Temples of India

Athi varadar darshan July 2019

2019-07-02T14:31:00.001+05:30

Today 2nd July 2019 we visited Kanchipuram to have darshan of Athi Varadar perumal. Following are some important information that is gathered based on our visit.

1. There are 3 bus stands for out station buses. Once you get down there are mini buses and town buses that take you to the temple. The fare is fixed at rs. 10. The town bus we boarded took a longer route to reach the temple. So in case you are short of time please enquire before boarding. Will save you at least 1/2 hour. We reached around 7 am and there were very few autos. But by the time we came back around 10am, there were lot of regular autos and share autos in the bus stand. Roughly regular autos charge rs.150-200 one way from Olimohammed bus stand to temple. You will first reach Olimohammed parking lot if you approach from Chennai- Bengaluru highway

2. Car parking has been arranged in three-four places and while approaching the town itself the police barricades and boards will guide you to the nearest parking lot. There is one parking lot close to the temple if you approach from walajabad side. Will save a little bit of walking. Also ensure you park your car in such a place that no other vehicle can block the way when you are back.. else you will not be able to remove your car from the space.

3. Be prepared to walk.. after a point no vehicles are allowed except kanchipuram local autos and resident vehicles.

4. The regular approach has been through west gopuram to the temple. Now except for some VIP no one else can enter. You have to reach the old East gopuram.. from there you will be walking through out until vasantha mandapam where you can have darshan. In the entrance itself there is electric car provision for senior citizens and physically handicapped people. You can cover almost 80% of the distance using them. Today after that point those who are able to walk joined the normal queue and others were waiting in wheel chair.

5. The chappal stand is on the east side only and after darshan you exit from the west and have to walk all the way back to the east side to take them.

6. Lot of fans and water pipes are placed all throughout the line.. towards the end it became a single line.

7. There was no separate queue for any paid darshan as of 2nd July -8 am.

8. Some medical help centers are also set up inside the temple for immediate help.

9. How long will it take to have darshan of athi varadhar ?

It took roughly 30 minutes for us on 2nd July as the queue was not long. We joined the queue at 8.30 am and had darshan around 9.00 am. Week ends can be crowded and it can take a few hours in queue to have darshan.

Lot of police and volunteers deployed. Seems well organised based on our experience.

My request to all those travelling to have darshan of the lord- please be patient while in queue and follow the line.. the police is doing a great job in managing the crowd and the arrangements are really good. Please utilize the facilities in the right way.

Feel free to drop a message if you need any information.. will try my best to help you out.

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#athivaradhar #kanchipuram. #அத்திவரதர் #अत्तिवरदर

Aranmula Parthasarathy perumal temple

2015-08-26T15:02:00.000+05:30

Arulmigu Dhathriswara thirukovil, Sithukadu

2015-08-19T17:23:00.000+05:30

Vaikuntha Perumal Temple, Mangadu (Chennai)

2015-08-11T17:12:00.000+05:30

Velleswarar Temple, Mangadu (Chennai)

2015-08-03T13:07:00.000+05:30

Vedagireeswarar temple, Thirukazhukundram

2015-07-23T17:02:00.000+05:30

Gunaseelam Prasanna Venkatachalapathy temple

2015-07-17T14:36:00.000+05:30

Tanjai maa mani temples, Tanjore

2015-07-09T14:37:00.000+05:30

Sri Nelliappar temple, Tirunelveli

2015-07-02T14:38:00.000+05:30

Thirunageswaram temple

2015-06-25T14:57:00.000+05:30

Sri Sarangapani perumal temple, Chakrapani perumal temple and Ramar temple, Kumbakonam

2015-06-18T15:01:00.000+05:30

Chakrapani temple

Ramar temple

Brihadeeswara temple, Tanjore

2015-06-12T15:16:00.000+05:30

Uchhi Pillaiyar kovil, Trichy

2015-06-03T15:45:00.000+05:30

About the temple

Uchi pillayar (உச்சிப் பிள்ளையார் கோயில்) temples is one of the key landmarks of Trichy. This hill temple is dedicated to Lord Ganesha/Vinayaga fondly called in tamil as “Pillayar” (பிள்ளையார்).

There is also a temple deciated to Lord siva ( mid –way in the hill) called Thayumanavaswamy temple.

This temple has a mythologyical story connecting it to the Temple of Srirangam

The Tiruchirapalli Rock Fort is a historic fort and temple complex built on an ancient rock. It is located in the city of Tiruchirapalli, which is in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is constructed on a 273-foot high rock. There are two Hindu temples inside the Rockfort, the Uchchi Pillaiyar Koil and the Siva Temple. Geologically the 83 m high rock may date to over one billion years ago. ( Source:- Wikipedia)

How to reach

The temple is approximately 1 km from the Trichy chathiram bus stand. The temple is the city's best known landmark.

Temple timings

6.00 AM - 8.00 PM

Temples in proximity

Temple of Srirangam

Lord Kaatkarai Appan, ThiruKatkarai

2015-05-15T14:28:00.000+05:30

About the temple

Thirukatkara (திருக்காட்கரை அப்பன்) appan temple is situated in thirukkakara near Kochi , Kerala. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vamana.

The Moolavar of this sthalam is found in Nindra Kolam facing his thirumugham along the south direction. The lord is said to have given pratyaksha darshanam to Kapila Muni. Nammalwar has sung 10 pasurams in praise of the lord.

Since Lord Vamana is closely associated with the story of Mahabali , Onam is the main festivity celebrated in this templeAs per the legend, Lord Kaatkarai Appan is said to have come here as Vamana Moorthy to end the troubles caused by King Bali. To mark this event, it is believed that Lord Vishnu visits this Divya Desam every year on the Thiruvonam day in Aavani. Lord Katkarai Appan is seen with Conch, Chakra and Padma Hastam in this temple.

King Mahabali is said to have worshipped Lord Shiva in this place. We also see a Paramasivan Sannidhi to the right of the Perumal Sannidhi, with Bali seen invoking the blessings of Sivan.

One devotee is said to have dedicated golden banana to the Lord as his fields were not yielding bananas. After the dedication , the devotees field is said to have yielded good results and the fruit names “ Nethiram pazham”

How to reach?

It is located 10 km north east of Ernakulam between Thrissur-Ernakulam highway (NH 47). Once can reach by bus from Ernakulam Town to this temple (Edapalli). One can also rake an auto/taxi from Ernakulam railway station.

Temple timings

5am-11am and 5pm-8pm

Temples in proximity

Thirumoozhikalam

Thiruchittaru Imayavarappan temple (Panchapandava Mahavishnu temple)

2015-05-04T14:19:00.000+05:30

Sri Maya Piran perumal temple, Puliyur

2015-04-27T15:15:00.000+05:30

Sri Arputha Narayanan Perumal temple, Thirukadithanam

2015-04-14T14:11:00.000+05:30

Sri Chenna Keseva perumal temple, Chennai

2015-04-02T14:03:00.000+05:30

About the temple

Originally, Chenna Keseva temple was located at the current location of Madras High Court. The British East India Company demolished the temple and later, due to public outcry they donated some land and money to build the current temple. Manali Muttukrishna Mudaliar built the temple at Devaraja Mudali Street in Sowcarpet in 1757 and also built the Chenna Malleeswarar temple for Shiva.

It is also believed that Chennai got its name from these twin temples.

Sannidhis:-

The temple has the main shrine dedicated to Chenna Kesavar and His consort Sengamalavalli Thayar Other Sannidhis:- Anjeneya, Vishvaksenar, Garudan, Venugopalan, Rama, Andal and the Azhwars and Acharyas.

At the Chenna Malleeswarar Temple there are shrines for Vinayaka, Subramania, Navagrahas, Somaskandar and Chandikeswarar. The Goddess here is known as Brahmarambikai.All the 64 Saivite saints are enshrined here. So is Lord Dakshinamurthy, God of Learning, who is seated beneath a banyan tree carved in stone. There are shrines for Bhikshandanar, Natarajar and other deities.

How to reach

Temple is situated in the heart of the old city area sowcarpet .

Temple timings

Daily Poojas :Kaala Pooja 05:00 A.M

Uchchikaala Pooja 12:00 P.M

Saayaratchai Pooja 06:00 P.M

Dharshan Timings :Morning 05:00 A.M to Night 08:00 P.M

Temples in proximity

Chennai based temples

சென்னை கோவில்கள் ,சென்ன கேசவ பெருமாள் கோவில் ,சென்னை மல்லீஸ்வரா கோவில்

Sundararaja Perumal Temple, Sithukadu ( Thirumanam)

2015-03-23T17:30:00.000+05:30

About the temple

Sundaravalli thayar sametha Sri Sundararaja perumal temple is located in Sithukkadu ( also called sitharkadu or thirumanam). This temple is very near to Sri Dhathriswara temple ( These two temples are said to be the part of the nakshatra temple for those who are born in “Swathi” Star.

Sannidhis:-

Sundaravalli thayar

Andal ( Garudak kodi sithar is seen in one of the walls in the mandapam oppposite to andal.

Prayers to him are supposed to cure eye related ailments. Sri Narasimha in different postures adorn the walls of this mandapa)

Ananda narthana Krishnan

Sundararajar

How to reach

The temple is accessible from the newly laid Outer Ring Road Chennai ( Vandalur to Nemilichery).

When moving from poonamalle to nemilichery on the outer ring road, take a left 2-3 kms before nemilichery on seeing the sign board for "Thirumanam" or "Sithukadu"

Temple Timings

Opening time :- 7.30 AM and 5. 30 PM

Temple in proximity

Arulmigu Dhathriswara thirukovil, Sithukadu

Bhaktavatsala perumal temple

Hridayaleeswara temple

Sree Vallabha temple, Thiruvalla

2015-03-09T13:56:00.000+05:30

About the temple

Thiruvalla is a colloquial name for the place of Sreevallabhapuram, named after the chief deity Sree Vallabha.

It is believed that the lord of this kshetra , Maha Vishnu or Sree Vallabha was sculpted by Viswakarma at the behest of Lord Krishna and was given to Satyaki at the end of Dwapara Yuga. After being safeguarded by Garuda at netyravati river, Cheraman Perumal built the current temple at Thiruvalla in B.C 59 (Kaliyugam 3043).

The Moolavar Lord is also known by the names of Vallabhan and Kolapiran. This place is referred to as the ‘Vallabha Kshetram’.

The pooja system followed in this temple is unique and is different from the tantric form of worship generally followed in Kerala.

A lot of historical insciptions are found inside the temple. Thiruvalla temple is also referred to in Garuda and Matsya Puranams.

Stories referring to the temple.

Lord is said to have protected a spinster ( performing ekadasi penance) from an Asura in the form of a Brahmachari by using his Sudharsana chakra.. The Chakra is said to have fallen at the place where the temple is situated currently.It is believed that the Lord here protects all the devotees from evil forces.

Another story goes that KandaaKarnan, a Shiva devotee, undertook penance invoking Lord Vishnu. It is believed that Vishnu appeared before Kandaa Karnan and provided him darshan as Vallabhan.

This temple is also a Prarthana Sthalam for childless couples-Performance of Kathakali is one of the main offerings made to the God.There is also a tradition to present 12000 ripe bananas to the lord, half of which is distributed to the devotees.

Some time ago , ladies were allowed inside the temple only on a couple of specific occasions in the year but this is no more the case. (Wikipedia-After an incident of a woman getting salvation inside the shrine, ladies were more attracted to the temple. A series of inauspicious events happened after a lady who had been enchanted by beauty of the handsome idol entered the sanctum-sanctorum to marry the Lord[1][11] and the administrators decided to ban women from entering the temple after an astrological counseling. But on request, they agreed to allow women twice a year during Thiruvathira of Dhanu month and Vishu in Medam [13] when the Lord will be dressed up with mud, ashes, torn clothes etc. to look ugly. The ban was removed in 1968.)

How to reach

Thiruvalla Railway station is located about 30kms South of Kottayam on the Ernakulam-Kottayam-Kayankulam rail route. The temple is roughly 2-3 kms from the railway station. Trivandrum is the nearest airport. This place can also be reached from Kochi airport.

Temple timings

Temple is open in the mornings from 4 a.m. to noon 12 p.m and in the evenings from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m

Temples in proximity

Thiru Puliyoor
Thiruchittaru
Aranmula
Thiruvanvandur
Thirukadithanam

Janardhana perumal temple, Varkala

2015-02-25T14:51:00.000+05:30

About the temple

Janardhana temple is a major pilgrim spot in Varkala. This ancient temple has an history of almost 2000 years .

The temple stands facing the "papanasam" beach. Temple is also known for its beautiful architecture. The temple has a circular sanctum sanctorum.

Lord Janardhana is the presiding deity . The presiding deity of this temple is Sri Janarthana Swami. The deity is found in standing position facing towards the east. His right hand is position as if he is performing “aachamanm”. His right hand is raised towards his mouth and legends say that if his hand goes nearer to his mouth, the world will come to an end. It is believed to happen at the end of the Kali Yuga. ( Source:Wikipedia)

Offering obeisances to the departed souls and forefathers is a very important ritual in this temple. Four poojas are conducted in a day by the temple priest.

Other sannidhis:- Ganapathi, Shastha, Ananthan (Nagam) Shiva, Chandikesha, and Hanuman.

How to reach

Varkala is roughly 46 Kms away from Trivandrum. Regular bus services are available to reach this place from Trivandrum( Thiruvananthapuram).

Temple tank and pushkarni

`Chakra Theertha’ on the northern part is the temple's pushkarni.

Temple timings

The temple is open in the mornings from 5:30 AM - 12:00 PM and in the evenings from 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM.

Temples in proximity

Trivandrum Anantha padmanabhaswamy temple

Arulmigu Kandasamy temple, Thiruporur

2015-02-15T20:42:00.000+05:30

About the temple

This is one of the main shrines of Lord Murugan in Tamil Nadu.

“Por” in Tamil means war. Thiruporur is the place where the battle was fought against the “thalayaya asuran” ( connoting destruction of “arrogance or pride”.

Chidambaraswamy unearthed the Swayambu Moortis of Lord Muruga with his consorts and established the temple around 450 years ago. (Lord Muruga himself appeared as a small boy and gave him the vision of the sanctum sanctorum. Lord Meenakshi herself is said to have instructed chidambaramswamy to complete the mission of establishing this temple)

There is a separate sannadhi for Chidambaram swamy in this temple. The swayambu murthy of Lord Kandaswamy with his consorts grace the devotees visiting thiruporur.

How to reach

Thiruporur is well connected to Chennai city by bus. It is 46 km from Chennai on the Old Mahabaliburam road (OMR or IT corridor). Mahabalipuram is 16 Km away from Thirupporur. Thirupporur is also connected to Chengalpet by road.

Temple timings

The temple is open in the mornings from 06:00 am to 12:30 pm & in the evenings from 03:30 pm to 08:30 pm

Temples in proximity

Thiruvidanthai Nithya Kalayana Perumal temple,
Sthala Sayana Perumal temple, Mahabalipuram
Chemmenchery Srinivasa temple,
Pudupakkam Anjaneya temple.

108 Divya desam pasurams (108 திவ்ய தேச பாசுரங்கள்.)

2014-08-07T20:18:00.003+05:30

The Alvars during the early medieval period of Tamil history (between the 7th and 10th centuries CE) worshipped Vishnu and his avatars through their hymns. This collection of their hymns is known as Divya Prabhandham. Mangalasasanam means "praying that the holy shrines be happy all the time". The Srivaishnava shrines that were sung about by the Alvars are called Divya Desams. The divyadesams that have the most number of pasurams sung upon them are Srirangam (247), Thirumala (202), Thirumaliruncholai and Thirukannapuram (128 each).

Web link to paasurams arranged by 108 divya desam.- Click here (Author: 12 Azhwars Published: S Bharathwaj)

Link to 4000 pasurams in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Devanagiri and Malayalam

பன்னிரு ஆழ்வார்கள் பாடிய நாலாயிரத்திவ்ய பிரபந்தத்தில் இடம்பெற்ற சிறப்புமிக்க வைணவத் திருத்தலங்கள் திவ்ய தேசம் எனவும், திவ்ய தேசங்களைப் பற்றிய பாடல்கள் மங்களாசாசனம் எனவும் அழைக்கப்படுகின்றன.

ஆழ்வார்களால் மங்களாசாசனம் பெற்ற திருத்தலங்கள் 108 ஆகும். அவையே 108 திவ்ய தேசங்கள் எனப்படுகின்றன. இவற்றில் 105 தலங்கள் இந்தியாவிலும், ஒன்று நேப்பாலிலும் உள்ளன. கடைசியாக உள்ள இரு தலங்கள் இவ்வுலகில் இல்லை. இவற்றைத் தவிர மற்ற 106 தலங்களுக்கும் தம் வாழ்நாளில் சென்று அத்தலத்திற்குரிய பாடல்களைப் பாடுதல் ஒரு வைணவ சமய வழிபாடாக உள்ளது.( Thanks: Wiki pedia)

Golu dolls in the streets of Chennai

2012-09-25T20:44:00.003+05:30

Andal Rangamannar Sayana utsavam and Vastu Griha Lakshmi

Sholingur Yoga Narasimhar, Amritavalli thayar and Yoga Anjaneyar set, Marriage set, Scene in village set

Vastu Griha lakshmi

Radha Krishna, Murugan, Dhana lakshmi, Meenakshi Sundareswarar marriage, Shiva Parvati, Swami Ramanujar, Astha Lakshmi set, Markandeya set

Muthangi sevai, Kal Garudan, Durgai, Meera bai, Ganesha, Srinivasar-Padmavathi thayar

Annapoorani, Lakshmi, Kanchipuram Pandava doothar, Murugan Valli Devanai

Kalinga narthana krishna, Rama-Lakshmana-Sita- Anjaneya, Pandurangan-Raghumayi thayar

Padmanabha swamy, Ranganathar, Music trinity set

Aadi varaha perumal, Kubera set, Dasavatharam, Udipi Krishna

Mahabalipuram set

Lakshmi Hayagreevar, Anjaneya with Rama and Lakshmana

Periyapalayat amman, Chakratazhwar

Udipi krishna

Radha Krishna and Durgai

Bajan set

Sayana Narasimhar and Lakshmi

Balaji and Padmavathi thayar

Kamadhenu, Thiruvalaventhai-Adi varaha swamy

Garuda sevai, Ranganathar and Murugan

Trivikraman perumal and Parvathi Parameshwaran

Andal-Rangamannar-Garuda set

Anjaneyar carrying Ramar and Lakshmana on his shoulders, Rama with Sugreeva

Garuda sevai and Ardhanareeswarar

Krishna katha set

Pandurangan-Raghumayi thayar, Vastu Griha lakshmi

Vishwaroopa darshanam for Arjuna at battlefield

Ganesha, Udipi Krishna and Oppiliappan perumal

Srinivasar-thayar, Ranganathar, Saraswati and Lakshmi, Thiruvekka Sonna vanna seidha perumal

Pandurangan, Oppiliappan, Anna poorani, Guruvayoorappan, Krishna kathai

Kamadhenu, Ramar set, Bhajan set, Vegetable vendor set

Gita Upadesham set

Lakshmi Narasimhar

Ganesha set under tree

Lakshmi Kuberan set

Dancing ganesha, various saints

Thirukkuralappan temple, Aranmula

2012-05-30T08:25:00.002+05:30

About the temple

The temple is among the 108 divyadesams of Sri Vaishnavas and comes under Kerala based/Malai naatu/chera naatu divyadesams. The presiding deity here is Thirukkuralappan or Parthasarathy in standing posture and thayar is known as Padmasana valli thayar. The temple is among the most important Krishna temples of Kerala and part of the Anju ambalam near Chenganoor.

Anju ambalam means five temples where the Pandava brothers installed deities and worshipped Lord Vishnu in different forms. Yudhistara worshipped at Chengannur temple, Bheema worshipped at Thirupuliyur, Arjuna worshipped at Aranmula, Nakula at Thiruvamundur and Sahadeva at Thirukadithanam.

Aranmula is a big temple built like a fort with four towers on each side. On one side is the main entrance with 18 steps while on other there are steps to get down to the Pampa river that flows besides it.

Arjuna is said to have constructed this temple to be relieved from the sin of slaying an unarmed Karna in the battle. The deity is said to be brought by Arjuna from Nilackal near Sabarimalai in a raft that was built with six pieces of bamboo and so named Aranmula. Aranmula is popular as the place for snake boat race during Onam festival and Lord Ayyappan's jewels are taken from here to Sabarimala for the Makara jyothi festival.

How to reach

The temple is around 20 kms from Thiruvalla and 6 kms from Chenganoor. The nearest railway station is Chenganoor and nearest airports are Cochin and Trivandrum.

One can hire a vehicle for half a day trip and cover all the six divyadesams in this region.

Temple tank and pushkarni

The temple tank is Vedavyasa Saras and the vimanam is called Vamana vimanam.

Temple timings

The temple is open in the mornings from 5 am to 11 am and in the evenings from 5 pm to 8pm.

Temples in proximity

Thirukadithanam, Thirupuliyur, Thiruchittaru, Thiru vavandur, Thiru Vallabha kshetram

Additional information by Sri Sankaran Nampoothari

1. The presiding deity here is Parthasarathy perumal. (Triplicane in Chennai being the other Parthasarathy)

2.The difference between this and the 'Tiruvallikeni' Parthasarathy being the 'Bhava' of Lord Krishna- here he has his Chakra ready for use against Bheeshma- yes Bheeshma. Remember that scene when Bheeshma, like a samhara Rudra Himself, single handedly destroys the pandava army and the entire pandava Army looks on helplessly, with Arjuna in a state of stupor and absolute inaction? It was then that Krishna tells Arjuna that if he did not act now, Krishna would himself slay Bhishma... this is the scene here.

3. The name 'Aranmula' finds it origin from Six Bamboos (Six= Aru, bamboo= Mula), as you've pointed out,(I am just adding the actual meaning)

4. The famous Snake 'Boat race' of Kerala originates from here- this is little known elsewhere! The 'Boat race' we see nowadays are the Tourism Department show- the original was/ is an 'offering' to Lord, and is played among various neighboring villages.

5. The 'Vallasadya' (Boat Feast) is an integral part of this. It is said that every single boatman is treated to the feast- there are hundreds for EACH BOAT- remember!

6. And they have to be served ANY FOOD? DELICACY they ASK FOR during the feast! Therefore this valla sadya is the single feast in Kerala that serves almost EVERY IMAGINABLE DELICACY/ FOOD ITEM in Kerala!

7. ONE of these boats' Oarsmen is always believed to be Lord Sri Krishna Himself! HE would be there in one boat, among the several ordinary people! It is perhaps this belief that makes Vallasady such a grand event!

Visiting ALL the FIVE Temples in this circuit is considered a great blessing. With proper planning, this is eminently possible.