Ishta Siddheeswarar Temple, Kanchipuram

Ishta Siddheeswarar Temple, Kanchipuram

Ishta Siddheeswarar is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Kanchipuram City in Kanchipuram District of Tamil Nadu. This Temple is considered as one of the 108 Shiva temples mentioned in Kanchi Puranam. The Temple is also called as Ishta Siddheesam. The temple is situated on the banks of Ishta Siddhi Theertham on the right side immediately after the Rajagopuram of Kachabeswarar Temple.

Legends

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2021/02/ishta-siddheeswarar-temple-kanchipuram-legends.html

The Temple

This Temple is facing towards east with an entrance arch on the northern side. The temple is situated on the banks of Ishta Siddhi Theertham on the right side immediately after the Rajagopuram of Kachabeswarar Temple. Nandi and Balipeedam can be found facing the sanctum. The Sanctum Sanctorum consists of Sanctum, Ardha Mandapam and Mukha Mandapam. Presiding Deity is called as Ishta Siddheeswarar and is facing east. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam.

Idols of Nagas can be found in front of this temple. The temple tank, Ishta Siddhi Theertham can be found immediately on the right side after the Rajagopuram. Ishta Siddhi Theertham contains Dharma Theertham, Ardha Theertham, Kama Theertham and Mukthi Theertham. There are four shrines of Lord Shiva around the temple tank, Ishta Siddhi Theertham, namely Dharma Siddheswarar, Kama Siddheswarar, Artha Siddheeswarar and Moksha Siddheswarar.

Temple Opening Time

The Temple remain open from 07.00 AM to 11.30 AM and 04.30 PM to 08.30 PM.

Prayers

It is belief that those who take bath in Ishta Siddhi Theertham will be blessed by Lord Shiva with wealth, joy, home and healthy life. It is considered auspicious to take bath in Sundays. Those who donate in the banks of this Theertham, would make their Punniyam (Virtues) multiplied by several times.

Connectivity

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2021/02/kachabeswarar-temple-kanchipuram-connectivity.html

Location

Kachabeswarar Temple, Kanchipuram

Kachabeswarar Temple, Kanchipuram

Kachabeswarar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Kanchipuram City in Kanchipuram District of Tamil Nadu. Presiding Deity is called as Kachabeswarar and Mother is called as Sundarambigai. This Temple is considered as one of the 108 Shiva temples mentioned in Kanchi Puranam. The Temple is also called as Kachabesam. The temple is under the control of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu.

Legends

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2021/02/kachabeswarar-temple-kanchipuram-legends.html

History

This temple was believed to be built by Pallavas. The temple was mentioned as Kachipedu and Lord of this temple was mentioned as Kachaalai Udaiya Nayanar as per the inscriptions. The temple was extensively renovated by Cholas and Vijayanagara Kings. This temple finds mention in Thandi Alangaram, a 10^th century Tamil grammar  work.

"கனல் மழுவன் கச்சாலை எம்மான்'

The Temple

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2021/02/kachabeswarar-temple-kanchipuram-temple.html

Temple Opening Time

The Temple remain open from 07.00 AM to 11.30 AM and 04.30 PM to 08.30 PM.

Festivals

Chithirai Brahmotsavam, Chitra Poornima, Diwali, Margazhi Thiruvadhirai, Shivaratri and Pradoshams are celebrated here.

Prayers

Those who worship Kachabeswarar will be relieved from their sorrows & sufferings and attain salvation. People worship Lord Shiva to get relief from ear related problems, for child boon, to remove marriage obstacles, relief from diseases, for wealth & knowledge and for employment. People worship Sathya Mozhi Vinayagar to overcome all troubles and sufferings in life and fulfil their wishes. It is belief that those who take bath in Ishta Siddhi Theertham will be blessed by Lord Shiva with wealth, joy, home and healthy life. It is considered auspicious to take bath in Sundays. Those who donate in the banks of this Theertham, would make their Punniyam (Virtues) multiplied by several times.

Contact

Kachabeswarar Temple,

Kanchipuram – 631 502

Phone: +91 44 2723 3384

Mobile: +91 82481 14974 / 96776 53044

Connectivity

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2021/02/kachabeswarar-temple-kanchipuram-connectivity.html

Location | Photos

Maha Magam Tank, Kumbakonam, Thanjavur

Maha Magam Tank, Kumbakonam, Thanjavur

Mahamaham Tank is a huge temple tank located in Kumbakonam Town in Thanjavur District of Tamil Nadu. It is considered to be the foremost and one of the largest temple tanks in Tamil Nadu. It covers an area of 6.2 acres and is trapezoidal in shape. The tank is surrounded by 16 small Mandapams (shrines) and has 20 wells inside the tank. Maha Maham Festival is an annual event that occurs in the Tamil month of Masi (February–March) in the star of Magam. Once in twelve years, when the planet Guru (Jupiter) enters the sign Simha (Leo), the Kumbh mela festival of South India is celebrated at Mahamaham tank. It draws close to 2 million visitors.

Legends

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2020/06/maha-magam-tank-kumbakonam-legends.html

History

The antiquity of the Mahamaham is deduced from the architectural and epigraphical patterns. In the northern bank mandapa, there is an inscription of Tulapurshadana, a practice of weighing oneself against gold. The ceremony is observed during various times like equinoxes, commencement of an era (Yuga) and its ending, eclipses and Makara Sankranti. The ceremony is usually performed in sacred places like temples, rivers and tanks. The amount of gold thus weighed is distributed among deserving men. Govinda Dikshitar, the chieftain of Raghunatha Nayak of Thanjavur, constructed the sixteen Mandapams and stone steps around this tank. The visit of Krishandevaraya during 1445 to attend the Maha Magam festival is recorded in an inscription in the gopuram of Nagalapuram and is also recorded in the inscription found in the Shiva temple in Kuthalam.

The Tank

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2020/06/maha-magam-tank-kumbakonam-tank.html

Festivals

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2020/06/maha-magam-tank-kumbakonam-festivals.html

Religious Significance

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2020/06/maha-magam-tank-kumbakonam-religious-significance.html

Literary Mention

Bhavishya Purana mentions the importance of Mahamaham and the importance of the festival as a narrative of Shiva to all celestial deities as under:

“Let all of you this very day go to Kumbakonam, a spot dear to me and to Vishnu and bathe there is the nectar full tank created by the directions of the Parabrahman. Do bathe in the presence of Kumbesvara in Vrishabha lagna on this Mahamagam day, the full-moon day combined with Mahga star with Jupiter in the sign of Leo. Thereby you will get rid of all your accumulated sins and regain power to wipe off the sins of others”

Sekkizhar, saint author of Periyapuranam notes the holy rivers as;

“பூமருவும் கங்கை முதல் புனிதமாம் பெருந்தீர்த்தம்
மாமகந்தான் ஆடுவதற்கு வந்து வழி படுங்கோவில்”

meaning a dip in the holy tank on the Mahamaham day is equivalent to dip in all holy rivers and leads to worldly prosperity. 

Appar, the 7th-century saint poet mentions the subtle presence of holy rivers like the Ganges in the Mahamaham tank in Thiruthandakam.

“தாவிமுதற் காவிரிநல் யமுனை கங்கை
சரஸ்வதிபொற் றாமரைபுட் கரணி தெண்ணீர்க்
கோவியோடு குமரிவரு தீர்த்தஞ் சூழ்ந்த
குடந்தைக்கீழ் கோட்டத்தெங் கூத்தனாரே"

Connectivity

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2020/06/maha-magam-tank-kumbakonam-connectivity.html

Location

Sangu Theertham, Thirukazhukundram, Chengalpattu

Sangu Theertham, Thirukazhukundram, Chengalpattu

Sangu Theertham is situated in Thirukazhukundram Town. Sangu Theertham is the most renowned holy tank. It is said that, a conch emerges from this Theertham once in 12 years. Sangu Theertham is associated with the Thirukazhukundram Vedagiriswarar Temple.

Legends

Unique phenomenon of birth of Conch:

It is believed that Saint Markandeya, came down here after visiting Benares. He wished to have a bath in the sacred tank and perform abhishekam to the Siva lingam here, but he found no vessel to take the water. Just then a conch suddenly emerged from the tank, with a humming sound, and Markandeya performed the abhishekam. It is said that even now once in 12 years, a conch emerges from this water, which the temple authorities collect with all honors and preserve in the temple in an enclosed glass box with dates mentioned therein. It is astonishing that a conch gets formed in fresh water since the natural phenomenon of a birth of a conch can happen only in salt water. Abhishekam is performed to Lord Vedagiriswarar with the collected conches on the last Monday in the Tamil month of Karthigai.

Sangu Theertha Pushkara Mela:

According to the Sthalapuranam, Lord Siva himself has declared that this tank is the holiest of all, and as per his command, all the sacred waters in India meet here once in 12 years when Guru (Jupiter) enters Kanya Rasi (Virgo). The event is conducted as a festival called Sangu Thirtha Pushkara Mela, when there is a huge gathering from all parts of the country. This being the second biggest bathing festival in the South, next to the Maha Maham.

There is an interesting story prevalent with respect to the origination of Sangu Theertha Pushkara Mela festival. There occurred a tussle of proving supremacy amongst various rivers such as Ambai, Indraputra, Rudra, Cauvery, Pamba, Yamuna, Thamirabarani, Vaigai, to name a few. Each one touted itself to be the best. The rivers then decided to worship Lord Vedagiriswarar by taking bath in the Sangu Theertham.

The Lord appeared before the rivers and told them that none of them was superior before the conch that appeared in the tank, which was used to perform abhishekam to Lord. The rivers felt ashamed about their mean fight and then decided to take bath in the Sangu Theertham during the day of transition of Jupiter into Virgo rasi.

Theertham

It is an extensive tank of 1,000 square yards area, with wide steps on all sides. It is said that even now once in 12 years, a conch emerges from this water, which the temple authorities collect with all honours and preserve in the temple. There is a collection of about 1,000 conches in this temple, with which, abhishekam is performed to Lord Vedagiriswarar on the last Monday in the Tamil month of Karthigai.

The first conch is believed to be of the age of Sage Markandeya. For rest, the dates are mentioned in the picture. Water from this Theertham is taken for the Abishekam of the deities. It has been demonstrated that the water in the tank contains mineral properties capable of curing diseases if taken for a long period.

Festivals

Sangu Thirtha Pushkara Mela is celebrated here once in 12 years when Guru (Jupiter) enters Kanya Rasi (Virgo). This festival is being the second biggest bathing festival in the South, next to the Maha Maham. It is during Sangu Theertha Pushkara mela, Laksha Deepam festival will be celebrated, wherein lakhs of deepams will be lit along the steps of the Sangu Theertham, streets, houses and temples, lighting up the whole town.

Connectivity

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2019/09/vedagiriswarar-temple-thirukalukundram-connectivity.html

Location

Danda Theertham, Srimushnam, Cuddalore

Danda Theertham, Srimushnam, Cuddalore

Danda Theertham is a Holy pond sacred to Madhwa Sect, located in Srimushnam in Cuddalore District of Tamil Nadu. Once, Sri Madhwacharya was camping in Srimushnam, observing the Chathur Masa Vratha. To quench the thirst of a pregnant lady, he struck his sannyasi danda to the ground and miraculously abundance of fresh water emerged. This Holy Spot came to be called as Danda Theertham. To this day, Danda Theertham, provides the best pure drinking water in this locality. Danda Theertham is situated at about 1.5 Kms from Bhu Varaha Swamy Temple, Srimushnam.

Connectivity

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2019/01/bhu-varaha-swamy-temple-srimushnam-connectivity.html

Location

Ezhukadal Theertham, Madurai

Ezhukadal Theertham, Madurai

Ezhukadal Theertham is located on the eastern side of the Meenakshi Amman Temple, this is one of the Theerthams of the Meenakshi temple located outside the temple. It is considered that the well was brought by Lord Shiva for his mother in law with the waters of the holy seven seas. According to legend, Kanchanamala, the mother of Meenakshi, wished to take a sacred bath in the seven seas. To impress his mother-in-law Lord Siva miraculously brought water from the seven seas to Madurai and formed a tank here to store the water. The mother-in-law was pleased and took a bath in the tank, and locals say that this water used to be taken from the tank for Abishekam inside the temple.

Elukadal Street is running parallel to Amman Sannadhi Street, its name means ‘seven seas’ and runs in front of the Chokkanathan shrine. There was a large tank in the street, but the tank has since been covered up and a huge building has been built for traders. The Theertham is situated in the heart of the city. The Theertham is located at about 400 meters from Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple, 1.5 Kms from Koodal Azhagar Temple, 1.5 Kms from Periyar Bus Stand, 5 Kms from Mattuthavani Integrated Bus Terminus, 9 Kms from Thiruparankundram, 2 Kms from Madurai Railway Junction and 12 Kms from Madurai Airport. It is very easy to reach this Theertham as it is situated very near to both the bus stand and the railway station. 

Location

Vadaranyeswarar Temple, Mayiladuthurai

Vadaranyeswarar Temple, Mayiladuthurai

Vadaranyeswarar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Mayiladuthurai Town in Mayiladuthurai Taluk in Mayiladuthurai District of Tamil Nadu. Presiding Deity is called as Vadaranyeswarar / Vallalar / Kai Kaattum Vallalar and Mother is called as Gnanambigai. This Temple is also called as Vallalar Koil. This temple is highly popular for the Medha Dakshinamurthy (Guru Bhagawan) shrine. This temple is considered as one of the Pancha Dakshinamoorthy Sthalams around Mayiladuthurai. This temple is considered as one of the Vallal Temples of Mayiladuthurai. The temple is situated on the northern bank of river Cauvery in Uttara (North) Mayuram.

Legends

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2017/02/vadaranyeswarar-temple-vallalar-koil.html

History

The temple is believed to be built by Cholas. Uttara Mayura Mahatmiyam in Sanskrit gives the history of the place in 20 chapters. Maha Vidwan Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai has sung the history of the temple in Tamil. The temple is under the control of Dharmapuram Aadheenam.  

The Temple

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2017/02/vadaranyeswarar-temple-vallalar-koil_3.html

Temple Opening Time

The temple remains open from 7.00 a.m. to 12.00 noon and from 4.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m.

Festivals

Aipasi Thula month festival and the new moon day of the Aippasi (Oct-Nov) and Maha Abishekam to Lord Medha Dakshinamurthy on the last Thursday of Karthikai (Nov-Dec) are the festivals celebrated in this temple. Maha Shivarathri, Karthikai, Pournami, Aippasi Annabishekam, Panguni Uthiram, Masi Makam, Karthigai Deepam, Guru Peyarchi, Arudhra Dharisanam, Aadi Pooram, Thursdays, Pradoshams and Navaratri are the other festivals celebrated in this temple.

Religious Significance

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2021/02/vadaranyeswarar-temple-mayiladuthurai-religious-significance.html

Prayers

This temple is considered as Parihara Sthalam for Guru. Those seeking wedding, child boons, relief from arrogant qualities, wisdom and excellence in education are advised to worship Medha Dakshinamurthy here. Those bathing in Rishaba Theertham get the benefit of snana (bathing) in holy rivers as Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswathi, Narmada and Tambiraparani. The bath also endows the devotees of the benefit of reading the 18 puranas. It is believed that those who take bath in this Gnanamrutha Saras on Karthigai Somavaram (Mondays) will be blessed with peace and plenty. People facing adverse aspects of Jupiter use to have a dip Gnanamrutha Saras.

Contact

Vadaranyeswarar Temple (Vallalar Koil),

Mayiladuthurai – 609 002

Mayiladuthurai Taluk,

Mayiladuthurai District

Phone: +91 4364 228 846 / 242 996

Connectivity

The Temple is located at about 1 Km from Mayiladuthurai Old Bus Stand, 1.5 Kms from Mayiladuthurai New Bus Stand, 4 Kms from Mayiladuthurai Junction Railway Station, 36 Kms from Kumbakonam, 110 Kms from Puducherry Airport and 128 Kms from Trichy Airport. Mayiladuthurai is situated on Kumbakonam to Poompuhar route. Mayiladuthurai is connected by rail with most important towns and cities in South India. 

Mayiladuthurai Junction railway station is located on the main line connecting the state capital Chennai with Trichy. The Mysuru – Mayiladuthurai Express connects Mayiladuthurai, Thanjavur, Kumbakonam and Trichy with Mysuru and Bengaluru. There are regular express trains that connect the city with major cities in the state like Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore and Trichy. There are passenger trains that connects Mayiladuthurai with Thanjavur, Trichy, Thiruvarur, Chidambaram and Viluppuram.

Location | Photos