This blog will strive to provide information on all matters concerning our day to day life and will provide a platform for like minded people to share their thoughts on religion, prayers, temples and pilgrimages, diet and health, vegetarianism and recipes connected with that and matters of interest.
Mayuranathar temple is at the centre of the town and about one and a half km from the bus stand. It is a very large temple occupying 350000 sq ft, which can be seen from the photo of the outer praharam and also the water tank in the temple. It has 5 prakarams, a 9 tiered 165 feet high Raja Gopuram, pillared halls with interesting sculptural work as well as 14 vimanams with several stucco images.
Lord Aadhi Mayuranathar graces from a separate shrine in the prakara. While the Presiding deity is in the form of Shivalinga, Ambica appears as a peacock worshipping the Lord. Lord Muruga in the prakara is praised by saint Arunagiriar in his Tirupugazh hymns. During the Skanda Sashti festival in Shiva temples, Lord Muruga would receive His "Vel" from Mother Ambica. Here, He receives it from Lord Shiva. The Gouri Thandavam dance performance of Lord is celebrated as Mayura Thandavam – Mayura-peacock. Lord Nataraja graces from a separate shrine. The first puja in the evening is dedicated to Lord Nataraja. Mayilamman shrine is opposite to Nataraja shrine where both Lord and Mother grace in the form of a peacock. Two peacocks and two monkeys are depicted in the banyan tree above the Lord Dakshinamurthy sculpture in the goshta wall. The Goddess is known as Abayambigai. The Sthala Viruksham is Mango tree.
Muthusamy Dikshitar composed a song in praise of the Goddess and the video below is the song rendered by Vijay Shiva.
The song is given below:
pallavi
shrI abhayAmbA ninnu cinti~ncina vAriki
cintai kavalai yellAM tIrumammA
anupallavi
he abhayakare vare Ishvari k.rpatonu
endanai rakShikka idu nalla samayamammA
charaNam
nI atyadbhutashubhaguNamulu vini
nIve dikkani nera nammiti
madhyamakAla sAhityam
nIrajAkShi nijarUpasAkShi
nityAnandaguruguhakaTAkShi rakShi
There are sannidhis for Vinayaka, Nataraja, dakshinamoorthy, Lingothbhavar, Brahma and durga.
Daksha, father of Mother Parvathi conducted a yajna but intentionally failed to invite Lord Shiva to humiliate Him. Lord Shiva did not want Parvathi too to attend the yajna. Yet, with a view to correct Her father, Parvathi attended the function but was humiliated by Daksha. Lord Shiva took the Veerabadra form and destroyed the yajna. As She ignored Lord’s advice, She was cursed to become a peacock. She came to this place as a peacock and performed severe penance to get back Her Lord. Pleased with Her penance, Lord Shiva appeared before her as a Peacock Himself and danced as a peacock – Mayura Thandavam. Ambica was restored to Her original form. As Lord came here as a peacock-Mayura, He is praised as Mayuranathar. Tiruppariyalur Veerattam where the Dakshayagnam is believed to have been performed, is located at a distance from 8 km from this temple.
The Thiru Parimala Renganathar temple at Thiruindaloor, Mayiladuthurai is one of the five rangams on the banks of Cauvery. The other rangams are Srirengapatna in Karnataka, Srirengam, Koyiladi (Anbil) and Kumbakonam. The temple is one of the 108 Divya desams. The Moolavar is also called by the other names of Maruviniya Maindan and Suganthavananathan and is in sayanam facing east. The lord has 4 hands. (4hands in sayanam posture is rare). The vigraha is 12 ft long and made of green stone. Ganga and Cauvery are seated at the head and foot of the lord, in the sanctum as is an image of Santhanagopalakrishnan. Brahma is depicted on the wall. When Vishnu restored the vedas from the sea in mathsya avatharam, he restored the fragrance too and hence the name for the lord. Legend has it that the deomons Madhu and Kaitabala stole the Vedas disappeared into the sea, the lord restored them back and also restored their fragrance. The Thayar is Parimala Renganayaki and also known by the other names of Chandrashapa-vimochanavalli and Pundarikavalli. Chandran got his curses absolved by taking a bath in the cauvery and praying to thayar here. There are also shrines to Yoga Narasimhar , Rama, Anjaneya, Suryan and Chandra. This temple with three prakarams has a 5 tiered rajagopuram and it faces east. The Dwajastampa mandapam and the Garuda Mandapam have beautifully sculptured pillars. The Garuda mandapam bears images of the 10 avatarams. It is believed that the offering worship to Santana Gopalan in the sanctum, would aid barren couples in begetting progeny. Carnatic Music Composer Muthuswamy Deekshitar's tribute to this shrine.
Parimala Ranganatham bhajhe ham vIranutam paripaalita bhaktam pundareekavallinatham (I salute Parimala Ranganathan -- who is the protector of his devotees, the consort of Pundareekavalli and one who is adored by the brave)
Harim apraakritaakritim matsyaadi dasaakritim (who is Hari Vishnu who assumed the ten avatarams commencing with the matsya avataram)
Antaranga Sayanamabja nayanam Narayanam (who is the lotus eyed Narayana and is portrayed in a reclining form)
Guruguha viditam satatam Gunijanamuditam satatam (who is perceived by Guruguha and is worshipped by the good folks)
Parameswaram Rameswaram Meswaram Eswaram (who is the Lord of the Universe, the Lord of Rama, my Lord and the Lord)
A very old temple and just 3kms away from the Mayiladuthurai central Bus stand is the Thiru Punugeeswarar temple. The temple's morning pooja is only from 9 AM and hence can be suitably planned for a darshan at this temple. This temple is situated in Koorainadu in the western part of Mayuram. This is named after Punuku siddar who got Moksha here. Koorai means clothe. During a typical South Indian marriage, a typical South Indian bride wears a saree, which is called Koorai saree. In olden days such sarees were woven only in koorainadu and this is the reason behind the name 'koorai pudavai'. As Iwent there, too early in the morning, I am not able to give you more details on the temple. I welcome more details.
.Kozhikuthi is around 5 kms from Mayiladuthurai and is on the way to Kumbakonam.The temple of Margasagayeswarar of Moovalur is nearby.Srinivasa perumal, the deity, is carved out of a single fig tree (Aththi maram) and stands 14 feet tall.The temple built around the aththi tree is around 1200 years old.
Sage Pippalar, once a king and later renounces it to be a sage was afflicted with chronic skin disease. He prays Lord Vishnu, as his personal efforts did not cure the disease. Lord Vishnu appeared before him and said to travel along the banks of Cauvery river and Lord Margasagayeswarar would help him to guide the place where he could get cured. The lord also told him that he would have the Viswaroopa darshan at that place and that his disease was due to ‘Hathi Dosham’ and would get cured by taking bath in the viswaroopa pushkarani for 48 days. When he reached the place, he indeed got the Viswaroopa darshan and also got rid of the disease and hence the place was called the Kodihathi Papa Vimochana Puram which later turned out as Kozhikuthi.
Later, when the Chola king approached the sage for coming out of sin committed during wars, Pippalar advised the king to worship Lord srinivasa Perumal and to have bath for 48 days in the pushkarani there. The Pushkarani is called as Pippalar Theertham. During festvities in Mayuranathar temple, the theertham from this Pushkarini is taken for Abhisekam. The Chola King arranged for the carving of the lord from the fig tree and painted over the wood.As it was growing further, it was called Vanmuti perumal.The people also covered the head with a ‘maraikkal’ normally used to measure rice, to prevent the growth of the perumal. The other sannadhis in this temple are for: Varadharaja Perumal, Yoga Narasimhar, Chakarathazhwar, Narthana krishnar, Garudazhwar, Vinayagar, Sapdhaswaroopa Anjaneyar, Vishvaksenar, Ramanujar and Pippala Maharishi. The Anjaneya Vigraha has the tail with the bell over the head as in Suseendhram and is famous for the sound of sa,re,ga,,ma....it produces when tapped different positions of the vigraha. Sage Pippalar has also written Sani Gayathri and hence this temple is also known as a Sani preethi sthalam.e
Omampuliyur is 6 kms from Kattumannar Koil and from Chidambaram, Kattumannar koil is 23 kms. The village Omampuliyur, is a pictureque beautiful village with its rice fields on either side of the road leading to Anaikkarai from kattumannar koil. The village is also known as Pranavapuram. The temple is nearer to the bus stop. The temple is run by a trust and the Gurukkals also are on hereditary basis. Shri Jagadeesa Gurukkal is presently performing the poojas and his house is adjoining the temple. He is very helpful and darshan can be had at any time with his help. Though a lady is selling flowers and other materials for the archanai, it is better to purchase them at Chidambaram.
A stone image of Nataraja is seen on the niche reserved for Dakshinamurthy in the sanctum, while Dakshinamurthy occupies the grand Sabha, usually set for Natarajar. A hunter who climbed the vilva tree as he was pursued by a tiger attained salvation here. Vyagrapadar (the saint with tiger's claws and feet) is said to have worshipped here, as in Perumpuliyur, Erukkattampuliyur, Paatirippuliyur and Perumpatrappuliyur (Chidambaram). It is said that Vyaghrapada Rishi wished to see the Ananda Thandava dance of Lord Nataraja. But the Lord directed him to go to Chidambaram where his desire would be fulfilled. Hence the name Pranavavyaghrapureeswarar for the Lord. OM (AUM) and how to meditate
According to sthalapuranam, Goddess Pushpathalambigai prayed Lord Siva to teach her Pranava Mantram. The idol of Goddess Saraswathi here (very rarely seen in the Siva temples) is said to have been worshipped by Goddess Parvathi before she commenced her prayers. Siva assumed the form of Lord Dakshinamurti and performed the upadesam of Pranava mantram to Goddess Parvathi. Lord Dakshinamurthi who, legend says, does the upadesam to His disciples silently through mudras, is said to have taught the same verbally for the first time to Goddess Pushpathalambigai at Omampuliyur. A unique practice followed in the procedure of abhishekam draws one's attention. Generally in all Siva temples, the abhishekam, archana etc. are performed to the presiding deities, viz., Siva and Parvathi — followed by the pragara deities which may include Natarajar, Dakshinamurthi, Subramaniar, Durga and Navagraha. But in this temple after performing the abhishekam, archana, etc., to Lord Pranavavyaghrapureeswarar, the scene shifts to the shrine of Lord Dakshinamurthi (in the Mahamandapam) and then only to Goddess Pushpathalambigai. Here Lord Dakshinamurthi takes precedence as guru.
The Mahakumbabishekam of Sri Pushpalathambika samedha Sri Pranava Vyagrapuriswarar (Sri Thuyar Tirtha Nathar) temple at Omampuliyur took place on February 7, 9 of 2011. இத்தலத்தின் விருக்ஷம் - இலந்தை .
Thula Snanam, bath in the Cauvery river is important for the people living along the banks of the river Cauvery, both in Karnataka and Tamilnadu. Cauvery has its origin in the Sahyadri hills and flows through the plains of the deccan to reach the Bay of Bengal in the ancient city of Puhar in Tamil Nadu. On Tulasankramana day (the first day ofTula Masa – according to theHindu calendar, aippasi month for tamils, which normally falls in mid October) thousands of pilgrims flock to the river's birthplace, Talacauvery, to witness the rise of the fountainhead, when water gushes up from the spring at a predetermined moment. Talacauvery is about 8 km away fromBhagamandalaand 48 km fromMadikeri. The thula snanam (Sacred bath in theTulamonth) is observed across pilgrim towns in Cauvery's banks.It is believed that taking dip in cauvery during thula snanam period is like taking dip in River Ganges and other holy rivers.
Cauvery at Mukombu near Tiruchirapalli
According to Agni Puraanam,
"Shatshashti koti theerthani dvisaptha bhuvaneshu cha.
Keshavasya aajnayaa yanti thulaamaase marudvridham"
Sixty-six crore Holy Waters in all the 14 worlds come to stay in Cauvery in the month of Tula by the Order of Lord Keshava. One may clearly understand the glory of having a dip in the Holy River during this Tula Month by the above assertion. Special abhishekam with River Cauvery theertham will be held in Srirangam, Mayiladuthurai (Maayuram) and other temples. In Srirangam, Cauvery theertham will be carried in golden pot at the top of elephant for abhishekam.It is said that a bath in Cauvery during Tula month, a bath in Prayaag during Magha month, and a dip in Sethu during ardhodhayaa period can be possible only as a fruit of penance done in ten million lives. These Holy Baths have the power to remove pancha paatakaas (five major sins that can drag the Soul down in its ascent towards Divine Realization), and can cause liberation to the entire line of ancestors. (The scripture actually says "crores of pitrus!") Ardhodhaya period occurs when amaavasya of Pushya or Magha month falls on day when Sravana nakshatra operates on the day, when Vyaatipaata yoga operates, and that day happens to be a Sunday - all these conditions to be satisfied simultaneously which happens only very rarely in one's life-time! Ardhodhaya period is equal to one crore eclipses in its potential for multiplying the effects of meritorious deeds. Lot of mantrik applications are possible only during such periods - such is the glory of this period. Tula Mahaatmyam equates such ardhodhaya period bath in Sethu with Tula Cauvery Snanam! Those who can afford a trip to a kshetra along the Cauvery should do so and take a bath in the Holy River at least once during this month due to the obvious spiritual benefits that accrue out of that. Mayilaaduthurai (Maayavaram) is an especially recommended kshetra for Tula Snanam; other powerful kshetras include Srirangam, Thiruveengoimalai (near Tiruchi), Thiruvidaimaruthur, Thiruvisainalloor, Kumbakonam, During the month of Thulam, even if one takes a dip without a proper sankalpam, it would earn him/her all the material and spiritual gifts that one can aspire for. It is better to follow the guidance given by the family gurus for the prayers for such snanams. However, it is generally felt that the following would do.
1. It is said that Lord Shiva blessed Nandhi by destroying its pride. This Nandi is in the midst of Cauvery. Hence the bath is important for destroying our pride.
2. A lame man who wanted to have dip in the Holy River Cauvery during Tula month took a strenous journey - but he could not make it to Mayilaaduthurai before the end of the month - he was one day late (i.e. the Tula month ended the day before). Nadha Sharma and his wife Anavidyambikai came to this place for the Cauvery bath-Thula Snanam. Before they arrive at the place, the 30 days time (Aipasi month-October-November) expired. They sadly stayed at the night worshipping Lord Shiva. Lord appeared in their dream and advised them to have the bath before sunrise the next day and assured that they would have full benefit of theThula Snanam bath. Based on this, the practice of this bath continues even now on the first day of Karthikai month. As Lord Shiva froze the bath time for His devotee couple, this bath is called Mudavan Muzhukku. Mudakku in Tamil means freezing, Muzhukku bath.
There are many temples of importance in and around Mayiladuthurai and I was there for 2 days (3.11.11 and 4.11.11) and will like to share my experience of visiting a few of these temples. First of all, Mayiladuthurai railway station is well connected from both Chennai and Tiruchirapalli side. Town buses enter the railway station compound and are available since 05.50 AM and upto 10 pm to Mayiladuthurai central bus stand and from where buses are available to all the temples. Within the town area itself, as almost everyone knew, the Mayuranathar temple, by which the town derives its name, is within 2km from the bus stand. Now a new bus stand has come up 200metres from the old bus stand. From the new bus stand, buses for Tiruvarur start and the old bus stand is the one from which bus services to Chennai via vaitheeswaran koil, Sirkazhi, Chidambaram and Villupuram and also towards Tiruchy and Pondichery are available.
I took my time to have the “thula snanam” on the morning of 3rd in the padithurai exclusively for the purpose of performing rituals. During the months of Thula the sastrigal also is available on the padithurai itself. I had darshan of Padithurai Kasi Viswanathar after the bath and left for Vaitheeswaran koil and from there to Omampuliyur near Kattumannargudi (should go from Chidambaram) and returned to Mayiladuthurai in the evening. The next morning, the first temple to visit was Vanmutti perumal in Kozhikuthi, then back to Koranadu in Mayiladuthurai to visit punugeeswarar temple. Further I went to Mayuranathar temple and from there to Parimala Renganathar temple and the new Anjaneyar temple nearby that. All the temples can be reached by road, though the road leading to Vanmutti Perumal is a mud road for some distance between the main road and road leading to the temple. On the afternoon of 4th, I visited the Thiruneelakkudi temple near Kumbakonam, to have a darshan of Thiru Manogyanathar and then went to Govindapuram and had darshan of Pandurangan in the beautiful new temple (Vital Rukmini Samsthan) recently built by Shri Haridas swamiji. Back to Mayiladuthurai in the same evening and thus I could see a few temples around mayiladurai. Details of the visits of the all the temples have been given in separate posts.
