/2012/11/patteeswaram-patteswaram-near.html
5. Kumbabhishekam of Sree Ramaswamy and Sree Murugan, Swamimalai on same day of 9th september 2016
http://sarayutoayodhya.blogspot.in/2015/09/kumbabishekam-and-samprokshanam-09-09.html
6. Sree Adhi Kumbaeswarar Temple 
http://sarayutoayodhya.blogspot.in/2016/10/adhi-kumbeswarar-temple-kumbakonam.html
7. Sree Ramaswami Temple 
http://sarayutoayodhya.blogspot.in/2016/10/sree-ramaswamy-temple-kumbakonam.html 
8. Sarangapani temple
http://sarayutoayodhya.blogspot.in/2016/10/sree-sarangapani-temple-
kumbakonam.html
9. Chakrapani temple
http://sarayutoayodhya.blogspot.in/2016/10/sree-chakrapani-temple-kumbakonam.html
10. Sree Karkadeswarar Koil, Thiruthevangudi, 
http://sarayutoayodhya.blogspot.in/2016/11/thiru-karkadeswarar-temple.html
11. Sree Sivayoginathar temple, Tiruvisainallur
http://sarayutoayodhya.blogspot.in/2016/11/thiru-sivayoginathar-temple.html
12. Sree Nageswarar temple,Keezhakottam, 

http://sarayutoayodhya.blogspot.in/2016/11/sree-nageswarar-temple-kumbakonam.html
13. Sree Banapureeswarar temple, Kumbakonam
http://sarayutoayodhya.blogspot.in/2016/11/sree-banapureeswarar-temple-kumbakonam.html
14. Sree Airavatheswarar temple, Darasuram
http://sarayutoayodhya.blogspot.in/2016/12/sree-airavatheswarar-darasuram.html
15. Sree Kasi Viswanathar Temple near Mahamahakulam, Kumbakonam
http://sarayutoayodhya.blogspot.in/2017/01/sree-kasi-viswanathar-temple-kumbakonam.html
16. Sree Abimukeswarar Temple near Mahamhakulam, Kumbakonam
http://sarayutoayodhya.blogspot.in/2017/01/sree-abhimukeswarar-temple-kumbakonam.html
17, SREE VISWANATHAR TEMPLE, THEPPERUMANALLUR 
https://sarayutoayodhya.blogspot.com/2019/10/sree-kasi-viswanathar-temple.html 
18. Sree Swaminathaswamy Swamimalai
https://sarayutoayodhya.blogspot.com/2018/05/sree-swaminatha-swamy-swamimalai.html
19.  Sree Umamaheswarar Konerirajapuram near Kumbakonam 
https://sarayutoayodhya.blogspot.com/2019/10/sree-umamaheswarar-konerirajapuram-near.html

20. SREE AGNEESWARAR TEMPLE, KANJANUR   

https://sarayutoayodhya.blogspot.com/2022/02/sree-agneeswarar-temple-kanjanur.html

SREE CHAKRAPANI TEMPLE, KUMBAKONAM

SREE CHAKRAPANI TEMPLE, KUMBAKONAM

Sree Chakrapani temple is 2kms northwest of Kumbakonam Railway station.
Vishnu as Sudarsana Chakra gives darshan to devotees.  The image of Sudarsana in the temple was installed by Brahma and it is said that there is a separate temple for Chakrapani only at this place.     As the brilliance of the Chakra was more than that of the Sun, Sun God became jealous and increased his brightness more than that of the Chakra.  Chakrapani in turn absorbed the brightness of Sun and thus the brilliance of Sun got diminished.  Sun realising the folly, surrendered to the Lord here and Chakrapani swami came out of the Chakra giving darshan to Sun and he got back his brilliance and requested Lord Narayana to name the town after him.  Hence this place is also called Bhaskara Kshetram.  The place where the Chakra was found in the Cauvery is known as Chakra Theertham and the padithurai as Chakra Padithurai.


                                   Sree Chakrapani with Vijayavalli Thayar

The temple has a 5 tiered Rajagopuram.  Apart from the Sudarsana Chakra the main deity, there is a separate shrine for Vijyavalli Thayar and in the outer prakara is sthe shrine of Panchamuga anjaneya and Thumbikai Azhwar (Vinayakar).   

As per the Legend, Vishnu sent his weapon Chakra to kill Demon Jalandasura and the chakra piereced through the earth and entered Pathala Loka and after killing him emanated from the earth on the banks of Cauvery here where Brahma was doing penance.  Lord Brahma established the Chakra here in this temple.  The Chakra here is with 8 hands and Brahma, Agni and Surya are depicted as worshipping him.  One peculiar aspect of the temple is Vilva archanai is done to the main deity.   As the Lord blesses the devotees with three eyes, three items are used in the Archana - Kumkum, Tulasi and flowers.  The temple offers to the lord Gothumai Payasam, sweet dish made out of wheat for neivedyam.  

Temple Timings:
7.00 AM to  12.00 PM
4.00 PM to  08.00 PM
Ph: +91 435 2403284

SREE SARANGAPANI TEMPLE, KUMBAKONAM

SREE SARANGAPANI TEMPLE, KUMBAKONAM

This temple is near to the Pottramarai Kulam and is between the rivers Cauvery and Arasalaru.   Sarangapani temple is one of the 108 Divya Desams and also one of the Pancharangams along the Cauvery River.  (Other rangams are Srirangapatna near Mysore, Srirangam in Trichirapalli, Appakudathan at Koviladi near Anbil, Trichirapalli and Parimala Ranganathar of Indaloor in Mayiladuthurai).   This is the third among the 108 Divya desams.  The glory of the Lord is sung by almost all the alwars - Poigai Azhwar, Madurakavi Azhwar, Kulasekara Azhwar, Tirupanazhwar, Thondaradipodi Azhwar, Peyazhwar, Bhoodhathazhwar, Tirumazhisai Azhwar, Periyazhwar and Sri Andal.  This temple gopuram is one of the tallest at 150 feet with 11 tiers, only next to Srirangam at 236ft and Srivilliputtur at 192 feet, among the Divya desams.  The temple is very well connected by bus and also only 2 kms from Kumbakonam railway stations.  Pottramarai Kulam or Hema Pushkarani.

Lord Sarangapani is in reclining posture.   Though not in full sayana posture with an attempt to get up as desired by Thirumazhisai Alwar.  This posture is termed as Uddhana Sayana.     The sanctum sanctorum outside has the shape of a ratham with two entrances as Dakshinayana and Uttarayana.  This is to represent the Lord who came on the rath to wed Thayar.  The Utharayana entrance is open between 15th of January and 15th of July and the Dakshinayana on the other half of the year.  Lord faces the East. The sculptures of Narasimha Avatar are set beautifully around the sanctum sanctorum.  Lord Santhanakrishna blesses the devotees from a shrine before the sanctum sanctorum.  

                                                         Aravamudhan

                                                 Uttarayana Vasal opening

When one of the Vaishnava Acharya Sri Nadamuni came to worship in this temple, he saw devotees singing 10 verses out of the 1000.  Sri Nadamuni wondered where to get the rest of the 1000s.  The lord was the force behind the compilation of the hymns.  Lord appeared in the dream of Sri Nadamuni and asked him to go to Alwarthirunagari and meet Saint Nammazhwar to get the hymns to enable compiling the same.  He have Sri Nadamuni the collection of 4000 hymns and thus the work of one of the greatest for vaishnavites the Nalayira Divya Prabandham could be had.

The Lord is also known as Aravamudhan, as initially the verses which were found referred to him as such.

There is a separate Sannidhi for Komalavalli thayar.  Komalavalli Thayar is the daughter of Sage Hemarishi and Mother Mahalakshmi.  The thayar does not come out of her place and also called as Padi Thanda Pathini.  Opposite to the Thayar Sannidhi is Pathala Srinivasa Perumal and as the name implies, on has to go down a few steps to have darshan of the perumal.

Periyazhvar praises the Lord Sarangapani in Tamil Hymn thus:
தூ நிலாமுற்றத்தே போந்துவிளையாட

வான் நிலா அம்புலீ! சந்திரா! வா என்று
நீ நிலா, நின் புகழாநின்ற ஆயர் தம்
கோ நிலாவக் கொட்டாய் சப்பாணி,
குடந்தைக் கிடந்தானே! சப்பாணி

There is a story on the Rajagopuram of Sarangapani Perumal temple - Lakshminarayanan a commoner was a fervent devotee of Perumal and he used to wonder that the kings have big palaces but the temple gopuram alone is too small.  Between Kanchi and Vandavasi, in a place called Navalpakkam, a Mahan called Sree Ayya  Kumaradadha Desikan who was reciting Vedas three times a day.  He was also teaching whatever he learnt to others including the Pasurams of Perumal and also conducted Yagnas for the welfare of everyone.   Achuthappa Nayak of the Nayak dynasty after knowing about these, requested him to be the Guru for his dynasty.  He acceded to the request and three generations of the Nayak Dynasty namely Achuthappa, Ragunatha and Vijayaraghunatha Nayaks got benefitted by his advice.  When Lakshminarayanan used to talk about the Gopuram to be bigger, the local people used to laugh at him and say even to wear you do not have proper vesti and you want to build the temple Gopuram.  His single minded devotion to Sarangapani made him not to affect by such comments.  He used to ask others when would Sree Ayya Desikan come? and in return he would only be taunted.  Even as days passed by, he got his answers when he could hear the hymns being sung and people approaching towards the temple.  He was surprised and also happy to see his manaseega Guru coming with the group of people.   He was overwhelmed with emotion and fell on the feet of Sree Ayya Kumaradadha Desikan and the Mahan just smiled and continued his way.  Lakshminarayanan now started helping the Guru and as days passed by he told the Guru that he lost his father and mother in his early age and Perumal was all for him.  Just as I would have built a home for my parents, was it not his duty to construct a big gopuram for perumal.  He also said to the Guru that he has put his request to Lord himself for him to build a rajagopuram and that Guru should help in that.  The Guru merely said - I would go and tell; he would do everything to you; after yourself too he would do everything for you.  

Hearing this Lakshminarayanan went to his place happily and but heard the sad news after a few days that the Guru has left this mortal world.  He cried and told the lord that he could not make what the Guru was telling the other day, that he would go and tell.  He also felt then who would help him?   But on the eleventh day after the demise of Sree Ayya Kumaradadha Desigan, the Nayaka King came with his parivar and an old man was pointing towards Lakshminarayanan to him. The King came to Lakshminarayanan and asked him what did he ask you.  He would have spoken a lot to you.  To that,  Lakshminarayanan said that the Guru did not ask anything from him and only  he asked the Guru to help in constructing the bigger Gopuram for the Lord.  The King felt ashamed that what he should have done had come from Lakshminarayanan.  King said that Lakshminaryanan would build the Gopuram and he would provide the necessary finance for it.  With the blessings of Aravamudhan and the Guru, the temple Gopuram was built fast and it had 11 tiers to indicate the blessing of the Guru's 11 th day on which the necessary money and materials were received from the King.  Lakshminarayanan did not stop with the construction of the gopuram and continuing his Kaingaryams to the lord.  As he became old, on a Deepavali day after seeing the gaiety with which the celebrations had been done, he just took rest sitting next to a pillar of the temple.  He left this mortal world. There was no relation or anyone to do the last rites.  The Lord himself did it and no one noticed that.  Next day when the Bhattacharya opened the temple, he was in for a shock.  The sacred thread of the Perumal was on the Pracheenaveedhi (on the left) as for doing apara Karya and the sanctum was strewn with dharbais and till seeds.  The lord did not have any mark on his face and it was barren. There was an Asareeri - " I would do the yearly rites of Lakshminaryanan, the Srartham. That would happen every Aaippasi (Thula) month Amavasya." 

Till date this is being carried on all Aaippasi Amavasya day in front of the sanndihi of SreeAyya Kumaradada Desikan which is next to the Komavalli Thayar Sannidhi.   The temple would be closed during this period.

Temple Timings:
7.00 AM to 12.00 Noon
4.30 PM to  09.00 PM

ADHI KUMBESWARAR TEMPLE, KUMBAKONAM

ADHI KUMBESWARAR TEMPLE, KUMBAKONAM

As the name denotes, it is connected with the Kumbam with nectar and the Mahamaham tank in Kumbakonam has also the history based on this.  Adhi Kumbeswarar temple is on the Big Bazaar street which is 3 kms from the Bus stand and 2 kms from the Mahamaham tank.   The view of temple after entry as seen from inside with the Gopuram and temple tank partially visible is shown in the photo given below.  The temple is quite a big one and just opposite to the view shown is the Vanni marathadi Pillaiyar.  To our right as we enter the main door is the elephant stable.

This is one of the few temples which still has the temple Elephant.  

The temple tank is before the elephant stable and there is no water as can be seen from the picture.   

                                             Temple tank - Mangala Koobam

Adhi Kumbeswarar  here is the one which Lord Siva himself made from the white sand at this place and spilled Nectar from the Kumbh as a  lingam and the Ambal is known as Mangalambikai.  Lord Siva gave his 36000 Crore Mantra Saktis to Mangalambigai  and she is referred as Sri Mantra Peeteswari also and this place is considered as the first of the 51 Shakti peetas.

Among the temples, some have all the attributes of importance namely the vigraha, the theertham of that place and also the sthala purana.   Adhi Kumbeswarar temple is one such.   The Vigraha was made by Lord Siva himself and also devas, kings of the period have worshipped here the Lingam made by Siva.  Thus the 'moorthi' gets its importance.   It is believed that all the sacred theerthas  combine together here and hence the importance of the theertha. Finally the sthala purana connects Lord Siva.  During Pralaya period, the Kumbam with Nectar also was floating and as it arrived Kumbakonam, Lord Siva broke it with an arrow taking the form of a hunter- known as Kirathamurthy - and as he broke the top of the Kumbam, the nose portion of it, the place was called "Kudamookku", the nose of the pot.   Thirugnanasambanthar and Thirunavukkuarasar nayanars of the 7th century and Bhoothathaazhwar have referred this sthala as "Kudamookku" and Periyazhvar, Andal and thirumazhisai alwar have referred this place as Kudanthai.  

Lord Siva,  out of the nectar spilled due to the breaking of the pot and with white sand around made a Lingam and entered into the Lingam.  Thus the prathishtai of the Lingam is by none other than Lord Siva himself.  Brahma came to know about the Pralaya in advance and went to Lord Siva and told how he would create if all jeeva are destroyed during the Pralaya.  Siva instructs Brahama to collect sand from various place and mix with nectar and make a pot and also fill the pot with nectar and jeeva and the pot be adorned with vilva, mango leaves, coconut and after due pooja be kept on top of the himalayas and the pot will float during pralaya and settle at a place and he would be present there to do the rest. Thus the pot which was filled with all punya theerthams and nectar is the one which got settled at Kumbakonam.

Adhi Kumbeswarar moolavar is facing east and the temple is spread in about 30,187 sqft.  The eastern gopuram is with 9 tiers and with a height of 128 feet. It has smaller gopuramas on the Western and Northern side and has Mottai Gopuram in the southern side.  From he entrance from the big bazaar to the sannidhi is about 980 feet.  In the first prahara on the outer of sannidhi of moolavar,  urchava moorthys of 63 nayanmars are kept.  On the northern side, Bhairavar, Kalabhairavar, Juragareswarar, Sastha, Govinda Deekshitar and Pathini Nagammal vigrahas are there and further Chandran and Suriyan vigrahas are by the side.    On the Southern side, nalavar, 63 nayanmars, saptha kanniyars and on the western side on the southwest Vinyagar,  and as move further towards north Bikshadanar, Subramanyar, tejolingam/Atchayalingam/Kodilingam and further Annapoorani, Gajalakshmi, Mahalakshmi and Saraswathi bless the devotees.  In the northern side of the Prahara, Navaneetha Vinayagar gives darshan.  To Vinayagar's west is the Palliyarai.    On the east, Kirthamurthy (Lord Siva as Hunter) in standing position with bow and arrow faces south and he is the Main deity of this sthalam, who broke the Kumbam.

In the second Prahara are the sannidhis of Shanumuganathan, navagrahas.  On the southeast side of this Prahara is the Madappalli and on the Northeastern side is the Yagasalai.  To the south of Yagasalai is the sannidhi of Lakshminarayanan.      

When the Nectar Kumbh swirled in heavy winds, the mango leaves, vilva leaves, Dharbai, coconut  were all strewn around and the mango leaves took the form of Vanni tree and presently Vannimara Vinayagar under the tree blesses devotees before entering the temple proper.   

Govinda Dikshitar helped Nayakkar's rule with capital as Thanjavur. He has renovated several temples during that rule and he was responsible for the renovation works carried out in this temple and also for conducting the first Kumbabhishekam after repair works in the year 1550 and in the presence of the then king Sevappa Nayakkar.   Dikshitar also  was responsible for the steps provided on all four sides of the Mahamaham tank and also for building 16 Siva temples and conducting the Kumbabhishekam.  His and his wife's idol is present in the outer prahara of the temple.

Temple Timings:
6.00 AM to 12.30 PM
4.30 PM to 09.30 PM
Ph: 0435-2420276
Website: www.adhikumbeswara.com 

The temple, which gives the name to the place Kumbakonam, is a must for anyone's itinerary for the voluminous details that it gives from the early formation of Kumbakonam to the present day celebrations of Mahamagam.






  

SREE RAMASWAMY TEMPLE, KUMBAKONAM

SREE RAMASWAMY TEMPLE, KUMBAKONAM

Sree Ramaswamy temple is very near and in a walkable distance from Adhi Kumbeswarar temple at the Southern End of Big Bazaar Street.  Thus the distance also is only 3 kms from Railway Station and 2 kms from Mahamaham tank. The entrance gopuram facing North is a 5 tier gopuram. It is said the temple was built by Govinda Dikshitar who assisted his Nayaka King in maintenance of the various temples of the Kingdom.  When Nayaka King dug a holy tank in Darasauram and there the Rama and Sita icons were found and he built the Ramaswamy temple in Kumbakonam.  Govinda Dikshitar added a commerical area connecting the Chakrapani temple from here.

All the brothers of Rama are with him here with Satrugana on the left of the lord with Samara in hand fanning the lord, Bharatha holding the Royal umbrella, Hanuman on the right of the Lord and Lakshmana with his bow and arrow. Rama and Sita are seated together.  Hanuman sings the praise of Rama with a Veena in his hand and no 'Gatha' in his hand and holding Ramayana epic in one hand.
Rama is with his coronation robes and both Rama and Sita are depicted in coronation - Pattabhishekam- posture.

                                   Urchavamurthy Sree Ramaswamy temple

The temple is famous for the herbal paintings depicting the story of Ramayana on the outer prahara of the temple.

Mandapam around the Dwasthamba are having pillars with exquisite sculptures.

                                         Kothandaramar in one of the pillairs

There is a separate sannidhi for Perumal wth consorts Sri devi and Bhoodevi.  

Kumbabhishekam was done on 9th September 2015 and the decorated Dwasthambam is shown below:

Temple Timings:
6.00 AM to 12.00 PM
5.00 PM to 08.30 PM
Phone: +91 435 2401788

The temple assumes importance and is to be included in the itinerary of darshan of temples in Kumbakonam as Sree Rama is in Pattabhisheka kolam and for the wonderful paintings of the Epic Ramayana in the outer Prakara.

THIRU SIVALOGANATHAR, THIRUPUNGUR

THIRU SIVALOGANATHAR, THIRUPUNGUR

Thirupungur is just 2 kms from Vaitheeswaran koil, towards Manalmedu on the way to Kumbakonam.   The place is famous for the Darshan Lord Siva gave to Nanadanar and also the temple tank which was to have been dug by the Vinayakar here for Nandanar.  I was there on 4th October 2016, and after Darshan at Vaitheeswaran Koil, I went to Thirupungur and had darshan of Thiru Sivaloganathar.

It is better to take archanai materials from Vaitheeswaran Koil itself as at the time of going to the temple, no shops were available and I had taken pooja materials from Vaitheeswaran koil itself.  The Nandhi here is quite large and has given way for darshan of Lord Siva to Nandanar for his request to move away. (சற்றே விலகி இரும் பிள்ளாய்).    

Since the place was full of Punga trees (புங்க மரம்)  the place was known as Punganur and further came to be known Pungur.   The Lord here is Sivaloganathar and Ambal known as Sowndaranaki.  Nandanar,  a staunch devotee of Lord Siva was born in Athanoor nearer to Thirupungur.   He was working under a Brahmin landlord and was desirous of having darshan of Lord Sivaloganathar.   As the work was not completed, the landlord refused permission to go to Thirupungur and Nandanar was contemplating to have darshan every other day and thus came to be known Nalaipovar.   When he did go to Thirupungur, he could not have darshan of the lord because of the Nandhi in between and thus requested the Nandhi to move away to have darshan of the Lord.  The lord wanted to help his fervent devotee and asked Nandhi to move and the temple Nandhi can be seen away from the main path of vision to Nandanar.   There is a sannidhi outside the temple where Nanadanar was standing and from here one can see the lord.  The Vinayagar here also helped Nanadanar to compete the temple tank now known as Ganapathy theertham.   He is also known by the name - Kulam vettiya Vinayagar and is in the outer prakara.

                                                                   Nandanar

                                           
                                                   Kulam Vettiya Vinayagar

                  Nandhi leaving way for Nandanar to have darshan of Lord

On the northern side are Lord Subramanya with his consorts, Punga Maram, Brahma Lingam and Panchamuga lingam.   The lord Sivaloganathar is said to have emerged from an anthill.   Abhishekam is done for Avoodaiyar (Bottom half of the linga) and Punugu is applied on the linga portion.  Ambal Soundaryanayaki stands with four hands.   

Those who have a pilgrimage to Mayiladuthurai shall visit here and have darshan of Sivaloganathar.   

Temple Timings:
06.00 AM to 11.00 AM
04.00 PM to 08.30 PM

ADHI VAIDYANATHA SWAMY TEMPLE, MANNIPALLAM

ADHI VAIDYANATHA SWAMY TEMPLE, MANNIPALLAM

Aadhi vaidhyanathsamy temple is in Mannipallam (மண்ணிப்பள்ளம்) which is about 5 kms from Vaitheeswaran Koil.  Buses going to Kumbakonam via Manalmedu from Vaitheeswaran Koil also touch Mannipallam and Thirupungur.   However, the frequency is less and hence an Autorickshaw will help you to see both Mannipallam and Thirupungur temples and they charge Rs.200/- presently and wait at both the places.

Aadhi Vaithyanathasamy temple was existing and was not maintained well with people around misusing the place until the local people joined together to revive its past glory.  Though the work started around 15 years back, the Kumbabhishekam was done only in the year  2013.   The main entrance to the temple, though close to the main road is through a narrow lane while the temple premises is adequately big.

The temple has separate sannidhis for Adhi Vaidyanathar and Thaiyalnayaki.   Lord Ganesha, Subramanyar and Dhanvanthri also installed around the main deity in the compound.  Surya and Chandran and Bhairavar vigrahas are placed in a thatched roof outside.   The temple after the Kumbabhishekam draws devottees and the temple pooja starts only at 11 AM as shri  Paramanathan (Ph: 9444526253) who deos the pooja, does his personal duties early morning and then attends to this temp;le.   He is nearby this temple only and said he would open the temple when necessary.   The temple is maintained by a Trust.

The sannidhi of Adhi Vaidhyanathaswamy faces east and Thaiyalnayaki south. Vinayagar is in Southwest corner and adjacent to him is the sannidhi of Dhanvanthri and Subramanya.  Suryan, Chandran and Bhairavar vigrahas are kept in a thatched roof opposite to the main deity's sannidhi after Nandhi.
There are no shops to cater pooja materials nearby and it is better to get them from Vaitheeswaran Koil.  

VAITHEESWARAN KOIL NEAR MAYILADUTHURAI

VAITHEESWARAN KOIL NEAR MAYILADUTHURAI

Vaitheeswaran koil as the name implies is famous for prayers to cure all illness and the Vibhudhi Prasadam contains medicinal golis (சாந்து உருண்டை).  This place was earlier known as Pullirukkuvelur. Vaitheeswaran koil is around 17 kms  Mayiladuthurai and the way to Sirkazhi and Chidambaram.  There is a railway station also as Vaitheeswaran Koil.

The lord is Vaitheeswaran and goddess is Thaiyalnayaki.   The lord faces West and Thaiyalnayaki South.  Besides this is also one of the Navagraha sthalam, and it is for Angarakan (Sevvai- Mars).    Around the prakara of Vaidyanathswamy is Muthukumarasamy urchavar facing the east and sannidhi Dakshinamurthy and Jadayu Kundam can be seen here.   Before coming to Jatayu Kundam, one can see the Navagrahas in line and also Dhanvantri sannidhi.  Jatayu vadham by Ravana took place here and in the Kundam the vigrahas of Lord Rama, Kanva Rishi, Jatayu and      can be seen.   Further there is a Vinayagar here facing east and Angarakan facing North. However a new sannidhi has come up at the outer prakara on the south-eastern side for Angarakan near the sannidhis of Jurahareswarar and Murugan.  In the outer prakara on the Northwestern side is Shanmuganathan with consorts and on the northern side Badra Kali.  The temple tank Siddhamirtha Theertham (சித்தாமிர்த தீர்த்தம்) is on the southern side and opposite to that of Thaiyalnayaki sannidhi.   The place for offering salt, pepper and Jaggery is also in front of Thaiyalnayaki sannidhi and many who offer "Mavilakku" (made of rice flour and ghee) do it here only.  The sthala Viruksham is neem.

                                                 Siddhamirtha Kulam

                                                Muthukumaraswamy

Pul (தமிழ் - புள்) means a bird and that refers to Jatayu.   irukku (இருக்கு- ருக் வேதம்)  Rig vedham,  vel(வேல்)-Spear with the lord Subramanya - All of them are prayed here and hence the name Pullirukkuvelur (புள்ளிருக்குவேளூர்).   

Angarakan had cured his Leprosy by bathing in the Siddhamirtha Kulam and this is the parikara sthalam for Angarakaan.  Sage Siddhananda was in penance near this tank when a snake was to devour a frog and the sage cursed the snake and since that time there are no snakes around this place.

Thirunavukkuarasar in his thevaram sings in praise of the lord thus:
Those who have not understood the lords golden feet, matted hair and flowers he adorns will only be deep in the hell.

வெள்ளெ ருக்கர வம்விர வுஞ்சடைப்

புள்ளி ருக்குவே ளூரரன் பொற்கழல்

உள்ளிருக்கு முணர்ச்சியில் லாதவர்

நள்ளி ருப்பர் நரகக் குழியிலே.

Thirugnanasambandar's hymn says that Sambathi, the King of the eagles brought flowers from far off and worshipped the lord and Sambathi and Jatayu are sons of Arunan, sarathi of Sun God.

திருஞானசம்பந்தர் தேவாரப் பாடல் இது:

வாச நலம் செய்து இமையோர்
நாள் தோறும் மலர் தூவ,
ஈசன் எம் பெருமானார்
இனிதாக உறையும் இடம்,
யோசனை போய்ப் பூக் கொணர்ந்து
அங்கு ஒரு நாளும் ஒழியாமே
பூசனை செய்து இனிது இருந்தான்
புள்ளிருக்கு வேளூரே! -  

The temple comes under the Dharumapura Atheenam and has the following timings:

6AM-1PM and 4pm to9pm.    
Lot of flower shops are available and Vilva leaves for archana is being sold near the office ticket counter selling archanai tickets.

There are adequate hotels, lodges in Vaitheeswaran koil and one can stay here and visit other temples in case there are problems to stay in Mayiladuthurai.

For blog post on Adhi Vaidhyanatha Swamy, Mannipallam 5kms from Vaitheeswaran Koil, see:

http://sarayutoayodhya.blogspot.in/2016/10/adhi-vaidyanatha-swamy-temple.html 
All posts of temples around Mayiladuthurai will be shortly put in the blog post on Mayiladuthurai temple visits.