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Saturday, 26 February 2011

kaaval deivangal

Karkuvel Ayyanar Temple, Therikudi Iruppu, Manal Medu

It's a Ayyanar Temple, who is worshipped by many families in the Nadar community as their Family Deity. The temple is located in a scenic location surrounded by Red Sand mounds

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Karukuvel Ayyanar along with pooranam, porkamalam constitute the main deity. Peatchiamman is the main godess. The temple is surrounded by many Gods."Kallar Vettu" is the famous festival celebrated in the month of Karthigai. Lakhs and Lakhs of people will come and participate in the function.

Pandi Kovil (Pandi muneeswarar temple )

Pandi kovil is a very famous temple in madurai , thousands of devotees visit here on every tuesdays and fridays to offer prayer to pandi muneeswara

Veerabhadra swamy temple

The Eldest son of Lord Shiva is Shri Shri Shri Veerabhadra swamy... His brothers are kala Bhairavar, Ganapathy, Karthikeyan and Swami Iyappan... The ultimate destroyer of ego... Agni Veerabhadrar Agora Veerabhadrar Sadma Veerabhadrar Kubera Veerabhadrar... Total 21 avathar... The Total beauty of deity Sri Sri Sri Veerabhdra swamy... unimaginable... he will be satisfied with water and vilva bhadram leaves... Please do perform Pooja during Ashtami thithi is very very important... your positive demands will be fulfilled... always be very careful while worshipping him... His important festivals are Mahasivarathri, Thiruvonam (Onam festival), Masi(Tamil month) Pooram (naksathiram)... let everyone blessed with lord veerabhadreshwar blessings... please chant always Om Shri Veerabhdresaya Namaha... subham..


 

God       : aiyARRappar, panychApakeshar, chempoRchOdhi nAthar, panchanadhIshar, praNathArthiharar, mahAdhevar
Goddess : aRamvaLarththa nAyaki, dharma samvardhdhani, tripurasundari, ulaguDainAchchiyAr
thiirtham : kAviri, Surya thIrththam, nandhi thIrththam, samudra thIrththam, dhEvAmrita thIrththam
Tree : vilvam
Name of Abode : kAvirikkOTTam
Great saints visited : nandhi dhEvar, sambandhar, appar, sundharar, chEramaN perumA
L, mANikka vAchakar, paTTiNaththaDikal, aiyaDikaL kADavarkOn, aruNagirinAthar

History:

The Lord worshipped Himself at this great abode !

Specialities:

  • appar had the kailasha dharshan at this abode. (1)
  • So it is also called daxiNa kailAsham.
  • God arranged the wedding of nandhi with svayam prakashai and took them around to seven abodes as saptapati.
  • The river kAviri gave way for sundharar and chEramAn perumAL to worship the Lord. (2)
  • dhakshiNAmUrthi

Main Festivals

  • chiththirai vishAkam festival
  • kALAShTami in the month of kArthikai
  • shivarAtri

Location:

State : Tamil Nadu
District : Thanjavur
Situation: Well connected with Thanjavur

Wednesday, 16 February 2011

Tuesday, 15 February 2011

Bhairavar temples

PERUMAAL TEMPLES-TAMILNADU


  • The Ranganathaswamy Temple at Srirangam, Trichy
  • The Yoga Narasimha temple at sholingur.
  • The Narasimha temple at Namakkal.
  • The Narasimha temple at Tindivanam.
  • The Yoga Narasimha temple at velachery,Chennai.
  • The Uppiliappan Temple at Mayavaram.
  • The chakrapani temple at kumbakonam.
  • The sarangapani temple at kumbakonam.
  • The Ramaswami temple at kumbakonam.
  • The Oppliyappan Temple at kumbakonam.
  • The Saranathan temple at Tirucherai, kumbakonam.
  • The Kripasamudra Perumal (Arulmakadal) temple at Mayavaram.
  • The Thanjai Mamani Koil, Thanjavur.
  • The parimala Rangantha temple at Mayavaram.
  • The Ugra Narasimha temple at Singaperumal Koil, Chennai.
  • The Ari Katha Rama temple at Maduranthakam, Chennai.
  • The Hayagreeva temple at Chettipunyam, Chennai.
  • The Hayagreeva temple at Cuddalore, Chennai.
  • The Varaha temple (Nithya kalyana Perumal) at Tiruvidanthai, Chennai.
  • The Varaha temple (Bhoovaraha) at Simushnam.
  • The Varadaraja Perumal Temple at Kancheepuram.
  • The Parthasarathy Temple at Chennai.
  • Kasthuri Ranganatha Perumal Temple at Erode Fort
  • Magudeswarar Temple, Kodumudi, Erode.
  • Kongu Tirupati at Erode.
  • The LakshmiNarasimhar Temple at Tindivanam.
  • The Kesavaperumal Temple at Chennai.
  • The Lakshmi Narasimhar Temple at Chennai Ramapuram narasimhar .
  • The Madhavaperumal Temple at Chennai.
  • The Azhagar temple, Alagar Koil, Madurai.
  • The Koodalazhagar temple,Madurai.
  • The Devaraja Swami temple at Cuddalore.
  • Sri Mayakoothar Devasthanams, Perungulam, Tuticorin[Thoothukudi], One among NAVATHIRUPATHI.
  • Kottai Alagiri Nathar temple, Salem
  • Pandurangan temple, Shevapet, Salem
  • Arulmegu sattur perumal swamy temple,solavampalayam,kinathukadavu,pollachi,coimbatore

Anjaneyar Temples-

  • Namakkal Anjaneyar Temple
  • Sri Viswaroopa Adhivydhihara Bhaktha Anjaneyaswamy Temple, Nanganallur, Chennai
  • Tirukkatikai Yoga Anjaneyar Temple, Sholingar
  • Veera Anjaneya Swami Temple, Mylapore, Chennai
  • Veera Anjaneya Swami Temple, Chengalpattu
  • Veera Anjaneya Swami Temple, Ananthamangalam
  • Sri SanjeeviRayan Temple,Iyengar Kulam, Kanchipuram]
  • Sri Viswaroopa Panchamukha Anjaneya Swami Temple, Tiruvallur
  • Sri Jaya Anjaneya Swami Temple, Karur
  • Sri Anuvavi Anjaneya Temple, Coimbatore
  • Sri Veera Anjaneyar Temple, VOC Park, Erode
  • Sri Anjaneyar Temple, Ambur

kolanjiyappar& kaali temples


The kolmanjiyappar koil,viruddhachalam
”.





VinayagarTwo Horse Temple Main Tower
Shree Muniappa has embodied himself in a separate roofed sanctum in the northern side of Maha Mandapam in front of the Main .  In front of Lord Muniappa in an enclosed area there are many spears fixed on the ground  where the written complaints are to be tied.  The Urchave ldols that are being taken in procession are placed in a roofed Sanctum in a big hall, adjacent to Lord Muniyappa.  In front of main Sanctum Sanctorium a five storied stone Rajagopura of 64 feet with beautiful architectural embellishments had been erected.  Shree Veeranar has been installed in separate roofed sanctum facing north.  This  is the structure of the temple with ancient looks


Other Kali Temples
Vettuyudayal Kali in Kollangudi near Sivagangai
Madurakalikambal Temple in thiruvachur
Madapuram Kali koil in Madurai
(She is very famous here she stands with no roof and about 12 feet high).
Vakrakaliammam temple in tiruvakkari
sri vekkaliyamman koil,woraiyur,trichy
Bhagavathi Temple, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu


famous amman temples-tamilnadu

Kamakshi Amman Temple at Maangaadu (near Chennai)

This is one of the most visited temples in the vicinity of Chennai especially on Sundays and Fridays. The Kamakshi Amman temple at Maangaadu is located off of the highway linking Chennai with Poonamallee and is well connected with Chennai by frequent bus service.
This temple is believed to have been in existence during the peirod of Aadi Sankaracharya.

The sanctum here enshrines Kamakshi, and a Sri Chakram. Legend has it that Kamakshi performed severe austerities in a grove of mango trees. The processional image here is referred to as Raja Rajeswari.
The sanctum and the shrine to the Utsavar are enclosed within the inner mandapam of the temple which is surrounded by a covered prakaram, enshrining other deities.
Once in a state of obscurity, the temple became well known in the 1970s and the 1980s. Much of the current structure is attributed to the renovation efforts taken in the 1980s and the 1990s.



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Sunday, 13 February 2011

பதினாறு பேறுகள்

சவுந்தர்யம்.
சவுபாக்கியம்.
கீர்த்தி.
வீரம்.
வெற்றி.
சந்தானம்.
மேதை.
கல்வி.
துஷ்டி.
புஷ்டி.
ஞானம்'
சக்தி.
சாந்தி.
சாம்ராஜ்யம்.
ஆரோக்கியம்.
மோட்சம்.

காலையில் எழுந்தவுடன் சொல்ல வேண்டிய மந்திரங்கள்


 கராக்ரே வசதே லக்ஷ்மி கரமத்யே சரஸ்வதி 
கரமூலேது கௌரிசாத் பிரபாத கர தரிசனம் 
பொருள்
 கரத்தில்,விரல் நுனியில் வசிக்கும் மகாலக்ஸ்மி யே,உள்ளங்கை மத்தியில் வசிக்கும் சரஸ்வதியே, 
உள்ளங்கை அடிப்பகுதியில் வசிக்கும் பார்வதி தேவியே 
உங்களை தரிசிக்கிறேன் .

Navagraha Temples

Suriyanaar koil
Suryanaar Koyil is located in the hamlet of Tirumangalakkudi near Kumbhakonam and Mayiladuturai near Thanjavur in Tamilnadu. This is a one of a kind temple dedicated to the Sun God and it also houses shrines to each of the other eight celestial bodies - the Nava Grahams. Very closeby, are the Shivastalams Tirumangalakkudi and  Kanjanur (Sukrastalam).
Suryanaar Koyil was built by the Chola kings. Inscriptions from the period of Kulottunga Chola I (1075-1120) refer to this temple as the Kulottunga Chola Martanda Alayam. Kulottunga Chola is said to have had a good relationship with the Gahadwal dynasty of Kanauj (1090 - 1194), whose rulers were Sun worshippers, and hence Suryanar Koyil, is considered to be an expression of their influence in South India.
Inscriptions from the period of Krishna Deva Raya, speaking of endowments made to this temple are also seen here. 
The Suryanar temple faces west. The presiding deity here is Suryanarayana in a chariot like vimaanam, representing the sun's chariot. There are also shrines to Kasi Viswanathar, Visalakshi and Brihaspati (Guru) in the sanctum. Shrines to the other celestial bodies are located outside of the sanctum.
The sanctum and the ardhamandapam are built of stone, while the rest of the shrines are brick structures. The Kol Theertha Vinayakar shrine is considered to be of importance here. An elaborate worship protocol involving circumambulating the entire temple nine times, is prescribed for devotees visiting the temple. Protocol requires that one visits the Tirumangalakkudi Shivastalam before visiting Suryanaar Koyil.
Ratha Saptami in the Tamil month of Thai, and the first Sundays in the months of Aavani (Leo) and KartikaiVijaya Dasami are celebrated in this temple (Scorpio) and .

Thingalur (Chandran)
The Kailasanathar temple known as the Navagrahastalam associated with Chandra the moon, is located in the hamlet of Tingaloor not far from Tiruvaiyaru near Thanjavur in Tamilnadu. The small temple here has a small shrine dedicated to Chandran
This is an ancient Saivite shrine, associated with the life of Tirunavukkarasar, although no Tevara Patikam dedicated to the shrine has been discovered so far. Tirunavukkarasar has mentioned Tingaloor in a patikam of 10 songs dedicated to another Shivastalam, and hence Tingalur constitutes on of the Tevara Vaippu talangal
Legend has it that there lived a merchant Appoodi Adikal in the village of Tingaloor who was a devotee of Shiva.  Appoodi Adikal held Tirunavukkarasar in high regard and looked forward to the day when he would be able to host the saint poet. The day arrived, but his son got killed by a venomous snake bite while the saint was being hosted. The saint moved by Appoodi Adikal's devotion is said to have miraculously restored the lad to life

Vaitheeswaran koil
Legends: Shiva is considered to be the Divine Healer Vaidyanathar.  His consort Thaiyalnaayaki is said to accompany him with a vessel containing medicinal oil. There is also a shrine dedicated to Dhanwantari here. The prasadam offered at this temple goes by the name Tiruchaandu Urundai and it is considered to be a panacea capable of curing many ailments. It is made of ashes taken out of the homa kundam in front of the Subramanya shrine. Rituals are performed where a mixture of earth and ashes from the homakundam are shaped into pills and placed at the Thaiyalnayaki shrine and distributed.
Another prasadam offered here is sandal paste mixed with saffron again at the Murugan shrine here. It is referred to as Nettirapidi Chandanam.
Offereings of salt and pepper are made in this shrine. Offerings of unrefined sugar are placed in the temple tank Siddhamrita Theertham.
Rig Vedam (Irukku), Jatayu (Pull), Sambadi, the Surya (Oor)  and Skanda (Vel) are said to have worshipped Shiva here and hence the name PullirukkuVelur..Rama Lakshmana and the Saptarishis are also said to have worshipped Shiva here. It is also believed that Rama performed the last rites to Jatayu here. The nectar with which the Sidhas worshipped Shiva is said to have flown into the Sidhamrita Theertham. 
The Temple: This is a vast temple with several mandapams and gopurams. The Navagrahams are in a single file as in Tiruvarur and a few other places.
Deities: Vaidyanathaswamy and ThaiyalNayaki are the presiding deities of this temple. The Selvamuthukkumaraswamy shrine here is also considered to be of importance. There are Shivalingams said to have been worshipped by Rama, Jatayu, Skanda, Surya and Angaraka.
Angaaraka: The Angaaraka shrine here is also of great significance and is indeed unique to this temple. A bronze of image of Angaaraka is housed in this shrine and is taken out in procession on a goat mount every Tuesday. Angaaraka represents the planet Mars and is described as one with a fiery red complexion attired in red and as the overlord of the zodiac signs of Aries and Scorpia and as being the strongest in the zodiac sign of Capricorn

Thiruvenkaadu
Legends: Indra, Airavatam, Budhan, Surya and Chandra are said to have worshipped here.A sage by name Swetaketu is said to have been saved from the clutches of death by the grace of Shiva here , in a legend similar to that of Markandeya at Tirukkadavur. Meikkandaar the author of Sivagnanabodham is said to have been born by the grace of Swetaranyeswarar & there is a shrine to him on the banks of the Agni Theertham. It is also believed that Shiva took the fierce Aghoramurthy form, to vanquish the demon Maruttuvan, to whom he had given his Shoolam - which he had misuse
The Temple: There are several shrines of significance in this well visited temple , including those to Durga and Kali.  The image of Natarajar here is of great beauty.Worship to Aghoramurthy - Shiva's fiery form (Veerabhadrar) is said to be of significance on Sunday nights. The Aalamaram here is referred to as Akshayavadam (infinite one, indestructible banyan tree).  Special worship services are offered to Natarajar and the associated Spatikalingam

Alankudi 

Description: This is regarded as  a 'Gurustalam' where Dakshinamurthy is held in great reverence, attracting huge crowds when Jupiter transits between zodiac signs. The festival image here is that of Dakshinamurthy & this stalam is considered to be  one of the 9 Navagrahastalams of the Chola region. This shrine is regarded as the 98th in the series of Tevara Stalams in the Chola Region south of the river Kaveri.
Legends:   Dakshinamurthy is said to have preached to the Devas who had swooned under the impact of the poison that came out of the churning of the milky ocean. Parvati is said to have been reborn on the banks of Amrita Pushkarini and later on reunited with Shiva. Viswamitrar is believed to have worshipped Shiva here.
The Temple: There are as many as 15 theerthams in this temple which occupies an area of about 1.25 acres, surrounded by lofty walls. One of the theerthams is a well located inside the temple and it is referred to as the Jnana koopam. East of the temple is the Poolaivala river, whose waters are used in abhishekam ceremonies in the Tamil month of Aippasi.
Inscriptions dating back to the period of Vikrama Chola (1131), referring to Alankudi as Jananatha saruppedimangalam, and to the Chidambaram Natarajar temple, are seen here

Kanchanur

Description: This Shivastalam is associated with Sukran - representing the plant Venus and is - regarded one of the nine temples in the Thanjavur area linked with the Navagrahams. Maintained by the Madurai Adhinam, it is located in a quiet hamlet in the vicinity of Tiruvaavaduturai, Suryanar Koyil and Tirumangalakkudi, near Tiruvidaimarudur and Kumbhakonam. This shrine is also referred to as Palaasavanam, Bhrammapuri and Agnistalam. Kanjanur is considered to be the 36th in the series of the Tevara Stalams located in Chola Nadu north of the river Kaveri
  
Legends: Bhramma is said to have been blessed with a vision of Shiva's marriage with Parvati here. Agni is said to have worshipped Shiva here, hence the name Agneeswara
Haradatta Sivacharyar of Vaishnava origins - originally known as Sudarshanar is said to have undergone ordeals to prove the tenacity of his devotion for Shiva to fellow Vaishnavites.  Images of Agneeswarar and Karpagambal are also seen in the Varadarajar Temple at Kanjanur. Several legends pertaining to events in the life of Haradatta Sivacharyar pertain to this shrine.
The Temple:  This temple with a two prakarams has a five tiered Rajagopuram at its entrance. Haradatta Sivacharyar is said to have composed many works in sanskrit here.   Images depicting legends related to Haradatta Sivacharyar are seen in this temple. There are also shrines to Maanakkanjaarar Nayanmaar and Kalikkaamar here.
Stone images of Natarajar and Sivakami are seen in this temple in the Nataraja Sabha referred to as the Mukti Mandapam. The Shivatandavam here is referred to as Mukti Tandavam. Legend has it that Shiva blessed Paraasara muni with a vision of the cosmic dance - Mukti tandavam here

Thiru Nallaaru

Description:: This Shivastalam is a vast temple shrine of great significance, especially in light of Saneeswarar's sannidhi here, which attracts thousands when the planet Saturn transits between zodiac signs. Tirunallar is located in close proximity to Karaikkal and Nagappattinam, (is under the administration of Pondicherry) and is well connected by road to many other towns in the area. Tirunallar is best accessed, driving from Mayiladuturai or from Nagapattinam.
Tirunallar   is one of the 7 Saptavitanka stalams of Tyagaraja connected with the Mucukunda Chola legend and Tiruvarur - housing Nagavitankar (Unmatta Natanam). The seven Vitankastalams are Tiruvarur, Tirukkuvalai, Tirukkaaraivaasal, Tirumaraikkaadu, Tiru Naagai, Tirunallaaru and Tiruvaimur

Worship services are performed five times a day. Other than these, a whole host of festivities are held throughout the year. On Tamil New Year's day, (marked by the transition of the Sun from Pisces to Aries according to the Indian astrological system) Tyagaraja is taken in a procession and oblations are performed to the Emerald Lingam.
A grand eighteen day festival is performed in the month of Vaikashi (when the sun resides in the sign of Taurus). The tenth day of this festival, when the moon resides passes through the sign of Scorpio, Saneeswarar (Saturn) is taken in procession. This day is said to mark the day when King Nala was relieved of the influence of Saturn.
The month of Aani (Gemini) witnesses festivities related to Nataraja - Shiva - the Lord of Dance. The month of Aadi (Cancer) marks the time for special services to Sundaramoorthy Nayanar - one of the foremost Saivite poet Saints. The full moon night in the month of Purattasi (Leo) witnesses several special services to the Emerald Lingam. This month also is the time for the nine day festival for the Goddess Pranambika (Navaratri). In the month of Aippasi (Libra) is celebrated a festival for Subramanya.
During the month of Kartikai (Scorpio), Kartikai Deepam is celebrated, marked by a procession of the five principal temple deities and by the symbolic bonfire. The month of Markali (Saggitarius) is when, a ten day festival dedicated to Natarajar is performed, where verses from Tiruvempavai are recited. There are several other festivals including one on Panguni Uthiram.
Perhaps, the best known festival here is the one marking the transition of Saturn between Zodiac signs (Sani Peyarchi). This happens once in two and a half years and is visited by hundreds of thousands of deities. The entire town wears a festive look as the deity Saneeswarar is taken in a procession around town

Tirunallar is also ssociated with Sambandar's Pachaippatikam which remained 'green' even in the midst of his 'Anal Vaatam' at Madurai. .King Nala of the puranas is said to have been relieved of his afflictions upon worshipping here.
The Tirunallar temple is a one of a kind temple with a shrine of this grandeur exclusively dedicated to Saturn. The architectural features date back to the Chola period and inscriptions dating back to the twelfth century AD are found in the temple.
Legends: Several mythological stories are associated with this temple. It is said that King Nala was under the influence of Sani, i.e. Saturn for an extended period of time in his life and went through several ordeals and obtained total relief only after worshipping Shiva at this shrine

Thiru Nakeswaram

Description: This Shivastalam is a vast temple known for its shrine to Raahu, one of the nine celestial bodies - Navagrahas- hence a Navagrahastalam visited by thousands. (Rahu and Ketu are associated with the legend of the churning of the milky ocean.) 
Tirunageswaram is considered to be the 29th in the series of Tevara Stalams in the Chola kingdom located south of the river Kaveri. 
It is located adjacent to the Vaishnava Divya Desam Uppiliappan Kovil outside the town of Kumbhakonam. Sekkizhaar, the author of Periyapuranam, named the temple that he built at Kunrattur in Tondai Nadu after this temple.
Offering worship at Kudandai Keezhkottam (Nageswarar temple) in the morning, at Tirunageswaram at noon and at Tiruppampuram in the evening on a given day is considered to be of special significance.
Legend has it that the mythological serpents Aadi Seshan, Dakshan and Kaarkotakan worshipped Shiva here. Legend also has it that Nala worshipped Shiva here as in Tirunallaar.  Gowtama muni, Paraasarar and Bhageerata are also associated with legends related to this temple

The Temple: This temple occupies an area of 15 acres and it has Vast prakarams, towering gopurams, and several mandapams. The fort like walls which surround the outermost prakaram are pierced with four entry towers. There are as many as 12 Theerthams here. There is an image of Sekkizhaar and a mandapam built by him, here as well.
This temple was built by Gandaraditya Chola son of Parantaka Chola I. The inner mandapams and the outer mandapams were built by Sekkizhaar and Govinda Deekshitar (minister of Achyutappa Nayakar).
There is a shrine to Raahu in one of the prakarams. The Piraiani Nudalaal Ambaal shrine is situated in the inner mandapam near the Naganathar shrine, while the Girikuchambika shrine is housed in a separate sanctum

Keezha Perumpallam
 
This is an ancient Saivite shrine where legend has it that Kethu, one of the 9 celestial bodies central to astrological beliefs worshipped Shiva

Rahu and Ketu are associated with the legend of the churning of the milky ocean.   There is a shrine dedicated to Kethu in this temple where worship services are offered.

 
 

Arupadai Veedukal

                                                    ARUPADAI VEEDUKAL  

THIRUPPARANKUNRAM
Thiruparamkundram or Paramkundru, a hill near Madurai, in Tamilnadu - South India, is the first and foremost temple of Lord Muruga in India and is the first Aarupadai Veedu as well. Saint poet Nakkerar, in his songs in praise of Lord Senthil Andavar, places Thiruparamkundram in the first place amongst the six battle places ( Arupadaiveedu ) that Lord Muruga has fought to win over evil
 
THIRUCHENDHOOR
Thiruchendur shore side temple of lord muruga
       Thiruchendur or Thirucheer alaivai, a holy place near Thirunelveli, in Tamilnadu - South India, houses one of the most sacred temples of Lord Muruga and is the second Aarupadai Veedu . Saint poet Nakkerar, in his songs in praise of Lord Senthil Andavar, places Thiruchendur in the second place amongst the six battle places ( Arupadaiveedu ) that Lord Muruga has fought to win over evil
 
Swamimalai Sri Swaminatha Swami Temple

       Swamimalai or Thiruveragam , a holy place near Kumbakonam, in Tamilnadu - South India, houses one of the most sacred temples of Lord Muruga and is the fourth Aarupadai Veedu . Saint poet Nakkerar, in his songs in praise of Lord Senthil Andavar, places Palani in the third place amongst the six battle places ( Arupadaiveedu ) that Lord Muruga has fought to win over evil.
 
Palani - Sri Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple

View of palani hill temple from muruga temple on the foot of the hill
       Palani or Pazhani , a holy place near Madurai, in Tamilnadu - South India, houses one of the most sacred temples of Lord Muruga and is the third Aarupadai Veedu . Saint poet Nakkerar, in his songs in praise of Lord Senthil Andavar, places Palani in the third place amongst the six battle places ( Arupadaiveedu ) that Lord Muruga has fought to win over evil

Thiruthani - Sri Subramanya Swami Temple

The saravana poigai tank and the temple atop the thiruthani hills
       Thiruthani or Tiruttani, a holy place near Chennai ( Madras) on the Chennai- Tirupati route, in South India, houses one of the sacred temples of Lord Muruga and is the fifth Aarupadai Veedu . Saint poet Nakkerar, in his songs in praise of Lord Subrahmanya, or Thanigesa Peruman, places Tiruthani in the fifth place amongst the six battle places ( Aarupadai Veedu ) that Lord Muruga has fought to win over evil

Palamudircholai - Sri Subramanya Temple

Pazhamudircholai Temple of Lord Muruga
       Pazhamudir cholai or Pazhamudir Solai - which was earlier known as Solai malai, is a holy place near Madurai, in Tamilnadu - South India. It houses one of the most sacred temples of Lord Muruga - also known as Arumugan, Karthikeya, Skanda and Kumara - and is the sixth Aarupadai Veedu . Saint poet Nakkerar, in his songs in praise of Lord Senthil Andavar, places Pazhamudircholai in the sixth place amongst the six battle places ( Arupadaiveedu ) that Lord Muruga has fought to win over evil.


  A few Murugan devotees do consider that Marudamalai Murugan temple also deserves to be mentioned as one additional Padai Veedu

Other major Murugan temples

S.No Name of Temple Name of Deity Location (Travel Base) Built around Notes/Beliefs
1 Sri Navaneethaswara Swamy Temple Singaravelavar Sikkal (Tanjavur) - Lord Murugan received his weapon, the Velayudham, from his mother Parvathi and used it to perform the Surasamharam at Tiruchendur.[20]
2 Marudamalai Subramanya Swamy Temple Dandayudhapani Swamy Marudamalai (Coimbatore) 1200 CE[21] It's here that The Devas approach Lord Murugan to seek his help in destroying Surapadman.
3 Kumarakkottam Subramanya Swamy Temple Brahmasaastha[22] Kumarakkottam (Kanchipuram) - Kachiappa Sivachariar wrote the sacred Kanda Puraanam at this temple. Also, Lord Murugan assumed the role of the Creator here, after improsining Lord Brahma for his ignorance of the meaning of the Pranava manthiram.[23]
4 Valliyur Subramanya Swamy Temple Aanantha Kalyana Subramanyar[24] Valliyur (Tirunelveli) - The Saravanappoigai in this temple was created by Lord Murugan at the request of Valli, his consort.[25]
5 Vallakkottai Murugan Temple Kodaiyandavar[26] Vallakkottai (Chennai) - The Murugan idol in this temple is the tallest in Tamil Nadu, at 7 ft.[27]
6 Kanda Swamy Temple Kanda Swamy Tirupporur (Chennai) 1000 CE[28] After killing Surapadman at Tiruchendur, Lord Murugan killed the rest of the asuras here, at Tirupporur (literally, 'place of the sacred war')
7 Shanmuganathan Temple Aarumaga Swamy Viralimalai (Tiruchirappalli) - Sage Vasishtar and his wife Arundhathi pray Lord Murugan here to ward off their curses. The temple is also famous for the peacocks that are found in plenty here.[29]
8 Mayilam Murugan Temple Aarumaga Swamy.[30] Mayilam (Villupuram) - At the end of Surasamharam, one half of Surapadman assumed the form of the peacock here.[31][32]
9 Vadapazhani Aandavar Temple Dandayudhapani Chennai 1875 CE[33] One of the famous temples built in the modern era, this temple had extensive patronage from the renowned devotee of Lord Murugan Arulmigu Kribanandha Variyar..
10 Sri Vetri Velayudhaswami Temple, Uttukuli Kaithamalai Chennai Not Known but Reconstructed in 1999[34] Vetri Velyadhaswami appeared in front the great Tamil saint Agastiyar and helped him to perform his pooja Agastiyar.
11 Thindal Murugan Temple Thindalmalai Erode
Velyadhaswami temple is a model of Birla Mandir, with Golden Temple Car.
12 Arulmigu Subramanyaswamy Thirukovil Sivanmalai, Kangayam, Tiruppur,Tamil Nadu-638701,India. - One of the well known myths associated with Siva is his conquest of Tripuram – the three celestial cities which the Asuras (demons) had taken over, and wreaked havoc over them. The Devas ( celestial gods) appealed to Siva for help and asked him to save them from the demons. Siva made mount Meru his bow, and Vasuki the serpent his bow-string and prepared to wage war against the Asuras. The very tip of Siva’s bow ( Mount Meru) fell on earth and that became Sivamalai according to legend. It is also known as Sakthimalai because Parvathi the goddess did penance once on this hill.

       

famous temples -tamilnadu

Stanunathaswami temple,suseenthiram,kanyakumari


Construction of the Stanunathaswami temple at Auchindram (12km northwest of Kanniyakumari) extended over a period of at least six hundred years. Parts date back as far as the ninth or tenth century, others from the fifteenth century, and a huge seven-storey pyramidal gopura was erected during the sixteenth. Although its main sanctuary houses a shivalingam, the temple is jointly dedicated to Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Its proudest boasts are "musical" pillars, which emit a chime when struck, and an extraordinarily tall (3m) figure of Hanuman. A special puja takes place at sunset (around 6pm) every Friday, with music and a procession. Male visitors must remove their shirts before entering. Thanumalayan temple
The Thanumalayan temple, here, is a repository of art treasures, belonging to many kingdoms. The presiding deity in the form of a Linga, denotes Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. Inscriptions, said to be of the 9th century AD, can be found in this temple. The temple is also famous for a huge statue of Hanuman and its musical pillars.
Kumari Amman temple,kanyaakumari
The seashore Kumari Amman temple is dedicated to the virgin goddess Kanya Devi, who may originally have been the local guardian deity of the shoreline, but was later absorbed into the figure of Devi, or Parvati, consort of Shiva. One version of Kanya Devi's story relates how she did penance to win the hand of Shiva. The god was all in favour and set out from Suchindram for the wedding, due to take place at midnight. The celestial devas, however, wanted Kanya Devi to remain a virgin, so that she could retain her full quota of shakti or divine power, and hatched a plot. Narada the sage assumed the form of a cock and crowed; on hearing this, Shiva, thinking that it was dawn and that he had missed the auspicious time for the ceremony, went home. The image of Kanya Devi inside the temple wears a diamond nose stud of such brilliance that it's said to be visible from the sea. Male visitors must be shirtless and wear a dhoti before entering the temple. It is especially auspicious for pilgrims to wash at the bathing ghat here¤ The Sri Parthasarathy Temple

Established in the Triplicane area of Chennai, Sri Parthasarathy Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu who is worshiped as Lord Venkatakrishnar here. In this temple he can be seen with his consort Rukmani on his right and his brother Sri Balaraman on his left. Apart from these deities, Sri Parthasarathy is installed as a processional deity with his consorts Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi on either side.


¤ The Divine Palaniandavar Temple,palani

The Palaniandavar temple is dedicated to Lord Subramanyam and he is worshiped as Pazhani andavar. The temple is situated at Vadapalani, in the northern part of Chennai. A picture of Lord Subrahmanya was brought here from Palani that became a very potent divinity, thus deriving the name Vadapalani.


¤ The Holy Island of Rameswaram
Rameswaram is an island about 160 km Southeast of Madurai, well connected to the mainland both by a railway and a road bridge. A major pilgrim center of the Hindus, Rameshwaram is the place where Lord Rama had stationed the Lingam, which therefore gains significance and is venerated by all the Hindus of India. The other pilgrimage site here is Dhanuskodi, also called 'Sethu'. Apart from this, there are several other small temples of interest dotted around this island.


¤ Swamimalai, The Adobe of Subramanyam

Swamimalai is one of the 6 well known abodes of Lord Subramanya. The temple stands on an artificial hill and is approached by a flight of steps. Swaminathan is the deity worshiped her. The temple here has three 'gopuram' with three 'praharam'. The 'gopuram' on the south side of the temple is decorated with statues and contains five storeys while the other two entrances have no towers above them.


¤

The stoen Rock Fort Temple at Tiruchirapalli is the most famous land mark of this busy town. It is a spectacular monument, outcropped out of a massive stone rock, which rises abruptly from the plain to tower over the old city. It is as high as 83 m and as old as 3.800 million years, older than the rocks of Greenland and the Himalayas.
Rock Fort Temple
The Rock Fort temple complex in Tiruchirappalli is an aggregate of three temples - the Manikka Vinayaka temple situated at the foot of the hill, the Uchhi Pillayar Koyil situated at the top of the hill and the Taayumaanava Koyil (Shivastalam) situated on the hill.

This extraordinary temple has a 100-pillared hall, and a Vimana, veiled with gold. The southern side of the rock, has several beautifully carved, rock-cut cave temples, of the Pallava period. This temple was built by the Nayaks, who established the city of Tiruchirapalli. During the British-French struggle, the Rock Fort Temple was one of the main centers, around which, the wars of the Carnatic were fought in the 18th century

The Famous Meenakshi Temple,madurai

The Meenakshi Temple complex is a city temple situated in Madurai. It is one of the largest and one of the most ancient temples here. At the same time it is the most revered in India. The temple complex has soaring and exquisitely carved towers in Madurai. The south gateway contains the twin temples of Shiva and Meenakshi and is about nine storeys high. Meenakshi temple is one of the most popular temples in Tamil Nadu and is world famous for its marvelous architecture.

The Natarajh of Chidambaram

This temple is dedicated to lord Natarajah and is one of the most venerated. Chidambaram is situated about 250 km south of Chennai (Madras) and is easily accessible. In Tamil the word temple is known as 'Koil' and Chidambaram is referred to, in Hindu scriptures by other names such as Thillai, Puliyur, Chittambalam, Vyagrapuram and Pundareekapuram. These temples are abode of sanctity and sacredness due to its dignity and the miracle stories mentioned in Hindu scriptures 
Kapaleeswarar Temple,chennai

The Kapaleeswarar temple, situated in Mylapore a suburb of Chennai, is dedicated to Lord Shiva, who is worshiped here as Kapaleeswarar and the Goddess as Katpahavalli. This temple is about 1000 years old. Some scholars believe that the age of the present building , on the basis of the architecture and the images in this temple traces back to a period of about 300 years ago. Regardless, Kapaleeswarar Temple has become very famous and attracts a large number of devotees mainly during festival day

Thanjavur


Location : Thanjavur District, on the eastern coast of Tamil Nadu
Area : 3603 sq. kms.
Attractions : Bragatheeswarar Temple, Thanjavur Palace, Tanjore Paintings
Ideal Time to Visit : November to January

Brihadisvara Temples
Thanjavur is situated halfway between Tiruchirappalli (60km) and the coast. It is 35km southwest of Kumbakonam and 334 km south of Chennai. Thanjavur was the capital city of Chola kingdom from the 9th to the 13th centuries. It is the granary of South India and is known as the rice bowl of Tamil Nadu. This royal city has a rich and varied heritage for which it is known across the globe. Thanjavur was the center of knowledge and culture which reached its peak between the 10th and 14th centuries, under the reign of the Cholas.

The Chola dynasty was a celebrated dynasty of South India and Sri Lanka. They build many temples in order to mark the their victories over other dynasties. There are more than 70 temples in Thanjavur, the most important being the famous Brihadeeswara Temple.


¤ History

The ancient city of Thanjavur is the center of classical arts and music inspite of the advent of technology era. The performances by the classical musicians, percussionists and the Bharatnatyam dancers never fails to enchant you. Then there is the exquisite Tanjore style of painting, which attracts innumerable tourists. The paintings are developed over multiple layers and are usually centered on the Hindu Gods and Goddesses.

The city of Thanjvur is named after, a demon by the name of Tanjan-an asura. According to the legend the last wish of the demon was that the place should be named after him, which was granted by Sri Anandavalli Amman and Sri Neelamegapperumal.


¤ Attractions At Thanjavur

Thanjavur is famous for its majestic temples, but there are many other attractions present here, which are worth visiting. Among the temples, most important is the Bragatheeswarar temple, also known as the Big Temple of Thanjavur. It was built by Rajaraja Cholan, the Great Chola king. This temple is an ideal example of the grandeur of Indian sculptural architecture. Another important attraction here is the Saraswati Mahal Library. Established around 1700 AD, it has one of the most vital oriental manuscripts collections, in India. Apart from these, a major highlight of the Thanjavur city is the Thanjavur Palace, situated on the east main street. It is a series of large and rambling buildings of fine masonry, built partly by the Nayaks and partly by the Marathas around 1550 AD.

One of the most notable attractions in Thanjavur is Tamil University, established in 1981. Tamil University Museum has a collection of coins and musical instruments. Another attraction here is the Schwartz Church, situated in the palace garden. It was built in 1779 A.D by Rajah Serfoji. At Thanjavur, there are many famous museums having interesting collections of stone sculpture, coins and musical instruments. Among these the Nayak Durbar Hall Art Museum and the Rajaraja Chola Museum are the most important. They contain magnificent collection of Chola Bronzes-all discovered locally.

Last but not the least, the Tanjore Paintings of Thanjavur are famous for their special style of decorating the paintings. They are done both on glass and board. In both types, the figures and the background are richly ornamented with gold leaf and gems. The theme of these paintings are mostly related to Krishna in which he is shown in various poses. But there are also various paintings in temples, of all the other Gods and Saints
Stanunathaswami temple

Construction of the Stanunathaswami temple at Auchindram (12km northwest of Kanniyakumari) extended over a period of at least six hundred years. Parts date back as far as the ninth or tenth century, others from the fifteenth century, and a huge seven-storey pyramidal gopura was erected during the sixteenth. Although its main sanctuary houses a shivalingam, the temple is jointly dedicated to Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Its proudest boasts are "musical" pillars, which emit a chime when struck, and an extraordinarily tall (3m) figure of Hanuman. A special puja takes place at sunset (around 6pm) every Friday, with music and a procession. Male visitors must remove their shirts before entering. Thanumalayan temple
The Thanumalayan temple, here, is a repository of art treasures, belonging to many kingdoms. The presiding deity in the form of a Linga, denotes Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. Inscriptions, said to be of the 9th century AD, can be found in this temple. The temple is also famous for a huge statue of Hanuman and its musical pillars.


¤ Kanchipuram, The City of Temples

One of the most sacred sites in India, Kanchipuram is the seat of the Shankaracharya. The city is situated around 70 kms from Chennai in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Kanchipuram was the capital city of the early Chola kings in the 2nd century BC and a Pallava capital between the 6th and 8th centuries.
Kailasanatha Temple
Known as the city of thousand temples, it is one of the seven most sacred pilgrim centers for the Hindus. Kanchi has about 126 temples remaining in total and a few more in its outskirts.

Besides its temples, Kanchipuram is also known for its growing hand loom industry. This beautiful small city has many silk weavers residing here from more than 400 years ago. This has made it the best the producer of some of the finest silk sarees in the country. The Kanchipuram silk sarees are exotic pieces of art, woven from pure mulberry silk. Available in a variety of designs, these sarees have blazing colours and are decorated with fine gold thread (zari).

¤ History

The ancient city of temples, Kanchipuram, is one of the most important centers of Hindu religion. It is also one of the most picture perfect towns. It is considered one of India's seven sacred cities and the second holiest city after Varanasi.

It was once the capital city of the Pallavas, Cholas, and the Vijayanagar rulers. Many of the temples situated here are built by the Pallavas and later Cholas.

A few Buddhist stupas remining here indicate the presence of Buddhism in earlier centuaries. The Kanchi Kamakotti Peetham situated here is one of the four seats of Sri Adi Shankaracharya (a great Hindu sage). It has been a center of Tamil learning and culture for centuries and presents the glorious Dravidian heritage of the Vaishnavites (worshippers of Vishnu) and Shaivites (worshippers of Shiva).


¤ Attractions At Kanchipuram

Kanchipuram is a scared pilgrimage with many beautiful temples, the holy town is one of the holiest places in India. The temples found here are grand and majestic. They are very popular among devotees, who flock this temple in huge numbers. Some of the most important temples here are the Ekambaranathar Temple, built by the Pallavas and later reconstructed by the Chola and Vijayanagar kings, that makes excellent trip to Kanchipuram. This temple owns 11 stories and one of the tallest temple towers in South India. It is beautifully decorated with sculptures. Another sacred temple here is the Vaikunta Perumal Temple which dates back to the 8th century. It was built by Nandivarma Pallava. There are scenes from battle carved on the panels encircling the main parikrama of this Vaishnavite temple. These scenes depict the bravory of Pallava kings. Anothere temple, the Varadaraja Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu who is worshipped as Devarajaswamy here. This temple has a 100-pillared hall, built by the Vijayanagar kings presenting the skillfulness of their artists.

Other important temples of the region are the Kailasanathar Temple and the Kamakshi Amman Temple. The Kailasanathar Temple was constructed by the Pallava kings in the 8th century AD. It has a captivating panel portraying Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati in the midst of one of their many dance competitions. The architecture of this temple resembles the Shore Temple at Mahabalipuram. At the same time the Kamakshi Amman Temple has a grand structure, dedicated to goddess Parvati in her incarnation as Kamakshi, the goddess of Love.


¤ Excursions

Kanchipuram extends its sacredness and beauty to its nearby areas also. Thus, offering a number of excursion trip options. Some of these are Tiruttani near Kanchipuram, one of the six abodes of Lord Subramanya, situated on a hilltop. The temple has 365 steps, leading to the hill, these steps represent the days of the year. Another important trip is to the Sriperumbudur, situated about 29 kms from Chennai on the way to Kanchipuram. It is the birthplace of Saint Ramanujar, the father of the Vishishtadvaita philosophy of Vaishnavism and hence an important pilgrim center for the Vaishnavites.

Fairs & FestivalsOne of the most vital places around Kanchipuram is the Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary sitauted about 60 km from Kanchi. On your bird sighting trip to Kanchipuram, one can find many migratory birds like the sandpiper, white ibis, spoonbill, swan and gray wagtail etc. Definitely, a worth visiting place. Another destination around Kanchi is the Elagiri Hill. This hill is a detached and a popular picnic spot in the Eastern Ghats situated at a height of about 1000 m. The healthy climate, natural beauty and a Murugan temple makes it a must visit place.


¤ Fairs & Festivals

Kanchipuram, the city of temples celebrates fairs and festivals all round the year. Some important festivals include the Brahmothsavam, Garudothsavam, and Car (rath) festivals, celebrated in the months of January, April, and May respectively
Nataraja temple,chidamparam


The original temple was built during the 6th-8th centuries. There are four tall gopurams and on the eastern tower, rising to 40.8 metres, are carved the 108 dance poses of Bharatanatyam. The whole temple spreads to around 40 acres. The temple is built based on the strict kundalini chakra orientation and according to the shiva siddhanta philosophy.
The Nataraja Temple has five halls - the Nritta Sabha, Deva Sabha, Kanaka Sabha, Chit Sabha and Raja Sabha. The Nritta Sabha is held aloft by 56 pillars engraved with dancing figures. 6 kaal natana mantapam is in nirithya sabha. The Deva Sabha is reserved for festivals and administrative meetings. The 1000-pillared hall (ayiram-kal-mandapam) of Raja Sabha, measuring 103m long and 58m wide witnessed the victory celebrations of the Chola and Pandya kings. It is a great place for meditation. The most important of these sabhas is the gold-tiled Kanaka Sabha (the glistening roof contains 17,500 solid gold tiles, one for each breath a human takes in a day.), resides the bejewelled, joyous Nataraja image. The icon is a stunning piece of sculpture that evokes a sense of continuous movement. Next to Him, Goddess Shivakamasundari stands majestically in a separate sannithi.
Worshipping the five eternal elements, the temple at Tiruvannamalai has a fire lingam, Kancheepuram has the earth lingam, kalahasthi, the wind lingam, Jambhukeshvar is water and Chidambaram, the aahaya (sky) lingam. So when the priest draws back the curtain from the inner shrine of the presiding deity in the Chit Sabha, there is no lingam or dancing Nataraja to be seen. Only space. This is the charming mystery of Chidambaram - rahasya. The other meanings of this rahasya are passed on from disciple-guru basis, but can be found in books like 'Chidambaram mahatmyam' written in sanskrit. The pujas in the temple are conducted strictly according to the specifications by Patanjali (of the yoga suutras).
The Lord at Chit Sabha is worshipped by Three Shaktis. The Iccha shakti is beside Lord Nataraja as Shivakamasundarii, jnana shakti as shivakamasundarii in Her separate temple and Durga, as described below, is the kriya shakti. Further, outside the shivakamasundari shrine is a tiny shrine to the spouse of Shiva at Jambukeshvara, Akhilandeshvari. There is also a small shrine to Durga adjoining this temple.
The sacred water of the Shivaganga Tank, thronged by bathing pilgrims, has healing powers and has cured a kings leprosy. There are several temples dedicated to the Goddess. In addition to the Chit Sabha, a silver Parvati shines in the Shivakamasundari temple. One gains wisdom just by sitting down and meditating in this temple. Adi Shankara was supposed to learned the secret of shriyantra and shri chakra meditation in this temple from Suka. Even today, you can see students praying to get more marks in this temple. However, the real import is not in knowledge which passes away with the gross body but the wisdom which one gains by gazing at the shivakamasundari.
Though Nataraja temple abounds in spiritual wealth, with certain munis taking mahasamadhi within the temple (e.g. nandanar), the temple also provides ample opportunities for material growth. Pilgrims often pray for progeny in the subramaniam (kartikkeya, muruga) temple within the complex. A very nice description of the temple and its activities can be found in the book 'Dance of Siva,' by Smith
 
Shri Jambukeshwara temple at Thiruvanaikaaval (near Trichi)
The Jambukeshwara temple, located in Thiruvanaikaaval (on the north side), is dedicated to Shiva, and it houses five concentric walls, and seven gopurams. The sculptures that adorn the walls in its outer courts, of an extravagance are typical of the seventeenth-century Nayak architects. Legend has it, that an elephant once worshipped the Lord, under the holy Jambu tree, hence the name Jambukeshwara. The principal deity is the Shiva lingam, almost submerged in water, which flows from the subterranean spring, in the sanctum sanctorum. The goddess name is AkilaaNdeswar
Ranganathaswamy temple,Sri rangam,trichy
The Ranganathaswamy temple at Srirangam, 6km north of Trichy, is among the most revered shrines to Vishnu in south India, and also one of the largest and liveliest, engulfing within its outer walls homes, shops and markets. Enclosed by seven rectangular walled courtyards and covering more than sixty hectares, it stands on an island defined by a tributary of the River Kaveri. This location symbolizes the transcendence of Vishnu, housed in the sanctuary reclining on the coils of the snake Adisesha, who in legend formed an island for the god, resting on the primordial Ocean of Chaos.

The temple is approached from the south. A gateway topped with an immense and heavily carved gopura, plastered and painted in bright pinks, blues and yellows, and completed as recently as 1987, leads to the outermost courtyard, the latest of seven built between the fifth and seventeenth centuries. Most of the present structure dates from the late fourteenth century, when the temple was renovated and enlarged after a disastrous sacking by the Delhi armies in 1313. The outer three courtyards, or prakaras, form the hub of the temple community, housing ascetics, priests, and musicians, and the streets are lined with food stalls and shops selling souvenirs, ritual offerings and plump fresh flower garlands to be presented to Vishnu in the inner sanctuary.
At the fourth wall, the entrance to the temple proper, visitors pass through a high gateway, topped by a magnificent gopura and lined with small shrines to teachers, hymn-singers and sages. In earlier days, this fourth prakara would have formed the outermost limit of the temple, and was the closest members of the lowest castes could get to the sanctuary. It contains some of the finest and oldest buildings of the complex, including a temple to the goddess Ranganayaki in the northwest corner where devotees worship before approaching Vishnu's shrine. On the east side of the prakara, the heavily carved "thousand pillared" kalyan mandapa, or hall, was constructed in the late Chola period. During the month of Margazhi (Dec/Jan) Tamil hymns are recited from its southern steps as part of theVaikuntha Ekadasi festival.
The pillars of the outstanding Sheshagiriraya Mandapa, south of the kalyan mandapa, are decorated with rearing steeds and hunters armed with spears. These are splendid examples of Vijayanagar style, which depicts chivalry defending their temple against Muslim invaders, and represents the triumph of good over evil. On the southern side of the prakara, the Venugopala shrine, dedicated to Krishna, probably dates from the Nayak period (late sixteenth century). Its pillars are carved with beautiful maidens leaning on trees, playing musical instruments and gazing into mirrors. Inside the porch, paintings show Krishna playfully courting his gopis (cowgirls). The western side of the courtyard is taken up by a large pond, which blossoms with lotus flowers in spring, when Vishnu is laid upon its waters in a barge at the height of a three-day festival. To the right of the gateway into the fourth courtyard, a small museum contains a modest collection of stone and bronze sculptures, and some delicate ivory plaques. One can climb to the roof of the fourth wall and have the view over the temple rooftops and gopuras, which increase in size from the centre outwards. The central tower, crowning the holy sanctuary, is coated in gold and carved with images of Vishnu's avatars, or incarnations, on each of its four sides.
Inside the gate to the third courtyard - the final section of the temple is another pillared hall, the Garuda Mandapa, carved throughout in typical Nayak style. Maidens, courtly donors and Nayak rulers feature on the pillars that surround the central shrine to Garuda, the man-eagle vehicle of Vishnu. Other buildings in the third courtyard include the vast kitchens, which emanate delicious smells as dosas and vadas are prepared for the deity, while devotees ritually bathe in the tanks of the moon and the sun in the northeast and southeast corners

Temples in Kumbakonam

Sarangapani temple


The principal and largest of the Vishnu temples in Kumbakonam is the thirteenth-century Sarangapani temple. Entry, into a hundred-pillar hallway from the seventeenth century (Nayak period), is through a ten-storey pyramidal gopura gate, more than 40m high. Passing through a smaller gopura leads into a second courtyard, containing another columned mandapa and to the right, a shrine to Lakshmi. The central shrine dates from the late Chola period with many later accretions. Its entrance, within the innermost court, is guarded by huge dvarpalas, identical to Vishnu whom they protect. Between them are carved stone jali screens, each different, and in front of them stands the sacred, square homam fireplace. During the day, pinpoints of light from ceiling windows penetrate the darkness around the sanctum, designed to resemble a chariot with reliefs of horses, elephants and wheels. A painted cupboard contains a mirror for Vishnu to see himself when he leaves the sanctum sanctorum. KumbEswara temple
According to legend, Kumbakonam's seventeenth-century Kumbareshwara temple centres on a lingam fashioned by Shiva himself. Apparently, a pot (kumba) of amrita, the beverage of immortality, was washed by a great deluge from atop sacred Mt Meru in the Himalaya, and carried all the way here. Shiva, who happened to be passing in the guise of a wild forest-dwelling hunter, for some reason fired an arrow at the pot, causing it to break. From the broken pieces, he made this very lingam.
The temple's east entrance is approached via a covered market. Beyond the flagstaff, a mandapa hallway, whose columns feature painted yali (mythical beast) brackets, leads to the principal gopura entranceway. A figure of Shiva's bull-vehicle, Nandi, faces the main sanctuary. There's also a fine collection of silver vahanas, vehicles of the deities, used in festivals, and pancha loham (compound of silver, gold, brass, iron and tin) figures of the 63 Nayanmar poet-saints. NagEswara temple
Possibly the oldest in Kumbakonam, the small Nageshwara Swami Shiva temple, one of the finest early Chola temples, noted for the quality of its sculpture, is thought to have been completed a few years into the reign of Parantaka I (907-c.940). Standing in a courtyard, the principal shrine to Shiva is connected to a columned mandapa. Both share a base carved with scenes from the epics and lotus petals. The main niches on the sanctum wall contain sculptures; on the north, Dakshinamurti ("south-facing" Shiva as teacher), on the west Ardhanarishvara (male Shiva and female Shakti in one figure) and Brahma on the south. Joining them are high-relief near-life-size sculptures of unidentified figures, perhaps worshippers, donors or royalty. Within the courtyard, a shrine to Nataraja features rearing horses and wheels, with tiny figures as spokes.
Mahamaham
The most famous and revered of many sacred water tanks in Kumbakonam, the Mahamakham in the southeast of town, is said to have filled with ambrosia collected from the pot broken by Shiva. Every twelve years, when Jupiter passes the constellation of Leo, it is believed that water from the Ganges and eight other holy rivers flows into the tank, thus according it the status of tirtha, or sacred river crossing. At this auspicious time as many as two million pilgrims come here to take an absolving bathe; in 1992, sixty people died in an accident variously ascribed to a collapsing wall or to general mayhem. During a lesser annual festival (Feb/March) the deity from the Kumbareshwara temple is taken to Mahamakham in procession. Airavateshwara temple at Darasuram (near Kumbakonam)
The Airavateshwara temple, built by King Rajaraja II (c.1146-73), stands in the village of darasuram, an easy five-kilometre bus trip (on the Thanjavur route) or bike ride southwest of Kumbakonam. This superb if little-visited Chola monument ranks alongside those at Thanjavur and Gangaikondacholapuram; but while they are grandiose, emphasizing heroism and conquest, it is far smaller, exquisite in proportion and detail and said to have been decorated with nitya-vinoda, "perpetual entertainment", in mind. Shiva is here known as Airavateshwara, because he was worshipped at this temple by Airavata, the white elephant of the king of the gods, Indra.
Entrance is through a large gopura gateway, 1m below ground level, in the main wall, which is topped with small reclining bull figures. Inside, the main building is set in a spacious courtyard. Next to the inner sanctuary, fronted by an open porch, the steps of the closed mandapa feature elegant curled balustrades decorated with elephants and makaras (mythical crocodiles with floriate tails). At the corners, rearing horses and wheels make the whole into a chariot. Elsewhere, clever sculptural puns include the head of an elephant merging with that of a bull.
Fine Chola black basalt images in wall niches in the mandapa and the inner shrine include Nagaraja, the snake-king, with a hood of cobras, and Dakshinamurti, the "south-facing" Shiva as teacher, expounding under a banyan tree. One rare image shows Shiva as Sharabha, part man, beast and bird, destroying the man-lion incarnation of Vishnu, Narasimha - indicative of the animosity between the Shaivite and Vaishnavite cults. Sharabha, in his own separate small mandapa, is approached by a flight of steps. Fanged dvarpala door guardians in raudra (furious) mood flank the shrine entrance. Each possesses a club, their four hands in an attitude denoting threat (tarjani) with Shiva's trident, the trishula, wound into their hair.
Outside, a unique series of somewhat gruesome panels, hard to see without climbing on to the base, form a band along the top of the basement of the closed mandapa and the sanctum sanctorum. They illustrate scenes from Sekkilar's Periya Purana, one of the great works of Tamil literature. The poem tells the stories of the Tamil Shaivite saints, the Nayanmars, and was commissioned by King Kulottunga II, after the poet criticized him for a preoccupation with erotic, albeit religious, literature. Sekkilar is said to have composed it in the Raja Sabha at Chidambaram; when it was completed the king sat every day for a year to hear him recite it.
Each panel illustrates the lengths to which the saints were prepared to go to demonstrate devotion to Shiva. The boy Chandesha, for example, whose job it was to tend the village cows, discovered one day that they were involuntarily producing milk. He decided to bathe a lingam with the milk as part of his daily worship. Appalled by this apparent waste, the villagers complained to his father, who went to the field, cursed the boy, and kicked the lingam over. At this affront to Shiva, Chandesha cut off his father's leg with an axe; he is shown at the feet of Shiva and Parvati, who have garlanded him. Another panel shows a man who frequently gave food to Shiva devotees. When his wife was reluctant to welcome and wash the feet of a mendicant who had previously been their servant, he cut off her hands. Elsewhere, a Pallava queen has her nose cut off for inadvertently smelling a flower, rendering it useless as an offering to Shiva. The last panel shows the saint Sundara who, by singing a hymn to Shiva, rescued a child who had been swallowed by a crocodile.
On the lowest portions of the base, rows of yalis (mythical lions) and ganas, the dwarf attendants of Shiva, dance and play musical instruments. Surrounding the main shrine, a four-metre-wide channel, created by a very low wall, is decorated with lotus patterns and badly damaged Nandis. At one time, this was filled with water, so the temple appeared to float in a pool,Shri Dandayudhapani/Murugan Temple
One of six abodes of Muruga, Palani's hilltop Shri Dandayudhapani temple attracts pilgrims all year round, but the town comes alive most in April, when it hosts a festival in honour of Murugan, Shiva's son (also known as Skanda). Hundreds of devotees, mostly male and clad in black dhotis, trudge up the winding flight of more than 600 steps to worship the image, said to be formed from an aggregate of poisonous minerals, that, if mixed with coconut milk, fruits and flowers, produces medicinal herbs. A smaller festival takes place in Feb/March. The streets around the hill are crammed with stalls selling the usual religious paraphernalia.
 
 
lMeenakshi Sundareswarar Temple madurai
Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple built by Kulacekara Pandiyan is the biggest in Tamilnadu. A superb example of the Dravida School of architecture, this temple is equally famous for its gigantic gateways or gopurams profusely carved and reaching out to massive proportions, the most famous gateway being 49 metres high. The temple has exquisite sculputre, ornate pillars and painted ceilings. The entire credit for making the temple as splendid as it is today goes to the Nayaks. The Nayaks ruled Madurai from the 16th to the 18th century and left a majestic imprint of their rule in the Meenakshi - Sundareswarar Temple