Jai Sriman Narayana!!
In my previous posting about the India Temple Tour 2010, I have mentioned the places we visited. I would like to write about the 'Sthalapuram' in detail so that it will be helpful for people who are going to visit this Temple
As usual I am going to take your precious time for a while....please bear with me. Our group consists of six members in a row of 14, 40 plus, 60 plus and 70 plus. We landed at Sri Rangam with our compartment and luggages. We have already booked rooms (A/c and Non-A/c) at Thiruthandi Jeeyar Madam, Next to Sri Rangam Post office, Near Rajagopuram of Sri Ranganathawamy Temple. Three days prior to our journey I spoke to Jeeyar Madam Administrator Swami Suryanarayanan about our stay and the food. So the major things have organised. Because, 'intha 14, 60 plus and 70 plus will not keep quiet if they did not get food in time....hmmm.....enna pannarathu' and a Cab Driver to take us in and out of Sri Rangam. (I can provide the details at request). So the stay, food and Sanjaram everything has arranged perfectly. 'Ethilayachum knojam idi vantha enakkuthan otha..' With the Grace of Lord, the driver is ready with his cab at our serivce. Everyone became happy. Stay at Jeeyar Madam was quite comfortable and food was excellent. We (three) got our room in the second floor and the senior members (3) got their room in the First floor. The driver chap was a humble, decent and well known to Sri Rangam. He was the guide for us, till leaving us back to Railway Station. ' Ganesa....nama Enga Porom' He will answer immediately ' Madam...namma ..Ranganatha swamy pathuttu.....Uthamarkovil Porom.' So he will be keep informing us about each and everything on the way. As we have reached late in the night our senior members fallen asleep. So we could not get the Viswaroopa Dharsanam on the First Day morning. As planned earlier, we all set to leave to our temple visit. Our senior members face were not in their usual mood. One said ' Enakku Kappi kedakkanam illatta Mandai ippo Vedikumm' , the other said ' Naan ingey engayachum pathuttu varen Kappi Kedakkumanu'. My heart started beating fast ' Aapthbandhava Kapathu, .... aduthathennavo.... oru Kapikadai kattu'. Taxi driver Ganesan came to our help ' Madam....ingeye nalla filter kappi kadai irukku...kovil sastrigal ellarum ingey than kapi sapuduva'. ' Alright' Our coffee arangetram over. What's next? Temple
In the evening 4' o clock we started to leave the room. As usual Coffee Time for our Senior Members. Ganesan was kind enough to take us to good Kappi stall. On the way he said ' Madam...nama... Malaikottai Uchipillayar Koil porom....konjam padikettu irukkum...yeri sami dharisanam mudichuttu vango'. I started looking at my Senior Members face. One said 'Nan kezheye Samiyapathu thozhuthukkaren..' The other said ' Ennala Yera mudiyathu sollitten'. My mom (she is a retired School Teacher) ' Nan yeruven pathukko....enakku avaritta konjam kekkanam....' I asked ' Radha Rani ( sellama koopuduvom) nee yenna kekka pora...' 'Nan kekkaporen....ennamattum yen ingey vacchirukka...eppo koopadapora....Kashta paduthama kootindu po sollaporen..' I just wanted her mood to cheer up. ' Radha Rani...nee mothalila kettaye athukku avarala onnum seyyamudiyum thonala....Karmava tholachu theerthudu.....Rendamathu kettaye ....good question...he will consider definitely...don't worry.' We started climbing up the stairs Mom said ' Di konthey (calling me) nee yeruveyo pakkattum......onndu pinnalaye nanum vanthuduven'. I started climbing up and it was exhausting....turned back and looked for Mom. I burst into laugh...She was climbing stairs, two legs in one step and two hands on the other. My husband and My son were ready to take up the new venture with good spirit.
In the evening 4' o clock we started to leave the room. As usual Coffee Time for our Senior Members. Ganesan was kind enough to take us to good Kappi stall. On the way he said ' Madam...nama... Malaikottai Uchipillayar Koil porom....konjam padikettu irukkum...yeri sami dharisanam mudichuttu vango'. I started looking at my Senior Members face. One said '
Jai Sriman Narayana!!
Sthalapuranam:
Presiding Diety: Manikka Vinayakar - On the top of the hill
Sannidhis - Thayumanavar ( Lord Shiva)/Mathruboodheswarar/Sevvanthi Nathar and Mattuvar Kuzhali or Sugandha Kundalambikai (Ambal)
Theertham - Cauveri, Shiva gangai and Brahma theertham
Sthala Vruksham - Vilvam
The Rockfort temple, known as Dakshina kailasam, is situated on the banks of the river Cauvery with a height of 273 feet and 417 steps to climb. The name of the place came from Thirisiran, a King who ruled this place. At the foot of the Rockfort is there is a beautiful temple tank (Theppakkulam) with a pavilion which is used during the float festival of the temples. The hill top view of the town , the busy roads and small cottages around, breathtaking view of cauvery and Kollidam rivers, the road and rail bridges across the rivers and the temple towers of Srirangam and Thiruvanaikaval.
The history goes.... Kailasam was disturbed by Vayu Bagavan and thrown in to three places and this is considered one among them and that is the reason it is called Dakshina kailasam. The other two places are Kalahasthi and Tirikonamalai (Srilanka). There is a saying that Lord Shiva took care of a pregnant girl called Rathnavathi during the delivery time in the form of the girl’s mother and so He is known as Thayumanavar.
The Kulla Muni Agasthya, Arjuna, Hanuman, Rathnavathi, Rama, Saptha Kanniar, Saptha Rishis and Sarama muni had worshipped Shiva at this place.Sarama muni worshipped Shiva with sevvanthi flowers brought from Naga lokha and hence the Lord is called as Sevanthi Nathar. Lord Shiva also called Mathrubootheshwar .
Before entering to Shiva temple, there is a big hall with 100 pillars, full of beautiful paintings and carvings. One of the 64 Shiva moorthams known as Gangala moortham is seen here. Below the Siva temple there are two Pallava cave temples with sculptures of the 6th and 7th centuries. Navukkuarasar and Sambandhar had sung hymns on Shiva of this temple. The vimanam is covered with gold. The Goddess is known as Mattuvar Kuzhali or Sugandha Kundalambikai and has a separate shrine.
Legend says Vibishana - the brother of Rakshasa King Ravana surrendered to Lord before the Rama Ravana yudham taken place. He was a deep devotee of Lord Rama - so as his name mentioned in Srimad Sundara Kanadam (Saranagathy Sastram) as ' Vibhishanohi dharmathma'. At the time of Lord Sri Rama's Pattabhishekam, Lord presented Vibhishana with his 'Kula Dhanam' idol of Lord Ranganadhar which was worshipped by Sri Rama Himself. Vibhishana wanted to install the idol in his kingdom - Sri Lanka Ganesh a and gave the idol to Lord Ganesh a to hold it for some time to finish his evening rituals like Sandya Vandhanam. Ganesh a agreed but after a while he placed the idol down. When Vibhishana finished his rituals and back, saw the Idol down on the ground. Vibhishana gave a Big 'Kottu' on his head. Lord Ganesh a vanished, went to the hill top and started laughing at Vibhishana. Vibishana could not lift the idol from the ground. He returned back to his place empty handed and in turn, Ranganadhar agreed to face South towards the direction of Srilanka.
Jai Sriman Narayanana!!
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| Thayumanavar and Mattuvar Kuzhali or Sugandha Kundalambikai (Ambal) |
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