Dr.Ravishankar's blog: May 2013

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Shri Nithyakalyana Perumal Thiruvidanthai A divya desam

This temple is closer to Chennai on the east coast road.It is very famous for marriage The lord here marries 360 daughters of a rishi so he is called nithyas kalyana perumal. Unwed men and women will have their weddings completed soon if they pray here.
How to reach
On the ECR from Chennai to Mahabalipuram after 40 kms from chennai and 1 km before the snake park you will see the temple arch the temple is just a furlong away

Legend:
Kaalava rishi had 360 daughters who he wanted to marry off to the lord. He did so after penance and the lord gracefully accepted the brides one on each day! so he is called Nithya kalyana perumal.
Bali chakravarthy was asked by the asuras to wage a war without reason he refused. He was pressurised to lead the asura army which won over the devas. To repent for waging an unwanted war he did penance here.
As you enter the main gate you see a long praharam with a mandapam on the right

as you enter the second courtyard you se the moolavar in his sannidhi

The lord here is about 7 feet tall and is in the varaha avatara with the consort on his left thigh. He is standing with the right leg balanced on Adisesha and the left leg lifted and supporting mahalakshmi ( Pic from Wikipedia)

There is a seperate Mahalakshmi sannidhi and Andal sannidhi. The hall on the right also has a seperate Ranganathar sannidhi

(Pallikonda Ranganathar Sannidhi above) There will be copious puliyodharai here as prasadam of Kalyana utsavam
Mangalashasanam (from Wikipedia)
Thirumangai Alvar has sung is praise of Lord Nithyakalyana Perumal.

Thulambadu Muruval Thozhi Yarkku Arulaal
Thunai Mulai Saanndhu Kondaniyaal
Kulambadu Kuvalaik Kanninai Yezhudhaal
Kolan Naan Malar Kuzhar Kaniyaal
Maal Ennum Maal Ina Mozhiyaal
Ilam Badiyi Vulak Kenni Naindhirunndhaay
Idavenndhai Yenndhai Piraane!

Sthalasayana Perumal Temple Mahabalipuram a divya desam

Mahabalipuram is well known for its ancient temples most of which are not in regular use. This is the Birth place of the great Bhoothath alwar who was the mace of Lord Vishnu and this temple is one of the few places where the perumal is in lying posture on the ground and not on Adisesha.

How to reach:

In mahabalipuram ask for the bus stand and the temple is right behind it. It is in front of the arjuna’s penance rock sculpture.The entry into the temple is though a half built Motta gopuram

Legend:

The lord gave darshanam here at the behest of Pundarika Rishi who wanted to see him. This temple was built by Mahendra pallava inside the town unlike the other temples on the beach to prevent it from being submerged by the sea. There was another perumal temple here as also a Shiva temple which are now submerged under the sea.The king built this temple without adisesha so that the lord will lie down on Ground which will prevent the sea from washing him away!

As you enter there is a single praharam with the gurbagruham housing a large pallikonda perumal sleeping on a stone bed. The face has become so smooth over the years the eyes and lips are almost worn out. The

The outer praharam has a shrine for Lord Lakshmi narasimha who is facing the south to prevent the enemies of the pallava king from entering the capital. There is a separate shrine for Bhoothath alwar who is standing in the yoga nindra pose with hands showing the dhyana mudhra. There is a separate shrine for Mahalakshmi and Andal behind.

A nice temple and a divyadesam so close to Chennai!!

18/2/22 pics sent by Dr.Balamurugsn after a visit yesterday The priest also informed him it's a stone carved perumal not wood(athi maram)or sudai (masonry)

Shri Vedagirishwarar temple Thirukazhukundram

This is the most famous of the temples here in this town and is very scenic. It is well seen from all the temples around . It is at a height of 500 mtrs and you need to climb 550 steps . It is a very thrilling experience due to the monkeys and the vendors. Please carry water as it is sold for Rs.32 a bottle on the hillock. All pooja articles are better bought down and do not carry anything in plastic covers as the monkeys will pluck it out of your hands.

How to reach:

In front of the Thazha kovil take the road in the market and take the first left turn. There is parking allowed on the road in front of the steps. There is a new temple being built here. You need to buy tickets to climb up, fo your camera and also pooja articles.

Legend:

Sage Bharadwaja prayed to Shiva for long life to master the vedas, Lord shiva appeared to him and said that even if he lives to eternity what he learns will be only a hand ful as compared to the four vedas he created as hillocks here to state that they will stand eternal. He also said that Bhakthi will be the way to salvation in Kali yuga and not mastery of the vedas. The four hillocks represent the four vedas and the Shiva shrine is situated on the Atharvana veda .

The climb is made cool due to the shelterd pathway

By the time you climb here you will be tired so take rest and then climb to the top.

The temple is quite small with an elevated Garbhagriha with a resplendent Shivalingam on a square avudaiyar. The Koshta vigrahas are all placed on the side walls and are at a lower level than the floor after renovation hence you have to down to see but can not enter. There is no Ambal sannidhi here or Nandi.. When I went in the abhishekam was going on and in the cool breeze it was a nice sight.

The exit hate is behind and you will need to climb down via a climb different route which takes you past the spot where the Eagles used to come

There is also an ancient rock cut temple for shiva under the ASI built by the pallavas .

Note that the temple opens only after 8 and darshan commences after 10 AM till noon and reopens at 4 PM.

Shri Rudrakoteeshwarar temple Thirukazhukundram

This is an ancient Shiva temple at the foot of the hill near the sangu theertham.

This temple is the oldest of the three temples in thirukazhukundram

How to reach:

In front of the Thazha kovil is the road that ends in the Sangu theertham seen below with the theerthapaleshwarar temple on the left and the Vedagiriswarar temple on top of the hill

This temple is to the south west of the pond a couple of roads away. The locals know it as easwaran koil or rudran koil.

Legend:

To quell the koti asuras who emanated from Kashyapa rishi Shiva let loose a koti rudrakshas from his chest who killed the asuras. To atone for the sin of killing them the rudras prayed here and were pardoned.

The temple entrance has Nandi with his consort on the wall

The temple has a east facing entrance with a balipeetam vinayaka and murugan sannidhis in front

THe sthalavruksham is the sara kondrai

The inner praharam has a East facing shiva and south facing Ambal Rudra Koteeswari ambal .

. The Koshta vigrahas and four savants are represented in statue form

It is believed that each prayer is multiplied one crore times here hence it is a very sacred place for lazy people like me to pray!!

Bhaktavatsaleshwarar temple or Thazha kovil at Thirukazhukundram

This is the temple right in the middle of the market. It is about 12 acres with 4 gopurams. 7,8,9, 6 tiered gopurams resembling annamalaiar temple in tiruvannamalai.This is mainly ambal shrine for Ambal Tripurasundari.

There are three praharams The outer praharam has a pond called Nandi theertha kulam There is a nice Ashta bhuja durga, next to the kulam . There are two mandabams with many sculptures one is the Amai mandabam where the entire structure id supported by a tortoise shaped base in stone.seen below