Showing posts with label Thirukazhukundram. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thirukazhukundram. Show all posts

Thursday, May 30, 2013

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.IMG_0087

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. IMG_0089

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   IMG_0092

 

IMG_0093

IMG_0119

 

IMG_0098   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.

IMG_0107 IMG_0105

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 comeIMG_0108

There is also an ancient rock cut temple for shiva under the ASI built by the pallavas .IMG_0116 IMG_0114 IMG_0115

IMG_0125 IMG_0126 IMG_0123 IMG_0124

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

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.IMG_0102

IMG_0013

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 belowIMG_0014

This praharam also has a Vinayakar sannidhi

The next sannidhi has the Murugan, somaskandhar sannidhi, atmanathar sannidhi with manika vasakar,and Ambal sannidhi.

The ambal is in standing posture and abhishekam is done for he feet only.

The priest will show you the sanghus collected form the theertham if you buy a ticket for Rs.2/

The Main sannidhi was closed for renovation . so we did not see the Moolavar .

There was a Gajaprushti projection on the side of the main sannidhi which was explained as the old moola sthanam which has now been changed

The Main sannidhi IMG_0016

The vinayakar, somaskandar sannidhis with atmanathar sannidhi with manika vasakar sannidhi

IMG_0017

IMG_0018

Sthala vruksham neem tree

  IMG_0020

 

The Atmanadhar sannidhi where Manickavasagar was blessed

IMG_0021

Ambal sannidhi

IMG_0032

IMG_0025

 IMG_0023

IMG_0024 

The old main sannidhi with the gajaprushti type praharam now forms the side

IMG_0028

 

IMG_0030 

The various conches collected from the sangu theertham

IMG_0039

The various sculptures in the Aamai mandabam  they look so great

IMG_0051   IMG_0043 IMG_0044 IMG_0045 IMG_0047 .