Ramanisblog

Tag: Temples of Tamil Nadu

  • Ruby Shiva Embraces Vishnu accompanies Shiva Nagappattinam

    I have noticed a few things as I traveled south from Tiruchi through the coastal belt of the bay of Bengal on Tamil Nadu.
    image

    1.The perceived difference between Shiva and Vishnu is replaced it one of amity and Vishnu and Shiva mix together!

    2.The sages of the north seem to have a preference to go deep down to south to worship Deities.

    3. The Goddesses, specifically the spouses of Vishn and Shiva gain more prominence than Vishnu and Shiva, as in Thiruvellarai and in Thirukkadavur.

    These have historical significance and i shall be writing on this.

    Near the tip of the eastern coast of India is Nagappatinam.

    It is also called as Thirukkaaronam.

    It means that instead of the individual soul merging with the Universal Soul, the Universal soul descends and merges with the Individual Soul.

    The Kaayarohanar Temple of Shiva demonstrates this.

    Lord Shiva embraced His devotee here.

     

    Sage Pundarika as advised by Sage Kanwa performed penance on Lord Shiva seeking salvation.  Granting His darshan, Lord embraced the sage and granted salvation.  As a rule, the soul merges with the Lord attaining salvation.  But in this case Lord embraced with the body (Kayam in Tamil) with that of Sage (Aaroganam). Hence Lord is named Kaya (body) Aarogana (embracing) Easwarar-Lord – Kayaroganeswarar.

     

    King of serpents prayed to Lord and got a girl child.  It had three breasts in birth itself.  The king was sad to see this abnormality.  Lord Shiva assured the king that one breast will disappear when a king of Surya dynasty visited his place.  When king Shalisuhan came there, one breast of the girl disappeared.  Happy Naga king gave his daughter to Shalisuhan in marriage.  As Naga king worshipped here, the place came to be known as Nagai Karonam. Now it is Nagapattinam.’

    Vishnu meets and travels with Shiva.

    ‘

    During festival procession, Lord goes round the Mada Veedhis (Streets) and return to the temple.  But Lord beginning his procession from this temple, goes to seven places – Poigainallur, Poravacherry, Sikkal, Palur, Vadagudi, Thethi and Nagoor.  Maharaja Salija worshipped Lord Shiva and performed puja in these seven places.  The present system is to remember this history.

    Nagappatinam is one of the Saptha Vidanga sthalas.

    Please read my article on Satha Vidanga Sthalas.

    As a Saptha Vidanga Sthala one finds a Ruby Shiva Linga in addition to a self formed Shiva Linga.

     

    Against the practice of Lord coming in the Vrushab vahan on Pradosham days, Lord Vishnu too accompanies Lord Shiva in the guise of Mohini.  When the milk ocean was churned, Nectar came out and was served by Lord Vishnu to Devas.  Devas failed to pray to Lord Shiva who swallowed the Halahala poison to save the world.  Realizing their folly, they begged the pardon of the Lord.  Showing His mercy to them, Lord Shiva danced on Nandhi.  This dance took place at the Pradosham time.  Lord Vishnu’s Mohini Avtar took place a little before this time.  This Vishnu darshan is available to the devotees on Pradosham day only.

     

    Emperor Dasaratha came to know that Planet Saturn would be splitting the Rohini star causing severe famine in his country.  He planned to fight Saturn to prevent him from doing so.  Sun God advised Dasaratha to drop his plan but to beg Saturn to change his transit route in public interest.  Saturn also admired the earlier plan of the emperor to meet him in war for the sake of his subjects without any selfish motive personally. The planet yielded to the emperor’s wish.  Remembering this event, all the planets (Navagrahas) in the temple are facing west-the Lord.

    Other special features.

    The eyes of Mother Ambica is blue in colour as sea showing Her mercy as vast and deep as sea.  Hence, named Neelayadakshi-blue eyed.  She is also Karundhadanganni.  She has Her own shrine with a flag post-Kodi Maram. Ambica graces as a virgin.  Aadi Pooram is very grandly celebrated in the temple.  Her shrine is designed as a Rath.  On the festival day, Mother comes in procession in a Rath made purely in crockeryware.

     

    As Ambica is a virgin, Lord sent Nandhi Deva to be Her guard.  But Nandhi expressed his wish to be with Lord for ever seeing Him.  Lord said that he can have His darshan though with Ambica. Nandhi in the temple is seen with its neck turned towards Lord with one eye on Ambica and other on the Lord. Hence, the Nandhi is known as Twin View Nandhi (Irattai Parvai in Tamil). Those having vision problems pray to this Nandhi.

     

    Generally, temples are closed if a death occurs in a nearby place.  In this place, the garlands and the clothes – vastras used for the Lord is placed on corpse.  A fisherman, Adhipathar attained salvation with the grace of Lord Shiva in this place.  Remembering this event, as a mark of respect to the community, this practice is followed in this temple. The body is placed before the temple without closing the doors.  The garland and the vastras used for the Lord are placed on the body.

    Moolavar. Kaayaroganrswar.
    CONSORT. Neelayadakshi.
    Ganesha Subrahmanya Thiagaraja present.
    Nagappatinam is around 2 hours drive from Myiladuthurai. .
    Buses available from all district head quarters.
    AIRPORT. Thiruchirapalli, Pudhucherry.
    Among many other places to visit in Tamil Nadu,Nagapattinam is the one that must not be skipped.Nagapattinam is well connected to other major cities of the country via regular buses.There are regular trains from other major cities of the country to Nagapattinam.Instead of Nagapattinam you can a get flight to Civil Airport on regular basis.

  • Kumbakonam Panchakrosha Shiva Temples

    I have written on Two Panchakrosha Temples of Lord Shiva, Varanasi and around Tirunelveli ,Tamil Nadu,India

    There are two more such group of temples,each group consisting of Five Shiva temples, which are located in about 6.5 Km or five miles (Panchakrosha) and are endowed with the Immanent presence of Lord Shiva in both animate and inanimate beings.

    Visiting them on the same day brings in the blessings of the ancestors (Pitrus0 and Prosperity.

    Mahalinga swamy Tiruvidaimaruthur
    Mahalingam, Thiruvidaimaruthur

     

    They are.

    Ujjain and

    around Kumbakonam ,Tamil Nadu.

    The Panchakrosha Temples around Kumakonam are,

    Swamimalai,

    Thirunageswaram.

    Karuppur,

    Darasuram and

    Thiruvidaimaruthur.

     

    1.Swamymalai.

    Thiruverakam, popularly known as “Swamimalai” is located at a distance eight kilometers from Kumbakonam in Thanjavur district on the northern banks of the river Cauvery. It is one of the six famous abodes (Arupadaiveedu) dedicated to Lord Muruga (also spelt Murugan). Lord Muruga preached Pranava mantra “ OM ” to Lord shiva and that why he is called “Swaminathan”.

    The temple is built on an artificial hill and is reached by a flight of steps. It is believed that the sixty steps of the temple ascending to the sanctum sanctorum represent the sixty months of the ancient Tamil calendar. Lord Shiva enshrined at the foot of the hillock is known as “sundaresar” and the Devi is known as “Meenakshi”.

    Temple Timings.

    5 to 12 Noon and 4 to 10 pm

    2.Thirunageswaram.

    Sri Naganathaswamy Temple or Rahu Sthalam is one of the 9 Navagraha Temples in Tamil Nadu and is associated toLord Rahu (Raaghu Bhagvan).

    It is 7 km east of Kumbakonam on the Kumbakonam – Nannilam Road, in Thanjavur District, Tamilnadu.

    The main presiding deity of Thirunageswaram Rahu Temple is Lord Naganathaswamy (Lord Shiva)

    Consort Giri Gujambika (Goddess Parvathi) who is enshrined with Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Saraswati by Her side.

    Rahu Bhagavan is seen with his two consorts Nagavalli and Nagakanni.

    Here Lord Shiva was worshipped by Rahu (Raghu) and got relived of a curse.

    A unique feature of Naganatha Swamy temple is that Lord Rahu is seen with human face. While in other places, Lord Raaghu is worshipped with a serpent face.

    Milk turns blue when Abhisheka is performed.

    3.Karuppur.

    Koranattu Karuppur Shiva temple and Petti Kali amman

    Location: 3 kms from Kumbakonam in the Chennai highway
    Main deity:     Sundareswarar with Abhirami ammai

    Significances:
    A big box, containing a beautiful half portion (hip to head) wooden image of the Goddess Kali, now being called Petti kali amman, with eight hands which was floating on the river Cauvery, drifted ashore here. She is kept in the temple and being worshipped. The box is opened only once in a year with all rituals.

    4.Darasuram.

    Location:  Darasuram near Kumbakonam,Tamil Nadu
    Built in: 12th Century
    Built By:  Raja Chola the second
    Completed By : Pandya Rulers
    Dedicated to: Lord Shiva,Airavateshwara
    Entry:Free
    Photography: Allowed.
    Temple Timing: 6:00 Am to 10 Pm
    Best time to Visit: all time
    Nearest Railway Station: Kumbakonam
    Nearest Air Port: Trichy.

    5.Thiruvidaimaruthur.

    Thiruvidamaruthur , A Saivite Kshetra, is located  8Km  from Kumbakonam and about forty minutes drive from Myladuthurai.

    The Temple is dedicated to Lord Mahalingam,Siva in Linga Form.

    It is one of the Panchakrosha Sthalas. The Ammbal Shrine is one of the Sakthi Bheetas. Chakkara Maha Meru is installed here.

    Temple Timings.

    6 to 12 Noon and

    4 to 9 PM.

    I have written in detail about Thiruvidaimaruthur.

    I shall be writing in detail about each of these temples.

    • There are variations to this list of Panchakrosha Sthalams.

    Citation and reference.

    https://shanthiraju.wordpress.com/around-kumbakonam-2/

    Related.

    https://ramanisblog.in/2014/10/28/invisible-rama-kills-visible-vaali-enacted-in-sculpture/

    https://ramanisblog.in/2012/09/01/thiruvidaimaruthur-mahalingam-and-brahmahathi/

     

     

     

  • Panchakrosha Shiva Temples Tirunelveli

    I have written on the Panchakrosha Kshetras in Varanasi.

    The Panchakrosha Kshetras are those where Lord Shiva is present in His Full Glory in all thins, both animate and Inanimate( Chetana and Achetana)

    Traversing and worshiping these places in a single day brings auspiciousness and the blessings of the Pitrus,ancestors.

    235_4
    Shiva Linga Thiruppudai Maruthur

    One Krosha is 1.3 miles(appx)  and the Pancha(Five) krosha Temples are situated with in  6.5 miles( Five Kroshas)

    There are Four locations in India, where the Pancha Krosha temples are found.

    Varanasi(Kasi),

    Ujjain,

    Tirunelveli,

    and

    Kumbakonam,

    Near Tirunelnveli.

    Papanasam,

    Azhwar Kurichi,

    Siva Sailam,

    Kadayam and

    Thiruppudai Marudhur.

    Papanasam.

    It is located 60 km from Tirunelveli.

    The Papanasanathar Temple the famous shrine in Papanasam which lies in the bank of Thambaraparani river where the main deity is Lord Shiva in the name of Papanasar (Destroyer of Sins).

    The name of the Goddess is Lord Loganayaki who is also known as Ulagambigai.

    This Papanasar temple is first among the NavaKailayams where the Navagraha known for this temple is Surya (The Sun). Papanasar is mainly known for his healing powers where he seems to be the medicine for any diseases in the world. He has the power to cure any diseases for his disciples who really have the love and affection on him.

    The temple is famous for its Chittirai Peruvila where the Urchavam used to happen for 13 days. This is in memory of Saint Agasthiyar where he got the Kalyana Dharshan of Lord Shiva and Parvathy in RishabaVahana along with his wife Ulobamuthirai.

    The body of Lord Papanasar is wholly and naturally made of Rudraksha who is also known as Rudrakshanathar. The old name of Papanasar is VairajaLingam.

    The temple is open from 6am – 1 pm and 4-8:30 pm on all days except during festival days when it is open the full day. Six daily rituals and three yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the Brahmotsavam festival during the Tamil months of Chittirai (April – May) and Thaipoosam during Thai (January – February) being the most prominent.

    2. Azhwarkurichi.

    Nearest Railway Station: Tirunelveli
    By Road: Alwarkurichi is very close to Ambasamudram and about 35 kms from Tirunelveli and 25 kms from Tenkasi. Buses going from Tirunelveli to Tenkasi via Ambasamudram stop at Alwarkurichi.

    Moovar.Vanniappar.

    Goddess.Sivakama Sundari

    Temple Timings:

    To facilitate those devotees coming from different parts of Tamilnadu and Kerala by various means of transport, the temple is open from 7 am in the morning till 7 pm at night. It is better to visit the temple during the day because electricity is not available in the evenings and it is a little difficult to enjoy the beautiful treasures of the temple in the dark.

    Contact Details:

    Narayana Bhattar: 97904 01895
    Meenakshinathan  96599 66003

    3.Sivasailam.

    God : Sri Sivasailanathar, Sri Sailanatha Swamy , Sri Athreeswarar

    Goddess : Sri Paramakalyani Ambal

    Location :Sivasailam near Alwarkurichi, Tirunelveli District,Tamil Nadu.

    Temple Timings 7 AM to 12:30 PM and 5 to 8 PM.

    4.Kadayam

    is about 20 kms from Tenkasi , about 16 kms from Ambasamudram and about 45 kms from Tirunelveli

    Vilvavananathar.

    Nithya Kalyani.

    Morning – 7.00 a.m. to 12.00 Noon.

    Evening – 5.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.

    5.Thiruppudai Marudhur. ( 15 Km from Tirunelveli)

    Narumbunathat.

    Gomathi Amman.

    Temple timings.

    5 AM to 11 AM

    4 PM to 8 PM.

    I shall be writing in detail about each of these temples.

    Image Credit.

    http://www.tourismeveryone.com/India-Tamil_Nadu-Tirunelveli-Thirupudaimaruthur_Temple

  • PIN Comes Through Curved Bow Micro Drilling Krishnapuram

    The technology the ancient Indians have adopted to build temples makes one wonder whether they were more advanced or we are!I

    I am inclined to vote for the former.

    krishnapuram-temple
    Sculpture ,Krishnapuram,Tamil Nadu,India

    The archaeological evidence being unearthed about ancient ruins throughout the world clearly proves that the ancients were not primitive and less knowledgeable than we are.

    I have authentic information that our present rendering history of the world is distorted if not an out right lie.

    I shall be writing with evidence found from around the world that there was no Stone Age as described now at the periods suggested.

    I have written about the Temples of India , some of them over 5000 years old, which had used advanced modern technology and astronomy concepts.

    There is a temple at Krishnapuram, Tamil Nadu where astounding scuptures that

    are life size over five and a half feet,

    Nerves are seen in the human forms,

    All these sculptures were made from a single Granite stone,

    In one statue, a leg, extended into air is two and a half feet , it projects from the torso and this sculpture is also made of single stone.

    In the statue of Manmatha (God of Love) , a Bow of Sugar Cane, which is his weapon is found.

    The bow, with its curved structure stands about five feet tall.

    If one drops a Pin in the hole at the top of the bow, it comes out at the bottom!

    In the Statute of Rathi, consort of Manmatha, one can find her cheeks puffed up swallowing Thamboola!

    There are 42 such statutes in one hall alone.

    One of the pillars represents the story of the adventure of Bhimasena with Purushamrigam. To fulfill the ritual at an important yaga, Yudhishthira required the milk of Purushamrigam, a half-man, half-beast denizen of the forests, this creature is a devoted Shiva bhakta and Bhimasena achieved his purpose when it was in deep penance. But it’s highly developed mental faculties found out the desecration committed by Bhima and it gave an angry chase.

    Lord Krishna, without whom Pandavas would have been nothing, handed Bhima three stones, each of which was cast by him one after another. At each stone, a Shiva shrine sprang up and consequently Purushamrigam, being a sensitive Shiva bhakta, paused to offer worship to Lord Shiva and was consequently delayed in the pursuit of Bhima.

    In spite of these efforts, the Pandava prince was captured when, with one foot already out of the forest, he was about to reach civilization again. Bhima could not escape the powerful grip of Purushamrigam and they both entered into an argument of jurisdiction and Purushamrigam, oddly enough consented to an arbitration of the dispute by Yudhishthira.

    The latter took the responsibility for the whole act, granted the creature’s right to act as it pleased in the forest region, and offered half his body in lieu of that part of Bhima’s which was within the jungle when he was caught. Deeply touched by the devotion of Yudhishthira to Dharma, Purushamrigam freed Bhima and changed its cannibal.

     

    How to reach.

    Krishnapuram is 11 Kms from Tirunelveli, 40 from Thoothukudi and 47 from Tiruchendur.

    Convenient lodges are available in Palayamkottai, the charges quite reasonable from Rs. 100 to Rs. 250.

    Bus conveniences are comfortably available from Tirunelveli ,

    Nearest railway stations are Seithinganallur and Tirunelveli. Airport Thiruvananthapuram and Madurai.

    Perumal :     Venkatachalapathi ( Main Deity)
    Mother Goddess :    Padmavathi
    Procession deity :    Srivasar
    Holy tree:     Punnai
    Holy spring :    Teppakulam
    Speciality :     Sculpture
    Place:      Krishnapuram
    Scriptural name:      Parpakulam
    District:      Tirunelveli

    The temple is reported to have been built in the 11th Century AD.

     

  • Micro Drilling Technology Less Than 3 mm Thanjavur Temple

    The wonders of ancient Indian architecture is awe inspiring.

    Temples built aligned to solstices,shadows falling on the Idols here there is no source for light to peep in,idols changing colors,holes drilled, in the ears of the idol’s ears, coming out through the other ear,temples built at slanted angles……..

    I have written on these and on the Thanjavur Big Temple built in 1010 AD with Granite where there was/is no mountain nearby.

    Tanjore Big Temple.image.jpg
    Thanjavur Big Temple

    I have written on the logistics involved in building it.

    I have written on the Micro Drilling Technology in Mahabalipuram,Tamil Nadu.

    If a Pallava King, Narasimhavarma could do it why not Rajaraja Chola, who built the Thanjavur Big Temple?

    I found that Micro Drilling Technology was used in the construction of Thanjavur Big Temple to carve out a hole less than 3 mm!

    “This is the Thanjavur Brahadeeswarar temple in India which was built between 1004 and 1009 A.D. So it was built over a 1000 years ago. Found some amazing drilling technology with precision holes less than 3 millimeters wide. These holes are so small that nobody has noticed them and has been a secret for 1000 years.

    These rocks look like mere decoration, but if you look closely, there are very small holes cut into them. I will put a small twig to show you how small the hole is. I tried to put my pen through the hole and it would not go through.

    Another fascinating thing about these holes is that it is not even straight drilling, but is done at an angle. I put the twig on top and it comes out almost at a right angle.

    The temple walls are completely made of granite, one of the hardest materials on earth. In modern days, we use diamond tipped tools to make these kind of holes. How did the people carve such minute holes on these granite rocks a thousand years ago?

    This technology is older than other ancient cultures like Mayas and Incas. The hole is also much smaller than any other ancient drills I have seen. It is also interesting to think about What were these holes used for? Whatever went inside must have been very thin and flexible because of the size and angle. Why would they need such minute holes anyway?

    Citation and reference.