Sri Nindra Narayana Perumal Temple – Thiruthangal

Posted on February 29, 2012 by astrobix

Sri Nindra Narayana Perumal Temple  is one of the most famous Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is located in Thirukkurungudi , Tirunelveli district of Tamilnadu. The temple is classified as “Divya Desams”. It is the 48th among the 108 Divyadesas

Lord Nindra Narayana is the main deity of this temple.  The Lord is also known as Deiveega Vasudevan and Thiruthangalappan. Goddess of this temple  is also known as Sengamala Thayar, Kamala Mahalakshmi, Anna Nayaki, Ananda Nayaki, Amirtha Nayaki.The idol of the lord can be seen in standing posture with his consort Chengkamala thayar in separate sanctum. The temple has a large gopuram and compound having 5 prakarams which is a closed precincts of a temple. The temple has a 5-tier rajagopuram.

History of Sri Nindra Narayana Perumal Temple

According to the legends, Periya Pirattiyaar pleased Lord Narayana with her strong penance. On being pleased, Lord Narayana granted her a boon that she will become the hamsam of Annapoorani by offering food and shelter to the people of this entire world and will be a combined structure of all the other goddesses – Aanandha Nayaki, Sridevi, Neeladevi and Amirutha Nayaki.

Another tale related to this temple suggests that Chandrakethu, son of Lakshmanan who had observed fast on Ekadasi took oil bath before the commencement of Dwadasi. As a result, he became a puli (tiger). To get relief from this sin he visited this temple to worship Lord Nindra Narayan.

Significance of Sri Nindra Narayana Perumal Temple

People from all around the world visit Nindra Narayana Perumal temple to get relief from their sufferings. Some of the most common boon sought from Lord Narayana are marriage, children, education, wisdom, family prosperity, development in agriculture.

Devotees Tulsi petals, pure dried clothes to goddess mother, give butter bath to the Lord, light lamps in front of the idols. Prasad offered to the Lord known as nivedhana are distributed among the devotees present in the temple. It is said that people who take bath in this theertham can attain salvation after death.

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Temples of Mukhalingam – Madhukeshwara Temple – Mukhalingam Temple

Posted on February 28, 2012 by astrobix

The temple of Mukhalingesvara, anciently known as the Madhukesvara, stands in the centre of the village, Mukhalingam. It is a splendid ornate fane. Also in the village in the Aniyanka Bhimesvara, which is comparatively plain. In the outskirts of the village is the Somesvara, a most beautiful little temple.

Temple Architecture

The temple stands in two prakaras. A gateway, rather massive and flanked by standing lions, leads from the street to her first prakara. Past the Nandi mandapa, the devotee passes to the second prakara through an entrance which contains some superb friezes. On the lintel is a scene depicting a king on a throne with a warrior and a man in attitude of humility beside him. There is also a stand with a substance heaped up. According to local tradition, this scene tells the story of the founding of the temple.

There are eleven shrines on the four sides of the second prakara. The biggest are at the four corners of the main structure. Each of these is a small temple in itself, with spirited reliefs. The two entrances to the main temple from the second prakara, from the south and the east are artistic marvels. The eastern one is believed to be the loveliest entrance to a temple in the whole of India. The southern doorway is scarcely inferior. The former has two jambs on either side. Carved on these are wonderful foliage scrolls, so many running streams of stone water, as it were. There are also human figures and mithuna panels. The southern doorway has four jambs on either side, and here again there are some wonderful scrolls.

In niches carved on other walls there are some remarkable divine sculptures. These make an unexampled sculptural gallery. There are also some perforated windows. One of them is in the form of a swastika. The interior is unadorned. On its six pillars are carved most of the temple’s epigraphs, over a hundred in number. Written in Sanskrit or Telugu or a mixture of both, they record endowments to the temple. The Linga in the sanctum is of stone, and, contrary to popular notion, has no faces carved on it.

Other Information

The Mukhalingesvara seems to have been a kind of royal temple for the early Gangas. Today it is certainly their outstanding temple in Andhra Pradesh. Regular worship continues here and it is the centre of a popular pilgrimage. When exactly it was built can not be ascertained, but the probable date is the middle of the tenth century. It is associated with a king, Kamarnava, who ruled from 941 to 976.

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Rudresvara Temple of Palampet – Rudreshwar Temple – Shree Rudreshwar Temple

Posted on February 28, 2012 by astrobix

The Rudresvara temple in Palampet, today a hamlet in Warangal district, is one of the achievements of the Deccan builder. It stands near a great lake of 175 sq. km.. An earthern dam, 610 m long, over 10 m wide and 35 m high, connects a semi circular chain of hills to form the lake.

Temple History

The Rudresvara temple was built by the Kakatiyas in the thirteenth century while they were ruling from Warangal. Warangal, the metropolis dynasty, abounds in magnificent tanks, and the titanic dukes and sluice-gate of Pakhal, Lakhnavaram and Ramappa lakes are object lessons even to the modern enginner. A long description set up in the courtyard of the temple states that Recarla Rudra, a general of the Kakatiyas, built a magnificent city and made a lake nearby as if to reflect its beauty. In this city he erected a fine temple and installed an image of Rudresvara, and endowed it lavishly. This was in 1213.

Temple Architecture

There are seven minor shrines around the main one. The latter, which stands on a high platform, is of cruciform plan. Around it, on the platform, there is space of 3 m for the pilgrim to walk around. Above it, depending from the pillars in the porches, are celebrated figure brackets depicting women in various postures. On the walls of the shrine are pilasters crowned with Dravida and Nagara sikharas alternatively, with, nearby, a miniature of the vimana of this temple itself. The ceiling is a work of art. Divided by columns into compartments, each is superbly carved with floral and geometrical patterns. The decoration of the four columns in the centre is so splendid that no chased work in gold or silver could possibly be finer. Thus, the exquisite sculpture sets off the lofty and grand architecture of the temple. There is a ruined Nandi mandapa in front of the temple. Kakatiya nandis, here in Warangal and elsewhere, are superb creations.

Apart from the seven minor shrines here, there are other temples in the village, situated within a kilometer. Two of them stand at either end of the gigantic bound of the Ramappa lake. All built by the Kakatiyas, every one of them is superbly carved.

Other Information

Apart from the Ramappa, the Kakatiyas’ greatest achievement is the big temple in their capital of Hanamakonda. It is called the thousand pillared temple, though its pillars do not number that many. By road leading from Hanamakonda to Palampet, there are two other Kakatiya temples, in Katakchpur and Jakaram. Beyond Palampet, in Ghanapur, there is a temple resembling the Palampet one. It is surrounded by nineteen smaller shrines and two mandapad. All are in ruins.

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Bugga Ramalingesvara and Chintala Venkataramana temples of Tadpatri

Posted on February 28, 2012 by astrobix

The Bugga Ramalingesvara and the Chintala Venkataramana temples in Tadpatri, in Anantapur district, were built in the golden age of Vijayanagar art, the former in the last quarter of the fifteenth century, the latter in the second half of the sixteenth. The former is unique for the fact that there are glowing sculptures on its gopuras from the bottom.

Ramalingesvara Temple

The Ramalingesvara stands on the banks of the Pennar at a place where it turns north. Hindu tradition holds such sites sacred. The shrines of the Lord and the Goddess are contiguous to each other. There is also a sanctum for Sri Rama near that of the Goddess, with a common mukhamandapa. While the Lord’s shrine is plain in appearance, that of the Goddess and Sri Rama is ornamented. The Linga is self manifested and stands near a small perpetual spring, hence, the adjective Bugga.

The mandapa containing the shrines of Goddess and Sri Rama is a handsome structure with sixteen pillars and nine pilasters. Four of the columns form a small inner mandapa at the centre. The artistic glory of the temple lies in its three gopuras. While the western, much plastered over, is comparatively plain, the southern and the northern are gorgeous creations. The northern is finished and yet it glows with a harmonious combination of architectural and decorative motifs. A grand miniature vimala is depicted here. Of the human figures, one wearing Vijayanagar head gear and with folded arms facing the temple, may be identified with Ramalinga Nayudu, who probably built the temple. This gopura faces the river. The southern gopura is damaged, yet it luxuriates in sculpture of many modes.

Chintala Venkataramana Temple

The Chintala Venkataramana temple, slightly later in date, also glows with sculpture, but this is a mandapa. The main gopura, on the east is bdaly damaged. There are signs of vandalism elsewhere in the temple. Today, the entrance is from the north. The mukhamandapa scientillates with sculpture on its pillars. This is the most handsome part of a handsome temple. Each pillar is a work of art. Some carry figures of women wearing heavy coiffeurs. All these sculptures are mutilated at the hands. On some other columns there are yalis, or mythical beasts.

The outer walls of the shrine and the ardhamandapa are full of superb reliefs, telling the stories of the Ramayana, Mahabharata and Bhagavatha. There is a stone chariot hard by the mukhamandapa. Smaller than the celebrated on in Hampi, it is in the form of a portable shrine with wheels. It carries six small Garuda images on either side. There are remains of paniting on the ceiling of the mukhamandapa and of two porches close by.

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Bhimesvara Temple of Draksharama – Bhimesvara Temple – Bhimeswara Temple Andhra Pradesh

Posted on February 27, 2012 by astrobix

The Bhimesvara temple in Draksharama, a town in East Godavari district, is one of the five celebrated arama fanes of Andhra Pradesh. The Linga of the Lord, together with that of Mallikarjuna in Srisailam and that of Kalesvara in Kalesvaram gave Andhradesa its ancient name of Trilingdesa.

Temple History

The Bhimesvara temple was built by Chalukya Bhima, an eastern Chalukyan King of Vengi, a dynasty that was an offshoot of the Badami Chalukyas. He came to the throne in 892 under very difficult circumstances. In time, the Rashtrakutas, who had overthrown the Badami Chalukyas, invaded the Vengi country. They over ran it and captures Chalukya Bhima. Soon, Bhima escaped from captivity and crowned himself. However, the Rashtrakutas again invaded his country. In one of the battles, his son was killed. In all these wars, Bhima had to contend with his own disaffected kinsmen. Finally, he prevailed. According to an inscription, he fought no less than 360 battles.

The King, saddened by the loss of his brave son, turned to religion for solace. In his last years he built many temples. One of them if the Chalukya Bhimesvaram in Samalkottah. Another is the Bhimesvara of Draksharama. Incidentally, the other celebrated arama temples are the Amaresvara in Amaravathi, the Ramalingesvara in Palakol and the Somarama in Gunupudi.

Temple Architecture

The Bhimesvara temple stands in two prakaras. There are four entrances in the outer wall, each with a gopura. That on the west is the biggest. It is of five tiers. There are many shrines in the first enclosure. The entrance to the second is through the south. A pillared verandah, in two storeys, runs around the main shrine in the second enclosure. In a corner is the shrine of the Goddess, Manikyamba. In another corner there is a miniature of the main shrine.

The walls of the main shrine are in two sections. The lower encloses the ground floor, the upper in the first. Both sections contain sculptural decorations. Two flights of steps lead to the upper floor in two directions. There are many small shrines, mandapas and images in this part of the temple. As a whole, the temple contains many fine sculptures. The iconography of some of them is of significance and interest.

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Temples of Alampur – Alampur Temple

Posted on February 27, 2012 by astrobix

Alampur, called the southern Kashi, stands on the left bank of the Tungabhadra river, in Mahbubnagar district. It is close to Kurnool town. A few kilometers away the Tungabhadra and the Krishna are in junction, of the type of confluences which Hindus hold sacred. The name might derive from that of a local deity, Ellamma. The main Godess of the place Jogulamba, is one of the eighteen Shaktis of India. There are no less than nine temples, of about the seventh century A.D, close to each other within an enclosed area in Alampur.

The nine temples are dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva. But each of them is named after Brahma; the Taraka Brahma, the Svarga Brahma, the Padma Brahma, the Bala Brahma, the Garuda Brahma, the Kumara Brahma, the Arka Brahma, the Vira Brahma and the Visva Brahma. There are temples of Narsimha and Suryanarayana in the vicinity.

Temple History

The Nava Brahma temples, as the group is called, were built by the Chalukyas of Badami. This was a gifted dynasty which ruled for some two centuries from about the middle of the sixth. Its capitals were in Karnataka. Alampur is the only site in Andhra Pradesh where they built temples. All their other sites are in Karnataka.

The temples all stand within an enclosed area, on the banks of the river. On either side of the main entrance are temples of Goddess Kamakshi and Goddess Ekamresvari, the former was built in the fourteenth century.

Other Temples

The Suryanarayana temple, which is at a distance of some metres away from the Nava Brahma, but still within the enclosed area, could have been built in the ninth or tenth century. It has three sancta. On the ceiling of the mandapa are reliefs of nine of Lord Vishnu’s incarnations. The tenth is absent, and in the middle is the Buddha.

The Narsimha temple has three sancta. It appears to be a reconstructed one. It carries an inscription, among others, of Krishnadeva recording a gift of land.

Some distance from Alampur is Papanasanam, where there is a cluster of over twenty temples. This is another pilgrim centre. The main temple is of Papanasesvara, and around it stand the smaller temples, in many sizes and of many orders, suggesting experiments in temple construction. The main fane contains some fine sculptural relief.

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Saivaite temples of Srisailam – Saivaite temple

Posted on February 27, 2012 by astrobix

The Saivaite temples of Srisailam, celebrated in devotion, tradition and history from the second centure A.D, stand on a plateau on the top of a hill named Srisailam in the Nallamalai ranges in Kurnool district. The Lord, Mallikarjuna, and his consort, Bhramaramba, are held in great veneration by countless devotees.

Temple History

According to ancient shrines, in the fourth century A.D, a queen of the Vakataka dynasty, which had succeeded the Satavahanas in a part of the Deccan, was a great devotee of Lord Mallikarjuna of Srisailam. Most of the dynasties that followed showered gifts on the Srisailam temples. As late as the fourteenth century, a Kakatiya king and queen performed the spectacular ceremony in the Mallikarjuna temple of weighing themselves against precious objects, which were distributed among the poor and deserving. A king of Kondavidu, who followed the Kakatiyas, constructed steps on the Srisailam hill and placed golden pinnacles on the Vimana of the Mallikarjuna temple. Krishnadeva made many valuable gifts to the temple and some of his officers built additions to it.

The most striking incident in the history of the temples is the visit of Shivaji in 1674. He is said to have built one of the gopuras. He left behind a small contingent of Maratha soldiers to defend the temples. When some Muslims attempted to attack them, these resisted them to the last man. To this day, descendants of these great men come to Srisailam once a year to celebrate a festival in their honour.

Temple Architecture

A distinctive feature of the temples is that they are located in a large prakara enclosed by sculptured walls. In fact, the temple area looks like a fort. The walls are made of huge blocks of stone revetted to each other. There are sculptures in profusion on the northern, eastern and southern walls, and fewer ones on the western. There are five regular rows of sculpture on the walls from above the base. The first contains figures of the elephant in many postures. The next has reliefs of the horse, the warrior, the hunter and the dancer. The next three are full of superb sculpture representing deities and scenes from Saivaite traditions. Above these, there are occasional reliefs of deities, birds and animals. On the copings of the walls are Lingas, nandis, the lion and the swan.

All the shrines except one stand in a group within the prakara walls. The exception, that of the Godess, is located a little farther away. Four gopuras pierce the walls in the four directions. Only the base of the western tower has survived, the other parts have fallen down. All the three other gopuras are of Vijayanagar times. The most striking is the northern, later named after Shivaji. It contains some superb panel reliefs.

Other Information

A part of the Srisailam pilgrimage is a visit to the Patalaganga in order to bathe there. Many pilgrims carry the water uphill in order to bathe the icon of Lord Mallikarjuna. There are many shrines on either sides of the pathway. One of them is the temple of Umamesvara, considered artistically the finest in Srisailam. Perhaps the oldest structure on Srisailam is the Vriddha Mallikarjuna temple. It stand near the Mallikarjuna temple.

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Sri Veeraraghava Perumal Temple – Vandiyur

Posted on February 25, 2012 by astrobix

Veeraraghava Perumal temple is located in Vandiyur, Madurai. It is one of the 108 divya desams of vaishnavas and a part of tondai naadu divyadesams. Amavasya days are considered auspicious to visit this temple.

The presiding deity of this temple is Lord Veera Raghava Perumal. The idol of the lord can be seen in a reclining position inside the temple. The lord’s right hand is positioned on Salihothra Munivar’s head, while the left hand is in the Gyana Mudra indicating the teaching of the four Vedas to Lord Brahma.

History of Sri Veeraraghava Perumal Temple

As per the legends, the statue of Lord Veeraraghava Perumal was found floating in Vaigai river during Thirumalai Naicker days and was installed in the northern bank of the river.

Lord appears with Andal Nachiar in the sanctum of the temple. Various forms of Lord Krishna and shivalinga with a snake are beautifully designed  in the pillars. The shrine of Lord Chakarathalwar is in the south of the temple and the Navagrahas are installed in the Northeast.

The place is named after saint Madooka, since it is believed that he got relief from his curse in this place which later changed as Vandiyur. The name change took place since Lord Thirumalai Naicker used to park his vehicle here.

Significance of Sri Veeraraghava Perumal Temple

The presising diety of this temple is popularly known as Vaidhya Veeraraghava Perumal.

Chithirai is the most famous festival of this temple. Even Thirukarthikai and Vaikunda Ekadasi are observed in a grand manner every year. Girls whose marriage is delayed pray to the Lord for their wedlock. Prayers of the devotees are soon fulfilled by the lord. Devotees offer Sari to Andal and perform special pujas on getting their prayers fulfilled. People who wants to have a son also come here and worship the lord.

The Lord of this temple is worshipped only with sandalwood oil. Salt and pepper is also offered to the god and is believed to cure diseases and restore good health of the devotees. Small metal form of parts of body and other symbols are available in the nearby shops and these are put in the hundial by devotees for curing any particular disease.

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Sri Srinivasaperumal Temple – Thiruvannamalai

Posted on February 25, 2012 by astrobix

Srinivasaperumal temple is situated in Tirunelveli District in Tamil Nadu. This temple is popularly known as the “Tirupathi of South”. People who are unable to go to Tirupati Balaji visit this temple to get their desires fulfilled. The temple is located on a hill in a beautiful environment. As the tank is in front of the temple, it so appears as if the temple is on a wide land area. Lord Shri Venkateshwar is the preceding deity of this temple.

This place is one of Azhwar’s Navatirupathi. Large number of devotees come here daily to visit the sacred shrine of Lord Venkateswara to pay their homage.

History of Sri Srinivasaperumal Temple

As per the legend, Thiruvannamalai is considered as the Tirupathi where Lord himself was found protecting public in the form of a hunter.

According to the mythology and ancient scriptures all the great dynasties of rulers of southern peninsula have paid homage to Lord Sri Venkateswara in this ancient temple. The Pallavas of Kancheepuram, the Cholas of Thanjavur, the Pandyas of Madurai and the kings of Vijayanagar were devotees of Lord Venkateshwar. All these dynasties competed with one another to endow the temple with rich offerings and contributions.

During the reign of Vijayanagar dynasty the contributions to the temple increased. Sri Krishnadevaraya installed a statues of himself and his consorts at the portals of the temple. A statue of Venkatapati Raya in can also be seen in the main temple.

The Maratha general, Raghoji Bhonsle visited the temple and set up a permanent endowment to  worship in the temple. He also offered valuable jewels to the Lord. The emerald which was offered to the lord s still preserved in a box named after the General.

Significance of Sri Srinivasaperumal Temple

Devotees come here to get their desires fulfilled. Those who seek satisfactory marriage alliances, children, development of business and agriculture and promotions in job come here to worship Lord Venkateshwar. It is believed that the devotees surely get promotion in jobs once he visits and prays in the temple. There is a tank at the foothill of the temple with beautiful Lotus flowers called Koneri. Devotees come here to wash their sins by bathing in the tank.

Donating cattle and head shaving are the main commitments people undertake in this temple. People offer vessels and articles made of silver and gold. Huge crowd can be seen during Saturdays in the Tamil month of Purattasi (September-October).

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The Navabashanam Temple – Devipattinam Temple

Posted on February 23, 2012 by astrobix

Devipattinam temple is also known as Navabashanam. It is located at a coastal Village that lies 70 km far from Rameswaram. This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi. Lord Shiva here is known as Thilakeswarar and the Goddess is known as Soundaryanayaki. The shrine has a beautiful image of Goddess Durga with eight-arms holding weapons in each. It has a small temple inside which is dedicated to the goddess who is said to have killed the demon Mahishasura at this very spot.

Devipattinam is the only place in the world where Navagrahas (nine-planets) are located inside the sea. Most of the original statues of nine planets have got battered and are not recognizable as any particular planet. Devotees at the temple offer nine varieties of grains including paddy, wheat, pulses and other things to the Gods and Goddesses. About hundred yards inside the sea lies nine withered blocks of stone, supposed to be the Navagrahas. These stones can still be watched partly submerged in the water near the bathing place of Navagraha Temple.

The Hindus perform religious rites for their forefathers in this temple. People come here to perform Tarpan for their ancestors.

History of Navabashanam Temple – Devipattinam

According to the legend, Devi Mahishasuramardini came into Lord Rama’s dream and directed him to visit Devipattinam and worship Navagrahas to get relief from his misery. She told Rama that he was suffering from misfortune due to the adverse planetary conditions. Rama was heading towards Ravana’s lanka to save Sita from his wrath. After performing a special puja dedicated to Lord Vinayaka in Uppur, he went to Devipattinam for Navagrahas puja. When Rama came to Devipattinam he did not find any shrine dedicated to nine planets. He made the statues of nine planets out of the ocean’s sand. It is also believed that while Rama was creating the Navapashanas (Navagrahas), Lord Jagannatha calmed down the ocean so that he could perform his puja without any disturbance. The place is also known as Navabashana spot and the nine stones represent nine planets.

Since that day Devipattinam is well known as a place where a person can get relief from adverse planetary conditions by performing the appropriate rituals. This Navagraha temple in the midst of the sea is a divine wonder since ancient days.

Significance of Navabashanam Temple – Devipattinam

According to astrology, the life of a human depends upon the conducted and positions of nine planets. The outcome of these placements are subjected to rejoicing or sufferings based on their deeds in the previous birth. Therefore, devotees come here to worship these planets and get relief from their sufferings. Devotees offer nine varieties of grains, wheat, pulses, ellu etc. They take a round of the deities and perform Navagrahas puja i.e worshipping the nine planets.

In the month of Avani (August-September) all Sundays are celebrated as festival days. Devotees can be seen visiting the temple in huge numbers during these festivals. Adi Amavasya festival is observed for 10 days in the Thai month (January-February) and draws people from around the country to participate in it. Devotees visit the temple almost every Sunday, especially on the Aslesha Star (Ayilyam) days.

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