Sri Sarangapani perumal temple, Chakrapani perumal temple and Ramar temple, Kumbakonam
Chakrapani temple
Ramar temple
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.
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
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
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
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
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.
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
Thiruvidanthai
Nithya Kalayana Perumal temple,
Sthala Sayana Perumal temple, Mahabalipuram
Chemmenchery Srinivasa temple,
Pudupakkam Anjaneya temple.
Sthala Sayana Perumal temple, Mahabalipuram
Chemmenchery Srinivasa temple,
Pudupakkam Anjaneya temple.