Talakad temple Vaidyeshwara Temple

Talakad Temples

The Talakad temples are also known as Pancha Pathi temples that are dedicated to Lord Shiva. These temples have stone pillars and are constructed in the ancient Chola and Chalukyan architectural styles.

Sri Kodandapani Ramar temple. Ayodhyapattinam

Sri Kodandapani Ramar temple. Ayodhyapattinam.

Ayothyapattinam Sri Kodandapaniswam temple represents the spiritual ancestry of our temples without any pomp and splendour as the very qualities of Sri Rama (Kalyana Gunas) but majestic in its appearance.  The place derived the name as it had the foot prints of Lord Sri Rama.  Every stone of the temple bears an immortal poetry.  Every pillar is an outstanding example of temple architecture arresting the attention of the visitor.  Each produces music when tapped.

According to history, this temple was simultaneously constructed by Tirumalai Naicker along with Daramangalam Kailasanathar temple, Tiruchengodu Murugan temple and the Tirumalai Naicker Mahal.  The similarity of the sculptures is an evidence of this fact.

The sculptures are huge in size; the one depicting the killing of a demon by a divine horse, elephants, Yazhi an animal belonging to the lion family, a lion all in a single stone are a few to mention.  Above all, the coronation of Sri Rama is arresting in its beauty.  Sri Rama, Mother Sita, Lakshmana, Bharata, Satrugna idols are very beautiful.  Tirumalai Naicker appears with his queen in one sculpture. The temple is also noted for its immortal paintings on the ceilings speaking volumes of our spiritual glory.

Earlier, Sun rays were setting on the Anjaneyar shrine through the holes of the doors on the poornima of Chithirai (April-May).  Due to emergence of buildings around the temple, this is now lost.  This is not simply a temple in the sense we know, but also a house of ancient architectural and paintings art of the country.

Scientific Based The significance of the temple lies in its architectural and painting beauties. The Sun rays falling on the Anjaneya shrine earlier on poornima days in the month of Chithirai are now prevented by the building raised around the temple.

Panankatteesar Temple, Puravar Panankattur

Panankatteesar Temple, Puravar Panankattur.

 This sivasthalam is located at about 8 Kms from Villupuram on the Villupuram - Tirukkanur - Pondicherry road. It is about 10 Kms. from Vikravandi on the Tindivanam - Vikravandi - Panruti road. The temple is located very near to Panayapuram Kootu road.

 

Lord Shiva known as	Panankatteesar
Female deity known as	Puravammai, Sathyambikai,Meyyambal

Sri Swarnapureeswarar temple Tenponparappi

Sri Swarnapureeswarar temple                                                
Tenponparappi

The Shiva Linga is made of a single stone of Solar Magnetic power equal to the power of Navapashanas scaling 5.5. feet in height.  It is majestically mounted on Brahmma and Vishnu Peetas.  Thus all the three Lords Shiva, Vishnu and Brahmma are in a single form here.  The other special feature is that it produces bronze metal sound when tapped by hand.

The Samadhi of Kakanda Bhujangar is near the temple where a lamp is lit every day.  We may see that Nandhi turning slightly on a side in other temples to enable devotees to have the darshan clearly.  Here, the Nandhi being a Balanandhi without much growth of the horns allows a clear view of the Lord especially during the Pradosha days.

On the Aavani (August-September) full moon day and on the Panguni Uthiram day in March-April, from 6.00 a.m. to 7.30 a.m. the devotee can observe the rays of Sun falling on the horns of Balanandhi and pass through the 70 feet distance to Lord in the sanctum sanctorum. 

As the temple has the power of Vayu and Panchaboodha Sthalas, the sanctum sanctorum is Ugra-hot in nature.  The Dheep in the sanctum is always oscillating as mentioned in the palm leaves of Kakanda Bhujangar.  The other wonder in the temple is that the abishek with 16 items as honey, milk, curd, rosewater, green coconut, turmeric, sacred ash, sandal, tirumanjanam, sugarcane juice, lime juice, pachamirtha, ghee, rice flour, oil, and holy water fall down from the head of the Shivalinga separately in 16 line tracks without any missing and finally confluence at the bottom.

Mother Swarnambika with all attributes of Mother Mahalakshmi graces the devotees facing east in a standing posture with Her face just turning towards Lord.  The Jeeva Samadhis of Kakanda Bhujangar and his wife Bahuladevi are at the direct view of Ambica.  Siddha Kakanda Bhujangar was born from the crescent moon adoring the head of Lord Shiva and had the power of taking the form of a crow-Kaka in Tamil.  Those facing problems from Moon and Saturn planets pray in this Samadhi.

As Nandhi in the temple is of a calf size, it is called Bala Nandhi-Child Nandhi. Those facing adverse aspects of Rahu-Ketu planets, perform abishek to Balanandhi which turn blue.  Lord Vishnu behind Lord Shiva appears with Rudraksha to tell Kakanda Bhujangar that both are but one.

MelaKadambur

 Kadambur Temple resembles an art gallery with beautiful pieces of 12th century art and monuments. Kadambur is the 34th in the series of the Tevara Stalams located in Chola Nadu north of the river Kaveri.

Legends: Indra worshipped Shiva here, to obtain the celestial nectar Amritam and hence temple is known as Karakkovil.

Temple: This temple covers 3.4 acres. The main temple is shaped like a chariot with wheels and horses. The vimana is known as Indra Vimanam. Entering the main gateway, one finds a porch and a mandapam containing bronze images. On reaching the Southern Prakaram, the main temple comes into view. Found in its original form, it has very graceful lines and is covered in sculptures. Built like a chariot with two wheels on each side, and is drawn by caparisoned horses in prancing posture with Shiva as its occupant. The walls of the sanctum and the ardhamandapam are covered with sculptures in bas relief.

The sanctum has images of Dakshinamurthy, Vishnu and Bhrama, while the ardhamandapam has those of Ardhanareeswarar (south) and Alinganamurthy (north). Vinayakar and Agastyar are found on either side of Ardhanareeswarar. There are a series of sculptures of rishis and gods who worshipped Shiva. The bronze images are housed in this temple. The Nataraja image, depicts Shiva dancing on Nandi. This temple is the finest example of the existing temples from the age of Kulottunga Chola I (1075-1120).

THIRUVADHIGAI

THIRUVADHIGAI

This temple is 7^th  ( Total 22 temples ) Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam  and  3^rd Veerata Shiva sthalam out of eight Veerata Shiva sthalangal in  Nadu Naadu. The temple is  2 KM from Panruti.  Moover Paadal petra sthalam, but Sundarar stayed away from the temple, since Appar was doing seva in this temple. It is believed that the temple is older than the Tanjore Brakatheeswarar Peria Temple. The moolavar gopuram of Tanjore and Kanchepuram Kailasanathar temple was built after seeing this temple. In all the three temples the shadow of the Gopuram will not fall on the ground.  One of the special attraction of this moola Gopuram is there are lot of suthai sirpangal around three sides, which we cannot find any other temple, looks like thiruteir ( Chariot ). Hope I had covered some of them in my Photos.  Similarly the entrance steps of  the sanctum sanctorium, also from the side, similar to other two temples.  

Appar returned to Hinduism from Jainasim after he recovered from  soolai Noi through his sister Thilagavathiyar after drinking holy water of this temple well. 

In the latter stage the temple was used by the French Govt, Arcot Navabs,  Marathis and Britishers  for storing arms and as fort.

Iraivan : Veerateeswarar, Veeratanatha and  Athigainathar

Iraivi ; Thiripurasundari..

Moolavar is big and made of 16 flat faces surfaces.

How to reach :

1. The temple is 2 Km from Panruti bus stand,  town buses, Auto and share autos are available.
2. It is on the bus route  from Panruti to Cuddalore, so through  route buses also one can reach

Thakkolam

Gangadheeswarar Temple at Thakkolam (also called Thiruvooral)
Significance: One of the 275 ‘Thevara Padal Petra Sthalams’.
Main deity: Swayambu lingam known as Thiruvooral Mahadevar/ Jalanatheswarar with Goddess Girija Kannikamba.
Location: It is situated 30km north of Kanchi and 12 km south of Arakonam. On the Chennai-Bangalore highway, at Kanchipuram take right to the Kanchipuram-Arakonam main road. Proceed further for another 10-11 kms to reach Thakkolam railway station. Turn right and proceed further for another 6kms to reach the temple. Also you can go via Perambakkam.
Legend: At the behest of Sage Uthandi, Nandhi devar brought river Ganges to this place. Water is coming out of Nandhi devar‘s mouth and springs out near the feet of Shiva and hence the name Thiru vooral. Kamadenu, Chandra, Yama, Surya, Vishnu & Saptha kanniyar worshipped Shiva here.
Theertham: Parvathi teertham, Sathya gangai and Kusasthala river.
Sthala vruksham: Thakkolam
Timing: 7AM to 12 noon & 4 to 9 PM

                    

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