Raju's Temple Visits

My favourite temple locations

Following are some of the temples/ locations which we enjoyed a little more than the others for various reasons like beauty of the location, divine power, the alankaram/ beauty of the divine, sculptures etc., This doesn’t mean that the other temples/places are mean ones but it is just that these locations gave us some extra pleasure/ surprises, may be due to the ‘mood of the day’ also. If you want to cultivate the temple going culture to the disinterested kids/youths, these could be the best places since they can be enjoyed by them also. Remember this is only a list within Tamilnadu among the very limited places which we have visited so far. Also, my objective was to give a list of ‘not so familiar’ locations.

Being a holiday season, I thought this could be very useful to many.

Vallimalai

This is a place near Vellore with both heritage and spiritual importance. Per legend this is the birth place of Valli, one of the two consorts of Lord Muruga. At the base of the hill there is a Subramanyar temple and at the back of it there is a big and beautiful Saravana Poihai temple tank, where the hill steps starts. The location of the combination of the hill, the Saravana poihai, hill steps, the base temple and the greenery is something which might have crossed in one of your dreams. There is also a small park like setup for children to play. There are about 500 steps to the Subramanyar cave temple on top which is being maintained by ASI. There are caves where Jain saints stayed and Jain sculptures are present in the rocks which are also being maintained by ASI. If you go further on top of the hill, there is Thiruppugazh ashram of Vallimalai Swamigal and plenty of sacred spots connected with various saints, Valli, Subrmanyar and Vinyagar. Vallimalai has become a picnic spot already and you can easily spend half a day here.

Photos are available here: hillbase and hilltop

Ponnai Sorna vinyagar temple nearby can also be visited for its rich, colourful and unusual paintings. Photos are available here

Padavedu

This is another favourite place for me due to many reasons. There are plenty of sacred/ pleasure spots around and even after my 3 trips so far, I still have places to explore.

• location – another awesome village location with hills, full of green fields and temples
• Spiritual importance: This is the avatara sthalam of Parasuramar, one of the 10 Vishnu avatars, whose parents are Sage Jamathgini and Renukambal. The Renukambal temple is the most popular one here.
• There are more than 10 ancient temples which are being maintained by TVS group very cleanly – a model of how temples are to be maintained – our HR & CE must visit this place and take a lesson or two. The temple praharams are filled with clean river sand with brick foot path. Just to sit in the river sand at the praharam and relax is by itself an enjoyment.
• An adventurous trip to Kottamalai at a nearby hill which opens only on Saturdays is a great pleasure. Travelogue is available here
• Padavedu dam is a nice location
• You get very nice Devasthana lodge for just Rs 150 / day. Take a room at the 1st floor which are newly built and clean. The early morning view from there of the clean backside of the Renukambal temple,  the subramanyar hill temple and hills all around – it’s something not to be missed. Take the  help of Sri Vasudeva Bhattacharyar who is very kind and helping – contact details available in the travelogue here
• Photos are available here
• Purchase: This is a land of very rich fertility and so whatever natural produce you buy here will be tastier and healthier than most other places. Once we bought some pappayas which were small in size but were really mangoes in taste. Thorny Brinjal (seasonal) is very famous.
• The Lakshmi Narasimhar temple at Sigiri koil, about 10 kms from here is another beautiful temple in a beautiful location. Travelogue is available here

Andal at Yadhothakari temple at Kanchipuram

This is one of the Divya desams and the Perumal here is in a sayana posture unusually with his head to the right side of the devotees and legs to the left and is very beautiful but it is Andal in a separate shrine to whom I fell flat. She is like real life in height and simply no word in the literature can describe Her beauty – Imagine the real life most beautiful Iyengar girl with the typical andal hair styling (kondai) and the plait (pinnal) hanging in front, beautifully dressed up in silk cloths standing in front of you (imagine yourself in youth as well, if you are notl!) – sorry for describing the divine personality like this but it’s a fact She is ‘lively’. I have never seen such a beautiful Andal in my visits so far in any of the temples including Srivilliputhur, Her birth place. Full credit to the devoted Bhattar and the sculptor!. Additionaly, this Andal is a parihara sthalam for marriage and child boons. Poigai Azhwar appeared from the adjacent temple tank.

Photos are available here (only the temple photos and not that of Andal)

Thiruvanthipuram and Thirumaanakkuzhi

a) Thiruvanthipuram

Located in the Cuddalore to Panruti route, around 6 kms from Cuddalore. There are two temples, Devanatha perumal at the base and the Hayagreevar at the hillock with about 100 steps to climb, at the banks of the river Gadilam. I like the location very much.

Photos are available here Hayagreevar (hillock) temple and the Devanatha Perumal temple

b) Thirumaanakkuzhi
About 4 kms from Thiruvanthipuram further in the Cuddalore – Panruti route. Nothing special about the temple and the location but I like this for the sheer spiritual vibrations I experienced. Since it is considered that Lord Shiva is in privacy with Shakthi here, there is a screen in front of the lingam always. For the devotees,  the screen will be opened for a few seconds and the deepaaradhanai will be shown. I felt very strong vibrations here, may be  also due to the fact that I visited towards the end of my Sabarimalai vradham. It’s a place must be visited by people who can feel the vibrations.

Photos are available here

Trichy Rockfort

The area of Theppakulam, NSC Bose road and the Rockfort is another one which gives me pleasure always. Especially the bird’s eye view of the Trichy town, the cauvery and the Srirangam temple from the Uchi Pillayar shrine with the blow of cool breeze – it’s a real great pleasure. The beautiful and huge Thayumaanavar is not to be missed.

Photos are available here

Thirukkazhukundram hilltop temple

This is a hill temple with about 500 steps. There was no artificial light in the sanctum and it was lit up bright just with deepams. The Lord was present as a real agni (fire). I like this for the spiritual experience.

Photos are available here

Thiruvenkadu (Budhan sthalam)

We recently went there, took a dip in all the three temple tanks, lit ghee lamps in all the shrines, did 17 pradhakshanams as per procedure very peacefully without any hurry, enjoying every moment inside the temple. Only on coming out, we noticed that we spent 3 solid hours inside the temple (unconscious of time) and it was a big surprise even for us that we could spend such a long time inside a single temple without any feeling of boredom and without any thought absolutely about the mundane life and the outside world.

Photos are available here

Arappalleeswarar temple and Ettukai amman temple at Kollimalai

Kollimalai is becoming a very popular tourist destination and Mr.Iraiyanbu IAS is making all out effort to popularize it. No doubt, this is a very beautiful destination, not yet crowded and so can be enjoyed all the more. There are two water falls near Arappalleeswarar temple, short one nearby and the longer one at a distance. Photos are available here

The location of Ettukai amman temple is awesome and the photos are available here

Photos of Kollimalai are available here

Namakkal

A wonderful location of rockfort temples. The places to be seen are:

• Viswa roopa Anjaneyar temple, a very popular one
• Namagiri fort
• The Narasimhar cave/fort temple
• Ranganathar cave/fort temple

Photos are available here: Anjaneyar temple and the rock fort temple

Kanchipuram Ulagalandha Perumal temple

From quite a distance it looked as if just another temple since there was a smoke of Sambrani all over but as I went near I was taken aback with the massiveness and the sculptural beauty of the Ulagalandha perumal with his left leg raised up to his head level. First time visitors will be really stunned, for sure.

Photos are available here

Kanchipuram Pandava thootha perumal temple

The same massiveness and sculptural beauty as Ulagalandha Perumal but here Krishnar is in sitting posture as an envoy of the Pandavas. But be watchful here with an angry and disinterested Bhattar irritating the devotees. I received bad comments from 4 different people including an incident in my presence.

Photos are available here

Thanks to Diwakar, I got a photo just yesterday and you will certainly not like to miss this temple after seeing this photo (remember He touches the ceiling of the tall sanctum)

Thennangur

This is a heaven like adobe and you will feel like entering the Krishna’s palace in Sri Vaikundam. The specialty of this temple being that Pandurangan and Rahumayee are beautifully adorned, differently on each day. For example, every Saturday, they are dressed up like Thirupathy Balaji and His concert.

A travelogue with my full experience is already available here

Thiruvellarai

This is one of the Divya desams and a massive fort like temple. Another beautiful temple in a beautiful location with great heritage importance. Again, be watchful with the bhattars here – some are too good and some are just the opposites. There is an ancient Swastik tank being maintained by ASI, not to be missed.

Travelogue is available here

Thirumayam

Between Pudukkottai and Karaikudi, this location contains a fort, a Perumal Temple (Divya Desam) and a Shiva temple.  The location, the temple tank, the magnificent deities, the beautifully carved sculptures are all awesome. We can see the magnificent Ranganathar very close in the sanctum. In the same way, the Shiva lingam is too beautiful.

Photos: Perumal Temple Shiva Temple

Vittalapuram Premika Vittala Temple near Mahabalipuram

Built by the representative of the Vijayanagara King Krishna Dhevarayar (1507-1529), this is being maintained by Archeological Survey of India (ASI). A beautiful temple, very neatly maintained, sincere bhattars, highly vibrant bajans and poojas – what else we need? Though the temple is open from 7 AM to 11 AM in the morning, it is best to visit by 9 AM for the morning pooja and be there till it is over by 9:45 or so. The namasankeerthans and bajans are sung during everyday pooja and everyone will love it. On every Ekadasi day, poojas are taking place in a grand scale from morning 9AM to 1PM with Samprdhaya nama sankeerthana bhajans. Muralidhara Swamigal is closely associated with this temple.

Photos are available here

Theni Allinagaram Veerappa Ayyanar Temple

Near Theni, this is another temple in a beautiful location at the base of the Western ghat, in the midst of the massive forest trees. Each tree should have been several hundred years old.

Links: Photos

Theertha thotti Murugan Temple near Theni

A Murugan temple and a perennial, clear and sweet water stream from somewhere throughout the year. An awesome picnic spot indeed.

Links: Photos

Kailasanathar Temple at Tharamangalam

A sculptural gallery at Tharamangalam near Salem. I was not allowed to take the photos of the sculptures.

Links: Photos

Karpaga Vinayagar Temple at Pillayarpatti

Wonderful and powerful temple with beautiful sculptures

Links: Photos

Brahma-vishnu-Shiva temple at kodumudi

A beautiful temple at the banks of Cauvery, a powerful parihara sthalam

Travelogue available here

Well, the list is growing:

• Nadu palani
• Perumber kandigai murugan Temple
• Perumber Kandigai Thanthondreeswarar temple
• Thiruvidaimarudhur
• Thirubhuvanam
• Thiruvalanchuzhi
• Natham Parameswara mangalam
• Coimbatore Perur Patteeswarar Temple
• Coimbatore Puliakulam Vinayagar Temple
• Coimbatore Poondy Velliangiri Shiva temple at hill base