Karur by Road

I went on a business trip to Karur by Road this past Thursday (11 Dec 08)- Karthikai Pournami (Full Moon day of the month of Karthikai). On the way we stopped by at Singaperumal Kovil to visit the Lord Narasimha Temple, legend goes the idol is swambu or rather it appeared (nobody has installed it). Lord Narasimha here is with his consort Ahobila Devi.

There on we drove to Dindivanam and stopped for a tyre change (yeah we have been driving with a faulty tyre). Then onward to Villupuram, Ulundurpettai, Perambalur and took a right off the GST road to Turaiyur, Musiri crossed the Cauvery and reached Kulitttalai and then onward to Karur. The drive took about 7 hours cosidering that the GST road is being paved and there are lot of detours with cobbled stones. Have some interesting snaps will post them soon.

Thirunallaru - Sthala Puranam

I picked up a few books, mainly Sthalapuranams, during my visits to Kumbakonam. Its only last week that I sifted and picked a few to read, I chose the ones that were in English and left the ones in Tamil for later reading since my proficiency in Tamil isn't as good, having picked the reading and writing skills during my summer vacations at Madras while in School. So let me start with the story of Thirunallaru.

Thirunallaru is known to people as the holy place of Sani Bhagwan (Saturn). However there are other deities who adorn the temple , and this is something very few of us are aware.

This is the only place where Lord Shiva is known as "Dharparanayeswarar" after Dharpa or Kusa Grass which is considered as the holy plant of the temple. See my earlier posts of the temple and the Dharpa Grass. Thirunallaru Temple is situated between the Arasalaru and Vanchai River. At the end of the east street of the temple Saint Thirugnansambandar's statute is housed in a separate Mandapam.

The temple has several Mandapams - Sopana Mandapam in the first corridor, Vidanga Thiagar Mandapam near the Sanctum Sanctorum, Ardha Mandapam, Sabha Mandapam, Pandigai Mandapam and Mukti Mandapam.

The glory of this temple and the most sought after deity is Sani Bhagwan. He is facing east unlike in most temples where he faces South. He is usually depicted with four hands however in Thirunallar he is depicted with just two. At the beginning of the southern corridor is the line up of the 63 Nayanmars and 4 saints. These four saints promoted Tamil literature. Adhi Vinaayaka is situated at the very end of the Southern corridor. On the western corridor you'd find Lord Muruga and Goddess Lakshmi in two forms "Sila" and "Sudha". On the western side is Lord Elangothpavar with Thirumal and Ayan. On the North is the Dharpai bushes and an idol of Pitchatanamurthy (partly seen in my photograph) and the Sannidhi of Goddess Durga. In the north east you'll find the Sannidhi of Lord Bairavar.

No Sabarimala Trip

Our Mahaguruswamy passed away recently. In this period of grief for the family and all Swamy's the Sabarimala trip was cancelled.

Tiruvallikkeni - Triplicane - Sri Parthasarathy Temple

I not sure if there is any particular order in the divyadesams but nevertheless yesterday was my first visit to Sri Parthasarathy Temple at Triplicane. Our day started at 4am in the morning and we left Kilpauk by 5:00 am and were in the Temple by 5:15 am! We noticed several waywards using the temple premises to sleep. Devotees trickled in slowly with மஞ்சள் (Turmeric) Paste and கோலம் மாவ் (Rangoli Powder) and the guards woke those sleeping and chased them away. We were told that the temple would open at 6:00 am and so we had time for coffee at the modest "Krishna Bhavan" just opposite the temple.

The temple doors opened at 6:00 and all devotees assembled at the Sri Parthasarathy shrine for a first glimpse of the lord. A temple official led a cow which appeared restless, up to the sanctum sanctorum and tied it to the rails. The Purohits then went in with some water and burning Camphor and let the curtains down for the waiting devotess to have a first glimpse. Amid cries of Krishna... and Govinda, Govinda we had the first glimpse of the moustached Sri Parthasarathy. The devotess were then allowed into the shrine.

Sri Ashtalakshmi Sametha Sri Lakshmi Narayana Swamy - Vepanjeri

Drove down to Vepanjeri a small village near Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh to visit the Sri Ashtalakshmi Sametha Sri Lakshmi Narayana Swamy Temple. We started from Chennai in the evening at 5:30 pm and we were given very brief directions. I was aware of the route till Sholinghur, a Divyadesam, having driven (or rather my driver drove! I enjoy the ride) to that place several times. So after stopping by several villages and being misguided this is how we reached Vepanjeri.

We started from Kilpauk took the Anna Nagar Main Road, Tirumangalam Signal and onto Ambattur Estate and filled the tank ofthe Esteem Vxi. Then onto Ambattur OT, Thirumalvoyal, Avadi, Pattabiram to reach Thiruvallur and then to Thirutanni and took the route to Sholinghur. After driving for about 30 km's we reached R.K Pet where the road splits the one on the left leads to Sholinghur and the one on the right leads you to "I don't know where!" but then after about 6 kms we reached "Balijagandiga" and took a left onto "Thookondram" which is about 20kms drive through a narrow stretch of road through lush green ground-nut and sugar cane fields. "Vepanjeri" is about 4 kms from "Thookondram" and is easily recognisable by a temple (Ashtalaksmi) on your right . I guess when you drive from Chittoor its about 19kms from the old bus stand.

The temple has a rich history of about 1500 years and draws a large number of devotees. The temple is well maintained by the trustee, K.S. Sridhar who was an advocate by profession and hails from Vepanjeri. Afer his retirement he wanted to give back something to his place of birth and the result is the renovation and maintenance of this beautifiul temple and the పుష్కరిణి (Pushkarini, Temple Tank). Vepanjeri has about 75 families and you are unlikely to find even a tea shop so pack food if you plan to visit this place, However if your are lucky there could be an అన్నదానం (Annadhanam, Offering food to the public). There are a few cottages and you can opt to stay over the night (which we did) amidst rustic village surroundings and enjoy the pure unpolluted cool air void of any humidity, the chirps of insects, the ocassional moo of a cow. The dogs on the street are surprisingly friendly.

Of particular interest is the garden near the పుష్కరిణి (Pushkarini, Temple Tank) which the associated tree of all the 27 నక్షతిరం (Birth Stars) it also contains the Trimuthis and their associated trees. Also see the 6 trees (Banyan, Peepal, Neem, Tamrind, Vilva..) growing together entangled.

Mr. Sridhar maintains a informative web site at Vepanjeri.com

Chandran - Thingalur

Suryanar Kovil - Thirumangalkkudi

Sri Vaanamutti Perumal - Koli Kuthi

Sevvai - Vaitheeswaran Kovil

Budhan Sthalam - Thiruvengaadu

Kethu Sthalam - Keezha Perampallam

Abirami - Thirukadaiyur

Sani Sthalam - Thirunallaru

Maha Sarawathi Temple - Suthanur

Arulmigu Lalithambigai and Arulmigu Mohanatha Swamy Temple - Thirumeyachur - Peralam

Shri Maha Pratyankara Devi Temple - Ayyavadi

Uppaliappan Kovil - Kumbakkonam

Raahu Sthalam - Thirunageswaram

Kumbakkonam - Navagrahas

I have just returned this morning from Kumbakkonam. Tired and drowsy due to the summer heat. Looking forward to post the snaps and blog during this weekend.

Sabarimalai - Takeaways from the Pilgrimage

Some takeaways from my Sabarimala Trip. The விபுதி பை (Bag for Holy Ash) and சந்தனம் போட்டி (Box for Sandal Paste)

Incense from the South of India

Incense from South India. "Sugandha Swarna" has a flowery fragrance and is difficult to find in shops. However the "Dasangam" and "Athisiya Sambrani" are personal favourites. The Dasangam is supposed to contain extracts of herbs and is considered to cleanse home; The Sambrani is a favourite because it is a natural extract of the Styrax trees, unlike the benzoic Gum of other sambranis which contains chemical extracts; the box comes with the charcoal briquettes (see the pic) that you can light up rather than the traditional way of using coal which usually leads to tears!

Incense from the North of India

Here are some pictures of the incense thats available in Delhi or probably in the whole of Northern India. All of these have mild fragrance and are soft probably because they are made with Ghee!

Pratyankara Devi Literature

Covers of Pratyankara Devi Literature available at the Temple at Sholinganallur near Chennai.


1. Shri Maha Pratyankara Devi
2. Melakayi Homa Nayaki - Pratyankara Devi
3. Sri Varaha Poojamrutham

Ahobilam - Bhargava Narasimha Swamy

Our last shrine was the Bhargava Narasimha Shrine located about two kms from the Ahobilam Mutt. We took the jeep with 10 people per jeep, which costs Rs 200 for trip. After 10 minutes of shoddy ride over rough terrain we reached the shrine and were glad to be alive. We had a brief darshan and returned back to the mutt. After coffee and some rest we set out for Chennai at 6pm and reached Chennai early morning on 28th Jan by 3am.

Ahobilam - Prahalada Mettu

I shot this snap while returning from the Pavana Narasimha Shrine. This is Prahaladha మెట్టు (Mettu) or Prahalada పడి (Padi). In the snap its the plateau with the tree right near the top edge.

You can get here from the Malola Narasimha Shrine. This is the place where Prahalda was kept and schooled by the Rakshasas. Some people from our group visited the shrine and told us the etchings of the Rakshasa script is still visible on the rocks.

Ahobilam - Pavana Narasimha Swamy and Chenchulakshmi

The Pavana Narasimha shrine is about 6 kms from the Ahobilam Shrine and is reached by trek through thick forest. See the pictures. I suggest you take a guide along as there are several paths along the way that branch out from the main path and if by chance you take the wrong one you'll find yourself in the midst of the jungle. Also travel in small groups so that you can ward off animals, though I nor anyone I know had any encounters with wild animals, its better to take precautions.

After picking up our bamboo canes we started the trek at 7:15 am, the initial steps are steep and you'll notice a lot of feathers strewn around and blood stains, the remains of sacrifices. After a pleasant trek we reached the shrine at 10:15 am that's about three hours and we were walking barefoot, those with footwear made it in two hours. One person in the group made it in 1 1/2 hours! He was carrying packed breakfast for all of us.

Narasimha is on the banks of the river Pavana and hence the name. He is with his consort Chenchulakshmi with Lord Bharadwaj at his feet. We had a fantastic dharshan. One very informed couple in the group handed over a box of tea bags, milk powder and sugar to the Archakar. I wondered if this was a ritual and was told that the Archakar had Agricultural lands in Lower Ahobilam which could provide him sustainance however he wanted to continue the tradition in the shrine and so now resides near the Pavana Narasimha shrine. His dwelling is small without Electricity and he comes to lower Ahobilam once a week to buy groceries. People who know him carry food or other items for him. I suggest that you do the same when you visit the shrine so that he can sustain his modest living and continue the tradition.

The Chenchulakshmi shrine is about one km from the Pavana Narasimha Shrine. Some of us didn't visit this shrine since the sun was up and we wanted to reach Lower Ahobilam. A few who did told us that you'll have to crawl to see the diety and there are remains of animal sacrificies, but nothing so gruesome to scare you.

We started the return trek at 11 am and reached the Ahobilam temple by 1:30 pm. Yes we were the last and there were others who reached much earlier, remember we were walking barefoot.

We reached the Ahobilam mutt by 2pm, had lunch and some rest and left for the next shrine - The Bhargava Narasimha Temple.