Sunday, October 31, 2010

Kumarakkottam

Where (Location) :
Near Big Kanchipuram Bus stand – about half a kilo meter – I walked – But autos are plenty.
Very near  Kamakshi Amman temple and Sankara Mutt. If you are in Kamakshi Temple; You can walk across to the back entrance of this temple quite easily-only a few yards.!

What is special about this place :
Ancient Murugan temple
Sri Kachiappa Sivachariar wrote Kanda Puranam in this temple.
I was pained to see the dilapidated tank at the back yard

What did I like of this place :
Nothing Special

Rating:   Nothing special.

Note on the Rating :
The rating is in my opinion and may vary from person to person. The factors that I consider for my rating includes being ancient, architecture/Sculpture, Serenity of the place, Spiritual significance (reference in scriptures…etc), Enormity /Size/Magnitude.
I am also positively influenced by the photographic opportunity that I get…!

Pandava Thoodha Perumal

Where (Location):
Near Ekambaranathar Temple in Big Kanchipuram.

What is special about this place :
·       Imposing 28 feet Krishnar in sitting posture…! Very beautifully sculpted..!
·       1000 years old.


What did I like of this place :

·       Imposing 28 feet Krishnar in sitting posture…! Very beautifully sculpted..!
·       One of the main deities, I would like to photograph…!

Cameras:
No body objected to pictures as long as they are outside. But no official tickets.

Rating :   Very Good..!
Note on the Rating :
 The rating is in my opinion and may vary from person to person. The factors that I consider for my rating includes being ancient, architecture/Sculpture, Serenity of the place, Spiritual significance (reference in scriptures…etc), Enormit
y /Size/Magnitude.



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Pachchaivanna-Perumal & Pavalavanna Perumal

Date of Visit :
23-Oct-10 (Sat)

Where (Location)
Near Big Kanchipuram bus stand in Kalender St. Both temples are close to each other

    
What is special about this place :
Both these temples put together constitute one of 108 Divya Desama

Camera :
No body objected to pictures as long as they are outside. But no official tickets.  

What did I like of this place :
Small & Beutiful
The Thayar Sannidhi at the Pavalavanna perumal temple has some colorful paintings at the roof… I also liked the narrow praharam…! See the photographs…!

Rating : Good
 Note on the Rating :
 The rating is in my opinion and may vary from person to person. The factors that I consider for my rating includes being ancient, architecture/Sculpture, Serenity of the place, Spiritual significance (reference in scriptures…etc), Enormity /Size/Magnitude.

Other related resources that I came across and liked 
Read more: here


Saturday, October 30, 2010

Kachabeswarar

Date of Visit :
23-Oct-10 (Sat)

Where (Location):
·     About 0.5 KM from the Big Kanchipuram bus stand
·                        Visible from the road
    
What is special about this place :
·  One of the most famous temples of Kanchipuram
·  Temple of Kachabeswarar- Sivan
·       Sprawling area


Camera :
Allowed  outside the main shrine.  

What did I like of this place :
 Sprawling space
 There is a small mandapam inside that is open on top; but has balcony three sides; looks beautiful

Rating : Very Good


Other related resources that I came across and liked 
Read more: here

PHOTOS

Kamakshi-Amman

Date of visit:  23-Oct-2010
Where (Location):  Near the bus stand and near Ekambaranathar Temple in big Kanchipuram.

What is special about this place :
  • One of the most important temples in Kanchipuram
  • Associated with Aadi Sankaracharya 
  • Beautiful Temple tank
  • Houses a shrine for Vishnu Kalvar Perumal one of 108 Divya Desams
Camera :
Allowed outside the main shrine.  

What did I like of this place :
  • Beautiful Temple tank

 Rating : Very Good..!
 Note on the Rating :
 The rating is in my opinion and may vary from person to person. The factors that I consider for my rating includes being ancient, architecture/Sculpture, Serenity of the place, Spiritual significance (reference in scriptures…etc), Enormity /Size/Magnitude.







Ekambareswarar

Date of Visit :
23-Oct-10 (Sat)

Where (Location):
·         About 1 KM from the Big Kanchipuram bus stand
·         Centrally located
·         The temple is near the famous Kamakshi Amman temple
·         Near Sankara Mutt.

What is special about this place :
·       One of the most famous temples of Kanchipuram
·       Temple of Lord Ekambareswarar- Sivan
·       Houses a mango tree 3500 years old under which mother Kamakshi did penance and was given darshan of Lord Ekambaranathan
·       There is a famous Vaishnavite temple, Tiru nila thingal Thundam, the 49th Divadesam, consecrated by Saint-poet, Tirumangai Alwar situated in the inner precincts of this temple.
·       Huge, built on a sprawling area
·       Lengthy and broad Praharams


Camera :
Allowed  outside the main shrine. Buy the ticket at the office.

What did I like of this place :
Almost everything about this temple is great.. ! I always like huge praharams,mandapams and temple tank…this temple contains all these.
Don’t forget to peep in to an old tank (dry now) at the left on entering the temple…(Photos present)

Rating : Excellent


Other related resources that I came across and liked
Read more: http://trifter.com/asia-pacific/india/the-temple-with-3000-years-old-mango-tree/#ixzz13TKCRWzP





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VARADHARAJA PERUMAL TEMPLE

Date of visit:  1-Nov-2008

Where (Location):  In Small Kanchipuram known as Vishnu Kanchi or Chinna Kanchipuram in Tamil.

What is special about this place :

  •  One of 108 Divya desam
  • 1000 years old temple of Lord Varadarajar
  • Unique lizard worship is done here. Houses a shrine for two lizards carved in the ceiling.
  • 100 Pillar Mandapam with exquisite carvings and sculpting


Camera :
Allowed outside the main shrine. Buy the ticket at the office.



What did I like of this place :
  • 100 pillar mandapam and its sculpting, Huge Tank and sprawling praharams
  • Prasadam - Curd Rice and Kanchipuram Idly (Dont miss these)


 Rating : Excellent..!
 Note on the Rating :
 The rating is in my opinion and may vary from person to person. The factors that I consider for my rating includes being ancient, architecture/Sculpture, Serenity of the place, Spiritual significance (reference in scriptures…etc), Enormity /Size/Magnitude.



Other related resources that I came across and liked
&


  










Vaikuntanatha Perumal

One of the super super temples of Kanchi for architecture. 

Date of visit: 23-Oct-2010

Where (Location):

Very close to the bus stand in big Kanchipuram

What is special about this place :
  • The temple is being maintained by Archeological Society of India.
  • Marvellous sculptures and carvings
  • Somewhat similar to Kailasanathar temple. But small
  • Has a Infant Ranganathar Sannadhi on I floor that is open only on Ekadasi day.
Camera : Allowed. No fees/

What did I like of this place :  Just about Every thing..!

Rating : Excellent..!

Note on the Rating :
The rating is in my opinion and may vary from person to person. The factors that I consider for my rating includes being ancient, architecture/Sculpture, Serenity of the place, Spiritual significance (reference in scriptures…etc), Enormity /Size/Magnitude.

Other related resources that I came across and liked
Read more: Here




PHOTOS




Kanchipuram Temples

"नगरेशु कांची - Nagareshu Kanchi - Best among cities" - Kalidasa
"காசியிலுà®®்  à®µீசம்  à®ªெà®°ிது  à®•ாஞ்சி - Kanchi is bigger than Kaasi "
                                                                                                -Tamil Quote

The above summarize the greatness Kanchipuram...!

There are hundreds of temples in Kanchipuram.Staggering variety..! Some small,Some big..Some Saivaite , Some Vaishnavite...! But all have one thing in common....all are ancient..!Ancient temple architecture is so designed as to evoke spiritual vibrations in the mind..One can feel it in each of the Kanchi temples..
According to Kanchi Purana there were 100000 Vinayaga temples , 16000 Siva temples,12000 Vishnu temples, 6000 Murugan temples, 1000 temples each for Lakshmi and Saraswathi..!

The ones I visited are
I am in the process of blogging all these temples, the yellow colored ones are done and linked above.

I also visited the Sankara Mutt wherein the brindavanam of Maha Periyaval is situated.Sankara Mutt also provides Very good lunch to devotees. Enquire within the Mutt to know the address of the lunch hall that is quite close to the Mutt.
I covered all these temples excepting Varadhaajar and Kailasanathar temple in half day...9am to 12:15pm

I found this blog to be very useful and informative for planning my trip. I must thank Suhasini for the excellent write-up and useful data. As usual,I've provided, in each of these posts numerous photos that should give you an experience of being there...and enable you to choose the temple you want to visit...!

Next trip on Saturday the Nov 6th 2010
I visited the following temples during this trip.


Each of the above temples is very good. I missed yet again the Ulagalantha Perumal as the Sanjeevi Rayar temple is a bit outside Kanchipuram and I had to take a town bus to reach it (This time too, I avoided the car and went by bus from Tambaram...very comfortable...and numerous buses ply from Chennai to Kanchi..)
Not many know about this temple..an ancient temple..of Vijayanagara period..

My final visit on Nov 13th 2010
I covered Vikuntanatha perumal temple, Iravadheeswarar Temple,Chitraguptar temple and Muktheeswarar temple.
Chitraguptar temple is on Nellukkara street and is a very tiny temple. The specialty of the temple is that it is the only temple for Chitraguptar-the universal accountant-who keeps track of our Karma..! No scope of many photos..
Muktheeswarar temple too is a very small temple. But the story attached with this temple made me seek this temple. Photos and the story in the post below.

This visit kind of concludes my Kanchipuram trip.. I've covered all temples that I wanted to see..

While the details of any of these temples are well known and available in numerous places in the web, I intended to give a visual idea of these places with my photographs...Hope you enjoyed viewing  these photographs..!

Kailasanathar Temple

One of the super super temples of Kanchi for architecture. A unique experience in this temple is that one should crawl thruough a small opening to enter into and come out of the small praharam surrounding the Garbhagriham to circumbulate. Bit tricky...but me and my wife did it..! of course , you can stand erect once you enter the praharam and there is enough space for one person to walk around. The video below contains a small clip on this at the end ..!

Date of visit: 1-Nov-2008

Where (Location):

Kailasanathar temple aka Kailasanath temple is located at a remote location from the center of Kanchipuram city. at a distance of 4 km from bus stand, and 2 km from the famous Ekambareswarar temple.The temple is being maintained by Archeological Society of India.


What is special about this place :
  • The temple is being maintained by Archeological Society of India.
  • Marvellous sculptures and carvings
  • A unique experience in this temple is that one should crawl thruough a small opening to enter into and come out of the small praharam surrounding the Garbhagriham to circumbulate. Bit tricky...but me and my wife did it..! of course , you can stand erect once you enter the praharam and there is enough space for one person to walk around.
  • The idols are made using sand bound by some adhesive that is yet to be demistified..!
Camera : Allowed. No fees/

What did I like of this place :  Just about Every thing..!

Rating : Excellent..!

Note on the Rating :
The rating is in my opinion and may vary from person to person. The factors that I consider for my rating includes being ancient, architecture/Sculpture, Serenity of the place, Spiritual significance (reference in scriptures…etc), Enormity /Size/Magnitude.

Other related resources that I came across and liked
Read more: Here





VIDEO

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Thiruvarur

Thiagaraja Swamy Utsavar is some what unique...Small & beautiful..!
The Temple tank Kamalalayam is as big as a lake..There is another Sivan temple at the center of Kamalalayam. I understand that it is not open for public these days... there is boat service for temple workers..!
Beautiful videos of Kamalalayam contains clip of this temple as well..


VIDEOS

Thirukkannamangai

Bakthavatsala Perumal temple had Kumbabhishekam recently and wears a bright look therefore..

Good amount of details can be obtained from this site. Thirukkanna Mangai details.

PHOTOS-CLICK HERE





VIDEO

Thirucherai

Saranatha Perumal temple.has a mirror room that houses the amours like bow...! Look gorgeous..!
Instead of the regular Abhaya hastham, the perumal here sports a Padma Hastham..


Thirucherai is one among 12 sthalas and is called as 'sarakshetharam'. This kshethram is supposed to be in existence even in the Dwabara yuga. It is said and believed that saints like Braghu, Sownagar, Vyasar, Margendeyar
live in the banks of this pushkarani.

After more than 1000 years of thapus, Lord appeared before Goddess Kaveri and blessed her with following:
a. She will be equal to ganga in southern part of vindya,
b. He will stay at this Kshethram for ever and bless all those who visit
this place.

Also, Saint Markendeya attained moksham in this place.

The presiding daity is lord Saranatha with Sri Devi, Boo Devi, Neela Devi, Lakshmi and Saranayaki Thayar. The sthalam is known as Pancha Sara kshethram with Sara nayaki, Sararnathan, Sara Vimanam, Sara Pushparani. 

Lord Saranatha is in Standing Posture with sangu, chakram, gadhai and lotus in his hands.

Out of 108 vaishnava stalams, only in this kshethram, Rathotsavan is celebrated on the Makara Pushyam day (Thai Poosham) in tune with the day on which lord appeared before kaveri and blessed her. There are other sannathis
like Sri Ramar, Rajagopalan and moolasthanam for all alwars.


Uppiliappan Koil, Nachiar Koil and Thirucherai are quite close to each other.








Nachiar Kovil

Going by the name, I thought it is an Andaal Temple...or a temple for Goddess Lakshmi...It is a Srinivasa Perumal temple.. This temple has a Garudan idol in stone that is taken on procession during festivities.. It is said that the weight of this idol is said to grow exponentially when taken out of its mount..!

Enough information is available on the internet about this temple...!

The front Mandapam is quite impressive... I like the huge round pillars ...! The main deity is also placed at an elevated sthanam that it is visible from a distance... Looks great...! Unique set up..!

PHOTOS


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Only now I realize, I should have shot some short video clips of this temple...I have an excuse to visit it again...!


Oppiliappan Temple

The meaning of Oppiliappan is one who does not have an equal...!
The prasadam here are made without adding salt.. that is not felt as much of an issue when you eat them..!

This place is called Then Thiruppathi. (Thiruppathi of South) and is considered as sacred as Thirupathi..!
Fantastically big deity.. I loved standing at the imposing presence of this God...!





VIDEO

Thirunageswaram

Many of us know that this place is one of the Navagraha Sthalam... Raaghu sthalam...

It is said that on 29-Jan-2009 during Rahu kaala pooja (1:30 to 3:00pm), the flow of Abhisheka milk took the form of a snake for a length of  7 ft and on the floor.


Patteeswaram

Patteeswaram Ashta bhuja Durgai temple is a very famous temple. It also houses a beautiful easwaran temple within.

The Ashta Bhuja Durgai deity is visible quite from the street that approaches the temple...! A beautiful deity..!

Swamimalai

is 5kms from Kumbakonam. The temple is on a small hillock.
There is a hotel called Mami;s Mess near the temple. You get delicious south indian food here. Homely and authentic taste. They also have accommodation at nominal rates..! I am planning to stay here during my next trip..!

Thiruvalanchuzhi and Patteeswaram are quite near to this place..!








VIDEOS

Darasuram

Enough details are available on internet about Darasuram Temple.
The following photos and Videos will give anybody who has not visited this place a good idea...!
                         Kumbakonam Temple Blog
                         Gangaikonda cholapuram and Tanjore


PHOTOS - Click here


VIDEOS

Thiruvisainallur

This temple is quite near the Thiruvidaimarudhur Siva Temple.
Quite a good temple.. Renovation work is in progress.. Visit soon to see its natural beauty...!
(I don't quite like the NEW paintings on ancient temples..! )

           Thiruvidaimarudhur blog      >>>
           Kumbakonam temples blog >>>


PHOTOS-CLICK HERE

VIDEOS


Thiruvidaimarudhur

One other temple that I would not mind visiting many a times...Srawling big temple with very good architecture.
The huge Nandi at the entrance is quite imposing.
Buy the camera ticket for Rs 25/- at the office, if you are a shutter-bug like me..
Ample photo opportunity.

The tank at the entrance of the temple is tranquil too.

It is a very important Saivait sthalam...Lot of information can be found on the internet. It is about 8 Kms from Kumbakonam.



I"ll visit again for some videos that I didn't shoot this time..

Thiruvisainallur is about 1 Km from this temple.. Make it a point to visit this too.



                                      Goto Kumbakonam Temples blog>>>




Konerirajapuram

This is a very special place.The Sivan temple here houses one of the most ancient idols of Nataraja. World's largest Nataraja idol...! The Panchaloga idol was supposed to have been a Swayambu as per the Temple Priest..!
One of the exquisite idols I have ever seen. Absolutely life-like...divine...and out of the world... you have to see it to believe...!

The story is something like
" A Chola king ordered his sthapahi to make a Nataraja idol of 8 ft.. The sthapathi could not make one.. He could make only 3 ft idol...Finally the King gave an ultimatum and said would kill him, if doesn't finish the project in a couple of days or so. God, heeding to the prayers of sthapathi, materialized himself in the form of this idol..."

I had known about this idol for long... but could not visit this obscure village so long... Finally I made it..and I am glad that I visited. I would go there again for sure..!


Travel Directions:
 From Kumbakonam take bus A22. By car or auto take the Thirunageswaran road which goes to Karaikal. At S. Pudur take the right turn which has fields on either side. After about 1-2km there is a road on the left just after a bus stop. This road leads to Konerirajapuram.

                                                                                Goto  Kumbakonam Temples blog >>  


VIDEOS










OTHER USEFUL LINKS


Visit these links for more details and interesting strory.
A Temple in Konerirajapuram... Lord Who Cures.

http://www.indiantemples.com/Tamilnadu/s157.html

The travel directions given above were got from this interesting site is given below.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tamil_nadu_cauvery_delta/sets/72157624518611597/