Monday, August 9, 2010

Surutapalli Pallikondeshwarar Temple

It was a long felt desire of mine to visit this temple. After finishing darshan at the Thandalam temple another 15 kms drive  towards Tirupati took us to Uthukottai . About half a km outside the town is this famous temple where Lord Shiva is found in the lying down form.

This temple represents the Tathpurusha face of Shiva in the Pancha brahma Kshetrams on the Arani river  near Chennai for details of this please visit my blog on this

 Pancha brahma Kshetras


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The Legend here is that shiva drank the poison churned out from Vasuki’s mouth when the ocean of milk was churned and he swooned. Parvathi held the poison in his neck .( If he had consumed it fully the entire world would have been wiped out). Once the amrutham was obtained all the devas rejoiced and forgot Shiva. When realisation hit them they went to Shiva thanked him for saving the whole world and appeased him though a bit late. Shiva being “Asutosh” (easily pleased) forgave them and was joyous and danced here, The rapturous dance was so spell binding that all Devas and asuras were watching in awe,  this was the first  Pradosha time. Hence it is believed that at this time every fortnight Shiva dances in front of the Nandi between the two horns of Nandhi and all gods come to witness this dance, So in all temples no pooja will be done and the screen will be closed as the respective gods would have gone to see Shiva’s Dance. Thus anybody who prays at pradosham time in a shiva temple  will have the benifit of his prayers reaching all the gods at the same time in the same place at one go!!

The main gate leads us to the Mandapam where Nandi is housed. This is a large hall and this is where Pradosha pooja takes place.

From this you enter the goddess's Sanctum. This sanctum complex  houses three gods ,Maragathambikai, Valmkeshwarar and Ramalingeshwarar. Goddess Maragathambikai is standing and is the same proportions as the idol I saw at Thandalam Dharaneeshwaran temple. To the left of her is the Shrine of Valmikeshwarar. This is a Shivalingam which was worshiped by Valmiki. Legend says this place was Valmiki's ashram where Seetha and Lava Kusha came to live after being banished by Rama.

The sanctum wall on the south has a beautiful dakshinamurthy with consort ( a rarity)

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( photo courtesy The Hindu)
on an excavation inside the temple  a stone with the impression of small feet ( Lava and Kusha’s feet) was found . This is kept on display even today.

The uniqunes of this sannidhi is that in front of a sivalinga it is usually a Nandhi, instead  here there is a sivalinga which was installed by Rama on his return from Lanka , The Ramalingeshwara. The uniqueness does not end here, In the Sanctum on one side you can see Rama and Seetha and on the other side there is Bharatha and Shatrugna who have Anjeneya facing them instead of Rama and Seetha!! 

The main Sanctum complex has lord  Shiva in lying down form on Goddess Parvati's lap with all the Devas , Saptharishis in attendance Vinayaka andSkanda are also  seen
(photo courtesy shantraju.wordpress.com).


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A View of the Main sannidhi from outside

8 comments:

  1. you are doing a great thing Sir
    thanks
    V Murali

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sir,
    My son is suffering sudden illnes leg pain,take treatment from Apllo Hospital Chennai.One of my best friend guide to me please go and dharshan to SURTAPALLI
    LORD SHRI PALLIKONDESWAR.Immediatly next day take a car go to the Great Temple.,What a surprise next few days my son is allright.It is wounder OM NAMASHIVAYA

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. visited the temple today.was a good experience.Prayed for my sons health!May the good lord take care of us all! Dr saikumar 19th May 2013

      Delete
    2. visited the temple today. was a great experience! Dr saikumar.

      Delete
  3. Very Good and Very useful to visitors.

    ReplyDelete