Thursday, 18 May 2023

Temples of Tamilnadu - 20 - Pancha Guru Sthalam

 


Ariyanatha Swami Temple Harikesavanallur 

Temple Timings   : 8.00 a.m. to 9.00 a.m.  4.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m

Phone         : Mr.Ambalanadhan 7010500232 President 9842071670 Mr.Srirangam 9965336465

Location : 12 kms from Ambasamudram

Nearest town         : Tirunelveli 32 kms 

Important days     :Thursdays, Chithirai Masa Pirappu, Navaratri utsavam. Maasi Magam

Important for         :   Guru worship

Moolavar is Ariyanathar and Ambal is Periyanayagi Amman

The Arikesava Eswaramudaiyar Siva temple was built by Pandian King Nedumaran, also known as Koon Pandian and Arikeserai, who was turned Shivaite by the Thiru Gnanasambhader at the instance of the king’s wife Mangyarkarasi. It was later renovated by First Sadayawarman Kulasekara Pandian.

Kubera ruling Sri Lanka was flourishing and had all wealth which made Ravana, his step brother, envy and looked to usurp the kingdom misguided by his mother. After penance and boons from Brahma, defeated Kubera in a war and seized his his kingdom and the Pan “Pushpaka Vimana”. 

Kubera, banished and desperate to regain his lost fame and status, as advised by Brahama’s son “Pulasthya Rishi“, after consecrating the Shiva temple at Arikesanallur did penance at the banks of Thambrabharani River (now known as Kubera Lingam) when Lord Shiva and his consort blessed him and  made him kings of kings and s Lord of Riches and treasures.

Shri Periyanayagi Amman in a separate Sannidhi,  is tall, exquisitely beautiful, Kind and full of grace and mercy besides being compassionate personified.  

Medha Dakshinamoorthy appears unique with his Left hand touching and approbation of the student, left leg on right leg with his foot upwards, rear hands with Mazhu and deer, [ instead of fire and udukai ] with a special headgear. 

Guru Bhairava occupies a place just opposite to the Medha Dhakshinamurthy’s Shrine.  Other deities in the shrine include Vinayagar Juradevar,  Saptha kanniyar,  Lord Murugan with consorts,  Sani,  Chandikesvarar and  Kasi Vishwanathar & his consort. The sthala vriksham is Nelli 

Pushpavananathar Temple, Tentiruppavanam 

Temple Timings : 8.00 a.m. to 10.00 a.m. 5.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. 

Phone         : 91 93453 42704 ; 9345342704 Ramachandran 

Location : 6 kms from Harikesanallur

Nearest town         : Tiruppudaimaruthur 4 kms

Moolavar is Pushavananathar and Ambal is Poondevi.

An east facing temple with 2 prakarams, located at a distance of 22 Kms from Tirunelveli,  It is one of the Pancha Gurusthalams around Tirunelveli. Nandi Balipeedam and Dwajasthambam are in front of the main entrance. There is an inner prakaram for Main diety with an additional Nandi.

An old temple where Dhakshnamoorty is in a sitting position with his legs crossed different from the other temples. He is in the Vimana in the main sanctum of the Lord. Deities beautifully carved are found here.

Maragathambigai sametha Sri Moondeeswarar Temple, Athalanallur 

Temple Timings : 6.00 a.m. to 10.00 a.m. 5.00 p.m.  to 8.00 p.m.

Phone         : Mohan 9789554706

Location : 6 kms from Harikesanallur

Nearest town         : Tiruppudaimaruthur 4 kms Tirunelveli 25 kms

Important days : Shivarathri. Prathosham

Important for           :   Fulfilment of wishes. Guru worship

Moolavar is Moondreeswarar and Ambal is Maragathambigai

An ancient & rare temple not maintained well is at a distance of about half a km from the famous Aadi Moolam GajendraVaradan temple. 

It is believed that the three murthis Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva graces as a Shiva Linga at Sanctum. Dakshinamurti in a rare and different posture with Samadhis  of Siddhars inside the temple

When sage Agasthyar went to south to balance the earth during Shiva-Parvathi wedding, many sages and Siddhas chose this place for their penance. First reaching Pothigai Hills, When Agasthayar came to this place for Shiva worship, followed by many to make it a sacred place with a congregation of many enlightened souls, the place became Siddhar Peetam.

The East facing temple built in Mada koil style, does not have tower but has a beautiful mandapam in front of the temple. The Bali peetha, flag staff and Nandimandapa are all located inside a long mandapam. 

Since all three main deities Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva appeared together, the small Lingam is named‘Moondreeshwarar’. TheGoddess Maragadambika is in a separate south facing shrine outside the maha mandapa. There are idols in the prakaram besides Murugan and Ganesha with two sub shrines in the Maha Mantapam. 

Lord Dakshinamurthy hanging his right leg and placing the left on the right knee, the feet upward appears in a unique form. The sculpture of Murugan with Peacock offered Deepa Aradhanai by a Priest is exquisite. In addition is there is the sculpture Sivalinga and other beautiful works of art in this temple besides two Samadhis of Siddhars with Shiva lingams.

The beautiful carvings and images of various Gods remain in a poorly maintained condition. It is believed that the three sub shrines of Shiva Lingas are found in this temple have given the main deity, the name Moondreeshwarar

Naramboonathaswamy Temple, Thirupudai Maruthur

Temple Timings : 5.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. 4.00 p.m.  to 8.00 p.m.

Phone         : 91 4634 287244 ; S Kannan Gurukal - 96262 90350

Location : 3 kms from Thenthiru Bhuvanam

Nearest town         : Tirunelveli 25 kms

Important days : Shivarathri. Prathosham, Thai Poosam, Ani Uthiram, Aadi Pooram, Navarathri, Thirukarthikai, Panguni Uthiram, SKandasashti

Important for     :  Fulfilment of wishes. Guru worship, obstacles in Marriage, Prolonged illness, Family problems, Prosperity, Academic excellence

Moolavar is naramaboonathaswamy and Ambal is Gomathy Ammai.

The Shiva triangle namely  The JyothirLinga Mallikaarjuna in Shrisailam, Andhra Pradesh  ‘Thalai Maruthur’ (Head) , ThiruvidaiMaruthur Mahalingeswarar at Thiru Idai Maruthur (Idai - the mid part) and  Thirupudai Maruthur Naramboonathar, (patham – the foot part) are three temples seen uniquely in an equidistant triangle. These three temples have the same Marudhu tree as sthalavriksha.

The image of Lord Narumbu Nathar is seen slightly tilted trying to hear the voice of his devotee with scars on his head . The idol of Ambal is made up of Rudraksha. The belief is goddess is a healer of diseases and cure for Women possessed with evil spirits. 

Natarajar has a separate shrine.

The story goes that when the Karur Siddhar reached this location there was flash floods in the Tamaraibarani. Not knowing the name at this temple and  moved the fragrance of ‘Maruthai’ flowers. When he called out for  the Lord as ‘Poovin Manathil Naduvil Nirkum Naathaney’ ‘Narumbu Naatha Nalam Tharuvaayo.’, the Lord touched by his devotion, moved a bit and to have looked out for the devotee who was reaching out to him. A divine voice directed him to cross the river and come over when the river too gave way to cross.

When he saw the Lord had tilted his face moved by his devotion, he prayed for darshan by devotees of the Lord in the same tilted position. 

Veera Marthanda Pandya on a hunting expedition ordered the tree to be cut by sickle when he found a deer hiding at the foot of the tree. He was shocked to find a Shiva Lingam with a cut in the head and a deer form on his chest. Overwhelmed he built the temple that stands today and the Lord is seen with a cut in the head and with a deer mark on his chest.

Koshta devathas namely Vinayakar, subraminayar, Sooryan, 63 Nayanmars, Agastiyar, Saneeswarar, Saraswathy, Sahasra lingam, Natarjar sanctum, Dakshina Murthy are seen. Triveni Sangamam of Tamarai Barani, Manimutharu and Kadana rivers meeting near here is famous

Indra was inflicted with Brahmma Hathi Dosham for disrespecting Brihaspathi and later cunningly killing his newly replaced Guru of Asura Origin. He had a dip in the Surendra Theertham, did penance and had a darshan of the Lord and and Ambal in kalyana kolam and got liberated from the dosham. 

Thyagarajaswamy Temple, Edaikal  

Temple Timings : 5.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. 4.00 p.m.  to 8.00 p.m.

Phone         : 91 4634 287244 ; S Kannan Gurukal - 96262 90350

Location : 12 kms from Tirupuddaimaruthur

Nearest town         : Tirunelveli 29 kms

Important days : Shivarathri. Prathosham, 

Important for          :   Wisdom Yogam

Moolavar  is Sri Thiyagaraja Swamy  and the Ambal is Sri Sivakami Ambal.   The town is known as Then Tiruvarur, also Idaikal.

As per the Legend, Sage Agathiya Mamuni was engaged in Shiva Puja at Potigai Hill known as Tenkailayam as per Lord  Shiva’s orders..  He came up with  a desire one day –  to know about the next yuga and the condition of millions of living beings living in that yuga. Agathiyar prayed to Lord Shiva  that He should  preach and bless. Lord Shiva instructed him to  go  to the place where Agasthya’s disciple Thiruvula Munivar was doing  penance and that  the teaching will take place there.

Accordingly, Agathiyar came to the town called  “Thiru ulampatri” where sage Thiruvula who was sitting and doing penance, prostrated on seeing his Guru.  They paid their obeisance to Goddess Uma Devi who came as “Omkara Swarupini”  for Shiva Upadesha..

As per  Her desire, Lord Shiva preached to his wife Uma Devi Agasthiya Mamunivar, Thirumular  Munivar and many other sages and blessed them all by appearing as “Rishabharudar”. 

Since Lord Shiva  preached as a guru, praying at this sthalam  which is a Pancha Guru Sthalams, will be blessed with wisdom and considered fortunate.


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Temples of Tamilnadu - 41 - Temples In and Around Myladuthurai

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