Apart from the exploration, I’ve visited many places frequently.
These came across of festival reasons, family functions, seasonal visit’s.etc. Here, i’ve listed down my visited to those places one-by-one.
'The family that travels together stays together'. With similar intentions, myself along with my amily, use to travel frequently and visit many religious and illuminating places of Tamil Nadu and it's bordered states, that's, Bangalore, Hosue, Krishnagiri, Trichy, Chidambaram, Kumbakonam, Thanjavur, Madurai, Rameshwaram and Kanyakumari. It was an amazing expedition, as we use to be very craving to explore the enormous temples and other attractions of South India was well-nurtured in these popular cities of Tamil Nadu with a plethora of dynamic experiences. Here are the places located @ the Delta Regions of Tamil Nadu.
1. Thanjavur :
Thanjavur, ‘Rice Bowl of Tamil Nadu’ is the capital of art and literature of Tamil Nadu state in India. During the Chola rule, Tanjore was the bustling capital of the empire. This city proves to be a perfect destination for an art and architecture lover considering its major attraction of the Thanjavur Big Temple. The smiling people of the city add to the beauty of the city along with dancing dolls called Thanjavur dolls or Bommai and Thanjavur paintings. It is said to have been named as Tanjor after a demon named “Tanoj”, who wished the town to be named after him.
There are many amazing places to visit in and around Thanjavur. I woul like to start with the great Brihadeshwara Temple.
The Big Temple or Brihadeshwara Temple :
The Thanjavur temple is the specimen of the architectural brilliance during the rule of Chola Kings. The city’s art and architecture reached its zenith during the rule of the king Raja Raja Chola I. He built this stunning Shiva temple showcasing the Dravidian art in the very heart of this city which is at a walkable distance from the old bus stand and the new bus stand. It is one of the three Living Chola Temples. Intricately carved huge entrance on the main road will take you to the Thanjavur temple complex which seems to be a spiritual heaven with a 60 metre tall shikhara shrine of Shiva and the classical songs and hymns describing the glory of God. The early mornings and the evenings are the best time to visit this temple. Do not be surprised if you find any visitors singing to the Goddess in the Parvati Temple as it is a normal phenomenon to please the goddess with their sweet voice.
It is quite well maintained as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You need to walk a bit to reach the main shrine. On the front-right side of the temple, there is a Parvati (the wife of Shiva) Temple which has the lion pillars common in most of the South Indian Temples. Outside the Parvati temple, exactly in front of the Shiva Temple is a 13 ft tall monolith of Nandi (Bull) facing His Lord. The garden in the temple complex is quite well maintained where you can sit and gulp in a few sips of the surrounding spiritual vibes.
A 13 ft tall Nandi in front of the temple constantly remains in service of the Lord
The main temple has the carvings of the Natraja form of Shiva, Vishnu, Lakshmi surrounded by their respective favorite animals, Goddess Durga, Kaali and other ornamental designs on the pillars and the outer walls of the temple. The main Sanctum has a huge 3.66-meter tall linga representing the Lord. This temple should be at the top of your list of places to visit in Tanjore.
Pro Tips :
* Visit the temple twice; once in the early morning and after the sunset when it turns cooler and witnesses the wonderful silhouette of the temple.
Sharing auto rickshaws are available from across the railway station (6 INR)
* Another option is to take the local bus from outside the Thanjavur and reach the old bus stand. From there, the temple is just a 5 minutes walk. (4 INR)
* Direct auto-rickshaw would charge you 60-70 INR. But you can always bargain for lesser charge considering that the temple is just at a distance of 1.5 km.
* A cloakroom is available inside the temple premise. (10 INR per bag)
* Carry enough water and energy as you would be walking a little too much in the complex.
* After taking the blessings of the Lord early in the morning, you can relax and enjoy the Sun at Shivagangai Park located right beside the temple.
Thanjavur Palace (Aranmanai) :
The huge Thanjavur palace complex comprises of a few artillery museums, a handicraft shop, Darbar Hall, Saraswati Mahal Library, Bell Tower and an ancient artifacts’ museum. It was the royal residence of the Bhonsle family, the Maratha ruler who ruled Thanjavur.
You can start with the beautiful Darbar Hall which is in a dilapidated condition, but still look beautiful with vibrant paintings on its walls, ceiling, and pillars. The paintings and the wall art has Shiva family, Vishnu and other gods and goddesses as its main theme. The carvings on pillars also depict the luxurious life of the kings and their consorts in dancing posture. An old horse-cart, Thanjavur dolls and a Royal statue of a lion are also kept at the entrance to the Darbar Hall. Do not forget to take a look in the garden for the ancient stone statues of consorts and gods.
On the way to Darbar Hall, you would see the entrance to the museum for which you would have pay extra. I personally feel it’s not so worth visiting. You can opt to buy certain craft articles from the handicraft exhibition cum shop.
Thanjavur Bommai or Thanjavur Dolls at Tanjore Art Gallary :
A small shop on your right while moving towards the bus-stand sells the Thanjavur Bommai (The dancing dolls) at a reasonable price. The dancing dolls are the specialty of this town that wouldn’t fail to grab your attention. At Tanjore art gallery, you would get the same dolls with ornamental stonework on it. The dolls are made of plaster of Paris and are made in such a way that they keep on dancing with even the slightest blow of wind.
Pro tip :
* The dolls can be bargained for 500 INR a pair. And 250 INR for a single plain doll.
* The dolls with stonework would cost you around 450-500 INR.
* These are worth buying as a souvenir of your trip to Thanjavur.
Thanjavur Paintings :
The Thanjavur paintings are famous for their gold plate work and the painted figures in between. The flat plates are hammered to engrave designs on the plates that can be filled with the paint. It is interesting to see the artists diligently engrossed in the paintwork at their workshops.
Apart from these paintings, Thanjavur is also famous for its bronze production which is exported in different parts of India as well as abroad.
If you plan to extend your trip for more than a day, you can plan to visit, Manor, the port fort built by the Thanjavur Marathas and the Kallanai Dam also called Grand Anicut built to cross the river Kaveri. If you are on a long journey in South India, you can also visit the other Chola Temples at Kumbakonam or the famous Ranganathaswamy Temple at Sri Rangam in Tiruchirapalli (Trichy) or visit the birthplace of Natraja at Chidambaram to find out ‘The Secret of Chidambaram’.
Travel Tips :
Traveling to and from the railway station to any other town is the best mode of transportation.
Passenger trains run from Thanjavur to nearby places in the morning as well as in the evening.
Local transport is easily available from outside the station.
Public transport buses to nearby towns might a bit crowded and uncomfortable.
Remember and look out for big yellow auto-rickshaws that run on sharing bases.
Cross the main road to get the sharing autos from the Big Temple to the Railway Stations.
Sharing autos for the bus-stands will be available at the exit of the temple.
Be sure as to which bus-stand you wish to reach as there are two bus stands, the old and the new.
Traffic police or the tourist information desk outside the temple and at the Railway station are the best places to put forward your queries related to transport within and outside the town.
If you do not know Tamil, Muslims can be approached for help as they might know Hindi/Urdu, whereas English is partially understood by everyone in the town.
The one day tour of Thanjavur can be completed within the budget of 400-500 INR including food and excluding the travel expense to reach Thanjavur.
Where to Eat Local Food in Thanjavur :
Don’t forget to try the famous “Ghee Roast” (Butter Dosa) at Ariya Bhavan which is typically served with three types of chutneys. On the same lane, which is very much near the bus station, you would find a number of other food joints serving vegetarian food.
Best Time to Visit Thanjavur :
August to October and January to March
How to reach Thanjavur from Chennai and Bangalore :
By Road : Direct buses ply from Chennai (approx. 7 hrs.), Tiruchirapalli (1 hour), Bangalore(8 hours) and Madurai (4-5 hours).
By Rail : Regular trains run from Chennai, Hyderabad, Trivandrum, Bangalore, Tiruchirapalli, Chidambaram (in case you are on a temple run in South India).
By Air : The nearest airport is Tiruchirapalli from where Thanjavur can be reached just in an hour. A car can also be rented from Tiruchirapalli to travel to nearby places and towns.
Then why waiting.? Enjoy this forgotten Chola Kingdom of the South and travel easy following my pro tips in this blog.
2. Kumbakonam :
Kumbakonam is one of the ancient temple towns and among the top tourist places in India, flanked by the two rivers Cauvery and Arasalar, in the Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu. The name Kumbakonam means the Pot’s Corner. According to mythology, when the world was destructed due to the tsunami, Lord Brahma asked Lord Shiva, from where he can restart creation. He suggested him to make a magic pot with the sand collected from various sacred places and float it in the floodwater. Kumbakonam is the place where the pot stopped and then Lord Shiva shot an arrow, which led to the spilling of some nectar on this place, and thus life was revived on the earth.
Once ruled by kings, Kumbakonam rose to be a prominent city between the 7th and 9th centuries AD. The town reached the zenith of its prosperity during the British Raj and was named as Cambridge of South for the being the prominent center of European education and Hindu culture.
Why visit Kumbakonam.?
The grandeur of Tamil Nadu can be seen in the marvellous architectures and temples here. Many of the religious sites in Kumbakonam are dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. There are around 188 sites in Kumbakonam. The town is well known for its prestigious educational institutions, carved Panchaloha idols, silk products, brass and metal wares. And the temples here are widely known for their exquisite pillars, imaginative drawings on walls, and mythological stories.
Top 14 Temples To Visit In Kumbakonam
1. Kasi Viswanathar Temple
2. Adi Kumbeswara Swami Temple
3. Nageswaran Temple
4. Chakrapani Temple
5. Airavathesvara Temple
6. Sarangapani Temple
7. Uppiliappan Temple
8. Mahalingaswamy Temple
9. Ramaswamy Temple
10. Dhenupureeswarar Temple
11. Suryanarayana Temple
12. Kanjanur
13. Sri Naganathaswamy Temple
14. Kalyanasundareswarar Temple
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1. Kasi Viswanathar Temple
Timings: 6 AM - 12 noon and 4 PM - 9 PM
Kasi Viswanathar temple is in the heart of the city and is very close to the famous Mahamaham Tank. As one of the top religious sites, it is dedicated to Lord Shiva. This 72 feet high temple was established in the 16th century. The deity here is called Kasi Viswanathar and his wife as Visalakshi. There are other shrines as well. As per the Legend, Lord Rama and Lakshmana prayed here to Lord Shiva and got a blessing to slay Ravana. You will also find 9 rivers known as Nava Kannigas, who prayed to Lord Shiva at Varanasi to absolve them of sins washed away by bathers. The Lord asked them to take bath in Mahamaham tank and pray to Lord Adi Kumbeshwara.
Mahamaham is a famous festival conducted once in 12 years. People gather in large numbers to take a holy dip in the tank which is believed to wash away one’s sins and purify the soul. Another festival Masi Magam is the most important festival celebrated during the month of February-March.
2. Adi Kumbeswara Swami Temple
Timings: 6 AM - 12.30 noon and 4 PM - 9.30 PM
Built during the Chola dynasty in the 9th century, this temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, The Lingam here is broad at the bottom and narrow at the top in the shape of a needle. This Lingam is believed to have been made by Shiva himself. Lord’s consort Goddess Manthrapeeteswari Mangalambika shrine is situated to the left of Kumbeswarar shrine.
The Kumbeswarar Temple is an architectural marvel which reflects the typical Dravidian style. It is one large temple with 9 stories and a height of 128 ft.
The unique feature of this temple is the 27-star sign and 12 zodiacs that are carved from a single large block of stone which speaks volumes about the engineering skills of the yesteryear masons. Other shrines of Ganapati, Muruga and Kiratamurti are also present in this temple.
3. Nageswaran Temple
Timings: 6 AM - 12.30 noon and 4.30 PM - 9 PM
Built by Aditya Chola in the 9th century, Nageswaran Temple is known for great architecture, building technology and astronomy. This beautiful kumbakonam temple is built in such a way that it allows sunlight to fall on the idol only during the months of April or May for three days therefore popularly known as Surya Kottam Temple. Temple is crowded on these 3 days with devotees from all over the world to seek blessings of the deity.
This temple is one of the religious sites dedicated to Lord Shiva, the serpent king. It is believed that the temple got its name Nageswaran, as one serpent was found worshipping the lingam.
4. Chakrapani Temple
Timings: 6 AM - 12 noon and 4 PM - 8 PM
Devoted to Lord Vishnu, this temple is named as Chakrapani Lord Vishnu and appears in the form of a discus or Chakra.
According to legend, Lord Vishnu sent Sudarshana Chakra to Patal Lok to kill the demon Jalandasura and have come out through river Cauvery. God Brahma, who was taking bath in the river, got impressed and installed Sudarshana Chakra here. There is a bronze idol of King Serfoji II worshipping the Lord; who was cured of illness. It is believed who are mentally or physically weakened by illness or problems can be cured here. The Sun God worshipped Lord Vishnu here and therefore those facing problems due to planetary movements in their life or Shani, Rahu and Ketu Dosh are advised to pray to Lord Chakrapani.
This is among one of the Vishnu temples which takes part in the Mahamaham festival.
5. Airavathesvara Temple
Timings: 6 AM to 7 PM
This temple is one of the religious sites that are a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, built in the 12th century by Rajaraja Chola II. The deity’s consort, Periya Nayaki Amman, has her temple situated near this temple. It is known as a storehouse of art and architecture with a vimana of 85 feet high and front mandapam of a huge chariot and some exquisite stone carvings.
As per legend, Airavata, the white elephant of Indra and King of Death, Yama, worshipped Lord Siva in this temple.
6. Sarangapani Temple
Timings: 6 AM - 12 noon and 5 PM - 9 PM
Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, it derives its name from the Sanskrit words Sarangam which mean ‘Bow of Vishnu’ and ‘Pani’ meaning hand. Being the tallest temple tower in Asia with 12 story Gopura of 150 feet, this is one of the top religious sites built by the Nayak Kings in the 16th century.
The central shrine of the temple is in the form of a chariot in heaven drawn by horses and elephants. The deity is shown in a posture as if he is getting up from a reclining position. The temple boasts of 5 prakaras and a holy tank which is known as Porthamarai Kulam. It is considered that Goddess Lakshmi arrived here from the Potramarai tank with thousand lotuses.
The chariot festival held in the spring season is an important festival of this temple. Sarangapani Temple is the biggest Vishnu temple in Kumbakonam and third of the 108 Divya Desams.
7. Uppiliappan Temple
Timings: 6 AM - 2 PM and 4 PM - 9 PM
It is considered 60th among the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is one of the major religious sites in Kumbakonam. The temple is believed to be constructed by the Medieval Cholas in late 8th century AD. According to mythology, The Lord took the form of an old man and asked from Markandeya his daughter Bhoomidevi’s hand for marriage. Markandeya said that his daughter was too young and can’t cook food and does not even know how to use salt in cooking. To this, the Lord said that he would eat food even without salt and Lord Oppilliappan got married to Bhoomidevi here. Hence the temple name is Uppiliappan and salt is never added to the prasad cooked here.
Lord Vishnu is worshipped as Uppiliappan and his consort Lakshmi as Bhoomidevi. You can see the 8 feet tall idol of the Lord with Bhoomidevi on the right and Markandeya Maharishi on the left. The lord is also known as Lord Venkateshwara’s brother and so those devotees who are unable to visit Tirupati to fulfil their promises can go here.
Brahmotsavam is grandly celebrated in the temple during the months of September-October.
8. Mahalingaswamy Temple
Timings: 6 AM - 12 noon and 4 PM - 9 PM
The Shiva Lingam here is a swayambhu (self-manifested) and therefore a large number of devotees can be seen here all year round. Shiva appeared in the form of a flame to please Agastya and other sages who were performing penance; hence the deity is named as Jyothirmaya Mahalingam. The Ambal Shrine is one of the Sakthi Peetams and is on the right side of the main shrine. There are 5 tanks and 27 other water bodies that are associated with the temple, which is one of the most interesting religious sites.
9 Ramaswamy Temple
Timings: 6 AM - 12 noon and 5 PM - 8.30 PM
Known as the southern Ayodhya, This temple is dedicated to Lord Rama, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, constructed during the 16th century CE. The temple has some of the famous stone carvings and 219 wall paintings, which explain the series of incidents from the great epic Ramayana. This is the only temple where we can see idols of Rama, Sita and Lakshmana along with Bharatha and Shatrughna and Hanuman.
Rama Navami is celebrated in a grand manner. This is also one of the five Vishnu temples that are connected with the Mahamaham festival.
10. Dhenupureeswarar Temple
Timings: 6 AM - 1.30 PM and 4 PM - 9 PM
It is one of the biggest temples and most important religious sites dedicated to Shiva but the most famous deity in this temple is Goddess Durga, a guardian deity of this temple. The temple is famous for many mythological stories.
According to legend, the divine cow Kamadhenu’s daughter Patti is said to have worshipped Lord Shiva here. Sage Viswamitra got the title of Brahma Rishi at this place. Sri Rama is said to have worshipped Shiva here to absolve himself from sins.
It is said that God Shiva asked Nandi to move aside so that he can see Sambandar when he comes to this temple. This is why Nandi is not seen in a straight line facing the sanctum sanctorum.
The well called Koti Theertham was created by Lord Rama and is considered to be equivalent to Dhanushkodi near Rameswaram. This temple attracts devotees who have Rahu and Kethu dosh.
The annual ten-day festival held in December-January, Vaikasi festival, Navarathri and Muthu Pandal Festival are the important festivals celebrated at this temple.
11. Suryanarayana Temple
Timings: 6 AM - 12.30 noon and 4 PM - 8 PM
Suryanarayana Temple is one of the Navagraha temples dedicated to Surya and his two consorts, Usha and Prathyusha. Shrines of other eight planetary deities are also present.
According to the legend, Sage Kalava was suffering from leprosy and prayed to the Navagrahas. Pleased by his devotion, they cured him, and after seeing this, Brahma got angry, as nobody had the right to change destiny. Brahma cursed the nine planets to suffer from leprosy. These nine planets asked Lord Shiva to cure them. Lord Shiva cured and blessed them so that they can help those who pray to them with full faith and devotion.
Rath Saptami and Vijayadashami are celebrated with great devotion in this temple.
12. Kanjanur
Timings: 7 AM - 12.30 noon and 4 PM - 9 PM
Kanjanur is one of the nine Navagraha located in the Cauvery region dedicated to the planet Venus, called Sukran. The place is famous for many reasons. Shiva’s marriage with Parvathi had taken place here. Agni is said to have worshipped Shiva here.
The oil Abishekam poured on the main Shiva lingam is absorbed by the idol which is in itself a miracle. Sukran is a powerful planet and worshipping it on Friday is considered very auspicious.
13. Sri Naganathaswamy Temple
Timings: 6.30 AM - 12 noon and 5 PM - 9 PM
It is one of the 9 Navagraha temples in Kumbakonam especially dedicated to Rahu. The temple has a separate shrine also. Here Rahu is seen with two consorts Nagavalli and Nagakanni. Rahu worshipped Lord Shiva here and got relieved of a curse. A unique feature of the temple is that Rahu Bhagawan is seen with a human face, as mostly he is seen with a serpent face.
It is believed that those who are suffering from dosha of delay in marriages, childlessness, troublesome married life and Kalasarpa Dhosa can be cured by doing milk abhishekam. The unique thing is that the milk when poured over the idol turns blue, which is clearly visible.
14. Kalyanasundareswarar Temple
Timings: 7.30 AM - 12 PM and 5.30 PM - 8 PM
The Shiva Lingam here is a swayambhu lingam. The miracle is that the colour of the deity changes 5 times a day.
It is said that during Shiva-Parvathi wedding in Mount Kailash, the place caved due to the presence of all the gods. To balance the level of the earth, Lord Shiva sent Sage Agasthya to the South. He was disappointed as he could not witness the marriage. The sage installed a lingam behind the main lingam in the temple to worship Shiva, and pleased with his worship, the Lord with his wife, appeared in front of the sage and married again here at this holy place. The unique thing about this temple is you can see all three deities Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva here.
Whether you are on a spiritual journey or family vacation or on a journey to explore history and architecture, these Kumbakonam temples will impress you for sure
It's not over and it will necer, when it comes to exploration. There are many more to visit and explore in and around Kumbakonam, like Mannarkudi, patteswaram, lalithambigai Temple's.etc.
Where to eat.?
When it comes to food, kumbakonam is famous for 2. One is Kumbakonam Degree Coffe (Filter Coffee) and the other is Hotel Archana situated just near the Ramaswamy Temple in Kumbakonam Market. Both are must try and SHANTHI COFFEE, MOHAN COFFEE are the best among their business in that circle. They even courier us the coffee powder, i required. The other is Hotel Archana and it's special tiffen food items.
Maha Maham Tank :
Swami Malai :
Mannarkudi :
Thiruvarur :
Lalithambigai Temple :
Everywhere I go :
CSK-WPA-Kaviyarasu (Traveller) :
3. Tiruchirapalli (The place which I've visited the most than anyother) :
The Rock Fort Temple :
The 7th century temple is the most popular and most visited destination in Trichy. The mythological and historically rich temple receives visitors from in and around the state and all over the world. The temple is built on a 273-foot high rock and the deities worshipped here are Shiva in the form of Thayumanavar and Parvati as Mattuvar Kuzhalammai along with their son Ganesha. According to mythology, the temple is also related to another temple in the Thiruchirappalli district? Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple. The fort is supposed to be the place where Ganesha hid from King Vibhishan. The temple can be visited at all times of the day and is located at the centre of the city.
Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam :
Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam is one of the ancient and most popular temples of Tamil Nadu. The temple holds mythological, historical, religious, and also architectural significance. The ancient temple is considered as one of the most important Vishnu temple as per the Vaishnava religion and it has been glorified in the Thiviya Pirabandham, the early medieval Tamil literature. The temple is also known by many names such as Thiruvaranga Tirupati, Periyakoil, Bhoologa Vaikundam, and Bhogamandabam. This temple is a must visit destination in Trichy.
Sri Ranganathswamy temple is the main temple of Srirangam and the temple visit will take anywhere from 1-1.5 days. This is a huge temple and claimed to be the biggest working temple at present in Asia covering 156acres of land. It has 7 prakaras (enclosures or concentric walled sagemets) and 21 gopurams or towers among which the Rajagopuram (the royal temple tower), the southern gopuram, is the biggest and tallest and the main entrance to the temple. The main deity here is Vishnu in the sleeping pose on a five headed serpent. And as usual with the sleeping Vishnu statues when you are at the main door to get a glimpse of him you are not sure if you should concentrate on his face or look towards his feet. The statue is pretty huge and as at every Indian temple there is someone asking you to move ahead and not stall the queue.
The story of this temple goes that Lord Rama on his way back to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana gifted the statue of Vishnu which he worshiped to Vibhishana (brother of Ravana) who helped him win the war against Ravana. Rama also asked Vibhishana not to rest the idol on land unless he reaches his destination as the idol would rest permanently wherever it was laid to rest. Vibhishana on his way back to Lanka stopped by the island of Srirangam and placed the idol here while a temple festival was in progress. The Lord refused to move from here however blessing Vibhishana that he would face towards Lanka ie the south.
Usually the main deity of the temples in India will face the east, there are of course temples where the main deity faces other directions and usually there will be an interesting story associated to why this difference. The other interesting fact in this temple is that the Ranganatha statue in the sleeping pose is not accompanied by his consorts Bhudevi nor Sridevi who are usually seen along with the statue near his feet.
There are several other temples within this complex. Lord Ranganathas consort here is Ranganayaki and her temple is in the second enclosure. This is another interesting part of this temple that the goddess does not leave her shrine ever and for several festivities its Ranganatha who will visit the shrine of Ranganayaki. The Chakkarathazhwar temple is another unique thing seen in Tamilnadu vaishnava temples. Chakkarathazhwar is suppose to be the embodiment of the powerful Sudarshana chakra of Vishnu and represented as the deity Sudarshana depicted with 16 hands holding various weapons. And another interesting part to this is there will always be a Yoga Narashiman (lion form of Vishnu) on the back of this idol. The Vengopala temple in the fourth enclosure is another beautiful part of the temple. There is also a temple for the physician Dhanvantari.
Several parts of the temple you will see clusters of pillars with beautiful sculptures on them. One such is the Sesha Mandapa where the pillars have wildly rearing horses with riders trampling tigers with their hoofs. There is also a 1000 pillared hall.
Another important part of this temple is the Paramapada Vaasal which is the door opened only once a year for 10 days around the Vaikunta Ekadashi. The belief is that going through this door will pave your path to heaven when you die.
You can really spend a lot of time in this temple if you so wish admiring the architecture, peace and serenity of the temple. There are also shops within the outer enclosures selling souvenirs to clothes and daily household stuff.
Vishwaroopa Dharshan :
Info : Everyday Morning, Elephant Aandal use to walk from SriRangam Temple towards River Cauvery, take a dip in water, carry a can of Cauvery Water, walk back to the temple and this water will be taken by Goddess Vishnu alais Sri Ranganathar.
Early in the morning a VIP entry through the Ranga Ranga Gopuram amongst hundreds waiting for darshan, quick security checks through the other gopurams, rushing nimbly through the mantapas of the 156 acres big temple and then finally seated in the mukhya mantapa in front of Lord Ranganatha, our heart was tuned calm amidst a sweet and a melodious veena’s strings, waking up Lord Ranganatha. Suddenly our ears were drawn to the jingling sounds of the bells. This was Andal, the elephant who stood there to be seen by the Lord, then came Mahalakshmi, the cow who by herself stood facing her back to the Lord and finally Adalma, the fine white horse. The Supreme Lord casts His merciful glance on these three and then on all of us. This was the Vishwarupa darshana (the first darshan in the morning) of Lord Ranganatha in Srirangam. This darshan was like a dream which will remain clouded in our hearts for a long time to come.
Sri Jambukeshwara Temple, Tiruvanakoil :
Jambukeswarar Temple is located in Thiruvanaikaval of Trichy district. It is one of the five Shiva elemental temples of Tamil Nadu. Here, lord Shiva is worshipped as the medium of water. The temple complex comprises of five concentric walls and seven gopurams. The legend also speaks of the two disciples of Shiva who continuously quarrelled with each other and ended up being cursed to be an elephant and a spider. The duo travelled to Jumbukeshwara to worship lord Shiva and Parvathi (in the form of Akilandeswari). The central shrine is closed for non- Hindus and photography is prohibited inside the temple.
The story of the temple is that Siva condemned his consort Parvati to earth for having mocked him. Parvati in the form of Akhilandeshwari reached Jambu forest, made a lingam out of water and worshiped Siva under the Venn Naval tree till she was blessed again by Siva. There is also another story associated with the two Gannas (warriors) of Siva, Malyavan and Pushpadanta who were cursed to become spider and elephant respectively and live on earth. They worshiped Siva here under the Jambu tree. The elephant collected water from river Cauvery and did the abhishekam (pooja) of the lingam which was under a Jambu tree while the spider built a web over the lingam to protect it from leaves. The elephant would destroy the web everyday and pour water on the lingam while the spider would spin the web again. One day the spider got angry, crawled into the trunk of the elephant and bit it to death and in the process killing itself. Siva impressed by the devotion released both of them from the curse, however the spider for the sin of killing had to be reborn again as king Kochengot Chola. The legend goes that remembering his enmity with the elephant he built the sanctum sanctorum such that even a small elephant cannot enter it.
And this is true that the entry to the sanctorum of the temple is unique, 4ft tall and 2.5ft width entrance. The sanctum sanctorum is a square structure and a set of three steps descend into this from the outer Mukha Mantapa. The sanctorum has a Ardha Mantapam and a Garba Griha. The western wall of the Ardha Mantapa has stone window of nine viewing apertures, believed to represent Navagraha, through which the main idol of Jambukeshwara is to be viewed. The Ardha Mantapam is 4×4 ft, so devotees are allowed in groups of 6 into this. As you enter you will see the statue of Akhilandeshwari on the right side of the door to the Garbha Griha and the Garba Griha itself has the self-manifested linga of Jambukeshwara. A stream of water always flows out of the lingam and usually the clothes the lingam is draped in, is always wet. During monsoon the water levels increase significantly.
Sri Uthamar Kovil :
Uthamar Kovil is surprisingly one of the least popular temples in Tiruchirapalli or even Tamil Nadu. The temple is the only place where shrines of the three prominent gods and goddesses of Hindu Mythology are worshipped in the same complex.
Along with Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, the temple also consists of idols of their consorts Saraswathi, Lakshmi and Parvathi (worshipped in the form of Vadivudaiamman). However, the shrine is chiefly dedicated to lord Vishnu and comes under the list of the most important 108 temples of Vishnu. The destination is mostly visited by locals and is sadly not well maintained. The temple is also known as Bikshandar koil.
Samayapuram Amman Temple :
The beautiful temple is located at about 20 km from the main city of Trichy. The Goddess worshipped here, Goddess Mariamman is believed to be the goddess of power.
Mariamman is also believed to bring health and prosperity to its devotees. A strong belief is that this deity cures small pox as well as chicken pox. This temple has individual shrines for processional images of Mariamman and moolavar.The place is especially known for the annual festival of Thai Poosam, which is celebrated with a lot of fanfare. The idol of the goddess is made up of sand and clay, and there for, the main idol is not subject to abhishekams (sacred washing), which is done at almost all other Hindu temples. Instead the "abishekam" is done to the small stone statue in front of the idol, as a mark of respect. There is also a famous ritual of buying small metallic replicas of the idol and keeping them at home, whenever a family member falls sick and then donating it to the donation box when the illness is cured.
8). Chidambaram :
The Nataraja Temple, Chidambram :
One of the five Panchbootha Sthala, the Nataraja Temple is a place of deep religious importance for the Hindus. Spread across a sprawling 40 acres complex, the Lord Nataraja Temple situated in the heart of the city is one of the most beautiful examples of the genius of Chola architecture.
The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is one of only five places where he is represented as an idol instead of a lingam. The temple is an architectural treasure trove giving insights into the Dravidian culture that prevailed during the times of the Cholas.
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I had expected Chidambaram city to be a small Nataraja temple town. But it turned out to be a thriving town way beyond its temples, though as a tourist all you get to hear is temples. I remember at breakfast in the hotel, I was chatting up with the gentleman serving breakfast. I asked him what could you see besides the Nataraja temple. He promptly came out with a list of temples one must visit during Chidambaram Travel, including certain Raghavendra temple. When I asked why he insists on visiting that temple, he said that it is the favorite temple of Rajnikanth and hence must be visited. This was my first brush with the divine status of Rajnikanth in Tamil Nadu, as his liking for the temple makes it far more worthy of visiting.
Anyway, I let that go but did decide to go to the Kali Amman temple that was suggested by a friend and was within walking distance from the hotel, though you must think twice while walking in the sweltering climate of the land.
Kali Amman temple is a small temple, after the Nataraja temple, it actually looks tiny. This 13th-century temple though has a soul that is not lost in the grandeur and the elaborate rituals. You can go around in a matter of minutes and sit back and feel the place. I saw many lemon vendors outside the temple only to realize that they are used for worship in this temple. The trident outside the temple has many lemons stuck to it. It seemed like a temple built by and for the common man with the only purpose of communicating with the divine. And no other purpose like establishing the might through the dimensions of the temple.
Pooja items on sale at a shop
@ Pooja tickets counter he told me about the temple, which he said was actually built by a king in 1229. He tried to tell me the importance of the temple but I could only sense it through his body language that I cannot convey in words here. I was hoping to buy a Nataraja statue here. But the only shop I could find was too costly, probably meant only for the foreign tourist.
Hub for Gold & Silver craft
I was told that the town is also a hub for gold and silver craft and a lot of manual work is still done here. Gold is definitely a loved metal here.
Chidambaram is well connected to Chennai and other big cities of the state both by road and rail. Your intercity journey though may cost less than your intracity as the auto charges start from Rs 50/- onwards. Walk around the city to see a quintessential Tamil town
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