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.