Sapthasthana Shiva Temples

Sapthasthana Shiva Temples of Mylapore

"Mylai is Kylai," the saying goes. That is, Mylapore is Kailash itself! The Siddhas say that this is so only because of the seven great Shiva deities who grace this town. This is why that great general, Lord Sri Rama, visited this sacred town and worshipped that other great general, Lord Sri Skanda, at the Singaravelan shrine (which is part of the Kapali temple) in Mylapore. These deities are that ancient! Temples may get rebuilt, but these deities themselves are timeless. Such is the sacredness due to the seven Shivas here. So devotees should consider it a great honor to be able to offer worship at all seven Shiva temples here. They should consider it their sacred duty to revive the ancient Sapthasthana Shiva worship here.

Mahodaya Punyakalam மஹோதய புண்யகாலம்

Thiru Maraikadu (Vedaranyam) Temple, TN.

Regarding Ardhodaya Punyakalam and Mahodaya Punyakalam, it is stated as follows in the compendium of Dharma Sastra 'Smriti Muktaphalam' in 'Sradha Kandam-Uttara bhaga':

महाभारते श्रवणाश्विधनिष्ठार्द्रानागदैवतमापतेत्। 

रविवारयुतामायां व्यतीपातः स उच्यते॥ 

व्यतीपाताख्ययोगोऽयं शतार्कग्रहसन्निभः॥

If on a Sunday, Amavasya and one of the stars – Sravanam, Asvini, Avittam, Thiruvadirai or Ayilyam, occurs, then it is called 'Vyatipatam'. This Vyatipata yogam is equal to a hundred Surya grahanas in merit.

Puri Rath Yatra / Car Festival 2017

'Rath Yatra' or 'Car Festival', the most important festival of Lord Jagannath commences on 25th June 2017, Wednesday and Return Car Festival ur' Bahuda Jatra' on 3rd July 2017. This colorful festival which draws millions of devotees from various parts of the country as well as from abroad to Puri, is held in June-July every year. Lord Jagannath, Lord of the Universe, comes out of His sanctum sanctorum to give Darshan to all Devotees belonging to all sects and communities.lt is said that those who take part in the Car Festival earn their passage to the Heaven.
 

'Snana Pumima' marks the beginning of this festival. On this day the three deities - Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra take prolonged bath on an open platform known as 'Snana Bedi', Then they retire for 15 days popularly called the period of 'Anabasara' and remain in isolation. During this period, no public worship is performed. After 15 days of isolation, the Gods come out of the temple in a colourful procession to board their respective Chariots and thereafter begins the journey known as "Ratha Jatra'.The much famous Temple Chariot Festival of Lord Jagannath, takes place in Puri. On the first day, the Jagannath temple images are carried through the street in three huge thundering chariots which have made this event internationally known. Nine days later, the journey is repeated in the opposite direction. To witness this festival is an experience of a life time, but ensure to book rooms and make all other arrangements well in advance.

Each year, in monsoon season, the proxy images of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra--the deities enshrined in the Jagannath Temple at Puri--are carried in colorful processions every evening for 21 days to the Narendra Tank where they cruise in a bright decorated boat.

In gaiety and color, this festival stands next only to the Car Festival. On the full noon day of Jyestha (June), the Sananjatra or the bathing festival is observed when the images in worship are actually brought out for public viewing.

After the bathing festival, the deities spend 15 days in seclusion during which period they are repainted and prepared for the Car Festival. The Car Festival is celebrated on the second day of the bright fortnight of Ashadha (June-July) and the deities are taken on a journey of around 3 kms in stupendous and decorated chariots for sojourn in the Gundicha Ghar till the return Car Festival which is held 9 days later.

The chariot of Lord Jagannath, known as 'Nandighose', is 23 cubits high and has 18 wheels. The chariot of Balabhadra, which is 22 cubits in height and has 16 wheels, is named 'Taladwaja'. 'Devadalan' the chariot of Subhadra, is 21 cubits in height and has 14 wheels.

The chariots are made anew every year in accordance with strict and ancient specifications and are pulled by several thousand devotees at a time. In terms of splendor and fervent devotion, the Car Festival is one of the world's most incredible spectacles.

Courtesy: http://www.rathyatra.net/

Sri Kasi Annapoorna and Deepavali

The Goddess of Food or the Goddess of Nourishment (Anna means food and Poorna means complete or full), Mata Parvati. always protects and bless Her devotees with food and prosperity.

Annacoot festival is celebrated in India every year after Deepavali. Annapoorna temple has a huge crowd of pilgrims on the occasion of Annacoot. Mountains of fruits, sweets and cereals are laid out before the Goddess and then distributed to the poor. Coins are distributed as Prasad to all the devotees; it is considered that whoever worship this coin will be blessed with successful and prosperous life.

Thiruvarur Sri Thyagarajaswamy Temple

The historic name of Thiruvarur was Aaroor (Arur) and it finds mention in the 7th century saiva canonical work, Thevaram.The term Thiru is added to all temple cities that are mostly revered by the verses of Thevaram, which is the case of Arur becoming Thiruvarur. Another name of Thiruvarur is Kamalayaksetra, meaning the "holy place that is an abode of lotuses"; the town is also referred so due to the presence of the Kamalayayam tank and the temple deity, Kamalambigai.

Mahāmaham

Adi Kumbeswarar Temple

अन्य क्षेत्रे कृतं पापं पुण्य क्षेत्रे विनश्यति

पुण्य क्षेत्रे कृतं पापं वारानास्यां विनश्यति

वारानास्यां कृतं पापं कुम्बकोने विनश्यति

कुम्बकोने कृतं पापं कुम्बकोने विनश्यति

Transliteration:

anya-kshetrE krtam pApam punya-kshetrE vinasyati 

punya-kshtetrE krtam pApam VaranAsyam vinasyati 

VAranAsyAm krtam pApam KumbakOnE vinasyati 

KumbakOne krtam pApam kumbakOnE vinasyati

Meaning:

You can sin anywhere and wash it away in a holy spot 

You can sin in a holy spot and wash it away in Varanasi 

You can sin in Varanasi and wash it away in Kumbakonam 

But if you sin in Kumbakonam, You can wash it away only in Kumbakonam

Nabakalebar Puri Rath Yatra

The Rath Yatra Festival has been renamed as the Puri Nabakalebara Rath Yatra Festival.

The Puri Rath Yatra festival is based around the worship of Lord Jagannath (a reincarnation of Lords Vishnu and Krishna). It commemorates his annual visit to his birthplace, Gundicha Temple, and aunt's home along with his elder brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra.

This year, after 19 years, the Jagannath Temple idols will be replaced by new ones in a ritual known as Nabakalebar (meaning "new body").

The Rath Yatra begins on the second day of Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon or bright fortnight) of the lunar month of Ashadha, as per the traditional Oriya Calendar. In 2015, it commences on July 18 and ends on July 30.

The Nabakalebar ritual takes place when the month of Ashadha is followed by another month of Ashadha (known as "double-Ashadha"). This only happens once every nine to 19 years, making it a rare event. In the last century, the Nabakalebara ritual was performed in 1912, 1931, 1950, 1969, 1977 and 1996.

Melattingal Mahadeva Temple

The story tells Melattingal Mahadeva Temple has some divine connections with Vaikom Mahadeva temple. From the ancient history, Melattingal Mahadeva Temple is believed to have come into existence by one of the pious Brahmin from AmunthuruthiMadom family. He was grandeur as Jenmy; the owner of the land, which being directly under the immediate administration of the Attingal Swarupam, the Attingal Ranis where entrusted by the Travancore Raja. The story goes that a deeply devout and saintly Brahmin prostrated himself at the feet of supreme deity of grace and bounty, Vaikathappan Lord of Vaikom Mahadeva temple. The Brahmin, ardent devotee of Vaikathappan used to visit Vaikom Mahadeva Temple and stayed there for a few days praying to the deity there. The serenity of the place embraced him and he decided to practice bhajans there.

Sri Vadakkumnathan Temple

Vadakkumnathan Temple, Thrissur

Vadakkumnathan temple is one of the 108 Shivalayas consecrated by Saint Parashurama. Since Devi Parvathy was alongside Shiva when he gave darshan to the saint, Parvathy was also installed facing east in the temple. Lord Vigneswara and Lord Sri Rama were also added to complete the installation.

The mode of pooja for this temple was given by Sri Adi Sankara and this order is followed till date. Sri Adi Shankara was born for his parent's Tapasya at this temple.

The idol is not visible, as it is covered under 3-5 meter high and 5-7 meter wide mount of ghee, formed by daily abhisheka (ablution) with ghee over centuries.

In spite of high temperature, ghee does not melt and the collection is preserved as good as new even after centuries. It is believed that lord Shiva (Kiratha) had a head injury during his fight with Arjuna and lord Dhanvantri (Lord of Ayurveda) prescribed ghee ablution.

பங்குனி உத்திரம்

இறைவழிபாட்டிற்கு மிகவும் சிறப்பான நட்களுக்குள் பங்குனி உத்திரம் சிறப்பு வாய்ந்த ஒன்றாகும். புராணங்களிலே பங்குனி உத்திரத்தில் நிகழ்ந்த சிறப்புகள் பற்றி விவரிக்கப்படுகின்றது ஒவ்வொரு மாதத்திலும் ஒவ்வொரு நட்சத்திரத்திற்கு முக்கியத்துவம் கொடுத்து விழாக்கள் நடத்துவதும், விரதம் இருப்பதும் வழக்கம். அதில் பங்குனி உத்திர நட்சத்திரத்துக்கு அதிக மகத்துவம் உண்டு. இந்தத் திருநாளில்தான் மிக அதிகமான தெய்வத் திருமணங்கள் நடைபெற்றுள்ளதாகப் புராணங்கள் கூறுகின்றன.

தில்லை மூவாயிரவர்

அண்மையில் ஒரு பெரும் பேராசிரியர் ஆற்றிய சொற்பொழிவுக்குச் சென்றிருந்தேன். அவரது சொற்பொழிவின் இடையில் திருத்தொண்டத் தொகை பற்றிய செய்தி வந்தது. அவர் இதிலுள்ள முதல் தொடரான தில்லை வாழ் அந்தணர் என்பது சிற்றம்பலத்தில் ஆடிக் கொண்டிருக்கும் பெருமானையே குறிக்கிறது. இத்தொடரில் “வாழ்” என்னும் சொல் முக்காலத்தையும் குறிக்கும் சொல். முக்காலத்தும் இருப்பவர் சிவபெருமானே; அதனால் அது அவரையே குறிக்கும். அது அங்கு அர்ச்சனை செய்து வரும் தீக்ஷிதர்களைக் குறிக்காது என்றார். என்னுடன் வந்த நண்பர் அவர் சொல்வது சரியா என்று கேட்டார்.

Pavala Kundru (Coral Hill)

Pavala Kundru is a craggy outcrop of rock to the north of the Arunachaleswarar Temple. Though the name literally translates as ‘Coral Hill’, it is made up of rugged, grey, granite blocks that tower a couple of hundred feet above the surrounding town of Thiruvannamalai. It has been a traditional part of the town’s spiritual landscape for centuries; Bhagavan mentioned that it was one of the possible places that Parvati did tapas in the stories that are chronicled in the Arunachala Mahatmyam and Arunachala Puranam.

It earns its name because the rays of the rising sun are supposed to turn the whole rock to a lovely coral red. This less-known temple can be approached from the town through a little street leading off the Durgai Amman temple about 1 km after the main bus terminus. There is a good stone staircase hewn against the rock to climb up to the temple.

HH Shri Mahaswami Museum

Spirituality and Indian Culture have an important role in making our younger generation have noble thoughts and good ideals. Their Holiness Shri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal and Shri Sankara Vijayendra Saraswathi Swamigal have guided and initiated a number of educational institutions in various parts of the country which offer modern education along with spiritual and Cultural education. There has been overwhelming support and demand for such schools.

Mahaswamigal Museum has hundreds of rarest of the rare pictures, which have captured, albeit briefly, of his times, his life, his devotion, his selfless service to the humanity, his simplicity, his rare vision and his teachings. He was an inspiration, an epitome of learning and wisdom with which he captured every heart – from the mightiest to the weakest.

Inside the campus, there is a beautiful temple for Sri Ganapathy, Sri Kamakshi ambal (designed as a replica of Kanchi Sri Kamakshi ambal's sanctum sanctorum), Sri Mahadeva with shrines for Sri Dakshinamoorthy to his left, Sri Adi Shankara to his right, facing each other and Sri Mahaswamigal behind Sri Nandi facing the Lord. Sri Mahadeva's shrine has Veda Patashalas on three sides. It is divine to see the very young Vidhyarthis doing abhyasa here (close to 300 Vidhyartis study here).

Mahaswamigal’s missions on the values of life and vedic education have inspired us to create this museum. This is a temple of learning, which would inspire the young and old alike. Articles, books, Maena, Cycle Rickshaw used by Mahaswamigal are on display.

M.S.Subbulakshmi Museum is in the first hall displaying rare pictures and artifacts and her songs/concerts played in the background. A beautiful larger than life idol of the legend decorates the hall with accolades from who's who of her period and quotes from HH Shri Mahaswamigal.

How to reach there?

Sri Kanchi Mahaswami Vidya Mandir, Rajakilpakkam, Nisha Avenue_Extn2, Gowrivakkam, Sembakkam. Tamil Nadu 6000073. Phone: 044 2228 1565.

5.00 P.M. to 8.00 P.M. (Weekdays) & 10.00 A.M. to 1.00 P.M. (on holidays)

https://www.google.co.in/maps/@12.924147,80.1565183,16z
http://www.srikanchimahaswamividyamandir.org/management.php

Approx 5 km from Tambaram Railway Station/Bus Terminus on Tambaram-Velachery Road. Bus Stop - Rajakilpakkam (next to Mahalakshmi Nagar/Skandasramam bus stop). Take right at signal towards Kendriya Vidyalaya (Road to Madambakkam Sri Dhenupureeswarar Sivan Temple), take the first left at Ponniammam Koil Street and go to the end of the road (2 mins drive). You will find directions. Also accessible from the next two bus stops - Kamarajapuram and Sembakkam on Tambaram-Velachery road.

Panchamuga Sivalayam

As per the Vedaagamam, Lord Shiva, embodiment of Parabrahma with five krias, appears in a unique form with five faces known as

    Eesanam
    Thathpurusham
    Aghoram
    Vamadevam
    Sathyojatham

In Pasupathnath at Nepal, Lord Shiva blesses with four faces. Darshan of Lord Shiva appearing in a special form is available to bhakthas at Shree Panchamuga Shivalinga Temple at Mugappair West, which is closer to places where Shiva Kshetras of Thiruvallidayam, Thirumullaivoyal and Koyambedu are located. As the name itself denotes, the tamil name “Magapperu” (which means the wealth of child) has come to be known as “Mugapper” through common usage of the word over a period of time. It is learnt, through elders, that legends record conducting of ‘Putrakameshti yagnas’ in this place in olden days, It is the experience of the childless devotees who visit this temple with full devotion to be blessed with child. It is through the Blessings of His Holiness, the Paramacharya of Sree Kanchi Mutt that this temple came into existence. The Presiding Deity is Lord Shree Kameshwar and the name of Ambal is Sree Kameshwari.

It is a divine sight to see that water continuously drips from the ‘tara pathram’ on the ‘bindhusthanam’ seen atop the head of Lord Shiva in his form as Sathyojatham. Here, Lord Shiva faces west, as in the temples of Kapaleeswarar at Mylapore and Marundeeswarar at Thiruvanmiyur in Chennai.

Like in the temple of Bhuvaneshwari at Pudukottai and Kalikambal Sannidhi in Thambu Chetty Street, Chennai, here too a Poorna Mahameru of one foot height has been consecrated and placed before the idol of Sri Kameshwari the ever beautiful, radiant and blissful one. She sits giving darshan to her devotees with a smiling face holding Ankusham and Parrot in her right hands and Paasam and sugarcane in her left hands. (Navavarana Pooja to this Mahameru had been done every day by Smt. Lakshmi Chandramouli of the Kamakshi Mandali, Korattur – a disciple of Kanchipuram Sri Kamakoti Sastrigal of the Kamakshi Temple; who had since donated this to the temple in consanance with the instructions of her guru Shree Kamakoti Sasthri. Smt.Lakshmi Chandramouli had also donated a “Gold Pallakku” to Kamakshi for sayanagriha at Kanchipuram.



Courtesy: http://panchamugasivalayam.in

காஞ்சி சங்கராச்சாரியார் அருள்வாக்கில் உருவான ‘ஈச்சனாரி’ விநாயகர் கோவில்

பாலுந் தெளிதேனும் பாகும் பருப்புமிவை
நாலுங் கலந்துனக்கு நான் தருவேன்-கோலஞ்செய்
துங்கக் கரிமுகத்துத் தூமணியே நீ எனக்குச் சங்கத் தமிழ் மூன்றும் தா !

கோவையில் இருந்து பொள்ளாச்சி செல்லும் வழியில் 9 கிலோ மீட்டர் தொலைவில் நெடுஞ்சாலையில் உள்ளது இந்த அழகிய கோவில். விக்னங்களை அதாவது வினைகளை நமக்கு ஏற்படும் கவலைகளை களைபவர் விநாயகர். எந்த ஒரு நல்ல காரியம் தொடங்க, வீடு கட்ட, வியாபாரம் துவங்க, திருமணம் நன்கு நடைபெற, தேர்வுகளில் வெற்றி பெற, புது மனையில் நல்ல வாழ்வு நிலைத்திட, இப்படி அனைத்து காரியங்களிலும், விநாயகரைத் தொழுது துவங்கிட, எல்லை இல்லா ஆனந்தம் நல்கிடுவார் என்பது உறுதி.  இவர் வேத மந்திரங்களின் தலைவன் என போற்றப்படுவர். முழு முதற்கடவுள், பிரணவ மந்திரத்தின் உட்பொருளானவர்.

"Obviously he had some mathematical formula!"

Once a team of 5-6 scientists from U.S, probably some New York University, visited the temple, and did a lot of research on the shadow of the Vimana, which does not fall on the ground, at any time of the day, in any season. They arrived at the conclusion that it is not based on any mathematical formula, and is a coincidental accident, which cannot be replicated at all, unless such a coincidence occurs again.

Emperor Rajaraja Cholan - Iyppasi Sadhayam

Big temple Sri Brahadeeswarar and Rajaraja Cholan

Rajaraja Chola's services to Lord Shiva and how he served the cause of the Beloved Lord

History describes only few personalities as Emperors and boasts of their glories and achievements. One among them is Rajaraja Cholan of Chola Dynasty. Rajarajan was nick-named "Rajakesari", besides this name, he carries 42 different names. Having achieved the pinnacle of success, 1000 years ago, he carved a niche for himself in the pride of Cholas' rule. His birthday is celebrated every year when his birthstar Sadhayam falls during Iyppasi (Tula masam - Star: Shathabishak).  

தில்லை நடராஜ மூர்த்தி உருவான வரலாறு

சோழ மன்னன் இரணிய வர்மன் தீர்த்த யாத்திரை புறப்பட்டு பல புண்ணிய தலங்களை தரிசித்துவிடு தில்லையை அடைந்தார். சிற்றம்பல திருக்குளமான சிவகங்கைத் தீர்த்தத்தில் நீராடும்போது தண்ணீருக்குள் ஓங்கார நாதம் ஒலித்தது. அரசருக்கு ஆச்சரியம் தாளவில்லை. தண்ணீரை விட்டு வெளியே எழுந்தவுடன் அந்நாதம் கேட்கவில்லை. மீண்டும் நீருக்குள் மூழ்கினார், ஓங்கார ஒலி தெளிவாகக் கேட்டது.

என்ன இது அதிசயம்? மறுபடியும் மூழ்கினார். கண்களைத் திறந்தார். அங்கு ஆடல் வல்லாரின் அற்புத நடனமும் கூடவே ஓங்கார ஒலி; அரசர் வியப்பில் ஆழ்ந்து போய் மீண்டும் மீண்டும் நீரினுள் மூழ்கி அந்நடனத்தையும் ஓங்கார ஓசையையும் கேட்டார்.

தாம் கண்ட காட்சியை ஓவியமாக வரைந்தார். தான் அனுபவித்த இந்த அற்புத இன்பத்தை உலகிலுள்ள அனைவரும் கண்டு அனுபவிக்க வழியை யோசித்தார். இறுதியில், தான் கண்ட வடிவத்தை மிகவும் தூய்மையான சொக்கத் தங்கத்தில் விக்ரகமாகச் செய்து பொன்னம்பலத்தில் எல்லோரும் தரிசனம் செய்யும்படி அமைக்க வேண்டுமென முடிவு செய்தார்.

Utthara Chidambaram - Satara Nataraja Temple

The only ancient temple where Lord Nataraja is the presiding deity is located in Chidambaram and the unique feature of that temple is the famous “Chidambara rahasyam” (Cosmic secret) that is written in the Bilwa leaves kept in the sanctum sanctorum.

Nobody knows the details of the inscriptions.

By the directive of Kanchi Mahaswami Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswati Swamigal, a replica of this temple was built in Satara in Maharashtra called “Uttara Chidambaram”.

Great care was taken to ensure that every bit of it looks similar to the original and then came the most important step. How to replicate the Chidamabara rahasyam? After all, nobody knows the details! Except of course, the all-knowing Almighty!

Mahaswami came to the rescue. He dictated the entire rahasyam to a Panditji who wrote it on the Bilwa leaves and the moment the job was done, Mahaswami said “ May you forget the Rahasyam right now!” and lo! The Pandit forgot the whole thing.

Clearly, it is God who gives us remembrance and removes it too.

திருப்பதி ஏழுமலையான் - அரிய தகவல்கள்

வாழ்வில் நல்ல திருப்பத்தைத் தரும் திருத்தலம், பணம் நிரம்பி வழியும் உண்டி, அற்புத ருசி தரும் லட்டு, லட்சக்கணக்கான மொட்டைத் தலைகள், கோவிந்தா என்று உருகும் கோஷம், ஜருகண்டி என்று தேசியமயமாகிவிட்ட வார்த்தை!

நமக்கெல்லாம் இப்படித் தெரிந்த திருப்பதியைவிட அந்த ஸ்தலத்தின் பிரமாண்டத்தை வெகு சிறப்பாக வெளியிட்டிருக்கும் இந்தப் புத்தகத்தின் ஆசிரியர் ஒரே ஒரு குண்டையும் வீசியிருக்கிறார். திருப்பதி கருவறையில் இருப்பது பாலாஜி அதாவது மகாவிஷ்ணு அல்ல என்று, 13 வருடங்கள் திருப்பதியில் கோயிலுக்குப் பக்கத்திலேயே வசித்த இந்தப் புத்தக ஆசிரியரின் வயது 85.. கர்ப்பக்கிரகத்தின் மிக அருகாமையில் உள்ள புனிதமான குலசேகரப் படிக்கட்டிலிருந்து 1945-களில் அபிஷேகத்தைப் பார்த்தவர்.

என்ன சொல்ல வருகிறார்? புத்தகத்தின் சாராம்சத்தை கீழே படியுங்கள் பிறகு நேரில் அவரை கண்டு எடுத்த பேட்டியைப் படிக்கலாம்.