SREE VISWANATHAR TEMPLE, THEPPARAMANALLUR

SREE VISWANATHAR TEMPLE, THEPPERUMANALLUR

I could have darshan in this temple on 6th October 2019 evening.  I had engaged an auto from Kumbakonam and had darshan at this temple and also at Naganathaswamy (Raghu Sthalam) and Uppliappan temple and returned back to Kumbakonam.   Being in the remote village of Thepparamanallur, thought the temple will be closed earlly but there were devotees in number and the navarathri also was a reason for keeping the temple open.  Thepperumanallur is also known as Devarjapuram.  

                                                              Viswanathar

                                                            Vedantanayaki

                                                       Entrance to the temple

The main entrance to the temple is on the western side and behind the sanctum of the temple, that is the Lord is facing East.  The morning sunrays fall on the feet of the Lord. The Vinayagar is also behind the sanctum, known as Kabala Vinayagar wearing a kabalabelt.  His eyes are like humans and also the toes and fingers.  The Kabala belt would be visible during times of Abhishekam.  The sannidhi of Mahavishnu is on the northern Koshtam.  On the southern side of the temple is Dakshinamurthy, with no disciples and also seated on the Bull (காளை வாகனம்), known as Annathana Dakshinamurthy.  The earlier days of annam soaked in water (Pazhaiya soru - பழைய சோறு)  is offered as neivedhyam to the Dakshinamurthy. By the side of the Ambal sannidhi, there are two Bhairavars in a single sanctum, one known  as Santha Bhairavar who is short in stature and a Mahabhairavar of 5 1/2 ft.  Neraby sannidhi is where Sani bhagaven gives darshan.  In the Chandikeswarar sannidhi there are two chandikeswarars one larger facing South and another facing east.  Nearer to the Chandikeswarar is the Vishnu Durgai in the Koshtam, Prakara wall.  The eight handed Durga, Ashta Durga is behind the Ambal sannidhi in the North Koshtam. Lord Murugan is sannidhi also is on the Northern side.

During the Navarathri festival, the Mahavishnu takes his siter, the Ambal Vedantanayaki and offers gifts to her.  There is a Vishnu temple nearby and where this festival is conducted.

All the grahas in the Navagraha are facing towards the Sun and is nearer to the Dwajasthambam. 

Nandhi injured his left ear and the Lord blessed him that the those who express their grievances on the right ear would be blessed.

Annadhana Dakshinamurthy

    

Bhairavars

Everyone prays in this life for Moksha and not to be born again.   This temple's Sree Viswanathaswamy blesses for that.   The Ambal here is known as Vedantanayaki and is facing North.   It is said that only those who have no rebirth can enter the temple.  The legend has it that Sage Agasthiyar wanted to have darshan here and the Lord prevented him as Agasthya had rebirth.   The lord asked Maharantha Rishi to prevent Sage Agasthiya reaching this place and the Rishi took the form of Maharantha flowers and blocked Agasthya.  The sage understood from his Gnanathrishti that Maharantha flowers were the Maharantha rishi blocking him and requested the rishi to give way as he would have darshan of the Lord Viswanathar.  The Rishi did not accede to the request and Agasthya cursed him to have the face of Yazhi.   When the Maharishi told that the Lord wanted him to prevent Agasthya as he was having rebirth and requested to tell him the way out from the curse.  Sage told him to pray with a substance which no one else would do to the Lord to get back the normal face.  The Rishi with the Yazhi face prayed with the Rudraksha of single face to 14 faced rudraksha and the Lord appeared before the Rishi and he came out of the curse and got his normal face. 

The Lord is given a Rudraksha kavacha consisting 22000 rudrakshas covering the entire lingam including the base on days of Pradhosham, Monthly Sivarathri and Mahasivarathri.  The temple Gurukkal also gives a single Rudraksha to be placed in vibuthi and to pray with vibuthi, which is not expected to be worn by us or adorned to the Lord in the house or temples.

This is a very old temple and it is said that the sanctum is built with limestones and honey.  The temple maintains a very good garden with bilva leaves of different types - cluster of vilvas consisting of 3, 5 etc.,, 

Temple Timings:
06.00 AM - 12.00 Noon
04.00 PM -  08.00 PM

SREE UMAMAHESWARAR KONERIRAJAPURAM NEAR KUMBAKONAM

SREE UMAMAHESWARAR KONERIRAJAPURAM NEAR KUMBAKONAM

Sree Umamaheswarar temple in Konerirajapuram is famous for its Natrajar Panchaloga idol (ஐம்பொன்) and this is the biggest idol of that type.   The idol also represents one of the Kalyana Kolams and this appears to be the one for Panigrahanam where the Lord, main deity Sree Umamaheswarar faces West as we enter the inner praharam and the goddess Arulvalanayaki faces east in a separate sanndhi with an entrance from the outer prahara.

I went to the temple at 8.10 am itself on 6th October 2019  and I was told by some of the employees there who were cleaning the premises, that the Gurukkal will arrive only at 9 AM, and he comes from Thiruneelakkudi.  The yongster Bharanidharan did arrive at 9 AM and was very helpful in asking those who had assembled whether they would like to see the Abhishekam and was also explaining the thala purana.  His younger brother is the one performing pooja in the Ambal and Vaitheeswaran sannidhi.

In the inner prahara is a major mandapam in which deities have been arranged along the walls of east, west, north and south.   Immediate as you enter, to the left is the Lingam, Valli Devayanai sametha Subrmanyar and Lakshmi on a raised platform facing east and adjacent is the sannidhi as an enclosure, the Panchaloga Natarajar and consort facing South give Dharshan.  The outer walls of the Umamaheswarar sannidhi and eastern part of the prahara facing west is Saneeswarar, Durgai, Bhairavar and Surian.    On the Southern walls of the inner prahara are the 3 paintings of Goddess as Mahishasuramardhini and kali.  Adjacent to the paintings and facing east is the Lingam prayed by navagrahas and navagrahas.   Sani Bhagavan is facing West here and the colour of the cloth adorned by him here is white and not black.  Nalan and Damayanti worshipped him here before going to the Thirunallar.

At the centre of Inner prahara is the entrance leading the main deity sree Umamaheswarar which is a gigantic linga.  He is also known as Sree Mamani Easwarar and Sree Bhoominathar.   He is around 4 1/2 feet in height.

Cheranmadevi the Queen of Kandarathithan Chola and grandmother of Rajaraja Chola  built this temple.  She replaced the temple built with bricks with granite.  As for the Nataraja idol, Legend has it that King Varaguna Pandian wanted to make a huge Natarja Idol and he asked his sthapathy to do it with a time frame.    Though the sthapathi tried to do his best, he could not a make an idol with the required height and he failed in many attempts and was frustrated.  He prayed to Lord Siva to help him complete the required vigraha and within the time specified by the King, as the King had told that he would be beheaded if he did not complete the idol.   Lord Siva and Goddess Parvathi disguised as an old couple, came to the Sthapathi and asked for water to drink.   In frustration, the Sthapathi asked the couple to drink the molten metal meant for the idol.  The couple did drink the molten metal and became the Nataraja idol of 7 1/2 feet with excellent features.  When the King was told, he did not believe the Sthapathy and banged the idol with his sword and blood started coming out from the place where the King had hit.  King prayed the Lord for forgiveness.  

Ashtadikpalakas worshipped here and they have a place in the Vimana of the temple
Ambal here facing east is known by the name Angavalanayaki, Thegasoundari and Mangalanayaki.

King Pururavan who was affected by Leprosy prayed here for cure and god in the form of Lord Vaithyanathar blessed him and he got cured.  The Vaithyanathar Sannidhi is in the outer prakaram.  The prayers of King Pururava is as in the slab on the wall of the temple is given below:

There is one more slab also in the temple wall about the stothram on the Lord of this temple by Bhoodevi.

It was navarathri time and there was Golu in the temple in the sannidhi of the Goddess Angavalanayaki.

Entrance to temple and one of the views of the temple from inside as seen from outer prakara:

There are two paintings on the entrance wall of the temple, one depicting the British Officials being invited, reasons not known and the other as told by the temple authorities is on the story of Poonthottam.  I had taken the photos of them.

Thirugnanasambandar (திருஞானசம்பந்தர்) sang on this temple and one of the pathigam is given below:

கல்லால் நிழல் மேய கறைசேர் கண்டா என்று
எல்லா மொழியாலும் இமையோர் தொழுது ஏத்த
வில்லால் அரண் மூன்றும் வெந்து விழவெய்த
நல்லான் நமை ஆள்வான் நல்லம் நகரானே

Reaching the place is a little difficult as one has to be take a turn from Pudur into narrow lanes.  But it is easier to know one has to follow the Vadamattam route from Pudur.

Temple timings:

06.30 AM - 12.00 Noon 

04.30 PM - 08.30 PM.

(As mentioned the Gurukkal who resides in Thiruneelakkudi arrived at 9 am only when I had darshan).

Temple Address

Sri Uma Maheswarar Swamy Temple,
Thirunallam (Konerirajapuram),
Mayiladuthurai Taluk,
Nagapattinam District,
Tamil Nadu – 612201.
Tele: +91 94865 10515, 435-2449830 and 2449800.