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

SREE PASUPATHEESWARAR TEMPLE, THIRUKONDEESWARAM NEAR NANNILAM

SREE PASUPATHEESWARAR TEMPLE, THIRUKONDEESWARAM NEAR NANNILAM

On 01-01-2017 morning, I went to Srivanchiam in the morning at 7 am and engaged an auto from there to have darshan at temples nearby Nannilam. 

Thirukondeeswaram is on the northern bank of River Mudikondan and about 3kms east of Nannilam.   Thirukondeeswaram temple is fortunate that the Gurukkal stays next door to the temple and he came and opened the temple soon as I reached there.  The initial cleaning and Kolams (Rangoli) were done early morning but the temple had been locked and it was opened seeing us.  It is a very small temple.

                                              Sree Pasupatheeswarar

                                                    

There is no Rajagopuram for this temple.  Only an entrance arch exists.  As you enter the temple, Lord Vinayaga is in a small maadam and further the Balipeedam and Nandhi.   

Next to the second entrance is the deities Kannimoolai Ganapathy, valli-deivanai sametha Subramanyar and Gajalakshmi. The Main Deity Sree Pasupatheeswarar as a lingam is very small in size.  He is in two parts as if cut deeply.   In front of the sanctum, Kamadhenu shedding Milk on lingam is seen.  In the sanctum prakara are vinayagar, murugan, mahalakshmi, dakshinamurthy, chandikeswarar, Navagrahas, bhairavar and Thirunavukkarasar sannidhis.  In one of the pillars in the mandapam, Jurahareswarar with 3 legs and 3 heads blesses the devotees.  It is said that when Agasthiyar came here he was suffering from severe fever and the lord cured him appearing as Jurahareswarar.  Goddess Santhanayaki consort of Sree Pasupatheeswarar is in a separate sannidhi. 

                                                      Sree Santhanayaki

The sthala purana says once when Lord Siva was teaching the Veda rahasya, Parvathi was not concentrating fully on that and Lord in anger cursed her to be born as a cow.  She came to Bhoologa from Kayilai and to Vilvavana in search of the Lord.  She dug deeply with her horns in a place which hit the Lord who was in the form of a linga.  It cut the Lord's head deeply as if the linga was going to split.  From the cut, blood oozed out and as a cow, she shed milk on the Linga to stop the Blood and in the process got her real roopam.    She tightly held her hand on the siras of the Linga and the oozing of blood stopped. Lord came out of the linga and released her from the curse.  The Gurukkal shows the siras of the Lingam with the cut.  

There are saptha (seven) sivan temples with the end as "Chcharam" (ச்சரம்) and the names of these temples have been painted on a wall in this temple.

There are no shops to cater to the devotees and all pooja materials will have to be purchased and taken to the temple.  Sthala Vruksham is Vilvam and theertham Soora Pushkarani.  Festival at the temple: Maha Sivarathri in February-March, Pournami day in Tamil Month Aaipasy (October-Novemeber), Arudra Darisanam in December-January and Panguni Uthiram in March-April.  On Yemagandam time on Thursday (6 am-7.30am) of Tamil month Karthigai (October-November) theertha prasadam is given to devotees, to cleanse the sins. 

Temple Timings:

9 am - 12 Noon

4 pm - 8 pm

TEMPLES AROUND TIRUCHIRAPALLI

TEMPLES AROUND TIRUCHIRAPALLI

At different times, I had darshan at temples around Tiruchirapalli and about some of these visits, I have already posted in my blog.  In an effort to streamline the various temple visits, I have now grouped the temples around trichy - near Anbil, between Trichy and Namakkal, within Trichy and also towards Manapparai and Viralimalai - and give the links for the postings on the temples in this post.

Tiruchirapalli is at the central location of Tamilnadu and very well connected both South and North Tamilnadu as well as Coimbatore on the west.  Train services all over India touch Tiruchirapalli and Tiruchirapalli also has an International Airport.  Bus services also connect to all parts of Tamilnadu and nearer to the Bus Stand and Railway Station adequate Boarding and Lodging facilities are available.  Cauvery delta starts 16 kms West of Trichy where the river Cauvery splits into and forms an Island of Srirangam.   It is a historically renowned place, with Chozhas ruling from here since 3 BC.  The City was also ruled by Pandyas, Pallavas, Vijayanagar Empire, Nayak Dynasty, those of Carnatic State and the British.   City played a vital role in the Carnatic war (1746-1763) between the French and British East India Companies.  

In the early part and during British Rule, Tiruchirapalli was known for the export of cigar and it had lot of tanneries too.  Gandhi Market is one of the biggest, where vegetable and groceries are sold in wholesale and retail.  Once Mambazha Salai was a big wholesale market for Mangoes as in and around Trichy mango groves were there.   Most of the mango groves have now turned into residential colonies.  With entire rural area around Trichy being agricultural oriented, Rice was a major commodity for sale and Rice polishing units are still available in Mannachanallur. 

Railways play a major part in the daily life of Trichy with a biggest Railway Workshop at Goldenrock and major Diesel Locomotive Maintenance Shed in Goldenrock and Coach Maintenance Unit in Tiruchirapalli.   When BHEL unit was started for High Pressure Boilers in May 1965, it became the biggest employer with 17000 people compared to the 8000 in Goldenrock workshop.  Presently there are no big Industries in Trichy.   A lot of Educational Institutions of repute in various disciplines are the main stay presently, apart from small and medium industrial entrepreneurs.   

Tiruchirapalli, by itself, is a temple town with the famous Uchipillaiyar koil-Rockfort, Tiruvanaikaval-Sree Akilandeswari sametha Jambukeswarar temple, Srirangam- Sree Ranganatha swamy koil, Samayapuram- Mariamman Koil, Vayalur-Sree Subramaniar temple etc.,  The town bus services and autos connect all these places very well.  

The temples in which already had darshan and also posted in my blog, I have consolidated and have given the link here for the same.  Will be updating as and when I have occasions to be at Trichy and also have darshan at temples.

A. Trichirapalli Town and around
1. Sree Uthamar Koil, Tiruchirapalli
http://sarayutoayodhya.blogspot.in/2016/09/uthamar-koil-tiruchirapalli.html
2.  Sree Pundarikasha Perumal, Thiruvellarai near Mannachanallur
http://sarayutoayodhya.blogspot.in/2012/10/thiruvallarai-pundarikasha-perumal.html
3. Sree Gneelivaneswarar, Thirupaigneeli near Mannachanallur
http://sarayutoayodhya.blogspot.in/2012/10/thiruppangneeli-near.html
4. Sree Akilandeswari sametha Jambulingeswarar, Thiruvanikaval
http://sarayutoayodhya.blogspot.in/2017/03/akilandeswari-sametha-jambulingeswarar.html
5. Sree Mariamman temple, Samayapuram
http://sarayutoayodhya.blogspot.in/2018/04/sree-mariamman-samayapuram.html
B. Tiruchirapalli- Namakkal route
1. Sree Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal temple, Gunaseelam
http://sarayutoayodhya.blogspot.in/2016/09/sree-prasanna-venkateswarar-gunaseelam.html2. Sree Anjaneyar temple, Namakkal
http://sarayutoayodhya.blogspot.in/2016/08/sree-anjaneyar-temple-namakkal.html
3. Sree Ugra Narasimhar temple, Namakkal
http://sarayutoayodhya.blogspot.in/2016/08/ugra-narasimhar-and-namagiri-thayar.html
4. Sree Vedanarayanan temple, Thirunarayanapuram, Thottiam
http://sarayutoayodhya.blogspot.in/2016/08/thirunarayanapuram-near-thottiam.html
5.  Sree Chandramouleeswarar, Mahendramangalam, Thottiam
http://sarayutoayodhya.blogspot.in/2016/08/mahendramangalam-near-thottiam.html


C. Tiruchirapalli-Anbil-Lalgudi
1. Sree Appakudathan temple, Koviladi near Anbil
http://sarayutoayodhya.blogspot.in/2012/10/appakudaththan-temple-at-koviladi.html
2.  Sree Mariamman Koil, Anbilhttp://sarayutoayodhya.blogspot.in/2012/10/anbil-mariamman-temple-above-picture.html
3.  Sree Vadivazhagiya Perumal (Sundararajar), Anbil
http://sarayutoayodhya.blogspot.in/2012/10/anbil-vadivazhagiya-perumal-on-18th.html
4. Sree Sathyavageeswarar temple, Anbil
http://sarayutoayodhya.blogspot.in/2012/10/anbil-sathyavageeswarar-temple-anbil.html
D. Tiruchirapalli-Karur route
1. Tiruparaithurai- Sree Tharugavaneswarar temple
http://sarayutoayodhya.blogspot.in/2016/10/tharugavaneswarar-thiruparaithurai-near.html

E. Tiruchirapalli- Perambalur route

1. Sree Brahmapureeswarar temple, Tirupattur
http://sarayutoayodhya.blogspot.in/2014/07/tirupattur-temple-and-brahma.html

SREE VANCHINATHASWAMY, SRIVANCHIAM NEAR NANNILAM

SREE VANCHINATHASWAMY, SRIVANCHIAM NEAR NANNILAM

                                                        Sree Vanchinathar

Sree Vanchinathaswamy temple, Srivanchiam is at a distance of 18 kms from Kumbakonam and almost equidistant from Tiruvarur.  Buses from Kumbakonam to Nagore take the route to Nachiar Koil, Kudavasal.  Upto Kudavasal the road is wider and at Kudavasal, the road leading to Srivanchiam is narrow.   Naturally while calculating time for visiting temples this should be taken into account.  The bus took 1 Hr and 10 Min for the 18 kms.  The village Srivanchiam is in between the rivers Mudikondan and Puttar.

Srivanchiam temple is very big and the 5 tier Rajagopuram is 110 ft tall built by Rajendra Chozha in 850 AD.   Immediately after the entrance, to the left is the Yamadharmaraja Sannidhi, i.e, on the Southeast (Agni) corner.  Here Yamadharmarajan and Chithragupthan bless the devotees.  The temple tank Guptaganga is on the North.  Though water is not available in the tank, borewells pump water for the devotees to bathe after having darshan at Yamadharmarajan sannidhi.  Only change rooms are not available and people change their dress there itself.   Yama Dharmaraja felt accumulation of the sins while performing his duty and he wanted a solution for the same and approached Brahma and he advised yama to worship Shiva on the banks of cauvery river and also a sandalwood forest.  Yama prayed fervently Lord Siva at this place which was a sandalwood forest and Lord Siva pleased with him instructed Yama to build a temple here for him and also to be his vehicle. 

                                                        Guptha Vinayagar

Mangalambigai

Lord Vinayaga and Lord Subramanyam are in the first mandapam.  Presiding Deity Sree Vanchinathar is sturdier and tall.  He faces east and west and either side Nandhis are there.  Mangalanayaki, in standing posture is next to the inner entrance.  Next to the Arthamandapa Somaskandar blesses devotees.  Inner prakara has the deities Kanni Moolai Vennai Pillaiyar, Chandramouleeswarar, Meenakshi Sundareswarar, Valli devayani sametha Murugan, Panchbootha Lingas, Kailasanathar and Dharmambal, Jestadevi and Sani Bhagavan.  Then comes the Chandikeswarar sannidhi.   Further before one proceeds to finish the first circumbulation, prayers are offered in Mahishasuramardhini sannidhi.  The simha vahini is with 8 hands.  She went to Sonamalai, entered the caves and took the Mahishan by his horns and dragged and brought him to Srivanchiam.  

Mother Ganga, for cleansing the sins left by devotees, approached Lord Shiva for solution, is also connected with the temple as is the case of Mahamaham tank too. Here it is said slightly differently that Ganga was to pray in a temple in which Yama is blessed by him and River Ganga left only a small portion of powers in the original river and the rest were brought into this temple tank and is believed to reside here secretly and hence known as Gupthaganga.  Presently it is known as Muni Theertha. During Masi magam, celebrations with this theertham is carried out.

Sun god, Surya who attended the Daksha Yagna for which Lord Siva was not called had to incur the wrath of Lord Siva and lost his brightness and sunshine and he was in penance here and got back his brightness with the blessings of the Lord.  

Srivanchiam temple is kept open during eclipse too whereas other temples have a tradition of closing during eclipse.  The theerthavari is performed on the 2nd day of the Masi Magm festival from the temple tank, whereas other temples do it on the last day of the ten day festival of Brahmothsavam.   Lord Vanchinathar comes in process in the yama vahanam.   Theerthavari festival is conducted during Karthigai month Sundays too.  10 day festival also is celebrated during Aadi Pooram.  

"Vanchithu" in Tamil also has a meaning - desirous- (விரும்பி); Sree-Thirumagal sought the hand of vishnu and married and thus the place came to known as Srivanchiam. Both Yama and Surya worshipped here.  The Lord is a Swayambunathar.

Sandalwood tree is the Sthala Vruksham. 
Temple Timings:
6 am - 12 Noon
3 pm -  8 pm

SREE ABHIMUKESWARAR TEMPLE, KUMBAKONAM

SREE ABHIMUKESWARAR TEMPLE, KUMBAKONAM

Among the various temples connected with the Kumbham of Kumbakonam, this temple also is one which is on the eastern bank of the Mahamaha Kulam (Tank). A small temple, just looking like a house, legend has it that the lord was facing east earlier and only when Mahamaham started, the Navakanniga rivers including Ganges and others requested that they would like to have a glimpse of the lord from Mahamaha Kulam, the Lord acceded to the request and turned towards west.  Thus the Lord is facing West and came to be known as Abhimukeswarar.   

                                   Abimukeswarar- Amirthavalli   Urchavar

As has been the story of the Kumbham, floating during Pralaya and resting at Kumbakonam, Krathamurthy aimed the arrow and the broken Kumbham and contents of the Kumbham fell at different places namely the Uri, Neck of Kumbam, life seedings, Nectar drops, sandal past, Yagnobaveetham, Vilva leaves, Mango Leaves, flowers, coconut etc.,  The coconut broke into pieces and fell where the present temple of Abhimukeswara is, Lord Shiva from the coconut has taken the form of Linga as Abhimukeswarar. As Siva came from the coconut, he is also known as Narikesaran. This one among the twelve temples in Kumbakonam connected with the Mahamaham story.

                                           Abimukeswarar temple  

Upon entering the temple, the majestic Dwajasthambam can be seen and further proceed to the Lord's Darshan and to his right is consort Sree Amirthavalli.  The Dwarapalakas in front of the Lord are in dancing pose similar to Natarajar.  On the outer wall on the northern side is Brahma and on the east is Lingothbhavar and on the south beautiful idol of Dakshinamurthy blesses the devotees.  Yoga Dakshinamurthy is in a sitting pose with one leg folded. 

  

         

Navagraham and Dakshinamurthy

The Navagrahas are on the small petam.  Sani Bhagavan is taller than the other grahas.  Lord Ganesh and Hanuman too are in the shrine.  Bhairavar here near the Navagrahas is the tallest among the 12 temples connected with Mahamaham.  

         Brahma                                                                                                Bhairavar

                                               

A story connected with that of the temple is of Sudhaban, a brahmin from Kashmir.  A beautiful girl child was born to sudhaban and his wife Seelavathi and they named her as Sumathi.  Sumathi when she approached marriageable age, due to her karma, was inflicted by Leprosy.  The people around thus despised Sumathi and the parents were worried and prayed to Lord Siva fervently for the well being of their daughter.  Sage Naradha came in their dreams and told they had to go and take bath in Mahamahakulam during Masi Magam and pray Sree Abimukeswarar for the cure of the illness of Sumathi.   The couple did as told by Sage Naradha and Sumathi was cured of her illness.  That night, Lord Siva came in the dream of Sudhaban and told to conduct the marriage of Sumathi before him and live for sometime and they would reach Kailasa. 

The Sthala Vruksham of the temple is Gooseberry (நெல்லி மரம்).   Some of the festivals observed are:  Ten day festival during Masi Magam (Kumba Masa Maga Nakshatram), Golu and special poojas to Dakshinamurthy.   The Mahasamprokshanam of the temple was last conducted on 26th October 2015.

Temple Timings:

7 AM- 12 AM

4 PM-  8  PM

SREE KASI VISWANATHAR TEMPLE, KUMBAKONAM

SREE KASI VISWANATHAR TEMPLE, KUMBAKONAM

Sree Kasi Viswanathar temple is on the northern side of the Mahamaha Kulam (Tank) - around 2 kms from the Central Bus stand. Town Bus services and Mini Buses are available and the bus stop is known Mahamahakulam or Head Post Office.  The temple is 2 kms from the Kumbakonam Raiway station too and lot of autos are available from station.  Plenty of small vendors in front of the temple sell pooja requirements.

The temple is famous for the Nava Kannigas who bless the devotees - Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswathi, Narmada, Thungabhadra, Krishna, Sarayu and Cauvery.  Problems connected with puberty, delalyed marriage proposals and couple with no issues pray to the Navakannigas here.   The Navakannigas were not knowing how to shed the sins left by people who take a holy dip and they approached Lord Siva for solution.  Lord Siva advised them to be at Kumbakonam on Mahamaham Day and take a holy dip and bathe in the Mahamaham tank to cleanse themselves of the sins set on them.  On doing so and praying the Lord Kasi Viswanathar, the Nava Kannigas requested the lord to be present here itself to help the common people.  The Lord obliged and thus the temple has the Kasi viswanathar and also the Nava Kannigas blessing the common man.  Kasi viswanathar here faces West.    The lingam has been under a Neem Tree and that is the Sthala Vruksham.  Thirugnanansambanthar has praised the lord thus:

வாரார் கொங்கை மாதோர் பாக மாக வார்சடை
நீரார் கங்கை திங்கள் சூடி நெற்றி யொற்றைக்கண்
கூரார் மழுவொன் றேந்தி யற்தண் குழகன் குடமூக்கில்
காரார் கண்டத் தெண்டோள் எந்தை
காரா ணத்தாரே – திருஞானசம்பந்தர்
                                     Kasi Viswanathar - Visalakshi  Urchavar

Navakannigas worship in this temple is a speciality as indicated earlier.

                                                  Ganga             Yamuna               Narmada

                                               Saraswathi          Kaveri            Godavari

                                                Thungabadra       Krishna          Sarayu


The entrance Gopuram facing West in of 72 feet height and has 5 tiers.   There are 2 prakarams in the temple.  Sudais depicting Lord Siva taking the Navakannigas for holy dip in Mahamaha kulam are in the Gopuram.  Immediate on entrance to the temple, to our right is Lord Vinayaga.  Saptha Mathas and Navakannigais bless in this prakara.  Kasi Viswanathar faces west and consort Visalakshi faces South.     Bhairavar, Sun and Moon are in the outer prakara and the Linga installed and worshipped by Lord Rama.

The temple is connected with the period of Lord Rama.  Lord Rama wanted to get he qualities of a warrior and be ruthless while fighting Ravana.  As suggested by Sage Agasthiya, he prayed here to get Rudramasam.  As Rama got blessed to have the qualities of Aarokanam, the place acquired the name Karonam.  The Lingam worshipped by Lord Rama is on the outer prakaram on the northeast. 

                                          Lingam worshipped by Lord Rama

This being one of the twelve temples connected with the Kumbham of the Pralaya period and legend of Navakannigas and Lord Rama is a must for Darshan for a person on a pilgrimage to Kumbakonam.

Temple Timings:
6.00 AM - 12 Noon
4.00 PM - 8.30 PM