Kumbakonam Pancha Krosham
The temples in Kumbakonam Pancha krosham are Tirunageswaram, Swamimalai, Thiruvidaimarudur, Darasuram and Koranattu Karuppur.
Sri Airavateswar temple, Darasuram
Temple Timings : 6.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m
Phone : 91- 435- 241 7157
Location : Myladuthurai 42 km Thanjavur 40 kms
Nearest town : Kumbakonam 4 kms
Important days : Prathosham
Important for : Architectural wonder. Unesco World heritage site.
The highlight of the temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is the set of steps next to the first structure which when tapped makes musical sound. It is a World Heritage Monument and constructed by Rajaraja II in the 12th century. Lord shiva in linga form named Airavatesvarar graces here. The Linga was worshipped by the Devendra's mount elephant Airavatham and hence the name. There are several beautiful sculptures and the temple has a water with curative powers. Hence a bath here is considered beneficial before we visit the temple.
Airavatesvara Temple, built in the Dravadian style of architecture, exhibits delicate stone carvings which reflects artistic grandeur and the skill artisans of the chola period. Smaller in size than the Big or the Gangaikondacholapuram Temple, The shrine is said to have been constructed with nitya-vinoda, in mind. The vimana is 24 metres in height. The southern part of the front mandapam is made in the shape of a giant chariot having large stone wheels drawn by horses. The eastern side of the inner court has exquisitely carved buildings. The Balipita is one of those engraved buildings. The pedestal of the Balipita is linked to a small shrine which has Ganesha. The carved flights on the southern side of the pedestal produce musical sounds upon being stroked.
The southern west corner has a mandapam with four shrines, one for Yama. Huge stone slabs with carved image of seven celestial nymphs are seen.
There are several inscriptions which talks about renovation by Kulottunga III, About Shaivite saints, 108 sections of inscriptions and about transportation of as image in the temple from Kalyani. It was called as Kalyanapura by Rajadhiraja Chola I.
Sri Swaminatha swamy temple, Swamimalai
Temple Timings : 5.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. 4.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m
Phone : 91- 435- 245 4421
Location : Myladuthurai 41 km Thanjavur 34 kms
Nearest town : Kumbakonam 7 kms
Important days : 10 day Chithirai Brahmotsavam, Vaikasai Visakam, Navaratri, Aipasi Kandha Sashti, Thiru Karthigai, Margazhi Thiruvathirai,Thai poosam, Panguni Valli Kalyanam
Important for : Married life, Child boon. Prosperity, Long life, wisdom, Higher education. Removal of Life obstacles
Swamimalai is fourth among the aaru padai veedu dedicated to Lord Muruga The temple has three ‘Gopurams' with three ‘Praharams'. The five storey south ‘Gopuram' is decorated with statues while the other have no towers.
The unique arrangement of the Praharam shows that first is at the base of the hill, the second halfway up and the last at the top & surrounds the sanctum. You then reach the shrine of Goddess Shakti at the base. There are also other shrines for various other deities and the well with ‘vajra Teertha'.
Taking the steps, on reaching half way up the hill there is a small area where beautiful statues depicting the legend associated with this temple are found. Further above is the second Praharam. Then we go up to the level where the shrine for Lord Swaminathan is built.
The temple of Swaminatha is very ancient one and is believed to exist in the 2nd century BC. It is also said that Parantaka Chola I built the temple. During the Anglo-French War it was damaged and rebuilt later.. The presiding deity here expounded the meaning of the Pranava mantra OM to his own Father Lord Siva Himself.
Saint Bhrugu before commencing his penance, got a boon that anybody disturbing him will forget all his knowledge. The power of the penance was so severe that it frightened devas who prayed to Lord Siva. When the Lord extinguished the sacred fire by covering the saint's head by hand, He lost all his knowledge due to the curse. He is said to have regained by learning the Pranava mantra from Lord Muruga at this shrine.
Once when Brahma, the lord of all creations could not explain the meaning of the Pranava OM, Muruga imprisoned him bringing all creations to a standstill. Requested by the Devas, Lord Siva asked Muruga to release Brahma. When Muruga refused to heed, Lord Siva asked him whether he himself knew the meaning of the Pranava OM. Lord Muruga said that he can explain to the latter only if he can be considered as the Guru. Accepting the condition, Lord Siva listened to explanation of OM as a disciple. Hence the place came to be known as Swamimalai and the presiding deity as Swaminathan.
The temple is built on a 60 ft artificial hillock laid with 60 laid stone steps representing the Hindu cycle of sixty years – that leads to the Lord . In the ground floor there are temples dedicated to Lord Sundareswarer and Goddesss Meenakshi.
Hymns on the presiding deity have been sung by Nakkeerar in Tirumurukatrupadai and Arunagirnathar in Tiruppukazh.
Sri Sundareswarar temple, Koranattu karuppur
Temple Timings : 6.00 a.m. to 12.00 noon 4.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.
Phone : 0435 2443460
Location : Myladuthurai 35 km Thiruvarur 42 kms
Nearest town : Kumbakonam 5 kms
Important days : Pournami, Amavasya, Ashtami and Navami
Important for : Material Prosperity, Knowledge
Koranattu Karuppur also known as Thirupatalavanam was earlier called Karambai Naadu, which over time became Koranadu. The Moolavar is Sundareswar and the mother in Abhirami.
The suffix Karuppur is seen across several places in the immediate vicinity. This perhaps derives from the black (Karuppu) box in which Kali was found (see below).
Siva is said to have revealed His handsome form to the Devas when they came to worship him and hence is called Sundareswarar
This place was once a forest of pathiri trees and hence called Tiruppatirivanam or Tiruppatalavanam. When Brahma prayed for upadesam to acquire knowledge and enlightenment, as directed by Lord Shiva he installed a Lingam at this place and worship Him under the pathiri tree and was blessed.
Sages Agastyar and Vakkilliyar worshipped Sundareswarar here and were blessed. Kubera worhsipped and was blessed with the task of guarding the 9 nidhis – Navanidhi; besides appointed as one of the ashta digpalakas – guardians of the eight directions).
King Surathan associated with Kubera was bless here and hence the sthalam become a prarthana sthalam for those seeking material prosperity. Hence devotees sometimes undertake a Lakshmi-Kubera yagam at this temple.
Several centuries ago, when a wooden box came floating down the river Kaveri and the locals upon opening it, finding an ancient wooden murti of the upper half of Kali were puzzled. An young girl among them, suddenly started speaking in Malayalam and Prakrit. It was then concluded that she was conveying the guidance from Kali, on her worship. The box with the murti originally kept in a thatched shed, was later moved to this temple. The Kali found in a box has since been revered as Petti Kali Amman, and the temple by the name of Petti Kali Amman.
She is depicted with eight arms out of which four right hands hold the soolam (trident), aruval (bill hook / blade), a parrot, and the udukkai (drum). On the left are the paasam (noose), shield, bell and kapalam (skull). She is seen with fangs (kora-pal), but since she is of extraordinary beauty, called Sundara Mahakali.
She is taken out of the box only a year, during the Uttarayanam period and taken in procession by devoteesAccompanied by wind instruments and drums. Pournami, Amavasya, Ashtami and Navami are her pooja days. Uniquely, Devotees offer something called Pallayam, a mix of boiled rice, curd, sugar, in addition to other offerings like as Kumkum, lemons, flowers, etc and they are not distributed to devotees.
The core temple is said to be extremely ancient and has not been dated and regarded as work of Chola dynasty. It is believed that the major part of the main structure was renovated during the 12th century
Sri Mahalingaswamy temple, Thiruvidaimaruthur
Temple Timings : 6.00 a.m. to 11.00 p.m. 5.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.
Phone : 0435 2460660, 9790525781
Location : Myladuthurai 28 km Thanjavur 52 kms
Nearest town : Kumbakonam 10 kms
Important days : Adipooram, Amavasya, Krithigai, Pournami, Thiruvathirai, Skanda sashti, Thai poosam
Important for : Magnificence of the temple, Centre of all Shiva temples in the region
There are 3 temples where the Marudhu tree is considered special as the sthala vriksham. When listed from north, They are Srisailam (Med-idai-maruthur) , Tiruvidaimaruthur (Idai-maruthur) and Tiruppudaimarudhur (Kadai-maruthur). Worshipping at Thiruidaimaruthur is considered equivalent to worship at Kasi.
Once the whole world went dark when Parvathi playfully closed Siva’s eyes, Tiruvidaimaruthur stood illuminated by Lord Siva with his radiating brilliance, as Jyoti Mahalingam.
The moolavar is a huge impressive Lingam called Maha Lingam, a Swayambhu murti. Agasthyar and the saptha rishis once prayed here for dharshan of Parvati when Parvati descended and began worshipping Siva. Pleased, Lord Siva followed and presented His divine form to Parvati and Agasthyar and the Saptharishis. To impart the proper way of worship of the Lord, Siva Himself offered worship to the Lingam here. Hence Siva is Primary at this temple with the first worship offered to him and not Ganesha. Hence there is no specific name for the swami here and called Mahinga swami.
Sage Markandeyar was blessed by the Lord here as Arthnareeswarar. It is believed that Sridhara Ayyaval of Tiruvisanallur attained jeeva samadhi here, merging with the Jyoti in the garbhagriham at this temple.
There are several puranams and interesting stories about this temple. These include the story of Varaguna Pandyan and brahmahathi dosham, the story of the fisherman, and the story of Pattinathar and his disciple. They are posted separately here.
This temple is part of another group of temples with 4 temples around this temple – Atmanathar, Viswanathar, Rishipureeswarar and Sundareswarar – together are called Panchalinga sthalams.
As per the sthala puranam, this temple is the focal point of all the Siva temples in the region. The Sapta Vigraha sthalams associated with this temple are Chidambaram, Senganur, Thiruvalanchuzhi, Sirkazhi, Swamimalai, Suryanar koil and ALangudi.
There is a belief that Tiruvidaimaruthur is the central point of an exceptionally large Siva temple and the various Parivara devatas that are normally part of a Siva temple, are associated in their own might with separate Shrines.
A massive 20 acre temple with three prakarams and prathakshanam of the innermost Ashwamedha Prakaram is believed as equivalent to circumambulation of Mount Meru and is done in counts of 7, 12, 24 or 108. While the second prakaram is called the Kodumudi Prakaram and going around is considered equivalent to visiting Kailasam, Circumambulation of the third Pranava Prakaram, gives salvation to devotees.
While the temple has 27 separate Siva Lingams by 27 stars, Agastya Lingam, Romesa Lingam, Kashyapa Lingam, Chola Lingam, established by others after whom the Lingams have been named.
The temple has 32 Teerthams and its own tank called the Simha Kinaru as in Gangai Konda Cholapuram and Virinchipuram. Rama created Bana Teertham and the Pandava theertham by the Pandavas. The Parachara Teertham is scared for a dip in the Margazhi (December-January). The Kalyana Teertham is believed to be the Kaveri river itself, where the temple’s murtis are bathed during the Thai Poosam festival.
Parvati as Mookambikai here is considered to be extremely powerful and is considered as one of the Sakti Peethams with a Maha Meru chakram installed inside. Her shrine is to the right of the moolavar, representing the kalyana kolam. Vinayakar rules the place.
Sri Nageswarar temple, Thirunageswaram
Temple Timings : 6.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. 4.00 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.
Phone : 0435-2463354
Location : Myladuthurai 33 km Thanjavur 47 kms
Nearest town : Kumbakonam 6 kms
Important days : Rahu Kalam on Sundays
Important for : Naga Dosham
On the night of Maha Sivaratri, Nagaraja (lord of the nagas) worshipped Lord Siva at four 4 temples– in 4 jamams of the night in the sequence of Nageswarar temple at Kumbakonam, Nageswarar temple at Tirunageswaram, Seshapureeswarar temple at Tirupampuram, and Naganathar temple at Nagore. This place used to be called Champakavanam (or Shenbagaranyam), as it was dominated by the Champaka (Shenbagam) trees. Seikkizhar performed the inaugural recital of his epic Periya Puranam here.
When Sukarma (the son of Sage Suseelar) was bit by Takshaka the snake and was cursed to be born as a human, He approached Sage Kashyapa for redemption and was asked to install a Lingam and worship Lord Siva, at this place. He was then blessed by Siva and relieved from his curse.
On account of the above, Rahu considered this place appropriate to move permanently here with his wives Simhi and Chitralekha. He is in is benevolent form and bestowing devotees with his abundant Kindness. Hence this is considered a navagraha sthalams as well as being a sarpa dosha nivritti sthalam. It is believed that the milk offered to Rahu for abhishekam during rahukalam time, turns blue.
During the churning of the ocean, when it was determined that only the Devas would receive the amirtham, one asura disguised himself as a Deva and received it. When Suryan and Chandran brought this to Vishnu’s attention, he tapped the asura with the ladle used for distribution and severed the asura’s head. When the asura prayed to Lord Siva, he gave the two parts of him a place among the planets, as celestials – they are Rahu and Ketu. So they get their occasional revenge on Suryan and Chandran by causing solar and lunar eclipses!
The deity here is called as Nanganathar or Nageswarar as several Nagas including Takshaka, Rahu, Karkotakan and Adhiseshan have worshipped here.
Adhering to the request of Sage Bringhi, Amman, Lakshmi and Saraswati are in meditation together in the same sannidhi – a rare occurrence with Maha Bhairavar guarding and assisting them. Girigujambigai Amman at this temple is said to be a swayambhu murti and so no abhishekam is performed for the murti. Indira worshipped her to be relieved from the Curse of Sage Gautama.
Sage Bhagirata, Nala and Nandi offered worship here. Nandi received the title Nandeeswaran. Vinayakar received the title of Ganapati here.
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