Temples from Kumbakonam to Mayiladuthurai along Poompuhar road.

ONEDAY TOURS OF TAMILNADU- KUMBAKONAM~SURIYANARKOIL~TIRUMANANCHERI ~ KUTTALAM~MAYILADUTHURAI ALONG POOMPUHAR ROAD

(Map: Left: South; Right: North;Top:West)

 This blog is about the various temples lying on the route from Kumbakonam to Suriyanarkoil- Kanchanur- Thirumanancheri, Kuttalam and back to Kumbakonam via Aduthurai. I have tried to list the various temples enroute. What I have written about these temples are from the various books written by temple guides, sthala puranams wherever available, words of the temple priests and from the words of people who visits these temples. The route from Kumbakonam to Suriyanarkoil is part of the Kallanai Poompuhar road (Poompuhar is where Cauvery river enters sea.).
   There are no standard hotels  along the route except tea stall cum tiffin stalls.It is better if people reach Mayiladuthurai or go back to Kumbakonam for food. There is many good lodges at Kumbakonam like Hotel Sri Selli, Kasi towers, Murugan lodge, Raaj Shankar Venkatramana etc for mid budget travellers and Hotel Green park and Le Meridian which are for higher end travellers.  Good hotels such as Venkatramana. Archana , Murugan and Meenakshi Bhavan etc are also available.

1.        Thiruvisalur:Sivayoginathar Temple.

.This place is 6 kilometers away from Kumbakonam. Saint Sivayogi did penance with his 6 brothers at this place.  Saint Sivayogi and his brothers were blessed and they became one with Lord

Shiva. Hence Lord Shiva is known as Sivayoginathar and has seven locks of hair representing Saint Sivayogi and his brothers.  At this place, somebody sought  refuge in Lord Shiva and as directed by Shiva, Nandi turns back to hear Saint Sivayogi. Further Kodimaram is located between  Nandhi and Lord Shiva. This place is parihara sthalam for Rishaba Rasi and Karthigai natchatram. There is a separate sannathi for Lakshminarayanar. There is also a clock located in the compound wall. The shade of the nail placed at the centre  shows  time from 6 am to 6pm at this temple.

2.       Karkadeswarar, Thiruvisalur.

     This place is one kilometer away from Sivayoginathar temple. It is presumed that Parvathi Devi prayed Lord Shiva in the form of a crab. Lord Indira worshipped Lord Shiva with 1008 Lotus flowers. There was one flower short and Matha Parvathy came in the form of crab at prayed with a lotus flower. Indira tried to strike the crab and it created a hole in the Shiva lingam. Then Crab and Shiva gave dharshan to Indira as Lord Shiva and Parvathi devi. It is believed that  Worshipping at this place with remove all doshas pertaining to Chandra Dosham.

3.      Thiruvisalur Shembagavana nathar:

  This place has a  third Shiva temple. This lord is known as Shenbagavananathar.This is near Mariamman temple in an agricultural land. Some believe that Thirusivanallur became Thiruvisanallur.

4.    Sridhar Ayyaval Madam, Thiruvisalur:

    Sridhar ayyaval was performing the rites on the death anniversary date of his mother which is Karthiga month ammavasya day. He feeds a lower caste couple before feeding the Brahmins who performed the rites.  The Brahmins do not accept his action and ask him to take bath in Ganga to purify himself. Upon this river Ganga flows from the well which was dry till then. It became evident that Lord Shiva an Parvathy only came as lower caste couple.  Sama pandi bojanam ( All caste people take food simulataneously) at the Sridahara Ayyaval mutt and take bath in the holy well situated in the mutt on Karthigai amavasya day. 

  

5.       Veppathur:

There is a temple of Prasanna Venkatachalapathy Perumal. This temple was built by Govinda Dikshithar in the 17^th century during the late Chola period. There is also a Shiva temple constructed during that period in this village.

6.        Thirumangalakudi.

Few kilometers away and just before reaching Suriyanar koil, we have this temple. The presiding deity is Prana varadeswarar and Mangalambigai. An official, who was to collect taxes for the king, constructed the temple from the tax money without the permission of the king. When the King came to know this, fearing punishment the official passed away. His wife passed away and was resurrected by the Grace of Lord Shiva.  Hence this temple is known for bestowing Mangalya (mangala sutra) balam. It is considered sacred to purchase mangalya thread from the amman shrine.

  7.  Suriyanaarkoil

          This temple was constructed  in the year 1100AD by Chola King Kulothunga Cholan. This is a temple for Navagrahas. There is a separate sannathi for Suriyan (Sun God) at the centre.  There are sannathis for Navagrahas around the shire of Suiiyanar

              It is customary to worship Vinayagar , Kasi viswanathar, Visalakshi, Natarajar and then Suiyanar and then all the navagrahas in that order.

8.     Kanchanur:

 This temple is 2kms away from Suriyanarkoil.  It is  Sukra dosha nivarthi  Sthalam ( Navagraha Sthalam). Sudarsanar, who was a vaishnavite by birth, stood on the hot iron chair and proved the greatness of Shiva faith. Harathathar  also established the greatness of Shiva faith. There is a separate temple for Harathathar.

There is also an ancient  vaishnavite temple in this village. The famous snake brand Panchangam ( Pambu Panchangam) was initially written by Annavaiyengar who was born in this place.

9.           Thirukodikaval

          This place is 2 kms away from Kanchanur. The main deity is Thiripurasundari Sameda Thirukkoteeswarar.It is believed that Lord shiva gives dharshan in every small sand.It is also believed that 33 crores mantra pushpams were  given rebirth at this place. Lord gives dharshan like Thirupathy perumal. This place does not have a burial ground. 

10.      Kadiramangalam vanadurgai:

   This is the place where Mirugandu Magirishi worshipped. The vanadurgai temple is situated in the Agraharam and is nicely built.

11.   Thiruvelvikkudi.

    கோயில்:பரிமளசுகந்தநாயகி ஸமேத மணவாளேஸ்வரர் கோயில்
       திருவேள்விக்குடி. (மயிலாடுதுறை – கும்பகோணம் மார்கத்தில் உள்ள குத்தாலம் ஊரிலிருந்து வடகிழக்காக   3 கி.மீ.தொலைவில்உள்ளது)பார்வதி பரமேஸ்வரன் திருமணத்திற்கு பிரம்மா யாகம் வளர்த்து பார்வதிக்கு கங்கனதாரணம் செய்வித்த ஸ்தலம்.ஞானசம்பந்தர், சுந்தரர் பாடல் பெற்ற ஸ்தலம்
       சுந்தரருக்கு பிணி நீங்கிய ஸ்தலம்.

      Manavaleswarar temple: 3 Kilometers from Kuttalam. Close to Anjalar village in suriyarkoil Mayilduthurai route. Brahma did Kangana dharanam for the marriage of Parvathy devi with Lord Shiva. Gnanasambandar and Sundarar have sung in praise of the Lord here. Sundarar got rid of his aliments here.

12.   Tirumanancheri:

 This temple is about 4 kilometers away from Tiruvelvikkudi. This is on a road branching out north west from Anjalar near Kuttalam. Lord Shiva married Paarvathi Devi (Kokilambigai) in the name of Kalyanasundarar.  People offer prayers at this place seeking early marriage and also come back with spouse after the marriage is over. 

13.    Ethirkolpadi: (Thirumanancheri)

           This Shiva temple is also at Thirumanancheri. Lord Shiva was received at this place during the marriage at Thirumanancheri and then taken to Tirumanancheri for marriage.  This temple is also one of the temples which was visited and sung by sundarar. People who visit Tirumanacheri also visit this temple.

14.    Kutralam: (Thiruthuruthi) Shiva temple

      This temple is 2kms away from Thiruvelvikkudi temple. Parvathi Devi prayed at this temple for getting married to Lord Shiva. The temple tree is known as Uttala tree.  As per the priest this tree is available at Kailasam only other than Kuttalam. Sundarar  sang at this temple. 

15.   Vanathirajapuram. Vanmutti perumal temple

Few kilometers from Kuttalam and just a few kilometers before mayiladuthurai ( Anjalar bridge where routes go to the left for Tirumanancheri and right for Kuttalam town and Kuttalanathar temple and the strainght route goes towards mayiladuthurai) and just before Mayiladuthruai this temple is situated. The temple deity is known is Vanmutty perumal and is made of aththi wood. This temple is on a small road ( small distance away from the main road on the left). The temple gives a very graceful look.

16.   Kozhikuthi: Srinivasaperumal temple

This temple also lies between Vanathirajapuram and Mayilduthurai. The sthala vrusham , Aththi tree is still alive.

Kumbakonam The Holy city

KUMBAKONAM – THE HOLY CITY

History of temples around Kumbakonam:

Kumbakonam, situated in the heart of Thanjavur Delta area, is one of the holiest towns in India. The first occupants of this place are believed to have come here between 3^rd century BC and 3^rd century AD. The town has more than 188 temples within its limits. As Cauvery branches into various rivers and enters the Bay of Bengal at various points the villages in 50 kilometers radius are all thickly populated. The old saying says that people should not live in a village where there is no temple.  Accordingly each village boasts of either a Shiva temple or a Vishnu temple or of both.

One day will not be sufficient to visit the temples of this town alone. An attempt is being made to create separate blogs about the temples of this town and again segmenting various temples based on a route. An ardent devotee can spend even 10 days to go around these temples. These temples can be classified as Shiva temples, temples for Vishnu, navagraha temples, temples for each natchatra, temples for rasi, temples for Pillayar and Murugan etc.  Many of the 18 siddar peedams are also located in this area.

Formation of Kumbakonam:

As per legend when Mahapralaya (when deluge ) covered the whole of south India, Brahma kept Amruth, Vedas and the necessary ingredients for regeneration of life in a kumba ( pot) and kept it atop Meru hills. The kumba started floating due to the deluge and when it reached Kumbakonam, Lord Shiva tore it open with an arrow (Baanam). The amruth fell on the Mahamaham tank situated in the holy city and also in the Potramarai (Golden Lotus) tank.  The town derives the name from this story. Lord Kumbeswarar is the presiding deity. Mahamaham, the  famous festival celebrated on the date on which Maham star falls in Feb- March, is celebrated once in 12 years and the next mahamam is due in 2016

              

      A view of   Mahamaham tank                               

Greatness of Kumbakonam:

            There is an old Sanskrit verse reading as under:

Anya shetre krutham pavam , punya shetre vinasthithi

Punya shetre krutham pavam , varanasyam  vinasthithi

Varansyam krutham pavam , Kumbakone vinasthithi

Kumbakone krutham pavam , Kumbakone vinasthithi.

    It means that a person who commits a wrong or sin in any place can get rid of it by Praying at any Punya Shetra (Holy place). In case the wrong or sin is done at Punya shetra, one has to visit Varanasi and offer prayers to get rid of the sin. In case of doing a wrong thing at Varanasi, one has to visit Kumbakonam and if a person does anything wrong at Kumbakonam, the parikaram lies at Kumbakonam only. There is one shiva temple at Kottaiyur on Swamimalai road, just on the outskirts of Kumbakonam. The priest at this temple said that Lord Shiva gave dharshan as Kotilingam( One crore lingams) and a visit to Kumbakonam will be complete only by visiting Kottaiyur.

Greatness of Kumbakonam as described in Bhavath Vinayaga Temple:

This temple for Vinayagar  is  situated in Mutt street . As per inscriptions found in the temple the temple was built in 1590s. Saint Baghavat padhar’s mother, at the time of her death asked her son to do the final rites at the place where her ashes would bloom into flowers. Accordingly, Bhaghavatpathar decided to carry the ashes across various sacred rivers. His disciple, who was travelling found that the  ashes became flowers at the banks of Cauvery river at Kumbakonam but did not tell about this to Bhavatpadar. When the ashes did not turn into flower even at Varanasi, Bhagavatpadar came back to Caruvery river where the ashes once again bloomed. A temple of Bhagawat Vinayagar has been built at this place.  It is proudly proclaimed, in view of this event, that  Kumbakonam is better than Varanasi by 1/16^th. ( Kasikku Veesam Perisu).

 

                                                                                                                                          Perumal Temples at Kumbakonam:

       This town is also the abode for the 2^nd Divya desam of 108 vaishnava temples namely Sarangapani temple. This town also has other Vaishnava temples such as Ramaswamy Temple, Varadaraja perumal temple, Chakrapani temple and Adhi varagha temple. As per the priest the Aadhi Varagha temple situated  close to solaiappan street near Kumbeswarar temple is older than Adhi Kumbeswarar temple.

Shiva temples at Kumbakonam:

       Besides Sri Adhi Kumbeswarar temple, the town has Sri Nageswarar temple, Sri Someswarar temple, Sri Kasi viswanathar temple, Sri Gowthameswarar temple, Sri Abhimukeswarar temple,  Sri Aadhikambatta Viswanathar temple,   Sri Bhanapureeswarar temple, Sri Kambatta Viswanathar temple, Sri Koteeswarar temple, Sri Kalahastheeswarar temple and Sri Ekambareswarar temple.

Other important places:

        In soliappan street, there is an adhistanam for Swamy Vijayendirar, Guru of Swamy Raghavendrar. There are also  Vedapadasalas functioning at Kumbakonam. Kumbakonam is also famous for panchaloka and other idols. The famous silk sarees are manufactured at Kumbakonam and Thirubhuvanam . It is said that the Chola King Kotchengannan (7th century AD) constructed around 70 Shiva temples in this area. One of the six padai veedu of Lord Muruga, Swamimalai, is situated just 6 kilometers from Kumbakonam. There is also a separate temple for Brahma located about 600 meters off the Mahamaham tank.

The map of 108 famous Shiva temples situated within 50 kilometer radious of Kumbakonam is given below. (coutesy Deepika constructions, Kumbakonam).

   Navagraha temples shown in the map above:

1.       Suriyan : Suriyanar koil

2.       Moon:    Thingalur

3.       Guru :    Alangudi.

4.       Raghu:  Thirunageswaram

5.       Budhan : Tiruvengadu

6.       Sukran:  Kanchanur

7.       Kethu : Keezha perumpallam.

8.       Saniswarar: Tirunallaar

9.       Angaraha : Vaitheeswarankoil.

All said and done, a trip to Kumbakonam will not be complete without drinking a cup of “Kumbakonam degree coffee/ filter coffee” in the   traditional copper tumbler and davara. 

      

Sirkali

One day tour of Tamil Nadu: Sirkali.

 Sirkali is located 20 kms south of Chidambaram and about 90kms south of Pondicherry by road. It is one of the important shiva temples. Lodges are available at Vaitheeswarankoil 6 kms away. Connected with Chennai by train

 It is the birth place of Shiva saint Thirugnanasambandar. When Gnanasambandar was young, he was given milk by Ambal herself near the sacred pond situated in this temple and he began singing songs in praise of Lord Shiva and Ambal  from the tender age. One has to climb about 50 steps to have dharshan of Lord Sattanathar .

Tirukolakka is also a place, where Shiva temple is  located and is  about a kilometer away from the temple in Sirkali. Gnanasambandar  sang in this temple for the first time in his divine yatra . It is believed that Lord Shiva provided thalam and Ambal provided  divine sound ( Oosai), when Sambandar sang here.

Vaitheeswarankoil is located about 6 Kilometers south of Sirkali. It is one of the navagraha temples. There is a separate sannathi for Angaraha ( Sevvai). Jadayu, who fought Ravana, when he was taking Sita to Lanka, died at this place and Jadayu was cremated here. It is believed that the prasadam of this temple cures diseases.

Thirupunkur: Nandhi was asked to  move at this place so that Nandanar can have dharshan of Lord Shiva. This place is 3 kms away from Vaitheeswarankoil. One has to take Thirupanandal route starting from south car st/West car St junction and travel 3 kms and then one kilometer on the left side to reach the temple. Three of the shiva saints sung at this place.

Evening:

Tharangambadi:One can visit the Danish fort established at Tarangambadi (as per map). This was established by Danish king Frederick in 1620s to promote trade with south India. It is located  right on the sea shore and also has a museum inside the fort. 

Tirukkadaiyur: On the way back about 5-6 kms away from Tharangambadi, this town is located. There are many lodges and restaurants available in this town.  This  is the place where Lord Shiva bestowed       Markandeyar that he will always be at the age of 16 after killing Yama who came to take the life of Markandeya. There is a separate sannadhi for Yama here. People celebrate their 60^th birthday in large numbers here.

Keelaperumpallam: One has to travel back to Akkur mukkuttu,(5Kms) Karuvili (Karuvilandhanathapuram: 9 kms) and then towards poompuhar and take a left turn to reach Keelaperumpallam (app 5-6 kms). This is kethu sthalam.

Poompuhar: It is here the river Cauvery enters Bay of Bengal. The famous Silappathikaram has its origins here. There is a museum and a statue of Kannagi  located close to the sea shore. There is also a light house.

Tiruvenkadu:  This is a navagraha sthalam for Budhan. The Shiva temple is a big one and there is a separate sannathi for Bhdhan near Ambal temple.