Travel Guide - Mayiladuthurai Temples-Part 3

Day 3 of Mayiladuthurai temple trip

It was day 3 of our trip and we wanted to cover as much as temples before noon so that we reach Chennai back by late evening. Check out from Ranga Residency was done about 6:30 am to start our journey

1. Thiruindalur - Parimala Ranganathar Temple (Divya Desam)

This beautiful temple is located about 2 kms from Mayiladuthurai main and just in front of the Ranga residency hotel. Although we stayed for two days, we could not have darshan on the first and second day and we decided to have Parimala Ranganathar darshan first thing in the morning. We walked to the temple just in time for the Gho Pooja (Cow pooja) and first darshan of the magnificient Lord in reclining posture (Ranganathar). 

This is one among the 108 divya desams of Lord Vishnu and sung by Thirumangai Azhwar. This is also one among the Pancha Ranga Shetram where the Lord is in reclining posture. They are as given below.

• Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple - Srirangapatnam, Karnataka near mysore
• Sri Appalarangan Temple(Appakudanthan temple)- Koviladi (Tirupernagar) - Thanjavur
• Sri Ranganatha Swamy Temple - Vadarangam - nagapattinam
• Sri Sarangapani Temple - Kumbakonam
• Sri Ranganatha Swamy Temple - Srirangam - Trichy

This temple is also famous for Ekadasi fasting and as per the legend King Ambarish with divine presence in this temple after 100 Ekadashi fasting days.

2. Thirukkodikaval -Kodeeswarar Temple

After having darshan of Ranganathar we had breakfast at Kaliakudi hotel and proceeded to Thirukkodival Tempple

This temple is located at a distance of about 17 kms west of Mayiladuthurai on the Aduthurai-Kuthalam road and Kallanai-Poompuhar road. We reached the temple around 8:30 am.

This is one among the Paadal Petra Sthalam sung by both Gnanasambandar (1 pathigam) and Appar (3 pathigams)

• Multitudes of Gods (Koti) are said to have worshipped at this shrine beautified by countless gardens (kavu), hence Kotikka (Koti in tamil means a crore)
• The presiding deity is Kodikka Eswarar, Tirukoteeswarar and the Ambal Vadivambikai The Theertham is Mukkoti Theertham.
• Legend has it that Siva is said to have escorted a devotee Haradatta to Kanjanur nearby, and mysteriously disappeared. Vasishtar is said to have installed an image of Ganapati fashioned out of earth. 
• It is also believed that the Azhwars were asked by Venkatachalapathi of Tirupati to worship Tripurasundari here before offering worship at Tirupati. Agasthyar is said to have helped them cross the Cauveri river, which was in spate. Tripurasundari Amman is then said to have blessed them with a vision of Venkatachalapati.

3. Kanjanoor - Arulmighu Agneeswarar Temple

Kanjanoor is just about 3.5 kms from Thirukodikaval, you have to continue west in Aduthurai-Kuthalam Road for about 2.5 kms and then turn right at Ayyanar temple and continue for about a km to reach the temple. We reached the temple around 9:30 am.

This temple is more popularly known as Sukran temple, one among the Navagraha Temples in and around Kumbakonam. Not many know this is also a Paadal petra sthalam sung by Appar. 

• The presiding deity is Agneeswarar and Ambal Karpagambal
• Legend has it that Brahma is said to have been blessed with a vision of Siva's marriage with Parvati here. Agni is said to have worshipped Siva here, hence the name Agneeswarar.
•  Legend also has it that Siva blessed Paraasara muni with a vision of the cosmic dance - Mukti tandavam. 
•  It is believed that Haradatta Sivacharyar, a Vaishnavite who was originally known as Sudarshanar, is said to have undergone ordeals to prove the tenacity of his devotion for Siva to the fellow Vaishnavites, and images depicting legends related to Haradatta Sivacharyar are seen in this temple. 
• This is also the birth place of Maana Kanjara Nayanar

4. Thirumanagalakudi - Prananathar Mangalambigai Temple

From Kanjanoor, you have to trace back the route to take Kuthalam-Aduthurai road and travel 4 kms southwest to reach this temple. We reached this temple around 10 am.

This is a paadal petra sthalam and both Appar andGnanasambandar have sung the praise of the lord. Another famous Navagraha temple - Suryanar temple (dedicated to Lord Sun) is just located nearby to this temple. Itis believed that this temple should be visited first before proceding to Suryanar Kovil enshrining the Nava Grahams. 

• The presiding deity is Prananatheswarar and the Ambal Mangalambika The sthala vriksham is Ilava Maram and the Theertham Mangala Theertham 
• Legend has it that Parvati is said to have been relieved of a curse (wherein she had assumed the form of a parrot); this incident and the divine marriage are believed to have happened on Makara Sankaranti at this shetram - hence Mangala Kshetram. 

5. Thiruvelliyankudi - Kola Villi Ramar Temple (Divya Desam)

From Mangalakudi, Thiruvelliyankudi is about 8 kms, you have to travel in Aduthurai-Thirupanandal road for about 5 kms and then turn left near a government school and travel further for 3 kms to reach this temple.

This is one among the 108 Divya desams and sung by Thirumangai Azhwar.

• The presiding deity is Kolavilli Ramar, sheerpathi nathan and Thayar Maragathavalli. Sthala virutcham is red plaintain.
• As per the legend, Asura guru Shukra lost his eye sight and he was visiting many places to restore his sight. In this temple, he has worshiped Lord Vishnu and by His grace got back the vision. There is a Nethra deepam(a bulbous lamp representing the eye sight) in the main sanctum which is always lit.
• It is believed that people having eye sight issues will get cure by praying here. Offering of gingelly oil to be used in Nethra deepam is considered to be good.
• This is the only temple where Garuda bhagavan appears with fours hands like perumal.

6. Thirunthudevankudi (Nandankovil) - Karkadeshwarar Temple

From Thiruvelliyankudi, Nandankovil is about 13 kms. You have to take the route towards Senganoor and after travelling for nearly 2.5 kms you will reach Kumbakonam-Chennai Highway (NH36) on which you have to turn left and travel for nearly 8 kms, after passing the Mass polytechnic college turn left and travel for 1.5 kms to reach the temple. The last 1.5 km travel is really bad as the road is nothing but a dirt track with space for just about one car. Google map will show the route via Cholapuram but that route is not feasible as the roads are closed. We reached the temple around 11:15 am.

• This is a paadal petra sthalam sung by Thirugnanasambandar. 
• The presiding deity is Karkateswarar, Arumarundu Devar and the Ambal Arumarundu Nayaki; Aravinda Nayaki The Theertham is Pankaja Theertham 
•  Legends has it that Parvati Devi took the form of a crab has worship Siva at this temple by collecting the lotus from a nearby pond and offering to the Lord. At the same time, Indra the chieftain of Devas also worshiped the lord and the lotus plants were maintained by him for the pooja. Since the crab was taking all the lotus, Indra was annoyed as he was not aware of the divine form behind that crab. He attacked the crab crawling on the Lingam with his sword which made a cut on the lingam but missed the crab. Lord Siva quickly came to the rescue by creating a hole in the lingam and offered protection to the crab. Indra realises the truth later and prayed to the Lord for forgiving him. that is the reason for the deity being called Karkateswarar, and the image of a golden crab can be seen on the Sivalingam during the ablution rituals. 
• Siva is said to have in the guise of an elderly person, relieved a devout King of his painful affliction; and said to have directed him to the spot where the Sivalingam is now installed. He is also said to have promised to reveal to him medicines for other afflictions, hence the name Arumarundu Devar, the Lord of Medicine and Healing. It is believed that the vegetation covering the temple is of high medicinal value.
• This temple is estimated to be more than 3000 years old.

7. Thiruvisainallur - Yoganandeswarar temple

This temple is just 1.5 kms from Nandan kovil. Again it is a small village road hence it is better during sunlight. We reached the temple around 11:45 am.

• This is a paadal petra sthalam sung by Gnanasambandar.
• The presiding deity is Sivayoginathar, Yoganandeswarar and the Ambal ShanthaNayaki;Soundaranayaki The sthala vriksham is Arasa maram and the Theertham Jatayu Theertham 
• Legend has it that Brahma is said to have taken the form of a mortal, worshipped and merged with Siva here. It is believed that Agasthyar worships Siva during Sivaratri.
• Chathurkala Bairavar is an unique aspect in this temple. There is a separate shrine in which there are four Bairavas - each representing Krita Yugam, Treta Yugam, Dwapara Yugam and Kali Yugam respectively. 
• This is also a parihara sthalam for those born in Krithigai, Mrugashirisam, Rohini and Rishaba rasi.
• Another interesting feature in this temple is the solar clock on the compound wall of temple premises. This clock is estimated to be 700 years old. Basically it has a dial face like any other clock and there is a long nail struck at the centre of the dial. Sun casts the shadow of the nail onto the dial which represents the current time. It is really a wonder how precisely the ancient people have calculated the path accounting for the tilt of the earth throughout the year and coming up a simple yet powerful mechanism for knowing the time. Also, the sun directly shines on the sivalingam during the first three days of Tamil new year (April 14 to 16)

Solar clock

We spent about half an hour in the big temple campus and it was about 12:30 pm when the temple was closed. With this, our pilgrimage tour got over and slowly we proceeded back to Kumbakonam-Chennai highway and continued our journey back to home at Chennai.

Click here to view the locations of temple

Courtesy: Google Maps

Links given below for Day 1 and Day 2 travel of the tour

Day 1 Travel Guide

Day 2 Travel Guide