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Monday, January 30, 2012

Dharbarenyeswarar Temple - Saneeswaran( Navagraha Temples)

Posted by venkates at 7:58 AM 2 comments

About Temple:

Thirunallar is 5 K.M. west of Karaikal in the bus route of Karaikal-Mayiladuthurai and Kumbakonam.This is an ancient Siva temple probably constructed in 7th Century A.D.

Dharbarenyeswarar is the main deity and Lord Saturn, Sri Pranambigai, Sri Thiagarajar and Sri Vinayagar are other deities.

The Saneeswarar temple of Sri Dharbarenyeswaraswamy Devasthanam attracts devotees not only from India but also from other Countries.This temple is unique in its kind and is the only temple dedicated to Lord Saturn where he is a blessing God having ABHAYAHASTHAM”.

Lord Darbaraneswara Temple-Thirunallar

PLACE NAME:

The name “TIRUNALLARU” is said to represent the association of Nala of the Nishadha country who got his deliverance from the evil effects of Shani (Saturn) by invoking the Lord’s mercy here. (Nala+Aru-Nallaru). The word “Aru” also conveys the meaning “to heel” and the two words taken together will mean Nala’s place of redemption or the pace where Nala secured his redemption from the hold of Saturn through the Lord’s Grace. Others are inclined to read the meaning ‘between rivers’ in the name Nal-Aru, as this place is situated in the midst of two rivers in the north i.e. Noolaru and Vanchiaru, and one in the south, Arasalaru.

And this name as such occurs in the earlier padikam as wel as in the Inscriptions. Besides, the name of Nallaru this sacred plaee has also other name such as Adipuri, Darbharanyam, Nagavidangapuram, Naleswaram etc

History:

Lord Sani Bhagavan at Thirunallar

As per the history of the temple, the great King Nala of Puranic fame was relieved of the affliction of Lord Saturn or Lord Saneeswaran after worshipping the Lord consecreted in this temple.Whoever visits this temple and prays before Lord Saneeswaran is believed to have been relieved of all the curses and sufferings and get the blessings of Lord for a happy and prosperous life.

When the Planet Saturn transits between zodiac signs, literally millions throng this shrine. The Legendary King Nala is said to have been relieved of his affictions, which were due to the malefic influence of Saturn, after worships in this temple.

The moolavar of Dharbarenyeswarar is Swayambu Lingam.Poojas are performed 6 times(6 kalams) by the Brahmin priests.Poojas like Ashtothra Archana, Abhishegam, Sahasranama Archana and Navagraha Shanthi Homam are performed daily but Homams are not accepted on Saturdays.Facilities are also available to perform the following poojas on behalf of devotees and to send the prasadam (viboothy and kumkum) by post who wish to pay the prescribed amount.The Important festivals celebrated in the temple are the following :-

Adi Pooram festival for one day for Ambal in July-August.
Vinayaga Chathurthi festival for Vinayagar for one day in August-September.
Navarathri Kolu, Ambu festival in September-October.
Soorasamharam festival for seven days for Subramanyar in October-November.
Thiruvathirai festival for ten days in December-January.

View Of Thirunallar Temple Gopuram

Festivals:
Sivarathri festival for Chandrasekarar and Ambal in February March.
The Brahmortsavam festival in Vaikasi.
Sanipeyarchi festival for two days once in two and half years when “Sani” changes his gruha or place.
Apart from these festivals, Special Abhishegam are also held in the Temple throughout the year on important occassions.

Among the Navagrahas, Lord Saturn (Saneeswarar) occupies an important place.

A malefic Saturn in one’s horoscope is believed to cause miseries and hardships which can be mitigated by worshipping him.According to astrology, Saneeswaran moves from one sign (house) to the next in the Zodiac once in 2-1/2 years and the day of his transit is observed as a festival in Thirunallar.

On the day previous to the day of transit, religious discourses and entertainments are arranged.On the festival day, Thiruppavai and Thiruvembavai are chanted at 5.00 a.m. An Abhishegam on a grant scale is performed for the Lord Saneeswara Baghavan.Oil, Milk, Curd, Rose-Water, Tender Coconut water, Fruit juice etc., are used for the Abhishegam.

The place was originally a forest of Dharba grass and it is stated that the Lingam even now has impressions left by the Dharba weeds within which it was situated.The Lord here is also known as “ADHIMOORTHY or NALLARAR”.The great Saivite saints Thirugnanasambhandar, Sundaramurthy Swamigal, Thirunavukkarasar and Arunagirinadhar have worshipped at this shrine and sung about the glory of the Lord.

“PACHAI PADHIGAM” sung by the great saint Thirugnanasambhandar is very famous one.
Of the numerous tanks theertams, the Nala theertam is the important one. By bathing here, it is belived that one washes off all kinds of misfortune , afflictions and to escape from the woes of sani. Saniswara or Saturn, is generally known to affect one adversely on occasions when he occupies certain positions in one’s horoscope.A prayer to him, especially on Saturdays, is said to mitigate the hardships one will have to face during these periods. Saniswara is considered equally a bestower of all benefits to the devotees who pray sincerely to him. He is ruled by Lord Yama.

Mantra for Saturn – Aum aing hring shring shung shanaishcharaye namah aum

How To Reach Thirunallar Temple:

Lord Sani Bhagavan at Thirunallar Route Map

Sani Peyarchi 21-December-2011
The Lord Sani (Saturn) transits from Kanni Rasi (Virgo) to Thulam Rasi (Libra) on Wednesday 21th December, 2011 and is going to remain there for the next two and half years.

Rasis/Signs affected by Sani Peyarchi
Thulam (Libra)
Kanni (Virgo)
Meenam (Pisces)
Vrischikam (Scorpio)
Kadagam (Cancer)
Mesham (Aries)

Those born in the above Rasis in particular and also all other rasis can offer Poojas to Lord Sani.
Offer your poojas at
1.Thirunallar,
2.Thirukollikadu(Pongu sani),
3.Thirunaraiyur(Mangala Sani) &
4.kuchanar

Pooja Type
1.Archana - Rs.350 per temple
2.Sahasranamam Archana - Rs.500 temple
3.Pal Abishekam - Rs.700 per temple
4.Paripurana Abishekam - Rs.1200 per temple
5.sani peyarchi parihara Homam - Rs.6000
6.Exclusive sani peyarchi Homam sangalapam per person - Rs.350
To offer your pooja kindly enter the details in the link below
http://sanipeyarchi.in/contact-us/

Payments options

For NEFT & Cash Deposits
After depositing the cash please mail us ,so that we can check and confirm the same from our end.
State Bank of India:
Account Number : 30131994421
Account Name : Ganesh RamanG S
Branch : Kumbakonam Bazzar
Branch: Kumbakonam
Bank : State Bank Of India
IFSC Code: SBIN0007852
ICICI:
Current Account Number : 000101563895
Account Name : Senthil S
Branch Name : Cenotaph Road Chennai
Bank Name : ICICI Bank
SWIFT Code: ICIC IN BB 001
IFSC Code : ICIC0000001
State Bank of Mysore:
Account Number 64013627395
Account Name Ganesh Raman G S
Branch : DR Ambedkar Veedhi Bangalore
Bank : State Bank Of Mysore
swift code : SBMYINBB022
IFSC Code: SBMY0040022
For online Payments (Credit/Debit cards)
Paypal
http://sanipeyarchi.in/products-page/

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Sri Navagraha Temples in Kumbakonam,Tamil Nadu District

Posted by venkates at 6:24 AM 2 comments

Gallery

Sri Navagraha Temples in Kumbakonam,Tamil Nadu District

Sri Navagraha Temples Tour Map

Sri Navagraha Gods Position in Temple

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Friday, January 27, 2012

Lord Hanuman Gallery

Posted by venkates at 12:45 AM 0 comments

Gallery

Lord Sri Panchamuka Hanuman

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Thursday, January 26, 2012

Dandayudhapani Swami Temple Palani

Posted by venkates at 9:42 PM 1 comments

punyakshetralu

Dandayudhapani Swami Temple Palani

Palani Murugan Temple is one of the most famous Murugan temples in India. It is located in the township of Palani, 100 km southeast of Coimbatore and a similar distance northwest of Madurai, and near the famous hill station, Kodaikanal.

It is one of the major Arupadaiveedu of Lord Muruga. The other Arupadiveedus are Thiruchendur Murugan Temple (100 km south-west of Madurai), Swamimalai Murugan Temple (150 km east of Madurai), Thiruthani Murugan Temple (50 km from Chennai), Pazhamudircholai (10 km north of Madurai) and Tirupparamkunram Murugan Temple (10 km south of Madurai).

Legend

As per the Hindu mythology, Sage Narada once visited the divine court of Lord Shiva at Mount Kailash. Lord Shiva was with his consort, Goddess Shakti, and their two children, Lord Ganesha and Lord Subrahmanya. Sage Narada gave Lord Shiva a fruit and told him that it was a special one, the fruit of wisdom (Jnana-Pazham).

Lord Shiva wanted his children to have the fruit of wisdom. However, when he offered it to them to be shared between the two sons, Sage Narada requested not to cut the fruit in two, lest the power be diminished. As a result, they had to decide to conduct a simple competition to decide who should get the fruit. Shiva and Shakti decided that the son who first circled the Earth would get the fruit. Immediately accepting the challenge, Lord Murugan started his journey around the globe on his divine vehicle, the peacock or mayil.

Lord Ganesha, who believed that his parents were his world, simply circumbulated Lord Shiva and Goddess Shakti and claimed the mango fruit. Lord Subrahmanya returned to Mount Kailash, only to find that Lord Ganesha had already won the contest.

Lord Murugan felt he had been deceived and decided to leave Mount Kailasam. He reached to top of what is today called Pazhani malai (the Hill of Pazhani) and set up his abode there.Goddess Shakti and Lord Shiva rushed to the hill and tried to pacify their son, calling him, Gnana Pazham Nee appa (in Tamil, “you are the fruit – Pazham; of wisdom – Gnana”). Hence this place came to be called Pazhani, or Palani.

Legend also has it that a divine siddhar named Boghar, created the idol of Dhandayuthapaani using navapashanam, an amalgam made from 9 poisonous elements which on getting mixed develops highly curative powers for many ailments of the human body, according to Sidhha Medicine practice. A small portion with a deity, dedicated to Boghar is also placed inside the temple. the adjoining walls depicts the history of the creation and other facts related to the temple.

Darshan (meaning open to the public) hours are from 6.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m.

On festival days the temple opens at 4.30 a.m.
Vilaa Pooja (6.30 a.m.)
Siru Kall Pooja (8.00 a.m.)
Kaala Santhi (9.00 a.m.)
Utchikkala Pooja (12.00 noon)
Raja Alankaram (5.30 p.m.)
Iraakkaala Puja (8.00 p.m.)
Golden Car Darshan (6.30 p.m.)

further information please contact:

The Joint Commissioner/Executive Officer
Arulmigu Dandayudhapani Swami Devasthanam Office
Adivaram Palani - 624 601 India
Tel. (91) 04545-41417 or 42236
Fax: (91) 04545-41417
E-mail: lordmuruga@eth.net

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Swamimalai Sri Swaminatha Swami Temple

Posted by venkates at 8:53 PM 0 comments

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Swamimalai Sri Swaminatha Swami Temple

About Temple:

Swamimalai - is located on the banks of river cauvery – at a distance of 5 KM along the western side of Kumbakonam in Tamil nadu, India. The temple is located at a height of 60 feet – above an artificial hillock and is reached by a flight of 60 steps – which signify 60 years. This south Indian temple of Swaminatha Swami can be reached easily by motorable roads from Kumbakonam.

There are three prakarams and three entrances in this Murugan shrine. The southen entrance is the main entrance to the temple and the main temple tower (Raja gopuram) – with its 5 tiers – is located above this entrance.There is a temple dedicated to Meenakshi Sundareswarar ( depicting Lord Vishnu giving his sisters hand in marriage to Lord Shiva ) – this temple is known as Kizh Koil . The main temple that enshrines Lord Muruga as Swaminadha swami is known as Mel Koil. There are several small temples around the Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple. As we enter the 2nd Prakaram, there is a very beautiful structure that portrays the teaching of Omkara by Muruga to Lord shiva. Once we cross the 2nd prakaram we can see the temple of Netra Vinayagar (Lord Ganesh who blessed a devotee with eyesight) -
along with s tatues of several other gods and goddesses including Karthaveeryarjuna, Idumban and subramanya swamy. As we approach the sanctum sanctorum, we pass across worshipping Sabhabathi, Senapathi, Shanmuka with Valli and Devasena – all being various manifestations of Lord Kumara or Karthikeya.

There is a beautiful statue of Nataraja or dancing Lord Shiva as well. Poet Saint Arunagirinathar – who sings about this temple in detail in this sacred Tamil hymn Thiruppugazh is also represented in the form of an idol here. The main lord of swami malai – affectionately called as Swaminadha – is 6 feet tall with broad shoulders holding sakthi vel and dhandam(staff). Instead of Mayil Vahanam or the peacock vehicle, Elephant is depicted as the vahana (divine vehicle) in front of the lord. This feature is very unique, not available in any other temples of Lord Muruga. The stala vriksham for Thiruchendur temple is the Amla tree( Nellimaram) .

There are five Theerthams or divine water sources, in and around the temple. They are: Vajra Theertham, Saravana Theertham Netra Pushkarini( well)and Kumaratturai (Kaveri) Legend has it that a blind devotee by name Sumathi lost his eyesight because of his sins. Sage Bharatwaja asked him to go and worship Netra vinayaga and take a dip in the Netra teertham to get over his sins and regain his sight. It is believed that the devotee took a dip in the sacred waters and regained his sight as he approached the Netera Vinayagar temple.

Legends – Puranas and Mythology Nakeerar, in his Tamil
writings compilation called Thirumurugatruppadai, more than 2000 years ago, and
saint Poet Arunagirinaathar, who has composed 95 verses on Murugan, have both sung in great praise of Lord of Swamimalai.Literary references to the place are also available in many other ancient tamil scriptures and inscriptions. It is believed that Lord Muruga teached the significfance of Pranava Mantra (the sacred OM) to Lord Shiva – his father – here and hence the name Swami malai for the place and Thagappan swami for the Lord. This temple is of great spiritual importance to the devotees of Lord Skanda – also known as Kanda and Arumuga – as
he became a guru to his own father who is considered as the Lord of the universe. It is worshipped by thousands of devotees throughout the year. Location and Temple Precincts - The battle of Lord Muruga with Soorapadman is enacted to the fervor of the Muruga Bakthas in the Tamil month of Masi at Tiruchendur ending with the marriage of Lord Murugan with Deivayanai (Devanai).

The History

Swamimalai is one of the very ancient temples of Tamil Nadu. One can see that it is mentioned in Thirumurukaatrup-padai of Nakeerar, compiled under ‘paththuppaattu’ (Ten verses) of Sangam period, which belongs to second century B.C. The shrine therefore is evidently older than 2400 years. It is believed to have been constructed by Parantaka Chola I. But recent history and documentation show that the temple was damaged to a great extent and the gopurams were demolished during the Anglo-French war of 1740 A.D.

The temple of Swaminatha is built on the hillock. At the foot of the hillock, there is a temple for Lord Shiva, who played the ‘Taught’. His temple is situated at a lower plane to indicate the superiority of the ‘Master.’ Lord Shiva is known as Sundaresa and His Consort, Meenakshi.

There are three beautiful gopurams on all three sides - east, west and north. On the south is situated the massive and main gopuram, known as the Rajagopuram. There are three prakarams in the temple. There is a shrine for Vinayaka, who is known by the name Netra Vinayaka. It is said that a blind man had his vision restored, after he worshipped Vinayaka here and from then on, Ganesa is known as Netra Vinayaka in Swamimalai.

There are other shrines in the prakaram for Agastya, Visalakshi, Lakshmi, Saraswathi and other deities. There is a shrine for Lord Muruga in a corner, where He resides with His consort, Devayani. This is the only shrine where Subrahmanya is seen with Devayani alone, without the other Consort, Valli. Moreover, the usual divine vehicle, peacock is absent in this shrine. Instead, there is a white elephant is found in front of the Lord. It is said that Indra, in gratitude for having saved him from Asuras, presented the Lord with his own vehicle, Airavatam, the white elephant and hence the peacock is absent in Swamimalai.

Krittika is an important day for a visit to the shrine. The main festivals are Brahma Utsavam, Skanda Shasti and the festival of His marriage with Valli. Vibuthi Abhishekam - smearing of the deity with holy ashes - is a special feature in Swamimalai, as it is in Palani.

The temple is very important from the literary, historic and also devotional points of view.
Pujas and Festivals

Daily pujas to the deities are performed six times a day (six kalams). Usha Kalam, Kalasandhi and Uchikala poojas are performed in the forenoon and the afternoon poojas commencing from Sayaratchai and Rendam kalam are concluded with Arthajama pooja in the night.

The important festivals conducted in the temple are:

Monthly Kirutikai festival;
Temple Car festival in April;
Visakam festival in May;
Navaratri festival in May;
Skanda Shashti festival in October;
Tiru Karthikai festival in Nov/December;
Taippūcam festival in January; and
Pankuni Uttiram festival in March

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Wednesday, January 25, 2012