Shri Gopinatha Perumal Vinnagaram -Pazhayarai - at Patteswaram in Kumbakonam

For the fans of Kalki's Ponniyin Selvan like me the name of Pazhayarai (old house/dwelling),Chozhan maligai evoke waves of pleasure and vivid memories of the Cholas especially Princess Kundavai who had her palace in in Pazhaya arai (Old dwelling). This was Emperor Sundara Chola's palace.The residue of those days sadly is seen in the ruins of this temple. Though the many Shiva Temples around still exist like Metralinathar  temple  even today, this temple is in ruins and in need of attention urgently. It is the only Vishnu Temple in this Chola capital.
How to Reach:
On the Tanjore Kumbakonam road in the outskirts of Kumbakonam about 7 kms before is the road to patteswaam, The first kilometer houses the ruins of this temple

Entrance of the Rajagopuram

Legends and stories:

The grand father of Tamil ( Thamizh thatha) Sri U,Swaminatha Iyer referred to this temple as "Dwaraka of the South". It used to have a 7 tiered Raja gopuram and was housing the shrine for Krishna Rukmini and Sathyabhama, sadly only the main sanctum remains,

It was the place where Bhima saw Anjaneya and the famous realisation of who he was stuck Bheema

                                            

                                                    view from inside the Rajagopuram

main sanctum with enclosure for Anjaneya seen on the left

These are two salvaged Anjeneyas seen in a enclosure in front of the main sanctum

Dual Anjeneyas

View of the Rajagopuram from inside

View of the rear Gopuram

It is a monument that needs to be preserved and rebuilt to its old glory.

Nageshwara Temple Kumbakonam –A padal petra sthalam

This is probably the oldest temple in Kumbakonam. It was built by Parantaka Chola I and Adithya chola. The temple is in the form of Chariots with wheels and is dedicated to Lord Nataraja as Nageshwara,
How to reach:
The temple is right in the cenre of the town near the old bus stand
Legends of the temple:
Lord adisesha was getting tired due to the weight of the world he was carrying hence he worshipped shiva and parvathy here who lessened his burden and blessed him
When the Kumbham of cration fell and broke this was the place where the bhilva leaves fell.
Surya bhagawan worships the lord directly in Chitthirai month
Saint Thirugnana sambandar has sung devaram about this temple
There is a vinayaka here who is called Gangai vinayakar who was brought here from the gangetic plain later by Rajendra chola and installed here

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gangai_Vinayagar.jpg)
 
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The main sanctum has a shivalingam . The outer walls have various vigrahas  of worshippers with unique gods like Ardhanari and a Jwara vinayagar 
The ambal sanidhi is outside the main sannidhi complex after the natarajar sannidhi .
There is also a sanidhi for Kali right in front of the Natarajar sannidhi
The Nataraja mandapam is sculpted as a chariot with wheels