Mayavaram Mayuranathar or Mayureshwarar

மயிலாடுதுறை  (Mayiladuthurai) is named so because the Goddess Parvathi took the form of Pea hen and danced to Marry the God Shiva. The tamil word Mayil means Peacock and Aadu means to dance and Thurai means venue or place.The presiding deity is a swayambhu lingam or a self-manifested lingam, the symbol of the Hindu god Shiva. Shiva's consort is known by the names Abhayapradhambikai, Abhayambikai, Anjalanayaki and Anjalai. Abayambal is an enchanting Beauty.

According to myth, the goddess Parvathi, once offended Lord Shiva. Shiva was so annoyed he cursed Parvathi to be born as a lowly Peahen. Later, when Parvathi repented, Shiva reduced this sentence. Parvathi had to pray first at Mylapore and then at Mayavaram at the end of which she was ridden of her curse and became known as "Abhayambal".


My Trip: We visited this temple on our way back from Vaideeswaran temple. We reached the temple around 11 AM. We entered via one of the side gates which had a School for the Kids. Walking through the Prahara, we could see Abhayambal first dressed in Green a mesmerizing beauty. Then we has the darshan of the Lord Parameshawara named Mayuranathar. The temple is quite simple with all the Upa- devathas.

Side entrance of the temple

The beautiful view of the Gopuram

The shrine depicting the Naalvar (Appar Sundarar Manikavasagar Thirugnanasambandar) and Abhayambal. Also Shivan Parvathi seated

For more history and details:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayuranathaswami_Temple,_Mayiladuthurai
http://www.hindubooks.org/temples/tamilnadu/mayavaram/

Thiruvavaduthurai (திருவாவடுதுறை )

Thiruvavaduthurai..திருவாவடுதுறை

Thiruvavaduthurai temple is a very beautiful temple among the Shiva sthalas. It is called the temple for Sabha vimochanam ( Place for clearing all the Sins).

This temple is well known for the following

1. Growing Nandhi
2. Thirumular Thirumandiram
3. White Natural Neem tree
4. Sacred Fig that spread across
5. This village has three rivers flowing through it

The residing deity is Lord Shiva named Masilamaiswarar .

My trip: I visited this temple one fine evening. We went by car with the aid of Google Navigator. Started from Kuthalam, visited Govindhapuram and on the way back to kuthalam went to this temple. It was around 6:40 PM I reached the entrance of this temple. The temple has a Pond (Kulam) in front of it. Just above the Kulam I saw the entire saptarishi Mandalam ( The sacred 7 constellations).
 The day being Pradhosham, I was lucky enough to get the Maha arathi of the Utsava murthi in Alankaram with all the Upa devathas (Vinayagar, Murugan & Thirumular).

As soon as you enter the temple the Nandhi will strike your eyes with its huge structure and Gigantic eyes and horns. It is said to be growing and has the ceiling of the Mandapam very close to its head.
No words to describe the devotional vibration that I had as soon as I entered the temple. This temple comes under the Thiruvavaduthurai Aadheenam. As it was dusk, & getting late, I was not lucky enough to visit the praharas  which is said to have upa devathas.

One must definitley visit this temple to feel the vibration of the SIVAM which had been flourisihng during the past of the Tamil History. This is the place where Thirumular has written Thirumandiram.


தென்னாடுடைய  சிவனே  போற்றி ! என்னடவற்கும்  இறைவா போற்றி  போற்றி
For more details on the distance from near by places to this temple visit:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masilamaniswara_Temple,_Thiruvaduthurai

For more details about the Aadheenam:
http://temples.discovertamilnadu.net/tiruvaduthuraiadeenamhome.html

Garuda Sevai @ Gunaseelam

Hi All,

Gunaseelam is a small village situated on the banks of River Kaveri , on the road connecting Trichy and Salem,Namakkal districts of Tamil nadu. The Lord  Sri Prasanna Venkatachalapathi is the residing god, who has given darshan to Gunaseela Maharishi being pleased by his devotion and Tapas. This temple is a beautiful one. This is one of the place I had spent my childhood as my grandpa was running a hotel Sankar Cafe.

We had a wonderful darshan of the Garuda sevai Utsav on 25th December, Friday & Full Moon day. The Lord was dressed in Blue silk and velvet and with all his ornaments on, blessed us in the Sahasra Deepa Mandapam & then walked around the Agraharam and also gave us the Kannadi arai sevai ( The room had Mirrors in all direction & we can see his Beauty everywhere in the room).

The event got over with the Artha Jamam of the Lord post which the devotees were sprinkled the holy water and were given Milk and Sakarai Pongal as the Prasadam.

The Money Plant

The Money Plant

Money plant is a creeper grown widely in residential areas/indoors mainly because it looks decorative and it does not require much care. I liked this plant for no reason and I really think it taught me something.. May be just my analysis or thought process after what happened as it grew in my home....

Bought this plant in a pot and started watering it daily. As it grew, I gave a rope & tied it to my window. As it grew longer(as it is a creeper), many people said it will be a disturbance, but I did not feel like it disturbed anyone. After all it is just a creeper.

As it grew much longer I tied its rope to a nail (Actually a  wall paste ) which fell off. Tried it several times  & it fell every time. So, I let it without disturbance for few days.. It started growing towards the floor.

As it now became strong enough, I tied the rope directly to the stem & now tied it back. One lesson I learnt ( or may be you can say I imagine ) out of it is sometimes it is better we give some time, so that we become strong enough and have clarity to handle things..
Our Inner strength is more important. 

To know about Money plant you can refer:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epipremnum_aureum

Navarathri Golu 2014- Decorations

Navarathri Golu 2014- Decorations

Here is my old post stored in draft for almost an year. This year also I had nice time arranging golu.