Sri Sundararaja Perumal Temple, Nagapattinam, Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu.

15^th October 2017.

This temple visit was a part of Thiruvarur temples visit organised by RATHAM for Prof. Madhusudhanan Kalaichelvan. After the darshan of Sri Kayarokaneswarar of Nagapattinam, came to his temple. This Sri Soundararaja Perumal temple is the 18^th temples of 108 Divya desams. After dharshan  Mr Bharath and Sunil sung the songs of Thirumangai Alwar.

Moolavar : Sri Sundararaja Perumal aka Neelamega Perumal

Thayar    : Sri Soundaravalli.

Some of the important features of this temple are....

The temple is facing east with a 7 tier Rajagopuram. Immediately after the Rajagopuram Temple tank is on the left and Sri Varadharaja Perumal is on the right.  Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam and Garudalwar are in the front mandapam. Perumal  bless us in three postures in this temple. In the sanctum moolavar is in standing posture is  of about 8 to 9 feet tall. The perumal is not like usual posture. While the upper hands holds conch and Chakra, the lower right hand in vara hastha and left hand on the thandam. Looks cute in Maratha type of alangaram. He was wearing a shoe also. The other two postures of Sitting and reclining are in the right side of the mandapam.

In the prakaram  Thayar Sri Soundaravalli is  in a separate temple, with dwajasthambam & Palipedam, Srinivasa Perumal, Veera Anjaneyar, Viswak Senar  and Andal.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of Sanctum Sanctorum, antarala, Artha mandapam and a mukha mandapam.

 

Maratha style corridor

HISTORY 

The temple exists even before 8th century Chozha Period (may belongs to Pallava Period). Nayaks, Maratha kings and Nattukottai Chettiars has the contributions to this temple towards extensions, renovations of the temple.

LEGENDS

It was believed that Sri Sundararaja Perumal gave darshan to Saleesa Chozha in Kali yuga, Markandeya maharishi in duvabha yuga and Dhruva. Brahma, Nagaras, adhi sheshan worshiped  Perumal of this temple. Thirumangai Alwar has sung hymns in praise of Perumal as "Nagai Azhakiyar".

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept opened between 07.30 Hrs to 12.00 Hrs and 17.30 Hrs to 21.00 Hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

The temple office land line number is +91 4365 221374.

Battars Ranganathan and Sriraman may be contacted on their mobile number +91 9442213741 for further details.

HOW TO REACH:

Buses are available from Various parts of Tamil Nadu to Nagapattinam.

The temple is about 3 Km from Nagapattinam new Bus stand and autos are available.

The temple is very near to Nagapattinam Railway station.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Sri Venkatesa Perumal Temple / Sri Venkatachalapathy Temple, Pulivalam, Thiruvarur District, Tamil Nadu.

14^th October 2017.

These week end 14th and 15th October 2017, temples visit are a part of Thiruvarur temples visit organised by Ratham for Prof. Madhusudhanan Kalaichelvan. 14th Saturday 2017, post lunch was planned to visit Perumal temple at Pulivalam and Sri Kasi Viswanathar Temple at Kulikarai.  It was started drizzling, when we arrived the temple  and the climate was  also pleasant.

Moolavar : Sri Venkatachalapathy also called as Sri Appan Perumal

Some of the important features of this temple are..

The temple is facing east with a 3 tier Rajagopuram. The Sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum artha mandapam and muka mandapam. The mandapams are in maratha style construction called Vavval nethi mandapams. In the Mukha mandapam Dwajasthambam Palipedam and Garudalwar.  In koshtam Narasimhar and Perumal sitting on Adhiseshan. In the sanctum moolavar Sri Venkatachalapathy is in standing posture. In front Artha mandapam Urchavar Sridevi & Bhudevi sametha Srinivasa Perumal, Chakrathalwar, Anjaneyar, Santhana Gopala Krishnan.

Sannadhi for Gopalakrishnan with Sathyabhama & Rukmani, Alwars, Lakshmi Hayagreevar Anjaneyar, Andal and a Sthambam written as Sri Perumal (Experts of the opinion that this must be Shiva linga).  Sri Muthusamy Dheekshithar had composed hymns on Sri Venkatachalapathy of this temple.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The temple must be 300 to 400 years old and constructed with bricks. May be Vijayanagara period.   Anjaneyar Temple is on the opposite side of the Road.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs

CONTACT DETAILS:

HOW TO REACH:

Pulivalam is very nearer to Thiruvarur and Lot of buses are available from Thiruvarur bus terminus.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

 Vavvalnethi  front mandapam 

 Stucco images on the Vimana

 Written as Sri Perumal and experts of the opinion that this must be a Shiva Lingam.

 Mr Bharath singing the song composed by Muthuswamy Dheekshithar

 Anjaneyar temple 

Thermutti mandapam (  may be ) 

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Sri Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Kulikarai, Thiruvarur District, Tamil Nadu.

16^th October 2017.

This Shiva Temple was planned to visit on 14^th Oct 17, after the darshan of Sri Venkatachalapathy of Pulivalam. This was a part of Thiruvarur Temples visit organised by RATHAM for Prof. Madhusudhanan Kalaichelvan. It was raining very heavily when we reached near the Village and Could not approach due to water logging on the roads leading to the Village, so we returned back to Thiruvarur. After confirming with the Sivachariyar, had been the temple again on 15^th October 2017. Though the temple has to be opened  from 17.30 hrs, Sivachariyar kept opened the temple around 16.30 hrs for us. Had the darshan of Sri Kasi Viswanathar and Mr Bharat  & Mr Sunil sang the song composed by Muthusamy Dhekshithar on Lord Shiva of this temple.

Moolavar    : Sri Kasi Viswanathar

Consort      : Sri Visalakshi

Some of the important features of this temple are...

The temple is facing east with a 2 tier Rajagopuram without Dwajasthambam. The Sanctum sanctorum consists of Sanctum, Antarala, Artha mandapam, Maha mandapam and a Muka/ Narthana mandapam. 

In the outer prakaram sannadhi for Chandikeswarar ( Two ), Gajalakshmi, Kala Bhairava, Shiva Lingas, Navagrahas are in a single line facing moolavar ( west Direction ). In Maha mandapam sannadhi for Sri Bhudevi & Sridevi samedha Sri Perumal, Naalvar, Arthanareeswarar, Vinayagar and Sri Valli Devasena  Sri Subramaniar. Sri Nataraja and Kali stucco reliefs are on the outer prakaram wall. Abutting Maha mandapam sannidhi for Natarajar and Somaskandar. Sri Chakra is painted on the ceiling in front of Amman and Moolavar sannadhi.

In koshtam, Ganapathy, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai. Moolavar is little short, swayambu and was brought by M/s Bhava family from Kasi about 300 years before. The present Sivachariyar is the 4^th generation  priest looking after the poojas. Moolavar is under a rudraksha mandapam. 

Kumbhabhishekam was conducted recently on 08-09-2016. It was learnt that  Sri Muthusamy Dheekshithar stayed in this temple for some time and composed songs on Shiva of this temple.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 17.30 Hrs to 20.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:
Thyagaraja Gurukkal may be contacted for further details and his mobile number is 9952538193.

HOW TO REACH :

Kulikarai is on the train route and Thiruvarur to Thanjavur

Bus is available from Thiruvarur.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

 Navagrahas in a single row facing moolavar 

 Sri Chakra was painted on the Ceiling 

 Two sandikeswarars 

Copper plate

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Ashtalakshmi Temple / அஷ்டலட்சுமி கோயில், பெசன்ட் நகர் / Besant Nagar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu

08^th October 2017.

After darshan of Arupadai Veedu Murugan, at Sea shore had seen this Ashtalakshmi temple. Since it was very near, went to this temple also and had the darshan of 8 forms of Lakshmi. The temple was built  similar to Uthiramerur, ThiruKottiyur, Thiruthangal, Kanchi and Madurai Perumal temples.

The presiding deities are Maha Vishnu,  his consort MahaLakshmi  and Lakshmi’s  eight forms  are installed at different levels under one Vimana.  

Some of the important features of this temple are..

The temple is facing east with an entrance arch on east and north side. ( east side is kept closed ). The temple is built like Om, the vedic mantra, hence called as Omkara Kshetram. The Vimana is of Ashtanga Vimana consists of 8 parts in three  floors. The three forms of Lord Vishnu ie,. Standing, Sitting and Reclining are depicted  in each floors.

In the Ground floor Maha Vishnu and Mahalakshmi are in standing posture. In front the Urchavars with Andal.  On the back and sides of ground floor are Aadhi Lakshmi, Dhanya Lakshmi and Thairiya lakshmi. In the 1^st floor Gaja Lakshmi, Santhana Lakshmi, Vijaya lakshmi and Vidhya Lakshmi. On the top /second floor is the  Dhanalakshmi.  

In the complex Sannadhis  are for Padmavathi Thayar ( only drawing ), Dasavathara mandapam, Krishna, Guruvayurappan, Chakkarathalwar with Narasimhar, Kamala Vinayagar, Veera Anjaneyar and Dhanvantari.

This temple was constructed under the leadership of Mukkur Srinivasa Varadachariar and the Devotees. The foundation stone was laid in the year 1974 and kumbhabhishekam was performed on 5^th April 1976. The temple is under the control of Tamil Nadu HR&CE Department.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be opened between 06.30 Hrs to 12.00 hrs and 16.00 hrs to 21.00 hrs. The scheduled timings may be extended during festival days.

CONTACT DETAILS

The official web site of the temple: http://ashtalakshmitemple.tnhrce.in/

The land line numbers +91 44 24466777 and 24917777 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH:

Almost about 2 km distance from Thiruvanmiyur and Besant Nagar Bus Terminus. From there the temple can be reached through Auto.

Town buses are available to Thiruvanmiyur  from  Villivakkam, Tollgate, Broadway.

Town buses also available  to Besant Nagar from Vadapalani, Perambur, ICF, Ayanavaram and Neelankarai.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Arupadai Veedu Murugan Temples on the Sea Shore, at Kalakshetra Colony Besant Nagar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

08^th October 2017.

After the darshan of Kasi Viswanathar, Sri Marundeeswarar and Sri Pamban Swamigal at Thiruvanmiyur, my next destination was to this Arupadai Veedu Murugan temples  at Besant Nagar on the sea shore. When I reached the temple it was around 07.00 hrs and no body was there except the cleaning attendants. A girl student was taking photographs of the temple for her project and I also joined with her for taking some pictures of the temple through my I phone.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Dr Alagappan who constructed Hindu temples at United States also constructed these temples in granite stones after getting blessings of Sri Maha Periyava, in the year 1984. It was his ambition that devotees of Muruga should get blessing of arupadai veedu  Lord Murugan in a single place.   Dr M G Ramachandran, the then Chief minister of Tamil Nadu sanctioned one acre of Land on the sea shore.  The architect and sthapathi was Mr Muthiah Sthapathi one of the best sthabapthis available in temple architecture.

The temples in this complex were  constructed in phases completely using granite stones. The Swamimalai temple was constructed first in the year 1995 in remembrance of Sri Maha Periyava, whose original name was Swaminathan. The three temples Maha Ganapathi ( New York Ganapathi ) , Palani and Tiruttani was constructed and consecrated in the year 1998.  The three other temples namely Thiruchendur, Thiruparankundram and Pazhamudhir Cholai were constructed and consecrated in  21^st June 2002, in presence of His Holiness Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal.  Idumban, Navagrahas, Vel mandapam,Yoga Bairavar, Shasti Mandapam, Sri Govarthini Samedha Sri Sathyagreeswarar temple abutting Thiruparankundram Temple  were added at a latter stage with concrete. The Four tier Rajagopuram  a stone structure was also added  in the complex.

LAYOUT

Thiruchendur Murugan, Senthil Andavar temple is facing east immediately after the Rajagopuram with a balipeedam and Dwajasthambam. Mahaganapathy or the New York Vinayagar is at the centre, which is at the back side of Senthil Andavar sannadhi.  Pazhamudir Cholai and Thiruparankundram ( is facing North) are on South. Palani malai temple is on the south west facing west, Thiruthani Murugan is on the North west and Swami Malai Temple is on the south east ie at the north side entrance. Elephants are the Vahanas to Thiruthani murugan and Swamimalai Murugan Temple in which Thiruthani Murugan Sannidhi Vahana Elephant is facing  east direction ie the same direction of Lord Muruga. A granite Vel with Mandapam is  in front of Swamimalai Murugan Sannadhi.

MIRACLES

Many miracles happened to the devotees were reported after worshiping Lord Muruga of this temple. Students in larges numbers used to pray Swamimalai Murugan Gurunathan, to score higher marks.  The trustees thought of purchasing a VEL for Swamimalai Murugan, when they approached Vummidi Jewellers, they said it was made ready, before the Trustees approached them. was placed. Added to this Sri Pamban Kumaragurudasa Swamigal, an ardent devotee’s jeeva Samadhi is close to this temples.

POOJAS AND FESTIVALS / FUNCTIONS

The festivals like Thai poosam, Panguni Uthiram, Aadi Krithigai and Skanda Shashti are celebrated in a grand manner. Homams like Skanda homam, Rudra Homam, Ganapathi Homam are regularly conducted at the request of devotees.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept opened between  07.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 17.00 Hrs to 20.30 Hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

The temple office may be contacted on the landline number +91 44 24900203

HOW TO REACH:

Just a KM from Besant Nagar Bus Terminus.

Autos are available from bus terminus.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVYA NAMA---