Uchhi Pillaiyar kovil, Trichy




About the temple

Uchi pillayar (உச்சிப் பிள்ளையார் கோயில்) temples is one of the key landmarks of Trichy. This hill temple is dedicated to Lord Ganesha/Vinayaga fondly called in tamil as “Pillayar” (பிள்ளையார்).

There is also a temple deciated to Lord siva ( mid –way in the hill) called Thayumanavaswamy temple.
This temple has a mythologyical story connecting it to the Temple of Srirangam


 

The Tiruchirapalli Rock Fort is a historic fort and temple complex built on an ancient rock. It is located in the city of Tiruchirapalli, which is in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is constructed on a 273-foot high rock. There are two Hindu temples inside the Rockfort, the Uchchi Pillaiyar Koil and the Siva Temple. Geologically the 83 m high rock may date to over one billion years ago. ( Source:- Wikipedia)



How to reach

The temple is approximately 1 km from the Trichy chathiram bus stand. The temple is the city's best known landmark.





Temple timings
6.00 AM - 8.00 PM

Temples in proximity


Lord Kaatkarai Appan, ThiruKatkarai



About the temple

Thirukatkara (திருக்காட்கரை  அப்பன்) appan temple is situated in  thirukkakara near  Kochi , Kerala. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vamana.

The Moolavar of this sthalam is found in Nindra Kolam facing his thirumugham along the south direction. The lord is said to have given pratyaksha darshanam to Kapila Muni. Nammalwar has sung 10 pasurams in praise of the lord.

Since Lord Vamana is closely associated with the story of Mahabali , Onam is the main festivity celebrated in this templeAs per the legend, Lord Kaatkarai Appan  is said to have come here as Vamana Moorthy to end the troubles caused by King Bali. To mark this event, it is believed that Lord Vishnu visits this Divya Desam every year on the Thiruvonam day in Aavani. Lord  Katkarai Appan is seen with Conch, Chakra and Padma Hastam in this temple.
King Mahabali is said to have worshipped  Lord Shiva in this place.  We also see a Paramasivan Sannidhi  to the right of the Perumal Sannidhi, with Bali seen invoking the blessings of Sivan.

One devotee is said to have dedicated golden banana to the Lord as his fields were not yielding bananas. After the dedication , the devotees field is said to have yielded good results and the fruit names “ Nethiram pazham”




How to reach?

It is located 10 km north east of Ernakulam between Thrissur-Ernakulam highway (NH 47). Once can reach by bus from Ernakulam Town to this temple (Edapalli). One can also rake an auto/taxi from Ernakulam railway station.

Temple timings

5am-11am and 5pm-8pm

Temples in proximity





Sri Chenna Keseva perumal temple, Chennai

About the temple

Originally, Chenna Keseva temple was located at the current location of Madras High Court. The British East India Company demolished the temple and later, due to public outcry they donated some land and money to build the current temple. Manali Muttukrishna Mudaliar built the temple at Devaraja Mudali Street in Sowcarpet  in 1757 and also built the Chenna Malleeswarar temple for Shiva.
It is also believed that Chennai got its name from these twin temples.

Sannidhis:-
The temple has the main shrine dedicated to Chenna Kesavar and His consort Sengamalavalli Thayar Other Sannidhis:- Anjeneya, Vishvaksenar, Garudan, Venugopalan, Rama, Andal and the Azhwars and Acharyas.
At the Chenna Malleeswarar Temple there are shrines for Vinayaka, Subramania, Navagrahas, Somaskandar and Chandikeswarar. The Goddess here is known as Brahmarambikai.All the 64 Saivite saints are enshrined here. So is Lord Dakshinamurthy, God of Learning, who is seated beneath a banyan tree carved in stone. There are shrines for Bhikshandanar, Natarajar and other deities.






How to reach
Temple is situated in the heart of  the old city area sowcarpet .

Temple timings
Daily Poojas :Kaala Pooja 05:00 A.M
Uchchikaala Pooja 12:00 P.M
Saayaratchai Pooja 06:00 P.M
Dharshan Timings :Morning 05:00 A.M to Night 08:00 P.M

Temples in proximity



சென்னை கோவில்கள் ,சென்ன கேசவ பெருமாள்  கோவில் ,சென்னை மல்லீஸ்வரா கோவில் 

Sundararaja Perumal Temple, Sithukadu ( Thirumanam)




About the temple

Sundaravalli thayar sametha Sri Sundararaja perumal temple is located in Sithukkadu ( also called sitharkadu or thirumanam). This temple is very near to Sri Dhathriswara temple  ( These two temples are said to be the part of the nakshatra temple for those who are born in “Swathi” Star.


Sannidhis:-

Sundaravalli thayar
Andal  ( Garudak kodi sithar is seen in one of the walls in the mandapam oppposite to andal.
Prayers to him are supposed to cure eye related ailments. Sri  Narasimha in different postures adorn the walls of this mandapa)
Ananda narthana Krishnan
Sundararajar

How to reach

The temple is accessible from the newly laid Outer Ring Road Chennai ( Vandalur to Nemilichery).

When moving from poonamalle to nemilichery on the outer ring road, take a left 2-3 kms before nemilichery on seeing the sign board for "Thirumanam" or "Sithukadu"











Temple Timings

Opening time :- 7.30 AM  and 5. 30 PM


Temple in proximity


Arulmigu Dhathriswara thirukovil, Sithukadu

Sree Vallabha temple, Thiruvalla


About the temple

Thiruvalla is a colloquial name for the place of Sreevallabhapuram, named after the chief deity Sree Vallabha.
It is believed that the lord of this kshetra , Maha Vishnu or Sree Vallabha was sculpted by Viswakarma at the behest of Lord Krishna and was given to Satyaki at the end of Dwapara Yuga. After being safeguarded by Garuda at netyravati river, Cheraman Perumal built the current temple at Thiruvalla in B.C 59 (Kaliyugam 3043).

The Moolavar Lord is also known by the names of Vallabhan and Kolapiran. This place is referred to as the ‘Vallabha Kshetram’.

The pooja system followed in this temple is unique and is different from the tantric form of worship generally followed in Kerala.

A lot of historical insciptions are found inside the temple. Thiruvalla temple is also referred to in Garuda and Matsya Puranams.

Stories referring to the temple.

Lord is said to have protected a spinster ( performing ekadasi penance) from an Asura in the form of a Brahmachari by using his Sudharsana chakra.. The Chakra is said to have fallen at the place where the temple is situated currently.It is believed that the Lord here protects all the devotees from evil forces.
Another story goes that KandaaKarnan, a Shiva devotee, undertook penance invoking Lord Vishnu. It is believed that Vishnu appeared before Kandaa Karnan and provided him darshan as Vallabhan.
This temple is also a Prarthana Sthalam for childless couples-Performance of Kathakali is one of the main offerings made to the God.There is also a tradition to  present 12000 ripe bananas to the lord, half of which is distributed to the devotees.
Some  time ago , ladies were allowed inside the temple only on a couple of specific occasions in the year but this is no more the case. (Wikipedia-After an incident of a woman getting salvation inside the shrine, ladies were more attracted to the temple. A series of inauspicious events happened after a lady who had been enchanted by beauty of the handsome idol entered the sanctum-sanctorum to marry the Lord[1][11] and the administrators decided to ban women from entering the temple after an astrological counseling. But on request, they agreed to allow women twice a year during Thiruvathira of Dhanu month and Vishu in Medam [13] when the Lord will be dressed up with mud, ashes, torn clothes etc. to look ugly. The ban was removed in 1968.)

How to reach

Thiruvalla Railway station is located about 30kms South of Kottayam on the Ernakulam-Kottayam-Kayankulam rail route. The temple is roughly 2-3 kms from the railway station. Trivandrum is the nearest airport. This place can also be reached from Kochi airport.


Temple timings

Temple is open in the mornings from 4 a.m. to noon 12 p.m and in the evenings from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m

Temples in proximity

Thiru Puliyoor
Thiruchittaru 
Aranmula
Thiruvanvandur
Thirukadithanam



Janardhana perumal temple, Varkala


About the temple

Janardhana temple is a major pilgrim spot in Varkala. This ancient temple has an history of almost 2000 years .

The temple stands facing the "papanasam" beach. Temple is also known for its beautiful architecture. The temple has a circular sanctum sanctorum.


Lord Janardhana  is the presiding deity . The presiding deity of this temple is Sri Janarthana Swami. The deity is found in standing position facing towards the east. His right hand is position as if he is performing “aachamanm”. His right hand is raised towards his mouth and legends say that if his hand goes nearer to his mouth, the world will come to an end. It is believed to happen at the end of the Kali Yuga.  ( Source:Wikipedia)


Offering obeisances to the departed souls and forefathers is a very important ritual in this temple. Four poojas are conducted in a day by the temple priest.

Other sannidhis:- Ganapathi, Shastha, Ananthan (Nagam) Shiva, Chandikesha, and Hanuman.

How to reach

Varkala  is roughly 46 Kms away from Trivandrum. Regular bus services are available to reach this place from  Trivandrum( Thiruvananthapuram). 



Temple tank and pushkarni

`Chakra Theertha’ on the northern part is the temple's pushkarni.

Temple timings

The temple is open in the mornings from 5:30 AM - 12:00 PM and in the evenings from 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM.



Temples in proximity


Arulmigu Kandasamy temple, Thiruporur


About the temple

This is one of the main shrines of Lord Murugan in Tamil Nadu.

“Por” in Tamil means war. Thiruporur is the place where the battle was fought against the “thalayaya asuran” ( connoting destruction of “arrogance or pride”.

Chidambaraswamy unearthed the Swayambu Moortis of Lord Muruga with his consorts and established the temple around 450 years ago. (Lord Muruga himself appeared as a small boy and gave him the vision of the sanctum sanctorum. Lord Meenakshi herself is said to have instructed chidambaramswamy to complete the mission of establishing this temple)


There is a separate sannadhi for Chidambaram swamy in this temple. The swayambu murthy of Lord Kandaswamy with his consorts grace the devotees visiting thiruporur.

How to reach


Thiruporur is well connected to Chennai city by bus. It is 46 km from Chennai on the Old Mahabaliburam road (OMR or IT corridor). Mahabalipuram is 16 Km away from Thirupporur. Thirupporur is also connected to Chengalpet by road.


Temple timings


The temple is open in the mornings from 06:00 am to 12:30 pm & in the evenings from 03:30 pm to 08:30 pm


Temples in proximity 





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