Sri Soundararaja perumal temple Nagapattinam – A divya desam

Very close to the Neelayadakshi temple and close to the old bus stand we find this huge temple a divyadesam.
Legends:
Dhruva prayed to the lord here and the perumal gave a darsan as Sundararaja perumal. .
Adi seshan bathed in sara pushkarini  and was taken up by perumal as his bed here
The lord Neelamegha perumal with Gada is in a majestic standing posture blessing devotees. The idol is more than 5 feet tall.
The utsavar is the beautiful soundara raja perumal.
Along with this there is a small krishna idol in a cradle is given to devotees to rock as mukundashtakam is chanted for realisation of our dreams and also to beget progeny
The exquisite ashta bhuja narasimha with one hand on Prahalada and another showing abhaya hasta is a rare idol found here
Soundarya valli thayar is found in a separate enclosure by the side of the main sanctum complex in the outer praharam





There is a separate shrine for mahalakshmi and also a sanctum for Ranganathar with adiseshan as his bed.

Thiruputkuzhi VijayaraghavaPerumal temple- The 57 th Divyadesam

Around Kanchipuram there are a lot of ancient Temples and today morning I had darsan in this temple. This is the place where Jatayu’s last rites were performed by Lord Rama. Jatayu belongs to a variety of birds called Pul in Tamil and hence this place is called Thiru Pul Kuzhi where Thiruman buried Jatayu..There is a pond which was created by Shri Rama for the final rites called jatayu theertham here with a sannidhi for Jatayu.The lord is Vijayaraghava perumal and Thayar is called Maragathavalli thayar.

How to Reach:

ON the Chennai  Bangalore highway NH 4 proceed beyond Kanchipuram and cross the railway over bridge. proceed for about 5 kms and you will see the road to the temple marked by a board.Take a left turn here and the temple is about 3oo meters away

 

Jatayu theertham

 

Jatayu sannidhi outside the temple

Legends of the temple:

Other than Jatayu’s Moksham this temple was the centre for learning for Shri Ramanujar and his disciples. .The guru of Ramanujar Shri Yadava prakasa who later became his sishya taught Vedanta rahasyam to Ramanujar here. Thirumangaialwar, Ramanujar and Manavalamamunivar  have done mangalasashanam here.There is a wonderful stone Horse sculpture here with mobile parts !! as the lords vahanam  for utsavams which is remarkable .

The view through the Gopura vasal

 

A view of the Thayar sannidhi from the gate with Ramanujar sannidhi seen in front

Outer praharam with entry into the sannidhi at the thirunamam.

The moolavar here is with both the thayars . Sridevi and Bhoo devi are interchanged with Sridevi on the left with the heads inclined towards perumal. The perumal also has Jatayu on his right thigh though this is obscured by the utsava vigraha in front . The legend says that the smell from Jatayu forced Sridevi nachiar to move to the opposite side!!

The inner praharam has various Alwars statues

The outer praharam has various vahanams of the lord . The Kuthirai vahanam is a real masterpiece .

 

 Maragathavalli thayar has a separate sannidhi on the left of the main sannidhi unlike in other Perumal temples. She is benignly blessing the bhaktas .

 

The temple is famous for performing last rites to forgotten ancestors or forgotten last rites itself.

There is a belief that for  progeny prayers here will help. Devotees bring Paruppu which is roasted in the temples kitchen and given back. The lady should  tie this in her saree and sleep. If they sprout she is assured of progeny,

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)

Koviladi Appakudathan Temple Thirupernagar a Divyadesam

Last week during a visit to trichy I could visit this temple .The term ADI means ancient and Koil  is temple so the bhattar said this temple is in existence from before the Srirangam. It is a small temple which is being renovated,

How to Reach:

1. From Trichy take the road to Kallanai . On the Trichy Chennai bypass there is a prominent board that leads to Kallanai. The road is excellent. It is 9 kms to kallanai and about 5 kms further you will reach Thirupernagar / Koviladi village where the temple is situated. 

.You can also reach the temple from Lalgudi and Anbil side . The road was horrible last time I travelled hence I chose to travel via kallanai. 

3. The temple is about 25 kms away from Thiruvaiyaru towards trichy after you cross Thirukattupalli from Tanjore  side.

Legends of the temple:

The lord of the temple shri vishnu is giving appam a sweet to the devotees hence the name appam kuduthan.

There was a king called Ubarishravas who was cursed because he kiled a brahmin while hunting elephants . On prayers to  lord Shiva the king was directed to go to koiladi and feed devotees and when Mahavishnu is fed here the king’scurse would be lifted. The king came here built a palace and started feeding poor people. On day Mahavishnu came in the guise of an old man  after all the food was finished and was served appam. and payasam by the king.

At that time, Markandeya rishi was directed by Shiva to this place to seek refuge in Lord Vishnu for longevity of life. Markandeya came here and saw the old Brahmin lying on the couch holding an appa kudam in one hand. Markandeya bowed to him 100 times and Lord Vishnu regaining His original form, lifted his hand from the appa kudam and blessed Markandeya with longevity. He also blessed King . The temple:

This is one of the Pancha Ranga Kshetrams

Srirangapatnam in Karnataka, Srirangam, Kumbakonam and   Mayiladuthurai all along Course of the River Kaveri.Many people consider it a piligrimage and  see all the five in a day.

This temple is on a hillock by name Indragiri. With 2 prakarams,

A climb up these  stairs leads us to the praharams

The lord faces the west and is in the lying down posture with his hand on the appa kudam raised to bless King Ubarishravas  who is seated below. Bhumadevi thayar is found kneeling  near his foot.The utsava vigraham has a balakrishnan and people pray here for begetting children.

. . Appam is prepared as a daily offering to the deity here.

There is a separate shrine for Kamalavalli Thaayar The thayar is in an east facing sanctum which is in the first praharam itself.. There are also shrines for Ganesha, Nammazhwar, Ramanujar, Lakshmi Narayanar and Venugopalan. .

The temple is being renovated.

It is believed that Nammazhwar recited the last of his paasurams here before departing the mortal world.

.Tirumazhisai Alwar refers to seven shrines featuring Vishnu in a reclining position - Tirukkudandai, Tiruvegkaa, Tiruvallur, Tiruvarangam, Tiruppernagar, Anbil and Tirupparkadal - in a pasuram.

The rathams both old as well as new one below

Nachiar Koil the Divyadesam inside Trichy in Woriyur

This vaishnavaite temple inside Woriyur is a sacred Divyadesam which was built by the Cholas initially.

How to reach:

It is just about 500 metres to the south of the Shiva temple and is very easily found.Just proceed to the end of Salai road and turn left and right again you will be in front of the temple.

Legends of the temple:

The Chola king had no children after prayers to Sri Ranganatha he was blessed with Goddess Mahalakshmi being born as his daughter Kamalavalli. When she was to be married the King had a dream which directed him to Srirangam with his daughter where she merged with the lord. In her memory he built this temple in Woraiyur. Later when Shiva’s ire reduced the town into a desert the temple was lost and was later rebuilt.

As you enter the Rajagopuram you enter the outer praharam below. There is a huge pond on the left

View from the pond

The main sanctum has a Ranganathar in the Standing posture bedecked as a bridegroom with a small statue of Kamalavalli nachiyar sitting below as the bride.

There is no separate thayar sannidhi.

There are separate sannidhis for manavala mamunivar and for Tiruppanalwar who was born in Woraiyur

Thirumangai Azhvaar has composed one paasuram (song/verse in praise of the Lord).
Koziyum Kadalum Koil Konde, Kovalare Yoppar Kundramanna
Paazhiyum Tozhumore Naankudayaar, Pandivar Thammayaum Kandariyom
Vaazhiyro vivar vanna Mennil, Makadal Ponrular Kaiyil Veiya
Azhiyon Renthiyor Sangu Patri, Acho Oruvar Azhagiyavaa

A very peaceful temple