NANGANALLUR TEMPLES

TOUR DIARY -  J.K. SIVAN

NANGANALLUR TEMPLES VISIT 15.03.2009

                                    

Sunday the 15^th  March 2009  is a memorable day indeed inasmuch as Mr. Rajendran Ganesan with his family members joined the 3 of us locally to pray the Almighty visiting about 8 temples from  0800 hrs. 

Varasiddhi Vinayagar temple in Nanganallur was  of course  the first temple to visit.  When we stood before Him  Sandal paste abishekam was being performed.  

At Lord Guruvayurappan temple, we had an excellent dharshan. The old sthalavriksham (arasa pradhakshinam)  with Sangharshana idol in the morning hours is sacred.   Bhagavathi amman is giving dharsanam in a separate sannidhi in this temple and the idol is a feast to the eye.

Srimad Raghavendra swami temple known as Dhakshina Manthralayam is a sacred place in Nanganallur.  The dhyana mandapam with His huge image gives immense  peace for the heart and mind of the devotee.

Adhivyadhihara Bhaktha Anjaneyar of 32ft height is as ever the haunting place for devotees.  Homam and archana is well attended by devotees here.  Shri Rama, Lakshmana and Seetha idols were with captivating Alankaram when we stood before Him.  Distribution of hot ghee Pongal was welcome for devotees in the morning hours we visited.

Sabarigirisan temple behind Anjaneya temple is a typical Kerala sampradaya temple for Ayyappan.  The idol in sanctum sanctorum could be comfortably viewed on the mirror from both sides of the sannidhi during crowded hours.

Sri Lakshmi Narasimha on the first floor of the temple in Thillaiganga nagar,  is the recent addition to the list of temples in Nanganallur. The Lord blesses with His Consort, in santham here. Panagam is distributed to devotees.  When we visited the temple Thirumanjanam was in progress.

Devi Karumari Amman  temple is the adjoining temple premises.  Lord Srinivasa, (Balajee)  gives dharshan on entering the temple.  Devi Karumari temple faces the new highway laid recently for  connecting Velacheri to GST road at Thillaiganganagar point.

Access  to Sri Raja Rajeswari temple was confusing with spiralling roads as many of the roads were blocked for repairs or blind.

Sri  Lakshmi sametha Sathyanarayana temple is on the ground floor of the Raja Rajeswari temple.  Sanganidhi and Padmanidhi bless the devotees on the entrance of the steps to the sanctum sanctorum of Shri Raja Rajeswari.

Lakshmi Hayagriva temple was temporarily closed due to death of someone in the neighbourhood and was open by 1030 hrs when we passed by this temple and our earlier disappointment vanished.  It was a great opportunity to visit this temple during the nanganallur temples visit.

One has to be very careful while crossing the road to visit Ardhanariswarar temple on the bazaar road of Nanganallur as this is the main artery, but narrow and encroached by shops on either side with fast moving indisciplined road users in fourwheelers and two wheelers not to speak of the cows and bulls all the more.

This temple tank has been deepened, compounded and maintained giving an excellent view.  Maha Periyaval visited this temple and was instrumental in the punaruddharanam of this temple.  Ashtabhuja Durga temple at the rearside of the temple is a huge idol well sculpted to please the eyes of the devotees and is well known as sarvabhishta pala dayaki

Semporkoil Dhanmeesar ( Dharmalingeswar temple) in south Nanganallur is an ancient temple of Pallava times.  There is a stone edict declaring this temple having been constructed by a district chief under the Pallava King. Rajagopuram is under construction.

As it was almost 1045 hrs  we rushed to Madipakkam to visit the Oppiliappan temple enroute to Kaiveli on the Madipakkam Velacheri road.  Again at this temple also, the abhishekam and aradhanai was in progress.  We had the dharshan of the main deity.  Sri Ramar in Pattabhisheka kolam is in the adjacent sannidhi.

Next to the Petrol bunk on the road, and alongside of the canal, in Madipakkam, is the small beautiful Dhyana mandapam of Mother of Pondicherry.  The fragrance of the various flowers, the silence of the environment and the enchanting smell of the incence in the mandapam adds to the vibration one gets in the presence of the eyes of the Mother looking at you.  A few minutes of meditation is enough for one to recharge himself.

By  1130  hrs  we were back in Nanganallur to participate in the Annakkoodai annual festival ( Masi Chithirai) at the Lakshmi Narasimhar temple in Sarva mangala nagar.  Lord Navaneedha krishnar magnetises the devotees with his smile.

By 1150 hrs  our temple visits were over as no temple would be open beyond 1200 hrs mostly

We saved our energy and rushed to avail the great opportunity to visit the above 14 temples between 0800hrs and 1200 hrs and we were blessed to have unforgettable dharshan everywhere.