14 January 2010

Pandiya Nadu 1

Between 26 Dec and 2 Jan, we covered Pandia Nadu Padal Petra Sthalams & Divya Desams.

We started from Chennai on 25 Night & landed in Karaikudi next morning. We took a cab for the entire trip and started at six in the morning on 26th.

We covered Kalayarkovil, Thiruvadanai, Thirupunavasal and Thirupullani and reached Rameswaram for the night. We also saw Avudaiyarkovil & Uttarakosamangai, sung by Manikavachakar and not part of PPS.

Thirukanaper
Our first stop was Kalayarkovil, called Thirukanaper.  Kalayarkovil is 40km from Karaikudi & can be reached in an hour. The temple is unique - has three Swamys & three Ambals, in effect, three in one temple. The Swamy at the centre, Kaleeswarar is the Padal Petra Swamy.  Curiously, the huge Raja Gopuram, built by Marudhu Brothers, is for Someswarar, on the Southern side and Kaleeswarar Sannidhi has a smaller Gopuram. We reached the temple around 7am. As we entered, Thiruvembavai festival was being celebrated. Thiruvembavai was sung, and Manikkavachakar taken round the prakaram.

Legend is that Marudhu Bros were hiding & The British  said they would demolish the Gopuram if the Bros did not come out of the hiding. The Bros came out of the hiding and were executed. There are statues of King & the commanders, the Marudhu Bros. Aside story is the film Subramaniapuram has scenes filmed in the temple. Kaleeswara Sivacharyar 04575 232 516

Thiruvadanai
Thiruvadanai is 40km from Kalayarkovil. We reached by 9am. The Gopuram is again tall, huge temple, we were perhaps the only sevarthis. Gurukkal said during marriage seasons, there will be 100 weddings happening simultaneously. Lot of greenery in the temple, Ambal sannidhi was like another temple altogether. Pandia Nadu temples are huge, and neatly maintained. Ravi Sivam 94431 64348, 04561 254 438

Thirupunavayil
Thirupunavasal is 20kom from Thiruvadanai. We reached around 11. The temple is an amalgam of Pandia and Chola architecture - Rajagupuram like Pandiyas and Swami vimanam like Cholas. Swamy is huge, reportedly fourth biggest lingam after Thanjavur, Gaigaikonda Cholapuram and Tiruchi Thayumanavar. We were surprised to find two feet of water flooding the prakaram. Apparently, it rained heavily the previous week and Gurukkal was trying to pump water out with diesel pumps. Legend is that there are vigrahas of all the 14 Pandia Nadu PPS temple Swamys and Ambals and 63 nayanmars buried somewhere in the temple. There is also a shrine for Gram Devatai, you cannot see directly but only indirectly the reflection in a mirror. 04371 239 202, 04371 239 212.

Avudaiyarkovil
Next on the itinerary was Avudaiyarkovil. We reached around 1230. It is that great place where Swamy was waiting for years under Kurundamaram to 'ATKOL' Thiruvadavurar who became Manikkavachakar. Thiruvadavurar was a minister with the title Thennavan Brahmarayan under Pandia King (disputed: Arimardhana Pandiyan or Varaguna Pandian) and was the cause of Thiruvilayadal, "Nariyai Pariakkiyadhu'. Thiruvachakam and Thirukovaiyar are the 8th Thirumurai.   Thiruperundurai temple was built by Manikavachakar & does not follow many of the regular customs. Pujai is performed by Nambiyars (no connection to Nambiyars of Kerala). There are 301 Nambiyars, with 300 people and Athmanatha Swamy. This is very similar to 3000 Tillai Dikshitars. The temple is a work of art and passion. So beautiful and so moving. All the temple utsavams are to Manikkavachakar and not to the Swamy. There are no idols of Swamy and Ambal - they are in 'Aroopam'. Fortunate to visit during the Thiruvembavai festival. Atmanatha Nambiyar - 97877 37317.

Uttarakosamangai
Uttarakosamangai was out next stop, about 100km from Avudayarkovil. We reached around 330pm. This is again Manikavachakar territory. Most of his works are on Thiruperundurai or Uttarakosamangai. The temple is also famous for Maragada Nataraja, a huge statue Nataraja, made of Emerald. This under Sandana Kappu through out the year. This is removed on the Thiruvadhirai day and after abhisekams, reapplied on the same day. This is again a temple of magnificence. Mangaleswara Sivacharyar 04564 229 354.

Thirupullani
We reached Thirupullani, Divya Desam, 20km from Uttarakosamangai. Adhi Jagannatha Perumal is the main Perumal. Darbhasayana Ramar is special here - before building the Sethu, Ramar slept here on a bed of Darbhai. Muthuswamy Dikshitar's composition in Narayana Gowlai, Sri Ramam is a soothing to listen to.  Jayarama Bhattar 04567 254249. We left Thirupullani by 6pm and reached Rameswaram, 70km from here, for stay.

09 January 2010

2009 Yatrais

Wish you a happy new year!

2009 was a very good year for us - we completed our yatrai of Padal Petra Sthalams & Divya Desams in Tondai Nadu, Nadu Nadu, Kongu Nadu, Malai Nadu and Pandia Nadu. We now have Vada Nadu, Eela Nadu (Ilangai) and Tuluva Nadu (Gokarnam) pending, of course lots in Chola Nadu. We hope to make good progress this year.

We completed Pandia Nadu yatrai in the last week of 2009. You will soon see a blog about this.