Thiruvannamalai Girivalam

Thiruvannamalai Girivalam

Orikkai Maha Periyavaa Manimandapam

Orikkai Maha Periyavaa Manimandapam

White Beauty. Wonderful temple on quite ambiance.. Sparrows chirping around the sanctum, Maha Periyavaa is seated smiling

Raja Gopuram

What more to ask for? Happy face tells it all :)

Feeling Blessed singing in his sanctum. Also enjoyed his prasadam of Neer More (Butter milk) to face the scorching heat of the Sun.

Sholingar

Sholingar..

One of my Long pending To do was fulfilled on 11th of October 2019.
Started early that day on my 2 wheeler planning to take the train from Tambaram to Arakkonam. But enroute to Tambaram, thought why not by my bike as the trip via Train will take much time compared to the ride in bike. set off travelling catching hold of the National & State Highways. The ride was totally enjoyable crossing through the green fields along the railway line via Thirumalpur. The road was in good condition & my Scooty Zest helped me the most. She did drive more than 300 KMS that day & in 80s:)

The excitement of ticking my long pending trek to Sholingar caught me the moment I saw the name board. Wah!! I made it!!

There are actually 2 hills. Big one for the Yoga Narasimhar & another small one for Baktha Anjaneyar. Climbed up the Hills bare foot chanting the name of the Lords with Moneys everywhere around. One should and can never carry anything on their hands. Moneys even checks the pant pockets for food. So, if anyone plans for a trip go empty handed. "We carry nothing but ourselves to God"!! is the lesson I got .. may be this sounds more spiritual but that seems to be the truth. God does not ask for anything from us, for he expects nothing from us.

the steps are long enough to climb but there a few deep U turns to be crossed to climp up the hill. People use sticks which help themselves and also protects them from Monkeys.


Had Good darshan of Yoga Narasimhar & thayar and set off to Anjaneyar hill. The Anjaneyar here had 4 hands holding Japamalai. there are also separate sannadhi for Ramar Lakshmana seetha & Ranganathar swami. Ranganathar Swami is small cute idol. There is a small pond on hilltop behind the ramar sannathi & is beautiful sight for the eyes. You can also have darshn of  sholingar fhill from the Anjaneyar Hill. Had good darshan & set back home happily.

அத்திகிரி வரதன் ?!

அத்திகிரி  வரதன் ?!

Athi Varadhar, Kancheepuram

Lucky are the people who are alive now to see and have the darshan of athi varadhar. With the mobile in everybody's hand, even devotion gets multiplied as we can see people crowded at Kancheepuram.

The Story of the temple & the reason for him being inside the pond is now a renowned story. I really loved Athigiri Varadhar. Learnt why this place is called athigiri yesterday from my Guru. I think this story is really interesting and is worth sharing.

Sanskrit word "Giri" means Hill. But there is no Hill inside or around the temple. My Guru, Dr. Umashankar composed a Song in praise of the Lord yesterday mentioning Athigiri varadhar Azhagudan aruliya Kolam kanden.


Athigiri Varadhar? How come..?

My guru explained, when Brahma created carving varadhar out of Athimaram, he was placed on an elephant and came as procession. The delighted Elephant sat down declining to get the lord down from him and God also remained on the elephant. We all know the elephants top will look like a tiny hill hence the mainsactum is built like you will have to climb few steps and the Lord varadharaja perumal is a little high form the floor. Interesting na?.. Hence he is called Athi 'Giri" varadhar.

கோவிந்தா  கோவிந்தா
Govindha! Govindha!!

Otteswarar temple, Ottiyambakkam

Otteswarar temple, Ottiyambakkam

On one fine day of Pournami/Full moon, also being sunday, we went to this temple in Chennai. This temple small, is being reconstructed, still rich with Huge Gigantic Shiva linga who will quickly com inside your heart. The deity of the temple are Lord shiva named as Otteswarar and Goddess pArvathi named as Mangalambikai.

Since it was full moon day, there was special abishegam and Alankaram for Gubera Lingam near the Sannadhi of Mangalambigai. All painted yellow, this temple has separate sannadhis behind Lord Shiva  for Vinayagar, Murugan-Valli devasenai, Gaja Lakshmi and one another god(was closed) and there is also an ancient Arasa Maram Tree. There is also separate plave for the Tamil Naalvar- Appar, sundarar, thirunaavukkarasar and Manikkavasagar. Gubera Lingam, Kalabairavar  and Nava graham are seen to the left of Lord Shiva.

Had peaceful Darshan of all the Gods and reached Back home.

Thennadudaya Sivane Potri!
Ennattavarkkum Iraivaa potri!!

Chennayil Thiruvarur

Chennayil Thiruvarur

"CHENNAYIL TIRUVARUR "
On 11th May 2019, Sri Thyagaraja Swamigal's jayanthi was celebrated in a grand manner by Tiruvarur Karnataka Mummorthigal seva samithi organised by Madipakkam swaminathan, Mridangam maestro Tiruvarur Dr.Baktavatsalam at Ragasudha Hall.... Legendary vocalist Bombay sisters was felicitated by T.S.Raghavan, Kovai Anuradha Kovai on that occasion.
Followed by Pancharatnam group rendition led by
Bombay sisters smt.C.Saroja & smt.C.Lalitha along with Galaxy of eminent musicians including

Vidwan Dr.B.Umashankar
Paramakkudi S.Ravindran
Calcutta Shankar
Shruthi Bhat
Sai Vignesh
Dr.Ganapathiraman
Meenakshipriya Sundar
Ghayathri Ramachandran
Baghesri umashankar

Usha Rajagopalan
Meera Sivaramakrishnan
Melakaveri K Thiagarajan
Vagadeeswari
Flautist Thiagarajan
Athul Kumar
Sumesh Narayanan
Adarsh Devarajan
Rohith
Gnanendra
Ghatam Sivaramakrishnan
Kanchira Madipakkam Gopalakrishnan

A grand lunch was served by Sangeetha hotels group. Vaidyanathan PRO organised the entire festival with a team of volunteers. Thyagayya TV, Sankara TV, Jaya TV and various media recorded and telecasted this grand festival.

:- A report by
Sangeetha vidwan
Dr.B.Umashankar,
Joint secretary,
Tiruvarur Sangeetha Mumoorthigal seva samithi.

Bharathan temple-Irinjalakuda

Nalanbalam Yathra is a unique and novel pilgrimage conducted during the month of Karkitakam, the last month of Malayalam Era. Salient feature of Karkitaka is that it is period of famine and illness. To overcome sufferings people resort to medical treatment and spiritual enrichment. A special way of living and worship of Rama is the general trend of the period. Chanting of Rama mantra and Ramayana recitation echoes in each and every house . This is an eve of positive thinking about prosperity.

Since the last decade Nalambalam Yathra has become in Vogue. It is a special kind of visiting 4 temples in Kerala – Sreerama Temple at Triprayar, Koodalmanickam Bharatha temple at Irinjalakuda,Lakshmana temple at Moozhikkulam in Ernkulam District and Payammel Sathrukhna temple near Irinjalakuda.

Triprayar is about 23 kms away from Guruvayoor Krishna temple and Moozhikulam is 30 kms away from Irinjalakuda temple via Mala, Annamanada to Aluva. Visiting four temples a day in the given order is the traditional way.

I was lucky visiting the Bharatha temple one fine evening especially for the Arthajama Pooja. Actually, I went with an impression it is Shiva temple and was surpised to see Shiva in a form other than Linga form. I was surpised and only then did I enquire and learn that the Lord is Bharatha, the brother of Lord Rama. I was surpised and happy as this is the first time in my life had I been to a temple seperately for the Brother of Rama, who is popular for his Bhakthi to Lord Rama. 

Sang Pandureethi Kolu song of Saint Thyagaraja and everytime I sing such in the sanctum of the lord, I know I am blessed and also get the special prasadham :)

Not kidding, But I got 3 hot Appams and the Brinjal receipe famous in the temple a solution for the stomach pain. The temple was huge but as it was night time, all I could notice was the big spaciousness of the temple, the pond and the gates on 3 sides of the temple. That day was a wonderful day as I travelled happily to as many temples as possible & completely enjoyed singing everywhere the names of the Lords. I am really blessed to be born in this Bharatha Boomi..

Friends, you can comment on and provide more details of many such temples as I love travelling and the details may also be useful to others.

Vayaloor Shivan temple

Vayaloor Shivan temple:

Vayaloorappan or the Laord Shiva of Vayaloor, a village near Thrissur has made me visit him 3 times so far & every time I feel I have something or a connection to that place. I love standing in front of His Sanctum and sing in HIS Praise. what else do one need in this World?

I am just drafting my experience of completing the incomplete task and the happiness I get when things happen in a way we don't even imagine it to be, in a good way.

I perfectly believe in GOD and there is always HIS work in everything we do. Sometimes I feel He talks to us. We just need to listen tuning ourselves to HIS frequency. I love the feel of getting lost in HIM. This happens only when in pure Bhakthi.
It is true that if we take one step towards HIM, he takes 10 Steps towards us. Sometimes things happen as a DREAM.

We desire things but its HIS wish that makes it happen or not. That's why there is always a proverb. Man Proposes God disposes. After all that we try, there are always few things out of our control. Which we call as destiny

Sang the following songs:
1. Shambo Mahadeva
2. Devathi deva sadha Shiva
3. Karanam kettu vaadi
4. Thiru Anga Maalai
5. Nambi kettavar Evarayya

Seeing HIM gives happiness & Singing for HIM gives even more.
Ideally in Kerela, They decorate Lard shiva differently than in Tamilnadu. In Kerala they use the half moon for decorating the lord.

Had wonderfufl darshan of Abhishegam, Deepa aradhanai & Alankaram of Lord and returned back with his Sweet Sakkara Pongal & Payasam. Yummy Yummy :).

chelamattom temple

chelamattom temple

This is a very popular temple in Kerala where one can find Maha Vishnu and Narasimhar sannadhi side by side. There are 2 separate sanctum though internally connected and I noticed a well in between the 2 deities. The temple is typical Kerala style temple and the gods were decorated in Sandal paste on the day I had darshan. The Alankaram of Marasimmar was note worthy as I could see the Lord smile through the decoration.

It is believed Lord Vishu gives Vaikumdam to those dead in this temple. The river flowing near this temple is where people offer Pithru Karma for their ancestors ideally.

Loved the sun setting glittering in the river flowing in this region and the temple is situated in the banks.

சதுர்வேதமும் சப்தஸ்வரமும்

சதுர்வேதமும்  சப்தஸ்வரமும்

Chathruvedamum Sapthaswaramum

This was not just an event. It was a dedication, Smarpanam to Maha Periyavaa. I need not talk about this event. There are volumes already spoken and written about this event. You can see the YouTube link below which has the entire 4 hours of programme uploaded with the motive on which this event was organised, how great and renowned artists came onstage, performed for the Maha guru, the experience and Kaingaryam of Vakkil Anna (I still don't know his real name and I also love calling him so). He literally was in tears many occasion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwlBgB-Rh7A&feature=youtu.be 

Maha periyavaa is an experience. One can feel him with true Heart.

At this very moment I feel honoured  and blessed to be part of this grand event. Special thanks to my Guru Dr. Umashankar, Vakkil Anna and my friends without whom I would have missed this experience. 

The motive of this programme could be 'N' number of things. But, to me it was and is guru bhakthi. Here are few pics from the mega event.

 

Mailam Murugan Temple

MAILAM MURUGANUKKU AROHARA

Kundrirukkum Idam Kumaran iruppidam!

Yet another Murugan temple along the Chennai Trichy National Highway!!

we set off early morning around 6 AM on sunday  from Chennai and reached Mailam , crossing Chengalpattu, Melmaruvathhur and Dindivanam. A rode to the left goes 4 -5 KM from the Highway which leads to a small hill top on which is Mailam Murugan temple. The temple is bei enough with enough steps and bold Gopuram and Mandapams. The temple is popular in the area where one can have the darshan of Lord Muruga, the Son of Lord Shiva with his consorts- Sri Valli and Devasaena.

The Lord must be 5 feet tall and is with his wives on either side. The majestic Gopuram invites you with the main sactum within. There is seperate sannadhi for a sage inside the premesis of the temple.

The Mandapam to the Left of the main temple provides space enough to conduct functions like Marriage, Ear pearcing ceremony and various prayer offereings to the god. there are stage like set up at the end of this wide hall specially for marriages where the temple preists conduct the wedding.

The  outer Prahara/ the surrounding of the temple is beautiful and spacious with decorative roof and idols of Shiva family on top  and sides of them.

 There is alos a Go-Shala or cow shelter and quite enough number of cows are seen well maintanined.

The paintings of the Siddhars , peacock and Mailam murugan are seen within the main hall

The office room of the temple is outside the main hall 

The Hall also leads to the main Sanctum of the temple on one side.

I noticed a couple offer their prayer of placing their Kid in a swing made of saree tied to Sugarcane sticks held by the kids Uncles(must be). The kid was taken around the temple premises that way.