God of planet Jupiter -Someshwarar Temple

                                                   Someshwarar Temple Kumbakonam

This temple is known as Kudanthai Karonam and located near Potramarai Kulam. The Sikkam (threads) around the Amirthakalasam (the nectar pot) fallen here and took a shape of Linga and hence known as Sikkeshwarar. Once Chandran (Moon god) due to Guru's (Brahaspathi) curse arrived Kumbakonam and worshipped the Lord Shiva Sikkeshwarar, he created a holy water source for the worship, this tank was known as Chandrapushkarani (does not exist now). Thirumalanavar worshipped Somanathar and received the boon to get victory over Asuras. He also built a shrine for Maleeswarar (a Linga) and Mangala Nayagi amman.

Paranthaka Chola king constructed a shrine for Choleeswara and Tripurasundari amman for wanted of a child. One among the Navagraha - Guru (God of planet Jupiter) worshipped the main deity Someshwarar and hence the Lingam is also known as Vyazha Someshwarar (Guru's Sikkeshwarar). Shivagami and Nataraja can be seen. Kodipanchagraha temple is also present.

Sambandar's beautiful idol is seen. Thirupathigam (hymn's of Nalvar) in the form of epigraph is found in this temple. The main deity is in Linga form and the Banam ( prominent cylindrical structure of Linga) is of special type known as Narmadhai banam.

The Murugan is in the form of Arumugan (6 faces and 12 hands) in a sitting pose over his vaghana (ambassador) a Mayil (peacock), his legs were decorated with Patharatchai (shoe). Saint Arunagirinathar has sung a hymn about this Arumugan of this temple in his work Thirupugal. Thirugnana sambandar has sung a hymn about this temple deity.

For Rahu and Ketu bad times- Seshampadi

                                                           Seshampadi Kumbakonam

Seshambadi/Seshampadi is a village that is half a mile from Tippirajapuram on the Kumbakonam – Alangudi. The temple mentioned in this post is the Sri Seshasayee Varadaraja Perumal Temple in Seshampadi near Kumbakonam. Mothers Bhoo Devi, Neela Devi and Lord Sri Seshasayee Varadaraja Perumal are the divinities established in this temple. Tharpanam for our ancestors, plants, trees, animals is an expression of gratitude and Compassion. Seshambadi/Seshampadi Is One Of The Most Important Places For Kaarunya Tharpanam.

The Shesampadi/Shesambadi temple is in fact a Vaishnav (Iyengar) temple of Adi Sesha(the resting abode of Lord Vishnu) and it is well known that Adi Sesha or Ananta Sesha is the 1000 headed Snake god. He is the Supreme amongst all snakes, he is the eldest brother of Vasuki, who was used to wrap around the mountain during the churning of the ocean – Samudra Manthan. Hence the entire Snake clan- Adi Sesha, Vasuki are devotees to Lord Vishnu-who also incidentally decapitated Rahu-Ketu while they stole a sip of the Nectar/Ambrosia from Mohini. It is also written in our scriptures that Adi Sesha from time to time has accompanied Lord Vishnu in his Dashavtaar or the 10 reincarnations. During the Ram Avataar, Adi Sesha was reborn as Lakshman the younger brother of Lord Rama and during the Krishna Avataar, he was reborn as Balarama, the elder brother of Lord Krishna. So you see, the image of Adi Sesha is basically a protector, a shield, a kavach against evil.

Hence the worship of the ever powerful Adi- Sesha is also a potent panacea for people undergoing the Rahu and Ketu bad times. The worship of Lord Vishnu, the Master of Adi- Sesha is also an effective panacea. Chanting of “Om Namoh Narayanaya” atleast 108 times in a day gives relief against the malefic and stagnating effects of the Shadowy planets.

Ganesha idol absorbing honey-Satchinathar Temple -Thirupurambiyam

                                                      Satchinathar Temple -Thirupurambiyam 

God Satchinathar
Goddess Karumbanna Sollammai
Holy Water Brahma and Saptha Sahara Theertham
Holy Tree Punnai
Festivals Thenabishekam

Thirupurambiyam  is  situated on the river side of Kollidam 11Kms away from Kumbakonam. During the great deluge, flood stopped away from the village. Hence it is known as Thirupurambiyam. For a lady merchant, this temple Lord Siva went to Madurai and reported as an evidence against her case. Hence the name of the god  is known as Satchinathar. Pralayam Katha Vinayakar Temple, literally translated as the Ganesha Who Saved the World from Pralaya (Great Deluge). The Ganesha at this temple is unique from all others and his importance is paramount. During the Krita Yuga, Lord Siva asked Lord Ganesha to save the world from the Great Deluge caused during the gestation period of Rahu. Lord Ganesha created a well on the east side of the temple tank and channeled all the 7 seas into that well and controlled the deluge and saved the world.

This well is known as Yezhu Kadal Kinaru. Lord Varuna  created an idol of Lord Ganesha from sea shells and other materials obtained from the sea and worshipped Him as Pralayam Katha Vinayakar.This Idol of Ganesha is still worshipped in this temple. On the night before Ganesha's Birthday, a special abishekam is being performed for this Ganesha idol only with honey. This (Thenabishekam) abishekam with honey is performed all through the night. During the abishekam it is a wonderful experience to watch that all the honey that is being poured on the idol is being drawn into the idol. At the end of the abishekam the Ganesha deity turns a crimson color. No abishekam is performed during the rest of the year. Hence in order to save the world from destructions and protect, Astroved is performing the Ganesha Birthday in this temple.The place is sung in the Thevaram hymns of Thirugnanasambandar, Sundarar and Thirunavukkarasar.The temple theertham are known as Brahma Theertham, Saptha Sahara Theertham, River Manniyaru and River Kollidam. Agathiyar, Pulasthiyar, Sanahar, Sanandhanar and Viswamithrar are said to have worshipped here Lord Siva and got grace.

Southern Ayodhya-Ramasamy Temple

Ramasamy Temple Kumbakonam

The temple town of Kumbakonam is the abode of several deities each unique and distinct. The temple of Lord Rama situated in the centre of the town is a connoisseurs' delight. The temple is replete with puranic lore. King Raghunayak ruled Tanjore from 1614-1640. He was an ardent devotee of Rama . His lieutenant Govinda Dikshitar called Govinda Ayyan was also devout and looked after the temple works.

King Raghunayak dug a holy tank in Darasuram near Kumbakonam . while the work was in progress they found icons of Rama and Sita in the tank. The King's joy knew no bounds. Thus he built a temple for Rama and called it Ramaswamy temple.

This temple is unique as Rama and Sita are in a Pattabishekam posture-Coronation scene . Rama and Sita are surrounded by lakshmana, shatrugna, Bharatha and the ever obedient Hanuman with Veena in one hand and the holy book of Ramayana in the other hand in a sitting posture. This coronation scene attracts people from far off places who are awe struck at the divine sight of the celestial confluence. A separate sanctum sanctorum is dedicated to Srinivasa with Sreedevi and Bhoodevi .

There are separate shrines for Azhwars and acharyas. The temple looks majestic with a mammoth Gopuram which seem to beckon the devotees to propitiate the lord inside. There is a sprawling Mantap which is a treasure trove of sculpture


Chitra Ramayana:
On the walls of the Prakarams(inclosed precincts of a temple), Ramayanam is depicted in pictorial format in three segments. So essentially a person can read through Ramayana pictorially whilst taking 3 pradakshinams(rounds).

This temple, known as the southern Ayodhya, has beautiful idols of Rama and Seethadepicted in coronation posture. Lakshmana stands next to Rama, holding a bow and arrows; they are flanked by Bharatha holding an Umbrella and Shatrughna holding a fan. This is the only temple where we can see idols of Rama, Seetha and Lakshmana along with Bharatha and Shatrughna.

The 62 pillars in the front mandapam are great works of art. Scenes from Ramayana are painted on the walls of the prakaram.

The walls of the temple are decorated with beautiful paintings depicting the Ramayana. Every scene is painted, right from the birth of Rama to his coronation. I wish I had time to study each and every painting in detail, but failing that, I succumbed to temptation, and clicked a couple of photographs of the paintings. They will remind me to make another trip to this beautiful temple, at leisure.

For Deerga Sumangali Bagyam-Prananadeswarar Temple-Thirumangalakudi

Prananadeswarar Temple-Thirumangalakudi 

Details:

Devotees set to Suriyanar Temple to worship the Sun God should visit this place for relief of adverse effects of the nine planets (Navagrahas). Women are blessed with full marital prosperity (Deerga Sumangali Bagyam), getting the Mangal Sutra from the blessingful hands of Mother Goddess are the glories of the temple. Relief from are the boons the devotees achieve by their prayers to the Lord and the Goddess in the temple.

This place is dedicated to Lord Shiva and the name of the Shiva here is “Prananatheswarar”. Of course Sakthi is also there in the temple without her there is no power for Shiva as per our mythology. The name of the Ambal here is “Mangalambikai”.

The Sthalapuranam for this temple goes like this In the Ancient age there was a King who was ruling this area near Tanjore-Kumbakonam-Mayiladuthurai(Mayavaram). The Minister of the King is a very devotional man and he was more than a regular devotee of Lord Shiva. He wants to construct a temple for Lord Shiva, but he doesn’t have money, so he took the money from the Tax which has been paid by the people and started the construction of the Lord Shiva Temple in Tirumangalakudi.when the contruction is in progress, King comes to know that he has taken the money from the Tax. So he ordered his man to kill the minister (He ordered his man to do SiraSedham for the minister – Cutting of Head). Before the SiraSedham, the minister requested the persons to do his last rituals in the village where the temple is under construction. They agreed and the minister’s head has been cut off.

Upon hearing this news, Ministers wife urged to the temple in Tirumangalakudi, cried and prayed in front of Shakthi. She cried in front of Ambal sannidhi and told that the minister has taken the money for your temple construction and he is no more, and prayed to get her husband back. Lord Shakthi requested her husband Lord Shiva to bring him back as he was doing good things with the money and he has not used for himself. Lord Shiva and Lord Shakthi has been pleased with the immense devotion from the minister and his wife and they gave the life back to the Minister.
Since Lord Shiva has given the “Pranan”, which is the basis for life, to the Minister, he has been called as “Prananatheswarar” and since Ambal has given the TiruMangalyam back to the minister’s wife, she has been called as “Mangalambikai”.
Prayer commitment:

The devotee, seeking relief from various problems, should offer Curd Rice for 11 Sundays continuously on the Vellerukku leaf and partake in the puja proceedings of the temple devotionally. This relieves him/her from all planetary afflictions. Girls awaiting for marriges but delayed should pray Mangalambika for five Fridays continuously are relieved of afflictions by the planets, Rahu, Ketu and Saturn paving way for early and happy settlement of an alliance. Here, the devotees offer Sarees, Mangal Sutra to the Goddess and also Vasthras to the God. They also offer Blouse bits, bangles, Kumkum, flowers, betel nuts, comb and Mangal Sutra thread to Five women seeking their blessings. The devotees offer Abishek (bathing) to Lord Prananadeswarar with gingely oil, sweet powders, turmeric powder, panchamirta, honey, curd, fruits juices, tender coconut, sandal, sacred ash and also offer abishek to Kalasas and feed the devotees visiting the temple.

Thirumangalakudi is known as Panchamangala Kshetra. The name of the place is Mangalakudi. The Goddess is Mangalambika. The tower is Mangala Vimanam. The Holy Water is Mangala Theertham. The Vinayaka is Mangala Vinayaka. Everything in the temple is but Mangala – Prosperity.
Lord Prananadeswara is a Swayambu exsisting of His own. Goddess is all blessingful. There is no special place for the Navagrahas here.

It is believed that the the planets in the Suriyanar Temple are the ones belonging to this temple. It is in Thirumangalakudi temple that even the Planets got relieved of their curses. The Lord has three faces representing human, animal and birdis own forms, a rare one not found in other temples. Here, Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Protector, Sage Agasthya, Sun, Akashvani, Mother Earth worshipped the Lord. There are two holy waters here called Chandra theertham and Suriya Theertham. There are two Nataraja Sannidhis here. This was renovated by Kualothunga Chozha in the 5th Century. The temple is administered by Thiruvavaduthurai Adheenam.

Panguni Uthiram 10 days – Thirukalyanam on the second day of Brahmmotsavam is grandly celebrated. This is the most important festival of this temple. Sankatahara Chaturthi and Kruthikas are also observed. Bairava worship on the Astami (8th day from the full moon) is also observed. There will be huge crowd in the temple during the Pradosha days. Deepavali, Pongal, Tamil and English New year days also are observed.

The speciality here is Curd Rice Annadhanam which has been made to the people with Diseases like Venkustam and other Nervous problems. People will eat the prasadham which is the Curd Rice here in the Yerukkam Leaf. This will cure the peoples diseases.

To increase the life time-Neelakandeswarar Temple Thiruneelakudi

                                              Neelakandeswarar Temple Thiruneelakudi 

Neelakandeswarar Temple is located in Thiruneelakudi, 13 kms from Kumbakonam, 55 from Tanjore, 3 from Aduthurai. Of the six centers in the human body known as Mooladhara, Swadishtana, Manipuraka, Anagatham, Vishuddhi and Aggna, Thiruneelakudi represents the Mooladhara position helping the devotee to raise the Kundalini Sakthi.
Rishi Markandeya wanted to lengthen his longevity. Devarishi Naradha advised Markandeya to worship Shiva in Thiruneelakudi which he meticulously followed. The Lord appeared before him and asked him of his desire. Markandeya told the Lord his wish and got back eternity of longevity. The grateful Markandeya took the Lord in a palanquin to Ilandalai, Enadhimangalam, Thirunageswaram, Thirupuvanam, Thiruvidaimarudhur, Maruthuvakudi and other places. The Chithirai Thiruvizha (April-May) is celebrated remembering this event.

History:

Of the six centers in the human body known as Mooladhara, Swadishtana, Manipuraka, Anagatham, Vishuddhi and Aggna, Thiruneelakudi represents the Mooladhara position helping the devotee to raise the Kundalini Sakthi.

Rishi Markandeya wanted to lengthen his longevity. Devarishi Naradha advised Markandeya to worship Shiva in Thiruneelakudi which he meticulously followed. The Lord appeared before him and asked him of his desire. Markandeya told the Lord his wish and got back eternity of longevity. The grateful Markandeya took the Lord in a palanquin to Ilandalai, Enadhimangalam, Thirunageswaram, Thirupuvanam, Thiruvidaimarudhur, Maruthuvakudi and other places. The Chithirai Thiruvizha (April-May) is celebrated remembering this event.

Festivals:

15 days Brammotsavam during Chithirai month. Rishi Markandeya initiated this. All these days, the deity is taken in procession. The deity is taken not only within Thiruneelakudi but to all the 18 villages around Neelakudi. Thiruvadirai, Adipooram, Karthikai Deepam, monthly pradosha days, Deepavali, Pongal and New year days of both Tamil and English calendars are observed as important festival days in the temple.

Legends:

The Linga is a Swayambu – that which exists of itself. The body of the Linga is rough and not soft. The leaves of the Vilwa Tree have five petals against the usual 3 petals found in this tree generally. It is here Rishi Markandeya got the boon of Chiranjeevi status – total freedom from death. There are two Goddesses here, Oppilamulai Amman (Anupamasthini) in a wedding pose and Bakathapeeshtapradayini – gracing the devotee of his/her desires, in a penance pose.

It is in this holy soil, Dakshayini joined the Lord again after returning from Daksha Yaga. Varuna (Lord of rain), angels worshipped here. Brahma, Devaganda, Vasishta, Soorapanma, Kamadenu performed penances here and got relieved of sins. A place praised in the hyms of Appar Swamigal in his Thevaram. When the Jains tied Appar and threw him, he worshipped Neelakandeswara in his celebrated hymn Kallinodu Aman Kaiyar in this temple.

A celebrated Shiva sthala having holy springs Brhmma theertham, Ksheeragundam, Devi theertham and Markandeya theertham. The antiquity of the temple goes back to more than 2000 years.

Presiding deity :Neelakandeswarar
Reputation :Swaymbu
Goddess :Oppilamulayal
Vinayaka :Nardanaganapathy
Holy tree :Vilva with 5 petals

Bless for childless couples-Nachiyar Koil Thirunaraiyur

Nachiyar Koil Thirunaraiyur 

Thirunaraiyur or Nachiyarkoil, one of the 108 Divya Desams of Vaishnavite tradition, is situated between Kumbakonam and Tiruvarur.

The presiding deity is - Thirunaraiyur Nambi or Srinivasan

Thayar - Vanchulavalli or Nambikkai Nachiyar

This temple is replete with puranic lore. In this place, which was earlier called Sugandhagiri or Sugandhavanam, a sage called Medhavi did penance on the banks of Manimuthar, wishing that Goddess Mahalakshmi should be born as his daughter.

The Goddess, happy with the devotion of the sage, appeared under the vanchula tree on a Friday, the star being Uthiram in the Tamil month of Panguni. The sage at once knew about the avatar of the Goddess through his meditative powers. He took her under his fold and since she appeared under the vanchula tree, he called her Vanchulavalli.

Mahavishnu became sad without his consort Mahalakshmi in Vaikuntam. He decided to join her in the world in Vyuha Nilai (Sankarshan, Prathyumnan, Anirudhan, Purushotaman and Vasudevan). Since he donned five forms, he bestowed abundant powers on Mahalakshmi and calling himself Srinivasan, entered into a wedlock with Mahalakshmi. This celestial wedding took place here and the divine couple bless the devotees as bride and groom. This sacred spot is also called Krishnaranyam. Since the presiding deities are in kalyana kolam, Brahma worships them every day till date. Special importance is given to thayar in this temple and always the first privilege to given to nachiyar. The prasadam is also first offered to the goddess only and nachiyar leads the procession in hamsa vahanam. As per the promise made by the Perumal with Thayar's father MedhAvi rishi, his daughter - Vanjulavalli thayar should be given importance in all aspects. Hence she proceeds first, even during utsavams. Normally in other divyadesams, thayar woudn't come out of the temple.

There is another deity that attracts the devotees who throng to worship at the temple. We have seen Mahavishnu's mode of transport, Garuda, paying obeisance to the Lord with folded hands in all Vaishnavite temples. But here he is worshipped on a par with the presiding deity. There is a strange phenomenon which occurs when the gods are taken out on procession atop Garuda.

There is a statue of garuda here in a separate sannadhi. During Garuda sevai, the number of people required to carry garuda through each of the five prakarams of the temple keeps doubling from 4 to 128 people. Again while coming inside the temple, the weight keeps decreasing and the number of persons carrying keeps reducing by half to final 4 who carry it into the sannadhi. Worshipping Kal Garuda is said to free devotees from naga dosha and bless childless couples.

It is the only temple among the 108 divyadesams of srivaishnavas where God Naraiyur nambi has the conch and charka in front of his face. Also, only in this temple, there are idols of the presiding deities of the 108 divyadesams of Srivaishnavas. Another specialty of the temple is only in this divyadesam, there is brahma in standing posture inside the temple.