Monday 14 May 2012

Sri Veeramathi Amman Temple / ஸ்ரீ வீரமாத்தி அம்மன் கோயில், தாழ்குணி, near Gobichettipalayam, Erode District, Tamil Nadu. HARSHAN

14, May 2012
While preparing for the Kailash Yatra, as advised by my friends, planned to get the Kula Deivam's blessings. It came to true on 12th and 13th May 2012.  After getting blessings from my mother, who is around 80 to 82 years old and still active in a remote village called Pappavalasu, near Kunnathur, Erode, went to the Kula Deivam temples. It is an interesting story about our Kula Deivam, which goes like this.


SRI VEERAMATHI AMMAN TEMPLE
Our fore fathers were worshiping  Sri Murugan ( also known as Arul Malai Andavar ) as Kula Deivam, at Arul Malai near ( 2 KM of main road - Gobichettipalayam to Tiruppur) Getticheviyur,  on the way to Gobichettipalayam from Tiruppur. Some of our people argued that a male god cannot be a Kula Deivam and the Kula Deivam must be a female. They searched and found out this Veeramathi Amman ( Akkarapalayam - Talguni - 2 Km from Kolappalur.

Understand from my brother that people used to walk   to reach this temple from Kolappalur.) This temple belongs to Vishwakarma, a sub sect Kurupa Nadu  ( also known as Asari / Achari  / Kammalar a backward community, in Tamil Nadu. We used to do carpentry works and after the industrial revolution only few peoples  are still doing it and others migrated to other fields /jobs ).   The Amman is so beautiful with a smile on her face and it is very difficult  to lift the eyes from Amman.

The Amman is in sitting posture with one hand in abhaya hastham and the other in vara hastham.  The temple and Amman are facing north. Simha vahana is in front of  Amman.  After the alangaram two eyes may not be sufficient to look her beauty. ( காண கண் கோடி வேண்டும்  ). The blessing in this temple is little different from other temples. There is a brass hand kept at the feet of Amman. The devotees are blessed by keeping the brass hand on their heads. The poojas are being performed by  a non brahmin priest. ( It is common practice that poojas are conducted by a non brahmin priest in our area called Pandarams or Poojari in Erode and Coimbatore side Villages ).  

It was understood that the Amman was in a hut for some years in a Thottam. When our cast people approached for construction of temple in that place the land owner objected and wanted an important post in the temple committee. Our people decided and purchased a new land and constructed the present temple.

Devotees throng  to this temple on no moon days  and Aadi  Tamil month annual festival day ( This year 25th July 2012 ). Goats are sacrificed  in this temple to Sri Karuppanna swamy   and the same will be distributed to the devotees after cooking for which a separate dining hall also constructed.  The temple is little away from the village Talguni, in the midst of the fields, on the tar topped village road. There is small shrine for Kaaval theivam, Sri Karuppanna Swamy, who is about 2 feet tall facing east. The temple has no Rajagopuram and renovation works are in progress under the  a registered body. 

Facility to sit in front of the temple when the temple is closed. The priest resides near by village, who can be contacted over his mobile and the mobile number is also written on the compound wall. The mobile number is + 91 9944424438.

After posting in the website, two devotees contacted me on 18-05-2012 to get more information/clarifications.  I wish to go once again during Aadi month or Aavani Tamil months. During that time I may get more information and post the details. I went to this temple along with my brother, who is a retired BSNL officer. Some miracles also experienced by devotees after the darshan of Sri Veeramathi Amman. One of them may be, My brother and Anni are blessed with a male child about 8 months before and my brother is at 65 and anni is at 60 years. They will be offering a goat and rice, on the festival day.

HOW TO REACH :
On Gobichettipalayam to Tirupur getdown at Kolappalur. From there 3 KM on Nambiyur route.
The place name is  Akkarapalayam - Talguni - 3 Km from Kolappalur bus stop.
The Town bus route No 22 from Tiruppur to Nambiyur passes through the temple, and the frequency is limited.

CONTACT DETAILS :
The Poojari can be contacted over his mobile  + 91 9944424438.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE                          :CLICK HERE

BRIEF HISTORY OF OUR 
KULA DEIVAM SRI VEERAMATHI AMMAN     :CLICK HERE

Sri Veeramathi Amman Annual Festival 2013 :CLICKHERE
Sri Veeramathi Amman Annual Festival 2014 :CLICKHERE
Sri Veeramathi Amman Annual Festival 2015 :CLICKHERE

Sri Veeramathi Amman Annual Festival 2016 : 

( Sri Veeramathi Amman in Santhana kaappu alangaran on 25th July 2012, annual festival day )
( Pongal preparation- By ladies )
( Vimanam ) 
( Vimanam )
( Digital banner for the iruperum vizha )
Sri Karuppanna Swamy
( Maavilakku procession  from Perumal temple to Sri Veeramathi amman temple )

( Maavilakku procession  from Perumal temple to Sri Veeramathi Amman temple )


( Maavilakku procession  from Perumal temple to Sri Veeramathi Amman temple )
Temple mukappu arch 

ARUL MALAI SRI MURUGAN TEMPLE
Before going to Sri Veeramaathi Amman temple, I  went first to Arul malai Sri Murugan temple, which is on the way to Kolappalur. The temple is on a small kundru with 25 and odd steps. 2 to 3 Kms from Ketticheviyur, not on the main road. Our forefathers had done many thirupani /kaingariams to this temple, since they believed   Sri Murugan as their Kula Theivam. 

( Steps leading to the hill Temple )

During my young age  I used to go to this temple during Thai poosam festival and Thirutheir ( Chariot ) will be pulled around the kundru. People also throng this temple during No moon day ( Ammavasai ). After a gap of 25 years ( I really ashamed of not went to this temple and left such a long gap ),  I went to this temple and had the dharshan of Sri Arulmalai Andavar.

( Moolavar vimanam ) 
--- OM SIVAYA NAMA ---

Monday 30 April 2012

Velliangiri Andavar Temple / வெள்ளியங்கிரி ஆண்டவர் கோயில் / “THEN KAILAYAM” - Velliangiri Hills, Poondi, Sri Patteeswarar Temple, Perur and Sri Subramania Swamy Temple, Maruthamalai, Coimbatore, Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu.

30 December 2012 
MY  VELLIANGIRI YATRA ( THEN KAILAYAM )28-04-2012 - DAY 1
After June 2011 Velliangiri Yatra, we want to do it again in  day time to enjoy the  beauty of  Velliangiri. So we planned the yathra on 28th April 2012, a week before Chitra pournami. Checked the availability of seats/ berths during Feb 2012, for Saturday and Sunday night   travel Trains. 

Since the night trains are full, decided to go through Coimbatore intercity express, which starts at 14.30 Hrs from Chennai central.  Booked   for Mr Vau and Mr Muthu  Arunachalam. In the mean time after seeing my previous post Mr Alex from Chennai ( Actually from Kumbakonam ) wished to join with us. Last minute Mr Muthu Arunachalam opted out and Mr Alex joined with us from Chennai and his Friend (from Kumbakonam ) joined from Coimbatore.

Stayed at our SPIC ABC Guest house and Started our Yathra on 28th April morning, after darshan of Shiva  at base temple. We could not purchase the bamboo sticks due to non availability at that time. To our surprise there was a heavy rush and checking was conducted for  plastic bags, match boxes by the forest officials. Provisions were made to drop the plastic bottles by the temple / forest authorities.

( Velliangiri Andavar Tempe at base of the hill ) 
 
 ( Velliangiri base temple )
( Navagrahas ) 

At the half of the first hill we could not manage to climb with out stick. So we have managed to make the sticks from the bamboo plants. ( How do we made our sticks is a different story ). After taking rest at Vellai Pillayar ie the end of the first hill, started climb through bamboo forest in the second hill. It will be  difficult to pass through this forest alone, due to sound of the insects. The steps in the first three hills are not uniform and step stones were missing in many places. After climbing 236 rock cut steps, called Vazhukku Parai and reached the third hill. High growth of grass found on both sides of the third hill.

The fourth and fifth hills are not so difficult with  small ups and down with out any steps. There are small shops with some eatables,   set up only for the season. The temperature was so pleasant and it was awesome sight to see the beauty of the  western  ghats. It was a wonderful sight to watch the clouds are moving through the hills, below us. Slowly climbed to the 6th hill top and  we could see the seventh hill and below Siruvani dam. It was an another wonderful sight to watch  the clouds / mist passes on the seventh hill,  which disappear and appear after the cloud passes.

 ( Clouds passing through hills and valley )

 ( Clouds passing through hills and valley )

 ( Clouds passing through hills and valley )

After crossing the Aandi sunai started climbing the seventh hill which took  us an hour with steep path, which also has no steps.  It took us almost 6 hours to reach the top of the seventh hill from base temple. During our journey we had spent  some time to take photographs  and rest. All our pain vanished on worshiping of  Lord Shiva. Stayed there for an hour and practiced meditation and recited Thiruvasakam.
     

 ( Sri Vinayagar sannadhi at the entrance  )

( Moolavar natural cave )

Started climbing down and aimed to complete within four hour. When we reached 2nd hill it was very dark and our speed slowed down due to failure of light. Moon light was not visible much due to trees and clouds. Since Mr Vasu’s torch light was not working, with one torch light found difficult to climb down. Due to mismatching  of the speed my  thigh and cough muscles started pain. Climb down took us 5 hours  to reach the base temple  Thanking Lord Shiva  for given us strength and courage to climb up and down reached Guest house around  23 .00 Hrs and  had a good sleep.

My sincere thanks to Mr R Vasu, Mr Alex and Mr Madhanagopal, who co-operated with me to make this yathra a memorable and enjoyable.

Velliangiri Yatra Experience 2011 : CLICK HERE
Velliangiri Yatra Experience 2013 : CLICK HERE
Velliangiri Yatra Experience 2015 : CLICK HERE
Velliangiri Yatra Experience 2016 : CLICK HERE
Velliangiri Yatra Experience 2017 : CLICK HERE
Velliangiri Yatra Experience 2018 : CLICK HERE
Velliangiri Yatra Experience 2019 : CLICK HERE

 ( Vasu Self and Alex )

 ( Vasu self and Madhan )

 (Alex and self )

( Alex, madhan and Vasu ) 

29-04-2012. - DAY -2
Left the guest house and  reached, Perur Shiva temple. The temple is very old and found many Tamil inscriptions dating back to 10th to 12th century.  Gana  bhairavar has a separate sannathi without dog.  The Sabha Mandapam ( Kanaka Sabai ) has beautiful   statues chiseled on the pillars. They are Lord Shiva in Urdhva thandavam, Kaali ( Thiru Alangadu ), Sri Arumuga Perumal and Ganapathi, Veerabhadra are to be watched very carefully. Minute details are finely chiseled.

Boarded the minibus to Maruthamalai from Perur. I went to this temple when I was studying at Coimbatore about 40 years before. Things has changed a lot. Went to the hill top through Taxi and after darshan returned through steps. Rajagopuram is under construction. Since the day happens to be Sunday, there are lot of devotees thronged the hill shrine. We could not spent much time at the temple due to want of time to catch the Train. Returned to Chennai around 23.00 hours through Kovai express with a wonderful experience.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

PERUR SRI PATTEESWARAR TEMPLE

( Moolavar vimanam )

( Rajagopuram )

( A Shiva temple near Perur Shiva Temple with Rishabam in place of Rajagopuram )

MARUDHAMALAI SRI MURUGAN TEMPLE

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE
( Moolavar vimanam )


 --- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Tuesday 10 April 2012

Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple, Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh, India.

 9, April 2012
I had been to Srisailam on 5th and 6th of November 2011.(CLICK HERE ) After hearing my experience, my friends ( M/s Swaminathan, Srinivasamoorthy & Muthu  Arunachalam ) also wanted to make a trip to Srisailam. This is my second trip to Srisailam on 7th and 8th April 2012. We had planned in advance and booked the train tickets up to Ongole. From there we have decided to go by bus. The yathra went as per the schedule. Except Andhra Pradesh heat, I don’t find any difficulty. Post yathra trip worsened my health due to food and the hot climate. Otherwise it was an wonderful journey and experience. After landing SriSailam around 11.30 Hrs,  left our bags at Pathaleswara Guest House ( Room rent Rs 800, which can be booked at Ganga sadan near Temple ) and went to Pathala Ganga for bath ( Srisailam Dam ). Down and up climbed by steps and our two friends came by rope car. After meals at the guest house restaurant, had taken a rest for 2 hours. Went for Deepa aarti darshan around 17.30 Hrs and had good darshan of Lord Shiva Sri Mallikarjunaswamy.
 
East side 5 tier Rajagopuram 

After darshan came out of the temple around 19.00 Hrs and decided to go for the local temples visit. Went to Sakshi Ganapati temple, Sikaram ( Darshan of main temple through the horns of Nandhi ), Kataheswaram and Amman temple. Returned to room and taken rest up to 04.30 Hrs and assembled at Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple for abhishekam ( Rs 1000 each ). Around 7.00 Hrs allowed us to perform the abhishekam, which is a wonderful experience for me to touch and do the abhishekam. With great and wonderful  darshan, of Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy left for local temples visit once again. This time we had been to Sankara Mutt ( Very near to the main temple ), Paladhara & Panchadhara ( It is believed that Aadhi Sankarar had composed the Soundarya lahari and Sivantha Lakari at this place ), Rudraksha mandapam, Mallamma Kanneeru. Since the time was up to come back to Chennai, we cut shot our visit. Vacated the room and  we started our return journey to Chennai around 11.30 Hrs, bus up to Ongole. Boarded the train around 20.00 Hrs at Ongole and reached Chennai early Monday morning 04.00 Hrs.

It is observed that the construction of the temple and Rajagopurams are mixture of South and north Indian architecture. The Rajagopuram is of South Indian ( Tamil Nadu ) type. But the mollavar vimanam is of North Indian style. Instead of kalasam we could notice a Trishul. There are two Dwajasthambas in front and back of main shrine, this is for contain the power of lord within the shrine ( understand from the devotees ).

My dream of making this yathra once again on a day time has came to true. During this yathra, I had taken no of Photographs through my Mobile X 10 mini, are uploaded in this post.

HOW TO REACH 
On the train route from Chennai to Kolkata, get down at Ongole and from there bus facility is available 
From major cities of Andhra Pradesh buses are available to SriSailam.

CONTACT DETAILS :
Temple web site http://srisailamonline.com/

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE :CLICK HERE

DETAILS OF MY FIRST VISIT TO SRISAILAM : CLICK HERE

( Srisailam Dam )

 Dwarapalakas at the entrance of temple street)
  Dwarapalakas at the entrance of temple street)


From the Compound wall sculpture  we could able  to relate the story of Thiruvanaikaval Temple, where Elephant and spider ( In the latter birth he born as Chozha King, Chengat Chozhan and built may maada Temples where  elephant cannot enter in to the moolavar sanctum. ) worshiped Lord Shiva. 

May be relate to Srikalahasti also where Elephant and snake worshiped Lord Shiva 


Gandaberunda,  Hoysala's symbol. This is not a man nor a bird
 ( West side rajagopuram )



( Muthu Arunachalam, Swamynathan, Srinivasamoorthy & Guide)
( Muthu Arunachalam, Self, Srinivasa murthy and the guide ) 
( Stucco Natarajar )
 ( Veena Dakshinamurthy with Sanatha Munivars which is rare )
 ( Somaskandar )
 --- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---