Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Ooty, Nilgiris

Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Ooty, Nilgiris

Kasi Viswanathar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Ooty Town in Ooty Taluk of Nilgiris District of Tamilnadu. Presiding Deity is called as Kasi Viswanathar and Mother is called as Visalakshi. This place is called as Tirukandhal during ancient times. This is the only Shiva temple in Nilgiris with Lord Dakshinamurthy.

The Temple

Presiding Deity is called as Kasi Viswanathar. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam. The Linga installed is a Banalinga. Banalinga is one that has a line as if wearing the sacred thread. One Spadika Linga (made of crystal) is equal to 1000 Lingas made of stone and one Banalinga is equal to 12 lakh Spadika Linga. This is not designed or made by anybody. Mother is called as Visalakshi.

This is the only Shiva temple in Nilgiris with Lord Dakshinamurthy. Dakshinamurthy in the temple is different here with a Chin Mudra (Keeping the thumb and next pointing finger together while the other three are left alone. The thumb is Paramatma. The next one is Jeevatma. The other fingers represent pride, continuation of the fate from earlier births and the third illusion preventing the Jeevatma towards Paramatma). Those desirous of wisdom and renunciation should worship this Dakshinamurthy.

The Siddha Mutt was established in the year 1882 by His Holiness Ekambara Desikar. He embraced the ascetic life suddenly a day. He wandered in the jungles and hills of Nilgiris doing penance. As he very often went deep into meditation, his disciples were performing the services. After his life time, other Siddhas were maintaining and managing the mutt. One Raya Boyar installed the Banalinga and built the temple. The tombs of all the Siddhas are in the temple complex.

Temple Opening Time

The temple remains open from 6.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. and 5.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.

Festivals

3 days Maha Shivrathri is the main festival of the temple drawing a crowd of over 50,000. The crowd would be more on New Year day, other Shiva related days and Pradosha days (13^th day either from new moon or full moon days).

Prayers

The worship in the temple brings the devotee benefits as a happy marriage, child boon and mental peace. People perform abhishekam with milk, oils, green coconut etc. Some undergo fasting and do charities as such practices bring them greater benefits. As this is a very famous temple in Nilgiris, devotees pray here followed by feeding and offer nivedhanas to the Lord and distribute to other devotees visiting he temple.

Contact

Kasi Viswanathar Temple,

Ooty, Nilgiris District – 643 006

Phone: +91 423 244 6717

Connectivity

The Temple is located at about 2.5 Kms from Ooty, 3 Kms from Ooty Bus Stand, 3.5 Kms from Ooty Railway Station, 23 Kms from Coonoor, 33 Kms from Kotagiri, 54 Kms from Mettupalayam Railway Station, 87 Kms from Coimbatore and 98 Kms from Coimbatore Airport. Ooty is well connected to Coimbatore, Kerala and Karnataka.

Location

Kadanadu View Point, Ooty, Nilgiris

Kadanadu View Point, Ooty, Nilgiris

Kadanadu View Point is located in picturesque Nilgiris Hills near Ooty Town in Ooty Taluk of Nilgiris District of Tamilnadu. Tourists get enchanting views of surrounding valleys, forests and distant view of Masinagudi from this View Point. Kadanadu View Point is located at about 19 Kms from Ooty, 18 Kms from Ooty Bus Stand, 18 Kms from Ooty Railway Station, 35 Kms from Coonoor, 35 Kms from Kotagiri, 67 Kms from Mettupalayam Railway Station, 99 Kms from Coimbatore and 111 Kms from Coimbatore Airport. Private Taxis are available from Ooty and Coonoor to reach this place.

Location

Vana Durga Temple, Gudalur, Nilgiris

Vana Durga Temple, Gudalur, Nilgiris

Vana Durga Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Goddess Durga, located in Gudalur Town near Ooty Hill Station in Gudalur Taluk in Nilgiris District of Tamilnadu. It is one of the oldest temples in Gudalur. Vana Durga Temple is located at about 350 meters from Gudalur Bus Stand, 50 Kms from Nilambur Railway Station, 52 Kms from Ooty, 51 Kms from Ooty Bus Stand, 51 Kms from Ooty Railway Station, 89 Kms from Malappuram, 70 Kms from Coonoor, 80 Kms from Kotagiri, 101 Kms from Mettupalayam Railway Station, 134 Kms from Coimbatore and 146 Kms from Coimbatore Airport. Gudalur is well connected to Ooty, Coonoor, Kotagiri and Kerala by Bus and private taxis.

Location

Devala Waterfalls, Gudalur, Nilgiris

Devala Waterfalls, Gudalur, Nilgiris

Devala Waterfalls is situated near Gudalur Town near Ooty Hill Station in Gudalur Taluk in Nilgiris District of Tamilnadu. It is a small waterfall situated on the way to wild planet jungle resort. The water is crystal clear, and the place is hidden deep inside the forests. This place is not for women and Kids. The stream originating from here flows to Kerala and reaches Maruthappuzha in Malappuram district of Kerala. Devala is a very scenic place with undulating tea estates and lush green villages. This place receives rainfall throughout the year. Hence this place is called as Cherrapunji of the South.

Devala Waterfalls is located at about 19 Kms from Gudalur, 19 Kms from Gudalur Bus Stand, 45 Kms from Nilambur Railway Station, 69 Kms from Ooty, 68 Kms from Ooty Bus Stand, 68 Kms from Ooty Railway Station, 83 Kms from Malappuram, 87 Kms from Coonoor, 97 Kms from Kotagiri, 118 Kms from Mettupalayam Railway Station, 152 Kms from Coimbatore and 164 Kms from Coimbatore Airport. Devala Waterfalls is situated on the Gudalur – Pandalur road.

Location

Cauliflower Shola, Ooty, Nilgiris

Cauliflower Shola, Ooty, Nilgiris

Cauliflower Shola are the Shola forest patch, situated on Avalanche Lake to Upper Bhavani Dam route. It is situated in Ooty Taluk in Nilgiris District of Tamil Nadu. This shola forest looks like cauliflower canopy. The trees resemble just like Broccoli and Cauliflower. Sholas are the local name for patches of stunted tropical montane forest found in valleys amid rolling grassland in the higher montane regions of South India. These patches of shola forest are found mainly in the valleys and are usually separated from one another by undulating montane grassland.

The shola and grassland together form the shola-grassland complex or mosaic. The word 'Shola' is probably derived from the Tamil language word Solai meaning grove. The shola-forest and grassland complex has been described as a climatic climax vegetation with forest regeneration and expansion restricted by climatic conditions such as frost or soil characteristics while others have suggested that it may have anthropogenic origins in the burning and removal of forests by early herders and shifting agriculturists.

Connectivity

Cauliflower Shola is located at about 26 Kms from Ooty, 26 Kms from Ooty Bus Stand, 27 Kms from Ooty Railway Station, 44 Kms from Coonoor, 56 Kms from Kotagiri, 76 Kms from Mettupalayam Railway Station, 106 Kms from Coimbatore and 119 Kms from Coimbatore Airport. Visitors should note that as the Cauliflower Shola is situated in the Nilgiri Biosphere reserve, prior permission is needed from the forest office in Ooty. Private vehicles are not allowed into the Sanctuary and visitors have to take Forest Department mini bus for a 2 hours ride into the Sanctuary, covering Lakes, Dams, Bhavani Temple and Hydro Power Plants.

The bus starts from Forest Department Check Post 3 Kms before the Avalanche Lake. The buses are run between 9 AM to 3 PM (2 hours ride) at specific intervals. It is advised to take the 9 AM bus to have better chances of wildlife sighting. Jeeps are also available for a group of 8 people. It is therefore best to arrive early and get the tickets, especially during peak season and holidays.

Location

Catherine Falls, Kotagiri, Nilgiris

Catherine Falls, Kotagiri, Nilgiris

Catherine Falls is a double-cascaded waterfall located near Kotagiri Town in Kotagiri Taluk in Nilgiris District of Tamil Nadu. It is also a major tourist spot in Kotagiri, located on the Mettupalayam road branching off at Aravenu. This water fall has both lower and upper falls. The upper fall drops to the floor, and is the second highest in the Nilgiri mountains. It falls from a height of 250 ft into the Kallar River. The waters from the upper stream of the Kallar River are crossed by the invisible Mettupalayam-Ooty road beyond the mountains in the south-west.

Catherine Falls is named after the wife of M.D. Cockburn, believed to have introduced the coffee plantation to Kotagiri. The local people call the waterfall as the Geddhehaada Halla which means the 'Foothills of the Dale River'.  These cascading falls are surrounded by beautiful views of forest, tea plantations and the Mettupalayam plains. The falls are clearly visible from the top of Dolphin's Nose and this is the only place where you can get to full view of the Falls.

Catherine Falls is located at about 300 meters from Adubettu Bus Stop, 4 Kms from Kotagiri, 7 Kms from Kotagiri Bus Stand, 18 Kms from Coonoor, 20 Kms from Coonoor Railway Station, 30 Kms from Mettupalayam Railway Station, 37 Kms from Ooty, 63 Kms from Coimbatore and 70 Kms from Coimbatore Airport. Private Taxis are available from Ooty and Coonoor to reach this place.

Though it's not possible to reach the foot of this waterfall, one can go to top of the falls for a truly spectacular view. From a small town called Aravenu on the Kotagiri / Mettupalayam Road, one has to go via Moon Road to reach the falls. About 2-3 Kms trek is required from the nearest road to reach the falls.

Location

Adhirangam Ranganatha Swamy Temple, Adhi Thiruvarangam, Kallakurichi

Adhirangam Ranganatha Swamy Temple, Adhi Thiruvarangam, Kallakurichi

Adhirangam Ranganatha Swamy Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Adhi Thiruvarangam in Sankarapuram Taluk in Kallakurichi District of Tamil Nadu. Presiding Deity is called as Ranganatha Swamy and Mother is called as Ranganayaki. The Temple is constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture and is believed to have been built by the Medieval Cholas, with later contributions from Vijayanagar kings. The temple covers an area of 2 acres (8,100 m2) and has a historical grain storage container. The Temple is situated on the banks of the now completely dry South Pennai River.

Though it is an ancient temple it is not a Divya Desam. The temple is considered as Periya Perumal Temple, since the image of presiding Ranganathar is larger than the one found at Ranganathar Temple at Srirangam. Six daily rituals and a dozen yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the chariot festival, celebrated during the Tamil month of Chithirai (March–April), is the most prominent. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.

Legends

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2019/03/adhirangam-ranganatha-swamy-temple-adhi-thiruvarangam-legends.html

The Temple

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2019/03/adhirangam-ranganatha-swamy-temple-adhi-thiruvarangam-temple.html

Temple Opening Time

The Temple remains open from 06.00 a.m. to 7.30 p.m. continuously without any break.

Religious Practices & Festivals

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2019/03/adhirangam-ranganatha-swamy-temple-adhi-thiruvarangam-religious-practices-and-festivals.html

Literary Mention

It is generally said that this shrine is not mentioned by Azhwars in their Mangalasasanam hymns. Yet, according to researchers, the verse beginning with the line “Voruvadal” and in other ten verses beginning with the line “Ezhai Edhalan” by Tirumangai Azhwar contains the Mangalasasanam respect, quoting epigraphic details. Sri Vedanta Desikan’s Nipasa Thilakam also has a mention about the temple.

Prayers

Devotees prayer here for good education (as the Lord initiated Brahma with the Vedic lessons), Progeny (as the Lord granted the wishes of the King who prayed here) and one’s overall wellbeing as Lord Ranganatha himself directed that an image of his be created at this place

Contact

Adhirangam Ranganatha Swamy Temple,

Adhi Thiruvarangam, Via Kadambur,

Sankarapuram Taluk,

Kallakurichi District – 605 802

Phone: +91 4153 293 677

Mobile: +91 94446 91885 / 94429 83479

Connectivity

The Temple is located at about 6 Kms from Manalurpettai, 9 Kms from Jambai, 20 Kms from Thirukovilur, 20 Kms from Thirukovilur Bus Stand, 21 Kms from Thirukovilur Railway Station, 42 Kms from Kallakurichi, 55 Kms from Villupuram, 57 Kms from Villupuram Railway Junction, 172 Kms from Trichy Airport and 201 Kms from Chennai Airport. There are frequent buses available for every half an hour from Thirukovilur to Manalurpettai. Take Mini Buses or Local Buses or Autos from Manalurpettai to reach Adhirangam. One can reach the Northern banks of the temple and cross the Pennai river to reach the temple. There are also buses that reach the Southern side of the temple, in which case there will be no need for one to cross the river). It is also easily approached from south via Kallakurichi / Salem on the Ulundurpet Salem highway.

Location

Adhirangam Ranganatha Swamy Temple, Adhi Thiruvarangam – Religious Practices & Festivals

Adhirangam Ranganatha Swamy Temple, Adhi Thiruvarangam – Religious Practices & Festivals

Religious Practices:

The temple priests perform the pooja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. As at other Vishnu temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the Vaishnavaite community, a Brahmin sub-caste. The temple rituals are performed six times a day: Ushathkalam at 7 a.m., Kalasanthi at 8:00 a.m., Uchikalam at 12:00 p.m., Sayarakshai at 6:00 p.m., Irandamkalam at 7:00 p.m. and Ardha Jamam at 10:00 p.m. Each ritual has three steps: alangaram (decoration), neivethanam (food offering) and deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for both Ranganatha Perumal and Ranganayaki.

During the last step of worship, nagaswaram (pipe instrument) and tavil (percussion instrument) are played, religious instructions in the Vedas (sacred text) are recited by priests, and worshippers prostrate themselves in front of the temple mast. There are weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals performed in the temple. The image of the presiding deity is made of stucco and hence sacred ablutions are not performed for it. The temple follows Vaikasana Agama.

Festivals:

Daily 6 times poojas are conducted. Vaikunta Ekadashi, Krishna Janmashtami, Ramanavami, Adi Pooram, Pournami, Purattasi Saturday and Karthikai Deepam are celebrated in this temple with much fanfare. The prime temple festival, the Brahmotsavam, has been suspended for many years on account of poor patronage. The 10 days Chariot procession festival will be conducted during Chitra month. 

Adhirangam Ranganatha Swamy Temple, Adhi Thiruvarangam – Legends

Adhirangam Ranganatha Swamy Temple, Adhi Thiruvarangam – Legends

Lord Vishnu saved Vedas from demon Somukan:

As per Hindu legend, a demon king named Somukan stole all the Vedas from the Devas and all the sages were worried. The Devas and Sages approached Brahma who in turn sought the help of Lord Vishnu. Finding out the hide-out of the Asura under the sea, Lord Vishnu took the form of Matsya and defeated the Asura and handed back the Vedic scriptures to Brahma. It is believed that the Lord initiated the Vedic lessons to Brahma in this place.

One sees the Lord with his left thumb folded towards his fingers in a posture indicating this. Then, Devas appealed to Lord Vishnu that he should make this place his abode. Responding to their prayers, Lord Vishnu called the divine sculptor Vishwakarma and ordered him to make an idol. Vishwakarma made a big Idol in a reclining form similar to Lord Vishnu abode in Parkadal and installed here. Lord Vishnu fulfilled the prayer of the Devas and is gracing devotes from this temple.

Suratha Keerthi was blessed with Children:

In Kretha Yugam, a king by name Suratha Keerthi lived a prosperous life but he had one unfulfilled wish. He did not have a child. As suggested by Sage Narada, he came, with his wife, to the place where Lord Ranganatha was sleeping under Adisesha and undertook penance. Answering his prayers, he was blessed with four children.

Chandran got relieved of his curse:

Chandran, who showed love to only one of his 27 wives, was cursed by his other wives to lose his handsome looks. Chandra-Moon due to the curse of his wives lost his luster and began to fade. As advised by Maharshi Naradha, he came to this place. He established a tank to southeast of this temple and worshipped Ranganatha with the holy waters and believed to have been relieved off his curse. The temple tank, Chandra Pushkarani, is believed to be the tank he established.

Lord Vishnu darshan to Mahabali & Azhwars:

Ranganatha Perumal is believed to have appeared here to king Mahabali and the Azhwars.

Adhi Rangam:

This temple dates back to the first Yugam (Kretha Yugam) and the first Avathaaram (Matsya Avathaaram). Hence, this Kshetram is referred to as Adhi Rangam.

References in Purana:

Reference to this temple is found in Skanda Puranam Uthara Kaandam - 301-306 Adhyayam under Uthara Ranga Mahatmiyam.