Abhimukeswarar Temple, Kumbakonam, Thanjavur

Abhimukeswarar Temple, Kumbakonam, Thanjavur

Abhimukeswarar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Kumbakonam Town in Thanjavur District in Tamil Nadu. Presiding Deity is called as Abhimukeswarar and Mother is called as Amirthavalli. The temple is one of 12 Shiva temples connected with the Mahamaham festival, which takes place in Kumbakonam every 12 years. This temple is located on the eastern bank of the Mahamaham Tank, Kumbakonam. The temple is important place for Thula Rasi people.

Legends

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2020/06/abhimukeswarar-temple-kumbakonam-legends.html

History

The temple is believed to be 1000 years old. It is believed that Govinda Deekshitar, the minister of Achutha Nayakkar of Thanjavur, renovated the temple during the 16^th century. The last consecration of the temple was held on 26 October 2015.

The Temple

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2020/06/abhimukeswarar-temple-kumbakonam-temple.html

Temple Opening Time

The Temple remains open from 07.00 AM to 12.00 Noon and 04.00 PM to 08.00 PM.

Festivals

Ten days festival during Masi Magam (Kumba Masa Maga Nakshatram), Golu and special poojas to Dakshinamurthy.  

Religious Significance

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2020/06/abhimukeswarar-temple-kumbakonam-religious-significance.html

Prayers

The Temple is praised as a place of solution to any disease. People offer gooseberry to Lord for a healthy life. Those facing adverse aspects of Sani Bhagawan and other planets pray here. Devotees light ghee lamps in the shrine of Sani Bhagawan as a prayer commitment. The faith is that adverse aspects of Planet Sani Bhagawan and that of other planets too would be neutralized if they pray here and light Dhil Oil lamps in the shrine on Saturdays. Mother Amirthavalli is all merciful granting boons to devotees.

Contact

Abhi Mukheswarar Temple,

Kumbakonam,

Thanjavur District – 612 001

Phone: +91 435 242 0187

Connectivity

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2020/06/abhimukeswarar-temple-kumbakonam-connectivity.html

Location

Venkataramana Temple, Gingee Villupuram

Venkataramana Temple, Gingee Villupuram

Venkataramana temple is situated in Gingee Fort near the "Gateway of Pondicherry" in the South, faces East with high gopura. This temple was built by Muthialu Nayaka in 1540 A.D. - 1550 A.D. This temple is the place of worship till date. In this temple there are also deities of Devi, Aandaal and Narasimma. There are two prakarams, Kalyana Mandapa, Urchava Mandapa and Yaga Sala Mandapa with pillars. They are in ruin condition now and also no pooja is performed at present.

This sprawling temple, with its striking sculptures and carved pillars, narrates the aesthetic skills of the Nayaka dynasty. Built by Muthialu Nayaka (1540 -1550 A. D) this is the   largest temple to Gingee during the later Vijayanagar period.

The temple abounds in gopurams, mandapas and sculptured panels depicting gods and goddesses in scenes from the Hindu epics. Many Tamil inscriptions are also found in the walls of the Mandapas. The temple seems to have faced hard times during the French occupation (after 1761 A.D.) From this period the temple experienced forms of decay and old archaeological wealth was plundered by subsequent invaders.

Shri Parswanathar Rock Cut Temple, Atchipakkam, Villupuram

Shri Parswanathar Rock Cut Temple, Atchipakkam, Villupuram

Atchipakkam is a hamlet, 23 kms from Tindivanam in the northeast direction. In the village a monolith rock sculpture was engraved on a hill in the 9th century of Chola period. During the period, it proves many Jains were lived near but no Jains were there now.

The hill lies on the back of a School. Shri Parswanathar, standing posture of 5 feet, with five headed snake backed from top to bottom of the sculpture. On right bottom Shri Dharanendhar, Yaksha in a worshiping posture, left bottom Shri Padmavathi matha hold a long stick umbrella. Right top Kamatan, eight handed figure try to hit with a huge rock on his four hands, two had some weapons, remaining two in threatening posture, shows his enmity on Shri Parswanath.

On the left top King of Devas on a flying vimanam shows his surprise on his face. Total cluster of the sculpture convey the patience and tolerance of Shri Parshwa Jinar. This reveals the Ahimsa consciousness to us. Two rifts are formed on the sculpture of Shri Parswanathar, due to difference of temperature on the rock.

The nearby Peravur Jain families and others were taken a step to build a structure to enclose the sculptures. It was safely locked. Every year on Pongal day, these people conducting a special pooja to the Lord.

Frequent visit to the place by the south Indian Jains shall preserve the treasure.

References

http://www.ahimsaiyatrai.com/

Talagirisvara Temple, Panamalai, Villupuram

Talagirisvara Temple, Panamalai, Villupuram

Talagirisvara Temple is located in Panamalai which lies 23 kilometers from Gingee, Villupuram in Tamil Nadu, India. The site is known as a location to various ancient structural temples built during the Pallava dynasty. One of them is the Talagirisvara Temple.

Panamalai is again in the Senji-Villupuram belt. Here is a stone temple – stated to be the first - built by Rajasimha. This temple is atop a hill surrounded by scenic paddy fields. The shrine known as Talagirisvara is for Lord Shiva. It has Pallava trade mark ‘Somaskanda panel’. It has several ornamentally written Sanskrit inscriptions.  It still retains a small piece of original mural on one of the smaller shrine on the left. Even after 1300 years, the paintings – however vandalized – are beautiful.

Temple

Narasimhavarman II, also known as Rajasimhan is credited with constructing structural temples of Pallava dynasty namely the Shore Temple at Mamallapuram, Kailasanatha and Talagirisvara temple at Panamalai. The temple is built on a small hillock overlooking the Panamalai Lake. This 7th Century structure has a Vimana which resembles that of Kailasanatha temple of Kanchipuram. The garbhagriha houses a Dharalingam and as in Pallava temples of that time, there is a Somaskanda panel on rear wall of the sanctum.

There is an Ardhamandapam (half Mandapam). On the walls of the Ardhamandapam one can see panels of deities such as Brahma with Saraswati and Vishnu with Lakshmi on either side. The shrine faces east and the garbhagriha is surrounded on all the three sides by sub-shrines (Anga Kovil or Limb Shrines – which are attached to the main shrine). 

A few more sub-shrines and a Mahamandapam (a big Mandapam) have been added to the structure at much later period. The Vimana is three tiered and the top tier has been reconstructed. The pillars with squatting lions, a typical Pallava signature can also be found.

The sub-shrine to the north has a small section of mural painting which has survived over the years, bearing testimony to the Pallavas' mastery of the art.

Connectivity

From Gingee: 21 km on SH4 towards Villupuram. At 21 km turn right. After 6.5 km the end of the road would be reached. Turn left. In 2.5 km you would spot the temple to your right. After 2 km, the half km has to be taken on a dirt track that deviates to the left, to reach the base of the hillock, which has the steps to be climbed.  The Panamalai Lake would be to your right, from about 1 km. 

References

https://travel.bhushavali.com/2012/12/panamalai-thalagirishwara-temple.html