Thursday, 18 May 2023

Temples of Tamilnadu - 29 - Pancha Asana Sthalams

 

It is believed that there are many prominent Shiva temples on both sides of the famed Tamirabarani river in the south country side.  There were many grouped temples and one such famous group is Pancha Asana sthalams. 

They are : 

a. Aerwadi - Thiruvalhuntheesar Temple

b. Kalakadu - Satyavakeesar Temple

c. Nanguneri - Thirunageshwarar temple  

d. Vijayanarayanam - Manonmanesar temple  

e. Chenpakaramanallur - Ramalingar temple  

Thirunageshwarar Temple, Nanguneri

Temple Timings : 6.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m.  4.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m

Phone         : +91 435 246 3354

Location : 33 kms from Nanguneri

Nearest town         : 34 Kms from Tirunelveli

Important days : Prathosham Sivarathri

Important for      :  Sarpa Dosham

Moolavar is Nageswarar and Ambal is Sivakami Ammai

Located close to the famous  Vanamamalai Perumal temple, This temple is built with single prakaram and part of Pancha Asana Sthalams. The temple has a big tank. Lord Muruga with a single face, is in a standing pose. He has four hands and is with his vahanam.

Here  the swami is Swayambu. A big Pushkarani can be seen in front of the temple. Arunagiri Nathar sang Thirupugazh on Lord Muruga of this place.

Satyavakeeswarar  Temple, Kalakkad, Tirunelveli

Temple Timings : 6.00 a.m. to 12.00 Noon 4.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m

Phone         : 9952384732; 9994396409 Harihara Bhattar

Location : 47 kms from Nagerkoil  59 kms from kanyakumari

Nearest town         : 38 kms From TIrunelveli

Important days :  Vaikasi Visakam festival – May Sivarathri. Thirukalyanam, sKanthasashti

Important for         :   Cure of Illness. Recovery from Accident injuries

Moolavar is Satyavakeeswarar / Puramerichavar Udaiya Nayanar and Ambal is Gomathi Amman/Avudainayaki

The east facing Rajagopuram is huge and tall measuring around 135 feet. The temple by itself is grand. The ornamental Mandapams, the hall of musical pillars are unique. Beautiful paintings depicting the puranas and the presence of a huge granary are to be appreciated.

It is believed that  Ravana abducted Sita at this place. Rama and Lakshmanan were so sad that worshipped Siva here, who assured them of Sita being found safe. Rama Sita and Lakshmana upon their return worshipped Lord Siva here and the Lord came to be known as Satya Vakeeswarar.

King Veera Marthanda Varman of the Travancore family used to worship Lord Shiva at Tirupudaimaruthur. Due to floods, when once he could not travel,  A celestial voice directed him and he located a Siva Lingam under a Vanni tree and performed his worship. Hence the king built this temple here.

The name of this place is apparently due to one of the four reasons. Firstly this being a forest of “Kala: Trees. Secondly Sita’s “Kalavavu” happened here. Thirdly from the tamil term for Battlefield “kalam” and Lastly as this place was under Kalabhras.

It is believed that this temple was once the focal point for the lost art of making hard stones soft.

Thiruvazhudeeswarar  Temple, Eruvadi

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

Phone         

Location : 13 kms from Kalakkad

Nearest town         : 28 Kms from Vijayanarayanam

Important days : Prathosham Sivarathri

Important for          :  Lamp pooja for Peace, Happiness. Married life

Moolavar is Thiruvazhudeeswarar and Ambal is Periyanayagi Amman

Thiruvazhudeeswarar temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and located close to valliyur on the banks of river Nambiyaru. This place was also known as Veera Ravivarma Chathurvedhi Managlam

There is a Mottai Gopuram following at entrance arch. There is a Nandi Mandapam with a Fish symbol on the side – probably of the Pandyas. The Presiding Deity and the Urchavar look Similar. Facing the Sanctum are the Balipeedam and Nandi. Dwajastham is also placed facing the Santum.

Lord is Thiruvazhudeeswarar and the Mother is Periya Nayagi Amman. 

Manonmanieshwarar Temple, Vijayanarayanam

Temple Timings : 6.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m.  4.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m

Phone         : +91 435 246 3354  91 98421 93453 / 99629 19933

Location : 58 kms from Shenbaganallur

Nearest town         : 28 Kms from Eruvadi

Important days :  Pournami  Sivarathri

Important for         :  Girivalam 

Moolavar is Manonmanieshwarar and Ambal is Manonmaneeswari / Shivakami 

Manonmanieshwarar Temple is called as Pancha Manonmaneeswaram because the Presiding Deity, Mother, Theertham, Vimanam and the location has Manonmani prefixed in their names. 

The Moolavar faces east and Ambal faces south. Dwajasthambam, Balipeedam and Nandhi are found facing the sanctum. Nandhi is in leaning  position, ready to hear the grievances of devotees and present it to Lord Shiva for solution.

Shrines for devathas, Nayanmars 21 Siddhars can be seen in the Temple premises. 

The Manonmani Theertham (Sivagangai Theertham) in the Temple is said to have curative effects. 

Parvathi was doing penance on Lord Shiva for world welfare with 1008 Lotus in hands which she scattered on earth. Wherever it touched, Lord Shiva manifested in the form of Lingam and now graces the devotees and are hailed as 1008 Shiva Kshetrams. This kshethram is one among them and ranks 74th in the List.

When Arjuna had a doubt about Pandava Victory, as adviced by Sage Vyasa he worshipped Lord Vishnu of this place, After his victory he built a temple for Vishnu and made settlements for 1008 Brahmanas in this Village. Since Arjuna (Vijayan) built the Temple for Vishnu (Narayana), the place is called as Vijayanarayanam.

In Vijayanarayanam which was once abundant with Vilva Trees and Maruthani Trees,  there was a Swayambu Linga on the banks of Poigai River inside the forest worshipped by Sapta Rishis on Pournami Nights. When a hunter came to this forest and did not have any catch, He was resting on a Vilwa Tree and passing time by plucking and throwing  the vilva leaves down which fell on the Shiva Linga as if a Pooja was done to the Lord.

Next day  morning, when he was blessed with the darshan of Lord Shiva with Mother Parvathi, Lord told him that the Shiva Pooja done on Shivarathri night without sleeping and taking food, has earned salvation. The hunter requested the Lord that anyone worships Lord Shiva on Shivarathri and Pournami days should attain salvation and the Lord granted his wish. 

It is a belief that Mother Parvathi, Sapta Rishis and Siddhars circumbulate Lord Shiva on Pournami days and hence It is auspicious to follow this practice on that day.

Sri Ramalingar Temple, Senbagaramanallur 

Temple Timings : 6.30 a.m. to 12.00 noon  6.00 p.m. to 8.30 p.m

Phone         

Location : 31 kms from Tirunelveli

Nearest town         : 10 Kms from Nanguneri

Important days :  MahaSivarathri  Prathosham

Important for         :  

Moolavar is Sri Ramalingeswarar and Ambal is Sri Soundaryanayaki / Azhagamman

Located close to Senbagaramanallur Jagannatha Perumal Temple, this is a very ancient  large east facing temple with two prakarams and a large stone gateway with exquisite carvings. A small mandapam and temple tank is found outside. A large outer prakaram with a Natarajar Mandapam which has a pillared part is seen on the northern side. Mother Sivakami is seen with her Lord who looks beautiful. Idols of other deities like other Shiva temple are also seen here

The inner Prakaram is covered and entry is through a doorway. There is a common Maha Mandapam for both the sanctum sanctorum and the south-facing shrine of the goddess with each having separate Ardha Mandapams with beautiful pillars. If you blow on the Yaali’s years in the mandapam behind the sanctum of the you are treated to a different note on each side. One resembles a blown conch.  





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