Ramanisblog

Tag: Temples of Shiva

  • No Cremation Ground Devotees Not Allowed Taliparamba Shiva

    Three is a Temple in Srivanchiyam where the Naivedya for Shiva is done after a corpse has been burnt in the Cremation ground in front of  the temple.

    Please read my post  on this ‘Where Corpses Burn’.

    Taliparamba Temple.jpg
    Taliparamba Temple.

    There is a Temple in Kerala where the Shiva Linga was ordered to be installed in a place where there is no cremation ground!

    The Rajarajeswara temple is in Taliparamba, Kerala.

    I would like hear from people from Taliparamaba where the cremation ground exists in Taliparamba.

    Another unique feature is that the Devotees are not allowed to offer Namaskara, Prostrations before the Deity, in the  Namaskara Mantapa, they are not allowed inside this Mantapa.

    The reason is that Lord Rama offered Namaskara to Shiva here and as a mark of respect to Lord Rama, this custom is followed.

     

    Legend.

    Taliparamba is among the 108 ancient Kerala temples dedicated to Shiva.

    Taliparamba is regarded as one of the ancient Shakti Peethams.

    The Shiva Linga here is believed to be several thousands of years old. Legend has it that Shiva gave three sacred Shiva Lingas to Parvati/Sati for worship.

    One sage, Maandhata propitiated Lord Shiva with intense prayers. Shiva was so pleased that he presented one of the Shiva Lingas to him with the injunction that it should be installed only at a place where there was no cremation ground. The sage, after searching all over, found Taliparamba the most sacred spot where he installed the Shiva Linga.

    After his death the Linga disappeared into the earth. Then his son Muchukunda offered similar prayers to Shiva and got a second Shiva Linga, which too disappeared in course of time. Centuries passed. The third Shiva Linga was handed down to Satasoman, a king of Mushaka/Kolathiri/Chirakkal Royal Family, who then ruled the region. He was an ardent devotee of Shiva. On the advice of sage Agastya, he prayed to Lord Siva, who granted him the Shiva Linga. The king installed it in the present temple built by him. However, many legends associated with the Temple, claim Agastya Himself as installing the ShivaLinga (which is believed as per those legends to be a ‘Jyothirlingam’).

    * We have Spatha Vidnaga Sthalas in Tamil Nadu, where the legend runs on similar lines.Rfer my Post on Sapthavidanga Sthalas

    It is believed that Sri Rama during his victorious return from Lanka stopped here to offer worship to Lord Shiva. In honor of His presence, devotees are not allowed into the namaskara mandapam even today.

    Lord Shiva worshiped in this sacred temple is known as Sree Rajarajeswara, which means the Emperor of Emperors — the Lord Supreme. The name signifies the supreme transcendental power in the background of mysterious drama of the boundless universe. That power is invoked here as Lord Rajarajeshwara. Devotees address the lord with such royal appellations as Perumthrikovilappan, Perum-chelloorappan and Thampuraan Perumthrikkovilappan.

    The Jyothirlingam in the shrine in vibrant with spiritual power that exerts an enriching influence both on the material and spiritual levels of the earnest devotees. The celebrated ancient sage Agasthya Maharishi is associated with the installation of the Jyothirlingam in the shrine.

    Temple Timings.

    Pooja / Prayer timings: The temple opens at 4 am and remains closed in the afternoon from 12 to 5.

    Wednesday, the day when the lingam was installed, is the most important day for prayer instead of Monday.

    Festivals: Shivratri, Puthari, a festival of the harvesting season; Karkadaka Sankramam (July) and Nira are some of the auspicious days celebrated in the temple with pomp and festivities.

    Codes and guidelines: Men are allowed to enter the shrine at any time, but woman are allowed only after 8 PM. Non Hindus are not allowed to enter the temple. Mundu is the dress code for men.

    Cloak room: One has to deposit their purse and other belongings in the cloak room outside. Photography is prohibited in the temple.

    How To Reach.

    By Air.

    Taliparamba111 km away

    Bajpe Airport (IXE), Mangalore, Karnataka

    Taliparamba100 km away

    Calicut International Airport (CCJ), Kozhikode, Kerala

    Train.

    Taliparamba does not have an train station. Nearest option is Kannapuram.

    Taliparamba9 km away

    Kannapuram (KPQ), Kannapuram, Kerala

    Taliparamba12 km away

    Payangadi (PAZ), Payangadi, Kerala

    By Bus.
    Available from major cities of India, especially in Kerala,

    Citation and Reference.

     

     http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajarajeshwara_Temple#Legends_and_history

     

  • Seven Shiva Vishnu Prayed Indra Deceived Saptha Vidanga Temples

    In North India we have the Pancha Kedar, five temples of Shiva in the Garhwal Region.

     

    In the south, there are seven Shiva Temples, which are to be seen in a day.

     

    These are called the Saptha Vidanga Sthala.

    Thyagarja Temple,Thiruvarur.jpg
    Thiruvarur Temple.Saptha Vidanga Sthala

     

    Vidanga means, ‘not chiseled’ Saptha, Seven.

     

    In these seven places one finds the Shiva Linga.

     

    Muchukunda Chakravarthi was a  Tamil king.

    Indra, the King of the Devas sought Muchukunda’s help in defeating the Asuras and was successful in defeating the Asuras.

    Indra was extremely grateful to the king.

    He offered the king a gift of his choice.

    Muchukunda,  asked for the lingam worshipped by Indra.

    Indra did not want to part with his precious lingam, but the king wouldn’t accept anything else.

    Indra decided on a deception, and showed Muchukunda seven lingams and asked him to choose the one he wanted.

    Muchukunda prayed to Shiva to identify the correct lingam.

    Shiva was pleased and helped him identify the original lingam prayed to by Indra.

    Indra was so impressed by this that he gifted all the seven lingams to the king.

    Muchukunda returned to earth with the seven lingams and installed them at various places in his kingdom.

    The original one he kept at the temple at Thiruvarur, and the others at Thirunallar, Vedaranyam, Thiruvaimur, Thrirukkaravasal, Thirukkuvalai and Nagapattinam.

     

    Normally, it is the top portion of the lingam – the ellipse which is believed to be swayambhu. The base – avudayar- is made by hand. In all these seven lingams, the whole lingam – the base as well as the top portion – form a single piece, and are believed to have appeared just the same way, without being made, and hence the name. All the seven lingams are of different sizes, though they are made of the same material – maragatham – or emerald. However, it looks more like Jade than emerald, as it is translucent. The biggest one is at Thirunallar, while the one at Thiruvarur is of medium size. However, it must be mentioned that these two are the only two of the original lingams left. I am not too sure of the originality of the 5 other lingams, because at 2 temples, we were told that the originals had been stolen ages ago, and the lingams presently there had been installed by saints in their place.

    In ll these temples the Navagrahas face the same direction unlike in the other temples where they face different directions.

     

    In some temples all of them are in a Single file, while in some others they are in the usual pattern of 3’s.

     

    These Navagrahas face the Lingam , in the former case.

     

    In these temples Somaskanda is the Utsava Murthy,Shiva and Parvati with Muruga in the centre.

    Main Deity is Thyagaraja.

    Post on Individual Sthala follows.

     

    Please read my post on Somaskanda

     

     

     

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