Unknown but Famous temples in Kulithalai, Karur

Kulithalai is a small city or a municipality in Karur District. It has an average elevation of 86 m (282 ft).But which has many temples in and around it. The population of this village is not high .I got this information’s about these temples from my mother , felt interesting and that made me to share through this blog.

1. Kadambar Kovil - This is a popular, ancient Shiva temple with large premises in the heart of the town. Built on the banks of river Cauvery, the tall Gopuram and the stone walls render artistic beauty to the town. The Thai Poosam festival held in the Tamil month of Thai is famous for the congregation of Gods from the surrounding 7 villages marking a historical myth.

2. Mariamman Kovil - Thiru Therr Vizha held at this temple yearly is a highlight of the town's celebrations. People from the surrounding areas bath early in the morning in Cauvery and carry the holy water to the temple for Abhishekam. This fortnightly ceremony ends on the festive day when people perform their prayers and offerings through Theertha Kudam, Alagu (Piercing), Agni Chatti (Pot with Fire) and Pookuli Midhithal (Walking on fire).

3. Aiyar Malai - Also called Aivar Malai, this hill is located at about 10 km South of Kulithalai. On top of this hill resides Rathinagireeshwarar (Shiva). This hill has over 1000 steps. This path is a tough climb as it is almost 60 to 70 degrees inclined to the base. Full Moon days and Somavaram (Mondays) during the Tamil Month of Karthigai are considered very special to visit the God here.

4. Thiru Eengoinathar Malai - This small hill situated around 3 km to the north of Kulithalai is abode to Lord Shiva. To reach this place one needs to cross river Cauvery via the bridge connecting Kulithalai and Musiri. This bridge is rumoured to be the 2nd longest bridge in India.

There is a famous saying "Kalai Kadambar, Mathiyana Sokkar, Andhi Thiru Eengoinadhar" - meaning "if one visits the 3 holy places of Shiva in that order on the same day, he/she will be bestowed with blessings for an entire life".

Similar designed temples in Tamil nadu

This beautiful Sundara varadharajar temple located Uthiramearur , vandavasi  has 9 perumals. 3 perumals are in the praharams around the main shrine; 3 perumals are in 3 tiers - Ninra (standing), Irundha (sitting) and Kidantha (lying) postures and 3 perumals within the vimanam while going up the 3 tiers. There is a way to go around the vimanam. 5 perumals of this temple had given dharshans to the Pancha pandavas individually. Besant nagar Ashtalakshmi temple had been constructed based on this architecture only. A veera anjaneya shrine is front of the temple is also a beautiful one. There are now 5 courtyards. After the long period of Chola patronage, and the political confusion following their decline, the Varadaraja Perumaal temple, came under the patronage of the devout Vijayanagar rulers, who added the towering Eastern Gopuram, and the beautiful Kalyana Mandapam, the Oonjal mandapam etc. Vijayanagar rulers embellished this shrine in the 16th century with minute carvings, pillared verandahs for circumambulation, a shrine for Andal, large hall for Navaratri, Unjal Mandapam, Kalyana Mandapam, (575 sq meters in 2 meter high plinth with 96 monolithic pillars, geometric designs, yalis, rampant horsemen, european soldiers). The east gopuram is 9 tiered rising to a height of 180 feet while the western gopuram is 160 feet high. The temple occupies an area of 20 acres. Stone chains adorn the hundred pillared halls.  Chennai Ashtalakshmi temple is situated in Besant Nagar, on the shores of the Bay of Bengal.  That stretch of beach is known as the Elliot's beach.  The temple was constructed on the express wishes of Sri Mahaa Periyavaal of Kanchi Mutt, Sri Chandrasekara Saraswati Swamigal. 

The temple's architecture is unique, with the deities installed in four levels.  The shrine of Mahaalakshmi & Mahaavishnu (the principal deities) is in level two.  Here one can see the imposing, bigger than life vigrahams facing the eastern horizon overlooking the sea. Walking up the stairs to the third tier, the path leads to the shrine of Santaana Lakshmi (bestower of offspring) facing south.  Next we get the darshan of Vijayalakshmi (bestower of success in all ventures, vijaya - success), on the western side on the 3rd tier.  Vidyaalakshmi (associated with learning & wisdom) sits facing the northern side & the shrine of Gajalaskhmi (bestower of all round prosperity) is located facing the eastern side on the 3rd tier.  A flight of few steps above leads one to the 4th tier, where the Dhanalakshmi (Goddess of wealth) shrine is located facing eastward.  Her's is the only shrine on the 4th level. Exiting the main shrine - the principal deities, at the ground level on the southern flank of the gopuram is the shrine for Aadhi Lakshmi.  One the western flank is the shrine for Dhaanya Lakshmi (Goddess of food grains).  Dhairiya Lakshmi's (the Goddess of courage & strength) shrine is situated on the northern flank. There is a huge hundi for Venkataachalapathi within the complex.  There is a sannadhi for the 10 incarnations of Lord Vishnu, to the left of which is the Madapalli (the kitchen for preparing naivedhiyam for the Gods).  There are shrines for Tumbikai Aazhwar (Ganesha), Guruvaayurappan, Chakrathaazhwar & Narasimhar (on either side of the same idol), Aanjaneyar & Dhanvantri. 

I been to both and loved the architecture works.

Jewellery of Tamil Nadu

In Tamil Nadu, jewellery is worn as a practice and everyone is seen wearing some ornament or the other. The ancient jewellery making ritual of this region speaks of a high degree of brilliance and workmanships. Gold is considered propitious and good for health. It is made into ornaments for every part of the body except the feet, where it is worn only by gods and kings. The traditional bridal jewellery, set with stones and known as thalaisaamaan, is worn on the head and hair by devadaasis/temple dancers who were considered marital to the god and as such came to be called temple jewellery.But they are worn by everyone now a days.

The ornaments shaped like the sun and moon are set with rubies sprinkle with emeralds and uncut diamond and are worn on the departure of the hair along the forehead. Behind the hair decoration is worn the raakkodi or naagar, a stone-encrusted piece shaped like a five-headed snake with a swan in the centre. Below this, set in stones (rubies and diamonds), is the hairpiece or jadanaagam that follows the shape of the plaited hair in a tangled design.

Older women in rural areas wear heavy gold ornamented ear jewelry called paambadam made of six earrings. Ear studs can be kadukkan (single-stone), kammal (lotus-shaped with rubies or diamonds), jimikki (bell-shaped ear-drops), lolaakku ( ear-drops of any design) or maattal which is made of gold or pearls and is hooked to the earring and then attached to the hair above the ear.

Ornaments for the nose include the single stoned mookkupottu or the besari and muthu studded with eight diamonds or the swan shaped hamsa besari, all of which are worn balanced from the central part of the nose.

Mangalsutra is the main neck ornament that is worn on an auspicious thread or on a gold chain. The pendant on the Mangalsutra indicates the community of the wearer. It could be shaped like a tulsi (holy basil plant), the shape of Vishnu or it could be heavily stone-studded as worn by Chettinad women. The other varieties of neckwear include necklaces and chains made of rubies and emeralds. Vanki, an upper arm ornament, is usually intertwined in shape with a stone-inlaid piece set in gold. Oddiyaanam is a gold or silver belt worn tightly around the waist with stone-encrusted centres. Anklets of various types like the ganja golusu (heavy variety with bells that tinkle), thandai (stiff anklets with bells that tinkle) and kaal kaappu (worn mainly by children and believed to protect their ankles) are worn on each leg above the feet. Huge, heavy and intricately carved ornaments by tribes in Tamil Nadu like the Todas, Badagas, Kotas of the Nilgiri district are made mainly in silver. Toda jewel pieces are made of bent wires and shells. 

When spoke with Mr.Gopal , Employee in G.R.Thanga mallgai says” These antic pieces are put up for sale now a days because they are always quite huge and they give a traditional look , People prefer these pieces in huge “

Mannarasala Sree Nagaraja Temple

The prominent Nagaraja temple "Mannarasala" is located in a forest dell, like most snake temples. The Mannarasala Temple has over 30,000 descriptions of snakes along the paths and among the trees. The temple here is unique in that the holy finances are presiding over by a priestess. It is the largest Snake Temple in Kerala. The wood is dotted with the granite idols of serpents. There are two main idols 'Nagaraja' or the serpent king and his companion, Sarpayakshini. The priestess lives in the 'Illam' on the north side of the temple. 'Uruli Kamazhthal' or the placing of a bell metal vessel upside down in front of the divinity is the most popular offering believed to restore fertility to childless couples. A special turmeric paste which is available at the temple is credited with healing powers. The temple is located about three kilometers to the north-east of the bus station at Haripad, in Alapuzha District of Kerala. It is approximately 115 km from Cochin International Airport and 125 km from Thiruvandhanapuram International Airport. And I been to this temple last year , had an extraordinary feel and The "Nagadhoshas" are relieved in this temple with some omams. To view the temple click this link 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IKzw0DWz7c 

Visa temple in Chennai

Basically VISA is an authorized document given to an individual with various tests to step to other countries .And this is not an easy process to anyone. In this blog I am going to share interesting information about getting the VISA with god’s grace. The temple town of Thirumazhisai is about 25 km from Chennai. It is situated on the Tiruvallur High Road and just one Km away from Chennai Bangalore trunk road. There is an Perumal temple .However, the Moolavar VEETRIRUNDHA PERUMAL (Prime deity) is seen here in a sitting posture with his partners on either side. This temple is in the middle of the town. There are rock edicts to show that the temple has been stood by kings of the Cholas dynasty. At the entrance to the main temple stands a tall idol of Anjaneya Swamy carrying the Sanjeevi Parvai. This has an imposing and inviting appearance in the cozy little village. Those who want visa to go abroad can visit and pray for their wishes. Like wise the 500-year-old Balaji temple at Chilkur, about 40 km from Hyderabad catch the attention of plenty of visitors, the religious praying for a hundred different things, as at most temples. But most of them pray for their Visas. The god here has begun to be referred to as 'Visa Venkateswara Swami'. It is a progressively popular belief, around here, that this god grant the most difficult to obtain visas to go abroad for jobs, post-marriage emigrations, or higher studies, in a amazingly short time after making a swear. When your swear is fulfilled, you come back and make 108 circumambulations. To help you remember the numbers as you walk around, the temple gives you little pieces of paper with 108 marks on them so you can keep count by crossing out one number each time you complete a round. Lot of people believes in this God and A very famous Doctor , who got his vow satisfied started a community in all the social networking sites .

stone carvings :Chennakesava Temple, Somanathapura,Karnataka

     My blog is about the very famous stone carved temple . The Chennakesava Temple located at Somanathapura in the state of Karnataka  is one of the supreme examples of Hoysala architecture This temple was built by Somnath, a commander in 1268 under Hoysala king Narasimha III , when his  Empire was the major power in South India. The temple was not built by the king but by his celebrated army commander, Somnath. Some year ago he had founded a village on the left bank of the Kaveri River, which he named Somnathpur, after himself. Now in a proposal for further immortality, Somnath formally requested the king to grand him the permission and resources for his project of setting up a grand temple to glorify Hoysala craftsmanship.Soon the work was started and the names of many architects and sculptors have been discovered from which it is obvious that the artists were both local and from outside the region. The famous Ruvari Mallithamma, Masanithamma, Chameya, Rameya, Chaudeya and Nanjeya are considered locals while Pallavachari and Cholavachari are thought of as artists from Tamil country. The temple is a star shaped one.

           And I been to this temple two years ago and was a wonderful experience and I found this temple is enrolled with spectacular architecture. And I would like to specify few points about this temple. The temple has 3 shrines and all the three shrines have a 16 pointed which are star-shaped design and their towers follow the same pattern. Hence the whole structure looks like a rhythmic progression of well decorated projections and recesses. The number of points makes the towers look circular. And the amazing things is that the whole temple is been carved. And coming to the sculptures, the ceiling of the hall is hold up by lathe turned pillars, connecting pillars; the ceiling is arched and intricately decorated. These decorations include multi-petalled lotuses, banana flower designs based on stepped ponds and ananta (snake) knots signifying perpetuity. Of the three shrines, one is of Keshava, but the image is missing from the study. The other two shrines house images of Janardhana and Venugopala ,Basically the three images are forms of Vishnu . This is firmly a Vaishnav temple and there is no portrayal of any forms of Hindu God Shiva . Other sculptures are of depictions riches that age including members of the royal family riding richly decorated chariots, soldiers and commoners riding horses, camel drawn vehicles, dancers, and musicians, hunters armed with bows and arrows and accompanied by their dogs, and heading for a hunt. There are sculptures of palaces of kings protected by armed guards, jewelers such as pendants, necklaces, waistbands and rings and of woman with different hair styles as well.

              http://www.go2india.in/g_view_gal_th.php?gal_id=138

For imageshttp://www.go2india.in/g_view_gal_th.php?gal_id=138

appreciation on Anusha parthasarathy's article

http://www.hindu.com/mp/2010/11/13/stories/2010111350170300.htm
                                                                  Etched in stone

I would always love to read Anusha's articles because she mostly follows a different gesture in her way of delivering the messages. And in this wonderful article she says about the stone inscriptions. They are almost seen in all the temples but only a few people have an idea to read all those but they tend to be the major highlight in all the temples because they stay alive till the temple dies. I would like to visit all the temples in and around Chennai and I got inspired in these stone arts since these are not the easy tasks and the engravings will always pass the information’s to many generations , which even we the human beings cant do it. This is the family mentioned in this article who is experts in stone carvings and they hold a pride feel that their carving is popular from Chennai to Malaysia. I took this link to appreciate because this is wonderful information to be passed on.