This will be the third part about Siva temples in and around Kumbakonam.
In this part we shall see four temples which are important not only
because they have been visited by Appar and Thirugnanasambandar but these temples are important
Parihara(remedy) temples.
Parihara temples is just a marketing gimmick to make a temple famous.
When Thirugnanasambandar wanted to go to Pandya kingdom he was
restrained by Appar.
"Don't go now as the planets are not good for you" - Appar
said this to Thirugnanasambandar.
The answer given by Thirugnanasambandar was simple.
"I believe in Siva and all planets are offshoots of Siva and they
can't do anything to me" was Sambandars reply.
What Sambandar subsequently did with Pandian and Pandya kingdom is
history.
Believe and pray to Siva rest will be taken care of automatically.
KARKADESHWARAR TEMPLE:
To go to Karkadeswarar temple if we are coming from Chennai or
Pondicherry we have to take the NH45c to Kumbakonam. We have to cross
Thirupanandhal and then we have to look for an arts college by name Mass
college of arts and science. The college is on the left side of the highway.
The next left cut is non descript and does not have any directions. We have to
drive through that smallish road.
A drive of 1.5 kms brings us to this temple which is fully surrounded by
paddy fields.
When ever I go to these less visited Devarapadal petra sthalams, I often
see people flock towards Parihara sthalams.Despite being in a relatively
inaccessible area few vehicles were standing near the temple.
This temple is a Parihara sthalam for people who are sick and also for
people who have "Kadaga Rasi",(Cancer Zodiac sign).
The story of this temple also revolves around Kadagam meaning Nandu and
crab in English.
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THE BACK DROP
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CHANDRAN -MOON GOD -IN PERMANENT PENANCE
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THE MYTH AS STONE ENGRAVINGS
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DHANVANTRI AND AGATHIAR HAVE WORSHIPPED SIVA HERE
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THE ENTRANCE WITH MY LIVING GOD SITTING
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What did the crab do here?Kantharvan is our hero here.As the name
suggests he is a handsome man and women flock around him.When he was walking
around this place he saw a old man in deep penance.Unfortunately Kantharvan did
not know he is Durvasar the temperamental sage. Kantharvan did not like the old
man and started teasing him.
He crawled like a crab mimicking the old sage. Duruvasar broke the
penance and cursed him to become a crab. Kantharvan pleaded ignorance but
Duruvasar told him pray like me to siva here and he alone can give you the
Kantharva roobam(Original look).Kantharva in the form of crab started its
worship of Siva.
At the same time lord Indra came down to this place to offer pooja and prayers to Siva in order to acquire powers to annihilate evil demons.
He picked up 1008 sunflowers to do pooja daily. One flower was missing
daily. The missing flower was taken by the crab for its prayers to, Lord Siva.
The crab used to climb on Siva Linga with the flower and put it on his head on
offer prayers.
Indran found this and hit the crab with his sword and before it could
hit the crab the lingam opened itself on top and took the crab, inside.
Siva gives Kantharuban his original form and admonishes Indran to
control his anger if he wants to kill Asuras. Hence this place is called as
Nandu kovil locally and has subsequently become a remedy temple for Cancerians.
This temple is also called as Thiruthevankudi meaning
Thirunthia(corrected)Thevan(lord indra)Kudi(village).
THIRUVISAINALLUR:
Thiruvisainallur is just two kms from Karkadeshwarar temple. A straight
road on the right side takes us to this big temple.Just from nowhere we
suddenly visualise a big gopuram belonging to the dravidian culture. As we
enter the temple my father immediately noticed a difference. He was pointing
that Nandhi is present after Balipeedam which is not fitting into the pattern
of Siva temples. I had already read the story behind this and told him the
story.
He had just come to the entrance of the temple.He is a man who has hardly
done any good things in life.Women,bribe,murder you name it he has done all.
When age caught up with him he thought he should do away all his sins and
started praying to lord Siva. He has now become a deep Saivite and was going to
different temples. Thiruvisainallur was his next stop.
Siva knew his prodigal son is coming. All are his sons.
As he was praying to Siva some of his words could be heard by the lord.
Siva decided to have a Game.
"Nandhi somebody is calling look who is it".
Nandhikeshwarar turned and saw the man standing out.The very look of
Nandhi burnt all his sins.He was made pure by the indirect act of Siva.
Inside the sanctum we can see Nandhi looking to the right side.
"Lord you have finished your act by asking me looking at him".
"Nandhikeswara the job is not over you have a fight
now"."Fight "?,Nandhi uttered and started hearing some one
coming now.
Yamadarmaraja had just come.
"Why you are here sir?".
"I have come to take the man standing there with me" was the
response by Yamadarman to Nandhi's question.
"I had just washed away his sins and you cant take him now".
"Dont come in my way Nandhi".
Nandhi did not buy his answer.
A fight ensued and Nandhi was the winner.Nandhi removed the balipeedam
and kept ahead of him and said," You step here you are finished".
Yamadarmar ran away.
Nandhi asked Siva "Why this game lord?".
"To prove the world I'm impartial.The man who had committed lots of
sins understood his fallacies totally and I wanted to pardon him and give him
more life on earth so that people like him will see him as an example and
change".
Nandhikeswarar understood and hope we also understand.
This apparently made people think and make this temple a remedy temple for Taurus,zodiac sign.
This temple is maintained by Tanjore king and its very clean.
Siva here is called as Sivayoganathar.The name has a short tale. Brahma
and 6 yogis did deep penance towards Siva.Siva made all 7 into divine light and
absorbed them. Hence Siva is called Sivayoganathar.
The temple is very old and has been here for Four Yugas. Siva here
was called as Puradaneswarar,Vilvavaneswarar and Yoganadhiswarar in older Yugas
and Sivayoganathar in the current Yuga.
As we circumambulate the temple we can see the sculpture of
Yuyavanthanayanar who was born here.He had written Thiruvunthiar an important
book explaining Saiva Sidhantham.On the right side we can see another highlight
of the temple.
That is Sadhurakala bairavar.Sadhura means four.Corresponding to Lord
Siva, Bairavar also has four forms corresponding to four Yugas.He is called
Gnanakala bairavar,Sornakala bairavar,Unmatha bairavar and Yogabairavar.
Just opposite to the amman shrine on top of the wall we can see the
"time",provided sun is not covered by clouds.
We were at the temple at around 6pm and so the day had ended as per
Chozha's clock.
The clock shows 12 hours from 6am to 6 pm based on the reflection of the
sun on the needle.
The numerals were added later by the British.
Religion, Spirituality and Science all together at Thiruvisainallur.
KOVILVENNI:
Next day we had decided to visit two temples near Needamangalam.
One was Kovil Venni and the next one was Poovanur.With Gprs on from
Madhanam inn(the hotel we had stayed) we came to darasuram and then hit the
Valangaiman, Papanasam road and reached a place called Ammapettai.From there we
have to reach the Tanjore, nagapattinam highway and take the path heading
towards Nagapattinam.
A 5 -6 km drive brings us to this small hamlet right on the national
highway.A left cut brings us to this historic site.
Kovilvenni dates back to 100 – 200 AD(No inscriptions to back this
claim).Karikalan is everybody's fantasy. When we were kids and if you are fond
of tamil no one can forget Karikalan who had built Kallanai which is the oldest
dam in the world.Karikalan had to be the king when he was very young because of
his father's demise.His rightful throne was usurped and the kid was driven
away. Karikalan had stayed at a place called Panaiyur where he had spent his
early childhood apparently protected by Vinayagar.
From here he had gone to Karur. He started learning the nuances of war
and started aggregating a cavalry and an army as well. The wrongful rulers of
chola kingdom came to know this and sent an elephant to track him. The elephant
tracked him at Karuvur where he was arrested and imprisoned at a place called
Parasalur. The prison was set fire. Karikalan escaped but his leg was charred.
Hence he was later called Karikalan(charred leg).
He came back like a phoenix,routed cheras and pandiyas at this place
Venni,called as Venni war.This history is well portrayed in Patthupattu(ten
idylls).Karikala became a powerful king and went on to conquer the entire
Ceylon subsequently.
Chera king was defeated in this battle and was wounded in his back which
apparently was an insult to his ego.He starved himself to death.
By gods grace I had seen panaiyur,parasalur and now venni also.Siva made
sure I had seen these three temples with my father.Karikalan must have missed
his father at his tender age,but I have the comfort of my father with me which
is akin to 1000 elephants.
Such a historical temple was closed when we reached at 9 am.The Iyer of
the temple had written his contact number on the wall – 9626769424.He stays 5
kms away and comes when called I think.First call he was bathing next call
eating and next call on the way. Karikalan waited for 18 years and we waited
for an hour.Two more cars joined us and another young gentleman also came to
the temple.Finally the Iyer arrived. The Temple was very old and the entire
outer praharam was dilapidated.
Two families had come with sugar packets and gave it to the Iyer.
After keeping the sugar packets in front of god and praying the Iyer bought the
sugar packets and gave back to them. He instructed them to scatter the sugars
on the walls of the temple.The ants will eat the sugar which will indirectly
eat the diabetes, and my god “diabetes is cured”.
Siva here is called as Karumbeshwarar and and he offers simple treatment
for diabetes.The true legend for Karumbeshwarar is different.Two sages
had come to this temple and they had an argument which is the holy tree
of this temple.One wanted it to be Karumbu(sugarcane) and another wanted it to
be Venni flowers. Siva told them at this place call me Karumbeshwarar and let
the holy tree be Venni.
Siva has played the role of third umpire as well.
As we drove out of the temple we stopped at the Pidari temple(native
mother goddess).
Karikalan had taken her blessings before starting the war. We need to
take her blessings to seek contentment in life.
POOVANUR:
Back to national highways and our next stop was Needamangalam.From
Needamanagalam a left cut and that road goes to Mannargudi. A five km drive
brings us to Poovanur. A small bridge on the right can be seen. Once we cross
this bridge we can see the temple where Sathurnagavalabanathar, resides.
Sathurangavallabanathar? The legend behind this was very interesting.
There is a king by name Vasudevan and he does not have a kid. His
prayers for kid are finally answered at Tirunelveli were Siva tells him in his
dreams you will soon get a beautiful girl and she will be accompanied by a
female protector Samundi.
One day the king took a boat and was cruising in Tambiraparani river
when he found a beautiful chonk(sangu).He took the sangu which transformed to a
beautiful infant.The gleeful king and his wife named the little kid as
Rajarajeshwari.The female goddess Samundeshwari became the foster mother of the
kid.Rajarajeshwari was a wealth of knowledge and she became and authority in
chess.No body can beat her and infact the king proclaimed she will be married
to any person who can beat her in chess.
The king accompanied by Rajarajeshwari and Samundeshwari came to Poovanur
one day.An old man came to see the king.He asked the king whether your daughter
can play chess against him.He also said if she loses the game will he give her
to him as promised.The King and Rajarajeshwari took up the challenge.
The old man defeated Rajarajasehwari. The king said "Yes you
won, so u can marry her."The old man was actually Siva. He transformed
himself and showed his true self.
That is the story of Sathuranga(chess)vallava(expert)nathar(god).
The temple has three Ammans (three female goddesses).One is
Rajarajeswari and the other one is Karpakavalli. Samundeshwari has a separate
third shrine here. The other place Samundi has a separate shrine is at
Mysore.
She is famous here and treats different bites and stings with just a
sacred thread.
It was indeed a
peaceful day.From understanding the illogical remedies for cancerains,taurians, magical treatment for diabetes and after meeting Dr Samundi at Poovanur,Lord siva was transcending with a smile.Days with Siva are always self learning and soul
searching. Knowledge is not a requirement to be with him. A sort of enlightment,peace and self belief comes when we walk across his temples.We have to just feel
him and remedies for almost everything sets in for 24 hours in a day unlike the scientific 12 hour clock.
When that happens
definition of true love comes.
Addendum:
Thiruvisainallur, Poovanur and Karkadeshwarar temple was visited by Thirugnanasambandar.
Kovil venni by Appar and Thirugnanasambandar.
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