Local Temples Around Kumbakonam

Day 4 - Visit to Temples around Kumbakonam

Srimushnam





Temple's main entrance

Nitya Puskarni

Sri Boovaragaswami Temple, is situated at Srimushnam. a village near Chidhambaram of Cuddalore district, Tamilnadu, India.
The original image in marble is said to have been taken away by Krishna Deva Wodeyar of Mysore and installed it at Srirengapattinam. The front Mandapam called Purushasukara Mandapam built in the 17th century looks like a chariot with elegantly carved figures of warriors riding the horses and elephants.
The main deity is not a sculpted idol but an udbhavamurthy of saligrama shilai. It is said that lord vishnu resides in this particular place in three forms. One in the form of tree outside the temple, as the banks of the sacred tank (nithya pushkarni) and in the form of Bhoovaraha Swamy.
'Pavana Vimanam' shelters the Almighty inside the temple complex. Several images of the gods and goddesses adorn the Vahanam. There are many sacred tanks - punya theerthams - embracing the temple. A holy dip in every tank is said to redeem us of our sins.
It is a popular belief that Lord Bhuvarahan is manifested in Ashwatha form. The Ashwatha tree and the 'Nithya Pushkarani' are by the south-eastern corner of the temple. This divine tree is supposed to have withstood the vicissitudes of time, because it has been there from day one. It is believed that childless couples will be blessed with progeny if they circumambulate the tree with devotion. The place has been under the control of Madhwa Brahmins and Lord Hanuman stands as a sentinel near this holy place.

Thiru Velliyangudi
Temple - Kolavilli Raman



Importance - Darsham of the Lord will be equal to the worship of 108Vaishnava sthalas.


Shri Prathiyangera Devi temple,Ayyavadi

Ayyavadi is located 10 Kms from Kumbakonam and 2 Kms from Thirunageswaram (Ragu Sthalam).

Temple entrance


Sri Pratyangira Devi is also associated with Sri Chakra. She is considered to be a powerful repellent of the influences generated by witch-craft. In Sri Cakra worship, she protects the devotees against all odds and guides him/her along the right path.
She is also associated with Bhairava, and she has a variant form viz Atharvana-Bhadra-Kali. In this temple, Goddess is black draped, with weapon in Her hands. Her mobility is by four lions (Simma Vahanam) .

Natchiyarkoil

Temple - Stone Garudha & Srinivasa Perumal fame
Importance - Birth place of Nachiyar.

(Sri Devi) On Thursdays God gives Dharsan with his family (seated) on the stone Garuda. Desires will be fulfilled, if pooja performed.
Mahavishnu's mode of transport, Garuda (celestial bird), is treated on a par with the presiding deity - Thirunaraiyur Nambi - in Nachiyarkoil.

Uppiliappan temple

Temple entrance

Sculptures on gopuram

The Uppiliappan Temple which is also called Thiruvinnagar is a Vishnu temple located near the village of Thirunaageshwaram, Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu. The presiding deity in this temple is Lord Uppiliappan Perumal with his consort Bhumi Devi and her father sage Markandeya. It is regarded as one of the 108 Divya Desams.
Lord Oppliyappan Temple is one of the main pilgrimage centres of South India. Oppiliyappan Sannidhi is one of the most important of the 108 sacred Vaishnavite shrines. It is also called "South Tirupathi".
Salt is not included in any of the offerings made to the deity; hence also, the name Uppiliappan.

Jyothi taking blessing from elephant.


Nageswara temple

Temple entrance.

Possibly the oldest in Kumbakonam, the Nageshwara temple, one of the finest early Chola temples, noted for the quality of its sculpture
The Nataraja shrine here is shaped in the form of a chariot, and the shrine dedicated to the Sun God is of great sculptural significance. So imposing is the shrine to Nataraja, that the hymns of Appar are addressed to Aadalvallar of Kudandai Keezhkottam in awe.
Though the temple is small but it is known for its marvellous architecture that exceeds many of the other Chola temples. The Nritta Sabha, or the dance hall, has an elevated Mandapam with a flight of steps. The 12 zodiac signs, 2 mammoth horses, 4 elephants all in stone adorn the Nataraja shrine

Sarangapani temple

Temple Chariot

Carvings on chariot

The Sarangapani temple is the principal and largest of the Vishnu temples in Kumbakonam dating to the thirteenth-century. It is among the 108 Tirupatis and is given third place next to Srirangam and Tirupati. The shrine is in form of a chariot. A beautiful tank called Hema Pushkarni separates this shrine and the Adi Kumbeshwara temple. The sanctum is designed to resemble a charriot with wheels and horsees.

Brahman Koil :

Bramman temple, also known as Shri Vedanarayana Perumal, is located at the heart of Kumbakonam. The prime deities in this temple are Shri Bramman, Shri Vedhanaraya Perumal, Shri Narasimha moorthy, Elumalayaan Srinivasa Perumal and Shri Aandaal.

Mahamakam Tank

A major festival is held at the sacred Mahamakam Tank once every 12 years, on the full moon day in the month of Magh (Jan/Feb), when Jupiter passes over Leo. At this time the waters of the Ganges, Yamuna, and seven other sacred rivers (Godavari, Kaveri, Krishna, Narmada, Saraswati, Tungabhadra, and Sarayu) are supposed to flow into the tank.