THIRUVANNAMALAI

THIRUVANNAMALAI

     Thiruvannaamalai-Girivalam

     Sri.S.V.Varadharajan

    In India we have sixty eight famous siva temples.Thiruvannamalai is one of them and it has its own glorious past and historical importance.The mountain which we see here has its own sanctitity and mythological past.This mountains is famous for the Girivalam                  ( i.e.going round the mountain) and its beneficial results.              

     Thiruvannamalai is one of the "Panchabootha sthalas (five sacred places) Thiruvannamalai is the place where the supreme power, the Almighty created the 'Agni' or fire in this univere as one of the five prime elements of nature.The mountain here represents the fire and people worship it as a symbol of Lord Siva himself. This holy place is said to bestow 'Mukthi' to the earnest devotees. Similarly there is a saying that the holy place 'Kasi' (Benares)gives mukthi to those who are born there. Like wise at Chidambaram, a person who worships Shiva attains mukti and at Thiruvannamalai,a devotee who thinks and meditates about this place gets mukti.


  Here, Siva bearing the name of Arunachaleswra, shines not only in the form of the mountain here but also assumes the form of a yogi and preceptor to the universe. He put down the pride and ego of the celestial Lords, Brahma and Vishnu once when they were fighiting among themselves about the superior power of each one of them. The Goddess Parvathi assumes the name as Unnamalai Amman and Abithakuchambal and it is this sacred place where the Ambigai did severe penance and got seated on the left side in the body of Eswara. The mountain here is called 'kantha malai'


To be continued 


  

















   











                








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LORD MURUGA'S GRANDEAUR - 10

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           ETTUKUDI MURUGAN TEMPLE





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Thirupathi Vaazhum            Saravanabhava (Language: Tamil; Genre: Murugan)
                                                                                  

    

                                           

                                 

LORD MURGA'S GRANDEUR-10

 Sri. S.V.VARADHARAJAN

 varadshantha@yahoo.com


coming back to the story of the sculptor,the king got angry with his actions and ordered his eyes to be dug out and to make him blind.But the worker did not lose heart by this cruel act and he somehow managed to visualize in his mind and heart the deity's figure and using this power, he carved out another beautiful figure of the deity at the place called 'En Kann'. This place is on the Tanjore Nagari bus route near Mugathanur.After this,with the grace of Lord Muruga, the sculpture got back his eye-sight and his thumb.That is why this place got the name as "En Kan' which in tamil means 'my eyes' It is therefore beleived that if a person with eye-disease prays to the deity with sincere devotion he would get relief and remedy for his illness with the blessings of Lord Muruga.


   Apart from these temples,we should make a mention of a few more famous temples of Muruga.Tiruchengodu, Tirupporur,Tirumalai Tiruvirinchipuram, Kandakottam, Viralimalai,Kumara Kottam, Perumperu, Uttara Swamimalai (Delhi] are places with famous Muruga Temples.




   Thiruppugazh and the scripts in prise of Lord Muruga are mostly used in Bhajans and other such occasions and the devotees get immersed in thoughts about the Lord and offer their sincere prayers with songs,Namavali etc. Lord Muruga blesses all sincere devotees with His benovelant grace.


  Om! Muruga-Muruga-Muruga


           Subam 

                                                                           
        
   












                                                    

LORD MURUGA'S GRANDEUR-9

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LORD MURGA'S GRANDEUR-9

 Sri. S.V.VARADHARAJAN

 varadshantha@yahoo.com

 Ettukudi:  Once this place was a dense forest with trees named 'Etti'. It is also beleived that the Devas once performed 'Yaga' named Ishti (in sanskrit) in this area. With this background, the place got the name as Ishtikudi which later became EttuKudi as we know at present. Only from Ettukudi,it is stated that Lord Muruga proceeded to Tiruchendur carrying the spear given by Lord Siva for vanquishing the Sura.In this temple,Chitra Pournam,Bramhotsavam,Kanda Shashti, Karthigai etc are nicely celebrated.The origin of this temple has an interesting and thrilling story. The Ettukudi regeion was in olden days ruled by king named Mutharasa Chola.As desired by him,a sculptor carved out a very beautiful figure of 'Singara vela' at sikkil.The king who was jealous thought that this fellow should not be allowed to make a similar beautiful figure anywhere else and so he ordered his servants to cut off the sculptors thumb.But with the kind grace of God, the sculptor managed to somehow make out another figure of Arumuga seated on His peacock vahana. After completion of the divine figure,the sculptor happened to see blood and perspiration flowing in the body of the deity. Immediatly,the matter was brought to the notice of the king.As per his orders, the peacock was boundwith a chain so that it may not fly off if it gets life and becomes alive. Even then, when the sculptor carved out the eyes of the peacock, it began to fly. So, the craftsman cut the nail in the legs of the peacock and made it defective. Because of this, the bird setteled on the ground. This beautiful and artistic figure of the deity canbeseen in the Ettukudi temple. Lord Muruga is majestically seated on the peacock as the main support. Arumuga appear with his six faces,twlve hands and with his two consorts,Valli and Deivaanai in the sitting pose with his left leg folded and right leg resting on the base(peetam). It is a woderful experience to have a dharshan of this deity.


To be continued           

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LORD MURUGA'S GRANDEUR-8

LORD MURUGA'S GRANDEUR-8

LORD MURGA'S GRANDEUR-8

 Sri. S.V.VARADHARAJAN

 varadshantha@yahoo.com


 Marudhamalai: In this hill temple located in earstwhile Komgunaadu, Arumuga is in the Sanctum Sanctorum and is known as Marudhachala Murthi. His consorts are not with him there. We see sivalinga Sannadhi on his right side and Maragadhambigai sannadhi on his left side. It is beleived that the Devas did penance and worshipped Lord Muruga in this hill. The greatness of this temple is mentioned in the songs Tiruppugazh of saint Arunagirinaadhar. The fame and eminence of this temple is also explained in the compositions of Arunaachala kaviraayar in his script Marudha Chala Kadavul Pillai tamil, Marudhachala MurthiSadhakam and Marudha Chalamalai.


  Vadapalani: This famous temple is at vadapalani in chennai near Kodambakkam The deity in this templeappears with grand features of Dhandayuthapani as beautifully mentioned in the hymns composed by Kachiyappa Muniver in his thanigai Puranam. The temple has come up with the generous contributions of thousands of devotees,affluent persons and well wishers. Every month,Krithigai, Shashti and Visakam, are celebrated in a grand manner here. The Panguni Uthiram is celebrated for ten days with Lakscharchana,pooja and usual rituals.


  Ettukudi: This is located inNagai district in Thirukkuvalai Taluk. The Subramania Swami temple here is quite famous with an interesting historical background.


To be continued 


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LORD MURUGA'S GRANDEUR-7

LORD MURGA'S GRANDEUR-7

 Sri. S.V.VARADHARAJAN

 varadshantha@yahoo.com

   Here we can see the idols of Siva (deity with five faces) and Arumuga (deity with six faces)and this shows its magnificence and uniqueness. It is to this sacred place that the saint Arunagirinathar was told by Lord Muruga to come and sing in this temple.The majestic appearance of Arumuga in this temple is nicely mentioned in the song starting with "Nadapindhu" in Thiruppugazh.The deity here is known by different names like Muthukumara Swamy,Vayaluran,Vayalur Kumaran,Adhi Vayaluran,Adhi Kumaran etc.We find the idol of Saint Arungirinatha also in this temple.

   Kundrakudi: Kumara is the God representing Kurinchi region.Therefore, He has temple on the hills. Being the son of the queen of mountains (Malai Arasi) Parvathi Devi, it isbut natural that Muruga is seated on the hills.This temple on the hill hasvarious names like Mayil Malai,Arasavalam,Mayura Nagaram,Kundra Managar, Mayuragiri etc. Here, Muruga appears as seated majestically with his consorts, Valli and Deivanai on the peacok Vahana. In the front side of the temple, we can see the figures of Veerabagu and Idumban.V.Kalyana Sundaranar has sung in praise of this temple in chaste tamil.

   Kumaragiri: As is the convention,we find this temple of Muruga on the hill there and the deity appears Dhandayuthapani. It is here that the famous grand old lady Avvaiyar had the fortune of having a dialogue with Muruga as a small child. The child asked the old lady seated below the tree,where he was sitting, whether she wanted a hot fruit or cold fruit.During thecourse of this incident, the Lord taught her the lesson that what we know is very little what we do not know is unlimited like the universe which has become a famous proverb in Tamil. The lady sang in praise of the Lord explainng that the lord's grace is the most valuable thing a person can aspire for.


To be continued

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