Thursday 30 July 2015

Sri Brihadeeswarar Temple, Gangaikonda Chozhapuram, Ariyalur District, Tamil Nadu.

29th July 2015.
Every time passing through this temple, I thought of visiting this Shiva temple standing majestically on the high way  between Jayankondam to Chennai. Finally I made it on 28th July 2015. Purposely I planned my travel from Thirukadaiyur to Chennai during day time, so that I can visit this temple. For this I diverted the route  via Kumbakonam, instead  of Chidambaram, to reach this place. 

This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. This is the replica temple of Thanjavur Brihadeeswarar temple, but not very much similar. The awesome and majestic gopuram attract our eyes from a long distance. This was once a capital for Chozhas and now there is no trace of palace or buildings around the temple.

Front view

Moolavar    : Sri Brihadeeswarar
Consort      : Sri Brihan Nayaki, Sri Periya Nayaki.

Some of the important features of this temple are……  
The temple is facing east with a Rajagopuram ( only pillars are exist now with dwrabalakars at front. Dwajasthamba pedestal, Balipeedam and Big Stucco Rishabam are at the entrance to the temple.

In the outer prakaram ( beautifully maintained lawn ) houses the sannadhis of Vinayagar, Sri Periya Nayaki Amman sannadhi, Chandikeswarar and Mahishasura Mardini Sannadhi. In addition to this there is a shrine with out Deity on the left, a mandapam and Simha well are on the right. Moolavar is not so big like Thanjavur Periya Kovil.

In the koshtam Some of the statues are Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Arthanareeswarar, Natarajar, Vishnu, aalingna moorthy, Chandrasekar, Pichadanar, Gajalakshmi, Saraswati, etc.

There are 4 entrances to the sanctum of which 2 are in front and 2 are at the side after mandapam.

There is a small Nandhi when we climbed the stairs at the front. The mandapam with pillars are before sanctum. In the mandapam, Shiva with three faces Urchavars and Saptamatrikas. A huge uninstalled kalash is kept along with urchavas.

There is a passage/ corridor  around moolavar sannadhi ( Sivachariyar allowed me to circumambulate through that passage ).

The excerpts given below are taken from the display board kept at Archaeological Survey Of India’s Office at Gangaikonda Cholapuram periya temple.

Name : Periya Kovil ( Big temple )
Main Deity : Peruvudaiyar ( Brihadeeswara – Big owner)
Consort : Periyanayaki ( Big Deity)
Established : 1025 C.E.
Place Meaning : Gangai ( Ganges of Himalayas ) konda ( Conquered) Cholapuram ( Chola Place ).
Built by : Rajendra Chola the great, also titled as Parakesari ( supreme furer), Mummudi Cholan ( of 3 crowns), Gangaikonda Cholan, Kadaram Kondan,..etc.
Resemblance : Built as replica  of the big temple of Thanjavur, built by his father Raja Raja ( king of kings ).
Height : 182 feet ( 55 meters) and shorter than the Thanjavur temple tower with larger plinth. It is often described as feminine counter part of Thanjavur temple.
Architecture : Dravidian Architecture. ( an engineering marvel as the shadow of the main granite tower never falls on the ground throughout the year).
Significance : Was the capital city of South India and South-east Asia Extension.
Background: Rajendra Chola-I (1012 to 1044 CE) the son of the great Rajaraja Chola-I,  Considered one of the greatest emperors and military leaders of India, established this temple after his great victorious march to Himalayan river Ganges in northern India. He defeated Mahipala, the Pala King of Bengal and Bihar and commemorate his victory he built a new city called Gangaikonda Cholapuram. The triumphant Chola armies brought back waters from the river Ganges in golden vessels to consecrate the new found land.

Gangaikonda Cholapuram was established as the capital of Chola Empire by Rajendra Chola-I, shifting the traditional capital from Thanjavur ( Tanjore). It occupies an important place in the history of India. As the  capital of the Cholas from about 1025 C.E, for about 250 years, the city controlled the affairs of entire south India and also South-East Asian Countries, including Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Coastal Burma, Kadaram ( Kedah in Malaysia) and Indonesia.

The Cholos became one of the most powerful dynasties in Asia during Rajendra’s reign  and Bay of Bengal became virtually a Chola lake. Rajendra’s territories extended to coastal Burma, the Andaman Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Maldives, conquered the Kings of Sri Vijaya ( Sumatra, Java and Malay Peninsula in south east Asia) and the Pegu islands with his vast fleet of ships. The Tamil Chozha armies exacted tribute from Thailand and Khmer Kingdom of Cambodia. Tanjore inscriptions also state that Suryavarman, the king of Kambhojia ( Cambodia ) requesting  Rajendra’s help in defeating enemies of his Khmer kingdom, where the state emblem and world’s largest non-functioning Hindu Angkor Wat temple still stands today ( Srirangam is currently the largest functioning temple).

Rajendra Chola- I, under took several expeditions to occupy territories outside Indian shores. In-fact Rajendra Chola I, was the Indian King to take his armies overseas and make conquests of these territories, even though there is epigraphical evidence of Deccan Dynasty of Pallava’s presence and their Tamil scribes in these South-east areas, but it is not known that Burma and Indo-China were subordinate to them as they were under Rajendra and his successor Rajadhi Raja up to Kulothunga-I. When the capital of Chozhas moved to Chidambaram, until then all the Chozha emperor’s coronation took place at Gangaikonda Cholapuram.

The temple and it’s property belongs to Archeological Survey of India and UNESCO.

TEMPLE TIMINGS: 
The temple is kept open between 06.00 Hrs to 12.00 Hrs and 16.00 Hrs to 20.00 Hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS :
The mobile number is +91 9751341108

HOW TO REACH:
The temple is on Jayankondam to Chennai Road about 10 KM from Jayankondam and 2 KM from X-road.
Autos are available from Jayankondam and X-road.
Buses also available from Kumbakonam to Jayankondam via X-Road and passes through the temple.
  
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE :CLICK HERE

Rishabam - Stucco
Dwarapalakas
Small nandhi and big nandhi from temple view 
 Reliefs on the sanctum wall inside
Saptamatrikas


 Vinayagar sannadhi
 Temple complex view

 Mahishasura mardhini temple
 Temple complex view
Simha theertham 
 South side entrance
North side entrance
Three ladies
 Pichadanar & Gajalakshmi
 
 Vishnu & Arthanareeswarar
 Aalingna moorthy
Natarajar
Lord Shiva with Parvathi
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sri Ramanadheswarar Temple/ Sri Ramaswamy Temple, Thirukadaiyur, Mayiladuthurai District, Tamil Nadu.

29th July 2015.
This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva near Thirukadaiyur bus stop on the Mayiladuthurai to Karaikal main road. The temple is under the control of HRCE Department, under one kala Pooja scheme. On Monday 27th July 2015 I had the chance of peeping inside the temple. It was a scary experience to enter in to the sanctum. Lot of bats flying inside the temple and banyan and Peepal trees were grown on the temple. The roots came through the ceiling and walls. The temple is in a dilapidated condition and may crumble down at any time.

One kala Pooja is conducted regularly and kept open in the evening. Oil lamps are burnt in side the sanctum. The temple is facing west and Ambal is facing south. The mandapam is of vavval nethi type of architecture.  We couldn't circumambulate the temple, due to growth of thick vegetation.

Why and what for Lord Shiva is waiting ? Can any one hear the cry of this temple. Who was chosen to carry out the thirupani to this temple ?. HRCE is wasting money in many ways, why they cannot spend some money to rebuild this temple? Let us pray Lord shiva to answer.
  
The temple view from Main road   
 Moolavar sannadhi with vavval nethi mandapam 
 Ambal sannadhi
 Tree’s roots pierced through ceiling
Tree’s roots pierced through ceiling
Tree’s roots on the south side wall 
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sri Amirthakadeswarar Temple Thirukadaiyur, Sri Brahmapureeswarar Temple Thirumeignanam, Sri Markandeyar Temple, Sri Pallavaneeswara Swamy Temple, Poompuhar, and Sri Karaikal Ammaiyar Temple at Karaikal.

 29th July 2015
One again it was a memorable trip to Thirukadaiyur on 26th July 2015 to 28th July 2015.   Sri Karaikal Ammaiyar Temple at Karaikal, Sri Markandeyar temple at Thirukadaiyur and Sri Brihadeeswarar temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram are the new temples covered in this visit.

THIRUKADAIYUR
On 27th July 2015, participated in the artha jama Pooja  and Palliyarai Pooja. Thank God, it was a wonderful experience. During both pooja times followed the archakar and Temple  Nathaswara vidhvans  from Sri Amirthakadeswarar Sannadhi to Sri Abirami Amman Sannathi and back to Shiva’s Sannadhi.  The rituals followed by the Sivachariyar has to be appreciated.    Naivedyam Prasadam was distributed after the both poojas.  Hot milk was also distributed after Palliyarai Pooja.  After Palliyarai pooja, poojas are performed at Chandikeswarar Sannadhi and lastly at Bhairavar Sannathi. It was explained that before closing the temple account is submitted to Sri Chandikeswarar and  safeguarding the temple was handed over to Bhairavar.  About 5 devotees, attended the poojas. I must say the 5 blessed souls are participated in the poojas.  I do not know, I might have  done some punyam during my earlier birth to attend such great temple poojas.

 The entrance arch
West side entrance Rajagopuram 
The Details of my earlier Posts :CLICK HERE 

SRI BRAHMAPUREESWARAR TEMPLE, THIRUKADAIYUR MAYANAM ( THIRUMEIGNANAM )

At Thirukadaiyur visited the Kadavur Mayanam ( Thirumeignanam ) Sri Brahmapureeswarar temple also. This is my second visit to this temple. During my earlier visit the temple was preparing for the Kumbhabhishekam. The details of this temple are posted in my earlier post ( CLICK HERE ). Lot of improvement works has been carried out. Here too I was the only person worshiped lord shiva  during my visit. This time I was able to see the ‘Villenthiya Velan’ Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar holding  bow  on his left hand.

The entrance arch 
 Rajagopuram with Nandhi mandapam & Palipedam
 Moolavar Vimanam  
Moolavar Vimanam & Dakshinamurthy sannadhi 
Ambal sannadhi entrance 
Villenthiya Velan- வில் ஏந்திய வேலன் 
Old paintings on the ceiling in front of Villenthiya velan sannathi and mandapam.

SRI MARKANDEYAR  TEMPLE.
For this temple and the above Thirukadaiyur Thirumeiganam temple, hired an auto from Thirukadaiyur. This temple is on the way to Thiruvidaikazhi from Thirukadaiyur. The place is called T.Manal Medu. This is only place where sannadhi is for Markandeyar, for whom Lord Shiva hicked Emadharman and increased his life. ( The part of this post was separated ad written as a separate post. Please click this link to reads more details )

Moolavar    : Sri Mirukandu Eswarar
Consort      : Sri Maruthuvathy Ambal

Some of the important features of this temple are….
The temple is facing east with a three tier Rajagopuram. Dwajasthambam, balipeedam and Nandhi are after the entrance.

In the prakaram sannadhi for Bala Anjaneyar., Sri Vinayagar, Sri Shunmuga Subramaniyar, Gajalakshmi, Chandikeswarar, Saba mandapam, Navagrahas, Bhairavar, Suryan and Chandran.

In koshtam Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Vishnu Durgai.

In the sanctum mandapam Sannathi for Ambal facing south and Sri Markandeyar. Both moolavar and Urchavar are side by side. It is a practice that every devotee is tied with turban – Parivattam in front of Sri Markandeyar.

Vinayagar sannathis are  under Neem and Peepal Tree. Also there is a sannadhi for Rettai Pillayar. It was believed that if one circumambulate 18 times and worship Vinayagar, his wishes will be fulfilled.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:
The temple is kept open between 08.30 Hrs to 13.30 Hrs and 17.00 Hrs to 20.30 Hrs

CONTACT DETAILS :
Sri Viswanatha Gurukkal 8489238904 and 04364 287461 and 287325.

HOW TO REACH:
The temple is on the way to Thiruvidaikazhi – one of the Devara Vaippu sthalam and the place is called as T. Manal Medu 3 KM off main road.
The temple can be reached through Auto  from Thirukadaiyur and they will charge around Rs 100.00

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE :CLICK HERE


 Moolavar Sanctum with Chandikeswarar sannathi
   Moolavar Sanctum with Chandikeswarar sannadhi

Pillayar sannadhi under Neem and Peepal tree
Rettai Pillayar

SRI PALLAVANEESWARA SWAMY TEMPLE, POOMPUHAR PALLAVANEECHARAM – PATTINATHAR TEMPLE 

Previous day of  starting to Thirukadaiyur learned that 10 days Pattinathar  Thiruvizha celebration  is in progress  at Poompuhar through one of my friend. I could not get more details. Thought of attending the same. It was about 15 KM from Thirukadaiyur via  the place called karuvi.  I got a copy of the notice  of the celebration. The program on Sunday was ‘Akka veedu Koluthuthal’.  The time of the program was not mentioned. So tried my luck, if it ends before 22.00 Hrs, I can return to Thirukadaiyur otherwise return to Thirukadaiyur.  On reaching Poompuhar worshiped Pattinathar in the temple Pallavaneecharam Shiva temple. This is one of the Padal Devara Petra  shiva sthalam and I had visited earlier ( For my earlier post CLICK HERE ).  The temple is also called as Pattinathar Kovil.  ( Which I had not noticed earlier. ). Learned that the Pattinathar Thiruvizha  - ‘Akka Veedu Koluthuthal‘ program will starts only after 22.00 Hrs.  Since there is  no transport available from Poompuhar after 22.00 Hrs, returned back to Thirukadaiyur with a disappointment.

Pattinathar Temple ( Pallavaneecharam Shiva Temple ) entrance arch
 Pattinathar and Karaikal Cholan sudhai Sirpangal
Kannaki and Kovalan stucco images
Moolavar Vimanam 

KARAIKKAL AMMAIYAR TEMPLE  - SRI SOMANAYAKI SAMEDHA SRI SOMANATHAR TEMPLE  
During my earlier visit to Karaikal, missed  to worship Karaikkal Ammaiyar. This temple is on Bharathiyar Street ie about a kilometre  from bus stand. On reaching the temple, came to know that the annual month long Mangani thiruvizha is in progress. Lot of shops were erected in front of the temple. Actual Mangani Thiruvizha was over  during first week of July 2015. Had the darshan of Karaikal Ammaiyar and Lord Shiva.

It was pleasant surprise, when I met one of the Sivanadiyar -an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva – we used to call her as Karaikal Ammaiyar. I met her during our tour to Sri Lanka. She only recognized and say hello to me.  Appreciated her memory  of not forgetting me  even 2 years after  the tour.

Iraivan : Sri Somanathar
Iraivi    : Sri Soma nayaki

Some of the Important features of this temple are…..
The temple facing east  a 3 tier Rajagopuram with separate entrances for Karaikal Ammaiyar sannadhi and main temple. At the entrance dwajasthambam balipeedam and Nandhi. Moolavar is short and facing east. In koshtam Vinayagar Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar,  Brahma and Durgai. In arthamandpam sannadhi for Soma Nayaki, facing south. Natarajar saba and Aadipura Amman.

In  front mandapam on the left sannadhi for Sri Karaikal Ammaiyar and Vinayagar. Story of Karaikal Ammaiyar was painted around the sanctum wall.

In the outer prakaram sannadhi for Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Gajalakshmi, Bhairavar, Sani bhagavan, Suryan,  Chandran  and Chandikeswarar.

There is thriukulam / Temple tank beautifully maintained with a Neerazhi mandapam at the center.
Near By are Sri Kailasanathar Temple and a Perumal Temple

TEMPLE TIMINGS :
The temple is kept open between 6.00 Hrs to 11.00 Hrs and 16.00 Hrs to 20.00 hrs

CONTACT DETAILS:
Venkatesa Gurukkal may be contacted over his mobile 9442430753
Office 9443786774 and 04368222717

HOW TO REACH :
About 1.5 KM from Karaikal Bus stand on Bharathiyar Street.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE :CLICK HERE

 The entrance Rajagopuram

 Moolavar Vimanam
 Moolavar Vimanam
 Thirukulam
 Perumal temple 
 Karaikal Ammaiyar Sannathi sanctum wall paintings
 Karaikal Ammaiyar Sannathi sanctum wall paintings
 Karaikal Ammaiyar Sannathi sanctum wall paintings
Karaikal Ammaiyar Sannathi sanctum wall paintings
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---