karnataka tour in 4 days

கொட்டும் மழையில் கர்நாடக புனித பயணம்




எங்காவது எப்போதாவது இருபது பேர் சேர்ந்தால் எதைவேண்டுமானாலும் சாதிக்கலாம் அல்லவா? அதிலும் பெண்கள் பெரும்பான்மையானால் சொல்லவும் வேண்டுமா? இதுதான் உண்மையிலேயே முப்பதாம் தேதி செப்டம்பர் நடந்தது. சென்னை மங்களூர் ரயிலில் பிரயாணம் செய்த இருபது பெரும் அக்டோபர் முதல் தேதி மங்களூர் சென்றபோது தான் தெரிந்தது. எங்களுடன் மற்றொருவரும் தொடர்ந்து நான்குநாட்களும் இடைவிடாமல் தொடரப்போகிறார் என்று. அவர் வேறு யாரும் இல்லை. ஸ்ரீமான் வருணன் தான். மங்களூரில் அவருடன் தான் மங்கலாதேவி கோவிலுக்கும் கோகர்நேஸ்வரர் கோவிலுக்கும் சென்றோம்.

கர்நாடக தேச கோவில்களில் மிகவும் சிரத்தையுடன் பக்தியுடன் வழிபடுகிறார்கள். காசு அங்கு பிரதானமாக இருக்கவில்லை. உடுப்பி ஸ்ரீ கிருஷ்ணன் கோவிலுக்கு செல்லும் முன்பு வழியில் மலைப்பாதையில் காடில் என்கிற ஒரு ஊரில் ஜலதுர்கதேவி கோவில் இருக்கிறது. இருபுறமும் பெருக்கெடுத்து ஓடும் நதிக்கிடையில் ஜலதுர்க தேவி ஒரு தீவு போல் காட்சியளிக்கிறது. கொட்டும் மழையில் பராசக்தியின் அருள் பார்வையுடன் சூடாக ரசம் சாம்பார் சாதமும் சுட சுட பாயசமும் கொடுத்தால் யாரவது வேண்டாமென்பர்களா? உடிப்பியில் ஸ்ரீ கிருஷ்ணனை சாளரம் வழியாகதான் அந்தக்காலத்தில் ஸ்ரீ மத்வச்சர்யரும், ஸ்ரீ கனகதாசரும் கண்டதுபோல் நாமும் கண்டு மகிழ்ந்தோம். அழகிற்கு மறுபெயர் கிருஷ்ணன் என்பது மறுக்க முடியாத உண்மை. கர்நாடகாவில் எங்குசென்றாலும் கோலி பஜ்ஜி என்று யாராவது கொடுத்தால் அதை மறுப்பவன் அதிர்ஷ்டமில்லாதவன். மங்களூர் போண்டாவுக்கு தான் அந்த ஸ்பெஷல் பெயர் அங்கு. எந்த காபிகடையில் நுழைந்து சூடாக காபி சாப்பிட்டாலும் அது அமிர்தம். ஐந்து ரூபாவிற்கு அருமையான காபி. சாப்பாடும் அந்தவூர் மக்கள் மாதிரி இனிமையானது. ரசமோ, சாம்பாரோ எது சாப்பிட்டாலும் இனிக்கிறது. அரபிக்கடல் ஓரத்தில் முருதேஸ்வர் என்கிற ஒரு அழகிய ச்வர்கபூமி உள்ளது. அதை பாதுகாப்பதுபோல பிரம்மாண்டமாக யோகநிஷ்டையில் சிவன் வானுக்கும் பூமிக்குமாக அமர்ந்திருக்கிறார். நான் உன்னைவிட பெரியவன் என்கிற பாவனையில் கோவிலின் கோபுரம் நம் கழுத்தை ஒடிக்க பார்க்கவைக்கிறது. காந்தி பிறந்த இரண்டாம்தேதி அக்டோபர் அன்று கொல்லூர் மூகாம்பிகையை காண புறப்பட்டோம். கொல்லூருக்கு செல்லுமுன் தயவு செய்து எலும்பு எதனை என்று மட்டும் எண்ணிக்கொள்ளுங்கள். எதனை என்னினிர்களோ அதைபோல் குறைந்தது இருமடங்காக இயற்கையன்னை மலைப்பாதையில் பரிசளிக்கிறாள். அன்னையைக்கான ஆடிக்கொண்டே சென்றோம். சிருங்கேரியில் மலைகளின் இடையில் துங்கபத்ரை ஆற்றின் கரையில் அமைதி தவழும் ஸ்தலம் தேடி சாரதா தேவி பக்தர்களை வரவேற்கிறாள். என்ன அழகு முகம்! கண்களில் தான் எத்தனை கருணை வெள்ளம். வீணையுடன் காட்சிதந்து உள்ளத்தை கொள்ளை கொள்ளும் நேர்த்தி வாழ்க்கையில் மறக்கமுடியாத அனுபவம். நுங்கும் நுரையுமாய் ஓடும் துங்கபத்ரை மேல் ஒரு பாலம். கடந்து சென்றால் குருநிவாசத்தில் ஒரு ஆச்சரியம். இன்னும் ஐந்து நிமிஷத்தில் ஸ்ரீ சிருங்கேரி சாரதாபீட ஜகத்குரு பரதிதீர்த்தர் வந்து தரிசனம் கொடுப்பார் என்று கேள்விப்பட்டு மண்டபத்தில் அமர்ந்தோம். தெய்வம் மெதுவாக நடந்து வந்தது. அனைவர்க்கும் ஆசி வழங்கியது. தவத்தின் வலிமை முகத்தில் கண்களில் பீறிட்டுக்கொண்டு வெளிவந்தது. அனைத்தும் அறிந்த மகான் அமைதி தவழும் புன்னகையுடன் ஒவ்வொருவரையும் கண்டு ஆசியளித்தார். உள்ளும் வெளியும் அமைதி அடையவைக்கும் இன்ப சூழ்நிலை. ஆற்றைகடந்து விடுதி அடைந்தோம். அந்த இரவு மனநிம்மதியை அள்ளி தந்தது. காந்திஜிக்கு நன்றி. மகேஸ்வரியில் (இதுதான் எங்கள் மினிபஸ் பெயர்) அமர்ந்து மழை தொடர மூன்றாம் தேதி காலை தர்மச்தலாவைதேடி சென்றோம். இல்லை இல்லை ஆடி சென்றோம். கர்நாடக அரசே பயணிகள் மேல் கொஞ்சம், கருணை வையுங்களேன். வாகனங்கள் படும் அவதியும் அதனுள் மக்கள் அல்லாடுவதையும் கூடிய சிக்கிரம் நிவர்த்தி செய்ய மூகாம்பிகையும் சாரதாதேவி யும் உங்களுக்கு அருள் புரியட்டும். இரவுக்குள் எப்படியாவது மேல்கொட் சென்று தங்கவேண்டும் என்ற எண்ணம் நிறைவேறவில்லை. மக்கள் தீர்ப்பு மகேஸ்வரன் தீர்ப்பு என்பார்கள். ஆனால் மகேஸ்வரி தீர்ப்பு வேறு விதமாக இருந்ததே! நன்றாக ஓடிக்கொண்டிருந்த மகேஸ்வரி க்லச் வயர் அறுந்து இரவு ஒரு பெட்ரோல் பங்க் எதிரில் நின்றுவிட்டது. நல்லவேளை அந்த தெருவில் விளக்கு வெளிச்சம் இருந்தது. நைட் வாச்மன் தன்னுடைய டார்ச் விளக்கையும் கொடுத்து பெண்கள் அனைவருக்கும் இயற்கை உபாதையிலிருந்து மீட்டார். அவர் வாழ்க! வேறு வழியின்றி ஒரு டாட்டா சபாரி வண்டியில் இருபதுபெரையும் அமுக்கி அடைத்து புளிமூட்டையாய் ஹிட்லர் யூதர்களை நடத்தியதுபோல் அடைத்து மேல்கொட் சென்றோம். இரவுமுடிந்து மணி இரண்டாகிவிட்டது. எங்களில் ஒரு வீராங்கனை எங்கோ சுற்றி ஒருவரை அணுகி ஒரு சத்திரத்தில் இடம் பிடித்தார். கடுங்குளிரில் மஞ்சுளா செய்த உதவி ராணி மங்கம்மா பல சத்ரங்களை கட்டியதைவிட மேல் என்று சொல்கிறார்கள் மற்ற அனைவரும். அக்டோபர் நான்காம் தேதி காலையில் குளித்து சூடான காபி பருகி மேல்கொட் திருநாராயண புர செல்வபிள்ளையை வணங்கி வெளியே வந்தபோது மகேஸ்வரி ரிப்பேர் ஆகி வந்து நின்றது. வாயு மனோவேகம் ஆக கிளம்ப நல்லவேளையாக வழியில் இடர்ப்பாடுகள் இல்லாததற்கு ஸ்ரீ ராமானுஜர் தான் காரணம். எனென்றால் தொண்டனூர் என்ற பெயரிருந்தலும் மக்கள் மத்தியில் இன்று தொண்ணுறு என்று அழைக்கப்படும் ஊருக்கு நாங்கள் சென்றபோது மணி பன்னிரண்டு நடுபகல். ஸ்ரீ கோபாலகிருஷ்ணன் கோவில், ஸ்ரீ நரசிம்மன் கோயில், தாமுகந்த மேனியுடன் காட்சி தரும் ஸ்ரீ ராமானுஜர் திருவுருவம், ஆதிசேஷனாக ஆயிரம் நாவுடன் சமணர்களுடன் வாதிட்ட அவர் கோபாக்னியுடன் அரவம்போன்ற முகம்படைதவராக காட்சியளித்தது கண்முன்னே என்றும் நிற்கிறது. வரும் வழியில் நாகமங்களா என்ற சிற்றூரில் பாஞ்சஜன்யத்தில் நாகம் சுற்றிக்கொண்டு சங்கம் சக்ரம் இடம் மாறி ஏந்தி பெருமாள் காட்சியளிக்கிறார். பாண்டவபுரா என்ற இடத்தில உணவருந்தி (எல்லாம் இனிப்புதான்!) மைசூர் வந்தடைந்தோம். நிமிஷாம்பாள் தேவி கோவில் சிறிதாக இருந்தாலும் கிர்த்தியில் பெரியது. அழகிய அம்பாள் ஆனந்தமாக சில நிமிஷத்தில் காட்சி தந்தாள். கடைசியாக ஸ்ரீரங்க பட்டினம் ரங்கநாதரை சேவித்து விடைபெற்றோம். வெற்றிகரமான இந்த புனித பயணம் சென்னையில் அக்டோபர் ஐந்தாம் தேதி வந்து சேர்ந்ததும் நீங்கா நினைவாக மனதில் இடம்பிடித்தது;

இத்துடன் இணைக்கப்படிருக்கும் போட்டோ ஆல்பம் உங்களையும் எங்களோடு சேர்த்து மேற்கண்ட எல்லா ஸ்தலங்களுக்கும் கொண்டு செல்லும்.http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?  blogID=1154919537190898461#editor/target=post;postID=6848157350233161431
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MAHA SIVARATHRI

MAHA SHIVARATHRI

Following is the brief history of Maha Shivarathri

On the day of Mahashivratri, celebrations take place in all the Shiva temples across India. Devotees bathe at sunrise in any holy water source (like the Ganga or Shiv Sagar tank at Khajuraho). They offer prayers to the Sun, Vishnu and Shiva. The Shivlingam is bathed with the five sacred offerings of a cow, called the panchagavya - milk, sour milk, urine, butter and dung. Thereafter the five foods of immortality - milk, clarified butter, curd, honey and sugar - are placed before the Shivlingam. Dhatura and Jati, though poisonous fruits, are believed to be sacred to Shiva and thus offered at his temple. People also decorate the linga with flowers and garlands and offer incense sticks and fruit. Devotees celebrate the day by observing a fast during the day and offer prayers throughout the night. All through the day, devotees abstain from eating food and break their fast only the next morning, after the nightlong worship. The day is considered especially auspicious for women. Married women pray for the well being of their husbands and sons, while unmarried women pray for a husband like Shiva, who is considered the ideal husband. Hymns in praise of Lord Shiva are sung with great fervor and devotion. People repeat the Panchakshara Mantra, Om Namah Shivaya. It is believed that one who utters the name of Shiva during Shivratri with proper devotion is freed from all sins. He reaches the abode of Shiva and lives happily there. He is liberated from the cycle of birth and death. According to the Shiva Purana, the Mahashivratri worship must incorporate six items: the ceremonial offer of cooling bael leaves to the hot-blooded deity, representing purification of the soul; the vermilion paste applied on the linga after bathing it, representing virtue; food offering which is conducive to longevity and gratification of desires; incense, yielding wealth; the lighting of the lamp which is conducive to the attainment of knowledge; and betel leaves marking satisfaction with worldly pleasures. These six items, till today, form an indispensable part of Mahashivratri, be it a simple ceremony at home or grand temple worship. By offering water, hugging the linga, lighting the diya and incense, and ringing the temple bells, devotees call into focus all their senses, making them acutely aware of themselves and the universe to which they belong.Mahaashivratri and Parvati:There is another possible reason for the origin of the all-night worship. Maha Shivratri being a moonless night, people worship the God who wears the crescent moon as an adornment in his hair, God Shiva. This was probably to ensure that the moon rose the next night. According to one myth, Parvati performed tapas, prayed, and meditated on this day to ward off any evil that may befall Her husband on the moonless night. Another popular belief is that Mahashivratri is actually the celebration to mark the holy union of Lord Shiva and Parvati on this day.Lord Shiva and Brahma:According to another legend in the Shiva Purana, once Brahma and Vishnu were fighting over who was the superior of the two. Horrified at the intensity of the battle, the other gods asked Shiva to intervene. To make them realize the futility of their fight, Shiva assumed the form of a huge column of fire in between Brahma and Vishnu. Awestruck by its magnitude, they decided to find one end each to establish supremacy over the other. Brahma assumed the form of a swan and went upwards and Vishnu as Varaha went into the earth. Nevertheless, light has no limit and though they searched for thousands of miles, neither could find the end. On his journey upwards, Brahma came across a ketaki flower wafting down slowly. When asked where she had come from, Ketaki replied that she had been placed at the top of the fiery column as an offering. Unable to find the uppermost limit, Brahma decided to end his search and take the flower as a witness. At this, the angry Shiva revealed HIS true form. He punished Brahma for telling a lie, and cursed him that no one would ever pray to him. The ketaki flower too was banned from being used as an offering for any worship, as she had testified falsely. Since it was on the 14th day in the dark half of the month of Phalguna that Shiva first manifested himself in the form of a linga, the day is especially auspicious and is celebrated as Mahashivratri. Mahakaleshwar Shiv's Lingum:In Ujjain in the famous temple of Mahakaleshwar Shiv's Lingum is worshipped with the performance of all the religious rites and rituals. The story goes that a powerful demon who lived on Ratnamal mountain attacked Avanti - the name of the present-day Ujjain in those days - and killed a Brahmin sage by putting him in fire. The angry Lord Shiv opened his third eye and burnt the demon to ashes. On that very spot of land where Lord Shiva opened his third eye and killed the demon appeared the Shiv-Lingum. A majestic temple was built on that ground. The mention of this temple is found in `Adi-Brahma Puran' and its detailed description in the `Gyan-Samhita'. The illustrious king Vikramaditya during the time he was the ruler of Ujjaini, visited the MahaKaleshwar temple every morning, after his bath. He bowed before the Shiv-Lingum in all humility and prayed to Lord Shiv to mercifully grant prosperity and happiness to his subjects and peace to the land over which he ruled. He placed one hundred and eleven Bel leaves one by one on the Shiv lingum and while placing each leaf he praised Lord Shanker by reciting the shlokas.

SELF TEST --- WHAT DO WE KNOW OF PRADOSHAM IN SIVA TEMPLES

When it occurs ?: On the 13th moon day(trayodasai) 04.30 to 06.00 pm. In Shukla Paksha - New moon to Full moon &Krishna Paksha- Full moon to New moon. Worshipping Lord Siva during Pradhosha frees the devotees from all sins and grants Moksham. Pradhakshinam at this time (circumambulating the praharam) is known as Somasutra pradakshinam.
Pradhosha Purana:
By churning the Ksheerasagaram( thiruparkadal) using the huge snake Vasuki as the churning rope and Mandhara hill as the central piston, (Lord Vishnu serving as the base for bearing all the weight atop, as the huge tortoise) once Devas and Asuras they first obtained the terrible poison Halahalam came up. None but Lord Shiva could rescue them from the deadly poison. To save all the mercyful Lord Shiva swallowed that poison. His consort, Parvathi devi pressed his neck to prevent the poison entering his system. Hence it stuck there at his neck. (Neelakantan). Then Lord Siva instructed them to churn further and obtained Amrutham. (nectar). It was on a Dhwadhasi (twelfth moon day). Devas were so happy that they got Amrutham, and forgot Lord Siva’s efforts.
The next day,thrayodhasi (thirteenth moon day) they became aware of their ingratitude and pleaded to Lord Siva to fogive them for their sins. Lord Siva is sthothrapriyan (easily pleased) and did forgive them. When happy He dances. He chose to dance then on Nandhi (His bull) in between the two horns. That time is called Pradhosham. Hence, prayers to Lord Siva during pradhosha time grans Mukthi and relieves one of all sins.
PRADOSHA POOJA DHRAVIYA LIST AND THE BENEFITS OBTAINED USING THEM DURING THE PUJA:

1. Milk for long life
2 Ghee Moksham
3 Curd sath puthra,puthri

4 Honey melodious voice

5 Rice powder relief from debts
6 Sugar cane juice good health
7 Panjamrutham wealth
8 Lemon freedom from fear of death
9 Sugar no enmity
10 Tender coconut comfort in life
11 Cooked Rice(Annam) majestic stature
12 Sandal paste Lakshmi kataksham

Vilvam leaves and Nagalinga flowers are best for Shiva pooja.


PRADOSHAM DAYS & POOJA PALAN:

1 MAASA PRADOSHAM - 0430-0600 PM - On thrayodasi day immediately following the Amavasya (newmoon)day
2 PAKSHA PRADOSHAM - - 0430-0600 PM - On thrayodasi day immediately following the Pournami (full moon) day
3. SANI PRADOSHAM or MAHA PRADOSHAM 0430-0600 PM - On thrayodasi day immediately following the Amavasya (newmoon)day or the Pournami (full moon) day that falls on any Saturday. If one worships on this day, it is equivalent to having attended Pradosham for 5 years!
Every day between 5-30pm and 600 pm is known as DAILY PRADOSHA KALAM.

Worshipping the Lord (uthsava murthi) in procession in praharams of the temples during Pradosham gives benefit equivalent to punyam obtained by attending kumbabishekam of 3 temples and equivalent to having visited 100 holy temples.

Many devotees observe the following during Pradosham time:

1. visit temple in the morning after taking bath early in the morning
2. fasting
3 recite and read Thevaram, Thiruvachagam, Rudra Chamaka manthras.
4 take pooja dhraviyam (ingredients mentioned above) for abishekam and pooja, especially ARUGAM PULL (grass) for Nandikeswaran – garland for the bull and VILVAM garland for Lord Siva.
5. lighting ghee lamps.
6. distribution of prasadam for devotees.
7. supplying hot milk with sugar to those chanting Vedas.
8. Not to touch any idol. It will give negative effect!!!

Always ensure you have darshan of the Lord from behind the Nandi, viewing through the two horns of the bull

33 HOLY SPOTS BY 94 HOURS!!!!!!!!

KERALA TOUR - 22/01/09 1600 HRS TO 26/01/09 0600 HRS

Our AALAYA DHARSHAN group of 14 members - age ranging between 51 to 79 performed this Kerala Tour and we covered the holy places narrated below.

By Trivandrum Express we left Chennai Central at 1600 hrs on 22/01/09 and arrived Ernakulam Junction on 23/01/09 at about 0400 hrs

1 23.01.09 0400 - 0630 hrs
After refreshing ourselves in the cold water bath and swallowing the hot coffee, we began our tour by a Tempo Traveller with the visit to Ernakulathappan This Mahadeva temple ( 3 km from railway station) was built many centuries ago and is very big. Temples are open in Kerala, from about 0400 hrs It is heartening to observe so many people commencing their daily activities with a worship in all the temples at such early hours.

2. 23.01.09 0600 - Thiru katkarai – Vamana kshetram - 9 miles n/east frm Ernakulam- One of the 108 Divyadesam, THIRUKATKARAI APPAN - Vamana murthi. Here only the Lord obtained yachagam from Mahabali and took Trivikrama roopam. Thayar name as per pasuram: VATSALYA VALLI - Nindra thirukolam. This is one of the ancient but not much known divya desam. No separate Thayar sannidhi.

3 23.01.09 - 0600 – 0700 hrs - Thirumoozhikalam - About 30 km from Thirukkakarai - This too a Malainaattu divyadesam. (Lakshmana Perumal) Thirumoozhikalathan (Ninra thirukolam) – Thayar: Madhuraveni Nachiyar. The main deity was disfigured during Tippu Sultan’s regime dismembering both the hands. These were refixed by Panchalokam.

4. 23.01.09 - 0730 - 0900 – Koodal Manikkam Bharatha Perumal at Irinjalakuda– 35KM from Thirumoozhikalam. This is another 9th Century temple. Worshipped by Bharatha. The image of the Perumal was dazzling and the local chieftain compared the dazzling with a Manickam stone which got merged with the idol and can be seen on the forehead of the Lord. Hence the name koodal manickam. Not a divyadesam but an Abhimana kshetram.

5. 23.01.09 – 0900-0915hrs - Shatrugna perumal temple at Payammel - 3km away from Koodalmanickam temple – This is the one and only temple in India for Shatrugnan. This is not a divyadesam but an Abhimana kshetram.

6. 23.01.09 – 1000-1015 hrs – Lord Rama temple on the banks of River Tiruprayar – The idol was washed ashore and found and installed by the local chieftain in the 9th century. Not a divyadesam but an abhimana kshetram

7. 23.01.09 1100-1115 hrs - Kodungalur Bhagavathi amman temple - 9 km away from Triprayar. One of the 4 main temples of Bhagavathi amman. No Brahmin poojari here. This temple and goddess referred in Ramayana and Mahabharatha.

8. 23.01.09 - 1630 hrs - Kaladi -53 km away. Adhi Sankara’s birth place on the banks of Poorna river. 40 km away from Kodungalur. Near Angamali station. Samadhi of Aryamba, Sankara’s mother, where Adisankara cremated her is worshipped here. The ghat where a crocodile caught hold of Sankara’s leg is seen. The Krishna temple where Aryamba worshipped is still there.

9. 23.01.09 - 1800 hrs Chottanikara Bhagavati (Rajarajeswari) temple 15km away from Kaladi. The main deity is made of laterite and untouched by any human sculptor. Worshipped daily in 3 forms, as Saraswathi, draped in white in the morning, as Bhadrakali in crimson at noon and as Durga decked in blue in the evening to get rid of evil influence, psychological disorders, and evil spirits.

10 Keezhakkavu bhagavathi temple adjacent to Chottanikara bhagavathi temple is where nailing on the tree is done for warding off evil spirits and the deity is Bhadrakali and sacrifices of animals are still done here.

11. 23.01.09 - 1900 hrs - Udayanapuram -3 kms away from Chottanikara - Lord Murugan temple – Established by Parasurama this temple is very big and ancient. When we visited this temple the local Nadhaswara vidwan was playing Entha kavi padinalum in Raga Nilamani, reminding me of Madurai Somu’s rendering of it. It was very apt and proper to praise the Lord thus.

12. 23.01.09 – 1940 hrs Vaikom Mahadeva temple - 5 km away from Udayanapuram - It is stated that only here, Lord Siva converted the jackals into horses to save Manickavasagar from the King’s punishment. The flagstaff (dwajasthambam) is about 320 ft tall.

13. 23.01.09 - 2040 hrs - Kaduthuruthi Siva temple - 14 km from Vaikom. When we climbed the steps to enter the temple the doors were already closed. Only abhisheka theertha prasadam was given.

No temple is open beyond 8 pm Regretfully we missed this temple and Ettumanoor Siva temple

2100 hrs Reached Kottayam Samooha koodam to have a well earned rest.

14. 24.01.09 - 0530 hrs - Kottayam Tirunakkara Mahadevan temple - during ploughing, the plough struck a rock in the Tirunakkara hill and blood started oozing from the rock, which was found to be a swayambu lingam.

15 23.01.09 - 0600 hrs – Kottayam Thirunakkara Sri Krishna temple - is on the slope from the Mahadeva temple. It is worshipped as South Guruvayur temple.

16. 24.01.09 – 0900 am - Thirukadithanam –Arputhanarayanan temple – a Divyadesam - 5 km from Chenganaseri – Goddess: Karpagavalli thayar. This place is connected with Ekadasi vratham of King Rukmangadha. This temple is connected with Sahadevan.

17 24.01.09 - 0930 hrs Thiruvalla - a Divyadesam 9km from Thirukadithanam – Sri Vallabhan temple - The idol was traced from the bed of Netravathi river during 59 BC.

18. 24/01/09 0950 hrs Thiruvanvandoor - 4 km from chenganoor - a divya desam – Pambanaiappan – Ninra thirukolam - Temple built by Nakulan. Goddess: Kamalavalli Nachiyar.

19. 24.01.09 - 1000 hrs - Thiru chenkundrur –(Thiruchitraru) – a Divya desam - 1km from chenganur. Yudhistra established this temple after meditating here. Perumal is seen holding Sanku in His right hand and Chakram in His left hand. A very ancient temple and remote to access.

20 24.01.09 - 1020 hrs - Thiruppuliyoor – a divya desam – 3.5mles west of Chenganur. The temple was renovated by Bheema. A huge stone Gadhai of Bheema is installed here. When we visited this temple there was a festival going on.

21 24.01.09 - 1045hrs - Chenganoor Bhagavathi temple – Both the images of the Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati are enshrined in a circular Srikovil .The Shivalinga is three and a half feet high and faces east. The Linga is enveloped in a golden covering or Kavacha. This is made in the Ardhanari or half-man-half-woman form. The image of Goddess Chenganoor Bhagavati faces west and placed behind the Lord’s Garbhagriha is two and a half feet in height and made of Panchaloha .The Goddess is shown with the Varamudra on her right hand and the Abhayamudra on the left hand. The deity is decked with various dazzling jewels.

22 24.01.09 1200 noon - Aranmoola - Parthasarathy Perumal - a divya desam connected with Arjuna. The temple is on the left bank of Pamba river. It is here that when Arjuna hesitated to kill Bheeshma, Krishna got enraged and took his chakra in hand got down from the chariot to kill Bheeshma who dropped his bow on seeing Krishna ready to kill him. But Arjuna pacified Krishna and reminded Him of his vow not to participate in the battle. Hence the Lord is seen with his disc in hand here. This temple dates back to Mahabaratha time.

23 Pandalam palace of Lord Ayyappa. There is nothing to be seen here on normal days as Thiruvabaranam is exhibited only during Makara Jothi time. The present Royal family member Sri Rama Varma was just sitting on his simple cot watching TV and we did not disturb him.

After lunch we proceeded towards our journey to Trivandrum

24. 24.01.09 1700 hrs Aattukkal Bhagavathi amman temple at Trivandrum
2 km from Padmanabhaswami temple. The temple is huge and is in the heart of Trivandrum city.

25. 24.01.09 1800 hrs - Anantha Padmanabhaswami temple – a Divyadesam – Thayar Hari Lakshmi - a grand temple of ancient times, well maintained by the Royal family of erstwhile Travancore-Kochi kingdom. The huge idol is seen in 3 parts and is always crowded by devotees from all over the country.

We commenced our tour the next day after resting for the night at Samoohakoodam at Trivandrum atop the Durga temple.

26. 25.01.09 0600 hrs – 0900 hrs - we departed by bus from Trivandrum to Nagercoil and reached the TAMBRAS samoohakoodam at Parvathipuram. Being Newmoon day some of us performed Tharpanam arranged at the samoohakoodam itself.

27. 25.01.09 0900 – 1000 hrs - Thiruvattaru – a Divyadesam – Sri Adikesava Perumal – Thayar Maragadhavalli nachiyar. Perumal is in sayana thirukolam as in Tiruvananthapuram. He is also giving seva in 3 vaasals (entry points). The only difference is Ananthapadmanabha swami is in bujanga sayanam facing east whereas Adikesavaperumal is facing west. The whole Mandapam is sculpted out of a single stone.

28. 25.01.09 1200 noon - Mandacadu Bhagavathi amman temple - This temple is wellknown as Sabarimala of Women devotees. The idol is on a sandhill which grows each year. This famous temple is over 1000 years old. People believe it to be a Kannagi temple also.

29. 25.01.09 - 1630 hrs - We waited for a while for the Nagarajar temple to open in vain and left for Thiruvanparisaram

30. 25.01.09 - 1715 hrs -Thiruvanparisaram ( known now as Thirupathisaram) 7 km from Nagarkoil - While waiting for the opening of the Garbagraham an excellent Namasankirthan bhajan was condcted by sri K. Rathnam Iyer, one of our senior members. A divya desam - Perumal: Kuralappan/ Thiruvazhmarbhan - Thayar : Kamalavalli nachiyar - Veetrirundha thirukolam - Nammalwar’s mother Udayanangai was born here and Nammalwar also was born here. There is a small sannadhi for Udayanangai.

31. 25.01.09 1820 hrs - Sunset at Cape Comorin (Kanyakumari) was witnessed in dazzling beauty. The disappearance of setting sun as a red ball into the sea surface was unforgettable.

32. 25.01.09 - 1915 hrs - Goddess Kanyakumari - Life size idol holding a garland in one of the hands is an imposing image. The dazzling left nose jewellery is famous and legendary. A beautiful sight for devotees’ eyes.

33. 25.01.09 - 2100 hrs - Suseendram – sthanumaalayan temple & Bhaktha Anjaneyar. This is a 9th Century temple with 18’ tall Anjaneyar.

The tour ended with visits to above temple and could not have been a success but for the cooperation of one and all involved in the tour and returned to Chennai by Guruvayur –Chennai Express departing Nagarcoil at 0600 hrs on 26.1.09 arriving at Chennai Tambaram by 2100hrs -

WHERETO WE MARCHED ON THE 1ST MARCH '09

3 Amman temples + Devadhanam temple visists in our ONE DAY TOUR - 01/03/09 0600- 2200HRS

On Sunday the 1st March 2009 our AALAYA DHARSHAN group of 15 members – (as usual, the age range being between 51 and 80) performed this Tour on a comfortable 16 seater Tourister driven by a very young and most cooperative Venkatesan as the chariot. The total distance covered as per reading was 293km, did we???

0630-0730hrs - We visited the 650 year old Santhana Srinivasan temple at Mugappair, and were the first batch of devotees immediately after the priests chanted the Pallandu and other pasurams. The 9.5 ft idol is a replica of Lord Balajee at Thirumala Hills but is taller than him. Because of His fulfilling the wishes of parenthood to many childless couple, the whole village was named MAGAPPERU (santhanabagyam) which Time has distorted to the present name Mugappair.

This temple is almost at the end of the Mugappair road in a small street jutting out of the main road. We finished our breakfast at the mandapam itself here which is spacious with water taps and has adjoining toilet facilities.

0830-0900 hrs. Ayappakkam Dhakshinamurthi (16’ ft tall) temple - is a Guru sthalam and the idol is on the first floor of the temple. The approach roads are very bad and one has to proceed very slowly to avoid disc problems of the devotees. We lost 2 valuable hours because of the bad road condition and as a result compelled to deny ourselves, our program to visit the Vaishnavi temple at Thirumullaivayil.

0915 – 0930 hrs – The Masilamaniswarar temple at Thirumullaivayil houses the sannidhi of Kodiyidai Amman. There is a belief that the same sculptor had made the other two Ammans, viz., Thiruvudai Amman at Melur, and Vadivudai Amman at Thiruvottiyur. When we stood before Her Paalabhishekam was performed and the beautiful Amman idol is a feast to the eye. Masilamaniswar’s Nandhi is facing opposite direction unusually and this is explained by folklore that Nandikeswarar was busily engaged in fighting and warding off the Asuras and evil elements trying to attack Him and the village This is a very old temple

1015-1030 hrs. - The second Amman to visit, viz, Thiruvudai Amman is at Melur, off Minjur. The temple is located in a narrow road off the Melur main road with a prominent arch with the temple name. It is safer therefore to seek local help from time to time to avoid delay in reaching the temple.

1200-1230 hrs - Before the temple doors are shut we rushed to Thiruvotriyur which is quite far away from Melur, on the eastern seacoast. The temple is on the busy Tiruvotriyur High Road requiring patience in manouevring through the confusing traffic and indisciplined road users. Vadivudaiyamman is yet another beautiful idol magnetizing the devotees with Her benevolence. Being a Sunday and situated in a big town, the crowd here made us wait for almost an hour. We could not have darshan of Thyagaraja and the huge Dhakshinamurthy in this vast and ancient temple

We proceeded to Ponneri despite the heat picking up earlier this summer, even in early March, cooling ourselves with cold Lassi enroute. Ponneri Devadhanam temple is quite remote to have access. On the Ponneri road, one has to take diversion towards Vellakulam railway gate, cross it and ask for Devadhanam. At the fag end of the village cart road, through serpentine coils, with paddy fields on either side of the road, we reached the village by about 1430hrs and selected the house of a goodhearted villager named Dhayala Naidu, who has acres of land planted with rich teak, palm and coconut trees besides sugarcrane and kitchengarden. Naturally therefore his products are exploited by a group of monkeys, dogs and a cock family having no food problem. Dayalanaidu is one person living upto his name by his deeds. He and all members of his family were very courteous and offered us all the comforts. The sweet well water was refreshing and cool as if from a refrigerator. With great reluctance we rose up from this temporary heaven, at about 1545hrs to proceed to Devadhanam temple which was open from 1600 hrs.

1600-1700 hrs – Vada Thiruvarangam – Devadhanam Ranganathar temple. The temple is a gift from the Devas, was built by early Chalukyas. Sri Ranganathar’s idol is made of salagramam, 18 ft long, 5 foot high, in Bhoga sayana thirukolam with Sridevi Bhoodevi, Brahma, Naradha and Thumburu in attendance. Resting His head on “wooden-measuring equipment” (marakkal padi) His smiling lips tempt the ardent devotee to embrace Him.

This “ullam kavar kalvan” gives Seva just a foot away from the visiting devotee. There is no abishekam for Him and is annually given “thaila kappu”. Garudazhwar with his wings spreadout is 4ft tall in front of the sannidhi.

1930-2000 hrs - The long journey towards Narasinghapuram from Ponneri is through Minjur, Thiruvallur Thirupachur, Kadambathur, Perambakkam and through the winding narrow streets of Narasinghapuram leading to the ancient 2000 year old smiling santha Lakshmi-Narasimhar both mutually embracing each other. This temple belongs to early Chola period. An excellent dharshan we had just prior to closing hours thanks to Mr Nandagopal, the trustee of the temple who put in a word to the bhattachariyar there to await us. Without the cooperation of young Venkatesan, our driver we would not have made it.

There is a miracle reported about the dwajasthambam of this temple For erecting the Dwaja Sthambam (Flag Staff) of the Temple (as the original was found missing) a 53 feet tall wooden piece from the Amazon forests of South America was located thanks to a miraculous dream that a devotee had of a ship sailing with logs of wood. On enquiry it was found that a ship laden with logs of wood from the Amazon had just docked in Chennai Port. An Industrialist of Chennai Sri Navaneetha Krishnan bought a 53 Feet long wooden log and offered it to the Temple.One peculiarity about this tour is we just covered only 6 temples traveling about 293 km

GREAT TEMPLES THE VAN TOOK US TO IN 2 DAYS!!!!

The two days on wheels covering about 750 km., on the 19th and 20th July, 2008 indeed leaves behind an indelible impression. The 9 of us undertook this pilgrimage with zeal and sincerety as is usual in our group, to make it to cover maximum temples possible, in the minimum most time at our disposal. Of course, anything well begun is well finished, and rewarded too, inasmuch as we were able to have the darshans as narrated below.

1. Poovarasankuppam - Lakshminarasimhar - On the day of Sravan , the star of Lord Narayana, the commencement of our pilgrimage efforts was blessed and began with visit to this ancient temple leading us through winding serpentile coil of narrow lanes, situated in a serene, simple and true village atmosphere.

2. Thiruvadhigai Veerattaneswarar - one of the Ashta veerattanam temples -- Appar (Thirunavakkarasar) of tamil hyms was freed from his unbearable stomach ailment of at the instance of his sister Thilagavathiar, here. Her merciful, timely and effective advice retrieved him from Jain faith, and he turned anew as the first of the four immortal Saiva Samaya kuravargal, Appar, for the benefit of humanity in general.

3 Thiruvadhigai Nageswarar - a Rahu sthalam - is enroute the Virattaneswarar temple. Being an ancient temple of the mighty Cholas, it is not starving for any architectural majesty.

4 Mokshakulam - Saranarayana perumal - The one and only idol in the world of the reclining Narasimha is in this temple in the adjoining sannidhi. A rare privilege indeed for us to pray here.

5 Vadavambalam adhishtanam of the 58th pitathipathi of Kanchikamakoti peetam, Athmabodhananda saraswathi, installed at the instance of Mahaperiyaval, in miraculous circumstances was the next place of worship. So close it was on our way and it thrilled me to avail this rare privilege of paying homage to the great soul. For more informative narration of this mracle you have to turn the pages of Ra. Ganapathi’s Deivathin Kural.

6 Owing to paucity of time at our disposal, with a very very heavy heart we had to deny ourselves the visit to Chidambaram temple, which of course we had seen earlier. Instead we proceeded to the Thillai Kali temple, an ancient Chola temple of the protecting goddess of thillai otherwise known as Chidambaram.

7. Catching up with the fleeing time and keeping in mind the restricted temple hours we had to rush to Padaleeswarar temple at Cuddalore Old Town. Known as Thirupathiripuliyur, this coastal town temple is one of the very few temples of the hoary past and legend. It is here by one of his Thevaram “Sotrunai vedhian” Appar was saved and landed ashore despite the Jains throwing him bound with heavy stones to drown. Very few only know that this spot is called “Karai yeria kuppam”

8. The forenoon session of the first leg of the tour ended with the visit to Lord Devanatha Perumal at Thiruvahindrapuram one of the foremost of 108 divya desangal. This temple was worshipped by many saints and sages, not to mention, HH Vedanthadesikar. It has an adjoining Oushadiya parvam, a small mound of less than 500’ ft. frequented by HH Vedantha Desigar in his formative years in dhyanam.. As the temple timings were over, we had to rest until reopening at 4.30 pm to visit the holy spot on the Oushadiya mountain, where H.H. Vedantha Desikar was blessed with the darshan of Lord Lakshmi Hayagriva and Periya Thiruvadi’s upadesa . It is no exaggeration here to add that by sheer coincidence not short of a miracle, that I was able to be acquainted with Mukundha (again the lord’s name! --- through a wrong call through my mobile phone) who along with his mother and lovable but unfortunately congenitally deaf and dumb sister who poured incessant love and affection on us besides providing us with palatable food and most welcome shelter to free us from the travel fatigue. The short stay here included a visit to the monumental abode of Sarvathanthra swathanthra Nigamantha Desikar, who proved here his ability to construct a well all by himself, which even todate, is usable and full of sweet water despite many centuries of aging. He sculpted his own figure and it rests in his sannidhi worshipped with pujas todate.

9 After the well earned rest at Mayuram , the second and last day of our pilgrimage was resumed with the visit to Lord Mayuranathar temple, again one of the huge and very ancient temples of Tamilnadu, rich in stone carvings and architectural beauty.

10. With divine Grace we were able to offer our pranams at the brindhavanam of the great soul, manifested in our minds as yet another sarvathanthra swathanthra, HH Raghavendra swamigal at Bhuvanagiri. Here was He born in his mortal frame.

10 Koti hathi (now crudely named Kozhikuthi!!!) is where you are fortunate to be blessed with the enchanting smile of the 16’ tall Viswarupa Srinivasa Perumal, The idol is 1800 year old, made of a single Athi wood. The magnetic charm of His smile in his “Pavazha vaai” transcends one from here to eternity the moment you are fortunate to enjoy it.. Sage Pippalar was blessed with His viswarupa here. Who can fail to enjoy the beauty of Hanuman’s style of encircling his head with his belled tail? The chola king who was freed of his skin disease by His grace had adorned the Lord with his sceptre which is still resting on His right hand. .

11. Next, at Thiruvarur, we felt aghast at the sight of the biggest Kamalayam, the clean mini ocean. This pushkarani has legends behind it. Imagine it was here that Saint Thyagaraja too walked, bathed and washed his clothes..!!! He was born in a house in the same street we walked through, viewing the temple. A few minutes’ silence while standing in the hall where he was born, is an experience inexplicable. The sanctum sanctorum houses one of the swayambu lingams of the Saptha vidanga thyagaraja kshetras) This is the only temple where all the navagrahams face you in a line, at His command.

12 Saint Dhakshinamurthi guru’s adhishtanam is on the banks of Kamalalayam. Abhishekam with curd, honey and milk was in progress when we visited to have darshan, and this a place once habited by the great Kudhambai chittar..

13 Situated at about 4 km away off Thiruvarur, is the holy Thirukkanamangai, one of the 108 divya desam which had been eluding me and challenged all my previous attempts and efforts to visit. Probably, He thought it befitting only now to bless us during this pilgrimage perhaps because of a sincere soul longing to see Him….. !! Lord Baktharavi Perumal whose idol is the largest of Perumal’s in Tamilnadu blessed us with His darshan only this time.. Here the ageold honeycombs housing harmless honey bees on either side of the Thayar’s sanctum sanctorum is a rare sight.

14. The pilgrimage was virtually over with our visit to Sri Mushnam where the huge temple is enriched with matchless architectural beauty. In fact one needs minimum one day completely to witness and enjoy the enchanting sculpture here. The idol of moolava Bhuvaraha murthy is small but captivating our hearts.

15 Something has to be said about the miraculous coincidence in this tour of our having been fortunate to visit the holy spots connected with the life and times of great immortal souls viz., s HH Raghavendra, Vedanta Desikar, and Vallalar Ramalinga Adigal at Vadalur. Despite sudden downpour some of us hurried to see the still burning 132 year old oven of the Vallalar used for feeding countless millions of hungry stomachs, still continuing to do so.

This recollection would be incomplete if no mention is made of the relentless cooperation of the rare Mr. Sankar, owner cum driver of the Qualis vehicle which took us around, besides the neverfailing support, cooperation and enthusiasm of the enviable cum affectionate crowd around me. The time spent while moving on the road, listening to the lectures of Sri Velukudi Krishnanswamigal and the immortal bhajans of Swami Haridoss Giri completely recharged us.

With due apologies for anything left unmentioned and missing in this coverage due to my failing memory, I remain, yours

J.K.Sivan

CONCEPT OF THE SIVALINGAM EVERY HINDU SHOULD KNOW

SIVA LINGAM - SWAMI SIVANANDA’S SIMPLE EXPLANATION.

The concept that Siva-Linga represents a symbol of phallus to indicate the creativity is regrettably misleading. A reference to the Puranam ( Sivalinga puranam) Pradhanam Prakritim Tatcha Yadahur-lingamuttamam Gandhavarnarasairhinam Sabda-sparsadi-varjitam,
Meaning: Sivalingam represents Nature, one which has no name, form, gunam etc. Swami Sivananda explains:

“Linga means a mark, in Sanskrit. It is a symbol which points to an inference. When you see a big flood in a river, you infer that there had been heavy rains the previous day. When you see smoke, you infer that there is fire. This vast world of countless forms is a Linga of the omnipotent Lord. The Siva-Linga is a symbol of Lord Siva. When you look at the Linga, your mind is at once elevated and you begin to think of the Lord. Lord Siva is really formless. He has no form of His own; and yet, all forms are His forms. All forms are pervaded by Lord Siva. Every form is Linga of Lord Siva.

There is an indescribable, mysterious power (Sakti) in the Linga to induce concentration of the mind. Just as the mind is focussed easily in crystal gazing, so also the mind attains one-pointedness when it looks at the Linga. That is the reason why the ancient Rishis of India and the seers have prescribed Linga for being installed in the temples of Lord Siva.

Siva-Linga speaks to you in unmistakable language of silence: “I am one without a second. I am formless.”

Pure, pious souls only can understand this language. A curious, passionate, impure foreigner of little understanding or intelligence says sarcastically: “Oh! The Hindus worship the phallus or sex-organ. They are ignorant people. They have no philosophy.” When a foreigner tries to learn the Tamil or Hindi language, he first tries to pick up some vulgar words. This is his curiosity-nature. Even so, the curious foreigner tries to find out some defect in the worship of symbols. Linga is only the outward symbol of the formless being, Lord Siva, who is the indivisible, all-pervading, eternal, auspicious, ever-pure, immortal essence of this vast universe, who is the undying soul seated in the chambers of your heart, who is your Indweller, innermost Self or Atman and who is identical with the Supreme Brahman.

Sphatikalinga (quartz) is also a symbol of Lord-Siva. This is prescribed for Aradhana or worship of Lord Siva. . It has no colour of its own, but takes on the colour of the substances which come in contact with it. It represents the Nirguna Brahman or the attribute-less Supreme Self, or the formless and attributeless Siva.

Linga is not a block of stone. It is all radiant Tejas or Chaitanya. The Linga talks to devotees, makes him shed profuse tears, produces mercy and melting of heart, raises him above body-consciousness, and helps to commune with the Lord and attain Nirvikalpa Samadhi. Lord Rama worshipped the Siva-Linga at Ramesvar. Ravana, a learned scholar, worshipped the golden Linga. What a lot of mystic Sakti there should be in the Linga!
May you all attain the formless Siva through the worship of the Linga, the symbol of Lord Siva which helps concentration of mind and which serves as a prop for the mind to lean upon, in the beginning, for the neophytes.’

AMARADHEESWARAR TEMPLE, SIRUKALATHUR

A GREAT TEMPLE NOW IN RUIN.....

16/4/09 Thursday I visited a very ancient temple completely dilapidated. The temple is at Sirukalathur village, just 3 km from Kunrathur, closer to Chembarambakkam lake.The presiding deity is Lord Amaratheeswarar and the goddess is Parvathavardhini.

This temple belongs to 13th Century built by Chola kings at the time of Sekkizhar,(the great Siva baktha who wrote Periyapuranam) who lived in Kunrathur. The temple also had sannidhis of Varasiddhi vinayagar, Arumuga peruman, Sukravara Amman, Kala bairavar, Suryabaghavan and for Sekkizhar himself. Maha Periyaval had visited this temple and prayed to the presiding deity. Now the main deity remains covered, and a balalayam maintained awaiting repairs to temple and a kumbabishekam. When will it be??? Mahaganapathi statue from outer wall had already been stolen, Luckly the utsava vigrahams are for the last 15 years under custody of the Kovur Sundareswarar temple. The Nandikeswarar in the dilapidated small shelter is very impressive and faces the Lord ‘Sannidhi.

The temple once had about 55 acres lost to aggrandizement and today it is in such deplorable condition, the temple walls bared to inner bricks ready to collapse anytime, no gopurams, no sthupas where once mandapams were, the huge Siva Lingam removed from the Avudaiyar and resting on the inner wall of the temple, the Avudayar lying in the open exposed to sun and shower for years together,

There are about 25 poor people now looking after the temple with no daily poojas or abishekam. Mari, a local person daily pours water over the idols, cooks some rice at his house and offers it as neyvedhyam and throws it to crows. A priest turns up on important days like pradosham, Shashti, Pournami, at his will, to do some pooja and goes. The outer walls have Dhakshinamurthi, Brahma, Vishnu, Durgai exposed to weather with no proper pooja or lamps.

The small sannidhi of Chandiswarar is ready to collapse with the idol inside.
The 25 locals have formed a sathsang named Saiva Thirumurai Vazhipattu Manram, and are trying best to repair what they could with some negligible financial assistance they could organize.

The present president of the Manram is Mr Balasekaran – 9444463567, Secretary Mr Gunasekaran, a local tailor, 9444577254

Time is already ripe for putting our energies and hands together to raise this temple.
Photographs taken are attached on a perusal of which you would shed tears.

KERALA TEMPLES VISITED IN 4 DAYS

TOUR DIARY - J.K. SIVAN KERALA TOUR - 22/01/09 1600 HRS TO 26/01/09 0600 HRS Our AALAYA DHARSHAN group of 14 members - age ranging between 51 to 79 performed this Kerala Tour and we covered the holy places narrated below. By Trivandrum Express we left Chennai Central at 1600 hrs on 22/01/09 and arrived Ernakulam Junction on 23/01/09 at about 0400 hrs 1 23.01.09 0400 - 0630 hrs After refreshing ourselves in the cold water bath and swallowing the hot coffee, we began our tour by a Tempo Traveller with the visit to Ernakulathappan This Mahadeva temple ( 3 km from railway station) was built many centuries ago and is very big. Temples are open in Kerala, from about 0400 hrs It is heartening to observe so many people commencing their daily activities with a worship in all the temples at such early hours. 2. 23.01.09 0600 - Thiru katkarai – Vamana kshetram - 9 miles n/east frm Ernakulam- One of the 108 Divyadesam, THIRUKATKARAI APPAN - Vamana murthi. Here only the Lord obtained yachagam from Mahabali and took Trivikrama roopam. Thayar name as per pasuram: VATSALYA VALLI - Nindra thirukolam. This is one of the ancient but not much known divya desam. No separate Thayar sannidhi. 3 23.01.09 - 0600 – 0700 hrs - Thirumoozhikalam - About 30 km from Thirukkakarai - This too a Malainaattu divyadesam. (Lakshmana Perumal) Thirumoozhikalathan (Ninra thirukolam) – Thayar: Madhuraveni Nachiyar. The main deity was disfigured during Tippu Sultan’s regime dismembering both the hands. These were refixed by Panchalokam. 4. 23.01.09 - 0730 - 0900 – Koodal Manikkam Bharatha Perumal at Irinjalakuda– 35KM from Thirumoozhikalam. This is another 9th Century temple. Worshipped by Bharatha. The image of the Perumal was dazzling and the local chieftain compared the dazzling with a Manickam stone which got merged with the idol and can be seen on the forehead of the Lord. Hence the name koodal manickam. Not a divyadesam but an Abhimana kshetram. 5. 23.01.09 – 0900-0915hrs - Shatrugna perumal temple at Payammel - 3km away from Koodalmanickam temple – This is the one and only temple in India for Shatrugnan. This is not a divyadesam but an Abhimana kshetram. 6. 23.01.09 – 1000-1015 hrs – Lord Rama temple on the banks of River Tiruprayar – The idol was washed ashore and found and installed by the local chieftain in the 9th century. Not a divyadesam but an abhimana kshetram 7. 23.01.09 1100-1115 hrs - Kodungalur Bhagavathi amman temple - 9 km away from Triprayar. One of the 4 main temples of Bhagavathi amman. No Brahmin poojari here. This temple and goddess referred in Ramayana and Mahabharatha. 8. 23.01.09 - 1630 hrs - Kaladi -53 km away. Adhi Sankara’s birth place on the banks of Poorna river. 40 km away from Kodungalur. Near Angamali station. Samadhi of Aryamba, Sankara’s mother, where Adisankara cremated her is worshipped here. The ghat where a crocodile caught hold of Sankara’s leg is seen. The Krishna temple where Aryamba worshipped is still there. 9. 23.01.09 - 1800 hrs Chottanikara Bhagavati (Rajarajeswari) temple 15km away from Kaladi. The main deity is made of laterite and untouched by any human sculptor. Worshipped daily in 3 forms, as Saraswathi, draped in white in the morning, as Bhadrakali in crimson at noon and as Durga decked in blue in the evening to get rid of evil influence, psychological disorders, and evil spirits. 10 Keezhakkavu bhagavathi temple adjacent to Chottanikara bhagavathi temple is where nailing on the tree is done for warding off evil spirits and the deity is Bhadrakali and sacrifices of animals are still done here. 11. 23.01.09 - 1900 hrs - Udayanapuram -3 kms away from Chottanikara - Lord Murugan temple – Established by Parasurama this temple is very big and ancient. When we visited this temple the local Nadhaswara vidwan was playing Entha kavi padinalum in Raga Nilamani, reminding me of Madurai Somu’s rendering of it. It was very apt and proper to praise the Lord thus. 12. 23.01.09 – 1940 hrs Vaikom Mahadeva temple - 5 km away from Udayanapuram - It is stated that only here, Lord Siva converted the jackals into horses to save Manickavasagar from the King’s punishment. The flagstaff (dwajasthambam) is about 320 ft tall. 13. 23.01.09 - 2040 hrs - Kaduthuruthi Siva temple - 14 km from Vaikom. When we climbed the steps to enter the temple the doors were already closed. Only abhisheka theertha prasadam was given. No temple is open beyond 8 pm Regretfully we missed this temple and Ettumanoor Siva temple 2100 hrs Reached Kottayam Samooha koodam to have a well earned rest. 14. 24.01.09 - 0530 hrs - Kottayam Tirunakkara Mahadevan temple - during ploughing, the plough struck a rock in the Tirunakkara hill and blood started oozing from the rock, which was found to be a swayambu lingam. 15 23.01.09 - 0600 hrs – Kottayam Thirunakkara Sri Krishna temple - is on the slope from the Mahadeva temple. It is worshipped as South Guruvayur temple. 16. 24.01.09 – 0900 am - Thirukadithanam –Arputhanarayanan temple – a Divyadesam - 5 km from Chenganaseri – Goddess: Karpagavalli thayar. This place is connected with Ekadasi vratham of King Rukmangadha. This temple is connected with Sahadevan. 17 24.01.09 - 0930 hrs Thiruvalla - a Divyadesam 9km from Thirukadithanam – Sri Vallabhan temple - The idol was traced from the bed of Netravathi river during 59 BC. 18. 24/01/09 0950 hrs Thiruvanvandoor - 4 km from chenganoor - a divya desam – Pambanaiappan – Ninra thirukolam - Temple built by Nakulan. Goddess: Kamalavalli Nachiyar. 19. 24.01.09 - 1000 hrs - Thiru chenkundrur –(Thiruchitraru) – a Divya desam - 1km from chenganur. Yudhistra established this temple after meditating here. Perumal is seen holding Sanku in His right hand and Chakram in His left hand. A very ancient temple and remote to access. 20 24.01.09 - 1020 hrs - Thiruppuliyoor – a divya desam – 3.5mles west of Chenganur. The temple was renovated by Bheema. A huge stone Gadhai of Bheema is installed here. When we visited this temple there was a festival going on. 21 24.01.09 - 1045hrs - Chenganoor Bhagavathi temple – Both the images of the Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati are enshrined in a circular Srikovil .The Shivalinga is three and a half feet high and faces east. The Linga is enveloped in a golden covering or Kavacha. This is made in the Ardhanari or half-man-half-woman form. The image of Goddess Chenganoor Bhagavati faces west and placed behind the Lord’s Garbhagriha is two and a half feet in height and made of Panchaloha .The Goddess is shown with the Varamudra on her right hand and the Abhayamudra on the left hand. The deity is decked with various dazzling jewels. 22 24.01.09 1200 noon - Aranmoola - Parthasarathy Perumal - a divya desam connected with Arjuna. The temple is on the left bank of Pamba river. It is here that when Arjuna hesitated to kill Bheeshma, Krishna got enraged and took his chakra in hand got down from the chariot to kill Bheeshma who dropped his bow on seeing Krishna ready to kill him. But Arjuna pacified Krishna and reminded Him of his vow not to participate in the battle. Hence the Lord is seen with his disc in hand here. This temple dates back to Mahabaratha time. 23 Pandalam palace of Lord Ayyappa. There is nothing to be seen here on normal days as Thiruvabaranam is exhibited only during Makara Jothi time. The present Royal family member Sri Rama Varma was just sitting on his simple cot watching TV and we did not disturb him. After lunch we proceeded towards our journey to Trivandrum 24. 24.01.09 1700 hrs Aattukkal Bhagavathi amman temple at Trivandrum 2 km from Padmanabhaswami temple. The temple is huge and is in the heart of Trivandrum city. 25. 24.01.09 1800 hrs - Anantha Padmanabhaswami temple – a Divyadesam – Thayar Hari Lakshmi - a grand temple of ancient times, well maintained by the Royal family of erstwhile Travancore-Kochi kingdom. The huge idol is seen in 3 parts and is always crowded by devotees from all over the country. We commenced our tour the next day after resting for the night at Samoohakoodam at Trivandrum atop the Durga temple. 26. 25.01.09 0600 hrs – 0900 hrs - we departed by bus from Trivandrum to Nagercoil and reached the TAMBRAS samoohakoodam at Parvathipuram. Being Newmoon day some of us performed Tharpanam arranged at the samoohakoodam itself. 27. 25.01.09 0900 – 1000 hrs - Thiruvattaru – a Divyadesam – Sri Adikesava Perumal – Thayar Maragadhavalli nachiyar. Perumal is in sayana thirukolam as in Tiruvananthapuram. He is also giving seva in 3 vaasals (entry points). The only difference is Ananthapadmanabha swami is in bujanga sayanam facing east whereas Adikesavaperumal is facing west. The whole Mandapam is sculpted out of a single stone. 28. 25.01.09 1200 noon - Mandacadu Bhagavathi amman temple - This temple is wellknown as Sabarimala of Women devotees. The idol is on a sandhill which grows each year. This famous temple is over 1000 years old. People believe it to be a Kannagi temple also. 29. 25.01.09 - 1630 hrs - We waited for a while for the Nagarajar temple to open in vain and left for Thiruvanparisaram 30. 25.01.09 - 1715 hrs -Thiruvanparisaram ( known now as Thirupathisaram) 7 km from Nagarkoil - While waiting for the opening of the Garbagraham an excellent Namasankirthan bhajan was condcted by sri K. Rathnam Iyer, one of our senior members. A divya desam - Perumal: Kuralappan/ Thiruvazhmarbhan - Thayar : Kamalavalli nachiyar - Veetrirundha thirukolam - Nammalwar’s mother Udayanangai was born here and Nammalwar also was born here. There is a small sannadhi for Udayanangai. 31. 25.01.09 1820 hrs - Sunset at Cape Comorin (Kanyakumari) was witnessed in dazzling beauty. The disappearance of setting sun as a red ball into the sea surface was unforgettable. 32. 25.01.09 - 1915 hrs - Goddess Kanyakumari - Life size idol holding a garland in one of the hands is an imposing image. The dazzling left nose jewellery is famous and legendary. A beautiful sight for devotees’ eyes. 33. 25.01.09 - 2100 hrs - Suseendram – sthanumaalayan temple & Bhaktha Anjaneyar. This is a 9th Century temple with 18’ tall Anjaneyar. The tour ended with visits to above temple and could not have been a success but for the cooperation of one and all involved in the tour and returned to Chennai by Guruvayur –Chennai Express departing Nagarcoil at 0600 hrs on 26.1.09 arriving at Chennai Tambaram by 2100hrs -