Panduranga Temple, Thennangur, Thiruvannamalai
Panduranga
Temple is dedicated to Hindu God Vishnu located at Thennangur Village in
Thiruvannamalai District of Tamilnadu. The temple was built with a combination
of northern & southern styles of architecture. The temple resembles the
Puri Jagannath temple in Orissa and its front gopurams are constructed in the
Pallava style of architecture.
The primary temple was modeled upon the Puri Jagannath
temple, whereas the outside structure reflects Pandava architecture. The temple
follows both the Orthodox Sampradaya (tradition) of the South and the Bhajan
Sampradaya of the North.
Legends
For
brief details, please refer below link;
The
Temple
The structure
of the temple resembles the Pandaripuram temple in Maharashtra with
Lord Panduranga accompanied by Mother Ragumayee blessing devotees. The
temple was built by the disciple of His Holiness Gnanananda Swamigal, His
Holiness Haridas Giri Swamigal. It is being administered by His
Holiness Namanandagiri Swamigal presently. Lord Panduranga is majestically 12
feet tall made of Salagrama stone. He graces in a standing
posture. Raghumayee nearby is adding beauty to beauty. Nearby, an
idol of Lord Varadharaja and his consorts may be seen.
Another
rare element of this temple is the presence of a historical idol of Achutharaya
Perumal, which was brought from Tirumala Tirupathi. Along with these idols, the
golden idols worshiped by Swami Haridas Giri are present here. Lord Panduranga
showers his blessing as a King of Mathura on Sundays, in a simple form showing
his Lotus feet for the darshan of devotees on Thursdays, with silver coverings
on Fridays & as Lord Venkatachalapathi on Saturdays.
All the
deities related to Sri Chakra worship are in this temple. It is especially
noteworthy that all the deities related to Sri Chakra – Maha Shodasi, Rajarajeshwari,
Saraswathi, Lakshmi, Brahmma, Vishnu, Rudra, Easwara, Vinayaka, Bala,
Annapoorani, Ashwaruda, Rajamadhangi, Varahi, Prathyangira, Sarabeswara, Chakrathaazhwar,
Brahmi, Yoga Narasimha, Agoramurthy, Vanadurga, Parasaraswathi, Medha
Dakshinamurthy, Subramanya, Chandi Mahalakshmi, Maheswari, Gaumari, Vaishnavi,
Mahendri, Chamunda, Mahalakshmi are in the temple in idol forms.
Lord
appears in fruit Alankara on the Tamil New Year day-Vishu Kani Utsav. On
the Gokhulashtami day, Vaishnava Muthangi Sevai is followed. Lord appears in
many alluring forms as Rajagopala, Giridhari holding the Govardhana Hill, as
Geethacharya, as Parthasarathy and Radhakrishna.
It is said that Lord
played his flute under the Thamala tree (the sacred tree of the temple) in
Dwapara Yuga which drew Radha towards him. It is noteworthy that this
Thamala tree is brought to South. Dwarapalaka idols are made of Panchaloka
– a mixture of five metals.
The
famous Sri Panduranga temple was built with a combination of northern and
southern styles of architecture. The temple resembles the Puri Jagannath temple
in Orissa and its front gopurams are constructed in the Pallava style of
architecture.
The primary temple was modeled upon the Puri Jagannath temple
whereas the outside structure reflects Pallava architecture. The temple
features a 120 ft tower (Vimanam) topped by a 9-1/2 ft gold Kalasam with the
Sudarsana Chakra (disc of Panduranga), and a saffron-colored flag flying above
the tower.
It is
not simply wonderful but thrilling to see a tower of this stature facing
east. Passing the Balipeeta, there is the 16 pillared Maha
Mandap. Entering the Mahamandapam, one feels that he/she had entered
the gates of Paradise.
Baghwan Garuda is occupying the centre space
as a Gem. Lord Govindaraja Perumal enjoys and graces the Wedding festival
in the mandapam as in Tirupathi except on Saturdays. The Brindavan of His
Holiness Gnanananda Swamigal adds more sanctity to the temple.
Another
specialty of this temple is the divine marriage i.e. Nitya Kalyana Utsavam is
being performed daily between 10 A.M to 12 noon on the weekdays and between 2
P.M to 4 P.M on Sundays. This temple has a unique Art decoration, first of its
kind in India, where mural forms are embedded on the walls and ceiling of Ardha
Mantapam and Maha Mantapam specially conceived and erected by Sri Natanam, the
renowned Mural Architect.
A huge Namasankeerthanam Hall with all the Bhagavatha
Saints with their images have been decorated beautifully and it is unique.
It
carries the message of Sage 'Suka' in its physical form. An auditorium to
accommodate more than 1000 persons with a huge stage and attendant implements
in completed to conduct external events, discourses and other like gatherings.
The
temple follows both the Orthodox Sampradaya (tradition) of the South and the
Bhajan Sampradaya of the North. The men before entering the sanctum sanctorum
are supposed to remove their garments on the upper part of their bodies which
is a temple regulation followed by one and all.
Temple
Opening Time
The
temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 12.00 a.m. and from 4.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.
Festivals
The
temple is famous for the Vishukani Utsav festival that falls on Tamil New
Year’s Day. The Muthangi Sevai festival is celebrated on the day of
Gokhulashtami that falls between August and September, when the Lord Krishna is
decorated in various Alankarams (styles) as Rajagopala, Govinda-Giridari
holding the Govardhana hill, Parthasarathy and Child Krishna.
Prayers
Prayer
is the best path to reach God. Everyone can do the worship depending
on their means and knowledge. The significance of the temple is the Nama
Sankeerthanam principles followed in worships because Music takes the soul to
God. Devotees pray for child boon. Devotees perform pujas to Lord and Mother
with Vastras.
Contact
Sri
Panduranga-Ragumayee Temple,
Thennangur,
Thiruvannamalai District,
Phone: +91 – 4183 – 225 808
Connectivity
For
brief details, please refer below link;