Thirupampuram - Seshapureeswarar Temple

Tirupampuram is one of the Devara Stalams.  The ancient name for this place is Seshapuri.  Lord Shiva is known as Pambupureeswarar or Seshapureeswarar orPamburanathar.  It is believed that by visiting Thirupampuram one gets the worship benefits of visiting Thirunageswaram, Keezhaperumpallam and Kalahasthi.  This is a parihara sthalam for Rahu and Kethu.  All naga doshams are alleviated if one worships Lord Shiva here.  Rahu and Kethu are present here as a single physical entity. The consort of Lord Shiva in this east facing temple is Vandaar Poonguzhaliammai. Click here to read more...

Thirukollikadu - Pongu Saneeswaran Temple

Agneeswarar temple at Thirukkollikadu or Kallikadu is more commonly known as Pongu Sani Temple.  The Presiding deity of this temple Agneeswarar is also known as Thirukollikadar or Theevanna Nathar. The Lingam here is one of the 64 Swayambhu (self-manifested) Lingams. True to the name, the Lingam here is slightly reddish in colour. His consort here is Mirudupaadanayagi or Menthiruvadiamman or Panjinmelladiaal.Read More....

Thirukarugavur – Garbarakshambigai Temple

"God could not be everywhere and therefore he made Mothers." -- Jewish proverb

Thirukarugavur is on the banks of Vettaru, a tributary of Cauvery.  This is a padal petra sthalam.  Lord Shiva is known as Mullaivananathar and His consort is Garbarakshambigai or Karukathanayaki.  This place was a jasmine forest, jasmine in tamil is mullai and hence the name Mullaivananathar.  The Goddess here protects the foetus during pregnancy and hence the name Garbarakshambigai or Karukathanayaki.  The Goddess not only protects the foetus but also blesses the childless with progeny.  Pregnant women come here to pray to be free from pregnancy related problems and for easy delivery.  The Shiva lingam is a Swayambhu or self manifested lingam.  When you visit the temple make a request to the priest to show the deeparardhanai and you can see the marks of the jasmine creeper on the lingam.  Vinayakar and Nandhi are also Swayambhu in this temple. Click Here to Read More...

Thirupungur - Sivalokanathar Temple

Thirupungur is a small village about 2 kms from Vaitheeswaran Koil.  This place was once surrounded by Punga trees and hence the name Thirupungur.

The Shiva lingam is one of the 64 Swayambhu (Self manifested) lingams and is supposed to have come from an anthill.  The Nandi here is also a Swayambhu.  The presiding deity at this temple is Shivalokanathar and His consort is Soundaryanayaki.  Vinayakar is supposed to have dug a tank here for nandanar on Lord Shiva’s orders and is known as Kulam Vettiya Vinayakar.  Click Here to Read More....

Thiruvalanchuzhi - Vellai Pillayar Temple

Thiruvalanchuzhi is just a kilometer away from Swamimalai. This temple is famous for the Vellai Pillayar. This Vinayakar is also known as Norai Pillayar as He is made out of froth from the Ocean. This temple is noted for its immense size and architectural brilliance.  Click Here to Read More...

Thirukadaiyur - Abhirami Temple

Thirukadaiyur is a very famous temple in Nagapattinam district.  The presiding Deity is Amrthalingeswarar His consort is Abirami.  This temple is associated with the stories of Markandeya and Abhirami Battar. This holy place is believed to be the place where Lord Shiva rescued and saved Markendeya, from the Yama (the God of death).  Click here to Read More....

Thirunageswaram - Rahu Temple

Sri Naganathaswamy Temple or Rahu Sthalam is one of the 9 Navagraha Temples in Tamil Nadu and is dedicated to Rahu. Sri Naganathaswamy. Temple is located at Tirunageswaram, which is 7 km east of Kumbakonam on the Kumbakonam - Peralam Road. The Presiding Deity is Lord Naganathaswamy.  Click here to Read More....

Thirundudevankudi - Karkadeswarar Temple

Karkadeswarar temple at Thirundudevankudi is a vast temple surrounded by a moat.  It is in the midst of paddy fields.  There are only paddy fields as far as you can see. The Sivalingam here was worshipped here by a Crab. The image of a golden crab as well as the hole created by it can be seen on the Shivalingam during the ablution rituals.  Thirundudevankudi could well be corruption of Thiru nandu devakankudi; Nandu meaning crab.  Read More....

Thiruvisanallur - Sivayoginathar Temple

Yoganandeswarar Temple at Thiruvisanallur is a very ancient temple.  The presiding deity of this temple, Yoganandeswarar is also known as Sivayoginathar.  Eight Shiva yogis after severe penance on Lord Shiva, merged with the Lingam and hence the name Sivayoginathar.  This place was a vilva forest at one time and hence He is also called Vilvaranyeswarar. Read more..

SriVanchiyam - Vanchinathaswamy Temple

Srivanchiyam is 25 kms from Kumbakonam, 1 km from Achuthamangalam on the Kumbakonam Nagapattinam route. This is 16kms from Tiruvarur on Tiruvarur Nannilam route. The presiding deity is Vanchinathan and His consort is Mangalambika. The Sivalingam is a Swayambhu and faces both West and East; hence puja is performed here in both the directions. Yama - the God of Death, has a separate shrine in this temple and given preference in daily worship.This is also parihara sthalam for Rahu & Kethu.  Shashtiabthipurthi & Sadhabhishekam are celebrated at Srivanchiyam Temple.  Click here to read more....

Thittai Guru Temple - Architectural Marvel

Ulaganayaki sametha Vasishteswaraswamy temple in Thittai is about 10kms from Tanjore on the Tanjore Melathur Road.  The Lingam here is Swayambhu (Swayam - self & bhu - to be; Swayambhu means self manifest). This temple is MUST SEE even for those who are not religiously inclined.Devotees are allowed right upto the entrance of the garbagraham. A drop of water falls on the lingam every 24 minutes ie 1 Nazhigai. If you are patient enough, you can actually witness this amazing phenomenon.  Click here to read more....

Thilatharpanapuri or Adhi Vinayakar Temple

Swarnavalli sametha Mukthiswarar temple is located at Thilatharpanapuri 2.6kms from Koothanur. Koothanoor is near Poonthottam which is on Mayavaram – Tiruvarur Road.  Here you can see a Vinayakar with a Human face.

There are 7 sthalams for performing these rituals viz. Kasi, Rameswaram, Srivanchiyam, Thiruvenkadu, Gaya, Thiriveni Sangamam & Thilatharpanapuri.

This place is considered equivalent to Kasi or Rameswaram. Performing tarpana here on Amavasya day is considered special. This is a Mukthikshetram. Like Srivanchiyam, it is believed that the sinned will not be able to visit this temple and a planned visit to this temple is not possible.  Click here to read more....

Saraswathy Temple at Koothanur

The temple for Saraswathy is located at Koothanur near Poonthottam which is on Mayavaram - Tiruvarur Road. The vinayakar in this temple is a swayambhu. There are separate sannadhis for Valampuri Vinayaka, Baladandayuthapani, Nagar, Brahmma, Brahmmapureeswar & Swan. On Saraswathy Pooja day of Navaratri, pilgrims throng this temple to have the rare opportunity of offering worship to the goddess's feet with their own hands. On Vijayadasami, hundreds of people flock the shrine for the Aksharabhyasam/ Vidyarambham of their children. Click here to read more...

Lalithambigai Temple - Thirumeyachur

The presiding deity of the temple is Lord Meghanatha.  The consort of Lord Meghanatha is Goddess Lalitambigai. This is supposed to be an Ilam Kovil (temple within temple).  Since there are two temples side by side, a unique feature of this temple is that you can see Shiva (present as Lingothbhavar) Vishnu and Brahma simultaneously from the North West corner of the outer prahara.There is something interesting that happened as recently as 1999.  A devout woman from Bangalore had recurring dreams of Ambal asking her for gold anklet (Golusu).  She had the anklet made and visited the temple.  Click here to Read More....

Temples for three forms of Shakthi near Poonthottam

Temples for the three forms of Shakthi – Durga as Lalithambigai at Thirumeyachur, Lakshmi as Swarnavalli at Thilatharpanapuri & Saraswathy at Koothanur are all located near Poonthottam.

I have written separately about each of these three temples.

Thingalur - Chandran Temple

Thingalur is the sthalam for Chandran.  Thingal in Tamil means Chandran and hence the name Thingalur. The presiding deity is Kailasanathar and his consort is Periyanayakiamman.  It is here that Chandran prayed to Lord Siva and got his blessings. Shiva blessed Chandran with the power to grow back to full size in 15 days after being consumed by Rahu.  That is why we have the waxing and waning moon.  Shiva also blessed Chandran by adorning Chandran on his forehead so that anyone who prays Shiva will have to pray Chandran.  Click here to read more....

Kanjanur - Sukran Temple

Kanjanur is the sthalam for Sukran.  At this Shiva temple Agneeswarar is the presiding deity and his consort is Karpagambal.  Agni is said to have worshipped Lord Shiva here and hence the name Agneeswarar.  There are quite a few Shivalingams in the praharam, including one supposedly installed by Kamsa.

When Lord Vishnu asked Bali for 3 steps of land in Vamana Avataram, Sukracharya tried to dissuade Bali from granting the boon.  He took the form of a bee and blocked the mouth of the Kamandalam (a type of Jar, usually carried by rishis) from which Bali would pour water to signify the grant of the boon.  Click here to read more....

Suryanar Koil - Sun Temple

The Sivasuryanarayana temple at Suryanar Koil is one of the navagraha temples and is dedicated to Suryan.  This standalone temple for Suryan has shrines for each of the other planets as well.  

Brahma had cursed all the nine planets to be affected by leprosy.  The Navagrahas apologised and requested to know how they could overcome this curse.  Brahma advised them to go the Thirumangalakudi and worship Prananatheswarar, at Vellerukkakadu, who alone could help them.  Click here to read More....

Alangudi - Guru Temple

Sri Abathsahayeswarar Temple, the sthalam of Guru Bhagavan is at Alangudi.  Though this temple is famous as Guru sthalam the presiding deity here is Abathsahayeswarar and His consort is Elavarkuzhali Ammai or Umayammai.  The Shiva Lingam here is a Swayambhu. Dakshinamurthy in the prahara of Shiva’s shrine is worshipped as Guru Bhagvan here.

Alangudi is one of the Parivara Sthalams.  There is a group of temples around Kumbakonam whose deities form a big temple. This group of temples is called the Parivara Sthalam.

This big temple would have;

Click here to read more....

Thirunallar - Saneeswaran Temple

Dharbharanyeswaraswamy or Dharbaranyeswarar temple at Thirunallar is dedicated to Saneeswaran or Saturn. Lord Surya was married to Usha or Light. Usha Devi was unable to bear the heat radiated from Surya and left her shadow or Chaya with Suryan while she herself stayed away. Saneeswaran is the son of Chaya Devi and Suryan. The very sight of Saneeswaran is dreaded and believed to be destructive.  Suryan’s chariot is believed to have been destroyed when Saneeswaran as a baby first opened his eyes and looked at Suryan.  Saneeswaran after intense penance on Lord Shiva attained the status of a celestial planet. Click here to read more...

Keezhaperumpallam - Kethu Temple

Naganathar temple at Keezhaperumpallam which is 8 kms from Thiruvenkadu is the kethu sthalam. Keezhaperumpallam is also known as Vanagari. Here Naganathar is the main deity and His consort is Soundarya Devi.  

The Legend goes thus. The devas and the asuras churned the paarkadal (Celestial Ocean) to get the Holy Nectar (Amrutham). Lord Vishnu decided to distribute it only amongst the devas and not asuras as the amrutham would make the asuras stronger and their atrocities will increase. When Lord Vishnu was distributing the Amrutham amongst the devas, one of the asuras at the behest of Sukracharya, in the guise of a deva consumed the nectar. The Sun and the Moon noticed this and complained to Lord Vishnu.  Click Here to Read More....

Thiruvenkadu - Budhan Temple

Thiruvenkadu, one of the navagraha sthalams, is the Budhan sthalam dedicated to Planet Mercury. Thiruvenkadu's Sanskrit name is Swetaranya and both literally mean - sacred white forest. This is also called Adhi Chidambaram and the Chidambara Rahasya is also here. As seen in Chidambaram, Vishnu is near Nataraja. Thiruvenkadu is one of the six places considered to be equivalent to Kasi. The other five are Rameswaram, Srivanchiyam, Gaya, Thiriveni Sangamam and Thilatharpanapuri.

Marutwasura, an asura, was troubling the Rishis and the people of Thiruvenkadu. The people prayed to Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva sent Nandi - his vahana, to fight the demon. Marutwasura was defeated by Nandi and thrown into the sea. Marutwasura through his penance obtained sula - from Lord Shiva. The demon then returned with greater intensity to attack the innocent people.Click here to read More....

Vaitheeswaran Koil - Angarakan Temple

Pullirukuvelur, one of the most important Saivite shrines is popularly known as Vaitheeswaran Koil. Vaidhyanathaswamy or Vaitheeswaran (God of Medicine) got his name as He had cured Angaraka of his Leprosy here.

Vaidyanathaswamy is the main deity here and His consort is Thayyalnayaki ambal. She stands with the medicinal oil to cure the diseases of the devotees. Lord Subramanya, a very important deity here, is known as Selva Muthukumaraswamy. It is to be noted that Chevvai is ruled by Lord Subramanya. It is here that Shakthi gave him the ‘vel’, (spear) with which he killed Surapadman. During Lord Subramanya’s fight with Tharakasuran – brother of Surapadman – there was a lot of casuality on both sides leaving many dead and injured.  Click Here to Read More....

Navagraha Temples - Introduction

As per Indian Astrology the planetary positions determine a person’s destiny. It is commonly understood that Navagraha means nine planets - Nava meaning nine and graha meaning planet. However, graha in Sanskrit may also mean influence.  Hence, according to some it is not nine planets but nine influences. Whatever is the case, they are the nine biggest influences on the destiny of a person. There are nine temples (one for each Graha) located within a radius of 60 kms of Kumbakonam in TamilNadu.  It is a belief that performing shanthi or parihara puja for the particular Graha(s) and its Lords will yield quick and timely results.

These temples are

·        Sivasuriyanarayana Temple (Suryan, Sun) at Suryanar Koil near Aduthurai

·        Kailasanathaswamy Temple (Chandran, Moon) at Thingalur near Thiruvaiyaru

·        Vaitheeswaran Temple (Chevvai, Mars) at Vaitheeswaran Koil or Pullirukkuvelur near Sirkali

·        Swetharanyeswarar Temple (Budhan, Mercury) at Thiruvengadu near Poompuhar

·        Abathsahayeswarar Temple (Guru, Jupiter) at Alangudi near Needamangalam

·        Agneeswarar Temple (Shukran, Venus) at Kanjanur near Aduthurai

·        Dharbaranyeswarar Temple (Saneeswaran, Satrun) at Thirunallar, Karaikal

·        Naganathaswamy Temple (Rahu, North Lunar Node) at Thirunageswaram near Kumbakonam

·        NaganatharTemple (Kethu, South Lunar Node) at Keezhaperumpallam near Poompuhar

While the first seven planets as in the list above have a day of the week assigned to them, Rahu and Kethu have no special days assigned to them.  Instead, one and a half hours each day of the week is assigned to each of them.  Thus we have one and a half hours of Rahukalam and one and a half hours of Yamagandam, everyday, which are assigned to Rahu & Kethu respectively. 

I have been visiting these temples regularly over the past few years.  I shall soon be writing about each one of them in subsequent posts.