Kumbakonam based Sivasthalangal Part 2-Thirupurambiyam,Vijayamangai,Thiruvaikavur and Innambur

Everything is dictated and done by Siva. In two years I had visited lots of temples somehow unable to write about them. This bunch of temples I had visited last year and luckily my notes of them were preserved so that I was able to recollect and chronicle them.All these four temples are soaked with history and most importantly were visited by Appar,Sundarar,Thirunavukarasar and Thirugnanasambandar.

THIRUPURAMBIYAM:

Thirupurambiyam is a small village around 5 kms away from Swamimalai.If we are travelling from Chennai or Pondicherry we need not go to Swamimalai.Three kms before Swamimalai there is a road  exiting on the right.Another three kms travel takes us to Thirupurambiyam.

Before we go into the temple we should know more about this historical place.Thirupurambiyam,is a place where the rise of chola empire was marked.Vijayalayan and his son Adityan would not have dreamt that this place will turn to their advantage.In fact it did.

Pallava king Nandivarman had two sons Nriputangan and Aparijithan.In 869AD,Pallava king Nandivarman died and the two sons started fighting for the crown. Ganga king Prithivipathi had given his daughter to Aparijithan and hence he had to support Aparijithan.Nriputanga took the support of Pandya king Vargunapandiyan.When Varguna pandiyan supported Nirputanga he would not have thought this war will turn him to a hermit.

At that point of time Vijalaya chozan was a small player and infact he was a king under the control of Pallava dynasty.He decided to support Aparijithan along with Prithivipathi the Ganga king.Vijayalaya chozhan was apparently ninety years of age and had made his son Adityan  as the King of the fledgling chozha kingdom.

The war apparently happened in 885 AD and the fight was between two sons of pallava with pandiyan supporting Nirputanga elder pallava son and Ganga  and Choza kings aligning with Aparijithan.
The war was the turning point in tamil history.Pandyas and Nirputanga apparently tasted initial success at the battlefield.When Adityan,Prithivipathi and Aparijithan planned a retreat Vijayalayan at 90 years joined the fight.A paralysed Vijayalayan unable to walk was carried by two men.The old fox along with 100 warriors entered the battlefield and started fighting.The valour inspired and spurred the other three kings and soldiers.They joined Vijayalayan and started to shift the war dynamics back in favour of Apaijithan.Pandiyan Vargunapandiyan lost the war along with Nirputangan.

Aparijithan won the war but lost his father in law ganga king in the war.A pallipadai temple was built for Ganga king here.Aparijithan granted independence to Aditya chozhan and granted Tanjore to him as well.
Aditya chozhan turned the tables and killed his mentor Aparijithan and engulfed Pallava kingdom.

This war at Thirupuranbiyam decimated Pandyas established chozhas and later marked the end of pallava. Vijayalayan's role in the war is not sure however and could be fictional.

TEMPLE GOPURAM

GURU TEMPLE

A chillness and a sudden sprightly feel enetered me when I alighted from my duster at the entrance of the temple. The temple has been renovated just now and looks majestic.As the temple was closed I rested for some time and took the opportunity to see the guru temple outside  and the dry pond adjoining the temple.The guru or dakshinamurthy has a separate temple outside and supposedly very significant.
As one enters the temple and comes inside we notice on the left the all important Vinayagar.He looks different a sort of shrivelled  and the other important feature if one can decipher is the idol is not made of stone.The curiousity ended when I turned left and found the paintings on the wall depicting the history of this peculiar and powerful Vinayagar also called as Pralayam Katha Vinayagar.Pralayam means deluge or great calamity.Katha vinayagar means - Vinayagar saves the world from the deluge.The Vinyagar supposedly saved the world from the massive water flooding caused by seven seas by driving the entire water to the well present in this place. The well got the name Ezhu(7)Kondra(got)Kinaru(well).

PRALAYAM KATHA VINAYAGAR

To worship and give the due to Vinayaga, Varuna bhagavan(nature god)made a  vinayagar idol out of sea water,sea shells and sea water bubbles.On vinayagar chathurthi Honey abisegam (honey pooja)is done for Vinayaga. Believe it or not the Vinyagar does not leave the honey to drop and spil. He just abosrbs.This pooja is done once a year.The secret behind this abosrption has a "Sidha secret".It says Vinayaga absorbs the falsehood of all human beings.Next we walk inside to see the main diety called as Sakshi nathar.Sakshi means witness and Nathar means god.I prayed to the main diety and recited Sivapuranam.I took the guide(A book on siva temples) which explained the meaning of this name Sakshi nathar.

Once a couple entered the temple with the intention of getting married.Unfortunately the male(he is already married) is bitten by a poisonous snake and he dies.The bride started crying and seeks gods help.Siva gave life to the groom and instructed them to get married at the temple.After marriage when the newly wedded couple went to their native place the first wife of the groom did not accept the marriage and wanted proof for the marriage.The bride prayed to siva and siva came in front of the first wife and  provided proof for the marriage.

Hence siva here is called "Sakshinathar".

THIRUVIJAYAMANGAI:

After burdening Vinayagar with some of my sinsvisiting I drove on the same path for half a kilometer and took a right cut and a further drive of around 5 kms brings "Thiruvijayamangai".Vijayamangai is a small quaint village and the legend of this temple is shared with another temple Thiruvettakudi.

Lord Krishna instructed Arjuna to get Pasupatha endhram(A divine armoury which can kill any enemy) from Lord siva to win the war against Duryodhana.Arjuna started his penance at this place seeking Siva's blessings as instructed by Krishna.Duryodana came to know this and sent a demon in the guise of a pig to attack Arjuna.Siva also came to this place as a hunter as we all know the thiruvilayadals(siva's playful acts to teach lessons for evil persons and to stress the importance of moral living) of siva.When the pig started attacking Arjuna,Siva fought against the pig.Arjuna also joined the fight against the pig.The pig was killed and Arjuna claimed the credit for killing the pig and said he would have killed the animal even if the hunter was not there.Siva,the hunter knocked down Arjuna but Arjuna threw his last arrow which hit Siva's forehead and left a mark which is visible on the Linga even now.Siva showed his true self to Arjuna and gave him the Pasupathaendhiram.Siva advised Arjuna to respect others and be patient in a war.

VIJAYAMANGAI

The legends have their own meanings.All this sounds unrealistic and unscientific.But we have to travel beneath the surfaces.The moral of this story is to control the ego.Arjuna did not give due credit to the other person and this ego was crushed by Siva.These Thiruvilayadlas of Siva are meant to make sure people are humble, respect each other and live a moral living.

THIRUVAIKAVUR:

I drove half a km back and took a left turn and found Thiruvaikavur.
Thirvaikavur has lots of specialities.Nandhikeshwarar does not look at Siva. He looks to the entrance of the temple which will be explained now.Dwarabalakars are replaced by Brahma and Vishnu and at the entrance of main diety Dakshinamurthy stands with a stick.
The importance and origin of Mahasivarathiri also is connected with this temple.
A hunter chased a deer in a thick forest of Thiruvaikavur.The deer ran for its life and found a Sage.The deer pleaded for its protection from the hunter and the sage obliged by keeping the deer by his side.The hunter saw the deer and asked for it.The sage refused but the hunter warned the sage that he will also be hunted by him.The sage closed his eyes and asked for Siva's help.Siva started his Thiruvilaydal again.He became a tiger and came in front of the hunter.The surprised hunter was hunted now.He ran away from the place and took refuge by climbing a Vilwamaram.
The tiger was unable to climb the tree but it majestically positioned itself under the tree.After all Siva likes Vilavam and its smell.The hunter was scared whether he will fall of from the trunk if he slept of.To avoid sleeping he plucked the leaves from the tree and threw it down.All the leaves fell on the tiger.
According to destiny of the hunter his death day was in the morning.Emadarman(Lord of death) came to kill the hunter.When he saw the tiger under the tree he tried to kick the tiger away.He was unable to swing his leg and when he tried again the tiger transformed itself to Dhaksinamurthy with a stick and drove the Yamadarman.Yamadarman fell on Siva's feet and asked sorry.Siva chided Nandhi for allowing Yamadarman to come in and then interrupt the Vilva poojai of hunter.He asked Nandhi to look towards the entrance at this holy place. The hunter fell on Siva's feet and he was granted Mukthi.
The fear of death goes if we do Vilva poojai on Maha Sivarathiri.

NANDIKESHWARAR LOOKING TOWARDS THE ENTRANCE

A STONE ENGRAVEMENT SHOWING SIVA APPEARING IN  FRONT OF HUNTER

BRAHMA AND VISHNU AS DWARAPALAKARS

DAKSHNAMURTHY DRIVING YAMADARMA WITH A STICK

WALL ENGRAVEMENT OF THE STORY BEHIND MAHASIVARATHIRI

Another important aspect  I found in this temple is there is a underground tunnel, which however is closed. I asked a guy who was guarding the temple about the tunnel and he said it connects to Tanjore.I quizzed him whether any one entered the tunnel.He said some years before he and one more person tried but could not negotiate after few meters as they were attacked by bats.

Other temples were Nandhi looks to the entrance are Patteswaram,Thirupoondhuruthi and Pennadam

WAY TO TANJORE - SHORT CUT

INNAMBUR:

Fearing bats but not fearing death I started to Innambur.We have to come to the main road which connects to Swamimalai and on the right side we will find this huge temple.The temple is very clean and well maintained and the crowd was also healthy.
The gopuram of the main diety has five kalasam(Inverted pots kept at temple towers) depicting five works of Siva.(creation,protection,destruction,illusion and emancipation)

FIVE KALASAMS DEPICTING THE FIVE ACTS OF SIVA

A PARENT AND  SON SEEKING BLESSINGS OF EZHUTHARINATHAR

TEMPLE GOPURAM OF INNAMBUR

The place and temple is called Innambur because "Innan" means "Sun god" in tamil who had worshipped Siva here.When I was in this temple I saw a mother bringing her son and asking the priest to place the semparuthi flower next to god and then write with the flower
on the child's tongue. I asked the priest what is this custom.He said after praying to Siva with Sembaruthi and then when written using Sembaruthi on the tongue of the child, the boy or girl gets good reading skills.He also said this cures stammering and hence the god is called "Ezutharinathar".I was tempted to ask him whether it will cure other language disorders but before I could do that I was awe struck by the sheer size of the massive Sivalingam inside the sanctum.It occupied the entire sanctum and the question which came to my mind was ridiculed by Siva's omnipotence.

Siva taught Agathiyar tamil grammar and its importance and hence siva is also called  as "Atcharapureeswarar."
There are two goddesses here and one is always in penance thinking of Siva and the other one here is Siva's wife.

All these 4 temples can be covered in two hours.
The route map is given here.
I started this trip alone but when I was travelling back the fragrance of Vilvam and Sembaruthi surrounded me.The omnipotent Siva and Pralayam Katha Vinayagar were with me and I hope they stay with me when people you think are lives desert you at the opportune moment.

Vilvam:Aegle marmelos.
Sembaruthi:Hibiscus rosasinesis.

The Google map:

THE MAP SHOWING FOUR TEMPLES.

BETWEEN INNAMBUR AND THIRUVAIKAVUR ARE THE OTHER TWO.

FRIENDS - PETIT 89-90 BATCH WE ARE CALLED BUT WE ARE AGELESS WONDERS

Time just runs.The feeling of aging comes when one crosses forty,however some may not agree.But these things do happen.We tend to grey, some have hair fall instead. Reflexes slow, eyes need reading glass and so on.Whether we like it or not these things cannot be stopped.May be 40 plus is a age where people can feel young as well as old.A sort of buttress.

When this sort of realisation was going across my mind my friend Siva came up with the idea of a get together of Petit seminar higher secondary school.I was initially sceptical after a just finished get-together last year.But when Siva and then Ashok said yes I had no options in accepting.It all started with this social media called Whatsap. As a neurologist I intended to use it for neuroimaging but my friends have conveniently overwhelmed the former.When this cropped up I sent a email to Ganesh Kumar a successful UK based general practitioner to join WhatsApp. He was fast enough to send a email after 1 week explaining his aversion to social media.Suddenly he was enlightened to use it and then he wrote about the necessity and essentiality of this cyber chat.Most of the times I don't understand what he talks and I never had the guts to ask him what he really means.He will stand up for you anytime.I last met Pratap in school. I asked him did we met at PEC as well.We had a chat for 5 minutes deciphering when we met last time and ultimately we felt time to taste briyani.I knew him as a smart guy and very quiet boy.One has a funny feeling to estimate a person based on how he looks.In our social media he is like a fire.Every comment of others will be dissected by him.Pratap used to write reviews for movies and to be frank sollai a government servant working at Pondicherry told me machi I see movies nowadays after reading his opinion.He transcends across all strata.His timing sense in English and Tamil both are perfect.

Some people are quiet and do things quietly and very successfully.Srinivasaragahavan a senior consultant at Oracle, Sampath, Damodran and Rajaseghar are all busy people and work at Bangalore,Chennai,and USA.Taking time out,confirming for the trip and driving down to Puducherry,hats of to them.Prabhakar and Kadiresan are   my school time buddies.I know them in and out and their acceptance for the event is like my word.Prabhakar is a senior manager at SBI and Kadiresan is a busy anaesthetist at Cuddalore.Savio and Alfred are known to me since cluny days.Alfred loves dogs and his heart is pure white.He is a honest employee at Puducherry.I had a problem with a technical issue relating to my probation declaration.The file was dusted and lost in Department of Personal. Savio Razorio was working in that place and I just called him.He finished the job swiftly and that's the power of friendship.

Siva a busy ophthalmologist at Saudi, Muthu a entrepreneur and oracle consultant and Sathesh have several things in common.All 3 are very successful and when u sit and talk with them we will know how much we don't know.I always learn from these three guys.

Santhosh, J. Sathish and Arumugam have one thing in common.Their bellies.Outstanding.Santhosh is a business man in Russia and J.sathish is a pro in Singapore.Arumugam is a down to earth person well known at Thirukanur and its suburbs for being a busy and compassionate General practitioner.

We have two tremendous tennis players who could have represented Indian Davis cup team provided they had good grooming skills in tennis at Pondicherry.Vishnu and Siva are these two gentleman one in construction field and the other one   a naturalised US citizen now.Soupramanian who is in business, Kumaravel the document writer all filled on easily.Kannan is a busy man.He shuttles not only in India but it is most of the times intercontinental.You say get together all the work is put on hold and he spends time at the venue from the beginning till the end.Antony john started the spirit of Petit last year and Siva continued this year.John is very mature and to amalgamate people of different walks of life needs patience and perseverance.Siva and John had both this.The spirit was ignited and now it has entered the second year.Pattabi,Vinothkumar,and Ganguly joined us at the last moment. Pattabi from Chennai,Vinoth a government servant and Ganguly works for the benefit and at times fights for the rights of tribes.

People from differerent walks of life with different interests,different states,different countries,different works but the common factor which brought them all was the spirit of Petit Seminar. Ninth august came in and 8th wasa sleepless night.Guys started coming to Le Pondi by 11 am itself.Siva was there along with Balaji to welcome people coming .Rooms were allocated by him in a very professional manner.Balaji is a senior faculty at a private engineering college at Pondicherry and he was coordinating with Siva for the entire event.All were tired and had to take a short nap to get ready for the gala evening and night.

At around 5pm guys started assembling at Le Pondys beach and the fun began to unfold.VNV Sathish a dentist at Delhi had come taken of for this event.A very nice man with lots of knowledge especially in English.Whenever I want to read a English novel I used to take his advise.Karunakaran had the stumps inserted and a seven over match began.One side was lead by Karuna and other by me.Karuna is a man from France and he is the unifying spirit cutting across all friends.Before coming to Pondicherry he will call all and after coming he will invite us to his farm for fun.We used to eat there and play.A person with great energy and a brilliant allrounder.Napolean a man without any ego accepted to be wicket keeper.Wilson and Kirubagaran just joined the fun but opted out of cricket.Kiruba has hotels at Pondicherry.He is a  computer science graduate left a govt job to concentrate on his business.Wilson is a pious man, a software consultant at Bangalore.He had driven his Verna just to meet us.

The match started and Karunas team had stalwarts like Ashok,Prabhakar and the captain himself.Our bowling was pasted all over the park and they had rattled 63 in 7overs .Even if they had said 90 we would have accepted.We tried to chase that score and we gave a fight and lost only by 20runs.We can never beat the willy combination of Ashok and Karuna.The flick of Prabha was like Azharuddins master class.Ashok hit the single stump to run out Mohan.Jonty Rhodes would have been proud of that.Vishnu and Karuna bowled very well. We had a tea break and then the glistening pool waited for us.Aravind a senior manager at a software company had just joined.A softspoken mild mannered gentleman.A ball match was organised at the pool.I joined Karunas team so that we can win.Ganesh did not enter the pool.Ganesh is a Prof of Physiology at a medical college in Chennai.He likes to live a  life of king size. A no nonsense guy with whom I have spent lots of times  together.We did splash water on him.Game went on.It was fiercely fought.No one gave a inch.In the end it was tied.Mohan played very well at the pool and he works for Puducherry government at the Secretariat.

The venue

ARAVIND,SRINIVASARAGHAVAN,ANTONY JOHN

SATHESH CALLED BABA 

KARUNAKARAN AND ASHOK -DANCING TO WILSON'S SONG - TILAK WATCHING - WHAT ELSE HE CAN DO

Alfred,Tilak raj and Subramanian

Supramanian,Tilak raj,Damodran and Rajasekar

THE PARTY HAS JUST STARTED

Pratap and Ashok - Skit

Myself,Kadiresan and Mohan

Pattabhi with the king Siva - the organiser

Arumugam,Kannan,Prabhakar

Sivakumar and Kumaravel

Guys got tired and we trekked of to the rooms to get ready for the dinner.I took a quick shower and walked back to the private hall were our dinner was supposed to happen.To our surprise 5 persons had decided to change the dinner into a musical night and a night which no one should forget.Ganesh, Ashok, Karuna and Pratap had changed the entire script of the evening into theirs. Pratap had written beautiful punch dialogues and there was a brilliant acting by Ashok mimicking Nayagan.Ganesh was shades of Aravindasamy and Karuna was for a change doing supporting role. Pratap had done the entire script writing and the show was applauded by all of us.Vodkas, Whiskey and Beer was entering and chillling the tummies of all of us and we all became seventeen.Dance followed.People who knew nothing danced.I never knew Kadiresan and Arumugam could dance. Guys never became tired. All of a sudden it became ten pm and dinner buffet was spread out.Ashok, Ganesh and Baba danced till their feet started aching.We were not eating.It was like eating somasas at our school canteen.Ice creams were like nanari sarbath and juices were like paneer soda which we used to drink near our school.We have children now and I think Sivas son is going to college now.Some of us became tired.Had a lenghthy discussion with Pattabi about Siva and kadiresan reminded me machi mental agadha.There was another group with Kanan  eating slowly and discussing things of interest for them.At around 1230am I decided to sleep and said good night for another ecstatic group which had reached god by now.Ashok, Abou Karuna, Ganesh and Baba knew nothing. They were dancing through the night and in the morning I heard they were dancing till 3am.Thats the energy of petit 89.I dozed of at the cozy room number 124 with Arumugam.By 6am I woke up and started walking towards the pool and everyone was asleep.Arumugam and myself had sipped a tea and then walked to Ashoks room and we chatted for sometime.Breakfast was ready and some just started to check out.Napolean left early and some guys left the day before itself.Breakfast was delicious but the feeling of leaving left a pinch in the heart.Damo, Rajasekar and myself started of after giving hugs to all our childhood friends.

            When I exited Le Pondi the thoughts of my school days friends also came with me.I had difficulties in controlling emotions but had to leave.The grind of Monday and the materialistic world was waiting for me.Meikandar my spiritual guru talks about entire universe in 12 verses.He is my guru.He does not talk about friendship even if that is included in pasam.May be he also did not understand about friendship.There are lots of stuffs, songs written about friends and friendship.All that is incomplete.I understood that when I reached home   and asked my mother,"send me to school again"

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Sivasthalangal in and around Nagapttinam

Nagapattinam is a quite town located in the scenic east coast road.It is 20 kms away from Karaikal and five kms from Nagoor. Before treading into the details of the Shiva temples let us briefly go back to trace the enchanting history of Nagapattinam.Origins of Nagapattinam can be traced as far as 3rd century BC. Ashoka viharam was supposedly built here by the great Ashoka of the Magadha dynasty.Nagapattinam derives its name from Nagar meaning native inhabitants of Srilanka who came and settled here.It was a important sea port for Cholas with two historically important temples.
Kayarohanswamy temple and Soundararaja Perumal temple glorifying Siva and Vishnu are the two important temples.Nagapattinam stands for unity in diversity as it represents Christianity by having Velankani and Muslims in the form of Nagoor.
It is  a citadel not only for its rich Tamil culture but also for having temples of great importance in all 4 religions.Budha viharam a form of Budhist monastry was also present here during Chola reign.
That is in a nut shell about Nega (Naga) pattinam.
Now we will go to the Shiva temples frequented by our beloved Nalvars.

Kayarohanaswamy temple:

A NICE VIEW OF THE TEMPLE

MUSUKUNDA CHAKRAVARTHY WITH INDRAN

THE ENTRANCE

Before going into the temple history let us know about about Athipatha Nayanmar. Athipathar is a fisher man and a staunch Saivite.
He goes for fishing daily and at the end of the day he throws the first fish back to sea as a token of gift to Shiva. Due to some unknown reasons fishermen are unable to net huge catch of fishes.Most of the day they come back empty handed.
Last ten days Athipathar could get one or two fishes only and as usual he throws the first fish or sometimes  the only fish back to the sea for Shiva.Because of this poverty strikes fisherman community and Athipathar is no exception.
One day Athipathar gets a gold fish and it happens to be the only catch.His comrades dissuaded him from  throwing the fish back to the sea but Athipathar threw the golden fish into the sea without even thinking or hearing the advise of other fishermen.
Shiva appeared before him and made him one of the Nayanmars.
Shiva does not stop here.He also gives salvation to Azhuguni Sithar whose Jeeva samadhi is in this temple. Azhuguni sidhar is a disciple of Gorakkar whose Samadhi is also at Nagapattinam.

Why the deity is called as Kayarohanar? Kayam means "body" Rohanam means "embracing" or "hugging".
Pundarika munivar ( sage) was given salvation by lord Shiva by embracing him with his body.Hence Kaya(body)Roganam(embrace).Why this is unique is the next question? Here importance is given to body.
 Breaking the rule of soul greater than body.Shiva can make soul greater than body or body greater than Shiva because he is Shiva.
The origin of word Nagai is not sure - Whether it is because of Negars from Srilanka are whether it is because of Serpent (in tamil Nagapambu )which worshiped her gave the name Nagapattinam, only Shiva can tell.
There is always a big crowd in front of Amman and when I probed for the reason I understood the Amman in one of the Sakthi Peedams and also one of the Atchi Amman's.
What is this Atchi Amman?
Parvathi alias Sakthi  at Nagaipattinam is considered sacred because she depicts one of the 5 stages of life in women.At Kashi she is a child-Visalakshi,at Kanchi she is young girl- Kamatchi,at Nagai she is at the pubertal stage- Neelayadashi,at Thiruvarur,she is a woman to get married and called Kamalambigai and at Madurai she is Meenakshi representing married women.
She is called Neelaya Dakshi because she has blue eyes.Hmm that was interesting. In front of Amman there is a Nandhi,what it is doing?. It looks both ways.Yes for sure.It is looking goddess as well as whats there on the left side. I enquired the Aiyer who said the nandhi has Erattai parvai(two looks)one towards Amman protecting her and the other one doing its duty looking at Shiva.
Next to Shiva there is another diety called Thiyagarajar sanathi and he is one among the Saptha vidanga murthy.Here he dances like a wave called Paravara tharanga natanam.The Vidangar is Sundara vidangar.

Vidanga means "Small lingam".The original Lingam is made of ruby and it has been stolen.A replica made of Gomedhagam is now present there.

A duplicate for Shiva.The person who stole did not understand Shiva is everywhere even inside him.

Sikkal:

FROM INSIDE

   

FROM INSIDE INTO THE CLOUDS

ADJACENT VISHNU TEMPLE

A LIST OF TEMPLES WHERE MURUGA AND HANUMAN COEXIST

One has to take the thiruvarur road and after a drive of 5 Kms to the left this temple is present.
Once again Murugan scores over Shiva here.At Nagapattinam it was goddess and now it is his son who is popular here.Shiva after all is omnipotent always gives space to every one.That is why he is supreme.
I keep learning from him.As soon as we go near the temple the Rajagopuram stands at 70 feet height which makes remarkable viewing.
There are two temples adjacent to each other.One is a Vishnu temple and a Shiva temple next to it.Eyebrows go up automatically and there is a reason for it.
Vashista munivar(sage)was doing his daily penance to the Shivalingam with butter(vennai).Vishnu in the guise of a small child took away the butter and started running.Sage Vashista came behind him and asked for butter.Vishnu appeared before him and showed the butter held between his fingers.Hence Perumal here is called Vennai Perumal.Vishnu before defeating Mahabali,took Shivas blessings at this place.
Why this place is called Sikkal?To know this first we should know about the Kamadhenu story.
Kamadhenu(divine cow)was very hungry as she was unable to get food to eat during a famine.She ate the flesh of a tiger and inherited the wrath of Shiva for this unholy behavior.She was transformed to a tiger and to regain her original form she came down to this place and took bath in the holy tank at this temple.She regained her original form and filled the entire tank with her milk.
Vashista munivar came here and took butter from the milk.Out of the butter he made a Linga and started worshiping it.As he decided to go from this place he wanted to take the lingam from this place.Lingam got stuck here and could not be removed.Since it got stuck here it got the name Sikkal(stuck). Sikkal story starts with Kamadhenu and ends with Vashista munivar.
Why murugan is famous here?.Murugan is called Singaravelar because he looks beautiful.This place is one of the most important abodes of Muruga.

Muruga got the Vel(lance)from Parvathi at this place.He subsequently used this Vel to kill Surapadman at Thiruchendur.After killing Suran, Muruga inherited Brahmahatti dosham as he had killed Asuran who is by birth a Brahmin and a ardent Saivite.He came back and took bath at the holy pond at Velur(next temple) to clear the Dosha.When he came out of the pond the radiance of lord Muruga emanated and he was looking very beautiful.Hence he was called Singaravelan.

Muruga is called Veiyarvai(sweat)Sindhum velar.Why? Skandha sasti is celebrated for 6 days at this place and Vel vangum vizha(Vel - lance,vangum-getting,vizha- festival) happens to fall on the fifth day.When the idol of Muruga is taken out on the fifth day to get the Vel from Parvathi the face of Muruga is full of sweat. Iyers keep wiping the sweat and throw it over the devotees.

Why on this particular day sweat comes from his face - no one knows the scientific reason.The reason given however is Murugan's fury against Suran on that particular day makes him sweat out of anger.Next day he vanquishes Suran at Thiruchendur. Parvathi is called Velnedunkanni as she has eyes like a Vel.
This magnificent temple was built by Kochengannan and it is a Mada kovil.
When we come out of the temple we get a sense of completeness.We had seen Shiva,Vishnu,Ganapathy,Murugan,Amman,Lakshmi,Anjaneyar.This infact is depicted on the wall of the temple.
Sikkal is a complete temple a must visit for Saivite as well as Vaishnavite.

Kilvelur temple:

GOPURA DARISNAM - UNDER RENOVATION

MADAKOVIL

A 5 km drive from this place towards Thiruvarur will bring us to Kilvelur.A left turn and few hundred meters drive and a right turn will bring us to this lovely temple.
This temple is also built by Kochengenan and its a Mada koil.We had already discussed about Mada koil in our previous blogs.
This place is called Velur because Muruga made a pond at this place using his Vel(lance).
When Muruga did penance here he was troubled by  bad elements and to protect  him from them Parvathi took the form of  Anjuvathathuamman(5 directions).The fifth direction being sky.
Amman is famous here and once again people throng here.
When Brahma lost his ability to create he came here and worshipped  Shiva  and got back his power.Hence Shiva is called as  Atchayalinga swamy.
Kuberan has a separate shrine here.
There is a sacred pond here where there is a belief if someone takes bath here they are relieved of skin diseases.

Thevur:

KALVAZHAI - BANANA TREE GROWING IN STONE

SIVA VISHNU DURGAI

From Kilvelur Temple one has to take a right turn and head straight towards Katchanam.5 kms drive will take you to this little unknown temple but with rich heritage and history.
This is a Gurusthlam(Jupiter).Dakshinamurthy is significant here because he is supposed to be in his oldest form here.He does not have the Muyalagan below his foot. Muyalagan is supposed to be the personification of ignorance.
Dakshinamurthy is a form of Shiva. As Dakshinamurthy, Shiva teaches  us to be as" You ARE".
The Tamil word Muyalagan means trying heart in English.Shiva as Dakshinamurthy says be silent and by being silent you will learn. Apart from Muyalagan Rishis also sit in front of young Shiva. For all their questions Shiva just gives a smile and nothing else.The Rishis understood the truth of silence.
At this place Indran did penance to clear the sin he incurred for killing Virudasuran .Hence Siva is called Devapuriswarar.

Another important aspect of this temple is Kal Vazhai(stone banana tree). One can see this astonishing feature where the banana tree grows on a rock and it is supposed to be over 1000 years old.

Durgaiamman here is called as Shiva Vishnu Durgai.
She has a sangu(conch) in one hand and a deer in another hand depicting both  forms of faith.
I came to this temple to see Shiva and when I came out of the temple I understood the confluence of two different faiths are the same as depicted by Shiva Vishnu Durgai.


To cap it all Dakshinamurthy's smile is still lingering,the transcending smile and the importance of silence.

KONGU NADU BASED SIVASTHALANGAL,PART 1

The word Kongu nadu reminds us about Erode and Coimbatore.Earlier it was called Konga Nadu which subsequently transformed to Kongu nadu. Konga means land of Gangas and it was ruled by Cheras. Some people equate Kongu to the nectar of the flowers.

There are totally seven padal petra sivasthalangal here and it is spread across 4 districts.Best is to stay at Erode and  all the places can be covered in a single hectic day.It is better to schedule the visit to these temples over a period of two days.

BHAVANI:

INSIDE SANGAMESWARAR TEMPLE-VERY CALM

 SANGAMAM -FULLY LITTERED

"Presumed innocent until proved guilty".This important sentence was phrased by Mr., William Garrow a distinguished barrister and judge of UK. Garrow's law is a book well written and well read where in the author talks about the ingenious ways in which Garrow tried to make changes in the draconian laws where guilty were invariably punished.

What is Garrow doing in Bhavani?. He had a son another William Garrow who had taken up an assignment with East India Company.He served as a district Collector of Salem and Coimbatore with great distinction.

He is a  disciple of Vedhanayagi at Bhavani and used to see the goddess only through the key hole as non Hindus were not allowed inside the sanctum.

One day when he was asleep in the bungalow he had a dream in which Vedanayagi asked him  to get out of the place at once.He ran out of the house at once and behind him the bungalow collapsed. He lived a wonderful life in India and had seven children.The details of this is mentioned in his father's book. Garrow gifted a cradle for the goddess as a mark of gratitude. This had happened in 1803.

Bhavani temple is frequented by thousands of visitors. Untimely death and for ablution of sins one  can take bath at the Mukkodal.What is this Mukkodal ? Mukkudal is confluence of 3 rivers.Bhavani,Cauvery and a unknown or unseen river Amirtham. It is srikingly similar to the Triveni sagamam in North India. North Indians might call this as poorman's Triveni sangamam and we might call Allahabad  similarly.However the important aspect is to take bath. I went with sufficient paraphernalia to take bath but after seeing the crowd and the cleanliness, I decided to wash my body with my mind and started walking inside the temple.I heard somebody shouting that if a dead body is immersed here the skull will not burst.No skull explodes!

Outside the temple people were sitting in front of priests who were literally fleecing them.My next stop is Amirthakadeswara lingam which was also crowded and significantly women outnumbered men. The lingam here can be taken from its pedestal (avudayar).If a woman walks around the shrine three times with the lingam she is granted child birth. A woman's god!

 I was amused and  entered the temple and started getting the feel of Siva.The temple was clean and the place inside was serene when compared  to the gross disquiet and shambles outside. There is also a beautiful Vishnu temple inside and the place has both Siva and Vishnu together.

Two peculiar features noticed in the temple were one Juraheswara idol who is supposed to cure ailments. He looks artistic and the other one was the 64th Nayanmar. Kirupananda Variyar's bronze idol makes up the 64th. I was just thinking, Why?. I read about him in my net enabled gadget and felt ashamed of myself.I prayed in front of him and decided to visit his birth place Kangayanallur.I started having a crampy pain in my leg and sat for some time.

Finally the temple legend.Kubera was gifted Agaya vimanam(aircraft) by Shiva so that he can visit all holy places.When he came to this place he saw all animals which included deer and tiger drinking together in the river without a shred of animosity.He landed here,felt Shiva and started worshiping Shiva here. Shiva appeared infront of him and blessed him. Kubera has a separate shrine here.

Thirugnanasambandar had come to this place and  praised  Siva as well as Juraheswarar who had cured the juram(fever)of  the devotees who had accompanied him.

As I was walking out of the temple I heard somebody telling his friend "Dei antha Juraheswarara pathiada munu kai kalluda".I pinched myself.I saw the idol but  did not see this aspect.Went back and saw him.Actually he has 3 hands,3 heads and 3 hands. Happily I strolled out of the temple and my sore leg felt fit and strong.

Juraheswara?

AVINASHI and THIRUMURUGANPOONDI:

INSIDE AVINASHIAPPAR TEMPLE - THE DAWN

GOPURA DARISNAM

Sundaramurthy nayanmar apart from being a staunch devotee of Siva is also his great friend. Sundarar had gone across this place previously called as Pukolliyur, twice.To know why Sundarar had come here we need to go through this enchanting story of  friendship.

Cheraman as the name says was a Chera king. His utmost devotion to Shiva made him relinquish his throne to his brother and left to Vanchikulam a Siva abode.After few years his brother came back and forced his elder brother to accept the throne again.While reading this story a wry smile of our Tamilnadu dynastic politics of brother's fighting for the throne came to my mind. Cheraman came back and started ruling the country in a just manner.

Nataraja was his favourite Siva incarnate.Whenever he used to pray in front of Nataraja Cheraman will hear the musical sound of Siva's anklet.One day he did not hear the sound and felt very bad.Siva explained him that he was spell and probably feet bound because of the songs of Sundarar at Thillai(Chidambaram) he could not do the cosmic dance at the time of Cheraman's prayer.Cheraman immediately rushed to Thillai to meet Sundarar.But Sundarar had already left to Thiruvarur.Cheraman went to Thiruvarur after getting the blessings of Nataraja at Thillai.At Thiruvarur Cheraman befriended Sundarar and their friendship is a fairy tale.Both of them visited several places together and Cheraman invited Sundarar to visit  Vanchikulam.

CROCODILE GIVING THE CHILD BACK

STHALA VIRUTCHAM

Sundarar decided to meet his friend at Kerala and started with his entourage.

Avinashi was called Pukoliyur at that time and gained importance because of Sundarar. Sundarar was walking across this village and on either side of the road he found two houses where, in one house there was jubilation and in the other house was sorrow personified. He inquired and found that two children of same age (5 years)each one belonging to these two houses were playing in a pond near by.A crocodile had preyed upon a child and the other child ran back home to narrate the story.5 years had gone by and the living child is 10 years old now.Their parents were conducting Poonol podum vizha - ceremony conducted in Brahmin families were the holy thread is put across the chest of male gender.

He called the parents of the bereaved son to come with him to the river.He started singing in praise of the lord and when he started singing the fourth song he gently ordered the lord to give back the child.To everyone's surprise and happiness the crocodile reappeared and gave a child which was ten years old. Sundarar gave the child to the happy family and proceeded to Kerala. This pond is one km away from the temple. After staying with Cheraman, Sundarar started coming back to Tamilnadu. Cheraman had gifted him with gold and ornaments.

While coming back God wanted to play with Sundarar. He sent his body  guards as thieves and robbed Sundarar. A peeved Sundarar started to cry in front of Siva. Siva showed the place where the treasure was buried(Vedupari).This happened at Tirumuruganpoondi our next temple which is just 4 kms away from Avinashi.
Bus stops infront of the temple and after a walk of two hundred meters one can see the small temple devoid of Gopuram. To the right of Siva lord Muruga is present.He has 6 faces and he draws lot of devotees. As lord Muruga prayed here this place is called Thirumuruganpoondi.Why did lord Muruga pray here?After Sura samharam Muruga had to clean his sins and he prayed at this place to come clean.

ENTRANCE OF MURUGANPOONDI TEMPLE - NO GOPURAM

SUNDARAR'S TREASURE BURIED PLACE

THE CHARIOT OF THE LORD

After Thirumurugan poondi I took a bus to Erode from Avinashi.  Get down at Perundurai and take  another bus to Bhavani. Just outside Bhavani bus stops at a place called Mukkudal. get down and half a Km walk will take us to this holy temple. After seeing Sangmeswarar reach Erode again and take a bus to Thiruchengode.

THIRUCHENGODE:

THE STEPS OF THE STEEP MOUNTAIN

BEAUTIFUL CARVINGS INSIDE THE TEMPLE

A BEAUTIFUL VIEW OF THE TEMPLE

Sun was at full throttle.Another half an hour travel. Get down at the outskirts of the town. One km walk will bring us to the foot hill of Thiruchenkundru.

Oops Thiruchengodu or Thiruchenkundru.As the mountain looks red in colour it is also called Chengundru(red hilled town).As the mountain looks like a straight line it is also called Chengodu(Straight line) One has to climb 1200 steps to see Arthanareswarar.Make sure you have a bottle of water   and also eat something before you start climbing.

I did neither and felt the mistake when I started climbing.

The whole mountain is sparsely crowded and there are no shops enroute.As the sun was scorching I was stretched to my reserve energy.

After few steps I saw a huge Nandhi also called Vennai Nandhi(butter).The Nandhi is  covered fully with butter.After getting his blessings I looked in  front to see a magnificent snake engraved in the mountain. It is 60 feet long and has 5 heads. Abhisegam is done for the Snake.Another architectural engravings on either side of the mountain awaits us after few more steps.They are sixty in number and are identical.These engravings are called Sathya vakku padigal.(steps of truth)After walking these 60 steps there is a shrine for Sathyanathan. Promises made at these steps are made in front of god and false promises will incur the wrath of Sathyanathan.

I saw few young lovers on either side of the mountain.I hope they never promised here. I just worshiped Sathyanathan and made no promise.Promises are to be kept. I usually break. Escaping the wrath of Sathyanathan I started climbing up.

After another 400 steps I reached the hilltop exasperated.There was a shop there selling cool drinks.After chilling down I entered the temple. Temple was closed and was supposed to open by 3.30 pm. I had full one hour and  during this time I tried to find the real meaning of Arthanareswarar. What it means ?

Shiva Lingam is a symbol of union of the duality of Shiva (the Pure One) and Shakthi (sacred force or the cosmic energy). According to Hinduism Lord Shiva appears as Arthanareeswara which indicates the union of substance and energy – the Being and his Shakthi known as Energy. This union is the source of all the creation. Shiva and Skathi can be considered as a metaphor for union of the duality to represent the ultimate non-duality (creation) of the Universe. The true meaning is the eventual union of the duality (of you and me) into the non-duality (where God is seen in the form of Nirguna Brahman or absence of you and me and the Eternal Blissful presence of the Divine Awareness (Sat-Chit-Ananda). The representation as Sada Shiva demonstrates that the division between material and energy is superfluous and in reality all is one. He shows himself as being all that is male and all that is female through the form of Arthanareeswarar as being the inseparable unity. God is an unfolding creative process that may expand without limit.

I read another article written by Sathya chander and found that concept of Arthanreeswar also interesting.He equates Shiva to "Static state" like a ocean which is very calm."Dynamic state" is what is seen and this is Shakthi. This is equated to wave which comes from the ocean.The waves go back to the ocean which is again a Static state.This dynamic and static state are always together and cannot be separated.This symbolises Arthanareswarar.He is a  treat to watch. I was just seeing the god for few minutes and tried to be Static.At the foot of the deity there is a spring water.This water sprout is called as Devatheertham.

When I read again about the two concepts of Arthanareswarar I felt both are same.  I wanted to correct it but the static energy in me stopped it. To the left of Shiva there is Murugan shrine and he is quite famous here.It is due to the songs of Arunagirinathar.

The legend of the mountain finally. We talked about friendship at Avinashi and Thirumuruganpoondi. Here its a straight fight between Vayu(air) and Adisesha(snake).Adisesha should hold Meru(mountain) and Vayu should dislodge the Adishesha from the mountain.The fight starts. Vayu could not break the shackles.He stopped blowing air.Mankind was deprived of air and no one could breathe. Sages pleaded with Adiseshan to release the grip.When he relented Vayu made a foul play by blowing air. A part of the hood and the mountain broke into three pieces and fell on the ground.One such piece is Thiruchengodu hill and it looks red because of the blood of Adiseshan.

It was 4.30 pm when I had come down.There is ghat road to take the pilgrims to the top.Walking is an option. Need not go to bus stand as buses come near the place where we start climbing. Reached Erode by 5.30 pm and started packing to Pondicherry.