Self realisation and happiness

Jinnaru nannaguru an ardent devotee of Ramana Maharishi recalls the words of his Guru.

Sanyasam of sankaran (Adi Sankara)

SANYASAM

Adi sankara, born as Sankaran to Sivaguru and Aryambal knew he has to take to sanyas but could not do so, because of the importance he gave to the plea of his mother, as she wanted him to support the family, in the absence of his father.    Sivaguru, father of sankarar died, when sankarar was only four years old, which the astrologers' of the period had predicted.   Sankaran duly joined a gurukula and learnt all by the age of eight. He came back to Kaladi, after the gurukula and helped his mother at her advanced age.  Aryambal wanted to conduct the marriage for Sankaran but he did not like the idea.  He was not only born as a son to sivaguru family to fulfill their aspirations and had in his mind the service to whole mankind.   At that period, veda marga had a setback and people lived with various beliefs thinking that this life is eternal and left the path of veda marga and lived as they liked.    There were religions who could not firmly answer whether  a strong yes or a strong no to presence of atma.  Their spiritual practices were very weird.  Such religions were opposed to Veda Marga.  Brahma and the devas knowing this approached Siva the Dakshinamoorthy and said to him about the danger that was engulfing the veda marga.      Lord Siva decided to accede to the request of the brahma and the devas and decided to be born as a avathara purusha.  Thus, while fulfilling the request of Sivaguru and his wife, he himself was born as Sankara to them.   Hence sankara born for guiding people to the right path and veda marga did not like to get married and wanted to take sanyas.  He was also telling his mother that he would like to take sanyas.  But sankara was firm that he would take sanyas with the permission of his mother only and did not want to set an example as a boy not doing what the mother said.   Days rolled by and Agasthiyar and Naradhar were wondering why sankara was not taking to sanyas and delaying the same.   They would take roopa of a Brahmin and meet and ask Sankara why he was delaying the prupose of the avadhara and it was time that he started early the same. Even as Sankara was persisting his mother about taking to sanyas, one day he performed a miracle making people around wondering who this boy was?  One day, Sankara took his mother to Poorna nadhi for taking bath and she felt tired and could not walk due to her age and felt the river was far away, though it was nearer only.   Seeing this, Sankara made her to take rest under a tree and even after that as she walked could not reach the river as she felt tired again.   This time, Sankara signed through his eyebrow to the river Poorna, and the river changed course and the waters flew towards sankara.   Aryambigai was immensely happy over that and took bath in the river.   Even today, poorna nadhi is near Kaladi and can see the change of course of water.    People revered Sankara for the wonder that he had done and knew that he was not an ordinary human being to do that.   People thronged to see Sankara from all over after that and to get his blessings.    Hearing about that, King Satyavanthan, who had no child, came to pray and get the blessings of Sankara and soon he was blessed with a child.  It was not the intention of sankara to perform miracles and to surprise people but wanted the people to turn to Bakthi marga.    So he was performing some miracles now and then to induce the people to take to Bakthi marga.    Even as the days rolled, Aryambigai did not give up the idea of conducting the marriage of sankara and he was firm in his idea of sanyas.   But a day came when aryambigai, had to tell Sankara to take Sanyas.  One day, Aryambigai and Sankara went to Poorna nadhi to take bath.  In the river, Sanakara's leg was held and pulled by a crocodile and Sankara shouted calling his "mother".   Aryambigai asked Sankara what had happened and Sankara told he might get a 'durmarana' a bad death and if he leaves all desires by entering sanyas, he could escape the yama and this would also make her to leave all wordly 'bandha' that is relationships.  You should only help said Sankara.  In her anxiety for sankara to survive death,  she acceded to the request of Sankara and permitte to take sanyas.  Thus he took "Aapath sanyasam".   A wonder happened then, the crocodile holding leg of Sankara took the shape of male and he said he was a Gandharva named Sukkiragi and due to his bad deeds, once Naradha gave a curse to turn into a crocodile.    Naradha also told the Gandharva the curse will be over, when you hold the leg of Lord Siva when bathing in Poorna nadhi,    The Gandhara after prayers to the Lord disappeared.   The people around could not see what was happening.   They only knew that Sankara successfully had come out of the river and escaped the jaws of the crocodile.    

When Aryambigai asked Sankara to come to the house, he replied, that he had already taken Sanyas and told that the entire world was his house and would go in search of a Guru to take to sanyas following the procedure existing at that time.   Aryambigai asked sankara that he was her only child, and who would perform the last rites of her.   He said, the moment she thought of him he would appear and do the needful.  

Then he entrusted what little he had and the mother, to the relatives who lived there.   He left Kaladi and went in search of his guru thereafter.


The spot where the river changed course towards Sankara is the place in which the Aarattu of Lord Krishna idol is being done nowadays.    Muthala kadavu (crocodile ghat) is the second ghat and between aarattu spot and sankara mutt.  The third ghat is the place where the final rites where conducted for Aryambigai and the same is within the temple complex of sri sringeri mutt.

The ghat location where aryambigai's final rites were conducted near the poorna river as it is today near the sankara mutt.

Sri Rama Navami

Sri Rama Navami

Sri Rama Navami is celebrated normally on first month of Hindu calendar and when it is Sukla Pakshami Navami.      This year it falls on 31st of March for smarthas and 1st april for vaishnavas.    The birth of Lord Rama was on this day, as per Valmiki, who wrote the Ramayana.   Rama was born in Punarvasu (Punarpoosam) Nakshatram.     

When I was a school boy, it was festival of 10 days of carnatic music along side temples of Tamilnadu.     Young boys in the neibhourhood would be invited and neermore (Buttermilk) and panagam will be given and also a palmyra leaf fan.    What Mahaperiyval has told to do on Rama Navami day is given below:
On this day, young and the old should read the Ramavadhara kanda poems (if not possible from valmiki ramayna) of Kambaramayanam and especially the following-
வேய்புனர் பூசமும் விண்ணு ளோர்களும் 
தூய கற்கடகமும் எழுந்து துள்ளவே
சித்தரும் இயக்கரும் தெரிவைமார்களும் 
வித்தக முனிவரும் விண்ணு ளோர்களும்
நித்தரும் முறைமுறை நெருங்கி யார்ப்புறத்
தத்துறல் ஒழிந்து நீள் தருமம் ஓங்கவே 
ஒரு பகல் உலகெல்லாம் உதரத்துட் பொதிந்
தருமரைக் குணர்வரும் அவனை யஞ்சனக்
கருமுகிற் கொழுந்தெழில் காட்டுஞ் சோதியைத் 
திருவுறப் பயந்தனள் திறங்ககொள் கோசலை.


People above 20 years will have to fast for the day (Siddha upavasam).    People young and old to gather in the temple precincts of the village or the area and pray Rama Namam for atleast 5 minutes and with a bhajan of Sri ram jaya ram jaya ram ( 13 aksharas of the mantra) make a round of the area and after reaching the starting place, continue the bhajan for 10 minutes and complete it.  The next day morning, in the common place, after reading the rama pattabishekam, the poor of the village or area should be fed with annadhanam.
While doing these, one should pray that the brotherhood among the people should get strengthened and bakthi should flourish among the people.

Ugadi 2012 and Tamil New Year 2012

WISH YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR


Ugadi and Tamil New Year
New Year in hindu calendar is based on lunar and solar cycles and is believed that the Creator Brahma had created the whole of the universe including the earth, at the time of creation on this day, and thus the night and the day, the week, the month, the year followed to have the calendar what we have at present.    The sixty year cycle of the years, which are uniquely named, are followed.     The year is called "Nandhana" and  as is the practice, people offer prayers and celebrate with gaiety to usher in new hope for the year to bring in happiness. The New Year of Ugadi heralds on 23rd March 2012 and Tamil new year on 13th April 2012. Ugadi is widely celebrated in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh and the same day is observed as Gudi Padwa in Maharastra and "vishu" and tamil new year (Tamil puththandu) in Kerala and Tamilnadu respectively.   Vishu falls on 14th April 2012.   
People celebrate ugadi, the new year, by taking oil bath, wearing new clothes, beautifying the house with rangolis, adorning the entrance of the house with mango leaves and the family tradition of having ugadi pachchidi.     Naturallly, as life presents both good and bad, the new year pachchidi also has all the tastes in them.
Ugadi pachchidi


Raw mangoes are cut into pieces and added to tamarind water and boiled till the mango pieces become tender.   Now jaggery is added and boiled again so as to melt and blend well.   Keep it aside.   In a pan, heat oil and add mustard seeds till splutter and add neem flower and fry till light brown.   Now add chilli powder and salt and mix well.   Add this neem flower tadka to the tamarind and mango mix.   Serve in small quantities as an accompaniment to the main course of food.   So one experiences the tastes of salty, spicy, tangy, sour, bitter and sweet.    

In karnataka the pachchidi is known as Bevu Bella.   

The Tamil New year generally falls on 13th or 14th of april, every year.    The tropical vernal equinox falls around 22nd March and adding 23 degrees of trepidationn or oscillation to it, we get the Nirayanam vernal equinox and  that is the Tamil New Year.    The people greet each other by wishing "Iniya Tamil Puththandu Vazhththukkal".     The Mango pachchidi here is the equivalent of the Ugadi pacchidi.   In Kerala, the vishu this yearis on 14th April and the tradition is to view the Vishukani, arranged in advance to view in the early morning of the new year.    Generally, vishu kani consists of Idol of Lord Krishna, Nilavillakku, raw rice, kanikonna flowers, betel leaves, arecnut, fruits, mirror, coins and cocoanut.     

The new year is celebrated during this period in other states also, in Maharashtra as Gudhi padwa, in northern states as Vaisaki etc.,

KARADAIYAN NONBU 2012

Karadaiyan Nonbu

Karadaiyan Nonbu is celebrated on the first day of the month of Tamil Month Panguni (Meenam), that is on 14th March 2012.      The timing is between 09.25 and 09.45 for the Pooja.   As all of us know, the festival is connected with the story of Satyavan Savithri.     The nonbu is followed in all the Southern States..  The women pray Goddess Gowri on this day for long married life with neivedyam of Karadai with the following mantra:

"Urugadha Vennaiyum Or Adaiyum Naan Tharuven
Orukkalum En Kanavar Ennai Piriyadirukkanum."

A 'nonbu charadu' (yellow cotton string) kept in pooja is now worn by the women in the neck and while wearing they say the mantra -
"Throram Krishnami Subhake Saharithamdharami Aham
Bharthuayushya Sidhartham Supreethabhava Sarvadha".

After wearing the sacred thread as nonbu charadu, the prasadam of Karadai is taken by the offerers.

It is observed by a married woman for the welfare of her husband and a girl for getting a good and ideal person as husband.  The related story of Satyavan Savithri is given here.   Savithiri was the daughter of King Ashtapathi.   When the marriageable age came, the King gave the privelege of choosing her husband.   When Savithri saw one day Satyavan carrying on his shoulders, the blind parents in baskets hanging from a bamboo stick, she got so impressed about him, she wanted to marry him.   The King then made enquiry through Sage Naradha and found that the father of Satyavan was a deposed King and Satyavan will die in a year.   Hence the King refused for the marriage to be with Satyavan but Savithri was stubborn.    On marrying Satyavan, savithri went along with him to the forest.   She knew the time has come for the death of her husband and was on fast and also tried to follow him in the forest.  She cooked special adais and served for the family.   One day, she felt the presence of yama and that her husband who was cutting the wood, fained and died.   As Yama was carrying the soul of Satyavan and Savithri followed him.     Yama thought she would go back to the body of her husband and would not follow him after some distance.   But she followed him and asked for the soul of her husband.   YAMA said that it is against the natural ways of birth and death and but Savithri persisted.   Yama instead agreed for giving three boons and Savithri asked for a son to her father by the first boon and in the second she asked for her husband's parents to be reinstated to the Kingdom they lost and by the third she asked for Children to herself.   Yama who was agreeing to the first two, without realising agreed for the third.   Then he knew that he had committed a mistake but was of all praise for Savithri for the persistence she showed for getting back the soul of Satyavan.   He asked her to go back and that she would find her husband would wake up.   Thus Savithri and Sathyavan were reunited.

The above video on satyavan savithri enacted by school students is in youtube in the following link:
http://youtu.be/QCO34cORz3s
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Adi Sankara at age 3 and 4

Young Sankaran

A brahmin by name Sivaguru with his wife Aryambigai was living in Kaladi.   They were not having children and   both were praying Lord Siva for begetting a child.   As was the practice and belief of those days, they went to Trichur and prayed in the Vadakkunathar temple for one Mandalam.     After some days of prayers in the mandalam, while sleeping, Lord Siva appeared in the dream of Sivaguru.    The lord said "He would grant the wish of the couple".   But asked "Do you require 100 children with long life but unintelligent or a child with short life with abundant knowledge that would be appreciated by everyone?"   Sivaguru  could not reply immediately and also he woke up from the dream.     He was wondering about the Lord appearing in his dream and woke up his wife and told her.   Aryambigai said The Lord knew everything and whatever the Lord decided would be accepted. 

  Once when the god himself has decided to give, who can stop?   He appeared again in the dream of Sivaguru and said that he was pleased and he himself would be born as a child to Sivaguru with a short life but the entire world would appreciate and wonder by his activities.   As he woke in the morning, he told his wife about the dream an the couple were very happy to know that the Lord himself would be born to them as a child and also because of the Lord's showering his blessings on them, as per their prayers.    The couple still continued their mandala prayers (prarthanai) and completed it and returned back to Kaladi.    After a few months, Aryambigai conceived and later a child with all the beauty that could be described, was born.   The couple only knew that the lord himself has born as a child to them and named the child as "Sankaran".   

Sivaguru, an ardent Siva bhaktha, used to pray the Lord daily and the food would be served only then for all. Sankaran also would sit with his father in the pooja room during these prayers.    Once when Sankaran was only 3 years old, Sivaguru went to another place but could not return in time for the pooja.   Sankara was hungry and as without the pooja, food cannot be taken, he thought why he should not perform the pooja on that day.     He went inside the pooja room and offered fruits and milk and did the pooja as used to be done by his father.   He then sat on Dhyana and a wonder happened at that time.   A light appeared from the Siva linga and took the shape of Umadevi and she saw vessel with the milk and child Sankaran also came out of the Dhyana at that time.  The vessel got emptied as Umadevi saw that and Sankaran seeing the vessel without the milk was upset.     It was true that the milk disappeared but Umadevi had filled up Gnana in the vessel and she fed the child with Gnana and Umadevi disappeared.    On drinking the milk of Gnana, Sankaran started exhibiting his Gnana and singing in Sanskrit at the tender age of 3.     The parents were very happy to learn from Sankaran about the incident of feeding of the Gnana by Umadevi.   They were  astonished by the knowledge he had possessed but were worried that it was  only for a short period but they would never reveal about the short life of sankaran to him.     

.  

The astrologers had told Sivaguru would meet his end when his child would be four years old.  That was, what happened.        At that time, Sankaran did not set fire to the body of his father, but put a piece of Dharbai on the funeral pyre by which there was fire with a fragrance.    Then Sankaran had his early education in Gurukula when he was five.    At the age of seven he composed Kanagadhara Stotram.    

KANAGADHARA STOTRAM

Kanagadhara Stotram

This stotram was one of the early age works of Adi Sankara Bhagavatpada.    What prompted Adi Sankara to sing in praise of Goddess Lakshmi?       Sankara as was the practice of Brahmacharis begged for alms as a young boy.  When he did that in the house of Ayasida Dikshitar with the normal request of "bhagavati bhikshantegi", only Dikshitar's wife was in the house.   Dikshitar had gone out to beg for alms himself.  The Dikshitar was so poor, there was nothing in the house to offer as Bikhsa to Sankara.    After all her search, she was so sad that she felt what was to be offered when there was nothing in the house.  Then she realised, that she had kept two gooseberries (Nellikkai or Amla) for her and her husband and keeping one for her husband, offered the other one to Sankara, pleading to him, to take the same, as there was no other thing to offer.   Realising the poverty of the house, Sankara in compassion, decided to bestow his all and sang there itself, on Goddess Lakshmi.   That was Kanagadhara stotram.  As he sang the stotram, Goddess Lakshmi appeared before him, asked what he wanted  from her.  He told the poverty of Dikshitar's house had to change for the better.  The Goddess told the lady did not do charities in her previous life and deserved no mercy.    Sankara while agreeing with the Goddess said that in the present life, though there was nothing in the house, the lady had given whatever she had, and that too with all the reverence requesting him to take it.   Hence she deserved the help to which Goddess Lakshmi said it would be done.   Immediately it was raining of gold gooseberries in Dikshitar's house.   The lady of the house, wondered what had happened and stood in reverance.   

   

The Kanagadhara stotram was sung in Sanskrit.   Kanaga meaning gold and dhara is rain.

MAHASHIVARATRI 2012

Maha Sivarathri 2012

This year's Maha Sivarathri falls on 20th February 2012, the day before the Amavasya.    The four Jamams of that night will comprise the rathri for observation of the Vratha to be awake and pray Lord Siva.     It is considered very appropriate to do Abhisekams to Lingam in house with milk, curd, butter and honey in that order for the four Jamams.     Apart from being awake on that night, performing abhishekams, Prayers by singing hymns of Siva and with Mantras Shiva Panchakshari - Om Namachivaya, Siva Shakthi   Panchakshari - Om Hrim Namachivaya and Mruthunjaya Mantra are considered the best way to get the blessings of Lord Siva.      Mruthunjaya Mantra:
Om trayambakama Yajamahe
Suganthim Pushtivardhanam
Urvarukamiva Bandhanat
Mrutyor Mukshiya Mamrutat


The Shiva Gayatri Mantra, and Astothram and Sahasranamam are also mantras chanted during the Vratha.    The Gayathri Mantra is given below:
Om tatpurushaya Vidhmahe
Mahadevaya Vidmahi
Tanno Rudra Prachodayat

 


Fasting from the evening till the next morning is observed normally on this day.   The legend has it that on this day, when offered prayers unintentionally to Lord Siva fetches the blessings of Shiva as he gets pleased on the prayers offered on this day.   Thus the story of King Chitrbanu is narrated in connection with this.   King Chitrabanu of Ikshvahu Dynasty ruled Jambudweepa was observing fast on a Siva rathri day when Sage Ashtavakra came to meet the king.    The sage asked the King on the purpose of the fast.   The king said he had the gift of knowing about his previous birth and that he was a hunter born in Varanasi with the name Suswara, in the previous birth.  While hunting in the forest one day, it was late for him to return home and hence took shelter in a tree.   He climbed the tree with the deer he had killed.   The tree was a Bael  (Vilvam) and even as he was sitting on the tree, he felt sorry for his wife and children who were awaiting for the food.   As he was overcoming with the emotions, he was also plucking the vilva leaves and dropping them to pass the night.  In the morning, he went with the deer and sold it and bought food for his family.   When he was about to break his fast, a stranger came asked for food and he first offered food for the stranger and then took food.    At the time of death, two messengers of Lord Shiva appeared and took his soul to the abode of Lord Shiva and he learnt from them that the prayers offered unconciously on the day when he was in the forest was the reason for this.    A shiva linga was beneath the Bael tree and as he shed tears thinking the family, this fell on the siva linga and washed it.    The Bilva leaves he plucked and dropped fell on the linga thus Vilva leaves had been offered as prayers that night.    He had also been not taking any food sitting over the tree and thus observed a fast on that night.   Thus he had worshipped Lord Shiva that night unconsciously that had merited him to be taken to the abode of Lord Shiva.    Thus the hunter Suswa had enjoyed bliss for long ages to be reborn as Chitrabanu.  Thus narrated Chitrabanu to Sage Ashtavakra.   Bhisma, while resting on the bed of arrows and discoursing on Dharma referred to this stroy.
Vilvastogam:

Vallalar's Tamil song:   Mandiram Avadhu Neeru:



மந்திரம் ஆவது நீறு; வானவர் மேலது நீறு;
சுந்தரம் ஆவது நீறு; துதிக்கப் படுவது நீறு;
தந்திரம் ஆவது நீறு; சமயத்தில் உள்ளது நீறு;
செந்துவர் வாய் உமை பங்கன், திரு ஆலவாயான் திருநீறே.

வேதத்தில் உள்ளது நீறு; வெந்துயர் தீர்ப்பது நீறு;
போதம் தருவது நீறு; புன்மை தவிர்ப்பது நீறு;
ஓதத் தகுவது நீறு; உண்மையில் உள்ளது நீறு;
சீதப் புனல் வயல் சூழ்ந்த திரு ஆலவாயான் திருநீறே.

Ratha Sapthami 2012

Ratha Sapthami 2012

This years Ratha Sapthami falls on 30th January 2012.      The sapthami during waxing phase of moon, Sukhla Paksha in the month of Magara is the day celebrated as Ratha Sabthami.   According to Hindu belief, Sun God rides a chariot with seven horses and a single wheel.  The Pooja for him on this day is carried out especiallly in Maharastra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamilnadu.    In orissa, the day is observed as Maha Sapthami.   Though the celebration varies from region to region, a kolam of surya is made generally at all places.    It is said that the earth's inclination is the highest towards the Sun on the Ratha Sapthami day.  The temperature in South India increases steadily from here and heralds spring and the new years of Ugadi and Tamil New year.     In Tamilnadu, the practice is to take bath with Erukku (Arka patra) leaves.  The sloga told at this bathing time is:


“Saptha Saptha Maha Saptha, Saptha Dweepa Vasundara, Sapth Arka Parna Madaya, Sapthamyam Snana Machareth”. 

Thiruvallarai Pundarikasha Perumal temple

Thiruvallarai is famous because of the beautiful temple of Pundarikasha Perumal.      The temple is at a good distance of a kilometre from the bus stand in the main road, that is connecting Mannachanallur and Thuraiyur.        Town buses with no.27B, from Trichy chathiram bus stand go to this temple itself.       Frequencies may force people to take up long distance buses and some of these operators do not take in passengers going to Thiruvallarai.      Vellarai means white stone and the temple is atop of a very small hillock and the colour of the hill is white.  Hence the place is called Vellarai.     This can also be reached from Thirupangneeli side.   The picture below shows the road leading to the temple and temple's dilapidated Gopuram.

   

Thiruvallarai is approximately 27 kms from Tiruchy and can be reached via Mannachanallur.    This temple is one of the 108 Divya Desams and supposed to be 4 yugas old.     Once Markandeya Rishi was in Penance at this place when Maharaja Sibi Chakravarty came with his warriors and put up tents and stayed here.   Once a white boar (Swetha Varaham) crossed and the raja chased it and it entered into a hole.      When the Raja told this to Markandeya Rishi, he asked the Raja to perform Milk Abhisekha to the hole.   While performing the Milk abisheka to the hole, Lord Vishnu appeared from the hole.   Markendeya Maharishi asked the Raja to bring in 3700 Vaishnavites from the north and build a temple here.   Raja Sibi Chakravarty followed what Markendeya Rishi said.    But as he was building the temple, one of the vaishnavites among 3700 died, and Vishnu himself came as a vaishnavite and asked the worrying Raja to count him, to have the desired number.   A closer look of the dilapidated entry Gopuram is in the following photo.

Efforts are on to renovate the temple and attend to it, by the devotees.     The Moolavar of this sthalam is Pundarikashan and Thayar is Shenbagavalli.      Urchava thayar is known as Pankajavalli.      The lord have prathyaksha darisanam to Garudan, Brahma, Sivan, Markandeya Maharishi and Sibi Chakravarty.      The temple has the Sudhai images on the wall of Pundarikashan, Sridevi, Bhooma Devi, Surya, Chandra and Adiseshan.  There are sannidhis for Krishnan and Anjaneya also.     The Lord is in Nindra kolam here.     There are 2 entries of Uttarayana and Dakshinayana vasals to the sanctorium.    The temple has 7 theerthams.

ANBIL SATHYAVAGEESWARAR TEMPLE

Anbil Sathyavageeswarar temple or Brahmapureeswarar temple is an ancient Siva temple and a padal petra sthalam.   This can be reached from Tiruchy via Lalgudi.   Though there is a lot of interesting things to be seen in the temple, practically  no devotees were seen at the time I had darshan, a Wednesday at around 04.30 PM.   The temple is situated in Kezha Anbil. and between the perumal and mariamman temples of anbil.     The temple has a majestic 5 tiered entrance gopuram.

On entering the main entrance, before entering to the temple proper, there is the entrance with the Sudhai of Siva and Parvathi seated on the bull, Nandhi.  

The Siva here is a Swayambumurthy and worshipped by Brahma once and hence The Lord is known as  Brahmapureeswarar.      Vagheesamuni worshipped here and hecnce the lord came to be known as Sathyavageeswarar.      Ambal is known as Sowntharanayaki.     Besides there are sannadhis for Bikshadanar, Kasi Viswanathar, Visalakshi, Subramanyar with Valli and Devayanai, Sapthakanniars and Bhairavar.     The Vinayagar here is lending his ears to the hymns being sung by Gnanasambandar and is known as Sevisaitha Vinanyakar.  
Apart from this aspect, the Navaghraha of this temple is Special as Surya Bhagawan is facing west and all the other grahas look to Surya Bhagawan and hence the grahas are not as per the order normally you will see in other temples.      Besides on the entrance wall shown above, by the side of it, there are Chola time inscriptions.

The thevarams sung by Thirugnanasambandar and Thirunavukkuarasar are on the wall of the temple with an inset of a granite stone.

There are 2 outer prakarams for the temple.   The temple's Gurukkal on the day was Sri Muthu and was very coperative though I went earleir than the opening time of the temple.

ANBIL VADIVAZHAGIYA PERUMAL

On 18th January 2012, after having darshan at Koviladi Appakudathan temple, I proceeded to Anbil.   As wanted to go by a bus, I took the bus to Poondi from Koviladi and getting down at the Entrance arch of Poondi Matha Church.    From there, buses from Thirukkattupalli to Lalgudi can be taken to reach Anbil, because of the new bridge over Kollidam between Poondi and Sengariyur.(See Anbil visits posting for photograph of the bridge).     A town bus from thirukkattupalli to lalgui arrived and I reached Anbil at 12.55 PM just in time for the darshan.    The temple was open upto 01.20 PM to enable a few people who had come at that time.   The photo of the temple was taken from the bus stand which was very nearby.

    The temple is in  around an acre of land, and the sanctum is facing east and  with one prakaram.
The entrance gopuram is 3 tiered.      The sundararaja perumal is in kidantha kolam facing east and thayar is Soundaranayaki.    The pictures of Urchavars are shown above.   This is one of the 108 divya desams and Thirumazhisai Alwar in a pasuram refers about 7 reclining vishnu's at Thirukudanthai, Thiruvegkaa, Thiruvallur, Thiruvarangam, Thiruppernagar(Koviladi), Anbil and Thirupparkadal.      For  panchranga keshtras (see posting on Koviladi and Indaloor also).  Legend has it that Brahma and Valmiki worshipped Vishnu here.     Also Mandooka Muni during an underwater penance failed to notice the presence of Sage Durvasa who cursed Mandooka Muni to take the form of a toad and he got cleared of the curse by workshipping the Lord here and the pushkarani is known as Mandooka purshkarani.      
From Lalgudi side, the temple is only 8 kms but the road has been damaged because of the frequency of lorry traffic taking sand from kollidam between Ariyur and Anbil.

ANBIL MARIAMMAN TEMPLE

The above picture was taken by me on 18th January 2012, in the evening hours.       The Mariamman temple at Anbil is at a walkable distance from the Arulmigu Sathyavageeswarar temple (See Arulmigu Sathyavageeswarar temple, Anbil posting) and the temple comes under the administration of Srirangam Ranganathar temple.   The beautiful vigraha of Mariamman, is by sudhai and a Astabujanga Amman and of about 5 ft tall.   The Gurukkal of this temple and Siva temple alternate duities in these temples every fortnight.  They live very near to the temple and can be called anytime.   But this temple draws fairly large devotees from in and around Lalgudi, Thirukkattupalli and Thanjavur and hence opened at darshan times.   It is said that the Amman here is the elder sister to Mariamman of Samayapuram temple.      The amman is such a beauty and the temple is very well maintained, this temple should be a must, for those would like to have darshan at Anbil temples.

Thiruppangneeli near Mannachanallur/Tiruchirapalli

GNEELI VANANATHAR of TIRUPPANGNEELI

Tiruppangneeli is about 7 kms from Mannachanallur and around 15 kms from Tiruchirapaali.    Town buses connect this temple as well as the Thiru Pundareekasha Perumal at Thiruvallarai.       The two temples are connected by road and can be reached by that route not touching Mannachanallur again.   From Tiruchy chathiram bus stand, town buses connecting to Moovanur can be taken to reach Tiruppangeeli.   Siva in this temple is known as Gneelivaneswarar and a Swayambu linga.     Gneeli is banana, hence the lord also is called as Kathali Vasanthar.     The Shiva in this temple is also referred with the other names such as Aarania Vallavar, Paramasambu etc.,   The Ambal is Visalakshi and there are two sannidhis for her.   It is said that the first ambal statue had a defect and it was removed and new one installed.   Ambal appeared on the dream of Thuraiyur Zamindar and asked would he throw his mother, if she were handicapped.  Hence the removed statue was reinstalled.  The Ambal is also known by the tamil name- Neelnedunkan Nayaki.
This temple gets its importance with reference to prayers by a whole of Gods and devas.      Mahavishnu, Adiseshan, Indiran, Kamadenu, Vayu and Agni, Ramapiran, Arjunan and also Vashista, Sudhamamunivar and Saptha Rishis worshipped this Lord.   Siva who vanquished Yama at Thirukkadavur to save Markandeyan restored the powers to Yamadharmarajan here so as to continue the dharma of death.     Hence Siva here is also known as Adikaravallar.   There is a Yama Theertham in the temple.    The Yamadharmarajan sannidhi is outside the main temple and one has to pray first here and wash the legs well and then only proceed to the main temple.     There is no Navagraha statues in the temple but nine kuzhis (blind holes) near the Nandhi represent Navagrahams.

Ratna sabha
 Since Lord Siva fulfilled the wishes of Vashista, (Since in Chidambaram the wishes of Viyakirapada and Padanjali Munis were fulfilled) performing the cosmic dance at thirupangneeli, this place also has a Ratna sabha similar to Chidambaram and Thiruppangneeli is also called by the name Mela Chidambaram.
Kailasam
On a dispute of superiority between Vayu Baghwan and Adiseshan, the latter encircled Kailasam.   To remove this, Vayu Bhagavan created santamarutham (twister) and because of that, 8 parts fell from Kailasam in different parts.  They are Thirugonamalai, Thirukalahasti, Thiruchiramalai, Thirunenkoimalai,  Rajathagiri, Neerthagiri, ratnagiri and Swethagiri.   Swethagiri is Thirupangneeli and also called as Thenkailasam.

Thiruvellarai Senthamarai Kannan
It is said that the Lord Vishnu at Thiruvellarai wanted to worship Thirupangneeli Lord with 1000 lotuses and as one lotus was missing, he used his one eye as the 1000th lotus and did the Pooja.   Pleased with this, Siva gave him the Chakrayutham and asked Vishnu to stay nearby Thirupangneeli and Vishnu stayed at Thiruvellari with the name Senthamarai Kannan or Pundarikasha Perumal.  (See also posting on Thiruvellarai).   

Appakudaththan temple at Koviladi

APPAKUDATHTHAN TEMPLE, KOVILADI

The appakudathan temple is one of the 5 rangams along the Cauvery, the others being Srirangapatna, Srirangam, Kumbakonam sarangapani temple and Mayiladurai Indaloor temple.    This temple is called the Madhya rangam.   Koviladi is in the southern bank of Kollidam and can be reached from Kallanai dam easily and can also be reached from Anbil via Sengariyur and Poondi.     For both Tiruchirapalli should be the main starting point.   If one goes by a four wheeler, without break at Kallanai, cross the road over the dam and take the route to Koviladi.      Only heavy vehicles cannot pass through this road over the dam.     Those who take the bus should get down at Kallanai, cross the road over the dam and on reaching the other side, proceed on the road behind the Karikal cholan statue, which is the road leading to Koviladi.   The bus stand is nearby and buses from Kallanai to Thirukattupalli via Koviladi, Poondi is to be taken and it is only 10 minutes drive from kallanai.    For those, going via Anbil, the route is Lalgudi, Anbil, Sengariyur and Poondi.    
This is one of the 108 Divya desams and is also called as Thirupernagar.       The Lord is known as Appalarenganathar and Thayar is Kamalavalli.     The perumal is in a lying posture on adiseshan and with the left hand bless Indra and chandra and right hand blesses Markendeya Maharishi.    A Saligrama garland adorns him.    Bhoomadevi is seated at his feet.   A little distance away from the right hand is the appakudam, which is fairly large.    The Neivedyam of Appam is offered from this kudam every evening.    In the garbha graha, there is santhanagopalan.   The picture of the urchava murthy is shown above.    Entrance gopuram, dwaja sthamba are shown below.

Appakudathan:
This place also was called Palasavanam once.   Once Durvasa cursed a king called Ubhamanyu.   To redeem from the curse, the King built a palace near this place and fed everyone coming to this place.   Lord Narayana visited this place and partook in the feast.  He asked for more food and specially a kudam of appams.   The king offered a kudam of appams and got rid of the curse.   The lord is hence called as Appakudaththan and the Kudam is seen at a little distance of the right hand of the lord in the garbhagriha.
Srinivasa bhattar who is performing the pooja in this temple is very cooperative and said the problem of reaching this place gets solved with the new brige on kollidam between Poondi and sengariyur (See Anbi visits post) and people can see both Koviladi and Anbil Vadivazhagiya Perumal on the same day easily.
Yes true.  Those who go by four wheeler no problem at all and those who take a bus now it is connected through the new bridge to see both temples on same day. 

Temples around Anbil

Temple visits - ANBIL

Anbil is 15 kms southeast of Srirangam and stretches about 2 kms from 8 kms from Lalgudi.     There are some famous temples around Anbil.     They are:- Anbil Vadivazhagiya Nambi perumal or Sundararaja perumal temple, Thiru Sathyavageeswarar temple, Mariamman koil (Keezha Anbil), Kaliamman Koil and Vinayagar and Murugan temple (Mangammalpuram), Achiramavalli Amman ( J K Puram) and also temples like Pampada Amman Koil.       The greatness of the place is that Lord Siva, to clear the curse from Brahma after praying at Uththamar Koil visited this place before going to Kumbakonam.      Anbil is on the northern bank of Kollidam.
Bus no.93 connects this place from Chathiram Bus stand Tiruchy and moffusil buses from Thirukkattupalli to Lalgudi pass through this place.   The travel from Thirukkattupalli side has been made easier, after the recent opening of the new bridge on Kollidam from Poodi to Sengariyur.  So Much so, the Koviladi Appakudathan perumal temple which is on the other bank of Kollidam is accessible through the New bridge.   Earlier, one has to visit the appakudathan temple from Kallanai side and have all the problem of retracing and back the entire distance to Trichy and enter Anbil.    Conversely after visiting Anbil, to go to Thanjavur and  have darshan at Koviladi.   The suggested traverse of Kollidam river to avoid this is not that easy.   After the new bridge, from Koviladi take transport to Poodi Matha koil entrance arch, from where buses are available to Anbil through the Bridge.   Still when going from Poondi, one has to suffer the inordinate delay due frequent and queueing lorries taking sand from Kollidam and the road on the Lalgudi/Anbil side also is damaged due to these lorries.   Still these temples are a must to be seen and have darshan.    I visited the temples on 18/2/2012 and 19/2/2012.   More information on individual temples on separate posts.
Picture on top:  A View  of Kallanai   Picture in bottom:    New bridge on Kollidam between Poondi and Sengaraiyur.