Thiru Vijayamangai

Visited Thiru Vijayamangai. There are two versions of where this temple is. One version is south of Kollidam near Adanur & Thiruvaikavur. Another is north of Kollidam. Appar Thevaram states this sthalam is Govindaputtur, which is north of Kollidam. You go west from Anakarai or Jayankondam or south from Ariyalur. Temple is badly in need of renovation.

Thevarams 1, 2

Photos

Piranmalai, Thirupattur, Thirukoshtiyur, Thirumayam, Sithannavasal, Kudumiyanmalai,

We have completed Kongu Nadu, Tondai Nadu and Nadu Nadu. We ventured into Pandi Nadu (as called in PPS) and Pandiya Nadu (as in DD). We visited Kodunkundram (Piranmalai), Thirupattur, Thirukoshtiyur and Thirumayam.

We started from Tiruchi at 6am, took the nice highway to Madurai. After about 70km, took a left turn at Pallapatti. After 7km in this scenic road is Piranmalai (Kodunkundram). Piranmalai is reportedly the place Pari gave his chariot to Mullaikodi. Sung in many place in Sangam (Pattupattu, Ettuthogai). Temple is on the foothills. The temple is at three levels - Kodunkundreesar, the Padal Petra Swamy and Ambal, is at the bottom. You climb a flight of steps, you reach the middle level, & the famous Bhairavar and Kasi Viswanathar sannidhis . Another flight of steps leads to Mangai Bhagar - Swamy & Ambal in Kalyana Kolam (not Linga sswaroopam). Temple is under the Kundrakudi Adheenam. Curiously, there area couple of inscriptions from 1970s eulogising Kalaignar, including his achievement of winning against Aryans.

Sambandar padigam. Photos

Kannan Bhattar 96556 70709

We left Piranlamai at 930 & reached Titupattur at 10 (30km). Temple is under renovation. Swamy was worshipped by Lakshmi & hence Thiruthalinathar, Tirupattur etc. Yoga Bhairavar draws many devotees. Legend is that Nagesh, oops, Darumi was a Sivacharyar in Tiruputtur and the Lord composed Kongu Ther Vazhkai for him to be honoured by the king. temple &

Sambandar, Appar padigams. Photos Temple phone 04577 322486. Piranmalai Kannan Bhattar's uncle is the Gurukkal.

Tirukoshtiyur is about 10km from Tirupattur. The place where Ramanujar broadcast Ashtaksharam for the benefit of mankind. There are four Perumals at four levels - at ground level - Krishnan (Koothadiya kolam), first floor- Sowmyanarayanan (Kidantha kolam), Ninra Perumal at third level & Paramapada Nathan (amarntha kolam) at fourth level). It is from the fourth level of the Ashtanga Vimanam, Ramanujar announced for the world the Ashtaksharam.

Vimanam Glold Plating project is on. London Madhava Bhattacharyar ( 97863 09300) is the chief priest. Commanding & demanding. Apparently, he got the title after visiting London. You cannot see him in his current avatar for a long time as he is going to America and you can only see him as America Madhava Bhattacharyar after this. Not sure if Perumals at 3rd & 4th level are worshipped everyday.

Photos

Reached Tirumayam at 1230. The temple is one of the olderst in Tamil Nadu, a Pallava construction. Perumal & Siva temples by the side of Tirumayam fort. Two perumals - Ninra Swamy & a huge Kidantha Perumal.

Photos

After lunch at Pudukottai, visited Sithannavasal (Rock cut caves & Paintings) and Kudumiyanmalai, famous for Pallava period Inscription on Music (now UNESCO World Heritage Monument).

Reached Trichy at 630.

Arakandanallur, Tirukovilur, Tiruvannamalai

We started from Chennai at 430am, took NH 45 to Villupuram, turned right to SH7 and reached Arakandanallur (near Tirukovilur) around 830. We later learnt that Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi also followed the same route to Tiruvannamalai - Arakandanallur, Tirukovilur & Tiruvannamalai. Further back, Sambandar got a darisanam of Tiruvannamalai from Arakandanallur and sang Thevaram on Tiruvannamalai from here.

Araiyaninallur temple, as called in the Thevaram, is built on a rock on the northern bank of Then Pennai. Tirukovilur temples (Padal Petra Sthalam & Divya Desam) are visible across the river. The temple has a huge Raja Gopuram on the southern side. Maintained well by Sri Ramanasramam. Atulyanatheswarar and Soundarya Kanakambikai rule here (Oppillamani Eswarar and Azhakiya Ponnammai). Gurukkal looks after many temples (when Sri Ramanar visited the same Gurukkal performed poojas at Arakandanallur and Tirukovilur (Kizhayur). Kasi Sivacharyar mobile no: 99651 44849. Pl call him before you reach the temple. Odhuvar sang the padigams beautifully in Karaharapriya and Senchurutti. Photos

Tirukovalur Veerattam is one of the eight sthalams Siva killed demons. Here, it was Anthakasuran. This is also the sthalam Avvaiyar sang Vinayakar Akaval and Periya Yanai Vinayakar lifted Avvai in His Thumbikkai and transported her to Kailasam before Sundarar in Vellai Yanai and Seraman Perumal Nayanar in Kudirai. This is also the city ruled by Meiporul Nayanar and the birthplace of Rajaraja Chola. Sivananda Valli and Viratteswarar. Sang by Appar and Sambandar. Photos Babu Sivacharyar 98426 23020, Ramesh Sivacharyar 94862 80030

Tirukovalur Divya Desam is in the centre of west town (Melaiyur). This is the place where Poigai Azwar, Bhoothath Azvar, Pey Azwar saw the Lord and started singing Divya Prabandar, one of two Nadu Nadu Divya Desam. There is huge Rajagopuram. Trivikarama Swamy and Dehaleesar are unimaginably beautiful.

Photos

Tiruvannamalai is 35km from Tirukovalur, road is good. Started from Tirukovalur at 10-45, reached Tiruvannamalai at 1130. The site has temple layout, would reccommend taking a print out.

Annamalaiyai ariyaar yaar? Apitakuchamba and Arunachaleswarar (Unnamulai and Annamalai) are showering worshippers with love and affectiion, truly moving experience. Photos. Ramesh Sivacharyar 94432 43225, 04175 223277.

Nadu Nadu

Last week, we did Vriddhachalam, Erukatham Puliyur, Srimushnam, Koodalaiyatrur, Pennagadam and Tirunelvayil Arathurai.

Started from Chennai at 430am. Had breakfast at Hiway In at Madurantakam. Reached Vriddhachalam at 9. Just as we entered, Ambal was being taken out on procession for Adi Pooram.

Vriddhacalam is where Sundarar got 12,000 gold coins from the Lord, dropped it in Manimutharu and retried it from Kamalalayam in Tiruvarur. He got the quality of gold checked by Matru Uraitha Vinayakar at Vriddhachalam & again at Tiruvarur. This is the sthalam to visit for prosperity.Bala SUndara Moorthi Sivacharyar - Mobile 98650 21498, Telephone 04143 230203

Erukatham Puliyur (called Rajendrapatnam) is 15km from Vriddhachalam, the place of Neelakanta Yazhpanar, the musician - Nanyanar. He travelled along with Sambandar and accompanied Sambandar in Yazh as he sang thevarams. Panns (Ragam) for Tirumurai that are currently in vogue are set by Erukatham Puliyur Padini (litereally the singer of Erukatham Puliyur), a descendant of Yazhpanar. A very imporant sthalam for the musically inclined. Seenu Sivacharyar - Mobile 94440 63806

Srimushnam is a swayam vakta sthalam, the kshetra that came about on its own. There are 8 of them, 4 in the south and 4 in the north. This is where the Lord took Varaha Avataram and destroyed Hiranyakshashan. A powerful temple to overcome enemies. Srimushnam is 7 km from E Puliyur.

Koodalaiyatrur (7km from Srimushnam) is where the Lord directed Sundarar to visit Vridhachalam after visiting Koodalaiyatrur. Swamy is called Neri Kattu Nathar. A visit to this sthalam will clarify your thinking and lead towards the right track. Krithivasa Sivacharyar - Mobile 97867 34652

Pannagadam (Pennadam is 18km from Vriddhachalam) is thw abode of Pralaya Kaaleswarar. This is where after Appar sang his thevaram, the Lord imprinted Rishabha & Soola mudrai on Appar's shoulders. This is the sthalam to visit to get out of immense (Pralaya like) difficuities in life. Janakiraman - Mobile 98656 68826

Tirunelvayil Arathurai is 10km from Pennadam. Sambandar was visiting temples and singing in praise of the Lord as a child. The Lord gave Sambandar Pearl Palanquin & Pearl UMbrella (Muthu Chivikai & Kudai) so that he can travel in ease. This is the sthalam to visit to get fame, recognition and andhasthu. Swaminatha Sivacharyar - Telephone: 04143 246303

Photos here

http://picasaweb.google.co.in/sriraman.seetha/

Nadu Nadu

We have doing a lot of trips and with Hari's poonal etc too busy to post. We have visited Nadu Nadu (Tirupadiripuliyur, Tiruchopuram,. Tiruthinai Nagar, Tirumanikuzhi, Tiruvadhigai, Tiruaamathur, Tiruthuraiyur, Tirunavalur, TiruNeivennai, Tiru Idaiyaru, Tiruvennainallur & Tirumundichuram), Tiruvahindrapuram (DD - Nadu nadu), Tiruchaththimutram, Tiruvalanchuzhi, Tiru Aadanur(DD), Pazalarai Vadathali, Then Kurangaduthurai, Tiruvavaduthurai, Tirukozhambam, Tiruvazundur, Tiruvizandur(DD), Tirukolakka, Tirukannarkoil, Tiruninriyur) Some of the photos uploaded http://picasaweb.google.co.in/sriraman.seetha

Kongu Nadu Sthalams

We visited Kongu Nadu Sthalams in February. There are seven sthalams, - no Divya Desams.

Reached Tirupur, our base, early in the morning by train. 

Travel plan:  Day 1: Tirupur - Karur - Venjamankudalur - Tiruchengode - Bhavani - Kodumudi - Tirupur. 

Day 2: Tirupur - Avinasi - Tirumurugan Poondi

Took a taxi to Karur. Karur was a capital of Chola Kings, was also the place of Karuvur Devar, Rajaraja Cholan's guru. Other capitals were Uraiyur, Thanjavur, Pazayarai, Tiruvarur and Poompuhar. Pasupatheeswarar has two consorts. Apparently, the original Ambal was buried during muslim invasion and could not be found. Another Ambal was installed. Then, the old Ambal was discovered and reinstalled again. Temple is huge, well maintained, reasonably patronised. We were refused permission to photograph. Sambandar padigam here.

Venjaman Koodalur was the next destination. This is about 15km from Karur. The temple was destroyed by floods in 50s  and rebuilt in 70s.  Sundarar has a padigam here. Temple is marketed as the one to go if marriage is delayed. 

Tondai Nattu Sthlams

We have been busy on Hari's poonal arrangements. Also tied up with loads of laziness to post!

We did a day trip to 7 sthalams - 4 Tondai Nadu & 2 Nadunadu, 1 newly discovered (in Tondainadu) - a personal high score for a day's visit. We started with Achirupakkam, then to Kiliyanur, Araseeli, Irumbai Makalam, Tiruvakkarai, Vadukur, and rounded off with Puravar Panankattur. 1, 3, 4 & 5 are Tondai Nadu sthalams, 2 is a newly discovered sthalam (along with Tiruvidaivai). 6 & 7 are in Nadunadu.

The family started at 6 in the morning, drove on NH45, had breakfast at Highway in at Madurantakam at 8 and reached Accharapakkam at 830. Swami started off in His ther to destroy Tripuram, and Pillayar broke the achchu of the ther here (Achcu + iRu+ Pakkam). Temple has a unique structure: 2 Swamy's, Atcheeswarar  is aligned to Dwajasthambam and the second Swamy  is aligned to Rajagopuram. The temple is reasonably big, has utsava vigrahams for all the nayanmars. The temple is well supported by local community - different communities - Vanniayars, Mudaliyars, Reddiyars, Brahmins - contributing to renovation of different parts of the temple- Rajagopuram, Swamy Vimanam, Ambal Vimanam, Tirukalyana Mandapam etc. Sankar Sivacharyar (Mobile: 98423 09534)  seems popular here.  Temple is reasonable patronised by devotees. Sung by Sambandar.

At Tindivanam, took NH66 towards Pondicherry. Killiyanur was the destination. Reached around 10. This is a later addtion to PPS. Sambandar Thevarams were  published in 1930s. After analysing many Kiliyanurs, some wise men concluded this was The Killiyanur. The temple is about a km from the main road. Located among paddy fields and a lake in serene green surroundings. Harihara Sivacharyar (Mobile: 99764 40754) lives nearby. He opened the temple for us. Apprently, the previous day was Pradosham and Agastheeswarar was all decked up when we went in. A serene atmosphere enveloped us. Ambal is Akhilandeswari and the Sivacharyar compared her to Tiruvanaikka Akhilandeswari. We sort of mumbled Akhilandeswari...

Next one was Araseeli, now called Ozhindiyapattu. Crossed the Thailapuram Thottam. Took a 2km deviation on left & reached Araseeli. The temple is being renovated. Single handedly by Pondy CM, said Kumar Sivacharyar (Phone: 04147 235472). Swamy was again decked up. Thevara Vazhipattu Mandram, Thanjavur travel to PPS and perform Abhisheka - Aradanais. Sivacharyar had just finished it and they had just left a few minutes back. He asked us to stand infront of Araseelinathar for a few minutes in silence and pray and left us alone. Those few minutes were overwhelming. 

Then it was Irumbai Makalam. The books described the temple as being disrepair, low on maintenance, etc etc. We were concerned that Hari's descendants are going to miss treasures like this.  When we reached the place, it was completely the opposite. The temple was amazingly renovated/ decorated, decent crowd etc. Sivacharyar (Mobile: 94434 65502) told us renovating was "asura velai and only asuras could do it". Apparently done by "Saraya Adhibar". We have never seen a temple like this - painting done using plant extracts all over the temple (Kerala style), complete ardha mandapam covered with brassworks (by a Kumbakonam artisan) etc.

Sivacharyar did archanai, singing in Sivaranjani. I appreciated him for his music. He went in, took his thalam and started singing Thevarams. The first one was Madarpidi Kanniyanai..., sung by Appar, at Tiruvaiyaru when Swamy gives him Kailasa Kaatchi. It was as if we are getting our Kailasa Kaatchi at Irumbai.  Were completely moved to tears. Sivacharyar treated us to a few more thevarams. Irumbai is one of the three Maha Kaleswarars (Ujjain and Ambar Makalam) being the other two. We were out of Irumbai by 12.

Tiruvakkarai was the next destination. This is on another Tindivanam - Pondy road, about 25km from Irumbai. Take SH136 to Tindivanam from Pondy and at Perumbakkam  turn left for another 7km. This is wrongly marked on Google maps as to be on the right had sind when travelling from Pondy to Tindivanam. Temple is huge. Being converted from a Sivan temple to Kali temple.  Swamy bhanam has faces carved on it, unusual for a Siva lingam. Temple is famous for Vakra Kali. Also has a Perumal sannidhi in the prakaram. Noisy, Crowded and dirty. Concrete constructions happening all over, temple is transmogrifying from large, airy, bright, calm one to claustrophobic, boxed in, dim, noisy one.

Retraced our path to Irumbai and further on to Auroville for a short visit and food.

Started from Auroville around 5pm on NH45A towards Vilupuram.  Vadukur (now called Thiru Andar Koil) was the destination, reached at 6pm. Temple is maintained by ASI. So, cant be renovated and can only be conserved. Resembles Tanjavur on a much smaller scale. Venkatesa Sivacharyar (Phone: 0413 264 1135) performs pujai here.

Proceeded to Puravar Panankattur. By now, it was 7 and dark. Ganesa Sivacharyar (Mobile: 94448 97861) was performing Pal Abhishekam. Fantastic in his diction and knowledge. Talked about the sthalam and thevaram etc.  The temple is on NH45C to Kumbakonam. If you have travelled to Kumbakonam by road, you must defintely have seen it.

It was tiring but wholesome trip when we reached home by 11 after dinner at Tambaram. 

Photos here